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 > 20
Monday, August 20, 2007
OSU game reminds of Boise St. in ‘05
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As you can see from the countdown clock on our UGA page, Georgia’s season opener against Oklahoma State is bearing down on us like a 757 on a Hartsfield runway. I know for many of you that’s a fun and possibly the most exciting time of the year. It is as well for those of us that cover college football for a living.
At this point, we’re all tired of writing about what might happen and what needs to happen and who’s hurt and who moved up or down on the depth. The season’s arrival means we can write about what did actually happen and why and what it means and profile the people and coaches that had something to with it. So refreshing!
Anyway, as the first game draws ever closer, things are slowly but surely coming into focus for me. I’m not ready to say what I think Georgia is going to do this year and I may NOT divulge that before the season starts. But I will share some of the thoughts I’m having as we get well inside that two-week mark.
First of all, I’m intrigued by the parallels I’m seeing between this year’s opener against Oklahoma State and the one against Boise State in 2005. As for the Cowboys, there’s no question they are a very good and very dangerous football team. They’re one of those squads that you’re catching at the absolute worst time because they’re peaking in terms where they will be this season with regard to their place in the college football national hierarchy (please, no Stewart Mandel references here).
That said, just like Boise State in 2005, they’ve already become the vogue pick for the “upset special” by those lemmings known as the national media. And there is not a whole lot of precedent to base that on. A quick glance at the OSU media guide reveals Cowboys are 3-8 on the road under coach Mike Gandy. The three wins were at Florida Atlantic, Arkansas State and Kansas. In that same span they’re 0-8 on the road against Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Iowa, Houston and Baylor by the combined score of 323-167.
Like in 2005, when the Broncos were a 6.5-point underdog, the Cowboys presently are getting seven points. “Load up on the Pokes,” the gambling gurus cry. “Easy money,” they say. I’ll tell you this: Such a trend has not escaped the attention of the Bulldogs, who have been wearing “Beat Oklahoma State” t-shirts since January and have that phrase plastered on every wprk station in the weightroom.
Granted, this particular Okie State team is supposed to be “special.” It features one of just two offenses in the nation that averaged more than 200 yards in both passing and rushing last season. But that Boise State squad was supposed to be special, too, and it went back to Idaho on the short end of a 48-13 reality check. Boise turned out to be quite special in 2006 but I’m still not sure how those Broncos would have held up in early September in Sanford Stadium in front of 93,000 strong Jonesing for some football and an adrenalin-rushed bunch of former national blue-chip recruits dying to prove that they belong and that they’re worthy of their successors.
Now that’s not a prediction. Just food for thought. I know Georgia is weak where they are strong and vice-versa and, from my perch, I’m fired up about covering what should be an exciting shootout between non-traditional, non-conference opponents. I’m looking forward to reporting what actually happens and how and what it means to the rest of the season. I can tell you this: With this young Georgia squad, the outcome will mean a ton.
But that’s just me. What do y’all think?
P.S. Practice updates coming later.
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