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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > June > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USA lot for Dogs to bark about
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Now the baseball team is causing the loudest barking around Athens for its resiliency before and during the College World Series. Remember that red-and-black miracle earlier this spring, when Georgia won the SEC basketball tournament out of nowhere?
There were other impressive things involving Georgia athletics since the start of this academic year. We’ll get to them after mentioning that the sum of those things makes the Bulldogs of Mark Richt, Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno favored to become the elite of the elite during the Bowl Championship Series.
“Without a doubt,” said Georgia baseball coach David Perno, over the phone from Omaha, Neb. That’s where his streaking team will open the best-of-three championship round tonight at 7 p.m. at Rosenblatt Stadium in search of the fourth national championship overall for the Bulldogs’ athletics department since April.
Added Perno, “Baseball, being the last sport [in the academic year], it can ignite things for the following year. It can lead you right into football, and, obviously, you know the importance of football at Georgia.”
It’s always about football at Georgia. For the moment, it’s also about baseball at Georgia, especially after Perno’s bunch kept discovering ways to eliminate Stanford on Saturday to remain undefeated during the College World Series.
Prior to that, Perno’s Bulldogs had to survive a shocking loss to Lipscomb during their own regional, and then they had to take two of three from North Carolina State during the super regional. After reaching Omaha, the Bulldogs slew No. 1 seed Miami before taking care of Stanford.
So Georgia will end the month as nothing worse than the nation’s second-best college baseball team.
That’s OK. It’s just that becoming the nation’s best college baseball team is more Georgia-like these days. In April, the Bulldogs won it all in women’s gymnastics, and they did the same after the equestrian team events. Then, in May, they took the national title in men’s tennis.
If you’re counting, Georgia’s various sports teams have 11 top-10 finishes during this academic calendar season. In other words, it sounds like coaches and players for the Bulldogs motivate each other. Either that, or they scare each other into success since nobody wants to become the mediocre oddballs on campus.
“Iron sharpens iron, and there’s nothing but great and class coaches over there [throughout UGA],” said Perno, in his 12th year overall as a coach for the Bulldogs’ baseball program, including the past seven as head man.
Added Perno, “You have coaches at Georgia with a lot of tenure, from the gymnastics coach, Suzanne Yoculan, Andy Landers [women basketball], Manny Diaz [men’s tennis]. … These are pioneers. They’re just phenomenal. You can learn a lot from them, and they definitely know how to win.”
Perno forgot to mention Perno, because Perno is a prolific winner, too. He played on Georgia’s baseball team that took the national championship in 1990. He later reached the College World Series as a Bulldogs assistant coach, and now he’s reaching it for the third time as their head man. I mean, given this baseball thing, and that basketball thing, and all of those other things involving UGA teams, is there any doubt the college sporting gods are preparing to slip on football cleats this fall in Athens?
Georgia athletics director Damon Evans responded quickly over the phone while chuckling, “I hope so.”
Permalink | Comments (46) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA/SEC
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By Andrew
June 23, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
First!!!
Dawgs are running a class act program in every sport. They way it should be done…..
By Goldtimer
June 23, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
Puh-leaze stop with the pro-Bulldog hype. Tech is the home town team.
By Dawg 51
June 23, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this
All I can say is “Ain’t it gerat to be a Georgia Bulldog!!!
By joe
June 23, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
Before all-everything-UGA gets itself in an uproar, I will point out that in the two biggest sports this year, UGA did NOT win it’s own division in football and they finished dead last in its division in Men’s hoops, so everything is not all peaches and cream in Athens. And if any UGA idiot thinks a good run in the CWS translates to a good run in football this coming fall, they are drinking too much cool-aid again. Oh, FS Bulldogs look like they are cinderella on a mission, so UGA hoisting the trophy later this week is not a given…woof.
By zdawg8
June 23, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
And one of the better performing in the southeast, including gt, on their academic progress report.
By 'Ol Dawg
June 23, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
I hope this gets in before the “children” start their juvenile stuff. Mr. Moore, If you wrote more articles like this, perhaps you would not be the brunt of so many insults. Writing these kind of articles about any school, not just UGA. This is what I think the vast majority want to hear, something good and positive, in depth and informative. Congratulations TM. Special congratulatins to all the Dawgs, who continue to make us proud and hopefully our state as well. I think all Georgians, regardless of loyalty, can appreciate the positive attention these kind of feats bring to our state. Whether Tech, Georgia Southern, Valdosta State, and a soon to be larger program at Georgia State, and the many others, we can be proud. Tonight, the Dawgs are once again exposed to the nation, along with our state. Quality academics, quality leaders, and quality student athletes. Something we all can take pride in. Rest assured, if it was Tech, this Dawg would be pulling hard for them!
