Coming soon, to a blog near you...

I am always very intrigued by tradition. The overwhelming satisfaction of why certain schools do certain motions and chants has always fascinated me. It had occurred to me that I had no idea why Auburn University said "War Eagle" before each game, and that the eagle swooped onto the field before the opening kickoff. At first, I thought it was another Mascot. Like the Tigers, were also the eagles, were also the plainsmen, I didn't get it. So Mr. Josh DeLung, my colleague and fellow VT blog writer went on our information source, Wikipedia to see what was the origin of this tale. After first glance, I thought it was a joke, but this is directly off the Auburn website...

"War Eagle" is Auburn's battle cry, not a mascot or nickname. The most popular story about the battle cry dates back to the first time Auburn met Georgia on the football field in 1892 and centers around a spectator who was a veteran of the Civil War. In the stands with him that day was an eagle the old soldier had found on a battlefield during the war. He had kept it as a pet for almost 30 years. According to witnesses, the eagle suddenly broke free and began majestically circling the playing field. As the eagle soared, Auburn began a steady march toward the Georgia end zone for a thrilling victory. Elated at their team's play and taking the bird's presence as an omen of success, Auburn students and fans began to yell "War Eagle" to spur on their team. At the game's end, the eagle took a sudden dive, crashed into the ground, and died. But the battle cry "War Eagle" lived on to become a symbol of the proud Auburn spirit.

So, the war eagle is not a nickname. Auburn usually states, "Alabama doesn't say Roll Elephant, it's the same concept". First of all, I would hope an Elephant wouldn't roll anywhere, that seems incredibly dangerous. Second of all, this description was way too "mock epic", blown way out proportion, and hilarious at the exact same time. This doesn't seem like an origin of a battle-cry, It seems like a Disney movie that never quite made it through storyboard. This description seems so ridiculously cheesy. I can imagine it would be one of those straight to Disney DVD. Therefore, "Life as a Hyperbole" will be doing the untold dramatic and heartwarming mini-series of, "Billy, The War Eagle". 

A wonderful journey set place in the civil war about an eagle named, Billy. Who flew throughout the plantations and the battlefields in the Plains of Alabama. This heartwarming tale about an eagles flight throughout the war, the injury and loss that he sustained, and his final epic flight over Jordan Hare Stadium. He's Billy... The War Eagle

Set forth for a journey in the sky!

Watch him soar through the clouds so high!

Soar Billy, The War Eagle!

Soar Billy, the War Eagle!

Hurry, Billy, the time is come!

You must help before it's too late,

Thanks to you, dear old Billy

Drunken Auburn fans can finally Celebrate!

For you old Billy...