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DEL.ICIO.USUGA lands 17th commitment; Love to visit Athens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/28/07 9:00 PM
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Two days ago, Mark Richt was expounding on how his new role — just head coach, no longer offensive coordinator — has helped him expand his role in recruiting.
The coach and Georgia seemed to drive that point home Friday as the Bulldogs picked up their 17th commitment of the 2008 class.
Marcus Dowtin, a linebacker from Virginia’s Fork Union Military Academy, is the latest to commit to Georgia, according to Scout.com.
Dowtin has been a two-way player at Fork Union. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a running back. At linebacker he had 90 plus tackles last season.
Dowtin has always been considered a linebacker at the next level. In fact, he had several ACC schools — Virginia Tech, Clemson and Maryland — recruiting him for that position as well. Michigan and Nebraska were also interested in Dowtin.
Dowtin excelled at the Georgia camp earlier this month. It was at that time he also fell for Georgia.
Love sets date with Dawgs
Star offensive tackle Tyler Love of Mountain Brook (Ala.) plans to visit Georgia on July 20.
The 6-foot-7, 285-pound Love, who is weighing scholarship offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia and Oklahoma, said he’s excited about his third trip to Athens.
“I’ve been there twice and I just love the atmosphere, the campus and the coaching staff,” Love said. “Coach Richt is one of my favorite coaches. His personality is amazing.
“He’s a good Christian man. I enjoy talking to him about things other than football.”
Love, who said he has no front-runner as of Thursday evening, participated in a day camp at Alabama last week.
“It was fun,” Love said. “It was more like a relaxed visit just to get a feel for the university. I hung out with the players and coaches, but mostly the players.”
Love said friends and relatives frequently attempt to sway him to commit to the in-state Crimson Tide.
“They all do,” he said. “It’s kind of hard being a player from Alabama and not play for Alabama. But sometimes you just have to explore your options.”
Demps claims four offers
Virginia Tech heads the list of schools with scholarship offers to Peachtree Ridge cornerback Cameron Demps.
The 5-foot-10, 172-pound Demps also has offers from Buffalo, Ole Miss and North Carolina.
Demps will visit South Florida and Florida in July.
“I don’t have an offer from Florida yet, but I think they’re close [to offering],” Demps said.
Demps placed the Hokies at the top of his recruiting list.
“It’s probably Virginia Tech right now, then North Carolina, Ole Miss and Buffalo,” he said.
Demps analyzes his current choices:
Virginia Tech - “Their campus is different. The buildings are way different. I really like the atmosphere. They always have a good team and, basically, the defense attracts me.”
North Carolina - “Their campus is really nice. I’ve talked to [coach] Butch Davis. I like him. He came from Miami. He just always seems to have good players.”
Ole Miss - “I like the stadium and it looks like a good environment. And they’ve got a good graduation rate. I’ve met their coach [Ed Orgeron]. I talked to him in person during spring break.”
Buffalo - “I really don’t know anything about them yet. I’m doing research on them. They’ve offered three of us defensive backs here at Peachtree Ridge.”
Tucker cornerback explains Irish commitment
In the end, it came down to Michigan, Notre Dame and LSU for Tucker cornerback Jamoris Slaughter.
When he made his selection on Tuesday, Slaughter, a longtime Wolverine fan, pulled a slight shocker by committing to the Irish.
“It was the best school for me,” Slaughter said. “I know they can help you out on and off the field and academically. They have good alumni support. And they wanted me to come in and play early.”
Notre Dame has told the 6-foot, 175-pound Slaughter, who has been clocked in the 40 at 4.4 seconds, he will play either free safety or cornerback.
“I really don’t have a preference,” he said. “I’ll play wherever they need me most.”
Slaughter said Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis’ father-like actions played a role in his decision to commit to the Irish.
“I really like him,” Slaughter said. “He cares about you a lot. He’s not worried just about football. He cares about your education. He wants to make sure you get to class.”
Slaughter surprised himself by choosing Notre Dame over his beloved Wolverines.
“I was never a big Irish fan,” Slaughter admitted. “I was always a big Michigan fan. I’ve been a Georgia fan too, but I mostly like Michigan.
“I just thought this was best for me.”
Stockbridge back has three offers
Stockbridge running back Rashaad White has scholarship offers from Georgia Southern, Navy and Miami, Ohio.
“I’ve just been working hard this summer,” White said. “I hope to get a couple new offers over the next two months.”
White participated in the recent Nike camp at Georgia.
“You get a lot of exposures at these camps,” White said. “A lot of coaches see you. I think they’re worthwhile.”
Farley adds new offer
Grady linebacker Darryl Farley claimed an offer from Middle Tennessee State earlier this week.
“They’re on my radar,” Farley said.
He already had offers from Marshall, Ole Miss, Ohio and Tulane.
A pair of Division I programs who have yet to offer are staying in touch with Farley.
“Louisville and Northwestern always text me,” he said.
