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Sack Breast Cancer | 2025 Georgia Football
271 Plays29 days ago
Jim and John are joined by Dwight Standridge and Jordan Jenkins to learn about the Jordan Jenkins Sack Challenge to raise funds for Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer. Click here to participate!
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Presentation
00:00:00
Speaker
I still remember last year going on the sideline, I'd seen Darnell Washington for the first time. When he was still there, I said, man, I'm glad. ah i
00:00:14
Speaker
Welcome to My Got A Podcast. I'm Jim Wood. In this episode, John Powell and I are joined by Dwight Standridge of Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer and Georgia great Jordan Jenkins to talk about this year's sack challenge.
Origins of the Sack Challenge
00:00:26
Speaker
We learned how the sack challenge got started, how you can get involved, and we couldn't have Jordan on without hearing a little bit about his time between the hedges. We hope you enjoy this bonus episode before the season gets started.
00:00:40
Speaker
Now, let's join the conversation in progress.
00:00:49
Speaker
All right. So like we said, we said we we teased that we had a bonus episode, extra episode coming in between the season preview and the season kickoff. ah So we've got a return guest and our buddy Dwight Standridge.
00:01:01
Speaker
We're familiar with him from Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer. We've talked a lot of in the past um about, you know, and during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, got a points pledge in the golf tournaments, et cetera, but got something new.
00:01:13
Speaker
New this year, ah Dwight and Bulldogs battling breast cancer part partnered up with DGD, Georgia Great, Jordan Jenkins. Jordan, thanks for joining the podcast. Excited to have both of you here with us.
00:01:26
Speaker
Thank you for having having me on, man. it's It's a pleasure, and I definitely appreciate y'all's time. yeah always Always a pleasure, guys. We're kind fangirling right now.
00:01:37
Speaker
how did you two get linked Like where did this, I'll say collaboration kind of start?
Jordan Jenkins: Golf and Philanthropy
00:01:44
Speaker
michael soon so how how did how did you two get linked up like where where did this um i'll say collaboration kind of start so it's excuse me sorry uh it's actually kind of funny um after i had finished up in the league and the offseason hit uh i had flashbacks to um when we were still playing and um because rick was still a head coach and they were telling us about a golf tournament and my young self i thought golf tournament i thought that gets me out of workouts and everything so lot i i signed up immediately i was like oh yeah yeah You know, I'll go golf for a little while.
00:02:21
Speaker
Turns out you still had to do the 6 a.m. workout before you went to the golf tournament. And I didn't eat breakfast. I thought when we'd get there, we'd be able to have all this time. So I did the full lift, went out there, and I actually got dehydrated and almost passed out.
00:02:37
Speaker
But that reinvigorated me, and it made me want to start golfing again because my old man was five handicap. And fast forward to 2018, Dwight sets me up on a pretty stacked team. And i had ah and now I told him, I said, you know what, I want to donate per ah per birdie, per eagle, and per par. And I'm like, a at the time, I was like,
00:03:01
Speaker
22 handicaps. So I'm like, I might get maybe one or two pars. Little did I know we won the, the, the grosser net net score. And we had about maybe six birdies, 20 footer for Eagle. So we started cheering and then Dwight runs over and he's like, Oh yeah, I hope you know Congratulations on the Eagle. But that was about a $400 putt right there.
00:03:26
Speaker
yeah was awesomeome but He but – You've got to read the fine print. Dwight's on it. Man, I tell you what, Dwight is – he's a good man. and God knew what he was doing when he made you, and tell you what –
00:03:40
Speaker
it's it's all for all for a good cause. And it's just had, it had such an effect on me that I was like, okay, I want to sort of keep getting involved. And I told him, I said, Hey, well, you know what, let's, let's make a big thing. You know, i sort of want to grow my philanthropic side now that um the league is done and everything. I'm doing some real estate stuff. And I was like, all right, you know, let's do a hundred dollars a sack. And then i looked it up and I was like, it,
00:04:05
Speaker
probably going to be between 40 and 50 sacks and hopefully we get 60 because you know that means we going back to the national championship but uh we just it just blew up after we made the first announcement they sent the awesome graphic i had a little basic picture but dwight and the team put that awesome picture together and from then on it just blew up and I'm like, man, we, me and Dwight, we kept talking. We're like, we really do got something here. And we sort of got to get it growing. And I just was out of town for a lot of the summer. But we're just trying to get it going these last two weeks before the season starts.
Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer: History and Impact
00:04:40
Speaker
Yeah, I think You know, like Jordan said, it's been a great relationship since he started playing in our golf tournament when he was in school. oh And he's one that I got his contact info.
00:04:53
Speaker
ah He's such a good, outgoing person. We've been able to keep stay in touch. And all the the football players that I get their contact information, you know,
00:05:05
Speaker
You know, John, you said i try not to fanboy him or abuse that abuse that privilege, because I know they they get hammered from every direction when they're in the pros.
00:05:16
Speaker
um But I try to to pick my spots and and lean on them and their notoriety from being. at Georgia being DGDs, and most of them are totally supportive, 100%. Doesn't matter what I ask them.
00:05:34
Speaker
You can count on it. Yeah, count me in. And Jordan's just one of those guys. And when he approached me about the sack challenge, um you know I don't know what he envisioned it being, but as soon as he told me about it,
00:05:50
Speaker
I said, Jordan, between our charity relationships, our sponsors, our partners, and oh the vast Twitter network, and all of your contacts in the NFL, all of your corporate contacts, people that you've got to know over the past you know eight to 10 years, oh we could really blow this up.
00:06:11
Speaker
And it could be something substantial in the first year and something to build on you know going forward. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. ah I love that it came from that it came from you playing in the in the golf tournament as a player.
00:06:24
Speaker
yeah i love that. I love that. I didn't i didn't realize that. first time was eye-opening. i forgot to add in a part where after I had the Nike account when Nike still made golf clubs, I didn't listen to my dad and I bought the blades. I was like, oh, dad, you know I played for the golf tournament. Because the blades look cool. they have the neon blue and the neon green.
00:06:47
Speaker
And, man, I went out to Lane Creek with some of my buddies, and some of them scores, the winning score was like 121, and it was maybe 121 to 144 to 150, and it was – I'm glad those clubs are retired, and I got a different set, and ah way, way lower than that old number. but But it just – it was such a good experience, man, and I always thank Dwight and everybody, ah and Mr. Abbott and everybody.
00:07:14
Speaker
for just bringing us out and inviting me back every year because it it truly is a truly wholesome and fun experience and it's just I'm happy to be involved with it yeah that's really cool yeah and I know go ahead Jimmy I was just saying
Jordan Jenkins: Personal Anecdotes
00:07:29
Speaker
that's awesome you you you went from second quarterbacks to second cancer so we're it yeah You have something to occupy your your retirement years in, right? I got this little finger to remember my remember it by and then man been on them young boys, man. It's different.
00:07:46
Speaker
I got one or two gray hairs growing in there. So I'm like, it might be time to you know pass the metal on to somebody else. Let them go through it all them little shoulder pains and aches. I'm good.
00:07:59
Speaker
right, now I got to ask. Okay, so when did that finger injury take place? So this actually happened my rookie year. ah It was against San Fran, and I forgot who was the tackle. He was about maybe 6'7", 340, and i was on the left side, and I remember rushing, hitting him, and i was like, oh, crap, it's passed. I mean, he had me hemmed up.
00:08:25
Speaker
I was stuck, and I tried to push off. Then I looked down, I was like, oh, man, my finger, it's it sideways. So I'm trying to pull it. I'm scared. Now look up. He's still charging at me.
00:08:37
Speaker
So I back up a second. I try running off the field. And then Coach Bowles, who's now at Tampa, he's sitting there yelling at and He's like – get back out there. Get back out there. I'm like, my finger. And then Coach Bowles just said, I don't give a crap.
00:08:52
Speaker
Get back out there. And then luckily in all the ruckus, I'm spritting out, my finger paused back into place. But man, we that at that time, we were a jet team that, you know, we couldn't really couldn't really get a lot of wins. And we are I think we might have lost about 42 to 21, and it was a ah long plane ride back.
00:09:13
Speaker
And I felt every bit. But long story short, didn't wear the cast, and I wanted to play the video game, so it set like that. Wow. Okay. Oh. Back in the day.
00:09:26
Speaker
Confessions of a Gamer. That's exactly, you know. yeah what was your What was your game of choice? It was, at the time, this was like maybe 2018, 2017, and Fortnite was all the gray still. So I was on it, and then now but I'm like, man, I can't stand that game. But at the time, I was finishing up at Georgia, taking my last bit for my degree, and it was – Me and my old buddy from Harris County. So we're just playing video games all day. And I was in a show. I tore in my labrum. So I'm in a sling just playing the video games with a crooked finger shoulder sling and having a good time.
00:10:05
Speaker
Hey, at least you're still able to play golf. Okay. You know, I wish I started earlier. Wish would have kept playing at an early age with the old man. He's pretty crafty. I'll give it to him. Okay. That's ah that's a constant theme. um ah do want to make sure, like, so like on that, Dwight, maybe just high level overview, because I know you've got two golf tournaments um for for Bulldogs battling breast cancer as well.
00:10:30
Speaker
Give us a quick reminder of ah what goes on with with with those events. Okay. Okay. Really our, our events that are set in stone each year in ju July, we have a golf tournament at the Georgia club and stadium.
00:10:42
Speaker
That's where we partner with oh the Georgia football team. ah Can't say enough good things about Austin chambers and his crew in player development.
00:10:53
Speaker
They, they really position it and, um and let the kids know what, what a community experience it is. And they, the players are really invested. They come out there, give their time, uh, take pictures, sign autographs.
00:11:10
Speaker
And it's, um, you know, a wildly popular event, especially after back to back natties. Um, so we do that in July with going into next year, it'll be our 23rd, which was supposed to be a one-off.
00:11:24
Speaker
It was supposed to be want it done we'll coach ri and and, uh, After that first tournament, it was so popular, everybody kept calling and and asking about it. And Coach Triggs said, yeah, you know, of course, we'll we'll do it again and just make it an annual event.
00:11:38
Speaker
So that's going into its 26th year. 11 years ago, I started a second tournament in August. And it's not a scramble. It's a two-day, two-man, modified shamble. with a There's a lot going on. We fly to everybody after the first day.
00:11:55
Speaker
ah have a Calcutta on Saturday night, and the teams have a chance to to win some pretty good money on Sunday. um And it's more for the accomplished players, low handicaps. and maybe the Jordan, jordan and I'll tell you like I tell some others, somebody's got to win the last flight.
00:12:14
Speaker
So that could be you next year, brother. you know but But if I get last place or the last flight, then, you know, it's a – We'll give you a fishing rod. Yeah.
00:12:26
Speaker
um well i'm checking out So that's the two golf tournaments, uh, rolling into October. The one constant we have in, ah in October is with UGA hockey coach, John camp, his, his squad ah has done a phenomenal job of being partners with us and raising money.
00:12:43
Speaker
They call it pink in the rink. Uh, and you know, as luck would have it, this game is usually against Georgia tech bitter rival. And, uh, Coach always picks out some really cool hockey jerseys with pink accents to promote breast cancer awareness in October.
00:13:01
Speaker
The last couple of years, or I guess since 2017, the first time we did a points challenge was when Georgia played Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl. you know Couldn't have picked a better game to do a points challenge with Georgia having to score 54 win.
00:13:16
Speaker
oh So we turned that into an October points challenge for breast cancer awareness. And each game in October, you know, fans had a ah chance to pledge any dollar amount per point Georgia scored.
00:13:31
Speaker
And it's been wildly successful. um But with us partnering with Jordan this year, we're shelving the points challenge and running the sack breast cancer challenge for the, um, you know, the course of the year from the first game until ah George wins the natty in January.
Sack Challenge for Breast Cancer Awareness
00:13:51
Speaker
Um, so that's, that'll be what 15, 16 games called, you know, we'll win the sec as well. Um, So, you know, we got high hopes for it.
00:14:02
Speaker
And if that junkyard dog defense rekindles some magic, we're going to have plenty of sacks. So very excited about that. um In the last two years, we've also did a UGA Tennessee challenge with a guy off Twitter up there, and he decided not to do it again this year.
00:14:24
Speaker
oh we We have trounced them pretty handily both years. But he he is a phenomenal dude. He does ah great work in Tennessee.
00:14:35
Speaker
he He helps so many people. When they had the floods up there, he took his crews off the road for over a month oh running emergency loads wherever they were needed.
00:14:48
Speaker
So. ah I will partner with him anytime if he ever decides to rekindle that. But, you know, that we feel like this challenge, the sack breast cancer with with Jordan has a lot of legs, has has a lot of upside.
00:15:02
Speaker
And with us being in the first year, ah nine days out from the first game right now, we're at $1,389 per with a goal of twenty five hundred dollars so I don't doubt that we'll get there. Dog Nation always shows up and shows out. So we got plenty of time to crush that goal.
00:15:21
Speaker
So someone's listening. They say, want to get right? I want to pledge whatever amount it is that they feel they can do per sack for the sack challenge. Where we send them? What do we need to do? Where do need to go?
00:15:34
Speaker
Okay. So it's on our website. oh The event is on our website, SAC Breast Cancer. Click on that and it will give you instructions. All you need to do is click on the link ah and it'll send an email. I'll get an email notification with, you know, name, their email and whatever they their pledge is.
00:15:54
Speaker
um You know, of course we would love for everybody to match Jordan at a hundred dollars per sack, but everybody, but every every pledge adds up. It doesn't matter.
00:16:05
Speaker
i mean, $1 a sack. If we get 45 sacks, that's, that's $45 toward the calls. oh And we've got, I think last count was 51, 52 pledges.
00:16:17
Speaker
I want to shout out just a couple of our, our sponsors. um You know, Jordan, very generous, hundred dollars a sack. And I've, I've had some communications with, with some sponsors that have, you know,
00:16:31
Speaker
left at the chance to get involved in this landmark properties in Athens came in there. They're doing $175 sack, which is, which is phenomenal.
00:16:43
Speaker
And then we've got, um, I met with a gentleman, Brian Pike, with Sesco Lighting out of Norcross. Met with him this afternoon. As soon as I told him about the challenge, he said, tell Jordan I'm matching him.
00:16:58
Speaker
Put me down for $100 a sack. Just phenomenal. And then we've got... Two other groups, Trip Arrowwood with Arrowwood Construction out of Toccoa, $75 a sack.
00:17:11
Speaker
And then Michael Gibbs, he's got some g glamping domes in Helen. um and And his Twitter handle is Yona Go Glamping, Y-O-N-A-H, Go Glamping.
00:17:25
Speaker
He's doing $75 a sack. So, you know know, with support like that and everybody else filling in with pledges from a dollar, up to 25, 30, $40. it It's been phenomenal to see the groundwork.
00:17:38
Speaker
Every little bit. Every little bit helps. And you got some flat dollar amounts too, right? Yeah. They can also pledge a flat dollar amount if not. I know a lot of people, especially with the scoring pledge, it's sort of intimidating because, you you know, you could get out over your skis if Georgia scores.
00:17:56
Speaker
They scored 53 games in a row, but a couple of years ago, ah the second game, I think it was against Kentucky in Sanford Stadium, played in a monsoon, and I think the score was like six to three or something.
00:18:10
Speaker
And we're like, great, we scored. Yeah. Six points. um But we' we've had several flat donations, whether it be $100, $200, $50.
00:18:22
Speaker
And we're fine with that too, man. if every John, like you said, every dollar counts, every dollar adds up. And at the end of this thing, I think we're going to be able to post a ah pretty remarkable number.
