University of Georgia Athletics
Staying In The Moment, Bulldogs Do Appreciate Streaks
September 24, 2023 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
It makes total sense that the Georgia football team isn't concerned at all about the numerous impressive streaks the Bulldogs have going. You don't do what the Dogs have done the past few seasons, winning back-to-back national championships — and have continued to do through four games this fall — by dwelling on past achievements or patting yourself on the back.
"We know it's there, we just don't pay too much attention to it. But we're very aware of it," senior defensive lineman Nazir Stackhouse said late Saturday night.
Still, the numbers have reached pretty extraordinary levels. And while coach Kirby Smart and all of the Bulldogs are always focused on the task at hand — for Georgia, after Saturday's 49-21 win over UAB, that means getting ready for Auburn this week — that doesn't mean we can't take a moment to tip our caps, or maybe raise a glass, to a stretch of excellence around here that is above and beyond the greatness that so many have craved for so long.
The numbers:
• A school-record 21 wins in a row
• A school-record 31 consecutive regular-season wins
• 22 wins in a row on Dooley Field, two shy of the program record (1980-83)
• 20 consecutive SEC regular-season wins, three short of the school record
• It's not a streak, but winning 33 of their last 34 games is still extraordinary
Alabama entered the season with the longest home win streak in the FBS, but the Tide's run at Bryant-Denny Stadium ended at 22 games with it's Sept. 9 loss to Texas. Georgia's 22-game win steak between the hedges is now the longest in college football's top tier. And if you're reading this, you know exactly when the Bulldogs last lost a game, and to whom. (For those that don't know: Georgia's last loss came on Dec. 4, 2021, when it fell to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.)
"It's always good to acknowledge it, knowing that's what you've done, that's what you've accomplished," sophomore safety Malaki Starks said Monday of Georgia's streaks. "It's always a good feeling, but if you focus on it too long, it can be taken away.
"I just think being in the moment, being where your feet are — we say that a lot here — just helps us stay in that moment. Even though we do appreciate some of the streaks that we have here, just being where our feet are allows us to keep going."
While Georgia's 28-point victory over UAB might not have felt like the thorough thrashing to many have come to expect with every non-conference game, and plenty of SEC matchups as well, it was still a comfortable win. And though the Bulldogs were without numerous starters or near-starters due to injury, the offense still piled up 581 yards, tight end Brock Bowers still put on a show (nine catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns), and the defense still, as Smart put it afterward, "played good in spurts." Safety Tykee Smith picked off a pass for the third straight game.
If you're around high-level athletes enough, you realize that between players, coaches and fans, only one of those groups really cares about style points once the clock hits all zeroes. Every win should be savored, regardless of how it came to be or how flawlessly (nor not) you played. Because it's so much better than the alternative.
"All we can do is go home and laugh, fix what we need to fix, and execute it throughout the week, so that we can be victorious the following week," Stackhouse said.
Saturday's game was Smart's 100th as Georgia's head coach — and it was his 85th win. At 85-15, Smart has the highest winning percentage of any coach in SEC history through 100 games.
"It's an honor," Smart said postgame. "It takes a great organization, and we have one."
Georgia's last home loss came on Nov. 12, 2019, against South Carolina, then coached by former Bulldog Will Muschamp. How much time has passed since then? Muschamp is in his third season on Smart's staff and second season as the co-defensive coordinator.
If you're wondering where the Bulldogs' overall win streak stands in the history of the sport, Georgia has a long way to go to crack the top five. In fifth place, per the NCAA's website, is Toledo, which won 35 in a row from 1967-71. Tied for third are two different Yale teams, 1887-89 and 1890-93, that won 37 straight. The second-longest win streak belongs to the Washington teams from 1908-14, which won 40 in a row. And the longest winning streak in major college football history is 47 games, set by Oklahoma from 1953-57.
It's something to aim for, right?
Staff Writer
It makes total sense that the Georgia football team isn't concerned at all about the numerous impressive streaks the Bulldogs have going. You don't do what the Dogs have done the past few seasons, winning back-to-back national championships — and have continued to do through four games this fall — by dwelling on past achievements or patting yourself on the back.
