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 > June > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBaseball’s not Troupe’s strength
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While even football recruiting seems an exact science when compared to the Amateur Baseball Draft, my sources are telling me Georgia has nothing to worry about with regard to losing wide receiver Israel Troupe to pro baseball.
Jim Callis, an old college buddy of mine who I worked with the at the Red and Black while we were at Georgia, is executive editor of Baseball America. He’s their top dog and will be on tomorrow’s telecast of the baseball draft. I asked him about Troupe and he said he didn’t have him listed anywhere. So he referred me to a colleague, Alan Mitchell, who is BA’s national writer and is charged with knowing about anybody this side of the Mississippi River. Mitchell knew all about Troupe and said Georgia football fans could rest easy. I’ve written a story about it that will be up later but here’s most of what Mitchell told me:
“[Mark] Richt is safe on this one,” Matthews said. “There’s really no doubt whatsoever that Troupe is not going to be drafted high enough to sign with a professional baseball team. Israel Troupe is a very, very raw athlete with very limited baseball skills. Could he develop into a professional baseball prospect? Yes, maybe with a few years of college baseball experience at Georgia. But for now, he’s not ready even at the rookie ball level.”
Matthews went on to say Troupe will probably get his name called but it probably won’t be until late on the second day of the 50-round draft. Troupe, who I also talked to for the story, said he has a number early in the draft after which he won’t consider signing a contract but declined to share that. So it looks like Troupe will be playing football for the Dogs this fall. He also plans to play baseball for Dave Perno while at Georgia, though I haven’t seen many two-sport guys pan out in recent years. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, two of Georgia’s signees have not yet gained academic eligibility and therefore haven’t joined the 21 other first-year players on campus. Defensive backs Vance Cuff of Moultrie and John Knox of Statesboro still have some work to do and may end up in prep school, according to the Athens Banner-Herald. I’m not planning on writing anything on it at the moment but we’ll monitor the situation and let you know if there are any developments.
Meanwhile, as Rennie Curran told me earlier today (I’m writing something on him for this weekend), Thursday if the first day the freshmen “get down to business” as far as football. To date, they’ve spent their time getting moved into dorms, going through orientations and, Wednesday, they had their official physicals. Usually there’s one or two players with medical issues that have to be addressed after these physicals but I haven’t heard anything yet. We’ll let you know when we know.
Meanwhile, the freshmen will be welcomed to a whole new world Thursday morning when Coach VanHalanger puts them through the paces of the offseason strength and conditioning program. These guys may think they’ve worked out but nothing like what they’ll experience when they follow around Brannan Southerland and Thomas Brown in the Dogs’ expansive weight room.
That’s all for now. Let me know what you want to know.
Permalink | Comments (72) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Comments
By gdawginkalamazoo
June 6, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this
Better change that to Dave PERNO. Hopefully Troupe will have a high number for himself. 50 rounds for the draft? Damn. Don’t see why any kid with football talent would want to try and run that gauntlet. Football= 3 or 4 years of college ball then the NFL. Baseball= A + AA + AAA then maybe the big leagues. Okay maybe you get to skip the first two levels if you are really really talented. Shows the determination of the baseball players though. Lot of hard work.
By Joe Bulldog
June 6, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
“He also plans to play baseball for Dave Person while at Georgia”
Dave Person?
By Cuz
June 6, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
Chip meant Dave Pearson. Troupe is planning on driving a Busch car for the former Nascar great in the off-season with a shot at Nascar if he wins more than two races.
I still think he should stick to football.
By D Pierson
June 6, 2007 4:00 PM | Link to this
what’s a busch?
By Cuz
June 6, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
D, that is something I learned about in a back seat of a 67 Chevy II.
Bob Segar playing “Night Moves” in the background.
By godawg
June 6, 2007 5:22 PM | Link to this
I used to have a beer T-shirt that read: “To Hell With Your Mountains. Give Me your Busch!” Long time ago…..
By Anonymous
June 6, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this
More good news for the Dawgs on the recruiting trail…as expected, DE Jeremy Longo has committed to the DAWGS
By OddJob
June 6, 2007 9:10 PM | Link to this
I wish Israil all the best.I really don’t see him as a big time receiver though.From watching video he just doesn’t look outstanding to me.The wr from this group that does look like a star in my view is Walter Hill.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 6, 2007 9:12 PM | Link to this
Even though they’re from the same school, it’s really good to see the Dawgs start to make what I hope will be a real breakthrough in the South Fl talent poole. We’ve had players of course in the past but maybe this will be the beginning of a yearly cherry picking.
