So, last year at this time, I had bought about five season previews, had devoured them, and couldn't wait for the season to start. I felt like a dog with a treat at the end of my snout, awaiting my master's slight signal to flip it into my jaws. The possibilities were boundless and I felt a feast at hand.
This year feels different. Not necessarily the opposite of last year's frothing, but just much, much more restrained and sheepish. Maybe it's because we really have no clue what this team will look like (the spring, after all, gave virtually no insights due to injuries) or maybe it's just that the hangover from last year still persists. I'm just suffereing from an unjustified malaise, a resigned, stoic stare. Am I alone?
There's a lot to look forward to: the nonconference schedule, Washuan and the freshmen, the underdog role, the renewed hate, the new faces we've been waiting to see perform. My malaise to the coming season will break soon. My copy of Phil Steele beckons. Camp opens in less than a month. We'll be rolling out some season previews shortly.
In the meantime, I ask: Are you as fired up as usual?
Quinton
109 comments:
The entire college football world will be watching two games the opening weekend: Alabama v Virginia Tech in the Dome and UGA's game going into a renovated stadium w/ a top 10 team whos fans will be fired up beyond recognition for their high seeded Oklahoma State squad, so if you're not pumped for that then I guess I don't care b/c you're not on the team.
Also UGA plays Spurrier the following week at home if you didn't know....Steve "GD" Spurrier.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!
Im very excited, with less than two months to go now. But, I agree with what you're saying. We were on top of the world this time last year, now, we're barely even seen from the top looking down.
I'm excited BECAUSE of the unknowns. It at least will be exciting, if even a little disappointing.
I'm excited, definitely. But, I still haven't purchased the Athlon yet myself, or any of the other wanna-be preview periodicals. I was thinking today that I need to purchase the Athlon; Internet, here I come to save our economy.
As Anonymous said first, GO DAWGS!!!!!!
Hell yeah, I am fired up. We're undefeated!
Seriously, the defense played insdpired football against MichSt, in my opinion. I also beleive we are in reload mode. I wish #7 and #24 were still here, but these guys have schollies too.
Yes Quinton, you are alone.
As a Georgia fan living in Gainesville, Florida, I'm right there with you. As optimistic as I was about last season, I'm kind of dreading this one.
Strangely enough, I like our chances against the Gators better than most Georgia fans, it seems, but the fact that most UGA and UF fans I know have already handed the Gators the MNC trophy just makes things depressing. Add to that the general optimism on the flats, and I'm just having a hard time building up the greatest mood going into September.
All that said, if things do bounce our way this year it could be really enjoyable. Combine a better-than-expected season in Athens with disappointing ones in Gainesville and Atlanta and I'll be one happy Dawg.
I'm just as excited as ever. Love that we are opening against a legit opponent, seems to make everything twice as exciting. GO DAWGS!!!
24/7/52.
I'm always fired up about UGA football.
You're alone Quinton. I am as fired up as ever. I don't need the rest of the country to be talking about my Dawgs to be excited about the upcoming season. The window flags are going to be raised, the rum will flow, and the red and black is going to run out on that field, and the chills are going to go up my spine as the bugler plays the battle hymn from the Southeast corner, just like every year.
I can hardly wait.
I like flying under the radar. We could be this years Alabama. Strong lines, solid QB stable RBs, good WR's. We could "shock the world"
Just FYI, that's the SouthWEST corner that s/he plays the Battle Hymn out of. Regardless, GO DAWGS!
I'm going to the OK State game and I can't be more pumped up for it! Just knowing a couple things pumps me up:
1) that the team's attitude (and behavior for that matter...knock on wood) seems to have improved ten-fold from last summer, probably because the pre-season hype over us being #1 is not there
2) we have a very skilled Joe Cox behind an experienced o-line, coupled with amazing receivers and hopefully, decent backs
3) an exciting schedule that only includes Tennessee Tech as the lone pushover means we have another exciting season ahead of us
4) the defense played great against Michigan State in the bowl game and can only get better with Rennie Curran and the big man himself, Jeff Owens leading the way
5) we have Mark Richt as our coach!
If that doesn't get the red and black pumping through your veins as the fall creeps closer then get the hell outta Georgia!
I am excited because this is the first year in about 5 that I have been off on Sat. That means not only the DAWGS, but other great games as well.
