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
December 2007
Hawaii appears to have emotional edge
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Happy New Year from the Big Easy! Well, almost. I was in the French Quarter last night and it’s hard to imagine the way people were partying down there that they’d have much left for the actual New Year’s Eve celebration tonight.
That was one observation I made. Another is that there are a LOT of Hawaii fans here. It’s going to be interesting to see exactly how many when everybody pours into the Superdome for tomorrow night’s Sugar Bowl matchup between the Warriors (12-0) and Georgia (10-2). I’ve heard estimates ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 and coach June Jones said 35,000. I’m inclined to think it has to be on the low side of that scale but we’ll see.
Conversely, there are plenty of Georgia fans here but it doesn’t appear to me that there’s as many as I’m accustomed to seeing for a Sugar Bowl. Perhaps it’s because of the BCS Championship Game snub or maybe it is because the Bulldogs have played in this bowl in three of the last six years. Whatever it is, there just doesn’t seem to be the excitement and electricity one usually feels from the fans for a major BCS bowl.
And like I said, Hawaii folks are going bonkers over this. That were certainly in a celebratory mood down in the Quarter. I read in one of the Honolulu papers that the undefeated Warriors playing in the Sugar Bowl is the biggest thing for Hawaii since it was granted statehood.
On a related note, I heard last night that Georgia was trying to organize its “Dawg Walk” before the Sugar Bowl but was unable to because of logistical and security issues.
So heading into tomorrow’s game, I’d say Hawaii has a big edge in the intangible department when it comes to emotion. Maybe I’ll be proved wrong when we get closer to kickoff but that’s the vibe I’m getting right now.
Do y’all think that will make a difference? Can Georgia still win if it’s not as emotionally invested as the visitors? Do you think the fans will rally?
Meanwhile, the news hasn’t been great for the Dogs on the injury front. Georgia has been real vague about it but linebacker Dannell Ellerbe clearly does not feel well and we just found out he’s been battling an Achilles tendon problem, too. Meanwhile, fellow linebacker Marcus Washington is still not fully recovered from an ankle injury and Knowshon Moreno has a heavily-taped ankle, though he insists he’s 100 percent. That’s not good considering the track meet they’re about to enter against Hawaii.
That’s all I’ve got for now. Coach Richt has a press conference at 2:30 ET followed by June Jones at 3 p.m. So I’ll let you know here if anything interesting comes out of that. Let me know if you have any burning questions in the meantime.
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Should Dogs stick with Munson in ‘08?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By now I’m certain word has reverberated from New Orleans to Atlanta and back and forth throughout the Bulldog Nation that Larry Munson is not going to call the Sugar Bowl after all. Too bad. This would have been No. 6 for the legendary voice of the Georgia Bulldogs.
In our conversation on the subject a couple of weeks ago Larry told me how excited he was about going back to New Orleans and how much he was looking forward to the game, which he anticipated to be a wild one. It was as optimistic as I’ve heard Larry in a while.
Team and radio station officials who made statements about Larry’s decision to pull out were careful to say that “nothing medical” had come up, only that Larry had a “change of heart.” But I think all of us who know Larry and have followed him closely over the years know that Larry would be there if he felt like he could. He is 85 years old, after all, and suffers from arthritis and stenosis of the spine and that can be very difficult for people half Larry’s age.
As he just told me a few minutes ago, “Yeah, it’s a little bit of a surprise. I was all set to go and have been for some time. But it’s obvious there still are some health issues and one of them showed up the other day pretty big. So I decided I better hold off. In the final analysis that’s what the doctors wanted, too.”
The obvious follow to this, and I alluded to it in my initial news report, is how much longer Larry will continue to be the voice of the Bulldogs. Larry told me he’d like to do the home-games-only thing that he did this past season again next year but he said he wasn’t sure if Damon Evans and the power-that-be would still want him to.
So let’s hear from you, the most fervent of the Bulldogs’ followers. Is that something you’d like to see Larry do, continue calling Georgia home games? Should the Dogs stick with Munson as long as Munson wants to do it? Or is there any part of you that thinks they should move on to the next chapter in their broadcast history?
And if and when Georgia does move on, did you like what you heard from Scott Howard enough to know that he’s who you’d like to see follow Munson? If not Howard, then whom?
Thanks. Next blog will be from New Orleans. Aloha!
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A different breed of Dog for this fight
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Greetings! Mele Kalikimaka and Hau’oli Makahiki Hou! That means Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in Hawaiian. That is at least according to my new friend Teddy Williams of Honolulu, one of our readers who has been keeping me on my toes about all things Hawaii.