By SamoanDawg
June 6, 2007 10:17 PM | Link to this
Israel would prolly end up redshirting. The depth at WR is pretty deep. Unless he comes in and wow the coaches.
I’m ready to hear about Rennie Curran. He’s an outstanding young man. Both on/off the field. I met him last summer, he seemed like a down to earth type of person. Very humble. I think he’ll contribute some on defense and on special teams this season. A sideline to sideline type of a player. He just needs to bulk up about 20 lbs of muscle.
By SamoanDawg
June 6, 2007 10:20 PM | Link to this
Cuz, good one brah… lmao…
D, that is something I learned about in a back seat of a 67 Chevy II.
By A-ville Ranger
June 6, 2007 11:13 PM | Link to this
SamoanDawg I’m high on Curran and Charles White. CMR has said they’re both versatile and he’s looking for ways to get them on the field early.
By A-ville Ranger
June 6, 2007 11:36 PM | Link to this
I hate to see Vance Cuff hasn’t qualified yet.Obviously I want all of these kids to get the most out of school.From a fans view there are at least 3 players in this class that look to have a high WOW!! factor.Caleb of course,Walter Hill and Cuff.Cuff looks so quick and fast on video it’s impossible not to notice him once he starts running.He looks to be Mikey Henderson fast and quick.He’s not real big but he’s bigger than Mikey with a frame to get to 190 or so.
By Gen Neyland
June 6, 2007 11:49 PM | Link to this
Cuz
Given your wisdom with years of whiskers and length of teeth, wouldn’t you love to have that 67 Chevy II today..? My first ride was a 57 VW Beetle. Paid $75 cash for the beater and sold her running for $125…What a profit..
Congrats to the AZ Womens Softball team…
By SamoanDawg
June 6, 2007 11:53 PM | Link to this
A-ville Ranger,
As of right now, is Vance Cuff/John Knox are the only ones not enrolling this year? We’re ok at corner/safety right now, but hopefully we’ll get them back next season… along w/Hebron.
Speaking of Mikey, that dude is so light… he plays big for his size. I’m looking forward for Mikey to make some big plays this year.
86 mo’ days…..
By SamoanDawg
June 7, 2007 12:29 AM | Link to this
Where will Aaron White be in the shuffle? TE or a slot guy? Redshirt perhaps? Man, heaps of skill players to choose from. It’s nice, ain’t it?
85 mo’ days….
By ConyersDawg
June 7, 2007 12:49 AM | Link to this
Samoan you said it right about the skill players. We are really starting to land some great ones. But it is the big boys on the o-line that have me pumped.
We are loading up on the line with great 0-line men and the it will show in the running game and passing game 2 years from now when ga. has it’s most explosive offense ever.
By SamoanDawg
June 7, 2007 1:02 AM | Link to this
Question is… will Reshad Jones over take one of the safety spot or one of the corner spot? My guess is, CJ Byrd could end up backing up Reshad at strong safety. Reshad posessed the “ooooh” factor when he lays the wood on somebody and he can cover pretty darn good too. We can’t go wrong with either CJ or Reshad at safety, but Reshad will prolly get the nod. If he goes to corner, he might sit Bryan Evans. Heck, Martinez can even try him at Willie or Sam…
Kelin on the other hand, he’ll maintain the free spot. I think he earned his stripes. He’ll be our vocal leader on defense.
85 mo’ days/23 hrs…
By SamoanDawg
June 7, 2007 1:29 AM | Link to this
ConyersDawg, I’m fired up about the big dawgs up front too. I’m not as concerned about the depth, the shuffling of positions and implementing the new blocking scheme when we first started spring camp. I think these guys are ahead of schedule considering the little time they had to mesh together. Coach Searels is doing a good job. Now they have the whole preseason to compete again and put our best five on Sept 1.
Got my dawg boots ready to kick some cowboys’ azs!
By Big Dawg
June 7, 2007 8:15 AM | Link to this
Samoan and Conyers,
We are deep along the OL with 2 to 3 impact players at every position. The OL is a big reason the Dawg’s coaching staff is giddy about the upcoming season. So I have to agree with you both can’t hardly wait for the season to start.
Go Dawgs
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 7, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
It wwas nice to see one of the coaches on Rivals, Dawg post?, wearing a shirt that said Ga. ve Okla. St. Believe me our “D”will be tested.
