Getting some answers about the Dogs in the Dome
There has been a lot of debate recently about the possibility of the Georgia Bulldogs playing a high-profile, non-conference football game in the Georgia Dome, perhaps as soon as 2010. I touched base yesterday with Atlanta Sports Council president Gary Stokan to find out what is happening on that front.
Yes, the Sports Council and its television partner ESPN/ABC are looking for teams to play in a nationally televised early-season event at the Dome in 2010 and beyond.
“We’re talking to a lot of people,” Stokan said. “We’ve reached out to everyone — from Southern Cal to UCLA to Texas to pretty much everybody in the ACC and SEC. We’re just trying to see what makes sense.”
Yes, Georgia is one of those schools the Sports Council and ESPN/ABC have approached.
“We’d like to think there’s an opportunity [with Georgia] for 2010 or ‘11 or ‘12 or ‘13,” Stokan said. “We’d like to have Georgia when it makes sense for Georgia. We don’t know when that’ll be, but we hope it’s one of those [years]. Georgia is a national brand, and we’d like to match [the Bulldogs] up with another national brand.”
No, Georgia absolutely would not sacrifice one of six Sanford Stadium games in any year in order to play in the Georgia Dome – and won’t be asked to do so.
“First off, Damon [Evans, Georgia's AD] and Arthur [Johnson, associate AD] and Mark [Richt] wouldn’t be interested in playing less than six home games,” Stokan said. ”We understand that. We know that.”
Yes, Georgia might choose a game in the Dome over a more distant road trip.
A plausible scenario, Stokan said, is that Georgia might play in the Dome in lieu of a non-conference road game some year. Last year, for example, Georgia played at Arizona State; this year, they will play at Oklahoma State. Those games fit on the Bulldogs’ schedule without cutting into six Sanford Stadium games each year.
So Stokan thinks a game at the 72,000-seat Georgia Dome could make sense for the Bulldogs some year in lieu of a distant trip. He sees the game not as a replacement for a home game in 92,000-seat Sanford Stadium — but as a replacement for a road game to which UGA would get limited tickets.
“If you matched Georgia against a team [from far away] that maybe would not need a lot of tickets, the majority of tickets in the Dome could go to take care of Georgia’s fans,” Stokan said. “And Georgia would not have a lot of expenses, so the game would become a windfall for them. We could take care of Georgia fans from a ticket standpoint and could take care of both schools financially.
“Everyone wins. That’s the premise.”
Stokan notes that Alabama and Clemson received $2.085 million apiece for playing in last year’s Chick-fil-A College Kickoff game at the Dome. (Of course, Georgia also has the option of generating millions by dropping a road game and playing a seventh home game in Sanford Stadium.) This year’s College Kickoff game in the Dome will match Alabama vs. Virginia Tech. No one is lined up for 2010 or beyond. The search is on.
So, with Georgia already committed to six games away from Athens in 2010, including a trip to Colorado, is that year really a possibility for a regular-season UGA game in Atlanta?
“You try to work with schedules,” said Stokan, speaking in generalities. “Does something make sense where someone would move something back to allow something else to happen?”
(He didn’t say this, but it’s no secret ESPN has a lot of influence in college football scheduling. Might the Colorado trip be moved to another year if a truly attractive Dome matchup presents itself to UGA? Well, when ESPN gets involved, just about anything is possible.)
“We’ve got a lot of discussions going on,” Stokan said, “but nothing that is imminent or even close. It’s like a Rubik’s cube.”
Separately, the Sports Council long has expressed interest in moving the Georgia-Florida game from Jacksonville to Atlanta on an occasional basis.
Nothing new on that front, Stokan said.
Yes, he’d like to bring the game to Atlanta one year out of four. No, he says, there still haven’t been any substantive discussions or negotiations with UGA about the matter. But he hopes there will be at some point.
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110 comments Add your comment
slimpickens
May 6th, 2009
7:22 am
No Dome, No Dome!!!
MiltonDawg
May 6th, 2009
7:25 am
I’d rather see the Dawgs playing in the Superdome in NOLA. Make it a true away game. The GA/FLA series should go back to playing at each other’s campuses.
athensdawg
May 6th, 2009
7:41 am
i see that there’s not much to write about today.
speculation about uga playing in the dome.
maybe tomorrow we can read about elvis sightings, the end of the world in 2012 or the lost city of atlantis.
Chiefdawg
May 6th, 2009
8:00 am
Why not have Georgia and Teach paly in the dome first game of the year?
Bill in Sandy Springs
May 6th, 2009
8:08 am
Because like FSU/Miami it would ruin the series
» SEC links: APR to cost Ole Miss football 3 scholarships John Clay’s Sidelines
May 6th, 2009
8:21 am
[...] AJC examines notion that Georgia may play one of its games in the Georgia Dome. [...]
Game in the Dome follow up « Get The Picture
May 6th, 2009
8:27 am
[...] Comments Tim Tucker talks to Atlanta Sports Council president Gary Stokan about Georgia playing a high profile OOC game in the Georgia Dome in the near future. Here’s the key part: “We’d like to think there’s an opportunity [...]
dawgstephen
May 6th, 2009
8:30 am
As much as i love the GA/FLA game in Jax, lets look at 2010. Our “HOME” game is in Jacksonville, if not for this, then we would have the spot open to play the gators in Athens, and play a high profile opponent in the Dome.
You cant have it both ways guys, either take the FLA game to home/home or you will have the dilemma of having to turn down more chances for high profile opponents in the Dome or even opponents with a home/home in sake of tradition. Of course, when we do that, then the only home game we can get is New Mex State.
TommyL
May 6th, 2009
8:39 am
How about we forget about the dome? If GA wants exposure in top recruiting areas that it doesn’t already have great exposure in, find a better venue. That means California, Texas or south Florida, for example. It DOESN’T mean Atlanta. The dome promoters want to line their own pockets. GA’s payoff will come later, from future recruits, and it will be a bigger payoff than what it would get from one game.
SEC links: APR to cost Ole Miss football 3 scholarships | MrSEC.com
May 6th, 2009
9:20 am
[...] AJC examines notion that Georgia may play one of its games in the Georgia Dome. [...]
