ATHENS, Ga. — Although they're concentrating on their Jan. 1 date with No. 19 Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla., the No. 16 Georgia Bulldogs will take an interest in other postseason games featuring teams from the SEC.
"All the Southeastern Conference teams take pride in trying to win the most bowl games," Georgia coach Mark Richt said Wednesday.
"Everybody wants that to happen. I'm a fan like anybody else; when I watch a game, they'll flash who's done what as far as bowl records and those kinds of things, and I want to see the SEC on the top."
The SEC will send eight teams to bowls this year, including No. 1 Florida's showdown with No. 2 Oklahoma in the FedEx BCS Championship Game on Jan. 8 in Miami.
"You always want the SEC to look good," said Georgia fullback Brannan Southerland. "You always see that bowl breakout (on TV) where they have the SEC, the Big 10, the Big 12 and what their record is in the bowls. We definitely want to represent the SEC well."
"You pull for your conference," agreed receiver Mohamed Massaquoi. "You want your conference to do well, whoever it is that's playing because it's a reflection on your conference."
"You can't help but look and see how everybody else is holding up against other teams in different conferences," said inebacker Rennie Curran. "We're ready to go to Orlando and take care of business, but at the same time, you always like to see how Florida and the other teams will do in the big bowls."
A number of players were diplomatic when asked about supporting their conference rival Florida, which manhandled the Bulldogs 49-10 on Nov. 1, but others expressed their continued distaste for the Gators.
"Whenever the SEC plays in a bowl game, you want them to win, although I have to admit I don't want to see Florida win the national championship," said defensive back Andrew Williams. "I know it's Big 12 versus the SEC — come on Oklahoma! I would pull for the Sooners — I can't stand Florida."
Defensive lineman Corvey Irvin is on the fence about Florida and Oklahoma, but he's got no qualms about pulling for Alabama, which defeated Georgia 41-30 on Sept. 27 in Athens.
"I'll be watching the national championship game but I don't know who I'll pull for," said Irvin. "I'll watch Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and I hope they win. I just like college football and want to see who's out there and who's competing and see how they play as opposed to the way we play."
Richt, who didn't say outright he was hoping for a Florida victory (instead commenting, "I always pull for the Southeastern Conference"), added that as hard as SEC teams are on one another during the season, there's an inherent respect that comes when league members battle teams from other conferences.
"One of the greatest examples of .. fans in our league, (was) when I got to watch Alabama play Clemson in their opening game," said Richt, whose son Jon plays for Clemson. "Towards the end of the game when it was inevitable that Alabama was going to win, the fans weren't cheering 'Alabama, Alabama, Alabama;' they were cheering 'SEC, SEC.' There's a lot of pride throughout our league."
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Comments » 108
TommyJack writes:
Doldrums abound. 260 days, PD.
TxFatBoy writes:
My 2 favorite teams are Tennessee and ANYONE who plays Florida
volnbig11land writes:
I must be older than you (not a slam) because my 2 favorite teams are Tennessee and ANYONE who plans bammer.
SignalMtnVol writes:
I must be inbetween, because I root for everyone to beat Alabama AND Florida. Add South Carolina to that, because I pray every year for Steve Spurrier to go 0 - 12, regardless of what team he coaches.
GREEKDAWG writes:
And other breaking "news"Mark Richt went to church on Sunday and Steve Spurrier shot a 34 on the front nine
jax3333 writes:
I'm sorry I do not have the ability within me to pull for Florida to win at anything. I hope they get beat by a 100 points.
Volfan1 writes:
The Big Orange Motto:
Florida or Alabama can never be beaten too often or by too many points.
It's a household fact. :-)
Surfingvol writes:
I LIVE IN FL AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE COCKY, ARROGANT JERKS CALLED GATOR FANS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POSSIBLE SCENARIO THAT WOULD MAKE ME ROOT FOR FL, ITS NOT THE TEAM ITS THE FANS. GO SOONERS! MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER FOR ME FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.
kingwoodtx_vol writes:
Nothing personal, but my two favorite teams are Tennessee and whoever plays Notre Dame, including Florida, Alabama, and Georgia! Go SEC!
