The Georgia football five-year trend: Bulldogs due for another great year

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 30: Georgia football running back Nick Chubb (#27) breaks away from Terell Floyd (#19) of the Louisville Cardinals during the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium on December 30, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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10 Oct 1998: Cornerback Champ Bailey #4 of the Georgia Bulldogs in action during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at the Sanford Stadium in Athens, Geogia. The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs 22-3. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Laforet /Allsport /

Trend manifests in the 1990’s

Prior to the 1992 season, Ray Goff was rebuilding Georgia football. His Bulldogs finished 4-7 in his premier season of 1990 and 9-3 in 1991.

The rebuild culminated in 1992 when led by Garrison Hearst’s and Eric Zeier’s record-setting seasons, Georgia went 10-2 and tied Florida for the SEC Eastern Division Championship. However a loss to the Gators prevented the Bulldogs from going to the first SEC Championship Game.

They did defeat Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl though. That’s notable because the Citrus Bowl was a part of the Bowl Coalition, a precursor to the BCS and the current system’s New Years Six format.

And then in 1997, Jim Donnan put together a 10-2 team of his own that transcended teams before it. After the 1992 season, Georgia was on the decline and failed to make bowl games in 1993, 1994 and 1996.

The 1997 team is credited as starting Georgia’s 20-year streak of playing in bowl games. That squad had its own stars with future college and pro football hall of famers Hines Ward and Champ Bailey.

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