University of Georgia returns to normal, somewhat

A University of Georgia walks toward a campus bus Tuesday morning that shares the feelings of many students, although they didn’t win. ERIC STIRGUS / ESTIRGUS@AJC.COM

A University of Georgia walks toward a campus bus Tuesday morning that shares the feelings of many students, although they didn’t win. ERIC STIRGUS / ESTIRGUS@AJC.COM

Some University of Georgia students had little time Tuesday to talk about the heartbreaking loss to Alabama hours earlier in the national championship football game.

They had to get to class.

As students rushed for the bus or walked to get to the Zell B. Miller Learning Center, several said it was hard to believe their beloved Bulldogs lost in overtime.

“The boys played hard,” said Nic Watson, 20, a second-year student from Newnan. “You can’t complain.”

Junior Sarah Ibraheem didn’t watch the game, but felt sad that Georgia didn’t win.

“I had high hopes,” said Ibraheem, 20.

Many students anticipated a parade or some sort of campus celebration. One man who was part of a work crew was apparently happy with the final score. He wore a knit cap with “Alabama” emblazoned across it.

UGA found ways to congratulate the team Tuesday. “We (heart sign) our Dawgs!,” read a sign inside the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel. “How ‘bout them Dawgs,” flashed across a campus bus.

Peter Bryan, 25, a biomedical engineering student from the Congo, thought there would be a celebration as he waited for a bus Tuesday morning. He’s more of a soccer fan and watched part of the game. He turned off the contest thinking Georgia had won.

“Wow,” he said upon learning the outcome. “Sad.”