GR82BAVOL writes:
I really hope the SEC sweeps their bowls this season, although that's going to be a tall order with our Conference not being quite so good from top to bottom.
I'm playing that bowl pick 'em over on VOL Nation. I was shocked at how many times I picked against the SEC...so shocked that I went back and analyzed again.
GOOD LUCK TO THE SEC THIS BOWL SEASON!
NoogaVol55 writes:
I must be younger than all of you...I think I dislike UGA the most. I am waiting for their stadium to implode. Like preivous posters, it has more to do with their fans than anything else. Considering I live about 15 mins. from the border, I get a healthy does of "Go Dawgs, Sic em". I get light headed thinking about it.
TxFatBoy writes:
Well, my 2nd favorite team USED to be anyone playing Bama until we started beating them consistently, then it changed to Florida. My 3rd favorite team is anyone who plays Bama! Though they may swap around from time to time! LOL
volnbig11land writes:
I agree with all of your opinions to an extent (you saw my previous post about bammer), just be glad you don't live in the land of suckeyes!
I said it before I'm not a world traveler but I have been to games at FL, KY, bammer, AR, GA, and LSU and even though I have not been to a suckeye game, I'm confident in saying they have the most arrogant, obnoxious fans on the planet!
Here's hoping for a third consecutive "shock and awe" for the suckeyes on national TV. Go horns!!
volnbig11land writes:
Good point and well said!
TxFatBoy writes:
My brother lives in suckeye territory also....it's only made him dislike them more! I'm quite sure the Horns will be looking to make a "STATEMENT" against the suckeyes to try and make a claim for a split NC! Horns by 24!
volnbig11land writes:
I REALLY hope you're right on your prediction of the score.
junkins "winning" the Thorpe award over Eric Berry just made me dislike them even more!!
ktemaque1 writes:
This is relevant to a GOVOLS site because??
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
CMR adopted two Russian orphans, Tebow is a missionary in his spare time, and L. Miles' hat doesn't fit.
VolinCalif writes:
And before WW2 Ky was on the Vols hate list. Esp. in E. Tenn where lots of men worked on the RR and spent a lot of time in KY.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Yes they are upon us. Many haven't noticed we aren't included in the bowl swirl.
The Pride of the Southland is silent. No bowl charter flights are scheduled. An emptiness across the horizon.
Only HCLK and staff to be named have given us glimmers of hope. 260 days. Whew.
Although Dawg DB Andrew above is showing some promise.
My Gator daughter has already told me that Fla will hang 45 on Okla.
Probably true. Very, very fast team.
Tenn_Dawg writes:
I don't think two Georgia players (one a walk-on) saying they are pulling against Florida is representive of GEORGIA. Besides most of the players in the article say they want their SEC brethren to win the bowl games.
It is a slow day at the KNS.
Speaking of Sockeyes....there has been a good bit of them on Georgia sites saying that it is a three way race now for M. Brown after his visit to Columbus last week. They seem pretty confident that they will land him because of the prospect of playing with Pryor. I still say it is between the Dawgs and Vols w/ the Vols eventually winning the Brown sweepstakes.
TommyJack writes:
PD: True, orange paraphanalia will not hit the flyways and hiways this holiday season. Your daughter could be right...Gators are faster than a Bronx dialect. But Oklahoma is not chopped liver...could be a real game.
Tenn_Dawg writes:
Pdhuff......you have Gator offspring? It just goes to show kids do the opposite of what you try to teach them.
I feel for you man but she is probably right....about the score that is.
