Love...true love...should be reciprocated.

McGarity would like us to know that he hears us.

The state of the bathrooms has been criticized, as well as long concession lines and other areas of complaint. McGarity, whose initial response when that was brought up two weeks ago didn’t please some fans, made clear Thursday that he hears them. 

“It’s important to us.,” he said “We’ve made strides. Have we made enough strides, no. Is it important to us, yes. And I think the message that we’d like to convey is that it’s a huge deal for us.”

I can guarantee you that I've stood in those long concession lines and waded through the "water" in the restrooms MANY more times than AD McGarity. But, it's not a "huge" deal to me. I mean if I'm being honest, it's something I have to deal with just a few times a year. So how can it be a "huge" deal to him and the other penny pushers in Butts-Mehre?

You're right. I need to stop picking nits. But what's so damn frustrating is that despite all the calls and emails McGarity has undoubtedly received since the Sanford Stadium expansion news came out a couple weeks ago (and kudos to Bill King by the way for this excellent follow up that I believe really drives the point home) is that I remain wholeheartedly unconvinced that he nor anyone else with decision making power in the athletic office understands any of us.

Hearing what someone is saying, or reading what they've typed at you is easy. Understanding those words requires true public relations and moderate or better empathetic powers.

This past season I missed just one home game and attended two away games. That's about standard for me actually. For those of you that make the trek to see the Dawgs play understand that the decision to do so can be compartmentalized into two categories - tailgate experience and game experience.

"Wooo boy you should see the size of my reserve fund!"

I love watching Georgia play football. Despite it's drawbacks and inadequacies, Sanford's still the best place to be on a Saturday in the Fall. (And again, for those of you that also make the trek, I hope you've been following Silver Britches Blog's recent series about bringing glory back to Sanford. I sure wish McGarity would...) But a big reason I like to go to Athens is to see old friends and be on campus with them again. Share some food and drink and catch up...it's as simply southern as you can get and it always scratches me right where I itch.

I would imagine you feel similar if not the same dear Reader. But what have we gotten lately? If I get up really early I can get to the tailgate in enough time for a brief "How's ya mama and them?", a couple beers to chase the bloody mary, and then hurry off to see another noon kick. "Oh, and for your troubles here's a shitty pretzel and a half-filled cup of Coca-Cola. Yes, the 1970's era urinal stand is around the corner. Follow the smell!"

And that's why we're upset. That's the point Bill King made so well in that post and that's the point Silver Britches is making with their posts on Sanford Stadium upgrades. Why can't Sanford Stadium be in the upper echelon of collegiate tackle football venues for ALL involved - the coaches, the players, the recruits, the mamas of recruits, the sky suite denizens, the referees, the grandmamas of recruits, as well as us...you, and me, the average fan? 

UGAA has the money. So what everyone is wondering is why not make all the changes that need to be made so that everyone can be happy on Saturdays in the Fall?

In many ways, it'd be so much easier to invite some friends over and tailgate at the house. You'd save a lot of money, get the convenience of a modern toilet, and see the game in high definition. "Oh, and for your troubles you get to spend the day feeling appreciated rather than as an after thought."

Because that's what McGarity's version of Butts-Mehre gives us - after thoughts. "Ladies and Gents, look at these amazing upgrades that're coming to Sanford!" Two weeks later, sitting down with an AJC writer,"Of course we care about [insert latest list of latest gripes and grievances]. Here's what we are planning and by the way here's the obstacles that we've had to deal with."

Like Bill said, we find Georgia football hard to give up. It's entrenched in our hearts and minds. The suits should care about that, right? More and more each year it feels like a one-sided relationship.