Georgia Bulldogs Picture Day 1980
Boy did I get a blast from the past today. I received this picture from a “young” man who had his picture taken with me on picture day 1980. Mark was nine then, that would make him 37 now. I see pictures like this from time to time and I always wonder where those folks are now.
Mark S. is an software sales guy with his own blog too. We apparently had spoken on Dawgvent or something and recently he found this photo. It made me do some searching and I broke out the pictures my mother took on that same day.
I found a picture of a very young Bill Hartman and Lindsey Scott behind him. Also below you will see a picture of Hershel before we knew what was in store. No one knew what lay ahead. What a great year… Thanks Mark!
NCAA + Good Decision =WTH?
You have probably heard about the Clemson Tigers potentially being punished for illegal lingerie. My boy Bernie puts his two cents in as only Bernie can. I wanted to add mine as well, because many don’t understand what the hub bub is about. The NCAA has just this morning overturned the punishment that the ACC had imposed. There is no doubt that in the big picture, the fact that Clemson could have lost two practices was a bit much, but I do understand the issue.
Seems the Tigers were wearing their padded girdles under their shorts at practice. That’s a very common thing these days as it affords an added level of protection against minor injuries during contact drills. I think you would be amazed how much contact there really is, even in shells(shorts and helmets). Heck even basketball players are wearing these girdles.
A few years ago a company called McDavid came out with what they call a hex pad girdle. It comes with hip, tail and thigh pads sewn in the girdle permanently. They are worn under football pants and offer the same protection with added comfort. I have sold a ton of them in recent years. I wish we had worn them back in the day.
NCAA rules prohibit full contact the first few practices. Teams must go out in shorts and helmets. The next step is usually shoulder pads. The advent of this new girdle, allows full contact drills and are very common, for lineman especially. They might just “thud” with running backs, but not take them to the ground. The only thing missing is knee pads, but you know what college and pro players think of knee pads. Not much.
It’s just another small example of trying to gain a few full speed reps to get ahead. Not a huge deal. But hey…rules are rules!
Georgia High School Football
Most folks I know are bu…uh…woofing in anticipation of College Football. I am the same way, because I believe the Georgia Bulldogs will be a different team with a whole new outlook from a year ago. But more on that in another blog. Only slightly behind college football is my love for high school football. The State of Georgia has as strong a tradition as any other state and with the growth our state experiences, there are always new schools looking to make their mark.
I just received my copies of Georgia High School Football Magazine. It’s a great resource for coaches and fans alike. I have known the publisher, David Patterson for several years. I could never get my old employer to support David, but when I started Total Team Sports, I jumped on board. My ad is on page 86 with the AAAAA Pre-season All-State Team. Get your copy at www.highschoolfootballmagazine.com .
Trion HS, A Kickers Reunion
Last summer, I received an email from a Dad I know. I had worked with his son before and he was very happy. I work with a lot of young guys each summer, mostly young kickers who have grown up playing soccer. That is a plus but not a guarantee of success. Kicking soccer balls and a football are very different. Every once in a while I will hear from someone that has never kicked anything, and that was pretty much the case with the Carons.
Rex,
I want to let you know how much I appreciate your having taught my son Corey two years ago. As a novice, with his hard work and your instruction, he was very successful in his only year as a place-kicker.
I, the coaches, and the other Trion fans were impressed enough that I would like to send my younger son, Craig, for lessons this summer. He, too, is a novice and I fully anticipate similar results. Thanks again for your help.
Sincerely,
Douglas E. Caron, M.D.
Things have gone well with Craig as well, and it illustrates a point I try to make with coaches. Don’t accept the idea that if you don’t have a great kicker, your stuck. I always say you can take a good athlete and make them a solid high school kicker. Many great south Georgia football programs breeze through the regular season only to suffer in the playoffs with a sub-par kicking game. For that matter, any school in an area without much of a soccer influence can suffer.
All these two have done is everything their coaches have asked of them. Consistent extra points and short field goals can be a valuable thing to a high school coach. Corey kicked a last minute 43 yard field goal against Jefferson his senior year. Trion was down 20-17 and the kick sent the game to overtime. Clutch. Craig’s longest attempt last year was a 37 yarder, and yes he made it.
Corey and Craig Caron
We worked out today to make sure we are ready for the season. Craig will be ready. Call me if you have a young kicker that needs help.
SEC Rivals Crossing the Line
You may have heard about the Tennessee and Auburn billboards that will grace the Atlanta area soon. Lame Kiffin and Eric Berry are shown prominently. I have not seen the Tennessee pieces of…..”artwork”, but I did see this Auburn ____ three times this week…I took this picture with my Blackberry somewhere between Dallas and Rockmart on Highway 278…are there some prospects in Cedartown or something?
