Bulldogs fans root on UGA to win at Capital One Bowl

ATLANTA — Metro Atlanta sports bars were filled with red and black on New Year's Day.

Local fans didn't have to go far to make an event out of the University of Georgia's appearance in the Capitol One Bowl.

Channel 2's Carl Willis watched fans cheer on the Dawgs in sports bars in DeKalb County and Buckhead Tuesday afternoon.

"It's New Year's Day football and that's where Georgia belongs, and I think the fans are definitely out here to support it," said Bulldogs fan Kirk Miller.

They couldn't make it to the stands in Orlando but many fans, including Miller, did the next best thing and flocked to the closest big screen to watch UGA end the season on a high note.

Some were more intense than others.

"This is my shrine," said Tommy Dorsey as he arranged various Georgia memorabilia at his table. "I'm missing a piece."

He parked it at the Famous Pub in DeKalb County and assembled a 2-foot high "Hairy Dawg" sculpture along with a matching miniature version, a plush football that plays the UGA fight song, a bell with the Georgia "G" affixed to it and a big fuzzy die and a poker chip because, as he put it, "It's all a gamble."

Some fans told Willis they're already dreading Saturdays without football.

"Got to show up, get the last little juice of college football we can before the off season sets in, which is terrible," said Billy Joyner.

Even after coming so close to playing for a national championship, after a heartbreaking loss to Alabama, Dawgs fans said they were proud to see their boys "sic 'em" one last time.

"Even though that game against Alabama was rough, everyone's still behind this team 100 percent," Joyner said -- especially after a 45-31 win over Nebraska.

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WSBTV