Rivalry with UGA defines Tech
UGA fans don't view the rivalry the same way Tech fans do.
It’s a given that Georgia fans hate to see the Dogs lose to Georgia Tech.
They are, after all, our in-state rival, and you always hate to lose such a game. But aside from bragging rights, UGA fans don’t attach nearly as much significance to the rivalry as do the folks from North Avenue.
We also hate to lose to Florida, Auburn or Tennessee. In fact, the Florida rivalry has a pretty strong claim to being the biggest one in the eyes of Bulldogs fans.
Whereas with the Techies, there’s no question at all who ranks No. 1 in their thoughts 365 days a year: Georgia.
It’s an obsession at Tech. I understand they indoctrinate incoming students at orientation with the importance of hating the school in Athens. They have “to hell with Georgia” in the official lyrics of their fight song. (UGA’s fight song makes no mention of Tech, and even the unofficial version sporting a “to hell with …” line sung by the student section substitutes whoever the Dogs are playing that week.)
Tech puts fans in the stands up on the Grant Field scoreboard video screen during a game to recite their mantra, “to hell with Georgia.” They put Bulldog stickers in some of the urinals at Grant Field. First thing Paul Johnson did after coming to Tech was declare that beating Georgia would be paramount for his team.
How large do the Dogs loom in the Jackets’ consciousness? They actually engraved the score of last year’s win over Georgia (Tech’s first in eight years) on the rings given to players the end of the season!
The lopsided nature of the results in football over the past four decades have also ingrained an insecurity in Tech fandom that even Johnson taking the Jackets back into the Top 10 can’t erase. Amid the usual trash talking this week in comments posted by Tech fans on Georgia blogs have been a surprising number of folks worrying that the Dogs somehow will pull out another win this year, despite the Jackets being the clear favorite.
I think an upset win by Georgia this year is unlikely. The 2009 Dogs are just too deeply flawed. But it could happen. And if it does, Dogs fans will be thrilled and surprised. But it will be just another Georgia win over Tech. The universe restored to its normal order.
If Tech wins, it’ll be just one more disappointment in an ugly season for Georgia fans. But in the Tech world, it will be time to put up a statue or something.
Their hatred of the Dogs is what defines them. After all, you can’t spell Georgia Tech without G-E-O-R-G-I-A!
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418 comments Add your comment
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:03 pm
Delbert, turn off the sound and get down to the sounds of Motown!
BS Patrol
November 27th, 2009
9:03 pm
D-O-G Speller,
You are correct! Doggies downplay the rivalry so that when they lose they can claim it’s no big deal, when in fact it’s their most painful loss. There’s a term for this behavior. It’s called hedging.
Bill King, I expected better from you! Shame on you. The Wishbone? Good Lord.
I have noticed a plentiful bounty of stuff with Gs in stores, however.
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:03 pm
First on third, AAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
dawggirl
November 27th, 2009
9:04 pm
Cuz, best post with the GAP Band! Classic 80’s cheese, you so know the way to my heart, lol.
So Bill...
November 27th, 2009
9:04 pm
Please explain how Georgia will define its season in 2009?
Betcha dont have any big enough to admit it… Georgia’s season will be defined much moreso with a win over Tech as opposed to Tech getting a win against Georgia…
Crawl back into your mobile home…
Wow
November 27th, 2009
9:08 pm
Dawggirl, I’m addressing the entire topic of the blog. Not you or any other user commenter’s posts. Unless of course, they agree with Bill.
My point, the only reason this wouldn’t be the most painful loss in yalls season is because I think most UGA fans are prepared to handle it. There is no denying that UGA’s most painful loss on any given year is to Tech.
Last year it stung like hell for yall. This year, the fans have already given up on their season. Part of me thinks a good chunk of UGA fans actually wanna get wooped so they can get a complete coaching change.
Roddywillrapethepupsagain
November 27th, 2009
9:09 pm
Hey dawggirl, quit flirting with ur cuz, I know that’s not weird in Athens but civilized people don’t like that.
Delbert D.
November 27th, 2009
9:09 pm
dawggirl – There are some odd ones on this blog who also habituate others, as well. If you’ve ever wondered what rabies is like in humans, you can get a pretty good idea reading the blogs.
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:13 pm
I would like to send this one out to that high school offense.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0XAI-PFQcA
bugsquacher
November 27th, 2009
9:14 pm
techs beat down comes tomorrow….
dawggirl
November 27th, 2009
9:16 pm
Wow, I will agree with your last paragraph. I certainly don’t want to “get wooped”, regardless of what coaching changes it might bring about.