By gdawginkalamazoo
June 7, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
Cuz, how far was that thunder? Did you just sit there and wonder? And what was that tune you were humming from 1962?
I certainly hope our D backs are ready for OSU. Bowman will be a tough one cover. Did anybody read on ESPN about our policy on players attending classes? Looks like a good one to me.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 7, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
Kalamazoo, I’m sure it was right in front of me, but where on ESPN is that column located?
By D Pierson
June 7, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this
oh, that kind of busch. First one I saw almost put a curse on me-I thought I was a spray painter.
By I-DOG
June 7, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this
With Georgia’s recent signing of Jermey Long, one of the top DE’s out of South Florida… UGA is projected to sign 287 players in this year’s class.
According to Coach Richt, that will give the Dawgs 14 deep at each of the defensive end positions and that should be enough firepower to get UGA through the always difficult SEC schedule.
By shane
June 7, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
does anyone know how the baseball draft is going?if troupe wants to go mlb,i think we have enough talent at wr to get by. i guess you can’t have too many.maybe we will see some kind of spread off.this year.i don’t suppose you can have too many dbs either,ole urban will have guys split out everywhere.i am very impressed with our recruits,speed all over the place.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 7, 2007 5:48 PM | Link to this
Kalamazoo, great article. Thanks
By Cuz
June 7, 2007 9:22 PM | Link to this
Zoo, how far was that thunder? I can only sit and wonder. The song from 1962 was “You really got a hold on me” by the Miracles. Aint it funny how the Night Moves, now that I am old with nothing left to lose, strange how the Night Moves….but Autumn is closing in.
The guitar just kicked in.
With 85 days to go the Dawgs had better start working and practicing, working and practicing. I notice the game will be a Night game, yeah they need to start working on the Night Moves. General, Buck, Alt, War, Zoo, I, A-ville, join me in the chorus, working and practicing!!!! on our Night Moves. Look out pokes, there is a freight train a coming and it is painted Red and Black……
By Cuz
June 7, 2007 9:43 PM | Link to this
General, the 67 Deuce cost me $300. Worth an untold amount if I still had it. A pity youth is wasted on the young.
By SamoanDawg
June 7, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this
Chip, need a story line on Reshad Jones if you can. Is he going to manned one of the secondary position?
Also, the O-line and interior D-line.
mahalo!
By Gen Neyland
June 7, 2007 11:46 PM | Link to this
College Football…Is there really another game out there worth the effort for our degenerating and disappearing brain cells..? NO…The SEC East is gonna be a scary place to be this year. I’ve read on these blog pages what the Dawgs have coming in. Talk of depth in critical areas, experience. I believe ya’ll may be the cream of the crop, BUT, ya gotta play the game and the rest of the East will be hungry as well. There will be revenge to seek, payback to extract, but not just for the Dawgs… As a Tennessee Vol, I want nothing more than another undeFEATed season but it ain’t gonna be. Revenge against us will be had. If we finish 3rd in the East, I will consider that a positive. BEWARE COACH STEVE…I see UT with a Senior QB grooming the troops for a young Crompton. For us, I believe we’re two years away from an SEC title opportunity. Yet, if one presents itself earlier than that, by golly, I’d take it…As Tiny Tim said in Dickens’, A Christmas Carol, ‘God bless us, one and all, and may UGA beat Florida’…
By Ashley
June 8, 2007 6:46 AM | Link to this
Chip, You listed Alan Matthews as Alan Mitchell a couple of times early on, no big deal just letting you know.
Georgia will not lose Troupe, butthey will lose a baseball signee…Ben Revere (Lexington, KY) was taken in the 1st round (28th overall). He is blazing fast, 6.28 in the 60. He also hit .483 over 4 varsity seasons. He also helped lead Lexington Catholic to the KY State FootballTitle as well. Yuo may remember his brother J.R. Revere, he QB’d Ga. Southern to a National Title in 2000, and was also outstanding for their baseball team.
Ashley
By gdawginkalamazoo
June 8, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
Buck, glad you found it. I would have posted the link but ran out of time. I thought it was very interesting and should help to keep the athletes on the straight and narrow somewhat.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 8, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this
Kalamazoo, I’m glad you do because I have no idea as to how to post a link the you guys can just click on and go to the article. That’s why this week, on the column about punishment in the Macon.com, all I could do was list the newspapers name. Maybe one day I’ll learn how to. I told and read that article to my Reptile relative and he’s quits amazed at the punishment for players at Ga. and he’s no spare the rod type believe me.
