
North Campus tailgating last year. (Photo by Bill King)
The Dogs scrimmaged Tuesday, my season tickets arrived, I sent off the check to reserve our spot at the church where we park and I made my reservation for the kickoff meeting of the Touchdown Club of Athens.
It’s starting to really feel like football season!
Aside from the annual shopping spree at the UGA Bookstore with my daughter next week, that pretty much takes care of my preseason preparations. But if you’re one of the folks who do tailgating in a major way (we don’t), you’ve got some issues to resolve thanks to the new restrictions, especially if you used to tailgate on the historic North Campus quads and Herty Field.
As you’ll recall, the university got fed up with the trashing of North Campus the past couple of seasons and decided to clamp down on tailgating there by issuing new rules that essentially allow nothing but low-key picnics in the area. Among the items no longer allowed are all the ingredients of first-class tailgating: tents, kegs, generators, televisions, amplified music, grills or cookers of any type, tables larger than 4 feet long and any furniture other than folding chairs. And you can’t set up more than four hours before game time.
For the purposes of these game day restrictions, North Campus is defined as the area bounded by Broad Street, Lumpkin Street, Baldwin Street and Jackson Street (including, but not limited to, the quadrangle between Broad Street and Old College, the quadrangle between Old College and the Main Library, and Herty Field).
Where will the folks who want to do more than spread a tablecloth on the ground go for their tailgating? I asked my nephew Al Skelton, whose tailgate party I wrote about last season. Al used to set up his tent near the UGA Chapel (and took his tailgating so seriously that he rarely bothered to actually go into the game, preferring to watch on one of the many big-screen TVs around him).
“That’s a good question,” Al said, “and I don’t think we’ve made a final decision yet. It’s disappointing that the spot we’ve been at for the last five years isn’t available anymore. It’s pretty much the only place I’ve tailgated. I think we’re torn pretty evenly between finding somewhere else on campus (although I don’t even know what the options are) or just tailgating in backyards here in Atlanta.”
What are the options? Well, they’re fairly limited. One of the reasons North Campus had become game day central was because the school banned sidewalk parking and built new buldings on some of the prime real estate where folks used to gather before a game. The fact that students are now into tailgating, formerly a pastime of alums, has added to the crunch.
But there are still places to tailgate in the old style. Once you get off North Campus, the Myers quadrangle has always had tailgating, sometimes getting pretty crowded, and that space will now be much more in demand. When my son lived in Reed Hall I was always surprised there wasn’t much tailgating in the quad there, and since that’s outside the North Campus restricted area, I’d expect that location will see more people setting up. The area along Lumpkin Street no doubt will be even more in demand than in the past. And East Campus already had a fair amount of tailgating and there’s probably room for more people there. It’s a bit out of the way and lacks the scenery of North Campus, but it’s not that bad a walk to the stadium.
It was obvious something needed to be done about tailgaters treating the university’s most historic area like a dump, and the crowding there last year had just about reached the gridlock level, but the case can be made that the UGA administration went too far in basically eliminating full-fledged tailgating on North Campus.
In fact, Athens resident Bruce Hendley did a pretty good job of laying out that case in an opinion piece in last Sunday’s Athens Banner-Herald, pointing out that moving the tailgating off North Campus won’t eliminate the littering problem and might just disperse the trash to other areas of campus. The shifting of folks off North Campus will probably hurt business in downtown Athens, he notes. And, he asks, why were tents and TVs banned from North Campus? How do they harm the area since they’re not left behind?
Said Hendley: “Here are things we know about tailgating: It’s only six days a year, and people come to Athens and spend money for the entire weekends surrounding those six days. The economy really needs those people right now. Why make it easier for alumni and fans to keep their tailgating and their money at home?”
He suggested allowing tailgating on North Campus and putting more police there to issue citations for littering.
My own take on all this: The new rules are probably an interim measure to clear the entrenched tailgaters out of North Campus. Eventually, tailgating will return to the area, but most likely on a paid basis, where you rent a space that’s already set up for you. Whatever company is hired to run the tailgating will ensure that no garbage is left behind, and UGA will make some money off the whole deal.
Sure, some of the charm of fan-run tailgating will be lost with a pay-to-play system. But the black eye that the garbage strewn everywhere after games was giving the university was anything but charming.
I’d love to hear from tailgaters about their plans for the coming season and your thoughts on the future of tailgating at UGA.
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139 comments Add your comment
Budweiser Bob
August 11th, 2010
11:06 am
Bill
Its too hot to tailgate
Have you asked yet about my metal license plate to replace the cardboard crap they sent me for all the donation money I sent
Budweiser Bob
August 11th, 2010
11:06 am
oh yea first
Budweiser Bob
August 11th, 2010
11:07 am
How about an article on the importance of beating FL Bill please
Especially on a weekly basis to jar the minds of the coaching staff
Budweiser Bob
August 11th, 2010
11:10 am
Bill
Me again, ask the new AD when he is hired, if they will send us a t-shirt, metal license plate, something at least thats better than a cardboard tag
I mean if I have to continue to pay to watch beat downs year after year by FL, I think I deserve something for my misery
Kevin Sweat
August 11th, 2010
11:11 am
I love tailgating and I hate Michael Adams! He screws up everything good at UGA, and for what? It certainly isn’t changing any national perceptions. We’ve got a good thing going and it’s time people started appreciating it.
Go Dawgs!
