Georgia football vs Auburn: The rivalry returns to its roots this Saturday

Game becomes annual in 1898 and leaves Atlanta in 1904

The young rivalry took a year off in 1897, but it returned in 1898 with a 18-17 for Auburn. In 1899, Georgia and Auburn (now renamed the Alabama Polytechnic Institute) played in one of their strangest games.

The game kicked off at 3:00 on November 18. Sunset that day was at 5:32 and there were no lights at Piedmont Park. Officials decided to call the game and award both teams a 0-0 tie. However, at the time officials cancelled the game, Auburn led 11-6 with just 11 seconds left. Officials didn’t care, their rule was final, Georgia avoided the loss.

But the next two years were rough for Georgia’s offense. The two squads battled to a scoreless tie in 1901, and Auburn (now renamed the Alabama Polytechnic Institute) demolished Georgia 44-0 in 1900.

Georgia found redemption in 1902 and 1903 with a pair of victories. Georgia defeated Alabama Polytech 12-5 in 1902 and 22-15 in 1903.

Rufus Nalley, captain one of the captains on Georgia’s 1896 succumbed to a terrible illness in 1902. Shortly before passing away, his brother told him of Georgia’s victory over Auburn. The brother said that the news brought a smile to his brothers face (Atlanta Journal obituary, November 29, 1902).

The Georgia versus Auburn series saw its first major change in 1903 as the game moved from Piedmont Park in Atlanta to Central City Park in Macon. The rivalry remained there until 1908 when the  game was hosted by Auburn in Montgomery Alabama in 1908 and 1909. Georgia hosted Auburn in Savannah in 1910 and 1911, and in Athens in 1912.

During those years away from Atlanta, each team won two games in Macon, Auburn swept Georgia in Montgomery, defeated Georgia and tied once in Savannah, and Georgia defeated Auburn in Athens.

The most notable game of that stretch was the 1907 contest. Georgia entered Macon with a 3-3-1 record. Auburn came in 6-1-1. With not much to play for besides pride and bragging rights, Georgia upset Auburn 6-0. The loss kept Auburn from finishing second in the SIAA. The lead in the Atlanta Georgian for November 29, 1907 read:

"“That Georgia men can play better football than hired men was proved pretty conclusively here yesterday afternoon when the Athens team stood on their heads and defeated Auburn by the score of 6 to 0, playing the best ball of their career.”"