On 13 occasions in the 15 seasons Mark Richt was Georgia’s football coach, the Bulldogs entered bowl preparation knowing they were Peach State champions.
Kirby Smart will not experience that feeling in his first go-around.
Smart’s Bulldogs were in position to extend Richt’s mastery of Georgia Tech by establishing a 27-14 lead entering the fourth quarter Saturday at Sanford Stadium. The final 15 minutes, however, will not be forgotten soon after the Yellow Jackets outgained Georgia 168-34 and rallied for a 28-27 upset.
“I think that game was kind of indicative of our season – a little good here and a little bad there,” Smart said afterward in a news conference. “We don’t play with enough consistency yet. It’s a 60-minute game, and we have to play all 60 minutes. You have to play each play like it’s got a history and life of its own.
“We, as coaches, have to do a better job, and that starts with me.”