By Darren in the Springs

March 21, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this

Hey Chip it sounds like you had a bad time out here. Maybe the game made it a bad trip for you, but the area is awe-inspiring.

It was funny to see Georgia’s big men chasing the Air Force guards around the perimeter. I wonder it Takais will clap his hands at the inbounds guy again (you know what I am talking about). The cadets had fun with that one.

As I stated on another blog, in the last 58 games here Air Force is 56-2 so it is no easy task to win at Clune.

Hope the rest of your trip was enjoyable. I grew up in Rome, and have been in the military the last 18 years.

By Matthew At The SLC

March 21, 2007 3:57 PM | Link to this

Ask Searls about who is going to be calling protections at the line, whether it’s going to be Stafford or the center. Also, thank him for dropping the silly scheme brought by Calloway and returning to the meat and potatos (no tight guards and tight tackles… left / right guards, left / right tackles) of offensive line play. Ask him who of the junior transfers he thinks is going to make the biggest impact, and if we might see any true freshman getting playing time (even though we redshirted about 20 freshman last year). Ask him what kind of input he’ll have in the offense and putting the game plan together with Coaches Richt and Bobo. Ask him if he plans on being on the sidelines or sitting in the box. Ask him what he thinks he brings to this team to mold our players into the kind of dominating lines he had at LSU.

And welcome him for all of us, Chip. Let him know that we’re ecstatic that he’s here.

By godawg

March 21, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this

Just a suggestion, but I think they should change the name of the practice field to WoofRuff.

By godawg

March 21, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this

For those of you who, like me, can’t get enough of UGA football, here is an exclusive inside look at Bulldog mat drills. Now I know how these guys get so tough.

By tyler

March 21, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this

Ok felton, why do you run a zone against good shooting teams like TENN and run man against pick and cut teams, AF???? makes negative sense!!

By Cuz

March 21, 2007 4:21 PM | Link to this

Chip, tell him to keep the O-line away from the golf team. We cannot afford any suspensions on the line.

By Dawg4life

March 21, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this

I would like to know what the advantage is of having JUCO players on the line vs. a redshirt freshman who was in the program last year, but redshirted. Also, ask him who has impressed him thus far. Is Vince Vance’s knee injury serious enough to move him down the depth chart? What is his main philosophy in coaching offensive linemen and the schemes he likes to incorporate?

That said, I agree with you about UGA women’s basketball, Chip. It’d be great to see Landers win a championship, but it won’t be done until he can recruit more athletic players and comes up with a more agressive scheme on defense. If you look at schemes run by teams like Tennessee or Duke, or even LSU, they play aggressive from end to end and incorporate traps, etc. UGA doesn’t do that at all; they rely on angles, which can be taken away by faster, more athletic players. That’s why the Tennessees or the world and the LSUs beat us on a consistent basis. Players like Kara Braxton and Christi Thomas fit the mold of the prototypical players we need to have a successful program.

By Darren in the Springs

March 21, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this

Actually Tyler, Felton did try to run a 1-3-1 zone against them but it did not work. All the passing that Air Force did made the zone break down, and players lost their assignments. I guess the zone looked like man to man, even though it wasn’t. He really did not have any choice, and in all reality it did not matter what he did Monday night.

With all the cutting Air Force does a zone is not that effective anyway.

By OddJob

March 21, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this

I didn’t get the Air Force game here in NC,but I’m guessing Felton will have nightmares of backdoor cuts for sometime.

By Ft Worth Dawg

March 21, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this

Special Teams. Especially, punt and kickoff returners. And field goal kicker(s).

By Wozzo the Wonder Dog

March 21, 2007 5:21 PM | Link to this

Chip — Nice, insightful article about how 3 of the Sweet Sixteen are from the SEC East (and how UK will be back). I think UK needs a serious upswing in its recruiting to be back but the school has done it before.

I don’t feel like I have a handle on UGA’s basketball recruits. I understand the class is good but I know nothing about the kids.

