Georgia Sports Blog: September 2007

September 30, 2007

Photos UGA vs. Ole Miss (Thomas Brown)

All photos by Jim Hipple. Click to enlarge for wallpaper sized versions.

Thanks to Jim Hipple for the pictures.

PWD

What if Munson had Called the Bama Game?

UGAMummaRa edited up a version of Munson calling the game winner at Alabama. It's a neat "what if".

Thoughts on Ole Miss a bit later.

PWD

Polls -- if I had a ballot

In the wake of so many upsets across the college football landscape, here is my 1 am stab at what my top 25 would look like.

1. LSU
2. USC
3. Cal
4. Ohio State
5. Boston College
6. Wisconsin
7. Oklahoma
8. USF
9. Florida
10 West Virginia
11 Georgia
12 Kentucky
13 Virginia Tech
14 Texas
15 Oregon
16 Rutgers
17 Clemson
18 Purdue
19 South Carolina
20 Arizona State
21 Missouri
22 Kansas State
23 Cincy
24 Hawaii
25 Nebraska

I can't believe how high I have UK and USF. I probably have KSU too low.

thoughts?

September 28, 2007

Hey Ladies!

We don't usually cover the soccer program much here at the Georgia Sports Blog, but the team had a big victory tonight. For the first time ever, Georgia soccer beat the Gators, two goals to one. Head coach Patrick Baker was, by his own admission, hired from Florida State to help remedy Georgia's 0-16-1 record against Florida, among other reasons. Baker has the soccer team off to their best start since 1999. Congrats to the team and keep up the good work.

They don't get to enjoy the win, though. No. 12 South Carolina comes to Athens Sunday.

(Image: Georgia Sports Information Dept.)

Quinton

SUCK IT GATORS! How does retroactive defeat taste!

I take back every negative thing I've ever said about Dennis Felton. I just totally forgot that we actually won the SEC Basketball Tournament back in April. And here I was thinking that we were savagely beaten by Florida in the second round.

HOORAY! WE WON! SUCK ON THAT GATORS!

Wait? What? We did lose? I'm so confused! Well....why is the Rivals.com online store selling Championship T-Shirts and hats if we didn't win? Did someone hire George O'Leary to run the merchandising programs for the Dawgs?

PWD

ht - dawgrun and rivals hoops board

Bryant Denny Wallpaper: Peace Offering for Bama Fans

IronChefTurducken took this shot from the cheap seats in Tuscaloosa. I'm mainly posting it here because it's such a quality shot. Click to enlarge and get the wallpaper sized version of Bryant-Denny Stadium at night.

PWD

Happy Birthday, Larry!

Happy birthday wishes go out to Larry Munson, who turns 85 today. We hope you go fishing today and hit a movie tonight with twenty co-eds. After all, tomorrow looks bad since we can't win against Ole Miss because our defensive backs are too small, our front seven can't tackle BenJarvis Green-Ellis, and we will always be driving into the wind. 85 is old, but we hope there are plenty of seconds left on the clock for Larry.

Quinton

Ole Miss: What to watch for?

More Bailey, please. (image: Hipple)

Basically, Tony Barnhart asks the question that is on everyone's mind. Will UGA be ready on Saturday? We're faster, deeper, stronger and more talented than Ole Miss. The Rebels are a team that has only four wins against BCS teams since Orgeron arrived:

Last year, we were a couple of calls in our favor away from being in an incredibly uncomfortable situation with the Rebels at the end of the game. We came out flat and the offense and special teams played incredibly poorly last year as we were still in transition between QBs.

This year, there is no ambiguity offensively as it relates to who our QB or star performers are. Georgia is playing with confidence overall, and we have momentum going into the game. We simply need to come out wide awake and obliterate the Rebels. But will we?

Things I'd like to see:

Balance is great

asked in his blog

Basically, I want to see us come out and really set the tone for next week. We need momentum going into Knoxville because we're facing a wounded animal next week that has had an off week to get healthy and regroup.

As a friend of the blog stationed in Knoxville said, (paraphrase)"There are 10 coaches up here fighting to keep their jobs and put food on their table. If Georgia wins this game, UT's season may unravel and folks are going to get fired. We have to be ready to match their desperation fueled intensity."

What are you looking forward to seeing?

See Also:
-- Trap Game! - Get the Picture (great Dooley impression included)
-- Q&A with Bobo - Ching
-- The Ole Miss Running Game - DawgsSports
-- The Ole Miss Passing Game - DawgSports
-- Changing at the Guard - ABH

PWD

September 27, 2007

2nd Annual "Do It For Broph 5K Run/Walk"

(From John Bateman, UGA Athletic Department)

Sunday, October 14, 2007
8:00am - 11:00am
Check in @ Stegeman @ 8 am & the 5K starts @ 9 am @ the Rankin Smith Center

Thursday, July 20, 2006 was a very tragic day for the Brophy family, and for the Bulldawg nation. Kevin Brophy, then a rising Junior on the Georgia Men's basketball team, was killed in an automobile accident near Greensboro, Georgia. Broph was a beloved leader of the team. His optimism, friendship, and leadership will forever be missed; however, his legacy and story will continue to live on.

In the Fall of 2006, the University of Georgia founded the Kevin Brophy Memorial Basketball Scholarship in Kevin's honor. Thus, the "Do It For Broph 5K Run/Walk" was born. All proceeds benefit the Kevin Brophy Scholarship Endowment Fund.

Please join us for the 2nd Annual Do It For Brophy 5K Run/Walk on SUNDAY OCTOBER 14, 2007.

Please contact John Bateman for entry forms. (jbateman@sports.uga.edu)
Both entry form and race fee of $15, due by October 8 (fee includes a t-shirt).
Check-in @ 8 a.m.—Stegeman Coliseum (Ticket booths 1 & 2)
Start time @ 9 a.m.
Rankin Smith Center

Mail entry forms and checks to:
Georgia Basketball Hoop Girls
John Bateman
P.O. Box 1472
Athens, GA 30603

Facebook Event Info

YouTube Ole Miss Week

The obvious: Col. Reb is Crying.

Old Miss band playing Dixie in the Grove last year. That's my drunk ass shooting the video, singing and laughing in hysterics. The Ole Miss fan next to me slapped me on the back after it was over and said, "You sure do like our fight song." I winked and replied, "Buddy, it used to be the fight song for all of us." For the longer version Ole Miss band pre-game highlights in the Grove (without my laugh track), try this.

