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 > 2008 > May > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSouth Campus will be rocking this week
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With spring football practice in the rearview mirror and nearly four months to wait for Georgia’s season kickoff against Georgia Southern, it’s easy to think there is not much going with UGA athletics. But you’d be wrong.
The whole spring sports thing reaches a kind of crescendo about this week every year and that will definitely be the case in Athens this week as virtually every corner of campus South Campus will be awash in one sort of competition or another.
It all starts Wednesday night when Georgia Tech baseball visits the Bulldogs at Foley Field. If you haven’t had a chance to catch the Diamond Dogs this season, which appears to be developing into another special one, this would be a great chance. Tickets for the 7 p.m. tilt are $6 and half that much for kids and you don’t have to pay $8 for a hot dog like you have to in some unnamed professional parks. The Jackets drew first blood in this highly-charged series with a 9-4 win on April 9 in Atlanta, so No. 8-ranked Georgia will be feeling vengeful. They’ll play a third time May 13 at Turner Field.
On Thursday, the women’s golf team, under the direction of first-year coach Kelley Hester, will host the NCAA East Regional Tournament at UGA Golf Course. Team golf is a really enjoyable event to follow and if you haven’t checked out the Davis Love III’s redesign of the Robert Trent Jones course out on Riverbend Road, now would be a good time to see it. The tournament wraps up Saturday with the leading teams teeing off early in the day. Price of admission: Free.
There will be NCAA Tennis on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. The No. 2-ranked and second-seeded Lady Dogs play on Friday and Saturday at 4 p.m. each day and the No. 4-seeded and defending national champion men’s team plays on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. That is, of course, they’ll play two matches only if they win their first ones, which they should. I’ll be out there for those and will be going to Tulsa for the championship rounds the next week.
If track and field is your thing, you can catch the Georgia Invitational over at Spec Towns Track on Friday (first event, 9 a.m.). It gets kind of lost with all the Dogs’ other spring sports but they always have some world-class athletes wearing the red and black
Good thing the baseball team is in Nashville to take on Vanderbilt — in a series, by the way, that could determine the Bulldogs as regular-season champs — and softball is in the SEC Tournament in Baton Rouge or there might not be anywhere to park.
One of the good things about the semester system, in my opinion, is these student-athletes will be able to focus on these competitions without being burdened with studies. You know that has to feel good for them.
So anybody planning to come out and enjoy any of these events? Carter Strickland and I plan to have it all covered for you. Any of these sports you’d like to see more (or less) coverage of.
Permalink | Comments (44) | Post your comment | Categories: Spring sports
Comments
By Fort Worth Dawg
May 5, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this
The semester system is also better because: (i) you get out of school earlier and don’t lose the competition for jobs and internships to those who can start earlier, and (ii) the textbooks are written for the semester system and, in the bad old days, the professors would try and cram them into a quarter. Not that I’m bitter …
By GO DAWGS!
May 5, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this
Chip, Thanks so much for this article. As we’ve said all along, this is the UGA page, not just the football or occasional BB page. BTW I love UGA football as much as anyone.
Please keep us informed on as many of them as possible.
Thanks again
By Chip Towers
May 5, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this
Hey guys. Somebody was telling me we didn’t have anything about this weekend’s series win over No. 25 Ole Miss in baseball on the website. I don’t why because Carter Strickland was there for us and had a nice write-up in the printed edition of the paper. Perhaps our online folks will post it but, in the meantime, you can read about it at this link: http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/printedition/2008/05/05/gabase.html
By Top Dawg
May 5, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
Is it football season yet?
By BigNCDAWG
May 5, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
Albert Jones and Coach McGill started what has become one of the best college tennis programs in the country 40 + years ago. You see some of the best tennis in the country pro or college. It is exciting to watch. Golf is also one of the best programs in the country. Coach Hollis started that tradition. DAWGS have won far more conference championships than their nearest conference rivals in both these sports. We have the best spring sports programs in the country. Certainly on par with the west coast teams. Get out and support them. They are exciting. Baseball team looks to be in championship form this year.
By minookadawg
May 5, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
CHIP thanks for the info.
Do the Diamond Dogs have what it takes to win the CWS?
The way things are rolling along over in Athens, I expect the title trend to continue across numerous sports at UGA!
Go Dawgs…ALL of THEM!!!
