By KENNEDY TOLBERT / Community Columnist

Daniel and Katherine Alexander are both huge Auburn fans and this interest and love for Auburn spirit has created many wonderful opportunities and memories they have been able to share.

Although Daniel was raised by Alabama fans, his love for Auburn football only grew when his uncle went to Auburn during the Bo Jackson era.

Katherine is from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and started enjoying Auburn when she met Daniel.

“I went to my first Auburn game with Daniel during my sophomore year at Samford (1998). I was hooked almost immediately. I still remember feeling electricity in the air and just being excited to be there. Maybe it was Auburn, maybe I was in love, either way, I now relate it all to Auburn football,” she said.

This year the couple had the opportunity leave to Wilsonville for a few days and go to the Bowl Championship Series National Championship in Arizona and watch their favorite team bring home the victory.

At first, they weren’t sure if they could go to the game. They planned on going to Arizona either way, but when everything fell into place for them and they got tickets for seats closer than they had ever been before at face value the week before the game, Katherine cried with joy.

“We were determined not to put any part of our trip on a credit card. So, to cover everything we actually sold one of our two cars, got an old car from a college friend and used the money we had to cover the trip,” Katherine said.

Because of the weather, they flew out Sunday instead of Monday like they originally had planned, which they both agree was for the best as they enjoyed the extra time in Arizona.

“Other than Byrum’s kick actually going through the uprights, my favorite part was Kodi Burns catching a touchdown pass. That happened right in front of our seats and I was extremely happy for him. He has been the ultimate team player for the last few years and deserved to go out on top,” Daniel said.

Katherine’s favorite part was the “not down” run by Michael Dyer. After the game, Katherine and Daniel worked their way down to the first row and got a high five from Byron Isom. Then Barrett Trotter jumped into the stands with them.

“It was easily the most excited I’ve ever been to be knocked down,” Katherine said.

Along with celebrating the win with their Auburn family, they even managed to get a few pictures with Oregon fans they shared a laugh with at Durant’s Steakhouse after Katherine tried to take their picture for some friends back home and didn’t realize her new phone had a flash.

Their favorite memory is taking their oldest son, James, to the game this year.

“We look forward to more games with both of our boys (James, 3, and Luke, 9 months old),” the Alexanders agreed.

Kennedy Tolbert, the community columnist for Wilsonville, can be reached at kennedytolbert@bellsouth.net.