I would say let’s put one up in Auburn and Knoxville, but is there anybody we want in those areas? Especially Big Urange Country. When was the last time we got someone of value in East Tennessee? Hmmm. This was in the paper.
Georgia Football, A Real Family
I was reminded of some simple truths yesterday. The Georgia Football Lettermen are emailed with announcements of news of illness, surgeries and sometimes deaths in the family. Yesterday was one of the bad days. One of my old team mates Tim Morrison lost his mother to cancer two nights ago. It was another reality check regarding priorities in life. It’s about the rightful place that our loved ones occupy versus the game we love. Sometimes I think we as fans fail to understand the way we can effect a family and even a kid(player).
The kids were cheer and jeer have moms and dads that want the very best for their sons, but don’t always get it. Sometimes it just circumstances like an injury. Sometimes they just get passed on the depth chart by a better player. Whatever the reason, it’s rarely as simple as we might think. But still we criticize. That can be hurtful to parents and other loved ones.
I always think about the mamas…I have witnessed parents at UGA who never got to enjoy the college experience because of the criticism and the anxiety it produces. Heck, I never knew how bad kicker’s moms had it until I started coaching them. It’s no picnic, even when they are successful.
Anyway when I heard about Tim’s mom, it reminded me of my own mother who passed away in 1983. About how much she supported me no matter what. My Dad confirmed how difficult it was for her back then, but she still came week after week, home and away. The only game she ever missed was the Senior Bowl. She was in Mobile but was too sick to leave the hotel room. Five months later she grew ill again, went into cardiac arrest. She was revived but lay in a vegetative state/coma for two and a half years before she died in November, 1983.
I will be going to Boaz, Alabama today to be with Tim and his family.
Football brought us together, but it’s not what keeps us together.
Hey Georgia, You Gotta Have the Gear!
It really sounds like it’s been a great week for UGA Football…practice started and the entire DawgNation has been a-woof…I was going to say a-buzz but that Dawg won’t hunt. Let’s just hope we can maintain the focus and energy til January…whaddaya think?
Just this week I have updated the links to the right. These are my sources to everything from uniforms to workout gear to letter jackets. Some of these sites are e-tailers, but I can sell their gear at “TEAM” prices(25%=30% off) for orders of 12 or more(Teams) duh! You may have heard of some of these companies, but I’m betting you have not heard of all of them. A couple of the links are online catalogs for your convenience.
Check them out and call me if you have questions….404.455.0393
Bulldogs find Strength in Numbers
It starts very early for some athletes, getting attached to a certain number. I was talking to a friend whose daughter, a middle school basketball player, wears the #10. For the first time she will have to give it up because she is lowly 6th grader and a 7th grader has #10. As crazy as it sounds some athletes equate their continued success to the ability to maintain their favorite jersey number. Chip Towers writes about this phenomenon and the part it plays in recruiting blue chip football players. A few years ago, Ernie Sims of Tallahassee Lincoln HS, Florida State and now the Detroit Lions; wanted his #34….hahahahaha…hit the bricks bro…we ain’t un-retiring nuttin! He was a great linebacker, but that scenario bordered on the ridiculous.
I remember wanting the #5 because no kicker had worn it so I could possibly stand out if I worked hard. Then the next two guys after me wore it(some guy named Butler and Steve Crumbley). Twelve years of #5, so much for that idea. This issue takes some twists and turns though. I have noticed guys over the years, like Garrison Hearst, who also wore MY number and very well, just so you know. When Garrison played in the NFL, he could not wear a single digit number because of NFL rules…so he went with 23…2+3=5…ahhh see what I mean? You know Herschel wore 43 in high school 34 in college. Eric Zeier wore #15 at Marietta HS and #10 at Georgia. Am I reading more into it than I should? Maybe, maybe not.
Herschel might have been a Walter Payton fan, but I have seen these little quirky number changes many times over the years. You may have even heard of pro athletes paying new team mates mega bucks for their jersey numbers. It happens more than you think.
Now here come the freshman of 2009, and some wanting a certain number. Branden Smith wanted Number 1 and Orson Charles a very talented TE from Tampa wanted number 7. Did he commit before or after Matthew Stafford was drafted, hmm. It wouldn’t be such a big deal to me but what it does is leave the kickers with whatever is left over. A kicker wearing a number in the 80′s or 90′s is one thing….but 57? Holy crap!
Well as long as there is a Georgia Bulldogs…folks will know who number 57 was…
or will the next two guys wear it too.
Do you know of any other examples of the numbers game?
