In what will be one of the defining games of the college football season, Alabama will be making a rare trek to Sanford Stadium to take on the Georgia Bulldogs in Week 5. Although the Crimson Tide won the thriller in Tuscaloosa last year, it was the Dawgs who won the SEC and qualified for the College Football Playoff. It was Alabama's signature win of the year, as well as Ryan Williams' coming out party.
While appearing on the I Am Athlete podcast, Williams let it be known that President Donald Trump reached out to congratulate him on such a tremendous performance. Keep in mind that Williams graduated from high school a year early and was not yet old enough to vote in the 2024 Presidential Election. Given how much President Trump likes college football, will he return the favor to Georgia?
This is all contingent on Georgia holding serve and keeping its lengthy home winning streak alive, of course. Ever since Nick Saban brought the 2008 Alabama team to Athens, the Crimson Tide have won all but one meeting vs. Georgia. The Dawgs' only win over the Crimson Tide came in the 2021 National Championship Game up in Indianapolis. It was Georgia's first national title victory since 1980.
So if Georgia protects its home turf like it has for over five years, is President Trump going to call?
Will a Georgia star get the Ryan Williams treatment from Donald Trump?
For President Trump, calling and congratulating an SEC football star on a big-time performance is low-hanging fruit. Many of the states in the southeastern region went to him in the most recent election, including the likes of Alabama and Georgia. While not everyone associated with either team of note or fan base views President Trump favorably, it is still a high honor to hear from the President.
Overall, it is going to take more than merely Georgia winning for someone to get the same sort of recognition as Williams. His 75-yard touchdown was one of the craziest plays college football has provided fans in quite some time. Williams could be the next Larry Fitzgerald whenever he decides to enter the NFL Draft. As for Georgia, most of its best players reside over on defense.
To be quite frank, unless offensive stars like quarterback Gunner Stockton, running back Nate Frazier, wide receiver Zachariah Branch or tight end Oscar Delp put forth nothing short of a Herculean performance vs. Alabama to stay undefeated and improve to 5-0 on the year, President Trump will not make the time for them. He is busy, although he loves to watch high-profile college football games...
Ultimately, it has been a painfully long time since Georgia last beat Alabama in SEC play. They do not play each other all that often during the regular season. This may be the school where Kirby Smart learned the coaching ropes from Saban, but it will be year two with Kalen DeBoer at the helm of Alabama. Maybe the Dawgs will finally have their day, as the tides begin to turn on the Crimson Tide?
Rather than waiting to get a call from a D.C. area code, how about just go out and win for the team?