The Georgia Bulldogs vs. The Auburn Tigers

Game & Broadcast Info

Due to the delayed start of the 2020 season because of the pandemic along with Georgia starting its season on the road, Saturday will mark the Bulldogs’ home opener. The Oct. 3 home opener will be the latest in Georgia history since the 1966 SEC champions made their Sanford Stadium season debut on Oct. 8. It was the fourth game of the year and the Bulldogs beat Ole Miss 9-3.

Georgia edged Auburn 21-14 on the road last season and has won eight out of the last 10 meetings and 15 of the last 19. The Bulldogs improved their series lead to 60-56-8 in 2019. The teams split a pair of matchups in 2017 as Georgia secured its most recent SEC title. That year, the No. 2 Bulldogs fell to the No. 10 Tigers 40-17 at Auburn. Then, No. 6 Georgia toppled No. 2 Auburn 28-7 in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.

For the first time since 1936 (10/24/36), Georgia and Auburn will renew their rivalry outside of the month of November. The 2012-13 seasons saw the Bulldogs head to Auburn for consecutive years, marking the first time the game had been played at the same site for two years in a row since 1958. The game was played in Columbus during a stretch from 1930-58. The first 10 games were played in Atlanta starting in 1892.

Saturday will mark the 125th meeting between Georgia and Auburn, making it the second most played active series in the NCAA FBS trailing only Wisconsin-Minnesota (129 entering 2019). North Carolina-Virginia and Miami (Ohio)-Cincinnati have played 124 times entering the 2020 season. The Bulldogs and Tigers first squared off in 1892 in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. The only event that interrupted the series was World War I as the teams did not play in 1917-18 and 1943.

Last year, Georgia beat Murray State 63-17 in its home opener. Under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs are 4-0 in Sanford Stadium openers. Georgia has won eight consecutive home openers. This season, Georgia opened its year on the road against an SEC opponent for the second year in a row. The Bulldogs topped Arkansas 37-10 last weekend and dropped Vanderbilt 30-6 in Nashville in 2019.

This will mark the first time ESPN College GameDay will be at a Georgia game since last year’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. GameDay also came to Athens for the Dogs’ win over #7 Notre Dame in 2019. This will mark GameDay’s sixth time in Athens.

Fourth-ranked Georgia held off a late Auburn rally to clinch its third straight SEC Eastern Division championship with a 21-14 victory over the 12th-ranked Tigers in front of a sold-out Jordan-Hare Stadium. Georgia became the first Eastern Division team to win three straight division titles since Florida captured five in a row from 1992-96. The Bulldogs carried a 21-0 lead to the fourth quarter when Auburn rallied. Bo Nix’s 2-yard plunge made it a 21-14 contest with seven minutes remaining. Nix scored the first of only two rushing touchdowns that the Bulldog defense allowed last year. The other came from Baylor QB Charlie Brewer during the win over the Bears in the 2020 Sugar Bowl. Auburn’s last attempt to tie the game ended with 1:39 left when then freshman defensive lineman Travon Walker sacked Nix at the Auburn 22-yard line.

Georgia is 8-4 against top 10 teams in the Kirby Smart era, including 3-1 last year. Three of the Bulldogs’ wins came at the the 2017 SEC Championship Game, the 2018 CFP semifinal win at the Rose Bowl Game and at the 2020 Sugar Bowl.

Nov. 12, 2016 – NR Georgia d. #9 Auburn 13-7 in Athens
Nov. 11, 2017 – #10 Auburn d. #2 Georgia 40-17 in Auburn
Dec. 2, 2017 – #6 Georgia d. #4 Auburn 28-7 in Atlanta, SEC Championship Game
Jan. 1, 2018 – #3 Georgia d. #2 Oklahoma 54-48 {2OT} in Pasadena, CFP Semifinal – Rose Bowl Game
Jan. 8, 2018 – #4 Alabama d. #3 Georgia 26-23 {OT} in Atlanta, National Championship Game
Oct. 27, 2018 – #7 Georgia d. #9 Florida 36-17 in Jacksonville
Nov. 3, 2018 – #6 Georgia d. #9 Kentucky 34-17 in Lexington
Dec. 1, 2018 – #1 Alabama d. #4 Georgia 35-28 in Atlanta, SEC Championship Game
Sept. 21, 2019 – #3 Georgia d. #7 Notre Dame 23-17 in Athens
Nov. 2, 2019 – #8 Georgia d. #6 Florida 24-17 in Jacksonville
Dec. 7, 2019 – #2 LSU d. #4 Georgia 37-10 in Atlanta, SEC Championship Game
Jan. 1, 2020 – #5 Georgia d. #7 Baylor 26-14 in New Orleans, Sugar Bowl

