Is the Auburn-Georgia Rivalry History?

by Jay Coulter on Feb 13, 2012 3:00 AM CST in Football

Are moments like this on the way out for Auburn and Georgia?

Here's a Monday quiz for you: Name me all the football teams in the Big East. How about the Big 12? Don't feel bad; there are few among us who probably can these days. In less than a year, college football realignment has completely changed the look of the sport. Now it appears those changes may hit closer to home.

Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity made a startling comment last week that if true, could have far reaching ramifications on the SEC. With member schools seemingly against going to a nine-game conference football schedule, McGarity fears rivalries like Auburn-Georgia and Alabama-Tennessee may become causalities of the new look SEC.

The issues are numerous. The SEC's upcoming season schedule is a one-year deal. Beyond it lies more than a few obstacles to saving the South's Oldest Rivalry. With Texas A&M and Missouri joining the SEC, the conference is moving to a 6-2 format, meaning each school plays six teams from its division and two from the other - one permanent and one rotating.

McGarity rightly points out that there are only two true cross-divisional rivalries - Auburn/Georgia and Alabama/Tennessee. His fear is that other member institutions may prefer moving to a rotating schedule when playing outside the division. This season Auburn faces Vanderbilt (rotating) and Georgia (permanent) from the East.

SEC presidents and athletic directors are set to meet the week of the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament, devoting an entire day to scheduling for 2013 and beyond.

"I think if you ask Alabama and Tennessee, like us and Auburn, we'd like to retain the (permanent cross-divisional) games," says McGarity. "But does that work? What do the other 10 schools think? Those four schools like having those games but there's no other East-West match-up that has that piece of history to it. So I don't (know) where that fits in."

The ACC announced a few weeks back that it was moving to a nine-game conference schedule now that Pittsburgh and Syracuse have joined. The chances of the SEC following suit are slim.

The reasons most cited by SEC schools for not favoring a nine-game schedule are to save out-of-conference rivalries like Georgia-Georgia Tech, Florida-Florida State and South Carolina-Clemson. McGarity says a nine-game conference schedule along with state-rival Georgia Tech could make things tough on the field.

"Nine games, and Georgia Tech, that makes 10 games, he said. "If you ever wanted to schedule Clemson or Ohio State, like we have, then that only leaves one guarantee game. That's a pretty tough schedule. Fans would love it. But I don't know if your coaches or players (would). That's strapping it up 11 of 12 weeks there. You have to have some time where some players play who never get a chance to be on the field."

Something lost in McGarity's concern over a nine-game conference schedule is whether these ACC schools will continue rivalries with their SEC foes. They too are facing similar issues to the SEC.

There was a time when the thought of Auburn-Georgia and Alabama-Tennessee going away seemed impossible. It was bad enough when Tennessee and Florida vanished from the yearly Auburn schedule back in 1992.

But Georgia? That's sacred. It will never happen. Right?

I'm not sure anymore.

We chuckled when the Oklahoma-Nebraska series went away. We wondered aloud how the Big 12 let it happen. We said it could never happen in the SEC.

Suddenly, here we are today. It's not farfetched to envision Auburn-Georgia, Alabama-Tennessee, Florida-Florida State, Georgia-Georgia Tech and South Carolina-Clemson all vanishing off the college football landscape in the near future.

And for what? So the SEC could add Texas A&M and Missouri and the ACC could welcome Syracuse and Pittsburgh? That's a lot of sacrifice for four mediocre programs. Then again, it's not about the schools as much as it is the television markets.

Call me old school, but things were so much better when there were just 10 of us in the SEC.

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one way

would be send AU to the east and UT to the west.
UT would have to give up Vandy and Ky though…
But are those really rivalries?…
For AU it would be great, getting UF every year back…
Not sure there is a solution for the ACC-SEC rivalries….

"when the eagles go silent, the parrots will jabber"
Winston Churchill

by aubiece on Feb 13, 2012 7:30 AM CST reply actions

As much as I "strongly dislike them"

We CAN’T lose the Iron Bowl….I don’t think us going to the East is really an option. Although we would be in a MUCH better position to go to Atlanta each year.

I love the smell of Auburn in the autumn.....it smells like....victory.

by Col.Angus on Feb 13, 2012 8:10 AM CST up reply actions

That would be no solution

The same problem would exist with Auburn-Alabama at that point

by AuburnDawg on Feb 13, 2012 8:13 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

The easiest way...

…to deal with it would be for AU-GA and UA-UT to play as a non-conference game if they aren’t on the conference schedule. No scheduling impact on the SEC, and AU-GA-UA-UT fans get a quality OOC game to boot.

by scrodz on Feb 13, 2012 8:13 AM CST reply actions

Again.....its all about the money

Please McGarity…..I want to puke. “Some kids won’t get to play if go to a 9 game conference schedule”. WHAT!! Is this NCAA football or Pop Warner Booo-friggin-hoo.

