History of Georgia Bulldogs football
Georgia's football program began in 1892, when Dr. Charles Herty, a chemistry professor and former player at Johns Hopkins, assembled a team and arranged a game against Mercer University on January 30, 1892.
[3] Georgia's second game was on February 20, 1892, against Auburn University, inaugurating what would come to be known as the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry.
1910 saw the introduction of coach Bill Cunningham and a player who would be Georgia's first All-American in Bob McWhorter, College Football Hall of Fame running back.
Sewanee had a 55-game unbeaten streak at home and the Bulldogs won 7–6 on a Tom Thrash touchdown and John G. Henderson conversion.
In 1915, Henderson was the head of a group of three men, one behind the other with his hands upon the shoulders of the one in front, to counter Georgia Tech's jump shift offense utilized by John Heisman.
[12] The line included Joe Bennett, Bum Day, Artie Pew, Owen Reynolds, and Puss Whelchel.
Vanderbilt executed a trick onside kick from scrimmage to tie the score 7–7 and share the SIAA title between the two.
Day played for Georgia Tech in 1918 and was the first southern player selected first-team All-American by Walter Camp.
Morgan Blake, sportswriter in the Atlanta Journal, wrote "No southern team has given the Georgia Bulldogs such a licking in a decade.
"[14] Georgia was labeled "Dixie's top team;"[15] its only loss up to that point coming against traditional powerhouse Yale.
October 12, 1929, was the inaugural game in the newly completed Sanford Stadium and Mehre's Bulldogs responded with an upset victory over the powerhouse of the day, Yale University, winning 15–0.
Mehre left after ten seasons to accept the head football coach position at Ole Miss.
[20] During his tenure as head coach, Georgia won its second consensus national championship in 1980,[8] winning the Grantland Rice Award.
Dooley was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997[23] In 1981, Professor Jan Kemp complained that Georgia officials had intervened allowing nine college football players to pass a remedial English course, allowing them to play against Pittsburgh in the Sugar Bowl.
The board of regents of the University System of Georgia issued a report in April 1986 implicating Dr. Fred C. Davison and the Georgia athletic department, headed by Dooley, who was also the football coach, in a pattern of academic abuse in the admission and advancement of student-athletes over the previous four years.
During his time at Georgia, Goff was often derisively referred to as Ray "Goof", a nickname given to him by disgruntled fans, and even rival coaches.
There was one incident in which an aircraft flew over Sanford Stadium during the 1990 Georgia Tech game towing a banner reading "'Fire Ray Goof'".
Before the 2000 season, Georgia, led by a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate (Quincy Carter), was predicted by some prognosticators to contend for the national championship.
Donnan's inability to return the program to the national prominence of Dooley's era, compete with longtime SEC Eastern Division rivals and off-the-field problems for players, are believed to be the reasons for his dismissal.
Mark Richt joined the Bulldogs in 2001 after serving as the offensive coordinator of the Florida State Seminoles under Bobby Bowden.
Although some rivals had better facilities and larger recruiting budgets during most of his time in Athens,[29] many supporters felt that given its in-state talent, Georgia should be a contender for the national championship on a regular basis.
[31] On December 6, 2015; Alabama defensive coordinator and UGA alumnus Kirby Smart was announced as the 26th head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs.
[32] In his second year as head coach of the Bulldogs, Smart led his team to an appearance in the national championship game where they lost to Alabama 26–23.
On January 10, 2022, Smart and the Bulldogs won their third College Football National Championship in a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Indianapolis, Indiana.
On January 9, 2023, Georgia would go on to win back-to-back National Championships, which is the first time a team has ever done so in the College Football Playoff era.
