Bulldog Nation turns up its nose at Shreveport
(Independence Bowl)
Admittedly, most UGA fans aren’t too thrilled about the Dogs spending the postseason in Shreveport, but I’m thinking this is probably the least enthused I’ve ever seen the Georgia fan base about a bowl game.
The latest indication is the wince-inducing report in the Athens Banner-Herald that not only does UGA still have about 5,000 unsold tickets to the Independence Bowl, but some of the nearly 6,900 that have been sold so far have gone to Texas A&M fans. The paper reports that after the Aggies sold out their allotment of 12,000 tickets, the school’s athletics Web site encouraged A&M fans to buy tickets at Georgiadogs.com. “Let’s MAROON out the Georgia allotment,” is how they put it.
Tim Cearley, UGA’s director of ticket operations, confirms to the ABH that “a lot of the stuff that we’ve mailed out in the past few days has had Texas mailing addresses on them,” though he makes an attempt to save face by adding: “but we do have a lot of alums out there, too.”
Of course, travel time for Aggies fans to Shreveport is a lot less than for Dogs fans. And it doesn’t help that the game is on the Monday after Christmas; a weekend date probably would be selling a bit better among the UGA faithful.
Still, there’s no denying the malaise in the Bulldog Nation concerning this game. The years when any bowl was considered a reward at season’s end are long gone in these parts. We’ve frankly become spoiled by all those New Year’s Day games Mark Richt’s teams have played in. So any minor bowl would be a disappointment. And the fact that it’s the former “Weedeater Bowl” in the nonexciting location of Shreveport just makes it worse.
There’s no doubt that just about any of the other bowls parceled out to 7-5 SEC teams this year would be selling better among those in red and black. But when you lose to Kentucky at home, this is what you get.
Some have expressed concern that a weak showing of Georgia fans at the game in Shreveport will hurt UGA in future years when it comes to bowl selection. In other words, that it will indicate we don’t “travel” well.
But I wouldn’t worry too much about that. I think bowl officials are savvy enough to know that Georgia fans view the Independence Bowl differently from other bowls. The fact that Florida is having trouble selling out its allotment for the Sugar Bowl looks a lot worse in comparison.
And Dogs fans can take comfort in the fact that at least this game isn’t played on blue turf.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
355 comments Add your comment
Shreveport 2009, Natl Champs 2010
December 22nd, 2009
1:32 pm
The last 2 times Richt had a bad season, he responded with a 11 or 13 win season.
Additionally Bama and Oklahoma both followed a trip to Shreveport with an appearance in the Natl Champ 1-2 years later. There’s something inspiring and mystical about Shreveport. Shreveport is the road to the Natl Championship.
GT Joe
December 22nd, 2009
1:32 pm
Boone: what the hell are you talking about? 80% of tech grads major in engineering. It’s an engineering school. Idiot.
OUT & PROUD!!!
December 22nd, 2009
1:34 pm
Stop being mean to GT Joe this instant!!!! He is a good and simple man!!! And I am not just saying this because he is my gentleman lover
if that's the case
December 22nd, 2009
1:35 pm
then why do less than 2% of the football, basketball and baseball players at Yech major in Engineering?
WonderDawg
December 22nd, 2009
1:37 pm
By the way, the Gator Bowl is dropping it’s acc ties in ‘10 to pick up an SEC team. Seems they’d rather have the 5th or 6th place SEC team than the 2nd or 3rd acc team. Who woulda thought?!
GT Joe
December 22nd, 2009
1:38 pm
Look, I wouldn’t say that 90% of UGA grads major in PE or animal husbandry just because 98% of UGA athletes do, because I’m not an idiot.
GT Joe
December 22nd, 2009
1:38 pm
WonderDawg: Just what we need. Another 7-5 or 6-6 SEC team getting a bowl game.
gt joe? fail.
December 22nd, 2009
1:40 pm
worthless nerd. quit watching anime porn and do something with your life.
GT Joe
December 22nd, 2009
1:40 pm
Oh, I’m gonna punch somebody in the face!! Me and PJ will punch Dawg fans right in the face!! We’re baaaaaad men!!!
N.GA.DAWG
December 22nd, 2009
1:40 pm
tech is and will always be second rate and playing in a second rate conf. also. anyone want to bet the hoop dawgs will beat tech jan. 5th.
motel 6 shreveport
December 22nd, 2009
1:41 pm
c’mon dog fans. show your school spirit. we have plenty of vacancies here at the motel 6.
BTW, is it a blackout? are you wearing black helmets? just trying to make sure we color coordinate with your outfits
WonderDawg
December 22nd, 2009
1:42 pm
Well everybody knows records are relative to the conference you play in. acc<SEC. Sorry.
GT Joe
December 22nd, 2009
1:43 pm
I’m pretty sure PJ would whoop pencil neck Richt’s a$$. Maybe that could be the halftime show in Shreveport, a no holds barred grudge match. Right before the tractor pull, but right after Richt’s sermon.
gt joe? fail.
