Zero Looking Ahead!

FROM THE
EDITOR
While the temptation is real, there should be ‘0 (Zero)
Looking Ahead’ because anything can happen when
the Dawgs and Gators take the field in Jacksonville
VANCE LEAVY
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Before I jump into the Dawgs
annual clash with the Gators,
thoughts and prayers go out
to the family of the legendary Charley
Trippi, who at age 100 passed last
week in Athens. Mr. Trippi’s prowess
in athletics (both collegiate and professional) was on par
with the great olympian Jim Thorpe. Of course, Bulldog fans
appreciated Trippi most for his spectacular accomplishments
while at our beloved University. Again, everyone at Bulldawg
Illustrated sends our condolences and we look forward
to bringing our readers a special tribute in our next issue
(Georgia-Tennessee).
Back to Georgia-Florida … it’s sort of ironic that this issue’s
cover is all about reminding everyone in Bulldog Nation not
to look past the Gators (to the Vols’ visit to Athens in two
Saturdays), when low and behold I just did it myself in the
above paragraph. However, I will give myself a pass because
it was necessary to let folks know when to expect our special
send-off to one of the greatest Bulldogs ever.
Unfortunately, in my opinion, too many smart Bulldog fans
(that I have run into over the last week or so) are already
champing at the bit for the Tennessee game, while discounting
the game on this week’s schedule. You expect that from fans,
but you can bet Kirby Smart is also fighting hard to remind his
players that the marquee Bulldogs-Volunteers game will lose
a lot of its luster, if they don’t show up in Jacksonville 100%
focused versus the Florida Gators.
With this cover of BI and the awesome photo of Darnell
Washington (No. 0), I feel our magazine has done its part to
remind the Bulldog Nation … ‘0 (Zero) Looking Ahead’ against
the 2022 Gators.
Yours truly was a mere 13-year-old in 1985 when mighty
Florida arrived to the Gator Bowl sporting the No. 1 ranking
in the country. When the final whistle sounded, they left the
banks of the St. Johns River dragging their deflated tails back
to Gainesville with a 24-3 loss to the Dawgs.
The above history lesson goes out to any Georgia fans
that think the impossible can’t happen. No doubt about it,
Florida can make their season (under first year head coach
Billy Napier) by upsetting one of their most hated rivals on
Saturday.
Nonetheless, even with my inner most Munson brewing, I
have faith that Coach Smart, his team leaders and everyone on
the Georgia sideline will arrive to Jacksonville with their game
faces on.
There is another reason I chose The Big O (Darnell
Washington) for this cover. Washington is Georgia’s most
menacing looking player and amplifies there is no denying the
2022 Dawgs have a substantial size and depth advantage over
the 2022 Gators. Also, simply look at the two teams tight end
units. Georgia has four to five players that would start on most
teams in the SEC. Finally, don’t miss Jeff Dantzler’s A View From
Jacksonville (page 24) with broadcaster Frank Frangie. The
longtime broadcaster (who while encouraged by Florida’s hire
in Napier) predicts Georgia winning the game 41-24. “There
is a gulf between these two teams right now,” Frangie said. “I
can’t imagine it being much closer than that.”
Still, even though the depth gap is vast, I head into Saturday’s
game wide open in knowing that anything can happen in
Jacksonville. Be ready Dawg fans … ‘0 (Zero) Looking Ahead.’
This 80-page issue (plus plenty of shopping, eating and
libations in the Golden Isles) should help pass the time
between now and when toe meets leather on Saturday.
On the sports front, I love that (on page 77) Kevin Butler’s
Players of the Game (from the Vandy game) are all freshmen.
That says a lot about the above-mentioned depth within the
Georgia football program. And Hamilton Culpepper is back in
this issue with a stellar interview with former Dawg roverback
John Little (page 72). A big congrats to both John and Champ
Bailey who are the two Georgia players being inducted into
the Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame on Friday. Also, former BI
writer Murray Poole came out of retirement again for me
(pages 71, 72) in this issue to pen a review of Loran Smith’s
book “Return to Glory.”
On the social front, you can’t fill 80 pages of content without
a ton of fan photos. This issue (beginning on page 30), the
BI camera delivers from the Vandy game to the Bulldog
Open to the Presidents Club reception. On pages 28 and 29,
enjoy getting to know this issue’s Georgia Girl, Lillian Owen
Magruder. Her fond memories of UGA Tennis camps with
Coach Magill, Diaz and Wallace combined with her favorite
quote being Kirby’s halftime speech from last year’s Georgia-
Florida game make her a keeper in my book.
Then on page 68, Savannahian Pierce Cannon will
definitely hit home with 912ers when he calls his greatest
accomplishment being when he held Glynn Academy (No. 1
pick in the NBA) super star Kwame Brown to six points during
his high school basketball days. Finally, Loran Smith continues
our Bulldogs of the 4th Estate series (page 67) reminding our
readers (including myself) that longtime Bulldog radio man
(before Larry Munson) Ed Thilenius cut his teeth as a writer
for the Athens Banner-Herald. Long live the scribes and print
journalism.
Whoa, I’m dazed from writing this note to include all the
content in this 80-page whopper. I am so glad I had the bye
week, which also afforded me the opportunity to celebrate
my mother’s (Sudy Vance Leavy) 80th and my good friend’s
(Jeff Ramsey) 50th. Just like the tradition of the Georgia-
Florida game being in Jacksonville, nothing beats quality time
with family and friends. Just don’t forget … ‘0 (Zero) Looking
Ahead.’ See you in the Golden Isles for pre-game and Saturday
in Jacksonville for another battle with the jort-wearing reptiles.
Go Dawgs!!
BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 10 ISSUE TEN • FLORIDA