Budweiser Bob
August 11th, 2010
11:12 am
Bill
Im back
Any word yet, about replacing the cardboard license plates you recieve for your purchase of season tickets
Are you going to write about the importance of beating FL yet Bill
GeoffDawg
August 11th, 2010
11:12 am
When was tailgating pretty much just an alum thing? When I was a student in the mid-nineties, we would always either tailgate or have some kind of function at the fraternity house. Generally speaking, our tailgating only consisted of Jim Beam and Coke and maybe Fried Chicken or Hamburgers if we were lucky but I remember it always being packed with students.
Paul H
August 11th, 2010
11:20 am
Geoffdawg, the majority of tailgaters are alumni or non-students. Think about it. When you graduate, you’ll join the masses.
Paul H
August 11th, 2010
11:22 am
It’s a shame that the sins of a few have cost the rest of us. And I agree that the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. It makes no sense to ban tvs, etc. Plus the trash is just going to end up elsewhere, maybe even in greater amounts since there will be more people every where else.
Tech Wrek
August 11th, 2010
11:30 am
If only pups fans could rub their two brain cells together long enough to figure out how to use a trash can. problems would be solved
Budweiser Bob
August 11th, 2010
11:34 am
Tech Wrek
We dont need to throw our trash away, we just leave it for the best Janitorial Engineers in the state to clean it up, and that would be the hired Tech Grads
GaDawg
August 11th, 2010
11:34 am
your right Tech Wrek, we could always use the Land fill on the Flats, not many spectators to pick up after there
bo
August 11th, 2010
11:43 am
Hendley’s column is a whiny rant without any logic. businesses downtown will not suffer, actually I bet they do better—they are mostly bars afterall.
Scott W.
August 11th, 2010
11:45 am
Business downtown will suffer when alum from other places stay home to watch the game instead of coming to Athens.
TallyDawg
August 11th, 2010
11:45 am
I always see a lot of folks further down Broad Street in the vicinity of Red Rooster’s. Pretty cool place to tailgate, but man that walk back up the hill sucks.
Bright Idea
August 11th, 2010
11:49 am
This all comes with tailgating becoming bigger than the football game. Let folks like Bill King’s nephew stay at home in Atlanta and much of this problem will be solved.
Bobby
August 11th, 2010
11:55 am
Bill,
We are tailgating for the first time at a church this year. The Presb. church, what church are you at? We have tried different spots the past couple of years and hope we like this spot!
Willy
August 11th, 2010
11:58 am
UGA fans could tailgate in a dumpster.
How2fish
August 11th, 2010
11:59 am
I really doubt that most of the damage was done by the big time tailgaters the ones that bring grills, TV’s tents etc they tend to remember the garbage bags and use themI’d think the last minute lets grab some KFC and a keg bunch would be more apt to leave the trash behind just my 2 cents.
Classic City
August 11th, 2010
12:00 pm
. ————————– .
. Nesbitt for Heisman .
. ————————– .
CoastDog
August 11th, 2010
12:00 pm
Adams and company want a few rich fans instead of a lot of average fans don’t you see? The cardboard tag is called a clue.
Paul Johnson's Mammography Tech.
August 11th, 2010
12:02 pm
I dont even get why someone would want to tailgate at the cesspool of the south with all those cootie-infested yucky girls all over the place. Even though I get free hot dogs and cokes in the stadium with my 3-ticket package I tailgate at The Varsity so I can build up my energy reserves beforehand so I can run away from scary homeless people or in case a student bomb threat is called in on the way to the awesome stadium. Tech Rules, thUGA drools!!
Webster
August 11th, 2010
12:02 pm
Man oh man, how hard is it to just throw your trash in a trash can, hmm, well just ask a ugag doggie fan, they can tell you! Basically shows you how trashy have the crowd is with their campers, tents, and wait a minute, what are they buying there in Athens that helps the economic situation for the town? They all bring their own booze, food, tents etc. Hmm, ok, that makes alot of sense, they aint spending crap in Athens just taking up space with there fat, redneck behinds and big ugly gas guzzling trucks, then throwing trash everywhere cause they dont know how to extend their arm, open their fingers and release their garbage into a receptical. There is no hope for the doggie fans, no hope! I truly hope the Gators wipe the floor with yalls beee hinds!
Scott W.
August 11th, 2010
12:03 pm
I mean I had constructive comments but I guess those will just have to wait for the haterade to subside.
Gratefuldawghead
August 11th, 2010
12:07 pm
There will always be big time tailgating at Georgia no matter what Adams does!
GO DAWGS!
Big Black Jacket
August 11th, 2010
12:10 pm
That Hendley dude sounds like a total idiot. Seriously, who has the time to take off work and setup a camper or tent and sit around from Tuesday till Saturday game day so they do not miss getting a tailgating spot? Hendley, just like webster said, they aren’t helping the bad economy in anyway by spending money in downtown athens, they come to town campers filled up, bbq hot dogs burgers liquor and they sit there and wait for the game to start while taking up space!!! If anything there are more problems the bars/restaurants have to deal with that is unruly fans trampling into their bars, hanging around being space taker uppers. Ya hurd me mane?
Big Black Jacket
August 11th, 2010
12:12 pm
Oh yeah, poodle fans, please don’t stay in Atlanta for tailgating in your backyard or where ever, ya know why? Cause you bee in JACKETS COUNTRY NOW BOI!!!!
bo
August 11th, 2010
12:13 pm
what do businesses downtown sell that tailgaters buy? very little, if anything. it’s not an issue.
if you want to help the economy, abolish the early (noon or 1pm) games which will appraently be more common again this year.
sorry, UGA doesn’t owe tailgaters the right to eat, drink, and relieve themselves wherever they please. if that is more important to you than the game, stay home.
