UGA Paintline calls for fans to wear black

The guys that are at the front of the student section every game are a real group. They are calling for Georgia fans to wear black to the game Saturday. Now, before you get all 'fake juice' and stuff, this is a student lead thing, not a team thing.

After the poor showing by the general student body at the Georgia Southern game, any thing lead by the students to get the crowd fired up is a good thing. Remember, this game is about the seniors and what those guys have given to us, the fans, in that time. We can be a fickle, whiny group. We can be demanding, petulant and completely overwrought  Sometimes all of those things are warranted. However, if we expect the football team to show up and give their all, shouldn't we do the same?

Paul Westerdawg and I'll be in black on Saturday and in the stadium in time to cheer the seniors pre-game. Kudos to the students for trying to get the fans to the stadium and loud to support the team.

TD

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Things I Learned to Hate in 2008-2009

Every year my hate meter fluctuates somewhat.  Not on hating the truly repellent things, like the University of Florida, Dennis Felton's "offense," or temperance.  No, the fluctuating hate is at the margins and often temporary, but it is still a quality vitriol.  Here are a few things I can't forgive for their actions last year. 

1. Alabama. - Some of you have always hated Alabama and will hate them forever.  I didn't really mind them too much until last year because we had beaten them in thrilling fashion during the Richt era and they were sometimes good for a crucial win over Florida or Tennessee when the East standings were tight.  This year's game set up perfectly for us: home night game, blackout, Bama showered bulletin board material at us, UF lost that afternoon, national television audience, USC lost earlier in the week, #1 was back in our grasp.  It had the feeling of a coronation in pregame warm-ups.  Then, this happened.  Total despair.  You won't endear yourself to me ever again, Bammers.  On a related note ...
2. Being #1 Before the End of a Season. - Georgia doesn't do well as #1, unless they are hitting forehands, riding horses, or doing somersaults.  Need proof?  Football started the season at #1 and produced one of the most disappointing seasons we are likely to ever produce.  Baseball was #1 before, and briefly during, the conference slate.  They ended the year with a 3-12 streak and didn't host a regional, which appeared to be a lock half way through the year.  Even the golf team, ranked #1 for almost all of the year, almost choked away a spot for match play day before falling in the final four.  If we are never #1 during a season ever again, I'm OK.  I'll wait until the end of the season for that ranking.
3. Rain - It makes the grass grow, sure, but rain really screwed us this year.  First, with the SEC Baseball Tournament title in sight, the SEC umps marched Alex McRee to the mound under heavy rain in Hoover and no hope of a break in the weather.  McRee gave up seven runs in the top of the first with water pouring off the bill of his cap.  Then, the umps called a four hour delay and we resumed play down 7-0 without McRee.  In the improved climate, LSU waltzed through the game and eventually took the title.  We were still trying to dry off.  It wasn't just baseball, though.  In the NCAA tennis quarterfinals, the Dawgs had just finished taking the doubles point from Texas when a long line of Texas thunderstorms soaked College Station and delayed play until the next morning.  Texas came out regrouped and ready.  The Horns got four singles courts in route to a 4-2 win, ending the season for UGA. 

Honorable mentions include: timeouts, Jeff Dantzler's designated driver, the Rally Rat, knee instability, and the inferno stadium bathrooms at Arizona State.

Any others that I should have listed?

Quinton

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The Fire's in their Eyes and their Words are Really Clear

To be honest, reading the Auburn quotes regarding Georgia players dancing to the Soulja Boy (seen above) during last year's makes me think..."What a bunch of whiners." You were up 20-17 and ended up getting mauled 45-20. Soulja Boy should've been the least of your concerns.

"That's been on my mind for the whole year," said Auburn receiver Rod Smith, a Georgia native. "They even had whoever was calling the game — those guys were up in press box doing that (dancing). That got to me. It's just another opportunity to try to get them back for what they did to us last year. I've definitely been looking forward to this game. This is the game that's been marked on my calendar since last year.

"I'm sure it didn't sit well with any of the players on the team. It was a hurtful feeling in my heart to be on the sideline and to see those guys dancing."

To quote Dawgnoxious yesterday, "I feel terrible we gave Rod Smith a hurtful feeling in his heart. I hope the pain did not radiate all the way down to his uterus."

It's almost like they're disappointed that they lost the dance off...not the game. Apparently, Auburn is expecting the pre-game coin toss to be similar to the opening scene from the Beat It video with Penn Wagers tying Knowshon and Tristan Davis together at the wrist. From the Montgomery Advertiser:

Players who draw unsportsmanlike conduct penalties often spend extra time with strength coach Kevin Yoxall in the days following the transgression.

