Recapture The Magic

Back on October 6th, 2001, CMR "knocked the lid" off the Georgia program with a hobnailed boot victory in Neyland Stadium (that was also a noon kick-off). What followed was 40+ wins, 3 SEC Championship game appearances, 2 SEC Championships, and a Sugar Bowl trophy in a 4 year span. This was the greatest stretch in Georgia football history outside of the the time that guy named Walker played between the hedges.

Back then, the Bulldogs were the beast of the east and the cream of the SEC crop. However, 9 short years later, I believe this program under CMR sits at a crossroads. Despite 2 losses already this season, a win in Knoxville will keep the Dawgs on track for a winner take-all showdown with Florida in Jacksonville on Halloween night. A loss on the other hand could send the season spiraling out of control. At that point, I believe we are staring 7-5 or 6-6 dead in the face.

Bulldog nation is getting restless and frankly they have every right to be. The product CMR and his coaching staff have put on the field starting in 2006 has been disappointing to say the least. Take away the latter half of the 2007 season (because remember the first half of that season was embarrassing to say least with a home loss to South Carolina and that annihilation at Neyland) and people would really be in an uproar. Our pre-season #1 team in 2008 really didn't play worth a damn all season.

Now, in 2009, the Dawgs are 3-2 traveling to Knoxville for a 12:21 kick-off against a terrible Tennessee team who they should absolutely destroy. The Vols have a new coach and a team hungry for their first big win of the season, a victory over a rival they shouldn't beat to give them hope for a better tomorrow. Sounds familiar doesn't it, kind of like Georgia-Tennessee 2001? Let's hope for another Georgia victory but more importantly let's hope this is a spring board like that 2001 game turned out to be.

I may be putting too much stock into this game and I realize comparing it to the 2001 game may be a bit of a stretch. After all, this is the first time neither team has been ranked in God knows how long and how much can we expect to learn from playing an awful Vols team. That being said, saying this game is a "must win" is an understatement. With both Florida and Alabama on a collision course for another SEC Championship game and the winner getting a shot at a National Championship (which they will win unless the play USC), Georgia cannot afford to fall further behind.

The bad news is I think we are dangerously close to slipping into mediocrity again, if we're not already there. The good news is I firmly believe the talent is there to bow up against the Mighty Gators and give them or any other SEC team a run for their money. Unfortunately, something is missing with this team and the program in general and it's been missing for awhile. I have an idea of what's missing but that's another post for another time.

I'm posting this because between the celebration penalty talk and the general consensus from Georgia fans that Tennessee is not very good, it just seems like the importance of this game on Saturday has been lost in the shuffle. I just hope the team and coaches have mentally moved on from Saturday and can recapture some of that magic from yesteryear dammit. Go Dawgs!!!!