Kind of below the radar but one team in the NIT Final Four will be from the SEC as well. As I recall, last year the NCAA and the NIT champions were both from the SEC East. To me it’s mind boggling that the SEC (and not UK) has appeared to surplant the ACC in basketball recently (but UNC still appears to be a fantastic team).

Chip: what’s your Final Four pick as of today?

By Manheim Steamroller

March 21, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this

Felton stinks. All hail mediocrity.

By zeus

March 21, 2007 6:24 PM | Link to this

Guys,

Check out godawg’s video…it’s awesome!!!

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 21, 2007 6:37 PM | Link to this

CHIP, MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT SEE YA IN THE PAPERS COMMENT…..aRE YOU OUTTA HERE. PLEASE ‘SPLAIM

By Matthew At The SLC

March 21, 2007 7:05 PM | Link to this

Buck, I think, unfortunately, that this means the return of Carter.

May God have mercy on our souls.

By Oh God

March 21, 2007 7:59 PM | Link to this

As the head coach of UGA football, Carter Strickland has no time for silly little blogs.

By tyler

March 21, 2007 8:15 PM | Link to this

darren, yes i know he ran a 1-3-1, but after we were down 20, and a zone does slow down the cutting offense because you don’t have the center, tk, out guarding on the outside, a simple 2-3 would not confuse the players and would only force the air force players to pass around the outside, thus slowing thier offense down

By Darren in the Springs

March 21, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this

If you have watched Air Force all year, which I have, you would have noticed they dont mind passing around the outside at all. No matter what zone or defense is played against them they still have players cutting through the lane.

I think the biggest factor was Georgia underestimating the Air Force team speed. Also, they found out early onl that they could not get the ball inside very much against the match up zone they played. I am sure the altitude played a factor along with frustration.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 21, 2007 10:24 PM | Link to this

Don’t evan turn ESPN on, you’ll either get sick or mad……….Mattthew the SCL, that’s why I asked him the question……….By OH God, don’t know about that, but he thinks he knows everything there is to know.

By Matthew At The SLC

March 21, 2007 10:45 PM | Link to this

What’s wrong with ESPN? I’m watching Natalie Gulbis on the Golf Channel. Man is that girl smoking. Props to Big Ben for hitting that.

By bigdawg

March 21, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this

Gosh….you woulda thought AF won the national championship or something.

And how convenient…all the number one seeds (who had their home court advantage all the way thru) are still in it.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 21, 2007 11:25 PM | Link to this

At least they weren’t blow outs

By Gen Neyland

March 21, 2007 11:28 PM | Link to this

Chip…

As an enemy blogger within these hallowed grounds, I want to say I appreciated your commentary this BB season…

Albeit, my season rolls on. And if UT gets knocked out, well, I’ve still my Final Four to keep up with… HINT : One of them is from the state of Tennessee…Go Vols, Commodores, and that other one from Melvis, TN…

By SamoanDawg

March 22, 2007 12:20 AM | Link to this

dadgumit… Now Josh Davis went down. I hope it’s not a season ending injury.

By ConyersDawg

March 22, 2007 12:45 AM | Link to this

Chip I would like to know about his rortating of o-line men.

Mathew at the SLC. It was Richt who brought in the tight gaurd and tackle lingo.

Word out of camp is Moreno could have the best burst out of the backfield since Garrison Hearst. A couple of big runs today from the RB position and Lump looks as fast as he did when he was a freshmen.

Apparently Akeem Dent is all Man, with speed and bad intentions when he hits.

I really hope they extend Felton’s contract soon. We got a great class coming in and momentum. For those of you complaining Syracus is in the nit. Only 65 teams get in and Ga. has never been a basketball power. Felton is on the brink of that. Many of you forget we played with tons of walk on’s in a 2 win sec year 2 years ago and won 5 last year with still half talent that most of the sec has. We lost Adrissi and Toney this year and were injured down the stretch.

The dawgs will be stout next year. Believe it!

By BuLLdawg

March 22, 2007 2:29 AM | Link to this

.

