Should Georgia and Clemson play a spring football game?
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney would like a spring exhibition game. (Associated Press)
Whenever talk of Georgia’s traditional football rivals comes up, I like to point out that there was a time not so long ago when the rivalry with the Clemson Tigers was as big as, if not bigger than, the annual game in Jacksonville or even the in-state battle with the Yellow Jackets. Then conference scheduling difficulties made it no longer possible for the Dogs and Tigers to meet every year — a definite loss for the two fan bases of the neighboring schools.
When Georgia and Clemson do play, it’s more than just your typical nonconference game. So as a longtime proponent of playing Clemson more than just a couple of times per decade, I was pleased to be tipped off by the Senator to an idea Tigers coach Dabo Swinney has about livening up spring practice by emulating the NFL and having Georgia and Clemson play an exhibition game.
Talking with the Charleston Post and Courier, Swinney noted that in spring practice players “get tired of going against each other” and suggested, “Let’s go play Georgia. Don’t you think that could generate some good money with all the Clemson fans and Georgia fans? Let’s split the gate down the middle.”
Loading ...I like the concept of a spring exhibition game. A lot. In fact, I’d like it even if it weren’t Clemson, but considering the two schools’ athletic history and close proximity to each other, I think the Tigers would be the perfect opponent for such a game.
Of course, it should be noted that Swinney may not be all that serious about this. And the money angle probably has more appeal to Clemson, which is currently running athletic deficits, than to UGA, which sits atop a fat $60 million surplus. But the Dogs could always make their side of the game a charity thing.
The likelihood of injuries wouldn’t seem to be much greater than in an intrasquad game. In fact, just about the only downside I can think of to an exhibition like this is that even agreeing ahead of time to play second- and third-stringers, the full roster wouldn’t get as much playing time as it does when you divide up the Dogs into the Red and Black teams.
But the excitement generated by playing another team would certainly get the players revved up more. And such a match would more closely resemble the pressures of a real game and perhaps provide a more accurate picture who which players are really ready for prime time.
Where to play such a game? I suppose the easiest thing would be to make it at least a two-year deal and play home-and-home in Athens and Clemson. Or maybe this would be a good opportunity for the two programs to play a game in Atlanta other than in a Chick-fil-A bowl.
Speaking of Georgia-Clemson, the two schools next are scheduled to play each other in 2013 in Clemson and 2014 in Athens, and T Kyle King believes the week before the Dogs play South Carolina would be the perfect spot on the schedule. As he points out, back in the Vince Dooley days, Georgia routinely played the Tigers and Gamecocks back-to-back. T Kyle likes the idea of a “throwback” schedule like that. Sounds good to me.
But back to the spring. What do you think about Georgia playing a spring exhibition game, against Clemson or anyone else? Are there compelling reasons not to do something along those lines? Feel free to comment, vote in the poll or do both.
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173 comments Add your comment
dawgfan
March 12th, 2010
10:57 am
This would be an event that would overshadow what spring football is supposed to be about. We already have spring scrimmages that are nationally televised on ESPN. That should be enough. That is a lot more that we used to have. But college football fams always want more. An exhibition game would solely serve the entertainment interests of the fans and do little for the team. It isn’t about us folks.
HORRIBLE idea.
Tailack U
March 12th, 2010
11:25 am
I’m all in some arguments especially regarding injury make no
sense. We lose a player or 2 in G day games fairly common.
You are always going to get a better sense of yourself after
a spring game against different personel than with the familiar
competetion faced every day during the spring.
You face a variety of skills and technique during the season.
The more you are exposed to it the more you learn about yourself.
Hope that the powers to be will make it happen.
38 Yardline Dawg
March 12th, 2010
12:55 pm
FYI Belvedere, you’re the moron. We will pay Clemson $300 in BOTH 2013 AND 2014. Doesn’t matter where the game is played.
38 Yardline Dawg
March 12th, 2010
12:56 pm
BTW that’d be $300,000.
MississippiDawg
March 12th, 2010
2:05 pm
Want to generate more revenue AND renew a rivalry? Play one more game…not an exhibition but a real game. Even the NFL has talked of shortening the exhibition season and adding more REAL games…anyone ever get excited over watching Pre-season anything?? MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL…serioulsy? Its like watching paint dry….
tony
March 12th, 2010
4:35 pm
It would have to have NCAA approval,and by the time that happens there would not be enough handicap parking for all our wheel chairs or scooters.
A_Rabid_Dawg
March 12th, 2010
5:04 pm
Great idea! If you thing players would be at any more risk in this game – you’re crazy! Same old spring game rules, plus a little less playing time per player (less chance of injury).
The BIGGEST ADVANTAGE: NATIONWIDE PRESS that could help either team (or both) in the polls, or in recruiting. Play would be so much more realistic, and the money could always be put to good use.
