Few draw the ire of Georgia football fans more intensely than Gary Danielson. The SEC on CBS color commentator just rubs most Dawgs fans the wrong way.
For some, it’s his perceived bias towards Nick Saban and Alabama. For others, his propensity to get stuck on a topic and not waiver from it for an entire quarter. Then there are those that just think his voice is akin to nails on a chalkboard.
The Georgia faithful may soften their stance on Danielson after hearing his thoughts on the Dawgs heading into their Top 15 showdown with the Kentucky Wildcats at Sanford Stadium this weekend.
In an interview with John Clay of the Lexington Herald-Leader, Danielson made a strong comparison when asked about this year’s Georgia Bulldogs.
"They are a really focused, hungry team this year. They remind me of the 2019 LSU team."
That is a lofty comparison. As college football fans know, the 2019 LSU team was talked about as one of the greatest teams in college football history. Led by Heisman Trophy winner and future No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow, the Tigers finished an unblemished 15-0 en route to their first national title since 2007.
But, it wasn’t just that they went undefeated and won a championship, it was how they did so. The Bayou Bengals walked all over Georgia in the SEC Championship Game 37-10, advancing to the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 seed.
They then proceeded to dump truck Oklahoma 63-28, before disposing defending national champion and Trevor Lawrence-led Clemson 42-25.
That LSU team was far and away the best team in college football in 2019 and the on-field results reflect that, so for Danielson to compare the Dawgs to the 2019 Tigers is high praise.
The 2021 Georgia football team is built like the inverse of that LSU squad. While Joe Burrow and the Tigers were high-flying and lighting up scoreboards like pinball machines, the Dawgs are led by a historically good defense.
Georgia’s offense is certainly nothing to sneeze at. They are efficient and have shown a propensity to beat teams through the air and on the ground. But, Georgia football’s formula for success looks different than the equation that led LSU to hoist the championship hardware.
Regardless of how they get there, here’s to hoping Danielson’s championship comparison is on par with Georgia football’s continued trajectory toward Indianapolis.