Joe McAdory: 1996 Auburn-LSU football game a real barnburner

Carl Stephens, Jordan-Hare Stadium’s venerable public address announcer bellowed to the crowd, “Tonight’s attendance, 85,214.” The sports writer to my right in the stadium’s press box turned to me and said, “Wow, that’s the largest number of people to ever watch a fire in the state of Alabama.”

What appeared as a plume of smoke morphed into a deep orange glow, then absolutely flamed into legend.

They still call it “The Night the Barn Burned.” Evidently, a careless tailgater, parked adjacent to the old Auburn Sports Arena (aka the Barn) didn’t turn off his grill before the 1996 LSU at Auburn football game. By the time the second quarter rolled around, he was cooking much more than ribs and pork tenderloin.

Flames peaked higher than the stadium’s east upper deck. From the press box, it appeared the east side of the stadium was ablaze. Was the stadium on fire? Is concrete that flammable? How were the fans going to escape? And just why in the name of Al Del Greco can’t Auburn make a field goal?

People didn’t panic. Fans on the east side simply watched the fire in stunned amazement from the top of the stadium and along the swirling southeast ramp. Explosions, either transformers or what was left of a few automobiles, rattled the campus.

Though we were at a safe distance in the press box clear on the other side of the stadium, we couldn’t help but wonder how far that blaze would spread. The massive smoke cloud could endanger thousands if the winds shifted. What then? Thank-fully, that never happened.

In what was the largest local emergency since the Kopper Kettle exploded in 1978, fire engines raced to the scene. Almost every available unit in the surrounding area was on hand, desperately trying to save this vintage, wooden structure. Obviously, there was little hope. It was a complete tinderbox.

The arena Auburn once played its men’s basketball games inside was gone in what became the bonfire in school history.

Hard-pressed to watch what was also a barnburner of a game on the field, the same sports writer turned to me and said, “We’re missing a great fire because of this stupid football game.”

Firefighters fought the good fight outside of the stadium. Inside, Auburn’s football team was in a firefight of its own. Quar-terback Dameyune Craig was injured, but backup Jon Cooley rallied the Tigers to two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Despite Cooley’s heroics, he also tossed three interceptions in the fourth quarter and the Tigers’ comeback bid was, well, up in smoke.

Final scores: LSU 19, Auburn 15; and Giant Fire 1, Auburn Sports Arena 0.

Though the university lost its old arena and the school’s gymnastics team lost its practice facility that night, two good things came from the rubble. A shiny new parking deck now rests in its place. Parking is always an issue on campus and it was inconceivable to park a handful of automobiles inside the arena.

Also, Auburn gymnasts have the opportunity to practice in one of the finest facilities in the South, a spectacular arena built on West Samford Avenue.

So, when you light up your grill on campus Saturday, think about what you’re doing. Be mindful of the children playing around you, the vehicles parked nearby, and the trees that hang above. You are a guest. Leave campus the way you found it.

And by all means, don’t burn any buildings.

Joe McAdory is editorial page editor for the Opelika-Auburn News. He can be reached at 737-2549 or jmcadory@oanow.com