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Georgia Bulldogs football
2023 Georgia Bulldogs football team
First season1892
Athletic directorJosh Brooks
Head coachKirby Smart
8th season, 93–16 (.853)
StadiumSanford Stadium
(capacity: 92,746[1])
Year built1929[1]
Field surfaceGrass
LocationAthens, Georgia
NCAA divisionDivision I FBS
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEast
Past conferencesSIAA (1895–1921)
SoCon (1921–1932)
All-time record880–429–54 (.665)
Bowl record37–21–3 (.631)
Playoff appearances3 (2017, 2021, 2022)
Playoff record5–1
Claimed national titles4 (1942, 1980, 2021, 2022)
Unclaimed national titles4 (1920, 1927, 1946, 1968)
National finalist3 (2017, 2021, 2022)
Conference titles16 (SIAA: 1896, 1920) SEC: 1942, 1946, 1948, 1959, 1966, 1968, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 2002, 2005, 2017, 2022 )
Division titles13 (1992, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)
RivalriesAlabama (rivalry)
Auburn (rivalry)
Clemson (rivalry)
Florida (rivalry)
Georgia Tech (rivalry)
South Carolina (rivalry)
Tennessee (rivalry)
Vanderbilt (rivalry)
Heisman winnersFrank Sinkwich – 1942
Herschel Walker – 1982
Consensus All-Americans39
Current uniform
ColorsRed and black[2]
   
Fight songHail to Georgia
MascotUga
Hairy Dawg
Marching bandGeorgia Redcoat Marching Band
Websitegeorgiadogs.com

The Georgia Bulldogs football program represents the University of Georgia in the sport of American football. The Bulldogs compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They play their home games at historic Sanford Stadium on the university's Athens, Georgia, campus. Georgia claims four consensus national championships (1942, 1980, 2021, and 2022); while the AP and Coaches Polls have each voted the Bulldogs the national champion three times (1980, 2021, and 2022). Georgia has also been named the National Champion by at least one polling authority in four other seasons (1920, 1927, 1946 and 1968).

The Bulldogs' other accomplishments include 16 conference championships, of which 14 are SEC championships, second-most in conference history, and appearances in 61 bowl games, second-most all-time. The program has also produced two Heisman Trophy winners, five number-one National Football League (NFL) draft picks, and many winners of other national awards. In addition to its storied history, the team is known for its unique traditions and rabid fan base, known as the "Bulldog Nation." Georgia has won over 860 games in its history, placing them 9th all-time in wins and has finished in the Top 10 of the AP Poll 27 times, 14 of which were Top 5 finishes.[3]

History

Main article: History of Georgia Bulldogs football
See also: List of Georgia Bulldogs football seasons

Conference affiliations

Georgia was a founding member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association, one of the first collegiate athletic conferences formed in the United States. Georgia participated in the SIAA from its establishment in 1895 until 1921. During its tenure in the SIAA, Georgia was conference co-champion in two years, 1896 and 1920.[4] In 1921, the Bulldogs, along with 12 other teams, left the SIAA and formed the Southern Conference.[5] During its time in the Southern Conference, the team never won a conference championship. In 1932, the Georgia Bulldogs left the Southern Conference to form and join the SEC, where Georgia has won the second-most SEC football championships, with 14, behind Alabama (27).[6][better source needed]

Championships

National championships

Georgia has been selected eight times (1920, 1927, 1942, 1946, 1968, 1980, 2021, 2022) as national champions from NCAA-designated major selectors.[7] Georgia claims four national championships (1942, 1980, 2021, and 2022).[8] In 1980 they finished as the only undefeated team after a victory in the 1981 Sugar Bowl, and were named the national champions by all four major consensus selectors[9] (AP, Coaches, FWAA, and NFF). In 2021 they won the College Football Playoff, defeating Alabama in the CFP National Championship Game, ending a 41-year title drought. In 2022 they won the 2023 CFP National Championship Game after going 15-0 as the only undefeated team.

Claimed national championships

Year Coach Selector Record Bowl Final AP Final Coaches
1942 Wally Butts Berryman, Billingsley, DeVold, Houlgate, Litkenhous, Poling, Sagarin, Sagarin (ELO-Chess), Williamson 11–1 Won Rose No. 2 –
1980 Vince Dooley AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF† 12–0 Won Sugar No. 1 No. 1
2021 Kirby Smart College Football Playoff†† 14–1 Won Orange (CFP Semifinal)
Won CFP National Championship Game		 No. 1 No. 1
2022 Kirby Smart College Football Playoff 15-0 Won Peach (CFP Semifinal)

Won CFP National Championship Game

No.1 No.1

† Other consensus selectors for 1980 included Berryman, Billingsley, Rothman, Football News, Helms, NCF, Poling, Sagarin (ELO-Chess), Sporting News
†† Other consensus selectors for 2021 include AP, FWAA/NFF, USAT/AMWAY (Coaches)