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Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Chuck Dawg
June 28, 2007 9:39 PM | Link to this
Maybe White will be the Rozier of the 2008 class…except commit to UGA
By Citizen
June 28, 2007 10:40 PM | Link to this
White, why don’t you come to tech where you will actually have a chance to play and the Tickle Piles are great too.
By ol brave
June 29, 2007 6:31 AM | Link to this
Jeff Hood, did you go to journalism school or did you just take courses from the AJC staff? I would guess the staff, since you are like all the others and get your information from other journalistic sources. If the staff can’t get info from SI, or Rivals or Scout or TSN, they just are pathetic. Why aren’t there any journalist anymore. Like Furman Bisher, the late great Jesse Outlar and others. No wonder you guys are constantly criitized - you just don’t WORK! You write from reading others that write. Two writes make a wrong.
By FIUmom
June 29, 2007 6:58 AM | Link to this
NOW IN GEORGIA!!!
SunshinePreps, a site long known for helping get kids to colleges at all levels in Florida, expanded into Texas a couple of years ago. Now, they are bringing their stuff to the Peach State. These guys work very, very closely with colleges at the D-I, D-IAA, D-II, and D-III levels by providing them with top notch video and contact information on players of all skill levels. I am living proof that it works, as my son and 3 of his teammates were discovered by FIU by seeing their film on SunshinePreps. Any player or coach of a player who has film can send it in. They don’t have to have highlight film (and prefer not to have it). They edit game film and highlight the player in question. Check out their website at www.SunshinePreps.net and see for yourself. And….send in your tapes to Sunshine Preps P.O. Box 639 Cassville, GA 30123 ATTN: Darby. BELIEVE ME….THEY ARE GOOD!!
By Charles
June 29, 2007 7:15 AM | Link to this
Why don’t the discussions ever talk about Tech recruiting. More AJC bias and silliness about Tickle Piles.
By JR
June 29, 2007 8:03 AM | Link to this
The last time I looked Tech had verbal commitments from 3 girlie men. What is there to talk about?
By JR
June 29, 2007 8:05 AM | Link to this
The last time I looked Tech had verbal commitments from 3 girlie men. What is there to talk about?
By Sam
June 29, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this
It’s simple, Charles. If you don’t want discussion about GT Tickle Piles, stop holding them and get in touch with your masculine side.
By 2000 Grad
June 29, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this
I realize Tickle Piles are a part of Tech campus life but as a former student athlete I can tell you that most athletes do not participate!!
By GhostDawg
June 29, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
Love sure says the right things, however, it will take anact of God to get him out of Alabama.
By Wozzo the Wonder Dog
June 29, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this
All you need is Love. John Lennon. Smart man, shot in the back. Very sad.
By johnny
June 29, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this
will someone please explain to me what the ticle piles
By johnny
June 29, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
will someone please explain to me what the ticle piles are?
By Dawgstompper
June 29, 2007 11:33 AM | Link to this
Sure thing johnny. All it is something that Redneck UGA fans have come up with to make them sound superior to Tech and trying to say Tech is full of girly men. On the contrary, GT has some of the finiest, masculine athletes in the nation. You will never hear about it because the AJC is and always will be up UGA’s butt.
By gtmellon
June 29, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this
Tech should get some big committments late, all the real stars wait until signing day to let their decisions known. Chan’s still got 8 months to flip ‘em and 10 wins this year will go a long way toward that.
By Exley DAWG
June 29, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
I was at the store last night picking up some vitles when I passed by the magazine rack and noticed a Sporting News with Matt Stafford on the cover. Like any Dawg fan would do, I bought it. After 30 minutes of reading I realized this publication was a joke. In the first 5 pages I read that we would be upset by Ok. State, the five toughest schedules in the nation did not even have 1 SEC team listed, (FSU, USC, TCU, Louisville, and Miami) and we would finish 2nd in the East at 9-3 heading to the Capital One Bowl. UGA is getting very little national respect because of last years team. This is going to be a special season my friends. Exley DAWG predictions: 1) The off week before the Florida game will get us over that hurdle and we’ll damage some property on the coast, 2) Erik Ainge falls on his face and Phil Fulmer steps down as coach of UT, 3) Darren McFadden wins the Heisman, 4) Dawgs lose to LSU in the SEC Championship game and goes to the BCS as an at-large team, 5) GA Tech continues to suck.
By DawgStompper
June 29, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this
As usual theres a Dawg fan thats going to have bad case of dillusion. GA Tech still sucks? Never have and and never will, get over yourself Dawg Fans, UGA Sucks.I have looked in the crystal ball myself and I see a slightly different future than yours Exley Dawg. 1) Opeing game, Cowboys saddle up the pupps and send them to the dawghouse! 2) Eric Ainge pass’s for over 300 yards like last year and Mark Right sings the blues. 3) The Florida game, need I say more LOL. Lets just say looong day for Stafford. 4) GT ends the streak with Taylor, Tashard and the Defense own the ” Mighty Dawgs”. Have a great season.