That's a price Davis is willing to pay.

"I've got something for them: Don't let me get in the end zone," said Davis, who has returned two kickoffs for scores this season. "If I score on a kickoff return against Georgia, I'm with Yox the rest of my life. I'm going to let it be known. They might want to get me right now."

With that in mind....

Richt Told Tristan Don't You Ever Play Around Here
Don't Wanna to Recruit you, You Better Disappear
The Fire's In his Tristan's Eyes And His Words Are Really Clear
So Beat It, Just Beat It

He Better Run, He Better Do What He Can
Don't Wanna See No Dance, Don't Be A TD Man
You Wanna Be Tough, Better Talk While You Can
So Beat It, But You Wanna Be Bad.

Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It
No One Wants To Be 5-5
Showin' How Funky Spread is Your O
It Doesn't Matter Who's QB or Throws
Just Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It, Beat It

You Have To Show Them That You're Really Not Scared
You're Losing with Your Line, This Ain't No Winning Team
They'll Kick You, Then They Beat You,
Then They'll Tell You It's Fair
So Beat It, But You Wanna Be Bad

It doesn't matter who's wrong or who's right. Just beat it.

Heee. Heee. Ohhh. No. Heeee. Heeee.

See Also:
-- Georgia vs. Auburn Tickets Starting at $52 (as of this posting)

PWD

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Get your fried chicken on

From Chick-Fil-A's PR folks (edited):

Chick-fil-A is the newest sponsor of ESPN’s College GameDay telecast and to celebrate its involvement, the chain is sending team members to Athens prior to the match-up versus the Alabama Crimson Tide to provide samples of some Chick-fil-A menu items. The product sampling will occur near the GameDay set this Saturday beginning at approximately 7:45 a.m. (til 8:45), while supplies last. In addition, the Chick-fil-A "Eat Mor Chikin" Cows will be on-hand to welcome fans to the game.

All that means...if you're there early for the Gameday show...Chick-Fil-A will do their best to feed you.

PWD


(PS - Chick-Fil-A isn't a sponsor of this site. Although, I'd be glad to have that change.)

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ESPN College Gameday Selects Site in Athens

The ESPN College Gameday Crew has picked a location for its broadcast in Athens. They will set up at Myers Quad. I think it's the most logical location, and it's probably going to inconvience far fewer tailgates than North Campus.

There's a map of that part of campus above. Also, here's a google map.

PWD

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Why Bama Coaches Think UGA is Wearing Black

"They're wearing black because
they are going to a mother f-ing funeral."

-- Bama Assistant Coach
Source: TideSports.com 1:04 mark in the video linked above

Turn your speakers up if you want to hear it from the horse's mouth. Turn your speakers down if you don't. I guess we'll see who buries who on Saturday.

I'm pretty sure Saban will force the Tuscaloosa News to take the video off TideSports.com pretty quickly. If you know how to capture the video, please send me a copy. (Let me know you're going to send it first so that I don't get multiple copies).

See Also:
-- Georgia vs. Alabama Tickets - Stubhub
-- Black Nike Coaches Sideline Polo - GSB Fan Store

PWD

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Blackout for Georgia vs. Alabama (ESPN College Gameday Also Coming)

Richt has called for the Blackout on Saturday, and he also announced that ESPN College Gameday is coming to Athens. Per Coach Richt:

“The seniors asked me on the plane ride home (from Tempe on Saturday night) if they could black this game out and I said sure,” said Richt. “When it’s dark outside and the stadium lights are on I think the players and the fans get more excited and I think with GameDay coming, I didn’t see any reason why we shouldn’t. I thought we had outstanding success with the blackout and the fans last year so we’ll be asking them to participate again.”

Also...several of you asked about Brannon Southerland's return. Richt says he'll be the personal protector on punts vs. Alabama. It sounds like he'll return to full speed after the bye week for the Tennessee game.

Also on the injury front:

Richt also addressed the minor neck injuries sustained by senior tight end Tripp Chandler and senior defensive end Jeremy Lomax.

“Ron (Courson) feels confident they’ll be able to go, although maybe not full-speed during Tuesday’s practice,” said Richt.