By VanDSIRROM
May 5, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this
minookadawg said:
“Do the Diamond Dogs have what it takes to win the CWS?”
Well, Minooka, you better hope the BB team is thinking about how to beat Vanderbilt and not the CWS…afterall, VU is 2nd in the SEC and could possibly tie UGA with a clean sweep this weekend…
Vandy is very young but has started ‘coming together’ the last couple of weeks and is playing their best ball right now.
Should be a very good series.
By Roper
May 5, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
The whole spring sports thing reaches a kind of crescendo…
Chip, i know this is just a blog and yadda, yadda, but being a musician the misuse of the word crescendo is just maddening.
A crescendo is the rising action leading up to a peak.
like the gooooooooo dawgs at a kickoff, it crescendos into the “sick ‘em woof, woof…”
Thank You
By Chip Towers
May 5, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this
Not to quibble, Roper, but there are uses for “crescendo” beyond its use in music or sound, such as its third definition as described at dictionary.com:
Just like “peak” isn’t just about mountains, crescendo isn’t just about music. But we enjoy discussion and debate here so thanks for offering your two cents!
By minookadawg
May 5, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
VAN D, good point, interesting post. But…I don’t play on the squad, therefore it hurts no one when I get “caught up” and look ahead to the oncoming glory that continues to embrace the athletes of UGA!!!!!
CHIP do the Diamond Dogs have what it takes to WIN the CWS?
Go DAWGS…ALL of THEM!!!
By Chip Towers
May 6, 2008 12:22 AM | Link to this
Minookadawg, without question the Diamond Dogs have what it takes: a couple of decent starters, some serviceable (if occasionally shaky) middle relief, a dominant closer and some star power in the batting order… . But, they just lost their second baseman Emperio to a season-ending knee injury, the bottom of the lineup is a little weak for college ball and their defense isn’t solid gold. But get it all going right at the right time and they can certainly make a run, which they’ve been doing most of the season.
By Lee
May 6, 2008 2:57 AM | Link to this
First off Chip, its Demperio, not Emperio, the second baseman we lost due to a torn ACL in Sunday’s game against Ole Miss. Secondly, the defense has the best fielding percentage in the league in conference games… The defense has been solid all year, that is how we have won. Good pitching (Holder, the Friday night starter has an SEC ERA around 2) and good defense (I believe the team fielding percentage in conference games is leading the league around .970) is a winning recipe for any baseball team…. Braves of the mid 90’s ring a bell anyone????
By LT
May 6, 2008 6:00 AM | Link to this
Chip,
Have you heard anything about Israel Troupe’s future with the baseball team and what contributions he might have for the future. I heard he was suppose to join the baseball team after spring football practice but I have not seen any note of it since. I’ve been curious if football could hurt him in the future concerning baseball or vice versa.
By CarolinaJacket
May 6, 2008 7:52 AM | Link to this
Most any team that makes it to the Series has at least a chance of winning it all (except, perhaps, the really small conference champs). Go for it.
Not to quibble, but is “crescendo” a verb? Nope.
By Monolithicdawgx
May 6, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
LT, after Sunday’s game against Ole Miss, they had a autograph session with all the players, and Israel was not there. Not sure if that means he isn’t on the team, but he has not played. I would imagine that he may not be in baseball shape, i.e. hitting coordination yet, plus, the team has been playing so well together, Perno may not have wanted to play him yet except for in blowouts, but we haven’t had many blowouts before Sunday.
I have been to a couple of college golf tournaments, and I would really recommend them if you want to get out and walk if the weather is nice. Bring a picnic lunch and watch the players come through. For all of the hype over football and basketball rivalries, it is nice to watch the golfers have to give complements to an Auburn or UF player. Makes you realize that sports don’t have to be cutthroat all the time.
And someone mentioned tennis. Wear shorts and bring sunscreen…the UGA tennis stadium is a great place to get some sun and have fun. Team tennis is fun because there are 6 matches going at once, so almost no downtime, and momentum swings from match to match and game to game. Lots of fun. And don’t miss the College Tennis Hall of Fame. Dan McGill is THE authority on college tennis, and the Hall of Fame is his homage to a small corner of the tennis world that has seen some great players come through that corner.
