Can you call yourself a Florida Gators fan this week?
Dawgs fans find themselves pulling for turncoat Will Muschamp's team this week. (Associated Press)
So, I’m getting on the elevator at work yesterday and a colleague who attended that school in Gainesville, Fla., asks me, “Can you call yourself a Florida Gators fan this week?”
My reply: “No, I wouldn’t go that far. But would I prefer for Florida to beat South Carolina? Yeah.”
He said he thought I finessed that question pretty well.
Let’s be clear about this: It’s strictly self-interest that has UGA players, coaches and fans pulling for that hated team in blue and orange to continue its unlikely 2012 rebound under former Bulldog Will Muschamp this week. Another loss for Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks would pretty much eliminate them from contention to win the SEC East.
And that would put the Dogs’ destiny back under their own control: Win out in the rest of their conference games, including beating Florida, and Georgia would be back in the Dome.
Of course, that would make the annual tilt in Jacksonville even more of a huge game for the Dawgs this year than it usually is, and considering Georgia’s recent record in big games against Top 10 opponents, that doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence.
But back to this week. Rooting for an arch-rival like the Gators doesn’t come easily for most of us in red and black. Asked if he was pulling for Florida this Saturday, the Dogs’ Amarlo Herrera demurred, “Yeah, something like that.”
Aaron Murray was more emphatic in saying he’s “definitely” rooting for the Gators, but he is, after all, from the Sunshine State.
Still, as Murray said, “I think everyone gets a free pass this week who’s a Georgia fan. I’m not saying to deck out in Florida gear, but you can definitely be a little happier if they can come out with a victory Saturday.”
Actually, his head coach went a bit farther than most in Bulldog Nation are comfortable with on Monday night’s “Bulldog Hotline” call-in show.
“I’ve actually got a little bit of orange in my shirt today,” Mark Richt said. “I don’t have anything that has pure orange but I’ve got one has red and orange stripes. I wore it today in honor of the Florida Gators, but that’s it.”
“I can’t believe you just said that,” was host Scott Howard’s candid response.
Richt laughed. “I’m a Florida fan this weekend,” he said.
Well, I’m not. I’m a Georgia fan who hopes Florida beats South Carolina for no other reason than it’s good for Georgia.
But wear orange, even a little bit?
Never.
What about you?
GOOD TIME FOR A PEP RALLY
UGA is holding a pep rally at Legion Field in Athens at 8 p.m. Thursday for students, faculty and staff.
The football team and coach Richt will be on hand to greet fans and sign autographs and the athletic department promises the appearance of “a famous surprise guest.” Prizes and entertainment also will be provided.
Coming at midseason and after a dispiriting loss, I’d say this is a prime time to get the UGA community fired up behind the Dawgs again. I hope there’s a large turnout to send the team off to Lexington.
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— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
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219 comments Add your comment
mad~catfish
October 17th, 2012
12:51 pm
i would not pull for flori-duh if both engines went out on their team air plane…..nope never screw it i will go back to the outback bowl first!!!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 17th, 2012
12:57 pm
RxDawg
I know we dont have Superman at every position but what I do know we have double the better players SC has
also
When UGA has put as many players in the NFL as they have and you havent beaten a top 20 team in 4 years say it again 4 yrs and you have been beaten in 9 blowouts that tells me the coaching staff is a joke
Chaz Henry
October 17th, 2012
1:14 pm
Humpers have such an insecurity complex about Florida that they cannot even wish for something that would make it possible to win the East. Just think about the only major program that is so insecure with a rival that they use Powerade instead of Gatoraid.
ROFLMAO
October 17th, 2012
1:22 pm
No way in hades I’ll ever cheer for Florida. As much as I love my dawgs, they should have beaten SC. I hope SC destroys Florida.
My hate list.
1. Florida
2. Spurrier
3. You
Chaz Henry
October 17th, 2012
1:22 pm
Bill you are a moron to call Muschamp a turncoat. With that logic I guess Vince Dooley was a turncoat also. A moron would turn down a chance to go from a 1 mil DC at Tx to a 2.8mil HC at UF. Course then again a moron would be happy to have 6 other NC’s from SEC teams not UGA.
RawDawg
October 17th, 2012
1:22 pm
Ill certainly be pulling for Florida this weekend. Giving the Dawgs a put up or shut up game against an undefeated, top ranked Gators team would either send them to the Dome and finally silence all the ‘can’t win the big game’ talk, or send them packing for the season to figure out what went wrong. Getting beat down by SC and then beating an undefeated Florida team to get to the Dome would still qualify as a big season in my book. I certainly don’t want to beat Florida and then still have to sit on edge wondering what SC is going to do all season.
