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ATHENS, Ga. – There are no championships at stake, not even a BCS bowl bid. But in its way, the 113th renewal of the Deep South’s oldest series is as important as ever for Auburn and Georgia.
For No. 25 Auburn (7-3, 3-3) and first-year Gene Chizik and the Tigers, it is an opportunity to get the biggest win of the season and earn a bigger bowl bid than virtually anyone thought possible going in.
For Georgia (5-4, 3-3) and coach Mark Richt and the Bulldogs, it is an opportunity to start a strong finish to a season that has tottered on the brink of disaster for the past month. It is an opportunity to get a fourth consecutive win over Auburn for the first time in more than 60 years.
Kickoff at Sanford Stadium is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
Senior Auburn defensive end Antonio Coleman says he’s paying no attention to Georgia’s record.
“It’s the same Georgia team we’ve lost to the last three years,” Coleman said. “They are a pretty good ballclub, pretty good running backs, decent o-line and great receivers.”
Though Georgia is the only SEC team Coleman has not been a part of beating, he said he wouldn’t have that on his mind.
“I don’t pay attention to all that,” Coleman said. “It’s about getting out there and having fun. Would it be great to get a win? Yeah, but we’re just taking it day by day and going out to get better every day.”
Senior Georgia quarterback Joe Cox said he welcomes the chance to get his first start in the most ancient of series.
“We know they are a solid football team, a top 25 team,” Cox said. “We’re excited about the chance to play them in Athens in a night game in Sanford Stadium.”
Georgia has been besieged by turnovers and penalties throughout the season. Those things, Cox said, must not happen against Auburn.
“Execute,” Cox said. “When you play good teams you’ve got to execute your game plan and minimize penalties and turnovers. Those are the things that good teams will capitalize off of and turn them into points for themselves. We’re going to have a good game plan. We just have to execute it and not make mistakes.”
If Georgia’s seniors win, they’ll be the first class since 1948 to finish their careers without a loss to Auburn.
“There is so much riding on this game,” senior inebacker Rennie Curran said. “A lot of reputation has been built on the each of the schools winning or losing, and it is a game that usually results in a lot of good and bad memories for both teams.”
