Dawgs get ready for night life
If, like Alicia Bridges used to sing, you love the night life, then you’re going to love the upcoming Bulldogs football season, according to UGA athletics director Damon Evans.
Georgia Sports Blog
Speaking to the Exchange Club of Augusta Thursday, Evans confirmed that the Sept. 12 home opener against South Carolina is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. And the Augusta Chronicle reports that Evans said he’s guessing the Dogs will play at least five night games during the coming season. Under the new SEC television contract with CBS and ESPN, “that’s just the nature of the beast at this time,” Evans said. This past season, the Dogs played only two night games.
He didn’t say how many of those night games would be home games, and Evans isn’t as averse to night games in Athens as was predecessor Vince Dooley, who was concerned about South Georgia fans getting a late start on the trip home, but I’d be surprised if it was more than a couple. Besides, a night game in September, when it can still be quite hot in the afternoon, might actually be a blessing for fans.
In the meantime, Tim Tucker has a report on the night games that notes that in the wake of Evans’ comments Georgia now is hedging a bit, saying they understand the South Carolina kickoff will be at “7 or 7:45 p.m.” Tim’s report also notes UGA does still prefer to play its home games in the afternoon.
UPDATE: Latest reports are that the home opener is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff and will be televised by ESPN2.
As for the hot-button issue of renewing the Georgia-Florida series’ deal with Jacksonville, the AD didn’t tip his hand about which way he’s leaning but said he’s working on a long-range plan this summer. “I want to do what I think is appropriate for Georgia. It’s something that always comes up. But I don’t think it’s something that’s an easy decision, one that you make hastily. I think you’ve got to put a lot of thought into it and then at the end of the day whatever that decision is we have to live with it.”
Evans did say that in working on future scheduling, “I’m going to protect that open date before Florida as much as I can.”
And on a topic of great interest to Mark Richt, who’s made it known he’s not thrilled with this year’s nonconference schedule featuring three BCS teams, the Chronicle reported that Evans said that in the future he wants Georgia to play no more than two BCS nonconference teams per year.
One marquee opponent per year besides Tech sounds like a good plan.
So what do you think of the shift to more games at night? And should there be a limit on how many night games are played in Athens?
Speaking of Athens, check out my reminiscence about my game day routine over the years and share your own Saturday rituals.
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49 comments Add your comment
Robert
June 12th, 2009
2:21 pm
ALRIGHT! Bring on the night games. Night games in Sanford are incredible. Tailgate ALL DAY then head to the game to cheer on the DAWGS, who will benefit from the prime-time exposure. After the game, head straight downtown. This season is gonna be a blast.
GoGAbulldawgs
June 12th, 2009
2:26 pm
Will September ever get here?
JB
June 12th, 2009
2:28 pm
Hard to re-adjust after playing in prime time all year then play Tech on Jefferson Pilot at 11:00 AM. In that great ACC tradition.
Middle GA Dawg
June 12th, 2009
2:31 pm
August/Setpember/October games should be played at night as much as possible due to the heat and humidity. After October, not so much. The vast majority of fans that sit around us (whether from South Georgia or not) prefer night games early in the season. I would like to see all of the August/September games with kickoffs no earlier than 7:00 p.m.
Cameron
June 12th, 2009
2:32 pm
Night games mean that we are the second SEC game pciked that week. CBS gets the first for its slot at 3:30 p.m. Both games are nationally televised and help immensely with recruiting. I don’t mind night games at all. I do understand the concern Dooley had with South Georgia fans gettinga late start to their trip home. But, the fact is if they are true fans they will find a way to do it. They can get a hotel somewhere if need be. I would mcuh rather us play at 8 pm on National Television than 12 pm on ESPNU or ESPNNews.
sane jane
June 12th, 2009
2:33 pm
Even with seats under the overhang, I find those scorching day games at Sanford to be pretty miserable. So sue me. Go dawgs.
Cuz
June 12th, 2009
2:35 pm
Game Day Rating System.
12:30 kickoff. Rated G. Bring the kids and your Mom. Have a great family time.
