Is Boise State the right team to be playing in 2011??

With full pads being strapped on for the first time today, it's time for UGA and it's fans to direct all focus to Boise State. But is this the right year for us to have to worry about an opponent of Boise's "caliber"??

There are several ways to view it. Will winning the the game put us back in good standing with people outside of Dawg Nation? Will losing it destroy any image of national prominence for the foreseeable future? Will losing the game add more fuel to the lazy, obsessive reporters' flame throwers of "Mark Richt Hot Seat" arsenal? Will the team prepare harder this summer camp with Boise waiting for them as opposed to Western Carolina or Florida Atlantic trembling at the thought of playing us? With so many questions, and a so called "make it or break it year" awaiting Coach Richt, is this game really a good idea or bad?

I feel the outcome of the game is no-win situation of sorts. If it were any Top 10 team other than Boise State that would not be the case. However, Boise State has been the target of the BCS chest pumpers' witch hunt since they arrived on the national scene several years ago. Everybody wants to ridicule their schedule, stadium size, blue field (???), conference, and anything to discredit their wins. So we beat them, and the only praise we get would come from the nay-sayers who will declare Boise to be a fraud who shouldn't have ever been mentioned in the Top 10 to begin with. BUT, we lose to Boise.... and all hell with break lose with our image. The Nation will be pointing and laughing at us, and declare the game has passed Mark Richt by and demand his "seat" to be officially doused with gasoline and lit up. So somebody please try and show me the silver lining in the relevance of the final score of this game.... I fail to see it.

I have no doubt the players are excited for this game. Georgia Dome. National TV. Bowl-like atmosphere. Nike Pro-Combat Unis. In their eyes, winning this game will launch us back into the championship caliber conversation. I just wish the media agreed. But the team is a close bunch this year. I have no doubt in my mind that they are preparing harder than ever before to make a statement, together. So the painstaking practices between now and September 3rd should translate into better preparation for the much more important games of the year, involving other SEC teams.

Undoubtedly a VERY serious mood in Athens

I don't always love going out to Athens on the first Saturday in September without the slightest bit of worry. Going head to head with worthy opponents is what makes mine, and most college football fans blood boil with excitement. And facing teams who we know have a good chance at beating us is the best way to get in good with that crazy BCS formula. But I feel there is WAY too much riding on this season in Athens for us to be playing Boise State in week one.

My fiance's father is a long time season ticket holder, and he was able to request, and receive, extra tickets to the Dome for us on September 3rd. I without a doubt am as excited as I have been in several years for the opener. And when I see that ticket in the next few days, my heart is going to jump out of my throat with giddiness. I just wish this game could be held next year, when Isaiah Crowell will be not be thrown straight into the fire, and the season may not be hinging on so many things that have to go right.

26 days til' kickoff!!
GO DAWGS!!

Chuck Dowdle ALMOST ruined UGA's season!!

Dowdle interviewing Richt one of hundreds of times each season

One of my favorite Dawgs was neither a player or a coach. All Chuck Dowdle did was simply graduate from UGA, and led a long, successful career covering Atlanta sports at WSB Channel 2, and the Dawgs on NewsTalk 750. There simple is no member of the media who's love for all things UGA gleams through like Dowdle. There is no member of the media I would rather listen to after a Dawg loss, or during offseasons like those of late when everybody else takes the "gloom and doom" attitude, where as Dowdle provides the most comforting, fatherlike "it's all going to be ok" tone in his coverage. 

However, Dowdle almost became one of my least favorite Dawgs when he came closer than we realize to getting Aaron Murray suspended by the NCAA for god knows how long.

On 680 The Fan this morning, Rude, Leo, and Sandra were broadcasting live from Athens to cover UGA Media Day and the first day of practice. Dowdle joined them for a few minutes, and told a recent story in relation to how the NCAA can be a bit ridiculous. Dowdle talked about how he and Aaron Murray speak often throughout the coverage process, and have become friends of sort. In some conversation, Dowdle mentioned to Murray that he should attend a Braves game sometime, and Murray showed interest. Dowdle claimed that he could get him credentials to meet some of the Braves players who are die hard college football fans. So recently, Murray called Dowdle to inquire about a certain date to go down to The Ted with him. Dowdle obliged, and set everything up. After obtaining credentials, and lining up times/transportation, etc., Dowdle LUCKILY thought to himself for a moment about all the "extra benefits" situations currently plaguing the world of college football. So THANK GOD, Dowdle decided to contact UGA director of NCAA compliance, Eric Baumgartner, to make sure the Braves outing would be ok......

Let's hope Aaron paid for this shake weight himself!!

Baumgartner told Dowdle "ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!"

Close one, Dawg Nation.... close one. 

We should in no way be mad at Chuck Dowdle for almost blowing the season. He went on in the interview to talk about how it's ridiculous that Murray could not go down and meet the players, which could result in a life lesson and motivation to excel both in the classroom and the field. I happen to agree.