Tailgating on The Flats
August 11th, 2010
12:19 pm
I would be afraid, very afraid, of any tailgating around GT. Too many stray bullets.
Too many tech players running around and frightening the women. Too many ex jock car trunks open with um, ah, you know.
Go Dogs.
Beach Dawg
August 11th, 2010
12:20 pm
Lease spaces of different sizes for the season with common sense restrictions. If done properly you can retain the charm of fan run tailgating, maintain security and manage the trash. Don’t forget to add porta johns to the equation.
SSIgator
August 11th, 2010
12:21 pm
Seeing the mess on the beach every year after a few thousand drunken UGA “fans” leave to go home after the Gator Bowl I can’t imagine what Athens must look like after a home game. But then again if UGA keeps losing at home to the likes of Kentucky the crowds should be getting smaller as time goes on.
Delbert D.
August 11th, 2010
12:31 pm
I never understood the tailgating thing. The idea is to attend a football game. If you can’t eat before driving to the game, stop off at a Hardees.
TigerTime
August 11th, 2010
12:35 pm
This is what happens when a fanbase is made up primarily of rednecks and trailer trash who are used to just leaving their waste wherever they happen to be standing and using a field as a bathroom facility. Everyone else in the SEC is laughing their arse off at the slimebucket known as THuga, both players AND fans.
Scott W.
August 11th, 2010
12:42 pm
Well I think it’s great that haters can post and not UGA fans.
Gratefuldawghead
August 11th, 2010
12:46 pm
The fan base has contributed so much money to UGA that UGA is listed in Forbes top 10 of contributions. They Deserve a spot to tailgate!
How Bout Them DAWGS!
How2fish
August 11th, 2010
1:03 pm
SSIgator yeppers and I bet all of your empty Boone’s Farm bottles make it to a trashcan. Not to mention the spent AK-47 shells…and where do you dispose of the dead peoples wallets you take the stolen credit cards from?
DawginLex
August 11th, 2010
1:06 pm
Biggest clean up at the swamp after every home game is the dude sweeping up the hair from all the mullets and the strings flying off the end of all the jorts.
jdawgs34
August 11th, 2010
1:09 pm
Since the atmosphere by the Athletic Dept and Prez…we have not renewed the seatbacks, they say they are weatherproof…no they are not ($84). I have ordered Dry Fit Shirts and getting them monogramed with GEORGIA,….cheaper…no game day shirt…so on and so on. If this is the trend, then I can start a trend. Less money spent in Athens for both Athletics and Clarke County. In fact, I intend to buy everything outside the county and bring in since it is not being appreciated. I agree, 6 count them just SIX days and they treat us like we are criminals. I will enjoy the last laugh…
Tech Wrek
August 11th, 2010
1:12 pm
thuga fans just don’t know better, they’re only leaving piles of trash wheverever they go because they feel more at home if they can recreate their trash-filled double-wide concrete-block-mounted pieces of heaven
How2fish
August 11th, 2010
1:22 pm
Tech Wrek…….8-1 and we didn’t even make rings….
Tech Wrek
August 11th, 2010
1:28 pm
how2fish…how does a thuga fan fish? with dynamite? unless we’re talking women, in which case i suppose the idea is to throw enough alcohol at enough moralless women (in high supply!) until you look as good to them as the piles of trash you will be sleeping together in
Rebel Dawg
August 11th, 2010
1:36 pm
We tailgate at the CE building and have always picked up our trash and kept it very clean when we leave. However this year we are going to trash it every weekend with beer cans and old food! Just our little way of telling Dr Adams to kiss our UGA ass.
MsBulldawg
August 11th, 2010
1:44 pm
Tailgating at Eastside Village is an option, just get there early, no parking permit required, shuttle service to the game and then a downhill walk back to the parking lot. There are also businesses along S. Milledge Avenue that will rent their lots for tailgaters for the season. Twenty-four days and counting…….
Dawgtards ruin this state
August 11th, 2010
1:46 pm
tailgating at the piggly wiggly in Shreveport, AGAIN
GeoffDawg
August 11th, 2010
1:48 pm
Paul H – I don’t disagree that the majority are non-students. My post was in response to Bill’s comment which seemed to imply that student’s tailgating was just a recent phenomena. My recollection from college approximately 15 years ago was something different.
Big time?? Not
August 11th, 2010
1:54 pm
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes, free tailgate spot right beside Turd ….Grant Field.
Gratefuldawghead
August 11th, 2010
1:54 pm
The SEC has left SHREVEPORT to the ACC (All Coast Clear) and picked up the Gator. So Tech has a great chance to play there …An Upgrade from that Blue turf bowl yall enjoy! When is the last time Tech WON a bowl game?
GO DAWGS!
No mas
August 11th, 2010
1:58 pm
Not doing any tailgating this year nor going to any games. Adams is an idiot to let a few bad apples spoil the whole cart. Economy is bad so Im staying home this year and watching the Dawgs in my living room. Sure hope they play a lot better this year too.
Rapped out
August 11th, 2010
2:05 pm
Sanford stadium has become nothing but a big rap concert on game days with rap music blaring with vulgar lyrics.. Players rather dance instead of having their mind on football. Now the new Stadium Music that will be on the jumbo tron is nothing but blaring rap. Im not going this year either.
Tweets that mention It’s almost time for UGA fans to start tailgating … but where? | UGA: The Junkyard Blawg -- Topsy.com
August 11th, 2010
2:19 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jason Gorman, DrunkenTailgate.com, SupaE , Andrew DeMillo, AJC Junkyard Blawg and others. AJC Junkyard Blawg said: It’s almost time for UGA fans to start tailgating … but where? http://bit.ly/d2YDSR [...]
