Things I Learned to Hate in 2008-2009

Every year my hate meter fluctuates somewhat.  Not on hating the truly repellent things, like the University of Florida, Dennis Felton's "offense," or temperance.  No, the fluctuating hate is at the margins and often temporary, but it is still a quality vitriol.  Here are a few things I can't forgive for their actions last year. 

1. Alabama. - Some of you have always hated Alabama and will hate them forever.  I didn't really mind them too much until last year because we had beaten them in thrilling fashion during the Richt era and they were sometimes good for a crucial win over Florida or Tennessee when the East standings were tight.  This year's game set up perfectly for us: home night game, blackout, Bama showered bulletin board material at us, UF lost that afternoon, national television audience, USC lost earlier in the week, #1 was back in our grasp.  It had the feeling of a coronation in pregame warm-ups.  Then, this happened.  Total despair.  You won't endear yourself to me ever again, Bammers.  On a related note ...
2. Being #1 Before the End of a Season. - Georgia doesn't do well as #1, unless they are hitting forehands, riding horses, or doing somersaults.  Need proof?  Football started the season at #1 and produced one of the most disappointing seasons we are likely to ever produce.  Baseball was #1 before, and briefly during, the conference slate.  They ended the year with a 3-12 streak and didn't host a regional, which appeared to be a lock half way through the year.  Even the golf team, ranked #1 for almost all of the year, almost choked away a spot for match play day before falling in the final four.  If we are never #1 during a season ever again, I'm OK.  I'll wait until the end of the season for that ranking.
3. Rain - It makes the grass grow, sure, but rain really screwed us this year.  First, with the SEC Baseball Tournament title in sight, the SEC umps marched Alex McRee to the mound under heavy rain in Hoover and no hope of a break in the weather.  McRee gave up seven runs in the top of the first with water pouring off the bill of his cap.  Then, the umps called a four hour delay and we resumed play down 7-0 without McRee.  In the improved climate, LSU waltzed through the game and eventually took the title.  We were still trying to dry off.  It wasn't just baseball, though.  In the NCAA tennis quarterfinals, the Dawgs had just finished taking the doubles point from Texas when a long line of Texas thunderstorms soaked College Station and delayed play until the next morning.  Texas came out regrouped and ready.  The Horns got four singles courts in route to a 4-2 win, ending the season for UGA. 

Honorable mentions include: timeouts, Jeff Dantzler's designated driver, the Rally Rat, knee instability, and the inferno stadium bathrooms at Arizona State.

Any others that I should have listed?

Quinton

Things I Learned to Hate in 2008-2009

Every year my hate meter fluctuates somewhat.  Not on hating the truly repellent things, like the University of Florida, Dennis Felton's "offense," or temperance.  No, the fluctuating hate is at the margins and often temporary, but it is still a quality vitriol.  Here are a few things I can't forgive for their actions last year. 

1. Alabama. - Some of you have always hated Alabama and will hate them forever.  I didn't really mind them too much until last year because we had beaten them in thrilling fashion during the Richt era and they were sometimes good for a crucial win over Florida or Tennessee when the East standings were tight.  This year's game set up perfectly for us: home night game, blackout, Bama showered bulletin board material at us, UF lost that afternoon, national television audience, USC lost earlier in the week, #1 was back in our grasp.  It had the feeling of a coronation in pregame warm-ups.  Then, this happened.  Total despair.  You won't endear yourself to me ever again, Bammers.  On a related note ...
2. Being #1 Before the End of a Season. - Georgia doesn't do well as #1, unless they are hitting forehands, riding horses, or doing somersaults.  Need proof?  Football started the season at #1 and produced one of the most disappointing seasons we are likely to ever produce.  Baseball was #1 before, and briefly during, the conference slate.  They ended the year with a 3-12 streak and didn't host a regional, which appeared to be a lock half way through the year.  Even the golf team, ranked #1 for almost all of the year, almost choked away a spot for match play day before falling in the final four.  If we are never #1 during a season ever again, I'm OK.  I'll wait until the end of the season for that ranking.
3. Rain - It makes the grass grow, sure, but rain really screwed us this year.  First, with the SEC Baseball Tournament title in sight, the SEC umps marched Alex McRee to the mound under heavy rain in Hoover and no hope of a break in the weather.  McRee gave up seven runs in the top of the first with water pouring off the bill of his cap.  Then, the umps called a four hour delay and we resumed play down 7-0 without McRee.  In the improved climate, LSU waltzed through the game and eventually took the title.  We were still trying to dry off.  It wasn't just baseball, though.  In the NCAA tennis quarterfinals, the Dawgs had just finished taking the doubles point from Texas when a long line of Texas thunderstorms soaked College Station and delayed play until the next morning.  Texas came out regrouped and ready.  The Horns got four singles courts in route to a 4-2 win, ending the season for UGA. 

Honorable mentions include: timeouts, Jeff Dantzler's designated driver, the Rally Rat, knee instability, and the inferno stadium bathrooms at Arizona State.

Any others that I should have listed?