Cuz
May 6th, 2009
9:21 am
Get them to pay Colorado to come to Atlanta for the home game return. That scenario works for me.
UGASlobberknocker
May 6th, 2009
9:23 am
What intrasectional rival is going to play a road game in Athens and then have their home game in the Ga Dome? answer? Nobody.
Why would Georgia ever give up any home game, regardless of whether they had a 6 or 7 game home schedule since there is too much money involved and 20k more seats..answer? They never would.In the “move Colorado” scenario above, any replacement would still be best played in Athens, not the Dome. This isnt Birmingham.
Chiefdawg has it half right…we could always play GaTech in the Dome, BUT only if it is their home game, not ours. And Tech wont ever do that because they know the stands would be 75% UGA fans..
The Fla game? forget it..will never ever ever be played in the Dome. Maybe at some future point they may go to a rotation such as Jax/Athens/Jax/ Gainesville/Jax, etc. I hope they dont but that is the only possibility given the capacities.
So the morale of this story..the only way it will happen is if Ga plays there in a regularly scheduled road game (such as Tech, or maybe Clemson in 2013.)
Give it up Stokan!!!!
Otto
May 6th, 2009
9:33 am
I agree keep UGA vs GT at the end of the year. Don’t change it around like FSU vs Miami. I have no problem with playing GT in the Dome during their home years as long as UGA gets more tickets.
Otto
May 6th, 2009
9:35 am
How does bringing a team from across the country to ply in the Dome really help UGA in recruiting in that area? Just go to their stadium and beat them.
Pulpwood Smith
May 6th, 2009
10:13 am
We recently added New Mexico State in 2011 (we already play coastal carolina too that year). I have no interest in these home games against bantam weight teams, and would vastly rather play in the Dome against Texas or USC than travel to Athens to watch us beat New Mexico State 70-6.
Right On Time
May 6th, 2009
10:17 am
athensdawg:
You must ALWAYS start his name with caps…it’s Elvis or ELVIS. A little respect, please. And, by the way, I saw him Sunday at the QT in Loganville.
Dome Discussion is Dead. There is no possible scenerio that would be a “win/win” for UGA to play in the Dome. In fact, lot’s of us are looking forward to the trip to Colorado. I enjoyed the trip to Arizona and I’m looking forward to more away game venues out of the southeast.
Now, to beat the dead horse that is the WLOCP… From an attendance standpoint, a home/home with fla would put @20,000 more butts in seats over a 2 year period. Both Sanford and benny hill are larger than Jax. I realize that this is one of those issues people are passionate about but sometimes we just have to be logical.
PTC DAWG
May 6th, 2009
10:49 am
It’s beyond obvious that many don’t understand the economics at work. Comments like I would “rather play Texas @ the Dome than play NMST in Athens” just don’t make economic sense. I understand the sentiment, but there is more to this than meets the eye. UGA rarely has a shot at 7 home games..check our Rivals, they play 7 and even 8 ALL the time at Home.
The UF game in Jax and having our instate rival NOT be in the SEC comes into play. This is why you will NOT see FU play teams like AZ STATE and OK STATE in home/home scenarios. They will NOT give up that home game.
gatorman770
May 6th, 2009
11:06 am
Until a new stadium is built in Atlanta (maybe at the old GM plant)that will hold 90-100,000 the Florida/GA game should stay in Jacksonville or start alternating between Gainesville and Athens. If it did start switching between Gainesville and Athens, it would be a blast for the fans and the two cities economy’s to keep the tickets split 50/50 and split the stadiums as in Jacksonville to maintain the great tradition of the game. Of course some of the big shot alumni of both schools would probably fight that.
The Dawg
May 6th, 2009
12:13 pm
Gatorman, your idea could be a good one but each school sells more than 50% of their seats to season ticket holders. Therefore, this 50/50 split would not work. For students and older fans alike, the trip to Jax is an opportunity to several days of golf, beaches (at times if weather is OK) and just a chance to get away and have a mini vacation.
As for New Mexico State, from what I understand it was sort of a last resort in order to get a home game. We seem to have run into this several times in recent years. Seems as though we aren’t looking far enough into the future.
As for the Dome – Stokan can push all he wants, but unless the idea of it being an “away” game for the Dogs, it makes no fiscal sense. If ESPN makes an offer to replace the million or so dollars difference, there is still the problem of satisfying our season ticket base as well as being fair to some attractive draw that also has a big following. There simply are not enough seats in all probability.
The press can push this “Dome” idea because it generates responses like mine, but the press cannot run everything like they would like to. With my click on this blog, and others like yours, they can get more ad revenue. Therefore I am guilty, but I have had my say.
Hunk Erdown
May 6th, 2009
12:21 pm
One of the positives of playing someone like Colo or Ariz St. is the exposure we get in that part of the Country, and hopefully some recruits from that region. It kinda negates that to then move the game to our backyard. We need to go out there to play other teams.
If we had a home and away with Bama and Bama wanted to play thier’s in the Dome then by all means…
Pi$$onaDAWG
May 6th, 2009
1:09 pm
I like TECH & UGA in the dome for the first game maybe once every 5 yrs so it rotates the Home team. UGA will not risk losing early in the season though. UGA should be 4-0 every year with their weak early schedule. UGA has always had 7 wins built into their schedule and risking playing TECH the first game scares the crap out of the DAWGS.
Urban Warfare
May 6th, 2009
1:12 pm
The big time schools like Georgia and Florida make way too much money and spend way too much money on their own elaborate stadiums to be sacrificing home games. I firmly believe that the UF/UGA game should remain in Jax because of it’s location for most all concerned and as that’s the only way to get a true 50/50 split of fans, although the Gators do love playing up in Atlanta in what we call the Swamp North!
BIG ALBANY DAWG
May 6th, 2009
1:36 pm
Hmmm, I’m beginning to distinguish a pattern here: only the geniuses at tech want to play in the dome!
steve
May 6th, 2009
1:58 pm
Not sure all the Bulldog Nation is seeing the big picture here…Nick Sabaan and other SEC/ACC coaches want to play here to help recruit Ga. talent…UGA care about that?!
dawgstephen
May 6th, 2009
2:36 pm
Want more flexibility in the schedule?? Want to play that big time opponent and have the OPTION to go get a Texas, or Oklahoma, or USC, Michigan, ND???
