Blair: Visit something "I will never forget"

ATHENS – As far as official visits go, Blair Walsh had one of the most unique ones in Georgia history.

Blair Walsh Profile

In fact, one could make the argument that Walsh had the most unique official visit ever for any recruit. After traveling up from south Florida, having relatively warm temperatures to greet him, Walsh was there when the Dawgs were given their fighting black jerseys for the first time ever.

Walsh was astonished.

“It was amazing,” he said. “I didn’t think that game was going to be that good.”

Walsh was right the night was magical for the Dawgs.

“We got to be in the locker room when they busted out those black jerseys,” said Walsh. “The seniors were in the corner and someone was pumping everyone up. You could see that something was happening, but you didn’t know what it was totally. When they got them out it was crazy – they were going nuts over them.”

Walsh said the appearance of the black jerseys for the first time was something he won’t soon forget.

“The players were very surprised,” he recalled. “It went to a totally different level. It was like they wanted to bust down the doors and get out there. I will remember that for the rest of my life.”

The black jerseys were not the only surprise of the weekend for Walsh. He saw a familiar face when he got to Athens – and not that of his teammate and fellow Georgia commit Jeremy Longo. Instead the pair saw Patrick Johnson, who they had played the night before in a high school game, show up to take in Athens for his official visit to the school. Johnson had, at one time, been committed to Miami, but has since opened up his recruiting.

“I was surprised that Patrick went up there,” Walsh said. “If we get him that would be great, but if we don’t we are in good shape anyway.”

Walsh is aware of Georgia’s high perch in the recruiting world this season. The Bulldogs are currently ranked second in Scout.com’s national recruiting rankings. Still, the focus of the weekend was his official visit to Athens. He said it was good to connect with current players and recruits headed to Georgia.

“It was nice talking with Brandon Coutu and Brian Mimbs again,” Walsh said. “I saw a lot of the guys committed to Georgia, and I am trying to get to know them better.”

What Walsh witnessed, however, will stick with him as long as he lives, he said.

“I have never seen a stadium with that much buzz. That was by far the best football game I have ever been to,” he said. “Whoever was in charge of that switch to black jerseys was genius.”