AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIt’s about championships, stupid
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just one man’s opinion:
1. It’s about championships, stupid: One of the conversation lines on talk radio and blogs is that Georgia would actually be BETTER OFF if Tennessee won its last two games and went to the SEC championship instead of Georgia. Then, goes the logic, Georgia would be a lock for a BCS at-large bid if the Bulldogs could finish 10-2. That is dumb thinking on so many levels. College football is not about just getting to a good bowl. It’s about CHAMPIONSHIPS. Playing Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl would certainly be fun for Georgia and its fans. But getting to the SEC championship game for the fourth time in the Mark Richt era would be a much greater accomplishment.
2. Sylvester Croom should be the SEC Coach of the Year: Great coaching, in my opinion, is getting the talent you have on hand to play at its highest possible level. With wins over Auburn, Kentucky, and Alabama this season Mississippi State’s Sylvester Croom has done exactly that. Not many teams bounce back from a 45-0 loss (to LSU) in their opener. Kentucky’s Rich Brooks, who seemed all but done after the 2005 season, also deserves some strong consideration.
3. The Phillip Fulmer talk is over: Like a lot of people, I was certainly wrong about last week’s Arkansas-Tennessee game. I thought the Hogs and Darren McFadden would run right over a weak Volunteer defense. But what I didn’t take into account is that Fulmer coaches better with his back to the wall than just about anybody. If the Volunteers beat Vandy and Kentucky and go to the SEC championship game, you could make a very strong case for Fulmer as the coach of the year.
4. Watching Miami is very, very sad: A little over a year ago I predicted that Miami’s days as a power in college football were over. After the fight with FIU and the way it was handled, I really wondered if the program could recover. But I was encouraged by the hire of Randy Shannon and thought I might be wrong. But for Miami to lose 48-0 to Virginia in its last game in the Orange Bowl is just sad to watch. The program is now officially at rock bottom. Can Shannon start rebuilding from here?
5. Nick Saban has had a successful first season at Alabama: Yes, I know. The record says 6-4 and the Crimson Tide has yet to play Auburn. But understand this. Nick Saban was hired to make Alabama football relevant again on the national stage. Yes, with a break here or there the Crimson Tide could be sitting here with 8 or 9 wins. But the journey to being a championship program inevitably begins with a season like this as the new head coach establishes his principles of success. Alabama’s players have to learn how to win on a consistent basis.
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Comments
By TDone
November 14, 2007 8:07 AM | Link to this
4 SEC and 1 ACC items. And who says the AJC is not bias?
By oasis
November 14, 2007 8:09 AM | Link to this
Tony, did you just call Mark Schlabach stupid? He started this talk. I agree with you. The goal every year is to win the east and play in the SEC championship game.
By MBW
November 14, 2007 8:19 AM | Link to this
Tony, I could not agree more. The SEC Championship is what matters! And by the way, the Dawgs would have a very good shot to beat LSU.
By BigDawg
November 14, 2007 8:22 AM | Link to this
Ummm.. Tony. Mississippi State doesn’t play UPig until this weekend. I hope they win. I think you meant Bammer.
By Mark
November 14, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this
I would love for a SEC rematch with LSU, hoping TN can pull the upset like they did to us in 2001. This has been a strange year so anything can happen.
By Geoff
November 14, 2007 8:29 AM | Link to this
If the ACC were to make itself relevant again, I’m sure Tony would devote more column space to it. You can’t just roll over and play dead and then expect everybody to ooh and aah over the latest doings at NC State or Maryland.
By Adam
November 14, 2007 8:32 AM | Link to this
Oasis, yes, Mark Schlabach is stupid. Tony is just calling them like he sees them.
By Mikey
November 14, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this
Let’s hold off on that Phat Phil talk until the games with Vandy and UK are done. The jury is still out.
By Mrs. Barnhart
November 14, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this
I am very disappointed in my son Anthony. Name calling is reserved for Jeff Schultz & Colin Cowherd.
By m
November 14, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
For once, you are correct. It IS about winning championships. That is why CHAN GAILEY should be FIRED today. He is the worst coach in the history of college football and is killing Tech football as we knew it. He should NEVER have feen hired…and he MUST be fired….NOW. DRAD, are you listening???
By Blame it on Fulmer
November 14, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
Tide fans get what they deserve in a coach-an unethical liar! That fits right in with the cheaters who blame being caught cheating on Phil Fulmer!Yep, like true criminals blame it on someone else when caught!
By Spike
November 14, 2007 8:55 AM | Link to this
Tony, I am not sure I agree with the Nick Saban comment. A 6-4 record with a loss to Mississippi State and Auburn on the way is not what Bama nation was expecting for 3 million a year. Heck, Shula could have done this well.
By FJR
November 14, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this
I do not disagree that it is about championships. But what does that have to do with Chan Gailey? Should he be fired? probably. Does “its about championships” have anything to do with that? No. By that logic about 80 bowl subdivision coaches should be fired every year, because they haven’t won any sort of championship in the last few years. Gailey should be fired because he loses to teams he shouldn’t and runs offenses into the ground. Also, the bold really doesn’t make your point seem stronger, it just makes you seem crazier.
By mr. nice
November 14, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
UGA should not schedule GT anymore. We have beaten them yrs in a row. We need to schedule a more competitive team!
By Jumbo
November 14, 2007 9:15 AM | Link to this
The only way UGA beats LSU is if the Tigers beat themselves. The Dawgs have a solid team but LSU is better this year. LSU leads the SEC in total offense and is 19th in the nation while they lead the nation in total defense. UGA is not in the top 50 in either total offense or total defense. LSU has a veteran DL that is the best in the country and would handle the Dawgs’ young OL. The Tigers certainly have more skill players on offense and their group of tailbacks are as good as anyone’s. UGA does have the advantage at QB but any QB can be stopped with pressure. If LSU has minimal turnovers and penalties they would beat the Dawgs by 10 points. We’d love to play you guys in Atlanta. Those guys in Vegas know their stuff and we’d be favored over you at basically your home field. This is our year. The Dawgs will be the class of the SEC in 08.
