NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer figures that suffering through 11 losses two seasons has given him a healthy perspective as the Bears prepare for their Sugar Bowl showdown against established SEC power Georgia.
“I’ve gotten to be here over this three-year transition. Obviously, from a win standpoint, a complete 180,” said Brewer, who’s No. 8 Bears (11-2) face the No. 5 Bulldogs (11-2) on Wednesday night.
In a sense, the Sugar Bowl is a consolation prize for two teams that were in contention for a College Football Playoff spot until they lost their conference championship games. Georgia fell to No. 1 LSU and is in the Sugar Bowl for a second straight season after losing to Alabama in the 2018 SEC title game. Baylor lost to No. 4 Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship.
Georgia players take the field during team practice for the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game against Baylor, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in New Orleans. The game is to be played Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)Brewer said the Bears are “all very grateful to be in this game, just from where we started.”
“Obviously, you want to win all the time,” Brewer continued. “But I think that the stuff that I’ve had to go through, along with my teammates, not only as a football player, but just as a man, just growing up in life – learned a lot of lessons, been through a lot. I think it’s paid off. And I think it’ll continue to pay off.”