Carlton Thomas OUT at UGA

The bottle-necked competition in Athens at the running back position thinned out just a bit on Tuesday. 

At the start of UGA's first spring practice of 2012, Mark Richt announced to media that Carlton Thomas has opted to transfer. In a statement by Thomas, he made it known that his decision was because "I know this is going to be my final year. I want to be somewhere where I can make impact".

Carlton Thomas was suspended for "violation of team rules" prior to the season opener in the Georgia Dome against Boise State last season, and once again later in the year when a slew of UGA running backs failed a random drug test, resulting in the suspension of all of them for the New Mexico State game.

You are entitled to your opinion on the departure of Carlton, but I strongly feel he was given the "Washaun Ealey treatment" and escorted to, and pushed out of the door. However, Mark Richt being Mark Richt, I am sure he will have the help and support of UGA in finding a new place to call "dorm sweet dorm".

As far as the impact at the running back position in Athens, I feel this helps it. There were simply too many heads on the roster to get an adequate amount of reps for each. With the arrival of Keith Marshall already on campus, Todd Gurley coming in a few months, and Derick Henry (the potential #1 overall running back in the nation in the class of 2013) already committed to UGA, added to experienced Isaiah Crowell, Richard Samuel, Ken Malcolm, and Brandon Harton, there is NO hurt in the backfield due to this move.

Best of luck Carlton. I sincerely hope you find your place, and get that degree!!

Go Dawgs!!!

Jarvis Jones Pre-Spring Practice Interview ***Dawg Day Exclusive***

Returning All-American, Jarvis Jones

I had the pleasure of exchanging some tweets, and then some emails with returning All-American Outside-Linebacker Jarvis Jones the last few days. 

He was kind enough to take time out of his busy student-athlete schedule to answer a few questions for me going into Spring Practice, which begins today at 4:05pm. Check out the interview below, and find out Jarvis' thoughts on mat drills, Malcolm Mitchell joining his defensive squad, running the 3-4, and Ray Drew cooking squirrel on campus.... Enjoy!

Dawg Day Afternoon: How did mat drills go a few weeks ago?
Jarvis Jones:  Mat drills were great, we really improved mentally and pushed our body to the max. Team unity was definitely built.

DDA: What was your highlight of Spring Break?

UGA's favorite spring destination.

JJ:  Lol my spring break highlight.. umm on the beach in Panama City was the place but my highlight probably was just being there with all my teammates and classmates enjoying our break. 

DDA: Going into Spring Practice, your defense has 10 of 11 starters returning, and receiving big praises from many national media outlets. How do you expect the attention to affect the focus of the team during the crucial spring period?
JJ:  Being that we did a good job last year and that we still have those same players in those position more is expected of us. Though at the same time we only control what we can. Therefore the media and the national attention will just be something out there. We (team) will continue to prepare the best we can and have fun doing so and lean on each others while not worrying about what people expect of us because we wont and cannot make everybody happy.

DDA: You made it known very early in the process that you intended to return this season, despite many NFL experts predicting you a 1^st or 2^nd round draft pick had you left. What was the biggest factor in your decision to return?
JJ: Well, obviously it was a big decision that was made but I'm glad that I made it. The reason being is, we have some players on this team and I respect them all including our coaches. I just felt like we were right where we needed to be last year but we lacked experience in certain situation therefore we made mistakes. Now as I look forward to the up coming season, I feel that we've learned from those mistakes and everything that we've experience and that the guys want to win, and its something that we're passionate about, and something that's a goal and for me to say that I'll stay and grind it out was very humbling and respectful for me to do so. 

DDA: How much campaigning did you do with other returning upper-classmen to stay who were also eligible to go pro early? Did you all sit and talk as a unit? 

"Brothers" working together.

JJ:  Lol. I did no campaigning, the guys just believed in what we have here and wanted to be a part of it.

DDA: In only one word, describe the relationship amongst the defense this spring.
JJ: Brothers!! I say that because we all have each others back and we know without one another that we wont get where we need to be and that's the best in America.

DDA: What are your biggest goals of the spring?
JJ:  Most of all stay healthy, improve in the areas we wasn't as strong in including the ones we were strong in. Learn more techniques and to keep people from cutting me.

DDA: April 14^th will be your second G-Day as a competitor. Talk about the feelings you get when you get to compete in front of your fans for the first time in months.
JJ: It's always special, anytime you get to be a part of the Bulldogs Nation and get to play between those hedges it's unbelievable. I love every minute of it. Last year we had 43,000 to come out this year I hope that number improves.

Who wouldn't want to play for this guy?

DDA: Running the 3-4 Defense seems to be the popular recent trend in college football. How much of a believer has Todd Grantham made you in the scheme? What would you advise a new recruit who has not yet run it, entering his first spring (or fall) with it? 
JJ: The 3-4 scheme is the best system I've played in. However, Coach Grantham is a special coach and person. He knows how to put his players in position to make plays and I credit him and my teammates for all that I did this past season. As for recruits you have to be a part of it to see it, I can't tell our secrets, lol. Though, the players that just got here at Georgia they're learning and its nothing like HS.

DDA: You were only 1 sack from breaking the UGA single season record of 14 by David Pollack last season. Do you plan on making his record one of your personal goals this fall?

UGA single season sack leader, David Pollack (14)

JJ: I get that question a lot but I've always been a team player and will never be about me. However, I would love to blast his record, but if I don't, so what. All I care about is winning the big ones and that the guys I play with enjoy this game.

DDA: What past college football standout do you consider yourself “trying to be like” or “from the mold of”? 
JJ: I don't think I consider myself after anyone or try to be like no one. I watch a lot of film and if I see something I like that someone does, I add it to my game which makes me more versatile. Though I do watch film on Demarcus Ware a whole lot and learned from him.  

DDA: Todd Grantham has made it known that Malcolm Mitchell will be working exclusively with the defense this spring. From what you know of Malcolm, how ready do you think he is to be a crossover threat?
JJ:  He's an competitor and he's always willing to learn. Malcolm can do a lot and he's very passionate about this game, so I really thinks he's ready and he will have the support and all the help he needs to be ready from the guys and the coaches.

