Georgia Bulldogs Reflect on Sugar Bowl Loss to Notre Dame
In the aftermath of their 23-10 defeat to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, Georgia Bulldogs players expressed a mix of frustration over the loss and pride in their season’s achievements.
Player Reactions
• Quarterback Gunner Stockton: Reflecting on his performance, Stockton acknowledged areas for improvement, stating, “I could’ve done better. Just knowing where the play clock is, and managing it is a big part of it.”
• Linebacker Smael Mondon Jr.: Mondon Jr. emphasized the team’s resilience, noting, “As much as you want to, you’re not going to win the national championship every single year.”
• Cornerback Daylen Everette: Everette described the season as “really good” and highlighted the team’s resilience, a sentiment echoed by linebacker C.J. Allen.
• Safety Malaki Starks and Tight End Lawson Luckie: Both referred to the season as “legendary,” with Luckie adding, “Obviously underachieved a little bit. The standard here is a national championship so we didn’t achieve that so it means we underachieved.”
• Senior Guard Tate Ratledge: Ratledge reiterated the team’s singular focus, stating, “This team’s got one goal, and it’s all the same goal, and that was to win a national championship.”
Coaching Perspective
Head coach Kirby Smart praised the team’s perseverance, mentioning, “We had… a coach but I think it was a player, from what I’ve been told… never quit, even in this game, never quit, that’s the attitude you’ve got to have to get better as a football program.”
Following the game, the official Georgia Football social media account posted a succinct message: “Thank you, Dawg Nation,” expressing gratitude to fans for their unwavering support throughout the season.
Looking Forward
Despite the setback, the Bulldogs’ reflections highlight a season filled with determination and high expectations. As they analyze this loss, the team remains committed to building on their experiences to pursue future championships.
For a deeper insight into the team’s reactions, you can watch the post-game interviews below:
