Georgia Football: Top-Five Rushing Seasons for RBU

#5: Musa Smith’s 2002 Season

In 2002 Musa Smith rushed for 1324 yards and eight touchdowns on 260 carries. He started the season off totaling 278 yards in the first three games.

Then he rushed for over 100-yards against both Clemson and South Carolina before getting just eight carries against Northwestern State. Despite only getting eight carries, he ended up with 70 yards in that game.

The next week Smith ran for 89 yards on 12 carries against New Mexico State. It would be the first game he would find the endzone as scored two touchdowns against the Aggies.

At this point in the season, Georgia was 4-0 and headed to Alabama to face the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa.

Who could forget the “Man Enough” game against Alabama in Tuscaloosa?

According to ESPN, former Auburn head coach Pat Dye was quoted as saying, “I don’t believe Georgia’s man enough to beat Alabama.”

Well, Smith and the Dawgs proved they were indeed man enough beating Alabama 27-25 in their own stadium.

Smith contributed 126 yards and a score on 21 carries.

After such a good game against the Crimson Tide, Smith would be held to just 29 rushing yards against the Volunteers.

He quickly made up for this poor performance by going off on Vanderbilt for 102 yards and two scores on 14 carries.

Smith would return against Florida after he got injured against the Commodores and missed the Kentucky game and rush for his 5th 100-yard game of the season.

However, it would not be enough as Georgia would suffer their first loss of the season and risk losing its lead in the SEC East.

Georgia wasn’t discouraged, though, as the next week they defeated Ole Miss 31-17 and secured the SEC East. Without Smith’s 148 yards against the Rebels, the Dawgs might not have won that game.

Over the next two weeks, Smith ran for 90 yards against Auburn and 121 yards and a score against Georgia Tech.

Georgia beat Georgia Tech 51-7, the largest margin of victory in the rivalry’s history. It was evident that Georgia peaked at the right time, and it was time to see if they could finally win another coveted SEC Title.

In the SEC Championship Smith got the scoring started. He punched the ball over the goal line from inside the five. Smith would then put the Dawgs up by two scores after he ran in another touchdown from inside the 20.

He would end the day with 105 total yards and two touchdowns. Smith helped David Greene and others lead Georgia to a 30-3 victory over Arkansas and their first SEC Championship since the 1982-83 season.

After Georgia won the SEC Championship Game, the Bulldogs played in the Sugar Bowl against Florida State.

Not only was this a New Year’s Six Bowl, but it was also a chance for Georgia to win 13 games for the first time in its history. Georgia would do just as the Dawgs beat Florida State 26-13. Yet again Smith was a massive part of the success with his 145 yards as he was named Sugar Bowl MVP.

Smith’s 2002 season set the tone for the Dawgs and put them back in the spotlight.

Without his impressive runs and ability to make people miss, Georgia might not have won its first SEC title under Mark Richt.

Smith, in my opinion, was one of the backs to start the talented running backtrack for Richt, so he makes the list because he put the Dawgs back on the map for backs after those dark late 1990s days.