Georgia Football: Bulldogs Fans the Real MVP in the Win over Notre Dame
The scene at Sanford Stadium was surreal, as the Georgia Football program hosted the biggest out of conference matchup that the city of Athens, Georgia has seen in many years. The spectacle contained every element of pageantry that makes College Football so great.
Grills were fired up and beverages were aplenty, as hundred of thousands tailgated outside of the stadium. ESPN's College GameDay was on hand, while a multitude of UGA fans and students gathered around to watch. The crowd went berserk, as Lee Corso donned the head of UGA mascot Hairy Dawg, signifying that Georgia was his pick to win the ballgame.
Rapper Young Jeezy and wrestling champion Ric Flair, were two of the many celebrities on hand to show their support for the Georgia Bulldogs. UGA player alumni were out in doves, including Champ Bailey who led the crowd in calling the Dawgs prior to kickoff.
The Spike Squad donned black shoulder pads and many fans followed suit with black UGA jerseys and t-shirts. The student section was full two hours prior to kickoff, in anticipation of the colossal clash of top ten teams.
Sanford Stadium debuted its new red led lights, that set a red glow over the entire venue, a unique touch. Personally, I have never before witnessed anything like the glow of the red lights at a sporting event in my life. The Dawg fans also lit up Sanford Stadium with their cell phone flashlights, as is customary prior to the fourth quarter of a night game at Dooley Field.
On the field the Georgia Bulldogs offense started slow, trailing 7-10 at the half. However, the Georgia coaches made great halftime adjustments, propelling the Dawgs to a 23-10 lead, with 6:54 left in the game. The Irish mounted a frantic comeback attempt before the Dawgs held on to win 23-17.
There were many great performances for the Georgia Bulldogs in the win over Notre Dame. Sure the Bulldogs rushed for 152 yards, led by D'Andre Swift's 98 yards and a touchdown. Certainly, wide receiver Lawrence Cager had a huge game with five catches for 82 yards and a touchdown that proved to be the difference in the game. Most assuredly Jake Fromm's efficiency and poise were on full display in the second half.
Jake Fromm led his team to victory Saturday in Athens
Of course, the UGA run defense was outstanding, holding the Irish to 46 yards on the ground and less than four yards per rush. Most definitely defensive backs J.R. Reed and Divaad Wilson were tremendous, combining to intercept two passes and break up four more. Yet there was one entity that was more valuable than them all.
The Georgia Bulldogs fans were the real MVP of Saturday's huge game. A Sanford Stadium record 93,246 spectators were in attendance, to witness the big game. At least 90,000 of those people were cheering for the Dawgs, as they relentlessly waved red towels.
The crowd noise was deafening. Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book was forced to use a silent count, as it was impossible for him to use an audible snap count due to the decibel level of the UGA fans in attendance. It was a wonder he could hear his own thoughts, with the consistently loud clamor of the crowd.
The Georgia Bulldogs' faithful fans most certainly had an impact on the game. The intense crowd noise forced Notre Dame into four false start penalties in the first half, including three of the first four drives. This made it very difficult for the Irish to consistently move the chains.
The UGA enthusiasts kept that same energy in the second half, causing another two false start penalties. This includes a key 3rd & 2 with 2:59 remaining in the third quarter, which ultimately forced Notre Dame to punt after being unable to convert after the five-yard penalty. This gave the Georgia Bulldogs the opportunity to put together the back-breaking touchdown drive. The scoring drive gave the Dawgs a commanding 20-10 lead, with slightly over 13 minutes left in the game.
In total, the Georgia Bulldogs fans were responsible for causing half of Notre Dame's 12 penalties. Five of the eight penalties that the Irish were assessed with on offense, could be directly attributed to the rowdiness of Dawg Nation.
Head coach Kirby Smart heaped major praise on the UGA fans after the game and rightful so. Sanford Stadium was as loud as any outdoor venue in College Football can be. The crowd showed up and showed out in a major way!
The Dawg fans were certainly the MVP of this all-important game. So salute to you Georgia Bulldogs fans. You all are the best fans in all of College Football and Damn Good Dawgs, all 90,000+ of you! Go Dawgs!