By wde
June 23, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
Dawg51- that is the most telling post I have seen on an AJC blog in a long time.
It sure is “gerat”!
By Terence Moore
June 23, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this
You have to give Vince Dooley and Damon Evans credit for hiring (and retaining) excellent coaches.
That’s where it starts.
Getting talented athletes after that certainly doesn’t hurt Georgia, either.
By PTC DAWG
June 23, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
What Joe forgets to mention, is that football team finished 2nd in the Nation. Not too shabby. Obviously, they aren’t going away, and will win at least 10 games again this fall. They will be in the race for the East. They will beat GT like a drum. Good times all around.
GATA Diamond Dawgs!!
By Gold Timer's nursing home
June 23, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Goldtimer…
“Tech is the home town team”, I beleive you forgot to take your meds and change your depends. I think your Alzheimer’s is progressing at a rate faster than we expected. Better turn over on your other side so you don’t get any bed-sores.
By red and black
June 23, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
jou-we won the sec east title and ourbowl game finishing second in the polls.gator chomp-chomp on this-ga shut out uf 15 times to your 5 times.492 points to tour 113 points.i guess from 1904 till 1989 your cheerleaders must have on the field when the dawgs came to play the gayters.
By AcworthDude
June 23, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
This is reverse racism, Mr Moore. You are just saying all of this because David Perno is black…(sarcasm)
In all seriousness, I am not sure if this is a momentum type of deal that translates to Ws on the football field but I do think that UGA and its alumni do a great job of funding and supporting all athletics. This is the only place where people got excited about the gymnastics team.
By h222
June 23, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
Oh Joe, Poor Joe, Just read about UGA success and weep. What a whiny crybaby
By RJ
June 23, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
Nice Terrence. I’m so glad that a BCS supporter finds it so cool that Georgia is playing for a National Championship in baseball. If baseball used the BCS, they wouldn’t even be allowed in the bleachers.
Just remember that next time you back the BCS.
By Gadawg
June 23, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
Go DAWGS!!! finish this out with a NC at the CWS.That will set the stage for our Football NC. It’s great to be a Georgia BULLDAWG!!!!
By red and black
June 23, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
goldtimer- is that a highschool team your referring to.i knew they had the braves,hawks,and falcons in atlanta.go dawgs-sic em.
By dawgsrule
June 23, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
GO DAWGS! The jealousy is already running rampant on this blog. Hey Joe FYI Georgia’s Football team was Co-Champions of their division and finished #2 in the nation behind the SEC Champ. I think that is pretty solid. How did Tech’s football team do again… Oh sorry that was a low blow. How about Techs basketball team how was the NCAA tourny… Oh sorry another low blow. Well maybe one day people will look at you as a winner… just don’t hold your breath too long.
Congrats to the diamond dawgs! Bring home that Trophy.
By Big Al
June 23, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
I salute the Dawgs and hope you win the whole thing.
By Gadawg
June 23, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
“Ol Dawg” nice blog!
By Supes
June 23, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Congrats to UGA baseball team. They have earned the right to play for the National Title against Fresno State, and I hope they can bring it back to GA!
It’ll be deserving to send off this senior class off with a CWS title, after all they’ve done along with coach Perno to put the program in the map and into respectability.
GO DAWGS!
By Goldtimer
June 23, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
Figured I would get that kind of reaction from the uneducated masses that follow the fleabags. The AJC writes nothing but fluff pieces about the legendary program in Athens that fails year in and year out to bring home meaningful championships. Keep up the good work Terrence and the other AJC “writers” - don’t forget to wipe off your faces after polishing off the dawgies.
By I-DOG
June 23, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
Goldtimer:
Some suggested headlines for a story on on tech athletics: “Things will get better eventually… they have to” “tech confident they will beat UGA in an athletic contest during the 2009-2010 period… skeptics abound”
Joe:
You forgot to mention that UGA only finished 2nd in football this year and that the 1997 equestrian team was a bitter disappointment. Things are just fine in Athens, thanks for checking in.
