You stay classy, Bammers

[CBRADGO]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=6129272

AUBURN, Ala. -- 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.

Toomer's Corner is a traditional spot for Auburn fans to gather before and after games. Trees there were poisoned with a powerful herbicide, the school said.
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.

Calling himself "Al from Dadeville," he said he used Spike 80DF, also known as tebuthiuron, and the trees "definitely will die." The caller signed off with, "Roll Damn Tide."

Auburn fans traditionally celebrate by using toilet paper to roll the Toomer's Corner trees, which are estimated to be more than 130 years old.

"We will take every step we can to save the Toomer's oaks, which have been the home of countless celebrations and a symbol of the Auburn spirit for generations of Auburn students, fans, alumni and the community," university President Jay Gogue said in a statement.

City police are investigating the incident. The use of Spike 80DF is also governed by state agricultural laws and the Environmental Protection Agency. The university said it doesn't use the herbicide.

"We are assessing the extent of the damage and proceeding as if we have a chance to save the trees," said Gary Keever, an Auburn University professor of horticulture and a member of Auburn's Tree Preservation Committee. "We are also focused on protecting the other trees and shrubs in Samford Park. At this level the impact could be much greater than just the oaks on the corner, as Spike moves through the soil to a wide area."

A small group gathered and rolled the trees Wednesday afternoon.

The soil samples were tested at Mississippi State.

The amount of herbicide detected in four samples ranged from 0.78 parts per million -- described by Auburn as "a very lethal dose" -- to 51 parts per million.

"This herbicide is extremely active and persistent," Keever said. "It's very likely to be in the soil for 3 to 5 years."

[Wingman]

That's a shame.

[4dawgma]

What a dick

[arduckslayer]

That's low, even for a d@mn Bama fan. What an @sshole. I've got a couple buddies that live in Auburn right now. One of em equated it to someone killing Bully.

[Blackduck]

That is next level redneck simple minded hate. I bet ole boy still has his white sheet cloak and hood still hanging in his closet.

[DUCKAHOLIC]

If they catch him they should string his ass up in one of them trees............

[deltadukman]

Talk about sore losers....I've never liked Bammer fans and this just supports why...very classless

[Seymore]

That is next level redneck simple minded hate. I bet ole boy still has his white sheet cloak and hood still hanging in his closet.

Nah, the sheet and hood are at the cleaners getting cleaned from
His using them last week. Pretty sorry to kill the trees. Be like somebody killing the Friendship Oak at USM. That tree is hundreds of years old and has survived
several hurricanes.

[music_man]

Not all Bama fans are like this!!!! There are a few bad apples in every bunch!! Trust me, I'm a Bama fan and I don't like it one bit!!!!

[CBRADGO]

BUSTED! The guy wasn't bullchitting either, look at his name and where he's from. Wal Mart alums never cease to amaze me...

http://www.myfoxal.com/Global/story.asp?S=14048891

[RedEyed Duck]

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.

I hope he pays to the fullest extent of the law, including jail time and full restitution if both are possible! Make him pay to relocate some exact repelica trees from somewhere else! A true piece of trash for sure!

[deltadukman]

Either that is the biggest idiot in the world, or not really the culprit. I'm not sure how many Al's live in Daleville, but I am guessing it didnt take long for the authorities to find the addresses of every Al and ride around and narrow it down by who had the biggest Alabammer shrine in their front yards..Flags, stone elephants, Big Allerbammer Crimson Tahd logo on the roof...and boom had their guy. If that guy really did it, and really called the radio show, then I never ever EVER want to hear someone from Alabama talk about intelligence or class or anything...IF this really is the culprit, he deserves everything he has coming to him...but for some reason I'm not buying that this guy is THAT dumb! As much as I cant stand alot about the whole state of AL, I am trying to believe yall dont have people that are that dumb!

[duckter]

Ok - let me get this straight - the entire fan base, including present students and all alumni of the University of Alabama are all to blame for this idiot's actions? 1 idiot. No connection to the University whatsoever. He owes Auburn University an apology. He owes The University of Alabama an apology. He owes the State of Alabama an apology.

He will pay for his actions.

[arduckslayer]

Either that is the biggest idiot in the world, or not really the culprit. I'm not sure how many Al's live in Daleville, but I am guessing it didnt take long for the authorities to find the addresses of every Al and ride around and narrow it down by who had the biggest Alabammer shrine in their front yards..Flags, stone elephants, Big Allerbammer Crimson Tahd logo on the roof...and boom had their guy. If that guy really did it, and really called the radio show, then I never ever EVER want to hear someone from Alabama talk about intelligence or class or anything...IF this really is the culprit, he deserves everything he has coming to him...but for some reason I'm not buying that this guy is THAT dumb! As much as I cant stand alot about the whole state of AL, I am trying to believe yall dont have people that are that dumb!

You have to have an applicator's license to buy Spike if I'm not mistaken. I'm sure they used that to help narrow it down.

[deltadukman]

I know...I was making a little jab. If the guy is that dumb, i am willing to be he doesnt have his private applicators license.