Auburn’s been regarded as a college football Shangri-la. An oasis of passion, pride and hospitality nestled betwixt Southern pines and plains.
Ask the Washington State fans, who fawned over the area after their visit in 2006.
Ask the visitors last year from Kansas State, many of whom wrote letters of thanks to their newfound Auburn friends.
Ask Syracuse fans, whose visit in 2002 made many wish the northeast had a spirited, friendly venue like the one they watched the Orangemen and Tigers play.
To many with no predispositions or no distorted feelings of rivalry one way or the other, Auburn (and the greater Auburn-Opelika community for that matter) is a friendly place to visit, tailgate, meet new friends, bring your loved ones, watch a major sporting event, and go home content.
But there are bad apples. They grow on trees everywhere.
Unprovoked fans who spew obscenities and show juvenile, hostile tendencies toward others — whether they are visitors or not — are an embarrassment to the university, the community and themselves.
Thankfully, more times than not Auburn has been regarded as a venue where visitors do not feel threatened.
Auburn hosts Louisiana-Monroe Saturday evening in the first football game of the season. Passion runs high, particularly when expectations are equally high.
We urge Auburn fans, residents and business owners of the community to join together in making the visitors from Monroe feel welcome and consider Lee County, as a place they want to return. Our reputation is on the line.
Regardless of the score, we would hope those wearing orange and blue show the class they have earned the reputation for showing.
Give a friendly hello to the Warhawk fans and friendly “good games” afterward.
It makes no sense that college football fans in this nation be mortal enemies.
Whether your school colors are orange, blue, red, white or black, let’s remember that it’s just a game.
We’re all people sharing this land together enjoying the great game we love.
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