AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCatching up with David Greene
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Joining founders Matt and Jon Stinchcomb in hosting the third annual Countdown to Kickoff fan charity event in Athens this weekend is the man who put the hobnail boot to the Vols in Knoxville, launched the pass at Auburn that put UGA in the 2002 SEC Championship game and went on to become the winningest quarterback in NCAA Division 1 history … David Greene.
I had a chance to talk with the very personable Greenie, as his teammates call him, this week, and he said the Stinchcombs approached him when they were first getting the event off the ground two years ago and he would have loved to have been there “but I was getting married at that time.” Last year, he was in a friend’s wedding when Countdown was held, but he’s available this year “so I kind of jumped in head first” and helped line up sponsors for the event. “I was surprised at how much work it is and how dedicated Matt and Jon are to it. Matt treats it almost like a 9 to 5 job.”
As for Greene, he’s still trying to make it as a backup QB in the NFL. After stints at Seattle and New England, he spent some time on the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad last year, getting brought up to the 53-man roster for the last game, but has never taken a regular season snap. He has signed with the Chiefs and hopes to make the team. “Playing quarterback in the NFL is like a process,” he said of his progress so far. The problem with being on teams like Seattle and New England, Greene said, is “the starter gets most of the reps and the backup is basically hung out to dry. You spend a lot of time sitting around on the sideline, and when you’re sitting around you’re not getting better.”
Since leaving UGA, he has only attended a couple of regular season games. “I saw the Florida game that was Joe T.’s first start and I saw the Tennessee game in Athens where we led at halftime and then got beat. So they’re probably going to try and keep me out of Athens!”
He was at this year’s G-Day game, though, and was impressed. “There’s no doubt they have a lot of ability and a lot of talent. If the team gels well and they can avoid injuries and play really well when they need to, they’ve got a good shot” at the national championship. “But there’s always three or four close games” that can spell the difference. And while a two-loss team might make it into the championship game, you can’t count on it, he said, noting that the 2002 Dawgs were 13-1 and SEC champs and weren’t even part of the national championship conversation.
Which opponent looks most dangerous on this year’s murderous schedule? “They play LSU at LSU, don’t they? I think that’s the toughest one. LSU is always really talented and that’s one of the best football environments there is.”
Greene doesn’t think dealing with high pre-season expectations will be a problem for the Bulldogs. “For the past five or six years I don’t think it’s ever really been acceptable for Georgia to lose. Losing to anybody isn’t acceptable. So it’s not really a change this year.”
Dealing with the spotlight is always tough for players on high-profile college teams, Greene noted, as has been brought home by recent off-season arrests. “Every year that I started, I think we started the first game with at least three or four players suspended. It’s not new. But what is true nowadays is that there’s no privacy. Everyone has camera phones.” But, he said, as a UGA player “you’ve got to understand you’ve got a huge responsibility to your school and your teammates.” Still, he said, “these are 18- to 22-year-old kids and sometimes they’re gonna act like 18-year-olds.”
As for the “new,” more emotional Mark Richt that fans were wowed by last season, Greene said “even when I was there he would get fired up at times. But you gotta remember, Coach Richt was a quarterback and he sees the game from a quarterback’s perspective. As a quarterback you’ve got to be calm, and when he was [calling the plays], he had to stay calm, too. Now [that he’s no longer calling the plays] he’s free. He’s able to step back a little bit and watch the flow of the game and analyze the psyche of the team” and what it needs in terms of motivation.
I couldn’t resist asking Greene about some of the highlights of his UGA career, and he seemed to enjoy reliving them. His favorite game as a Bulldog? “One of the most gratifying was beating Florida my senior year after all that ‘curse’ talk,” he said. Another was the 45-16 licking the Dawgs gave LSU in Athens that year. “After losing to them twice in one year [2003], it was fun!”
Greene’s favorite play? “I would say the pass to Michael Johnson at Auburn [in 2002], just because there was so much at stake with the SEC championship riding on it and it was fourth and 15 and [time running out]. When Coach called that play, it really wasn’t one we had practiced much. We kinda drew it up in the dirt. But as soon as I pumped it and the defender left Michael with one-on-one coverage, I knew he’d go up and make the catch. I just tried to give him a chance.” What does he think of his pass? “Looking back, it was a little low.”
Toughest place to play? “LSU. Or Auburn. I thought that was a great atmosphere, too.”
We closed out talking about the play Greene was the absolute master of, faking a handoff to the tailback, hiding the ball with his back to the line and then throwing to a wide-open receiver. It’s called “44-flatback-rooskie.” “We only ran it three or four times,” he said, “and we scored with it every time except once against Tech, when it was a 50-yard completion.” I told Greene I’ve never seen anyone do a better job selling the fake than he did. “The key is the shoulders,” he said. “You’ve got to slump your shoulders and make the defenders think you’ve quit on the play and don’t have it. If you do that, you’ve got it. If it doesn’t work, you get killed.”
