Bulldogs in the stands … at Bobby Dodd Stadium
ATHENS — Eight Georgia football players got a first-hand look at their next opponent when they attended rival Georgia Tech’s game against Duke in Bobby Dodd Stadium last week.
The players said they got some good-natured ribbing from Tech fans, who immediately recognized Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, but had a good time and maybe gleaned a bit of insight about the Yellow Jackets.
“It was interesting,” linebacker Christian Robinson said. “A couple of guys came up to Aaron and said, ‘Have you seen Nick Fairley?’”
Fairley, of course, is the Auburn defensive tackle whose controversial hits battered Murray in Georgia’s Nov. 13 loss to the Tigers.
“They were nice. They were pretty cool,” Murray said of the Tech fans. “They were joking around with us the whole time. Nothing too serious, though. It was a fun day. A good day.”
In addition to Murray and Robinson, the Bulldogs’ delegation at Tech’s victory over Duke included wide receivers Kris Durham, Tavarres King and Rhett McGowan, offensive lineman Chris Davis, snapper Ty Frix and kicker Brandon Bogotay.
The group went to the game together and bought tickets at the stadium, Robinson said. They sat in the lower level at the start and finish of the game and in the upper deck for the middle portions, Robinson said.
“For us being in a rival stadium, they didn’t treat us badly,” Robinson said. “They just kind of messed with us a little bit. It was a good atmosphere.
“It felt weird sitting and watching a game, especially other college football players. It really gave us a good look at what they were going to do live. It’s different watching it on film, having to rewind and everything,. . . . Aaron was out there doing what he does, reading the DBs and everything.”
Murray said there were advantages to seeing the Tech defense in person.
“Usually when you see film, it’s cut up [with each play starting] right at the snap of the ball,” he said. “You can’t really see guys moving around and shifting and things like that. Seeing the whole thing, the whole process of their defense, was nice.”
Durham was less analytical in his approach.
“I just went to watch a game,” he said. “I wasn’t really there trying to scout. Mainly, I was there in support of guys like [Tech kicker] Scott Blair. I went to high school with him [at Calhoun].”
The players’ outing struck coach Mark Richt as a good use of an open date on the Bulldogs’ schedule.
“There are no rules against it, and when I found out about it, I thought it was a good idea,” Richt said. “I’m glad they cared enough to do it.”
Georgia and Georgia Tech meet at 7:45 p.m. Saturday in Sanford Stadium.
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177 comments Add your comment
thomas
November 23rd, 2010
7:35 pm
GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, STORY!!! THANKS!!! http://www.wedgeorgia.com
still@the bar
November 23rd, 2010
7:35 pm
Of course you would DAWGGIRL. You are in a win-win-win situation. If you make nice you might get a date. If he plays pro you are lucky, and if he doesn’t, then he will still get a better job than the UGA guy you are playing Free Hotdogs and a Coke with right now.
Paul in RDU
November 23rd, 2010
7:42 pm
Nice story about the UGA players going to the game in Atlanta and looking at what they are going to be facing on Saturday..
Murray must have been salivating while he was looking at GT’s pass rush – unless it was all part of a Machiavellian scheme to lull him into a false sense of security.
Screech + Erkel = Obama
November 23rd, 2010
7:45 pm
Seems like everyone is obsessed with being like TECH these days. GO JACKETS!
dawggirl
November 23rd, 2010
7:47 pm
Sorry still@thebar, don’t need a date and my boyfriend went to Northwestern, not UGA.
Murray really is a student of the game, isn’t he? Constantly trying to improve himself, it’s really admirable. Definitely a million miles away from Stafford.
Josh
November 23rd, 2010
7:48 pm
I sat in Scott Blair’s dad’s seats for the Miami game.
someone with a life
November 23rd, 2010
7:51 pm
In 1974 I went to the Tech UGA game in Athens wearing a Tech cap. Had cokes, popcorn, paper thrown at me and was cursed at just walking to my seat. Vowed never to return and have kept that promise. Also quit allowing a group of 18-22 years old athletes determine my outlook on life.
