Nov. 26, 2014
By Chelsea Zillner
Football Saturday's on The Plains are anything but ordinary. From the tailgating to the eagle flight, Auburn offer's a first class game day experience. This past Saturday however, Auburn welcomed nine children and their families from Special Spectators to experience Auburn football in a way very few ever get the chance to.
Special Spectators creates a VIP game day experiences for seriously ill children and their families. In recent years Auburn and Special Spectators have teamed up to create a one of a kind game day experience. The kids and their families arrive three hours before Auburn would face Samford with a game day goody bag and a student-athlete waiting for them.
"Participating in Special Spectators as a student-athlete was an incredible experience," said senior women's golfer Nicole Quinn. "I hope I made as big of an impact on them as they did on me."
Tiger Walk is one of Auburn's most iconic game day traditions. Auburn fans line up hours before the game for a chance to high-five their favorite players. The kids of Special Spectators got the chance to be like their favorite Auburn football players and lead Tiger Walk into Jordan Hare Stadium. The streets were lined with fans waiting to cheer and give high fives. No Tiger Walk experience is complete without a picture with Coach Gus Malzahn and a tour of the Auburn locker room. For Kari Merriken, seeing her child's face light up as he experienced Tiger Walk was an incredible moment.
"The greatest moment for me was when the kids went down the Tiger Walk, and the fans started cheering and holding out their hands for the kids. In that moment, these amazing kids got the recognition they deserve as they each courageously fight their own battles. They are my heroes."
With all the commotion of Tiger Walk, dinner overlooking Plainsman Park was a nice way to refuel before heading to the stadium for pregame warm-up. The Special Spectators watched the Tigers warm up from the 50-yard line. Little eyes twinkled and jaws dropped as the eagle made its flight around Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Auburn seniors were recognized and thanked for a job well done before the Special Spectators were brought to midfield for the coin toss. For one Special Spectator, Charlotte Vance, the coin toss was a memory she won't soon forget.
"It was hands-down one of the coolest moments of my life," said Vance. "To be midfield surrounded by all the fans in Jordan-Hare was definitely a memory that I will keep forever."
As the kids came off the field, there was an entire Auburn football team there to cheer them on. The rain began to fall and the children and their families made their way to the stands to watch the Tigers capture their eighth win of the season. For the children and parents of Special Spectator's, these are the memories that will last a lifetime.