Welcome to our countdown! We are down to the final stretch with the first game day being less than one week away! Each day leading up to the season opener, Patrick Garbin and I will show three unique and creative ways why we think that number is special to the Dawgs. One of the most quoted movies that I can think of is The Princess Bride—a story told by Inigo Montoya about how the six-fingered man killed his father. Later in the movie, the Dread Pirate Roberts found the six-fingered man and remembered Montoya was looking for him. He remembered the six-fingered man just like we recall these Georgia football memories in regards to “6”…
By Dave McMahon—Twitter @dave_mc_stats
3 – As I mentioned earlier in this countdown, in the closing seconds of the first half of the 2011 game against New Mexico State, Aaron Murray connected on a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Aron White, who then jumped over a xylophone into the hedges and got stuck. Several of his teammates had to help him get out of the hedges. The 6-yard touchdown was the only reception White would have that afternoon. Georgia scored six touchdowns in the second quarter against the Aggies en route to a 63-16 victory.
2 – I mentioned two days ago, the versatile Champ Bailey who, as a junior, played on defense, offense, and special teams. Six times during the 1998 season he played 100 or more plays in a game. In the win over Auburn, Bailey played 119 plays (62 on defense, 49 on offense, and eight on special teams), and made five tackles, a fumble recovery, and an interception in being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. On offense, he had five receptions for 68 yards, and ran the ball three times for 29 yards. On the Plains, Bailey also had a 27-yard kickoff return.
1 – D.J. Shockley waited patiently for three seasons backing up David Greene before getting his first career start at quarterback in 2005. In his first career start, he was responsible for a school-record six touchdowns in the season opener against Boise State. Against the Broncos, Shockley had five touchdown passes and ran for a score, as well. The touchdown run, covering 14 yards, was the first score of the game. Receiver Sean Bailey caught two of his touchdown passes, and Kenneth Harris, Danny Ware and Martrez Milner each grabbed a touchdown. Shockley’s longest completion was a 56-yard touchdown to Milner early in the second half. The Bulldogs won the game 48-13 en route to capturing an SEC title three months later.
By Patrick Garbin—Twitter @PGarbinDT
3—I give credit to my buddy, Aaron, for discovering/figuring this one: Checkout what Georgia has dealt on the Plains of Auburn over the last half-century in seasons ending with the number “6”… In 1966 and 1976, the Bulldogs defeated the Tigers on the road 21-13 and 28-0, respectively, to clinch SEC championships. In 1986, Georgia—a 10½-point underdog—escaped the “Game Between the Hoses” with a 20-16 win. The Bulldogs were a 10-point underdog in 1996 and outlasted Auburn in the “Miracle on the Plains” for a 56-49, four-overtime victory. And finally, Georgia was an 11½-point underdog to the Tigers in 2006, but routed its hosts, 37-15. So, what will 2016 bring? Well, for one, it won’t be played on the Plains but at the friendly confines of Sanford Stadium, whereby the Bulldogs hope to deal the visitors a beating “Between the Hedges.”
2—In 1982, the only time Georgia and BYU have met on a gridiron, the Bulldogs intercepted Cougars’ standout, and future hall-of-famer, quarterback Steve Young six times in a 17-14 comeback victory. Remarkably, in his 31 other regular-season games as BYU’s signal caller, Young was intercepted only 26 times, yet the Bulldogs corralled a half-dozen of his errant passes, five of which occurred in the first half. The Cougar quarterback went nearly the entire second half without throwing an interception until cornerback Ronnie Harris picked off a desperation attempt with 43 seconds remaining, securing a three-point victory for Georgia.
1—In its history, Georgia has had several standouts don No. 6, like running backs Patrick Pass and Kregg Lumpkin and, of course, defensive back Sean Jones. Still, the player I’d like to feature was, of all positions, a punter—and, a good one at that. Hailing from Gainesville, Ga., No. 6 Cris Carpenter was an extraordinary punter for the Bulldogs in 1985 and 1986. Entering this season, Carpenter’s 42.77 career punting average ranks 5th all time at Georgia, whereas his 40.0-yard net average—the more important average, taking into account touchbacks and punts returned by the opposition—ranks second, trailing only his predecessor, Chip Andrew’s (1983-1984) 40.2 net average. But, as much of a standout Carpenter was at punting, he was just as good at pitching, becoming the latest (that I can recall) of an extensive list of UGA athletes who excelled at both football and baseball. As a member of the Bulldogs’ baseball team from 1985-1987, he won 22 games, saved 33, and had an ERA of 2.93 in 97 career appearances, ranking fourth, second, sixth, and fourth, respectively, in the annals of UGA baseball. Playing for the Cardinals, Marlins, Rangers, and Brewers from 1988 through 1996, Carpenter is one of Georgia’s most accomplished MLB pitchers. His 291 appearances in the big leagues rank third all time of Bulldogs-turn-MLB pitchers.
