Home > Furman Bisher > Archives > 2008 > March > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDogs’ final week put fun back in season
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, I’ve got my “Team of the Year.” All sports. Major or minor. Amateur or pro. Never have I enjoyed basketball as much as the last two days of last weekend, some tenuous minutes of it in a rental car Saturday night, trying to squeeze the squeaky sound of the Georgia-Mississippi State game out of an underpowered radio. With its last fading whimper, the news finally got through that the Bulldogs had won.
Playing twice in one day, something no other SEC team has had to endure since 1952, Georgia won the games that put them in the tournament final, and you know the rest of the story. On a floor, by the way, with Bobby Cremins’ name on it.
Frankly, I’ve paid little attention to college basketball this season. Not much to inspire a fellow, either at Georgia Tech or Georgia. In Athens, football drowns out the sporting glee out of all other campus games, of course. Since Mark Richt sent his team a-swarming onto the field after the first touchdown of the Florida conquest, the football Bulldogs have commanded undivided attention. Already the table is being set for a national championship run next season.
Basketball has always been the ugly stepchild. For years home games were played in a leaky old barn named Woodruff Hall, and when I use the term “leaky,” it is not misapplied. It did leak. Big posts were situated near enough to floor surface to endanger the athletes. It was the only indoor court, the late coach Red Lawson said, in which wind direction and velocity had to be taken into consideration. Basketball was taken so lightly that a coach was hardly ever fired, just moved around. Sometimes a football assistant took the job for an extra paycheck.
Not so in this age, and therein lies the heart of this story. As the season ground down into the grit of an unhappy run, there was much ado about Dennis Felton and hints that not much longer would the losing be tolerated. Here was a man, Felton, who was hired to follow Jim Harrick, whose program was rotten to the core. Georgia was on probation, and what Felton did was clean house and give the place a good fumigation. He doesn’t play thugs. In the past two seasons he has lost three leading scorers.
What he does he does right. He is a beacon light among college coaches, but that didn’t muzzle critics. The very fact that Damon Evans, the athletics director, had thrown down the gauntlet, that at the end of the season there would be an “evaluation” of the basketball program threw up a red flag. Conjecture was that Felton would be the victim.
So you see why the results of the weekend in storm-wreaked Atlanta set off such a stirring rally to the side of this decent man. In three days, the Bulldogs beat Kentucky at noon Saturday, Missiissippi State that night, then on Sunday afternoon shot down Arkansas and cut down the nets at Alexander Coliseum. They took it all, these guys who came into the tournament with the SEC’s worst record. Two seniors led them, Sundiata Gaines and Dave Bliss. It was a diverse team, players from New York, Wisconsin, Virginia and a sprinkling of Georgians. (On that line, take the coach himself. Felton was born in Tokyo, where his father was serving in the Air Force.)
Felton is a patient man where patience is merited, and heaven knows, it was stretched to the extreme this season. Then at the end, when it was done, after doing nothing to assuage the threat of a firing, the AD Evans came charging out of the stands and swamped his coach with reassurance and affection. The loss to Xavier was tainted by a flood of fouls that sent the Musketeers to the line 33 times to Georgia’s five. Where there is such a discrepancy, it leads one to suggest that something is amiss.
Even The New York Times made note of it. “That gaping disparity and the clock stoppages that go with it allowed the Musketeers to come back,” wrote Pete Thamel.
It was maddening. One of the Georgia players said it felt like someone was after them, more than just the five players on the court.
When asked if Felton would be back, Evans cheerily said, “Of course he’s going to be back. He’s our basketball coach.”
Sorry, Damon, not a heartwarming show.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA/SEC
Comments
By Ken
March 22, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
How long are we going to have to hear that Dennis Felton took over a mess of a program? It’s been five years, and for those of you who haven’t been paying attention, Georgia was 4-12 in the SEC. We finished last in the SEC. What will you say next year when we once again finish in the bottom half of the SEC East? Will we hear once again that he inherited a rotten mess? When are you people going to wake up?
By Chris
March 22, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
Wow Ken. You must not follow College Basketball, or SEC basketball at all. The SEC has two powers-Kentucky and Florida. Georgia is a football school. Since our Final Four years, Georgia has had a good year here and there, but overall, we are middle of the pack when it comes to image, and recruiting. I know Florida had a down year but they did just win back-to back national championships, lost there top seven scorers. Kentucky had so many injuries, it would kill any big program. GEORGIA, lost three of their top ten players that they counted on before the season started. Felton, is a great coach. Look at the progress of Albert Jackson, who was about the worst post player in Division 1 last year, and this year was a defensive stud. Give Jeremy Price, Albert Jackson, Chris Barnes, Jeremy Jacob, and Zach Swansey another year and you can count on improvement from the dawgs. This is not including a star recruit class that gives us a post player that has a mid range game in Thompkins, a three point assassin in Drazen, and a solid point guard in Dustin Ware to push Swansey. We not only will be talented, but deep. Young, yes. But deep no the less. Keep up the good work Dennis.
