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 > July > 17
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Cleaning out the ol’ notepad
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s incredible how fast football season is bearing down on us. At this point it’s like a locomotive running downhill. It will be just about on top of us when Countdown to Kickoff kicks off this weekend. That will be followed very shortly by SEC Media Days, which start Wednesday in Birmingham. As of now next you can expect a new blog here every day of the week. Regular stories and features and news on Georgia will be coming as well. As always, let me know what you’re interested in finding out about and I’ll do my best to get it for you.
OK, let’s get down to it. I need to clean out the ol’ notebook so we’ll touch on a number of things. In fact, let’s number them… .
(1) Countdown to Kickoff: I’m curious to find out how many of you good folks plan on attending this third annual event Saturday on the UGA’s Woodruff Practice Fields. (more info here). This fan event, created by Matt and Jon Stinchcomb and co-hosted by David Greene, has grown into a pretty big deal. I talked to Matt this week and will have a profile on him for Saturday’s paper (should be online Friday) that will include some update on Jon and Greenie, who are still competing in the NFL. Three of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.
(2) Got a chance to talk to basketball coach Dennis Felton — and several other SEC basketball coaches — on the SEC summer basketball teleconference Wednesday. Felton, as ever, remains incredibly upbeat despite the recent losses of two of his players (Billy Humphrey dismissed and Jeremy Jacob transferred).
Felton said his Bulldogs, who won the SEC Tournament this past March, are “in the best place that we’ve ever been” in terms of their ability to compete at the highest level and said their talent level has increased to the point that they should be able to absorb the recent losses. “As we’ve progressed every year, part of that progression has been our recruiting classes,” he said. “I believe this class will prove to fall right in line with that.”
There has been a lot of buzz coming out of summer workouts about freshman Trey Thompkins and the Dogs also added point guard Dustin Ware, 6-8 forward Drazen Zlovaric and athletic wings Travis Leslie and Ebuka Anyaorah.
But the real key to me is going to identifying some core leadership within the team. Georgia lost a ton with the graduations of Dave Bliss and Sundiata Gaines and Humphrey appeared to be the best candidate to pick up that role. It will be interesting to see if the usually quiet and reserved Albert Jackson can pick up the slack.
(3) One last basketball note: I was surprised to hear Felton say he’d be in favor of shortening the basketball season to make it a one-semester sport. I’d definitely be for it.
(4) Interviewed DT Jeff Owens this week and had an enjoyable discussion as always with the jovial South Floridian. Believe it or not he’s even bigger than usual this year, “too big,” he told me as he hopes to lose 10 or so pounds during preseason camp, which I’m sure he will. Writing a Q&A for the coming days so stay tuned.
(5) Coach Mark Richt spoke to the Jacksonville Bulldog Club this past week (he’s in Macon tonight) and acknowledged to the big crowd that this year’s team “has a lot of star power.” But, as ever, his message continues to be to temper expectations and keep them realistic with the challenging schedule that is before them.
“You show them the schedule and let them know that every year we have to earn our way,” Richt told the Florida Times-Union. “I don’t think any SEC team can just pump their chest out and think they’re going to run through the league. It’s just a battle royal every time you go out… . All we can do is win the SEC East,” he said. “We’re just trying to beat Georgia Southern, really.”
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