I am so excited I have started my preseason tailgating purchases. Today the Live Sports Radio from Dawg Mail. Tomorrow the disposable flasks that were blgged here last year. I bought 50 last year and they made it through Jax.
GO DAWGS!
I'm excited about a finally healthy team taking the field. However, I am sick of the Gators and Techies optimism coming into the season. I will get really excited when our team makes a statement on opening day against OK St and puts our rivals on notice.
I got caught up in the hype last year. I'm consciously avoding that crap this year, positive or negative, so that I can make my own opinions about our performances and determine my own metrics for success.
I got lazy last year instead of thinking for myself.
/reading a uga football post in July. So much for progress
FisheriesDawg...
There has to be somewhere else you can live.
I'd be willing to start a charitable foundation to help you relocate.
I've been going back and looking at some of the Richard Seymour film on YouTube. The man is an absolute beast.
Maybe it's just watching that footage, but I have a feeling he's going to surprise some people this year. He got off to a bad start last year with difficulty holding onto the ball and never really recovered.
But between King, Samuel, Thomas, and Ealey, one is going to break out. That has me very excited about the season.
If you aren't excited about Georgia football, go to a different site. Try USA today or something I'm sure you can find something interesting on michael jackson.
Yeah, Crake, Richard Seymour was a beast, Samuels too! ;-)
I am frothing at the mouth for the rematch with Tech. That loss more than any other still hurts.
I am the least fired up i have been in maybe 10 years.
This team just doesnt excite me. Plus, the mighty Gators are slowly bleeding me out.
I'm hoping that the start of camp gives me a boost. I know i'll get fired up soon, but this is very odd for it to take this long...
Lots to look forward to seeing. Which back steps up? Is Washaun the next Knowshon? Will Israel Troupe emerge as the receiver we thought he was when we signed him? How 'bout Tavarres King? Will big Jeff Owens motivate the defense to become the 21st century version of the Junkyard Dawgs? Will the Oline become the most dominant in the SEC? Is Joe Cox as good as I suspect he is?
Questions, questions...Coupled with the fact the the MNC rarely repeats and a #1 ranking is a curse? I like our chances in Jax this year.
Let's tee it up...Goooooo Dawgs! Sic'em! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!
08 we relied on skill players. 09 looks more like line play.
Let.The.Big.Dawg.Eat.
For me it kinda feels like '01. No real expectations but still wanting to see what we've got.
Plus, AJ Green on the cover of these mags reminds me of Terrence being are cover boy that year.
I became less enthused about Wayshaun when I found out he was two years older than the kids he was playing against in HS. Let's hope he's great, but don't count your chickens...
You are not alone. The most interesting aspect of this year will be to watch how good the coaching will be and how many injuries we have. I always pull for the dawgs but unless something has changed, look for more of the same with less offense. The defense will make or break this year.
The only reason why I can't wait for the opening kickoff is because I can finally forget about last year.
Yes, Mike, I agree that Richard Seymour was a beast. Maybe that was some kind of Freudian subconscious slip...or it could be I need to stop commenting at midnight. Who knows.
Hey, who knew we finished 9-4 last year?
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2009/07/08/college_football_polls.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
AJC - Setting the standard for accuracy in reporting since 18never...
Just a thought- but is it just hope and a prayer that we're thinking our defense is going to be that much better?? I don't see much reason to believe things will be completely different. Jeff Owens being back is big but everything else is the same minus Asher Allen. I'm not too excited about the D, I agree that our offense could resemble Bama of last year with dominant line play and steady QB play. The schedule is ridiculous. Still don't understand why we feel the urge to play all the comeptitive non-conference games when virtually 95% of the rest of the teams do not. At the end of the season no one will qualify our losses- we will just be another 10-3 team. Agree??
Our OOC is very tough for sure..we could win the SEC and have 2 OOC losses..that would probably change some of our Fan's tune regarding our need to schedule 2-3 TOUGH OOC games every year.
PTC, I would take that every year, as long as n.ave was not one of the losses. The SEC is decided on field. The MNC.....
Same, same. I usually have read all the pre-season mags cover to cover. And with less than 60 days to go, have not even sniffed a one's new pages. Now that you mention it, the season's where they hype is low and kickoff sort of sneaks up on you have been historically the seasons I enjoyed the most. So color me optimistic this one leaves the same taste in our mouths.
