The Georgia Bulldogs met an unusual opponent on Saturday: the Charlotte 49ers.
Wait, 49ers?
Yep, 49ers.
It's a busy non-conference week for much of the SEC, and Georgia is taking on the team from North Carolina.
Their name had some fans scratching their heads.
Why is Charlotte called the 49ers?
Charlotte's name pays homage to a key year in the school's history.
In 1949, UNC-Charlotte was nearly closed by the state legislature.
Strong efforts locally kept the institution open, and so when they changed their name from Owls in 1961, they went for 49ers to pay homage to that effort.
There also was once a Carolina Gold Rush, so there's a bit of crossover with the famous California '49 Gold Rush.
Ironically, UNC-Charlotte is located on North Carolina Highway 49, a total coincidence.
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