Here’s a great question for the gang today…what’s the best experience you’ve ever had in Sanford Stadium?
Now here’s the catch…you had to be there.
I’m not the most lucrative person out there, so there’s a limited number of games I can pull from where I’ve been in Sanford for an absolutely great game, and I haven’t been there for many of the best ones from the Smart years…but I have seen a few good ones.
My top 3:
Number 3 – Georgia versus South Carolina, 1995
This was perhaps the most fun game I ever attended. After the misery of the 1993 and 1994 seasons on my first two years of campus, watching Robert Edwards run for five TDs and having hope – the most dangerous thing – was an amazing feeling that day. In the picture above, the guy laying on the ground is buried there today, as it was when Hines Ward blocked back on a guy and absolutely killed him. I don’t think I’ve ever been more shocked in a moment in watching live football than in that moment there.
2 – Clemson at Georgia – October 5, 1991
Number 6 Clemson came to town and true freshman Eric Zeier came off the bench to upset Clemson, on the same day the Braves beat the Houston Astros to clinch the National League West. It was a Georgia kid’s nirvana, and one of my earliest memories of a game in Athens.
1 – Notre Dame at Georgia, 2019
To me, the games above were more fun to watch, in terms of action. But something about having the Catholics come to Athens was surreal. The gold helmets were as advertised…something to behold in person. The atmosphere all day was peak Athens hospitality and one of the best visiting fan bases to tailgate with, and it was otherwordly to experience.
Honorable mentions: LSU at Georgia, 1991 (first drunk fight I ever witnessed); Kentucky at Georgia, 2023; Mississippi State at Georgia 2011; Texas Tech at Georgia 1996
How about you?
Kirby also had 3 sacks on Tannehill in that game vs. USCe.
Zeier started vs. Clemson.
I’m glad we beat ND in Athens or I might have had to jump it onto East Campus Road.
The 2013 LSU game was a lot of fun. It also included Odell Beckham catching a kickoff with one hand. https://youtube.com/shorts/ikR4caCDN4c?is=q4FktjlCuDMHU1As
Beating Tennessee (finally) in 2000 was a fun night. Stormed the field. Tore down at least one fg post.
Clipping bama with a last second fg in 1990 after being down 10 in the 4th was a good day. Killing bama in 2003 was a lot of fun too.
If I have to pick just one, I’m gonna go with 1991 vs. Clemson.
I’d have to choose from 2013 LSU, 2007 Auburn, or 1984 Clemson. The LSU game was an incredible game, but the atmosphere of the first Blackout game against Auburn probably tops it for the atmosphere and experience. For me personally though I’m going with that ’84 Clemson game.
We had just moved to Hilton Head from Atlanta because my dad went to work with some hotshot real estate developer there who happened to be a big Clemson fan. My dad provided the tickets to the game and his boss flew us to Athens on his Lear jet. He was yappin the whole flight there about how Clemson was going to whip our poor little Bulldogs.
Butler setup for that kick right in front of where I was sitting and we all know how crazy Sanford stadium was when he made hit long enough to make it from 60 yards and one foot. Needless to say, the flight back to Hilton Head was a lot quieter as my dad’s boss sulked in the back of his jet. I think my dad and could have flown back on our own from the joy we were experiencing.
Do not know the number, it could be 100 moments in time post ball game standing before the “Red Coats” and sometimes mine Red n Black soul is tearful….GO DAWGS!!
My bad….’78 vs nerdfootball, ’84 vs klempzun…GO DAWGS!!
Looked thru mine collection of ticket stubs…..1980 vs vandy…GO DAWGS!!
The 2013 LSU game. If you weren’t there you don’t understand how loud the place was. People talk about it all the time but really unless you were there you can’t understand it. The sustained deafening roar was really something to behold.
I remember walking out of the stadium that day wondering if the program had turned some kind of corner. It was Thst kind of an experience. The win turned out not to really mean all that much innthe scheme of things. I just remember thinking the recruits on hand that day had to have come away impressed and we were one season removed from what should have been a national championship team.
The Richt years are remembered as ultimately disappointing. The feeling of always being this close to putting it together. After getting pantsed by in Columbia in ‘12 I mostly decided we would never get there with Mark Richt as coach. I am thankful to have lived through the Smart era. And that ‘13 season was the beginning of the end of Richt. But man for a little while that day against LSU I kind of believed again.
You’re right about that one, Mike! I’ve never seen the North stands absolutely boil like that since, although the ND game was close.
I wasn’t at that one but heard it was pretty similar.
Still remember that Ala game in 1976. Didn’t sleepmuch the nite before. Crowd was wild, it was Ala and everybody was at fever pitch. Maybe the Clemson game with the Kevin Butler field goal. Have been to so many great ones, really hard for me to nail just one or two down. Older l get, the more l appreciate the ones l have seen!
Whipping the toothless Tennessee hounds arse when they came in #1 in 2022. The crowd was crazy the entire game. Even during the rain, the crowd just got louder.