By tom johnson
June 8, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this
Thank you so much for this excellent inside information. This is what we can get virtually nowhere else except for Mr. Ching. GREAT JOB! KEEP IT COMING. Dr. Thomas Johnson Class of ‘74
By tom johnson
June 8, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this
Thank you so much for this excellent inside information. This is what we can get virtually nowhere else except for Mr. Ching. GREAT JOB! KEEP IT COMING. Dr. Thomas Johnson Class of ‘74
By S Turn
June 8, 2007 4:24 PM | Link to this
Troupe drafted by the Rockies with pick number 942 in the 32nd round. I think we are safe.
By SamoanDawg
June 8, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this
Gen Neyland,
I hear ya brah… I know we have to let all the talks play on the field. By no imagination, the east ain’t no (double neg) cake walk in the park. Everybody knows that. We have USC to deal with first. That ain’t going to be easy game. Vols always going to be tough… hopefully we’ll be able to turn the volume down early in K-town. Gators… we can’t seem to get over the hump… that could change this season. We definitely can’t take Vandy/Kentucky lightly anymore. Losing to them in the same season was painful for me. I believed we learned our lesson from the losses last season… 1 - 5.
That being said, we’re or I am excited about the new season and the team we have now. QB got some good solid games under his belt. Skill players are emerging quite handsomely. Then our linemen, its prolly the deepest since I don’t know when. It could be our best team since the Dooley day, if we manage to stay healthy throughout the sec… brutal.
84 mo’ brutal days!
By I-DOG
June 9, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this
Recruiting:
I don’t see how we can have enough ‘ships to sign 25 in Feb. By my count, we have 17 available if everyone comes back/makes it in.
Even if Knox and Cuff don’t get in next year, we would still need two scholarships for them for 08 so that doesn’t clear any room.
I’m assuming that Smith and Hebron will come back and if one doesn’t come back, that would free up one slot.
There is always attrition, so I could see us signing 19 or 20, but I don’t see how we get to 25.
By A-Ville Ranger
June 9, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
Chip—- If it’s true we only have 17 to 19 scholarships to give out this year. I see some high caliber players we may not have room for.Can you give us the strait dope on this ?
By I-DOG
June 9, 2007 4:09 PM | Link to this
Recruiting continued:
Amazing job by the UGA staff. Last year some grumbled that we weren’t ranked in the top 10 with the 07 recruiting class. I would agree that it was not spectacular, but solid. With the emphasis on lineman, it isn’t as exciting to the folks who do the rankings and UGA did miss out on the CB that went to TN and Bailey the big DE. Both in state prospects where UGA has dominated under Richt in other years.
This year UGA is back on track to have a top 10 and possibly a top 5 class.
Lets assume we have 6 scholarships left since we have committments from 14 already.
Who do you we give those final 6 precious slots to?
My vote would be to stay patient and hold out for the best of the best. Here are some of the top players interested in the DAWGS:
1.) Ettiene Sabino LB Miami- 4 star player who boasts an SAT just under 1200 and will likely enroll early for Spring ball. Considering offers from UGA, Miami, FL, USC, Notre Dame, tech, and others. Considerd the 40th best player in nation at any position.
2.) AJ Harmon OL Louisville, GA - 4 star player that many believe is a duel between Clemson and UGA. Huge lineman already over 320 lbs before Senior year of HS. Considered the #62 player at any position by Scout.com Offers from FL, Auburn, TN among others.
3.) Jamoris Slaughter SAF Tucker - 4 star player that has speed. Has offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, and Alabama among others.
4.) Matt Patchan - OL Seffner, FL - 5 star player. Considered the 11th best player at any position by scout.com and the 3rd best offensive line prospect. 6’ 7” but only 265 lbs. Said to posess unique athletic ability with a frame to put plenty of weight on at the next level.
5.) Tyler Love - OL Mountain brook AL -4 star player with offers from LSU, Nebraska (who has already signed the nations top OL class for 08)USC and Florida State among others.
6.) Josh Jarboe - WR Ellenwood, GA - raw fast receiver with plenty of size. Offers from Ohio State, FL, and TN among others.
7.) Brandon Seasay - DE Atlanta via JUCO - Signed with UGA in 06 and is now being offered by everyone… FL, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, and Texas among others. Some on this board have written that UGA is considering him at LB. A 6’ 6” Linebacker?
