UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFootball recruiting entering stretch run
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the Georgia basketball team enters its biggest week this season, it’s fitting that the football team will enter its biggest week of recruiting.
The recruiting game has certainly changed a lot in the 20 years I’ve been covering college athletics. It used to be that a weekend like this in late January, teams would have 20-30 players in for official visits.
That made for a zoo-like atmosphere during big basketball games. I remember when Garrison Hearst and Andre Hastings were being recruited, Georgia was in a fierce SEC basketball battle, yet half the people in the Coliseum were peering down behind baseline to get a look at the Dogs’ two hottest football prospects.
At least nowadays most of the work is done at this point. I don’t think Richt and his staff get enough credit for the early determination of talent.
Of course, as every one knows, Allen Bailey and Cameron Heyward will be in the Classic City this weekend. The Bulldogs’ recruiting efforts have pretty much boiled down to those two. Landing both would be a major boon.
Or so it seems.
I still marvel at how much emphasis and attention is put on recruiting these days. Look no further than my own newspaper and time and effort it exerts to bring coverage to our readers. Certainly it’s interesting and fun to follow from a hobby-like standpoint and it’s definitely important to the long-term sustenance of an athletic program.
But I think a lot of people get way too caught up in it. Even in this age of instant feedback, it’s as inexact as ever.
Remember Joey Hester? Mike Fredenberg? Jasper Sanks? Mudcat Elmore? What was the D-lineman’s name from Washington, Matt Storm I think, who was singlehandedly going to turn around Georgia’s defense? Whatever happened to him?
Let’s hear some more. Tell me some big names you recall that didn’t excel on the field. Not just at Georgia. It happens everywhere.
I tell you what I don’t like about modern-day coverage of recruiting: Stories like we have up today pointing out that so-and-so, big-time prospect is taking the SAT this weekend. Aren’t these kids under enough pressure to succeed without having everybody in the world know they’re two points shy of getting the minimum ACT score?
Before you know it, the team-forum sites will have a reporter camped outside the testing facility with video camera in hand asking “Allen Allstar” if he thinks he pulled up his verbal score today.
But I digress.
I’d hazard to guess that most of the folks who weigh in on this forum probably follow it pretty closely and put a lot of stock into it. So let’s hear your thoughts. Don’t forget to include your biggest busts!
Comments
By Big AL
January 24, 2007 04:07 PM | Link to this
How about Jabari Davis. I followed that guy in recruiting till the bitter end.
In an ironic twist of fate I walked into my gym in Dunwoody the other and he is a personal trainer there.
By godawg
January 24, 2007 04:16 PM | Link to this
What I hate about recruiting ranking services is that all they take into account is how many 5 star, 4 star, etc. each school has and never take into consideration whether a school is addressing its particular needs in a given year. To me, a successful year is to fill the critcal holes and weaknesses in your team with an eye to anticipated future need.
By NYCDAWG
January 24, 2007 04:17 PM | Link to this
Bust - Albert Hollis (RB) - Parade All-American from CA signed with UGA. Each year injured. Switched to the Secondary. As far as I know never played one down in game.
Sterling Boyd (RB) - Another big time recruit out of Texas. Went to UGA back in either the late Dooley or early Goff years. Never did a thing.
By JB
January 24, 2007 04:30 PM | Link to this
Charlie Dudish, Ga Tech. biggest bust ever. At the time, the number one prospect in America. played in Dekalb county somewhere, I think Avondale. One of the networks did a national story on him being a bust.
By ConyersDawg
January 24, 2007 04:34 PM | Link to this
nycdawg, albert hollis was not a bust, we were thankful they didn’t have to remove his leg after that knee blew out.
Chip, talk about missing the boat and the addiction to recruiting, you didn’t even post that the top RB in ga. for next year committed to the dawgs today!
Richard Samuel is a man! He is not elusive like Caleb but he is not afraid to run over people and looks like he catches well too.
Go Dawgs!
I believe Takias is really starting to assert himself and get the confidence that he is as good as any big man in the sec. Mercer and Takias have big games tonight and Humphrey hits 4 trey’s tonight as the Dawgs win a tough one at the Steg tonight.
