Latest / Beliefs, Ballots, And BullDawgs / Monday August 17, 2026
Transcript
- Greg: Yeah, what's up, everybody? We are back. It is Monday, August 17th. I'm your host, Greg Miller, and this is the latest episode of Beliefs, Ballots, and Bulldogs. I ⁓ apologize for the spotty production last week. I ⁓ taking a bit of a hiatus to celebrate my birthday, and frankly, I was just enjoying some time relaxing on the beach and enjoying looking at my beautiful young wife in a bathing suit. So that's ⁓ that's where my priorities were last week, and we didn't get around to ⁓ to releasing a whole lot of content, but Well, we're gonna get back at it today. We're ⁓ we're gonna do something that I think is ⁓ gonna be a little bit of fun and hopefully get you guys to engage ⁓ to some degree. ⁓ we're gonna ask for questions of my fellow dog fans out there, and and I wanna ask it what what game this year makes you the most nervous? And I'm not not necessarily saying asking for a prediction or or asking you to hit the panic button. I'm not even asking you necessarily to say that Georgia's going to lose a certain game, but just a question that which game on the schedule makes you the most nervous? And I'm gonna try be clear about what I mean here. I'm not asking, you know, what's the best team you think we play? I'm not asking which game you think we're most likely to lose. I'm not asking you which team we play has the most talent. I'm asking which which game, just with all things factored in, has the most ingredients that make you just a little bit uncomfortable. ⁓ those things are not always the same. It doesn't have to be the best team. Sometimes the name sometimes the game that makes you the most nervous is obvious. Sometimes it's Alabama and Tuscaloosa. Sometimes it's Oklahoma, just a big brand name matchup. Sometimes it's the rivalry game that that everybody circles and talks about all offseason. But sometimes it's just a weird one. Sometimes it's a road game that that maybe nobody nationally is really looking at. Or it's a a rivalry game where records just don't matter, or a letdown spot after a potential big win. You know, one of those matchups where just one bad can one bad quarter can can turn it into a four-quarter slug fest. And you're just stressed out the entire time. ⁓ that's the game I want to talk about today, because when you look at their schedule, I think there's a few fans that that obviously can make us, you know, uncomfortable and and squirm in our seats just a little bit this year. You know, start with the obvious one: Alabama and Tuscaloosa. I mean, it's this one's always gonna make anybody nervous. I don't care, I don't care who their coach is, I don't care what Alabama looked like last year, what their projections are. preseason rankings don't mean anything. I don't care how good I feel about this Georgia team. It's Alabama. It's in Tuscaloosa. That's enough. It's not just another road trip. This is this is absolutely still a measuring stick game. This is one of those games where you find out whether what you do travels. ⁓ can we protect Gunner in in that road environment? Can we run the ball when everybody knows Kirby and Mike want to run the ball and be physical? Can we avoid the cheap Turnover that just lights up the entire place and shifts the momentum. ⁓ can we handle it if and when the momentum swings? Can we take a pungent answer? Because that's what you know you're gonna have to withstand at Alabama. You're gonna have to prove your maturity, you're gonna have to prove your poise, and you're gonna have to prove your toughness. So, yeah, look, if your answer is Alabama is the game that makes you the most uncomfortable, nobody should argue about that. That's that's cut and dry, that's pretty obvious. ⁓ can't be it, can't be wrong with that answer at all. But I don't know if that's the only game on the schedule that I would point to this year. the Ole Miss game on the road might might be the game that gives me the weirdest feeling. And I'm not saying that ⁓ I think Ole Miss is is better than Georgia. ⁓ you know, provided Trinidad Chambliss doesn't turn into an absolute superhero like he did last year. I I think Ole Miss is a good matchup for us on the field. ⁓ so I'm not saying that I think they're better, but that game has has some of those ingredients. It's it's a rogue game, it's in November. ⁓ potentially a weird tempo thing with Ole Miss, potentially momentum shifts on the on the road like that. Just one of those games where potentially if we start slow, then then suddenly the crowd's alive. Their their sideline starts to believe a little bit. And and look, now you're you're in one of those games