Georgia's enjoying Miami but still hungry for win
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Georgia players and coaches have sat down in front of microphones the past two days at the Le Meridien Dania Beach Hotel and they’ve fielded a lot of questions. Those individuals have been asked about specific players, opt outs, departures via the portal, and much more. What hasn’t been discussed as much is the game that is set to take place between the Bulldogs and No. 5 Florida State on December 30 (4 p,m. ET on ESPN).
UGA has held one practice since arriving in Miami on December 26 and they’ll get after it two more times in preparation for the undefeated Seminoles. Those Georgia players and coaches are using the rest of their days to fulfill media responsibilities and enjoy some time together in mostly-sunny South Florida. But the leaders haven’t forgotten that there’s still a task at hand.
“In all honesty I think that he Orange Bowl is one of the best bowls you can play in,” senior center Sedrick Van Pran said on Thursday. “Obviously Miami is a great place to be in, super happy to be down here. But I think the biggest thing is trying to get a win. That’s the biggest thing, is trying to find a way to win a football game. That’s what it boils down to. As much as we enjoy the festivities and all that stuff, at the end of the day we have a game to play. That’s just what it is. In Miami or if we were playing in Wyoming, at the end of the day the goal is to win.”
The Bulldogs are chasing history. If they can hand Florida State it’s first loss of the season and snap a 19-game win streak, they’ll send the seniors off with 50 wins in their career. It will make the 2023 senior class the winningest group in Georgia history. It’ll also give UGA a 42-2 record over the past three seasons.
One might think that the Bulldogs are let down. For the first time since November of 2020, Georgia isn’t playing for a championship. When it comes to this game, it’s about the standard and pride. But according to offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, there hasn’t been a lack of focus or energy when it comes to the team’s preparation for the Seminoles.
“I think it’s been awesome,” Bobo said of the team’s prep. “Our guys have done a great job up to this point of buying in, but that’s Coach Smart’s culture. That’s his standard. We all are individuals and all have egos, but we’re all the University of Georgia. That’s who we are. That’s who we represent, and that’s who we play for. I think those guys have bought in and they believe in that. It’s just not words — they believe in that and it’s important to them to wear the G and represent Georgia the right way. Guys like that are fun to coach.”
