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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219 comments Add your comment
Swami SEZ
October 18th, 2012
1:14 pm
Dawgs fans arestill drinking the Kool Aid after the beat down by South Carolina. Dawgs still gotta play Kentucky, Gators , Auburn and Ole Miss in which they may lose all four. Quick get the Rolaids!
UGAGrad01
October 18th, 2012
1:39 pm
Jon Gruden sure would light the fire in Athens…but how long would he stay is the question. CMR appears to grow more softer each year. Ever notice how he will stop trying to score when we are up after 3? Stop being so darn nice to the other team, it puts the burden on our D for the entire 4th quarter. Most other coaches in the top 10 understand that. The voters/polls probably only look at the final score anyway.
JAWGA BOYY
October 18th, 2012
1:43 pm
pizzia rocks !!!!
JAWGA BOYY
October 18th, 2012
1:46 pm
so do GEORGIA
JAWGA BOYY
October 18th, 2012
1:47 pm
WILL SOME ONE TALK 2 ME ?
AltamahaDawg
October 18th, 2012
1:52 pm
Skokie, I don’t recall that being the question.
But IF you are asking me if I think that is possible, I would say , of cource that is a real possibility. Personally, I don’t think UF has been playing anything close to remembling the 3rd best team in the nation. And I think UGA has shown it is very capable of scoring plenty of points. And nobody believes this is not a defense capable of having a great game.
I also think UF will enter that game at the end of a VERY long month, and getting up that many weeks in a row, coming off of a emotional high of beating SC, they would be very overdue to a trip back down to earth. I think we have seen that play out many times this season.
Skokie Dog
October 18th, 2012
2:17 pm
Okay, Altamaha, I see your logic. I might be able to agree with your conclusion–IF I could forget about U.Ga.’s “brain trust” of a coaching staff. That and the lack of leadership among the players on the field are two of the keys to explaining the big-game letdowns that I’ve grown accustomed to seeing.
LakeDawg
October 18th, 2012
2:32 pm
Does it really matter who wins the UF/USCe game? UGA will still have CMR.
socal Dawgs
October 18th, 2012
2:32 pm
No! If UGA wanted in they should have showed up against SC.
DawgNole
October 18th, 2012
2:38 pm
AltamahaDawg
October 18th, 2012
11:02 am
R and B, you do realize that UF beating SC would not hand us the East Lead, right. So your point is moot.
We would have to beat the top team and TAKE that lead. SC would be a non-factor at that point, same as TN, or any other div team that lost (multiple games) thier way out of contention.
There is not a football fan on the planet that doesn’t pull for this team or that, to set up scenerios for thier team.
_______________________
You’re spot on with this observation. Having to pull temporarily for another team to knock off your closest competitor happens most years in most conferences.
DawgNole
October 18th, 2012
2:40 pm
JAWGA BOYY
October 18th, 2012
1:47 pm
WILL SOME ONE TALK 2 ME ?
______________________
Hopefully not.
Lemuel in Ludowici
October 18th, 2012
2:50 pm
I see that Muschamp is referred to as a “turncoat” in the caption below his photo.
Does this mean that Vince Dooley was also a “turncoat” since he played & graduated from Auburn?
Or how about Pat Dye?
Wasn’t sure what the criteria was for that little moniker.
Red-N-Black
October 18th, 2012
2:51 pm
DawgNole
October 18th, 2012
2:38 pm
AltamahaDawg
October 18th, 2012
11:02 am
R and B, you do realize that UF beating SC would not hand us the East Lead, right. So your point is moot.
We would have to beat the top team and TAKE that lead. SC would be a non-factor at that point, same as TN, or any other div team that lost (multiple games) thier way out of contention.
There is not a football fan on the planet that doesn’t pull for this team or that, to set up scenerios for thier team.
_______________________
You’re spot on with this observation. Having to pull temporarily for another team to knock off your closest competitor happens most years in most conferences.
While there is some truth in both statements it wasn’t like we had a close loss in which case I would be fine with the current situation of hoping FL knocks off SC- So both of you please tell me why if you cannot get up for a big game then why should you play for the division? I love the DAWGS and CMR but something’s been missing and would rather them not get embarrased in Atlanta AGAIN
AltamahaDawg
October 18th, 2012
2:53 pm
Well obviously (practically everything) would have to happen differntly than the UGA/SC game for us to beat UF, irrespective of what happens this weekend. So no need to disagree with me on something that goes without saying.
But the point I was making (which your question missed) is that it’s silly to pretend that UGA fans are not pulling for UF to beat SC this weekend, to set up a better scenerio for our team, despite all of the deflated egos in here still on display.
