The answer for you is an obvious yes, but I will reiterate that I am directing this question primarily to committed college football fans who do *not* have a stake in this question.

I will say again that Georgia’s antics do not even approach the worst I’ve seen in college football, but it seems to me that you will excuse your team’s behavior, even when your excuses contradict each other.

You say, (mostly) rightly, that UGA’s antics did not affect the outcome against Auburn or Vandy because they occurred so late in the game. But even though you excuse those things because they happened so late, you also excuse the excessive celebration against Florida because it happened so early.

We’re not cheating, we’re not getting in fights, we’re not taunting other players. What’s the problem here? My guess is that if it had been Auburn with the 25-point lead in the fourth quarter and not Georgia, the answer would be “none.”

There’s a reason I’m asking for unbiased opinions, and it seems to me that you offer a fairly low bar for acceptible behavior, or should I commend you for taking a stand against cheating and brawling?

Yes, I think they’re just having fun. If they were taunting opposing players after every play or starting fistfights on the field, then we’d have a serious problem. But none of this stuff is even directed at the opposing team. Observe:

• The common refrain has been that we “stomped on the logo” at Vanderbilt, but come on. Nobody stomps on VU’s logo, particularly after a last-second 3-point win. There was no “stomping”; the team was simply mobbing Brandon Coutu, who just happened to be at midfield at the time. Believe it or don’t believe it, but that’s what I saw, and I was actually watching the game.

• At no time during the end-zone celebration in Jax did we taunt Florida’s bench; we barely even cast a sideways glance in their direction. It was about us, not them. Did some Gators feel disrespected? Sorry ’bout that. But that’s their problem.

• At no time during the “Soulja Boying” of the Auburn game did any of our players taunt the Tigers’ bench. This may crush your ego, but that wasn’t about you; it was our players having fun because they were winning by 25 against a rival they’d been notorious for struggling against at home. Were your feelings hurt? Sorry ’bout that too, but again, it’s your problem.

We’re not cheating, we’re not getting in fights, we’re not taunting other players. What’s the problem here? My guess is that if it had been Auburn with the 25-point lead in the fourth quarter and not Georgia, the answer would be “none.”

To the first part of your question, I answer “yes,” while to the second part I reply “That doesn’t make a lick of sense.”

Let’s get real here: Georgia’s sideline Soulja Boying during the late stages of the Auburn game didn’t result in a victory any more than the black jerseys did. You’ve got it completely back-to-front: Georgia was whupping Auburn’s ass, they got excited about that, then they started dancing.

So, doctor, perhaps that part of your question would be better rephrased as, ” . . . or do they think that such behavior is justifiable to express their excitement at building a 25-point lead on a ranked opponent whom they’d only beaten at home twice in their last 11 tries, and whom they needed to beat to have a chance at winning the SEC?”

To which I respond: You’re damn right I do.

The Vandy game was a case of the players swarming the kicker at the end of the game, who happened to be standing at the middle of the field. I honestly don’t think the players were thinking about the “V” (unless it was the Varsity for a hotdog back in Athens). I do think it’s sad that we had to work so hard to beat Vandy and celebrate like we’d never done it before, but I don’t think it was malicious.

The FL celebration was a miscalculation by Richt, and we paid for it with penalties throughout the game (and in the Auburn game, if you ask me). Richt has admitted that it could have caused a problem and I doubt you’ll see anything like it again. However, it was a brilliant strategic move as it clearly got into the heads of the Gators. They had 52 minutes more to do something about it, yet couldn’t get it done. It set the tone for the Georgia team, and it worked.

The dancing on the sidelines is not to my tastes, and I agree that the first time we’re dancing and then we lose, will be the last time we’ll see it. However, I don’t think that was planned anymore than all the elaborate celebrations you see by all teams on the sidelines whenever someone scores or makes a big play. I’m talking about the elaborate high five/low five/in the middle/back side/chest bump things that every team does.

I guess the bottom line is that we’re hot right now, so everyone wants to knock you down a notch. I”m old school and prefer the days when Herschel calmly flipped the ball to the official when he scored his 4th TD of the game, but those days are LOOOOOONG gone for everybody.

Richt criticized his team’s behavior at Vanderbilt and admitted that their celebration after the first TD against Florida was more involved than he planned, but I do wonder about the tone he’s setting. Of course none of this compares to the worst incidents in college football, such as the FIU-Miami brawl, but these antics seems to be toward that direction, which is a shame because I genuinely have had much fonder feelings — even fraternal feelings — toward UGA fans, especially compared to LSU and Bama.

Do outsiders look at UGA’s behavior at Vandy, against Florida, and against Auburn and see nothing wrong? Do they really think the team is just having fun, or even that such behavior is justifiable as long as it results in a win?

I am extremely curious.

Diss the South if you like, but impugning the character of our players simply because they dared to have fun in a big win over a rival puts you right up there with the Bible-thumpers in my neck of the woods who tell you you’re going to hell if you so much as drive up into Jefferson County to buy a six-pack on a Sunday.

We R N ur head, dancin on ur cortex.

The Dawgs

Really, enough of the self righteous bullshit. Keep that dumb ass dancing cat off the field and your players out of the clink, and then you can talk. Until then, keep your trap zipped. If you don’t like it – don’t watch us. But keep the NE liberal spewings to yourself.

http://www.savetoad.com

It’s so nice to see all the leghumpers join together in support of their coach’s bush league antics…

That is the funniest thing I believe I have ever seen.
Before all the MSU fans jump me, I say WAY TO GO!
That was a huge win for you all. And I get it that it was your president flying the plane (also very cool)….but there is just something soooooo funny about that video. The setting: Big time Southern College football game. Coach Croom vs. his old school, who snubbed him……Our National Song, being proudly played by the Marching Band on the field……and what’s that appearing out of the sky?….could it be an F-15??…..F-16??……Stealth Fighters?????? NO…. IT’S A FUCKING WIND-UP-TOY!
buurrurrrrrruuuuurrrrrrrrrrrruuururrrrrr.

Who shit in your Wheaties? C’mon man. Are you too old to remember having fun and have you just never been laid? You’ve got no clue about UGA, what our rivals mean to us and southern football in general.

Puhleeez.