Forget about the future – Georgia living in the now
November 30, 2009 by FLETCHER PAGE
Filed under Sports
ATLANTA – Now Georgia’s attention turns to…
Actually, you know what? Forget about what’s next.
A 30-24 upset victory over in-state rival Georgia Tech should consume the moment, this week, the holidays and the year to come.
Far too often people reach for what happens next, or what this win means or go to great lengths in search of context or discuss what could have been.
But the fact is: You could die tomorrow. But at least you saw Georgia beat the Yellow Jackets during their most successful season in almost two decades.
So who cares what bowl Georgia will play in?
30-24.
Why worry if Rennie Curran and Reshad Jones will turn pro?
30-24.
Does it really matter today who will be the starting quarterback next season?
30-24.
During the reclamation of state power, there were no thoughts of coaching changes, five losses during the season and a missing mascot.
There were no boos raining down on quarterback Joe Cox. No repeated lamentations regarding defensive coordinator Willie Martinez’s third down play-calling. No questions about coach Mark Richt’s gimmicks or passive nature.
There was only a middle-of-the-pack SEC team thoroughly shoving the No. 1 team in the ACC all over Bobby Dodd Stadium.
And Georgia players didn’t care about all of this season’s shortcomings or what the future holds. They could’ve cared less.
“This is one of the most focused games we’ve been in a while,” said Georgia receiver Michael Moore. “From the day after the Kentucky loss, we just let everything go, as a coaching staff and a team.”
And letting everything go, all the rumors and doubts and speculation, was key.
Hey, this is Georgia Tech. You know, the little brother an hour down the road who snuck into the “state’s best” conversation with a 45-42 win over the Bulldogs last year.
All the winning Georgia has done this decade made the rivalry feel numb. But Tech busted big brother’s nose last year, reminding Georgia fans how much this game means on a daily basis in the aftermath.
“It was miserable,” Richt said of how the loss felt. “It wasn’t much fun at all.”
And how many times have Tech fans flooded message boards and comment sections with that disastrous 45-42 score since last November?
Well, for the year to come the score to post is 30-24. And post often you should.
And for those who did relish the moment-you know the fans who didn’t leave to beat the traffic-the Bulldogs’ celebration was special.
Prince Miller ran wild with a Georgia flag, end zone to end zone.
Think he was mulling over the Music City Bowl or Outback Bowl in this moment?
Nope, just 30-24.
Big Kade Weston planted the flag at the 50-yard-line, firmly stating this was Georgia’s night, turf and rivalry.
Ben Jones pulled up the turf, chewing on a piece of the “Historic Grant Field” in similar fashion to Yellow Jackets who ravaged the Hedges in Athens a year ago.
Some fans were still in the stands 30 minutes after the game, chanting and cheering and ranting and raving while workers gathered trash just rows behind them.
“It feels great for the fans,” Moore said, “for the people still out there after what we’ve been through.”
And if people can be so obsessed with the negativity after Georgia losses, shouldn’t they spend the same amount of energy reflecting on wins?
30-24.
“Even the fair-weather fans, I know they’re going to be happy for the year because they got bragging rights,” Moore said.
So relax, Bulldog Nation, the rest will take care of itself.
Pour yourself some scotch, light into a stogie and kick back because Tech is now second in state. No doubt about that statement.
Dominating a rivalry is sweet, with Georgia now winning eight of nine.
But regaining the advantage, when most had conceded the state to the Trade School on North Avenue?
That shouldn’t be skipped over in search of what’s next.
