Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Oak trees at Auburn's historic Toomer's Corner poisoned
SI.COM, Associated Press ^ | Feb 16, 2011

Posted on 02/17/2011 7:18:45 AM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: auburn; karma; toomers; trees
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-91 next last
To: balch3

“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.


21 posted on 02/17/2011 7:37:01 AM PST by PLMerite (Thanks for fixing the clock.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 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.

Just what I was thinking.

22 posted on 02/17/2011 7:38:02 AM PST by SampleMan (If all of the people currently oppressed shared a common geography, bullets would already be flying.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: chesley

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

just a feeling.


23 posted on 02/17/2011 7:38:48 AM PST by SparkyBass
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: where's_the_Outrage?
Another:

Inspiration Oak

24 posted on 02/17/2011 7:40:58 AM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Protect the Bill of Rights

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


25 posted on 02/17/2011 7:42:11 AM PST by dennisw (- - - -He who does not economize will have to agonize - - - - - Confucius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: PLMerite
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.

26 posted on 02/17/2011 7:42:26 AM PST by Sans-Culotte ( Pray for Obama- Psalm 109:8)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Protect the Bill of Rights
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.

27 posted on 02/17/2011 7:44:18 AM PST by Tupelo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Protect the Bill of Rights

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


28 posted on 02/17/2011 7:45:09 AM PST by dennisw (- - - -He who does not economize will have to agonize - - - - - Confucius)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: where's_the_Outrage?

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...


29 posted on 02/17/2011 7:46:58 AM PST by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Christian Engineer Mass

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.


30 posted on 02/17/2011 7:48:11 AM PST by I still care (I miss my friends, bagels, and the NYC skyline - but not the taxes. I love the South.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: balch3
...and that’s no exaggeration.

Yes, it is.

31 posted on 02/17/2011 7:48:20 AM PST by Mr.Unique (Global Emergency!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: chesley

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.


32 posted on 02/17/2011 7:48:49 AM PST by where's_the_Outrage?
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

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

Fixed it...

33 posted on 02/17/2011 7:50:01 AM PST by laker_dad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: chesley
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!

34 posted on 02/17/2011 7:50:41 AM PST by Martin Tell (ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: balch3

‘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.


35 posted on 02/17/2011 7:51:11 AM PST by Matt Hatter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: OB1kNOb
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.

36 posted on 02/17/2011 7:52:01 AM PST by Trailerpark Badass (I'm sick of damn idiots)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: OB1kNOb

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.


37 posted on 02/17/2011 7:52:48 AM PST by Martin Tell (ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: where's_the_Outrage?

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...


38 posted on 02/17/2011 7:53:20 AM PST by 2dollarbill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Matt Hatter
As an Auburn Grad...

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

39 posted on 02/17/2011 7:57:58 AM PST by Mr.Unique (Global Emergency!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Protect the Bill of Rights; where's_the_Outrage?; ladyvet; chesley

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.

40 posted on 02/17/2011 8:01:41 AM PST by Red Badger (Want to be surprised? Google your own name. Want to have fun? Google your friend's names.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-91 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson