No. 252 - Poor Man’s Game Notes XIX: UGA vs. Florida, 10/31/26

Alright, alright, alright … I’m coming to you from Austin, fresh off a loss to my wife’s alma mater. In the twenty years we’ve been married, we’re 16–4 against the Plainsmen. Had we avoided the upset, we would’ve tied Florida’s greatest two-decade streak of beating us 17 times between 1990 and 2009. But we lost: at home, to an unranked opponent.

I’m tempted to borrow a line from Grizzard, who, after a loss to Tech in ’84, famously wrote, “Frankly, I don’t want to talk about it,” and left the rest of his column blank.

In the spirit of being a sore loser, it helped to watch Notre Dame, Indiana, Texas, and Alabama lose. I’ve never rooted so hard for FSU, either. Had Miami laid an egg, I might’ve called it a glorious weekend.

At least I have an audience to commiserate with in Austin. If you think our fanbase is in the dumps, the Texas faithful are downright despondent. Losing Arch might’ve been a blessing in disguise, but what in tarnation was wrong with Stockton?! I’ve seen drunkards on Lumpkin Street with better motor skills (circa late ’90s).

I don’t lose sleep over these things anymore, and in an odd way, I’d rather lose to Auburn than Alabama. The absurdity of it made it an easier pill to swallow. I guess it comes down to whom I respect more – and there’s no love lost with the Tide. We have a storied history with Auburn, and losing every once in a while almost rekindles the rivalry. No doubt I’ll change my tune when the losses start piling up – Lord knows it wouldn’t be the first time.

I guess there’s only one thing to do – light a cigar and forget about it, which is easier said than done when you’re married to an Auburn girl.