Scott W.
August 11th, 2010
2:29 pm
With the rappin’!
Testing
August 11th, 2010
2:50 pm
Enter your comments here
RxDawg
August 11th, 2010
3:10 pm
An unfortunate and necessary evil.
Because of $, convienence, and time I keep my tailgating at home. It’s not what I want, but this alumni accepted that fact long ago.
Dawgtards ruin this state
August 11th, 2010
3:27 pm
Even Dawgtards make fun of shreveport. You play rap music to fire up the thugs you recruit.
Why Not?
August 11th, 2010
3:28 pm
Whay not jsut tailgate at the Clarke County landfill?
Afterall, UGag fans trashed the place last year.
Why not just tailgate over the landfill and
just leave the trash on the ground.
UGag fans cerainly showed they know how to do that pretty well.
Scott W.
August 11th, 2010
3:42 pm
I am so glad all the rival fans are on here with their suggestions of where to tailgate.
NYC Dawg
August 11th, 2010
3:47 pm
I’m gonna do my tailgating at the Village Pourhouse…
Dawg Stephen--PROUD TO BE A DAWG
August 11th, 2010
3:55 pm
Coach Mark Richt has never won a BCS National Championship. His teams have never even played for a BCS National Championship. He has a losing record against Florida. At times he seems to be the nice guy who sometimes isn’t as fiery as other coaches. That’s where the negativity stops.
Before Coach Richt, Georgia had NEVER been to the SEC championship game. Under Coach Richt, the dawgs have been 3 times and won twice.Before Coach Richt, Georgia hadnt won the SEC in 20 years. They now can claim 2002 and 2005 as “year of the dawg”
Before Coach Richt, Georgia had NEVER beaten a top 5 team on the road. In 2006, Georgia dismantled Auburn at home 38-15 and it wasnt even that close. Coach Richt even took a knee on Auburn’s 5 yard line despite my mom screaming “KICK IT!!! Hang 41 on them!!!”
Before Coach Richt, Georgia was 1-8 versus Tennessee since the SEC divided into East & West. Since Coach Richt, Georgia is 5-4.
Before Coach Richt, Georgia was in a 3 game losing streak to Georgia Tech. Since Coach Richt Georgia is 7-1 including the biggest win over Georgia Tech ever at 51-7 in 2002 and a 7 game winning streak. (Georgia’s biggest streak ever)
Before Coach Richt, Georgia had NEVER won in Tuscaloosa. Under Coach Richt, they are unbeaten.
Since he arrived, Georgia has not played for a National Championship. That is not Coach Mark Richt’s fault. In 2002, Georgia finished 13-1, only to see 2 unbeaten teams with much weaker schedules play in Tempe, Arizona. Georgia finished at #3. In 2007, a 2 loss Georgia team was skipped due to the human polls to allow a 2 loss LSU team to play for a NC. Georgia finished with a #2 ranking and an 11-2 record. But Georgia was in the national spotlight and in the argument. Something Georgia hadnt had in over 20 years. That was all before Coach Richt.
Here are a few more thoughts to ponder.
(1-)-His .770 winning percentage is 4th best among active coaches.
(2-)He is the longest tenured coach now in the SEC.
(3-) 6 out of 9 (including 7 of the last 9) times his teams have won 10 or more games, winning as many as 13 games in 2002.
(4-)He is a 2 time SEC Coach of the year.
(5-)He is 38-4 against Non-Conference opponents.
(6-)His teams are 33-5 when playing in an opponents home stadium.
(7-)In 25 years, Coach Dooley had 7 “10 win seasons”. In 8 years, Coach Richt has done that 6 times already.
(8-) Coach Richt has won 90 games in his first nine seasons. He is the ONLY Coach in SEC history to accomplish that feat. Not The Bear, not Saban, not Jordan, not Fulmer, not even Spurrier or even our beloved Coaches Dooley or Butts.
(9-) Coach Richt is 1 of only 5 SEC Coaches to record 4 STRAIGHT 10 win seasons.
These are the accomplishments on the field. The off the field accomplishments include the habitat for humanity work, the mission work in Honduras (Yes Tim, CMR does it too) , Camp Sunshine for children, and not to mention the wonderful things that Katherine does by his side.
Coach Richt is MY coach. He is the coach of MY team. I am very proud to have him. Coach Richt may not have his National Championship yet, but rest assured, he will.
How2fish
August 11th, 2010
3:57 pm
Tech Wrek still 8-1 and for the record I dated the last two good looking girls at Bugville and that was over 20 years ago….and you still with the same blow up doll…lmao..
Spike
August 11th, 2010
3:58 pm
I tailgate at 590 South Lumpkin Street. In Hoc,boys.
Spike
August 11th, 2010
4:03 pm
And Dr. Adams, you can kiss my….. too!!
Damon
August 11th, 2010
4:10 pm
Where are we to get drunk?
Adams will not allow us sidewalk non-alumni fans in his box.
HounDog
August 11th, 2010
4:15 pm
Since we are talking about old trash … can we finally trash the red pants, red jackets, the crazy red, white, and black plaids, etc. In general, thinking that looking obsurd is ok because its a game day.
DawgStyle
August 11th, 2010
4:25 pm
Dawg Stephen…GREAT JOB!!
smart like a Fox
August 11th, 2010
4:29 pm
who cares……
TallyDawg
August 11th, 2010
4:52 pm
No one tailgates at tech because they don’t get off their World of Warcraft sessions long enough to pee, much less watch a football game. Who would want to watch the bugs get bent over on a weekly basis anyway?
