What To Do With Clean Old-Fashioned Hate?

In recent years there has been some talk about Clean Old-Fashioned Hate. A lot of it has been about how the game does not matter all that much because Tech in the past decade has been putrid. Also, with the SEC expanding and the 8 to 9 conference game argument, many fans have voiced on social media that Georgia should take Tech off their schedule. Georgia Tech has not been in the SEC since the 60s, Tech’s program has completely shifted to where it does not feel like they are willing to put the effort in to have a great winning program. Furthermore, in the past few seasons, they haven’t even been bowl-eligible when Georgia plays them. So what’s the point?

In the ever-changing landscape that is college football, tradition still counts for something. It should, at the very least. Especially with conference realignment most of the college football we are used to is being washed away. In some instances it will be a good thing, for example, Georgia will get to play more teams that they have not played on a year-to-year basis. But we still need to hold onto tradition as much as we can! There are talks about Georgia vs Florida moving to a home and home. The game has been in Jacksonville since 1933. If the game is moved to a home and home it loses some meaning to it. They don’t call it “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party ” for nothing. I think many of the same people crying out to get Tech off Georgia’s schedule are the same people trying to get the game out of Jacksonville. Losing the Tech game strips away the identity of Georgia. Georgia has more rivals than any other program in college football. Why take one away? Plus it’s one of the oldest rivals Georgia has. So as someone who cares about traditions, I came up with a solution. Albeit, it came with the assistance of an old friend Larry Munson.

Now get the picture: 

Scrolling on my phone I find a clip of Larry Munson in the early 80s talking about what is to come about the Tech game. Now this is right after the 1980 season when Georgia just won the national championship and Tech has had a string of down years. Sound familiar? He suggested that the game should be moved to the start of the season and because of that, Georgia can play an SEC opponent later in the year. He even alludes to the traditionalist not liking it but said it could save the rivalry. I, a traditionalist, started thinking about it. At first, I hated the idea. Why not ease your way into the season, rather than in August start hating Tech? Who wants to play in the Georgia heat and be angry for that long? But the more I thought about it. The more I liked it. You see if Georgia plays Tech in the first or second week of the season, everybody will know if the teams are decent and it would help bring back the rivalry a little. Could you imagine a day like today, in the dog days of summer, thinking about that night kickoff against Tech Week one? Everyone would be waiting in anticipation for Georgia to play Tech. Vice versa for Tech fans. Perfect Idea!

But that will probably never happen. The game has always been played around Thanksgiving week. However, I would not be all that surprised to see the game tinkered with. Many around the Georgia program have talked about moving the game to Black Friday, just like Florida vs Florida St did this past season. Which would be an interesting move. The game would most likely be in a primetime spot first time since the 2010 season. That thought, however,  is more for the fans. What is probably more appealing to Kirby Smart is that it could be used for an extra day of rest/film study on whoever they play in the SEC championship (if Georgia is in the game that year).

Either way, Clean Old-Fashioned Hate needs to be protected at all costs. All traditions in college football need to be protected because soon they will be a distant memory.

“I like Tech…..I like ’em to lose”- Buck Belue.