UGA Football: Game Notes – Georgia Hosts MSU in Bulldog Showdown

Game & Broadcast Info

On Saturday, Georgia will make its third appearance of the season on the SEC Network. The Bulldogs topped Arkansas and Kentucky on the road earlier this season on the network. While Georgia did not appear on the SECN at all in 2019, the team also played on the network three times in 2018 (Vanderbilt, Massachusetts, Georgia Tech).

Georgia (4-2) welcomes Mississippi State (2-4 ) on Saturday to Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium. Georgia leads the all-time series 18-6, including 11-2 in Athens. This will be MSU’s first visit to Sanford Stadium since 2017. That year, the host Bulldogs registered a 31-3 victory for their 11th win in the last 12 meetings in the series. Georgia has won the last 10 contests over MSU in Athens. MSU’s last victory over the Bulldogs here came in 1956 (19-7). MSU last beat Georgia in 2010 (24-12) and that game was in Starkville.

This season MSU opened with a 44-34 win over defending national champion LSU. MSU dropped their next four to Arkansas, Kentucky, No. 11 Texas A&M and No. 2 Alabama before beating Vanderbilt on Nov. 7.

Since 1922, Georgia is 78-18-2 in Homecoming contests. This year, the Bulldogs welcome Mississippi State to Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium, and the SEC West’s Bulldogs will be the Homecoming foe for just the second time. Georgia won the first Homecoming matchup by a score of 27-0 that came in 1950.

In Georgia history, 10 different SEC teams have served as an opponent on Homecoming. In records dating back to 1922, Georgia has outscored its Homecoming opponents 2,598 to 1,205. Vanderbilt is the last team to beat Georgia on Homecoming, posting a 17-16 decision in 2016 to snap a streak of nine straight wins on Homecoming. The Bulldogs went 6-1 in Homecoming games at Sanford Field (1922-28) before moving to their current home in Sanford Stadium. There have been two ties on Homecoming. In 1938, Georgia and Georgia Tech played to a scoreless tie while the 1962 game between the Bulldogs and Kentucky ended at 7-all.

Along with the game, the traditions have included a Friday afternoon parade, former Redcoat Band members and UGA cheerleaders performing with the current squads during the game and at halftime. Also, a Homecoming King and Queen are usually crowned on the field. However, most Homecoming activities this year have either been canceled or adjusted to be virtual because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Former Georgia quarterback and current Buffalo Bill Jake Fromm handed off to current Cleveland Brown Nick Chubb on the game’s first play. Chubb tossed it back to Fromm to start a flea-flicker that ended with current Jacksonville Jaguar Terry Godwin catching a 59-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs never looked back during the teams’ last matchup that came in Athens to start their year 4-0. Chubb scored his first of two touchdowns in the second quarter to give Georgia a 14-3 edge at halftime. Fromm, who finished 9-of-12 for 201 yards and two touchdowns, connected on his second scoring strike to current Detroit Lion Isaac Nauta that covered 41 yards.

An undefeated Mississippi State team that came into the game averaging 47.7 points/game and 493 yards/game finished with only a field goal and 280 total yards. Current L.A. Ram J.R. Reed led Georgia with 10 stops.

The Bulldogs return to play their first home game since Oct. 10 when Mississippi State arrives on Saturday. After opening on the road at Arkansas, Georgia picked up back-to-back home victories over No. 7 Auburn and No. 14 Tennessee on Oct. 3 and Oct. 10, respectively. Since then, the Bulldogs traveled to take on No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, made the trip to Lexington, Ky., to face Kentucky and met No. 8 Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., for the teams’ annual neutral site showdown. Last week’s contest at Missouri was postponed because of COVID-19. A make-up date has not been released.

The last Georgia game to be postponed came in 2001. The Bulldogs were scheduled to host Houston on Sept. 15 that season. However, the game was postponed and then played on Dec. 1 following the Sept. 11 attack. That year, Georgia already had an open date on Sept. 22 so the team went three weeks between its second and third games.

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: 82-TD, Bennett to James Cook vs. #2 BAMA (10/17/20)
Tackles: 15, Nakobe Dean vs. #8 UF (11/7/20)
Sacks: 3, Trenton Thompson vs. TCU (12/30/16)
TFL: 3, Azeez Ojulari vs. #7 AU (10/3/20); 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
2020: Safety @ ARK; Eric Stokes 30-yd INT return @ ARK; Monty Rice 20-yd fumble recovery vs. #14 UT; Eric Stokes 37-yd INT return vs. FLA

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

Junior QB Stetson Bennett has helped Georgia go 3-2 as a starter, including two wins versus Top-15 teams. Redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis is 1-0 as a starter getting the nod in the season opener. He replaced Bennett versus #8 Florida after Bennett sustained an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. Mathis has appeared in four games.

In Georgia’s 14-3 road win at Kentucky, the Bulldogs had 346 yards on 57 plays, which included 43 rushes.

Georgia led #2 Alabama 24-20 at the half as Bennett was 12-for- 25 for 117 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. However, the Crimson Tide rallied for 21 unanswered points in the second half for the win as Bennett finished 18-for-40 for 269 yards, two scores and three interceptions.

Against #14 Tennessee, Bennett directed the Bulldogs to 431 total yards on 77 plays. He finished 16-for-27 for 238 yards and three touchdowns and was the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week. Bennett passed for two scores and ran for the other. He has been most accurate on third downs this season at 68 percent (32-for-47 for 386 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions).

In his first career start at Georgia, Bennett helped lead the Bulldogs to a 27-6 win over #7 Auburn in Athens. In the first half on third down, Bennett was 5-for-7 for 81 yards and a touchdown. The score was a 21-yard strike to sophomore George Pickens when it was 3rd-and-9. The play gave the Bulldogs a 17-0 lead.

Bennett came in to help spark the Bulldogs to a 37-10 road win over Arkansas in the opener after redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis got the start. In addition to his passing performance, Bennett also ran for a two-point conversion.

After coming in for Bennett against the Gators, Mathis tallied his first career touchdown pass, a 25-yard strike to redshirt sophomore Kearis Jackson on 3rd-and-13. Mathis finished 4-for-13 with a score and two interceptions.

Mathis made his Bulldog starting debut in the opener against Arkansas. He finished 8-for-17 for 55 yards and an interception. 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 during the spring of 2020.

Georgia’s starting offensive line features junior Jamaree Salyer (LT), junior Justin Shaffer (LG), junior Trey Hill (C), senior Ben Cleveland (RG) and redshirt freshman Warren McClendon (RT).

Redshirt sophomore Owen Condon (RT) got his first start at Arkansas while McClendon has gotten the nod the last five games. Also of note, McClendon has made four tackles this season following Bulldog turnovers.

Cleveland was named the SEC OL of the Week for the second time in his career following the win over #7 Auburn.

Georgia’s most effective games running the ball have come against #7 Auburn and at Kentucky. Georgia churned out 202 yards on 45 attempts (4.5 avg.) against the Tigers. The Bulldogs went for 215 on 43 tries (5.0 avg.) against the Wildcats.

Against #2 Alabama, Georgia had 145 rushing yards on 30 carries (4.8 avg.), including a 10-yard touchdown by Zamir White.

Redshirt sophomore Zamir White leads the running game with a team-high 97 carries for 509 yards and seven touchdowns. He left Jacksonville, Fla., with his second straight 100-yard rushing game after going for 107 yards on seven carries versus #8 Gators, highlighted by his 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game.

Georgia had 215 rushing yards on 43 attempts (5.0 avg.) and scored both touchdowns on the ground during the win at Kentucky. Versus the Wildcats, White had a career-high 26 carries for 136 yards and a score.

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 edge at Arkansas. White became the first Bulldog running back since 2005 to block a punt (Tyson Browning vs. Vanderbilt).

Junior James Cook (29 att., 148 yds.) is also a target out of the backfield with 13 catches for 190 yards and a touchdown. He had an 82-yard scoring catch at #2 Alabama and finished with 102 receiving yards. His score is the longest TD reception by a Bulldog since 2013.

Georgia also has sophomore Kenny McIntosh (19-92) and true freshman Kendall Milton (31-183) as reliable options in the backfield. Milton got the start alongside White against the Gators. He was forced to leave the game with a knee injury after having two carries for 18 yards.

Redshirt sophomore Kearis Jackson (27 rec., 396 yds., 2 TDs) has emerged as a top target. After posting career highs in catches and yards against Arkansas, he set new career highs in the win over #7 Auburn. Jackson collected nine catches for 147 yards. Against #14 Tennessee, he had a team-high four receptions for 91 yards, including his first career score that covered 21 yards. Jackson posted a team-high three catches for 48 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown from D’Wan Mathis versus UF.

