Dawgs On Top

 

 

Now that the dust has settled a little on the announcement that our two biggest superstars are exiting Athens early, I decided to add my two cents on the subject. Hopefully my take won’t be too redundant.

Even though the news wasn’t exactly earth-shattering, I sat glued to my pc watching the entire presser Wednesday. Matthew & Knowshon simply confirmed what had been leaked to the sports world nearly 18 hours earlier. Yet I suspect for most Dawg fans the real news was in finally getting to hear from their mouths how they felt about their individual decisions. After they confirmed what we all knew to be true in that they were leaving Georgia early, we finally got to hear their stories – what led them to their decisions, their hopes & dreams for the future, the sentiment of gratitude to UGA, their Coaches & teammates, and Bulldawg Nation. That was the real story for me.

 

As I sat there listening to them make their announcement and talk about what it meant to be a Georgia Bulldog, all I could think was how fast their time in Athens truly was. I realize that’s a trite description, but it is really that simple. Knowshon started for the Dawgs for only 2 years! Think about it – it was just a little over a year ago when he burst onto the national collegiate football scene. And Matthew actually only started for 2 and a half years. It wasn’t until that defining Auburn game in November of  ‘06 when we really got the full effect of what Matthew could do in silver britches. I guess that’s why I’ve almost laughed when people talk about their ”memories” of Matt & Knowshon. Memories? What memories? I feel like they just got here! 

 

But that is exactly the point, isn’t it? They did just get to Georgia. When you’re that good, that talented, that instinctively exceptional at the game, the collegiate level is just a layover en route to the final destination. Let’s be real, both Matt & Knowshon ooze power, proficiency, skill, strength, passion, and the “it” factor in spades. The truth is, there isn’t much more the college game can teach or benefit them any longer. Matthew can’t learn more in another year at UGA that he can’t learn with the Pros. He has intangibles the likes of Peyton Manning, John Elway, and Troy Aikman. Sure he has some mechanics to work on, but I’m pretty confident the NFL can teach him things Coach Bobo can’t – even in Detroit. And Knowshon does things that simply cannot be taught. He may not be the size of  Beanie Wells, but he can make even the best defenders in cfb miss him with his signature cuts. He has an electricty that makes the entire sports world sit up & take notice. It’s not a coincidence that people compare him to Herschel Walker – he’s just that good. Let’s face it, one of the biggest reasons the best recruits in the country choose an SEC school like Georgia is because they know they’ll be competing week in & week out against the cream of the crop in college football. Matt & Knowshon have played against the best defenses in the game – the same guys they’ll see again on Sundays in the future. My point is Dawg fans, we can pick them apart debating  for days whether their decisions were right or wrong, but in the end it really boils down to this….. they’re ready to leave Georgia for a shot at the big league.

 

In as much as I realize that UGA was just a stop on their journey, I also know both Matthew & Knowshon bleed red & black. That was evident every single time Knowshon popped up after a hit to get back in the huddle or danced on the sidelines. It was evident every time Matt did his high step, pumped his fist, or bumped chests with teammates. It was easy to see in the victories, little or small. But it was espcially apparent in the losses. Each of those guys earned the moniker Damn Good Dawg the moment they buckled the chin straps on their ‘G’ helmets and chose to wear silver britches. And for that reason alone they will always have my deepest appreciation, sincerest thanks, and eternal admiration.

To Matt & Knowshon, I wish you both every success, opportunity, and blessing God has to offer. I hope you had the time of your life at Georgia because you surely gave Bulldawg Nation the thrill of ours.

 

GO DAWGS!!!!

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