December 22nd, 2009
1:43 pm
now he’s thinking of a good comeback, aha.
GT Joe
December 22nd, 2009
1:44 pm
Right WonderDawg: I wish Tech’s schedule was as easy as Sagarin says UF, Bama and LSU’s schedule was…
Original Bulldawg
December 22nd, 2009
1:49 pm
Maybe next year techies. No wait in seven more years techies.
Froggy Dawgy
December 22nd, 2009
1:49 pm
Any Dawgs in Denial in the house today who say they won the National Title in 2007? Here is a history lesson :
2007 – Tennessee 35 Georgia 14
Tennessee finished the regular season with a 9-3 overall record and a 6-2 record in the SEC Eastern division. They tied with Georgia as champions of the SEC East, however, by virtue of a head-to-head victory over Georgia, the Volunteers were the SEC East representatives in the Championship Game.
National Title Game : LSU(SEC Champions) vs. Ohio State(Big 10 Champions)
Paul in RDU
December 22nd, 2009
1:51 pm
Shreveport 2009, Natl Champs 2010
December 22nd, 2009
1:20 pm
Shreveport is the Bowl home of the 2009 Natl Champ Bama who visited Shreveport in 2007. The visit was followed with and appearance in the Natl Championship only 21 years later in 2009.
Wow – we have a time traveller on the blog. What was the score in the ALA-TX game? What was the line? The over-under? Just give me the numbers and I’ll do my own arithmetic on which way to bet as you can’t subtract 2007 from 2009
Ben in Albany
December 22nd, 2009
1:52 pm
“The Outback Bowl didn’t want your precious thUGa team because of your team’s your fanbase’s attitude this year”.
Did an Auburn fan actually write this statement? Lets look a little closer at the great fan base of Auburn U. Homecoming 2009 against Furman… Jordan Hare holding a capacity of 87,451 only had 81,506. UGA Homecoming 2009 vs Tenn Tech…Sanford Stadium with a capacity of 92,746 had 92,746 in attendance. Not selling out on your Homecoming speaks volumes about a teams fanbase lol.
Otto
December 22nd, 2009
1:53 pm
7-5 SEC teams win bowl games on average more often than the ACC wins BCS bowls.
James T. Kirk
December 22nd, 2009
1:55 pm
All you UGA fans are delusional. Our thrower of the ball will be back next year while yours is bagging my groceries. Our halfback runningbacks will be back as well, and I think we all know who wins in that department. The only area that UGA is better is your fourth down vertical kicker of the ball is ok. Even our 3 point kicker is better than yours.
It’s not even close
jawga boy
December 22nd, 2009
1:57 pm
Why shoot….. all dis complainin don’t git no whar. I’m gittin a new Stihl Commercial Grade motorized hedge trimmer and some Carhart Overhauls for christmas ( we in a receshun ) and dey gwine put me in the first slot in the Shreveport Liberty Bowl parade. I’m gone rundat sumbeech on high and wave “Hi Mom”! Ya’ll be wachin’. Merry Christmas.
Minnesota Dawg
December 22nd, 2009
1:57 pm
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog. You people living in Georgia don’t know what you have. Living up watching Big 10 football is not so great. Playinig in the SEC and being in the top 3 is really something to brag about! I’d go to the least favorite bowl if I could just to see the red, black, and silver! I get WSB at night very faintly. I miss Larry Munson, I miss Georgia fall mornings getting up and watching or listening to the dawgs play. I just went out of the country to Africa and it makes you appreciate our country. We are the best in the world! So try coming up to Minnesota awhile and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Kirk Heirbstreet Biased Anti-Georgia Reporter
December 22nd, 2009
2:00 pm
You don’t have to win your division to get an invite to the Natl Championship. Oklahoma didn’t win their division, yet, got an invite to the Natl Champ in 2003. Georgia, because of Kirk Heirbstreet’s Anti-Georgia Bias, was not invited to the Natl Champ even though Georgia was the hottest team. 80 SEC wins in 8 years–no Natl Champ invites. Beyond odd–it’s a BIAS.
Lindsey
December 22nd, 2009
2:04 pm
I would love to cheer on the Bulldogs at the Independence Bowl, it’s just the timing. Having the bowl game on a Monday for those of us who do not have any more vacation days left is the problem. But I will be rushing home from work to watch it on TV, GO DAWGS!!! Beat Texas A&M!!!
K
December 22nd, 2009
2:05 pm
Money, location and day of week have everything to do with this. Tack on the 7-5 record and you get what you get.
I thought
December 22nd, 2009
2:06 pm
That the weedeater bowl was sold out! That’s what some of you idiot mutts were on the GT blog saying.
GT Joey
December 22nd, 2009
2:08 pm
James T Kirk = Loser. Your RB’s are better. What game did you watch this past Novemeber……
Darn, King just scored again. Dawgs own you face it! You nerds need to go back onto your own blog.
60-39, 8-1 under CMR…… 30-24, 51-7….. Your nothing but Dawg Food!