Countdown to Kickoff, benefitting the Georgia Transplant Foundation, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the Children’s Tumor Foundation and UGA’s Pediatric Exercise Motor Development Clinic, begins Friday with a golf tournament at the UGA course and culminates Saturday at the Woodruff Practice Fields, where fans will be able to meet past and current Georgia players for autographs and pictures, let their kids get their faces painted, see Hairy Dawg and the UGA cheerleaders and hear the Redcoat Band perform. Tickets are $30 for admission plus lunch or $100 for a family package of four.
Comments
By Tampa Dawg
July 17, 2008 11:38 PM | Link to this
FIRST!!!!!!!!!
I pray Greenie will get more PT in the NFL. He is a smart player.
By Buck Tooth Belue
July 17, 2008 11:47 PM | Link to this
What happens 1st:
(1) Oil Is Found In Midtown Manhattan and Trump Cedes Property Rights To Govt. For Instant Drilling (2)Paris Hilton Joins Stephen Hawking In His Work On String Theory (3)David Greene Takes An NFL Snap (4)Hugo Chavez Files for United States Citizenship
By Bill W.
July 17, 2008 11:47 PM | Link to this
Foist!!
By Cuz
July 17, 2008 11:57 PM | Link to this
I would read this post but what is the use. Can’t wait for fall practice, and concentrate on Southern. Can’t win squat if we don’t beat Southern. They want it bad, bad, just bad. Stop em, put em down by twenty, if we don’t Granny Holtz will lead the charge that we are overrated.
By Pago Flyer
July 18, 2008 12:52 AM | Link to this
Good interview…
By justin
July 18, 2008 2:16 AM | Link to this
Ill never forget knoxville! Up… down …then up to win. what a sweet play to that other nfl(steelers) player!!!!!? long night for me, sorry!
By alabamadawg
July 18, 2008 2:49 AM | Link to this
Great story, thanks…I wish David all the best in the future, surely he can get a fair chance in K.C.
By David Greene has more U HAUL miles
July 18, 2008 4:32 AM | Link to this
Than Brian VanGorder.
By Paddy
July 18, 2008 7:40 AM | Link to this
David Greene should sit down with all incoming recruits and just talk about stuff. They all could learn alot just listening to him.
By Chris
July 18, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this
Greene will be working with Chan Gailey and that is perfect. Don’t forget Canada Plays Football and there is always Arena Ball. Holding a clipbaord has to be boring, but all ex-UGA qurterbacks seem good at it in the NFL.
By gdawginkalamazoo
July 18, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this
Buck Tooth, now that was funny. Good luck to Greene and the NFL. The guy knows how to win. Good luck.
By Haywood Jablowme
July 18, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
And what are ex-Tech QB’s good for? DUI, hit and run, open container, possession, academic fraud, not being able to count to 4, etc…… It seems like nobody remembers ex-UGA qbs like Tarkenton, Bratkowski, and yes, even Hines Ward, who was a qb early in his time at UGA.
Now…..Greene is actually too slow to be an NFL qb. That’s basically his biggest problem. He has enough of an arm, but is definitely NOT “fleet of foot”……
By baloney
July 18, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
Dawgs have an equal shot at losing 3-4 games.
By NICK
July 18, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this
Really miss seeing you play Greenie. Great times! I especially miss your prowess on that 44-flatback-rooskie play. I was in the stands the first time I saw it and it was as if I was the only one in the stadium that saw it! I kept yelling out to those around me and no one noticed. I wish you’d pass that talent on to Mr. Stafford so he could pull it off as well! Good luck in KC! And Go Dawgs!
By Drew
July 18, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
Bring him and Pollack back to coach the Dawgs…
By Birdman
July 18, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Buck Tooth is a tool……
By Crimedog
July 18, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
Greene is correct on a couple of counts. Georgia always has three or four players suspended from the first couple of games—teams like Western Kentucky and Central Michigan. That hasn’t changed, except the numbers have grown. Similarly, expect the felony assault charges against Lemon and the dorm fondlers to mysteriously disappear in a few weeks. Richt will grant absolution to the three players involved, and they will be rehabilitated and ready to play by the SC game. It is a shame that every discussion about Richt and Georgia football soon turns to arrests and bad sportsmanship.
By Georgia Fan
July 18, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Please haters, for your own good, do not make fools of yourselves attempting to diss David Greene. He is the winningest D-1 quarterback of ALL TIME. He is the SEC’s ALL TIME passing leader. There are guys with 20 times his talent who will never even sniff the kind of success he had. He faced some of the nastiest defenses college football has ever seen. He played injured. He played in pain. None of it mattered. You knew exactly what you were going to get out of this guy every single week. He was consistent almost to the point of being boring. He was solid a rock. He is one of the greatest SEC quarterbacks of all time. He is untouchable. Do not pretend otherwise.
P.S. The NFL minimum salary for guys that have been in the league for 3 years is $435,000. Where do I sign up for holding one of those clipboards?
By Milton Jeff
July 18, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
Good Interview. Sad to see the careers of Pollack & Greene did not turn out so well..especially Pollack.
By David Pollack
July 18, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
David, I’d appreciate it if you asked first before you decide to wear my purple Nautica shirt again. Thanks.
By BJohnDawg
July 18, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
Georgia Fan,
Good Points.
If its $435,000 I can slip in to some pads and grab a clipboard.
