Is it football season yet?

DawgBone.net has all sorts of encouraging football headlines. Give it a read today.

PWD

Did the basketball team get the memo?

I recommend: "Scream Therapy"
Did Felton and the players get the memo regarding last night's game? The one that clearly stated:

We were playing the 2 time defending national champs.
We were playing the Gators.
A win could've ignited a post-season run of some variety.
That their coach's job was on the line.

It certainly didn't look like it.

While I have been critical of Felton this season in many respects. I have defended him in one key area up to now. Until last night, I really felt like his players were still fighting for him and/or each or other.

From my seats watching it up close and personal, I felt that all parties pretty much rolled over last night. Granted, the officiating stunk. Granted, we're banged up. Granted, the Gators are good. But I'm pretty sure that we were a two point favorite last night. Vegas didn't build all of those bright shiny buildings by being woefully out of touch with reality. Yet, we didn't really compete.

Felton described it this way to the AJC:

"Tonight we looked like a team that had hit some sort of wall," said Georgia coach Dennis Felton, clearly befuddled about what he had witnessed. "We were just sluggish and a step slow to most every and in all parts of the game. ... We were slow to loose balls, to rebounds, to stopping drivers. Offensively we were sluggish and hesistant. It was that sort of night for us all around."

That was almost as pathetic as the final two weeks of Jirsa's Death March towards unemployment. And it warrants mentioning that Ron Jirsa -- who was a complete boob -- did in fact make the post-season BOTH years.

Per Sundiata Gaines

"We did come out playing flat," acknowledged senior co-captain Sundiata Gaines. "We had no effort, and we were real tentative on offense. Florida's not a great defensive team, and that's the most disappointing thing about it. We had a lot of opportunities, and we really didn't take them. We really showed no emotion, no effort."

"Just because guys aren't playing to their potential or giving their all doesn't necessarily mean they're quitting," Gaines said. "As a team we just have to understand we have to play hard to have a chance. With the team we have, we have no other alternative. Other teams might be to take a few possessions off, but we can't." (emphasis added)

The season rolls on.

See Also:

-- UGA Hoops: If I only knew how to quit you - GSB 2006
-- Dawgs Hit Wall vs. Gators - DawgPost
-- Dawgs Fall Flat -- UGASports
-- Building Frustration - ABH
-- Struggles Continue - AJC
-- Well...at least we're consistent - VegasWatch

PWD

Georgia vs. Florida Tonight in Hoops

Don't forget that UGA takes on the Gators tonight in basketball at Stegeman. Actual tip-off time is 7:36 pm; however, the game will be broadcast on CSS via tape delay at 10:00 pm.

Leading up to the game, the Athens Banner-Herald has an article about Bliss' strong year. Apparently, his back is healthy for the first time, and the results are paying off for him. In conference play he averages 8.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 25.8 minutes. (source: ABH)

On the other end of the spectrum, Chip Towers of the AJC points out that the final five games of the season (including the SEC Tourney) are Do or Die for Felton. I agree that Felton needs wins in the worst way imaginable.

He actually needs three more wins this season to avoid coaching two of the three worst UGA teams (based on number of wins) since Hugh Durham arrived in 1979.

See Also:
-- Losses tough to get used to - Macon Telegraph

PWD

Braves Open Spring Training With Dawgs

The Braves open their spring training this afternoon with our Georgia Bulldogs. The Dawgs dropped their series with Arizona last weekend, two games to one. Despite the losses, the team played well.

Arizona was ranked #1 and started their ace pitcher, All-American Preston Guilmet Friday night. Georgia continued their tradition of battering the opposing ace and jumped on Guilmet with four runs in the first. They held on to win 9-7. The other games were losses, but encouraging.

Our starting pitching held up well, but the bullpen faltered down the stretch. Sunday's game was going well until Arizona had two big innings and got just enough out of their bullpen to win by a run. Although they are 1-2, the team has nothing to be down about. Gordon Beckham and Ryan Peisel both had impressive performances at the plate this weekend. New second baseman Michael Demperio didn't have a great offensive series, but on the first out of the season had a sizzling put out, ranging for a ground ball that looked like a sure hit and throwing the batter out. Our middle infield is solid.

