As Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo intercepted Alabama's Bryce Young and streaked down the side line toward the end zone, he carried with him four decades of heartbreak and misery that Bulldogs fans have felt weighed down by since their last national title in 1980. He also defied the pleading of one very important person on the Georgia sideline: coach Kirby Smart.
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As Ringo secured the ball, Smart immediately shouted for him to go down, as the Bulldogs had virtually sealed the win as long as he maintained possession. Ringo didn't heed his coach's warning, and streaked into the end zone to put the finishing touches on a historic Georgia title.
The Bulldogs' defensive front picked up steam as the game went on, pressuring Young relentlessly and forcing him into rushed throws. Young actually had time on his fateful throw, but forced the ball into tight coverage, with Ringo leaping to catch the ball at his highest point before following his blockers to pay dirt.
Smart might have been strenuously urging his player do go down, but he likely won't mind that his commands were ignored. The play gave Smart his first career win over Alabama, after the Tide won the previous four meetings.
