Fan talk: Should Georgia and Clemson meet more often in football?
Mark Richt’s Bulldogs hold their first scrimmage of the spring Saturday, and Saturday is also the deadline for Hartman Fund contributors to get their football season ticket orders in. If you’re sending it in by snail mail, it has to be postmarked March 31. Or you can order online here.
Meanwhile, the uncertainty hanging over the Georgia-Clemson series in 2013-14 as the ACC goes to a nine-game conference schedule appears to have lifted.
After telling 790 The Zone this week that he was optimistic the games would be played, Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips (and doesn’t that sound like the perfect name for a Clempson AD?) was a bit more emphatic talking Friday to TigerNet.com. “Bottom line is this: We are going to play Georgia,” Phillips told the site. “I can’t tell you how we are going to put all of the pieces together, but we are going to play Georgia in 2013 here and in 2014 we are going to Athens. We’re committed to the Georgia series.”
Phillips went on to say that “Coach [Dabo] Swinney definitely wants to play that series. I want to play it because the people would call in and say, ‘Hey, there’s a reason we scheduled Georgia.’ Our people want to see Georgia. It’s a great addition to our schedule and so we had a great conversation with Georgia. We are committed to playing that series. We’ve got some challenges associated with it, but we are going to play that series.”
As I’ve noted before, because of the proximity between the two schools, the Georgia-Clemson rivalry was one of our most intense back when the Dawgs and Tigers played almost every year, on a par with the rivalries with Florida and Tech, and I firmly believe the two schools should schedule each other on at least a semi-regular basis, the continuing appetite for cupcakes notwithstanding.
So I think this is great news.
Speaking of which, I got a question in this week’s Junkyard Mail on a related subject. …
Rip Roberts writes: Considering all the difficulties Georgia and Clemson are having scheduling each other in football during the regular season, I was wondering what you thought of Dabo Swinney’s recent talk about how the two programs should meet in a spring game that would take the place of their intrasquad scrimmages. I like the idea! What say you, Bill?
Dabo Swinney recently brought up the idea of spring exhibition games again. (Associated Press)
Back when Dabo first brought this idea up a couple of years ago, I polled Blawg readers on the subject and 83 percent were in favor of Georgia and Clemson playing a spring game.
As I said then, 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.
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 if the two schools agreed ahead of time that they would 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.
Where to play a spring exhibition 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 or kickoff game.
Overall, I prefer Georgia and Clemson meeting during the regular season, but the ACC expanding its conference schedule means that in the future it might be difficult for the two schools to meet home-and-home even once a decade. Which makes the spring exhibition idea that much more enticing.
What do you think? Should Georgia and Clemson try to meet on a regular basis in football, whether it’s regular season or spring? Feel free to share your views.
We’ll return to a full Junkyard Mail call next week. So if you’ve got something on your mind concerning UGA athletics or a question you want me to tackle, send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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93 comments Add your comment
dan
April 1st, 2012
10:41 am
Psssh…why? So we can hang 70 points on Clemson’s non-existent defense? When was the last time they have beaten us? 1990? Clemson and UGA was a heated rivalry back in the 80’s. But we got bigger fish to fry now.
Footballrules
April 1st, 2012
10:48 am
@dan….yeah….and bigger brownies to bake.
OLD DAWG
April 1st, 2012
11:15 am
Absolutely, the rivalry between UGA has always been very intense. I would drop one of those cupcake games or Tech to get those guys back on the schedule!! Things stated going down hill when Danny Ford and Vince Dooley got into a heated argument after one of the games back in the 80’s.
DawgNole
April 1st, 2012
11:38 am
SSIgator
April 1st, 2012
12:01 am
onegadawg -
“That is why UF only plays FSU and does not play Miami!”
Buzzzzzzzzzzzz. Wromg Dwag Breath.
Do a little research next time and you might get to stay in the game.
________________________
Do a little reading next time and you might learn how to spell.
DawgNole
April 1st, 2012
11:42 am
7576DAWG
March 31st, 2012
1:03 pm
“All you are doing is making your schedule harder when other national schools make sure they play 4 1-AA teams every year. Also it helps the ACC get more credibility at the expense of the SEC.”
________________________
What a load of BS. Name ONE “national school” that plays “4 1-AA teams every year.” You can’t, chickensh-t. Step up to the plate and play somebody, coward.
DawgNole
April 1st, 2012
11:43 am
Jacket99
March 31st, 2012
11:32 am
Scheduling cupcakes is a disservice to the fans. Schedule UGA vs Clemson. Schedule GT vs Auburn. Drop a Buffalo or a Presbyterian and make it happen.
______________________
Well said.
