Eat Mor Peach...Beat The Buckeyes!

stetson bennett’s heisman coverage, pgs. 52,53 

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GEORGIA VS. OHIO STATE 

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 

IN THIS ISSUE 

CFP SEMI PEACH PREVIEW 

HOORAY 2022 SEC 

CHAMPIONS! 

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE 

BULLDAWG ILLUSTRATED 

years 

SPORTS 

BULLDOGS TO WATCH | 14 

BUCKEYES TO WATCH | 16 

FIVE KEYS | 18 

DAWG BONES | 20 

A VIEW OF THE CFP - SEMI PEACH BOWL | 22 

SOCIAL 

UGA VS LSU SEC CHAMPIONSHIP FAN PHOTOS | 26 

DAWG HOUSE RSM CLASSIC PHOTOS | 42 

TOUCHDOWN CLUB OF ATHENS PHOTOS | 48 

PROUST: MALCOLM MITCHELL | 50 

MORE SPORTS 

STETSON HEISMAN FINALIST | 52, 53 

WHADDAYA GOT LORAN? | 52, 53 

BOWL BONANZA | 54 

THE HAMMYS | 56 

HOOPS PREVIEW | 58 

FROM THE FIELD | 60 

BUTLER’S PLAYERS | 61 

STATS THAT MATTER | 62 

OUR TEAM 

EDITOR: Vance Leavy 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Cheri Leavy 

MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR: Greg Poole 

CHIEF SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR: Jeff Dantzler 

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SPORTS: Jeff Dantzler, Greg Poole, Coby Serina, 

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PHOTOGRAPHY: Greg Poole, Rob Saye, 

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CFP SEMI PEACH BOWL PREVIEW : 

December 14, 2022 

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 6 CFP SEMI PEACH BOWL PREVIEW

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FROM THE 

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VANCE LEAVY 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Life is stellar for our 2022 SEC Champions team and Stetson 

Bennett being a Heisman Trophy finalist, but now the next 

step has arrived to ‘Eat Mor Peach’ and Beat the Buckeyes! 

A 

fter a few weeks since our last issue, it 

is great to be back in my chair putting 

the final touches on our last issue 

of 2022. And, man oh man, I have a ton of 

awesomeness to report and rejoice about to 

everyone who loves the Red and Black. 

So here we go … 

I will get to Stetson Bennett’s terrific Heisman Finalist honor shortly, 

but the game of football is all about the team, so our Dawgs winning 

the 2022 SEC Championship must be celebrated first. What a season 

and what an electric scene inside Mercedes Benz Stadium a few 

Saturdays ago! 

Dawgs 50 Tigers 30 … 13-0 record … No. 1 seed in the 2022 CFP 

Playoff … Woof, Woof, Woof! 

I’m not going to lay-on the accolades too thick because the duty 

that lies nearest for these 2022 Dawgs (and their faithful fans) is 

focusing on the Ohio State Buckeyes, who will arrive to Mercedes 

Benz Stadium on December 31 with an enormous chip on their 

shoulders after being throttled by Michigan (in their own stadium) to 

end their regular season. 

Does that scenario sound familiar? 

It should because the 2021 Dawgs met a similar fate last season when 

Alabama took them to the woodshed in the SEC Championship. Like 

the Buckeyes (of this season), our team still made the CFP Playoff and 

used the previous bitter defeat to make history and win a national 

championship for the first time in 40 years. 

It is for this reason (on our cover) that I had some fun with Chick-fil- 

A’s (the Peach Bowl sponsor) highly successful marketing campaign. 

‘Eat Mor Peach’ is a rally message to everyone in the Bulldog Nation. 

Be prepared because the Buckeyes are going to come out swinging 

with everything they have. But that is completely okay, as long as our 

team and fans want and earn more peach by the end of what should 

be a helluva game. 

‘Eat Mor Peach!’ 

Beginning with Jeff Danzler’s excellent column (page 10) about 

seizing championships when the opportunity arises to our entire 

Sports section (starts page 13), our sports guys’ content will certainly 

get you juiced for the 8 p.m. New Year’s Eve slugfest at the Benz. Boy 

that place is going to be nuts! 

Finally, our sports section ends with ESPN’s Mark Schlabach 

generously lending his time to participate in our “A View From” Q&A 

(page 22). Yes, Mark is a UGA grad, but his dedication to reporting 

facts is why he is one of the best in the business. As you will read, 

Mark singled out both Kirby Smart and Stetson Bennett for not 

getting enough credit for the job they both did with the challenges 

of this 2022 team. Great stuff, Mark … thanks so much! 

Ok, now I get to dedicate some space to my fellow 912 area code 

brethren, Stetson Bennett IV. Whoa, talk about a phenomenal story 

that just keeps getting better and better. 

My own relationship with the Bennett family actually parallels 

Bulldawg Illustrated’s beginning 20+ years ago. Because they hailed 

from Blackshear and Cheri and I from St. Simons, we ended up on the 

same flights heading to Georgia road trips. A lot of times the Bennett 

family would be the first photo I took for our popular fan photos of 

that weekend’s game. 

Now we have come full circle 20 years later and Stetson IV (and his 

family) just experienced the honor and jubilation of being a 2022 

Heisman Trophy finalist. What a proud moment for not only him and 

his family, but everyone in the Bulldog Nation. And to no surprise, Stet 

handled all the pomp and circumstance with tremendous poise just like 

he does when leading his team on the field. 

Enjoy our coverage of Stet’s Heisman weekend beginning on page 

51. Both BI photographer Rob Saye and columnist Loran Smith were 

on hand in New York City. Loran put it best … 

“There are a couple of things to remember about Stetson. He is 

unflappable. He has a defining equanimity in his makeup. He is not troubled 

by criticism and before we chide the Heisman voters, let’s remember that his 

own fan base was entrenched with doubting Thomases.” 

Thanks so much Stet for the memories and your dedication to the 

University of Georgia. And we so look forward to you leading your 

team to ‘Eat Mor Peach’ and beat the Buckeyes. 

Switching gears, I’ve said this hundreds of time (in this space), but 

no issue of Bulldawg Illustrated is complete without perusing our 

Social section (beginning on page 25). 

We have fan photos from the SEC Championship win to the 

Dawghouse at the RSM Classic to the final 2022 Touchdown Club of 

Athens meeting. Happy Dawg fans are everywhere on those pages 

and what an honor it is for all of us at BI to capture those and display 

them to our readers. 

Then on pages 46, your heartstrings are sure to be pulled when 

reading about Athenian Sara Hughes Bucket List triumph made 

possible by the graciousness of the UGA Spike Squad. Sara’s 

courageousness in battling cancer over the last five years has been 

ELITE. And I know you will find Mimi Culpepper’s (BI’s Hammy 

Culpepper’s younger sister) story about Sara and the Spike Squad so 

moving. Thanks MiMi for a doing a great job and like your bro, you 

have great talent with words. 

Finally in our Social section, don’t miss our Proust Q&A with Malcolm 

Mitchell (page 50). Malcolm is as cool as it gets and how awesome 

that he credits so much of his success to Mark Richt. Two Damn Good 

Dawgs there, for sure. 

As is often to the case with a big issue of BI, I’m running short of 

space. Our More Sports Section (beginning on page 51) is loaded 

with a ton of goodie from JD’s Bowl Bonanza to Hamilton Culpepper’s 

annual awards “The Hammys” to Clay Watkins’ look at the four 

principles of Mike White’s Hoop Dawgs. Coach White promised me his 

players would play defense and I’m so excited to report he is a man of 

his word, so I encourage our fans to support his team. 

Ok Bulldog Nation, I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and 

I look forward to all of us reconvening at the CFP-Semi Peach Bowl. It’s 

going to be an epic New Year’s weekend in Atlanta. The goal is simple … 

‘Eat Mor Peach,’ so our team advances to the championship in L.A. That 

will then mean a BI Natty Preview EXTRA issue coming out Jan. 4, 2023. 

Let’s do this thing … ‘Eat Mor Peach’ … Beat the Buckeyes … Go Dawgs!! 

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Georgia’s history has shown that championship runs are not 

guaranteed, which is why seizing the opportunities is a must 

JEFF DANTZLER 

@jeffdantzlerTV 

When Kirby Smart became 

the Head Football Coach at 

the University of Georgia, he 

shared a goal and vision with 

the Bulldogs loyal, passionate, hungry fan 

base - be the best program in the country. 

Now in his seventh season at the helm 

of his beloved alma mater, the Georgia 

Bulldogs sit atop the college football 

world. Reigning national champions, 

Georgia is 13-0, Southeastern Conference 

kings of 2022, winners of 31 of the past 32 

games, and bound for the College Football 

Playoff semifinal against mighty Ohio 

State in CFP-Semi Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. 

These are the good old days for the sons 

and daughters of Georgia. There have of 

course been golden eras for the Bulldogs 

before - most notably the fabulous 40s 

and the Early 80s. But this sustained 

greatness is unprecedented. 

Dating back to Smart’s second season 

at the Georgia helm in 2017, the 

Bulldogs have set records and milestones 

unprecedented in Bulldogs lore. 

The ultimate highlight is the 2021 

National Championship, Georgia’s first, 

after some near misses and the closest 

of calls, since 1980. The postseason 

hit-list was incredible. The Bulldogs beat 

Michigan 34-11 in the Orange Bowl 

semifinal (the Wolverines have the most 

wins in college football history) and 

then exercised the demons in a 33-18 

victory over Alabama In the National 

Championship Game, avenging the lone 

loss of the season, which came in the SEC 

title tilt. 

Over the summer, Smart was emphatic 

that the Bulldogs would not be hunted. 

Indeed, these Bulldogs of 2022 have made 

their own history. 

For the first time in program annals, 

Georgia posted back-to-back undefeated 

regular seasons. 

The conference title is Georgia’s second 

under Smart’s watch, along with the 2017 

SEC Championship Game victory over 

Auburn en route to the College Football 

Playoff. The 2022 SEC title is the Bulldogs 

14th overall, which is the second most of 

any program. Alabama has 29. Tennessee 

has won 13, the Bulldogs breaking a tie 

with the Volunteers, and LSU has 12. 

Bear with me on exact win totals, as there 

are some to hash out, but Georgia has also 

moved into the top ten in College Football 

Division 1-A (FBS) history for all-time 

victories. 

When it comes to records and milestones, 

the company you keep speaks volumes. 

