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 > 2009 > January > 29 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFelton: ‘We got overwhelmed’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chatter:
— Florida 83, Georgia 57. Surely this is rock bottom, or thereabouts, right? Georgia’s seventh loss in a row. 0-5 in the SEC, Georgia’s worst conference start since 1998. And Georgia’s 11th loss in a row to the Gators since March 2004.
— This was coach Dennis Felton’s analysis on his post-game radio show: “At halftime, I thought clearly the difference in the game was the turnovers. Clearly if we would have taken better care of the ball — they had seven more shots at the goal than we did at halftime, even though we had out-rebounded them, and it was all because of the turnovers. And several of the turnovers led to straight un-guardable baskets by them and really got their building going. That was the main thing we talked about at halftime. And we came out in the second half and started the half with several turnovers that led to scores, and the building got going. The momentum was clearly in their favor at that point, and it becomes even easier to score and put it in the hole at that point. And we got overwhelmed.”
— A few things that jump out at you from the box score: Georgia’s 17 turnovers to Florida’s seven. Just two turnovers in 37 minutes by Dustin Ware, Georgia’s freshman point guard. And of course Nick Calathes’ triple-double for the Gators: 20 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists. He led both teams in all three categories.
— This didn’t make the article I wrote yesterday about the comeback trails of football players Trinton Sturdivant and Jeff Owens, but wanted to pass it along here: Sturdivant said offensive line coach Stacy Searels has made it clear the line must shoulder more responsibility in ‘09 because of the loss of playmakers Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno and Mohamed Massaquoi. “Coach Searels has straight-up told us that it’s our team now,” Sturdivant said. “We have to make the most impact on offense because we don’t have a Stafford, don’t have a Knowshon, don’t have a Mohamed Massaquoi, the senior leader on our team. We’re going to … will this team to wins.”
— And from defensive tackle Owens: He said the loss to Florida (football, not basketball) provides off-season motivation. “They called two timeouts after they were up big,” he said. “I mean, you just [think] about that. That shows the respect they have for us.”
Comments
By 82DAWG
January 29, 2009 8:33 AM | Link to this
Need a new basketball coach. Why wait? Avoid the rush!
By david M
January 29, 2009 8:46 AM | Link to this
Hope Coach felton can rent out his home in Old Waverly in Bogart.. might not be the best time with this recesion.. but good luck in future. Should have stayed at w. Kentucky. But D. Evans can just walk down the street and fire him.
By Go Gators
January 29, 2009 8:46 AM | Link to this
Playing UGA is like shooting fish in a barrel, you guys always have ladies gymnastics to look forward to…TIMEOUT
By 82DAWG
January 29, 2009 8:49 AM | Link to this
Felton OUT!!! News conference at 11:00 to announce his firing!!
By gdawginkalamazoo
January 29, 2009 8:51 AM | Link to this
Sounds like Felton knows what he is talking about. Back to football. Glad to see that the O-line will be healthy and making an impact. I don’t think Urban will ever be able to call enough timeouts to equal that endzone celebration. I hope Owens stays mad though.
By coondawg69
January 29, 2009 9:11 AM | Link to this
82Dawg, I’ve heard that elsewhere and I sure hope that is correct.
If so, that is AWESOME news and a step in the right direction for Damon showing his is capable and accountable.
Now he has to make the right hire. Best wishes Damon, because remember, before Lon Kruger, Florida was not a basketball school. Look at them now!!!
By Ben
January 29, 2009 9:13 AM | Link to this
Felton always sounds great when performing his basketball autopsies. He should be an analyst for FSN or something but his knowledge simply doesn’t translate to the players at the SEC level. I don’t know if the players just aren’t buying in to his way of coaching or what but the product on the floor has become an embarassment. I hope 82Dawg is right, the time has come. I wish him the best but he needs to move on and the search for a coach needsd to begin now. We should have our research done and be prepared to make an offer the moment the candidates team exits the NCAA Tourney.
By WestPalmDawg
January 29, 2009 9:13 AM | Link to this
This has gone too far. I’m an alum who couldn’t give the TP I wipe my a$$ with for UGA Basketball. Felton exit stage right. Bring back the glory!!!!
