NEW ORLEANS — New Year's Eve is the last day before 2019 and it was also the final day of pregame pleasantries ahead of the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Texas head coach Tom Herman and Georgia's top dawg Kirby Smart met Monday morning for the last Q&A session before the showdown.
13WMAZ's Marvin James asked Smart about the team's experience in New Orleans ahead of game day and their expectations from the match up.
"I think the opportunity in front of our team is as grand as it can be because for our guys, they are looking to play to a standard and make a statement. To live up to the excellence created at Georgia against one of the top programs in the country," said Smart.
He also had some kind words for Georgia great, former head coach Mark Richt, who announced his retirement from coaching over the weekend.
Smart replaced Richt and his first season as head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs was in 2016.
"I'd also like to take the opportunity to wish Coach Mark Richt a happy retirement. He’s meant a lot to my career, [he] hired me and has been very thorough in my career and big beneficiary for UGA. [He] has given back so much and been such a good leader and man to this institution so I want to wish him well," said Smart. "I also want to celebrate Ben Watson after a 15-year career is coming to an end in the NFL. He’s such a great representative. He spoke to our team and gave us one of the most compelling speeches ever and we hope to get him back more since he had some more time off. I’m excited about these guys."
The #5 Georgia Bulldogs will face off against #15 Texas on Tuesday at 8:45 p.m. EST. ESPN will be carrying the game.