By jim
November 14, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this
Tony- Totally agree with the Saban comment. He was brought it to change the direction of the program in the long run not in one year. He will recruit top 5 classes and he do a much better job coaching. Anyone with any insight to the program knows he’s worth every penny.
Roll Tide
By GW
November 14, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this
I totally agree that any team should want to play for its’ conference championship even at the risk of getting pummeled by the LSU dynasty. And to suggest that the Sugar Bowl is the ultimate reward in college football really means UGA would get more money. That’s how things are judged these days.
By My View
November 14, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
Nobody seems to realize this, and Tony feel free to use this, TENNESSEE PLAYS WELL AT HOME. That is the one variable in how they are playing. The losses came at Cal, at Florida, and at Bama. If those three games were home games they would have probably won at least two of three and possibly all three. This is coming from a DAWG fan hoping to be proven wrong by Vandy beating UT at Neyland. If not, I feel somewhat confident that Kentucky will get em’ in Lexington.
By Tony Barnhart
November 14, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this
Good catch, BigDawg. I was thinking Bama and wrote Arkansas.
By KR
November 14, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
Given the choice of playing in the SEC championship game or any BCS bowl game (other than the title game), I’ll take the SEC CG every time.
Isn’t the talk of UGA winning the East a wee bit premature? It’s not a stretch to think that UT could win out and UK beating UGA is definitely a possibility.
The University of Alabama may have hired Saban to make their program relevant again, but their fans expect perfect seasons and championships. He may have satisfied the guys who sign his checks but I doubt the ‘BAMA fans are satisfied with this year’s performance.
Four years has been the average time allowed for ‘BAMA coaches who were compensated far less, so Saban better get cracking. The heat will probably be set on high for him in 2009.
Here’s to beating the Tide for the 6th straight year…
WAR EAGLE!
By shane
November 14, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
tony,one of your better columns. 1-i agree,but this is not up to the dawgs,and ut seems to have hit their stride.uga should win out,if so i will be happy with 10-2. 2&3-i agree with you on this,crooms is so underated,it’s time he was recognized.fulmer has ut playing up to their potential,crooms has his guys playing over their heads.tech fans,firing chan is no panacea,but if you do you should take a long look at crooms. 4-shannon will bring miami back if his bosses are patient,he is recruiting very well. 5-saban has brought excitement back to bama,he is beating auburn to the punch in recruiting too.next year’s game in athens will answer a lot of questions,like who will win the sec.
By ARdawg
November 14, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this
Barnhart I have to agree with you on this one and feel good about it because it’s not one of your less than 50% predictions. Why any Georgia fan could settle for what is the Junior Sugar Bowl this year is completely beyond comprehension. Championships is why this game is played. We’re certainly out of the NC picture. With our two humiliations against SC and UT to even have a shot at a championship game in Atlanta is unbelieveable to me. But we do have a shot at it and that should remain our focus.
I know it all hinges on the Dawgs winning out which is highly likely and UT losing which is 50/50
Jumbo
Not so fast my friend. If by chance the Dawgs do meet LSU in Atlanta and beat them. Trust me here, LSU will have been beaten by the better team. You can name that team whomever you wish. Makes no difference, a loss is a loss.
I believe LSU is one of the best if not the best team in the country. The Dawgs would love to play the arguably best team in the country. LSU can be beaten, this is proven. They’ve also been taken to the wire on more than one occasion. Georgia does possess the weapons to beat LSU again. Don’t bury your head in stats that really would have no bearing on such a game. It’s decieving
By Atlanta Gator
November 14, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
No kidding. Before the BCS game last season, there were folks that said Florida was a year or two ahead of Urban Meyer’s schedule for championship success (me included). Wrong. You play for all the marbles when the opportunity presents itself, play the best you are capable, and let the chips fall.
Yup. Croom has done more with less than any other SEC coach. Notwithstanding the current Nick Saban lovefest, I suspect the day will come when Bama will regret not hiring him first.
Yeah, and the Vols lose to either Kentucky or Vanderbilt (a distinct possibility), that talk about Fulmer’s future will pick up right where it left off.
I’m sorry but I can’t feel sorry about Miami’s “lost innocence.” Howard Schnellenberger laid the foundation for a program that could win with class; subsequent coaches made it all about winning at all costs, and the program developed a well-earned reputation for behavior problems and skirting NCAA rules in the 80s and 90s (anyone remember the student loan scandal?). By all accounts, Shannon is a class act, and for that reason alone, I hope UM can turn it around.
Probably so, but I’m willing to wait and see. Making room for another legitimate and perennial contender in the SEC will be difficult.
By jim
November 14, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
KR-
You may want to get your facts straight and worry about your own coach(haha). Perkins-Left for Tampa bay Curry-left for Kentucky (eventually fired by UK) Stallings-Retired from coaching Dubose-I’ll give you this one Fran-left for Texas AM Price-stripergate Shula-1 of 15 against your 4 biggest rivals…nuf said. So 2 of 7 coaches were fired for Win/Loss record. It’s funny how you Albarn fans like to focus on Alabama.
Roll Tide
By Brian
November 14, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this
Just win , baby! You’re exactly right TB; playing in the SECCG for the 4th time in 7 years - even if we lose - would be preferable than watching UT get that chance. And I promise you one thing: LSWho? wants no part of UGA right now. No doubt LSU is deeper and more experienced than UGA, but these games come down to coaching & I’ll take ours over theirs 6 days a week and twice on Sundays.
By FJR is correct
November 14, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
FJR is correct.
Associating Tech and Gailey with the expectation of “championships” is ridiculous.
By Dave
November 14, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
That’s right Mr. Barnhart all this talk about UGA being better off by backing into the Sugar Bowl is rather offensive.
