Favorite season opener ever? There's options to choose from!

Ramble1885

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,265
Location
Atlanta
SOME NOTABLE ONES OVER THE YEARS:
  • 1981 win over #2 Alabama which was our only win that year.
  • 1984 win over #19 Alabama.
  • 1990 win over NC State that started the road to the natty.
  • 1995 blowout win over Furman 51-7 in GOL's first game as full time coach.
  • 2002 blowout over Vandy 45-3.
  • 2005 road win at a ranked Auburn!
  • 2007 drubbing of Notre Dame on the road 33-3.
  • 2008 win over Jacksonville State in Paul Johnson's first game.
  • 2013 70-0 rout of Elon.
  • 2016 win over Boston College in Ireland.
  • 2018 41-0 win over Alcorn State in Paul's last year.
  • 2020 win at Florida State.
 

684Bee

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,600
SOME NOTABLE ONES OVER THE YEARS:
  • 1981 win over #2 Alabama which was our only win that year.
  • 1984 win over #19 Alabama.
  • 1990 win over NC State that started the road to the natty.
  • 1995 blowout win over Furman 51-7 in GOL's first game as full time coach.
  • 2002 blowout over Vandy 45-3.
  • 2005 road win at a ranked Auburn!
  • 2007 drubbing of Notre Dame on the road 33-3.
  • 2008 win over Jacksonville State in Paul Johnson's first game.
  • 2013 70-0 rout of Elon.
  • 2016 win over Boston College in Ireland.
  • 2018 41-0 win over Alcorn State in Paul's last year.
  • 2020 win at Florida State.
Tie between 2005 and 2007.
 

wesgt123

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,693
SOME NOTABLE ONES OVER THE YEARS:
  • 1981 win over #2 Alabama which was our only win that year.
  • 1984 win over #19 Alabama.
  • 1990 win over NC State that started the road to the natty.
  • 1995 blowout win over Furman 51-7 in GOL's first game as full time coach.
  • 2002 blowout over Vandy 45-3.
  • 2005 road win at a ranked Auburn!
  • 2007 drubbing of Notre Dame on the road 33-3.
  • 2008 win over Jacksonville State in Paul Johnson's first game.
  • 2013 70-0 rout of Elon.
  • 2016 win over Boston College in Ireland.
  • 2018 41-0 win over Alcorn State in Paul's last year.
  • 2020 win at Florida State.
I can't say anything from the previous regime can count. I can't even go back and watch any of our wins during that time because of the feelings associated 😂

I'll just go ahead and say Louisville from 2023 is a good one
 

GT33

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,784
Some intersting choices here, my favorites:

a. 1981 win over #2 Alabama. Too bad it was the only win.
b. 2005 win at #16 Auburn, Reggie had 36 passes but thankfully 4 of those were to Calvin
c. 2007 throttling ND, might have ranked higher but ND was rank that year
d. 2016 BC game in Ireland. One of most fun venues for football. When will be the next time a P5 team will win 9 games, beat 3 vaunted SEC teams and end season unranked?
 

gtchem05

Jolly Good Fellow
Messages
325
It could’ve been the 2000 season opener against Michael Vick and #11 Virginia Tech, but alas, a lightning storm won the day.

For me, I’d have to pick 2016 against Boston College because I was able to make it to the game and enjoy a few amazing days in Ireland.
 

4shotB

Helluva Engineer
Retired Staff
Messages
4,632
1981 stands out to me. Maybe because I was a student, I was there and even though the game was in B'ham, attended some really great parties in Tuscaloosa that night as our group had a lot of friends at school there. Second would be '84 although I had gotten out by then and did not attend.

Don't get me wrong, All opening wins are good wins, but you can't classify beating Vandy, Auburn, FSU, ND, Alcorn State, et al. in the same category as beating Bama. That brand name carried as much weight then as it does now imo.
 

cpf2001

Ramblin' Wreck
Messages
808
The 2005 one for me. The 2007 ND win is soured by the rest of the season. 2005 didn’t have more wins, but it had funner wins (Miami!) and while heartbreaking in the end, one of the only intensely competitive UGA home games in the past couple decades. Felt like a team getting better from 2004 with good things set up for 2006, instead of counting down to Gailey getting fired.
 

TooTall

Helluva Engineer
Messages
2,984
Location
Vidalia
2007....even got the dog drunk that night lol too bad I was on the 3rd of my apartment building...lotta stairs traveled that night
 

AugustaSwarm

Jolly Good Fellow
Messages
428
I'll go with 2007 win over . I had just graduated and was watching the game with friends at the Fox Sports Grill at Atlantic Station. Our waitress was decked out in ND gear...
 

GT flunkout

Jolly Good Fellow
Messages
367
I was at 2007 and 2005. Both fun.

But definitely 2005 and it's not close. Those Tuberville Auburn teams had the perception of a juggernaut. Auburn had just come off an undefeated SEC championship season. Media gave us 0% chance.

There are a handful of games where I have openly wept with joy in the stands. 2005 is on that short list.
 

GT33

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,784
Gotta believe we’re about to start generating some memories this year! We’ve had enough nightmares recently to last me for a very long time. Louisville game has a chance of reaching #7 or #8 here possibly.

Go Jackets!
 
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