Georgia Bulldogs Countdown to Kickoff: 76 Days
The year was 1976, and for the Georgia Bulldogs, it meant more than just seeing a home state president win the White House. Jimmy Carter beat the incumbent Michigan man, Gerald Ford, a few days before Georgia-Florida.
It was the first election to take place after Richard Nixon and Watergate, so the GOP wasn’t exactly winning in the PR department. Carter and his Peanut Brigade took advantage with a narrow defeat over Ford.
In a way, the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party followed a similar opportunistic script for Georgia in 1976.
The Dawgs were #7 in the country, and Florida found itself at #10. Top-ten Georgia-Florida matchups don’t happen every year. As a matter of fact, this was the first time it ever happened.
And at halftime, it appeared the Doug Dickey’s Gators would plant their proverbial flag in the Jacksonville ground to gain some serious bragging rights.
Halftime score: Florida Gators 27, Georgia Bulldogs 13
Georgia captain Ray Goff led the Dawgs on a ferocious comeback out of the gates to start the third quarter.
A nearly 80-yard third-quarter drive brought Georgia back within seven points to start the second half.
You never want part of your legacy as a head coach to contain the words, ‘Fourth and Dumb.’ But Florida’s next drive – and Doug Dickey’s decision-making – earned him that honor.
Leading 27-20 on their own 29-yard line, Dickey and the Gators went for it on fourth “and 18 inches,” according to Larry Munson.
They did not convert.
Goff got the Dawgs in the endzone again to tie it. Georgia went on to win the game and the SEC Championship that season.
Florida would fire Dickey not long after that, following the 1978 season. Tough turn of events for Tricky Dickey.
Recent Georgia Bulldogs Countdown to Kickoff Stories
No. 77 – the legacy of Isaiah Wynn
No. 78 – Highway 78 greats and Jake Fromm’s impressive standing in the record books
No. 79 – 79 yards of eternal pick-six glory from Kelee Ringo
Does your blood run Red and Black?
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