Can Georgia overcome their mental block vs. Alabama?
When the Dawgs and Tide meet, the stakes are usually high. Tomorrow in Athens will be no exception.
In the last 10 meetings, Alabama has dominated UGA with a 9-1 record.
6 of those meetings were with a championship on the line (whether it be a conference or national title). UGA’s lone win in the last 10 contests came January 10, 2022 for their first national title since 1980.
Georgia has arguably the best coach in college football at the helm in Kirby Smart, and is constantly touting some of the most elite players in the game. On paper they have been favored in a number of games vs. Alabama over the years too.
Specifically the last 2 meetings – the 2023 SEC Championship, and last year (2024) in Tuscaloosa – Georgia was (in my opinion) the better team, but somehow found themselves trailing the majority of both games, trying to come from behind and win.
So why can’t the Dawgs get over their mental block when they play Alabama?
One psychologist describes a “mental block” as a “psychological obstacle or limiting mindset that prevents you from completing important tasks and achieving success”, and that’s exactly what it looks like happens for the Dawgs as the game starts to breakdown each time vs. Alabama.
ESPN analyst and former UGA Quarter Aaron Murray joined The Next Round earlier this week, and was speaking on the 2012 SEC Championship, where he distinctly remembers his team’s “butts getting tight” in the 2nd half when Alabama scored to draw the game back to a one-score contest.
Kirby Smart was involved in that game, but on the winning sideline as Bama’s DC, so the Dawgs’ issues with the Tide pre-date his arrival in Athens.
So how do Kirby and his Dawgs overcome an issue that goes back over 15 years? As Aaron Murray said, “Apply the pressure early, and never let up the entire game.”
Can Georgia do that tomorrow night, and finally get over the hump vs. Alabama? Or will Alabama continue their dominance? The stage is set for all of us to find out.
The Carter Cadence is a blog series from Creative Media Director Brooks Carter. Follow Brooks on X and Instagram.