Unclaimed national championships

Year Coach Selector Record Bowl Opponent Result Final AP Final Coaches
1920 Herman Stegeman Berryman 8–0–1 None – –
1927 George Cecil Woodruff Berryman, Boand, Poling 9–1 None – –
1946 Wally Butts Williamson 11–0 Sugar North Carolina W 20–0 No. 3 –
1968 Vince Dooley Litkenhous 8–1–2 Sugar Arkansas L 2–16 No. 8 No. 4

Claimed national championship

  • 1920 – First-year head Herman Stegeman led the program to its second undefeated season, outscored opponents 250–17.
  • 1927 – Georgia's famous Dream and Wonder team led by George Woodruff went 9–1. This team was noted for having a win over 1920s power, Yale, in Connecticut. Georgia was ranked No. 1 going into its final game against rival Georgia Tech, where they were upset 12–0 in the rain. Even so, Georgia finished the season ranked No. 1 in two minor polls.[10]
  • 1942 – Georgia was chosen as champion by at least half of the recognized polls. Georgia was led by All-Americans Frank Sinkwich and end George Poschner, along with a young back named Charley Trippi. The Bulldogs knocked off 9 consecutive opponents and ranked No. 1 in the nation. Georgia earned a Rose Bowl bid after it blanked Georgia Tech 34–0 in Athens to end the regular season. Georgia then edged UCLA 9–0 in the Rose Bowl.
  • 1946 – Fueled by the return of Charley Trippi, the 1946 SEC Champion Bulldogs went 10–0, including a 20–10 win over North Carolina in the Sugar Bowl. Notre Dame finished the season ranked No. 1 in the majority of the polls, but the Williamson poll recognized Georgia as No. 1.[11]
  • 1968 – The 1968 Bulldogs won Vince Dooley's second SEC Championship as head coach, and finished the season undefeated. However the 8–0–2 Bulldogs tied twice, and then lost to Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. The Litkenhous poll recognized them as National Champions.[12]
  • 1980 – The Bulldogs beat Notre Dame 17–10 in the Sugar Bowl to finish 12–0 and claim the National Championship. Notable contributors during the season included Herschel Walker, Buck Belue, and Lindsay Scott (Georgia was listed first by AP, Berryman, FACT, FB News, FW, Helms, National Championship Foundation, NFF, Poling, Sporting News, and UPI).
  • 2021 – The Bulldogs beat Alabama 33–18 in the National Championship Game to finish at 14–1 and claim the National Championship.
  • 2022 – The Bulldogs beat TCU 65–7 in the National Championship Game to finish 15-0 for the first time in school history and claim the National Championship.

Conference championships

Georgia has won a total of 16 conference championships, eleven outright and five shared. The school's 14 Southeastern Conference Championships rank it second all time in SEC history, behind only Alabama.[13]

Year Conference Coach Overall record Conference record
1896† SIAA Glenn "Pop" Warner 4–0 3–0
1920† Herman Stegeman 8–0–1 8–0
1942 SEC Wally Butts 11–1 6–1
1946† 11–0 5–0
1948 9–2 6–0
1959 10–1 7–0
1966† Vince Dooley 10–1 6–0
1968 8–1–2 5–0–1
1976 10–2 5–1
1980 12–0 6–0
1981† 10–2 6–0
1982 11–1 6–0
2002 Mark Richt 13–1 7–1
2005 10–3 6–2
2017 Kirby Smart 13–2 7–1
2022 15–0 8–0

† Co-champions

Division championships

Georgia has won 13 SEC Eastern Division championships, and has made 11 appearances in the SEC Championship Game, most recently in 2023. The Dawgs are 4–7 in those games. Twice, in 1992 and 2007, Georgia was the Eastern Division co-champion, but lost a tiebreaker for the right to appear in the championship game.

Year Division SEC CG Opponent Result
1992† SEC East N/A lost tiebreaker to Florida
2002 Arkansas W 30–3
2003† LSU L 13–34
2005 LSU W 34–14
2007† N/A lost tiebreaker to Tennessee
2011 LSU L 10–42
2012† Alabama L 28–32
2017 Auburn W 28–7
2018 Alabama L 28–35
2019 LSU L 10–37
2021 Alabama L 24–41
2022 LSU W 50–30
2023 Alabama L 24-27

† Co-champions

Bowl games

The Bulldogs have played in 61 bowl games, second all-time. UGA has a bowl record of 37–21–3. Their 37 wins rank the Dawgs second all-time in bowl wins.[14] They have played in a record 18 different bowls including appearances in five of the New Year's Six Bowl Games (2 Rose, 4 Orange, 3 Cotton, 7 Peach, and 11 Sugar Bowls) and appearances in the 2018, 2022, and 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship.

