Honestly, is it Saturday yet?
Last November while in my second year of business school, I completed my college football tour with the South Carolina-Florida homecoming game in Columbia, SC. I was introduced to a proper SEC-style tailgate (moonshine included) and a more than decent football game … South Carolina outlasted Florida 17-12 to keep its SEC East title hopes alive, which were subsequently dashed the following week when the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Kentucky Wildcats 19-10.
Before this season began, I committed to returning to Columbia, South Carolina for the Georgia game and it’s safe to say that I made a very wise decision since South Carolina and Georgia both won last night. The Georgia-South Carolina rivalry has been contested since 1894 and has become so heated in recent years that sports writers have dubbed this annual game “New Fashioned Hate.”
Saturday’s game between the #5 Bulldogs and the #6 Gamecocks takes this rivalry to new heights. The October 6th contest is already being called “The Biggest Game in South Carolina
History.”
Both teams enter the game undefeated and both teams enter the game playing pretty darn good football.
The Georgia Bulldogs roll into town as the third SEC team in history to score at least 40 points in each of its first five games in a season — not sure if that’s because they play good defense or bad offense in the SEC =).
South Carolina has won its last nine-games in a row and has won 11 straight games against SEC East opponents dating back to last season. And the Gamecocks have won the last two meeting against the Bulldogs.
At stake is clearly bragging rights but far more important is first place in the SEC East. And the winner of this game will move into pole position for a place in the national championship game.
This game is so big that the original kickoff time of 1:00 pm eastern has been pushed back to 7:00 pm prime-time and I fully expect to take advantage of the additional 5 hours of tailgating time (see picture to the left).
ESPN’s College GameDay will be their first thing in the morning and my man Lee Corso better pick South Carolina and the Ole’ Ball Coach!
Now I just have to get through this work week!