AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2006 > May > 19 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USToday’s Cocktail Party is a tame affair these days
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Nov. 10, 1984 your humble correspondent came very close to an untimely demise. Florida had just beaten Georgia in Jacksonville 27-0 to break a six-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. Gator fans stormed the field, tore down the goalpost and did a victory lap around the stadium. I was one false step from being impaled. The mayor of Jacksonville, as I recall, thought it was pretty cool and said he would gladly replace the goalpost. I also recall that he was a Gator.
A year later Georgia upset Florida when the Gators were No. 1. This time Georgia fans stormed the field, tearing up chunks of sod to take back to Athens. There were more cops because of what had happened the year before. It was an ugly scene.
After that officials at both schools huddled because they knew they had a problem. The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party had gotten out of control. A lot of changes were made.
The point I’m making is this. On the rowdy scale, today’s Georgia-Florida game is a tea party compared to the 1970s and 80s. And that’s a good thing. Back then you could walk on the field at the Gator Bowl and actually smell the bourbon wafting through the stands.
Today the game is played in a nice stadium named after a phone company. The seats are teal. You don’t get in without a full body search. The days of sneaking in a half pint of Jack Daniels by putting it in your date’s purse are pretty much over. (If you did it, I don’t want to know about it.)
But there are still problems as there will be any time that many people gather together and alcohol is involved.
Those problems, however, are not going to be solved by telling the TV guys that they can’t call it “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” anymore.
Georgia’s president, Dr. Michael Adams, wants the TV guys to knock off the “Cocktail Party” references in hopes of changing the culture of the event. I submit you can’t change the culture of the Georgia-Florida game. Here’s why.
College football is about tradition and I know a lot of people who embrace the “Cocktail Party” label but never drink anything stronger than bottled water when they are in Jacksonville. Like the “Red River Shootout” or the “Backyard Brawl,” the “Cocktail Party” is part of college football’s nomenclature. These traditions make college football the greatest game in the world.
The problems that led to the death of two students during the Georgia-Florida weekend are real and are tragic. But symbolism isn’t going to make those kids safe. Alcohol education and awareness on campus would be a good place to start. Taking a zero tolerance approach to public intoxication would help. And while you’re at it, get the Jacksonville people to get a handle on that Friday night mob scene at The Landing. A lot of problems start — or finish — there.
I applaud the motivation and I believe it is sincere. I just don’t think the frat boys — young and old alike — are going to drink one less beer because Tim Brando can’t say the words.
Comments
By Bart
May 19, 2006 11:45 AM | Link to this
Well said Tony!
By Scott
May 19, 2006 11:47 AM | Link to this
Preach it brother!
By Michael
May 19, 2006 11:52 AM | Link to this
You forgot one important one:
If they stopped calling the Oregon-Oregon State game “The Civil War”, would all murders in the state of Oregon cease? I suppose now that I pointed this out, Adams will “fix” that. We can’t have a field general take snaps from the shotgun formation and throw bombs down the field. Neither can we have blitzes from the defense. From now on, the only way Mark Richt will be allowed to score is from a safety.
Michael Adams: he makes the politicians look virtuous and intelligent
By Ft Worth Dawg
May 19, 2006 11:55 AM | Link to this
Mike Adams reminds me of Forrest Gump when Forrest said he was sorry for ruining the Black Panther Party - except Gump was smarter and the Black Panthers didn’t have near amount the hate that UGA fans do towards Adams. Mike, just keep your mouth shut, and enjoy that monster salary you get and don’t earn (is it over $700K a year yet?).
The Georgia-Florida game carries a lot of frustration for UGA fans and when UGA wins (hopefully this year) then there should be a legal, reasonable way to vent that frustration.
It’s great to be a Gator (and Adams) Hater.
By Doug
May 19, 2006 11:59 AM | Link to this
Excellent column as usual, Tony. I hope Mark Bradley and Terence Moore read it and learn something.
By Dave
May 19, 2006 11:59 AM | Link to this
Dr. Adams should know that changing the name of something does nothing for the substance. The game has gone on long before he got here and will go on long after he’s gone. Hopefully that will be fairly soon.
By Jimmy
May 19, 2006 12:01 PM | Link to this
As a recent UGA grad, the fact that its called The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party doesn’t make a difference. The difference would be made, if there was greater education and more enforcement of alcohol laws by the local authorities. It seems like as long as Jacksonville makes money on the game, they could care less! It might actually make a difference if the game was moved to Athens and Gainesville.
