Deep South's Oldest Rivalry

Deep South's Oldest Rivalry
Sport	Football
Teams	Auburn Tigers; Georgia Bulldogs;

The Auburn–Georgia football rivalry is a college football rivalry between the Auburn University Tigers and the University of Georgia Bulldogs. The two teams first played each other in 1892 and have met nearly every year since, for a total of 116 games as of 2012. Because it is the oldest rivalry still contested between teams in the deep south, the series is referred to by both schools as the "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry".^[1]^[2]^[3]

Series history

The first college football game between Auburn University and the University of Georgia was played on February 20, 1892 in Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia.^[4] The game was the brainchild of Charles Herty of Georgia and George Petrie of Auburn, both trainers at their respective schools and graduate school classmates at The Johns Hopkins University.^[4] The game was also, according to legend, when Auburn's team cheer, "War Eagle," originated. Auburn won the game 10–0.

The Tigers and Bulldogs have played each other nearly every year since. There have only been three exceptions since 1898, when World War I and World War II interrupted the series. Through the 2012 season, the rivalry is tied for the seventh most played college football series at 116 games, and is evenly matched, with the series record tied at 54–54–8. When the Southeastern Conference split into its Eastern Division and Western Division in 1992, with Auburn placed in the west and Georgia in the east, the game was designated as the teams' annual cross-divisional rivalry game.

Game results

Auburn victories are colored ██ navy blue. Georgia victories are colored ██ red. Ties are white.

Date	Location	Winner	Score
February 20, 1892	Atlanta, GA	Auburn	10–0
November 24, 1894	Atlanta, GA	Georgia	10–8
November 28, 1895	Atlanta, GA	Auburn	16–6
November 26, 1896	Atlanta, GA	Georgia	12–6
November 24, 1898	Atlanta, GA	Auburn	18–17
November 18, 1899	Atlanta, GA	Tie	0–0
November 30, 1900	Atlanta, GA	Auburn	44–0
November 27, 1901	Atlanta, GA	Tie	0–0
November 27, 1902	Atlanta, GA	Georgia	12–5
November 26, 1903	Atlanta, GA	Georgia	22–13
November 24, 1904	Macon, GA	Auburn	17–6
November 30, 1905	Macon, GA	Auburn	20–0
November 29, 1906	Macon, GA	Georgia	4–0
November 30, 1907	Macon, GA	Georgia	6–0
November 27, 1908	Montgomery, AL	Auburn	23–0
November 25, 1909	Montgomery, AL	Auburn	17–5
November 24, 1910	Savannah, GA	Auburn	26–0
November 29, 1911	Savannah, GA	Tie	0–0
November 28, 1912	Athens, GA	Georgia	12–6
November 22, 1913	Atlanta, GA	Auburn	21–7
November 21, 1914	Atlanta, GA	Tie	0–0
October 30, 1915	Atlanta, GA	Auburn	12–0
November 4, 1916	Atlanta, GA	Auburn	3–0
November 1, 1919	Atlanta, GA	Auburn	7–0
October 30, 1920	Columbus, GA	Georgia	7–0
October 29, 1921	Columbus, GA	Georgia	7–0
November 4, 1922	Columbus, GA	Auburn	7–3
November 3, 1923	Columbus, GA	Georgia	7–0
November 15, 1924	Columbus, GA	Georgia	6–0
November 7, 1925	Columbus, GA	Georgia	34–0
November 6, 1926	Columbus, GA	Georgia	16–0
October 22, 1927	Columbus, GA	Georgia	33–3
November 3, 1928	Columbus, GA	Georgia	13–0
November 15, 1929	Athens, GA	Georgia	24–0
November 25, 1930	Columbus, GA	Georgia	39–7
November 21, 1931	Columbus, GA	Georgia	12–6
November 19, 1932	Columbus, GA	Auburn	14–7
November 18, 1933	Columbus, GA	Auburn	14–6
November 24, 1934	Columbus, GA	Georgia	18–0