By Go Dawgs
June 23, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
Great article TM. For the jealous losers…get use to it and go away if you cannot be objective which goes for the UGA homers as well! Do I think the UGA baseball team will have any impact on the football program this fall…not in the least. The point of the article is that UGA has developed a program characterized by high quality coaches and players that win and do it the right way and it becomes contageous. UGA is not perfect…they have isolated issues like every school…not all teams are SEC or NC’s every year (nor is any other school). The bottom line is that post Jim Harrick…(thanks again President Adams for that nice hire)UGA programs win and win the right way as consistantly as any program in the country (see the Sears Cup standings the last 5 years or so). Congrats to the Athletics departments for making all UGA fans proud of our coaches and student athletes!!
Go Dawgs!
By I-DOG
June 23, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Enjoyed the article.
College baseball is not the most popular sport in the country, but the SEC tourney, play in for CWS and the CWS itself have certainly been exciting and I agree that a lot of Dawg Nation is enjoying it.
Obviously, Football means a lot more to the vast majority of Bulldog fans, but the SEC BB Tourney, and now baseball have certainly been exciting for this fan. Men’s tennis, equestrian, and gymnastics have been fanstastic at UGA for a while now.
Richt’s results in football haven’t been too shabby either, there is a lot for a Dawg fan to have been excited about so far in his tenure and that appears to be something that will continue for quite a while.
By 2plus2equals5
June 23, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
Too bad Tech people. No one cares about anything you do. NO ONE!!! Except maybe your mommies.
By Bryan G
June 23, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
This stuff is cyclical and right now it is damn great to be a Georgia Bulldog.
Sugar Bowl Champions SEC Basketball Champions College World Series
How bout THEM Dawgs!
By Geaux Joe
June 23, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
Georgia is having a great year across the board and they deserve congtaulations for that. Best of luck in the finals of the CWS & bring it back to the SEC.
By luvmydawgs
June 23, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Way to go Dawgs! That is all that needs to be said. No need to rub it in Tech face that we are there and they are all at home this summer.
By Charles Brown
June 23, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Need I remind you that hype does not win football games. Just three years ago Univ. of TN was ranked 3rd in the nation entering the season. They ended up 25th. So much for popular polls. Being a GA native, I am hoping that the Dawgs can pull it off. However, the game is played on the field; not in the media.
By quaildawg
June 23, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
I (and I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t agreed with you on much TM) agree with credits to Coach Dooley and Damon for their ability to hire, and in some cases take chances on unproven commodities-see Richt and Perno, persons of character and commitment to the University. These are not the “flavor de’jour” that ESPN loves to love (ie-Meyer, Weiss, Stoops,Carroll) though some of these have proven records to back up the “love”. These are Coaches who have not shown the need to grandstand to draw attention to their respective programs. They let the actions on the field,court,gym,diamond, etc. do that for them and their student-athletes. Congrats to all the Dawg Champions and Good Luck to the Diamond Dawgs. Show those poser Dawgs what being a “Bulldawg” is all about!!!
By Dave
June 23, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
My only question…
Will UGA, with his ice pack and doghouse, be in Omaha tonight?
If so, just go ahead and mail the trophy to Athens…
By Comin' Down The Track
June 23, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
Thanks, TM, for a solid and decent article. I would say the same thing had it been written about any other team besides UGA, too. I admit I waited for the other shoe to drop when you wrote, “There were other impressive things involving Georgia athletics since the start of this academic year. We’ll get to them after mentioning…”; but to your credit you kept the discourse at a high level. I noticed the effect it had upon the normally juvenile posters, too. Rather subdued them, don’t you think? Like the old saying goes, “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Kudos.
By 82DAWG
June 23, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
Oh Bryan, don’t remind us of that! Of course its all cyclical. When you are up, you can’t imagine ever being down again and vice-versa. I remember in the early 80’s (yea, I’m old) when it seemed that basketball and football were on top to stay. Only they didn’t. And I remember the Goff/Donnan/Jirsa years when it never seemed like we were never going to be anything better than mediocre again. But, s#!t, one thing I did learn was to enjoy it while it lasts!!!!
