For some reason, I'm just not as stoked about the unofficial start to football season as I normally am. Ten years ago, I anxiously awaited media days and whatever nuggets came from Hoover.
Now, I'm all meh.
Part of that is the overwhelming amount of minutia that comes out of media days. I literally can see everything that happens. But there is also the sideshow spectacle of it all. We've become more interested in the crowds for Alabama Day, Ole Miss death penalty threats, trolling the B1.5G, how drunk Bret Bielema looks, and inane Clay Travis questions. Ten years ago, there was some of that, but the worst we got from reporters was bitching about wifi and the food.
The other part is I'm genuinely flummoxed by what to expect this football season: both out of Georgia and out of the rest of the firmament. Part of me wants to believe that Kirby's ability to learn on the job will help him become the coach that many people believe him to already be. Part of me is desperately afraid he never will. I do know he won't have much leash to play with if this becomes a four year project.
As for the national football firmament, I'm worried if Georgia does take that step this year, the narrative will be 'the SEC is down' because look at the SEC East!1! Basically, the same argument we heard in the 2002-2005 run. Fundamentally, coverage is designed to generate clicks. As I've long said (about the AJC, but it applies to SBNation and most other websites), nothing gets hits like a positive Alabama story or a negative Georgia one.
Honestly, the only thing that would turn that narrative around is an undefeated run out of Georgia, where the offense looks like the best of the Mike Bobo days and the defense looks like the 1983 Junkyard Dawgs. Win ugly, and I'll be happy, but I don't think those that talk about the sport will.
TW
Showing posts with label Bitchrant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bitchrant. Show all posts
July 12, 2017
November 27, 2016
What's next?
We've all seen this before: Play calling to not lose, lack of focus at key times, not running the plays that work until the defense stops them, being too cute with personnel. Clock and play management snafus.
That's probably what I was most frustrated about.
And that was 2001.
It took a while of post game processing to get there, but I was frustrated because what we saw yesterday is replay of what we saw the last time we hired a young hotshot coordinator who is The Next Big Thing.
There isn't any real revelation there, but there is hope that this The Next Big Thing learns faster.
One other thing, before you get too far down that road, Mark Richt's 2001 team had three all conference selections on the Oline.
I've said all along, it is impossible to write the story of Kirby Smart's success until we see if he's learning to be a head coach. On the job training on national television sucks. We can debate if we are a program that should be doing that, but we made the decision that we are a program that does that. Ignore the noise about what Mark Richt was or what Georgia was or blahblahblahMuschamp.
That is until we are still doing those things above in year three.
T
That's probably what I was most frustrated about.
And that was 2001.
It took a while of post game processing to get there, but I was frustrated because what we saw yesterday is replay of what we saw the last time we hired a young hotshot coordinator who is The Next Big Thing.
There isn't any real revelation there, but there is hope that this The Next Big Thing learns faster.
One other thing, before you get too far down that road, Mark Richt's 2001 team had three all conference selections on the Oline.
I've said all along, it is impossible to write the story of Kirby Smart's success until we see if he's learning to be a head coach. On the job training on national television sucks. We can debate if we are a program that should be doing that, but we made the decision that we are a program that does that. Ignore the noise about what Mark Richt was or what Georgia was or blahblahblahMuschamp.
That is until we are still doing those things above in year three.
T
October 30, 2016
Nesnesitelná lehkost bytí
You know, it's funny that I had that revelation while in DC watching the game Saturday. Sometimes you have to get away from the echo chamber that is Athens and it metaphorical surrounds to really hear things. What I found is that, it is still fun being a Georgia fan, regardless of outcomes. Regardless of wins. Regardless of all of the stuff that goes with being a fan of a Top Tier Program.I've decided to stop worrying and just enjoy being a Dawg fan. That's my biggest takeaway from hanging with @PierceWilford and his crew Sat— TDub (@TylerDawgden) October 30, 2016
What I heard and saw Saturday: Georgia fans reveling in being Georgia fans. Nothing fancy. Just brothers and sisters in a shared cause gathering to see the Red and Black play. The unbridled joy of being part of something bigger than ourselves.
I get the feeling of apathy. I really do. I get the lack of care. I get the need to yell, rant, make accusations, to demand accountability. I get the lack of energy to care about doing that any more. I do.