Georgia’s back-to-back 8-0 regular season 

conference marks has been accomplished 

only twice before. Since the SEC split into 

divisions and league teams began playing 

eight conference games annually in 

1992, only Steve Spurrier’s Florida Gators 

and 1995 and 1996 and Nick Saban’s 

Alabama Crimson Tide (with Smart the 

defensive coordinator) in 2008 and 2009 

accomplished the feat. 

That’s some sporty company for Kirby’s 

Canines. 

This trip to the Chick-Fil-A Peach marks 

Georgia’s sixth straight major bowl 

bid. That extends a program high. The 

Bulldogs went to four straight major 

bowls from 1980 to 1983. Even if Ohio 

State beats the Bulldogs worse than the 

John Heisman’s Yellow Jackets clubbed 

Cumberland 222-0, Georgia will extend 

another high mark and be ranked in 

the top 10 for a sixth straight year. The 

Bulldogs finished in the top ten (top five 

to be exact) while going 43-4-1 from 

1980 through 1983. Georgia also had 

four successive top 10 finishes from 2002 

to 2005. 

The record and win streaks against 

the historic rivals is superb and 

unprecedented. Smart and his wife Mary 

Beth, a superb basketball player for 

Andy Landers Lady Bulldogs, are lifelong 

Bulldog fans who have the same passions 

and roots as all Georgia fans. 

These are some numbers that everyone 

who bleeds Red and Black can be quite 

fond of: 

Since 2017, when Smart’s Bulldogs took 

flight, Georgia has beaten the Yellow 

Jackets five straight times, winning them 

all by at least 23 points. Their new coach, 

the third that Smart’s Bulldogs have 

beaten, has vowed to work 365 days a year 

to dominate Georgia. 

Smart’s Bulldogs have won five of the 

last six against Florida, and three different 

Gator coaches. 

Starting with the 2017 SEC 

Championship Game victory, Georgia has 

won six in a row against Auburn, which is 

moving on to its third head coach - plus 

the interim Carnell “Cadillac” Williams - 

over this stretch. 

Smart has led the Bulldogs to six 

successive victories over Tennessee, with 

three different head coaches. 

Then there are the Blue Bloods. 

Along with beating Michigan and the Tide 

en route to the national championship last 

year, the Bulldogs beat Oklahoma in the 

2018 Rose Bowl in the CFP, and beat Notre 

Dame in 2017 and 2019. 

Dare To Be Great! Why not us? 

Well here we are, the Bulldogs making 

dreams come true. 

It’s a second straight season in the 

College Football Playoff, and third trip 

since 2017. As a side note, the Bulldogs 

were fifth after the SEC Championship 

Games of 2018 and 2019, inside of the top 

four heading into those contests where 

Georgia lost to No. 1 Alabama and No. 1 

LSU. 

Awaiting is one of Georgia’s toughest 

challenges of all time. 

These Buckeyes, with eight national 

championships, 39 Big Ten titles, the 

second most victories (behind arch 

rival Michigan) and highest winning 

percentage in college football history, are 

loaded and undoubtedly loving a rare 

underdog role in Atlanta. Ryan Day has 

led Ohio State to the playoff three times 

in four years, including the title game in 

2020, where the Buckeyes lost to Alabama. 

The Scarlet and Gray are aiming to upset 

No. 1 Georgia in the Peach State and then 

potentially avenge that loss to Michigan 

with the big prize on the line in Los 

Angeles. 

Though neither of these programs 

show any signs of straying from the elite, 

these opportunities are rare and difficult 

to come by. You never know. After the 

heartbreak of Pitt and Penn State, no 

Georgia fan thought it would take so long 

to get back. 

Now here we are again under Smart’s 

watch, and the Bulldogs have a shot at 

another win for the ages. 


AWARD WINNING 

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CONGRATS SEC CHAMPIONS 

BEAT THE BUCKEYES! 

AWARD WINNING 

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DAWG BONES PG. 20 | A VIEW OF THE CFP - SEMI PEACH BOWL PG. 22 

SPORTS 

No. 1 INDEED... 

JALEN CARTER! 


GEORGIA VS. OHIO STATE 

GAME TIME: 8 P.M. 

CHANNEL: ESPN 

GEORGIA VS OHIO STATE 

BY: JEFF DANTZLER 

Georgia and Ohio State square off New Year’s Eve in the Chick- 

Fil-A Peach Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal. It will be just 

the second ever meeting between these two storied programs. 

The Bulldogs beat the Buckeyes 21-14 on New Year’s Day 1993 in 

the Florida Citrus Bowl. 

Both Georgia and Ohio State have held the No. 1 ranking at 

times this year. These are two exceptionally talented teams, led 

by veteran quarterbacks C.J. Stroud at Ohio State and Stetson 

Bennett at Georgia, both Heisman Trophy finalists. There are a 

plethora of All-American, All-Conference and future National 

Football League draft choices who will suit up on New Year’s 

Eve. And you can bet, with the stakes so high for these dynamic 

teams and loyal and passionate fan bases, the atmosphere 

promises to be epic. 

This is the most highly anticipated game of the season. 

Since the College Football Playoff began in 2014, Ohio State 

has been a regular in the field, headlined by capturing that 2014 

national championship with victories over Alabama in the Sugar 

Bowl and then Oregon in the title game. This will be the Buckeyes 

fifth playoff appearance, behind only Alabama’s seven and 

Clemson’s six. 

Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day, in his fourth season at the helm 

in Columbus, has carried on Ohio State’s tremendous success. 

This year’s team is 11-1, losing only to Michigan in the regular 

season finale. His first team in 2019 won the Big Ten title, then 

lost to Clemson in the semifinal. The Buckeyes of 2020 advanced 

to the national title game, falling to Alabama. A year ago, Ohio 

State went 11-2 and won the Rose Bowl. Now they are back in 

the CFP for the third time in Day’s tenure. 

Reigning national champion Georgia is in the playoff for the 

third time in the last six seasons under the watch of head coach 

Kirby Smart. Georgia rolls into the battle with the Buckeyes with 

a 13-0 record, defeating LSU in the Southeastern Conference 

Championship Game on December 3rd. The Bulldogs, who 

have won 31 of the last 32 games, will be making their third 

appearance in Mercedes Benz-Stadium this season. Smart’s Dogs 

opened the campaign with a 49-3 victory over Oregon in Atlanta, 

and then beat the Bayou Bengals 50-30 for the SEC crown. 

A standout All-SEC safety, Smart has led his beloved alma mater 

to an unprecedented era of success. The Chick-Fil-A Peach is 

Georgia’s sixth straight major bowl game, and no matter what 

happens the rest of the way, the Bulldogs assured a sixth straight 

top ten national finish. 

The ultimate goal is, of course, the national title. Around 

midnight, when the calendar turns, that dream will still be alive 

for one of these teams. 

Big Ten champion Michigan, 13-0 on the year, takes on 12-1 

TCU in the Fiesta Bowl in the other semifinal. The winners will 

advance to the National Championship Game on January 9 at 

SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. 


SPORTS 

FOOTBALL 

BULLDOGS TO WATCH 

BY: COBY SERINA 

KIRBY SMART (HEAD COACH) - Kirby Smart is on a tear, and 

he’s not resting until he’s on the stage come January 9 in Los Angeles. 

Immediately after winning the SEC Championship title, he was back 

on the recruiting trail flying across the country to close the deal with 

various high school seniors. Once he touches back down in Athens, it’s 

straight back to choppin’ wood because out of the three teams Georgia 

could have faced in the CFP Semi-Final, Ohio State is arguably the most 

daunting. Kirby and his crew will need to take out all the stops to put a 

lid on C.J. Stroud and the Buckeye offense. Expect it to be an emotional 

night as Smart looks to extend what has already been a historic season. 

KIRBY SMART 

HEAD COACH 

PHOTO BY: GREG POOLE 

BROCK BOWERS 

TIGHT END 


STETSON BENNETT (QB #13) - Immediately after beating LSU 

in the SEC Championship, Stetson Bennett told the media that the 

national championship was the next goal. Ohio State is just an obstacle 

to that goal, a really tough obstacle at that. But Bennett has the Benz 

advantage over the Buckeyes. He’s thrown 48 for 60 for 642 yards and 

is responsible for seven touchdowns in his two games there this year. 

Bennett had his fair share of haters, but there’s not much that can be 

said about that kind of production. Georgia’s favorite super senior is 

primed and set to drop the ball in Atlanta on New Year’s Eve. 

BROCK BOWERS (TE #19) - Brock Bowers is the most electric 

player on the Georgia offense. Point, blank, period. Admittedly Bowers 

has been on and off throughout the season, but when he’s on, he’s on. 

The Mackey Award winning tight end has had two games with over 120 

receiving yards. Against LSU in the SEC title game he caught 6 passes 

for 81 yards and a touchdown. That’s the Brock Bowers that the Dawgs 

are going to need to keep up with Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and Marvin 

Harrison. This one could end up being a shootout, and if it is Bowers 

better be ready for his name to be called. 

LADD MCCONKEY (WR #84) - There was some worry 

surrounding Ladd McConkey’s health after he was pulled from the 

SEC Championship game, but that move seemed more precautionary 

than out of actual necessity. The third-year wideout should be fine by 

the time New Year’s Eve. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken will be 

counting on it. McConkey is a key cog in Georgia’s offensive machine. 

His versatility in the pass and ground game gives Monken options 

that they wouldn’t have otherwise. McConkey’s averages of 13.2 yards 

per catch and 20 per carry will be essential when the Dawgs face the 

Buckeyes in the Benz. 

JALEN CARTER (DL #88) - Two words describe Jalen Carter’s 

impact: difference maker. He and CJ Stroud should be well-acquainted 

on game day, but by no means will they be friends. In his limited time 

Carter has amassed three sacks, the most impressive of which came 

against LSU when Carter slipped into the backfield and lifted his victim 

up with just one arm. Now that kind of display isn’t guaranteed, but 

if money is on the line, betting on a projected top-5 NFL Draft pick in 

Jalen Carter, isn’t a bad bet. 

LADD MCCONKEY 

WIDE RECEIVER 


CHRIS SMITH (DB #29) - A lot of times the linebacker is referred 

to as the “quarterback of the defense,” but at Georgia that leadership 

role falls upon the shoulders of fifth-year senior Chris Smith. They say 

big players make big plays in big moments and that’s just how Smith 

played against LSU. In the SEC title game he ran a blocked field goal 

back 96 yards for a touchdown, caught an interception and made 

multiple tackles.. The Dawgs will obviously need Smith to bring this 

production into the Peach Bowl, and there’s no reason to doubt that 

he will. Chris Smith is the cornerstone of the 2022 Georgia defense. The 

world will be reminded of that come New Year’s Eve. 

