MCCURLEY: Chasing a Championship
INDIANAPOLIS, IN. — My recent trip to Indianapolis for the CFP National Championship was one to remember.
For one, the city was a great host, despite it being nearly 20 degrees below freezing upon arrival.
Secondly, the result is what I wanted (and figured) would happen, which was Georgia would win its first national title in 41 years.
Whenever I step into the press box or onto the field, I have to keep my composure and be impartial, which is a part of the job.
And I think I do a pretty great job of that, but when it was all said and done, I walked on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium with a smile on my face.
I don’t think I left the stadium until around 3 a.m. with other members of media that cover the Bulldogs.
I am a second-generation Bulldog graduate and an Athens native. My dad attended the University of Georgia in the early 1980s and was on the field in 1981 when the last championship was won.
Throughout the last two weeks, I traveled with him to South Florida and the heartland of the U.S., which were two places that I had never been to before.
Sharing those moments with him and soaking it all in was something that I will cherish forever.
I grew up attending games and started around the age of eight. There was a long streak when I never missed a home game, and there have only been a few since then.
Staying objective in my line of work is hard, but now that the season is over, I am beyond thrilled for the Bulldog Nation.
I think winning the national title not only means so much to Kirby Smart, Stetson Bennett, and all those players but also the state of Georgia.
It also couldn’t have been won in a better way. Seeing Smart finally beat Nick Saban on the biggest stage was incredible.
Hearing an old Larry Munson quote almost brought a tear to my eye. I grew up listening to the former UGA announcer and would always impersonate him at family Christmas parties.
Also, hearing that made me think of how proud Munson would have been. It also sunk in that how ecstatic my grandfathers Grady, Steve and Lamar must be in Heaven.
Seeing a Facebook post from my fraternity brother’s father made me think about his lost son, who I spent a lot of time with and cheered on Georgia with while at UGA.
Lastly, there’s my uncle Chad, who passed away a few years back in 2017. The Tide broke my heart that season as a student at UGA, but last night made up for it, and I know Chad is currently partying it up with all the others.
These last few weeks have been pretty magical because of the journey I have been on chasing a championship.
The long days, countless hours of work and sleepless nights were worth it.
Being able to witness that kind of life-changing event in person, which has already affected so many individuals, was nothing short of amazing. That moment will be hard to top.
All this may be a little corny, and some might not understand the hype, but it’s a feeling that has been a long-time coming for a lot of people.
I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to witness history. I think that the “Georgia curse” is broken.
I am going to enjoy the next several months without the grind of football season, but come June or July, I will be ready again to bring you Georgia coverage.