The thing is this: there is nothing about my doing any of those things that will change the outcome of anything other than how my day will go. I don't have apathy.
Georgia football has brought me through a lot. Part of my time in DC in the 90's was the worst time in my life. A bad divorce. A tough career change.
And probably the one thing that got me through it all was being a Georgia fan. It was my identity when the other things in my life that gave me identity, my marriage and my job, were not going very well. The Red and Black. Goff's last two years and Donnan's first two. Georgia was 17-16-1 those four years.
So forgive me if I am being chill and rational. I hate looking lost on offense. I hate getting whipped on the line of scrimmage. I hate the dumb penalties. I hate the ever rotating free form fail of special teams. I hate it, but there are worse things that missing a bowl game or looking like wet dog crap on offense. There just is.
Be apathetic. That's your right. As for me, I'm going to Lexington. I'm going to be in Sanford for the last three. Unless my wife tells me other wise and we get to at least 6-6, I'll be in Memphis or Birmingham or Shreveport. I'll yell my head off. I'm sure there'll be other dark moments, but I am sure they won't match what I faced in the 90's.
And maybe, just maybe, we can ruin Auburn or Tech's season.
One day, we'll be back to where we were in the 00's. It might be two years. It might be 20. But I'll by God give a damn about Georgia and be a Georgia fan then and every moment in between.
Go Dawgs.
TW
July 13, 2016
Wow - I guess Finebaum won't be wearing Crimson this fall edition
Presented without comment, other than to say for Finebaum, it was an incredibly fair question. Apparently, it was less cordial during the commercial break.
Full video: Saban goes off on Paul Finebaumhttps://t.co/3fhyqU9fiYhttps://t.co/lazKcCfsPO— FootballScoop Staff (@FootballScoop) July 13, 2016
November 6, 2015
I'm just going to leave this here
To anyone rooting for Georgia to lose 'just to get Richt fired:'
TW
And I’m damn sure not going to root for the team to lose just because it might hasten his departure. Even if you think the coaches don’t deserve any better than that, the players do. The coaches will be fine whatever happens; if Richt got fired tomorrow, his most pressing dilemma would be whether to deposit his $800,000 buyout directly into an IRA or cash it out into hundreds and roll around in it on his bed. But the players are just playing the hand they’ve been dealt. Continued losses aren’t going to do them any good. Wins — and the confidence that the fan base is still behind them — will.Guys, don't forget there are 85+ kids who have given their lives to entertain and represent us, UGA. They deserve our support, regardless of your feels about Mark Richt.
TW
August 21, 2015
Insert your own eye roll here
I normally ignore Chaddd Scotttt, if for no other reason, the guy always seems to come off as a pompous douche with misogynistic tendencies. For the record, I am neither a woman, nor someone who is particularly prone to PC police shaming, so I'll just leave those observations at that.
So when he posted something giving Colin Cowherd, and by extension, himself, credit for putting college football in the national public limelight, I had to read. His take: no one at ESPN paid attention to college football when Chaddd started at ESPNRadio in 2003. Except ESPN began devoting entire crews to broadcast on location from college campuses in 1993, moving to every Saturday on location broadcasts in 1995.
Just chalk this post up to some self therapy for me, if you will. That guy just gets under my skin.
T
So when he posted something giving Colin Cowherd, and by extension, himself, credit for putting college football in the national public limelight, I had to read. His take: no one at ESPN paid attention to college football when Chaddd started at ESPNRadio in 2003. Except ESPN began devoting entire crews to broadcast on location from college campuses in 1993, moving to every Saturday on location broadcasts in 1995.
Just chalk this post up to some self therapy for me, if you will. That guy just gets under my skin.
T
August 11, 2015
Who will you kick around then?
Blutarsky has been on this far more than me, but I agree with him that UGA's football program has been made over in the past eight months.
I suppose the relevant question is will it matter?
I made the mistake of venturing too far off the Dawgvent this morning (read: went to Dawgchat). Boy it that a wasteland of group therapy gone bad. The most frustrating thing I read is that UGA hasn't won anything because of "this feel good players coach BS."
So let's assume that is the case. I guess Will Muschamp was too cuddly, too? And Phil Jackson would like a word.
Georgia's winning or losing can be lain at the foot of the coaches, and I think there is a good case that some of the past two season can be lain at the foot of an administration that was trying to play both sides against the middle.
That has changed.
