Every year, I discuss with friends and family who will accompany me to Athens for each home game. There are a few ‘repeat offenders’, and they have a priority list. Brother Squillian always gets first
pick, since a) he comes as a tribute to Podunk and b) he travels, so arrangements must be made. Mr. Squillian usually doesn’t like crowds, etc., so it’s been a couple of years since he made the trek with me to Athens on gameday. We regularly attend events at the Classic Center, so it’s not the Classic City itself he avoids, just mostly the 93,000+ friends in and around the stadium.
But each year, a former colleague/friend accompanies me. Yesterday was her turn. She is a proud UGA alum, and understands what these games mean to me. As much as I would love for her to be able to come with most (or all) games with me, she has family obligations that preclude her attendance with me at more than one game per season.
Being a noon game, we knew that we would have to be up and moving rather early. We settled on 8:30AM for me to pick her up. I was almost on time, but by the time we left her place, it was nearly 8:45AM. By the time we reached Athens, the Dawg Walk had already started, and we were not able to get there before it was over.
Friend had not been to the bookstore since the renovation, so we took a stroll through. I had not been upstairs before, so we even went up there. Jalon Walker and Nazir Stackhouse were up there signing autographs, and there was (of course) a line. I had not realized that they charge for autographs, so if that is of interest to you, it was $40 for one autograph, or $70 for both. I don’t know if those prices are the same, or if they change depending on who is there for signing.
As we came out of the bookstore, there were people who were obviously holding space for someone to come through. We decided to ask, and upon finding out that the Redcoats would be coming through, we decided to stay. That was an excellent idea. They didn’t play as they came through (as they do during the Dawg Walk), but I haven’t been that up close and personal with the Redcoat Band since the Victory Parade in January 2022. I have to confess – I was part of the flagline in high school, and I very much miss being part of that camaraderie and being on the field during halftime.
Yesterday was a perfect day to be between the hedges. The forecast was for partly sunny skies, with a high around 79 degrees. As someone who has had not one, but two basal cell carcinomas removed from my face and neck, noon games always worry me. I slather myself in sunscreen, and wear a hat, but it gets HOT in those upper sections during a noon game.
The sun peeked out yesterday exactly twice during the game, and it didn’t last long. The vast majority of the game was played under overcast skies, with a wonderful breeze blowing. I was never worried about the heat, and watching the methodical dismantling of an SEC foe was a joy to behold.
However, it is our intention to celebrate Georgia Bulldog Football Wins whenever and wherever they occur. The ugliness or beauty of any particular win is irrelevant for the purposes of the Winning Smart Victory Post. It is therefore my deepest honor and privilege to bring to you this week’s edition of: The Winning Smart Victory Post.
Coach Kirby Smart coached his 129th game this week for the Red & Black. He currently boasts a 109-20 record and a 0.8450 winning percentage, having carded his one hundred ninth win overall in the fifth game of the 2025 season was against the Wildcats of Kentucky.
At the identical juncture in their careers:
Vince Dooley’s 129th game as head coach resulted in a Georgia Bulldogs win over Vandy in the sixth game of the 1975 season, giving Coach Dooley a record of 86-39-5 and 0.6860 percentage.
Coach Mark Richt was 96-33 (0.7442) after a win over the Volunteers of Tennessee in the sixth game of the 2010 season.
One hundred and twenty nine games into his head coaching career Kirby Smart is thirteen games ahead of Coach Mark Richt and ahead of Coach Vince Dooley by 23 games. As of now, he is holding his own versus the two winningest coaches in Georgia Football History.
As always . . .
Go ‘Dawgs !!!!