Georgia Haters…when you have suited up and won as many games as David Greene they you can run your mouths. Till then you should shut your pie holes.
By joe
July 18, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
Of course they have a shot this year…shot in the dark, but a shot nonetheless…problem is, so does every other school before kickoff.
By dawgballs
July 18, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
David Greene yet another UGAG QB that is going nowhere and starting never. Following in BOOBOOs ahoes.
By dawgballs
July 18, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
David Greene yet another UGAG QB that is going nowhere and starting never. Following in BOOBOOs shoes.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
July 18, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
Oh my gosh, what a news flash!!!!
Here’s another that might change that:
Mark Richt loses star recruit: Sources within the Bulldawg Nation have indicated that the young man approached coach Richt yesterday with the startling news. “Coach you know I want to play, but I can’t be in a huddle with your other players.” Richt, visibly shaken responded, “What do you mean boy? Haven’t we taken good care of you here at Georgia?” “Oh yes sir, it’s just that my probation officer says I’m not supposed to hang around with known felons.”
By CarolinaJacket
July 18, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
I’ve said it before and its worth repeating. David Greene was and is a class act and a winner. He has as much character as he has skill (the skill to win). I can pull for Tech and still recognize a blue chipper when I see one. Keep up the good work David.
By FLA DAWG
July 18, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
Great interview and comments from David Greene - thanks for the update. David is well known for being a class act.
Few players get to start in college - much less in the SEC - much less a shot to play in the NFL.
Best of luck to you David - demand some playing time! (I’d like to see you play some pro ball - I think you’d do well.)
By YAY
July 18, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
The douchebag RAMBLE ON is back!
By Chris
July 18, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
Fat MATT picked #7 because he knew he was 1/2 #14 QB GREENE was, but knows that he can be the same in the NFL. DEWBERRY is a major Developer on Downtown Atlanta, Shawn Jones & Joe Hamilton Played as much in the NFL as did ZEIER & Greene. Ken Weinshunt(?) is the coach at Arizona(NFL) George Godsey is a Business man using his Degree. Our ex-Players can read write and hold a job with their degrees.
By BCS Champs Again
July 18, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
Greene still remembers the beat down in the Bayou against the Tigers
By Gren Tea
July 18, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
Hey NERD (Chris), How about taking your GT loving arse and get off this UGA blog. Greene has won more games than any other QB in NCAA history. Dispute that, make light of that, make yourself sound even more moronic than you already have. You are right about your ex-players holding jobs and being able to read and write, I mean look at Joey Hamilton. He can read and write and yet still gets pulled over ON CAMPUS drunk driving with a joint. What point were you trying to make again? I forgot…
By Jim
July 18, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
Georgia Godsey is quarterbacks coach at Central Florida with O’ Leary. I’m quite certain that does not require a business degree.
By gtforever
July 18, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
One CLASS act….
By Hmmmmm
July 18, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
David Greene, what a CLASS guy! His buddy Mr. Pollack needs to learn a few things from Greenie! Pollack is a SISSY!
By LESD
July 18, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
No, Greene has not won a starting job in the NFL. If that never happens for him, he’ll just have to settle for being the winningest college quarterback in the history of Division 1-A football. That’s a record that speaks for itself.
By LESD
July 18, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
No, Greene has not won a starting job in the NFL. If that never happens for him, he’ll just have to settle for being the winningest college quarterback in the history of Division 1-A football. That’s a record that speaks for itself.
By LESD
July 18, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
No, Greene has not won a starting job in the NFL. If that never happens for him, he’ll just have to settle for being the winningest college quarterback in the history of Division 1-A football. That’s a record that speaks for itself.
By LESD
July 18, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
An LSU fan talking about a beatdown in the Bayou? LMAO! LSU won that game 17-10. Then LSU came to Athens the following season, and Georgia whipped them 45-16.
17-10 is a victory. 45-16 is a brutal beatdown.
By ORLANDO DAWG!!!!
July 18, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
Man i hope i can go to the Tenn. game at home this year. I have a really good feeling that the black jerseys will come out on a fired up Bulldog team to kick some vol butt. Get ‘em back for last year’s season ruiner. Oh yeah also make sure we sack “God’s Quarterback” at least 6 times… IN THE FIRST QUARTER!!!!! GOOOO DAWGS!!! SIC ‘EM
By Red Clay Hound
July 18, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this
Relax Cuz. It will be alright. Just a little pre-game jitters. Sit back and have a solvent on me.
By Zeb
July 18, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Hey Hmmmmmm, you calling Pollack a sissy is like me calling you intelligent. That dog won’t hunt boy. Why don’t you call him that to his face big boy?? I’ll tell you why, cause you ain’t as stupid as you look. I’m sure he’ll be in Athens this saturday. Why don’t you and your mom take a road trip. It’s easy to be 10ft tall and bulletproof behind a screen.
By jc_dawgs
July 18, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
Dawgs are solid in all areas this year. Can you say that about any other team in the sec? Maybe Auburn is solid in all areas but they were not all that great last year.
LSU….qb issues
Ten…qb issues
Fla…def issues
ASU wont be an easy game but I see Ga bringing there A-game for 4 qtrs in that one.
