I’ve decided there are two kinds of people in Athens on a football Saturday: the Day Game Person and the Night Game Person. They’re all part of Dawg Nation, just running on different game-day clocks. After this weekend’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff against Texas, the differences were on full display.

Night games come with a different kind of energy, the kind that builds for hours and hours until the stadium gates finally open. Night Game People thrive on that. They love a slow burn – the anticipation, the planning, the pacing, the rivalry talk. By noon, they’re likely already in full game mode, even if kickoff is still seven hours away.

Walking into Sanford before the Texas game, I heard some Georgia fans chirping at two Texas fans, “You’re wearing the wrong color buddy. Remember what happened last year in Austin?” That’s classic Night Game Person behavior. Not rude, just spirited. They’ve had all day to warm up. A little rowdier, a little louder, a little more likely to spark conversation with a stranger (or an opponent).

And somehow, even though night games start later, it seems that Night Game People stay longer. They’re not leaving early – not when the lights are on, the stadium is glowing, and the energy keeps building as the game goes on. I can feel the energy, Sanford under the lights feels like a completely different place. The moon is out, the fireworks light up the field, and the whole stadium is electric.

But, being a Night Game Person certainly comes at a price: you have to actually make it through the day. The waiting, the tailgating, the temperature drop, the miles of walking in boots. Night Game People are marathoners, not sprinters, and they still somehow manage to be loud in the fourth quarter.

Day Game People, meanwhile, bring a completely different vibe. They enjoy the sunshine and the ability to leave the stadium with the entire evening ahead of them. They seem to be more alert, more optimistic, and they don’t wake up feeling like there’s a 14-hour countdown to kickoff hanging over their heads.

Their eyes are brighter, the crowd runs quieter, and the energy leans more polite. Day Game People will strike up a full conversation with opposing fans — where Night Game People chirp, they chat.

Plus, Athens in the fall during a day game is elite. The weather is perfect, the campus is glowing, and when the game’s over, there’s plenty of time to go to your favorite dinner spot, stroll downtown, or take that much needed post-game nap.

What I find funny, though, is that no matter the kickoff time – noon, 3:30, or 7:30 – everyone in Athens starts tailgating at the same exact hour. I’ve seen tents go up at 7 a.m. for day games and 7 a.m. for night games. Either way, the town of Athens is up, grilling, and blasting music before the sun is even fully away this time of year.

Out of curiosity, I ran a poll on our Instagram during the Texas game: Day Game or Night Game? The results came back extreme– 94% said night games, 6% said day games. Maybe Night Game People are just louder online, or everyone else was too tired from the 7 a.m. tailgate to vote.

As for me? I’m a Night Game Person through and through. Something about Sanford at night just hits differently, and with only a couple night games each season, I take in every bit of it.

But here’s what I’ve learned after watching both types of fans: game day works because both exist. The marathoners and the early birds. The rowdy and the relaxed.

So which person are you – the Night Game Person or the Day Game Person?

Because here in Athens, there’s certainly a difference. And honestly, that’s what makes Saturdays so great and Bulldog fans so special.