By Mike Lum
January 24, 2007 04:39 PM | Link to this
Sterling Boyd, Beatch!!
By NYCDAWG
January 24, 2007 04:42 PM | Link to this
Sorry, didn’t mean to offend anyone. I knew he was injured his entire career practicaly, but I thought it was a constant nagging injury not a possible amputation. So are we defining busts as lack of results due to poor performance or lack of results due to anything(injury, academics, arrests)?
Who was the WR recruit that came to UGA with Reggie Brown (They were considered 1 and 2 at their position in the country) but left UGA or failed to get in and never came back?
By Randy
January 24, 2007 04:44 PM | Link to this
Joe Dupree. Came in the same class as Garrison and Andre, I believe. QB of the future who finished as GA Southern.
Preston Wilson is another QB who hit the big time.
But my fave is a JUCO transfer who just couldn’t get on the field. I think his name was Terrell Davis.
By godawg
January 24, 2007 04:46 PM | Link to this
You’re right (as usual) Conyers. It was terrible what happened to Hollis. Give the young man credit for continuing to rehab and try to make it back while getting his degree. I was proud of the way the school and coaches stood by him after what was a horrific injury. Always sad to see that happen to someone with so much promise and talent. Best of luck to you Albert.
By Football only
January 24, 2007 04:51 PM | Link to this
Wasn’t there a 6-foot-9 defensive lineman from Deepstep named Dwayne Puckett, who signed with the Dawgs and then (being scared of the big city and all) didn’t go? Or is that a rural legend or just a figment of my aging imagination?
By godawg
January 24, 2007 04:51 PM | Link to this
Up here in TN was one of my favorites. I can’t remember his name but was highly touted recruit and after he commtted to Fulmer he went out and committed armed robbery in his HS letter jacket. Needless to say, he didn’t pan out. There’s a future brain surgeon…
By ConyersDawg
January 24, 2007 04:52 PM | Link to this
nycdawg, none offeded, your comments are more then welcome on the dawg blog!
The other stud receiver that came in with brown i thought was M Johnson out of Okl. But he stayed in school and was a top 20 receiver i thought not number 2.
Johnson also had the incredible catch against auburn on 4th down to get us to the sec champ.
By Matt
January 24, 2007 04:52 PM | Link to this
Durrell Robinson came in with Reggie Brown. Out of South Carolina I believe.
By joseph
January 24, 2007 04:53 PM | Link to this
Durrel Robinson- From South Carolina recruited the same year as Reggie Brown
Derrick Steagall- From Newnan signed with Tech , did’nt do much.
By ConyersDawg
January 24, 2007 04:55 PM | Link to this
BTW, Samuels our new 2008 RB committment is a Ronnie Brown clone if you want to know what he is like. Hard for one guy to bring down.
His video is great!
By BhamDog
January 24, 2007 04:55 PM | Link to this
How about Jamie Harris, the all-world quarterback out of Danville, VA? Never saw much action at UGA and transferred somewhere else, I think?
By ConyersDawg
January 24, 2007 04:59 PM | Link to this
thanks for the compliment godawg (BuLL would tell you otherwise! i loved hollis, a true dawg with sprinter speed, would have been great to see how he would have panned out.
godawg, where in tenn. are you at?
By Alex
January 24, 2007 05:04 PM | Link to this
Oh I don’t know…how about REGGIE BALL!!
Great get Jackets!
HAHAHAHAHA!!!
By godawg
January 24, 2007 05:09 PM | Link to this
Right between the foot of the mountains and Tellico Lake. Just southwest of Knoxville.
By crdawg2
January 24, 2007 05:11 PM | Link to this
Recruiting is not an exact science but the teams that consistently end up in the top 10 on rivals.com and scout.com are usually in the top 10 in BCS at the end of the season. I just hate to feed some of these kids egos before they’ve proven themselves on the college field. And heck if I was a 3 star recruit like David Pollack…I’d a given up. Percy Harvin the Gator..not a bust, Brandon Miller….he’s got a lot to prove this year or he’s a bust (he was the #1 rated athlete in his class).
Anyone ever see “Johnny Be Good”? We’ve come a long way in recruiting.