Sophomore George Pickens ranks third on the squad with 13 catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns. He missed the Kentucky and Florida games while recovering from an injury.

With Pickens out, freshman Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint got the call against #8 UF and hauled in his first career touchdown (a 32 yarder on 3rd-and-7) to put Georgia up 14-0. However, he sustained a right ankle injury as he crossed the goal line and missed the rest of the game.

True freshman Jermaine Burton (10-130-1) was a popular target for Stetson Bennett against #2 Alabama. He had four catches for 58 yards and his first career touchdown. His scoring reception was a 5-yard grab on 3rd-and-goal to give Georgia a 24-17 edge in the second quarter.

Georgia utilizes the tight ends as well with redshirt sophomore John FitzPatrick, graduate transfer Tre’ McKitty (FSU) and freshman Darnell Washington combining for 10 catches for 162 yards and one score. McKitty made his Bulldog debut against the Vols after missing the first two games with an injury. Washington had a career-long 33-yard catch in the win at Kentucky.

When healthy, the Bulldogs have one of the nation’s top defenses. Georgia leads the SEC allowing just 20.8 points/game. The Bulldogs are second in the league with 18 sacks.

In the Bulldogs’ four wins this year, they have allowed just a total of 40 points. Against the nation’s top-scoring offense in #2 Alabama, the Crimson Tide posted a 41-24 win in Tuscaloosa. Then, #8 Florida, who was 10th nationally in Scoring Offense at 42.2, posted a 44-28 win as Georgia was missing three starters due to injury. Still, the Bulldogs held the Gators to a pair of field goals in the second half.

Georgia tops the SEC and ranks fourth nationally in Rushing Defense (82.8 ypg). The Bulldogs have allowed a pair of 100-yd. rushers this year (UA’s Najee Harris, 152; UK’s Chris Rodriguez, 108). The aforementioned pair gained a combined 260 while the rest of the Dogs’ opponents have combined to rush for 237 yards.

Georgia held Arkansas to 77 yards rushing on 28 attempts while Auburn had just 39 yards on 22 tries. Thanks in part to five sacks, #14 Tennessee finished with minus-1 rushing yards on 27 attempts. The defense has allowed only two rushing TDs in 2020.

Preseason All-American Richard LeCounte is out due to a motorcycle accident after the Kentucky game. He missed his first start in Georgia’s last 24 games versus #8 Florida. LeCounte has three picks this year and eight in his career. Against the Wildcats, he had a career-high 14 stops and a forced fumble and was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career as well as the Jim Thorpe Award Player of the Week.

Junior Eric Stokes is tied with LeCounte at the No. 2 spot nationally with three interceptions, including a national leading pair of pick-sixes. He posted his first career INT against the ARK and took it back 30 yards for a score. This marked the second touchdown of his career after he blocked a punt versus Missouri and scored in 2018. Versus the Gators last week, Stokes recorded his third pick and returned it 37 yards for a score.

Junior Tyson Campbell and sophomores Lewis Cine and Tyrique Stevenson round out the starters in the secondary. Cine had four stops at UK, but was forced to leave the game with an injury. Christopher Smith replaced LeCounte in the lineup versus Florida.

Georgia is deep at LB with Monty Rice leading the way. He ranks second with 35 stops this year. Rice was named the Bednarik Award Player of the Week following his performance in the win over #14 Tennessee. He had strip-sack, recovered the fumble and ran it in 20 yards for his first career touchdown against the Vols.

Redshirt sophomore Azeez Ojulari has a team high 6.5 TFLs, including 3.5 sacks, and ranks among the national leaders with three forced fumbles so far this season.

Against the Vols, Ojulari earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. He registered four tackles, including a sack for a loss of six yards, a forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Sophomore Nakobe Dean leads the team with 49 tackles following a huge performance the last two weeks He posted a career-high 15 tackles versus #8 Florida and another 14 at Kentucky.

Sophomore Nolan Smith, junior Quay Walker, senior Jermaine Johnson and sophomore and 2019 Freshman All-SEC selection Travon Walker have given this position additional depth.

Johnson started 2020 with a strong performance, collecting six tackles and 1.5 sacks at Arkansas. Against #2 Alabama, Walker posted a career-high seven tackles. He had his first career start at Kentucky and had five stops.