By will in athens
June 23, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
LMAO, whatever helps you sleep better Joe. That football team that didn’t win their own division went to it’s 3rd BCS bowl in it’s last 5 years and won it going away, finishing #2 in the nation… and that dead last basketball team only won the league championship tournament in what was the story of the weekend, NATIONALLY, getting back to the NCAA tourney. Oh yeah, and we did it on Tech’s floor, LOL. Even some of the worst sports at UGA right now (and there aren’t many) are looking up…
So how are things looking at Tech? No I’m seriously asking, because I wanted to watch your Spring Game on CSS but after about 20 turnovers I guess your new savior coach decided it was best to keep a lip on that brand new sleek, state of the art uber exciting offense by showing ZERO clips of the actual game! ROFL, darn… I was looking forward to seeing that too. : /
By TheItalianDawg
June 23, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
nice article! however if it happen and georgia wins the NC, georgia will be the first from the east coast to win since 1995. that is something. go dawgs
By Jaxdawg00
June 23, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
Goldtimer and wde
Terrence forgot to call out UGA as the only institution in the nation to have two Rhodes Scholarships this year and a National Championship caliber Debate team. Many Tech CS grads will have Terry School MIS grads as bosses. But you go ahead and feel better about calling us out for typos, you big bad yellerjacket,you, Same to you tweety.
By Capt. Howdy
June 23, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
UGA is the ONLY program in the country that fielded a football bowl team, NCAA Men’s & Women’s baketball tournament team, and College World Series team this year. And we won a Nat’l Title in gymnastics, men’s tennis …
By Denver Dawg
June 23, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
RJ:
Thanks for pointing outthat the Dawgs wouldn’t be in the Championship if baseball used a BCS format. NEITHER WOULD THE OTHER DOGS - FRESNO STATE.
These teams earned the right ON THE FIELD to be in the Championship. This is the way it should be.
The BCS sucks and so so all of its supporters.
By Old Dawg
June 23, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
To Gold timer
and the rest of the Techsters who like to come on our vent and prattle. You never seem to understand that nothing you can say really bothers us. Georgia owns you in football, baseball, basketball etc. Even in your best years in sports you are average. It’s been that way for a while. Our campus looks better, our stadium is incredible and always full, our women are prettier, and our alumni are very generous. We recieve national attention often for our success in sports and in the classroom. You can nip at our heels if you want, because sometimes we find it amusing. Rest assured, one swift kick and you’re gone. Please come on our vent again and tell us how inferior we are. To parphrase Rhett Butler, “frankly, we don’t give a damn.”
By GT
June 23, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Fluff has become TM’s middle name. He use to write outrageous articles about how great any black athlete was that could chew gum and walk at the same time. Now he is selling out to the mob and writing to the crowd that buys the newspaper and advertise in it. Must have found out that black support doesn’t sell newspapers, the big readers and ad buyers are clients that have paid the PR people for some spin which in turn tells people like Terrace what to write in return for having other clients advertise in his paper and the before Hope Scholarship grad at Georgia that is too old and country to buy a computer but still literate enough to read and buy a newspaper.
By Fort Worth Dawg
June 23, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
Interesting quote by Coach Perno — “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
By Zeb
June 23, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this
Goldtimer, man, talk about hatin’!! You know good and well if the shoe were on the other foot you’d be doing the sam thing. Your program is going to be fine, just give it some time. PJ is a fine coach who will get things turned around. But dude, just leave it alone and let us ride this thing out while it lasts.
By red and black
June 23, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
there was a time when i pulled for gt too.what a bunch of babies yall turned out to be.you should be happy that georgia has better teams than fla.does.guess gt was just a super nova. burned bright during the 90’3 then sizzled out never to win{glow} again.go dawgs-sic em.
By Insider
June 23, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
I still find it interesting when uniformed ACCers like to claim that Georgia didn’t even win its own division when they actually did. Its also interesting how coacheffaulted Georgia in the polls for losing to UT when LSU beat UT. But the same coaches overlooked the fact that Georgia beat UK who also trashed LSU. Its even logical to say that a UK loss on LSU’s resume is worse than the UT loss on UGA’s resume, considering UT was the co-champion along with Georgia in the SEC East.
LSU lost to UK and Arkansas. Georgia lost to USC and UT.
Which two losses were worse?
By Don
June 23, 2008 6:03 PM | Link to this
RJ - you claim that “if baseball used the BCS, they (UGA) wouldn�t even be allowed in the bleachers.” You forget that UGA received the national number 8 seed - which means that it still would have made the CWS as an at-large team had the BCS system been used.
By Keeping It Real
June 23, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this
As much as I hate to admit it in my old Tennessee Vols heart, Georgia is blessed with some outstanding coaches and athletes. The future as well as the present appears to be very bright.