Auburn gets fired up for Georgia

Auburn students celebrated on the eve of the upcoming rivalry game against Georgia by smashing a car — all in good fun and for a good cause — and by throwing a big pep rally on campus Friday.

The car was set up on Gay Street at the Wesley Foundation. Students got two hits for $1 or 2 minutes for $5.

“Take a sledge hammer and get out some of the stress from the past week,” said Jeremy Walker, an AU junior and a member of the Wesley Foundation.

The Wesley Foundation is the campus ministry of the United Methodist Church. It hosted the car-smashing event.

Money raised will help fund mission trips abroad, Walker said.

Meanwhile, about 700 students gathered on campus for a Student Government Association pep rally at the Bibb-Graves Amphitheater.

The AU cheerleaders, the Tiger Paws dance line, Aubie, the AU marching band, Tiger Eyes flag line, AU Rhythm, the Auburn Boys (a rap group) and the AU Singers provided entertainment.

Lesley Ireland, director of Spirit, a part of the SGA that promotes AU athletic events, said she hoped the intense rivalry with Georgia and the pep rally would give the school a shot of adrenalin.

“Every Saturday is a new game,” she said.

Students seemed to enjoy the spectacle.

“You get to see all the organizations,” said Mary Louise Gore, a junior hotel and restaurant management major. “I love it.”