Georgia Bulldogs Football Will Take the Next Step in 2012: A Fan’s Preview

Every September in Athens, Georgia, the Georgia Bulldogs begin their season in front of a deafening crowd of more than 92,000 fans in Sanford Stadium, hoping to give them an SEC Championship as well as a National Championship. For the past couple of seasons, though, the Dawgs have been out of contention by the time October rolls around.

As a Bulldogs fan, this trend has become increasingly frustrating, especially as I look around and see four other SEC schools win National Championships the past six seasons. However, this frustration will only be short lived. Corey Smith sings that "Every Dawg Has His Day", and for Bulldog fans, that day will come in 2012.

The 2011 season provided a great springboard for Georgia's 2012 run. After getting off to a rocky start with losses to Boise State and South Carolina, the Dawgs rallied to finish the season 10-4 and win the SEC East.

Looking ahead to 2012, the Bulldogs' schedule sets them up perfectly for a run at perfection. LSU and Arkansas were already left off the Georgia schedule for 2012 before the SEC expanded and reshaped the schedules of its teams. With the addition of Missouri to the SEC East, the Tigers bounced the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide off the schedule as well.

Not only did Missouri cancel Georgia's trip to Tuscaloosa in 2012, but they pushed back the Bulldogs' annual battle with South Carolina until October. This could prove to be invaluable to Georgia, as the Dawgs had not quite found their stride when the Gamecocks came to Athens the second week of the season in 2011 and defeated them 45-42.

Avoiding LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas is huge for Georgia next year, but that alone won't get the Dawgs to where they want to be. Georgia has a ton of talent returning to Athens in 2012, starting with quarterback Aaron Murray. Murray set a school record with 35 passing touchdowns in 2011 and could very well surpass that total in 2012.

On the defensive side of the ball, Georgia is returning nine starters. Linebacker Jarvis Jones was projected by many to be a first round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, but he will come back to Athens to lead Todd Grantham's defense. Safety Bacarri Rambo, defensive tackle John Jenkins, and linebackers Cornelius Washington and Alec Ogletree will all return to play alongside Jones in what will be one of the best defenses in the country.

With a favorable schedule and plenty of talent on the team, the 2012 Georgia Bulldogs are primed to run the table and get back to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game where they will most likely play LSU, Alabama, or Arkansas. If the Dawgs can rise up and defeat their opponent from the West, a berth in the BCS Championship Game should be secure.

Big things are on the way for the Georgia Bulldogs next season. Corey Smith, myself, and all of the Georgia faithful will have plenty to sing and cheer about in 2012.

Sources:

- http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-georgia-nfldecisions

- http://www.sicemdawgs.com/football/sched/fbsch_11.php

- http://www.nationalchamps.net/2012/earlybird/teams/georgia.htm

- http://onlineathens.com/sports/college-sports/2011-11-13/murray-hits-hot-streak-against-tigers-breaks-td-record

- http://uga.rivals.com/cviewplayer.asp?Player=411086

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