Go Dawgs!
By TA
January 29, 2009 9:14 AM | Link to this
Where is Mike Adams? I remember him all in a stir about Ron Jirsa and being a catalyst for his departure. He was shown the door WAY before this. Why does Felton get such a long chance? He was disliked and it was evident he was the wrong choice THE SECOND HE WALKED IN THE DOOR. Who made that decision?
By Ben
January 29, 2009 9:17 AM | Link to this
One more thing: Damon, PLEASE back up the Brinx truck to the new candidates house. The Dawg Nation demands better and the program is in such a state that only money will bring the best coaches here now.
By LSU will beat your @ss
January 29, 2009 9:24 AM | Link to this
Well I am pretty sure that Felton needs to pack his office and get the he!! out.
And TA he gets more of a chance b/c he is black.
By drew
January 29, 2009 9:26 AM | Link to this
I’d love to hear just one Georgia player/coach/fan man up and say “we asked for it.” I think taking responsibility for the late game time outs would be better for moral than to say “they have no respect for us, blah, blah, blah.” All my UGA alum friends see it this way, or at least don’t complain about it. It just sounds a little effeminate, just sayin’.
By MSD
January 29, 2009 9:36 AM | Link to this
Jeff Owens is an idiot i he actually thinks that the time outs were an issue of lack of respect for the puppies. The time outs at the end of the game were purely payback for classless, moronic, orchestrated team dance the year before. That little incident showed lack of respect for the Gators. You reap what you sow. Deal with it.
By Go Gators
January 29, 2009 9:38 AM | Link to this
Felton was just terminated, news conf at 11AM
Haha Florida does it again…Timeout
By Joel In ATL
January 29, 2009 9:41 AM | Link to this
As I said last week on the very same website the Dawgs basketball program will finish 12-20 and that is looking like a stretch. I really don’t think UGA has the guts to let Felton go becasue his group is so “young and show promise talent wise”. Felton can’t get the top recruits, UGA basketball has never gotten the top recruits in it’s history and if Felton is fired then the process will start all over. Another coach that will be out in 4-5 years, that’s the lifespan of the coach at UGA when Men’s basketball is concerned. Say what yo like Jim Harrick did the most for that program period, I bet a lot of other people on the athlethic board wish they woudl ahve just let it go as much as they let go between the hedges. Oh well Spring practice will be here so and that’s all UGA cares about anyway.
By billy
January 29, 2009 9:44 AM | Link to this
Don’t suppose you guys will cover this press conference today? I know it’s outside the city limits.
By Mike
January 29, 2009 9:54 AM | Link to this
Sam Mitchell. Sam Mitchell. Sam Mitchell.
Change we can believe.
Hope
and all that other rah rah crap.
Last night was the bottoming out process we needed to get this thing turned around.
Think the world of Felton as a man. He just wasn’t able to get it going in Athens. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.
By Gen Neyland
January 29, 2009 9:56 AM | Link to this
Don’t tell me the rally’n cry for 2009 will be, “Remember the timeouts!”
By BarneyStrickland
January 29, 2009 10:00 AM | Link to this
Back in the late ‘80’s, when I was still slogging through my undergrad years in Athens, the UGA AG school would slaughter some of the UGA herd and offer “free steak night” to anyone with a student ID. It would be at the coliseum with the big grills set up outside. I remember as an added treat, We would get to watch the Bulldog basketball team practice. This led to some friends and I attending some games. Durham’s Dogs sucked but at least we got to watch Shaq play for LSU. We might have been bad…..but never this bad. Damon, it’s time to dump this Turkey….!!! Go Dawgs!
By Larry M
January 29, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this
It’s a shame it didn’t work out, I think Felton is a good guy and had some bright moments. But the fact is that without the Dawgs’ miracle run in the SEC tourney last year, Felton woulda, shoulda been fired last season. There is no excuse to be this bad and have such high turnover of players. I don’t expect UGA to really ever be consistently competing for a NCAA basketball title or even SEC titles. But they should be a regular participant in the NCAA tournament.
