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
MMMMM! French Fried Taters!
May 18th, 2010
2:22 pm
I would love to see a Georgia vs Michigan match up. If they insist on the SEC vs ACC match up then Georgia vs F.S.U. or Georgia vs UNC. As for Tech, if they had to play an SEC power like say Florida they would get killed.
MMMMM! French Fried Taters!
May 18th, 2010
2:25 pm
Whooooo! 1st on the second page. I feel like such a winner! Like Tech just before a bowl game.
Big B CH 99
May 18th, 2010
2:36 pm
As a Tech student and lifelong fan I don’t want to see UGA & GT play at the beginning of the yr.
Buy I’ve been saying how about a doubleheader involving both. I guess you could to a Thurs & a Sat. But I would want to have a doubleheader on Sat. And renew old rivalries, UGA vs Clemson, & Tech vs Auburn, ‘Bama, or Tenn. That would be an interesting day, an early afternoon class b’wn Tech & one of those 3, and then UGA vs Clem in the nightcap.
Big Al
May 18th, 2010
2:38 pm
Preston call it what you will. It’s put up or shut up time–play or go home and continue to get beat by the gators. RTR
DoubleDownDawgFan
May 18th, 2010
2:42 pm
To make sure we win the dadgum game, I hope we play North Texas Mean Green. I don’t think we can play against any of the ACC teams right now. We have to concentrate on getting a W in the column! Go Dawgs! bark! bark! bark!
ugaclassof2004
May 18th, 2010
2:51 pm
What about a UGA vs. Miami matchup? Those are teams that never play each other. I think it would be an interesting match up.
UGADAWGZ
May 18th, 2010
3:00 pm
Enter your comments here
UGADAWGZ
May 18th, 2010
3:03 pm
UGA VS CLEMSON AND GT VS AUB OR LSU. MAYBE UGA OR GT VS USC SO WE GET BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF THE PUNKS FROM THE PAC-10 WHO THINK THEY ARE GOOD AT FOOTBALL
Joe
May 18th, 2010
3:05 pm
Tim….what’s wrong???? There must be a mistake- I didnt see one word about the Florida gators and how great they are. You are a slack off dude….
gator
May 18th, 2010
3:13 pm
georgia fans are stupid and the team is weak and scared to play high quality ooc games.
that is all.
BigTimeTECHFan
May 18th, 2010
3:16 pm
I would like to have a double header like the old basketball classic
Georgia vs Texas
Georgia Tech vs Oklahoma
how2fish
May 18th, 2010
3:17 pm
Am I missing something I thought this was setup to kickoff the season with a SEC vs ACC matchup..period.In that case FSU or Clemson makes sense.So until they join the ACC or SEC stop it with the Texas, Ohio State etc (not that they wouldn’t be good games) And I never want to play the Bugs early…love it when they build up hope that we can squish, while laying the yearly double mudhole stomping of Buggish azz on them!
how2fish
May 18th, 2010
3:18 pm
gator…Charleston Southern..
UGA'91
May 18th, 2010
3:36 pm
Bring on USC!!!
Long Gator
May 18th, 2010
3:48 pm
Why not let the Ga Dome be the every other year with us Gators?
The Jacksonville year would be UF’s home game.
Would also help us recruit Georgia even better ( as if we need it ).
We own the Peach State
82Dawg
May 18th, 2010
3:49 pm
gator …..you are idiot check the ooc game for each and see who is scared
GT BBall Fan
May 18th, 2010
3:49 pm
Gary Stokan has created a situation where other Southern teams get alot of Atlanta exposure and recruiting advantages in the state. UGA and Tech should not support this game.
DoubleDownDawgFan
May 18th, 2010
3:49 pm
BRING ON DUKE BABY! WEAKEST ACC VS WEAKEST SEC! WE GOT THIS BABY! BARK! BARK! BARK!
athenian
May 18th, 2010
4:05 pm
I think georgia will play in the game if they can play someone like Furman or Tenn Tech.
