Photograph by M. Fearghail on Tuesday, 9/23/2025, at 2:52 PM.
Introduction
Why are yard flags for both the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Vols displayed in our front yard? Also, who bought and set up the Tennessee flag? Those burning questions are answered in this nineteenth entry in the Sports topic section!
Further, I will briefly review the Georgia-Tennessee college football game that was played two Saturdays ago. In short, Georgia was lucky. The conclusion offers a spiritual note on a house divided.
A House Divided
My Georgia Bulldogs yard flag debuted in the article from 10/2/2023, which reviewed Georgia's victory over Auburn and Tennessee's win over South Carolina. It was also displayed in the article from 10/6/2024, which contrasted the five-point losses by Alabama and Tennessee to unranked opponents with Georgia's win against its ranked opponent.
Before the 2018 college football season started, I had grown tired of the coaching-carousel changes at Tennessee. Further, I was frustrated by the hyped-up expectations that were unrealized. The Tennessee Vols became my second favorite Southeastern Conference (SEC) team. Considering other SEC options, I chose the Georgia Bulldogs as my favorite SEC team. (I always respected the program, but I hated to see Tennessee lose to them.) Since 2018, I would rather see the Vols win instead of lose, unless they are playing Georgia.
My long-suffering wife, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, has put up with my 2018 transition. Her favorite team, however, remains the Volunteers. She also puts up with my verbal commentary to the unhearing television when watching Georgia football. When Georgia and Tennessee play each other, I try to tone down my rhetoric. My wife sits nearby and groans silently.
Yes, we are a house divided during college football season! Now into my eighth season as a Georgia football fan primarily, Saturdays have been far more enjoyable. Despite improving, Tennessee continues to disappoint my wife and, to a lesser extent, me. I don't have enough decades left in life to see if Tennessee can climb back into the powerhouse status that it had in the 1980s. To contrast seasonal wins and losses, especially since 2018, see Sports Reference: Georgia Bulldogs School History and Sports Reference: Tennessee Volunteers School History.
Thus, our house divided during college football season now has two yard flags. My Georgia flag has been around since the start of the 2023 season. That was after Georgia's back-to-back College Football National Championships the previous two seasons.
The Tennessee flag arrived three days ago. The shipping label had my wife's name on it. I bought a pole, secured it to the ground, and placed the flag on it. Did my wife actually buy the Tennessee yard flag? Take a guess! Yes, she thanked me.
Saturday, 9/13/2025, Georgia-Tennessee Game: My Review
As stated in the introduction, Georgia was lucky. Georgia (#6 AP) was fairly equally matched against Tennessee (#15 AP), the home team. The kickoff was at 3:30 PM. My wife returned home from visiting her father and sister nearby at some point in the first quarter.
During the game, I told my wife that I thought Tennessee would beat Georgia for the first time since 2016. The teams were evenly matched. The Vols were better on offense and especially defense than I thought they would be. Georgia's offensive line must improve pass protection, and their defense has to get better in pass coverage. Tennessee impressed me. Georgia played well enough to win their first SEC road game.
Georgia won in overtime, 44-41. For online reviews of the game from both teams, I read “#15/15 Vols Fall To #6/3 Georgia In Overtime, 44-41.” UTSports, by Eric Trainer, 9/13/2025.
The first paragraph states, “No. 15/15 Tennessee pushed No. 6/3 Georgia to the brink but came up just short, falling 44-41 in overtime on Saturday in front of a sellout, Checker Neyland crowd of 101,915 at Neyland Stadium.”
I also reviewed “Bulldogs Caught A Break, And Ran With It.” Georgia Dogs, by John Frierson, 9/14/2025. The article quotes Georgia's head coach Kirby Smart as saying, “All in all, a great game, but I almost feel like I have to apologize, because I don't think we should have won that game. I thought they outplayed us in a lot of ways, but that's the way it goes.”
Was my wife disappointed that Tennessee lost by three points in overtime? Yes. Was I disappointed? No. I was glad to see Georgia get a tough SEC road win. Tennessee, however, impressed me. Georgia disappointed me to some degree. Still yet, Saturdays are more enjoyable when Georgia is my first team and Tennessee is my second favorite team!
Go Dawgs! Go Vols!
Conclusion
As a brief aside, please assist me in recommending the renaming of the Southeastern Conference to the Sun-Earth Conference! The conclusions to the articles from 12/10/2023 and 12/17/2024 call for the rebranding. Five of the sixteen teams are not in the southeast! Any team under the sun and on the earth could join the renamed SEC.
Returning to a house divided, there are parallel accounts in the Gospels when Jesus said that a kingdom or house divided cannot stand. Please read Mark 3:20-30, Matthew 12:22-37, and Luke 11:14-28. Jesus responded to the Pharisees’ accusation that he was casting out demons by Satan's power.
Our house is divided humorously during college football season. Otherwise, my wife and I as Christians are united in Christ. We follow him, his word, and the biblical worldview.
Any family or nation that does not unify and stand together in Christ is divided and will fall eventually. What do you say, dear reader? Do I hear an amen?