How does the Okie State D look? Assuming their offense is "as good as advertised"...can we expect this to be somewhat of a shootout?
Personally, I like our D's chances simply because SEC Defense usually dominates every other conference.
Going to Stillwater for Game 1 and have no clue what to expect. Hopefully, OSU's defense lives up to its reputation and dies late in the third quarter.
Two things Georgia needs this season to compete for the East:
1. Strong DT play from Owens and Atkins. IMO, losing Owens in the 2008 opener was much more costly than losing Sturdivant preseason.
2. One of the damn tailbacks need to separate themselves. Would love to see Caleb King be the guy, but I'm still not sold on him just yet.
Not too concerned about Cox as long as the O-line stays healthy (that could be wishful thinking if you look at the last two out of three seasons).
So let's breeze through these two months and tee it up Sept. 5.
SEC decided on the field? HA!
Try playing every team in your conference every single year. Then really have true champion.
PA 10 crowns a true champion. No other conference does.
We play every team in our division, then have a championship game aginst the other division. Still decided on the field...
But my point applies to all conference champs
I am very excited about this year.I will admit the CPJ article concerns me (darn flies and their 132 fans).UGA must get de and mlb play to compete.Stillwater will be bedlam.I hope our coaching has ajusted with new players.GO DAWGS!
I'm excited in a different way. I'm actually less apprehensive, because we have neither an overrated ranking, nor a mounting toll of injuries. We do have more unknowns, but I think last year taught us a lot, and can't wait to see our defense destroy people this year. I hang my biggest concern on the running backs, with depth at receiver being second, but with the number of returning starters on offensive line and Coach Searles training them, I think we're going to surprise some people. I'll be in Stillwater for the OK State game, and would love to see us do the same thing we did to them last time. Anyone else going?
I don't think anything could match the excitement of last year's preseason being #1 and all but I knew going in that the only place to go was down. This year the expectations are not nearly as high which in the past has typically lead to great seasons under Richt.
Not as fired up as last year... and I understand your malaise.
However... I'm started to get a good feeling about this team. Call it educated intuition or whatever... I don't think it's just wishful thinking. I'm starting to get revved up.
Anyone know what number Washaun is going to wear?
Not 34.
I find myself even more fired up than last year, but at the same time more nervous than I've ever been about football.
Is that possible?
Pac 10 fan, you like your way, we like ours. Unless you have actually witnessed an SECCG, you really don't have a clue as to the atmosphere in the Georgia Dome.
Quinton, I'm still chilling. I'm ready for it to start, but I haven't gotten it too bad yet. Just a few short pining episodes here and there. But then, I haven't had my annual week at the beach so I'm still sort of focused on that at that moment. And with the new addy to the family, I have to scale back a bit of the good old fashioned football fun.
You and I will both be ready to roll in time. Don't worry.
-- Gen. Stoopnagle
Thank you, Pac 10 Douche.
You can pat yourself on the back for having to play both Washington and Washington State, we'll continue to determine our champion by pairing up 2 top-10 teams every December.
Amen, Hobnail. That was well said.
Hob, don't forget to include that powerhouse Stanford....and we all know how TOUGH it is to win in the desert. LOL
The Okie State game sort of reminds me of the Bama/Clemson opener from last year. Bama was flying under the radar and Clemson's offense was supposed to run rampant. Well we all know how that turned out. Bama came out and totally dominated the line of scrimmage. That being said, I like UGA's chances.
I agree, but we aren't playing Clemson in the Dome. LOL
I still don't think a "close" loss in Stillwater spells doom for the season..I fully expect a Dawgs win, but if you play enough quality teams on the road, eventually, you lose one.
I'm fired up.
It only takes two weeks to go from #15 (or whatever) to top ten and kicking ass.
As an aside, I can't believe Ole Miss is rated as highly as they are.
Hobnail,
Yeah, Alabama was really a top 10 team? Getting run by Utah?
Considering how bad 'bama beat down the Dawgs in YOUR OWN HOUSE I wonder what kind of beating the Utes would put on you.
O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D
Quinton, I'm always fired up for Georgia football this time of year. I'm curious why Bammers would come on to your site talking smack.
From what I understand, Clemson has sold the rights to use the acronym 'IPTAY' to Alabama since Clemson doesn't find itself on probation much anymore and felt it might be more useful in Tuscaloosa.
