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 > August > 25 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBobo: Young O-line ‘kind of scary’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We haven’t been able to get offensive coordinator Mike Bobo pinned down very often this preseason (he’s a little busy) but he did sit still long enough to answer some questions over the weekend. So here’s some of that:
On whether the offense will be able to pick up where it left off last season:
“I’d like to pick up where we left off but to say we’re going to walk out and execute the way we were at the end of last year, you’d like to think so, but it’s a new team, a new offense, a new identity. We feel like we got a certain identity but we still have to establish that on Saturdays, find out what kind of football team we’re going to be offensively.”
How long does it take for offensive lines to start clicking?
“You like for guys to redshirt, play a year as a backup and then by their third year, redshirt sophomore, get in there and play and then have two-to-three years to play together. Our situation on offensive line, we have had to play freshmen. We’re going to have to play another freshman this year starting and two will play (Cordy Glenn, Ben Jones). I think it takes time but you’ve just got to find a way to get things done in season and hopefully we can keep this unit, these young guys we’ve got, together for the next couple of years. Maybe next year we’ll have a chance to be a pretty dominant offensive line.”
Are you uneasy having to play freshmen offensive linemen?
“It’s kind of scary sometimes… . They might be physically-gifted enough athletic-wise. But I think strength wise sometimes that’s not where they need to be. [You’d like them to] have a year, two years in the weight program. They’re not as big and strong as they should be. Nowadays you do get some big guys, like Cordy Glenn, who come in and are just naturally gifted. Mentally, there’s a lot of stuff. Some people think offensive line, you just line up and play ball and block the guy in front of you. There’s a lot of things they’ve got to know. I’d say next to quarterback, that’s probably the position that’s got to be the most knowledgeable of what you’re doing offensively. They’ve got to be extremely sharp… .
“It’s our job as coaches to not put too much in, to do what they can do. If they’re confused, they’re not going to play fast and they’re not going to play to their ability. Like Cordy Glenn, we believe he has ability. But if they’re confused and thinking about what they’re going to do, they’re not going to be able play fast.”
Do you have any idea what to expect of Georgia Southern defensively?
“There’s a lot of rumors going around of what they’re playing defensively. It’s tough on us. It’s same thing last year: New coordinator at Oklahoma State. First games, it always seems like you’re playing a defense that has either got a new coordinator or supposedly going to a new defense. It’s going to be an adjustment. We might come out and they might give us something we haven’t seen or haven’t practiced and we’ll have to make adjustments during the game.”
UGA students upset over tickets
Good story in The Red and Black, UGA’s independent student newspaper, about scores of UGA students being upset over football season tickets. Seems that a great number of students ended up with split-season packages, which means you get tickets for only half of the six home games and which ones are determined by the ticket office. I’ll look into it myself later today.
Know your Knowshon
It’s been interesting to see all the national stories popping out on Knowshon Moreno as the beginning of the season approaches. You’ll note, and our Mark Bradley pointed this out today as well, that Moreno is usually least-quoted individual in any of his stories. Not that anyone should care but, for all his personality on the field and on the sidelines during games, Moreno is one of the worst interviews in the business. But the New York Times did a nice piece on him where they were able to visit his grandmother in their New Jersey home.
REMEMBER, PRACTICE UPDATES COMING LATER TODAY.
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By Chip Towers
August 25, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
I meant to include this item in my blog but here it is here anyway… .
Coach Mark Richt has started a Thursday night bowling league for UGA students. His hope is to provide a non-alcohol alternative (Thursday nights tend to be big partying nights in downtown Athens. Anyway, following is the news release from the athletics department:
For Immediate Release
Designed to provide University students an evening of competition and fun in a non-alcohol environment, University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt has organized the Coach Richt Bowling Challenge which will begin Thursday, Aug. 28, with team signups at Showtime Bowling Center beginning at 10:30 p.m.
Open to all University students with a valid ID, the 12-week bowling competition will feature 32 five-man teams. The signups are first come, first served. The Challenge will be held every Thursday night beginning at 10:30 p.m. The first night of actual Challenge competition will be Thursday, Sept. 4.
“I’ve always enjoyed bowling and am looking forward to this opportunity for students to enjoy a night of fun in a non-alcohol environment,” said Richt. “I think it will be a lot of fun with some exciting competition all through the fall. I have my own bowling balls, shoes, and even a shirt.”
“I am very excited to support Coach Richt’s Student Challenge Bowling League,” said Rodney D. Bennett, Vice-President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students. “This league will provide students a unique outlet for social involvement where they will have an opportunity to develop interpersonal skills and collaborate with others in an interactive environment.”
By Sarcastic Dawg
August 25, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
Gee Chip, given all the wonderfully positive things you always have to say about the Dawgs, I am aghast that Knoshown wouldn’t come out of his shell around you. rolls eyes
By mdbatl
August 25, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
The offensive line, save for our kicking game, scares me the most about our team. Stafford has incredible ability to be sure, but his problem over the past 2 season has been completing passes (55% if I’m not mistaken). Although a lot of that is on him, a good line will give him time to make smarter and more accurate throws. I really hope everything jells quickly. Like Coach Bobo said, its not the physical aspect, but the mental. Fortunately we’ve got two games to test how it all works.
