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 > September > 06
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Moreno hurdles Dogs to 56-17 win
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Knowshon Moreno’s Heisman Trophy campaign was officially launched here at Sanford Stadium.
Literally.
His leap over the head of the poor, unfortunate safety from Central Michigan (Vince Agnew) was a play for the ages. That it came on a third-down in the middle of a 99-yard scoring drive about three-quarters of the way through a 56-17 win over Central Michigan is merely icing. Moreno finished with 168 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns.
Coach Mark Richt told me last week that Georgia wasn’t going to throw up any billboards promoting Knowshon for college football’s big prize. “We prefer to let their performances speak for themselves,” Richt said.
That little run did some talking.
“Those kinds of numbers and that kind of style gets people’s attention,” Richt said after the game. “He has some of those ingredients, playing on a that’s winning, getting a lot of yards rushing and receiving and doing it with style.”
Moreno actually hasn’t played much so far, roughly about four quarters in the first two games. But he has 310 all-purpose yards and six TDs in that time.
On a different note, I was shocked to see that ESPN SportsCenter did not run the highlight of Moreno’s hurdling run. It wasn’t among Georgia’s game highlights and, again, shockingly, didn’t make their Top 10 Plays of the Day. Obviously the “World Wide Leader” wasn’t paying attention and completely dropped the ball.
How about Georgia’s overall result Saturday? Do you like that better than the Georgia Southern game?
There was a lot of grousing after Georgia gave up 21 late points in a 45-21 win of Division I-AA opponent Georgia Southern last week. This week, the Bulldogs gave up 17 points in the middle quarters on the way to a stress-free victory.
College football fans know the Chippewas are no chumps. Offensively they’re one of the nation’s top-producing teams behind their skillful quarterback Dan LeFevour. He was pretty good today, too: 23-of-43 for 250 yards, 2 TDs and an interception. Also 19 yards rushing.
But that all paled to Georgia’s offensive onslaught. Last week they had 535 total yards. This week it was 552. Another solid game from QB Matt Stafford — 18-28 for 213 and 2 TDs.
Should be interesting when they meet a real defense in South Carolina next week.
I’ll be back. See you then!
Permalink | Comments (280) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Dogs hope to handle heat better
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s an hour before kickoff here at Sanford Stadium and it looks like it’s going to be another scorcher for Georgia-Central Michigan.
Strength and conditioning coordinator Dave Van Halanger was telling me he was extremely concerned before last week’s game against Georgia Southern when the Georgia players came into the locker room after the first session of warmups with their sweat puddling at the knees of their football pants. He said started running yelling “hyrdrate, guys, hydrate.” As we all know now many Dogs cramped up, including one named Knowshon, and Georgia seemed to run out of gas late, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
Conditions are remarkably similar today. CMR was glad to see a heatwave pass through Athens earlier this week and he made of point of working the Bulldogs hard on the Field Turf practice fields so they’d have to endure maximum temperatures. The hope is that they’ll be better conditioned for today’s game.
And they’ll need to be. Central Michigan’s spread offense, led by record-setting quarterback Dan LeFevour, is going to test the Dogs’ defense way more than it was last week against Georgia Southern. You can bet they’ll be having to cover some ground to keep the Chippewas at bay.
But let’s be clear. I think there is about a 1 percent chance of CMU pulling off an upset today. What hasn’t been talked about this week is how bad its defense is. Hence, 45, 52 and 70 points in games against Purdue and Clemson last season. And whatever heat the teams are having to endure today, it has to be worse for the team from Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
But as we found out last week, style points matter to fickle pollsters. With that in mind, let’s hear it folks. Name the score. Do the Dogs win big? How many points do the Chippewas score? Does Georgia have to win by 50 to keep its No. 2 national ranking?
REMEMBER, I’M GOING TO BE WITH YOU ALL GAME LONG, RIGHT HERE ON THE 50-YARD LINE IN THE PRESS BOX ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SANFORD STADIUM… .
Permalink | Comments (76) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Services »
