On Arrogance and Sanctimony

The consensus among Georgia fans in the wake of Florida’s latest win is that Gator fans have risen (sunken?) to new heights (or depths) of arrogance. Moreover, accusations of sanctimony are running rampant.

The latest seems mostly to involve “choke-gate”, in which Georgia assistant Todd Grantham apparently called out to Chas Henry to “choke” while grabbing his throat. This has led to accusations of “classlessness”.

Apparently in SEC football, being called “classless” is the ultimate in insults – the veritable nuclear bomb of word exchange. Just to be clear, we are taking about who has the greatest “class” in an activity in which thousands of people drink copious amounts of alcohol, stand shoulder to shoulder in gaudily colored gear while screaming insanely at the activities of a group of late teens / early twenties who are trying to knock each others heads off.

Fun? Absolutely. Classy? Well….

I’m not sure what Georgia fans expect here. If I offer a “good game” comment, I’m being sanctimonious. If I celebrate, I’m arrogant. Silence?

As for me, I could care less about choke-gate. Donning my pop-psychiatrist hat, I tend to think that great anger about these matters is mostly a case of “projection”. I was very angry about the infamous “celebration”, but upon reflection what I was really angry about was losing the game. I was especially angry that our team failed to respond to such “classless” provocation.

In regard to arrogance, I’m a product of the Gator programs of the 1980’s. My first year in college was 1984, and my final year (law school) 1991. During that time the Gators went 4-4 against the Dawgs (I caught the first 2 years of the Spurrier era).

What did I see during that time? I saw endless references to the 1980 game and “Buck Belue to Lindsay Scott”, including one time when the sole display at the 1991 SEC Championship game by the University of Georiga was a video loop showing this play over and over again (to the laughing taunts of 2 undergrads). I was reminded, seemingly without end, that the Dawgs had an unsurpassable lead in the series, whether they won or lost the particular game at hand. I watched the gloating and taunting of Georgia fans in 1985 when they knocked Florida from it’s first ever AP number 1 ranking after one week. I saw the great Emmitt Smith weep when, in 1989, he realized he would end his career winless against Georgia, and listened to Georgia fans mock him for it. After one loss, I had a female Georgia fan dump a full beer on me at the Landing then dare me to do something to her about it because she was a “lady”.

During those years I probably gave as good as I got (and to the one guy who in 1990 who confronted me in a bathroom and taunted me with “what’s the overall series record?”, and to which I responded “Yes, that’s true, but what if you never win again?” – I’ve only been off by 3 games since then. Don’t feel so cocky now, do you?).

Not to mention, since the series has turned in our favor, Gator fans have been treated to an endless litany of comments about “jean shorts” and “mullet cuts”. I guess such things are thought to personify lack of class, but is being “classy” defined as drunkenly taunting every fan in orange & blue with “Where’s your jorts, Gator?” Some new material might be in order (I saw several Gator fans dressed in cut-off jeans and mullet wigs for Halloween – we pretty much think its funny now too). But I guess that if that's all you've got, you go with it.

If we as Gator fans are arrogant, we learned it from our former Bulldog masters. At the end of my college career, Georgia had a 43-24-2 lead in the series (1991). They had two “national titles” (1942, 1980), and 9 SEC titles. Florida, on the other hand, had just won its first recognized SEC title, and had no recognized national titles.

Twenty seasons later, the series is 46-40-2. Florida has 8 SEC titles total to Georgia’s 11. And, looming largely, are the 3 “national titles” Florida has won.

Moreover, here was Georgia and Florida football overall records as of 1991 (from SEC founding in 1933) –

Georgia: Record of 407-215-27 (0.6479), 13th among NCAA schools
Florida: Record of 340-255-23 (0.5688), 37th among NCAA schools

And as of 2009’s end -

Georgia: Record of 564-279-28 (0.6636), 12th among NCAA schools
Florida: Record of 523-303-24 (0.6294), 17th among NCAA schools

To me, it’s pretty clear what the Georgia fan’s anger is – we’ve become you.

And I think I get that. If Kentucky, who Florida has beaten 24 consecutive times, wins 18 of the next 21 games, I’m going to be angry. I’m pretty sure that every utterance or celebration by Cat fans (I have several in my family) under these circumstances would piss me off.

As to who I should be pissed off at, well that is another matter.

Choke-gate!

A wildfire of outrage is spreading, and Senator Blutarsky is on top of it.

It appears from the article linked by Blutarsky that Chas Henry was aware prior to the kick of Grantham's antics, saying, "Some of their coaches on the sideline were giving me a little grief, saying I was gonna choke.”

I really can't get worked up over this, despite my best efforts. Henry did exactly what a competitor should when challenged - he kicked a field goal to win the game. Challenge met. (This also explains why Henry was so animated after the kick).

Another chapter in Florida - Georgia lore is written. Like the "timeout game" or the "celebration game", this game needed a name. I give you the "choke game"!

Wow

Just back from Jacksonville. For a game that felt like a slowly unfolding train wreck for 60 minutes, the overtime win was sweet indeed (and sweet vindication for a certain punter-turned-placekicker).

There is much to analyze, and much to criticize, but sometimes you just have to look at a win as that - a win.

This is exactly one of those times.

P.S. - I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Senator Blutarsky of Get the Picture who generously donated a beer to this wandering Gator. Likely he's smarting from the game outcome, but I wanted to extend my thanks.

Athens Burning

The landmark Georgia Theater in Athens burns last year. This year the entire town joins in.

The predictable teeth gnashing and wailing is issuing forth from Athens after this weekend’s loss to the heretofore 2nd class SEC Bulldogs.

Moreover, the previously unthinkable is being openly discussed – the end of the Mark Richt era.

It seems like just yesterday that – in the wake of the infamous “celebration” at the WLOCP in Jacksonville – the Georgia faithful were stating “The Worm has Turned” with this type of bravado -

"All of that Gator superiority we’ve come to know and love have vanished from this guy’s mindset. It’s all ghosts now. Three out of the last eighteen? Gone. Visor Boy? Gone. Danny the All-American? Gone. At this point, Franz may not even remember that his team won the last MNC, so consumed is he with wrath over Richt’s perfidy."

Since the “Celebration”? Well the Dawgs have a 24-11 overall record, having lost twice to the Gators by a combined score of 90-27. Not to mention that 2008, that started with Georgia atop the college football world and polls, ended with the BCS title in the Gator’s hands.

Far be it from me to assess what ails Georgia, but I note that their last 4 recruiting classes – ranked 15th, 6th, 7th and 9th by Rivals.com, aren’t the problem. The talent is there.

My best guess is the Richt era is effectively over, especially when we start seeing these type of discussions.

As to the actual end date I cannot guess, but a similar loss to Mississippi State was, unlike the faux “Celebration” in Jacksonville, an ACTUAL turning point in the case of Florida. At that time Jeremy Foley famously said (on firing Ron Zook) “Whatever needs to be done eventually should be done immediately”. I’m predicting eventually here, rather than immediately.

Through the Eyes of Dawgs

Get The Picture is out with their Week 1 SEC Power Poll, which has Florida at 7th.

The sad part - it's hard to argue their point.