Matthew Stafford with newly christened Uga VII
It’s been nearly a month since Matthew Stafford, along with Knowshon Moreno, announced he was leaving the Classic City & UGA a little earlier than expected for the NFL. As much as his decision wasn’t exactly a shock, it was still a little disappointing, for purely selfish reasons. It feels like he just arrived at Georgia and so many fans wanted to watch him leave with nothing less than an SEC trophy in his hands. But what wasn’t meant to be doesn’t diminish what he still means to Bulldawg Nation. And evidently, the feeling is mutual.
In today’s Sunday edition of the Athens Banner-Herald, Matthew was afforded the unusual opportunity to express his gratitude and say goodbye to the fans, teammates, University & town he grew to love.
I appreciate the Athens Banner-Herald providing this chance to express my thanks to the Athens community and everyone else who was always there to give me and my teammates support over the last three seasons.
I made the decision fairly early in high school that I would be leaving Texas to attend the University of Georgia. The coaching staff, former and current players, alumni, the people of Athens and my sister Page all convinced me that Athens was the place for me.
And looking back, they were exactly right.
Not only did I make many friends who I know I will have forever, but I know I will always be able to call Athens home, no matter how old I am or where I’m living.
There’s nothing in the world like looking around the stadium in places like Tempe (Ariz.), Jacksonville and Baton Rouge and seeing tons of fans in red and black cheering as loud as they can. To play for a school, as well as a town and state, that gives undying support for the Bulldogs was an unbelievable and inspiring thing.
Many of my memories while I was at Georgia came while fans weren’t around. The hours and hours I spent with my teammates during camp, the quarterback meetings with coach Bobo and times I had hanging out with teammates away from the field will always be with me.
But I will also have some incredible memories from what happened on the field. Mikey Henderson’s touchdown catch in overtime to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, our celebration and 42-30 win over Florida and the “Blackout” against Auburn in 2007 were some of my all-time favorite moments. To play with guys who were some of the top-recruited players in the nation every year made my job that much more fun.
It was probably the toughest decision of my life to decide to leave Georgia a year early and enter the NFL Draft. But similar to my dreams of being a quarterback in college, I have also always dreamed of being a quarterback in the NFL and I felt like this was my best opportunity to make that second dream come true. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t already miss things I had gotten used to in Athens and with our team.
I have now been out in Arizona training for the NFL Combine for the last month or so. Although there are many things I miss about Athens, this has been a great experience so far. I have some grueling times ahead but I am definitely looking forward to this next phase of my life.
I will forever be a Bulldog and will pull for Georgia from wherever my career leads me. My three years in Athens was an unforgettable time in my life. I look forward to many visits back and for the tradition of Georgia football to keep growing stronger and stronger.
I wish the ‘09 Bulldogs the best and will be watching as many games as possible. Thanks to everyone and Go Dawgs!
I inherited the honor of being a Georgia fan as a baby and my greatest accomplishment in life is that my name is written on a diploma from the University of Georgia. I know what this city does to a person, and I know what profound influence of time spent as a student at UGA can do to shape a person. The phrase Once a Dawg, Always a Dawg, how sweet it is! doesn’t only apply to athletes. It’s the gift given once you allow yourself the privilege of calling Athens, Georgia home if only for a few short years.
As fans, we truly have a very limited understanding of who our players really are. We don’t know them like we think we do. But it’s moments like this that once again prove how powerful the bond is that ties Bulldawg Nation together. Whether you’re still disappointed that Matt left early or are ready for a new chapter to begin, I think we can all agree on one thing: Matthew indeed is a Damn Good Dawg and will forever occupy a special place in our hearts & memories.
Rest assured Matt, Bulldawg Nation will follow your career, buy your new jersey, and cheer for you on Sundays. Most importanly, we will always wish you every success and welcome you home whenever you stop by. You’re right, you will “forever be a bulldog” to us. Thank you Matt for such a gracious & classy way to say goodbye. Thank you for 3 years of incredible thrills, victories & memories. And thank you for choosing to be a Georgia Bulldog!
GO DAWGS INDEED!!!
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What a tremendous gesture from Matt. Truly a class act. As disappointed as I still am that I won’t see him trot out between the hedges with pads on, you can’t fault a guy for staring his life dream AND multiple millions of dollars in the face and saying, “Let’s do this.” I feel privileged that I was able to cheer him from the student section the past three years. A Damn Good Dawg, and (hopefully) a damn good NFLer.
Matthew Stafford is a good kid. Since he has already made the decision, I think you have to start looking at from a positive perspective. Think of what a great representive he can be for the University of Georgia- school and the Football Program.
The best thing to ever happen to Tennessee during Fulmer’s reign was not the National Championship, it was Peyton Manning. It allowed them to recruit Erik Ainge from Oregon; and Casey and Rick Clausen form Southern California or Kevin Simon from La Salle HS which is in Northern California. Manning brought new attention and interest from people who previously paid no attention to them. It made them forget how incredibly annoying “Rocky Top” is. Most of those recruits that ended up playing in the National Championship Game a year later committed to Tennessee because of the image that Manning, not Heath Shuler or any UT QB before him, helped create.
When kids think of a University before they apply or do research on attending it, or learn that a certain school has the program they want to study, a lot times they think of the athletes that attended that school because it is the athletes that are the most public representation of a school not near their out of state home. For instance- Michigan-Tom Brady, Georgia- Champ Bailey or Richard Seymour, Miami- Ed Reed, Rey Lewis, or Warren Sapp, So Cal- Matt Leinert & Reggie Bush, or Texas- Vince Young.
If this guy becomes a star he will continue to shine bright for the University of Georgia as well. Positive attention for Georgia Football is positive for the University as a whole. I just hope Matthew gets drafted by KC instead of Detroit. I am glad he came to Athens and I really enjoyed watching him develop as a QB and as a man.
A Damn Good Dawg indeed!
Well put Ally. Glory, Glory!
And good point cousinwalter. I’ll add that I think it was especially important that CMR sat in between 7 and 24 during the presser and gave his “blessing”. It was a very public moment for the program and it spoke volumes to the character of the head coach that he didn’t act like a two year old who didn’t get his way (see Carroll, Pete).
On Matthew and Knowshon’s farewell day, Coach Richt showed you what a coach is supposed to do- act like a proud and supportive father figure. Pete Carroll showed you what you are not supposed to do. That being said, I think Georgia has a very bright future ahead of them.
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