Column: State on edge as Bulldogs try to end 41-year drought
FILE - Georgia football coach Vince Dooley is carried off the field after Georgia defeated Notre Dame 17-10 in the Sugar Bowl college football game Jan. 1, 1981, in New Orleans. Dooley loves history _ especially the kind he says favors his beloved Bulldogs. Dooley believes a rematch will work in Georgia's advantage against Alabama in the College Football Playoff title game on Monday night in Indianapolis. Dooley also has faith Georgia's defense will fare better in its second chance against Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. (AP Photo/Gene Blythe, File)

FILE - Georgia football coach Vince Dooley is carried off the field after Georgia defeated Notre Dame 17-10 in the Sugar Bowl college football game Jan. 1, 1981, in New Orleans. Dooley loves history _ especially the kind he says favors his beloved Bulldogs. Dooley believes a rematch will work in Georgia's advantage against Alabama in the College Football Playoff title game on Monday night in Indianapolis. Dooley also has faith Georgia's defense will fare better in its second chance against Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. (AP Photo/Gene Blythe, File)

Jan. 08, 2022 11:49 AM EST
FILE - Georgia's Nick Chubb, from left, Sony Michel and Kirby Smart walk off the field as Georgia loses to Alabama in the NCAA college football playoff championship game in Atlanta on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018. Alabama won, 26-23. Those Georgia Bulldogs aren't the only ones having a devil of a time beating fellow Southeastern Conference powerhouse Alabama. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)

FILE - Georgia's Nick Chubb, from left, Sony Michel and Kirby Smart walk off the field as Georgia loses to Alabama in the NCAA college football playoff championship game in Atlanta on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018. Alabama won, 26-23. Those Georgia Bulldogs aren't the only ones having a devil of a time beating fellow Southeastern Conference powerhouse Alabama. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File)

Jan. 04, 2022 01:24 PM EST
FILE - Georgia head coach Kirby Smart speaks with Alabama head coach Nick Saban before the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Atlanta. Georgia plays Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Jan. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

FILE - Georgia head coach Kirby Smart speaks with Alabama head coach Nick Saban before the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Atlanta. Georgia plays Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Jan. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

Jan. 04, 2022 11:23 AM EST
FILE - Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) carries the ball against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. Georgia plays Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Jan. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

FILE - Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) carries the ball against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. Georgia plays Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Jan. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Jan. 04, 2022 10:59 AM EST
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) shoots his guns after a quarterback keeper in the 4th quarter of the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Michigan Wolverines at the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) shoots his guns after a quarterback keeper in the 4th quarter of the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Michigan Wolverines at the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Jan. 03, 2022 10:00 AM EST
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart hugs defensive lineman Jordan Davis after their win against Michigan in the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Georgia won 34-11.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart hugs defensive lineman Jordan Davis after their win against Michigan in the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Georgia won 34-11.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Dec. 31, 2021 11:12 PM EST
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates after winning the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game against Michigan, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Georgia won 34-11. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates after winning the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game against Michigan, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Georgia won 34-11. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Dec. 31, 2021 11:39 PM EST
Georgia coach Kirby Smart smiles while taking a few questions after the team arrived at Indianapolis International Airport on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Indianapolis. Georgia is scheduled to play Alabama in the College Football Playoff championship game Monday. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Georgia coach Kirby Smart smiles while taking a few questions after the team arrived at Indianapolis International Airport on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Indianapolis. Georgia is scheduled to play Alabama in the College Football Playoff championship game Monday. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Jan. 07, 2022 08:56 PM EST
Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis and teammates leave the plane after the team arrived at Indianapolis International Airport on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Indianapolis. Georgia is scheduled to play Alabama in the College Football Playoff championship game Monday. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis and teammates leave the plane after the team arrived at Indianapolis International Airport on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Indianapolis. Georgia is scheduled to play Alabama in the College Football Playoff championship game Monday. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Jan. 07, 2022 08:57 PM EST
Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jordan Davis (99) pursues Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum (2) and tackles him for a loss in the second quarter of the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Michigan Wolverines at the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Jordan Davis (99) pursues Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum (2) and tackles him for a loss in the second quarter of the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Michigan Wolverines at the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

Jan. 03, 2022 10:00 AM EST