Number 96 to 44: Zion Logue's every-game journey explained
Picture this. You’re watching your favorite football team either in person or on television. Your favorite team hits a big play and scores a touchdown. You’re celebrating but all of a sudden you either hear or see the referee saying something. You say, “Oh no! That’s not good!” It happens to Georgia with pretty much every touchdown it scores and it’s not a penalty. It is Zion Logue entering the game on the PAT protection unit.
“Number 96 for Georgia is now wearing number 44,” the referee says soon after UGA crosses the goal line, but why? It’s because Zion Logue wears the same number as place-kicker Jack Podlesny. The coaching staff believes that it needs both on the field in that PAT or field goal unit to execute. It’s that simple.
So with both Jack Podlesny and Zion Logue wearing No. 96, the latter changes numbers. The referee must stop play momentarily and acknowledge it per the letter of the law. Then the game resumes. It’s a little easier said than done.
“So it’s throughout the drive on offense,” Logue said on Wednesday. “Whichever way we’re going, I try to stay down towards that side of the sideline. If I see a big run, I know I’ve got to find the two guys and get it on. Coming off, it’s a hassle coming off. They had to cut the sides a little bit so I could get my arms in and out. It’s fun. I love doing it for my team. So I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
There are so many “well, why don’t they” solutions to this problem. We know because we’ve probably discussed all of them. But Zion Logue and Jack Podlesny apparently love their numbers. Whatever brand or identity they have as a Georgia football player is what it is but they certainly built and earned it.
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Georgia is apparently willing to deal with the hassle. Read the comment above made by Zion Logue. If he is correct, there are apparently two support staffers dedicated to getting that number 44 jersey on and off of him.
That makes sense, though. Zion Logue is a defensive starter. It isn’t long after a PAT or field goal that the Tennessee native has some place to be.
But it’s also evidence of the strong culture that the Bulldogs have built. As previously stated, Zion Logue is a starting defensive lineman for the No. 1 team in the country and he’s dedicated to being one of 10 men blocking when Georgia goes for either three or one point. He learned it from a pretty good player who was in front of him the past few years.
“Really just going back to doing I can for my team,” Zion Logue said. “I know JD (Jordan Davis) had that position last year and he was a big wall. We need every point we can get when it comes to field goal and PAT, when it comes down to bigger games. I love to be the guy they turn to and look to to pick up that block.”
