Georgia football: 3 of the best “Clean Old Fashioned Hate” games

2009: Georgia football 30, No. 7 Georgia Tech 24

As great of a coach as Mark Richt was for Georgia, you could always count on the team to have some disappointing moments each season. Despite averaging 9-10 wins per season under Richt, the Dawgs would always lose a game they should have won easily or underperformed in a big game. This would ultimately lead to his dismissal as head coach in 2015.

2009 was one of those seasons. Georgia had several future NFL stars on its team, including AJ Green, Justin Houston, Ben Jones, Geno Atkins, and Clint Boling. However, they were without star quarterback Matthew Stafford, as the Detroit Lions took him in the 2009 NFL Draft. Despite his departure, Georgia still had the talent to make a run at the SEC Championship and the BCS.

The season began with Georgia losing to Oklahoma State in Stillwater, OK. They would win their next three games before taking a trip to Baton Rouge to face the No. 4 LSU Tigers. Georgia was held scoreless in that game until two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Quarterback Joe Cox led a 79-yard drive to give Georgia a 13-12 lead with a minute left in the game. Unfortunately, the defense could not stop the Tigers, and they went on to win 20-13.

Georgia would lose three of their next six games after the heartbreaker in Death Valley. They would, however, get an opportunity to spoil what was an excellent season for Georgia Tech. Going into this game, the Yellow Jackets were 10-1 and ranked No. 7. They had already clinched a spot in the ACC Championship game against Clemson and were looking to win their second game in a row against the Bulldogs.

Georgia got off to a quick start with running back Caleb King scoring first to give the Dawgs a 7-0 lead. After the two teams exchanged field goals and turnovers in the second quarter, Joe Cox would hit receiver Michael Moore for a 13-yard touchdown with less than five minutes to go in the half, helping Georgia take a 17-3 halftime lead.

Georgia Tech hit an explosive play on their first offensive possession of the second half. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt connected with future Pro Bowl wide receiver Demaryius Thomas for a 76-yard touchdown pass, cutting Georgia’s lead to seven. Despite the Yellow Jackets being a triple-option team at this time, Thomas still had 1,154 receiving yards in his junior season.

The Dawgs would outdo Tech on their next offensive drive, as Caleb King got loose for a 75-yard touchdown run to put Georgia up by two touchdowns. They would add two more field goals to seal a 30-24 upset win over Tech.

Georgia rushed for 339 yards in this game. Caleb King had 166 yards and two touchdowns, and Washaun Ealey added 183 yards on the ground. This win served as revenge for last year’s home loss to the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia finished the year 8-5 with a win over Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl. Georgia Tech would win the ACC Championship, but they were beaten in the Orange Bowl by Iowa.

These three Georgia football matchups against Tech were some of the most memorable. However, there are plenty more in this rivalry’s deep history. When these two teams meet, it’s Clean Old Fashioned Hate, and that’s how a rivalry should be.