The UGA Spike Squad enters its second decade rooting for Georgia soccer and taking fanaticism to new heights with a style all its own.
I leisurely walk the streets of Athens, Georgia on a quiet Sunday morning. Peaceful as there were no legions of supporters, no Redcoat Bands, no tailgaters, no vendors and no hustle and bustle in the hills of this beautiful college town. There was no football, there was only Athens.
As I slowly moved through the familiar streets, I began to reminisce and delve into my memory banks as a fan and student who lived here in the 1980s. Earlier this decade, the Georgia Bulldogs football team was at the pinnacle of football college and all eyes were on the Bulldogs and their fans every week.
I thought about matches, interviews, past and present players. I thought of Dooley, Donnan, Richt, Smart and yes, even Goff.
But I wasn’t here to talk to players or coaches. I wasn’t there to discuss game strategies or make predictions about upcoming games or a second consecutive national championship. I was there for the fans, and one group of fans in particular.
If you’ve ever seen a Georgia football game, no doubt you’ve seen them. Perched in the heart of the student section, easily spotted by cameras and photographers. A group of students dressed in menacing costumes and body paint, met with two simple words.
Spike team
But this is no ordinary group of fanatical students looking for their quarter-hour of fame or an excuse to participate in drunken debauchery. They are a dedicated and close-knit group of fans and anyone can be counted among them.
If there is an elite tier to fandom, then the UGA spike team can definitely be counted among that tier. The group was created during the 2010 season and consists of 35 to 50 students.
I was in Athens on this freezing Sunday in October to meet with the members of the Spike Squad and find out not only what makes them so passionate about school athletics, but also what they have to endure as members of this University of Georgia group.
They say first impressions are everything, and having never met a Spike Squad member outside of Sanford Stadium, I wasn’t sure what to expect. When second year member Emma Moon met me at our downtown meeting point, she was not a grumpy, grouchy, shoulder-padded woman that she sat across from me, but a young woman, very kind and pleasant .
Moon, of Conyers, Georgia, wore blue jeans and a tee celebrating Georgia’s 2021 national title, her electric blue hair immediately catching the eye. After exchanging basic courtesies, she told me about the Spike Squad and its central role in Georgia athletics.
The first thing I discovered is that it’s not enough to put on a set of black shoulder pads, paint your face and join the Spike Squad. There is a rigorous audition process and you must meet certain criteria to be considered.
“We have an application and interview process,” Moon told me. “At the beginning of each school year we organize a meeting of interest. Next, students sign up for an interview slot, where they are interviewed by an interview subgroup of the group. »
And are the questions asked during this interview a well-kept secret? Not really. It’s not like an initiation into a secret, dodgy fraternity. It’s a very open and honest process.
“Initially, applicants are asked basic questions, such as naming all SEC schools. When I tried they told me I could get bonus points by knowing the divisions of each school. Knowing the first verse of the “Hail to Georgia” lyrics is another, which is kind of niche knowledge but something we all sing about when it’s played at games. »
(For the uninitiated, “Hail to Georgia” is UGA’s true fight song, although “Glory, Glory” is much better known).
Other questions respondents may be asked include: What does “Go Dawgs!” for you? what’s your typical order of Chick-fil-A (because it’s a big deal in the South) and what’s your favorite UGA legend?
When I asked Moon what his favorite Georgian legend was, I expected the typical response of Herschel Walker or Larry Munson. But this second-year social welfare student surprised me with her response.
“Rodrigo Blankenship,” he said without hesitation. “Because he’s just a good man, and honestly it’s good for him to get a master’s degree and continue playing football as a professional. It would appear that his answer was accepted by the interview committee.
If you get through the initial interview process, you’ll find that there is a level of commitment that comes with being a Spike Squad member, as well as some rules of decency that aren’t flexible.
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 31: The Spike Squad cheers on their team during a game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 31, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/Photo ISI/Getty Images)
First of all, members are not allowed to drink or be under the influence of alcohol while “stuffed” (the term they use when wearing play attire) or when attending a public event as a member of the group.