By RxDawg
June 29, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
Brilliant Exley…simply brilliant
By gtmellon
June 29, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this
My GT predictions : Notre Dame (W 1-0), SAMFORD (W 2-0), BOSTON COLLEGE (W 3-0), Virginia (W 5-0), CLEMSON (W 6-0), Maryland (W 7-0), Miami (L 7-1), ARMY (W 8-1), VT (L 8-2), Duke (W 9-2), NORTH CAROLINA (W 10-2), GEORGIA (W 11-2).
ACC champs. Last year we just fell short, this year we have all the pieces.
By JustMe
June 29, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this
Love, you will ‘love’ the tickle piles at UGAG. They often evolve from the football field into the dorm room where there is more privacy.
By GT Robert
June 29, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
As I have said before the discussion of Tickle Piles is best done in private. Outside the Tech family they are misunderstood.
By Cal
June 29, 2007 2:45 PM | Link to this
Hate UGA and all they stand for but I have to admit that Yellow Jacket and Girly-Man are synonymous.
By Dawg Man
June 29, 2007 4:14 PM | Link to this
Not only do they have Tickle Piles at Tech, but each lineman has to play “This little piggy….” with his backup and a rousing game of Ring Around the Rosey has been known to break out.
By Dawg Man
June 29, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this
Not only do they have Tickle Piles at Tech, but each lineman has to play “This little piggy….” with his backup and a rousing game of Ring Around the Rosey has been known to break out.
By Dawg Man
June 29, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this
Not only do they have Tickle Piles at Tech, but each lineman has to play “This little piggy….” with his backup and a rousing game of Ring Around the Rosey has been known to break out.
By GTGreg
June 29, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this
Comments are always funniest when you repeat them three times. Right Dawg Man? Right Dawg Man? Right Dawg Man?
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 29, 2007 7:24 PM | Link to this
Dawgs scored again…..Marcus Dowtin has just become a commit to the Dawg. A lot of teams wanted him…….Is that 17?
By Buck Cochran in the NW
June 29, 2007 7:31 PM | Link to this
Michigan, clemson, Va. and Maryland were the other finalist.Chance to play early was big part of decision.
By Kendall
June 29, 2007 8:43 PM | Link to this
Tech is full of masculine men? How funny. 5 fraternity brothers and myself went to the tech “campus” and retrieved a picture of our little sisters that some ball-less tech nerds stole over break. (didnt have the hendersons to come there when we were there). There were about 60 tech “men” there. After the first 10 went down, the others backed off and let us have what we came for. Not very masculine to me there tech ticklers. Beat us with eligible, non-pot selling players, then talk.
By JustMe
June 29, 2007 9:11 PM | Link to this
Dowtin is a great fit for UGA….. he can go “both ways.” That is perfect for their tickle piles.
By JustMe
June 29, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this
Kendall - Don’t believe you for a sec, and no one with sense would. You just sound like the typical red-neck idiot from UGAY. Beat Tech with non-criminal players, then talk.
By tech4ever
June 29, 2007 10:16 PM | Link to this
JustMe, an ugly bulldog is to Georgia what tickle piles are to Tech. Don’t you dare play off our traditions to the redneck college in Athens. The piles are made with pride, not shame. I don’t think you even went to Georgia Tech.
By shane
June 29, 2007 10:19 PM | Link to this
marcus,welcome aboard,you will love your college days at uga.keep’em coming coach.you guys that are on the fence,enjoy the attention,enjoy your visits,i don’t blame you.just know guys,if you want to play at uga,better commit soon,or you may not have a chance.
By Cliff
June 29, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this
I went to Tech and I’m very insulted at the reference made to us having “tickle piles” on our campus. As men, we didn’t have those. We actually had “pillow fight night” at our slumber parties. There’s nothing wrong with that! The student athletes participated with pride. In fact, it often broke out with a more serious game of “hide the sausage.” We loved it…that’s who we are….Tech!
By JohnDawg
June 29, 2007 10:27 PM | Link to this
Could someone tell me the last time tech beat UGA? I can’t remember…I’m only 65.
Also, I fully respect the ACC and their powerful conference champion..Wake Forest.
(Somebody make me stop laughing!!!)
By Marc Holcomb
June 29, 2007 10:57 PM | Link to this
I wish I had the opportunity to participate in the Tech tickle piles when I was in school. Even though I was on Georgia Tech’s Color Guard I was enrolled at Georgia State. At least I’ll always have my memories of twirling a flag at the Yellow Jacket games :) .
By Marc Holcomb
June 29, 2007 11:01 PM | Link to this
I wish I had the opportunity to participate in the Tech tickle piles when I was in school. Even though I was on Georgia Tech’s Color Guard I was enrolled at Georgia State. At least I’ll always have my memories of twirling a flag at the Yellow Jacket games :) .
By Coach Chan
June 29, 2007 11:29 PM | Link to this
We recruit only the fastest and strongest ticklers in the nation. After we dominate the Dawgs for the 7th time in a row this year we’re going to have a huge tickle pile at the 50 yard line!!!