BY JEFF DANTZLER 

When Georgia defeated the Buckeyes 21-14 on New 

Year’s Day 1993 to win the Florida Citrus Bowl, All- 

American tailback Garrison Hearst scored two TDs 

and was the MVP of the game.. 

Georgia defeated the University of Cincinnati 

Bearcats 24-21 in the Chick-Fil-A Peach on New 

Year’s Day 2021, with Jack Podlesny hitting the goahead 

field goal in the closing seconds. 

In Kirby Smart’s final game as a player for Georgia, 

the Bulldogs defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 35-33 

in the Peach Bowl, rallying back from a 21-0 first 

half deficit. 


RISE TO THE 

CHALLENGE 

SATURDAY, FEB. 18, 2023 

The Southeast Georgia Health System Foundation Bridge Run across the scenic 

Sidney Lanier Bridge in Brunswick, Georgia, has been certified by the U.S. Track 

and Field Association as “the toughest 5K in Georgia.” 

The Bridge Run also includes a walk and a family-friendly festival, 

featuring vendors, food and drinks, entertainment and children’s activities. 

Proceeds benefit the Health System’s cancer and cardiac care programs. 

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SPORTS 

FOOTBALL 

BUCKEYES TO WATCH 

BY: CLAY WATKINS 

RYAN DAY (HC) - Day is in his fourth season coaching the 

Buckeyes. In his time in charge, Day has managed to put together 

an impressive 42-5 record. Despite having one of the best head 

coaching records in college football, Day has received serious criticism 

questioning whether Ohio State’s recent success is due to “being born 

on third base” having inherited a successful program that was rebuilt 

by Urban Meyer. Regardless, Day is in charge of a top-4 team with 

one of most prolific offenses in the nation. His Buckeyes look to derail 

Georgia’s perfect season come New Year’s Eve. 

RYAN DAY 

HEAD COACH 

PHOTO BY: OHIO STATE ATHLETICS 

C.J. STROUD (QB #7) - Stroud has put together another 

outstanding campaign throwing for 3,340 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 6 

interceptions. Stroud possesses a cannon of an arm and for the second 

straight year was a Heisman trophy finalist. The quarterback is looking 

to avenge a difficult loss to their archrival, the Michigan Wolverines, and 

will look to salvage Ohio State’s season by taking down the top ranked 

Dawgs. 

MARVIN HARRISON JR. (WR #18) - Marvin Harrison has 

patiently waited his turn in the best receiving room in the country. After 

a phenomenal Rose Bowl performance on New Year’s Day this past 

January, Harrison has stepped up as Stroud’s number one target. The 

talented receiver has 72 receptions for 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

Slowing down the Buckeyes’ offense will start with limiting Harrison’s 

touches. 

MARVIN HARRISON JR. 

WIDE RECEIVER 


LATHAN RANSOM 

SAFETY 


EMEKA EGBUKA (WR #2) - Egbuka is another uber-talented 

player in that Ohio State receiving room. The sophomore receiver is just 

behind Harrison in his production with 66 receptions for 1,039 yards 

and 9 touchdowns. The former 5-star recruit from Washington has elite 

body control with the ability to make contested catches with ease. He 

also possesses break-away speed. Georgia’s secondary will have their 

hands full preventing explosive plays from Egbuka. 

TYLER EICHENBERG (LB #35) - Eichenberg is the heartbeat of 

the Ohio State defense. The linebacker has racked up 112 tackles this 

season and played against Michigan with multiple broken bones in 

both his hands. Despite being regarded as one of the best linebackers 

in the nation, Eichenberg was not named as a finalist for the Butkus 

Award – given to the nation’s best linebacker. Eichenberg looks to 

prove the voters wrong by leading a talented Buckeyes’ defense to a 

national championship. 

LATHAN RANSOM (S #12) - The junior safety from Tucson, Arizona 

is putting together an impressive season where he has accumulated 65 

total tackles. Ransom is a physical defensive back that is not afraid to 

come down in the box and hit opposing players. He is instinctual and 

can fit various defensive schemes. Todd Monken will certainly be aware 

of where Ransom lines up in the secondary as Georgia looks to create 

explosive plays down the field. 


The Greatest Golfer of all time, “The Golden Bear” 

Jack Nicklaus won the 1961 NCAA championship for 

Ohio State, and went on to capture an astounding 18 

professional majors. 

Legendary track and field star Jesse Owens won eight 

individual NCAA titles at Ohio State, and then went on 

to remarkably capture four gold medals at the 1936 

Berlin Olympic Games. 

The only player to win two Heisman Trophies, Ohio 

State All-American tailback Archie Griffin captured 

the award in 1974 and 1975, and was the first player to 

start in four Rose Bowls. 


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FIVE KEYS 

FOR A DAWGS VICTORY 

TURNOVERS - Georgia has been up and down with turnovers this season. Like any 

team, when the Bulldogs have won the turnover battle, the nation’s top-ranked team 

1has been tough to beat. When the Dogs have struggled with turnovers, they have been 

vulnerable. The Missouri game certainly comes to mind. If a team goes plus-two, it figures 

to make the difference in who wins. In the Bulldogs previous two games at Mercedes-Benz 

Stadium this season, Georgia won the turnover battle against Oregon in the season-opening 

49-3 victory over the Duck, and in the 50-30 SEC Championship Game triumph over LSU. 

PRESSURE STROUD - The Buckeyes strong-armed quarterback CJ Stroud has all the 

talent and accolades. Much like Bryce Young of Alabama a season ago, this will be one of the 

2best quarterbacks the Bulldogs have ever faced. The Buckeyes team captain leads the nation 

in touchdown passes and passing efficiency. He has a fleet corps of receivers who make teams pay 

for their miscues. Georgia must make him uncomfortable, and force the issue with Stroud. If he has 

a lot of time to throw, then Georgia, as any team could be, is in big trouble. 

DON’T GET BEAT DEEP - You know the names of the quarterbacks, receivers and 

connections that have dealt the Bulldogs heartbreak through the years in games of this 

3magnitude. For so many, it started with Dan Mario and Pittsburgh. In the heartbreakers of 

heartbreakers, too often through the years, Georgia has given up the critical big scoring pass. That 

was not the case in the National Championship Game last season against Alabama, as the Bulldogs 

Kelee Ringo returned an interception for a touchdown in Georgia’s famed 33-18 victory over the 

Crimson Tide. Keep those Buckeyes in front. Georgia has been very good at making it difficult for 

teams to put up points this year. 

4 

MAXIMIZE POSSESSIONS - Ohio State can run it and throw it. The Buckeyes score, 

and they have athletes who make the game-changing plays on defense and teams. They 

score. Georgia is going to have to put up points. Likely 28 at a minimum, even with the 

Bulldogs’ great defense. Getting the ball to the top and most feared players, with excellent play 

up front, is where it all begins. In the SEC Championship Game, Stetson Bennett was finding 

Brock Bowers, Darnell Washington and Ladd McConkey. Then the run game truly shined. Move 

those chains, and capitalize. It’s going to take touchdowns, but if they aren’t there, it’s a must to 

get three points. 

COUNTERPUNCH - Just as the Bulldogs did while running the gauntlet of the 

Southeastern Conference, when Ohio State makes big plays and gets on the scoreboard, it’s 

5vital to answer back and turn the tables. Georgia did a tremendous job of striking back in the 

SEC Championship Game, most notably with a first half scoring drive after LSU had tied the game 

at 7-7, and in Jacksonville after Florida had drawn within 28-20. Emotions will be running high and 

the Mercedes Benz Stadium will be rocking. The Bulldogs are going to take a lot of big shots from 

the Buckeyes. Answer, call-and-raise, capitalize. 

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THE DAWG BONES 

GEORGIA VS OHIO STATE 

BY CLAY WATKINS 

CLOSE OUT 2022 WITH 

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DAWG BONES OFFENSE: EVEN 

This is a compelling matchup of potent offenses that operate in 

numerous different ways. Ohio State relies on their dynamic wide 

receivers to stretch the field and create explosive plays. Georgia likes 

to establish the run game in order to open up their passing offense 

through tight end involvement. In 2022, Georgia is averaging 491 total 

yards per game compared to Ohio State’s 492 total yards per game. Ohio 

State averages more yards passing while Georgia averages more yards 

rushing. Whichever team is able to best execute its offense in the red 

zone will have the edge. 

DAWG BONES DEFENSE: GEORGIA 

The Dawgs’ defense is only allowing an average of 12 points per game 

compared to Ohio State’s defense which allows an average of 19 

points per game. Georgia is extremely physical up front with excellent 

linebacker and safety play. Ohio State’s defense is vastly improved from 

last year’s underperforming unit. This is due in large part to the work 

of highly respected, first-year defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Ohio 

State’s defense was exposed against Michigan giving up numerous 

explosive plays through the air and on the ground. 

DAWG BONES SPECIAL TEAMS: GEORGIA 

An underrated piece of college football dominance is special teams play. 

Jack Podlesny recently was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year. 

He has converted 23/26 field goal attempts on the season while making 

all of his extra points. Brett Thorson (named to SEC Freshman Team) has 

also proven to be a weapon as a punter averaging 45 yards a punt with 

a long of 75. Ohio State’s Noah Ruggles is having a great season as well, 

having converted 15/17 field goal attempts. Jesse Mirco, the Buckeyes’ 

punter, has almost identical statistics to fellow Aussie Brett Thorson, as 

he is also averaging 45 yards per punt with a long of 77. Pod’s experience 

and his impressive prior performances in Mercedes Benz Stadium gives 

the Dawgs the edge. 

DAWG BONES COACHING: GEORGIA 

Coach Smart has put together another outstanding campaign as 

Georgia’s lead man, which rightfully garnered him SEC Coach of the Year. 

Despite losing 15 players to the NFL and some to the transfer portal, 

Coach Smart has relied on a healthy level of experience and plenty of 

youth to fill the void left by last year’s championship team. Coach Day 

would probably be the first to tell you that this season did not go as 

planned for the Buckeyes. Despite starting the season 11-0, the Buckeyes 

failed its biggest test against Michigan. Day will have his team ready, but 

the coaching edge belongs to the Dawgs. 

