How did the tradition start?

[WarEagle84 0]

When I was a student, it never occurred to me to ask how we got started rolling Toomer's Corner. It was a fun tradition that seemed extra cool because in high school it was a prank we got in trouble for if we got caught. But with all the media coverage, I'm wondering how the tradition got started (and why none of the news stories bothers to ask the question).

The obvious assumption is that it was a sort of natural outgrowth of having rolled the Tide one fall Saturday long ago. Has anyone heard/read any specifics? When was the first rolling of TC?

[WarEagle2 53]

Not real sure, but I heard from somewhere that it was due to the fact that the ticker tape from the telegraph inside Toomer's would be thrown over the tree to signal a win. The ticker tape just evolved into TP.

[AFTiger 282]

I was raised in Auburn and graduated in 1968, I never saw anything thrown over the tree on Toomer's Corner. While I was there Toomers was the gathering place of students after a major football victory when the game was not in Auburn. The score would be enscribed in tempra paint on stores, windows, and passing automobiles and trucks (often over the objection of the driver who just happend to be passing through).

The tradition of throwing toilet paper after the game started after 1968.

[OldNewby 27]

In 1955 I remember the Auburn-Georgia Tech score being painted all over the place. We always played them in Atlanta and hadn't beaten them in a long time. 14-12 was everywhere!

[TitanTiger 21,239]

From what I understand on the ticker tape thing, the owner of Toomer's Drugs would roll the corner he's on with the ticker tape to signify an Auburn win after getting word via the telegraph. This was for out of town games. Not sure how consistent it was over the years but the TP'ing of the oaks started sometime in the late 60s by all accounts.

[WarEagle84 0]

This 1964 Sports Illustrated article mentions painting game scores on store fronts and passing cars around Toomer's Corner, but not a mention of toilet paper.

[HSVTIGER 5]

I seem to remember that back before they buried the utilities, the toilet paper would be thrown over the power lines, so that there would be a wall of toilet paper all around the intersection. Does anyone else remember that?

[Mikey 16,781]

I graduated in 1969. I remember a number of gatherings at Toomer's Corner, particularly after big road wins. These were much like a pep rally with lots of cheers and a general good time. I can't swear that there was no rolling with toilet paper but I sure don't remember any such thing. I stayed at Auburn as a staff member through 1976. I simply cannot remember when I first heard of adding the rolling thing to the pep rallies, victory celebrations, or whatever you want to call them.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

There is an article in today's Huntsville Times by Evan Woodberry talking about the tradition of rolling Toomers. I tried but can't find the article online yet. It may get posted later today.

Woodberry basicly interviews former Auburn AD David Housel who probably knows as much about the history of Auburn traditions as anyone. Housel believes the first modern-style "rolling" of Toomers came after the 1972 "Punt, Bama,Punt" game. Housel says "we had a tailback named Terry Henley, who was also the Mouth of the South. Alabama was ranked #2 and all week long Henley said we are going to beat the #2 out of bama. After that game,when Auburn won, they came back and there was toilet paper everywhere."

But Housel also says the tradition has evolved more recently than 1972. He says "Auburn hasn't been rolling the trees that long, maybe the last 15-20 years. Until that time, there were utility wires crossing Toomer's Corner, and the toilet paper would be thrown over those wires. Then the city decided to put those wires underground so people started rolling the trees." In the end of the interview Housel says "that's why even without the trees the celebrations would go on in some form."

David is a great guy and really fun to talk to. Don't ever pass up the opportunity if you have it. He frequents Chappy's on Glenn Av. for breakfast and usually sits in the back in a booth. He calls that booth his office and delights in someone "coming in."

But caution, you better have lots of time if you do.

[Kelly Kearns 0]

The Official site, with the history and the updates of what is going on.

http://ocm.auburn.edu/news/oaks_history.html

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

The Official site, with the history and the updates of what is going on.

http://ocm.auburn.edu/news/oaks_history.html

I don't see anything here that really conflicts with Housel's comments. He is focused more on the rolling of the trees as opposed to the longer history of having a small amount of toilet paper scattered around the intersection. As further evidence to support his belief that the all out rolling of the trees began in 1972, he notes that there was no rolling of the trees in 1971 the night Pat Sullivan won the Heismann Trophy.

[Kelly Kearns 0]

The Official site, with the history and the updates of what is going on.

http://ocm.auburn.edu/news/oaks_history.html

I don't see anything here that really conflicts with Housel's comments. He is focused more on the rolling of the trees as opposed to the longer history of having a small amount of toilet paper scattered around the intersection. As further evidence to support his belief that the all out rolling of the trees began in 1972, he notes that there was no rolling of the trees in 1971 the night Pat Sullivan won the Heismann Trophy.

