There are two words that give you a sense of belonging even when you are far from home. And when you hear them, you know you’re with family.

Two simple words. “War Eagle.”

"War Eagle” is more than just a battle cry for athletic events; the phrase serves as a greeting between Auburn alumni and students. It is a time-honored symbol of the Auburn spirit that continues to unite Auburn men and women of all ages. The origin of Auburn’s battle cry is unclear, but the most popular story dates back to the first game in the South’s oldest rivalry between Auburn and Georgia in 1892. That day an old Civil War veteran watched the football game from the stands. The soldier was accompanied by his pet eagle found 30 years earlier on a wartime battlefield.

During the game, the eagle suddenly broke free and began majestically circling the playing field. As he soared overhead, Auburn began a steady march toward the end zone. Taking the eagle’s presence as an omen of success, Auburn students and fans began to chant “War Eagle” to spur on their team. As the crowd continued to shout, Auburn drove the ball into the end zone for a thrilling victory. At the game’s end, the eagle took a sudden dive, crashed into the ground and died. But what survived was the battle cry, and “War Eagle” has lived on through generations past and present.

While the factual origin of the phrase might remain a mystery, the presence of Auburn’s eagle has been personified through the lineage of six Golden Eagles rescued from the wild and rehabilitated through Auburn University’s world-famous Raptor Rehabilitation Center. War Eagle IV, or “Tiger” as she is affectionately known, performs a majestic circling of the skies around Jordan-Hare Stadium prior to home football games. The 26-year-old star was even asked to perform at the opening games of the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and has now been inducted into the Alabama Animal Hall of Fame.