By jeff
January 24, 2007 05:13 PM | Link to this
Lookingat these high school kids can be very very decieving. They are playing on a high school team that is only as good as there community of potential players. So many look great under the right circumstances. But more players are out there that you do not hear about that with the right set of team mates and the right coaches can become a collage superstar! But to me the biggest name I can think of for a hugh school kid so highly touted and never doing anything in collage was that Mcpherson kid that went to Fla. State.
By **By Chip Towers**
January 24, 2007 05:13 PM | Link to this
TO THOSE OF YOU WHO POSED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STUDENT TICKETING PROCESS AT UGA, I CONTACTED TICKET MANAGER TIM CEARLEY AND HE SAID STUDENTS ARE GIVEN AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO AVOID LONG LINES AT STEGEMAN. HERE’S WHAT HE WROTE:
Student season tickets for football, men’s basketball, & gymnastics (women’s basketball is free w/ their student ID) were available online via our website beginning in mid August of 2006. Obviously, football season tickets were pulled offline prior to the first home football game. Season tickets for men’s basketball remained on sale thru our website until October 31, 2006, and gymnastics season tickets were available until December 4, 2006. As an incentive to purchase their tickets in advance thru a season ticket package (men’s hoops package was $28 & the gymnastics student package was $10), the Athletic Association offered a $4 discount on the men’s basketball season ticket & a $2 discount on the gymnastics season ticket. An email was sent to all UGA students by the Athletic Association encouraging them to purchase their tickets in advance. Highlighted in the email was the statement “Purchase your tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line on the night of a game/meet.”
In addition to offering season ticket package incentives, the Athletic Association also sells student tickets in advance at Creswell Hall (night before the day of a men’s hoops game) and at the UGA Bookstore (day of game/meet from 9am to 4pm). If students haven’t taken advantage of these opportunities to purchase their tickets in advance, tickets then go on sale from Stegeman Coliseum (Ticket Booth #4) beginning 1 hour and a half prior to tip-off. For big games/meets (like tonight’s Kentucky Game), ticket booth #4 opens 2 hours prior to tip-off. As of about 10 minutes ago, over 3K student tickets have been sold through advance sales for tonight’s game (~ 2,200 tickets have been sold at Creswell Hall & at the UGA Bookstore). Lastly, ticket booth #4 has 3 student ticket windows (not 1 window) as there are 3 windows per booth. Provided below is a copy of an email that was sent out to UGA students last night (the same information is also in today’s Red & Black).
By crdawg2
January 24, 2007 05:37 PM | Link to this
Jeff- Was it Adrian Mcpherson? I think he ended up at Valdosta State.
By Bryan G.
January 24, 2007 06:20 PM | Link to this
Randy,
Terrell Davis wasn’t a JUCO guy. He came from a program out in California whose football program folded. He couldn’t get on the field because his Soph year, he was behind Hearst. The next two years, he had killer migraines. I think he was underutilized, but he had health issues, too.
how about Quincy? He was a bust other than a good Frosh year. Jasper Sanks and Sterling Boyd are still the epitomes of busts, though. Hard to beat those two guys.
By BadgerDawg
January 24, 2007 07:12 PM | Link to this
NYC, I am not beating you up, but Albert Hollis is a role model in my opinion. He was a stud by all acouunts, but a horrible injury and then getting the knoee reinjured(several times I believe) obviously derailed. With all of that, he still stayed five years and tried to come back and get on the field. Someone with his commitment should be honored and not lableled a bust. As for the others, some are obviously either overrated or simply don’t have the work ethic to improve and/or stay out of trouble. I think one of the best examples currently in(or just graduated) would be Lorenzo Washington. The guy annouces on Sportscenter that he chooses F$U over ND, then does nothing of substance to date.
By I-DOG
January 24, 2007 07:25 PM | Link to this
Bryan G,
Your right! The TD thing is one of the most misunderstood by fans around the country and new UGA fans.
Nobody wanted him out of HS. When he transferred from Cal State Fullerton to UGA he came in very raw, but still played a significant relief role to Hearst (the best running back n the country that year… he finished 3rd in the Heisman balloting). Davis averaged like 6 yards a carry and the coaches and fans were wowed!
He wasn’t as good as Heart at this point in his carreer, but everyone saw the potential.