Thats a first for THAT lie. The truth is they don’t want to lose that extra home game every other year.
I’m as big a capitalist as anybody but this moneygrubbing without enduring any sacrifice to GET that money, just turns my stomach. These A-holes that run the university’s want to keep running patsy’s out there for half of the home schedule every year just so they can keep that extra game of revenue. I know that the revenue is important for the university but at what cost???

I love the smell of Auburn in the autumn.....it smells like....victory.

by Col.Angus on Feb 13, 2012 8:22 AM CST reply actions

It was my thought that the huge increase in revenue...

The huge increase in revenue from the TV rights should allow that we only have one patsy each year, at Homecoming. The rest of the season, should be devoted to winning championships.

Adding UGA as a regular OOC game on the years when they are not in the rotation, would earn each school much respect in the national media. That is something Auburn needs more than anything nationally, is the respect of the media away from the South. It’s a win/win for both schools.

Come and join me at http://trackemtigers.com

by KoolBell777 on Feb 13, 2012 8:52 AM CST up reply actions

It'll never happen.

For reasons stated above…..plus I’m sure the other schools would block it anyway. The only thing the SEC presidents all have in common, other than insisting that they all get what they want, is that nobody else gets what they want either.

I love the smell of Auburn in the autumn.....it smells like....victory.

by Col.Angus on Feb 13, 2012 10:08 AM CST up reply actions

How much money is enough money?

SEC had the best model out there. Why ‘O why did we screw it up? Eight BCS – NC’s including 6 in a row and now we are faced with the possibility of ending the South’s oldest rivalry… all for more $$$$..

AubTigerman
"The reason you come to Auburn is because of Auburn people.This is a special place, from the coaches all the way to the fans" - Andrew McCain OT

by aubtigerman on Feb 13, 2012 8:52 AM CST reply actions

If schools are voting on this...

I doubt LSU or Florida would want to drop that game as a permanent rivalry. It’s nowhere near Bama-UT, or UGA-AU from a history perspective, but its a huge game for the conference and has been picked up by CBS for ages.

Alabama fans, ask yourself this question: Is this who you want representing your University and your fanbase?

"Been saying it for six f**king years now...That g**damn hurricane just wasn’t big enough." - Outsidethesidelines, Manager, RollBamaRoll.com

http://www.rollbamaroll.com/2011/12/3/2607240/sec-championship-game-open-thread#

outsidethesidelines@gmail.com

by LSU Jonno on Feb 13, 2012 8:53 AM CST reply actions

Timming is everything...

From twitter just this morning.

atlantaAUclub Atlanta Auburn Club
One week from today is 120th anniversary of first AU-UGA game/Piedmont Park RT @OpenWaterAU: @atlantaAUclub Would rather play uga than bama

Come and join me at http://trackemtigers.com

by KoolBell777 on Feb 13, 2012 8:59 AM CST reply actions

Why does it have to be the same for all of the teams?

Why not two scheduling schemes: A 6-1-1 for teams that want to keep cross division rivalries (as stated before probably just 6 if you include LSU-FL) and a 6-2 for teams that don’t. For teams that don’t want a permanent rival, their first non-division game is selected from the other non-rivalry teams.

Teams that want rivalries get to keep them at the expense of playing more “vanilla” schedules. Teams that don’t want rivalries get more dynamic schedules at the expense of playing a few teams less often.

It’s a win-win-win. Each side wins because they get (basically) what they want and I win for having successfully mediated a conflict in the conference.

by fdoubleprime on Feb 13, 2012 10:40 AM CST reply actions

I think this is the best solution to the problem.

This would create a certain imbalance among SEC schedules but one kinda already exists(UGA-FLA in JAX as opposed to home-home). I would think that the SEC’s television partners would be all for this type of move considering those three rivalries are always tier one games(CBS 3:30, 8:00, ESPN 7:30) for their respective week’s lineup.

by JoeinSavannah on Feb 13, 2012 10:46 AM CST up reply actions

If AU ever goes to the East...

I look for the IB to fade away. It will be played on a rotational schedule. And frankly… that’s fine by me. Good ridance. We need a break. The air is almost toxic here anyway.

The good news it would keep the UGA game alive.

But if AU stays in the West…. then it’s bye-bye UGA’s. Ultimately, I think it’s going to come down between one or the other sooner than later. And if it’s preference you want… you have heard mine. I mean… if they aren’t taking recruits out from under us…they are accusing us of cheating (see Cam Newton scandal that was perpetuated by bama fans). So exactly why does the IB have to stay around? Screw nostalgia. There was a reason it was stopped for so long before. And if you think it was ONLY about the money… I got some land in south Alabama that you need to look at… it’s just got a few pesky gators on it.

I think the SEC would be stupid to go to a one game out of conference opponent if no one else is doing it. Reason? Unless the SEC gets an automatic bid for it’s best team… the SEC is writing itself out of the conversation (my opinion) in terms of rankings. But I guess that is again up to how they do the “new” BCS formula. Personally – I would love to have two SEC teams make it into the play off if possible.

