What could we equate this too, relative to to other Universities?
Clemson having to get another rock from Death Valley to replace Howard's Rock because some one stole it? No, because the point was that one specific rock's history that sets it apart from every other rock.
Notre Dame replacing the "Play Like a Champion Today" sign because it was spray painted over? More so, yes. True, that specific sign has great history, but the message and the routine at the point...not the sign.
Busting Derrick Thomas' hand print at Denny Chimes? No. This is not an Apples-to-Apples example as there is no other way to replace "Derrick's" concrete slab, and Derrick is the point, not concrete.
The issues at the core are primarly about:
1) the level/degree of disrespect. Compared to the Rye Grass score, Toomers was too far for most folks comfort;
2) forcing the Auburn fans to tweek a cherrished tradition. "Tweek" because the tradition will continue, only at a later date and on new trees.
3) ecological and fiscal impact of cleaning up the site, which has nothing to do with football. Logging happens everyday in Alabama, so lets not tree the loss of a tree as some sort of sin.
Updykes' crime did not kill rolling at Toomer's, its just causes it to be changed. By the way, these trees would die eventually anyway, and the same dead tree issue would be overcome then as well. Auburn already has trees ready to go into the grown to continue the tradition for the next 130 years, so this funeral will be a party again in a few years.
