Preparing for Potential Game Changers and Long-Awaited Victories
ATHENS, Ga. — A long time ago, after being dumped for the first time, a friend who had been through that situation offered this advice about the angst and heartache he knew I was feeling: You’ll get through it, and then after a while, you’ll remember that heartache and actually miss it. It’s hard to explain why, but you will. Weirdly, he was right. Once happiness is finally attained, you look back on the angst, and while you don’t want it back, you look back on it fondly. It was something you got past, a personal life accomplishment, and smile at it being in the past. And the person who dumped you could walk in the room right now, and you’d smile at them and remember the heartache, but the smile is real because you really are past it, no matter what happens next.
That must be what it’s like to be a Georgia fan these days, getting ready to face Alabama. At least most fans. Note: Submitted questions have been lightly edited for length and clarity. I get a sense amongst the fan base that in spite of our success these past two-plus seasons there’s still a good bit of trepidation at the thought of having to face our old nemesis. Does a victory in this game exorcise the demons of years past? Certainly, it would cement our legacy as the dominant dynasty in CFB, but will there always be this level of angst as long as Nick Saban walks the sideline? — Drew S.
Keep in mind, every program in America will feel angst when Saban is on the other sideline. Georgia just has more history than most. As someone who has chronicled this rivalry from the Mark Richt days, when Kirby Smart was at Saban’s side, this game seems to have the least amount of angst and personal storylines, at least from the Georgia side. Smart’s news conference on Monday was dominated by questions about stopping Jalen Milroe and running quarterbacks in general. My conversations with Georgia about this game are much more football-oriented, rather than history or Saban voodoo. The championship win in Indianapolis two years ago seemed to eliminate all that. GO DEEPEREmerson: Georgia’s three-peat hopes depend on beating familiar nemesis
