AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2008 > January > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.US2008 really could be Georgia’s year
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
New Orleans — Les Miles pretty much figured this would be LSU’s championship season, but we shouldn’t put great stock in that. “I’ve kind of been wrong,” he said Tuesday morning. “I thought the first two years [at LSU] would be as well, and it ended up I was wrong.”
Miles’ Tigers won the BCS title here Monday night. There’s a good chance Georgia, which finished No. 2 in the final Associated Press poll, will play for the national championship in Miami on Jan. 8, 2009. But as we move from the crazy season just completed to the one that commences in August, we need ask: How do you actually know when it’s your year?
Much of it, duh, has to do with players. LSU had 15 holdover starters but lost four NFL first-round draftees from the team that finished No. 3 in the rankings. Georgia is scheduled to have 17 starters back, which augurs nicely. But LSU had something Georgia won’t have.
Back when Florida State was a factor, Bobby Bowden used to say, “You can have a national-championship team but not a national-championship schedule.” (He pronounces it “SKED-jule.”) The Tigers had the requisite series of high-profile games, and four of what appeared to be their six toughest games were staged in Baton Rouge.
The Bulldogs, by way of contrast, must face South Carolina, Arizona State, LSU and Auburn on the road and Florida in Jacksonville. (They also have to go to Kentucky, which won’t be as formidable next season.) Only two or three of Georgia’s eight toughest games — Alabama, Tennessee and, depending on how well and how quickly Paul Johnson works, Georgia Tech — will be played in Sanford Stadium. That’s a really rutty road.
Georgia, however, might well be strong enough to negotiate it. It’s probably too much to ask that a team with such a schedule go undefeated, but LSU just proved that even two losses — provided they’re honorable and provided everybody else keeps losing, too — is no barrier to a national title. And the Bulldogs will have the same thing working for them that worked for the Tigers, and that’s the ever-expanding aura of the SEC.
This was Miles late Monday night, his team having thumped Ohio State: “The SEC isn’t a league where you’re just going to have dominant games week after week after week. You’re going to have to play competitively, play from behind and take risks. I think that puts the SEC champion in a game like this with some comfort. Down 10, there’s no panic in this team. Are you kidding me? We’ve been down 10 before. We understand how to play.”
As frustrating as LSU could be to watch — all those penalties! — there was an undeniable toughness about these Tigers, about Matt Flynn and Early Doucet and Ali Highsmith and Jacob Hester. And that, Miles concluded, was how he knew LSU’s time was at hand. “This team in this instance,” he said, “saw it as their year.”
Will Georgia develop that same tenacity? Will Knowshon Moreno and Matthew Stafford and Rennie Curran see a national championship as their manifest destiny and refuse to accept anything less? Will they play with the same verve as they did that transforming day in Jacksonville? Will they see all those road games not as banana peels but as launch platforms?
We can’t know that now, no more than Miles could know anything for sure five months ago. All that’s knowable today is that Georgia figures to enter the 2008 season no worse off than LSU entered 2007 — the Tigers were No. 2 in preseason behind Southern Cal — and that we’re assured of seeing the game next season we were denied this time.
Georgia and LSU will meet in Baton Rouge on Oct. 25 and perhaps again in the Georgia Dome on Dec. 6. The Bulldogs might or might not have been as strong as LSU this season. Next fall they’ll have ample chance to prove their point.
Permalink | Comments (256) | Post your comment | Categories: Mark Bradley, UGA / SEC
Comments
By Herschel Talker
January 8, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this
First!!!
With our impossible schedule, even 1 loss will put us in the title game, and maybe 2.
By tom
January 8, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
Really brutal schedule - Coach Richt is the best!
By tom
January 8, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
Really brutal schedule - Coach Richt is the best!
By quaildawg
January 8, 2008 8:39 PM | Link to this
From the latest poll released it looks like UGA will not only have to overcome their schedule but also the Coaches Poll. How pray tell does the #4 ranked team who dismantled the 10th ranked team and have the three teams above them lose get jumped by the #6th ranked team who beat the #13th ranked team by one more point???????????? That one point must have really been the icing!!!!
By Tony Tiger
January 8, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
UGA, learn how to beat TN and play some real non-conf games before you even think about #1. Pup nation thought the world ended after Fulmer kicked yours and thought Rome (Athens) was built in a day after barely beating Vandy. Will you be wearing silver jerseys and red pants when LSU beats you badly next year? It wont matter!!
By Beach Dawg
January 8, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
Let’s be careful crowning champs a year in advance because there are many potential bumps ahead — academic qualification, potential suspensions for misbehavior (how many last year), overconfidence, etc, etc. Having said that the Dawgs have the potential be be very, very good.
