Georgia football: Richard LeCounte’s mom proves bonds go beyond players

Georgia football is about being part of something important and lifelong, and it’s not just for the players.

It’s tough being a Georgia football fan sometimes. We always say it’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog. But have you ever wondered why? Have you ever had a moment where time stood still and doubt slithered it’s way into your heart, making you wonder if you really were supposed to be a Bulldog?

Did that happen to you Saturday night as Bama once again got the best of the Dawgs?

Well, according to a bunch of expert fans on the internet, you should just call it quits. This team will never beat anybody, Kirby Smart is the wrong coach, and there is no hope of a championship in Georgia’s future. They probably said the same thing after that 2017 loss to Auburn.

Don’t listen to them. They’re just a loud minority. True fans know that even on rough days, it’s still great to be a Georgia Bulldog.

Why? Because we’re a family united by our love for the Dawgs. And no one embodies that more than the players themselves.

You might have stopped believing. But they haven’t. They still have each other’s backs because they know the time, energy, and dedication they’ve all given to the sport they love. They’re brothers, bound together by their victories and losses, their hopes and defeats, fighting for their coaches, their dreams, and each other.

They are one giant family that extends past the players and coaches to include one another’s families. You might have lost hope Saturday. But they didn’t. And neither did their families.

Erika Blocker-LeCounte, mom to Georgia defensive back Richard LeCounte III, posted a touching letter to Stetson Bennett IV today on Facebook. She recounted driving over an hour to see Bennett play in high school because she knew he was a friend of LeCounte’s and, by that connection, her friend too. And she wanted to support him and let him know she was there for him since LeCounte couldn’t be.

And now, after that loss to Alabama, she let him know again ending her letter by saying,

“I stood watch over you along with your teammates, and while standing there …I imagined what David looked like in the face of Goliath…you will fight many battles on and off the field, but, never forget how that story ended.”

And that’s why it’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog. Because no matter what happens, no matter how ugly the loss, our team is still a family who cares about one another, both on and off the football field. And really, what more could you ask for from a team?

If I’m going to wear a team’s colors, it better be one I’m proud of. And I don’t know about you, but I’m proud to be a Georgia Bulldog. They have heart, infinite hope, and are pretty darn good.

To quote Sean Dietrich, one of my favorite writers, “Scores are just numbers. You lost the game, but you didn’t lose me.” Long live the Georgia Bulldogs. Win or lose.

And hey, miracles do happen sometimes. After 40 years of wandering in the desert, it’s about time for a miracle don’t you think?