SatillaDawg
November 23rd, 2010
7:51 pm
Go DAWGS!
Beat Tech!
BEAT UGAY THIS SAT TECH,THE MUTTS R DOWN
November 23rd, 2010
7:56 pm
BEAT THE MUTTS!
BoWeevil
November 23rd, 2010
7:57 pm
A good idea to buy tickets outside the stadium pre-game between Duke and Georgia tek because you cannot provide Aaron Murray film of what he specifically says he wants ?
BEAT UGAY THIS SAT TECH,THE MUTTS R DOWN
November 23rd, 2010
7:58 pm
UGAY PLAYERS WILL BE SAFE IN ATLANTA,GA,CANT SAY THAT BOUT ATHENS,GA!
Screech + Erkel = Obama
November 23rd, 2010
8:05 pm
Sitting in the stands is as close as Aaron will come to a Tech education.
C from Marietta
November 23rd, 2010
8:06 pm
TO someone with a life:
My father a GT grad has been to Sanford Stadium 20 times in his life. Wearing his GT stuff proudly and had no problems.
My AU brother in law has been to Standford Stadium wearing his AU stuff proudly. NOT ONE PROBLEM.
My really good friend from TN has gone to Standford Stadium 5 times wearing his stuff proudly. NOT ONE PROBLEM.
Yes, there was some good natured ribbing, but I have never witnessed anything being thrown at opposing fans.
Yeah, I am calling BS.
C from Marietta
November 23rd, 2010
8:09 pm
This is actually a good story and guess what? Jerks on this blog turn it into a macho p*ssing contest. GROW UP!
Paul in RDU
November 23rd, 2010
8:12 pm
C from Marietta – Only fight I ever saw at a college football game and stuff being thrown (ice, cups, etc) was during a GT-UGA game at Bobby Dodd back in 2003. Stupid thing is, it was all between about 4 drunken fans from the same school.
still@the bar
November 23rd, 2010
8:13 pm
C from Marietta
You don’t SEE much then. I have been to quite a few UGA games and I have witnessed Fights between UGA fans and other teams fans at almost every game I have attended. Please don’t tell me you have never seen the same. Yes, it does take an A..hole from bothsides to have a fight, but Many times the UGA fan was the Drunk A..hole running his mouth and starting the Fight.
nub
November 23rd, 2010
8:13 pm
Yeck is close to being irrelevant …. how about watching replays of SC….ARk……missy state and the buffs are you kidding me…. gaytors …and Awho…. ask the coaches to do the same…..opps won’t matter ….. they will keep doing the samething!!!!!
C from Marietta
November 23rd, 2010
8:14 pm
Hey Paul in RDU,
I forgot to add. This UGA Dawg has been to GT-UGA game 8 times at Bobby Dodd and had not problems.
nub
November 23rd, 2010
8:16 pm
one more thing BUGS……. UGA Runs this STATE…… you build the stuff we tell you to build!!!!!
Paul in RDU
November 23rd, 2010
8:21 pm
C from Marietta
Glad you were able to have no problems – hopefully one of your visits was in 1999.
Paul in RDU
November 23rd, 2010
8:22 pm
nub
GT grads design the stuff you PAY them to build.
Michael
November 23rd, 2010
8:41 pm
Tech cheerleaders way hotter than UGA. Go Ducks!
11 Arrests 5 Wins
November 23rd, 2010
8:44 pm
30-24 Dawgs – We “HIT AND” Run This State
November 23rd, 2010
There, corrected your typo.
11 Arrests 5 Wins
November 23rd, 2010
8:46 pm
nub
November 23rd, 2010
8:16 pm
one more thing BUGS……. UGA “HIT AND” Runs this STATE…… you build the stuff we tell you to build!!!!!