G, I love the “U” Too
I love The University of Georgia. That’s THE University of Georgia. The “G”. I do have a couple of new “loves”. Well, love is a strong word. A word one shouldn’t throw around or use lightly. Maybe infatuation would be a better word. I was listening to sports talk radio and the discussion started with Urban Meyer’s raise to $4 million a year to whether this closed the door of him possibly going to Notre Dame someday. His buy-out is only $500,000.00, small change for most top tier programs. He would be crazy to leave Gainesville, but as the commentator said, high achievers seek challenges, and the Urbanator is an achiever. Okay, we’ll go with achiever, sure.
All of a sudden, someone mentioned Mark Richt. I threw up in my mouth a little. I regained my composure enough to hear it said that if Miami continues to struggle that over time Coach Richt may consider a return to his Alma mater. To resurrect that program a challenge worth considering. At this point I puked out the window, luckily it was down.
Coach Richt has said repeatedly that he considers Athens his home now, but I for one will not take chances. That is why I will be ordering some Miami Hurricane swag and for good measure, Florida State as well. Nothing orange mind you, some green for the “U” and I look dang good in garnet and gold, if I do say so myself.
I will have to be more organized this fall and coordinate my wardrobe throughout the day on Saturdays. I don’t know about your secondary affiliations, but I want all Dawg fans to get on board the train to keep Coach Mark Richt in Athens where he belongs. I don’t want officials from Miami or Florida State rethinking their most recent moves and look northward for alternatives.
Bobby Bowden needs to retire and let Jimbo Fisher truly lead the Seminoles. I am hopeful Randy Shannon can continue the Miami revival and win big in the ACC. Besides leaving our coach alone, that would mean beating the “bees” on a regular basis.
A true win-win-win-lose!
Georgia Flights Not So Fancy
It was 1977 and it had been an awful season. After winning the SEC Championship in 1976, no one thought Coach Vince Dooley’s first and only losing season was at hand. As a freshman kicker I felt helpless much of the time and didn’t perform up to my own expectations. One of the away trips that typified the season from hell was the Florida game. I just read that the Dawgs will be taking direct flights back to Athens on away trips this year. That reminded me of the night we almost didn’t make it home.
It was November 5, 1977. This Florida Game was the only loss(22-17) to the Gators in my four years. It was the Wes Chandler Show, as he almost single handedly beat Georgia that day. It was a long day, but a longer night was in store. When we got to the airport to go back to Athens we boarded the plane temporarily only to deplane because of a red light that would not go off on the instrument panel. We waited about an hour and a half and finally the light went off. They thought some moisture had shorted it out or something. So we tried again.
About 15-20 minutes after leaving Jacksonville, there was kind of a shudder and the plane leaned left. The players on the right side of the plane started freaking out a bit. You see this was a Piedmont Turbo Prop similar to the one above, and we had just lost our right engine. Fortunately you can fly them with one engine, but not nearly fast enough when a hundred guys have all pooped their pants. Obviously we made it back to Jacksonville where we waited for another plane to come from Athens.
On the subsequent flight to Athens we learned that the weather was bad in Athens and we might have to divert the flight to Atlanta. And we did. At this point chartered buses had to come from Athens to pick us up at the Atlanta Airport. Then we rode the bus back to Athens, arriving in the wee hours, some 8 hours after the game was over.
If that had been my first plane trip,
I might have never gotten on a plane ever again.
Georgia Lineman, The Fat and the Furious
The line of scrimmage, where it all begins and ends in our game. I feel a special affinity for these guys. I always appreciated the protection they gave me on field goals and extra points; but even more than that, I love ‘em because I was one of them. That’s right, I was a D-Lineman in high school. My retired number 70 jersey hangs in the hallway of Marietta High School today, an ever-present reminder of a fat boy made good. Even in college I was often asked if I was a center or guard when on All-American trips. But my value as a defensive tackle can only be described as minimal, thereby prompting my high school coach Ray Broadaway to suggest I become a specialist my senior year since I was being recruited as a kicker, not a sticker. Even so, I did make a few tackles on kickoffs while at UGA…so there!
Anyhoo, in 2008, when the Dawgs lost Trinton Sturdivant in pre-season and Jeff Owens in the first game to season ending injuries, that was really almost too much to overcome. But overcome they did. Coach Stacy Searels took one of the youngest offensive lines in memory and molded them to perform adequately enough to allow Stafford and Moreno to shine. They will need to improve a great deal to provide protection for Joe Cox and opportunities for our stable of running backs. A shoulder injury during summer work-outs has already eliminated Tanner Strickland from competing in 2009, so once again this unit will have to be flexible and cohesive.
The D-line has the chance to be one of the best in the SEC with Jeff “The Real Deal” Owens back and Geno Atkins attempting to comeback from what some considered a subpar year for him. Kade Weston and DeAngelo Tyson should provide depth and keep the big guys fresh for four quarters.