By Monolithicdawgx
May 6, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
LT, after Sunday’s game against Ole Miss, they had a autograph session with all the players, and Israel was not there. Not sure if that means he isn’t on the team, but he has not played. I would imagine that he may not be in baseball shape, i.e. hitting coordination yet, plus, the team has been playing so well together, Perno may not have wanted to play him yet except for in blowouts, but we haven’t had many blowouts before Sunday.
I have been to a couple of college golf tournaments, and I would really recommend them if you want to get out and walk if the weather is nice. Bring a picnic lunch and watch the players come through. For all of the hype over football and basketball rivalries, it is nice to watch the golfers have to give complements to an Auburn or UF player. Makes you realize that sports don’t have to be cutthroat all the time.
And someone mentioned tennis. Wear shorts and bring sunscreen…the UGA tennis stadium is a great place to get some sun and have fun. Team tennis is fun because there are 6 matches going at once, so almost no downtime, and momentum swings from match to match and game to game. Lots of fun. And don’t miss the College Tennis Hall of Fame. Dan McGill is THE authority on college tennis, and the Hall of Fame is his homage to a small corner of the tennis world that has seen some great players come through that corner.
By Haywood Jablowme
May 6, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
Jeez, how much longer till football season starts?
By Chip Towers
May 6, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Lee, perhaps it was a Freudian slip that I dropped the “D” from Demperio. I knew that but was just typing too fast. Secondly, Georgia’s defense is FIFTH in the league. That’s what I meant when I wrote their defense was “not solid gold.” It’s good but not the greatest. And without Demperio it’s not as good as it was… .
Thanks also to Sravanthi Meka for pointing out that the UGA Golf Course is on Riverbend Road, not River Road, which I well know since I started playing there in college in the 1980s… . Methinks me needs more sleep!
By oldgold
May 6, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
Ga Southern, Central Mich, AZ State ? How do you find these cupcakes ? If the BCS (who knows what they will do next) has a “toughness of schedule” factor in this years rankings, UGA is hurting. If Trailer Nation gets fired up about this exhibition schedule they’ll bite on anything.
By Zeb McKluskey
May 6, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
Hey Oldfart, you need to STFU. So we don’t have to play the powerhouses like Jacksonville St, Gardner-Webb and Duke……..right??? And “Trailer Nation”…dam son that’s original. Go play with your slide rule pu$$y.
By TyWebb
May 6, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
I will be going to Athens for the baseball game on Wed.
I would like to see more coverage of the Diamond Dawgs and the tennis squads. The men’s tennis team is the best program in America currently and traditionally, outside of a couple of California schools.
Also, you guys may want to patrol these comments a bit more. This is obviously an article and conversation for UGA fans, yet we have a NERD on here causing trouble.
By AltamahaDawg
May 6, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
you forgot GT in the list of cupcakes.
By Hamp McWhorter
May 6, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
Chip-
Based on your article on the web today, how much did it cost to take our band to the Sugar Bowl?
By Phillip Moore
May 6, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
Hey, Cuz! I was just reading your blog, and thought I would touch base to see how you and the family are doing. How’s the baby? I’ll be right there with ya come December. Niki is due December 15th! We’re looking forward to it. Although, it’s going to be a little tough going to my kid,s High School graduation at 60!
Take care, and tell Melissa and the kids we said, “Hi”.
Hope to see y’all sometime soon! Love ya! Phillip and Niki
By Lane
May 6, 2008 4:36 PM | Link to this
Both of the tennis team’s have a shot at the National Championship,may be wishing thinking on my part. Neither have the super talent, both are well balanced.
John Isner has risen to #82 on the ATP circuit, which is very good. He was projected by a couple of services to be a 150 player.
Would certainly love to see and article on the OL-cannot let football go. Rumor “control” has it that both Tripp and Anderson, could be lethal, which would make for a tremendous OL-all speculation.
By P-Dawg in Tulsa
May 6, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
Hey Chip, great article on the payouts and buisness of the Sugar Bowl and conference. Thie is also an excellent update on the other sports. Thanks.
By Gypsy Dawg (nuthin' but ribs and D***)
May 6, 2008 5:21 PM | Link to this
Hey Chip, Inform the concession stands to have an overabundance of snack and softdrinks. You know how those techies get the MUNCHIES, ala Joe Hamilton.
Is Hamilton on CPJ’s staff? If so, Techies should be ashamed for making him hire the pothead Hamilton.
