ATHENS — Georgia’s Jordan Davis said one of the best things about having a bye last week was getting to keep up with the Braves.
Not only did Davis tune in to watch most of the National League Championship Series on television, the Bulldogs’ star nose guard got to go to a game. Davis was at Truist Park for the Braves’ 5-4 win over the Dodgers in Game 2 on Oct. 17.
“It was cool,” Davis said. “My roommate has season tickets, so anytime he has an opening I’m always down to go, unless I have practice or like tutoring or something. But I just started getting into Atlanta baseball.”
Davis is hoping and praying he’ll be able to find his way back to Truist Park for a World Series game. The Braves open play in their first World Series appearance since 1999 against the Astros on Tuesday night at Houston’s Minute Maid Park (8 p.m., Fox).
“That’d be crazy to experience,” Davis said getting to attend a game in the best-of-seven series. “Hopefully I’ll be able to catch the game on Sunday or something. But, go Braves!”
Davis’ connection is his roommate is Blake Anderson. A former Georgia walk-on offensive lineman from Alpharetta, Anderson’s parents are Braves season-ticket holders.
First things first, of course. The No. 1-ranked Bulldogs have some business of their own to settle with the Florida Gators. Georgia faces its SEC arch-rival Saturday in Jacksonville (3:30 p.m., CBS).
Davis will be with the Bulldogs in Jacksonville on Friday night when the Series comes to Atlanta for Games 3-5 on Friday-Sunday. So, Game 5 will be Davis’ only shot.
If he makes it, there’s a good chance he wouldn’t be the only Bulldog in the house. Not surprisingly, there are a lot of Braves’ fans on the team.
“Excited for the Braves,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said Monday. “I got to see the end of the game Saturday night after the college games were over. Certainly excited for Atlanta and the state of Georgia. Those guys have done a tremendous job closing and playing at the end this year.”
Flanker Ladd McConkey, a redshirt freshman from Chatsworth, wasn’t even born when the Braves last played in a World Series.
“Dude, that’s awesome,” he said. “For them to go out and play like that is really something special.”
As for Davis, who grew up in Charlotte, the whole Braves phenomenon is somewhat new to him. But he’s always enjoyed watching baseball. He grew up following the Charlotte Knights, a Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
Davis didn’t attend his first Braves game until earlier this season.
“It’s definitely a cool experience,” Davis said. “Truist Park is beautiful, one of the nicest baseball parks I’ve ever been to. You know, it’s nice to just take time to be a sports fan, whether it’s football or basketball or anything.”
When he’s not preparing for the Gators this week, Davis said he’ll be pulling for the Braves
“Chop on, Braves!’” he said. “We’re rooting for you.”
Dawg Tags: The AJC presents a daily look at the one thing you need to know about Georgia athletics today.
About the Author