Personal
Full Name: Kirby Paul Smart
Birthdate: December 23, 1975
Birthplace: Montgomery, Alabama
Family: Wife: Mary Beth; Children: twins Weston and Julia (Feb. 8, 2008), and Andrew (May 25, 2012)
High School: Bainbridge (Ga.)
College: BBA Georgia ’98; MS Arkansas State State ’03

Coaching Experience
1999 Georgia Admin. Asst.
2000 Valdosta State Defensive Backs
2001 Valdosta State Def. Coord.
2002-03 FSU Grad. Assistant
2004 Arkansas State Defensive Backs
2005 Georgia Running Backs
2006 Miami Dolphins Safeties
2007 Alabama Asst. HC/DBs
2008-13, ’15 Alabama Def. Coord./ILBs
2014 Alabama Asst. HC/Safeties
2016-current Georgia Head Coach

Playing Experience
Georgia (1995-98): Four-year letterman as defensive back. First team All-SEC in ’98; 13 career interceptions; four-time member of SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Bainbridge H.S. (1991-93): Three-year letterman in football, basketball, and baseball; first team Class AAAA All-State as a senior; 16 career interceptions.
High School Coach: Sonny Smart (father)

When Georgia looked for a head coach after the 2015 season, the arrows pointed to Kirby Smart, longtime Alabama defensive coordinator and former UGA player and assistant. The 2017 Associated Press SEC Coach of the Year has not disappointed.

In his first year leading the Dogs in 2016, Georgia extended its school record to 20 consecutive bowl appearances and had wins over No. 8 Auburn and No. 22 UNC.

In 2017, Smart directed UGA to a 13-2 record, an SEC title, a win at The Rose Bowl Game during the CFP semifinal and a spot in the National Championship. He was named the Maxwell Football Club’s George Munger National Coach of the Year. Before 2017, the Bulldogs last SEC title was 2005.

The 2018 and 2019 seasons saw the Bulldogs advance to the SEC Championship Game, secure an invite to the Sugar Bowl and combine for a 23-5 record. Most recently, Georgia completed a 12-2 campaign with a 26-14 victory over #7 Baylor in New Orleans.

He has also made an immediate impact in recruiting, posting the nation’s top-ranked class in 2018, the second-ranked class in 2019 and the third-ranked class in 2017.

In addition to coaching, Smart oversees the Kirby Smart Family Foundation, which is focused on being champions in the community by supporting and giving back to needy children and families. In September of 2020, Smart and his wife Mary Beth pledged $1 million to support social justice and student-athletes impacted by COVID-19.

Smart officially came home to Georgia on Dec. 6, 2015. He juggled two jobs for a month until January 11, 2016, when the Tide won its fourth national championship in a seven-year span.

Did You Know?
Kirby Smart is one of nine head coaches at schools from Power 5 conferences that are coaching at their alma maters.

