We can be amazed at Miami's 34-game winning streak; we can be amazed at how quickly Tyrone Willingham resurrected Notre Dame, but to be honest, there is no story sweeter this season than Musa Smith's. It is a tale of a quiet 20-year-old from rural Pennsylvania who, while carrying Georgia to its first SEC title in 20 years, has evolved from mystery man to icon.

The junior tailback has had a breakout year -- in more ways than one. For his first two seasons in Athens, the 6-2, 230-pound Smith was derailed by injuries. And while folks around the program liked the quiet, low-key kid from the sticks, he remained something of an enigma -- a Yankee on a team of Southerners, the lone Muslim on a team in the heart of the Bible Belt.

	Musa Smith may be one of the best running backs ever to come out of Georgia.

In September, ESPN The Magazine published a story about Smith's family history, citing court documents that accused his father, Kelvin Smith, of training Islamic terrorists at the family's farm 10 years ago. Around New Bloomfield, Pa., where Musa grew up, this was old news; though Kelvin was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for lying to federal agents, the community had embraced Musa and his family as part of their own.

In Athens, though, there was some initial concern over how the story would play. When asked to talk about it, Smith responded with the obvious question: "What does this have to do with football?" Georgia fans rallied around their tailback and replied with the right answer: "Nothing."

Smith says the support made him feel like Athens was home, and his comfort showed on the field. He piled up eight 100-yard games on the way to 1,179 yards, becoming the first Georgia runner to surpass 1,000 yards since Garrison Hearst in 1992.

"I know Herschel Walker is great, but you have to put Musa in that class," Georgia wideout Micheal Johnson said. "I like to call Musa 'Baby Herschel' because he's strong, physical and knows how to hit the holes. He uses his eyes. Speed, power, balance, vision, that's a great combination."

Entering the season, there were some questions about Smith's durability, but as the season wore on, he seemed to actually get stronger -- and quicker. "I think he ate his spinach this year," says Johnson. "Look at his forearms, they're huge. He's like Popeye the Sailor Man. He came out and led this team."

Teammates say Smith seemed guarded before. Not any more. "He's way open now," says DT Ken Veal. Terrence Edwards, a senior receiver and one of the team's leaders, says he doesn't believe Musa has changed, but says he thinks Smith feels a stronger bond with his teammates. "We stuck with him and said, 'Musa, you're our guy.' I think that helped him out, like, 'Hey, they're not going to turn on me. They're my brothers.'"

These days, everyone around Athens is just looking at Smith as an integral part of the championship team -- and as a guy who joined the elite ranks of Herschel and Hearst and all the other famed Bulldog tailbacks.

"I won't be able to sit back and reflect on everything until after the season," Smith says. "Right now, it just feels good to be a part of this team."

Random Notes