DAWG BONES OVERALL: GEORGIA 

The Dawgs have shown throughout the 2022 season that they are the 

most complete team in the nation. They have demonstrated their ability 

to win games through the air and on the ground while also imposing 

their will on the defensive side of the ball. Ohio State comes into this 

game looking to prove to college football that, despite not playing in 

a conference championship game, they are worthy of competing for a 

national championship. Ohio State certainly has the talent and ability to 

win this football game, but simply put it’s Georgia’s game to lose. 


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A VIEW OF THE CFP-SEMI PEACH BOWL... 

My old friend Mark Schlabach offers his insights into the Georgia-Ohio State battle in the Chick-Fil-A 

Peach Bowl. Mark is an award-winning senior writer for ESPN and the author of dozens of books. He is a 

star. Mark and his wife Heather, both Georgia graduates are the parents of three children: Carolina and 

Jane, both of attend Georgia, and avid Bulldog fan Jack, an eighth grader. 

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON OHIO 

STATE? 

I think they’re one of the three or four most 

talented teams in the country, along with Georgia, 

Alabama and USC. I was surprised by how Michigan 

completely ran past the Buckeyes in the Horseshoe. 

I thought Ohio State’s defense had made dramatic 

improvements under new coordinator Jim 

Knowles, who did terrific work in his previous stop 

at Oklahoma State. But Michigan’s receivers were 

running free, and the Wolverines made about four 

big plays to break the game open. Ohio State’s 

offense is explosive, and it will be better if tailbacks 

Miyan Williams and TreVeon Henderson are healthy. 

CJ Stroud is good but Georgia’s defense can rattle 

him like Michigan did. 

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON GEORGIA? 

I don’t think Kirby Smart is getting enough 

credit for the reloading job he and his staff put 

together this year. I think it’s gotten to the point 

where it’s maybe expected at Georgia, kind of 

like it is with Nick Saban at Alabama and Dabo 

Swinney at Clemson when the Tigers were rolling. 

But to replace 15 NFL draft picks, including five 

first-rounders on defense, as well as defensive 

coordinator Dan Lanning isn’t easy. Georgia’s 

offense is better than it was last year, even without 

some injured receivers. The Bulldogs didn’t look 

great in a few games like Kent State, Mississippi 

State and Kentucky, but they rose for the games 

that mattered. 

WHAT DO THE BUCKEYES NEED TO 

DO TO WIN? 

I think Ohio State will try to have some balance on 

offense, but it’s going to come down to Stroud’s 

ability to find receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka 

Egbuka and Julian Fleming. The Bulldogs caught 

a big break in that Jaxon Smith-Njigba won’t play 

in the game. He’s probably OSU’s most explosive 

receiver, but missed pretty much the entire season 

because of a bad hamstring injury. He’s skipping 

the College Football Playoff and is starting to 

prepare for the NFL draft. Harrison is going to be 

a tough matchup for Georgia cornerback Kelee 

Ringo, who has made some big plays but also 

struggled with his consistency. 

WHAT DOES GEORGIA NEED TO DO 

TO WIN? 

Georgia needs to run the ball and open up the 

play-action passing game. OSU had some big 

breakdowns in the secondary against Michigan. 

Georgia can hit some vertical plays, especially 

if Arian Smith and AD Mitchell are healthy. I 

don’t think people who aren’t that familiar with 

Georgia’s program have given Stetson Bennett IV 

enough credit for his production, given how thin 

the receiver corps was this season. If Georgia can 

get Kenny McIntosh and Kendall Milton going, 

Bennett’s job will be easier. 

WHO WINS MICHIGAN-TCU? 

I love the TCU story. Sonny Dykes is one of the 

best guys in the coaching profession. I’m glad he 

found success at TCU after struggling at Cal. That 

just wasn’t a good fit. I was very impressed with 

Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan in the Big 

12 championship game, even though his team 

lost. I’m not sure there’s a tougher player in the 

country this season. He runs like Tim Tebow and 

throws better than him. That being said, I think 

Michigan probably has too much of an advantage 

on the line of scrimmage. The Horned Frogs 

struggled in short-yardage situations against 

Kansas State, and it won’t be any easier against 

the Wolverines. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh 

also deserves a ton of credit for replacing his best 

players and defensive coordinator. 

December is so chaotic, are we going to get a 

more workable “timeline” for signing day(s), portal, 

declaring for the NFL, etc. any time soon? 

I sure hope so. It was a hectic week going from 

the CFP and bowl game announcements right 

into the transfer portal. The transfer portal is 

already a broken system. It isn’t working like it 

was intended to be. There were more than 1,000 

players enter the portal in the first 48 hours. I’ll 

guess that 65% of them won’t find new homes. 

The 45-day window to find new teams is too long 

and puts too much pressure on coaches. I couldn’t 

imagine trying to manage an 85-man roster right 

now. When you look at the number of players 

who entered the portal from the same teams, and 

I’m talking about schools like Arkansas, Florida, 

Maryland and Texas A&M, there seems to be some 

weeding-out going on as well. I don’t think many 

of those players went into the portal by choice. 

WHAT IS THE FINAL SCORE IN 

ATLANTA? 

Georgia 34, Ohio State 24. See you in Los Angeles. 

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ulldawg Bucket List 

Mimi Culpepper and Sara Hughes on the Spike Squad 

Almost five years ago, my best friend, Sara Hughes, 

started an unexpected battle against cancer. She was 

diagnosed with metastasized lung cancer that had 

spread to her pelvis. Spring of 2018, Sara was admitted 

to M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas and underwent a full 

reconstruction of her pelvis. This is where the Bulldawg Bucketlist 

was created. Sara spent the summer of 2018 learning to walk 

again in hopes of achieving her goal of walking into Sanford 

Stadium unassisted on opening day of the Georgia football 

season. She fiercely tackled this goal remarking, “I did it proudly 

and confidently but if I was completely honest when I achieved 

that goal, I knew it was time for a bigger goal.” She overcame any 

obstacle in her way and fulfilled her second and bigger goal of 

making it to every home game of the 2018 season. Two items on 

the Bulldawg Bucket-list had officially been checked off. 

Flash forward to the 2021 Georgia Football season, Kirby asked 

the fans to be “ELITE,” and Sara rose to the occasion by not letting 

her cancer interfere with her love for Georgia football. Consistent 

with her fighting attitude she stated “Everytime cancer tries to 

make a comeback and score, I’ve put my helmet and pads on and 

headed back on the field to work on the winning game plan.” 

College Gameday was coming to Athens for the Arkansas game, 

and Sara set a new goal. She asked me to help her make this 

dream come true, and I was all in. We stayed up late Thursday night 

making signs and posted them all over social media trying to get 

the College Gameday hosts’ attention. David Pollack got word of 

Sara’s story and contacted her inviting her to meet him at College 

Gameday. The morning of the game we were up with our signs 

at Meyers Quad at 5:45 a.m. Before sunrise the cloudy morning 

and red stadium lights created an eerie red fog over Meyers Quad 

that only intensified our excitement for the day. A crowd started 

forming around someone making their way to us. David Pollack 

walked out of the crowd and straight to Sara introducing himself. 

We were speechless to say the least. Sara gave Pollack one of her 

SaraSmile bracelets that he still wears to this day. We took a quick 

picture with David Pollack, and another Bulldawg Bucket-list item 

was checked off. 

BY: MIMI CULPEPPER 

Sara Hughes’ 

Bulldawg 

Bucket List 

When the Dawgs secured a spot in the National Championship 

game, Sara knew she had to be there. Going to the Natty was 

enough for her, but she was overjoyed when the team, “… went 

above and beyond to secure a win.” The National Championship 

game was a great way to end the unforgettable season for Sara. 

Sara mentioned to me at the beginning of this 2022 season 

that she wanted to add being a member of the Spike Squad to 

her Bulldawg Bucket-list. Sara has been hit with a few setbacks 

since the beginning of the season. She related to our starting 

quarterback stating, “Stetson, I know what it’s like to throw an 

interception and feel defeated. I also know what it’s like to have 

your team rally around you and believe in you like your teammates 

believed in you [last] season.” Sara’s team rallied to make this 

remarkable experience possible. When I told Sara we were going 

to be in the Spike Squad for the Georgia Tech game, I thought I 

would never see her smile bigger than she did in that moment. 

I was proved wrong on Saturday when I saw the smile on Sara’s 

face as she was watching the Dawgs run out of the tunnel with 

her spike pads on. Our amazing host and member of the Spike 

Squad, Emmeline West, took us through a full day of being part 

of the Spike Squad. The whole squad was so welcoming and 

accommodating to Sara and me. They helped us paint up, taught 

us the Spike Squad traditions, celebrated with us, and kept 

mentioning how appreciative they were to have us there. Towards 

the end of the first half of the game Sara looked at me with that 

bigger than life smile, and I knew this Bulldawg Bucket-list item 

had amounted to more than she could have ever imagined. 

This memorable game would not have been possible without 

the incredible members of the Spike Squad. The Squad is trying 

to raise money to send members to away games. Please donate 

generously to their foundation because they deserve the world 

after the amazing day they created for Sara and me. 

www.spikesquadboosterclub.org 

Sara Hughes, David Pollack and Mimi 

Culpepper at ESPN Gameday 

Emmeline West and Mimi 

Culpepper on the Spike Squad

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PROUST 

Q&A 

BY: CAROLINE CHAMPION 

QUOTE TO LIVE BY: 

Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can do what 

others can’t. -Jerry Rice 

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS? 

MALCOLM MITCHELL 

NAME: Malcolm Mitchell 

FAMILY: Jasmine and Oakley 

HOMETOWN: Valdosta, Georgia 

CURRENT TOWN: Atlanta, Georgia 

WHAT YEARS AT UGA: 2011-2015 

SCHOOL/DEGREE: Bachelors in Communication Studies 

PROFESSION: Author, Founder/CEO of Share the Magic 

Foundation, Super Bowl Champion. 

ACCOLADES: Super Bowl champion, Georgia Author of the 

Year (x2), American Promise Award Recipient, UGA 40 under 40, 

Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 under 40, National Allstate Good 

Works Team Captain, SCLC President’s Award Recipient. 

WHAT LIFE LESSONS DID YOU LEARN WHILE AT UGA? 

Through access and exposure to information ones scope of 

understanding is widened drastically. If I can see more, I can 

believe more. If I can believe more, I can achieve more. 

WHAT PROFESSOR DID YOU MOST ADMIRE? 

Mark Richt, Head Coach. Coach Richt was able to forego popular 

opinion and focus intently on developing well-rounded men not 

just athletes. That approach had a great impact on my life. 

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST 

ACHIEVEMENT? 

Finding comfort in the unknown. 