By mcdawg
November 14, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
-Just beat Kentucky//forget about SEC championships, BCS etc..-A. Woodson and the wildcats is what’s important-get to the QB and we win this game
-have a strong feeling that UT is going to win out
-miami had it coming-don’t know why they got rid of coker
By Todd
November 14, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Tony, correct, an SEC championship trophy in the case is what it’s about.
I’m one GA Bulldog that sleeps like a baby these days having ended and I mean emphatically ended (42-30, sacked Tebow 6 times, got over on the celebration thing, basically humiliated Gator fan in Jax) the “playing tight in Jax” problem. Don’t jump in Gator fan at this point and talk about how much emphasis Ga folks are putting on the win in Jax. Remember the days when Spurrier turn the tables and there were people running around the streets of G’ville with there clothes off and people close to Spurrier say it made his life complete to end the Ga dominance in Jax.
Ga has won SEC titles under MR.
The only thing left on the resume is for Ga to end up in Atlanta for the SEC championship moving on to the BCS championship title game.
Then all those ATL Gators that bought those silly Ga Gator liscense plates will be taking them off in the middle of the night.
Question, next yr. it will be GA vs Fl for the marbles, what would you rather have, QB/fullback hybrid Timmy Tebow or the arm of Stafford and the legs of Moreno in the backfield. Is it not obvious?
By Ed
November 14, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this
I agree. How many people remember (or really care) that Georgia finished 10-2 and went to a New Year’s Day bowl in ‘04? Or 11-3 in ‘03? There’s no championship pennant flying over the stadium for those years, so my guess is not many.
I bet no Georgia fan forgets ‘02 or ‘05. Or 1980-82. Oldtimers remember ‘66, ‘68 and ‘76 as well (and some might recall ‘59 and the three from the 40s). Winning championships is what it’s all about. It’s what gives Georgia tradition and separates us from schools like Florida who first discovered how to win championships in the 90s after about 60 years of futility. We need one more SEC title to get to 13 and tie Tennessee for second place behind Alabama.
Having said that, it is very satisfying to beat Florida and Auburn in the same year, and would be real nice to go to a BCS bowl even if we can’t play for the SEC. But who wouldn’t want the opportunity to win a championship? Let’s play Hawaii or West Va. as SEC champs.
By KR
November 14, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this
Jim,
I wasn’t making a dig; just an observation. But you missed the point. You guys seem more obsessed about Auburn than we are about ‘BAMA.
Since Bryant retired, every one of their coaches (except Franchione) has come under fire from the fan base. It has varied by coach, but it seems to work out to about 4 years in. If Franchione hadn’t bailed so quickly, he probably would have as well.
‘BAMA fans annointed Saban as a savior early on, so their expectations for him are even greater than for any coach since Bryant.
Tony’s comment was about Saban, so I don’t see what Auburn has to do with that. But I’m not worried; we’ll be fine whether Tuberville stays or goes. And ‘BAMA will be fine whether or not Saban stays for a long time. That is the nature of college football.
WAR EAGLE!
By bb
November 14, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
Mr. nice- By your logic Florida should never have scheduled Georgia this year and should drop them from their schedule.
Also, Georgia Tech would not have played Georgia since running off 8 straight in the 50s (hmm, actually that might not have been a bad idea).
That was a stupid comment.
By m
November 14, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this
Chan Gailey, on the day he was hired, said that he was at Tech to WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND BEAT UGA. He has done neither. He is the absolute worst coach in the history of college football. He should NEVER have been hired and he dang sure should never have had been given 6 years to run our program into the ground. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. FIRE CHAN TODAY!!
By Matt
November 14, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
LSU may not even have its coach for the SEC title game — i fLloyd Carr quits at Michigan next week, as is rumored, Les Miles will almost certainly leave, and he’ll do it quickly. Newspapers in Michigan are reporting he’s already looking at houses up there.
By Darrin "The VD King"
November 14, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Phil (I can’t seem to get) Ful(l)mer will again be phatarse of the year by unanimous acclaim.
By Corndawg
November 14, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this
Please give us an 8 team playoff!!! Stop it with these stupid polls deciding who deserves to play in the B(C)S Championship game. In an 8 team playoff, the Dawgs would be fighting to make it, along with about 16 other teams. Why media types like Tony who claim to love college football put up with this absurdity is beyond me.
And can anyone tell me why people keep projecting Hawaii to play in the Sugar Bowl? They are currently 14 in the B(C)S standings.
By TampaDawg
November 14, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this
Well said Tony. That should be a no brainer… UGA wants championships.
By Fit To Be Tied
November 14, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this
Only the league championship counts because the BCS championship is a joke. Set up a playoff system and give the bowls a say so in the plan or give them 10 to 15 years to find another way to make money.
By RxDawg
November 14, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this
Of course going to the SEC game would be better. Almost all dawg fans would prefer this scenario. We are not scared of LSU, if anything its probably the other way around. However, we are not in control. UT is in control. We all know that UT is probably going to the SEC game, kudos to them they earned it. Sure its possible that UT could loose to Vandy or UK…its just not probable. So what you have is most dawg fans are just looking at the bright side of things (imagine that!). So the bright side of things is a very good UGA team may get an at large bid to the sugar bowl. How bout them dawgs.
By Villa Rica DAWG
November 14, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
How far does UGA go if they win out, TN drops one of the next two, and UGA beats (I mean BEATS) LSU in the SEC Championship game?
I don’t care if it’s premature or whatever. I was just wondering what that would mean for the dawgs if that’s what happened.
Anybody? Is there a story somewhere that I can read about that dream scenario? Would it amount to “the pollers” thinking less of the SEC than it would “the pollers” thinking more about UGA? How does it figure into the computer rankings?
For those that say this is premature thinking, it’s no more premature than preseason rankings are (Michigan #5).
By Just dang
November 14, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
It’s lose. As in if I spell the word lose as loose I am a loser with a screw loose in addition to chronic loose stools.