The team has all the ingredient to be good: sound hitting, good front line pitching, speed, and an elite closer. The schedule may not let that mix translate into wins in the short term. The first two series are killer.

In keeping with tradition, the Braves have invited the Dawgs down for a game in Florida. I wonder what Josh Fields will feel like if he faces the Braves. Fields turned down a contract from the club last year and opted to return to Athens for his senior year. I'm sure the club harbors no ill will, but Fields will no doubt be eager to show the Braves why they should still want him. Fields, by the way, hit a home run and recorded a save Friday night. The Braves will start Charlie Morton and former UGA catcher Clint Sammons is likely to play.

After the game with the Braves, the team heads to two-time defending national champion Oregon State for a weekend series. A win out west would be good, two would be fantastic.

Quinton

Knowshon Moreno 2007 Highlights

The soundtracks for these files do not use the "radio" version songs. In other words, if you're at work, listen with the volume off. Uploaded by hoodgangsta001


See Also:
-- Knowshon Moreno Black #24 Jersey

PWD

Fark of the Day

Hat Tip: Hunkering Hank


(Update: Don't blame the Georgia Sports Blog for the spelling. It's Fulmer's advertisement. That's how they spell it in Knoxville)

.

Dawgs Lose to Vandy in Hoops

Image: Georgiadogs.com

Georgia played tough for the first half, and the Bulldogs held a 1 point lead at the break. But the open three pointers that the Dores missed in the first half found their intended destination in the second as Georgia was beaten by 12 in Nashville.

The Positives:

• Gaines continues to play very well. He didn't have the second half that he wanted, but it was still a strong performance. 24 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and three steals.
  
  
• Billy Humphrey played like his old self. He had 15 points on better than 50% shooting.
  
  
• Albert Jackson had arguably his best game as a Bulldog. He pulled 9 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks and zero credited turnovers against only one foul in 25 minutes.
  
  
• I have often criticized Felton for his use of timeouts. He used them at the proper times in this game, and he made every attempt to slow Vandy's momentum. Obviously, it didn't work, but he didn't sit on this hands while Rome burned.

The Negatives:

• Felton's overall, regular season SEC record is now 25-51 in almost five full seasons. His home SEC record is 20-18, and his road SEC record is 5-33. He has two true road wins against NCAA Tourney Teams in five years (UK in Year 1 and ARK last year).
  
  
• Woodbury continues to play to the wrong side of "in control." When he focuses on taking a quality shot from the arc or working his way inside, he plays with above average results. But when he rushes shots and rattles recklessly towards his opponents, he's a train wreck. He is averaging one turnover per 11.9 minutes of game time. That's the worst margin of his three year career. If he could be brought under control, he could be a much more consistent weapon for Georgia.
  
  
• The Technical Foul was pointless. He had only gotten a warning up to that point. Why was he still complaining about a warning? It's Vandy. Everyone knows the box and court are shaped funny. Plus, it's Ted Valentine. You know Valentine is a douche ref so why give him a reason to screw you? All you had to do was keep quiet about the "sideline warning" or whatever it was called. Not that it mattered in the end. It was just annoying. I agreed with the TV announcer. That one was probably just the stress of the season getting to Felton.

See Also:

-- Georgia falls below .500 - AJC
-- Dawgs lose in Nashville - ESPN

PWD

Ace Recruiter Neil Callaway Brings in the Heavy Hitters

Neil Callaway, former UGA offensive line coach and current UAB head coach, closed out his second recruiting class a few weeks ago with a blistering finish. Callaway signed 14 high school players and 11 junior college prospects. According to the Birmingham News

"The Blazers' signing class is not highly ranked. Scout.com ranks it 104th overall and last in C-USA. The rankings were slightly better by Rivals.com but UAB was still 101st overall and tied for ninth with UTEP in C-USA.

Callaway said he's not concerned with rankings and he is optimistic that this class will help next season."

In Callaway's defense, he has a proven, unmatched eye for talent. He had the vision to see that Pro Bowler Marcus McNeil wasn't worth a scholarship at UGA, and that about a half dozen kids with one functioning shoulder and/or leg should be locked up as early as possible in the recruiting process.

This is his second back-to-back Top 100 recruiting class at UAB. Indeed, we'll miss his eagle eyes and smooth talking sales pitch in Athens for sure.

PWD

Dawgs on TV - Feb. 24 to Mar. 1

Tomorrow's games are outlined in last week's post. The listings for the week ahead:

Sunday - February 24
-The Dennis Felton Show - 1:00 PM on SportSouth - Replays: 7:30 PM and Monday at 6:30 PM.

Monday - February 25
-Georgia v. Florida - men's basketball originally played on February 9, 1993 - 4:00 PM on ESPN Classic - Gators win at home by 3.

Tuesday - February 26
-Florida v. Georgia - men's basketball originally played on March 4, 2003 - 1:00 PM on ESPN Classic - Jim Harrick, despite the chaos erupting around his program, coaches the Dawgs to an upset of #3 Florida on a Jarvis Hayes jumper with seconds remaining.

Wednesday - February 27
-Florida v. Georgia - men's basketball - 10:30 PM on The Sunshine Network (Delay) - We're left with trying to burst the NCAA bubble of our rivals. UF is athletic, but young, and we might be able to pick them off in Stegeman.

Thursday - February 28
-The Suzanne Yoculan Gym Dog Show - 4:30 PM on SportSouth - Replay Friday at 11:00 AM.

-Georgia v. South Carolina - women's basketball - 7:00 PM on Fox Sports South - Andy and the girls probably don't have to have this win for the NCAAs, but it wouldn't hurt their resume. Plus, losing to South Carolina in anything is shameful.

Friday - February 29
-LSU v. Georgia - men's basketball originally played on February 8, 1991 - 3:00 PM on CSTV - Shaq and LSU nip the Dawgs in Athens.

Quinton

Add this to the list of things Tech Men can't do

The list of "Things Tech Men(sic) Can't Do" gets longer every day. We have published reports that address critical issues like...

• Can't Count to Four - See Reggie Ball circa 2004
  
  
• Can't Beat Georgia without Cheating - See last 17 years
  
  
• Can't go to NCAA Compliance Class - See 1960-2005
  
  
• Can't Win 9 or 10 Games Consistently - See Dave Braine
  
  
• Can't Beat Georgia without Ralph Friedgen - See last 22 years
  
  
• Can't Find The State of Atlanta on Map - See Joe Hamilton
  
  
• Can't Sell Tickets without Free Hot Dogs - See last 100 years
  
  
• Can't Hide 100 Pounds of Weed in his Dorm - See Reuben Houston
  
  
• Can't touch a boobie - See last 200 years

And now we add...

Can't engineer a roof - See The Rain Out

I mean seriously...a helluva, helluva, helluva rain out? Stegeman may have its flaws, but we don't play in the rain. Engineering geniuses my ass. The roof project must've been one of Stephon Marbury's projects when he was in school. Oh. Wait. He was never in school. My mistake.

PWD

License Plates, Lady Vols, and Burlington Coat Factory Salesmen

A few oddball stories caught my eye today. First, the Georgia Legislature is again embroiled in controversy about college athletics. This time its those logos on state license plates. The noble lawgivers in the House voted overwhelmingly to stop selling Georgia license plates with out-of-state school logos on them. This move is the only logical choice after UF alums got Gator license plates approved by the Georgia department of motor vehicles. If Florida alums can have a Georgia plate, then it's time to shut the whole operation down. The ban extends only to those schools in states that won't allow Georgia schools on their license plates, which is basically everywhere but Tennessee. This whole thing is silly, since you can basically get any logo you want on your Georgia license plate. The state just wants your $25 fee. Is it me or does the Georgia legislature just not know how to let things go? I mean I get it and I guess I like the spirit of it all, but don't those guys have other things to do?

Candace Parker, Lady Vol superstar, is skipping her senior year to go pro. I think that's a first for women's basketball, but I'm not sure. Is the WNBA that lucrative?

Lastly, if you want to be the AD at LSU, please submit a resume. It doesn't matter if you have no experience in sports administration or even upper management. Besides the actually qualified applicants, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports that a "mortgage loan officer in Georgia," a "self-employed fitness coach," and a "former Burlington Coat Factory salesman" have already applied for the job.

Quinton

Another year for Felton?

I'm not here to call for anyone's head or bang on the desk and ask for changes. But I do hear the question being asked...just like you do...will Felton be here next year?

