UGA

By Sprocketdawg

February 10, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this

The Steg was packed when TS and JH were winning.

God love our guys, playing much better, but still lost to AU and were down 31 to LSU at the half.

Win Sat and watch the train start rolling.

By geechee

February 10, 2006 04:00 PM | Link to this

Of course they are not getting the support they deserve but as you said, this is nothing new at UGA. The reality is the team has got to do something to make the fans want to come out and with GA fans,I’m not sure what that will be. It is not just UGA hoops however. How full is the Phil for Hawks games? Do the Hawks draw more people than UGA? They fill Alexander for games but then GT can’t sell it’s seats for football. It is the same story at Duke.

By Bradley G

February 10, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this

Will Duke’s football program always play second fiddle to its basketball programs? Yes. Will UGA’s basketball program always play second fiddle to its football program? Yes. Bottom line is that’s just the way it is…for now. If DF is as good as he is supposed to be, attendance will be up…next year.

By dean

February 10, 2006 04:06 PM | Link to this

Like the ghost said in the baseball movie…”build it and they will come”. I think that Dawgs around the country are generally pleased with Felton - I am anyway. If he and the team stays focused on the court and not on the stands, we’ll be there. We’re paying attention.

By C** the gator catcher

February 10, 2006 04:09 PM | Link to this

Man…. that ewas fun the other night chanting at the basketball game “just like football, just like football”

By AltamahaDawg

February 10, 2006 04:17 PM | Link to this

and “seemed underappreciated” is pretty subjective there Chip. As sprocket said, the place was full at times too. Many of us have been as faithful as any team in the nation. Would be fair to also acknowledge a small but stout fan base that endured a few less than steller seasons too.

By godawg

February 10, 2006 04:56 PM | Link to this

Which sport plays second fiddle at Tech?

By Hairy Dawg

February 10, 2006 05:06 PM | Link to this

Georgia’s basketball program doesn’t have much of a track record of success. That’s why fans don’t show up. However, if the Dawgs beat Tennessee on Saturday, a lot of fans will show up at the rest of the home games. I think Felton and the guys just need a big win (home or away) to get the fans excited.

By geechee

February 10, 2006 05:43 PM | Link to this

“Which sport plays second fiddle at Tech?”

Playing the fiddle is an art. Nerds aren’t into art. At Tech it would be; which sport plays second kazoo?

By BIGG DADDY DOGG

February 10, 2006 06:02 PM | Link to this

support the team they are ga.doggs!!! go dogs next year will be even better. roof roof roof!!!

By ConyersDawg

February 10, 2006 06:18 PM | Link to this

If I could get there I would!

By Bryan G.

February 10, 2006 06:30 PM | Link to this

This team really has played well and probably overachieved. I’m sure people will start getting behind it starting tomorrow.

By the way, Kirby Smart left. I hate to lose him as a coach, but I think that it might be better of to have a different person coaching the RBs. I think Ware and Brown (see y’day’s blog) took a step back last year.

By wn

February 10, 2006 06:31 PM | Link to this

sec

By dublindawg

February 10, 2006 06:36 PM | Link to this

georgia has always had a problem drawing for hoops…school is so football oriented that people have to let finality of football season sink in before they pay attention to roundball…give them a consistent winner like tubby started to do and people will turn out….”N.I.T. HUGH” seasons will not work…recruiting can be tough as non-football schools like duke and kentucky raid the area….how much longer to g-day[typical attitude]

By dn

February 10, 2006 06:39 PM | Link to this

as have many above, i disagree about the fans supporting the team over the years. when tubby got us to the top, the fans were filling the place up, i know, i was there. same with when harrick was winning. Felton has to understand, we’ve been on this ride before and just as the ride gets good the coach either gets hired somewhere else or gets fired for cheating. those of us who follow GA hoops know Felton is a special guy, and one likely to leave i my opinion. i just don’t think he seems like a guy that loves the UGA program. i can’t recall reading anything that talks about how much he loves it in Athens. maybe i’m wrong, but if he gets us to the top, which he will, i think he’s gone. anyway, the point is, every time we’ve gotten into national contention, something happens and we have to start all over. yes, it will take time, but our fans will be as passionate as any when results happen, that’s just the way it is. the state of GA has plenty of talent to bring to UGA, if Felton wants to stay and be committed to UGA, the fans will commit to him, and one day we’ll all look back on one of the best building jobs ever as we gleam with our top 5 program. felton just has to have patience.

By Bryan G.