Also check out Coach Orgeron's Blog => EverydayShouldbeLemsday

PWD

Bowl Projections: SEC and ACC

Will Moreno lead the Dawgs to the CapOne Bowl? (image: hipple)
Here are my projections...

National Title: USC vs. OU
LSU has to play the Gators twice, and the Big XII is really down this year. It looks like the Sooners have the easiest path and the Trojans have one of the better teams. If there are three undefeated teams, I think WVU is screwed.

Rose: Cal vs. Wisconsin
Orange: Boston College vs. Florida
Fiesta: West Virginia vs. Texas
Sugar: LSU vs. Ohio State

Citrus: UGA vs. Penn State
Outback: Kentucky vs. Michigan*
Cotton: Alabama vs. Nebraska

Peach: Arkansas vs. Clemson
Gator: USF vs. Virginia Tech**

Music City: Virginia vs. Tennessee
Liberty: South Carolina vs. Southern Miss
Independence: Auburn vs. Texas A*M

Champ Sports: Iowa vs. Miami
Meineke (Tire): Rutgers vs. FSU
Emerald: GT vs. UCLA
Boise: Maryland vs. Hawaii

See Also:
-- ESPN Bowl Projections
-- Sportsline Bowl Projections

*Note: Chris Sullivan is the founder and chairman of Outback Steaks. While no longer Outback's CEO, he's still a long time power broker in the Tampa area on both the business, economic development and sports scene. He's also a UK grad. If the Wildcats make it to 8-4, I expect them to make Outback Bowl. It would be their first trip to the game since the '98 season.

**The Gator has a deal with the Big 12 and Big East which allows them to select a Big 12 member instead of a Big East member twice every four years. The catch: If the Big 12 has one member in the BCS, the Gator can make the first non-BCS pick to play an ACC team. However, if two Big 12 teams are in the BCS, the Gator wouldn't get to pick a Big 12 member until after the Cotton *and* Holiday Bowls have selected a team.

PWD

September 26, 2007

Across Football: Rumors and Momentum

Looking around college football....(pardon the lack of external links. the internets are not cooperating with me today)

Texas A&M and Coach Fran
Watching the TAMU vs. Miami game last Thursday, I was struck by the complete lack of preparation the Aggies seemed to show. The first thing that jumped out at me was the Aggie DBs tapping their helmets in the first quarter for their subs to come into the game. Seriously? You're that poorly conditioned that you can't make it through the first drive without a blow? The next thing you noticed was the nonsensical decision making. Clock management, play calling and player utilization looked baffling. The Texas media has joined the Aggie fan base in asking incredibly difficult questions of Coach Fran. No way that he makes it to next year.

Gundy's Rant
By now, you've seen OSU Coach Mike Gundy's world class rant against the local reporter/columnist who dared criticize OSU QB Bobby Reid. First off, I've read the columnist's article. I thought it was the sort of bush league innuendo driven article that you would see on a petty, small minded blog or message board. It quoted almost no one and made numerous references to "rumblings" and "rumors." I hope that I wouldn't run an article that weak on this site, and I've got zero credibility to begin with. In other words, I think Gundy was justified in being pissed.

HOWEVER, there is a time and a place for everything. As a coach, you don't go into a post-game press conference following your team's biggest win in years to throw a tantrum like this. All the post-game discussion has been about the article and not the impressive win his team landed. Second, if you're going to attack a reporter, you've got to do it either (A) behind closed doors in front of her editor or (B) in an extremely well thought out fashion. Gundy did neither, and he came off as a half cocked loon. It's not the coaching equivalent of Howard Dean's scream, but it's just as confidence inspiring. Update with all relevant links.

Notre Dame
At what point does their epic implosion stop being a story? I record ESPN College Football Live everyday, and I enjoy it. Other than Mark May's condescending tone and the cross promotional Disney, Inc. stuff, it's pretty solid. I've also enjoyed the daily ND updates just b/c the attention their misery generates humors me. But at what point does the 0-fer streak stop becoming a story? My guess: Never. The story will simply shift to one of "When does ND grow impatient with Weis and his blustering?" I think the Irish's struggles make Washington/Willingham fans of us all.

USF
On Friday, the South Florida Bulls will take their shot at West Virginia in front of a sold out Raymond James Stadium (their first in history). Consider the bowl possibilities for College Football's newest player:

Orange Bowl: If they win the game Friday night, they've got the inside track on the Big East title. An Orange Bowl bid isn't automatic, but just the thought of these guys rising up so quickly to play on their state's biggest stage is amazing.
Gator Bowl: A second place finish in the Big East could land the Bulls in Jacksonville. Possible opponent? Miami. You think the state wide media wouldn't have a field day with that one.
Meinke Car Care (Tire) Bowl: USF could end up here against someone like FSU. Again, it would be an incredibly entertaining draw.

Within the SEC, the most interesting team to watch this week is probably Alabama as they take on FSU in Jacksonville. It'll be interesting to see how the Tide handles the let down. I'm expecting a 60/40 pro-Bama crowd for this one.

Oh...and the New Orleans paper asks..."Who does LSU get if Les Miles goes to Michigan?"

Disagree?

pwd

September 25, 2007

Your Moment of Zen: The Law of the Forest

HT - DeadSpin (and it's worth reading their article on it simple for the commentary and comments). The Kansas City Wolf protects his turf.

PWD

Dear Wallace Gilberry

Before the game, Alabama defensive lineman Wallace Gilberry said the following:

Gilberry was asked about Stafford. He said he didn't know a thing about Stafford, but said to ask him after the game. "[Then] I can tell you anything you want to know. His birthday, his telephone number, his home address. I will know," Gilberry said. When asked why he would know so much at that point, Gilberry replied, "I've got to know where to send the flowers."

In light of that, The Dean (no really...a Dean from a well known University outside the SEC) sent me the following Thank You Note on behalf of Matt Stafford...

Dear Wallace,

Thank you for the lovely flowers you sent this afternoon. You didn't have to go to all of that trouble, since we didn't really get that acquainted last night.

Sorry I didn't stop to say bye at the end of the game. I just got caught up in the excitement of the moment. I apologize for my rudeness.

