One week from today, Auburn football returns. Jordan-Hare Stadium will be packed with 87,451 – scratch that, make it 88,043 – screaming fans for Kickoff on The Plains.
Now that is Auburn Being Auburn.
Five of Auburn's seven home games this season have already been announced as sellouts, but there's still time to secure your seats for Mississippi State (Oct. 28) and New Mexico State (Nov. 18). Don't miss your chance to experience the best atmosphere in college football.
'It was deafening'
Hugh Freeze joined the set of Tiger Talk for the first show of the season Thursday night. He was asked, "What excites you about the upcoming season?" His response was simple, yet perfect.
"Jordan-Hare."
Chills. For those that have been in Jordan-Hare Stadium when it's packed out and rocking, there is nothing else quite like it. The passion of the fans is unmatched. Just look back at last year's Texas A&M game or the Ole Miss game the year before. Those who were there, they know.
Auburn offensive line coach Jake Thornton was on the visitors' sideline for that Ole Miss game in 2021. He still says it's the loudest crowd he's ever been a part of.
"It was deafening," Thornton said. "Right when we walked out for pre-game, the student section was already filled. That's the most packed stadium I have ever been in that early. They're on top of you right away. It's not like you kind of get used to it or you walk out and they're kind of filling in. When warm-ups start, they're already out there. That is so imposing mentally on another team."
It's no different for outsiders who have attended a game in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
"It's the loudest stadium I've ever been in," ESPN senior writer Ryan McGee said. "And I've been in them all. I still have earplugs in my backpack from my NASCAR days, and there are only a couple stadiums where I'll probably pull out my earplugs. Jordan-Hare is at the top of the list."
There's a new level of excitement on the Plains heading into the 2023 season with the arrival of Freeze as head coach. There has been a buzz that has been building since June. Season tickets sold out just weeks after they went on sale. Auburn has already announced sellouts for five of the seven home games, including Kickoff on The Plains next Saturday.
For Freeze, that will be his first game in Jordan-Hare Stadium on the Auburn sideline. He got a small taste of that energy when he went and spoke to the freshman class earlier this month.
"I don't know how they're going to get all of our students in there plus all the ticket holders," he said. "There are so many students in there. I just can't wait to be on the home sideline for that and to feel the energy that's in that place."
There will also be a number of players making their Auburn debut and running out of the home tunnel for the first time next Saturday, including starting quarterback Payton Thorne.
"Since I've been down here, all I've heard about is how awesome our fans are and how great this place is, and I have definitely felt that," Thorne said. "I know that our fans are extremely passionate about our football program. I'm excited to get out there and feel the energy in the stadium and to get to play in front of them. I think all our guys are really excited for that. We're going to try to play our best and make our fans proud."