I’m pretty sure that no other Georgia team has dealt with fan expectations anywhere near the level of 2018. While yours truly was not around for the 1942 championship season, the 1980 team certainly did not have anything remotely similar to the rosy outlook many fans enjoy (or not, in the case of Saturday).
 
 
Ladies and gentlemen, Georgia just beat Tennessee to pull even in the all-time series. If I’m not mistaken, no SEC East team or major rival (cough Auburn cough) has a winning record against the Bulldogs – not one team! Georgia is undefeated in 2018 and will likely remain so, as it heads to Baton Rouge for its nationally televised tilt with the Tigers. Yet, as Saturday’s game evolved one could almost feel the air leaking from the collective fan psyche as Georgia failed to crush Tennessee in a manner befitting its exalted status. I didn’t hear any boos, but groans count, right?
 
 

 
 
This year’s Dawgs are still finding their way, but remain undefeated.
 
 
Expectations have outrun the reality of the roster to be sure. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and recall that this is the regime’s third year but only its second recruiting class is on campus. The program is seeing the effects of integrating highly-touted, but very young, players into the lineup. When the recruiting system has been in effect for four years, the process of reloading will be far less dramatic. Alabama may be referenced as a model of that system in action.
 
 
Stash those expectations and enjoy the ride, you can dig them out of the closet in a year or two.