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
Rob2595
November 28th, 2009
11:04 am
8 wins in the last 30 tries and they talk smack! All the trash about how much we lose to Florida and we have beat them 50% time over the same amount of time. (Thats 12 wins for all you trade school grads, drop outs, and never attended from North Ave)
1eyedJack
November 28th, 2009
11:05 am
Upset special:
DAWGS 31 mouth breathing booger eaters 30.
GO DAWGS!
Ted
November 28th, 2009
11:07 am
Who obsessed with who?
Steve McGarrett as Chin Ho's Leader
November 28th, 2009
11:14 am
Bill King the idiot again. Gt may not matter to Uga, but Uga sure as hell doesn’t matter to the GATORS. Last 20 years, Gators 17 Uga 3. GT has won 6 and lost 14 but you and most of these mutt fans call the GATORS a big rivalry. Bill you are a big hypocrite and still an idiot. Most GT fans do not hate the school but mostly all hate the walmart buying sidewalk crowd that are bigger idiots than you. Uga fans run their mouth all day long and constantly put down everybody else. The best thing after GT beats Uga, SILENCE IS GOLDEN but Bill, Loser-dawg and most of the others make excuses. Tell Kam Fong and Bill King if I see you tonight, 2 words: “BOOK’EM DAN-O”.
Ralph Carlisle UGA 1937
November 28th, 2009
11:23 am
Georgia Song
” She’S the daughter of the RED AND BLACK,
She’s for GEORGIA and she’ll never take it back
Can’t hold herself in check when she yells TO HELL WITH TECH.
‘Fore the yellojackets give her any slack.
When she dances she’s a dream, like a sug,ar coated cream’
Her red lips and black eyes are fair to see,
GLORY, GLORY TO OLE gEORGIA,
That;s the song my Georgia Baby sings to me.”
Okeefe/Bob
November 28th, 2009
11:24 am
Bill you are an IDIOT.I can tell by the cap you are wearing.
DirtyDawg
November 28th, 2009
11:31 am
Love my Tech friends…because they are all so predictable. When they’re losing it’s because their academic standards are too tough to get, and keep, the better athletes…and when they’re winning – whenever that may be – they don’t seem to make so much of it other than to say that the only reason they don’t win all the time is because of their tough academic standards. Of course you don’t hear much about the relaxed standards they had when O’Leary was around…or the fact that a number of their, so-called, core courses can be taken at Morehouse…or that they have been known to allow any number of players to remain eligible for the season even though they had already flunked enough stuff to be deemed in-eligible…or that they have added ‘majors’ that offer, shall we say a, less challenging, curriculum…no, they don’t get into that much.
But now they have the perfect opportunity. In Paul Johnson’s option/bone/wish/spread/split offense, they can now win consistently without those four and five (or ever how many they assign these days) star high-school players. It’s all in the execution, see? So we have a new day dawning at Tech – that is until they lose to UGA or CPJ heads to greener (get it?) pastures.
DP
November 28th, 2009
11:34 am
Wow this is a pathetic column. A guy in a UGA cap trying to deflect the expected upcoming beatdown by Tech in advance by effectively saying “Tech fans care more than we do”.
Sure they do. I’m sure if Johnson’s “high school offense” puts up 40+ on the Dawgs again this year it won’t hurt Bill King and the rest of Dawg Nation a bit.
Bad news for Dawg fans. Penn Wager’s crew did the Alabama-Auburn game yesterday (without a bit of controversy) so they’re probably not working today. I never knew who Penn Wagers was until I read countless Dawg Nation zealots blaming him for everything short of the financial crisis. If Wagers was working the game tonight, Dawg Nation would have the excuse they’re looking for before the game even started.
Crenshawcrusher
November 28th, 2009
11:34 am
I agree that the UGA Tech game has more meaning to us Tech fans since we have been through the wilderness and since the 60’s have had to suffer the number of losses. What has got Tech excited and has put some anxiety into UGA is that the tides are turning and if true, it could be a long next decade. Things started turning with Gailey’s 2007 class when Tech was able for the first time in a number of years pull a few blue chippers that UGA wanted. This was not a one time coup, with the state of Ga requiring more math and science to graduate, more of the blue chip football players can and will get into Ga Tech and the resultant effect will be a much more competitive game. Don’t be fooled, a major win tonight will negate and show how foolish Chip Tower’s article on how this game will not effect recruiting. This year Ga Tech is once again getting some great players and even though the recruiting ranking will not show it (since the class is so small), this class will elevate the Ga Tech Team. The class this year is all from Georgia, instead of the UGA tendency to bring players from all over the country that have never had to live in this state and understand the rivalry. Finally, we have a coach that understands it, has GA roots and is harvesting the talent, is passionate and has a fan base that is 100% behind him, win lose or draw.