For what it's worth, I don't buy the 'since it happened' last year thing for
I suppose the relevant question is will it matter?
I made the mistake of venturing too far off the Dawgvent this morning (read: went to Dawgchat). Boy it that a wasteland of group therapy gone bad. The most frustrating thing I read is that UGA hasn't won anything because of "this feel good players coach BS."
So let's assume that is the case. I guess Will Muschamp was too cuddly, too? And Phil Jackson would like a word.
Georgia's winning or losing can be lain at the foot of the coaches, and I think there is a good case that some of the past two season can be lain at the foot of an administration that was trying to play both sides against the middle.
That has changed.
For what it's worth, I don't buy the 'since it happened' last year thing for
- losing games we shouldn't lose
- Florida/Tennessee/South Carolina's chances against UGA
- turnovers
- winning games handily
The same goes for coaching. Yes, people are more constant than the everchanging bounce of a non-round ball, but we have a total coaching turn over since the end of 2013. All the things that everyone complains about
- strength and conditioning
- indoor practice facility
- hitting in practice
- travel
- fiery head coach
have changed.
I guess this turned into a rant. I intended to make the point that we are in the midst of a 14 year run of success that our program has never seen by any metric but one.
And we play in a much, much tougher conference than any of Vince Dooley's teams did.
One last thing. Imagine it is August 1980 for a minute. Would you have been called nuts for talking about a national championship back in 1946, 34 years before? That's how long it's been since January 1, 1981, boys.
Let's get to the future. It is here.
T
January 29, 2015
"That is terrible!"
Yes, Mr. Vandenburg, it is.
I've spent most of January purging. I still love Georgia, college basketball/football, and writing. I just need a break, I guess. I intend to continue on that purge over the next few weeks (but if you are desperate, I'm on Twitter), but the Vanderbilt rape trial is one that I have been following that compels me to write. But not about the actual trial or what led to the trial.
While there are some pieces to the story that are in contention, these facts are not: Brandon Vandenburg, who was at the time projected to be Vandy's starting TE, videoed his girl friend getting sexually assaulted by team mates, while encouraging them to do so. He and Cory Batey were convicted this week. Mr. Vandenburg was also convicted of evidence tampering and unlawful photographing the victim during the attack.
There is a whole month of cautionary tale posts here, but one thing that just struck me totally wrong was Brandon Vanderburg's father shouting "That is terrible!" when the jury foreman read the verdict.
"That is terrible!"
Yes, Mr. Vandenburg, it is terrible in a real way, but not in the way you meant it. But using that particular verbiage, something I feel comfortable you've shouted countless times at coaches, referees, Brandon's other team mates, teams he's gone against, and probably Brandon, too, illustrates bigger issues. I can't imagine how hard it is to have a child convicted of something this terrible. I hope I never, ever find out or even face the possibility of that.
But there is that video. Perhaps you didn't see it; I know I didn't. I don't think I would have wanted to, if I were in your position. The terrible thing is that sitting in the court room, with the victim, her family, your son's co-defendant, and everyone else that did see the video, you decided one more time to make it about how your son isn't getting his fair shake.
The terrible thing is you made it about your son.
Mr. Vandenburg, it's on us. Fathers. Brothers. Coaches. Leaders. Administrators. Men. It's on us.
The idea that you and your wife will lose your son, who had so much promise, nearly moves me to tears in the abstract. I can't imagine the pain you are going through. I'm gussing this isn't how you taught him to be. I'd sure like to think so. But this is a bed he made for himself. One that ultimately cost his team mate, and likely two more team mates, their liberty. One that cost a young lady so much more.
Don't be that guy. Don't be the 'couldn't be my son.' Don't be the 'he just watched' guy. Don't be the 'its only kids being kids' guy. Don't be the 'boys will be boys' guy. Don't be the 'it is the culture' guy. Don't be the 'it was this way when I was in school' guy. Don't be the 'she got too drunk' guy. Don't be the 'she knew it was coming' guy. Don't be the 'she wanted it' guy. Don't be the 'he ain't responsible for others' guy. Don't be the 'it isn't my business' guy. Don't be the 'that's terrible' guy. Just don't.
It's on us.
TD
I've spent most of January purging. I still love Georgia, college basketball/football, and writing. I just need a break, I guess. I intend to continue on that purge over the next few weeks (but if you are desperate, I'm on Twitter), but the Vanderbilt rape trial is one that I have been following that compels me to write. But not about the actual trial or what led to the trial.