00:18:34
Speaker
And I think I got to do my part, too, as well on ah hitting up some of these other ah hard-headed and knuckle-headed teammates of mine from ah back in the day. ah Because we we got a couple guys good-hearted guys, who I think should get involved. And with their support, I think we should be able to ah get as close to that goal as we can and Y'all, anybody watching, please tag your favorite Georgia player from years back and hound on them to either match it, donate some part, but please hound your favorite players, tag them in the challenge so we can get this thing up to that goal. Because ah with the NIL deal now, with some of these ah these nice little bonuses, you know, they're
00:19:18
Speaker
chair Jordan, we may be we may be going after the wrong crowd. We may just need to be targeting the college players. Man, you know, I guess so. You know, some of them college players, you know, i I do see a couple of them giving back, you know, and that might be a shot at some of some of us old heads, you know, that ah you know we might – the team that that lost to Vandy and to Missouri in the same year, y'all got to give back.
00:19:48
Speaker
Exercise some demons. and and the team And the team that lost to UCF in the bowl game. I mean, I ain't calling no names, but Joe Cox, come on. I was at that game.
00:20:02
Speaker
ah mcla Clint Bowling, I'm calling you out too, man. Oh. Definitely calling Clint out. Clint, TJ. we're We're doing it. we're dropp We're name dropping. Yeah. We've got we've got a hit list.
00:20:18
Speaker
Go down the list. Floyd, up e up in that little heat in training camp now. You know, he got a little bit of stuff to do. But Lorenzo, Bell, you know, the old Wolf Pack. I'm have to start hounding everybody this next week.
00:20:31
Speaker
Go around like people and trying to get the funds for a good cause because we owe it to y'all. We owe it to the fans. And that 2013 year, we we definitely owe everybody in that class. Y'all owe at least a dollar.
00:20:47
Speaker
Bad game that season. and And we hadn't even brought up the – the the pack of dogs we got up there in Philly right now. We need an end up there in Philly to get an old man. Oh, yeah. N'Kobe and Keely.
00:21:00
Speaker
ah That old crap. I still remember that picture. hold You know, we we need to see that pose, but $100. okay The contract, tracking yeah I see it on SportsTrack. I'm pocket watching. You know, yeahll y'all Philly boys, come on and show up and get back, man.
00:21:17
Speaker
As a matter of fact, I got someone one of Jordan Davis' rookie cards right there. at that. up what you say that You know, we might have a couple giveaways for some of the fans and this one's a national treasures, Jordan Davis autograph from his rookie year. So nice.
00:21:35
Speaker
Might have a little couple, couple goodie bags with some cards to give out, you know, if you go links to all this in the show notes and and the tweet out and everything. So just be ah be on the lookout for that. make sure everyone's set the link.
00:21:46
Speaker
Yeah. Hey, ah I wanted to mention one other partnership we've got going and I just got the finalization on that today. But Home Field Apparel and Dog Central Graham Coffee have partnered with us.
00:22:01
Speaker
And like Jordan said, we're going to do some cool giveaways. Me and him talked about the the idea of of every fifth sack Georgia has during the season, have some kind of raffle for everybody that participates will be eli eligible for that.
00:22:18
Speaker
But Home Field is, and I'll be putting details about this on Twitter probably tomorrow, when I can really wrap my head around it and present it like it needs to be.
00:22:30
Speaker
But Home Field is doing some tiered perks for pledges, and they'll they're donating some of those, the new black bomber jackets, some of the platinum boxes for UGA. And we're working on a private event that will be the Friday afternoon before the Texas game downtown.
00:22:52
Speaker
that will be a really cool event to be at. So I'll announce more about that out on Twitter tomorrow and put it on our website. We have N'Kobe Dean autographed out of Sunday. know him. DDD. You know, if if we get some Philly players, if we get – if the If we get enough fans to get three donations from georgian from three Georgia players on that Philly roster, I will personally put this N'Kobe Dean autographed rookie card, PSA 9, auto is 10, but numbered out of 75. I'll put this in one of the giveaways. If y'all can get three Philly players to donate.
00:23:29
Speaker
You be a dollar a second. You get three Philly players on that team from Georgia to donate. I will put this in one of the giveaways. like it. I like it. You inspired me. and This is where John's going make fun of me because I'm a hoarder. so used I used to get these at Kroger back in the day. The Georgia's Finest.
00:23:47
Speaker
Somewhere in this stack, I've got like a it's a mistake. so it's I think it's like Herschel's picture, but it has the wrong name. That's a good one. that one's my That's my prized Georgia's Finest card.
00:23:58
Speaker
They put Bo Jackson on JP, David Lee is going to be mad at me if I don't make this joke. ah So we were talking about beau Walker and you're commandeering the Bo Knows stuff. Yes.
00:24:09
Speaker
Yes. so now we've got to go with Bo Knows. Auburn Stores. So that's amazing. You know, I don't care for Auburn.
00:24:21
Speaker
He doesn't care for Auburn. He'll care for Auburn. And see, that's why Gunner is like the perfect quarterback for Georgia. When he drives in his truck, Auburn sucks. Yep. I love that, especially being from Harris County and Columbus. You know, you got half the fans are Bama fans the start of the year, and at the end of the year, they're Auburn fans, and they love Auburn.
00:24:42
Speaker
Yeah, a little bit of how the sausage
Rivalries and Recruitment Stories
00:24:45
Speaker
is made down there. ah Take some shots because it's a couple of me you know you go around the mall and some people shops, you know, they were showing Georgia stuff, you know, we might lose to South Carolina early.
00:24:56
Speaker
All of a sudden it's a whole lot of Crimson Tide stuff in there. I'm like, wait, wait, what happened with Georgia stuff. yeah we'll have them come on again like all right teach their own but it's always dogs on top every way that's right always always jordan you mentioned something earlier that i wanted to kind of roll back on because i'm curious about this you mentioned like the damn good dogs is that something that alumni talk about like football usually a football alumni like do you guys banter back and forth about who who's a damn good dog and who's not
00:25:27
Speaker
So it's more, we have a lot of ah appreciation. I was in Vegas looking around some homes and closing on a rental property and Tay Crowder was out there. You know, he was my little young'un from Harris County and ah that was my oldest sister sneaking in the room.
00:25:43
Speaker
But ah we were sitting there watching, looking back, talking about some of the younger guys. And it's more of ah an appreciation thing. Like we look back and see some of the guys, the way they played. And it was the same thing watching Roquan and Tay. Because I still remember Roquan's rookie year.
00:26:00
Speaker
We were thinking he wasn't going to be big enough to, or he wasn't going be able to handle the the full year because he was committed to UCLA and he came in undersized and We already had Rankin, Trez, and a couple other guys, and he just paved the way. I remember looking back, I remember prepping for some game, and was like, wait minute, is that Roquan they're talking about? And he's just side to side. He looked like Alec Overtree 2.0 in such a smaller frame, and it's just awesome to watch that. And then you see Brock just completely lightening up. I think he got –
00:26:33
Speaker
24 on the NFL top 100 this year. And nobody wanted to believe it beforehand. And it's just, it's pretty awesome seeing some these guys hit their, their, their, their stride and just keep it going and not just holding it down for them.
00:26:49
Speaker
Yeah. It's like a whole separate fraternity. Oh, it is. The damn good dogs. I was the only Georgia player up in ah and then that locker room when I was in New York for those five years. And a lot of Big Ten fans and a couple bunch of Clemson boys. You know, they had. Gross.
00:27:08
Speaker
Jamal up there and the LSU did have their little run Jamal. We were trying to do a little Jersey bed and didn't even want to do it. And then sure enough, come halftime, come into the game. All I heard was Georgia.
