The recruiting process isn't perfect. Hard to believe. Height can be measured. Hard work and desire can't. Stetson may have been a walk-on like five years ago. Eighteen year-olds aren't finished products. Look at Scottie Pippen. He was team manager in college, then turned into a hall of famer. Hunter Renfrow continues to shine in the NFL. Stetson was a walk-on back in 2016. He made himself into a scholarship quarterback, giving the Dawgs a better chance to win than three 5 stars on the roster. Now he's a champion. Sure he had a few miscues on the largest stage in the sport, against a most formidable opponent, but after the "fumble" he played flawless football. Good for him. He'll forever be a UGA legend, and rightfully so.
Last year when he took the reigns I don't remember being sold on Stetson. When JT took over I was 100% a JT Daniels man. When Daniels was hurt in the season opener against Clemson, I waited patiently for his return. But he never did. Is Daniels injury prone? While JT is far less mobile than Stetson, both can get rid of the ball quickly. Both are quick decision-makers, unlike Clemson QB DJ Ukelele.
Could the less mobile Daniels have withstood the fierce Alabama rush last night as well as Stetson did? I don't see the players practice, or hear them in meetings. I don't know their medical histories. While I have been following football for over 55 years, the coaches see and know far more than I do. They work far more hours than I do for my job, literally living and breathing football almost 24/7/365. If they think Stetson gives them a better chance to win, they're probably right.
Yet all season, knowing the Dawgs fate would most probably come down to two meeting with Bama, in the end would there come to a Tua moment, when JY was needed to come off the bench to save the day? For this reason I'd hoped JT would get more playing time, to knock off the rust and keep him fresh. At the same time I became convinced, unlike Will and a legion of other social media geniuses. I never heard Lang say "Stetson will never beat Bama" but so many others did. THEY WERE WRONG. It wasn't Stetson's fault UGA lost the SEC Championship game.
This was too big of a game to drag out my laptop. Waited until the fourth quarter to start taking notes.
Bama is good. Bama is disciplined. But why were so many penalties and calls that went against UGA that didn't get called against Bama. I'm rarely not one to say the officiating was one-sided. By the time Stetson's "incomplete pass" was ruled a fumble recovered by Bama, I'd had enough. They first ruled a fumble knowing replay could correct it. At first even the announcers couldn't believe the call. Perhaps the replay proved the officials right.
The buildup of bad calls throughout the game was much to bear. When the fumble was ruled, UGA had ten penalties for 70 yards, to four for 22 for Bama. Roughing the passer, when the OL pushed the UGA defender into the QB. Fair catch interference: a ticky tack foul rarely called when there's no fumble. Hands to the face against both the offense and defense. Holding on the long kickoff return. After TD the Bama receiver spiked the ball, which should've been an automatic penalty. Sure, most were indeed penalties. Some could've gone either way. Why do they always go Bama's way?
But UGA did not let the bad calls get in their head. As they had all night, the Dawg D made Bama fight to cash in. Then Stetson quickly drove UGA back down the field to retake the lead. Zeus was punishing Bama defenders. The defense forced a punt. On the second pass interference penalty Stetson took a shot to the head that wasn't called, by number 31. Finally they called roughing the passer on the TD to Bowers. Dawgs up 8, Kirk said he wanted overtime. Instead pick six UGA. Like Kirby, I was shouting for him to fall down. Thank God he didn't. Ball game.
I've been following Bulldog football since the early 1970's. Saw Herschel play in person. Watched the three national championship Sugar Bowls against Notre Dame, Penn State, and Pitt, all down to the wire. Richt's SEC championships, the Rose Bowl, the loss to Tua. Not sure anything tops last night's win.
Saban is still the greatest coach in college football history. I doubt he retires anytime soon. Who will replace him? If Saban retired today, I doubt it would be Dabo. He's not the Alabama type. Kirby is more Saban-like, but would he take the job? He might. What would there be to gain?
Both Bama and UGA have plenty of returning players, and both have great recruiting classes coming in. Next year we very well could see a rematch, most probably in the SEC Championship game and possibly the national championship game.
Stetson says he is undecided about his future, though it sounds like he wants to play another year of college football. He has an extra year of eligibility due to covid. Will he transfer?
https://a.msn.com/02/en-us/AASFH9t?ocid=winp-se
Who will be the QB next season? Will Daniels return? Let Carson Beck or Brock Vandagriff transfer. Incoming freshman Gunnar Stockton is Stetson 2.0. He's my new man.
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