By famous_bt8
January 8, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
My thoughts exactly quaildawg…
By dawgsarejokes
January 8, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this
It’s amazing how all these Georgia writers can foresee the future and rank Georgia number one when they haven’t even taken the field yet. Can’t wait for Georgia’s first 3 losses so the whining can begin. I can see it now, huddles just like Ohio State, pointing fingers and crying on the sidelines. Maybe Markie boy can take them swimming again or let them run onto the field against the likes of powerhouses Georgia Southern or Central Michigan, even better the mighty Georgia Tech Flea Flickers. My what a “Brutal Schedule”. Maybe the cheerleaders can get involved into the running onto the field and the second string can practice running after them so it will toughen them up for next year. With all the whining about not being national champs this year did you think maybe you just ought to finish first in the conference? Oh that’s right, we’re Georgia we don’t have to earn anything we expect it to be handed to us. I can see it getting UGLY on the sidelines next year. P** Pups whining all over the place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By lakedawg
January 8, 2008 8:46 PM | Link to this
I don’t like all the talk about gettin’ in with 1 or 2 losses. Our attitude and the teams’ should be that we win ‘em all. Take no prisoners !
By Lowcountry Dawg
January 8, 2008 8:47 PM | Link to this
Well, here’s our chance…and, by far, we’ve got the toughest schedule in the country…
at Tempe, AZ against Ariz. St.
at Baton Rouge, LA against LSU
at Lexington, KY against Kentucky
Florida in Jacksonville
at Auburn
If we can make it through that…we WILL BE CHAMPS!!!
GOOOOOO DAWGS!!!
By Jim S.
January 8, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
I just hope the guys stay out of trouble, do their school work, and make it their mission to win this thing next year. This is truly a talented bunch and UGA will have some freshmen who will be able to come in and contribute. I hope the players know just how hard they’ll have to work, because it will be tough. I believe, however, that Coach Richt will have them ready for the run.
By Born n raised
January 8, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
TOUGH SCHEDULE BUT TOUGH DAWGS ALSO! THEY WILL ALL BE BATTLE TESTED AND HUNGRY!!!
By Bill
January 8, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
San Dimas High School football rules!
By munsondawg
January 8, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
Hey Tony the Tiger - you sir are an idiot.
By BigDawg17
January 8, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this
Just a couple quick facts.
USC played 13 games of which 5 of those teams had winning records. Eight did not. USC’s overall opponent records were a combined 77 wins and 82 loses. Voted number 2 they don’t belong in the top five.
OSU played 13 games of which 7 teams had winning records and overall opponent records were 86 wins 76 loses.
UGA played 13 games of which 9 teams had winning records and they had combined records of 92 wins 72 loses.
LSU played 14 games of which 9 teams had winning records and combined were 104 wins and 74 loses.
You do the math.
By boots
January 8, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this
Like a lot of Georgia fans, I hated having years with .500 records. I even hate going to the Music City Bowl, the Peach Bowl or even the Outback. I want to be the SEC Champion every year and be in the conversation for the NC. But 10 years ago, we were far away from that point. Now we are approaching “the Promised Land,” and I am feeling good about our chances for crossing the Jordon River in to Miami next January. However, there will be challenges. Championship teams are determined as much by what happens off the field as what happens on it - hard work by coaches behind the scenes, putting egos aside, the early morning runs in the summer, decisions to study a little more or avoid tempting situations, and the hard work of many others who never get the attention they deserve. Getting to September is hard enough, and if these men work together and builds a team, I don’t think the schedule will look quite as difficult as it does now. Go Dawgs!
By stewart
January 8, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this
Hey Tony Tiger! Are you not enjoying your LSWHO mythical National championship enough that you have to post something like this. After losing TWO games when #1 to mediocre SEC teams you were lucky that the pre-season voters and media did not want to look bad with their pre-season rankings. That my friend is the ONLY reason you played a HOME national championship game. TWO mythical championships in your backyard must be nice. However, it ends next year when the DAWGS come a calling down on the lifeless buyou! It would NOT of happened this year for you had Georgia met you in the SEC championship. You were very lucky. Lastly, how does it feel to hate on your coach and then kiss his batooty when he wins with Saben’s players. Hope it was fun while it lasted and if not for a national championship possibility the Michigan man would have been gone anyway. After the next five seasons, you’ll wished he would because he will have DAMN FINE FOOTBALL TEAMS and will be unable to coach them up. As for the DAWG nation stability will continue to reign! HAVE A NICE DAY! (as echoed by your military coach!) I will be looking for some boodan down there next season!!!!!!!
By munsondawg
January 8, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this
dawgsarejokes:
Maybe one day your team will be able to have all the press the dawgs are getting - until then, you are not qualified to post. All you do is make a fool out of yourself.
By Hunk Erdown
January 8, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
Two years ago Florida went into the season with a similar schedule, everyone thought there was no way they could come out of the year without losing at least three, but they made it through and thrashed OSU like the scout team. This past year was like a Rocky movie… it came down to who could take a punch and get back up to stay in it. I hope UGA can take em one at a time and run the table, if we do, with our schedule, there will be no doubt or controversy. This is what we want, bring on all comers and lets get ready to rumble. No one will be able to point to our patsy schedule or say we backed into it. We will have a rough ride because folks want some revenge for our “get fired up tactics” from 2007, and I love it. We won’t be sneaking up on nobody, we’re going to be on the road for our toughest games and if we meet our goals it will be a slugfest, taking no prisoners. It will be tough but it sets up to be a road to the Championship. Florida will be ready. Auburn will be pi$$ed. Tennessee will feel a psychological advantage. LSU will have a NC banner from yesterday and an attitude to go with it. We will have a target on our backs and we will have to play like we never have. I absolutely love it. I hope the team will consider the amicable position we are in and stay out of trouble, preparing like they have never prepared before. I wish I could be the waterboy, just so I could experience the ride with them… It could be a very special year… No more “reloading” no more “rebuilding”, and no excuses.
