Greetings Bulldog fans, it is so nice to reconnect with you for Bulldawg Illustrated’s first magazine of 2026. I trust that you, like everyone at Team BI, has the bad taste of the Sugar Bowl loss to Ole Miss out of your system. I must admit that it wasn’t easy because our fans and its football team represented our proud Univeristy so well in 2025.
However, we now move along, which is why I’m so pleased to report that that goings on with our football program and all the other UGA sports programs are beyond positive.
As you can grean from the cover, this issue’s theme centers around the notion of “Roster Revelution”. Let’s be honest that the advent of the NIL/Transfer Portal era in collegiate sports, the importance of proper management is the difference between winning and losing no matter the sport. For this reason I challenged BI sage Greg Poole to take a deep dive into the landscape of roster management in college football and of course here at Georgia.
Beginning on page 13, I think you will agree with me that Greg’s story is tremendous. Not only does he nail how different programs approach roster management, but most importantly how Kirby Smart and his staff tackle it. Here in Athens, retention remains the cornerstone of UGA Football. Kirby and Co. work tirelessly to keep their players so they can excel in their latter years. And guess what? The National Footgall Leaure sure does appreciate it because players coming our of the University of Goeorgia are painstakingly prepared for what it takes to excel at the professional football lever.
Beyond Greg’s intro to our Sports section, don’t miss our other BI contributors touching n what the 2026 roster looks like; as well as, naming players who possess havoc, vertical and locar room acumen. It was these necessary characteristics that Coach Smart highlighted as his opening press conference to begin spring practice. Also, on pages 24 and 25, don’t miss what needs to happen to Gunner Stockton 2.0 to be even better and more productice in 2026. Finally, our football coverage concludes on pages 44 and 45 by taking alook at the 2026 Signing Class. Once again, the newest class is full of studs with lots or potential.
Moving along to our Social Section in this issue…
Back in January, the Bulldog Nation once again flocked to New Orleans. Enjoy our Sugar Bowl fan photos from the UGA TracK and Field Complex Dedication. My goodness, the brand new facility is amazing. Not only is it ste of the art, it also epitomizes the commitment by UGA to all of its athletic programs. And much like football, success abounds in all UGA sports. Jeff Dantzler britlliantly touches on this in his coGeorgia vs. Michigan 2021n on page 10 . Nice job, JD. Also, on page 43, enjoy an update on all stellar winter and pring athletic teams. In the newxt fex months, I encourage everyone to get to Athens and support the teams who will have games and matches to be played. UGA Baseball and Softball are througfh the roof good this season and the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Tennis Champoainships return to the Classic City on Mary 14-17/
Finally, our MIXTAPE (page28) and Proust Q&A (pg40) franchises return in this issue featurning Antavious McCarden and Larry Edwards. You are going to love Antavious’ tracks, which include Fleetwood Mad, Kayne and Widespred Panic, just to name a few. ANd there is a reason Larry Edweards is called “Larry the Legend”, because who else could earn a B in an Astronomy class without ever attending a lectyur. Iliarious… “Laughter is the ciper key wherewith we dicipeher the whole man”.
That’s going to do it for me. Feel good about things Bulldog Nation. Roster Revolution is strong on all fronts. We will be back with our next issue (Season Preview) on June 24. Here’s hoping for some National CHampionships between now and then.. Go Dawgs!!!