Saturday Afternoon in Athens

The following is a post I made in reply to Bryan Barley's rundown of College Football's Greatest entrances, in which he left off UGA. (And a few others of note - Clemson, FSU...see the other replies.) Just thought I'd share this here as well....

Brook Whitmire's voice booms over the loudspeaker in Sanford Stadium and 92,746 are summoned to their feet.

"It's Saturday afternoon in Athens!"

They've spent the past two hours at the Dog Walk, lining the way between Lumpkin Street and the Bridge with red and black. The team has walked the walk, looking the Bulldog Nation in the eyes as they prepare for the game ahead.

The Redcoat Band now stands Between the Hedges as Whitmire's voice fills the air. Then, there in the southwest corner of the stadium, a lone trumpet soloist stands, and the Battle Hymn of the Bulldog Nation begins.

Larry Munson's voice now, distinct and raspy as ever, comes over the speakers while the images of Bulldog greats - Herschel Walker, Vince Dooley, Erk Russell, Lindsey Scott, Kevin Butler, Eric Zeier, Champ Bailey, Robert Edwards, David Greene, Boss Bailey, Mussa Smith, Thomas Davis, Matthew Stafford - roll on the screen. Lindsey Scott's crushing 80-yard TD run on Florida in 1980. Herschel's legs pumping through Tennessee in his freshman campaign. Dooley getting carried off the field on shoulders - "Look at the Sugar falling out of the sky!" Verron Haynes stomping on the Volunteer's face with his hobnail boot. David Pollack stripping and recovering for the TD against the Gamecocks. Michael Johnson leaping over Auburn to capture the TD and the SEC East.

All this to The Voice of the Bulldogs, in his legendary style, and on the backdrop of the Battle Hymn:

"Heroes have graced the field before, with the hearts, bodies and minds of which the Bulldog Nation can be justifiably proud. The tradition of unbridled excellence demonstrated by these, whose memory spans more than a full century. And now a new breed of Bulldog stands ready to take the field abound to assume the reigns of the Georgia forebearers and continue that tradition, understanding that there is no tradition more worthy of envy, no institution more worthy of such loyalty, as the University of Georgia. As we prepare for another meeting Between the Hedges, let all the Bulldog faithful rally behind the men who now wear the Red and Black, with two words, two simple words which express the sentiment of the entire Bulldog Nation..."

And 93,000 fans, filling the stadium and bridge, yell at the top of their lungs, in exact unison with Redcoat Band,

"Go Dogs!"

I'm not saying that Sanford Stadium has the greatest single moment of entrance, but I challenge anybody to give me a greater two hours leading up to game time than you'll find on any fall Saturday afternoon in Athens.