On the subject of tickets, I can say as a UGA student that ordering for this season was an absolute fiasco. The web pages to order were hidden deep within the bowels of the georgiadogs.com and only panicked clicking brought me to the page by chance, as there were no instructions anywhere on how to get there. Phew. But really, aside from the difficulty in ordering tickets, the fact that UGA splits packages for SOPHOMORES now makes things even worse. Its as if Georgia is trying to keep students from attending games, which, given the policies of the Michael “no Cocktail party” Adams administration, wouldn’t suprise me. Not a good way to ensure future donations…
The bowling league is a really cool idea. Name another college coach that would do that.
5 Days! Go Dawgs!
By jfergNCdawg
August 25, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Chip, I am with Bobo—very anxious to see what this offense/0-line will do this year. Can we assume that Boling will supplant Glenn in starting RT starting week #2?
Also, in the picture on the AJC, Tripp looks awful thin to be Left Tackle…I mean, he’s listed as being outweighed by our entire o-line and d-line. Does anyone else see this as a problem when a true SEC caliber DL lines up in front of him?
By Chip Towers
August 25, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
jfergNCdawg: That’s an old pic from when he first made the move last preseason. Not sure why we ran that one. Anyway, he’s lean by O-line standards but he’s still 6-6, 280 and the strongest tackle on the team. And he’s the quickest, which may be the most important aspect of being a left tackle.
By PBR=America in a can
August 25, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
Isn’t it great to finally be able to say its gameweek??? You can almost hear Flordia fans in Gainesville ripping/cutting/tearing a new fresh pair of jorts for the new season. Thank God its football season and im not a Gaytor. See everyone in Athens this weekend
By Gamecock Henry
August 25, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
HMmmm…… sounds like ole Bo BO is giving a fair warning about the overrated mutts and throwing out excuses when the dawgs loose to the mighty Gamecocks again. Yep y’all better be prepared when the dawgs lose 4 games this year cause coach Bo Bo is doing the “I told you so”. I cant wait to see the long faces and the Fire BoBO , Willie and Richt people come out of the woodwork in the next few weeks. Maybe we can have a big coming out party for those fair weather dawg fans in Columbia after the big Gamecock win. CYA there!
By ryan
August 25, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
chip,
do you expect to see a bunch of screens and counters in the first few games to protect the OL like last season?
with all the depth at receiver and a great quarterback, why haven’t we seen the charlie ward no-huddle offense? that would seem to take some pressure off the ol
By PBR is a beautiful thing
August 25, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
Almost hear them? The sound is quite loud and clear. It almost drowns out Urban Criers whining. Game Week is upon us.
By PBR is a beautiful thing
August 25, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
Gamecock Henry do you realize you used the word c** in your name? Seriously, do you think anyone would listen to anything you would have to say. Take your left hand and slap yourself for a dumb name. Oh yeah, you guys really finished strong last year and dont confuse luck with talent. Spurrier will eventually be run out of Columbia as he was in Washington. Besides that your state sucks.
By lakerat
August 25, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
The split season ticket deal has been ongoing for the last 4 years, at least, maybe longer - so why is that news? My son graduated from UGA this past spring and had to endure the process his first year (2004).
Looks like we will probably be 2-2 (SC defense is great this year, and then there’s that Spurrier guy who has UGA’s number - and AZ State is MUCH better than we are giving them credit for being) going into the AL game - that game, and the next (UT), will make or break our season! Say it ain’t so Joe!!!!
By Left to Right
August 25, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this
EVERY night is a big party night if you do it right.
Dawg bless Athens, Ga.
By Tech= Dungons & Dragons Greatness
August 25, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
PBR…. I think Henry is using his left hand at the moment for “personal” use. He is having that fantasy were The gameflops play a part in the SEC. Here is a word of advise for the Gameflops…join the ACC.
By JDawg99
August 25, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this
Pbr, I agree with your criticism of the lamecock fan, except for your statement that Spurrier will be run out of Columbia. Although many of the Carolina fans are delusional, overall expectations remain very low for chicken football. 8 wins would be one their best seasons ever. I think Spurrier will be able to win 6-8 games per year and the chickens will be ecstatic to finally achieve mediocrity. He’ll retire in about five years with a record slightly over .500 and the lamecock fans will be so pleased with their “success” (5 consecutive 3rd place SEC east finishes), that they’ll build a statue of Steve.
Lakerat, I doubt you are a Georgia fan. You’re conceding defeat to the chickens and a pac-10 team. Pathetic!
By PBR=America in a can
August 25, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
Yeah i can hear the Jorts ripping… i think the gold rope chains rattling or the Velcro sandals getting unfastened from a pair of socks drowned out the Jorts for a minute.
