Aubie
Encyclopedia
Aubie is Auburn University
's award-winning costumed tiger
mascot
. Aubie has won a record six mascot national championships, more than any other mascot in the United States. Aubie was among the first three college mascots inducted to the Mascot Hall of Fame, inducted on August 15, 2006. Aubie is considered the goodwill ambassador for Auburn University.
artist Phil Neel created the cartoon Tiger who continued to adorn Auburn program covers for 18 years. Aubie's look changed through the years. In 1962, he began to stand upright and the next year, 1963, wore clothes for the first time—a blue tie and straw hat. Aubie's appearances on game programs proved to be somewhat of a good luck charm for head football coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan's
teams. The Tigers were victorious in the first nine games Aubie graced the cover and in his first six years, Auburn posted a 23-2-1 home record. Auburn's home record during the eighteen years Aubie served as Cover Tiger was 63-16-2.
Aubie's regular appearance on the game program cover ended on October 23, 1976, when Auburn downed Florida State
, 31-19, but Aubie returned to Auburn’s cover in the Iron Bowl
against the Alabama
on Nov. 30, 1991, Auburn's last home game at Birmingham's
Legion Field
. In 1979, Aubie came to life at the Southeastern Conference
basketball tournament. James Lloyd, Auburn spirit director for the Student Government Association, with help from the Auburn Alumni Association, contacted Brooks-Van Horn Costumes in New York City
. The suit was made by the same seamstress who made the Killer Bees costume for John Belushi
and Dan Aykroyd
of Saturday Night Live
fame.
The company was provided with copies of the 1961 Auburn-Alabama and 1962 Auburn-Georgia Tech
game programs to use for reference in creating a costume of the cartoon character. The firm, which also provided costumes for The Walt Disney Company
, designed and produced a Tiger costume for $1,350. Individual contributions from various Auburn clubs, alumni and friends helped pay for the first costume.
Aubie proudly marched into the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center on February 28, 1979, and helped lead first-year Auburn coach Sonny Smith's Tigers to an upset of Vanderbilt
. The following day, Aubie returned to the arena and the Tigers surprised Georgia
in the longest game in SEC tournament history, four overtimes. Before the weekend was complete, Aubie helped lead the ninth-place team in the regular season to the semifinals of the tournament.
In the Spring of 1979, the Student Government Association (SGA), and James Lloyd as Spirit Director, held a two-day tryout among the student body to see who would be selected as Auburn's first official Aubie. 31 Students tried out for the role. Barry Mask was selected as Aubie along with Viki Leach and Bob Harris as first and second alternates respectively. All three got plenty of "Aubie-time" in the costume as there were plenty of appearance demands. In 1982 it was decided to call all three winners "Aubie" with one "head-Aubie" selected.
Aubie's football debut came in the opening game of the 1979 football season at Jordan-Hare Stadium
against the Kansas State Wildcats
. Barry Mask, Auburn's first "official" Aubie, came up with a clever idea to debut the new mascot. Shortly before kickoff, the Auburn cheerleaders brought a giant "gift box" out to the 50-yard line logo at midfield. Aubie exploded out of the box, danced with the Auburn band and a new Auburn tradition was born. Auburn won the game 26-18. This led to a tradition for several years for Aubie to make a "grand and funny" entrance for each game. The tradition of Aubie being able to dance was also began by Barry Mask, Viki Leach McGinty and Bob Harris, a tradition which still is an unofficial prerequisite to be able to be Aubie even today. Aubie must have the moves and stay current with the newest dance steps. Ken Cope , Aubie VI , practiced regularly with the Auburn dance team and was wildly acclaimed for his break-dancing ability that was in vogue during the mid 80's.
Several former Aubies have gone on to careers as professional sports mascots. No collegiate mascot has won as many national mascot Championships as Aubie.
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
's award-winning costumed tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
. Aubie has won a record six mascot national championships, more than any other mascot in the United States. Aubie was among the first three college mascots inducted to the Mascot Hall of Fame, inducted on August 15, 2006. Aubie is considered the goodwill ambassador for Auburn University.
