Attention Bulldog fans … I hate to interrupt your Thanksgiving quality time with family and friends, but there is some real business at hand coming up Friday in Atlanta.

For the third time since 1956, our University of Georgia football team has the opportunity to tie the disastrous “The Drought” that the Georgia Institute of Technology inflicted on our beloved Dawgs from 1949-1956. That’s right for the math-challenged out there … Tech beat Georgia eight straight times during these years, which represents the longest winning streak by either team in the series that goes back to 1893.

I will stop there in my attempt to make all diehard Dawgs embrace the historic opportunity that is before us all at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. However, I do encourage you to immediately read Jeff Dantzler’s column on page 10. There are two things in JD’s existence that represent his kryptonite … Tech and onions. He loathes them both with equal hate.

While my bride is occasionally able to hide onions in her wonderful cooking (without JD knowing), there’s no fooling Jeff Dantzler when it comes to Tech. A win Friday to tie the “The Drought” would be a banner day for our best bud, JD. A loss … my goodness, I don’t even want to think about it. Needless to say, there will be no Christmas tree at his house. And I promise you, I’m 100% not kidding!

Enter Kirby Smart …

His record against Georgia’s rivals during his 10-year tenure has been beyond pristine, which is why he earned this issue’s cover. And as JD likes to say … “there’s nothing clean about the Georgia-Georgia Tech game being called ‘Clean Old-Fashioned Hate!’”

It is time for our football team to get ‘Down and Dirty in the Benz.’ Yes, it was fun watching the Bees get embarrassed on Grant Field this past weekend versus the Pittsburgh Panthers. However, in my opinion, that was not the ideal occurrence for Friday’s game. Book it, Brent Key and his Jackets are going to give our Bulldogs all they want in Mercedes-Benz. So buckle your chinstraps, it’s definitely about to get down and dirty … may the best team win the State Championship!

This issue will definitely get you ready. However, it won’t make the game get here any sooner. With that being said, I encourage everyone in the Bulldog Nation to enjoy the upcoming days with your family. There is so much to be thankful for, so embrace that through the last football game on Thanksgiving night. Then, on Friday morning, rise up and be ready for the 2025 Georgia-Georgia Tech game.

It’s going to be a war!

My time and space are short, so I must now bid farewell. However, please be sure to read this issue’s Proust Q&A with Steve Maloof. The Ansley Golf Club in Atlanta is full of awesome Dawgs and Jackets, so it was a must that this issue’s Q&A be represented by Ansley GC. Thanks so much Steve. I will see you and the rest of the Bulldog Nation on Friday. It’s time to tie “The Drought” and get ‘Down and Dirty in the Benz,’ … Happy Thanksgiving and Go Dawgs!!