Remembering Stetson Bennett's epic 2022 championship celebration, from rare bourbon to 'Good Morning America' hangover

David Suggs

•
Remembering Stetson Bennett's epic 2022 championship celebration, from rare bourbon to 'Good Morning America' hangover image

The 2022 CFP national championship game left a lasting image in the minds of many. Not just because Georgia waltzed to victory over SEC rivals Alabama. But rather, because Stetson Bennett, like any good college-aged student would do, made sure to celebrate like a madman once the confetti flew.

Bennett is something of an everyman at the college level, having experienced all the ups and downs associated with high-level college football. His football odyssey has been well-documented at this point: He was a walk-on who thrust himself into the starting QB conversation as a sophomore, took the reins of Kirby Smart's offense as a junior and proceeded to lead them to the promised land in back-to-back years.

Given Bennett's time fixed to the bench — as well as his brief spell at spell as Jones County Junior College — Bennett was more cognizant than most of just how much it took to reach the mountaintop.

So when it finally happened, when he finally got a chance to lift that CFP hardware, he celebrated wildly, putting on his best Alex Ovechkin impression in the process.

MORE: Watch Georgia vs. TCU live on fuboTV (free trial)

Here's the story of Bennett's celebration heard around the world, from prime-cut cigarillos to a "bubbly" appearance on "Good Morning America."

Remembering Stetson Bennett's epic 2022 championship celebration

Bennett put together a scintillating display in the 2022 CFP championship, leading the Bulldogs on two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to put the game away. The real theatrics started postgame, though, when Bennett, who was named the game's offensive MVP, lit up a stogie to celebrate Georgia's W.

Red Auerbach would be proud.

Bennett made sure to fill himself up with some good ole Irish courage after the game, taking a huge swig of rare bourbon. That's the good stuff.

Ever the gentleman, Bennett hopped on "Good Morning America" the next morning to spill the tea on his team's momentous victory.

MORE: The story behind why Stetson Bennett is called 'The Mailman'

However, much like your average college student on the morning after a bender, Bennett looked worse for the wear. Host Michael Strahan tossed Bennett a couple of questions. But judging from the look on his face, it seemed Bennett was in a whole other stratosphere.

Alas, the show must go on. And once Bennett got those all important electrolytes in, he suited back up for work: this time, handing out chicken fingers at Raising Cane's in Athens. Yum.

Bennett capped off his post-championship exploits in style, ending things right where they started: in his hometown of Blackshear, Georgia. The then-24-year-old received a hero's welcome in the town of 3,506, being driven around in a motorcade and even obtaining the key to the city, created by students at the local high school.

MORE: The way-too-early Top 25 for 2023 

Bennett was touched:

“It’s tough to put into words,” Bennett said, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Gabriel Burns. “You come back to the town where you know basically everybody’s name. You feel like you don’t deserve all this attention. You just won a football game. But it’s special. ... I know that everybody here, in my hometown... they’re just doing it because they’re proud of us, proud of me and proud of their home."

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.