Have fun in Nashville at Christmas.

You friend,
Matthew

Comedy. On a completely unrelated note, you should check out the post-game article from Walter Geiger. Walt is the editor of the Barnesville Herald and Gazette. He wrote about his religious experience on Saturday Night in Tuscaloosa. Good read.

PWD

September 24, 2007

Empty Bleachers

First of all, if you haven't been to Tuscaloosa, you need to go. The Dawgs and Tide play classic games there. Their fans, despite their mixed reputation, are great. Every Bama fan that I talked to was very cordial, even when discussing what was going to happen that night. After I stopped cheering for a while because my wife said I was being "obnoxious," several Bama fans encouraged me to keep yelling for my team. Even after the game, they really didn't say anything other than we had played better and deserved to win. I doubt we would be as gracious after a swift kick to the guts like that.

The Bama fans were right. Despite the drops, despite the missed kicks, despite the spotty play at times, we should have won that game big. Bama played a bad first half and we couldn't seem to make them pay for it like we should have. I thought the Tide woke up a little bit in the second half, but we still had our opportunities. We're young, we're still inconsistent, but the trend line is headed up. The receivers didn't drop the ball, despite his shortcomings Chandler made a clutch catch when we needed it on the final drive in regulation, and I thought our young defensive backs played well. I know Bryan Evans got burned on that deep route on Bama's final drive, but Jones and Allen had their moments of brilliance.

There is nothing sweeter than a big SEC road win, especially one you gut out at the very end. When there are only a few sections still left in the stadium as "Glory, Glory" blares out and you're left alone with the rest of the Dawg people, it's a feeling that is transcendent and hard to match in the realm of sports. It is also a feeling that has now become common under Mark Richt, but it shouldn't devalue the experience. It never gets old.

Quinton

Scott Howard's Call with Video

UgaMummaRa has posted the video of Mikey Henderson's catch with Scott Howard's call.

Thanks to one of our readers who sent me the high quality audio of the call that I forwarded to UgaMummRa for the video. Check his other videos.

PWD

SEC Power Poll Ballot

Another week of games makes it much easier to vote my ballot. No one really wants to grab the third spot, but the pecking order is getting clearer.

LSU - Didn't dominate the Cocks, but still muddled through a win against a ranked team in adverse weather. Can cruise to the big showdown against the Gators.
Florida - An average to below average performance on the road against Ole Miss wasn't that unexpected after the big win over UT. Tebow!!!
Kentucky - The 'Cats now have two legit wins, one at home and one on the road. The Louisville win is tarnished, but a road win in the SEC is always tough.
South Carolina - No shame in losing in Baton Rouge, but they still need wins to stay in the top 5.
Georgia - Big win in Tuscaloosa almost got away. The Dawgs better not overlook Ole Miss before another road test in Knoxville.
Alabama - Played a bad first half and looked spotty in the second, but fought back only to lose it in overtime. So goes John Parker Wilson, so goes the Tide.
Tennessee - Ate a cupcake, but defensive issues linger. Get a week off to prepare for Georgia.
Arkansas - All the little things go wrong for the Hawgs. But, every game left on their schedule is winnable, except LSU.
Mississippi State - Sly's offense showed signs of life against a cupcake, but will need a big weekend in Columbia.
Auburn - Let New Mexico State hang around for a half before Fannin took over.
Vanderbilt - Off last weekend.
Ole Miss - Another moral victory for Coach O. You get the feeling Ole Miss is due for a big win, but they just can't seem to get it.

Thoughts?

Quinton

Still Man Enough: Georgia vs. Bama

Official Post-Game T-shirt (Click to Buy)
First off, God Bless Mikey Henderson. Now, some rambling thoughts from Saturday night.

The Good:

Counter Punching: The hardest thing to do when punched in the mouth is to get back up and throw another punch. When Alabama tied the game 10-10, the Bulldogs immediately responded with a long TD drive. When the Tide tied the game 20-20, we again immediately drove down the field without flinching. To counter punch a physical team like Bama on the road is a very good sign for the program's future.
Guts: Our defensive ends and linebackers were completely worn out in the fourth quarter. You couldn't completely see how tired they looked on TV, but from up close it was evident. When Andre Smith leans on you for 60 minutes, it takes its toll. Richt's timeout with around 3 minutes left wasn't just to let the defensive "regroup" as Todd Blackledge pointed out on television. They flat out needed a blow. Richt, Fabris and Martinez were constantly encouraging them to dig deep for just a few more plays. Great show of guts by those guys to keep digging. I didn't think we could get a three and out in Overtime with them so tired, but they did it. Like I said last week, tougher team wins it. Our guys were just flat out tougher.
Offensive Line: Georgia started three freshmen offensive linemen on the road in front of 92,000 blood thirsty fans, and they didn't give up a sack. Incredible. Granted, the Bama defensive line isn't the greatest we'll play this year, but the work that Coach Searels has done with this group is amazing. By the way, I found out that his name rhymes with "girls" or "squirrels" not "quarrels." (Per his extended family)
Linebackers: Washington and Ellerbe made a bunch of plays, and they showed much more aggression and violence than in weeks past.
Sean Bailey: He is quietly having a great year. I see a lot of clamoring for Knowshon to get more touches (which I'm all for) over Thomas Brown, but Saturday their stats were almost the same. Where is the screaming for Bailey to get more catches? He's dropped two this season, but so what? He's making more plays than any UGA wideout since Reggie Brown's senior year. Get this guy the ball!
WR blocking: Mo Mass absolutely crushed Bama's best CB early in the game. He's another guy having a quiet yet effective year.
Kickoff Coverage: our best job of stopping the return that I can remember in years.
Asher Allen: Allen made some real whiffs on the tackling front in recent weeks, but that wasn't an issue on Saturday. His tackling was so strong that Martinez used him on corner blitzes to offset Bama's stretch running plays behind big Andre Smith.

The Bad:

Painful TE Drops: I don't want this thread to turn into a Tripp Chandler bashing fest because I don't think that's a fair response to a game that we won. But as Richt said in his Sunday press conference, Chandler has to improve. Or someone else needs to play.
Killer Penalties: The penalties we earned on offense were brutal, and the ones we didn't earn (but still got flagged for) like the pass interference call on the uncatchable ball in the fourth quarter nearly cost us the game. We have to play smarter than that.