Go Gators!! (okay i just threw up a little)
Chaz Henry
October 17th, 2012
1:23 pm
ROFLMAO you make me LMAO.
L E G H U M P E R Mentality
October 17th, 2012
1:25 pm
Is what any dawg has that does not want UF to beat SC.
Ed
October 17th, 2012
1:34 pm
No, sorry. I might consider pulling for UF if they take on Libya or Red China, but it’s more likely that I’d just ignore that game.
I don’t really want to pull for South Carolina, either, because of their classless head coach. So I’ll find something else to watch.
To even consider pulling for UF against anyone under the theory that it will help Georgia, I’d have to have a reasonable belief that Georgia has what it takes to beat them the following week. I’ve seen nothing so far this season to make me think that’s going to happen. Rugged, dominant defenses win in the SEC; UF has one, we don’t.
Skokie Dog
October 17th, 2012
1:38 pm
I’m rooting for South Carolina this weekend. I don’t want to see Darth Visor lose his cool if his guys are unable to topple his former school’s team.
Macclenny_dawg
October 17th, 2012
1:47 pm
Nope I want pull 4 Gaytors!!! If Gaytors get beat by Usc at the swamp that makes their loss look as bad as ours. But I will pull 4 Arkansas to beat Spurrier. Then that makes Usc have a bad loss also. But all that said we would actually still have 2 beat Gaytors and that would actually require a gameplan which seems like kryptinite to our staff!!! Well actually I am a Bulldawg fan that not sure what I want but this staff gone!!! SICK OF RICHT!!!
honey boo boo child
October 17th, 2012
1:53 pm
i cant wate to go down thare to jacksonville and waller in the mudd with my favorite teams!!!!! go gators <3
The Ole Ball Coach
October 17th, 2012
1:54 pm
If you boys would listen to me and Flat Tire y’all rule the football world! Just ask us…we’ll tell you how smart we are! Can you believe they chose a Dawg to coach my Gators!
NCDawg
October 17th, 2012
1:55 pm
I will do as I did last week… when I pulled for LSU. I can’t call that being a fan. I generally pull for SEC teams in bowl games or against power opponents from other conferences during the regular season. That IS NOT being a fan. I am a Bulldog til the day in die. I am a Georgia Bulldog fan. So no, I won’t be a fan but I will hope they win.
Buck Blew
October 17th, 2012
2:22 pm
Go Gators!!
Matthews Dawg
October 17th, 2012
2:38 pm
So Vinings Dawg….If our coach or coaches drop F-bombs that means they have fire in their belly! Hmmm… no it may mean they aren’t smart enough to say something fairly intelligent! Dropping
F-Bombs does not show fire in the belly IMO. A good game plan shows me much more! That is what we need along with players not missing blocks, doing their assignment correctly and not screwing up coverage! Now is that the coaches fault….maybe, but then again maybe not. i feel pretty good that our coaches are teaching them the correct thing to do. It may be that we need to shake up the lineup and give others a chance.
The sky is not falling and for all of you who wanted Dana Holgorsen to be the next UGA coach… how that working out for you? They got blown out by an UNRANKED team! Careful what you wish for, it could be much worse! Go Dawgs…Win out…and see what happens. Yes, I want UF to win, but not pulling for them EVER!
dean
October 17th, 2012
2:42 pm
I hope FL beats SC this weekend. After the game they can drive their (SC) team bus and personal vehicles (FL) off the steepest natural cliff in the Gainesville, FL area.
DawgNole
October 17th, 2012
2:45 pm
I can pull for them w/o being a “fan” because a victory over SC will obviously put control of the Dawgs’ fate back in their own hands. Plus, a fla victory puts a hurtin’ on perhaps the most famous gator of all–spurrier. So if ever you can quietly hope they win a game, this is the one.
Big Crimson 75
October 17th, 2012
2:54 pm
UGA football — root for another Team to do what we cant.
Big Crimson 75
October 17th, 2012
2:59 pm
What happened to all that East is better than West talk?
Forget LSU & SC. SC played hard, earned respect, and took a loss with their heads high.
UT, however, is a different story.
All that NFL talent & they couldn’t beat MSU?
Frankly
October 17th, 2012
3:00 pm
I think UF will win so I don’t have to pull for them, as if I ever could.
As far as Richt wearing orange, I don’t even own anything that is orange (or anything yellow for that matter) .
BlueGator
October 17th, 2012
3:11 pm
Dear UGA fans,
Oh, the humanity. Please do not pull for us, your current regime was born under a dark sign and pulling for us will only doom you to failure. We don’t ever want you to pull for us…it could cause a rip in the universe and that’s not good for anyone.
