... Never To Yield

It’s time for A-Day!

Auburn’s football team has a chance to gear up and show off for fans long before September shows its face.

A-Day is the annual spring football game on The Plains in Jordan-Hare Stadium. On April 8 at 1 p.m. fans are welcomed back into the atmosphere of a fall in Auburn.

“A-Day weekend is an opportunity for everyone to come together on The Plains and enjoy kind of a spring homecoming of sorts with so many events home in a short period of time,” said Rhett Hobart, deputy athletic director for external affairs. “[I think] it allows fans to enjoy everything they love about the fall and game days on campus for one full weekend of spring with many sports and events happening all over that same weekend.”

It’s not just football taking place the weekend of April 8. On April 6, Auburn baseball hosted Texas A&M at 7 p.m and will also play on April 7 at 6 p.m. and April 8 at 4 p.m.

Fans can also take in the Auburn men’s tennis team playing against Arkansas at 3 p.m. at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. Admission is free,

Hobart said.

There is an extra bonus for baseball that weekend.

“Additionally, Auburn will honor National Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas with a statue unveiling ceremony at the exterior entrance of Plainsman Park on Saturday at 10 a.m. CT,” a press release said.

Thomas came to The Plains in 1986 for football but made his mark on the diamond.

“Frank Thomas will be in town; we are unveiling a very large statue of him right in front of the main gate to Plainsman Park,” Hobart said. “That ceremony will be free and open to the public right out front of the stadium. So fans can come up and hear him speak, hear a number of Auburn special guests speak and talk about Frank and the legacy he left at Auburn and throughout his professional career.

“Then on top of that, we also will have a special pop-up store that will be offering vintage baseball and other apparel and memorabilia honoring Frank Thomas that will be located right out [front of] the baseball stadium. It will be a really, really cool kind of experience, more than just a store.”

Then on Saturday, following the unveiling of Thomas’ statue, fans will step back into football.

Although the game will kick off at 1 p.m. in Jordan-Hare, no one, of course, wants to miss Tiger Walk. Tiger Walk will take place right after the ceremony for Thomas, Hobart said.

“Tickets to attend A-Day in Jordan-Hare Stadium are on-sale now through the Auburn Ticket Office for $10 to the general public and free for current AU students,” the press release said. “All $10 seats are general admission. Tigers Unlimited premium seat holders will receive information via email ... regarding tickets for their respective club spaces. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line on April 8.

“A-Day tickets can be purchased here on AubTix.com or in-person at the Auburn Ticket Office located at Neville Arena, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.”

So, between three different sports and ceremonies, it will be a busy weekend.

“The goal for Saturday was trying to create a schedule in which fans could attend every event without having to choose what to go to,” Hobart said. “… For me, always the opportunity to experience a game day in Jordan-Hare, I think, is special. You know, you only get usually seven or eight times you can do that in a year. When you add this opportunity, it gives you one more chance to get together with your friends, with family, with other members of the Auburn family to just enjoy a game day on campus.

“… It gives an opportunity for fans to come and enjoy what they love about Auburn on a game day experience one more time throughout the year.”