Our Turn to Spoil Their Season

Mark Richt has won two SEC Championships during his tenure at The University of Georgia. During both of those seasons, Georgia went into the game in Jacksonville with undefeated records only to fall short against the Gators.

In 2002, Georgia came to Florida sporting a #4 national ranking and an 8-0 record that included key victories over #22 Alabama and #10 Tennessee. Georgia was led by rising star David Pollack, who had made a name for himself with his amazing interception for a touchdown against South Carolina earlier in the year. Steve Spurrier had left Gainesville for the NFL, and the Dawgs were favored to defeat Florida for the first time under Mark Richt. A defensive struggle throughout the game, Florida took the lead in the 4th quarter on a touchdown pass from Rex Grossman. Georgia attempted to tie the score when David Greene found a wide open Terrance Edwards streaking down the field, but Edwards let the ball drop through his hands. Final Score, Florida 20, Georgia 13.

Unfortunately, more people remember Edwards for his drop than his brilliant career at Georgia

After stomping Boise State to open the 2005 season, Georgia was rolling along with 6 straight victories before hosting Arkansas for homecoming. But with the Dawgs out to an early lead, senior quarterback DJ Shockley was injured. The Dawgs held on to win 23-20, but knew they were facing a tough task in Jacksonville the following week.

Without Shockley, the Georgia offense failed to get going. They were able to hold the #18 Gators in check and finally found the endzone on a reverse pass to Shockley's replacement, Joe Tereshinski.

Joe T III put up a fight, but the Dawgs came up on losing end, 14-10.

Georgia would lose its next game to Auburn the following week, but recovered to defeat LSU in Atlanta for the second SEC title of the Mark Richt era.

This year, the tables are turned as Florida comes in #1 in the country and a perfect 7-0 record. Despite three national championships in the last 15 years, Florida has never had an undefeated championship season. The Dawgs have a chance to play the spoiler, much like the Gators have in years past. It will take one hell of an effort, but in this series, the better team doesn't always come out the victor.

GO DAWGS!!!

1937

The last time UGA met Tennessee when both teams were unranked. Like this Saturday, the game was played in Knoxville.

Tennessee won 32-0. I pray for the mental health of the Bulldawg Nation that doesn't happen this Saturday.

The Dawgs and Vols have met 25 times since that 1937 meeting. An impressive streak of at least one program being ranked between the two. Something you might expect when discussing the program with second most SEC titles (Tennessee - 13) against the program with the third most SEC titles (Georgia - 12). These are the kind of historical streaks that Florida doesn't have. Both UT and UGA have actually played football for 100+ years at a quality level.

From 1972: UGA QB and Athens High School's very own Andy Johnson squares off against UT LB Art Reynolds at Sanford Stadium. #13 UT would win 14-0. Yet another UGA-UT matchup in which at least one team was ranked. Courtesy of UPI and govolsxtra.com.

The 1937 Georgia team finished 6-3-2 and was Coach Harry Mehre's last Georgia team. Mehre coached the Dawgs from 1928 to 1937, recorded an overall record of 59-34-6 (.626), and led Georgia as an initial member of the Southeastern Conference in 1933.

Coach Joel Hunt would lead the Dawgs for one season in 1938 before Coach Wally Butts took over in 1939 and would be the head man for 21 seasons.

Side note: The 1937 Tennessee team was led by the famous General Robert Neyland. They finished 6-3-1, shutting out 7 opponents. Yes, the tie was 0-0 with Duke. The 1938 Vols would go on to shut out 8 opponents, while the 1939 Vols would shut out 10 opponents and the 1940 Vols would shut out 8 opponents.

Neyland left after 1940 as he was recalled to military service during World War II. He returned to coach the Vols from 1946 to 1952.