I still think 11-2 with close loses to Aub and LSU both on the rd.
If Ga’s Defense brings just there B-game against Ten and Fla. They will win both of those games.
Ten and Compton wont know what hit them and Fla will not be able to prevent Ga from scoring enough pts to win.
By Vespula
July 18, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
Damn good dog…he was.
Cuz…you are….OR.
By Ben
July 18, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
I’ll echo anyone on here that reiterates the fact that Greene holds one of the most impressive records in ALL football, and that alone is an accomplishment.
Think of all the college stars who never made it big! Crouch, Weinke, Greene, Clausen-……oh, wait, nevermind.
By Ben
July 18, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
I’ll echo anyone on here that reiterates the fact that Greene holds one of the most impressive records in ALL football, and that alone is an accomplishment.
Think of all the college stars who never made it big! Crouch, Weinke, Greene, Clausen-……oh, wait, nevermind, I said STARS.
By Hmmmmm
July 18, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
Zeb,
Anybody that skips to the sideline is a SISSY!
By KJ
July 18, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this
Georgia Godsey is quarterbacks coach at Central Florida with O’ Leary. I’m quite certain that does not require a business degree.
Well, if O’Leary helped him with his resume, it doesn’t really matter what kind of degree he has…
By Fun Razor
July 18, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this
I have watched David Greene play ball since he was in elementary school. He wasn’t always the most talented kid in youth sports, but he was smart and level headed in all situations. Given time and the right opportunity, some NFL team in the future will be glad they signed him on board. Good interview of a class act.
By Chris
July 18, 2008 11:06 PM | Link to this
How many National Championships Games did D. GREENE play in while making his winning record? 0-0-0, NFL wins 0-0-0, NFL Paycheck Priceless. MANNING 1 Nat. Championship game, and 4 NFL championship games.
By DawgHater
July 18, 2008 11:14 PM | Link to this
GT’s E. LEE IVORY ran for 328 yards in the snow and ice at Air Force. D. Greene won against teams that were .386 in his 4 years. Boy he KICKED BUTT, but no Tiffany’s FOOTBALL in the HOUSE.
By chris
July 18, 2008 11:19 PM | Link to this
I am not sure but didn’t Manning play in League Championship games more than NFL Superbowl Championships?
By chris
July 19, 2008 12:59 AM | Link to this
My Child can figure the $10+ the 2 seats = 11,131.00 to see the HEARTBREAK that will be UGA VII’s FIRST YEAR. PRICELESS!
By Walt
July 19, 2008 2:35 AM | Link to this
Chris are you retarded?
By DisneyDawg
July 19, 2008 3:37 AM | Link to this
I’m amazed at the number of people who would have us believe that these former Dawgs are somehow unsuccessful has-beens. Their envy is showing, and the vitriolic bile that they pass off as conversation is not welcome. Show just a litle class and respect for what these young men are trying to accomplish this weekend. It’s for an honorable cause, something that’s apparently foreign to most of these negative bloggers.
By Zeb
July 19, 2008 5:00 AM | Link to this
Disney, the fact that Chris can procreate is beyond me. I didn’t know Dungeons and Dragons had a learning program about sex. But they obviously have a disillusionment program that only a select few of GT people have the password for. Sir, you don’t really have a child…..do you?? If you do please don’t raise him or her like you. Raise them NOT to be an idiot.
Why can’t you just stop hatin’? David Greene was the winningest college football QB to date. We’re talkin college moron. Some of us don’t give a crap about the NFL. And yes, I’m aware that Greene was much more suited for college, but that happens to about 70% of college QB’s out there.
I watch college football and the Falcons, cause they’re my home team. I don’t fault ANYONE for following every other sport, but I dam sure don’t want them to say I’m not a sports fan just because I’m not a sports junkie. But ya know what, I’m OK with that. You do what YOU do, and I’ll do what I do.
Chris, I hope that someone stole your name about the priceless comment, and if so, I apologize to you. If not, everything stands.
By heeldawg
July 19, 2008 6:36 AM | Link to this
Chris:
First of all, I’m amazed that you would have the audacity to put Joe Hamilton in a roll call of Tech QBs who have been successful after graduation. Hamilton was successful in humiliating himself and embarassing his university, but that’s about the extent of it. He was a bust in the pros, and his coaching/administrative career has disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Second, to randomly select players throughout history to illustrate your point about Tech vs Georgia opens the door to a lot of discussions about relevance. Let’s look at the Georgia QBs you mentioned, and throw a few more names in the mix. Eric Zeier, for example (who was better on the field than any Tech QB you’ve discussed) is a successful banker in Atlanta. David Greene and DJ Shockley are still in the NFL, and are solid citizens and role models for young men (let’s contrast them with, say, Joe Hamilton. Hmmmmm). Mike Bobo is Georgia’s OC, and is on the fast track to being a college football head coach someday. Zeke Bratkowski, who recently passed away, was and NFL head coach for years. And did you ever hear of Fran Tarkenton? He’s another former Georgia QB who has done quite well for himself.