Roddy, hah typical UGA fans are rednecks post. I will laugh because 1) I actively despise rednecks, and 2) I’m too in love with my boyfriend to flirt with anyone else.
Delbert – I don’t frequent other blogs that often. For better or for worse, I’m pretty much stuck with this one and the other AJC writers. I do find ESPN bloggers to be of a somewhat better breed.
Delbert D.
November 27th, 2009
9:17 pm
Cuz – I could have sworn that was Rare Earth. My daughter got me a iPod mini or something last Christmas (did I mention that I’m something of a Luddite, slow to change, etc)? Anyway, I have that filled up with ’50s and ‘late ‘60-70s stuff. Some real old R&B, jazz, swing. Typical mix, Bunny Berrigan, Andrews Sisters, The Doors, Buddy Holly, Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendix…typical stuff like that.
K
November 27th, 2009
9:19 pm
Bill – By your logic, Florida fans must have stopped thinking of Georgia as a rival long ago…
Last I checked, Tech could lose to uga tomorrow and still play in a BCS game. Must really sting to have to be jealous of the team down in Gainesville and the team in Atlanta.
dawggirl
November 27th, 2009
9:19 pm
Delbert – I still don’t have an iPod, and I’m guessing I’m maybe slightly younger than you. But love your taste in music, real classic stuff.
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:19 pm
Might as well continue with the Mark Richt Dance Pary. This one goes out to dawggirl Roddy, I can’t help if I am her all time favorite.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75qXUfp4wtw&feature=fvst
She’s all right with me……..
Bama2010
November 27th, 2009
9:20 pm
Well if Tech wins tomorrow, and the next 5+ years in a row, I’m guessing we can pretty much just reverse everything you just said.
Beyond the fact tech has “to hell with Georgia” in its song, take any rivalry game in the country, if one team wins 7 years in a row – beating that rival will be one of the biggest first steps to the other program – an obsession if you will.
Either way, uga is, and always has been a classless program. Hope you doggys enjoy mediocrity for the next 10 years.
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:20 pm
Delbert that was a Rare Earth Cover.
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:22 pm
dawggirl, do not tell your boyfriend I live in Augusta.
Oh dam, I just gave it away.
dawggirl
November 27th, 2009
9:23 pm
Cuz, keep ‘em coming! If only to annoy Roddy.
Bama, why such hate? I even rooted for you guys today. Were you looking ahead to Florida?
GT fan ...
November 27th, 2009
9:24 pm
Actually, DUKE is HOPING all 4 of them go pro. Duke’s about as original as the empty box I’m looking at on my floor right now.
45ACP
November 27th, 2009
9:24 pm
My comment is awaiting moderation?
That’s like the Jackets waiting to get…………….never mind.
It’a a done deal.
dawggirl
November 27th, 2009
9:24 pm
Uh oh Cuz, you’re a lot closer geographically than he is. If we’ve survived a long-distance relationship for two years though, I think we can pretty much survive almost anything at this point.
How’s Baylie doing?
45ACP
November 27th, 2009
9:25 pm
It’s a done deal.
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:25 pm
So you say we have no chance against Tech on Saturday. On any given night anything can happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FouEAzKCKyI
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:27 pm
Baylie spent the evening with her Grandfather and her Great Grandmother and realtives all on her Mom’s side. She just got home and said she had a great time.
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
November 27th, 2009
9:30 pm
Bill,
Your post at 3:09 is the most sensible thing you’ve said all day. It was Tech’s departure from the SEC that diminished this rivalry in Georgia’s perspective. Sure, they continued to play Tech every year, but they have also continued to play FL, TN, and Auburn every year during that time. And since those games had conference title implications for the Dogs, they naturally took on greater importance.
Tech, on the other hand, has not consistently played any other team since the 60’s … with the possible exception of Clemson. For many years, Tech played as an independent, but scheduling mostly SEC schools. However, since our game results didn’t matter in the SEC standings, the game was not as important to the SEC opponents. Of course, Tech joined the ACC circa 1980, giving us the potential to develop some natural rivalries within our new conference. However, the expansion of the conference a few years ago disrupted even those potential rivalries. (Clemson, for instance, isn’t even in the same division as the Jackets.)
So while I’ll agree that the UGA game is perhaps one of the most important on the Tech schedule each year, I submit that most of that is based strictly on history. If the ACC remains in its current alignment for many years to come, then Tech will naturally develop important conference rivalries with Virginia Tech, Miami, and UNC. However, just because of its historical significance … and the fact that its for in-state bragging rights … I doubt that any of our conference rivalries, no matter how important, will surpass the Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate that the Jackets feel for the Dogs.
