Sept. 19, 2016
There was no short supply of celebrations for the Auburn Family last Saturday. On the heels of a thrilling 51-14 win over Arkansas State, it was time for the return of the great tradition of rolling Toomer's Corner.
Will Barksdale from Russellville, Alabama, had reason to celebrate more than anyone that night on Toomer's Corner. Amidst toilet paper flying, he got down on one knee and asked his girlfriend of four years, Jordan Allen, to marry him.
Will and Jordan's love story began in December of 2012. Will was in the middle of his senior year at Auburn, and Toomer's Corner immediately became one of their signature spots on campus.
"The first thing we always had to do when she came to Auburn to visit me was get a lemonade from Toomer's Corner, sit on the bricks under the tree's and catch up," said Will. "We did that every single time she came to Auburn".
When it came time for the last rolling of the old trees in April of 2013 after A-day, Will and Jordan were among the 83,000 people saying farewell at Toomer's Corner.
After three more years of dating, Will decided there was no better place to ask Jordan to marry him than the place they had spent so much time over the years.
"I decided to propose to her at the first rolling of the new trees, right in the spot we sat, drank lemonade and laughed all those years", said Will.
After a long day of trying not to seem too nervous or give anything away, the game finally ended. Auburn was victorious and it was time to grab toilet paper and head to Toomer's.
"My first thought was that we have to pull off this win. I figured we were going to win but my plan was only going to work if we rolled Toomer's and we had to win the football game to roll Toomer's," said Will.
What seemed to be just another trip to roll the trees ended up being a night Jordan would never forget.
"I was completely caught off guard and so surprised", said Jordan. "I thought we were taking a picture and then all of a sudden I look down and Will is on one knee".
Will could not have planned out a better day if he tried. Just minutes after popping the question, the night got even more exciting as Gus Malzahn and the team entered the scene.
Gus came walking up with the team and I yelled 'Gus, we just got engaged! Could we take a picture with you?'" said Will.
Their life as an engaged couple was turning out to be nothing short of exciting.
"We had only been engaged for five minutes and we had already gotten a picture and been congratulated by Gus Malzahn. That's something I'll never forget," said Jordan.
The two plan on getting married in the summer of 2017 and are eager to start their lives together as an Auburn family.
"The tree's had a new beginning on Saturday and now so do we", said Will.