Before answering that question, it's important to understand the bigger picture surrounding Felton's contract. Prior to this season, Felton was given a contract extension through the 2010-2011 season. He was given the extension because it's almost impossible for basketball coaches to recruit with only two or three years left on their deal. They need around four years on their contract so that recruits can buy into the idea that their coach will be there for their entire tenure.

This season (2007-2008) was the first year of that four year deal. There are only three seasons left after March of this year. If Felton gets another year (2008-2009), then one of two things must happen at the end of next season:

1. He must be fired for lack of progress.
or
2. He must get another 3-4 year contract extension and pay raise.

We simply can't have him lingering in purgatory. The early signing day for 2009 recruits is in November 2008. If Damon Evans and Michael Adams elect to keep Felton after this season is over, he would be touring the country this off season trying to sign kids like all-everything Derrick Favors, with only two years left on a deal after the kid's enrollment date. That means the 2009 recruiting class will be tricky.

The questions for Damon Evans and Michael Adams seem to boil down to these:

1. What does success look like in 2008-2009?
What would he have to do next season to convince them that he's a long term solution worth a contract extension? Does he need to make the Sweet 16? The NCAA Tourney? The NIT? Does he need to sign Favors? What would be "enough" to keep him and invest more heavily in him?

2. Is success obtainable?
Given that we're losing arguably one of the top 3 point guards in UGA history, and the team's best player, scorer, rebounder, assist man and stealer in Sundiata Gaines....given that there's no proven shooter on the team next year to stand beside Billy Humphrey and nail shots on the frequent occasions when Billy is off....given that the front court will still be very young...given that Felton's squads have only won 5 SEC road games in 5 years...how much better can the 2008-2009 season really be?

If Damon and Adams think that Felton can meet their bar for a "successful" season next year, then they may give him another year. If they don't think that he can get it done next year, then we're only postponing the rebuilding process by waiting to make a move.

I don't know what's going to happen, but I do know that Michael Adams fired Ron Jirsa and Jim Donnan for a helluva lot less than these types of results.

Hopefully, Felton strings together several big wins and quiets the grumbling. Otherwise, the toughest personnel decision of Damon Evans' tenure is on a very short horizon.

PWD

Football Signees Get Up

Below I present UGA cornerback signee Brandon Boykin throwing it down. Boykin is a candidate for best dunk in the AJC's annual high school dunk contest, but the video below shows a variety of Boykin's dunks. At 5'10", Boykin may be a bit shorter than the ideal corner, but as you see he oozes athleticism. A forty inch vertical is NBA/Boss Bailey caliber hops.



It's a good thing too since he will be defending guys like A.J. Green, our uber wide receiver signee, in practice.



When I was at UGA, the intramural basketball tournament champions the only year I played started Hines Ward and Robert Edwards in the backcourt. Looks like the football team will be favored in that tournament as long as Coach Richt keeps recruiting guys like this.

Quinton

Top SEC Plays of the Year Series

Get the Picture is running a series of articles recapping the Top 10 SEC Games of 2008 2007. They recently unveiled #7 on the list....UGA vs. Bama in the overtime thriller.

In a couple of hours, the hoops team takes on UK in Rupp. In case that doesn't go well, you could always seek solace in this football video:

PWD

It's An Even Number Year, So Book Your Trip to Omaha

Baseball season starts Friday and it should be an exciting season for UGA baseball if this trend holds up:

2003 - no postseason
2004 - College World Series participant
2005 - no postseason
2006 - College World Series participant
2007 - no postseason

On paper, the Dawgs have the ability to get back to Omaha and uphold the trend, but the schedule is rough. The strength of the team is a veteran weekend pitching rotation of Stephen Dodson, Nathan Moreau, and Trevor Holder. All three have SEC starting experience and have shown they can pitch in the league. Jason Leaver and Nick Montgomery, if healthy, should provide quality depth. Both can start and both can relieve.

The big hammer for the Georgia staff is Joshua Fields. After a dazzling 2006, Fields took a serious step back last year, blowing six saves. He pitched well at times, but was not the consistent lights out closer of 2006 and 2005. Look for Fields to be back to his usual dominant form this season. Baseball America named Fields to their preseason All-American team, even if it was the third team. Plus, it sounds like Fields will get some at bats as a designated hitter this season.