By 2N4YEARS
May 19, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this
The ‘Cocktail Party’ slogan started because that’s what the fans named it, and it caught on (way before Adams probably knew who the ‘Dawgs’ were). It’s absurd for him to think ‘HE’ can change the name. Even if TV backs off on the name, the people that attend will ALWAYS refer to it as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”. ‘Political Correctness’ is really out of hand.
By Tripp
May 19, 2006 12:06 PM | Link to this
Tony, you hit the nail on the head. You are the man.
By Wes
May 19, 2006 12:21 PM | Link to this
You can call it the world’s largest panty raid and it wouldn’t change the fact that there is going to be a football game played with a lot of alcohol being consumed. Adams is a power hungry fool who thinks he can contol all DAWG fans….I am anxious to see what is going to happen on 9/2/06 when he THINKS he can control the tailgaters. Good luck idiot!
By woof
May 19, 2006 12:39 PM | Link to this
A half pint? That had to be your date’s. What did you drink?
By Will
May 19, 2006 12:47 PM | Link to this
Typical baffoonery from Adams, but it doesn’t really matter. I’ll be too busy drinking AT the game to know anything about the CBS telecast.
If Adams is so concerned about UGA’s image, then perhaps he should stop making national news by grandstanding over an issue that he cannot control. Leave it to Adams to think a telecast only watched by people who don’t participate in the event can bring about change. Thanks, Mike. Now the entire nation knows what our state has known for years - the UGA President is a baffoon.
By Darblue
May 19, 2006 12:53 PM | Link to this
darblue me happy!! adams is stupidhead. cocktail party = fun fun fun. tony b is smart man.
By Dawg75
May 19, 2006 12:54 PM | Link to this
People attend the game because of the “Cocktail Party”, everyone goes to have fun. If he doesnt like it, take the game outta there so its fair to UGA and have it at each stadium, but the idiot just signed another contract to have it there for five years so shut the H!! UP.
By chap
May 19, 2006 12:57 PM | Link to this
Congrates to Tony on todays column, I too like and love the tradition that is college football and all things that Tony stated in his column are true at least for me. Changing the nick name of the Georgia - Florida game will not change the nature of the game or its fans. Every football fan in American knows that you are talking about the Georgia-Florida game when you say the world’s largest…. lets not lose that. As one announcer is so fond of saying, “it one for the ages”, let’s hang on to it.
By Lee
May 19, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this
I’m actually surprised that Adams’ request was not a joint one with Dr. Machen (UF President). Dr. Machen has been on an anti-drinking kick since he took office.
The funny thing is, the Florida/Georgia rivalry is actually a pretty civil one. You see Gators and ‘dawgs tailgating together and having a good time. You never see Gators and ‘Noles tailgating together.
By Matt
May 19, 2006 01:00 PM | Link to this
Dawgs and Gators have two things in common: drinking and hating Tennessee. The Cocktail Party is great because its a tradition… something Adams has no respect for. Every great rivalry has a nickname, this is ours. Deal with it or we will name an Athens bar after you, Michael Adams… oh wait there’s already one, its called Village Idiot.
By scott
May 19, 2006 01:09 PM | Link to this
Well said Tony!
I live here in Jacksonville Beach and REGARDLESS of what the so-called “Self-Esteemed” Dr Adams thinks, this will always be WLOCT (world’s largest outdoor coctail party)
GO you Hairy Dawgs!
By Mike T.
May 19, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this
Yep them 70’s and 80’s were something else. I can still remember the TV camera’s showing all the the Gators filing out en mass right after halftime as the Dawgs went on to win 44-0. Herschel chewed on some Gator tail that day.
By Jason
May 19, 2006 01:15 PM | Link to this
I had a chance in 2001 to solve our current situation with Dr. Adams. Around lunchtime at the crosswalk at Broad and Jackson Streets Dr. Adams walked in front of my car and I had to slam on brakes. Too bad I didn’t hit the gas.
By Benny Humphreys
May 19, 2006 01:23 PM | Link to this
Please leave the alchohol in Jacksonville as is, after the dogs lose i need all i can get. If you’ve ever been there it is not as bad as you would think, well where i have been anyway.
By george
May 19, 2006 01:24 PM | Link to this
Michael Adams is an idiot who thinks he can control everything. He’s just about destroyed the normal football experience in Athens that existed for years. Now he’s shooting for Jacksonville. Michael, sit down, shut up, and color.
