AD Evans wants Dogs to kick off a season in Georgia Dome
Georgia athletics director Damon Evans said Monday night that he wants the Bulldogs to open a football season in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome at some point.
“It’s something I’m definitely interested in,” Evans said on UGA’s “Bulldog Hotline” radio show, “and I think that Mark [Richt] has some interest in it as well.
“It’s one of those things where [it's difficult] trying to get it to fit the schedule [and] trying to find the appropriate team to play in that particular game, but we’ll get it in at some point in time. And I think it’ll be exciting for us, because it’ll be sort of like a home game, playing in our state.”
Evans said he’s aware of how the Kickoff game has benefited Alabama, which has opened the past two seasons at the Georgia Dome –- vs. Virginia Tech in 2009 and Clemson in 2008.
“Atlanta is fertile recruiting ground, and [the game] gives [Alabama] an opportunity to bring their program in once a year so people in the state of Georgia can see Alabama up close and personal,” he said.
UGA last year rejected overtures to move an occasional Georgia-Florida game or one Georgia-Georgia Tech game to the Georgia Dome. But Evans favors, at least in theory, a season-opening game at the Dome against a non-conference opponen that doesn’t typically appear on the Bulldogs’ schedule.
The game would be in lieu of a road game; it would not replace a home game on UGA’s schedule. The opponent might come from the ACC, given that the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game so far has featured an SEC team vs. an ACC team in each matchup.
LSU and North Carolina are scheduled to play in this year’s game. Tennessee and N.C. State are committed for the 2012 game.
But the Kickoff folks also have talked with programs from around the country about playing in Atlanta.
Evans chatted with voice-of-the-Dogs Scott Howard for about 90 minutes on the final “Bulldog Hotline” show until the fall:
- Aside from the Georgia Dome possibility, Evans said UGA, which has played six home games each of the past two seasons and will do so again this year, “may look at adding another home game in the future to bring it up to seven home games” some years.
- Asked what he wants to accomplish in the year ahead, Evans said: “I know everybody wants to hear this. I’m going to do all I can from my chair to get our football program back to the level that people are used to, and I have no doubt that will happen. I have utmost confidence in Coach Richt to continue to do the things that he’s always done and … position us to compete for championships. And I want to see us grow our basketball program on the men’s side, to make some improvements from this year and get that program to consistently getting in the NCAA tournament. And I think next year is a big step forward for us.”
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193 comments Add your comment
JB
March 16th, 2010
9:20 am
Winning takes care of everything, and winning big…and winning with an attitude. This would insure that the 5 or 6 ” special” players from Georgia that sign elsewhere would stay home and make us special…….Who wants to bet what Meyer and Saban say to a Georgia kid when they are recruiting them. I know, and I don’t want to type it….you know too.
PMC
March 16th, 2010
9:21 am
The reason of course is that the Georgia Dome early season game is becoming a bowl game type atmosphere and it’s nationally televised against virtually nothing at that time of year. If you can kick it off against a traditional rival like Clemson it is a definate boon for recruiting and building the brand of the competitive teams nationally. Why would Alabama do it? They get 90K to spring freaking practice. They do it because it is a good tool to grow the Alabama brand and it’s another quality game on the schedule instead of wasting a million dollars paying a terrible mid major to be a sacrificial lamb.
UA Alum92
March 16th, 2010
9:30 am
Why not do it? Coach Saban has said he would love to play in the Kickoff Classic every year. Good for recruiting in Atlanta and nationally as the marquee 8:00 game on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. I’d watch UGA vs. Clemson or FSU.
jackETT
March 16th, 2010
9:31 am
Let’s open the season every year against Tech and then play them again at the end of each season…that way we can beat their asses twice each year…….Because “We Run This State”
blazerdawg
March 16th, 2010
9:37 am
Playing in the Chick-Fil-A opener does not require “giving up” a home game; it is in addition too. I would love to see UGA play Notre Dame, Michigan, Miami, or FSU in that game. Back in the day the Dawgs would open with Clemson, UCLA, Alabama, Tennessee without fear, and won our fair share. I also LOVE the Dawgs travelling to Colorado, Arizona, Oregon and Kentucy (UL), in the coming years, and I hope we get some northern exposure as well against Michigan, Rutgers or Army.
Great job Damon! Go Dawgs!!
collegeballfan
March 16th, 2010
9:45 am
UGA in the dome for a season opener is great. But look at the ground rules Dawg fans. It will not be a conference game, so forget USC or Florida. It will be against perceived “equal” competition from another conference.