The offense will be anchored by shortstop Gordon Beckham, a first-team preseason All-American. Beckham hit for power and average last year, belting 13 home runs, 19 doubles, and knocking in 51 runs. The steady Ryan Peisel and outfielder Matt Olson will back up Beckham at the plate.

There is also a mystery to keep your eye on this year, too. Texas transfer Michael Demperio will start at second base for the Dawgs. Demperio was a high school phenom who spurned a host of schools to sign with the Horns. His first season was a struggle though and he is now back home in Georgia. He was a heralded hitter in high school, but Demperio is also a great defensive player. He and Beckham should be fun to watch and make up one of the league's best defensive middle infields. The question is can he hit college pitching?

The schedule is a beast, especially early. This weekend, the Dawgs open at Foley Field against preseason #2 Arizona. Then, they play the Braves next week. Then they go to two-time defending national champion and preseason #7 Oregon State the next weekend. If we can come out of those two weekend series at 3-3, we'll be looking fine. Other nonconference games of note include Clemson and the Georgia Tech games. This is all before the SEC schedule which features conference preseason favorite Vanderbilt and South Carolina, but avoids SEC West favorite Ole Miss.

The Dawgs have the players to make it to the postseason. Our baseball team has been inconsistent for sure, but there are abundant promising signs at Foley Field. Rivals.com says we shouldn't stink too bad and our early signing period recruiting class was awesome. Like basketball, there is no reason that we can't be a consistent conference power, if not national power. Unlike basketball, though, the baseball team should make it to the postseason this year.

Quinton

Of indoor practice facilities and rising ticket prices

Anyone that has read this site for a long time knows that I am completely and totally opposed to building an indoor practice facility for football. My biggest reasons are:

1. We don't play indoors. So why would we practice there.

2. Results indicate that we clearly do not need it for recruiting.

3. The weather simply isn't that bad here. Studies have shown that we'd used it less than 6 times per year.

4. Getting soft practicing in unrealistic conditions.

5. Other athletic department needs vs. the costs discussed. "Mark Richt wants one" is not a good business reason to build one.

In spite of all of that I'm not opposed to staying ahead of the broader curve when it comes to meeting space, locker rooms, weight rooms training areas, etc for our coaches and players.

Therefore, I think the new proposed $25 million expansion of the Butts-Mehre building is a reasonable investment when taken in the broader context of the Facilities Arm Race gone mad college athletics environment. The AJC describes the expansion:

Plans call for the back, or north, side of the Butts-Mehre building to be built out into a nearly 44,000 square foot expansion that would extend the training room and strength and conditioning areas, and house a 10,800 square-foot multipurpose area. Phase Two would include the construction of football offices, lobbies and display areas on the second floor.

The multipurpose area will feature a floor of synthetic grass over which a hard floor could be placed through automation. It will include a full kitchen to host events, team meals and recruiting engagements.

The facility will provide enough room for the football team to run some drills or conduct walk-through practices. However, both Adams and Evans emphasized that the Butts-Mehre expansion does not take the place of Richt's continued requests for an indoor practice facility.

So it's not a full bore practice facility, but it'll meet some of those practical needs. The investment reminds me of the Basketball Practice facility investment. Having toured that facility, I can tell you that it's much less about having two gyms for the hoops programs to practice in. It's more about the locker rooms, training spaces and offices that present the program in a first class manner.

The new Butts-Mehre expansion builds on our legacy investments in those areas for football, and it addresses some immediate practical needs. It also allows for a much more functional and less expensive practice facility to be built in the future.

As far as timing...they are going to have a dedicated fund raising effort for this building. In other words, construction won't start for at least two years. If I'm Damon Evans, I start with the NFL lettermen on this one.

Lastly, the ticket price increase made total sense to me. To quote someone on a message board. If we're getting 90th percentile results on 50 percentile ticket prices, that's a hell of a deal. Agreed.

PWD

Black Jerseys Back in Stock: Moreno And Stafford

FINALLY. Our store has black jerseys in stock for Knowshon Moreno and Matthew Stafford. Get them while supplies last.

PWD

The good and bad from the UT hoops game

Image: Georgiadogs.com

Some rambling thoughts on Georgia's three point loss to the Vols.

The good:

• Outrageously good effort. Felton has clearly NOT lost the team. Some of them may or may not like him (who knows and who cares), but they are still playing hard. That's impossible to ignore as an attribute in Felton's favor. It would be very easy to lose the kids at this point. Maybe it's more of a credit to Gaines. Who knows. But they haven't rolled over on him the way the kids did in Jirsa's last few games.
  
  
• Gaines is playing his nuts off. 23 pts, 9 rebs, 8 assist, 3 steals.
  
  
• Zac continues to progress.
  
  
• Price. 10 points, 5 rebounds and only ONE turnover. Sadly, he did have 4 fouls, but more progress from him.
  
  
• We had a shot to win it.
  
  
• We only took 16 three pointers and I'd say at least 12 were high quality looks.
  
  
• Lofton is a senior.
  
  
• The Vols didn't have more than about 1,500 people in attendance. As expected. Dantlzer said they had 9 full sections on the radio. I got into the gym and it was maybe 4 or 5. Then again, what do you expect from him?

The Bad:

• Ajax is playing stone cold terrible hoops right now. 18 minutes, 2 points, 3 turnovers, 4 rebounds, 3 fouls and umpteen dropped/mishandled rebounds. I sincerely believe that Singleton might have had better hands.
  
  
• When Bliss is in the game, he plays pretty solid. But picking up those quick fouls and making us play AJax more is a killer.
  
  
• The new fangled concept of executing inbounds plays continues to escape our team.
  
  
• The entire last 1:40 was a train wreck. Once again, we drag around and blow an absurd amount of time on consecutive possessions sandwiching a UT possession with 40 seconds left where we neither foul or play pressure defense. That stuff makes me want to pull my hair out. Who knows if we win if we manage the game better at the end or not. Probably not. But at least give yourself the best opportunity for success.
  
  
• They don't give trophies for "Most Moral Victories" nationally or in SEC play.

Overall:
It's not Felton's fault when we miss shots. I can live with losing because quality, open looks that are within the aptitude of our players' abilities aren't falling. I can also live with losing to a dramatically more talented team.

But it sends me up a wall when we consistently blow basics like inbounding the ball or managing the clock. That drives me completely and totally crazy as a fan.

If we weren't completely craptastic on the road under this regime, I'd say that the "other NIT" was still within reason because of the way the schedule breaks and the overall better play lately. But I'll have to see us win two on the road back to back in one season to believe it.

Great effort in a game no one expected us to win. But still frustrating for most of the same reasons.

See Also:
-- Narrow margin of error snags Dogs - AJC


PWD

Dawgs on TV - Feb. 17 to Feb. 23

Tomorrow's games are outlined in last week's post. The listings for the week ahead:

Sunday - February 17
-The Dennis Felton Show - 1:00 PM on SportSouth - Dennis and Chuck will have some good things to talk about this weekend after we clocked the Cocks. Replays: 7:30 PM and Monday at 6:30 PM.

Tuesday - February 19
-Kentucky v. Georgia - men's basketball originally played on January 26, 1999 - 1:00 PM on ESPN Classic - Jumaine Jones and the Dawgs force overtime with the 7th ranked Cats, but fall short in the end. A moral victory for the Jirsa administration.

-Georgia v. Kentucky - men's basketball - 9:00 PM on ESPN - We can beat these guys, but maybe not at Rupp. Our last meeting was close and the Cats don't look like they are getting better. 11 points in a half? Felton, even at his worst, could do better with total slop. Dear Dennis, please play Price and let him attempt to guard Patterson in the lane. He killed us last time.

Thursday - February 21
-The Suzanne Yoculan Gym Dog Show - 4:30 PM on SportSouth - Suz and Jay enthusiastically discuss another win for the GymDogs. Replay Friday at 11:00 AM.

Saturday - February 23
-Georgia v. Vanderbilt - men's basketball - 4:00 PM on Lincoln Financial (check your local listings) - Vandy's better than us right now and they are at home. Please, please score more than 11 in each half.

Quinton

Steps UGA has taken to keep the Orange Out on Saturday

I spoke in passing to a friend in Butts-Mehre. The discussion centered around how many UT fans would show up to the UGA vs. UT game in Athens on Saturday. My assumption (despite much hand wringing by some UGA fans) is that the number wouldn't be overwhelming. (Capacity is 10,500) Here's the gist of that conversation

Knowing that this was on a Saturday and how UT fans have started to follow their team, we went ahead and scheduled several things for this game in an effort to [keep UT fan attendance to a minimum].