By HelenHunt w/bad haircut
June 30, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this
Effeminate girly men? You bet they are. World famous tickle piles? Yep, they got those too. Also world class philanthropists. For 3 years in a row now, they have gift wrapped and handed us 3 football games that we couldn’t seem to be able to win on our own. Nice bunch of fellas in MY book!
By ????
June 30, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this
What are Tickle Piles?
By billy
June 30, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this
No one outside of Tech really knows for sure. There’s some info on ticklepile.com, but it’s vague.
By Luda
June 30, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this
So let me get this straight. Tech really has tickle piles? Really? That’s not something UGA fans just made up? It would be funny if they did, but they didn’t? Oh, and the AJC isn’t up UGA’s butt, they are up their readers butt. One thing that Tech fans don’t seem to grasp is that there are not that many of them. I’m not sure how many seats Bobby Dodd holds but there sure are a lot of ads for Tech season tickets. They seem to be having trouble filling that stadium up. I remember when it only held about 50,000 and they couldn’t fill that stadium up. Another thing, Tech fans are no where near as passionate about their team as UGA fans. This is evident when Tech fans resort to comebacks like, “wait till basketball season.” It’s sad but true Tech. YOU WILL ALWAYS PLAY SECOND FIDDLE TO UGA IN THIS STATE. THE RECRUITS KNOW IT, THE AJC KNOWS IT, AND YOU KNOW IT. Tickle that.
By Coach Richt
June 30, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this
I disagree with Coach Chan. UGAY always recruits better ticklers than Tech. Our ticklers not only know how to give good tickles, but they can also take the longest tickle on record.
Luda, I am angry that any dawg fan wants to give credit for tickle piles to Tech. We should have more pride than that. We created the tickle pile and they stole it from us.
By james
June 30, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this
actually a tickle pile is a dead ball that the refs fail to blow the whistle to stop the play. The best at the tickle pile is the one that picks up the dead ball and runs for a touchdown with the refs approval.
By JustMe
June 30, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this
Luda, The AJC is up UGAG’s butt. Yes, there are more UGA fans in Atlanta compared to Tech, but there are also tons of fans from UFL, Clemson, etc. However, the AJC is not covering teams per the breakdown of % of fans/readers. They tend to cover UGA by far - and that is what p** people off.
Yes, UGAG has a larger stadium compared to Tech. No one has ever argued that point. However, you are misleading about filling the Tech stadium. Tech has sell outs, but many of the Tech seats are sold to mega-wealthy people/graduates that want to support Tech by buying tickets and then they don’t attend the game(s). This results in empty seats even though the seats were sold.
Yes, UGAG fans are more insane (not passionate) compared to Tech fans. Tech fans are more realistic - something UGAG fans don’t know is reality. Every year, UGAG fans chant ‘national championship’ and every year the team falls far short. I won’t call that passionate, but dilusional; and there is a big difference. It is humorous to us Tech fans to watch you idiot UGAG fans, year after year, get your dreams crushed and then return to your minimum wage custodian jobs.
In fact, that leads to the final point…. Tech fans are knowledgable enough to realize that UGAG is not in our conference. Therefore, that game doesn’t hold as much importance to us as, for example, the Clemson game or the FSU game. Meanwhile, the idiot UGAG fans thump their chest over GA Tech while year after year your in-conference rival UFL beats your a$$. Again, this is very humorous to us Tech fans.
As a Tech fan, I would be very happy to lose to UGAG every year and yet win a conference title, go to a BCS game, and maybe even win a national title. I would laugh in the face of my friends that are UGAG fans.
By GTGreg
June 30, 2007 4:46 PM | Link to this
I can’t wait until this November to “let the big dawg eat.” Crow, that is. You Georgia fans sure do talk a mighty mean game, I’ll give you that. Regardless, Tech has a good team this year, and you know it. That’s why you came up with this ridiculous stuff about tickle piles. Last I saw, it was your team that took their clothes off, oiled each other up, and took photos… see exhibit A: http://ugasports.net/media/photo/2004/fall/IDbig.JPG
In case you hicks say something like “don’t touch that man… there’s nothing more manly than some baby oil and weightlifting,” please recall that your little fatty of a QB was photographed this very year spooning a dude. It looks like you should take your weak-sauce “tickle-pile” and “girly man” crap and cram it.
P.S. Kendall: Are you in elementary school? Did you seriously invent, and furthermore brag about, taking 5 frat brothers to Tech and kicking the crap out of 10-60 Tech guys over some photo of your… little sisters? That sounds like some delirious fantasy blend of pro-wrestling and West Side Story. Please quit before you fall any more behind.
By dowgie
June 30, 2007 7:10 PM | Link to this
GTGreg, that’s just it, Tech has a good team. They’ll win a few games and go to a bowl game just like they always do. But until you can field a great team GT won’t beat Georgia or win the ACC. I cannot find GT ranked anywhere in the preseason mags. It’s not just the dawg fans, it’s every source of college football info that arrives at the conclusion Georgia Tech means mediocre football.