By Ken
March 22, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
You don’t sound like you follow the Dogs too closely. Felton is a great coach? If I were not totally asleep, those three players we lost were all recruited by Felton. What are you going to say next March when we’re in the bottom half of the division again? Are we going to drag out that crutch again, that he inherited a program in a mess?
By Mike
March 22, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
I have been impressed with Felton since the beginning, but overly disappointed with the results. But I believe, and we, have been rewarded for his having the conviction and patience to do things the proper way. Had he looked the other way, and given in to the pompousness of Mike Mercer and company we probably would have had a few more wins this year and made it to the dance, but we would have never had the character required to run the table in the SEC tourney.
Being a lesser man, I probably, in order to save my job, would have put up with the garbage that Felton disposed of. I am as proud of Coach Felton as I am the 11 players for doing it the right way.
Sundiata Gaines and Dave Bliss, best of luck in your future endeavors and thank you!
By PHIL
March 22, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
Ken, buddy. YOU, just go back to sleep.
By Bill
March 22, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this
Coach Felton will bring a championship to Athens. Did he not win well at WKU? He will win consistently at UGA. Lets watch and see next year. He will have a good complement of players. Players that have been with him more than 2 years. I don’t know why he had to cut Mercer and Brown loose. Felton is fairly tight-lipped about in-house rule infractions. Poor attitude and lazy academics may have contributed to those young men being let go.
I want Coach Felton to succeed. I think he will. I don’t think we will have another 500 season or losing season under him. He has righted the ship and I hope he sails it to many SEC championships and NCAA tournamnet victories!!!
By hop
March 22, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
right on furman,during this entire saga of allowng coach felton to hang without any confirmation from damon evans was classless.
we finally have a basketball coach who has the right priorities and removes those players who do not follow the rules with their wrong actions and bad grades,what a breathe of fresh air now in athens.
coach felton is a winner. he prove that when he was at western kentucky and he proved it once again last weekend.
By Whack Hyder
March 22, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
Felton has class and Ken is classless. There were a bunch of Kens up at VA Tech who were after Beamer’s hide years back when things weren’t improving fast enough. There are always Kens, the misanthropic malcontents who probably never even played the game beyond peewee league. Ken, why don’t you just go grab another bag of Cheetos and sit down in your Lazy Boy with the grease spot where you rest your know-it-all head.
By BigNCDAWG
March 23, 2008 1:36 AM | Link to this
Furman, I attended many games in the leaky barn. It was a real trip. You were sitting very close to the court and you felt that your were in the game. The students would sit in the balcony and stomp there feet when the DAWGS had a good game. Peanut shells would rain down on the fans siting on the fans sitting underneith.
The DAWGS will get better and Felton is a very good coach.
By ............................................BuLLdawg
March 23, 2008 4:18 AM | Link to this
.
.
Jake Scott and Scott Woerner are on the College Football Hall of Fame Ballots just mailed out.
Jake Scott letterman for The Georgia Bulldogs in 1967 and 1968 set the NCAA record for two interceptions in one game both for TDs against Kentucky in 1968. This is 4th on the All-Time UGA Record Book for interceptions in one game, still today. Jake Scott then went on to have ten (10) interceptions in 1968 returned for 175 yards. The 10 interceptions in a season is now Number 2 in the UGA records book behind Terry Hoage’s 12 in 1982 which is The SEC record. Jake’s 175 return yards on interceptions 1968 is 2nd All-Time for UGA. Jake Scott’s Career total of 315 interception return yards is The UGA All-Time Number 1 Record. Jake’s career also included 16 career interceptions for UGA. Jake Scott led The Bulldogs in Interceptions both in 1967 with 6 interceptions for 140 yards including a TD and in 1968 with 10 Interceptions for 2 TDs and 175 yards. Jake Scott was UGA’s Starting Safety. In 1967, Jake Scott was named 1st Team All-SEC Defensive Back by the AP, and in 1968 again in both the AP and the UPI. In 1968 Jake Scott made All-America, which is why he can be included on the recently mailed-out College Football HOF Voting Ballots. Georgia went undefeated in the 1968 regular season and were ranked Number 1 in the country by the Litkenhous Poll. Jake Scott from Arlington Virginia was named 1st Team All-America Top Starting Safety 1968 by the AP, the UPI, by Coaches, by NEWS, by FW, by AA-Look, by Football News, by the New York News, Playboy, Kodak and by Walter Camp. In Winning The SEC Championship in 1968 and being ranked Number 1 in at least 1 of the Polls recognized in the NCAA Official Records Book Football Bowl Subdivision National Championships, To-date, only Bill Stanfill of that team has been elected into the College Football Hall of Fame. Jake Scott also led The SEC in Punt Returns and in Punt Return Yardage. Jake Scott holds today the current UGA Bulldogs’ Career All-Time Interception Record.
