Ode to Toomer's Corner

I am by no means an Auburn fan.  However, the poisoning of the oaks at Toomer's Corner is a truly despicable act.  And I'm not alone in my disbelief.  This malicious act has brought together fans across the board.  Yes, even Alabama fans have expressed regret and outrage that one of their own would stoop so low. 

If you haven't heard the story, an Alabama fan poisoned the trees by spreading a large amount of an herbicide around the base of the trees.  Horticulturists don't expect the trees to live.  These 100+ year old trees are going to die and thousands of fans will no longer be able to throw toilet paper on the branches after a big win by the Tigers.  This tradition is about 60 years old by most estimates.  And those trees were BIG when the tradition started.  You just can't replace them over night.

As a University of Illinois graduate, I have suffered through the (unfair) removal of Chief Illiniwek as our symbol.  I was at the University of Georgia's Sanford Stadium when Georgia Tech players stripped the Hedges bare after an upset win.  There was justifiable outrage on both accounts.   They pale to the premeditated killing of these majestic trees by A RIVAL FAN.  Now, I personally think it's silly to throw toilet paper at a tree as a way of celebrating a win.  I remember cleaning up rolled trees, so I feel for the unfortunate person assigned to clean up the mess.  But here's the thing.  It's a tradition.  Traditions bind us through generations in everything from sports to religion (although to some it's one and the same).  Like the cadet and midshipmen parade before the Army-Navy game, the dotting of the "i" during the Ohio State pregame, or the midnight yell at Texas A&M, traditions are what you look forward to, what you know and what you can cherish with people of all generations.

For those of you that are saying "it's just a tree, get over it," you're right.  It's not the loss of a parent or a child.  And there is no heartache like that.  But, I also feel sorry for you because you obviously have never felt so passionate about something that you could find happiness in celebrating the richness of a time-honored tradition or the quickening of your heart when you heard a familiar song.

I don't want my children to be too over the top in supporting a sports team, or anything else for that matter.  But I do think it's important to find something that is bigger than you and joins you with others, to celebrate and cheer.  We don't live in an isolated world - we are meant to be social.  The miserable person who killed Toomer's Corner, along with a little bit of joy in college football, clearly was never taught that it is in fact just a game, that differences are OK, and that you can respect and enjoy others' traditions without switching allegiances.  In fact, shooting those traditions down - or in this case killing them - will only make the passions stronger.