By Go Tech
June 30, 2007 7:55 PM | Link to this
ITS ALWAYS AMAZING TO ME HOW UGA ALWAYS GETS THE JUNIOR COLLEGES OR THE MILITARY SCHOOL PLAYERS—-WHY THEY HAVE TO GO THE SECONDARY ROUTE TO BEGIN WITH? THEN ON SIGNING DAY, AT LEAST 5 ALWAYS WIND UP IN SECONDARY SCHOOL TIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR WHEN THEY CAN GET THEY’RE GRADES ” UP ” TO ENROLL AT UGA.
By JustMe
June 30, 2007 7:59 PM | Link to this
dowgie-
You may or may not be right about Tech. Notice that I say this as a Tech fan - I am realistic.
You, however, are a UGAY fan and not realistic. Yes, UGAY gets highly touted recruit classes every year. But how many of those years (let’s say in the past 10 years) has those recruits resulted in a conference championship? You see, you have unrealistic expectations.
Like all UGAY fans, I’m sure that you fully think that your team will win the conference championship and maybe the national championship this year. You are dilusional. Because of this, you have unrealistic expectations and are doomed to be disappointed every year.
Tech fans are realistic. We know that Tech fields a good team every year. We know that Tech has outstanding players that turn pro. And, we know that Tech will, from time to time, have an outstanding team that is capable of winning the conference championship, go to the BCS, and possibly win the national championship - and we enjoy the ride when this happens.
It is better to be dilusional or be realistic? You tell me.
By dowgie
June 30, 2007 8:29 PM | Link to this
I’m certain Georgia will contend for the SEC title this year. The key variables being the O Line (new, but not freshmen), Moreno, and the slew of redshirts that Richt bit the bullet on last year. There’s not a team on the schedule Georgia can’t beat, and that alone puts UGA in the mix. Two months til we find out though. I think Georgia’s gonna roast OSU and Tech is gonna get rolled by ND.
By GTGreg
June 30, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this
I’ll play. I think that Tech can beat every team on our schedule, putting Tech in the mix. I think UGA is going to lay a great big egg against OSU and Tech is going to destroy Notre Dame. Furthermore, Virginia Tech will beat LSU in Baton Rouge, FSU will beat Alabama in Jacksonville, and the talking heads in the sports media will turn on the SEC like they turned on the ACC last year. They love stories like that.
By JustMe
June 30, 2007 10:05 PM | Link to this
Great one GTGreg! However, I am sure it is completely lost on dowgie and other UGAG fans here….
By heeldawg
July 1, 2007 5:12 AM | Link to this
Hey, “Dawgstompper,” learn to spell! The word is “delusion,” young dogs are called “pups” (not “pupps”), and even your handle is spelled “Dawgstomper.” And it’s “Mark Richt,” not “Mark Right,” although the name you used is actually pretty descriptive of our coach’s character. It’s hard to take you seriously as a Blog poster if you can’t get the grammar right.
And GTMellon, 11-2 just ain’t gonna happen. Tech will have a good team this year (they’ll shell Notre Dame in South Bend in the opener), and I expect them to beat everybody but Clemson, Georgia and Virginia Tech, but 11-2 ain’t gonna happen, at least not in the regular season. No way. Why? Because there are only 12 games. Your tally jumped from 3-0 to 5-0 with one win over Virginia. You’ve got to go through #4 first. That’s the way that math thing works.
I think y’all are looking at a 9-3 regular season, but you won’t play in the conference championship game because of two conference losses (including one loss to a team in your division, Virginia Tech, who will likely win the Coastal Division). Even in your scenario, with losses to Miami and VT, you’ll have two in-division losses. That will likely shut you out of the ACC title game. And you can’t win a title you don’t play for.
By dowgie
July 1, 2007 8:24 AM | Link to this
Unrealistic is your AD thinking GT football can beat Georgia 2 out of every 5 years (isn’t that the goal)? No one respects the ACC because it is as weak as it has ever been. Miami and VT were going to join FSU and make it a superconfernece, but GT and all the also-rans have infected them with your virus. Nine starters returning from a squad that lost the last three games has somehow been spun into a good thing. Lets list the NCAA teams that lost their last 3 and see what kind of schools we’re looking at.
By Captain Bringdown
July 1, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
…and while we’re at it, lets list the NCAA teams that lost to Kentucky and Vanderbilt…and then try to figure out what all the excitement is about.
By NW GA Dawg
July 1, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
What’s the “excitement” all about? Tell you: it’s that a certain NCAA team lost to Vandy and Kentucky (whilst a certain Frosh sensation was finding his sites) and then made a ROARING comeback to finish off the season beating 3 ranked teams in huge upsets…not to mention that one of them is “rank” year and and year out (guess which one THAT is, genious). In any case, the same “certain team” that lost to VU and UK resembles IN NO WAY, the team that reeled off a very impressive finish to a season that could have been disastrous.
Keep on focusing on VU and UK, dweebs. What’s worse; a team losing to VU and UK, or losing to the team that lost to them?
7 in ‘07
By dowgie
July 1, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this
Captain, touche. BUT NW is correct, GT lost to the team both KY and Vandy beat. And I’ll also say that those games were midseason, breaking in a true freshman QB who did not benefit from first team QB reps in the fall. UGA put it together in the end, where GT fell apart.