00:27:22
Speaker
What? Georgia. What? And I said, Oh no, you didn't want, you didn't want to the Jersey bet beforehand. But you know, they, uh, it was a rough, that that was a rough year that, uh, that year there. And then, uh,
00:27:34
Speaker
they they They didn't like to hold it up because I was always the loudest one. I was barking in there every game, talking that track. It was well-deserved. And that LSU one stung, I'm not going lie.
00:27:46
Speaker
That one, that it'd be hard. Yeah. John, you want to hit – I wanted to get to, like, your your standard question. Yeah, Jordan, we have a ah standard question for the the UGA folks that that went to Georgia, you know, that get on the podcast. You know, what brought you to Georgia? Like, what was your Georgia story?
00:28:05
Speaker
So this is actually perfect because a lot of fans don't know. But I was certainly committed to Bama for like half of my senior year. And ah ah remember we were going down to the Under Armour game. I was hanging out with – a bunch of Bama players and ah some of the Georgia guys hanging out with, was thinking, Leonard Williams and some of them down at the Under Armour game.
00:28:28
Speaker
And I remember after taking one of the photos, Roddy Novosi comes up and is like, you know, that was a full Florida picture. And I was like, oh yeah, you know, all but I was laughing in my head. i was like, yeah, it was all Florida guys, but I know I already go into Bama.
00:28:42
Speaker
And, That night we were getting done. We just finished up one of the practices and I was talking to my mom and I was like, if I didn't go to Bama, where would I go? And I was like, I'd probably be Georgia or Florida. And then I really started thinking about it and really started comparing it. And I was like, I just kept thinking about the relationship between it was Saban and Kirby versus coach Rick and coach Grantham.
00:29:07
Speaker
And then Florida had a new staff at the time. So I really had sat there and thought about it after that time And then i remember when we left the Under Armour game and I was telling i talking to my mom and dad and I was like, I think I don't want to go to Venn.
00:29:20
Speaker
I think I really want to to Georgia. And then they lit up about it. And then I remember Kirby steel he's still, he still lit me up about it because I called him the night before they're playing LSU.
00:29:33
Speaker
And I was young. I didn't watch i hated watching it football. I'd rather play back at the time. And now I watch it a whole lot more. But I remember sitting there, and I forgot they had the name the championship game.
00:29:44
Speaker
And I told them. You ruined his time. I called that man the night before. and he's sitting there. ah We had like a 30, 45-minute conversation. He's like, man, no, i can't I can't let you off the phone. You know, I got to prep for this game. Got to do this. He said, just wait until I have the game. Just wait until I have the game.
00:30:04
Speaker
And he calls me and he's like, man, ah we just won the game, but I still felt like we lost. And, yeah. So asked forward to when the new stadium gets the the new indoor gets built. They're taking down some of the other stuff.
00:30:17
Speaker
They're taking down one of the old photos that I had up on the wall. And Kirby's like, you see that? They're taking picture down. You want to know why? Because you called me the night before the biggest game of my career. committed That's why we're taking the photo down. He was giving me crap about it. He said, you know what? Get out of my building. It was just a full circle circle moment. The G just meant more to me. As soon as I made the decision, I remember after that going on the i think it was the the show with Chad Simmons. I think Rusty might have been there.
00:30:51
Speaker
but It was just a ah really wholesome thing. and It was finally that just family feeling that I've been searching for because being a military brat, you know, every three to four years, move into a different state. And my dad retired back in 07, soon as we got down to Georgia, just to give us that middle school, high school experience. And I just always wanted that camaraderie and just being a part of that. And that's what that G meant to me. So that commit to G when we still had that song and that, way that really meant, it really meant it for me. And it was just something that ah I knew was always going to be a part of me. And,
00:31:25
Speaker
You know, I got my Georgia blanket on the bed. I got Georgia G on the truck and my office. I got some Georgia stuff down there. you got the necklace on right now. Oh, yeah. You know, it's always dogs on top. And I actually can't get it off because I bent the hook. But, you know, it's just like it. You know, it's it's all about that G. And it just was a great to get it. Just it's just an awesome thing being a part of this family and this culture.
00:31:51
Speaker
That's why I always want to continually give back and just bless those who didn't have the same opportunity that I had or just really just giving back for me to get to where I'm at today. So why don't I give back with some of the same blessings and just try and grow over somebody else?
00:32:07
Speaker
Yeah, that's awesome. Amen, brother. So you so you were a part of you've you've been to a certain degree, you've been a part of the the two different regimes, you know you've been around the program with Kirby, you've been around the program with Rick, like, what do you like, what do you think is the how do you how do you feel about the differences when Kirby came to
Coaching Transitions at Georgia
00:32:24
Speaker
town?
00:32:24
Speaker
So it was kind of, a it was kind of interesting, you know, we ah found out, you know, after we we just played, just beat Tech and then find out Coach Rick's fired and then right i Twitter. And then i remember I was on the way to the facility and then see the news and half hours of looping up and uproar about that and finished out the game, you know, Pruitt left, BMAC took over and then We won it all with BMAC there in the bowl games. It was an awesome feeling. And then Penn State.
00:32:54
Speaker
Yep, yep. And Saquon was there. Hackenberg, my old – he was in my draft class. He what he was the second-round pick before me going to the Jets. And the little punk, he got the – he got a red rafter rookie year that I wanted. But – oh I got it. I got it now. I got the new model now. But it was it was it was kind of interesting. But when Kirby and company took over, it was sort of almost like it wasn't that much of ah a hard change for me because a lot of those guys were the same coaches that were at Bama at the time. Coach Schumann, he was still he was ah a minor linebacker coach at the time.
00:33:35
Speaker
um Coach Cochran, he was one of my favorite coaches when I always went up to visit and always hearing him screaming out, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then putting us through hell at the little three-day camp. And so there was a ah lot of ah familiar faces and some of the change, you know, was welcome. You know, fans wanted to change it. It sort of was like a proper send-off. Coach Rick went back to his alma mater, you know, after took the time away and Kirby comes back to his. And it just – it it it was a it It was an awesome feeling because me and Kirby go back from the recruitment days and then him and being from Bainbridge, me from Harris County, our school played each other a good bit. So he he's almost like ah he's that cool uncle that's always talking trash. And then and but he know he knows how to get get it. Like if if you have a bad day practice, you're trying to take it all and just try and mope around.
00:34:26
Speaker
Kirby not going to let you mope around. And that's what I've always loved about him. Like, he's going to keep pushing you and pushing you and pushing you. And, like, he love on your heart, but he's going coach you harder. And that's just the way he always is. And it's just – it was – he's a good dude, man. I can't lie.
00:34:44
Speaker
Still can't stand him in golf, but he's good dude.
00:34:48
Speaker
Is he is he a good golfer? You know, i' I've been issuing a challenge to him, but he keeps putting a high dollar amount that I back down from every time. he's He's buying you out.
00:35:00
Speaker
Yeah, he said, put your working contract on that deal. And I said, oh, okay, there might be a couple levels to this golf game. let me ah Let me relax for a little while. But I'm going star them all. I'm going to bring down that line at athletic club, take them out, wine and dine them, you know, and then talk trash in every backswing and hope I beat by five.
00:35:22
Speaker
Probably not going to go my way. That's funny. That's funny. Hey, guys, you know, there's a – From our perspective, when when Rick got fired and they announced Kirby was in, you know, Jay and Teresa Abbott are the founders of the charity.
00:35:37
Speaker
Jay called me five minutes after that news broke because they had such a good relationship with Coach Rick. And, you know, he was really fearful that our connection with Georgia football might end with this coaching change.
00:35:51
Speaker
oh and But to Kirby's credit, and it's been nothing but a ah great positive experience. Kirby came in and he told Jay, oh y'all proceed as if there was never a coaching change.
00:36:04
Speaker
He said, this is one of the community involvement projects for our our players. We're not going to change that. Everything will be seamless going forward. And, you know, true to his word, it's been a great relationship. And we're, we're so lucky to have the partnership with Georgia football.
00:36:21
Speaker
um Just there's a million golf tournaments around, around the state, or you could, search out and be in, but there's, there's only one that partners with UGA football the way we do and have 50, 60 kids out there playing. So it's, ah it's, it's awesome and really crucial to our success every
Partnerships Enhancing Charity Success
00:36:41
Speaker
year.
00:36:41
Speaker
Yeah, that's cool. I mean, and we can, I mean, prove right here with this group talking, like the relationships that develop. So um keep keep you involved for life. Yeah, amazing.
00:36:52
Speaker
um when you When you were playing as a player, Jordan, who who who was the golfer on the team that you guys were around? Was there any particular player that stuck out from your from your time at UGA that was a particularly good golfer? Because I hear Drew Bobo is a pretty good golfer.
00:37:09
Speaker
So Drew's one of the ones who really got me ah him and Chandler Catanzaro from Clemson um doing the I was doing the pre draft stuff spring semester out in Arizona, and they took me out to the waste management open with with ah my agency at the time and almost didn't go.
00:37:27
Speaker
And some of the ASU guys talked me out there. And then I met, got to meet Drew firsthand and talk to him for an extended period of time. And we're both talking about the Bulldogs battling breast cancer tournament, playing in the past. And I would mention I'd never, I'd never really golfed much before then, but Drew's pretty smooth. And then when I got to the league after 2017, I bought those stupid Nike blades and,
00:37:54
Speaker
Played like crap. um But Bryce Petty was nasty. um we I played the Baltimore tournament of that the NFL PA had. Young Huku for the Falcons is it's insane. he took a three-wood about – he ducked it off the tee and then took a three-wood about 300 – maybe about off the deck.
00:38:15
Speaker
and also found out Mark Ingram is a phenomenal golfer. I never believed him whatsoever. we were in the Texans together and i'm bad anybody watching football and watching the sports world knows how much of a character Mark is. And I didn't think he actually was a legit golfer. And then,
00:38:37
Speaker
The team he was paired with had two quarterbacks that were in the league. And I think Will Lutz was on it. You know, Mr. Northgate himself. He also me back in high school. But um he told me they used about 75% of Mark Ingram's shots. And I i didn't believe it. And I had to give him his credit. And he he's a really good golfer.
00:38:58
Speaker
Shocking. I was going to say, Dwight, who who's Jordan leaving out? who Who have you seen come through the tournament that's like striping out? Drew Butler is legit. When Drew was in school, he played with us four years, and he came back and played three more years, and we won the tournament six out of seven years.
00:39:17
Speaker
Wow. Okay. He's legit. I think an underrated golfer that Jordan didn't mention belongs that to AAC, Clint Bowling. Oh, yep, yep.
00:39:28
Speaker
Clint Bowling. when he was at Georgia and, you know, had all that offensive lineman weighed on him, he He could play. And now he ah he looks phenomenal. He's slimmed down. And and he's he's a pretty good stick.
00:39:43
Speaker
Okay. um Jordan, there's there's a question that we've, I feel like we've gotten this question multiple times and I want to relate it back to you. So like we, we do like listener questions every ever for like our preview episodes.
00:39:55
Speaker
And I think a few times we've had some questions along the lines of like, what's the loudest environment you ever heard in Sanford, and in Sanford stadium. o And yeah there's one that you played in that comes up.
00:40:07
Speaker
I know the one you're going to say. Okay. Okay. you emailed it LSU Yeah, yeah. you So that was one of the loudest. And Tennessee, when they brought out them smoky gray uniforms, and actually and that I thought we were going to lose that game.
00:40:25
Speaker
I was spooked, and i was mad. We kept messing up on defense. We couldn't get no pressures, and um I was hot. But the another one that was a sleeper was – Freshman year, um when Jarvis made the game-winning play against ah Florida in the Georgia-Florida game, and there was just three moments where I remember it was the first time where I couldn't hear anything.
00:40:51
Speaker
It was when Malcolm had that catch, and he ran it in on, like, from maybe 20 or 30 out. Mm-hmm. And another one of the runs, um I think Kiefer Todd might have had. But those three, like individually, were three of the loudest moments. But the LSU game, after I i dump so i tried jumping over the fullback. was going to bring it up.
00:41:14
Speaker
That's like on like the last play, like their last offensive snap, right? And nobody knows it. Well, there's three things that happened in the LSU game. One, I learned Zach Mettenberger throws the ball a thousand miles per hour.
00:41:26
Speaker
I dropped the most gifted pick of all time. Didn't, didn't know how to drop anyway. We were in Harris County. We, it was club rip and then go. I never had to drop. So it was dropping into, was supposed to have a curl flat and,
00:41:42
Speaker
just remember seeing the receiver and I saw Mettenberger load up and I was like, oh, it's just like the movie. Everything is slowed down. I'm at it. It's just like the movie. I'm going to catch this ball and and I'm going down the sideline. I'm going to score in it.
00:41:53
Speaker
They're on 40 and I'm on like the 20 on the numbers. I see him throw the ball and next thing I know, It just hits my chest and hits the ground. I'm just like, oh, dang.
00:42:06
Speaker
Third down, half week we luckily get off the field. I get to the sideline. Some people are trying to talk to me, and I'm just like, man, I'm not trying to hear it. Getting a sack later on to make up for it. but So that fast forward to the last play, said, okay, I'm going to jump over this fullback, and then I'm make this sack.
00:42:24
Speaker
I saw Flo rush off the other side. I think um so i thought I forgot who was rushing up the on the interior, but saw him rushing up that way. So I said, okay, I'm going to jump over it. Man, that joker clipped my right thigh, and I tabletopped over.
00:42:39
Speaker
all I remember was looking up, seeing the ball up in the air. Boom, he fumbles, drops it, and everyone goes crazy. And it just was – it's hilarious. Not many people see it because it's on the bottom of the screen.
00:42:52
Speaker
And it's – Hilarious. And then it's just, it's it's a word to the wise. Don't jump through. duck Don't jump over somebody who's six foot tall. board zone Unless you go into the car, because he's probably one of the most athletic freaks that I've seen at Georgia. And I still remember running the 110s and the curves, and he's just casually gliding around, finishing early before everybody. And I'm just like, man, I can't stand looking at you run right now because I'm dying.
00:43:20
Speaker
But he's He was an athletic, he was a freak in nature. Yeah. I mean, I feel like didn't, i think that game, like ah an LSU guy, like downed a kickoff, like at the, was that that game? Oh God, that was when Odell was catching, that's when I figured out who Odell was too.
00:43:38
Speaker
um Somebody had mentioned, Sterling was talking to me and he said, he just caught that ball one handed off the kickoff. then sure enough, Mars will kick it off. And then Odell just casually one hand catch it like that. And I i was flabbergasted. I just never seen anyone do that. And then fast forward, I was like, oh okay. So this Odell guy is pretty good. And then next two years, he tears it up in the league. And it just was amazing because Jeremy Hill was on that team.
00:44:08
Speaker
um Vidal Alexander, a couple other big linemen, ah that played for a while. A couple other younger guys, but there was there was a lot of all-stars on that on that team, on both.
Reflecting on Tough Losses
00:44:21
Speaker
It was a stacked roster game.
00:44:23
Speaker
And that just was a regular. That's why the SEC is the best conference. I think LSU was 14 at the time. I think we were 12. We had lost a couple games. I think we lost early to um Missouri at home.
00:44:41
Speaker
James Franklin hit a couple of stuff or whatever the court, I forgot his name. He... Yeah, that was when I think Franklin got hurt. maddie Was Matty Maugham, maybe? That might have been one of them. And then the Ray Drew hit where it was they called target, picked up the flag, said, well, it's not targeting, but since we threw the flag, we can't rescind the penalty.
