South Carolina apologizes for damage to Sanford Stadium hedges

ATHENS, Ga. — South Carolina has officially apologized for tearing off pieces of Sanford Stadium's treasured hedges to celebrate Saturday's upset over the Bulldogs.

Georgia athletics director Greg McGarity said that South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner contacted him on Sunday afternoon.

"Ray just apologized for those actions," McGarity said.

What did McGarity, who has taken a strong stance against "property destruction" to the hedges in past years, think about what happened after Saturday's game?

"I don't like it at all.

"We sure don't do that when we win at an opponents' venue under [coach Kirby Smart's] leadership."

RELATED STORIES

• Shocker at Sanford: South Carolina upsets No. 3 Georgia in double OT
• Georgia slips in AP poll following double OT loss to South Carolina
• Falcons go to the desert and discover a new excruciating way to lose

The historic privet hedges that surround Vince Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium, coincidentally, celebrated 90 years Saturday, having made their debut on Oct. 12, 1929, against Yale.

On Saturday, unranked South Carolina upset then-No. 3 UGA in college football's biggest upset of the season. To celebrate the historic win, the celebrating Gamecock players ripped off pieces of the hallowed hedges as souvenirs.

Georgia's stadium security tried to block the South Carolina players from the hedges but were eventually overwhelmed.

South Carolina coach Will Muschamp — a former player at Georgia from 1991 to '94 — and several of the team's assistants also were seen carrying souvenir pieces of the hedges.