And about the 9 game schedule…. I am no math whiz… but isn’t that going to be mute if we add even more teams to the conference. I thought we were to pick up two more??
That would make us a 16 team conference. Break each division into sub-divisions… and parcel up the fight in the divisions to find the divisional champ? Does this mean you could still get more out of conference foes?

You guys figure this out and let me know.

WDE

"Negative? Hell's bells. I can out drink anyone in the kool-aide department. But I also like to be realistic. Don't you?"

by wde1988 on Feb 13, 2012 11:20 AM CST reply actions

Don’t mean to offend, but it is moot. If it is your phone’s fault… Dang autocorrect!

As far as the subject goes, I like the quasi-OOC game idea. It may have to be left out of the standings though, due to cases with two one loss teams, one with less wins owning the head to head. The television contract may also be an issue… How are rights to OOC games handled? If the AU-UGA game would be under the SEC contract when OOC games are normally negotiated outside of it, that would be a huge issue.

by deep blue on Feb 13, 2012 3:15 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

I agree

Enough playing Bama. Bring back Florida and TN.

by bamasux on Feb 13, 2012 12:37 PM CST reply actions

In terms of revenue,

I thought that Auburn-UGA and Bama-UT were HUGE revenue generators…seems like that would be impetus enough to keep them.

Honestly, if we had to choose, I would keep Georgia and lose Bama. Yes, Dawg fans can be crazy and arrogant and crazy, but at least they fundamentally understand how to have a mostly civilized rivalry. I’m feeling done with West Vance. Done.

"We see the door; we're here to knock it down"-Cam Newton

by Tiger on the mountain on Feb 13, 2012 12:50 PM CST reply actions

The money grubbing SEC execs might kill the "goose"

How much more of this crap are we, the fans going to take? First UT, then UF, now UGA? Our only traditional rivals left are Bama & State. Who the hell wants to play TAMU, Ark, Ole Miss every year. Crap, crap, crap. You SEC execs are a disgrace. I am a native Alabamian, have lived in GA since I graduated in ’87. Not playing both Bama & UGA yearly is unfathomable. One of the oldest rivalries in the nation & the oldest in the Deep South is going away! Come on, man! Of course, Mizzou sent their oldest rivalry (KU) to the dump as did TAMU. What a steaming pile of crap. I mean really, no more Nebraska-OU; no UT-A&M; no Mizzou-Kansas (particuliarly in basketball). This is getting crazy.

Is it possible to go back to 1990 & stick with 10?

by AETiger on Feb 13, 2012 3:50 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

Hell with Bama-Lets move EAST

I say the best solution is to be in the East. We play all of our traditional rivals(except Bama). I agree with the previous posts. Who needs Bama. If we stay in the West our schedule will consist of Ark, Miss. St., Ole Miss, LSU, Mizzzou and A&M with the East rotating teams. That does not sound as good to me as UGA, Tenn, Fla, S.C., Vandy, and Kentucky with the West rotating teams. Staying in the West preserves only one traditional rival (Bama) at the expense of all our other true rivals. We recruit primarily in the states of Florida, Georgia and Alabama and I expect most of our fan base is not located west of the Alabama border. Travel would be easier for the fans and the games would be more meaningful. We probably end up playing Bama 5 out of 10 years in the SEC Championship game anyway.

by Audaddy on Feb 13, 2012 8:01 PM CST reply actions

I guess I'm in the strict minority here...

I’d rather keep Alabama. The rivalry is just too full of hate to let go for my taste. That said, I wouldn’t care the least tiny bit if you we lost our game with UGA. That wouldn’t bother me so much. For that matter, I’d love to lose the LSU game too. I HATE THOSE GUYS! In other news, sorry about the diaries folks, just haven’t had the time to do them lately.

It's Auburn against the world. Good luck world.

by Sparkey on Feb 13, 2012 9:03 PM CST reply actions

ga v Aub

why would anyone do anything special or different regarding future SEC schedules in order to protect some perceived historic event. Nothing historically significant about Ala Tenn or Ga Aub

by Dog in Nam on Feb 14, 2012 1:56 AM CST reply actions

Are you serious?

by AETiger on Feb 14, 2012 7:03 AM CST up reply actions

Judging from the guy's name...

I think he’s saying his piece about whether or not football is really all that historically significant. As in, football is just not too important when you break everything down which I don’t agree with as a professional historian myself. The ritual of college football is a good microcosm when you’re trying to learn the culture of the post-secondary education in America the last 20-50 years. Case in point, when Ole Miss stopped its protests again integration because they simply “Wanted to play the football game” as the young girl said. I must most respectfully disagree that football doesn’t hold much historical significance. Now as far as though two particular games, again I must disagree. They are a good indicator to the feelings of people around our region and just how important we hold athletics in this country. Which, I’ve said many times, is way too high.

It's Auburn against the world. Good luck world.

by Sparkey on Feb 14, 2012 9:38 AM CST up reply actions