It’s hard to imagine easily moving on from a loss as heartbreaking as the 26-23 overtime defeat Georgia suffered at the hands of Alabama in January, but the Bulldogs have done their best to put memories of the national championship game behind them.
Junior defensive back J.R. Reed recalled Tuesday at SEC Media Days that he felt sick to his stomach at the time of the loss, but said the team shifted its focus to the future the day after watching film.
Senior wide receiver Terry Godwin echoed Reed’s sentiments, stating that while the Bulldogs know there are things they could have done better against Alabama, the main focus is improving in 2018.
“As a team, we’re not using (the loss) as a motivation or any type of fuel,” Godwin said. “We’re just trying to build off of it.”
Coach Kirby Smart sees the national championship game as a learning experience and an example to players that “if you do things a certain way, you can get to certain places.”
But beyond considering the game as a representation of the ultimate final destination, the team has little time or use for reminiscing.
“We're on to the next year,” Smart said. “We are on to the new recruit. We're on to the next strategy, whether tactical, medical or physical. We're constantly looking for the next edge to get the next edge for next year. It's something we don't have to rehash all of the time.”
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