Ho, Ho, Ho FSU In The Orange...Here We Go!!!

VS. 

Ho, Ho, Ho … 

FSU in the Orange … 

Here we Go!!!

WIN, LOSE, OR DRAW 

WE STAND 

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 

IN THIS ISSUE 

ORANGE BOWL PREVIEW 

ARIAN SMITH AND THE DAWGS 

HUNG TOUGH WITH BAMA, BUT THE 

WIN WASN’T MEANT TO BE! 

PHOTO BY: ROB SAYE/BI 

SPORTS 

GEORGIA VS FLORIDA STATE 

PLAYERS TO WATCH | 14 

THE FIVE | 18 

FROM THE INTERN: CLAY WATKINS | 20 

A VIEW FROM TALLAHASSEE | 22 

SOCIAL 

GEORGIA GIRLS: SOPHIE STUBBLEFIELD BRACEWELL | 26 

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMEDAY PHOTOS | 29 

RSM CLASSIC PHOTOS | 38 

PROUST Q&A: CHASE HOPKINS | 44 

MORE SPORTS 

BOWL BONANZA | 46 

THE HAMMYS | 48 

FROM THE FIELD | 50 

WHADDAYA GOT, LORAN | 51 

BUTLER’S PLAYERS OF THE GAME | 52 

STATS THAT MATTER | 53 

HOOP DAWGS PREVIEW | 54 

OUR TEAM 

EDITOR: Vance Leavy 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Cheri Leavy 

MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR: Greg Poole 

CHIEF SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR: Jeff Dantzler 

ART DIRECTOR: Stacey Nichols 

SALES: Caroline Kinney 

SPORTS: Jeff Dantzler, Greg Poole, Coby Serina, 

Clay Watkins 

MULTIMEDIA SUPPORT: Hamilton Culpepper 

PHOTOGRAPHY: Greg Poole, Rob Saye, 

Blane Marable 

COVER: Rob Saye, Cheri Leavy, Vance Leavy 

STUDENT SPORTS EDITOR: Clay Watkins 

COLUMNISTS: Hamilton Culpepper, Loran Smith, 

Kevin Butler, Caroline Champion 

DELIVERY: John Cook, Wright Cook, Rob 

Freeman, Anna French, Scarlett French, Flynn 

Kelly, Caroline Kinney, John Kinney, Eleanor 

Morgan, Henry Morgan, James Morgan, Jack 

Sawyer, Cullen Sewell, Henry Stokes, Champ 

Vance 

ORANGE BOWL PREVIEW ISSUE 

December 12, 2023 

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED 6 ORANGE BOWL PREVIEW ISSUE

FROM THE 

EDITOR 

VANCE LEAVY 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

The glorious undefeated run has come to an end, but the respect for 

this terrific 2023 team can be shown one final time at the Orange Bowl! 

Without a doubt, the last week or so has been painful 

for everyone in the Bulldog Nation. After all, our 

men in red and black have provided their terrific fan 

base with a three-year run barely ever witnessed in 

the history of college football. 

Three consecutive regular season campaigns with a perfect 

12-0 record, including back-to-back national championships. 

However on December 2, Georgia’s longtime nemesis in 

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Alabama Crimson Tide, once 

again put together the better performance winning the SEC 

Championship and thwarting the Bulldogs entry into the College 

Football Playoff. 

Like it or not, there will be no three-peat for our Bulldogs. It’s 

the cruel reality that one loss (by three points on conference 

championship week) dropped our No. 1 team all the way to No. 6 

on selection Sunday. At least, that was the verdict slammed down 

by a CFP selection committee, who shall never be forgotten by 

both the Bulldog Nation and Seminole Nation. 

Now, I’m not so Pollyanna to admit that the CFP committee 

certainly had its hands full in choosing the final four teams. But 

there is also no way in hell that I will ever say they chose “the best 

four teams.” 

29 straight wins and 24 consecutive weeks as the No. 1 team in 

the Associated Press football poll, yet no chance given to defend 

your back-to-back national championships. 

That’s all I will say on this topic. Except, only to add that I most 

definitely understand Florida State’s equal dismay with how 

things shook out on selection Sunday. 

Thankfully today as I write my final note of the 2023 season, 

I’m doing much better than compared to a few days ago when I 

was contemplating dubbing this Bowl Preview issue as either the 

“Bitter Beach Bowl” or “Orange You Pissed.” 

While putting my best foot forward for this Georgia-Florida 

State/Orange Bowl match-up was extremely difficult, I began 

to get there when truly delving into this issue’s cover. Rob 

Saye’s photo of Brock Bowers (now the first ever, back-to-back 

Mackey Award recipient) during the SEC Championship Game 

is incredible. The determination in Brock’s eyes define what our 

2023 team was all about. There were no excuses about injuries. 

And boy, there were a ton of them. Instead, our coaches and 

players put the best version on the field and fought like winners 

every week. Even in the week when their magical run finally game 

to an end. 

And of course, you can’t discuss the Bulldog Nation without 

acknowledging the passion of Georgia fans. That is why this 

Orange Bowl Preview cover (in addition to No. 19) includes 23 

of my favorite photos from this season. Each week here at BI, we 

include roughly 100 fan photos, so that puts us around 1,500 total 

for this season. That’s a lot of photos and a ton of names (roughly 

5,000). However, this duty never gets old because of the deep 

love for Georgia football displayed by our fans, coaches and most 

importantly our players. 

Like in every issue of BI, this one has plenty of content to get 

you juiced up for the Orange Bowl battle with the ’Noles. You 

won’t want to miss Jeff Danzler’s column on page 10. Enjoy 

his version of the Five Stages of Grief. It’s both hilarious and 

therapeutic. Also from JD is his annual Bowl Bonanza feature 

(pages 46, 47) where he breaks down 16 of his most intriguing 

bowl games. 

Hamilton Culpepper is back in this issue with his annual The 

Hammys award (pages 48, 49). Wow, it’s hard to believe Hammy 

will graduate from Georgia in May. It seems like it was just 

yesterday that his 14-year-old squeaky voice just started writing 

for BI. Thanks Hammy. We love you and know you will be fair 

when we begin negotiating you continuing with us (even though 

you will be slammed with your first post-college journalism job). 

Also, please take the time to read Loran Smith’s column (page 

51) on Mark Richt’s recent induction into the College Football 

Hall of Fame. What a deserving accolade for his incredible career. 

Congrats to Coach Richt and his entire family! 

On the social side, we wrap this final issue of 2023 up in a bow. 

Enjoy our Georgia Girls (Sophie Stubblefield Bracewell, pages 26, 

27) and Proust Q&A (Chase Hopkins, page 44) and another 100 

or so fan photos beginning on page 29. Georgia fans doing what 

they love best … following their Dawgs. 

Wow, I’ve now reached the end, where I bid farewell. And unlike 

the last two years, there is no chance at an Extra Natty Preview 

issue and a massive commemorative February edition. Yes that is 

a bummer, but the love of this 2023 team will never be forgotten. 

And thankfully, there is one final game to show our support. 

Ho, Ho, Ho … FSU in the Orange … Here we go! 

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Go Dawgs! 


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JEFF DANTZLER 

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The Fives Stages of Grief is worth exercising for Georgia and FSU as 

both proud programs will put their best foot forward in the Orange Bowl 

Perhaps the Orange Bowl and 

Associated Press should get 

together and have the winner 

of this one declared national 

champions. Hey, the A.P. Poll is the oldest 

and most historically referenced, they can 

do, and vote for, whoever they want. 

Here’s to John Peter Zinger and freedom 

of the press! 

It really is hard to fathom that Georgia 

and Florida State, with the seasons 

they’ve had, are playing each other and 

it’s not in the College Football Playoff. 

Yes, it is the Orange Bowl, one of the 

New Year’s Six - the term for Major - Bowl 

games. But if you had gotten an inside tip 

back on December 1, the day before the 

conference championship games, that 

the then top ranked two-time reigning 

national champion Bulldogs would be 

battling undefeated Florida State, the 

Sugar Bowl and CFP would have been the 

bet. 

But it didn’t play out that way. 

Florida State is 13-0. The Seminoles beat 

LSU in the season-opener in Orlando, 

and closed the regular season with a 

win over Florida in the Swamp. FSU was 

perfect in ACC play, highlighted by a win 

at Clemson and victory over Miami. The 

Seminoles, minus standout quarterback 

Jordan Travis, won a 16-6 defensive battle 

with Louisville in the ACC Championship 

Game. 

No date to the dance. 

Georgia’s 27-24 loss to Alabama was 

just Georgia’s second setback in the last 

47 games, and it broke a Southeastern 

Conference record 29-game winning 

streak. The Bulldogs fell from No. 1 in the 

rankings, out of the top four, down to 

No. 6. 

No date to the dance. 

There was a sudden, jarring, harsh 

cruelty to the end of the dream of a 

national championship for both of these 

programs. The four who made it all had 

fantastic seasons, but both Georgia and 

Florida State certainly felt deserving. 

If I’d been promised, before the season, 

a 12-1 record - so long as the one in 

the “L” column wasn’t to the enemy - as 

the back-to-back national champions 

searching for a history-making threepeat, 

I’d have taken the deal. It would 

have been a deal with the devil. 

So with those national championships 

and a seventh straight major bowl, and 

what we can assume will be a seventh 

straight top ten finish, in the glory days 

of the Kirby Smart Georgia Football 

era, there is certainly hurt from the 

heartbreaking loss and being left out of 

the CFP. 

In 1969, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, in what is 

surely an uplifting read titled “On Death 

and Dying,” proposed her Five Stages of 

Grief. It’s a well thought out, well written, 

generally accepted hypothesis. Including 

a great google-able big by one Homer J. 

Simpson, who rapidly went through all 

five in record form. 

This exercise has been done before here 

in Bulldawg Illustrated, but never with 

Georgia on the mountaintop as one of 

kingpins and powerhouses of college 

football. 

So here we go with the Bulldogs Five 

Stages of grief, and what was swirling 

through the collective consciousness 

of the Georgia faithful - and I’m sure 

Florida State has there responses as well 

- following the gut punch in Atlanta and 

subsequent committee snub: 

1. Denial - No way that just happened. 

No way they leave us out. Not with backto-back 

national championships and just 

one loss, by three points, on a neutral 

field. Nope. 

2. Anger - Oh, it is flowing like a 

Sith lord who sat on a light-sabered 

porcupine. Are you serious?! They don’t 

review the damn fourth down catch?! 

Now they’re saying they did?! Well hell, 

they just solved that quickly. So they’ve 

either making it up, or they got it wrong! 

And then they review Arian Smith’s 

catch?! Which was obviously a catch?! 

And slow us down. Guess there wasn’t 

a facemask there. Horsecollar!?!?!?!?! 

Horse$&*%! Oh, and nice job Auburn. 4th 

and Goal from the 31. The 31! You rush 

two! Two?! And let them off the hook. 

They’d be eliminated and we probably 

see a different version of that team in 

Atlanta. Even if we lose, I like our chances 

a lot better of getting in. Oh, and not 

all conference championship games 

are created equal. Oklahoma State? 

Louisville? Iowa? The damn thing is more 

punitive than rewarding more often than 

not. If it would have been canceled in 

‘18 and ‘19, the SEC would have gotten 

two in - including Georgia - and it cost 

the No. 1 Bulldogs a berth this year too. 

Oh and how cute that 27-24 was the 

final score for the Iron Bowl and SEC 

Championship Game. And Michigan, 

cheaters! They’re in! What message 

does that send? The head coach got 

suspended twice! Twice! He’s missed 

half their games. &*%$!!!! 

3. Bargaining - Hang on now. FSU is 

13-0. Georgia is 12-1, two time reigning 

national champions. As mentioned 

above, why not a split poll national 

champion? The A.P. can do it. Especially if 

Texas wins the playoff. We can still do it. If 

they do the right thing. 

4. Depression - For all the Dogs have 

done, the history of being the first 

team to win back- to-back national 

championships in the playoff era, the first 

team in college football history to ever 

be 12-0 at a point in three consecutive 

seasons, the SEC record 29-game winning 

streak, one damn game by three damn 

points. And of course, we got no breaks. 

We had a chance to make history and be 

the first to three-peat. Now we’re at the 

single’s table. With another jilted heart. 

5. Acceptance - Back-to-back national 

championships, 12-1, 26-2 the last seven 

years against the Jackets, Florida, Auburn 

and Tennessee. Extending the program 

records for major bowls and top ten 

finishes to seven years, six out of seven 

years in the SEC Championship Game - a 

record. Another top-ranked recruiting 

class. Kirby Smart is one of the greatest 

coaches ever, he and Mary Beth, they’re 

a part of us, they are Bulldog through 

and through, it’s authentic, they are the 

premier first family in the game, Kirby 

may wind up as the greatest college 

football coach ever, and he’s not even 

50! We’re going nowhere. It stinks for 

both Georgia and Florida State, but this 

is a tremendous opponent in an iconic 

bowl. A win here would be a great close 

to another amazing season, even though 

things didn’t go our way in Atlanta. And 

it’s a damn good bet we’ll be in that 

12-team playoff next year, and the year 

after that. It’s only a matter of time before 

another national championship flag is 

flying over our sacred hedges on Dooley 

Field in Sanford Stadium. 

I’m still stuck on Stage Two. 

Do the right thing A.P. Poll. 

Go Dawgs! 


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FROM THE INTERN: COBY SERINA PG. 20 | A VIEW FROM TALLAHASSEE PG. 22 

SPORTS 

UGA XI AND BULLDOG NATION 

ARE ORANGE BOWL BOUND! 

PHOTO BY: GREG POOLE/BI 

GEORGIA VS. FLORIDA STATE 

GAME TIME: 4:00 P.M. ET 

CHANNEL: ESPN 

GEORGIA VS FLORIDA STATE 

BY: JEFF DANTZLER 

Two teams who wish they were playing one another in a 

different bowl game square off, as two-time reigning national 

champion Georgia Bulldogs take on the 13-0 Atlantic Coast 

Conference title-winning Florida State Seminoles. 

When the four College Football Playoff berths and bowl 

destinations were announced on December 4, both the Bulldogs 

and Seminoles were left out of the national semifinals, despite 

sparkling resumes. There were just a lot of contenders this year. 

Mike Norvel has engineered a revival at Florida State. This is the 

Seminoles best season since 2014 when they won the ACC and 

went to the inaugural CFP and the Rose Bowl, where they were 

blown out by Oregon. Florida State opened the season with a 

resounding victory over LSU in Orlando, survived road scares 

at Clemson and Boston College, beat Miami, and then topped 

Florida in the regular season finale without standout quarterback 

Jordan Travis, who was injured a week earlier against North 

Alabama. The Seminoles then defeated Louisville in the ACC 

Championship Game to win their first conference title since 2014. 

The loss of Travis is viewed as a major reason the Seminoles 

were bypassed for the CFP by a pair of once-beatens, Texas and 

Alabama, and slotted fifth in the final rankings. 

Georgia became the first team in college football history to post 

three straight 12-0 regular seasons. In the process, the Bulldogs 

set a record for an SEC team with 29 straight wins, clinched with a 

31-23 triumph at Tech in the regular season finale. 

The 27-24 loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game was 

just the Bulldogs second setback in the last 47 games. Despite 

being ranked No. 1 all season and in the top spot of a majority 

of the CFP polls, Georgia fell to No. 6 after the three-point loss in 

Atlanta. 

So here they both are, instead of the Sugar Bowl in the CFP, it’s 

the Orange Bowl, and a rare one that will not kick off under the 

lights. Two great teams, one of the most storied bowl games ever, 

an appealing consolation prize. 

This will be the Bulldogs second trip to South Florida in the last 

three years. Georgia beat Michigan 34-11 in the Orange Bowl 

two seasons ago en route to the 2021 national championship. 

That victory over the Wolverines started the Bulldogs conference 

record winning streak. Georgia’s two previous trips to the Orange 

were a 41-28 loss to Texas following the 1948 campaign and 14-0 

victory over Missouri to cap the 1959 season. 

Florida State is appearing in its 11th Orange Bowl, the most 

recent a 33-32 win over Michigan on December 30, 2016. This is 

the Seminoles first “Major Bowl” since. 

Smart’s Bulldogs have extended a school record with a seventh 

straight berth in one of college football’s major bowl games. 

This will be the first meeting between Georgia and Florida State, 

since the Bulldogs beat the Seminoles 26-13 in the Sugar Bowl on 

January 1, 2003 to finish 13-1 and No. 3 nationally. 


SPORTS 

FOOTBALL 

BULLDOGS TO WATCH 

BY: COBY SERINA 

KIRBY SMART (HC) - Everyone knows that this isn’t the most favorable 

situation to be in, but it’s reality nonetheless, and it’s a reality that head coach 

Kirby Smart is going to approach with the utmost importance. At this point, we 

know that Kirby Smart is an incredible leader of men and are aware of his ability 

to get his guys behind a cause. That’s just what will need to happen in Miami. 

This is Smart’s chance to usher in a team of Dawgs hungry to write their own 

story and chase their own championship. That story starts now. Smart knows it. 

The team knows it. And it’s the Florida State Seminoles that wound up being the 

unlucky bunch that’ll take a punch from what should be a youthful and inspired 

Georgia Bulldogs team. 

CARSON BECK 

QUARTERBACK 


CARSON BECK (QB #15) - The biggest doubt surrounding Carson Beck 

coming into this season questioned how he would fare succeeding a twotime 

national champion quarterback in Stetson Bennett after riding three 

years on the bench, and to the surprise of many, he’s gone above and beyond 

expectations, just falling short of a three-peat with the Alabama loss in the SEC 

Championship just a couple of weeks ago. Now, all signs are pointing to him 

returning for his fifth year in hopes of bringing the Dawgs back to the CFP and 

doing what he couldn’t this year: win a ring. The 2024 season is still a good way 

away, but it all starts in Miami at the Orange Bowl, where fans will see Beck play 

with a much different group of Dawgs – a group that will more or less look like 

Georgia’s 2024 team. The 2024 season starts now for Carson Beck. 

DILLON BELL (WR #86) - With names like Ladd McConkey, Brock Bowers, 

and Dominic Lovett still having yet to announce their decisions on whether or 

not they’ll play against Florida State in this upcoming Orange Bowl, coupled 

with the fact that Georgia will want to get the guys they expect to play in 

2024 some extra experience, sophomore receiver, running back, and overall 

offensive weapon Dillon Bell should definitely expect a good bit of playing time 

coming his way. Being the team’s third most productive runner and sixth most 

productive pass catcher creates plenty of opportunities for him to contribute. It’s 

all just a matter of how with this guy. 

EARNEST GREENE III (OL #71) - When Amarious Mims suffered an injury 

that kept him out most of the SEC Championship, and considering his first-round 

potential if he were to submit his name to the 2024 NFL Draft, it’s easy to deduce 

that Mims is more than likely not going to play in Miami. This leaves redshirt 

freshman Earnest Greene III as Georgia’s next premier lineman, protecting Carson 

Beck and giving him time to do what he does best: process. Greene and the rest of 

the offensive line have less than a month to regroup after Mims’ loss. After seeing 

how Alabama was able to get to Beck and disrupt plays, they should be coming 

into Miami wanting to re-assert themselves as the nation’s best offensive line 

group and deserving of the acclaimed Joe Moore Award. 

DILLON BELL 

WIDE RECEIVER 


C.J. ALLEN (LB #33) - Before anything, C.J. Allen’s snubbing from the 2023 

All-SEC Freshman Team has to be acknowledged. Allen has done nothing but 

stun both his coaches and Dawg Nation after stepping up in Jamon Dumas- 

Johnson’s absence. A former two-way player and track star for Lamar County 

Comprehensive High School, Allen’s athleticism has helped him rack up 35 

BY JEFF DANTZLER 

In Georgia’s 26-13 Sugar Bowl victory over Florida 

State on 1/1/03, the big play was delivered by Bruce 

Thronton, who returned a pick 71-yards for a TD to 

give the Dogs a 10-7 lead. 

The Bulldogs of 1959 won the Southeastern 

Conference championship - along with a victory 

over Florida State - and then beat Missouri in the 

Orange Bowl to finish the season 10-1. 

Stetson Bennett was the Most Valuable Player of 

Georgia’s Orange Bowl victory over Michigan in the 

2021 CFP semifinal, throwing for three touchdowns 

in the Bulldogs 34-11 triumph. 


tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection in just five games this season. He’s 

already taken on a big role in this defense. Admittedly, it’s one that he 

doesn’t completely shoulder; he splits up some of the reps with fellow 

true freshman Raylen Wilson. But don’t sleep on No. 33. He’s bound to 

put on a show once the Dawgs hit the field at Hard Rock in Miami. 

JALON WALKER (LB #11) - Without almost any question, Jalon 

Walker is the team’s best pass rusher. His and the coaching staff’s intent, 

having recruited him to play inside backer and then resorting to putting 

him on the edge after Nolan Smith’s injury last year, has accidentally 

provided Georgia with a guy who reminds of a more explosive Azeez 

Ojulari. The fact that Walker has the most sacks, with five, on the team 

speaks to that. Even losing Jamon Dumas-Johnson didn’t move him 

back to his original inside linebacker position. Instead, true freshmen 

C.J. Allen and Raylen Wilson were called up, and Walker was practically 

unmoved because he’s that disruptive at edge. With Travis Jordan out 

of the game, Walker should easily disrupt whatever inexperienced 

quarterback Florida State trots out onto the field. 

MALAKI STARKS 

DEFENSIVE BACK 


MALAKI STARKS (DB #24) - All-American safety Malaki Starks 

is in a situation similar to wide receiver Dillon Bell heading into this 

Orange Bowl. With multiple key players in the secondary—Javon 

Bullard, Kamari Lassiter, and Tykee Smith—still having yet to announce 

whether or not they’re foregoing the game for the NFL Draft, Starks 

could potentially bear a lot of responsibility leading that defensive 

backfield. Is he up for the task? We’ll see come game day. But even if 

he does wind up as the main guy out there, he’ll be more than ready 

for the challenge. FSU will field a second or third-string quarterback 

depending on health, so that’ll more than likely make things a bit easier 

for Starks. Experience is going to give Starks all the upper hand he 

needs to take on a wounded and spiteful Seminole team. 

MERRY 

CHRISTMAS 

GO DAWGS 

WWW.SANFORDUSA.COM 

478.471.4221 

WE ARE THE BEST at what we do! 


SPORTS 

FOOTBALL 

SEMINOLES TO WATCH 

BY: CLAY WATKINS 

KEON COLEMAN (WR #4) - The Michigan State transfer has proven to be 

one of the best portal pickups of the season and has solidified himself as one 

of the top receivers in the country. In his first season in Tallahassee, Coleman 

has led the Seminoles in receptions (50), yards (658), and touchdowns (11). The 

lengthy receiver has nine more touchdown grabs than the next closest receiver, 

making Coleman the Noles’ most dangerous redzone threat. Without Jordan 

Travis and Johnny Wilson, expect Coleman to be the centerpiece of Florida 

State’s offense. 

KEON COLEMAN 

WIDE RECEIVER 

PHOTO BY: FSU ATHLETICS 

TREY BENSON (RB #3) - Benson has been exceptional as the Seminoles’ 

lead back in 2023, having recorded 156 carries for 905 yards along with 

14 touchdowns. The Noles’ ground game has run through the junior back, 

decimating teams due to their rushing attack all season. Florida State, as 

expected, has leaned on Benson even more since Jordan Travis broke his leg. 

If the Noles look to upset the Bulldogs in Miami, Benson will have to have a 

monster performance both on the ground and through the air. FSU’s Orange 

Bowl opportunity will be dictated by Benson’s performance. 

TATE RODEMAKER (QB #18) - Rodemaker has had the impossible 

challenge of replacing Jordan Travis’ production. In relief duty this season, the 

Valdosta High School product has thrown for 510 yards, five touchdowns, and 

zero interceptions. After picking up his first start against Florida in the Swamp, 

Rodemaker has been sidelined due to a concussion, being unable to compete 

in the ACC Championship. With over a month of rest, Rodemaker will face his 

toughest challenge to date in dealing with an elite Georgia defense. If Florida 

State expects to leave Hard Rock Stadium with a win, Rodemaker will have to 

generate some success in the air, and most importantly, have zero turnovers. 

TATE RODEMAKER 

QUARTERBACK 


TATUM BETHUNE (LB #15) - Bethune returns home to Miami to take 

on the Bulldogs in what will be his final collegiate football game. The UCF 

transfer is the Noles’ leading tackler this season with 71. In order to slow down 

the Bulldogs’ offense, Bethune will have to showcase his sideline-to-sideline 

range and limit Georgia’s potent rushing attack. As one of the leaders on the 

Seminoles’ defense, Bethune will certainly be outraged by the College Football 

Playoff’s decision to leave the undefeated ACC Champs out of the playoff; 

however, beating an elite Georgia team can not only prove the committee’s 

decision wrong but also salvage the Noles’ season. 

JARED VERSE (DL #5) - Verse, a projected first-round pick in the 2023 

NFL Draft, opted to return to Florida State for one final season. The talented 

pass rusher has put up nearly identical stats this year as compared to last, with 

41 total tackles along with nine sacks so far this season. Florida State must put 


Bobby Bowden led Florida State to a pair of national 

championships, including the 1993 title, which was 

clinched with an 18-16 victory over the Nebraska 

Cornhuskers in the Orange Bowl. 

Florida State’s most successful professional golfing 

alum is Seminole All-American Brooks Koepka, who 

has won five majors - three PGA Championships and 

two U.S. Opens. 

Florida State boasted a pair of two-sport standouts in 

the ‘80s & ‘90s - All-American Deion Sanders (football 

and baseball) and Heisman winner Charlie Ward 

(football and basketball). 


pressure on Carson Beck to have a chance in this game, and nobody 

is better in garnet and gold in doing so than Jared Verse. Being aware 

of where No. 5 lines up across the defensive front will be a priority for 

the Bulldogs. 

JARRIAN JONES (DB #7) - Jones has been Florida State’s 

most productive cornerback in terms of interceptions this season 

with three in 13 games. The Noles are set to face the most prolific 

passing attack they have seen all season since facing the LSU Tigers in 

Week One; therefore, Jones will be targeted consistently, despite his 

skillset. Jones and the Seminoles understand that they must limit the 

Bulldogs’ offensive possessions as well as force multiple turnovers to 

win this game. The ball-hawking defensive back will be a prominent 

factor toward Florida State’s defensive efficiency when the Bulldogs 

and Seminoles square off in Miami. 

JARED VERSE 

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN 


MIKE NORVELL (HC) - Norvell has done a miraculous job 

turning around Florida State’s program since the disastrous tenure 

of former head coach Willie Taggert. Norvell’s Seminoles became 

the first Power 5 conference champions to not be rewarded for their 

undefeated regular season by the College Football Playoff. There is 

certainly frustration and animosity brewing from that decision, but 

it is Norvell’s responsibility to get his team focused and ready to play 

a Bulldog team that also feels disrespected by the committee’s final 

rankings. Finding a way to slow down the Bulldogs’ dominant offense 

while moving the ball with a backup quarterback against Georgia’s 

elite defense will come down to Norvell’s scheme. 


THE 

FIVE 

Georgia vs. fsu 

BY: JEFF DANTZLER 

1. Coleman and Benson - Georgia’s defense will have 

a big challenge in the Orange Bowl against a talented Florida 

State offense. The loss of quarterback Jordan Travis in the 

South Alabama game was a huge blow (in so many ways) to 

the Seminoles. But there is a lot of talent on this Seminoles 

offense. At the top of the list is wide receiver Keon Coleman 

and running back Tray Benson. Coleman is a dangerous pass 

catcher who can make the big grab over the middle and break 

loose for long gainers. At 6-4, 215, he has the size that NFL 

scouts love. Coleman is a tough matchup in every way. He has 

11 touchdowns on 50 catches for 658 yards, an average of 13.2 

per grab. In the red zone, Coleman is extra dangerous. We’ll see 

if it’s Blake Rodemaker or Brock Glenn at quarterback, maybe 

both. Coleman is an elite target, no matter who is throwing the 

football. Benson is one of the top running backs in the country. 

This season, he’s totalled 905 yards and 14 touchdowns on the 

ground, averaging 5.8 yards per pop. This is outstanding skill 

position talent for the Seminoles. Lawrence Toafili has big play 

pop as well, and is a terrific “second back.” Florida State will do 

all it can to get the ball into the hands of its playmakers, most 

notably, Coleman and Benson. 

2. FSU Defense - The Seminoles defense has risen to the 

occasion the last two times out. The loss of Travis, one of college 

football’s top quarterbacks, cut into Florida State’s offensive 

prowess. The Seminoles defense has answered the bell. Travis 

went down against North Alabama, and FSU roared back to 

win 58-13. Florida State fell behind Florida, but fought back to 

beat the Gators in The Swamp 24-15. In the ACC Championship 

Game, the Seminoles beat Louisville 16-6. The highlight was a 

critical interception after a miscue in the punt game with the 

Seminoles hanging on to a 10-6 lead. FSU gives up just 15.9 

points per game. The ‘Noles have been really good on third 

down, allowing just a 27.2 conversion rate. Georgia’s offense, 

especially the front, will have its hands full with a tough, fast, 

aggressive athletic Seminoles defense. Just like Clemson, Florida 

State is an ACC program that has elite SEC level talent. 

3. Kicking Game - The season opener and bowl game 

usually show the most what teams have put the most time and 

effort into special teams. Georgia has been strong in the kicking 

game this year this season, so have the Seminoles. Hot take, they 

wouldn’t be 12-1 and 13-0 if they weren’t good on special teams. 

Ryan Fitzgerald is 18-of-20 on field goals and Alex Mastromanno 

averages 45.3 yards per punt. Catch that punt Dawgs. Georgia 

freshman Peyton Woodring has been fantastic. His streak of 16 

consecutive made field goals unfortunately came to an end when 

a false start in Atlanta turned a 45-yarder into a 50-yarder that hit 

the crossbar. He has been clutch. His 48-yard field goal against 

Missouri midway through the fourth quarter that gave Georgia a 

nine point lead in the 30-21 victory over the Tigers is one of the 

Bulldogs biggest plays of the year. Brett Thorson and Georgia’s 

punt coverage unit has been tremendous. How about a Blutarski. 

0.0. The opposition has not attempted a punt return all season. 

Florida State meanwhile, has Coleman, who averages 12 yards per 

return, with a long of 78. 

4. 70 and a half KB - It is the greatest kick ever that was 

not made. Georgia and Florida State were tied up 17-17 in the 

1984 Citrus Bowl. It was the last play of the game. Kevin Butler, 

who struck from 60 in September to beat Clemson, told holder 

Jimmy Harrell to lay it back when he teed it up. Paul Messer made 

a perfect snap, and KB nearly made what would have been the 

longest field goal of all time. Anywhere. The 71-yard attempt came 

up … just … short … and the game ended in a 17-17 tie. Even 

though it was no good, this epic boot goes down as one of the 

greatest kicks ever. 

5. Miami and Mansion - It was December of 2007, and 

basketball travel was good. Georgia had beaten the Jackets and 

was ranked second, Sugar Bowl bound. All the while, I was on the 

road to the Bahamas, Hawaii and Miami for the grind of holiday 

season basketball. One of Georgia’s all-time great tennis legends, 

“Gorgeous” George Bezecny, national champion All-American, 

resides in South Florida. When the Lady Dogs arrived, a few 

days before tipoff after Christmas, I departed for the fabulous 

Fontainbleau Hotel, made famous by Frank Sinatra, James Bond, 

Jill Masterson, Odd Job and Auric Goldfinger. One round blew 

my first night’s budget. We wound up going to a South Beach 

nightclub, meeting some of his clients and their kids armed with 

healthy trust funds, called “Mansion.” This is one of those bottle 

service type places with which I was/am completely unfamiliar. 

There were numerous pop music and reality TV stars there. I asked 

George what I should wear, he said, “don’t worry, you don’t own it.” 

The people watching was something. I don’t know if I’ve ever been 

more out of place. When I returned to the team hotel a couple of 

days later on game day, a few of our players asked where I had 

been. I told them, and scored some major “cool points” and street 

cred, as the “beautiful people” of Mansion that night - I believe 

Soulja Boy and at least one Kardashian, who would be hosting a 

New Year’s Eve Party, onsite - had made it onto the nightly scoop 

of E TV. A couple of our players said they needed to roll with me 

and George. I was quite proud. 

MOVING DAWGS ACROSS GEORGIA SINCE 1972 

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706.549.8902 • 180 Trade Street • Bogart, GA 30622 


Thanks 2023 Dawgs … 

Merry Christmas and 

Happy New Year! 

FROM THE 

INTERN 

CLAY 

WATKINS 

BI STUDENT EDITOR 

The win streak has ended, 

now it’s about finishing 2023, 1-0! 

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Just a few weeks ago, 

Georgia’s 29-game winning 

streak came to a halt as 

Alabama reclaimed the SEC 

crown. The Bulldogs’ playoff 

hopes came to a crashing burn as 

apparently, a three-point loss in a 

conference championship game in 

the toughest conference in college 

football is not enough to prove that 

the Dawgs are one of the top four 

teams in the country. Nonetheless, 

Georgia was aware of the likely 

implications before the game 

kicked off, and whether fair or not, 

the Dawgs’ next opportunity will 

come at the hands of an outraged 

and undefeated Florida State 

Seminole team. 

So, what went wrong for Georgia 

in the SEC Championship Game? It 

was simple, really. Georgia lost the 

turnover battle, committed more 

penalties, and missed a field goal. 

While playing in a championship 

game, the little details matter – 

something Georgia has been so 

intentional focusing on during their 

29-game win streak. Alabama’s 

first touchdown of the game came 

off a busted coverage. A false start 

pushed Peyton Woodring back 

for a 50-yard field goal try that 

drilled the right upright, and a 

miscommunication leading to a 

fumble inside their own 10-yard 

line afforded Alabama a free three 

points. In good-on-good battles, it 

comes down to the finite details, 

and unfortunately, that Saturday 

afternoon, Georgia was unable to 

avoid the mistakes. 

One important notion that needs 

to be understood, however, is that 

one afternoon does not define this 

team. The 2023 Georgia Bulldog 

football team very well may be the 

best team in the nation. According 

to a committee, they did not earn 

the right to compete for a National 

Championship, but that is out of 

their control. 

What is in their control is the 

chance to beat an undefeated 

Florida State team that is also 

miffed by the committee’s decision. 

Florida State, as most are well 

aware, became the first team since 

the introduction of the College 

Football Playoff to go undefeated, 

open the season with a strong, 

out-of-conference opponent, win 

their Power-5 conference, but not 

be selected for the CFP. 

Undeniably, this decision 

stems from FSU losing starting 

quarterback, Jordan Travis, for the 

season due to a horrific broken leg 

injury. The Noles, while winning 

the remainder of their games since 

his departure, have not done so in 

a convincing fashion, eventually 

leading to their exclusion. 

Therefore, it is safe to assume 

that when the Dawgs and the 

Noles tee it up in Miami for the 

Capital One Orange Bowl, both 

will feel they have a point to prove. 

Georgia understands their worth, 

and for the first time in two years, 

they have a sour taste in their 

mouth – something horrifying for 

an opposition. Florida State, on 

the other hand, looks to show the 

committee they made a significant 

error by leaving out the undefeated 

Seminoles. 

