This popular version grew from a pep rally held at Langdon Hall where students had gathered the day before the Georgia football game. Cheerleader Gus Crayton told the crowd, "If we are going to win this game, we'll have to get out there and fight, because this means war.'
During the frenzy, another student, E.T. Enslen, dressed in his military uniform noticed something had dropped from his hat. Bending down, he saw that it was the metal emblem of an eagle that had been loosened as he cheered.
Someone asked him what he had found and Enslen loudly replied, "It's a War Eagle!" History was made as the new cry echoed throughout the stadium the next day as Auburn battled Georgia.
*Of the many stories, this one is thought to be the most credible, albeit least romantic. I often wondered what the Georgia fans thought when they first heard the thunderous cries of "War Eagle" as the Tigers took to the field.
The oldest and best known story of War Eagle! dates back to the first football game between Auburn and Georgia in 1892 and centers on a spectator, who was a Civil War Veteran.
In the stands with him that day was an eagle the old vet had found on a battlefield during the war. He kept it as a pet for almost 30 years. According to legend, the eagle suddenly broke free and began to majestically circle the playing field. As the eagle soared, Auburn began a steady march toward the Georgia endzone for a thrilling victory.
Elated at their team's play and taking the bird's presence as a sign, the Auburn students and fans began to yell "War Eagle!" to spur on their team.
At the game's end, the eagle took a sudden dive, crashed to the ground and died. His spirit became the symbol of Auburn.
*This story is the most well known of the legends. Although why the students didn't yell "Soar Eagle!", instead, is a mystery to me.
In 1914, Auburn faced the Carlisle Indians. The toughest player on the Indian team was a tackle named Bald Eagle. Trying to wear down this player, Auburn began to run play after play at his position. Without even huddling, the Auburn quarterback would yell "Bald Eagle," letting the rest of the team know the play would be run at this imposing Carlisle defender.
Spectators, however, thought the quarterback was saying "War Eagle", and in unison they began to chant "War Eagle! War Eagle!".
Auburn scored the only touchdown in the game to win.
*another story about this game is that when Carlisle scored on an opponent they would cray "War Eagle!", however, Auburn's Legare Hairston was the only man to cross the goal line that day, and he taunted the Carlisle team by yelling "War Eagle!" as he scored...this version appeals to me, for some reason.
After a visit made to Auburn by the Osage tribe several years after the Civil War, while they made their way to Oklahoma, the students and townspeople of Auburn were impressed by the tribe, and especially their Chief.
Chief Thomas Wareagle was well known by the people of that time and the War Eagle was taken as the Auburn mascot and battle cry when football was introduced several years later, in honor of their distinguished visitor.
* in 1975 Lynn Scarbrough interviewed Osage Indian Chief T.W. Wareagle, a resident of Birmingham in regards to this story. "My people hand down their history from generation to generation. They take pride in their tradition and their word is good. This is the account that was given to me when I was a young boy by my grandfather...and I know that it is true."
~T.W. Wareagle, the last of the Wareagles