Moggs
August 11th, 2010
5:10 pm
Wow Dawg Stephen- I think I’ll cut-n-paste your comments and use them any time anybody says anything bad about the Dawgs. Love your blog by the way-
Beast from the East
August 11th, 2010
5:23 pm
Dawg Stephen,
Great post about Coach Richt. But to be fair, those other coaches did not play 12 game regular seasons and the Bear, Jordan, Dooley and Butts did not have a “13th” game because the SEC did not have an CG back then. That changes the perception on the 10 win season thing, as those guys would basically have to have gone 10-1 every year to have a 10 win season.
That being said, I agree that UGA has a good one in Coach Richt.
Evans:
August 11th, 2010
5:24 pm
Behind the doublewides with Darm’s red panties. It’s panty party and all the mutt fans will attend.
Blowfish:
August 11th, 2010
5:25 pm
Hey howtofish: I still say they are better looking than the skank chick your sorry azz AD was with when he was busted for DUI! Just remember, if you drink and drive you lose……………so……………your all LOSERS!
UGAIII
August 11th, 2010
5:27 pm
Please don’t kill me this year like you did my relative. I don’t think I can handle another aweful season. Just give me a bowl of water and a bag of ice for my nads, and I should be ok.
Jay
August 11th, 2010
6:02 pm
It’s the excessive alcohol that is ruining the entire game experience.
Ed
August 11th, 2010
6:25 pm
After-game cleanup efforts in the swamp also included picking up peroxide bottles. Nothing says UF quite like bleached-blonde hair and orange t-shirts, especially on an aging, leathered-skin woman who remembers the pre-1990s abyss all too well (and is no humbler for the experience).
Nothing except jorts, mullets, and Natural Light, of course.
Win or lose, they’re still Gators and they’re still tacky.
Hobnail Boot
August 11th, 2010
6:25 pm
Going to be hard to tailgate becasue of the early games. We may need to cook B-Fast at the first few games. We tailgate on Oak St right across the river. Our tailgate grew from Six people to over Seventy five for a big game. All I do is spend my entire day cooking. I am ready to tone it back some and down size a little. We do have a great time but it is a lot of work.
Hobnail Boot
August 11th, 2010
6:30 pm
Great post Stephen Dawg. Do you do taxes?
Gratefuldawghead
August 11th, 2010
6:33 pm
Hobnail Boot …So what time do I show up for B-Fast
Hobnail Boot
August 11th, 2010
6:36 pm
We get there early. Show up and I will fix you a big bowl of Shrimp and cheese grits. Come on over.
Gratefuldawghead
August 11th, 2010
6:39 pm
Shrimp and Cheese grits….AWSOME! I have been tailgating with the wrong people!!!!
GO DAWGS!
btgt69
August 11th, 2010
6:50 pm
how about Clarke County jail ,, that’s where the players are
Ed
August 11th, 2010
6:56 pm
Beast, I’m with you on the 10-win season analysis. Use to be that three losses in a season made winning 10 games impossible – now, four losses doesn’t necessarily prevent a ten-win season. The new benchmark for sustained greatness should be 11-win seasons.
I was completely sold on Richt through ‘07, but the past two seasons have made me rethink his place among the top coaches. Good coaches (forget great coaches) don’t get their rear ends handed to them in rivalry games in back to back years (UF).
Heck, forget the last two Florida games. At least those teams were really good teams quarterbacked by one of the all-time elite college players…how do we justify getting beat by 26 to a 6-loss Tennessee team? Second blowout loss in as many trips to Knoxville. That makes at least 4 games in the last three years, including Alabama in ‘07 (let’s face it, the final score was a little deceptive) in which Georgia got completely outclassed. Other than the ‘03 SEC Championship game, I can’t think of another instance where that happened the first four years under Richt. Even that game was competitive for the first three quarters.
I think it’s fair for Georgia fans to start wondering if Richt knows what he’s doing without guys like Van Gorder and Calloway around. 2010 will be an important year for him.
Ed
August 11th, 2010
6:59 pm
Correction: We beat Alabama in ‘07. I meant the 2008 game, when we got down 31-0 before the seats were warm.
And Jerry Mathers as the Beaver
August 11th, 2010
7:00 pm
Beav: Hey Wally, what’s the Joke by Coke?
Wally: That’s Georgia Tech. Geez Beav, don’t you know anything?
B; Gee Wally. I was just askin. Don’t treat me like Lumpy!
W: Beav, shut it or I’ll sick Edward Haskell on you!
Beast from the East
August 11th, 2010
7:05 pm
Ed,
I think Richt has “earned” a little latitude. Yes, the last 2 years his teams have underachieved, but he seems to have a renewed energy this season. UGA certainly has tons of talent of the offensive side this year. Coupled with a new voice of the defensive side and I think they’ll be greatly improved. I’d be very surprised if my Gators walked away with a blowout win in Jax again this year. I expect a close game with turnovers being the deciding factor.
IF he has another lackluster year, then the rumblings will surely get louder. I don’t expect it will come to that though.
Best of luck this year!
Delbert D.
August 11th, 2010
7:11 pm
Another candidate for the Heistman Trophy: FSU starting LB Nigel Carr. He was was “arrested on July 25 on felony charges related to two auto burglaries. It was the first time a FSU football player had been arrested since Fisher took over for Bobby Bowden in January.”