The irresistable force and the immovable objects…the fat and the furious. They don’t get enough credit in the good times and sometimes too much blame in the bad. Proof positive that there is a fat bias in our society. Descrimination at it’s worst.
Skinny people suck…
Georgia Fans…A Little Something Sweet
Georgia Football fans should know. This blog will never “rival” the big boys for news and numbers. That’s the meat and potatoes of an online fan feast. I don’t want it to be like all the other blogs. Many have good well rounded information, like a helping of your favorite veggies. There are a few of these blogs with enough flavor to pass as a really good dessert. But I want Roughing the Kicker to be that place that when you are too full from the main course, you hold off. Then on your way home you stop by for something a little different…a special treat. I call it Blaagen Dazs. It may not be something you want to consume every day, or maybe your metabolism can take a daily helping. Who knows?
Below you will find a listing of flavors you can expect in the future:
*One flavor that has been discontinued is the Rocky Road…too much of that last year* Some new favorites are expected to be the Joe Cox Strawberry… The A.J. Green “Mint Chocolate”… The Blair Walsh Irish Cream… Justin Anderson Vanilla Bean? …and introducing Rookies and Cream for freshman only…. and all Dawg Fans love Bark Chocolate…lol…Boy, I amuse myself sometimes.
Clean Old Fashioned Hate….Ain’t It Great!
Wednesday I posted my feelings on Georgia Tech’s resurgence. No, not the football team, the fans. The response has been great from both sides and that can mean only one thing. Clean Old-Fashioned Hate, which had been relegated to the bookshelf has returned to the field AND cyberspace. You know it’s human nature to be ambivalent when you know you can pound your little step brother on a regular basis. But when he reaches maturity, has gotten his brown belt in RunKwanDo AND has busted your nose, you better wake up.
I believe we have!
I believe our off season work-outs were more focused and intense. I believe our coaches renewed their commitment to excellence. I believe our leadership is improved. I believe our fundamentals will improve. I believe in Joe Cox. I believe Uga VII will actually come out of his Doghouse in 2009(Lazy Sumbuck). I believe our special teams will actually be SPECIAL! I believe the Ghost of Junkyards past will lead our defense onto the field this fall. I believe our recruiting has gone to another level. Most of all I believe in Mark Richt.
Between the SEC’s lack of truly weak sisters and Tech having a quality coach, I fully expect Coach Richt to be bald by 2011. Show him some love when you see him. He is earning every dollar he makes these days.
Call Georgia Tech what you will…nerds…bees…locusts.
Just don’t call them losers, those days are over.
Georgia Tech…Full Steam Ahead or Just Hot Air?
Well it was bound to happen. After years and years of utter futility, sprinkled with a few years of bowl eligibility(barely), Georgia Tech thinks they have arrived. After squeaking by an under-performing Georgia defense in a 45-42 win, there are nerds of every description scurrying out from their cubicles, waving their calculators high in the air.
That noise you may hear is their shrill voices cracking in anticipation of the upcoming season and their nads dropping. I remember puberty don’t you? It was an exciting time with so many changes in store; some good, some scary.
Full Steam Ahead! is their rallying cry in the media guide…Don’t get me wrong, I do believe Georgia Tech will continue to get better and be competitive in the ACC. But the planets were aligned perfectly last year. Both Georgia(defensively) and some of the power teams of the ACC were still experiencing off years.
That will not be the case this year!
They have been to twelve bowl games in a row…the listing below shows this impressive string of post season ”success”? Twelve bowls is exactly half of what Tech has done in my lifetime. A total of twenty-four bowls in fifty years, so twelve in a row is pretty good RELATIVELY speaking. That’s right, in the past 12 years, Tech has gone to such illustrious bowls as the Emerald, Seattle, Humanitarian, Silicon Valley, CarQuest and the Champs Sports Bowls.
There are those who have emerged from the yellow jacket nest in the ground, who continue to sting whenever given the chance. You know what happens when yellow jackets become a nuisance….you wipe those #@&*% out completely. It takes a special kind of dumb#%& to poke the Incredible Hulk(UGA) with a sharp stick. But keep it up, oh yee of supposedly higher intelligence. Keep poking.
You won’t like us when we’re angry.
Based on Tech’s Media Guide
Georgia’s Record vs. Tech
Over-all Series – 59-39-5
At Home -28-14-1
At Tech -31-25-4
Bowling?
