McCollum Comes Home
As I stated in an earlier post, my old friend and team mate Andy McCollum might be up for a position at the Trade School. He has indeed been asked to join the Georgia Tech Football Staff. He interviewed on Friday and the announcement that he had accepted the offer came this afternoon. McCollum will act as recruiting coordinator and could coach linebackers or defensive line, depending on who else is hired to flesh out the defensive staff.
I wish Andy well, but only to an extent. He can have all the success in the world in the ACC, but he should always remember.
WE RUN THIS STATE!
Red and Black Tuesday
I said it’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog! While the weather outside is indeed frightful, I feel warm and fuzzy inside because the history books will show January 5th, 2010 as (Red and) Black Tuesday.(Thanks AD). While my primary focus was on the Orange Bowl and Iowa beating Georgia Tech, the Hoop Dawgs were providing the appetizer by upsetting the 20th ranked B-Ball Bees, 73-66.
Once I was able to give the football game my complete attention, it was like a trip to Fogo de Chao. So much great stuff, you don’t know where to start. All you can eat, for one not so low price, but oh so worth it.
On offense, Iowa “pounded the rock” ala the Georgia Bulldogs and kept Tech’s offense off the field in the first half especially. Hawkeye QB Ricky Stanzi had a very solid game for someone that was coming off ankle surgery and had not played in a couple of months.
McCollum in the Mix?
Georgia Bulldog fans may or may not know the name Andy McCollum. I will explain shortly why you should. Andy and I both played football at Marietta High School and graduated in 1977. Andy was our quarterback and went on to play for the Austin Peay Governors. He grew out of the quarterback position and played tight end and even some guard before his playing days were through.
McCollum started his coaching career at Middle Tennessee and was there from 1981-1988, coaching all the skill positions on both sides of the ball and special teams at one point or another. From there he went to Texas-El Paso and coached linebackers/wide receivers and special teams from 1989-1993. Baylor hired McCollum in 1994 and Andy became defensive coordinator and associate head coach in 1995. This was when Baylor was good. Middle Tennessee State hired McCollum away in 1999 to be it’s head coach and Andy laid the foundation for MTSU’s present success on the FBS level. He is now wrapping up his third year as NC State’s linebacker coach.
Now, why am I talking about Andy McCollum? Because coaches at Georgia and Georgia Tech are talking to him. In recent days both programs have touched base with McCollum. Why? Because they know he’s a quality coach from Georgia that knows Georgia and recruits Georgia very, very well. Both the Dawgs and Yellow Jackets are looking to retool their defensive staffs although UGA has a head start in the process. Depending on how the DC scenario plays out in Athens, Andy McCollum might be a complimentary piece of the puzzle for the Dawgs.
I certainly hope so.
Great Scott!
Before you Georgia football fans go crazy, let me explain. I want to congratulate a Yellow Jacket. Their kicker. I met Scott Blair his junior year in high school. It was at a kicking combine testing young kickers for possible recruitment by colleges. Scott did well. So well, in fact he ultimately won the national kick-off competition and ranked high in punting as well.
Scott ended up walking on at Georgia Tech. He has started since his freshman year, but has struggled at times with his consistency. Half-way through this year he had not made a kick longer than 37 yards and had missed quite a few in the forty to fifty yard range. The previous bright spot this year had been a game winning kick against Clemson early in the year.
Well, whether Tech fans realize it or not, he beat Clemson again Saturday night. Kicking four field goals including a 28, 40, 48 and 49 yarder, a career long. Not bad. All the hoopla over a 4th quarter drive would have been a moot point without Scott’s performance. Congratulations, Scott!
The rest of you bees can bite me.
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
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!
Tech’s Johnson is a Huge One
Georgia Bulldogs Fans are the ones buzzing for a change today. Georgia Tech Head Coach Paul Johnson went on local sports radio and issued marching orders for Yellow Jacket fans who didn’t like the backlash of a year of dishing it out. “Develop a thick skin. If a (Georgia)guy is giving you a hard time, punch him in the face”.
Sound like somebody unaffected by getting his ass kicked?
I never liked losing either, but had enough personal fortitude to not lose my cool under pressure. He has repeatedly tried to downplay the significance of the instate rivalry with Georgia. It’s to his benefit to do so because he knows he will always be second fiddle. I don’t mind the idea of Tech not being intimidated by Georgia, but this is over the top B.S. and he should be reprimanded by Tech officials, but I bet he won’t be. Being intelligent does not make you an ass, but in Georgia Tech’s case, it sure does help.