February 10, 2006 06:48 PM | Link to this

dn, the problem is that Stegeman is awful compared to other Arenas. UT and UK have arenas twice its size. While Stegeman doesn’t need to be bigger, it really does need to be better. It’s certainly not a recruiting tool.

By geechee

February 10, 2006 07:02 PM | Link to this

“school is so football oriented that people have to let finality of football season sink in before they pay attention to roundball”

The hoopsters are in real trouble then because football season never ends at UGA. Some months we just play a lot fewer games.

By Scott

February 10, 2006 07:19 PM | Link to this

Perhaps people have better things to do with their time than to spend three or more hours travelling to and watching a basketball game. It is unflattering to read about coaches complaining that they deserve more support. Coaches, if people are interested in what you do, they will show up. If your product isn’t given high priority by the community, either continue to improve the product or accept the lack of importance shown by the empty seats. It’s only a game.

By Snowdawg

February 10, 2006 08:29 PM | Link to this

So much of these comments are just typical the typical apothetic crap that Georgia fans often serve up to make excuses for a lack of passion. I am a long-time Georgia fan and supportive alum and I have to scratch my head in amazement. Do you really call yourself a true Dawg when you say that the team has to win before you will support it? Any lame sports fan can do that! Why is it that UT and UF can fill their joints with 20,000 plus frenzied fans and UGA can’t draw 8,000? Because our fan base doesn’t love the school, they only love a winning team!! If the fan support was there regardless of the record, maybe we would actually attract and retain top-level basketball coaches and players.

By geechee

February 10, 2006 09:03 PM | Link to this

Chill Snowdawg, not a single post in here said that “the team has to win before they will support it”. You need to re-read Chip’s post and also the responses to it. People were merely giving answers to what they felt had to happen to get the crowds back. How many games have you been to this year and just how far have you had to travel to get to them? Some in here live very far from Athens these days. For me it’s about five thousand miles half of which is ocean.

By JYD

February 10, 2006 09:19 PM | Link to this

Has anyoe read the top ten list on the Ware, Brown blog directed to gator the dog catcher? Pretty funny stuff. Anyway, I think in due time people will show up. This is a young team and just doesn’t seem like enough time has passed to grasp hold of this bunch yet. With a real good win, like against Tenn. things could change in a hurry.

By David Gentry

February 11, 2006 08:53 AM | Link to this

As a long time Georgia fan I get excited about the Dawgs doing well in any sport, including equestrian, softball, gymnastics, swimming, etc. As a resident of N. VA I search the schedules for any UGA team coming to the area, but it just doesn’t happen. This past fall I even did a 24 hour road trip, without tickets, to the UGA/UT game. Those fans nearer to Athens should, out of loyalty if nothing else, make the trip at least once a year, to check out the bball dawgs.

By BIGNCDAWG

February 11, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this

Good post David. If I lived closer I would go to as many basketball, baseball, gymnastic, womens sports, golf, tennis, etc. as possible. As it is I try to follow all of those sports on the internet every day. Every day, there is a DAWG team playing, I am following it on the internet.

I was the bat boy for the GA. baseball team in the mid 50’s. Went to all the sports events during the 50,s, 60,s, & 70,s, but have lived 200 from Athens for the last 35 years

By lindsey

February 11, 2006 10:13 AM | Link to this

One post says that if you guys get a big win, they will come. Your dawgs have already beaten SC and Vandy on the road; aren’t those big wins? Anyhow, I look forward to plenty of orange in Stegman Saturday. BTW, UT averaged 15,000 per game last year with a 14-17 team. Bringing in 20-plus this year. Go Vols!

By MrTy

February 11, 2006 10:53 AM | Link to this

As a Dawg living in East Tennessee, I can tell you that Bruce Pearl has worked his tail off not only on his team but in also involving the fans! He routinely goes through the campus passing out tickets, hosts pizza party pep rallies, etc, etc. He had everyone excited about UT basketball before the season.

Has Coach Felton done that? If not, I think Felton is pretty good coach, but does he think he is above energetically promoting his program? Don’t complain, get out and do something about it!

I’ll go so far as to say that Bruce Pearl is the best coach overall in the SEC now. I feel sorry for the rest of us once he starts bring in talent. He could turn into the Steve Spurrier, God have mercy on us, of SEC basketball.

By AltamahaDawg

February 11, 2006 11:19 AM | Link to this

I love how the AJC can’t just do a story today of how bad GT is this year. They have to drag in all Ga teams to avoid saying the obvious. While UGA isnt great this year, they don’t even belong in the same article as GT basketball at this point.

