Wednesday was Groundhog Day but I couldn’t decide if I should be looking back or forward. The old baseball player Satchell Paige once said, “don’t look back, somebody might be gainin’ on ya!” I’m a sentimental fool but I don’t look back as much as I used to and anybody gaining on me passed by years ago. I blame the fact that my memory ain’t what it used to be. I even write my haircuts down on a calendar now to remember when I last visited the barber.
As I do think back, I’m wondering what happened to all of the Alabama, Florida, and Clemson clothing that I’ve seen around here for years. Records were broken by several retailers selling Georgia Bulldog National Championship t-shirts, hats, and gear so red and black must be the new colors of choice. Apparently, there are many new fans now referring to the Bulldogs as “we” instead of “they” than ever before. You can’t drive a mile down Washington Road without seeing new Georgia flags flying on cars and trucks.
I recently encountered a familiar face in a local business whom I never really knew, but she always commented on my Georgia ball cap when she would see me around town. She was quick to tell me that she was a big Alabama fan and could cite the score of the last time the two schools played, Bama victories of course, and even quote the date of the next scheduled contest. I was always tempted to ask when she graduated from the University of Alabama or why did she become such a big fan or when did she move to East Georgia from Alabama.
Upon our last meeting, I was busy looking for something on a store shelf when I heard, “How bout’ them Dawgs!” Lo and behold I turned around and there stood the biggest Alabama fan I thought I ever knew. She was wearing nothing that would identify her as a fan of any school and perhaps she was just being friendly and congratulating a Georgia fan. Since she was not adorned in Georgia gear, I had no reason to assume that she had switched allegiances, so I just returned her salute with a grin and a thumbs-up. I’ll credit her for being a good sport.
It is human nature to love a winner. A school that wins like Alabama will always have a full bandwagon. Modern television coverage of the games makes it easy to watch them without much of a financial or time commitment. You don’t need a tangible connection, like a diploma, or a child’s diploma, to any college to root for them. You need not have grown up in that state or even visited to become a fan. You don’t need formal permission or a license to hop on board a constant winner because it makes you feel good and losing is a bummer.
Looking forward, maybe all these new Georgia fans that have come out of the woodwork will remain Georgia fans. I’m sure that some of them will shudder at the next Bulldogs’ loss and abandon ship upon a second one. My only suggestion to all you folks suddenly referring to Georgia as “we” is to be low key and display a little humility. Too many long-time fans aren’t doing that. If loyalty is not your virtue, don’t let arrogance become a vice. It just might make those new colors you’re wearing fade to Crimson.
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