If you werent playing your “home” game against FLA in Jacksonville in the name of “tradition” then you could do that….i love JAX, but it needs to be home/home in that series. otherwise its New Mex State instead of the big boys.
dawgstephen
May 6th, 2009
2:38 pm
Ohh and while im on the subject of Jacksonville…do you think last years 2008 “home” game against the gators would have had Penn Wagers make those horrible calls if we were in Athens?? Just wondering.
country boy
May 6th, 2009
2:47 pm
Tech vs Clemson in the dome. Couldn’t they sell a few tickets between the two of them?
sammy
May 6th, 2009
2:54 pm
WHO CARES?????
Johnny DangerDawg
May 6th, 2009
3:02 pm
Pi$$onaDAWG, you said:
“UGA will not risk losing early in the season though. UGA should be 4-0 every year with their weak early schedule. ”
Right, that’s why UGA’s 2009 first four games are South Carolina (who always plays us close), Oklahoma State (probably a preseason Top 10, unlike Ga Tech), Arkansas, and Arizona State. Look, UGA is not “scared” of playing a tough team at the beginning of the schedule. ESPN’s BCS analysts always point out, “If you lose a game, it’s best to lose early.” The reason why we don’t play Auburn or Florida at the beginning of the season is because the SEC tries to maintain schedule continuity every year for ALL conference games.
dawes
May 6th, 2009
3:07 pm
yes to playing in dome i repeat yes to playing in dome
Johnny DangerDawg
May 6th, 2009
3:07 pm
steve,
You are right about Bama, Clemson, etc. wanting to play in the Dome to recruit Atlanta talent. But Atlanta kids are already fully aware of UGA’s program. That’s why the Dawgs need a home and away series against one of the Texas or California schools, so we can go play in those states and recruit their kids.
AltamahaDawg
May 6th, 2009
3:41 pm
And they let the Women’s Lingerie Football League team just leave town with no place to play for this?
AltamahaDawg
May 6th, 2009
3:49 pm
It seems that the coverage of the debate dwarfs the actual debate about this dome idea.
I would like to have a UGA game on the 18th fairway of Indian Mound Golf Cource on Jekyll. Let’s see if we can give that idea a life of its own.
Urban Warfare
May 6th, 2009
4:15 pm
OMG! Now some Dawg fans (see dawgstephen) are suggesting that the officials were responsible for last years Florida BLOWOUT over Georgia!!! Now I have officially heard it all!!!!! That game could have been played in Ugas dog house and that wouldn’t have changed the outcome. Man, some of you fans paint the sky whatever color you want to see!!!
Georgia will buy another win
May 6th, 2009
4:23 pm
As far as Georgia playing a high profile team bet it just might be a high school team like Rockmart Yellow Jackets… Georgia too scared to play high profile schools like USC, Texas, Ohio State, Michigan…. So thump your chest Ga Fans tell everyone how tough your program is…pay another school a million bucks for a win. New Mexico State, what a joke enjoy watching the game on pay per view.
SoCal Dawg
May 6th, 2009
4:40 pm
Why don’t we free up our schedule and play the nerds once every 7 years. That’s about how often they show up to play anyway.
Michael
May 6th, 2009
4:58 pm
I don’t care about logistics, money, advantages or anything you guys listed. As a Texas graduate stuck in SEC country, I have your snobbery shoved down my throat all year long. I want the Horns to come into town and silence you fools. Plus, it may be close to 30 years late, but we’ve got some unfinished business with the Dawgs.
HOOK ‘EM
ReptilesRule
May 6th, 2009
5:06 pm
Michael, how ’bout Florida vs Texas in the Championship game?! That would be a hell of a game! Sorry, but you’re probably gonna have to wait another 30 years if you’re waiting for Georgia to show up!
Captain
May 6th, 2009
5:20 pm
I love it when our new neighbors from up North are so concerned about who The Dawgs play. The Yankee invasion is out in full force with suggestions like playing Fla home and home – to hell with tradition because it isn’t YOUR tradition is that how you see it noveau Georgia fans? – or Georgia is ’scared’ to play Ohio St and Mich, yeah, right, you just keep tooting that song when we all know Mich REFUSED a home and home opportunity with Georgia three years ago and instead put App St on the schedule, that worked out well didn’t it? Do you honestly believe the Big 10 wants a game with an SEC team? That ain’t happening boys and girls.
Here’s the plan the Atl Sports Council needs to pursue — in odd numbered years, when it’s Georgia Tech’s year to be the home team in the Georgia-Georgia Tech series, the game should be played in the Dome. It makes absolute perfect sense. The little third world stadium GT has down on North Ave seats 50,000, the Dome seats 72,000. The Dome is modern, restrooms with urinals and floors, concession stands, and seats from which you can see the entire field plus it’s indoors and has 22,000 more seats. Why not play the UGA-GT game in the Dome? GT has used the Dome for practice on occasion, why not suit up and use it as a home venue?
Come on Gary Stokan and the Atl Sports Council, you can have the best of both with the Dome hosting the Georgia-Georgia TEch game every other year on Thanksgiving weekend. Here’s the benefactor — proceeds from the 22,000 tickets goes to Scottish Rite. For those who don’t know it, back in the old days the Georgia and GT freshmen teams (before FR were varsity eligible) played a Thanksgiving game with all proceeds going to Scottish Rite. Who could possibly be opposed to 22,000 tickets at $50 each going to Scottish Rite, that’s $1.1 million to a great cause.
dawgstephen
May 6th, 2009
5:31 pm
Urban Warfare, i wasnt suggesting that was the reason for the score. I was suggesting that considering the bad spot which was reviewed and still given the 1st down, the flagrant taunting on the 2nd play of the game (Spikes)(good hit) on Moreno, the WR pulling the DB down cause he couldnt outrun him on his own to catch the long TD pass, it may have been a little better than it was. Gators won, just not as easy as it would appear
Native Atlantan
May 6th, 2009
5:34 pm
It’s clear and obvious the people who critcize UGA’s schedule are idiots who cannot read or think. Look at the OOC schedule as well as the whole schedule and there will be very, very few teams with a schedule as difficult. Then look at your lousy teams schedule. Logic and reasoning is very difficult to explain to the inbreeds of Tech, UT and Florida.
