Dear Isaiah Crowell, ....... Sincerely, Dawg Nation

On Tuesday, prized and star recruit Isaiah Crowell opened a car door, and stepped foot on Athens soil for the first time as an actual UGA Dawg. No player has made that step with such expectations in many, many years. Today I decided to write an open letter to Isaiah, to outline a jist of what we the people of Dawg Nation are expecting out of him............


Dear Isaiah,

First and foremost, welcome to Athens. Your time here, if used wisely, will be stocked full of irreplaceable memories and good times with people who will become the base of your friendships throughout the rest of your life. Also, and again back to the term "if used wisely", you should leave this fine town in a few years armed with a college degree which will be invaluable to your lifetime success.

Now that you are here, we the people of Dawg Nation have lofty expectations for you. These expectations go beyond anything we expect on Saturdays during the fall months. We the people of Dawg Nation are a frustrated bunch, and more often than should be in the last couple years, an embarrassed bunch as well. You have the power and ability to change perceptions of Dawg Nation from anybody looking from the outside in on our traditions which are so worthy of envy.

We would like you to learn from your new peers who are already established in the Classic City. Please listen with an open mind and ear to the mentors who will be reaching out to you from day one. These people have your successes on and off the field as a high priority in their own busy schedules. You will be given endless resources and support to guide you through the trying first months of being away from home for presumably the first time in your young life.

Learn to use negative media as a pedestal of motivation. Back before you decided to accept a scholarship from the University of Georgia, every other fanbase in the land spoke highly of you, in hopes of you gracing their football team with your god given gift of running a football. Funny how the moment you commit to UGA, the others all of a sudden doubt you and question anything they can in attempts to discredit your potential. Tack this on with the enormous expectations all media has placed upon you, and harness this as pure motivation, to silence the doubters and prove the naysayers wrong. If you learn how to do this, the sky will truly be the limit for where you can go in terms of personal character as well as a football player.

You are now representing the University of Georgia. Not just the student-athletes, not just the football team, not just the student body, fans, or alumni.... but the University as a whole. Every decision you make from here forward will be scrutinized and deciphered under a microscope of epic proportions. We ask only that you make these decisions in the best interests of yourself, as well as the University.

We look forward to spending the next 3-5 years growing with you. You are now an official member of a family which is counted in millions, who all have your back and will offer support to you through thick and thin. The only thing we truly ask of you is that you make the family proud by doing everything you can possibly do to strengthen the family as a whole. If you do these things, the successes between the hedges will naturally fall into place as a result.

Now go be a kid, Isaiah. Go enjoy college, which you have already worked so hard to reach. Go laugh and play, meet new people, flirt with the amazingly beautiful women of UGA, and establish yourself as a member of the University of Georgia. We are glad you are here, and we hope you enjoy your stay as much as we will enjoy following you.

GATA!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!

Sincerely,
Dawg Nation

Summer: Welcome to Football Season!!!

It's that time of year! The Diamond Dogs season has wrapped up (with NOTHING to be ashamed of!), Phil Steele's 2011 edition of his magazine is on shelves, Preseason All-SEC teams are becoming the hot topic, the incoming recruiting class is settling into their dorms, the theme music from ESPN's College Football Live is taking on more meaning, and the daydreams about summer vacation are slowly transitioning into a much needed reality.

Soon, UGA and other SEC fans will congregate on beaches from Tybee Island, through south Florida, up through the panhandle, and all throughout the gulf coast. Tents will resemble a grab bag of SEC campuses, foreshadowing what is just over the horizon.... football season! It will not be uncommon to see a beautiful red UGA tent set up right next to a purple(!?) LSU tent, with conversations taking place such as: "Sure hope you guys knock off Bama this year", and "Yes sir, I wouldn't mind seeing you guys whoop up on Florida this year". Just 50 yards down the same beach, you're likely to see an Auburn tent set up right next to a Bama tent, with each party strategically positioned back to back, occasionally turning up their radios to drown out the noise pollution coming from the other. And this is what makes the unofficial kickoff to football season so great!

We have all worked hard over the past year. We have endured a roller coaster ride of emotions with last football season. But since around mid-January, when we fully realized that Saturdays will be nothing more than, well, Saturdays for the foreseeable future, we have missed our passion. National Signing Day was a nice sidetrack. G-Day was a beautiful chance to stroll through the North Campus, admiring the dogwood blooms, all while getting our fix of the sights and sounds of shoulder pads locking up over in Sanford. But since then, we have had nothing. The countdown is now under 100 days (88 to be exact), and we all know it is time to declare the games to begin!