I've seen some hand wringing from Dawg fans about "wearing out the black jerseys." The Auburn Blackout was one of those absurd, ridiculously over the top college football moments that we can't "manufacture" going forward. Wearing black jerseys once a month, once a year or saving them for once a decade won't let us replicate the magic of that night.

We're not wearing them to help us win. We're wearing black jerseys because it's fun. Because the players love them. Because recruits love them. And because....why not. Those jerseys will be part of the regular rotation of UGA uniforms for many years going forward, and I'm glad. Why wouldn't you want to wear a bad ass looking uniform that kids and players love? Especially when your school colors are Red and Black.

See Also:
-- Details on the blackout - Ching's Blog
-- Gameday picks the Bama Game - AJC
-- Richt asks Fans to wear black - AJC
-- Dawgs to Blackout Bama - UGAsports
-- Weather for the Game - Weather.com (I know it's too early, but it looks amazing)

Tickets:
-- Georgia Bulldogs vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

PWD

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The Next Blackout: Georgia vs Alabama?

I had pretty much been of the opinion all off season that we'd blackout Tennessee. We haven't beaten them since 2005, it'll be cooler temps in Octobe, Bama was going to be mediocre and well....why not? We need all the juice we can muster.

Well...I've changed my tune. If we win the next two games, there's a very strong shot at having #2 Georgia vs. #10 Alabama between the hedges. The Tide is already 11th in the AP Poll, and the game has been picked up by ESPN for a night game telecast.

With an evening (as yet unconfirmed specific time) kickoff, the heat shouldn't be an issue. They will be the highest rated team to play in Athens all season. Why not black them out with ESPN Gameday likely in attendance? It would be a recruiting, tailgating, party, football weekend for the ages.

Assuming we win the next two (which is jumping way ahead), I think we're pulling out all the stops for the Bama game. And while I'm on the topic...100 Cocktails to the ESPN executive who used the priority pick for the UGA vs. Bama game months before the season started. That looked like a dicey move early on. Right now, it looks like genius.

ESPN will announce the official start time on Sunday or Monday for the Bama game. Everyone on earth expects 7:45 pm, but they have the option of waiting til 13 days out to confirm it. They won't announce the ESPN Gameday Location until the following week.

See Also:
-- Blackout Posters from the Auburn Game
-- Tickets: Georgia vs. Alabama

PWD

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Ladies Georgia Bulldog Jerseys (Knowshon Moreno and Matt Stafford)

Classic Black Logo T-Shirt	Classic Ash Logo T-Shirt	Classic Red Logo T-Shirt

Our store just got the new 2008 Georgia Bulldog Ladies Jerseys in stock. We have Knowshon Moreno and Matthew Stafford numbers with light weight red or black options.

As always, thanks for shopping.

Paul Westerdawg
Georgia Sports Blog

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Your Man Cave Needs a Blackout Poster

Georgia vs. Auburn 2008 Blackout Poster (click to buy)
How can you call yourself a Dawg fan if you don't have:

1. At least two major pieces of Bulldog Art (posters count as art if the room in question is a man cave).

2. At least one piece of Blackout Memorabilia

Get your blackout poster from the Georgia Sports Blog store. Also, the big Summer Clearance Sale is still going on til Friday, July 18th (pretty sure on that date). You can get white, grey, black, and red t-shirts for under $8.00.

As always, we thank you for your business!

Paul Westerdawg
Georgia Sports Blog

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Georgia Bulldog Father's Day Gifts

Nike Georgia Bulldogs Red Stiff Arm 2008 Coaches Sideline Polo	Nike Georgia Bulldogs White Stiff Arm 2008 Coaches Sideline Polo	Nike Georgia Bulldogs Black Stiff Arm 2008 Coaches Sideline Polo

Just in time for Father's Day, the new Coach Sideline Golf Shirts have arrived. I think these beat the heck out of last season's design. I bought all three colors.

I'm planning to go with the white polo for the first few games in the hot sun, and then switch to the black polo for any blackout / late season games. Note: All of these are NIKE Dri-FIT style shirts so they are extremely comfortable. In fact, I wore the red one to the Regional Title game Monday night. The fabric seems to be lighter weight and more breathable than in years past; although, the sizes did run a little bigger than I anticipated. Not bad, but a little looser in the shoulders than last year.

If you order now, you can still get them for Father's Day!

Thanks for supporting the Georgia Sports Blog with your visits to our store.

