Georgia football has the perspective to handle close games

Sep 24, 2022; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart on the field before the game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2022; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart on the field before the game against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia football found a way to beat Missouri when it needed to last Saturday, but head coach Kirby Smart knows his squad has what it takes to handle those nail-biting games. The Dawgs kept pushing last Saturday until they were finally able to close it out and get the win.

Regardless of what people think about Missouri, it is not the easiest place to play on the road. SEC road games are some of the toughest in college football. The Tigers had a lot of momentum due to getting two quick turnovers, which made Georgia fight through that disadvantage.

This game against Missouri was a dog fight, and despite the sloppiness, Georgia played a lot better than it seemed. The Tigers did a fantastic job preparing for the Dawgs, and it showed. Smart handled this Monday’s press conference a lot better than some expected. By now, we all expect him to tell us Georgia is bad because of the sloppy play, but instead, it was very encouraging.

 Georgia football has the right mentality to win.

Smart got asked about the Dawgs’ second-half performance against the Tigers and how it was so much better deep into the fourth quarter. He explained it in a way that should make fans understand a lot better why the struggles happened on Saturday.

"“It takes number one being in shape, physically in shape, mentally strong. Takes consistency and performance. You have to perform under great pressure repeatedly. It’s really more about playing on the road and having a demeanor about you that you understand regardless of where you’re playing in our league,” Smart said in his Monday press conference. “The road games are really hard. I don’t think that’s ever going to change. You got to be prepared for that. Momentum is a very powerful thing. We didn’t have that for a long time in that game.”"

No, Smart isn’t blaming the road environment. He compliments how difficult it is to play in the SEC regardless of certain teams’ records. Georgia could have and should have played better against Missouri, but what Smart said reigns true.

Georgia football has a certain mentality to its program, allowing them to handle games like the Missouri one. Four years ago, Georgia would have lost that game. Now that Smart’s culture is fully implemented into this program, tight games won’t intimidate or discourage the Dawgs.