Friday, October 28, 2011

Georgia-Florida, once more into the breach

Three and eighteen.

Three and freaking eighteen.

If you were born in 1990 and grew up a Georgia fan, you've seen Georgia beat Florida just thrice in your lifetime. You are also old enough to legally drink. Which would be perfectly understandable.

It helps, a little, to have a longer view of history. When I was a student at UGA, we were in the middle of a 15-4 run over the Gators. We beat them on Run, Lindsay, Run. We beat them 44-0. We beat them the week after they had been ranked No. 1 for the first time in their (then-)sorry history.

But all that was a long time ago.

I can't think of another rivalry like this, where one team dominated for so long only to have it totally flip the other way. It's like one of those European tides that recedes all the way to the horizon before coming back to the cliffs.

Georgia seems to have all the advantages this year. Florida is 4-3, has lost three straight and hates its quarterback. Georgia has rebounded from an 0-2 start to win five in a row. Georgia still has a decent shot to win the SEC East (although I'm not sure that's a good thing, because either Alabama or LSU will be waiting). Florida's best-case scenario is the Liberty Bowl.

But: Three and eighteen.

I won't be surprised at all if Florida steamrolls us. I won't be surprised if they win on a fake field goal. I won't be surprised if Isaiah Crowell is running for the winning touchdown and a rogue elk downs him at the 1. When you're three and eighteen, you just brace for the pain.

Having said that... the tide has to come in sometime. Why not now? The cocktails are finally going to taste good on the Georgia side. Dawgs, 27-18.

(If we lose, forget I ever said this.)

-- Tommy T.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I feel the same way every year about this time! There is no reason that the Dawgs can't win this year, but ... 2002 - Terrance Edwards was a great receiver and was 5 years clear of the defense, oops.

Anonymous said...

"I can't think of another rivalry like this, where one team dominated for so long only to have it totally flip the other way."

What about the Iron Bowl, basically dominated by 'Bama from its inception to the end of the 20th century, only to have Auburn win 7 of the last 9?

Florida is incredibly average. UGA is incredibly overrated and has the big head after rolling over super-powers like Coastal Carolina, Vandy, another JV-looking squad at Tennessee and a couple of bum schools from Misipi. Tommy, you have just cause to worry.

Anonymous said...

Incredibly overrated? 5-2 is decent, but no one is talking about them, except for Dawg fans, perhaps. If UGA wins Saturday, people will talk...about how they beat a lackluster Florida team.

Anonymous said...

The Battle of Blood Marsh is ON! Gooooo Dawgs! Sic'em!

Bud said...

The Dawgs could win. I've been told it has happened before. I can't bring myself to hope or expect a win. That would be too much to ask. I'm just hoping and praying Richt doesn't dress 'em up in some kind of special uniform for the occasion (all black, "power rangers" or what have you). But honestly can anyone imagine the despised Gators losing their 4th SEC game in a row to the likes of the once mighty Dawgs? UGA is not likely to win .... but I've been told it has happened before.

Anonymous said...

Bulldogs win!! And Tech over Clemson made for a nice nightcap of the WLCP.