Photos: The scene as Georgia prepares to play for the national championship

Sports

Photos: The scene as Georgia prepares to play for the national championship

AJC photos from Indianapolis Saturday as Georgia prepares to play Alabama for the national championship.

Craig and Emily Lindberg, the parents of Georgia right guard Chad Lindberg, take in the sculpture of a right guard during the fan festival inside the Indianapolis Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Indianapolis. The 200,000-square-foot interactive fan festival includes games, youth sports clinics, pep rallies and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”`

Aerial photograph shows Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. The 2021 College Football Playoff championship matchup is set. Kickoff from Lucas Oil Stadium is scheduled for 8 p.m.(Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Rachel & Jared Shedd, Cumming, a couple divided by opposite allegiances, sport opposing head gear while taking in the festivities on Georgia Street on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Indianapolis. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”`

Georgia football fans Ed Townsend of Augusta poses as his son Zac Townsend holds a smartphone during Playoff Fan Central at the Indianapolis Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Playoff Fan Central is an interactive experience that gives thousands of fans the opportunity to be a part of the College Football Playoff National Championship. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

A young football fan reacts as he dashes during Playoff Fan Central at the Indianapolis Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Playoff Fan Central is an interactive experience that gives thousands of fans the opportunity to be a part of the College Football Playoff National Championship. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Nick Hughey, Hawaii, who said he has $8000 invested in his trip to the big game, has his fingers crossed this is the year for Georgia, during the fan festival inside the Indianapolis Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Indianapolis. Hughey said "I'm the biggest Dawg fan in the Pacific". “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”`

Alabama fanatic Robin Albano, Decatur, Alabama, shows off his version of Bama's national championship rings while taking in the fan festival inside the Indianapolis Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Indianapolis. The 200,000-square-foot interactive fan festival includes games, youth sports clinics, pep rallies and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”`

Deborah Lawler and her daughter Catelyn, 14, Athens, show off their moves in the Dance Party video booth while taking in the fan festival inside the Indianapolis Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Indianapolis. The 200,000-square-foot interactive fan festival includes games, youth sports clinics, pep rallies and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”`

Georgia fans Deborah Lawler and her daughter Catelyn, 14, Athens, share a laugh while showing off their moves in the Dance Party video booth while taking in the fan festival inside the Indianapolis Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Indianapolis. The 200,000-square-foot interactive fan festival includes games, youth sports clinics, pep rallies and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”`

Deborah Lawler and her daughter Catelyn, 14, Athens, show off their moves in the Dance Party video booth while taking in the fan festival inside the Indianapolis Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Indianapolis. The 200,000-square-foot interactive fan festival includes games, youth sports clinics, pep rallies and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”`

Jeff Church makes some adjustments to a Georgia-themed Indy car at Fan Central in the Indiana Convention Center at the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

PJ and Mikaela Whirity, from Chicago root for Georgia in the 3d photo booth at Fan Central. PJ said he has been a Georgia fan since Uga V snapped at a player in the 1996 Auburn game and has fond memories of watching games with his dad. Fan Central is in the Indiana Convention Center at the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

Mason Freeman, 7, and his brother, Jack, 9, have fun in the 3d photo booth at Fan Central in the Indiana Convention Center at the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

Brittany Jordan (left) and Arielle Jordan, a former UGA student, have fun at the 3d photo booth at Fan Central in the Indiana Convention Center at the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

Brittany Jordan (left) and Arielle Jordan, a former UGA student, pick out placards for the 3d photo booth at Fan Central in the Indiana Convention Center at the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

Anthony Bays (from left), from Indianapolis, with his daughter, Erika, 9, and her mom, Maria, root for Georgia in the 3d photo booth. Anthony said he was tired of Alabama winning and wanted Georgia to wim. They were at Fan Central in the Indiana Convention Center at the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

Felicia Stephens, from Dawsonvile, makes a photo of the Georgia-themed Indy car at Fan Central in the Indiana Convention Center at the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

Young football fans bundle up on Georgia Street in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship culminates in a weekend of events as downtown Indianapolis transforms into Championship Campus. Festival of attractions and activities starting Saturday, January 8 through Monday, January 10. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Georgia fan Jodi Hart plays with a dog as she enjoys live music on Georgia Street in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship culminates in a weekend of events as downtown Indianapolis transforms into Championship Campus. Festival of attractions and activities starting Saturday, January 8 through Monday, January 10. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Lucas Oil Stadium is ready for College Football Playoff championship on Saturday, January 8, 2022. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Georgia fans Victoria Guarantano and Cheney Sibley (right) dance to live music on Georgia Street in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship culminates in a weekend of events as downtown Indianapolis transforms into Championship Campus. Festival of attractions and activities starting Saturday, January 8 through Monday, January 10. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Football fans enjoy Playoff Fan Central at the Indianapolis Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Playoff Fan Central is an interactive experience that gives thousands of fans the opportunity to be a part of the College Football Playoff National Championship. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Tom Dobos falls as he competes against his son Cannon (left), 5, during Playoff Fan Central at the Indianapolis Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Playoff Fan Central is an interactive experience that gives thousands of fans the opportunity to be a part of the College Football Playoff National Championship. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Football fans enjoy Playoff Fan Central at the Indianapolis Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Playoff Fan Central is an interactive experience that gives thousands of fans the opportunity to be a part of the College Football Playoff National Championship. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Georgia football fan Zac Townsend challenges a vertical jump during Playoff Fan Central at the Indianapolis Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Playoff Fan Central is an interactive experience that gives thousands of fans the opportunity to be a part of the College Football Playoff National Championship. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

Georgia football fans Ron and Kaye Burnette, from Jacksonville, Fla., look at a display from Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame Atlanta during Playoff Fan Central at the Indianapolis Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, January 8, 2022. Playoff Fan Central is an interactive experience that gives thousands of fans the opportunity to be a part of the College Football Playoff National Championship. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

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Credit: Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@

Craig and Emily Lindberg, the parents of Georgia right guard Chad Lindberg, take in the sculpture of a right guard during the fan festival inside the Indianapolis Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, in Indianapolis. The 200,000-square-foot interactive fan festival includes games, youth sports clinics, pep rallies and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. “Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”`

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