2014: Georgia 34, Auburn 7
I attended this late-November game in person with my father. Aside from the excitement of the game, I remember this game being one of the coldest football games I had ever attended. It was a night game with players and fans alike bundled up doing their best to stay warm.
This game was significant for many reasons. First, it was Todd Gurley’s first game back from a mid-season NCAA suspension. I remember so vividly when Gurley fielded a kickoff right after Auburn had scored a touchdown on the opening possession of the game.
This return was the first time the fans had seen Gurley touch a football in over a month. Gurley returned the kick for a touchdown but the play was called back for a penalty. Sanford Stadium felt like it was shaking from the deafening roars of the crowd as Gurley streaked down the field.
Georgia fans remember that the game did not end well for Gurley. He tore his ACL in the 2nd half of the game, ending his Georgia football career. Gurley departed for the NFL draft at the end of the season, so his return was short-lived.
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The main positive takeaway from this game for a Georgia fan was that the Bulldogs beat Auburn by 27 points. Nick Chubb had one of his best games of the season, eclipsing the 100 yard rushing mark yet again.
Chubb’s highlight moment of the game was when he caught a short pass from Hutson Mason. He scaled down the sideline for almost 50 yards until he lowered his shoulder into an Auburn defender before stepping out of bounds. The Auburn player jolted backwards like he had just been hit by a truck. Even from the stands I could hear the cracking of the pads and helmets as Chubb bounced off the defender and continued his run.
Brad Nessler of ESPN at the time called this game on TV and his commentary of that play by Chubb still gives me chills to this day.
This game was significant and memorable for me for many reasons. First, it’s always fun to see Georgia beat Auburn. Second, it marked the end of an incredible career for Todd Gurley.
And finally, Nick Chubb got some serious national exposure in prime time TV that really put the college football world on notice that he was the real deal.