The Ugly:

Overall:

I've been to Tuscaloosa three times ('94, '02, and '07). Each trip has been just that drama packed. Their fans were great, the environment was amazing and the rain mostly held off. Everything great about college football was on display for the world to watch. I'm loving our chances for a 10-2 season entering the bowl. Let's get Haverkamp healthy, destroy Ole Miss and head up to Knoxville for a a shot at a fourpeat.See Also:

Scott Howard's Call

Stafford's moment in T-town

Dog Pile fun, but Hairy

Sunday Teleconference Transcript

PWD

September 23, 2007

Bama thoughts a little later, but start with this...

Image; Rob Carr AP/AJC.com (for full photo library)

Kevin Scarbinsky is a columnist for the Birmingham News. He wrote a lengthy article in today's paper about last night's game which is mostly a love letter to the future of the Alabama program. However, the end of the article is a gem for Georgia fans. Excerpt:

We should've known the first reality check of the Saban era would happen in his house with Mark Richt as the special guest. If you're having a party at your house, do not invite Richt. Don't do it. Not under any circumstances.

He will spoil the party. He will step in your flower bed and wipe his Nikes on your carpet. He will clean out your fridge and leave you with a very empty feeling.

Of all the football coaches of all the teams in all the world, none walks into a hostile environment and owns the place like the Georgia coach.

Whether he closes practice from start to finish the week before or not.

Richt has taken Georgia into a true road game 26 times and returned home with a win 23 times. One of those road losses came to the 2004 Auburn team that went undefeated. Another came to the 2003 LSU team - coached by Saban - that won the BCS title.

So you have to be really, really good to beat Richt on the road.

Helluva game.

PWD

Tickets for Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vandy Games

As an FYI, there are plenty of tickets available for the Ole Miss vs. Georgia home game starting at slightly above face value. If you've got extras to sell for this one, Stubhub.com can help you.

There are seats available for the trip to Knoxville on Oct. 6th for the Georgia Bulldogs vs. Tennessee Vols as well.

And Stubhub.com has seats starting at below face value for the Vanderbilt vs. Georgia Bulldogs game in Nashville on Oct. 13th.

I also want to thank all of you who have bought and sold tickets via our Stubhub affiliate already this season. I really appreciate it.

PWD

September 22, 2007

Fulmer and Tuberville Fark

Sent in by Boehm.

September 21, 2007

Mark Schlabach on Munson (a must read)

This is a keeper of an article.

Have fun in t-town.

Oh...and Wallace Gilberry can eat a turd.

Bama Bangs, The Hush, and Bourbon Throws

As an exiled member of Bulldog Nation, it is always a big deal when I get to travel to an away game. Because of my current location, the easiest games to get to are those where the Dawgs travel west to play an SEC West opponent. This means I've been to every SEC West venue and have picked up a few things along the way. I'm heading to Tuscaloosa this weekend and wanted to give those of you who maybe going there for the first time a heads up about a few things.

1) Bama Bangs - As detailed by Clay Travis, there is only one hairstyle for Alabama males under thirty. It's Bama Bangs, here demonstrated by John Parker Wilson:

When I was in high school, I admit that I wore the Bama Bangs. At some point though, the hair begins to either annoy the wearer's forehead or it causes insurmountable neck problems from the constant head swinging/flipping used by Bama Bangers to adjust their hair without touching it. UGA frat boys have a version of Bama Bangs they often wear, but UGA Bangs are usually cut before they completely cover the wearer's eyebrows. This weekend, when someone yells at you about your red pants, tell them their bangs are bangin'. It is highly probable that they are head flipping at that very moment.

2) If you have tickets in the Georgia section, be glad. It would seem that one of the traditions of the Alabama student section is throwing their bourbon drink when the Tide scores. A crucial touchdown elicits a shower of amber liquid and plastic cups. Is it that easy to get large quantities of alcohol in the stadium?

3) I've attended a number of Alabama games in Tuscaloosa and I'm constantly amazed at the lack of emotion when the crowd leaves a game. You really can't tell if they won or lost by looking at the fans walking down those long, circular ramps. An Alabama friend of mine called it "The Hush." To me it sounds like some sort of fan purgatory, constantly expecting victory so that when it arrives it is not a cause for joy, so that the only surprise is defeat. I suppose the expectation of eternal glory is every Bama fan's notional birthright, but from the outside it seems a bit sad that they can't really enjoy an unexpected win. Let's hope they don't get a chance to prove me wrong after Saturday's game.

There are a few serious things you need to see in Tuscaloosa:

The Bear Museum - A holy shrine to all things right and good about the Crimson Tide.
Denny Chimes - It's the trademark building of Alabama's campus. To give you an idea of where the priorities in Bama are, the sidewalks below the Chimes have the hand and cleat prints of all of Alabama's football captains.
The north entrance to Bryant-Denny Stadium - This is the new addition to the stadium and it is palatial. The area outside the addition is an homage to former coaches who brought glory on the Tide, including the Bear (he's a big deal there). Bama does their rendition of the Dawg Walk here called the "Walk of Champions" (That name isn't so special because Ole Miss has a Walk of Champions too).

For those of you headed to the game, have a safe trip and Go Dawgs!

Quinton

Q&A with a Bama Blogger

Terrence Edwards vs. Bama 2002 (Image: Dawgbone.net)
Yesterday, we swapped questions with the folks at RollBamaRoll.com. My take on the game is here and Doug from HeyJennySlater talks about the game here.

Below you'll find my questions and their answers:

PWD: Are you concerned about a psychological let down after the ARK win?

PWD: What are you most worried about Georgia doing to Bama?

PWD: What are the keys to a Bama win?

See Also
-- My Comments on the Game for the Wizard of Odds - Wiz
-- Bama Smack Talk List - DawgBone.net

PWD

September 20, 2007

The Bama Bomb Revisited: A rose by any other name...

Matt Tovrog

As discussed here, The Cherrishinski is the Official Beverage/Food of Doom(TM) for the Dawgs. It has been the subject of numerous blog articles, a podcast from the Realist and JMac as well as a profile in the AJC. Backstory for any newbies to this site:

In his book Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, Warren St. John talks about traveling with some Alabama fans who invented a drink/popper called the "Bama Bomb." The Bama Bomb consists of cherries marinated in golden grain alcohol for a period of weeks or months.