By BLACKDAWG
August 25, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
What’s really scarey is waking up and Matthew is dry humping you, now that’s scarey!!!
http://bp1.blogger.com/_aBun-fJmULo/Rjn63vBwcsI/AAAAAAAAAII/3dZKDBhm2Nc/s1600-h/Pic3Stafford_and_Cox__of_course_Cox_is_on_the_ground_.jpg
By Drew
August 25, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
Screw the O-Line, I’m worried about those 10 first half points we put up against Southern 2 years ago!
Also, how’s our D going to look against that option/screen BS?
By Mike
August 25, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this
lakerat - don’t say “we” when referring to UGA. No one believes you’re a fan. Probably a techie with nothing better to do than stir the pot. No Dawg fan would concede defeat to the chickens or the 4th best team in the Pac 10.
By I-DOG
August 25, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
Field goal kicking, OL, and depth at safety are the three biggest concerns going into the season and in that order.
I think the OL will be fine and become a dominant line by the TN game for the following reasons:
1.) Searles as the position coach, he is an excellent OL coach.
2.) Competition, yes a true freshman may start at guard but that is only because Boling is suspended for the first 2 games AND the Frosh is beating out RF Strickland who is performing well (320 lbs and great weight room numbers) as well as Justin Anderson a RF (also spent a year at JUCO I believe) who was VERY highly recruited and is a big strong kid at 320 himself.
It isn’t like we are going with a guy because we have nobody else that can step in.
3.) We begin the season with weaker opponents. Not to belittle our opponents, but, but it isn’t like we start off with a ranked team.
as the schedule gets tougher, S. Carolina and AZ State… Boling will be back and the young OL will have 2 games of experience, film of themselves to view, and a few more weeks of coaching from Searles. S. Carolina is physical and I’m sure that AZ state will have athletes, but we don’t have to be a dominant line yet to win those ballgames.
It sets up well.
By tom
August 25, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
You do a great job - thanks! Both my sons as freshmen had to settle for tix for half the home games and one year none at all. Adams is an ahole as we all know but every full-time student of the university should be able to attend every home game.
By Gamecock Henry
August 25, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
I-DOG…… Yes it sets up very well for the Gamecocks to upset the dogs even though we do expect and will win. I remember last year after the dawgs win over Okie State that there was just no way the dawgs would loose to the Gamecocks. Yes I-DOG its sets up nicely.
By Make over Mabel
August 25, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
I am so excited and hope my dawgs will score 50 points this Saradee against GSU or hubby is gonna be peeved. Its finally here and Im tared of those olimpixs. That Michael Phelps needs to pull his trunks up. Oh well, I need to run to Wal -Mart and get some cleanin supplies for my trailer home tires.
By Buford
August 25, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
“We begin the season with weaker opponents” from IDOG is just too funny! South Ga was already “weaker” but with eight gone they seem to have capitulated and now are the biggest Patsy of all! Second Patsy is Cent MN Teachers!
By Yankee Dawg
August 25, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
Gamecock Henry , the last time I check hell hasn’t frozen over so another year without a championship or even making it to Atlanta. Go Dawgs.
By old dog fan
August 25, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
I agree with I-Dog that by the time S.C. comes around our line will be decent to good and with every other area being strong our only (or main problem) will be staying focused. In other words from ALL indications we are balanced this year and better yet have some real super stars. Coach just will have to make sure that we are motivated (Extremely) all year. The injuries will be the other possible worry but heck that applied to everyone. COME ON SAT!!
By Will
August 25, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
G-C** Henry,
Your football team hasn’t won a game since mid-October, you didn’t make a bowl game, your savior at qb(Garcia) is a felon and your about to get trounced against an ACC feather-weight. All of this, and your on this blog talking smack!I will give you a shred of hope this year however. I think you might slip up on Vandy or possibly Ole Miss. But a 4-7 downer is coming your way. ps…..Dawgs 41-10 in 3 weeks!!!!!!
By GoDawgs701
August 25, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
GameCock Henry,
It sounds like you have loost your mind. There is only one ‘o’ in the word lose. You should know since the cocks lose more than they win.
Learn how to spell, Moron.
By Gamecock Henry
August 25, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
Hey Yankee Dawg…….. It sure froze over in Athens last year. But it will be hot as hell in Columbia on 9/13/08 I guarantee you that. UGA 7 will need a boat load of ice too after the Gamecocks kick some ICE. Gamecocks need only one NC and will have as many as UGA!
By Gator Bill
August 25, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
Hey PBR:
I’m glad your not a Gator. It’s the worst. Especially the last twenty years: 2 National Championships, 2 Heisman Winners, 6 SEC Championships, domination over our rivals and the only school in NCAA history to have both the football and basketball NC’s in the same year.
I really wish I was a Bulldog. I could sit around drinking crappy beer(that screams “I’m cheep”) and talk about not winning a NC in 28 years. Having been blown out by Tenn. two years in a row, losing to both Vandy and Kentucky in the same year and not being able to score a TD against USC in Athens would certainly make great conversation…
But wait, Gators wear jorts. HA HA HA its so funny. Say it again, again and again. It’s better each time. Gators wear jorts!
