Seeing my beloved Dawgs win the National Championship last January was one for the memory books.
Seeing it happen again January 9 of this year is — well — just the best kind of deja vu and it ain’t bragging if it is true. And it is true.
The Georgia Bulldawgs are the honest-to-goodness, number one, top of the world national champions of college football.
It’s official. I went back and re-read the sentence I just typed. It’s there in black and white so that makes it so.
I saw our very own hometown guy Stetson Bennett IV lead the team to victory.
And, let me tell you, there was no doubt about the win.
For all the times he has been told that he didn’t have what it takes and for all the naysayers who said the Dawgs were not the number one team in college football, the championship game was sort of an exclamation point to eliminate any doubt about it.
Stetson Bennett IV does have what it takes and the Dawgs are the number one team in the nation and they all proved it.
Stetson’s Bennett grandparents lived across the Coleman Creek from me. His grandfather, Buddy, and I traveled many miles together as members of the Sons of the American Revolution.
When I first started in the ministry, I would see Stetson and his parents and siblings at the restaurant after church on Sundays. He’s grown up to be a fine young man.
I thought it would be a little closer game than it was since Texas Christian had experienced such a great season and they, themselves had defied lots of odds. Their road to the championship game had been magical. We know what that is like after last year when we finally ended our drought and beat — of all people — our arch nemesis Alabama and their ball coach, Nick Saban.
The title game wasn’t close after the opening quarter and the Dawgs ran away with it 65-7.
Maybe, just maybe, that was our balm and refund for all the anxiety and stress of the Ohio State game New Year’s Eve.
I watched the game with my Daddy. Mama won’t watch big games like that until she knows the outcome. Honestly, I would rather it be that way. She makes the game even more anxious and stressful.
Bennett IV threw for 304 yards with four touchdown passes, added two rushing touchdowns and was named the offensive most valuable player (MVP) of the Championship game.
During a post game interview I heard Stetson pay homage to the communities here in Southeast Georgia that helped to shape his life.
Stetson said of Blackshear and Nahunta: “Well it’s God’s country, it’s the greatest place on earth and it made me who I was today. Blackshear and Nahunta, love those people. The Herons and the Bears, made me who I was and I can’t wait get back there.”
I heard it. I know I did. I work in Pierce County and my Mama’s people are from Brantley county.
I pinched myself just to make sure it was real.
They said it again. The Dawgs are back-to-back national champions.
It was a beautiful moment. It was enough to make a grown man cry, again, just like last year.
And I did, again.
And I’m not ashamed to say it, again.
Some things are just worth it. This is one of them.
Go Dawgs, Sic em! Woof, woof, woof.
How about Stetson Bennett IV and how about them Dawgs!
• Jason Deal is a staff writer for The Blackshear Times. Reach him at [email protected].
