I think you all know by now that I did attend the UGA-Auburn game on Saturday by my level of complaining the following day. Really, though, it was completely worth it. It was a great game, and I was more overwhelmed by what these games have meant to me lately than I have ever been.

It started during the Redcoats pre-game show. I rarely get those urges to go back to college - I've blogged before about what a transitional, unsettling time it was in spite of how much of a blast I had - but I can certainly drum up some nostalgia when I want to. I don't know what it was, but Saturday in particular, I felt chills during the pre-game show. It's all such a distant memory but such a huge part of my life.

I realized I have never blogged about this topic, and I think that has something to do with the fact that the surreality of it all has only increased over the years, and it has only recently become just COMPLETELY surreal to me (I honestly didn't think "surreality" was going to pass spell-check). Still, though, with almost 4 years having gone by, I still look down at that field and see my brother and think "OH MY GOSH!! MY BROTHER PLAYS FOR GEORGIA!!"

I remember back when he was a sophomore in high school, his first year at Norcross, he was number 41. Our fullback for UGA, Jeremy Thomas, was also number 41. For Christmas, I made my brother a collage of some pictures from his season, and in the top corner, I put a bulldog and a picture of UGA's fullback with his number. I knew it was a dream for him to play for Georgia, and I honestly (at that time, anyway) thought it always would just be a dream. I thought the whole number 41 thing was coincidence enough to include it, though, and thought it would be pretty cool if for some strange reason it did play out that way.

The first year, of course, he was red-shirted. The future was pretty unknown - would he be one of those guys who's on the team who ends up with absolutely no stats, or would people actually know, at some point, who you were talking about when they heard his name? It was weird seeing his name on the back of his jersey, seeing it and him on TV (he was always good at knowing to stand by the coach or the guy who just did something good).

The next couple years, he played a bit on special teams. I remember, though, when we were on the connector with the Jolly's in 2007 coming back from Panama City Beach listening to Larry Munson call the UGA-Ole Miss game on the radio. The score was really high in our favor, so another TD was inconsequential. Still, though, he announced that the fullback (momentarily unidentified) had driven it in, and of course I had that glimmer of hope, considering we were at that point in the game that the third string might come in. Lo and behold, my own little dream of having Larry Munson call my brother's TD came true. I'll never forget that moment.



He got his one carry in 2008 against LSU, which resulted in a TD (I was out of the room when it happened, and we didn't have DVR yet, so the game was not recorded back home).



(Courtesy of DawgTime magazine)

This year, his first carry was another TD against Arizona State, and then he ruined his streak that same game. This fourth TD came against Vandy, along with a good bit of playing time (unfortunately as a result of Shaun Chapas' injury, but he is ok now).



The Auburn game was the first one that I had actually been to where I was actually able to be there to witness him get some real playing time. I don't know - maybe it was hormones...but I was just so overwhelmed. To have gone to UGA, been on that field myself marching with the Redcoats, to have met my husband there, to have gotten such an amazing little child out of the deal, and to be standing there for the sole purpose of watching MY brother play (actually PLAY) for MY Bulldogs...it was just really amazing to me. Again, just completely surreal.

This is my favorite, of the ASU TD:



I know it makes me a terrible Dawg fan, but I think I realize that I only watch for this reason. I can't help it. I am afraid that I am going to feel a loss after next year is over and Freddie's college playing time has come to an end. I know that Georgia footbal IS the reason to watch, but will I really feel anywhere near the level of excitement as I do now? Will I care? I do hope so - I really do. I mean, I myself am a Dawg and always will be, so that should be enough. I hope it is.

I apologize - I try not to be obnoxious about it - I mean, I really have no culpability in him being where he is today. I can only say that he spent time in the same womb I did six years later. But still - you feel a sense of pride in your siblings in whatever they do. I wanted to allow myself one completely obnoxious blog here, and then I'll sink back into the woodwork until an excited Facebook status update or something here or there ;)