However, it does worry me just a slight bit that Aaron Murray didn't recognize this as a possible violation, and was ready to go forth with the "extra benefits"....


No harm, no foul. But that was WAY too close for comfort. 


GO DAWGS!!

"Not a game.... we talkin' bout.... PRACTICE!!"

Famous philosopher, Dr. Allen Iverson (Ph.D. in "Practice")

As once great basketball player and philosopher Dr. Allen Iverson once quoted.... "Not a game, not a game, not a game, we in hea' talkin' bout....Practice... we talkin' bout practice". 

Well, little did Dr. Iverson know that the entire SEC country is indeed obsessed with.... practice. And luckily for Dawg fans, today is the first day of.... practice!

There simply is no other league, region, or sport that enjoys news about a practice session than the SEC. Where else can you find 45k fans (90k in some cases) filling the seats in a stadium in order to watch a practice game? Where else do fans sit on pins and needles during the spring and late summer, and foam at the mouth the second they see a practice report hit the media wire? The NFL cannot even fill a third of their stadiums for practice games against hated foes! Can you imagine if Clemson or Florida State came into Athens in late spring or early summer to participate in a practice game? I assure you there would not be an empty seat in Sanford Stadium, and bragging rights as to who won the ....practice.... game would fill the blogospheres for an entire year.

So today, at 4:20pm (that get your attention Florida fans?), the Dawgs will strap on helmets, throw on some shorts and hit the practice fields at Butts Mehre. And there is no fanbase as or more giddy about that practice than the Red & Black Dawg Nation.

I would attempt to write a practice report based on the ones I read, but I guarantee anybody who looks at this blog, will have already read the exact same reports I read, seconds after they are released.

Good luck today Dawgs!! Especially to the greenhorn freshman who after today's practice will officially be christened as Damn Good Dawgs!!!

Allen Iverson "practice" counter: 15.5
This blog's "practice" counter: 14  (so close!!!!!)

30 days til' kickoff!!
Go Dawgs!!

"Don't Fence Me In".... Keep Sanford Stadium OPEN!!!!!

Recently, I have heard a grumbling or two about UGA being unwilling or uninterested in keeping up with the attendance war of the SEC. For years, Sanford Stadium has sat atop, or near, the SEC and all of college football in seating capacity. With recent additions by Alabama and Tennessee pushing them well over the 100K mark, does UGA really want to attempt to keep pace with the Clampetts, I mean Joneses??

In this artists' rendition, Sanford Bridge becomes irrelevant

In order to push the Sanford seating capacity from the cordial 92,746 we accommodate today, to over the 100K mark, one of two things would have to happen: A) The "600 Section" would have to be expanded to wrap around the entire stadium, creating a slew of unwanted, birds eye view seats which most people would rather vacate in order to sit at home or sit in a comfy Athens bar so that they can read the number of the ball carrier, rather than tote their binoculars and program guides six or seven flights in order to know whats going on. This could easily become a visiting teams section. Or B), we could close in the beloved and cherished Sanford Bridge, which holds a sacred place in the hearts of many a bulldawg, old and young.

The more logical step would be to enclose the open North end of Sanford, and build a towering grand-stand which would house the rear ends of several thousand rabid Bulldawg faithful, or perhaps a bunch of unwanted Cocks, Vols, Cats, Dores or Nats??..... is that REALLY what we want??  No, I say.

Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Tennessee used to be one of the crown jewels of the SEC, and college football as a whole. You used to be able to sit in your seat amongst 90K+ rabid SEC fans, all while having an amazing view of the Tennessee River as a backdrop. Then they became greedy, wanting to maximize the seating capacity, while "voluntarily" (get it?) forfeiting the amazing scenery that was already in place. Now, you can sit in the middle of Neyland, and have no clue if you are in the state of Tennessee or downtown Baghdad. All you know is that there is a football field surrounded by nauseating high rise bleachers in all directions. Do you think there is any reason that ALL ticket requests from UGA season ticket holders were granted  for the October 8th UGA/UT game from the good people of UT this season???.... unneeded capacity anyone??  And as far as Bryant-Denny stadium goes..... nobody really wanted to go to your concrete jungle anyway, let alone see the view of which could have been if you didn't decide to enclose your concreTe-Town the past couple of years..... just sayin'

With the North end of Sanford Stadium open, the atmosphere is sparred the gladiatorial effect which sprouts complaints from most programs who decide to rival their football stadium with Bristol Motor Speedway. We have, as a backdrop, the most beautiful campus that God has ever let a University build. A much welcome breeze greets us in the hot summer afternoons in September, and reminds us how much we love fall as we bundle up in the cool, crisp nights in late October and throughout November. Building a high rise in order to compete in the "capacity war" will only dilute the originality and uniqueness which we crave throughout the warm months.

Few things get a Dawg fan excited, any time of year, like taking a stroll down Sanford Drive and being engulfed by Sanford Stadium's presence and lore when they cross the bridge. I personally stop by there several times throughout the year to reminisce about the good ole' days, and intentionally foreshadow the good times in which I hope to endure throughout my lifetime. The last thing I want to greet me on that stroll is just another concrete tower, hiding the beauty and smells of the field which we all dream about.

