ATHENS – There wasn't a big team meeting. There wasn't any raucous celebration. In fact, there was little said at all after Georgia took over sole possession of SEC's Eastern Division at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday. It happened when Arkansas's 44-28 win over South Carolina dropped the Gamecocks to 5-2 in league play.
"My wife and I were just kind of sitting side-by-side on the couch" watching the game on television, Richt said Sunday. "It was just us. I think we both were kind of tired. We were awake and we were interested and we were excited, no doubt. But we didn't jump up and dance or anything like that. But we were happy, no doubt."
Now that the Bulldogs (7-2, 5-1 SEC) have something significant to play for – their first berth in the SEC Championship Game since 2005 – here comes Auburn hoping to knock them off track. The defending national champion Tigers (6-3, 4-2 SEC) visit Sanford Stadium on Saturday in a nationally-televised game (CBS, 3:30 p.m.).
That's the way it has been for generations in the Oldest Rivalry in the South. Every time there is a championship of any kind on the line, these two teams run into each other in November. Georgia is 8-1 against the Tigers since 1966 in the years the Bulldogs have either won the SEC Championship or more recently played for it in the Georgia Dome.
"There's no doubt it's because of where it's placed on the schedule," Richt said Sunday night on his weekly teleconference call. "Usually you have to win in November to get into a championship game or to win a championship. I know, historically, listening to people who know a lot about the series, how many times Georgia didn't make it because of Auburn and how many times Auburn didn't make it because of Georgia. So there's a spoiler element to this series over the years."
Georgia famously defeated Auburn 24-21 on the "70X Takeoff" touchdown pass from David Greene to Michael Johnson in 2002 to get to the Georgia Dome for Richt's first SEC championship. The Bulldogs won again 26-7 when it went back in 2003.
An Auburn win in 2004 eliminated Georgia from contention. The Bulldogs lost 31-30 in 2005 but made it anyway.
Georgia had an early 21-7 lead on the Tigers last year in Auburn only to see the Tigers come roaring back for a 49-31 win. It was one of their last hurdles on the road to their national championship.
"Just look over time, the margin of points that were decided in wins and the number of wins back and forth between the schools," Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. "It's so close it has to be a great rivalry. Usually rivalries are made when both sides are equally involved in winning. And that's certainly been the case with the Auburn-Georgia rivalry."
Auburn leads the 119-year-old series 54-52-8. Georgia has outscored the Tigers 1,809-1,771 over the span of 114 games.
There is a lot of crossover in recruiting and has been on the coaching staffs as well. Sometimes the emotion spills over in games. Last year two Auburn players had to sit out the next game for throwing punches. Nick Fairley was flagged for a late hit on Aaron Murray and Georgia's offensive linemen were called for personal fouls later for retaliating.
"A lot of people have been asking me about that and I guess I just have a short memory," Richt said. "I don't think about those things much. I'm just so focused on this season and what's important right now, I haven't even thought about last year and what might have happened."
Things have been going well for Georgia lately. While Auburn was off this past weekend, the Bulldogs were putting together a nearly-flawless 63-16 win against over-matched New Mexico State. Three of UGa's top tailbacks – including starter Isaiah Crowell – were suspended for the game. They will be back in the fold for Auburn.
Asked whether the freshman Crowell would return to his starting role, Richt said: "We haven't thought about it. If Richard [Samuel] was not injured it certainly would have been a good competition. Right now . . . I'd say the first snap we take Isaiah would be the No. 1 tailback. In practice I'm saying."
Richt also said he expects wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell will be able to play. The freshman has been out the last four weeks with a pulled hamstring.
So everything is set up well for the Bulldogs. But Auburn is there eagerly awaiting any misstep.
"We do control our own destiny," Richt said. "We've been fighting like mad for that ever since the moment South Carolina beat us. But the thing that's gotten us this far on a weekly basis is just trying to take care of business. Again, that's got to be our focus, for every man to do their job . . . Just focus on the process and we feel like good things will happen if we do."
