'Nothing but love' - Auburn Fan Day

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Aug. 19, 2017

By Jeff Shearer
AuburnTigers.com

AUBURN, Ala. - Tony Jones arrived at Auburn's Indoor practice facility Saturday at 7 a.m., more than 8 hours before the doors opened for Fan Day.

"To be first in line," said Jones, who has been travelling to Fan Day from Anniston, Ala., since 2005.

Like Jones, Mobile's Brett Costello also arrived in Auburn Friday night and lined up early Saturday morning.

"We've had a tradition where we've always been first in line," said Costello, who belongs to a group that calls itself "Auburn Freaks."

Arriving early allowed the super fans to plot their autograph-seeking strategy.

"Get the starting quarterback, Jarrett Stidham," Jones said.

"I'm going to go for the quarterback, too," said Costello. "And then I'm going for my Mobile people like Tre' Williams and Deshaun Davis.

Speaking of Williams, his uncle, Terrence Vaughn, came to Fan Day from Montgomery with his young son, Chase.

"Tre's last fan day. It's bittersweet," said Vaughn. "The family atmosphere. We've been here all day and it's been nothing but love."

Having a nephew who plays for the Tigers, Vaughn said, has been "awesome."

"Through the ups and the downs, it's been the same. It's been still the Auburn family. Win, lose or draw, it doesn't matter," Vaughn said. "And he's receiving his degree in December, which is what we came here for. It's awesome."

Inside the Athletics Complex, Anna Wilson, who says she's been an Auburn fan "all my life," drove from Clanton, Ala., to be first in line to meet Auburn coach Gus Malzahn.

"I came here really early because I wanted to see Gus and get him to sign my poster, hopefully take a picture with him," she said, before accomplishing both objectives.

Waiting in the line to see senior defensive back Nick Ruffin was Nick's mother, Renee.

"Fan Day is an opportunity for them to give back to the community," Renee Ruffin said. "All of these folks spend an entire season, sometimes a whole year, preparing for football season and to support these guys.

"I think it's very rewarding for them to be able to see all of these folks out here who love and support them and care about not only the game but the university. I think it's a great motivational opportunity for them to kick off the season."

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: Follow @jeff_shearer