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
Sven Ottke
November 23rd, 2010
10:38 pm
Hey UGA Student, get over yourself you blowhard, pusscatore. And take off that hat that you rubbed the bill on the sidewalk to get the worn look. You guys are so predictable. You probably weigh 120 lbs wet and stand behind your fraternity brothers in a fight. You are a wuss like all the UGa fraternity punks. You talk big in packs but are weak solo.
Gatorman
November 23rd, 2010
10:44 pm
Get on with the game, and as last year UGA needs to win against Tech to get a bowl game. Weren’t these the same UGA fans that said this game doesn’t matter anymore, not!
Tech's not THAT dumb
November 23rd, 2010
10:57 pm
GTAdmissions, it’s obvious that Tech is a place for the intellectual elite. I mean the fans were smart enough not to talk too much smack to the group, especially considering Chris Davis and Christian Robinson were there. Of course, any school that would admit Reggie Ball and the Marbury kid that played basketball a few years ago, both obvious scholars, is obvously on a higher academic plane that the rest of us. Saw that article about the Georgia student who won the Rhodes Scholarship the other day…still looking for the one about the Techie winning it. Funny, haven’t seen it….
Red
November 23rd, 2010
11:03 pm
Georgia fan here, UGA class of ‘96. I always get peeved at all the Tech trolls that come over the the UGA blogs (like St. Simons and some others), but I have to say it looks like the UGA fan base has enough trolls of its own. Which is really a shame. This was a nice story about some UGA players going to watch a Tech game and being treated as friendly rivals. I enjoyed reading the story. The comments from some of the UGA “fans” are simply embarrassing, and make them no better than the Tech “fans” that troll on the UGA blogs. Way to ruin a “feel good” story, people. There haven’t been enough of them for either team this year for us to bicker and ruin this one.
To all of the non-Trolls on this blog, best of luck to BOTH teams this weekend, and I hope my DAWGS pull it out.
Wes Durham's Gigantic Bottom
November 23rd, 2010
11:10 pm
Did the UGA players beat up some nerds and take their tickets or did they buy them from some asian students who do not know what a B-Back is?????????????????
superDawg
November 23rd, 2010
11:13 pm
The reason we are here is to put the tekies in their place.Thats the reason for this blog.
still@the bar
November 23rd, 2010
11:38 pm
Tech’s not THAT
UGA does have Rhodes Scholars and Tech Doesn’t.
I haven’t seen many Engineers get Rhodes Scholars. The Fields of study that translate to Tech’s offered degrees are very limited. What was the UGA student going to study? I can’t remember! Global Health or Anthropology or something like that right?
BBBieUgaVIII
November 23rd, 2010
11:45 pm
UGA student
I didn’t say uga players didn’t go to class. You need to reread what I posted. I was talking to uga fans and that most never attended a class at uga. If you are a student then it is nothing for you to have a life and go to football games. You are already on campus. Try haveing bills and a wife and kids then make the commitment to go to games. You really need to comprehend better what you read. TRY it PLEASE.
Hit A Single
November 23rd, 2010
11:48 pm
Great to see the players there. Kind a like old high school days. If I am a coach, I am glad they went and it says something about them. Tech fans respected them and vice versa. Now let’s have a good one Saturday, Go Dawgs!
rooster
November 23rd, 2010
11:56 pm
Doesn’t “Glory to Georgia” end with the line “…and to hell with Georgia Tech”? There’s nothing wrong with the two schools busting each other in their songs. It’s part of the tradition. But let’s remember that both sides should be proud of this rivalry. It’s one of the oldest and greatest intrastate rivalries. AND, based on U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of public universities, it is one of only two intratstate rivalries in the nation that matches 2 top-twenty public universities. The other is Cal vs. UCLA. My friends, that does not suck at all. So Go Dogs and Go Jackets. Have fun, play hard, tease each other, say to hell with each other, etc., but respect each other and be proud of the quality you both represent.
JacketBacker01
November 24th, 2010
12:31 am
This blog really just cracks me up.
doggie
November 24th, 2010
1:06 am
UGA Graduate, relax man.
UGA Student
November 24th, 2010
1:20 am
Sven, actually I am a decent young lady who happens to love the sport.
I don’t wear a hat, do not sit in a fraternity block, nor am I a “pusscatore.”
Close in the greek affiliation, but Zeta alum would be a better guess than your fraternity guess.
120 Lbs? Proudly 115, thanks.
Oh, and if you want to talk to me, you find me at Saint Mary’s, where I will gladly use my biological degree to conduct your pap smear.
UGA Student
November 24th, 2010
1:30 am
Just come take a visit
St. Mary’s Women’s dept.
Try attacking someone with legitimate arguments and facts. Your “pusscatore” (yeah, still not sure what that is. I guess they didn’t teach that to us here at this ‘pathetic’ school in Athens but I am sure a Google search will do me just fine.) and fraternity bashing didn’t do much for your own argument.