The complete list:
Paul Chryst (Wisconsin), Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern), David Shaw (Stanford), Scott Frost (Nebraska), Kirby Smart (GEORGIA), Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State), Jonathan Smith (Oregon State), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Tom Allen (Indiana)

Top Ind. Single-Game Performances Under Smart
Rushing Yards: 222, Nick Chubb vs. #22 UNC (9/3/16)
Rushing TDs: 3, Sony Michel vs. UK (11/18/17); vs. #2 Oklahoma (1/1/18)
Longest Rush: 83-TD, D’Andre Swift @ #9 UK (11/3/18)
Passing Yards: 346, Jacob Eason vs. VU (10/15/16)
Passing TDs: 4, Jake Fromm vs. GT x2 (11/25/18, 11/30/19)
Receiving Yards: 175 (12 rec.), George Pickens vs. #7 BU (1/1/20)
Receiving TDs: 2, Isaiah McKenzie @ Missouri (9/17/16); Terry Godwin vs. Samford (9/16/17); Jeremiah Holloman vs. #9 Florida (10/27/18); Riley Ridley vs. GT (11/2518); George Pickens vs. Missouri (11/9/19)
Longest Pass/TD Pass: 80-TD, Fromm to Mecole Hardman vs. BAMA (1/8/18)
Tackles: 13, Roquan Smith vs. GT (11/26/16); SECCG (12/2/17); CFPNC (1/1/18)
Sacks: 3, Trenton Thompson vs. TCU (12/30/16)
TFL: 3, Thompson vs. Nicholls (9/10/16)

Quick Facts

• Advanced to 2017-19 SECCGs, making Georgia the first from the East to win at least three straight since 1996.
• Went 6-0 in the division in 2017-18 for the first time since the SEC split into divisions in 1992. Has gone 17-1 in the SEC East during the last three years.
• 2017 Georgia Munger National Coach of the Year finalist, leading UGA to a 13-2 record, a Rose Bowl Game victory and an appearance the CFP National Championship Game.
• The Bulldogs’ No. 2 AP ranking in 2017 was the team’s top AP ranking since week three of the 2008 season when Georgia was No. 2.
• Seven fourth-quarter comebacks, including wins over #8 AU (’16), #22 UNC in Atlanta (’16), @ #24 Notre Dame (’17), vs. #2 Oklahoma in 2018 Rose Bowl Game.
• Led UGA to its first win over a ranked team in a season opener away from Sanford Stadium in school history.

13 Defense/Special Teams Scores
2016: Safety vs. #22 UNC; Lorenzo Carter 24-yd fumble recovery for TD vs. Nicholls; Terry Godwin 43-yd KOR for TD @ SC; Maurice Smith 34-yd INT return for TD vs. #8 AU; Isaiah McKenzie 82-yd PR for TD vs. ULL
2017: J.R. Reed 3-yd fumble recovery for TD vs. Florida
2018: Juwan Taylor 1-yd INT return for TD @ USC; Mecole Hardman 70-yd PR for TD vs. MTSU; Tyson Campbell 64-yd fumble recovery for TD & Eric Stokes 8-yd blocked punt for TD @ Missouri
2019: J.R. Reed 14-yd PR for TD vs. Murray St.; Tae Crowder 60-yd fumble recovery for TD @ Tennessee; Tyson Campbell 0-yd fumble recovery for TD @ GT

%Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic; ^Liberty Bowl; $Rose Bowl Game

Redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis got the start in the season opener and then in the second quarter, junior Stetson Bennett came in to help spark the Bulldogs to a 37-10 road win over Arkansas.

Mathis finished 8-for-17 for 55 yards and an interception during his first outing. He enrolled early in January 2019 and competed during spring practice. Mathis was then forced to redshirt the 2019 season after undergoing surgery to remove a brain cyst. The native of Belleville, Mich., got his share of snaps this preseason after gaining his medical clearance before spring practice.

Bennett directed the Bulldog comeback, delivering a career performance completing 20-of-29 for 211 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a two-point conversion during Georgia’s road win. Bennett played in five games for the Bulldogs last year and was 20-for-27 for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He was on the 2017 Bulldog squad that went 13-2 and was named the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year. Bennett spent 2018 at Jones County Junior College in Mississippi.

Georgia also has redshirt sophomore transfer JT Daniels and early enrollee Carson Beck competing for playing time.

While at USC, Daniels started all 11 games as a true freshman in 2018 before a knee injury in the 2019 opener shortened his sophomore season. He made 12 start for the Trojans during the 2018-19 and has completed 241-of-397 (60.7 percent) for 2,887 yards with 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his career. Daniels is waiting to be medically cleared in 2020.

