AJC > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSitting out Tech-UGA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is always the toughest time of year at Enemy Watch Worldwide Headquarters — and not just because this erstwhile blogger never knows what to get anyone for the holidays.
There was the decorative football that opened to the sounds of the Redcoat Marching Band playing “Glory, Glory to Old Georgia” that the stepfather enjoyed heartily. His son, recently departed, was such a big Bulldogs fan that he was laid to rest in a UGA cap, just days after returning from what was his last game, a bitter loss at Kentucky. They both despised Tech intensely. Mention Pepper Rodgers, and watch them break out into an instant, all-consuming rash.
Years ago, a Tech-loving uncle with an unyielding hatred for UGA howled with delight at the sight of a heaving 400-pound red-and-black uniformed player barely able to run on the field before a Dogs-Jackets freshman game: “Bow WOW! Is he gonna play for Ray Goof next year?”
There are other conflicting loyalties: Father likes anything in Auburn blue and orange, and the rest of his family bleeds Crimson Tide red.
Yes, the holidays are essentially a time of football consternation for Enemy Watch, who’s at least thankful there aren’t Vols or Gators hanging from the family tree. This probably prompted the career path to sportswriting more than anything.
So when it comes to what one author has entitled “Clean Old-Fashioned Hate,” Enemy Watch can’t work up any partisan fervor either way. It’s off to Switzerland for the weekend, watching from a distance and — forgive the hackneyed phrase — hoping for a good game. Something to stir the rivalry with some new energy.
After years of watching this game, however, there is one constant — why it isn’t on the same scale as other bitter or in-state feuds. Part of it is that Tech and UGA rarely have been together in the national elite in recent years. The Yellow Jackets are buzzing high right now, while the Dogs lack championship bite, their win at Auburn notwithstanding.
What will it take to raise Tech-UGA to the level of Florida-Florida State, for example? Auburn-Alabama? Duke-Carolina? Michigan-Ohio State? Red Sox-Yankees? Can this game ever get that big? Do you think it is anyway? Or does none of that matter to you?
Lots of questions, Mutts and Gnats, to be sure. But a dedicated impartial, near-native observer wants to know what you think.
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Comments
By Calvin Johnson
November 24, 2006 03:40 PM | Link to this
I hate everything that UGA stands for. That is why I didn’t commit to play football there. For all you recruits reading, don’t go to UGA. GT is where you want to play football.
By I AM
November 24, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this
This is the biggest rivalry in the country!
By brewdawg
November 24, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this
Um, you did mean Duke-North Carolina in BASKETBALL right?
By Joe Tereshinki III
November 24, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this
GT is loserville. Look here Nerds, you all suck. I haven’t lost a game to you bees since I have been here. Time to take out the garbage again nerds. YOU ALL SUCK!
By Julian-Aquil
November 24, 2006 04:28 PM | Link to this
Are there any current or former students from UGA or GT who are fans of the rival team. I would like to hear/ read some of your interresting stories. Please send stories to: jasb_silkk@yahoo.com
By Hunk Erdown
November 24, 2006 05:40 PM | Link to this
If Tech could put together a string of good years it is possible that the rivalry could gain some attention. It has seldom meant anything in the past because there was no significance, other than state bragging rights. Let Tech put together a program that can win 10 games a season for 4-5 years in a row and maybe people would look at it as something besides what it has always been, UGA beating up on its ugly little brother.
By h2o
November 24, 2006 07:02 PM | Link to this
I really don’t think UGA can lose the game to the University of Tokyo-Atlanta Campus.
I hope the insects get back Saturday night early enough to study for their “wink-wink” management degree test.
Would you drive your family over a bridge that a gnat football player “wink-wink” engineered?
By mike
November 24, 2006 08:08 PM | Link to this
Hey poster #1 (or should I say Calvin Johnson, you cunning Tech dork, I really thought that CJ was posting on this board). Therefore, I will stay in your make believe world that Tech geeks like (you know, like Dungeons and Dragons, kissing a girl, what a breast feels like, that kind of stuff). If you had gone to Ga, you would have been the best player in football the last 2 years. Greene and Shockley throwing to you would have made you one of the all time greats. As it is, you have had a stellar career of 3 catch 50 yd games thanks to the phenom Reggie Ball. Your loss.
By Drewcifer
November 24, 2006 08:15 PM | Link to this
You’re “wink wink” a moron. And I’m sure those bridges are structurally sound enough for you to jump off of!
By lambda lamda lamda
November 24, 2006 08:26 PM | Link to this
Has anybody seen my glasses? I thought the score just said 51-7 but I can’t read without my glasses!
By Don Buzz
November 24, 2006 08:36 PM | Link to this
All the comments are for naught! But Tech will get it done on the field, where it counts! Ga. is just a bunch of rednecks! They have such so called fabulous recruiting, yet lose to KY and Vandy this year. Plus Tech was just one play fm beating Ga rednecks the last two years! GO Tech!!!!!
By gatech87
November 24, 2006 11:17 PM | Link to this
My wife went to UGAy. Home Ec major. She’s so undeucated that she has brought all of $0 into our marraige in 16 years.
