The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry is renewed on Saturday night when the Dawgs travel to the Plains to take on Auburn. Historically, this game is is full of upsets and road victories. Those two trends will battle each other in this game.
Let's just focus on the Mark Richt Era and talk about the significance of this rivalry. In 2001, Richt's first season in Athens, Auburn beat Georgia when Richt failed to show he understood how to handle late game clock management. It seems like a joke, but Mark Richt had doubters in Athens after his first season, so he is used to being on the hot seat.
In 2002, Georgia won an epic game on the Plains to clinch a spot in the SEC Championship game for the first time in school history en route to their first league title since 1982. David Greene found Michael Johnson in the back of the end zone with under a minute to play to secure the win.
In 2004, Georgia was dominated on the Plains by an Auburn team that eventually finished the season 14-0 and finished #2 nationally. The highlight of that game was Auburn running back Cadillac Williams throwing a touchdown pass on the way to a decisive Auburn victory.
In 2005, Auburn won in Athens when Georgia had a chance to clinch the SEC East when quarterback Brandon Cox found a open receiver on 4th and 16 late in the game. Auburn ended up running the clock down before kicking a game winning field goal to give the Tigers the 31-30 victory.
2007 was the famous "Black Out" when Georgia ran right through a good Auburn team on their way to a Sugar Bowl victory. 2010 was Cam Newton's one and only contribution to the rivalry as Auburn overcame a three touchdown deficit to blow Georgia away in the second half. Nick Fairly attempted to kill Aaron Murray that afternoon, and the referees seemed like they were okay with it. To my recollection, that is the only game in Murray's career that he had to be taken out of because of injury.
2006 is the game I want to focus on.
This was Matt Stafford's freshman season, and a freshman running back named Knowshon Moreno was stadning on the sidelines watching. Georgia came into the game at 6-4 having already lost to Tennessee, Florida, Vanderbilt (at home on Homecoming), and on the road at Kentucky. Rebuilding or not, this was unacceptable for Georgia. Now, all the Dawgs had to do was travel to the Plains to take on the fifth ranked Auburn Tigers who had hopes of not only an SEC title, but a national title.
What happened next will forever be remembered by Georgia fans. Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox threw 7 passes in the first half, none of them hit the ground. He completed 4 to his team, and 3 to Georgia defensive back Tre Battle, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Georgia won the game 37-15 and won the rest of their games that season, including a Chick-fil-A Bowl victory over Virginia Tech.
Okay, that was a lot of history to make this simple point, Georgia better be ready to play on Saturday night. This game defines seasons, more often than not. It seems like one of these teams always has something big to play for in November when this game is played, so it makes or breaks your season.
Of course Georgia wins the East with a victory, and Florida wins the East with a Georgia loss. But rest assured, Georgia and Mark Richt lose a whole lot more with a loss. This is the worst Auburn team Richt has ever faced. This is the worst Auburn team in my lifetime (since 1985). Auburn only has Georgia and Alabama left on their SEC schedule, they have yet to win a game in conference play. The last time Auburn went winless in the conference: 1952! This could be the worst Auburn team in the last 60 years! Georgia can't lose this game!
The fact that Georgia fans are even a little nervous about this game, is not a good sign. But in the Richt era, Georgia constantly plays down to lesser opponents.
I don't think that is going to happen on Saturday night. Georgia knows what is at stake. Georgia has everything to play for. Auburn will be firing the coach and starting over as a program in 3 weeks, while Georgia will be taking their best shot at Alabama.
This is going to be a 3 1/2 hour party for Dawg fans! Georgia will get on them early, stay on them throughout, and spend the fourth quarter thinking about which Gatorade tub to hit Richt with at the end of the game.
Georgia 42 Auburn 6
GO DAWGS!!!!!!
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