Date	Location	Winner	Score
November 23, 1935	Columbus, GA	Auburn	19–7
October 24, 1936	Columbus, GA	Auburn	20–13
November 20, 1937	Columbus, GA	Tie	0–0
November 19, 1938	Columbus, GA	Auburn	23–14
November 25, 1939	Columbus, GA	Auburn	7–0
November 2, 1940	Columbus, GA	Georgia	14–13
November 1, 1941	Columbus, GA	Georgia	7–0
November 21, 1942	Columbus, GA	Auburn	27–13
November 18, 1944	Columbus, GA	Georgia	49–13
November 17, 1945	Columbus, GA	Georgia	35–0
November 16, 1946	Columbus, GA	Georgia	41–0
November 15, 1947	Columbus, GA	Georgia	28–6
November 13, 1948	Columbus, GA	Georgia	42–14
November 12, 1949	Columbus, GA	Tie	20–20
November 18, 1950	Columbus, GA	Georgia	12–10
November 21, 1951	Columbus, GA	Georgia	46–14
November 15, 1952	Columbus, GA	Georgia	13–7
November 14, 1953	Columbus, GA	Auburn	39–18
November 13, 1954	Columbus, GA	Auburn	35–0
November 12, 1955	Columbus, GA	Auburn	16–13
November 17, 1956	Columbus, GA	Auburn	20–0
November 16, 1957	Columbus, GA	Auburn	6–0
November 15, 1958	Columbus, GA	Auburn	21–6
November 14, 1959	Athens, GA	Georgia	14–13
November 12, 1960	Auburn, AL	Auburn	9–6
November 18, 1961	Athens, GA	Auburn	10–7
November 17, 1962	Auburn, AL	Georgia	30–21
November 16, 1963	Athens, GA	Auburn	14–0
November 14, 1964	Auburn, AL	Auburn	14–7
November 13, 1965	Athens, GA	Auburn	21–9
November 16, 1966	Auburn, AL	Georgia	21–13
November 18, 1967	Athens, GA	Georgia	17–0
November 16, 1968	Auburn, AL	Georgia	17–3
November 15, 1969	Athens, GA	Auburn	16–3
November 14, 1970	Auburn, AL	Georgia	31–17
November 13, 1971	Athens, GA	Auburn	35–20
November 18, 1972	Auburn, AL	Auburn	27–10
November 17, 1973	Athens, GA	Georgia	28–14
November 16, 1974	Auburn, AL	Auburn	17–13

Date	Location	Winner	Score
November 15, 1975	Athens, GA	Georgia	28–13
November 13, 1976	Auburn, AL	Georgia	28–0
November 12, 1977	Athens, GA	Auburn	33–14
November 18, 1978	Auburn, AL	Tie	22–22
November 17, 1979	Athens, GA	Auburn	33–13
November 15, 1980	Auburn, AL	Georgia	31–21
November 14, 1981	Athens, GA	Georgia	24–13
November 13, 1982	Auburn, AL	Georgia	19–14
November 12, 1983	Athens, GA	Auburn	13–7
November 17, 1984	Auburn, AL	Auburn	21–12
November 13, 1985	Athens, GA	Auburn	24–10
November 15, 1986	Auburn, AL	Georgia	20–16
November 13, 1987	Athens, GA	Auburn	27–11
November 12, 1988	Auburn, AL	Auburn	20–10
November 18, 1989	Athens, GA	Auburn	20–3
November 17, 1990	Auburn, AL	Auburn	33–10
November 18, 1991	Athens, GA	Georgia	37–27
November 14, 1992	Auburn, AL	Georgia	14–10
November 13, 1993	Athens, GA	Auburn	42–28
November 12, 1994	Auburn, AL	Tie	23–23
November 11, 1995	Athens, GA	Auburn	37–31
November 16, 1996	Auburn, AL	Georgia	56–49^A
November 15, 1997	Athens, GA	Auburn	45–34
November 14, 1998	Auburn, AL	Georgia	28–17
November 13, 1999	Athens, GA	Auburn	38–21
November 11, 2000	Auburn, AL	Auburn	29–26^B
November 10, 2001	Athens, GA	Auburn	24–17
November 16, 2002	Auburn, AL	Georgia	24–21
November 15, 2003	Athens, GA	Georgia	26–7
November 13, 2004	Auburn, AL	Auburn	24–6
November 12, 2005	Athens, GA	Auburn	31–30
November 11, 2006	Auburn, AL	Georgia	37–15
November 10, 2007	Athens, GA	Georgia	45–20
November 15, 2008	Auburn, AL	Georgia	17–13
November 14, 2009	Athens, GA	Georgia	31–24
November 13, 2010	Auburn, AL	Auburn	49–31
November 12, 2011	Athens, GA	Georgia	45–7
November 10, 2012	Auburn, AL	Georgia	38–0
November 16, 2013	Auburn, AL	Auburn	43–38

^AGame won by Georgia after 4OT.
^BGame won by Auburn after OT.

Series record sources: 2011 Auburn Football Media Guide,^[5] 2011 Georgia Football Media Guide,^[6] and College Football Data Warehouse.^[7]

Notable games

In 1942, Georgia won the national championship with an 11-1 record, beating UCLA in the 1943 Rose Bowl, Georgia lone loss came to Auburn, falling 27-13 at Columbus's Memorial Stadium.

