Georgia football vs Auburn: The rivalry returns to its roots this Saturday
A rivalry forms
Georgia and Auburn met once again in November 1894. This time, Georgia got the better of the A&M College of Alabama with a 10-8 victory. For the victory, Georgia was awarded with a silver chalice with an inscription that read:
University of Georgia vs Auburn
Nov 24 1894
Presented by
Alumni and friends of both Colleges
won by
University of Georgia football team
Score – University 10 Auburn 8
Later that year, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association was founded at Vanderbilt University. Georgia and Auburn were founding members. They played their first game as conference rivals on November 28, 1895 with Auburn winning 16-6.
The 1895 began the rivalries tradition of featuring two of the best coaches in the college football profession. Glenn “Pop” Warner coached Georgia, while John Heisman led Auburn. Both men’s names are synonymous with the sport over 100 years later.
Ad the years went on, Georgia and Auburn would continue to hire great coaches. From Herman Stegman, Wally Butts, Vince Dooley and Mark Right at Georgia, to Mike Donahue, “Shug” Jordan and Pat Dye at Auburn.
The 1895 meeting is also notable for being delayed because of an argument between officials.
The best game the Deep South had ever seen
In 1896, Warner’s Georgia football team completed its first undefeated season with a 12-6 victory over Heisman’s Auburn. Georgia also won the SIAA Championship with the victory. Their last championship until 1920.
The 1896 was at the time considered the best game the deep south had ever seen. It also might have been the first game to feature a huddle because Auburn figured out the signals Georgia was using to communicate plays. The Georgia squad banded together to talk about the play privately and what resulted was a touchdown for Georgia and a 6-0 halftime lead.
Georgia opened the second half with an onsides kick and using the newly invented huddle, drove right down field. Walter Cothran scored on an eight-yard run to put Georgia ahead 12-0. Auburn scored later in the game and threatened to score again on a late punt returns. But they were just that, threats. Georgia prevailed 12-6.