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Georgia Football: Notre Dame Not Just Another Game

By W. M. Lawson

ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 2: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs shakes hands with head coach Scott Satterfield of the Appalachian State Mountaineers after their game at Sanford Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Athens, Georgia. The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Appalachian State Mountaineers 31-10. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 2: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs shakes hands with head coach Scott Satterfield of the Appalachian State Mountaineers after their game at Sanford Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Athens, Georgia. The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Appalachian State Mountaineers 31-10. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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The Georgia Football team kicks off Saturday night in South Bend in one of the marque match-ups of the weekend. For Kirby Smart, and the program, it’s bigger than just one game.

You’ve heard people say this before. Probably a bunch of times. When a school hires a new coach, that coach really hasn’t “put his stamp” on a program until he has what? That’s right. A “signature win”. When toe meets leather in South Bend Saturday night, Georgia Football, and Kirby Smart get their shot at one.

This isn’t to discount what this game against heralded, lauded, and chronicled Notre Dame means for the 2017 Dawgs. I get it. A win this weekend, and UGA becomes, if only for a brief time, a rational part of the national conversation. UGA becomes the prohibited favorite in the SEC East. It’s a statement game. On the road. At Notre Dame.

But this game is even bigger than that. Coach Smart was robbed of his “signature win” last year when Rico McGraw took a 15 yard penalty in the Tennessee game. That came during the celebration of the last minute bomb from Eason to Ridley. It moved the Tennessee ball to midfield. Without that penalty, Dobbs can’t even get the throw to the end zone. He did. and we know what happened from there.

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That would’ve been it. That would’ve been the win that everyone pointed to and said, “Alright. Let’s get rolling.” Instead, the team was deflated, and took losses to Vandy and Tech. Smart is still searching for that win.

Vince Dooley had a bunch of them. That’s why he’s in the College Football Hall of Fame, and deserves a statue in Athens. Ray Goff never had one. Jim Donnan had one, maybe, but it was too little too late. Mark Richt definitely had one (and many others). It was the “Hobnail Boot” game. He coached for 15 years in Athens, and will probably go into the College Football Hall of Fame.

You see where I’m going? This win would be regime defining for Kirby Smart. It would be up there with the Hobnail Boot, in terms of what it means to the program.

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It is a massive game for both teams on Saturday night. National attention, pride, and prestige is on the line. If Brian Kelly looses, he may lose his job. That’s kind of a big deal to him, I would imagine.

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But for Kirby Smart, a win defines his first 18 months. A win consecrates his coaching. A win Saturday Night in South Bend makes this his team. And there are no questions. A win in South Bend and he’s good coach. Not just a good recruiter.

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