The Ole Ball Coach
December 22nd, 2009
2:11 pm
Let me see Knelson………………… Georgia beat Auburn, Arkansas, & South Carolina and finished with better sec and overall record ……so they should have had a better bowl than any of them.
GT Joey
December 22nd, 2009
2:11 pm
I thought- (obviously you have not) No we will not sell out our bowl game, but at least we sell out during the regular season and use all alloted tickets to away games during the season. Please don’t get into selling out games because you Nerds know you will lose that arguement.
bone
December 22nd, 2009
2:11 pm
Alabama was in the Independence bowl in 06′ and 07′. Look at em now. read about it.
http://dawgsvsjackets.blogspot.com/
Nathan
December 22nd, 2009
2:11 pm
It’s just not the holidays without watching A Christmas Story at least 3 times and watching the Trade School get waxed by a “mighty” WAC team at the Smurf Bowl. Looking forward to things getting back to normal next season.
how2fish
December 22nd, 2009
2:13 pm
hey what is the over under on the Bugs winning a bowl this year..? They are nearly as bad in the last decade at winning bowl games as they are at winning against the dawgs…
Denial Dawg
December 22nd, 2009
2:13 pm
Hey KIRK-moron – 2003 Oklahoma – BIG 12 South Champions, that is their division and they won it. Dawgs didn’t win the EAST, NO NATIONAL TITLE.
GatorBite
December 22nd, 2009
2:15 pm
Pretty stupid reporting. Pretty ignorant of the beat reporter to not realize the Independence Bowl is more inline with the ACC’s Emerald Bowl which does not have a blue field! The SEC’s Music City Bowl would equate to the ACC’s previous trips to Boise which does have a blue field. Unfortunately, this simply shows that the quality of a UGA education. There journalism department releases sports reporters that can’t tell the difference between San Fran ad Boise!!!
CLEVON LITTLE
December 22nd, 2009
2:16 pm
SPIKE, you’re an idiot.
Bama
December 22nd, 2009
2:17 pm
GatoeBite – Thanks for the scrimmage!
Typical Dawg Fan Here
December 22nd, 2009
2:18 pm
Kirk Heirbstreet Biased Anti-Georgia Reporter
December 21st, 2009
7:58 pm
The problem is, you don’t have to win your conference to get into the Natl Champship game.
Nebraska in 2001, Oklahoma 2003, neither won their conference, but both won a Natl Championship.
Georgia was Natl Champs in 2007
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
how2fish
December 22nd, 2009
2:22 pm
GatorBite…while your doing such a bang up job of “reporting” can you shed a little light on the one question all Dog fans are dying to know…has Tebow stopped crying yet ?
Bill King
December 22nd, 2009
2:22 pm
GatorBite:
Hit the old eggnog early, did you? Maybe when you sober up you’ll realize your comment makes not a lick of sense.
Fort Worth Dawg
December 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
I’m planning on going – taking my 10 year old son (and my father who will be in town if he wants to go). I’ll take a half day on Monday and drive the 3.5 hours to Shreveport. Tickets are a cheap $30/$35 face and I expect that I can buy some on the street for $20 each (compared to the $100 each I paid for 2 OK State tix in Stillwater).
Blah........
December 22nd, 2009
2:28 pm
Paul in RDU
December 22nd, 2009
1:51 pm
Shreveport 2009, Natl Champs 2010
This guy has been hitting the eggnog early as well.
Cuz
December 22nd, 2009
2:30 pm
Hope this one turns out better for you Ft. Worth. I have friends in Plano, but the drive is to darn far for me and Baylie.
Kirk Heirbstreet Biased Anti-Georgia Reporter
December 22nd, 2009
2:30 pm
Oklahoma did not win their division in 2003. But they did get an invite to the Natl Champ. Georgia did not win their division in 2007, and did NOT get an invite to the Natl Champ. Heirbstreet Bias.
http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/seasons.html
Alabama Jack
December 22nd, 2009
2:36 pm
Only reason dawgs got Shreveport is every other bowl got to pick first.
Go Aggies !!!
Pound the pups !!!
Kirk Heirbstreet Biased Anti-Georgia Reporter
December 22nd, 2009
2:38 pm
OKLAHOMA LOST the BIG 12 Champ in 2003, 35-7 to Kansas St., and got an invite to the Natl Champ. They LOST their cxonference, and got an invite. Georgia didn’t win the SEC in 2007, and did NOT get the invite. Human bias.
Bama bs
December 22nd, 2009
2:38 pm
Alabama Jack – We all know what your pounding
Dan the Jacket
December 22nd, 2009
2:38 pm
If we lose to a bunch of slow white boys from Iowa we officially suck
5th in a row for the Bees!!!
December 22nd, 2009
2:40 pm
I wonder what the nerds excuse will be when they lose their 5th bowl game in a row?
DawgInDC
December 22nd, 2009
2:42 pm
who cares about this game…It’s played on a monday night on ESPN2. wow…I wouldn’t waste my money on this game…watch it on tv