By gdawginkalamazoo
November 14, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
Atlanta Gator, Well said as usual.
Tony, UGA would love to play for the title. No doubt, like you said that’s what we all want that championship. If for some reason UT doesn’t lose, I hope LSU wins out to get the NC. If we have the opportunity to play? Well grab the tiger by the tail and spin it until it pukes. (No animals were actually harmed in this post). Now if we win out and don’t get to play for the SEC and get “stuck” going to a BCS bowl. I ain’t going to complain. We should have beaten UT and/or SC. It means we didn’t beat who we needed to beat to get to the SECCG. Next year we will.
Somewhere Mike Shula is wondering how Saban gets 4 mill to match his record AND still lose to Auburn.
Miami, what a bunch of hypocrites. Although Shannon appears to be a man of character and all round good guy, hard worker etc. You don’t say that we are “definitively changing the direction of the program” and turn around and hire one of the assistance of the guy you fired. You know the guy you said brought the program down.
Yep, lose either of the last two games and Phil is gone. Doubt he will though.
Croom for SEC Coach of the Year for sure. Can anybody name a starter for that team? Star player? We know a few of KY’s players.
By Nertz
November 14, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
Fulmer’s not going anywhere this year. His support is still to strong. It will take consecutive losing seasons for it to ever happen.
By Villa Rica DAWG
November 14, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
www.coachoftheyear.com
By Villa Rica DAWG
November 14, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
Vote for CMR everyday!
By Scott
November 14, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this
Tony, If it were not about the Bowls and only about championships…we would have a playoff. College football is ALL about the bowls. I would prefer a 1-AA style playoff, you know whachaya got when your done.
By gdawginkalamazoo
November 14, 2007 2:25 PM | Link to this
Just dang , lighten up dude. This isn’t English class. The majority of us are dudes who can’t type worth a damn. See my spelling of assistance versus assistants. Typo but everybody (or most) get the point.
By tim
November 14, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this
I agree 100%. Chmapionships are what it is about. I would love to get a chance to play LSU in the dome. I think it would be a great game with 2 of the strongest teams in the country. LSU would be favored but I like GA’s chances. Having the better qb is huge in close physical games. I hope we are talking about this game come Monday. Let’s pray that GA takes care of business and TN loses somehow
By GT
November 14, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
Sylvester Croom has made all football proud. It takes guts that apparently no other school in the SEC ,or at that time the ACC, to hire the first black head coach. For a while I thought they had hired the wrong man, even as I saw some pretty good recruits lining up from Atlanta going to MSU. The only thing wrong was me, and for Croom to stick in there to watch this thing start to turn around shows even more character. It has got to be a lonely place, but that is where great things happen.
By GT80
November 14, 2007 3:21 PM | Link to this
Corndog is right, we need an 8 team playoff. But make sure it is the 6 BCS conference winners plus two at large picks. That way we can ALMOST leave the polls completely out of it. I’d say if any team doesn’t win their conference champoinship can’t complain. Having the 6 conference champs plus 2 would still allow a team like UGA, if they were to make it to the SEC CG and lose in a really close game, a chance to still get in (or LSU vice versa).
Mr. Football, why can’t you make it so? It’s so obvious.
By gdawginkalamazoo
November 14, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this
While we are mentioning Croom we should also salute Missippi State as an institution also. It has been a long tough road and they have stood by Croom. Good for both of them.
By Mike
November 14, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
Sliding in under the door to the Sugar Bowl is a defeatist attitude. I even agree with the Gator fan above - you play the best when presented. An SEC Championship is the first priority.
Croon has done a good job. Depending on how the season goes, a case could be made for Richt, Fulmer, and several others.
If Fulmer wins the East, he adds two years to his contract. If he doesn’t - we’re right back where we were. I’m betting he will choke - he usually does.
No program stays on top forever. The past few years are filled with examples. Miami is a bunch of thugs. You get what you deserve. Maybe the new administration can pick up the pieces - but who cares?
Yes, if Saban beats Auburn. If Auburn wins, he did no better than Shula would have this year.
By Jack
November 14, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
I would much rather see the Dogs get whacked in the SEC Championship game than watch UT play in it. Winning the East is job one. Besides, the way Georgia is playing now it is not a foregone conclusion they would lose to LSU. I seem to remember TN heading into the game needing only to beat an undermanned LSU team to advance to the BCS title game. That game marked the beginning of the Tigers current run. Go Dawgs!
By 1eyedJack
November 14, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this
I thought the SEC Championship and the National Championship were one and the same. Let’s just take care of Ol’ Kentuck and the bees and let the chips fall where they may. Just Win Baby! Go DAWGS!!!
By Phat Phil
November 14, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this
Tony..for ONCE you gave UT some respect…well not fully but its a start. I don’t know why everyone thinks its such a stretch for UT to beat LSU should they make it to the SEC game in Atlanta. UT dominated UGA in Knoxville yet struggled against Bama and Florida. Go figure! If UT wins the East I would say they have a chance of beating LSU but I am not going to guarantee a win. Lets just see if UGA gets past the Wildcats on Saturday!
By GA Dawg
November 14, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with Tony about the Championships. First of all I would much rather be SEC Champions(or at least play for it) than go to some BCS at large. If it’s not the national championship then it carries the same amount of pride as most of the other to me. Secondly, if we played a great game for the ages against LSU reguardless of the outcome, it would give me a much bigger adrenaline rush than playing a dull game against Hawaii. I vote for the SEC championshipsm, baby. Go Dawgs
By gdawginkalamazoo
November 14, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
Phat Phil , if Ainge and your offense is ON you guys stand as good a chance as anybody. Your defense play like they did last week and ditto. Complete game from you guys like you played against us and you could win that game.
By Bama Nothing
November 14, 2007 4:54 PM | Link to this
Bama should have lost to Ole Miss and Arkansas. The refs blew big calls at the end of both games. 6-4 is who they are. Sorry, but $4 mill shouldn’t get you Croomed.