By marsh
May 19, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this
Well said Mr. Barnhart.
Typical Adams shadowboxing to keep his name in the papers; We long for the day when his resignation is what makes the news.
By Dawgs30
May 19, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this
Well done Tony.
Lets remember what happens when Adams opens his mouth and gets involved in athletics.Do I dare bring up Harrick or telling Dooley it’s time to go? Adams is trying to ruin the traditions of UGA and needs to be impeached.
By Matt
May 19, 2006 01:42 PM | Link to this
It really doesn’t matter what Adams calls it. It’s what the fans call it. Like it or not, the TV industry will side with the fans and not Adams, at least in the long run . When the fans decide to change the name, then and only then will it change. And I totally agree with Tony, changing the name will not make it better. If the name does change, it could be worse. This name wasn’t voted on by bunch of gooks and it isn’t going to be changed by a a bunch of gooks, even if their intent is for the well being of young adults and families attending the game. The fans will decide, especially when you’re talking about the greatest and most intense fans in college football—Dawgs and Gators!
By ED FR0M ELLIJAY
May 19, 2006 01:47 PM | Link to this
AS A GRADUATE FROM UGA IN 1978, I HAVE MISSED ONLY ONE COCTAIL PARTY SINCE 1973. INSTEAD OF GETTING RID OF THE COCKTAIL PARTY, HOW ABOUT SOMEONE HAVING THE GUTS TO GET RID OF MICHAEL ADAMS!!!!! I REFUSE TO CONTRIBUTE ANY MORE MONEY, OTHER THAN FOOTBALL TICKETS, UNTIL DR. (WHAT A JOKE) ADAMS IS GONE. HOW HE HANDLED COACH DOOLEY WAS DEGRADING. WHY IS HE STILL THERE???
By Mike
May 19, 2006 02:04 PM | Link to this
well said. I beleive the death last year didn’t involve anyone from either school.
By fred
May 19, 2006 02:04 PM | Link to this
Let’s see if Michael Adams changed his name would he still be President of UGA? Unfrotunately, YES. Would he still be an idiot? Again unfortunately, YES. Point being a name is just a name and it does change the actions of anybody or anything. College kids and some of us who might be a little bit older are still going to go to the game and drink if that is what we are inclined to do no matter what the game may be called. Next thing we will be hearing is how the name has been sold to some corporation and it is now called the Coca Cola Hold the Bourbon Bowl.
By FRANK CHASTAIN
May 19, 2006 02:26 PM | Link to this
This a joke compared to what Texas and OU weekend used to be!
By AltamahaDawg
May 19, 2006 02:28 PM | Link to this
As usual, you folks caught up into this lets hate Adams hyteria, have totally missed the point. And half of you didn’t even understand TB column cause you missed his point as well. TB and MB were both totally correct, but talking about apples and oranges.
By Spanky
May 19, 2006 02:35 PM | Link to this
Good Column, Tony!…. What do you think about D. Evans and Coach Richt wanting to alternate “neutral” sites? I know for a fact that the Georgia Dome has already generated a quote! They would alternate Jax/Dome.There agagin, this wouldn’t happen until 2011, but according to Coach Richt, “The Gator Bowl” is not a neutral site,..and I tend to agree! My wife and I can no longer go, simply because no baby-sitter can be found the weekend of Halloween!…The most important reason, is that it’s tough on the players, and to me, that trumps any other argument thought possible!…Thanks for reading!
By Chris F
May 19, 2006 02:39 PM | Link to this
With all the problems within the UGA student body such as arrests, drug use and death by over drinking, Adams should keep his own backyard clean before jumping into what CBS, ESPN and ABC want to call a football game. I can call Adams a man or a leader, but that does not mean that he is (which he is not). College Football is a southern tradition, and Adams is doing his best to take the fun out of football weekends. Next thing you know he will want the bars downtown (where his student body goes and gets drunk everynight) to stop serving during football games? What about the high dollar fans in the skyboxes? When will he remove beer and liquor from the skyboxes? Double standards???
By godawgssicem
May 19, 2006 02:46 PM | Link to this
Don’t they call it the Georgia-Florida game because G comes before F in the alphabet?
