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More than a game, a dream come true And the journey to get there was an incredible experience

I

started in the newspaper business almost 20 years ago for one reason.

I was in my mid 20’s, and one day I just happened to pick up a copy of my local newspaper and noticed in the sports section, a series of pictures that looked like they were taken from the sideline at a Georgia football game.

When I learned that those pictures were shot by the local sports editor, I knew that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

That was my goal.

Now, in my mid 40’s, the possibility of reaching that goal felt about as likely as petting a kangaroo in Kentucky.

It just ain’t gonna happen.

My road to this goal has felt much like the road to a championship for Georgia. Close at best.

It all started about two weeks after picking up that paper. With zero education and even less experience in the industry, I found myself working as the only reporter for a small, two section weekly that hadn’t been around very long. With no sports section.

Yeah, I didn’t pay attention to that last part either. All that was in my mind was I’m now a member of the media and well on my way to Sanford Stadium, with game day access most people only dream about.

No sports section?

I was the lone reporter for nearly two years, and not once covered a sporting event. By this time, I wasn’t so much wanting to cover a Georgia game, I just wanted to cover any game.

2022 CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP • 3 Then out on assignment one Saturday, I met winning at halftime, only to end the day with the publisher of the weekly paper in Madison. He the worst kind of loss. had seen my work and was in the market for a But you can never give up hope, no matter sports editor. how long it takes for that hope to float.

Chaching! This was my ticket.

The next week, I got a text from Keith.

Or so I thought.

Credential request for the National ChamBecause they were a competitor, I did a lot of pionship game was accepted. And I was invitbrowsing through the pages of the Madison paed. But it was quiet. I didn’t ask and he didn’t tell specifics. Were we going, or not. Not if he per before I started working there. It never clicked couldn’t secure a hotel room. No word until that there was no UGA coverage, at all. that Thursday afternoon before game day Turns out the publisher was a graduate of Auweekend. And boom, we are in. I am going to burn University and under no circumstance not just a ‘big’ game, but the ‘biggest’ game! would a Georgia Bulldog anything ever appear We headed out Sunday morning at 7 in his paper. I did finally get to cover sports. It a.m., GPS set for the JW Marriott in was fun, but I am not a writer, I am a graphic downtown Indianapolis, just under designer. It was here that I gave up writing a 10-hour drive. Well, ride for me. It and focused solely on layout and design. didn’t take long to learn that I am a terFast forward many years. I am working as the Creative Director for my hometown rible navigator and weather man. weekly newspaper. The same paper that The ride was great. Alternative rock started me on this journey many years ago. on the radio, interstate the whole way.

I was close friends with one of the ownAnd Keith has great stories to tell.

I made my first ever trip to Buc’ees. ers, and he knew how badly I wanted to I have heard talk that people dress attend a Georgia game as a member of the up and plan a day trip to this place, media. So he made it happen. but didn’t believe it until we pulled in Sort of. pass the two rows of 600 gas pumps.

Our sports editor at the time controlled There was fresh food being cooked the sideline credentials and was not inand served in the middle of the store. terested in giving up any time on the field Walmart-like store to the left. Superas a photographer. But there was another option. market to the right. Watching the It was Sept. 7, 2019. The Dogs were hostshoppers was like watching a colony of ants. Something to see if you have ing Murray State, and I had credentials…

By BRANDON PARK never been. for the press box. Did I complain? A little, bpark@unionrecorder.com After eating lunch at the oldest yes, because it was Murray State. This was restaurant chain in the country, White a ‘small’ game to say the least.

But in the end, I was there, and it was actually pretty Castle, we were back on the road. Chattanooga. Nashville. awesome. I walked around the stadium with a pass hang- And all the small Tennessee towns in between.

It was in Kentucky where I saw the sign I needed to coning from my neck which does make you feel important, and the hot dogs at half time are the best I’ve ever had. The vince me my dream was finally coming tru . press box at Sanford Stadium is open air, club level, on Literally, it was a sign, a billboard on Interstate 65. the 50-yard line. Great view and you can hear and feel the “Kentucky Down Under - Come pet the kangaroo!” fans and the excitement of the game. It was an incredible If its possible to pet a kangaroo in Kentucky, anything experience, but not quite the dream come true. It’s Mur- can happen.

