UGA’s MISSING RESULTS: Last week, I detailed the four televised games omitted from the UGA football records… How about something even more so significant for today, like the omission of four games? Yes, over the years, I’ve discovered four actual Georgia games that were somehow, someway (like an inability to keep thorough records 100+ years ago) erroneously excluded from the annals of UGA football history:
October 2, 1909 vs. The Olympians of Atlanta: According to UGA records,the Red and Black began its 1909 season against The Citadel on October 9, although further research indicates Georgia actually opened its campaign a week earlier on October 2 with a 5-0 victory over “The Olympians of Atlanta”—a team from an Atlanta athletic club—at UGA’s Herty Field. Perhaps one could argue that the contest with the Olympians is not considered official since it may have been thought of as an exhibition, especially since the opponent seemed to be some sort of club team instead of being associated with a particular college. And, it also appears the Olympians were made up of former, and not current, college athletes. Still, no report referred to the game as an exhibition or practice contest. Furthermore, like many other schools, Georgia played “official” games in its early history many times against athletic clubs, teams made up of college all-stars or former football players, and “preparatory” schools, including Savannah AC (Athletic Club), Augusta AC, Atlanta AC, Daniel Field, Locust Grove, and Gordon. Finally, towards the end of the 1909 season, in several of its editions, the Atlanta Constitution printed game results for selected southern football teams of interest, including Georgia. Routinely listed as the Red and Black’s first result that season was—you guessed it—a 5-0 victory over the “Olympians.”
Evidently, back in 1909, Georgia’s game against the Olympians was considered an official result. More than a century later, it should be designated accordingly, along with the next two games on this list; however, as for the final omitted game—1900 vs. NC State—you can take it, or leave it…
October 3, 1908 vs. The Olympians of Atlanta: Georgia’s meeting with the Olympians in 1909 was actually the school’s second game against the Atlanta athletic club team, having opened its previous season against them as well. From the Red and Black’s 29-5 victory, little was reported regarding the initial game against the Olympians besides the Georgia opponent was captained by Dan Sage, who had interestingly been UGA’s team captain three seasons earlier in 1905.
November 17, 1906 vs. Dahlonega: Georgia records claim the Red and Black faced Georgia Tech on November 10, 1906, and Tennessee 11 days later on November 21. However, research has found that an omitted game was played in between the two opponents: a 53-2 victory over Dahlonega on November 17. There should be no argument against including the Dahlonega game in 1906 as being an official game, especially since Georgia played the “Mountain Team” on six other occasions in its history—all official results—including during the season before and after (1905 and 1907) the game in question.
November 19, 1900 vs. NC State: As it stands now, Georgia traveled to Raleigh, N.C., to play North Carolina on Saturday, November 17, and wouldn’t play again until 12 days later against Auburn. But, the truth is that following the Red and Black’s 55-0 loss to UNC, the team remained in Raleigh to face the "Agricultural & Mechanical (A&M) College of North Carolina," now known as NC State, two days later on Monday, November 19. Of course, perhaps it is because of the game’s result—a 6-5 win by NC State—why it was omitted from the Georgia records in the first place.
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ON THIS DATE – October 16th: A recurring theme throughout this week has been the Bulldogs usually playing, and defeating, Vanderbilt “on this date.” And, on this date of October 16, whereupon Georgia has an 11-4-1 all-time record, the same trend is clearly evident.
Remarkably, the last seven times the Bulldogs have played on October 16 have all come against Vanderbilt, all seven games were Georgia victories, and usually resulting in a rout. The average Georgia-Vanderbilt result during the 7-game stretch was a one-sided 34-to-5 score. Personally, perhaps my favorite of the seven wins by the Bulldogs over the Commodores came in 1976 when not only did the Dawgs drub the ‘Dores 45-0, but a historical milestone was reached by Tony Flanagan, becoming the first black UGA quarterback to score a touchdown.
October 2, 1909 vs. The Olympians of Atlanta: According to UGA records,the Red and Black began its 1909 season against The Citadel on October 9, although further research indicates Georgia actually opened its campaign a week earlier on October 2 with a 5-0 victory over “The Olympians of Atlanta”—a team from an Atlanta athletic club—at UGA’s Herty Field. Perhaps one could argue that the contest with the Olympians is not considered official since it may have been thought of as an exhibition, especially since the opponent seemed to be some sort of club team instead of being associated with a particular college. And, it also appears the Olympians were made up of former, and not current, college athletes. Still, no report referred to the game as an exhibition or practice contest. Furthermore, like many other schools, Georgia played “official” games in its early history many times against athletic clubs, teams made up of college all-stars or former football players, and “preparatory” schools, including Savannah AC (Athletic Club), Augusta AC, Atlanta AC, Daniel Field, Locust Grove, and Gordon. Finally, towards the end of the 1909 season, in several of its editions, the Atlanta Constitution printed game results for selected southern football teams of interest, including Georgia. Routinely listed as the Red and Black’s first result that season was—you guessed it—a 5-0 victory over the “Olympians.”
Evidently, back in 1909, Georgia’s game against the Olympians was considered an official result. More than a century later, it should be designated accordingly, along with the next two games on this list; however, as for the final omitted game—1900 vs. NC State—you can take it, or leave it…
October 3, 1908 vs. The Olympians of Atlanta: Georgia’s meeting with the Olympians in 1909 was actually the school’s second game against the Atlanta athletic club team, having opened its previous season against them as well. From the Red and Black’s 29-5 victory, little was reported regarding the initial game against the Olympians besides the Georgia opponent was captained by Dan Sage, who had interestingly been UGA’s team captain three seasons earlier in 1905.
November 17, 1906 vs. Dahlonega: Georgia records claim the Red and Black faced Georgia Tech on November 10, 1906, and Tennessee 11 days later on November 21. However, research has found that an omitted game was played in between the two opponents: a 53-2 victory over Dahlonega on November 17. There should be no argument against including the Dahlonega game in 1906 as being an official game, especially since Georgia played the “Mountain Team” on six other occasions in its history—all official results—including during the season before and after (1905 and 1907) the game in question.
November 19, 1900 vs. NC State: As it stands now, Georgia traveled to Raleigh, N.C., to play North Carolina on Saturday, November 17, and wouldn’t play again until 12 days later against Auburn. But, the truth is that following the Red and Black’s 55-0 loss to UNC, the team remained in Raleigh to face the "Agricultural & Mechanical (A&M) College of North Carolina," now known as NC State, two days later on Monday, November 19. Of course, perhaps it is because of the game’s result—a 6-5 win by NC State—why it was omitted from the Georgia records in the first place.
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ON THIS DATE – October 16th: A recurring theme throughout this week has been the Bulldogs usually playing, and defeating, Vanderbilt “on this date.” And, on this date of October 16, whereupon Georgia has an 11-4-1 all-time record, the same trend is clearly evident.
Remarkably, the last seven times the Bulldogs have played on October 16 have all come against Vanderbilt, all seven games were Georgia victories, and usually resulting in a rout. The average Georgia-Vanderbilt result during the 7-game stretch was a one-sided 34-to-5 score. Personally, perhaps my favorite of the seven wins by the Bulldogs over the Commodores came in 1976 when not only did the Dawgs drub the ‘Dores 45-0, but a historical milestone was reached by Tony Flanagan, becoming the first black UGA quarterback to score a touchdown.
