War Eagle, y'all

You'd be surprised how often the Auburn football team appears on television, in movies, in songs, out of celebrities' mouths. As we get ready for the Tigers to start the 2017 season, check out our favorite "War Eagle" moments from pop culture.

RELATED: Alabama's top pop culture moments

By Cheryl Wray | cwray@al.com

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"Bo Knows" takes the country by storm

Heisman Trophy-winning running back Bo Jackson became one of the world's best advertisting pitchmen ever in the 1980s, starring in Nike's "Bo Knows" commercials. He ran over linebacker Brian Bosworth on "Monday Night Football." He hit a home run to lead off an MLB All-Star Game. And he wowed the world in those Nike spots (where he showed off his ability in every sport imaginable, from cricket to horse racing).

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Cam Newton creates a dabbing sensation

Cam Newton didn't create the dab dance craze (that started in Atlanta by various rap groups, most notably Migos), but he helped make it a sensation in 2015. Once Newton began dabbing, the dance seemed to sweep across the country one NFL stadium at a time (and in every other place, seemingly, on the planet--in schools, among kids, out in public, at weddings).

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Charles Barkley says EVERYTHING

Charles Barkley, superstar basketball player for Auburn and then the NBA, is one of the most outspoken and ubiquitous member of the Tiger community in the media.

Barkley is never shy about declaring his love for the Auburn Tigers; in fact, he isn't shy about talking about anything and everything.

He's outspoken about Auburn basketball.

He'll talk about politics (including Pres. Trump).

He talks often about race issues.

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TV show "The Goldbergs" takes Bo and Barkley back to the 1980s

A 2014 episode of the 1980s-themed TV show "The Goldbergs" had one of the characters wearing a "Bo Knows" T-shirt AND mentioning Charles Barkley in conversation.

Check out the scene.

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Photo, Splash News

Leonardo Decaprio decides he's an Auburn fan?

While movie superstar and Oscar winner Leonardo Dicaprio has never actually said he's an Auburn fan, plenty of fashion clues point to him saying "War Eagle!" in private.

Decaprio has worn an Auburn hat out in public numerous times. (Of course, he's also been spotted in UCLA, Xavier and Cal shirts.)

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Octavia Spencer says "War Eagle!" at the Academy Awards

Auburn graduate Octavia Spencer moved on from Alabama to become a successful actress, who won an Academy Award for her role in "The Help." In all the attention leading up to her Oscar win, plenty was said about her humble start in Montgomery and her college years at Auburn.

In this clip, Spencer says "War Eagle" in an interview on the Oscar's red carpet arrival.

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Tommy Tuberville plays himself in "The Blind Side"

The 2009 football movie "The Blind Side" featured a whole slew of SEC coaches in cameo appearances, as they attempt to recruit player Michael Oher to their teams.

Although Oher went on to play for Ole Miss, that didn't keep coaches from Tennessee, Arkansas, LSU (Nick Saban at the time) and Auburn from trying to get him to their schools. Tommy Tuberville was the head coach at the time at Auburn, and he made an appearance in the film.

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ESPN's 30 for 30 airs "Roll Tide/War Eagle"

The heated rivalry between Auburn and Alabama was brought to a huge audience in the ESPN docudrama, "Roll Tide/War Eagle" as part of the "30 for 30" series.

The show explained how the rivalry developed, using interviews from a wide range of athletes--including Bo Jackson and Charles Barkley from Auburn, among many others.

The show was a huge hit for ESPN.

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Photo, Kim Box Photography

Auburn's Katherine Webb marries Alabama quarterback

Talk about "opposites attract"!

When Auburn graduate (and former Miss Alabama USA pageant winner) Katherine Webb began dating Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, people wondered whether the rival fans could make it last. They certainly did, getting married in July 2014 and welcoming son Tripp in 2016.

Their relationship has kept them in the spotlight, with any news of the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback and actress/model regularly making headlines.

Check out their love story.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook still loves his Auburn Tigers

Apple CEO and Auburn graduate Tim Cook is a proud fan of the Auburn Tigers. His Twitter handle declares it simply: "fan of Auburn football."

There's also this video of Cook yelling "War Eagle" to an Alabama fan waiting in line for a new iPhone 6.

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"War Eagle!" shouted on episode of "CSI: New Orleans"

The CBS drama, "CSI: New Orleans" brought a taste of Auburn to the small screen in September 2015 when showrunner Jeffrey Lieber fulfilled a promise made to an Auburn class to incorporate the Tigers into an episode.

The episode features a character saying she was an Auburn graduate ("My time at Auburn really defined my character, made me who I am today," she said), and then she shares a big "War Eagle!" with a group of NAVY seals.

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Willie Nelson supports Tigers following title game

Not long after the Auburn Tigers defeated Oregon for the national championship, singer Willie Nelson appeared at a January 2011 concert wearing an Auburn T-shirt.

Whether Nelson is an Auburn fan the rest of the time is unknown, but for this night he was supporting the Tigers with the orange and blue Nike shirt emblazoned with a large eagle.

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John Travolta stars as a washed-up former Auburn professor

In the 2004 movie, "A Love Song for Bobby Long," John Travolta starred as washed-out former Auburn professor who tires to repair a relationship with his estranged daughter. There's also a character who is an Auburn student (who is writing about Travolta's character); and Travolta is seen wearing Auburn apparel in different parts of the film.

The movie was in limited release, but it's not a bad study of life in the South-even if it's dysfunctional life.

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Taylor Hicks stays true to Auburn Tigers

Former "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks went to Auburn and is a big Auburn football fan (although he says he also cheers for Alabama, because they were united in helping him win the reality singing show).

He often talks about Auburn football (and did a theme song for"The Paul Finebaum Show"). He also once sang along with the Auburn marching band (check out that video).

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Paul Finebaum gets infamous "tree burning" call on radio show

When Harvey Updyke called into "The Paul Finebaum Show" in January 2011 to announce that he'd poisoned Auburn's famed Toomer's Corner oak trees, it set in motion a firestorm of media attention.

The rabid Alabama fan did indeed poison the trees, and the saga swept the public into a fascinating story of rivalry and fandom.

Harvey Updyke pleads guilty poisoning Toomer's Oaks

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Jimmy Buffett loves his home state (and attended Auburn briefly)

Singer Jimmy Buffett only attended Auburn University during his freshman year (and went on to finish his college years at Southern Mississippi), but the Tigers can definitely still claim him.

Buffett's been spotted wearing Auburn apparel, and urban legend says that he began playing guitar in an Auburn fraternity house.

The "Margaritaville" crooner also loves to sing about his home state.

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President Trump thinks Auburn's too tough for Liberty University

President Donald Trump spoke at Liberty University in May 2017, and questioned Jerry Falwell's decision to put Auburn on the college's football schedule for the 2018 season.

"Auburn? Jerry, are you sure you know what you're doing?" he says in the speech. "This could be trouble."

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Photo, AL.com

What about Alabama?

Auburn's rival has also enjoyed plenty of moments in pop culture. From Joe Namath to Sela Ward; from Bear Bryant movies to "Roll Tide!" commercials...there are plenty to check out.

See our look at Alabama's pop culture appearances

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Photo, AL.com

Check out other stories about Auburn fandom

Check out some of our other stories on Auburn fandom:

Celebrity Iron Bowl: Who roots for Alabama, Auburn?

Is Katy Perry an Auburn fan?

The 10 best things about being an Auburn fan

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What did we miss?

What did we miss?

Let us know if you think of any other references to the Auburn Tigers in pop culture. We'd love to hear from you!