We’ve begun preparations here for the 2024 football season, which will kick off in a mere 64 days against the Clemson Tigers. But before we look ahead to Georgia’s season-opening contest against one of its oldest and most hated rivals, I thought it might be fun to look back a decade to one of the most fun football games of the Mark Richt era.
Ten years ago the Bulldogs also opened the season against the Country Gentlemen in a matchup of top 20 teams. The Bulldogs, replacing the SEC’s all-time leading passer in Aaron Murray, leaned on the ground game choreographed by Hutson Mason. It was a fantastic decision.
Todd Gurley humiliated the Clemson defense to the tune of 198 rushing yards on 15 carries, finding the end zone four times, including on an electrifying 105 yard kickoff return. And then, after he was done grinding the Clemson defense into powder, true freshman Nick Chubb came in to grind the powder into the Sanford Stadium turf.
You’ll never convince me that Todd Gurley wouldn’t have won the Heisman Trophy that season had he not been suspended for something the NCAA allows and even encourages now. Sure, he may have still torn his ACL late against Auburn, but I choose to believe that injury was at least in part due to a lack of conditioning brought on by being out of action for the heinous crime of (checks notes….) signing mini helmets and photos. Remember kids:
usual reminder to never cooperate with the mall cops (ncaa)
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) June 22, 2023
Go ‘Dawgs!!!