By reality check
November 14, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this
If Shula was still coaching at Alabama he would have gotten 8 or 9 wins this year. You even said so earlier in the year yourself, Tony.
Saban may be a good coach, but so far he has been more about hype than results.
Shula never had a chance coming in late after the Price fiasco and with Alabama on probation. He is a much better coach than anyone at Alabama gave him credit for and we’ll see how well Saban does. If he does well, that is fine with me, but until then I am sick of hearing about him.
By what
November 14, 2007 5:01 PM | Link to this
Why is it ridiculous to mention GT and championships in the same sentence. GT has won just as many conference championships in my lifetime as Georgia (25 years), and we have a National Championship as well. Most of you Georgia fans didn’t hop on the bandwagon until 2002.
By funny
November 14, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this
dogs scared of LSU! LOL!!!
By Dawg Pound
November 14, 2007 5:16 PM | Link to this
1) UGA has to win the SEC east before it can achieve the SEC title. UGA needs to focus on its first goal so the others will fall into place. SEC East Champs first…then we can talk about the SEC title. If we win the SEC title we will play in a BCS bowl without having to “back into it”. UGA’s goals have a chance to work out. We just need some help…GO VANDY!!! Dawgs need to remain focused on UK this week. Then Tech and we will go from there.
2)Sylvester is a sly of cat…he is building a very respectable program at MSU. He has some big wins and 2 of them over bama.
3) If UT falters down the stretch Phil is done. Not likely as he has Vandy at home and UK is not playing its best right now. I expect Phil will be back next year and his team is looking better now. Will they be as good next year. I doubt it, Ainge will be gone…I believe he is a Senior and that will leave a fairly large hole that needs to be filled.
4) Miami has a football team? South Florida and UF will out recruit them this year. They have a tough row to hoe in the instate recruiting wars. They maybe the fourth best team in Florida…ahead of UCF.
5) Saban is a good coach, he should have done better this year, however if he beats Auburn then it will be a good year for bama fans.
By dogduty
November 14, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this
Hi. Im Herschel Walker and Im a ga. badboy. I can whip any 62 year old coach. especially that gator guy. Thats what I learned a the universally of georgia.
By Jumbo
November 14, 2007 6:05 PM | Link to this
ARDAWG I only mentioned stats because it is an accurate reflection of a football team. No doubt it does not assure a win but it certainly shows the potential strength or weakness of a team. If UGA beat LSU UGA is the better team. My point was if LSU and UGA had equal turnovers and penalties then LSU would win because LSU has more talent and veteran players than UGA. The Dawgs may have the weapons on offense to beat the Tigers but if the OL can’t control the line of scrimmage they won’t be moving the ball much. I would like to see if UGA’s young line can handle LSU’s DL. Stats may not mean much in your eyes but an SEC club that is leading the nation in total defense is obviously pretty strong in that area. I would love to see us play you in Atlanta. We won’t be intimidated as we are used to playing, like you guys, in loud venues. We have had some down to the wire games and we can be beat. I’m not stupid enough to believe we can’t.
By Top Dawg
November 14, 2007 6:17 PM | Link to this
We need playoffs in ALL of college football. Can anyone, including Tony, make an intelligent, rational argument against it?
By eddie
November 14, 2007 6:41 PM | Link to this
No worries about Hawaii. They will lose this week end to Nevada.
By DB Copper
November 14, 2007 6:47 PM | Link to this
I agree with Tony (ouch). Win Championships man that’s why we compete. We never pull for TeNNERrsee to win EVER!! We can take LSU and their autistic coach any day. Georgia Tech is a second tier team and always will be. You have a 45,000 seat stadium and can’t fill that. I don’t care how many championships or whatever. What is Tech ranked? That’s what I thought. What’s the record in the series in let’s say the last 5 or 10 years? That’s what I thought. Tech is on the same plane as OK State. Texas Tech,Kansas State etc. Second Tier!
By james moore
November 14, 2007 7:11 PM | Link to this
Tony,
You are right on with “it’s about championships” !
By Glenn 71
November 14, 2007 7:13 PM | Link to this
Hey m, you said “He (Gailey) is the absolute worst coach in the history of college football.” I strongly disagree.
He (like everyone else) is saved from this title by Bill Lewis. Lewis would have killed for Gailey’s record.
By budro
November 14, 2007 7:14 PM | Link to this
Solid commentary. As a Georgia fan, I agree wholeheartedly with the comments re: Sugar Bowl v. SECC. Regardless of what might happen in an LSU/UGA matchup, if both UGA and UT win out, a Georgia-Hawaii mathcup in the Sugar Bowl would be anticlimactic at best—regardless of who wins or loses. My brother-in-law was the first person I heard articulate the “better-off-with-UT/LSU” theory. My brother-in-law is a fine man. I love my brother-in-law. I am forever indebted to my brother-in-law for inviting me to nab one of his season tickets for the celebration of Bulldawg mythos that UGA/AU proved to be. Yet when he advanced this argument, I learned to despise him.
By Charlotte Jacket
November 14, 2007 7:27 PM | Link to this
m: Does the name Bill Lewis ring a bell? Do you remember the 1-10 season? Perhaps we can lay off the hysterical “worst coach in the history of college football” nonsense, especially since neither Coach Gailey nor Tech were even mentioned in the article.
How about some basic math? Since the departure of Bobby Dodd, who has the highest winning percentage as a Tech head coach? George O’Leary. I know I was happier going to Gator Bowl and the Peach Bowl than the Blue Bowl and that high school stadium in California, too, but he is gone, perhaps because coaching at Notre Dame is more appealing than North Avenue.
But in second place, since the Dodd era, is Coach Chan Gailey. Tell me who you have lined up to replace him after DRAD succumbs to your insanity. What megawatt coach in his right mind would come to a 75%-full, 50k-seat stadium in a pro-sports town to put up with stupid crap like yours while trying to recruit against CMR, Sabin, Fulmer, Spurrier, and now Davis at UNC?