We did not pet the kangaroo. ray State, in the press box. But beggars can’t be choosers.

Kentucky is an interesting place. Kangaroos, koala The Dogs were becoming one of the best teams in the nation, and I knew this game would be played primarily bears, dinosaurs, horses in a cave with the longest underby the third and fourth stringers. But at that time, I felt like ground suspension bridge. Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace.

I could relate to those guys. They have waited, and when And the national Corvette museum in Bowling Green, Ky. their opportunity to play was given, they made the most Keith is a huge Corvette fan. We were planning to stop of it. So did I. by on the way home Tuesday, but sadly for him, the muAnd I obviously had no way of knowing it at the time, seum is closed on Tuesday for the month of January. We but I was watching a legend in the making. Yes. Stetson did encounter on multiple occasions on the way home, a Bennett was the fourth string quarterback, and I watched hauler carrying about 10, new 2021 Corvettes. They were him do his thing for five possessions late in the game. covered, but sometimes you have to take what you can get He threw seven passes, completed six and threw two for if you can’t get what you want. touchdowns. If only I knew then what we all know now.

And in decent time, despite six hours of driving through To this day, that is the one and only Georgia game I have the rain, we arrived safely in Indianapolis. And the city attended at Sanford Stadium as a member of the media. was incredible. Our hope was that the area is safe to walk Then 2020 happened. A lot of life changing events oc- around and explore, and not like main street in Guatecured that year, including a departure from that weekly mala City at three in the morning (an analogy taken dipaper that started it all. I considered leaving the newspa- rectly from one of Keith’s better stories). We were not per business all together, but instead of finding a new ca- disappointed.

Indianapolis is a very comfortable place to walk around reer, I found The Union-Recorder’s job listing for a layout both day and night. But, if you go in the winter, dress and design editor.

I was hired in July 2021. At my interview, I told this sto- warmly. Nine degrees with a wind chill of 3 degrees will ry. Little did I know that Keith Barlow was listening. And make you decide real quick that freezing to death is not when the 2021 college football season started, he offered the way you’d prefer to die.

The JW Marriott was incredible. The 55,000 square me a few opportunities to cover the ‘smaller’ games from the press box. For different reasons it didn’t work out. foot championship logo on the side was amazing lit up at Nothing against Keith, I was very gracious he thought night. Media hospitality was nice. Food was great. There was a media party Sunday night. Turns out, though, the enough of me to even ask, but I needed a ‘big’ game.

Then out of the blue one day at work, Keith Punch Bowl Social is not a spiked bowl of punch available comes in and says he was applying for media to drink, but instead the name of a really nice downtown credentials for the Orange Bowl in Miami and restaurant rented out to the media for the evening.

I will never forget the reporter from CBS News with the needed someone to go with him. Jokingly, I said you haven’t asked me yet. A cou- awesome mustache. He had, by his telling of the story, ple of days later, I was in. This was it. been on Air Force One three different times with two difGeorgia versus Michigan for a College ferent presidents, one of which was a single engine CessFootball Playoff matchup, on New na, or something like that. It was a great night for sure.

Year’s Eve in Miami. He was takAnd apparently I slept pretty good. Keith had to throw ing me to the ‘big’ game. I was a pillow at me because I was snoring.

I didn’t know I snored. ecstatic.

Monday was game day. We dressed in our layers and But once again, denied.

Yep. His credential strolled the city again for a few hours. It was cold, but it request was denied. didn’t matter. Nothing mattered that day until 4 p.m., the It felt like I was time we could enter Lucas Oil Stadium - through the meplaying Ala- dia entrance.

We walked around the stadium for a bit. Keith made bama and his way to the field and I headed to the press box. And yes, it was the most incredible game I have ever attended.

But honestly it felt the same as most all Georgia games.