Quinton

The Fire's in their Eyes and their Words are Really Clear

To be honest, reading the Auburn quotes regarding Georgia players dancing to the Soulja Boy (seen above) during last year's makes me think..."What a bunch of whiners." You were up 20-17 and ended up getting mauled 45-20. Soulja Boy should've been the least of your concerns.

"That's been on my mind for the whole year," said Auburn receiver Rod Smith, a Georgia native. "They even had whoever was calling the game — those guys were up in press box doing that (dancing). That got to me. It's just another opportunity to try to get them back for what they did to us last year. I've definitely been looking forward to this game. This is the game that's been marked on my calendar since last year.

"I'm sure it didn't sit well with any of the players on the team. It was a hurtful feeling in my heart to be on the sideline and to see those guys dancing."

To quote Dawgnoxious yesterday, "I feel terrible we gave Rod Smith a hurtful feeling in his heart. I hope the pain did not radiate all the way down to his uterus."

It's almost like they're disappointed that they lost the dance off...not the game. Apparently, Auburn is expecting the pre-game coin toss to be similar to the opening scene from the Beat It video with Penn Wagers tying Knowshon and Tristan Davis together at the wrist. From the Montgomery Advertiser:

Players who draw unsportsmanlike conduct penalties often spend extra time with strength coach Kevin Yoxall in the days following the transgression.

That's a price Davis is willing to pay.

"I've got something for them: Don't let me get in the end zone," said Davis, who has returned two kickoffs for scores this season. "If I score on a kickoff return against Georgia, I'm with Yox the rest of my life. I'm going to let it be known. They might want to get me right now."

With that in mind....

Richt Told Tristan Don't You Ever Play Around Here
Don't Wanna to Recruit you, You Better Disappear
The Fire's In his Tristan's Eyes And His Words Are Really Clear
So Beat It, Just Beat It

He Better Run, He Better Do What He Can
Don't Wanna See No Dance, Don't Be A TD Man
You Wanna Be Tough, Better Talk While You Can
So Beat It, But You Wanna Be Bad.

Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It
No One Wants To Be 5-5
Showin' How Funky Spread is Your O
It Doesn't Matter Who's QB or Throws
Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It

You Have To Show Them That You're Really Not Scared
You're Losing with Your Line, This Ain't No Winning Team
They'll Kick You, Then They Beat You,
Then They'll Tell You It's Fair
So Beat It, But You Wanna Be Bad

It doesn't matter who's wrong or who's right. Just beat it.

Heee. Heee. Ohhh. No. Heeee. Heeee.

See Also:
-- Georgia vs. Auburn Tickets Starting at $52 (as of this posting)

PWD

The Fire's in their Eyes and their Words are Really Clear

To be honest, reading the Auburn quotes regarding Georgia players dancing to the Soulja Boy (seen above) during last year's makes me think..."What a bunch of whiners." You were up 20-17 and ended up getting mauled 45-20. Soulja Boy should've been the least of your concerns.

"That's been on my mind for the whole year," said Auburn receiver Rod Smith, a Georgia native. "They even had whoever was calling the game — those guys were up in press box doing that (dancing). That got to me. It's just another opportunity to try to get them back for what they did to us last year. I've definitely been looking forward to this game. This is the game that's been marked on my calendar since last year.

"I'm sure it didn't sit well with any of the players on the team. It was a hurtful feeling in my heart to be on the sideline and to see those guys dancing."

To quote Dawgnoxious yesterday, "I feel terrible we gave Rod Smith a hurtful feeling in his heart. I hope the pain did not radiate all the way down to his uterus."

It's almost like they're disappointed that they lost the dance off...not the game. Apparently, Auburn is expecting the pre-game coin toss to be similar to the opening scene from the Beat It video with Penn Wagers tying Knowshon and Tristan Davis together at the wrist. From the Montgomery Advertiser:

Players who draw unsportsmanlike conduct penalties often spend extra time with strength coach Kevin Yoxall in the days following the transgression.

That's a price Davis is willing to pay.

"I've got something for them: Don't let me get in the end zone," said Davis, who has returned two kickoffs for scores this season. "If I score on a kickoff return against Georgia, I'm with Yox the rest of my life. I'm going to let it be known. They might want to get me right now."

With that in mind....

Richt Told Tristan Don't You Ever Play Around Here
Don't Wanna to Recruit you, You Better Disappear
The Fire's In his Tristan's Eyes And His Words Are Really Clear
So Beat It, Just Beat It

He Better Run, He Better Do What He Can
Don't Wanna See No Dance, Don't Be A TD Man
You Wanna Be Tough, Better Talk While You Can
So Beat It, But You Wanna Be Bad.

Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It
No One Wants To Be 5-5
Showin' How Funky Spread is Your O
It Doesn't Matter Who's QB or Throws
Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It

You Have To Show Them That You're Really Not Scared
You're Losing with Your Line, This Ain't No Winning Team
They'll Kick You, Then They Beat You,
Then They'll Tell You It's Fair
So Beat It, But You Wanna Be Bad

It doesn't matter who's wrong or who's right. Just beat it.

Heee. Heee. Ohhh. No. Heeee. Heeee.

See Also:
-- Georgia vs. Auburn Tickets Starting at $52 (as of this posting)

PWD