Featured Photo: Georgia vs Auburn SEC Championship Game Photo Cred Saturday Down South
The atmosphere in and around the SEC Championship between my Georgia Bulldogs and the Auburn Tigers last weekend was beyond electric – it was otherworldly. That our Dawgs hadn’t played on that stage in years, coupled with the fact that more than a few analysts picked Auburn to win, made Saturday’s victory something to swag and surf about.
Erica Renee Davis Swag and Surf SEC Championship
Our high – although we’re still kinda on it — was somewhat deflated by comments like “Georgia hasn’t been relevant in forever” and “You weren’t even born when Georgia last won a National Championship.”
I acquiesce the latter is certainly true; my college classmates and I weren’t alive when the University of Georgia last won a National Championship. Trust me, though, that retort is as tired as “but her emails!”
Nope, my comrades and I weren’t around to witness Herschel bulldoze his way through the Irish and on to a title.
But let me tell you what we do remember:
…defeating Tennessee and watching fans rush the field in 2000 during Donnan’s last season and then hearing Munson’s Hobnail Boot call against the Vols the following year during Richt’s first. We remember Billy Bennett’s infallible leg and David Greene’s incredible accuracy. And while we’re on the Book of David, praise be to Pollack’s defense.
From Shockley to Stafford to Murray, we were proud to have as our own some of the most athletic, strong-armed, classy QBs in the SEC. From Tereshinski to Cox to Lambert, we were, well, patient. An excessive celebration penalty at Georgia-Florida in 2007 to an excessive butt-whooping by Alabama in 2008. Talk about prophesying your own death. We remember the victorious, snooze-fest SEC Championship game in 2002 that led to an enjoyable, booze-fest Sugar Bowl trip on New Year’s Eve a few weeks later.
AJ Green’s famous Colorado catch, Isaiah Crowell’s infamous fumbles. Close to our Bulldog hearts are memories of Sanford erupting in what sounded like boos but what were really Muuuuuusa cheers. How about the palpable excitement surrounding Mark Richt’s coming-out party at Stegeman during a basketball game or the unbearable anticipation of waiting out Bama’s playoff-run so that Kirby could have his? Woven into the fabric of these Silver Britches memories are stifling junkyard defenses and then of O Lines that allow Running Back U to thrive.
Paying homage to legendary 34 by bestowing upon Todd and Keith the Gurshall moniker or unashamedly declaring yourself either a Gurley Girl or a Chubby Girl. Despite unfortunate circumstances, we are proud to have adopted in Devon Gales a Damn Good Dawg and are committed to helping him Finish the Drill.
Infatuated we were with tales from Malcolm Mitchell’s book clubs. Sentimental we were over Knowshon Moreno shedding tears in his Broncos uniform. We remember those dreaded five yards in the Georgia Dome in 2012 and that unbelievable 4th and 1 at Homecoming 2016.
Now, here we are, less than a month away from competing in the Granddaddy of them All, a semi-final playoff game, and sitting on the precipice of arguably the most extraordinary moment in modern Georgia football lore. While a litany of sentiments does not a National Championship earn, these peaks and valleys remembered sweeten the excitement of the “what if.”
What exactly is our what if? Whatever it is, it’s so ridiculously within reach that you can practically smell roses on the breath of every Dawg you encounter. So keep dreaming, Dawgs, or more appropriately, keep chopping.
(all photos belong to their respective owners)
