Words from Courtney Marie Land

Mr. Jacobs,

I would first like to thank you for all you have done for Auburn, not only in the realm of athletics but for the school’s overall environment as well. For more than 25 years you have been on a mission to help make Auburn the best university in this country and I, along with countless others, believe that you have contributed greatly to the successes of this school. Thank you for helping to give Auburn students solid ground to stand on when we say “I believe in Auburn, and Love it!”.

In my past three years here I have never had a problem with the way the athletic office has run their program. I have never had issues with ordering tickets, calling to ask questions or dealing with the staff running the ticket office. It has actually been a quite pleasurable experience compared to the horror stories I hear about other schools having to buy their tickets week by week. I commend you and your staff for giving out tickets in an organized and efficient way. But Mr. Jacobs the way tickets were distributed for the SEC Championship game, without question rivaled the horror stories I have heard from other schools. I have never seen such a poorly organized and thought-out method for dispensing tickets.

I do not write you this out of anger that I did not get a ticket, I will find one before December 4th and will be sitting in the Georgia Dome cheering louder than I have in my entire life. I write you this because I find it quite unfair that seniors did not get priority for tickets, like the way as we have always done it for ordering regular season tickets. I do not think I would have gotten one if we had done it that way because I am just barely a senior in hours, but it would have at least been a fair method. Freshmen have not yet had time to let the spirit of Auburn marinade in their soul – it’s true. Freshmen may love Auburn football dearly, but they have not experienced what it is like to possess the same unconditional love for a losing Auburn football team like many of us have in the past. That aside, I feel that the method for the distribution of tickets could have been handled much differently.

On a totally separate issue, I know that Auburn received 15,900 tickets for the championship. I have heard from various sources (including from someone who works in the ticketing office) that there were only 1,400 – 1,600 tickets given to students. Might I ask why only 8.8% of the seats given to Auburn were reserved for the student body? Eight point eight percent?! I understand that faculty and alumni should be given to opportunity to buy tickets but really Mr. Jacobs? When our defense is trying to stop a crucial game changing third down conversion they will be looking to the student section for that little push of confidence. And what will they see? Only 1,400 students from Auburn’s actual student body. There may be plenty of alumni and faculty shaking their shakers passionately and cheering, but it will never rival the force that our student body’s impact can have upon this team. Coach Chizik has said it himself; our presence can change the game. We’re here trying to be all-in Mr. Jacobs, just as we have been all-in from the moment we kicked off against Arkansas St. on September 4th. But we’re finding it difficult to do when only 8.8% of us were given the opportunity attend the game.

Now, I apologize that you were at the receiving end of my rant if this was not your decision, but I am assuming you had some sort of hand in it considering that if it was not your decision, it was the decision of someone who answers to you. I truly hope that you take into consideration everything I have said and make changes to the way tickets will be distributed for the bowl game. If I have been misstated the facts about anything I have just said please feel free to contact me and enlighten me, so I can in turn enlighten the outraged student body.

Once again, thank you for everything you have done at Auburn. I am so proud to say that I am a woman of Auburn, and to call this lovely little village on the plains my home.

War Eagle!
Courtney Land

Just Saying

I think it sucks that from my Face Book feed more underclassman got tickets to the game than upperclassman and grad students... some of you underclass chicks don't even know what a first down is.... No, I am not bitter that I didn't receive a ticket, because I'm not a student. However my roommate, a seven year student of Auburn; here from 2004 (perfect season) to now, what could be another Perfect season, did not receive a ticket. I think the "random" lottery should be influenced by hours, but random as well. I'm not sure how it works but I know some computer programmer is capable of that. Just Saying. A senior had priority at the beginning of the season, why not at the end?

I believe in Auburn

Ok, so I just felt the need to comment on the recent negative publicity that Auburn and Cameron Newton have received. Due to the fact that Auburn is rarely and preferably not in the spot lights, we Auburn fans are not accustomed to the ridicule. I have not personally been introduced to Cam Newton, but it does not take much to develop an opinion of character from someone that receives such publicity. He seems to be a humble and good guy. He seems to be genuine and its easy to observe that he loves it here; as most people that reside in Auburn do.  It is unfortunate that all of these accusations appear when he is at the top of his career. Think of how many athletes have done far worse than even the accusations state, and since they didn't turn out to be the best athlete in the country, they were fortunate enough to avoid it. If any of these accusations, if proven to be true, even mattered they would have been brought forward prior to Auburn and Cam Newton's success.

When it comes to Auburn, there are certain things that people should understand; we are an honest people. Now, I have not been inside, to vouch for what goes on day to day in the athletic department. However, in order for a person to reside here, they must possess enough decent character for the rest of the population to trust and follow. Auburn is a society of honest, family driven people, that will do their best to keep the name and image of Auburn they grew to Love. Auburn fans, unite and keep your eyes on the prize. The year of the tiger... is every year. War Damn!

Michigan

So I've been in Michigan for a few days now and I've been to a few bars. Nothing really impressed me, but I did have a fairly good time at "Toby Keith" in Oxford, MI. I tell you what, that is a big bar; enough "Regulators" to staff a Saturday night at SkyBar twice. Not much happened but I did assist their employees by spotting a potential brawl. My roommate and his girlfriend are well aware that, the skills I possess, I'm not capable of turning off. I pointed it out to the bartender that assisted me, and she returned the favor on our bill. If you're ever in this part of Michigan and would want to enjoy country music and line dancing, I recommend stopping by. However, be sure to avoid the cougar that works at the hotel across the street.


Also, Wife of the Year Award goes to Sienna Dowdy. She flew me up to visit my buddy Daniel Dowdy, for his anniversary gift. Haha, he needed some man time. Congratulations Sienna Dowdy!