By Fort Worth Dawg
August 25, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
How many of the bowling teams will be blotto drunk when they show up to bowl? Will the bowling team selection (first come-first served) be better than the student football ticket selection? (I read the above to mean that each week is first come-first serve so I guess that everyone will camp out for sign-up and, hence, will likely be sober come bowling time.) I assume partial or all female teams can participate. What are the odds that each bowling night will be a bunch of kids begging for football tickets because they couldn’t get any? Will the bowling alley be shut down except for the 32 - 33 teams or can anybody and everybody show up (to watch, score an autograph, complain about the play-calling in the previous week’s game, etc.)? I do agree that this is yet another class move by Coach Richt and I am totally surprised that he is doing this in football season - I could see it, maybe, during the offseason, but not during football season. Coach Richt’s next activity should be to get together with Joe Cox and have a non-alcoholic fishing tournament (is that possible? - referring to the fishermen, not Joe).
By OnTap
August 25, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
Hey C**,
Could you please learn the difference between these two words…..lose and loose.
I’ll give you a little lesson here.
Lose The Dawgs lose to the Cocks once every six years or so, but you wouldn’t know it the way C** fans hang on to those wins.
Loose It is going to be funny watching all the droopy Cocks when Knowshon and Samuel are running loose through the C**’s fat LB corp.
See the difference? Learn it…..know it.
By I-DOG
August 25, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
Gamecock Henry:
We will have to see who gets the W in Columbia. The last time the teams played there, Spurrier’s squad put up exactly zero points.
I hope that AJ Green outscores the Gamecock’s at Williams Brice!
By reservoirDAWG
August 25, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
Fellow DAWGS:
Let us not respond to the lamecock. Maybe he will go away. It is evident this dudes a douche.
By Gamecock Henry
August 25, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
Dawgies will looooooose to the Gamecocks. ….. Big Will…. 41 points eh? Care to wager? I really didnt think so. Talkin about hanging on. Dawgs are 4-6 last two years in the SEC East. Beats a overrated Hawaii highschool team in a lackluster bowl game. Now they really think there #1. Hang on to those false hopes. Fear THE SPURR!!!!! Live it…Breathe it….. Know it!
By reservoirDAWG
August 25, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this
Did C** just call the sUGAr Bowl lackluster? Dude go do your homework or loose out on your education.
By Tater
August 25, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
www.thedawgsden.com
By Gamecock Henry
August 25, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
I-Dog…. yes I concede the loss in Columbia two years ago as the dawgs were inspired by the loss of the Great coach Erk Russell. It was a hell of a tribute to him for the dawgs to shutout the Gamecocks at Williams Brice. But Gamecocks remember and want revenge for that one and cant wait! 17- 13 Gamecocks!
By reservoirDAWG
August 25, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
Do you guys remember last year when South Kakalaka lost to not only Vanderbilt but also UNC.
By desertdawg
August 25, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
Gator Bill—Im a Bulldog through and through—class of 85— but you make some great points that are hard to refute. We hope to be able to equal or exceed those championships in the next few years. This should be one of the best SEC seasons in a while as several teams have legit shots at the title. Nov 1st will be a classic. See ya in Jax. GO DAWGS!!!
By Offended
August 25, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
First of all Buford, it’s Georgia Southern. South Georgia is a two-year school in Douglas. Both fine schools. My team can’t beat yours, but at least get our name right, please.
Same with Central Michigan. Bet Richt knows their names … even if he is rightly looking at them a sure Ws.
By Festus
August 25, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
Geee thait chikin henry feller has lost hiz noggin. Them thare chikins didnt even plays in a bowal game laist yerz. Whut the hailz is wrung with himz.
By Gamecock Henry
August 25, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
reservoirdawg…… has you brain dried up in the drought my friend? I remember Gamecocks beating the Tar heels last year.We didn’t looooose to UNC!
By Snoop Doggydog
August 25, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
Yes, the offensive line scares me too. Particularly when they are drinking in downtown Athens. Richt’s bolling league? Pleeeze! What Athens needs is Wyatt Earp and his brothers.
By Mobile Dawg
August 25, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
A friend sent this to me a while back, she’s a true fan and a true friend. She’s also a War Eagle, and sometimes she can be hard to live with. I’ve enjoyed having upper hand the last couple of years though. If you’ve read it, read it again. This is something all true fans of the game have in common, a love and passion for it. I read it every year about this time.
“College Football in the South”
Simply put, it’s different down here - just ask former Heisman trophy winner Frank Sinkwich. “I’m from Ohio,” the University of Georgia legend once said, “but if I’d known what it was like down South, I would have crawled down here on my hands and knees.”
Football in the South is an interesting beast. It’s not a game, it’s not a pastime…it’s a way of life. It’s a mixed drink of family,religion, politics and pageantry, spiked with shots of antagonism, arrogance and pride.
