Georgia football senior Jonathan Ledbetter ‘we’re not going to disappoint’

Georgia senior defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter vows the Bulldogs will not disappoint their fans.

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Posted 6 months ago

ATHENS — Georgia football senior did his best to go through all the motions against the scout team that he’ll need to execute on Saturday against Georgia Tech.

It just wasn’t working for him.

“I just don’t think this game could be simulated,” said Ledbetter, part of a group of seniors who have won 41 games, yet never beaten rival Georgia Tech between the famed hedges of Sanford Stadium.

“We know what type of game this is every year, we’re always hungry for it. We hate Georgia Tech, that’s just how it goes.”

The No. 5-ranked Bulldogs (10-1) play the stingy Yellow Jackets (7-4) at noon on Saturday (TV: SEC Network, Radio: WSB 750 AM, 95.5 FM).

Georgia Tech enters the action on a four-game win streak this season and leading the nation with 353.7 yards rushing per game, and a gaudy average time of possession (34:12) the ranks fifth-best in the country.

The only numbers that bother Ledbetter, however, are 2012.

“We have beat them here since 2012, it is what it is right there, 2012, that’s all of it,” Ledbetter said. “I want this, and I know everyone on the team wants this, like I said, 2012 is the last time we won at home and we’ve taken a lot of disrespect from Georgia Tech.

“We’re not going to disappoint. We’re going to come out and play a physical football game and give them everything we’ve got.”

Ledbetter is one of 25 seniors who will be honored before kickoff — 15 scholarship players — and one of six senior starters making his final football appearance in Sanford Stadium. The other senior starters are: Center Lamont Gaillard, WR Terry Godwin, OLB D’Andre Walker, MLB Natrez Patrick and CB Deandre Baker.

“It’s sad, it’s bittersweet, I don’t want to leave, I don’t want this to be my last game, but I wouldn’t want it to be any other way than at Sanford Stadium with my bothers, playing Georgia Tech, still chasing all our dreams,” Ledbetter said.

“You would think it’s hard to get right for a noon game, but it’s honestly the same. It’s a big thing for us, it’s a big deal, we came in yesterday fired up.”