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 > December > 18
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Moreno lived up to lofty billing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m not going to say I told you so because, the truth is, just about everybody was talking about Knowshon Moreno even before the season started. But what also is true is that nobody really knew for sure what Georgia had in Moreno until he was unleashed during the regular season.
I found it very intriguing when, as I was doing some research for another story I’m working on for our Sugar Bowl coverage, I stumbled across the story wrote on Moreno that ran the day before Georgia’s season opener against Oklahoma State. The excitement about Moreno was palpable even then. Of course, he was the leading rusher against the Cowboys — a relatively modest 70 yards on 20 carries not including long run off a screen pass — but we still couldn’t be sure Moreno would turn out the dynamic tailback he eventually was.
Anyway I thought I’d share that story with you guys again here today because I found it particularly revealing knowing what we know now — 1,273 rushing yards and several freshman All-America honors later. If you don’t feel like reading the whole thing again, just skip on down to the comments section.
Meanwhile, for the sake of discussion, let’s hear your theories on the maturation of Knowshon Moreno. Lest we forget, if not for the injuries to Kregg Lumpkin and Thomas Brown, Moreno may not have gotten the opportunity to prove himself to the extent that he eventually did.
So do you think he would have eventually surpassed Brown and Lumpkin anyway? Do any of you think Moreno suffered some from overuse as the end of the season approached (remember his struggles in the Georgia Tech game)? And, on that note, Lumpkin is coming back for the Sugar Bowl. Should the Dogs jump right back into an equitable three-back rotation between him and Brown and Moreno?
Let’s hear your thoughts on that and other theories you might have. In the meantime, for your reminiscing pleasure, here’s that story on Moreno that ran on Aug. 31:
Back with a ‘Wow’ factor
Raves for Moreno: Though he hasn’t yet carried in a game, his running has seized the attention of teammates and coaches.
CHIP TOWERS / Staff ctowers@ajc.com
Athens —- It seems everybody around Athens has a Knowshon Moreno story. Georgia players and coaches like to tell one in particular.
“I think it was the spring of last year, ” quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “I threw a little screen to him, or a pitchout wide or something like that, and he ended up one-on-one with one of our corners. Knowshon broke him down with a little juke move and then jumped straight over him and kept running.
“Never broke stride. Took it to the house.”
The cornerback’s identity was withheld by teammates to protect his dignity.
“Several times in practice he’ll make a cut here or a cut there or jump over somebody or run somebody over, ” fellow running back Kregg Lumpkin said. “You never know what he’s going to do.”
Even running backs coach Tony Ball, who has tried to steer clear of the hype surrounding the former New Jersey high school player of the year, is hard-pressed to quell his excitement.
“He’s always doing things that make you go, ‘Wow, ’ ” Ball said. “The thing that got my attention was the other day when we were working on conditioning.
“He was coming back from one of his reps and, all of a sudden, he does a one-hand cartwheel and finishes it with a somersault. It was like over my head. With pads on. Now that was impressive.”
But lost in all the buzz that has surrounded Moreno since he arrived in Athens last summer is the fact that he still hasn’t played in a game for the Bulldogs. Buried on the depth chart behind Lumpkin, Thomas Brown and Danny Ware, he redshirted as a freshman last season.
All that will finally change Saturday when Moreno suits up for Georgia in its season opener against Oklahoma State.
He remains behind Brown and Lumpkin but, as Ball said enthusiastically, “Oh, yeah, he’s gonna play.”
Brims with confidence on field
Coaches and teammates describe Moreno’s on-field demeanor as confident, almost cocky. They say he’s even a bit of a trash talker.
“On the field, you might say he’s arrogant, ” Ball said. “Really, he’s not. He’s just a confident athlete. When he first got here, because of his upbeat attitude and his energy and his confidence, some of the guys were rubbed the wrong way. But that’s the kind of personality that he has.”
But when it comes to talking about himself, Moreno is as humble as a monk.
“I’m just going out there and working hard every day, trying to do whatever I can to help the team, ” he said.
As for remaining behind Brown and Lumpkin on the depth chart, Moreno said, “They’re extremely hard workers. Whoever is the best guy is going to play. Whoever is preparing right, whoever’s doing what they have to do during practice, that’s who plays and that’s up to the coaches.”
Moreno grew up in Belford, N.J., a little hamlet just across Raritan Bay from New York. He was raised by his grandparents, Mildred and William McQueen. Mildred —- aka “Granny” —- is a retired contract worker for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and she ran a tight ship based on punctuality, respect and education.
“I guess you could say he was a typical suburban kid, ” she said. “We just tried to give him a suitable home and the love and financial support he needed to excel in all his endeavors.”
Moreno’s initial endeavors included art and school plays. Finally, at age 12, Moreno’s mother let him go out for football.
“I remember going to his first Pop Warner game, ” Mildred McQueen said. “He had what I thought was a pretty good game for his first one. But his team lost and he didn’t like that at all. I just remember him being so upset. That’s when I first realized how competitive he was.”
Liked Georgia’s tailback tradition
Moreno didn’t lose a lot after that. By the time he left Middletown South High, he’d scored a state-record 128 touchdowns, racked up the second-most rushing yards in New Jersey history (6,268) and led his team to three state titles.
Georgia, which had Moreno in its camp the summer before his senior season, beat out Boston College, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech and others for his services.
Moreno liked the Bulldogs’ winning tradition, their history of top tailbacks and playing in the SEC. He knew that others would be ahead of him in the backfield but he didn’t mind the competition —- or redshirting.
“He concentrated on his schoolwork and tried to do everything his coaches asked him to do, ” his grandmother said. “He definitely wasn’t angry about it.”
Moreno’s mother, Varashon, his high school coach, Steve Antonucci, and McQueen will be in attendance Saturday, when Moreno could play a big role.
“I couldn’t give you a number, but if he’s making plays and gets into a flow and he’s making things happen, then we’re gonna keep him going, ” Ball said.
Coach Mark Richt preaches cautious optimism.
“What if he goes in there and the first time he gets hit —- really gets hit —- the ball goes flying up in the air?” the coach asked. “I’m not saying he’s a fumbler, but we don’t know. Let’s just give him the ball first and see what he can do.”
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