Native Atlantan
May 6th, 2009
5:43 pm
Urban Warfare, yes, I think UF wins in Jax last year on any day. Not too many teams w/ a bunch of Frosh and Sophs on the OL with injuries aren’t going to win. Missing close FG’s won’t help either.
It was disappointing to see the bad spot in the 1Q when Tebow was stopped short on 4th down. Also, the ref missed an obvious hold on Rennie Curran that Gary Danielson of CBS immediately pointed out.
It was disappointing when Joe Hayden clearly grabbed AJ Green on the long INT return that was not called. Danielson of CBS pointed out this one as well.
It was disappointing when the UF WR yanked Asher Allen’s jersey on the next play and getting another easy TD thanks to cheating that was missed by the incompetent official. Yes, Gary Danielson of CBS saw this one too.
How is it that the CBS analyst who is 500 feet away from the play can see the violations immediately, but the host of stripped dishonest clowns on the field mysteriously miss them? Don’t have a problem with losing….got a big problem with dishonesty by officials. You can’t be that bad, but you can be that dishonest.
murfdawg
May 6th, 2009
5:50 pm
Captain,
Great idea!!Tech can bring their 38,000 and we can bring the rest. Paying $50 for a ticket to Grant Field would be hard to swallow. But going to the Dome and helping Scottish Rite would be worth the price. Has anyone said what pj thinks about playing in the dome?
Saint Simons
May 6th, 2009
6:31 pm
would love to see uga play usc! but want happen uga loves to play cupcakes! 45-42!!!! hahahahahahahahahah
Native Atlantan
May 6th, 2009
6:33 pm
Yep Saint Simons, one out of eight. Time to brag.
SthrnSrvy
May 6th, 2009
7:04 pm
Positively NO! UGA does not need this. They have a premier facility within range, and i am sure the cameras will follow them wherever they go. Why give up the surroundings of Sanford to simply satisfy a few TV executives? UGA makes their fare share, no need to try and “spread the brand” in your own backyard. The Dawgs are…. well, the DAWGS!
NO TO THE DOME!!!
Joe Friday
May 6th, 2009
7:04 pm
I have heard there is trouble in Athens and possibly three football players may be disciplined with loss of playing time. I know the AJC stays on top of that aspect of sports, so will ask for a confirmation or denial please. If so, they’ll have something to talk about for weeks. Also if so, please set up a site so we can keep it in perspective with all the other schools.
Thanks and GO DAWGS!
skilet
May 6th, 2009
8:53 pm
UGA vs SoCal in one of the domes of the Canadian Football league. That would do it.
AltamahaDawg
May 6th, 2009
9:10 pm
KNelson, did you go look up who your team plays yet? I know a couple of real TN fans, if you need me to ask them for you. Or you could just make it up, that’s sort of been working for you so far.
BhamDawg
May 6th, 2009
10:35 pm
We should play in the GA Dome every year…right around the first Saturday in December.
ReptilesRule
May 6th, 2009
11:25 pm
Native Atlantan…You know, every fan of every team can point to 4 or 5 calls or something that shouldn’t have happened almost every game, but DUDE…The SCORE WAS 49-10!!! Even trying to suggest that the refs calls would have altered that game is kind of like saying “You know, she would be really petite if she wasn’t 400lbs!” Get a grip on reality man! And be prepared for the sequel this October!
Reptilian Rhapsody
May 6th, 2009
11:31 pm
Yeah If candy and nutts were Wally Butts, they’d all have a Merry Christmas! Excuses Excuses
Reptilian Rhapsody
May 6th, 2009
11:36 pm
So now 49-10 was a dishonest conspiracy by the officials! That means you should have EASILY won the rest of your games and been the National Champs. I’m surprised you’re not complaining to Congress!!!
Tech Knowlogic
May 6th, 2009
11:42 pm
Reptiles, thats just the way they are. Excuses are for losers. 45-42!!
Alfred Neuman III,Summa Cum Laude,60
May 7th, 2009
12:50 am
The Dawgs would have been NC’s if we had just executed and adjusted at the right times!
Gator Growl
May 7th, 2009
1:03 am
And I would have been a 747 if I was made of alloy and was born in a hanger! Go back to sleep Alfred E.
BS Patrol
May 7th, 2009
1:26 am
Native Atlantan guess what, The officials decide every game played in the modern era. There are way too many rules. You could call holding on every play. The officials call the plays in favor of the “hot” teams. Their opponents have to be twice as good to win. GA benefits from this more often than not. I could go on for an hour. Never bet on sports for this reason.
Joe Friday, If they committed murder, Richt might not allow them to start against New Mexico State or some other cupcake.
james
May 7th, 2009
6:47 am
Somebody needs to remind the gator fans on who leads the series..
49 – 10 was a stomping I’ll agree, and I’ll make no excuses regarding our pretty badly injured defense and unstable OL.. or even the clearly bad calls that even the CBS commentators pointed out.. ya there are some bad calls in every game in which I’ll agree.. but none were so obvious than that game. But I will not take the victory away from the gators on that game.. they won and even without the bad calls we were not going to win that game.. as for excuses however.. I still love the ones they made when we stomped them in 2007, you know the end zone celebration that urban cryer wrote a book about.. same game where we sent superman teblow walking out of the stadium in his home town crying like a baby? Ya.. well the excuse about how his shoulder effected his running game LOL.. I didn’t know he ran on his shoulders.. either way he would have found it hard to run anyway as many times as he was planted by our defense.. what was it? 6, 7, 8 sacks that game? We’ll see you in October gator fans ;]
As for the guy way above talking about we fear playing teams like Michigan or Ohio St.. someone should remind him that Ohio St is 0 and 9 against SEC schools in football.. and Michigan has lost to Ohio St how many times now? Didn’t we beat Ohio St not too long ago?
