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Jim Griffith Columnist

Published Friday, October 16, 2009

Please, UGA, don't give up on Bulldogs

I have been a University of Georgia Bulldog fan since early high school days in Macon and continuing through my years as a young sports editor for the then Macon Evening News and all the years afterwards.

On game days, I am glued to the TV and dressed out in Bulldog red shirt, socks and black pants. Last Saturday for the Tennessee game, the only part of my Bulldog uniform appropriate to the occasion were my black pants. It was, in every way, a day of mourning.

Like thousands of other members of the Bulldog Clan, I kept waiting and watching for something good to happen for our team, but it never did.

To the bitter last minute, there were those who continued to weakly call out, "Go Dogs!" But the dogs did not go.

The University of Tennessee Volunteers gladly volunteered to give Georgia a good old- fashioned "whupping." (Note: for those who do not understand Southern, one observation is worth reporting: The TV camera zoomed in on Georgia's fearless mascot, UGA, and in keeping with how the game was going, he stopped barking, entered his kennel and went to sleep. Not much was happening for his team, so why not take a nap?)

Dismal game results reminded me of a player Coach Wally Butts told me about. Before kickoff, coach took a starting defensive lineman aside for last-minute advice. On the first play from scrimmage by the opposing team, a running back ran over this boy's position and scored a touchdown. Butts yanked him to the sideline and yelled: "Didn't I tell you to watch that guy 'cause he would score on you?!"

"Yes sir," he nervously replied, "I watched him and he is every bit as good as you said he was."

Who knows? There may have been some standing and watching in the Tennessee game. Anyway, Saturday is a new day and another game. And hope springs eternal in the heart of a true football fan.

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