2013 LSU and 2022 Tennessee, lots of great memories going to games in the ’90s, but not a lot of good memories from the games themselves…..
’91 Clemson. Mike Jones, baby! Braves clinched the worst to first division, too. Mayhem of the good kind in the student section.
’90 Bama. Munson: “CARSWELL INTERCEPTED, CARSWELL SAVED OUR FANNY!” First Georgia game I ever saw live.
’00 Tennessee. Still a little embarrassed about the goal posts, but still felt good.
’25 Texas. Texas was still not back.
THe ’91 Clemson game ws off the chain and was one of the great days in Georgia sports history. Dawgs beat Clemson after their defense talked shit about beating us 2-0 so the offense didn’t need to bother coming. The Braves clinched. Tech and Auburn lost. I used to have an old t-shirt withthe front page of the Augusta Chronicle’s sports section from the next day.
Second is 00 Tennessee. Funny how we turn our nose up at rushing the field and goalposts now but back then it was cathargic.
Three games stand out. As season ticket holders the blackout game against Auburn, awaken the nation against LSU and the game against ND. IT WAS NOT IN Sanford but the cocktail party the team stormed the field.
’91 Clemson. Everyone in the parking lots honking horns when the Braves clinched. The stadium did the Chop. I was in 9th grade. That game left an impression.
’07 Auburn. Just dominant. Saw a bunch of old people bounce to Soulja Boy. Also saw a bunch of old people with the ‘Get Off My Lawn’ face at hearing Soulja Boy over the PA system.
I forget the game, but it was earlier in the 2021 season. By far the best year ever. Got to see 5 games in person. Our seats were in 321, so sitting behind the play I got to see it develop Madden-style. Watched Stet do a play action roll-out and launch an absolutely perfect 40 yard bomb that was caught in stride. I KNEW at that point UGA was unstoppable. Best football feeling ever.
Had season tickets on the front row of section 321 for years. As you stated, GREAT seats for watching plays develop, etc.
1) Clemson 1984 – Still the single loudest moment (given stadium size) in Sanford I’ve experienced was when that field goal went between the uprights. The Butler did it.
2) LSU 2013 – I believe that’s the day my oldest daughter (HS senior at the time) likely chose UGA. I had taken her to many games up to that point, but that game day was just different. I have a picture of her on the bridge during the Dawg Walk (sigh to another game day tradition) with the mass of humanity in the Tate parking lot and the Redcoats preparing for the team’s entry in the background.
3) Auburn 2007 – I had thought the Blackout was cute (I wore black), but probably we wouldn’t pull it off. When we drove into Athens, downtown looked like a preppy goth convention. When the team emerged in the black jerseys, I’ve heard it louder, but I’ve never experienced an electricity in Sanford like that.
There were a lot of others for #3 … Texas last year, LSU 2004, Notre Dame, Tech 2002 for the glorious beatdown, Tennessee 2022, and Arkansas 2021 for the noon game atmosphere.
Well, I was in school with Herschel so there were a lot. However, the first game that really hooked me was beating LSU with Charles Alexander (the Great) in 1979. It was an otherwise lost season, but for one magical afternoon, the Dawgs rose up and whipped a ranked LSU team looking for revenge for their loss to us in 1978. After the game, the students stayed in the crowd with the band celebrating. That moment cemented what college football could be. It was also my first quarter in Athens as a student.
As far as games I actually attended my top three are 2007 Auburn, 2013 LSU and the last game we got watch from the tracks. I got interviewed by Larry Munson prior to that one. Great memories.
The 13-10 victory in 1982 over So Car, George Rogers and the clucks.
The Knowshon Soldja Boy blackout over the Barners
The Woerner the returner over Clemons in 1982
The victory over the hillbillies when they were rated #1 27-13
Correcting myself. Both those games were 1980. Had my first child just 2 days before the game. Wife wanted to be there but Dr. and C-section precluded that.
A few I would add:
’80 Clemson- a game we really had no business winning (thank you Scott Woerner)
’24 Tech- watching the nerd herd taking all their celebratory selfies when they went up 27-13 only to have their hearts ripped out was beautiful
LSU ’99- Will Witherspoon saved us by knocking down a 2 point conversion on a game we had in hand
I was there for ’95 USCe and ’91 Clempson. 91 Clempson gets my vote. I’d add ’04 LSU for my list.
2003 v auburn “Odell Thurman… TO THE HOUSE!!!”
78 Tech game.
Wasn’t that one in ATL?
I thought 2004 LSU game was our coming out party! Saban had stole one previous year in BR and then whipped our ass in SEC title game. All off-season juice had one focus – beat LSU in Athens. And Dawgs laid the wood!! Sat next to two LSU fans dressed in beads/hats/feathers. They exited Q3.
***Sabans staff included Jimbo Fischer (OC), Boom (DC) and Kirbs as DB coach.
Unfortunately, we shit the bed the following week (in Athens) v Vols and went on to attend our 100th+ Outback Bowl under Richt.