In order to win the game, Georgia 

will be tasked with stopping Trey 

Benson, Florida State’s leading 

rusher who has tallied 37 carries 

in the two games Travis has been 

missing. Georgia’s rushing defense 

has been a cause of concern in 

multiple games this season, and 

there will no doubt be a heavy dose 

of running plays coming from the 

Seminole offense. 

Shifting the focus to Georgia, 

Florida State is in rude awakening. 

Having spent time with this 

coaching staff and football team, 

these players are connected like 

no other team in the country. They 

care immensely for one another, 

and having one more opportunity 

to play together is something they 

will not take for granted. Opt-outs 

have become an unfortunate 

reality in bowl games, but senior 

running back Kendall Milton set 

the tone for the Bulldogs when 

he emphatically declared that he 

will suit up in red and black one 

final time. Milton told the media 

after the Alabama loss, “I’ve been 

through hell and back with these 

boys, so there’s no way that I won’t 

take every opportunity that I can to 

be able to play with them.” 

I expect Coach Kirby Smart to 

have his players fired up for one 

final game in 2023. The message 

of playing for each other and 

this university will be welldocumented, 

and I can promise 

you one thing: I would not want to 

line up against anyone wearing a 

“G” on their helmet on December 

30 in Miami. 


Jeff Culhane, the play-by-play voice of the Florida 

State Seminoles, is kind enough to offer his insight 

into the Orange Bowl matchup with Georgia. Jeff 

does an excellent job and provides some outstanding 

information ahead of this matchup between two of the 

top programs in college football. 


A VIEW FROM 

tallahassee 

WHAT IS THE MOOD OF 

THE SEMINOLE FAITHFUL 

HEADING INTO THE ORANGE 

BOWL? 

Much like Georgia fans, there is a 

level of hurt amongst Florida State 

fans currently with the circumstances 

dealt by the CFB Playoff Committee 

leaving out the Seminoles after a 13-0 

season and an ACC Championship. 

But the Orange Bowl is a tremendous 

game and experience and holds 

a special place in the hearts of all 

Noles fans. FSU has great history 

at the Orange Bowl and won their 

first National Championship in this 

game back in 1993. To play a great 

program like Georgia is an amazing 

opportunity and we’re looking 

forward to a great game. 

TO BOOKEND THE REGULAR 

SEASON WITH WINS 

OVER LSU AND FLORIDA, 

RUN THE TABLE IN THE 

ACC, AND WIN THE TITLE 

GAME IS A TREMENDOUS 

ACCOMPLISHMENT, CAN 

YOU TAKE US THROUGH 

YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS? 

Every time this Florida State team 

took the field you knew something 

special was about to happen. This 

team just had that feel about them 

and answered the call all season 

long no matter the opponent or the 

adversity faced. The blowout win 

versus LSU to start the season, the 

OT win at Clemson, the 16th State 

Championship in program history 

beating both Miami and Florida, 

and finishing with a defensive 

masterpiece versus Louisville in the 

ACC Championship are the highlights 

of the season for me. 

WHAT WOULD A WIN OVER 

GEORGIA IN MIAMI MEAN TO 

FLORIDA STATE? 

A win over Georgia would be another 

great step in showing how far Florida 

State has come in the Mike Norvell 

era. Georgia has been the standard 

for all to chase in College Football the 

past few seasons. Great players, great 

coaches, UGA has been a machine 

the past few years. 

WHAT DOES FLORIDA 

STATE NEED TO DO TO WIN? 

Defensively FSU is playing at a 

National Championship level. Season 

highs in sacks, TFLs, and PBUs versus 

a quality Louisville Offense in the ACC 

Championship Game really stand 

out and show how well this group is 

executing right now. Offensively, no 

matter who the QB is, Mike Norvell will 

mix and match to put the Noles in a 

position to put points on the board. 

Getting the ball to Keon Coleman, 

Jaheim Bell, ACC MVP Lawrence 

Toafili, and Trey Benson in different 

ways will be paramount against a 

great Georgia Defense. 

IF THE SEMINOLES WIN, AND 

A ONCE-BEATEN WINS THE 

CFP, DO YOU THINK FSU 

WOULD BE DESERVING OF 

THE FINAL NO. 1 RANKING IN 

THE A.P. POLL? 

Absolutely, not that it changes 

anything that has transpired with the 

CFP Committee’s decision to leave 

FSU out, but there’s something to 

be said for a 14-0 Florida State team 

beating the two time defending 

national champions on a neutral field 

at the end of the season. Now, that is 

a big challenge because of the team 

Georgia is, but I believe Florida State 

can play with anybody this season in 

College Football. 

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON 

GEORGIA? 

They’ve been the standard that 

everyone has been chasing. Kirby 

Smart is an elite coach. They have 

amazing players, big, fast, and 

physical. They know how to win 

games. Carson Beck has had a 

phenomenal season. Brock Bowers 

might be the best player in all of 

College Football. And their Defense 

will make you pay. 

GIVE ME SOME CHANGES 

OR SLOW DOWNS YOU’D 

LIKE TO SEE IN COLLEGE 

FOOTBALL AND COLLEGE 

ATHLETICS? 

I’m all for players earning 

compensation for their time and 

efforts in college athletics. I think 

the Transfer Portal has created 

opportunities for student-athletes 

to succeed in different places. I 

wish we could go back 10-15 years 

and face these topics head on as 

leaders instead of pushing them 

away and hoping we wouldn’t have 

to deal with them. Because if we 

would’ve provided some guidelines 

for both then, I think we’d have 

a better understanding of how 

they work now instead of this feel 

of them being “unregulated” and 

disorganized in a lot of ways. Again, 

I’m not against either of these 

things for student-athletes, but I 

believe we could make them better 

for all. 

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Teri Moore Tina Fallon Karen Mumford Nancy Phelan Freddy Stroud Desiree Varnedoe Sarah Broyles 

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GEORGIA GIRLS: SOPHIE BRACEWELL PG. 26 | RSM CLASSIC PHOTOS PG. 38 | PROUST Q&A: CHASE HOPKINS PG. 44 

SOCIAL 

SEC Championship GEORGIA-alabama 

fan photos: PG.29-36 

Peyton Prince, Anna Strange, Eliza Harman, Alex Lange, 

Mary Steward Mullin, Anna Carter Capps 

PHOTO BY: VANCE LEAVY/BI 


GEORGIA GIRLS 

SOCIAL 

2. 

Georgia Girls 

SOPHIE STUBBLEFIELD BRACEWELL 

Cheri Leavy’s rapport with her favorite tastemakers and 

UGA Alumnae brings you plenty of doggone good inspiration! 

Foundation: 

NAME: Sophie Stubblefield Bracewell 

FAMILY: Husband: Charles, daughter Grace who 

just turned 1, and our 2 year old puppy Lucy 

HOMETOWN: Memphis, Tennessee 

1. 

CURRENT TOWN: Marin County, California 

WHAT YEARS AT UGA: 2007-2010 

SCHOOL/DEGREE: Lamar Dodd School of Art, BFA 

in Studio Art 

PROFESSION: After a decade working in the tech 

industry in San Francisco at companies like Google 

and Airbnb, I now work for myself as a full-time Artist and 

Designer. 

Accolades: 

While no official accolades as an artist (yet!) I consider it a major 

accomplishment to have finally taken this leap of faith during such a 

busy season of life. I made a major career pivot just six months after my 

daughter was born. I now have an art studio with a view of the water 

in Sausalito, something I have dreamt about ever since I graduated 

and moved to San Francisco to work for an art gallery in 2010. 

Inspo: 

BOOK: Currently reading and 

loving The Creative Act by Rick 

Rubin. 

MAGAZINE: InKind magazine - it 

is a true work of art and a gift I 

gave myself as a new mom. 

PODCAST: Second Life, How’d She 

Do That, Superwomen by Rebecca 

Minkoff, anything of the creative 

female entrepreneur variety. 

BLOG: I can’t say that I really read blogs 

anymore - YouTube is my go to for how-to videos, 

and Pinterest for visual inspiration. 

INSTAGRAM: I love keeping up with other artists I admire - Lulie 

Wallace (1), Riley Sheehey, Blakely Little, Kristin Blakeney, Kate 

Roebuck, Laura Deems, I could go on and on! 

BRAND: There are so many! I would love to create patterns and 

textiles one day so I’ll go with dream collabs - Lake, Minnow, Weezie, 

Miron Crosby, and Hunter Bell. 

FASHION DESIGNER: Hunter Bell (2) - I was really inspired hearing her 

story on a recent podcast and love her silhouettes and patterns too. 

INTERIOR DESIGNER: Hannah Ozburn (3) - love her use of color. 

CHEF: Dorseydish - a friend and UGA classmate who just started a 


4. 

Co-founders Whitney Long 

and Cheri Leavy 

Photo: Kelli Boyd 

We believe magic 

comes from bringing 

people together 

TO #CONNECTCOLLABORATECREATE. 

3. 

QUOTE: 

“There are always flowers 

for those who want to see 

them” - Henri Matisse 

DESCRIBE ATHENS IN FIVE WORDS OR LESS: 

Vibrant, creative, nostalgic, charming, fun. 

RESTAURANTS AND BARS: Last Resort always! 

Nowhere Bar, Georgia Theatre, The National, Little 

Italy, Georgia Bar. 

SHOPS: Heery’s and Agora were favorites when I 

lived there. 

Summit 2024 

Stylesheet 

ATHENS/CAMPUS LANDMARK: I’ll have to go 

with Georgia Theatre - we spent so many 

fun nights there watching great music. 

MEMORY WHILE IN SCHOOL: Mostly just 

cooking blog out of Louisville, Kentucky - follow for 

hanging at our house with friends Senior 

fun and delicious recipes! 

1 & 2 COLORS 

year. We still talk about how we had no idea 

HISTORICAL FIGURE: Georgia O’Keefe. (4) WITH WHITE FILL 

how good we had it, living in such a fun 

Athens + UGA: 

city in a house with all of your best friends! 

Also my Senior Exit show - friends and my 

whole family came, including my dad and 

grandmother who are no longer here. It 

was such a fun celebration, proud moment, 

and now a treasured memory. 

PROFESSOR/CLASS: Every art class I took 

was memorable but I especially loved 

figure drawing with Kinzey Branham. I 

loved his drawing class so much I begged 

him to let me in his 8 a.m. Figure Sculpture 

class with my roommate Helen (it was full). 

It was our last semester of college, he let us 

both in and we had a blast. 

GAMEDAY RITUAL/PLAN: Last Resort 

with friends and a blood orange mimosa 

- yum. 

GAMEDAY RECIPE: My favorite is a spin on 

Cowboy Caviar - we call it California Caviar. 

The Southern Coterie … 

where beautiful ideas 

take root and our 

members and Summit 

alums grow and Logo bloom Colorways 

together! 

THESE CAN BE USED 

WITH 1 OR 2 COLORS 

JOIN US 

#TSCSUMMIT 

on Sea Island, Georgia set for 

January 30 - February 1, 2024 

#TSCMEMBERSHIP 

on our custom app and weekly 

Zooms 24/7/365 

JOIN THE SOUTHERN C 

EST. NOVEMBER 2011 

THESOUTHERNC.COM

It’s always great to be a Georgia Bulldawg! 

Thank you for another great season! 

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The Rushmore has reinvented the 

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The Rushmore offers catered 

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Jeremy Hoff, Jason Brian, Jason Miller, Candy Byrd-Miller, Mike Vicary 

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Fran Brown, Perry Langston 

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Major Simmons, Breck Grffin, Sam Griffin, Carter 

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Hailen Kelly, Adam Kelly, 

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Tommy Walker, Lauren Bolden, Tai Hodges 

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Local Bank. 

Local Impact. 

95 th Anniversary 

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In 1928, people in Northeast Georgia started entrusting their 

money with First American Bank and in turn, we put that money to 

work – right here. Making this community a better place to work, 

to live and to raise a family. 

As we see it, for the past 95 years, we’ve been building more 

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Go Dawgs…Stomp the Noles! 

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FAN SHOTS 

Thomas Pearce Spurlin, Adam Bressler, 

Pearce Spurlin 

Pope Arline, Cheri Leavy, Joel Arline, 

Billy Shuman 


Beth Moore, Caleigh Moore, Keely Dewit, Sarah Moss, 

Ari Izenson, Ellie Slaver, Gracie Vice 

Barbara Dooley, Daniel Dooley Monica Huff, Reign Streiter George Poulakis, Maddie Veal Jeff Tingle, Julie Tingle 


FAN SHOTS 

SOCIAL 

Addie Rodgers, Clay Rodgers, Jill Rodgers, Cory Rodgers, 

Jonathan Young, Davis Young, Derrick Wolfe, Abigail Wolfe 

Mary Sawhill, Saxby Chambliss (Happy 80th), 

Matt Sawhill 

John Turner, 

Carey Stephens 

Kira Picinich, Graham Luckey, 

Brent Wilson 

Hatton Abernathy, Gordon Beckham, 

William Story 

Taylor Kennedy, Jordan Cheever, Harriet Brinson, 

Monik Brinson, Josette Gordon, Marva Johnson 

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How Sweet it Still is 

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SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Joe Sisson, Bryson Sisson 

Flin Cannon, Kara Cannon, 

Ann Cannon, Christie 

Cannon, Jay Cole 

Tommy David, Kendrick David, 

Bob David 


Gordon Strother, Peter Feininger, 

Rees Sumerford 

Sean Bullard, CJ Adams, 

Craig Adams 

Charlie Rutherford, Melissa Rutherford, Ryan Rutherford, 

Bert Ramsey 

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Michael Thompson, 

Holly Stephens 

Mary Alice Cochran 

Bubba West, Davis Slatinsky 

Wayne Racz, Jenny Racz 

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2022 National Champions 

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Conyers, GA. 30094 

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Monroe, GA 30655 

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678-963-9879

FAN SHOTS 

SOCIAL 

Kati Mize, Matt Mize 

Lavinia Strong, Walter Strong 

Debbie Daniel, Joel Arline, 

Meg Amstutz 

Chip Champion, Travis Epling 

Cody Crane, 

Sawyer Kirk 

Adam Durkin, Aerin Durkin, Karen Durkin, 

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SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Alfred Sams, Riley Sams, Bonney Shuman, 

Billy Shuman 

Dan Hannon, Laura Hannon, 

Spencer Ralston 



Davis Thompson, 

Bonney Shuman 

Keith Mitchell, Kati Mize 

Brian Grier, Robin Grier, Suzy Deering, Ron Deering 

Catherine Warner, 

Caroline Champion 

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SOCIAL 

FAN SHOTS 

Cindy Jacobs, Maddie Jacobs, 

Russell Jacobs, Rick Ackerman 

Caroline Champion, 

Mary Wallace Champion Graham Fox Caryn Riggs 

Ruth Bartlett, Terri Vann, Linda Marett, 

Bill Marett 

Anne Davis, Jack Davis 

Sonny Stowers, Charlotte Stowers 

David Slatinsky, Justin Watson 

Bonney Shuman, 

Claire Mitchell, 

Billy Shuman 



Logan Gault, Tyler Alexander, Ryan Alexander 

Dave Burch, Terri Burch, Jack Hanna 

Patrick Page, Fitz Hiltzheimer 

Harrison Barnes, Andrea Parris, Ivie Teston, Kathryn Hodge, 

Hogan Barnes 

Susan Vendetti, Gigi Capes, Andrea Pearson 

John Manly, Megan Manly, Paul Threlkeld, EB Threlkeld, 

Ansley Threlkeld, Hughes Threlkeld 


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WE CATER! 912-634-5168 • PorchSSI.com 


Q&A 

PROUST 

COMPILED BY: CAROLINE CHAMPION 

NAME: Chase Hopkins 

FAMILY: Anna Kate Hopkins (B.A. 2010); Charlie (Age 6); Nancy 

(Age 5); Linton (Age 1) 

HOMETOWN: Griffin, Georgia 

CURRENT TOWN: St. Simons Island, Georgia 

WHAT YEARS AT UGA: 2005-2009 

CHASE HOPKINS 

SCHOOL/DEGREE: Franklin College (Biology), B.S. 2009 

PROFESSION: Dentist/Owner Plantation Dental Associates 

ACCOLADES: Kappa Alpha, UGA Presidential Scholar, Glynn 

County Dental Society President (2019), College of Coastal 

Georgia Foundation Board, Eagle Scout 

WHAT LIFE LESSONS DID YOU LEARN WHILE AT 

UGA? 

The importance of friendships and time management. The 

relationships that I formed at UGA have been the most lasting 

and meaningful in my life. Also- Athens can be pretty distracting 

place and I learned in my years there how to achieve an 

acceptable work/life balance! 

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST 

ACHIEVEMENT? 

My greatest achievement is convincing a beautiful UGA ADPi to 

marry me and welcoming three perfect children into this world. 

My family is my whole world and I am blessed beyond measure to 

have such an incredible wife and kids. 

WHICH HISTORICAL FIGURE DO YOU MOST 

IDENTIFY WITH? 

Doc Holliday- other than the obvious comparisons (being a 

Dentist from Griffin), Wyatt Earp is quoted as calling Doc a 

“loyal friend and good company”. Two qualities I hope to be 

known for! 

WHO ARE YOUR HEROES IN REAL LIFE? 

There are many people that I greatly admire, but I have to say my 

father. My dad and I have different careers in health care, but he 

has always guided me and given wonderful advice over the years. 

He instilled in me hard work, the importance of education, and 

doing the duty that lies nearest. 

QUOTE TO LIVE BY: 

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy whole might. 

Work while it is called today, for the night cometh wherein no 

man can work” 

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS? 

Being outside and enjoying our perfect little island with my 

family. A morning in the breakers trying to snag a bull red, a late 

afternoon tee time, and then a golf cart ride up to Gould’s Inlet for 

a sunset. A night game in Sanford and the occasional trip to the 

North Cape are hard to beat also. 

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MARKED CHARACTERISTIC? 

Affability and a good sense of humor 

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS? 

Loyalty and Kindness 

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT 

YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

Quit worrying too much about things in the future and live more 

in the present and enjoying the small moments of each day with 

my family 

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE WRITERS? 

I am a huge history nerd so have always enjoyed Stephen 

Ambrose (Undaunted Courage, D-Day). Thomas Carlyle is another 

one of my favorites. 

FAVE SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHO TO FOLLOW? 

Poor Man’s Game Notes- always a great preview for the weekend’s 

game. Also Chip Champion’s Facebook. 


BOWL BONANZA PG. 46 | THE HAMMYS PG. 48 | HOOP DAWGS PREVIEW PG. 54 

JALEN MILROE’S ABILITY TO GET 

LOOSE PROVED VITAL FOR THE 

TIDE WINNING THE SEC AND 

ADVANCING TO THE CFP! 


MORE 

SPORTS 


JEFF DANTZLER’S 

BOWL BONANZA 

BONUS BLITZ 

MYRTLE BEACH BOWL 

December 16 - 11 A.M. 

GEORGIA SOUTHERN 

VS. OHIO 

Conway, South Carolina 

ESPN 

The Eagles got off to a great start and were 

sitting at 6-2 - with one of the losses at 

Wisconsin - following a huge win at Paulson 

Stadium over Georgia State the Thursday 

night prior to Georgia-Florida. It was a great 

night for Georgia Southern. Unfortunately for 

the Eagles, a pair of tight losses to Marshall 

and Old Dominion sidetracked any hopes at 

a shot at the Sun Belt title, as they lost their 

last four games. Jared Benko is a fantastic 

athletic director and Clay Helton has reenergized 

the football program. This is a shot 

to finish strong against one of the best teams 

in the MAC, break the losing streak and get 

the momentum going for 2024. The Bobcats 

head to the South Carolina coast at 9-3, 

winners of their last five. 

‌GASPARILLA BOWL 

December 22 - 6:30 P.M. 

TECH VS. UCF 

Tampa 

ESPN 

For the first time since 2018, the Yellow 

Jackets are in a bowl game. Brent Key has 

done a good job in his short tenure on the 

Flats, turning around a morbid situation. 

The Yellow Jackets secured signature wins 

over Miami - just take the knee ‘Canes - and 

North Carolina, and gave Louisville and 

rival Georgia all they wanted in bookend 

losses. Hayne King is a very good dual threat 

quarterback and the Yellow Jackets have one 

of the nation’s best rushing attacks. Stopping 

the run has been Tech’s biggest issue. For 

UCF, famed as giant killers, it’s their first 

year in the Big XII. The week to week grind 

showed up. There was a signature win over 

Oklahoma State, two one-point losses and a 

two-point loss. Both teams are 6-6, seeking 

that winning record for the season. 

‌FAMOUS IDAHO 

POTATO BOWL 


GEORGIA STATE VS. 

UTAH STATE 

Boise, Idaho 

ESPN 

The Panthers came out of the gates red hot, 

posting a 6-1 record through their first seven 

games. But that aforementioned loss to 

in-state rival Georgia Southern sent Georgia 

State into a bad run in the second half of the 

year. Starting with the loss in Statesboro, 

against a tough slate, the Panthers lost 

their final five games. Shawn Elliott, who 

became famous as an offensive line coach at 

Appalachian State and then South Carolina, 

has done a good job at GSU. Utah State, like 

Georgia State, is also 6-6. The Aggies got 

bowl eligible in the regular season finale 

at New Mexico, as they pulled out a 44-41 

thriller in double overtime. Who knows what 

the weather will look like on the blue turf in 

Boise. 

TEXAS BOWL 

December 27 - 9 P.M. 

TEXAS A&M VS. 

OKLAHOMA STATE 

Houston 

ESPN 

The Aggies lost by six to Alabama, fell by 

seven at Tennessee and came up three 

points short at Ole Miss. They went 7-5 and 

paid Jimbo Fisher and his staff, including 

Bobby Petrino, an insane amount of money 

to go away. Former Texas A&M defensive 

coordinator Mike Elko, who did a good job at 

Duke, has been named the new head coach 

in College Station. This is an old Big XII South 

battle. Oklahoma State had one of the more 

up and down bizarre seasons of any team in 

the country. They lost 33-7 to South Alabama 

and got shellacked 45-3 at UCF. The latter 

came a week after beating Oklahoma. The 

Cowboys played in the Big XII Championship 

Game, and went down to superior Texas 

49-21 to drop their record to 9-4. Who knows 

what in the world to expect in this one? 

‌POP-TARTS BOWL 


N.C. STATE VS. KANSAS 

STATE 

Orlando 

ESPN 

These are two very good programs in power 

conferences that find themselves in the 

upper division of their leagues, who pull 

off an upset or two most every year. Kansas 

State is 8-4, with all of the losses coming by 

between three and eight points - including 

a 33-30 overtime heartbreaker at Texas. The 

Wolfpack are 9-3 and one hot football team. 

The losses are to Notre Dame, Louisville 

and at Duke. Following a 24-3 beating at 

the hands of the Blue Devils, the Wolfpack 

found the formula. They are riding a five 

game winning streak, beating Clemson, 

Miami, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and North 

Carolina. That’s a darn strong hit list if you 

know anything at all about ACC history. Both 

teams figure to be hungry, and this has the 

potential to be one of the best bowls of the 

season. 

ALAMO BOWL 


OKLAHOMA VS. 

ARIZONA 

San Antonio 

ESPN 

This one and the Holiday Bowl are almost 

always exciting games with down-to-thewire 

finishes. Both Oklahoma and Arizona 

had resurgent years, and a win in San 

Antonio would be a great punctuation to 

the season. It’s year two for Brent Venables 

in Norman, and the Sooners rebounded 

from a losing record in 2022 to go 10-2 this 

season. A three-point loss in Bedlam and 

38-33 heartbreaker at Kansas wound up 

costing Oklahoma a shot at a second victory 

over Texas and a crack at the playoff in the 

Big XII Championship Game. Arizona is 9-3 

and riding a six game winning streak. How 

about their losses? The Wildcats fell 31-24 

in overtime at Mississippi State, lost 31-24 

to Washington and dropped a 43-41 triple 

overtime decision to Southern Cal. These two 

teams both had outstanding years, and are 

wondering what if, with the five combined 

losses all coming by seven or fewer points. 