Clemson would be a natural. The committee could double the price of tickets and still get a sell out. Miami (Fla) is a wonderful idea, but they would probably want it in a year when Tech visits them.
Personally I would like to see UGA play Texas in an opener. Again the committee could double the price of tickets and get a sell out.
GAsOwn
March 16th, 2010
9:46 am
They need to play FSU in this game. After FSU’s resurgence this upcoming season it would be great to see Coach Richt play a team that hasn’t been the same since he left.
76-Dawg
March 16th, 2010
9:48 am
A good example of why the SEC is great and always will be the greatest conference is UGA’s schedule in 2013 . SC, CLEMSON, ALA., TENN., LSU,. FLA., AUBURN and GT. Then if we win the east we have to play LSU or ALA. or Auburn again. Let’s see Ohio State or Notre Dame or Southern Cal play a schedule even half that hard. One schedule change that I hope to see in my life time is to have the Ga. Fla. game moved back to Athens and Gainesville. UGA and Fla. loses a lot of money by letting Jacksonville have that game.
Just a guess
March 16th, 2010
10:00 am
Something tells me LOWNDES COUNTY is a FL fan trying to be cute. Whatever the intention behind the post, I think Tired of It speaks the truth for the vast majority of Dawg fans. How many people could possibly take a toothless flagot seriously in 2010? Kinda funny, actually.
Anyhoo, I like the Dome opener idea, I like what Mark Fox is doing, and I like our chances to improve by a win or two on the gridiron this year. Go dawgs!
Otto
March 16th, 2010
10:04 am
The UGA Alums on the Atl Sports Counsel need to shut the game down but sadly that will not happen.
GT was the wrong game to move to the opener. Why help your rival get on the national stage. GT is currently 2nd tier in recruiting Ga talent to not only UGA but SEC teams. Further having GT at the end of the year usually helps UGA as GT does not have the depth that UGA has.
UF should stay in Jax. location has not lost that game coaching decisions have. The game is important to recruiting S. Ga. and Fl. and being in Jax helps that.
Clemson would be a big game but again they do not need the footing either. Clemson even more so than other ACC teams outside of GT like to recruit metro Atlanta.
ND would be a good game as they recruit nationally and are a 2nd tier program, if not maybe a Big10 team. UNC or BC would be my top choices out of the ACC.
If the game must be played UGA should play as often as possible if for no other reason than to keep teams like Bama from gaining stronger recruiting ties to Ga.
Richt so soft
March 16th, 2010
10:05 am
UGA fans are saying the Big 10 would be a better matchup because they know that the ACC is getting to be too good for them and their also-ran defense. follow the leader RTR
Otto
March 16th, 2010
10:09 am
76 Dawg, I hope I never see the day that the WLOCP is home and away. I have been to the game in Athens and Jax and it is something special. I doubt any money is lost, the game has been high profile despite both teams dominating decades at a time. The game still has a spot on national TV for years ahead, Bama/UT does not have that honor. The Iron Bowl only has 2 years set on Friday national TV. Further as I stated above the game is key to recruiting.
Otto
March 16th, 2010
10:11 am
The Big10 gains more national exposure than a mediocre ACC team and would be less of a threat recruiting as they are further away.
When was the last time an ACC team won a BCS bowl or had an at large team invited?
Dawg COLONEL
March 16th, 2010
10:11 am
Anyone who thinks UGA football facilities are not impressive has not been there recently. They are great and getting better. Probably not the best but still some of the best in the country.
Playing an opener in the GA Dome is a great idea as long as we are competitive. We must stop giving Alabama our home court advantage. We must take a turn at a nationally televised home opener in our state. But, the opponent should be one from outside the Southeast to get the maximum exposure and benefit. ND, Texas, or Nebraska would fit nicely.
Johnny DangerDawg
March 16th, 2010
10:14 am
RED DOG 77,
Would a game against Clemson in the Dome help UGA steal South Carolina’s recruits *more* than a home-and-away with Clemson? (By the way, the Dawgs are doing a home-and-away with Clemson in 2013 and 2014).
Who should Dogs play at Georgia Dome? | The Junkyard Blawg
March 16th, 2010
10:15 am
[...] UGA beat reporter Tim Tucker notes, athletics director Damon Evans talked on this week’s “Bulldog Hotline” [...]