After the 2005 UT game, Dawgnoxious took a large jar of cherries and marinated them in a Golden Grain/Makers Mark mix. The creation debuted Friday night before the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. We all made a pact that if Georgia (quarterbacked by Joe T) won the Gator game this hellish creation would forever be known as "The Cherrishinski."

We lost the game, but The Cherrishinski reappeared for the Auburn game that same year. Another loss. JMac and The Realist tempted fate and added it to their tailgate as profiled in the AJC in 2006, and it foreshadowed the debacle at home vs. the Vols. A loss they are unwilling to pin on their fruity friend.

A full jar of Cherrishinskis now sits in the basement of Butts-Mehre as described by Dawgs-N-Suds.

Why bring this up now?
Well, we've dabbled with some quasi similar creations at our tailgate including The Cherry Hoage which seems to vary from week to week in recipe, but somehow involves Makers Mark and Cherries (without the aging process).

And now, TheUnknownStuntman (a regular commenter on this site) has proposed the rebirth of the Cherrishinski as:

"The Knowshon Moreshino."
First, brilliant name. But I wonder if we're tempting fate here? Is the margin of error for the Bama game wide enough to support a venture so close to its ill fated predecessor? With a name that good, we need some kind of drink to go along with it.

Agree? Disagree? Suggested new recipe?

See Also: (most from 2006 post-UT loss)

Whither the Cherrishinski

Long live the Cherrishinski

Pivotal Moments You Didn't See

An Attack from All Fronts

Don't blame tiny fruit. Blame the US Army

"And we invite all in the Dawgosphere to drop their disdain for the grain-alcohol-soaked delicacy and enter a new era of love, harmony and spiked, tiny fruit." - JMac

"We'd still be eating Cherrishinskis if Willie Martinez blitzed more." - IronChefTurducken

PWD

GT's Rambling Wreck and the Georgia Sports Blog

As regular readers of this site know, two Georgia Tech students crashed the rambling wreck back in June of this year. In the days immediately following the crash, the Techies attempted to hide the smashed vehicle and keep their treasured tradition away from the public eye.

The Georgia Sports Blog offered a $100 bounty for the pics. The pics were delivered within days by the Macon Telegraph. Anyway...CSTV profiled the rebuilding of the car in a segment last week, and the Georgia Sports Blog was featured.

NOTE: because of technical problems for Mac users, I've eliminated the embedded link to the video. To watch the video, go directly to the site here.

HT - Kerri W. of CSTV for the link.

PWD

Reason #106: Why we need to win

The ~~penultimate~~ panultimate ball buster cheer.

pwd

(NOTE: I knew I butchered the English language with panultimate exactly how I meant to. Penultimate isn't what I meant at all. So much for listening to you grammar gurus. I destroy the English language for a living. )

Munson Update: His second game away from the Mic in 41 years

There are couple of articles on Larry Munson floating around today. First off, Josh Kendall talks with Larry about his latest frustration. Apparently, the night game vs. Bama will screw up Munson's long time plan of listening to his first UGA game over the radio while sitting in a boat fishing. Chip Towers has a similar article, and David Ching has the transcript from Munson's teleconference about this weekend.

NowPublic.com talks about the process of slowing down and beginning to say goodbye. The story is great because it recaps much of Munson's career, and it includes some historical tidbits on the man that I had forgotten.

And the OnlineAthens Paper talks with Scott Howard about being nervous for Game 1 without Munson. They even have some video up on the topic. See below:

PWD

September 19, 2007

Georgia's Knowshon Moreno Photos (By Jim Hipple)

I'm telling ya...Jim Hipple should be Knowshon Moreno's personal photographer. Check out these pics from the Georgia Bulldog's first three games.

Georgia vs. Western Carolina

UGA vs. the South Carolina Gamecocks

Dawgs vs. Ok State Cowboys

As always, you can click on any of these images and get a much large view of Jim Hipple's work. To quote someone on facebook the other day..."I don't want to thinkshon or hopeshon. I want to KNOWSHON."

PWD

September 18, 2007

The Tracking Device is in Richt's Tooth!

Nick? Is that you?

Georgia has closed down practice to all persons not closely affiliated with the football program this week. The media has reacted with 1) puzzlement, 2) mild resentment, and 3) accusations regarding accusations of spying. The attenuated logic that Saban once worked for a guy who spyed, therefore Saban must spy, is lighting up the media this week. This is what Saban's reputation has wrought. He's so hypercompetitive that he will employ any method to win that the Alabama athletic department can afford: spy satellites, invisibility cloaks, or a fleet of Africanized honeybees with tiny cameras attached to their thoraxes. I guess the logic isn't that far off as Saban was accused of trying to steal calls from the Pats last year, but Richt was accused last year too. Some reporters cite Searles as being a possible source of Richt's anxiety because he knows what lengths Saban will go to in order to get a win. While the concern may be real, this whole thing seems like a lot of trouble and risk for the chance that you might know what play is coming.

Frankly, I like the move. You shut down one possible advantage your adversary might employ. It should increase the feeling of isolation and focus during practice. And, the writers shouldn't complain that much because all they get to see is warm ups and special teams anyway.

Whether you believe the move is a result of spying concerns or not, the timing of the move is great. We've got a young team going on the road for a pivotal game before a large audience. It's a great way to get that attitude of us against the world that seems to work so well for visiting teams. Most writers say this is a red herring and spying is the real reason for increased privacy because none of the players seem to have realized that practice was closed.

Whatever the motivation, Richt seems to know what he is doing for road games. Until last year's loss at Kentucky, Richt had lost two true road games, one to an eventual national champion and the other to a team that went undefeated that year.

Quinton

Orson Swindle's New Book: Guide to Psycho Fan Behavior

Orson Swindle, of the legendary EverydayShouldBeSaturday.com blog, has co-written a book edited by Warren St. John for ESPN. Warren is best known for his exceptional work on the Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer book. Orson is best known for exceptionally funny, off the wall writing about college football. Oh...and Verne Lundquist name dropping his site.

