Auburn celebrates Final Four at Governor's Mansion

Auburn celebrates Final Four at Governor's MansionAuburn celebrates Final Four at Governor's Mansion
Wade Rackley

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – If you were looking for No. 54 on the Auburn basketball team Wednesday, you would have seen two Tigers: Junior forward Thomas Collier and Gov. Kay Ivey, the 54th governor of the state of Alabama.

Senior Horace Spencer and Auburn University president Dr. Steven Leath presented an Auburn jersey to Ivey on the front steps of the Governor's Mansion, the final event of a ceremony honoring the Tigers for being the state's first team to reach the NCAA Tournament Final Four.

"Auburn graduates worldwide are very proud of this team," said Ivey, an Auburn alumna, wearing her jersey after the ceremony. "How special does it get? As governor, much less a graduate. Oh, mercy, this was awesome."

The Auburn University pep band played "We've Got Jared" as the ceremony concluded, following remarks by the song's namesake, Jared Harper, Spencer, President Leath, Director of Athletics Allen Greene and coach Bruce Pearl.

"To all of these students and student-athletes, remember this," said Pearl, motioning to his team, Auburn cheerleaders and pep band members behind him. "In the history of the NCAA Tournament, and the history of the Final Four, you were the first team from the state of Alabama to ever play in the Final Four.

"That's how these guys came to Auburn on a promise that together, we could be competitive, we could be relevant, maybe we could be champions, but above all, we're going to do it the Auburn way.

"I am so incredibly proud of these young men. I'm so very grateful to my coaching staff. I'm so appreciative of the support we receive to be able to put us in position where Auburn University did not take a backseat to anybody in this NCAA Tournament, on or off the court. We belonged. We represented.

"We've come a long way," said Pearl, thanking Leath, Greene and Auburn University's Board of Trustees for their support. "The decision to come to Auburn, for my family to come to Auburn, God had a plan, and we're so blessed to be able to follow that plan.

"None of this would be possible without some courageous, incredibly hard-working - and you're right, Gov. Ivey - they were confident. They were confident because they were prepared. They were confident because they trusted each other. They relied on each other. They worked together.

"These young guys taught us how maybe we can govern, how maybe we can lead, and the difference we can make in this country. I'm confident that they will continue to do that, not only as players at Auburn but in their careers as former student-athletes."

Legislators and President Leath mentioned how well Auburn represented the university and the state, in victory and defeat.

"This team said, 'Why not us?'" Ivey said. "And for the first time in the history of Auburn men's basketball, this team went to the Final Four. And on the court and off the court, these team members brought dignity and determination to everything they did. They did it with class."

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer