Back-To-Back

FROM THE
EDITOR
VANCE LEAVY
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Enjoy our 2022 National Champions Edition, where we
celebrate the excellence of the Georgia football program
in memoriam to Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy!
I
t’s been just over a fortnight since
our Georgia Bulldogs football
team completed their perfect 15-0
season to become the 2022 National
Champions. Of course, Georgia
football also ended the 2021 season
with the same moniker.
Back-to-Back National Champions … damn impressive Dawgs!
However, the jubilation at the National Championship parade
and celebration on Saturday, January 14, turned to shock and
despair in the early hours of the next day. Our beloved football
program had lost two of their own with the passing of offensive
lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staff member Chandler
LeCroy.
That day, I was following up a text to Kirby’s brother, Karl, for
names from a photo I had taken at the celebration. Hurting for all
involved, I sent this, “thoughts and prayers to your brother and
the team as they process the devastating passing of a teammate
and program staffer. Life is so epic and brutal all in one.”
My emotions today are virtually the same even though a few
weeks have passed. Everyone at Bulldawg lllustrated sends our
love to the families of Devin and Chandler. And the same to the
McClendon and Bowles families as they help survivors Warren
and Tory guide their futures, while missing their beloved friends.
As our cover reflects, this 2022 National Champions Edition is In
Memoriam to Devin Willock and Chandler LeCroy. The 132-page
edition is a celebration of the championship team they were a
part of. And just like Devin and Chandler, everyone involved with
the 2022 Georgia football program is so special.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for a magical season. My hope
is that this commemorative edition matches everything this team
accomplished.
This edition closes out our 20th year of publishing. Back-to-back
titles to wrap two decades in business … pinch me, is this real?
PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE
On page 12, Jeff Dantzler leads his column saying, “It (the 2022
season) was the most enjoyable Georgia football season of my
life.” How’s that for a tease for another classic JD column?
Like last year, I’ve broken this mega-edition into four sections …
THE GAME, THE SCENE, THE FANS and THE FINAL PERSPECTIVE.
Throughout the edition, please take notice of the awesome
photography by BI’s Greg Poole and Rob Saye. Working a football
game on the sidelines is a tremendous commitment and these
two guys always perform superbly.
This edition is too large for me to discuss every page, so I’m
going with a few favorites.
First up, please take the time to read Clay Watkins’ story (page
36) and Hamilton Culpepper’s column (page 122). Both Clay
and Hamilton are students at Georgia, so their perspective on
the passing of Devin and Chandler is so poignant. They do an
excellent job and I sure do appreciate their professionalism and
care with their words.
All our features (where Clay’s story is) in THE SCENE section
(beginning on page 26) should be a score. Once again, I brought
Murray Poole out of retirement for the Toughness and Connection
stories. From discussing the 2022 team with Matt Stinchcomb
to talking to three different fan groups about their travel to LA
for the Natty, Murray’s mastery on the keyboard never ceases to
amaze me. Also, don’t miss our recap of the Athens Goes West
concert held at the Troubadour in West Hollywood the Sunday
before the game. What an incredible night of music and Bulldog
revelry it was!
Our THE FANS section (beginning on page 41) is loaded with fan
photos from the National Championship game and the parade
and celebration in Athens. Needless to say, you will see lots of
people smiling with their No. 1 fingers flying high. Victory x 2 is
oh so sweet!
In both THE GAME (beginning page 16) and FINAL PERSPECTIVE
(beginning page 84) sections, you will find the nitty-gritty of this
magical 2022 season. From Kevin Butler’s players of the game to
Jeff Dantzler’s Final Top 15, the content is No. 1 like our Dawgs.
Also in the FINAL PERSPECTIVE, you will find all 18 covers that we
produced this season, paired with JD’s takes on each game/issue.
Enjoy. I know I sure did when remembering (through JD’s words)
this team’s excellence throughout the stellar campaign. Also,
Loran Smith opines about the team’s Rembrandt performance
against TCU. And Murray Poole gives a nod to the 912 area
code’s contributions to the back-to-back national championship
seasons. Way to go 912!
Speaking of the 912, our cover art was created by one of their
native sons, Mack Williams. Thanks Mack, you nailed it. And how
appropriate that our final magazine of 20 years is a cartoon just
like the very first one was by the legendary Jack Davis.
Finally, thanks to all our advertisers over the last 20 years. You
are the reason our readers can count on a fun and entertaining
publication about their favorite love, Georgia football.
Speaking of favorite love, I would be remiss not to thank my
partner in BI and life, Cheri. We’ve been to hundreds of games
and proofed thousands of pages and are still having a blast. Don’t
miss Cheri’s Championship Crushes on page 12, where you will
find lots of fun goodies to celebrate another title.
Gotta go now, but we’ll be back the week of the G-Day game to
discuss going for 3 in 2023. Nice work Rob Saye in catching Kirby
post-game. Score. Thanks again to the 2022 University of Georgia
football program. You have represented our University like the
champions you are … Go Back-to-Back Dawgs!!
BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 10 2022 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS EDITION