Sustainability, science, and technology on a football field

In addition to today being a big day for eating and parades, as well as the official kickoff for the Christmas shopping season, it's the beginning of four days of football games.  One of them happens to be the Iron Bowl between Auburn and Alabama, and the Auburn Tigers War Eagles are building up to the game in an environmentally themed way.

Auburn University: Southeastern Raptor Center kicks off auction of gameday eagle jesses and lures Nov. 22

Auburn University's Southeastern Raptor Center will begin a live online auction of one-of-a-kind jesses and lures handcrafted especially for the Auburn eagle's gameday flight to support the center's mission of rehabilitation, education and conservation.

Here's the press release: Southeastern Raptor Center kicks off auction of gameday eagle jesses and lures Nov. 22.
November 22, 2013

AUBURN UNIVERSITY – Auburn University’s Southeastern Raptor Center will begin a live online auction of one-of-a-kind jesses and lures handcrafted especially for the Auburn eagle’s gameday flight to support the center’s mission of rehabilitation, education and conservation.

Fans will be able to place bids at the auction site, www.getluredin.com, beginning Friday, Nov. 22, for jesses and the lure to be used on the eagle during the Nov. 30 pregame flight for the Auburn-Alabama game, set for a nationally televised audience on CBS. Fans can go to the website and bid from 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 22, until 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 4.

Following the close of that auction, jesses and lures from other 2013 home games will be auctioned on the same site.

I wonder if Auburn has ever played Air Force, as they are the two teams with falconers handling their mascots.

Follow over the jump for more from Auburn University and the University of Tennessee.

Sometimes, disaster provides inspiration, as Auburn-engineered football training device has roots in tornado cleanup efforts.
November 20, 2013

AUBURN UNIVERSITY – Auburn University mechanical engineering students in Professor David Dyer’s comprehensive design class take good ideas and help turn them into sleek, customer-ready products. Interestingly, the good ideas can be generated at the most unusual times.

One idea, now a finished product called the SledHammer, originated when a high school football coach helped his neighbors remove debris from their yards after the April 2011 tornadoes ripped across Alabama. Vaughn Maceina, now a strength coach and teacher at Auburn Junior High School, was living and coaching in the north Alabama town of Guntersville.

“Fortunately, our community did not have any fatalities, so we were mainly dealing with property damage,” Maceina said. “I was helping cut fallen trees and then rolling the logs out of the way, when I realized this rolling motion was excellent for building strength in the arms and legs, really the whole body.

Finally, the Virgina schools weren't the only ones involved in America Recycles Day.  The University of Tennessee also participated, as UT Recycles 111,487 Pounds of Material in 2013 Game Day Recycling Challenge.
November 20, 2013

UT fans recycled their way to second place in the Southeastern Conference in the Game Day Recycling Challenge, a friendly recycling competition among US colleges and universities.

From franks to french fries and water bottles to beverage cans, college game days produce a large and valuable volume of recyclable material. UT Recycling took on the challenge to increase recycling and composting at football games, to shrink its environmental footprint, and to broaden sustainability efforts.

UT Recycling ranked first place in the SEC in organics recycling (composting) and second place in other categories such as waste minimization, per capita recycling, and greenhouse gas reduction. From the first five home games, UT recycled 111,487 pounds of material.
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Schools measured and reported their results along with game attendance for ranking in five categories. The winners:

    Waste Minimization Champion – Central Connecticut State University
    Diversion Rate Champion – Ohio State University
    Greenhouse Gas Reduction Champion – Franklin College
    Recycling Champion – Franklin College
    Organics Reduction Champion – University of Akron

I'm glad to read about so much green team spirit!