The book is called the "Guide to Psycho Fan Behavior." The book description from Amazon.com:

Guaranteed to raise your performance to a truly insane level, ESPN Guide to Psycho Fan Behavior is packed with professional tips, informative illustrations, and real-life "fanecdotes." Learn how to kidnap a mascot, the best way to swipe a home-run ball from a bleacher bum, and how to keep running after getting Tasered. With sideline reporting and expert analysis from CollegeHumor.com writers Amir Blumenfeld and Ethan Trex, and from Spencer Hall—who writes the blog Every Day Should Be Saturday—this one-of-a-kind survival manual is the surest way to guarantee that you excel in every game situation: home or away, rain or shine, front row or nosebleed seats, or strapped down in a rubber room at a mental facility.

Orson says the book includes how-to tips for:

I haven't read it yet. I'm still jockeying for a free copy (hint, hint, hint, hint). But if you read Orson's web site regularly, you probably don't need a vouch from me. I'll review it after I get the free copy. (hint, hint, hint, hint)

PWD

How bad are things in Auburn?

The Tigers are 1-2 with losses to South Florida and Mississippi State, two programs better known for failure and poverty (respectively) than for football domination. The State of Alabama media and the Auburn bloggers are in rare form over the loss:

Leaking more oil than the Exxon Valdez - Paul Finebaum
Tuberville playing Silly Games - B'Ham News
Hanging in the Balance - B'ham News
Losing Season Likely - Huntsville Times
Ships Passing in the Night - B'Ham News
Tough Decisions to Make - TurnerLoose
Did Tubby get Croomed? - AU's Fanhouse
Dixieland Disaster - Track 'Em Tigers
That's my Purse - Joe Cribbs' Car Wash (my favorite)
Croomed! - From the Bleachers

The Aubies are within an eye lash of being 0-3, and they still have the following games remaining (Road games in Bold):

New Mexico State (W) - a chance to get Kodi Burns some QB reps before UF
at Florida (L) - A near certain loss
Vandy (W) - A chance to regroup after the UF thrashing. Although, Vandy is better than Miss State, and it's another likely early start which Tuberville fairs so poorly in.
at Arkansas (Toss Up?) - AU didn't stop ARK last year. Why would they this year? At best a toss up.
at LSU (L) - A beat down of epic proportions seems likely.
Ole Miss (W) - they can wipe away the shame from the trip to Baton Rouge
Tennessee Tech (W) - a chance to get healthy before Athens.
at Georgia (Toss Up?) - Given their ownership of our facility, this is a toss up. We'll know more about UGA around midnight on Saturday.
OFF WEEK
Alabama (Toss Up?) - anything can happen in a rivalry game, but this looks tough for AU.

The LSU and UF games look hopelessly out of reach for the Plainsmen right now. That brings the loss total up to four. They have to win one of three against UGA, Arkansas and Bama just to avoid a losing season. They have to win two of the three to have a winning season and even make a bowl as nice as the Independence Bowl. A 6-6 record gets these guys shipped off to Detroit, Birmingham or Boise.

Why would I even write about this during Bama week?
All the negative press for Auburn hasn't gone unnoticed in Tuscaloosa. Almost every negative article about Auburn is a also a love fest for Fighting Sabans. The compare and contrast nature of last weekend is unavoidable. If there were ever a week where your opponent might be "reading his press clippings" this is it.

Momentum favors Bama this weekend against the Dawgs. But so do the distractions.

PWD

(Image: AL.com)

World's Largest Dingle-Berry

Memo to WVU's Rich Rodriguez: Consider assigned seats during games.

[Pic:West Virginia's Dingle-Berry hang together.]

HT: Deadspin

September 17, 2007

UGA vs. Ole Miss Kickoff at 1:00 pm (No TV)

ATHENS, Ga. --- The Saturday, Sept. 29, SEC football game between Georgia and Ole Miss will kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET.

The game was not selected as part of the SEC television package so it will not be televised live. The game will be delay telecast on CSS as usual. A six-day option was exercised but does not affect the Georgia-Ole Miss game. The television lineup for SEC teams that day:

Source: UGA

PWD Note: It's the first game I can remember in a while that we've played an SEC game that wasn't televised. Anyone remember the last time that happened? (Update: lots of examples below including 2 from last year)

ESPN College Gameday in Tuscaloosa?

DawgBone.net says ESPN College Gameday will be in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. I haven't seen confirmation yet, but I imagine they'll be there. It's the second best overall game of the day in terms of match-ups (#22 at #16), and it's the highest rated game on the ESPN/ABC family of networks. If I were the producer of the show, I'd be in Tuscaloosa.

If someone has confirmation, please post a link in the comments section.

Update: Confirmed. (Thanks)

Pre-season, I thought they would be in Michigan for the UM vs. PSU game. Obviously, that game has lost some sex appeal. My Gameday Predictions are now 2-2.

PWD

Site Performance Issues - Making this thing faster

The front page of the Georgia Sports Blog has ballooned to more than 600k with all the pics and what not. That's way too big, and it's slowing down performance a bit for some of you with weaker connections. There hasn't been any complaining yet, but I think that's mostly b/c the site's content loads faster than some of the graphics. Regardless, I've noticed the slow down.

If you access the site from DawgBone.net or an RSS reader, you probably haven't noticed the problem. A single page / article should still load incredibly quickly.

Last week, I started shrinking the site initial size of the post-game photos a bit to help with this problem. It improve the speed some, but I'll probably shrink them even more next week. That should fix it. You'll still get to see Jim Hipple's pictures in their full file size by clicking on them, but the thumbnails will be smaller.

Go Dawgs. Beat Bama.

Paul Westerdawg
Georgia Sports Blog

September 16, 2007

Photos: Georgia vs Western Carolina (Defense)

All photos by Jim Hipple. Click to enlarge.

Kade Weston

Asher Allen and Ellerbe

~~Gino~~ Geno Atkins

Ellerbe

Most of the defense

T Money

All photos by Jim Hipple. Click to enlarge.

PWD

SEC Power Poll Ballot

The Power Poll ballot is getting more and more difficult to fill out. It looks like to me we have three strata of teams. The first two spots are simple. LSU and the Gators have separated themselves from everyone else. It's spots three through eight that are so difficult. This second tier has teams that have a loss or two, but have units that should make them contenders for New Years Day bowls. But, they also all have flaws that can cost them games. Even the last four spots are debatable.

