AUBURN, Ala. – Buddy McClinton remembers when Auburn's football operations moved into brand new Memorial Coliseum, before it bore the names of Jeff Beard and Joel Eaves, in the spring of 1969.
"We came into the coliseum when it was brand spanking new," recalled McClinton, who starred in the secondary for the Tigers from 1967-69 and remains the program's career interceptions leader more than a half century later. "We thought we'd died and gone to heaven, and you can put that inside this facility."
McClinton joined approximately 200 fellow members of the Auburn Football Lettermen Club Friday, watching the Tigers practice and touring the Woltosz Football Performance Center.
"It is just unbelievable," said McClinton, whose grandson, Mac McClinton, is a sophomore defensive back. "It is spectacular. Everything about it is first class. What a great recruiting tool."
2004 SEC Player of the Year Jason Campbell attended the Auburn Football Lettermen Club event
First-year head coach Hugh Freeze is putting that recruiting tool to excellent use, welcoming prospective student-athletes on unofficial visits during spring practice and connecting with former players ranging from the Shug Jordan era to the 2020s.
"They laid the groundwork for all the great Auburn tradition that we have for the football program," Freeze said. "The belief that this can be one of the elite programs is based on what the former players have proven in that stadium can be done.
"We owe them a debt of gratitude for laying the groundwork for all the wonderful things we have now. It doesn't happen without someone before you having great success. It was good to have them out today."
"Coach Freeze was so gracious with his time," said McClinton, a 1969 All-American. "I'm seeing guys I haven't seen in so many years. It's a great turnout and everybody is really excited about the coaching staff."
Auburn Football Lettermen Club president Justin Garrett: 'We want to support the next generation'
Justin Garrett, who played linebacker for Auburn from 2011-15, serves as president of the AFLC.
"Take a look at the turnout," Garrett said, motioning to the sidelines and end zone filled with former players. "I haven't seen anything like this since I played at Auburn. Everybody's excited for the upcoming season, supporting Hugh Freeze and what he's going to do with the football program. We want to support the next generation of athletes coming up."
As Jarquez Hunter raced for a touchdown during Friday's scrimmage, Liston Eddins, who played for Jordan from 1973-75 and whose sons Bret and Bart helped Auburn win Southeastern Conference championships in 2004 and 2010, respectively, recalled once seeing SEC legends four decades earlier at the same location, back when it was the site of Auburn's track.
Bo Jackson vs. Herschel Walker in a 100-meter dash.
Former Auburn running backs Corey Grant (l) and Kerryon Johnson
Another legendary SEC rusher, 2017 SEC player of the year Kerryon Johnson, appreciated the new facility's design and offerings.
"When you're able to centralize everything that one sport needs, it eliminates excuses and allows you to focus on the task," said Johnson, recalling the motivation he felt as a player when lettermen attended practice. "You see people who played years ago who still want to come back and have an interest in you, you say, 'I want to leave a legacy when I'm done playing.'"
"It's fun to come here and have a little reunion, talk over some old stories and get to know Coach Freeze," said Daniel Carlson, Auburn's all-time scoring leader and an All-Pro kicker for the Las Vegas Raiders. "It's awesome that he's doing this. This staff and this school really does value the family environment."
All-Pro kicker Daniel Carlson, Auburn's all-time scoring leader, brought his family to practice
"Coach Freeze re-energized the program," said Johnson, who lettered for the Tigers from 2015-17. "That's the starting point. He brings that pride back, he brings that energy. That's half the battle right there."
For three Auburn football lettermen, Friday's event was not their first time to tour the Woltosz Football Performance Center.
Assistant coaches Carnell Williams, Marcus Davis and Zac Etheridge enter it every morning when they come to work.
"It's good for our guys to see that they have a lot of support outside the program from the guys who laid the foundation and helped build this new facility," said Etheridge, who captained Auburn's 2010 national champion team and serves as secondary coach. "It's always exciting to have them back."
Auburn coach Hugh Freeze with letterman Spence McCracken (1969-71)
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer