Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game still seeking a match for Georgia
There’s mutual interest between the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game and Georgia about the Bulldogs playing a season-opening football game in Atlanta at some point. But no specific year or opponent has been targeted to make it happen.
“We still have a great level of interest in trying to put Georgia in that Kickoff weekend, and also Georgia Tech,” Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO Gary Stokan said Monday. “Both [Georgia AD] Damon [Evans] and [Tech AD] Dan Radakovich would like to play in the game, and we’re just trying to continue to work to get a matchup that works for both of them. Obviously not against each other — we’ve already tried that.”
Evans last year rejected a proposal to play the 2011 Georgia-Georgia Tech game at the start of the season in the Georgia Dome. But Evans said a couple of months ago that he wants the Bulldogs to open a season in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at some point against a non-conference opponent that doesn’t typically appear on the Bulldogs’ schedule.
Stokan is kicking around the idea of adding a second Kickoff Game in 2012, perhaps pairing a Thursday game with a Saturday game. N.C. State and Tennessee already are committed to meet in one 2012 game, and Stokan recently expressed interest in an Alabama-Miami matchup for the other. However, he said Monday that pairing now appears unlikely.
“I think Miami ultimately is going to do a deal with Notre Dame for ‘12 in Chicago,” he said. That would take Miami out of the picture for a ‘12 game in the Georgia Dome, he said.
What about UGA in 2012? That’s not in the offing, either.
“It looks like it probably will be after ‘12 for us to get Georgia or Georgia Tech in the game,” Stokan said.
Georgia has said it would only consider playing a non-conference game at a neutral site if it has six other games in Athens that particular season. And with a game at Louisville already on the 2012 schedule, Georgia isn’t looking to add another BCS-caliber non-conference opponent that season.
Alabama coach Nick Saban has said he’s interested in a 2012 neutral-site game in Atlanta or Dallas against any of several possible opponents.
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187 comments Add your comment
Jimmy
May 18th, 2010
12:35 pm
Now, what do Saban, Myer, Miles, and Spurrier have in common??
They’ve all won at least one NC.
Jimmy
May 18th, 2010
12:37 pm
I’m glad that i’ve shown everybody that myself, Patrick, and CMR can’t compare to Saban, Myer, Miles, and Spurrier when it comes to coaching.
Boca Baby
May 18th, 2010
12:39 pm
Jimmy: Do you want to count the one MIles stole from UGA in ‘07? The bottom line is that UGA could have beaten Hawaii in the morning and LSU that night. And UGA made LSU pay for the next year in Baton Rouge, thank you.
Boca Baby
May 18th, 2010
12:40 pm
Jimmy: Run you spell check; it’s Meyer not Myer.
Jimmy
May 18th, 2010
12:45 pm
LSU stole the NC in 07 from UGA??? LOL, that’s funny. So UGA dominates a crappy Hawaii team while LSU dominates a decent Ohio St and you think the title is stolen??
Another typical UGA excuse maker.
Dawg 3/20
May 18th, 2010
12:46 pm
Richt has a loss to Vanderbilt…..enough said.
By the way here is one of the photos at our exclusive clubhouse for SEC BCS Champions……membership is now closed.
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0cDH6J36Mp4iX/610x.jpg
Tom
May 18th, 2010
12:48 pm
Georgia should play Clemson or Miami in a kickoff
Boca Baby
May 18th, 2010
12:52 pm
Jimmy: All I know is that UGA is 3-1 against LSU in the last four meetings. And it is common knowledge that the refs stole the game in the only loss with a flimsy unsportsmanlike call. Fortunately for LSU they didn’t play UGA in ‘07.
Jimmy
May 18th, 2010
12:52 pm
Patrick,
You are a narcisist if there ever was one on these blogs. I bet you a democrat, aren’t you?? Only dems use the facts and statisitcs they want to back their point, while “conveinatly” leaving out others that prove them wrong.
As in your case that Richt is on level w/ Myer or Saban. He’s a fine coach no doubt, but his program is heading downward while Myer and Saban have their respective programs on the upswing.
DirtyDawg
May 18th, 2010
12:53 pm
Hey wonderdawg…are you sayin’ that you don’t think we’ll be ‘ready’ for mighty Lame Kiffin’s team in a couple of years – seems to me it was the ‘12 game they’re talking about? And if you aren’t looking forward to gettin’ a piece of that little p***k’s a$$ then you ain’t much of a Dawg.
