Week 12 SEC attendance figures: Auburn fan is a college football icon

A lot has transpired since Buddy Davidson attended his first Auburn game back on Nov. 2, 1957.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower was still in the White House, the cost of a gallon of gas was roughly $0.24 and the Everly Brothers’ hit song, “Wake Up Little Susie,” had soared to the top of the record charts.

In the nearly 60 years since, Davidson, 74, has attended 697 consecutive Tigers games – home and away – to become a beloved college football icon. Davidson, who worked for the Auburn Sports Information Office from 1964 to 2007, has been there in person for 60 percent of the games the Tigers have ever played.

“The plan is to keep going as long as I can do it health-wise and it doesn’t become a burden to my family,” said Davidson, according to a 2014 Al.com story. “The day will come when they take my car keys from me, but until then I’m going to keep going, one game at a time.

“It’s still as exciting as ever for me. Football is a simple game; it’s a game of resolve. You try to impose your will on the guy in front of you. I love that.”

6️⃣9️⃣2️⃣:Consecutive @FootballAU games for Buddy Davidson. The Streak began in 1957. #legend pic.twitter.com/puQio09CwQ

— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) November 20, 2016

Davidson was among the 87,451 at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday as Auburn hammered overmatched Alabama A&M 55-0 in its final tune-up before next week’s Iron Bowl showdown against top-ranked rival Alabama.

Five other SEC games drew more fans, including four that topped 101,000 on Saturday.

Here’s a look at the Week 12 attendance figures from around the SEC.

John Hollis

John Hollis is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers Georgia and Florida.