Sorry I’ve been away for a while. Like most of you I was spending some much-needed time with my family for Christmas. But I’m back now and you can expect daily updates at least through the bowl game.
As for Hawaii, let me tell you, these folks are fired up about their football team and their matchup with the Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl. From Ni’ihau down to Kaho’olawe and all the islands that comprise the “Aloha State,” the Warriors are all the rage. It really is quite an accomplishment what coach June Jones has been able to do with that little football program out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
My colleague Tom Stinston went out to Oahu right before Christmas and had extended interviews with Jones and quarterback Colt Brennan for stories that will be running in these pages in the coming days. That’s just a small part of a bunch of great Sugar Bowl coverage we’ll be providing our readers.
As you’ve probably seen, Carter Strickland is already in New Orleans and was with the team as it went through its first practices last night and earlier today at the Superdome. As you’ve probably also noticed, Carter has been cranking out the copy and will continue to do so for the coming days. Columnist Jeff Schultz is on his way, national college report Tony Barnhart will be out there and I will he heading over on Saturday. We all have our various assignments but feel free to let us know what you’d like to read about and see.
Now let’s get busy getting down to the nuts and bolts of this game. I have to admit, I’ve been a little surprised by all the angst I’ve been hearing from Dog fans about this game. Having covered this sport for newspapers for 20 years, I know as well as anyone that anybody can beat anybody on any given day and Hawaii is certainly capable of beating Georgia. But come on… .
Just looking at it objectively, I don’t believe the Warriors can match the Bulldogs athletically. At least on paper they can’t. Yes, they have a great quarterback. Yes, they have great receivers. They have a very experienced offensive line and, relative to years past, a very good defense under the direction of an exceptional coordinator in Greg McMackin.
But football, in my experience, usually comes down to whipping the guy in front of you, and I see a lot more guys for Georgia that should be able to whip the Hawaii guys they’ll be facing on Tuesday. Let’s face it, the Bulldogs have been recruiting a different breed of player the last several years. As far as blocking and tackling, I have to think Georgia has an advantage there.
Now skill wise, there’s no denying that Hawaii is a special team that’s done some special things. But when you’re putting the ball in the air 50 to 60 times against bunch of athletes of Georgia’s caliber, I have to think a few of those are going to end up in the Bulldogs’ hands.
The key for Georgia is to play inspired football. The Dogs can’t come out flat or thinking that they can just roll their helmets out on the field and be able to win. They’ll need to come out and establish their dominance quickly and meaningfully. The longer Hawaii hangs around and believes, the harder it’s going to get.
And, lest we forget, Georgia has a lot to prove. If the Dogs are to be believed they were wronged by the BCS system and I would think that should be incentive enough.
Am I missing something here? Tell me where you think Hawaii has the advantages? What about the latest lines? Georgia’s down to about 7.5-point favorite. Sound about right to you?
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Searels speechless about O-line’s play
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just came from the Butts-Mehre Building and what essentially Georgia’s last practice in Athens. I say essentially because they’ll come back Friday morning and have a real quick workout, then disperse just as quickly to their respective homes for the holidays.
With the Bulldogs’ work here pretty much completed, it was an extremely laid back coach Mark Richt that greeted reporters after practice in the team meeting room. The only news of the day was that there was no news regarding academic casualties.
“Everybody’s going [to the Sugar Bowl,” Richt said. “It’s awsome. It fired me up. Just got the word today.”
After getting some comments from Richt on Kregg Lumpkin for a story I’m working on, the conversation turned to offensive line coach Stacy Searels. As he has all season, Richt just raved about the job Searels did with the offensive line, which featured three freshman starters. “It’s obvious he’s good at what he does,” Richt said of the first year coach.
Richt said Searels was deserving of at least a mention for the Frank Broyles National Assistant Coach of the Year award but nominations for such things have to go out early in the season. At the time, both Searels and the Bulldogs were still trying to figure each other out.
In retrospect, though, Georgia and Richt were very fortunate to be able to pluck Searels from LSU and bring him to Athens. The Bulldogs had lost previous O-line coach Neil Callaway to the head coaching job at UAB and, with the rebuilding job that had to be done, finding a good replacement was critical for this season.
“It was a crucial hire with all the youngsters we had,” Richt admitted. “But if you’re going to hire a new coach it wasn’t a bad time because we had just two seniors coming back. And I think Stacy would tell you he probably couldn’t have done it without [senior center] Fernando [Velasco]. He was a really big help.”
We’d like to tell you more about Coach Searels and the two true freshmen he coached up this season but Searels doesn’t do interviews and he doesn’t allow true freshmen to either, even 12 games into the season. But all you need to know is right there in black-in-white in the standings and stats.
