ATHENS, Ga. — Thousands of Georgia fans poured into Athens Saturday for the season opener, but before they could cheer on the Dawgs, they had another opponent to contend with: the heat.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
With temperatures climbing into the triple digits, fans spent hours tailgating, walking across campus and preparing for kickoff under oppressive conditions.
“It’s really hot and it’s only getting hotter,” fan Ivy Joy Hadden told Channel 2’s Brittany Kleinpeter.
For many fans, staying cool became part of the game-day strategy.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Georgia high school coach resigns after ‘incident’ at football practice
- Man pretended to be pro basketball player, stole $90K BMW, police say
- Future Plan 2030: Volkswagen plans to cut 50K jobs, close several factories
Irene Hadden said her family brought portable fans and looked for shade whenever possible.
UGA easily defeated Tennessee State, 63-3.
“Right now we’re in the shade, got a lot of trees. Got a tent,” she said. “But we drink water and we just hang out and try to stay out of the sun as much as possible.”
Hydration was especially important for fans making the trek to Sanford Stadium.
Blake Hamby said he normally carries water with him during the walk to the stadium, which he estimated is about a mile.
The heat also had emergency crews prepared for potential medical calls.
Athens-Clarke County Fire Rescue crews were stationed on campus throughout the day, ready to respond to heat-related illnesses. Misting tents, water refill stations and medical teams were also available to help fans stay hydrated and cool.
Still, the heat wasn’t enough to keep Georgia fans away.
“I’m really excited,” Hamby said. “I think we’ve got a good roster this season and I think we’re going to do pretty good.”
For fans in Athens, the game-day routine remained the same: tailgate, cheer on the Dawgs and enjoy the atmosphere — while finding shade and drinking plenty of water along the way.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2026 Cox Media Group