Besides, you’re probably working for someone who was Greek.
See ya on Saturday!! I’ll be behind the R in the endzone, 1st or 2nd row by the aisle, so no use going up to the fraternity blocks and burning a few pounds. Long blonde hair..so feel free to come say hello!
*rolls eyes*
UGA Student
November 24th, 2010
1:36 am
BBBie, I was just giving credit where credit is due for students on the team.
I personally know boys on Tech’s team that deserve more credit and are not on the “M-train” (management).
But as a side note, don’t think for one second that every college student doesn’t pay bills while attending a full time class load. I know many fellow classmates that stand stronger under the pressure of hard classes and many have jobs and things that take away from an “easy” life.
Both schools have extremely fine students and athletes, but too much of that is overshadowed by a rivalary that has turned into a hate fest. I have personally been hit by an older fan at a Tech game, and I have seen UGA fans act just as bad, but there is no reason to label everyone under the same umbrella. That is ignorance, and I was simply point that fact out.
Hayseed Dixie
November 24th, 2010
1:53 am
It wouldn’t take an intellectual giant to figure out that it’s no big deal to throw a coke or an insult at someone who * absolutely* CANNOT get into an altercation with you.
But Tech fans didn’t.
Tell me Nesbitt would get the same treatment at Sanford.
Hell no.
Tech fans have way more students of the game. I’ve been to Sanford, all you guys do is talk smack and go to the bathroom. I’m not joking. Worthless, arrogant fans.
CaliDawg
November 24th, 2010
2:43 am
I absolutely LOVE it when Tech fans pull the education card…just how many football players (or other male and female athletes) major in Engineering? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Now let’s count the “Management” majors. And, of the bloggers that are alleged Tech fans that do like to pull the education card…how many actually graduated with an engineering degree at Tech? Hhmmmmmmmmm…get off your faux high-horse and quit gravy training on the foreigners that are all over your campus raising the “standards” of your football team. U-R-A-JOKE!
BoWeevil
November 24th, 2010
3:17 am
“at the end of the day I would rather have a well rounded woman than just a bimbo”
What ?
What planet are you from ?
Look nerds, and people who work at nerd north avenue trade school, no longer with a protected major which none of your athletes have anyway :
Guys are visual
If you think that a man would prefer a bad-looking woman to a great looking woman, you are not part of my gender.
The women at Georgia tek make up 29 percent of the students
Male Asians make up 30 percent of the students
And, you think, having worked there for years and years and years that there aren’t great looking gals at Georgia tek; but that you would prefer THAT to the gals at The University of Georgia (with Engineering Degrees again now too) whom you admit are better looking graduate get great jobs make lots of money and have a great family.
Uh, no.
You don’t speak for me.
No, all aspects being equal, I would prefer the better looking gal and so would 100 percent of us men. You see, I really prefer that she care about me. It’s just as easy to find a great looking gal, as it is to find a ugly nerd.
Fair and Balanced
November 24th, 2010
5:17 am
Nice report. Seems like good sportsmanship on both sides to me. Refreshing!
GT Forever
November 24th, 2010
5:23 am
Two reactions to this article: 1. It is obvious that the UGA players have more class than many of their fans who submitted comments…..a LOT more class. 2. I have wonder if GT players would have received the same treatment if they attended a game in Athens. I know, as fans, we don’t. OK, UGA fans go ahead and comment on this and further degrade your image.
Richard Tardits
November 24th, 2010
6:11 am
GT Forever, I suspect there isn’t anything a UGA fan, alumni, student, player, etc could say that would change “your” image of UGA. That being said, I hope we pound your pathetic team on Saturday and rub your nose in it. There I said it and it feels good.
Big time?? Not
November 24th, 2010
6:15 am
I’m sure they used the AJC coupon for free hot dogs and cokes……
BoWeevil
November 24th, 2010
6:57 am
Georgia tek is
KNOWN FOR
its poor-sportsmanship
You throw bottles at the field
You post as Florida fans in UGA blog
You are a miserable lot talking about being # 36 US News & World Report National University
You brag about your education, and pick on our majors when yours are all anything but engineering for all your athletes
Now we have those degrees again now too like we always did have
You are # 34 in the nation in wins since 1959
MURPHY
November 24th, 2010
7:13 am
Funny that they just walked up and purchased tickets and then basically sat anywhere they wanted.Guess there wasnt a big crowd uh? Would be interseting to hear there perception of the atmoshere compared to a SEC game.
redhairpimplefacetechnerd
November 24th, 2010
7:32 am
Did they get to meet “Buzz”?
Love my dogs
November 24th, 2010
7:53 am
Nice story. As for the classy Tech fans comment: sorry, but I beg to differ. After horrible treatment there in ‘91 and ‘93, in ‘95 I promised God that if he would just get me out of there safely, I would never return. He did and I haven’t. Sorry folks, but there are good fans and bad fans of every school. Tech folks should climb down from their pedestal.
