1. Munson in ‘82 – Forever and always my favorite Georgia win over Auburn came in 1982 on the Plains. The top-ranked 9-0 Bulldogs edged the 7-2 Tigers 19-14, and The Mighty Larry Munson was at his very best. Masterful. Yes, Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker of Georgia and freshman standout Bo Jackson from Auburn were the headliners, but this game was not on television. Unless you were there, it was all Munson. To the Bulldog Nation, he absolutely willed us to victory. Most Dawgs are quite familiar with the iconic Munson calls on Auburn’s last drive, trying to break Georgia’s hearts. But Georgia held on, and Sugar was falling from the sky. A third straight SEC championship was clinched that magical afternoon. As an aside, at age 10, and I’ve told this story in these pages and on the Bulldog Network airwaves, I inadvertently had a swig of my first ever dark liquor drink. Later that day, my parents and I went to the house of family friends, the Bentley’s. LSU was playing at Mississippi State on television. Heading into the day, Georgia was 5-0 in the SEC, LSU was 4-0-1, having tied Tennessee. So even if Georgia had lost, if LSU lost at MSU, the Dawgs would have been SEC champs. Not that that would have been any consolation to 10-year old me. Anyways, I was so happy that Georgia had won, and we were enjoying a great fall afternoon in Statesboro. I have always loved Coca Cola, it is in my blood. So I went to go take a big swig of my dad’s coke, and it was mixed with some rocket fuel. Most likely Wild Turkey. I recoiled in surprise and anguish. Yuck! I said. My dad said simply, ‘that’s why you don’t drink out of other people’s glasses.’ Even your dad’s on one of Georgia’s greatest days ever.

2. 76 ground game – The SEC championship of 1976 was clinched in the Loveliest Village on the Plains. Georgia’s powerful ground game, led by one of the best offensive lines in program history, dominated the game. Running Back Kevin McLee had a second consecutive – coming off the 41-27 comeback “Fourth and Dumb” win over Florida – tremendous performance, and the Dogs won 28-0. Georgia did so without completing a pass.

3. Greene to Johnson – A close second to 1982 was 2002, as the Bulldogs rallied back for a thrilling 24-21 victory that clinched a berth in the SEC Championship Game, propelling Georgia to the program’s first conference crown since that fateful ‘82 campaign. David Greene to Michael Johnson on fourth down was the big play, and then the defense held. The Hilltop Grille in Athens, home of the famous Bulldog Brunch, opened that night incidentally. It was a long 20 years, but what a night. The Dogs of 2002 would finish 13-1 and No. 3 in the land.

4. Hoops legends of ‘80s – There were a slew of great basketball players at both Georgia and Auburn throughout the 1980s, and four tremendous coaches. Hugh Durham and Andy Landers at Georgia, Sonny Smith and Joe Ciampi at Auburn. This is one of those lists where I’m going to leave off some great names. Amongst the best, Dominique Wilkins, James Banks, Vern Fleming, Teresa Edwards, Janet Harris and Katrina McClain for Georgia. Charles Barkley, Chuck Person, Ruthie Bolton and Vickie Orr for Auburn.

5. Uga and Tiger – It is well known that Uga is the greatest mascot in the history of the universe. But when it comes to other famous ones in the collegiate ranks, another on the list is “Tiger,” Auburn’s War Eagle who flies the pregame pattern throughout Jordan-Hare Stadium before every home game on the plains. Uga is a movie star, including an impressive showing in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Tiger performed at the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. My good friend Mark Parkman, a proud Georgia graduate and die hard Bulldog, was an executive with Olympics Broadcasting. Someone in an Olympic Organizing meeting brought up wanting a bird to possibly do a routine at the opening ceremonies. Even though “Tiger” was at a rival school, Mark quickly said “I’ve got the answer.” Sure enough, Tiger the War Eagle flew proudly in Salt Lake City to help usher in the Winter Games of 2002.