What a waste of talent, taxpayer $, and a so-called university…
By UGA Phi Beta Kappa
November 25, 2006 07:42 AM | Link to this
Uneducated? Because she has brought no money to the marriage? Wow — interesting use of comparative dollars to worth. What about happy family? Well prepared meals? Putting up with you for 16 years? I would say the sad waste of talent and taxpayer dollars would be marrying someone with so little education and self worth that he would judge his wife and one of the nation’s premier universitites by such a pathetic standard
By Dawg85
November 25, 2006 08:41 AM | Link to this
gatech87— I feel sorry for your wife. A bitter little man like you must be a real jewel to live with.
By Dawg85
November 25, 2006 08:42 AM | Link to this
By the way — Dawgs roll 27-10.
By Gen Neyland
November 25, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this
As I’ve played in this sandbox of blogs since the week of the UT-UGA game, I’ve enjoyed the reads and the blather associated within. As a true blue Orange and White fan residing in the great state of Georgia, a thanks to all who are knowledgable of the game and respectful of it’s purpose. Not that many of you care, I also am proud of the Volunteer Seniors on this day. They haven’t gone 52-0 in their college career, but they have had the honor of playing in the greatest, most storied football conference in our land. All that said and done, GO VOLS and GO DAWGS…
By Big Dawg
November 25, 2006 09:47 AM | Link to this
Having attended, played and graduated from Georgia, I can tell you that Tech has always been and will always be Georgia’s biggest rival. State bragging rights is only a part of it, having family members who bleed Red and Black or Gold and Black, recruiting, being able to trash talk etc. Having said this, the game did actually mean more when both teams were in the SEC and competing for SEC and/or National Championships against each other. Both teams can point to years when they beat the other and cost them a SEC title and/or National Championship,for instance in 1941 when GA beat an undeafeated # 1 ranked Tech to share the SEC title and also go to the Rose Bowl where they beat CA Golden Bears. One of the most memorable games was in 1971 on Thanksgiving night when the Dawgs drove the length of the field to score the winning touchdown in the closing seconds. Georgia Tech can point to those as well and matter of fact when they beat GA 3 years running, 1998 to 2000, it cost Donnan his job. I remember when I was little my grandfather, who graduated from Tech, would wear his Tech hat the week before the game and my father would be wearing his GA hat and they would be talking trash about the other’s team and how they were going to beat the other. They always kept it friendly and unpersonal. It has been fun for me this year because my oldest sister, a niece, first cousin and 5 of my subordinates who all graduated from Tech have had plenty to trash talk about. So later today either I will have the final say or they will. So I will finish with this, it has always been the Biggest Rivalry for both teams but Hate should never enter into it, because it is still only a game so have fun with it but don’t make it or take it personally.
By jim
November 25, 2006 10:37 AM | Link to this
Who says this is not a big rivalry? People don’t care about any teams but their own and the despised team they have to beat any particular weekend. That being said, GO DAWGS! If Tech would live up to their end of the bargain (on a regular basis) and be in the national rankings (on a regular basis like UGA) then this would be a rivalry of national prominence. To Hell with GA Tech! GO DAWGS!
By Clay
November 25, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this
“By Don Buzz
November 24, 2006 08:36 PM | Link to this
All the comments are for naught! But Tech will get it done on the field, where it counts!… Plus Tech was just one play fm beating Ga rednecks the last two years!”
Don, getting it done on the field, huh? Losing 12 of the last 15 is not exactly getting it done on the field. Heck, you view close losses as moral victories. Only fans of really mediocre teams look for moral victories. Oh yeah, that’s Tech. Never mond.
By Clay
November 25, 2006 10:52 AM | Link to this
By gatech87
November 24, 2006 11:17 PM | Link to this
My wife went to UGAy. Home Ec major. She’s so undeucated that she has brought all of $0 into our marraige in 16 years.”
All we have to do is read this statement and we learn all we need to know about Tech. Thanks!
By Living in the past and in a trailer park
November 25, 2006 11:10 AM | Link to this
Today the Rocket scientist will teach those home economics majors a lesson in losing. Just like Tennesee, Flordia and those “Poweer House” programs like Vanderbilt and Kentucky did.
The departing UGA seniors can hopefully find jobs as waiters at Denny’s.
By UGA grad and GT mom
November 25, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this
h2o, The UGA players majoring in “Leisure Studies” won’t even need to crack a book to get their “degrees”. I got your “wink-wink” right here.
By Sean
November 25, 2006 12:29 PM | Link to this
The arrogance of UGA fans is disgusting claiming Tech fans/students have no lives and somehow are single and nerds. Let me ask the mutts one question have you actually been to a Tech game? there are pretty girls at Tech just not as many, and i wouldnt exactly call those tech students who paint themselves in gold for every game nerds or the other tech students who all wear gold shirts and are passionate about their school, not exactly nerdy is it? As for the game Tech will win and UGA will get to feel what going 7-5 is like To Hell With Georgia!!!!
By gatech87's wife
November 25, 2006 02:57 PM | Link to this
Dawg85 - he’s a wimp - doesn’t have the nuts to keep me pleased, but pays the rent and I make more money on the side than he could ever imagine.
Go Dawgs
By Cuz
November 25, 2006 03:58 PM | Link to this
Who dat sez this aint no rivlary.
The first game I ever attended was a GA-GA Tech game. Same for my children. It has always been the game. One day, hopefully not today, Tech will win one and the more recent UGA fans and students will realize how important this game is in this state.
In the words of the late, great Lewis Grizzard on the family rivalry of this game, “I had two cousins. One went to Tech and one went to prison. We still talk to the one in prison.”
This is a great game, always has, always will be.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!