As an older couple decked in red Georgia gear rounded a corner to Ninth Street in downtown Columbia on Friday, they looked as unsure of their surroundings as their surroundings were of them.
"Welcome to Columbia!" said a similarly aged man in Missouri attire, approaching them as they made their turn. "We sure hope you enjoy your stay."
It was 11 a.m. Friday, close to 32 hours before kickoff of the Tigers' first Southeastern Conference football game, and the Bulldog invasion was officially under way.
Red vehicles sporting Bulldog decals and flags rumbled through the downtown streets. Fans in Georgia gear swung open doors to bars and shops, eager to see what the inside had to offer.
While life in the SEC is presenting new experiences to the new Tigers, the partnership also gave a Georgia fanbase long revered for ....