Oak trees at Auburn's historic Toomer's Corner poisoned

SI.COM, Associated Press ^ | Feb 16, 2011

[where's_the_Outrage?]

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Auburn University says someone deliberately poisoned trees at Toomer's Corner, where fans have long celebrated big wins and hundreds gathered after the Tigers won the football national championship on Jan. 10.

The university said in a statement Wednesday that a herbicide commonly used to kill trees was applied "in lethal amounts" to the soil around the two trees, and that they likely can't be saved.

Auburn discovered the poisoning after taking soil samples on Jan. 28, a day after a man called a syndicated radio show based in Birmingham saying he had used the herbicide on the trees.

"The weekend after the Iron Bowl, I went to Auburn, Ala., because I live 30 miles away, and I poisoned the Toomer's trees," the caller told The Paul Finebaum Radio Show, saying he was at the Iron Bowl.

[PLMerite]

“There’s nothing good natured about the Alabama-Auburn rivalry. They hate each other, and that’s no exaggeration.”

I have never understood the moronic people who get so caught up in something as meaningless as sports. I hope they put this moron in jail for a while. And I, too, hope his house doesn’t burn down.

[SampleMan]

When I heard it this morning (In Madison AL) I was thinking if I was an Alabama Alumni I would be totally outraged and work with other AL Alumnus to replace those trees.

Just what I was thinking.

[SparkyBass]

I have a feeling every single green thing on his property will soon die, too.

just a feeling.

[blam]

Another:

Inspiration Oak

[dennisw]

lol nailed this idiot pretty quick. I’m sure he was out bragging

[Sans-Culotte]

I have never understood the moronic people who get so caught up in something as meaningless as sports. I hope they put this moron in jail for a while. And I, too, hope his house doesn’t burn down.

I am originally from Alabama myself, and always pulled for the Crimson Tide over Auburn. However, I've lived in Texas since 1969; so it does not mean much to me anymore. I, too hope this idiot suffers as much punishment as is allowable. I've never understood taking a sports rivalry off the playing field. That's why they play the games.

[Tupelo]

If true, Harvey Almorn Updyke, 62, of Dadeville is really STUPID.
62 years old and still stupid.

Ignorance can be cured, but there is no cure for stupid.

[dennisw]

Maybe they can string him up from one of those oaks before they keel over

[jonno]

Oh that there would be the same level of public rage and vitriol directed at those who sanction the dismemberment of LIVE unborn children - IOW, abortion.

I too feel a loathing for this tree-poisoner. But in the grand scheme of things his crime is extremely small time.

Let’s keep some perspective...

[I still care]

They said it’s a pretty virulent herbicide, and stays in the ground for up to five years.

This guy made a major mistake. This is a school parents send their kids to, abeit older ones.

There are going to be all kinds of expensive repercussions from this for the school.

[Mr.Unique]

...and that’s no exaggeration.

Yes, it is.

[where's_the_Outrage?]

When I heard it this morning (In Madison AL) I was thinking if I was an Alabama Alumni I would be totally outraged and work with other AL Alumnus to replace those trees.

[laker_dad]

Maybe they can string him up from one of those oaks before until they keel over

Fixed it...

[Martin Tell]

We don’t want him on our side.

And this Auburn fan thanks you.

Maybe some good can come out of this incident by restoring a sense of perspective. If not, things may escalate to violence against people as well as trees.

Last year, my best friend, who was an active poster on AU football boards, died suddenly. Several Bama "fans" posted how glad they were that he died, he had it coming, etc. Very distressing to his widow and five children. I imagine there are similar horror stories on the other side.

Enough is enough!

[Matt Hatter]

‘There’s nothing good natured about the Alabama-Auburn rivalry. They hate each other, and that’s no exaggeration.’

Sorry, but it is an exaggeration. Our rivalry is one of the best in the nation. True fans enjoy the spirit of the game and let the players decide it on the field. My family has grads on both sides and this rivalry it has never been anything but fun to us. Good natured ribbing is part of the tradition of the Iron Bowl.

As an Auburn Grad, I will never implicate The University of Alabama in this despicable act. This was the act of a creepy, vicious, redneck. Yes, there are those who have the rivalry totally out of perspective, but I would think that it just mirrors their miserable life as a whole.

[Trailerpark Badass]

Cut down the dead trees, have them cut up into lumber and then make a large wooden gazebo from it to put in the location of the trees for Auburn fans to gather around and celebrate future victories.

Maybe they can use the wood to build a bingo parlor.

Pretty soon the only victories Auburn will be celebrating are in women's soccer.

[Martin Tell]

I think that if the trees cannot be saved, the University will make them into plaques, etc and sell them to alumni. It may not be a piece of the True Cross, but Auburn fans will treat them like relics anyway.

[2dollarbill]

Let’s see...a “hate” crime against the environment? New - but would be interesting to see it played-out in a courtroom. A “hate” crime, E.P.A. violations, it was pre-meditated, crossed over State lines, eco-terrorism angle...hum. Hope this story gets amped-up. It would be interesting...

[Mr.Unique]

As an Auburn Grad...

I've noticed that the most rabid fans (of either Bama or Auburn) have never attended either (or any) university.

[Red Badger]

AUBURN, AL (WBRC) - A man has been arrested in connection with the poisoning of trees at Toomer's Corner in Auburn. WTVM-TV in Columbus, GA, said Harvey Almorn Updyke, 62, of Dadeville, had been charged with Criminal Mischief. WTVM-TV attributed the news of the arrest to a source at the Lee County Justice Center. Bond for Updyke was set at $50,000. School officials, in a statement Thursday morning, announced plans to hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m. in front of Samford Hall to discuss developments in the poisoning of Toomer's Oaks. FOX6 News plans to carry that news conference live on FOX6 and FoxAlabamaLive.com. Wednesday, Auburn University announced the oak trees at Toomer's Corner had been given a lethal dose of herbacide. School officials said horticulturalists were attempting to save the trees, but did not believe the trees would survive. Investigators began examining the trees after a caller to the Paul Finebaum Radio Network said he had poisoned the trees. Finebaum told FOX6 News local, state and federal investigators were looking into the story, which began on his show on January 27 when a man calling himself "Al from Dadeville" called in to the show claiming to have poisoned the trees. The man said he poisoned the trees the week after last year's Iron Bowl because he said he saw a newspaper clipping from 1983 showing Auburn fans rolling Toomer's Corner the day former Alabama football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant died.