< Previous-Call for pickups 334-705-8858 - Supporting Hosanna Home and His Place - 2,000 fresh pieces daily! 1750 Opelika Road, Auburn www.harvestevangelism.org AKRIDGE & BALCH, P.C. Attorneys at Law A Personal Approach to the Law 852 N Dean Road, Suite 100 Auburn, AL 36830 T: 334-887-0884 F: 888-615-9185 sbragdon@akridgebalch.com 1500 Frederick Road Opelika, AL 36801 COLEY TRANT Phone: (334) 749-8700 Email: jfuneral@jeffcoattrant.com Business Friends Working for the Future of Auburn ICE CREAM What’s better than ice cream? An ice cream truck that provides training and social opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities!!! Ice Cream, Auburn Football, Opportunity and Advocacy. It’s all SO EXTRA! Contact us at extraicecream@yahoo.com to book us for your upcoming events!Weagle's One Stop Home for all your tailgate needs Proud supporter of our home team! 305 North Donahue Dr 334-246-3380 Tucker D. Simmons, PharmD Auburn University '05 7667 Alabama Hwy 51, Ste A, Opelika, Alabama 36804 334-364-9993 Fresh, Homemade Tortillas Served Everyday! Sunday-Thursday: 11-9 PM | Friday-Saturday: 11-10 PM 2487 East Glenn Avenue, Auburn AL 36830 334-826-9180 457 South 10th Street Opelika, AL 36801 334-749-2222 www.deanandbarrett.com Convenience and Liquor Stores Farm and Industrial Fuels 256.447.9087 • www.grubmart.com Business Friends Working for the Future of Auburn 2590 Pepperell Pkwy., Opelika Shop online at: www.homeoutlet.com Kitchens, Baths, Floors & More For All Your Tree Service Needs Kevin 334-740-2238 Anthony 334-758-1342 www.getemdowntreeservice.comWhereStyleMeetsSouthernHospitality Locatedat1957ESamford,SuiteB Movinglatefall to 2301OgletreeVillage, Suite105 ScantheQRcode tofollowuson socialmedia! photoby@sweatdropsphotographyON THE PLAINS 73 A heavily recruited tight end at Emerald High School in Greenwood, South Carolina, Luke Deal ranked No. 10 nation- ally at his position. It wasn’t until the morning of his signing day that Deal re- alized he belonged on the Plains playing in Jordan-Hare Sta- dium. “I woke up that morning, and I just I felt like Auburn was the right place. Every time I went on a visit or we did things around there, it felt right. Every time I went down there, it felt like home,” said Deal, an Auburn University political science grad- uate. “It always has for me.” Fast forward to January 2019, when Deal arrived in Auburn ready to work for the upcoming season. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in his first Auburn practice. Limited during spring and summer, Deal recovered in time to experience his first game playing for the Tigers that fall. “My first-ever Auburn game that I played in, I felt on top of the world,” Deal said of the Tigers’ 56-26 win over Mississippi State that season. “It made me feel like something I’ve never felt before, having all those fans screaming and cheering. It was something that you can’t replicate.” Throughout his first season, Deal bonded with teammates from his tight-knit recruiting class. The following year, when the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the start of the season, Deal was offered a unique opportunity to bond even more closely with his teammates. “Whenever you live with people that you’re with every sin- gle day, you get so close,” Deal said. “Those bonds become so tight that it really is something special. We had a tight class; we grew up together. That’s something that we’ve built and some- thing that really showed, especially last year toward the end of the season.” His teammates weren’t the only people supporting him on and off the field. Deal met his now-wife, Ansley, an Auburn University apparel merchandising graduate, in 2019. They mar- ried in the summer of 2022. “Having someone by my side through everything is life-changing,” he said. “Her support on the field and off the field means everything to me. I’m so glad that we get to grow together each and every day.” Deal has spent his time at Auburn refining his game, de- veloping a reputation as a terrific blocker, while continuing to work on his pass-catching and route-running abilities. “Each year I’ve kind of built on that and I guess now have become the de facto blocking tight end on the team, which is cool,” he said. “I enjoy being that extra offensive lineman. But every day I’m also trying to refine my pass catching and route running. I’m trying to get faster and stronger each day, but I’ve built my identity in doing the dirty work for the team.” Deal has also been successful off the field. After graduat- ing from the College of Liberal Arts in 2022, Deal began doing graduate work in the College of Education. Along with the high points last summer of his wedding and graduation, Deal experienced heartbreak when his beloved fa- ther Chris passed away from ALS in June, only a year after be- ing diagnosed with the disease. During this tragic time, Deal’s teammates supported him, starting a GoFundMe page to help the Deal family