2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1941 Wally Butts Orange Bowl TCU W 40–26
1942 Wally Butts Rose Bowl UCLA W 9–0
1945 Wally Butts Oil Bowl Tulsa W 20–6
1946 Wally Butts Sugar Bowl North Carolina W 20–10
1947 Wally Butts Gator Bowl Maryland T 20–20
1948 Wally Butts Orange Bowl Texas L 28–41
1950 Wally Butts Presidential Cup Bowl Texas A&M L 20–40
1959 Wally Butts Orange Bowl Missouri W 14–0
1964 Vince Dooley Sun Bowl Texas Tech W 7–0
1966 Vince Dooley Cotton Bowl Classic SMU W 24–9
1967 Vince Dooley Liberty Bowl NC State L 7–14
1968 Vince Dooley Sugar Bowl Arkansas L 2–16
1969 Vince Dooley Sun Bowl Nebraska L 6–45
1971 Vince Dooley Gator Bowl North Carolina W 7–3
1973 Vince Dooley Peach Bowl Maryland W 17–16
1974 Vince Dooley Tangerine Bowl Miami L 10–21
1975 Vince Dooley Cotton Bowl Classic Arkansas L 10–31
1976 Vince Dooley Sugar Bowl Pittsburgh L 3–27
1978 Vince Dooley Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl Stanford L 22–25
1980 Vince Dooley Sugar Bowl Notre Dame W 17–10
1981 Vince Dooley Sugar Bowl Pittsburgh L 20–24
1982 Vince Dooley Sugar Bowl Penn State L 23–27
1983 Vince Dooley Cotton Bowl Classic Texas W 10–9
1984 Vince Dooley Citrus Bowl Florida State T 17–17
1985 Vince Dooley Sun Bowl Arizona T 13–13
1986 Vince Dooley Hall of Fame Bowl Boston College L 24–27
1987 Vince Dooley Liberty Bowl Arkansas W 20–17
1988 Vince Dooley Gator Bowl Michigan State W 34–27
1989 Ray Goff Peach Bowl Syracuse L 18–19
1991 Ray Goff Independence Bowl Arkansas W 24–15
1992 Ray Goff Florida Citrus Bowl Ohio State W 21–14
1995 Ray Goff Peach Bowl Virginia L 27–34
1997 Jim Donnan Outback Bowl Wisconsin W 33–6
1998 Jim Donnan Peach Bowl Virginia W 35–33
1999 Jim Donnan Outback Bowl Purdue W 28–25 OT
2000 Jim Donnan Oahu Bowl Virginia W 37–14
2001 Mark Richt Music City Bowl Boston College L 16–20
2002 Mark Richt Sugar Bowl Florida State W 26–13
2003 Mark Richt Capital One Bowl Purdue W 34–27 OT
2004 Mark Richt Outback Bowl Wisconsin W 24–21
2005 Mark Richt Sugar Bowl West Virginia L 35–38
2006 Mark Richt Chick-fil-A Bowl Virginia Tech W 31–24
2007 Mark Richt Sugar Bowl Hawaii W 41–10
2008 Mark Richt Capital One Bowl Michigan State W 24–12
2009 Mark Richt Independence Bowl Texas A&M W 44–20
2010 Mark Richt Liberty Bowl Central Florida L 6–10
2011 Mark Richt Outback Bowl Michigan State L 30–33 3OT
2012 Mark Richt Capital One Bowl Nebraska W 45–31
2013 Mark Richt Gator Bowl Nebraska L 19–24
2014 Mark Richt Belk Bowl Louisville W 37–14
2015 Bryan McClendon (interim) TaxSlayer Bowl Penn State W 24–17
2016 Kirby Smart Liberty Bowl TCU W 31–23
2017 Kirby Smart Rose Bowl (CFP Semifinal) † Oklahoma W 54–48 2OT
2017 Kirby Smart CFP National Championship Alabama L 23–26 OT
2018 Kirby Smart Sugar Bowl † Texas L 21–28
2019 Kirby Smart Sugar Bowl † Baylor W 26–14
2020 Kirby Smart Peach Bowl † Cincinnati W 24–21
2021 Kirby Smart Orange Bowl (CFP Semifinal) † Michigan W 34–11
2021 Kirby Smart CFP National Championship Alabama W 33–18
2022 Kirby Smart Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal) † Ohio State W 42–41
2022 Kirby Smart CFP National Championship TCU W 65–7
2023 Kirby Smart Orange Bowl † Florida State

† New Year's Six bowl game

Georgia Bulldog bowl games: all-time records by bowl
Bowl Record Appearances Last appearance Winning %
Duke's Mayo Bowl
(played game under Belk Bowl title) 		1–0 1 2014 season 1.000
Bluebonnet Bowl (defunct) 0–1 1 1978 season .000
Citrus Bowl
(played game under Tangerine Bowl, Citrus Bowl, and Capital One Bowl titles) 		4–1–1 6 2012 season .750
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 5–2 7 2022 season .714
Cotton Bowl Classic 2–1 3 1983 season .667
Independence Bowl 2–0 2 2009 season 1.000
Liberty Bowl 2–2 4 2016 season .500
Music City Bowl 0–1 1 2001 season .000
Oahu Bowl (defunct) 1–0 1 2000 season 1.000
Oil Bowl (defunct) 1–0 1 1945 season 1.000
Outback Bowl
(played games under Hall of Fame Bowl and Outback Bowl titles) 		3–2 5 2011 season .600
Orange Bowl 3–1 4 2021 season .750
Presidential Cup Bowl (defunct) 0–1 1 1950 season .000
Rose Bowl 2–0 2 2017 season 1.000
Sugar Bowl 5–6 11 2019 season .455
Sun Bowl 1–1–1 3 1985 season .400
Gator Bowl
(played games under Gator Bowl and Taxslayer Bowl titles) 		3–1–1 5 2015 season .600