While there are some pieces to the story that are in contention, these facts are not: Brandon Vandenburg, who was at the time projected to be Vandy's starting TE, videoed his girl friend getting sexually assaulted by team mates, while encouraging them to do so. He and Cory Batey were convicted this week. Mr. Vandenburg was also convicted of evidence tampering and unlawful photographing the victim during the attack.
There is a whole month of cautionary tale posts here, but one thing that just struck me totally wrong was Brandon Vanderburg's father shouting "That is terrible!" when the jury foreman read the verdict.
"That is terrible!"
Yes, Mr. Vandenburg, it is terrible in a real way, but not in the way you meant it. But using that particular verbiage, something I feel comfortable you've shouted countless times at coaches, referees, Brandon's other team mates, teams he's gone against, and probably Brandon, too, illustrates bigger issues. I can't imagine how hard it is to have a child convicted of something this terrible. I hope I never, ever find out or even face the possibility of that.
But there is that video. Perhaps you didn't see it; I know I didn't. I don't think I would have wanted to, if I were in your position. The terrible thing is that sitting in the court room, with the victim, her family, your son's co-defendant, and everyone else that did see the video, you decided one more time to make it about how your son isn't getting his fair shake.
The terrible thing is you made it about your son.
Mr. Vandenburg, it's on us. Fathers. Brothers. Coaches. Leaders. Administrators. Men. It's on us.
The idea that you and your wife will lose your son, who had so much promise, nearly moves me to tears in the abstract. I can't imagine the pain you are going through. I'm gussing this isn't how you taught him to be. I'd sure like to think so. But this is a bed he made for himself. One that ultimately cost his team mate, and likely two more team mates, their liberty. One that cost a young lady so much more.
Don't be that guy. Don't be the 'couldn't be my son.' Don't be the 'he just watched' guy. Don't be the 'its only kids being kids' guy. Don't be the 'boys will be boys' guy. Don't be the 'it is the culture' guy. Don't be the 'it was this way when I was in school' guy. Don't be the 'she got too drunk' guy. Don't be the 'she knew it was coming' guy. Don't be the 'she wanted it' guy. Don't be the 'he ain't responsible for others' guy. Don't be the 'it isn't my business' guy. Don't be the 'that's terrible' guy. Just don't.
It's on us.
TD
December 9, 2014
Profiles in dumb
Any discussion of why UGA will lose to Louisville due to the ACC's record against the SEC East has to rank up there, right? Just had a dude bring that up. Straight faced.
Look, if you want a solid analysis of why Georgia will lose to Louisville, consider how teams did against UGA coming off bye weeks (3-0), Louisville's ability to create turnovers, Petrino's bowl record (4-3), or Richt's bowl record (8-5). You can talk about common opponents (Clemson and Kentucky) or how UGA did against the ACC (1-1). If it suits you, though I think it is lazy and data picking, you can talk about Richt's past four bowl games (1-3)
TD
Look, if you want a solid analysis of why Georgia will lose to Louisville, consider how teams did against UGA coming off bye weeks (3-0), Louisville's ability to create turnovers, Petrino's bowl record (4-3), or Richt's bowl record (8-5). You can talk about common opponents (Clemson and Kentucky) or how UGA did against the ACC (1-1). If it suits you, though I think it is lazy and data picking, you can talk about Richt's past four bowl games (1-3)
TD
November 6, 2014
People are the worst
What is wrong with you if you are negatively tweeting back at a player who is expressing his thank to God for another day doing something he loves? Did your mom not hug you enough or what?
Damn, I hate people some days.
TD
Damn, I hate people some days.
TD
November 4, 2014
Getting Snippy with Coach Richt
If you believe the message boards, Mark Richt should have had his red and black taken from him and made to find his own damn way back to Athens Saturday. At least that is my take away from reading the titles of a majority of the posts I saw. So I posit this question:
What were your expectations going into this season?
I've been pretty clear that I thought we'd be 8-4 or so. I based that on a few things: new defensive schemes and the youth on that side of the ball; QB play; and offensive line depth. As a bonus, I was worried about injuries in the running back corp that would limit how we used them in close games. By my view, all three weaknesses were on display Saturday, with the added bonus of us being down to two backs.
