AUBURN, Ala. – Wearing a No. 20 Auburn jersey to match her son, defensive back JC Hart, Chyna Walker joined a line that stretched the width of a football field from the indoor practice field to the John H. Watson Fieldhouse.
“My son has been a big Auburn fan since he came into this world,” said Walker Saturday at Fan Day presented by Golden Flake. “We grew up in Auburn and this is his dream school. For him to accomplish his goal to play here is a big blessing.”
Inside the indoor facility at the Auburn Athletics Complex, Hart, a redshirt freshman from nearby Loachapoka who’s earned praise from coaches and teammates during preseason camp, signed autographs and took pictures.
“He’s so humble,” Walker said. “I knew what he had in him. He was waiting for his turn. This year is going to be his year.”
Brian Cauble brought his 10-year-old son, Dylan, from their home in Birmingham for their first Fan Day. Dylan, who carried an Auburn mini helmet he planned to have autographed, joined the Cauble family via adoption hours after his parents attended the Kick Six Iron Bowl in 2013.
“It’s the Kick Six, it’s crazy,” recalled Brian, who has attended 22 consecutive Iron Bowls. “We’re walking out of the stadium, and I get a call from our attorney who says the birth mother wants to go through with the adoption, so we went straight home to Birmingham to pick him up.”
Fans entered through a Tiger Walk of Auburn cheerleaders before dispersing to get autographs from players grouped by position.
Photo opportunities included Cam Newton’s Heisman Trophy and the crystal national championship he helped Auburn win in 2010.
Auburn’s volleyball and soccer teams also signed posters and visited with fans. When the event concluded, the soccer team crossed Samford Avenue for their exhibition against Memphis.
A sixth grader from Pike Road, Alabama, John Turner Faulkner attended Fan Day with his grandmother, Julie Beard.
Freshman receiver Cam Coleman topped John Turner’s autograph wish list.
“I’ve heard great stuff about him,” said the 12-year-old. “I’ve watched film on him so I know he’s really good.”
John Turner is optimistic about the 2024 football season.
“Hopefully we can make that 12-team playoff,” he said. “Hopefully we can get into rhythm.”
Like generations of Auburn fans before him, one visit to Jordan-Hare Stadium was all it took for John Turner.
“My dad took me to an Auburn game when I didn’t really cheer for any team,” he said. “I realized the atmosphere and it got me to be an Auburn fan.”
Fans will return in three weeks when the Tigers play Alabama A&M Aug. 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT at Jordan-Hare Stadium for Kickoff on The Plains.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer