Dawg fans partied like it was 2022 Monday night after Georgia won its second College Football Playoff title in a row.
Actually, they may have partied even harder. As Larry Munson once said, “Man, there’s gonna be some property destroyed tonight!” And that was the case downtown as Monday turned into Tuesday morning.
Casualties of the celebration included vehicles, street signs and public art, according to Athens-Clarke County Police spokesman Lt. Shaun Barnett. At least one of several metal sculptures recently installed along Clayton Street, collectively known as “Frequency,” was torn out of the sidewalk.
Mayor Kelly Girtz said he took his son downtown to watch the celebration from City Hall, and “we saw some very interesting human behavior.”
Videos that circulated on social media showed fans climbing on street trees and utility poles, and lighting discarded Christmas trees on fire.
About a dozen trees were torn down or damaged so badly that they’ll have to be removed, Girtz said. About 25 people were arrested, none on serious charges. No injuries were reported.
Still in the mood to celebrate? A victory parade up Lumpkin Street is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, starting near Five Points and ending at Baxter Street, followed by the Dawg Walk at 1 p.m. and a program at Sanford Stadium at 2 p.m. Tickets to the stadium program are required but free, and any left over after they are distributed to season ticket holders, faculty, staff and students will be made available to the public at 9 a.m. Thursday. Click here for more information.
Here are more photos from Flagpole photo intern Suzannah Evans:
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