Jimmy
May 18th, 2010
12:55 pm
Boca,
It’s common knowledge for you delusional Dawg fans maybe. That unsportsman like penalty on AJ Green was stupid, no dobut, BUT the Dogs still parted their defense like it was the Red Sea in allowing LSU to drive the field scoring that game winning TD. The way the LSU O line opened up that whole in the UGA front seven allowing Scott to score from 30+ yards out was downright embarrasing if you ask me.
Hopefully w/ a new DC those kind of miscomunications won’t happen anymore on D.
Jimmy
May 18th, 2010
12:56 pm
whole = hole. Oh man Patrick is going to kill me on that one!
ryan
May 18th, 2010
12:57 pm
Seriously a smart idea to MOVE the BOWLS to PRE-SEASON.
The conferences would still get their payouts. The host cities would still get tourism dollars. The networks would still have compelling television.
And we could finally get that playoff system going.
HOUDAWG
May 18th, 2010
12:58 pm
So …… we MIGHT get a game ……. somewhere in 2013 or after ?
Proof of a very slow news day …….
Spike
May 18th, 2010
12:58 pm
Jimmy.. Learn how to spell and type at the same time.
Boca Baby
May 18th, 2010
1:01 pm
You forget the consequences of that penalty. UGA had to kick off from it’s own 15 yd line. LSU started its final possession inside UGA territory. The outcome is that LSU did not have to travel the length of the field. Even the SEC said it was egregious. A lot of things can happen in the last minute of a game. No excuse. The defense should have held. But it’s nice to have something handed to you on a silver platter.
Preston
May 18th, 2010
1:01 pm
No Jimmy, it’s just that UGA was definitely better at the end of 07′ than anyone else. No excuses here though. If UGA beats South Cacalaka or UT that year, we’re in it. Didn’t play well early that season. I do agree that UGA could have beaten Hawaii’ that morning and LSU that night though. That’s a good one Boca.
Preston
May 18th, 2010
1:03 pm
Agreed once again Boca. That game was over the second the flag was thrown with Martinez running the D. The ref cost us that game but we did have a chance to stop them.
Big Al
May 18th, 2010
1:03 pm
Come on Damon if your scared say your scared.
AceDawg
May 18th, 2010
1:06 pm
I enjoy playing Clemson, but folks, for a Kickoff game in the Dome, UGA should be playing a less familiar, more distant opponent. Somebody they never play that would add to UGA’s exposure since the other team gets exposure in the whole state of GA. UGA doesn’t need to catch the attention of players in the Clemson area. I’d rather play Texas or Oklahoma, or a Big Ten team even. UGA vs. Michigan or Ohio State sounds good, yeah?
Preston
May 18th, 2010
1:06 pm
Big Al. get a life. UGA is scared of no one! Who do you like anyway?
Will Dawg
May 18th, 2010
1:07 pm
I like Notre Dumb or State Penn as an opponent. We owe Paterno a butt whippin’ Beating up on the Irish would be awesome.
Leave Clemson as a home and home.
Preston
May 18th, 2010
1:08 pm
If you go scheduling Michigan, everyone that’s jealous of the Dawgs (you know, all the non UGA fans that are on this blog right now) will accuse us of scheduling them while they’re down. Michigan sucks right now.
Preston
May 18th, 2010
1:09 pm
I would love a UGA/Penn State matchup!
Flo-Ri-Duh!
May 18th, 2010
1:09 pm
Two obvious choices for the Georgia Dome: UGA vs Tech ( which Evans turned down – but why?) or UGA vs Florida (which Evans also screwed up by renewing the UGA permanently away game with Florida – stupid!). They could have alternated UGA/Tech with UGA/Fla in the Dome and shut Bama and these other intruders out of the state of Georgia – but Evan’s short sightedness took over. My question is – just what has Evans done for UGA that has merited his huge contract raise? Would Saban allow Meyer, or Meyer allow Saban to play a game of such prominenece in their state – not if they could block it by playing in the game themselves.
Boca Baby
May 18th, 2010
1:11 pm
I would not want to play Penn State with Joe Pa having the entire summer to get ready. No one in all of college football does a better job preparing that Paterno when he is given a lot of time. Check it out if you do not believe me.
Will Dawg
May 18th, 2010
1:12 pm
I will take our chances against Joe pa especially when we are on turf.
without the mud and miles being an idiot LSU should have run PSU off the field.
Dawg 3/20
May 18th, 2010
1:16 pm
No doubt with who won the Florida game. There was no questionable late penalty, just a plain old beatdown from the Gators. The UGA fans should be disgusted with every defensive player that was on the field when Tebow ran in virtually untouched to pass Walker’s record.
Boca Baby
May 18th, 2010
1:17 pm
Will Dawg: You have a short memory. Do you remember 1982 against Joe Pa on the turf? I rest my case.