Before we go all fire [FILL IN THE BLANK WITH EVERYONE BUT PRUITT] mode over losing to a bad Florida team, I think we should see how they finish the year with Harris at QB. It is clear that they found something to spark their offense. If they sustain that for the rest of the season, this loss won't look the same in December. Their defense was and remains very stout. We saw that on display, especially in the second and third quarters.
I hate losing to Florida more than I hate losing to any other team. I firmly believe that we have something, somewhere that contributes to, but isn't the only cause of, head scratching losses each year. But truth be told, every program but one or two a year has those losses. Does that change how maddening it is for us that we have one each year? No.
I suspect some of those in the fire Richt camp would feel the same way if we went to the National Championship, only to lose by one point to another undefeated team. Some of those in the Richt shouldn't be ever held accountable camp would feel that way if we were 0-12, because he is a good man. In reality, there is a middle ground occupied by most of us that want championships, but see that there is more to excellence than just championships.
The problem lies in where that point is, and those decision makers that view excellence more by dollars and perception than wins and graduation rates.
TD
What were your expectations going into this season?
I've been pretty clear that I thought we'd be 8-4 or so. I based that on a few things: new defensive schemes and the youth on that side of the ball; QB play; and offensive line depth. As a bonus, I was worried about injuries in the running back corp that would limit how we used them in close games. By my view, all three weaknesses were on display Saturday, with the added bonus of us being down to two backs.
Before we go all fire [FILL IN THE BLANK WITH EVERYONE BUT PRUITT] mode over losing to a bad Florida team, I think we should see how they finish the year with Harris at QB. It is clear that they found something to spark their offense. If they sustain that for the rest of the season, this loss won't look the same in December. Their defense was and remains very stout. We saw that on display, especially in the second and third quarters.
I hate losing to Florida more than I hate losing to any other team. I firmly believe that we have something, somewhere that contributes to, but isn't the only cause of, head scratching losses each year. But truth be told, every program but one or two a year has those losses. Does that change how maddening it is for us that we have one each year? No.
I suspect some of those in the fire Richt camp would feel the same way if we went to the National Championship, only to lose by one point to another undefeated team. Some of those in the Richt shouldn't be ever held accountable camp would feel that way if we were 0-12, because he is a good man. In reality, there is a middle ground occupied by most of us that want championships, but see that there is more to excellence than just championships.
The problem lies in where that point is, and those decision makers that view excellence more by dollars and perception than wins and graduation rates.
TD
November 3, 2014
The Georgia Way
Last night, I saw the discussion Dan Wolken was having on Twitter about Georgia and started several times to write something about the issues being further up and more ingraned than simply 'Mark Richt is too good a guy to win it all.'
TD
It's just a weird vibe around UGA. Almost like the school would feel guilty acting like a real football power.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 3, 2014
Thankfully, Blutarsky took the time to write something that hit the nail on the head:What they’re unwilling to give any hard thought to is how to win doing things the right way. Whether that’s out of a sense of guilt, as Wolken surmises, or because it’s too hard to make the effort, I can’t say. But it’s clear, and not just to me.The one thing I'd add is that 'the right way' isn't a binary decision. There are plenty of things that are the right way, that frankly it feels we are afraid to do as an athletic department. This isn't a fire Richt or even a fire McGarity sentiment. This is a view that the decision makers view success in a different way than the rest of us do. Which is why Blutarsky sums his post up with
Because if the folks in Butts-Mehre are anything these days, it’s comfortable.And as long as there is plenty of money and butts in seats, I don't see that changing.
TD
October 18, 2014
Notre Dame vs. FSU
 |
| It's only funny because it's not funny |
Yeah, I'm not excited about the match up. We've been derisive, maybe rightfully so, maybe not, of the "Georgia Way" this week. Notre Dame and Florida State are examples of programs that we should never want our program to be.
You can argue that FSU is merely trying to help their star. I'd argue they've gone a very long way in fostering his mindset of invincibility. As much as I want to win a National Championship, it should never come at the cost of being a program that is willing to actively thwart a rape investigation.
Same goes for FSU.
We've got our problems at UGA. I get the argument that we may have taken the hardest of roads with the Gurley investigation, but I think that complaint is not ripe until more information is made public. But if you want UGA to become FSU or Notre Dame in the pursuit of a National Championship, from my view, you are way more concerned with yourself than UGA.