Georgia started the season with preseason All-SEC selection Jordan Davis and a trio of seniors in Devonte Wyatt, Malik Herring and Julian Rochester up front. However, Davis and Rochester were injured in the win at Kentucky and missed the Florida contest. Freshman Jalen Carter garnered his first start against the Gators.

Herring had four stops, including a sack, at #2 Alabama. Wyatt matched his career high with seven stops in the win at Kentucky.

Against the Wildcats, Davis and Rochester missed a majority of the contest with injuries. Freshmen Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson saw extended action against Kentucky. Stackhouse along with redshirt Tramel Walthour and redshirt freshman Zion Logue filled in on the line against the Gators.

Carter lined up in the backfield versus #14 Tennessee and caught a 1-yard touchdown reception from QB Stetson Bennett.

Redshirt sophomore Jack Podlesny is 8-for-10 on field goals and 20-for-20 on PATs this year. He made his debut in the 2020 season opener. Podlesny made a pair of 38-yard field goals, went 3-for-3 on PATs and five of his six kickoffs resulted in touchbacks in the win over Arkansas.

In the victory over #14 Tennessee, Podlesny had a solid game going 3-for-3 on field goals, including a career-long 51 yarder that gave the Bulldogs the lead for good at 23-21 in the third quarter.

At #2 Alabama, Podlesny hit his second FG from 50 or more yards and added three PATs.

Georgia extended the NCAA record this season for consecutive PATs made. The streak stands at 312 dating back to 2014. The streak involves six kickers (Marshall Morgan, Patrick Beless, William Ham, David Marvin, Rodrigo Blankenship and Podlesny).

For the first time since 2015, Georgia needed to replace its placekicker as the All-American/2019 Lou Groza Award winner Blankenship graduated. He now serves as the Indianapolis Colts PK.

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.

Junior punter Jake Camarda’s 48.4 average ranks third in the country and the Bulldogs 45.8 average in Net Punting is second nationally. He has punted 24 times and placed 15 inside the 20 and has had 11 that have traveled 50+. Opponents have only had two punt returns for two yards this season. Camarda is also kicking off for the Bulldogs.

Camarda has been named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week twice this year (ARK, UK). He has been on the “Ray’s 4” list as one of the week’s top punters nationally twice.

Camarda looked to be in midseason form in the opener by averaging 50.7 yards on seven punts.

Against #7 Auburn, Camarda only punted twice in the first half and averaged 51.5 yards. During the win over #14 Tennessee, he had a pair of punts for an average of 56.5, including a 64 yarder.

Now in his third season, Camarda is averaging 45.7 yards/ punt, which is on pace for a school record. Drew Butler, the 2009 Ray Guy Award winner, owns the Bulldog record with a 45.4.

In the KOR game, sophomore Kenny McIntosh has six returns for 218 yards (36.3 average; team is third nationally at 32.2). He missed the last two games after getting injured against #2 Alabama. His longest of the year is a 48 yarder at Arkansas. Redshirt sophomore Kearis Jackson has a 31.0 avg. on five returns, including his most recent 56 yarder against #8 Florida.

With WR/PR Dominick Blaylock out for the year with a knee injury, Jackson has been handling the punt returns.

The Bulldogs have maintained their spot in the AP Top 25 now for 60 consecutive weeks, which ranks fourth nationally, dating back to the start of the 2017 season. Following Georgia’s second loss of the season, the Bulldogs fell out of the Top 10 for the first time since Sept. 25, 2017. This was a streak of 54 consecutive weeks in the Top 10 and that trailed only Alabama and Clemson, who each stand at 86 apiece.

Bulldog offensive coordinator Todd Monken defines an explosive play as at least a 12-yard rush or a 16-yard completion.

Longest Rush by Georgia: 75-yard TD by Zamir White vs. #8 UF
Longest Rush by Opp.: 23 yards by Chris Rodriguez (RB), Kentucky
Longest Completion by Georgia: 82-yard TD @ #2 BAMA (Stetson Bennett to James Cook)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 90-yard TD by #2 BAMA (Mac Jones to Jaylen Waddle)

Turnovers (interceptions, forced fumbles), deflections, tackles for loss, including sacks, are examples of havoc plays.