By JB
January 29, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this
Gators have EARNED the right to ridicule our games against them. Just as Dooley owned them for years ( They live in the moment and don’t remember that). We did something dumb 2 years ago and Meyer showed his Jerk Yankee a* last year. I really do think it will give us motivation next year. And what a chance we have, Florida will be undefeated and number one. We will have a loss or two and come in under the radar. When you tee it up, you always have a chance. Ask Ole Miss. By the way. When Florida plays a close game next year, watch and see, they WILL NOT FALL from number 1. Obama and Gators have a lot in common with the press, They send tingles up their leg. GO DAWGS.
By Bill in ATL
January 29, 2009 10:10 AM | Link to this
Joel, I think Tubby did more for the program in TWO years than Harrick did in his FOUR. Tubby was 45-19 with 2 NCAA appearances including a Sweet 16 (that was made possible thanks to upsetting a #1 seed).
Harrick made two tournaments (although one year it was with barely a .500 record). Overall he was just 66-53. And remember, everything Harrick did for the program he undid x 10 with the mess and stigma he left behind in his wake.
If UGA had convinced Tubby to stay by showing him the money and building a new arena it’s safe to bet that UGA would be an elite program today instead of the complete joke that it’s become. Perhaps there is nothing that UGA could have done to prevent Tubby from taking the UK job, but I think in hindsight Tubby would have preferred staying and building UGA into a great program.
By TheItalianDawg
January 29, 2009 10:11 AM | Link to this
Hey Tim, who do you think the next coach will be? will it be Dominique Wilkins? I hope so. we need a big time leader for our BB program. anybody has any idea who could be on line for this job!!!
By Showdog
January 29, 2009 10:12 AM | Link to this
CDF is gone,press conference will confirm this fact. Thanks for etting us through the rough time after harrick,but it’s time for a change. Best of luck to you in the future,but UGA needs a new coach now. I hope DE gets it right,Go Dawgs! GATA !
By JB
January 29, 2009 10:13 AM | Link to this
General, please wait till ya’ll bring the Vol program back to life before you start cracking on the Dawgs. Just hiring a coach doesn’t mean a lot yet.
By DawgGirl32
January 29, 2009 10:14 AM | Link to this
That Florida game sucked this year, but am I the only one who thinks that the endzone celebration was totally worth it? I mean, they probably would have beat us regardless, and the time-outs just proved to everyone what a classless jerk UM is. If anything, it made him look a lot worse than it made us look. Even all the ESPN announcers thought it was classless on his part and said so. The endzone celebration and the Auburn blackout were probably my two favorite memories from my senior year.
As for the basketball team, I really have no words.
By Michael Scharff
January 29, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this
If, indeed, Coach Felton has been terminated, I find this to be yet the latest chapter in the SAD recent history of our basketball program. I do not dislike Coach Felton, but I cannot understand shy he has never, with the exception of those magical four days in February last year, been able to get his teams to play consistently hard-nosed basketball. We already have a state-of-the-art practice facility. Now, we need to get a coliseum and a coach to go along with it. Any chance the Toronto guy is still interested?
By GW
January 29, 2009 10:21 AM | Link to this
Please don’t hire a young up-and-comer from a midmajor. We will be going thru this again too soon. Spend the $$$ on a proven guy.
By jaxdawg
January 29, 2009 10:21 AM | Link to this
I was at the game last night and I must say, Trey Thompkins is horrible! I know he’s just a freshman, but he’s not that great of a bball player and to make matters worse, his ATTITUDE stinks!! I was watching him and anytime a coach would try to coach him up he would just look up into the stands like he didn’t hear a word they were saying. Another thing is this team just doesn’t hustle to the ball. On several occassions, the ball was on the floor and if a dawg player would’ve just jumped on it instead of bending over to pick it up, some of those points would’ve gone in our favor. Ricky Mcphee should be starting…he’s the only player that hustles each and every possession…
By hem o'roid
January 29, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this
Got a remedial move for you leg humpers. Fire Felton and hire (sic) Hewitt. He’s a real winner and recruit you a lot of one and dones. You got nothing to lose.