The rest of his UGA career, he was counted on to be the starter, but the migraines and hamstring injuries kept him out of a lot of games. The coaching staff would have loved to give him 20 carries a game every game.
He blossomed in the pros, but it wasn’t like Goff didn’t recognize his talent or that he didn’t use him properly.
Goff can be blamed for not being a great coach, but the TD thing is misunderstood.
By Johnny Danger Dawg
January 24, 2007 07:41 PM | Link to this
Everyone, quit defending Albert Hollis. Everyone on this board realizes that Hollis is a good human being. But even if he invents a cure for cancer and brings peace to the Middle East, that won’t change the fact that he never did anything on the football field. Kudos to him for being a role model and a champion at life. Nobody is trying to criticize him. Chip asked us for “some big names you recall that didn’t excel on the field.” Let’s face it: Albert Hollis didn’t excel on the field. Therefore, the people who brought up his name are CORRECT.
By I-DOG
January 24, 2007 08:21 PM | Link to this
career ending injuries are different from being a bust.
Hollis wasn’t a bust, he got unlucky, cut the wrong way and his career was over before it began.
Robert Edwards wasn’t a bust in the pros because he made the all rookie team and so badly hurt his knee at an NFL event that some thought he would never walk again without a cane.
He came back after an incredible rehab of 2-3 years and just wasn’t the same.
A bust is a guy who did not live up the hype and his potential… There are many in every program… Matt Storm, Mudcat, Sanks, and to some degree Patrick Pass were all in that category.
Who was that incredibly highly recruited LB from TN who ended up quitting football without every reporting to UGA? Was his last name Johnson? His older brother was on the team as a backup. This would have been the 87 or 88 recruiting class, something like that. Anyone remember him?
By CLT Dawg
January 24, 2007 09:24 PM | Link to this
That would be Todd Collins, USA Today’s HS Defensive Player of the Year in ‘88. Older bro was Brent Collins.
BUST: Greg Talley; he was supposed to be the savior from Valdosta.
By I-DOG
January 24, 2007 09:32 PM | Link to this
Commitments coming earlier and earlier.
This year: We had most of our class signed by the middle of the football season and only a hand full of scholarships left before the normally hot committment period of Jan and Feb.
Now we have about a third of our class already committed for NEXT year BEFORE THIS YEAR’s actual signing day.
This is changing rapidly. Just five years ago 2/3 of the class waited until February all the way to actual signing day. How far will it go? Will teams be signing players BEFORE their Junior year starts?
By ConyersDawg
January 24, 2007 09:41 PM | Link to this
Wow what a win by our basket dawgs.
I challenge anyone in here to say Felton is not the man again. Dawgs down by 17 to defensive minded Tubby and we pull out the win, the Dawg program has arrived!
We should be 5-1 in the SEC but I will take 4-2 against the teams we have played so far. Our 2 losses in the sec are to #1 Fl and #12 Bama. Folks this dawg team is good.
Woodbury kept us alive for awhile while we struggled in their first half, but my boy Takias as I mentioned above was huge again. 20 points! Takias is getting doubled teamed almost every time he touches the ball.
What a day, big time 2008 recruit in Samuels who will play rb or as his coach said LB( btw, samuels has his priorities straight, good student!)and then the dawgs fight back and win after being down by 17 to kentucky.
God Bless Dawgs!
By I-DOG
January 24, 2007 09:43 PM | Link to this
CLT,
Thanks, I remember we were all excited that this guy Collins was going to be incredible. Why did he not come to UGA and play D-1 football.
I don’t think it was academics, I think he just up and quit. There was a lot less info at the time, and I was always curious.
By montanadawg
January 24, 2007 09:53 PM | Link to this
Patrick Pass wasn’t a bust, he has had a pretty good career in the NFL, considering what he did in college.
By Robert Bradberry
January 24, 2007 10:12 PM | Link to this
Remember Lauren Hargrove? Recruited by Georgia when Wally Butts was the coach. He was supposed to be the greatest back to ever come out of Georgia, but he never did a thing. I don’t even remember him playing a down.