2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl LSU 38, Georgia Tech 3
2007 Humanitarian Bowl Fresno State 40, Georgia Tech 28
2006 Gator Bowl West Virginia 38, Georgia Tech 35
2005 Emerald Bowl Utah 38, Georgia Tech 10
2004 Champs Sports Bowl Georgia Tech 51, Syracuse 14
2003 Humanitarian Bowl Georgia Tech 52, Tulsa 10
2002 Silicon Valley Classic Fresno State 30, Georgia Tech 21
2001 Seattle Bowl Georgia Tech 24, Stanford 14
2000 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl LSU 28, Georgia Tech 14
1999 Gator Bowl Miami 28, Georgia Tech 13
1998 Gator Bowl Georgia Tech 35, Notre Dame 28
1997 Carquest Bowl Georgia Tech 35, West Virginia 30
1991 Aloha Bowl Georgia Tech 18, Stanford 17
1990 Florida Citrus Bowl Georgia Tech 45, Nebraska 21
1985 All American Bowl Georgia Tech 17, Michigan St. 14
1978 Peach Bowl Purdue 41, Georgia Tech 21
1972 Liberty Bowl Georgia Tech 31, Iowa State 30
1971 Peach Bowl Mississippi 41, Georgia Tech 18
1970 Sun Bowl Georgia Tech 17, Texas Tech 9
1966 Orange Bowl Florida 27, Georgia Tech 12
1965 Gator Bowl Georgia Tech 31, Texas Tech 21
1962 Bluebonnet Bowl Missouri 14, Georgia Tech 10
1961 Gator Bowl Penn State 30, Georgia Tech 15
1959 Gator Bowl Arkansas 14, Georgia Tech 7
Michael Vick Dogged By Haters
Michael Vick’s performance against Florida State in the 2000 Sugar Bowl is still one of the greatest individual efforts I can remember. He made FSU’s defenders look slow when they were not. Truly amazing. Even so, I was never enamored with Michael Vick as the Atlanta Falcons quarterback. His intermittent flashes of athletic brilliance were not the foundation from which to build an NFL franchise, in my humble opinion. The run to the NFC Championship game while impressive was not something that could be counted on year in and year out. Then the V-train was derailed by poor judgement and criminal treatment of dogs.
Dog-fighting is something I have never witnessed and certainly don’t want to see. Growing up in suburban Atlanta, it was not a part of our world. There are many, many areas of white and black America where it is not uncommon for men to pit their dogs against each other. It is cultural to a large extent. But that does not make it right.
Michael Vick has been demonized because of his celebrity pure and simple. He did not invent the bloodsport, nor was he one of just a few participants. A CNN story from 2007 states that approximately 40,000 Americans were involved in dog-fighting at the time. It was a felony in 48 states, yet it was considered a sport that was growing in size and scope.
Now Vick has now served his time and as of this week he will have an opportunity to play somewhere in the NFL in 2009. No matter where he goes, he will be dogged by opposing fans and other freaks(PETA). It’s just what they do. But I think it’s unfortunate.
The ethical treatment of animals is a very, very subjective notion
There are no consistent standards unless you are on the fringe and your standard is no use of animals for the benefit of humans at all.. The vast majority of the 6.77 billion people in this world eat some animals as food. From country to country, which animals are eaten vary based on cultural and religious traditions.
There are people you know that came from countries that eat dogs and cats. The fact that we abhor that practice is our problem. If we had to slaughter our own cattle, pigs, chickens and turkeys we would be in trouble. That disconnect from the realities of food processing has made some of us a little too sensitive. Even in civilized society, there is still a food chain and for now we are at the top.
Of course I am advocating use…not abuse…so I am hoping
maybe the Michael Vick feeding frenzy will be brief and dissipate quickly.
Have You Seen My Baseball?
I feel like Warren from There’s Something About Mary…wandering the streets desperately looking for my baseball. I lost my baseball back in 1994, when the players went on strike and ultimately both the season and World Series were cancelled. That’s about the same time the steroid era was in “full swing”, so to speak. Nope, that’s not my baseball either.
Baseball was my first love growing up. Both the Braves and Falcons became the focal point of a youngster’s hopes and dreams back in the mid sixties. I started playing baseball at Custer Park in Marietta, Georgia when I was nine years old. That was 1968 and I grew up watching Hank Aaron, Orlando Cepeda and my real hero, Rico Carty! The Beeg Boy! I was one of those that tried to emulate his style of batting with a modicum of success.
Now I am not naive enough to think that all baseball players in my youth were angels and deacons, but I do know that money was not the predominant issue it is today. Not a day goes by that a player’s salary or a team’s salary cap is not in the news. Money plays as important a role in management decisions as batting or earned run averages. So it will never be the same.
