First, a little Musical Palate Cleanser:
Jeff Beck. I can’t tell you how much I love this song, and when it’s played in Goodfellas Casino towards hour sixteen of the movie, man, it just hits right.
Anyway, here’s the gist of today’s Roundtable. Allow me to use a visual as a means of starting it off:
Now correct me if I’m wrong, but my understanding is that it’s tradition that only Alumni can walk under the arch…and if you’re not, you need to walk around. What I don’t know…is there a curse or something if you do? Are you guaranteed not to go to UGA as a result…my youngest, the daring that she is, just blatantly walked under it with a laugh, but she’s 8, and she also thinks her name could quite possibly be “Dammit”. That’s her, and that’s why she’s named Georgia. She thinks she owns the place.
Anyway, if it’s a tradition, I took it as more of a superstition. Some other superstitions I adhere to:
- Playing the same songs in rotation before a Georgia game.
- Can’t go to the bathroom while a series is being played, have to wait until a period change or change in possession before going.
- Don’t watch Georgia basketball. Ever.
- Don’t watch Georgia baseball. Okay, to be honest, I broke from this one this year and it’s worked out okay…so far.
- I only load three rounds in my Remington when I’m hunting, and only carry 7 total rounds on me when I’m out in the field. Truth be known, past the age of maybe 13, I’ve never needed more than two.
- When the woods suddenly go silent, run like hell. And load a few more in the Remington for safe measure.
- I sit on defensive possessions and stand on offensive possessions.
- I keep a 1974 quarter on me to this day. I can’t tell you why I started doing that, but I damn sure won’t stop.
- I will never go higher than 9 miles over the speed limit on a highway, I don’t care how fast everyone around me is going. Cruise control is my friend. I stick to the limit on regular roads.
- I learned the Backwards Alphabet song by Soupy Sales in case I’m asked to do it in a field sobriety test. I have no reason to believe this is even a component of one, and I don’t drive after even one beer, so I’ve yet to understand why I committed that one to memory. But I still rehearse it daily. I actually think this is a good exercise for anxiety, or maybe I’m OCD.
Anyway, what’s your superstition in life? Where did you adopt it and why do you stick to it?
Let’s hear it in the comments.
If you walk under it as a freshman you become impotent/infertile.
I used to believe in luck, curses and fake juice. I now realize I have zero effect on any game outcome. This realization has led to way more enjoyment on Saturdays.
This is the one I heard.
I’m with you. I realize I have no outcome on games, and don’t bother with superstitions.
I walked under the arch routinely as an undergraduate. I did graduate. Every time my wife and I decided to have a baby she was pregnant within two months.
If UGA is down at the half, I change shirts. I know it has absolutely nothing to do with the outcome, but just in case, it ain’t gonna be on me.
When I was there (74-78), it was just freshmen who weren’t supposed to walk under the arch.
I learned how to say the alphabet fast leaving out D, U, and I.
I was there 74-78 as well!
I THOUGHT you looked familiar!!
Me, too, plus 78 to 81 for law school. I would howl with laughter if I actually know/knew some of you guys.
I lived in Myers Hall all four years. Was in Air Force ROTC the whole time, too.
I won’t wear a new Georgia shirt or hat for the first time to a big game. They have to be baptized during a game against a lesser opponent. Also, my game day beer has to be from Georgia. I usually drink Classic City Lager, but Sweetwater or Wild Leap are also allowed.
I don’t do this every tailgate, but Georgia is undefeated at home when I bring Bahn Mi sandwiches from Lee’s Bakery in Chamblee. This only happens if someone from Atlanta is meeting me in Athens for the game or if I am in Atlanta the Friday before a game for some reason now a days.
Picked this one up from my dad. If a black cat ran in front of his truck he would always make an X sign with his fingers. I don’t do it anymore though. I’m hoping like hell one runs out in front of me, especially the one who sprays my granddaughter’s wagon every other week. I’m gonna run over the bastard.