So get prepared to enjoy your summer! While it is never too early to talk about the upcoming season, we are now within the window of acceptability to trash talk, stare down others, and evaluate our team as well as those unfortunate ones who will either pay a visit to Sanford Stadium or host the hungriest Dawgs team we have seen in some time.

And don't forget, when you see another SEC fan sunburned, to point out that it is God's way of turning them red, the color of his UGA Dawgs!!

88 Days!!
GO DAWGS!!

Aaron Murray/Christian LeMay = David Greene/DJ Shockley????

Anybody who made the spring pilgrimage to the Classic City this past April to take in G-Day may have left surprised and feeling good after watching Christian LeMay scramble and run with the football. Many were (and still are) a bit skeptical about how ready LeMay will be to make early impact after deciding to sit out his senior year of HS ball instead of taking a half season suspension. But after watching him run a few QB draws, and gain some impressive positive yardage doing so, I was left with images of the early aughts when we would bring in DJ Shockley regularly to run a play or two while giving David Greene a quick breather.

We all know that Aaron Murray has the ability to scramble and turn nothing into something. We got to see it right off the bat in the game against LA-Laf, again against Arkansas, multiple times against Tenn, and several other times throughout the season. But the way Christian LeMay looked at G-Day, it makes me wonder if he is ready to come in and give Murray a bit of relief in short yard situations, sparring him the wear and tear that comes along with a QB running up the gut, or trying to get around the trenches.

Nobody is more exhausted from the "Mark Richt hot seat" debate than myself, but you have to keep it in mind when it comes to predicting his game strategies this coming season. I believe we have seen the kindling of his fire which will translate into a "win at all costs" philosophy between the hedges this fall. If LeMay really shows up at summer camp/practice, and shows that what we saw on G-Day is indeed the real deal, is it worth burning his redshirt to get him into the mix right away? Many argue that Richt's greatest successes came in his early UGA days when his FSU offensive philosophies were still fresh on his mind. I cannot help but think that the memories of the Greene/Shockley 1-2 punch have been resurrected with the arrival of LeMay.

Is it worth it?

Murray is entering his Sophomore season, and based on what I read about his attitude, and factoring in his size, he reminds me very much of David Greene: meaning that no matter what successes Murray has at UGA over the next two seasons, I expect to see him in Sanford Stadium in 2013 for his senior season. If we burn the redshirt off LeMay this year, it will eventually create a very similar scenario to Shockley's senior year in 2005. But how will Dawg Nation react if we wait to use him the following year, and realize the 1-2 punch of Murray and LeMay proves to be a force to be reckoned with? Thoughts of Knowshon Moreno taking a redshirt  his freshman season will come to mind, with many Dawg faithful wondering why he wasn't utilized as soon as possible.

If the Murray/LeMay combo happens, and impresses this season, where does that leave current backup Hutson Mason? It may hurt, but truth is he may want to look into transferring if playing time is of any importance to him. This would put extra emphasis on UGA signing a QB in the upcoming class. A good one to try and lock up is currently taking snaps down in Wayne County (Jesup), Georgia by the name of Greyson Lambert. He has shown interest in the Dawgs, but is being courted by Nick Saban pretty thoroughly as well, among others. If we want to implement this plan, we need to act fast with this kid.

So, what are your thoughts on a Murray/LeMay combo? Do you see it being as effective as David Greene and D.J. Shockley back in their prime? Do you think Richt realizes a combo like this could not only be deadly to SEC defenses, but could also gain a magnitude of trust back from Dawg Nation? My opinion is, go for it!! I cannot wait to watch these two work together for the next 3 seasons. It will be (as it already is) a GREAT time to be a Dawg!!!

90 days til' kickoff!!
GO DAWGS!!!!

Sep 10th.... 4:30pm....Sanford Stadium.... PERFECT!!!

It was announced a very short time ago that perhaps the biggest game of the year for the Dawgs will kickoff at 4:30pm on September 10th against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

This is great news to the many (myself included) who complained about the plague of noon kickoffs that infected Sanford Stadium last season. While many blamed Michael Adams for the early tee-times, reality is the product on the field just wasn't romantic enough for the big boys of ESPN and CBS to come calling.

4:30 pm kickoff........


This sits JUST RIGHT with many a Dawg die hard who love to make the pilgrimage out State Road 316E on a Saturday in the fall. This creates a much less rush-scenario to get there and set up your tailgate before the sun comes up. This allows us to relax at our tailgate and not have to worry about breaking it down at by 11am, only a couple hours after setting it up. This allows us to stroll around the most beautiful campus God has ever graced, while enjoying the sights and sounds of SEC football at it's absolute finest. This allows the game to be played while the temps are beginning to drop, instead of rise (and the alumni side to be in the shade at kickoff). This allows us to voyage into downtown Athens after sufficient tailgate time to buy an ice cold Terrapin Rye Pale Ale from our favorite establishment(s) to help support the local economy, which relies in part on 6-7 gamedays a year. 4:30pm...... YES PLEASE!!!