Richt so soft
March 16th, 2010
10:22 am
OTTO- I agree with statement 1, but the fact is the ACC has beaten UGA since the Big10 has. I am wondering why you’re even talking about the BCS
DirtyDawg
March 16th, 2010
10:23 am
I’ve been suggesting, principally here, that the Chicky Kickoff people could score a coup if they were to schedule Tenn and Southern Cal…but Tenn and NC State? Good Lord, who’ll bother with that besides the two teams fans. Certainly wouldn’t have any national appeal. So it appears that maybe we need to ‘take care of a little unfinished business’ with young Mr. Kiffen ourselves. Schedule it as soon as possible, and assuming that Kiffen is still there in Two-Ought-Whatever-Teen, we’ll get out chance to ‘get even’ with the little pr**k.
DirtyDawg
March 16th, 2010
10:24 am
…make that ‘our’ chance…
Richt so soft
March 16th, 2010
10:25 am
btw- tech went to a bcs bowl this past season.
Too Easy
March 16th, 2010
10:25 am
The only good thing about the opener in the Dome is the air conditioning.
CatsFly
March 16th, 2010
10:29 am
I for one am as interested in the LSU vs UNC game as much as in other game this season. Two highly-touted teams with great personnel. UNC appears enroute to gaining national prominence. They’re defense is sick! Offense will be much improved as well, making them a team to deal with regardless of the opponent. Mark it down. Facts are, they beat both Miami and VaTech last year, and lost by 1 2 two to FSU and Pitt. Since they will be much improved this year, I can not see anyhing by great things for them this year.
Floyd
March 16th, 2010
10:31 am
Fire Landers? Are you kidding me? Had he accomplished what he has accomplished – and continues to accomplish, I might add – in a men’s sport instead of a women’s sport, there would already be a bronze statue of the man outside the stadium. Ask yourself this…would you be calling for the head of the men’s basketball coach if he landed our program in the NCAA tournament every single year?
Iraq Dawg....Hooah
March 16th, 2010
10:32 am
I say lets think more outside the box and create our own pipeline state that is beneficial when it comes to recruiting with a game or 2 up north or midwest. Why not a Georgia vs. BIG 12 or Georgia vs. BIG 10 matchup every year. And please don’t take away our home games in Athens. I love the atmosphere.
GATA Dawgs!
damngooddawg
March 16th, 2010
10:34 am
And why is it again that we care about Andy Landers and Lady Dawgs b ball???
Seamus
March 16th, 2010
10:36 am
Notre Dame will not be a “second tier” program for long, now that Brian Kelly is at the helm. If the sports council scheduled the Irish vs. ANYBODY in the Dome, the game would be a sure sellout…just like if the Dawgs were to play there against anybody as well.
Cmill
March 16th, 2010
10:36 am
UGA vs FSU in the GA Dome
Relax Dawg fans
March 16th, 2010
10:38 am
Since 2000, UGA has won more OOC games against BCS teams than most every other SEC team has even played. UGA has played more total games against BCS OOC opponents than any other team in the SEC last decade. Georgia has also played a conference leading 8 away games at BCS schools and is 7-1, while LSU ranks second at 3-1.
I want us to play quality opponents, but we also must stay competitive to our rivals schedules.
Otto
March 16th, 2010
10:41 am
When you play the same ACC team year after year they’re most likely to get one or two a decade. Besides beating a better team has nothing to do with it. The games is played for media exposure for both rankings and recruiting. The ACC can not compete with the Big10, Big12, or PAC10.
Iraq Dawg, Not a bad idea. UGA has played games in Yankee stadium. Why not Michigan at Soldier Field or Nebraska at the Jerry Dome? I like the Nebraska idea the best. Dallas has a very split recruiting pipeline due to a transient population and being closer to Oklahoma than Texas.
Otto
March 16th, 2010
10:44 am
Seamus, ND is not going to be a 2nd tier program with their new coach? We’ve heard that twice before. It is not coaching, it is recruiting base and facilities.
UGA Rules!!
March 16th, 2010
10:47 am
Of course with the way Evans and Richt schedule games we probably wind up in the Dome playing Idaho State or Louisiana Monroe or such. We will never rise to a national power without scheduling some national powers in out of conference games. Shoot we scheduled Oklahoma State to play us the past years about a decade ago when they typically won two or three games per year. It was complete luck that they actually were decent by the time they showed up on our schedule. When was the last time UGA truly scheduled a national power??? When they were a power! Thus, don’t mention FSU back in the 1970’s when they did not become national until the 1990’s. Ohio State schedules teams! Michigan did when they were Good! Florida has played FSU and Miami in the same season (so don’t bring up we play Yech…UF played both! And both are generally better than Yech anyway and have been national powers). USC has played good teams. Notre Dame will schedule tough games back when they were good. UGA….NEVER, EVER schedules anyone that is a true danger to our 10 win seasons unless we are down or have severly limited coaching.
Larry
March 16th, 2010
10:50 am
Tim-
Thank you for being one of the few AJC sports bloggers who actually contributes decent, coherent sports blogs that are genuinely applicable to the team in question. Meanwhile, your counterparts seem to thrive on just rambling about stupid sh*t that makes no sense and no one cares about. You and DOB are the only guys that keep me coming back here.
Otto
March 16th, 2010
10:50 am
UGA rules, what national power did Florida play in their rise? FSU and the SEC.
UGA has played more OOC teams than many you listed above. David Hale at Dawgs-Extra did some great blogs on this. Your argument holds no water.
UGA Rules!!
March 16th, 2010
10:51 am
Oh Yeah…don’t put Clemson in that category either! Shoot, Yech has beat Clemson like 6 of the last games!!! And own the series handily. They aren’t close to us unless we are having a down year. We blow them away in recruiting and if anything they are generally one of the most over hyped programs on a yearly basis. (Alabama and UF fans need not reply about 2008….we still generally finish in the top 15.)
DavidPandGA
March 16th, 2010
10:51 am
I think CMR should get a solid winning foundation with his regualr season games before we start becoming this gimic team with, “special” games. i rather be in the dome holdion a SEC title than playin ohio state or some other garbage team.
dawG
March 16th, 2010
10:54 am
You can’t just decide to be in the game….even if you are Pope Richt. You have to be invited. Duh!
DavidPandGA
March 16th, 2010
10:57 am
its not CMR its gimicy Damon Evans who rather shake hands and play nice than build a solid program, he’s a football Obama.
UGA Rules!!
March 16th, 2010
11:01 am
OTTO …words do not prove your point but your intellect.
Show proof…What team has UGA played and give the year. Remember the team must be national not Jacksonville State the year they won such and such conference. Clemson doesn’t count…even the bugs kick their butts! Name someone with some ability to bite back!!! I personally have been a Dawg fan since the 1970’s and can’t name a single game! Boise State, Clemson, etc. but nobody that truly were a threat to our established glass throne. We do not believe in taking chances and if you talk to people outside the Southeast they don’t see UGA as a National power. Alabama, Florida, LSU and shoot even Tennessee gets more respect nationally because they will play someone outside every blue moon. I remember FSU playing ND back when both were great teams. Miami schedules Oklahoma (not to be confused with us scheduling Oklahoma State and the resulting plummet in year in and year out ability…in other words they played toughness we played Cinderella – the real Cinderella in a dress, slippers, the whole ball of wax). Be honest and critique our scheduling honestly….I do love the Dawgs….but we schedule the pansies of the world in out of conference games. Only Oregon is scheduled in the future that could challenge us but that is so far off as to have been done and allowed only after Richt has retired. And be honest…Oregon is not USC, Ohio State, Texas, Oklahoma or shoot even Penn State, Michigan, Virginia Tech, FSU, Miami, etc. etc. They play in the weak Pac 10 and certainly do not get the talent we get annually.
Seamus
March 16th, 2010
11:05 am
Notre Dame now has top-notch facilities and has always had a national recruiting base. Since 1997, the problem has been the coach. However, things are about to change in a BIG way! Go Irish !!!
sogadog
March 16th, 2010
11:06 am
The only game I want the Dawgs to play in the Dome is the SEC Championship. WIN THE SEC EAST EVERY YEAR AND YOU CAN PLAY IN DOME EVERY YEAR.
CW
March 16th, 2010
11:09 am
Buzz, I’d like to see UGA play Tech in the dome, we’ve already beaten you everywhere else in the state. What’s another venue.
South Georgia UGA Hick
March 16th, 2010
11:11 am
Us South Georgia football thugs that UGA don’t recruit
anymore, but wins Georgia High School State Championships
every year, and now at FSU, would like for ya’ll
North Georgia thugs to play us in the dome.
ugaclassof2004
March 16th, 2010
11:15 am
More gimmics from Damon Evans is correct, proving that the Peter Principle is still alive and well. Yet another mindless attempt to attract the National Media to UGA. UGA already plays one game at a “neutral” sight in late October vs.Florida, not really sure we need two. And Evans constantly trying to sell the “UGA brand” by having the team travel from coast to coast is hard on the coaching staff and team. Here’s a novel concept:win most of your games and win your conference championship! Seemed to work pretty well in the past. Championships get media attention, not gimmics. And if ESPN doesn’t want to reconize UGA as a National power, then to hell with them. We don’t need their stamp of approval!