where maybe you should have been in control, but but you're in for a fight now. And ⁓ that's one of those where look, defensive communication matters. One busted play can completely change things. ⁓ offensive efficiency matters. You gotta keep possession, you gotta move the sticks. It it's the game where you you better not be searching for your identity. You better know who you are ⁓ by by that time. So but we can't be sitting there i in November in Oxford, Mississippi, still wondering if the offense has answers. ⁓ we can't still be wondering if if the receivers can create separation or or make the c catches when needed. ⁓ we can't be wondering if the defense can handle the the up-tempo style offense. We can't be wondering if that offensive line can travel and we can run the ball anywhere, anytime, like we think we can. So that's that's why the Ole Miss game makes me a little bit nervous. Not because I I don't think Georgia should in any way be fearful of Ole Miss. I don't think Georgia should fear anybody. But that feels like the kind of game that could get a little sideways if things get sloppy. then you've obviously got the the big rivalry game of of Florida and in Atlanta this year. ⁓ and that's that's just strange. It sounds ⁓ sounds weird. Georgia, Florida, in Atlanta. ⁓ not Jacksonville. We're in the Mercedes-Benz Dome this year, which feels good to me if you know if I don't mind being honest. ⁓ different building, a little different feel, but it is the same rivalry with the same hatred. And and that's what makes this one always interested. Because look, when you're talking about Georgia, Florida rankings, records, and logic g goes out the window. None of that really matters. It's it's still Florida. It's still absolute hatred. This is still a a a hugely emotional game each and every year. It's a game that dog fans want to win by 30 because beating Florida is not just about the standings. It's not just about getting the W. It's personal. So Florida, Florida always makes me a little bit nervous just because it that's one of those games that for my generation it it's always gonna gonna linger in in our head for the those decades where we just could not beat them. So ⁓ but I don't think we should be scared. Florida doesn't scare me. We we just know look, rivalry games can get weird, neutral side games can can get weird. And and being you know in a new setting with a new routine and stuff, that that can let things get a little bit weird. So y you you don't really know what's gonna happen, but you just you hope you don't let Florida hang around. You you don't let them breathe, you don't let them really get any sense of belief. And and you don't let that game become become a cute game because The longer they believe, then the more annoying they become. And and you'd rather just have it done by the third quarter. So yeah, look, Florida and Atlanta belongs in the conversation of potentially nervous games. ⁓ but but it's I I don't think it's the one for me. And then we have Oklahoma coming to Athens. And man, if you don't get excited about this one, then something something's wrong with you. You don't love college football. ⁓ this one's interesting for some different reasons. this is not necessarily a nervous game. You know, we should be at home, it should be pretty. comfortable. ⁓ I I think Sanford Stadium doesn't necessarily get the respect it deserves for home field advantage. ⁓ Sanford Stadium should be a problem for for any team coming in, especially in on a in a big game like Oklahoma will be. But Oklahoma is it's Oklahoma, you know, this is this is a helmet game. This is a brand name game. This is this is a blue blood program with some pride. And so when a team like that comes to Athens, you know, everybody's going to be watching. This is ⁓ the opportunity to make a statement. and and statement opportunities sometimes create a little unnecessary pressure. ⁓ you know, dog fans aren't just gonna wanna win, but we're gonna wanna see Georgia look like Georgia. We're we're gonna wanna see the offense look clean. We're gonna wanna see the defense look fast and nasty. ⁓ we're gonna wanna see that same Georgia physicality against what is a good team in Oklahoma. ⁓ and we're gonna wanna we're gonna wanna see Georgia reminds big name opponents that, hey, look, when you come in between the hedges, bad things happen. ⁓ so Oklahoma doesn't make me nervous the same way that Alabama and Ole Miss do simply because it's at home. ⁓ but it is one of those games that, hey, look, if we come out and and we're not prepared and we're not ready, ⁓ Oklahoma will not will not hesitate to put one on us. And then there's the the the other