I keep hoping to have a relatively stress free game at some point in my life.
Appalachian State, if not for Jacob Eason's injury, would've been that game.
The win over Notre Dame certainly wasn't. (Still happy about it, though.)
We'll see if Samford, the first of two straight home games against Bulldogs, becomes that game.
If not, keep your cardiologist on speed dial. I've almost punched my Cardiologist Rewards card enough times to get a free visit.
If I went it would the first time since....
Never mind. You came here for football, and I'm ready to oblige.
The last time...
1) These teams met:
They've never met, so here's a few quick facts to get you acquainted with Samford in the mean time.
- Bobby Bowden went there.
- It's a Baptist school.
- The school was founded in 1841, originally known as Howard College.
- Their Bulldog mascot is named "Spike," though I don't know if he's related to Georgia's inflatable Spike that graces home basketball games.
- The school is located in Birmingham, AL.
Moving on.
2) Georgia lost a non-conference home game in September:
Let's take a dive all the way back to 1989, when South Carolina — then an independent — came to Athens, leaving with a 24-20 victory.
Since then the early season losses have either been on the road, at a neutral site or in August.
The Dawgs are 40-0 in non-conference home games played in September.
3) Samford played an SEC team:
Let's take a much shallower dive to yester-year, when the Other Bulldogs traveled to Mississippi State to play the Other Other Bulldogs.
Perhaps sensing the arrival of Todd Grantham as its coordinator, the Mississippi State defense promptly surrendered 627 total yards in a 56-41 shoot-out victory.
Cowbell QB Nick Fitzgerald threw for five scores and ran for two more.
4) Georgia had a touchdown in excess of 50 yards:
The Real Bulldogs have scored six touchdowns so far in 2017, the longest of which was Javon Wims' 34-yard catch-turn-and-dive against App State.
The last one to go for 50+ was Isaiah McKenzie's 82-yard punt return touchdown against Louisiana Lafayette in Nov. 2016.
It was actually his second 50-plus-yarder of the game, opening the game with a 55-yard end-around for a touchdown.
5) Samford won a road game:
The fighting Howards (see stat No. 1 if you don't get that joke) haven't won a road game in nearly a year, with their last win coming on Oct. 8, 2016 against Furman.
Howie's team won 38-21 at Paladin Stadium, then lost its next four road games to close out the season.
Samford's trip to Athens is its first road trip for 2017.
6) Georgia played two other Bulldogs in the same season:
We get the pleasure of two straight night games against fellow Bulldogs, marking the first time since 1914, when Georgia beat The Citadel 13-0 and lost to Mississippi State 9-0.
The only other Bulldogs that Georgia has played are from Yale, though that series never coincided with a game against The Citadel or Mississippi State.
(And Georgia has never played Fresno State, Samford or South Carolina State. Or Arkansas Tech, which actually goes by the Wonder Boys, though they have a bulldog mascot, apparently.)
7) Samford beat an FBS opponent:
All the way back in 2013, the Bulldogs made a trip into Georgia to play Georgia State.
Samford beat the Panthers 31-21 in the Georgia Dome in front of 17,000 fans. Electric, I'm sure it was.
The Bulldogs were outgained 463-298 but used a pick-6 and a 100-yard kickoff return to edge out Georgia State.
The Panthers would go on to finish 0-12.
8) Georgia scored 50 points:
Visors look away.
The last Bulldog team to hang half a hundred on anyone was the 2015 team, which did it twice, including a 52-20 win over Steve Spurrier and South Carolina, a night where Greyson Lambert rewrote the NCAA record book, completing 24-of-25 passes for 330 yards and three touchdowns.
Nick Chubb also had solid night, cranking out 159 yards on 21 carries with a pair of scores.
Then the Head Ball Coach retired in shame.
9) Samford beat two Georgia teams in the same year:
The Bulldogs actually play three teams from Georgia this year. They've already beaten Kennesaw State, and in November they take on Mercer.
A win Saturday (or against Mercer, I'll let you guess which one is more likely) would actually make it twice in three years that Samford knocked off two teams from Georgia.
In 2015 the Other Bulldogs whipped Clark Atlanta 43-0, then toppled Mercer 47-21.
Samford only played one Georgia team in 2016 — again, Mercer — and won 24-19.
10) Georgia scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams in the same game:
Let's just have some fun, and see what might happen if the Bulldog defense and special teams get in on the scoring.
If it happens, it would be the first time since Week 2 of the 2015 season.
Georgia topped Vanderbilt 31-14, which included touchdowns on offense (runs from Sony Michel and Lambert), defense (Dominick Sanders interception return) and special teams (Isaiah McKenzie punt return).
***
Hope y'all enjoy the game tomorrow, a rare night game against a (should be) cupcake opponent.
This week is important for Georgia. They've gotta work out the kinks from the Notre Dame game, and get ready for Mississippi State, especially if Eason isn't healthy.
Hopefully this week is fairly stress free, but as we've seen with Nicholls last year ... that doesn't yet feel like a gurantee.
Go Real Dawgs.
