Aubie

Aubie is the official mascot for the Auburn Tigers athletic teams.

Birmingham Post-Herald artist Phil Neel first drew the cartoon tiger Aubie in the late 1950s. He first appeared on a football program for a game against Hardin-Simmons on October 3, 1959. Over the years he gradually became more anthropomorphized, walking upright in 1962 and wearing a blue tie and straw hat in a 1963 appearance. He continued to appear on every home-game program through the 1976 season (a period during which Auburn had a 63-16-2 home record). His image was retired from game programs for the 1977 season, but reappeared on the cover for Auburn's last home game at Legion Field on November 30, 1991.

In 1979, James Lloyd, spirit director for the Auburn Student Government Association, brought Aubie to life when he ordered a $1,350 man-size Aubie costume from Brooks-Van Horn, sending copies of Neel's early 1960's drawings for reference. He wore it to the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center on February 28, 1979 during which Auburn upset Vanderbilt and Georgia to reach the semifinals.

Barry Mask became the first official Aubie in 1979-80, and his sideline and court-side hijinks created Aubie’s spirited personality.

Recognized as one of the most successful college mascots in history, Aubie recently won his sixth national mascot championship through the Universal Cheerleaders’ Association in January 2006.

Aubie was inducted into the inaugural class of the Mascot Hall of Fame on August 15, 2006 at Love Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.