Three Current College Football Coaches Georgia Fans Love to Hate
In college football, rivalries fuel passion—and with passion often comes a healthy dose of animosity, especially toward rival head coaches. For Georgia fans, loyalty to the Bulldogs is unwavering, and that loyalty naturally includes a deep dislike for certain opposing coaches. Some of that hatred is born from traditional rivalries, while other times it stems from recruiting battles, public comments, or frustrating losses. Not every coach who gets under a fanbase’s skin is a rival—but some just know how to push the right buttons.
Here are three current head coaches that Georgia fans love to hate:
Brent Key – Georgia Tech
This one’s a no-brainer. Brent Key leads Georgia Tech, Georgia’s in-state rival in what’s dubbed “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.” While the rivalry has become heavily one-sided in recent decades—Tech hasn’t beaten Georgia since 2016 and has only won four times in the past 25 years—the animosity still runs deep.
Key has openly expressed his disdain for Georgia, once saying, “There’s nothing I hate more in the world. It’s probably the only thing I actually hate.” That kind of comment only fuels the fire for Bulldog fans, who see Georgia Tech as a lesser threat on the field but a constant thorn in the side culturally. With Georgia continuing to dominate, fans are content to let Key stew in his hate while the Bulldogs chase championships.
Dabo Swinney – Clemson
While not a yearly matchup, Georgia vs. Clemson still carries the weight of a regional rivalry. The programs often clash in recruiting, and their proximity means tensions are never far from the surface. Dabo Swinney is a polarizing figure in college football, and Georgia fans are among those who take issue with his outspoken views—especially his resistance to the transfer portal, a tool Kirby Smart has used masterfully.
Swinney’s Tigers have taken a few wins and recruits from Georgia over the years, but the Bulldogs have had the upper hand recently, especially in head-to-head games. Despite that, Swinney remains a coach Georgia fans love to root against, especially when his old-school philosophies don’t line up with Georgia’s winning ways.
Ryan Day – Ohio State
Unlike the other two, Ryan Day isn’t a regular opponent for Georgia. But when the Bulldogs and Buckeyes do meet, it’s must-see TV. Their most recent clash came in the 2023 College Football Playoff semifinal—a nail-biting 42-41 Georgia win that left Ohio State fans heartbroken and Georgia fans breathing a sigh of relief.
What earns Day a spot on this list is more than just on-field play. Georgia and Ohio State often go head-to-head in recruiting, and both programs are among the few at the top of the college football food chain. Add in Day’s sometimes fiery persona and the frustration he’s caused opposing fans across the country, and it’s no surprise that Bulldog Nation keeps a close—and often critical—eye on him.
Whether it’s historical bad blood, recruiting skirmishes, or just plain dislike, these three head coaches have cemented themselves as public enemies in the eyes of Georgia fans. And in the world of college football, that’s just how rivalries thrive.
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