Yeah Yeah, I know you techies will say the same thing about Q. Carter, Athens. Hamilton was hired with such fanfare, you’d think he’d have a lot more concern for his behavior off the field, so to speak.
Maybe tech should rethink hiring someone like that who is supposed to be a LEADER of young men.
Take a lesson from Notre DAme and G. Oleary!
Techies are booksmart, but common sense….DUMB AS A BOX OF HAMMERS.
By College Football Fan
May 6, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this
Hey Techies, leave your drugs and alcohol in Atlanta when you come to Athens Wednesday night. We don’t want you roaches (no pun intended) driving other people off the road.
You might also want to change your fight song to eliminate the line about “drinking your whiskey clear.”
By Chip Towers
May 6, 2008 6:35 PM | Link to this
Hey, P-Dawg Tulsa, thanks for the kind words. You’d be surprised how much e-mail I got today from people thinking I was picking on UGA to write that. It’s merely public information and the public’s right to know… .
By the way, I’m going to be in Tulsa middle of next week to cover the NCAA Tennis championships. Never been there before. Any suggestions?
By ............................................BuLLdawg
May 6, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this
.
.
Let’s see if I can cover in a short fashion what has happened to the Georgia Institute of Technology in just the last several days now. Ok ?
Tech football coach Paul Johnson hired little Joey Hamilton, drug user, as his Assistant Director of Player Personnel. He takes his 1st paycheck, buys drugs, gets drunk, hits another vehicle with his and leaves the scene of the accident. A witness gets his license plate. The authorities find him. He has a joint in his ash tray. He has alcohol bottles in his car. He is drunk. He admits he hit the other car. He cannot stand up. He is arrested for DUI, pot possession, hit-and-run and open container. He is in Fulton County Jail.
Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich has NO COMMENT, citing privacy policy at Tech.
By ............................................BuLLdawg
May 6, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
At UGA, 1st failed drug test, you are suspended immediately, given 20 hours community service, and required to pass 2 more drug tests before you are allowed to play again. 3 failed tests and you are banned forever. UGA has a formal policy to make public statements about the matter.
At Tech, 1st failed drug test, you go to a counseling session only. Nothing else. 3 failed drug tests, and you only get a 1-year suspension then, and then can return.
Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich has NO COMMENT, citing privacy policy at Tech.
http://www.ajc.com/wireless/content/sports/stories/2008/05/05/techdrugs_0506.html
Tech baseball pitcher Michael Hutts died of heroine overdose, according to Fulton County Medical Examiner.
Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich has NO COMMENT, citing privacy policy at Tech.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/gatech/stories/2008/05/04/hutts_0505.html
This leading up to a baseball game at Foley Field Athens tomorrow night 7 p.m. Comcast Channel 45 between Georgia and Georgia Tech in which UGA has a 194-148-2 advantage over Tech.
AJ-C says “UGA looking for revenge.
No.
Tech should be looking for the drugs.
By Mr. History
May 6, 2008 7:35 PM | Link to this
……………………………………………….BuLLdawg, TESTIFY!
Ty, let the bugs play…Ole Zeb’ll set ‘em straight for ya!
Haywood J, about 116 days.
Amen.
By AltamahaDawg
May 6, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this
CHIP, when do you think the story about the recently released APR is going to hit?
By AltamahaDawg
May 6, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this
Appearantly 10 minutes ago, sorry. How does UGA ranking at the very top of the SEC not warrant any mention?
By I'm not Chip
May 6, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
Tomorrow!
UGA and GT NOT among list of schools losing scholarships!
UAB got hit hard. They will lose either 8 or 9 FB scholarships.
Wash St. also will lose 8 or 9.
UT will lose 1 in Basketball.
South Carolina may be in a little trouble (1 or 2 possible scholarships taken away?)
By I'm not Chip
May 6, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
Alt…Sorry, too. I didn’t know you knew!
UGA’s reward? PRIDE in those who choose to represent Bulldog Football!
By Free Joe Hamilton
May 6, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
If this occured in California and pot was part of the problem..it would be a non issue.
He could claim temporary insanity and get a prescription for marijane.
pups, please back off.
By ............................................BuLLdawg
May 7, 2008 5:10 AM | Link to this
.
