Stetson Bennett IV has passed the test thus far. His biggest one yet? Alabama on Saturday
Stetson Bennett IV needed some way to stand out from the other quarterbacks while competing in Elite 11 competitions as an undersized high schooler from Blackshear, a small town of just under 3,500 in the southern part of Georgia where an approximately 90-minute drive gets you to Valdosta or Jacksonville, depending on which way you go.
So he decided to don a U.S. Postal Service hat, one he received from the father of one of his friends. And that’s where the nickname “Mailman” came from.
It’s caught on.
After spelling D’Wan Mathis in the season opener, “The Mailman” has delivered against Arkansas, Auburn and Tennessee. We’re about to see if the Georgia quarterback can do the same in his biggest challenge thus far: 3-0 Alabama.
Suffice it to say that this will be the college football event of the year, a showdown between the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the country. The Crimson Tide enter the matchup with Mac Jones. All he’s done is record back-to-back 400-yard games as a high-flying offense under offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian has scored 153 points. DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle are the top receiving tandem in the country, while running back Najee Harris had the game of his life against Ole Miss on Saturday.
Want to stand out, Stetson? Beat Alabama.
It might be a stretch to say that if Bennett and his troops can leave Tuscaloosa with a victory that it would be a program-defining win. Georgia won a national title in 1980, after all. But it could go a long way in showing that the balance of power has shifted in the SEC, because for the longest time, everyone has been chasing Alabama. That’s even after last year, when LSU and an other-worldly offense led by Joe Burrow took the crown and left the Tide out of the Playoff for the first time. Bennett will be trying to help the Dawgs do the same in 2020 in support of some good, old-fashioned defense.
And who’d have seen this coming, anyway?
Jamie Newman transferred to Wake Forest but decided to opt out of the season altogether. The staff went with Mathis out of the gate, and after 15+ minutes apparently determined he wasn’t the guy. Southern Cal import JT Daniels’ only crime thus far has been an ACL injury that hindered his ability to compete for the job.
Now, it’s probably too late. Bennett already entrenched himself as QB1, and will be QB1 until he proves otherwise.
To be fair, no one’s going to confuse him with Jones or, for that matter, Kyle Trask or Matt Corral. But he doesn’t need to be. All he needs to be is the kid from small-town Georgia who originally walked on to the Bulldogs football team and eventually became the starter.
That’s not to say he doesn’t have weapons. Kearis Jackson has transitioned from little-used target to one of the leading receivers in the SEC, and could further raise his profile against a struggling Tide defense. Tight end Tre’ McKitty is finally healthy and showed well against Tennessee. Darnell Washington, once he adjusts to the college game, figures to play a major offensive role. Don’t forget Jermaine Burton, who made a pair of catches against the Vols and broke off a 43-yard run on a nice sweep play dialed up by offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
Monken, for his part, knows a thing or two about developing college quarterbacks, with his defining work coming at Southern Miss, where he transformed a dreadful Golden Eagles program into a dynamic offensive machine led by Nick Mullens. The Dawgs weren’t nearly in the same boat as the Conference-USA outfit, and with Monken starting to gain his footing, he has a chance to help Bennett get better as the season goes on.
At the end of the day, Bennett has nothing to lose.
If Alabama wins, Georgia will still be in good shape barring a 2nd loss down the stretch with a chance to potentially play the Tide in Atlanta once more. If the Dawgs win, they’ll have established themselves as the team to beat this year in the SEC, potentially sending a message that they aren’t just good enough to win the conference, but a national championship.
And for the kid from Blackshear, Georgia, that would count as a pretty nice delivery.
Has there ever been a 2 vs 3 matchup where the victory really had so little meaning? There will almost certainly be a rematch, and that could mean everything. This game is a great test for both teams and it surely tell us how the teams matchup now, but the SEC CG is still a ways away. Ether of these two get still get upset by someone else, but as of now, they seem significantly better than the rest of the conference.
I get what your saying about the overall meaning but Bama has been our biggest roadblock in the Smart era. It will mean something to us just to get over that hill.
LSUSMC, I’m not so sure it really means so little. Yes, The loser of this one is still in it. The winner gets pole position and a lose one and get out of jail free card.
I see this as a two game Playoff elimination series. Win this one and you still have a 50/50 chance at making the playoffs. Lose it and every other game is a must win and your chances are vastly reduced.
We are back to handing UGA the EAST?
Well he did say “potentially”, but yea way too soon to count the Gators out. This time next week we will likely have the same records. No disrespect to the Vols but I think they have a year or so to compete.
gatorbait87. We’ll know much more after Saturday.
But, based on Florida’s No.11 Scoring Defense vs Georgia’s No. 5 Scoring Offense (which is in full rebuild mode) and will likely improve, I like Georgia’s chances against Florida.
Not handling the East to the Dawgs yet…but they are looking better than originally thought. The Cocktail-Party has not been played yet in Jax.
LSUSMC – I get it. For UGA, win or lose, we still have to beat FL in Jax if both teams win out. I can’t see the playoff taking 2 SEC teams.
At this point on time, not sure our offense is National Title worthy.