Wasn't contradicting what he said. The OP asked for info, I supplied an official site with that info and more...an update of what they are doing with the trees.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

The Official site, with the history and the updates of what is going on.

http://ocm.auburn.edu/news/oaks_history.html

I don't see anything here that really conflicts with Housel's comments. He is focused more on the rolling of the trees as opposed to the longer history of having a small amount of toilet paper scattered around the intersection. As further evidence to support his belief that the all out rolling of the trees began in 1972, he notes that there was no rolling of the trees in 1971 the night Pat Sullivan won the Heismann Trophy.

Wasn't contradicting what he said. The OP asked for info, I supplied an official site with that info and more...an update of what they are doing with the trees.

I didn't suggest you or the article contradicted what David said. You need to take a sensitivity pill.

I would point out that the last update at the bottom of the "official" site is a little misleading unless you read it carefully. One could interpret it to say the first getting away form the intersection and rolling the Toomer Oaks was in 1989. I think what it is saying is that 1989 was when the rolling spread to other trees down the street. I can certainly say for a fact that the Toomer Oaks were rolled long before 1989.

[banditmwp 713]

David is a great guy and really fun to talk to. Don't ever pass up the opportunity if you have it. He frequents Chappy's on Glenn Av. for breakfast and usually sits in the back in a booth. He calls that booth his office and delights in someone "coming in."

But caution, you better have lots of time if you do.

We encountered Dr. Housel at the BCSNCG and talked to him for quite a while Monday outside the stadium. Agreed that he is fun to talk to...the man has some stories to tell!

[Kelly Kearns 0]

The Official site, with the history and the updates of what is going on.

http://ocm.auburn.edu/news/oaks_history.html

I don't see anything here that really conflicts with Housel's comments. He is focused more on the rolling of the trees as opposed to the longer history of having a small amount of toilet paper scattered around the intersection. As further evidence to support his belief that the all out rolling of the trees began in 1972, he notes that there was no rolling of the trees in 1971 the night Pat Sullivan won the Heismann Trophy.

Wasn't contradicting what he said. The OP asked for info, I supplied an official site with that info and more...an update of what they are doing with the trees.

I didn't suggest you or the article contradicted what David said. You need to take a sensitivity pill.

I would point out that the last update at the bottom of the "official" site is a little misleading unless you read it carefully. One could interpret it to say the first getting away form the intersection and rolling the Toomer Oaks was in 1989. I think what it is saying is that 1989 was when the rolling spread to other trees down the street. I can certainly say for a fact that the Toomer Oaks were rolled long before 1989.

Don't need a sensitivity pill at all. Not sure what your purpose then in pointing out to me that nothing was said to contradict a link I posted with no commentary.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

The Official site, with the history and the updates of what is going on.

http://ocm.auburn.edu/news/oaks_history.html

I don't see anything here that really conflicts with Housel's comments. He is focused more on the rolling of the trees as opposed to the longer history of having a small amount of toilet paper scattered around the intersection. As further evidence to support his belief that the all out rolling of the trees began in 1972, he notes that there was no rolling of the trees in 1971 the night Pat Sullivan won the Heismann Trophy.

Wasn't contradicting what he said. The OP asked for info, I supplied an official site with that info and more...an update of what they are doing with the trees.

I didn't suggest you or the article contradicted what David said. You need to take a sensitivity pill.

I would point out that the last update at the bottom of the "official" site is a little misleading unless you read it carefully. One could interpret it to say the first getting away form the intersection and rolling the Toomer Oaks was in 1989. I think what it is saying is that 1989 was when the rolling spread to other trees down the street. I can certainly say for a fact that the Toomer Oaks were rolled long before 1989.

Don't need a sensitivity pill at all. Not sure what your purpose then in pointing out to me that nothing was said to contradict a link I posted with no commentary.

No devious purpose intended. I was simply saying that what you posted from an "oficial site" was not in conflict with anything Housel said. What's wrong with that? I thought what you posted and what David said painted as much is as is really known about what the OP was looking for.

[AFTiger 282]

I seem to remember that back before they buried the utilities, the toilet paper would be thrown over the power lines, so that there would be a wall of toilet paper all around the intersection. Does anyone else remember that?

I remember the ever present pair of tennis shoes that were hanging from the wire.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

I seem to remember that back before they buried the utilities, the toilet paper would be thrown over the power lines, so that there would be a wall of toilet paper all around the intersection. Does anyone else remember that?

I remember the ever present pair of tennis shoes that were hanging from the wire.

Me too. Thanks for jogging my memory of those.