The Junkyard Blawg has moved!
Along with the other ajc.com blogs, the Junkyard Blawg has moved over to WordPress, where the blogging and commenting experience promises to be better. Join us over at the new WordPress version of the Junkyard Blawg by clicking on the link below.
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2005 > September > 07
Wednesday, September 7, 2005
Spurrier back Between the Hedges
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For nearly 40 years, UGA and Steve Spurrier have had a special relationship.
We hate him.
And he hates us.
Of course, the old Ball Coach, as he likes to be called — along with such other nicknames as Prince of Darkness and Evil Genius — has never been too popular with any of the other schools that played Florida during his years there. Known for taking his shots, cheap and otherwise, at opponents on and off the field — just ask Bobby Bowden and Phil Fulmer — Spurrier seems always to have reserved a special brand of disdain for the Bulldogs of Georgia.
Remember Spurrier’s belitting of Ray Goff (always noting how Goff’s superlative recruiting never could produce a victory over Spurrier)? And while Steve Superior always has been known for running up the score on an opponent when he gets a chance, he seemed to take a special delight in doing it on the Dogs.
The ultimate was 1995, when construction on the former Gator Bowl brought the annual Georgia-Florida game to Sanford Stadium. I’ve heard two versions of the story. One is that a Florida assistant coach pointed out to Spurrier that no opponent ever had scored 50 points Between the Hedges. The other version — the one that rings more true — is that Spurrier walked out on the field at Sanford and asked what was the most points ever scored there.
Either way, the result was that he made a determined effort to pile it on and break the record. Ahead by 28 points with less than two minutes to go, Spurrier still went for another score to finish off the Dogs 52-17. (I didn’t see that touchdown. I’d already left the game because I refused to watch Spurrier make the victory trek across our field.)
Again, we’re not the only team he ever did that to. But I think with UGA maybe it’s a bit more personal for Spurrier, because it was the 1966 Dogs who spoiled his Heisman season on their way to the SEC championship. Spurrier probably still sees big Bill Stanfill bearing down on him for a sack in his nightmares.
So, anyway, now Spurrier comes back to Sanford Stadium. Only this time he’s not with his beloved Gators but rather the Gamecocks of South Carolina. Despite Spurrier’s obvious genius for the game, he appears outmanned this time and the Dogs are favored to win.
But as fans have been reminding Coach Richt, just beating Spurrier isn’t what we all really crave. Yes, coach, a one-point victory is as good as a rout. But we want Spurrier humbled at Sanford Stadium. Every opportunity to score should be taken. Run up the score? Hell, yes.
After all, it’s what Steve would do.
OPENING GAME POSTSCRIPT: Sanford Stadium is a first-class facility, one of the most beautiful in the country. And the improvements made in recent years have made it even better, for the most part.The new scoreboard and video screen look great and I’m sure they’ll soon figure out how to get the opening Munson video montage timed correctly! But there’s one area in which the gameday experience has always been lacking at UGA, and that’s in the stadium concessions. As long as I’ve gone to games, I’ve heard folks griping about the watered-down Cokes and the mob scenes at the too-few concession stands.
Well, it’s only gotten worse. I can only speak for the North side lower level, but in expanding the number of restrooms (alleviating the other chronic complaint fans had at the stadium), they took out the oldest concession stands. Sure, they’ve added more carts offering specialty items, but for your basic Coke and hot dog, there are now fewer options.
And, I’m sorry, but 30 minutes in line — and this is starting midway through the second quater, not at halftime — is entirely too long. I heard someone else complain their wait was even longer.
And then to be ripped off and forced to pay $5 each for what the sales people claimed were “jumbo” dogs but obviously were the regular-sized $3 dogs added insult to injury. Plus, they said they didn’t have change, so you either had to overpay or revise your order to make the price come out even.
This is ridiculous and not worthy of Sanford Stadium or the University of Georgia. The Athletic Association needs to step in and bring the concessions operation in line with the rest of a great program.
