Pound for Pound: Feelings

Published 10:30 am Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Today’s vanity thought: God gave Georgia a bye week this past Saturday because He knew I couldn’t survive the shoddy performance against Kentucky immediately followed by a game against Alabama.

To toot my own horn a little bit, I can think of exactly two times in history I felt good about the Bulldogs’ chances heading into a matchup versus the Crimson Tide.

There was the trip to Tuscaloosa in 2007, which was ESPN analyst Nick Saban’s first year at the helm over there. Three friends and I rode out west for that one. I remember thinking Alabama would become a force to be reckoned with in the future, but a turnaround wasn’t going to happen instantly. They were riding high after having won their first three of the season. Georgia under Mark Richt brought them back down to Earth a bit thanks to an overtime touchdown pass from Matt Stafford to Mikey Henderson. The Tide finished that regular season with four consecutive losses, including one to the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

Saban of course did get things going, so then came a string of seven consecutive Georgia losses to Bama over the course of 13 seasons. Despite the Dawgs being ranked either higher than or similar to the Tide in all those meetings, I remember feeling none were going to pan out.

Then came Jan. 10, 2022, the College Football Playoff final that would determine the national champion for the 2021 season. I woke up feeling that day would be different than the last seven times, even going so far as to post the thought to my social media. Turned out to be right. Demons were seemingly exorcised when defensive back Kelee Ringo flew into the air and came down with an interception before returning it for six to seal Georgia’s first national title in 40 years.

So how am I feeling heading into this weekend’s matchup, one that continues this rivalry’s trend where one or both contenders are ranked at least in the top 10? Not great, y’all.

I don’t like playing against a running quarterback. I like it even less when he has a wide receiver as talented as Ryan Williams. I don’t like having to travel to Tuscaloosa, a place where holding penalties against the home team’s offense just plain don’t exist. Saban, the man who was a thorn in Georgia’s side for so many years, may be gone, but make no mistake, those are still his dudes that will line up in the crimson and white this Saturday.

No, I don’t feel good heading into this weekend’s matchup. But I’ve been wrong before. And I will be wrong again.