And lastly for the tech fans who love to type like they’re relevant to anything.. the team who won for the first time in 8 years and only by 3 points.. did you forget that 38 – 3 stomping LSU gave you guys in the c-fila bowl ONLY 2 miles from your own school? How about tell me the last time you guys actually won a bowl game? You guys can barely sell out your own stadium, and the fact your stadium is only 50,000 give or take.. makes it worse.
So back on topic.. I would not want to give up a home game in Sanford to play in Atlanta.. there is no way to please the remaining 20,000 seats that could be sold.. especially if they try to divide the dome 50/50 on fans. UGA doesn’t need to win Atlanta over anyway.. Atlanta is already behind UGA.
Cory
May 7th, 2009
8:18 am
James = Un-informed SEC guy. Ohio State is 0-9 in bowl games against SEC teams, but 7-3 against SEC teams in the more important regular season. And if you knock Michigan for not scheduling a home and home with Georgia, then knock Georgia for refusing to do a home and home with Ohio State. (Instead, OSU will play a home and home with Tennessee). Get your facts straight, moron!
UGA91
May 7th, 2009
8:34 am
I would love to see a series where UGA plays Texas in the dome followed by a game in Cowboys stadium in Dallas or Reliant field in Houston. The associate A.D. at Texas is a Georgia grad and it makes great sense from a marketing and exposure standpoint. Being seen in Texas wouldn’t hurt recruiting and playing a worthy adversary in prime time raises our profile. Seeing a quality spread offense before the Florida game also helps. Go Dawgs!!!
JaxDawg
May 7th, 2009
9:10 am
http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/rankings/all_time_team_sched_rankings.php
According to College Football Data Warehouse UGA has the #2 Strength of Schedule all time through 2008.
DirtyDawg
May 7th, 2009
10:04 am
Give Mr. Kiffin a couple of seasons negotiating his SEC schedule – it ain’t the PAC-Whatever – and he’ll be beggin’ for another Memphis, or Duke, or whoever. That assumes that Kiffin lasts a couple of seasons.
And while I’m here, just where are we ‘discussing’ Ga Tech’s latest contribution to the ‘academic superiority of her athletes’ argument? Is it tough to negotiate the curriculum at Tech? I guess so. Do any of her athletes lose their eligibility because of it? Only after the fact, like a few years ago…and then they blamed that on some poor academic adviser. I suppose I could go over to their little ‘blog’ and check it out, but I can’t see getting through their cognitive dissonance…look it up.
Big time Dawg fan
May 7th, 2009
10:22 am
I would say NO to ever playing a home game in the Dome. Sanford Stadium holds a lot more people and Athens is a great college football tailgate town. The only time UGA should play in the Dome is for the SEC Championship game, Bowl game or when we play Georgia Tech in Atlanta as the visiting team.
Can you handle that one Techies?
Go Dawgs!!!!!
May 7th, 2009
10:25 am
Maybe Georgia Tech fans should stay off here and put more effort in teaching their basketball players how to read and write and they might pass the NCAA Academic Progress Report next time!
Big Dawg
May 7th, 2009
10:27 am
I like the idea a lot, it would be great to see the Dawgs play USC, Ohio State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Nebraska or Texas. These are the kind of matchups a lot of us true college football fans would love to see.
Cory- you need to get something straight that 7-3 record in the regular season that you spouted was against SEC cupcakes like Vanderbilt, Kentucky etc., and yes Ohio State has refused to play the Dawgs on a home and home basis twice in the past but then several years ago approached the Dawgs who were very interested but neither side could work out the dates. So you are the one who needs to get his facts straight. Georgia did not refuse to play the Buckeyes in a home and home only suggested different dates as the dates the Buckeyes wanted were not workable for Georgia then the dates GA suggested weren’t workable for Ohio State.
AltamahaDawg
May 7th, 2009
10:28 am
JaxDawg, That pretty much threw a wet blanket on the whole debate.
Cory
May 7th, 2009
10:58 am
Once again, another inaccurate statemnt: The regular season games Ohio State played against SEC teams were NOT Vandy & Kentucky…Instead LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss. The difference is OSU plays an elite non-conference opponent every year as opposed to Georgia who plays a second-tier non-conference opponent. Very fitting for a second-tier team. And OSU approached Georgia last year about a home & home in 2017 and 2018, but Georgia declined – the truth hurts.
Native Atlantan
May 7th, 2009
11:08 am
Reptiles Rule & BS Patrol, PLEASE LEARN TO READ. The facts I pointed out about officials were spoken about and pointed out by an UNBIASED CBS commentator in Gary Danielson, who probably knows more about NCAA football than anyone on this board. One can complain about every play, but when the national commentator notices negligence by an official, it’s worth pointing out in my opinion.
Also, I mentioned the calls had nothing to do with the outcome. The terms I used were “DISAPPOINTED” and “DISHONEST” when referring to the officials.
I know reading and terms that have more than one syllable are difficult for Florida people. Going forward, I’ll try to prevent compound/complex sentences and use as many one syllable terms as possible so all the inbreed Gators can hopefully understand.
Coctail Party
May 7th, 2009
11:13 am
Don’t ever change the jacksonville Coctail Party. Its one of if not the biggest national “neutral site” game there has been in 40 plus years. The distance is no excuse. UGA use to Whoop Florida just like they have doing to Georgia lately. UGA still owns the record advantage in Jacksonville and overall. Keep it there
KJ
May 7th, 2009
11:17 am
LOL, Suckeyes fans are so pathetic. Yeah, I’m sure that regular season win over Vandy in ‘76 or whatever, is “more important” than the shellackings they’ve been receiving in the BCS title game lately at the hands of SEC opponents. And as for UGA being “afraid” of Big (sic) Ten teams, well…
2009 Capital One Bowl – UGA 24 Michigan State 12
2005 Outback Bowl – UGA 24 Wisconsin 21
2004 Capital One Bowl – UGA 34 Purdue 27
2000 Outback Bowl – UGA 28 Purdue 25
1998 Outback Bowl – UGA 33 Wisconsin 6
1993 Citrus Bowl – UGA 21 THE OHIO STATE SUCKEYES 14
1989 Gator Bowl – UGA 34 Michigan State 27
Not bad for a “second-tier” program, eh?
