STAYING HUMBLE ON THE MOUNTAINTOP: Despite Soaring to No. 1 National Ranking, Georgia Baseball Star Slate Curley Says Team Remains Laser-Focused on Bigger Goals, Not Hype, as Bulldogs Aim to Turn Accolades Into Omaha Reality in 2025 Championship Chase
ATHENS, Ga. — It’s not every day that a college baseball team climbs to the top of the national rankings. But when the Georgia Bulldogs recently earned the coveted No. 1 spot in multiple national polls, there wasn’t a dramatic celebration in the locker room or champagne bottles popping in the dugout. Instead, the team took a quieter, more mature route — a shrug and a reminder that the real goal lies ahead.
No player embodied that mindset more clearly than Slate Curley, one of Georgia’s vocal leaders and standout contributors this season. In a recent media session, Curley offered a quote that perfectly summed up the Bulldogs’ collective attitude:
> “You just shrug it off because it’s like at the end of the day, rankings are not the most important thing,” Curley said. “It’s cool, a little accolade, but we’re not really giving it too much time.”
That measured reaction speaks volumes. While most programs would be overwhelmed with excitement after such recognition, Georgia Baseball is locked in, eyes firmly fixed on Omaha, not on polls.
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Bulldogs Surge to No. 1 — But Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing
Georgia’s rise to the top of the rankings didn’t happen overnight. The Bulldogs have strung together an impressive run of series wins, including sweeps against highly ranked SEC opponents like LSU, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas. Powered by elite pitching, solid defensive play, and timely hitting, the team’s consistency has been hard to ignore.
National media outlets — including D1Baseball, Baseball America, and the USA Today Coaches Poll — all took notice, giving Georgia the No. 1 nod and effectively crowning them as the team to beat heading into the final month of the season.
Still, within the locker room, head coach Wes Johnson has worked to keep things grounded.
> “It’s awesome for our fans, our program, and our alumni,” Johnson told reporters. “But for the guys in that clubhouse, the job isn’t done. It’s a great checkpoint — not a destination.”
That sentiment has trickled down to every corner of the roster, where even the youngest players are buying into the process-over-hype mentality.
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A Veteran Core Anchors the Push for Omaha
One of the driving forces behind Georgia’s success this season has been the presence of veteran leadership, both on the field and behind the scenes.
Players like Curley, Luke Wagner, Garrett Spikes, and Charlie Condon have not only produced statistically but also maintained high standards in the locker room. Condon, a potential Golden Spikes Award candidate, continues to be one of the most feared hitters in the nation, batting over .400 with double-digit home runs.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs’ pitching staff, headlined by ace Liam Sullivan and flame-throwing closer Ben Anderson, has been dominant in late-inning situations — a big reason why Georgia has been able to pull off come-from-behind wins and close tight games.
The balance between experience and emerging talent has made this roster arguably the most complete Georgia has fielded in over a decade.
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What’s Next: Stretch Run, SEC Tournament, and Omaha on the Horizon
With only a few SEC series remaining before the postseason, Georgia is entering a critical phase. Remaining matchups against Mississippi State and Florida will not only test the Bulldogs’ endurance but also provide the kind of high-pressure moments needed before Omaha.
The SEC Tournament looms large, with Georgia currently projected to earn a top-two seed, giving them a favorable draw. From there, it’s all about securing regional hosting duties and taking care of business at home.
If they succeed, a Super Regional appearance — and a return to the College World Series for the first time since 2008 — is well within reach.
And yet, through all the buzz, rankings chatter, and growing media presence, Georgia continues to preach patience and focus. Their philosophy? Let the accolades come, but don’t chase them.
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Final Word: Respect the Ranking, But Don’t Worship It
In a sports landscape often obsessed with headlines and hype, the Georgia Bulldogs baseball team is proving that quiet confidence can be just as powerful as noisy celebration. Their approach — a blend of humility, experience, and unwavering focus — may be exactly what they need to finish what they’ve started.
As Curley put it so simply and wisely: “It’s just a ranking.”
For Georgia Baseball, the only numbers that matter come in June, in Omaha, when it’s time to chase the one accolade they will celebrate — a national championship trophy.
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