8.) BJ Brand - OL Douglas, GA - A 3 star player that had previously committed to the Dawgs early and then decided to look around. Said to be favoring FL and UGA at this point, has offers from most of the schools in the South. Another 320 LB plus lineman.
9.) Dontavious Jackson - RB Franklin,GA - Rated 3 stars and has offers from FL, AL, and tech. Not the biggest of fastest player available but at 5’ 10 200 lbs and a 4.5 40 time, has the tools to contribute.
10.) Elton Ford - LB, Lithonia, GA - not yet ranked in the stars sytem, but at 6’ 200 LBS and running a reported sub 4.5 40, if he has a good senior year that will change quickly. Does not appear to have offers from the big schools yet including UGA. Academics or charachter in question? If the character checks out OK, believe it is worth taking a chance on him even if he needs to go the JUCO route.
If we can get any 6 of these 10, we will have signed a bumper crop class. Maybe the best of Richt’s tenure.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 9, 2007 7:24 PM | Link to this
I-Dog, CMR needs to visit So. Carolina. With SOS siging the QB, I do believe that together they’ll try to swing Green to Columbia.
By godawg
June 9, 2007 8:38 PM | Link to this
I think you’re right NW… leave it to the Evil Genius to recruit his HS QB and then use him to subvert Green to the Dark Side during his senior season. Someone needs to show him the “Light”…He’ll NEVER win an NC ring at SC…;-)
By I-DOG
June 9, 2007 10:03 PM | Link to this
Chip:
Now that sir, is an article!
Great off season article about Rennie Curran and the overall situation at LB.
By SamoanDawg
June 9, 2007 10:20 PM | Link to this
I-DOG, we need to add Ben Jones in that list. He’s an underrated o-line from Alabama. Very quick feet and good balance. He dominated AJ Harmon and others at the scout.com camp at Tech. I heard he’s hoping for Georgia to offer.
By SamoanDawg
June 9, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this
Take it easy guys, AJ Green ain’t going no where. I read somewhere Stafford made a comment to him, that he’s looking forward to throw to him and win some championships… not exact words, but close to it. Evil Genius can wave his magic wand all he wants, but he ain’t persuading Green over. Besides, I think Green rather play with a QB who is already at a higher caliber level. I know I would. No worries brah…
By Cuz
June 10, 2007 12:49 AM | Link to this
You right Samoan, Don’t worry, be happy. 82 days now.
Plan and play for the first two, everything else takes care of itself. If we lose either one of those, the rest of the season is out of our hands. We win both, we are the driver and everyone else better get out of the way cause I got the peddle to the floor and the rear view mirror torn off.
By MadMerf
June 10, 2007 2:34 AM | Link to this
I didn’t think Troupe would go any higher than the 10th round, but 31st?!! Man, that’s a slap in the face. This “issue” has brought unnecessary attention to the young man leading to embarassment. Not to worry though, he’ll more than make up for it by catching lasers ‘tween the hedges. He should also make some noise for the Diamond Dawgs.
By BuLLdawg
June 10, 2007 4:23 AM | Link to this
.
.
Baseball is NOT the ACC’s strength.
And, it does not have to be Troupe’s or any other major league’s players’ strength because there are 50,000 fans at 162 games a year - so, they have MORE MONEY to get kids with than any other sport.
Which is what they continue to do dimwit.
We hear it all the time.
Every sport.
The ACC Claims to Be the Best Conference in every sport.
By BuLLdawg
June 10, 2007 4:25 AM | Link to this
In Football the year before last, when all the Big East Recruits were Seniors (Boston College, Miami of Florida and Virginia Tech), the ACC Claimed to be the Best Football Conference. The ACC claimed that more ACC recruits were being drafted than The Mighty SEC had that 1 year. (But, those players were not recruited by the ACC and did not compete in their careers against even the ACC.) There were exactly 5 SEC teams in the Final AP Poll Top 14 and 1 lonely ACC Football team in the Top 16 by direct comparison. The ACC made no such claims past this time last year, as the ACC highest ranked Football team was not even in the top 17 teams in the Final AP Poll and the ACC had only 3 ranked teams at all compared once again directly thereto The SEC having 6 Ranked Teams in the Final AP Poll in Football again this past season.
http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/pastAPPolls.htm
Now, we hear all this crap on TV daily (And, here in HotLanta from the AJC.) that the ACC is the Best Baseball Conference this year.
Well ?
How does this stack up ?