Go you hairy Dawgs!!!
By Troy
January 8, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
Tough road and there will plenty of folks just waiting to pounce if we do stumble (that’s our own fault though for the boisterous fanbase). Next few years thought the Dawgs have the opportunity to be a USC (the real one) type program. I just hope Stafford learns to control the distractions of going to college in Athens. He does have a bit of Brett Favre in him in his propensity to party and chase tail (hard to fault him for that). Savior these years Dawgs, an era like this only comes along once in a lifetime.
By heeldawg
January 8, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
There will be haters and doubters and jealous folks all around—all of the Tech fans and Gamecock fans and others who wish their teams were in Georgia’s shoes, with a top-quality person as a coach, tons of returning talent and a phenomenal recruiting class to boot. People like “dogsarejokes” can spout their drivel all they want, but the reality of it all is that the Dawgs are NOT going to lose three games, and in all likelihood will not lose two. Georgia will be more talented than any team it faces, and while the schedule is very tough indeed—reminiscent of the Florida schedule of the 2006 season—it is surmountable. The Dawgs have the talent to win every game; there is little doubt of that. More importantly, they have a burning desire to fulfill what they feel is their destiny as a team. No one will leave the team early this season for one very good reason: they all see what is coming, the chance to be part of something special, something without precedent in Georgia football history: to be a part of the beginning of the new U.Ga. dynasty, a dynasty more sustainable than the 1980-1983 Herschel Walker years.
In head-to-head matchups against Arizona State, South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Ga Tech, Vandy, LSU and others, Georgia will have the edge in experience and at least equal talent. But it is that desire—the desire to be the best—that will propel this team next season to unimagined heights.
Dawg fans, get ready. It’s starting.
By Mitzi Boyd
January 8, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
I have to respond to Dawgsarejokes comments. Does this person even know about college football? Is he or she even aware of the powerhouse of the SEC? Has the author ever been to a Georgia game? Or Jacksonville? Or a “Blackout”? Whining dawgs?! I don’t think so. Winning Dawgs. Georgia’s talent and class coach will speak for themselves next year. I just wish we could have played USC this week. It would have made for a much better game than Hawaii.GO DAWGS!!
By Najeh Davenpoop
January 8, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
Maybe I’m just stupid (after all, I did once take a dump in my girlfriend’s closet)… but how exactly ARE you supposed to pronounce “schedule”? Surely you don’t mean the British way. What’s wrong with “SKED-jule”?
By Tom
January 8, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
dawgsarejokes …..
Well now … munsondawg put you in your place didn’t he after all that BS you spewed!!!
By Jake
January 8, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
You have to remember who you are talking about. USC is the darling of the media. It really doesn’t matter because if the Dawgs come out next year and take care of business, we will be just fine. September can’t get here soon enough, that’s for sure.
By dawgsarejokes
January 8, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
munsondawg, You moron, are you so unqualified to post that you don’t realize it is only the Atlanta Constipation that has any interest in the dawwwwwwwwwwwgs? You lose to the likes of South Carolina, Tennessee when they are having a down year, you barely beat Florida you barely beat Alabama and wow way to score on Vanderbilt..that was all of 3 points I believe and Troy Oh My 44-34 what a game!!!!Then how can we forget the likes of Hawaii the Rainbows, goodness gracious such a convincing season. Maybe next year you will actually schedule a tough out of conference opponents. Oh wait….too late for that you already have that padded schedule, oh well maybe next year as Munson laments every year. I think the last NC was the 80’s is that correct??????????? That’s not exactly a dynasty’s there Georgia, I thought dawwwwgs ate bones, not lay eggs.
By hotrod
January 8, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
tough schedule next year,lets see how the first four games go before we talk orange bowl,if these kids read all this they might not work hard enough.CMR HAS A HARD JOB IN FRONT OF HIM,but I know he can do it.
By jimmy
January 8, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this
hey dawgsarejokes…. your a douche bag!!! why don’t you go hang out on your tech maggot blog.
By dawgsarejokes
January 8, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this
Mitzi Boyd
Black out?????????????Sounds like pop warner stuff to me. Real teams just show up and play and leave the children’s stuff to the smaller leagues.
By uga grad 92
January 8, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
Hey Dawgsarejokes…..why don’t you go to your own blog and discuss how Paul Johnson and his triple-option are going to get you back to the Humanitarian bowl….YOU LOSER! GO DAWGS…..NC TALK AND HYPE IS WHAT WE NEED!!!
By TW
January 8, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
Bradley - You gave us a bunch of crap for firing Donnan. Apologize or go cover flag-football at Tech.
By stewart
January 8, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this
TO DAWGS ARE JOKES-
O.K. everyone, it is obvious this person is not a fan of an SEC team as what he said in the last post shows his ignorance about the FINEST conference in all of football. He is so proud of his team that he will NOT even share who that team is!