I want to beat Georgia as bad as anyone (in anything, after the last few years), but give the man a break. Wins over Auburn, Miami (even when they were a decent team), and Clemson do not fall in the lap of the “worst coach in college football history”. You’re an effing moron. Maybe we can find a way to get you fired when you don’t mow in straight lines for a couple of days straight. Thanks for posting…
Go Jackets!
By hr
November 14, 2007 7:38 PM | Link to this
Some people here don’t get it. Ga really isn’t worried about a loss to LSU. They are thinking about winning gmes with KY & then again with Tech. Neither one are givens. Then, if LSU comes up, fine. The worse that can happen is a loss. GA is not a great team & it is probably a year too early. Do you really think that SC or TN would like to play GA again now? I don’t think so. They beat us this year, so that is great for them. But, I don’t think this team is really worried about losing to anyone. If it happens, it happens. As for the Old Ball Coach, I am in DC about 30 weeks a yr. You should have seen how humble he was here on TV, when he couldn’t do anything with the Redskins. No smart cracks in DC. Redskin Fans hate him much more than SEC Fans.He could not win & bailed out when he saw that he couldn’t. He will never out win Holtz at SC either & he will bail out on SC also. He was fortunate to beat GA while he still could. Kudos to Fulmer, CMR, Brooks & Crooms so far this year. Gailey, Nutt & Saban, not so good.
By Travis Hill
November 14, 2007 7:56 PM | Link to this
TO: TDone……
When the ACC starts playing big time football maybe the ajc will start covering you more….I mean the ACC is boring…..very boring…..
P.S. Tech fans get ready to leave early on November 24th…..
By J. Stathas
November 14, 2007 8:14 PM | Link to this
Tony, you are not particularly credible. You picked Auburn to beat Georgia. Note that you have not addressed your miss since. Why not?
By The Truth
November 14, 2007 8:22 PM | Link to this
College football is cyclical, the ACC will back. At least they are ranked higher than the Big 10 in the Sagrin ratings. And make no mistake — the ACC will certainly always be more about class, presitige, ethics and academics — those folks will always look down there noses at the likes of fools like you T-Hill
By TECHY
November 14, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this
By mr. nice November 14, 2007 9:13 AM | UGA should not schedule GT anymore. We have beaten them yrs in a row. We need to schedule a more competitive team!
Mr Nice Until this year I am sure FLORIDA was saying the same thing about UGA!!!!
By Gary
November 14, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this
I think it’s a slam dunk most true Georgia fans want to see them win their division and play for the crown. I really think they have a good shot of beating LSU if they win out. They have played a very challenging schedule and wins against Kentucky and Tech (and neither are gimmees) will prove they belong. And even though Tennessee will likely beat both Vandy and Kentucky, this has been a season of upsets so why not hope? Georgia is just as talented as any of the best teams in the conference, they just lack experience and they are gaining that each week. I didn’t expect them to compete for the SEC championship until next year but I don’t have a problem if they make it there a year early. Let the Dawg Dynasty begin!
By YellowJacked
November 14, 2007 9:08 PM | Link to this
To all the tough talking Dawgs who want a piece of L.S.U., watch out for what you wish for. I remember how brilliant Coach Mark Richt was in the UT and SC games this year and how he outcoached the opposition last year against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. If Richt is so good, how come Phil Fulmer has kicked his a— two years in a row? Les Miles is not to be underestimated. But go right ahead anyway. Tony can promote “anybody but Les” as SEC coach of the year all he wants. Richt is 2-5 vs Florida — Miles is 2-1. CMR is of course 1-0 against Miles—in the ‘05 SEC championship game when JaMarcus Russel played w/ a bad wrist (he had surgery later) and Joe Addai sat out 3 quarters with a previous injury. A month later, with a healthy Addai and Matt Flynn, LSU blasted Miami. PS: It’s good to see that Barnhart has gotten past his man-crush on Southern Cal. Not all of us have attention deficit disorder, Tony. You still think their the Team of the Millenium?
By TECHSUX
November 14, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this
YellowJacked, Why don’t you buzz back to the loser board! Don’t worry about CMR’s record besides he’s 6-0 verses your pitful program. Remember 51-7? In case you forgot, we will refresh your memory in a couple of weeks!
Make that 7-0 please!
By KingGator
November 14, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this
Let the smack talk start for ‘08!! UGA has a brutal schedule. If Mr. Hypocrite Richt can make it through next yr. undefeated, and win a NC, then he can be considered relevant. Until that time, he and all the dawgs are living in the past!!
GO GATORS!!
By gadawg
November 14, 2007 9:27 PM | Link to this
Why are UGA fans satisfied with winning the east and playing for the SEC championship why can’t we be like the Bear, his goal was always the national championship with that all the others fall into place.
By Greg
November 14, 2007 9:32 PM | Link to this
Tony You said something revelent for a change. You play for championships and to win the east would be a great start for a young dawg team.As far as a NC who really cares about a mythical title-we need a playoff presidents-get with the program-
By dandydawg
November 14, 2007 9:37 PM | Link to this
It is over yet… All the DAMN talking and no action. Who cares what happens on December 1st? Are we there yet, NO, we have a game against Kentucky on Saturday. By reading this blog, I am not sure if we are playing Kentucky are LSU. Someone please help me….I really need it bad!!!!!!! I bet you the real Georgia Bulldogs are not talking about LSU. And y’all know Tony- Mr. College Football, he says one thing on national tv, then writes something different in the print media. So what do you believe and want - Remember Georgia Football is REAL. Played by REAL Men! Now, let’s play football with some Wildcats!
GO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! SIC’EM
By Baxleydog
November 14, 2007 9:44 PM | Link to this
tony b. thoughtyoushouldhaveincludedonemore point. thekidsprefertoplayfortheBLING.don,t getmewrong,theywillgotowalmartandbuyadisposablecameraandtakeafewpicsofthejourney.however,it’stheRINGtheyareafter!!thechampionshipflaglooksgoodflyingoverSANFORDSTADIUM!!!i’mquitesurethatachampionshipringisonwhomever’shandisrecruitingakidfortheDAWGS!!!!!