By ............................................BuLLdawg
March 23, 2008 4:26 AM | Link to this
After a year in Canada, Miami drafted Jake Scott in the 7th round of the draft in 1970. Jake Scott was the Starting Safety and Starting Kick Returner for the Miami Dolphins from 1970 to 1975 and for the Washington Redskins in 1976 1977 and 1978 Jake Scott played in the Super Bowl in 1972 1973 and 1974. Jake Scott was in the Pro Bowl 1972 1973 1974 1975 and 1976 with the Miami Dolphins. Jake Scott was also ALL-PRO 1971 1972 1973 and 1974.. Jake currently resides in Atlanta, is doing very well financially, is strong, and doesn’t smoke. He’s 63. Jake Scott was Super Bowl MVP of Super Bowl VII in 1972, the undefeated Miami Dolphins – the only football team to ever accomplish a season undefeated. Jake Scott was elected into The State of Georgia Hall of Fame in 1986. Jake Scott has 49 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries in his 126 game NFL career. Jake Scott led the Miami Dolphins to 2 Super Bowl Championship Game Wins, and led the NFL in Punt Returns in 1971 with 318 yards, and is today the NFL Miami Dolphins All-Time Record-Book Leader with 35 Interceptions.
It is high time, I told Jake Scott last week, that he be elected into both the College Football Hall of and the Pro Hall of Fame. I asked him why he hadn’t been already – told him he was considered aloof by the media for not being able to get to the Super Bowl with the other Bulldogs’ Super Bowl MVPs to be introduced pre-game to the worldwide audience – and, Jake Scott told me that he didn’t know why he hadn’t already been elected to both the College and Pro Hall of Fame. If anyone deserves it on this ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame, it is Jacob E. Scott, III.
By ............................................BuLLdawg
March 23, 2008 4:28 AM | Link to this
Scott Woerner letterman for The Georgia Bulldogs 1977 1978 1979 and 1980 is 2nd to only Jake Scott in UGA Career interception return yards with 303 yards for Scott Woerner behind only Jake Scott’s 315 yards. Scott Woerner has the 3rd longest interception return All-Time for UGA with his 98 yard interception return against Clemson for The Consensus National Championship including AP Poll Number 1 in 1980. Scott Woerner was UGA’s Starting Cornerback. Scott Woerner led The Bulldogs in 1978 with 4 Interceptions returned for 91 yards. Scott Woerner was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 3rd Round in 1981 and played Safety and Kick Returner for the Falcons that year. When Herschel Walker started up the USFL for Donald Trump, Scott Woerner signed with the USFL too and Scott Woerner went on to 1st Team All-USFL. In 1987, Scott Woerner played on the New Orleans Saints. Scott Woerner was named 1st Team All-SEC Safety 1980 by the AP and UPI. Safety Scott Woerner from Jonesboro Georgia was named 1st Team All-America Top Starting Cornerback 1980 by Football News, UPI, Kodak, and Walter Camp, in leading UGA to the AP and UPI National Championship undefeated including the win over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. Scott Woerner set the All-Time UGA Record for Most Punt Return Yardage and tied for 2nd on the UGA All-Time Record Book Career Interceptions with 13. Scott Woerner led the nation in Punt Returns 1980, not the least of which was to beat Clemson in the 4th Quarter, for which Sports Illustrated named him Defensive Player of the Week. Scott Woerner was the only defensive player to be listed in the SEC Top 10 for All-Purpose Yardage 1980. Scott Woerner holds the All-Time UGA Punt Return Yardage Record with 488 yards in 1980 and UGA Record 190 kickoff return yards in a game against Kentucky in 1977. There are several of these National Champion Bulldogs coming up for the College Football Hall of Fame, but so far to-date of all the UGA Letterman on the only team named National Champions 1980, only Herschel Walker, Terry Hoage and Kevin Butler have been named to the College Football Hall of Fame along with Coach Vince Dooley. And, it was Scott Woerner, not Terry Hoage, who in 1980 led us to the National Championship. Terry Hoage was a Letterman 1980 while Scott Woerner was All-America 1st Team Cornerback Football News, UPI, Kodak and Walter Camp All-America 1980.
