I’m sure that NO ONE gets Auburn and clemson confused.
The War Eagle mascot dates back to the War of Northern Aggression (the War Between the States). After the cessation of shooting hostilities a former soldier brought the golden eagle he had befriended during the war with him to campus. The student had found the wounded eagle, nursed him back to health and the eagle would soar above the battlefield and return to the man’s shoulder. After the war, the student would bring his “pet” to the football games and the eagle would soar above the field. It became known as Auburn’s “war” eagle. The student body, when seeing it, would begin the cry, “War Eagle!” The legend began.
Auburn down through the ages has had an eagle representing the school (off-and-on). The eagles have come to us as “not being able” (for one reason and another)to survive in the wild. They have all, and perhaps this has changed in recent years, been named “Tiger”. They are golden eagles and not bald eagles. However, we have recently been the home for bald eagles, too.
The expansion into other breeds is because Auburn’s Vet school (btw, the youngest daughter has been admitted to the Pre-Vet program) has a raptor reclaimation program and often works with many large birds to heal and rehabilitate.
Thank you for asking.