DawgNole
April 1st, 2012
12:10 pm
Longtime Dawg fan and UGA grad here, but ashamed to admit it when I read posts by Dawgs defending our school’s long tradition of cupcake scheduling. Quit worrying about what the “other” schools are doing and PLAY SOMEBODY. And don’t give me that tough SEC schedule garbage; with Vandy and Kentucky on the slate every year, we already have built-in marshmallows. You play a decent OOC schedule because it earns national RESPECT, and lord knows we could use some of that. Damon Evans, for all his problems, at least tried to “spread the brand” by scheduing decent OOC teams home and home. McGarity has done a complete about-face, shamefully; he couldn’t get Oregon off the schedule fast enough. Yeah, we lost to Colorado, OKST, and Boise. So what?! That’s our fault, and it just means we need to get better. Our fans are always ridiculing the soft ACC, but when it comes to playing their teams we say no, they’re too tough. Can’t have it both ways. Playing ANY FBS team–EVER–is a disgrace, and we should hold ourselves to a higher standard.
The Bear
April 1st, 2012
12:49 pm
@DawgNole very refreshing point of view. I would rather my team (Bama) play againest top teams from other conferences as well. Scheduling sometimes can be a pain in the rear end that is a reason schools end up scheduling teams like a Georgia Southern or a Buffalo. It normally works itself out.
RTR
DawgNole
April 1st, 2012
1:42 pm
The Bear
April 1st, 2012
12:49 pm
@DawgNole very refreshing point of view. I would rather my team (Bama) play againest top teams from other conferences as well. Scheduling sometimes can be a pain in the rear end that is a reason schools end up scheduling teams like a Georgia Southern or a Buffalo. It normally works itself out.
RTR
______________________
Bama plays its share of cupcakes, but at least your team makes an effort to schedule name programs (Va Tech, Penn St, Michigan, etc.)–and doesn’t insist they come to Tuscaloosa only. ALL teams should dump the weak sisters, which translate to empty seats, no TV, boring outcomes, “so whats” when you beat them, and eternal disgrace if you lose to them. Plus, you have to pay them to come to your place and bend over. How low are we willing to stoop for a W? It’s disgusting.
A Father
April 1st, 2012
3:35 pm
Many of my fellow GA fans are an embarrassment calling out other programs when GA is the worse without a doubt over the years. Ga has not beat an SEC team with a winning SEC record since Auburn ( 5 – 3 ) 2007. We suck and it is clear to me that most GA fans are clueless.
Wes
April 1st, 2012
5:39 pm
No!
DawgNole
April 1st, 2012
6:28 pm
Wes
April 1st, 2012
5:39 pm
No!
______________________
Hello? No! what?
Houston Dawg
April 1st, 2012
7:01 pm
They’re a bunch of vandals and clowns. During the ’70s, they tagged our buildings with purple tiger paws and wore orange overalls to the games. No reason to give them any more recruiting visibility into our State.
Dawg Bite
April 1st, 2012
9:40 pm
Why not play. Both of these programs are stuck in time ,with nothing relevant dating to the “80’s. UGA fans ridicule the other guys by calling them CLIMPSON and talking about tractors, et al, but what the Hey, UGA is nothing better. We are both programs that prove nothing but a lot of hot air. Let the wanna be’s play every year to see which mediocre program is the best of the losers!
No win starting with Kentucky 2007 over any team with a winning SEC record. 2-6 is average SEC record of every win by Mark Richt starting with Kentucky in 2007.
April 2nd, 2012
2:09 am
2011 played 2 teams wining SEC record :
42-45 South Carolina at Sanford Stadium
10-42 LSU at Georgia Dome
2011 our other 7 opponents averaged 2-6 in SEC
14-42 combined record all wins over losing record SEC teams
____________
2010 played 3 teams winning SEC record :
06-17 South Carolina
24-31 Arkansas at Sanford Stadium
31-49 Auburn
2010 our only 3 wins opponents averaged 2-6 in SEC
06-18 combined record all wins over losing record SEC teams
______________
2009 played 2 teams winning SEC record :
13-20 LSU at Sanford Stadium
17-41 Florida Home at Jacksonville
2009 our only 4 wins opponents averaged 2-6 in SEC
09-23 combined record all wins over losing record SEC teams
_______________
2008
30-41 Alabama at Sanford Stadium
10-49 Florida Home at Jacksonville
2008 our only 6 opponents averaged 3-5 in SEC
17-30 combined record all wins over losing record SEC teams
_______________
Kentucky in 2007 also had losing SEC record as our last win 2007
_______________
Starting with Kentucky in 2007, we have NOT beat any SEC team with a winning SEC record.
_______________
2-6 is average SEC record of every win by Mark Richt starting with Kentucky in 2007.
_____________
No win starting with Kentucky 2007 over any team with a winning SEC record.