Critics label our view of college football as naive and tendentious. Our response? We couldn’t agree more. Southerners revel in regional bias, and why shouldn’t we? In the South, we transform a vast picnic area into The Grove. We see a stadium on the river and bring a Navy. We take a plain desert stone and make it magic. We have The Chop, The Chomp and The Ramblin’ Wreck. We root for the same team as our dad, the same team as his dad and say “to heck” with the team of your dad’s dad. We call players by their first names, anyone on the athletic staff coach, and to the chagrin of media pundits and those who just don’t understand, we say “! we”.
Southern football is why my grandmother spent fall Saturday’s in orange capris, blue reebok classics and alligator jewelry and had a football card of Danny Wuerffel taped to her dresser. It’s the same reason why my mom can’t watch the fourth quarter, my dad won’t watch the first quarter and my uncle and his two sons have walked around Valdosta, Georgia with a little more pep in their step since December 7th,2002.
Southern football isn’t tailgating, it’s all-nighting. It’s not about painting your face, it’s about painting your chest. It’s not about grills, it’s about cookers. Inside the stadium, you don’t talk to your neighbors, you yell at them. Those around you aren’t strangers, they’re 80,000 of your closest friends. You don’t go on the road when you travel to see your team play…you go home.
Down here, you’re not born a boy or a girl, you’re born a Gamecock or Tiger. Down here, football is just as entrenched in our culture as Jesus, sweet tea and barbeque sandwiches. We say “Yes Ma’m” and “No Sir”, but we also say “Roll Tide”, “War Eagle” and “Pig Sooey”.
Down here two plus two equals third down and six. Southern football is why you drive through Wrightsville, Georgia and see “The Home of Herschel Walker” on Highway 15. It’s why hundreds of adults in the state of Alabama are named “Bear”.
Southern football is Billy Cannon, Bo Jackson and Archie, Eli and Peyton Manning. It’s Bobby Bowden, Vince Dooley and the Ole’ Ball Coach. It’s detergent boxes under toilet paper, frat boys in team-colored pants - it’s Lynard Skynard and Molly Hat chet in button-down shirts, Southern Living with a cowboy hat; it’s a clash of styles that produces a scene often imitated but never duplicated. Ever.
The setting? So picturesque you don’t want to touch it, yet so enthralling you just can’t let it go. It’s a similar one in Athens, Georgia, Knoxville, Tennessee, Starkville, Mississippi and Blacksburg,Virginia, and it has been for years.
Southern football is Erk Russell joking, “we don’t cheat at Georgia Southern, that costs money and we don’t have any.” It’s John Heisman saying, “it’s better to have died as a young boy than to fumble the football.” It’s Bobby Dodd saying he’d rather face the lions in the colesium than the Tigers in Baton Rouge. It’s Clemson fans stating they would rather be on probation than lose to Furman.
The players, the coaches and the rivalries are captivating here in the south. Florida-Georgia weekend causes more people to call in sick on Monday morning than the stomach flu and strep throat, Alabama-Auburn divides households, neighborhoods and the entire state, and The Egg Bowl is a true late November fixture. The storylines are just as alluring. Think “The Choke at Doak”, “Lindsay Scott!!” or the 1961 Clemson-South Carolina game where a group of USC students impersonated the Tiger football team in pre-game warm-ups, catering to the crowd and the band before flopping all over the field and mocking Clemson’s agricultural background with milking hand-motions.
Though the press tries to hype the last week in the regular season as rivalry week, every week is rivalry week in the south.
Something down here makes this game different. College football has a legitimate influence on state governments, a major affect on commerce and local economies and is the lifeblood and pulse of God’s country. Perhaps former Tennessee Volunteer radio personality George Mooney put it best. “Southerners are proud of their football heritage, their schools, and their teams. And they share a deep pride that goes with being from the South,” he said.
It’s a match made, and currently outplayed, in heaven.
5 Days and Counting
By Paddy
August 25, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this
Gamecock Henry…They are not only laughing at you in Georgia, they are laughing at you in Columbia as well. A little over the top and you looooose all credibility. Try the gamecock blog for awhile.
By Chip Towers
August 25, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this
POST-PRACTICE UPDATE:
Sorry I wasn’t able to provide a mid-practice update. An interview conflicted with being out on the field (I promise, the pouring rain had nothing to do with it). But in a nutshell, this is all I would have reported:
Knowshon Moreno and Caleb King are out of green and practicing full speed… . Linebackers Akeem Dent and Darius Dewberry were still in green but did everything except “inside drill,” which is when they hit the most… .
CMR was fairly disgusted with the practice. Said it was “pretty bad considering we’re five days away from playing.” Said offense looked “sloppy” and was dominated by the defense in pretty much every phase… .
Starting lineups pretty well set for Georgia Southern but Richt said they’re still working on special teams. Will have a personnel meeting tonight or in the morning to sort out the rest of the particulars… .
