The Way It Is . . .UGA/AU

Know that some of you think that I dip too far back into the past with UGA football. Probably true. After my time is up, then you young whipper-snappers can do this sort of thing to those that are much younger than you.

It is only right that some of us "old farts" can participate in what will be happening in Athens this Saturday. We have earned it. We are willing to share some of our stories, if they bore you, read below and check the history of UGA/AU over the years. This particular game means a lot to folks like averagedawg and Buc. Just a couple of country boys that somehow got caught up in the game of football . . . . . UGA FOOTBALL.


The best week of the year is here. It's Auburn-Georgia. Sure the Iron Bowl is a million times more important, but when the football gods invented the sport, they had to be thinking about a cool fall afternoon in north Georgia where two like-programs try to get the best of the other.

For Auburn fans of my generation, it's hard to not think about Coach Dye during Georgia week. Besides owning Alabama, he made his name by whipping his old alma mater.

Back before the internet, Dye's Thursday evening radio show was required listening. By Georgia week, his program rivaled the importance of The State of the Union address. And to be completely honest, it meant a whole lot more to this teenager.

Outside of an article or two in the morning newspaper, this was the night to hear the unfiltered truth about the game - or so we thought.

Around early November, a point in the schedule he called, Amen Corner, Dye would develop this lingering cough that would last the rest of the season. At times, he sounded like he was near death.

On his Dialing Dye radio program hosted by Jim Fyffe, he would cough his way through the show taking calls from kids who wanted to sing War Eagle and from adults that wanted to know how he would beat Georgia.

Dye would always open the program talking about the week's preparation and then would end by saying, "Well Jim, the hay's in the barn now. There's nothin' left to do but get out there and execute."

For some reason, I still remember one Georgia week where numerous calls came in asking about his daughter, Wanda, who was in a "full-body cast" because of a back ailment. Looking back, it seemed like poor Wanda was in that cast for years.

I remember during that particular Georgia week, there were nearly as many calls about Wanda as there was about Georgia.

"That Wanda, she's a fighter," Dye would say. "You know she's in that full-body cast, but she keeps on fighting. She's battling just like our team. She's a winner and she's tough like me."

You can't make this stuff up. The times were so different - and so awesome.

I remember seeing Wanda at the War Eagle Supper Club years later and the first thought I had was of that damn full-body cast. It's funny what memories of Auburn-Georgia can conjure up.

There are so many great memories of Auburn-Georgia, regardless of our age.

My earliest memory of the series date back to the 1970's when the duo of Joe Cribbs and James Brooks ran all over Georgia. I can still hear Gary Sanders on the radio describing Auburn's big wins over Georgia in 1977 and 1979.

I can remember being equally disappointed in the 22-22 tie in 1978. Those two legends never got a win in the Iron Bowl, but they feasted on Georgia in most years.

I remember sitting in Jordan-Hare Stadium with my father in 1980 and seeing Herschel Walker play in-person for the first time. Auburn fell to the top-ranked Dawgs that day, but I'll never forget seeing number 34 in action. Little did I know, Auburn would have its own 34 a few years later.

I vividly remember watching with my grandfather at his grocery store in 1983, as Auburn claimed its first SEC title since 1957 with a 13-7 win in Athens. It marked a changing of the guard in the SEC with Auburn taking the reins for the next decade.

Watching on an old 19-inch television set with him back in the meat market, it remains one of the great memories of my life.

Who can forget Tommy Tuberville's improbable win in Athens over 14th ranked Georgia in 1999? It marked his first win over the Dawgs and the fifth and final victory of the season for Auburn's new coach.

Things would get dramatically better for the Riverboat Gambler over the years. Before his time on the Plains was finished, Tuberville would post a 5-5 record against Georgia, including a memorable 24-6 victory over the eighth-ranked Dawgs in 2004.

Auburn heads to Athens leading the series 54-52 with eight ties. Since the series moved out of Columbus, Georgia in 1959, Auburn holds an 18-11 advantage in games played in Athens. Likewise, Georgia leads Auburn 14-10-2 in games played at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

As is the norm, Saturday's contest will have a lot riding on the outcome. For Georgia, it's a chance to finally win another SEC East title and more importantly, guarantee a return engagement for embattled coach Mark Richt.

Auburn will go looking for its seventh win of the year. A victory could push the Tigers toward a New Year's bowl game - something unimaginable back on September 3rd.

Most importantly, this game promises to add another chapter to the most unique rivalry in all of college sports. It's a week to savor and enjoy. Let the build-up begin.

See you in Athens!

As long as theres no - Sullivan to Beasley - I think I'll be okay. I heard way too much of that years ago. Root 'em out DAWGS , SIC 'EM

Buc,
A huge part of the allure of college football for me is the history and lore of storied rivalries. While I am no youngun myself, I think I speak for most when I say
anything that tells the story of a rich history of UGA football is something worth sharing. That should be true
for all UGA fans, past, present, and future.

All of our own memories are a part of that history. That's what it's all about, and without them college football would be just a game.

Sent via Iphone, so please excuse any and all vulgarity and totally inappropriate content. Blame
auto-correct.

I hate the following teams, in the following order-

1. Florida - I hate them above all.
2. Tennessee and Climpsn.Two despicable teams.
3, Georgia Tech and Auburn. Tech would be higher, but they are too pathetic.

Nothing sucks like orange. We must teach our children hate.

Pat Dye was a sorry traitor, just like MusChimp and Jan Kemp. I never forget.

Buc, never doubt that we want to read your stories. I for one, learn a lot from them. I was 5 in 1980 and really didn't start keeping up with what was going on until I was 18 or so. My family just didn't put much importance on the UGA tradition. There's a lot I don't know and your stories are very important. I just took my 5 year old to his 4th game and he's hooked. He ddin't want to leave until the middle of the 4th only because of hunger and a call from nature. He hummed the tune "GOOOO Georgia Bulldogs" all the way home. He locks in like a dawg on a bone when Munson delivers his magic on the big screen in Sanford stadium. He LOVES it. I just hope the memories are planted forever in his mind like yours are of your childhood.

It's because of you and the other "Ol'Dawgs" here, I spend a lot time on this site. Keep them coming.

Buc, Good post.
For all the incestuous relationships between the two schools, even to this day, it's the Hatfields and the McCoys.
I hate Auburn and after their despicable behavior last season, I hate them more.
Don't you think Ben Jones and Aaron Murray have a bone to pick with Auburn?
I expect a good old fashioned brawl.
Shug Jordan, Pat Dye, Chizik, I hate or hated them all.
Bear Bryant was a competitor but one thing about the Bear, he was a gracious person after a lost. He would go into an opposing team's locker room and personally congratulate the players. Always pull for Bama in the Iron Bowl.
Auburn is a dirty program, with dirty players, with dirty boosters, with dirty coaches.
I hate Auburn, now more than ever.
Go Dawgs!