I'll say this, recent history is full of points of Alabama football pride: getting pounded in the SUGAR by Utah, losing to ULM at home, losing 7 of the last 8 to Auburn, losing 4 of the last 5 to the Dawgs, losing a bowl game to Minnesota, losing to Hawaii @ Hawaii, losing to Northern Illinois at home ...
Nobody was cheering harder than I was for Jam-bama (what a game by George Teague!!) at the 1992 Sugar Bowl. In fact, I count that as one of the absolute funnest days I can remember and I'm a die-hard Georgia fan. But Bama, save your smack talk for your true rivals and show some respect for the DAWGS. GATA
Last year I was apprehensive. This year could be really good. What would be sweeter than upsetting the Gaytors for the Messiah's Senior Season.
No matter how you are feeling about this season, just make sure you do your part to make Sanford a home-field advantage for your Dawgs!
Be loud!
Go Dawgs!
Am I excited? You bet. Once the season rolls around I think it will take some of the focus of all the negative nonsense going on in the world today -- from the govt. to the economy and on down the line. If I am less "geeked up" about this season that last it's probably got more to do with non-football related things going on than with my belief in this year's team and the type of season we could have. GO DAWGS!!! I can almost smell the tailgate food and hear the red coats if I close my eyes right now...
There's no quittin in Quinton! ;) I love it...you're as jacked up as I am! Go DAWGS!
Richard, that was a nice come back of anon@ 5:12. Those bammers forget just how many bad games they have had lately. One good season doesn't erase all those thing mentioned by Richard. Go back to where you came from bama punk.
Anon 5:12
Utah: cake schedule + six weeks to preapre + chip on their shoulder =
victory over...
Alabama: SEC schedule + not wanting to be there + it's one damn game, not a full regular season schedule.
That game meant nothing.
Nice try, Oren Hatch...
Tanner Strickland out for the season already...gahhh!
I said Steve "GD" Spurrier in week 2.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!
Dawg19,
Yes, I understand SEC logic.
When an SEC team loses to a non-conference opponent it's because their conference schedule is just so darn tough and they obviously don't want to be there.
When an SEC team beats a non-conference opponent its because they play in a superior conference.
Typical southern logic.
I'll take Southern Logic over Mormon Logic any day of the week. You had one good season. Wow, congrats. It will take you decades to repeat it, and you still won't get to the big game because at the end of the day the Utes are a joke and you don't play anybody......
Now go call you Senator and let him know someone trashed the Utes on a message board. Maybe he can hold hearing about that as well....
mant,
I'm not a Utah fan. I was simply using Utah as an example why Alabama was an overrated team last year. I'm an SC fan.
Again, play everyone in your conference every single year and crown a true champion.
Mant, why the dig at Mormons? Utah has been in a BCS bowl game 2x in recent years. 2x every 5 years is pretty good. Better than many SEC teams.
Question: I am looking to find a bar to host a meeting of Bulldog fans in the area. Has anyone done this?
What kind of deal do you work with the bar?
I have a couple of bars in mind, but I am at a loss as to what to ask for or tell them in terms of expectations.
The alumni development at UGA is working on a list of alumni in my area.
Thanks in advance.
My apologies, misunderstood. I agree that Bama was very overrated last year due largely in part to the win over an overrated Clemson.
The dig at Mormons was in response to the Southern Logic statement. Just stereotyping fun.
skidawg1985,
Shoot me an email. I can hook you up with someone
decaturdawg
at
hotmail
dot
com
Guys,
I can't have religion come into these threads. No more shots at Mormons, please. In fact, you'd be doing me a favor if you deleted the shot.
This thread can come totally unglued quickly if we head down that path. And work is too nuts to referee a religious slap fight.
I apologize for my "typical southern logic" shot.
It just seems its impossible to reason with an SEC fan. ie: the SEC is best, having a conference championship game is best, SEC fans are best, etc, etc.
Certainly I'm biased being a west coast guy and a PAC 10 fan but I sincerely think playing everyone, every year has its merits.
No doubt, on that day Utah was better than Bama...what more needs to be said?
I've seen Stanford beat USC on certain days, does that make them better overall?
If you really think rolling through 9 mainly patsies makes USC better, so be it. We could claim there is no reasoning with you.
All that said, how hard is it to actually type in name on these blogs for some?