By contrast, you mention John Dewberry (a Georgia transfer who spent only two years at Tech). He is an Atlanta developer, it’s true, and he (and his boyfriend) are doing quite well lately. But Fran Tarkenton could buy and sell him. And Joe Hamilton? ‘Nuff said. Shaun Jones? Did he even take a snap at QB in the NFL? And what is he doing now? George Godsey? Oh, he’s O’ Leary’s QB coach. I think Mike Bobo has eclipsed him just a bit, so you lose that comparision.
All in all, I think the former Georgia QBs are doing quite well as compared to the former Tech QBs—jut like they eclipsed them on the field. Your argument about post-graduate success just doesn’t hold water.
Oh, and you mentioned Ken Whisenhunt (whose name you misspelled—great Tech education there!), who is the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. He was a tight end at Tech, not a QB. But if you want to open the post-graduate success discussion up to non-QBs, have at it. What about Billy Payne, Atlanta attorney, former U. S. Olympic Chairman and now Executive Director of Augusta National? Or Terrell Davis and Hines Ward, both Super Bowl MVPs? Or Terry Hoage, 12-year NFL veteran who now owns a successful winery in California? Or Richard Tardits, a Georgia walk-on from France, who was All-SEC, honorable mention All-American, played in the NFL, received an NFL post-graduate fellowship, got an MBA at Georgia, and who now manages a golf resort in the Pyrenees in France? Or Bill Goldberg, a former NFL player who went on to a successful career in wrestling and who is now an actor and entrepreneur? Or Tommy Lawhorne and Happy Dicks, both Georgia players who went on the be physicians?
And speaking of medicine, why limit it to football? You could talk about Chad and Alec Kessler, both All-SEC players in basketball who both went on to medical school?
The bottom line is, your argument that a Tech degree has somehow better prepared the former players you cited for life after football is simply not supported by the hard data. You randomly selected a few players and left out others, which is about as un-scientific an approach as you could use in this sort of endeavor. And even using the players you’ve cited, the former Georgia QBs (and other players, since you felt compelled to mention Ken Whisenhunt, even though you had no idea how to spell his name) have done better in the NFL and in life.
Sorry, Chump. You lose this one.
By CarolinaJacket
July 19, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
Thanks to everyone has/is supporting the Victory Junction Gang. That is a fantastic organization that brings joy to seriously ill and terminal children. Kyle Petty has done a wonderful job leading this worthy cause.
By DisneyDawg
July 19, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
heeldawg, I could not put up a more concise arument for scholar athletes at UGA. Thanks for the update on some of the Dawgs from past teams and other sports. It just illustrates the point that I’ve been trying to make- the University is a quality institute of higher education and the opportunity is there for these student-athletes to improve themselves. I’m not degrading other schools; it just so happens that if you want to excel in sports and academics there are very few schools available, and GT is not one of them. They are a technical school (by name and inference) with a decent, but not great, athletic program. But to argue these points with the opinionated haters that infest this blog is to engage in a fruitless exercise. You see, they’re not so much GT fans (or fans of any other school) so much as they are virulently anti-UGA. It’s almost a psychosis. And Zeb, we can always hope that Chris shoots blanks. My parents taught me that God doesn’t give us more than we can bear.
By shane #1
July 19, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
Heeldawg, Kirby Moore heads His own Law firm in Macon, and Bill Stanfill has done very well in real estate here in Albany. The stereotype that fans have of Div 1 football players are amusing. Get to know some of these guys and You will find that They are indivuals, as diverse as the rest of Us. Speaking of individuals, We have to mention Jake Scott, Super Bowl MVP and five time All Pro. Jake was living on one of the out islands in Hawaii, WAY out! One reporter was able to track Him down a couple of years ago and found Him in “the last house, on the last road, on the last island, in the last State, before the US drops off into the Pacific Ocean.” He may still be there, only His close friends know, and They ain’t telling. Jake won the SEC player of the year award while at UGA, it’s in His Moms house, He never bothered to attend the awards ceremony so His Mom had to pick it up. He was voted into The Ga sports Hall of Fame, again, He didn’t attend the Awards dinner. Jake told that reporter, “I like to live simply”. He doesn’t care about fame or money at all, just as long as He has enough to buy fishing takle and drinks at His favorite bar. Jake Scott, free spirit.
By DisneyDawg
July 19, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
We would be remiss to forget our own Damon Evans, Athletic Director for the University. Like him or not, he’s a huge success story. Some NFL players we haven’t mentioned: Guy McIntyre, Freddie Gilbert (from my hometown, Griffin), Kevin Butler, Richard Seymour, and Marcus Stroud. There are many more, but I think the point is well-made that success from our players comes on and off the field.
By heeldawg
July 19, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
Shane #1 and DisneyDawg:
Thanks for adding to the roll call of successful former Georgia players. There are many, many more, obviously (how could I not mention Damon Evans?), but I think the point is pretty well-made: there are plenty of examples of outstanding scholar-athletes from the University of Georgia’s football program. The flimsy argument that Chris made earlier has been refuted by a factor of 10.
By CarolinaJacket
July 19, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
Nice story on Jake Scott, a hell of a football player. I hope he is enjoying his days on the islands. Enjoy a drink on those of us who appreciate your great play.