The tide is changing and even if it doesn’t hold form tonight, for Tech the best is yet to come. If I were a UGA fan I would be worried and would want to diminish what has happened and hopefully others will believe it when I said this game didn’t make a difference.
THWG – In from California to use my season tickets to see the game, love my Jackets
Hey Dogtards
November 28th, 2009
11:49 am
LOL.
Beating uog does NOT define Tech. This year, beating Tech WILL define uog’s season (if it happens). What else would? Maybe losses. Losing to Tech last year defined our season.
Our season this year is defined by beating Clemson, VT, UNC, FSU at FSU, UVA at UVA – winning 6 straight ACC games to make it to the championship and winning 2 SEC games on the road. Hopefully beating Clemson and hopefully winning a BCS bowl. While beating uog is important, it won’t come close to defining who we are.
Lochness
November 28th, 2009
11:50 am
The problem with comparing Tech to UGA or Florida or Auburn is that Tech is a much smaller school with …can we agree?…at least slightly higher academic standards. For Tech to beat programs such as UGA, which correctly boasts better recruiting and larger alumi $$$, is a bit of an upset. For the bees to end up ranked 7th in the country is impressive, regardless of who you support. Hat’s off to the Jackets…and a wag of the finger to writer who seems to compare apples to oranges without observing the obvious.
drew
November 28th, 2009
11:53 am
Funny…you know Tech’s gonna spank that bulldog azz, so you pretend the game doesn’t mean anything! BWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!
Bulldog fans are funny.
The Real YellowJacket
November 28th, 2009
11:53 am
1. If you don’t think this game means anything to GA you don’t read your own blog. And that of your
other staff.
2. 45-42
3. THWG
IllinoisRed BEE: GT 1981
November 28th, 2009
12:01 pm
Yo BK:
Enjoy Shreveport–I hear the grits and canned biscuits at the By-you Truckstop are pretty good if you’re drunk enough. I think I’ll enjoy oranges this year.
Diggity Dawg
November 28th, 2009
12:07 pm
“I moved here from California…”
With that, any attempt to analyze Southern football (Ga./Tech, Auburn/Ala., Fla/FSU, etc…) should just end. I’m not going to tell you to “go back where you came from” (that would be rude), but just be quiet and try to learn something while you’re here.
Chris
November 28th, 2009
12:12 pm
NEWSFLASH…FLORIDA DOESN’T CARE ABOUT THE GEORGIA GAME! The Gators count that as a win each year!
Delmar O'Donnell
November 28th, 2009
12:18 pm
Hey mister! I don’t mean to be tellin’ tales out of school, but there’s a feller in there that’ll pay you 4 tickets, 4 cokes and 4 hot dogs if you attend his home game.
--I-,
November 28th, 2009
12:25 pm
Newsflash…no on cares what Chris has to say. Are you man Chris or a girl Chris?
doug
November 28th, 2009
12:36 pm
Sunday Morning Headline
Tech pounds UGA 45-17 / Low IQ dogs quite in 2nd quarter.
Buckhead Bulldog
November 28th, 2009
12:37 pm
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets ARE the University of Georgia Bulldogs #1 rival! The Jackets were the Dogs #1 rival in the late 1800s, they are today, and they will be in 2010+. It is just the way is, and it will not change no matter what UF, UT, AU, SC does.
Just lose again to the Jackets, and see how much of rivalry it truly is up close and personal.
Sic”em Dogs! Woof Woof
Tech Forever
November 28th, 2009
1:40 pm
Tech holds the record with 8 wins in a row against Georgia. Tonight Tech will win its second of 9 in a row!
go tech
November 28th, 2009
1:50 pm
I am a huge Tech fan, and I am hopeful that we as fans will turn the corner and be obsessed with winning and winning championships, instead of just beating UGA.
All of our fan boards are stuffed with messages from fans who say it is more important to beat UGA than to win a championship. They say it is better to beat UGA and go 1-11 than to lose to UGA and go 12-2 with an Orange Bowl win. I say that is complete hogwash, but there are many many Tech fans who believe this. Maybe CPJ can clean them up a little bit.