DDA:  I imagine the coaches will not let you unleash the fury on our quarterbacks this spring. How sorry do you feel for University of Buffalo Quarterbacks knowing what is facing them in the first game this fall?
JJ: Never on our quarterbacks, but we have yet to watch film on them so I don't know what they have. Though I do know that we will prepared the best we can and we will be ready to give a statement.

DDA: Do you have any practice or gameday superstitions? 
JJ: I try to keep my same rituals each game and that's just being who I am, not doing the extra things to pump myself up. Though some games the energy levels are off the charts. I try to stay loose and have fun but mentally focused at the same time.

DDA: What is your favorite place to eat in Athens?
JJ: I really haven't found that place yet, I like the Peaches restaurant but I love fish and I haven't found a place that cooks it regularly. Any suggestions lol?? 

DDA: I saw on Twitter the other night that Ray Drew was cooking up some squirrel on campus. Did you receive an invite for some sampling?

Ray Drew's favorite meal?

JJ: Lol no, I did not see that message but I don't think I would have eaten any of it but would have loved to see Ray cooking it.

DDA: Speaking of Ray Drew, Do you think the defense is ready for him to take on a more prominent role?
JJ:  I think he will, after a year under his belt he has learned a whole lot. I definitely think he will contribute a lot.

DDA: There is a new rule in college football that if a player’s helmet gets knocked off during a play, they must remove themselves from the field of play for the next play. Your helmet came off a lot last season. Are there any plans in place to lower that number? A Haircut in your future? New/tighter helmets? 

JJ:  I will not cut my hair, but hopefully adjustments can be made so that my helmet wont come off.


Big thanks to Jarvis for taking the time to work with me. Best of luck to him and all our Dawgs as Spring Practice begins this afternoon! Cannot wait to see them all at G-Day!

***And as requested.... the picture of the squirrel on the grill   <-------

GO DAWGS!!!! 

Why Southerners Chant SEC!! SEC!! SEC!!

Battle flag.

I recently got into an argument/debate with a good friend, who simply does not understand  the unity among SEC football fans. This person happens to be from Washington state, and only got his first taste of SEC football within the last few years. This person also prefers his football on Sundays, which is his first big mistake in even attempting to decipher the code of the southern pigskin sirens which seduce our every emotion when the leaves change colors.

Since the argument with him went absolutely nowhere, as in a "I have my opinion and you have yours. I am not trying to change your opinion so please don't try and change mine.", I decided to lay it out to my audience, who are fortunate enough to "get it".

You know you wish this was how you were raised.

If somebody grew up far away from the sounds of cicadas, the sights of hanging spanish moss, the feel of humidity, the smell of honeysuckle, or the taste of butter on every table, they are going to be in for a big culture shock when they decide to invade our turf, bringing with them their foreign ideals and mindsets. In the south, football is not a game played on Sundays by a bunch of rich crybabies who are accompanied by fireworks during player introductions, and lavish halftime shows performed by a bizarro Top-40 musical act. Down here, football is a way of life, played on Friday nights and Saturdays by kids who suit up in order to defend the honor of their community, and are supported by people who have helped "raise them right" in order to respect the helmet decal which graces their suit of armor.

Our football starts here, not at the NFL draft.

The kids that play in the SEC, are kids we have had on our football radars since about the 9th or 10th grade. They are kids we all feel we helped raise, by scouting them out on Fridays, and following their every recruiting trip and rumor. For those outside of the south who claim "recruiting isn't important", try to explain to us how "whoever lands Peyton Manning will not be affected" or "whichever NFL team has the most first round draft picks will not see positive results". Essentially, a college football team has the ability to go out and recruit 3 or 4 of the top recruits in the country, all from the south, get a commit from each of them, and you basically just had 4 of the first 5 picks in the "draft" of college football. And since the majority of these players come from the south, and we have followed them, making them household names while they are looking for prom dates, we declare them family, and can find ways to support them throughout their college careers, even if they are playing for the bitter rival.

There comes the part that is the most difficult to get a foreign NFLer to understand. In the SEC, a game played against a non-SEC opponent has ZERO impact on the conference standings. Whereas in the NFL, if a team's schedule puts them against a non-divisional opponent, everybody else in that division roots hard for the opponent, as a loss from their "brethren" benefits them in the divisional standings. Not saying they fail to understand this, but it's nearly impossible to get them to understand the mindset.

At war with one another. We don't support the rest of the world.

In college football, with its lack of concrete playoffs, a beauty contest ensues throughout the season. When your team, or the bitter rival, goes west to play an Arizona State, or goes north to play a Penn State, or goes up into the valley to play a Nebraska or an Oklahoma State, the beauty of the entire conference is being placed on the line. The last thing we want is an Auburn team going to Nebraska and losing, then later in the year when your team beats Auburn, all the voters and ESPN personalities who have a say so in the rankings say "well, it was a great win for UGA today, but remember, Auburn got embarrassed by a 4 loss Nebraska team earlier in the season", diluting what should have been a rankings-climbing victory. When an SEC school loses to another conference, it dilutes the entire product in the long run. Those raised on southern pigskin understand this. It is not a foreign idea, like "how do those Europeans get excited about a soccer match". We were raised to root for the rival as long as they weren't playing another SEC team. And when they end up losing to a Kentucky or Vanderbilt, well, we consider that the beauty and competition within the SEC. If you think that dilutes our brand, then I have nothing for you.

If you still don't get it, I don't give a damn.

My best advice to those who decide to leave their foreign hometowns, and dive into the rich, deep south, setting up shop while trying to find a nice southern belle, a house with a wraparound porch equipped with rocking chairs, learning to drink sweet tea, and figuring out what a grit is; embrace your surroundings. This includes the religion and culture of our brand of football. We may consider ourselves fourteen individual countries going to war with one another, so long as that war is against.... one another. But when one of the members of our pretentious, pompous fraternity of the south ventures out on their own to face a foreign opponent, by golly they have the unity of ALL there to support them. And that is our opinion. Please don't bother trying to plant yours on our rich soil.

SEC!! SEC!! SEC!! SEC!!

200 Days till Kickoff..... Reasons to Countdown!!

Valentines Day??.... no, no, no. Only 200 days (or if you prefer, 288,000 minutes) until we congregate in the promise land of the Classic City to see our boys beat the tar out of The University Buffalo.

That has me quite excited. We still have to make it through spring ball, pollen, vacations, mosquitoes, and humidity, so it's not as if kickoff is next week or anything. But 200 days is such a nice, solidly wrapped number of which we are able to feel.

There are several reasons to be excited about this year for Dawg fans. Why not celebrate the day by discussing a few of them:

Expect Jarvis Jones to be a national name

Defense: Oh, the new aged Junkyard Dawgs. The general consensus from Albany to Lake Hartwell, and from Dalton to Savannah, and everything in between, is that the defense will once again be our strongest asset in 2012. Returning 10 of 11 starters from the #4  national overall D in 2011 has Grantham smiling big time. With significant exodus on both Alabama and LSU's D, the Dawgs should easily have the #1 D in the SEC, and should make a push for #1 in the nation. Two things right off the bat: We are SO sorry, Buffalo; and welcome to the SEC, Missouri!!!!

Keith Marshall: Specifically Keith, because he my be the ingredient which was sorely lacking from last year's backs. Keith brings to Athens with him the best attitude I have seen in several classes, as well as his good friend from North Carolina, Todd Gurley. Keith is ready to compete. Keith is ready to give Isaiah Crowell the push he needs to take his game to the next level. Don't expect Keith to ever be caught up in any type of grades or pot-smoking scandal, either. Without a doubt, the work ethic and attitude going into spring will be contagious throughout the entire backfield. Expect him to be the reason Isaiah is the concrete starter in 2012, and then provide one helluva 1-2 punch.

A true leader will emerge

  Aaron Murray: Much of Dawg Nation let out a big moan after the turnovers Murray had in the LSU and Michigan State games at the end of the season. It was easy to forget the 3,149 pass yards and Dawg record 35 TD passes. But Aaron understands what it means to be a college quarterback. Expect Aaron to hit the gym hard this summer, and spend his usual freakish amount of time watching film of his pros and cons from last season. He is only a RS Junior this fall, folks. That is usually the year a NCAA quarterback gets his first start, and comes into his own. Instead, Aaron will be starting his 28th straight game, and developing into the leader we have already seen glimpses of.

Jay Rome: The biggest hit the Dawgs took on offense was the loss of tight ends Orson Charles to the NFL, and Aron White and Bruce Figgins to graduation. However, welcome to the Jay Rome era between the hedges. Expect Rome to mirror Orson Charles in both size and production this fall. With a redshirt year under his belt, and a full spring and summer workout completed by fall, Jay will have the opportunity to show right off the bat why he was the #1 overall TE in the 2011 class. As long as Bobo utilizes Murray's ability to find his TEs over the middle, Jay Rome will be a name known throughout the SEC by season's end.

Watts is bringing it in 2012

Offensive Line: Most everybody is pointing to the line as the scariest area of the Dawgs on 2012. While their argument is valid, there are some serious positives going on that front as well. New additions, John Theus and Mark Beard are ready to fill 2 of the 3 open spots from last year's squad. Do not count out Watts Dantzler as stepping into a starting roll this fall, either. I had the pleasure of hanging out with Watts last weekend, and the kid is a) an absolute monster in size, and b) extremely serious and upbeat when talking about 2012. Just because Watts saw limited time last year, does not mean he wasn't already ready. He was just young, and learning. Expect he and Theus to turn the O-Line into a positive early on in the season.

Athens, I love you.

Athens: Because what else would you rather be doing, on any day of the year, than making the pilgrimage out to Athens for some SEC tailgating. It is what we as true fans live for. There is no campus in America so perfectly fit for hosting the greatest fans on the face of the earth. There is no city more worthy of the traditions and legends that come with the UGA brand. And in 200 short days, we get to meet there, 92,746 strong, to cheer on the seed of life that is.... UGA Football!!!

GO DAWGS!!!!!!

Possible HUGE "Mystery Recruit" for Dawgs??

#1 CB in the nation, Ronald Darby

Rumors have been swirling the last few days about a "Mystery Recruit" possibly landing his LOI in Athens on Wednesday.  Specifically, more than one source has listed this recruit as a CB.

I have reason to believe that this recruit is 5 star, #1 CB in the nation, Ronald Darby, out of Oxon Hill, MD.

When Keith Marshall pledged his allegiance to Dawg Nation a couple of months ago, he stated that he was going to attempt to "work on" Darby coming to join him in the Classic City. This trend continued a month or so later, when Marshall's close friend and fellow North Carolinian, Todd Gurley, put on the red and black hat, and spoke with reporters afterwards. He too name-dropped Darby in his wishlist of an entourage to join him between the hedges.

If you do any digging whatsoever, you will find that very recently Keith Marshall has dropped Darby's name on Twitter in a very subtle, nonchalant manor. Is Marshall one of the trustees of knowledge of the "mystery recruit"?

I do not feel I need to convince anybody with insight enough to read my blog, that Marshall and Gurley would be one hell of a recruiting tool if working together. Both are more than respectable young men, with futures as bright as the North Star on a clear winter night in Eastern Georgia. If they both wanted Darby to join them, and have indeed been working him over for the last couple of months, you can safely assume he has been listening.

Darby's recruitment has been one of the most mysterious and intriguing of the 2012 class. It seems every single day, reports have him leaning in a new direction than the day before. Most recently, Auburn "seems" to be the "leader".

But you heard it here..... do not be shocked if he wears the G on Wednesday, and is considered THE surprise of National Signing Day 2012.

Crazier things have happened.