Depth at safety is one of Richt’s biggest concerns heading into the first game. Said “big drop off” from starters to backups… .
CMR also worried about the heat. Specifically the lack that Georgia’s had this preseason. Other than a couple of hot days the first week Richt said this summer has been like “being under an umbrella. You need the heat to get you in condition.” …
Forecast tomorrow is 100 percent chance of rain.
By Denver dog
August 25, 2008 6:46 PM | Link to this
Hey Gamecock Henry, as they say in Gamecock Land, “wait til next year”. Things look good over there in the “graveyard of coaches” Bring it baby, we love fried chicken, we may not fry it but 4 out of 5 years, but we do enjoy it. Question for you buddy boy, how many fishing licenses does it take to get in to South Carolina? Answer 1 but it must be valid.
By tjs
August 25, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
UGA O Line is soft as cotton, after the two breathers to start with. See how the O line moves the SEC biggies, and Arizona St……Who knows Tech may stand a chance yet……;-)
By ISLEPTWITH GAORBILLSWIFE
August 25, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this
Gamecock Henry can you send me the phone number to the board of education where you live? Obviously the GED standards need to be altered. You have actually almost said somethings as dumb as GATOR BILL, who is obviously an absolute tard.
By augustadawg
August 25, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
As to lamecock Henry, You’re right, as much as it pains me to say, your team did beat us last year. That fact cannot be disputed, and boy did it ever cost us. As stellar as our season was last year, your team won and it hurts. We could have gone to the NC game if we’d lost to any other team, however we did lose to South Carolina! That alone was the knife to our collective heart, and I’ll paraphrase Lee Corso…”remember football fans, before you get too excited about Georgia going to the national championship game, remember Georgia lost to South Carolina”. Man, what a dagger!!! I mean, had we lost to say, OK. State, that would be much better than losing to South Carolina. Even Michigan’s loss to App State was to an opponent that won their Divisional National Championship!!!! South Carolina hasn’t won diddly squat, ever!!! That was all it took for our chances of the NC game to be lost, Corso had to remind the national college football conscienceness that we lost to a NOBODY! Don’t ever bank on the Lamechickens to ever beat us again. It may happen, but very seldom and we’ll use your victory last year as a rallying cry to never ever, rest on our laurels again. Nothing is impossible and you proved it last year by beating the final ranking number 2 team in the nation. Good luck to you this season and I hope your team breaks 500%
By Cuz
August 25, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this
Lamecock Henry, are you still loose on this blog. Well I admire you. You standup and fight even when the odds are against you. You remind me of the heroic possum. Every night they go out in the middle of the interstate and take on those semi’s. I forsee you, the USC team and the heroic possum flattened by the Red and Black big rig on 9/13/08. Maybe you could start a movement to change your mascot to the possum. I can see the phrase now, South Carolina football, a history of rolling over and playing dead.
By TUGALOO
August 25, 2008 7:21 PM | Link to this
Gamecock Henry : You surely crow a great deal about a program which has perpetually lived in the deep shadows of the CHICKEN CURSE. Its hold destroyed Mr. Magoo (Lou Holtz) and has a three yr grasp on SOS who has accomplished little since the departure from Gainesville. He flopped in the NFL and is currently mired in the Columbia outback. Try taking care of the TIGER in the upstate, where you are second fiddle, before you bluster so loudly.
By Buford
August 25, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
To “Offended”. I apologize for not correctly listing Georgia Southern University as dogs first opponent. You guys probably would soar like an eagle with a full team…but with eight out…
By Chip Towers
August 25, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
POST PRACTICE UPDATE
The sky is falling!!! The sky is falling!!! UGA considering forfeit of entire season. PLEASE read my story in tommorow’s edition.
By ryan Tyler
August 25, 2008 8:52 PM | Link to this
chip you better not be messing around. please explain
By ryan Tyler
August 25, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this
oh, its some impostor chip towers. what an idiot
By rerservoirDAWG
August 25, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
C**, you are correct. The chickens did beat UNC the week before losing to VU along the way converting 2 of 24 3rd down conversions. The cocks are the best team in the SEC(sarcasm).
By The Fake Chip Towers
August 25, 2008 9:13 PM | Link to this
The fact that you actually entertained that as serious speaks volumes doesn’t it?
By ReckedTeckie
August 25, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this
Gaytor bill-What you brought up is true-Too bad it took 88 years to win your 1st sec title years and 92 years to win your 1st NT.By the way basketball is a womans sport,doesnt count.Way back in the 20’s UGA won 2 collg. titles.Titles given out before NT’s came along.42 and 80 UGA had 2 NT’s.12 sec’s to your 6.Hell UF wasnt even ranked untill 1955.Being ranked 17 times in the top twenty in 104 yrs is worth bragging about?UF has no herritage to brag about no wonder UF fans only talk about 92 to the present.I would stay quiet ao red and black doesnt say what about UFS SHUTOUTS BY UGA like 44-0 shutout in 82, or the shut out of 51-0 in 68,or the shutout of 75-0 in 42.UGA’s 15 shutouts to UF’s 5.IF YOU ARE GOING TO TALK THE TALK,bring some AMMO cause i got my AMMO right here son.