Otto
March 16th, 2010
11:20 am
UGA rules, Who did UF play in their rise?
Furhter fi UGA schedules as suggest it could be more harmful than an asset. Auburn ‘04 after dropping 2 to USC.
USC does not have any further big games scheduled OOC. Look it up besides Auburn was down when the game was scheduled and Arkansas is rarely elite sort of like Okie St or Az St. So the argument could be made that most often USC schedules pansies other than maybe tOSU which has questionable strength at the moment. Nebraska is a big name but has not been good since the 90s.
The teams may play in a weaker conf but that means they don’t have to play strong teams week in week out. UGA must take a look at keeping depth and not just big games. UF built their program on dominating the SEC especially the East. UF has not played an OOC BCS team outside of Florida since the early 90s and has played Miami 3 times all since 2000 in the regular season.
IMO UGA is on the right path on OOC Strength schedule 1 respectable game and GT. If UGA wins the SEC with an equal record to the BCS conf champs, UGA shold be in the BCS title game. UGA needs to concentrate on winning the SEC now.
http://dawg-extra.blogspot.com/2010/02/fun-with-numbers-best-worst-non.html
Many of the teams you mention are not even on Hale’s list of top OOC schedules.
Tallcarl
March 16th, 2010
11:21 am
Please people read the article. He was talking about adding a game in Atlanta not taking a game from Athens. I think the three nentioned before (Clemson, Fla.St.,Miami) are perfect matches. I use to love the Clemson games.
Otto
March 16th, 2010
11:22 am
Seamus, If he can win at Stanford, he can win at ND. If he has Super Bowl rings he can win at ND. Cincy is like winning at Stanford with lower acdemic requirements. The facilities are mid level Big 10.
Otto
March 16th, 2010
11:27 am
Clemson, FSU and Miami are 3 of the worst. UGA stands to give up much more than they gain. Those 3 programs recruit Atlanta well and will help them much more than UGA especially if they win.
ugaclassof2004
March 16th, 2010
11:30 am
UGA Rules…
Notre Dame and Miami: Talk about a history of playing pansies!! Both Notre Dame and Miami HAD to schedule tough non-conference teams because their conference was either weak( Miami) or they were independant( Notre Dame). Both Miami and Notre Dame would only end up playing 3 tough games a year during the 80’s. It’s not hard to win 10 games when you’re beating up on the likes of a Temple, Navy, or a Rutgers.
Seamus
March 16th, 2010
11:31 am
Willingham went to one Rose Bowl during his time at Stanford. The rest of his teams there were very mediocre. His teams at Washington were even worse. Weis had no head coaching experience, and attempted to coach college kids like they were NFL veterans. Brian Kelly is a proven winner at the college level, and the hopes are high in South Bend. Actually, it would be ironic to see ND play in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic that inaugurates the relocated College Football Hall of Fame, since it is moving to Atlanta from South Bend.
VolsRule
March 16th, 2010
11:35 am
Better be a Louisiana Monroe – UGA has slid back into the pack.
Hey, that is reality – and I know what it feels like.
Richt’s career reminds me of Fulmer – minus the National Title. UGA was exciting when he got there – UT was starting to slide. Now the cycle is turing – UT is starting an up cycle – UGA is trying to hang on.
All recruits see this and know this – look at how UGA has lost postion with IN STATE RECRUITING.
– Look how ALABAMA and FLORIDA and grabbing who the want.
– Recent successes by TENNESSEE, FSU, AUBURN and GT
What does this mean? It means that UGA did not maintain – recruits feel this, sense this, know this – and UGA focusses on FLORIDA because they are losing battles with the IN STATE BLUE CHIPS.
I bet you that the CARVER-COLUMBUS kids DO NOT go to UGA.
Saw this on a blog last night:
SEC EAST RECORDS last four years:
FL – 19-1
UT – 14-6
UGA – 10-10
SC – 8-12
KY ?
Vandy?
WHY is comparing SEC EAST schedules relevant? Because this is OUR division and against common opponents year in and year out. With the rotation of SEC WEST – and the permanent – it is not apples to apples. comparing SEC EAST is apples to apples.
Now here is the kicker – compare to Jim Donnan’s last 4 years:
JD – 13-7
MR – 10-10
and remember – Spurrier and Fulmer were top 5 at the time – this shows that Richt’s leadership, recruiting, and coaching staff have done a NOT SO GOOD of JOB!