Head coaches

Main article: List of Georgia Bulldogs head football coaches

Head coaches of the Bulldogs dating from 1892.[15][16][better source needed]

No. Name Seasons Record Pct.
1 Charles Herty 1892 1–1 .500
2 Ernest Brown 1893 2–2–1 .500
3 Robert Winston 1894 5–1 .833
4 Glenn "Pop" Warner 1895–1896 7–4 .636
5 Charles McCarthy 1897–1898 6–3 .667
6 Gordon Saussy 1899 2–3–1 .417
7 E. E. Jones 1900 2–4 .333
8 Billy Reynolds 1901–1902 5–7–3 .433
9, 11 Marvin D. Dickinson 1903, 1905 4–9 .308
10 Charles A. Barnard 1904 1–5 .167
12 George S. Whitney 1906–1907 6–7–2 .467
13 Branch Bocock 1908 5–2–1 .688
14 & 15 James Coulter & Frank Dobson 1909 1–4–2 .286
16 W. A. Cunningham 1910–1919 43–18–9 .656
17 Herman Stegeman 1920–1922 20–6–3 .741
18 George "Kid" Woodruff 1923–1927 30–16–1 .649
19 Harry Mehre 1928–1937 59–34–6 .626
20 Joel Hunt 1938 5–4–1 .550
21 Wally Butts 1939–1960 140–86–9 .615
22 Johnny Griffith 1961–1963 10–16–4 .400
23 Vince Dooley 1964–1988 201–77–10 .715
24 Ray Goff 1989–1995 46–34–1 .574
25 Jim Donnan 1996–2000 40–19 .678
26 Mark Richt 2001–2015 145–51 .740
27 Kirby Smart 2016–present 91–15 .858

Coaching awards

Vince Dooley – 2001
Vince Dooley – 1980
Brian VanGorder – 2003
  • College Football Hall of Fame
    • Glenn "Pop" Warner, inducted in 1951
    • Joel Hunt, inducted in 1967
    • Wally Butts, inducted in 1997
    • Vince Dooley, inducted in 1995

Personnel

Coaching staff

Georgia Bulldogs
Name Position Consecutive season at Georgia in current position Previous position
Todd Monken Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks 3rd Cleveland Browns – Offensive coordinator (2019)
Glenn Schumann Co-defensive coordinator / inside linebackers 4th Georgia – Inside linebackers (2016–2018)
Will Muschamp Co–defensive coordinator / safeties 1st Georgia – Defensive analyst / special teams coordinator (2021)
Scott Cochran Special teams coordinator 3rd Alabama – Head strength & conditioning (2007–2019)
Todd Hartley Tight ends 4th Miami – Tight ends / special teams coordinator (2016–2018)
Dell McGee Run game coordinator / running backs 3rd Georgia – Assistant head coach / running backs (2016–2018)
Tray Scott Defensive line 6th North Carolina – Defensive line (2015–2016)
Bryan McClendon Pass game coordinator / wide receivers 1st Oregon – Interim head coach / pass game coordinator / wide receivers (2021)
Chidera Uzo–Diribe Outside linebackers 1st SMU – Defensive line (2021)
Fran Brown Defensive backs 1st Rutgers – Defensive backs (2020–2021)
Stacy Searels Offensive line 1st North Carolina – Offensive line (2019–2021)
Scott Sinclair Director of strength & conditioning 7th Marshall – Director of strength & conditioning (2013–2015)
Reference:[17]

Nicknames

The first mention of "Bulldogs" in association with Georgia athletics occurred on November 28, 1901, at the Georgia-Auburn football game played in Atlanta. The Georgia fans had a badge saying "Eat `em Georgia" and a picture of a bulldog tearing a piece of cloth; however, it was not until 1920 that the nickname "Bulldog" was used to describe the athletic teams at the University of Georgia. Traditionally, the choice of a Bulldog as the UGA mascot was attributed to the alma mater of its founder and first president, Abraham Baldwin, who graduated from Yale University.[18] Prior to that time, Georgia teams were usually known as the "Red and Black." On November 3, 1920, Morgan Blake of the Atlanta Journal wrote a story about school nicknames and proposed:

The Georgia Bulldogs would sound good because there is a certain dignity about a bulldog, as well as ferocity.[19]

After a 0–0 tie with Virginia in Charlottesville on Nov. 6, 1920, Atlanta Constitution writer Cliff Wheatley used the name "Bulldogs" in his story five times. The name has been used ever since.

