the Friday Misery is like Tyler Simmons...onside!

On September 18th, 1965 the Georgia Bulldog offense pulled off an infamous hook and lateral against the Crimson colored Tide for a touchdown inside the beautiful confines of Sanford Stadium. Tide fans argued that Georgia tight end Pat Hodgson's knees were down prior to said lateral, which is perhaps why Hodgson was so open on the next play for a 2-point conversion.

Dawgs won 18-17.

history teaches us nothing

Why bring up that game in 1965, which was even a few years before I was born? Because that's the only Georgia-Alabama game I think of prior to 2002, when Billy Bennett helped us to a win in Tuscaloosa to prove we were "man enough". For two teams that have met 73 times, there hasn't been much history to speak to. After that 2007 "one and done" overtime victory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama has dominated the series. Until Indy saw Bryce Young complete that beautiful touchdown pass to Kelee Ringo, they had won seven straight.

One night in Indy

The teams have played in seven different cities. And Indianapolis is the only one where we have a winning record against the Tide. Tomorrow night marks just the 11th time we've played them in Tuscaloosa (and we're looking for just our 3rd win btw). 

After that 2007 Dawgs' win, Saban went on to dominate Richt and Smart teams to the tune of 8-1. We never beat him in the SECCG in four tries, 2012 being our best chance. If it weren't for the National Championship win over Alabama, we would have a serious complex. They lead the series 43-26-4, but it's the recent history that draws the most frustration. The Richt teams getting dominated in 2008 and 2015. Then Kirby raised the bar, but the Tide still found ways to squirm into a win. (For reference, look back at the two 2018 matchups. Ugh.)

But that was then, and this is the Friday before the young season's biggest game. Coach DeBoer leads the Tide now, while Saban spends weekdays on the golf course. DeBoer's resume is a quick read, but shows he succeeds wherever he goes. Our beloved Coach Smart meanwhile is the second longest tenured coach in the conference.

This week I have seen some people suggest the series between these two teams is a rivalry. I disagree, at least not in the way of the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party or the Third Saturday in October. No, I see this as a series that, until recently, was rather ho-hum. Minus the occasional hook and lateral, it was likely to put Dawg fans to sleep.

We're awake now though, right?

prelude to a new era

I think it happened in the Benz Dome that fateful night January 8th, 2018. Kirby's Dawgs fought hard, but Bama prevailed.

It was devastating. The Georgia Bulldogs' first National Championship since Herschel's separated shoulder was in our grasp. And then the Mighty Sabanites pulled it away. Fists were clenched. Tears welled. Dreams dashed. We found breathing to be an arduous task.

Our coach, was our player

But that game showed us that we had a coach that could form a team of contenders. And we knew he could not only stand toe-to-toe with his godfather, but was much younger. Indianapolis came and went. Back 2 Back happened before our eyes.

And now Saban has retired, thus the commencement of the Crimson Tide Kalen DeBoer Era.

both here and now

While Kirby didn't cut his coaching teeth in Tuscaloosa, it was his home turf from 2007-2015. While he was trekking through Athens-Valdosta-Tallahassee-Baton Rouge-Athens again-Miami on his way to Tuscaloosa, Kalen DeBoer was building championship NAIA teams in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He's known as an offensive mastermind, even before coordinating an Indiana offense that averaged well over 400 yards per game!

But he's never faced Them Dawgs. Much of his team helped defeat us in last year's SECCG, sure. But what pours from the heart of our head man, forms itself into his team's constitution.

So gimme Kirby effin' Smart. He's not afraid of Tuscaloosa, a title town he helped build the infrastructure for. He's not afeared of their copy-cat lights and some Dixieland Delights. And he for damn sure ain't gonna shy away from a dude named Kalen.

Hold your head up high fellow Dawg fans...our coach is a Dawg and not a pachyderm! Now let's bow our heads...dear Lord our God, we pray for those that have been in Helene's nasty path. And this is a big one tomorrow night, so provide a path to sack that Milroe a few times. And Carson Beck can take it from there! Amen, and Go Dawgs!

Midweek thoughts on Georgia & Alabama

The closer the kick to Saturday night's game gets, the better I feel. It's going to be a slugfest. Don't get me wrong. But I think we bow up and take their punches before dealing our own.

For that reason, I like Brooks' keys to the victory for Georgia Saturday night. Milroe and his offense is explosive and they will undoubtedly make some big plays, but I think we can both minimize them in both frequency and explosiveness.

And the best way to do that is to maintaining rush lane integrity. Don't let Milroe out of the pocket easily. Brooks calls it a "dirty pocket". Meaning, contained havoc. Brock Vandergriff broke containment a few times up in Lexington. I've said before, Milroe can turn those yards into touchdowns.

It's always important to protect the football, especially on the road. At night. On national TV. But I hope we see Beck take some shots. If he and Bobo can stretch this defense, we can pound them. They're riding high after their drubbing of Wisconsin. Not only is our team much better, but we're deeper and more experienced for big time national games.

Maybe it's off base to type this, but I look at our opening win against Clemson as a much bigger deal. I think we're a team with a chip on our shoulders. Let's tee it up and see if Bama can knock it off.

National landscape, week four. Longhorns in it for the long haul.

The further we get into the season the more some things take shape. Clemson has clearly put the opening week beat down behind them. Auburn is still better at making excuses than fielding a functioning SEC quarterback. Florida can show a pulse playing in the likes of Starkville, MS.

Take a moment and let that one simmer. 😉

Similarly, Texas lost it's starting quarterback, but hasn't lost its step. At all. Of course, it helps when said starter's backup has a last name of Manning. But still, they have looked the part. Their only solid opponent was Michigan, whom they manhandled. But they've done what they were supposed to do against the others, including the cupcakes.

We'll know for sure after Georgia visits Austin next month, but for now they remain my top team in the SEC.

Scanning the other conferences and Group of 5's...Clemson continues to roll. Even with the loss compared to Miami's 4-0 record, I have the Tigers winning the ACC and getting the conference's only bid. In the Big10, staying with Oregon. Then I have Ohio State at 2a and Michigan at 2b. Ohio State's schedule thus far has been empty calories, but Michigan's loss to Texas still weighs heavier than its win over USC Saturday. Penn State also in the mix for the 2nd or 3rd Big10 playoff spot. 

Admittedly, this is where I go solely on what I have read or seen in just Sunday morning highlights. I can see the Big12 getting two spots, likely between these three teams: Utah, BYU, and UCF. Kansas State and Oklahoma State both lost, but they play each other this weekend. So the winner could get back in the mix. And the Group of 5 is a crapshoot between UNLV and Liberty, with NIU, Boise State and Memphis hanging around.

Enough of the plodding and the plotting. Here's this week's bracket:

1. Texas (bye)
2. Oregon (bye)
3. Utah (bye)
4. Clemson (bye)
5. Georgia (hosts)
6. Ohio State (hosts)
7. Alabama (hosts)
8. Michigan (hosts)
9. Tennessee 
10. BYU
11. UCF
12. UNLV

A few changes this week. Most notably, put Tennessee in as the last SEC team over previously seeded Ole Miss. Both could get in, but right now I'm sticking with four SEC teams and the Vols added to their resume with the win in Norman. Michigan gets the third Big10 spot ahead of Penn State this week. And BYU and UNLV get in instead of NIU and Boise State.

Anyway, as always, we close this weekly post with this: Those are at least some intriguing matchups in Round 1. $till not $old on making the $ea$on thi$ long. But I'd watch, and I gue$$ that'$ why they expanded, right?