By Gary
November 14, 2007 10:09 PM | Link to this
C’mon gadawg, get your head on straight. No one said they were satisfied with just an SEC championship but no 2-loss team has a shot at that this year and that’s what we’re talking about. Next year we should be playing for the national championship.
By Baxleydog
November 14, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this
Tony B. Let me try this again. I think you didn’t include a valid point. That being- today’s recruits get more excited about the !!BLING!!( !! THE CHAMPIONSHIP RING ) than they do the visits to the geography lessons. I’ll wager that a championship ring brings out a WHERE DO I SIGN response much quicker than HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO DISNEY WORLD ? question. Also, the TV shot of all the championship flags flying over Sanford Stadium looked great.
By yellowblood
November 14, 2007 11:36 PM | Link to this
Miami’s plight is less desperate than ours. Because of our dismal showing on the football field this fall, Tech’s Tickle Piles have suffered.
By m
November 14, 2007 11:55 PM | Link to this
Bill Lewis was bad….but Gailey is worse. He is the epitome of mediocrity. He should never have been hired. Tech had been a TOP 25 team for 5 YEARS in a row before Gailey came and immediately ended the streak. We have not finished the season in the TOP 25 a SINGLE time under Gailey. Let us all face facts….GAILEY sucks as a college coach. AND HE is, under the circumstances, THE WORST college coach in history. He should be FIRED TODAY.
By heeldawg
November 15, 2007 5:08 AM | Link to this
I agree that it’s all about championships. Winning the “championship” of the SEC East would be a good first step for this young Georgia team, even if it lost to LSU in the SECCG (which is not a guarantee). However, that requires (a) winning vs Kentucky this weekend (certainly not automatic, as the Dawgs discovered last season), and (b) UT losing to Vandy at home (not likely) or UK on the road (possible, but still unlikely with the SEC East title there for the taking). The Dawgs do not control their own destiny. So all of this discussion is essentially moot until the various cards are played. For right now, Georgia just needs to take care of its own business and win the games it is supposed to win.
Two other observations:
LSU has the best talent in the country. I think almost everyone would agree with that. But Les Miles is like nitroglycerine—unstable, volatile and potentially very destructive. His “riverboat gambler” tendencies have paid off a few times this season, but he quite frankly could have lost a couple of additional games with his tendency to live on the edge. His poor judgment will cost the Tigers a national title this season. At some point—be it against their opponent in the SECCG or in the national title game—he will meet a team with nearly as much talent and better coaching. And he’ll make a crazy call (i.e. the 4th down pass play vs. Auburn) that will lose the game for them. I would not want to be LSU playing Oklahoma, for example.
As long as we’re speculating, can you imagine the position Georgia would be in right now had they pulled off the South Carolina win earlier this season? 9-1, in the top five, pretty much a lock to win the SEC East and face LSU in the SECCG. Win out, and win the SEC title game over a #1 team, and the Dawgs are playing for a national title THIS season at 12-1, with 38 of their top 44 players returning for next season.
That little ball sure bounces funny sometimes, doesn’t it?
By digger dawg
November 15, 2007 5:25 AM | Link to this
You experts need to look at the dawgs schdule next year before declaring a championship.
By D Ellis
November 15, 2007 7:40 AM | Link to this
GATORS SUCK
By DD
November 15, 2007 8:04 AM | Link to this
I would have to agree and say that it was a stupid comment to say drop Tech off the schedule due to us winning 6 in a row. We need that pasty(scrimmage) game before the SEC Championship game to fine tune the team.
By Fred
November 15, 2007 8:36 AM | Link to this
It is not “bias” to report on good football teams and conferences while ignoring the weak sister teams and conferences. There isn’t a team in the ACC worth reporting on, TDone, you loser. When the ACC has something worth writing about, folks will write about it.
By GeekedUpGator
November 15, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
Well, D Ellis, you certainly have a moronic and decidedly UGA redneck way of expressing yourself. put down the bottle of jack and six pack of beer, get up on two legs instead of four, and try to utter some intelligent thoughts, if there are any left.
By OKCBULLDOG
November 15, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this
What happens if the Vols loose to Kentucky, Sooners loose to Red Raiders, Jayhawks loose to Mizzou, Ducks loose Arizona, Mizzou loose to Sooners in Big 12 Championship, Moutaineers loose to Bearcats, Sun Devils loose to Trojans, and the Bulldogs beats LSU in SEC Championship. Will there possibly be a two loss team playing for the BCS Championship? Which Two loss team is more favorable?
By Dawgs are delusional
November 15, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
It’s very obvious Todd: Tim Tebow, hands down, is the best football player, at any position, in the country. Stafford isn’t even mentioned in the Heisman conversation.
By gdawgfan
November 15, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this
Time will only tell for UGA fans such as myself. I hope Georgia ends up in the SEC title game, champioships are always good. I think Kentucky will get Tennessee at KU. Vandy wont win in knoxville! Georgia better come out and put some pressure on Woodson Sat, if they dont it is going to be a scoring battle and whoever has the ball last will probably win. As far as Miami is cocerned, is it me or have people forgot where this program was once at. Randy Shannon, is a good guy, but he is doing a terrible job as the Head Coach of the Canes. They simply quit in almost every game. That is coaching related. Their offensive and defensive schemes are horrible, thats coaching related, and the players who gave up 48 points to VA, where recruited by Shannon, for those who say he is playing with someone elses players. Have you heard that some of the recruits he has landed are thinking about going elswhere? The sad thing about Miami is that they will be at the bottom of the ACC because everyone is getting better except fpr Tech and Tech beat Miami at Miami running one offensive play. Randy was Miami’s third or fourth choice and it shows. NO one else wanted the job and Randy took it because he thought he could use his name of fame with past teams to resurect some miracle with this team. It hasnt nor will it work and for those of you who think Shannon will succeed at Miami, think again. They will not go to a bowl this year or next and they will be forever shamed in South Florida.