3:30 kickoff. Rated PG-13. May be unsuitable for smaller children as adults have had plenty of time to get lubricated before the game.
Night Game. Rated R. Fans have been drinking all day. Expect foul language, some nudity and possible violence. Not a good one to bring your Granny.
DawgGirl32
June 12th, 2009
2:43 pm
Haha great post Cuz. So true. My parents always come up for the 12:30 games…they have never been to a night game and I’d like to keep it that way.
Glad to hear Evans is working to protect the bye week before Florida. Take a cue from Spurrier. That off week really makes a difference in the series.
KaliDogg
June 12th, 2009
2:45 pm
I’d say night games with a cash bars and belly dancers would be prime. Leave the kids home with Grandma and a “Marley & Me” DVD.
Just kidding.
Night games are cool (double meaning intentional).
reservoirDAWG
June 12th, 2009
2:50 pm
Cuz has hit the nail on the head. Personally I prefer the 1:00 and 3:30 games.
Me
June 12th, 2009
2:56 pm
Yawn!
Ben
June 12th, 2009
2:57 pm
After it’s cooled down I prefer the 3:30 kickoff, but night games are extremely cool at times. It just depends on which games they are.
John
June 12th, 2009
3:06 pm
The vast majority of fans prefer the afternoon games. Night games–especially in Athens–bring out vulgarity, particularly among the students. As a UGA fan, I was absolutely embarrassed by the conduct if so-called Bulldog supporters, primarily students, toward visitors and toward us older UGA supporters after last year’s Alabama game. Most of that is the result of lax enforcement by security of alcohol consumption and a refusal to eject fans getting out of hand. This increase in SEC night games is going to drive the true longtime football fans away in favor of the drunk fair weather fans that get there late and abandon their teams when things aren’t going well.
Corrine Brown (D) FL
June 12th, 2009
3:23 pm
go gatuh
If we play at night...
June 12th, 2009
3:36 pm
…just make sure we do not wear black jerseys!
George W.
June 12th, 2009
3:37 pm
Gimme some of ‘em nuke-u-lar wings at Hooters !
Tom Davis
June 12th, 2009
3:43 pm
I’ll say it – I’m calling for a BLACK OUT
RxDawg
June 12th, 2009
3:45 pm
LOVE LOVE LOVE night games. Especially in the begining of the season when it’s hot as hell during the day.
Hawkdawg
June 12th, 2009
3:46 pm
I remember the night game vs Auburn in 2005. The campus was destroyed. Unruly drunks invaded the Main Library and terrorized the little security guards. Someone took a dump on the sidewalk!
I blame the Auburn fans.
YoungDawg
June 12th, 2009
3:54 pm
I prefer 3:30 or the rare 5:30. Anything before 1 makes for a rushed day leading up to game time. Likewise anything after 7 makes for a late night on the trip home after the game. If we’re staying the weekend at my in-laws who live 20 minutes outside of Athens with normal traffic for 8PM game we don’t get in till 11:30 or 12. If I’m going home to Gwinnett its 12:30 or 1! For those fans coming to games from south GA I’d think they’d have plans to stay overnight (if it’s economically feasible) unless it was a 12:30 start time.
I’d hate to see extreme game times of 11AM or 9PM but just make sure the game is shown on TV where everyone on cable or satellite in GA can see it for free!!! That one PPV game thing per school in the new SEC TV contracts is BS!
DawginLex
June 12th, 2009
3:54 pm
UGA 21
ole obnoxious one 3
The sos going away party continues on with a beatdown between the hedges. I really think it will be a shutout like 2006 but we’ll give the kicker 3 points just for grins.