Quote from Andy Johnston’s AJC blog today.
beatdowns galore
August 11th, 2010
7:32 pm
Looks like Dawgstephen has a man crush on Mark Richt……
Ron
August 11th, 2010
7:35 pm
Anywhere’s a great place for a drunken idiot.
Ed
August 11th, 2010
7:37 pm
Very gracious of you Beast of the East, thanks. Not to beat a dead horse, but here’s the box score from last year’s debacle at Tennessee: http://espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292832633
UGA was completely outclassed by every key measure: final score, total yards, passing, rushing, turnovers. This against a team that otherwise went 6-6 that year with a schedule that included a couple of nonconference cupcakes.
Richt better get the mojo of his first four years back if he wants another four. I’m pulling for him, but would be lying if I said I wasn’t highly skeptical at this point.
Huey Dewey
August 11th, 2010
7:40 pm
Sorry But Im not attending the Thug rap concerts at Sanford Stadium this year. I will watch some real college football on my 42 inch.
NO LINDSEY SCOTT,NO 1980 TITLE MUTTS
August 11th, 2010
7:51 pm
PLEASE UGAG DONT KILL ANYMORE PROFESSORS,AND EVERYBODY BRING THEIR REDPANTIES!
NO LINDSEY SCOTT,NO 1980 TITLE MUTTS
August 11th, 2010
7:53 pm
KIRBY SMART OR WILL MUSCHAMP ARE YOU READING THESE BLOGS,THE ALUM WILL BE CALLING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR IF MARK RICHT IS 6-6?
Dogit
August 11th, 2010
7:58 pm
will red panties be considered trash!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sugar Hill Dawg
August 11th, 2010
8:08 pm
Since my boys are at Auburn, I only get to tailgate in Athens once every two years – really enjoyed last year’s trip to Athens! I tailgate on Samford Drive across from the band building – not too far from Jordan – Hare. I have to admit the tailgate experience at Auburn is much more pleasant than the experience in Athens lately. I was at UGA 71 – 75, had season tickets until my oldest was born (1990), so its been a while since I made the weekly trek to Athens from good old Gwinnett County! It now seems like we’d be denied our old spot (the small lot next to the Main Library, kinda between Park Hall, the Business School and the Main Library). I think there’s a building there now. I sure miss those great times!
corkylikesbeer
August 11th, 2010
8:55 pm
cant spell sugar without uga…go dawgs…
RV Parking
August 11th, 2010
9:06 pm
RV Parking, 3/4 mile from Gate 1. 651 W Broad Street, between Pope & Finley. Plenty of space for 2 RV’s and room to tailgate. $400/game. email rv.651wbroad@spamgourmet.com for more information.
beets
August 11th, 2010
9:23 pm
when i used to tailgate.. we would smoke grass in the adjacent building, urinate any place we could, and just go crazy.. this was waaaay back in 00-03…
ugag is irrelevant
August 11th, 2010
9:25 pm
bring the dumpster from your trailer park and you can dump it right there where you park … how convenient for athens to offer such a public service
Dan
August 11th, 2010
9:25 pm
Thank to the so called “necessary restrictions”, imposed by our dear, Mr. Adams, my family no longer even attends games at UGA -after doing so as alums and financial supporters of the University for decades and generations…UGA will NEVER be Princeton Mr. A…don’t even!!! Hope you enjoy seeing the declining numbers of football supporters and financial supporters as you carve your place in UGA history! We are fed up, and will watch from our tailgate parties at home, Thank You…It WAS a great school and tradition…
Mike Oxbig
August 11th, 2010
9:28 pm
Huey Dewey- the only thing 42 inches that you have in your house is your wife’s dress size
Tom, Resident Georgia Fan
August 11th, 2010
9:44 pm
Bill, do you tailgate up at North Oconee Methodist Church going out of town past the Blind Pig?
Betty Boop
August 11th, 2010
10:00 pm
Just look for the red panties marking the approved tailgating areas.
The Ole Ball Coach
August 11th, 2010
10:19 pm
Tailgating from home or at UTC….I will not spend another dollar in Athens as long as Adams is there.
Bamadog
August 11th, 2010
10:45 pm
I got to tell you being from Athens and living in Tuscaloosa, you get to see how it should be done over at Bama. Their historic Quad where majoring tailgating takes place is rented for around 750.00 a spot for the season. You can have a tv out there, electric provided. UA does it right, Dr. Adams might want to get with the program, he needs to realize football down south is serious business.
NO LINDSEY SCOTT,NO 1980 TITLE MUTTS
August 11th, 2010
11:10 pm
TAILGATING ON CHURCH PROPERTY IS ONLY AT UGAG,DRINKING AND DOPING!
Ron
August 12th, 2010
1:30 am
Just remember– the bigger the “G” on the vehicle, the lower the edumacation.
Harmon
August 12th, 2010
1:31 am
Go Dawgs! And take Roy Barnes with you!
tony purvis
August 12th, 2010
5:44 am
Enter your comments here
WinderDawg
August 12th, 2010
7:04 am
Why not do like other university/towns and have the city go to every tailgater and give a trash bag?
Then when the tailgater leaves they just leave the trash bag for the city to pick up. Come on people other towns in the SEC have dealt with this issue the right way. UGA seems to be saying I do not care about the alumni or fans involvement in this issue. 6 Saturdays a year is becoming a nightmare for the university and city? Get Real!
fedup
August 12th, 2010
8:28 am
Blame it on the current generation who by their actions demonstrate they have no respect for anything or anyone. They only exist to satisify their hedonistic desires!
