AUBURN, Ala. – When they enrolled at Auburn in the summer of 2017, 20 years had passed since the Tigers had competed in the College World Series.
Within two years, the Auburn baseball Class of 2021 helped take the Tigers back to Omaha.
When they committed to play for Auburn, they bought into coach Butch Thompson's three pillars: embracing his vision to build a competitive program in the unforgiving SEC West, attacking it with hard work, and leaving a legacy for those who would follow.
"We're a group of hard-nosed guys who come in day in and day out and go to work," pitcher Cody Greenhill said. "I want that legacy of hard work to stay here when we leave, and I think it will."
"We're a bunch of grinders," said outfielder Steven Williams. "We've been through a lot of ups and downs and we always struck together pretty well. Hopefully that sets an example for the younger guys coming in."
"We've shown what hard work can do for a program," outfielder Judd Ward said. "How staying together, working with each other. I think that shows a lot that the younger guys will pick up on and continue to build on."
"No one is too cool for anyone else," third baseman Rankin Woley said. "That's something we definitely left. We can have fun at the field and play baseball well, but also we hang out a lot off the field, and that's just as important."
Were it not for a pandemic that ended their junior seasons before SEC play and shortened the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft to five rounds, many of Auburn's six seniors would not have returned for 2021.
Having played their final game at Plainsman Park, the seniors reflected on their four seasons, and the bonds they created as Auburn baseball teammates.
"The connections we've all made as teammates and brothers," pitcher Peyton Glavine said. "Our ability to make the most out of every situation and still have fun with each other has been pretty awesome."
"Baseball is a competitive sport and it's fun, but we have such a good time when we're together," pitcher Jack Owen said. "When we came in four years ago, we didn't know each other very well. Now, I don't plan on ever not being friends with these guys.
"I've spent so much time with them and it's been an awesome experience. I love what I got do to here and these guys mean the world to me."
As they begin a win-or-go-home series at Missouri, the Super Six shared their shining moments as Auburn baseball players:'We made it': Peyton Glavine says lining up for the 2019 College World Series was his 'shining moment'
Peyton Glavine: "Stepping out on the field in Omaha for the opening ceremony and then for game one. It was so surreal for me because you always dream about that growing up. To be there in the moment and look around and think, we made it, we're here and we deserve to be here. That's probably the shining moment for me."
Tiger pile: Teammates celebrate with Cody Greenhill after Auburn recorded the final out of the 2019 Super Region at North Carolina
Cody Greenhill: "The pitch and the inning to get us to Omaha. And the whole outing at LSU for us to win that third game (in the 2019 regular season finale) and me to come out of the pen and throw six innings, 90 pitches. That was the turning point for me. I feel like we really clicked going into the SEC Tournament that next week. Both of those moments are just special for me."
'The coolest moment': Fans cheer at Tiger Walk before Jack Owen started Auburn's first game of the 2019 College World Series
Jack Owen: "I'll never forget going to Omaha. All the Auburn fans coming out as we were leaving the hotel. There had to have been a thousand people in the hotel cheering us on. That was definitely the coolest moment of my career. Getting back from Omaha, we lost two games, we get back to Plainsman Park and there's at least 500 people outside cheering us on, giving us hugs and welcoming us back. Those are the coolest moments I've ever had in my baseball career."
Thirteen in the first: Judd Ward celebrates after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning of Auburn's 2019 Super Regional at North Carolina
Judd Ward: "Thirteen runs in the first inning against North Carolina (in game three of the 2019 Super Regional). That was pretty special, especially in game three of a must-win to go to Omaha. (Ward led off the game with a walk and scored, then hit a three-run home run in the inning that gave Auburn an 8-0 lead). Looking back on it, it's definitely something that's really special that you don't see happen much, and to do it on that stage makes it even better."
Steven Williams' walk-off home run vs. Georgia Tech in the 2019 Atlanta Regional
Steven Williams: "Definitely the walk-off. (Williams' three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth in Auburn's 6-5 win vs. Georgia Tech in the 2019 NCAA Atlanta Regional). That was a surreal feeling. It's something you dream about as a little kid. Bottom of the ninth and you walk it off for the team you grew up cheering for. That's definitely the first thing that comes to mind."
After his clutch double helped Auburn win game one of the 2019 Super Regional, Rankin Woley recorded the final out in the decisive game three
Rankin Woley: "I would say the Super Regional at North Carolina, hitting that ball when we were down 5-4 in the eighth inning in game one. (Woley's three-run double was the key hit in Auburn's 11-7 win). I think that was probably the coolest moment for me personally. I remember when Steven hit that home run at Georgia Tech, that's probably everybody's most memorable memory. I was on base and I just remember seeing the ball go up and absolutely blacking out around the bases. It was so cool."
K Korner: After their final home game, Auburn's six seniors received signed cards from fans
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer