UGA vs Auburn Memories

As I've stated earlier this week, this particular game means a whole lot to me since my Old Man is an Auburn grad & my Sister loves the Tigers. I was sitting here at my office during lunch break today worrying about the game this Saturday & I just had an awful feeling. Then, I suddenly flashed back to the last time I felt this awful about a UGA game & it was my personal favorite all-time UGA game I ever attended, the Auburn game in 2002. (although, I must admit, the game in Jax. 2 weeks ago was the most fun I've ever had at a UGA game from start to finish).

Anyways, I remember this feeling I had while sitting in the 14th row of the upper deck at Jordan-Hare Stadium one cold, windy, Autumn day on Nov. 16, 2002. I was a tiny dot of Red & Black in a sea of Orange & Navy. To my left sat an elderly woman w/her husband beside her who were obviously die-hard Auburn fans. To my right sat my orange-clad Sister shaking her damn AU pom-pom in my face all day.

The UGA D had totally shut down AU for the vast majority of the 2nd half. David Greene had led the UGA offense deep into AU territory 3 times in the 4th quarter but had 0 points to show for it. UGA was STILL down 4 points & driving again late in the 4th quarter. The old Tiger-man leaned over to his wife beside me & said to her, \"You just get the feeling that Georgia is gonna get a score sooner or later.\" At that very moment, I felt a calmness come over me...I nudged my Sister on the arm & said, \"You hear that Sis, even the old school Auburn faithful know WE'RE gonna win this game!\" She proceeded to punch me, but oddly enough, she didn't argue.

Next thing I remember, it was 4th down & 15 from the Auburn 19. I looked up at the clock & saw 1:32 remaining. I was in disbelief myself now. For some reason, I hadn't been worried at all for most of the game, especially after the old man's prophecy. But suddenly, here I was sweating in 40 degree weather. The Dawgs were in the huddle & I rose-up & looked up at the gray Alabama sky & I prayed for a miracle. Now, I usually don't bother the big man upstairs for matters such as football, but on this day, for some reason, I felt compelled to do so. I mean, DAWG NATION was hungry back in 02'. We could clinch the SEC East w/a victory this day. How long had it been since we won an SEC title, I thought? It just seemed like cruel & unusual punishment to come so far & get this close only to see our dreams slip away on the Plains of Alabama.

The stadium rose to their feet (I was standing about 6' 7\" at the time cause' I was up on my tiptoes). The ball was snapped, Greene dropped back, the O-line blocked, & the ball came spiraling out from his left hand. The ball just suspended in the air for what seemed like an eternity. I see Michael Johnson with a man all over him running towards the corner of the endzone, I see Johnson go up to meet the ball, I see the Auburn DB fail to get off the ground, I see the ball land in the hands of #25.

I scream at the top of my lungs, \"He caught the ball, He caught the ball! Oh my God, He caught the ball, He caught the ball!\" I jump up & down, I keep screaming, \"He caught it, He caught it, He caught it!\" My sister is punching me in the ribs repeatedly, I don't feel a thing. I'm pumping my fist now, I'm going worse than bonkers at this point, still jumping, still screaming, \"The DAWGS are gonna Win, The DAWGS are gonna Win, The DAWGS are gonna Win!\"

Suddenly, I realize that I had just landed on the old lady's foot beside me & I quit jumping. I suddenly realize I'm the ONLY person screaming & my own voice is the only sound I hear. I finally come to my senses. This must have all taken place in about a 30 second time frame but it seemed like a good 5 minutes. I look in front of me and I see the only 2 UGA fans in sight (a young couple) that are 2 rows in front of me just standing there, staring at me, and grinning from ear to ear. We don't say a word, I just smile back at them & we exchange some enthusiastic high fives.

What happened next was something that I will never forget & is, in itself, more than enough of a reason to make an SEC road-trip & go see the Dawgs play in enemy territory. Still standing, I slowly turn completely around with my arms raised to the sky in victory & I look up towards the top of the stadium. I swear, I made eye contact w/about 1000 Orange & Navy clad Auburn fans who are all sitting on their seats & staring at me with a look of total disbelief in their eyes. No smiles, some tears, all staring, all looking heartbroken. It took all that I had not to laugh, but that would be in poor sportsmanship, so I just pump my fist, turn around and pat my teary-eyed Sister on the shoulder and I say with a smile \"I'm sorry Sis, but that was simply Unbelievable!\"

Now, why did I post this long-winded memoir you might ask?

Well Dawg fans, it's less than 48 hours til' game time.
I've stayed at work late & posted this story just hoping that all of you will remember games such as this. Come Saturday, whether you're in Sanford wearing black, watching the game with some friends, driving in your car listening to Larry, or sitting alone in your den, even if we're losing late in the 4th quarter, yall keep on believing in the Dawgs til' the clock reads 0:00! The 02' team truly came of age that remarkable Autumn day against Auburn & call me crazy (I already know I am during football season) but I truly think the 07' team has the potential to do the same.
To fulfill this potential we must all have only one focus & one belief this Saturday:
Today, somehow, someway, WE ARE GONNA BEAT AUBURN!!!

Thank you, GooseDawg for sharing that great story, memory, and up-lifting!
It's days like that that make all this worryin' n carryin' on worth it, ain't?!

I think we have something for Auburn....I hope it's the same something we had for Florida!!

GO DAWGS!!!

GooseDawg78........that was simply GREAT, enjoyed every printed word and them some that went through my head......wish I could have been there celebrating it with you (as long as you didn't step on my foot too).

This will be the very first Georgia-Auburn game for me and my daughter. So, no memories... yet...

I have the picture of Uga trying to chomp a chunk out of an Auburn player above my desk. I hope the Dawgs chomp a chunk Saturday!

I will never forget that game as long as I live. It was probably my all time David Greene moment (and there were many) and what a catch by Johnson. I feel good about this game (maybe I shouldn't.) Dawgs by 10. Great post, brought a smile to my face.

My greatest memory of this game was the \"sugar falling from the sky\"game. Larry got SO superstitious in that game saying the famous \"hunker down one more time\" because it had worked at crucial times in the game. He must have said it 12 times on AU's last drive that we stopped to win the SEC and go to the Sugar Bowl. Got chills just thinking about it. Awesome scene.

So Dawgs this Saturday.......HUNKER DOWN ONE MORE TIME !!!