My Dad and older brother never miss a Braves game on TV. I still cruise by games from time to time, but only for a few minutes. I still admire athletic excellence in any sport. I listen to 680 the Fan and stay abreast of all the sports in Atlanta. That’s where I heard that today was the anniversary of the 1994 strike. It was mentioned that Major League Baseball lost a lot of fans in ’94, but Leo Mazzone said the fans came back when Mark Maguire and Sammy Sosa went on the home run tear of 1998. Oh, you mean the pumped up Roid Rangers? Well you can kiss my asterisk.
Nope that was a brief reprieve from the port-a-party baseball became, with the full knowledge and consent of the powers that be. Don’t try to tell me different, because I’m not really Warren from the movie. I love sports pure and simple. Too bad they can’t be that way ever again. Because when I lost my baseball, it lost me too.
Georgia’s Backfield Emotion
Everyone has an opinion about the question mark UGA has at running back. Will it be Caleb King…Richard Samuel….Dontavious Jackson… Carlton Thomas…Washaun Ealey? Someone posted a link of Washaun highlight’s on Dawgvent the other day and it got me thinking. I seldom go to the extent of looking at all the Youtube stuff, but I did this weekend. I had some opinions before, I have stronger ones now.
Too many fans get hung up on “measurables” like height, weight and 40 forty yard dash times . Many times it is the little things that matter most. Size is an important variable. A running back in the SEC will be subjected to a great deal of violence and mayhem. It takes longer to crush a big rock than a small rock but, if the rock doesn’t get rocked, then he can rock and roll, know what I mean? Durability is always a concern though, no matter your running backs size.
How fast you run from point “A” to point “B” while interesting, does not necessarily translate to a productive college running back. The speed at linebacker and safety mean you better change your angles or you are going to get blown up and possibly fumble from time to time.
It’s that sometimes almost imperceptible move that means the difference
between head pain and yards gained.
Knowshon had it. Caleb, Dontavious, and Washaun have it. Richard Samuel has not shown it at all. He runs like a tall athletic fullback. He could run by you but sometimes prefers to run over you. That’s okay in high school, but last year he was not able to adequately transition to SEC football. I would never write a young man off because sometimes things click and voila, they arrive. That being said, Carlton Thomas not only has it, he looks like Barry Sanders in his highlight tape. I just saw his tape today, so I came to that conclusion on my own but I was not the first to say it. I swear, if he had a couple of inches and pounds on him, I would say hello Heisman in 2011 or 2012.
All of these guys have ability. Most people believe it will be running back by committee in 2009. I have said it before, thats just fine by me. As long as the committee appoints Carlton Thomas to the special teams sub-committee in charge of returns. This kid needs the ball in space. I know this is not news, but I’m telling you this right now. He will be a difference maker, whether on special teams, bubble screens, reverses or as a decoy. The opposing defenses will have to account for this mightiest of mites. I can’t freakin’ wait!
SEC Media Days…Character vs.Characters
SEC Media Days have come and gone without incident. I am very, very disappointed. There were no jabs verbal or otherwise, and I have been waiting for this for weeks and pfht! Nothing! Now I must say I am very relieved to hear that Tim Tebow is still a virgin. I’m not sure how that matter’s in the football world unless it can be proven it aids in his training regimen, i.e. overall conditioning and strong passing arm.
What inspired this missive is something else I just read attributed to the Big Bird, the King of Snipe, Darth Visor himself. In an article about Lane Kiffin, Steve Spurrier is quoted as saying when your program is not winning maybe you should keep your mouth shut. He went on to say:
Does that mean if some how the planets aligned and South Carolina won an SEC Championship, that it’s okay for him to morph back into the appendage of his youth? That could be dubbed as a type of moral relativism. I’ll be humble while I suck, but if I’m ever great again watch out brother the gloves come off!
I’m not sure Lane Kiffin needs that kind of mentoring coach, but thanks!
Once again, I am thankful to have a coach who is seldom involved in negative news of any type. This is because he chooses to be a man of character, rather than attempt to maintain a character.
Mark Richt and Tim Tebow are both men of faith.
How can we love one and hate the other?
Just sayin’…
Georgia Punting in Good Hands
I’ll never forget the first time I saw Drew Butler. No, he was not a bouncing baby boy on his Dad’s golden leg. It was not even in youth soccer. It was Drew’s senior year at Peachtree Ridge HS. The Lions were in the midst of their co-state championship run. They were playing one of my customers Campbell HS.
I was there early to see warm-ups. I had heard alot about Drew and I knew he was a top prospect to kick in college. It took just a few minutes for me to come to one definite conclusion. But more about that in a minute. I saw Peachtree Ridge escape with a win against Campbell and later watched them tie Roswell for the 2006 AAAAA Co-State Championship.