We’ve sold close to 900 tickets to fraternities and sororities who are having their parents’ day at Saturday’s game, over 250 tickets are being used by former basketball lettermen as part of our annual reunion game and a lot of our endowment donors will be in town as part of donor appreciation day.

When you take into account that we sold 2,600 single game tickets for the UT game and you take out the 1,300 above sold to UGA groups, it really only leaves about 1,300 tickets that would be available for single game ticket sales. Out of the 1,300 remaining single game ticket sales, it is tough to say how many were bought by UT fans.

Also, UT got their contracted 100 tickets for their player/family allotment. Unless a lot of Georgia fans have given/sold their tickets to UT fans, then 1,300-1,500 is the max that UT could have in the house. Probably closer to 1,000 in the house as I don’t think all other 1,300 single game sales were sold exclusively to UT fans.

Nice planning by the good guys. Way to protect this house.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Update: I want to address some things in the comments section. This info was NOT positioned to me as a "point of pride" by anyone in the Athletic Department. It was simply stated as fact. As in, this is how we're working to minimize our risk and maximize attendance of UGA fans for this game. And hey...there are fans who are wondering if we're going to get over run by Vols on Saturday.

This is clearly not the best solution for filling up a stadium with Dawg fans. In my opinion, the best solution for selling tickets is winning a heck of a lot more games in SEC play. However, the marketing, ticketing and administrative departments at UGA aren't responsible for winning games. (Those are my words. Not theirs or anyone else's)

Separately -- Per the question raised in the comments area...I agree that the camera angles are on the wrong side of the gym given the pathetic showing by alumni who hold premium tickets in Athens behind the benches. However, it's important to remember two things. First, the SEC does not allow student sections to be behind the player benches. Secondly, most schools have the TV cameras facing the player benches just like we do. Cameron Indoor Stadium is the most notable exception to this practice as they flip the camera angle to show the students. Therefore, our issue here is primarily that we're not winning enough to make people with great seats show up. That said, I would flip the camera angles if it were up to me.

PWD

Georgia beats South Carolina senseless

Sundiata Gaines continues to rise to the challenge of playing on a team of disappearing players. He followed his 32 point performance against the Gators on Saturday with a 27 point, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals performance vs. the Gamecocks.

It was exactly the type of win Felton desperately needed. I'm in meetings all day. So I'm not expecting much posting from me. Here are other articles about the blowout win:

-- Dawgs snap losing streak - Macon Telegraph
-- Yata leads Rout - UGASports.com ($)
-- Domination - Red and Black
-- Just what they needed - ABH
-- Georgia is a good basketball team - Bulldawg Blawg

PWD

The Honor That Wasn't, Or Why Mike Adams Sucks

Michael Adams' one man war against Vince Dooley continues. We established a long time ago he is a big fat liar. But, his fingerprints are all over this one. I am convinced that Adams cannot abide the idea of Vince Dooley's name being affixed to anything connected to Sanford Stadium, so he's trying to take the bull by the horns so the opportunity never comes to pass.

The Georgia Sports Blog distrusts men in bowties. Especially this one.

Cleverly couched by Adams as a decision by the "Athletic Board" and the "Regents," there is a motion to name the South Campus athletic facilities the Vince Dooley Athletic complex. In addition, there is proposal to erect a statue of Dooley near Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall--virtually off-campus. Wow! Thanks...for nothing.

I am convinced that Adams wants to pre-emptively name the decidedly unpresitigious Lumpkin Street athletic facilities in Dooley's "honor" so that if anyone ever suggests naming something on Sanford Drive for Dooley, Adams can say "we've already done enough to honor him." He tellingly revealed his true thoughts on this issue by telling the press "the stadium already has a name." Frank Ros responded by saying he’s doubtful Dooley’s name will ever be placed on the stadium as long as Adams is UGA’s president. “He’s made that clear on a number of occasions,” Ros said. “He’s made the statement before that ‘the stadium already has a name.’ But I think you have to be respectful of a person’s accomplishments regardless of your politics.”

