Category: UGA Football

Another Dominating Effort By The Defense: Top-ranked Georgia, the national leader in Scoring Defense (6.6 ppg), held Missouri to just two field goals in a 43-6 win to improve to 9-0 (7-0 SEC). Also, there was a goal-line stand that ended with three seconds left in the game when the Tigers turned it over on downs. UM came in averaging 34.8 points a game.

Georgia now has held eight of its nine opponents to their lowest scoring tally of year (USC is the exception). The 59 points allowed through nine games is the lowest in a season at this point since 1971 (53 points).

Georgia trailed for only the second time this year (@Auburn 3-0 in 1st quarter for a total of 5:29) when Missouri made a 35-yard FG with 5:50 left in the opening quarter. It was a seven play, 33-yard drive. Today, Georgia trailed for 5:08 before responding on its next drive for a 7-3 lead with 42 seconds left in the 1st quarter. Tiger RB Tyler Badie came in averaging a league-leading 123.6 ypg, and he finished with just 41 yards.

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Georgia vs Missouri Digital Guide

With a voice as smooth and comforting as a glass of iced tea — sweet, of course — Loran Smith has been talking to us for decades. He’s given us updates from the sideline at Sanford Stadium, he’s provided context, depth and nuance during pregame and postgame shows, and through it all he’s been a storyteller and interviewer with grace and charm.

Whenever you’re listening to Smith on the radio, it feels like you should be sitting on your front-porch swing, that glass of tea sweating on the table beside you, with a loving and loyal dog resting at your feet.

“My first and foremost objective,” in getting involved in radio back in the late 1960s, Smith said, “was to promote Georgia. And No. 2, to enjoy a nice experience.”

It’s safe to say after all these years that Smith has achieved those objectives many, many times over. This 2021 Georgia football season is Smith’s 50th as a member of the Bulldog broadcast team. Yes, he was doing this long before head coach Kirby Smart, 45, was born.

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ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia junior linebacker Nakobe Dean has been named one of 12 semifinalists for the 2021 Wuerffel Trophy, which is known as “college football’s premier award for community service.”

Dean, a native of Horn Lake, Miss., is one of three semifinalists from the Southeastern Conference.  Three finalists will be announced on Nov. 23 and the winner is scheduled to be announced on Dec. 9 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.

Former Bulldog All-American and current Indianapolis Colt Rodrigo Blankenship was a semifinalist for the honor in 2019 while Jeb Blazevich was a 2016 Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist.  Former Georgia receiver and current Houston Texan Chris Conley (2014), Aaron Murray (2012) and Drew Butler (2011) were all finalists for the award.

Dean, who has a 3.53 in his Mechanical Engineering major, has been named to the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his dedication to the community.  Among other volunteer activities, Dean has helped with “Dawgs for Pups,” been a visitor at Camp Sunshine, given his time to Extra Special People (ESP) during the “Bulldogs and Buddies” practice visitation and participated in the Read Across America at local schools.

On the field, Dean is the second-leading tackler for the Bulldogs this season with 37 stops, including five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, and has two interceptions, including one pick he took back 50 yards for a touchdown versus Florida.  He has already been named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award and the Bednarik Award.

The No. 1 Bulldogs (8-0, 6-0 SEC) play host to Missouri (4-4, 1-3) on Saturday.  ESPN will televise the matchup at noon.

By John Frierson
Staff Writer

Kelee Ringo has one of the best pictures a Georgia football player can have.

The redshirt freshman defensive back is on the field with his mom, Tralee Hale, after the Bulldogs’ win over Kentucky, both of them wearing big smiles. More significantly, Hale is dressed head-to-toe in pink, including her hair, and is wearing pink Spike Squad shoulder pads.

Diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of years ago, Hale spent the Kentucky game cheering with the Spike Squad and the UGA Paint Line, which had “TRALEE STRONG” spelled out on their backs, the letters in black and the skin painted pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Ringo, from Tacoma, Wash., though he went to high school in Scottsdale, Ariz., has started the past five games and his five pass breakups are tied for the team lead. During a Quick Chat after practice Tuesday, he talked about seeing his mom with the Spike Squad, his days as an elite junior sprinter (10.43 seconds in the 100 meters), Halloween, and much more.

Here’s some of what he had to say:

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By John Frierson
Staff Writer

Christopher Smith forever earned a place in Georgia football lore in the Bulldogs’ season-opening win over Clemson. His 74-yard interception return for a touchdown in Georgia’s 10-3 victory was the defensive duel’s only TD. It was also the senior from Atlanta’s first career interception.

Smith broke into the starting lineup midway through the 2020 season and has been making big plays ever since. As the top-ranked Bulldogs, who have already clinched the SEC East title and a spot in the SEC Championship Game, prepare to take on Missouri on Saturday, Smith talked about the interception, how the team is staying focused, his favorite Halloween candy, and much more.

Here’s some of what he had to say:

Frierson: Do people still come up to you and want to about the interception and touchdown against Clemson?

Smith: It’s died down a little bit since it first happened, when that was all I was hearing about. People still come up to me and talk about it, and I’m always happy to have a conversation about anything like that. It was a great play and it definitely helped propel our season, so it was great to be able to be a part of that.

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Chiefs 20, Giants 17
    Deandre Baker, DB: Baker was on the Chiefs’ inactive list and did not suit up against his former team.
    Mecole Hardman, WR: Hardman had five catches for 63 yards and he made a fair catch on a punt for Kansas City.
    Lorenzo Carter, OLB: Carter was on New York’s inactive list with an ankle injury.
    Tae Crowder, ILB: Crowder registered seven tackles for the Giants.
    Azeez Ojulari, OLB: Ojulari picked up two tackles, including one for loss, for New York.
    J.R. Reed, DB: After being acquired by the Giants last week, Reed was on the inactive list.

    Rams 38, Texans 22
    Leonard Floyd, OLB: Floyd registered three tackles, including two sacks, for the Rams. He ranks ninth in the NFL with 6.5 sacks.
    Sony Michel, RB: Michel had nine carries for 42 yards and two catches for 14 yards for Los Angeles.
    Matthew Stafford, QB: Stafford went 21-of-32 for 305 yards and three touchdowns for the Rams. He stands second in the NFL in both passing yards (2,477) and touchdowns (22).
    Chris Conley, WR: Conley hauled in a 24-yard pass for the Texans.
    Jordan Jenkins, DE: Jenkins posted three tackles for Houston.

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