Go DOGS
November 28th, 2009
2:04 pm
GTOldSchool21: Say what? did you EVEN read the article. Not too successful at reading are you, moron?
boohoo
November 28th, 2009
2:38 pm
Im a nervous wreck!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Drink U one , Smoke U one , NERVES SHOT!!!!!!!!!!!
ramblingtwreck
November 28th, 2009
2:40 pm
Blaw-blaw-blaw-blaw-blaw-blaw blawg.
Nice try. But, you totally missed reality. Guess who’s won the most national football championships? GaTech. Guess who’s won the most recent national football championship? GaTech. Guess who’s contributed the most to the major academic disciplines including agriculture? GaTech. Guess who’s the best pre-law school, and even pre-med school? GaTech, that is if you can handle the masochistic day-to-day challenge of earning a GaTech degree? Just ask anybody who has tried. Have you? If not, then please put on a responsible filter on the whole brain-to-mouth thing you got going on there.
We’ve even got the hotter girls, now, too, because not only are they good looking these days, they’re also smart as rip. Hey, know what else? In recent years GaTech embarked on a capital campaign; something in the neighborhood of 500 million, US. Guess how much we raised? About 700 million, cash … in the bank. Last report that I heard was that UGA had about 5 mil of IOU’s in the coffers.
Now, don’t get me wrong, academically UGA is a very good school. But, they come no where close to matching the credentials of GaTech degree.
And, just in case you’ve already forgotten the athletics part, please re-read this comment.
Enjoy the game.
Nice Theory
November 28th, 2009
2:45 pm
One problem with you theory THIS YEAR. A win over Georgia proves nothing for Tech, we know they’re better. A win over Tech would define UGA’s season.
Chris
November 28th, 2009
2:49 pm
(–I- @12:25pm), NEWSFLASH YOU (%$*##%) or whatever retarded symbol you’re hiding behind, since you obviously didn’t learn how to spell your name. Why do you think for a second that Gator fans actually care about Georgia?!?!? Every year you’re just a tune-up game. By the way, it’s a MAN CHRIS THAT SAW YOUR BULLDOGS GET THE SNOT BEATEN OUT OF THEM IN J’VILLE. THE SAME SNOT, GEORGIA TECH WILL BEAT OUT OF THEM RUNNING A SIMPLE OPTION OFFENSE. If you can’t beat “option left, option right” well…
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
2:54 pm
I appreciate everyone letting us Dawg fans know that Tech is not obsessed with UGA. Otherwise I might have thought differently.
On page one 57% of posted comments were by avowed Tech fans.
On page two 65% of posted comments were by avowed Tech fans.
On page three 48% of posted comments were by avowed Tech fans.
Bama, UF or any other fans were not counted as Tech posts. I encourage a Tech fan to do the same on one of your sites columns. It should be easier to count. Most Tech fans are over here.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
2:55 pm
And now one of the faves to start the Pre-game Mark Richt Dance Party.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-lbIfaqm0U
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
3:03 pm
And what would gameday be without this song. Erk at the end.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w9I9Ce2IPc
Can’t win every game we play, but every dawg has his day.
.
November 28th, 2009
3:04 pm
ramblingtwreck – you have a lot of good points.
Guess who’s won the most recent national football championship? Florida. Guess who’s contributed the most to the major academic disciplines including agriculture? Iowa. Guess who’s the best pre-law school, and even pre-med school? Harvard, that is if you can handle the masochistic day-to-day challenge of earning a GaTech degree?Is it harder then MIT? Just ask anybody who has tried. Have you? My Dad and two best friends have…even Grad School. You? If not, then please put on a responsible filter on the whole brain-to-mouth thing you got going on there. You should do the same, idiot!
We’ve even got the hotter girls, now, too,Measured by geeks with pimples, I’m sure? because not only are they good looking these days, they’re also smart as rip. Hey, know what else? In recent years GaTech embarked on a capital campaign; something in the neighborhood of 500 million, US. Guess how much we raised? About 700 million, cash … in the bank. How much did you contribute? Zero. Taking credit for Govt. give aways Last report What report would that be? that I heard was that UGA had about 5 mil of IOU’s in the coffers. Really? Where did you get such queered information…from the Tech propaganda machine?
Now, don’t get me wrong, academically UGA is a very good school. But, they come no where close to matching the credentials of GaTech degree. That kind of depends on what one’s studies are wouldn’t you think? Or do you think?
And, just in case you’ve already forgotten the athletics part, please re-read this comment.
