(So, I've posted this same message every year since 2001 with only a few minor upgrades and modifications. It's always amazing to me that no matter how more things change, the more things stay the same. Such is the case with Georgia vs. Auburn. I'll admit, there's an obvious UGA lean in this post because I wrote it, but the basic point comes across, I think.)
Georgia vs. Auburn 2005
Playing Auburn is like playing your brother.
We've known each other for all our lives and grew up fighting with each other. When one had a chance to do something good, the other would come in and ruin everything, and that went both ways. While I truly loathe Auburn, I do respect them for being the other participant in this historical rivalry for so many years. It really is like playing your own brother. I've heard several Auburn fans over the years claim to have the exact same respect for Georgia, even though they hate our guts just as much as we hate theirs. They respect us for being one of the only "big" schools to consistently play them in Auburn without making a huge fuss over it and they also recognize the history involved when our two teams meet on the football field. It’s the South’s oldest rivalry…and you can bet there’s always something riding on this game.
Not only is Georgia-Auburn a great, important rivalry, but it is one of the closest rivalries anywhere in any sport. When two teams can play 108 times and only be separated by a grand total of one single point scored in the series, it certainly takes the cake as far as being one of the closest rivalries...as I mentioned, in any sport at any level.
Many things have been at stake when Georgia and Auburn have played each other over the years. Some games have been more important than others. In so many games, this particular rivalry has decided SEC Championships, successful seasons, winning streak stoppers and even sometimes has had national championship implications. There may be seven older rivalries than Georgia-Auburn, but there is no rivalry out there in college football played as many times with so much being on the line. The Georgia-Auburn rivalry is what started our lifeblood known as college football in Dixie, and it is strong as ever, even here in 2005. As has been the case so many times before, there will be a lot on the line come Saturday night.
For Auburn, this game is vital. They are in the thick of the SEC West division race, trying to defend not only their SEC West title, but the SEC title they won last year after going 13-0. They have had a couple of setbacks this season. The loss to Georgia Tech on opening day not only snapped the Tigers’ win streak, but it dealt them a rude wake-up call. Auburn fans were well aware after that game that they no longer had two NFL-caliber running backs or a veteran QB leading their team like they did last season. However, that opening loss and the realization that they had lost some of their best playmakers has not crushed their hopes for a successful season. Like all good programs, Auburn has adapted and other players have stepped up. Brandon Cox matures more each week at quarterback and their running game has come on strong. As always at Auburn, their defense is playing tough and not surrendering easy points to the opponent. Despite a lapse in special team play against LSU, Auburn still holds out hope for a division title and a chance to defend their conference crown. Not only does Auburn have that to play for, but they once again have a chance to ruin the championship dreams of their old, brotherly rival Georgia. No team has ruined more dream seasons for Georgia than Auburn. It is an integral part of this rivalry...and it does indeed weigh heavily on the minds of Georgia fans everywhere. Auburn has played the spoiler role more often than many Dawg fans care to think about. Beyond that, Auburn has the impressive record against Georgia in Sanford Stadium. Auburn is 8-2 in the last 10 games against Georgia played in Athens. In recent history, the road team in this series has definitely been victorious more often than not. So, Auburn comes into this game with Georgia with a lot on the line. Their own championship hopes are on the line as well as bragging rights for the next 365 days. There is a lot on the line for Auburn on Saturday.
Georgia plays to stay alive in an SEC Eastern division race on Saturday. It goes without saying that this game is, like a few before it, one of the biggest games Georgia has been a part of since the "Glory Days" of the early 80's. Georgia won the division title in 2002 for the first time since the SEC split in 1992. That win came against these Auburn Tigers. In 2002, Georgia finally broke through the barrier and once again established itself as a champion. The following year, Georgia won the division with a win over the Auburn Tigers. In 2004, the Dawgs faced a very good, undefeated Auburn team and despite the fact the Georgia wasn’t in control of its own destiny as far as the SEC race went, the loss to Auburn in 2004 eliminated them from contention all together. This year, a new challenge is before Georgia. After dropping the game to the Gators, Georgia faces a near “must win” type of game with Auburn. A win over Auburn won't win the division for Georgia, but it will certainly help in getting them back to the SEC championship game; the game that is a nationally televised event. The game that will determine the best team in this storied conference. The game that could see Georgia win two conference titles in a span of four years. It's in our own backyard, but for many years, it has seemed like the Georgia Dome was a million miles away. The Dawgs welcomed back that championship feeling in 2002. They returned in 2003, but came up short against LSU. Now, it’s 2005. Georgia missed out on an opportunity to compete for the SEC championship last season and you can bet that the Dawgs are itching to get back to the title game.
Over the past three seasons, the road to the Georgia Dome has gone through Athens for those teams in the SEC East. However, even the team that calls Athens "home" finds an obstacle on that road...and once again, like so many times before, that obstacle is Auburn. In 1982, Larry Munson begged and pleaded the Georgia Bulldogs to "Hunker down one more time" and was drenched with a bourbon and Coke thrown by an Auburn fan in the booth next to Georgia radio booth:
“Georgia leading 19-14, needing a play of some kind, a break of some kind. Hunker Down you guys! Dawgs are in a 6... actually only 4 standing, they're in a 6-4. They pitch it to Bo Jackson, one man knocked him off balance, and we came up and got him…Ball back on the 21, and it's 2nd down now and 17, with 2:05 to go, Auburn trying to break our hearts. 19-14 and the Dawgs lead. Again you guys, Hunker Down! Auburn up to the line... Carver got him from behind! Back on the 30! ... Oh man! 2 big plays, 84 seconds ... 3rd down and 21. Auburn back on the 30. Watch this now. I hate to keep saying it, but Hunker Down! You didn't hear me you guys. Hunker Down! ... Pass complete to the 21... Timeout Auburn. Timeout 49 seconds left ... 4th and 17, I know I'm asking alot you guys, but Hunker it down one more time! ... Pass into the endzone... and the Dawgs broke it up! They broke it up! They broke it up! … The Dawgs with 42 seconds... I won't ask you to do that again you guys…32 seconds, Lastinger up to the line... Lastinger falls back on the 16 ... Georgia students and fans standing and roaring 23, 22, 21 clock running, running… Oh, look at the sugar falling out of the sky! Look at the sugar falling out of the sky! Here comes a Georgia fan running out across the field. And now everybody roars…3…2…1…and they're carrying Vince Dooley off the field. Dawgs have won it. Somebody threw something on us. Dawgs have won it 19-14. The defense hunkered this thing...we saved ourselves…we saved ourselves…there won’t be many of us in Opelika tonight, but I’ll tell you one thing, we’re going do something to Opelika. Dawgs a winner, 19-14.”
After the Dawgs had clinched that victory over Auburn 19-14 to win the SEC and send them to the Sugar Bowl, Munson told the Dawgs that he wouldn't ask them to do it again...but 23 long years have passed and we find ourselves facing the same opponent with a championship possibility on the line. We need one more thing and it's the exact same thing we needed way back in 1982. Even though Larry said he wouldn't ask them to do it again, we all need the Dawgs to "Hunker it down one more time!" against the Auburn Tigers.
As has happened so often throughout the history of these two proud, storied and elder southern colleges, one team stands in the way of the other's hopes and dreams and goals. As a matter of fact, we stand in each other's way.
Auburn needs to beat Georgia. Georgia needs to beat Auburn.
Somehow, that's the only way it should be in the South’s oldest rivalry.
