Adam Greene
UGA Sports Communications

The third week of the college football season presents Georgia with its biggest challenge yet: the sixth-ranked Bulldogs head to Knoxville to face No. 15 Tennessee at Neyland Stadium. Known as one of the loudest environments in the country, the Bulldogs have spent all offseason preparing for the hostility that awaits them.

“You gotta be more locked in when you’re on the road, because there’s a lot of noise and a lot that could go wrong,” offensive lineman Monroe Freeling said. Now a junior, Freeling has earned veteran status among the group around him. Despite the challenge, he believes the Bulldogs are up for the task ahead.

Freeling thought back to his first time playing in Knoxville, a mid-November game in 2023. “I remember that very first play, they scored a touchdown. It was the loudest I’ve heard any other stadium,” he recalled. That lasting impression is why he’s rallied his teammates ahead of the Bulldogs’ SEC opener. His message to the freshmen: “You better get ready.”

The leadership qualities Freeling has displayed haven’t just been noticed by his fellow linemen and underclassmen — the coaching staff has seen them as well. “He works really hard,” Kirby Smart said of Freeling. “He works hard on his body. He works hard on leading. He’s been a very consistent piece and has continued to lead our group and push.”

Just as Freeling did, Smart emphasized both the challenge and opportunity that await his team. “Loud affects your offense. It affects your ability to communicate,” Smart said. “You just have to be smart about what you ask guys to communicate and say, because it can be frustrating.” As much as the staff tries to prepare players for the SEC schedule and road games, including with simulated crowd noise blaring through speakers during practice, it’s something they can’t fully understand until they experience it.

“You can pump all the crowd noise into practice you want, but when you get there, it’s different,” Freeling said. “At the end of the day, it’s on the road, in a stadium with a very hostile fan base and environment.”

More important than simulated crowd noise, Smart wants every player mentally sharp and prepared to win individual battles. “The overall mindset of our offseason program is to play with toughness and composure,” he explained. “Try to win more moments than the opponent. There are going to be a lot of moments in this game. You may lose one or two, but we’re just trying to win more moments.”

The key to winning those moments? Communication. Having played in some of the nation’s loudest stadiums, Freeling knows its importance. “Communication before the snap and everyone being on the same page,” he said when asked how the Bulldogs can gain an edge. “It’s probably the most important thing in those away environments.”

Even so, Freeling is keeping a level head and not trying to do too much. “It’s just football,” he said, pointing to the countless hours of preparation his team has put in. Sticking to their fundamentals, he added, is another way to succeed: “Go out there and play football, have fun, and don’t make it more than what it is.”

Smart’s outlook again reflected that of his veteran lineman. “If we can win more moments, then we increase our chances,” he said. “If we worry about past lost moments or future ones, we can’t focus on the current.”

That focus often comes from leadership, and few players carry more weight in that role than Freeling. “I’m a role model now for all of these young guys,” he admitted. “I’m gonna have to show them how to do it and set the standard.”

Before wrapping up, Freeling added one final thought: “I love playing on the road.” The challenges excite him and provide another chance to raise the Bulldogs’ standard.

Freeling, Smart, and the Bulldogs know the road ahead won’t be easy. But with a focus on winning more moments, Georgia has the tools it needs to succeed. The Bulldogs’ toughest opponents await them, beginning this weekend at Neyland Stadium.