Georgia Bulldogs Will Meet Clemson Tigers to Open 2013 and 2014 Football Seasons

When you saw Senator Blutarsky’s mention of the upcoming renewal of the rivalry between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Clemson Tigers, you knew I’d be commenting on it, didn’t you?

In case you missed it, here is the report on the border foes’ revival of hostilities:

Clemson released on its website on Wednesday that Georgia will play in Death Valley on Aug. 31, 2013 and the Tigers will visit Athens on Aug. 30, 2014.

It goes without saying that I am all in favor of opening the season against Clemson, and not just because Georgia’s all-time record against the Country Gentlemen in the month of August is 2-0. A brief bit of history from the annals of the rivalry explains why I favor this move:

Although no series meetings between the Bulldogs and the Tigers took place prior to October until 1945, the two teams have squared off in the season-opening outing for both clubs seven times, in 1897, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1982, 2002, and 2003. In 1946, the rivalry showdown took place in the Red and Black’s first game after the Orange and Purple already had played one game.

In other words, 2013 and 2014 will be the fifth and sixth seasons, respectively, since the founding of the Southeastern Conference in which the Bulldogs open the autumn with a game against the Tigers. Here is how Georgia fared in the first through fourth such seasons:

• 1946: 11-0, SEC champions, Sugar Bowl, AP No. 3
• 1982: 11-1, SEC champions, Sugar Bowl, AP No. 4
• 2002: 13-1, SEC champions, Sugar Bowl, AP No. 3
• 2003: 11-3, SEC East champions, Capital One Bowl, AP No. 7

Yeah, I could live with those results in Isaiah Crowell’s junior and senior seasons.

Go ‘Dawgs!