By WHEvansIII
January 24, 2007 10:12 PM | Link to this
The greatest football recruiting bust of all-time:
ALAN EVANS - RB Dothan, Alabama 1982
Evans was rated as the #1 recruit in Alabama that year, and some services rated him the #1 RB in America.
Evans signed with Auburn, along with one Vincent “Bo” Jackson. Some may remember that Jackson went on to play a good deal while at AU, while Evans never saw the field.
Evans eventually transferred to Troy State or Jacksonville State.
By Robert Bradberry
January 24, 2007 10:38 PM | Link to this
Correction on Lauren Hargrove. I checked on google and see where he played in 1952 and was drafted by the Packers (91st overall pick). He just did not measure up to what was expected.
By Gen Neyland
January 24, 2007 10:39 PM | Link to this
godawg
All recruits can’t be future brain surgeons like Calab…now if you want to swap that estate in TN for my goat farm in GA….
By CLT Dawg
January 24, 2007 10:46 PM | Link to this
My memory on the Collins situation is the kid was torn between playing with his brother @ UGA and playing for his home state Vols. I think he was naive enough to believe choosing the Dawgs over the Vols wouldn’t be a big deal in TN. Collins wasn’t prepared for the backlash from TN and, for lack of a better word, lost it. Instead of enrolling at UGA, he and his bro ended up @ Carson-Newman. Todd went on to play for the Patriots & Rams in the NFL.
By jaymin
January 24, 2007 10:50 PM | Link to this
has anyone read the cover story on ESPN? that is one of the saddest stories in sports history. We all have to admit that outside the city of Atlanta, racism is still prevalent in this state but wow to that extent. I thought that was a tough read. It just reminds you of how far we still have to go in this state. Another thing, what is up with this Milton County crap? I live in Marietta and I defnintely do not want to secede from Fulton County, but whatever this is sports and for those who have a second should read that story.
By Brooks
January 24, 2007 10:53 PM | Link to this
We avenged the pigskin loss-somewhat. Beating those Cats in roundball is always a pleasure. I’m just glad that we beat that cheater Randolph Morris. I’m going to the NBA. Just kidding I didn’t get drafted take me back. Kentucky and Tubby should be ashamed for taking him back. We hold on against Alabama and we are probably ranked right now. How crazy would that be. As far as recruits go, the name George Brewer comes to mind. If I remember correctly he was supposed to be an all world lineman coming into Athens. Our ‘08 class is shaping up nicely. Great day to be a Dawg. GO DAWGS.
By Gen Neyland
January 24, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this
jaymin
Racism and bigotry belong in the opinion pages…pleeezzzze…It lives not here…
Let’s move on….
By Gator Guy
January 25, 2007 01:06 AM | Link to this
Uh, Jaymin … Marietta is in Cobb County, not Fulton.
By moc
January 25, 2007 06:41 AM | Link to this
Preston Jones, QB. Touted in print as “the saviour”. As heavily hyped as Matthew Stafford.
By AVinnieD
January 25, 2007 09:07 AM | Link to this
I’m still waiting on Brandon Miller to show why he was THE recruit of his class.
By bleedinrednblack
January 25, 2007 09:41 AM | Link to this
So Godawg….
you share my pain in being stuck in the middle of Vol Country wearing your bulldogs shirt…
im telling you, all the orange about makes me lose my mind.
By bleedinrednblack
January 25, 2007 09:45 AM | Link to this
So Godawg….
you share my pain in being stuck in the middle of Vol Country wearing your bulldogs shirt…
im telling you, all the orange about makes me lose my mind.
By benny
January 25, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
If John Brantley thinks the dawg walk is funny, just wait til we jack his a* up in Jax
By davedawg
January 25, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Terrell Davis transferred in from Long Beach State in Califronia not Cal State Fullerton. At the time Long Beach was trying to resurrect their program and hired George Allen the legendary former Washington Redskins head coach. Allen had them headed in the right direction but died after coaching 1 or 2 seasons. After he died Long Beach decided to cut their football program. Goff decided to watch some film of Long Beach to see if there was anybody that he might want to offer a scholarship. Terrell Davis was the only one. Somehow TD got in Goff’s doghouse and never had the career (or oppurtunity) he had with the Broncos.
