Toomer’s Corner is typically the celebration hub at Auburn University after football victories, but on Sunday evening, the famed spot turned into a special and somber tribute for Phil Lutzenkirchen.
The 23-year-old former tight end, who was a starter on the Tigers’ 2010 national championship team, died early Sunday morning in a single-car accident. As the tragic news spread, the Auburn community came together on Sunday afternoon to mourn the loss of one of their own, according to the Opelika-Auburn News.
More than 100 Auburn residents gathered at 4:30 p.m. — in honor of Lutzenkirchen’s No. 43 jersey — to take part in the school’s iconic tradition of rolling the trees. While the trees are typically covered to represent a win on the gridiron, this time the ritual was done as a touching tribute in Lutzenhirchen’s memory.
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