On November 14, 1959, at Sanford Stadium in Athens, as time ran short, Georgia player and future Auburn head-coach Pat Dye recovered a fumble by Auburn quarterback Bryant Harvard. Georgia quarterback Fran Tarkenton's touchdown pass in the final seconds gave Georgia a 14-13 victory and cost Auburn a Southeastern Conference championship. Georgia went on to claim the 1959 SEC Championship and the 1960 Orange Bowl Championship with a victory over Missouri in Miami.

The AU-UGA game has been held in many different cities - Atlanta, Athens, Macon, Columbus, Savannah, Montgomery - but on November 12, 1960, the Bulldogs made their first trip to the Loveliest Village on the Plains; a game which the Tigers won 9-6. This marked a huge change for the Tigers, as Auburn's biggest rivals - Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Alabama and Georgia - previously would not travel to Auburn. Georgia Tech's first visit came in 1970, while Tennessee eventually came in 1974. It would take Auburn's biggest rival, Alabama, almost 30 years after UGA to make the trip.

In 1983, again at Sanford Stadium, Pat Dye celebrated his first SEC championship as Auburn's coach after the Tigers beat Georgia 13-7 on November 12. Georgia coach Vince Dooley, a former star Auburn quarterback, was there too on that day in 1959 as an assistant on Shug Jordan's staff.

In 1986, the Bulldogs visited Auburn as three-touchdown underdogs. Auburn was two wins away from the SEC Championship, with only one blemish on their record, an 18-17 setback at Florida. Georgia, playing its backup quarterback, escaped with a 20-16 victory. When Georgia fans stormed the field of Jordan-Hare Stadium and started tearing the turf from midfield and refused to leave, they were doused by sprinkler system and fire hoses.

In 1994, a Georgia team that had lost to Vanderbilt and had been blown out 52-14 by Florida, ended Auburn and former coach Terry Bowden's 20-game winning streak with a 23-23 tie at Jordan-Hare. The Sunday morning headline in nearby Columbus, Ga read "UGA beats Auburn 23-23". ^{[citation needed]}

In 1996, the two teams played in the first Southeastern Conference football game to go into overtime. First-year head coach Jim Donnan's team, which finished 5-6, was down 28-7 at halftime, before rallying to tie it at 28-28 on a 30-yard touchdown as time expired from Mike Bobo to Cory Allen, and Georgia went on to win 56-49 in four overtimes. This game, known to Georgia fans as the "Miracle on the Plains," was also famous for the incident in which Uga V lunged at Auburn wide receiver Robert Baker after a first-quarter touchdown.

In 1999, Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville got his first signature win, as the underdog Tigers, losers of five of their previous six games, led 31-0 at halftime and cruised to a 38-21 victory.

In 2002, #7 Georgia traveled to #22 Auburn with a spot in the SEC Championship game and an outside chance at the national title on the line. Auburn led 14-3 at halftime, thanks to a 53-yard touchdown run from Ronnie Brown. Georgia rallied to make it 21-17 Tigers with 1:25 remaining when they faced a 4th and 15 from the Auburn 19. QB David Greene threw up a prayer, and Michael Johnson outjumped Auburn CB Horace Willis to come away with the improbable touchdown. Georgia defeated Auburn 24-21 to secure a spot in their first SEC Championship Game. The Bulldogs defeated Arkansas 30-3 to win their first SEC Championship since 1982. The Bulldogs finished the season 13-1 with a victory over Florida State in the Sugar Bowl, and a #3 final ranking.

Eighth-ranked Georgia traveled to undefeated and third-ranked Auburn in 2004. The Tigers were eyeing their first SEC Championship since splitting the title in 1989 (note: Auburn was on probation in 1993 and ineligible for the championship), as well as a spot in the BCS National Championship Game. The Tigers won 24-6 on their way to a 13-0 season, ending with a 16-13 victory over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl and a No. 2 national ranking.

In 2006, Georgia visited Auburn having lost four of their previous five games and being unranked for the first time since 2002, while fifth-ranked Auburn had national title hopes. Georgia had lost to Vanderbilt and Kentucky in the same season for the first time since 1973, when they rebounded to defeat Auburn. History repeated itself as the Bulldogs defeated the Tigers 37-15 and ended Auburn's chances at a national title.

2007 marked the first time in the modern era that Georgia wore black jerseys. It also marked the first time that Georgia defeated Florida and Auburn in the same season since 1982 [1], and the first time that Georgia scored more than 40 points in three straight games since 1942.

Family rivalry

It's a unique thing. It's like playing against your brother. I don't think anybody who plays in that game can ever forget it. It just doesn't matter much where it's played or what somebody's record is. It's so intense and tough, but at the same time, it's family.
— Pat Dye, UGA '60 - Auburn head coach, 1981-1992

Beyond the length of the rivalry, the schools' football histories are quite interconnected. Georgia's long-time head coach and athletic director, Vince Dooley, earned both his bachelor's and master's degree at Auburn while playing football and subsequently beginning his coaching career under legendary Auburn head coach Shug Jordan. Jordan himself was an assistant football coach and head basketball coach at Georgia before returning to his alma mater.

