Auburn Tigers offensive lineman Dillon Wade was simply trying to share his loathing for the Alabama Crimson Tide at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday, but in saying he can "tolerate" the Georgia Bulldogs, he gave ammo to the Dawgs.
Of course, Auburn has not beaten UGA since the 2017 season. Wade sharing that there's no hate for the Bulldogs was taken as a sign from Dawn of the Dawg's Trevor Michael that the Tigers simply don't have a winning mindset when it comes to the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.
"During Wade's press conference at the NFL Combine he spoke about his hatred for Auburn's rivals. Everyone knows that Alabama is a bigger rival to Auburn than Georgia is, and Wade confirmed that. But it doesn't seem like he hates UGA at all, and the fact that he can tolerate Georgia is the problem," Michael wrote.
"No one at Georgia can tolerate Auburn. Georgia despises them and will do everything they can to beat them every time they take the field. This game is always one of the most important on the schedule every season, and that importance is likely what has swung this rivalry in Georgia's favor so heavily."
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Auburn takes Georgia seriously, but the Tigers just can't win big games
To be fair, Auburn hasn't won an Iron Bowl since 2019. It's not like the Tigers are fully focusing on the Crimson Tide and handling business while ignoring the Dawgs. Auburn simply can't win any big rivalry games anymore. Even the Ole Miss Rebels have won two straight on them.
Wade's comments definitely reveal a lack of enthusiasm for a Deep South's Oldest Rivalry series that should be just as relevant as the Iron Bowl. That may just be personal to him, though. There's most certainly a high number of AU recruits from the Peach State over the last several years who take Georgia seriously.
Nick Saban revealed in 2024 on-air during ESPN's College Gameday that he took the Tennessee Volunteers more seriously than the Tigers. Not everyone can go all-in on every rivalry.
Perhaps Wade could've shared that he hates both Alabama and Georgia, though, since they are both pretty easy to hate in the grand scheme of College Football.