SSIgator
October 18th, 2012
2:54 pm
AltamahaDawg -
“And nobody believes this is not a defense capable of having a great game.”
_______________
Now, that was funny. Or maybe by allowing SC to score 35 unanswered points St. Markus Rectumus has an ulterior motive?
Cuz
October 18th, 2012
2:57 pm
I only wear orange when I go deer hunting. It is required. Makes me break out in hives though. Thank God for calamine lotion.
Cuz
October 18th, 2012
2:59 pm
I generally pull for USC Alt because I live on the border and have a lot of gamehen friends. Interesting game. I think UF wins due to the Swamp. Neutral field and I would pick USC.
Cuz
October 18th, 2012
3:01 pm
If UF knocks off USCe, I am not very confident on our chances in JAX.
DawgNole
October 18th, 2012
3:02 pm
Red-N-Black
October 18th, 2012
2:51 pm
While there is some truth in both statements it wasn’t like we had a close loss in which case I would be fine with the current situation of hoping FL knocks off SC- So both of you please tell me why if you cannot get up for a big game then why should you play for the division? I love the DAWGS and CMR but something’s been missing and would rather them not get embarrased in Atlanta AGAIN
______________________
I always want my team to go as far as they can, and if it means they need help from another team, I’m OK with that. Like I said earlier, it happens all the time across the country. Yes, I’d rather win it outright, but if I slip up along the way–as UGA obviously did with SC–then I want the next-best thing. And at this point of the season, making the SECCG with one loss is the next-best thing. And while Bama or LSU obviously represent formidable opposition, I’d rather take our chances playing the best in that game than sitting around waiting for another mediocre bowl game.
DawgNole
October 18th, 2012
3:09 pm
Of course, everything I wrote in the previous post is contingent upon a UGA victory over fla–of which I’m considerably less confident than I am of a fla win over SC.
Latti-less
October 18th, 2012
3:42 pm
The only way UGA backs into the SEC-CG is if they lose to both USC and UF. If UGA beats UF than they earned that trip to the Dome. PERIOD.
Latti-less
October 18th, 2012
3:43 pm
It’s not UGA’s fault if USC can’t beat UF
CigarDawg
October 18th, 2012
3:56 pm
The optimal outcome this weekend is a double forfeit! ( A fella can dream, can’t he? )
As for Richt, his only focus needs to be on beating the brakes off KY this weekend, winning out for the season and letting the chips fall where they will. Any talk of rooting for another team to help do what we couldn’t do ourselves is a waste of mental energy and he doesn’t have any to spare given all the game-planning he’s got to do for his own team.
AltamahaDawg
October 18th, 2012
3:57 pm
R&B, easy. The Ga/Fla game will be considered a much bigger game that the Ga/SC. That’s why.
AltamahaDawg
October 18th, 2012
4:17 pm
Anybody not willing to swallow thier pride and pull for one team (that they hate) to beat another team (that they hate) IF that is what would be best for thier own team, has forgoten what the whole deal is about in the first place.
DawgNole
October 18th, 2012
4:57 pm
Latti-less
October 18th, 2012
3:42 pm
The only way UGA backs into the SEC-CG is if they lose to both USC and UF. If UGA beats UF than they earned that trip to the Dome. PERIOD..
Latti-less
October 18th, 2012
3:43 pm
It’s not UGA’s fault if USC can’t beat UF
_______________________
Totally agree!
Georgia DAWG
October 18th, 2012
5:09 pm
Filter Check
DawgNole
October 18th, 2012
5:10 pm
Yes, please check the filter.
Red-N-Black
October 18th, 2012
5:37 pm
DawgNole
Thank you for itelligent discussion, that isn’t always the case here.
Cheers!
Jim
October 18th, 2012
5:43 pm
Just let SC worry about FL and FL worry about SC. If we get wrapped up in worrying about them and Kentucky beats us what does it matter? We just need to take care of business and let the chips lay where they fall. We could go 11-1 and get beat in another bowl game and it’s all for nothing. As for a coach I would take a good long look at, would be Kevin Sumlin of Texas A&M. He is quitely making his mark and given a couple years to see his recruiting improve by moving to the SEC I believe folks will soon take note of him.
DawgNole
October 18th, 2012
6:37 pm
Thanks, R&B. Same to you. Filter’s giving me fits this evening, having eaten my last two posts–replies to you and AltamahaDawg.