Sorry you cat lovers but nothing worse than a cat spraying what your grandchild plays on. Disgusting! You can call PETA now.
Maybe get your granddaughter to an ENT and try to figure out what’s up with her nose?
That was a joke, BTW.
Yeah, I took it as a joke. No problem.
I’m not Superstitious but I’m a Littlestitious, so before every game I expect our team to be disciplined, physical and connected. It starts with whippin’ Tennessee State’s arse and then fifteen more! Also during games, I don’t say bleep to their undisciplined arses, I just point at the scoreboard and laugh.
#GoDawgs
Also, “#6 When the woods suddenly go silent, run like hell. And load a few more in the Remington for safe measure,” is just good policy. Although, I always carried one extra mag, I figured all the running and pushups meant be strong enough to never go dry…
I wouldn’t consider anything on your list superstitious. To me that’s earned wisdom.
Mine are never change the pregame sound track until after a home loss. Kirby has made me learn to choose songs wisely. Wear the same shirt each home game until it’s stained with a loss. Washing the winning shirt is required. When watching from section HD if down by more than 7 I’m required to change seats. If down by 2 touchdowns replace beer with scotch.
The one thing I’ve stopped doing is giving advice to the coaching staff while watching.
LoL only in mine privacy, you got me this morning, #7 hit me where I live….#8 is true to the point of “always have a RMO” on your person at all times….#9 may just be driving defensively, but i’m with you on the 9-10 miles over the speed limit greater than the posted 50 mph…Down Island Way, ticketing is a huge $$$$$ generator….GO DAWGS!!
A NCSHP friend once told me “8 you skate, 9 you’re mine”. Always remembered that, and it’s served me well through the years.
I’m not superstitious. I just don’t take chances.
– Don’t put a hat on the bed, ever.
– If you forget something when you leave the house, sit down for a moment before you leave again.
– If you spill salt, throw it over your left shoulder.
– Change shirts at halftime if the Dawgs are losing.
– Never wear a new shirt to a big game. Break it in against a cupcake.
I think those are the ones I follow.
I honored the no freshman walking through the Arch tradition and made it a point my sophomore year to pass through and celebrate with a burger at Allen’s.
If a police officer were to ask you to say the alphabet backwards, he would have a clue if you got it right or not.
I have a friend whose father made him memorize the alphabet backwards. The day finally came when an overconfident cop asked him to recite it. The policeman was literally stunned into silence for about ten seconds, said he’d never heard anyone do that successfully his entire career and let my friend go.
https://youtu.be/Kwiyz57_tHA?si=xcXLHoCgbaAlvhTz
You’re welcome…it’s the song that runs through my head when I do it. They’d probably take me in for skipping and dancing while I sing it.
I’m pretty sure that Jeff Beck song was in Casino, not Goodfellas.
Dammit. You’re right. It was Mannish Child that was playing when they were running from the helicopters in Goodfellas…they played Aint Superstitious in the scene where they caught the cheaters at blackjack in Casino.
Well done … also great song!
I’m not really a superstitious like “I have to wear this hat, or my team will lose” or Nuke Laloosh’s “Bermuda Triangle” but I do get a weird vibe about natural signs. For instance: If you pass by a dog dropping a deuce, something bad will happen in 24 hours. Not life threatening, mind you. Just something that interrupts the normal flow of things. Like having to sit through every red light on your commute, dropping your drink on the ground at a drive through window, getting to the cashier then realizing you left your wallet at home…low grade aggravation.
Now… If you pass by two dogs that have FUBAR’d the act of copulation and are stuck ass to ass? You probably should just go on home, turn all the lights out and lock the doors. Trust me on this one.
Apologies, I left out the part about passing by a pair of dogs successfully making puppies:
Sing the first two lines (at least) of “Wondering Where the Lions Are” and go on about your day. Maybe buy a lottery ticket.
Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” is a great song.