History of Aubie
THE HISTORY OF
AUBIE THE TIGER
Aubie, Auburn University's tiger mascot, serves as the spirit leader and goodwill ambassador for Auburn University. A popular character among Auburn fans and one of the most animated mascots in the country, Aubie is the living spirit of Auburn.
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-Herald artist Phil Neel created the cartoon Tiger who continued to adorn Auburn program covers for 18 years.
Aubie's look on the programs changed through the years. In 1962, he began to stand upright and the next year, 1963, he wore clothes for the first time (a blue tie and straw hat). Aubie's appearances on game programs proved to be somewhat of a goodluck charm for Coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan's teams. The Tigers were victorious in the first nine games he graced the cover and in his first 6 years, Auburn posted a 23-2-1 home record. Auburn's home record during the 18 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 was called back onto the cover for three special Iron Bowl appearances: the 1987 game (November 27, 1987) in Birmingham, celebrating and commemorating the 40th renewal of the modern Auburn-Alabama series, the 1989 game (December 2, 1989) celebrating the Tide's "first time ever" trip to Auburn, and in 1991 when Auburn played its final "home game" in Birmingham's Legion Field (November 30, 1991)
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 Alumni Association, contacted Brooks-Van Horn Costumes in New York, N.Y. 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 Walt Disney, 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 County Civic Center on February 28, 1979, and helped lead first-year Auburn coach Sonny Smith's team to an upset of Vanderbilt in his first appearance as a live Tiger mascot. 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.
AUBIE THE TIGER TODAY
Today, Aubie proudly supports all Auburn University athletic teams and continues to enjoy every Auburn tradition from the Tiger Walk to the flight of the eagle to the rolling of Toomer’s Corner. It is often said Women love him, Children adore him, and Men want to be him. Aubie the Tiger is Often Imitated but Never Duplicated.
11 TIME UCA NATIONAL CHAMPION
1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2021 & 2024
MASCOT HALL OF FAME
2006 - First Collegiate Inductee
2022 - Best In-Game Skit
2023 - Best In-Game Skit, Best Video Short
CAPITAL ONE MASCOT OF THE YEAR
2014
A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
YEAR | FRIENDS OF AUBIE |
---|---|
February 1979 | James Lloyd |
1979 - 1980 | Barry Mask, Bob Harris, Viki McGinty Woerner |
1980 - 1981 | Jim Mayo, Danny Richards, J.T. Thomas |
1981 - 1982 | Danny Richards, Mike Loncono, Greg O'Neil |
1982 - 1983 | James Taylor, Mike Irwin, Bart Harmon |
1983 - 1984 | Mark Loveless, Jimmy Graves, Greg Stone |
1984 - 1985 | Ken Cope, David Barrett, Cark Gleghorn |
1985 - 1986 | Jack Clark, Warren Weeks, Jef Arnold |
1986 - 1987 | Randy Davis, Rob Jameson, Laurence Cartledge |
1987 - 1988 | Rob Jameson, Troy Howard, Andy Sokol |
1988 - 1989 | Troy Howard, Michael Jernigan, Walter Ownbey |
1989 - 1990 | Bob Short, Chris Wood, David Derrer |
1990 - 1991 | Chris Wood, Michael Jernigan, Rob Thompson |
1991 - 1992 | David Reynolds, David Harvey, Tim Jordan |
1992 - 1993 | Harry Heigl, Tim Arnold, Eric Langley |
1993 - 1994 | Eric Langley, Tim Arnold, Trey Humphreys |
1994 - 1995 | Trey Humphreys, Mike Murphy, Billy Stephens |
1995 - 1996 | Billy Stephens, Mike Griffin, Josh Agerton |
1996 - 1997 | Josh Agerton, Eric Krausse, Brannon McKim |
1997 - 1998 | Eric Krausse, Brannon McKim, J.G. Carver |
1998 - 1999 | J.G. Carver, Jeff Holoman, Justin Moore |
1999 - 2000 | Jeff Holoman, Joel Darby, JD Simpson |
2000 - 2001 | Joel Darby, Damian Shephard, Drew Rodgers |
2001 - 2002 | Drew Rogers, Taylor Griswold, Jeremy Legg |
2002 - 2003 | Taylor Griswold, Jeremy Legg, Trey Mock |
2003 - 2004 | Trey Mock, Matt Grainger, Chris Keenan |
2004 - 2005 | Chris Keenan, Matt Grainger, Evan Thomas |
2005 - 2006 | Evan Thomas, David Smith, Chris Delvizis |
2006 - 2007 | Chris Delvizis, Shelton Tate, Justin Shugart |
2007 - 2008 | Justin Shugart, Michael Young, Brandon Bodie |
2008 - 2009 | Michael Young, Brandon Bodie, Tyler Weldon |
2009 - 2010 | Tyler Weldon, Andy Gilliom, Logan Matthews, Matthew Layton |
2010 - 2011 | Logan Matthews, Matthew Layton, Will Noel |
2011 - 2012 | Will Noel, Peyton Alsobrook, Kameron Kendrick |
2012 - 2013 | Peyton Alsobrook, Martin Pursell, Daniel Toner |
2013 - 2014 | Martin Pursell, Daniel Toner, Connor Sharpton |
2014 - 2015 | Micah Mills, John O'Neil, John Nunez |
2015 - 2016 | John O'Neil, John Nunez, Kevin Bryant, Hunter Jordan |
2016 - 2017 | Hunter Jordan, Jake Cunningham, David Monte, Jared Long |
2017 - 2018 | Jake Cunningham, David Monte, Jared Long, Brent Warr |
2018 - 2019 | Brent Warr, Daniel Bayer, Miller Parker, Gary Gray |
2019 - 2020 | Daniel Bayer, Miller Parker, Jackson McCrary, Bowman Hill |
2020 - 2021 | Jackson McCrary, Bowman Hill |
2021 - 2022 | Bowman Hill, Brody O'Brian, Riley Myers, ?? |
2022 - 2023 | Brody O'Brian, Riley Myers, ??, ?? |