And Snowdawg, I dont think comapring TN and Fl with success that have had this year is quite fair. Neither has gone thru the past few years the UGA program has. In fact both have had a few years of momentum. Do you really think those 20K seats arent full of pure love thick and thin fans. I rather doubt it. Average attendance at both were half of that a few years back. Go back and compare attendance to records in the SEC and I think you will see UGA isnt odd in that respect.

Lindsey , while that is great attendance last year vs the actual results, the expectations were pretty high last year, the rusults were just disappointing. I doubt the 15k would have showed up if they had expected a 14-17 year. Was also the 4th year of stability with the coach, and had a pretty good year before that. And Sc is last in the east but we’ll take it,we also lost to AUB after that and blown out at LSU. Vandy win was big, but just last week, we havent had a game since to show the excitment.

By AltamahaDawg

February 11, 2006 11:28 AM | Link to this

MrTy I agree that some of it is just Felton isnt a yah yah fellow. Ive seen him at a few booster parties, but not sure he is a pizza party guy. Attendance will come up as wins do. For those of you that think that is outragous, welcome to the real world. Its sports fellows, and fans want to get excited about wins. Im sorry. Thats the truth. The 8000 now are the hard core, the other 12000 want an exciting products. SAME with any team any sport. It is what it is.

As far as Pearl, lets rememeber that a new broom sweeps clean. Lets see how many pizza parties he host 3 years from now. I think he will prabably be able to rely on the teams record from previous years.

By Ron Roberts

February 11, 2006 12:27 PM | Link to this

I think history is the factor that keeps fans from embracing this program, frankly. Let me explain..

When Tubby Smith arrived and brought UGA basketball to a level higher than we’d previously experienced on a consistent basis, he bolted.

When Jim Harrick brought us back to that level, he and his stupid son got busted for going about it illegally, and they were forced to bolt.

If fans in Athens see a winning program (again) on the horizon, then we have to also have a commitment from Dennis Felton (via contract or otherwise) that tells them “Folks, I’m here for the long haul. I won’t leave for a more-established program; my interests are in making THIS program a top-tier basketball program… I want to be YOUR Adolph Rupp (so to speak).”

Fans are there, and fans WILL support the team, but how many times have they been burned, in recent history? Everytime they get cozied up with a squad, the coach leaves, the players leave early, and we find ourselves gutting out another 20-loss season or two before crawling back to respectability.

By Zinte

February 11, 2006 12:35 PM | Link to this

Every day I’m sure Dennis Felton says to himself:”I left a competetive WKU program for THIS crap?” UGA has and will NEVER be a “basketball school.” Sadly, this even makes the Hugh Durham years and the ineptitude of THOSE teams look good. There’s simply just not a “basketball culture” in Athens(see Storrs, Lexington, Bloomington, Lawrence and Tuscon). Never has been and never WILL be. People cared about all those programs when the teams were BAD. I’m surprised it took Coach Felton THIS long to FINALLY realize that.

By Ron Roberts

February 11, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this

I disagree… I think the “culture” is there for basketball. But I don’t see the community nor the University embracing the culture and the sport nearly the same way it does football.

And the “experience” never really has been jacked up like it should be. Example…

The student section, when packed, is intimidating for opposing teams to face, esp. when the pep band’s there jacking ‘em up. But, come the 2nd half, the visitors get to to the “c-section” of the arena and those folks are PATHETICALLY quiet over there. That’s no “home-court” advantage. I suggest getting a larger contigent of the band in the conference games, at least, let them eat up more of the student section, and move the students over to the bowl-side of the coliseum. They gotta get that side of the arena in the game and make both baskets hard to score on for the opposition.

By Mark

February 11, 2006 02:52 PM | Link to this

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Felton leave Georgia if he gets a decent offer. They play in a high school gym and the fans are horrible. The students usually turn out but the administration sticks them in the corner of the stadium so the impact is minimal. I was at UGA for the Harrick years and I remember sometimes sitting in the non-student section and having people yell at me to sit down in one point or tie games during crunchtime. It’s a joke. Until the administration shows a commitment, the fans will still have poor showings at basketball games. It is a shame too, b/c this team has a lot of fight and heart. They have been fun to watch and are in the middle of one of the greatest one season turnarounds I can remember. If DF reads this, he at least has my support. Too bad the administration and fans that live near Athens can’t do the same.

By Mark

February 11, 2006 02:56 PM | Link to this

I would just like to add that for those people who hide behind the “we are a football school” excuse, just look at Tennessee this year and Florida, Texas, and Michigan. If they can be committed to bball, then there is no reason UGA can’t do the same.

