Before and during each home football game this season, Auburn Athletics' "Welcome Home" series will offer fans a live look at Auburn's unmatched traditions.
On Thursday of each game week, we will provide background on Auburn's social media platforms of an Auburn tradition. Then on game day, we'll share that tradition with fans live on Auburn Tigers' Twitter account.
For the home opener against Alabama State, we'll spotlight the pregame eagle flight.
Auburn's first eagle flight took place on Aug. 31, 2000, before the Tigers played Wyoming.
Joe Shelnutt, who directed the Southeastern Raptor Center at Auburn University's College of Veterinary Medicine, and Roy Crowe, a volunteer eagle trainer, worked with War Eagle VI, a female golden eagle named Tiger.
In partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn's Raptor Center promotes wildlife conservation, education and rehabilitation.
Every year, Auburn's staff helps hundreds of injured birds of prey return to their natural habitats. A few, like Spirit, the bald eagle that will handle all of our pregame flights this season, have conditions that make them non-releasable.
Compared to the majestic flights Auburn fans are accustomed to watching, Tiger's maiden voyage paled in comparison.
Departing from its perch on the goal post, Tiger flew down to the field in a matter of seconds. It was quite unremarkable.
After another brief flight before Auburn's second game, the Raptor Center crew said, 'It would be a lot better show if y'all let us move this bird up in the stadium and release it from there."
That's what occurred before Auburn's third home game, Sept. 23, 2000, against Northern Illinois.
After thrilling Auburn fans as it circled the stadium, Tiger landed safely near midfield, and another Auburn tradition was born.
Found in Florida with an injured wing and beak, 22-year-old Spirit first began flying at Jordan-Hare in 2002.
Just like Auburn's football team, Spirit practices five days a week, making hundreds of test flights each year.
Using a leather lure, trainers teach the eagles that every time they touch the lure, they'll receive a food reward.
Practice makes perfect. That's how, in a stadium filled with 87,451, Spirit knows exactly where to go.
Wind direction determines whether Spirit will release from the southwest or northeast corner of the stadium. The eagle flies with the wind, so it gets pushed into the stadium, instead of against the wind, which would create lift, making for an unpredictable journey.
With a 6-foot wingspan and more grip strength in its talons than a lion has in its jaw bite, Auburn's eagle flight inspires with its majesty.
Traditions are important. They connect us. As they are passed down to the next generation of Auburn people, they help preserve those things that make us uniquely Auburn. That's what the "Welcome Home" series is all about.
Here are the Auburn Tiger traditions and games during which they'll be featured on "Welcome Home":
Eagle Flight: Alabama State
Tailgating: LSU
Auburn University Marching Band: Arkansas
Toomer's Corner: Southern Miss
Tiger Walk: Tennessee
In-venue experience: Texas A&M
Aubie: Liberty