.

Of course, what we have found is that in All Sports, Especially Basketball – the SEC indeed is great.

In Football, we absolutely dominated the Big 10 and ACC. An SEC team is the Reigning National Champion, not the ACC and not the Big 10, but Florida who totally destroyed Ohio State’s thugs.

.

.1.SEC.Florida.

.

6 SEC Final AP Poll Top 25 Teams.

4 Big 10 Final AP Poll Top 25 Teams.

3 ACC Final AP Poll Top 25 Teams.

1Florida, 3LSU, 9Auburn, 15Arkansas, 23Georgia, and 25 Tennessee.

http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/pastAPPolls.htm

Men’s Basketball, once again, we find the SEC is great.

3 SEC Sweet 16 Teams remaining.

1 Big 10 Sweet 16 Team remaining.

1 ACC Sweet 16 Team remaining.

Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Florida.

And, the SEC’s Florida is the Reigning National Champion in Men’s Basketball as well, not the Big 10 and NOT the ACC neither.

Indeed in men’s basketball, the SEC is in fact “ great. “

http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/brackets/viewable/2007

By BuLLdawg

March 22, 2007 2:36 AM | Link to this

In Women’s Basketball Sweet 16, once again the SEC has four (4) teams and again no conference has more.

http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/womens/brackets/viewable/2007

As a matter of fact, the Big 10 has 1 team remaining in the Women’s Sweet 16, the same as the down conference Big 10 has in Men’s Basketball.

Down in Men’s Basketball, down in Women’s Basketball and down in Football.

Want more ?

In Baseball as well, the SEC is The Number 1 Conference as the SEC is The Number 1 Conference in Football, Men’s Basketball, and Women’s Basketball.

http://www.boydsworld.com/baseball/rpi/confrpi.html

.

.1.SEC.

.

.2.ACC.

.

.3.Big XII.

.

.4.PAC-10.

.

As a matter of fact, if you are sitting there wondering where the Big 10 is in Baseball, it is dead last.

Did I mention that the SEC finds that they are represented in the NIT Championship in Men’s Basketball at Madison Square Garden and that the Big 10 is NOT ? The ACC does not have more teams remaining in the NIT than the SEC either.

“ Oh, yeah the SEC is NOT great in Men’s Basketball, Football, Baseball, Women’s Basketball, Sports in General, All Sports, and the Big 10 does not SUCK in comparison.

That goes doubly for the ACC.

Did I mention nice negatively worded blog about Georgia in general as always Chip Towers ? .

.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 22, 2007 3:45 AM | Link to this

5 years is enough time to make the “Dance”

By BadgerDawg

March 22, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this

I’d like to congratulate Vanderbilt on their debate team victory over Clemson alst night, proving that the SEC is the best in everything.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 22, 2007 8:34 AM | Link to this

BadgerDawg, that’s funny and a greaqt way to start the day!!

By reality check

March 22, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this

Chip, I think I can speak for just about everybody on this blog that we are glad you are doing this instead of Carter. I hope you will continue.

Carter writes well and his articles are good. For some reason though he loves to irritate Dawg fans on the blog. If his intention is to get everybody all riled up I can see that, but we can generate all the vitriol we need without additional encouragement from Carter.

By MadMerf

March 22, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this

It appears to me that Matt Schaub to Houston is almost a done deal. Where does that leave DJ?

Has he shown enough improvement to convince coaches that Schaub is no longer needed? Or will they use one (or more) of those draft picks to find another QB?

Matt was a solid backup for Vick. It raises some interesting questions, no doubt.

By BadgerDawg

March 22, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this

Buck, TY and good morning. Merf, I think this means that Shock is the heir apparent after Vick either gets injured and/or can’t complete a pass more than 45-50% of the time. I am not a Falcons fan, but I hope he gets it. For a guy that could have started for almost every other team in the country for at least two of the three years he back up DG, he showed 100% class in accpeting it and waiting his turn. I hope that loyalty is rewarded for him in the long term. I think he has starter’s ability(based on his one year starting for us), and I have often wondered why he wasn’t a more highly regarded pro prospect.