Traditions

Uga VI Official Photo
Sanford Stadium
  • "Between the Hedges" Legendary sports writer Grantland Rice coined the term that famously describes the home of the Bulldogs in the 1930s in reference to the famous English privet hedges that have surrounded the Sanford Stadium turf since its inaugural game against Yale in 1929. The original hedges were removed in 1996 in preparation for the women's soccer matches hosted at Sanford Stadium for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. Offshoots of the original hedges were planted shortly after the games. The Hedges also serve as a crowd control measure, as they contain a fence inside of them. In fact, only once have Georgia fans been able to rush the field, that following a victory over Tennessee in 2000.[20]
  • Uga (pronounced UH-guh) is the name of a lineage of white Bulldogs which have served as the mascot of the University of Georgia since 1956. The current mascot, "Boom", officially took the role of Uga XI in April 2023, replacing Uga X.[21] Deceased Ugas are interred in a mausoleum near the main entrance to Sanford Stadium. Georgia is the only school to bury its past mascots inside the football stadium.[22]
  • Glory, Glory is the rally song for the Georgia Bulldogs and was sung at football games as early as the 1890s. The rally song was arranged in its current form by Georgia professor Hugh Hodgson in 1915. While "Glory, Glory" is the most commonly played Georgia song, the school's official fight song is "Hail To Georgia" which is played after field goals.[22]
  • The ringing of the Chapel Bell after a Georgia victory started in the 1890s when the playing field was located near the chapel and freshmen were compelled to ring the chapel's bell until midnight to celebrate the victory.[19] Today, freshmen are no longer required to do the chore, with students, alumni, and fans taking their place.
  • "The Battle Hymn of the Bulldog Nation" is a slowed down version of The Battle Hymn of the Republic arranged in 1987 and is a hallowed song played pregame and postgame by the Redcoat Band. A lone trumpeter in the southwest corner of Sanford Stadium plays the first few notes, after which the entire band joins in and a video montage, narrated by longtime Georgia radio broadcaster Larry Munson, is played that highlights the many great moments of Georgia football history. It is custom for fans to stand, remove their hats, and point towards the lone trumpeter as he plays the initial notes. This tradition is considered the climax of the Redcoat Band pregame show and was introduced before the 2000 season.[23]
  • "How 'bout them Dawgs" is a slogan of recent vintage that first surfaced in the late 1970s and has become a battle cry of Bulldog fans.[19] The slogan received national attention and exposure when Georgia won the national championship in 1980 and wire services proclaimed "how 'bout them dogs".
  • "Go Dawgs (Sic 'em Woof Woof Woof)" is a slogan of recent slogan that fans have taken to and was made famous by Dodd Ferrelle & S.N.I.P.A.
  • Silver britches – When Wally Butts was named head coach in 1939, he changed the uniform by adding silver-colored pants to the bright-red jersey already in use. The "silver britches" became very popular, and were a source of multiple fan chants and sign references over the years, the most well-known being "Go You Silver Britches". When he was hired in 1964, Vince Dooley changed Georgia's uniform to use white pants, but reinstated the silver pants prior to Georgia's 1980 national championship season. Georgia's use of the "silver britches" continues to the present day.[22]
  • The "Dawg Walk" is a tradition that features the football players walking through a gathering of fans and the Redcoat Band near the Tate Student Center as they enter Sanford Stadium. Vince Dooley began the tradition, originally leading the team into the stadium from the East Campus Road side. Ray Goff changed the Dawg Walk to its current location in the 1990s, but eventually discontinued the practice altogether. Mark Richt revived it starting with the 2001 season, and it continues to the present day.[24]

Uniforms

Georgia's standard home uniform has not significantly changed since 1980, and consists of a red helmet with the trademarked oval G, red jerseys, and famous silver britches.[22]

Wally Butts first introduced the "silver britches", as they are colloquially known, in 1939. When Vince Dooley became Georgia's head coach, he changed the team's home uniform to include white pants. The uniform was changed back to silver pants prior to the 1980 season, and has remained silver ever since.[22]

Georgia's earliest helmet was grey leather, to which a red block "G" logo was added in 1961. The shirts were usually red, sometimes with various striping patterns. Their uniforms in the pre-World War II era varied at times, sometimes significantly. Photographic evidence suggests that black shirts, vests, and stripes of various patterns were worn at times over the years.

Vince Dooley was the first to incorporate the oval "G" onto the helmet in 1964, as part of uniform changes that included adoption of a red helmet and white pants. Anne Donaldson, who graduated from Georgia with a BFA in commercial art and was married to Georgia assistant coach John Donaldson, was asked by Dooley to come up with a new helmet design to replace the previous silver helmet. Dooley liked the forward oriented stylized "G" Donaldson produced, and it was adopted by him. Since the Georgia "G" was similar to the Green Bay Packers' "G" already in use since 1961, Dooley cleared its use with the Packers organization.[25] The Packers hold the trademark on the "G" logo, and have granted limited permission to Georgia and Grambling State University to utilize a similar logo.[26] 

Prior to the 1980 season, the "silver britches" were re-added to Georgia's uniform with a red-white-black stripe down the side. Since the 1980 season, Georgia has utilized the same basic uniform concept. The sleeve stripes, trim colors, and font on Georgia's home and away jerseys have varied many times, but the home jerseys have remained generally red with white numbers, and away jerseys have remained generally white with black numbers.