Good point Joey, sir.
No win starting with Kentucky 2007 over any team with a winning SEC record. 2-6 is average SEC record of every win by Mark Richt starting with Kentucky in 2007.
April 2nd, 2012
6:21 am
vineyarddawg Apr 1, 2012 5:00 PM EDT
in Georgia Bulldogs Football
“The Georgia Bulldogs held a scrimmage yesterday, signifying the official midpoint of the Dawgs’ spring practice. There has been a lot of news coming out of Athens since spring practice started on March 20, and very little of it has been encouraging. In fact, just thinking of commenting on the state of Georgia football right now makes me a little nauseous.”
_____________________________________
vineyarddawg hasn’t seen the DISNEYdawgs.com of this blog try to come up with some lame excuses for all this, like it is GOOD NEWS – or maybe he has and this is his reply, as mine.
Old Dawg
April 2nd, 2012
6:31 am
Yes, Georgia needs to play Clempson more…and Alabama, and LSU. Quit scheduling cupcake games ( and even then letting Aaron Murray play all game just to get his stats up).
Old Dawg
April 2nd, 2012
6:32 am
Sorry – Clemson.
No win starting with Kentucky 2007 over any team with a winning SEC record. 2-6 is average SEC record of every win by Mark Richt starting with Kentucky in 2007.
April 2nd, 2012
7:05 am
get his stats us ?
Even with playing all game every game against nothing but cupcakes,
Aarron Murray completed 59 % of his passes
# 72 in nation pass completion percentage 2011
Aaron Murray
Aaron Murray still has not beat ANY team with winning SEC record.
dawgfan
April 2nd, 2012
8:47 am
If we’re going to play a team from another BCS conference I would rather play a Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12 team. We already have ACC creampuff Georgia Tech to pad the W column. We don’t need another one. I didn’t grow up watching UGA and Clemson play like the old timers so I don’t have anything invested in it. They’re just another joke ACC program to me.
Thanks.
RxDawg
April 2nd, 2012
9:10 am
Well they should of… until the SEC brought Mizzou along and are (should) going to a 9 game conference schedule. With the annual Tech battle that only leaves 2 extra games to play with. They will want those 2 games to be home games and easy wins. So playing Clemson more often won’t happen unless it’s a bowl game.
chiefdawg
April 2nd, 2012
9:41 am
NO! UGA gains nothing by playing Clemson.
GATiger
April 2nd, 2012
10:18 am
UGA will continue to get no respect by scheduling easy teams and you do not get better by beating teams that you’re expected to beat. The funny (and sad) part was that many of you thought you could beat LSU in championship game just because you beat some teams with loosing records. Well you see how that turned out didn’t you?
Have not beat any team winning SEC record - starting with Kentucky in 2007.
April 2nd, 2012
10:22 am
Unfortunately, yes, we saw how that turned out 10-42. But, it’s not like it was just last year, GATiger.
We’ve been beating some teams with losing records in The SEC for a while now, but we’ve not beat any team with a winning SEC record starting with the Kentucky game way back in 2007.
Relentless Pursuit
April 2nd, 2012
10:43 am
No
dawgSTILE
April 2nd, 2012
12:07 pm
The word on the ‘dirt sheets” is that UGA is wanting to add soft game after 2014, Many people are saying Ga Southern is a possibility. Also talk of Ga/Ga Tech moving to the Ga Dome. The “usual suspects” have not commented on this?
ckg
April 2nd, 2012
12:27 pm
No. The only way thye should play each other regularly is if they were in the same conference and division which they should be but since $$$$$ runs college football we Tex A&M and Missouri instead of Fla St and Clemson.
Now, the answer to Bill's qustion
April 2nd, 2012
1:26 pm
No.
Nowadays, UGA is too deeply involved in our SEC schedule. Back in the day when this game was a huge thing, it made good sense. Not today. SInce that time in the 80s, UGA picked up another grueling SEC game and now, we add in Tx A&M and Missouri.
Clemson vs UGA might happen in like a Chic Fil A Bowl game or a Music City Bowl but not reg season. Next to impossible.
Besides, SC has emerged as a team to whup AND they are in the ELITE SEC, so they take the place of Clemson for UGA fans. Lately? Edge to SC. UGA needs to whup SC but good this year.
Go Dogs.
gomdawg
April 2nd, 2012
2:20 pm
I say we don’t need to play Clemson , maybe rotate them and GT
harold
April 2nd, 2012
2:31 pm
IF UGA WANTS TO SELL TICKETS THEY NEED A MUCH BETTER SCHEDULE THAN THE ONE THIS YEAR. THIS YEARS SCHEDULE IS A CAKEWALK. IN FACT, IF RICHT CAN’T GO 11-0 HE OUGHT TO BE FIRED. THEY ARE ALL CREAM PUFFS!
