It’s so good to be back for another issue of Bulldawg Illustrated. The bye week afforded everyone in the Bulldog Nation the opportunity to recharge his or hers collective batteries. And after the awesome spectacle of the Austin road trip, it is quite the understatement to say plenty of R&R was much needed.

To start with, I have to give Austinites and most Texas fans high grades for being excellent hosts. My goodness, there is so much to do in that town and boy did our fans make the most of it. Extra kudos to the Red and Black faithful that still had enough in the tank to attend the FI race the Sunday after the night game Longhorn whipping.

The trip to Austin was epic and something that Georgia fans that attended will remember for a lifetime.

Unfortunately, the Georgia-Texas game will also be forever tainted because of the disappointing decision by the Texas fans that threw debris on the field in protest of a call made by the officials. It was a forgettable night for the zebras, for sure. However, get it together UT fans. Throwing anything on the field is for losers and that’s actually what you were by the end of that glorious night … Dawgs 30 Longhorns 15.

Still, I hope Georgia fans will remember the awesome hospitality they were afforded, when the Longhorn Nation comes to Athens next season. They put on a terrific show and it should be Bulldog Nation’s goal to match it in 2025.

Now, coming down from my soapbox is quite easy because another Georgia-Florida installment has arrived. As anyone who has attended this game over the decades knows, the records do not matter. The scene in the Golden Isles and Jacksonville is a sight to behold culminated by an always hard-hitting game between our Bulldogs and those nasty reptiles.

Saturday’s contest will deliver and you can bet Billy Napier and his Gators will be chomping for a signature win on the banks of the St. Johns River.

While the win in Austin was incredible, Kirby’s Dawgs were by no means flawless. Early turnovers on Saturday will be catastrophic and must be avoided at all costs.

As our fun cover displays … “Target ++ Florida.”

Yes, we are taking a slight “target” jab at the SEC officials from the Texas game because the two targeting calls against Georgia were beyond questionable. And, of course, they were very penal as the Bulldogs will be without safety Dan Jackson and defensive back Joenel Aguero for the first half versus the Gators.

Nonetheless, our team must persevere and have their sights (++) squarely focused on not allowing a now confident Florida team any early momentum. We must target the Gators early and often. Clearly, I’m not talking about the flagrant penalty … targeting. I’m talking about laser focus on the task at hand and that means an all out PAWS ATTACK by our Dawgs from the opening whistle.

That darn sure is what happened in Austin … next up Saturday in Jacksonville.

This issue of Bulldawg Illustrated will certainly get you ready for the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Of course, this issue is always special for Team BI since Cheri and I are Golden Isles natives. We are so glad to once again have the Bulldog Nation in our backyard.

We went local for our Proust Q&A (page 38) and Georgia Girls (pages 28, 29) features.

Enjoy reading about St. Simons resident Ben Holcomb, who remembers UGA Grady School legend Conrack Fink’s baby blue four door Cadillac. And speaking of legends, there is none bigger in the Golden Isles than Millie Wilcox. We really should be calling this feature the Grand Dame of Georgia Girls. Her years at Georgia aren’t a misprint … 1948-51. A big happy 95th and much love to Millie as she celebrates the incredible milestone on November 1.

Don’t miss Hamilton Culpepper’s What’s the Word on pages 30-33 as he spotlights the UGA philanthropic organization, the Fight Against Suicide. Congrats and thanks to the Sigma Chi fraternity for turning the loss of their fraternity brother, Sam Asbury, into a positive outreach program on the Georgia campus … #BeWellUGA!

As I’ve already noted, the Austin roadie was a trip of lifetime, so I know you will enjoy the 120 photos (beginning on page 40) the BI Camera captured. The town and game were legendary, Woof, Woof, Woof!

There is ton more for you to explore in these 80 pages of Bulldog glory, so get to it.

I leave you with this photo of Carson Beck and Kirby Smart from the Texas game. In my opinion, notching a win over the Gators falls squarely on their backs. The target is Florida ++ … now “LET’S EAT” (some more). After all, it doesn’t get any better than the Surf & Turf, Go Dawgs!!