By Gator
January 8, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this
Here we go again Mark Bradley jumping on the Wagon. You sports writers in Georiga are a joke! Evertime this football team has a decent season you guys curse it. We have been hearing about Georgia winning a national title for about the last what 25 years. I guess LSU and Florida are going to just lay down and give it to them, In Florida we never talk about National Champions ships untill the end of the season what a desperate bunch of sports writers.
By DickHead Dawgs
January 8, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this
Did UGA play last night? No, so case closed. UGA can bark all it wants it has no bite to the NC crown. LSU won it. Celebrate with your fellow SEC bretheron and the fact that the DAWGS made a great showing in the Sugar Bowl. Then shut up about the 2008 season and just win. Then you don’t rely on any one else to take care of your business. For those of you that want to argue, the DAWGS can in second in the SEC East. Like it or not, LSU won the conference. The rules never changed from the start of the season. Win your division and go to the conference championship. That’s why the DAWGS had to pray to KY and Vandy to beat UT. UT had a streak and deserved to represent the EAST and don’t forget, like your could, they beat the snot out of the DAWGS for the second year in a row. Chew on that bone DAWG lovers.
By thogwummpy
January 8, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
One of the quiet stories not really mentioned about UGA next year, is that when Moreno is resting, the Dawgs are going to have Caleb King (redshirted this year) getting tailback duties. And HE could be just as good as Moreno. Remember, it’s King that was touted as the next Herschel coming out of high school. Boy-o-boy-o-boy!!!
By jimmy
January 8, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
hey dawgsarejokes…. just the ajc huh? well i guess espn is a bunch of morons too. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=3186264
like i said…. your a douche bag!!!!
By Troy
January 8, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
dogsarejokes apparently is (a) in seventh grade, (b) rode the short bus to school, (c) a Tech grad that got his lunch tray shoved in his lap everyday by the cool kids that eventually went to UGA when they graduated, (d) McLovin. Let the voting begin.
By Buckhead Bulldog
January 8, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
dawgsarejokes
Shhhhh. Look in the mirror!
By Hunk Erdown
January 8, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
Great post Heeldawg!
You are correct sir, the championship year for these Dawgs has already begun. The seeds that have been sowed are in deep, good soil. The work begins now, the harvest begins in August. During the Sugar bowl week I was able to see the team close up, there is a swagger among the guys that is not bred in overconfidence, but a look in their eyes that shows a hunger for their destiny to be fullfilled. Coach Richt has changed… He has realized and is living out a role that is different than the past. He has been liberated from the fetters that have tied him down and has delegated authority to men who are on the same page and have the confidence to lead their men into battle. We have suffered the past several years of having men in the trenches who were not quite up to the task… those days are history. We have big, strong, young men who have met the enemy and conquered them. They are very good, but have the potential and the leadership to be phenominal. We have a quarterback who is great but has not yet scratched the surface of his potential. We have backs and receivers who have unlimited ability. We have a very special group of red-shirts that are chomping at the bit. We have a new class of freshmen that are heralded as one of the best groups in the Nation. There is a brotherhood… almost spiritual in nature in the locker room that only comes together once in several lifetimes. There is a cohesiveness between team mates that will carry them deep into the bloody fourth quarters of battle with a twinkle in the eye that assures victory. This is going to be a very special next few years… No wonder Coach Richt is smiling like a full bellied possum.
My God, how I love my Dawgs!
By Buckhead Bulldog
January 8, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
Gator
“Champions ships ” never stepped onto the UF campus, huh. 12th grade, 14th grade?
By Gene
January 8, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this
Please find something else to write about. Football is over, and speculation about next year is dangerous and a waste of time. In spite of what some high school drop outs think, this is not a UGA blog. Fans of other schools should be able to express their opinions without being threatened. Write something about a Georgia team with some class, like women’s gymnastics.
By stewart
January 8, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this
TO Gayturd- NO chomp this year OR next, sorry! Oh by the way after 18 years of spurrier…..still gotcha by 10 games overall….outch….!!!!That’s gptta hurt. You’ve only been around for a decade or so…..What about the other 80 some odd years of football. Before Spurrier you were another South Carolina!!! After Spurrier…you’ve been beaten by South Carolina and Spurrier!! Gator Bait…..think not anymore!!!!!
By Michael
January 8, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this
I like college football too but you all take this too seriously. Unless you have money on the games it’s just cheap entertainment and who gives a s*it. Oh yeah, GO DAWGS!
By Mr. Carlton
January 8, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
Talk about some high expectations. Granted, Georgia returns some talent, but the current system favors teams with weaker schedules(see USC, Ohio State). LSU, Tenn, Auburn, Florida, even South Carolina await.
By Slim Whitman
January 8, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
Miss Najeh Davenpoop, I love your blogs you are the best will you marry me? I am a Georgia grad and root for the SEC…I think OSU played hard and should be proud of a good effort…it isn’t always winners and losers its for the fellowship and love of competition we should be happy we have each other
By Gator
January 8, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
Here we go again! Mark Bradley jumping on the wagon: You sports writers in Ga. are a joke all you do is curse this team year after year: How many good teams has Mark Richt had with great talent and no championships to show for it? I guess Florida and LSU are going to lay down and give it to Ga. The sportwriters in Florida dont start tallking championships untill the last game is played. You sports writers in Georgia are a despreate bunch.