By shane#1
July 19, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
Carolina Jacket, I am fortunate enough to be friends with one of Jake’s friends. Jake was a legend in the NFL and at UGA. He was a well known prankstrer and practical jokester and always kept whatever locker room he was in in an uproar. Shula once asked Him to lead the team in Their pre-game prayer, I can’t quote the “prayer” because the only part that the AJC would allow is the opening “Dear Lord”. The gist of Jakes prayer was asking the help of the Lord in breaking a certain All Pro WR’s legs so that the Man couldn’t catch, “a pass on Me!” They say that Shula, a devout Catholic went ballistic! Later on He was heard to remark, “I should have known better than to ask Him.” Jake also pulled the chair out from under “Mean Joe” Green at the dinner table in the AFC Pro Bowl training camp. Joe hit the floor and His food went everywhere. A big guy once walked up to Jake in a bar in Colorado and told Jake that he had heard He was a Pro Football player. When Jake said that was true the guy said “I am the toughest SOB around here and I am going to whip your a*.” Jake cold cocked the big guy with one punch, looked around the bar and said, “is He really the toughest Ya’ll have around here?”
By CarolinaJacket
July 19, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this
What a guy. This is what p** me off about these blogs. Folks get so caught up with their teams that they can’t see that every team has good guys and bad guys. I would be honored to meet Jake, or some of the other neat guys from any football team. Anybody who really believes that their school has all the good guys and the othe schools have all the bad guys has a lot to learn about life.
By DisneyDawg
July 19, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this
That’s so true, CarolinaJacket. I really don’t care to put other schools down (my ex-fiancee went to GT) as much as I want to build mine up. My nephew goes to ND, and far be it from me to knock on the Irish, even though I’m not a fan of the school and I dislike Charlie Weis as a Coach. I live in Gator land, went to the Cap One Bowl with my best friend (he’s a Gator), and managed to stay more or less neutral throughout the game. Of course, it helped that Michigan was the opponent. One thing I certainly do not do, however, is go on a Gator blog and put their school down. That lacks couth. I may verbally spar over athletics, but the school’s reputation is off-limits. Even when I said what I did about Tech, it wasn’t so much a dig as it was a statement about the limitations of their curriculum. I hope others can see the difference between athletics and academics before they start slingin’ the mud.
By shane#1
July 19, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
You know what’s funny? The players from rival schools get along much better than the fans. I went to a party a few years ago and there were several old Div 1 ballers there. Guys from UGA, Auburn and Tech. They had a great time swapping war stories. No trash talk, but a lot of mutial respect.
By DisneyDawg
July 20, 2008 1:41 AM | Link to this
When you take into account that most of these guys were recruited by the very same schools, and went to the same football camps, it should make sense that thet would be familiar with, and have a healthy respect for, each other. It’s too bad it doesn’t rub off a little more on the fans, but we, by definition, are supposed to be partisan. If only they could separate the schools’ academic integrity with respect to the average students, I’d be happy. Is their some favoritism at work when it comes to athletes? Probably, but I can state with experience that, in graduating from UGA, nothing was given to me. I earned my A’s just as much as my C’s. Thankfully, there were fewer of the latter.
But I digress. The point is, we don’t have to smear the opposing institution just because we’re playing their football or basketball (or whatever) team. Too much to hope for, I’m sure.
By Rabun Dawg
July 20, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this
Hey, Carolina, Disney, Shane, you guyt are right on with your latest comments. I wrote a personal note to Bobby Cremmins when he was let go by Tech that I admired him ,and that i would like to see him as the UGA coach one day if the opportunity ever presented itself. He wrote me a personal note on Tech stationary thanking me for my comments, and his final comment was that too many took the rivalry too far! I think that that is what you guys are implying, and I concur.
By reality check
July 21, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
The negativity on this blog is mostly from people who have never accomplished anything.
There are many great football programs and even mediocre college football players are easily in the top 1% of the population as far as athletic skills. Criticism from people who couldn’t carry their jock strap is silly. It says nothing meaningful about the ability of the athlete. Criticism is all about the inadequacies of the critc.
By Norcross, GA Jackson
July 21, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this
It doesn’t matter if you like Ice Cream or Bagels. In Atlanta, you can eat anything you want. Please enjoy your stay and thanks for spending time in the Peach State.
By Hater Bob
July 21, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
Hey Norcross Jackson,
Tell your wife and my kids I say “Hello”.
By reality check
July 21, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
Shane, I know Jake pretty well. The guy he mentioned in the “prayer” was Bobby Moore whom he had gotten to know really well - and like - at the pro bowl the year before.
He is really more of a free spirit than a prankster though. He doesn’t care for authority figures, including Shula and Dooley. That was the reason for the “prayer”.
His house - actually houses - on Kuai isn’t really that remote and he is extremely social - not a recluse as some describe him.
By Phlegm in my esophagus
July 21, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
Before Grandpa was a UGA head coach, he was a Boy Scout leader AND a catholic priest…
By hero
July 21, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
My Great-Grandmother was the first lesbian at UGA.
By Anything you can do I can do better
July 21, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Oh yeah, well…my grandparent was the first student to get expelled.
By life long dawg
July 25, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Greene needa a chance, hopefully now he will get one.