.
.
By Bballdawg
March 23, 2008 6:50 AM | Link to this
BuLLdawg, you’re a little off topic there.
Yes Ken, Felton recruited those players. And I also guess this is the very first time in the history of college sports that a coach has had to let players go that they recruited. Sometimes kids don’t work out. Mercer had a bad attitude problem, the Takais matter was out of Felton’s hands, Singleton left because JP took his PT, and Toney left because he didn’t want to follow the rules. No of these folks told Felton during the recruiting process—Yeah, I’m going to be a pain in your A**.
If Felton was such a horrid coach, his guys wouldn’t have went done what they did for him. Although I still have doubts about Felton’s offensive philosophy, or lack there of, I’m more than willing to give him a bit more time. Of his 5 years, the first 2 don’t count; just too big a mess too attract the studs we need. So IMO this is actually “year 4” of a rebuild…no more excuses.
By martin
March 23, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this
Furman, you say the program Felton took over was rotten to the core. A little exageration there old fellow.
A $300 paid phone bill and a PE course where two basketball players got an “A” along with everyone else?
Furman tell me about your college PE courses that had challenging Final Exams.
If Felton wants to keep the heat off his job he just needs to never return to the bottom of the SEC standings.
That said, great run at the end. Go build on it!
By Doug
March 23, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
I get tired of reading articles where people keep saying that UGA is just a football school and basketball will not succeed. I went to UGA in the early 1980’s. Once Durham recruited talent and the UGA basketball team started winning, folks came to the game and there were even sell-outs. Bottom-line: UGA fans will come to the game if you produce a winner. However, if Felton really wants to win, he needs to hire a Georgia local coach, etc. who can recruit in Georgia and keep the talent in-state.
By SthGaDawg
March 23, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
You’re absolutly right FB! NCAA Basketball recuriting in nothing like football, obviously! There are not just a few power houses in Div I ball, THERE A BUNCH! Until UGA builds a new arena, it will always be just as hard to recruit top notch players. Felton took over a program that was just about awarded the death penalty. It takes a LONG time redevelop a program like that. Great job this year Dawgs! Hope to see it again soon!
By Rod
March 23, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
What is it with these radio host and writers that refer to black players that have problems as THUGS. Im white but you dont call whites that have problems as WHITE TRASH. At its core its racism in you Mr. Bisher. When you say they are THUGS what you mean is they act like N****. Bisher your no better than the THUGS/N****/WHITE TRASH AKA mr. Bisher.
By Gene
March 23, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
A thug is a thug. Thugs and hoodlums are defined by behavior, not by race. I believe that the UGA basketball coach with the highest winning percentage was “Shug” Jordan prior to his tenure with Auburn football. Players often rally behind a coach that they respect. It happened at Auburn when a disingenuous president and athletics director tried to hire an equally disingenuous coach through the back door. It happened with Michigan against UF in the bowl game. Obviously Adams had clearly decided to whack Felton. Evans is nothing more than a puppet for the big tuna. I am surprised that Adams didn’t show up on the court after the wins in Atlanta to take credit himself. He has probably not overcome his fear of basketball players since the police incident at the mansion after the Harrick disaster.
By R LM
March 23, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
Give Felton a break. He lost scholarships everything beyond his start time. He now can have a decent recruiting season for the first time.Now we might see something. I say he needs minimum two years. He has made me proud at the way he has made the program look clean. Richt has lost a few players also. You can’t predict what some will do when they hit a college campus. Yay! Felton!
By Bravesfan79
March 23, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
Rod: Thugs deserves to be called dumb niggs because they have no respect for others, therefore i have no respect for them, and the next dumb nigg that tries to rob me will be a dead nigg!
I worked the streets of AtL and New Orleans from 2000-2005 or so. If whites are just as bad then how come everytime some crazy sht happened it was a black male?? Im talking attempted carjackings, setups, gas station robberies, ive delt with alot of very nice quality black people over the years. But ive also delt with alot of dumb niggs!
Right on Mr Bisher…keep up the good work and keep speaking the truth. But there is a BIG difference bt a guy at a basketball program thats fcking up smoking bud and drinking, and someone whos dumb enough to go rob someone. So my definition of niggs is very limited as i have several black friends in the hood in south Atlanta from the areas i used to work. There just hustlers tho, the true niggs are the robbers and killers. And believe me…there out there!
