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 > 30
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Can Dogs make it back to top?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So could everybody have been completely wrong?
Now that we know with absolute certainty that Georgia is NOT going to go undefeated this season, the question now is whether the Bulldogs can still do what everybody seemed to think they were capable of doing at the outset — win a national championship.
Lest we forget, just a few weeks ago Georgia was the consensus preseason No. 1 pick of both the major polls. It was also tabbed by The Sporting News and Lindy’s, among others. Several others prognosticators had the Bulldogs No. 2, which would of course earn a spot in the title game.
Did they all just whiff?
To be sure, there have been extenuating circumstances. Georgia has been ravaged by injuries. By my count the Bulldogs will have had eight starters miss games with injuries by the end of the Tennessee game next week, and that doesn’t include Knowshon Moreno (elbow), who I don’t think is going to sit out. Two of those, Trinton Sturdivant and Jeff Owens, arguably their best offensive and defensive linemen, are out for the season.
Others to miss time include FB Brannan Southerland (foot), TE Tripp Chandler (shoulder), SE Kris Durham (ankle), DE Rod Battle (neck) and DE Jeremy Lomax (toe). Southerland is due to come back to full speed for the Vols. Backup TE Bruce Figgins is also banged up and may elect to have surgery and take a medical redshirt this year, leaving that position in a mess. Backup safety Quintin Banks (knee) is supposed to be back to full speed next week, too. The status of starting middle linebacker Dannel Ellerbe is up in the air He went from perhaps out a couple games with a sprained knee to “an outside shot” for Tennessee, according to coach Mark Richt.
Which brings me to another point. Is this a fragile Georgia team? Certainly no disrespect to Ellerbe, but we all saw him gallantly jump up and run off the field after hurting his left knee on the third play from scrimmage against Alabama. I thought for sure we’d see him back in the game after that. But he never did. Remember the old days when guys would say, “wrap it up and let me get back in there.” No question, Ellerbe’s absence hurt the defense.
But you won’t hear the Bulldogs making excuses. Just this week, Richt said, “I’ve never been one to complain a lot about injuries. I know they’re going to happen and I expect whoever’s there to step in and play well. Some guys are going to have some opportunities now they weren’t going to have.”
That’s for sure.
So do you think the Dogs can still get to the big game?
Meanwhile, here’s some links for you clicking pleasure:
How upset was Florida coach Urban Meyer over losing to Ole Miss? Well he had the Gators practicing until 10 p.m. on Sunday night… .
ESPN.com’s SEC expert Chris Low predicts no SEC teams will finish the season undefeated
Here’s some SEC video nuggets from ESPN.com… .
Chris Dufresne of the L.A. Times writes that BYU may be in best position to win it all… .
By the way, Georgia actually moved up to 118th out of 119 teams in penalties per game because Texas Tech, with which it was tied last week, was idle. If the Red Raiders manage less than 10 penalties in this week’s game, however, the idle Bulldogs will reclaim their spot at the bottom of the heap.
TUESDAY PRACTICE UPDATES INCLUDED IN COMMENTS BELOW.
Permalink | Comments (239) | Post your comment | Categories: Football
Services »
