Today marks the 112th meeting in their sereis all-time. It is the seventh most-played series in Division I-A football. Auburn leads the it 53-50-8 and 111 games later, 45 total points separate the two teams.
But off the field, “The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry” feels like a family reunion, sort of.
“It is almost like family,” UGA coach Mark Richt said with a knowing smirk. “I wouldn’t say it is like family.”
Almost, however, because it seems half of the coaches on one side come from the other.
Auburn offensive line coach Hugh Nall played at Georgia from 1977-80. Tigers tight ends coach Steven Ensminger was the passing game coordinator for the Bulldogs from 1991-93. Tommy Tuberville and Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez served as graduate assistants together at Miami in 1984. Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner was an All-SEC nose guard at Auburn and later coached there. Offensive line coach Stacy Searels was a player there, as well.
A total of 25 players on Auburn’s roster hail from the Peach State. Even Richt traveled with Tuberville to visit the troops this past offseason among a group of other coaches.
“It seems like everybody gets along a little bit better even though we do compete in a fierce way,” Richt said. “Besides the games, everybody seems to get along. There is a lot of crossover.”
Even in the friendliest of circumstances, there will be the black sheep of the “almost” family. In this case, Auburn kick returner Tristan Davis, who says: “I hate to say hate, but I can’t stand Georgia.”
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN: Before the season began, today’s game was tabbed as one of those that could define a season. Auburn was picked to win the West and Georgia was No. 1 in the nation.
So much for that.
Today will be more about pride than anything for two teams that have fallen well short of their goals to begin the season. Auburn is still fighting to be bowl eligible and Georgia seeks a top New Year’s Day game.
"This is a pride game. Georgia, their national championship hopes have changed,” Auburn center Jason Bosley told the Associated Press in a story this week. “Obviously our goals have changed from what we set out on. This game is all about pride and heart and going out there and fighting every play. Whoever wants it more is going to win it."
Regardless of what’s at stake, this rivalry will always be important to both sides.
"Obviously for the BCS rankings and all those things, it affects that a little bit,” Tuberville said. “But it doesn’t affect the alumni and the fans, everybody that’s directly involved in the game. Everybody wants to play well in this game."
ROAD TRIP: It feels like so long ago Georgia beat Vanderbilt, 24-14, and headed off to Baton Rouge, La., in search of a run to the Southeastern Conference and BCS National Championship.
Today, the Bulldogs play the final road game in its treacherous four-game stretch that will eventually land them back in Sanford Stadium on Nov. 29 to finish off the regular season against bitter rival Georgia Tech.
Georgia hopes to go 3-1 during the stretch but Richt doesn’t think the travel created significant difficulty.
"We don’t mind the away trips" Richt said. "In some ways, it’s good to knock them out in a row compared to if you went home/away and then home/away. The logistics are different. It’s not that big of a deal either way."
FIRST MATE: Auburn has not allowed an offensive touchdown in the first quarter this season.
On the year, the Tigers have outscored opponents, 57-13, during the opening period. The second half has not been as kind, however. Auburn has been beat, 54-29, in the fourth quarter.
HOSPITALITY TENT: The Auburn-Georgia series has become very hospitable of late. Of the last 13 games in the series, eight have been won by the visiting team.
Auburn owns a winning record in Athens (18-10) while Georgia has a winning mark on The Plains (13-9-2).
Of the last six times Georgia traveled to Auburn, the Bulldogs returned victorious four.
