Border-war advantage: Tennessee or Georgia?

Sports

Border-war advantage: Tennessee or Georgia?

Off the wall view of matchup between Georgia and Tennessee.

In the next two weeks, Georgia plays both SEC-member schools from Tennessee, UT and Vanderbilt. So as the teams and their fans prepare for the annual border war, we want to expand the fight to beyond the football field. We're asking our readers to settle which state has the edge. Let's start with the football programs of the states' flagship universities.

Drooling mascots. Tennessee has Smoky, the ninth in a line of bluetick coonhounds that stretches back to 1953. Georgia, of course, has Uga, the seventh English bulldog to roam the sidelines at Sanford Stadium since 1956.

Alpha female coaches. Tennessee's women's basketball coach Pat Summit has eight national championships and 14 SEC titles in 34 years at UT. UGA has a dynasty-maker in gymnastics coach Suzanne Yoculan, who has nine national championships and 16 SEC titles in 25 years.

Southern-fried TV shows: "Hee Haw" vs. "The Dukes of Hazzard." "Hee Haw", a comedy-music variety show taped at Opryland USA in Nashville, was one of television's longest running series ever. It starred a slew of country celebrities, including Minnie Pearl. The "Dukes of Hazzard" followed the adventrues of Bo and Luke Duke (along with their lovely "cousin", played by Catherine Bach) as they raced around fictional Hazzard County, Georgia. It was filmed in Covington, and parts of Conyers.

Theme parks: Dollywood vs. Six Flags. Dolly Parton's amusement-and-crafts park has created a major tourist destination in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Six Flags over Georgia has become a haven for coaster-crazies. The Austell park, which started with the Dahlonega Mine Train in the 1960s, now features 10 coasters.

Presidents. Tennessee has had the two Andrews, Jackson (inset) and Johnson. One is still honored on the $20 bill, while the other was the first president to be impeached. The only Georgian to make it to the White House is Jimmy Carter.

Music. Can't have a conversation about these states without discussing their musical legacy. Tennessee boasts the likes of Elvis Presley, Tina Turner and more Nashville country music stars than you can shake a fiddle at, including Charlie Daniels. Georgia can counter with the Allman Brothers Band, R.E.M., Alan Jackson, the Black Crowes and Ludicris (one of many hip-hop stars from the state).

Legendary beverages. Some would consider it sacrilege to separate "Black Jack and Coke" into adversaries, but border wars often divide families. So which is it, Lynchburg's famed bourbon or Atlanta's fabled soda?

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In the next two weeks, Georgia plays both SEC-member schools from Tennessee, UT and Vanderbilt. So as the teams and their fans prepare for the annual border war, we want to expand the fight to beyond the football field. We're asking our readers to settle which state has the edge. Let's start with the football programs of the states' flagship universities.

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