By AltamahaDawg

March 22, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this

Conyers, I too can’t understand the disappointment of the NIT. I have been following UGA basketball for 25+ yrs and its been well…….not also so great. We have managed to even get to the NCAA’s like 9 times in 50 years? I’m personally not that disappointed at a couch who 2 yrs removed from the WORSE situation possible has done as well already as the norm before him.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 22, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this

MadMerf, I don’t think this’ll mean very much forDJ. Hope so but the Falcons have built Schuab into a hot proprety that will give them some real cash or trade pluses. Early predicition is DJ’s not ready for#2 yet but he may have a chance to fight for it.

By DWDawg

March 22, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this

either the tech players or the coach said of the UGA bball defense,they watch the man not the ball, so you can cut, screen or whatever you want

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 22, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this

Have heard but don’t know about the new players coming i. They’re supose to be a good class. 5 Yrs. should get us to the dance. I know we’re in the toughest division in the land but if we just win the games we should win and pick up a couple extras along the way that shout do it. We’ll have to have some good coaching and a little luck on the injuries but we should make it.

By gdawgs77

March 22, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this

Hey Chip I am a very frustrated GDawgs fan! Yeah maybe we should have lost to Air Force but we got completely embarrased out there! Air Force is a team that going into the NIT had lost 4 in a row INCLUDING its last regular season home game! Austin Peay presented better competition to Air Force than we did and DePaul almost beat them! Felton had many experienced players and should have gave a much better showing! I understand that he took over in a bad situation but next year he has to produce! Five years in ample time to at least earn an NCAA bid even if it was a bad situation in the beginning. Would you comment on this Chip? Thanks!

By BRUCE LOWERY

March 22, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO THE REPORT OF MARTAVIUS ADAMS THE CENTER FOR WILKERSON COUNTY SIGNING WITH GEORGIA?

By BadgerDawg

March 22, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this

BuLLGator(your new name since you have so much love for Donovan and Meyer now), you are propping up Vandy, the #47 team in the RPI, as an example of the great SEC. Vandy has lost(not played and won against a bad team, but LOST) to #122 RPI Weak Forest, #195 Furman, #62 App St, #114 Auburn, #63 UGA, and #64 Miss St, followed by back to back losses to #35 Arkansas. And you knock Wisconsin’s loss to #36 Missouri State as a bad loss and say other losses to Big Ten teams in the top 30 were to “nobodies.” Missouri State has a higher RPI than the team you’re holding up as a great team. Vandy got lucky with a hot Byars and a cold Wazzu combination. Combine that with a Tennessee win that only happened after UVA’s best player was hobbled and the #5 Big Ten team giving UF all it can handle, you can absolutely still argue that the SEC is not great. There is not a great conference this year. If there was, I’d have to say Pac Ten, not SEC. Again, I picked UT and Vandy to win, but they were both very lucky.

Prediction time: BuLL, get it out there now instead of saying “I told you so” after it happens when you made no such predictions to begin with. Tennessee loses to THE OSU, Vandy loses to Georgetown, and neither one is particularly close(let’s say a 10 point win.) I think UF beats Butler by a similar margin, not a blowout but not a nailbiter. Considering my record on SEC games in this tournament is undoubtedly better than yours(my only error was picking Nova over Kentucky) I’m not afraid to make predictions before the games.

Elite 8: UF, GTown, Oregon, UNC, Kansas, Memphis(and should be Dawg Dozier), UCLA, and THE OSU.

Regarding UGA bball: How much better would we have been this year with Dozier and Louis Williams? Felton has done a great job, those factors were out of his control. With them, we are potentially top 10. If two years from now we still haven’t sniffed the NCAA, I’ll change my opinion, not before then.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 22, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this

LIMB TIME: UPSET SPECIAL: THE VOLS BY 5 OVER THE OHIO ST. LIMB TIME 2: REPTILES REPPRESENTING THE SEC WIL RE-PEAT. OK bADGERdAWG STARTEED IT OFF AND i’M FOLLING SO “HOW ‘BOUT EVERYBODY ELSE”. COME ON! IT’S LIMB TIME!

