While the Bulldogs were enduring a nine game losing streak to Tennessee, it was hard to imagine Georgia flipping the script in this rivalry. But Georgia has done that indeed, most notably during the incredible Kirby Smart dynasty.

Under Smart’s watch, the Bulldogs have won eight consecutive games against the Volunteers, including four straight in Knoxville. Not only has Georgia won eight in a row against Tennessee, all of the victories have been decided by at least 14 points.

Since 2010, Georgia is 13-2 against Tennessee. The Vols wins came in 2015, when they erased a 24-3 deficit to defeat the Bulldogs 38-31, and the following year in Athens on the Josh Dobbs Hail Mary.

Dating back to Georgia’s streak breaking 21-10 triumph over Tennessee in 2000, the Bulldogs are 19-6 against the Vols here in the 21st century. When Vince Dooley retired as Georgia’s head coach following the 1988 season, the Dogs led the all-time series 10-8-2, including a 28-17 victory to open his final campaign at the helm. As you can tell by the series record, Georgia and Tennessee just didn’t play each other very much. Well that all changed in 1992 when the Southeastern Conference expanded and split into divisions. Beginning in 1992, Georgia and Tennessee played every year.

When Tennessee beat Georgia for the ninth straight time in 1999 (1989, 1992-1999 comprised the streak), the Vols led the series 17-10-2. Trying to imagine ever catching up seemed a bit far fetched.

But then the Georgia victories started coming, and now the Bulldogs lead the all-time series with the Volunteers 29-23-2. Amazing. This stretch of success has included many memorable triumphs on the banks of the Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.

There was David Greene to Verron Haynes (with a couple of huge grabs with Randy McMichael) in 2001, Sean Jones 92-yard fumble return in 2003, and Thomas Flowers punt return in 2005. Those three straight wins in Knoxville put Georgia and Mark Richt in rare company, joining Alabama under both Bear Bryant and Gene Stallings as the lone programs and coaches at that point who had led their teams to three straight wins over Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.

Call and raise with Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs, who have won four in a row at Neyland Stadium during this current eight game winning streak in the series.

For “younger” Georgia fans, who have only known playing Tennessee every year, the Volunteers rank as one of the Bulldogs top rivals. Especially for those fans who weren’t around for that magical night of September the 6th, 1980, and knew nothing but losing to Tennessee.

Growing up, I had no animosity towards Tennessee. We barely played. After beating the Volunteers 44-0 to kick off the 1981 season as reigning national champions, the two didn’t play again until the aforementioned 1988 opener. I was nine, and then 16.

Well losing all those games to Tennessee didn’t sit well. That losing streak also coincided with some very hard times against the Vols other sports. At one point, if memory serves, my beloved Diamond Dawgs lost 17 in a row to Tennessee! 17! The wins were hard to come by on the hardwood as well, especially in Knoxville.

When we got swept by Tennessee in the spring of 1999, including a 28-11 bloodbath in which our great baseball Sports Information Director Chris Lakos spent two innings on the broadcast going through his records year by year to see the last time we had given up that many runs. It was a record.

Following the Sunday game, I was lamenting our losing streaks in football and baseball, plus the struggles in hoops, to my friend Bob Kesling, Tennessee’s exceptional broadcaster. Some conversation lurker jumped in and said “Now you will make sure you’re at Neyland Stadium this Fall, won’t you! Ha Ha Ha.”

I’m sure the look I gave wasn’t pleasant.

I’ve always admired our Georgia fans in enemy territory, especially during tough days. That includes the famous Bulldog fan Al Bell, known on the airwaves as Al from Knoxville. On our trips to Rocky Top, Al and his friends would always take great care of our broadcast and sports information crew. He once drove me over early to Thompson-Boling arena for a Lady Dogs-Lady Vols game, and blew through one of those barricades in his land yacht. Front door service. The man on the gate came running up and said you can’t park here. Al retorted, “I’m dropping my friend off so he can work, and you couldn’t pay me to walk in this dump!” Then the tires squealed off again.

Tennessee in recent years broke long losing streaks to both Alabama and Florida, and the Vols would love to add Georgia to that list this season. As for the Dogs, nine in a row, including five straight in Knoxville, where some long days and nights were endured by the Red and Black, would be mighty sweet.