2017 marks the 125th anniversary of the first college football game played in the deep South, between Georgia and Mercer, one month before the first Georgia-Auburn game. Wouldn't it be great to celebrate that anniversary with a game?
I know it's a little out there, but UGA does play SoCon teams from time to time, so it's a little less crazy than when we first announced we were starting back a non-scholarship team!
2017 might be a bit soon for such a game.
Maybe by 2020 Mercer could step up to that.
I think it would be interesting to play say Ga Southern or Ga State also.
Though the lower tier FBS teams may be less likely to play FCS teams.
(05-31-2013 08:24 AM)mufootballfan Wrote: [ -> ]2017 might be a bit soon for such a game.
Maybe by 2020 Mercer could step up to that.
I think it would be interesting to play say Ga Southern or Ga State also.
Though the lower tier FBS teams may be less likely to play FCS teams.
Both have to have at least 5 home games each year. With 8 conference games that will give them 4 home games each year. That leaves 4 games each year. 2 home/away with other lower FBS school makes 5 home games each year. 1 money game on the road leaves only having to scheadule 1 other game each year. If GaSo or GaSt want 6 home games each year instead of just 5 they will have to scheadule 1 FCS team.
It will be interesting if we can get some money games going, but like mufootballfan mentioned it may be too soon in 2017.
(05-31-2013 08:24 AM)mufootballfan Wrote: [ -> ]2017 might be a bit soon for such a game.
Maybe by 2020 Mercer could step up to that.
I think it would be interesting to play say Ga Southern or Ga State also.
Though the lower tier FBS teams may be less likely to play FCS teams.
It is a rarity for the SoCon to schedule games against lower tier FBS programs. It doesn't work for either side. The FBS school has to play a team arguably as good as they are, and the SoCon school doesn't get the big pay day they want.
As a Furman fan, I have resigned myself to the notion that 2013 will probably be the last time I will ever see Furman play Georgia Southern and App State. There just won't be anything in it for either program going forward.
Mercer may well link up with some of the larger FBS programs in the near future. The games work for both sides.
Here's a video of Furman playing Florida in the Swamp two seasons ago (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2tzVPRQUXA) Something to look forward to :)
I would like to see Mercer play Kennesaw State on a regular basis once they get their program rolling. KSU could be Mercer's out of conference rival .
(06-14-2013 09:07 AM)mufootballfan Wrote: [ -> ]I would like to see Mercer play Kennesaw State on a regular basis once they get their program rolling. KSU could be Mercer's out of conference rival .
That's a great idea. Gotta keep the rival with KSU going, it's been building up nicely.
(05-31-2013 07:34 AM)SouthGAEagle Wrote: [ -> ]2017 marks the 125th anniversary of the first college football game played in the deep South, between Georgia and Mercer, one month before the first Georgia-Auburn game. Wouldn't it be great to celebrate that anniversary with a game?
I know it's a little out there, but UGA does play SoCon teams from time to time, so it's a little less crazy than when we first announced we were starting back a non-scholarship team!
It's the right thing to do, heck Georgia State played Bama their first year. Probably depend on UGA's schedule and whether they are playing nine conference games by then or not. Certainly a nostalgia game for both alumni, though I bet no one remembers the last time they played, on 9-27-41,
Dawgs lead the series 22-0.
I think MU and both GSU's is as much if not more realistic than a UGA game.
Yep. We lost the first game 50-0, and never got a win in the series.
A Georgia player even gave us our mascot. Before the days of helmets to protect the head, the players would let their hair grow long to give them a little extra padding. When a Mercer player busted through the line in that inaugural game, a Georgia player shouted “Whence cometh that bear?” (football players were obviously a lot more eloquent in the 1890s!), and the Mercer Bears were born.
(07-08-2013 04:55 PM)SouthGAEagle Wrote: [ -> ]Yep. We lost the first game 50-0, and never got a win in the series.
A Georgia player even gave us our mascot. Before the days of helmets to protect the head, the players would let their hair grow long to give them a little extra padding. When a Mercer player busted through the line in that inaugural game, a Georgia player shouted “Whence cometh that bear?” (football players were obviously a lot more eloquent in the 1890s!), and the Mercer Bears were born.
That's pretty awesome.
Timeline (2017) for a UGA-Mercer rematch sounds about right, if what I'm hearing is accurate.
This NEEDS to happen! I want UGA-Mercer!! What a historic matchup that would be.
(05-31-2013 07:34 AM)SouthGAEagle Wrote: [ -> ]2017 marks the 125th anniversary of the first college football game played in the deep South, between Georgia and Mercer, one month before the first Georgia-Auburn game. Wouldn't it be great to celebrate that anniversary with a game?
I know it's a little out there, but UGA does play SoCon teams from time to time, so it's a little less crazy than when we first announced we were starting back a non-scholarship team!
I think it is a good thought, and it is conceivable that this game could happen, We play Georgia Tech 2016, and have Beat Duke in Basketball, with the growth of awareness and quality athletics that Mercer is producing, I would indeed be a good game.
Many of the FCS Schools play their larger State Universities.
Good Though!!! Great Goal, Winning Makes it Possible!!!!!!!
Mercer will play @ UGa in 2017 (as Eric Catman says, "Mark my words!)
Regrettably, Mercer will NOT get a return Home game with the bullpups playing in Macon in 2018