By DCDAWG
January 8, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
Let’s wait until we’ve played a few games before we crown ourselves 2008/9 national champions. This is just the type of overconfidence that gets a Michigan beaten by App State. We’ll be good but we gotta be great and greatness is earned, not given.
By munsondawg
January 8, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
dawgsarejokes:
It really is a b… being a loser and an idiot. Make sure mommy tucks your in tonight and dream about the dawgs. That is as close you will ever come to having a winning seaon.
What a putz!
By Hunk Erdown
January 8, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this
You are right DickHead, the LSU Tigers are the National Champions. UGA certainly lost to SC and Tennessee and did not outrightly win our division. We only went 11-2 for the year… we were picked to go 7-6 or 8-5 at best. There was no way all those freshmen linemen could grow up so fast that they could carry us to have a chance at greatness. We were supposed to finsh third in our division and be lucky if we could crack the top 25 in the final polls. And yet… We have secured the number 2 spot in the final polls and didn’t even win our division. Three AP voters were so dillusional as to pick us number 1 in the final poll, only one of the three is from Ga and he has been our toughest critic. I don’t think, nor have I advocated that UGA got ripped in the polls at any time this year, our loss to South Carolina was a stone in our path that made us undeserving of a number one ranking in my humble opinion. But anyone who can honestly say that we didn’t play our a*******es off and over achieve under the circumstances is either a moron or out-to-lunch in their capacity to understand football. Criticize us for looking forward to our next season with fervor and anticipation if you like but we are stacked, mon ami. We are ready to rumble, and anyone who can beat us will have a very special team. Our defensive ends will continue to set records with their uncanny ability to sack quaterbacks (see Tim Tebow for references or Young Mr. Colt, when he awakes from his coma and is able to speak without those depressing tears and a box of kleenex). Please excuse us for looking forward to 2008, but anyone with an ounce of football knowledge understands our anticipation. Continue in your bashing and poor mouthing, sir, but when the next kick off comes around please come back and be man enough to tell us how we were dillusional for beleiving in our team, okay?
By Ted
January 8, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
Bill, that was a most excellent post!
By Slim Whitman
January 8, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this
Gator, how many pairs of jean shorts does it take a florida redneck to make it thru the nascar season?
By Hunk Erdown
January 8, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this
Okay, I’m done now…lol
I’ve probably jinxed the whole thing with my team spirit, huh? lol Have a great evening everyone. goodnight.
By shane #1
January 8, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
buckhead bulldog,14 grades in fl?having lived there all i can say is,it can’t hurt!maybe old gator can go back to class and get some class.the gators may wait untill the season is over to talk about winning it all,but then they never shut up!so gator,just SHUT UP!better yet,don’t lose to the big ten loser and make us all look bad.all the sec big boys came through but you guys.
By Hunk Erdown
January 8, 2008 10:26 PM | Link to this
I will have to sleep on the thought that somehow some Michighan fans posting their high hopes on a football blog caused App. State to come onto Michighan’s home field and upset the mighty Wolverines… seems like a tad bit of a stretch to me, but hey, what do I know?
By DeputyDawg
January 8, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
All of these polls are a joke especially the Coaches Poll. There’s no way the 6th ranked team beating the 13th ranked team should jump ahead of the 4th ranked who beat the 10th ranked team. USC beat Illinois be 32 while the Dawgs beat Hawaii by 31. Did that 1 point make the difference? By the way, isn’t USC and the PAC-10 in general responsible for not having a playoff system and being stuck with the BCS mess? Can someone please explain, cause I’m lost.
By One Shot
January 8, 2008 10:33 PM | Link to this
You can’t blog a comment on the “front page” stories…so I just wanted to ask a simple question….given the opportunity…how many would take One Shot at that a*$## that killed the young UGA graduate?
By Jason
January 8, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
Georgia can beat Lsu, in fact they beat the hell out of Lsu in the 2005 SEC Championship Game. They have the talent to beat anyone in the country, and from what I saw of Ohio State last night; Georgia would have handled them firmly also. They don’t have to go undefeated to win it all.
By Jason
January 8, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this
Georgia can beat Lsu, in fact they beat the hell out of Lsu in the 2005 SEC Championship Game. They have the talent to beat anyone in the country, and from what I saw of Ohio State last night; Georgia would have handled them firmly also. They don’t have to go undefeated to win it all.
By Darryl
January 8, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this
All of this talk about Georgia winning the national championship next year is crazy. They could not even get to the SEC championship this year, what makes all of you redneck hillbillies think that you will win the whole thing next year? Seriously, every time I read a post by a Georgia fan, I am more and more amazed by their lack of intelligence. Georgia Fans, the most ignorant fans in all of football!
By Buckhead Bulldog
January 8, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this
Gene
You are on THE sports page!!!! Ya idiot!
By chantheman
January 8, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
We need to adopt the Tech model. The last time the nerds finished #2 in the AP poll, they declared themselves national champions. Oh, wait a minute. We only claim championships that are unanimous. Stupid bees.
By Tony Tiger
January 8, 2008 10:41 PM | Link to this
Hey Stewey, quit worrying about “what could be” and deal with “what is.” LSU is the #1 Football team in the land. Nothing mythical about our crystal football!
