On November 30, 2016 at 7 a.m. in Auburn, Alabama, the Samford Hall bells chimed seven times to mark the beginning of a new hour. Minutes later, in Cocoa Beach, Florida, a special little Auburn fan was born. Baby Jordan Hare bears the same name as Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, the school's beloved football stadium. He was born at Cape Canaveral Hospital to parents Nick and Jamie Hare. This auburn family loves cheering on the tigers, and their baby’s name only confirms their love for the plains.

Nick Hare, father of baby Jordan, graduated from Auburn in 2007. He later moved to Florida where he met his wife, Jamie. The Hares are big tiger fans who love to take their RV to football games and tailgate with friends. They love the quaintness of the campus and Auburn’s many traditions. “Nick loves Auburn so much. He wears an Auburn shirt at least once a week and his truck is all decked out with Auburn stuff,” says Jamie. Nick carries his Auburn spirit with him wherever he goes and takes pride in everything the university has helped him to accomplish.

When the Hares discovered they were having a baby, they started thinking of unisex baby names. They thought of the name Jordan without even realizing the name’s Auburn connection.

“The first time we said the name ‘Jordan Hare’ out loud it kind of clicked in our heads that it was just like the stadium, so we decided the name was perfect,” says Jamie. “Naming our baby Jordan Hare is such a special thing we can do to show pride for the university that gave so much to me,” Nick adds.

The baby was delivered by Dr. Vanessa Dance. Dance’s oldest daughter, Gabriella, is a current Auburn student and her other daughter, Victoria, will be attending Auburn next school year.

“When Nick and Jamie told me at an appointment that they were going to name the baby Jordan Hare, I thought it was perfect for them and very meaningful,” says Dr. Dance. “That gave me the idea to contact Aubie and ask him to take a congratulatory photo for them.”

Dance’s daughter met with the school mascot and took a photo of him holding a sign that reads “Congratulations Nick and Jamie on your baby boy, Jordan Hare. Love, Aubie."

Dr. Dance used that photo and her stash of Auburn decorations from her daughter’s high school graduation party to decorate the delivery room for the Hares on their special day. “I wanted to go all out and surprise them with the decorations to make the day even more exciting,” said Dr. Dance. She also gave them an Aubie stuffed animal for the baby.

Now that baby Jordan is all settled into his nursery, Nick and Jamie are ready for him to join in on the family’s Auburn visits. “We’re going to try to keep going to at least one game each season. We can’t wait for Jordan to love Auburn as much as we do,” Jamie says.

The Hares plan on teaching Jordan about all of Auburn’s school-wide traditions, like rolling Toomer's Corner and watching the eagle fly around the stadium, while also including him on their own family tradition — going to eat at Jimmy John’s after every Auburn football game.

This story is just another example of the Auburn Family's strength and love for each other. “The Auburn spirit is something that stays with you forever, not just until you graduate,” Nick says. Now they just have to teach baby Jordan how to say “war eagle."