Found the Dawgs picture card yesterday that we were given a few weeks ago at the SC/GA game in Athens... they snapped our photo in hopes we would buy a print of it...this is what they took:
(I'll pass on purchasing)
Before I could marry princeC, I had to denounce my homeland (GA), burn anything with UGA on it and promise never, ever to spell the word dog: "D-A-W-G", before performing the sacred Carolina conversion ceremony, of which I can only say blood sacrifice is indeed required. But if that hadn't been the case- if I were still a native Dawgs fan, I would consider Sanford Stadium an excellent homeland to make fall football pilgrimages to. Athens was a lot of fun.
To be honest, I am not there for the game... I am there for funnel cakes, Bavarian cashews, and the quiet sport of people watching. The only person I cheer audibly is the cotton candy vendor "One more flight...You Can Do It!... I Can Tip!!" And in that arena, Athens was on top of their game.
Still, no one likes a walk of shame, so as indifferent as I may be concerning teams, I suppose my pleasant experience was tied in closely to the result of the game. The above picture may invoke a less fond memory if we had to walk to our cars with our tail feathers tucked, or worse, in the mouth of the Dawgs.
To their credit, most of GA's fans were cordial and congratulatory. I imagine the handful of fans who did get loud and obnoxious were probably just trying to take their minds off of their bookie's inevitable call.
From what I could tell, Carolina didn't gloat and won with dignity.
Again, from the neutral ground of indifference, I'd have to say my favorite part of the whole trip was the end of the night, when forced to climb Athens' hills to find their bus, Carolina's band seized the opportunity to hold an impromptu ticker tape parade- sans the ticker tape, of course.
We watched them march, in full swing, down a corridor of opposing fans to their bus and regardless of which team they were playing for, it was a special moment to behold. Like those processions for the dead in New O'leans.
Why Yes, it is possible, Virginia, to enjoy a football game, without enjoying football.