1. LSU - Looking like a machine after their second and third strings dismantled a cupcake.
2. Florida - Who cares if your defense may be suspect when you score 59?
3. South Carolina - Will get a huge test Saturday. Like Arkansas last week, they're at No. 3 by default largely. Their defense is good, but I'm just not sold on their offense.
4. Alabama - Beat a good team after letting the game get away from them. They look like they're getting better on offense each week.
5. Kentucky - Biggest win ever for the 'Cats? The defense held up enough to win.
6. Arkansas - DMac was his usually self, but penalties and strange playcalling cost them another game at the end.
7. Georgia - Sluggish win over a 1-AA school. This team is inconsistent and young, making it difficult to gauge them. Needs a win in Tuscaloosa to keep any hope in the East.
8. Tennessee - UT is good enough to win out, but they're defense looked like swiss cheese against Tebow & Co. Offense wasn't much better.
9. Vanderbilt - Big win over the Rebs.
10. Mississippi State - Upset win on the road is just what Croom and the cowbells needed. Their offense is still terrible.
11. Auburn - Two straight losses at home. Good defense, but you have to score to win. Can Kodi Burns throw it, because Cox can't.
12. Ole Miss - Lost at Vandy because they couldn't stop the 'Dores. Defense needs a lot of work.

Alright, rip it up.

Quinton

Under the Alabama Stars

According to David Ching and Rivals.com, the Dawgs and Tide will play at 7:45 on ESPN this Saturday night. This seems like the logical choice for CBS, as Paul predicted. CBS opted for Shiny Pants against LSU.

I'm excited about the ESPN game. First, it's more tailgate time in one of the SEC's best locales. Second, I like Todd Blackledge calling the game. Despite our hate for him due to his part in one of Georgia's most disappointing losses ever, Blackledge seems to know what he is talking about and generally makes good points. If only Uncle Ron would come back to the 7:45 slot for ESPN. Mike Patrick I can do without.

Quinton

September 14, 2007

Munson at the Movies

CSTV checks out Larry Munson's movie group.

PWD

Light posting today

Working to get out of here and head to Athens.

September 13, 2007

Dawgs on TV - Satellite Update

For those of you outside the state of Georgia who want to watch the Dawgs this weekend, ESPN Gameplan will carry the game. As the map above illustrates, if you're in Georgia, you should be able to order the game from your local cable company. For DirecTV subscribers, the game should be on channel 781. For Dish Network subscribers, I don't know what channel it is on because Dish Network's website is only showing channel lineups for last weekend.

Richt's Record at Night

(Preface: I know better than to do a post like this without the aid of the media guide. I'm doing it all from memory. So we can argue about my facts at the end)

The more I think about it, the more I think we're going to play Bama at night in Tuscaloosa. I've seen several folks on this site say, "Oh no. Road night games are tougher." Or something similar.

Did you know that Georgia has yet to lose a night game on the road under Richt? His only night time losses away from Sanford Stadium have all come in neutral venues (BC '01, UF '02, LSU '03 in the SECC and WVU '05). Overall his only losses in an opponents home stadium are all daytime games (UK '06, AU '04 and LSU '03).

Richt's Road Record Overall at Night

Our night record under Richt at home:

One third of Richt's 18 losses have come at home after dark. Roughly another third have come to the Gators. Just some random tidbits.

BTW -- Heard a rumor of Ole Miss at UGA with a kickoff of 9:00 PM (ESPN2) on September 29th. I checked out the schedule, and it's certainly possible.

PWD

September 12, 2007

New Sites of Interest for You

I've gotten quite a few requests for links from various sites. Here are some that might interest you. Others later. Work calls.

Three new(er) sites to check out:
-- SEC RoadTrip -- CSTV
-- Youtube Football Highlights -- TouchdownTube.com
-- SEC spreads -- The Dead Guy's SEC Site

Four Posts to Check Out:
-- 5 things you'll see vs. WCU -- DawgSports.com
-- Adjusted Wins -- 5 Tool Blogger
-- Mascots Gone Wild -- Larry Brown Sports
-- Fark This! (UM vs. ND) -- DeepSouthSports

PWD

Inside the Stats: UGA vs. South Carolina

Willie Martinez (Image: Jim Hipple)

I noticed on the message boards and in the comments section of this blog some heavy blame for the loss coming Willie Martinez's way. I'm the last guy to tell you our defense doesn't have areas that need improvement, but I took a closer look at some of the stats.

In some ways, the stats emphasize what the scoreboard says...if you only allow 16 points, you should win. The stats also point to more problems with our offense than defense by a long shot. But let's look at the numbers first.

(Preface: "Meaningful Drive" is my own term. It simply means all the drives of the game except the single play knee downs to end of both halves South Carolina. All other stats are driven off the concept of "meaningful" drives. Thus the "*"):

	UGA	SC
Total Offense*	341	320
Meaningful Drives*	12	11
Total Plays*	81	66
Yards / Play*	4.2	4.8
Yards / Drive*	28.4	29.1
Plays / Drive*	6.75	6.0
3rd Down Conversions	3-18	1-11
"Three and Out"	2	3

Stats can obviously be misleading, but some things jump off the page. First is the third down conversion stat. I had no idea that we held them to 1 of 11 on third down. Also, I was shocked to see that their average number of plays per drive and average number of yards per play was virtually identical to ours overall.

However, when you remove the statistical outliers of their biggest offensive play (McKinley's 31 yard reception) and our biggest offensive play (Moreno's 49 yard run) here's what you get for yards per play:

If you're only getting 3.65 yards per play for most of the game, that's simply pathetic. Our QBs, WRs, OL and offensive coordinator need to mature in a big hurry because against the SEC's best, that's not going to cut it.

The defense isn't all sunshine obviously:

Time of possession on meaningful drives was roughly a 1 minute advantage for UGA. So our defense shouldn't have been as dog tired as they looked at the end to my obviously untrained eye.
Three of the five longest Gamecock runs of the night came on the first three plays of the their final possession when UGA was mystifyingly in a nickel package. After those first three runs (totaling 38 yards and basically putting us in a horrible field position and cutting our comeback drive's chances way, way down), Martinez pulled the extra DB out, brought Brandon Miller back into the game and rolled a Safety towards the line of scrimmage. From there we stoned them. My question: What the heck did Coach Martinez think they were going to do with 4 minutes left and a 4 point lead?

