How Investigators Found Harvey Almorn Updyke, The Man Who Poisoned Auburn University’s Famous Oak Trees

(By Brad Cohen, SportsGrid) - In what could be a case of taking a school rivalry way too far, some one has maliciously poisoned the oak trees at Auburn University’s historic Toomer’s Glenn.

Police arrested suspect Harvey Almorn Updyke, 62, of Dadeville, Ala., and charged him with Criminal Mischief for applying a lethal dose of herbicide to the trees, which host one of most unique traditions in American college sports—after Auburn Tigers victories, fans gather at Toomer’s Glenn to roll the trees with toilet paper.

Investigators began looking into the situation after a man who went by “Al from Dadeville” called the Paul Finebaum Radio Network and claimed he poisoned the trees the week after last year’s Iron Bowl, the annual game against Alabama, because he said he saw a newspaper clipping from 1983 showing Auburn fans rolling Toomer’s Corner the day legendary Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant died.

If there were any doubt’s about intentions, the radio caller said he said he used Spike 80DF and the trees “definitely will die.” He then signed off with “Roll Damn Tide.”