January 09, 2018
by Jere W. Morehead, President
Last night, the Georgia Bulldogs played for the National Championship, capping off one of the greatest seasons in our history. Although we fell just short of the title in overtime, the Bulldog Nation has every reason to be proud, for this has been a year to remember. A win against Notre Dame on the road in the first matchup between those two teams since 1981; an SEC championship crown, the first in twelve years; a victory over Oklahoma in UGA’s first appearance in the Rose Bowl since 1943; and a berth in the national championship game, our first in the playoff era-indeed, this season was marked by historic moments.
I want to congratulate Head Coach Kirby Smart and his staff, our amazing student-athletes, as well as Athletic Director Greg McGarity on this unforgettable season. The team ignited the Bulldog Nation and showed fans around the world all that can be achieved with hard work, determination, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. In many ways, these are defining characteristics not only of our football team but of the entire University community.
I also want to thank our alumni and fans, along with our faculty, staff, and students, for their unyielding support of the Bulldogs throughout this season. They brought Sanford Stadium to life each home game and traveled in large numbers across the country to cheer on the team, from South Bend, Indiana to Pasadena, California, making each venue feel much like a home game. I am deeply grateful for their dedication.
We can all agree that the future of our football program is very bright, and I look forward to the exciting seasons ahead.