Former Auburn head coach Pat Dye was a three-year letterman and All-American offensive lineman at Georgia under head coach Wally Butts. Current Auburn defensive line coach Rodney Garner (who coached at Georgia for fifteen years), and former Georgia offensive line coach Stacy Searels both played at Auburn under Dye. Former Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and offensive line coach Hugh Nall are former Georgia players. Former Georgia offensive coordinator Neil Callaway was Auburn's offensive line coach for all of Dye's 12 seasons. In the coaching search that brought Dye to Auburn, Vince Dooley was first contacted about the position but decided to remain at Georgia.

Both programs, in my opinion, have cut their teeth on the same values. The leadership in this program and at Georgia has been very similar.
— Will Muschamp, UGA '94, AU '96, Auburn defensive coordinator, 2006-2007

I think this is what you would call a friendly rivalry. Both places are good schools, good places. Both of them have good people. That's what makes it special.
— Neil Callaway, Georgia offensive coordinator, 2000-2006

References

^ "Georgia and Auburn renew Deep South's Oldest Rivalry". University of Georgia Sports Communications. November 8, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
^ "The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry". Auburn University Sports Communications. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
^ Loran Smith (November 13, 2010). "Smith: Rivalry has long, grand history". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
^ ^a ^b Stegeman, John F. (2007). The Ghosts of Herty Field: Early Days on a Southern Gridiron. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press. pp. 8–14. ISBN 0-8203-1959-7.
^ 2011 Auburn Tigers Football Media Guide, Auburn University Athletic Department, Auburn, Alabama, pp. 178–189, 191 (2011). Retrieved November 27, 2011.
^ 2011 Georgia Football Media Guide, University of Georgia Athletic Department, Athens, Georgia, pp. 157–168 (2011). Retrieved November 27, 2011.
^ College Football Data Warehouse, Auburn vs Georgia. Retrieved November 27, 2011.

[ugarivalry-1] "Georgia and Auburn renew Deep South's Oldest Rivalry". University of Georgia Sports Communications. November 8, 2010. Retrieved December 5, 2012.

[auburnrivalry-2] "The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry". Auburn University Sports Communications. Retrieved December 5, 2012.

[3] Loran Smith (November 13, 2010). "Smith: Rivalry has long, grand history". Athens Banner-Herald. Retrieved December 19, 2011.

[ghosts-4] Stegeman, John F. (2007). The Ghosts of Herty Field: Early Days on a Southern Gridiron. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press. pp. 8–14. ISBN 0-8203-1959-7.

[aumediaguide-5] 2011 Auburn Tigers Football Media Guide, Auburn University Athletic Department, Auburn, Alabama, pp. 178–189, 191 (2011). Retrieved November 27, 2011.

[6] 2011 Georgia Football Media Guide, University of Georgia Athletic Department, Athens, Georgia, pp. 157–168 (2011). Retrieved November 27, 2011.

[7] College Football Data Warehouse, Auburn vs Georgia. Retrieved November 27, 2011.

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v t e Auburn Tigers football
Venues	Drill Field (1892–1910) Drake Field (1911–1939) Legion Field (alternate, 1926–1991) Jordan-Hare Stadium (1939–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Alabama: Iron Bowl (James E. Foy, V-ODK Sportsmanship Trophy) Clemson Florida Georgia: Deep South's Oldest Rivalry Georgia Tech LSU Ole Miss Tennessee Tulane
Culture & lore	History Traditions Aubie "War Eagle" Marching band Toomer's Corner Punt Bama Punt Bo Over the Top Earthquake Game Prayer at Jordan-Hare Kick Six (Kick Bama Kick) Porter Cup
People	Head coaches Starting quarterbacks Statistical leaders NFL draftees
Seasons	1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Georgia Bulldogs football
Venues	Herty Field (1892–1910) Sanford Field (1911–1928) Sanford Stadium (1929–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Alabama Auburn: Deep South's Oldest Rivalry Clemson Florida Georgia Tech: Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate South Carolina Tennessee Vanderbilt
Culture & lore	History Hairy Dawg Uga "Glory, Glory" Georgia Redcoat Marching Band First forward pass 1927 Yale game Prayer at Jordan-Hare
People	Head coaches Steadman V. Sanford Georgia Joker Larry Munson Morgan Blake NFL draftees Starting quarterbacks Statistical leaders
Seasons	1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917–1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold

Series history

Game results

Notable games

Family rivalry

See also

References