The crowd roared and the confetti exploded into the air above the makeshift stage on the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium field. The confetti floated down, sticking to the sweaty players, to the coaches and fans who had gathered in the immediate aftermath of Georgia's 28-7 victory over Auburn in the Southeastern Conference Championship.
The giddy smiles and the physical hugs continued through the ceremony, as commissioner Greg Sankey congratulated the Dawgs, as Ray Charles crooned "Georgia on My Mind" through the sound system, as the collective message of "Oh my God we're here!" ran across every face like the Times Square news zipper.