Andalusia native Joe Cope may be best known as a former center for Auburn, but he told a pumped-up crowd at the block party held downtown last night that he’s proud to be a Bulldog.

Cope was the featured speaker at a block-party style Andalusia High School pep rally designed to build enthusiasm for football season, which officially begins tonight.

“You have no idea how much that means to the team,” he said. “I challenge you to go out and spread the word.”

He further challenged local fans to build themselves a reputation for having “the loudest home field in South Alabama.”

“If you do that, you’ll have a good team,” he said.

Cope also read an email from another former Bulldog, Nico Johnson, who’s a current member of the Crimson Tide team.

Johnson wrote that he’s very proud to be from Andalusia, a community that provides support that many others don’t have.

“We have the best team, the best school, and the best community in the country,” he said.

The block party, which featured performances by the AHS band and cheerleaders and introductions of team members, drew a crowd of several hundred, and featured interim superintendent Ted Watson leading “Two Bits.”