By Granitedawg
May 19, 2006 02:48 PM | Link to this
Tony, you are right. The “Party” has been cleaned up. In the 60’s I saw grown (drunk) women fighting in the street and never will forget one of our party came into The Gator Bowl with a drink mixed in one of those ice buckets from his motel room. We wound up sitting in back of Dean Tate. When my friend got up to go to the men’s room, Dean Tate turned to us and said “What year did he go to UGA?”—Funny !!!!
By Scott
May 19, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this
In the late 70s, I can remember Jim Beam Kiosks filled with half-pints set up within 25 feet of the gates of the old Gator Bowl——let the World’s Largest Cocktail party live on.
By Gil Gibson
May 19, 2006 03:05 PM | Link to this
In order to reduce the murder rate, Washington DC changed the name of its NBA team from “Bullets” to “Wizards.” Despite the fact that where I come from, “Wizard” is only slightly more acceptable that “Bullets,” the murder rate in DC did not go down. Symbolism over substance is the idiots delight.
By AltamahaDawg
May 19, 2006 03:27 PM | Link to this
missed the point, missed the point, missed the point.
Dis NASCAR change from Winston Cup to stop nascar fans from smoking or was it just the proper policy for an organization to take???
By drdawg
May 19, 2006 03:37 PM | Link to this
Excellent comment. Though impossible to measure, my sense the past 10-15 years is that the level of drinking has declined somewhat. There is nothing wrong with a cocktail party. The problem is irresponsibility and that cannot be legislated by an unpopular college president.
By gdawginkalamazoo
May 19, 2006 03:40 PM | Link to this
Jason, Funny! Shouldn’t have said that. Now you owe us one.
Mike, that did involve a university student, the dead guy went to UF. (I believe).
Tony, you forgot to end your column with “Can I get an Amen?” Amen brother. Nothing else to say on that one.
Did anybody see the AJC poll today regarding this topic? Looks like the people have decided exactly what they would to do with the game.
By AltamahaDawg
May 19, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this
Spanky, If the idea is to strip any likeness of a college game atmosphere out of that game, then the Dome would certainly be the answer. I cannot figure out how to get my grill on that Marta bus. Maybe you will be able to teleconference in very soon, or maybe just a plug virtual console, or better yet a “game pill”. Then the Atlanta fans wouldn’t have to leave their 4 block area then. I kid.
By Lee
May 19, 2006 03:46 PM | Link to this
godawgssicem - They call it the FL/GA game because Florida wins every year! :)
Mike - One of the kids that died last fall was a UF student. I think he was from Atlanta.
By John
May 19, 2006 04:13 PM | Link to this
Good article as always, Tony. Can’t wait for college football season.
AltamahaDawg: NASCAR did not change the name of Winston Cup because of smoking or because it was the right thing to do. The name was changed because R.J. Reynolds decided that it was too expensive to continue sponsoring the event, and NASCAR was forced to go find a new sponsor.
By Robert
May 19, 2006 04:30 PM | Link to this
Barnhart,
The Georgia-Flordia game has not gotten tamer; instead it is just you that has gotten older. When was the last time you were drunk at any Georgia game? Go sit on your hands in the alumni section.
What other ‘Back in my day….’ stories are you going to tell.
By Danny
May 19, 2006 04:30 PM | Link to this
I’m am AU Alum and the Iron Bowl used to be the most violent/hated rivalry in College foot’s Div I.
Today its played on each other campus (AU/UA) not some so-called neutral site(B’ham’s Legion Field - far from neutral) so the campuses would get vandalized.
They still call it the Iron Bowl. I agree with you calling the Ga/Fl game something different isn’t going to do really anything.
By Christopher
May 19, 2006 04:34 PM | Link to this
Here is an idea. Rotate the game between Georgia and Florida that way maybe Georgia would have a chance to win every other year. Then all of the Dawg fans wouldn’t have to drink so much!
By texasdawg
May 19, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this
why do you pander to the florida fans and go out of your way to irritate the georgia fans? if you and the ajc feels this way why don!t you move to jacksonville . by the way the oakloma- texas game with all its tradition almost left dallas texas this year had it not been for a very very large additional payout tradition be damned so they bought all this tradition for another five years move this college football game to a home and home football game.
