`It's always special to come home to Auburn'

Gerald White says it's hard to explain how much Auburn has changed since his time on The Plains.

And he's not just talking about the impressive athletic venues, dorms and dining halls today's athletes enjoy.

It's the little things he remembers most.

"I used to live on Magnolia, and I went to McDonald's a lot," joked White, the all-time assist leader who played during the heyday of Auburn hoops, from 1983-1987. "When the students weren't here, the McDonald's closed at 7 o'clock. I would make sure I got there early, and I wrote a check there. That's how long it's been since I played. You could write a check at McDonald's."

White, whose daughter is now a senior at Auburn majoring in political…