Inside the 39-year-old grudge left by the Georgia-Auburn 'Game Between the Hoses'

In the archetypal fractional of the 1980s, erstwhile Georgia met Auburn, the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry ever provided legendary tales.

There were mythical legends, similar from 1980 to 1982 erstwhile Georgia won 3 consecutive meetings powered by Herschel Walker, who led the Bulldogs to astatine slightest a stock of 3 consecutive SEC titles and the 1980 nationalist championship.

From 1983 to 1985, Bo Jackson and the Tigers returned the favour with 3 consecutive wins, doubly knocking the Bulldogs retired of the league rubric race.

"It's not similar the Bama-Auburn rivalry, but there's a batch of hatred to it, particularly erstwhile idiosyncratic has the precocious hand," said Georgia linebacker John Brantley, a prima successful the 1986 matchup.

That season, the rivalry earned a caller chapter. But it became legendary not for who dominated betwixt the lines, but due to the fact that of 1 of the astir bizarre postgame incidents successful assemblage shot history.

It's the crushed Georgia's 20-16 upset of No. 8 Auburn connected Nov. 15, 1986, is inactive known arsenic the "Game Between the Hoses." And it's wherefore immoderate fans and players who were astatine Jordan-Hare Stadium successful Auburn, Alabama, that nighttime inactive haven't forgiven the different side.

As the No. 10 Bulldogs hole to look the Tigers again Saturday night, memories are resurfacing for Georgia backmost Gunner Stockton's household -- memories of the nighttime Auburn officials turned h2o hoses connected fans who rushed the tract (and immoderate who stayed successful the stands), including his grandfather.

"The Georgia fans shouldn't person been retired there," precocious Auburn manager Pat Dye told reporters aft the game. "If that's the lone mode to get them disconnected the field, fine. It doesn't wounded them. It lone gets them wet. It's amended than hitting them connected the caput with billy clubs."

'That was a big, large rivalry'

Entering the 1986 game, the Bulldogs had been hampered by genu injuries to prima tailbacks Tim Worley and Keith Henderson. Even the squad mascot, Uga IV, went down erstwhile helium fell retired of a edifice furniture and tore ligaments successful his close hind leg. He was replaced by his older brother, Otto, who had ne'er attended a assemblage shot game.

The Bulldogs were 6-3, 3-2 successful the SEC, aft losing to Florida 31-19 successful the Gator Bowl successful Jacksonville, Florida, the erstwhile week. They were each but eliminated from the SEC rubric contention and successful information of being near retired of a desirable vessel crippled altogether.

On the different hand, the Tigers (8-1, 3-1 SEC) were precise overmuch successful the premix for their 2nd SEC title successful 4 seasons. If Auburn bushed Georgia for a 4th consecutive clip and past Alabama successful the Iron Bowl 2 weeks later, determination was a bully accidental it would triumph the SEC and play successful the Sugar Bowl.

The Tigers, who were favored by 10.5 points, led the SEC successful full discourtesy and had the league's starring rusher successful Brent Fullwood. Auburn besides led the league successful full defence and had a menacing antiaircraft front, led by extremity Aundray Bruce and tackle Tracy Rocker.

Brantley: "They were the ascendant team, benignant of similar Georgia's been a small spot of the ascendant squad successful the bid lately. They benignant of had the precocious manus astir that time."

Fullwood: "Yeah, we were confident. We had a large team. That was a big, large rivalry. We ever wanted to bushed Georgia for Coach Dye since helium played there."

Brantley: "If you look astatine the past of the series, determination were truthful galore cross-border ties. From Coach Dooley playing astatine Auburn and coaching astatine Georgia, and Coach Dye being a Georgia subordinate and coaching astatine Auburn. It was a borderline warfare and driving region to the games. You didn't alert to that game."

'It was similar a 15-round fight'

The Bulldogs were forced to usage their backup quarterback, Wayne Johnson, aft starter James Jackson returned location to Camilla, Georgia, to attend...