00:45:01
Speaker
Then they scored. the same thing happens with Rameek getting the same hit. It's like, oh, we reviewed it It's actually not targeting, but we can't pick up the flag. Another penalty, and then they score, and it was – Oh, that one was a rough pill to swallow. It was the Vandy, that Vandy loss, the early Missouri loss, because we we had we had him in so many times that I just remember we we just didn't have that sense of urgency. We just figured, all right, you know, we spotted him now. We'll get him on the next one.
00:45:28
Speaker
Oh, my bad. We'll get him on the next one. Fast forward, clock ran out, we lost. But that's why we need to get some more donations from them Philly boys. Y'all got to pay it.
00:45:40
Speaker
the past I was in Nashville that game when they threw the flag on Ramik. Yep. I was in a Vandy bar, and I was the only Georgia fan in there.
00:45:55
Speaker
That was not a good place to be. they They let you have it up there. they they let me They let me know. it if It only happens once in a blue moon.
00:46:06
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. wasn't I appreciate it. It was rough to wear that G around certain places. Oh yeah. And I, and I'm like you little mouthy, but I wasn't that day.
00:46:20
Speaker
Heck no, no. Everything that went wrong. Oh, then they ran a fake field goal on us before halftime. And boy, Coach Grantham was livid.
00:46:33
Speaker
And people like think Coach Rick didn't get all rah-rah. No, no. Coach was hot. TG was on one. He broke a clipboard. and Did they run it on third down?
00:46:46
Speaker
Ah, they they had done something crazy. The third and Grantham play? Yeah, yeah. that I remember them days. It was – There was one, i can't remember if was that year, but there was one they had like a, they did a fake punt where like the center was, he was on the, like he was the end. So he was eligible.
00:47:04
Speaker
I can't remember those that. i came Yeah. We, I still remember looking back and would do, we, we just were just like, we really just let that happen. i think it would make six seconds. Like we weren't even really, it it was, thought it was on us not being, like we, we weren't even really set and we just thought they were just going to kick it and then go on. And then,
00:47:25
Speaker
They were definitely – they wanted it more that day, and we just thought little brother Vandy wasn't going to pipe up. And they they piped up and taught us a lesson real quick. and you You were there 12 – 12 through 15, right? Yep.
00:47:38
Speaker
2012 SEC Championship. Boy, boy, boy. drums yeah twenty twelve scc championship bla bla boy thank you i still it I didn't know how we lost until we got on the buses to leave because i turned around and talked to Sterling Bailey and I was like, oh yeah, we're going to win the game. And I got to the G in game. And then all of a sudden I saw all the confetti fall and I'm like,
00:48:04
Speaker
when what is happen We just already just had that long catch. I was like, all right, bet. We're going to spike it, you know.
00:48:13
Speaker
We wish. Yeah. And I still give – I thought was giving Murray crap. We were at a Brennan Woods golf tournament up in Talapusa, and Murray was there, and I was giving him crap about He like, no, no, no, that wasn't me. I was between bubble. I said, uh-huh.
00:48:30
Speaker
Yeah, you should have superseded him and spiked that ball. i wanted the ring, dang it.
00:48:36
Speaker
That team there was – that was a team of some dudes there. And I well wish we had one for them because Jarvis, Tree, Big John Jenkins, ah Mike Gilliard, you know, a lot of those older guys, even Garrison Smith, you know, they really – they put a lot of work in and and they fought over their four years, four or five years there. and that That was the one that stunk.
00:48:59
Speaker
And then the ring game in 2015 hurt too. I mean, it's it's just a to think back to that, too, like just how much the game has changed. Because now, like, that's a playoff team.
00:49:11
Speaker
And, like, you guys keep going on. You know, it's so different. feel Still salty about how the committee decided to shake that up. Because at the end of that, i was like, okay, you know, Bama was one.
00:49:23
Speaker
We're two. Notre Dame's three. that One, they don't play nobody. And – They don't play no conference championship. You said Manny Taylor. I was so biased towards Manny Taylor when he was going through his whole ordeal.
00:49:36
Speaker
Only because I was salty about that game. I said, they got out there when they put us and told us we're going to the Capital One game, I said, oh, wow, this is This is what – this is the little the little meme, hello, darkness, my old friend. That's what was playing in my head. I'm watching the show, I said, this is crazy.
00:49:57
Speaker
And I was hanging out with – it was me, TJ Stripling, and them. And that it it was – I remember watching that game, and we we were bashing that whole Notre Dame team. And it formed my hate for Notre Dame and a lot of that that conference over there.
00:50:15
Speaker
Yeah. Brutal. Yep. So pivoting, pivoting to talk a little bit about like what's going on in today's
NIL and College Recruiting Dynamics
00:50:22
Speaker
game. Like what, ah from your perspective, like has NIL truly changed everything from a recruiting standpoint, the way that we fans tend to like frame it, like our kids from what you've seen truly picking exclusively off of, off of money more so now. Yeah.
00:50:40
Speaker
So I think in a sense, sometimes you do get that case, but it kind of is like ah it's a double edged sword because now that there's money involved, now there's a lot more of ah so of of a realistic ah like the goal of getting that life-changing money and getting it to affect, like help out your family. Now it's, it's, it's that much more. So I think one of the, the the blessings in disguise is we get you sort of, the guys that do want to be there, that the guys that really want to be there and the guys that do make it those four years,
00:51:18
Speaker
and actually make it to the next level and make it even in, make it through the, the weed out programs, make it, make it to the guys not transferred, the guys that stay in the guys that actually respect the whole process.
00:51:30
Speaker
It's that much more. And it's a blessing and it helps them get ready for the next tier and the next level of life that much earlier, because they're, they see all the money and they can handle that and still be loyal still have some of the same sort of, uh,
00:51:46
Speaker
just attitudes towards I think it's its it's a little of both. you know Sometimes you get guys that do do it for the money, but they don't last. It's almost like if you do get guys that go for the money, you see the guys that hold out and try and transfer for this, try and transfer for that. and you know and it just It sort of weeds some of those guys out because You can't sit there and transfer to three different schools. And and I get, you know, sometimes there you get a coach that you just told one thing, you get there, it's not how you thought. And it's like, okay, then by all means. But some of the guys that are making some the transfers, you know, it does get to be.
00:52:22
Speaker
a little out of hand and one of the things it's like with now that the NIO's there you know the only thing is maybe having just a legislation on just ah a fine system on certain aspects of the game and just treating it like the professionals you know and it might when you get fined for some stuff you know leaving to get fined for being late you know it makes you really appreciate that money a whole lot more and just sort of have a little ah professional approach to it because when When a minute turns into $14,655, you really start really teeing in and really focusing in on it. But, man, it's a different change. But I'm excited to see how the boys are going to turn out this fall.
00:53:01
Speaker
It sounds like that the you kind of were touching on some things that I've been kind of – we've talked about it on the podcast that, like, at some point there's value. at Not only getting developed by a coach like Kirby Smart, but there's value at staying in the state that you are from. Absolutely. Staying at one school for all four years or you know however long you're going to be there and then go to the NFL.
00:53:26
Speaker
But there's value in coming back as a damn good dog or you know what yeah and damn good elephant or whatever the heck that you know your mascot is. you hit it right on the head because not everyone's going to make it. You know, there's injuries, you know, there's cases where there might be some, you know, the politics happen in the league. There might be a coach that knows another coach who knows his dad, you know, he might go there, are you not might not. But just being able to know that you can get some of this money while you're playing and have your own name and likeliness to like being able to monetize it and use it while you're playing, you can set yourself up, you can set your family up for years
00:54:03
Speaker
ah you Even if you don't play in the league, if you stay in, if you into middle school in the same state, high school in the same state, the amount of businesses and the amount of connections you get solely off of having not just the Georgia degree, you know, which I'm biased towards, but getting degree from Alabama, getting a degree from Auburn, you know, Florida, and being from those states and staying in those four years, developing those connections with the businesses, the school, the some of the You might meet some high ranking political people. You might meet some high ranking people in business that are locally around that love the team, love the sports. And you can have a connection for life and you might potentially lose it just by you. You know, it might be transferring out. Yeah.