TxFatBoy writes:
Did someone ask you for input?
suPEARLman writes:
I root for all SEC, especially Florida and Bama. My thoery is if they are going to be our rivals, then they have to be elite teams. Not much bragging rights to beating a rival who is mediocre or sorry.
Vawlfanpreandpost writes:
You people that don't root for the SEC in bowl games should start. Don't you think that it helps Kiffin recruit if he can go into some kids house and say come play in the best conference in the land. He could brag that the SEC has won the last three National Titles, and tell them to look at our bowl records. You should learn to pull for the SEC. Vol fans you know that if we were having UF's success right now we would be almost if not as obnoxious as the Gator fans. Why would you pull for some Midwestern school or Big 12 school and not support the SOUTHeastern Conference? So put your hate behind you and get behind the SEC because if the other schools in this conference win it only helps Tennessee. What do you think Richt is talking about? Hello! See the light. SEC! SEC! SEC!
suPEARLman writes:
Directly above the title you will see "Home > Sec News". I'm failing to see why someone can not find the "relevance" to why this article is in govols. Did you eat paint chips as a kid?
NoogaVol55 writes:
I never saw I would see the day that I would encounter a rational UGA fan that didn't bring up 1980, Herschal Walker, or just start barking. You are a breath of fresh air Tenn_Dawg.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Alas, TnDawg, it is true.
Also, son went 2 years to Vandy before we went broke and is a huge Vol fan.
Daughter doesn't rub it in, though.
Have favorite picture of grandson (2) with Vol shirt on and playing with "RockyTop" bottle opener.
They hide it for 2-3 weeks at a time. Something about that song....
VolinCalif writes:
You know I was just thinking about the Old SEC. Can't remenber when it wasn't Tenn vs the sec. Ga Tech and Tulane were in those days. Old Miss and JV made many sing the Blues and LSU was Death Valley. Miss St had a day or two, Only Tulane as I recal was never high on the Hate list. Ga. Tech students came to the hill in the Hill and painted the door at A. Hall blk and yel. then to make matters worse the beat the phooey out of us. Yes if your old enought you've hated them all.
BigOrangeVol writes:
While I have good friends that played for Bear I cannot bring myself pull for the Crimson Turd regardless of the circumstance!
Maybe it's because of my age or location but Vandy going 0-12 is pure Heaven. Any team that calls themselves Commodores after the "nickname" of a cousin-marrying robber baron who never served in the military much less in the U.S. Navy is an abomination. They should be called the Vanderbilt Posers, Vanderbilt Pretentious Little Snots, Vanderbilt Insignificants or the Vanderbilt Roadkill. CAFEGO RULES!!!
For 30+ years I couldn't have cared less about the Gators (evidently neither did their fans or anyone else) but since 1990 I wouldn't pull for them to win a game versus the Red Chinese.
I will NEVER show any measure of support for any team coached by the pansy visor-boy St. Stevie Superior!!! I'm surprised his Mommy doesn't make him wear knee-high socks and knickers on the sidelines.
And I too will admit a certain level of satisfaction in watching the Fighting Squeamish get trounced in the shadow of the tarnish polygonal cupola and wide-right Jesus.
Then again, I'm a bitter old man.
VolinCalif writes:
Polk Cty?
Tenn_Dawg writes:
NoogaVol55.....it must be the good ole Chattanooga air.
As far as barking, Walker and 1980....I've never barked at anybody nor do I ever intend to. Woofing at kickoffs...I have done. Walker was my idol growing up and now I have a great appreciation for what he did for three years at Georgia and that is about it. And good ole 1980...I was barely eight years old so that is ancient history to me.
Unfortunately for me I started watching Georgia games on a regular basis during the Goff and Donnan years so the last eight with CMR have been fantastic compared to those. This year was disappointing but at least possibly winning 10 games is disappointing compared to it being the best ever like the Goff and Donnan years.
easymoney writes:
And OKLA will probably hang 52 on Florida....So the score will be 52-45...I can live with that!
