College Football Playoff Championship: Georgia Bulldogs focused on task at hand

The College Football Playoff Championship will feature two SEC teams, but unlike Alabama, the Georgia Bulldogs are new to the experience.

The Georgia Bulldogs haven’t been in a game to decide the national championship since 1983, but to hear Kirby Smart and his team talk about the game during College Football Playoff Championship media day, you’d never know they were relative babes in the woods.

After defeating the Oklahoma Sooners in the Rose Bowl Game, Georgia immediately turned their attention to the Alabama Crimson Tide, a team who’s been through the rigors of championship weekend five other times during the BCS and Playoff eras.

Georgia’s freshman quarterback, Jake Fromm, has been unfazed by the big stage and spotlight this season, and it seems appearing in a national championship game against mighty Alabama doesn’t rattle the youngster either.

“As far as the pressure goes, we’re just really focused on ourselves,” Fromm told reporters at media day. “How we can get better in just a short period of time, how much film we can watch and how we can get a little advantage.”

Not the words of your typical college freshman.

The kid from Warner Robins, Georgia with ice in his veins has faced some big challenges in just his first year, and now must contend with an Alabama defense who lives to make quarterbacks (particularly freshman quarterbacks) feel really uncomfortable during the course of a game.

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Fromm has had the luxury of two (three? four? five?) of the nation’s best running backs to feed the ball to this season, and both Sony Michel and Nick Chubb realize that while many of the Bulldogs can see opportunities like this in years to come, it will be the final time the two Georgia greats suit up for a game as Bulldogs.

With Sony, Chubb and several other seniors pledging to return this season specificially for this championship drive, the overall effect on team unity was immense.

“It just changed the guys mindset knowing we really care for this team and the university and we want to play and win games, and nothing else really matters but playing for this team. Just kind of brought everyone else together.”

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart realizes the opportunity his players have in this game, because while he’s had the chance to participate as an assistant coach in a few, he never had that chance as a player while at Georgia.

Smart on the big stage of the College Football Playoff:

"“I think the stage is even bigger now. You think about where the BCS went and where this College Football Playoff has gone, it’s unbelievable how far it’s come. It’s a great honor and reward for players that have worked their tail off all season. I just wish more teams could get to embrace this, be a part of this, because it’s really special when you roll up in a hotel and they’ve got the buses wrapped and…it’s great for the kids. It’s great exposure.”"

Nine years coaching with Nick Saban and countless championship opportunities – both conference and national – have given Kirby Smart the look of cold blue steel confidence, and he’s been able to somehow transfer that feeling and that look to his players.

This was not the look of a team who came within seconds of having the season end against Oklahoma. This is a team who looks seasoned when it comes to the big games.

While Georgia’s star players, head coach and coordinators fielded questions in the booth, the rest of the team sat at open tables, just soaking in the enormity of the moment. They laughed with each other, talked to reporters and just looked focused.

Next: Five Predictions for CFB Playoff National Championship Game

Alabama may be the more experienced team in terms of championship opportunities in the modern era, but you wouldn’t know it by walking around the Bulldogs.

All quotes in this article were obtained in person unless otherwise noted.