The “Calm” Before the Storm
It is 12:01 PM as I sit down to knock out this post. As I write, there are a couple of hundred coaches having lunch in Middle Georgia. An annual event sponsored by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association started last night with a dinner for Region and State Champion Head Coaches. It is usually a BBQ dinner, with some brothers from Wilkes County hauling their smoker over and I swear it’s some of the best I’ve ever had.
Today’s luncheon is when these best of the best high school coaches get to interact with most of the Southeast’s college football staffs. It’s a surreal mix, with Mark Richt, Paul Johnson and Nick Saban and their staffs all occupying the same space. Add FSU, Clemson, Auburn and all the smaller schools of Georgia i.e. Georgia Southern, Valdosta State, Lagrange and Shorter and all on the day before THE DAY. Very strange. It’s like a heavy-weight fight with the combatants sitting down for a beer while the score cards are tallied.
It just doesn’t compute, but it’s been happening for years.
There will be NO ORANGE!
I think most Georgia Bulldog fans understand the sentiment. I want Clemson to beat the brakes off Georgia Tech tonight. Yesterday, I stated I might go as far as wearing orange in support of the Tigers. Nix that. There will be no incarnation of the Great Pumpkin, nor will there be any purple as I have already gone through my Barney phase. I will soon be assuming the position in front of the TV.
To sum up my day, C’mon Bearcats!…Go ‘Zona!…
Roll Tide!…Go Tigers!…Hook ‘em Horns!
and Oh yeah, Go Dawgs!
Peach State Pigskin
This week in Peach State Pigball was mostly a positive affair. Two out of the three active programs won. But we are in November and this is when seasons can turn on a dime.
Georgia took care of business against FCS opponent Tennessee Tech, winning 38-0. No homecoming nightmares this year. Hopefully this game will be enough of a confidence builder to catapult the Dawgs to a strong finish. They will need it against Auburn this week. The Tigers have been up and down this year but have a strong running game with Ben Tate and company. This series, the oldest in the south, is always unpredictable. Auburn kept my Georgia team’s from winning the SEC in 1978 and 1979.
I hate Auburn.
Georgia Tech outlasted Wake Forest to win in overtime 30-27. Wake had a late possession in regulation to win but was unable to get in field goal range. After that I felt sure the Jackets had things well in hand. This week Tech goes to Durham to play before the throngs in Wallace Wade Stadium, all 35,000 strong. Duke is certainly improving at 5-4, but Tech should roll.
No one under 13 will be admitted without a parent.
I have it on good authority, Tech hates Auburn too.
Georgia Southern was bitten by some Samford Bulldogs last week. Coach Hatcher’s Eagles are now 4-5 and now have homecoming this week against traditional rival Furman. Who did the scheduling? Furman is struggling also and comes into this week’s game having lost three in a row including a 63-31 spanking at the hands of Auburn last week.
Now they hate Auburn…
I caught up with Coach Bill Curry of Georgia State on Twitter today. “Recruits and families come tonight to see the magic of creating a new football program. Academics, campus life, staff relationships all important”!
Coach Curry doesn’t hate anybody, but he likes Auburn the least!
Tell me what you really think!