Florida Gators Rivalry Reviewed: Georgia Bulldogs

Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Traditions:

“Bulldogs”: Legend has it Georgia got its nickname because of its ties to Yale. The first president, Abraham Baldwin, graduated from Yale in 1772 and helped visualize UGA’s campus as it was being built. The design for some of the first buildings on campus were derived from blueprints from Yale. The first time the nickname was pondered was on November 3, 1920 when Morgan Blake of the Atlanta Journal wrote about how well the Bulldog nickname fit. It was adopted three days later when Cliff Wheatley wrote in the Atlanta Constitution a recap using Bulldogs five times.

Silver Britches: Head coach Wally Butts was once again behind the genesis of this tradition. When he took over in 1939, he decided the silver pants and red jerseys made Georgia look dignified on the football field. Since then, silver britches have become a rally cry, especially in the 1950s when banners, a cheer, and vests declared “Go, You Silver Britches”. Legendary coach Vince Dooley changed the uniform to white pants in 1964, but decided to give the silver another chance right before 1980, the Bulldogs last national title.

“Glory, Glory”: After every Dawg touchdown, Glory, Glory, to the tune of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, blares from the Redcoat Band. Not exactly my favorite tradition, but it is one of the oldest as the song has been associated with UGA since the 1890s and officially incorporated in 1915.

The Chapel Bell: After every Georgia victory, fans run to the chapel bell to commemorate a win on the football field. The tradition started in the 1890s when freshman were pushed to ring the bell until midnight. Now anyone can ring the bell.

Gators fans can take solace in knowing that the chapel bell broke after the 2007 game. The yoke holding the bell gave out, sending it over the support platform like an 877 pound anchor. I’m sure Bulldog fans were just excited to beat the Gators once since they had struggled so much since 1990. Florida took the next three games in the series.

“How ‘Bout Them Dogs”: Ain’t isn’t a word, but that doesn’t mean it’s not catchy. This saying first surfaced in the mid to late 1970s after some come-from-behind wins. Papers used the phrase “How bout them Dogs” as headlines after their Sugar Bowl win over Notre Dame in 1980 to claim the national championship. This saying, in my opinion, is completely overused, annoying, and makes the person saying it sound unintelligent. That being said, I’m sure Georgia fans don’t like our sayings either. It’s just one of those things I think they could have done better with.

“Between the Hedges”: I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “between the hedges” whenever UGA plays in Sanford Stadium. The Chinese privet hedges were put up to provide a barrier from the wooden fence dividing the playing field from the stands in 1929 when the stadium opened. Rumor has it sportswriter Grantland Rice came up with the saying and many journalists since have used it since. It should also be noted that since then, many SEC schools have shrubs lining the playing field, including Florida.

The Arch: The Arch may not be an athletic tradition, but it’s still a UGA landmark. The Arch was created in 1864 on Georgia’s campus. Underclassmen weren’t allowed to walk under the Arch without risk of punishment from upperclassmen. The tradition isn’t enforced any more, but many freshman still avoid the Arch. It’s tradition for recent graduates to walk under the Arch and has been the site for students to gather to celebrate or commiserate. The monument also is used as the seal and symbol for the University of Georgia. UF and Century Tower hold a similar tradition.