Will all of the sidewalk alum season ticket holders who went to GSU wear Eagle Gear or Walmart GA gear on 8/30? What an epic battle that will be. Better call for a BLACKOUT!!
Then come the Chippewas. Decisive victories in these 2 will impress the voters and set the table for a great championship run (not.)
By Buckhead Bulldog
January 8, 2008 10:41 PM | Link to this
DickHead Dawgs
So you named yourself a d head as your post name. Smaaarrtt. I guess you are sandwich boy.
By Buckhead Bulldog
January 8, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this
Darryl
Ok….then where would you rank them, El ding-o-ling?
By Buckhead Bulldog
January 8, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
You see that Darryl is a gay transvestite from Tech because he/she doesn’t know if he/she is a boy or girl. Just look at his name……confused!!!
By shane #1
January 8, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this
darryl,not as dumb as the jerk with nothing better to do than get on a blog touting the bulldogs as possible champs just to put down bulldog fans.hey stupid,look in the mirrow and see a moron.congrats to lsu and tiger fans.i know you had a blowout in the french quarter last night!congrats to wesley,robin and sean who partied with us before the sugar bowl,especially you robin,if i were thirty years younger i would never have left n.o.!
By Slim Whitman
January 8, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this
One shot Im with you what a sad story to bad they didn’t
kill the sob
By Bill
January 8, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this
UGA hasn’t won back to back in Jax since before the first gulf war.You are telling me that they will do so after a week in Baton Rouge.Ha.
By Pago Pago
January 8, 2008 11:06 PM | Link to this
Don’t sell Central Michigan short!
By Buckhead Bulldog
January 8, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this
Bill
LSU lost EVERYONE. Just a primer to kick the gators all over the field, AGAIN!
By kkjr
January 8, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this
Hunk Erdown- Forget black shirts and dancing in the end zone. Your 9:42 post should be taped to the Dawgs locker room door. That should be all the inspiration they need in ‘08.
By Realist
January 8, 2008 11:40 PM | Link to this
Lets not put the cart before the horse—remember there are grades to be made, staying out of jail, staying healthy, depends on who is elected president, staying off Richt’s bad boy list and then Georgia Tech. The mighty dogs (small d)just might faulter to the lowly Jackets. You heard it here first.
By RealFan
January 8, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this
UGA gets 3 votes (out of 65) for the top spot in the final AP poll, and it’s a lead story today on ajc.com Sports.
I also heard that there are a lot of fans in Gwinnett County and Hall County who swear that UGA is the best team out there. Can that be a news story too?
It is comical to observe the pandering that the AJC re: UGA football in an effort to woo attention from (and sell papers to) all the sidewalk alumni UGA fans in this state.
By Big Dawg
January 8, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this
Lsu will lose players but a Championship team only draws more good ones.
More than likely it will be UGA and Lsu playing twice next year,Florida is the team I see falling back, WOW! they had a heisman winner, but thats all they had! 4 losses ,4 losses! They were no better than last years UGA team and from what Ive gathered ,nobody is dying to play there next year. Coach Richt left the Siminoles and they crumbled,I see a Florida team moving out and Miami taking the new role as the Elite Florida school again. Just look at recruiting and you can see the facts for yourselves!
By pertyboy
January 8, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this
thUGA, thUGA, thUGA, thUGA, thUGA, thUGA!!
By wow
January 9, 2008 12:20 AM | Link to this
chantheman
We were #1 in the UPI actually, and were undefeated anyways. Maybe you should research a little bit better.
By eagledawg33
January 9, 2008 12:22 AM | Link to this
I love all these tech fans talking crap about how “dumb” and “ignorant” UGA fans are….I also love the fact that UGA has beaten them the past seven years ..ANYWAY with the BCS the way it is LSU deserves the national title as much as it pains me to say. However UGA will be a contender if they take care of business WATCH OUT FOR GA SOUTHERN
dawgsarejokes?? now i can understand that you are bitter because your team is not that good but that doesn’t mean you have to get your panties in a bunch! You seem so be whining a LITTLE bit more that the UGA fans that are just disappointed they diddn’t get a shot to play a decent team like USC to prove themselves BECAUSE they had those disappointing losses to SC and Tennessee.
And weak non-conference next schedule? is that all you have against them next year? quite an argument buddy…last time i checked arizona state is a pretty good team that has most of their starters returning. Ga Southern beat app state this year (the team that beat michigan just in case you didn’t know) That on top of the SEC conference schedule seems plenty tough to not only me but any college football fan with half a brain. So just CHILL OUT apply some vagasil and take a nap because you are cranky!
By crimsont
January 9, 2008 12:23 AM | Link to this
Why do dawg fans call GT fans nerds, because they’re an engineering school? Auburn is too, never hear them called that.
ROLL TIDE!!
By Jeff
January 9, 2008 12:37 AM | Link to this
YES! UGA will be number 1 in 2008. LSU is very lucky that they did’nt have to play the DAWGS in 07. UGA would be National Champs if they had played each other and Les boy Miles knows it. UGA is the one team they did not want to mess with.