I disagree. There will likely be 2 SEC teams in the playoffs. Texas and Oklahoma already have 2 loses so the Big 12 is potentially already out. Clemson will most likely be in and Ohio State will probably be in too. Who’s left? Oregon? Maybe but it will be interesting to see how the committee views them with a 6 game schedule.
I’m not one to root for multiple teams from the same conference in the playoffs, but UGA and Bama have a legit shot to repeat their previous feat. If they split and win out otherwise, they should both get in. The Pac could change that, but that would be a stretch.
LSUSMC, first thank you for your service. The Few. The Proud. The Marines. I do not want to discount the importance of this meeting. No one, Smart included, has beaten Saban. That MEANS something. Plus, a win gives a HUGE emotional lift to the winner going forward. And emotion plays big in college football.
I
I didn’t write this!!! Unless it’s a glitch!!!
It still has meaning!!!! Lots of meaning!!! BUT I PERSONALLY DISAGREE THAT THIS IS BENNETT’S BIGGEST TEST!!!! Not even close. First he practices against the #1 defense at UGA all the time!!!! Second he has went against Arkansas and Tennessee, both of whom have much much better defenses than Alabama!
If that Ole Miss game means anything. Then Alabama has a horrible defense!!! But the offense is a different story. Our defense gets its biggest challenge thus far this season! I hope we come to play and the REFS take the night off!!! Unless they plan to pay us back for all that’s been stolen over the years!!!!!
PS. Either call in favor of UGA or don’t call anything!!! That is what’s fair!!!! The head REF that retired admitted to costing UGA a national championship, just to give Saban one more!!!!
King Negan
Your overuse of exclamation points is disturbing.
@Return of the G……..Then don’t read my post!!!!!!! Your kissing of the A$$ of opposing teams fans bothers me. That is worse than a few of these!!!!!!!!! If your truly a dawg. Then you should support other dawgs. Listen, I’m not wanting to be your enemy. But with all those others you could say something to, why pick me? If your a true UGA fan. Then you don’t need BamaTime or anyone else to like you. They don’t own this blog. I have never personally understood this behavior. Meaning the desire to be liked or accepted by other fan bases. I didn’t bring myself into this particular article. Are you sure it’s not something else that bothers you? If not. Is it possible that you just want to be liked by other fans?
PS. I’m here to defend the Georgia bulldogs! Not to kiss up to anyone. I tell it like it is. Every time some jerk or funnyman says, 1980! I JUST LIKE TO REMIND THEM. NO ITS ACTUALLY 2017!!!! If not for crooked refs and bad calls!!!!
King Negan
Just went and looked again… It’s still 1980…
If not being a belligerent a$$hat that rattles off ridiculous statements to get a reaction is “kissing the a$$ of other teams fans” than yeah. I’m here to talk football not be an embarrassment to my alma mater. I love UGA. I made lifelong friends there. I bleed Red and Black. That doesn’t mean I can’t be civil to other fans. It’s just as dumb as republicans and democrats hating each other. We’re all Americans and on here we’re all college football fans.
Already crying about the refs…
Who?
You…
I do very much love when the trolls eat eachother.
I love it when UGA fans lash out at each other calling them buttercups…
Nothing better than one delusional fan calling out another for being less delusional…
I love it when a Bama fan, so desperate for attention, trolls UGA articles in hopes to engage in an argument then pretends like those fans are somehow bothering him.
@BamaTime and ALL interested parties………..I promised you I would NEVER let it rest, until justice was done! I was true to my word. TRUE ENOUGH, THAT AFTER THE HEAD REF RETIRED. HE FELT HE HAD BEST COME CLEAN!!!
And the head REF then admitted to costing UGA a national championship!!! How often does that happen? The confession, I mean! Some claim he had motivation.
Personally, I’m convinced that confession never takes place without me!!!! Why????
Well, there were rumors that I was organizing masses of people. Who were possibly going to swarm the field. Coming down on the REFS hard, if they started the same old same old! YOU KNOW, LIKE ALL THOSE BIKERS THAT ROSE UP BY THE THOUSANDS TO MEET ANTIFA AND BLM HEAD ON IN THE STREETS! JUST ONE DAY AFTER I SAID IT WOULD HAPPEN. JUST HOURS LATER ACTUALLY. IT WAS QUITE A REMARKABLE COINCIDENCE!!!!
While I neither confirm nor deny the truthfulness of those rumors. I will say this. The bikers were in the right. And they will continue to do exactly the same in many states, at times of need in the future!!!
While riding separately they ride under many different club names. Collectively they are known to the media, as Bikers for Trump!
But ONE MAN gave them another name! A name that has been far more private until recently. That name is AVENGERS!!!! Yes, AVENGERS just like the movie! And in case you still haven’t guessed. I AM THAT ONE MAN! Other than simply Negan or King Negan as many know me. Others know me by a code name. well, actually many code names. However a good majority know me by my preferred code name IRON MAN, with numbers attached. Now of course I’m not saying those!!!! Also others have known me as simply V. Yep just the letter V, that’s all. Except with numbers lol. You could say if you believe all the RUMORS that it’s a pretty big group. With many different people using the same email or emails for security reasons. All of us remain on the same side. While totally unknown to the other except by certain combinations of code names and numbers! And many different emails are used by possibly a few or possibly MULTITUDES!!!! BUT DON’T WORRY. WE DON’T HAVE ANY GIANT FLYING, CITY SIZED VESSELS!!!