Larry Munson
May 18th, 2010
4:25 pm
My God a Freshman!
dawg
May 18th, 2010
4:35 pm
gator, that comment required an absence of self-awareness that is unprecedented. Amazing.
CatsFly
May 18th, 2010
4:36 pm
Why ACC team has the most upside in the eyes of SEC fans? Anbody got an opinion (unbiased)?
PTC DAWG
May 18th, 2010
4:51 pm
What’s wrong with Sanford Stadium? It seats over 92K…do a home/home with one of these teams the Atlanta Sports Council keeps bringing up…more $$$ for everyone.
dawgfan13
May 18th, 2010
5:19 pm
I would rather see a Georgia versus Miami game. Both teams will have experienced QB’s talented skill players all over the field and both defenses will be stout, hopefully UGA hold up that end of the bargain. This game will be a TV dream. Richt a Hurrican graduate, both teams possibly challenging in at least a BCS game. I would by a ticket to that game.
Bo
May 18th, 2010
5:19 pm
Otto, I agree with wanting to see UGA play a tough(er) opening game. Boise State and OK State were supposed to be tough when we signed up with them (the last go ’round with OSU was a tough one). However, you can’t use SC as a barometer for UGA’s early season readiness. That is always a tough game no matter how good either team is.
I’d like to see a mid-tier Big 10, Big 12 or Pac 10 team in a neutral “home-n-home” type of location. Atlanta one year and Dallas, Chicago, or LA the next year. That would give us good exposure to recruits in markets other than the SEC.
Sdan
May 18th, 2010
6:00 pm
It should be FAMU and Grambling. That would be a real black out.
Sdan
May 18th, 2010
6:01 pm
Oh by the way, herschel could flip the coin.
Sdan
May 18th, 2010
6:01 pm
Oh by the way, herschel could flip the coin.
Einsteindawg
May 18th, 2010
6:12 pm
How ’bout UGA vs. Texas? Great matchup that you haven’t seen since 1984. ‘Bout time!
trey
May 18th, 2010
6:15 pm
It depends on how far away from the state they want to look. If it’s pretty close then I’d say FSU.
Otherwise I’d like to see them play a team like Michigan, Notre Dame, or Missouri. Somebody the dawgs don’t typically ever see in other words.
For the taliban they should pair them against Murray St, Morehead St, UT Martin, etc. Or of course they could play Jacksonville St again. Need to make sure they play a cupcake so they don’t embarrass the state of Ga.
Rabun Dawg
May 18th, 2010
6:37 pm
If this continues to be an SEC vs ACC affair, then let UGA play someone like a Miami or a UNC. We haven’t played either in many years. Why give Clemson a leg up on recruiting in Atlanta, they get enough Ga. players every year as it is. Miami fills their roster in South Fla., and UNC has never had any recruiting base in Ga. and probably would not benefit from that standpoint. Me thinks these matchups would be very interesting to see as both of the mentioned programs appear to be on the upswing.Yeah, I know, maybe UGA is on the upswing also. I said it before some of the “bashers” beat me to it!
UGA should be scaredy CATS
May 18th, 2010
6:47 pm
The UGA Cats will probably want to play Wyoming, Baylor, Middle Tennessee State, or some such team since that is generally whom they play out of conference. If Georgia Tech was too strong to play against in the game how far down in schedule strength do they plan to play?
The AP has just reported that an invite with ECU (Eastern Carolina) and another to the Temple Owls is on the table.
Georgia has responded that they will only play one of those marquee programs if they still have 6 home games and the game occurs of the fifth Saturday of any month that ends in a three. Late October was turned down since the state often has the DawgDays of Autumn around that time frame (See the Alabama or seasonally UF games to understand that comment).
One, two, free, fo, fi, them der Gator don't take no jive!
May 18th, 2010
6:50 pm
Hey, if you can’t find a team to play, call us up. We’ll cancel our opener with whatever patsy and play UGA. Almost guaranteed a win and it will give us an opportunity to pratice in the Dome for our December match-up against the SECW champs.
