the Friday Misery once wore orange

 "I want to coach a team that opponents don't look forward to playing." - Danny Ford, Clempson head side line roamer 1978-1989

I understand the sentiment Coach Ford. But feel the opposite about Georgia vs Clemson. And I think Coach Smart feels the same as I do. Maybe Dabo too.

A tail as old as time

Long time readers may recall, I both grew up in Athens and am the product of a Clemson Tiger household. Yes, those two things can indeed both be true! Dear ol' dad took me to 100% more games at Lake Hartwell's version of Death Valley than he did at Sanford Stadium. I both had an orange windbreaker as a kid AND remember listening to Munson on the radio calling Georgia games while I raked leaves in the backyard.

Talk about a conflicted upbringing!

"Coach, that boy Herschel is gonna be a problem for us isn't he?"

And yet it all worked out in the end. Dad went on to get his doctorate from an actual school, UGA, and Georgia continued this rivalry by flat out dominating! Also, I ditched the orange windbreaker for a gray Member's Only jacket in middle school and started doing impressions of Michael Jackson on the side.

The '80s! What a time!

The point I'm failing to get to is...I love this game! My greatest prediction in this series came when I was walking into Sanford in 2002, called the folks on my flip phone, and predicted a 31-28 Georgia win. Thank you Billy Bennett! 

Speaking of Sanford, this game was the first one under lights 'tween the hedges. Forty two years ago ABC moved the game to Labor Day night, gave Vince Dooley $50k for temporary lights, which he parlayed into $250k for permanent ones. Dawgs won 13-7. And then won every other game until we lost to Penn State in the Sugar Bowl. Meanwhile, Clempson went undefeated, but got caught giving recruits extra cow patties and had to forgo a bowl game.

To be honest, it's not much of a rivalry, as Georgia leads the series 43-18-4. But they've played some epic games. And two of which I was sitting beside my IPTAY father in Death Valley. We watched that 2003 team dominate with Pollack, Greene, and Fab Fly Freddie Gibson. And we watched that 2013 team come so close in a 38-35 Clemson win. 

Picture that Dad's colleagues hung at his desk

Saturday it's time to Hunker Down and grab that kitty by the tail, again!

Pro-NUN-see-a-shuns

As we begin another college tackle football season, I again begin to appreciate how we can both hate a team, yet respect their pride in said team. In our family text threads, the perfect Fall Saturday is when Georgia wins, Clemson wins, and South Carolina loses. We can't stand the Gamecocks, but Lord A'mighty they HATE them.

And then there's little things too. Years ago, Dad and I had a nice Sunday at Augusta National (watching, not playing). We're walking out the gate and I pointed at Mike Tirico, who naturally was there to cover the little tournament they had going on. Dad had a long look of disgust, to which I asked why he didn't like the dude.

Turns out, Tirico pronounces "Clemson" in a way that is considered somewhere between a gross error and downright idiocy. He emphasizes the "s" as more of a "ZZZZ" if I recall correctly. Which is why I often type "Clemson" with a "p", because that's what I've heard since childhood.

Come on Tirico! How are you gonna make it in that business if you can't connect to a rural upstate South Carolina farming population. Jeesh.

Other adventures in pronunciations. en-dor As in Georgia fans enjoy indoor plumbing, now going on more than a century! Or how about, klown. Because our coach isn't named after one. And tra-dish-shuns. They touch a rock.

And we create HA-VOK! Go Dawgs!

Chubb didn't need a helmet in 2014

Quick housekeeping notes

Stapleton's White Horse will forever be my go to tune before a game. It was playing at our tailgate before we marched into the WLOCP last year...I lost my voice. Thanks to our youngest for the reminder!

And here's a link to the first episode of our podcast - 4th & 3 Dudes - in which Nama does his best to put a tent over a circus. 

In closing

I understand what Farmer Ford meant when he gave us that quote about the kind of team he wanted to build. But there's a real, tangible difference between opening up on national television against Clempson, as opposed to an Austin-Peay. Even at noon.

The players are tired at this point of lining up against their own teammates. They're hungry to hit someone in a different jersey. They want this game. Kirby wants this game.

I want this game. And I know you do too. It's been a long off season. About a week longer than we had gotten used to, am I right? Now let's bow our heads please...dear Lord, please allow our fellas to give Klubnik an awful nightmare tomorrow afternoon. And thanks for helping me get rid of that hideous windbreaker!

Amen. Go Dawgs!!

Kevin Grizzard, but just a gleam in Lewis' eye

"I hugged perfect strangers and kissed a fat lady on the mouth!"

Lord I miss Lewis Grizzard. So since it's Clempson week, here's his letter to a future son.

