Poll: Georgia football fans would prefer Clemson over Georgia Tech as annual opponent
ATHENS — Is Clemson the choice of the new and future Georgia football generations?
A recent unscientific Twitter poll indicates a following of fans with Georgia football as their main interest would prefer an annual meeting against Clemson rather than Georgia Tech.
Of the 1,790 votes, 62 percent responded “Yes” they would want Georgia to schedule Clemson to replace the currently scheduled home-and-home series with Georgia Tech.
Tigers coach Dabo Swinney told AJC-DawgNation last Saturday following Clemson’s Orange-and-White Game that he would like to see his team play Georgia every year.
RELATED: Dabo Swinney explains why he’d play Georgia every year
“It’s a tough game because they are one of the best teams in the country, but it’s great game for the fans,” Swinney said. “I’d just as soon play them than have to go all the way somewhere else to get a game.”
Coach Kirby Smart, while not commenting directly on the Georgia Tech or Clemson series, said this spring there’s merit to playing a strong non-conference opponent late in the season.
“They’ve proven that later games in the year have more impact on who make the playoffs, so if you can get a Power 5 team late in your schedule, I’m talking the last three or four weeks, you’ve got a chance to spike and send yourself into that conversation,” Smart said.
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The Georgia-Georgia Tech game is traditionally the last game of the season for the Bulldogs.
It has paled in recent years to other “Rivalry Week” games, such as Alabama-Auburn, Ohio State-Michigan, Florida-Florida State and Oklahoma-Oklahoma State.
Both Georgia and Clemson have aggressive schedule models now and moving into the future that feature two non-conference games against Power 5 opponents most years.
RELATED: Georgia football beefing up non-conference schedule at Kirby’s request
As things stand, it wouldn’t appear there are opportunities for the Bulldogs and Tigers to meet in the regular season before their next scheduled game, a 2024 neutral site match in Atlanta.
The programs, separated by 58 miles geographically and 78 miles driving, once met annually and have featured sporadic home-and-home series.
There are future home-and-home series between Georgia and Clemson scheduled in 2029-2030 and 2032-2033.
Georgia Tech is reflected on Georgia’s future schedules annually through 2037.
Perhaps Smart and Swinney should appeal for the NCAA to allow teams to meet in exhibition style spring clashes rather than the glorified intrasquad scrimmages now televised.
Plenty of people responded on Twitter beyond just answering the poll question.
DawgNation Georgia football Twitter response
Would you want #Georgia to replace the home and home with Georgia Tech on its schedule for a home-and-home with #Clemson ?
— Mike Griffith (@MikeGriffith32) April 8, 2019
Playing GT gives us no benefit. We gain nothing from beating a consistent 6 win team every year.
— Tyler 🐶🐾 (@tj_stanfield) April 8, 2019
Would much rather see them in the playoffs every year, when the game means more!!!
— Tamorris Sullivan (@demetrioso33) April 8, 2019
I voted Yes because I’d like to see Tech dropped as an annual opponent. I’d like to play them home-and-home every 6 to 8 years. Throw in a different home&home, including Clemson, fla state, etc. vaTech, WVU, NC State would all be fun.
— Greg 🏝 (@SoGaDawguar) April 9, 2019
No I truly don’t understand why you wanna make the schedule harder , it doesn’t make sense
— @litedawg1968 (@litedawg1968) April 9, 2019
No……I remember the eight straight!
— rc manus (@rcdog99) April 8, 2019
I want them to open every season w Clemson and close w Tech.
— Weldon D Williams (@SeekySwish) April 9, 2019
I really just want to make the switch because it would be a hilarious slap in the face to georgia tech who cares so deeply about playing georgia. It would ruin their football seasons but they would not be able to admit it! That would be great.
— Joe Swearingen (@UGAJoe) April 9, 2019
Hell yeaa… quality opponent and it’s a true rivalry imo just not enough games
— Deshaun Thomas (@dopeswaggg24) April 9, 2019
This is the classic case of overthinking stuff and a touch of arrogance. It’s almost like the thinking is that Georgia Tech can’t get good again. I get wanting to have a stronger schedule but at the expense of sacrificing rivalries. The path to the CFB playoffs is clear already.
— E.Harper (@EricHar97044491) April 8, 2019
For the love of God leave our rivalries alone!!! “Let’s change the Jacksonville venue for the Uga v fl game” “let’s swap Clemson for Ga tech”.
The largest outdoor cocktail party
Clean, old-fashioned hate.— Daniel Joseph (@Daniel_Joseph86) April 8, 2019
I say we change it to Georgia State and we tell tech we’ll consider them when they start playing varsity again.
— Joe Swearingen (@UGAJoe) April 9, 2019