Beck completed 136 passes for 1,843 yards and 20 touchdowns last season for Mandarin HS (Fla.) while also rushing for six scores.

In the season opener, Georgia’s starting offensive line featured junior Jamaree Salyer (LT), junior Justin Shaffer (LG), junior Trey Hill (C), senior Ben Cleveland (RG) and redshirt sophomore Owen Condon (RT).

Hill also saw some time at RG when redshirt sophomore Warren Ericson came in at C. In addition, redshirt freshman Warren McClendon saw time at RT.

Not only are the Bulldogs replacing four key players from the offensive line, they’re also breaking in a new position coach there. Matt Luke, the head coach at Ole Miss from 2017-19, replaced Sam Pittman, who departed in December to become head coach at Arkansas. Luke arrived in time to coach in the Sugar Bowl.

Hill started all 14 games for the Bulldogs last season and was an Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference Second Team selection, along with Cleveland, who had seven starts in 2019, and Salyer, who got the nod in a pair of games including at right tackle in the Sugar Bowl win over #7 Baylor.

In his first career start, Ericson played every offensive snap in the 2020 Sugar Bowl victory.

Also returning is Shaffer, who was sidelined with a neck injury after six games last season. He started a pair of games at left guard before his injury.

Georgia ran the ball 42 times for 121 yards (2.9 yds. avg.). Redshirt sophomore Zamir White got the start versus the Razorbacks. He finished with 71 yards on 13 carries (5.5 avg.) and a touchdown. White is a key member of the special teams unit, including collecting his first career blocked punt. This led to a touchdown, which gave the Bulldogs a 20-10. White became the first Bulldog running back since 2005 to block a punt (Tyson Browning vs. Vanderbilt).

Last year, White was third on the squad with 408 yards and three touchdowns on just 78 carries (5.2 avg.). White posted a career-high 92 yards and a score during the win over #7 Baylor in the Sugar Bowl.

Junior James Cook finished with 26 yards on seven carries and had two catches for 10 yards against Arkansas this year.

While sophomore Kenny McIntosh had only three carries, he made a significant impact on special teams including two kickoff returns for 91 yards against the Razorbacks.

True freshmen Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards also provide depth for the Bulldogs at running back. Each had one carry for four yards against the Razorbacks.

The Bulldogs welcome back half of their top 10 receivers from 2019, including leading receiver and Freshman All-SEC selection George Pickens. He earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the Sugar Bowl with 12 catches for 175 yards (both career highs) and a score. In the 2020 opener, Pickens snagged four catches for 47 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown from Stetson Bennett.

Twelve different Bulldogs caught a pass against Arkansas in the season opener. That tally was the most since the 2019 seasonopening win over Arkansas State when 13 different Georgia players had at least one reception.

Redshirt sophomore Kearis Jackson posted career highs of six catches for 62 yards against Arkansas. He added two punt returns for 34 yard against the Razorbacks.

Three true freshmen made their debut, including WR Jermaine Burton getting a start. Burton (1 rec., 13 yds.), TE Darnell Washington (1 rec., 26 yds.) and WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (2 rec., 12 yds.) all registered their first career catches against Arkansas. Burton and Washington starting equaled the total of Bulldogs who have started as true freshmen on offense during the Kirby Smart era. LT Andrew Thomas (NY Giants) and TE Charlie Woerner (San Francisco 49ers) are the other two.

Redshirt sophomore John FitzPatrick started for the second time in his career at another tight end spot. He finished with two catches for 19 yards, including his first career touchdown on a 7-yard strike. Graduate transfer Tre’ McKitty (FSU) missed the opener while recovering from an injury.

Sophomore Dominick Blaylock (18 rec., 310 yards, 5 TDs in 2019) also returned in 2020. However, Blaylock, who tore his ACL during last year’s SEC Championship Game, injured the same knee during practice this year and will miss the 2020 season.

Georgia has three new on the field coaches this year. The first hire was Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach Matt Luke, who joined the Bulldogs after serving as the Ole Miss head coach for three seasons. Luke began in December and was part of the coaching staff during Georgia’s victory over #7 Baylor in the Sugar Bowl.

Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken was the next addition to Smart’s staff in January. Monken arrived in Athens after spending a year as the Cleveland Browns’ offensive coordinator (OC). He also was the OC for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for three years prior to his stop in Cleveland and had three years as the Southern Mississippi head coach earlier in his career.

Then in February, Special Teams Coordinator Scott Cochran joined the Bulldog coaching staff. Cochran, who worked with Smart nine seasons at Alabama, had served as the head strength and conditioning coach for the Tide since 2007.

The seven Georgia players in 2020 matched the total from 2019 and equaled the second-best total in school history.

OT Andrew Thomas (1st Rd.-No. 4, Giants), RB D’Andre Swift (2nd Rd.-No. 35, Detroit), OT Isaiah Wilson (1st Rd.-No. 29, Tennessee), OG Solomon Kindley (4th Rd.-No. 111, Miami), QB Jake Fromm (5th Rd.-No. 167, Buffalo), TE Charlie Woerner (6th Rd.-No. 190, San Francisco) and ILB Tae Crowder (7th Rd.-No. 255, N.Y. Giants) were all picked by NFL teams.

Selected as the draft’s final pick, Crowder became Georgia’s second “Mr. Irrelevant” after Bulldog Donald Chumley was taken with the last pick in the 1985 draft. Crowder is on the Giants active roster. Also, eight Bulldogs signed as free agents.

Georgia has 50 players on NFL rosters, including 10 that were part of the Bulldogs’ offense last year.

The Bulldogs are expected to have one of the nation’s top defenses again in 2020. Georgia opened up with a 37-10 road win over Arkansas, holding the Razorbacks to 280 yards on 67 plays. UA’s two scoring drives covered 134 yards. On the other 14 drives, the Razorbacks tallied only 146 yards with the Bulldogs forcing three turnovers, including a pick-six and a safety.

In 2019, Georgia led the country in Scoring Defense (12.6 points/game) and Rushing Defense (74.6 yards/game).

The Bulldogs allowed only two rushing touchdowns last season (both by quarterbacks) to lead the nation and set a school record with the lowest total in the SEC since 1970 (LSU). Arkansas was held to 77 yards rushing on 28 attempts. The team’s lone touchdown came on a 49-yard scoring pass.

Eight of Georgia’s top tacklers from 2019 return, including the team leader in senior Monty Rice (89 tackles), the squad’s sack leader in redshirt sophomore Azeez Ojulari (5.5) and senior Richard LeCounte, who was UGA’s leader in interceptions (three), fumble recoveries (three) and forced fumbles (two, tied with senior Mark Webb) return.

In the 2020 opener, LeCounte had his second straight game with two interceptions to give him seven in his career. He also had two picks in the win over #7 Baylor during the 2020 Sugar Bowl. Junior Eric Stokes also posted his first career interception against the Razorbacks and took it back 30 yards for a touchdown.

In 2019, Georgia held 13 of its 14 opponents under 20 points. Before the 2019 SEC Championship Game, Georgia and Clemson were the only two teams in the FBS not to allow more than 20 points in a game. In the SEC Championship Game, top-ranked LSU registered a 37-10 win over the Bulldogs as the Tigers came in ranked second nationally in Scoring Offense (48.7 ppg). In the CFP semifinal, Clemson beat #2 Ohio State 29-23. In the CFP National Championship Game, LSU beat Clemson 42-25.

The 2019 Bulldogs posted three shutouts, two against SEC opponents, and two other games in which the opposing offense managed only single-digit scoring totals.

While the Bulldogs’ second-leading tackler from last year in Tae Crowder has graduated and made the New York Giants, Georgia has a deep corps at ILB and OLB.

Monty Rice, who was a 2019 AP All-SEC Second Team selection, registered a team-leading 89 stops in 2019 and started all 14 games at ILB. Sophomore Nakobe Dean, who tallied 25 tackles and forced a fumble in his first season, is a leading candidate to complement Rice in the middle. He was the leading tackler against Arkansas with seven stops.