On another front, I’m glad the media, at the SEC Media Days, picked Florida to win the East and the SEC Championship. It shows they have no respect for the UGA. This should be bulletin board material.
By Pigskin Life.
July 25, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
I was the best player on my high school team. I made incredible plays all season long, but every time I did, the coach was picking his butt, looking at the clouds, slobbering over the cheerleaders or zoning.
I never got credit. All my team mates knew it. All the parents knew it. All the opposing players and coaches knew what a star I was, but the coach didn’t know I existed, and rarely played me.
That’s why I hate football, and sports, and cheerleaders, and PE and baseball, and hockey and basketball, and ping pong golf, volleyball, and everything else in the world.
I coulda been the king of football, but no, the coach was too busy being a jerk.
Life is not fair. Now, I’m a nobody, delivering pizzas to other jerks. even though I could take any team in the NFL to the superbowl because I AM MR FOOTBALL.
Too bad for the falcons. Too bad for the bulldogs.
Too bad for der verld. I wish Greene well, but if the coach isn’t paying attention when he does well, he may as well deliver pizzas. Coaching is the key. If the coach aint even watching, then forget it.
Good luck Greene! Hope your football program has professionals and not jerks.
By Footloose Football
July 26, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this
Yeah, the same thing happened to me, Pigskin. I was better than the Heisman Trophy winner, and even better than OJ. I could throw the football 75 yards on a dime. I could run the 100 yard dash in 8 seconds on a penny. I could catch any pass thrown to me with one hand on a nickle, man. I was the greatest. But the coach never paid attention to me. He always had some coach’s pet he promoted. It was rigged. I never had a chance. the coach would rather lose the state championship than play me and win. I hate all sports now. But it’s more than just sports I hate, I hate politics, news, weather, traffic, music, talk radio, breakfast, lunch and dinner, and all the between meal snacks, like the mid-morning snack, the before mid-morning snack, the after mid-morning snack, the before lunch snack, the after lunch snack, the before mid-afternoon snack, the after mid-afternoon snack, the before dinner snack, the after-dinner snack, the before hannah montanna show snack, the hannah montanna show snack AND the after-hannah montanna show snack.
I hate all these things because of my stinking coach.
By The Love Hack
July 28, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this
Pigskin, Footloose, your stories have touched me. Sports, and recognition in sports are two major components of developement. It’s just no good unless someone saw you make that catch.
I was the coolest football player ever. The cheerleaders were casting lots for my jock strap. I had arranged a midnight meeting with the head cheerleader underneath the bleachers at the football stadium.
I got there, and nobody was around, so when the cheerleader showed up, I knew it was hands on the grounds, steady as she goes.
But then……..(stay tuned for part two of, Clinton was just a dude, man.)
By JW
July 29, 2008 4:19 AM | Link to this
**By Haywood Jablowme
July 18, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
Now…..Greene is actually too slow to be an NFL qb. That’s basically his biggest problem. He has enough of an arm, but is definitely NOT “fleet of foot”……**
Actually, that’s not true either. Greene is plenty fast enough for an NFL QB. He’s faster than Aikman or Bledsoe was. His clocked 40 prior to the draft was faster than Jason Campbell’s who, God only knows how, starts for the Redskins. That complete hacks like Brody Croyle (who has a frequent patient parking spot at the hospital), Eli Manning (Super Bowl MVP my butt, look at his career and game stats), Jason Campbell, and Jay (could choke against UT with the best of ‘em) Cutler are all starters whereas Greene is not tells me there’s little rhyme or reason to the process. Think about it. Had Drew Bledsoe not have gotten hurt, we may have never heard of Tom Brady. Jamarcus Russell was supposed to be the next amazing QB and how has that worked even with the opportunities he’s had? What about Vince Young? He’s still starting despite throwing only 9 TD’s and 17 interceptions in his SECOND season. I almost forgot is 22 career fumbles. He’ll never do squat in the NFL. Norm Chow said he was the laziest QB he’d ever been around. The Chiefs released Greene while keeping three QB’s from their previous roster all of whom had shown an inability to win. That’s Herm Edwards for you, the dumbest coach in the NFL. Greene should try to get on in St. Louis (aging and injury-prone QB’s), Arizona (as Leinart is proving to be a liability both on and off the field), Chicago or Miami. The fact is that Greene has never been given an honest shot. Holmgren did not want to draft a QB at Seattle but the owners did. Holmgren never failed to let the owners know that which was well publicized in the Seattle area. Keep in mind that Holmgren’s unrelenting arrogance is what made the city of Green Bay not shed a tear when he left.
By The Love Hack
July 29, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
It’s too bad you’re not the coach, JW. You know this greene dude pretty well. You might actually give him a shot. It’s all in the coaching. A coach has to know who will grow in what position.
You seem like you’re a natural, pal.
By The Love Hack
July 29, 2008 10:41 PM | Link to this
Part 2 of “Clinton was just a dude, man.”
…so underneath the bleachers there are no rules. I spent alot of time underneath the bleachers in high school, so I knew what to expect. A giggled greeting. very small talk. The touch. That first touch, and you knew it was going to happen. The way it rocked your friday midnight…..life had purpose.