VolinCalif writes:
Old you may be. But your memory is just fine.
NoogaVol55 writes:
Red Bank...which is basically Chattanooga...I am surrounded by Chattanooga on all 4 sides and am about 5 minutes from downtown....there is def. a a lot of UGA fans here who have a bromance with Mark Richt...I can't stand it.
NoogaVol55 writes:
Richt has done wonders there....hell, he made the UT vs. UGA a rivalry again.
I have just had the pleasure (if you want to call it that) of being around some die hard UGA fans. Nothing makes me happier than to see them unhappy after a UGA loss.
And I won't be so nieve to say TN doesn't have their fair share of obnoxious fans...I think I might be one of them!!
VOLnAla writes:
I will be pulling for all of the teams playing against the SEC teams! GO VOLS!
HighlanderVol writes:
I pull for all the sec teams but for 1 Florida . I would t pull for a team out of Canada before i pull for that bunch of a holes . Florida and most of there fans have no respect for tenn or the reast of the sec you can take that to the bank . Go SEC!!!
OldNumber7 writes:
I am with Williams. Due the documented garbage dished out to fans and coaches wives,...and my family when traveling there, I consider Gainesville the armpit of the SEC. Go Sooners.
TommyJack writes:
Nooga, Richt is FHCPF-lite. A few more years of no rings (with the talent he gets), and they will chase his butt off.
Vawlfanpreandpost writes:
I am going to the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville because Fulmer coached my Vols into the ground this year once again by staying the course. I figured I might as well go to a bowl game, so I decided to go watch Clemson and Nebraska. It is the best of both worlds. I won't get pissed if either team wins or loses, like I did at the Outback Bowl a couple of years ago when Fulmer had the guys ready to go against Penn State. However, in the Gator I will be pulling for Clemson. Should be interesting, they both have some good traditions and good overall histories. I doubt next year I will have to go watch another school play in a bowl game. I am under the impression that you have to be fat, slow, and stupid not to win at Tennessee. CLK is none of those. P.S. Sorry, I had to vent.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Anyone that is over 40 and a fan of the Vols or the team from the Crapstone knows that the UT/UA rivalry is dominant. Only the kids think U of F is our rival or that Cow College is bammers rival.
I wonder if Nafslov was in attendance in '63 at Foster Auditorium supporting Vivian Malone and James Hood? Naw, he would had to have a pair to have done that.
The_Mayor writes:
Let's see an article about it! Keep the Fulmer bashing alive and well, right? Good grief. Next up, "Fulmer Responsible For Recession"
VolinCalif writes:
Whats going on guys? Is there no news? KNS hasn't even reported on Lane's interview with CBS that I am aware of at least. There must be some news some where,. Where is the planes today? Whose has the Sh@@s or something. Slow is one thing but dead is another.
VolinCalif writes:
Sorry s/b Who not whose or got not has. oh well I failed Eng the frist try at UT.
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
You need to rethink some things. Thanks to pathetic Fulmer, it's just the opposite for the Vols. FLA, BAMA and GA coaches can tell a recruit: "don't go to TN, because they've had two losing seasons out of the last three." "don't go to TN, because their football program has been run into the ground.", "don't go to TN, because they've been to a bowl game only once the last three years." "don't go to TN, because they haven't done squat the last nine years." HOPEFULLY, with Kiffin or the next coach, all this will change in two-four years.
plzcomebackpeyton writes:
hahaha and I had breakfast burritos this morning... why is that not on here
volboy81 writes:
Im with Jeff Jacoby on 990am....why would I hate Fla., Ala., & Vandy for 364 days out of the year, then want them to win a bowl game, or national title!!!!????
GO SOONERS!!
GO EAGLES!!
GO UTES!!
and who cares about Georgia!
99gator writes:
i never heard fulmer mention anything of the kind. if i am mistaken, refresh my memory.
would love to seen an article with that quote.
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