by Sylvester Pierpoint (aka John Jeffries)

Created on: March 03, 2009

A TRIP TO ATHENS - Probably the oldest of the Deep South's College football rivalries is the game between the University of Georgia and Auburn University. The first meeting of the two took place February 20, 1892 in Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia where they continued to meet. The game shifted to Columbus, Georgia in 1916 and remained there until 1958 with the exception of two years, 1929 and 1949 that were played in Athens, Georgia. When Auburn completed their football stadium the game moved to alternate campuses.

Like most other colleges the two teams have accumulated many avid fans that follow them each year and are very vocal in their support. When I worked for the airlines in Atlanta I had several co-workers who were devoted fans of the Georgia Bulldogs and expressed their support for the team without a pause. The year was 1965 and the game between Georgia and Auburn was set for November 13 in Athens and was said to be a challenge for the Bulldogs but they were predicted to win the game. My fellow Agents decided they just had to see that game so they got together and discussed setting up a trip to Athens to attend the game.

George Bailey, probably the biggest fan of all, agreed to accept the task of arranging and setting up the trip. He began checking to see who wanted to go and accumulated a whole bus load of participants. Because of the proximity of Auburn to my home town of Columbus and the fact the game was played there for several years I became a fan of the Auburn Tigers. The Bulldog fans chided me about my choice and pestered me until I agreed to go with them to the game.

I looked at the trip as a great opportunity to further educate my German wife in the ways of America since she had never seen an American football game. She was a bit hesitant at first but agreed to go with me. She had been asking me why we call it football since they only kick the ball a few times then they throw it in the air and run up and down the field and pile on top of each other. I told her it looks different in person.

George Bailey did a great job in organizing and setting up the trip. He chartered a bus and had it stocked with drinks (sodas, beer and booze) so everybody had his choice of what and how much they wanted to drink. We assembled and George handed out the football tickets as we boarded the bus. Our seats were on the 30 yard line. The bus filled up and we left for Athens. People were talking and laughing and drinking. Most of the conversation was about how the

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