CLEMSON WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION. IT IS ALWAYS A GREAT GAME WITH NATIONAL EXPOSURE BUT UGA TURNED DOWN OPENING UP WITH USC AND KIFFIN.
Gordon
April 2nd, 2012
2:52 pm
Games like this are a thing of the past. By “like this” I mean interesting non-conference rivalries. Both Tech and UGA schedules are now set in stone (9 conference games, each other, and two “Buffalo” or “Presbyterian” types). It is a shame for both schools.
Old Dawg
April 2nd, 2012
3:26 pm
I really like the idea of playing another team in the spring. It allows the players to prepare for another team and gives them something to look forward to other than beating on teammates.
As for younger players getting time on the field, that can be worked out between the teams in the weeks leading up to the game.
Get ‘er done!
Dawg Fud
April 2nd, 2012
3:33 pm
A great rivalry and I wish we could play it every other year…at least. Love the Georgia-Clemson game.
LakeDawg
April 2nd, 2012
4:31 pm
They should play each other, because they are identical twins. Both programs under achieve year after year, yet they keep their mediocre coaches for years after its obvious that they’re not getting better. Clemson has gone from averaging 80,000+ fans a game to about 60,000 a game. I think you will start seeing declining attendance with UGA this year.
Clemsux is Ghey
April 2nd, 2012
5:09 pm
If we can’t beat Clemsux and gt in the same year, we do not deserve the right to play football.
Beat ‘em both!
Monroe's First Redcoat
April 2nd, 2012
5:58 pm
UGA – Clemson was a great rivalry in all aspects – intense games, natural geographic rivals, you name it. The last few games before the series was ended were good, old-fashioned smashmouth, ’till the last man falls contests. If the logistics can be worked out, I’d love to see the series renewed.
Ed
April 2nd, 2012
6:41 pm
If by more often you mean every year, then yes. I’d hate it if Georgia dropped someone like South Central Texas State or some other powerhouse, but I think a UGA-Clemson matchup might actually draw MORE fan interest than even those games. Let’s give it a try.
birddawgbill
April 2nd, 2012
7:39 pm
Oh come on everybody plays cupcakes. Even the cupcakes play lesser teams. Check out some 1aa schedules and you’ll see some d2 teams. Just the way it goes. I have a question if anyone can answer. With all the attrition in the DB how is the Bowman kid from Ridgeland doing? Will he possibly get some early PT.
funny...
April 2nd, 2012
10:55 pm
To augment the long post about Aaron Murray under performing but the reluctance to play Hutson Mason.
Richt told Mason that he would play at Ole Miss last year. And that Mason would get playing time while Murray kept other teams in the game. Naturally, Hutson told his family about the playing time and they drove to Mississippi to watch him not get a single snap. Georgia struggled that game.
I think it was a CBS announcer that correctly said, “Aaron Murray has the ability to keep both teams in the game.”
Hutson is a team guy, he’ll go with what the coaches tell him to do. I see Murray as the brown noser. The annoying guy that has Richt’s ear. Heck, I could have thrown a TD against New Mexico State.
Georgia will perform below expectations again this year.
I’m afraid of an 8-4 or 9-3 season. A preseason top 5 to 10 team should lose no more than two games. One in the regular season and either the bowl or CCG. Georgia could make the SECCG after two or three season losses and get trounced again. And probably lose to a B1G team again in Florida. That’s 4-5 losses. That’s what the season is going to look like. I mean, I’m not ok with that, with the expectations that have been set forth.
funny...
April 2nd, 2012
10:59 pm
In all honesty Georgia SHOULD run the table in the regular season. The schedule sets up for it. The SECCG will probably end in a loss but a confident team could pull off an upset.
It’s just not going to happen.
My guess:
Loss to Missouri – just way to many players out and distraction
Loss to USC – They’ve got this game marked
Loss to UF – when was the last time Georgia beat Florida two in a row?
Scary game vs. Tech – they can up and score a lot of points
That probably keeps UGA out of Atlanta and probably brings them back for the Peach Bowl
redfive
April 3rd, 2012
8:56 am
Dawgs lead the series 41-17-4 and have won 5 in a row. I see no reason to play the rock petters, we gain nothing from it. If we have to add another ACC opponent to the schedule, UGA hasn’t played UNC in 40 years. That would be much more interesting.
Nick
April 3rd, 2012
9:47 am
The UGA-CU spring game is a bad idea. I can just see a defensive player with a “bounty” on a QB. A blown knee in the spring means he’s gone for that upcoming season. I can’t see that happening within players from the same team.
james
April 3rd, 2012
8:43 pm
UGA SUCKS, GO TIGERS.