The Boys are Back in Town

UGA got some expected news, stirred up with some GREAT news yesterday. 

Sorry Tech, things aren't changing anytime soon.

We all knew Orson Charles was gone. But admit it, just like myself, you held out a glimmer of hope that Aaron Murray would somehow convince his high school teammate and good friend to stroll the sidewalks of the Classic City for one more fall. But when the press conference was called for 2pm yesterday, we all just smiled, and realized that Orson had nothing physically to gain in returning, and it was time for him to ink the big deal and feed his family... for life.

Then last night, the best news since...well, Monday came across the UGA news wire. First, All-American Bacarri Rambo made it known that he would patrol the backfield between the hedges next season. Then 2011 leading tackler and rising star Shawn Williams opted to join him. The train kept rolling with big man Cornelius Washington deciding that his duties to Todd Grantham's scheme were not yet completed.

I had legitimate fears over the last few weeks that every one of these returning players would make the jump to the NFL. Just thinking about it gave me a frustration which seems all too familiar in Athens, when something special begins to take form, then the NFL snatches it up prematurely from our starving fanbase. Not going to be the case this year!! 

A common scene in 2012, no doubt.

2011's national top-5 defense is now likely returning 9 of 11 starters (Branden Smith has not made his decision known, but if Rambo is back.... Branden will be too). Leadership has emerged on the defensive side with Jarvis Jones and rising senior Christian Robinson. Georgia's #1 overall prospect and said to be "program changer", Jordan Jenkins, made it known he will wear the Silver Britches this past week. Things appear, my friends, that the Junkyard Dawgs have returned to Athens!!

I knew the moment Michigan State pushed the ball through the uprights in the third overtime on January 2nd, that that particular loss was going to be hard to swallow. I also knew that very moment that depending on the happenings over the next 2 weeks, that particular loss could be easy to digest. And the things that needed to happen, happened.

National Signing day is now less than 3 weeks away. I expect a VERY strong finish from the Dawgs. Spring practice and G-Day (along with dogwood blooms on North Campus) will be here before you know it. Then we will all take our vacations to the gulf coast, and in the blink of an eye, the leaves on the trees will change again, and special times will be gracing the fine people of Dawg Nation and the great city of Athens, Georgia.

Go Dawgs!!!!
233 days til' kickoff!!!

A Dawgs loss will NOT dilute the 2011 turnaround.

I have heard many Dawg fans say this past week that they "don't care if we lose to LSU this weekend".

While I do not completely agree with their sentiment, I do understand what they are trying to say.

I ALWAYS care if UGA wins or loses. A UGA win, whether it be against Coastal Carolina or LSU, makes me sleep easier at night. A UGA a loss, whether it be against Colorado or Bama, sends a dagger straight into the pit of my stomach which continues to stab for days, if not weeks.

But please recall what so many of us, myself included, said during this past summer. Raise your hand if you also declared that "As long as the Dawgs are in the hunt for, or make it to Atlanta in December, I will be happy." Well here we are, preparing for our second leg of the "Dome to Dome" mantra which was coined by our players during summer camp.

Jarvis Jones is a HUGE upgrade on our defense.

So will you be disappointed if the Dawgs come up short this Saturday? I certainly will. However, I foresee being able to take a potential loss with an unusually positive attitude. I may even possess the abilities, which are foreign to me, to be able to watch the night games after our Dawgs come up short during the afternoon. I've never been able to do that, no matter who is playing.

Just look where we were this time last year. A 6-6 record, with the humiliating and super-frustrating loss to Auburn still stinging. Not even our annual whipping of the Nerds made us feel better after that game. Our entire fanbase pretending to get pumped up about being sent to Memphis for New Year's. The media had about peaked on its 5-alarm fire they set under Mark Richt's seat. The team completely embarrassed by the amount of arrests that had recently taken place...... All while two other teams prepared for the spotlight in the Dome, while we bickered on any blog/message board we could get on. A looooong offseason was ahead of us, and we knew it.

You think we'd see this image ever again last December?

Now look where we are today. 10 wins in a row after losing to two very respectable opponents earlier in the season. A defense that has us as giddy as we have been since the train tracks gang cheered for Erk Russel on our sidelines. A record season by Aaron Murray, which makes us feel VERY good about the next two seasons. For the first time since 1981, we beat Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, and the Nerds (and beating rivals is FUN). ESPN is actually giving us positive press throughout the day. We have (though injury prone) a running back which we see a bright future in. A seemingly resurrected Mark Richt, with the media discussing a likely contract extension...... Good days seem ahead in Athens!!

So this weekend, to many Dawg fans, is indeed just icing on a cake we weren't fully expecting to get to eat this season. While a loss will certainly hurt the hearts which beat for Saturdays in the fall in the great state of Georgia, there is simply too much optimism around this program to let us spiral back to those dark days of bickering amongst one another. It should not be hard to tip our hats to the respectable #1 team in the nation, and ask them to represent the SEC well in the BCS National Championship game.

While I certainly am not hoping for or expecting a loss this weekend, I can honestly say that win or lose, we will have done it respectably. And that is exponentially more than we could say this time last year.

HUNKER DOWN ONE MORE TIME, DAWGS!!!!

BEAT LSU!!!

The Voice of God

I feel I would be an irresponsible blogger if I failed to write a piece on the passing of Larry Munson. But I am having trouble finding the words to jumble together which wouldn't mirror the sentiments already written by so many similar to myself.

I need not tell you that Dawg Nation lost one of the unmovable members of the Mount Rushmore of UGA last night. I need not tell you that emotions are running very high throughout the state of Georgia, and all of the college football world. All of those things have been written more today than perhaps ever before.

I heard a phrase when I was younger, which I tend to mentally reference in certain situations. "Do not cry because it is over. Smile because it happened". I can think of no situation or person more worthy of this phrase than Larry Munson, being called home.