By lamar
August 25, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
I HAVE FIGURED OUT SOMETHING ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA FANS, THEY DONT HAVE NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT ON THEIR BOARD BECAUSE WHEN YOU ARE AS SORRY AS THEM THERES NOTHING THAT CAN BE SAID!! THEY HAVE TO COME TO GA”S BOARD TO HEAR ABOUT REAL FOOTBALL!! THEY THINK BECAUSE THEY BEAT US 1 TIME IN 15 YEARS THAT THEY CAN RUN THEIR MOUTH!!! BUT THEY WILL SHUTUP AFTER THE GAME THIS YEAR!!! I AM DAMN SURE!! GO DAWGS!
By FLA DAWG
August 25, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
Give Gamecock Henry credit for supporting his team. I’ve always admired how SC fans have done that year after losing year.
Gamecock, I’ll give you this - You beat us fair and square last year. The SC defense was good and will be good again this year.
But your boys are playing an entirely different DAWG TEAM this year my friend. Sure most of the same players but THE TEAM is a different one. Just ask UF’s Tebow.
By rerservoirDAWG
August 25, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this
FLA DAWG: I agree. The first two games broke in a new OC and the Cocks were Bobo’s first true SEC test. I think he has learned how to make the appropriate adjustments. It’s not to long till kickoff. Go DAWGS!
By AltamahaDawg
August 25, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this
Disappointed we didn’t get to work in more hot weather…………if only we had that indoor practice field.
By Upsttate Dawg in SC
August 25, 2008 11:07 PM | Link to this
Gamecock Henry
Greg wrote this to you in the Aug 18th Blog. I’m going to keep reminding you since your not taking your meds.
Gamecock Henry, this hasn’t been updated since 2004, but nothing has changed. Spurrier might some day reached that pinnacle of Gamecock football history - the Outback Bowl - before he dies, but that’s the best you can hope for.
The University of South Carolina began playing football in 1892. Since then, they have had an all-time winning percentage under .500, which ranks 92nd all-time in D-1A football…only 25 programs have been worse. A few of the notable football programs who have been better than the Gamecocks include such powerhouses as: Duke, Western Michigan, Tulsa, Toledo, Navy, UAB, Central Florida, Ball St., North Texas, Nevada, East Carolina, Houston, Northern Illinois, Utah St., San Jose St., Vanderbilt, Akron, Baylor, UNLV, Kansas, and Rutgers just to name a few. This is South Carolina Gamecock football.
Since the Associated Press began ranking football teams in 1936, the Gamecocks have finished in the top 20 of the rankings only five times. Carolina has never finished in the Top 10 of a major recognized poll. South Carolina won its first bowl game 103 years after they started playing football. In over 100 seasons of football, Carolina has yet to participate in one of the “Big 5” Bowls (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, Cotton). As Carolina is set to begin this season of collegiate football, they have won 10 or more games in a single season once. Since 1892, South Carolina has had only 42 winning seasons and 52 losing seasons. This is South Carolina Gamecock football.
South Carolina has had 32 different head coaches in its storied tradition…only five of them stayed longer than 5 seasons, 21 of them have losing records. Of the 56 programs which have played more than 1000 games all-time, only four have scored fewer points than South Carolina in their schools history. This is the tradition of South Carolina Gamecock football.
Conference Play In the 50+ seasons Carolina has been affiliated with a conference, they have won that conference once…the ACC in 1969, with a 7-4 record. Since joining the SEC in 1992, Carolina has had a winning record in the conference twice (2000 and 2001). In the twelve seasons as a member of the SEC, Carolina boasts a conference record of 35-68-1…only two teams have been worse: Kentucky has 27 wins, Vanderbilt 12. Although Carolina has yet to finish in the top two of the Eastern division, they have finished last twice (1998 and 1999). Carolina has yet to win six conference games in a season. And no one should forget the fact that Carolina went two consecutive seasons without winning one conference game, not one (1998 and 1999). Carolina had an impressive string of 21 consecutive games with a loss snapped in 2000 by beating New Mexico State (then let the rest of the country know what Carolina football was all about by tearing down the goal-posts). Since 1992, only three times has any non-probation member of the conference failed to win two or more games overall in a season…South Carolina has accomplished this feat twice, Kentucky once. Since 1992, only once has a conference member failed to win a game overall in a single season…you guessed it, South Carolina. South Carolina’s all-time record versus other current conference members is even more impressive: 2-9 vs Alabama, 4-8 vs Arkansas, 1-4-1 vs Auburn, 3-18-3 vs Florida, 13-41-2 vs Georgia, 8-6-1 vs Kentucky, 2-14-1 vs LSU, 5-7 vs Ole Miss, 5-6 vs Mississippi St., 2-18-2 vs Tennessee, and 11-2 vs Vanderbilt. That’s correct, Carolina leads the all-time series against 2 SEC teams…Kentucky and Vanderbilt. This is South Carolina Gamecock football.