Orin
August 12th, 2010
8:35 am
Or perhaps dawgtard fans are just pigs who don’t care how much garbage they leave behind.
NESBITT ... for ... HEISMAN
August 12th, 2010
8:50 am
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Go Yellow Jackets
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Fair and Balanced
August 12th, 2010
9:23 am
I’m a GA Bulldog sports fan, but not a fan of the University of GA.
dagnabit
August 12th, 2010
10:03 am
Tents and big screen tv. I wish I could have seen that.
dagnabit
August 12th, 2010
10:04 am
I would have skiped the game also.
CALHOUN ALUM
August 12th, 2010
10:09 am
ga fans show so much respect for the university they leave all their trash! class!!
CMill
August 12th, 2010
10:21 am
Enter your comments here
CMill
August 12th, 2010
10:21 am
Tailgating on Milledge is pretty nice… a bit of a walk, but not too bad
Browning
August 12th, 2010
10:46 am
Great spot to tailgate.Corner of Broad and Newton. Few spots left.250.00 for year. call RAY 770 468-7117 Go DAWGS!!!!!!
ChambleeDawg
August 12th, 2010
10:51 am
For the past four years, my wife and I set up a tailgate with a bunch of our friends in front of the Chapel as well. We never got out of control, and we always broke it down and cleaned up before the game started. I saw what happen last year, and it was as bad as the media says. So, I agree with a little punishment, but this is too severe. And for some of you how think that it want hurt the local economy, before the game we allways ate somewhere downtown, got a drink somewhere downtown, and hell I even did a little shopping with the wifey.
North Ave Trade School Hater
August 12th, 2010
11:33 am
I guess I am the only one glad they did something. Many of the tailgaters were rude, we know of the pigs, and the sidewalks were often blocked. I’ll tailgate at the Golden Corral breakfast bar on the way over.
Dawgs Rule
August 12th, 2010
12:51 pm
teeheehee…”red panties”
You Nerds sure know how to show your maturity level!!
ugaclassof2004
August 12th, 2010
2:40 pm
Dawg Stephen,
Those are all very valid points you have made about Coach Richt,the good and the bad. I feel overall that Richt has elevated the program.
My concern with Richt is his apparent lack of hunger and his inability to effectively evaluate the talent on his coaching staff. To me this is where he comes up short in comparison to Saban or Meyer. Richt’s teams were hungry from 2001-2005, but 2006-2009 has not been good for Richt( 2007 was a bit of anomally).And the fact that he won’t make tough decisions until WAY too late is a problem. As a leader you’re only has good as the people around you. If you don’t hire quality people, bad things happen.It just kind seemed like Richt fell asleep at the wheel on the wrong guys which to me doesn’t bode well for his leadership style.
With that being said, Richt made the changes to his staff so we’ll have to see how this new defensive coaches pan out. I’m actually more concerned about QB position and a lack of depth on offense more than
the defense. Regardless, I’ll support the team but keep my expectations reasonable. UGA is what it is: a GOOD but not GREAT
football program capable of knocking off a top 10 team while equally as capable of choking to a team that isn’t even in the top 25. And unfortunately I think the days of UGA competing for a National Title are gone. 2002 and 2007 where Richt’s best shots. Expect 9-3 and 8-4 from here on out.
ugaclassof2004
August 12th, 2010
2:52 pm
Dawg Stephen,
Those are all very valid points you have made about Coach Richt,the good and the bad. I feel overall that Richt has elevated the program.
My concern with Richt is his apparent lack of hunger and his inability to effectively evaluate the talent on his coaching staff. To me this is where he comes up short in comparison to Saban or Meyer. Richt’s teams were hungry from 2001-2005, but 2006-2009 has not been good for Richt( 2007 was a bit of anomally).And the fact that he won’t make tough decisions until WAY too late is a problem. As a leader you’re only has good as the people around you. If you don’t hire quality people, bad things happen.It just kind of seemed like Richt fell asleep at the wheel on the wrong guys which to me doesn’t bode well for his leadership style.
With that being said, Richt made the changes to his staff so we’ll have to see how these new defensive coaches pan out. I’m actually more concerned about the QB position and a lack of depth on offense more than I am about the defense. Regardless, I’ll support the team but keep my expectations reasonable. UGA is what it is: a GOOD but not GREAT
football program capable of knocking off a top 10 team while equally as capable of choking to a team that isn’t in the top 25. And unfortunately I think the days of UGA competing for a National Title are gone. 2002 and 2007 where Richt’s best shots. That ship has sailed. As long as Richt is there, expect 9-3 and 8-4 from here on out.
boots
August 12th, 2010
3:39 pm
Michael Adams is a jerk. He over-reacted and took a knee-jerk response to the littering. It was very bad, yes, but it could have been handled differently. How, oh how, do we get rid of King Adams???
Dawg Tired
August 12th, 2010
5:40 pm
Testing 1….2…..3
GatorSet
August 12th, 2010
10:05 pm
Dawgtards love to return to 1980, but their memories are really short when it comes to remembering an earthshaking event that happened a few years later that showed the world what a joke UGA athletes were and what a scam artist their beloved Vince Dooley was (and is). So for all those dawgtards with short memories or who think their athletes are actually taking real courses and trying to graduate, here’s the quote that broke the trial wide open and showed what a sleezebag Dooley is:
O. Hale Almand Jr., a lawyer for the defense, offered a justification for the favorable treatment accorded the athletes, citing a hypothetical player. “We may not make a university student out of him,” he told the jury, “but if we can teach him to read and write, maybe he can work at the post office rather than as a garbageman when he gets through with his athletic career.”