‌GATOR BOWL 

December 29 - Noon 

KENTUCKY VS. 

CLEMSON 

Jacksonville, Florida 

ESPN 

Maybe the caller Tyler was a plant. It was not 

our friend Tyler Head, who has appeared 

on these pages and on our airwaves. But 

following the 24-17 loss to NC State, the Tigers 

rallied to win four straight to close out at 

8-4. That includes a revenge win over South 

Carolina. Let’s keep in mind that the other 

three losses following the season-opening 

28-7 head scratcher at Duke were mighty 

close. Clemson had one slip away and fell to 

Florida State 31-24 in overtime, lost in double 

OT at Miami and had the loss to the Pack. They 

are back on an upwards trajectory. Clemson 

has a good history in Jacksonville through the 

years. Kentucky started the season hot, but 

fell on hard times. Then the Wildcats hit the 

jackpot with a 38-31 win at rival Louisville to 

close out the regular season at 7-5. 

‌TONY THE TIGER SUN 

BOWL 


NOTRE DAME VS. 

OREGON STATE 

El Paso, Texas 

CBS 

This matchup brings back memories of 


Dennis Erickson’s Beavers blowing away 

the Fighting Irish 41-9 in the 2001 Fiesta 

Bowl. Oregon State, which got left behind 

in the dissolution of the PAC-12 posted an 

8-4 regular season. The Beavers had a pair 

of three point losses at Washington State 

and at Arizona. In the next to last weekend 

of the regular season, they fell by two in a 

heartbreaker to Washington. That took the 

wind out of the sails, and Oregon rolled 

in the finale. For the Fighting Irish, it’s 9-3. 

The 17-14 loss to Ohio State in South Bend 

was brutal. Notre Dame put up a lot of 

points the last two weeks of the regular 

season, beating Wake Forest 45-7 and 

smashing Stanford - a future Atlantic Coast 

Conference foe in other sports - 56-23. 

COTTON BOWL 


MISSOURI V OHIO 

STATE 

Dallas 

ESPN 

Missouri is 10-2, Ohio State is 11-1. But no 

doubt, Mizzou has the happier fan base 

heading to Dallas. The Buckeyes were 11-0, 

but lost 30-24 at Michigan, costing them a 

shot at the playoff. It’s a third straight loss to 

Michigan, the first time that’s happened since 

1995-1997. The series completely dominated 

by the Buckeyes in the 21st century turned 

the last three years, and it’s a dagger for 

Ohio State. Missouri has its best team since 

appearing in back to back SEC Championship 

Games in 2013 and 2014. The Tigers lone 

two losses came at home to LSU and against 

Georgia in Athens. Both teams are big and 

physical up front. Mizzou may have more 

“want to” in this one. Kicker Harrison Mevis 

could be the difference for the Tigers. 

‌CHICK-FIL-A PEACH 

BOWL 

December 29 - Noon 

OLE MISS VS. PENN 

STATE 

Atlanta 

ESPN 

This feels a bit like Mizzou and Ohio State. 

Both Ole Miss and Penn State are 10-2 but 

the Rebels have the much happier fan base. 

It’s a familiar tune for Penn State, outstanding 

season, 10-2 record, but clearly a level below 

Ohio State and Michigan. No shame in that. 

For Ole Miss, the Grove is rocking like the 

Johnny Vaught glory days. The Rebels two 

losses came at Alabama and at Georgia. They 

were able to come back strong and beat 

Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl to close out 

the season. Quinshon Judkins is one of the 

best running backs in the country, and will 

present problems for Penn State. Gary Stokan 

does an amazing job running the Chick-Fil-A 

Peach Bowl, and he has a great game lined up 

with the Rebels and Nittany Lions. 

MUSIC CITY BOWL 


AUBURN VS. MARYLAND 

Nashville, Tennessee 

ABC 

Here are a pair of teams that 

played the kingpins really tough. Auburn, 

which is 6-6, must be having a hard time 

getting out of bed after the catastrophic 

“rush two with a spy” defense on fourthand-31 

in the staggering loss to Alabama in 

the Iron Bowl. Keeping their arch-rivals alive 

in the playoff picture didn’t garner them any 

friends in the college football world. Auburn 

also led Georgia by 10 in October, but the 

Bulldogs rallied back to win at Jordan-Hare. 

Maryland is 7-5. The Terps lost a tight one to 

Michigan in College Park. Earlier in the year, 

they led Ohio State 10-0, but lost by 20. Just 

good enough to get you a pat on the back. 

Nashville is a fun destination. 

‌RELIAQUEST BOWL 

January 1 - Noon 

LSU VS. WISCONSIN 

Tampa 

ESPN 2 

The Bayou Bengals, led by sensational 

quarterback Jayden Daniels, went 9-3 this 

season, with the losses coming to Florida 

State, Ole Miss (in a heartbreaking shootout) 

and Alabama. This is a chance to close strong 

at 10-3. Of course, like with so many teams, 

the big question is just how many players will 

sit this one out. LSU has a lot more speed and 

talent, and this one looks like a mismatch. 

But Wisconsin, which was a disappointing 

7-5 in the first year of the Luke Fickell regime, 

showed some fight down the stretch, 

winning the final two games of the season 

against Nebraska and at Minnesota. The 

Big Ten West just never had that consistent 

contender step up. Now the PAC-12 is 

coming to town. 

‌CITRUS BOWL 

January 1 - 1 P.M. 

TENNESSEE VS. IOWA 

Orlando 

ABC 

The Volunteers had sky high expectations 

after going 11-2, beating Alabama and 

downing Clemson to win the Orange Bowl 

a year ago. An upset loss at Florida, where 

the Volunteers haven’t won in 20 years 

sidetracked the season. They lost at Alabama, 

got beat bad at Missouri and fell to Georgia 

38-10 in Knoxville. There is no shame in 8-4 in 

the rugged SEC, but the manner of the losses 

left a sour taste in the mouths of the Vol 

faithful. Iowa posted a 10-2 regular season, 

despite fielding one of the worst offenses in 

major college football. It was on full display 

in the Big Ten Championship Game, where 

the Hawkeyes fell to Michigan 26-0, dropping 

the record to 10-3. The big questions here, 

can Iowa score enough, and who will we see 

at QB for Tennessee? 

‌FIESTA BOWL 


OREGON VS. LIBERTY 

Glendale, Arizona 

ESPN 

Two three point losses to Washington 

cost Oregon a playoff berth. Dan Lanning, 

Kirby Smart’s defensive coordinator for the 

Bulldogs 2021 national championship team, 

has done an outstanding job for the Ducks. 

Liberty, meanwhile, is that Group of Five 

representative. What a job this program 

has done in ascending through the ranks 

over the last four decades. It would’ve been 

a stretch at the turn over the century that 

Liberty would be in a major bowl game 

taking on a power from the PAC-12. Which 

is dissolving. Oregon has more firepower 

and talent, the key to this one is just how 

interested they are. Liberty’s schedule isn’t 

the most challenging, but they found a 

way to go 13-0, including a 49-35 win over 

New Mexico State in the Conference USA 

Championship Game. 

CFP-SEMI - 

ROSE BOWL 


ALABAMA VS. 

MICHIGAN 

Pasadena, California 

ESPN 

Michigan got in despite having its head 

coach twice suspended for three games. 

We all know the story. Alabama got in. The 

Crimson Tide pulled off back-to-back 27- 

24 thrillers, beating Auburn on the Plains 

and Georgia in the SEC Championship 

Game. Jalen Milroe has been tremendous 

at quarterback for the Crimson Tide. The 

Wolverines have a powerful running attack, 

but JJ McCarthy will have to throw it well if 

Michigan is going to win in Pasadena. Nick 

Saban has had an incredible career. How 

much longer will he keep going? For Jim 

Harbaugh, is this a “blaze of glory” deal at 

his alma mater. Three straight wins over the 

Buckeyes has the Wolverine faithful smiling. 

CFP-SEMI - 

SUGAR BOWL 

January 1 - 8:45 P.M. 

WASHINGTON 

VS. TEXAS 

New Orleans 

ESPN 

What a run for both the Huskies and 

Longhorns. In its last three games, 

Washington won by two at Oregon State, then 

by three over Washington State and then got 

a second three point win over Oregon this 

season, this one in the PAC-12 Championship 

Game to lock up the program’s second trip 

to the College Football Playoff. Texas made 

its mark early with the Week Two win at 

Alabama. Following the loss to Oklahoma, the 

Longhorns squeaked by in some close ones. 

But they found their way down the stretch, 

mauling Texas Tech in the regular season finale, 

and then pounding Oklahoma State in the Big 

XII Championship Game. What a way for Texas 

to leave the league. The winner of this one will 

likely be a fan favorite on January 8. 


what’s the 

word 

BY HAMILTON CULPEPPER 

The ninth annual Hammys 

The ninth annual Hammys … 

an award “ceremony” granting 

college football’s greatest stars 

the most prestigious honors given by 

a 21-year-old! First, I must give a little 

thanks to the people that make this 

special article possible. In 2014, the first 

Hammys were published as my first 

printed article. The Bulldawg Illustrated 

family led and founded by Cheri and 

Vance Leavy welcomed a seventh grader 

with horrible grammar into their amazing 

newspaper (now magazine). It has been 

an opportunity unlike any other to write 

for the best magazine in the world! I don’t 

think Cheri and Vance understood what 

they were getting themselves into when 

they offered a column to me. Now nine 

years later, I am set to graduate from this 

great University we all love with a career 

path in sports media that began with 

Cheri, Vance and the BI family! For the 

first time ever, the Hammys ceremony 

will be aired via podcast on the Hammy 

Show! I welcomed in former Georgia 

punter and all-time legend Drew Butler 

to co-host. The episode goes further into 

detail on all the finalists for each award, 

but before we kick off this written piece, 

I want to say I will forever be indebted 

to this magazine and the opportunity 

gifted to me! 

Without further adieu, the 2023 

Hammys go to… 

QB of the Year 

Jayden Daniels, LSU’s senior 

quarterback, earned a nation’s best 95.7 

QBR! The transfer from Arizona State 

is responsible for 50 touchdowns: 40 

passing and 10 rushing. He’s racked up 

the third most yards through the air 

with 3,812 to just four interceptions. 

Furthermore, his legs separate him from 

any other QB. The dual threat signal 

caller has 1,134 yards on the ground, 

the most by any quarterback this season 

and second in the SEC (only behind 

Missouri’s running back Cody Schrader). 

Jayden Daniels, here’s your well-deserved 

Hammy! 

RB of the Year 

Ollie Gordon from Oklahoma State 

has earned Barry Sanders comparisons 

from the Oklahoma State faithful as well 

as scouts. That’s pretty good company 

for the sophomore Cowboy, and it’s 

rightfully so. Gordon led the nation in 

rushing with 1,614 rushing yards, but the 

superstar from Fort Worth’s head-turning 

stat is eight 100-yard rushing games, 

two of which he went for over 250 yards. 

Transfer portal speculations are swirling, 

but for this year, Ollie Gordon, here’s that 

RB of the Year Hammy! 

WR of the Year 

Jayden Daniels earned himself a 

Hammy, but he didn’t do it all on his own. 

His leading receiver Malik Nabersis that 

dude. The Youngsville, Louisiana native 

racked up 1,546 receiving yards (first in 

the country) with 14 touchdowns (tied 

for second in the country). However, the 

2023 

speedy wideout averaged 18 yards per 

reception. Moral of the story: if you need 

a first down, throw it to Nabers! Merry 

Christmas, happy New Year, and here’s 

that Hammy Malik! 