00:54:43
Speaker
Sometimes it's maybe I'm getting, maybe I'm getting 400 here, but such as so this kid's getting this there and it's the sort of, The thing about you just wanting to compete with everyone else and it's like, oh, he's getting that. I think I deserve this. And it's like when you start thinking that way, it it sort of sets you up for failure because there's always going be somebody better. There's always going to be somebody that makes just a little bit more. But it's it's what you do with your time there. And it's like you're still making some great money. Embrace the connections that you're having while you're there for those four years and just let that set you up for life. You know, if you make it to the league, then you have all those connections already set.
00:55:22
Speaker
Like some of the times, you know, you got guys that went through four years, they didn't get to go to some of the workshops. They couldn't go meet with the CEO of this company just because of the way the NIL was. But now you can do business with Hedda Aflac. You can do business with some of the CEOs at Nike and all the ah the other fashion companies out in Oregon or the University of Washington. So that aspect really comes in. It's like, if I sit there, you know, get a nice little bit of money and have a good, a great coaching staff, a great organization top down and a business school, you're freaking set for life. And I think my power just flew.
00:55:56
Speaker
and Yeah. iw i feel like you've got a good perspective on this too. Like with the relationships you've made through. I think one thing Kirby's done better than, Almost everybody is recruiting character and selling these kids on the developmental process and coming here for three years and looking at the big picture.
00:56:17
Speaker
You come here, you're going to be practicing against four and five stars. Iron sharpens iron. And after three years, the. the proof's in the pudding. The last three or four draft cycles filled with Georgia Bulldogs.
00:56:31
Speaker
So, you know, the development, the development is there. All the NFL coaches know what they're getting when they get a UGA player. Right. no So I think if you play the long game, you know, ki Kirby's got that,
00:56:46
Speaker
dialed in right now. Yeah. Yeah. And joke has always been that, you know, the, the, the the Jake Fromm's of the world can always fall back on insurance if they need to, and, and yeah be set for life.
Kirby Smart's Influence on Player Development
00:56:57
Speaker
here yeah name alone You know, and pet Murray, you know, Murray would have really thrived in the NIL era. And it's, that's some of the positives I like to see from that is,
00:57:10
Speaker
that if you you're a Georgia guy, you know, you'll always get it. Like teams, if if you're if you're a competitor, you know, teams will always give a guy from Georgia a chance. ah And, you know, if it doesn't work out, you know you've got all those great connections that you've met, you've had over the last four years. And with that G, so, I mean, it's it's right there for you. And you hit it right on the head, Dwight. I think Kirby's one of the best ah developers for talent and developers. It's just – just really great guys on the field and even better guys off the field. Cause when you go through the Kirby smart led team, you know, you're it's there's expectations and he doesn't slack off. Like people, some parents might think, Oh, you know, after a year, you know, my kid might not be getting coached saying, Oh no, Kirby is just as adamant in practice.
00:57:57
Speaker
doesn't matter if you're a first rounder, fourth rounder. It doesn't matter where you're set. If you're not competing that day, he's going to call you out and he's going to make sure everybody sees it. So there's no favoritism. He's giving everybody a shot. And and it's just Kirby's got all my respect and more.
00:58:13
Speaker
Well, and and Jim, you brought up the the point, you know, how how does that translate to Bulldogs battling breast cancer? when When I first got involved, ah you know, Jay and Teresa had the one golf tournament.
00:58:27
Speaker
And they would write a check to St. Mary's for eight, $9,000. Well, the last seven years we've donated six figures and I'm not, you know, the last three or four years have been over 200 grand.
00:58:40
Speaker
um And to see the the timeline and and how this charity has grown. how we've networked with partners and sponsors. um Just the gentleman I met today, Brian Pike with the Cisco lighting was referred to me by somebody we tailgate with.
00:58:58
Speaker
um And, and she said, you need to meet this guy. He he's heard about y'all and he wants to get involved. And it was, you know, we met at ah a restaurant and and shared a beer together, 45 minute conversation.
00:59:13
Speaker
And we've got, ah what I think is going to be a really valued partner going forward. and And he's bought in. He knows about our charity. He knows what we do. And he knows we are we're raising money that stays local and is really affecting outcomes for people.
00:59:32
Speaker
I just about to say, walk us through that, Dwight. Like, you know, when when you're donating to Bulldogs Battling Breast Cancer, it is staying local.
Impact of Donations on Breast Cancer Awareness
00:59:40
Speaker
What's it going towards? Like, what? it exactly there's some Okay.
00:59:44
Speaker
ah Every dollar we raise goes to St. Mary's Hospital in Athens, or technically St. Mary's Foundation, which is their fundraising arm. And they've got a ah fund set up specifically for Bulldogs battling breast cancer called Teresa's Hope, which Teresa Abbott is now a 22-year survivor. Her and Jay are the founders.
01:00:07
Speaker
So every dollar we raise goes to that fund. They use that fund to provide free mammograms for women in need, to educate women in the community on the importance early detection, get those screenings done,
01:00:23
Speaker
because the earlier you can catch or diagnose breast cancer ah really changes the quality of outcome. If you catch it early enough, ah you know, full recovery with, you know, I'm not going to say minor, but very reduced care.
01:00:42
Speaker
Whereas if you don't get the screenings done, you catch it late, the outcome and and what you have to go through could change substantially. Yeah.
01:00:52
Speaker
And, you know, I'll say ah me and Jay talked about this after this past checks check presentation. In 2023, we raised $275,000. So, of course, our our goal in 24 was 300 grand.
01:01:08
Speaker
And um ah I'll compare it to a football team sort of resting on its laurels. ah We had a couple of sponsors that always came through for us at the end of the year.
01:01:21
Speaker
And we knew where we were positioned and we were counting on X number of dollars to filter in at the end of the year. Well, 2024, we only um donated 245,000.
01:01:33
Speaker
Well, that to us, that was like a slap in the face. That's the first year we went backwards in 13 or 14 years. And, you know, Jay called me the next day and he said, he was just um depressed.
01:01:45
Speaker
He was like, man, I can't believe we didn't get our goal. And, I said, Jay, look look at the big picture. Look at where we were 15 years ago donating $8,000 or $9,000.
01:01:57
Speaker
I said, other people would kill to be in the position we are. you know We slipped a little bit this year, but that's what comebacks are made for. so you know There's a little bit of a chip on our shoulder this year.
01:02:10
Speaker
oh Jordan walks in, you know gives me a call this summer with this idea, and I have no doubt that we're going to blow past $300,000 this year. so You know, it's just been a great journey and I'm i'm so blessed to be a part of it.
01:02:25
Speaker
One would say that Jordan's bringing the fire passion and energy. Yes, one could say. it's, we, me and Dwight talked and I had a couple other um things I had to take care of this summer, but.
01:02:40
Speaker
this really doesn't even really hit the whole goal. Like we, we've got some stuff set for 2026 that I think really could sort of really change some of the, put a lot of good change for, uh, for, uh, the Bulldog, Vat, and Breast Cancer.
01:02:58
Speaker
And we just are so like, we know we have this stuff to handle with the, the SAC challenge this year, but yeah, we're got We're on to some really big things, and no matter what happens at the end of this year, I think moving forward just from this initiative that I think we can reach a really wide audience and really continue to grow this thing.
01:03:18
Speaker
Yeah, this this year is really a launching point. we're We're scratching the surface with this psych breast cancer challenge, and it's going to position us in years two, three, and four to really ramp it up.
01:03:31
Speaker
I love it. i So talking about this year, Jordan, what, I guess maybe pivoting to talking a little bit about some, um some of this season, like Jordan Jenkins is, is a player in 2025.
Georgia Football's Current Strength
01:03:43
Speaker
Where, where does he fit in on this team?