By DawgGirl MR is classless
January 29, 2009 10:28 AM | Link to this
DawgGirl32
Mark Richt is just as classless. That endzone celebration was just as classless as UM calling the timeouts.
You can try and spin it anyway you want but Mark Richt is a product of Miami and Florida State. Two of the biggest thug programs in the Nation. Plus look at the off-field problems over the last few years. What 11 players arrested last off season. It wouldn’t surpise me to see that double this off-season.
Mark Richt=classless jack@ss that tries to hide behind christian morals.
By Go Gators
January 29, 2009 10:29 AM | Link to this
keep livin the dream mutts, you guys have tried to downplay that endzone dance since you pulled they stunt. YOU KNOW IT WAS CLASSLESS. Then you whine about the timeouts, POT…KETTLE…Black. As for the annoucers DAWGGirl they said no such thing. They said a little bit of payback for the endzone. Get it right you ugly mutt…TIMEOUT
By Jim
January 29, 2009 10:34 AM | Link to this
This is too bad. It is a shame when things don’t work out for a class act. But you have to win, and classiness and victory don’t exclude each other as objectives.
A midseason firing (and a necessary one) is a drag, but as a downer this is nothing compared to the shame of the days of Harrick Jr.’s basketball final exam.
By dan
January 29, 2009 10:46 AM | Link to this
Well first off, I love how we are still talking about football on a BASKETBALL blog. I personally loved the endzone dance, because the Gators are a classless bunch and deserved it. But the thing about doing something like that( or trash talking in general), is that when you do it then you have to be willing to take it another level, not just for one year but EVERY year. You can’t play like a badass in one game and then play half a* the next. I really don’t know who Mark Richt and Co. think they are that they can turn the ball over and miss tackles and not get beat. I personally could care less about the timeouts. If UGA is going to play like crap and not show up, then Urban Meyer and the Gators deserve to run up the score and call all the timeouts they want. To victor goes the spoils.
As for the basketball program, I like Dennis Felton but it was time for a change. The guy stepped into a bad situation after Harrick left, but he’s had more than enough time to turn it around and he hasn’t. The SEC title last year was a nice surprise, and that will always be a special memory for us Dawgs fans. I wish coach Felton luck in his future endeavors, and hopefully Damon Evans can bring us a great coach.
By dan
January 29, 2009 11:03 AM | Link to this
I for one loved the endzone dance. After all the years that the Gators intentionally rang up the score during the Spurrier years, they got what they deserved last year. However, if you’re going to do something extreme like that( or talk trash prior to the game), then you have to be willing to back it up EVERY game not just one. It’s like when FSU and Miami used play one another. FSU might have played like crap against NC STATE one week, but they knew that when it was time to play Miami that it was time to turn it up 5 notchs. I really don’t know who Coach Richt and Co. think they are that they can turn the ball over and miss tackles and not lose. If UGA is going to play half a*, then they deserve to have the score rung up on them by Florida. The way I figure Urban Meyer can do what he wants. You shouldn’t expect class from a classless program. To the victor goes the spoils.
By Freelemur
January 29, 2009 11:50 AM | Link to this
Good lord, a basketball blog in football offseason and over half the comments here are about how proud you were of your players dancing in the endzone during a rare win against florida. Dear gdawginkalamazoo, if urban meyer could never call enough time outs to “to equal that endzone celebration” in your eyes, how many times does he need to flat out kick mark richt’s a* on the field? Thats 3 out of 4 so far. And the next one isnt looking too good for you either. Focus on finding a basketball coach that wont make even Auburn basketball fans pity you and then worry about your underachieving football team and coach.
By Gen Neyland
January 29, 2009 1:11 PM | Link to this
JB
I crack on ‘em all, even my own. I’m what you call an equal opportunity ‘cracker’…BTW, I wasn’t in the Fire Fulmer camp. I was in the Can Clawson camp, as I was in the Sack Sanders camp and was highly in favor of the Ceep Cutcliffe crowd. Hells Bells, JB, the jury hasn’t even been seated in the Kiffin Kapers yet and when the trial begins later this year, I’ll be keeping notes…That’s a promise.