Every Dawg Has A Day

Raves and rants from an unlikely football fanatic. Georgia Bulldogs❤️Denver Broncos🧡

[champagnemollyyy]

History Repeats Itself

Georgia’s 1942 championship season was played much like Georgia’s 2017 season. Invited to play in Pasadena on January 1 1943 they arrived with just one loss. That loss was to Auburn, 13-27 in what was known then as it is now ‘The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry’. Wally Butts was the coach of that team, he lead the team to one National Championship and four SEC titles. Wally coached the Dawgs for 21 years and was later inducted into the Collage Football Hall of Fame.

It was a much different time in our country during the early 40’s. As America entered World War II many players from colleges and professional from across the country volunteered to fight. Ones that joined the Army or Navy got the chance to continue their football careers and played against college teams. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 the Rose Bowl was played in Durham, North Carolina due to fears of another attack by the Japanese. The Duke Blue Devils lost 16- 20 to the Oregon State Beavers. However the next year while war raged on in Europe it was deemed safe to continue the bowl at its home in Pasadena. Georgia’s Bulldogs met the UCLA Bruins for the 29th Rose Bowl on a sunny 72 degree day. Not many UGA fans filled the stadium that day dude to travel restrictions, however many servicemen were present rooting on the teams. Dude to the number of men stationed in Australia they even broadcast the game down under.

It was Heisman Trophy winner, the halfback from Croatia, Frank Sinkwich that rushed for one yard for the only touchdown of the game. UGA retuned to Athens as National Champions. Over the next 75 years Georgia has only won one other National Championship, that of course was the 17-10 win over Notre Dame in the 1981 Sugar Bowl. Herschel Walker, a freshman with the power of a train of course helped lead that team to Championship.

With that little history lesson out of the way, I’ll leave you with these final thoughts Bulldog Nation. In 1943 we played in Pasadena as a one loss season to Auburn and won. In 1981 a freshmen ran his team to victory. So maybe with a loss to Auburn and a freshmen quarterback history will repeat it’s self Monday afternoon in Pasadena. I believe that this team, this coach, and this fan base has what it takes to make it all the way to Athens then all the way to Atlanta.

[backroadsandbulldawgs]

Hunker it down, one more time.

In 72 hours 35 minuets the Georgia Bulldogs will meet the Oklahoma Sooners to so do something they haven’t done in 75 years, and that’s play in Pasadena. As a life long Georgia fan, I can only compare this feeling of watching my team play in such a historic venue to a percentage of what a Chicago Cubs fan felt during game one of the series last year. It’s a feeling of immeasurable pride, hope, and faith. Pride in seeing not one, but two young men from my hometown clad in the silver britches. Hope that this dedicated team and the coaches are prepared for the battle they are about to fight. Faith that we have what it takes to bring a win home to Athens and play in the Benz on January, 8th. I actually get overwhelmed at the emotions surging though me when I think about this season, all the blood, sweat and tears that have been put into the 13 weeks that lead us here.

I was raised with three core principles: you say “yes ma’am and no ma’am”, you go to church on Sundays and on Saturdays, September though December, you watch the ballgame. In this one red light town, 66 miles south east of Athens there is little debate about what ballgame your watching. In my early 20’s like many others before me I left home and went on a grand adventure. I settled in a town in the shadow of the Rockies.

I quickly found that despite all of the things that westerners are passionate about, college football is not one of them. I did however find an oasis in that disappointment a hole in the wall dive that would make Athens proud. The Dive Inn. I discovered it riding along one sunny Saturday in September, I honestly thought I was seeing things when I saw flags of red and black with a very familiar ‘G’. Walking in seeing others wearing red and black shouting “How Bout Them Dawgs” instantly made me feel at home. I spent my Saturdays there for 4 years celebrating wins, and mourning losses.

As my grand adventure in Denver came to an end there was one thing I was looking forward too more than anything else, watching my boys between the hedges in what is in my humble opinion the most beautiful place on earth. I believe will all my heart that heaven looks a lot like Sanford stadium.

This season was filled with 12 triumphant wins and one heart shattering loss. I’ll be the first to admit originally I was not a Kirby Smart fan, for no other reason than I was a huge Mark Rict fan. WOAH WOAH WOAH BULLDOG NATION hold the fire. I know Mark could never quite bring the W’s that our program and the Alumni wanted or needed. But, as far as good hearted genuine men go you’d be hard pressed to find one better than Mark Rict. Now, back to Coach Smart. I would like to issue an apology, I was wrong about you. The love and dedication you have showed to the team, to the school and to Georgia makes my heart burst with admiration. Thank you, thank you, thank you. A 20-6 record in your second year as HBC isn’t too shabby.

Speaking of a 12-1 season we did it with a freshman quarterback. Jake Fromm had 3 rushing touchdowns and 21 passing. He threw 2173 passing yards with a 63.0% completion rate as redshirt that isn’t too bad. This time last year Jake had just gotten done playing his last game as a high school quarterback, I wonder if he ever dreamed that he would lead this team to Pasadena. As Jakes career at UGA is just starting, I have to mention two that are ending. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. This year they rushed for 13 touchdowns. Each. That’s 26 touchdowns between the two of them this season. If you are a card carrying member of the bulldog nation you don’t need me to tell you this, but watching those two play ball is like magic. I imagine it’s almost like watching Herschel play. I can’t wait to see what these guys bring to the league, if they chose to continue their football careers.

So as two careers are ending at UGA and one is just beginning I am now, as I’ve always been a proud Dawg. I’ve cried over losses and wins. I’ve nervously watched passes be thrown, held my breath as time winds down on the clock. I’ve sat in the stands with 92,746 fans shouting “woof woof woof” at the top of my lungs, I’ve stumbled down Clayton street after a heartbreaking loss. I’ve walked the tracks that lead to the stadium. Now as the Dawg nation awaits kickoff on New Years Day and we reflect on a season that has been nothing short of incredible the words of Larry Munson echo in my mind "I know I’m asking a lot, you guys, but hunker it down one more time!”. Hunker it down one more time.