Sure we all have our differences when it comes to football. Heck, everyone has their own favorite! But there are rumors that a good 45000 or better are hard core UGA fans!!!! No I’m not as intelligent as the movie version of iron man. At least I don’t think? LOL
If you believe the rumors. The leaders have people under them and those people have people under them. So on, and so on. And each of the top leaders uses a code name taken directly from the movie AVENGERS!!!!! While many in the lower order have no clue about these names. And in many cases they don’t know these people directly either. Still the rumors say. It’s a well oiled machine!!! The fact that I happen to be known as IRON MAN, tells you very little about me. Except that, well my face while handsome, usually remains hidden!!!! And I’m highly intelligent. In fact, intelligent enough to appear to play the fool at times! Only someone with a high enough intelligence, will understand. Others will simply say. If your so smart. Then learn how to write!!!! LOL. To which I say. I’M WORKING ON IT!!!! LOL
If you stayed with me this far. Let’s just say. THERE HAD BETTER NOT BE ANYMORE UNFAIR OFFICIATING IN UGA VS ALABAMA GAMES! Unless it goes against Alabama which is JUSTICE!!!! Because regardless to the numbers inside. THERE ARE ALWAYS THOUSANDS OUTSIDE!!!!
PS. Don’t blame me if someone gets pissed off and does drastic things. People are tired of getting $CREWED!!!!!
King Negan
@BamaTime……….By the way BamaTime. If you believe any of my AVENGERS post. It’s a half mile of imagination LOL!!! I was just WASTING YOUR TIME!!!! LOL.
It seemed like the thing to do at the time. Of course I’m not the leader of some gigantic underworld!!! It was all a made up fictional story!!!!
Just like your education level lol. JK, just messing with ya!!! Hope you didn’t read all that. The only true part was about the refs cheating UGA!!!!
PS. That has happened quite a bit with bama vs Georgia!!!! And it’s in TUSCALOOSA, go figure!!!! But we will see you in Atlanta. IF YOU MAKE IT!!!! LOL
King Negan
Negan…You can cry forever but guess what UGA will never be? They will never be the 2017 NC…
They do have the one from 1980 though as they’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of that once in a lifetime moment.. LMAO
I did troll the article return G… I trolled a UGA troll… All his posts are about Bama. That’s free game..
Didn’t troll the article*
Would be an awesome story and I hope like hell that it happens but I’d be lying if I said I was confident in SBIV. The one thing he has going for him is he seems to have the “it” factor this year but he has obvious physical limitations. His deep ball is uhhh… not good. He does seem to know when to scramble and is deceptively fast. I like that he is confident but I’ll admit I keep waiting for him to fall on his face. Maybe it’s unfair to him but it’s how I feel. I hope he proves me wrong.
Return of the G, I’m actually not concerned about Bennett. If he gets enough support I think he will play well enough.
My concern is the up and down O-line. If they play up to their potential, just better than average but for 4 full quarters I like our chances.
I just haven’t seen them put it together for a complete game to this point.
Hey did you guys know that Stetson was the last quarterback on Georgia’s roster to be considered for the starting job? I had never heard that before. Thanks for the info
This year it was Heisman-Jamie, then JT then Mathis and finally Stetson Bennett IV was given the “opportunity” to actually compete for the Quarterback job…and he has done well thus far. Frankly I believe he is Kirby’s ideal type QB…more of a game-manager who doesn’t lose games. There’s that-fear-of-loss vs. the hope-for-gain.
UGA wont see the Bama defense that played against Ole Miss. I re-watched the TAMU and Mizzou games and Bama defense played pretty well. The difference was the pace of play. TAMU plays slower and allowed Bama D to get set up, get their calls in, get the right personnel, and get in the right spots. UGA offense is more similar to TAMU than Ole Miss. If Kirby wants to attack this D, he may need to run more hurry up offense than he’s accustomed to.
UGA’s chances on offense come down to three things:
1) Does Monken have wrinkles planned, like tempo, different packages we haven’t seen yet, etc? I don’t think the Georgia offense we’ve seen to date will be quite enough.
2) Will those wrinkles work?
3) If we get a lead, will we stay on the gas offensively? If we go conservative as we have when we’ve had a lead vs. Bama in the past, we could let them back in the game yet again.
This ain’t just a “test”, it’s a Final Exam!
Not. Even. Close.
This is the midterm. Whoever passes will most likely get Clemson in the playoff as the final.
SicEm, not really. No Spring practice, New OC, New QB, 4 new starters O-line and young receivers.
This offense is just getting started. As long as everybody stays healthy it will improve as the season goes. Look at the progress LSU’s offense made last season.
GA could lose this one and beat Bama in the SECCG simply because of offensive improvement.
But it is the next test and it is a very big one.
This one’s gonna be a good one. Can’t wait. Roll Tide !