First, let me say that you cannot be the Best Baseball Conference when Four (4) of your Conference’s Baseball Teams are Four (4) of the Worst Baseball Teams in the history of the game :
102 Duke 114 Virginia Tech 122 Boston College 133 MarylandBy BuLLdawg
June 10, 2007 4:27 AM | Link to this
http://www.boydsworld.com/baseball/isr/currentisr.html Updated through June 9 NCAA Baseball SOS.
Note the geography of the ACC’s northernmost baseball teams ?
The ACC is too spread out and now complains to the NCAA that too much time is spent traveling to The North where all these [b] lousy ACC baseball teams are located. [/b]
I tried to point out that this would be the case that these teams that joined from the Big East were Neither Basketball Programs nor Baseball Programs.
Now, we see the fruition of this clearly lousy conference in these sports.
So, they put Seven (7) ACC teams in the NCAA Tournament because they played soft strength of schedules in the entire ACC.
[b] There is one team left and frankly it should have lost to South Carolina, and I think still will. [/b]
We were sitting around talking about this yesterday. And, I wanted to do the research for you.
While there is not one ACC team in the Top 50 of the NCAA Strength of Schedule in Baseball, there are by direct comparison Nine (9) SEC teams in the Top 50 toughest Strength of Schedules.
There are 4 ACC teams far worse than any conference’s worst 4 baseball teams this season, and 6 of the 7 ACC baseball teams are already out of the NCAA Baseball Tournament.
3 SEC teams survive by direct comparison.
The SEC is 5-1 vs. the ACC in head-to-head games in NCAA Tournament play.
http://www.ncaasports.com/baseball/mens/brackets/viewable/special64/2007/DI
The SEC has more of the higher Ranked Teams, more teams remaining in the NCAA Baseball Tournament, more success in the College World Series and will once again, prove that The SEC is The Best Conference.
In this sport.
.
.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 10, 2007 7:50 AM | Link to this
cuz, are we in an “ECHO” chamber?
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 10, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this
two more Dawgs in trouble. Blake Barnes and Tripp Chandler arrested for open container.
By buLLcrap
June 10, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
is UG playing baseball still?
Poor buLL, he is sooo tore up about UG not being good enough that he just lashes out at others….typical dumb dog.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 10, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
News papers must not have very many contacts in the local or campus police Depts. How did Rivals get this story so quick? On the ball reporting.
By SamoanDawg
June 10, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this
Dadgumit Buck, what the hell man. These kids ever going to learn from their teammates mistakes? Sorry brah.. I don’t really mean to lash out at ya, but I doggone it. These kids are knuckleheads. I love’em to death but they keep on making mistakes one after the other. Are the popos(cops) specifically targeting the football players? They need to go and patrol Wal Mart, they’re on the news all the time for somebody getting harrassed. C’mon man, why can’t they just give’em a warning for an open container? And why is Blake’s bond higher than Tripp? Did he have two open containers? Well, I’m ticked off. I guess Trip is looking at 2 game suspension. Man that hurts! We needed Trip for the first two games. Blake is falling farther down on the depth chart. Oh my, 82 mo’ days… doggone it! I’m pegging you boys to please behave yourselves for the rest of the summer.
By reality check
June 10, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
An open container violation typically doesn’t result in an arrest. Usually there is a ticket and the people go on about their business. It isn’t like DUI. It doesn’t result in loss of license. Usually people just mail in their fine and don’t even go to court.
There must have been some other charge involved…under age drinking again perhaps?
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 10, 2007 2:23 PM | Link to this
SomoanDawg, Barnes bail was higher because Tripps a minor and he was charged with giving “Firewater” to a minor.
By I-DOG
June 10, 2007 3:31 PM | Link to this
SamoanDawg:
Sounds like Ben Jones is a player to watch
By I-DOG
June 10, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
UGA’s/Clarke Counties alcohol policy may be the downfall of UGA football.
Four players within 12 months have been arrested for various alcohol infractions that included no other event or crime (unless you count Hebron’s yelling at a bouncer to be an event).
Chip and others on this board have implied that you really have to “do something stupid” to be arrested in Athens with alcohol. This most recent event with Barnes and Chandler unfortunately proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is not true. They were caught with open containers IN THE OFF SEASON, WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT, ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS.
They weren’t acting foolish, hurting anyone, or even bothering any other citizens by all accounts. They simply had full cups in their hands.
My guess is we will lose our starting tight end for at least the OK State and South Carolina games. We are VERY VERY fortunate that the other player isn’t someone that will likely play a down this year for the Dawgs.