By Gen Neyland

March 22, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this

Badger

I’ll not back-step and predict this weekends outcome. My original Elite 8 were : UF, Wis, IL (brain fart), UCLA, UNC, GTown, OSU, Memphis…

But in the tourney, all is subject to be trashed…OSU over UT earlier in the season 68-66…Can lighting strike twice..? Even though I picked a’gin ‘em, Go Vols…

By BadgerDawg

March 22, 2007 1:24 PM | Link to this

Buck, limb time is right! If they win, great call by you, Pearl himself knows Ohio St was a different team when Oden only had use of one hand. I’m actually thinking UF loses to Oregon, but I picked UF to lose to Kansas originally in the Final 4 in my bracket.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 22, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this

FORGET THE SPELLING IN THAT LAS POST, IT’S LAUNDRY TIME.

By bigdawg

March 22, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this

Has anybody seen the basketball schedule for next year? Is it just as tough as this years was?

By BadgerDawg

March 22, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this

Gen, I picked Creighton in the Final 8, not Memphis, that set of upsets didn’t materialize and Memphis is better than I thought. I also had Wis and I picked Texas over UNC, my other five picks were originals. I’m just predicting this week, not pretending I had these all along. Be careful with those three Big Ten picks, you may be accuses of being a traitor.

By Chip Towers

March 22, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this

gdawgs77,

I, too, was surprised to see how badly Georgia was beaten by Air Force, especially after seeing how well DePaul played them in there. The only explanation I have for it is that the Falcons are just a really bad matchup for Georgia. Their bigs run all over the perimeter and shoot 3s and drive to the basket. That doesn’t bode well for Takais Brown and Dave Bliss and Steve Newman and Rashaad Singleton. And with Mercer out and already thin in the backcourt, it’s not like Georgia could play four or five guards at once. But that’s not to make excuses for them. They just didn’t compete well once they fell behind. And that was true for a lot of teams that played AF this season, including several that played in the Big Dance (UNLV, Stanford, UNLV, GW, Long Beach State).

By ConyersDawg

March 22, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

Buck, have you kept up with Dawg Basketball? This was the first year in 4 years that he had competitive practises with scholarship players that are decent.

Also, the Falcons staff actually has given their thumbs up to DJ being able to compete and handle being #2 and ready to step in if Vick goes down. They will probably bring in Anthony Wright or Joey Harrinton to compete against Shockley.

Badgerdawg hit the nail on the head in regards to the bb team and missing out on Dozier and Lois going pro. Felton has the team on the rise and few sec teams gathered the talent we did this past year in recruiting. Ala, lsu, and fl all had better recruiting then us with us being as good as bama’s IMO.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 22, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

BadgerDawg, I warned my Reptile Relative about the “Duck” early on. That will be a good game if Oregon makes it………..BIGDAWG, MY MAN! It’s time for “DANCING” and wondering about nexr years schedule then. It’s spirit and “Go Out On a Limb Time” Come back at me with your picks. If I had any courage, I’d pick Vandy upset G’Town but I kinda shrink at the bottom on that one. Kansas will be there but Kruger is really doing a good job at UNLV but will he stay.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 22, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this

CONYERS; point one. yes I’ve kept up with it and I don’t think I/m being unreasonable to say 5 years shoulf do it for bring in the “Dance”. Have to figure in luck and new players. 2. Maybe I just read a different article thn you did but they listed several QBs and nothing was said about DJ being the #2. I said I hope he is and he may have a chance to go for it, Which I think he will but IMO, he needs another year to be reay for the 2 spot.

