Bulldogs dedicate win over rival Gators to Vince Dooley

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Kirby Good is fairly certain late Georgia coach Vince Dooley was wanting down on the No. 1 Bulldogs on Saturday and possibly loved the primary half — however not a lot the second — in a 42-20 victory over the rival Florida Gators.

Dooley, who guided the Bulldogs to a nationwide championship in 1980, died on Friday at his residence in Athens, Georgia. He was 90.

“To the Dooleys again residence in Athens, I do know they’re collectively,” Good mentioned. “It meant quite a bit for us to win that sport for them. All that Vince has meant to our college and such an envoy of our program and actually all of school soccer. … He has meant a lot to us and in honor of him and their household, it was particular. It was a tricky time for that to occur.”

After taking a 28-3 lead on the half, a mess of Georgia errors allowed the Gators to chop the deficit to solely eight factors after Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson threw a 78-yard landing to Xzavier Henderson with 3:31 left within the third quarter.

A Georgia private foul helped arrange Florida’s first landing of the second half, after which Bulldogs tailback Kenny McIntosh misplaced a fumble on the primary play of the following drive. Gators defensive again Trey Dean III recovered the ball at Georgia’s 27, and Florida ended up kicking a subject aim to make it 28-13.

On the Bulldogs’ subsequent possession, quarterback Stetson Bennett underthrew a move, which was intercepted by Florida’s Amari Burney. Richardson linked with Henderson three performs later, after the Bulldogs busted protection within the secondary.

Georgia scored touchdowns on every of its subsequent two possessions to finish the risk and beat Florida for the fifth time prior to now six conferences.

“I am certain Coach Dooley loved that; I am certain he was watching,” Bennett mentioned. “You realize, typically you’re taking what they provide you and typically you give them what they’ll take.”

Good is aware of his crew should clear issues up earlier than subsequent week’s showdown towards No. 3 Tennessee at Sanford Stadium. That sport will go a good distance in deciding which crew will win the SEC East.

“Any win, any win exudes confidence,” Good mentioned. “You guys criticize the wins, I’m nice with the wins. Within the SEC, if you beat Florida, any win, they’re exhausting to come back by. They’re robust, they’re bodily, they’re hard-fought. I’m pleased with them and the best way our guys performed.”

Good, a former Georgia defensive again, mentioned he did not study of Dooley’s dying till the crew landed in Jacksonville on Friday. Good mentioned he acquired a textual content from Dooley’s son, Derek, a former Tennessee head coach.

“We took off and weren’t conscious of something after which the telephones began dinging and the textual content messages began coming by way of,” Good mentioned. “We knew that it was sort of imminent. I received to go to with him a bit final week and sat down. He was within the coaching room and we received to speak for some time, and naturally I didn’t know that it might be the final time, however that’s in all probability my fondest reminiscence.”

Good mentioned Dooley was in a set along with his household throughout final yr’s SEC championship sport and CFP Nationwide Championship, through which Georgia defeated Alabama 33-18 to win its first nationwide title in 41 years.

“My youngsters have gotten to be round him, and it is humorous as a result of my youngsters had no thought,” Good mentioned. “They had been like, ‘Who is that this outdated coach? Who is that this outdated man?’ Now they know the historical past and what all he stood for and what his household did for this college. Received plenty of respect for him.”