So what do you think of the job Searels did? Any problem with his philosophy of not talking to the media or not letting the young pups be interviewed? And do you think the Dogs would have done as well had Callaway still been at the helm of the offensive line?
Don’t hesitate to ask questions. I’ll be sure to answer. In that regard, we’ll be getting into Hawaii more in the coming week.
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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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Hawaii answering Dogs’ ‘blackout’ with ‘whiteout’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Expect the Sugar Bowl to be played out in black and white.
We’ve told you all about Georgia coach Mark Richt’s plans to “blackout” the Superdome like the Bulldogs did Sanford Stadium for the Auburn game back in November. They will wear their all-black uniforms and Richt and the players are hopeful Georgia fans will respond in kind by wearing black clothes to the game.
Well, Hawaii has gotten wind of that and, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the Warriors plan to counter the Dogs with a “whiteout” of its own.
“You know how Georgia has their black uniforms,” kicker Dan Kelly told the Star-Bulletin’s Brian McInnis. “We were thinking [having] a white-out — white helmet, white jersey, white socks, white shoes.”
It’s worked for the Warriors before. In fact, Hawaii went with all white instead of its traditional all black home uni’s for its final game against Washington. Coach June Jones said they did it in honor of his team’s resilient road wins this season. They came from behind for victories in all five of their road games.
Sure enough, the Warriors rallied from behind and drove 76 yards for the winning score late in the fourth quarter against the Huskies to run their record to 9-0 in their last nine games in white uniforms.
If the all-white plan is part of a grand scheme to counter Georgia’s blackout, Jones is not saying.
“Well, we’re the visiting team, so we have to wear white,” Jones told the Star-Bulletin.
Meanwhile, at Georgia’s pre-bowl press conference in Athens last Friday, it was apparent from Richt’s comments that he is concerned about the Warriors’ excitement and intensity level for this game. He said, according to Jones, that everybody who has had anything to do with the University of Hawaii over the years on the mainland is coming to the game, as well as “the entire state of Hawaii.” Richt was urging Bulldog fans to answer the Warriors’ challenge. Those that didn’t get tickets through the school’s regular distribution process he asked to “please snap them up” through Ticketmaster and other channels and come to New Orleans.
So let’s hear it. You guys getting behind the “blackout” theme again with the Bulldogs? Do you think it will be as effective in New Orleans as it was in Athens? Too much being made of uniform colors? Are you excited about this game? And what about Hawaii’s response? Does that get you even more fired up?
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Richt: ‘The most fun I’ve had coaching’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The general consensus on Georgia’s Sugar Bowl matchup with Hawaii is that it is a no-win situation for the Bulldogs. Win and they were supposed to win. Lose and — ohmigod — they’ve lost to a lowly WAC team.
I’ve just left Georgia’s bowl media day luncheon and press conference and, as you might expect, coach Mark Richt and his charges aren’t buying that notion.
“I don’t believe that,” Richt told reporters in the Stegeman Coliseum auditorium. “We have a lot to gain from this game. Our seniors could win their 40th game as a group in a four-year span. That’s pretty special and I know our seniors are excited about that possibility.
“And I think our underclassmen realize a victory here will set the stage for the future. The BCS, the way it is set up, it’s always important where you’re ranked at the in the preseason. You hate to say much about it but that’s the way it is. You might climb from not being ranked preseason to getting in the [BCS championship] game. But if you lose one along the way you’re probably not unless you were in the top 10 or something. I think the preseason rankings have an effect on where you might finish. So I think there’s a lot of incentive for our players from that standpoint.
“And everybody wants to be considered a champion. We weren’t able to be Southeastern Conference champions but we could be Sugar Bowl champions. Eleven wins in a season is a tremendous accomplishment. And the way we finishsed the second half of the year, we had so much fun and really enjoyed it, I hope the guys don’t want to let go of that at the end of the year.”
Richt also didn’t buy the notion that Hawaii will come in loose and without anything to lose.
“I think they have a lot to lose,” Richt said. “First of all an undefeated season. They’ve got to win this game to stay undefeated. That’s pretty special to go through a whole year without anybody beating you.”
Georgia’s players are taking that philosophy even a step further.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we go in as underdogs,” sophomore cornerback Asher Allen said. “They’re undefeated, not us.”
The Bulldogs will practice for the third time since the end of the season on Friday and again on Saturday. However, they will be without their graduating seniors.