The most recent trim redesign occurred in 2005, when sleeve stripe patterns were dropped in favor of solid black jersey cuffs on the home jersey and solid red cuffs on the away jersey. Matte gray pants have also been used at times instead of "true" silver since 2004, mainly because the matte gray pants are of a lighter material.

One of the things that make Georgia's uniform unique is its relative longevity, and the fact that it has very rarely changed over the years. There have been occasions, however, when alternate uniforms have been worn.

  • Red pants were used instead of silver as part of Georgia's away uniform at various times during the 1980s and were worn as a "throwback" alternate uniform in 2020.
  • Black facemasks and a white-black-white helmet stripe were worn during the 1991 Independence Bowl.
  • Black pants were used instead of silver as part of Georgia's away uniform (Georgia chose to wear white as the designated home team) during the 1998 Outback Bowl and home uniform during[27] the 1998 Florida game.
  • Black jerseys were worn instead of red as part of Georgia's home uniform in games against Auburn and Hawaii during the 2007 season, in 2008 against Alabama, 2016 against Louisiana-Lafayette and 2020 vs. Mississippi State.[28] Georgia also wore black jerseys as the visiting team in the 2021 Peach Bowl vs. Cincinnati, which wore red jerseys.
  • A unique away uniform was worn against Florida in 2009. This uniform included black helmets with red facemasks, a white stripe, and the traditional oval "G" logo; white jerseys with black numbers; and black pants.[29]
  • For the 2011 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against Boise State in the Georgia Dome, Georgia wore a Nike Pro Combat uniform that was significantly different from the traditional home uniforms. The Nike Pro Combat uniforms used a non-traditional matte-finish red color, and included the following:[30]
    • Silver helmets with a large red stripe and traditional oval "G" logo
    • Black facemasks with a large red stripe in the middle, mirroring the red stripe on the helmet
    • Two-tone red jerseys with black sleeves, trim, and numbers
    • The word "Georgia" on the back of the jerseys instead of players' names
    • Red pants

Rivalries

The Bulldogs have three main football rivals: Auburn, Florida, and Georgia Tech. All three rivalries were first contested over 100 years ago, though the series records are disputed in two cases. Georgia does not include two games from 1943 and 1944 against Georgia Tech (both UGA losses) in its reckoning of the series record, because Georgia's players were in World War II and Georgia Tech's players were not. Georgia also includes a game against one of the four predecessor institutions of the modern University of Florida in 1904 (a Georgia win) that national sportswriters[31][32][33] and Florida's athletic association do not include.

Georgia has long-standing football rivalries with other universities as well, with over 50 games against five additional teams. Since the formation of the SEC Eastern Division in 1992, Georgia has had emerging rivalries with the Tennessee Volunteers and South Carolina Gamecocks. From 1944 to 1965, the Bulldogs played each season against the Alabama Crimson Tide.[34] While the two bordering schools no longer play annually, they have faced off against each other in three SEC Championship Games and two College Football Playoff National Championships since 2010, bringing the once dormant rivalry back to prominence.[35]

Auburn

Main article: Deep South's Oldest Rivalry

Georgia's oldest and longest-running rivalry is the series with Auburn, which dates to 1892. As it is the oldest rivalry still contested between teams in the South, the series is referred to by both schools as the "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry". Although historically close (the series was tied as recently as the 2014 matchup), Georgia has won 16 out of the last 19 matchups, including the last seven, and leads the series 64–56–8 through the 2023 season.[36]

Clemson

Main article: Clemson–Georgia football rivalry

Although no longer contested annually, the series with Clemson dates to 1897. The two schools are separated by a mere 70 miles and played annually from 1962 to 1987. The rivalry took on national importance in the early 1980s, when both Georgia and Clemson won national titles and were consistently highly ranked. The rivalry is renewed on an intermittent basis, with the next matchup scheduled in 2024. Georgia leads the series 43–18–4 through the 2021 season.[37]

Florida

Main article: Florida–Georgia football rivalry

Played annually (except for two occasions) at the neutral-site of Jacksonville, Florida since 1933, the Georgia-Florida rivalry is known nationwide for its associated tailgating and pageantry, being referred to as "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party", although that name is no longer used officially. The Georgia-Florida rivalry annually carries importance in the SEC race as the two schools have combined for 23 appearances in the SEC Championship game. The series record is disputed, with Georgia claiming a lead of 56–44–2 through the 2023 season.[38]

Georgia Tech

Main article: Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate

Dating to 1893, the series with the in-state Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets has traditionally been played as the final regular season game of the season and was historically Georgia's most important and fierce rivalry. Since 2000 Georgia has dominated the series, winning 18 out of 21 matchups, lessening the importance of the once-close series. Georgia leads the series 70–41–5 through the 2022 season.[39]

South Carolina

Main article: Georgia–South Carolina football rivalry

The series with South Carolina dates to 1894. The border-rivalry gained importance when South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992, and gained intensity when former Florida coach, Steve Spurrier, coached the Gamecocks from 2006 to 2015. Georgia leads the series 54–19–2 through the 2022 season.[40]