TE of the Year 

Well, this one’s obvious… Brock 

Bowers, you’ve done it again! For the 

third straight year the junior out of Napa, 

California has stolen this Hammy, and this 

is no bias. Big 19 racked up 714 receiving 

yards (second among tight ends) on 56 

receptions for six receiving touchdowns. 

The crazy part: he missed four games 

and still put up those numbers. Bowers 

might go down as the greatest tight end 

in college football history. His presence 

on the field was second to none, one of 

the biggest difference makers in college 

football this season. 

Defensive Player of the Year 

College football is always filled with 

amazing comeback stories, and this 

one does not disappoint. Laiatu Latu 

transferred from Washington to UCLA 

after medically retiring from football due 

to a neck injury. After winning comeback 

player of the year last year, he racked up 

13 sacks, 49 tackles (21.5 tackles for a 

loss), two interceptions and two fumbles 

in 2023. There is no reason Latu should 

even be on a football field after an injury 

like he suffered, let alone balling out like 

he did all season long. To your story and 

to your performance on the field, Laiatu, 

here is that Hammy! 

Offensive Lineman of the Year 

Down in the trenches, there’s been 

some dawgs, but none compare to the 

6-8, 322-pound Joe Altof Notre Dame. 

He’s ranked the No. 1 offensive lineman 

entering the 2024 NFL Draft with a 92 

scouting grade. The junior beast is a huge 

reason Sam Hartman was successful in 

the passing game and why Audric Esteme 

was a rushing monster. Joe Alt, you’ve 

earned this Hammy and been a rock for 

the Fighting Irish. 

Special Teams Player of the Year 

The “Thicker Kicker” Harrison Mevis 

from Missouri took the motivation from 

a missed field goal against Auburn in 

2022 to being the best kicker in college 

football in 2023. After a game-winning, 

last second 61-yarder, the 243-pounder 

soared to stardom. The 61-yard field 

goal is an SEC record passing Kevin 

Butler’s 60-yarder in 1984, and for this 

the “Thicker Kicker” snags this Hammy. 


Best Looking Player of the Year 

I always grant my little sister one pick in the annual 

Hammys. She gets to decide the best looking player in 

college football. This year, Mimi’s football heart sparkle was 

Michigan’s quarterback JJ McCarthy. Congrats JJ, on this 

Hammy, a.k.a. Mimi award. You have another fangirl! 

Uniform of the Year 

America’s Game between Army and Navy always rolls out 

some special threads dedicated to the servicemen of our 

great nation! This year, the uniforms did not disappoint, but 

for the best one of the year, Navy takes the cake. The “Silent 

Service” submarine tribute uniforms are sweet looking. In 

a statement released by Navy, the Academy said, “Navy 

Athletics and Under Armour unveiled the 2023 Army-Navy 

game uniform that will honor the Silent Service, the U.S. 

Submarine Force, its families and supporting personnel.” 

Thank you to all of our soldiers, and Midshipmen, here’s 

your Hammy! 

Difference Maker 

For work on and off the field, this is one of the most 

prestigious awards in all of college football, and your 

winner is none other than our very own Ladd McConkey. 

On the field, we see No. 84 making plays across the 

gridiron, but off the field, McConkey does more than just 

wear those silver britches. He is a young man who truly 

upholds the value of not for himself but for others! SVNV. 

Villain of the Year 

“The Greatest Story Ever Played,” as ESPN phrases their 

marketing ploy for college football, there has to be a 

villain. This year, there were plenty of “hated” people in 

college football, but no one is hated more than the CFP 

Committee. In the wise words of my co-host Drew Butler, 

“In all my travels, I’ve never found a statue of a committee. 

That’s enough said… we are all pitted against other teams, 

but we can at least agree that the Committee is not very 

liked across the entire country… except maybe Tuscaloosa. 

Here’s the worst Hammy, Committee, you deserve it! 

Play of the Year 

Moments to remember, athletes to never forget, there is no play 

that tops 4th and 31 on the Plains. Jalen Milroe dropped back with 

only two Tigers rushing. Everyone on that Auburn defense slipped 

to the secondary, shutting down the passing threat until… Isaiah 

Bond slips to the back left of the end zone where Milroe finds him! 

The Tide stayed alive and avoided the upset. Milroe and Co. kept 

Alabama’s playoff hopes alive on the wildest play in 2023! 

Game of the Year 

It’s a bit of a repeat affair, but that Iron Bowl was the stuff of 

legends. From muffed punts, to fumbled snaps and touchdowns on 

4th and miles, all the way to an interception, this Iron Bowl had it all 

in the last two minutes of the game. Wow, what a game. 

Coach of the Year 

Well, there is not a coach who did a finer job than Kalen DeBoer 

of Washington. Taking the Huskies to the CFP as the No. 2 team in 

the country in his second season at the helm, you can’t ask for more 

from a head coach. He’s got a Heisman finalist at quarterback, a Pac- 

12 championship and a chance at the national title. Heck of a job 

from Coach DeBoer, congratulations on this Hammy! 

Leavy’s Damn Good Player of the Year 

The high-level play from various athletes across the country made 

one of the greatest college football seasons to date. This award is not 

a stat-padding award, however. This award is granted to the most 

impactful player in the country. There is no larger impact on a football 

team than Jordan Travis. Yes, his performance on the field was 

legendary for the Seminoles of Florida State, but after going down 

to a season-ending injury, the Noles continued to win; it just wasn’t 

the same type of domination that they were doing with Travis under 

center. The CFP Committee (our villain of the year) took his injury to 

the extreme and left FSU out of the final top four despite them going 

13-0 with an ACC Championship. You can’t tell me that Travis’ impact 

on FSU and the entire college football landscape is matched because 

it’s not. We will see you in Miami at the Orange Bowl, Florida State, 

and to your quarterback, here’s your Hammy! 

Merry Christmas 

from your local McDonald’s 

athens • watkinsville • auburn • lawrenceville 


FROM THE 

field 

BY GREG POOLE 


The SEC Championship game has been analyzed up and down 

and inside out. The bottom line is simple: the Dawgs let one 

get away. An Alabama fan or analyst might say that Bama beat 

Georgia, but I think it is more accurate to say that Georgia beat 

Georgia. 

UGA Football is a different team than since the SEC title game. 

The Bulldogs’ annual portal and draft personnel turnover started 

early this year due to the loss in Atlanta. Alabama and the other 

College Football Playoff teams will see their rosters change as 

they fall in the Playoff or win it all. Win or lose, everyone will have 

transfers and players declaring for the NFL draft. 

Smart will be selective, but he will use the transfer market to 

replace the young men who will look elsewhere for their next 

step athletically. Contrary to popular belief, modern recruiting 

isn’t simply a bidding war but a market. Schools try to attract the 

athletes that they believe fit the team’s skill needs and culture 

within the framework of the school’s NIL structure. I am not 

privy to any information on NIL deals secured by UGA athletes, 

but I see evidence of their existence all around town. Georgia’s 

approach under Coach Smart emphasizes development for 

future fortune and fame in the NFL while offering substantial, if 

not astronomical, earnings to the many rather than fortunes to 

the few. 

Florida State is the consolation prize for Georgia’s 

undefeated regular season. At least, the Dawgs fell from 

the Playoff club with a loss; FSU won their conference 

championship game, remained undefeated and was 

bumped from the party because their quarterback was 

injured. Not that I have sympathy for the Noles, just that the 

snub could have them breathing fire and spitting venom at 

being disrespected in the Playoff ranking, or the longer they 

wallow in the committee’s snub, the better for Georgia when 

the teams meet in Miami. 

This time, we will see a restructured team take the field for 

Georgia. Of course, many fans will have lessened interest in 

the Bowl after back-to-back national championships, transfer 

defections, and draft declarations. Still, hardcore Dawgs will 

be riveted to the broadcast or their Orange Bowl seats to 

see the young pups who will now have the opportunity to 

step up and make their cases for playing time and leadership 

before recruits and transfers see the practice fields in March. 

The SEC Championship loss is not signaling the end of 

an era. Instead, it is more of a footnote on Kirby Smart’s 

career record. With the expanded Playoff beginning in 2024 

and Kirby Smart at the helm, Georgia will not miss future 

postseason shows. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS - GO DAWGS!! 


WHADDAYA GOT 

LORAN 

LORAN SMITH 

Congratulations to Mark Richt for his induction into the College Football 

Hall of Fame, but, for more than anything, making the world a better place! 

LAS VEGAS – Not sure how many 

halls of fame Mark Richt will 

become a member of, but there 

are a few which have not yet 

been established such as “The nice guy 

Hall of Fame,” and the “Gentlemen’s Hall of 

Fame.” He belongs in those two as much 

as he does the College Football Hall of 

Fame to which he was inducted here on 

December 5 at the Aria hotel where the 

multi-billionaire company posted a deficit 

for the room, he and his wife Katharyn 

occupied during their stay in Vegas. 

Not a single alcoholic beverage was 

charged to their account and the FBI, with 

the latest in technology, would never 

find his fingerprints on any of the slot 

machines or dice at the gaming tables 

in the casinos. The only time he has ever 

gambled was on the football field when 

he tried to make a first down to keep a 

drive alive for the Georgia Bulldogs. There 

is no sin in that except for bringing about 

alumni discontent — if the play failed. 

Even when fans fussed and complained 

when he was active on the UGA sideline, 

he turned the other check and forgave 

them because he was above all that and 

truly tried to exercise patience in dealing 

with hurt feelings and frustrations. 

Then there is the “Golden Rule Hall of 

Fame,” you know, the one, which has the 

toughest test of all, “Do unto others as 

you would have them do unto you.” He 

would be a charter member of that Hall 

of Fame if it existed. 

He belongs in the “Good Neighbor Hall 

of Fame,” and the “Selfless Hall of Game.” 

The “Forgiveness Hall of Fame?” Oh yes! 

How about the “Good Works Hall of 

Fame?” For sure, he belongs to that one, 

too. 

If there is a Hall of Fame out there which 

recognizes good over evil, if there is one 

made up of a membership which puts 

service above self, if there is one whose 

tenets require extending a helping hand 

to its fellow man, if there is one that 

underscores faith, hope and charity, then 

Mark Richt deserves membership in all of 

those, too. 

For the College Football Hall of Fame, 

it was an easy vote for him to gain 

admission even though the official 

induction ceremony took place in a place 

known as “Sin City,” an anathema to the 

moral fiber, which is as central to the 

makeup of the second winningest coach 

in UGA history as his nervous system. 

As a quarterback and as a coach, he 

knew what his mission was — to win 

games and championships. He was as 

serious as the next guy when it came 

to competition. He wanted to do his 

opponent in but never crossing the line 

when it came to rules and ethics. 

While I am not sure about what was 

going on with Michigan, as of late, 

regarding the sign stealing episode, I am 

confident that if an assistant coach had 

come to Coach Richt with a fool proof 

plan of skullduggery that would have 

enhanced victory, he would have refused 

to allow the practice to move forward. 

Victory, for him, must be based on honor 

and fair play. 

I have so many fond memories of the 

time spent with him. Lunches in his 

office where we talked football. He was 

always eager to learn about Georgia 

history. The lore that I had recorded 

from conversations with some of the 

outstanding coaches in the business such 

as Bud Wilkinson, Duffy Daughterty, Bo 

Schembechler, John McKay, and others 

seem to intrigue him. I remember Bulldog 

club trips where he signed autographs 

with the patience of Job, but politely 

asking a loyal fan who was on the way to 

inebriation to set his beer out of view of 

the camera for the photo op the fan had 

requested. That was not the image he 

wanted of himself and as a representative 

of the University of Georgia. 

He received an unusual number of 

requests during his time as head coach 

including people wanting him to pray 

for friends who were in need or were 

in a state of hopelessness; to speak to 

this church group with which he had no 

connection; every charity wanted him 

and his altruistic message; there were 

requests to offer encouragement to 

someone on his death bed. 

Never would I suggest other coaches 

have not been asked for similar requests, 

pleas and exhortations, but I doubt that 

as many of them played the role as a 

Good Samaritan or functioned with the 

missionary zeal and commitment that 

Mark Richt did. He is a good man whose 

integrity, fair play and goodwill set him 

apart. 