Now let's play the what-if game.....

What if our Dawgs look really good against Boise State, and win convincingly in front of a national audience the week before? Will that be enough to vault UGA into a....oh..... let's say top 15 ranking? I would certainly say so. ESPN, Phil Steele and many others are already giving this "new breed of Bulldawg which stands ready to take the field of battle" some hype. A win against the highly ranked Blue Broncos would certainly cement said hype.

With the Gamecocks already locked in to be a top 10 team after their first week, I would go out on a whim and say ESPN College Gameday may pay Athens a visit this day. Then I remembered about this game taking place on the same day. I doubt ESPN will pass on that chance, being that both of those teams are just darlings of ESPN, and also despite featuring them last year. But one could hold out a little hope.

After seeing the confirmed kickoff time, and thinking about the possibilities and what if's that come along with the matchup, I got very, very giddy. Fall Saturdays in Athens are what we live for, folks. And in 99 short, short days, we get to experience one... the right way!!!

What is your favorite kickoff time, and why???

GO DAWGS!!!!

Take a Moment Today to Thank Mark Richt.

The biggest story out of Athens this morning actually comes to us from Destin, FL, where the SEC meetings open up today. This pales in comparison to the stories coming out of Columbus, OH this morning.

Both Mark Richt and Jim Tressel took over storied and hungry programs in 2001. Both found early success. Both became regulars in BCS games. Both went 9-1 against their most hated rivals. Jim Tressel is filing for unemployment this morning. Mark Richt is preparing for the Chick fil-A Kickoff game against highly ranked Boise State.

Amidst all the rumblings (mostly from opposing fans, mind you) about Mark Richt needing to lose his job, take a moment today to appreciate the person Mark Richt is, and how good he is for the Bulldawg program. The latest story directly relating to Richt involves him selling his multi-million dollar lakehouse on Hartwell to able he and his family to donate to needy charities more frequently. Ask the people of Buckeye Nation if they would like to trade publicity..... 

It is unfortunate these days, the way the rabid media paints a picture in which anything less than a National Championship constitutes failure. In turn, it gets in many fan's heads that changes need to be made way before they actually do. In a blog and social media fueled topic such as college football, where every fan can have a heard voice, things can escalate into ugliness all too quickly. Throw in bully-media such as the two evil stepsisters at the horrible, horrible Atlanta Journal Constitution, Mark Bradley and Jeff Schultz, and unnecessary changes can become an obsession amongst many. Especially rival fans who cheer for a program in which Mark Richt has absolutely owned..... here's looking at you, North Ave.

Mark Richt is the right man for the UGA program. His wholeheartedness and christian values make him one of the best role models for impressionable college kids in all the land. While he can not hold a players hand at all times, and make sure they don't make bad decisions around the clock, he certainly preaches his values and ethics enough to supply guidance and testimony to any young man willing to listen.

Every UGA fan wants nothing more than a National Championship. But some need to take a moment, look at story lines around the nation, and decide at what costs do we really want to endure to only hopefully accelerate the process. Do we want to have a liar and cheat cover up huge scandals in order to keep his best players on the field? Do we want to be accused of pay-for-play in order to give ourselves an advantage? Do we want to dive into the pathetic over-signing practice being conducted by a few of our neighbors? Do we want to get it done at any cost, or would we rather be patient and get it done with a man who is the true definition of character and dignity?

Take a moment today, Dawg fans, and think how lucky we are to have Mark Richt in Athens. Recognize the fire in Richt's attitude over the last several months and over the upcoming summer as a true desire to win in Athens, while doing it the right way. Let the haters hate. Let the haters tell us how soft Mark Richt is. Let the haters call him "Saint Richt". Then do exactly what you should do, and thank them.

Welcome to Athens, Mark Richt. Make yourself at home, and stay as long as you'd like.

GO DAWGS!!!!
94 days til' kickoff.

"Big" John Jenkins cleared for BIG impact.

College football is a 365 day obsession..... I mean sport, for true die-hards like myself. And unfortunately, early summertime is usually reserved for rumors about academic ineligibility, with a sprinkle of early commitments from rising High School seniors.

The academic rumor mill has been churning strongly in Athens, with rumors of projected starting RB Caleb King, projected starting LT A.J. Harmon, and incoming JUCO transfer and projected starting NG "Big" John Jenkins all coming up short in their academic obligations.

While nobody knows for sure the status of Caleb King or A.J. Harmon, the "biggest" rumor of the 3 was squashed today, in an interview from the AJC's  UGA beat writer Chip Towers with John Jenkins.....
          