This year, the Red Coat Band will be strategically positioned in the North End Zone, in attempts to echo their sweet melody throughout the stadium. Many have complained in the past about the noise escaping because of the poor acoustic positioning of the band in the opposite End Zone, letting their blare escape into the sweet Georgia night. Not this year, my friends, and certainly not in the future.

 Let's keep Sanford Stadium the jewel as which we know it, and avoid any unnecessary construction, only creating the ability for alien fans the chance to buy tickets to our games, donning the wrong colors and spewing the wrong battle cries. Revenue is at an all time high, and a few extra thousand seats is in no way a welcome venture in flexing our marketing muscle. KEEP SANFORD OPEN!!!

33 days til' kickoff!!
Go Dawgs!!!!

That Voice in Sanford Stadium.... Brook Whitmire

Whenever the term "voice of the Dawgs" comes up, one instantly would hear "Run Lindsay"or "Hobnail Boot" in their head in the form of a raspy, dry, enthusiastic tone of Larry Munson. Some much younger Dawgs may even think of the deep, "edge of your seat" announcing of Scott Howard, the current radio voice of the Dawgs. But when I think about the current voice that is synonymous with UGA football, the Sanford Stadium public address announcer, Brook Whitmire, is the voice I dream about throughout the summer, waiting for it to welcome me home in the fall.

Few things get a true Dawg fan excited like the voice that comes over the Sanford Stadium speakers about 20 minutes before kickoff that declares "It's Saturday afternoon/night in Athens, and time to tee it up between the hedges". 

Whitmire is about to enter his 20th season as the public address announcer in Sanford, and has never missed a game since his calling up in 1992. I have not had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Whitmire, but please check out this interview from the Athens Banner Herald back in 2005 to get to know the man behind the voice better.

Only 36 days til kickoff!!!
Only 43 days til the (other) voice of God greets us as we file in with 92,746 of our best friends!!

GO DAWGS!!!!

A Lost Dawg in Hawaii.......

While I consistently sign the bottom of each blog entry with the number of days until kickoff, attempting to keep pace with my friends at Hedges to Hardwood, I have also kept a personal countdown in my head as well. That countdown has reached 1 (one), my friends! I am OFF TO HAWAII (Oahu to be exact) tomorrow!!! 

My brother, who has absolutely zero interest in sports, has taken up residency on the North Shore of Oahu, and works as a skydive instructor (where the hell did I go wrong?). Other than the lack of interest in sports (UGA football), I would love to live his life! Wake up, ride my bicycle past beautiful island mountains/volcanoes on the way to the airfield, board and jump out of airplanes while making money, and scuba/snorkel dive and kayak on my days off....... YES PLEASE!! Well, until I think hard, and realize that the southeastern US of A, specifically Georgia,  is indeed my place and my people.

I have never crossed the Mississippi River, and am VERY excited to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time in my life.... in grand fashion.

I want to wish each of you a VERY happy summer, and I wish that each and every one of you are able to take a vacation  half as cool as I am about to take, in order to clear our minds and focus on the beautiful time of year which is about to grace us. I will be able to check in on Dawg news, but am vowing not to write during my journey.

I will be packing 7 UGA t-shirts, and 2 UGA hats to spread the love across the Hawaiian islands over the next 10 days. I hope to run into at least one or two fellow members of Dawg Nation, but hope the football team does not see this place until they reach Pro Bowl status in the NFL.......

Looking VERY forward to SEC Media Days in Hoover, AL when I return!!

60 days til' kickoff!!
GO DAWGS!!!

Auburn Billboards in Metro-Atlanta

The other morning, driving from Atlanta up I-85 northbound toward Lake Lanier to spend a day on the water, I noticed a repulsive sight hanging over my head, just north of the perimeter. A giant billboard, with the words "your future is clear" and a big picture of the BCS National Championship trophy. On the far right is the makeshift national championship logo which Auburn has created for itself.

I want to get angry at this, and want to feel it is a classless jab at the people and fans of Dawg Nation. However, if UGA were to have won last year's BCS, or win any in the near future, I would smile greatly at the thought of hanging a similar billboard right at the Opelika exit down I-85 south toward Montgomery. So all I can really do is bite my bottom lip when I see these ugly things, and keep in mind that when the day comes, payback will be oh so sweet! It also serves as a compliment to the state of Georgia, letting it be known that without being able to get recruits out of this great state, they would be nothing, since Alabama grown talent is quite pathetic in its own right.

Let's see how many of these billboards we see hanging anywhere after the mediocre, rebuilding, loss plagued year the Auburn football program has in store for them in 2011.

Enjoy it while it lasts War Tigers. Wins on your upcoming  schedule are not so "clear", and the odds of keeping that trophy on that billboard for more than a few years may be even more distorted.

GO DAWGS!!!!