Paul Westerdawg
Georgia Sports Blog

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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

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UGA's punter vs. Hawaii's Linebacker

This sorta sums the whole thing up. You could argue that Mimbs kinda sucker punched him a bit. But really....he was clobbering the punter away from the play like that with the same intent as Mimbs took with his response. I think it speaks volumes that our punter so completely unimpressed with the Warriors (sic) that he went after their linebacker.

ht - dawgjack

PWD

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Your Volcano God Can't Save You Now

White Sugar Bowl Champions Shirt. Click to Buy

DawgPost.com beat me to the headline of the day "Aloha Means Blowout." Dawgnoxious, Quinton and I are are all in transit today, so it's unclear how much posting you'll get. Probably very little. Check DawgBone.net for all the headlines. Or just visit the store for Sugar Bowl Championship shirts, hats, sweatshirts, you name it. Go Dawgs. Go Willie Martinez! Go Marcus Howard! Go...well...everything related to 2008.


Black Magic Sugar Bowl Champs Shirt
BTW -- the Hawaii fans we ran into were a class bunch. The horror stories of the Miami Hurricane style NFLish fans didn't really show up. We asked some folks about that, and they said, "The fans you see walking around NOLA aren't necessarily the folks you see on TV at the games. Those folks can't afford this trip." The Hawaii fans represented their school well in the Big Easy. They proudly sported their colors, and they were generally pretty cool. Although, I did have to laugh at all the "UNDEFEATED" Shirts we saw all week. I mean really...wasn't that jumping the gun just a little?

As for UGA Fans, we BROUGHT THE CROWD. I felt like we had a MUCH larger crowd this time than the 2002 Sugar Bowl despite playing a much less "sexy" opponent. More on all that later. We have a lot to be proud of.

PWD

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Another Killer Blackout Video

This one from "pacavelithedon"

ht-dawgsin2004
PWD

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Blackout vs. White Out

As you know by now, Mark Richt has called for a Blackout of the Sugar Bowl by Georgia fans. It's a request I fully intend to comply with as a black shirt looks damn good with the red pants....but I digress. As part of this effort, the Dawgs will be in the black jerseys for the game.

To counter this fashion move, June Jones is asking for a Hawaii Whiteout. I would make a joke about blizzards, but all the references would be lost on them. Anyway, they'll be wearing white tops, white pants and white helmets.

It's times like this that I just absolutely love the College Football that much more. It's absurd really that anyone thinks that any of this matters. But it's even more absurd that it does matter!

By the way, there are several articles running around that say this is the second or third most expensive or best selling bowl ticket in terms of after market online purchases. I think the biggest thing driving the inflated numbers (other than mainland Hawaii fans gobbling up tickets) is the ENORMOUS upper deck and tiny lower deck. Stubhub has uppers for less than face value, but lower level tickets are going for a robust premium.

See Also:
-- Hawaii answering Dawg Blackout - AJC
-- Richt a motivational Master - Honolulu News
-- Hawaii's road unis and what not - UHfootball
-- Bulldog Hotline Notes - Anti-Orange Page (JimFromDuluth)

Black UGA Apparel (still have time before Christmas!)
-- Black T-Shirt Short Sleeve
-- Black Long Sleeve Shirt

PWD

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Video: Top Plays of 2007

During half-time of the Kentucky game, they showed a video on the scoreboard of the top plays for 2007. "sumant86" shot this video of the video. Not so steady, but good enough.


PWD

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Another Blackout Video from the Auburn Game

DuPont24Dawgs did a killer job with this one.

There's no telling how many times I'll end up watching the youtube videos from this season.

PWD

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Knowshon Moreno Black Jersey

Click to learn more or buy

By popular demand, We now have the #24 Blackout Jersey available and in stock. This replica NIKE Jersey is super cool looking, and if you order by 10:00 am Friday, Dec. 14th, you can receive it by Wednesday, December 19th. (Some minor geographic limitations apply).

Note: It's been tough to keep the #24 jerseys in stock at the store. You should probably order sooner rather than later if you're interested.

PWD

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Sugar Bowl News & Tickets

The Athletic Department has announced all season ticket holders who requested Sugar Bowl seats will get them. UGA has sold over 22,000 tickets in the pre-order period. For those of you with scores of below 6,000, remember to bring your oxygen mask, crampons, and a Sherpa because your seats at the Superdome are likely to be over 6,000 feet from the action. It will be a climb.

Also, Coach Richt announced that the Dawgs will wear their black jerseys again for the Sugar Bowl. Fans are asked to take the blackout on the road, all the way to New Orleans. Uh, don't the Warriors wear black, too?

Quinton

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