Tennessee

Main article: Georgia–Tennessee football rivalry

The series with Tennessee dates to 1899. The annual rivalry began in 1992 upon the creation of the SEC Eastern Division and annually plays an important role in deciding the division champion. Georgia and Tennessee are the third and second most winningest SEC programs behind only Alabama. Georgia leads the series 27–23–2 through the 2022 season.[41]

Vanderbilt

Main article: Georgia–Vanderbilt football rivalry

The series with Vanderbilt dates to 1893. Georgia leads the series 59–20–2 through the 2021 season.[42]

Alabama

Main article: Alabama–Georgia football rivalry

The series with Alabama dates to 1895. Alabama leads the series 42–26–4 through the 2021 season.[43]

Players

National award winners

All-Americans

The Bulldogs have had 84 players selected to the All-America team through the 2019 season.[44]: 182–187 [obsolete source] Through the 2021 season, there have been 39 consensus selections of which 15 were unanimous.[45][obsolete source]

While several players were selected in more than one year, only Frank Sinkwich, Herschel Walker, David Pollack, and Jarvis Jones were selected as consensus All-Americans more than once.

† Consensus All-American
‡ Consensus All-American that was selected by a unanimous vote

Retired numbers

See also: List of NCAA football retired numbers
No. Player Pos. Tenure No. retir. Ref.
21 Frank Sinkwich HB 1941–1943 1943 [46]
34 Herschel Walker RB 1980–1982 1985 [46]
40 Theron Sapp RB 1955–1958 1959 [46]
62 Charley Trippi HB 1942, 1945–1946 1947 [46]

Hall of Fame inductees

Pro Football Hall of Fame

See also: Pro Football Hall of Fame

Five former Georgia players have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[47]

Name Position Career Induction
Charley Trippi HB 1942, 1945–1946 1968
Fran Tarkenton QB 1958–1960 1986
Terrell Davis RB 1991–1994 2017
Champ Bailey CB 1996–1998 2019
Richard Seymour DT 2001–2012 2022

College Football Hall of Fame

See also: College Football Hall of Fame

Nineteen former Georgia players and coaches have been inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame.[22][48][49] In addition, one former player, Pat Dye, has been inducted into the Hall as a coach for Auburn.[50]

Players

Player Position Career Induction
Bob McWhorter HB 1910–1913 1954
Frank Sinkwich HB 1940–1942 1954
Charley Trippi HB 1942, 1945–1946 1959
Vernon "Catfish" Smith E 1929–1931 1979
Bill Hartman FB 1935–1937 1984
Fran Tarkenton QB 1958–1960 1987
Bill Stanfill DT 1966–1968 1998
Herschel Walker RB 1980–1982 1999
Terry Hoage S 1980–1983 2000
Kevin Butler PK 1981–1984 2001
John Rauch QB 1945–1948 2003
Jake Scott FS 1966–1968 2011
Matt Stinchcomb OT 1995–1998 2018
David Pollack DE 2002–2004 2021

Coaches

Coach Career Induction
Glenn "Pop" Warner 1895–1896 1951
Vince Dooley 1964–1988 1994
Wally Butts 1939–1960 1997
Jim Donnan 1996–2000 2009
Mark Richt 2001–2015 2023

Future opponents

Conference opponents

From 1992 to 2023, Georgia played in the East Division of the SEC and played each opponent in the division each year along with several teams from the West Division. The SEC will expand the conference to 16 teams and will eliminate its two divisions in 2024, causing a new scheduling format for the Bulldogs to play against the other members of the conference.[51] Only the 2024 conference schedule was announced on June 14, 2023, while the conference still considers a new format for the future.[52]

2024 schedule

DateOpponentSiteResult
August 31vs. Clemson*
September 7Tennessee Tech*
September 28at Alabama
October 19at Texas
November 2vs. Florida
November 23UMass*
  • Sanford Stadium
  • Athens, GA
November 30Georgia Tech*
  • Sanford Stadium
  • Athens, GA
-tba-Auburn
-tba-at Kentucky
-tba-Mississippi State
  • Sanford Stadium
  • Athens, GA
-tba-at Ole Miss
-tba-Tennessee
  • Sanford Stadium
  • Athens, GA (rivalry)
  • *Non-conference game

Non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of June 21, 2023.[53]

