Georgia Bulldog Football: How ‘Bout Them Dawgs!

For about 4 decades I have been an avid University of Georgia Bulldog fan. Even before that I was a young observer that actually followed both Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia on the gridiron since about 1967. (At some point every adult Georgia citizen or resident must choose one team or the other or be considered a panderer. As kids we could like both.)

The 1980 Season once and for all cemented my decision as a Dawg fan. (I had been leaning heavily toward Georgia, versus Georgia Tech, since the ’76 Sugar Bowl Season when Georgia had completely destroyed Alabama 21-0 in Athens, prior to meeting a guy name “Dorsett” in the big game.) Why? A guy named Herschel Walker joined the team.

Herschel Walker had quite a cast of characters with him, as well. Georgia played like a unit or team that year (and for a few years thereafter) and the fabled number 34 added to the excitement. (We also had Coordinator Erk Russell’s  “Junkyard Dawg” defense that would bend but not break.) Coach Vince Dooley’s “Dooley’s Dogs” simply ROCKED both side of the football!

Between Herschel Walker’s play on the field and announcer Larry Munson’s description of Herschel’s play over the radio, I was once and for all hooked. We were the best team in the nation again that year, ranked #1 at the end of the season in both polls..

Like many other fans, I often watched the games on tv, accompanied by the radio. (If the truth be known, Munson was what always kept me glued to the radio during Georgia games, even well before number 34 ever came to play in Athens, Georgia.) Larry’s catch phrases became a part of my everyday lingo, as did particular calls he broadcasted.

Since Munson’s retirement and death, Georgia Football has lost a little of its luster, and I have certainly often been disappointed in Georgia’s play over the past 10 or15 years (even turning on them a few years ago for a brief spell), but the point of it all is their tradition and football culture. Even Georgia’s “UGA” symbol is the most recognizable mascot in all of sports, period (as ranked by multiple national sports magazines).

Like it or not (and Alabama fans don’t) Georgia is the prototype Southeastern Conference Football Team to America, and has been since the 1950s. Each league has a team that the country identifies with, and the SEC’s has always been the Georgia Bulldogs.

We are “the Face” of the SEC. The special combination of players, coaches, mascot, success, academics, tailgating, announcing, and image has always been best at the University of Georgia – and hopefully always will be.

GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JIMMY HALL IS A BUSINESS WRITER, 404-580-1501.