Now that was more like it … Dawgs 35 Cats 14!
This past weekend in Athens was just what the doctor ordered for our players, coaches and fans after the gut-wrenching loss to Bama a few weeks back. You never know how a team will respond to adversity, but is that necessarily the truth here in Athens? Despite the Kentucky game kicking off at high noon, did we really think Coach Smart’s team was going to come out flat? Particularly, after their epic 33-game home winning streak had been snapped by the Crimson Tide.
Probably not, right?
What I liked best about the Kentucky win was our offense getting on the board in the first quarter. You can’t be a true Georgia fan and not admit that slow starts plagued the Georgia offense most of last season and the beginning of this 2025 campaign. So, big-time kudos to offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and all of his staff for dialing up some gems to keep the other team on their heels for most of the victory over the Wildcats. And the same goes for the players on offense. After all, no matter the call (good or bad) it does come down to execution by the players on the field.
Beyond the field, the scene in Athens for Homecoming Weekend was perfection. Athens eateries were filled to the brim from Friday night all the way through Sunday’s victory brunches. And the same goes on the shopping front. To borrow from Munson, don’t you know there were some credit cards destroyed all weekend long, ha, ha.
That is the beauty of Georgia Football. Yes, everyone in the Bulldog Nation loves their Dawgs, but the time we get together throughout the Fall is equally satisfying. That was certainly the case at Myers Quad before kickoff versus Kentucky. Alumni tailgates galore weren’t thwarted by the early kickoff time. Cooking crews arrived well before the 6 a.m. opening time for entry. And my goodness, the fellowship and barbecuing going on there throughout the day was second to none.
Pardon all my sentimentality above. I guess it is okay when talking about the fun and pageantry surrounding Homecoming Weekend in God’s country. However, it is now time to turn the page because there will be no such thing as sentimentality, nor hospitality this Saturday night as our Bulldogs head to the Plains.
Georgia versus Auburn … the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry … Cam Newton’s #2 Jersey Retirement Ceremony … ‘Let’s get ready to Rummmbleeee!!!’
Sports fans, don’t kid yourselves our Dawgs are heading into a hornets’ nest this weekend in Auburn. Their team, their coach and their passionate fan base are so hungry for an epic victory. And who better to achieve that mark against than their oldest foe, Georgia.
It is for this reason (throughout this issue), our pages include some of the toughest Dawgs on the 2025 roster. Yes, our cover with tight end Oscar Delp towering over Jordan-Hare Stadium is cool looking (nice job Hamilton Culpepper on design and Rob Saye capturing the Delp image), however the real message with the cover is the importance of Oscar having one of his best games as a Georgia Bulldog on Saturday night. After all, it was only because of Oscar’s predecessor, Brock Bowers, that our Bulldogs escaped with a victory the last time on the Plains.
And on this page, these images of wide receiver Dillon Bell out fighting the Kentucky defender for a huge reception also denotes the toughness that will be required on Saturday night to get back to Athens with a victory. Be who you are No. 86. And for the love of Georgia Coach Bobo, I implore you to keep finding creative ways to ring the Bell on the Plains.
Then there is Gunner Stockton, who continues to show the country his moxie and toughness every Saturday. On page 36, Greg Poole nails it when talking about what Gunner’s uniform looks like at the end of every game. It is exactly what you would want from your quarterback who fights for every yard for this team.
Man, I can’t wait to get to Auburn. The scene is going to be insane. As I tell folks, it doesn’t get more deafening than inside Jordan-Hare when the home team is rolling. And while Hugh Freeze is still searching for chemistry with his offense, Kirby Smart’s respect for his play-calling ability is second to none. The Tigers are going to move the ball, which means our defense must force field goals, and our offense must score touchdowns when the opportunities present themselves.
Enjoy this issue of BI. There are tons of fan photos beginning on page 22. And Augustan Ross Trulock is our Proust Q&A participant on page 32. I can’t wait to see Ross soon, so he can expand on his bride’s rebound in Indy at the Natty in 2021. Touchdown Georgia!
As our cover proudly says, ‘See You … on the Plains!’ It doesn’t get any better than Georgia versus Auburn … Go Dawgs!!