07/22 at 08:24 AM

Old habits die hard, you see.

And Davidson, who recently retired from Auburn University’s athletic department after 50 years, has a long and proud history of avoiding the spotlight.

Davidson’s entire adult life has been spent making sure every available scrap of attention was focused on AU, his alma mater and the only employer he’s ever known. It’s not always a glamorous job, and it’s certainly not a job that comes with a lot of glory.

“That was always my job, to make sure other people got the credit,“ Davidson said. “You couldn’t always get everything you wanted for the sports and the athletes, and whatever you got, you didn’t want to waste it. It’s more deserving going to the athletes.“

Even now, looking back on an incredible five decades at AU, he wants the focus to be where he’s always wanted it: On Auburn.

“He’s never had an agenda other than the betterment of Auburn,“ former AU athletic director David Housel said. “That’s what he’s lived for, that’s what he’s worked for, and that’s what he’s dedicated his life to.“

The best measure of Davidson’s devotion to Auburn is this: When asked about his goals for retirement, he doesn’t hesitate.

Family comes first, of course, especially now that he and his wife, Fran, have three grandchildren.

But the other thing he’s looking forward to the most isn’t traveling, or riding his motorcycle, or writing a book or 10 about all his Auburn football knowledge.

No, it’s far simpler than that.

“I want to see what it’s like to go to a tailgate before a game,“ Davidson said. “I want to do all the fun things I’ve observed, but never been able to do all these years.“

At long last, after 50 years of service, one of Auburn’s biggest fans can finally be … a fan. Instead of having to rush to the press box and get to work, he can relax and enjoy the full spectacle of Auburn sports.

“I’m going to enjoy being able to attend events and go to practice without worrying about whether I should be up in the office doing something,“ he said. “I’m looking forward to being a fan.“

Davidson may never have experienced a genuine pre-game AU tailgate, but that’s just about the only thing he hasn’t done in his Auburn tenure.

At age 67, he says he’s never written a resume, never filled out a job application. He’s never had to; since he started at AU in 1957, he’s been a known quantity. His previous work always spoke for itself.

And it’s probably a good thing: If Davidson ever had to put pen to paper and list all his previous work experience, he’d need a steady supply of extra ink.

You name it, Davidson has done it at the Auburn athletic department.

“Whenever Auburn has called, for whatever reason, Buddy Davidson has answered and performed well,“ Housel said.

He started in the school’s sports information department as an AU student, lugging typewriters and filing boxes up the stairs to the Cliff Hare Stadium press box.

Then it was on to a 17-year run as the school’s sports information director, fighting for publicity for Auburn’s coaches and athletes - and always doing his best to avoid the spotlight. But his quiet work helped make sure the spotlight found Auburn.

In football alone, Davidson has helped publicize a national championship, six Southeastern Conference titles, 28 bowl games and two Heisman Trophies.

In 1981, Davidson moved into athletics marketing. He barnstormed the country drumming up interest in Auburn, selling fans on new head coach Pat Dye and masterminding a boom in ticket sales.

He followed that with a promotion to assistant athletic director, overseeing the Olympic sports programs, then supervising women’s athletics. He finished his career as a football administrator, handling a multitude of support tasks and coordinating special projects like reunions of AU’s 1957 national title team.

No matter what the job was, Davidson was always happy to do it. He’s always been all about people.

“I’ve come into contact with a lot of people, and I hope I’ve helped them as much as they’ve helped me over the years,“ he said. “You build up a lot of relationships that you have for the rest of your life. Hopefully I’ve helped some of them.“

While Davidson is far too modest to trumpet his legacy and the impact he’s had at AU, his friends and colleagues are happy to do it for him.

“He is Mr. Auburn, both in terms of longevity and in terms of commitment,“ Housel said. “In terms of a life that is lived on the Auburn values, Buddy’s the guy.“

So when football season finally arrives, save a place at your tailgate for Buddy Davidson. After all, Mr. Auburn’s got a lot of catching up to do.