Oh, how fast it has flown by. March Madness will come to an end on Monday night, and a 49-year-old married father of three wishes it could last forever.

Paul Mortimer has been burning the midnight oil. Tonight he’ll turn on the Auburn-Florida basketball game. The NCAA Tournament’s Final Four game starts just past 11 p.m. over in Westhoughton, England. It’s all good with Paul Mortimer, because he will watch his Auburn Tigers play any sport, day or night. Besides, Paul considers sleep to be overrated.

“The end of the regular season wasn’t what we Auburn basketball fans wanted,” said the senior ICT engineer who sings and plays his guitar on the weekends. “We got back in the groove quickly in the post-season — the way we came back against Michigan in the Sweet 16 and then played well against Michigan State was impressive. The way Johni has come through for his team while being injured has been amazing.

“It’s made staying up after 4 am worth it,” Paul added.

One hour northwest of Liverpool, England, sits the town of Westhoughton. About 25,000 hardworking folks live in Westhoughton, a town known for its coal mining and cotton processing. Sure, those late-night Auburn sporting events — from football to basketball — can be demanding on the eyelids. But Paul Mortimer’s a member of the Auburn Family, and his loyalty never sleeps.

Paul Mortimer may live near the birthplace of The Beatles, but he loves country music. From Johnny Cash to Tim McGraw to Carrie Underwood, he digs the country vibe. And it was over 11 years ago when Paul came upon a country music station across from the pond. “I was listening to a country station out of Montgomery, Alabama, and the disc jockeys were talking about the Auburn football team,” Paul told me.

Paul Mortimer’s life was about to change.

He always loved playing sports. Paul grew up surrounded by the kind of football that features corner kicks and headers. And while Paul loved playing soccer, he also learned to love playing baseball. He played in some advanced amateur leagues in his 20s — he was a second baseman. He was named Rookie of The Year in his first year and MVP the following year. But the sport of American football? Paul was but a casual observer. Until November of 2013.

What was this American college football team those disc jockeys were talking about?

Paul’s curiosity got the best of him, so he checked out the Auburn-Georgia football game on Nov. 16, 2013.

“American sporting events aren’t always easy to find on the telly over here in England,” said Paul. “There’s no satellite TV over here, and US streaming services require that we have a U.S. address,” Paul added. “Luckily I can see some events on Sky Sports and through other channels.”

Paul Mortimer found the 2013 Auburn-Georgia game on his TV, and what he saw sent his heart racing.

38-37 Georgia, 36 seconds remaining in the game. Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall took the snap, and on 4th-and-18 heaved the football down the middle of the field. The football was tipped by two Georgia defenders. Ricardo Louis caught the tipped football, ran into the endzone and gave Auburn a 5-point lead. The Tigers hung on for a 43-38 win. The “Prayer in Jordan-Hare” had unfolded, and Paul Mortimer was smitten.

Paul Mortimer tuned into the next Auburn game. He learned the Alabama-Auburn game was called, “The Iron Bowl”. He learned that the rivalry was unmatched in the sport they called American college football. And when Auburn’s Chris Davis fielded a missed Alabama field goal attempt and did his thing, Paul Mortimer became an Auburn fan for life.

Nov. 30, 2013. It was the day Davis caught the ball 9 yards into his own end zone. It was the day Davis cut left, tip-toed down the sideline and shocked the world. A chill went up and down Paul Mortimer’s spine. The play many call the greatest in the history of college football registered on some of the state’s seismographs.

The Tigers won the Iron Bowl 34-28 and shook Paul’s heart in the process.

“I was hooked,” said Paul, as he told me about how The Kick Six turned him into an Auburn fan for life. And when Paul made a Facebook page called, “British Auburn Fan”? Auburn fans in the States and around the world began sharing more than just stories and well wishes. They sent Paul shirts and signs and pictures and gifts, most of them orange and blue and all of them sent with love.

