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| Photo courtesy of Jim Hipple |
Showing posts with label UNC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UNC. Show all posts
September 6, 2016
May 17, 2016
Georgia vs. UNC Kickoff Time
It'll be at 5:30 in the Dome. Seems right, considering some of the other games going on that day. It'll be on ESPN.
TW
TW
February 14, 2013
How I feel about Florida
The other night, as I was walking into the Georgia Center for a cocktail before the basketball game, there was a group gathered around a TV watching the Florida/Kentucky basketball game. It was early, so Noels hadn't broken his leg off yet (not making light of it, just observing what it looked like; I sincerely hope he makes a full recovery), and it was tied at 11. I just shook my head and muttered something about meteor game, to which one of the gentleman sitting there said "how can you not hope Florida beats Kentucky? Kentucky is the worst, at least in basketball."
I was so taken aback at his statement, I just muttered something about rooting for the North Koreans over Florida and proceeded to find a special on hurricanes at the bar. While I appreciated the place the gentleman was coming from, I just can't get my head around openly (or ever) rooting for Florida. To support them winning at anything and not hoping for them to fail miserably, and then to do so with ladies present, just really set me back. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want Kentucky to win either, but still....
Thankfully I found a video (h/t Matt Norlander at CBS Sports) that captures the spirit of what I feel towards Florida. The video, from the Duke-UNC manager's basketball game, is fairly self explanatory Duke hits a last second three to win. There are Duke students there. Watching a manager's basketball game. And they rush the floor.
That is how much they hate UNC, and how much seeing UNC lose means to them.
I was so taken aback at his statement, I just muttered something about rooting for the North Koreans over Florida and proceeded to find a special on hurricanes at the bar. While I appreciated the place the gentleman was coming from, I just can't get my head around openly (or ever) rooting for Florida. To support them winning at anything and not hoping for them to fail miserably, and then to do so with ladies present, just really set me back. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want Kentucky to win either, but still....
Thankfully I found a video (h/t Matt Norlander at CBS Sports) that captures the spirit of what I feel towards Florida. The video, from the Duke-UNC manager's basketball game, is fairly self explanatory Duke hits a last second three to win. There are Duke students there. Watching a manager's basketball game. And they rush the floor.
That is how much they hate UNC, and how much seeing UNC lose means to them.
I am, by no means, a Duke fan, but I get it. I really get it.
September 16, 2010
Tech's Talent and the UNC Game
One of the amazing events of the weekend really was Tech's loss to a depleted Kansas squad. I'm not ready to throw dirt on the reigning ACC Champs nor am I ready to ignore Saturday as Mark Bradley did and say...well the ACC sucks so bad Tech can still win the league.
The problem at Tech ... talent matters. You have to replace talent with talent to maintain your program. You can only out scheme, out hustle, or out cheat the other guy so much. At some point, you need play makers.
Tech's 2007 recruiting class was Gailey's finest with a Scout.com ranking of 15th in the Nation. The class had 9 players ranked at four stars or better according to Scout. Tech's problem...only three of those players remain on the roster -- Nesbitt (Heisman Candidate*), Nick Claytor (OT) and Jason Peters (DE). And two of those players have made minimal impact on the GT program.
After Gailey's best class, Paul Johnson's subsequent recruiting classes were ranked 37th ('08), 32nd ('09), and 41st ('10). Granted Gailey needs a few non-traditional pieces for his system, but it's not like getting "his players" into his system will necessarily make things better. There's not a dramatically better back for Tech's offense than Dwyer. Nor is there a better WR than the super freak D. Thomas. Nor is there a better DE fit than D. Morgan. Plus, Morgan Burnette was the best GT defensive back since...well...Swilling in '91?
The UNC game will be an interesting one because the Heels have had an extra week to prepare for the triple option. Four of Johnson's seven losses at Tech have come to teams with more than seven days to prepare for his team. The extra time isn't a magic cure all as Willie Martinez found out in 2008, but it's an enormous help.
I'm expecting the Tarheels to win this one in a squeaker in Chapel Hill. If that happens, what become of Tech this season as they still have four more losable games on the schedule?
Our game with Arkansas is bigger for our program than their game with UNC. Of that there's no question. But both games represent an excellent opportunity to judge where both programs are going.
PWD
*Kidding.
The problem at Tech ... talent matters. You have to replace talent with talent to maintain your program. You can only out scheme, out hustle, or out cheat the other guy so much. At some point, you need play makers.
Tech's 2007 recruiting class was Gailey's finest with a Scout.com ranking of 15th in the Nation. The class had 9 players ranked at four stars or better according to Scout. Tech's problem...only three of those players remain on the roster -- Nesbitt (Heisman Candidate*), Nick Claytor (OT) and Jason Peters (DE). And two of those players have made minimal impact on the GT program.
After Gailey's best class, Paul Johnson's subsequent recruiting classes were ranked 37th ('08), 32nd ('09), and 41st ('10). Granted Gailey needs a few non-traditional pieces for his system, but it's not like getting "his players" into his system will necessarily make things better. There's not a dramatically better back for Tech's offense than Dwyer. Nor is there a better WR than the super freak D. Thomas. Nor is there a better DE fit than D. Morgan. Plus, Morgan Burnette was the best GT defensive back since...well...Swilling in '91?
The UNC game will be an interesting one because the Heels have had an extra week to prepare for the triple option. Four of Johnson's seven losses at Tech have come to teams with more than seven days to prepare for his team. The extra time isn't a magic cure all as Willie Martinez found out in 2008, but it's an enormous help.
I'm expecting the Tarheels to win this one in a squeaker in Chapel Hill. If that happens, what become of Tech this season as they still have four more losable games on the schedule?
Our game with Arkansas is bigger for our program than their game with UNC. Of that there's no question. But both games represent an excellent opportunity to judge where both programs are going.
PWD
*Kidding.
April 1, 2010
Fox Still Targeting UNC series
Coach Fox last year was notoriously tight lipped about things in and around the program. Particularly when it came to scheduling. That's why it's so curious to me that he's openly discussing the possibility of playing UNC in some sort of home and home series starting next year. Maybe it's because it's recruiting season.
I know Roy Williams was going to throw former UNC alum Jeff Lebo a bone and come to Auburn to open the 2010-2011 season and the Tigers' new arena. I would assume that series is off with Lebo's termination. Maybe that's why the interest from the Tarheels? That and everyone wants more exposure in front of Georgia high school basketball players.
Getting the Heels in Athens next year with a newly renovated arena and *on paper* our best team in 6-7 years would be pretty exciting.
Marc Weiszer's article also indirectly confirms that there won't be a game at Gwinnett this year. That's not a shocker given the attendance in last year's game against Illinois.
Basketball Schedule 2010-2011:
PWD
I know Roy Williams was going to throw former UNC alum Jeff Lebo a bone and come to Auburn to open the 2010-2011 season and the Tigers' new arena. I would assume that series is off with Lebo's termination. Maybe that's why the interest from the Tarheels? That and everyone wants more exposure in front of Georgia high school basketball players.
Getting the Heels in Athens next year with a newly renovated arena and *on paper* our best team in 6-7 years would be pretty exciting.
Marc Weiszer's article also indirectly confirms that there won't be a game at Gwinnett this year. That's not a shocker given the attendance in last year's game against Illinois.
Basketball Schedule 2010-2011:
- Home:
UAB
Hawaii (rumored)
Neutral:
3 big games at the Old Spice Classic
Away:
Georgia Tech
Saint Louis
PWD