By gregdog
July 1, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
To all GT fans. Do not say ANYTHING about the AJC being biased or about other teams fans until you can feel up that pathetic excuse you call a stadium. The ONLY time you sell it out is when another big time program plays you there. You even have to use creative marketing and 3 game ticket packs to keep UGA fans from out numbering you at your own stadium (which we still manage to do anyway.
By yellowblood
July 1, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
Good grief. The same old stuff every year. UGA gets the ten best recruits in the country and then goes nowhere. Does this ever change ?
By Good Grief
July 1, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
Dead Ball? You mean like the “dead ball” called a fumble in 1999? Or the blatant “live ball” called dead in 1998? I don’t want to hear any whining out of Tech fans about cheap calls. You’ve had your fair share. This is the bottom line: Georgia is a better football team than Tech now and will be until Tech get’s its act together. UGA is the flagship school in Georgia. Tech was founded, chartered, and funded by UGA graduates. Georgia leads the series by 20 games and is more accomplished in every mode of measurement. I don’t blame you for feeling bitter. But you guys should really focus on something productive, like trying to recruit kids in your own state who would love to play for the N.A.T.S. but go elswhere because you guys A) Can’t stop obsessing over UGA and B) Are too busy mismanaging your time chasing recruits in Texas and New Jersey.
You’re in the middle of Atlanta for goodness sakes, you’ve got a great school and a great (historically) program to sell. But you’re never going to get anywhere until you get that huge UGA chip off your shoulder.
By Good Grief
July 1, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
Dead Ball? You mean like the “dead ball” called a fumble in 1999? Or the blatant “live ball” called dead in 1998? I don’t want to hear any whining out of Tech fans about cheap calls. You’ve had your fair share. This is the bottom line: Georgia is a better football team than Tech now and will be until Tech get’s its act together. UGA is the flagship school in Georgia. Tech was founded, chartered, and funded by UGA graduates. Georgia leads the series by 20 games and is more accomplished in every mode of measurement. I don’t blame you for feeling bitter. But you guys should really focus on something productive, like trying to recruit kids in your own state who would love to play for the N.A.T.S. but go elswhere because you guys A) Can’t stop obsessing over UGA and B) Are too busy mismanaging your time chasing recruits in Texas and New Jersey.
You’re in the middle of Atlanta for goodness sakes, you’ve got a great school and a great (historically) program to sell. But you’re never going to get anywhere until you get that huge UGA chip off your shoulder.
By Good Grief
July 1, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this
Dead Ball? You mean like the “dead ball” called a fumble in 1999? Or the blatant “live ball” called dead in 1998? I don’t want to hear any whining out of Tech fans about cheap calls. You’ve had your fair share. This is the bottom line: Georgia is a better football team than Tech now and will be until Tech get’s its act together. UGA is the flagship school in Georgia. Tech was founded, chartered, and funded by UGA graduates. Georgia leads the series by 20 games and is more accomplished in every mode of measurement. I don’t blame you for feeling bitter. But you guys should really focus on something productive, like trying to recruit kids in your own state who would love to play for the N.A.T.S. but go elswhere because you guys A) Can’t stop obsessing over UGA and B) Are too busy mismanaging your time chasing recruits in Texas and New Jersey.
You’re in the middle of Atlanta for goodness sakes, you’ve got a great school and a great (historically) program to sell. But you’re never going to get anywhere until you get that huge UGA chip off your shoulder.
By shane
July 1, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
i second what you said,and add a good grief of my own.i have said before on this blog that i pull for tech when they play anyone but uga,i am a native born georgian and have many friends and relatives that went to tech.i attended many games there myself when i lived in atl many yeaars ago.what i don’t like is tech’s quitting in tough games,i was proud of the way they came back in their last bowl game,MINUS BALL!you tech guys get your own act together,chan needs to bench a couple of guys and work the HELL out of the others.you win the acc a couple of times,then come back to this blog and run your mouth.
By Pitbull
July 1, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this
What really happened on that play in the UGA - Gt game was that the Gt players saw the pile and thought it was a tickle pile and were up for some fun.
Tony taylor and the Dogs knew they were there to play football, so they grabbed the football and ran for a touchdown while the Gt players were busy tickling each other.
The game will always be remembered as Gt’s most famous tickle pile exhibition.
By JustMe
July 1, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
Year after year……
UGA fans claim superiority. UGA does get a highly rated recruiting class. UGA fans predict a stellar season. UGA football program does not produce on the field. UGA gets stomped by conference rival, UFL, along with a few other teams (Vandy, Kentucky, etc.). UGA fans come up with excuse after excuse for not making conference title game (or BCS bowl, or a higher tier bowl). UGA fans get angry at the coach and/or at the players for not meeting expectations. UGA players get arrested for DUI or some other illegal activity. UGA fans then claim (usually): “Well at least we beat GA Tech.”
Year after year….