TD
October 9, 2014
When crappy weeks get worse
Great googly moo:
This is going to turn out well:
TD
SI.com has learned that a person confirmed to Georgia’s compliance office this week that he paid Gurley $400 to sign 80 items on campus in Athens, Ga., one day this past spring. The person claimed to have a photo and video of Gurley signing the items, but neither the photo nor the video showed money changing hands. NCAA rules require schools to immediately declare a player ineligible if they discover a violation has been committed.Any of you that were bitching about UGA not protecting athletes want to issue a retraction? No?
This is going to turn out well:
The last time Georgia turned in a violation involving a piece of memorabilia, receiver A.J. Green was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season after he sold a game-worn Independence Bowl jersey to a person the NCAA considered an agent.At least there were no agents involved.
TD
June 15, 2014
Sterling Bailey's dad drops truth
If you haven't seen the article or comments, go read them now.
Yes, Kevin Bailey drops some serious knowledge on Tray Matthews, his family, and Auburn fans. I can live with Richt's decision when he is running off ungrateful children with serious entitlement issues. Especially when they bully professors and steal from the University.
The thing that gets me is a bit of a throw away about alcohol testing. Woah. I'm sure I'll revisit this later, but we test underage players for booze? Wow.
And for "it's not us, it's THEM," I'd say shut up until your legacy is something other than a Big1.5G receiver burning your ass for 99 yards.
TD
Yes, Kevin Bailey drops some serious knowledge on Tray Matthews, his family, and Auburn fans. I can live with Richt's decision when he is running off ungrateful children with serious entitlement issues. Especially when they bully professors and steal from the University.
The thing that gets me is a bit of a throw away about alcohol testing. Woah. I'm sure I'll revisit this later, but we test underage players for booze? Wow.
And for "it's not us, it's THEM," I'd say shut up until your legacy is something other than a Big1.5G receiver burning your ass for 99 yards.
TD
February 14, 2014
Why the NFL is dead to me
It isn't much of a secret that I don't like pro football. Sure, I'll watch a random Falcons game or some playoffs, but it's been 20 years since the NFL has captured my attention in any real way. Part of that is the sanitized version of football in the NFL, with the same plays being run by nearly all 30+ teams in the same way, defended the same way, and approached the same way. Frankly, the NFL is like the NBA in that way, and that isn't meant as a compliment.
In reality, Brian Kelly's move to the NFL is a bit of an aberration. Folks with any ideas out of the ordinary, especially offensively, are instantly dismissed as gimmick mongers. There is a reason it is called 'pro style' offense. For my money, I'd bet Mike Leach would kill in the NFL if given the right combination of QB, WRs, and offensive line. But he'll never get that shot because he likes pirates and is a lawyer.
Same goes for anyone that doesn't fit in. While this isn't a Michael Sam post, it'll be interesting to see how the league approaches him. For now, it looks like the SEC is probably more tolerant and open minded than the National Football League.
Think about Myron Rolle, the Florida State safety that is a Rhodes Scholar. The NFL didn't take to him, despite him being projected as a first round pick before going to Oxford. His projection fell to the fifth round after he came back, and he got cut by the Titans and sent to the practice squad. Same guy. Same talent. But because he went to Oxford, the NFL found him to be unacceptable.
And Rolle thinks he knows why:
I pray that college football doesn't become that, because that'd be a damn shame.
TD
In reality, Brian Kelly's move to the NFL is a bit of an aberration. Folks with any ideas out of the ordinary, especially offensively, are instantly dismissed as gimmick mongers. There is a reason it is called 'pro style' offense. For my money, I'd bet Mike Leach would kill in the NFL if given the right combination of QB, WRs, and offensive line. But he'll never get that shot because he likes pirates and is a lawyer.
Same goes for anyone that doesn't fit in. While this isn't a Michael Sam post, it'll be interesting to see how the league approaches him. For now, it looks like the SEC is probably more tolerant and open minded than the National Football League.
Think about Myron Rolle, the Florida State safety that is a Rhodes Scholar. The NFL didn't take to him, despite him being projected as a first round pick before going to Oxford. His projection fell to the fifth round after he came back, and he got cut by the Titans and sent to the practice squad. Same guy. Same talent. But because he went to Oxford, the NFL found him to be unacceptable.