Enjoy the game. You too.
Is this your homework Larry?
November 28th, 2009
3:07 pm
Bill, how dare you ever speak on behalf of Georgia Tech. I could not think of anyone who would be more out of line speaking for our brilliant institution. You would fail out during freshman orientation. You may speak with some credibility on Hee Haw history, banjo pluckin’, U[sic]GA football, NASCAR, and hog tyin’, but certainly nothing pertinent to the Georgia Institute of Technology.
.
November 28th, 2009
3:11 pm
Small Richard disease,Larry?
pilgrim
November 28th, 2009
3:12 pm
Tech accused of being obsessed with Georgia? Y’all can play that line exactly one time. From here on it will be the pot calling the kettle black. So enjoy it while you can.
.
November 28th, 2009
3:30 pm
pilgrim….have you noticied this blog page is 4 deep with both UGA/GT postings, where as the Tech blog is one page with just GT post? Hmmmmmmmm. Here is your sign.
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
3:39 pm
Whatcha gonna do. Do you want to get down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_2m-4e4tyA
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
3:54 pm
Since we are the underdawg in this game…………..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHyVN14v7FM&feature=related
Cuz
November 28th, 2009
4:36 pm
A little Bootsy Collins and George Clinton
The Mark Richt Pre-game Dance Party shines the light on you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3flYZ6LOsw
Buckhead Bulldog
November 28th, 2009
4:54 pm
Cuz…do you have your pregame groove going on in Augusta? : )
Bob Horner stayed hurt
November 28th, 2009
5:19 pm
Cuz…I could have done without listening to Bootsy Collins and George Clinton….it was my first and last time….LOL
Bob Horner stayed hurt
November 28th, 2009
5:24 pm
CORRECTION: I meant The Blanks not Bootsy Collins and George Clinton
Tech82
November 28th, 2009
5:27 pm
Bill – I’m happy for you guys that the Tech game isn’t that important. That way, it won’t hurt as much when we OWN you later tonight!
GO JACKETS! THWG!
dean
November 28th, 2009
5:31 pm
It really is the truth. They can’t stand that we spend our season wanting to beat Florida more. Even today, I am not nearly as worked up as I would be for playing Florida or Auburn and my father in law is a Tech professor and fan. He needles me but who cares, it’s tech.
Sam
November 28th, 2009
5:47 pm
Bill,
I almost enjoyed this article as much as the very similar one written on the Bulldawg Illustrated the day before.
arno
November 28th, 2009
6:01 pm
Little brother tech been picked on for quite a while. Yeah, little brother’s kind a fixated on it. By and by, little brother grows up and puts a whipping on big brother. Course, big brother can’t admit it was much of a tussle. That ain’t cool to admit in front of his big bad SEC chums. He’s got more important things to think about, like firing coaches and stuff. Problem is, little brother ain’t so little any more.
jojatek
November 28th, 2009
6:15 pm
Ok, Bill, I’ll take the bait: Clearly a desperate piece after a long and frustrating season, Mr. King. The sad truth is this: Georgia defines itself through football. Georgia Tech is a world-class academic institution. When we put something together on the football field that rivals (or, in this instance, threatens to surpass) the Dawgs, we take back the one thing UGA fans have to hold on to every season. That, my friend, has exposed a level of insecurity in Bulldog nation that reveals itself every week right here in this blog…
Sorry to rain on your parade, Dawgs fans, but it’s our time… (in the classroom – as usual, as well as on the football field, on the hardwood and, yes, even on the baseball diamond…).
Go Jackets!!
Matt
November 28th, 2009
6:17 pm
You short-sighted dumb ass, Bill. When Tech beat Georgia a number of years in a row, tell me this wasn’t the biggest game of the year to Georgia fans.
dean
November 28th, 2009
6:24 pm
We UGA fans root for Tech most of the time. We understand that what is good for the GEORGIA schools is best for the state. UGA is also a world class institutions. Go ahead and deny it cause I know you want to. UGA thinks about Tech only when we lose to them and only the day we play them. Face it, UGA fans are just classier and want what is best for the state and our athletes. May the better team win tonight and I hope it’s my Dawgs!
Burger King Mgr
November 28th, 2009
6:31 pm
Bill, get back to the fries station and stop preteniding to be a journalist. The “K-Fed” commercial always comes to mind when I see your columns.
AltamahaDawg
November 28th, 2009
6:34 pm
Look for the announcement about the defensive staff really soon after the Tech game.