If Only…
You might think the title of this blog is in reference to the Georgia Bulldog’s season. I will let others offer their opinions on that. A great deal of that is conjecture. I am going to write about what I know. When the Dawgs rose up and won the “State Championship” Saturday night, they relegated Georgia Tech’s season to just another pretty good season.
It matters not whether they win the ACC Championship and a subsequent BCS Bowl Game, 2009 will be remembered the year they could have had it all and blew it against Georgia. I am not trying to poke fun or mock the Yellow Jackets. I am dead serious. Even at 12-2, the “two” will loom large and the Georgia loss will always be a wound that no salve will heal.
Players and teams alike remember their failures just as much as their successes. If the Yellow Jackets don’t win against Clemson and then win a lesser Bowl, they will have a record of 11-3 and nothing tangible to show for a season that had so much promise.
Last week it was our seniors losing on senior night to a Kentucky team we should have beaten. This week, Georgia Tech had no idea what was in store for them. A Georgia Bulldog team that learned lessons from the self inflicted wounds of a year ago, made a conscious decision to play football. It showed from beginning to end. A complete game. If they wanted to play the role of spoiler, they did a great job.
No matter what happens, the GT players will always say…”If only we had beaten Georgia”, the 2009 season would have been great.
Yeah…If only.
“Saint Simons” is Just Sick
While the Georgia Bulldogs enjoy the spoils of victory in the WLOBB, that’s the World’s Largest Outdoor Bee Beatdown, many Georgia Tech fans felt a little out of sorts. TMZ captured the infamous “Saint Simons” calling in to work.
Throwback Thursday – Easy to Hate? Damn Straight…
Georgia Bulldogs fans will remember 1977 as one of the few losing seasons we have had to endure in the Dawg Nation. In fact, In my 50 years on the planet, UGA has had 7 losing seasons. Georgia Tech has had 15, just fyi. I have talked about my freshman year(’77) a few times. This Tech game could have been called the battle of the bogus. The winner would go 6-5, the loser 5-6. Tech won.
The reason for my post is not about what happened between the lines, but what happened in the stands and on the sidelines. Keep in mind, this was the last game of the year of course, and probably our fourth away game. Nothing we had experienced, prepared me for what happened that day, but some background first.
I think it’s important to say, I did not grow up a huge Georgia fan. My family had no loyalties to speak of. When my recruitment began, Georgia Tech was front and center and actually pursued me more aggressively than Georgia did. Memphis State was also in the mix, but was too far away for my liking. The point is, I went to plenty of Tech games as a recruit. Even so, I had no idea what was in store when one year later, I would return as a Georgia Bulldog.
From the very beginning we knew it was going to be a long day. The Georgia Tech student section was hurling insults and dog biscuits during the game. We had to wear our helmets the entire time or run the risk of getting hit in the face. We had already experienced our fair share of injuries, but the total would increase this day. Things got so bad, fellow freshman Scott Woerner, who at that point was mainly a return man, was taking snaps in case he had to play quarterback.
The seeds of hatred were sown in very fertile soil that day. Taking abuse from the likes of these nerds, who apparently had so much pent up rage from the repeated wedgies of days gone by, they couldn’t help themselves. This was their chance. To throw things from well outside of harm’s way, in the melting pot of humanity, obscure as ever. The fact that no one in authority, i.e. security/police did anything, lets me know that the lack of class went all the way to the top.
My only advice to you is this Tech fan. Enjoy yourself while you can, because your success against Georgia is the exception, not the rule. But then you knew that, didn’t you? If you win this weekend, you will inch closer to having a winning record against UGA at Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field.
Right now it stands at UGA 25…Georgia Tech 20…3 ties.
Go Dawgs!
Vespula Vulgaris
Hey, Georgia Fans! The common wasp or yellow jacket(Vespula Vulgaris) is a pest with a range of nearly the entire Northern Hemisphere. The fact that the center of their “vulgar” universe is Atlanta, Georgia is not lost on you Georgia Bulldog fans. For years the rest of the hemisphere knew very little of the problem, but now that the bees are swarming and ranked 7th in the BCS, the Orkin man is more popular than a Zeta on a …, well nevermind.
The nation is just now learning what the Dawg Nation has known for years. The “common” wasp is nothing more than the occasional pain in the ass. Mostly at picnics and other gatherings in the summer. You can find them congregating around trash cans, so keep an eye out.
Seldom does this annoyance linger into the fall. Last year was just such a prolonged nightmare. This year may be a problem as well, although anything is possible. Be patient, this too shall pass and they will fly back to their hole in the ground soon enough. Then all will be right with the world once again.
Historic Grant Field…
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.
Bee Huggers Come Out of Woodwork
Dear Georgia Bulldog Fans!
