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AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2009 > January > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USA matter of perspective
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After spending the past week sitting with my two brothers as our 86-year-old father is tended to by the doctors and nurses of the Intensive Care Unit of Athens Regional Medical Center, I feel a bit disconnected from the world at large, including the sports world. But believe me, when someone you love is seriously ill, the ups and downs of college athletics are less than a top priority.
Not completely out of mind, though. My brother Jon the gymnastics fan has kept us up to date on the Gym Dogs. And sitting with our uncle the other day talking about Dad, we still managed to touch briefly on the football prospects for next season and the budding disaster that is the current UGA men’s basketball team. We even caught a few minutes of that best-forgotten game against Kentucky between hospital visits.
Before Dad fell ill last week, I had planned on writing about the always-next-year nature of the basketball program under Dennis Felton … and that was when they were still two games up in the win column. The point of discussion was to be the standard excuse for Felton’s teams that they’re “very young.” Unfortunately, because of players lost to injury, academics and clashes of will with the coach, Felton’s teams seem never seem to grow up. Georgia basketball has become sort of Dennis Felton’s Never Never Land.
Earlier in the season, I thought the current team’s youth and the promise of Trey Thompkins might buy Felton at least another season. But now I’m not so sure. The dismal effort shown by the Dawgs since they entered conference play seems to be a symptom of more than just youth. They don’t look very well coached.
It might come down at season’s end to whether Damon Evans and Michael Adams think anyone better than Felton is available and willing to embark on yet another rebuilding project in Athens.
But, then, we had come to that conclusion last year before the Dawgs’ remarkable run to the SEC Tournament title changed all that. For a while at least.
If I’ve had any lesson reinforced in this past week, it’s that you have to take things one day at a time and that you should never lose hope, no matter the odds.
A good thing to keep in mind.
Comments
By GW
January 20, 2009 12:24 PM | Link to this
“Anyone better than Felton available?” You must be kidding Bill. Prayers to your family.
By DawgGirl32
January 20, 2009 1:12 PM | Link to this
Your family is in my prayers, Bill. I’m not too fond of mid-season firings, and I think we have a better chance of finding someone to replace DF at the end of the year rather than on some whim in the middle of the season. I really like and respect the guy, but I also really want something to look forward to when football season is done (besides gymnastics, baseball, and tennis, that is). Winters are dreary enough.
By Football Ken
January 20, 2009 1:40 PM | Link to this
Hey Bill,
Enuff is enuff. We can play great football & have a great b-ball team, too. Look at Oklahoma, Texas Ohio State and even the GAYTORS. It’s time to turn the page on Felton. Your analasyis is correct, every year the excuse is “we’re young”, he never keeps players around to grow the program. 1 or 2 senoirs a year, not good. Let’s throw some big $$ at Few (Gonzaga), Grant (VCU), Dixon (Pitt) and Miller (Xavier). Anything is better than this.
By Dogbyte
January 20, 2009 5:19 PM | Link to this
Bill-Take care of the important things(your Father)and the less-important things will take care of themselves.
By Hoops
January 20, 2009 6:02 PM | Link to this
Bill-
Hope your dad is doing better.
Someone has to explain how Felton still has a job. This team is as bad as his 2nd team. He has been here 6 years. Germany and Japan took less time to rebuild than our program. Bryce Drew took over a much worse situation at Baylor, and he has turned the Bears into winners.
Keep hope alive and fire him now…YES WE CAN!!
By Robards
January 21, 2009 12:22 AM | Link to this
I think it’s Scott Drew at Baylor, Bryce’s brother and Homer’s son.
By Sautee Dawg
January 21, 2009 8:34 AM | Link to this
Bill
Good luck with your dad, going thru the same with mine, Our kids are trying on the court so give them credit, best strategy for this season is to let them run and have fun, Main thing our team is lacking is defence, hustle.
Get well to your dad
By Nodog
January 21, 2009 8:45 AM | Link to this
Why we all get caught up in college athletics is beyond me. I have on occasion, but I have also been where you are with your father and family. It is a humbling experience and will ground you to realize what is important, not only with your family, but other families that you encounter while dealing with your own emotions. Just know you are not alone in this journey. I am sure a lot of your dawg bloggers/fans are praying along with me. God Bless You and Your Family.
By 74Dawg
January 21, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this
Best wishes to you and your family Bill. Coach Felton…wow.. How long do you give a guy? Every year there is some fiasco not of his making that becomes an excuse. Is Georgia BB in the same category as Tech and Auburn football? You are just not a big magnet for a top level coach? I don’t think so. Georgia has the same kind of talent pool in BB as it does in football. This should be handled with class and no clandestine searches in season. That said, Damon Evans should start thinking about the direction he wants to go with that program when the season is over, and stick with it.
By Rick S
January 22, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this
Felton has been given six years to turn Georgia Basketball around but there is always new excuses whether it be youth, academics, injuries, disipline, etc., but enough is enough and it’s more than time to move on as there are some excellent coaches that would take advantage of the tremendous High School talent in Georgia and turn the Basketball program into a consistent winner!
By Michael Scharff
January 22, 2009 1:06 PM | Link to this
Bill, I hope that your father returns to good health soon. Regards to you and your family.
By T
January 23, 2009 10:18 PM | Link to this
You and your family are in my prayers. God Bless
By Congrats
January 24, 2009 1:38 AM | Link to this
Beat Bama in Gym. Big Congrats.
By doug
January 26, 2009 2:21 AM | Link to this
Why dont we just dis-continue B-Ball at Uga. Same old diarrhea every year. They suck. If they get a good player he usually flunks out, gets suspended or something.They make an occasional run but the luck runs out and they get flushed down the toilet.I think Steagman would make a fine research lab or book depository. Hey Im an optimist too.
By Mowreck
January 26, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this
Best wishes with your family, Bill … they are in my prayers. from Larry, a GT fan.
By 2 old 2
January 28, 2009 2:31 PM | Link to this
Didn’t take long for the surgery/miss spring practice(Samuel)parade to begin again, did it?
By jimmyingainesville
January 29, 2009 4:18 AM | Link to this
Bill… our thoughts and prayers are with your dad and you. I’m glad it’s first things first with you.
LOOK AT FELTON’S RECORD … how can it even be that hhe is still around. Felton is gone … out the door … He’s been the WORST basketball coach Georgia ever had (including Ron J). Damon Evans must make the move. Michael Adams must insist. All loyal Georgia fans should let their feelings be known. I’ve never seen anything as ridiculous as Dennis Felton at Georgia in my life. He is a loser and his record proves it. He’s a dead horse. I would wager the ranch that Felton is gone as soon as this horrible season is over. Bring back Tubby!
By mostindicative
January 29, 2009 1:15 PM | Link to this
He has no job any more…