DawgInDC
May 18th, 2010
7:09 pm
bama needs to smack down chokelahoma in Dallas for a kickoff game…
college is forever
May 18th, 2010
7:46 pm
http://www.collegelunchboxes.com UGA does not need to let these other SEC schools come in here and steal the talent from this state, Unless you are getting players from Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Oaklahoma, etc you need to protect your turf here at home and play in this game. Check out the UGA classic tin lunchbox great for Fathers Day. Go Dawgs!!!
Tom
May 18th, 2010
8:40 pm
BC. We smoked the dawgs last time we played
yeah your right
May 18th, 2010
8:49 pm
“SO TO BE THE BEST THEY HAVE TO BEAT RICHT”
Now that is the funniest thing I’ve heard all day. Richt is not the best, nor that good. Get over yourselves.
Chad
May 18th, 2010
8:51 pm
My dream matchup
Duke Vandy!
Typical
May 18th, 2010
9:15 pm
You want to play Michigan, They have won what? Eight games in two years. Real class.
NavySealDawg
May 18th, 2010
9:30 pm
Hey tim, are what was the record flaiduh aginst georgia in badmitton, I heard you was starting a mullet
Otis from Mayberry
May 18th, 2010
10:34 pm
Doesn’t Clemson lose in the Peach fil a bowl every year. Why would they want to lose two games a year in the Georgia Dome.
hjh
May 19th, 2010
12:10 am
remember penn state beat LSU in bowl this year. watch out what u wish for. sec sucked in bowls this year. overrated
Sanders
May 19th, 2010
1:25 am
“Get your head out of Saban’s butt ”
@Captain – Gary has his head up Saban’s butt because he’s looking for a blackout – something GA promised but failed to deliver
GatorNation
May 19th, 2010
1:47 am
If the Dawgs want respect, and outside of Georgia there’s not a lot these days, they are going to have to play big time programs and Clemson ain’t it. Simply put, if you want to be the best you’ve got to beat the best. Chick-fil-A, Chick-fil-A, you may want to get use to that phrase Dawg fans.
76-Dawg
May 19th, 2010
3:08 am
I don’t think UGA should do a kickoff game. Having to play South Carolina, Tennessee and one hard west team like Arkansas, LSU or Alabama in the 1st 6 games is enough. UGA is a late season team and winning the close games at the beginning of the year until they can get everything together is the history at UGA.
Bobby Joe
May 19th, 2010
6:40 am
http://www.sicemdawgs.com/football/sched/fbsch_13.php
check it out. already playing Clemson!!!
Bobby Joe
May 19th, 2010
6:44 am
The talk of Clemson rematching with UGA has been in the books for years. Not a opener but still like the ole days. People please know your Dawgs!!! 2013!!
chiefdawg
May 19th, 2010
7:33 am
You could play GA-FL in the dome if there were not so many rich UGA fams who think they are entitled to a vacation every year.
UA Alum92
May 19th, 2010
7:53 am
Woohoo! Yeah, Coach Saban! That’s the spirit that makes this team great! We’ll play anybody, anywhere. Coach Saban said before last year’s Kickoff Game that he wishes we could play in the game every year. National spotlight and excellent forum for recruiting. Keep it up, Coach!
Gen Neyland
May 19th, 2010
8:04 am
UGA might well be on it’s way by 2011-2012 to take the hill away from Florida in the SEC East. Note the word ‘Might’. It would benefit UGA to lay it on the line early and hope to get a solid matchup with another anticipated probable national contender. Win or lose that game, they wouldn’t lose much in the long run and a win would not be overlooked come seasons end. Aside from the main topic, my thinking is still out on CDD working quick fried magic Atop Rocky but CDD and UT just might become the proverbial darkhorse in the SEC East in 2012. One good thing for the UGA fan : CDD hasn’t promised the Tennessee faithful never to lose to Georgia as long as he’s da Boss…