The top 5 National Championship Game storylines
Alright, folks. The time for reminiscing on the Rose Bowl has passed (for now). It's time to focus squarely on what's next: the National Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. It seems like we should have more than a week to prepare ourselves for such a monumental matchup, but we get what we get. So let's waste no more time and get right into it. Here are the top 5 Georgia storylines heading into Atlanta.
The Teacher vs. The Pupil— Ever since Kirby Smart was hired by Georgia, college football fans have been anticipating the day he met his mentor and former boss, Alabama coach Nick Saban, on the field. But most folks expected that first meeting to come in an SEC Championship Game, not the National Championship Game. And this first — of possibly many — between Smart and Saban also brings with it the opportunity for Smart to achieve something no former Saban assistant has done before: Beat the man they used to call boss.
A potential changing of the guard … or at least a step in that direction — Even if Georgia is able to claim the national title, it will still be the second-best program in the SEC. The four national titles and five SEC titles Saban has won in Tuscaloosa has given the Tide a nice cushion at the top. But considering this is only Smart's second season at the helm in Athens, the fact it took Saban three seasons to win his first at Bama and the way Smart is recruiting, it's safe to say the Dawgs have their sights set on becoming the top program in college football.
A chance for Georgia's seniors to go out on top — One of the most important moments of the 2017 season happened eight months before kickoff against Appalachian State. This season wouldn't have been possible if Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy bolted for the NFL after their junior season. Between their production on the field and leadership off it, they're the four most important players on this team. They came back to win something big, so it would be fitting if they left Athens after winning the biggest game there is.
Revenge is a dish best served cold (and dry) — The last time Georgia and Alabama met on the field was on a rainy day at Sanford Stadium in 2015, and the Tide destroyed the Dawgs 38-10. I'm sure there are plenty of members of this Georgia team who haven't forgotten the misery brought on by both the rain and soul-crushing loss. I sure haven't. It may be two seasons later, but the National Championship Game will be a chance to serve up some revenge on the biggest possible stage. At the very least it should be dry this time.
Home away from home — The only way to improve the setting of the National Championship Game, from a Georgia perspective, would be to play it in Sanford Stadium. But making the 60-mile trip to Atlanta is a close second. Although it ain't nearly as close as Athens, Tuscaloosa ain't too far either, and Alabama will be well-represented. Inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it'll probably be a 50-50 split. But outside it'll be all Dawg. Every Bulldogs fan in the metro area, and many out of it, are gonna show up to the Benz in hopes of maybe scoring a ticket, or at least being in the vicinity when and if the Dawgs make history.
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Recoup and recover
Between the physicality of the Rose Bowl, the length of the game, the emotion toll of a hard-fought victory and the cross-country flight from California to Georgia, I've been a bit worried about how drained Georgia's players will be by the time Monday rolls around. Count Kirby Smart in that camp as well. From Chip Towers of DawgNation:
"I talked with the players immediately afterward about not burning any more emotion or energy on that game and keep moving on," Smart said on a College Football Playoff championship teleconference call Tuesday afternoon. "Alabama had a little more sound victory, so they probably didn't burn quite as much emotion, although I know it was emotional to beat a team that beat them last year. The focus going forward will be on preparing for Alabama and a great program that Coach Saban has got." …
“You emphasize rest, recovery. You emphasize what we talk about all the time, which is getting your sleep, getting your dark hours, getting off your phone,” Smart said. “… We’re starting school this week, too, so that’s another deal on top of our kids that they get to deal with. When you start dealing with a lot of outside influences on your kids’ time, you’ve got to be smart as a coach and understand you’ve got to get the most out of them, but we’ve got to be smart with our practice time and our recovery time.”
A special season
As amazing as Sony Michel and Nick Chubb played as lights out as the defense was in the second half of the Rose Bowl, neither was the ultimate difference in defeating Oklahoma. That would be special teams. Three special teams plays completely changed Georgia’s chances: Tae Crowder’s quick move on the squib kick, Rodrigo Blankenship’s 55-yarder and, of course, Lorenzo Carter’s blocked field goal.
But the Dawgs' special teams prowess wasn't limited to just the Rose Bowl. Their improvement in that facet of the game over last year is one of the major reasons they find themselves on the cusp of a national championship. From Seth Emerson of DawgNation:
Credit: Harry How
Credit: Harry How
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