"We know it's there, we just don't pay too much attention to it. But we're very aware of it," senior defensive lineman Nazir Stackhouse said late Saturday night.
Still, the numbers have reached pretty extraordinary levels. And while coach Kirby Smart and all of the Bulldogs are always focused on the task at hand — for Georgia, after Saturday's 49-21 win over UAB, that means getting ready for Auburn this week — that doesn't mean we can't take a moment to tip our caps, or maybe raise a glass, to a stretch of excellence around here that is above and beyond the greatness that so many have craved for so long.
The numbers:
• A school-record 21 wins in a row
• A school-record 31 consecutive regular-season wins
• 22 wins in a row on Dooley Field, two shy of the program record (1980-83)
• 20 consecutive SEC regular-season wins, three short of the school record
• It's not a streak, but winning 33 of their last 34 games is still extraordinary
Alabama entered the season with the longest home win streak in the FBS, but the Tide's run at Bryant-Denny Stadium ended at 22 games with it's Sept. 9 loss to Texas. Georgia's 22-game win steak between the hedges is now the longest in college football's top tier. And if you're reading this, you know exactly when the Bulldogs last lost a game, and to whom. (For those that don't know: Georgia's last loss came on Dec. 4, 2021, when it fell to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.)
"It's always good to acknowledge it, knowing that's what you've done, that's what you've accomplished," sophomore safety Malaki Starks said Monday of Georgia's streaks. "It's always a good feeling, but if you focus on it too long, it can be taken away.
"I just think being in the moment, being where your feet are — we say that a lot here — just helps us stay in that moment. Even though we do appreciate some of the streaks that we have here, just being where our feet are allows us to keep going."
While Georgia's 28-point victory over UAB might not have felt like the thorough thrashing to many have come to expect with every non-conference game, and plenty of SEC matchups as well, it was still a comfortable win. And though the Bulldogs were without numerous starters or near-starters due to injury, the offense still piled up 581 yards, tight end Brock Bowers still put on a show (nine catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns), and the defense still, as Smart put it afterward, "played good in spurts." Safety Tykee Smith picked off a pass for the third straight game.
If you're around high-level athletes enough, you realize that between players, coaches and fans, only one of those groups really cares about style points once the clock hits all zeroes. Every win should be savored, regardless of how it came to be or how flawlessly (nor not) you played. Because it's so much better than the alternative.
"All we can do is go home and laugh, fix what we need to fix, and execute it throughout the week, so that we can be victorious the following week," Stackhouse said.
Saturday's game was Smart's 100th as Georgia's head coach — and it was his 85th win. At 85-15, Smart has the highest winning percentage of any coach in SEC history through 100 games.
"It's an honor," Smart said postgame. "It takes a great organization, and we have one."
Georgia's last home loss came on Nov. 12, 2019, against South Carolina, then coached by former Bulldog Will Muschamp. How much time has passed since then? Muschamp is in his third season on Smart's staff and second season as the co-defensive coordinator.
If you're wondering where the Bulldogs' overall win streak stands in the history of the sport, Georgia has a long way to go to crack the top five. In fifth place, per the NCAA's website, is Toledo, which won 35 in a row from 1967-71. Tied for third are two different Yale teams, 1887-89 and 1890-93, that won 37 straight. The second-longest win streak belongs to the Washington teams from 1908-14, which won 40 in a row. And the longest winning streak in major college football history is 47 games, set by Oklahoma from 1953-57.
It's something to aim for, right?
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
Players Mentioned
TE
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DB
/ FootballGeorgia Football - Tuesday Press Conference - Justin Williams
Tuesday, October 07
Georgia Football - Tuesday Press Conference - Lawson Luckie
Tuesday, October 07
Kirby Smart All Access vs Kentucky - 2025
Monday, October 06
Georgia Football - Daylen Everette Pre-Auburn Press Conference
Monday, October 06