Anon. - this might be southern logic, but I don't think you can realistically play every team in your conference if your conference has 12 teams. Obviously, you COULD based solely on the numbers, but then any exciting non-conference matchups would be out the window other than one traditional rival game and a bowl game - and those aren't necessarily that exciting. Furthermore, if we did as you suggested, Pac-10 fans would then criticize the SEC for being scared to play anybody outside the south. We can't win with you.
Not impressed with playing everyone in your conference(PAC 10)
when most of them are patsies. Go through your schedule and then play a championship game. Of course as weak as the PAC 10 usually is even the championship game might be against an unranked opponent.
Typical SEC superiority complex.
SC played two SEC teams recently
(both in the south obviously)and destroyed both of them. I'm not exactly impressed with supposed toughness of going through an SEC conference schedule.
You guys claim the PAC 10 is full of patsies but a horrible UCLA team beat Tennessee. Granted UT was as horrible is well but it was a comprable match-up.
Do you honestly believe UGA would win the PAC 10 year in and year out. Do you believe they would finished second?
Is anybody denying SoCal is good? One team does not a power conference make!
MIV,
Very true. But do you honestly think UGA is that much better than Oregon or Cal? Or even OSU for that matter?
Again, I think it's a huge misconception to label the PAC10 SC and no one else.
I am not sure about our #3 against your #2 in one game. But I am pretty confident that the SEC would dominate a round robin with the Pac-10. Furthermore, I would love a crack at USC after they have played Fla, LSU and BAMA in consecutive weeks.
MIV,
Of course you are pretty confident. No surprise there.
I'd love to UGA's record after playing SC, Oregon, OSU and Cal in consecutive weeks. Especially when each of those teams would play you every single year and know you inside and out.
Anon 1:22...
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports/2009/01/02/pac-10-bowl-perfection-what-it-means-not-as-much-as-you-might-think/
1-6 against the MWC?
Wow...
Dawg19,
Also undefeated in bowl games this past year.
How did the SEC fair in its bowl match-up with a MWC team?
I would gladly trade for S.Carolina, Tenn, LSU, Bama, Florida, and Auburn. But thank you for making my ponit for me.
And another thing about USC...
Of course USC has a great team. They have no excuse to not be. The school is in LA, right near all the beaches and Hollywood. Good-looking women are everywhere just like in the South. USC doesn't have to recruit against the SEC powers plus Miami, Florida State, Clemson et al on a DAILY BASIS. Sure USC recruits nationally. But USC has a lot of good things going for it and can afford to cherry pick anywhere they want. If they get the guy, great. If not, no big deal. There's ten other nearly-as-talented kids on the west side of the US who are dying to go to USC. USC has a great coaching staff, so they can coach a kid to be better. USC has played a couple of SEC teams, sure. But they haven't played anybody in the SEC East since it was created. Most sportswriters and fans will tell you that the SEC East is stonger than most conferences on it's own. And UGA DOES play everybody in it every year. At the end of 2007, UGA fans were DYING to play USC in the Rose Bowl. Unfortunately, that stupid tie-in you have over there wouldn't allow what was sure to be an awesome game. Instead, UGA had to dismantle Hawaii in one of the biggest mismatches in NCAA history.
USC is great. No doubt. But beating Ohio State and Oklahoma when it counts is something we have grown accustomed to here.
MIV,
Be careful of what you wish for.
Dawg19,
Agree with most of everything you said. As you know, SC will play anyone, anywhere, anytime. Flood your AD with emails and calls calling for the Dawgs to host the Trojans. Trust me, Pete would have the boys there in a heartbeat.
Anon 1:54
You obviously didn't read the article. It made the point for me.
How many PAC-10 teams not named USC have won the national championship in the last 15 years?
Answer: none
How many teams from the SEC have won the national championship in the last 15 years?
Answer: 3 (Florida - 3 times, LSU - 2 times, Tennessee - once)
That's SIX BCS national titles...
Also:
USC (known here as the PAC-10):
1-1 in BCS national title games
SEC: 5-0
And only having five bowl-eligible teams is pretty sad, considering the competition out there.
Keep bragging about your Toilet Bowl trophies. That and a nickel will get you good seats at a Pac-10game...
Dawg19,
Florida has 2 BCS titles...not 3.
I'm not bragging about anything. SC's record speaks for itself. As for the PAC 10, I'd rather focus on head-to-head match-ups.
