The highs and lows of Stafford’s career at UGA

Here are the highs and lows in Matthew Stafford’s career at Georgia:

Sept. 2, 2006: Stafford makes a quiet debut against Western Kentucky, completing three passes for 40 yards and a touchdown. Coach Mark Richt said after the game that he thought about redshirting Stafford this season, but his play in practice dictated he get a shot at playing time.

Sept. 9, 2006: Stafford comes in to sub for an injured Joe Tereshinski. He helps Georgia defeat South Carolina 18-0. He finishes 8-of-19 for 171 yards and three interceptions. RB Danny Ware later says: “He’s got that swagger. He is the best thing out there.”

Sept. 16, 2006: Stafford becomes the first freshman since Quincy Carter eight years earlier to win his first start. He passes for a 107 yards in a 34-0 rout of UAB.

Sept. 23, 2006: Stafford struggles against Colorado, competing eight passes for 76 yards. Joe Cox comes on to rally Georgia to a win.

Oct. 21, 2006: Stafford throws two TD passes to help the Bulldogs snap a two-game losing streak and defeat Mississippi State.

Nov. 4, 2006: Stafford throws three interceptions as Kentucky knocks off the Bulldogs, 24-20.

Nov. 25, 2006: Stafford hits Mohammed Massaquoi for a 4-yard pass with 1:45 remaining to defeat Georgia Tech for the sixth consecutive time.

May 2007: Photos are posted on the internet of an underaged Stafford posing holding a empty beer keg over his head at a NASCAR race in Talladega.

Sept. 1, 2007: Stafford starts the season on a high note, passing for 234 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-14 win against Oklahoma State.

Sept. 22, 2007: Stafford’s first career-defining moment. Trailing Alabama 23-20 in overtime, he throws a strike to Mikey Henderson in the left corner of the end zone to win the game.

Aug. 2008: Georgia is the No. 1 team in the country, according to the Associated Press preseason poll.

Sept. 6, 2008: Stafford hits seven different receivers to lead the Bulldogs to a 56-17 win against Central Michigan.

Sept. 20, 2008: Stafford passes for 285 yards and one touchdown to lead the No. 3 Bulldogs to a 27-10 win against Arizona State.

Nov. 1, 2008: Making “the worst throw of the season,” Stafford is intercepted by Florida’s Joe Haden on a badly underthrown pass to A.J. Green. Florida scores a play later to take a 21-3 lead. Stafford is intercepted three times in the game.

Nov. 8, 2008: Stafford bounces back to make what he later called his best throw. He is forced to roll out to the right and hits A.J. Green running along the back of the end zone with a line-drive throw for what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown against Kentucky.

Nov. 16, 2008: Stafford zips a 17-yard laser to Green in the corner of the end zone to give Georgia a 17-13 lead against Auburn.

Nov. 29, 2008: One of the oddest throws of his career came against Georgia Tech. Stafford inexplicably throws an interception to the Jackets’ Morgan Burnett, with no receivers within several yards of him. Burnett returns the pick 35 yards for a score. Stafford finished with a career-high 407 yards and five touchdowns, but a loss.

Jan. 1, 2009: Has arguably the best half of his career, completing 14 of 17 passes and three touchdowns as Georgia wins the CapitalOne Bowl. He finishes the game with 250 yards passing and is named the game’s MVP.