Over the last three years, Georgia Football has experienced incredible success. capturing two consecutive national titles and being unbeaten in the regular season in 2023.
In Athens, things have been going well. Much of stuff is related to Athens’ culture. It may seem uninteresting to you now that I have written so much about it, but here is the “secret recipe” for the Dawgs.
The players are mentally prepared for victory and are aware of the significance of what they signify to everyone who is rooting for them. Recently, Sedrick Van Pran was cited. His words were insightful, but more than that, they made me glad to be a University of Georgia alum.
I asked Sedrick down at the Orange Bowl what he loved the most about his time at Georgia.
Man, you want to talk about a guy that gets it? Sedrick Van Pran gets it. I must be honest with you; that made me teary-eyed.
Here is a kid from Louisiana who did not grow up a Georgia fan; he probably knew some about Georgia Football but didn’t know every tradition and our passion for the Dawgs. Then, in 4 short years, not only does Van Pran know what it means to down that G, but he understands the bigger picture.
Players like Van-Pran have created a culture of winning in the Georgia football program. Many guys have a similar view or reason to play for the Dawgs. But none have summed it up so well as Van Pran did. Since his recruitment, I have been a big fan of Van Pran’s. I pull for every Georgia recruit’s success, but Van Pran stood out for his reasoning for coming to Athens.
I do not know where I saw it, but Van Pran was asked why Georgia. He said that the proximity to Atlanta and all the alumni who are a part of big business will be there once he finishes his playing career. Or something close to that.
When I read that, I was blown away that an 18-year-old would think that way. I was a 20-year-old at the time reading it and was only concerned about how much MD 20/20 I could get my hands on before it dipped in my downtown party money. So I was in awe of that Van Pran’s quote, to say the least.
More All-American/All-SEC centers will come through the Georgia Football program. Georgia already has many great centers that have played for the Dawgs. But none of them before or after have had as much character as Van Pran has had. That is why Van Pran always sticks out when discussing the back-to-back title run. A DGD, for sure