Can’t wait for sos to explain how it doesn’t matter that he is 1-4 vs Richt at UGA and has an overall losing record vs teams that richt was a part of. This will be the 2nd straight embarrassment of the new season for sos after NCSU whips him in the chicken coop.
stoopid
June 12th, 2009
4:04 pm
12:30/3:30 games in Sept are miserable!! To this day i will never forget standing in the student section at the South Carolina game in 07 trying not to pass out!! Im sure the 5th of Jack had a little to do with it but seriously, hottest ive ever been in my life!! I can only imagine what the players are going through!
murfdawg
June 12th, 2009
4:11 pm
Cameron,
Evidently you live in Athens, because my son is in Athens and he loves night games.I have had season tix since 1972 and went to the first night game in Sanford stadium. Georgia football Saturdays should begin with a couple of hours of tailgating with old friends, watching a good game and a couple of hours talking about how great we are after the game to let the traffic die down and head back to Atlanta(now to PTC). Of course television has decided that is not what college football should be. For some people it is very difficult to work Mon-Fri, go to Athens on Sat and get home at 3am, go to church Sun and get up Monday morning and start all over again. When you have children and more responsibility than going to a night game, you will understand why so many people do not like night games. So I’ll probably retire from going to UGA games after almost 40 years, and turn my seats over to you and ESPN. At least when it is 31-0 at halftime, I can turn off the tv and amble off to bed. Good luck to you and all the “young Dawgs”
Willie Nelson
June 12th, 2009
4:36 pm
Night life aint the right life but it’s my life.
reservoirDAWG
June 12th, 2009
4:37 pm
Murfdawg, well said. I’m only 35 and do the same thing on the weekends.
UGA is Super Lame
June 12th, 2009
5:10 pm
Oooooh, does this mean you dorks are going to put on your precious black jerseys for this game? Nothing’s better than a gimmick that doesn’t work. Black Out! Black Out! More like Dork Out.
Bryan G.
June 12th, 2009
5:52 pm
I love the night games. In September, the afternoon games are unbearably hot.
Also, I know it’s getting a lot of play on this, but I still like the black jerseys. I just think when we wear them, it needs to be a surprise much the way Notre Dame does their greens. Just my two cents. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater just b/c we got waxed by a great team last year.
Lew Hege
June 12th, 2009
6:20 pm
I hope we play South Carolina at night. (My team has a tennis tournament that day.) As for the Florida game, play them home and away. No more “neutral” games in Jax!!!! And finally, why are we playing Oklahoma State?
elephant slayer
June 12th, 2009
8:38 pm
Night or day, The Gator Nation WILL kick A$$! 3 out of 4 National Champions cuming your way!
Excited
June 12th, 2009
9:39 pm
Yes, night games especially b4 November.
Dizkey
June 12th, 2009
10:09 pm
Bill,
As a fan, I prefer night games. Gives me a chance to watch the rest of the league play, as I down a few brewskis and look forward to the Georgia game.
As far as the WLODCP is concerned:
The location of the UGA-UF game was never a concern of mine during the 80’s, when the Dawgs were able to beat Florida on a consistent basis. Two decades and one Spurrier later, the series has drastically turned in favor of the Gators. All of a sudden, the Jacksonville location is a factor? I don’t buy it. For UGA fans, it would be nice to see the game rotate to Atlanta. At least, we could save $ on travel. But, J-Ville ain’t a factor in wins and losses. It never was. It didn’t stop Lindesy Scott from running. It couldn’t tackle Lars Tate, Tim Worley, or Robert Edwards. Our Dawgs have simply gotten beat more often than we’d like. End of story.
Damon's clueless
June 12th, 2009
10:13 pm
Live in Athens, and my young teenage kids love going to the games, as do I. Night games make it hard to do since I don’t want my kids seeing adults at their drunken worst, get home at midnight and try to get to church the next morning. So, Damon will run those of us who contribute four or five grand a year for the ‘privilege’ of buying tickets off while courting the kids who get sh!&faced and contribute their 500 a year to buy tickets. Not saying my money is any better than theirs, it’s not. It’s just that I would think that Damon would, like any businessman, listen to his premium customers when planning his business. And make no mistake, UGA football is a business, first and foremost.
Beat Urban, end of story
June 12th, 2009
10:20 pm
Jax has nothing to do with the series. It’s a great place to watch a game, a bowl game in mid-season every year. During Dooley’s running game and defense oriented domination of the Gaturds, Jax was never used as an excuse. Now that Spurrier, Zook and Meyer have owned us for a generation, it is. When CMR, or whoever comes next, starts to beat the Gaturds again, Jax won’t matter anymore. Get over it.