WHICH HISTORICAL FIGURE DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY 

WITH? 

Kobe Bryant. His approach to life was simple: Be my absolute best 

in everything that I do or attempt to do. 

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE? 

My mom, Pratina Mitchell. Her sacrifice is admirable and I hope to 

replicate her faith and work ethic. 

Complete acceptance of what I’ve gone through, where I 

currently am, and where I hope to be in the future. 

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST 

ACHIEVEMENT? 

Oakley Grand Mitchell- my son. 

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MARKED CHARACTERISTIC? 

Curiosity. 

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS? 

Transparency. 

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT 

YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

I think growing up with a father would have helped me better 

understand that men can cry too. I believe that would’ve made 

me more empathetic. 

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE WRITERS? 

Kurt Vonnegut because of his whimsical delivery on catastrophic 

topics. Langston Hughes because of his ability to capture his 

feelings in the moment and distribute them in a way they last 

forever. 

FAVE SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHO TO FOLLOW? 

I’m not a huge fan of social media. 


BOWL BONANZA PG. 54 | THE HAMMYS PG. 56 | HOOPS PREVIEW PG. 58 

MORE 

SPORTS 

AN EPIC AND DESERVED HONOR FOR STETSON BENNETT AND HIS FELLOW HEISMAN TROPHY FINALISTS, 

MAX DUGGAN, C.J. STROUD, CALEB WILLIAMS 



STETSON BENNETT IV 

2022 HEISMAN 

LUKE BENNETT, OLIVIA BENNETT, DENISE BENNETT, 

STETSON BENNETT IV, STETSON BENNETT III, KNOX BENNETT 

TROPHY FINALIST 

Congrats No. 13 and thanks for always 

bringing glory to ol’ Georgia! 

BY: LORAN SMITH 

KIRBY SMART, 

STETSON BENNETT 

STETSON BENNETT III WITH 

COUSIN AMY ARMSTRONG 

STETSON BENNETT III, 

STETSON BENNETT IV, 

LELAND BARROW 

MATT LEINART, 


STETSON BENNETT, MAX DUGGAN, C.J. STROUD, 

CALEB WILLIAMS 

PHOTOS BY: GEORGIA FOOTBALL INSTAGRAM, 

HEISMAN TRUST, JOHN PARKER, ROB SAYE 

New York – Stetson 

Bennett has been 

upsetting apple 

carts and breaking 

icons throughout his athletic 

career. That was foremost in my 

thoughts as I arrived at the press 

headquarters at the Marriott 

Marquis last Saturday. I was aware 

of the odds against him winning 

the prestigious Heisman trophy 

but was also aware that the odds 

were against him. 

Too small, not enough 

accumulation of stats for him to 

win the biggest individual prize 

in college football. The Heisman 

voters are persuaded by cannon 

arms and over the top statistics. 

Stet’s statistics are just not 

fashionable with Heisman voters. 

There is much regional 

influence. Naturally, I was hoping 

that this would be another 

occasion when Stetson would be 

the underdog that prevailed. 

The kid who played games all 

his life behind the pharmacy in 

Blackshear where he grew up, 

the boy, who, when not playing 

games, fished the Satilla River, a 

real swamp rat who forever had 

Georgia on his mind. He is one 

who preferred to drive a dusty 

pickup truck, with trash askew on 

the console and in the back of the 

truck. Mud on the fenders of his 

trusty companion. 

However, on the football field, 

he was as tidy and buttoned up 

as one could expect when it came 

to quarterback play. Whenever 

there was a breakdown in the 

swamp, Stet IV could jerry rig 

and keep going. It was the same 

on the football field. He could 

improvise, turn a broken play into 

a touchdown. That does not show 

up on a stat sheet. 

Everything he did growing up 

enhanced hand eye coordination. 

He developed quick feet, the 

better to hop out of a tackler’s 

grasp, make a lineman twice his 

size endure frustration and biting 

the dust more often than not. 

That he got to New York, that 

he was a finalist is something 

that should be accompanied by 

generous high fives. You can’t 

blame the Heisman voters. His 

own constituency was slow to 

embrace him. 

Caleb Williams, whom Georgia 

recruited hard, may go on to NFL 

greatness which is not forecast 

for Stetson although none other 

than Georgia’s Fran Tarkenton 

has gone on record saying that 

he believes Stetson can play 

on Sunday. “He can do what 

quarterbacks must do and that is 

to make plays,” Tarkenton says. 

What if the NFL doesn’t work 

out? Well, I see Stetson being the 

toast of the state. One can only 

imagine what his life would be 

like if he affiliates with a sales and 

marketing career. He won’t need 

to print business cards. Perhaps, 

he might consider a coaching 

career. A lot of quarterbacks 

make good coaches. Stetson is 

creative, inventive, and blessed 

with good communication skills. 

Above all, he has patience 

and humility. He grew up where 

the work ethic was as revered 

as catfish and hushpuppies on 

a Saturday night with country 

music forming a compatible 

atmosphere. 

When Peyton Manning, the 

favorite, did not win the Heisman 

in 1997, he returned home from 

New York and told his family that 

the Heisman Trophy discussion 

was over. He chose not to dwell 


in the past, to avoid carping about 

something he had no control over— 

but to look ahead. Look at Peyton 

now. 

Not sure what Stetson’s future 

will be, but the unfinished business 

in his life is far more important than 

winning the Heisman trophy. If he 

can lead his team to another national 

championship that would be more 

valuable than a dozen Heisman 

trophies. 

There are a couple of things 

to remember about Stetson. He 

is unflappable. He has a defining 

equanimity in his makeup. He is not 

troubled by criticism and before 

we chide the Heisman voters, let’s 

remember that his own fan base was 

entrenched with doubting Thomases. 

Fans in another era when baseball 

was our national pastime, preferred 

the hitting prowess of Babe Ruth over 

the genius of Ty Cobb who could beat 

you in more ways that any man who 

ever played the game. That has a lot to 

do with him becoming the first player 

elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame. 

Let’s not lose sight of how big it 

was for Stet to become a finalist. That 

had Georgia on the national stage 

during a peak recruiting time. After 

all, Stetson has always been keen on 

bringing glory to ol’ Georgia. Selah! 

ROB SAYE, STETSON BENNETT 

HOLLY ROWE, 


LORAN SMITH 

STETSON BENNETT, MAX DUGGAN, C.J. STROUD, 

CALEB WILLIAMS 

Ring in the New Year with a 

and BUST 

THE BUCKEYES! 

athens • watkinsville • auburn • lawrenceville 


JEFF DANTZLER’S 

BOWL BONANZA 

BONUS BLITZ 

LAS VEGAS BOWL 

December 17 - 2:30 P.M. 

FLORIDA VS. OREGON 

STATE 

Las Vegas 

ESPN 

It is the first year of the Billy Napier era in 

Gainesville, and the Gators are bound for Sin 

City with a 6-6 record, 3-5 in the Southeastern 

Conference. Florida needs a win to avoid a 

second straight losing season, and losing 

record in four of the previous ten years. 

Last season, Florida went 6-7, and 2-6 in 

the league. That’s a 5-11 conference record 

the last two seasons. The Gators are always 

talented, and their fans certainly feel they 

should have won at least eight or nine games. 

Motivation will be a big question mark for this 

one. Oregon State heads in with a record of 

9-3. Their losses came to Southern Cal, Utah 

and Washington, two of those by a field goal. 

The Beavers would love to get to 10-3 and 

knock off a big name SEC foe. 

GASPARILLA BOWL 


MISSOURI VS. WAKE 

FOREST 

Tampa, Florida 

ESPN 

Eli Drinkwitz’s Tigers got to 6-6 and bowl 

eligible with a thrilling 29-27 win over 

Arkansas in the regular season finale. Missouri 

has played in a lot of close games. Four of 

the Tigers five losses came by seven or fewer 

points, including the near miss upset attempt 

in Columbia, where Georgia pulled out a 26- 

22 win on October 1. Mizzou is attempting to 

maximize touches for highly touted freshman 

do everything receiver Luther Burden, a big 

play maker and the Tigers most high profile 

recruiting pickup arguably since they joined 

the SEC in 2012. Wake Forest checks in at 

7-5, but what stings is losing four of the last 

five, including a two-point heartbreaker to 

North Carolina and three point setback at 

Duke. Sam Hartman has broken a lot of Riley 

Skinner’s passing records in Winston Salem. 

CAMELLIA BOWL 

December 27, NOON 

GEORGIA SOUTHERN VS. BUFFALO 

Montgomery, Alabama 

ESPN 

The Eagles had their share of ups and downs 

this season, like a vast majority of teams 

across the country. The highs were mighty 

high, including a thrilling 45-42 victory 

at Nebraska (if someone would have told 

you 40 years that would happen someday, 

it would not have been believable), and a 

51-48 topping of Appalachian State to get 

the berth in Mobile. Jared Benko, a Georgia 

graduate, is an outstanding young athletic 

director, and there are high hopes with head 

football coach Clay Helton. A bowl win over 

Buffalo would be a big lift. The Bulls started 

the season 0-3, won five in a row, then lost 

three straight. A 23-22 victory over Akron got 

Buffalo to the bowl eligibility win total. 

LIBERTY BOWL 


ARKANSAS VS. KANSAS 

Memphis, Tennessee 

ESPN 

Like so many teams in the SEC, the Razorbacks 

are thinking “what if?” That line between 

8-4 and 10-2, and 8-4 and 6-6 is so thin. The 

Razorbacks lost three games by two points 

and one game by three points. Arkansas 

deserves credit for playing a really tough non 

conference schedule, including Cincinnati, 

BYU and Liberty, which upset the Hogs 21-19. 

Arkansas got SEC wins over South Carolina, 

Auburn and Ole Miss. Kansas has been one 

of college football’s worst programs. A 5-0 

start got the Jayhawks a lot of notoriety, but 

they lost six of their last seven. Sam Pittman is 

an excellent motivator, and the Liberty Bowl 

in Memphis figures to be packed out with 

Arkansas fans “calling the Hogs.” 

TEXAS BOWL 

December 28 - 9 P.M. 

OLE MISS VS. TEXAS 

TECH 

Houston 

ESPN 

This is another “what could have been” team 

in the SEC. The Rebels were in contention 

to win the SEC West, and had a golden 

opportunity to take down Alabama. But they 

didn’t. After that heartbreaker, the Rebels 

got smoked at Arkansas and lost the Egg 

Bowl 24-22 to Mississippi State, falling to 8-4. 

