Ten Thoughts From An Overwhelming of Tennessee State

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On paper, Georgia was an overwhelming favorite before Saturday’s opener against Tennessee State. The Bulldogs handled their business like you’d expect, and the Tigers presented themselves like a lower-level FCS program trying to rebuild. It all added up to a rout of a victory for Georgia, 63-3.

Here are ten thoughts, observations and more for a very hot Saturday in Athens.

1. Firstly, it was tremendous to be in Athens. There’s just something about that drive into town on game day that seems to heal all that ails. For those of us from south Georgia and the middle part of the state, there’s some type of emotion that seems to make your mood better when you pull through Madison and see that first Golden Pantry just around Bogart. You feel like you are headed to somewhere special, like a city of gold just over the hill. College football may be a hellscape right now, but in moments like Saturday, all seemed right with the world. 

2. Compared to a week ago, how much more do we substantially know about this Georgia team? Sure, the execution on both sides was very good (mostly), but how different was what we saw Saturday than if there would have been a full-roster scrimmage with fans in the stands on Saturday? There are clearly places on a schedule for non-conference teams of a lesser variety, but the this may have very well been the worst team UGA has faced under Kirby Smart.

3. Let the record show that more than ten minutes remained until halftime when Gunner Stockton was subbed out for Ryan Puglisi and offense was basically Ryan Montgomery’s under center in the fourth…until Hezekiah Millender in the fourth. Yes, four QBs. That speaks to how one-sided this day was, and in an odd way, you hope that it stays a bit closer next week so that Stockton and the refreshed received room can get in-game work ahead of a going to Arkansas.

4. Many may have tuned out in this game’s ‘garbage time,“ when Jae Lamar powered into the end zone for a score with 3:57 to play. But its hard not to have a soft spot for Lamar given the adversity he has overcome – missed his first two years of football in high school due to a gunshot wound in his leg. That’s toughness, and it would not be the first hard-nosed running back Georgia has had from Moultrie…see Daijun Edwards.

5. On the topic of Tennessee State and its Aristocrats of Bands, a shame this game contract was not similar to Southern in that the marching band showed up. The fans could have been at least given than incentive to say until halftime. 

6. And given the heat…could it least be considered to PPV games like Saturday so this thing could have kicked off at 7 pm? Its a challenge across sports and ticketing the get fans to watch in-person vs. at home. Saturday’s weather made staying home easy. 

7. Speaking of fans…anyone who one, showed up in this heat and two, made one half is worthy of DGD status. 

8. Yes, Georgia won big. But it still had plenty of teachable moments on display. The first half alone had 55 penalty yards, mostly on defense. There was also the misadventerous field-goal try in the second quarter and mishandled snap on a fourth-quarter PAT. If Kirby Smart needed points on emphasis on game film, this coaching staff has them.

9. This game may have looked like a 7-on-7 tournament for Georgia on offense, but it was good to see the Bulldogs’ two prime running backs, Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens get to thee edge and find very good results. Obviously, consider the opponent, but the ways both had success, by the run and via the screen is a hopeful preview of what’s to come within Mike Bobo’s offense.  

Heaven help us if there’s heavy cloud cover when that pyro is set off from the west end zone in any future games Between The Hedges.

Go Dawgs!

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