GA Tech gets an average recruiting class. GA Tech puts a winning season together. GA Tech fans get excited about beating a couple of teams that they should not have. GA Tech football exceeds expectations - may go to conference championship or may go to higher tier bowl. Individual GA Tech players gain national recognition and go pro. GA Tech fans have to accept that the AJC gives Tech no respect in football or basketball. GA Tech fans have to listen to the red-neck mouths of the idiot UGAY fans another year.
Does anything really change?
By Pitbull
July 1, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this
JustMe, I just read your post and I was so tickled by it.
You forgot to add that year after year Georgia Toke keeps screwing up and usually ends up in a bowl in Northern California, Idaho, or Washington state, where it loses.
By Pitbull
July 1, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
PS: The Silly Con Valley Girl Bowl was my favorite Georgia Toke bowl game, where you lost to Fresno State.
By JustMe
July 1, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
Another UGAY fan delusion…. The ACC isn’t a football conference.
For most years, the ACC is rated ahead of the SEC in football. What???? (says the ugay nation). Yes, it is true. Check any conference rankings for football over the last 10 or 20 years and you will see. Admittedly, the SEC overall was stronger than the ACC last year. However, it is a fact that the ACC is consistantly ranked in the top 4 of all conferences, nationwide, as a football conference. And, this is something that SEC fans simply cannot accept or they simply cannot get through their thick skull.
Why? Because the ACC is relatively strong top to bottom. To rank a conference you have to include all teams, not just the top 2 or 3. The ACC is very strong, especially in the middle with Maryland, UVA, etc. The ACC is comparable at the top year after year with FSU, VA Tech, etc.
However, anyone trying to explain this to any UGAY fan is doomed. UGAY fans are delusional.
The strength of ACC football is only overshadowed by the strength of ACC basketball.
By shane
July 1, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this
just me,uga is in the middle of rebuilding,and still finished 9-4 and beat a ranked team in a bowl,COMING BACK against one of the best defenses in div.1.you guys finaly make it to the acc championship and lose to wake forest.then lose your bowl game.though i was proud of the way you came back in that game,something that you hadn’t done lately.you didn’t have your starting qb in that game,but honestly,i think you were better off without him.one of the uga players said after the tech game last year that ball did not like pressure. the uga players knew that he would start making mistakes after he was hit a few times. he did not like guys in his face.had i been chan,ball would have been riding the bench two years ago,i have met chan and i think he is a fine person,i just hope he turns up the heat on his players,they have to learn to take pressure in practice,or they continue to wilt in games.i realy hope you guys have a good year,and beat the over-rated media darlings from south bend.
By JustMe
July 1, 2007 4:07 PM | Link to this
Pit(iful)bull,
Sounds very much like you are jealous of the GA Tech string of bowl appearances. :-)
shane,
Yes, I think that GA Tech fans are aware of the ‘fading’ by the Tech team in those situations. The team was a large reflection of our then-quarterback, Ball. Ball was too short to play college QB but yet was often asked to remain in the pocket where he could not see (and that would make anyone nervous). We hope that this year is the start of a new era without Reggie.
By shane
July 1, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this
.justme,i am jealous of no team that plays it’s bowl games on blue grass,[joking]! i think you are right about tech’s fading being due in large part to ball,but i have one question for you.why was he in the game?the kid that replaced him did well in the bowl game,once he got his feet on the ground.i think you would have been better off starting him all season.as to big people in his face making ball nervous,getting hit is part of the game.a good qb will just snort that blood back up his nose,so that the d won’t know he is hurt,keep his cool,go back to the huddle and call the next play.i played mostly o line in high school and jr. college[not big enough for the major colleges].the linemen get hit on every play,and i’ll be damned if i would have blocked for a guy that wouldn’t take one for the team! as for ball being short,i have seen some good college qbs that were short.ball had the speed to roll out,and your o line can open throwing lanes for you if you have the courage to stay in the pocket and take a hit now and then.you take the sack and hold on to the ball,you don’t just throw it up for grabs.stafford learned that,[finally], last year,and he was just a freshman.
By JustMe
July 1, 2007 8:09 PM | Link to this
shane,
Please first understand that Reggie Ball was not recruited to be a QB. His first choice was WR. However, it seems that Chan saw in him someone similar to our previous QB - specifically one that could run and avoid sacks to make plays ( a la Michael Vick). Plus, Ball did have an okay arm and better-than-average speed. The only real drawback was his height (Reggie was really 5’9” on a good day). That is why Tech rarely called plays for Ball to throw over the middle - he just couldn’t see over the line. The defenses knew this and took advantage of us. Ball threw side to side and often rolled out in order to get a view of the field.
Yes, the o-line can open up throwing lanes. But it is hard to ask them to do that regularly due to a short QB. And, the timing patterns for the WR to be at the right spot just as the lane opens is difficult for them as well. As an ex-offensive lineman, you already know this.
I don’t blame Reggie Ball. He was asked to play QB by Chan and he did the best that he could. I do blame Chan for not giving other QBs a chance. I think that Chan is a very honorable man (and hard-headed) and once he made a choice for Reggie Ball, he was going to stick with him no matter what.