ZinoDawg
October 17th, 2012
3:11 pm
If the Dawgs can’t win it straight up then they don’t deserve to go to Atlanta.
BlueGator
October 17th, 2012
3:15 pm
DawgNole…wow that’s scary thought. But come to think of it that should be the bowl game. Two teams doing less with talent than anyone over the last 10 years
Mike
October 17th, 2012
3:18 pm
you know it Bill! Heck I may wear some jean shorts and buy a fake mullet!
Go Gator! (as the congresswoman stated)
Mike
October 17th, 2012
3:19 pm
@ZinoDawg … if SC loses two and we beat the Gators, wouldn’t that mean that the Dawgs won straight up? It’s not our fault they lost two … it’s theirs.
Eisendawg
October 17th, 2012
3:20 pm
Won’t wear Fla gear and all that stuff, and really won’t pull for them, but it won’t hurt my feelings to see the Evil genius in pain. And, I’m not in agreement about not wanting a chance at the SEC East, and a shot at Bama, or whoever the West champion is. I agree that UGA looked terrible against SC, but everything that could have gone wrong, did. First big play, Rambo had perfect position for the interception, but give the SC receiver credit for taking it away from him. Then Murray had the ball tipped for a pick, and it was all downhill from there. Even when UGA had a chance to score inside the 10 yd line, they did not. SC played a perfect game, UGA played the worse game ever. But, I know with UGA’s talent, if they play anywhere close to how they played against Vanderbilt this year, or Auburn last year, they are capable. But, I will have to admit, I will be amazed if we run the table the rest of the way, whether we’re in the SEC equation, or not.
LHarding Dawg
October 17th, 2012
3:20 pm
I don’t know about pulling for the Gators. We do need for SC to lose another game but I’m not sure the Gators have enough horsepower to get the job done. We just need to focus on winning every game this season and we’ll have a good year. 11-1 would not be a bad year at all.
joe jenkins
October 17th, 2012
3:22 pm
my top five most hated teams is.
1.chickens
2.fla
3.tenn
4.aub
5.bama
i really hate fla….but somebody has to win this game and i hope its the fla…only because it helps us
Win em all and forget the rest
October 17th, 2012
3:30 pm
I’m pulling for USc without a doubt. If they beat UF and go to Atl, they can take the beating from Ala. If we get beat by Ala (like LSU last year) we fall in the bowl pecking order. A 1 loss UGA team can see Sugar and that means more to my holiday season than another trip to Orlando, Tampa, Jax or Atl. Thanks to the BCS for the same ole bowls (and opponents) each year.
And by the way, please walk away after your 11-1 year!!! It is the pinnacle for this staff.
DawgNole
October 17th, 2012
3:36 pm
BKbroila
October 17th, 2012
12:31 pm
Take care of business and you won’t have to hope that Florida beats anybody….We didn’t do it, so that’s that…I would love to play in the SEC championship game, but If SC loses to florida, I hope the also slip up and lose another…that way we don’t have to hear about it all summer from Spurrier…
____________________
Wishful thinking on SC slipping up and losing another. I wish it, too, though.
DawgNole
October 17th, 2012
3:44 pm
RawDawg
October 17th, 2012
1:22 pm
Ill certainly be pulling for Florida this weekend. Giving the Dawgs a put up or shut up game against an undefeated, top ranked Gators team would either send them to the Dome and finally silence all the ‘can’t win the big game’ talk, or send them packing for the season to figure out what went wrong. Getting beat down by SC and then beating an undefeated Florida team to get to the Dome would still qualify as a big season in my book. I certainly don’t want to beat Florida and then still have to sit on edge wondering what SC is going to do all season.
Go Gators!! (okay i just threw up a little)
________________________
Co-sign!
Ga/Fl.Stillman dog
October 17th, 2012
4:27 pm
Just goes to show how DUMB and STUPID our head coach is. Too passive. Get rid of this clown and his entire staff. What a bunch of LOOSERS, PLAYERS THAT INCLUDES YOU. A BUNCH OF DUDS.