When I heard the news last night, an overwhelming warmth came over me, knowing that we had been so fortunate for the Munson family to share their son, father, husband, and brother with the world in the manor in which they did. Larry's life was one which touched so many people, that while mourning is a certain step in the process, a celebration is so much more appropriate.

So like you, I let my fingers type in multiple searches on YouTube last night, letting the voice of God re-live those moments which have been cemented into the minds and hearts of Dawg Nation. Throughout today I have soaked in all of the links and articles written about Larry, and smiled while absorbing each one.

I am unsure what I can write here, that you have not already been pleasantly inundated with today. All I can offer you is the confirmation that we share the same thoughts and feelings about the wonderful life of Larry Munson. It makes me giddy to think that as I write this, Larry Munson and Lewis Grizzard are likely sitting together, swapping stories and catching up on time missed. What I would give to get my hands on that piece of audio.

I look forward to the tributes which are due, and well deserved. I would like to make the trip to Sanford Stadium whenever an official memorial is organized.

I would like to extend an idea to the new radio voice of the Dawgs, Scott Howard, to allow the opening kickoff, as well as the first offensive play this Saturday, to go "radio silent", as we all know Larry will take care of it for us. If any of my readers know Scott, please pass this idea along to him for me.

We all have our envisions of what the voice of God will sound like. And I believe the millions of family members who make up Dawg Nation can agree, that the voice has just returned to the appropriate place.

Rest peacefully, Larry Munson. You are gone, but will NEVER be forgotten.

Go Dawgs.

Todd Grantham has found the joy in Mudville

Does anybody remember which team struck out Mighty Casey?

Mudville, known for a short time as "Athens"

I do. It was the 2008 version of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Starting on January 2nd, 2008 (the day after UGA destroyed Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl), the morale and joy steaming out of Athens was at a Herschel-like level. With a dominating defensive showing against what was suppose to be the best offensive attack the Dawgs have seen in years from the Warriors, Dawg Nation felt pretty giddy about what the next fall would have in store. Throw in the fact that we had a more-than-proven, dominating quarterback and running back tandem coming back, and you couldn't keep hats or car stickers with the red "G" on the shelves.

The 2007 season was one of fun. Mark Richt uncharacteristically showed that he could light a fire under a team like none other. They danced in the endzone in Jacksonville, and painted Athens black on a memorable night in November. The fanbase and the team was having fun, and winning as a result of it.


The summer of 2008 brought with it an unwelcome guest to Athens: the injury bug. Like ducks in a row, it seemed every day we would learn of another ACL being torn, or a bone being snapped. But all was well.... we still had our offensive threats healthy, so panic refused to set in.

The season started as well as it could have, except for yet more injuries to starting lineman, and the media darling Trojans of USCw taking over our #1 spot despite us winning in convincing fashion. Then came the night we were suppose to confirm to the world what we felt: that we were unstoppable.

September 27th, 2008: Tide 41, Dawgs 30. And it was NOT as close as it looks.

The Dawgs went on to win 10 games that year. But nobody had fun doing it. We had blown our chance. The 18 season ending injuries we accumulated from summer through fall proved to be too much burden to lay on the shoulders of a star quarterback and running back.

Then came the dreaded post season press conference. Mathew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno decided they were ready for the brighter lights of the NFL. And just like that, Athens turned into Mudville. And I need not have to remind you, that there was no joy in Mudville, for Mighty Casey had just struck out.

So for the 2009 and 2010 season, Dawg Nation tried to find whatever joy they could, still hungover form the premature drunk of the successes desired, but never delivered by those 2008 Dawgs. But conference loss after conference loss, and embarrassing arrest after embarrassing arrest began to take its toll. The media conjured up the "Mark Richt hot seat" obsession, and fans began to turn on the program and each other. If it were possible, more mud had been slung all over Mudville.

New age Mighty Casey

But this year, Mighty Casey seems to be quietly resurrecting out by the arch and between the hedges. And Mighty Casey happens to have another name, going by Todd Grantham.

Grantham seems to have solved one of the most frustrating facets of our SEC minded fans, and delivered back to us a Junkyard Dawg defense. Now ranking 5th in the nation in overall defense, Dawg Nation has rekindled their joy, and feel confident going into battle with anybody. A championship is one single game away. The buzz accumulating from Dalton to Savannah, and Lake Hartwell to Columbus is finally back on a positive note.

Mudville was never going to concede all its pride and traditions for anybody, no matter what some of the local and national media wanted you to think. Mudville may have had a few sleepless nights over the last years, and those nights seem to remain sleepless, but for reasons coming from the other end of the spectrum... excitement!

This Saturday Mighty Casey steps back up to the plate, attempting to seek retribution for the huge strikeout in 2008. Hit a homerun on this day, and he gets the chance to do it again in the Georgia Dome on the first Saturday in December, with the nation watching.

Even the best case scenario of winning out this season, finding a way to win in the Dome, and winning the Sugar bowl will not yield with it a national championship. However, doing so will create a buzz worthy of comparison to the spring and summer of 2008 for next season. And Mighty Casey has the chance to give this to us starting this Saturday.

Though it may go against everything you thought you knew and believed.... there IS joy in Mudville, and it seems to be going nowhere anytime soon!

GO DAWGS!!!!

Mark Richt shows his class in "blowout" of Auburn

Urban Meyer would have called 2 timeouts in the final minute. Steve Spurrier would have openly promoted the "revenge factor". Nick Saban would have called pass plays throughout the 4th quarter.

Could have been SO MUCH worse

Not Mark Richt. Throughout the entire week leading up to this year's installment of the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry, despite countless media attempts to have him talk about it, you would have never known that there was bottled up anger in the Dawgs after the fashion in which Auburn won last year. If I need to remind you of the snide, classless, and dirty manor in which Auburn spanked our Dawgs on the plains last year, then you have stumbled across the wrong blog.

So after the most dominate 1st half of football played against a "worthy" SEC opponent since the 2007 version of the DSOR (original blackout game), and the scoreboard reading 35-7, there was plenty of chatter in my section, and I am sure your's, about the want and desire to hang a solid 70 on the war-tigers. I am sure there was plenty of this raw emotion and feeling amongst some of the upper-classmen in the locker room as well.