              “Yeah, I don’t know exactly where that came from,” Jenkins said Tuesday. “Everything is good. Everything is straight. I’ll be there in June. All it is is rumors. I don’t know where it starts. Regardless, I’m going to be playing against Boise State and that’s all I’m thinking about right now.”

This news comes with a giant gasping sound coming out of Athens. I believe John Jenkins was the single most important signee in UGA's 2011 signing class. Todd Grantham's 3-4 defense relies heavily on a big NG in the middle to take away the run-up-the-middle option from opposing offenses (see Marcus Lattimore DESTROY UGA with this tactic this past Sept), which was sorely lacking last season. The arrival of an experienced NG will allow DeAngelo Tyson, the fill-in option last season, to move back to his more natural position of DE. 

So breathe Dawg Nation, breathe.

As far as the early commitments, I was a little ashamed that UGA recruiting coordinator Rodney Garner, and new LB coach Kirk Olivadotti did not make more of an effort to recruit 4 star LB Dillon Lee out of Buford..... especially considering Dillon's brother, Dallas, ALREADY PLAYS AT UGA!!!

I have been a believer for years that Rodney Garner "knows what he is doing", but his delayed tactics not to be the first offer for the easily influenceable in-state talents is in serious need of addressing. I am also a firm believer that many kids are intrigued by the thought of playing away from home, and cutting their own path, but we need to at least make them feel we want to keep them at home. Here's hoping a better LB is still available come Signing Day, 2012.

GO DAWGS!!! 108 short days til kickoff!!

In the wake of these rumors, I am working on a piece going over how social media is effecting the way rumor's spread, as well as how it is influencing recruiting. STAY TUNED

Washaun out, Caleb in. Isaiah still in high school.

I have been away from this blog for a very, very long time, and have decided it will keep my writing skills sharp if I make an effort to pick it back up. Last season was a frustrating one for a Dawg die-hard like myself. One of the side effects of being a fan in the SEC is the constant hate and negativity you get from rivals and media. Last year got to me a bit, but I have decided that nothing can EVER change my love for all things UGA football and the SEC.

So let's pick it up with the most recent news: WASHAUN EALEY RELEASED.

The kid is a knucklehead. No other way to look at it. Bonehead  arrest last season, prima donna attitude, fumbles on the 1 yard line, missing punishment runs....... bad apple.

However, I truly feel sorry for the kid. When you hype up a kid's ego from the age of 16 or so, pull him out of Emanuel County, Georgia (population 300 or so + 600 cows + 1 traffic light) and stick him in into the relentless SEC fans' judgment, the media's harsh realism, all on top of a magnificent and tempting town like Athens, GA, the kid is going to mess up. However, this is where the true character of a kid needs to come through. Everything was provided for Ealey to be the most successful individual in the world, regardless of if he ever saw the endzone in his football career. I cannot help but think that no matter where he ends up, he will one day sit in a rocking chair as an older, much more mature man, and realize what he had and how he wasted it. And for that regret to weigh heavy on him, I feel bad.

But enough pity. Where does leave the UGA running game? Fine, I say. Caleb King has been the most injury prone, overly hyped RB out of the state of Georgia since Jasper Sanks. When healthy, we have seen glimpses of the kid we drooled over at Parkview High School and Greater Atlanta Christian School. He claims to be in the best shape of his life, and call it the "blind-homer-optimist" in me, but I think we will see a lot more of the success this year. Since being suspended for the Liberty Bowl for "missing academic appointments" (mind you, this is NOT failing classes, this is missing study hall and/or tutoring sessions required by the football team), I have seen a bit of a light click in in King's head. He looked great in his minimal attempts at G-Day last month, and has had a few quotes about the new strength and conditioning program and incoming competition that has satisfied me.

I am not worried about Caleb King gaining 1,000 yards this season. I do not think it is necessary. We are a throwing team anyway, though the desire to have the dominate RB is always there. Aaron Murray should be great in his second year, and with the exit of A.J. Green, we are about to recognize weapons we didn't know we had in Tavarrees King, Marlon Brown and Rontavious Wooten. If we can get 700-800 yards from Caleb King this season, and a few TD's, I will be happy.

Many of you want to say: "But we have Isaiah Crowell coming in, the next Herschel Walker!!"............

The only thing I have to say about Isaiah.... HE IS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. Leave the kid alone, and we will worry about him when he gets to campus.

I have lots I want to blog about, since I really do not know or talk to anybody on a consistent basis who shares the passion and love for the Dawgs and an SEC Saturday afternoon the way I do. I will attempt to write these more often, and be more insightful than this quick opinion.

GO DAWGS!!
116 days til kickoff.