Redshirt sophomore and 2019 FWAA Freshman All-American/ National Freshman of the Year semifinalist Azeez Ojulari had a team-leading 5.5 sacks to go along with 36 stops and a forced fumble in his first season in 2019. Sophomore Nolan Smith (18 tackles, 2.5 sacks), junior Quay Walker (23 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss), senior Jermaine Johnson (20 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss) and sophomore and 2019 Freshman All-SEC selection Travon Walker (15 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss) are poised to strengthen this group even more in 2020.

Smith started off 2020 with a strong performance, collecting six tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Georgia’s defense starts with the trio up front headlined by preseason All-SEC selection Jordan Davis. Seniors Devonte Wyatt and Malik Herring make up the rest of the Bulldog front that allows the linebackers to make plays behind them.

For the first time since 2015, Georgia needed to replace its placekicker after All-American and 2019 Lou Groza Award winner Rodrigo Blankenship graduated and won the starting job with the Indianapolis Colts after signing as a free agent.

Blankenship finished his Bulldog career with a school-record 440 career points (2nd all-time in the SEC). He connected on all 200 of his career PATs.

Redshirt sophomore Jack Podlesny made his debut in the 2020 season opener and handled the place kicking and kickoff duties. He made a pair of 38-yard field goals, went 3-for-3 on PATs and five of his six kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. After redshirting in 2018, Podlesny did not attempt a kick last year.

Georgia leads the nation with a streak of 294 straight PATs dating back to 2014. The streak involves six kickers (Marshall Morgan, Patrick Beless, William Ham, David Marvin, Blankenship and Podlesny).

Georgia’s snappers this year include redshirt sophomore Payne Walker and redshirt freshman William Mote. Walker, who was one of the snappers last year as well, snaps on field goals and PATs while Mote handles the snaps for punts.

The Bulldogs return junior Jake Camarda at punter. Camarda had one of the finest seasons ever by a Bulldog punter as he averaged 46.8 yards/punt, which ranked second in school history.

Through his first two seasons, Camarda was averaging 45.1 yards/punt, which would place him in the top three in school history. Camarda’s 42.1 net punting average in 2019 ranked second in UGA history and helped Georgia jump from 70th nationally in 2018 to eighth last season.

Camarda looked to be in midseason form in the opener by averaging 49.9 yards on seven punts, placing five of those at the 11-yard line or better. He boomed five punts that were 50-plus yards, including a 63 yarder.

With WR/PR Dominick Blaylock out for the year with a knee injury, the Bulldogs turned to redshirt sophomore Kearis Jackson in the opener. Jackson had two punt returns for 34 yards while sophomore Tyrique Stevenson handled one and returned it 23 yards.

In the kickoff return game, sophomore Kenny McIntosh had his first two returns against Arkansas and they totaled 91 yards.

The Bulldogs have maintained their spot in the AP Top 25 now for 53 consecutive weeks, which ranks fourth nationally, dating back to the start of the 2017 season. Georgia ranks in the top three for active streaks in the top five and top 10.

Head football coach Kirby Smart and his wife, Mary Beth, will donate $1 million to their alma mater to support the UGA Athletic Association’s new social justice program, create scholarships for senior student-athletes whose final seasons were impacted by COVID-19, and contribute to the expansion of the UGA football program.

“Mary Beth and I are where we are because of the University of Georgia, so we feel a duty to give back to the university that opened so many doors for us, brought us together and brought us home,” said Smart. “The current moment presents unique challenges for all of us, whether that’s dealing with the ramifications of this pandemic or acknowledging and addressing racial inequality. We hope this gift can fuel positive change in both areas.”

The Smarts joined Detroit Lions quarterback and former UGA standout Matthew Stafford and his wife, Kelly, to endow UGA Athletics’ new social justice program. The goal of the program is to continue developing an environment to effect meaningful change in the areas of diversity, inclusion, equity and social justice for all of the Association’s members, including student-athletes, coaches and staff.

