Peach State Pigskin
Georgia football fans are wondering how it all ended so quickly. From Shorter College to the north and Valdosta State and Georgia Southern to the uh…well, you know. From Lagrange College to the west and UGA to the east, sort of. This regular season of tackle football ended all to soon. The fact that all of these programs had “off” years and Georgia Tech is playing for the ACC Championship, should tell you just how much of a bizarro world we are living in.
The Georgia Bulldogs are going to play in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana on December 28th. So they have that going for them, which is nice. Anyhoo, I am just glad we are going bowling at all, because a month ago, it didn’t look too good. A strong finish with wins over Auburn and Georgia Tech(snicker), kept the Bulldogs from sitting at home with the rest of us.
Georgia Tech will be playing the Clemson Tigers for the Championship of the Athletic Coast Conference in Tampa, Florida. As you may know, this is a rematch from an early season game in Atlanta. Georgia Tech won that game with some special teams magic, as the offensive machine that is the rambling wreck was being considered for Cash for Clunkers. Well, now that has changed, although Miami and Georgia have shown it can be stopped, ten other opponents couldn’t figure it out. Josh Nesbitt, Jonathon Dwyer, Roddy Jones, Anthony Allen, and Demaryus Thomas are quite the juggernaut in this system.
Clemson’s C.J. Spiller has been fun to watch late this season. He can score from anywhere on the field and sometimes from the tailgate. He’s that good. Jacoby Ford is another speedster that can cause Tech’s suspect defense heartburn. Bring the Pepcid AC Coach Johnson!
Lest you have any doubt who I will be pulling for, all I can say is this. There is not a team on the planet I would love to see lose more than Georgia Tech. Baby Brother has gotten too big for his britches too soon, and that’s why Big Brother had to spank him last week.
I may actually break down and wear orange tomorrow night. Go Tigers!
Peach State Pigskin
We as Georgia football fans are on alert for a break-out of clean old-fashioned hate here in the Peach State, but that won’t hit critical mass until next week. For now, there are other games to focus on and other targets for our disdain.
Georgia has to focus on a Kentucky team very capable of derailing a Dawg Train that just got back on the track. After playing perhaps their most complete game of the year versus Auburn, Mark Richt and crew needs to stay focused or run the risk of another wreck. They have had several this year.
A.J. Green will be missing from a Georgia line-up that all of a sudden got really young, but in my opinion better. Washaun Ealey, Branden Smith, Rantavious Wooten and Baccari Rambo are true freshman making an impact. Rambo is out with a concussion suffered last week in a potentially game saving effort. Sophomores Caleb King and Israel Troupe should continue to shine, with Troupe attempting to soften the blow of losing A.J.the Awesome.
Georgia Tech is taking advantage of an open date, as if they really needed it. The Jackets clinched the ACC Atlantic Division Championship and a berth in the championship game in Tampa December, 5th. As far as I know, this open date is the only thing that has slowed Tech’s offense in recent memory. Maybe it will slow that momentum sufficiently to impact next week’s game as well. Hey, a guy can dream can’t he?
Georgia Southern took it on the chin again against Furman. The Eagles are now standing at 4-6 and are hoping to finish on a positive note when the tee it up with the Citadel Bulldogs who are also 4-6, 2-5 in the SoCon. I’m a little concerned as the Bulldogs only conference wins came against Furman and Samford who both had recent wins over GSU. I really hope that whole “any given Saturday” thing kicks in for the Eagles.
Georgia State’s Coach Bill Curry shared this on Twitter on Tuesday…”Pleased with recruiting weekend results.Families bonded with coaches-current players did a great job hosting recruits.We have momentum”! Georgia State also announced this week that season tickets are now on sale for the 2010 inaugural campaign.
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!
Peach State Pigskin
I’m trying something a little different. My contribution to www.SouthernPigskin.com will be to once a week, shed a little light on the states other pigball programs. That’s right, Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern and maybe even a little Georgia State Panther action. Even though there is no Georgia State Panther action. Don’t hate me because it’s not all Dawgs, all the time.