Craig
October 17th, 2012
4:43 pm
Bill- I refuse to be a florida fan this week. I actually would love to see carolina win out- I am sick and tired of UGA backing into championship games when they cant beat a team on their own….if the game had been close that would be one thing….being blown out like we were is another. We need to quit feeling all giddy about 10 win seasons….backing into the SEC championship etc when we are beating average to poor teams and geting blasted when we play a great team. Maybe by not backing into the SEC east it will force people to look at reality and stop feeling good about backing into a game we have no business being in based on our performance against the great teams
Paul
October 17th, 2012
4:49 pm
Bill- what does it matter????? Do you honestly think this group of coaches could put together any type of game plan to beat UF?? Based on Bobos comments and CMR comments I doubt very much we have any chance of beating any team anywhere in the top 20. Same story- just a different year. Perhaps you have been fooled to think we are a top 15 team- I guess we are as long as we are not playing anyone in the top 20. We will feel like national champs I am sure after this weekend IF we beat UK and that’s not a given. We will be brought back to earth very quickly the following week. This team is full of cheap talk and little results when it counts
Jax is back to being Jax
October 17th, 2012
4:53 pm
Florida is back again: 31 Players who think they’re a special team: 10
With any luck the poster "Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville" gets hit by a Mack truck changing that tire.
October 17th, 2012
5:33 pm
Go find another team.
The Standard Line
October 17th, 2012
6:29 pm
I can’t believe these words exited the fingers of Bill King.
ugab
October 17th, 2012
7:23 pm
I have no choice but to pull for the gators. It is sad to have to wish for other teams to lose to get to the SEC Championship. I do not see Uga beating the Gators. Gators are physical. Gators have a mobile qb. etc. SC should beat the gators. Uga should of showed up for SC. I wouldn’t mind losing in a knock down drag out. CMR always gets his players and fans Embarrassed.
Idog1
October 17th, 2012
7:25 pm
the thought of pulling for fla makes me physically ill, but I’ll have to do it so ga can win the SEC east. Ga will beat fla in Jacksonville–take that to the bank. Richt owns muschamp.
Neutral
October 17th, 2012
7:25 pm
Oh yea, with that said…….I’ll pull for the Gators this weekend for 3 hours!!!!
Neutral
October 17th, 2012
7:30 pm
Where the heck is our buddy “nothing could be finer”…..is he the SC fan who was arrested for mooning the crowd at the LSU game or is he just hiding
GatorNation links: The Clowney question – ESPN (blog) | football.sportreports.tk
October 17th, 2012
7:49 pm
[...] beasts rising in the SEC East, first week of December may be relevant …al.comAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -TheNewsTribune.com -NBCSports.comall 496 news articles » [...]
Hanky Panky
October 17th, 2012
8:22 pm
I’ll root for anyone against Spurrier, including Florida.
Neutral
October 17th, 2012
8:35 pm
Right on Hanky Panky!!!!!
dan
October 17th, 2012
8:52 pm
I think we need to worry about our own house. Dawgs have zero control over the outcome of other games. Personally I don’t think we deserve to play in the SEC Championship, especially after that embarrassing display 2 weeks ago. I mean seriously, who comes out flat in a big game like that? Disgraceful. The best team from the East deserves to go to the championship game, and right now that is not UGA.
Mobile Dawg
October 17th, 2012
8:54 pm
I do hope Florida wins setting up a “huge” meaningful game for both teams. Let’s see how that turns out if it comes to pass. If USC gets by the Gators, I hope they win out.
GatorsWaiting
October 17th, 2012
9:12 pm
You Georgia fans are comical. (Florida’s) “…unlikely 2012 rebound under former Bulldog Will Muschamp…” What’s so unlikely? They had a couple national number one recruiting classes after their last NC, and they have an outstanding coaching staff now, including an other-worldly strength and conditioning coach.
It must just drive you Dawgs crazy to see the proof in the pudding now that Muschamp –the former UGA captain–is the true Saban protege. If it makes you feel better, he grew up as a Gator fan in Gainesville and would hae been a Gator, but Spurrier was out playing golf the day he and his dad went to see him.
And by the way, the Gators have the personnel and the coaching brains to play SC exactly the way LSU played them: disciplined gap control on the defensive line to keep Shaw contained, and Clowney never gets blocked from the same direction twice and ends up dazed and confused.
Finally, you all know you aren’t beating Florida this year because, among other things, while you do indeed have elite talent, they can’t get into the 4th Quarter physical condition that the Gators are in within the next week and a half.
Mobile Dawg
October 17th, 2012
9:20 pm
GW, nothing about the Gators drives me crazy. What really gets under my skin is that Georgia has settled into mediocrity, the University Administration, the football team, and it’s fans. I think your correct in your assessment of our inabilty to play four quarters. UF took it to LSU and wore a team out that’s made a living playing physical football. UF/UGA could end up as bad or worse than USCe.
GatorsWaiting
October 17th, 2012
9:30 pm
Well, Mobile Dawg, for whatever it’s worth, I always pull for Eastern Division teams when they play outside the division. I have not enjoyed the last two seasons of Western Division media hype, even though it was deserved.