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 > August > 10
Friday, August 10, 2007
Georgia program top-tier by any measure
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, I tried to resist but I just can’t anymore. CNN/SI’s Stewart Mandel came out this week with a “formula,” using Georgia as its basis, in which he ranks football programs by prestige. By his measure, he places the Bulldogs in the second tier, not top-tier. Now I’m not going to debate his determinations because, well, it’s his opinion and opinions are like, um, elbows. You know, everybody has a couple. And believe me, I’m just a beat guy. I’m not a Georgia homer by any stretch of the imagination. But I do know a LOT about Georgia and the facts just don’t back up Mandel’s findings, in my opinion.
I’ll offer just a few I know off the top of the head (and from just inside the Georgia media guide) that I believe contradict Mandel’s logic.
I: History
A: Georgia is 11th all time in victories and is one of only 11 to have recorded more than 700 victories in the program’s history.
B: There are only five teams in the nation that have been to more bowls than the Bulldogs: Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Southern Cal and Nebraska.
C: Georgia officially lists only two national championships, 1942 and 1980, it was the consensus champion. But it could claim five, as Alabama and Georgia Tech do, in which recognized polls of the day named them national champions.
D: As for all-time SEC championships, it goes, Alabama (21), Tennessee (13), then Georgia (12).
E: Granted, the Dogs haven’t won a national title in 27 years. But they have been winning big and been in the mix since Mark Richt has been the head coach. He’s one of only nine Div. I coaches in history to record 60 or more wins in his first six seasons.
II: Present
A: Richt is one of only four SEC coaches to record four consecutive seasons of at least 10 wins.
B: Richt is No. 4 on the list of winningest active D-I coaches. 1, 2 and 3 are Pete Carroll, Urban Meyer (which includes stints at Bowling Green and Utah) and Bob Stoops.
C: Georgia has, of course, been in three SEC championships in the last six years, winning two of them.
III: Recognizability
A: Two years ago, Georgia ranked No. 3 in the nation in sales of Collegiate Licensed merchandise. It’s No. 5 this year, with Texas, Michigan, Notre Dame and, for the first time in history, Florida, ahead of Georgia (the Gators have gotten a big boost from those football and basketball national titles). That means there’s a lot people buying stuff with “Georgia” on it.
B: Georgia was the most profitable athletic program in the country two years ago. It was No. 2 this past year.
C: According to marketing czar Alan Thomas, Georgia has been in the top five each of the last five years, including No. 1 and No. 2 in consecutive years, in fastest-growing licensing rights. Texas is at the top at the moment.
D: The ultimate say-so: EA Sports, which makes all those video games, categorizes Georgia football as “elite.”
So anyway, there’s some fodder I’d offer if I was arguing with Mandel about this over a beer at a bar. But I’m not going to do that. So let’s hear what you guys think about it.
Practice updates coming later.
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