Mark Fox begins his tenure in Athens officially tonight at 7:00 pm with his first home game as the Bulldogs will face the New Orleans Privateers.
Your Help in the Turnaround:
We need as big a crowd as possible tonight. Fox and Athletic Department worked hard to line up a game on a football weekend for Fox's debut. Now, we need to deliver butts in seats. The biggest piece of turning around this program is hiring a great coach who recruits great players. Obviously. However, the Georgia fans are critical to turning around this program, too.
The "How to Recruit Against the Home State Bulldogs Manual" includes:
Page 1: Their fans don't support their team.In reality, our fans have done a great job of supporting our program when we've put a quality product on the floor. For instance Tubby's two years and Harrick's last three years. To accelerate recruiting...and believe me our talent level needs a boost...we as fans are going to have to buy into this program a little earlier this time. Waiting until after the team is good isn't enough. It needs more help than that.
Bruce Pearl went to UT and sold the hell out of his product to anyone that would listen. For his first game in Knoxville, they had a near packed house against a directional school from across the state. Pearl was a nobody nationally from Wisconsin with no SEC credentials. Granted, he's the best product evangelist in the coaching business, but their fans still gave him a shot on opening night.
Now, we need to meet Fox half way.
Here's hoping you can make the game. If you have a hotel room in Athens tonight, there's no reason not to be there. Go Dawgs.
See Also:
-- Bringing a New Attitude - ABH
-- It's Showtime -- AJC
PWD
(PS -- The best player on the New Orleans squad is former Bulldog Billy Humphrey. Unfortunately, Humphrey had knee surgery recently, and he's listed as questionable for the game. I'm sincerely hoping he makes the trip because he's due a standing ovation for helping us win the SEC Tournament in Felton's next to last year.)
26 comments:
Will the weird jumping sweater guy be there?
You mean Spike? I love that guy.
He's creepy in an awesome way.
No, he doesn't mean Spike. Spike would be in the inflatable mascot. The weird jumping guy is an actual peson.
I'll have to check this out. I'm guessing he sits with the students?
My favorite is the Rocky impersonator.
no he's a 50ish year old man who sits at half court and is at every game.
Half court, opposite the benches, behind the TV/Radio crew.
Jumping jacks and argyle go great together.
we call him jumping jack
i dig his style. i thinks its some sort of eastern thing.
I love that guy! He definitely needs a nickname. Talk about dedication. I'd really like to know his back story.
We used to call him Jumping Jack Flash. I think he's in the health insurance business in Athens.
I've always called him Sweater Man. He is, by far, the most devoted Bulldog Basketball fan I know of. Friendly guy too.
My friends and I call him Crazy Sweater Guy.
He always seemed to be there with a date so we imagined him asking a nice unsuspecting lady to dinner at East/West, getting wine drunk and having an enjoyable time, then going to the game where he does jumping jacks for the duration of the game. Crazy Sweater Guy loves him some Dawg basketball.
Billy's Facebook status from last night: "In Athens". Not sure about him playing.
Im so glad everyone else has noticed sweater guy too. BTW, it will be good to see Billy Humphrey back in Athens. He was a big part of our tournament win in 08. Get to the Steg tonight if you're in town. Lets show our new coach some support.
How the f... is Humphrey still playing? Shouldn't he be under the jail by now?
Here's to wishing Coach Fox a brillant career at UGA!
I went and talked to the sweater guy one time when I was a student; I believe we were trying to talk him into rushing the court with us if we beat LSU in 2006 or 2007, can't remember exactly. We did end up beating LSU (Steve newman three pointer at the buzzard if my memory serves correctly) but a strong Police presence dissuaded us from storming the court.
His name is Jesse, and he is from Bogart. Say what you will about his jumping, but Jesse is one DAMN GOOD DAWG. A true fan; been with the dogs through thick and thin.
Oh and "buzzard" should be "buzzer." Cut me some slack... It's Friday.
I don't think anybody doubts that Crazy Sweat Guy is a DGD. Does anybody know if he goes to football games? We need him to fire up the Dawgs tomorrow night.
Paul,
I think you should do an interview with 'crazy sweater guy'. Your readers want to know what's going on with him.
I love sweater guy. I think he has a closet of about 30 red sweaters with black argyle. He was however in a golf shirt for the exhibition last week. By the way it was Levi Stukes that hit the three to beat LSU. Dave Bliss played a hell of a game that afternoon in K. Brophy's memory.
Jessie cheers hard for UGA. Back when I was a student and he sat underneath the goal post under section M in the temp seats I *think* he got a Technical Foul...and considering some of the things that Dawgnoxious has said to Refs during a game...I can tell you that takes some doing. That was probably 15-18 years ago.
But nah...I'll pass on interviewing another fan. I'm as loud as he is. I just don't do jumping jacks. If I were going to interview a fan, I'd rather just interview me. lol.
PWD
Let's also hope, for the sake of CMF, that all of our players end up being academically eligible come next semester. I've heard a tale or two from very reliable sources that CMF has had to sit in on a few classes already, and a few other troubling stories, too ...
Just something to keep an eye on.
Sweater Guy is a DGD and he is a major part of the Georgia Basketball experience. He's a really nice guy to talk to as well, he obviously knows his stuff. If UGA gets going in hoops (like we think), don't be shocked if there is a little story about this guy in the media.
It is a bit weird to see Humphrey in blue as I currently sit here inside Stegeman. We'll see if he actually plays...
Dawgs win!
Close, but a win is a win. Congrats to Coach Fox on his first win as the Head Dawg.
Post a Comment