Welcome to our countdown! It has been over a week since we started doing this daily, and we hope you are enjoying our countdown. In 91 days, Georgia will be facing North Carolina at the Georgia Dome. Each day leading up to the season opener, Patrick Garbin and I will show three unique and creative ways why that number is special to the Dawgs. Sometimes when I think of “91,” I think of Dennis Rodman when he played for the Bulls. Rodman wore number 10 for the Detroit Pistons, but that number was retired by Chicago, so he wore 91 since it added up to ten. It also made me think of his bizarre hair, which reminds me of current Georgia verbal Netori Johnson’s hair. It all comes back to the Georgia Bulldogs, as do the references you see below. Here are other ways 91 represents the Dawgs, and as always, if you can think of any others please post them at the Dawgvent.

3 – “Operation Turnaround" was a big part of 1991, whereby Ray Goff and the Bulldogs rebounded from a 4-7 record in 1990 to a 9-3 record in 1991. But, the record wasn’t the only thing that changed. For years (even before Herschel), Georgia was one of the schools that considered itself “Tailback U,” or “Running Back U,” and rightfully so. Georgia had some of the best running backs in the nation each and every season. In 1991, they had gifted backs Garrison Hearst and Larry Ware running the ball, but they had something else too. Led by OC Wayne McDuffie and the quarterback play of freshman quarterback Eric Zeier, Georgia became a passing team, too. Prior to the ’91 season, the school leader in yards passing in a season was Zeke Bratkowski’s 1,824 in 1952. Despite starting just six games, Zeier threw for 1,984 yards in ‘91. In the 25 seasons since, and counting 1991, a Georgia quarterback has thrown for over 1,824 yards 22 times. In 2015, Greyson Lambert passed for 1,959 yards, which would have established a school record if he was the quarterback in 1991 instead of Zeier (nevertheless, that’s a big if).

2 – Starting with a home tilt against non-conference rival Clemson on August 31st, the 2002 season turned out to be a special one for the Dawgs. Against the Tigers, the game was tied at seven early in the 2nd quarter after Clemson had just scored a touchdown. The Tigers kicked off, but they were offsides. Having to kickoff again, Clemson’s kick this time was fielded by sophomore Fred Gibson at his nine-yard line. He stumbled a little, then followed some blocks, and basically ran straight ahead, darting 91 yards for a touchdown (the only time Gibson returned a kickoff for a touchdown in his 35 career attempts). It was also the first kickoff return for touchdown for the Bulldogs since Andre Hastings did so in 1990. Clemson led late in the game, but after Georgia tied it up in the fourth quarter and with just over five minutes left, placekicker Billy Bennett put them ahead for good on a 43-yard field goal.

1 – If you were to guess, who was the only Georgia player to have two touchdown passes covering 90 yards or more, you might say Aaron Murray, David Greene, Matthew Stafford, D.J. Shockley, or maybe even guess Fran Tarkenton. But, you would be wrong. The only person to do this was Buck Belue, and he did it in the same season (1980). When you think of the National Championship team’s offense, you likely think of Herschel Walker, and the Belue-to-Scott pass. That is pretty close to being true but, besides the Belue-to-Scott pass which covered 93 yards, there was also a Belue-to-Amp Arnold pass play against Kentucky that went for 91 yards and a score. At the time, it was the second longest touchdown pass in school history behind a 92-yarder from Kirby Moore to Randy Wheeler in 1965. The Belue-to-Arnold pass happened early in the fourth quarter, helping the Bulldogs cruise to a 27-0 victory over the Wildcats.

91 – by Patrick Garbin

3 – “Super mobile” TIM CROWE arrived in Athens having been Stone Mountain High School’s first First Team All-State player in a decade, and the school’s first major-college prospect in at least that long. As a freshman and sophomore at UGA in 1979 and 1980, respectively, No. 91 Crowe was a part-time starter at defensive guard until starting on a full-time basis his final two seasons as a Bulldog. For his career, this No. 91 tallied 210 tackles, 10 sacks, 5 other tackles for loss, 3 fumble recoveries, and 3 caused interceptions. “Caused interceptions? What are those?” I’m not sure, except that it was a stat kept by UGA for essentially the decade of the 1980s, and Crowe’s three were tied for the second most. Speaking of stats, nine of his 10 career sacks resulted in 1981 and 1982. Crowe’s only other sack—the first of his collegiate career—was a big one: Instead of a caused interception, we’ll say his first sack was a caused punt, as well, forcing Florida to punt late in the 1980 meeting. And, we all know what occurred after that…

2 – Four months prior to the start of the 1979 season, perhaps the most sought-after running back prospect in the South—Spartanburg, South Carolina’s CARNIE NORRIS—was hit by a drunk driver in an auto accident in his hometown, virtually jamming or knocking out of place every bone on the right side of the Georgia signee’s body. Still, “Poochie,” as Norris was nicknamed, despite being temporarily paralyzed on his right side, had little time to be injured. After the Bulldogs had gotten off to a dreadful 0-3 start to his true freshman campaign, Norris was thrust into the starting lineup in Oxford against a favored Ole Miss team. Rushing for 91 yards, including a touchdown, on 22 carries, he was one of Georgia’s stars in a 24-21 upset over the Rebels. A year later filling in for the injured freshman phenom, Herschel Walker, Norris gained 150 yards on 15 carries in a win over Ole Miss. In fact, for his entire Bulldog career, “Poochie” was a real “Rebel Rouser”… Consider that more than 25 percent of Norris’ career rushing yards were gained against Ole Miss, although he faced the Rebels less than 10 percent of the time. In addition, Norris averaged 6.1 yards per rush and scored three touchdowns in four games against Ole Miss, whereas he averaged 4.4 yards per carry and scored six touchdowns versus every other opponent.

1 – No. 91 CHUCK HEARD wasn’t supposed to be that good… Coming out of Lanier High School in Macon, the lanky 6-foot-4, 185-pound prospect was nearly passed over by everyone, especially considering the removal of his spleen caused him to miss nearly his entire senior season. Yet, Georgia assistant coach John Donaldson appreciated Heard's work ethic and attitude, and talked head coach Vince Dooley into offering him a scholarship—albeit, a mere one-year scholarship. Four years later, after starting as a defensive end for two seasons and a defensive tackle as a senior, Heard had been recognized as a Sophomore All-American in 1969, and a two-time Second Team All-SEC honoree in 1970 and 1971. Chosen by the New York Giants, he was the third Bulldog selected in the 1972 NFL Draft and, in April 1980, he was named to Georgia’s Second Team All-1970s defensive team. And, all because of Coach Donaldson taking a chance on an unproven youngster, but one with a lot of potential who, when signed in 1968, Donaldson had stated, “we consider Chuck an outstanding prospect,” then ironically added, “as a pass receiver."