By jesus christ

February 11, 2006 02:58 PM | Link to this

well, if it wasn’t for ncaa basketball…think of all the really tall people who would be working at 7-11 and delivering pizza. maybe the fans figured they can just go to a 7-11 and or pizza hut and see their favorite former uga mvp-superstar…while getting a load of gas or a meatlovers supreme…get over youselves…guess the number of ncaa scholarshipped players who actually earn a degree from their college…20%…for you uga grads…that means 2 out of 10…or 2 dimes from a dollar…if you want to try and do the math yourslef…that would be two big toes and no other toes… that isn’t very many toes, is it? stupid is as stupid does.

By geechee

February 11, 2006 03:47 PM | Link to this

Now I try to avoid Pizza Hut like the plague because they do not sell Coke but, the last time I remember being in one, I do not recall seeing any tall workers so maybe you have something there. Psych!! You’re an idiot.

By dn

February 11, 2006 07:32 PM | Link to this

when the team wins, the place will be sold out, pure and simple. had tubby stayed, he would’ve never been able to complain about this because we’d be a top team and winning and the seats would be full. when Felton begins to act like he is committed to UGA and his team knocks off a couple of big names (today would’ve been a good start), the support will be there in force. so far he doesn’t seem to bleed red and black. i think he’s a brilliant coach, but i want to follow a guy that loves UGA as much as me and wins at the same time. the faster he can do both of those things the faster the fans will be there. and snowdawg, why would alumni drive to athens to watch a team that doesn’t win? i don’t understand this blind support some like to say is needed. bull. it’s time, money, and effort to go to games, why waste all 3 of those to go watch a loss? TN and FL are winning right now so people go. don’t even start to say that would be true if they’d gone through the last few yrs we have. that’s foolish. and stegman isn’t the best place but it’s what we’ve got. are most places 20,000 seats? i thought some of those on tobacco road are around 10,000 seaters? our students section does need to be moved though, i don’t understand why they’re in the corner.

By godawg

February 11, 2006 09:28 PM | Link to this

Put the student section behid the opposing team’s bench. I just moved from Athens to E. TN and listened to the game on TN radio. TN Fans were way TOO LOUD. IN OUR HOUSE! The students have to be drawn out of the bars and into the collisium to MAKE SOME NOISE! I luv my DAWGS in EVERY sport and EVERY academic endeavor. I can’t be there all the time. The Students NEED TO! I was there and tried to support them all the time I lived in Athens (off and on over the last 35 years). Hey, we’re still rebuilding DF IS the right man for the J-O-B. He WLL get it done and WE WILL BE BACK in Hoops. GO DAWGS!! WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!

2 PS: Geechee: Kazoos @ NATS? We both give them TOOOOOO much credit in the performing arts category. (I know you’ve suffered their band @1/2 time).

BuLLdawg: CAN’T WAIT TILL YOU BRING IT AGAIN AND BUST SOME CHOPS! YOU GO BOY!

By Scooter

February 11, 2006 11:12 PM | Link to this

What does it mean for the “administration” to be behind the bball program. I don’t get it. What can the administration do to win more games. Hey, Bruce Pearl ain’t going to turn Tenn into some perinneal jugurnaut in basketball. Give me a break. He has a guard right now that everything the guys throws up there goes in. Bottom line is Tennessee will be crap and back scrapping for wins in a couple of years in bball. Don’t think for a minute that they like bball better than football.. At the end of the day, I’m not sure moving the students on the court will change the fact that Ga. missed foul shots in the closing minutes that had a huge impact on the outcome. Sorry guys, but we all know, the first year Richt goes 4 - 8 , its not like the football stadium is going to be packed. Win some games that mean something, and you’ll see fans in the stands. Don’t preach to anyone that somebody from Bainbridge should drive to Athens to help fill the stadium for a team that might win by 10 or lose by 50.. Be patient for another year and let’s see where this goes.

By g8rgooner

February 12, 2006 12:34 AM | Link to this

Dennis Felton is a very good coach. He has done pretty amazing things at Georgia with no talent. I’m a Gator, but I lived in Athens and there is potential for Georgia basketball. The student section was always very vocal in Stegemann. There’s no reason why Georgia can’t be like Florida in basketball. Yes, basketball will always be number 2 behind football at both schools, but Billy Donovan has created a solid, national power in basketball. Felton can do the same at Georgia. Florida’s basketball history isn’t much, if any, better than Georgia’s. If Felton leaves Georgia and the SEC will both be losers.