There are 14 of them — 15 if you count former Bulldog Mitch Davis, who completed his degree 14 years after completing his eligibility. Here’s the list of Saturday’s graduates: Sean Bailey, Andy Bailey, Thomas Brown, A.J. Bryant, Brandon Coutu, Mitch Davis, Thomas Flowers, T.J. Gartrell, Chris Gaunder, Mikey Henderson, Marcus Howard, Jason Johnson, Justin Lyles, Drew Williams and Ben Wilson.
Brown, who completed his degree in 3.5 years after taking 21 hours this semester, said walking in graduation tomorrow is “more exciting than anything I’ve done through my entire life, including sports. I’m so excited I can’t hardly stand it and it’s not even here yet.”
Richt said Georgia won’t have two-a-day practices like it did in previous years before bowls but will hold long single practices instead. He said coaches have been on the road recruiting a lot but he has directed them to be breaking down Hawaii tape and data throughout and to be ready to start implementing the game plan today.
Richt also called this his most enjoyable season at Georgia. “It’s the most fun I’ve had coaching.”
That’s it in a nutshell. Other than that, Richt was heaping mountains of praise on Hawaii and its personnel and coaching. Carter Strickland will have more details on the press conference and today’s practice when he files a football report later today.
Do Dogs look like a No. 1 next season?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hey guys. meant to be back before now but I’ve been snowed under with training and have been driving back and forth from Athens to Atlanta.
Wanted to get the ball rolling on what surely will be a hot point of discussion. Carter Strickland has written a story (I actually haven’t read it yet myself) looking ahead to next season and where Georgia may fit in as far as preseason polls and expectations.
I’ve seen some people on this board say the Bulldogs, should they win big in the Sugar Bowl, should be preseason No. 1. I caught a little flak when I said I didn’t think they’d be one but would be likely be top 5 and that Florida might be ranked even higher (or is it lower?).
Sure enough, I understand from Carter that’s pretty much his findings (he talked to folks from different areas). He did a kind of straw poll from different folks from all over and there’s a lot of sentiment for Oklahoma, Southern Cal, Ohio State and LSU to be ranked right there with and, in many cases, ahead of Georgia when next season starts.
Like I said, Carter has a lot of nice details in his story and a chart that compares the return starters and records of the various teams.
So eventually you’ll have the benefit of that information also. In the meantime let’s get the debate going on whether you believe the Dogs will be in the national championship hunt next season? Should they be ranked No. 1 preseason? Top 5? Doesn’t matter? Heck, yes, it matters?
This will be a subject we weigh in on a lot between now and next season, so pace yourselves!
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What will be Johnson’s effect on UGA?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Salutations folks. Sorry it’s been so long since we’ve talked. I had a little time off to take care of family and holiday obligations and, outside of some specific basketball assignments, have kept the newspaper work to a minimum.
But I’m back at it now and lord knows there’s plenty to blog about.
Let’s get to the biggy first. Obviously there is more than a slight transition going on downtown on Bobby Dodd Way. Georgia Tech hired former Navy and Georgia Southern coach Paul Johnson as its new head coach. I don’t think anybody, even the most fervent of Dogs fans, can argue that it was not a solid hire. Johnson has been wildly successful everywhere he’s been and what he did at Navy is particularly impressive.
What will be really interesting will be exactly what kind of offense he implements there on The Flats. Of course, everybody knows he employed a run-oriented triple option at Navy and Georgia Southern. But largely forgotten was the he coordinated a much more pass-oriented version while at Hawaii years before that.
That question already chased off one blue-chip prospect, a drop-back passer. But who knows what others Johnson’s presence may attract. And I’m sure quarterback Josh Nesbitt is excited about the possibilities.
Here’s what we know for sure. That system Johnson runs causes fits for every opponent the Jackets face and Georgia has always struggled against it. Remember Georgia Southern coming to Sanford Stadium with Adrian Peterson in the backfield and driving the Dogs crazy. And, lest we forget, as was made infinitely clear during the hiring process and at Johnson’s introduction news conference, he was brought there to change the fortunes of the Georgia rivalry, which the Dogs have dominated of late.
So try to keep your UGA bias in check and let’s explore objectively the affect Johnson’s hiring could have on the Tech-Georgia rivalry. Do you see him making a profound difference? If so, right away or in a couple or few years? What about recruiting in the state of Georgia? You think Johnson can interrupt to state talent flow to Athens?
Meanwhile, we’ve got the bowl season, recruiting, basketball and Georgia’s football future to focus on in the coming weeks. Let’s hear your suggestions for blog topics and, as always, throw me those Bulldog questions you’d like me to answer.
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Richt appeals to Bulldog Nation … again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You know a football program has come a long way when its fans are complaining about a Sugar Bowl bid.