To my Son, if I ever have one:

Kid, I am writing this on September 3, 1984. I have just returned from Athens, where I spent Saturday watching the University of Georgia, your old dad’s alma matter, play football against Clemson.

While the events of the day were still fresh on my mind, I wanted to recount them so if you are ever born, you can read this and perhaps be able to share one of the great moments in your father’s life.

Saturday was a wonderful day on the Georgia campus.

We are talking blue, cloudless sky, a gentle breeze and a temperature suggesting summer’s end and autumn’s approach.

I said the blessing before we had lunch. I thanked the Lord for three things: fried chicken, potato salad and for the fact he had allowed me the privilege of being a Bulldog.

“And , Dear Lord,” I prayed, “bless all those not as fortunate as I.”

Imagine my son, 82,000 people, most whom were garbed in red, gathered together gazing down on a lush valley of hedge and grass where soon historic sporting combat would be launched.

Clemson was ranked number 2 in the nation, and Georgia, feared too young to compete with the veterans from beyond the river, could only dream, the smart money said, of emerging three hours hence victorious.

They had us 20-6 at the half, son. A man sitting in front of me said, “I just hope we don’t get embarrassed.”

My boy, I had never seen such a thing as came to pass in the second half. Todd Williams threw one long and high, and Herman Archie caught it in the end zone, and it was now 20-13.

Georgia got the ball again and scored again, and it was now 20-20, and my mouth was dry, and my hands were shaking, and this Clemson fan who had been running his mouth the whole ballgame suddenly shut his fat face.

Son, we got ahead 23-20, and the ground trembled and shook, and many were taken by fainting spells.

Clemson’s kicker, Donald Igwebuike, tied it 23-23 and this sacred place became the center of the universe.

Only seconds were left when Georgia’s kicker, Kevin Butler, stood poised in concentration. The ball rushed toward him, and it was placed upon the tee a heartbeat before his right foot launched it heavenward.

A lifetime later, the officials threw their arms aloft. From 60 yards away, Kevin Butler had been true, and Georgia led and would win 26-23.

I hugged perfect strangers and kissed a fat lady on the mouth. Grown men wept. Lightening flashed. Thunder rolled. Stars fell, and joy swept through, fetched by a hurricane of unleashed emotions.

When Georgia beat Alabama 18-17 in 1965, it was a staggering victory. When we came back against Georgia Tech and won 29-28 in1978, the Chapel bell rang all night. When we beat Florida 26-21 in the last seconds in 1980, we called it a miracle. And when we beat Notre Dame 17-10 in the Sugar Bowl that same year for the national championship, a woman pulled up her skirt and showed the world the Bulldog she had sewn on her underbritches.

But Saturday may have been even better than any of those.

Saturday in Athens was a religious experience.

I give this to you, son. Read it and re-read it, and keep it next to your heart. And when people want to know how you wound up with the name “Kevin” let them read it, and then they will know.

- Daddy

Welp, here we go!

It's here. As our beloved coach says, "Talkin' season is over!" 

IT'S GAME WEEK ‼️

🏟️: vs. Clemson
📅: Saturday, August 31 | 12 PM ET
📺: ABC/ESPN+#GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/jaZp2KMMpl

— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) August 26, 2024

The 2024 college football season is among us. There are so many changes (rules, conferences'  landscapes, coaches, schedules) my head is spinning faster now than that time I first saw my future wife walk through the lobby of Russell Hall!

But...it is well!

Remember, I'm not promising much. Certainly nothing is being posted here on the daily. I'm enjoying our new lifestyle deep, deep in SE Georgia a lot, as well as semi-retirement. Suffice to say, I have more time on my hands, but am busy filling it with...getting old. I had rotator cuff surgery last month, so the golf clubs are tucked into a corner of the garage and Kirby has me down as out indefinitely.

All that aside, here are a few thoughts on my mind before our opener against Clempson:

• I hope we beat them good, because if not my tiger family is gonna text and call like it was 1981, the year Clemson first got telephone service.
• Ahh, injury lists and late August, a power couple since well before BradJolina. Still...not great, but getting better.
• Can't wait to see Beck and this offense do work. It's hard to believe we could lose Bowers, Ladd, Milton & Co. and may be even better offensively.
• (insert second offensive bullet point) I hope this OL is nasty good!
• I think the defense will be great...eventually. We may have to be patient, but hopefully not too long given this gauntlet of a schedule. Let's pencil circle that first off week in September as a time that maybe the coaches have enough on tape to make adjustments and fine tune this talented but young defensive roster.
• Over/Under on number of punts Thorson has this season? I'll set that line at 31, one less than last year.
• Who's the new name you're most excited to see? I'm hearing Nate Frazier (RB) is the real deal.

As Groo recalled, Kirby said "We built a program to be sustained." Time to go get after it!