Neither the Florida Gators nor the weather could deter Auburn fans from celebrating at Toomer’s Corner.
Johni Broome led the charge with 19 points and 11 rebounds, helping the No. 12 Auburn secure their third SEC Tournament championship by defeating Florida with a score of 86-67 on Sunday.
Even with rain pouring down, fans gathered, as captured in the video, to partake in the age-old tradition of covering Toomer’s Corner in toilet paper.
For those looking to celebrate Auburn Tigers’ SEC Tournament victory, championship gear is available in anticipation of the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers, with a record of 27-7, sidestepped the upset trend that eliminated the top three seeds of the SEC in the quarterfinals, emerging as the highest seed left. They led from start to finish in the final, adding to their victories in 1985 and 2019, and marking a second win under coach Bruce Pearl.
Denver Jones contributed 11 points for Auburn, while Chad Baker-Mazara scored 10 before he and Broome were honored with a standing ovation two minutes before the game ended.
The current trees at Toomer’s Corner, planted in 2017, represent a significant effort to restore a key landmark of college football after a poisoning incident in 2010. In January, following the announcement of legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban’s retirement, Auburn fans celebrated by tossing toilet paper onto the trees’ branches.
In August, Auburn University declared that the pair of live oaks, planted in February 2017, were ready to be adorned with celebratory toilet paper.
This set of oaks is the second replacement for the original Auburn Oaks, which had been a part of the university for over 50 years until they were tragically poisoned with herbicide in early 2011.
Mark Heim, a reporter for The Alabama Media Group, covers this story. You can follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He also appears on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or via the Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.