Tyler Abbott will be happy on Saturday.

Abbott, an eighth grader at Verbena School, will be attending his first Auburn University football game, thanks to the generosity of some complete strangers.

Abbott will also be thankful for the simple fact that he’s able to attend the game, after a tractor accident on Aug. 30 that cost him his right arm but not his life.

He was recognized before the Verbena junior high football game on Tuesday, and presented with several gifts, including a helmet autographed by Auburn players, a football signed by former Auburn star Cam Newton, a photograph signed by coach Gus Malzahn, $150 and four tickets to the game against Louisiana Tech.

Abbott’s mother, Jennifer Abbott, said Tyler chose to take his cousin, Tanner Mims, to the game along with his parents. Tyler’s father, Damon, is an Alabama fan, but Jennifer said he pulls for the Tigers whenever they’re not playing his team.

The tickets were donated by Molly Moore, and the other items were donated by Chuck Wright.

Tyler Abbott is such a big Auburn fan that recently he and his aunt, who is also a fan and had never been to the campus, drove down just to see the stadium.

“I thought we were going to jail because she just walked out on the field,” Jennifer Abbott said.

Instead of being arrested, the family ran into former Auburn player Steven Clark, who started up a conversation and kept in touch through Facebook.

Tyler Abbott’s love for Auburn is matched only perhaps by his love for Verbena.

“I’ve never seen a child so for their school like he is,” Jennifer Abbott said. “He loves his school.”

Tyler Abbott played for Verbena until the accident. He was riding on a tractor with his grandfather, clearing some brush away from a tree where they planned to put up a new tree stand.

A limb snapped back and hit the two, knocking them both off the tractor. Tyler’s grandfather was knocked unconscious, and the tractor rolled over Tyler’s arm.

Still, Abbott was more concerned about his grandfather.

“My son got up, and he went to where his daddy was on the other side of the farm and said help Pawpaw,” Jennifer Abbott said.

Tyler has maintained his positive outlook on life, and looks forward to being able to get back with his teammates in whatever capacity he can.

“He’s always been so cheerful,” Jennifer Abbott said.