.
the Georgia Institute of Technology AGAIN has scored WORSE than UGA in APR Academic Progress Rate in Football, by a LONG SHOT.
951 Tech APR Football
965 UGA APR Football
These are the latest May 2008 Academic Progress Rate multiyear grades for the student-athletes who at Tech do drugs, are only given counseling, and covered-up by Tech and covered up by the AJ-C “that both Tech and UGA did ok in Academic Progress Rate. “
Excuse me.
958 UGA Men’s Basketball APR
931 Tech Men’s Basketball APR
BS Tech fans that you do it the right way.
957 Tech Women’s Basketball APR.
971 UGA Women’s Basketball APR.
UGA student-athletes outperform Tech “student-athletes” by wide margin both on the field of competition and in the classrooms.
UGA http://web1.ncaa.org/appdata/apr2007/2572007_apr.pdf
Tech http://web1.ncaa.org/appdata/apr2007/2552007_apr.pdf
How could the AJ-C report both did ok, when in fact, UGA kicked Tech’s student-athletes’ butts in athletics, not being drug users, and therefore in Academics.
This is the only measure the NCAA uses to determine academic prowess of 1 school compared to another school.
You want the APR AltamahaDawg ? I will give it to you, and complete and compared to Tech, not what they write in here - or, in the AJ-C.
.
.
By Bee Boy
May 7, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
11-1,11-1,11-1,11-1,11-1. Tech DOMINATES in BASEBALL!!!!!!! MUTTS are OVERRATED!!!!!
By tulsadog
May 8, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
Chip, As a UGA graduate living in Tulsa, here are a few of my picks, and I still live near TU, so these are all fairly close to campus. Best Mexican: Las Americas on 3rd, just off of Lewis. Great food and incredibly cheap. Great salsa also, but they changed their hours recently and don’t serve dinner on most weeknights, so go here for lunch. At night, go to El Rio Verde. Again, very good, but kind of a dive. If you start to miss southern/soul food, go to Evelyn’s near the airport. They’re only open for breakfast and lunch, but they have the best mac and cheese, and okra and tomatoes I’ve ever had. If you’re here on a Monday, meatloaf is one of the specials, and it’s great. You’ve also got to try a Lebanese steakhouse when you’re here. There are a bunch of them, but my favorite is the Silver Flame on Sheridan and 61st. Tabouli, hummus, cabbage roll, etc. are all included in the price of the entre, and the steaks are good too.
As far as nightlife goes, there’s a lot to be desired, but the Brookside area can be fun, with quite a few bars and restaurants. Try a burger and root beer at Weber’s on Peoria, where they claim to have invented the hamburger, and for brunch, go to Brookside by Day (or BBD’s.)
Cherry Street (15th St. between Peoria and Utica) also has some good places. Try the Full Moon for their tortilla soup, which is famous in Tulsa, Jazzmo’s for cajun, and the Empire for a cold one.
The best dive bar in Tulsa, The Buckaneer, is next to the TU campus at Harvard and 11th St., and it’s only a few minutes from the Case Tennis facility. You also have to see a show at the Cain’s on North Main St., and when there, stop at the Soundpony (one block south) either before or after. Enjoy your stay in Tulsa, and let’s hope that the Dogs make it out here.
By tulsadog
May 8, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Chip, Don’t know if you’re going to revisit this page, but there were a couple of things I left out. On Cherry Street, also go to the Hideaway for pizza, where you can get the Boz, a pizza named after the OU linebacker. Brookside is less than 5 miles (a guess) from TU, so while it’s not next door, it’s not too far away.
And finally, the Silver Flame is farther from campus, but still under 10 miles away. But Tulsa is swimming with Lebanese steakhouses, including Jamil’s and Freddie’s, so you’ve got to try one, unless of course you’re a vegan.
Also, downtown is being revitalized, and if you’re staying at the Crown Plaza or the downtown Doubletree, a couple of places nearby are the Blue Dome diner, McNellie’s, and Tulsa’s original Irish dive, Arnie’s. Hope to see you out at the championships.
By Chip Towers
May 8, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this
Thanks a bunch, tulsadog. I really appreciate the recommends… . New blog (on football) coming up shortly.
By YEA!!
May 8, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
YEA!!
By Close This Blog
May 14, 2008 5:53 PM | Link to this
It has been dead for days