This will hurt UGA’s program in two ways:
1.) UGA WILL LOSE MORE PLAYERS TO SUSPENSION THAN ANY OF OUR COMPETITORS. We have already lost 3 players who were either starters or counted on to be contributers on the the two deep for a total of approx. 25 total games based only on being caught drinking. How many more? Will it cost us a game, two? What if a guy actually does something bad?
2.) IT WILL EVENTUALLY HURT RECRUITING. While it hasn’t hurt recruiting YET. Unfortunately it will… Auburn, tech, Florida, TN, and Clemson will all learn how to use this against us to win the recruiting battles on the close ones. Why wouldn’t they?
Before you say “thats ok, we only want high character players, think to yourself what exactly do you mean? A huge percentage of students and college football players plan to drink in college. It doesn’t make them “bad people”. For a very small percentage, alc is a problem and something they can’t handle. For the vast majority, it isn’t. I don’t consider this a character issue.
We are in danger of becoming the Air Force Academy football program. Air force does an incredible job attempting to compete in college football, but they have one hand tied behind their back because they are recruiting a VERY small slice of the overall population. Most guys don’t want to go to an atmosphere where after working so hard at football and on their books, they can’t have fun. There are rare exceptions and they are impressive people.
UGA might be drawing from a much smaller pool of players in the years to come. I fear there are only so many David Pollack’s out there.
By I-DOG
June 10, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this
Reality Check:
You are thinking in terms of Athens circa pre 2006 and you are right, it WOULD HAVE taken more than walking down the street with a brew.
Ask yourself “why is UGA the only Div 1 program in the nation with a single player missing game time for an alc related violation?” Have you ever heard of a player at another school where this has happened? I haven’t. If I’m wrong, please someone reference the case where it happened.
Now, ask yourself, how FOUR UGA football players were suspended in four completely seperate incidents in a single 9 month period … including 3 where no other “problem” of any kind took place, and admit to yourself that something has changed in Athens since you were attending UGA.
If I were Spurrier, I would sit in AJ Greene’s living room and say the following (trying to use Spurrier’s personality):
AJ, your a heckuva a player, great future, sky’s the limit kid. UGA is a great program and Athens is a wonderful place, well… I guess it used to be. (show clippings from each arrest mounted on seperate pages show them one by one for effect) you better be careful if your going up to ole Athens and you get caught with a beer in your hand. I mean, don’t even let your girlfriend hand you her beer while she checks her lipstick, man. Your career could be over like that!
If you get caught in Dawgtown your going to be on double secret probation, be suspended half a season and your name is going to be in all the papers. That isn’t gong to exactly help your draft status NFL draft status kid.
I mean you could be going in the top 5 overall in a coupla years man.. I’d hate to hear ole Mel Kiper harping about your character on ESPN as the GM’s are passing on you while you sit there watching all those other names called on draft day.
We don’t want you getting in any trouble in Columbia either. We expect you to study hard and work hard and be the best player and student you can be AJ. If you get caught with a beer, I am going to run your butt til you drop, but dangummit AJ we aren’t going to hurt your career!
But… if you really want to go to UGA, then we will just give your scholarship to another guy, I’d hate to see your career hurt like that.
Gailey will have a pitch like this for Josh Jarboe, Meyer will have one for BJ Brand, and Bowden will have one for AJ Harmon to get him to come to Clemson. They would all be telling the truth, just spinning it their way.
As more and more UGA players get suspended and make the papers for having a cup of beer, this will become more and more of an issue and sadly hurt the wonderful program that Richt has built.
By I-DOG
June 10, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this
if you google college football players suspended for alcohol you will see that none of the articles involve any players that weren’t arrested or suspended for something MUCH more serious than these “cases’ at UGA.
The first article is about a domestic abuse and assualt charge against the captain of the Harvard football team. It sounds like he will get a similar fate as Ian Smith and Akeem Hebron (kicked off team for a season), altough the Harvard players alleged actions were 100 times worse.
Two other players got in an altercation (read fight) with a shuttle driver while the players were drinking. They were suspended for a single game at “football factory” Harvard.
The third article details a Florida player who failed two drug tests and the players mother was quoted as saying it might carry a possible 5 game suspension.
LOS ANGELES — USC safety Josh Pinkard was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of driving under the influence, coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday.
Carroll planned to speak with Pinkard, a 21-year-old junior, either Tuesday evening or Wednesday.
“We’re looking into it, and we’ll find out the details,” Carroll said. “As usual, we’ll handle it internally. We take this seriously, and we want to make sure we understand all of the circumstances.”