And Rolle thinks he knows why:
"If you ruffle feathers, ruffle it in a way that the NFL can deal with, like getting a DUI, maybe beating your wife, maybe getting a drug charge. We (the NFL) can overcome that. If you're smart ... a little too much for us, you know? If it's close, they're gonna go with the other guy."The NFL makes a big deal about locker room culture and team. Which is funny considering the emphasis on individual stats and behaviors. Unless those individuals are different from the other individuals. Then that shit can be harmful to the locker room. And funny thing is, the NFL needed Myron Rolle way more than Myron Rolle needed the NFL. Because the smart football people decided Myron Rolle wasn't what they thought of when they thought of a good football player.
I pray that college football doesn't become that, because that'd be a damn shame.
TD
January 29, 2014
Traffic woes and snow
Let me get this out of the way: being stuck in your car for many, many hours sucks. I know. I've been there. On multiple occasions.
Also, schools who waited to let kids out need to seriously evaluate their policies and think critically about where those kids are going when their parents are working 25 miles away. However, we need to stop blaming schools for closing too quickly when the threat of weather happens. That's on we parents. Unless we evaluate our willingness to bitch about that (which drives school administration thinking on pulling that trigger) and own our role in all the times schools close too quickly, we are doomed to see this happen again.
And we will bitch and snark the next time schools close the day before a threatened snow and it doesn't materialize. And we will forget about kids stuck on school buses, stuck at school, or our collective outrage over 'them idiots' running our schools for waiting to pull the trigger yesterday. That's what we do.
One last rant: before we start yelling at the top of our lungs about government or the weather man, let me ask you a question: Didn't you know the weather was going to be bad before you went to work yesterday? Does your employer have a reasonable leave policy?
If your employer has a reasonable leave policy: You traded saving a half day of leave for sitting on the road for multiple hours. What happens when it snows in Atlanta isn't an unknown quantity. That isn't to say government and the weather forecasters don't have a role in this, but in essence, you decided that you knew better and didn't want to 'waste' that leave/get mocked for staying home/fall behind on something that probably doesn't really matter now.
This is a lesson I learned while practicing law in Washington, DC in the 90s. Multiple times, I went in with full knowledge that if the forecast was right, I'd end up having to make a sleep at the office or drive six hours decision that day. And I had to do so. Six hours from Silver Spring to Quince Orchard in the snow. And I never learned. Except for the times I slept at the office.
Also, I'm not surprised that my dedication to clients/the firm/my managing partner/the practice of law didn't come up at all when evaluation time came around.
If your employer doesn't have a reasonable leave policy: You need to direct some (or perhaps a large part) of your ire at your employer.
This happens in other cities. It happened in Chicago in 2011, with commuters sleeping on Lakeshore Drive and the Dan Ryan Expressway. It happened in New York in 2013, with commuters sleeping on the Long Island Expressway. Yes, the amounts of snow are different, but even if Atlanta had all the equipment those cities had, we would have had much the same result because that equipment can't work when roads are covered with cars all leaving at nearly the same time.
If we are going to skewer local and state government for not learning past lessons, we need to be willing to admit we aren't doing so either.
We aren't big on personal responsibility in the world anymore. We look for reasons bad stuff happens to us. Sometimes it is our own decisions, and not those of the government, the weatherman, or school administrators, that we are in the situation we are in.
Or maybe it is just snarky bloggers who are to blame.
See Also:
-- How Hothlanta Happened -- EDSBS
TD
Also, schools who waited to let kids out need to seriously evaluate their policies and think critically about where those kids are going when their parents are working 25 miles away. However, we need to stop blaming schools for closing too quickly when the threat of weather happens. That's on we parents. Unless we evaluate our willingness to bitch about that (which drives school administration thinking on pulling that trigger) and own our role in all the times schools close too quickly, we are doomed to see this happen again.
And we will bitch and snark the next time schools close the day before a threatened snow and it doesn't materialize. And we will forget about kids stuck on school buses, stuck at school, or our collective outrage over 'them idiots' running our schools for waiting to pull the trigger yesterday. That's what we do.
One last rant: before we start yelling at the top of our lungs about government or the weather man, let me ask you a question: Didn't you know the weather was going to be bad before you went to work yesterday? Does your employer have a reasonable leave policy?
