Played at the end of regular season and known as Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, the Georgia versus Georgia Tech football rivalry always bring anticipation with it. The Bulldogs have not lost to the Yellow Jackets since 2000, but Tech is especially looking forward to Saturday’s game in Athens, as the Jackets are experiencing a remarkable 8-3 season under new head coach Paul Johnson. It will be Johnson’s first game in the series and he will look to put a blemish on Georgia head coach Mark Richt’s perfect 7-0 record against Tech. The head coaches are foreign to each other, but the players have known each other for a long time, just another reason why the rivalry is as intense on the field as it is between the fan bases off of it. “It means a lot. Obviously it’s the last game of the year. It’s a senior game,” said Bulldog cornerback Asher Allen. “It’s a big-time game because everybody knows each other.”
Around 64 percent of scholarship Georgia players are from the Peach State, while Tech has over 70 players, including walk-ons, who are local products. Allen grew up in Georgia, playing prep ball at Tucker High School, and could have very well been a Yellow Jacket. “I lived about 15 minutes away from the campus,” Allen said. “During recruiting, I was thinking about going there.”
The junior ultimately chose Georgia over several schools and has held bragging rights over his Tech friends the last two years.
For players that are not from Georgia, they may have to experience the rivalry before knowing the magnitude of it. Take for instance New Jersey native and Bulldog tailback Knowshon Moreno. “I really didn’t know too much about it, coming down here, but now being here I know it’s a big game for both teams,” Moreno said.
Moreno, a redshirt sophomore, played in his first Georgia-Georgia Tech game a year ago, the Bulldogs’ seventh straight victory in the series. Despite the recent success being on Georgia’s side, Moreno is not putting too much stock into that good fortune. “Streaks really don’t matter,” he said. “Every year is a different year, so we really just have to play good football, because they’re a really good team. They’re going to play their hearts out and we’ve got to match them.”
Moreno will be matching up against the Yellow Jacket defense. Last year, they held him to 45 yards on 17 carries and definitely have his attention this season. “The front four are really good athletes and they make plays,” Moreno said. “Their secondary is doing a good job and their linebackers flow to the ball real well and make tackles. I think we have a lot on our plate.”
Johnson’s arrival on The Flats has caused the Tech fan base to be as optimistic as they have been since Richt arrived in Athens. The former Georgia Southern and Navy head coach’s offensive approach and attitude has the Yellow Jackets believing they will end the Bulldogs’ streak this season, and has also caught the attention of Georgia. “This year, it’s a game that you know you’re going to have to play full speed every play,” Allen said. “If you don’t, they’ll gash you on offense and they’re defense is playing stout. It’s a big challenge for us to come out with a win this year.”
Besides getting a win over their in-state rival, Georgia does have other motivation going into Saturday. “More importantly it’s the last game for the seniors and you want to do your best and also it’s a game that this year could put us in a better bowl if we win,” Allen said.
Still, no matter what bowl the Bulldogs play in this year, the trip probably will not be as sweet without a win against Tech.
Butler can be reached at jbutler@scoreatl.com.
Loading ...
