I've tried my best to remember a Georgia victory that felt this good......I'm drawing a blank.
Nobody gave these Dawgs a chance to beat Auburn, and I'm not gonna lie and say I did either. Oh, I said "we'll cover the spread". I even said something like," '86, '96, and now '06: all victories for the Dawgs on the Plains" to my brother. But I didn't
Believe it. Fortunately, it wasn't up to me.
It wasn't easy gettin up at 5 Saturday morning, cursing the early kickoff, driving down I-85 knowing there was a chance of rain. I didn't have to pay a dime for our tickets. My father bought two extras about 6 weeks ago, and he an my mother graciously sat in the upper deck, while allowing me, my wife, my brother, and his girlfriend to sit in their seats. They probably wouldn't have been so gracious if they knew what was coming.
Auburn fans weren't too bad, I got a couple of "War Eagles!" on campus and a thumbs down from the Auburn fans we passed in Coweta County, but that's about it. After all, there was no need to rub it in. They were gonna kill us, and they knew it.
Even the Auburn fans surrounding us in section 40 were kind. The group of young folks behind us (who had more mini-bottles of bourbon between them than a 747) asked "are we gonna have a good time?" before the game started.
"Hell, Yeah"
I'm not gonna go through the game play-by-play (as much fun as that would be). But despite the 30-7 score at halftime, I was cautiously optimistic. After all, I was at the Tennessee game, and had seen this team melt down first hand. The Auburn fans were curious too, "how did yall lose to Vandy....and Kentucky?" I didn't have an answer. Slowly the confidence built, and Auburn's hope began to wane. Even the rain was sweet.
I counted today, and I've attended 39 games in Jordan-Hare, more than probably 90% of Georgia fans, and I've never seen that stadium empty that early. They were beat, and they just wanted to get home, get dry, and get drunk(er). As some Auburn fans were leaving, I did hear "I know how ya'll felt in '99"
Had Georgia been 9-1 and ranked #5, this win would not have been so sweet. It truly was a situation where you have to experience the lows to appreciate the highs.....and I'm still flying.
This win wasn't so great for me personally because I hate Auburn, heck I love Auburn.
But beating them, beating them badly, when we didn't have a chance, and being able to smile, is a truly glorious feeling!
I never know how to finish these things, so I'll finish with the best quote I've read this week.
"We have been saying all week,
'Somebody has got to pay. Somebody has got to pay" defensive end Ray
Gant said. "Somebody paid."
37-15!
GO DAWGS!
Post a Comment