Good luck to both teams tomorrow. I hope we have a great game that’s decided by the performance of the players … and not by controversial penalties against either team. Hopefully there will be no injuries, and the team with the greatest discipline and efficiency will win.
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:30 pm
Everytime I get questions about my side of the family. Check out the horn section.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xAQbGDKoMg&feature=channel
dawggirl
November 27th, 2009
9:31 pm
Glad to hear it was a nice Thanksgiving for her, Cuz. Hope yours was a nice one as well. Great vids!
So, wondering if there is anything both UGA and Tech fans can agree on. This one could be quite a challenge.
Delbert D.
November 27th, 2009
9:32 pm
Cuz – Oh.
dawggirl – I have 3 different versions of Tuxedo Junction, generations apart. The Delbert Awards incluge Peggy Sue (Holly), Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen), Stagger Lee (Lloyd Price), and the Number all -time Delbert goes to: Unchained Melody (Righteous Brothers)!
dawggirl
November 27th, 2009
9:35 pm
“Number all -time Delbert goes to: Unchained Melody (Righteous Brothers)!”
Excellent choice, beautiful song.
Getting the munchies, might be time for some popcorn.
45ACP
November 27th, 2009
9:35 pm
My side of the family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmzvHhWN6VA
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:37 pm
Here is one both Tech and Georgia can agree on. This will definitely happen at Grant Field Saturday night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNnAvTTaJjM
Delbert D.
November 27th, 2009
9:38 pm
Cuz – That last video was cool…my daughter does those things with Sims creations and Sims/people morphs. She got to spend a week this summer, all expenses paid at EA’s campus in Redwood City working with them.
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:38 pm
Three hundred sixty five degrees……………….
Face Reality
November 27th, 2009
9:39 pm
Georgia Tech is a well coached, disciplined, physical, football team.
The offense is the most exciting in college ball,
Paul Johnson knows how to “coach em up”.
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:40 pm
Delbert, go to Youtube. Put in Was not Was. One of the best bands there never was.
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:42 pm
Coach me up, start me up. What is the difference?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzlgJ-SfKYE
45ACP
November 27th, 2009
9:42 pm
Feed the stereotype for all of the Jackets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAYW6KkrK1Y
Delbert D.
November 27th, 2009
9:48 pm
Cuz – Here’s a link to a video she did to promote Mr. Shy’s “Superstar” record. Stay with it for the credits. Mike (Mr. Shy) lives in NYC, is popular in Europe. Spent a week down here in the spring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6tqgYyYNFc
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
9:52 pm
This is a video of me when I was appearing with the Chippendale Stunt Doubles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djj7jW6ny2M
Delbert D.
November 27th, 2009
9:54 pm
45ACP – Doublewide is one heckuava song! I need to find a way to get that on the iPod.
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
10:00 pm
So Delbert, that is your future son-in-law? I must admit, he beats my oldest’s boyfriend.
Delbert D.
November 27th, 2009
10:01 pm
Cuz – “This is a video of me when I was appearing with the Chippendale Stunt Doubles.” That great video is the feeling I get while tooling around on my Honda Helix 250 scooter.
Delbert D.
November 27th, 2009
10:03 pm
Cuz – No, that was strictly professional. Besides, he’s a bit….ehh..Her boyfriend is an economics professor in Chile.
45ACP
November 27th, 2009
10:04 pm
Delbert – We need to go riding. I have a 2003 FLHT Harley Davidson.
45ACP
November 27th, 2009
10:08 pm
Delbert are you saying he plays for the wrong team?
Cuz
November 27th, 2009
10:09 pm
This is a video shot in a Tech dormroom. The robot Nesbitt makes a guest appearance.
http://www.youtube.com/user/jaaaaaaa
Delbert D.
November 27th, 2009
10:12 pm
45ACP – Oh…my….god…I’ll have to recount the tale of how I got lost during my motorcycle DL road test In Hawaii back in ‘74. Left the cop and 6 riders hanging for 15 minutes on the side of the road while I tried to find a turnaround on the Pali highway. Hole in the chain link fence just short of the tunnel.
45ACP
November 27th, 2009
10:18 pm
Cuz – You aint right.
4:14 of my life I can’t get back.
Ha Ha Ha (I refuse to use lol)
Delbert D.
November 27th, 2009
10:20 pm
45ACP – According to my daughter, she thinks there may be something like that going on. He’s really a nice guy.
By the way, if you keep the Harley under the speed limits, the Helix can keep up. Maxes out at 77 mph, flat road. White-knuckle riding on the scooter at those speeds, though. My other bikes through the years were all enduro-types. I figured that it was time for an automatic, so I wouldn’t forget to shift or something.