South Carolina vs. Others The comparison of only 12 seasons in one conference does no justice to the tradition of South Carolina football. So lets compare the Gamecocks record versus D-1A schools they have played 30 or more times: 35-62-4 vs Clemson, 13-41-2 vs Georgia, 33-21-2 vs Wake Forest, 24-27-4 vs NC State, 16-34-4 vs North Carolina, 17-24-3 vs Duke, and 20-13-1 vs Virginia. That’s correct, Carolina leads the all-time series against 2 of these 11 teams…Virginia and Wake Forest. This is South Carolina Gamecock football.
Last 10 Years But all this tradition and past records are meaningless. What is more important is the recent history. Only losers live in the past. We are in the best years of Carolina Gamecock football, and the future has never been brighter…or has it? For perspective, let’s look at the last ten years…Carolina is coming off another losing season, the 6th in the last 10 seasons. Overall record since Lou Holtz became Head Coach is 27-32 (.458). Since 1994 they are 50-64. Remarkably, Carolina has finished in the Top 25 twice in the last 10 seasons and been won all three bowl games in that span. But before you get too excited, remember these are the only 3 bowl games they’ve EVER won. The three seasons they’ve allowed the most points all came within the last 10 years. This is South Carolina Gamecock football.
The 2002 season marked a significant time in South Carolina Gamecock football history. On November 9, South Carolina was defeated by Arkansas giving South Carolina their 500th loss in history. Currently there are 16 members of the elite “500 Club”, five of them with better win percentages than the Gamecocks (Virginia, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Kansas, and Rutgers). In the middle of the season, the Gamecocks were within 1 game of reaching .500 winning percentage at 489-490-44. What would they do? Could USC reach the elusive benchmark of minimal mediocrity? No. They lost five straight to close the season at 5-7 and miss the post season by one game. This is South Carolina Gamecock football.
The Gamecocks fell to 0-9 the last two years in games that could’ve gained them a bowl bid. The final defeat was a humiliating trouncing at home to their arch-rival Clemson 63-17. Many records were set or tied in the “rivalry” game including most points scored by a team. Coach Holtz said afterwards that he’s “embarrassed like I’ve never been before”…
This is South Carolina Gamecock Football.
By Cuz
August 25, 2008 11:43 PM | Link to this
Mark Twain said brevity is the soul of wit. For Jesus sakes, learn it, love it, make it your own.
By Upstate Dawg in SC
August 26, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this
This is for Cuz and for brevity
USC SUCKS!!!
By BigDawg63
August 26, 2008 7:34 AM | Link to this
Hey GameCOCK Henry,
I can’t believe someone would wear anything with C#$% on it, let alone put C#$% in front of his name, I have two words for you, KNOWSHON MORENO. South Carolina cannot and will not contain him.
All I can say is good luck, your gonna need it!!!
By BigDawg63
August 26, 2008 7:50 AM | Link to this
It amazes me to see all the non-dawg fans on the Dawgs blog trying to state there case. Please, get a life, go to your pathetic blog site for your school and stay the he!! off our site you morons!
By charlotte dawg
August 26, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
Hey, Gamecock Henry:
44-14-2
By Ed
August 26, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
Here’s a great point that Gator Bill can’t refute: Florida’s storied program went 59 years before winning their first SEC championship. Forget national titles, that’s conference titles. Along the way they were stripped of a title (still took 50+ years to get to that point), put on major probation twice, and came dangerously close to the death penalty in ‘89-‘90. Throw in the trail of fired coaches and the notoriously obnoxious fans, and what a legacy you have. 18 years of mostly successful seasons doesn’t erase that sorry track record.
Georgia has the same number of national titles (which are mythical anyway), more SEC titles, SEC titles in 6 different decades (only 2 for UF), Herschel and Sinkwich, Run Lindsay Run, Appleby to Washington, 44-0, 51-0, 75-0, 52-0 (1904, whether the SOBs want to acknowledge it or not) wins over UF, and a win in each of the 4 traditional major bowls. We also still have a sizable lead over UF in the head-to-head series. That’s called tradition, and it started long before the 1990s.
Also, we have the UGA line of mascots, and Florida has a cheerleader dressed up in a fake alligator outfit. It’s really not even close.
By Red and Black
August 27, 2008 7:13 PM | Link to this
ED-UF STARTED PLAYING in 1904.So it took from 1904 to 1992 to win an sec title with steve’s help.1904 to 1996 when steve and UF got their first National Title.88 unproductive years.1976 UF was ranked #1 for 5 days,then UGA who was the worst in the sec in off/def.stomped UF 41 to 27,ending UF’s shot at #1.
By Red and Black
August 27, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
ED-{PART 2}1942 UGA had a NT,as well as 80.UGA also had 2 collg.titles,titles given out before NT’s.12 sec titles first one was in the 40’s.Found my info online