Cory
May 7th, 2009
11:28 am
Didn’t see any BCS Games or National Championshps anywhere in there…I love when Georgia fans think their team is a national team/brand – they are at best a regional school. (aka “second-tier) Get out of Georgia and see if your school is national (or international, like OSU)
Georgia News - 5/7/09 | MrSEC.com
May 7th, 2009
11:32 am
[...] make Georgia fans sooooo happy.What’s it going to take to get the Bulldogs to play a regular season game in the Georgia Dome — as Alabama has the last two years? Well, don’t expect the Dawgs to give up a home [...]
DirtyDawg
May 7th, 2009
11:32 am
Let’s try this one again. The SEC schedule is far more rigorous plus we have to play more in-conference games than that of the Big-Whatever the number is, plus we’ve got a Conference Championship game – all against superior teams and certainly not ’second-tier’ opponents. The OSes get to play in a conference where half of which are ’second-tierers’ so scheduling some tougher, out-of-conference opponents there isn’t quite the same thing. Of course, one could argue that Georgia Tech, our annual non-conference foe, might be ’second-tier’, but you’d probably get an argument. Save me some trouble, just who is it that you schedule every year that’s supposedly so tough? Notre Dame? Who?
Cory
May 7th, 2009
11:36 am
2005/2006 – Texas
2008/2009 – USC
2010/2011 – Miama
2012/2013 – Cal
2014/2015 – Virginia Tech
2016/2017 – Oklahoma
2018/2019 – Tennessee
KJ
May 7th, 2009
12:05 pm
“Didn’t see any BCS Games or National Championshps anywhere in there”
Well, they’re just not as important as regular season wins, according to you.
If OSU and UGA switched conferences, UGA would be in a BCS game every year, and OSU wouldn’t so much as sniff one. But keep fooling yourself into thinking otherwise, the stats don’t lie.
Urban Warfare
May 7th, 2009
12:17 pm
Native Atlantan, Oh we Gator fans can understand complex sentences and even not so complex sentences such as yours. I went back and read your earlier post and it is very clear that you are giving a list of excuses about a game that you got CRUSHED 49-10. Why else would you even bring it up, even in the guise of being “disappointed” and because some announcer said so? This is a pattern with you guys that I have heard for the last 20 years, the could-of would-of should-of. Now, if it was 45-42 or a last minute questionable call that determined the outcome…but go back an watch the game again and watch your QB cringing with every hit he took and Moreno getting STUFFED! Thats what won the game my friend, not some conspiracy by the refs!
Cory
May 7th, 2009
12:37 pm
You’re right, stats don’t lie: Ohio State – 7 National Championships…Georgia – 2 (No, that’s not for second-tier)…
braveshater
May 7th, 2009
12:46 pm
ITS TIME TO PLAY A BIG-TIME PROGRAM WHICH GEORGIA IS NOT, INSTEAD OF THE LIKES OF COASTAL CAORLINA AND NEW MEXICO. ARE U FUCIN KIDDING ME, 925K FOR THE AGGIES, THATS ABOUT A GOOD A CHOICE AS MARK FOX. WAY TO GO DAMON, THATS REALLY INSPIRING.
KJ
May 7th, 2009
12:50 pm
How many of those “championships” (one of which they lost their bowl game, another they refused to play in a bowl, lol) were won against SEC teams? That’s what I thought.
See my previous post. I guess you’re too dumb to realize that every time you call UGA “second-tier”, you denigrate your own joke of a conference. UGA owns the “Big” Ten, go talk trash to a Michigan or Notre Lame fan, you’re way out of your league here.
Va Dawg
May 7th, 2009
12:53 pm
Why not just have the Tech game in the dome every other year? It is non-conference and usually a non-event. If you held it in the dome over Thanksgiving weekend and had a Ga/Fla kind of atmosphere it would certainly make for a better game and possibly revitalize the rivlary into something similar to Ga/Fla. Except for bragging rights I don’t think Tech is as big a game as it should be for most Georgia fans. Plus it gets it out of that dump Tech refers to as a stadium.
Cory
May 7th, 2009
1:09 pm
Way out of my league? Why do you think Georgia is not a second-tier team? When anyone outside of Athens, GA speaks of elite College Football teams, how many times is UGA mentioned? That’s right, not often. I’ll give you the fact that most teams in the Big 10 are second-tier..we all know that. But that’s the difference between our conferences: You think Confernece is more important than team. I don’t. I could care less what happens with other Big 10 teams…I care about my team – plain and simple. And my team has 7 National Titles and your TEAM has 2. So when we’re talking elite vs. second-tier, the obvious second-tier is resides below the Mason-Dixon.
I don’t hate Georgia…quite the opposite – I really like Georgia. My wife is a UGA grad who came north to get an education (at Ohio State). I like Richt and can’t stand Martinez. It’s fans of Georgia that drive me nuts because reality is something completely foreign when considering their pecking order in the world…
uuugh.
May 7th, 2009
1:10 pm
Urban…it was painfully obvious that the refs were not calling it both ways. That second play of the game when Spikes blew Knowshon up and stayed on top of him screaming in his face should have been an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. If the roles were reversed, our Linebacker would have probably been ejected from the game, if not arrested (hyperbole…look it up)! This was one of many calls that directly affected the SCORE of the game…but not the outcome. I beleive that Florida does win the game but the refs kept UGA from looking remotely competitve. That being said UGA did not play well enough to win that day, nor did they play well enough to win against Tech.
Here’s hoping the SEC officials have had enough time to get over the celebration penalty and that this year’s Florida-UGA game will pit title contenders and be officiated fairly.
Mostly I am hoping that ESPN will stop their obvious Florida worship this year.
The dome sucks…keep the Dawgs out of there until the SEC Championship Game.
I’ll go back and see the Falcons at home when a new stadium is built. Destroy the Dome!
uuugh.
