Rollin': Auburn says oak trees at Toomer's Corner can be rolled
Let the good times roll.
One of Auburn's great traditions is ready for a comeback, as the university announced Tuesday the two main oak trees at Toomer's Corner are ready to be rolled and be covered in toilet paper.
"The rolling of Toomer’s Corner is one of the nation’s top sports traditions," Auburn president Christopher B. Roberts said in a statement. "Our fans have come together for decades on the corner of Magnolia and College to celebrate our big wins. In recent years, we continued our cherished tradition by rolling different trees, but I am very excited that the Auburn Family will once again be able to roll our most prominent trees."
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History of rolling the oak trees at Toomer's Corner
The tradition of covering Toomer's Corner in toilet paper has been an Auburn staple for decades, said to have begun when nearby drugstore, Toomer's Drugs, would throw ticker tape from telegraphs on powerlines when word was received of an away win. At some point in the 1970s is when the toilet paper tradition began, according to athletic director emeritus David Housel.
However, things took a turn for the worse when the oak trees, planted between 1937 and 1939, were poisoned in 2010 by Alabama fan Harvey Updyke following the Crimson Tide's loss to the Cam Newton-led Tigers. The trees were eventually removed in 2013, and new ones were put in place in 2015, but one of the trees was lit on fire after a rolling in 2016. Those trees were damaged and also removed.
In February 2017, the university planted the current oak trees, and asked fans to not roll until they were established. Now, the rolling can continue.
"Both trees have made excellent progress since planting took place six years ago and are now considered to have recovered from transplant stress," said Auburn University arborist Alex Hedgepath. "Because of the Auburn Family’s commitment, the trees are now established and can withstand rolling and cleanup efforts after Auburn athletic victories. With continued care, we expect the trees to grow vigorously and become further established."
The university will continue to monitor the trees' health weekly, which "will be even more intense as we combat the impact of rolling," Hedgepath said.
Auburn fans will hope there are several opportunities to roll in the 2023 season, as the Tigers will kick off the campaign at home against UMass on Sept. 2.