By Charles Goldberg/Auburn Bureau, The Birmingham News, Press-Register, and The Huntsville Times

AUBURN, Alabama -- Phil Neel, the Birmingham Post-Herald artist who created Aubie in the 1950s, died early this morning in Birmingham. He was 84.

Neel created Aubie, Auburn's beloved mascot, in 1957 for the cover of the school's football media guide. Aubie made a move to game programs in 1959, where he appeared regularly through 1976. Aubie later came to life as mascot in 1979 to roam sidelines and attend events.

For more on this story, visit: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/07/phil_neel_the_man_who_created.html