Nolan Smith gives heartfelt response on bringing title to Georgia

Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith commented on what winning a national championship would mean for the Bulldogs as a Georgia-native. Georgia has not won a national title in 41 years, where they claimed their second national title in 1980.

Nolan Smith on Georgia winning a championship

Ahead of their national championship game with Alabama, Smith commented on how this would mean much more for the program than just revenge for their SEC Championship loss.

“I think it would mean everything,” said Smith. “There’s a lot of kids born and raised in the state of Georgia and this is one you’ll never forget. I always talk about leaving a legacy to my kids, but this is the ultimate.

“Kind of like a lot of people go to the program just because of their father and everything. I want that to be my son’s choice. But ultimately this is my goal and my dream, to point at my son, ‘son, this is what we done here.’ We’re born and raised here, so why wouldn’t we want to do that?”

Despite Georgia’s last championship coming before any players on this Bulldogs team were born, Smith wasn’t getting lost in the size of the moment. Smith was then asked if the players knew about that previous title-winning team or if they discussed it ever.

“100 percent,” answered Smith. “To be the first since the drought, I tell people, you’ll be a Georgia legend no matter if you’re from inside the state of Georgia or outside of Georgia, you’re going to be Georgia legend. We came in to be legendary, be special, leave your mark.

“Like I say, I want to bring my kid back and tell him this is what I did. I want to leave my mark. I don’t just want to be another University of Georgia player.”

The junior linebacker has been a key part of Georgia’s incredible defense this season. Smith has earned SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors twice this year. During Georgia’s semifinal matchup with Michigan in the Orange Bowl, Smith recorded his career-high in quarterback pressures with seven.

In addition to causing havoc in the backfield, Smith has become a big-play threat for his team. This season, Smith has forced three fumbles and caught one interception, his first turnovers forced in his career.