“Public perception is important to us, as well as not giving the university a bad image,” Moon said. “We always make sure that we are seen as passionate, maybe a little crazy, but a positive representation of the school. »
Spike Squad members are required to participate in a minimum of seven events per semester. These can be split between games – at least four for all sports, not just football – social events, such as pumpkin carving parties, trivia nights or holiday parties, and philanthropic events.
I was very interested in how the Spike Squad gets involved in the community and philanthropic aspects of the group, and with all these students have to do, I was surprised to hear the amount of time they devote to charity.
“We work with ESP, which helps people with disabilities. They have people paint with us every year to get them involved,” Moon told me. “We also work with Bulldogs battling breast cancer. auction for the benefit of the BBC after the match Kelee Ringo’s mother helped us last year and this year.
“This year we also tried to diversify in terms of working with the community. We organized an event with the Athens Seniors Community Council and got involved in volunteering at some local primary schools. We are looking to expand the reach of our booster club, which is registered as a non-profit, by trying to find other ways to give something back to the community. »
It’s clear that the Spike Squad wants to be known not only as the most fanatical group of Bulldog supporters, but also as advocates for the Athens community. It is encouraging and inspiring to see a group of young people putting so much effort into making a positive impact.
And like all college students, when the Spike Squad wants to go to a game to support their beloved Bulldogs, there are no freebies. They have to pay the bill themselves, and they do it by any means possible, including the help and promotion of the booster club sponsor, William Perri (no, not The Fridge).
While dedication to the group and involvement in charitable and community events are important aspects of Spike Squad membership, the undeniable purpose of this group is to support Georgia athletics and (big shock) have fun doing it.
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 3: The UGA Spike Squad supports the Georgia Bulldogs during a game between the LSU Tigers and the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 3, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Steve Limentani/Photo ISI/Getty Images)
I asked Moon and a few other members what their favorite and least favorite things were, and got some interesting answers.
What is the fan group most hated by Spike Squad members? The answer I got most often was South Carolina. It seems fans of Georgia’s little brother east want to rub salts into the wound a little more than most.
Who do the Spike Squad members consider their biggest rival right now? No, not Auburn, Florida or even Georgia Tech. It’s Alabama. “Given Nick Saban’s status versus Kirby Smart, it’s easy to love this rivalry,” one insider told me.
When I asked about the Georgia Tech rivalry, I got the most Dawg-Esque answer ever.
“It’s cancelled. What are you doing here? Who are you ? »
It seems Spike Squad doesn’t have much respect for their rival from Georgia.
Country SEC vs College GameDay? Surprisingly, I was told that SEC Nation’s experience in Athens was more enjoyable. While ESPN’s two shows are getting a lot of attention, it seems the craziness surrounding College GameDay is making the day on campus even more heartbreaking.
Night games versus day games? The evening match was overwhelmingly the response. Playing under the lights of Sanford Stadium, the frenetic atmosphere and the “Light Up Sanford” at the beginning of the fourth quarter give the members of the Spike Squad a little more energy.
Are midday games necessarily bad? No, actually the Spike Squad members prefer them to 3:30pm matches. “Yeah, you have to be out the door by 8 a.m. for a midday game,” Moon says. “But you finish between 3.30 and 4.00pm and then you have the rest of the day. Those midday games kinda kill all day, and the sun is the worst for the 3:30pm games. »
And who is the SEC’s biggest imposter right now? Well, the members of the Spike Squad don’t believe much in Ole Miss. Considering how Lane Kiffin’s team finished the season, it’s safe to say their feelings were justified.
UGA’s Spike Squad has become more than just a fixture at Sanford Stadium. They have successfully integrated into the Athens, GA community and bring more than just attitude and wild fandom to the games.
Countless hours of dedicated work have made them a favorite of fans, gamers and celebrities alike. Atlanta rap star Waka Flocka Flame also joined, covering up to show her support for Spike Squad and the Bulldogs in the past.
But most of all they have the love and support of the University of Georgia athletic teams and everyone involved.
Spike Squad Forever!