01:03:46
Speaker
Man, shoot right now. ba Last year going on the sideline, I've seen Darnell Washington for the first time ah when he was still there. I said, man, I'm glad. Uh,
01:03:59
Speaker
playing now because tight ends wasn't like that. I mean, we didn't have any pushovers either, but them boys are big and they got that nutrition hall. They're eating all the right stuff. They got all the best lifts and all the donor dollars that have been going to Georgia, let me tell you is going to the right place because the product they got on that field, I can't compete with that. that's That's a whole new era right there. They got it's something different in the water at that facility because – and And they have the best recovery team there as well with Connor Norman um sort of getting the mantle passed on to him a little bit from Ron Corson. But the full package is there. And if you're a kid, a parent, and you're trying to think about Georgia and another school, pick Georgia. You know, think it's there. who was in the pu and it's it's I'm excited to see them boys.
01:04:51
Speaker
More of the story, I don't have a spot on this team. I might be walking on. Oh, man. Jordan's walking on. He'd be in the portal. He'd be in the portal. He'd be in the portal. He'd be in the portal, baby. He'd be in the portal, baby.
01:05:09
Speaker
That's amazing. So yeah have you, have you, have you heard a little bit about like what's going on on the on the field? Like, is there anybody you're excited to see, you know, as a former player, like, like is there, who who are you excited to see?
01:05:21
Speaker
So I'm always biased with my defense boys this year, but I think this year I'm really excited to see the quarterback play this year. And I think, It's going to be a lot more positive than people think. And right now I've got all the faith and it's going to be pretty interesting. Now we do got a little gauntlet, you know, from, I think about four to week eight, but I think we got to put a lot of faith in the kid and and watch him sling it this year. Hmm.
01:05:53
Speaker
I think he's going to be the brighter point and um umma ah I'll be watching that man a lot this year. How Dwight, how how are we feeling by the season? up put here it ready to go I feel you pragno good about it. i think I think I've heard enough about Gunner's development and where he's at is as a quarterback.
01:06:14
Speaker
um um You know, I don't want to put it on him ah comparing him to ah number 13 we've had recently, but You know, homegrown talent. Everybody loves him.
01:06:25
Speaker
And I really think the defense is is going to be nasty. I think the defense is, ah you know, they may make us a lot of money in the sack challenge.
01:06:36
Speaker
Yep. I didn't want to put a number out there, but – ah I got like got faith. i think they'll be real hungry to shut up some of the naysayers and some of the critics from the last season about some pressure here, some of the TFLs here.
01:06:55
Speaker
i think i think them boys are going to come out there with a chip on the shoulder and ready to to stop all the stop all the doubt and some of the little analysts who showing a little love some of these other teams. And I'm like, y'all don't count us out. Keep doing it because y'all just add people to the fire because them boys are going to be hungry and they they're going to play with some fire this year.
01:07:19
Speaker
Yeah. I'm not going to lie. I was looking at the numbers from last year. I was like, Oh, geez, I think that they could blow that number out of the water. Yeah. Yeah. um And just one, one player that at our golf tournament that just was really ah struck me, oh left me shaking my head as Elijah Griffin, as an incoming freshman, he is a monster.
01:07:44
Speaker
oh Good Lord. And, and I've heard he's already one of the strongest players in weight room at 18 years old. You know, the, the sky's the limit for that kid.
01:07:55
Speaker
From your lips. Yeah. Right. Dwight. Is there anything, is there anything, um we're forgetting to ask what? No, no. Okay.
01:08:06
Speaker
Man. I appreciate your time. I know Jordan does too. It's great. Great to be on here with him. ah be able to connect with y'all and share a little bit about this challenge. ah link to You're going to have to show Jordan the the map to Morris Hall.
01:08:21
Speaker
ah We will get Jordan to Morris Hall this year. That's guaranteed. And he's going to be one with a ah lifetime membership. I don't think Corey Allen may not run unopposed as the mayor of Morris Hall anymore.
01:08:39
Speaker
I was just going to say, we're going to have to introduce Jordan to Corey. That's a good point. We do need to point out that Jordan's actually the first defensive player that we've had on the podcast.
01:08:49
Speaker
Man, it's true. this is true but It's a big accolade. you know Normally everyone always shows love. The QBs, the RBs. that talked We talked to Ladd and Tate and in in previous seasons. boy There he is right there. There there he is right there.
01:09:10
Speaker
he He's one of the excited. i i had a I was going to bring one of his jerseys up ah to one of the games. I couldn't get it bought early enough, but um I got a Bowers jersey. I think I did end up getting someone else's McConkie jersey, but I got ah Broderick and I got Ladarius right there. I got get rookie cards and I love watching them to play. They're just really just they they're gritty, man. And they they put the work in and they don't talk a lot of that stuff. But it when it when it comes down to it, they're not going back down and they just they just fight, man. I love watching them to play.
01:09:51
Speaker
i love hearing I love hearing former players like you, like they were great. I mean, we we watched you be great on the field, and you're one of us now. but Oh, yeah.
01:10:02
Speaker
It's an interesting switch. that The first fan moment was ah my rookie year. I had Casey Rogers, Tennessee guy. I had Coach Mike Caldwell, another think middle Tennessee guy, and Coach Bowles, all of good friends, all of them Tennessee fans.
01:10:21
Speaker
And that 2017 year, you know, we had certain package where we have Lorenzo Carter, who's about, you know, six, six, six, seven. ah He's supposed to be the the one who bats the ball down.
01:10:32
Speaker
And we had a certain Hail Mary and, uh, It was right before defensive meetings, before we were playing. I think we might have played the Chiefs when Alex Smith was still the quarterback.
01:10:45
Speaker
And I get down to the defensive block. First, we had the team meeting in the little mess hall. Coach Bowles was playing the whole little – I waited. I was the last person to come in there.
01:10:56
Speaker
The whole sequence, the Hail Mary and all – as soon as it happened, Casey Rogers is bulldog. Your Bulldogs didn't do it. I hope you got some Tennessee outfit, hoodie, sweatshirt.
01:11:10
Speaker
It was a rough time. That was the first moment. And I was like, so this is what this is what it's like to lose when you got no control over it. yeah it might hurt just as much, if not more.
01:11:25
Speaker
You're like on the phone back to the old voice. They're still there. Like, come man. You're killing me.
01:11:32
Speaker
ah talked all this I talked all this trash. And we had a but we had a guy from Vanderbilt who was sitting there in front. So the the year we almost lost, no, we know he did lose to Vandy. It was ah all the linemen were sitting there. I was walking to the back of the plane. All the old heads were looking at me like, hey, Bulldog, what's going on? You know, you're pointing out 79 to Vandy. And I'm just like...
01:11:54
Speaker
You know, it just ain't it. I'm still talking that talk, but, you know, it happened yet. But it was it was pretty bad. ah yall so there There were better years to come soon after. Yep.
01:12:07
Speaker
The pain y'all felt is is justified. I'll give you that.
01:12:13
Speaker
Oh man, that was a rough one there. You heard here. You heard it here. Jordan jekins
01:12:24
Speaker
Jenkins. Love it. Well guys, definitely appreciate both of you coming on. Really enjoyed the conversation. um just a reminder, everyone will put it in the show notes when we tweet out the episode.
01:12:38
Speaker
We'll have a ah link to where you can go and participate in the SAC challenge. We'll put it on the YouTube, but so it'll be all out there everywhere. So like like we talked through, yeah whatever you can do, anything you can do will help out to a great cause. So Jordan, happy that the two of you got hooked up um to do this and bring this to Dog Nation and to the charity. So much appreciated, and thanks for coming on and talking through.
01:13:03
Speaker
Thanks for your time, guys. Can't wait to see you all at the tailgate. Yes, sir. Absolutely. Appreciate y'all. but Go dogs. Go dogs. That's one to to bed. Perfect.
01:13:15
Speaker
go to bed oh perfect