May 7th, 2009
1:21 pm
Cory…The way the system is set up, smart guy, is that the teams ranked highest at the end of the year get to play for the championship. We complain about the Pac 10 and Big 10 schedules because they are much easier to navigate without a loss or with 1 loss than an SEC schedule. Ohio State plays a weak schedule, without a conference championship game, finishes with one loss and plays for all the marbles…or at least a BCS game. Finishing 2nd in the SEC east, makes the voters think that you are at best the 3rd best team in your conference. I firmly believe the 4th place team in the SEC East or West beats Ohio State 75% of the time. The Big 10 and the Pac 10 are Second Tier Conferences that are putting up the road-block to a playoff…and a playoff is the only way to prove exactly which team is first tier.
The Big 10 and Ohio State have been exposed now…but a playoff system would put this misplaced northern arrogance to rest once and for all.
Native Atlantan
May 7th, 2009
1:28 pm
Urban Warfare, it appears you still have difficulty understanding my point using facts to express disappointment and (in my opinion) dishonesty. If you look back as you said you did at my previous post, this is what it said: “Urban Warfare, yes, I think UF wins in Jax last year on any day. Not too many teams w/ a bunch of Frosh and Sophs on the OL with injuries aren’t going to win. Missing close FG’s won’t help either.”
Well my friend, if you find that as making excuses instead of facts, there is nothing I can do about your thought process. I do make opinions and support them with facts. That UGA team had nothing but underclassmen (I believe none redshirted either) on the OL and missed two short FG’s. I don’t recall ever seeing a team who won a big game with 18 and 19 year-old offensive linemen and miss short field goals, have you?
In the game Georgia won 42-30, I was disappointed Percy Harvin could rip off the helmet of a defender who is tackling him but offensive face masking is not called. On a kick off return in the same game, the UF return man clearly committed an offensive face mask penalty on a stiff arm move. Not only was that not called, the UGA tackler was called for a facemask….incredible. Again, these were called out by Danielson, who only played NCAA football and in the NFL. I guess you can have your own opinion about “some commentator”. I can also assure you Gary Danielson has forgotten more about football than you’ll ever know.
Any excuses in this paragraph?
For either team to have a chance in the Jax game, they have to be solid on both sides of the line, have a pass rush & make the fewer mistakes. UF clearly had the better situation on all those last year. That is why they easily won. Regardless if UGA wins or losses, the clowns in stripes make me wonder…you can’t be that bad, but you can be that dishonest.
DawgsOnline » The Georgia Dome has little to offer UGA
May 7th, 2009
1:29 pm
[...] some incredible sales and persuasion skills to get Georgia fans and administrators to even consider giving up a home game to play a regular season neutral site game 90 minutes down the road in [...]
KJ
May 7th, 2009
1:32 pm
“I firmly believe the 4th place team in the SEC East or West beats Ohio State 75% of the time.”
Yup. Put Ohio State in the SEC, and they’re South Carolina. And now that Cory has started in with the “education” canard (20th among public universities, last I checked), I’ll leave him to his delusions.
“It’s fans of Georgia that drive me nuts”
Delta is ready when you are, chump.
Cory
May 7th, 2009
1:44 pm
For all your talking of 75% of the time, here’s a stat for you: Did you know in the BCS era, the Big 10 vs SEC in BCS games is basically half & half. This is what’s funny about un-informed SEC guy: You think every team in your league can compete with the big boys. I’m not calling the SEC a second-tier conference…they are clearly the best top to bottom. But not every team in the SEC is elite. Georgia, for instance, is on the same footing as Michigan State – they’re both good, but never seem to get over the hump. Am I wrong in saying that? And Northern arrogance – I prefer Northern intellectual.
Cory
May 7th, 2009
1:51 pm
Dude, go buy a tampon…or do you need to have a good cry with your Mom (she’s probaby a few steps up in your parents basement)? I know you all are a little slower down there, but 7 is greater than 2. (And contrary to what you heard back in grade school, the North actually one the Civil War) Delta, eh??? Good one, pal – You’re a real intellectual heavyweight…
UGA91
May 7th, 2009
2:12 pm
Enter your comments here
reservoirDAWG
May 7th, 2009
2:17 pm
Cory, You have no clue what you are talking about if you compare UGA to MSU. How many games has MSU won in the last 8 years? UGA is averaging 10.
UGA91
May 7th, 2009
2:18 pm
Hey Cory everybody knows the North “one” the Civil war, but how many BCS championships has it produced? Where are the Gator, Tiger, and Tide fans? This knucklehead is dissing UGA as 2nd tier and basically implying the S.E.C. is trash.
Cory
May 7th, 2009
2:26 pm
Not a knucklehead…really enjoy watching the SEC and think it is the best conference in College football. Florida, LSU and Alabama are elite and Georgia, South Carolina, Ole Miss are second-tier – it can’t be argued! Goergia, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee, et. al think there teams are more than what they are. Here’s another example that may make sense for you: Georgia is Paris Hilton…she thinks she’s a star, but all rational people know she has no talent or any attributes to society – that’s what the nation thinks of Georgia football…It’s a fact!!!
Oh, and yes, the North has won a BCS title – 2002 against Miami – a team everyone at the time called the greatest team in the history of college football.
uuugh.
May 7th, 2009
2:39 pm
Cory…thanks for the continued condescension! I guess Ohio State is an elite team because the play such a strong schedule. Is Notre Dame elite too because they get crushed by USC every year? That USC game is the type OOC game that the bad conferences like the Big 10 always point out to prove what a strong schedule they face. Here’s the news: USC doesn’t play anybody either! Sitting proudly on top of a big pile of crap isn’t always the best place to be…but the BCS rewards substandard Ohio State teams year after year after year.
If Ohio State is so much better than what you call a second tier UGA team, why is the Big 10 so afraid of a playoff. Your grand daddy of them all from yesteryear prevented at USC-UGA Rose Bowl game just a couple years ago. Why? Could it be so that the PAC 10 could preserve the illusion of dominance after THE Ohio State University had been proven lacking the previous years?