Prepare for the loss until we win. And for the better part of three-and-a-half quarters, it felt like Georgia would once again finish a disappointing second. I watched the game from both the press box and the stands. Walking around the stadium with my credentials around my neck was a feeling I will never forget. Fans were moving aside because I must have looked important. I felt important.

When Kelee Ringo intercepted that Bryce Young pass to seal the deal, I almost lost my credentials from cheering. But how could I not get excited. Seconds later, the confetti flew and the Georgia Bulldogs were National Champions. And I was there, with the best seat in the house.

There are a lot of Georgia faithful out there, and this win, in this game, against that team meant everything. But to me, it was more than just a game.

It was a goal finally reached.

It was quite literally a dream come true.

Go Dawgs!

4 • 2022 CFP National championship

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PHOTOS BY KIETH BARLOW

Baldwin grad Bullard is a national champion Among those warming up on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium Monday was Baldwin High School Class of 2021 graduate Javon Bullard, left, a true freshman on the Georgia football team. The local standout enrolled at UGA last January following a stellar high school season that saw him be named 2020 All-County Defensive Player of the Year. Now he’s a Bulldog and a national champion after just one year at the college level. Bullard, a defensive back, saw action in 14 Georgia games this past season and totaled 12 tackles. He even led the entire team in tackles with six in the Nov. 20 matchup versus Charleston Southern when he was named UGA co-Special Teams Player of the Week. With the losses Georgia is expected to have in the secondary, Bullard may be looking at an increased role in Athens his sophomore season.

2022 CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP • 5

PICTURE BY KEITH BARLOW

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2022 CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP • 9

offensive defensive player of the game player of the game

STETSON BENNETT

LEWIS CINE

17-26 PASSING | 224 YARDS | 2 TD | 0 INT

7 TACKLES | 6 SOLO TACKLES | 1 ASSIST

by the numbers OFFENSE GEORGIA Rushing No. Gain Zamir White 13 84 James Cook 6 78 Kenny McIntosh 2 6 Ladd McConkey 1 0

DEFENSE Loss 0 1 0 3

TD 1 0 0 0

Lg Avg 19 6.5 67 12.8 6 3.0 0 3.0

GEORGIA Tackles Channing Tindall Quay Walker Christopher Smith Lewis Cine

Lg Avg 16 3.1 4 2.5 0 -10.8

ALABAMA Tackles Christian Harris DeMarcco Hellams Henry To'oTo'o Dallas Turner

ALABAMA Rushing No. Gain Brian Robinson Jr. 22 71 Trey Sanders 2 5 Bryce Young 4 0