By geechee

February 12, 2006 02:07 AM | Link to this

“Sorry guys, but we all know, the first year Richt goes 4 - 8 , its not like the football stadium is going to be packed.�

I really don’t want to turn this into a football blog because this topic is important; good job Chip. However, I could not let the above slip by because, it simply is not true. It would take multiple years of terrible records to seriously affect the attendance twixt the hedges and that is not going to happen with Mark Richt. Those days are over for UGA.

By ron

February 12, 2006 12:02 PM | Link to this

dawg fans just read a wonderful article online in the macon telegraph on former dawg DECORY BRYANT who suffered a career ending injury on the playing field a couple seasons ago against ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM. it’s a very interesting article by ap writer GREG BLUESTEIN.it details how the player attempted to purchase a $500.000 insurance policy with a premium of $5000.00 and how the georgia staff member avoided the player in completing the paperwork and days later the player suffered the severe injury (broken neck)which ended his career.it shows the reality of sports injuries and the treatment of athletes by schools once they are no longer useful to the schools.pkease read this article.the article is in on line in the macon telegraph 02/12/06.

By Lamar

February 12, 2006 02:33 PM | Link to this

I was there during the Hugh Durham years especially the first year — once he started winning, the fans came. They will come again. I like Felton but he’s got to to a better job of keeping the talent in state. Witih more winning, hopefully, players will start picking UGA over GT. Felton is a much better coach then Paul Hewitt.

By geechee

February 12, 2006 05:44 PM | Link to this

Here is the link to the Macon Telegraph article that Ron mentioned.

By ron

February 12, 2006 06:37 PM | Link to this

hey geechee thanks for your support in making this article available.

By freddy

February 12, 2006 11:15 PM | Link to this

one reason for the lack of support for UGA basketball at home games has to do with the fact that the arena is a dumy. It might possibly be the worst arena in the SEC. As a graduate of UGA(who graduated in Stegman) I feel like if the school would put some money into renovating the colisuem and show that it cares about the basketball program, it might spark some interest in the team. I’m proud of the way the guys are playing this year and know that Felton is a good coach and will take the program to where it needs to be.

By Bobby Cremmins

February 13, 2006 09:09 AM | Link to this

Was Saturday’s game in Athens? It really sounded on the radio like a Tennessee home game. I guess Coach Felton got his wish….a sold out game and plently of people in the stands….just the wrong people.

By AltamahaDawg

February 13, 2006 09:35 AM | Link to this

Why would a Tech fan listen to a UGA basketball game on the radio?

By Ala Jim

February 13, 2006 10:41 AM | Link to this

Geeche, this has absolutely nothing to do with UGA basketball, but I feel the same as you regarding Coke. Next time you’re stuck in a place that has nothing but that crap Pepsi, add a little lemon to it. Makes it taste a little like the “Real Thing”.

By gdawginkalamazoo

February 13, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

Why would a Tech fan listen to a UGA basketball game on the radio?

Because the only other thing on was a GT basketball game. Duh!

By Snowdawg

February 14, 2006 06:17 PM | Link to this

Geechee, thanks for your comment. I actually live in Colorado so obviously I don’t make it to many games but I still hold football season tickets and make it back for at least 2-3 FB games a year and when my business travel allows it, I will check out a basketball game, a gymnastics meet or whatever sport I can. You see, I love and support the Dawgs regardless of the record because I invested 5 years of my life at The University. To me, you support your teams as much as you can no matter the circumstances. How many Alumni live in Athens? How many students attend the school? Why don’t more of these folks show up and support what Felton is trying to accomplish and what he HAS accomplished thus far. Yes, the Athletic Department needs to get behind the program as well but I am sure that they use the lack of a solid fan support as an excuse for not providing more resources. Which do you think comes first?

By Daniel

February 15, 2006 11:15 PM | Link to this

As a student during the last two years of the Harrick era, I went to every home basketball game that I could and was excited about the whole basketball program. If I could not watch a road game on TV, I would do my best to listen to it on the radio. I believe that much of the student body was excited about the men’s b-ball team as well. However, the Harrick/Harrick Jr./Tony Cole/Athletics Department/Michael Adams scandal completely soured me from UGA Basketball. Just like I haven’t had any real interest in baseball since the 1994-1995 strike, I am not excited at all about UGA basketball. It’s not winning percentages, I just feel completely betrayed by UGA basketball who I feel robbed me of the great experience that I had during my first two years at school.

By TYLER FORSYTH

February 15, 2006 11:19 PM | Link to this

AH YOU DAWGS FANS HUSH. TENNESSEE WHOOPED THE PUPS BUTT AT YALLS HOME AND HAD TONS OF ORANGE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM! GO VOLS!