There, corrected your typo too.
college is forever
November 23rd, 2010
8:48 pm
http://www.collegelunchboxes.com It was nice to hear that the “jabs” the players got from the Tech fans was all in good sportsmanship. Only 4 weeks till Christmas, Kroger has the UGA Classic Tin Lunchbox on sale for only 6.99 you won’t find a better gift at this price. If you don’t live near a Kroger go to the website and send us an email to get the sale price. Go Dawgs, Beat Tech!!
11 Arrests 5 Wins
November 23rd, 2010
8:49 pm
Did the GA playuhs have to clear with their Parole Officers to be at a night game?
Reich
November 23rd, 2010
8:50 pm
@Sportsfan
I worked at Tech for 4 years from 2004-2008 and believe me there are not many good looking women at Tech. There are some, but not many. There are a lot of average women at Tech in terms of looks. I will agree that a lot of them are very smart and at the end of the day I would rather have a well rounded woman than just a bimbo, but saying there are a lot of good looking women at Tech is grossly overstated.
UGA Student
November 23rd, 2010
8:52 pm
Actually BBBie, if you show up in Athens any given morning at 7, you will find these athletes with tutors.
If you show up to Chemistry at 10:10 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you will find many of them taking organic chemistry. At that same time, you can stroll down to physics and see some in there.
And guess what, I go to every game and also have a life. Your argument holds no water. Your team is no different than ours, and arrests are going to happen, but there are great students among these.
Just to mention, Frix was one of these 8 guys, and guess what, the kid is a genius. He is on a path to become a doctor, and does exceptionally well in the classroom. He has a great head on his shoulders, and is just one example of many that are great, hard working leaders on that team.
Grow up and shut up. Please
Bryan
November 23rd, 2010
8:59 pm
If I were the UGA players, my main concern in going to the GTU campus would be getting stabbed by a local or attacked with a katana blade by a disgruntled grad student.
UGA Student
November 23rd, 2010
9:01 pm
Still@thebar
I thought we went over this already. Do you seriously go to every UGA article and rape the comments sections with your uneducated comments? Your comments are always insults and never any kind of concrete argument.
I bet you are sitting at home with a scruffy beard that should have been shaved a week ago just pressing the refresh button over and over waiting for someone to say something you can reply to. Although it appears that you will make random left field comments even if no one says anything, and you really are showing some really classy behavior. Really cute.
At least go watch the new Harry Potter, or try getting out for a bit. Who knows… maybe you will figure out that there is more to this world than your obsession with UGA.
How the hell do you find time to enjoy your own team when your life evolves around UGA and UGA fans?
Sheesh. I’ll let you have your time though, because seriously, I would proudly wear my UGA shirts knowing that we affect you THIS much. To this sir, I am VERY honored to have moved such an individual, but too bad that individual seems to have no worthy contributions to society.
sigh
Screech + Erkel = Obama
November 23rd, 2010
9:05 pm
Does anyone know if uga pays royalties to the Green Bay Packers? What about to the guy who wrote “I’ve been working on the railroad”?
Dap01
November 23rd, 2010
9:08 pm
To be able to go up to a game and buy lower level tickets and then wonder around to sit anywhere is pathetic. GA Tech fans should face facts, they are less than mid level. NAIA teams sell more tickets.
Screech + Erkel = Obama
November 23rd, 2010
9:10 pm
How come uga fans don’t wear grown-up clothes to the airport? I always see a half-dozen or so grown adults wearing bright red g t-shirts with matching g hats. Maybe for x-mas you can ask santa for a shirt with a collar.
Big L
November 23rd, 2010
9:14 pm
I saw the Tech – Miami game a coupla weeks ago, trust me , the whole damn team, band and complete athletic association coulda went. Ugly from a sky view.
still@the bar
November 23rd, 2010
9:23 pm
Dap01
The fans that sit in front of us that have been there for years didn’t even show up to the Duke game. I don’t care if you have 92K in Athens. People do have other things to do. Glad the only thing a UGA fan can do is get drunk all day and watch a football game, but some people don’t go to football games. Hell, it took the Falcons years to get sellouts and they have a whole city that can fill their stadium. What is more Pathetic? Grown men acting like they are still 20 years old and making barking sounds or having something more in life to do than attend a football game? If filling a stadium means that much to you then Congrats and your lil Sanford stadium needs a lot of work to get close to the biggest in the Country or even the SOUTH. What is the problem? UGA has all that money and all those fans that want to be there, then why doesn’t Sanford seat 110K? I mean UGA has an Engineering School now. You should have your first Engineering Grads build the Addition to the Cesspool of the South.
Frank
November 23rd, 2010
9:28 pm
Yeah like tickets were hard to get when you played Vandy.
Hello dumb arses. Your fan base is 5 to1. I know math is hard for rednecks but damn.
TechRedNeck
November 23rd, 2010
9:31 pm
How does that guy know Paul has a small Johnson? He must admire it he’s always talking about it.
Bulldogs at Bobby Dodd Stadium | ChuckOliver.Net
November 23rd, 2010
9:37 pm
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2010/11/23/bulldogs-in-the-stands-at-bobby-dodd-stadium/ [...]
Dawg-Hatin' Jacket
November 23rd, 2010
9:46 pm
I’ll bet the UGA playuhs was treated better at Bobby Dodd Saturday than the Tech fans will be treated this week at Sanford and Son stadium. At least Tech fans have class. Unlike the drunk rednecks who will fill the Cesspool of the South come Saturday night.
THWG
ALMA
November 23rd, 2010
9:53 pm
Hey, Even some Gator and Dawg fans share at the annual game. Our new tailgate buddies shared their leftover crablegs, and I shared my hand sanitizer after they used the potties. Good thing, since their crablegs were delish!!!
NC Dawg
November 23rd, 2010
9:59 pm
Enter your comments here
NC Dawg
November 23rd, 2010
10:01 pm
(Re: watching game film) “You can’t really see guys moving around and shifting and things like that. Seeing the whole thing, the whole process of their defense, was nice.”
Key comment by Mssr. Murray. Dawg staff need to make that happen with the game film. They should have enough money.
PTC DAWG
November 23rd, 2010
10:05 pm
Nothing wrong with the kids watching one another…many of them have been friends forever.
jw
November 23rd, 2010
10:08 pm
Seems kind of like the film folks need to add a little bit more to the beginning of the plays so maybe the team would be able to read defenses better!
KnoxvilleDawg
November 23rd, 2010
10:11 pm
I heard that Aaron called the ticket office to ask when the game started. The ticket Mgr. asked when could they there.
Wreckmaniac
November 23rd, 2010
10:15 pm
You mean this group made it all the way to Atlanta and back to Athens without an arrest ! amazing.
Were they in handcuffs or did they have bodyguards to keep them out of trouble.
I’ll bet they thought they were in church compared to the drunkeness at Hedge games.
Wreckmaniac
November 23rd, 2010
10:17 pm
Murray bought his arithmetic and spelling books along and got some help from the Tech freshmen.
reckless
November 23rd, 2010
10:19 pm
I know Tech’s attendance is terrible, there are no excuses for an ACC football team located in Atlanta not to fill 55k. However, Aaron Murray, T.King, etc. did not just ride up and buy lower level seats at the ticket office. They were sitting in the student section/fraternity blocks, which do not have assigned seating. That is why they said they were in the lower level, then went up to the upper level where the tickets they bought were located. I also heard that Murray was kicked out of the Beta block, which is pretty lame of them.
Saw some UGA baseball players around campus Saturday as well, and even more UGA students in Buckhead that night.
Barry
November 23rd, 2010
10:30 pm
So, at the end of the first page of comments is a Tech fan disparaging the intelligence of Georgia fans – and he spells “admissions” wrong. What a maroon.
superDawg
November 23rd, 2010
10:36 pm
Glad the boys from Athens went to the tech Duke game.It gave the tekies a chance to see some real football players.