what always feels like a trap game to dog fans is is South Carolina on the road. ⁓ and look, you can roll your eyes if you want to, but any late season SEC road game is always annoying. We all know Columbia can be annoying. We all know the game talks can be annoying. And if look, if that game comes after a long stretch where we've already been through Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss, Missouri, you're talking about a team that's that's just trying to get home to the finish line. And look, weird things can happen in Columbia. We all know that. So this is when, you know, leadership matters, depth matters, focus matters. It's where find out if if the team can still bring the standard, even when the step schedule's been grinding on them for months. So look, I don't think South Carolina is a scary team at all. But I am saying it's one of those spots where we need to show up and we need to be serious ⁓ because it can get out of hand if not. And we we just don't want to let them hang around. Same thing with this next one. It's Arkansas on the road. And again, it's just it's an SEC road game. If it's an SEC road game, It it it gets my attention because just about anything can happen on the road in conference. ⁓ and and this was early in the year. This is our first road test. We will still be kind of figuring out who we are, you know, figuring out what what the offense looks like. Gunner, gunner will still be settling in. The offensive line may still be trying to to build the right unit and the right chemistry. The receivers are still trying to define the pecking order in their roles. You know, in defense, you know, the athletes are there, positions are still, but but can they communicate? Can they find that rhythm? And then look, you're on the road in the SEC. It's it's the first real test. So, you know, there's not a lot of danger talent-wise as as a matchup with Arkansas, but it it that's not an Arkansas team that cannot beat us in their stadium. ⁓ the danger there is if if we're sloppy or if there's penalties and turnovers, missed assignments, busted coverages, ⁓ a special teams mistake or something like that, or or just, you know, a slow start like we've been known to have that just lets them hang around and start to believe. It's just the kind of game where we need to walk in, handle the operation, set the tone, and just get out with a win, you know, 27 to 3 type game and just be done with it. But that's that's who we are if we're a championship team. So and then the the final nervous game is is gonna be Georgia Tech. And it's look, Georgia Tech should not scare us. I I am a big fan of their coach. I think Brent Key's doing a heck of a job there. ⁓ but it's a game that's always scary. It's it's the little brother thing. It's still clean old-fashioned hate. And look, it's tech. Losing to them is not an option. So that is what makes this game stressful in a different way. These there are games on the schedule that you want to win and there are games that you need to win. And then there's games where losing just makes the entire offseason unbearable. That's that's the tech game. I don't care how much we've owned the rivalry lately. I don't care how confident we are, I don't care what the rosters look like or the rankings are. We can't mess around with that game. We have to remind them that football runs through Athens in this state. Go about our business and and just take care of things. It shouldn't be competitive and don't let it get close. Handle business. So that that's where those are the games on the schedule that I think could could potentially cause some ⁓ some nerves for dog fans. So look, if you say it's Alabama, I get it. That's an absolute heavyweight road test. ⁓ if you say Ole Miss, I I get it. That one just has weird vibes written all over it. Florida, obviously it's Florida, just the that that is always one of the biggest games on the schedule, regardless of what the rankings say. Oklahoma coming to Athens just has such a ⁓ historic feel to it. Feels like it's gonna be a huge game. ⁓ going to Columbia is always a little bit scary. Arkansas early in the year is scary. Every every SEC road trip can can trip you up. So we you just gotta show up and handle business. ⁓ so I get it, and then obviously tech, you just you can't lose that game. So that game's always scary. Nobody wants to hear tech fans around them talk for 365 days. But I think I'm gonna go with Ole Miss here. And it's the one that gives me the the weirdest vibe, the weirdest feeling. And again, I don't I don't think we should be scared. I don't think it's I don't think we should be scared of anybody. I I think we can