By frdbadf
March 23, 2008 10:09 PM | Link to this
Coach Felton is a good man and secondly a great coach. Georgia’s first is awhile… What he is trying teach is what makes the USA great. To the team that remained they will leave better men due to their paths crossing with Dennis Felton’s in life. To those who left I’m sure they will have left as better men, or at least he will have made them think a little deeper.
Come on UGA fans, last I heard the money was trying to bring back Tubby.
By ............................................BuLLdawg
March 24, 2008 5:19 AM | Link to this
.
.
Gene
” I am surprised that Adams didn’t show up on the court after the wins in Atlanta to take credit himself. He has probably not overcome his fear of basketball players since the police incident at the mansion after the Harrick disaster. “
Well, you are right Gene that calling the Police on 8 men’s basketball players, every one of which had a B average at the very least in his UGA career, was the action of a scared baby. The facts are that UGA did not need Tony Elasco Cole, and had a fine point guard. And, since it was Michael F. Adam$ who let Tony Cole in on a Presidential Admit of Adam$ himself - believe me he did take credit for it.
As for taking credit for the wins would he to show up at the courtside after the wins, he did exactly that and was introduced to the TV crowd in Washington D.C. as UGA’s “president.** I presume you didn’t see that ?
And, since men’s basketball season is over for The Bulldogs finally (but not the women who face No. 1 North Carolina next they have to beat to make it to The Sweet Sixteen for the 6th Season in a Row and 18th Super Sweet Sixteen of Andy Landers’ career and this is his 25th NCAA Tournament in his 27 years. Landers has been national champions runner-up twice.
17 Sweet Sixteens in 24 previous NCAA Tournaments and trying for his 18th in 25 NCAA Tournaments of his 27 years since Vince Dooley hired Andy Landers, is the best of any school in America except 2.
Only 3 other Women’s Basketball Coaches have more Wins in Major College Basketball.
By ............................................BuLLdawg
March 24, 2008 5:23 AM | Link to this
Andy Landers, already voted in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame last season, is the Winningest College Basketball Coach in the state of Georgia Basketball History.
His gals have Won 6 Gold Medals in the Olympics and 8 Medals total.
There are only 3 other Women’s Basketball Coaches with more than 750 Wins, like Andy Landers already has.
Only Pat Summitt has more Sweet 16 Appearances than Andy Landers in the history of Women’s NCAA Tournaments.
In the Round of 32, which is what this North Carolina game coming up is, Andy Landers is an incredible 17-5 to reach the Sweet 16.
5 Sweet 16 in a row for Andy Landers’ Lady Bulldogs, who are trying for their 6th Consecutive Sweet 16.
Yeah, I can’t talk the other sports for UGA now that the men’s basketball are over.
The Facts Are that this is old news Sunday March 23rd for Bisher to write this belated story about a team whose season has been over.
The ballots just went out for the College Football Hall of Fame, and I believe that it is undeniable that Jake Scott belongs in Both the College and the Pro Hall of Fames.
I am damn fed up with the continued justifying of AJ-C writers like this story that Dennis Felton should be fired or was about to be and still should be or not and the blog responses to such that Dennis Felton and Andy Landers should be still.
As far as I am concerned today’s news is that finally Jake Scott is going into the College Football Hall of Fame on the ballots just mailed and not discussed instead by the AJ-C yet.
.
.
By BigNCDAWG
March 27, 2008 7:59 PM | Link to this
Bulldawg, I agree with you about Jake Scott. He was one of the greatest players to come through GA. He, however, grew up in Athens until the 8th or 9th grade, and then moved to Arlington. I knew his sister.
By richbrave
March 28, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
FURMAN:
You’re being bashed here in Richmond by local talk radio for your AJC commments regarding “Orientals”, remembering Pearl Harbor and for the Athletics and Red Sox not starting the opening game in Cincinnati. I would agree with the locals on that one. The Reds would have to be involved in the game for it to be in their hometown. And they’re ripping the AJC for allowing you to post the article. I don’t think ML baseball has the right to begin the season overseas, but my provincial take belies the fact that ML baseball wants to go international for more $$$$. There’s never enough for those guys. Why they haven’t put a franchise in Mexico City is beyond me, but of course, I’m not familiar with the logistics. Anyway, Furman, an admonition. Proof your submissions as your editor evidently doesn’t. I haven’t read the article because I can’t find it, so if I am remiss please accept my apology. And I do apologize for using this forum where the ‘dogs are featured for a baseball point of order. Keep swimmin’ and I’ll see you further upstream.