Loss 3 0 43

TD 0 0 0

Passing Stetson Bennett Bryce Young

C-A-I Yds 17-26-0 224 35-57-2 369

TD 2 1

Long Sack 52 5 61 4

GEORGIA Receiving Brock Bowers Kenny McIntosh Adonai Mitchell Jermaine Burton

TAR No. 6 4 3 3 4 2 3 2

Yards 36 23 50 28

YAC 29 10 4 7

TD 1 0 1 0

Long 15 10 40 18

ALABAMA Receiving Slade Bolden Ja’Corey Brooks Traeshon Holden Cameron Latu

TAR No. 9 7 9 6 8 6 8 5

Yards 44 47 28 102

YAC 23 30 18 60

TD 0 0 0 1

Long 11 20 10 61

SCORING • 1st 09:55 UA - #16 W.Reichard 37yd FG, 14-56, 05:05 0-3

Total 8 8 7 7

Total 7 7 6 4

Sacks 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Sacks 3.0 0.0 0.0 2.0

TFL 1.5 1.0 0.0 1.0

TFL 4.0 1.0 0.0 2.0

• 2nd 12:35 UGA - #96 J.Podlesny 24 yd FG, 11-87, 05:51 3-3 • 2nd 11:13 UA - #16 W.Reichard 45 yd FG, 5-47, 01:22 3-6 • 2nd 07:07 UA - #16 W.Reichard 37 yd FG, 6-55, 02:29 3-9 • 2nd 03:09 UGA - #96 J.Podlesny 49 yd FG, 9-34, 03:58 6-9 • 3rd 01:20 UGA - #3 Z.White 1 yd rush, 4-80, 01:58 13-9 • 4th 12:59 UA - #16 W.Reichard 21 yd FG, 10-72, 03:21 13-12 • 4th 10:14 UA - #81 C.Latu 3 yd pass from #9 B.Young (pass from #9 B.Young failed), 4-16, 01:21 13-18 • 4th 08:09 UGA - #5 A.Mitchell 40 yd pass from #13 S.Bennett (#4 J.Cook rush failed), 4-75, 02:05 19-18 • 4th 03:33 UGA - #19 B.Bowers 15 yd pass from #13 S.Bennett (#96 J.Podlesny kick), 7-62, 03:37 26-18 • 4th 00:54 UGA - #5 K.Ringo 79 yd int return 02:39 33-18

10 • 2022 CFP National championship

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Contributed photo

Tylan Davis. in front, takes in the College Football Championship game from the stands as a member of the Redcoat Band. He posted this photo on his social media pages.

BHS alum, Redcoat band member Tylan Davis hopes to inspire others through music EDITOR’S NOTE: BHS grad Tylan Davis is a member of UGA’s Redcoat Band. He was on hand witnessing the national championship win from the stands. We caught up with him before the start of the season. The article is included below.

newsroom@unionrecorder.com

When he was younger, Tylan Davis figured that he would probably end up in a sports-related career. However, once he reached middle school, life began pulling him in another direction. Davis tried out for his middle school’s band in fifth grade, with the trombone being the only instrument that he was able to play.

That is where he says his love of music truly began.

“I wasn’t 100 percent into it, but I knew that I enjoyed it,” Davis explains.

Today, he is a music education major at the University of Georgia and a member of the University of Georgia Redcoat Band.

Growing up in Milledgeville, Davis took note of the support the community had for the arts.

“I feel like the arts are appreciated here,” he says, adding that the support made him feel like what he was doing as a

part of the middle and high school bands was meaningful.

That support and inspiration also extended to his home. Even though his parents weren’t really musicians, Davis explains that his father made sure he had everything he needed when he started playing the trombone. In addition, his father also made sure that if Davis was going to start playing music, he would be serious about it and see it through.

“He really inspired me to pursue music,” he says.

When he got to Baldwin High School, Davis says that he was considering quitting band entirely at one point before changing his mind.

“Something told me to just go ahead and do it, so I did, and I ended up loving it,” Davis explains, “From there on, I moved up in the band and started doing leadership. So, I was section leader for my sophomore and junior years, and I was band captain my senior year.”

Being in these leadership roles in the

high school band led Davis to find that he was having the most fun he’d ever had.

“I just really enjoyed it, because I got to see students go from barely being able to play a note to playing scales, playing music, and whatnot,” Davis explains. “Just the whole process was fascinating to me.”

That joy he felt in band during his junior and senior years of high school ultimately led him to want to teach music even though he had other options available to him. During his high school days in the Baldwin High band, Davis says that he had the most fun participating in competitions, although he admits that it was hard work.

Since getting to college, he’s also gotten into the art of practice.

“Taking a look at how people get better and that process has been fun, because you can take it and apply it to almost anything in life. It all comes down to repetition and focus and dedication to the small details,” Davis explains “Applying those things to my daily practice, it just really

helps me with other things in life that I want to get better at. It’s a really cool thing that I get to do every day, figure out how to get better.”

There’s a piece of advice that Davis has for those young people that might be considering joining band.

“Do it. If you have money or even if you don’t have money and can make a plan, do it,” he says, “especially if you’re into music because band teaches you so much about music and lets you have a way deeper appreciation for it.”

He says that he believes that music connects everyone.

He hopes to inspire other people, whether they are his students or otherwise.

“Whether that be through education or through my playing, I just want to be an inspiration to other people,” Davis says, “because if I had not had my middle school band director or my high school band director or my college professors to inspire me, I wouldn’t be who I am. I just want to be that person for other people.”

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