By Matthew At The SLC

March 22, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this

Chip, you haven’t answered Buck’s question. Are you leaving the blogs for football? I will say that, and I know I speak for 95% of us, from the most fervant, foaming,no - perspective Dawg fan to the most realistic Dawg fan, that you leaving the blogs in favor for the reviled Carter Strickland would be a mistake of epic proportions. How can a blog properly work when the writer has no respect for the fans and the fans have no respect for the writer? How can a blog properly work when the writer is openly defiant with his disdain for the fanbase and his job? How can a blog properly work with that much ill will and vitriole being slung back and forth between writer and fan? It’s one thing for fans to go at each other. It’s another when it’s between writer and fan. It’s not fair to us, the DawgNation, to have Strickland cover our team. It’s doubly not fair for us to be dependant on his insipid blogs for our daily Bulldog fix.

Your editors have to know how much we dislike Strickland… so why do they keep running that guy out there? I don’t get it. I’m not with the guy who likes his columns. In his columns, Strickland may be more sneaky with his disdain, but it’s there. And even if we imagine it’s there, it’s still not a good situation. In his blogs, Strickland doesn’t even try. He’s the absolute opposite of you, Chip. I know you need a break, but damn, we’re gonna miss you, especially if we’re going to be stuck with him.

ANYONE BUT STRICKLAND IN ‘07!

By Mr. Wrestling#2

March 22, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this

I certainly hope we do not give a contract extension to a coach who has yet to reach the NCAA tournament. Yes, the program was in shambles when he arrived but rather than building it he further dismantled it in order to stroke his massive ego. Granted we are better than where we were but we need not have been that bad. Further, we aren’t as far along as we should be. Its o.k. to have the ego but we need to see the results. 1 NIT win in four years is not enough to justify a contract extension. Rather than an extension we should say no NCAA next year=no Felton.

By AltamahaDawg

March 22, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this

I agree, UGA basketball was a powerhouse, loaded with trophies and banners, before Felton got here and he has absolutely ruined it. Why can’t be be mild and meek and devoid of any ego like the rest of the coaches in the NCAA?

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 22, 2007 3:15 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the support Matthew at the SCL. BTW, would you mind if I used a shorter handle like “Matthew/SCL or something?

By Matthew At The SLC

March 22, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this

Doesn’t matter to me. I just, very unoriginally I might add, came up with the name because I sometimes blog from the SLC. But be wary of my Idiot Redneck Stalker. If you ever see blogs that are racist, crazy, and in dire need of a shot of perspective, then that is my IRS.

By Buck Cochran in the NW

March 22, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this

Altamaha, are you being a homer? People are just saying what they think, like you, and I think it’s, legit to say we losy a couple we should have won a couple we lost. We has some injury problems and that always gets to a team but to be embarrassed they way we were on Nat. TV> is not the way I had hopedm to win but was schoucked by the final score. New players, some luck thrown in, good coaching, no injuries and yeah, I see a dance after 5 yrs.

By AltamahaDawg

March 22, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this

So saying what you want applies to anyone but me?

So you also think felton massive ego tore down the program too huh? ok? noted.

By AltamahaDawg

March 22, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this

Once again Buck, you assume anything I say must be directed at you. I was responding to Mr wrestling. Pay attention.

By BadgerDawg

March 22, 2007 7:49 PM | Link to this

Alt, I’m with you on this 100%. The program was getting torn down because Harrick’s actions made that a necessity. Felton released those guys from scholarship(I don’t think any of them turned out great anyway but it left him literally at the scrap heap) and IMO that’s the right thing to do for kids that thought committed to a different coach. After that, there is no doubt we lost some kids the first couple of years because they didn’t want to be part of that big of a rebuilding project. Throw in a couple of injuries to the few players we did get(Gibbs as an example) and you can’t expect success early, and just when the tide is turning with Williams, Mercer, and Dozier, we lose two out of the three and none were playing at the end of this year. Buck, I would normally agree with you that 4-5 years should be enough time, but this was truly different. I’d give Felton two more years at least before letting him go. He’s earned the time and he has them doing it the right way, too, which is really important after Harrick.