Many student-athletes saw their seasons canceled or postponed this year as part of public health precautions to protect against COVID-19. As a result, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility and lifted team financial aid limits so that senior studentathletes could return and complete their final seasons of eligibility at UGA. But with a pandemic-related financial shortfall impacting the Athletic Association’s budgets, UGA Athletics faced a challenge: finding new funding avenues to support those returning studentathletes.

This is where the Smarts stepped in, dedicating a portion of their gift to defraying the costs associated with returning seniors whose spring and fall activities were impacted by COVID-19.

The final portion of the Smarts’ gift will support the Butts- Mehre Expansion Project, which will expand and renovate all aspects of football operations at UGA. The project will, among other improvements, expand the weight room and add a locker room, meeting rooms, coaches’ offices and a sports medicine facility to Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall.

The Georgia football team kicked off its initiative called “Dawgs For Pups” in early September by pledging to raise money for WiFi hotspots for Clarke County students.

After the idea arose from a team meeting, the Bulldogs are participating in a number of “Dawgs For Pups” activities in the Athens area and beyond to help students and others affected by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The first activity has been to supply families who have kindergarten to eighth grade students with WiFi hotspots. This access to an internet connection will help students stay connected with their virtual classroom.

Through September, the Bulldogs and donors have given nearly $75,000 to the project.

“Helping out the youth in this area is so important because they are our future,” said senior defensive back Eric Stokes. “I have a platform (at the University of Georgia) and I am trying to use that platform and make it as big as it can go.”

“During our team meeting, I talked about breaking the cycle in our community and I have realized that being in Athens and being at the University of Georgia, we kind of lead this community without knowing it,” said freshman defensive lineman Warren Brinson.

“Youth in our community need to have something to look forward to, something they can be great at. Education is one of the most important things in your life.”

The donations will help support the more than 1,000 families in Clarke County who do not have the Internet access needed for online learning. For only $20, donors can sponsor a family’s unlimited high-speed date plan for a month. For $60, donors can sponsor a family’s WiFi for the fall semester.

All donations received will be solely for the purpose of hotspots for CCSD. The link to donate to “Bridging The Digital Divide” is here: http://gado.gs/53q

The Bulldogs have officially started their second project of the “Dawgs For Pups” initiative called the Food2Kids Snack Drive.

The Food2Kids Snack Drive comes at a pivotal time for the area community. The temporary COVID-19 unemployment benefits have ended and many parents are unable to go to work with their children receiving a virtual education and not attending school.

The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia has reported an 80 percent increase in demand over its 2019 numbers and with September being Hunger Action Month, food bank representatives are stressing that the need for any help in this arena remains high.

Through September, the Bulldogs and donors have given more than 30,000 pounds of food to the Food Bank.

Healthy and transportable snacks are the ones targeted for the Food2Kids Snack Drive. Granola bars, snack-size trail mix, nuts and pretzel bags, 100 percent fruit treat snacks and other various snacks that are not easily crushed under the weight of canned goods are requested for the drive.

“The food drive is very important for kids who are not fortunate to have daily snacks and who have hunger, and I think us as athletes and the staff at (the University of Georgia Athletic Association) have a duty to help our community become a better place and become united,” said senior receiver Demetris Robertson.

“I’ve been giving back to my community as far as I can remember,” said sophomore linebacker Nakobe Dean. “Doing projects like this makes me feel like I am kind of continuing that tradition that we did with my mom growing up. It’s important to help the youth at all times, not just right now in times of despair but all the time since they are the future of our country.”

Donations for the Food2Kids Snack Drive can be dropped on the main floor (third floor) of the UGA Athletic Association’s Butts- Mehre Building (1 Selig Circle, Athens, GA 30602).

The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia will also accept donations for this program. The food bank’s hours for drop-off are 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

Georgia ranked second in the league with 10 representatives on the Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team. First Team Defense selections junior DL Jordan Davis and senior S Richard LeCounte highlighted the group of Bulldogs.

Junior C Trey Hill, sophomore WR George Pickens, senior DL Malik Herring, senior LB Monty Rice, sophomore LB Nakobe Dean, junior DB Eric Stokes and junior P Jake Camarda were included on the Second Team. In addition, sophomore LB Nolan Smith was named to the Third Team.