Rolling Toomer’s Corner Remains Auburn University’s Most Beloved Tradition and a Symbol of Joy, Unity, and College Football Passion
Few places in college football capture the spirit, pride, and emotional heartbeat of a university like Toomer’s Corner does at Auburn. While other programs boast legendary stadiums, rivalries, or traditions, Auburn has something uniquely its own—an intersection in downtown Auburn where victory, joy, and community are tossed into the air in the form of flying white toilet paper. Rolling Toomer’s Corner is more than a celebration. It is a ritual, a symbol, and the purest expression of what it means to be part of the Auburn Family.
The tradition of rolling Toomer’s Corner dates back decades, long before ESPN or social media began broadcasting college football culture to the world. It began simply enough: after big wins, Auburn fans would head downtown and toss toilet paper into the trees surrounding Toomer’s Drugs—a landmark store that sits at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and College Street. What started as a lighthearted way to mark victory soon evolved into a full-blown tradition, etched into the identity of the university and its people.
For the Auburn faithful, Toomer’s Corner is more than just a postgame destination—it is a sacred space. It’s where generations have gathered to celebrate Iron Bowl victories, thrilling upsets, and championship runs. It’s where fans bring their children after their first Auburn game. It’s where students flood the streets and alumni return in droves, eager to relive the magic. And when the white streams of toilet paper fly through the air and settle on the trees like fresh snow, it’s as if the entire town exhales in unison, united in celebration.
What makes the tradition even more powerful is its organic nature. No university official created it. There was no marketing campaign or school-sanctioned plan. Rolling Toomer’s Corner came from the fans—ordinary people who wanted a way to express their uncontainable joy after a big win. Over time, it became ritualized. Now, it doesn’t take a championship to spark the celebration. Any Auburn victory—football, basketball, baseball, even equestrian—can trigger the joyous flurry of toilet paper over the oaks.
To understand why Toomer’s Corner matters so much to Auburn, you have to understand the ethos of the university and its people. Auburn is, at its core, a family-oriented institution rooted in tradition, loyalty, and community. Its sports teams are a point of pride, yes, but they are also a shared experience. Wins and losses aren’t just felt by the players—they ripple across campus, through the town, and across the entire Auburn Family. Rolling Toomer’s Corner is the moment when all of that energy and emotion finds a home.
Perhaps the most remarkable moment in the tradition’s long history came in 2013. After Auburn’s shocking, last-second victory over Alabama in the Iron Bowl—now immortalized as the “Kick Six”—the crowd that surged into Toomer’s Corner was unlike anything the town had ever seen. Thousands of fans poured into the streets, hugging strangers, climbing poles, and blanketing the trees in white. It wasn’t just a celebration of a football win; it was a release of years of frustration, a sudden and dramatic reminder that magic was still possible in sports. The photos from that night remain iconic—a blizzard of toilet paper lit by streetlamps and camera flashes, painting a picture of unfiltered jubilation.
But Toomer’s Corner is not just a place for good times. It has also been a symbol of resilience. In 2011, after Auburn’s national championship run and the Iron Bowl win that helped get them there, tragedy struck. A disgruntled Alabama fan poisoned the iconic oak trees at Toomer’s Corner with a lethal herbicide. The news sent shockwaves through the Auburn community. The trees were more than plants—they were living monuments to the university’s legacy, and the idea that someone would attack them out of rivalry pettiness was deeply painful.
Yet even in that dark moment, the Auburn spirit endured. The university rallied around the trees, launching a campaign to save them and later replant new ones. The community held ceremonies, vigils, and celebrations of resilience. In 2015, a pair of 35-foot southern live oaks were planted in the corner, and the tradition continued, stronger than ever. Fans didn’t let hatred or loss steal their joy. Instead, they rolled the new trees just as they had the old ones, reaffirming that the tradition was not tied to any one physical object—it was tied to the people who loved it.
That emotional depth is what makes Toomer’s Corner unique. It’s not just a quirky college tradition or a viral moment waiting to happen. It’s a living, breathing part of Auburn’s story. For incoming freshmen, their first roll of Toomer’s is a rite of passage. For graduating seniors, it’s a bittersweet goodbye. For fans watching from afar, it’s a visual confirmation that Auburn won—and that the spirit is alive and well. And for those who have long left the campus but still call Auburn home, it’s a connection to something bigger than themselves.
The atmosphere at Toomer’s Corner after a big win is electric. Music blares from nearby restaurants and storefronts. Strangers become friends as they share rolls of toilet paper and memories of games past. Children run under the flying paper with eyes wide in wonder. The city closes off traffic, turning the intersection into a sea of orange, blue, and white. It’s chaotic, yes, but also deeply joyful. It’s celebration in its purest form.
Local businesses and residents have embraced the tradition with pride. Toomer’s Drugs, still in operation after more than a century, serves as the unofficial headquarters of the celebration. It sells everything from Auburn memorabilia to ice cream, and on game days, it transforms into a hub of energy and excitement. Other nearby shops open their doors to revelers, offering drinks, food, and camaraderie. It’s a town-wide event, and everyone plays a part.
And yet, as with any great tradition, Toomer’s Corner is constantly evolving. In recent years, the university has implemented new guidelines to help protect the trees, encouraging fans to throw toilet paper up and away from the trunks to avoid damage. Security and cleanup crews now work overnight to restore the corner by morning, ensuring the celebration doesn’t harm the very place it cherishes. But the spirit of the tradition remains untouched. If anything, the added care has only deepened the fans’ respect for it.
Toomer’s Corner is a place where time seems to stand still. On a Saturday night after a win, it doesn’t matter how old you are, where you came from, or how many games you’ve seen. In that moment, everyone is just Auburn. And that’s the power of a great tradition—it unites, uplifts, and reminds us why we care so much in the first place.
As college football continues to change—with new playoff formats, NIL deals, and conference realignments—traditions like rolling Toomer’s Corner take on even greater significance. They remind us that beneath the noise and spectacle, the heart of the game still beats strongest in places where community matters most. Auburn has never claimed to be the biggest school or the flashiest program. But what it does have is an unshakable sense of identity, and Toomer’s Corner is where that identity comes to life.
There is no script for what happens there. No formal countdown or planned sequence. Just a crowd, a win, and a shared understanding that it’s time to roll. Some fans bring hundreds of rolls, others only one. Some toss high, aiming for the branches, while others simply throw into the air and let gravity decide. All of it matters. All of it is part of the experience.
In the end, rolling Toomer’s Corner is not about the toilet paper or even the trees. It’s about what they represent—joy earned through effort, tradition forged through time, and unity that cannot be broken. It’s about a small town and a university that loves its teams, its students, and its story. And no matter how much college football changes, that story will continue to be told—one roll at a time.
So when the Tigers win, the bells may ring, the crowd may roar, but the celebration isn’t complete until the corner is white with victory. Rolling Toomer’s Corner isn’t just Auburn’s tradition—it’s Auburn’s soul.