By Charlotte Dawg
January 25, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
Jesse Miller, Sterling Boyd, Preston Jones……
By crs
January 25, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
In terms of bust, I would put Sean Bailey in there at this point, he was highly recruited and well thought of coming out of Milton, and outside of a moment here and there he hasn’t done much, certainly has not become the go-to UGA hoped.
I will feel a lot better about this years recruiting if we can close the deal on Bailey and Heyward and another o-lineman wouldn’t hurt.
By MadMerf
January 25, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
To prove how inexact this recruiting “science” is, look no further than the class brought in by UGA that included “Mudcat” Elmore. Marquise was the lone 5-star recruit in the entire group. Then, on signing day, an unknown 2-star cornerback from Orangeburg SC shows up on the board.
Admit it, nobody knew who this Tim Jennings guy was, and why did UGA offer a scholarship, especially when SC State was the only other school interested in him?
Fast forward to last year’s NFL Draft. Elmore was nowhere in the picture following a less-than-spectacular career at Georgia. Who do you think was the 1st Dawg taken in the draft?
I’ll give you a hint: He’ll be the Dawg’s only representative in the Super Bowl. Look for the Colt’s #37. Good luck, Tim.
What ever happened to the massive DT from Vidalia, Eric McLendon? He was supposed to attend a 2-year (Reedy, I believe it was) college in California and return to the Dawgs.
By crs
January 25, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this
In fairness to Brandon Miller, I think UGA has played him out of position his whole career, he belongs at defensive end. I hope UGA keeps him there for his senior year as has been the rumour.
By crs
January 25, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
Good point on Tim Jennings. One of the biggest things in recruiting is the guy fits the system. Auburn does exceptionally well with 3 star kids that fit their program and their system. A good example of this to me, system fit, is Thomas Brown vs. Kregg Lumpkin. I think Kregg is a dominating back that has been severely underused, he is a guy that given twenty carries instead of 10/12 would be a 1200/1300 yard rusher for the dogs, but because he is not a big breakway threat which is Richts prefernce ala Brown or Dunn from his FL St days, Kregg is not a great system fit. If Kregg was Auburn he would have been a star.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
January 25, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
Preston Jones has a long way to go before he can carry Stafford’s jock strape after a hard scrimmage. So do the rest of them. Final thought on ‘06, what Stafford had to go through both from his own mistakes and the indecision on the part of the coaching staff was something that would have broken a bunch of 18 yr. old’s mentally. He not only didn’t crack but finished the season playing like a veteran………..Does anyone know the date of the Spring Game?
By gdawginkalamazoo
January 25, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
Buck, your last comment on Stafford is right on.. compare that to one of his counterparts Mustain. We definitely got the better kid.
davedawg, yes George Allen also fought to change the Long Beach mascot to the “Fighting Maccacas”.
By AltamahaDawg
January 25, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this
moc, Did you say that Preston Jones was as highly touted as Matthew Stafford coming in? Is that possible? I guess you would have to look at that in relative terms. As in Pre-internet.
By James
January 25, 2007 01:12 PM | Link to this
Terrell Davis to this day says that his being in Ray Goff’s dog house had more to do with him dating someone that the coach didnt approve of than his perfomance on the field.He calls him coach “Goof”
By Chris
January 25, 2007 01:44 PM | Link to this
I cannot find anything where Samuel signed today. Where was it reported?
By Chris
January 25, 2007 01:49 PM | Link to this
Sorry meant committed
By tim
January 25, 2007 02:39 PM | Link to this
I saw at a trivia game the claim that Terrell Davis was the only DAWG to lead the team in rushing in 3 straight years whose name was not you know who, but I can’t find any stats to back that up. Anybody?
By MadMerf
January 25, 2007 02:46 PM | Link to this
Chris, I read Samuel’s announcement on both rivals and scout websites.
SHOCKER!!! Speaking of rivals, I just read some shocking and disturbing news. It appears that Allen Bailey has cancelled his trip to Athens and eliminated UGA from his short list just one day before his scheduled visit.
By MadMerf
January 25, 2007 02:51 PM | Link to this
SHOCKING NEWS!!!!!!
Rivals has reported that Allen Bailey has cancelled his weekend visit to Athens and eliminated UGA from his list just a day before his scheduled arrival. WHAT IS GOING ON????????
