AUBURN, Ala. – Spencer Nigh loved Auburn long before he ever stepped foot on The Plains. It didn't matter that he grew up in Magnolia, Texas, or that his grandfather played football at Arkansas. He's been a devoted Tiger fan his whole life.
"I grew up an Auburn fan and always wanted to come here," said Nigh, whose grandparents taught at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). "We were always Auburn fans because of my grandparents. Joining the football team was the icing on the cake and a dream come true."
The senior has appeared in 26 career games at the H-back spot – a position that is not often spotlighted but one that is critical to Auburn's offensive success. Nigh is happy to contribute to that success in any way possible.
Coming from the state of Texas, playing college football was always the dream for Nigh. At Magnolia High School, he was the District 19-5A MVP his junior and senior years, and playing defensive end, he was also selected as a finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Year.
"Everyone always says there is nothing like Texas high school football, and I agree with that," Nigh said. "But I'm quite a bit outnumbered here in Alabama, so I don't talk about it too much."
Football wasn't the only sport Nigh excelled at in high school. He won state titles in both the shot put and the discus throw as a high school senior, and if he wasn't playing football for Auburn, he'd likely be participating in track and field at a smaller school somewhere.
But at the end of the day, the opportunity to play football at Auburn was too good to pass up. Not only did Nigh grow up a fan, he also understands the Auburn Family. His position coach, Larry Porter, once told him, 'If you love Auburn, it will love you back," and having experienced it as a fan and now as a student-athlete, Nigh truly believes that.
His favorite tradition at Auburn? Tiger Walk. Nigh still remembers visiting for the 2014 Iron Bowl, his first Auburn football experience, and just coming away amazed by the whole thing. Now, instead of watching it as a fan lined up along Donahue Drive cheering as the team passes through, he is one of those players walking through the masses.
Then it's on to the locker room for pre-game where Nigh's Texas roots come out. He listens to country music before every game. If it were up to him, that's all he would listen to regardless of the situation.
Away from football, Nigh is like any other student at Auburn. He's always up for grabbing a good burger. He enjoys hanging out with his friends playing video games or spending time at the pool on a hot day. And he even has a special talent – he can solve the puzzle on the Rubik's Cube in under one minute, an impressive feat.
Nigh, a business major and a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, is scheduled to graduate in December with his bachelor's degree.