I didn’t actually meet Drew until the following May, after he had signed with Georgia after considering good options at Duke among others. Peachtree Ridge had become a customer when I followed Bill Ballard from Tucker. Drew had just finished kicking and working out when I ran into him outside the fieldhouse.
I asked him then if my conclusions about him were correct. While a very solid kicker in high school, I felt right away that Drew was a more natural punter. He confirmed that immediately, stating that his wish was to punt at Georgia. By that time, Blair Walsh had committed to UGA and it was Drew’s contention that Blair would kick and he would punt.
Drew has been in the program now for two years and has gotten much stronger. Gordon Ely-Kelso was a four year starter but Brian Mimbs “grew” into his role as a punter. Heck , he walked on at UGA to kick and with Brandon Coutu in the fold, he saw the writing on the wall. He shifted his focus and became a very good college punter. Drew will be ready also. This does not mean there will be no bad kicks. There are always bad kicks with every kicker and punter. Surely you remember a few bad punts in recent years and we survived most of them. It’s what you do the next time out that matters.
Short term memory loss is essential to be a successful kicker.
Now I have to work on long term memories.
Can you say Bluebonnet Bowl?
Georgia Recruiting, Highs and Lows
The recruiting front is a battleground, where lives are changed forever. Expectations are so high sometimes, the realities can never keep up. All the great news coming out of Athens was almost too good too be true, with their 18th commitment TJ Stripling of SW Dekalb making his plans known this morning.
But all is not well in Athens as Carver High School’s head football coach has banned the UGA coaching staff from the Columbus Campus. One of Coach Del McGee’s players, QB Del Burns had an offer withdrawn from Georgia and Mark Richt over the weekend. The fact that it happened on the day Burns intended to commit while at Dawg Night magnifies the impact this decision had on the player. He brought his whole family to make the announcement that would never be. That’s pretty awful. But worthy of a ban? Come on now, Coach McGee? Who do you think you are?
Players hedge bets in this recruiting game all the time. An early commitment is not the end of the story. You don’t think coaches or universities have the right to do the same? There is no doubt, that this played out poorly and I do feel for Del Burns. But to ban Mark Richt and staff?
In case you have not heard Coach McGee, a great number of Georgia recruits make the decision to come to Athens because of Mark Richt’s character. Many recruits go elsewhere in this league(SEC) in spite of the coach’s character. Don’t think you can impugn this man’s reputation based on a miscommunication. And by no means think you are any more important than you really are. I know you are a very good high school coach but, simmer down now.
Del Burns will have other opportunities. I just hope they are outside the SEC.
“Special” Education
Once again the infamous kicking controversy has reared it’s ugly head. I have entered the blogosphere in a year when kickers and kicking are high on the list of many Bulldog faithful. But I don’t want to be on any ” lists” come the fall. I am not sure how to negotiate this tsunami, but for now I will continue to tread water and attempt to survive the wave. I did an interview with the Bulldog Blog and it was picked up by the Junkyard Blawger, which is just stirring up a hornet’s nest again. It’s no one’s fault. It is an area of valid concern for the DawgNation.
The thing is, it’s not Rocket Surgery. lol
I have no exclusivity on the wisdom in this situation.
It’s just an opinion.
Guess who’s opinions really matter?
In case you did not read all of the blog posts I have linked to in this article, in their entirety, understand this. I have the utmost respect for Jon Fabris and Mark Richt as coaches. I am not sure that this is adequately explained by me or other bloggers. That being said, I can offer a dissenting opinion, can’t I?
It’s not the USSA yet, is it?
Tom Watson, Super but Human
I just watched the ending of the British Open. It was a great one, for lots of reasons. Tiger Woods decided to give the rest of the field a chance by bowing out early, not even making the cut. Stewart Cink, a Georgia Tech All-American and local guy living in Duluth, was the ultimate and deserving winner. But Tom Watson somehow summoned all 59 years worth of skill, experience and fortitude to take this championship to a playoff.
The fact that his par putt on the 72nd hole was woeful should not detract from the heroism of his being there in the first place. How many miracles did it take before seeing him finally resume his place amongst the rest of us. Just human.
You could see the pain in his face. He is a competitor after all and as such will make no excuses I’m sure. It was there for the taking and he gave it back. Paul Azinger made a good point. Tom Watson’s place in history was secure long before this week began. This rewind of his will be a fun footnote in a glorious biography.
The whole world including me, thought that his body would betray him first but it did not. It was the little thing, the putt, with nerves buzzing and head spinning a little, that robbed him of the ultimate “senior moment”, winning another PGA Major.
I can’t tell you how inspiring this is to me. As a 50 year old who is truly a has been, I may go out today and do something extra-ordinary…like cut the grass.
No wait, “The Whole Nine Yards” is on AMC…Cool.
