LOS ANGELES — It’s been nearly a quarter of a century since Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker was a part of the Rose Bowl as a player.
Yet the former Wisconsin defensive back has a vivid memory from when the Badgers beat UCLA, 21-16, on New Year’s Day in 1994.
The moment from years ago was still as clear as the southern California sky on a sunny, 80-degree day on Friday in downtown Los Angeles during another round of press conferences leading up to Monday’s national semifinal showdown between No. 2 Oklahoma (12-1) and No. 3 Georgia (12-1) in the College Football Playoff.
“The thing I’ll remember most outside of the game itself is how immaculate the field was,” Tucker said. “It was like an elite golf course type of grass. I hear they cut it like three times a day.
“Add that with the fans and the colors on both sides, you knew it was a special event and something that you cherish forever.”
Now, 24 years later, Tucker has returned to the Rose Bowl where he will have his defensive unit of the Bulldogs ready to square off with the high-octane Oklahoma offense.
In what many are anticipating to be a chess match for the ages between the No. 1 overall offense in the country in Oklahoma pitted against the No. 4 overall defense of Georgia, there is a polarizing contrast of styles.
Hoping that balance can offset Georgia’s defensive prowess, the Sooners have devised a game plan to outscore UGA just like they have done to nearly every team this season.
“Georgia is very athletic and can run all over the field, so it will be a challenge for us, obviously,” OU offensive coordinator Cale Gundy said. “With the package we’re going to put together offensively — the combination to be able to run the ball and throw the ball with some RPOs — hopefully things will go our way.”
Tucker and the Bulldogs want to counter OU’s plan of attack by making the Sooners one-dimensional.
“First and foremost, it’s going to be a challenge to stop the run and try to make them one-dimensional, if we can,” said Tucker, who also called OU unique given they are committed to running the football in a spread offense. “They go extremely fast. Everyone’s at the point of attack, and they do a great job schematically.”
OU averages 583 total yards of offense per game, topping state rival Oklahoma State, which comes in second at 569. Led by Heisman Trophy winner quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Sooners average nearly a first down every snap, gaining 8.4 yards per play and have scored more touchdowns (75) than any other team in the country.
“For one, they have an outstanding quarterback,” Tucker said of Mayfield. “He’s elite, and he really makes those guys go. You don’t see quarterbacks like that every week, regardless of who you play.”
Meanwhile, Georgia’s defense sits fourth nationally in terms of total yards from scrimmage allowed, surrendering just 271 yards per game and a mere 4.45 yards per play.
Oklahoma boasts the nation’s fourth-ranked scoring offense at 44.9 points per game, while Georgia is ranked fourth nationally in scoring defense, yielding only 13.2 points per game.
Something’s gotta give. Which side will give remains to be seen.
For Georgia, it all starts with junior linebacker Roquan Smith, and for good reason. Smith leads the Bulldogs in multiple categories including tackles (113), tackles for loss (10.5), sacks (5.5) and quarterback pressures (17).
He was named a unanimous AP First Team All-American, won the 2017 Butkus Award for the nation’s top linebacker and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
“He’s a tremendous athlete, as you guys know,” Georgia defensive lineman Jonathon Ledbetter said of his teammate, Smith. “He can diagnose a play. He can check out of a play. He recognizes offense as well and can play sideline to sideline. Most importantly, he’s just a hard worker.”
Smith has been labeled as the foundation of Georgia’s culture change as he and coach Kirby Smart have brought the Bulldogs back to national prominence after several years of mediocrity, unable to get over the hump.
“It’s kind of surreal to think about that,” Smith said.
The chess match within the chess match is Smith vs. Mayfield with the best linebacker in college football leading the charge against the best quarterback in college football.
"It's going to be big playing against the Heisman Trophy winner, a decorated player like that," Smith said. "I'm sure he's a competitor. Regardless of what's wrong with him, he's going to do his best to play in that game — and I'm sure he'll be in that game — so we're definitely looking forward to that."
When asked about being the best linebacker in the country and who he models his game after, Smith wouldn’t boast. Rather, he stared straight ahead and shrugged off the notion before his coach chimed in.
“Roquan is unique to me,” said Tucker, who spent 10 years as a defensive coordinator in the NFL where he saw his fair share of talented linebackers. “He has that unique combination of speed, football IQ and physical play.”
The guy is all business, and Smith made it clear he is here to let his play on the field speak for itself.
“You have to let your play on the field do the talking more so than with your mouth,” Smith said. “At the end of the day, your mouth doesn’t really do anything. It’s what you do on the field.”
Tucker wouldn’t shy away from Smith’s unselfish behavior that rubs off on his Bulldog teammates and gets the defensive unit clicking the same way Mayfield does with the OU offense.
“When you have guys like Roquan and John-John (Atkins) who are great players, they lead the way for us in being great team guys — not just great football players but just great people," Tucker said. "They are guys that care about at group and are very, very unselfish.
“I think that’s what makes Roquan unique as a linebacker. He can do it all on and off the field.”
One of the key areas to watch will be the physical battle in the trenches between the two front-seven’s.
OU has one of the better offensive lines in the country, anchored by unanimous First Team All-American left tackle Orlando Brown, but UGA is just as powerful up front and should provide an intriguing clash in what may dictate several key drives.
“I think it will be a great challenge for our defense,” Smith said. “We know they have a great offense out there, but we feel like we have a great defense as well. I haven’t played an offense like this with the weapons they have. That’s why I think it will be a good challenge for our defense, and we’re beyond excited about it."
When avenging its lone loss in the SEC Championship game earlier this month, the Georgia defense stifled Auburn to just 259 yards of total offense and a mere seven points while forcing two turnovers after the Tigers dropped a 40-burger on them a few weeks prior.
“We’re physical, violent and fast to the football,” Smith said. “And we don’t take anything for granted.”
Georgia also held its practice Friday afternoon where the Bulldogs wanted to set the intensity for Monday’s game — knowing full well the challenge that lies ahead with the Sooner offense.
“It really starts in practice and how we come out and attack the day,” Atkins said. “If you build on that practicing, by the time you get to the game it should be easy.”