Despite the fact that many people who aren’t from the South don’t actually know that Auburn University and the University of Alabama are different schools, the two Alabama state universities have a longstanding, big nasty football rivalry.
And then one Alabama fan took things too far. According to an article by Brian McAlister in the Birmingham News:
Auburn police arrested Harvey Almorn Updyke, 62, from Dadeville, and charged him with criminal mischief for applying an herbicide to the historic oaks at Toomer’s Corner. Updyke is being held on a $50,000 bond.
A Facebook profile with the name Harvey Updyke claims to be retired Texas state trooper living in Mobile. The profile photo shows Updyke wearing an Alabama ballcap.
Tommer’s Corner is the place where historically Auburn fans celebrate victories.
Someone apparently poisoned the trees the weekend after Auburn University beat the University of Alabama 28 to 27 in the Iron Bowl in November.
Authorities identified Updyke (image above) as the man who called into a radio show in January identifying himself as “Al from Dadeville,” and said he sprayed herbicide on the trees. He hung up after saying “Roll Damn Tide.” “Roll Tide” is the rallying cry of the University of Alabama, whose athletics teams are known as the Crimson Tide.
None of this, of course, will have any effect on the performance of the University of Alabama in future games with Auburn. [Image via]
