Georgia, South Carolina fans put loyalties on the line

There will be some very disappointed people at work Monday -- and some elated winners to rub it in.

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Zach Boyden-Holmes/Staff

Boss, a 4-year-old bulldog from Evans, sports Georgia red and black during Border Bash.

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Zach Boyden-Holmes/Staff

Emery Frentzel tosses aspiring Georgia cheerleader Shelby Newman, 5, into the air at Augusta Common.

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Zach Boyden-Holmes/Staff

Margaret Kilpatrick (left) and Neely Umansky, both 13, fight to catch a football during Border Bash at Augusta Common.

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Zach Boyden-Holmes/Staff

The USC cheerleaders take the stage during the Border Bash Friday evening on the Augusta Commons.

Highlights from the Border Bash celebration.

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Which fans will do the sulking won't be decided until today's gridiron showdown between the universities of South Carolina and Georgia. Co-workers Rodney Pryor and Rodney Parker have a lot riding on the outcome of today's football game.

They were in full regalia of their respective teams for Friday's Border Bash at Augusta Common, but a workplace bet made three months ago at Plant Vogtle means one of them will be wearing his rival's colors Monday.

"It'll be glorious," said Parker, who fully expects Pryor to be wearing red after a Georgia win today.

Pryor, who once bought an extra season ticket just for his Gamecocks helmet, expects a different outcome.

"We're going to lower the boom on them," he said.

Friendly competition was what it was all about Friday as fans from both sides of the state line mingled around the common before the live music began.

Co-workers Bryan Axelson and Sean Kinzler shared a strategic spot on the common that probably had more to do with the Hooters waitresses tossing a football than the shade.

Axelson had a UGA ball cap pulled over his eyes; Kinzler wore a Gamecocks jersey. Like a lot of fans out Friday, Axelson inherited his passion from generations of Georgia fans.

"It just keeps getting passed down," Axelson said..

Kinzler's dad is a University of Florida fan, but Kinzler said he wasn't too keen on wearing orange. Garnet and black suit him better, he said.

A raffle booth sponsored by E-Z-Go took advantage of the competition to see which fans could raise the most money for First Tee of Aiken and the Boys and Girls Club.

Donna Bellino was doing her best to urge fellow Gamecocks fans to donate to the Boys and Girls Club. Even though the first college games were held a week ago, Border Bash signals for her the true beginning of football season.

"This really kicks it off in Augusta," she said.