As I sip the morning coffee from my Georgia Bulldogs 2002 SEC Champions mug, I can't help but reflect on what was a near perfect, 13-1, season. Despite the fact that was over 10 years ago, the memory of the season still rings clear as a bell.. probably because I was only 14 and hadn't discovered the intricacies of tailgating and flasks of Jack Daniel's. Nevertheless, the 2002 season was one I particularly remember because of the half dozen heart attacks it gave Georgia fans throughout the season.
Let's start where it all began. Georgia was preseason ranked #8 and faced Clemson at home that year in late August. Although they don't play as often as the used to, or should, the Georgia-Clemson rivalry goes back to the days of my parent's prime when Kevin Butler hit a 60 yard field goal to beat highly ranked Clemson in 1984. In 2002, it wasn't much different. Of course, Georgia had it's mishaps. David Greene, who had been a Freshman sensation in 2001, started the 2002 season off with what could be considered as his worst performance. Clemson had their problems too, and those problems were all on special teams. Fred Gibson returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. Clemson kicker Aaron Hunt had it the worst. With just over five minutes left in the game, UGA's Billy Bennett hit a go-ahead 43 yard field goal. Minutes later, it was Hunt's turn to tie it up. Sitting on the edge of the couch, I remember watching the ball come up short.. Hunt had missed the field goal with just under two minutes left in the game!
The next game was against the Gamecocks of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. This game happened to be one of those storied, SEC defensive match-ups. Georgia got on the board in the 1st with a field goal, but would prove to be the only points in the game until the 4th quarter. South Carolina would score a touchdown in the 4th, but the Georgia touchdown by then-Sophomore, David Pollack, would be one of legend and lore. SC's QB, Corey Jenkins, dropped back in his own end zone for a pass when Pollack rounded the corner, swarmed over him like those wasps got me at the age of 7 when I took a baseball bat to their nest, and came up with the ball for a touchdown. Georgia would go on to win the game, after more stellar defensive plays, 13-7 against the Cocks.
The next couple of games were nothing really noteworthy. UGA beat Northwestern State 45-7 and New Mexico State 41-10, but the game after would be another miracle win.
October 5, 2002, was an eventful day. Our high school marching band competed in the Hawkinsville Invitational Marching Festival and UGA took on Alabama in Tuscaloosa for the first time since 1995. The marching festival was pretty dull, compared to what happened in T-Town that day. Being avid UGA fans, my best friend from high school, Bucky Smith, and I scoured the entire campus of Hawkinsville High School in a desperate search for a television. Finally, at a boiled peanut stand by the main concessions, we discovered the stand attendants were watching the game. After buying our peanuts, we asked if we could watch the game from around back of the stand. The guys were more than generous to allow us to loiter and watch.
The game was an exciting one, going back and forth, forth and back, and back again from 1st to 4th quarters. As the game was in its height of action, it was time to leave the festival for the long trip back to Macon. Bucky and I couldn't believe it; we were able to watch all of the excitement all afternoon; now, that privilege was being stripped from us like Georgia's lead in the game when Charlie Peprah's stole a pass out of Fred Gibson's hands for a 4th quarter pick six. Fortunately, Bucky and I were die-hard fans. We didn't mess around when it came to Georgia football, and we were prepared to take in the game by any means necessary. Having returned to the bus, we quickly unpacked Bucky's Sony Walkman radio to listen to the remaining minutes of the ballgame. The story of this game wouldn't be complete without little Emma Kate
Farnsworth, the Auburn fan. With 0:38 seconds left, Georgia needed a 38 yard field goal to win. Bucky had one ear bud in, I the other. The commercial break had just ended, the team had lined up to kick. The snap... Silence. Little Emma Kate, the Auburn fan, had RIPPED OUT THE CORD FROM THE JACK!!! In a sheer moment, mixed with terror and excitement, Bucky quickly snatched her arm, forced her to release the cord, and jammed it back in the jack, just as the ball sailed through the uprights. Georgia had done it! They topped Alabama 27-25 that day; Georgia's first win against Bama since 1990. Georgia was 5-0 for the first time since the 1982 season, and believe-you-me, UGA fans all over this Earth were flying high.
Adding to the suspense of the 2002 season was the October 12 game against Tennessee. In 2002, my parents were in the middle of a 8 year hiatus from buying season tickets, so we weren't able to make it to many of the games. Bucky's dad, a UGA Law grad, has purchased season tickets probably since his days at The University of Georgia. As for me, I was stuck at home, watching the game on TV. Georgia struck first blood in the 1st quarter when Reggie Brown blocked a Tennessee punt for a safety. The Bulldogs held a comfortable 18-0 lead through the first three quarters. Boss Bailey, who could leap tall buildings in a single bound, contributed by blocking a field goal in the 2nd quarter. But the 4th quarter began, and so did the Vols, scoring a quick touchdown with 11:52 left in the game. The Vols defense would prove themselves, by allowing their offense another attempt at scoring later in the quarter. Wide Receiver, Kelly Washington, caught a huge pass, setting up a quick Tennessee touchdown. Luckily, this would be the last time Tennessee scored that evening. Georgia went on to win the game 18-13.
