Where did Jeff go?
He’s moved to a new location. Check him out on the new blogging platform and let him know what you think.
Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > November > 04
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Has Matthew Stafford already made up his mind?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Athens — If it seems like the post-Florida, poll-sliding, second-tier-bowl level of doom is even more pronounced than usual at Georgia, maybe it’s because of this: The belief that the Matthew Stafford/Knowshon Moreno window is about to be nailed shut.
Seldom have two recruits at the highest-profile positions arrived with such high expectations. So imagine the scenario of both leaving without so much as playing in an SEC title game.
Stafford is trying not to think about that right now. But he understands why the issue is out there. He also said that anybody assuming that the three-and-out has long been the plan is mistaken.
“Those people are wrong,” he said Tuesday when asked of prevailing opinions that he already has decided to turn pro after the season. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I think I’ve done a pretty good job not thinking about it too much and worrying about it this season.”
When asked if the absence of at least a conference title is something that would pull him back for his senior season, Stafford: “Good question. I don’t know if I’ll feel that way or not. There’s still a lot of football to be played this year. It’s just one of a bunch of factors.”
He is 20 years old. Most of us can’t possibly relate. So few are in the position of making such a significant life-changing decision, at this age and on such a public stage.
It hasn’t been an easy year. Stafford is 24-6 as a starter. But the Bulldogs, who began the year with championship aspirations, now are viewed as second-tier bowl material. Stafford had three interceptions in an embarrassing loss to Florida. His touchdown-to-interception ratio of 12-8: not great.
Is it all Stafford’s fault? Of course not. But as the quarterback, he understands how this works. His high school team, Highland Park in Dallas, lost only three games during his tenure, but: “We lost in the first round of the playoffs in my junior year. That wasn’t very accepted.”
He seems unaffected by critics, even saying: “I guess they’re right — we haven’t played for the conference championship since I’ve been here.”
What does that mean to the NFL? Nothing.
NFL teams don’t critique quarterbacks the way cross-eyed fans do. Scouts see the whole package, the things that can’t be coached: arm strength, release, pocket awareness, escapabilty. They see interceptions and think, “We can fix that.”
Stafford will go high.
But if you were 20 and owned Athens, would you be in a hurry?
“It’s a job,” Stafford said of the NFL. “Do I want to live on my own now?
“I’m enjoying the experience here. It’s a good place to go to school and a good place to play. There’s a ton of things to think about. Whether or not you feel like there’s something else to prove. Whether or not you feel mature enough and ready to make that jump. Whether or not you want to get your degree right away or later.”
A more difficult decision than he thought?
“Yeah. Definitely. It will be extremely tough.”
Other underclassmen have delayed turning pro. The most extreme examples were members of Florida’s championship basketball team two years ago. Georgia coach Mark Richt once had former Bulldogs running back Robert Edwards talk to players about coming back to try to win a championship.
“When I was at Florida State, Warrick Dunn came back,” Richt said. “Even Chris Weinke, who had won a national championship, came back to try to win another.”
Some college athletes turn pro out of financial necessity. That isn’t an issue for Stafford. His parents are leaving the decision to him.
“When you go to a university, the plan is to go for four years,” said John Stafford, Matthew’s father. “I don’t think that plan has changed, but with the caveat that it’s something you have to look at.”
If Georgia wins out, Stafford will finish 28-6 as a starter. That may not be enough for some. But for what it’s worth, the NFL isn’t preoccupied with the Florida game. • More coverage: Matthew Stafford page
Permalink | Comments (123) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA/SEC
Fulmer’s good, other SEC coaches great
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
And now for the Tuesday Countdown:
10: I feel so much smarter after watching Chris Berman interview Barack Obama and John McCain. Too bad the election is today. I was kind of hoping Lauren and Heidi from The Hills could moderate the next round of debates.
9: Phil Fulmer is out. I feel a little bit like a talkshow host after Richard Nixon resigned. Weekend Predictions lost its chief lampoon-ee.
8: Seriously, though. About Fulmer: He is no worse a coach or recruiter today than he was when Tennessee won the national title in 1998. He didn’t suddenly get dumber. Problem is, everybody else got better.
7: You’ve probably heard that Fulmer was 11-16 against Alabama, Florida and Georgia since 2000. But the bigger issue is that the SEC is home to the greatest collection of football coaches this side of the NFL — and no other conference is close.
6: Think about it: Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Les Miles, Steve Spurrier, Tommy Tuberville and Mark Richt represent an astounding top tier. Bobby Petrino, for as much as he is justifiably despised in these parts, probably will revive Arkansas eventually (though, please: feel free to join me in mockery until then). There isn’t a bad coach in the conference. Fulmer just no longer ranked in the upper tier — and that’s not good enough in Knoxville, which was upper tier for so long.
5: The BCS is seeking a six-year, $800 million deal from Fox for rights to the four major bowl games, according to the Sports Business Journal. Wow. Imagine what this would be worth if this was actually pro sports. (That was a joke.)
4: You might think Joe Dumars is taking a risk dealing Chauncey Billups (and spare parts) to Denver for Allen Iverson. But think about it. Iverson is still one of the top scorers in the game and, at this stage of his career, he’ll embrace being on a championship caliber team. He is in the last year of his contract. He wants a title. I remember when Jerry West was criticized for bringing in Bob McAdoo. The Pistons did something similar with Rasheed Wallace. Dumars might be executive of the year when this is over.
3: Evander Holyfield, 46, is moving closer to a title fight against WBA champion Nikolai Valuev. A ring will be set up between the goat boy and the bearded lady.
2: Georgia Tech is suddenly only seven spots being Georgia in the BCS rankings. I wonder how the Bulldogs would rank the possibility of being passed with the loss to Florida?
1: I don’t supposed anybody cares if Tennessee beats Wyoming, Vanderbilt and Kentucky, the Volunteers will be bowl eligible.
Permalink | Comments (26) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA/SEC