He deserves the highest of praise for his 

ability to win football games and to try to 

make the world a better place. 


KEVIN BUTLER’S 

PLAYERS OF THE GAME 

COMPILED BY HAMILTON CULPEPPER 

OFFENSIVE PLAYER 

Carson Beck - We’re not sure if Carson Beck will be back next 

year or not, but his performance this year separated him from 

the average college quarterback. Carson’s completion rate 

is ahead of the front runner for the Heisman, LSU’s Jayden 

Daniels, and that is pretty good company even though you 

have not heard Carson mentioned once in the Heisman talk. 

Carson‘s performance in the SEC Championship against one of 

the nation’s best defenses was evident by his completion rate 

of 21 of 29 for 243 yards. Carson has a big decision to make on 

whether to take the next step in his career and go to the NFL 

or come back and lead the Bulldogs and another quest for a 

national championship. Either way, Carson is a damn good dog 

and we wouldn’t have been in the SEC championship without 

his consistent performance all season long. 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER 

Malaki Starks - The sophomore DB from Jefferson Georgia, 

continued to show why he is one of the best DBs in the 

country. His performance against Alabama mirrored most of his 

performances this year. Starks had eight tackles against Alabama, 

and a pass deflection in a game that challenged him on each and 

every play. Malaki is a tremendous athlete and more importantly 

has been a leader for the Bulldogs defense since he stepped on 

campus. He will be one of the top rated DBs in the country next 

year, and we will need his performance and leadership to maintain 

the standard that has been set at the University of Georgia. 

SPECIAL TEAM PLAYER 

Brett Thorson - The thunder from down under keeps getting 

better every week, and Georgia is very thankful for his consistent 

punting all season long. In his second year as a Bulldog, Brett 

executed something that truly defines a great punt team 

and punter. Our opponents, after 13 games, had zero return 

yards against the Bulldogs in the 2023 season. This is a totally 

unbelievable stat that shows the execution and determination of 

11 players on the punt team every single game this year. Having 

only two touchbacks makes this statistics even more incredible. 

Thorson is a force for the Bulldogs and we look forward to seeing 

him return for the 2024 season. 

UNSUNG HERO OF THE GAME 

I’m not really sure where to go with this one this week, but I’d 

like to believe that the culture is the most important unsung 

factor that has been created under Coach Kirby Smart. As Georgia 

prepares for their bowl game against FSU, the team, the coaches 

and the staff will have to rely on the dedication and commitment 

that the true Bulldogs will have leading into the bowl game. If my 

prediction is correct, in the words of a good high school coach, I 

once had at Roswell High School, “We’re going to see where our 

future is leading us by the performance of our young players in 

a real game.” It’s time for our junior varsity team to step up and 

assume the varsity role. 

Nancy and Mike Kaplan created The Merrie Christmas Project in loving 

memory of their daughter Merrie Kaplan. Merrie was born with a rare genetic condition, 

Williams syndrome, yet she lived life to the fullest. 

She was a huge fan of her beloved University of Georgia Bulldogs, collected friendships 

of all ages, doted on animals, and from a young age loved Santa Claus and everything 

the Christmas season is about. 

Support the Merrie Christmas Project that (in four years) has helped 2,569 children and 

1,417 adults families (in the Macon area) experience a Christmas who otherwise would 

not. The program provides food, holiday decorations and gifts to families in need. 

No 

amount is 

too small! 

Donate online at 

cfcga.org.fund/merrie 


STATS THAT 

MATTER 


BY: COBY SERINA 

A look back at what decided the game between Georgia and Alabama. 

Regardless of who you cheer for, you have to admit: this was a good 

game. Though Alabama held their lead for what seemed like a majority 

of the matchup until the fourth quarter, Georgia was still very much 

in it the entire time. At the end of the day, there are a couple of things 

that contributed to the Dawgs’ less than desirable result, so here are 

some stats to mull over as the Dawgs’ 29 game win streak ended to the 

Alabama Crimson Tide. 

11 

11 

One play never defines a whole game, but fans of losing teams will 

always find a way to try and pin a loss on something so they can better 

cope with defeat. Given the fact that the final score of this year’s SEC 

Championship Game wound up only being a three-point difference, 

27-24 Alabama, some are pointing to Georgia’s fumble on their own 

eleven-yard line as the difference in this game. An end-around run to 

Dillon Bell wasn’t executed correctly, and the timing was off. The result of 

the play was a fumble and turnover, which led to an Alabama field goal, 

extending the Tide’s lead to 10. Georgia was constantly playing catch up 

with Alabama, and this was a key reason behind that. 

22 

When it comes to this rivalry, it always seems like the referees get 

involved a bit more than Georgia fans would like. And in the event of a 

loss, the officials’ supposed mistakes are even more amplified. One call in 

particular, a play ruled a 22-yard catch by Alabama receiver and Buford 

High School alumni Isaiah Bond, was especially argued over because of 

the way the officials handled it. Due to the way Alabama was rushing 

down the field, trying to move the ball distracted the refs from the 

nature of the play and didn’t draw enough attention to what many are 

deeming a missed call before it was too late. Regardless of the call, the 

play advanced Alabama, kept their drive alive, and led them to score 

a touchdown that just added to the point total that Georgia failed to 

either match or surpass. 

2 

This isn’t a traditional statistic, but it’s important to point out that 

first-string right tackle and projected first-round pick Amarius Mims 

only played for two offensive series the entire game – the first two 

to be specific. Without Mims, Xavier Truss, who traditionally plays on 

the interior at guard, was moved out to tackle, and the rest of the line 

had to shift as a result. The thing is, you can’t just lose your best guy 

and expect everyone else to keep up. The Dawgs definitely felt Mims’ 

absence – Carson Beck especially. Once Mims was gone, Beck was 

subjected to the wrath of the Alabama defensive front, and Georgia’s 

passing game suffered because of it. Mims only playing two offensive 

drives was a detriment to the Georgia offense. 

22 

some moments, at others it was made obsolete. Milroe would either 

4 

Though Georgia’s offensive line may have gone cold after Mims’ 

exit, the defensive line was at least able to have its own fair share of 

highlights – four of them, to be precise. Against Alabama, the Dawgs 

were able to bring quarterback Jalen Milroe to the ground four 

different times. Though the defensive line proved to be a threat in 

have no time or infinity to throw the ball or scramble. The defensive 

line’s inability to consistently get to the quarterback gave Milroe more 

opportunity than Georgia probably would have wanted. Opportunities 

that led to scores. Scores that put the Tide ahead of the Dawgs. Scores 

that won them the game. 

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DAWGS! 

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Full Dental 

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20 

Painless 

Euthanasia 

30 

Spay And 

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Pet Wellness 

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Veterinary 

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coastalhomevet.com | 912.850.4660 


THE THREE KEYS FOR 

MIKE WHITE’S BULLDOGS 

AS THE 2023/24 SEASON APPROACHES 

SEC PLAY … 

BY: MATTHEW 

HERREN 

HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE 


GUARD JUSTIN HILL 


GUARD BLUE CAIN 


GUARD JABRI ABDUR-RAHIM 


CULTURE 

Coach Mike White is entering his second year as the head coach of the 

Georgia Bulldogs men’s basketball team. When White took the reins of 

this team, he inherited a program in a multiple year NCAA Tournament 

drought that also lacked an overall winning culture. Tom Crean, the 

previous head coach, landed flashy recruits like Anthony Edwards 

and Kario Oquendo, but he was never able to build a winning culture. 

He finished his last season in Athens with an overall record of 6-26, 

including one conference victory. 

Rather than searching for the previously mentioned flashy recruits, 

White went to the transfer portal to bring in players such as Justin Hill 

and Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, both talented players with Division 

1 experience. The Bulldogs finished their first season under White with 

a final record of 16-16 with six SEC wins. Even though that isn’t where 

most teams would like to finish the season, the program took a big leap 

compared to where they were the previous season. 

This year’s roster, with the addition of transfers such as Noah 

Thomasson and Russel Tchewa, consists of seven freshman players. 

Within those freshmen, Silas Demary Jr. and Blue Cain have both proven 

to be the most effective at this point in the season. Demary Jr., a starter 

for White’s Bulldogs, is averaging 8.6 points per game. As for Cain, he 

has the fourth best three-point percentage on the team at 34%. Coach 

White’s ability to get these young players in the game alongside the 

veteran transfers will only pay dividends to the program’s future seasons. 

‌IDENTITY 

One of the most important qualities of a competitive team in any 

sport is finding your identity, and finding it early, especially with a team 

that is trying to get used to playing together. There is no better way to 

accomplish that than scheduling four ACC opponents (Wake Forest, 

Miami-FL, Florida State, Georgia Tech), as well as NCAA tournamentcaliber 

teams such as Oregon and Providence in their first 10 games. In 

those six games mentioned, the Bulldogs accomplished a 3-3 record, 

highlighted by a 17-point comeback win on the road against Florida 

State and a double-digit win over Georgia Tech in Stegman Coliseum. 

Scheduling these difficult games will have the Bulldogs battle-tested 

and prepared as they await an SEC schedule that will continue to 

challenge them all winter. 

LEADERSHIP 

While this Georgia team has its fair share of transfers and veterans, 

it doesn’t feature any players that have been around the program 

for a while, except for senior guard Jabri Abdur-Rahim. Abdur-Rahim 

transferred to Georgia in 2021 after his freshman year at Virginia, 

meaning his first year in Athens was a six win season under Tom Crean. 

He appeared in all 32 games, including three starts, which gave him 

plenty of in-game, SEC basketball experience. Now, after going through 

a full season in Coach White’s system last year, he is a consistent starter 

for the first time in his college career. This will allow Abdur-Rahim to not 

only use his experience, but also his commitment to the University of 

Georgia as a leader on a team that is looking to make noise in the SEC 

this year. 

Keep up with Matthew’s Hoop Dawgs’ coverage this season at 

bulldawgillustrated.com 

Remaning Schedule 

Dec 20 - 7:00 p.m. 

Mount St. Mary’s - Athens, Ga. 

Dec 22 3:00 p.m. 

North Florida - Athens, Ga. 

Dec 30 - 6:00 p.m. 

Alabama A&M - Athens, Ga. 

Jan 6 - 1:00 p.m. 

Missouri - Columbia, Mo. 

Jan 10 - 9:00 p.m. 

Arkansas - Athens, Ga. 

Jan 13 - 12:00 p.m. 

Tennessee - Athens, Ga. 

Jan 16 - 9:00 p.m. 

South Carolina - Columbia, S.C. 

Jan 20 - 6:00 p.m. 

Kentucky - Lexington, Ky. 

Jan 24 - 6:30 p.m. 

LSU - Athens, Ga. 

Jan 27 - 12:00 p.m. 

Florida - Gainesville, Fla. 

Jan 31 - 6:30 p.m. 

Alabama - Athens, Ga. 

Feb 3 - 1:00 p.m. 

South Carolina - Athens, Ga. 

Feb 7 - 9:00 p.m. 

Mississippi State - Starkville, Miss. 

Feb 10 - 6:00 p.m. 

Arkansas - Fayetteville, Ark. 

Feb 17 - 1:00 p.m. 

Florida - Athens, Ga. 

Feb 21 - 8:30 p.m. 

Vanderbilt - Nashville, Tenn. 

Feb 24 - 6:00 p.m. 

Auburn - Athens, Ga. 

Feb 27 - 7:00 p.m. 

LSU - Baton Rouge, La. 

Mar 2 - 6:00 p.m. 

Texas A&M - Athens, Ga. 

Mar 5 - 7:00 p.m. 

Ole Miss - Athens, Ga. 

Mar 9 - 6:30 p.m. 

Auburn - Auburn, Ala. 


Enjoy Responsibly.

PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY. 

Crown Royal Blended Canadian Whisky. 40%Alc/Vol. The Crown Royal Company, Norwark, CT.

Ho, Ho, Ho FSU In The Orange...Here We Go!!!

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