Alabama SGA president can't lie, she's a little nervous to sing Auburn fight song

Auburn's SGA president leads Alabama in singing Yea Alabama during the ODK Foy Sportsmanship Trophy Presentation celebrating Alabama's Iron Bowl football game in 2013.

This happened fast for Casey Nelson in late January. A hasty promotion for Alabama's SGA executive vice president followed the resignation of president Jared Hunter after a DUI arrest.

Swearing to uphold the duties of office came with a twist for the Tuscaloosa native. A friend, Anna Gerhardt, broke the news to Nelson after that Jan. 23 swearing in ceremony.

"You realize you're going to have to sing the Auburn fight song now, right?" Gerhardt asked.

"Do what?" Nelson responded. "That's when I learned about the tradition."

Nelson will become the first Alabama SGA president since 2011 to warm up the vocal cords in Auburn Arena on Wednesday night. She'll take part in the tradition of handing off the Foy-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy to the football Iron Bowl winning Tigers at halftime of the 7:30 p.m. basketball game between Alabama and Auburn.

Bad weather kept the Alabama SGA president Jimmy Taylor from fulfilling the duties following the 2013 Kick Six Iron Bowl. Nelson originally heard the signing of the rival's fight song was retired, but that wasn't accurate.

A career in politics was never sidetracked for something in the music business, Nelson admits. She's not much of a singer.

"I'm a little bit nervous to sing the song, I won't lie," she said. "But I am excited to represent the university and I know this is a part of it."

The Foy-ODK Sportsmanship trophy dates back to 1948 to celebrate the Iron Bowl rivalry. Alabama had won three straight games in the series before falling 26-14 on Nov. 25 in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

"I know that we'll be able to have this presentation in a classy manner," Nelson said. "This is not about hostility. This is about joining our two institutions."

It's possible for a few boos to be heard in Auburn Arena on Wednesday night given the history of these trophy handoffs at both schools.

"It's only a hostile rivalry if you make it one," said Nelson, a senior who hopes to move to Washington D.C. after graduation to pursue a career in politics and public relations. "I believe we're all teammates in advancing our two respected institutions as well as the state of Alabama.

"We're pretty much setting an example for the rest of the nation to follow. Yes, we did lose the Iron Bowl this year but I think both of our institutions are still a great example for the rest of the country."

Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande.

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