No. 10 - Bulldawg Illustrated X: UGA vs. Georgia Tech, 11/27/10
It’s amazing to think that a young man from Calhoun, Scott Blair, and his failed PAT had so much to do with several things I’m sure he never thought he’d be part of—namely, the loss of the game. But let’s not forget: Georgia became bowl eligible when his kick went wide, and under some unfortunate twist of fate, he might have even helped ensure that the coach of his school’s biggest rival will stay put in Athens… all but guaranteeing another win for the Dawgs come 2011. Richt might not be able to beat Florida, but he sure as hell doesn’t have a problem with Tech.
That being said—we just might finish this horrid season batting above .500 if we can win our bowl game. Who would’ve thought it? Certainly not me, and certainly not the guy I watched the game with.
I spent Saturday evening with a friend who I’ll call… well, let’s call him Beauregard. Mr. Beauregard is a unique character in that his older brother went to Tech and his younger brother went to Georgia. Mr. Beauregard went to State and, unfortunately, has a tendency to pull for the Jackets when these two teams battle (hence the name change… he’s my friend, and as such, I’m obligated to protect his reputation).
I hadn’t been to the Beauregard compound in a while and was surprised to see his “man cave” had been turned into a playroom for baby Beauregard (his child’s name has to be protected too—we wouldn’t want future classmates harassing this kid for Daddy’s indiscretions). Gone was the humidor that used to house a selection of fine cigars. So was the dilapidated fish tank that only a bachelor could appreciate. And the loft-like atmosphere had been boarded up to ensure kids don’t pull a Superman and hurt themselves.
I guess I’m not the only one whose life is changing.
Baby Beauregard was put to bed early so my friend and I could enjoy an evening of adult beverages, a pinch of tobacco, and his tasty halftime chili. Beauregard and I caught up on one another’s personal and professional lives, reminisced about our days working in Yellowstone together, and made a bet—the loser had to buy beer for our next round of golf. It was a fair bet, and I won.
But this is where Beauregard pulled a quick one: the loser also gets to pick what the winner has to wear on the golf course. Don’t ask me why I agreed—ask Jim Beam.
You might be thinking, “Don’t most golf courses have a dress code?” And I’d answer, “Yes, most do.” But as you may recall from a previous writing, my golf course of choice could care less… let’s just say the PGA won’t be hosting a tournament there anytime soon.
Lord only knows what I’ll be wearing when I hit the links, but I do know this—Georgia beat Georgia Tech for the 9th time in 10 years! So I’ll be a good sport. I’ll probably look like a complete idiot. But then again, Mr. Beauregard might have a heart and opt for an old-school look—picture Bobby Jones in a driving cap and tie. Boy, would that confuse the regulars.
I’ll hope for the latter and be prepared for the worst.
Either way—our Dawgs ended the regular season with a win over the Jackets, and we can finally close this embarrassing chapter of Georgia football.
I’ve read we’ll probably get an invite to the Peach Bowl… so let’s raise our glasses to a bowl game win and a happier 2011.
P.S. I know you’re reading this, Beauregard… so make sure the beer is cold, and don’t forget the golden rule: what goes around comes around. i.e., you might end up golfing 18 holes dressed like the guy above if you opt against the “Booby Jones” look… of course, that’s assuming Tech ever wins.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the tenth and final in a periodic series of online journal entries from a suburban dad who, every weekend, longs to be in Athens—but more often than not ends up watching the game from home. He’s dressed in a red and black bow tie, bourbon in one hand, cigar in the other, seated beside his Auburn-grad wife and their daughter, who’s about to receive her first cheerleader uniform: half UGA, half AU, stitched right up the middle.