Nothing has changed at UGA, they just do a slightly better job of keeping things quiet, but that’s hard to do when 42 of your player-thugs have been arrested, isn’t it? And let’s not forget Jim Harrick either.
Don’t you dawgtards just love those red panties!
Is it gameday yet?
August 13th, 2010
9:53 am
Let’s play
Bama in Atlanta
August 13th, 2010
10:12 am
(NOTE: Due to technical difficulties my entire comment is not posting so I will have to divide it up into sections)
I am a Bama grad and was lucky enough to marry a beautiful UGA coed. My father-in-law got his JD from UGA and is a rabid Dawg fan with six season tickets on the 40 yard line and a parking pass. I have enjoyed several games in Athens over the past few years and tailgating was a big part of the experience. I can sympathize that the school administration has to make difficult decisions on setting rules for PR sake in order to lessen the image of being the #1 Party School but on this issue I think they got it wrong.
Bama in Atlanta
August 13th, 2010
10:18 am
continued….
Tailgating is every bit a part of the gameday experience that should not only be allowed but embraced. The fallout from this covers several areas, such as:
Bama in Atlanta
August 13th, 2010
10:26 am
Money
If the administration thinks that it costs too much money to clean up the aftermath of gameday tailgating then I don’t think they are looking at the big picture. If you stroll down the rows of tents and chairs sitting in the shade you will see alot of alumni who send in donations over and above the price of season tickets. Take away the tailgating and I bet you see the level of donations drop faster than a Tiger Woods sponsor. Every penny you spend cleaning up the mess will come back to you wrapped in a dollar.
Bama in Atlanta
August 13th, 2010
10:28 am
Recruiting
Your average 17 and 18 year old high school football phenom is visually motivated…..you think colleges use hot coeds for recruiting just by coincidence?!? Part of the decision on where to play college ball is the support and excitement they see outside the stadium on gameday. With each tailgating tent taken down that’s one less reason a recruit has to commit.
Bama in Atlanta
August 13th, 2010
10:29 am
#1 Party School
If the administration’s intent on shutting down tailgating was to curb the image of UGA being the #1 Party School then they need to adjust their focus. The article gave the ranking based on the bars, clubs and party activities taking place on Thursday nights, not Saturday afternoons. If you really want to address the problem then focus on the underage drinking rather than the social drinking and camaraderie of 30-, 40- & 50+ year olds who are pumping money into the school.
Bama in Atlanta
August 13th, 2010
10:36 am
I hope a better solution is implemented before the first game because it would be a shame to reduce a great gameday experience to a non-event. However, if the policy still stands then all UGA alums are invited to Tuscaloosa on a weekend of your choice to sit on the Quad and tailgate like God intended…..the first round is on me.
Tech Fans Suck
August 13th, 2010
10:49 am
Leave it to Tech Fans to post all these crappy comments. You people need lives that take you in more directions than your obsession with all things UGA. And I’m not even a Georgia fan but I sure feel nothing but disdain for Tech fans.
War Eagle you dateless dorks.
ugaclassof2004
August 13th, 2010
11:04 am
GatorSet
I’m not going to dignify some of your childish insults about red panties with a response. But I think you’d be hard pressed to find any UGA fan of real substance claiming that the vast majority of the football team is actually working towards a real major. I mean they can’t all be like Tim Tebow who will no doubt put that phenomenal “family, youth, and community sciences” major to good use! And to be perfectly honest, I really don’t give a crap what classes they take. As long as they are pursuing some kind of degree, I really don’t care.
Also, need I remind you about Gator football in the 1980’s being on probation? Of course Gator fans tend to forget about the past because you’re a total bandwagon fanbase. If Florida ever has a down cycle, I’m sure you can just whip out your old Miami Hurrican gear from the 80’s like the rest of the Johnny Come Lately inhabitants of your state.
Bill King
August 13th, 2010
7:44 pm
Tom,
When I tailgated, it was on Lumpkin Street across from the track. But mostly now we walk down to Five Points and grab a meal there.
DawgVoiceofReason
August 13th, 2010
8:11 pm
Bill,
Why can’t a message be displayed that explains why a post wasn’t accepted?!!! It is so frustrating to type a well thought out message only to have it seemingly disappear. I was trying to pay you a complement in my last post and it’s just gone.
DawgVoiceofReason
August 13th, 2010
8:12 pm
2nd try:
Bill,
Another good blog. I almost always enjoy your blogs and appreciate the balanced perspective you generally have, with the always obvious love for the Dawgs.
If you can find out and blog about it later, it would be great to know the University’s (Dr. Adams’) thinking on the decision to put such seemingly arbitrary limits on the North Campus tailgating. I agree something major had to be done but it seems like they went too far. The only good thing that has been done by the University lately to help with tailgating and parking was the decision to open up the intramural fields. I generally can’t get to Atherns very early and it is nice to be assured I will have somewhere to park where I don’t have to worry about being towed.
The other thing that really needs fixing is the whole bus system after the game. They pack those buses so full and then just make people sit and sweat for twenty or thirty minutes sometimes. It is crazy! They need to have those buses going right away, as soon as any of them are loaded. They also need to start the buses well before the game ends so they can begin thinning out the crowds with the people who leave early.
Red Panties Rick
August 13th, 2010
11:04 pm
I guess Damon’s definition of “tailgating” and what’s being discussed here are two different things, hence the confusion about appropriate conduct at the games.
Tailgating Ideas » Blog Archive » Weekend Wrap-Up #111: Shanna McLaughlin Edition
August 16th, 2010
3:55 am
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