"I am not a crook." [See, he's lying again.]

Several former players seem to have caught on that this honor is more like a slap in the face. Some honor. Dooley is a football coach. There is a Southeastern Conference tradition of naming football facilities for legendary football coaches. There is no football stadium on South Campus. The traditional honor for legendary college football coaches is to have something connected to the stadium named in their honor. (See, Bryant, Bear; Dodd, Bobby; Jordan, Shug; Neyland, General; Vaught, Johnny; et al).

We're not banging the drum for St. Vincent here. We're not even advocating our stadium should be Sanford-Dooley. We're personally hoping to name it Sanford-Richt in about thirty years and half a dozen national championships from now. But for crying out loud is it too much to ask to put the statue of Dooley near the stadium? What about on the renovated Gate 6 with all that bricked-in open space? I mean, to put the Dooley statue further away they'd have to put it next to the Iron Horse.

Make room for Dooley's statue.

It would be nice if the Board of Regents did something besides kiss Don Leebern's ancient ass for a change. They could start by voting down this "honor" and proposing something that is more fitting for a guy who dedicated his entire forty year professional career to the University of Georgia.

Update: Chip Towers chimes in on the controversy here.

Dawgnoxious

Excellent Article on UGA Legend Kid Woodruff

David Ching knocks the cover off the ball with this article on UGA legend George "Kid" Woodruff. The article starts with Woodruff screaming at General Eisenhower during WWII about the UGA vs. Auburn series. Woodruff was a former player, coach and booster for the Bulldogs.

Woodruff was one of the chief power brokers behind the construction of Sanford Stadium and the UGA and Auburn series being played in Columbus.

The article reads like one of Dan Magill's walks down memory lane with Bill Brasky. All of Magill's stories seem to involve a 7'4" 356 pound man who once wrestled a rabid platypus near the County Fair while a small Tech man cried.

Seriously...all of Magill's friends have life histories so off the chain that hyperbole just undermines the reality of their existence. Friends like Herschel Carithers who once flew a small airplane under Stegeman Coliseum's roof. Or Fred Birchmore who built a 9 MILLION pound wall at age 75 on his property in Athens...decades after walking down the stairs of the Washington Monument on his hands, riding his bicycle 25,000 miles across Europe or being a champion boxer. But I digress.

The point is...the tale of Woodruff is in that same ballpark of over the top coolness. It's a great history lesson and a great read. Nice work by Ching. Magill would be proud. (Note: It's 3 pages)

See Also
-- Kid Woodruff's bio -- Georgia Encyclopedia

PWD

Hartman Fund Contributions Due Friday

Image: Georgiadogs.com

If you want season tickets, you gotta pay to play. Fans who have never contributed before, but want to buy season tickets should be prepared to dig deep. First time contributors are not guaranteed tickets. Contributing for the first time only guarantees that you'll get an order form for season tickets.

Ballpark first time contribution to get seats for a season like this will probably be north of $1,500 for a new giver. That's very unofficial. But I wouldn't give less than that if I were you. I really have no idea what it's going to take to get in. So, I shouldn't be advising on a purchase like this. Talk with the ticket office about it.

Renewable season ticket holders can obviously give at their normal rates.

PWD

A Modest Scheduling Proposal

More of this.

At the end of the season, the big bowl complaint was justifiably coming from Columbia, Missouri. The Tigers had played a Big 12 schedule and traveled out of conference to play an SEC team and a Big 10 team that went to the Rose Bowl. Meanwhile, Kansas, a team that Missouri beat, waltzed into the Orange Bowl after playing a Big 12 schedule and no other BCS conference teams. Mizzou got to go to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl. All this because KU had one less loss and played no one out of conference. Is that fair? No, and I have a least a partial solution. Since we now play 12 games a season, every BCS team should have to play at least one other BCS team from outside their conference. You don't have to be heroic, but you have to play someone. Thus, Kansas can't breeze through their easy nonconference season while their competition for bowl slots play other teams of equal resources.

Many teams have done their part simply because they have a rival they hate. Florida has Florida State. Florida State had Miami. Georgia has Georgia Tech. South Carolina has Clemson. Meanwhile, teams like Texas, LSU, and Penn State can pick and choose when they want to play these games and when they want to sit out a year. (By th