Georgia is used to a solid spring of athletic victory, but this year has seen mixed to no success. Spring hasn't been all bad so far, but it hasn't been particularly enjoyable either. Here's an update:
Baseball: Ugh. Where to begin? The most obvious problem with the baseball team is that the pitchers can't get hitters out. The team ERA is a titanic 8.52, three runs ahead of the the closest competitor. When the opposition isn't hitting at the plate, they are walking. We've issued 207 free passes this year, besting our closest competition in that stat by 40(!) walks. You can't win with those stats even if you are hitting the ball well, which we aren't. We're also last in the league in average and runs. Our pitching coach, Brady Wiederhold, should take a long look at his work this year (and last). Perno, in turn, should take a long look at Wiederhold. The numbers don't lie.
Gymnastics: After five straight national championships, losing one of the greatest college gymnasts ever, and the resignation of one of the greatest coaches in UGA history, a letdown was inevitable. But this big of a letdown? The GymDogs didn't get out of their first round meet this year, much less to the Super Six.
Men's Tennis: The NCAAs are still upcoming, but the season ended with a wobble and thud. The Dawgs were undefeated in conference before their final two matches against UF and UT, the best two teams in the conference. Those matches resulted in two Ls. It didn't help that freshman Bo Seal was suspended for the final leg of the season. He stayed suspended for the SEC Tournament last weekend and the team fell 4-3 to Auburn in their first match. It appears Seal won't be playing in the NCAAs either, which greatly limits the team's prospects. Manny Diaz has signed two really good American prospects for next year, but we continue to get burned overseas by players who either go pro early or can't pass the TOEFL exam.
Women's Tennis: The girls fared only a little worse than the guys. They lost in their first round match up in Athens at the SEC Tournament. This isn't a championship squad, but the pieces are in place for an excellent team next year. Gullickson and Gilchrist will be at the top of the line up, but Coach Wallace will welcome what should be the top recruiting class in the country. He signed four bluechippers and the top prep player in Japan.
Soccer: Their season isn't until the fall, but the soccer program had some big news recently with the resignation of Coach Patrick Baker resigned abruptly to spend more time with his family. It's a sad commentary when that stated reason leads you to suspect seriously malfeasance or perversion, but I haven't heard anything that would contradict Baker's stated reasons for quitting. But, I wouldn't know anything about the soccer program other than scores. Steve Holeman, formerly the HC at Ole Miss, will take over for Baker.
It hasn't been a total loss, though. We can all celebrate the equestrian team's national title in a sport that doesn't count in the Sears Cup and isn't recognized by the SEC. Hooray. Maybe softball can brighten our prospects, but by all accounts, 2009-2010 has been a long year for athletics.
Quinton
18 comments:
That's it?! After a week of no blog updates the first post back is more negative news. Come on guys, give us something positive to talk about. There has to be something good going on in Bulldog land . . .
Fire Quinton
Well SUNSHINE LOLLIPOPS!!! I guess the only thing that could make this blog happier is if Logan announces his transfer to UT tomorrow and AJ Green quits football to pursue his lifelong dream to be an Olympic ski jumper.
WSB is reporting that Logan Gray is considering transferring. This is bad. I'm getting that "rats fleeing a sinking ship" vibe out of Athens at this point.
How about golf?
Ummmm, the men's golf team did win the SEC.
Men's Golf won the SEC....again.
Quinton, a lot of people have said Perno is no longer the man for the job. I think thats a little quick given that we were in the NCG in 2008 and had 2 other CWS appearances under his watch. However, Georgia should never ever be this bad in baseball. Wiederhold has to go but there seems to be little hope for the pitching staff in '11. What are your thoughts on what needs to change?
As a whole this might be the worst year of Georgia athletics in my lifetime.
Men's Golf won another SEC Championship...
I'm holding out hope for softball. But don't forget the men's golf team won their second consecutive SEC title and are poised for a strong NCAA run in May.
At least we won the G-day game.
You make Yoculan's retirement sound a little dubious. Not sure if "resignation" is the right word to use, but it's not a major thing.
Also, I've heard Wiederhold is a sure goner, and I'm wondering if our pitching has ever put up numbers that bad, even in the dark days of the mid 90s.
Don't we play golf?
Men's Golf won their 28th SEC Title. The sky isn't falling.
The Softball Dawgs are for real..I went to a game the other week. They're quite excellent.
Georgia men won the SEC Golf Championship.
I think we may have won the SEC golf title, but I'm not sure.
Guys... when we're clinging to Men's Golf and Softball... we are truly destitute. I can only hope that we've hit rock bottom and there's nowhere to go but up... because this athletic year has really, really put a damper on our ability to stand toe to toe and talk trash with ANY of our rivals.
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