By northwestDawg
May 19, 2006 07:59 PM | Link to this
Just a great colimn, Tony. I asked the other day, why wasn’t this a joint announcement from both schools? Hate to say it but the Reptiles went about it the right way. They sent a letter to the one person who might could sway the networks. Slive, you know the guy that heads up the SEC. Adams does what? Holds a press conference and tries to jump on a white horse showing that he’s a real leader. He directly slammed J’ville and if I were a Reptile or in their adminstration I would be very angry. Tony, Terrance, Mark or some reporter, will you please try to get an answer to just one question: Did Adams contact Fl before he held his press conference and invite them to join it since they had sent that letter months ago? If he didn’t I would be one angry Reptile and rightly so.
By AltamahaDawg
May 19, 2006 08:21 PM | Link to this
John thanks, good point. Actually RJR was under court order to stop massive nationwide advertisment because of lawsuits against them, and thier sponsorship of NASCAR was in violation of that , so they did “step down”. I hope my point still remains. Winston Cup was a casualty of PCness and the changing times. Now imagine if NASCAR was an institution of higher education.
By Ladydawg
May 19, 2006 08:27 PM | Link to this
Finally - someone wrote something about the WLOCP that makes sense. Thank you!
By Larry
May 19, 2006 08:56 PM | Link to this
Adams is an idiot and all true dawg fans now it. Good job, Tony
By AltamahaDawg
May 19, 2006 09:16 PM | Link to this
NW, he didnt call any such press conference. read the article. “working through the SEC office” he told CBS the official position of the University is that they would like to curb the usage. Any other quote was from an AJC interview they sought out. Mayor of Jville quoted as saying “cocktail party” marketing , not helping. Fl sent similar letter. Thier timing was diffent in responce to the death last year.
Larry, I have been a dawg fan and an alum a hellofalot longer than you Im betting, and I dont know that Adams is an idiot. Odd how the state would have an idiot running its flagship university. Dont like him , fine, I dont either, but half the folks calling him an idiot wouldn’t know his name if they werent told they should hate him, mostly by hypocritical fans who called for Dooley gone years ago and then cry foul when it happens. I’ll put my year to date contributions and faithfullness and history up to any “true” fan, any day. Being a true fan doenst mean following blind hysteria.
You guy’s are mighty insecure if you have to spin this as anti-Adams to prove what a great football fan you are, when its just a matter of PC. About as insecure as somebody who cant continue to call it whatever you want, while drinking and still understand the need for public policy and reputation.
By Surfrider
May 20, 2006 12:20 AM | Link to this
Mike it’s impossible to turn vinegar back into a cucumber. Unfortunately, UGA is still known and always will be as a party school, like most of the SEC. You’re doing a good job with the academic side but the football side along with the Gators new improved program are heading for several collisions in Jacksonville. The game will be as intense since the 40’s and 50’s, sooner rather than later.
By Rudy's Back
May 20, 2006 03:26 AM | Link to this
IT DOSEN’T MATTER!! Both these programs are pathetic acedemic jokes and Div.I wannabees.Hell,if I were a perpetual bridesmaid,I’d get drunk too!! See you in the Fiesta Bowl!! GO IRISH!!!
By Shane
May 20, 2006 06:27 AM | Link to this
RIGHT ON THE MONEY!
By JJ
May 20, 2006 07:34 AM | Link to this
This most sane and logical comments about this issue that I have seen to date. Well put, Tony.
By BigDawgDave
May 20, 2006 09:10 AM | Link to this
GREAT column…you are the best the AJC has!!!
All I’ve got to say is…Lindsay Scott, Lindsay Scott, Lindsay Scott!!
What a beautiful day…and then it started raining bourbon and Coke when Lindsay scored!!!
Long live the WLOCP!!!
By Lee
May 20, 2006 10:28 AM | Link to this
Hey Big Dawg Dave, Do realize that none of the current players were born when Scott scored that TD?
Most UGA grads in the last decade and a half remember where they were “the” year UGA beat Florida! Ok, there were actually 2 of them.
By Lee
May 20, 2006 10:32 AM | Link to this
Rudy’s Back, When was the last time ND won anything? BTW, check the UGA and UF average SAT and GPA number for incoming freshmen before you get on your academic high horse. Don’t confuse Florida with Florida State.
By Brent
May 20, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this
Michael Adams is making a big push to change the over-all culture at the University of Georgia.
He is a little embarrassed by the fact that UGA is such a “drunk” University, so to speak, with a whole assortment of bars lining the campus.
Adams has been working to create alternatives to drinking for students at the University, including “free” no-alcohol parties on certain Friday nights at the Student Center, as well as alcohol education classes, etc.