History
A popular character among Auburn fans and one of the more animated mascots in the country, Aubie has been on the job since 1979. Aubie's existence began as a cartoon character that first appeared on the Auburn/Hardin-Simmons football program cover on October 3, 1959. Birmingham Post-HeraldBirmingham Post-Herald
The Birmingham Post-Herald was a daily newspaper in Birmingham, Alabama with roots dating back to 1850, before the founding of Birmingham. The final edition was published on September 23, 2005...
artist Phil Neel created the cartoon Tiger who continued to adorn Auburn program covers for 18 years. Aubie's look changed through the years. In 1962, he began to stand upright and the next year, 1963, wore clothes for the first time—a blue tie and straw hat. Aubie's appearances on game programs proved to be somewhat of a good luck charm for head football coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan's
Ralph Jordan
James Ralph "Shug" Jordan was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach of football and basketball. He served as the head football coach at Auburn from 1951 to 1975, where he compiled a record of 176–83–6. He is the winningest coach in Auburn Tigers football...
teams. The Tigers were victorious in the first nine games Aubie graced the cover and in his first six years, Auburn posted a 23-2-1 home record. Auburn's home record during the eighteen years Aubie served as Cover Tiger was 63-16-2.
Aubie's regular appearance on the game program cover ended on October 23, 1976, when Auburn downed Florida State
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, 31-19, but Aubie returned to Auburn’s cover in the Iron Bowl
Iron Bowl
The Iron Bowl is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and the Auburn Tigers football team of Auburn University. The series is considered one of the best and most hard-fought rivalries in all of sports...
against the Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
on Nov. 30, 1991, Auburn's last home game at Birmingham's
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
Legion Field
Legion Field
Legion Field is a large stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, primarily designed to be used as a venue for American football, but is occasionally used for other large outdoor events. The stadium is named in honor of the American Legion, a U.S. organization of military veterans. At its peak...
. In 1979, Aubie came to life at the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
basketball tournament. James Lloyd, Auburn spirit director for the Student Government Association, with help from the Auburn Alumni Association, contacted Brooks-Van Horn Costumes in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The suit was made by the same seamstress who made the Killer Bees costume for John Belushi
John Belushi
John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
and Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
of Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
fame.
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
game programs to use for reference in creating a costume of the cartoon character. The firm, which also provided costumes for The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
, designed and produced a Tiger costume for $1,350. Individual contributions from various Auburn clubs, alumni and friends helped pay for the first costume.
Aubie proudly marched into the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center on February 28, 1979, and helped lead first-year Auburn coach Sonny Smith's Tigers to an upset of Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. The following day, Aubie returned to the arena and the Tigers surprised Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
in the longest game in SEC tournament history, four overtimes. Before the weekend was complete, Aubie helped lead the ninth-place team in the regular season to the semifinals of the tournament.
In the Spring of 1979, the Student Government Association (SGA), and James Lloyd as Spirit Director, held a two-day tryout among the student body to see who would be selected as Auburn's first official Aubie. 31 Students tried out for the role. Barry Mask was selected as Aubie along with Viki Leach and Bob Harris as first and second alternates respectively. All three got plenty of "Aubie-time" in the costume as there were plenty of appearance demands. In 1982 it was decided to call all three winners "Aubie" with one "head-Aubie" selected.
Aubie's football debut came in the opening game of the 1979 football season at Jordan-Hare Stadium
Jordan-Hare Stadium
Jordan–Hare Stadium is the playing venue for Auburn University's football team located on campus in Auburn, Alabama, USA. The stadium is named for Ralph "Shug" Jordan, the University's winningest football coach, and Cliff Hare, a member of Auburn's first football team as well as Dean of the Auburn...
against the Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State Wildcats football
The Kansas State Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate football program of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference...
. Barry Mask, Auburn's first "official" Aubie, came up with a clever idea to debut the new mascot. Shortly before kickoff, the Auburn cheerleaders brought a giant "gift box" out to the 50-yard line logo at midfield. Aubie exploded out of the box, danced with the Auburn band and a new Auburn tradition was born. Auburn won the game 26-18. This led to a tradition for several years for Aubie to make a "grand and funny" entrance for each game. The tradition of Aubie being able to dance was also began by Barry Mask, Viki Leach McGinty and Bob Harris, a tradition which still is an unofficial prerequisite to be able to be Aubie even today. Aubie must have the moves and stay current with the newest dance steps. Ken Cope , Aubie VI , practiced regularly with the Auburn dance team and was wildly acclaimed for his break-dancing ability that was in vogue during the mid 80's.
Several former Aubies have gone on to careers as professional sports mascots. No collegiate mascot has won as many national mascot Championships as Aubie.
