First Aubie the Tiger recalls debut on the Plains

One of Auburn University’s most ardent football fans once loved the Crimson Tide.

That admission came this week from a politician-planner who has spent the year celebrating the 30th anniversary of having been picked as the first “Aubie” and turning him into one of America’s most recognized mascots.

“I grew up in Alexander City as an Alabama fan, but once I walked onto the Auburn campus, I was hooked,” state Rep. Barry Mask, R-Wetumpka, said this week. “I visited both schools, but I felt so much more at home at Auburn.”

“Aubie” actually was the brainchild of Phil Neel, the Birmingham Post-Herald cartoonist who drew the character that first appeared on Oct. 3, 1959, on the cover of the program that listed starting lineups for Auburn and Hardin-Simmons University.

“Aubie and I were born about the same time,” said Mask, who made his debut on July 25, 1959. “I guess that’s one reason I’ve always felt so close to him. We’ve grown up
together.”

During the 20 years that followed their births, Mask grew to be a six-footer while “Aubie” pretty much stayed the same on football programs throughout the seasons — usually stomping Auburn opponents every Saturday by way of pen and ink drawings.

That all changed in early 1979 when a costume was created to reflect a “mature” mascot who sprang forth from program pages to animated “animal” status on sidelines around the Southeastern Conference.

Mask first appeared in September of 1979 during the AU-Kansas State game. It was blisteringly hot for those wearing shorts and tank tops. Imagine being inside the mascot’s “skin.”

“All I can say is it was really brutal,” Mask said.

Mask invented as he went along and came up with what is known as “The Aubie Walk,” a confident, arm-waving strut.

Mascots who followed Mask, including Danny Richards of Dothan, continue to praise him for his inventiveness.

“Barry came up with things that are still used today, including the ‘Aubie Autograph,”’ Richards said.

“He had nothing to base anything on because he was the first and that’s why he is so important to the creation of Aubie.”