By paul
January 9, 2008 1:46 AM | Link to this
As a Bulldog fan residing in Gator country, let’s keep things real. A: it’s WAY too early to pick anybody, and B: that schedule is just unreal. Plus, I mean, good grief—nobody goes undefeated in the SEC anymore. And while everybody is jumping on the UGA bandwagon, remember this: UF is probably going to be loaded next year, as well. LSU will re-load. Auburn’s always tough.
And another thing: just look back to ‘02 (I think). Auburn was supposed to be great, and they punk’d like a bunch of suburban white boys in the DeKalb lockup by USC, and it was all downhill from there. One good a*s-whuppin’ is all it takes sometimes. So they have to avoid that.
Plus, everybody’s got to stay in school and out of court/jail. No gimme there, based on past f**k-ups we have had in red and black.
Personally, I think pre-season polls are nonsense. They shouldn’t even rank anybody until the first of October. I think the Dawgs could be great, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.
By paul
January 9, 2008 1:46 AM | Link to this
As a Bulldog fan residing in Gator country, let’s keep things real. A: it’s WAY too early to pick anybody, and B: that schedule is just unreal. Plus, I mean, good grief—nobody goes undefeated in the SEC anymore. And while everybody is jumping on the UGA bandwagon, remember this: UF is probably going to be loaded next year, as well. LSU will re-load. Auburn’s always tough.
And another thing: just look back to ‘02 (I think). Auburn was supposed to be great, and they punk’d like a bunch of suburban white boys in the DeKalb lockup by USC, and it was all downhill from there. One good a*s-whuppin’ is all it takes sometimes. So they have to avoid that.
Plus, everybody’s got to stay in school and out of court/jail. No gimme there, based on past f**k-ups we have had in red and black.
Personally, I think pre-season polls are nonsense. They shouldn’t even rank anybody until the first of October. I think the Dawgs could be great, but let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.
By FalconHeroZero
January 9, 2008 1:53 AM | Link to this
First, the actually have to return focused without “off-the-field entanglements”….
They must not “celebrate #2”.
They cannot become “Legends in their own Minds”—-like some local teams have.
They must eat healthy, and have a healthy lifestyle with less wasteful recreation and distractions.
They must be smarter at the skilled positions..
“All of the above” needs to happen, because opposing teams (starting with South Carolina) want to stop UGA’s best chance at a title very early next season.
If they struggle with South Carolina early-on, a win over Tennessee, LSU, Florida, and Auburn in one season cannot be expected. They must defeat the lesser teams with precision and focus—like USC.
It’s just going to take more than being “physically gifted”, and “returning a good amount of starters”.
By brenda
January 9, 2008 4:11 AM | Link to this
You Georgia hicks are really stupid! You retards are talking about 2008 Football season. You redneck hillbillys don’t have the class to play for the nc title and second the sports writers won’t vote for you either!Keep dreaming you morons cause TN,FL and LSU going to beat you leg humpers like a drum!! BANK ON IT!!
By UGA_SUCKS4 _28_YRS
January 9, 2008 4:19 AM | Link to this
Mark Bradley a joke just uga football! Keep counting your eggs b4 they hatch! Can’t wait to hear Bradley and UGA fans excuses!
By tony
January 9, 2008 5:18 AM | Link to this
dawgsarejokes, you will be eating your words for the next 4 years. When u do, I will be asking “where is dawgsarejokes now”?
By heeldawg
January 9, 2008 5:20 AM | Link to this
Hey Brenda, classy post. Wish I’d met you before I met my wife. We could go get a tattoo together, then go back to your trailer, have a few beers and watch NASCAR on the satellite. Or QVC, maybe.
I’m not sure what you felt your post accomplished, apart from affirming your own ignorance, but the purpose of Blogs such as this one is intelligent discussion. Given that you are obviously incapable of this sort of thing, why don’t you do us all a favor and go watch TV. Educate yourself. Maybe read a little, if you can. Then you could come back here and offer some fact-driven commentary, instead of calling folks a bunch of names and making empty statements devoid of factual content.
For the record, UT beat us badly this season, as they did last season. The principal architects of those two defeats, Eric Ainge and David Cutcliffe, are gone. Next year will be a revenge game for the Dawgs, and I’d be shocked to see a UT team without Cutcliffe beat a loaded Georgia team next year.
LSU deservedly won the national title this season. WE do play them in Baton Rouge, so it will be a war. Nothing is a given. But they lose a ton on defense, including Bo Pelini (their DC), and their starting QB and fullback (Hester) are leaving, as well. LSU will reload, but I don’t think they’ll beat a loaded Dawgs team during a year in which they are rebuilding. Note that Georgia has beaten good LSU teams badly the last two times we’ve played them.
Florida returns most of a good offensive team, and may have a better running game with the addition of Emmanuel Moody, but their problem is on defense. Their secondary is weak and their run defense not much better (especially with the loss of DE Derrick Harvey, arguably their best defensive player). I don’t see them stopping a Georgia offense that put 42 points on them any better next season. The Dawgs should win that game, as well.
You can hope and dream all you want, but the reality is that Georgia will probably be favored in all of the above games next season. The SEC (and likely the national) title will be theirs to lose.