Bruce
November 24th, 2010
7:57 am
Not sure if this was a smart thing. They may feel sympathy for tech after seeing that horrible game or they may feel over confident.
Hit A Single
November 24th, 2010
8:08 am
What can you do with a sports management degree?. I am serious. What jobs do these players get with that degree?
DawginLex
November 24th, 2010
8:29 am
I bet this was Murray’s idea to study the defense in person.
I wish Grantham had come along with them………………
Idiots
November 24th, 2010
8:40 am
Yeah Murphy, I’m sure if UGA was playing Duke there would be no tickets to be found, and it would be standing room only for walkups right?
Richard Seymour
November 24th, 2010
8:59 am
If I would have been there I would have had to hit somebody. I woulda busted someone’s head.
Dan
November 24th, 2010
9:04 am
Don’t tell me this game doesn’t matter to UGA.
hatfieldgeoff
November 24th, 2010
9:20 am
Hey Ginger Ninja,
I’m not sure how well tech players would have been treated at Sanford Stadium. But I know this, if they had showed up on game day without tickets they would have never gotten into the game.
enough already
November 24th, 2010
9:22 am
@ SportsFan — Your comment reminds me of a line I heard in the movie 4 brothers. “They have girls on those navy ships, I bet they are like men? Yeah, but even after a few months those girls start looking pretty good!” It is tough being a nerd, isn’t it? My guess is that the pretty girls you talk about are of the blow up variety.
Idiots
November 24th, 2010
9:27 am
Your name say’s it all ! Go Dawgs
MURPHY
November 24th, 2010
9:29 am
Idiots,
Idaho St was a sell out for us. Im pretty sure Duke would have been also.
Sorry
November 24th, 2010
9:36 am
The Ginger Ninja – If it was the other way around the Tech players would have been treated the same as anybody else in the stadium because you guys have nobody on your team that anybody would recognize!
Dawglasville
November 24th, 2010
9:38 am
I’ve been everywhere and fans are fans. It’s just luck of the draw who you are sitting next to.
My dad went to Tech I remember how rough the fans were to Notre Dame. They threw frozen fish at the players. I remember the RATS storming the field and cutting off tail of the Clemson mascot. I know that some of you younger guys won’t believe this but it happened in the 70’s. Maybe some of the older Tech fans will back me up. The bottom line is we have some crappy fans in Athens, just like you have them. The worst thing I ever saw was a Georgia fan, who probably bet his mortgage and lost on the Dawgs, standing 20 feet away from one the Lucky triplets yelling at him like he was a piece of garbage. I still regret that I didn’t do something about that. Happy Thanksgiving
Still@theBAR
November 24th, 2010
9:41 am
Murphy
A Sellout is very different from all seats filled. There were plenty of tickets to be had for the Idaho St game. My exBrother-in-Law couldn’t find anybody to take his tickets. He did put them on the Bulletin Board at his gob and somebody did take them.
Dawglasville
November 24th, 2010
9:42 am
Dan – This game means a lot to Georgia. When Tech wins we all remember just how deep the hate is. The only reason I care so much is because it is peace of mind for 364 days if Georgia wins.
Still@theBAR
November 24th, 2010
9:42 am
Have you KICKED your Dawg today?
Still@theBAR
November 24th, 2010
9:43 am
Sorry
You might be right. Everybody knows the UGA players from their MUG SHOTS.
Tech Guy
November 24th, 2010
9:46 am
Still@theBAR – You are always on here making excuses. It is embarrassing to us true Tech fans
Still@theBAR
November 24th, 2010
9:47 am
Dawglessville
We threw liguor bottles at Bear and Bama. After the game Bear was talking to a reporter. He said he thought Tech people had more class. The reporter asked what he ment. Bear said they were throwing OLD CROW bottles. I whould have thought it would have been Jack Daniel’s.
It has been a long time since you have seen Tech fan be bad like the old days. I used to like when we would throw Dog Bones at the dawgs on the sidelines.
Still@theBAR
November 24th, 2010
9:47 am
Have you made out with a dude today? I have!
Still@theBAR
November 24th, 2010
9:47 am
I love drunks guys at the bar!
Still@theBAR
November 24th, 2010
9:49 am
TECH GUY
Sorry you feel that way. How long have you had your season tickets? I don’t care it Bobby Dodd is sold out or not. I enjoy the people I sit with and have a good time.
CalebDaKing
November 24th, 2010
9:51 am
We run this state penitentiary!!!
HenryCountyGT
November 24th, 2010
10:06 am
The Tech and UGA students get along reasonably well.
The Tech and UGA fans would get along better if more of the UGA fans had attended school in the first place.
I don’t consider my best friend a ‘dawg fan’. He’s a UGA alumnus.
Snake Doc
November 24th, 2010
10:10 am
maybe if sven took the richard out of his mouth he would make sense. sven you’re a girly man with a wuss where your cojones should be!