Georgia vs LSU is definitely the most hyped up game in college football this week. Throughout the week, there has been endless talk of the Georgia’s championship hopes, and LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger’s improvement since the last season. There have been countless question analyzed throughout the pre-game coverage. Can Georgia’s young defense slow down LSU’s offense and put Mettenberger in third down postitions? Will home field advantage work in the Bulldogs’ favor? Who has the better quarterback/running back combo? Georgia with Aaron Murray and Todd Gurley or LSU with Zach Mettenberger and Jeremy Hill? A close score and exciting plays can be expected. This game is definitely one college football fans don’t want to miss. Naturally, this would be the game chosen by ESPN’s College GameDay crew. College GameDay loves quality match-ups, but they also love stories. Georgia vs LSU is another chapter to a story that began in Athens before Aaron Murray played his first game as the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs.
The last time Zach Mettenberger was between the hedges, he was on the sidelines wearing a red jersey along with Georgia’s current starting quarterback Aaron Murray. Mettenberger grew up in Watkinsville, GA, a community right outside of Athens. His mother, Tammy, has been an administrative assistant for the UGA football offices since long before the LSU quarterback’s college days. Mettenberger grew up around the Georgia Bulldogs program, and attended many football summer camps at UGA. In 2009, he signed with the Bulldogs around the same time Aaron Murray committed to Georgia. Both quarterbacks sat out during the 2009 season, and in the spring of 2010, they were in a tight competition for the starting position. But when Mettenberger was arrested and dismissed from the team later that spring, it was inevitable that Murray would be the starting quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs. Mettenberger started at Butler Community College for one season before transferring to LSU. His mother, who still works in the football offices, was given the week off by head coach Mark Richt.
Earlier this week, Richt reportedly said the the Bulldogs are just looking at Mettenberger as they would any other opponent. Their main focus is contain the quarterback and to slow down LSU’s offense. Regardless of what happened in 2010, there is a lot on the line for both teams this week. Both quarterbacks are under pressure to lead their teams to a huge victory. The winner of this game will have a shot at an SEC title and will be in the conversation for the national title. But it will be interesting to see what happens when Murray and Mettenberger are once again competing against one another for a win between the hedges.
