AUBURN, Ala. — On Tuesday, Auburn University’s Toomer’s Corner became the stage for a peculiar spectacle as hundreds of Auburn fans, led by former NFL quarterback Eli Manning and Auburn alum Bo Nix, set a Guinness World Record by rolling the iconic oak trees, with 7,125 rolls of toilet paper.
The event, filmed for Manning’s ESPN+ series “Eli’s Places,” celebrated Auburn’s storied tradition of draping Toomer’s Corner in toilet paper after athletic victories, a practice rooted in a 1972 upset over Alabama, inspired by player Terry Henley’s bold claim to “beat the No. 2 out of Alabama.”
The mid-July timing, absent any current Auburn athletic events, lent an air of corniness to the staged affair. Typically reserved for post-game celebrations, the rolling felt oddly out of place under the 91-degree summer sun, transforming the corner into a surreal winter wonderland of cascading tissue on the Plains.
Manning, joined by former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix and the university’s mascot, who Auburn fans seem to think is the only mascot that exists in sports, mind you … Aubie, coached enthusiastic fans—many first-time rollers—through the proper toilet paper-tossing technique.
History professor Keith Hebert presented a plaque from Governor Kay Ivey, certifying the record for the most toilet paper rolls ever thrown at the famed oaks.
Auburn’s fervor for this tradition mirrors the quirky, almost cult-like devotion of other college football fanbases, such as Texas A&M’s “12th Man” ritual, where 103,000 fans chant the Aggie War Hymn in unison, or Clemson’s tradition of riding a bus and rubbing Howard’s Rock, a near-sacred act tied to the team’s Death Valley moniker.
These rituals, while endearing, border on obsessive, with Auburn’s toilet paper toss standing out for its whimsical defiance of practicality—after all, who cleans up the mess at Toomer’s Corner? Does it ever get old?
Beat No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa for basketball? Sure, roll the trees.
Upset a Nick Saban team to earn a spot in Atlanta? By all means.
A win over Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs for the first time since 2017? You betcha.
But, like most popular traditions, this is starting to get old at the rate it’s going.
The Tuesday event’s randomness sparked mixed reactions. Some Auburn fans embraced the publicity, while others on social media argued it cheapened a tradition meant for genuine victories, not orchestrated stunts and was a classic example of “JABA”.
(Just Auburn Being Auburn).
Regardless, the “Auburn Family’s” spirited turnout ensured Toomer’s Corner remains a vibrant symbol of Tiger pride, even if its mid-summer rolling felt more like a playful prank than a hallowed rite.
It wouldn’t be an Auburn athletic event without fawning over Aubie the Tiger and chest-pumping in awe of your own selves, now would it?
Hugh Freeze likely missed the event due to a prior commitment for a round of 18. Bruce Pearl must have had an appointment with cable news to talk rockets.
Regardless, SEC Media days gets the ball “rolling” again for real next week with on field action soon to follow.
We missed some good old-fashioned SEC banter and the Braves haven’t done any favors to pass the off season time.
Enjoy these last few weeks of calm in Dixie at your local short track, for the best season in sports is just around the corner.
Now, it’s time for Auburn to get back to success on the recruiting trail.
To learn more about rolling Toomer’s Corner, click here.
In the meantime, check out PSG vs Real Madrid on Wednesday afternoon.