Paul was on a roll. He named his dog, “Gus” after Auburn coach Gus Malzahn. He wore his Auburn shirts and jerseys and caps with pride. He had an Auburn tattoo inscribed on his arm. And those late-night sporting events? So what if England is six hours ahead of U.S. central time? To Paul, a few more wins were worth a little less sleep.

Paul Mortimer is a lot like us. He works hard and dreams his dreams. But dreaming of someday attending an Auburn football game was a dream that was quite frankly, a reach. Flights to the United States were expensive. Add in hotels and game tickets and getting time off from work, and it presented some issues. But Paul kept saving his money and kept on dreaming.

Paul Mortimer’s dream came true in November of 2023. Paul kissed his wife Allie and his kids Kora, Adam and Isaac goodbye, and headed to Atlanta, then on to the Auburn campus. And as Paul arrived at The Loveliest Village, the hospitality amazed him. Auburn Director of Communications Preston Sparks and others arranged to surprise Paul with a VIP pass.

“There were so many kind Auburn people who made my trip so special,” Paul told me. “Reggie and Jennifer Holt, Wes and Linda Whitley, Jay and Monica Goodwin and so many others were there for me.

“And the coaches and players from all the sports teams were amazing.”

What a weekend it was for the British Auburn Fan. Paul Mortimer met Auburn coaches and student athletes. He met Apple CEO Tim Cook and Senator Tommy Tuberville and Aubie. He toured the facilities — he attended the Auburn-Alabama volleyball game, the Auburn-Alabama A&M women’s basketball game, and the Auburn-Virginia Tech men’s basketball game. And 10 years after the Kick Six, Paul Mortimer took part in Tiger Walk and witnessed the 2023 Iron Bowl.

Strange things seem to happen when the Iron Bowl is played at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and the 2023 Iron Bowl was no different. Paul Mortimer was standing in the endzone when Bama quarterback Jalen Milroe took the snap on 4th-and-31. It was unlikely Bama would convert a first down on that play, and it looked as if Paul Mortimer’s trip to Auburn was going to end in victory. Like I said, strange things seem to happen when the Iron Bowl is played at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“It unfolded right in front of me,” said Paul. “Jalen Milroe hit Isaiah Bond with a TD pass, and we lost the Iron Bowl. It was still an amazing experience — in fact, whenever the replays of that touchdown are shown on TV, I can see myself standing on the side of the end zone.”

Ten years after one of the most amazing plays in college football history came another. Why wouldn’t it? After all, it was the Iron Bowl.

Life is good for Westhoughton, England’s Paul Mortimer. His wife and kids often wear Auburn apparel, as they too have become Auburn fans. Paul’s dog Gus is alive and well — he’s been known to now and again wear an Auburn doggie sweater. And as Paul remains hard at work, he’s eyeing a possible trip to Auburn this fall for yet another weekend filled with excitement.

And back to the Auburn men’s basketball team.

Paul has enjoyed the Tigers’ post-season run — he’s been holding a signed Charles Barkley autographed basketball during games, and he’s glanced at the picture of him hanging out with Coach Pearl that was taken 16 months ago. “I’ve been a loyal Auburn fan since 2013, and that will never change,” said Paul.

It’s the final weekend of March Madness, and regardless of whether the Tigers advance to Monday’s national championship game or fall one win short, Paul Mortimer, his wife Allie, his children Kora, Adam and Isaac and his dog Gus are proud of their Auburn Tigers.

They want you to know that if you are ever in Westhoughton, England and you pass a humble abode late at night and see a flicker from the telly, please stop by, let out a “War Eagle” and say hello.

The Mortimer family home should be easy to find.

Because Paul will leave the orange and blue lights on for you.

Rick Karle, who writes a weekly ‘Good News’ story, is a 25-time Emmy winner and a 43-year veteran of broadcast news who has lived and worked in Alabama for 35 years. You can find his work on Facebook at Rick Karle Good News. Send your story suggestions to: [email protected]