I can tell you from the perspective of an SC fan the SEC as a whole does not look very intimidating.
Sadly, in the last 15 years, Florida does in fact have 3 MNC's.
I don't understand why anyone would try and convince anyone else that the Pac10 is NOT a 1 team show. It has been for YEARS. It's the dumbest argument EVER to try and claim that the Pac10 is strong all the way down.
When is the last time the Pac10 had two teams in the BCS?
PTC,
Florida does have 3 MNC's...only 2of those were during the BCS era however.
The SEC is a 2 team show. LSU and Florida....after that nothing much to be impressed by.
Ok, did a little research..since 1998, the final BCS Poll top 15, SEC has had 33 teams ranked, while the Pac 10 has had 20 teams ranked. Not sure how more plainly to put it.
Fact is, the SEC averages 3 of the top 15 and the Pac 10 averages 2. Make of it what you will. I'm sure a Pac 10 homer would say that makes them stronger.
PTC,
I'd be more interested in head-to-head matchup results.
SEC fans love to play games in an imaginery world ie: "Arkansas would definitely beat Stanford" etc. I'd rather see them play for real.
Unless the head to head matchups are versus comparable teams, I'm not sure what good it would do. Sadly, the Pac10 and the SEC don't have any Bowl Tie-ins etc. The closest thing we have had to having two very closely matched teams was in 2007, when USC and UGA SHOULD have hooked up. Could have been a classic.
The most wins that AU and ARK had when USC played them was 7 I believe. They were plainly middle of the road SEC at best.
PTC,
Yes, I know. When the SEC loses it's a mismatch. When the SEC wins it because they play such a darn tough schedule. Wait, or is that one of the other excuses for losing...it's tough to keep track.
This is so lame.
Hey, how many BCS NC has USC won this decade?
oh yeah, they only won it ONCE.
1 time! Decade of dominance my ass.
Get the fugg outta here.
And enjoy your choke game (or 2) this year.
The fact the arument is based on BCS titles is telling.
How many of those BCS titles were won against PAC 10 teams?
Want a do over, anon?
Here is a telling question, how many SEC fans are trolling Pac10 sites?
MIV,
lol...point well taken. Seriously, not trying to be a jerk troll. I do enjoy the site.
(Got interested in the Dawgs last year when they came out to the desert).
We're glad you are interested in our team. Now stop trying to convince us how good the Pac10 is.
Have a nice day.
PTC,
I wasn't trying to convince anyone of anything. Just expressing my opinion that a true conference champion plays everyone in their conference every single year.
A little late to the fun, but one quote caught my interest:
"Also undefeated in bowl games this past year.
How did the SEC fair in its bowl match-up with a MWC team?"
Well, lets compare the bowl games, records, and level of competition:
Pac 10
1 Top 10 Opponent
2 Top 15 Opponents
4 top 25 Opponents
USC #8 Penn State W (38-24)
Oregon #13 Okla. St W (42-31)
Arizona #16 BYU W (31-21)
Oregon St. #20 Pitt W (3-0)
Cal Miami W (24-17)
SEC
3 Top 10 Opponents
4 Top 15 Opponents
6 Top 25 Opponents)
Florida #2 Oklahoma W (24-14)
Alabama #6 Utah L (31-17)
Ole Miss #7 Texas Tech W (47-34)
LSU #14 Georgia Tech W (38-3)
Georgia #18 Michigan St W (24-12)
Vanderbilt #25 BC W (16-14)
Kentucky East Carolina W (25-19)
South Carolina Iowa L (31-10)
Do you think there's any chance that the overall difficulty of competition coupled with the fact that the SEC had 8 teams in competition while the Pac-10 only had 5 may have something to do with the likelihood of wins and losses?
If we had taken your next 3 teams to make it an even 8 apiece, it would have included such powerhouses as Arizona State (5-7), Stanford (5-7), and UCLA (4-8).
I'm thinking one, maybe two, of those would lose.
USCw, PAC-10 Anon:
In any given year the Pac 10 has one great team (USCw), perhaps one team on the cusp of doing something big (Oregon before Dixon’s ACL), about a ½ dozen teams slugging it out with aspirations for “Chan Gailey Equilibrium” tm, and rounding things out with the abysmal Washington schools.