Kyle Gets Contrary: Why the Georgia Bulldogs Should Not Play an Exhibition Game Against the Clemson Tigers « MrSEC.com
March 12th, 2010
6:23 pm
[...] from Team Speed Kills, David Hale, Senator Blutarsky, The Grit Tree, The Leather Helmet Blog, Bill King, and the aforementioned Paul Westerdawg. The consensus in “The Dawgosphere” has been [...]
tigersrus
March 12th, 2010
6:46 pm
Bring it on! Let’s see if the Big Dawg can eat like it used to!! I think it will choke now!!
icedawg
March 12th, 2010
7:41 pm
It won’t happen but a novel idea. The UGA-Clemson series in the 60’s to early 80’s was always a classic. Too bad we had to drop the game but we picked up South Carolina which is turning into a pretty good series of its own, especially since the “ole ball coach” has taken over. But it would be fun if UGA and Clemson took it up again.
RED DOG 77
March 12th, 2010
11:10 pm
I want to see Clemson on the schedule for a home and home regular season thing. I remember as a kid sitting on the “hill” next to the bridge, with my Pop Warner team watching the DOGS whoop some Tiger Butt !!Don’t like the idea of any game if it is not for real !!!
AltamahaDawg
March 12th, 2010
11:23 pm
So we Give our guys half the point of having a spring game to give Clemson some exposure.
Dawgfan17
March 13th, 2010
5:59 am
You could get the players just as much PT by extending the game to closer to a real game, adding extra periods/not using a running clock etc. Plus I think you’d find out a lot more about which players truly look good and which guys are just practice guys or only look good because who they lined up against. I love the idea and think it should not just happy at UGA but across the country. It won’t because of the “what ifs” of someone getting hurt but I think it would be great.
Boca Baby
March 13th, 2010
10:21 am
Not a good idea. As in the past, when UGA played Clemson annually, the only benefactor in the series was the Tigers. Check the chronology. When UGA stopped playing Clemson on a regular basis the Tiger program started going downhill and has not recovered since. Clemson fed on the series by using success in the rivalry as a tool to come into Georgia and get recruits. Let’s face it, the city of Atlanta has a greater population than the entire State of SC. Clemson has no natural recruiting base. It is already enough to have to deal with the entire SEC coming into the state (Georgia has more total players on SEC squads than any other state in the conference). And Georgia is rated the #4 ranked recruiting base in the nation behind CA, TX and FL. By not playing Clemson on a regular basis we let them continue to wallow in the mire of mediocrity. If you do not believe me check the roster of the Clemson ‘81 NC team. Yes, more starters on the team from Georgia than any other state including SC. It could be said that Georgia won back-to-back national championships in ‘80 and ‘81, but the two teams wore different color uniforms. Isn’t the orange that UGA has to look at from year-to-year enough?
mike
March 14th, 2010
10:01 am
I suspect every NCAA team would like to do this, but did the original poster do any research? Many schools could have been making money a long time ago. Not a bad idea, but check with the NCAA first before throwing something like this out.
DawgVoiceofReason
March 14th, 2010
9:26 pm
Bill,
No, but thanks for asking. Why would anyone get excited over a scrimmage that means NOTHING and that might lead to injuries for either or both teams? I’m well aware of the great games that have been played between the two teams over the years but this would NOT be a game. I like seeing our players show their stuff at the Red & Black “game”. It is an opportunity for the upcoming stars to shine a little before their time and the current stars to show us what we might expect in the upcoming season.
Clem Dawgson
March 14th, 2010
11:53 pm
64 miles between schools … a great idea
airpanther
March 15th, 2010
7:01 am
I Believe, as the huge tiger fan that i am, that this game would be an excellent game for not only the players, but to see if Dabo Swinney is ready to take on such a strong and titan like opponent such as Mike Richt himself……
bank walker
March 15th, 2010
1:20 pm
No way! Clemson is the only one to gain from this and we all know it. We already play them in a couple of years. I did grow up watching this series and when Clemson was successful, they had the majority of Georgia kids. We need to be stingy when we can! Go Dawgs!!
UGA Grad 09
March 16th, 2010
9:17 am
I think it is a great idea and it would give both teams an advantage as far as tuning up before the regular season starts. UGA has been devistated by injuries the past few off/on seasons and im starting to believe this may be caused by a ineffective strength and conditioning program. That was a bit off topic! If the schools do manage to carry out this idea, I suggest the revenue gained from the game be donated to acedemic needs because most schools are strapped for cash right now.
UGA Grad 09
March 16th, 2010
9:19 am
For those of you asking why anyone would get excited over a scrimmage game that doesn’t matter, I ask you why do 40,000 people show up for the Red and Black game every year? Only in the SEC can a team on team scrimmage game bring in more fans than GT can get to come to a regular season home game!
dagnabit
April 10th, 2010
6:27 am
I still like Coach Dodd’s idea that Tech and Georgia play the first game and the last game of the season. National publicity each year would be great!
Tiger Fan
April 10th, 2010
4:37 pm
I think this is a FANTASTIC idea. I remember back when the Clemson/UGA game was THE rivalry for both teams because both of our in-state rivals were basically jokes at that time (Through the late 70s and early 90s). To bring back this rivalry would be a great idea, especially if our teams were to be the first college teams to do this. Heck, maybe the game could even be extended to showcase all talent and give the players more playing time. As for where it should be, undoubtidly this should be in Atlanta, since both schools are about the same distance away, and although it does not hold as many fans as either school’s stadium, it would still make a great profit every year.