ATHENS — Georgia’s pregame speeches were filled with challenges and a realization of the magnitude of history that was about to go down in Sanford Stadium.
The Bulldogs’ award-wining film crew released a highlight video with behind-the-scenes locker room footage from the pregame and halftime of the Bulldogs’ 23-17 win over Notre Dame last Saturday.
“Don’t nobody come in here and play in our box, you understand that?” Coach Kirby Smart said, ditching the board room CEO disposition he presents in front of cameras to sound more like an All-SEC safety in the huddle, which he once was with this same program.
“You make them feel you for four quarters, that’s how we play football, with our heart, our toughness, and we chop wood for four quarters!”
Even kicker Rodrigo Blankenship — who along with QB Jake Fromm and safety J.R. Reed ranks among the best in the nation at his position — had pregame hype for teammates.
“Hey look man, this is the kind of game you come here for,” Blankenship said. “The whole world is going to be watching this game, it don’t get any better than this right here. This is what we’ve been grinding for, right. All for this, all for this game right now, it’s all for this game right here.”
Blankenship proved correct, the Georgia-Notre Dame game was the most-watched college football game of the season and drew the highest September audience for CBS in six years.
Still, the Bulldogs had to regroup at halftime, and Smart was quick to remind them that had been done before against the Irish in 2017.
“Last time we played them at Notre Dame, it was exactly the same kind of game,” Smart said at halftime, his team down 10-7.
“You ain’t got to do anything special, we got to go out here and execute, four-quarter game, give me all you’ve got, don’t come back in here without laying it on the line, no scoreboard.”
Georgia’s half-time adjustments did the trick, receiver Lawrence Cager emerging with a gyrating touchdown catch, and Reed coming through with an interception.
Newcomers Nolan Smith and Jermaine Johnson helped finish it off by chasing Notre Dame QB Ian Book out of the pocket on the game’s final play, his desperation heave knocked down by cornerback D.J. Daniel.
It was a classic, as the Georgia football film crew captured in their weekly “The Reel” feature.
Georgia fim crew: The Reel
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D’Andre Swift shows he can be thunder and lightning vs. Irish
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Fake injuries? Kirby Smart addresses issue
Kirby Smart says Georgia ‘got tested’ in 23-17 win
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly: ‘Physicality was real’
Recap: Georgia football holds on to beat Notre Dame, 23-17