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036 2037
vs Clemson1 at UCLA UCLA at Florida State Florida A&M at Clemson Clemson at Ohio State Clemson at Clemson at NC State at Georgia Tech Georgia Tech at Georgia Tech
Tennessee Tech Austin Peay Western Kentucky Louisville Florida State at Georgia Tech North Carolina A&T Western Carolina Georgia Tech NC State Georgia Tech
UMass Charlotte at Louisville at Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Ohio State at Georgia Tech at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech at Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Georgia Tech
  1. Neutral-site matchup with Clemson (2024) will be held in Atlanta.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium - University of Georgia Athletics". Georgiadogs.com. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  2. ^ University of Georgia Brand Guide (PDF). June 26, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  3. ^ "College Football Data Warehouse - Division I-A ALL-TIME WINS rankings". Archived from the original on April 6, 2004. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  4. ^ "Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Conference Champions". Cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  5. ^ Southern Conference History, Southern Conference 2006 Media Guide (accessed December 11, 2006)
  6. ^ All-Time Winningest Division I-A Teams [dead link]
  7. ^ 2017 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). Indianapolis: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. July 2017. pp. 111–114. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  8. ^ "Championships/Honors/Awards". University of Georgia Athletics.
  9. ^ "Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). fs.ncaa.org. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "Yearly National Championship Selections". cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  11. ^ "Yearly National Championship Selections". cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  12. ^ "Yearly National Championship Selections". cfbdatawarehouse.com. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  13. ^ "Who Has the Most SEC Football Championships?". Reference.com. August 4, 2015.
  14. ^ "Winsipedia - College football BOWL GAMES rankings". winsipedia.com.
  15. ^ "Georgia Bulldogs Coaches | College Football at". Sports-reference.com. January 1, 1970. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  16. ^ "Former Head Coaches".[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ "2022 Football Coaching Staff". georgiadogs.com.
  18. ^ "132+ Teams in 132+ Days: University of Georgia Bulldogs • /r/CFB". August 26, 2013.
  19. ^ a b c "Georgia Traditions". UGA Athletic Association. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  20. ^ "G Book 2016 | PDF". UGA G Book. UGA Alumni Association.
  21. ^ "Uga IX, 'Russ', passes". Georgiadogs.com. CBS nteractive. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  22. ^ a b c d e f "Georgia Football 2011 Media Guide". Georgiadogs.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  23. ^ "The story behind the Redcoat Band's lone trumpeter". Dawg Nation. September 4, 2015.
  24. ^ Richt to renew old Georgia traditions Archived October 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Red and Black.com, August 31, 2001. (Last Retrieved August 21, 2011)
  25. ^ "George Bulldog Traditions". George Bulldogs - University of Georgia Athletics. University of Georgia. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  26. ^ "Oval G is a Green Bay Packers trademark". ESPN. Associated Press. May 29, 2005. Archived from the original on May 16, 2006. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  27. ^ Video on YouTube
  28. ^ UniformCritics.com, Photos of 2007 Georgia Bulldogs Black Jersey. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  29. ^ UniformCritics.com, Photos of 2009 UGA Bulldogs Alternate Away Uniform. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  30. ^ UniformCritics.com, Photos of 2011 Georgia Bulldogs Nike Pro Combat Uniform. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  31. ^ "ESPN.com: NCF - Here's a toast to Florida-Georgia". a.espncdn.com.
  32. ^ "Punter-turned-kicker lifts Florida over Georgia in OT".
  33. ^ "Greatest college football rivalries – FOX Sports".
  34. ^ David, Paschall (January 3, 2018). "Why don't Alabama and Georgia play every year?". Chattanooga Times Free Press.
  35. ^ "Is Georgia's curse real? A look into the one-sided Alabama rivalry". January 8, 2022.
  36. ^ "Winsipedia - Auburn Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs football series history". Winsipedia.
  37. ^ "Winsipedia - Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs football series history". Winsipedia.
  38. ^ "Winsipedia - Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs football series history". Winsipedia.
  39. ^ "Winsipedia - Georgia Bulldogs vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football series history". Winsipedia.
  40. ^ "Winsipedia - Georgia Bulldogs vs. South Carolina Gamecocks football series history". Winsipedia.
  41. ^ "Winsipedia - Georgia Bulldogs vs. Tennessee Volunteers football series history". Winsipedia.
  42. ^ "Winsipedia - Georgia Bulldogs vs. Vanderbilt Commodores football series history". Winsipedia.
  43. ^ "Winsipedia - Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Georgia Bulldogs football series history". Winsipedia.
  44. ^ "2018 Media Guide" (PDF). georgiadogs.com. Georgia Athletics.
  45. ^ "Consensus All-Americans by School" (PDF). ncaa.org. NCAA. p. 20.
  46. ^ a b c d Retired Georgia Jerseys at Georgiadogs.com, 31 Mar 2009
  47. ^ "Pro Football Hall of Famers". profootballhof.com/heroes-of-the-game/colleges/. Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  48. ^ "UGA's Matt Stinchcomb elected to College Football Hall of Fame". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. January 8, 2018.
  49. ^ Smith, Loran. "On the list of deserving College Football Hall of Famers, David Pollack is certainly near the top". Online Athens. Retrieved January 14, 2022. At the Aria Hotel here Tuesday night, Davey Pollack, the three-time All-America defensive end…was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
  50. ^ "Pat Dye To Enter College Football Hall Of Fame".
  51. ^ Emerson, Seth (June 1, 2023). "SEC approves 8-game football schedule for 2024, no decision yet on long-term format". The Athletic. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  52. ^ Maxwell, Chad (June 15, 2023). "Georgia releases 2024 football schedule". WTOC-TV. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  53. ^ "Georgia Bulldogs Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved June 21, 2023.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Georgia Bulldogs football.
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