Now that Reggie is gone, the Tech nation is excited to have a different QB. It may be the ‘back up’ dude that played in the bowl or not. In any case, I just hope that he is at least tall enough to see over the line!
This year’s Tech team should be better than last year’s team overall. We have the conference leading rusher returning, and our WRs will be way above average. Our lines on both sides have experience and look great. The defense will be improved and of course, we still have our great defensive coach at least for one more year. The QB situation is still a question mark, but IMHO it has to be better than last year…… mostly because the offensive play book can be openned up and we can finally throw over the middle on a regular basis.
Unlike uga fans, I don’t think any Tech fan will claim that we will win our division or conference. It isn’t that we don’t have faith in our team, but other teams are too much of unknowns. Will VA Tech develop their QB? Will Clemson finally emerge from their funk of recent years? Will Wake Forest return to the Wake of old or will lady luck still be smiling on them? Will FSU and Miami return to their old glory? And let’s not forget UVA and Maryland and BC - they could always be in the mix. This is what’s exciting about the ACC….. there are many teams strong enough to make a run and keep it exciting.
By shane
July 1, 2007 9:05 PM | Link to this
well we agree,on most things,i will never be a fan of ball’s,but i think chan is hard headed and stuck with him too long.i don’t think uga will win the east this year,much less the sec,i think our o and d lines lack the necessary experence. i think we have the athletes in place for 2008 however,and if a couple of these much-heralded recruits for 08 come through,who knows.i also think you guys will do well next year,miami has been in a funk for a couple of years,and i don’t see them coming out of it,fsu may do better since changing their oc,who knows.i think wake was a fluke,that or they have the risen vince lombardi for a coach.clemson has the talent,no doubt,but they didn’t live up to their billing last year.this year may be little bowdens last unless they really improve.it’s one thing to get the talent,another to win the conference.my opinion is that gt has as good a chance to win as anybody elae,i don’t see a dominant program in the acc.the players all want to win,but sometimes they need a kick in the butt from the coach,we all need a kick in the butt to get our attention at times.
By milledgevilledawg
July 1, 2007 10:27 PM | Link to this
**i was trying to find some video of uga’s latest committment and typed “DOWTIN” into a youtube search screen.
apparently, the young man is heartbroken and forelorn.
on behalf of the bulldog nation, i’d like to wish the young man luck in his quest to mend his broken heart. may he find resolution by the time he suits up for the red and black.
go dawgs!!!**
By shane
July 1, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this
good one there m-dawg,the first time he runs out of that tunnel in athens in front of 92 thousand and sees all that red should mend that broken heart.i enjoyed talking to you justme,we can be rivals and still be civil,i love to talk football and welcome input from fans of other teams.i know we have some uga fans that are rude trash talkers,so does tech and every other school.i doubt many of them actually went to the school they so rabidly support and they make us all look bad.you will find that most of the people on this site are good people and football fans,and some are very knowledgeable.unfortunately it takes only a couple of idiots to ruin it for everyone.
By MariettaDawg
July 2, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
JustMe said:
“Every year, UGAG fans chant ‘national championship’ and every year the team falls far short.”
I have to disagree.
I know a lot of UGA fans. I have been a season ticket holder for years. I go to every home game and some away games. Most of the UGA fans I talk to have realistic expectations.
Ofcourse, when you have that many fans there’s always somebody who says their team is going to win it all. But the only recent years where I remember hearing much talk about making a run for the NC was 2000 and 2004, when UGA was returning a lot of talent and experience.
And if UGA has a pretty decent season in 2007 you can expect to hear some talk about it for 08. It only makes sense.
But nevertheless, I’m just not seeing all this NC talk EVERY year from UGA fans.
By marty
July 2, 2007 10:47 AM | Link to this
Wherever you go, diehard fans of any school will always breakdown just exactly how, with the current players and some key additions, their school will win the NC in the next 3 years. Georgia’s no different, Penn State, Bama, Ole Miss, no different. Georgia Tech fans almost pride themselves on low expectations, successfully eliminating the passion and excitement from their program and it shows on the field. College football is all about 92,000 every Saturday in Athens. The GT version is a half filled stadium for a lame ACC title game and bundled ticket packages, bundled because no one would buy them otherwise. Georgia Tech fans pride themselves on “realism,” missing the point of college football altogether. You want realism you read the front page of the newspaper or visit a childrens hospital. College football, high expectations, “this is our year,” is a break from all that.
By born 2 bark
July 2, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
Does anyone else think we would be a great candidate for the wishbone formation? We have SO much talent in the backfield and the formation last season seemed to hinder the backfield talent; let one RB take a series and get hot, then another goes in and he gets cold, and repeat. I just think it would be effective to occasionally have all 3: brown, lumpkin, and moreno in there at once.
By James
July 2, 2007 9:45 PM | Link to this
Great job GT coaches. Finding Renfree was a great job. He’ll continue to impress coaches all over the country. I hope he’s prepared for the on-slaught of schools that’ll try to steal him away.