You don’t break a decade-plus losing streak to Alabama in the Benz and win an SEC title without a total team effort. But even then some Dawgs are bound to step up and stand out above the rest. Those champions of the gridiron are your MVDs, the Most Valuable ‘Dawgs from Georgia’s 28-7 title game victory over Alabama.
Offense: Gunner Stockton. Greatness doesn’t have to be spectacular. The great investor Charlie Munger once mused that “It’s remarkable how much long-term advantage people like us have gotten by trying to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.” Gunner Stockton’s did t bust off any big runs tonight. But he did a great job of finding positive yardage when it was there. He only threw for 156 yards. But he crammed in three touchdown passes and didn’t toss a single interception. Gunner Stockton’s did exactly what was asked of him to win this game, taking advantage of the opportunities the defense delivered his offense, and not giving the Tide any gifts that could have gotten them back into this one. It was a work of understated brilliance.
Defense: Glenn Schumann and the Bulldog defensive staff. I admit it. I was pretty down on Glenn Schumann and his unit early in the season. But that unit has improved steadily as the year has progressed, and a lot of individual contributors on that defense have developed into all-SEC caliber players while learning on the job. Tonight they held Alabama to negative rushing yards for the first time in decades. And they frustrated and flummoxed Ty Simpson from the first series to the last. Just an all-around solid effort.
Special Teams: Brett Thorson. If I’d told you prior to this game that it would in part be a battle of field position I don’t think I’d have needed much help to convince you. That’s usually how things go between these teams. And while the punt return team came through with a key block, Thorson was steady as she goes, kicking 7 times and landing 5 of them inside the Alabama 20. I joked on Twitter that after some of Thorson’s recent efforts maybe Georgia needed to reboot him, and that perhaps the way to reboot your Australian punter is to have a wombat hold down the power button. My compliments to the Bulldogs staffer who remembered to bring the wombat to Atlanta. Until later…
Go ‘Dawgs!!!
