Georgia is open Saturday. Wonderbilt, for the second time this season, has been unable to meet SOC’s minimum roster requirements due to COVD-19, opt outs, injuries and other issues and the game has been declared a no-contest.
The game was to be UGA’s fourth and final match at Sunford Stadium this year. The Bulldogs were set to host Senior Day and honor Kirby Smart for keeping his team together and honoring those credited with advancing the epidemic. Once the UGA organization was informed of the news on Monday, they started wandering around looking for a replacement game. In an interview on Monday morning, thus, so far those efforts have not been fruitful but have remained smart 680 Fan’s “The Front Row,” Says they’re still trying.
“Not yet,” Smart said with a laugh when asked if there is a game at UGA instead of Saturday? ‘We are working but it is one of those things that is far beyond our control and we can do very little about it. I know the Dwight Nation is disappointed and I can tell you that our seniors are terribly disappointed, but right now we can do a lot but focus on the next day and the next minute. “
The 2020 season and the whole year have been difficult for everyone. Many people have changed their lives in a way that extends beyond college college football. They have been affected by coronavirus and the steps taken to reduce its effect. Jobs were lost, businesses were suppressed, and people lost their lives.
But as Smart often says, “Control what you can control.” For Georgia, that means trying to find a home game where it can honor its seniors and give fans who will only get a ticket to this one game a chance to see their team in person.
UGA fans are more than just disappointed. They are probably angry and hard to blame. While Vanderbilt reported to Tennessee last Saturday that he only played with 18 scholarship players on the defensive side of the ball, but he was able to play the game in fact. He went on to postpone the game against Georgia 7-2 on December 5, to find a way to play state rivals Tennessee (then 2-6) at home on December 12, canceling the makeup game with the Bulldogs set. For December 19th.
Commodores are claiming to be moving away from the competition, which should be done with extreme caution if done at all, but it’s hard to ignore the optics if your chosen team has a negative impact. Dogs247 has confirmed that there were attempts to seduce Colorado State in Classic City but that negotiations took place.
There’s nothing to say about how many different programs have been approached by the UGA at the moment, but it’s safe to say the effort is still on a smart record saying the SEC has blessed it. Smart has plenty to capture it in the meantime. The NCAA’s initial signing period starts in less than 24 hours and the Bulldogs plan to make at least 90 percent of their current commitment list ink. They could also add to the class with some high goals on the board.
Everyone who bleeds red and black hopes that Smart is too busy to come even on Saturday. There is hope that, for now, it will be but the clock is ticking.