Boca Baby
May 18th, 2010
1:19 pm
Dawg 3/20: I do not put much stock in Tebow breaking Walker’s record. He had 18 more games in which to do it. Give Walker 18 more games and he would have set a record that no one would touch.
superDawg
May 18th, 2010
1:20 pm
I like the idea of playing Texas.If the ncaa wants to expand conferences Texas would be a good fit for the SEC,and this game would be a good intro.
Boca Baby
May 18th, 2010
1:23 pm
Yes I believe Texas would join the SEC because the Texas-Arkansas game would again be absolutely huge! What a draw for both the fans and national interest.
he's like a Fox
May 18th, 2010
1:24 pm
UGA would never play Texas, They will not play unless it’s against Tenn State or Southern . They wouldn’t take a chance like that ever. Watch and see,it will be La Tech or S Dakota.
82Dawg
May 18th, 2010
1:24 pm
Boca Baby …never forget 82 I was there. But that was 28 years ago things may have changed a little.
harold
May 18th, 2010
1:32 pm
GEORGIA IS AN AVERAGE FOOTBALL TEAM WITH AN AVERAGE COACH. GO WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL OPENER LIKE FLORIDA, ALABAMA, OR LSU. SABAN AND MEYER ARE CHAMPIONSHIP COACHES WITH CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM! GEORGIA IS AVERAGE.
Tech Tard
May 18th, 2010
1:33 pm
he’s like a Fox
May 18th, 2010
1:24 pm
UGA would never play Texas, They will not play unless it’s against Tenn State or Southern . They wouldn’t take a chance like that ever. Watch and see,it will be La Tech or S Dakota.
Or it could be Arizona State, Boise State, Oklahoma State or Colorado. Brush up on the Georgia schedule next time before commenting on here.
chazzo
May 18th, 2010
1:37 pm
How about UGA vs. Tech for the opener in the Chick-filet game every season. It would benefit both teams as it would keep the Tide, V-tech, Clemson, Florida, et al the heck out of Atlanta except for a bowl appearance.
chazzo
May 18th, 2010
1:39 pm
Saban and Meyer are a cheating douche bag and a weasel. I don’t care what the stats say.
dwight
May 18th, 2010
1:39 pm
to have a stadium that nice, and to be an average team….sucks dawg nutz/ get real
HamDawg11
May 18th, 2010
1:40 pm
Saban may be in Happy Valley by ‘12. When JoePa steps down, I think little Nicky heads to PA to lead the Nittany Lions, where he’ll FINALLY settle down and make his last coaching gig.
red5.ws
May 18th, 2010
1:43 pm
WVU rematch would be nice, UNC would be fun, haven’t played them since 1971. Forget Clemson, we have them by something like 30 games in the series.
Decatur Dawg
May 18th, 2010
1:45 pm
Clemson is already on the schedule in 2013 (road) and 2014 (home). Given the criteria from UGA (still having 6 home games) the only upcoming seasons where we could play in the Dome would be 2014 and 2016. I would love to see us play Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Penn St., Ohio State, or Michigan, but W Virginia or Va Tech seem more likely.
SandDawg
May 18th, 2010
1:54 pm
Clemson!!!! PLEASE!!!!!
Otto
May 18th, 2010
2:02 pm
It is sad to see so many UGA fans want Clemson.
UGA needs to improve to take on a top team early in the season. The team has struggled to beat S. Car early I’d hate to see what Oklahoma, Texas, or Penn St would do early.
coachdawg 2000
May 18th, 2010
2:07 pm
I’d love to see us play Notre Dame (since they’re probably going to be black-balled by the Pig Ten). Clempson is boring. Let’s play Texas or somebody different(aka outside the southeast).
VA DAWG
May 18th, 2010
2:09 pm
Let’s just drop tech off the schedule and replace them with Clemson. At least the scenery will be worth the travel and for those tech fans…..scenery = good looking women.
Dawg Fan 10000
May 18th, 2010
2:16 pm
Ok…we’ll accomodate this but you will have to pay us.
Spike
May 18th, 2010
2:18 pm
VA DAWG.. I hear you, but good looking women and Clemson do not come to mind right away. To be sure, they are certainly better that anything Tech has to offer.
hunker down
May 18th, 2010
2:20 pm
Saban might pair Bama against another team for a openning week kick off and be else where by then. Who can tell me his average tenure at a University in his coaching career?
Gary
May 18th, 2010
2:22 pm
I’d rather see GA play FSU than Clemson. FSU has more tradition as well as the Richt tie. They never play during the season and Jimbo will have them back in the NC picture soon.