That game is almost always one of the most 

exciting of the season. Auburn reportedly 

made advances for Lane Kiffin, but he’s still 

at the helm in Oxford. The Red Raiders are 

coming in hot, winners of three straight, 

including a 51-48 victory over Oklahoma in 

Lubbock. Last season, Texas Tech smoked 

Mississippi State 34-7 in the Liberty Bowl, 

now Ole Miss is the target. 

CHEEZ-IT BOWL 


FLORIDA STATE VS. 

OKLAHOMA 

Orlando, Florida 

ESPN 

These two programs have produced a lot 

of hardware through the years and squared 

off in some big time games, most notably, 

three Orange Bowls. All won by the Sooners, 

including the 18-17 classic on 1/1/81 (a very 

special day), and the 13-2 game on 1/3/2001 

which delivered Bob Stoops and Josh Heupelled 

Oklahoma the national title. FSU won the 

first meeting in the 1965 Gator Bowl, with 

the Sooners taking the last six. Florida State 

is trending up under Mike Norvell’s watch. 

The ‘Noles won their five, lost three in a row, 

then won four straight. They bookended the 

campaign with wins over LSU and Florida. 

Not bad. The Sooners, since that great Stoops 

team in 2000, have been one of college 

football’s giants. They are 6-6 though, and 

there are questions in Year One of the Brent 

Venables era. 

ALAMO BOWL 


TEXAS VS. 

WASHINGTON 

San Antonio, Texas 

ESPN 

Very quietly, Washington, which has the 

second best record in the history of the PAC- 

12, put together a 10-2 record. Kalen DeBoer 

has the Husky faithful optimistic. Washington 

won its last six games to post a 10-2 

record, highlighted by wins at Oregon and 

Washington State. There figures to be a high 

interest level for both teams in this one. Steve 

Sarkisian is in his second season in Austin. 

The biggest take away this year was the near 

miss 20-19 loss to Alabama in Week Two. The 

Longhorns are 8-4. They beat Oklahoma and 

Kansas State, and lost all four games by seven 

or fewer points. The Alamo Bowl is usually 

one of the best on the schedule and this year 

should be no exception. 

GATOR BOWL 


SOUTH CAROLINA VS. 

NOTRE DAME 

Jacksonville 

ESPN 

This will be a hot ticket in Jacksonville. There 

is no team in the country that closed the 

regular season with two more impressive 

victories than the Gamecocks, who blew 

away Tennessee and then beat Clemson at 

Death Valley. Both Orange teams’ playoff 

dreams were dashed. Notre Dame started 


0-2, and were 3-3 after a loss to Stanford. 

Then the Fighting Irish caught fire, winning 

five in a row. That included a 35-14 beating 

of Clemson in South Bend. In the regular 

season finale, Notre Dame fell to Southern Cal 

38-27. Shane Beamer is in his second season 

in Columbia, while it is Marcus Freeman’s 

first full campaign for the Irish. He coached 

the Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma State last 

season after Brian Kelly left for Baton Rouge. 

ORANGE BOWL 


TENNESSEE VS. CLEMSON 

Miami Gardens, Florida 

ESPN 

In what might be the orangest Orange 

Bowl ever, Tennessee takes on Clemson in a 

battle of twice-beatens. Oh if it weren’t for 

South Carolina. The Tigers other loss was 

at Notre Dame. The Volunteers other loss 

was at Georgia. Clemson bounced back 

from the heartbreaker to the Gamecocks 

to roll past North Carolina, and amazingly 

win the ACC Championship for the seventh 

time in eight years. Tennessee is without 

injured QB Hendon Hooker, but Joe Milton 

III is very good. Cade Klubnik is the Tigers’ 

quarterback. The freshman has been very 

good. DJ Uiagalelei is in the transfer portal. 

This is a major bowl game with a major bowl 

game too. The Volunteers will travel. The 

Orange and Sugar Bowls were fighting to 

land Tennessee. 

SUGAR BOWL 

December 31 - NOON 

ALABAMA VS. KANSAS 

STATE 

New Orleans 

ESPN 

Playoff posturing from the twice beaten 

Crimson Tide was an eye-roller to a lot of 

college football fans. Not a lot of sympathy 

for a powerhouse that has played in six of 

the last seven national title games and has 

the tremendous 2021 Heisman winner Bryce 

Young at quarterback. Alabama lost a pair of 

heartbreakers at Tennessee and LSU. Both, 

obviously could have gone either way. As a 

side note, Tennessee, like Alabama, is 10-2, and 

beat the Red Elephants. The Tide also pulled 

out tight contests against Texas, Texas A&M 

and Ole Miss, which could have gone either 

way. Kansas State knocked off TCU in the Big 

XII Championship Game. If the Wildcats could 

upset Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, what a close 

to the season that would be. 

MUSIC CITY BOWL 

December 31 - NOON 

IOWA VS. KENTUCKY 

Nashville, Tennessee 

ABC 

Points and possessions will be at a premium 

for this meeting between the Hawkeyes and 

Wildcats. Last season, these two met in the 

Citrus Bowl with Kentucky winning 20-17 to 

finish 10-3. Kentucky beat Florida 26-16 early 

and closed the regular season with a 26-13 

win over Louisville to post a 7-5 record. Iowa 

has infamously struggled mightily offensively 

for much of this season. Six times this season, 

the Hawkeyes have scored 14 or fewer points. 

That includes three games scoring in single 

digits. Iowa lost its regular season finale to 

Nebraska 24-17, and also heads to Music City, 

USA with a 7-5 record. It is a pretty good bet 

that this one will be cold, cloudy and maybe 

wet. Figure on a low scoring defensive battle. 

FIESTA BOWL - CFP 

SEMIFINAL 


MICHIGAN VS. TCU 

Glendale, Arizona 

ESPN 

The winner in suburban Phoenix will play in 

the National Championship Game against 

either Ohio State or Georgia. Jim Harbaugh 

has the Wolverines cooking. They dominated 

the fourth quarter and beat Ohio State for a 

second straight season en route to a second 

consecutive Big Ten Championship. Michigan 

lost some very good talent off last year’s 

Orange Bowl team, but here they are, back 

in the playoff, this time with a perfect 13-0 

record. TCU, under first year coach Sonny 

Dykes, had the dream season and are one 

of the biggest surprises in the history of the 

CFP. The heartbreaking Big XII Championship 

Game loss to Kansas State did nothing 

to derail their playoff hopes. Michigan is 

big, tough and physical. The Horned Frogs 

have found a variety of ways to win, led by 

Heisman finalist quarterback Max Dugan. 

RELIAQUEST BOWL 

January 2 - NOON 

MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. 

ILLINOIS 

Tampa, Florida 

ESPN2 

Mike Leach has the Maroon Bulldog faithful 

feeling right after that thrilling 24-22 Egg 

Bowl win over Ole Miss. Mississippi State is 

8-4 with big play ability and an outstanding 

quarterback Will Rogers. MSU’s losses were in 

Baton Rouge, Lexington and Tuscaloosa and 

then at home to Georgia. Certainly no shame 

there. Illinois is also 8-4, and though there 

is disappointment that the Fighting Illini 

didn’t make it to the Big Ten Championship 

Game after a 7-1 start, the feeling is that Bret 

Bielema has them trending upwards. Three 

straight losses by a combined 15 points 

in November stings, especially the one at 

Michigan. Credit Illinois for coming back at 

closing out the regular season strong with a 

41-3 win at Northwestern. 

CITRUS BOWL 

January 2 - 1 P.M. 

LSU VS. PURDUE 

Orlando, Florida 

ABC 

Brian Kelly is in his first season as LSU’s 

head coach, and he took the Tigers to the 

SEC Championship Game. Not a lot of LSU 

fans predicted that before the season. 

The upset victory over the Crimson Tide 

was the season highlight. LSU was upset 

by Texas A&M in the regular season finale 

and then lost by 20 to Georgia in Atlanta, 

falling to 9-4. It looks like the Tigers found 

their next quarterback there, though, as 

Garrett Nussmeier came in and played 

very well against the Bulldogs after Jayden 

Daniels left the game due to injury. Purdue, 

meanwhile, lost to Michigan in the Big 

Ten Championship Game, and is 8-5. 

The Boilermakers hung around, but the 

Wolverines pulled it out 43-22. Jeff Brohm 

is leaving Purdue to become the head 

coach at his alma mater, Louisville. Purdue 

can throw the football, which gives it a 

puncher’s chance to hang with the more 

gifted Tigers. 

COTTON BOWL 


USC VS. TULANE 

Arlington, Texas 

ESPN 

The Trojans had played themselves into 

playoff position, highlighted by impressive 

victories over rivals UCLA and Notre Dame 

to close out the regular season. USC 

jumped out to a 17-3 lead over Utah in 

the PAC-12 Championship Game, and the 

Trojan faithful were thinking conference 

championship and playoff. But the Utes 

came back and stormed past Southern Cal 

47-24. Utah has handed the Trojans both of 

their losses this season. How interested will 

Linocln Riley’s team be in suburban Dallas 

against the Green Wave. Tulane is also 9-2. 

The champions of the American garnered 

a lot of early attention with a 17-10 victory 

over Kansas State. Tulane avenged one 

of its two losses (the other being 27- 

24 to Southern Miss) in the American 

Championship Game against Southern 

Cal. You can bet that Tulane is excited and 

aiming to post a signature program victory. 

ROSE BOWL 


UTAH VS. PENN STATE 

Pasadena, California 

ESPN 

Kyle Whittingham has done it again. Last 

season, the Utes swept Utah en route to 

Pasadena, now they’ve done it to Southern 

Cal. They lost a shootout to Ohio State in 

last year’s Rose Bowl. This time it is Penn 

State. The Nittany Lions are 10-2, with the 

two losses coming to College Football 

Playoff participants Michigan and Ohio 

State. On the fast track in the “Granddaddy 

of Them All,” there have been numerous 

high-scoring thrillers these last few 

years. Penn State, in fact, dropped one to 

Southern Cal 52-49 on January 2, 2017. 

The winner of this one is a lock to be in the 

top 10. If Utah could beat Penn State to 

win the Rose Bowl after a second straight 

PAC-12 crown, it would be an all time great 

accomplishment for a program that didn’t 

have a lot of accolades prior to the 21st 

century. 


WHAT’S 

THE WORD 

from Our Junior Journalist 

HAMILTON CULPEPPER 

It’s crazy to think, but this will be the eighth annual Hammys, 

my assessment of college football’s best players, moments, 

games, etc. The first Hammys came in 2014 and was my first 

article printed in Bulldawg Illustrated. The opportunity I have 

had to write for Cheri, Vance and the BI team has granted me 

some of the coolest moments in not only my young journalism 

career but my life in general. I wanted to take a few words to 

thank everyone along the way. To my interviewees who take 

time out of their day to talk to me and make my week, thank you; 

to my mentors who have given me countless tips and criticism 

that have only aided my writing, thank you; to my readers who 

continue to support my writing, thank you; and to Cheri and 

Vance, I don’t think you knew what we were getting into when 

you allowed me to write for BI eight years ago, but I wouldn’t do 

it any differently if I could, so thank you for letting me continue to 

write, furthering my journalism career. 

Without further adieu, the 2022 Hammys go to… 

QB of the Year 

It is without question that the quarterback play across the 

country was wild. Prior to Hendon Hooker’s injury, he seemed to 

have run away with the competition, but missing the remainder 

of the season following the South Carolina loss harmed his 

stats. The former walk-on Stetson Bennett has led his Georgia 

Bulldogs to a 13-0 record and been nothing short of incredible, 

but his stats aren’t head-turners in comparison to others. Last 

year’s Heisman winner Bryce Young certainly looks the part with 

stats but a two-loss season hurts his campaign as well. The late 

surge from TCU’s Max Duggan captured the attention of many as 

the Horned Frogs are in the College Football Playoff for the first 

time. CJ Stroud out of Ohio State has been consistently killing it; 

however, the one that steals the cake is USC’s Caleb Williams. In 

his first year as the Trojans’ starter, he has thrown 37 touchdowns 

with 4,075 (4th in the nation) passing yards and completed crazy 

sidearm and on-the-run throws that look like Sunday Night 

Football on Saturdays. So, Mr. Williams, here is your Hammy. 

RB of the Year 

It was a landslide for the running back of the year. Texas’ Bijan 

Robinson has been nothing short of incredible. He has carried the 

Longhorns offense with 1,580 (5th in the nation) rushing yards 

on 280 attempts, bringing his average to 6.1 yards per carry. To 

top it off, he added 18 rushing touchdowns to his stat line. Bijan 

Robinson: the best running back in college football… simple. 

WR of the Year 

There has been one player who exceeded expectations unlike any 

other at the receiver position, Jalin Hyatt from Tennessee. On the 

year, he recorded 1,267 receiving yards (4th in the nation) on just 

67 catches, giving him 18.9 yards per catch. He had 15 receiving 

touchdowns, but his performance in the Vols upset over Alabama 

sealed the receiver of the year for me. Hyatt had six receptions 

for 207 yards and five touchdowns… five against the mighty 

Crimson Tide! 

TE of the Year 

No bias here, without a doubt, Brock Bowers is the greatest tight 

end in college football and second place goes to his teammate 

Darnell Washington. That tight end room in Athens may be the 

best position room in college football out of all position groups. 

For Bowers, he has 52 receptions for 762 yards and six receiving 

touchdowns. He also added three rushing touchdowns on six 

carries for 93 yards. He is the X-factor for the Bulldogs and the 

winner of this Hammy. 

Defensive Player of the Year 

Entering the season, the best player in college football and 

potential No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft was Alabama’s 

linebacker Will Anderson; now, Georgia’s defensive lineman Jalen 

Carter has taken the reins and earned 2022’s defensive player of 

the year. He is the most dominant player in college football and 

has absolutely wreaked havoc in the trenches. His stats may not 

compare to a linebackers because he’s on the line, but his 29 total 

tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes defended 

earn him this honor, this Hammy and possibly a No. 1 overall 

Draft pick. 

Special Teams Player of the Year 

The kicking game has been strong across the board throughout 

2022. Another Dawg in Athens, Jack Podlesny, has been nearly 

perfect kicking this year, but a different kicker for one of the top 

four teams, Michigan’s Jake Moody, steals the cake. Moody leads 

all of college football in scoring with 136 points accounted for. 

He’s 100% on extra points and 81.3% on field goals. Here is your 

Hammy Jake Moody. 

Best Looking 

I let my sister Mimi do the selection for this award, so if you 

disagree, contact her. This Hammy, a.k.a Mimi, goes to Michigan’s 

J.J. McCarthy. The gunslinger took over the starting job after 

Michigan’s first game and has not looked back, but the girls keep 

looking at him. 

Uniform of the Year 

The last regular season game of the year also sports the best 

uniform matchup across the board. The Army/Navy game 

featured two special customs that honor the men and women 

in our military. Navy’s featured NASA get up gain mastery with 


an airbrushed astronaut on each helmet… absolutely awesome 

looking. 

Play of the Year 

In week three of the 2022 season, Appalachian State hosted Troy 

and College GameDay traveled to Boone, North Carolina for the 

first time, but it was the final play of the game that made the trip 

worthwhile for ESPN’s flagship Saturday show. With two seconds 

on the clock, Chase Brice and the Mountaineers offense were 

on their own 47-yard line down 28-26. The Clemson transfer 

quarterback heaved a ball from the 43 to the goalline. It fell 

short to the five-yard line, but the Mountaineers’ Dalton Stroman 

tipped it forward to Christian Horn who weaved right and cleared 

the far side pylon … touchdown … game-winner … chaos in 

Boone … Play of the Year! 

Game of the Year 

The anticipation, the history, the rivalry and everything in 

between, the Alabama/Tennessee game was one of the craziest 

college football games in recent history. Alabama secured 15 

straight wins in the the Third Saturday in October rivalry, but 

Heupel’s Vols and Neyland Stadium were ready to rock the Tide 

this year. In a 52-49 Tennessee win, we saw Hendon Hooker throw 

five touchdowns to Jalin Hyatt and pick apart that stout Bama 

defense, but it still came down to a last second kick that sealed 

the game for the Vols. After being tipped by the Tide defense, 

Chase McGrath put just enough behind the ball to barely get it 

through the uprights and all hell broke loose in Neyland. Vols fans 

stormed the field, ripped down the goalposts and carried the 

uprights all the way to the Tennessee River. History was made in 

Knoxville on the third Saturday in October of 2022. 

Coach of the Year 

Coaches around the country have brought their teams 

back from dismal 2021 seasons and shocked the world with 

major wins, big time commitments, transfer portal success 

and much more, but none have done it quite like South 

Carolina’s Shane Beamer. After a 6-6 2021 regular season 

the Gamecocks pulled out a win in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl 

over North Carolina and carried that momentum into the 

offseason. Beamer and company added former five-star 

quarterback Spencer Rattler from the transfer portal and 

came into 2022 with high hopes. USC started the season 

1-2, however, with losses to Georgia and Arkansas and hope 

seemed lost. But, the Gamecocks surged late in the year with 

a 63-38 win over No. 5 Tennessee followed by a 31-30 win 

over No. 8 Clemson the very next week. “Beamer Ball” swept 

the nation, and Coach Beamer, you earned this Hammy. 

Leavy’s Damn Good Player of the Year 

There has been one man who delivers each week, one man who 

led his team to an undefeated season, one man who led his 

team to a conference championship and one man who currently 

leads his team into the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 

seed… the Mailman. Stetson Bennett IV began his career as a 

walk-on but has made a name for himself winning a national 

title in the 2021-22 season and earning Heisman finalist status 

this year. The six-year quarterback also secured the Burlsworth 

Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best player who began their 

career as a walk-on. The individual hardware is not what makes 

him the nation’s best player. His stats may not compare to 

other quarterbacks, but they’re enough to lead a team to a 13-0 

record and make him the most impactful player for one team 

in college football. He is the glue for an undefeated team, the 

playmaker who never ceases to amaze despite his height or 

arm talent. He is the Mailman and he delivers week in and week 

out, and delivered to you Stet the Jet is the Leavy’s Damn Good 

Player of the Year! 

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MIKE WHITE 

AT STEGMANIA 

PHOTO BY: CARTER 

HORNE 

the 4 principles of Mike White’s Hoop 

Dawgs’ program are paying off 

7-3 RECORD AS OF DECEMBER 14TH 

BY: CLAY WATKINS 

GUARD JUSTIN HILL 


GUARD KARIO OQUENDO 


PHOTO BY: CARTER HORNE 

TOUgHNESS 

• There is no one who represents toughness more on the Hoop Dawgs 

than Jaxon Etter. The former walk-on earned himself a scholarship and 

has persevered through difficult years of Georgia Basketball. Etter has 

been on the receiving end of 37 charges in his last 38 games and 45 in 

his last 48 outings. 

• Jaylin Ingram is another Bulldog who fits Mike White’s definition of 

toughness. Ingram is one of five 7th year seniors in the nation. Having 

spent five seasons at FAU, Ingram ranks sixth all time in scoring and 

third all time in rebounds. The Madison native transferred back to his 

home state Bulldogs last season but suffered a season ending injury 

against Jacksonville. Ingram has displayed his grit and toughness for 

the Bulldogs this season. 

ATTITUDE 

• The key to creating a positive and healthy culture starts with getting 

players to buy in with the right attitude. Freshman KyeRon Lindsay 

has made an immediate impact for the Dawgs earning multiple starts 

for the Dawgs. Lindsay was a former top 100 recruit with a plethora of 

offers. Instead of going to a program with a tenured head coach and 

an implemented culture, Lindsay bought into Coach White’s system 

and has made a significant impact for the Bulldogs. 

• Terry Roberts is another transfer for who is playing his final season 

for the Bulldogs. The transfer from Bradley has brought loads of 

experience and grit, something Georgia needed. Roberts is leading the 

Bulldogs in scoring averaging the most points per game with 14.2. The 

guard’s leadership and attitude are one of the prominent factors as to 

why Georgia’s culture is evolving and changing. 

INTEGRITY 

• Braelen Bridges’ offensive efficiency has been an integral part of Mike 

White’s first season. Another transfer, the senior from Atlanta converted 

on more than 63% of his field goal attempts last year which ranked 7th 

nationally last year. Bridges is another Bulldog who has been able to 

provide experience and leadership in White’s new system. 

• Justin Hill is a junior transfer guard that is averaging 8.4 points per 

game and 3.2 rebounds per game. When Mike White went out and 

recruited transfers, he targeted not only certain elements in player’s 

game, but also certain personality traits. Hill is one of the players who 

has come to Athens and brought strong moral principles off the court 

as well as solid play on the court. 

LOYALTY 

• Kario Oquendo embodies loyalty to the Georgia program. Last year 

was a massive disappointment. Oquendo was regarded by most as the 

Dawgs’ best player and could have easily left to join another program. 

Instead, Oquendo withdrew his name from the portal and remained 

true to Mike White and the University of Georgia. 

• When talking about loyalty, Jaxon Etter must be mentioned. Despite 

taking an unconventional path to becoming a meaningful player, Etter’s 

dedication to the Georgia program is respected at the highest level. 

Remaning Schedule 

Dec 18 5:30 p.m. 

Notre Dame Atlanta, Ga. 

Dec 21 3:00 p.m. 

Chattanooga Athens, Ga. 

Dec 28 7:00 p.m. 

Rider Athens, Ga. 

Jan 4 6:30 p.m. 

Auburn Athens, Ga. 

Jan 7 1:00 p.m. 

Florida Gainesville, Fla. 

Jan 11 6:30 p.m. 

Miss. State Athens, Ga. 

Jan 14 1:00 p.m. 

Ole Miss Oxford, Miss. 

Jan 17 9:00 p.m. 

Kentucky Lexington, Ky. 

Jan 21 1:00 p.m. 

Vanderbilt Athens, Ga. 

Jan 25 7:00 p.m. 

Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn. 

Jan 28 6:00 p.m. 

South Carolina Athens, Ga. 

Feb 1 7:00 p.m. 

Auburn Auburn, Ala. 

Feb 4 8:30 p.m. 

Texas A&M College Station, Tex. 

Feb 7 7:00 p.m. 

Ole Miss Athens, Ga. 

Feb 11 12:00 p.m. 

Kentucky Athens, Ga. 

Feb 14 8:30 p.m. 

LSU Athens, Ga. 

Feb 18 6:00 p.m. 

Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala. 

Feb 21 9:00 p.m. 

Arkansas Fayetteville, Ark. 

Feb 25 1:00 p.m. 

Missouri Athens, Ga. 

Feb 28 7:00 p.m. 

Florida Athens, Ga. 

Mar 4 1:00 p.m. 

South Carolina Columbia, S.C. 

Mar 8 TBA 

SEC Tourney Nashville, Tenn. 


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SPORTS 

FOOTBALL 

FROM THE FIELD 

BY GREG POOLE 

GEORGIA - 50, LSU - 30 

UGA became SEC Champion in Atlanta on December 3, 

2020. That night Todd Monken’s offense, led by a confident 

and experienced quarterback, picked LSU apart. Mr. Bennett 

ended the evening with 23 completions on 29 attempts for 

274 yards and FOUR touchdowns. What a performance to 

end his SEC career! 

It is appropriate that Stetson Bennett was invited soon after 

his SEC Championship performance to the Heisman Award 

ceremony in New York as one of four finalists. Of course, he 

did not win the trophy, but this is an instance that produces 

no losers. 

As we look ahead toward the Peach Bowl and Ohio State, 

what should we expect from UGA? Of course, the safe 

answer is more of the same, which is precisely what we will 

see. Monken and Company always have a new wrinkle for a 

new opponent, but at the core of Georgia’s offense is a calm, 

cold decision-maker to pull the trigger on the correct target 

at the right time. At least, that is ideal, and Monken seems to 

think that Bennet is close enough. 

STET’S FOCUS WAS FOUR 

(TDS) REALS!!! 


I fully expect Georgia to make Ohio State stop the run. 

Suppose Georgia can consistently gain first downs running 

from scrimmage or with short passes while running OSU’s 

defensive linemen and linebacker from sideline to sideline. 

In that case, it will be a tough day for the Buckeyes. Of 

course, the Buck’s defense will use their practice time to 

adjust for the Dawgs. 

There are no bad teams at the College Football Playoff 

level of the game, but as I think about the upcoming 

friendly environment of the Peach Bowl, I can not muster a 

Munsonian level of disquiet about the game. 

Dawgs roll on! 

From Miami to Indy to the ATL x 3 ... 

Time to Stack Another One and Punch our Ticket to LA! 

Raymond James & Associates, Inc. member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC. 

GO DAWGS! 

2022 SEC CHAMPS! 

478.471.4440 | WWW.RAYMONDJAMES.COM/ 

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FOOTBALL 

KEVIN BUTLER’S PLAYERS OF THE GAME 

Each week, Georgia and Chicago 

Bears Hall of Fame legend Kevin 

Butler picks his Players of the 

Game. A member of numerous 

Halls of Fame and holder of a 

slew of records, Butler co-hosts 

DawgTalk on Georgia Football 

Saturdays and the famous 

Bulldog Brunch from the Hilltop 

Grille on Sundays. 

— COMPILED BY JEFF DANTZLER 

OFFENSIVE PLAYER 

After a tremendous performance in the SEC championship 

game against LSU Saturday, my offensive MVP will go to two 

people that have been consistently working to get better 

every week. The Mailman, Stetson Bennett, performed like 

the championship quarterback he is. Stetson was sharp and 

commanding, going 23 of 29 for 274 yards and four TDs. His 

leadership is unmatched in the SEC and his record proves 

that. Kendall Milton has been a running back who has 

worked hard and had to change his style until he got healthy. 

When he is healthy, he is a force to be reckoned with. Milton 

had eight rushes for 113 yards which is a 14.1 average and 

unstoppable. Georgia’s offense, behind a great running game, 

produced two more TDs. When Georgia’s offense is rolling, 

these two players make a huge difference. 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER 

Jalen Carter - Jalen Carter is the most dominant defensive lineman in 

all of college football. Against LSU, he was destructive and productive 

to the point where LSU had no solution to stop Carter’s ability to disrupt 

their office. Four tackles, with two solos, were only the beginning 

of his disruption. Jalen was in the backfield of LSU more than their 

quarterback. Carter had one sack and two tackles for losses, along with 

one pass deflection. His stand-up of LSU’s quarterback in unison with 

the No. 1 sign for the University of Georgia will forever be remembered 

in Georgia Bullogs’ lore. Carter will surely be a top pick in the NFL draft 

after the Bulldogs make a run for his team’s second national title. Jalen is 

one-of-a-kind and we are very proud of his performance against LSU. He 

is a damn good special Dawg. 

SPECIAL TEAM PLAYER 

Christopher Smith - No. 29 made one of the most heads up special 

team plays in Georgia championship history. The senior has done it over 

and over for the Bulldogs and big games. Whether it’s Alabama, Clemson, 

or LSU, his leadership and heads up play resulted in an electrifying 96- 

yard return of a blocked field goal against LSU. It was the game-changing 

play in the first quarter that really woke the Bulldogs up and reminded 

them of how to execute and score points. The blocked field goal was 

huge but the heads up play by Christopher Smith and the Bulldogs 

defense helped propel them to another SEC championship. 

GO DAWGS! 

2021 National Champions 

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GEORGIA – 50 

LSU - 30 

BY: COBY SERINA 

A look back at what decided the game 

between Georgia and LSU. 

The Georgia Bulldogs took home the SEC 

Championship trophy in a fashion that not 

many were expecting, but one that wound 

up victorious nonetheless. A lot was learned 

about this team. After beating the LSU Tigers 

549 

50-30, there’s a fair share of good and bad to 

go and “visit the doctor” about. 

Offensively, Stetson Bennett and company 

were on fire. Getting it done on both the 

ground and through the air exemplified 

just how good this team can be when 

everything is going smoothly. There’s just 

something about the Benz that Bennett 

likes, and he alluded to it in his postgame 

press conference. 

Defensively, the Dawgs left a lot on the 

table. LSU may have exposed some things 

in the Georgia secondary last Saturday 

because they had almost anything they 

wanted out there. Third down conversions 

for them were like taking candy from a baby, 

and Georgia ain’t no baby. 

If it weren’t for a few lucky breaks that went 

Georgia’s way early in the game, a win may 

not have been guaranteed. Momentum was 

leaning Georgia from the beginning, and 

it drowned out anything LSU was trying to 

get going. But while momentum is great 

to have in-game, the Dawgs cannot rely on 

momentum to win them another Natty. 

Luckily the next game Kirby Smart and 

company play will be in a couple weeks, so 

they’ll have time to address whatever issues 

need addressing. In the meantime here’s 

a breakdown of some statistics that put 

Georgia on top of the SEC. 

50 

This was the biggest story of the night once 

the game was over. Todd Monken and the 

Georgia Bulldogs put up 50 points against 

the LSU Tigers. Defense isn’t the only thing 

that wins 5championships in the Classic 

City. The entirety of the offense had a day. 

Bennett amassed 274 passing yards and 

threw four touchdowns. The ground game 

ran for 255 and got 2 touchdowns. Almost 

every mouth was fed from an offensive 

standpoint in the Benz, but the most 

impressive touchdown wasn’t scored by the 

offense. It was scored by special teams. 

96 

Don’t let the name fool you, special teams 

is a very real part of the Georgia football 

team, and it was proven in the Benz. On 

LSU’s first field goal attempt of the day, 

Nazir Stackhouse forced himself into the 

backfield, put a hand up and blocked it. But 

that wasn’t the end of the story. Once the 

ball hit the ground almost everyone thought 

the play was dead. Not fifth-year senior Chris 

Smith though. After clearly thinking over the 

decision, he picked it up and ran 96 yards to 

the house to give the Dawgs an early lead. 

549 

A win is great, but a lot had to happen to get 

there, and quite frankly a good bit of it was 

out of Georgia’s control. If it weren’t for the 

early blocked kick and lucky interception, 

who knows what would have happened. 

Regardless, one of the best defenses in 

the nation got exposed yesterday. The 

Junkyard Dawgs uncharacteristically gave 

up 549 offensive yards against the Tigers. 

The most they allowed previously this 

season was Florida at 371. Not only were 

the Dawgs outplayed, they were outgained. 

The secondary needs some fixing after 

LSU quarterbacks (Daniels and Nussmeier) 

combined for 502 passing yards. LSU was 

doing its job. Georgia just did it better. 

50 

5 

CHRIS SMITH WITH A 

ROUTINE 96-YARD BLOCK, 

SCOOP AND SCORE ;) 


Shifting back to the bright side of things, 

Georgia was doing fine and dandy in red 

zone offense. They only called on kicker 

Jack Podlesny once, but if they were down 

there, it was going in for the most part. Five 

of Georgia’s seven touchdowns were scored 

in the red area, and it could have been six 

if Ladd McConkey’s touchdown pass was 

two yards shorter. Hopefully whatever 

groove they found themselves in versus LSU 

continues into the postseason, because their 

ability to score was beyond impressive given 

the woes they’ve faced to this point in the 

season. 


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