Former Georgia football G.A. Ray Fulcher shines in SEC Network spotlight

When Ray Fulcher went to see Eric Church at the Georgia Theatre with some buddies in 2006, he never expected it would change his life. The Harlem, GA native was a student assistant on the Georgia football team at the time, and didn’t even know how to play the guitar.

After hearing Chief sing a song called “Lightning” off of his first album, Fulcher knew the path he wanted to follow. A week later, he went to a store in Athens and bought his first guitar.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Fulcher eventually moved to Nashville to chase the neon rainbow and unlike most, he lassoed it. Upon arriving in Music City, he forged a path as a songwriter, penning multiple hits, including chart-toppers “When It Rains It Pours,” “Even Though I’m Leaving,” “Lovin’ On You” and “Does To Me”.

Even with all of the songwriting success, the ultimate goal was always to be a country music recording artist, and he’s well on his way.

The recent release of his five-song EP, “Larken Hill Mixes” caps off an exciting year that also saw him release a song that combined both of his passions – country music and his beloved Georgia Bulldogs – “Love Ya Son, Go Dawgs”.

It’s a song that speaks as much to his affinity for and relationship with his Dad, as it does for his love of Georgia football, and because of that, it struck a chord with listeners regardless of their football rooting interests.

One such listener taken with the song’s message? Marty Smith, ESPN college football correspondent and co-host of Marty & McGee on SEC Network.

Fulcher’s Georgia Bulldogs are the No. 1 ranked team in the country and have a showdown with the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats this weekend. It’s the college football matchup of the weekend, and epicenter of college football is Athens. GA.

One of the shows in the Classic City to cover the game? Marty & McGee. In the ultimate words collide moment, music and football would grant Fulcher a dream opportunity.

On the Saturday broadcast of Marty & McGee, from the lawn of the Special Collections Library in front of a throng of gathered Georgia faithful, Fulcher gave a stirring acoustic performance of “Love Ya Son, Go Dawgs”.

The crowd quietly sang along until he hit the chorus line, “That coach up in Athens got them boys playing pretty good ball, anyway, I love ya son, Go Dawgs”, which drew an eruption of boisterous cheers and applause.

It was a magical moment.

During his time working with former offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and Georgia’s quarterbacks during his time as a student assistant, Fulcher enjoyed a number of lifetime memories associated with Georgia football: the 2005 SEC Championship, the Blackout game against Auburn, and the 2007 Sugar Bowl against Hawaii.

The memories abound from his music career as well. He’s written No. 1 hits, performed in front of sold out arenas, written a song that his musical hero Eric Church crooned on, and signed a record deal.

Saturday morning at the Special Collections Library may just top them all.