S.E. Dawg
June 12th, 2009
10:26 pm
This South Georgia fan and wife usually get a hotel room for the night games and head home the next day. Also there is no rush to leave the stadium, then take your time walking to the parking site and have a small tailgate while the traffic thins out. I would imagine that most do the same. But I’m sure that some head home after the game. On the plus side this helps the City of Athens and surrounding area in hotel revenue among other things.
Hank
June 12th, 2009
10:28 pm
Damon’s clueless,
Got a solution for you. Quit going to church. Just kidding. But, do you really think your 4-5 grand (plus season tix $) is so vital to UGA football, that the AD should accept your advice? UGA makes an excess of over $37 million per home game in the fall. Don’t think they’ll miss your judgmental grands. Get over yourself, dawg! You may not like the atmosphere, but more than 92,000 other folks do. Your voice is a just a shallow splash in the well. If you’re going to “run off,” I seriously doubt anybody will follow you. Dawg Nation supports the team, regardless of petty issues such as time of kickoff. Good riddance, sir.
Dizkey
June 12th, 2009
10:54 pm
Beat Urban, end of story: AMEN!
jrmdvm1
June 12th, 2009
11:02 pm
I am not so sure we have control over game times. TV contracts may be the determining factor. I am not sure we could say “Nope, not going to play it at 7:30!” Does anyone know if we could refuse a night game?
SamoanDawg
June 12th, 2009
11:15 pm
Cuz, lmao… good one brah.
dudn’t matter what time kick off is, just kick azz!
Hank
June 12th, 2009
11:24 pm
jrmdvm1
Don’t quite understand all of the politics involved. But, if ESPN says, “Let’s broadcast your game to the world,” you listen. What you don’t do, is debate the time frame. Maybe, you go as far as to ask them, “What color jerseys should we wear?” LOL! If you try to manipulate the situation, the four letter network might just tell you to kick rocks. Then, what do you have? A 12:30 regional game on the Jefferson Pilot network. The CW does nothing for recruiting. But, at least Damon’s clueless would be happy. And, that persona could still attend church the next day. God bless UGA!
Cousin of Cuz
June 12th, 2009
11:34 pm
New slogan for Georgia football: JUST KICK AZZ!!!!
Hooyah, SamoanDawg!
startrek4life
June 13th, 2009
12:22 am
i enjoy when my jackets play at 11am on jp sports so myself and the other 4 tech fans can meet up after the game and play role playing video games in my moms basement.
Kendawg
June 13th, 2009
10:08 am
I doubt seriously that UGA can now say “NO” to a request of ESPN to play at 7:00 PM or 7:45 PM. CBS and ESPN are paying megabucks under the new contracts and I suspect that they now have power over what time of the day a particular game will be played. The fans’ attitudes no longer matter.
Cuz
June 13th, 2009
1:34 pm
Kendawg, the fan’s attitudes have not mattered for years. As it is said by La Cosa Nostra, “It’s just business.”
alan
June 13th, 2009
9:55 pm
It makes it tough to cultivate the next generation of fans when I cant bring my kids to the game. The actions of the fans after a day of drinking are inexcusable. I cant submit my kids to that.
gator
June 13th, 2009
10:19 pm
I don`t know why you guys are so happy about the up coming season your not even the best team in your own state!! And its looking like you may not be for years to come! Gators OWN UGA!!! As long tech has Paul Johnson they will also OWN UGA!
guy
June 14th, 2009
6:10 am
All games @ 1:00 p.m. and then party after the game!
Cuz
June 14th, 2009
9:50 am
Damon, Damien. Anyone else see the connection?
BUZZ
June 14th, 2009
8:17 pm
“Will September ever get here”? -Go dawgs
Be carefull what you ask for?
how2fish
June 15th, 2009
2:48 pm
Buzz this is the Georgia blog we aren’t scared of Sept getting here like the Bugs are…I’m for the night games early in the season for the fans and the players….1pm games are often upper 80’s or higher and that is quite a pain for the kids and the older fans..not to mention the players.