Can anyone recommend an exterminator? The recent rains have apparently forced a “nest of pests” out of the ground. I have never seen so many Georgia Tech fans in my life! It’s amazing how long they can lie dormant and still resurrect themselves in times of plenty. Let’s put our collective heads together and come up with an eco-friendly azz-kicking for them next week.
Thanking you in advance…RR
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.
Does Georgia Have the Right Tribe?
I was listening to 680 the Fan earlier and Paul Johnson was a guest. Yes, that Paul Johnson. The one that needs Industrial Strength Imodium….think about it. Anyhoo, the sports dudes were asking about Tech being on a great “run” the last few weeks and being almost unstoppable against FSU. After that they talked about their upcoming opponent Virginia Tech. Then Coach Johnson said something that caught my ear. In talking about being unstoppable, he was speaking in general but he invoked the Georgia Bulldogs as an example.
“It’s like people looking at stopping Georgia, he said.
It depends on what Indians are flinging the arrows”.
Wait. Did he just say what I think he said? My impression was that he was saying that our tribe does not have the warriors it once did. Did you hear him? Did you pick up something different? I have also read recently that Jim Donnan has been quoted as saying that our personnel is not the same as the first half of Coach Richt’s era. I think that is probably true, but I still take him with a grain of salt because those were “his guys” that were supposedly the better guys.
I am a firm believer that just because a guy is not an All-American, that doesn’t mean he sucks. But it is hard to look at our 2002 SEC Championship roster compared to now and not think there has been some drop off in over-all talent.
What do you think?
How ’bout dem Bees!
(((((((33-17)))))))) hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
It’s good to know that losing is always an OPTION!
Follow-up Friday
- For the answer to the question, “What is your Pregame Ritual? The acquisition of an adequate supply of beer was not just the NUMBER 1 answer, it was the only answer. I guess I forgot who my readers were!
- It’s Game Day Eve and I am about to bust for real. I think writing this blog and interacting with the Dawg Nation has heightened the anticipation for the season for me. Sort of a like..well never mind.
- The South Cracka-Lacky LameCocks and NC State WoefulPack were hard to watch…Don’t get over confident, though. Let’s stay focused next week so we can pound Spurrier into retirement!
- I am sooo glad that Oregon and Boise State shook hands before last nights game. Almost immediately after, they had to be separated due to trash talk and posturing near mid-field. I love it when I’m right! Oh yeah, an Oregon RB sucker punched a Boise State player who looked to be trash talking after the game.. Wow.
- I sincerely hope Richard Samuel is ready for a heavy work-load tomorrow. Caleb King’s hammy has been slow to heal and is not even going to Stillwater. I bet he will be at the Parkview or Greater Atlanta Christian Game tonight.
- Georgia’s defense is scary good when focused. Think Hawaii…I look forward to them being that defense tomorrow.
- Prediction for the Georgia Tech-Jacksonville State game….224-0….Paul Johnson will try and set a new Tech record. The Cumberland score of 222-0 has stood long enough.
- The Florida score? Who gives a….
Hillgrove QB commits to Tech
Georgia Tech may have have found another piece of the puzzle this week. Synjyn Days of Hillgrove High School has chosen the Jackets over Oklahoma State believe it or not. Hillgrove is a customer of mine and I have seen Synjyn play for several years. He is a tough kid. In fact, many schools were recruiting him to play defense, probably an outside linebacker or strong safety type. But Georgia Tech wants him at quarterback. There is a good reason.
Hillgrove runs a version of the option, similar to Tech and that means Paul Johnson may have someone that can take his offense to another level. That’s bad. What’s not bad, is Synjyn himself. He is a quiet unassuming kid that works hard and I can’t hate him for that. There are too few kids like him.
Congratulations Synjyn, I hope you have a lot of success and may you never ever beat Georgia.
Those Vainglorious Beesturds
I am so sorry, but I just could not resist. Is it not perfect? After winning the “State Championship” for the first time since 2000, you’d think that Tech had won an ACC Championship or a National Championship or something. The seniors of 2008 voted to put 45-42 on their Chic-fil-a Bowl ring? I can actually understand that. The 1990 Tech team won a share of the MNC, something unique in Tech’s history. The 2008 squad did something just as unique. They beat Georgia.
I found a very informative article in the Bleacher Report, published just two weeks after last year’s game. The writer was very prophetic in his guess that Tech would act as if this somehow put them on par with THE University of Georgia. That is a worthy goal to be sure, but a goal measured over years and years of success against the toughest of competition, the SEC.
Or maybe winning more than 12 games in 45 years against your in-state rival.
((((((((12-33))))))) – Hahahahahahahahaha!
Tell me what you really think!