Georgia Football

I've been a die-hard Bulldog fan ever since I received my acceptance letter to The University of Georgia as a graduate student, beginning in the fall of 1981. Those were halcyon days as we basked in the glow of a national championship from the season before. During my two years as a grad student, we were 21-1 during the regular season, and won back-to-back SEC titles. (We did lose both Sugar Bowls, the 2nd one being the national championship verses Penn State) Then, in my first year as an alumnus, we were 10-1-1, including a Cotton Bowl win over the previously unbeaten Texas Longhorns, knocking them out of national championship contention. 

I said all that to say, I was one of those fans who honestly expected UGA to contend for the SEC championship every year, and the national championship every third year at least. However, the intervening 30+ years have finally forced me to admit the harsh reality that Georgia’s football program is actually a solid teen’s finisher in the top 25, with an every-so-often finish in the top 10, and an occasional finish in the top five.

Regardless of the incoming recruits, returning lettermen, strength of schedule, and pre-season ranking and predictions, we always seem to end up with at least two or three loses on average. And whether it’s seven loses, or just one, there always seems to be that “How did we lose the [insert team name] game” that dashes our hopes for the season, while simultaneously generating all the “what if” scenarios, and “just wait till next year” chatter.

However, here are the cold, hard facts: since 1982, UGA has only won two SEC titles; Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, and Tennessee have won, or shared, all the rest. And, since 1992, those same five schools have also won 11 national championships.

Please don’t misunderstand me; I’m not trying to bash UGA football, and this isn't a “fire Coach Richt” rant. There are plenty of programs, and their fans, that would love to have the level of success that we do have. I’m also not here to try and explain the “why”, or offer a quick-fix solution. I’m just acknowledging that “it is what it is” and I’m sharing about learning to accept that reality.

I will still bleed red and black. Glory, Glory to Ole’ Georgia will still make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. And, I will still reserve the right to get down on all four and bark like a dog. I've just changed my perspective a little. Now, my hope is that we’ll win a handful of SEC championships and one more national championship in my lifetime, instead of in the next five years.