Spokesman for the SEC East
October 18th, 2012
8:38 pm
Jim there is no way that Kevin Sumlin would leave A&M with Johnny Manzell at QB and what he is building there. It won’t be money either because A&M will match UGA dollar for dollar. A&M is on the verge of being Top Dog in the state of Texas.
ga gator
October 18th, 2012
8:40 pm
Makes 0 sense for Dawg fans to root for Carolina over UF. I realize the hatred there, but it is the only rational way for UGA to have a shot at Atlanta.
Mobile Dawg
October 18th, 2012
9:26 pm
I would love to see UF beat USCe for a number of reasons, the biggest being that it would put CMR in possibly the biggest spotlight of his coaching career. Can’t run, hide, or make any more excuses.
DawgNole
October 18th, 2012
9:45 pm
ga gator
October 18th, 2012
8:40 pm
Makes 0 sense for Dawg fans to root for Carolina over UF. I realize the hatred there, but it is the only rational way for UGA to have a shot at Atlanta.
_________________________
Co-sign.
SSIgator
October 18th, 2012
10:13 pm
Mobile Dawg -
October 18th, 2012 – 9:26 pm
I would love to see UF beat USCe for a number of reasons, the biggest being that it would put CMR in possibly the biggest spotlight of his coaching career. Can’t run, hide, or make any more excuses.
__________________
Seriously? Wow, you really have sworn off the Kool-Aid. But then again, St. Markus Rectumus will never run out of excuses. Remember a few years ago that “the weather” was a problem for UGA in Jax? Checking the weather that day, it was actually cooler in Jax than in Athens at game time. What a tool.
funny....
October 18th, 2012
10:44 pm
Screw that, screw Richt, and screw Florida.
Won’t matter when we shet the bed against Florida anyway.
Richt, bye bye
And so what if Georgia backs into the SECCG, they’ll just shet the bed there too.
Ed
October 18th, 2012
11:47 pm
Three losses in a row to South-freakin’-Carolina is embarrassing, and unacceptable. Having to hope that another SEC team, especially the hated Gators, beats, of all schools, South Carolina so we have a shot is humiliating.
I’ll give Spurrier (the SOB) credit, though. He took one nothing football program (UF) and turned them into a consistent championship contender, and has taken another nothing program (SC) to the brink of becoming one. That’s no small feat.
Around the Bowl, Down the Hole, Roll Tide Roll
October 19th, 2012
12:13 am
Rumor: Pete Carol’s agent in contact with UGA regarding Head Coaching position.Seeking $10million/year.
Southern Translation
October 19th, 2012
12:25 am
Cunfucius:
“Study the past if you would define the future.”
Translated for Georgia Rednecks:
“Richt is a big game loser. As long as Richt is Coach, Georgia will lose big games.”
Anon
October 19th, 2012
8:27 am
I wouldn’t pull for the gaytors if the team plane was going down.
Lombardi
October 19th, 2012
9:41 am
Next September will take care of Richt.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
October 19th, 2012
10:10 am
Word on the street, UGA coaches have already circled the date when USC comes to Athens…they also circled this years date! Pretty funny.
The Dogfather
October 19th, 2012
10:16 am
0-0 tie with lots of injuries
AltamahaDawg
October 19th, 2012
10:19 am
Every fan of every SEC team that did not enter the SECCG game undefeated has always a rooting interest in what the other teams in thier division do. Good to know some of you have such pristine lives that THIS is what you find humiliting. Good grief. Grow a pair, how bout.
John
October 19th, 2012
10:29 am
So the plan is for UF to beat SC and for UGA to magically transform into a team that can beat a #2 ranked opponent on the road in a game that they have struggled with for 30 years? Richt is going to gameday outcoach another coach? Assuming that happens, the second phase of the plan is for UGA to go and beat a #1 ranked Bama team? Or are UGA fans satisfied with just getting to Atlanta? In my opinion, you shouldn’t celebrate a mythical “East Championship” and give out blingy rings when you get destroyed in the Championship game. UGA recruits with the best. Step up, control your own damn destiny and beat someone in a big game!
UGA Insider
October 19th, 2012
10:36 am
It is pathetic with all of our talent that our head coach has to become a fan of our rival in order to reach team goals…
And no I’m not a Gator fan this week… nor will I ever be. However I respect them because they have surpassed UGA as a program with yet another different coach.
John
October 19th, 2012
10:37 am
That being said, I wouldn’t pull for UF if they were playing Red China.
Kiara H.
October 19th, 2012
10:39 am
As an Atlanta native and Gator alumnus, this article is the closest to a ‘tender’ moment I’ve ever experienced on my side of this rivalry. Bulldogs, we thank you for the feigned (and somewhat selfish) support. Go Gators! BEAT SC!
AltamahaDawg
October 19th, 2012
10:39 am
So let’s check that, UGA insider does not want UF to beat SC this week.