| | How do you know when your alma mater has resumed its rightful place among the nation's elite college football programs? When The Onion uses a picture of your stadium as the backdrop for its satire. (My thanks go out to Rusty Gunn for bringing this picture to my attention.)
Yesterday, I commented on the most recent additions to the Bulldogs' schedule.
Paulwesterdawg also shared his thoughts upon the subject, noting, among other things, that the 2012 Georgia-Louisville game at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium "has 'Thursday Night' written all over it." Unlike some Division I-A institutions in the Empire State of the South, Georgia ought to be above playing a Thursday night game, so I hope Paulwesterdawg is mistaken about this (quite plausible) scenario.
Although I approve of the decision to put U. of L. on the Bulldogs' non-conference slate, I found one other aspect of the scheduling odd: Georgia will be playing the Cardinals in the Classic City in 2011 and at Louisville in 2012. Shouldn't it be the other way around?
The Red and Black annually play an Eastern Division game against Kentucky and it has been the case since 1968 that the Wildcats travel to Sanford Stadium in odd-numbered years and the 'Dawgs travel to the Commonwealth in even-numbered years. That means Georgia will play two away games in the Bluegrass State in 2012.
The 386-mile drive from Athens to Lexington is the longest trip the 'Dawgs make to play a division opponent and I have my doubts whether the Georgia faithful will travel to the Hemp State---yes, Kentucky is "the Hemp State"; you can look it up---twice in one autumn. Some sort of football ticket/airline ticket package deal will need to be worked out, lest fan support for the 'Dawgs in these two away games be divided and, hence, diminished.
Paulwesterdawg also directed readers of the Georgia Sports Blog to a recap of the Red and Black's upcoming schedules, highlighting the fact that, because the 2007 Georgia-Troy game has been moved to November 3 (presumably in commemoration of my 39th birthday, which falls on that date), the 'Dawgs have an open date to fill for their September 1 season opener.
Paulwesterdawg cites the fine research efforts of TeddyBulldawg, who has compiled the following comprehensive list of Division I-A teams that do not presently have an opponent scheduled for September 1, 2007:
1. Air Force
2. Arizona
3. Army
4. Brigham Young
5. Clemson
6. Connecticut
7. Maryland
8. Memphis
9. Minnesota
10. North Carolina State
11. Ohio State
12. Oklahoma
13. Pittsburgh
14. Rutgers
15. San Diego State
16. South Florida
17. Stanford
18. Texas
19. Texas A&M
20. U.C.L.A.
21. Wisconsin
That eclectic mix represents a variety of options and a myriad of intriguing possibilities.
Paulwesterdawg has pointed out that Minnesota is not an option, since the Golden Gophers are coached by Glen Mason, who took, then did not take, the Georgia job in 1995. I would love to have a shot at revenge against this nimrod, but there's no way he would ever go for it. In the Glen Mason era, the Golden Gophers' September scheduling has been almost Kansas State-like in its unabashed creampuffery.
Although I wouldn't mind playing Navy if that option existed, I am not interested in playing either of the service academies (Air Force or Army) available on that date. It's not that I wouldn't enjoy hanging half a hundred on former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Ross, but, honestly, it wouldn't be sporting.
Arizona might not be a bad choice, but, since Arizona State is on the schedule in 2008 and 2009, that might be too many run-ins with the Grand Canyon State in too short a span.
Clemson is an excellent option, given the long history of the rivalry between the Bulldogs and the Tigers. Since the two teams first met in 1897, there has never been a hiatus of longer than seven years in the series. The last meeting between the two teams was in 2003 and the resumption of the rivalry is scheduled for 2013. Georgia played at Death Valley in 2003 and the Red and Black will return to Lake Hartwell in 2013. How 'bout if we work in a Georgia-Clemson game between the hedges for the 2007 season opener and prevent the longest gap between series meetings in history?
Ordinarily, I would rule out U.Conn., Pitt, Rutgers, and South Florida right away, but, after the Sugar Bowl debacle, I am ready to get right back on the horse and take on any Big East team we can find. In particular, the 'Dawgs are 0-3-1 all-time against Pittsburgh, so I'd be happy to erase the donut hole against the Panthers. The same goes for Stanford, as Georgia is 0-1 against the Cardinal after blowing a 22-0 lead in the 1978 Bluebonnet Bowl.
Unless we're going to resume the series with Clemson, I don't see any point in scheduling teams from the middle of the A.C.C. pack, so we can rule out Maryland and N.C. State. Memphis and San Diego State hold no attraction and B.Y.U. represents only a marginally better option.
That leaves us with six interesting possibilities: Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, U.C.L.A., and Wisconsin.
I'm not sure how appealing it would be to play the Badgers on September 1, 2007, just 32 months after the Georgia-Wisconsin Outback Bowl on January 1, 2005. Likewise, there are historical reasons for playing the Aggies---to whom the 'Dawgs lost three times in the 1950s (including once in the 1950 Presidential Cup game) before beating Texas A&M between the hedges in 1980---but a contest with the squad from College Station wouldn't be at the top of my list of preferences.
U.C.L.A. would seem like a good choice, as the Bulldogs beat the Bruins in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day 1943 and again in Sanford Stadium in the 1983 season opener, but the two teams have not met since. U.C.L.A. has shown a willingness to schedule Southern teams, as the Bruins have scheduled early season showdowns with Alabama (in 2000 and 2001), Miami (in 1995 and 1998), Tennessee (in 1985, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1996, and 1997), and Texas (in 1997 and 1998). The Volunteers' willingness to take on West Coast teams unquestionably has helped the Big Orange to land recruits in California.
The three best possibilities, though, are the Buckeyes, the Sooners, and the Longhorns. Georgia has never played O.U. and the Bulldogs haven't traveled to the Boomer State since facing O.S.U. (then called Oklahoma A&M) in Stillwater in 1947. The Red and Black have met Ohio State only once, in the 1993 Citrus Bowl, and Georgia and Texas have just enough history to make things interesting.
The 'Dawgs and the 'Horns met twice in the postseason (in the 1949 Orange Bowl and in the 1984 Cotton Bowl) and twice in the regular season (in Atlanta in 1957 and in Austin in 1958). Considering the 2006 recruiting classes Georgia and Texas appear likely to land on national signing day, a season-opening clash between the two teams in 2007 is liable to feature some of the best young talent to be found on the collegiate gridiron.
Given the teams with open dates available, the provincial/historical part of me would prefer to renew the rivalry with Clemson earlier than anticipated . . . but the part of me that wants to take four straight top 10 finishes out for a spin to find out just how far Georgia has come as a program in the 21st century tells me we should call up the 2005 national champions and invite 'em to pay their first visit to Sanford Stadium.
This is much more doable than you might think. The Longhorns' 2006 schedule is set, highlighted by an out-of-conference visit from Ohio State, but Texas's 2007 slate consists of a trio of "T.B.A."s on September 1, September 8, and September 15 before a home date with Rice on September 22.
When Tubby Smith became the Bulldogs' basketball coach, he brought a new mentality to Georgia hoops, declaring in no uncertain terms that you become the best by playing the best. That certainly was the attitude of the Longhorn fans at Burnt Orange Nation, who made it known throughout the fall that they wanted a Texas-Southern Cal Rose Bowl so that there would be no doubt.
That should be the attitude of the Georgia football program, as well. You become the best by playing the best and, right now, there is no better team in college football than Texas.
September 1, 2007. Georgia. Texas. Sanford Stadium. Why not?
Go 'Dawgs! |
