May I present to you the next DawgNation newsletter theme: “Goosebump Games.”
You know, those “pinch me” feelings from watching a football game where for a couple hours, or even just a couple seconds, life seems like a movie.
They don’t always stem from the score — but a big win doesn’t hurt, nor does a true surprise.
That brings me to my goose bump moment:
(P.S. I haven’t been able to feature the responses from our “most impressive/athletic play” feature yet, but I have it scheduled for Thursday. If anyone has a goose bump game or moment that sticks out to them, feel free to send those to sarah.spencer@ajc.com, and I will include some of those on Thursday as well. Thank you to everyone who has responded and I hope y’all are enjoying these themes!)
The College Football Playoff semifinal win kept the Bulldogs on the path to their second straight national championship. Georgia had to overcome a 14-point deficit twice and bounce back from a pretty dreadful third quarter, with two first downs compared to two punts and a missed field goal.
In the final few minutes, quarterback Stetson Bennett led the Bulldogs down the field, connecting with AD Mitchell for a 10-yard touchdown with 54 seconds left.
And here’s where the goose bumps got me.
The game came down to an Ohio State field goal opportunity from 50 yards out, with Buckeyes kicker Noah Ruggles missing wide left right as the clock struck midnight.
I remember watching that unfold, realizing the time and thinking: Holy. Cow. You can’t make that up.
Georgia players and coaching staff celebrate after Ohio State place kicker Noah Ruggles fails to score the final field goal during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
Ohio State place kicker Noah Ruggles (right) kicks the field goal, but misses, at the end of the fourth quarter during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
Ohio State place kicker Noah Ruggles remains on the ground after he is unable to score the final field goal of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta. Georgia won, 42-41. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
Brandon Adams’ goose bump game is the epic 1-2 Georgia-Tennessee matchup, when the Bulldogs won 27-13 and sacked Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker six times, with a wild Sanford Stadium crowd forcing Tennessee into seven false starts.
“My favorite moment ever at Sanford Stadium might’ve been the Tennessee game in 2022. I’ll never forget the atmosphere — including in the second half, when the rain came, the crowd got even louder. It’s hard to top that.”
(As a side note, it was extremely tough to narrow down photos to include from that game. Georgia’s defense gave me way too many to choose from, and you can almost hear the crowd through the screen).
Bulldogs defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (left) pressures Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Athens. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (left) is sacked by Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Athens. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker (center) is sacked by Bulldogs defensive back Javon Bullard at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Athens. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Bulldogs defensive back Javon Bullard (center) celebrates his sack of Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Athens. Georgia won, 27-13. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Here’s Jeff Sentell’s goose bump game:
“The obvious one would be when Kelee Ringo picked off Bryce Young to seal the 33-18 national championship in Indianapolis. Ringo ran right to where I was stationed in the end zone. I’d never heard Georgia fans roar like that.
“But I only thought that was Goosebumpville.
“The ‘Real Deal Holyfield’ moment came in the wild scrum on the field. The entire team was swallowed up by the support staff and loved ones. The best content from those moments always comes from following Kirby Smart. While darting around like a hummingbird on Red Bull, Smart eventually came upon Vince Dooley. Smart stopped in his tracks.
“Everything slowed. It seemed like the moment could have lasted the 42 years from the Superdome in New Orleans to the best finish line ever for DawgNation in Indy.
“Did Dooley bring it in for a hug first? Or was it Smart? I will remember it was mutual. That intersection of past, present and future glory will always be the one for me. Those two men didn’t say much, but it was clear how much they loved Georgia. Smart had borrowed his grandpa’s beloved antique car for a special occasion and returned it with a full tank of gas, a new set of tires and a frosty cooler of his favorite drinks in the trunk.
“There was one more item riding in the front seat: the program’s first national championship since 1980.”
Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo (left) intercepts Alabama and returns it for a touchdown during their College Football Playoff championship game on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Coach Kirby Smart (left) speaks with Vince Dooley after Georgias national championship win over Alabama. (Tony Walsh/UGA 2022)
Here’s another goose bump moment from our associate producer and social media correspondent Makenzy Wolford, who echoed Jeff’s thoughts on Ringo:
“Being in Indianapolis for the 2021 national championship was nothing short of a goosebump worthy experience. The culmination of Georgia finally taking down the giant that was Alabama and Nick Saban on the national stage after years of heartbreak is great on its own, but, for me, this game took place in my first year at UGA. Growing up a Georgia fan, waiting my entire life to officially be a Dawg, and having that season end the way it did with Ringo escorted down the sideline was perfect. From losing to Alabama in Atlanta on my 10th birthday in 2012 to winning it all in Indianapolis as a student was a heck of a journey.”
Georgia offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer celebrates after the Bulldogs beat Alabama to win the 2022 College Football Playoff national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
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And let’s finish things off with Connor Riley’s goose bump moment:
“The 2024 SEC championship game win over Texas, specifically when quarterback Carson Beck came off the bench for the game-winning hand-off after previously shredding his elbow earlier in the game. It was far from the prettiest win, but it was impossible not to be blown away by the physical and mental toughness of that 2024 team given the circumstances.”
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (left) and linebacker CJ Allen celebrate their 30-15 win over Texas at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (right) and running back Trevor Etienne celebrate as time expires during their game against Texas at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Trivia section
Which former Georgia quarterback holds both the program and SEC record for most touchdown passes in his career?
This week, “DawgNation Daily” is airing a special collection of shows previewing the 2026 season as part of what we’re calling our DawgNation Roundtable. It features Brandon as host, as usual, plus Connor, Jeff, Kaylee Mansell and Mike Griffith discussing all the hot topics around the Bulldogs as we head toward the fall.
Yesterday, the group did a deep dive on Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton, evaluating what could be next for him as the focal point of the UGA offense.