As a Georgia guy, this season has been tough to witness. When I decided to do a blog back in the spring, I had no clue it would be this difficult to share my true feelings in a public forum. This was supposed to be fun. I am hopeful we can be successful this weekend against Tennessee Tech.
I am making no predictions, believe me.
Georgia will be without wide receiver A.J. Green because of an internal injury(lung) suffered at Florida last weekend. Joe Cox will remain at quarterback and try to regain some early season success. Caleb King is starting at running back as Washaun Ealey has struggled with pass protection responsibilities.
Now Georgia Tech is definitely on a roll, having outlasted and finally crushing Vanderbilt last weekend. Tech is getting back to their conference schedule with a very important game against Wake Forest. What the heck is a Demon Deacon? Anyhoo, Wake has not had a great year at 4-5, and no one save Miami has had an answer for Paul Johnson’s offense. Miami had the perfect combination of athletes, motivation and discipline to beat Tech. I’m not sure anyone else has that mix.
The Deacs will surely have to pick their poison, with Josh Nesbitt at QB, Jonathan Dwyer at RB and Demaryus “Bey Bey” Thomas at WR, Tech has many weapons. Thomas might be the most physical wide receiver in the country and yes that includes Julio Jones. With this group, Tech is averaging over 35 points a game and 440 yards in total offense each week.
I’ll say a little prayer for you Wake Forest.
Georgia Southern is struggling with a 4-4 record, having lost every other game in a see-saw campaign. This week they travel to Birmingham to take on Samford…Go Dawgs! Just kidding I had to say it. The GSU Eagle faithful are definitely not used to mediocrity and many are calling for a return of the old guard in a new coach; but there are other “options”.
Chris Hatcher is a great coach and had a lot of success at Valdosta State. In only his third season as GSU Head Coach, Hatcher has worked with an extremely young group, especially the last two years, but there is no reason he cannot employ the Hatch Attack in Statesboro, Georgia. Be patient folks!
Samford is 3-5, so maybe this week’s game will be just what the doctor ordered.
I am following Coach Bill Curry on Twitter to see how things are progressing in Downtown Atlanta and Georgia State. They scrimmaged in the Georgia Dome last Thursday and Coach Curry had this to say: ”Great enthusiasm in the Dome! We hit hard,ran to the ball well,completed a high percentage of passes,and kicked ..punted well.Good day overall”. Yesterday Curry mentioned the Leadership training the team is going through to prepare for the future:”Leadership Training-SMART/PREPARED-5th characteristic of champion is to prepare in ways the opposition is not willing to prepare”.
I think Georgia State football is in good hands.
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 .
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.
Ole’ Erk Russell had a saying…
Coach Erskine Russell had many, many sayings. You’ve heard alot of them, but did you ever here what he thought about preseason prognostication and it’s true worth in the real world? From 1977-1980, Georgia never had much in the way of respect or any predicted greatness . Each and every time some know-it-all with a type-writer(boy I’m old) wrote something less than glowing in their preseason rankings about “The Dogs”, he would always say, “Well men, you know what dogs do to poles(polls)!”
Awesome!
With everything being said about the upcoming season, including this from the AJC, it reminds me of just how little they really mean. I agree with Coach Russell, piss on ‘em! Of course, I believed that last year’s urinals were just as bad. UGA being ranked preseason number one was the kiss of death, and If I’d had a blog then, I would have said so. Anybody that knows me and asked me, got the same answer.
I heard some things last fall and I think that recent comments from thisyear’s leaders confirm that the high praise during the off-season undermined the team’s work ethic. I know for a fact, they did not work like a National Champions. Unless you are over-flowing with talent, and we were not, there has to be a certain hunger. Apparently, the Dawgs of 2008 did not have it.
This years crew just might. Barely being ranked in the top 20 would be great for some programs, not Georgia. But I’m glad it’s true. I believe it will continue to motivate an already motivated group. Above all else fellas, remember what Coach Russell said about polls!
I wonder what Eagles do to polls?
Tell me what you really think!