A day before his visit to what appeared to be his leader. Something happened. Does anyone know?
By dawgfacedboy
January 25, 2007 02:52 PM | Link to this
Patrick Pass did jack while he was at UGA! Wasn’t he a pretty highly regarded kid out of Tucker? How bout Blake Barnes? This kid was All Mississippi everything!! Does he even have double digit snaps in his three years here?!?!
By ConyersDawg
January 25, 2007 02:55 PM | Link to this
Something is up with Bailey droping us. Someone droped the ball. We have been recruiting Bailey for 18 months and 2 new staffs at ala. and miami come in and take him. Something smells fishy!
By Renegade
January 25, 2007 03:04 PM | Link to this
It’s obvious that he wants to play linebacker, which I’m sure Geogia said it did not want to him to. Richt told the truth, and Baily hit the road. If he chooses Miami over Georgia, then we don’t need him!! Idiot.
By jim
January 25, 2007 03:06 PM | Link to this
Dwayne Puckett was from Cedartown and he was an offensive tackle I believe.
By Jim
January 25, 2007 03:07 PM | Link to this
From the 1980s overhyped washout at UGa dept:
Gerald Browner - DL Jamie Harris - QB
By MadMerf
January 25, 2007 03:25 PM | Link to this
I agree with you Conyers, AB has been silent about his preferences throughout the process, yet most inside sources showed a UGA lean. You don’t cancel your last visit the day before your arrival without giving the staff a chance to make a pitch and talk things over.
I can’t help but think a deal was made somewhere. Same as Cliff Matthews, who was expected to commit to the Dawgs only to balk at the last second. But thats Spurrier for you. I smell a rat, and it is a shame that so much hard work over the last year and a half goes for naught without even being given a chance.
Its a damn shame. What a waste!
By davedawg
January 25, 2007 03:28 PM | Link to this
Its too bad that Bailey decided against UGA, he seemed like a good kid. I feel no ill will towards him nor do I think CMR and Garner dropped the ball in his recruitment. Bailey wanted to play linebacker and we wantd him at DE, its as simple as that. We’ll do just fine without him and I wish him the best of luck.
By thegamedaychef
January 25, 2007 05:30 PM | Link to this
I’ve enjoyed this little trip down memory lane, but I did see something I wanted to address. Someone pointed out Greg Talley as a bust. He played fairly well in his first few seasons-not great but not bad, either. He did one thing that I thought was remarkable, though. When Eric Zier came in and got the start early in his Freshman season (put in during the first game, and started the second I think, but it is very likely that I am wrong about that) Talley handed over the reigns without complaint, and spent the rest of the season mentoring Zier and making him a better QB. His sacrafice that season should be commended.
By Not-A-Blogger
January 25, 2007 05:45 PM | Link to this
Fighting Maccacas
Great one, gdawg!
By AltamahaDawg
January 25, 2007 05:46 PM | Link to this
While Bailey is our hometown kid and we do wish him well, I can assure you this will trully disapoint and surprise a lot of folks around here. It has to be the position preference.
By I-DOG
January 25, 2007 08:02 PM | Link to this
Sorry I had the wrong Southern Cal school on that transfer by Dav, It has been a long time since the 92 season.
I don’t remember Davis not playing because he was in Goff’s dog house. In 92 he was used a fair amount as a backup to Hearst and did pretty well. Hearst was clearly the superior runner (at that time).
The rest of his eligibity, I remember the coaches wishing he could be healthy enough to play because we had to go with a 165 true freshman WR at running back named Hines Ward
I think we also played Torin Kirtsey if I remember correctly. Davis may have been in the dog house a little, but Goff would have played him a lot more after 92 if Davis were cleared to play medically.
By I-DOG
January 25, 2007 08:26 PM | Link to this
Game Day Chef.
I agree with you that Talley wasn’t a bust…not because he played all that well. He just wasn’t that hyped a recruit in HS. In today’s ratings I think he might have been a 3 star QB and top 50 in Georgia, but not even top 100 in the South. Let me know if I am wrong on that one.
He was a little less highly recruited/talented than Joe T 3. Very good high school QB’s, but the big programs weren’t beating down the doors to sign them. He easily had the weakest arm of any QB we have had in a long long time.