Well, “complain” may be too strong a word. But certainly Georgia fans — and indeed a lot of players and coaches — weren’t exactly thrilled with the prospect of landing a Sugar Bowl matchup against Hawaii. I don’t think anybody would have had a problem with it if not for fellow SEC member LSU leapfrogging them in the BCS standings.
But that’s enough about that. I did two radio shows this morning and have done all the dissecting and critiquing of the BCS system the last three days I care to do for a while. It is what it is, as they say, and now it’s time to move on.
Which brings me to Coach Mark Richt and today’s topic (which will need to carry us through tomorrow as well). I’m sure a lot of you folks caught this already but Richt was very adamant during his acceptance remarks last night about imploring the Bulldog Nation to get behind Georgia and the Sugar Bowl. Specifically, he was hopeful that fans will travel to New Orleans in record numbers and “make a statement” to the nation and the bowl system that Georgia is a force to be reckoned with at the ticket booth as well as on the field.
I found this interesting on a couple of levels. One, this came AFTER Georgia had already presold its entire allotment of tickets plus 5,000 extra — 22,500 tickets in total. With Hawaii not likely to bring a big following all the way from the big island, Richt envisions Georgia fans taking over the Superdome. And, clearly, Richt sees big things in the Bulldogs’ future and he’s hoping that the Bulldogs start building some clout with the big bowls again.
“The presales [of tickets] were outstanding and I’m real thankful for that,” Richt said. “If we can make a great showing there at the Superdome I think it will serve notice for future bowl games. It’s very important for bowls to know that fans support the team and will come and spend the time and spend the money for a great bowl experience. I really wanted to encourage our bulldogv Nation to show up and get ready to don your black.”
That’s right. In case you missed that, Richt said the team is going to wear its black jerseys again and is hoping fans will “blackout” the Superdome the way they did Sanford Stadium for the Auburn game.
“We’re going to go ahead and wear our black,” Richt said. “We’re going to put our bowl patch on our black jerseys and we’re going to ask the Bulldog Nation to get excited about going to New Orleans and have a great time and try to blackout the Dome. Our guys, when I told them about that, got excited. Once the bowl game is over that jersey becomes part of their bowl game gift package. It’ll be a great memory for them and for the fans. Let’s see if we can relive a little bit of that excitement.”
All of which is well and good. But I’m wondering how Georgia fans will respond. Bowl trips, after all, are not cheap. I booked a flight and hotel room and rental car earlier today and, in genera, airfare is going to run you about $500 and a hotel at least $100 a night and up. I usually gauge such things off my brother, a UGA alum and as big a Dogs fan as there is, and he signed up for tickets to the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl but, at last check, is not interested in going to New Orleans.
What about you guys? Are you going to go? Are you excited about Georgia being in the Sugar Bowl? Are you excited about them playing Hawaii? Are you cool with the black jersey thing?
And here’s an absolute truth: Richt knows the Dogs will need to be fully focused on and completely excited for Hawaii or they could end up like Oklahoma against Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl last year.
Said Richt of the undefeated Warriors: “Teams that are used to winning are hard to beat.”
I’ve got to head to Georgia’s basketball game a little later but I’ll be checking regularly. And thanks for all the good banter this week.
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Happy BCS greetings to Dawg fans!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Happy BCS greetings to you, Dawg fans.
In a few hours we’re going to find out what Georgia’s bowl destination is going to be. We know this: It is NOT going to be the BCS National Championship Game. There’s been no official announcement to that effect but the coaches and writers polls have already come out with the Dogs remaining at No. 4 and LSU and Oklahoma leaping ahead. Every indication is that Georgia will be no better than that and possibly even slot or two lower in the BCS standings.
So what does that mean? If LSU — a two-time loser as the No. 1 team already this season, but I digress — is indeed in the title game as it appears, that means we’ll see the Dogs against Hawaii in the All-State Sugar Bowl.
So here’s the deal: I’ve been assigned a reaction story from Georgia fans (plus I have to analyze the Dogs’ opponent) when the whole thing becomes official with the BCS Selection Show at 8 p.m. on Fox. I’m going to go to downtown Athens and hit UGA’s campus but I also want to hear from you guys — the most rabid Dawg fans around!
I want to know what you think about the BCS and how you feel about the bowl fate it handed the Bulldogs. You guys know the routine: For your comments to be published in the paper, I need you to e-mail me directly at ctowers@ajc.com. I need your full name and hometown and, most importantly, a phone number at which you can be reached in case there is something I need to validate or verify.
In the meantime, feel free to wax eloquent here and I’ll try to answer your questions if and when I can tonight (keeping in mind I’m going to be pretty slammed).
Thanks.
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