By DoubleDawg
November 15, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
FJR - Did you really just use the term “bowl subdivision” in a non-ironic way? You must work for the NCAA — people not under a contractual obligation would just say “Division I-A.” Did you also watch the “Rivalry on the River” a few weeks ago?
By Stew Dawg
November 15, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
Wait until basketball season TdOne - the ACC will get most of the print. And how many ACC teams are currently in the BCS top 25?
By Dave
November 15, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
Georgia couldn’t beat LSU if they were spotted two touchdowns. As for Gailey, he has to go. If Tech would hire a young black go getter, Tech would own Georgia for the next twenty years, but they won’t have enouch since to do it.
By lmnop
November 15, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this
Tell the ACC to get some decent football teams and they’ll get more coverage. Between now and then maybe the ACC can fill its championship game to more than 40 percent capacity. Sad, pathetic excuse for a football conference.
By DuffMan
November 15, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this
Jumbo:
You are about the most idiotic person I have ever heard. Just reading what you wrote has made my IQ drop 50 pts. LSU is the better team but lets break it down like this….Les Miles a good coach but his willingness to go for it on 4th down, and throw TD passes with one sec left on the clock will catch up with him. Your stable of running back? Yalls running game has looked questionable to me all year long. No doubt you do have a stable full but no talent that is worth mentioning…with the exception of Hester…he truly does wear his emotions on his shoulders. INT have killed and just about ruined yalls season. UGA has yall @ running and QB. Defense is a given for yall but the UGA defense in the past couple of games has been killer…yalls defense has looked a little dumb founded the past couple of weeks…since you like to bring up stats i figured this would interest you…UGA vs. AU & UF won by a total of 33 pts…LSU vs. AU & UF won by a total of 10…one need a stupid as TD call with ONE second left on the clock…dont get me wrong i have been pulling for LSU all season long to go and win the National Championship…as a UGA fan i always pull for an SEC team to go…but LSU isnt all that and a bag of chips…in 5 sec games this year (excluding MSU) LSU has given up a total of 141 pts. But only giving up 26 to out of conference & MSU…this is why your # 1 defence is ranked # 1…when it is put to the test…an okay offense can put points on the board…also need i point out that a win over a VT that barley put ECU away at the beginning of the year…all in all LSU has a good football team but i assure you if UGA were playing like they have…it would be an amazing game…one more thing when you refer to “us” that makes it seems as if you are a part of the team…your not so please out of respect of those who do play refer to them and others by their school name…no offense just one of my pet peives
sincerly,
DuffMan
By LargeAmericanDawg
November 15, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
AAAAAAAMEN TONY!!! I cannot beleive some UGA fans are pulling for Tenn to win out. I for one, beleive that UGA is playing the best ball in the SEC right now (if not the country), period. I would love a shot to take down the #1 ranked team in the country in our own backyard. What kind of bowl do you think the Dawgs would be going to with a win over LSU?
By CG
November 15, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
One serious problem w/Miami was their hiring of Patrick Nix as OC. He has no busy in that capacity at a school w/that type of talent potential! Nix couldn’t do anything w/Calvin Johnson & certainly won’t do anything with anyone the ‘Canes bring in(namely the 2 receivers from Northwestern HS) Nix has to go & an innovative OC is desperately needed to give the defense a breather!
By OhioDawg
November 16, 2007 12:30 AM | Link to this
The “Blackout win sure calmed down the rhetoric, didn’t it? The postings are downright genteel and nearly cerebral this week. That’s what I would expect from the SEC - we’re the best conference - period! -and don’t need to mouth off about it like a bunch of drunken steel mill workers.
This has been a strange ride this fall. As I write this, Oregon is getting a pretty sound arse-whupping from Arizona and it’s 31-24, Arizona, halfway through the 4th. I’m going to bed now, but anything can happen tonight and lots of things can happen the next two Saturdays. I wouldn’t bet serious money on any game left. I think the Dawg Nation can reasonably expect to have a decent record and good bowl game this this year, but in 2008 I think we will be a serious contender for the whole shootin’ match! Cheers, Go Dawgs!
By OhioDawg
November 16, 2007 12:35 AM | Link to this
P.S. I love Herschel, and I regard Spurrier as just slightly less dangerous than the Anti-Christ, but the call-out was a cheap shot and, much as I hate to say it, I think Herschel needs to issue an apology. It would be a class thing to do.
By Charlotte Jacket
November 17, 2007 11:00 AM | Link to this
Okay m, who do you want to replace Gailey? Charlie Weis will be available in a few weeks (maybe this week if Dook beats them at home). Get your $3MM checkbook out if you want a wider selection. Maybe Pete Carroll, Nick Sabin, Butch Davis, heck, even Tony Dungy would like to come to the ATL? Load up the bus and bring some fans on Saturday - premium coaches don’t coach in a stadium giving hats and hot dogs away.
And what does “under the circumstances” mean? I can’t put Gailey on any list of the worst coaches in history under any terms. He’s not even on the list of the worst coaches at Tech, or in the ACC. It’s all basic math: Bill Lewis went 1-10 with some sliver of Bobby Ross’s talent left on that team. Gailey is yet to have a losing season, despite starting Reggie Ball for four years. And with Taylor’s performance against VT, we know now why Reggie kept playing.
Bobby Dodd and George O’Leary are gone. Josh Nesbitt is making waves and will soon have this team scoring some points, just not likely in 2007. Give us a few weeks before you start calling for Hewitt’s head. We need some time to get Roy Williams’s new contract ready before you run Paul out.
I see you’ve posted similar crap on Bradley’s column now about “worst coach in history”. Serious people might be persuaded if you’d use some brain power rather than hysterics.