AUBURN, Ala. – Perseverance, dedication and a drive to succeed. These qualities and more make up a great Auburn Man or Woman. No one embodies them more than Chris Bobo.
Bobo, the senior cornerback from Alpharetta, Georgia, came to Auburn in the fall of 2017. His initial interest in Auburn was because it checked all the boxes. He wanted to find a good aerospace engineering program at a school that was not far from home and he didn't want a tech school. He liked Auburn but wasn't entirely sold until he made his first visit.
"When I visited with my parents, I came on a War Eagle Day and it just felt like home. I just felt right," Bobo said. "I didn't need to visit anywhere else after that."
It's Fall, 2017. Bobo is going to his classes, getting great grades and like the average college freshman, attending every football game. Initially, he never intended to play college football, nor play for Auburn. However, his interests were piqued during the Clemson game that year and something just clicked.
"I was watching the guys at that game and I just got this feeling that I could be out there at some point, or at least be on the team," Bobo said. "I definitely felt like I would prefer to at least be on the sidelines with the team rather than in the stands."
With this new resolve, Bobo set out to make his dreams a reality. For an entire fall and spring semester, he was up early to train and in bed right after studying. With the support of Larry Bobo, his father and longtime Auburn fan, Chris was tryout ready.
"I walked on in the spring of 2018 and I was blessed enough to make the team," Bobo said. "I really wouldn't have done it without my dad. He was adamant the whole time that I was going to make the team. Even after the tryout, I thought there was no chance of making the team, but he kept telling me I would make it."
Bobo cited making the Auburn football team as one of his greatest accomplishments, but it also led to his greatest challenge at Auburn as he was faced with the daunting task of balancing football and his aerospace classes.
"It was a big shock to my system," he said. "I went from being an average college student with no responsibilities, apart from a few groups I was in, to the responsibilities and the time commitment of an Auburn football player."
After a whirlwind of a sophomore year trying to make it all work, Bobo bounced back his junior year and was able to establish a rigorous study program that fit around his newly hectic schedule, earning a spot on the SEC Academic Honor Roll. He said it all came down to making what little free time he had count. In his mind, there were no excuses for bad grades, even when faced with constant daily training.
Another factor that contributed heavily to Bobo's success has been friendship. During his junior year he made a great group of friends that he could study with whenever. He attributes his tremendous grades to the healthy competition and accountability factor built within that group.
"We started competing with our test scores," he said. "Whoever gets the lowest score has to provide the other two lunch. It just brought competition into the academic world, which helped me a lot."
To Bobo, the word Auburn is synonymous with family. Starting college, he never thought he would have so many different friends at differing stages of their lives. He has friends in his aerospace program, friends from campus and classes, and friends on the football team – all of whom he can call at any time for anything.
"I would say the best part of the Auburn experience has been the outpouring of acceptance from so many different types of people," Bobo said. "For me, to be able to bring them together and have them all get along is cool to see."
Senior year is here, and it's time for one final ride through the season. Bobo remains locked in on and off the field. He's looking for a job as an aerospace engineer after he graduates in the spring, potentially working on space craft or exploring the final frontier himself. The future is not just a matter of success. It's also about giving back.
"I want to make my parents proud," Bobo said. "And make everyone that's invested into me proud. So many people have helped me along the way. Knowing that, I want to be able to achieve my goals and look back and thank them because I wouldn't have been able to get there without them."
As Bobo, an Auburn Man through and through, readies for the next chapter of his life, it will be his drive, intelligence and work ethic that land him in the stars.