A 1 loss (sometimes 2) SEC team is given preference to National Championship games because of Ohio State’s performance, or lack there of, in the past few BCS games. Hardly elite performances. How can you consider them elite when the only time they face elite competition they get crushed!? The dawgs are in the same boat–and don’t bring up the tech loss because you clowns struggled with Ohio last year–OHIO!!!
Both schools fans live off of past glory (all schools do this). Both schools have a history of high profile arrests…and both schools have a chance to do well every year (OSU has a better chance though because of their awful conference). Both schools have very good coaches.
Considering all of this, I fail to see how you can call OSU elite and UGA 2nd tier. At best, your argument can prove that both teams are second tier. UGA is closer to elite status that Ohio State is given their competition–even with the pretentious stressing of the THE before Ohio State. Do any of you clowns realize how stupid that sounds?
uuugh.
May 7th, 2009
2:44 pm
…and didn’t the dawgs just put up 50 on LSU!? Elite indeed!
reservoirDAWG
May 7th, 2009
2:44 pm
Dude, Georgia has won more games than any of those teams the last 8 years. You have no clue.
reservoirDAWG
May 7th, 2009
3:02 pm
Wow, Tebow now has his own panties. I bet that makes SI’s sign of the apocalypse.
Pago Flyer
May 7th, 2009
3:33 pm
First of all, indoor football is for whimps! Georgia is known all over the world, so what’s with…”we need the exposure”?
Urban Warfare
May 7th, 2009
4:21 pm
Georgia fans, quit getting your Teebows in a wad! Why would you listen to a Big Ten fan anyway??? Everybody knows the SEC is the cream of the crop, even most Big Ten people! Florida, LSU, Bama, Georgia, usually Tenn, Ole Miss under the Nutt, and even sometimes Auburn and South Carolina could win that conference any given year. I do have a lot of respect for many of their programs especially Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State but overall they just don’t match up! Especially in the BIG game!
Don
May 7th, 2009
4:31 pm
The only way to remove question marks at the end of the season about who the real NC is the big boys from the best conferences need to play against each other more during the season. If Georgia has an away date that is available and Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, Texas have an away date that is available what would be so bad about Georgia and one of those teams playing in the Georgia Dome??? If Georgia wants to play for and win National Championships what better way of doing it than beating a top team in from another conference and earning a spot in the NC game.
UGA91
May 7th, 2009
4:58 pm
Hey Cory I’ll give you credit, alot of your arguments are cogent and well thought out, but they’re wrong. In the only head to head matchup in recent history between the two schools in question, Georgia won! Is that a second tier move? I actually like(d) OSU, Tressel kinda reminds me of Richt. However, if you are basing your ranking on NC’s won before you were born, I think your reasoning is flawed. Remember, Minnesota was a one time powerhouse in the big 11…Minnesota!!! Minnesota has 4NC’s are they a first tier program. Calculate the number of victories from the date we beat you guys to the present and get back to me.
Native Atlantan
May 7th, 2009
5:01 pm
I agree with Warfare on this one. Why waste your time with a Big 10 person? Ohio State was the best they could produce 2-3 years ago and Florida and LSU won so easily, it looked to me their guys were bored before the 4th quarter. Then UF turns around and dumps a very good OU team in another title game.
In a span of 16 years, the SEC produced four different programs (Bama, the tUTors, LSU and UF) to win national titles. Florida won two titles in three years. These teams also had to deal with a conference title game when the Big 10 and Pac 10 don’t have one.
Let’s not forget what happened to Auburn in 2003. Go undefeated in the best league and deal with the burden of a conference championship game and handle that but not even get the chance to play for the title.
No one else has come close to this.
UGA91
May 7th, 2009
9:20 pm
Cory one of your arguments made me think…I believe it is an insult to compare UGA to Michigan State. As far as I know, MSU has never made it to a BCS game, and they aren’t consistently ranked in the top 10-15 like UGA. Moreover, I don’t think they are in the top 20 for alltime wins (dawgs are no.11 I believe). Anyway, if you are going to compare UGA to a big 10 school, it should be Penn State. They are (usually a top 10-20 program with a storied history. I think they only have a couple of NC’s also, but they are consistently mentioned in the upper echelon of college football (like UGA). If you consider, Penn State a second tier program then that’s not bad company.
Saint Simons
May 8th, 2009
10:27 am
UGA & FSU shold play a game at the dome called THUG BOWL!
wsb
May 8th, 2009
12:30 pm
I would love to see Clemson in this game against Georgia. I rememeber when this game was bigger than Clemson vs USC and UGA vs Ga Tech. Clemson needs the national exposure whether it wins or not< but I like our chances to win this game. Playing Georgia early an a chance to redeem ourselves from the bama game.
BUZZ
May 10th, 2009
6:45 am
Just saw the new Star Trek movie. AWESOME. The only thing I’ve seen better is the CD of the a$$ whoppin Georgia Tech gave Georgia last year between the hedges. 45-42! Let me know if any of you want to purchase a copy.
BUZZ
May 10th, 2009
9:30 am
Winning cures everything, just ask us. 45-42!
Defending State Champions!
hey dawg nation, until you dethrone us again, STFU!
BUZZ
May 12th, 2009
6:21 pm
And I’ll bet Sugar Hill Dawg a case of PBR and Red man that we win again tonight. I love it. I mean I really love it. I love everything about shutting Georgia down and Georgia fans UP!
JenniferGO Dawgs
May 18th, 2009
10:14 am
I have felt for a LONG time Jacksonville was never neutral, c’mon it is in Florida!!!!! Play it in Alabama or play one year at the Dome in Atlanta and one year in Jacksonville, but for the love of God alternate! It Is not fair and I am not talking from us losing last year because we still lead in the series, so bite on that one!
DawgsOnline » UL-LAF
May 18th, 2009
5:17 pm
[...] still needs one nonconference game to round out the 2010 schedule. The possibility of playing the season opener in the Georgia Dome generated some discussion a few weeks ago, but with just five home games currently set for 2010, [...]
DawgsOnline » Awaiting us in 2010…
June 11th, 2009
12:35 pm
[...] 2010 game at Colorado might be standing in the way of Georgia opening the season at the Georgia Dome (not necessarily a bad thing), but I’m looking forward to seeing a game in a setting like [...]