The thing about underneath the bleachers is that people throw bubble gum and candy wrappers, popcorn bags, and coke cups there so it’s hard to find a good piece of clean ground. Also, many couples like to meet underneath the bleachers at midnight and well, it gets crowded sometimes. But that’s a good thing, especially if you’re into team sports……
Stay tuned for part 3 of “If Hillary knew half the stuff she wouldn’t have married him….”
By The Love Hack
July 30, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
Part three of “Hillary’s revenge”.
…Suddenly, all bets were off. There was a presence, uninvited and innapropriate underneath those same bleachers that me and the head cheerleader were under. It was the PE teacher, Mr. Jones. Now I was only 17, and I hadn’t been around the block too often, but I knew I was in trouble. First, we weren’t supposed to be underneath the bleachers at midnight, everyone knew that rule. Second, if he ratted me out to Principal Skinnerd, then I’d lose the Penmanship Scholarship that I was counting on to get through junior college. But there was no way I could have predicted what he did next. The head cheerleader, nearly forty years later, still emails me about having nightmares remembering the horrible things that happened to us that night. “Mr. Jones, we were just police-ing the area. We thought we’d do our part to….”
SHADDAP, you little punks, or I’ll rat you both out to Principle Skinnerd.
Now I was always suspicious of Mr Jones because he insisted on showering with us after PE every day. He’d hold facecloth seminars where he’d demonstrate the proper cleaning techniques for properly clean atheletes. (Counter clockwise swirls are best for the larger skin surfaces. I did not know that, sir).
He stumbled toward us in the dark, I could tell he was drunk, and I could smell the whiskey as he breathed on my neck and grabbed at me with his filthy paws……and I liked it! I LIKED IT!! (stephen king, “Carrie”)
JK lol
stay tuned for part four of, “If monica had stayed quiet, I’d have gotten out of that mess, yet on the other hand, if she had a bigger mouth I wouldn’t have stained her dress. Go figure.”
By JW=retard
August 5, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this
Did you just say that Eli Manning is a “hack” and infer that Greene would do better? He won a superbowl as the biggest underdog team EVER. Granted, he is not the greatest QB, but the fact that they won the superbowl speaks for itself.
You ugay fans are delusional to the point of pyschosis. Unreal. Just unreal. You are just making excuses for Greene and how “he hasn’t been given a fiar shot”. The dawg nation is the biggest group of self-righteous, bandwagon morons ever. Just make excuses for everything. You can’t believe that maybe he isn’t cut out for the NFL can you? Those NFL teams all have something against UGA, RIGHT!!! They would rather play with a worse qb than win with an allstar like Greene!
Reading through these blogs, im always amazed at how there are always ugay fans complaining and making excuses for EVERYTHING. Everything that happens can be blamed on someone else, and its never fair right? JW, you sir, are an idiot.
By Thank you ma'am, may I have another?
August 8, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS.
By old gold
August 12, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
In all seriousness if Greene and Pollack can’t have solid NFL careers then who can? UGA has placed several successfull running backs and guys like Ward into the NFL but who really tells these high school kids that their chances are slim to none. The opinion of the high-schoolers that they can sign the fat contract is what drives the whole system but the facts don’t show it. No news here but you’d think they would learn
By JW
August 26, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this
JW=retard, If I am a “retard” I guess that you make you the lowest of the mentally deficient: A LOW-GRADE MORON! ELI MANNING IS A HACK. He was rated #25 out of 32 QB’s in 2007, well below such impressive QB’s as Brian Griese and Damon Huard. He completed two passes in that game of any significance, one of which I still contend was trapped as that ball on the guy’s helmet was moving all the way to the turf. Never mind the ridiculous hold that didn’t get called that made that throw possible. “MVP” Manning went 19 of 34 for two TD’s and a pick while the non-winning QB who was running for his life completed 60% of his passes, threw for a TD, and didn’t throw a pick. Manning is a 54.7% career passer and even after three seasons basically threw for as many interceptions as he did TD’s in 2007 (23/20.) Right before the playoffs, Giants fans wanted his head on a platter. What does it tell you in Seattle that the third string QB this year (Frye, brought in to replace Greene) has had significant playing time in the pre-season (that Greene never saw) and in so doing has the SECOND LOWEST QB RATING IN THE PRE-SEASON? What it tells me is that Holmgren has ZERO interest in giving any reps to guys he didn’t personally pick. Even at KC, Greene never got a snap with second-team squad let alone the first-team squad. Croyle, for whatever reason, was pre-ordained by Herm Edwards NOT Chan Gailey to be the starter. Greene could be a Brady or Manning type player. Good Lord, look at the guy’s stats which were made especially impressive given that his offensive line in his junior and senior years gave up more sacks than any other in the SEC and that’s a fact! For all the MORONS who say Greene isn’t fast enough, Tom Brady timed out at 4.99 in the 40 prior to the 2000 draft. Last I heard, Peyton’s 40 speed was between 4.8-4.9 which would make him slower than Greene. Troy Aikman ran a 4.8. Open field speed is of little value at the NFL QB spot. It didn’t do anything for Vick who had one of the lowest QB ratings every season.