The sad thing is, you have a lot of stupid 18 - 22 year old kids who say things like, “Well, the kids who go to those free events, are downtown every other night.”
Well, that is exactly the point! The University is attempting to show these kids that there is an alternative to drinking alchohol, and even if for only one night, they can keep these kids out of downtown, and place them in a safer environment, they might save a life or two, or prevent someone from spending a night in jail.
Over time, the hope is that students will begin to make the non-alcohol choice on their own, and not have to rely on the University to coerce them into making the decision.
Another thing the University is looking to do, is to create more mandatory Friday classes for freshmen and sophomores, in hopes that students will stay sober on Thursday nights. The typical response to this from students is, “I just won’t go to class on Friday!” Well, then, you just won’t graduate either.
The state of Georgia pays the tuition of almost every in-state resident who attends a school in the University of Georgia system, in a program funded by the state lottery (talk about mixing vices! ;)). A large percentage of those students, unfortunately, fail to achieve/maintain the necessary GPA in their first semester/year to keep their scholarship.
So, what happens? Well, they e-mail their professors saying things like, “You’ve ruined my life. I lost my scholarship because of you!”
Well, who exactly has ruined their lives? The professors who give them C’s & D’s, or the bar owners who serve them alchohol at 18? Or, the students themselves who choose to drink alcohol at 18?
This brings me to the “Cocktail Party.”
UGA has a fall break - two days off - the Thursday/Friday before the UGA-Florida game.
In Adams’ view, this only allows the students extra time to get to Jacksonville, and start partying. After-all, it is the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, one morning simply isn’t enough. Even worse, many students start skipping school early in the week, and occasionally, some professors even cancel Tuesday/Wednesday classes.
The last two items lead to heavy criticism in the local media, with people calling into question the academic integrity of the University. This is what Adams would like to change.
More recently, the University has even attempted to get the Fall Break removed from the calendar. (My suggestion: move it to the Monday/Tuesday after the game. This way, students who are drunk/hungover in Jacksonville, have time to sober up after the weekend, and not rush back to Athens. While I am not promoting the use of alcohol, I am at least recognizing that this is occurring, and am trying to create a better scenario than the one that currently exists.)
It is no secret that alcohol is a large part of the game day culture at UGA. Walk the campus from 8:00 AM on, on any given game day, and you’ll see what I mean.
There are plenty of road trips for UGA students to take (Columbia, Knoxville, Auburn, etc.), but only one is called “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.” In Adams mind, this just sounds like an invitation for the students to come down and get wasted, and it’s something he’d like to change. I can’t find any fault in that.
It’s not just this game. It’s part of the over-all culture he’s trying to change.
(This is not an endorsment of Mr. Adams)
By AltamahaDawg
May 20, 2006 04:20 PM | Link to this
Brent, you are attempting to say something rational about an Adams action and I am afraid that it simply is the wrong place for that. This is typically a room full of folks who are caught up in the hyteria of Adams bashing. It makes no difference , what he says or does, they are going to twist it. I too have never endorced Adams, but have defended a couple of his actions as good for the school. Its shocking to see how college educated people (or are they) cannot consider a topic or policy that sems to be in the best long term interest of the university without resorting to the same ol , “just another way he is trying to …….”
By thdawg
May 20, 2006 04:59 PM | Link to this
Good column. The name is a harmless way of showing it’s a great football tradition where all have fun- actually it has been toned down the last few years. What really bothers me is folks saying the game should be moved from JAX. That’s ridiculous—GA won there for years and will again. It’s a great trip and south GA’s home game—and a tradition other schools wish they had “Lindsay Scott, Lindsay Scott, Lindsay Scott” didn’t happen in Athens you fools.
By KingGator
May 20, 2006 05:33 PM | Link to this
Only three words to say to you Dawgs.
FL Owns GA!!
By Ladydawg
May 20, 2006 06:30 PM | Link to this
Here we go again - I’m not one of them but I know several people who spend the week in the Jax area - usually at Fernandina or one of the beach areas. It’s their chance to enjoy the last decent (most of the time) weather of the year.
It’s not called the world’s largest outdoor frat bash, keg party, or drunk fest. It’s called a cocktail party - I don’t see that as a description of drunken debauchery.
The MFA can do what he wants - he always has but is anyone going to stop calling it the WLOCP because he says so? He can take away the break but a) either the kids are going to skip classes or b) they’re going to bust their butts to get to Jax in record time and probably put themselves at risk for car crashes.