The closest thing I can find to a football player being suspended were the two Harvard players who got into an altercation with their shuttle van driver and were suspended for a single game.
I’m still looking for an article about a Div 1A player from a non-Ivy league school.
By Big Dawg
June 10, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this
A-Ville Ranger
Chip—- If it’s true we only have 17 to 19 scholarships to give out this year. I see some high caliber players we may not have room for.Can you give us the strait dope on this ?
We will actually have up to 19 Scholarships available as we only have 84 on Scholarship now which includes knox and cuff and with 18 seniors if they all graduate that gives us 19. Plus if any Juniors leave early then we would have a few more available. I hope this helps in easing your mind.
By A-Ville Ranger
June 10, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this
Man these guys keep getting cought for dws(drinking while stupid)Barnes may be finished,supplying alcohol to minors is more serious than under age drinking.It’s just a sad, dumb waste.
By Chip Towers
June 10, 2007 11:40 PM | Link to this
Big Dawg, the straight dope is this — you never know exactly how many scholarships you’ll have from year to year. You may have a general idea, but the number moves most every semester. Some guys graduate early, some flunk out, some turn pro, some get kicked out, some give up football due to injuries, etc. So you sign 25 every year because that’s the max number the NCAA allows you. If you end up with one or two more or less, you adjust where you have to. That’s why they’re one-year renewables. Now the actual max is 85 for any one year. So you merely subtract the number of graduating scholarship seniors from this year’s total going in and that’s how many you can actually bring in. What Georgia will do and how it will do it, I have no idea. Not in June.
By SamoanDawg
June 11, 2007 12:26 AM | Link to this
Great article on Rennie Curran by the way. Just reading it, makes my achy bones chill. Makes me wanna strap it up again and get after it. I missed those days. I’m glad we got this young man. He definitely has a good head over his shoulders. I love his enthusiams and his character speaks volume. Great youn man, need more guys like Rennie.
By buLLcrap
June 11, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this
buLL…how many sec teams still playing
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 11, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
Firmly believe that this mandatory punishment has gotten out of hand but it makes Adams think he;s a trend setter and unless someone withsome clout steps up, it will hurt in recruiting. I’m not talking about throwing all the rules out the window.
By I-DOG
June 11, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
A-ville:
“supplying alcohol to minors is more serious than underage drinking.”
While this is technically true in that the fine is larger… I have to disagree that it is serious in any way shape or form. What Ian Smith and Hebron did the 2nd time was dumb. I have to agree with you there. I can’t say the same about these two players.
What really happened? A 21 year old teamate, bought a 20 year old teamate a beer. What percentage of college students accross the country over the past 50 years have not committed these crimes. 1% 2%?
By gdawginkalamazoo
June 11, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this
I-Dog, I don’t know who purchased all of my alcohol in Athens. It just magically appeared in the fridge or in the liquor closet. Probably some leprechaun named Smirnoff and his friend Jim Beam.
By gdawginkalamazoo
June 11, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
I-Dog, let’s take a look see at the flip side of your arguement regarding recruiting. All CMR has to do is say “Look come to Athens stay clean and sober and with luck some dumb SOB in front of you will probably get arrested for drinking and get suspended for a few games. This will allow you to step up and become a playmaker. SC, UF, UT, Bama and some of those other schools that you are looking at? They won’t suspend anybody. You’ll be waiting a lot longer to play.” Just a thought I-Dog , devil’s advocate?
By Dawg4life
June 11, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
Why are people blaming the alcohol policy for these suspensions. Who cares if the rest of the SEC doesn’t follow suit with suspending their athletes who break the law? So what? The fault is with the players who keep acting like knuckleheads and getting into trouble. From what I’ve read of these most-recent arrests, Barnes and Chandler were both walking down the street (either Lumpkin or Milledge) with open beer bottles in their hands (I don’t know if they were in the process of drinking or not). If that’s the truth, then that’s just plain stupid. We all know that it’s illegal in Georgia to do something so stupid. This isn’t New Orleans. So let’s stop blaming UGA for having such a tough policy. I like to drink as much as the next man (and I liked to do it even more when I was at UGA in school), but at least when I was drinking underage, I didn’t do some of the stupid stuff these guys are doing. If you’re gonna do it, why not do it in the privacy of your own home, or if you’re out downtown, don’t walk around with an open bottle in your hand. Throw the bottle away and just walk home!!