Former Friends of Aubie
| Year | Head Aubie | Aubie |
|---|---|---|
| 1979-80 (I) | Barry Mask | Bob Harris, Viki Leach McGinty |
| 1980-81 (II) | Jim Mayo | Danny Richards, J.T. Thomas |
| 1981-82 (III) | Danny Richards | Mike Loncono, Greg O'Neil |
| 1982-83 (IV) | James Taylor | Mike Irwin, Bart Harmon |
| 1983-84 (V) | Mark Loveless | Jimmy Graves, Greg Stone |
| 1984-85 (VI) | Ken Cope | David Barrett, Carl Gleghorn |
| 1985-86 (VII) | Jack Clark | Warren Weeks, Jef Arnold |
| 1986-87 (VIII) | Randy Davis | Rob Jameson, Laurence Cartledge |
| 1987-88 (IX) | Rob Jameson | Troy Howard, Andy Sokol |
| 1988-89 (X) | Troy Howard | Michael Jernigan, Walter Ownbey |
| 1989-90 (XI) | Bob Short | Chris Wood, David Derrer |
| 1990-91 (XII) | Chris Wood | Michael Jernigan, Rob Thompson |
| 1991-92 (XIII) | David Reynolds | David Harvey, Tim Jordan |
| 1992-93 (XIV) | Harry Heigl | Tim Arnold, Eric Langley |
| 1993-94 (XV) | Eric Langley | Tim Arnold, Trey Humphreys |
| 1994-95 (XVI) | Trey Humphreys | Mike Murphy, Billy Stephens |
| 1995-96 (XVII) | Billy Stephens (Metairie, LA) | Mike Griffin (Auburn, AL), Josh Agerton (Auburn, AL) |
| 1996-97 (XVIII) | Josh Agerton | Eric Krausse, Brannon McKim |
| 1997-98 (XIX) | Eric Krausse | Brannon McKim, J.G. Carver |
| 1998-99 (XX) | J.G. Carver (Huntsville, AL) | Jeff Holoman (Dallas, TX), Justin Moore (Oxford, AL) |
| 1999-2000 (XXI) | Jeff Holoman (Dallas, TX) | Joel Darby, JD Simpson |
| 2000-01 (XXII) | Joel Darby | Damian Shepard, Drew Rodgers |
| 2001-02 (XXIII) | Drew Rogers | Taylor Griswold, Jeremy Legg |
| 2002-03 (XXIV) | Taylor Griswold (Detroit, MI) | Jeremy Legg (Franklin, TN), Trey Mock (Marietta, GA) |
| 2003-04 (XXV) | Trey Mock (Marietta, GA) | Matt Grainger (Homewood, AL), Chris Keenan (Spanish Fort, AL) |
| 2004-05 (XXVI) | Chris Keenan (Spanish Fort, AL) | Matt Grainger (Homewood, AL), Evan Thomas (Dothan, AL), David Smith (Ozark, AL) |
| 2005-06 (XXVII) | Evan Thomas, (Dothan, AL) | David Smith (Ozark, AL), Chris Delvizis (Brentwood, TN) |
| 2006-07 (XXVIII) | Chris Delvizis (Brentwood, TN) | Shelton Tate, Justin Shugart (Fairhope, AL) |
| 2007-08 (XXIX) | Justin Shugart (Fairhope, AL) | Brandon Bodie (Mobile, AL), Michael Young (Atlanta, GA) |
| 2008-09 (XXX) | Michael Young(Atlanta, GA) | Brandon Bodie (Mobile, AL), Tyler Weldon (Birmingham, AL) |
| 2009-10 (XXXI) | Tyler Weldon (Birmingham, AL) |
National championships
Aubie won his first Universal Cheerleaders Association mascot national championship in 1991 and has won an unmatched six overall. Prior to the UCA National Mascot Championship, UCA held its mascot competition in conjunction with its cheerleading camps and competition in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1979, Barry Mask as Aubie won first place in the competition in Aubie's first year.| Championship Years | "Friends of Aubie" |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Michael Jernigan, Chris Wood and Rob Thompson |
| 1995 | Trey Humphreys, Mike Murphy, and Billy Stephens |
| 1996 | Billy Stephens (Metairie, LA), Mike Griffin (Auburn, AL) and Josh Agerton (Auburn, AL) |
| 1999 | J.G. Carver (Huntsville, AL), Jeff Holoman (Dallas, TX), and Justin Moore (Oxford, AL) |
| 2003 | Taylor Griswold (Detroit, MI), Jeremy Legg (Franklin, TN), and Trey Mock (Marietta, GA) |
| 2006 | Evan Thomas, (Dothan, AL), David Smith (Ozark, AL) and Chris Delvizis (Brentwood, TN) |