The WLOCP isn’t just a football game - it’s an event - one of the few rivalries played at a “neutral” site. There are activities in Jax from Wednesday on - maybe more. I’m going up Thursday this year for the club meeting. There are plenty of fans from other schools down here that tell me that they have the WLOCP on their list of must go to events, even if they can only go once. I’m sure it’s not about the drinking, since you can do that anywhere. For me, it’s the atmosphere, the tradition, it’s college football rivalry at its best (and sometimes worst).
The MFA obviously didn’t have a problem taking 2 mil from the AD, part of which came from the football heathens he so despises. I’m sure he’d be much happier if we just mailed our money in and didn’t go to games.
By English Bulldog
May 20, 2006 08:09 PM | Link to this
With regards to King Gator’s “FL Owns GA!,”, that’s a load of rubbish. Of course I understand that the Florida commoners are convinced that the sport of football was not invented until 1990, but try as you may to comprehend we were whipping you a longtime time before then and the future does not look shabby in doing the same to those stinking orange and blue reptiles. Although it never appealed it us Georgians, I find it most peculiar that mullet haircuts, blue jean shorts and the fad of taking your shirts at football games all went out of style before 1990, yet the Gainesville elite embrace it as if it’s all the rage. Let’s just say there will be a cold day in hell before the peasants of Florida own Georgia.
By gjd
May 21, 2006 11:16 AM | Link to this
Well said Tony….
By D Pilcher
May 21, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this
You are absolutely right!!! I was in school during the wild days of the GA FLA game in the Herschel era and the stadium was crazy! Everyone brought in alcohol, they had temporary bleachers and there were parties in the warehouses along the river all night the nights before the game. I attend all of the GA FLA games now and they are very tame! Things are calm outside the stadium and certainly inside compared to the past. Changing a reference by broadcasters will do nothing. Moving the game to another venue will do nothing-except move the same thing to Athens or Atlanta(which would be more dangerous). I do think that the night prior Jax could increase the police presence downtown and perhaps some police could come up from Gainesville or surrounding areas(if that is allowed) to help protect the public. I no longer join in the festivities the night before but the game day experience in Jacksonville is still the best of the year (and it will be better when we start beating those gators again every year!)
By Lee
May 22, 2006 09:14 AM | Link to this
English Bulldog – Do you get tired of the same lame, rehearsed comeback? Mullets? Jean Shorts? Come on. Are you kidding me? You are Georgia! Have you looked around your state? You’re grasping at straws because you lose (almost) every year. I know that our domination will come to an end some day. I guess at that point we will start pretending that looking good at the game is more important than winning the game. To save you the time, I know that UGA has 2 sec rings to our 1 in the 2000’s. Congrats. We still own you. It was not football that was invented in 1990, it was our utter domination of UGA that was invented in 1990. Do you want to discuss basketball?
By ballen12
May 22, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this
Jean shorts, and mullets are hella lame.
By Nate
May 22, 2006 04:50 PM | Link to this
DEATH TO ADAMS and his supporters!
He is no Dawg. I hear BYU needs a new President.
By Patrick Rutherford, Baltimore, MD
May 23, 2006 08:15 AM | Link to this
Bingo. My guess is that Adams wants teams like the “Braves” to change their name.
By TitletownUSA
May 23, 2006 09:00 AM | Link to this
I know its an unpopular opinion, but it’s time for UGA to pull out of Jacksonville. Why should UGA fans continue to go down there and give their money to hotels that jack the prices up sometimes by as much as 100%, receive poor service in local establishments, and get treated like, well, dogs by local law enforcement? On top of that, it’s an armpit of a city. Sorry folks, but the tradition of going to Jacksonville just hasn’t been the same at least since 1993. No thanks, I stopped rewarding Jacksonville for their rude behavior a few years ago.
I say at least alternate the game between Atlanta and Jax. It would be an extra game in the Dome which can only help us for those trips to the SECCG.
By ajc
May 23, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this
The days of sneaking in a half pint of Jack Daniels by putting it in your date’s purse are pretty much over.
In a purse, yes, they will search that. But we made it through security after being handed a pint of Jack by an older alum. Just stuck it down in the pants, no searching there.
Unless you have a bag, you get in untouched.
By Ladydawg
May 23, 2006 06:08 PM | Link to this
They jack up price of hotel rooms everywhere there is football, even in Athens.