Dirty Harry Was Right
Clint Eastwood is one of my favorite actors and he’s an even better director. I could do an entire blog on the great one liners he spouted over the years. From Dirty Harry to Josie Wales he has always had just the right words for any situation he found himself in. This kind of wisdom is hard to find and certainly words to live by.
“A man’s gotta know his limitations”…Dirty Harry
Consider this blog my attempt at an intervention of sorts. An old friend and former team mate has exercised less than good judgement in his professional life and if I don’t say something now, I will regret it for the rest of my life. He was a two sport star in college and even splits time between radio and TV now. But Buck Belue is no triple threat. He can’t sing.
I am on the road alot with my job(selling sporting goods), and even though I did not listen to 680 the Fan or Buck and Kincaid in the beginning, I listen consistently now. I have seen and talked to Buck more in the last year than the previous 25 combined. He contacted me last year about doing some clinics and we now have done a total of four in the last year. It’s been fun. We will probably tweak some things and try again next year, or after this post maybe not.
If you listen to Buck and Kincaid you probably know what I’m talking about. Buck likes music and actually alot of the same music I love. Maybe thats why I feel led to draw attention to his intermittent outburst into song. It happened again Thursday. The Black-Eyed Peas did a song a couple of years ago called “Lets get it started”. Great song. He sang a little bit at the beginning of the show today, apparently trying to get Kincaid fired up for the show. I am so glad I have heard the song many times before and like it. Otherwise, I would never want to hear it again.
I don’t think Buck considers himself a great singer, I just don’t think he cares. You have probably seen people like that at karaoke, but it’s one thing to go to a sports bar and do karaoke. It’s another to cause a pile-up on I-285 during rush hour. Both Buck and Kincaid join together to sing their rendition of Meet the Mets when the Braves beat New York. It’s called Beat the Mets, and the disharmony rivals my first marriage. That’s bad.
I’m pretty sure Buck does not read my blog, but even if he did I think he would take this post in the spirit it is intended…please quit singing!
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I had a great conversation with David Hale yesterday. You know David, the sports-writer and reknowned Bulldog Blogger . I think he plans to write about our talk on Friday. We discussed alot of things, including my thoughts on the Bulldawgs of 2009. I had an answer, but upon reflection something occurred to me. Many times it’s not good enough to have a great team, we want our players to receive all the superlatives as well.
I don’t want to give away the ending, but I told David that I thought our running backs were a little bit of a question mark. Caleb King and Richard Samuel while talented athletes, had not shown the spark of Knowshon Moreno(who ever has?) or even as capable as a Thomas Brown. I liked Thomas Brown. The bottom line though is this, running back by committee is not the end of the world. If it’s a good committee!
Here are some random thoughts on committees:
A committee should consist of no more than three people, with two absent. ~Robert Copeland
A committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours. ~Milton Berle
If computers get too powerful, we can organize them into committees. That’ll do them in. ~Unknown
If Columbus had an advisory committee he would probably still be at the dock. ~Arthur Goldberg
A committee is an animal with four back legs. ~John le Carré, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
A camel looks like a horse that was planned by a committee. ~Unknown
Well, it does not have to be that way. Mark Richt and Georgia have had some great teams without a marquee back. In 2005, Georgia was 10-3 and won it’s last SEC Championship. DJ Shockley was the quarterback but who were the running backs?
RB- Thomas Brown, So. #20 – 788 yards – 61.3 per game
RB- Danny Ware, So.(RS) #28 – 535 yards – 37.8 per game
RB- Kregg Lumpkin, So.(RS) #6 – 338 yards – 25.8 per game
1,661 yards and a 124.9 per game average
Knowshon Moreno on the other hand gained 1,463 yards in 2008. That’s an average of only 107.7 per game, but boy it was soo much more fun to watch than back in 2005, wasn’t it? Well, yeah, but who has the ring? Having a marquee back feeds our collective egos as fans, but it does not win games or championships.
Remember the old commercial?
My dog’s faster than your dog,
My dog’s bigger than yours.
My dog’s better ’cause he gets Ken-L Ration,
My dog’s better than yours.
That what some people sound like on the Dawgvent. Sometimes I think it should be called NannyNannyBooBoo.com. Winning is not enough. Ever player has to be the best at his position in the SEC…we have to win big…we have to win every game to satisfy some and then some will still find fault, I’m sure. It’s truly amazing.
All Georgia needs this year is enough production from our running backs to keep defenses honest. Joe Cox will have a fun year with his Colorful Crew…Green, Brown etc. Our more experienced and hopefully healthy offensive line will help make all this possible of course. I believe a renewed focus will make our defense much better. The kicking game will be solid.
Sounds good to me! Let’s do this!
Tell me what you really think!