Keep The Main Thing, The Main Thing! Georgia vs, Florida 2023

SEDRICK VAN PRAN 

AND CARSON BECK 

KEEP THE 

MAIN 

THING 

VS. 

THE MAIN THING!

HISTORY OF THE GAME: 

GEORGIA VS. FLORIDA 

Although Florida traveled to Athens to play the Bulldogs four 

times in the early days (before 1931), the game has been played 

in Jacksonville for the most part since the two teams first met in 

Macon in 1904. 

Prior to 1931, the teams met in Tampa, Savannah (twice), 

Gainesville, and Jacksonville (thrice), along with the four games 

played in Athens. After Jacksonville became the permanent 

venue, there has not been any interruption except for 1994-95 

when, owing to the enlargement and enhancement of Alltel 

Stadium by the Jaguars, the Georgia-Florida game moved 

to Gainesville and Athens in back-to-back years. 

The Bulldogs had a big advantage in the series for the longest 

time through the forties. Then Florida had the advantage in 

the fifties. In the sixties, starting when Vince Dooley took over 

in Athens, Georgia dominated the series again. It went back 

Florida’s way in the 90’s and early 2000’s. 

Coach Kirby Smart, who took over at Georgia in 2016, has 

a 5-2 record against the team he helped upset in 1997—a game 

in which Smart’s pair of interceptions made a significance 

in the outcome. 

The annual bout in Jacksonville is a critical conference game, 

and it always gets Kirby’s undivided attention even though he 

has expressed some misgivings about the game being played in 

Jacksonville, which is based on a recruiting stance. 

For years it has been my favorite road game, which brings up 

an interesting point. It is not a neutral site. How could it be 

a neutral site when it is played in a Florida city with the city’s 

constituency all favoring the Gators? Yet, the Georgia fans flock

OCTOBER 25-28 

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A MESSAGE FROM 

LORAN SMITH 

Associate Director, UGA Athletic Association 

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to the coasts of Georgia and North Florida—for a fall vacation. 

One thing is certain, it is a cash cow for the participating teams. The game 

always is played on network television (CBS for the most part) over the years, 

and tickets are sold out before the schedule cards are printed. Tickets are 

priced at a premium which enhances the gate, and the city of Jacksonville 

pitches in to help with travel costs for the two teams. 

Fans flock to Georgia’s Golden Isles—St. Simons, Sea Island, Jekyll Island— 

Amelia Island, Ponte Vedra, Jacksonville Beach, and points in between. Golf 

dominates the recreational agenda. There are fishing options galore if that is 

your thing, but there are such hidden opportunities as Little Saint Simons 

Island, which most visitors and locals ignore. 

St. Simons has become party central for fans and UGA students alike. 

Many of them watch the game on television and don’t worry about the game 

ticket hassle. 

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UGA VS. FLORIDA 

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 

IN THIS ISSUE 

VOLUME 21 NO. 10 

MARVIN JONES JR. - SEE YOU IN JACKSONVILLE! 

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI 

SPORTS 

GEORGIA vs FLORIDA 

PLAYERS TO WATCH | 16 

THE FIVE | 20 

FROM THE INTERN: CLAY WATKINS | 22 

A VIEW FROM JACKSONVILLE | 24 

SOCIAL 

LLOYD - POSTON WEDDING WEEKEND PHOTOS | 28 

GEORGIA GIRLS: CLAIRE CRONK | 30 

VANDY GAMEDAY PHOTOS | 32 

CHERI’S SHORE THINGS | 52 

GRAND GEORGIA COUPLES: BONNEY AND BILLY 

SHUMAN | 54 

ATHENS TOUCHDOWN CLUB PHOTOS | 56 

MIXTAPE: CARTER KING | 58 

PROUST Q&A: ZACH POWELL | 60 

MORE SPORTS 

CHICK-FIL-A DAWG BOWL 2023 | 62 

STATS THAT MATTER | 64 

BUTLER’S PLAYERS OF THE GAME | 66 

FROM THE FIELD | 68 

JD’S TOP 12 | 70 

OUR TEAM 

EDITOR: Vance Leavy 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Cheri Leavy 

MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR: Greg Poole 

CHIEF SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR: Jeff Dantzler 

ART DIRECTOR: Stacey Nichols 

SALES: Caroline Kinney 

SPORTS: Jeff Dantzler, Cal Gosslee, Greg Poole, 

Coby Serina, Clay Watkins 

MULTIMEDIA SUPPORT: Hamilton Culpepper 

PHOTOGRAPHY: Greg Poole, Rob Saye, 

Blane Marable 

COVER: Rob Saye 

COLUMNISTS: Hamilton Culpepper, Loran Smith, 

Kevin Butler, Caroline Champion 

DELIVERY: John Cook, Wright Cook, Rob 

Freeman, Anna French, Scarlett French, Flynn 

Kelly, Caroline Kinney, John Kinney, Eleanor 

Morgan, Henry Morgan, James Morgan, Jack 

Sawyer, Cullen Sewell, Henry Stokes, Champ 

Vance 

ISSUE 10: GEORGIA - FLORIDA 

October 24, 2023 

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 8 ISSUE TEN • FLORIDA

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FROM THE 

EDITOR 

VANCE LEAVY 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

The Golden Isles area is ready for you and the stakes are high, so ‘Keep 

the Main Thing, The Main Thing’ and don’t miss Saturday’s Georgia-Florida! 

After the always, needed bye-week, it’s certainly great to 

be back with our next issue of Bulldawg Illustrated. And 

this issue (Georgia-Florida) is always one of Team BI’s 

favorites, as our hometown (the Golden Isles) becomes 

the epicenter of the Bulldog Nation in the coming days. 

Cheri and I arrived to St. Simons the Wednesday of the byeweek 

and to say the weather has been absolutely glorious is 

actually an understatement. It’s been incredible for days. With 

temperatures in the mid-70s and glistening skies, it didn’t take us 

long to remember how wonderful our area is during October and 

November. So there is my sales pitch, Bulldog fans. There’s still 

time to pull the trigger and hightail it this way for what should be 

another classic Georgia-Florida. 

Of course, now I must delve into the massive elephant in the 

room, Brock Bowers’ injury. Unfortunately, our beloved Bulldogs 

must take the field in the coming weeks without their superstar 

tight end and leader. However, there should be no panic in my 

opinion, which is why I resurrected (for our cover) one of our 

Georgia teams’ mottos from a few years ago … Keep the Main 

Thing, The Main Thing. 

In football terms, the meaning of this saying is fairly simple as 

far as I’m concerned. Focus on what you can control and by all 

means don’t worry about what you cannot. Football is a team 

sport and our Bulldogs have exemplified that better than anyone 

in the country the last few years. 

Yes, losing Brock is a kick in the gut, but his teammates must 

now dig even deeper to perform at their highest level. And as 

Greg Poole astutely points out in his From the Field column (page 

68), just last year the 2022 Dawgs were faced with something 

very similar when Nolan Smith was lost for the rest of the season 

during the Georgia-Florida game. The rest is history as Them 

Dawgs completed the perfect season (without one of their best 

players) to become back-to-back national champions … Woof, 

Woof, Woof. 

So again, it’s fairly simple … Keep the Main Thing, The Main 

Thing and let’s all be primed and ready (on Saturday) to send this 

upstart Florida reptile team back to Gainesville without their tails. 

And I love the fact that the Gators arrive to Jax with the ability to 

control their own destiny by upsetting our Bulldogs. Bring it, the 

bigger the better is perfectly fine by me. 

Speaking of bigger and better, this issue of BI certainly is both 

and has plenty to get your juices flowing for the 3:30 p.m. kickoff 

on the banks of the St. Johns River. Where shall I begin? 

Our sports guys are packing heat in this issue. In his column, JD 

(on page 12) reminds everyone what winning the Georgia-Florida 

game has meant for both programs annual goal of competing 

in Atlanta for the SEC Championship on the first Saturday of 

December. Bottom line, you need to win this game or it’s very 

hard to backdoor your way into our league’s championship game 

(and beyond). And on page 22, BI Intern Clay Watkins lets his true 

St. Simons Island roots fly in his disdain for any and all things 

Orange and Blue. I only had to soften a few of his points, so not 

to disparage those nasty Gators too much. I know you will enjoy 

Clay’s take. And it reminded me of a column I wrote 25 years or 

so ago, where the headline read something like I would cheer for 

the Russians before the Gators. That one wouldn’t fly today with 

what is going on in the Ukraine, but it is still pretty amusing for a 

St. Simon Islanders’ not-so much love for Florida. 

The BI camera made the trip to Nashville a few weeks ago and 

as I predicted that town truly did become Dawg City, USA. The 

Vandy stadium was probably 85% red. Give the ’Dores team 

credit, they played well, but our Dawgs (and their fans) left 

Nashville remaining undefeated. Enjoy those photos, starting on 

page 32. 

Like most big issues of BI, our Social section is loaded with fun 

features. Enjoy the solid responses of our Georgia Girls (Claire 

Cronk, page 30, 31) and Proust Q&A (Zach Powell, page 60). 

Beyond being St. Simons Island residents, Claire and Zach love 

people, love to have a good time and are most satisfied when 

giving back to others. 

The perfect trifecta, which is also the perfect segue to Loran 

Smith’s Grand Georgia Couple feature this issue (page 54). Bonney 

and Billy Shuman (also St. Simons residents) exemplify the above 

traits tenfold. They may be the most fun loving and generous folks 

Cheri and I know. And not surprisingly that has translated to great 

things for the University of Georgia. Enjoy getting to know Bonney 

and Billy. And I would be remiss not to thank Loran for all the hard 

work and diligence he has given this season for this series. And the 

beauty is that there are so many Grand Georgia Couples, so I can 

keep Loran at it for years to come. 

Finally, don’t miss Hamilton Culpepper’s What’s the Word 

(pages 62 and 63). Hammy was on assignment for BI last week 

attending the inaugural Chick-fil-A Dawg Bowl 2023 fundraiser 

spearheaded by former Georgia head coach, Mark Richt. All 

proceeds from the bowling event go to research towards 

Parkinson’s and Crohn’s disease. As we all know in the Bulldog 

Nation, Coach Richt will forever be beloved, but I would say it’s 

even greater with the way he is fighting his own battle with 

Parkinson’s. Enjoy the photos from the event and reading about 

it. And the good news is you can still give by going to … http:// 

give.uga.edu/funders/dawg-bowl-2023. 

That’s going to do it for me. Oops, forgot one item. 

Don’t miss Carter King’s MIXTAPE on page 58. The dude is a 

founding member of the Future Birds and is an absolute beast 

on stage, so not surprisingly the tunes he chose are darn solid. 

Thanks Carter for your participation. You performed your nearest 

duty magnificently. 

Alright, Bulldog Nation … the Golden Isles area is ready for you. 

Keep the Main Thing, The Main Thing and let’s go smash those 

slithering Reptiles. Go Dawgs!! 


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Not surprisingly, a victory in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail 

Party typically garners East representation in the SEC Championship 

The road to the Southeastern 

Conference Championship 

Game in Atlanta almost 

always runs through 

Jacksonville. As we head into the last 

Saturday of October and the impending 

schedule gauntlet, that is once again the 

case. 

Georgia is 7-0, 4-0 in the league. The 

Gators are 5-2, 3-1 in the SEC. If you want 

to play in Atlanta on the first Saturday 

in December, you had better win in 

Jacksonville. 

When the league split into divisions 

with the additions of South Carolina and 

Arkansas in 1992, the SEC Championship 

Game was born. There have been 31 

of them, the first two in Birmingham, 

and all the rest since in Atlanta at the 

Georgia Dome and now Mercedes-Benz 

Stadium. Florida has played in 13 SEC 

Championship Games. Georgia has been 

in 10, all in the last 21 seasons, dating 

back to 2002. Over that stretch, Florida 

has been in six. Here’s how the rest of 

the math shakes up out of the SEC East. 

Tennessee has appeared in five, the 

last coming in 2007. Missouri has been 

twice, in its second and third years in the 

league in 2013 and 2014. South Carolina 

went, with Steve Spurrier at the helm, in 

2010. Kentucky and Vanderbilt have not 

advanced to the conference’s title tilt. 

In all of Florida’s 13 seasons where it 

advanced to the SEC Championship Game, 

the Gators beat the Bulldogs en route. 

That’s 13 for 13. Strangely, and painfully, 

the Bulldogs lost to the Gators on their 

first three trips to Atlanta. Georgia went 

13-1 in 2002, but lost to Florida. The 

Gators beat Georgia the following year, 

as the Bulldogs went to the title game for 

a second straight season. Then in 2005, 

undefeated Georgia, without injured 

standout quarterback D.J. Shockley, lost 

to the Gators but made it to the Dome. 

Where the Dogs, as in 2002, won the 

conference title. 

On Georgia’s seven most recent trips 

to the SEC Championship Game, the 

Bulldogs have beaten Florida, in 2011 

and 2012 under Mark Richt’s watch, and 

in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 with 

Kirby Smart at the helm. That’s five out 

of six for the Bulldogs, with the Gators 

advancing, in large part due to a win 

in Jacksonville, in 2020. In fact, since 

Mizzou’s back-to-back appearances in 

‘13 and ‘14, either Georgia or Florida has 

been in Atlanta eight straight years. 

Georgia’s head man, the country’s 

premier coach, native son and one of the 

heroes of the Bulldogs 1997 vanquishing 

of Florida, dubbed on the Bulldog 

Brunch and Dawg Talk airwaves as 

“Coach King Kirby Smart,” has taken his 

alma mater to the mountain top. What 

a run for Kirby’s Canines - back-to-back 

national championships in 2021 and 

2022, six straight seasons in the top ten, 

six successive major bowl games, and 

some incredible streaks en route to 40 

wins in the last 41 games (since losing to 

the Gators in 2020). 

When it comes to records, there are 

two ways that I’ve found tend to usually 

tell the best story. Who else is in the 

conversation, it’s the company you keep. 

And how long has it stood. 

Smart set a record, surpassing some 

of the greatest icons in college football 

history, for the best mark at an SEC 

school through a coach’s first 100 games. 

When Georgia beat UAB on September 

23, it improved the Bulldogs to 85-15 

in the Smart era. That garnered most 

wins and best winning percentage, 

surpassing legends like Bear Bryant, 

General Robert Neyland, Nick Saban, 

Vince Dooley and Spurrier. 

Under Smart’s watch, the Bulldogs have 

been to the SEC Championship Game 

five times in the past six years. In each 

of those five years, the Bulldogs went to 

Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a record 

of 11-1 or 12-0: 11-1 from 2017-2019, 

12-0 in 2021 and 2022. The only other 

coach to go to five SEC Championship 

Games in a six year period is Spurrier, 

who led Florida to the first five from 

1992-1996. This streak began after he led 

the Gators to the 1991 SEC title, Florida’s 

first ever SEC championship. From 1991 

through 2008, Florida won an astounding 

eight SEC titles, six with Spurrier as the 

head coach and two with Urban Meyer. 

The Gators run of SEC Championship 

Games ended at five in large part due to 

the aforementioned Bulldogs victory in 

1997. Peyton Manning quarterbacked 

Tennessee to Atlanta that year. The Gators 

beat the Vols earlier in the season. 

Spurrier’s blood lust for Georgia dates 

back to the Bulldogs 1966 victory over 

the Gators, which cost Florida the SEC 

title. Georgia and Bama were co-champs 

in 1966. Spurrier won the Heisman Trophy 

but was understandably haunted by that 

27-10 Bulldogs victory in Jacksonville. 

He would get his revenge with an 11-1 

record against Georgia as Florida’s head 

coach, with 1997 the outlier. 

Now Smart, the player who helped the 

Bulldogs end a seven game losing streak 

in the series and keep Florida from a 

sixth straight SEC Championship Game, 

is the coach of the program currently 

sitting atop the college football world. 

A big factor, those five trips to Atlanta in 

six years, highlighted by five wins over 

Florida in six years. As the Top Dawg is 

always quick to caution, ‘humility is just 

a week away.” And to make it to Atlanta 

for a sixth time in seven years, it will 

likely require making it six out of seven 

in Jacksonville. 


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GEORGIA VS FLORIDA 

GAME TIME: 3:30 P.M. ET 

CHANNEL: CBS 

GEORGIA VS FLORIDA 

BY: JEFF DANTZLER 

One of college football’s grand rivalries reconveins Saturday 

in Jacksonville, as the Georgia Bulldogs battle the Florida 

Gators on the banks of the St. John’s from EverBank Stadium 

in a critical Southeastern Conference showdown. 

As usual, both teams are coming off bye weeks. Georgia 

heads in with a record of 7-0, 4-0 in Southeastern Conference 

play. Florida is 5-2, 3-1 in the SEC, a game behind the Bulldogs 

in a tightly contested East Division race. 

Last time out, the Bulldogs won on the road in Nashville, 

defeating Vanderbilt 37-20, extending some impressive 

winning streaks. Two-time reigning national champion 

Georgia has won 40 of the last 41 games, the victory at Vandy 

the Bulldogs school record 24th in a row. The Dogs have won 

34 consecutive regular season games, and a school record 

tying 23 straight regular season SEC contests. These streaks 

all began with a win over Mississippi State three years ago 

(including 23 consecutive home victories on Dooley Field in 

Sanford Stadium) after Georgia fell to Florida in 2020. 

Florida would love to be the streak breakers, and take a 

big step towards a shot at the SEC Championship Game 

Saturday afternoon. This is second-year Florida head coach 

Billy Napier’s second game in Jacksonville, and his Gators 

are sporting a two-game winning streak with some major 

momentum. Following a 33-14 loss to Kentucky in Lexington, 

the Gators beat Vanderbilt 38-14 in Gainesville and then 

rallied for a thrilling 41-39 come-from-behind victory over 

South Carolina in Columbia. 

In three of Georgia’s four SEC games this season, the Bulldogs 

have fallen behind - twice by double digits. Turnovers have 

plagued the Bulldogs, but Georgia has been able to overcome 

the miscues and rally to victories while sitting atop the college 

football throne. The Bulldogs get every team’s best shot, and 

that will certainly be true on Saturday in Jacksonville. The 

Gators are in the mix and hungry for an upset that would be 

the biggest win of the Napier era. 

Under Kirby Smart’s watch, Georgia has won five of the last 

six meetings with the Gators. The all-time series is 55-44-2 

in the Bulldogs favor. Georgia has won eight of the last 12 

dating back to 2011, a welcome change for the Red and Black 

faithful. Beginning with Steve Spurrier’s arrival as the Gators 

head coach, Florida won 18 of 21 against Georgia from 1990 

through 2010. Prior to Spurrier’s arrival, Georgia led the series 

44-22-2. After the 2010 Florida overtime win in Urban Meyer’s 

final of six seasons at the Florida helm, the series was 47-40-2 

in the Bulldogs favor. 

Heavy is the head which wears the crown. This rivalry has 

featured a slew of legendary coaches and players, with Smart 

at the top of the list. So is All-American tight end Brock 

Bowers. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs sensational junior is 

injured, so the Dogs will have to do it in Jacksonville without 

one of the greatest players in school history. Smart will drive 

Georgia to be the hunter, knowing his Bulldogs must be at 

their very best to beat the upstart, upset-minded Gators 

Saturday in Jacksonville. 


BULLDOGS TO WATCH 

BY: COBY SERINA 

KIRBY SMART (HC) - Nobody understands the magnitude of the Georgia- 

Florida rivalry game better than Georgia’s head coach. Having played in the 

game himself, he now leads the Bulldogs into Jacksonville looking to win three 

in a row against the Gators. Due to numerous injurie the Bulldogs are dealing 

with across the board, Coach Smart will have a difficult task on his hands 

ensuring Georgia emerges victorious. Regardless, expect Coach Smart and his 

staff to have his Bulldogs fired up and ready to go come Saturday in Jacksonville. 

CARSON BECK (QB #15) - At this point in the season, it’s been established 

that Carson Beck can put a game away in the first half. We’ve seen him walk into 

games with guns a blazing, and we’ve also seen him start games where it looks 

like his gun is jammed. At his worst, Beck is an efficient game manager who 

can do what you need—nothing more, nothing less. At his best, he’s a Heisman 

candidate. Starting for the first time in his hometown of Jacksonville, hopefully 

we see the latter from Beck. 

KENDALL MILTON 

RUNNING BACK 


KENDALL MILTON (RB #2) - In just one half of a football game, senior 

running back Kendall Milton ran for 53 yards on five attempts. That’s not bad for 

a guy coming off an MCL injury. Now, to be fair, it was that same MCL that had 

him on the sidelines for the second half of the Vandy game. Coach Smart said 

his MCL was giving him some trouble, which led to his benching, but the action 

appeared to be precautionary. With an entire two weeks away from live, tackle 

football, Milton should get the treatment he needs to give the Gators a proper 

rundown once the Dawgs get going in Jacksonville. 

LADD MCCONKEY (WR #84) - As if this guy didn’t have a chip on his 

shoulder from working his way up the depth chart, now Chatsworth, Georgia’s 

favorite wideout has to play in the absence of fellow receiver Brock Bowers. Keep 

in mind that McConkey is coming off an injury himself, and it was his back that 

was keeping him from seeing the field early in the year. Everything is pointing to 

McConkey getting back to full speed, though. Four catches for 58 yards against 

Vandy is definitely telling that McConkey is well on his way back to show up and 

show out against the Gators’ secondary. 

LADD MCCONKEY 

WIDE RECEIVER 


JAVON BULLARD (S #22) - “Big-time players make big-time plays in bigtime 

games,” as the saying goes, and that’s exactly the kind of business Javon 

Bullard should be tending to in Jacksonville on Saturday. The third-year safety 

is going to make some big-time hits to assert his dominance. The Gators have 

two backs who’ve each gone for over 400 yards, in addition to their quarterback 

BY JEFF DANTZLER 

In Georgia’s 27-10 victory over Florida in 1966, the 

Bulldogs shut out the Gators offense in the second 

half and All-American Lynn Hughes intercepted 

Spurrier and returned it for a 39-yard TD. 

Georgia’s early 80s victories over Florida featured 

three memorable, long touchdown marches to give 

the Bulldogs leads: 93 yards in 1980, 95 yards in 

1981 and 99 yards in 1983. 

The Bulldogs upset the top-ranked Gators 24-3 

in 1985, as Keith Henderson had scoring jaunts of 

76 and 32 yards, then Tim Worley delivered the 

knockout blow on an 89-yard TD romp. 


amassing almost 2,000 yards this season so far. This year, the 

Dawgs are hard to predict, but one thing is certain: Bullard is going 

to find a way to make his presence felt one way or another. 

MALAKI STARKS (S #24) - Arguably one of the best covering 

safeties in America, Malaki Starks never ceases to amaze when 

he puts his pads on. He is a certified ball hawk, and the numbers 

don’t do him justice; two picks and four pass deflections on the 

season don’t feel like nearly enough from this true sophomore. If 

Billy Napier and his team play their cards right, Starks shouldn’t be 

anywhere near the ball, but with certified track speed and blue-chip 

athleticism, there’s not a lot you can do to keep this young man 

away from the ball. 

MALAKI STARKS 

SAFETY 


MYKELL WILLIAMS (DE #13) - Almost all football games are 

dictated by the trenches, and that’s precisely what defensive line 

coach Tray Scott and Georgia’s star defensive end, Mykel Williams, 

should have planned. Now, understand that in order to be 

different, you have to play differently. So, rather than prioritizing 

sacks, Georgia’s defensive line focuses on creating pre-planned 

pressure. If Williams finds himself on top of the quarterback, know 

that he’s gone the extra mile. With just two sacks on the season 

thus far, Williams is a bit behind his goal of one sack a game that 

he set at the beginning of the season. He should be quite hungry 

in Jacksonville, and he’ll be looking for Gator tail. 

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GATORS TO WATCH 

BY: CLAY WATKINS 

BILLY NAPIER (HC) - Napier is entering his second season as the 

Gators’ head coach, and it has certainly been a bit of a roller coaster. The 

Gators struggled mightily during his first season leading the Gators, even 

with a top-five draft pick at quarterback. This season, Napier has picked 

up multiple impressive wins such as dismantling Tennessee and beating 

South Carolina in Columbia, but they have also been handed two brutal 

losses against Kentucky and Utah. If Napier wants to prove that he is fit to 

be the head coach in Gainesville, then he needs to pick up a win against 

Georgia, something that will be no easy task. 

GRAHAM MERTZ 

QUARTERBACK 

PHOTO BY: MOLLY KAISER/ 

FLORIDA ATHLETICSS 

GRAHAM MERTZ (QB #15) - After being the laughingstock of the 

quarterback position while at Wisconsin, Mertz has quietly put together 

an impressive season since transferring to Florida. So far through 

2023, Mertz has thrown for 1,897 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just two 

interceptions. His completion percentage is nearly up 20% from 2022, 

and Mertz is less than 300 yards away from eclipsing more yards than he 

did all of last season. Passing against Georgia’s secondary has not been 

easy so far through 2023, but Mertz will need to have a monster game if 

the Gators hope to upset their archrivals. 

RICKY PEARSALL (WR #1) - Pearsall is having his best statistical 

season in 2023 having caught 44 passes for 619 yards and three 

touchdowns. The Chandler, Arizona product is coming off his best 

game in a Gator uniform recording ten receptions for 166 yards and 

a game winning touchdown against South Carolina. Pearsall is in his 

fifth and final season and has been Mertz’s go to target. The wideout is 

an impressive route runner and can line up both in the slot and on the 

outside. Limiting Pearsall’s production will slow down the Gator passing 

attack. 

MONTRELL JOHNSON JR. 

RUNNING BACK 

PHOTO BY: MOLLY KAISER/ 

FLORIDA ATHLETICS 

MONTRELL JOHNSON JR. (RB #2) - Johnson Jr. is the Gators’ 

leading rusher so far through 2023 having carried the ball 85 times for 

438 yards and four touchdowns. Florida’s offensive strength lies within 

their two running backs, and a lot of Florida’s passing game success can 

be credited to Johnson Jr. and Etienne opening up the defense through 

successful rushes. Johnson Jr. is an extremely physical back and seeks 

contact. He also has never given up a fumble since arriving at Florida. The 

Gators will utilize Johnson Jr. heavily against the Bulldogs. 

TREVOR ETIENNE (RB #7) - Trevor Etienne, younger brother of Travis 

Etienne (Jacksonville Jaguar running back), is having another impressive 


One of Florida’s greatest players is Rams defensive 

end Jack Youngblood, a Gator All-American who is 

in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is on the 1970s 

NFL All-Decade Team. 

Led by Coach Billy Donovan, Florida won the NCAA 

Basketball Tournament in 2006 and 2007, and the 

Gators remain the most recent team to win back-toback 

national titles in men’s hoops. 

The Florida football program has produced a trio 

of Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks - Steve 

Spurrier in 1966, Danny Wuerfell (coached by 

Spurrier) in 1996 and Tim Tebow in 2007. 


season, having already recorded 407 yards and three touchdowns 

on 69 carries. Etienne splits carries with Montrell Johnson Jr. but 

is certainly not a back up running back. The Louisiana native is an 

extremely versatile back and thrives catching passes out of the 

backfield. Look for the Gators to take advantage of Etienne’s skillset as 

he looks to replicate his brother’s success in EverBank Stadium. 

SHEMAR JAMES (LB #6) - The sophomore from Mobile, 

Alabama is the Gators’ leading tackler by 19 total tackles so far this 

season. The talented linebacker has already surpassed his numbers 

through 2022 and has a minimum of five games remaining to add 

to that tally. James is especially effective against the run as he 

is exceptional at clogging rushing lanes, however, his coverage 

skills are not meant to be discounted as he is a true three-down 

linebacker. James will be asked to lead the Gators’ defense against 

their toughest test of the season against the Bulldogs. 

SHEMAR JAMES 

LINEBACKER 

PHOTO BY: MADDIE WASHBURN/ 

FLORIDA ATHLETICS 

PRINCELY UMANMIELEN (DE #1) - Umanmielen is the Gators’ 

most impressive edge rusher having tallied three sacks so far this 

season. While he is effective at getting to the passer, Umanmielen 

has a high motor and is not afraid to chase down players and make 

plays all over the field. Georgia has had multiple injuries to key 

players at the right tackle position through the first seven games, 

so Umanmielen certainly poses a problem when rushing from that 

side. The Bulldogs will need to handle the talented pass rusher to 

keep Carson Beck comfortable in the pocket. 

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THE 

FIVE 

Georgia vs. florida 


FRAT BEACH THROWBACK 2018 ADPIs 

1. Gator Skill Standouts - For Georgia to beat the Gators, the Bulldogs run 

defense will have to be at its best, as it was against Kentucky. Montrell Johnson, 

Jr., who transferred to Florida from Louisiana when Billy Napier took the Gators 

job, forms a potent one-two running back punch with Trevor Etienne. He’s the 

younger brother of Clemson great and current Jacksonville Jaguar running back 

Travis Etienne. These guys are really good. Also emerging is Treyaun Webb, a 

one-time Georgia commit. Graham Mertz is a crafty quarterback, and the Gators 

will do all they can to get these backs the ball in a variety of ways. Wide receiver 

Ricky Pearsall is the top pass catcher, and knows how to get open. They were both 

tremendous in the comeback win at South Carolina. Mertz was 30 of 48 for 423 

yards, with three touchdowns and no picks. Pearsall had 10 grabs for 16 yards and 

a score. Their hookups harkened the Blue and Orange faithful to their glory days 

of the “Fun and Gun.” The Gators have had it all clicking multiple times this season, 

most notably against the Gamecocks and in home wins over Tennessee and 

Vanderbilt. The Georgia defense must be salty and physical. Georgia had better 

get the Gators “behind the chains.” 

2. Managing Emotions - It’s a different feel in Jacksonville, with the “old 

Gator Bowl” split 50/50 Red and Black, Orange and Blue. There is always noise, 

energy and electricity. You know how it goes, at home, if you’re winning, it’s 

rocking. On the road, if you’re losing, it’s rocking. If you’re winning on the road, 

it’s pretty quiet. If you’re losing at home, it’s pretty quiet. And tight. Well, with 

over 40,000 a side, at least one fan base is going to be noisy. Usually it’s a close 

game, meaning both fan bases are raucous. The adrenaline rush, the excitement 

of this game is like no other. Walking, not talking, wins this game. The fact that 

neither side is outnumbered makes for some interesting parking lot and tailgating 

chatter. When it’s 85,000 to 7,000, the road fan is wise to mind his words. Or 

chomps. Not here. 

3. Kirby in 97 - Georgia was a 19-point underdog against Florida in 1997 in 

a battle of once-beatens. The Gators were the defending national champions. 

Georgia roared to a 37-17 victory, with stars shining brightly for Jim Donnan’s 

Bulldogs. Robert Edwards raced for four touchdowns, Hines Ward had over 

100 yards receiving from quarterback Mike Bobo, and junior safety Kirby Smart 

was superb, intercepting Gator signal caller Doug Johnson twice. The victory 

ended a seven game losing streak to Florida, five of which were by embarrassing 

scores. Most notably, the three most recent. Florida steamrolled the Dogs 52-14 

in Gainesville in 1994, crushed Georgia 52-17 in Athens the following year, and 

en route to the 1996 title, won by a blistering 47-7 count in Jacksonville. But 

November 1, 1997 was a very happy day for the Bulldogs, and Georgia’s current 

head coach had a lot to do with a sweet victory. 

4. Jacksonville Landing 1991 - It was my freshman year at Georgia, and I 

went to Jacksonville with my friends Jay and Ty. We ventured - a one and only trip 

- to the Jacksonville Landing. It was naturally my first foray to the cocktail party as 

a college student and I was interested in the nightlife the night before we took a 

bad beating in the cold and wind of a dilapidating Gator Bowl. The Gator chomps 

were out fierce that Friday night. There were some Florida fans on the upper level 

of the Landing at a bar restaurant jawing and chomping at some Georgia fans on 

the lower level. They had the high ground, and this was the first strategic mistake 

made by the Bulldogs that weekend. It seemed like there were 10,000 people 

squeezed into this area and moving was about as easy as Atlanta rush hour traffic. 

Well, this Gator fan just dumped a couple of pitchers of beer on the table of 

Georgia fans below and simply smiled and did the chomp, knowing it would have 

taken two hours for the soaked Bulldog fans to make their way through the mob 

for a fisticuffs revenge. At which point the three of us looked at each other and 

collectively said, let’s get the hell out of here. 

5. The Golden Isles - I have great love for our beautiful Georgia coast, and 

the scene on St. Simons, Jekyll and Sea Island is unique to this great game and 

rivalry. Frat Beach is a thing now. To which I, as a 51 year old, can now say this to 

our wonderful University of Georgia students: Have fun, be safe, be smart, enjoy 

these days and this Golden Era of Bulldog gridiron greatness - and don’t litter on 

our beloved beaches. Go Dawgs! 

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As a Golden Isles native, the distain for the 

Gators is deep, which amplifies the desire for 

a victory every year versus the Gators in Jax 

here’s an old adage the 

Georgia faithful has become 

Tfamiliar with. That is when 

asked who you cheer for on 

Saturdays, Dawg fans respond, 

“Georgia and whoever is playing 

Florida.” Growing up in St. Simons 

Island, Georgia with two parents who 

attended the University of Georgia, 

this is embedded in my blood. 

There are plenty of reasons to have 

utter disdain for the University of 

Florida. Two of the most unlikeable 

head coaches to ever grace the 

sideline Steve Spurrier and Urban 

Myer are responsible for the majority 

of their school’s success. UF and 

Gainesville, Florida is filled with 

unpleasant individuals walking 

around in cutoff t-shirts and jorts. It’s 

difficult to pay them a compliment. 

Regardless, 

the World’s 

Largest 

Outdoor 

Cocktail Party 

is an historic 

rivalry filled 

with pageantry 

and tradition 

unrivaled 

across college 

athletics. 

When walking 

into EverBank 

Stadium, the 

visual of half the stadium in red and 

black and the other half in orange 

and blue is a must see if you call 

yourself a college football fan. 

My first memories from the game 

come from Georgia’s monumental 

2007 victory against the Gators. 

Tim Tebow and the reigning 

national champion Gators came 

into Jacksonville as heavy favorites, 

having plenty of recent success 

against the Bulldogs. However, 

Knowshon Moreno posted 

a career-high on the ground 

rushing for 188 yards and three 

touchdowns. Matthew Stafford 

threw for three touchdowns as 

well, and the Georgia defense 

sacked Tebow six times, holding 

him to the lowest rushing total of 

the season (-15 yards). 

That game represented 

everything a rivalry should. 

The Bulldogs and Gators clearly 

despised each other, and it was 

apparent on the field. Mark Richt 

fired up his team by allowing the 

Bulldogs to run out onto the field 

and celebrate when Knowshon 

Moreno punched in the first score 

of the game, now know as the 

famous “Gator Stomp” celebration. 

It was a hard-nosed physical 

football game between two 

powerhouse teams and fanbases 

that have nothing but disdain for 

the other. 

As we transition into a period of 

college football where conference 

realignment is eliminating some of 

college football’s most prevalent 

rivalries, it only makes you 

appreciate more what the Georgia- 

Florida game means, and yes, it is 

Georgia-Florida, never under any 

circumstances is it said the other 

way around. 

This week, I’ll be heading home 

once more to bear witness to St. 

Simons annual festivities as UGA 

students make the great migration 

down to the Golden Isles before 

heading to Jacksonville to cheer on 

the Dawgs. 

Before then, 

however, I 

will be taking 

up one of my 

favorite hobbies 

before the 

game which 

is watching 

the historic 

beatdowns 

Georgia has 

given the 

team from 

Gainesville. 

I’ll listen to Larry Munson give one 

of the greatest calls of all time as 

Lindsay Scott scampered for a 92- 

yard touchdown in 1980, allowing 

the Dawgs to remain perfect on the 

season and emerge victorious as the 

Bulldogs beat the Gators 26-21 on 

their way to their second national 

championship. I’ll watch Mohamed 

Massaquoi score an 84-yard 

touchdown in 2007 and run past 

the Florida student section mocking 

the Gator chomp. Then, I’ll watch 

Todd Gurley do the same thing in 

2012, followed by Malcolm Mitchell 

45-yard game winning touchdown. 

There are many beautiful memories 

from the heated rivalry, and they 

have shaped the course of Georgia 

football history. 

As we transition to the current 

phase of Georgia football under 

the tenure of Kirby Smart, the 

Bulldogs have had much success 

against the Gators, going five-andtwo 

since his arrival back in Athens. 

There is no denying that Coach 

Smart understands the magnitude 

of this game, and having played in 

this game only amplifies his desire 

to lead the Dawgs to victory in 

Jacksonville. 



Thanks so much to my friend Frank 

Frangie for once again providing his 

tremendous insight into the Georgia- 

Florida game. Frank personifies 

Jacksonville sports. He is the voice 

of the Jacksonville Jaguars, a highly 

acclaimed sports talk show host in 

Jacksonville and has been heard on 

numerous SEC and national college 

football broadcasts and shows. He 

knows this game as well as anyone. 

And Frank is one of my all-time 

favorites. 

A VIEW FROM ... 

Jacksonville 

WHAT IS YOUR FEELING 

ON THE GATORS, WHO 

SEEM TO BE HITTING 

THEIR STRIDE WITH 

THESE LAST TWO WINS? 

I think the Gators hired the right 

guy, but it will take time. They 

needed someone who can go 

head to head on the recruiting 

trail with Nick Saban and Kirby 

Smart, and Billy Napier seems to 

be that guy. His last recruiting 

class was very good and this 

next one will be even better. So 

I think they will be back, more 

with this guy and then all of 

his recent predecessors. But it 

will take awhile. He gutted it, is 

playing mostly young players, 

and will have a tough time lining 

up against the elite teams like 

Georgia. At least this year. But I 

will add this: I love the players — 

portal additions and recruits - he 

has brought in in his brief time 

there. The quarterback from 

Wisconsin, Graham Mertz, has 

been terrific. What a find. He just 

spends a lot of time running for 

his life against a very leaky line. 

But when protected, is very good. 

WHAT DOES FLORIDA 

NEED TO DO TO WIN? 

To beat Georgia, they pretty much 

have to play a perfect game. 

Take care of the ball, get a few 

takeaways, get the running game 

going and shorten the game. I 

think you’ll see running plays, 

checkdowns on offense. Probably 

a gadget or two as well. I’m not 

sure Florida’s guys can get open 

against Georgia or the line can 

protect. Mertz will do what he can, 

but they are up against it here. 

And I think they crowd the box on 

defense and take their chances 

against the Georgia passing game. 

That is what they did to beat 

Tennessee. Against Kentucky and 

South Carolina, they played softer 

up front in fear of not getting beat 

over the top by Devin Leary and 

Spencer Rattler and it backfired. 

Lost big to Kentucky and barely 

beat South Carolina. 

‌WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON 

GEORGIA? 

I think Georgia is loaded, per 

usual. College football has really 

never changed — the team with 

the most really good players 

usually wins. Kirby has loaded 

that roster with NFL guys year 

after year. He has stockpiled good 

players waiting their turn. I think 

Carson Beck is an NFL quarterback 

and he waited years to get on the 

field. Nobody waits to play any 

more, but the Georgia guys do. 

And then they’re great when they 

play. He has great players, has 

instilled a culture of toughness 

and accountability and the 

expectation to win. That’s what 

Saban did. It’s what Steve Spurrier 

and Urban Meyer did at Florida. 

Georgia might just win their third 

in a row. They are that good. 

HOW ABOUT THE 

BULLDOGS PLAYING FOR 

THE JAGS? 

Tyson Campbell has been 

fantastic. Fast, tough, long — 

one of the top 10 corners in the 

league. He is out with a hamstring 

now and they really miss him. 

Great, great find. Travon is a very 

good football player. Tough, never 

gets push around, big part of 

their very good run defense. But 

he hasn’t emerged yet as a pass 

rusher or big time playmaker. 

Hopefully that happens — he’s 

still only 24 games as a pro. 

Developing pass rush moves, at 

this level, can take time. They like 

him. But we’d all like to see him 

make more plays. 

‌HOW ABOUT THE 

RELATIONSHIP WITH 

JACKSONVILLE, THE 

GAME AND THE FUTURE 

WITH THE NEW STADIUM 

COMING? 

The city will do all it can to 

never lose this game and that 

includes the new stadium. The 

new stadium deal will get done, 

I’m confident of that. And it will 

be amazing. Construction won’t 

begin until after the current 

Florida-Georgia contract expires 

in 2025. My guess is a new deal 

will be signed with the two 

schools before that. Then I’m 

guessing each school will get one 

home game in the series - 2026 

and 2027 - just like they did in 

1994 and 1995. But for folks who 

hope it lands home and home 

one day, I doubt that happens. 

Right now, the schools make 

close to $6 million per year each 

to play here, which means $12 

million over a two-year period. 

Per school. If it went home and 

home, the schools would make $3 

million or so for the home game 

and nothing for the road game. 

So it would be $3 million over a 

two-year stretch per school for 

home and home and $12 million 

during those two years if it stays 

here. I just don’t think, in this day 

and age, schools are going to walk 

away from an easy $9 million. 

And the heritage and tradition 

that comes with it. And one more 

thing — what we’ve learned over 

all these years is playing the game 

here has very little do with who 

wins. When Florida was better 

from 1990 through 2010, they 

dominated the Dawgs. When 

Georgia was better — the Vince 

Dooley years and now this current 

stretch — they’ve dominated 

the Gators. The best team usually 

wins, wherever the game is 

played. History tells us that. 

‌HOW WOULD YOU LIKE 

TO SEE THE SEC DO THE 

SCHEDULING WHEN THE 

NEW MODEL COMES OUT 

FOR 2025 AND BEYOND? 

We have an eight-game schedule 

next year (1 set opponent, 7 

rotators) and I think are ultimately 

headed to a nine-gamer (3 set, 

6 rotators). I don’t like either. 

I would prefer a nine-game 

schedule with two set opponents. 

I know the math doesn’t allow 

teams to play every other team 

over a four-year stretch like the 

other two models do, but I don’t 

care. I think every team should 

have two — not one and not 

three — to play every year. Two 

real rivals. Florida would have 

Georgia and Tennessee. Georgia 

would have Florida and Auburn. 

And so on. I shared that with Greg 

Sankey over the summer, but he 

explained to me that the math 

wouldn’t work for their ultimate 

goal, which I understand. But that 

is what I would do. Under the two 

current models being discussed, 

Florida and Tennessee would 

no longer play every year. The 

FIRST year Florida doesn’t play 

Tennessee, they will have gotten 

it wrong. Very wrong. I would hate 

to see that. 

WHAT IS YOUR SCORE 

PREDICTION? 

Georgia 34, Florida 17. Maybe 

close early but the Dawgs have 

too many dudes. It gets away from 

the Gators at some point. 


2023 georgia bulldogs numerical roster 

Provided By UGA Athletics - Subject To Change 

No. Name Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt. Exp. Hometown (Previous School) No. Name Pos. Cl. Ht. Wt. Exp. Hometown (Previous School) 

0 ^Troy Bowles ILB Fr. 6-0 220 HS Tampa, Fla. (Jesuit HS) 

0 #Roderick Robinson II RB Fr. 6-0 240 HS Imperial, Calif. (Lincoln HS) 

1 Nyland Green DB RSo. 6-1 185 1VL Covington, Ga. (Newton HS) 

1 Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint WR Sr. 6-2 195 3VL Pompano Beach, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas HS) 

2 Kendall Milton RB Sr. 6-1 220 3VL Fresno, Calif. (Buchanan HS) 

2 Smael Mondon ILB Jr. 6-3 225 2VL Dallas, Ga. (Paulding County HS) 

3 Kamari Lassiter DB Jr. 6-0 180 2VL Savannah, Ga. (American Christian Acad.) 

3 Andrew Paul RB RFr. 5-11 218 SQ Dallas, Texas (Parish Episcopal School) 

4 Oscar Delp TE So. 6-5 245 1VL Cumming, Ga. (West Forsyth HS) 

4 #AJ Harris DB Fr. 6-1 190 HS Phenix City, Ala. (Central HS) 

5 #Rara Thomas WR Jr. 6-2 200 TR Eufaula, Ala. (Miss. State/Eufaula HS) 

5 #Raylen Wilson ILB Fr. 6-1 225 HS Tallahassee, Fla. (Lincoln HS) 

6 Daylen Everette DB So. 6-1 190 1VL Norfolk, Va. (IMG Academy) 

6 #Dominic Lovett WR Jr. 5-10 187 TR Belleville, Ill. (Missouri/East St. Louis HS) 

7 Marvin Jones Jr. OLB So. 6-5 250 1VL Sunrise, Fla. (American Heritage HS) 

7 #Lawson Luckie TE Fr. 6-3 240 HS Norcross, Ga. (Norcross HS) 

8 #Joenel Aguero DB Fr. 5-11 205 HS Lynn, Mass. (St. John’s Prep) 

9 Jackson Meeks WR Jr. 6-2 205 2VL henix City, Ala. (Central HS) 

9 #Justyn Rhett DB Fr. 6-0 190 HS Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman HS) 

10 Jamon Dumas-Johnson ILB Jr. 6-1 245 2VL Hyattsville, Md. (St. Francis Academy) 

10 #Tyler Williams WR Fr. 6-3 205 HS Lakeland, Fla. (Lakeland HS) 

11 Arian Smith WR Jr. 6-0 185 3VL Bradley, Fla. (Lakeland HS) 

11 Jalon Walker ILB So. 6-2 245 1VL Salisbury, N.C. (Salisbury HS) 

12 Julian Humphrey DB RFr. 6-0 190 1VL Webster, Texas (Clear Lake HS) 

12 Brock Vandagriff QB RSo. 6-3 210 SQ Bogart, Ga. (Prince Ave. Christian School) 

13 #Zeed Haynes WR Fr. 6-1 170 HS Philadelphia, Pa. (North Penn HS) 

13 Mykel Williams DL So. 6-5 265 1VL Columbus, Ga. (Hardaway HS) 

14 David Daniel-Sisavanh DB Jr. 6-2 185 2VL Woodstock, Ga. (Woodstock HS) 

14 Gunner Stockton QB RFr. 6-1 215 SQ Tiger, Ga. (Rabun County HS) 

15 Carson Beck QB Jr. 6-4 220 2VL Jacksonville, Fla. (Mandarin HS) 

15 ^Daniel Harris DB Fr. 6-2 175 HS Miami, Fla. (Gulliver Prep HS) 

16 C.J. Madden OLB RFr. 6-4 240 SQ Ellenwood, Ga. (Cedar Grove HS) 

16 Jackson Muschamp QB Jr. 6-2 190 SQ Columbia, S.C. (Hammond School) 

17 #Anthony Evans III WR Fr. 5-11 165 HS Converse, Texas (Judson HS) 

17 Dan Jackson DB Sr. 6-1 200 2VL Gainesville, Ga. (North Hall HS) 

18 C.J. Smith WR RFr. 6-3 190 SQ Apopka, Fla. (Mount Dora HS) 

18 Xavian Sorey ILB RSo. 6-3 220 2VL Campbellton, Fla. (IMG Academy) 

19 Brock Bowers TE Jr. 6-4 240 2VL Napa, Calif. (Napa HS) 

19 Darris Smith OLB So. 6-5 240 1VL Baxley, Ga. (Appling Co. HS) 

20 Sevaughn Clark RB Sr. 6-1 215 2VL Dawsonville, Ga. (Dawson County HS) 

20 JaCorey Thomas DB So. 6-0 200 1VL Orlando, Fla. (Boone HS) 

22 Javon Bullard DB Jr. 5-11 195 2VL Milledgeville, Ga. (Baldwin HS) 

22 Branson Robinson RB So. 5-10 220 1VL Canton, Miss. (Germantown HS) 

23 De’Nylon Morrissette WR So. 6-1 200 1VL Stone Mountain, Ga. (North Cobb HS) 

23 Tykee Smith DB Sr. 5-10 205 1VL Philadelphia, Pa. (WVU / Imhotep Inst.) 

24 Malaki Starks DB So. 6-1 205 1VL Jefferson, Ga. (Jefferson HS) 

25 E.J. Lightsey ILB RFr. 6-2 223 IVL Fitzgerald, Ga. (Fitzgerald HS) 

26 Collin Drake QB RSo. 6-1 195 SQ Ennis, Texas (Ennis HS) 

26 #Sam M’Pemba OLB Fr. 6-3 2 45 HS Olivette, Mo. (IMG Academy) 

27 Sam Bush QB Fr. 5-11 185 HS Athens, Ga. (Athens Academy) 

27 ^Chris Peal DB Fr. 6-1 190 HS Charlotte, N.C. (Providence Day School) 

28 Walter Blanchard WR Fr. 6-1 195 HS Columbus, Ga. (Brookstone) 

29 Luke Bennett WR RFr. 5-11 175 SQ Blackshear, Ga. (Pierce County HS) 

29 #Gabe Harris Jr. OLB Fr. 6-4 245 HS Thomasville, Ga. (IMG Aacdemy) 

30 Daijun Edwards RB Sr. 5-10 201 3VL Norman Park, Ga. (Colquitt County HS) 

30 Terrell Foster ILB RFr. 6-1 220 SQ Kennesaw, Ga. (IMG Academy) 

31 Grant Briscoe WR RFr. 6-3 190 SQ Carrollton, Ga. (Carrollton HS) 

31 ^Kyron Jones ATH Fr. 6-0 200 HS Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Christian HS) 

32 Chaz Chambliss OLB Jr. 6-2 250 2VL Carrollton, Ga. (Carrollton HS) 

32 Cash Jones RB RSo. 6-0 182 1VL Brock, Texas (Brock HS) 

33 #C.J. Allen ILB Fr. 6-1 235 HS Barnesville, Ga. (Lamar County HS) 

35 Jacob Fleming DB RFr. 5-11 190 SQ Atlanta, Ga. (Westminster Academy) 

35 #Damon Wilson II OLB Fr. 6-4 235 HS Nokomis, Fla. (Venice HS) 

36 Colby Smith DB Sr. 5-10 175 SQ Danielsville, Ga. (Pres. College/Madison Co. HS) 

37 Izayah Reeves WR RSo. 5-11 175 TR Long Island, N.Y. (Charleston/Monocan HS) 

38 Patrick Taylor DB Jr. 6-0 175 SQ Johns Creek, Ga. (Johns Creek HS) 

39 Parker Jones DB RFr. 5-11 165 SQ Albany, Ga. (Deerfield-Windsor School) 

39 Collin Lark DB Jr. 6-0 198 HS Dallas, Texas (Dallas Jesuit HS) 

39 Miles Thornton RB RFr. 6-0 195 SQ Tyrone, Ga. (Sandy Creek HS) 

41 Denton Shamburger DB RFr. 6-0 185 SQ Atlanta, Ga. (Westminster School) 

41 ^Len’Neth Whitehead RB Jr. 6-2 220 TR Athens, Ga. (Tennessee/Athens Academy) 

42 Graham Collins ILB Jr. 6-2 215 SQ Atlanta, Ga. (Holy Innocents Episcopal School) 

43 Marek Briley WR Fr. 6-3 205 HS Buford, Ga. (North Gwinnett HS) 

43 Ali Hall DB RFr. 6-1 201 TR Jacksonville, Fla. (GMC/Westside HS) 

44 Cade Brock TE Jr. 6-0 250 SQ Subligna, Ga. (Darlington HS) 

44 #Jordan Hall DL Fr. 6-4 320 HS Jacksonville, Fla. (Westside HS) 

45 Jacob Hardie RB RFr. 5-9 180 SQ Olney, Md. (Our Lady of Good Counsel) 

46 George Vining WR Sr. 6-0 205 SQ Macon, Ga. (Tattnall Square Academy) 

47 Sam Shurtleff OLB Jr. 6-4 230 TR Watkinsville, Ga. (Nebraska/Oconee County HS) 

47 Will Taylor WR Fr. 6-3 190 HS Milton, Ga. (Cambridge HS) 

48 Joseph Daniels RB Gr. 5-10 188 SQ John’s Creek, Ga. (Indiana/Roswell HS) 

48 Cooper Johnson TE RFr. 6-4 220 SQ Cumming, Ga. (West Forsyth HS) 

49 Luke Collins OLB RSo. 6-2 245 SQ Birmingham, Ala. (Birmingham Prep) 

51 Will Snellings SN Fr. 6-2 220 HS Fayetteville, Ga. (Whitewater HS) 

52 Christen Miller DL RFr. 6-4 305 IVL Ellenwood, Ga. (Cedar Grove HS) 

53 Dylan Fairchild OL RSo. 6-5 315 1VL Cumming, Ga. (West Forsyth HS) 

54 ^Kelton SmithJr. OL Fr. 6-4 330 HS Columbus, Ga. (Carver HS) 

55 #Jamaal Jarrett DL Fr. 6-5 350 HS Greensboro, N.C. (Grimsley HS) 

55 Jared Wilson OL RSo. 6-3 310 2VL Winston-Salem, N.C. (West Forsyth HS) 

56 Micah Morris OL RSo. 6-6 330 1VL Kingsland, Ga. (Camden County HS) 

56 William Mote SN Sr. 6-2 230 3VL Hoover, Ala. (Spain Park HS) 

57 #Monroe Freeling OL Fr. 6-7 310 HS Isle of Palms, S.C. (Oceanside Collegiate Acad) 

58 Austin Blaske OL Jr. 6-5 310 2VL Faulkville, Ga. (South Effingham HS) 

59 ^Bo Hughley OL Fr. 6-7 280 HS Fairburn, Ga. (Langston Hughes HS) 

60 Henry Peagler OL Fr. 6-3 290 HS Blackshear, Ga. (Pierce County HS) 

63 Sedrick Van Pran OL Jr. 6-4 310 3VL New Orleans, La. (Warren Easton HS) 

65 Amarius Mims OL Jr. 6-7 340 2VL Cochran, Ga. (Bleckley County HS) 

66 Aliou Bah OL RFr. 6-5 320 SQ Memphis, Tenn. (IMG Academy) 

66 Jonathan Washburn SN RSo. 6-2 230 SQ Ringgold, Ga. (Heritage HS) 

67 Clinton Barlow DL Fr. 6-5 310 HS Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Catholic) 

68 Chris Brown OL Jr. 6-5 300 SQ Savannah, Ga. (Islands HS) 

69 Tate Ratledge OL RSo. 6-6 310 1VL Rome, Ga. (Darlington School) 

70 #Joshua Miller OL Fr. 6-4 300 HS Chesterfield, Va. (Life Christian Academy) 

71 EARNEST GREENE III OL RFR. 6-4 320 SQ LOS ANG, CA (ST. JOHN BOSCO HS) 

72 ^JAMAL MERIWEATHER OL FR. 6-6 287 HS BRUNSWICK, GA. (BRUNSWICK HS) 

73 XAVIER TRUSS OL SR. 6-7 320 3VL W. WARWICK, R.I. (BISHOP HENDRICKEN HS) 

74 DREW BOBO OL RFR. 6-5 305 SQ AUBURN, ALA. (AUBURN HS) 

76 MILES JOHNSON OL JR. 6-5 320 SQ BLUE RIDGE, GA. (FANNIN CO. HS) 

78 CHAD LINDBERG OL JR. 6-6 325 2VL LEAGUE CITY, TEXAS (CLEAR CREEK HS) 

78 NAZIR STACKHOUSE DL SR. 6-3 320 3VL STONE MOUNTAIN, GA. (COLUMBIA HS) 

79 GUS GAMMAGE OL FR. 6-5 306 HS CEDARTOWN, GA. (DARLINGTON SCHOOL) 

80 BRANDON MOODY WR JR. 5-7 1 65 TR MONROE, GA. (BERRY COL./MONROE AREA HS) 

81 DAVID LALAIAN TE FR. 6-4 225 HS MONROE, GA. (MONROE AREA HS) 

82 LOGAN JOHNSON WR RSO. 5-6 155 SQ B OGART, GA. (PRINCE AVE. CHRISTIAN) 

83 COLE SPEER WR SO. 5-11 185 1VL CALHOUN, GA. (CALHOUN HS) 

84 LADD MCCONKEY WR JR. 6-0 185 2 VL CHATSWORTH, GA. (NORTH MURRAY HS) 

85 DREW SHEEHAN TE SR. 6-2 240 SQ WOODSTOCK, GA. (KENN ST. / WOODSTOCK HS) 

86 DILLON BELL WR SO. 6-1 210 1VL HOUSTON, TEXAS (THE KINKAID SCHOOL) 

87 MEKHI MEWS WR RSO. 5-8 185 1VL GRAYSON, GA. (CENTRAL GWINNETT HS) 

88 #PEARCE SPURLIN III TE FR. 6-7 2 30 HS ROSEMARY BEACH, FLA. (S. WALTON HS) 

89 BRAXTON HICKS WR JR. 6-2 195 SQ TIGER, GA. (RABUN COUNTY HS) 

90 TRAMEL WALTHOUR DL SR. 6-3 270 3VL HINESVILLE, GA. (HUTCHINSON CC/ 

LIBERTY CO. HS) 

91 ^PEYTON WOODRING PK FR. 5-10 175 HS LAFAYETTE, LA. (ASCENSION EPISCOPAL HS) 

92 LIAM BADGER PK RSO. 6-0 170 TR CUMMING, GA. (KENNESAW STATE/ 

WEST FORSYTH) 

92 BRETT THORSON P SO. 6-2 220 1VL MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 

(PROKICK AUSTRALIA) 

93 WILL HATTAWAY PK FR. 6-0 185 HS EVANS, GA. (LAKESIDE HS) 

93 TYRION INGRAM-DAWKINS DL RSO. 6-5 280 2VL GAFFNEY, S.C. (GAFFNEY HS) 

94 HENRY BATES PK RFR. 5-11 170 SQ WAYCROSS, GA. (WARE COUNTY HS) 

94 JONATHAN JEFFERSON DL RSO. 6-3 295 2VL DOUGLASVILLE, GA. (DOUGLAS COUNTY HS) 

96 ZION LOGUE DL SR. 6-5 310 3VL LEBANON, TENN. (LEBANON HS) 

97 WARREN BRINSON DL SR. 6-4 305 3VL SAVANNAH, GA. (IMG ACADEMY) 

98 NOAH JONES P RSO. 6-0 165 SQ CAIRO, GA. (CAIRO HS) 

99 JARED ZIRKEL PK JR. 6-3 185 1VL KERRVILLE, TEXAS (TIVY HS) 

#2023 EARLY ENROLLEE; ^JUNE 2023 ARRIVAL 

PRONUNCIATIONS 

ALIOU BAH............................... UH-LOO BAH 

AUSTIN BLASKE............................... BLAS-KEE 

TROY BOWLES.........................................BOWLS 

JAVON BULLARD...............................JUH-VAHN 

CHAZ CHAMBLISS...........................CHAM-BLISS 

SEVAUGHN CLARK..........................SUH-VAUGHN 

DAVID DANIEL-SISAVANH............. SIS-UH-VAHN 

JAMON DUMAS JOHNSON.....JUH-MAHN DO-MAS 

DAIJUN EDWARDS...........................DAY-ZYAHN 

DAYLEN EVERETTE.............................. DAY-LYNN 

TERRELL FOSTER.................................TUH-RELL 

NYLAND GREEN...................................NY-LUND 

ZEED HAYNES..............ZEED RHYMES WITH SEED 

BO HUGHLEY..................................... HUGH-LEE 

TYRION INGRAM-DAWKINS..............TY-REE-AHN 

JAMAAL JARRETT...................................JUH-MALL 

KYRON JONES.........................................KYRUN 

DAVID LALAIAN...........................LUH-LAY-LEE-IN 

KAMARI LASSITER........................KUH-MARH-EE 

E.J. SIGHTSEY................................... LIGHT-SEE 

ZION LOGUE............................... ZI-ON LOWGUH 

MEKHI MEWS......MUH-KAI LIKE “NEWS” WITH AN “M” 

AMARIUS MIMS...................... UH-MARE-EE-US 

SMAEL MONDON................RHYMES WITH SMILE, 

.....................................RHYMES WITH LONDON 

DE’NYLON MORRISSEETTE...............DE-NYE-LUN 

SAM M’PEMBA...........................EM-PEM-BUH 

IZAYAH REEVES..............................EYE-ZAY-UH 

RODERICK ROBINSON......................ROD-ER-RICK 

MARCUS ROSEMY-JACKSAINT.....ROSE-UH-MEE 

DENTON SHAMBURGER.................. SHAM-BURGER 

SAM SHURTLEFF....................................SHIRTLUFF 

XAVIAN SOREY........ EGG-ZAY-VEE-AHN SORE-EE 

NAZIR STACKHOUSE......................... NAH-ZEER 

MALAKI STARKS..........................MAL-UH-KAI 

JACOREY THOMAS.............................JUH-COREY 

RARA THOMAS......................................RAH-RAH 

BROCK VANDAGRIFF......................VAN-DUH-GRIFF 

JALON WALKER..................................... JAY-LUN 

TRAMEL WALTHOUR........................... TRUH-MEL 

..........................WALL-THOUR (SOUNDS LIKE ‘OUR’) 

LEN’NETH WHITEHEAD.......................... LEN-NEETH 

MYKEL WILLIAMS.................................MY-KELL 

DAMON WILSON..................................DAY-MUHN 

RAYLEN WILSON.................................... RAY-LYNN 

JARED ZIRKEL..................................... ZER-KUL 


GEORGIA GIRLS: CLAIRE CRONK PG. 30 | GRAND GEORGIA COUPLES: BONNEY AND BILLY SHUMAN PG. 54 

PROUST Q&A: ZACH POWELL PG. 60 

SOCIAL 

GEORGIA-VANDY PHOTOS: PG. 32-50 

PHOTO BY: SARAH KATE CALL 


SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Lizzie Yandle, Ben Hallett, Jackson and Maria Keith, Drew and Mary Hay Charles, Reid and 

Katherine Schwartz, Hugh and Mollie McMillan, Cary Yandle, James and Lauren Schultz, 

Skooter and Emily Garrett, Cam Wilhoit, Jay and Molly Poston, Tyler Potepan, James and 

Mary Leith Lewis, Glenn and Catharine Brannan, Catherine Skeen, Emily Wilhoit, Leigh Claffey, 

Michael Brown, Preston and Sterling Busbee, Emmy Potepan, Emma Libleich, Alli Kinghorn 

and Bea Girnt 

MOLLY LLOYD - JAY POSTON WEDDING 

Jay Poston, Elly Cooper, Kaycee Poston, 

John Poston 

Sara Alias, Katie Lloyd, Cheri Leavy, 

Chris Lloyd 

Jeff Dantzler, Emily Dantzler, Chris Lloyd 

Mr. and Mrs. Poston 

Mary Leith Lewis, Catharine Brannan, Emily Garrett, 

Molly Poston, Leigh Claffey 

Cole Hixon Insurance • We’ve got you covered! 

Insurance professionals to help get you the right coverage at the right price- because 

our clients are #1, just like the Dawgs! 

Jay & Laura Hixon 

1640 PRINCE AVE | ATHENS, GA 30606 | (706) 353-8677 

www.ColeHixonInsurance.com 

nce 


Linda Cook, Patrick Haggard, Beth Haggard, Jack Davis, 

Ann Davis, Chris Lloyd 

Becky Blaelock, Don Blaelock 

Kelli Boyd, Molly Poston 

Glenn Brannan, Emily Garrett, Catharine Brannan, Mary Leith Lewis, 

James Lewis, Can Wilhoit, Skooter Garrett 

Tim Wallis, CeCe Wallis 

Patrick Haggard, 

Beth Haggard 

ULLA JOHNSON + HUNTER BELL 

AMANDA UPRICHARD + STAUD 

AGOLDE + DOLCE VITA + VERONICA BEARD 

MOTHER + SOFTWAVES + CELIAB 

LOVE THE LABEL + MARIE OLIVER 

RAG & BONE + SEA NY + KREWE 

195 COLLEGE AVENUE 

ATHENS, GA 

706.543.0702 

Cheri Leavy, Robin Lowe, Chris Lloyd 

Eleanor Alias, 

Molly Poston 


GEORGIA GIRLS 

SOCIAL 

3. 

Georgia Girls 

CLAIRE CRONK 

Cheri Leavy’s rapport with her favorite tastemakers and 

UGA Alumnae brings you plenty of doggone good inspiration! 

Foundation: 

2. 

Accolades: 

NAME: Claire Collier Cronk 

FAMILY: I met my husband in 8th grade 

and we both graduated from UGA in 1985. 

Although we’re both generationally native 

Atlantans, we now live in St Simons! I have 

two amazing daughters and two equally 

amazing sons-in-laws who both currently live 

in Atlanta. My two grandsons Bear and Brooks 

are my heart and soul. I also have the honor of 

helping care for my 92-year-old father who was a KA 

at UGA! 

HOMETOWN: When not in the Golden Isles, I enjoy writing in 

my cabin in North Georgia, traveling, playing pickleball and of 

course being with my daughters and two adorable grandsons 

who call me Honey! 

MAJOR: I was an Interior Design- Advertising major through the 

FACS school. I always thought I’d write for Southern Living! 

PROFESSION: As a creative (and a Gemini) I’ve had my hand 

in many different métiers! I feel like my latest journey as the face 

behind the blog @southern.pearlsofwisdom is a culmination of 

them all and I throughly love every minute of getting to know 

these amazing Southern women and their brands. 

I had the honor of my Interior 

Design work being featured 

on a tour of homes and a 

little unknown fact that I was 

Atlanta’s Junior Miss in 1980! 

‌ 

BOOK: Because I’m always writing, I’m 

always reading! Love anything by a Southern 

writer or about the South. Currently reading a Reese 

Witherspoon book club book: The Downstairs Girl by Stacey 

Lee (1) 

BLOG: Mrs Southern Social 

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 30 ISSUE TEN • FLORIDA 

Inspo: 

BRAND: I’ve had the honor of featuring 

so many amazing Southern brands on 

my site and I’m so proud of them all! But 

a few I adore are Kim at Lucy’s Market, 

Cindy with Sapelo Skin Care, Jesslyn with 

Biolyte and Leighton with Recruitment 

Ready. 

1.

5. 

gastronomy. Because my husband 

is an Emeritus board member of the 

Terry Business School and occasionally 

presents to the students, we have fun 

enjoying Athens on non game days! 

4. 

RESTAURANTS/BARS: Then- 

Davinci’s Pizza, Guthrie’s, Steverino’s and 

Sons of Italy, The Grill, O’Malleys; Now- 

The Last Resort, Five and Ten, Alumni 

Cookie Dough. 

ATHENS/ CAMPUS LANDMARK: 

The State Botanical Gardens, 40 Watt 

Club, The Tree That Owns Itself and 

Sanford Stadium. 

FASHION DESIGNER: Southern designers like 

Sue Sartor (2), Hunter Bell and Nardos Designs. 

CHEF: Ina Garten (3) 

AUTHORS: Celestine Sibley, Julia Reed and 

Margaret Mitchell (4) 

QUOTE: 

“Be the woman 

who crowns 

others” 

Athens + UGA: 

DESCRIBE ATHENS IN FIVE WORDS OR 

LESS: Classic, friends, music, history, football, 


MEMORY WHILE IN SCHOOL: 

Themed fraternity parties. Running back 

from class to watch Luke and Laura get 

married on General Hospital! (5) 

GAMEDAY RITUAL: These days we 

take a long walk on the beach or take a 

spin class, watch GameDay, stop at Two 

Friends Bubble Bar for the perfect wine, 

then watch the game with friends! 

TAILGATE: Pimento cheese with 

Terrapin Ridge Farms Gourmet Hot 

Pepper Bacon Jam and a Bloody Mary 

with ALL the fixins including candied 

bacon and fresh Georgia shrimp! (6) 

31 ISSUE TEN • FLORIDA 

6. 

@ameliasapparel 

www.ameliasonmain.com 

(706) 850-6373 

1738 S Lumpkin Street, Athens 

(706) 342- 2986 

172 South Main Street, Madison

SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Brock Bowers, Robert Saye 

Drew Roper 

Vance Leavy, Cheri Leavy, John Ellington, 

Sandra Kate Ellington, John Parker 

GEORGIA - 37, VANDY - 20 

Craig Meeks, Scott Marshall, 

Rob Matre 

Burama Jatta, Chad Cobb, Grant Futch, 

Garrett Futch 

Ed Ferguson, Shannon Ferguson, Hart Roberts, 

Shooter Roberts, Jennifer Trapnell, Jeffrey Trapnell 

Alexa is an Athens, Ga, based interior designer with projects 

nationwide who is known for bringing a fresh perspective to traditional 

design through color and pattern. 

www.alexastevensonid.com | info@alexastevensonid.com | 

@alexastevenson 


Our local lenders have you 

covered from end-zone to 

end-zone! 

95 th Anniversary 

www.fabt.bank 

As your community bank, we make all of our loan decisions 

right here, in Athens. That means local decisions on local 

dollars invested back in our community to help local 

businesses grow and succeed. 

Helping your business is our business. 

Jarrod Prickett 

Executive VP, Chief Lending Officer 

NMLS# 509039 

Miller Heath 

Assistant VP, Retail Lender 

NMLS# 1825346 

John Loftis 

Senior VP, Market Executive, 

Commercial Lending 

NMLS# 469338

SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Gabin Digbeu, Smael Mondon, 

Dissa Mondon 

Mary Delp, Chris Delp, Kim Speer 

Logan Henderson, Erin Murphy, Kelsey Knott, Taylor Phillips, 

Molly Gilson, Carson Ratley, Grace Jones 


Sarah Mills Bennett, Catherine Benefield, Anna Landgraff, 

Cheri Leavy, Josie Leavy 

Kate Douglass, Sutton Eady, Hallie Boswell 

Laurie Cooper, Sissy Jones, 

Wayne Cooper, Clair Jones 

Alice and Olivia 

Shoshanna 

Simkhai 

Saylor 

Hutch 

Paige 

Philippe Model 

and many more 

You might need 

a bigger closet! 

www.monkeesofathens.com 

1059 Baxter St. Suite A 

Athens GA 30606 

706.850.8577 

@monkeesathens 

Anna Dilworth 

A Full Service Luxury Travel Agency 

Anna@Jetsetworldtravel.com | @anna.dilworth.travel 

www.jetsetworldtravel.com 


Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler A small sampling of menu items ... 

WHERE SMART DAWGS 

EAT AND DRINK! 

Oysters Rockefeller 

Baked with a topping of spinach, celery, and onion 

Classic Crawfish Etouffee 

Rich Creole stew of crawfish tails served over rice 

Crab Cakes 

Lump crab sautéed and served over stewed corn 

with remoulade 

Stuffed Filet 

Stuffed with bleu cheese and port wine sauce. 

Served with potatoes and chef’s vegetables. 

Carpetbagger 

Topped with fried oysters and bernaise sauce. 

Served with potatoes and chef’s vegetables. 

Seafood Jambalaya 

Redfish, oysters, shrimp and crawfish over a 

chicken and andouille jambalaya 

TAILGATE MENU AVAILABLE 

420 MACON HWY | ATHENS | 706-548-3359 

GEORGESLOWCOUNTRYTABLE.COM 

Did you know that George’s owner 

Reggie DiSante was a protégé of 

Harry Bissett’s founder George 

Davis? Come and experience many 

of the classics from those glory days 

of the ‘80s, ‘90s and ‘00s!

SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Bobby Fletcher, Denise Fletcher, Vicki Moyd, Jim Moyd 

Sullivan Beasley, Marion Norman 

Will Kahlstorf, 

Bert “Photo-Bomber” Hill, 

Matt Moseley, 

Bradley Lastinger 


Cole Lukens, Wes Frisbee, 

Blake Catlett 

John Sorrow, John Arthur Daniel 

(front) Catherine Benefield, Kendall Champlin, Jarrett Broome, 

Sarah Mills Bennett, Sarah Kate Call (back) Tom Call, Vance Leavy, 

Anna Landgraff, Kelly Call, Cheri Leavy, Josie Leavy, Chandler Call 

Why Regions and 

Todd Cowart? 

• Competitive Jumbo Rates, 100% Financing Options, 

Doctor Loans, One-Time Close Construction-to-Perm Loans 

• We Keep 100% of Our Loans 

• Regions serves customers in 23 states across the country 

• Region’s Chairman Club Award Winner 2014-2022 

• I have 15 year old triplets and need every loan I can get! 

ATHENS RESIDENT. DAWG FAN. 

Contact me today to learn more. It would be a pleasure to help. 

Todd Cowart, 

Mortgage Lender 

CELL: 678-488-5308 | todd.cowart@regions.com 

NMLS ID: 310972 


VISIT ATLANTA’S AWARD-WINNING SHOWROOMS 

Interior Design: Brian Watford Interiors l Architecture: Castro Design Studio l Builder: Ladisic Fine Homes l Cabinetry: Marion & Bond Millwork 

CONSTRUCTION RESOURCES SUPPORTS THE DAWGS 

CR Design Center & 

Indoor Slab Gallery 

224 Rio Circle 

Decatur, GA 30030 

404.378.3132 

CR Flooring 

4969 Roswell Rd. 

Suite 130 

Sandy Springs, GA 30342 

770.945.4097 

CR Design Studio 

(COMING SOON) 

3098 Roswell Rd. 

Atlanta, GA 30305 

470.305.6289 

Sewell Appliance 

7455 Trowbridge Rd. 

Sandy Springs, GA 30328 

404.255.0640 

CR Lighting, Fireplace, 

& Garage Door 

252 Rio Circle 

Decatur, GA 30030 

770.932.3585 

Scan to find a 

showroom near you!

SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Austin Deaton, 

Christie Deaton, 

Donny Deaton 

(front) Chris Raines; (middle) Jessica Hillis, 

Caroline Carter, Natalie Hampson, Lillie Cary, 

Daphne Walker; (back) Justin Loedding, 

Justin Aldridge, Trey Story 

Susan Stachura, Adrainne Denton, Meg Boothey 


Owen Roberts, Matt Moseley, 

Kathryn Carlock 

Rene’ Starrett, 

John Starrett 

Charlie Thompson, Andrew Hill, Bert Hill, Duke Lindsay, Jennifer McElroy, 

Jay Boswell, Tom Allen, Lyn Hill, Laura Allen, Laura Hill, Joanna Hill, 

Doree Boswell, Clay McElroy, Drew Hill, Tom Call 

Your Luxury Market Leader 

Your local connection in the Golden Isles 

to the World of Real Estate 

912-638-5161 • seaislandproperties.com 

351 Sea Island Road, St. Simons Island, GA 31522 


Dress up 

your 

gameday with 

scarves 

Wells McConnell, Founder of Swells 

UGA, class of 2021 

Celebrate 

the big wins with 

a festive 7-Layer Sprinkle 

Cake 

Scan to Shop 

www.carolinescakes.com 

www.shopswells.com

SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Kyle Seymour, Daniels Waters, James Stone, Blake Seymour 

Jimmy Rector, Gianni Shipman 

Ellie Strauss, Laura Strauss, 

Evangeline Strauss, 

Gregory Strauss 


Jeff Sewell, Robby Fullerton, Kim Fullerton, Muffin Sewell Becky Parker, Allanah O’Quinn Robert Cook, Tap Bennett 

St. Simons 

Menswear | Leather Goods | Golf Apparel 

Luggage | Knives | Candles & Gifts 

"LADY DAWG" 

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HEADQUARTERS 

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10/26 10/27 10/28 

See our complete collection at 

Bullington SSI or stevebullington.com 

36oo Frederica Road | 912.771.8457 | SteveBullington.com 

SINCE 1974 

SINCE 1974 

CLOTHING CLOTHING 0-16 0-16 AND AND 0X-3X 0X-3X • ACCESSORIES • ACCESSORIES • GIFTS GIFTS • SHOES SHOES 

1616 1616 Frederica Frederica Road Road • SSI • SSI •• 912-638-3995 

www.maggiesssi.com 

10:00-5:00 • Monday-Saturday 

• T 


105 Main St., Plantation Village 

St. 105 

Simons Main MAIN ST., St., Island, 

PLANTATION Plantation GA 31522 

VILLAGE Village 

912.638.1144 St. St. Simons • GaCoastRealty.com 

Island, GA 

GA 

31522 

31522 

ST. SIMONS ISLAND • SEA ISLAND • BRUNSWICK 

912.638.1144 • GaCoastRealty.com 

A leading real estate team in Coastal Georgia 

Buying • Selling • Vacation Rentals 

Long-term Buying Rentals • Selling • Property • Vacation Management Rentals 

Long-term Rentals • Property Management 

CLICK THE COAST and make your 

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NEXT TRIP TO THE GOLDEN ISLES 

www.GaCoastRealty.com 

A SMART MOVE 

Teamwork, dedication, and passion: 

Not Teamwork, only do these dedication, traits represent and passion: a true 

Georgia Not only Bulldog, these but traits they’re represent also what a true our 

team Georgia of experienced Bulldog, but professionals they’re also (and what our 

• REPRESENTING BUYERS & SELLERS 

Georgia team of Alumni) experienced are made professionals of. With over (and 

• VACATION RENTALS 

ninety Georgia years Alumni) of combined are made experience, of. With over we 

• LONG-TERM RENTALS 

work ninety hard years to get of you combined the results experience, you expect. we 

• PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 

work hard to get you the results you expect. 

View our listings with online floor plans, 

photographs, View our listings virtual with tours online and floor features. plans, 

Preview photographs, our outstanding virtual tours selection and features. of homes, 

vacation Preview rental our outstanding cottages, condos, selection and of our homes, 

long vacation term unfurnished rental cottages, rentals condos, all online, and our 

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or call us for more information at: 

A TRADITION OF TRUST 

GOOD LUCK 

1.800.639.1144 912.638.1144 912.638.1144 

1.800.639.1144 912.638.1144 

WWW.GACOASTREALTY.COM 

ST. SIMONS ISLAND • SEA ISLAND • BRUNSWICK 

ST. SIMONS A leading ISLAND real estate • team SEA in Coastal ISLAND Georgia • BRUNSWICK 

A leading real estate team in Coastal Georgia 

Chandra Kendall 

ABR, 

Dana 

CRS 

Hill 

GRI 

Chandra RealtorKendall 

ABR, CRS GRI 

Teri Moore Tina Fallon Karen Mumford Nancy Phelan Freddy Stroud Desiree Varnedoe Sarah Broyles 

Teri 

Realtor 

Moore Chrissy 

Realtor 

Johnston Tina Fallon 

Realtor Elizabeth Smith GRI 

Desiree Varnedoe 

Broker 

Sarah Broyles 

Rental Manager Emily Wages Rental Freddy Agent Stroud 

Realtor Teri Moore Realtor Tina Fallon Realtor Karen Mumford Marketing Nancy Phelan Rental Manager Freddy Rental StroudAgent 

Desiree Rental Varnedoe Division Sarah Broker Broyles 

Realtor 

Realtor 

Realtor Coordinator GRI 

Broker Rental Manager Rental Agent

SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Bobby Molleur, Kelsey Molleur, Hillary Tanner, Matt Tanner 

Caelinn Treacy, Ella Treacy, 

Meghan Coleman 

(front) Gavino Tello, Dylan Pollock 

(back) Will Grogan, Luke Dinkla, 

Travis Mansfield 


Mark Crosby, 

Samantha Crosby 

Hadley Wilson, Reid Wilson 

(front) Greg Ehlers, Charles Mathis, Tom Stovall, Mike Burroughs; (back) 

Betty Angevine, Lochie Bumgarner, Angela McCullough, Harry Angevine, 

Terry Graham 

J O I N U S I N W E L C O M I N G 

V I E T R I F O U N D E R 

SUSAN GRAVELY 

AS SHE DEBUTS HER NEWEST 

COOKBOOK AND MEMOIR 

ITALY ON A PLATE 

OCTOBER 26TH | 4 TO 7 PM | THE BUBBLE BAR 

Enjoy Italian wine and 

light bites as Susan 

signs books & 

shares her story 


SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Carol Kirven, Trey Kirven 

Quan Brown, Noah Willmer 

Lee Waldo, Mike Malcom, Roy Roberts, Richard Hester, Greg Rawlins 


Kathie Davis, Abbey Jane Davis, 

Madeigh Reust Ellis Godshall, Lynn Breedlove John Wingfield, Will Wingfield, Fran Wingfield, Terry Wingfield 

ATTORNEYS AT LAW 

22 YEARS OF SERVICE 

PUT MY EXPERTISE TO WORK FOR YOU 

WE ARE LOCAL. 

WE ARE GEORGIA. 

WE ARE BULLDAWGS. 

706-354-4000 

bbga.com 

YOUR TRUSTED REAL ESTATE ADVISOR 

HALLY 

DEMENT 

Athens Office, Founding Member, Realtor ® 

o. 706.995.7500 | c. 404.771.1017 

HALLYDEMENT@ANSLEYRE.COM 


STYLING SINCE 2003 

Donie Lochan, Nimesh Patel, Tom Wegner, Tom Ennis 

Jerry Tassa, Pierce Tassa 

Elizabeth Townley, 

Tony Townley 

Willow Whitney, Neil Whitney, Walker Whitney 

(front) Laine Turner, Annie O’Neill; (back) Allie Owens, 

Maddie Hoffmann, Emily Reichart, Hayden Westbrook 

Frank Anderson, 

Christine Anderson 

Robert Boone, Aizhia Poblete 

Cody Ellis, Greg Manley 

Sorella Style Box 

Fashion at your 

doorstep curated by 

owners Deidra Smith 

& Erin Kovacs 

Sanford Caroline 

Neel, John Neel, 

Summer Dawn Neel 


Dawn Newsome, Leighanne Johnson, Barbara Smith, 

Dinah Posey 

45 ISSUE TEN • FLORIDA 

(478) 476 -8600 

@shopsorellamacon 

www.shopsorellamacon.com

SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Hamilton Culpepper, 

Jackson Muschamp, 

Payton Bowles 

Elaine Metcalf, Abby Rose 

Elizabeth Oliver, Monik Brinson, Nikki Sisavanh, Caroline Brinson 


Rob Hardell, Sarah Burnett, Sarah Hardell, 

Anne Hardell, Robert Hardell 

Megan Manly, 

John Ellington 

Keith Barker, Ryan Wright, Warren Bowers, Dani Wright 

“Packers of the finest certified Wild Georgia Shrimp” 

YOUR BEST BEACH BUDDY 

Large selection of dog collars, 

harnesses and leashes in 

all sizes and themes - beach, 

Your Best Beach Buddy 

novelty, collegiate or training. 

Large Selection of Dog Collars, Harnesses and Leashes! 

Choose your theme: Beach, Novelty, Collegiate or Training. 

Teacup to Dane sizes available! Toys, toys and more toys! 

Specialty treats, Bandanas, Clothing and Gifts. 

MAKE YOUR DOG AN 

Public Market open 9am to 5pm 

Located on Blythe Island Hwy. 

*Shrimping season may affect effect hours* 

Stop by and check out our selection of 

finfish, oysters, clams and of course our 

certified Wild Georgia Shrimp! 

We carry 

MAKE YOUR DOG AN 

410 Mallery Street 

St. Simons Island, GA 31522 

(912) 506-9769 

www.facebook.com/IslandDogSSI 

lynnklimp@goldenislespetservices.com 

912-264-5340 

Check us out online! @anchoredshrimp 

WWW.ANCHOREDSHRIMP.COM 

412 Mallery Street • St. Simons Island, GA 

(912) 506-9769 • islanddogssi.com 

Toys • Special Treats • Bandanas • Clothing • Gifts 


STOP BY 

TO SEE OUR 

SELECTION 

OF GEORGIA 

BULLDAWG 

MERCHANDISE 

• Easy Prescription Refills 

• Simple prescription transfers 

• Express delivery 

• Compounding Coming Soon 

• Immunizations (flu, new COVID 

boosters, and more) 

• $0.99 Soft Serve Ice Cream Cones 

• Medical equipment 

• Pet care 

• EzPzPak pouch packaging 

• Boutique clothing & accessories 

• Gifts with Free gift wrapping 

Monday-Friday: 9a.m.-7p.m. • Saturday: 11a.m.-5p.m. • Sunday: Closed 

3603 Frederica Rd. • SSI, GA 31522 • 912-357-2357 

fredericapharmacy.com 

LOOK your BEST to WIN the GAME 

and the PARTY … GO DAWGS! 

All Clothing 

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the 

yellow canary 

(912) 638-4061 

3600 Frederica Rd #7, St. Simons Island 

CAMP 

Established in 1933 

CHATTOOGA 

Camp Chattooga 

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Located In Beautiful North Georgia Mountains 

Tallulah Falls 

GEORGIA 

Established in 1898 

A 

C 

Athens FOR BOYS Y Camp 

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Emphasis on Christian values | Located on 600 acres | Separate boys and girls facilities 

One week sessions | Resident & Day Camps | Traditional & Adventure programs 

“Where God and good times are friends” | www.ayccamps.org 


SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Bill Manson, Kenneth Carter, 

Kammie Carter 

Steven Haugabook, 

Sally Haugabook 

Antoun Logue, Shena Smith, Justin Armstrong, Bryson Logue, 

Justin Logue, Deidra Young, Quinnishia Taylor, Maurice Dobson 


Brian King, Levi King, 

Courtney King, Monny Mosley 

(back)Geri Coleman, Wade Coleman Sr., 

Wade Coleman III, Jim Coleman, 

(front)Harrison Coleman, Hammy Culpepper 

(front) Lizzy Smith, Annabel Santoli, Layton Powell, 

Nicole Renshaw; (back) Mary Katherine Fowlkes, 

Sophie Speno, Emmary Koenig, Lauren Waters, 

Elizabeth Oliver, Caroline Daniels 

Get there 

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The Rushmore has reinvented the 

traditional bed & breakfast with 

luxurious suites in the lively Five 

Points neighborhood. 

Each unique in design, 

all suites have a spacious 

bathroom en suite with bespoke 

linens and fine cosmetics. 

The Rushmore offers catered 

breakfast each morning and 

an afternoon tea. 

The three-level house has several 

common spaces for guests to 

enjoy during their stay and 

is walking distance to restaurants 

and shops in Five Points. 

STAYATHBNB.COM | 1175 S MILLEDGE AVE | 706.850.0902 


SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Brittney McConkey, 

Sydney Horne, 

Hinton McConkey 

Katherine Ennis, Tom Ennis, Hannah Patel 

Sy Allen, McCartney Holland, Toby Williams 


Amelia Bibler, 

Kate Thompson 

Chandler Shields, Kendall Williams, Pam Shields, Wade Shields, 

Cathy Long, David Long 

Ellis Miller, Betsy Sumerford, 

Andrews Sumerford, Nate Miller, 

Harlow Sumerford, Rees Sumerford 

Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty | (706) 543-4000 | UpchurchRealty.com 

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223 MaLlErY StReEt • St. SiMoNs IsLaNd, Ga 

912-634-5515 • PalmersVillageCafe.com 

549 OceAn BoUleVaRd • St. SiMoNs IsLaNd, Ga 

WE CATER! 912-634-5168 • PorchSSI.com 

A Better Healthcare 

Experience 

Serving Athens Residential 

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How Can We 

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• Premier In-Home Care Services 

• Nurse Care Management 

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• In Home Lab Draws, Injections, 

Medication Management, 

and More! 

Amy Pierce, 

RN, BSN, CMC 

Founder and Co-Owner 

coastalcarepartners.com 

(912)598-6312 


CHERI’S SHORE THINGS... 

BY: CHERI LEAVY 

1. 

2. 

3. 

GEORGIA 

10. 4. 

9. 

FLORIDA 

5. 

ORS 

E FILL 

(1) Onward Reserve X Southern Soul Barbecue 

– Visit Onward Reserve’s airstream at 

Southern Soul BBQ October 25-28 for 

barbecue and Bulldog gear for men! 

(2) Beaus & Babes Boutique – The little 

dawgs need Bulldog attire too for our 

Golden Isles home game Georgia- Florida! (3) 

Maggie’s Boutique – Maggie’s is known as “Lady Dawg” 

Headquarters on St. Simons Island since 1974! (4) Eastwind Designs – 

Logo Colorways 

Shopeastwinddesigns.com for this acrylic tray for your next game watching 

party - designed by local Bentley Kaufman. (5) Planter’s Exchange X 

Halyards – Visit the 1st Annual Bulldawg Market & Tailgate in the courtyard 

at Planter’s Exchange for Halyards food THESE truck CAN and BE USED unique UGA paintings, clothing and more! 

WITH 1 OR 2 COLORS 

(6) Two Friends – Stop by Two Friends on GA/FLA Thursday evening from 4-7 pm to meet the 

founder of Vietri as she signs her memoir cookbook and sip Italian nibbles and wines from the 

Bubble Bar with Catherine (pictured)! (7) Frederica Pharmacy – Check out their great selection 

of Georgia Bulldawg merchandise!(8) Bullington Clothing – Visit Rosie at Bullington’s and shop 

a collection of collegiate belts as well as UGA hats, shirts, vests and more! (Visit Island Dog on 

Mallery too if looking for great harnesses and collars for pets to show their team spirit.) 

(9) Bailey Boys – Georgia girls of all ages want to show their team spirit! (10) The Yellow 

Canary – Dawgs and Gators in for a ROMP in Jacksonville at World’s Largest Outdoor 

Cocktail Party so be sure you have the best OOTD like this red romper! 

6. 

8. 

7. 

We believe magic comes from bringing people together 

TO #CONNECTCOLLABORATECREATE. 

The Southern Coterie … where beautiful ideas take root 

and our members and Summit alums grow and bloom together! 

JOIN US 

#TSCSUMMIT 

on Sea Island, Georgia set for 

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Co-founders Whitney Long 

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Photo: Kelli Boyd 

JOIN THE SOUTHERN C | EST. NOVEMBER 2011 | THESOUTHERNC.COM 


HVAC SERVICE SO GOOD YOU'LL 

TELL YOUR MAMA 'N THEM! 

(Ask us about our referral program!) 

NOW CHEERIN' ON THE DAWGS FROM: 

ATHENS 

Heating + Cooling 

Services you can 

count on in BOTH 

of your favorite 

places! 

ST. SIMONS 

706-543-2141 912-648-2883 


GRAND 

Georgia Couples 

LORAN SMITH 

BONNEY and BILLY SHUMAN 

Billy Shuman met Bonney Stamper at a fraternity party in 

Athens when they were undergraduates at the University 

of Georgia but went their separate ways after four years on 

campus, which brings about an interesting and compelling 

explanation. 

Bonney was a serious student, enrolled in the Terry College of Business 

and was headed to an exalted business career while Billy was in no rush 

to be fitted with cap and gown. He was enjoying life and what better 

place to do that than in Athens, Georgia, when the Bulldogs were 

winning big with Hershel “running over people.” 

The co-eds were charming and pretty, the fall and spring were 

magnificent, the parties were great, and life was just too good to worry 

about progress toward graduation. He was attending class and making 

good grades but was frequently changing majors — life was good. 

“Then my dad pulled my scholarship,” Billy laughs. Billy was not a 

wayward soul, not the prodigal son — he just had a degree timetable 

that was out of sync with his dad’s. Soon he was back home in 

Savannah, gainfully employed and finishing degree requirements at 

Armstrong State. 

By that time Bonney was well established in the business world, a 

co-founder of Bar Code Systems in 1983, which later became Stratix 

Corporation. Her resume notes that, “Stratix helped hundreds of 

end users, distributors and other organizations gain a competitive 

advantage by utilizing bar coding and other forms of automatic data 

capture.” She served as President and Chief Executive officer until 

selling the company in 2011. 

She is one of the most accomplished businesswomen graduates of the 

University of Georgia. Her time with Stratix saw her become President 

of AIM USA, the automatic data capture trade association, and she was 

a board member of “Women in Packaging.” She served on the Georgia 

Women’s Business Council. 

Meanwhile, Billy found his way to Chicago where he began a career 

in commodity trading, enjoying the Windy City’s sports teams, the 

Bears, Michael Jordan and the Bulls, and the White Sox. Being a 

devout Braves fan, he could not pull for the Cubs although he loved 

the singular and extraordinary environment of Wrigley Field. The 

Chicago of the 80s, “Old Chicago,” he says, was a terrific experience — 

except for the harsh winters. 

While Bonney and Billy chose separate career paths, they remained 

diehard Dawg fans and met up again at a wedding of friends. Soon 

they were an item, married and settled in Atlanta. Billy commuted 

to Chicago while Bonnie traveled the country and internationally — 

everywhere from Canada to Japan, to the United Kingdom to Mexico to 

Australia but reserved commitment to Athens on fall gamedays. (She 

traveled to all 50 states before she turned 50, a personal point of pride). 

She always had a penchant for combining work and play, which was 

underscored when their daughter, Mary Ellen, a Double Dawg with a 

BBA from Terry, and law degree from UGA, (they also have a son, Billy 

Jr., who played golf at Furman and has a Masters from UGA) signed a 

grant-in-aid to play golf for the Bulldogs. Wherever the Lady Dawg golf 

team played, Bonney and Billy made every effort to join them. 

The best of times came when they settled in St. Simons where 

Billy turned his business attention to real estate which included 

the purchasing of pecan farms near Marshallville, where he enjoys 

spending time. 

There are fish to catch, golf to play on some of the best courses in the 

world, Dawgs to patronize, and now that Bonney has retired, they can 

join all the tailgate parties and any noteworthy event or celebration in 

Athens. 

They are active alumni. Bonney serves as a Trustee of the UGA 

Foundation and recently served as President of the UGA Alumni 

Association. She enjoys being a UGA Mentor and was a founding 

member of the Sea Island Scholars program through the Terry Women’s 

Initiative. 

Locally, she is an emeritus board member of the Communities of 

Coastal Georgia Foundation and is currently the Treasurer of Christ 

Church, Frederica. 

For Billy, no one in Southeast Georgia holds greater antipathy for the 

Florida Gators than this pecan grove aficionado. His anti-Gator golf 

outing (Gators Eat Boogers) is one of the most popular in the Golden 

Isles to take place during the annual Georgia-Florida weekend. 

Bonney and Billy Shuman, Damn Good Dawgs, who have traveled 

much of the world, are now happy to be homebodies in their 

forthcoming golden years in the Golden Isles. 


edwardjones.com | Mem 

> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC 



PEPPER CAJUN PEANUTS! 

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THE DONALD ROSS GEM 

OF THE GOLDEN ISLES 

“YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE HERE 

TO BE A MEMBER HERE” 

“you don’t have to live here 

to be a member here” 

The Donald Ross Gem of the Golden Isles 

BRUNSWICK COUNTRY CLUB 

brunswickcountryclub.com 

brunswickcountryclub.com Dan Hogan, 912-264-4377, | 912-264-4377 ext 5 

BREAKFAST available all day 

Classic lunch options + specials 

Monday-Friday | 7am-2pm | Saturday-Sunday | 8am-2pm 

408 Mallery Street | SSI | 912.634.7772 

Located in the Village between Parker’s + The Village Inn & Pub 

Non-Resident 

Membership Rates 

Single : $155 / month * 

Family: $195 / month * 

*Does not include initiation fee 

Book your 

special event 

now! 


SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Mike Gravely, Takeo Spikes, 

Susan Gravely 

Michael Rutherford, 

Kevin Tolbert 

Dan Conger, Dan Evans 

Gary Armour, Skip Balcomb 

TOUCHDOWN CLUB OF ATHENS 

Featuring Takeo Spikes and Jon Stinchcomb 

Hal Jackson, Bryan Turk, 

Steven Haugabook 

Judson Guest, Anthony Ferrando, 

James Cornell, Austin Bushatz 

Tom Dean, Neil Stevens, Carl Parks 

Eric Ayers, Courtney Ayers 

Happy Hour 

4-6 PM 

Sunday-Friday 

310 Redfern Village 

Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 

www.gnatslanding.com 

912-638-7378 

200 Redfern Village | Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 

(912) 634-0073 | www.bubbagarcias.com 


FAN SHOTS 

SOCIAL 

Adam Lefkowitz, 

David Lefkowitz 

Gary Mahon, 

Tamara Freeman 

Mack Guest, Austin Bushatz , Anthony Ferrando, 

Bill Jackson, James Cornell, Jon Stinchcomb 

Eric Rhodes, Stephen Hanawalt 

Takeo Spikes, 

Kevin Price 

Woody Fields, Bob Shields, 

Gino Gianfrancesco 

CJ Cherre, Loran Smith, 

Jon Stinchcomb, Lawton Stephens 

Taylor Broun, Sam McElreath, 

Reagan Wolfe 

Read 

Darrell Huckaby ONLINE … 

Twice weekly—straight to your inbox! 

Darrell Huckaby 

The Wit and Wisdom of the Last Southerner 

Scan QR code or go to … 

www.darrellhuckaby.net/subscribe 


M I X T A P E 

playlist featured by Carter King 

brought to you by BULLDAWG ILLUSTRATED + LAST RESORT GRILL 

In honor of Athens’ distinction as one of the best music towns in the nation and the original 

Last Resort opened as a music club in 1966. Those who can still remember the tunes of such 

passionate performers as the Reverend Pearly Brown, Towns Van Zandt, Doc Watson, Jimmy 

Buffett, and even Steve Martin may feel nostalgic at the mere mention of the club’s name. 

Today that passion is found in Last Resort Grill’s menu and atmosphere, pulling directly from 

the building’s eclectic history. - Compiled by: Cheri Leavy and Hamilton Culpepper 

CARTER KING 

NAME: Carter King 

FAMILY: Parents: Tom (UGA ‘68) and Susan King; 

Siblings: Brooks King (UGA ‘03) and Courtney King 

HOME TOWN: Atlanta, Georgia 

Photo by 

Tess Adams 

CURRENT TOWN: Nashville, Tennessee 

WHAT YEARS AT UGA: 2005-2009, in 

Athens until 2012 

SCHOOL/DEGREE: Franklin, Economics 

PROFESSION: Founding member of 

Futurebirds 

TIES TO ATHENS MUSIC: Playing in bands in 

Athens since 2005 

FAVE BAND YOU HAVE SEEN IN 

ATHENS: 

To name a few of many: Dexateens on the front 

lawn of Chi Phi in 2005. My Morning Jacket ‘Under 

the Sea Prom’ at 40 Watt 2006 was pretty mindblowing. 

Drive-By Truckers ‘Dirt Underneath Tour’ 

2007 at Georgia Theatre. 

Pleas - Widespread Panic 

Deacon Blues - Steely Dan 

Eyes of the World - Grateful Dead 

Carter's Playlist 

Secret Messages - Electric Light Orchestra 

The Working Man - Creedence Clearwater Revival 

Door Number Three - Jimmy Buffet 

Bertha - Grateful Dead (Live) 

Ill Fitting Suit - Color Green 

Right Hand on my Heart - The Whigs 

Pleas - Widespread Panic 

Saddle in the Rain - John Prine 

Dooley’s Junkyard Dogs - James Brown 

Gone Dead Train - Randy Newman 

Highwayman - The Highwaymen 

Until the Led - Vic Chesnutt 

Deacon Blues - Steely Dan 

Someone Great - LCD Soundsystem 

Keith and Donna - Futurebirds 

Grave Architecture - Pavement 

Eyes of the World - Grateful Dead 

The Pilgrim, Chapter 33 - Kris Kristofferson 

By The Time I Get to Phoenix - Glen Campbell 

This Wheel’s on Fire - The Byrds (Live) 

Check out the 

playlist on 

The Last Resort Grill serves 

southwestern-inspired southern 

cuisine in beautiful downtown 

Athens, Georgia. 

DINNER SERVICE 

SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AT 5 PM 

BRUNCH 

SERVED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 10AM - 2PM 

174/184 W. Clayton St. | Athens, Georgia | 706-549-0810 | www.lastresortgrill.com 

University of Georgia Alumni 

and Last Resort Owners 

Melissa Clegg and Tom Call 


Welcoming New 

Patients! 

We are welcoming new smiles in our newly renovated 

and expanded office and we want to meet you. 

Zachary Powell, DMD 

Give our office a call today to schedule personalized time with one of our experienced professionals! 

Implant Dentistry Cosmetic Dentistry Preventive Dentistry Family Dentistry 

288 Redfern Village, SSI | 9 1 2 . 6 3 8 . 9 0 9 0 | Monday - Thursday 8am - 4pm | WELCOMING NEW SMILES 

SAMPLE FROM THE LIVE AUCTION 

Gala Chairs: Holly Kinsey, 

Bentley Kaufman, Kelly Harman, 

Kimsey Langford, Molly Nobles 

2024 Open 

Championship 

Package 

Details: Four tickets for all four days of the 2024 Open Championship in 

Royal Troon, Scotland. Package includes a signed Open 2023 flag by the 

2023 Champion Golfer of the Year and UGA Grad Brian Harman, photoshoot 

with the Claret Jug at Frederica Golf Club by photographer Lindsey 

Stewart (eligible to use up until the month before 2024 open championship) 

and a framed picture of the Claret Jug itself. 

SAMPLES FROM THE SILENT AUCTION 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH 

AT SEVEN O’ CLOCK IN THE EVENING 

FREDERICA GOLF CLUB | 100 PIKES BLUFF DRIVE 

SAINT SIMONS ISLAND, GA 

Grace Graffiti UGA Tic 

Tac Toe Coffee Table Art 

Eastwind Designs UGA 

Acrylic and Resin Tray 

TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION: WWW.ACSVICTORYBOARD.ORG 


Q&A 

PROUST 

COMPILED BY: CAROLINE CHAMPION 

NAME: Zach Powell 

FAMILY: My wife Elizabeth (UGA 1995) of 28 years who is also 

my business partner, and our two children, Anna Jane (GCSU 2023) 

23, an accountant and Zach, 21, a pre-dental junior at UGA. My 

younger brother Chad Powell, (UGA 1996) and my older brother 

Jeff, and my parents, Joe and Sandy Powell. 

HOMETOWN: Lilburn, Georgia 

CURRENT TOWN: Saint Simons Island since 2009. I also have a 

farm in Screven, Georgia 

WHAT YEARS AT UGA: 1988-1993 

SCHOOL/DEGREE: BS in Zoology, Odum School of Ecology 1992 

BS in Biology, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences 1993 

DMD, Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University 1999 

PROFESSION: General Dentist at Dentistry in Redfern on SSI, 

entrepreneur, and CEO of The Georgia Smile Group, a multi-office 

dental group serving 10 counties in southeast Georgia. I also own 

a commercial farm in Screven, Georgia. 

ACCOLADES: 

Twice named to UGA Alumni Association Bulldog 100 for 2018, 2019 

2022 President of the Georgia Dental Association 

2023 Named Adjunct Professor at the Dental College of Georgia 

Honorable Fellow for the Georgia Dental Association (2011) 

Honorable Fellow for the Pierre Fauchard Academy (2014) 

Honorable Fellow for the American College of Dentists (2023) 

WHAT LIFE LESSONS DID YOU LEARN WHILE AT UGA? 

Never, ever give up. Being relentless toward making your dreams 

a reality, the “vision quest” mentality. The power of the Georgia 

network…fellow students become friends, who become life-long 

colleagues. Next-door neighbors can rock your world. Take a wild 

guess who mine was in college? One ‘last’ cocktail at The Georgia 

Theatre is rarely a good decision 

WHAT PROFESSOR DID YOU MOST ADMIRE? 

Dr. Josh Laerm- although he was a tough professor, his humor 

made him everyone’s favorite and he taught me to balance the 

seriousness of science with laughter. He introduced me to zoology, 

coastal ecosystems, and a love of natural history. Dr Laerm’s class 

was also where I met many future colleagues in healthcare. And Dr. 

John Pickering, UGA Chair for Entomology, opened my eyes to the 

essential role of bees and entomology in agriculture, healthcare, 

and our environment. Both professors helped me expand my level 

of thinking regarding zoology and biology’s impact on our everyday 

health - I still refer to their wisdom and teachings in my daily 

practice of dentistry. 

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST 

ACHIEVEMENT? 

Well, after Elizabeth chased me all over the University of Georgia, I 

finally relented and the rest is history. In all honesty, the joy of my 

life centers around our marriage of 28 years. It all started the first 

time I saw her (she was my next-door neighbor my senior year at 

UGA) … I knew she was the one. However, I think Elizabeth still 

might be thinking about it? 

Together it has certainly been a wild and adventuresome ride, 

the Lord has blessed us with our two children, Anna Jane and 

Zach, a beautiful home on the Hampton River, and many business 

opportunities that have allowed us to serve people across the 

state of Georgia and beyond. 

WHICH HISTORICAL FIGURE DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH? 

George Washington- America’s original fierce leader, he was such 

a forward thinker. He looked inward, never gave up, and kept 

working toward innovation and improvement throughout his 

entire life. I also would have loved to have been his dentist- think 

of what he could have accomplished if he hadn’t struggled his 

whole life with poor dental health! 

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE? 

It’s hard to look past my parents, Joe and Sandy Powell. They are 

the American Dream and came from incredibly humble beginnings. 

They have modeled humility my entire life. They taught me about 

self-employment, entrepreneurship, faith, persistence, honor, 

loyalty, and the true power and strength of family. They gave me 

shoulders to stand on, and I would not be who I am today without 

them. They both also taught my brothers Jeff, Chad and I to work 

hard, but never, ever be afraid to be the life of the party! 

QUOTES TO LIVE BY: 

ZACH POWELL 

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind 

can see.” - Mark Twain 

“Smile. It increases your face value.” - Dolly Parton 

“For to whom much is given, much is expected.” Luke 12:48 

“We’re Metal Rose, Goodnight.” If you know, you know. 

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS? 

I am an avid outdoorsman and there’s nothing I love more than 

being in nature and watching the sun come up, hearing the birds, 

the frogs and the insects. Sitting with Elizabeth and watching the 

Hampton River sunset or our Screven farm’s horizon at dusk are 

some of the true joys of my life. Nothing grounds me more than 

slowing down and taking in our Lord’s beautiful creation. 

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MARKED CHARACTERISTIC? 

I am intensely persistent, according to my wife. She also thinks I’m 

obnoxiously optimistic…she calls me the Ted Lasso of dentistry. 

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS? 

Authenticity. It’s really all that matters in relationships. My men’s 

small group calls ourselves “The Sinners,” lol - not sure how you 

can get more genuine than that. 

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, 

WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

If you asked my famous high school football coach Dave Hunter, 

he’d probably say if I was only a few inches taller, I’d be finishing 

up my NFL career. 

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE WRITERS? 

Lewis Grizzard…I actually had the good fortune to know him. He 

reminds me of everything that is charming about the South and 

he loved the Dawgs with all his heart! We desperately need more 

of his humor in our lives. 

‌FAVE SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHO TO FOLLOW? 

I follow John Maxwell and Charles Stanley to fill my soul with 

leadership advice. I love Dawg Nation, and anything bulldawg, 

honestly, as I absolutely bleed red and black. I must admit that 

I admire a few Gators, besides my favorite local Gator and true 

gentleman Steve Melnyk, I love Gator Tim Tebow’s passion for 

others and follow him on social media as well. He has what my 

family calls “the light in the darkness.” I am only on Facebook for FB 

Marketplace. I’m always looking for some piece of junk to add to 

my barn at my Screven farm. 


CHICK-FIL-A DAWG BOWL 2023 PG. 62 | STATS THAT MATTER PG. 64 | FROM THE FIELD PG. 68 

TOWER OF POWER - JALON WALKER, 

JAMON DUMAS-JOHNSON, MYKEL 

WILLIAMS! 


MORE 

SPORTS 


what’s the 

word 

BY HAMILTON CULPEPPER 

Coach Richt, Coach Smart and current and former players 

bowl for a great cause at the Chick-fil-A Dawg Bowl 2023 

Parkinson’s disease: a brain disorder 

that causes unintended or 

uncontrollable movements, such 

as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with 

balance and coordination. Crohn’s disease: 

an inflammatory bowel disease that causes 

chronic inflammation of the GI tract. Former 

University of Georgia head coach Mark 

Richt suffers from Parkinson’s, diagnosed 

in 2021 while his granddaughter, Jadyn, 

suffers from Crohn’s, diagnosed in 2015. 

On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, Coach 

Richt, his family, head coach Kirby Smart, 

multiple past and current Bulldog players, 

and hundreds of Georgia fans gathered at 

Showtime Bowl (in Athens), launching the 

inaugural Chick-fil-A Dawg Bowl to raise 

money for research on the two diseases. 

Two and a half weeks prior, Coach Smart 

invited Coach Richt to his weekly Monday 

press conference where the former 

Commander in Chief of Georgia football 

announced the campaign of the 2023 

Dawg Bowl and its intentions to raise 

$750,000 for awareness and research for 

Parkinson’s and Crohn’s. The two coaches 

shared a laugh as Coach Richt noted that 

the winning team of the bowling event, 

including the current Georgia player paired 

with the group, would win a WWE-like 

championship belt. Coach Richt added 

that if the event took place during his time 

as head coach, the player would’ve been 

thrown in “NCAA jail!” 

With a laugh shared among two Georgia 

legends and an announcement alongside 

Jadyn, the event was kicked off with the 

$750,000 goal set … it was up to the 

Bulldog faithful to come through and 

support the incentive. Well, the Red and 

Black showed up and showed out! 

Fast forward once again to October 18, 

around 5:30 p.m., Georgia fans began filing 

in Showtime Bowl on Macon Highway. 

The Bulldog supporters began with some 

practice rounds beside Georgia legends 

like D.J. Shockley, Tra Battle, David Pollack, 

Jon Stinchcomb and more. Coach Richt 

officially began the competition with a 

speech and Jadyn by his side. He brought 

Dr. Anumantha Kanthasamy, Director of 

the Isakson Center for Neurological Disease 

Research, to the center of the bowling 

alleys to speak a little on his research and 

partnership with Coach Richt through the 

Dawg Bowl. 

One of those big cardboard checks was 

printed a few days prior to the event and 

presented to Dr. Kanthasamy. At the time 

of its printing, $500,000 had been raised 

and was displayed on the check, but as of 

Friday, October 20, the $750,000 mark was 

surpassed! 

After Dr. Kanthasamy spoke, Kevin 

“Chappy” Hynes, chaplain of the Georgia 

football team under Coach Richt, 

introduced the “Back-to-back National 

Champions, 2023 Georgia football team!” 

wherein 40 or so current players, wearing 

their home, red jerseys entered the building 

with a massive cheer from the hundreds 

of gathered supporters. With the players 

right behind Coach Richt, he said a prayer, 

blessing the event and the money raised 

for his and his granddaughter’s diseases, 

then dispersed the players to each lane to 

begin the battle for the belt. 

Although the event was a competition 

for the best bowler among the Georgia 

people, it was, of course, friendly banter 

between players, fans and even coaches. 

I captured some trash talk on camera 

between safety Tykee Smith and former 

player and current outside linebackers 

assistant coach Jarvis Jones. After a bowl 

from Jones that knocked down just three 

pins, Smith stepped up and left just one 

pin standing. Refusing to be shown up by 

one of his players, Jones walked right back 

up and put the ball straight in the gutter. 

Smith then unceasingly let Jones know 

he was the better bowler. Although these 

elite gamers showed their competitiveness 

off the gridiron and on the bowling alley, 

all gathered together for one goal: raise 

money and awareness for the diseases that 

affect Coach Richt, Jadyn, their family and 4 

million other Americans. 

From quarterbacks to walk-ons, from 

offensive linemen to defensive linemen, from 

past to current players and coaches, every 

person wearing the red and black showed 

love on the alley for Coach Richt and his 

family, despite not being the best bowler 

sometimes. Offensive lineman Micah “Big 

Mike” Morris said his hands were too big to 

even fit in the holes on the bowling ball, so 

his game was already at a disadvantage; 

however, it was still awesome fun being 

surrounded by the great Georgia people for 

the 6-6, 331-pound BIG Mike. 

As I walked from alley to alley, it was all 

smiles from ear to ear on each fan and 

each player. Coach Richt and Coach Smart 


shared another laugh as they looked over the incredible 

event. What began with a laugh at that Monday press 

conference continued with another laugh between the 

two coaches at the Chick-Fil-A Dawg Bowl 2023, and the 

continuous support for the Richt family will never end as 

the Coach himself and his granddaughter continue to fight 

their respective diseases. 

To continue donating, visit 

richtsdawgbowl.com All 

proceeds go directly toward 

research for Parkinson’s and 

Crohn’s disease. 

Jon Stinchcomb, Jarvis Jones 

Mark Richt, D.J. Shockley 

Troy Bowles, Samuel M’Pemba 

Jamal Meriweather, Sedrick Van Pran, 

Drew Belflower 

Brett Thorson, Jackson Brooks 

Kendall Milton, Tyler Williams, 

Micah Morris 

Paul Hearn, Mark Cathy, Brock Vandagriff, CJ Byrd, 

Michael Patrick 

Javon Bullard, 

Shaun Chapas 

Kenzie Gilbert, Ariana Gilbert, 

Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, 

Cason Thoms, Callan Thoms 

Katharyn Richt, Mark Richt 

Oscar Delp, Hamilton Culpepper 

Andrew Cathy, Michael Lage, John Collette, 

Malaki Starks, John Mattioli 

Jamie McKnight, Mack Chambers, 

Jackson Muschamp 

Jon Stinchcomb, David Greene 

(front) Anthony Evans III, Neil Stevens, Tykee Smith; 

(back) Trisha Stevens, Wayne Brubaker, Mary Brubaker 

The Chick-fil-A Dawg Bowl 2023 Champions - Ken Turcotte, Chad Polley, 

Dalton Greene, Tina Turcotte, Warren Brinson 


STATS THAT 

MATTER 

GEORGIA - 37, VANDERBILT - 20 

BY: COBY SERINA 

A look back at what decided the game between Georgia and Vanderbilt. 

Vanderbilt this year was a peculiar game for the Dawgs. It 

didn’t deliver the best results given Georgia’s standards. Carson 

Beck’s decision making wasn’t the sharpest, which led to 

missed opportunities, but he still put up respectable numbers. 

However, it’s unfair to put all the blame on his shoulders. It 

9 

might have been the turf. The Dawgs faced a couple of injuries 

in Nashville, with two key names falling victim: Brock Bowers 

and Xavier Truss, pivotal cogs in Georgia’s passing offense 

machine. Luckily, Georgia reverted to its classic style, leaning 

on the ground game to keep things moving, and that provided 

plenty to smile about. It wasn’t the prettiest game this season, 

but it certainly wasn’t the worst. Fortunately, the bye week has 

given the team extra time to address necessary adjustments. 

Here are some key stats from Georgia-Vandy contest … 

261 

Not to be confused with the 269 passing yards that Carson 

Beck finished the game with, 261 was the number of rushing 

yards that Georgia amassed against the Commodores. Running 

a pro-style offense, you don’t often see these kinds of ground 

game numbers from Georgia that offer. High-volume rushing 

attacks were almost a thing of the past, but not in the Music 

City. Despite the running back room enduring its fair share 

of injuries, Daijun Edwards, Kendall Milton and Cash Jones 

are making the most of their opportunities. Milton’s health 

is still questionable, as he was only able to play for one half 

at Vandy, but hopefully extra recovery from bye week will do 

the trick heading to Jacksonville. 

20 

261 

being day-to-day, Edwards has emerged as the go-to guy 

Georgia doesn’t like to rely on just one player when it comes 

to carrying the ball, but as mentioned earlier, the running 

back room is anything but healthy - explaining why Daijun 

Edwards was the primary back against Vandy with 20 carries 

and nearly 150 rushing yards. With Milton’s MCL status 

for Georgia. With his increased opportunity, Edwards has 

displayed impressive cutting ability in space and has shown 

true big-play potential when running the ball; his longest run 

covered 62 yards. 

44 

Shifting to special teams, Peyton Wooding’s new career-long 

44-yard field goal is a great sign for the confidence of the 

true freshman kicker from Louisiana. Coach Smart mentioned 

earlier in the season that it takes about four games for a 

freshman or non-starter to actually get comfortable playing, 

and you can see that playing out in Wooding’s performance. 

You can really see him settling in after a rough start to the 

season, during which he kicked four-for-seven in the first 

four games. Since then, Wooding has gone eight-for-eight, 

maintaining a 100% success rate. 

(912) 638-1498 

CALLPRS.COM 

20 

9 

When the Dawgs acquired Dominic Lovett from the transfer 

portal, fans went crazy, and now, seven games into the 

regular season, we can see what they were raving about. 

Lovett has established himself as a key part of this offense 

and, moreover, a crucial component of this team as a whole. 

Against the Commodores, Lovett caught nine passes for 72 

yards and a touchdown, his first since committing to the Red 

and Black. One notable aspect about Lovett is how often he’s 

sent to speak to the media. Georgia’s coaching staff trusts 

this guy both on and off the field. It will be exciting to watch 

how he continues to grow with this team. 


KEVIN BUTLER’S 

PLAYERS OF THE GAME 

COMPILED BY JEFF DANTZLER 

OFFENSIVE PLAYER 

Daijun Edwards - Daijun might wear No. 30 when he is on 

the field, but he is certainly No. 1 on the depth chart for the 

Bulldogs at running back. The Colquitt County superstar led 

Georgia’s offense with a dominating ground attack against 

Vandy, as the Bulldogs went to 7-0 for the season. Daijun 

took over in the fourth quarter with a 62-yard sprint that set 

up his 1-yard touchdown to seal the victory for the Bulldogs. 

The senior is our go-to running back, racking up 146 yards 

on 20 carries versus Vandy. A nice break for him will only do 

the Bulldogs good after that effort in Nashville. On Saturday 

versus the Gators,, Daijun is our go to running back as we 

march towards a three-peat. 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER 

Smael Mondon - The junior inside linebacker from Paulding 

County had a great performance against Vandy in Nashville. 

Smael totaled six tackles and recorded the only sack of 

the game for the Bulldogs. His dominating play and his 

leadership helped Georgia hold Vandy to 18 yards on 15 

carries and virtually shut down the Commodores rushing 

offense. Even with the season being an up and down one 

on how the Bulldogs defend the rush, this was great timing 

to solidify and limit the offense, which made Vanderbilt one 

dimensional. If we can play teams and make them one dimensional, 

you’ll hear about Smael Mondon a lot more. His relentless play and 

leadership are keys to reaching our goals. 

SPECIAL TEAM PLAYER 

Peyton Woodring - Well Ring the Bell … eight in a row … way to go 

Peyton! The freshman from Louisiana is making a mark in the great 

state of Georgia with his right leg! Up in Nashville, Woodring came 

through with the longest field goal of his short career, converting a 44 

yarder on his way to a performance that ended up three-for-three on 

field goals. He has also made all of his extra points. It never gets old 

to give your place kicker the player of the game because that means 

we’re converting possessions for points. As the Bulldogs tune up for the 

final run in the SEC, Peyton is tuned up for success. The Bulldogs need 

every point they can get with their tough SEC schedule remaining and 

absolutely need Payton to be perfect in Jacksonville, a place where 

the Bulldogs place kickers have had trouble in the past. Stay focused 

Peyton and keep that streak alive. 

UNSUNG DAWG OF THE WEEK 

It gives me great pleasure to award the training staff, the equipment 

staff and the logistical planners for the University of Georgia football 

program with the unsung hero award against Vandy. We all heard about 

the conditions the Bulldogs faced outside of the stadium were going to 

be challenging. The way Georgia navigated through adversity, preparing 

for the Bulldog team to arrive at the stadium, was unmatched. Ron 

Courson, John Meshad, Vince Tomas, Neyland Raper and their staffs 

combined efforts to provide first class accommodations for all pregame 

activities. As the Commodores try to rebuild, not only a stadium, but 

their program, opposing teams are left out in the cold. Georgia’s unsung 

heroes all work together to provide the University of Georgia with an 

experience that enables a team to win championships. Winners are 

everywhere in the University of Georgia football program. 

GO DAWGS! 

2022 National Champions 

OUR LOCATIONS: 

3981 Atlanta Hwy Ste 8/9 

Loganville, GA 30052 

678-691-9009 

875 Flat Shoals Rd Ste 140 

Conyers, GA. 30094 

770-648-6310 

500 Great Oaks Dr. 

Monroe, GA 30655 

678-635-5236 

1959 Barnett Shoals Rd. 

Athens, GA. 30605 

706-850-6397 

www.cornersedgebutchershoppe.com 

Follow us on Facebook: @CornersEdgeButcherShoppeOfAthens 

105 E May Street STE 300 

Winder, Ga. 30680 

678-963-9879 


FROM THE 

field 

BY GREG POOLE 

GEORGIA - 37, VANDERBILT - 20 

Saturday morning, in the leadup to the Vandy game on 

Bulldawg Illustrated’s Daily Dawg Thread, I commented on 

a stubborn sense of déjà vu about the upcoming game. In 

the wake of the Dawgs’ dismantling of Kentucky, the entire 

college football world seemed to declare the Bulldogs ready 

to assume the championship mantle after the team’s puzzling 

slow starts earlier this season. There was far too much praise 

and congratulations after the Kentucky win. The only question 

about Vanderbilt was how badly the Dogs would roll over the 

Commodores. Georgia spent the week basking in adulation 

and renewed expectations. 

Of course, losing star tight end Brock Bowers will affect the 

Bulldogs for a few weeks. However, just like last year when 

Nolan Smith’s loss struck fear in the fan base, Kirby’s “next 

man up” philosophy will fill the gap with talent. The team is 

responsible for taking up any slack after Bowers’ injury rather 

than that responsibility falling on directly on his replacement. 

Vandy rejected its assigned lapdog role and challenged 

Georgia from the opening whistle, but Georgia recorded some 

outstanding performances also. Carson Beck was 17-for-20 

with one TD and 181 yards, pacing the Dogs to a 24-7 lead in 

the first half. Beck ended the game 29-for-39 for 261 yards with 

one TD and one interception. Daijun Edwards set his career 

rushing mark with 146 yards, with the team amassing a seasonhigh 

281 yards, 7.2 yards per attempt. 

The Commodores did put together two drives that resulted 

in scores. They went 75 yards on the opening possession for 

a TD. And in the second half, drove 75 yards, also on the first 

possession (of that half). But this game was about something 

other than Vandy’s play: Georgia’s turnovers and other mistakes 

kept it closer than it should have been and boosted the 

Commies’ morale. Those lapses will cause discomfort for the 

fan base as we rehashed the many miscues in Nashville over 

the bye-week, but Dawg fans should remember that lapses are 

fixable. They are a coaching issue. 

By “coaching issue,” I mean the slow starts are correctable. 

Behavior modification must begin with the staff exorcizing 

overconfidence by intensely confronting the issue at practice 

during this bye-week. In addition, team leaders must reinforce 

the readiness lessons of the season to date. The Gators, Mizzou, 

Ole Miss, Tennesse and Tech all loom large as Georgia tries to 

get healthy and correct its mental mistakes. 


MORE SPORTS 

FOOTBALL 

TOP 12 

JD’S 


We head into the final weekend of October with some 

tremendous races shaping up around the country. All five of 

the power conferences have at least one undefeated team. 

Ohio State got the biggest win of the week, and Oklahoma 

survived a scare from UCF. 

1. FLORIDA STATE - The Seminoles played a 

dominant fourth quarter against Duke, outscoring 

the Blue Devils 21-0 in the final period to win 38-20 in 

Tallahassee. It’s an early kickoff this coming Saturday at Wake Forest. 

2. OHIO STATE - The Buckeyes got a high caliber 

win over Penn State, downing the Nittany Lions 20-12 

in the Horseshoe. Ohio State is 7-0 and off to Wisconsin. 

The Buckeyes are playing excellent defense. They are talented at 

running back and wide receiver. 

3. GEORGIA - The 7-0 Bulldogs were off this 

past Saturday, and now tangle with the Gators in 

Jacksonville. Georgia will have to do it without All- 

American Brock Bowers for a while. The Bulldogs have won five of 

the last six in the series. Florida was also off last week. 

4. MICHIGAN - The Wolverines jumped all over 

Michigan State and rolled to a 49-0 victory. They are off 

this week, and then take on Purdue. Michigan has a lot 

of talent and a very strong running game. J.J. McCarthy has taken 

a big jump at quarterback. 

5. WASHINGTON - The Huskies had a scare against 

Arizona State, but a pick saved the day and they 

escaped 15-7. Washington hits the road this week to 

take on Stanford and then a tough stretch of November games 

awaits. They are the lone unbeaten in the PAC-12. 

6. OKLAHOMA - It was scary for Oklahoma this 

past week, but the Sooners held off UCF for a 31-29 

win. Oklahoma is 7-0 and off to Kansas Saturday. 

Oklahoma is clicking offensively. The Sooners quickly got back to 

form after a down season last year. 

7. TEXAS - The Longhorns beat Houston 31-24. It 

was a good bounce back following the heartbreaking 

loss to Oklahoma and the open date. Texas hosts 

Brigham Young Saturday for a tough test in Austin. The 

‘Horns have a lot of talent on offense. 

8. ALABAMA - The Crimson Tide dominated the 

second half in a 34-20 victory over Tennessee. Alabama 

was down 20-7 at the half, and then turned it on. Bama 

is hot. The Crimson Tide is off this week, and then it’s the big LSU 

battle in Tuscaloosa. 

9. OREGON - The Ducks were a little shaky early 

against Washington State, but rallied to take care of the 

Cougars 38-24. Next up is a huge showdown against Utah 

in Salt Lake City. This one has major implications in the PAC-12. 

10. MISSOURI - The Tigers put a 34-12 beatdown 

on South Carolina to make it 7-1 on the season. 

Missouri has an excellent line of scrimmage and Tigers 

can score. Mizzou is off this Saturday, and then heads 

to Georgia for a huge showdown. 

11. OLE MISS - The Rebels won an SEC battle with 

Auburn 28-21 on the Plains to make it 6-1 on the 

season. Vanderbilt heads to Oxford Saturday. Ole Miss 

has a lot of firepower and juice in the backfield and 

the defense is getting better. 

12. AIR FORCE - The Flying Falcons took down 

Navy 17-6 and they are perfect on the season. Air 

Force is always tough, and this appears to be a premier 

year for the program. They are 7-0 and off to Colorado 

State, dreaming of a major bowl bid. 

NOTHING GOES BETTER WiTH GATOR 

THaN HOT MCDONALD’S FRIES!!! 

BEAT FLORIDA! 

athens • watkinsville • auburn • lawrenceville 


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