If your employer has a reasonable leave policy: You traded saving a half day of leave for sitting on the road for multiple hours. What happens when it snows in Atlanta isn't an unknown quantity. That isn't to say government and the weather forecasters don't have a role in this, but in essence, you decided that you knew better and didn't want to 'waste' that leave/get mocked for staying home/fall behind on something that probably doesn't really matter now.
This is a lesson I learned while practicing law in Washington, DC in the 90s. Multiple times, I went in with full knowledge that if the forecast was right, I'd end up having to make a sleep at the office or drive six hours decision that day. And I had to do so. Six hours from Silver Spring to Quince Orchard in the snow. And I never learned. Except for the times I slept at the office.
Also, I'm not surprised that my dedication to clients/the firm/my managing partner/the practice of law didn't come up at all when evaluation time came around.
If your employer doesn't have a reasonable leave policy: You need to direct some (or perhaps a large part) of your ire at your employer.
This happens in other cities. It happened in Chicago in 2011, with commuters sleeping on Lakeshore Drive and the Dan Ryan Expressway. It happened in New York in 2013, with commuters sleeping on the Long Island Expressway. Yes, the amounts of snow are different, but even if Atlanta had all the equipment those cities had, we would have had much the same result because that equipment can't work when roads are covered with cars all leaving at nearly the same time.
If we are going to skewer local and state government for not learning past lessons, we need to be willing to admit we aren't doing so either.
We aren't big on personal responsibility in the world anymore. We look for reasons bad stuff happens to us. Sometimes it is our own decisions, and not those of the government, the weatherman, or school administrators, that we are in the situation we are in.
Or maybe it is just snarky bloggers who are to blame.
See Also:
-- How Hothlanta Happened -- EDSBS
TD
January 17, 2014
It's 4:20 somewhere
Usually in Athens.
TD
Georgia starting safety Josh Harvey-Clemons was suspended for the Gator Bowl for a violation of team rules, and now the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the suspension will carry over and keep Harvey-Clemons off the field for the first three games of the 2014 season.I'm going to need someone to find his weed man and give him a good talking to.
TD
January 3, 2014
Class
Being part of something as special as the Georgia Bulldog football team has it's price. One of those is dealing with the lunatics who would roll and egg a house. Another is message board/twitter dummies.
If you don't think Arthur Lynch takes the drops in the Gator Bowl harder than you did, there is no hope for you as a human being. If you are still hard hearted and wish ill on him, I've got nothing. Both of you are case examples, one class and what being a Georgia Bulldog is about, the other is the total lack thereof.
TD
If you don't think Arthur Lynch takes the drops in the Gator Bowl harder than you did, there is no hope for you as a human being. If you are still hard hearted and wish ill on him, I've got nothing. Both of you are case examples, one class and what being a Georgia Bulldog is about, the other is the total lack thereof.
TD
December 12, 2013
Aaron Murray deserved better
Back in July, I suggested we fans create a Murray for Heisman campaign. My reasoning was simple, UGA wasn't going to, and I thought he deserved it. Paul thought we could launch one if we were undefeated post-LSU, which I privately agreed with him. And thought we would.
But we didn't. Two SEC QBs are going to New York. Both had similar numbers, but didn't have to deal with the injuries to key offensive skill positions that Murray did. Also, an SEC running back, who is doing so on the back of a (very impressive) one game showing is going. And all of their schools did something to promote those players, particularly Auburn, which litterally blanked the voters with emails in the three days after the SEC Championship Game.
UGA? Nah. Not our scene. And it is absolutely terrible that we didn't do it.
The money shot? I'll let Bernie rant:
TD
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-Doug's take at Hey Jenny Slater
But we didn't. Two SEC QBs are going to New York. Both had similar numbers, but didn't have to deal with the injuries to key offensive skill positions that Murray did. Also, an SEC running back, who is doing so on the back of a (very impressive) one game showing is going. And all of their schools did something to promote those players, particularly Auburn, which litterally blanked the voters with emails in the three days after the SEC Championship Game.
UGA? Nah. Not our scene. And it is absolutely terrible that we didn't do it.
The money shot? I'll let Bernie rant:
And yet it was some South Carolina sports writer from Charleston that had to beat the drum for Aaron Murray. Embarrassing.By the by, read the rest of his post. It is a perfectly worded expose on why UGA athletics takes the attitude it does, and why there is no downside to the campaign in the first place.
TD
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-Doug's take at Hey Jenny Slater