Should Willie catch as much grief from this one as he has? Personally, I'd say "no." It was still just 16 points.

In my opinion, we lost because we couldn't move the ball, and we didn't make plays when it mattered most. The big coaching blunders were (in no particular order):

The 4th down rooskie call. There's a reason Richt has never called that play on 4th down. Bad call by Bobo. But it's not why we lost. Just a glaring thing that didn't go our way.
Going to the nickel at the end in a clear running situation for SC.
Really bizarre substitution patterns in the 4th quarter at WR. As Buck Belue said last night on the CSS Dawg Report show, (paraphrase) "Why is 5'8" Mikey Henderson running a fade route in the end zone against a 6'0" cornerback. That's Massaquaoi's play to make." We need our play making wide outs in the game in the right formations with the game on the line."
Coming out flat. In my opinion, they looked very flat in the first half. Richt also felt that this was the case based on his post-game comments

It isn't the first time that we've come out flat, and it won't be the last. Bear, Neyland, Erk, Carroll, Spurrier, you name it....all coaches have teams come out flat from time to time. It comes with having 18-22 year olds on scholarship. But it doesn't make any fan less annoyed.

In spite of all the negative, we were still just 1 or 2 plays from winning the game. In my opinion, it's not a talent problem this season. It's a maturity / execution problem. We are exactly what Richt said we were preseason. A young, talented team that should be really good later in the season. The entire question is will they get experienced enough, fast enough to avoid falling into a hole early that's too big to climb out of later.

I thought this was a 9-3 season before. Still do.

See Also
-- Play by Play - ESPN
-- Drive Chart - Yahoo Sports
-- Box Score - ESPN

PWD

Dawgs on TV - Sept. 12 to Sept. 19

This week's UGA related viewing options are:

- College Flash Classics - SportSouth - Wednesday (9/12) at 5:00 PM - Dawgs bite the defending national champion jackets.

- South Carolina at Georgia - ESPNU - Thursday (9/13) at noon - Relive the football equivalent of a Chinese Crested; the dropped passes, the missed tackles, the field goals!

-Western Carolina at Georgia - CSS PPV - Saturday (9/15) at 1:00 PM - Georgia looks to get well against the Catamounts who gave up 45 to Eastern Kentucky. Beware the sun as the dreaded 1:00 kickoff doesn't let you have too much fun before the game and zaps your strength for postgame revelry. Replays: Presumably Monday on CSS at noon and 9:00 PM. NOTE: Evidence abounds that this game is on ESPN Gameplan for those viewers outside of Georgia, but there is one significant omission. ESPN has the Gameplan logo next to the game, but DirecTV hasn't assigned it a channel or even listed it as part of this weekend's lineup. I'll try to keep you posted when I find out anything further, including a channel for DirecTV folks.

-The Mark Richt Show - SportSouth - Sunday (9/16) at 1:00 PM - Coach Richt breaks down the game. Replay: 7:30 PM. The show may air in your local market at a different time and different network.

Quinton

September 11, 2007

Western Carolina Tickets

FYI -- Stubhub has UGA vs. WCU tickets below the printed face value of $40 (I think that's the printed face value anyway...it was for SC). Even lower level tickets. Yeah, you could do better on the bridge, but you wouldn't get to pick the seat in advance. It's your call. Just presenting below options to you.

PWD

Observations from the Weekend: Across football...

1. Michigan vs. Notre Dame - Pillow Fight Alert!
Kicking these guys when they're down is good times. Notre Dame could justify losing to a solid, fast Georgia Tech team at home in Game 1 with rookie QBs. They could spin losing on the road with a FR QB to a quality Penn State team. But losing to a hapless Michigan team at home without Henne? Will Weis' elongated honeymoon finally end? If you have three recruiting classes under your belt, and you can't field a competitive team, your coaching staff has massive holes in either talent evaluation or development. This game reminds me of some sort of Lumber Jack match from the early 80s in which neighboring jobber programs like Illinois, Indiana and Northwestern surround the sidelines and refuse to let either Michigan or Notre Dame leave the building without someone stepping up and winning the game. Winner takes on Boozy Suzy for the PFL world title.

2. USF vs. Auburn: BOOOOOO!
I'm not sure I've ever heard a chorus of boos for the home team like the end of regulation on the Plains. (From memory) Tuberville had around 40 seconds and two timeouts left when Brandon Cox was sacked with the score tied. Rather than take the timeout and advance the ball down the field, he elected to basically sit on the ball for overtime. Brandon Cox is some sort of AJ Suggs without the pedigree meets Joey Harrington without the flashy smile meets Reno Hightower without the kickass body repair shop.

3. LSU vs. Virginia Tech: Damn. Just. Damn.
VT lost this one when they announced the start time of 9:15 EST. When your QB is afraid of ~~large fast cajuns~~ crowds, lining up against the Tigers in Death Valley for a start this late really isn't humane. If Miles can keep anything near that level of intensity across the SEC schedule, the league is in for a world of pain.

4. Ohio State: Michigan Who?
Who woulda thunk it? OSU is probably more concerned with a road trip to Washington than the season ender vs. Michigan. I'm pulling for Willingham because (1) his success creates comedic parallels to Weis (2) He's playing Cheaty McSweaterVest (3) he's a milk drinker. UW is a 4.5 point underdog. That seems generous for OSU fans regardless of how much I want this to be a close one.

5. Louisville: Offensive defense
After watching MTSU score 42 on Lville, I can't help but like UK's chances vs. the Cardinals in Lexington. The SEC is a slaugther house this year.

6. The ACC sucks: Again
Miami and VT got the hell beat out of them by Oklahoma and LSU. FSU looked like a high school team for about 55 minutes vs. Clemson. Tech is coached by Gailey and Clemson by Tammy Bowden. Could the best team in this league really be BC? Wow.

7. Hawaii: Don't trifle with the Dooleys
It's an up and down week for Hawaii's chances of backing into the BCS this year. The overtime battle with La. Tech will cost them votes as the season goes on. But Washington looks to be a team that could give them a quality test if UW's momentum holds up against their brutal schedule.

What were your observations across the broader football world?

See Also:
-- Don't Bet on it (around the SEC) - DawgSports.com
-- Different types of Losses - HeyJennySlater (very funny)

PWD

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