One additional game stands out. I was fifteen years old and a UGA fan “GAVE ME” a sideline pass while walking into Sanford for the 1980 South Carolina game (George Rogers). Was pretty f’ing cool to stand next to two (2) Heisman trophy winners on the field. Media built game as best two RBs in country go head to head. Did not disappoint. Great game to attend.
2006 Georgia Tech – Tony Taylor returned fumble recovery for touchdown. We played like crap the whole game, but tech was ranked and it was an awesome moment when the tide turned with that recovery and it was such a great way for the nerds to lose when tech had a chance to win and had their precious little nerd hearts broken.
2007 Auburn black out
2023 opening game – can’t even remember what team we played and I’m too lazy to look it up, but this was my 7 and 9 y.o. kids’ first UGA game and it was awesome seeing how much they enjoyed it and their eyes lit up when they saw all of their heroes up close in person on field level.
It was the Clemson game in ’91, hands down. When they announced the Braves clenched and the entire stadium started doing the tomahawk chap, it was surreal. Also, it was awesome beating down those hayseeds from Anderson.
Hard to come up with 3, but here goes.
2019 ND We arrived in Athens around 8 am, and the town was already full. The environment that entire day was just insane. I felt like we should have handled them better, but we obviously got the win.
2013 LSU The crowd seemed to be in from kickoff until the last incompletion by Mettenberger.
2014 Clemson Specifically when Gurley returned the kickoff for a TD.
Lots of games would have made honorable mention, 2022 Tennessee, the Blackout game. ’09 LSU would be up there if not for the ending. When AJ caught that ball , it was right below my section and I thought I was gonna fall out of the stands. it remains the greatest catch I’ve ever personally witnessed. Followed by the most bullshit celebration penalty I’ve ever seen. He barely glanced at the stands. The penalty yardage on the kickoff cost us that game.
I should have said “hard to come up with just 3”
Hard can be an issue sometimes!
That was definitely a playing while Georgia penalty. Marc Curles along with Penn Wagers deserved this.
The 2013 LSU game is my number 1. I didn’t believe our home crowd was capable of sustaining such noise. Notre Dame is my # 2 yeah it was really loud just not LSU loud all night. 3 has to be for me the 2000 Tennessee game. I was sick of losing to UT. The celebration post game was nuts.
Who let the dawgs out seemed to be playing from everywhere. I remember seeing a guy with a rainbow wig first on the field post game. Later I see him carrying a goal post. On the way home I saw the same guy dancing on top of a bus shelter holding a beer.
’91 Clemson. The whole day was incredible watching the Barves win before the game started, then the announcement that the Dodgers lost during the game and the chop breaking out. Oh yeah, and we upset the #6 tigers. Post game we couldn’t find the rest of our crew and stumbled upon a tailgate with a beer truck manned by former UGA players who worked for the local distributor. They gave us chairs, food and free beer until we couldn’t drink any more.
Not too many memorable games when I was there (87-90). I attended spottily for many years after that. Once my kids came along, I went more. My top 3 are: (3) the year we crushed South Carolina and put Spurrier out of business; (2) last year when we once again proved that Texas is not, in fact, BACK, and; (1) Notre Dame a few years ago. That Notre Dame game was tense from start to stop!
Many other great games, but those were my favorite.
Auburn blackout for the win. I am biased by my hatred for all things barn.
Fortunately attended all pre-2019 games named so far. ‘76 Bama, ‘78 tech, ‘80 USCe (Herschel’s best long run), ‘84 Clemmons, Auburn blackout, Notre Dame all were spectacles.
Lower magnitude but very entertaining was ‘70 South Carolina. Down like 20-3 in first half, Paul Gilbert comes in for Cavan at QB and leads us to a 52-34 win.
I’m going to age myself.
3. UGA vs Clemmons 1980
2. UGA vs Clemmons 1982
1. UGA vs Yard Chickens 1980
2022 UGA vs Tennessee absolutely the loudest I have ever heard Sanford Stadium.
1984 UGA vs Sons of Clem. Butler 60 yarder to win it. That was a loud one as well.
2019 UGA vs Notre Dame The most sustained crowd noise I have ever heard a Sanford. Made me proud to be a Dawg that night.
Black Out game 2007. Our DAWGS whipped up on Auburn. Even though the refs TRIED to keep AU in the game. Soldier Boy and Knowshon on the big screen and Sanford was LIT. No other game I been to there comes close. Honorable mention would be TN when Stetson took the house call and Thorson pinned them on the half yard line with about a 75 yarder.
Clemson @ Georgia – 1991. Watched after the Braves went worst to first. It was hell of a day in Athens.
Tennessee @ Georgia – 2001. Broke a miserable losing streak to Tooth Nation, and everyone rushed the field.
Auburn @ Georgia – 2007. The Blackout. The team dancing to Soulja Boy. Vern & Gary dancing in the booth. Electric atmosphere.
Clemson 2014
Auburn blackout
Ole Miss last year
Top 3 away from Sanford
Texas SECC
Auburn 1982
1981 Sugar Bowl