AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – The crowd inside Jordan-Hare Stadium rises to its feet, cameras roll, and a hush falls just before an eagle bursts into flight—circling high above a sea of orange and blue before gliding to midfield as more than 87,000 voices thunder, "War Eagle!"
The pregame eagle flight has become one of Auburn University's most cherished traditions, symbolizing the pride, spirit, and resilience of the Auburn Family. But few realize just how deep its roots run.
When former Auburn Athletic Director David Housel was first approached about the idea of letting an eagle fly freely over Jordan-Hare Stadium, he wasn't so sure it would work.
"The people at the Raptor Center came to me when I was athletic director, and they said they wanted to try it. I didn't think it would work. And I've never been happier to be wrong in my life," Housel laughed.
The first flight in 2000 didn't go quite as planned. The eagle, known as Tiger or War Eagle VI, was supposed to soar from the goalpost to midfield. Instead, it covered only a few yards before stopping short.
"He didn't get halfway there before he stopped on the ground," Housel recalled. "Everybody cheered, because that was the best they'd ever seen. I don't believe they had any idea then of what we have now."
That humble beginning would launch a quarter-century of Auburn magic. For Housel, the eagle's flight represents something larger than sport.
"I remember very vividly, in 2001 at the Alabama game," he said. "When that eagle takes flight — number one, it's our country. Number two, it's the power of nature. I looked over at the Alabama section, and every person in there was watching. It binds us all together for one brief, shining moment. Then you go back to being an Auburn fan or an Alabama fan, but for that instant — we're all one."
He's seen the flight silence rivalries, politics, and division.
"I've never seen Republicans or Democrats have political thoughts when that eagle flies," Housel said. "We're Americans, and we're Auburn people. When that eagle is flying, it represents all of us."
Beyond football, the eagle flight has become a powerful symbol for wildlife preservation.
"It has brought an awareness and appreciation for eagles — for all of nature. When you look at it now, some of the flights can last a minute. You get the feeling that the eagle is enjoying it too," said Housel.
Housel, a 1969 Auburn graduate, served as athletic director from 1994 to 2005, following decades as a student, sports information director, and one of the university's most devoted historians. He's known across the Auburn Family as a walking encyclopedia of Tiger lore — and as someone who believes fiercely in people.
"I believe in people. I believe in Auburn people. And I believe in people, period. Don't ever underestimate the human spirit," said Housel.
It's that belief, Housel says, that makes the eagle flight — and Auburn itself — special.
"Even when an idea doesn't work out exactly as planned, you never lose faith in the people behind it," he said. "That's what Auburn has always been about — believing in each other."
Twenty-five years later, that same spirit lives on through the work of the Auburn University Raptor Center, part of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The center is home to the eagles that perform the pregame flights and has grown into one of the nation's leading rehabilitation and education programs for birds of prey.
Dr. Robyn Miller, who became director earlier this year, says the eagles train just like Auburn's athletes.
"We're out here the day before the Georgia game, practicing with our eagles," Miller said. "They train five days a week, about one to four times a day. These birds are building flight endurance and reinforcing the behaviors we want to see on game day."
Miller says the team even coordinates with stadium crews on logistics — including working around the SkyCam that hovers over the field.
"It's something we work with them on, ensuring that it stays higher than the release points," she said. "Our job is to make sure the eagles are safe and comfortable in the environment."
As for which eagle will fly at each game? That's a game-day decision.
"We actually make that call about an hour before kickoff — it depends on who has their game face on," Miller laughed. "But for the first time, we'll be revealing who flies before each game on our social media stories. So keep an eagle eye out for that."
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the eagle flight tradition — a milestone that means as much to the Raptor Center staff as it does to fans.
"It's a meaningful year for the staff, the eagles, and myself," said Miller. "We know how important this tradition is for the community, and we're using it as an opportunity to invite our Auburn Family to rally behind it — to set it up for the next 25 years of success."
Through a combination of practice, trust, and positive reinforcement, the eagles have become true ambassadors for conservation.
"These are still wild birds," Miller explained. "Even though they're trained, they're wild animals, and we've developed this trusting relationship with them through positive reinforcement and repetition. The fact that we can give this gift to the Auburn community means everything. People pack the stands to see that eagle, and it sets the tone for the rest of the game."
Miller says the eagles flying over Jordan-Hare are all non-releasable due to permanent injury or disability, making them powerful ambassadors for their wild counterparts.
"All of the eagles that fly in Jordan-Hare are non-releasable," Miller said. "By serving as ambassadors, they allow others to get up close and personal with these species and help protect their wild kin. Every flight is a chance to inspire someone to care more about wildlife."
The center treats more than 300 injured or ill raptors each year and leads nearly 300 educational programs across the Southeast.
"We're so appreciative of David Housel and the rest of Auburn Athletics for being such great partners over the past 25 years," Miller said. "We look forward to dreaming big with them for the next 25 years. We're going to soar higher than ever."
Miller hopes to expand public access to the Raptor Center in the years ahead.
"My goal is to open our educational outreach to the public in ways we haven't before," she said. "I'd love for people to be able to visit our facilities, engage with our mission, and see these birds in their homes whenever they'd like."
As for Housel, he sees the eagle's flight as more than a symbol — it's a reminder of faith in people and the power of an idea that refused to stay grounded.
"When Robert Fulton invented the steamboat, people said, 'It'll never work.' Then it did — and they said, 'You'll never stop it,'" he said. "That's what this is all about — trying to make something better than what it was."
Twenty-five years after that uncertain first flight, Auburn's eagle still soars — a living, breathing symbol of belief, resilience, and unity.
"I'm so glad it worked out," Housel said quietly. "And I'm so glad I was wrong."
When it lands and the crowd roars "War Eagle," it's not just a chant.
It's a story.
It's a legacy.
It's Auburn — and it still soars.
0 comments: