I’m not going to bring up (again) that we don’t typically cover the spread in games like the one this Saturday, but winning? Piece of cake…especially considering this:
Thirteen years is a long time, but considering the openers in question, that last loss was against Clemson in 2013…and not all openers since have been cupcakes.
If you’d told me we could gain over 500 yards in a game and lose – to Tahj Boyd, at that – well, I would’ve believed you because that was just the Georgia Way, right?
Since then our openers have been:
2014 vs #16 Clemson
2015 – UL Monroe (Schottenheimer year)
2016 – #22 UNC
2017 – App State
2018 – Austin Peay
2019 – at Vanderbilt
2020 – At Arkansas (enter Stetson Bennett)
2021 – #3 Clemson
2022 – #11 Oregon
2023 – UT Martin
2024 – #14 Clemson
2025 – Marshall
Sadly, with conference scheduling being what it is, we might be waiting a long long time before we see a ranked opening opponent the first weekend of the CFB season.
I blame myself.
Georgia had at least one if not multiple DB’s suspended for that game. Insert walk on, Connor Norman at safety to chase around Sammy Watkins who unsurprisingly went off for 127 yards and a TD.
Speaking of (dominant) wide receivers (threadjack), Malcolm Mitchell was hurt on the first or second drive and was out for the entire game….
After the first or second play when Gurley went 75. Out for the year as a result.
That was a terrible loss for the team. It felt like Malcolm was ready to break out. Receiving, kick & punt returns. He was a dangerous threat anytime he got the ball.
Let’s not forget (no matter how much the usual suspects want you to) Kirby’s first opener: neutral site, against Fedora – a coach so much allegedly better; Mick Trabisky, the greatest quarterback to take a snap since Arch Manning’s grandpappy smothered in Joe Namath sauce or whatever the heyell they thought that bum was (never a believer); a busted arse Nicholas Chubb that was gonna embarrass hisself hobbling all over the field. WE BETTER WIN 10 GAMES!!! because some how winning 10 games a season got you (checks notes) nothing but Outback Bowl invites. Still… The same goofs with their inner Munsons and Richt idolatry (this is Merica you’re supposed to be a got dayum christian and not holding a job forever because why?) are fretting over the boogity man that never once showed it’s boogity arse face. Kirby in his first game broke those fools, had some growing pains and is still putting us in the mix in a system the racists and fascists designed to keep Dawgnation down. And you know what? starting with whippin’ Tennessee’s arse and then 15 more he’s doin’ AGAIN!!!
#GoDawgs
p.s. apologies, sometimes I’m overcome by my own eloquence
We missed a chip shot FG in that game after Chris Conley had a big play to get us on the door step.
TG3II was out for part of that game. Of course, Malcolm Mitchell famously tore his ACL celebrating Gurley’s long TD run.
That game is why I turn away from the screen every time I see players go for the leaping chest bump celebration. You never know when you’re going to see an ACL get blown out on the landing.