The Dawgs finally caught a couple breaks, playing Vanderbilt (48-17) and Kentucky (52-24). November would bring the annual World's Greatest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville, Florida, where the Dawgs would face the Florida Gators.
Any Georgia fan knows the story of Jacksonville. No matter which team is ranked, no matter who may be undefeated, no one is sure what the outcome of the Cocktail Party will be. Long story short, this was another defensive battle, having the Dawgs ahead of the Gators 13-12 at the start of the 4th. Florida would have the go-ahead touchdown, complete with two point conversion, putting them up 20-13. But Georgia still had plenty of time on the clock, and they were driving down the field. The most infamous moment of the season came with 2:23 left in the game and a pass to wide open Terrance Edwards. Greene, who was known for pinpoint accuracy, could have very well been placing the ball directly in Edwards' hands when it seemed to just fall to the ground. This crushed the Bulldog Nation and the spirit of the Dawgs' offense. Georgia was unable to convert on 4th and 1, when Tony Milton was unable to hang on to a high pass from Greene.
"A long ride back from Jacksonville, 500 miles from a game we shoulda won. Man we ought to burn down that stadium."
The season would carry on, and Georgia would take the game against Ole Miss, 31-17. The next week would prove to be another thriller, this time in Auburn, Alabama. Little Emma Kate Farnsworth, the Auburn fan, invited me, Bucky, and the rest of our group to watch the game "on the plains". Georgia, again, was down late in the 4th quarter. As Munson put it, "Man, we've had some shots. Haven't we?" Get the picture: it's 4th and 15, just around 90 seconds left in the ballgame, and Georgia is on the Auburn 19 yard line. Then, in true David Greene fashion, Greene put the ball straight up in the air, where it came down like a mortar shot to Michael Johnson in the back of the end zone for the go ahead touchdown. With 85 seconds left, we had clinched our spot in the SEC championship. I looked over to see little Emma Kate Farnsworth's face buried in a pillow, disgraced by the way Auburn had lost the game. On the other hand, the rest of the group, who were mostly Georgia fans, were ecstatic. Georgia had beaten Auburn, clinched its spot as SEC East champions, and only Georgia Tech stood in the way.
My parent's don't vacation often outside of a week-long beach trip around the 4th of July, but in 2002, they decided to visit the Fantasy in Lights over in west Georgia at Callaway Gardens. Being 14 years old and my brother at the young age of 10, we were forced to go as well. That Saturday consisted of driving over to Macon, listening to most of the first half on shoddy radio stations through Nowhere, Georgia. We finally reached the hotel, and I couldn't wait to watch the game. Fortunately, Georgia had no problems with Tech that day, as the Dawgs routed the Nerds 51-7, in what still can be used as bragging rights against any unruly fans from the Trade School.
Georgia had reached its first SEC Championship game (now that the SEC actually had a championship game), and were set to play Arkansas. I recall not knowing much about the Arkansas football program, other than Houston Nutt had put together a decent ball team that year and had upset LSU the day after Thanksgiving. Nevertheless, the Dawgs squared off against the Hogs with great ease, I might add. Georgia was finally crowned SEC champions for the first time in 20 years, having cooked the Hogs 30-3. The Dawgs were finally on top of the pile again, and only one thing stood in our way from a National Championship.. Those pesky Gators.
Despite the heartbreak in Jacksonville, Georgia had earned an SEC Championship and an invitation to play in the Sugar Bowl against Florida State down in New Orleans. December rolled on, and Christmas came around. I don't remember what presents Blake or I received except for the last box tucked way back under the tree. This box was particularly light, so I figured it would be socks or boxers. Nonchalantly opening the package, my eyes fixed on a small box. This box was too small to house socks or underwear. As I opened the box, I was almost brought to tears when I gazed upon the tickets to the upcoming Sugar Bowl.
As a 14 year old, my experience in New Orleans weren't much of any note. We were constantly carted around by our parents, led away from the debauchery down on Bourbon Street, and kept under close surveillance by the watchful eye of our mother as we mingled with other fans in the French Quarter. Mark Richt, once the pupil of college football legend, Bobby Bowden, faced his former teacher and mentor in the Superdome on New Year's Day 2003. Georgia didn't have much of a problem with FSU, beating the Noles 26-13. The near perfect season was over, and Coach Richt had impressed the Dawg Nation in just his second year as head coach with a record of 13-1.
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