But instead, the Dawgs defense continued to do its thing, while the offense kept the ball on the ground and only put up 10 points in the 2nd half. I believe I read a stat that our final 24 or 25 offensive plays were of the rushing variety.

Was this a sign of respect to Gene Chizik, who danced and visually attempted to pump up his players and fans last year when that despicable ruckus broke out in the waning minutes of the game? I sincerely doubt it.

Taming the kitties.....um, eagles....um.......

Instead, this was Mark Richt's way of showing the Auburn coach, players, and their fans that he is just simply above the shenanigans which so many others are willing to partake in. Coach Richt knew that he had sent a message to Coach Chizik through the form of a solidly played, respectable football game. And the fact that is was a total and utter domination of the eagles tigers sure didn't hurt.

Take a look around college football at the moment, and soak in the types of behaviors being exhibited by coaches who have seen success. Would you trade Coach Richt for the chance at being an ESPN media darling, and the promotion that comes along with it, if it meant being in the situation Penn State is in right now? Do you want every weekly press conference Richt conducts to constantly provide bulletin board material for the upcoming opponent's locker room? How would you like to see Richt slamming down his headset and slobbering all over the officials faces during a tirade? How would you like for a blowout win like the one we saw on Saturday, be overshadowed the entire next week with talk of how classless he was by hanging 70 points when it was not necessary?

The little red devil on one of your shoulders sure does provide a tempting sales pitch at times, trying to get you to do things which you know will be instantly satisfying, but bring with it lingering regrets. And one thing Coach Richt sure seems to have mastered, is listening to that white angel on his opposing shoulder instead........ well, except this time ------>  Georgia/florida 2007  (click link for good memories)

Consider yourselves lucky Auburn fans.... You know good and well as I, that this could have, and should have been a WHOLE LOT worse!!

And one more thing..... There seems to be a missing item report filed for a "hotseat", that once belonged to Coach Richt. If you see it, ignore it, as it is no longer a relevant conversation piece. Welcome home, Mark. Welcome home!!

GO DAWGS!!!!!

Tomorrow epitomises what Dawg Nation lives for.

For a great amount of us, UGA football inhabits a large percentage of our daily thoughts. In the south, especially, college football is not just a sport which takes place in the fall, but rather a way of life and religion. We plan our family outings, weddings, and even delay a birthday party by a day or two depending on who and where the Dawgs are playing on those glorious fall Saturdays. It often makes me sad when I do the math, and realize that only 3.3% of a calendar year is a gameday And only half of those take place in the Classic City. And in that depressingly low statistic, only one (or two if we are lucky) of those gamedays brings with it the magnitude of what a Saturday in the south is truly about. Tomorrow in Athens, happens to be one of those days. 

Tomorrow is suppose to be sunny with highs in the low to mid 60's. For those of you living in a tunnel, or are just simply blind, northeast Georgia is experiencing  one of the most glorious fall foliages I can remember, thanks in part to summer drought-like conditions and a colder than normal October. If there is one place in the state to witness the beauty and majesty of the season, outside of the mountains, Athens is that place.

A common scene around the state

Every fan of every sport longs and yearns for the games which have championship implications riding on them. Such a slim number of those fans ever get that opportunity. For Dawg fans, tomorrow's Athens sunrise brings with it the most important day in the past six seasons. For the first time since 2005, a game between the hedges is being played in November, with UGA being in control of its own destiny in the SEC Eastern race. And there is no better way to play that game than to do so in the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry fashion, with Auburn paying visit.

Even though all the Dawgs need to do is win in order to keep control, the day will be made even better with the fact that help may be handed to us in a game taking place before Brook Whitmire declares on the Sanford Stadium speakers that "It's Saturday in Athens". Even if it does require a win by the treacherous alligators of north central Florida, that game will be an added spice to an already buzzworthy day. So hopefully you, or somebody you know has a tailgate equipped with a satellite TV, so you can keep abreast on the wonderful sport which drives our lives.

For those who will not be blessed with mobile television waves, please do not be shy and poke your head into a downtown Athens bar, and open up your wallet. While the downtown restaurant and bar industry thrives just fine on the (over 21.. *cough, cough) student body year round, the six Saturdays a year when 100K+ migrate in is an added bonus, helping drive the places which possess and cradle so many of our memories. So get in there and enjoy a little bit of the early games, while the anticipation in your stomach slowly takes wings and grows restless.

There is simply nowhere else in this world I would rather be tomorrow than Athens, Ga. We are so truly blessed as a fanbase to have such a magnificent place of congregation, even if it is so seldom throughout the year. So few towns and campuses across the country are as fortunate as the Dawg Nation to be faced with a day like the one which stares at us tomorrow. The Classic City is a siren in our heads year round, and tomorrow her seductive melody will be calling our hearts more than ever, leading us to a great battle between the hedges, like none we have bared witness to in years. Answer her call, and come join your brethren in the greatest place on earth, on one of the finest days imaginable.

GO DAWGS!!!!

Cheer for the Gators????????

It goes against everything I stand for as a UGA Dawg.

My hatred for Florida is actually older than my undying love for UGA. See, when I was a child in elementary school back in the early 90's, Florida State was one of the suave, chic, young, and "swaggered" (as the kids would say these days) teams out there. So being a sports junkie as long as I can remember, I took a liking to the Seminoles, who took over all the national broadcasts during this confused time in my life (remember, Goff was in Athens and there just wasn't much to get excited about coming out of the Classic City). So being a Seminole "fan", I DESPISED the alligators from Gainsville. I actually remember crying whenever the alligators would beat the Noles.

It wasn't until around Middle School, at age 12 or so, when I began to realize that the players on the University of Georgia football team were indeed MY home team, representing everything I knew and loved about the great state of Georgia. So throughout my transition to eventually become as big a Dawg backer and supporter this world has known, the one constant was the fact that the alligators remained the team of Satan, who as far as I am concerned, sympathize with General Tecumseh Sherman's idea to burn the state of Georgia into an oblivion.

