Stetson Bennett discusses relationship with Todd Monken

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV and offensive coordinator Todd Monken were doubted for years. “The Georgia offense is their Achilles heel” they’d say. Or, “You can’t win a title with Stetson Bennett at quarterback!”

Well, neither narratives were proven true and the Georgia offense did plenty enough to take care of Alabama 33-18 in the national title game. Yes, with plenty of help from that historic defense too.

In reflecting on his time spent at Georgia and with Monken, Bennett expressed how close the two have grown as football minds during their time together in Athens. Here was what the Dawgs’ QB1 shared about his OC at SEC Media Days last week:

“Whenever you spend three years — I know I wasn’t starting all three years — but we spent three years in the system and in the same room, and he’s coaching me every single day. You start to finish each other’s sentences. You know, you start to know why he’s calling this play, what is he thinking here. We thinking this? We thinking that? That only comes through time.”

There’s just a loyalty baked into a relationship once the two people have spent that much time together talking through the same subject — the same game.

Bennett then remembered a key moment in that title game vs. Alabama when a play didn’t go there way. However, the two had enough faith in one another to re-focus and get back out there and punch back.

“I don’t know if there was a specific moment, per se. I’d say it was last year during the season. But for sure after I fumbled that ball in the National Championship. And then, I mean, we just went out and ripped it.”

Stetson Bennett is really fond of that moment. Shows the sort of resilience he and his coach are made of.

“That was strong. I didn’t know that was coming. But when it did, we executed and guys made plays. I mean I had awesome protection. But to call those plays in that situation after what had just happened — first of all, you’re putting yourself on the table. And second of all, it shows that…hey, we’re not just going to bow to this. We’re going to try to win the game.”

That moment, and obviously that game, was defining not just for the Georgia football program. But for the two dudes at the helm of that offense: Stetson Bennett IV and Todd Monken.