acquire items to help Luke’s dad stay mobile and comfortable in his home for as long as possible. “I watched my best friend and my Superman go through things that I could not imagine,” Deal said. “Watching his strength through it all helped mold me into the man I am today. “Having teammate support through it all was the closure I needed. I realized I have a football family that loves me and cares for me, even when times are tough,” he said. “The Go- FundMe helped my family through the relentless struggle over the past couple years – the Auburn family is so generous.” Luke Deal has certainly had an eventful career at Auburn, full of life milestones like overcoming injury, graduation, play- ing his first game in Jordan-Hare, getting married and experi- encing the loss of his father. Looking back, Deal is thankful. “It’s just been such an incredible ride,” he said. “People al- ways make the place and Auburn is one thousand percent a product of that. The people here have accepted me, welcomed me, loved me and this football team ever since I’ve been here. It’s something that you don’t get everywhere, and I thank ev- erybody in the Auburn Family for that.” After the 2023 season, Deal has his goals set on training for the NFL Draft. When professional football ends, he will work on completing his master’s degree and getting certified in strength and conditioning. But first, there’s the promise of a new season. ‘AN INCREDIBLE RIDE’ BY CONNOR RICHARDSON AUBURNTIGERS.COM ON THE PLAINS WITH LUKE DEAL:GOOD FOR YOU. GREAT FOR ALABAMA. Poultry EGGS ARE GOOD FOR EVERY MEAL. ALABAMAPOULTRY.ORG334-265-2732AUBURN AT WORK 75 AUBURNTIGERS.COM AUBURN at Work We put knowledge and discovery to work to improve the lives of our neighbors. This is who we are. This is Auburn at work. auburn.edu/AuburnAtWork A late night tradition in Downtown Auburn War Eagle Calzones • Wings • Beer Eddiescalzones.com or 334.329.5111 Call Us,We’ll Deliver to Your Tailgate or RV We Deliver Open till 4:00am BIRMINGHAMHUNTSVILLE SCHOEL.COM CivilEngineering|LandSurveying|Landscape Architecture Environmental|Water Resources|Laser Scanning + Modeling Utility Infrastructure TUSCALOOSABAND, CHEERLEADERS & TIGER PAWS 77 BAND, CHEERLEADERS & TIGER PAWS AUBURNTIGERS.COM 2023-2024 Marching Band Directors Marching Band Director - Dr. Corey Spurlin Assistant Director of Athletic Bands – Dr. Nikki Gross Percussion - Dr. Doug Rosener Director of Bands – Dr. Rick Good Graduate Assistants Colin Cureton, Sebastian Lozano Chris Udell , Lin Washington Tiger Eyes Instructors Ashley Evans (coordinator) Lauren Schmidt (majorettes) Amy Mutarelli (danceline) Tricia Skelton (flagline) Percussion Instructor Aaron Locklear Announcer Jim Jackson Freshman Advisors Acelynn Arballo, Brooke Gordon Katie Erin McCormick, Josh Thomas Section Leaders Flute / Piccolo – Maddy Crissey, Caroline Locker Clarinet – Laney Smith, Natalie Yanhko Alto Sax – Noah Denton, Parker Megginson Trumpet – Ric Browning, Wesley Tarrant, Thomas Tonsmeire Horn – Natalie Meinert, Josh Wolfe Trombone –Bailey Croker, Jackson Walters Baritone – Fredrick Brown, Brennan Hall Tuba – Jack Branham, Nathan Lee Percussion – Garrett Flowers, Greg Stringer 2023-2024 Auburn Cheerleaders Aubie Caleb Basselin Zeke Byrd Alivia Carden Paul Davila Austin Forrester JaMya Gilleylen Tanner Heath Lolly Johnson Ella Jordan Luke Martin Daniel Martin, Co-Head Madison McKenna Coleman Morris Dalton Odom, Mic-Man Julianna Perrigo Lillie Pruitt Millie Smoke Mathis Tindall Sawyer Tindall Hailey Tschetter Britt Ware, Co-Head Max Allen, Stunt Coach Latisha Durroh, Spirit Coordinator 2023-2024 Tiger Paws Allison Arzonico Elizabeth Ann Burton Hayden Clift Caroline Collums Alison Dojonovic Katelyn Few Margaret Ann Green Mary Carter Howard Ellie Hundley Skylar Johnson Ellie Korotky A’Nyia Lynch Ashley May Kate Richardson Morgan Robison Emma Sanders Sarah Grace Speed Abbie Stockard Hannah Vallely Lotte Wambsganss Darby Scarborough, Head Coach Lee County Youth Development Center Laura Cooper Executive Director www.lcydc.org Serving Children Empowering Communities Uplifting Humanity 50 Years of Impact Auburn, AL Gamblewinter.com www.crowntrophy.com Call or e-mail for your awards ct71@ct71.com Business Friends Working for the Future of Auburn2023 AUBURN TIGERS AUBURNTIGERS.COM 22 RB 5-9 n 209 n So. Atlanta, GA 25 CB 5-11 n 164 n So. Fort Worth, TX 9 LB 6-1 n 222 n Jr. Alexandria, VA 9 QB 6-3 n 218 n So. Hoover, AL 8 S 6-0 n 200 n RFr. Baton Rouge, LA 18 QB 6-2 n 205 n So. Marietta, GA 21 RB 5-7 n 170 n Jr. Sarasota, FL 28 WR 5-10 n 187 n So. Huntsville, AL 28 Jack 6-3 n 239 n Sr. Jackson, MS 53 OL 6-6 n 312 n Sr. Conway, SC 4 WR 6-3 n 203 n So. Monroe, LA 15 QB 6-4 n 201 n Fr. Nashville, TN 26 RB 5-11 n 189 n Fr. Mobile, AL 10 WR 5-11 n 171 n RFr. Austin, TX 91 P 6-3 n 204 n Sr. Adelaide, Australia 57 OL 6-3 n 268 n Fr. Birmingham, AL 23 RB 5-11 n 191 n Fr. Montgomery, AL 20 QB 6-3 n 192 n Fr. Birmingham, AL 2023 AUBURN TIGERS 79Next >