Look at Sherman's uniform.... told you!

All of a sudden, this Saturday, the basis of all things I know are being challenged, even if it is for the better of my Dawgs. I doubt I need to explain to you that if the alligators beat South Carolina this Saturday morning, the Dawgs will be playing for the East Championship immediately following. And by damned, I think the University, its fans, and its loyal supporters deserve this very scenario after all we have gone through the last several years.

Before somebody points it out, I am fully aware that if South Carolina beats the alligators, we can still beat Auburn and Kentucky and win the East. But I cannot think of a more special day Between the Hedges than clinching our division against the team which we have salivated for revenge against over the last 365 long days. I cannot think of a better buzz in Sanford Stadium amongst our players and our loyalists than a 3:30pm, peak of a beautiful southern fall kickoff, knowing how big a win would be for our program. And in order to make this dream scenario a realistic one.... well..... one thing MUST happen......

So I plan on utilizing my time before kickoff in Athens by pumping about $20 of my own personal money stash into some lucky downtown bar while watching the Cocks and alligators play football. And I want nothing more than for my dream Saturday scenario to play out as I want it to......

But I 100% REFUSE to utter the words. So I am going to let Ms. Corrine Brown say it for me......

GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Atlanta media WILL NOT ruin my week; And a mysteriously missing Israel Troupe

This is how I've felt since Saturday around 7:30pm

Between school and wedding planning, I haven't even had the opportunity to write a good, fun-filled article about the Dawgs whooping up on the alligators. But it seems now that that would just be inappropriate, according to many. 

And by many, I mean the Atlanta media, who from my car ride to school Monday morning, were already attempting to discredit the UGA victory because we won "ugly". And now they are so disgruntled at the fact that they were unable to break the story of our 3 tailbacks being suspended, that they have reduced themselves to conspiracy theorists.

We are all aware of the circumstances by now. Rumors buzzed Dawg Nation last Friday about a possible suspension of somebody. Isaiah Crowell and others play on Saturday in the most important game of the last few seasons. Weekly press conference occurs Tuesday with Richt being mum on tailback's statuses. Twenty minutes after press conference, press release issued regarding Crowell, Thomas, and Malcolm's suspensions for New Mexico State game this Saturday.

So obviously since nobody was suspended for the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, it is a proven fact that UGA and Mark Richt hid something isn't it?!.... Or was nobody suspended??

Israel Troupe was mysteriously absent in Jax

Does anybody find it strange that Israel Troupe didn't even make the trip to Jacksonville? On Friday, October 28th, when the rest of the team was arriving at their hotel in St. Augustine, Troupe tweeted out "I'm in Buckhead at my boy's house". The news wasn't issued from UGA until nearly kickoff Saturday that Troupe was "hurt" and didn't make the trip. While I have no reason not to believe this, the overall trend this season  is for the Dawgs to stay extremely mum on any and all disciplinary actions, unlike in recent years. It was only a few weeks ago when  we had several UGA players tweeting about their runs in the rain at 5:30am. And that, for once, wasn't the top story on the AJC.com sports page. I have heard from more than one source that the reason we never saw Ray Drew hit the field until the Coastal Carolina game was for disciplinary reasons, unbeknownst to any and all media. And who on earth heard a thing before (or after for that matter) Isaiah Crowell did not see the field at Vanderbilt until the first play of the 2nd quarter?? Why should the Israel Troupe situation be any different? Telling the media he is "hurt" is a way to avoid a plethora of unwanted questions on a day when your team needs to be focused the most.

I have read and heard more than a few times that drug tests in the NCAA are administered and sent to a lab, with results coming back 4-5 days later. Apparently the tests administered to our tailbacks took place the Thursday before Jacksonville, with results returning yesterday (Tuesday). Whether Mark Richt knew about it before or after the press conference is his business. He was in absolutely NO WAY obligated to bring it up during, and the media around the Atlanta area is just sorely pissed off that their viewer/readerships found out from other sources before theirs. Hence the witch hunt of phantom information which could lead to bigger bumps in Athens, giving the media the opportunity they so merely missed.

This should be an extremely joyful week in the Atlanta and Athens areas for Dawg fans. We just beat the alligators, who have been the biggest thorn in our tails since the USFL taking Herschel early. It doesn't matter how down they were, or how ugly our win was... we beat them!!! And I do not know a single Dawg fan who isn't giddy about that. This week is our homecoming game, which will take place on a sunny afternoon during one of the most beautiful fall seasons I can remember as a lifetime Georgian. We shouldn't have to stress a thing  about or during the game itself. We should be chins to the sky after the final seconds tick off the Sanford Stadium scoreboard, as we head home to be Razorback (not Petrino) fans for a night, as a win against South Carolina puts us in sole possession of first place in the East. We should be able to enjoy flipping back and forth with that game, to get a preview of the challenging task ahead with Bama and LSU going at it.

But the Atlanta media refuses to let that happen for us. Instead they want blood. They cannot stand the fact that we as a fanbase have been giddy since Saturday around 7:30pm. Most of them are from the north, and don't understand the southern religion of college football beyond the angry callers whom they love to antagonize.

Going to be a TOUGH week at practice, Isaiah

So until I hear directly from Greg McGarity or Mark Richt that some shady antics took place, I have ABSOLUTELY zero reason to believe anything other than what they have already said, which is that the drug tests were administered Thursday, and results back on Tuesday.

Isaiah, Carlton, Ken...... I hope you puke your guts out during practice this week. You deserve it. You are all boneheads. You all need to learn from this, and understand what your coach means when he says "it will make you better men". And when you prove this week and next that you are indeed worthy and capable of doing things the "Georgia Way", I will be in Sanford Stadium along with 92,745 of my best friends screaming "GO DAWGS!!!!!"

Fans, enjoy the week!!! WE DESERVE IT!!!

