June 9, 2021
680 THE FAN, ATLANTA – Nick Saban isn’t stepping away from the field anytime soon. I’m good with that and Georgia fans should be too. 

Saban put his signature on a contract extension that keeps him at Alabama through the 2028 season. Some would say that’s bad news for everyone else in college football. Why is that the case? 

I for one love greatness and try to appreciate it at the time. I don’t mind seeing the Crimson Tide go on the run that they have over the last nearly 15 years. Georgia’s head coach is in Athens, because of said run of success. 

UGA’s “obsession” with Alabama is valid and should be accepted. Who the hell doesn’t want to be Alabama? If you don’t, then you’re kidding yourself. Nick Saban is Alabama’s success. 

When Georgia beats Alabama, it needs to be with Nick Saban on the opposite sideline. You want to beat the Tide when they’re at their best. 

Beating Saban is still the test that Georgia needs to prove is possible for them to take the next step as a program. Clemson needed to prove that and did in 2016. LSU had to do it in 2019 and did so in Tuscaloosa. 

Let’s breakdown what the right comparison is for Georgia-Alabama at this moment… The Crimson Tide are the New York Yankees, while the Bulldogs are the Boston Red Sox. It’s more like the early 2000’s version of the two legendary franchises. 

The Red Sox postseason shortcomings were well documented leading up to their World Series winning 2004 season. They would make the postseason, play the Yankees and lose. The most crushing to that point was Aaron Boone’s walk-off home run to beat them in the 2003 American League Championship Series. 

In that 2004 offseason, the Red Sox pulled off the huge trade to pick up Curt Schilling from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Sox needed another frontline option to go with Pedro Martinez, if they were going to have a chance at winning the whole thing. 

Georgia can be the 2004 Red Sox in 2021. They have the quarterback (JT Daniels), offensive options, strong play on the defensive front and the experience of playing for a chance to reach the College Football Playoff. 

The only thing that could make this 2021 season absolutely magical is beating Alabama in the SEC Championship Game or CFP. Like I’ve said, it would be even better with Saban on the other sideline.

Georgia beating Saban won’t suffice in coming the next time these two programs meet during a regular season. It needs to mean something and it needs to hurt. 

UGA owes Alabama for the 2012 and 2018 SEC Championship Games. They also owe them for second down and 26 yards to go. 

Also, Georgia fans are probably ready to shove it to the loud mouths on social media who act like they’re part of Alabama’s on-field success. 

There is zero disrespect for the job Nick Saban has done in Tuscaloosa. In fact, it’s far from me showing disrespect. I just want to see Georgia finally pick up that elusive win and I want it to happen against Saban.