Did You Know? Georgia is 14-1 when it registers a Non-Offensive Touchdown/Score in the Kirby Smart era. There have been a total of 17 since 2016 (15 TDs, 2 Safeties).

*Deandre Baker 56-yard INT Ret. then dropped ball before goal line, Juwan Taylor picked up in endzone
^Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic, Ga. Dome, Atlanta; +now known as TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville

Junior DB Eric Stokes is tied for the team lead in intercpetions with three alongside senior S Richard LeCounte. Stokes, who did not have a pick before this season, has returned two for touchdowns (vs. #8 Florida, @ Arkansas) and is one of only two players in the FBS who have accomplished that feat this year (Baylor’s Jalen Pitre).

Stokes is the third Bulldog to return two picks for scores in the same season. In fact, both Jake Scott (W, 35-14 @ Kentucky, 1968) and Darrly Gamble (W, 52-38 @ LSU, 2008) had their pair in the same game.

No Bulldog has ever had three picks returned for touchdowns in a season. Cal’s Deltha O’Neal owns the NCAA record with four interceptions returned for touchdowns in one season in 1999.

Georgia and Arkansas are currently the only two teams in the nation that have faced three opponents ranked in the AP Top 10 at the time of game. During that stretch, the Bulldogs topped #7 Auburn 27-6 in Athens on Oct. 3.

Alabama and Georgia are two of only six teams in the nation with two wins vs. teams ranked in the AP Top 25 at the time of game. The other teams outside of the SEC that hold this distinction are Cincinnati, Indiana, North Carolina and Tulsa. The Bulldogs registered victories over #7 Auburn and #14 Tennessee.

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, 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 returning student-athletes.

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.

The Bulldogs and donors gave $100,000 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.”

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’ second project of the “Dawgs For Pups” initiative was called the Food2Kids Snack Drive.

The Food2Kids Snack Drive came 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.

The Bulldog football team, as well as other UGA teams, and donors gave nearly 27,000 pounds of food to the Food Bank. Healthy and transportable snacks were 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 were requested for the drive.

“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.”

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

The Georgia football team has officially started its third project of the “Dawgs For Pups” initiative in the form of a coat drive for area children.

The latest initiative is a coat drive for children in the Athens- Clarke County area. With winter approaching and colder temperatures coming, the Bulldog football team and the rest of the UGA Athletic Association will be working with the local Boys & Girls Club to generate donations of new or gently used coats for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Donations for the coat drive can be dropped on the main floor (third floor) of the UGAAA’s Butts-Mehre Building (1 Selig Circle, Athens, GA 30602) between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Bulldogs will be offering 2020 football schedule posters signed by head coach Kirby Smart to anyone who donates a new or gently used coat.

“It’s going to start getting pretty cold out there and a lot of kids don’t have the gear they need to stay warm,” said Bulldog receivers coach Cortez Hankton. “We want to be sure we provide them with coats and support. We want to be sure our Dawgs take care of the ‘Pups’ in our community and that we give what we can.”

Georgia has a pair of player on this year’s roster who have already earned their undergraduate degrees. The graduates include: DB Prather Hudson (Georgia – Finance) and TE Tre’ McKitty (FSU – Criminology).

All of the SEC players who have achieved an undergraduate degree are sporting the SEC Graduate patch on their uniforms.

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 have had 16 first-time starters in 2020, including seven in the opener.

@ ARK: 7 (Darnell Washington, William Mote, Jake Podlesny, Nakobe Dean, Jermaine Burton, D’Wan Mathis, Owen Condon)
#7 AU: 2 (Stetson Bennett, Warren McClendon)
#14 UT: 2 (Tre’ McKitty, Nolan Smith)
@ #2 UA: none
@ UK: 2 (Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Quay Walker)
vs. #8 UF: 3 (Jalen Carter, Christopher Smith, Kendall Milton)

During the 2020 season opener, 10 true freshmen played for the Bulldogs. This season, 15 true freshmen have taken the field for Georgia.

@ ARK: Malik Herring, Richard LeCounte, Jamaree Salyer
#7 AU: Tyson Campbell, Monty Rice, Zamir White
#14 UT: Mark Webb, Kearis Jackson, Jordan Davis
@ #2 UA: Azeez Ojulari, Rice, Salyer
@ UK: Herring, Trey Hill, Eric Stokes
vs. #8 UF: James Cook, Rice, Campbell