handle them, but Ole Miss on the road in November just feels like the it feels like we need to be a grown-up, serious football team going to Oxford, Mississippi. We need we need Gunner to have poise. We need We need the offense to have answers to whatever they throw at us. We need defense to communicate because they're gonna throw some weird schemes and motions. ⁓ you need the secondary to be locked in and avoid those busted coverages. Pass rose has got to show up and somehow find a way to pressure and contain Trinidad Chambliss. ⁓ we need Bobo to have answers if it turns into a shootout, because it might. ⁓ we just need to be prepared, mature, and disciplined because that's the kind of environment where one bad quarter. can just make it to where it's such an uphill battle and you're never you're never able to get there. So so that's my pick. It it's Ole Miss. And look I I gotta add the caveat that that other than than Georgia Tech and UF, ⁓ which are the two biggest rivals in my personal opinion, Ole Miss is the most personal for me. Most of my family is from Mississippi and and are huge Ole Miss fans. ⁓ my older brother, love you Todd, hope you're well. ⁓ my older brother Todd graduated from Ole Miss. His oldest daughter Sarah Morton love you SM hope you're well ⁓ she is in Oxford right now. ⁓ so it's to say this one's personal is a is a vast understatement. I absolutely want to leave Oxford ⁓ with a clean record. And then and and I think we will, but that game gives me the that that's the one I'm most excited slash uncomfortable about heading into the season. But is it about me? That's that's what I think. I want to know what you guys think. What ⁓ what game on the schedule this year makes you the most nervous? Not which game do you think we have the greatest chance of losing? Not not who do you think the best team we play, but which game just gives you that that most uneasy feeling? Is it Alabama, Ole Miss, Florida, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Arkansas, Tech? Maybe somebody else that I didn't discuss here. Let me know what you think and ⁓ drop it down in the comments and see what kind of discussion we can get going. As for our ⁓ our biblical scripture talk today, we're gonna do something a little bit different. This is a format I'm gonna try to utilize from time to time moving forward. Gonna come at this from a perspective of of kind of sitting down ⁓ for a cup of coffee with a biblical figure. Sometimes I try to think about if I could just, if I could have been around to talk to some of these people from the Bible, some of these characters, some of these from those storylines, and and just ask some questions. ⁓ not not to interview them or anything like that, not to not to get into deep theological arguments, but just to just to ask honest life questions. And so we're gonna we're gonna start that today. We're gonna we're gonna get the first rendition of this, and we're gonna start with Joseph. ⁓ Joseph has always been one of my favorite characters for the Bible. Joseph is absolutely a heroic figure. But I'd like to ask Joseph, because it is such an interesting long-term life journey for him. I'd like to ask Joseph, when did you realize that God was working so mightily in your life? You know, was it was it when, you know, when your father first gave you that beautiful coat? Did that make you realize God was providing you with something special? Probably not. That was early. Was it when your brothers threw you into a pit? Doubtful. ⁓ was it when they sold you into slavery? I seriously doubt that. was it when you were falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, or when you sat in prison for a crime you didn't commit? When the cupbearer forgot about you for years. At what point along there did you finally begin to see what God had been doing all along? Because I think in one form or another, that's a question we all kind of ask, you know, sometimes. The story begins in in in ch in Genesis chapter thirty-seven. Joseph is seventeen years old. Loved deeply by his father, ⁓ God gives him extraordinary dreams ⁓ about the future. And it seems like to Joseph, it seems like everything's about to begin for him. But instead, everything falls apart. His own brothers become jealous of of how much his father loved him and the dreams he was discussing, and they throw him into a pit. And then they sell him ⁓ to slave traders that were on their way to Egypt. So imagine that you know you go from being, you know, a beloved son, and the next day you're property, you're you're a slave. Can you imagine as a Christian, can you imagine trying to reconcile God's promises from those dreams with that