USC unexpectedly looses one conference game, misses out on the BCS MNC, then faces the Big 10 sacrificial lamb, which they proceed to kill, rape, pillage, and plunder before salting the field like proper Trojans on their way out.
What’s up with the veil of Teflon in South Central these days? First Bush then Mayo, a pattern of “Lacks Institutional Control” is emerging. Hell, if the Bammers had two such instances, the NCAA would have already given’em the SMU treatment.
At the risk of taking up arms against the SEC, to be fair, if Dennis Dixon's knee doesn't asplode in Tucson two years ago, the Pac-10 has one more national title, the SEC has one less (as well as one less Heisman Trophy) and the Pac-10 is no longer a 1-team league.
I actually have more respect for the Pac-10 at this point than any other conference (that wasn't the case five years ago). They were down last year, but they looked every bit of the best league in CFB in the first half of 2007 until Dixon went down. I think the top half of the Pac-10 compares favorably with the SEC. We don't have a USC, but they don't have the number of teams capable of competing for a MNC in a given year. Usually, though, things are fairly even with the SEC being a little better latetly.
Also, count me in the camp that thinks they have the best method of settling a conference championship. Yeah, a championship game is necessary in a 12-team league (as it obviously turned out to be last year since Bama and Florida didn't play), but other times it is a complete formality because there isn't really a need for rematches. Make fun of the Big Ten all you want; they deserve it. But there really isn't any good critisicm of the Pac-10's method of crowning a champion.
In the end, I'd love to be able to say otherwise, but SEC teams have struggled when coming west. Auburn against USC, Bama against UCLA, Tennessee against Cal, LSU barely beating a bad ASU team...
Georgia's domination of Arizona State last year, unfortunately, seems to be the exception to the rule.
As far as conference championship games go...
Has a conference championship game helped the ACC at all? Has it made more competive? Is there more buzz about the ACC because they have a championship game?
People would still be interested in the SEC and recognize it as a great even if it didn't have a conf CG.
I'd argue people would be even more into the SEC if every team matched up every single year.
Yes, the logistics don't work today. But hey, wouldn't really weaken the SEC if Miss St and Vandy were dropped?
yes i feel the same way, maybe not as excited but definately pumped!!! how can you be a true fan and not be ready to watch UGA play? and living in gator territory that game alone is the most important to me. every year before that game i can't wait and this year is no exception. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comparing the ACC championship game to the SEC championship game is like comparing The Grey Cup to The Super Bowl.
The ACC is too spread out with Boston College way up north and Miami way down south.
There have been four ACC championship games so far. Florida State won the first one. That game got great ratings and around 72,000 in the stands. Since then, it has been Wake Forest deafeating Ga Tech, and Virginia Tech defeating Boston College in the last two.
The first three games were held in Jacksonville and last year's game and this year's game were/are in Tampa.
With the exception of the Florida State game, who in God's name in Florida wants to see those matchups?!!? Plus, none of those teams travel well. Hence, falling attendance and apathy towards the game by ACC and non-ACC fans. Last year's game in Tampa had 27,000 fans. Half as many as the previous year. Very sad, to say the least.
In 2010 and 2011, the game moves to Charlotte, which is more the heart of ACC country.
The SEC just does it right and has more fans that travel. Plus, we have more good teams that have a pretty decent chance of making it to the game every year.
You are right. If the PAC-10 does add two teams and start a championship game, they will be praying that USC or UCLA is in it every year because the game would most likely be held at the Rose Bowl.
That's where the ACC lost the bet. They were hoping and praying that Miami and Florida State would be in it every year. Look where that got them. Clemson would bring a lot of fans but they keep shooting themselves in the foot and never make it. Same with north carolina miami.
Imagine if Arizona and Oregon State ended up playing for the PAC-10 title...yuck. The lucky network that got to cover that game could put up color bars and get better ratings.
Dawg,
Exactly. The SEC isn't great because it has a Conference Championship game. It's great because it has a lot of competitive teams.
If the SEC dropped two teams and every one played each other every year it would still be great. IMO it would be even better.
I nominate droppnig Kentucky, those blue wearing turncoats!
Frankly, with the success the SEC has had lately, I'm not sure it can be improved upon. Other than UGA being involved more often in the SECCG....it's getting about time for another appearance by the DAWGS... :)
love your blog..love Georgia here..here is my take and view on the LSU game..love to hear or read more posts from you
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