Get your facts down before spewing out unsubstantiated crap. And try to remember some of the things your mama taught you. If my daughter posted the sort of garbage you did, she’d be abruptly reminded of how ladies (and gentlemen, for that matter) are supposed to act.
By Todd Green
January 9, 2008 5:51 AM | Link to this
Hey coaches!!! nothing we say will determine UGA’s success. Bash LSU [and I certainly want to]; Bash OSU [and I certainly want to]; Bash teh Gator’s [and I really, really want to]… the kids have to stay focused and just pay and not stumble, and hope the media give teh DAWGS the same benefit as LSU and OSU from them media :)
By Frank
January 9, 2008 6:35 AM | Link to this
GEORGIA before crowing yourself with the national championship DON’T forget you can win ALL the games next year and still NOT play for the championship. Don’t believe me asked AUBURN.
By Frank
January 9, 2008 6:36 AM | Link to this
GEORGIA before crowing yourself with the national championship DON’T forget you can win ALL the games next year and still NOT play for the championship. Don’t believe me asked AUBURN.
By George
January 9, 2008 6:40 AM | Link to this
For how long must we endure this discussion about what might happen many months in the future? Isn’t it time for basketball? And can baseball/spring training be far behind? Let’s move on.
By Matt
January 9, 2008 6:50 AM | Link to this
Nobody can say UGA’s schedule is weak this year, not with at ASU, at S. Car., at LSU, at Aub, UT, UF in JAX. There’s no way they get through it with less than one loss — you just have to hope there aren’t two undefeated teams from other conferences. So there you go, start looking at USC, OU, OSU, WV, etc., because those are the teams that will beat UGA out for the BCS Championship game if they go undefeated, and then let the whining begin in Athens (as if it ever stops). Just remember, you guys were a Vandy fumble away from being irrelevant this year. And only when you were on the verge of falling out of the top 25 and had nothing to lose did you play great football — how is the team going to react when they have something to play for? My guess with that schedule is about 9-3.
By Mitun
January 9, 2008 6:58 AM | Link to this
i am going to get p** if they screw us up again if we be a two lost team. if LSU can go to the title game with two lost team why can’t Georgia? we deserve it this year but those media didn’t want to see UGA goes to the title game or the Rose Bowl but they wanted to see us destroying Hawaii.
By Dawg4Life
January 9, 2008 6:59 AM | Link to this
Tony Tiger- I guess LSU’s first 2 games against North Texas and Troy are more impressive than UGA’s? I guess you might be a little upset because everyone considers LSU “paper champions”. I happen to not be one of those people, but I do think that USC, UGA, and Mizzou would offer LSU a much better game, if not win, than Ohio State did. You say for us to learn to beat TN and play some real nonconference opponents? Look in the mirror my friend. You learn to beat Kentucky and some real nonconference opponents! Mid TN, Tulane, La Tech????
Now, the preaseason #1 ranking thing does worry me a little. We see what happened this year with all of the #1 teams losing at some point(TONY TIGER). Granted, this year was somewhat of an anomaly. I think that they definitely have the talent and depth. I agree with “Gator” a little on this subject. I can’t believe I just wrote that. Let’s talk about this after we have about half the season under our belt next year. Preseason rankings are important, but it is all speculation at this point. GO DAWGS!!!!!!
By Dave In Tampa
January 9, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Georgia faithful through and through, but I really do hate all this talk about “wait till next year.” Man, let’s just get through this spring and summer and pray that none of the players do anything stupid.
Pre-season polls mean nothing. They start to mean something by the 8th week of the season. Our schedule is tough next year. Everyone in our conference (East) will improve and not just us.
I guess I’m still worried about the “Let down, unemotional” games we tend to have about 3 of those per season to be a NC we have to play with the same emotion as we did against Florida & Auburn. If not, we cold lose 3 games with this talent next year.
Still, I admit, I’m stoked about the potential for next season. GO DAWGS
By knelson
January 9, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this
Toughest schedule ? Please ! There are 2 teams in the SEC alone with tougher schedules than Georgia. Look at the 2nd and 3rd games to open the season for Tennessee ! Look at tradition. Georgia traditionaly will lose to either Florida or Tennessee every year! All of us who do not wear the red colored glasses know that no matter what recruiting class uga has tat at the start of the season 20% will not be academicaly eligable and 3 to 5 others will be suspeded. That is the tradition @ Georgia. Look for Georgia to finish 2nd or 3rd in the SEC once again !
By NeuteredUGA
January 9, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this
There’s a lot of ifs to overcome. The first one being IF Bulldog fans start giving a damn about their team without gimmicks the team might have a chance.
By Mike
January 9, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this
I guess Coah Richt will have all winter and summer to think up some new gimmicks for his team next year. After all, what do you do for an encore after the “let’s all run onto the field and break the rules” or let’s do a “blackout”…and the after all that let’s whine cause we didn’t get in the BCS Championship game…next year, why don’t you win you division first, then the conference and then worry about the BCS Championship…by the way…where was your so-called school president calling for a playoff in 2004 when a much more deserving team got shafted from the BCS Championship?
By George
January 9, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. Georgia does not go to the national championship game with two losses (one of them to a team that did not even go to a bowl) and its president is acting as if the world is coming to a