reality that you're now facing? I mean, I if I were Joseph, I I would be asking, hey, Lord, ⁓ did I misunderstand you? You know, did I get something wrong here? And then it gets even worse. It gets goes from bad to worse. You know, then Joseph, as a slave, is is serving faithfully in Potiphar's house. You know, God is blessing his work, and things finally seem to be turning around for him again. And then he's falsely accused. And once again, he loses everything. And this time he lands in prison. And even there, Genesis says something remarkable. It tells us the Lord was with Joseph. Not because Joseph escaped prison, he he didn't. Not because life suddenly became easy. That's not what happened. But because God's presence wasn't depressed. Dependent on Joseph's circumstances. God was just as present in the prison as he had been in the palace. And that's something I think we all need to remember. And maybe you're right there with me. We have to be patient sometimes, even when it's hard. And then we've got the forgotten years. ⁓ Eventually Joseph begins to interpret dreams for men, for two of the men in prison with him. And the one of them, the cupbearer, is restored to Pharaoh's service. And Joseph asked him for one simple favor. He just simply says, Remember me. And as the cupbearer leaves, he says, I will remember you. And and then he doesn't. He forgets. Not for a week, not for a month. For two full years, this cupbearer had forgotten that he told he told Joseph he would remember him. The Bible doesn't tell us, you know, what was going on much with Joseph. We don't know exactly what Joseph was praying. ⁓ we're not sure what he was asking or speaking to the Lord about. It doesn't tell us how many nights he laid there and questioned God. It simply tells us that he waited. Faithfully, patiently, quietly. And then all of a sudden Pharaoh had a dream. No one was able to interpret it, and suddenly the cupbearer now he remembers Joseph. So Joseph gets brought before the Pharaoh for this, and he interprets the dream. And through all this he becomes Pharaoh's second in command and over all of Egypt. Years later the famine comes and drives his brothers to Egypt. The very brothers who had betrayed him now stand before him in dire need of his help. This gives Joseph every Opportunity to seek revenge. And in this case, that revenge would almost feel like justice. But instead, he says one of the greatest lines in all of Scripture, Genesis 50, 20, You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Now notice what he doesn't say. He doesn't say the pit was good. He doesn't say slavery was good. He doesn't say prison was good. He says God was at work through it all. There's a difference. Joseph didn't call evil good. God doesn't call evil good. God proves that he is greater than all evil. So if if Joseph and I were were having that cup of coffee, and and you know, as we're wrapping up, I'd I'd like to ask him, you know, one more question. If if he could speak to to people who are sitting in their own pit or sitting in prison today, what would you tell them? I I think his life answers, and I don't think he would. I don't think he would promise that everything gets better. I don't think he'll even say that you'll understand every heartbreaker setback. But I do think he'd remind us that God's faithfulness is never measured by how quickly our circumstances change. Sometimes God is doing his deepest work in seasons that make the absolute least sense to us. Joseph couldn't see the whole picture from the pit. Neither can we. Joseph's story points us to something even greater. Joseph's story points us to Jesus. Jesus was also betrayed by those closest to him. Jesus was also falsely accused. He suffered even though he was innocent. And what looked like humanity's greatest act of evil, crucifying the most innocent and purely good man there ever could have been became God's greatest act of redemption. The cross reminds us that God specializes in bringing hope out of what looks hopeless. If he could redeem a cross, He can redeem your story too, no matter what it is. So look, if you feel like you're in a pit or in a prison or or you're just simply in a season where things don't make sense, remember Joseph. Not because he had all the answers, but he trusted God who did. Maybe one day you'll look back just as Joseph did and say, Hey, I didn't understand it then, but now I can see God's fingerprints all over it. And until then, stay faithful, trust him, and keep walking. The author is still writing your story. Every day. Have a great day, guys. And as always, get your Bible, say your prayers, love one another, and tell the truth. God bless.