Yesterday was a sad day in the Auburn Family.

It came to light that after the Iron Bowl, someone who calls themselves “AL in Dadeville” poisoned the 130 year old oaks that create what Auburn fans revere as Toomer’s Corner. Here are a few quotes from yesterday’s press release.

The university learned that a caller to The Paul Finebaum Show, a nationally syndicated radio show based in Birmingham, on Jan. 27, claimed he had applied the herbicide (after the Iron Bowl in November). As a precaution, soil samples were taken the next day and sent to the Alabama State Pesticide Residue Laboratory on campus for analysis.

The lowest amount detected was 0.78 parts per million, described by horticulture experts as a “very lethal dose.” The highest amount detected was 51 parts per million, or 65 times the lowest dose. Experts believe a normal application by itself would have been enough to kill the trees, which are estimated to be more than 130 years old.

“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 (one of my professors) and a member of Auburn’s Tree Preservation Committee.

You can hear the call to the Paul Finebaum Show here.

Fast Tube by Casper

Sigh. I’ll give you a minute to regain your composure after hearing that clip.

So. There you have it folks. The deed has been done. There are things they can do to try to help the trees but from what little this horticulture degree holding girl remembers, there’s not a whole lot of promise that these trees will make it. I know the professors and they will do all they can to help them.

Toomer’s Corner has, for decades, been a gathering place. It’s been the host of celebrations, reunions, photo ops, protests, rallies, engagements, LIFE.

It’s a symbol of our University and has been for years.

My parents rolled Toomer’s Corner.

I rolled Toomer’s Corner.

I had hopes that Henry would one day roll Toomer’s Corner. Looks like that won’t happen.

Toomer's after the National Championship celebration. Taken by me. January 2011

In keeping with the Auburn Spirit, students and fans and friends of the University turned out in droves last night to salute the still-standing cornerstones of Auburn. The trees were rolled with toilet paper just like they would be after a victory or a graduation or any other celebration. As cheesy as it may sound to outsiders, tears were probably shed, memorials were probably left, pictures were taken… it’s as if an old friend is dying.

I know, I know. You can’t compare a friend dying to a tree dying. You’re right. But let’s put it this way. It’s the same as if somebody hopped the fence at the Seilers’ house and poisoned Uga or lit a match and burned down The Grove at Ole Miss. Maybe it’s like killing Mike the Tiger at LSU. I wish Alabama had a live mascot or anything worth a crap that I could compare it to, but alas, they don’t. Apparently, to AL in Dadeville, it’s comparable to taping a jersey to a statue.

Speaking of Alabama. As much as I’d love to think it was a student, I know better. Their students and alum ARE classier than that. Yes, I said it.

AL in Dadeville’s loyalty to Alabama probably goes no deeper than his cousin’s cousin’s half sister’s mother knew somebody who went there in the 70′s. He’s probably never set foot in Tuscaloosa and never will. But now? Now he has done something so unspeakable that even true Alabama fans are disgusted with him. No. Our “fans” shouldn’t have taped a Cam Newton jersey to the Bear Bryant statue. That wasn’t classy. But it DIDN’T FREAKING KILL SOMETHING. There’s a big difference.

I hope AL in Dadeville mans up and steps forward and gets what he deserves. I also hope (MAKE NOTE) that Auburn fans don’t do anything equally as stupid in retaliation. Let’s remember the “turn the other cheek” rule and let this play out with the Auburn PD and federal investigators that are on the case.

Auburn has class. Let’s show it.

AL in Dadeville has done what he could to kill our trees and kill our Spirit. The fate of the trees is left to the professionals and Mother Nature at this point.

Our Spirit? Well, that can’t be killed. Once you have it, it can’t be taken from you. Our memories can’t be taken from us, either. If he thought he could take those things from us, well, he was just wrong.

If you want to support The Toomer’s Trees, there’s a Facebook group to join. You can also follow @toomersoaks on Twitter.

War Damn Eagle!

10:00am ET: There has been an arrest made in the case. A press conference will be held at 11:30 ET to give more details. Will update with more info.

12:00am ET: Harvey Almorn Updyke (who has relatives named Crimson and Bear) will likely be charged with 3 felonies. The trees likely will NOT make it, according to a teared-up horticulture professor. The poison has leeched into surrounding soil and likely will stay in the soil for several years.