Auburn University Attacked, Toomer's Corner Trees Poisoned

First off, I want to thank our fellow citizens wearing crimson and white for heartfelt condolences.  It is your kind words that will help the Auburn family through this heinous act.  

But you have to admit, this "Al from Dadeville" knew where to strike the Auburn family. 

Most will blink at the story of the 130-plus-year-old trees being poisoned by a irrational, driven man.  To many of those who wear the orange and blue of Auburn, it is much more than just an old tree. 

A little background for those outside the state of Alabama:

Toomer's Corner is at the intersection of Magnolia and College streets in downtown Auburn.  Traditionally, Toomer's Corner is rolled after each Auburn Football victory and every significant athletic victory.  It is also  rolled on other occasions such as graduation.  The tradition has been dated back several decades, where the tree was rolled to signify Auburn football victories when the team was on the road.  This was how many in town knew the team had won. 

It is as much of Auburn as the thousands of graduates and hundreds of thousand fans that have held special moments underneath those old oak trees. 

It can be said that there are three structures that symbolize the Auburn spirit.  Samford Hall is the recognizable building for knowledge.  Jordan-Hare Stadium is the "spirit that is not afraid," being the physical strength of the University. 

But Toomer's Corner is the heart.  It is the place that everyone goes to celebrate happier times not only for the University but in their own personal lives as well. 

Everyone has their first memory at Toomer's.  It is almost as memorable as someone's first kiss. 

My first opportunity to roll Toomer's Corner came in the 1997 Iron Bowl victory over the Crimson Tide.  It was possible by a late game winning field goal.  It was the best feeling for a 12-year-old kid throwing a two-ply roll of toilet paper into those old oak trees surrounded by hundreds of other Auburn faithful.

Whoever this despicable person is, he should not only stand trial, but pay for all the damages that he has done to the area.  This only seems fair.

Trials come and go in one's life.  It seems that as a family, the trials keep coming for Auburn University. 

If anyone couldn't figure out how much closer this family could get, it is about to find out. 

I'd sure hate to be the one person that just ticked off hundreds of thousands.