Bulldogs proved sustained success, but can they go all the way?
ATLANTA - Just because the Georgia Bulldogs made it this far, doesn’t mean they are satisfied. It would be too early for the team to be patting themselves on the back with the big test at the Rose Bowl on Monday.
This is the second season under Coach Kirby Smart. So far, the team has netted an SEC Title, a spotlight in the College Football Playoffs, and another great recruiting class. The Bulldogs feel like they have set the tone for sustained success.
“If people think this is the last time, first and last time that it is going to be like this, then they are sadly mistaken,” said UGA outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter.
The reason, Carter said, is because Smart is not going to settle for one SEC Championship or one post-season run. Players said that mindset sunk in this year and looking back, they said it is not something that they didn’t always have in seasons past.
“We just kind of look for days off, days we were like ‘well, we don’t feel like practicing today, so we’re just going to half do it.’ But now we come in, we’re full-go 100 percent no matter what situation we’re in or how we are. We’re going to go out there, practice hard, have a good day,” said UGA running back Nick Chubb.
"Just to be in this position right now. It's exciting to be able to set the tone," said UGA running back Sony Michel.
"Obviously, their hometown, their communities and in the media, you know, we were in the SEC championship, it's a great and they'll have that for a long time. It will be up on these walls for a long time. But they can't be satisfied,” said Coach Kirby Smart.
The No. 3 Bulldogs will be playing No. 2 Oklahoma on New Year’s Day at 5 p.m. The battle will decide who gets to play in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Of course, the winner of the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans will make up the other half of that championship matchup. No. 4 Alabama and No. 1 Clemson will be hashing it out at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. That game happens at 8:45 p.m. on New Year’s Day.