Free Aaron Murray!!

This entire season I have felt like something is missing when I watch Aaron Murray's QB play. But I hesitate to place blame on the young man, more than I place blame on Mike Bobo.

"Trust me coach......"

If there ever was a time for Mike Bobo to free Aaron Murray, this is that time! We all saw glimpses of it last year, when Aaron seemed to take games over, and execute plays the way he wanted to. But more times than should be this season, I have felt a Joe Cox like presence from Aaron, making up his mind what he is going to do on a given play, with absolutely zero chance of taking glances at option B or C. I feel as if Mike Bobo is feeling the heat of the oh-so-old coach's hot seat chatter that the local media continues to obsess over, and making sure plays are being executed the exact way the X's and O's say they should be.

Aaron has thrown more than one pick that I can think of this season, trying to thread a needle, while another receiver or two were much more open. I cannot help but point my fingers at the ultra-conservative play calling we have come so accustomed to from Bobo. It is as if Bobo has drilled it in Aaron's head that "this is the play we are going to run, and this is exactly how we are going to run it".

Does anybody remember last year in Jacksonville, when the Dawgs were backed up against the wall in the 4th quarter and needed some big plays? Does anybody remember the improvisational plays that Aaron and Orson Charles put together? Aaron and Orson have been working together since their Plant High School days in Tampa, FL. There is no doubt in my mind that the chemistry those two have created over the years working outside of monitored practice, was the reason for the Dawgs at least pushing that game in overtime last year. That, is what Aaron is more than capable of doing..... if given the chance.

Aaron and Orson, a DEADLY, intangible combination

I admired the hell out of Aaron this past summer, about the time when fall camp had yet to begin, but the players had all reported to campus. An article came out about how Aaron had reported to Bobo or Richt one, that "This Mitchell (Malcolm) kid is the real deal! Where did he come from?" This was a tell all sign that Aaron makes an effort to work with his receivers on his own time, at least attempting to create the gel he has with Orson, with all others. Aaron knows where his receivers are going to be, where they are going to turn, and where they are going to go if a defense happens to sniff out the original plan. It is LONG overdue to give him the reigns of his own receiving corps, and show the world what he can do.


Although Mitchell is "doubtful" this weekend, Aaron is more than ready to step up and create plays when plays simply aren't as obvious to others. I hope to see Bobo relax on him, and stop treating him like a child "learning the system", and start letting him "revolutionize the system".


Less than 48 hours til kickoff!!
GO DAWGS!!!

The Auburn game looms MUCH larger than the WLOCP

Nobody in the great state of Georgia wants to see the Dawgs beat the luxury purses and designer shoes out of Will Muschamp's alligators this weekend than I. However and unfortunately, I have been trained throughout my young life to look at the scenario of the Dawgs winning the East based on coming up short (once again) in Jacksonville. Especially considering all 3 times we have played on the first weekend in December, we fell short to the alligators earlier that season.  

So like the dog who drooled when Pavlov rang his bell, I too am going to go ahead and assume we will come up short this weekend based strictly on seeing the word "Florida" on the schedule....... So what after that???

HOORAY!!! ALL IS NOT LOST!!!

The biggest win for UGA this season had nothing to do with any points we put up, or points not given up by our defense. The biggest win came two weekends ago about the same time Vanderbilt's coach James Franklin decided to call out Shawn Williams, and then took a good finger pointing and tongue lashing from Todd GrAnThAm (<----- see what I did there?). During the over hyped exchange between these two, the newly despised Auburn War-Tigers did UGA the biggest favor they've done for us since giving us Vince Dooley. They handed the alligators their 3rd SEC loss.

This may end up playing HUGE for the Dawgs, assuming my pessimistic attitude about the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party once again proves true.

Great kid, unfortunate circumstance, but good for Dawgs

So, when if we mentally collapse and lose to the alligators this weekend, all eyes need to go straight to the 7:15pm kickoff in Knoxville, where the Cocks of Carolina will be playing the Vols. I don't think I need to tell any of you that a kid named Lattimore will be in sweat pants instead of shoulder pads for the remainder of this season, and possibly spring. I also need not remind any of you that a loser named Garcia has been unseen or heard from for the last 3 weeks. And if our orange clad neighbors can incessantly play that damn "Rocky Top" to the point that the newely inexperienced Cocks fall short, it will be just as if Saturday NEVER took place. And personally, I like the Vols' chances!

This will mean two VERY important things. 1) The Dawgs MUST, MUST, MUST beat Auburn on November 12th in Sanford Stadium. 2). The Cocks MUST MUST MUST lose another game. And since they are going to be on the road against a strong #8 Arkansas, and at home against an alligator team who will most definitely have their starting QB back in Brantley, I can see them easily losing one of or both of these games. And the silver lining is, if the Cocks somehow manage to beat the alligators.... well... that will be loss #4 in the SEC for the alligators. Either way, UGA benefits from this game. 

I will go ahead an put a W in the win column for the Dawgs against Kentucky on November 19th. If you thought Washaun Ealey's 5 TDs in Lexington was something last season, just wait and watch Isaiah run against this year's Kentucky D.

The lights shine bright at night in Sanford

So this scenario makes the game on November 12th the ABSOLUTE BIGGEST GAME OF THE YEAR for the Dawgs. No matter who wins and loses what over the next couple of weeks, if we do not beat Auburn, the chances of seeing a sea of red in the Georgia Dome in December will be hanging by a thread. I personally hope the networks realize this, and put us under the lights in Sanford Stadium. A 7:30pm, ESPN kickoff would suite the Dawg faithful just fine if you ask me. Get our boys fired up! Get the crowd loud and crazy! Because that revenge we have longed for since last November, when Nick Fairley tried to kill Aaron Murray and the War-Tiger's professional rent-a-QB took us to the shed, is going to have a WHOLE LOT more meaning in the big picture.

But it sure would be nice (and easier) if we are the ones smiling come 7:30pm this Saturday in Jacksonville......

GO DAWGS!!!!!!