Hinesville resident and veteran Ted Harris had an opportunity to travel to New Orleans and sit in the stands with the Bulldog fans during the 2008 Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2.
“It was my first bowl game experience,” Harris said. “The energy of the crowd just hyped up the team and got everybody going.”
Harris spent some time traveling from coast to coast visiting veterans hospitals throughout the United States speaking with patients and handingg out "Made in America" flags to veterans. Before returning to Hinesville, he had the opportunity to go to the Sugar Bowl with his wife Karen and got much more than he expected.
"We had our tickets and it said row 10," Harris said. "It turns out that in that part of the stadium, row 10 was the second row in and just above the tunnel the Bulldogs came running out of. After the first half, I took some video of the team running out of the tunnel and the crowd roared. It was just incredible energy."
Harris said as impressive as it was to be seated among the sea of Dawg fans all wearing black was the fact he was seated next to legendary Dawg fan Mike Woods.
According to Harris, Woods has attended Bulldog games for the last 50 years and continues a tradition started by his father in being recognized as the biggest Bulldog fan around.
Woods has been seen on ESPN sporting a Bulldog face painted on top of his baldhead.
"He is unbelievable," Harris said. "He has the ability of intimidating the opposing team with his enthusiasm and love of his team. When Hawaii got the ball on the five-yard line during the second half, one of the Hawaii receivers looked over at 'Big Dawg' and was so distracted it took him right out of that play."
Harris was also among many Hinesville residents who are now students at the University of Georgia - among them, his stepdaughter, Kenya Lovett.
"She plays on their band," he said.
Also in the band is former Liberty County High School drum major Jeremy Fermin and Rebecca Carter.
Not to be left out, former Bradwell Tiger Vince Vance was out on the playing field as an offensive lineman.
Harris, who served in the military and was only the third American citizen given a private tour of the SAM 26,000 - better known as Air Force One - said this experience tops the cake.
"It was great. Someone higher up definitely was watching out for me enough to enjoy this," Harris said.
“It was my first bowl game experience,” Harris said. “The energy of the crowd just hyped up the team and got everybody going.”
Harris spent some time traveling from coast to coast visiting veterans hospitals throughout the United States speaking with patients and handingg out "Made in America" flags to veterans. Before returning to Hinesville, he had the opportunity to go to the Sugar Bowl with his wife Karen and got much more than he expected.
"We had our tickets and it said row 10," Harris said. "It turns out that in that part of the stadium, row 10 was the second row in and just above the tunnel the Bulldogs came running out of. After the first half, I took some video of the team running out of the tunnel and the crowd roared. It was just incredible energy."
Harris said as impressive as it was to be seated among the sea of Dawg fans all wearing black was the fact he was seated next to legendary Dawg fan Mike Woods.
According to Harris, Woods has attended Bulldog games for the last 50 years and continues a tradition started by his father in being recognized as the biggest Bulldog fan around.
Woods has been seen on ESPN sporting a Bulldog face painted on top of his baldhead.
"He is unbelievable," Harris said. "He has the ability of intimidating the opposing team with his enthusiasm and love of his team. When Hawaii got the ball on the five-yard line during the second half, one of the Hawaii receivers looked over at 'Big Dawg' and was so distracted it took him right out of that play."
Harris was also among many Hinesville residents who are now students at the University of Georgia - among them, his stepdaughter, Kenya Lovett.
"She plays on their band," he said.
Also in the band is former Liberty County High School drum major Jeremy Fermin and Rebecca Carter.
Not to be left out, former Bradwell Tiger Vince Vance was out on the playing field as an offensive lineman.
Harris, who served in the military and was only the third American citizen given a private tour of the SAM 26,000 - better known as Air Force One - said this experience tops the cake.
"It was great. Someone higher up definitely was watching out for me enough to enjoy this," Harris said.