The Bulldogs’ preparedness was palpable from the outset in Austin; these Dawgs were confident – ready! Credit this turnaround to the emerging leadership of some key players over the first half of the season, a fact that Coach Smart has repeatedly acknowledged. The Bulldogs seized control from the get-go, and the game never seemed in doubt to me, even in the opening minutes.

One oddity from the game in Austin was the bottle-throwing incident. That was the second time I had been on the sideline when bottles and other items flew. This time, there was a wall that extended over my head. I backed against the wall, covered my cameras as best I could, and watched missiles of various descriptions sail overhead for the next few minutes. Fortunately, I felt only a few drops of liquid hit my hat. Most of the hurled objects were harmless, but I saw several beer cans go past that were at least partially full, and even a partially full beer can hitting someone on the turf could cause serious injury – even an aluminum can.

Seldom is a bye-week mentioned as a vital part of the schedule, but this year it came at a time when some key Dawgs needed to complete their recovery from various injuries. The Dawgs have already played Texas, Alabama and Clemson, with the first two on the road. Throw in SEC opponents Kentucky, Auburn and Mississippi State, and those bodies needed the bye. Now comes the stretch run to the SEC Championship Game. Kirby Smart often says, “Humility is a week away in the SEC.”