He did the best he could with what he had, but he wasn’t SEC starting qb. material.
By I-DOG
January 25, 2007 08:32 PM | Link to this
Altamaha:
Yeah, that is bad news that Bailey is apparently closing the door on the Dawgs. I wish him well and it will be interesting to see how all these guys perform during their careers.
By HB LT and a BM
January 26, 2007 01:57 AM | Link to this
Recruiting experts: in the case of Allen Bailey; it is not only Miami that he might choose. According to what I’ve read, Florida and Alabama is still in the hunt for his services..It will only take time for whoever is promising him a linebacking position to change him to DE. I believe he is hefty enough at LB to shed blocking and be effective against SEC running schemes. But you don’t play Arkansas every week and he will be lost trying to cover in pass defense. They might line him up as a DE but convince him it is a new position in their scheme called a “linebacker”.
By HB LT and a BM
January 26, 2007 02:04 AM | Link to this
Oh yeah; I don’t remember. Was Hiawatha Berry a bust?
By Mark
January 26, 2007 02:37 PM | Link to this
IMO losing a top recruit to a potential rival is never a good thing. If the kid is athletic enough why not let him play LB? If the defending National Champions and Nick Saban (who also won a NC) think he can play LB then I tend to think he might be capable!! Isn’t LB a thin position for us? Considering our recruiting class isn’t even in the top 10 I don’t see how this isn’t a HUGE let down.
By HB LT and a BM
January 26, 2007 06:47 PM | Link to this
Imagine this; Allen Bailey (linebacker) covering Percy Harvin over the middle or in the flats. Allen Bailey (linebacker) covering Darren McFadden(or the Auburn backs) on routes out of the backfield. Just about any skill player in the SEC will create a mismatch with Allen Bailey covering them from the linebacker position. This dude needs to be rushing the passer almost exclusively.
By DRE DAWG
January 28, 2007 03:42 AM | Link to this
I love Georgia, but you can’t lose a large number of star players in your own state to your SEC rivals and stay on top. Our WR and another coach need to be replaced because they have not developed nor recruited well in their position the last four years. Richt can’t be too nice when it hurts the program.
By NYDAWG
January 28, 2007 05:35 AM | Link to this
I’m not talking busts here.Isn’t it ironic Patrick Pass sucked at UGA,but has had a long career in the NFL.Mack Strong is another in a long line of dawgs that didn’t dominate in college,but have had outstanding pro careers.Thanks for clearing up the terrel davis issue? I always thought goff was a moron for not giving him the ball more,didn’t realize he had heatlh issues.
By HB with LT and a BM
January 28, 2007 07:29 AM | Link to this
Ray Goff didn’t believe Terrell Davis had migraine headaches. Ray Goff thought Terrell Davis was lazy and didn’t want to practice. Terrell Davis could have played more his last year at UGA; Goff “punished” him by taking away playing time in games. Goff also wanted to establish himself offensively as being totally different and more wide open than Vince Dooley’s favored running attack with stingy defense. Therefore he abandoned emphasis on defense. UGA paid dearly for the Goff era. I don’t blame him so much; I just think he was in over his head.
By lifer dawg fan
January 28, 2007 05:11 PM | Link to this
Biggest bust might be the fact that legendary coach Erk Russel “Had the job” after Vince retired, only to find out a few weeks later Vince had gone out and found a new “younger” mind for the program. Folks I believe Vince had let the program go too far in regards to recruiting and even defense in the later 80’s years. Rumor has it that it was Vince’s wife who was worried about HOW FRIGGIN GOOD Erk was gonna be as coach and “steered” him away from that option.
Folks Erk was a players coach and a defensive genius. It saddens me now to only wonder what would have happened to the Dawgs 1989-1998? If we had Erk, would UF been so dominate? I know he would have brought the Dawgs another NC in the 90’s
Too bad Dooley screwed the program so that he wouldn’t look bad in the future! Compared to UF where money and the drive to win has taken them to unprecedented NC’s. It just makes me sick
By Lakw Wales Dawg
January 28, 2007 08:15 PM | Link to this
Really interesting post, lifer dawg!!