Let It Go

I write this blog not for the stats and expert analysis. I write this blog not for the adoration of fans. I have none. Nobody reads it as far as I know. I should call it, "Tree falling in the forest."

I admittedly care too much about the Dogs and how they play. I'm a normal guy with a respectable career, great wife, and a happy regular, well-adjusted life. This is my one oddity. I watch and care about a football team from the college I attended and graduated from 20 years ago. Oh well.

So on to expunging my frustration about the LSU game...then I'll be positive.

I tend to watch games and think of them in moments of potential. In other words...if we get this first down...if we don't stop them...that kind of thing. For instance...what does the other path look like if we catch that first touchdown? What does it look like if we catch the second? Or if we hit the field goal? Or if they actually called the clipping, holding, spearing, or touchback on that run back? The answer is that we'll never know...and that is what bugs me.

I realize that we'll never know and that it perhaps doesn't matter. As a fan though, I can't ignore it. I have no responsibility to "respond" to adversity. I can only hope my team does. I don't have to "get over" wondering about the what-ifs?

What chaps my hide is that we have to deal with them in the first place. If you execute you have better luck. If you catch the ball and score, you don't have to wonder. If you don't commit a dumb penalty, you don't give them the damn ball back on 4th down.

In the end you can say it's true that it does no good to wonder what could have been. I'll grant you that. My point is that you know exactly what happens if you execute. Look back at the previous ten games. It means you win.

Looking ahead, I hope our coaches can keep the players holding their heads high and teach them the lesson. Look how good you look when you play hard and execute. You are young. You have two more seasons of this ahead of you. Learn the lesson.

The Georgia Bulldogs can play with anybody when they do not beat themselves.

Really looking forward to the bowl and next year. Go Dogs. 

Look At Us Now

I've been looking for this Georgia Bulldog football team for a couple of years now. It's the byproduct of focused effort. The coaches are coaching. The players are listening. The schemes are working.

So nice to complete the season with a decisive win over Tech. That makes two ranked teams in 3 weeks. Very nice.

We now face the biggest challenge since Bama came to Athens a few years ago. In fact, this may be the biggest Georgia game in the last decade. Not because we stand to win the National Championship. We don't...but because we stand to win the SEC in a year where they are saying that the SEC West is the best division ever. They're saying LSU may be the best team ever. They are giving the Dogs no chance. Perfect.

I couldn't be happier. We have absolutely nothing to lose. Play loose. Have fun. Fly around. Put a hit on somebody. Make them play tight. Let them worry. We're not defending anything. We are trying to show the rest of college football that they better look out for the Dogs.

We are young, we are pissed and we are dangerous.

Go Dogs.

Fork In The Road

So here we are...

I'm calling this the biggest fork in the road in the last decade for the Bulldog program.

Win and you've opened the door to a shot at the SEC title. Lose and we have to hope that SC loses too.

To be truthful, we will know before kick off...however...I'm writing before the SC/FLA game ends. I never want to worry about another game when the Dogs are in the driver's seat..so we carry on with this line of reasoning.

We need to win for the confidence of the youngsters. We need to win because it means the East. We need to win because it's Auburn. We need to win because it's the fork in the road.

This is a ranked team. This is our chance to boost confidence. To execute. To show the rest of the SEC that we are a team on the rise.

Because I'll tell you this...if we are not on the rise..we are in trouble. We are young and loaded. Fast and talented. Big and tough. Ready and willing. We are a team that has a chance to crush it for the next two years. Think about that. We are right there on the verge. Who else? While Bama and LSU get all the attention, we are quietly creeping up at the pace you could only dream about. Nobody is talking about us yet we are stacked.

Let's win out and prove our worth..because next year the radar will hone in on us. Next year we cannot play the "rebuilding", "young", or "underdog" card. Next year is our year. The following is even better.

A lot of that depends on how we execute today. This very day. Are we ready? I say yes without hesitation.

Go. Dogs.

With Any Luck

One thing I keep bringing up on this blog and in conversation is that I believe the Dogs have run out of bad luck. We aren't above dumb penalties and mistakes...I'm just saying the bad luck lacks the severity and timing that it once had. I think we've paid our fair share in unbelievable turnovers and penalties at critical times over the past couple of seasons.

We now seem to be winning the close games. Winning the ugly games. Winning the games we should win because we are no longer committed to beating ourselves.

With any luck on the positive side we have 6 more games to look forward to this season. I have predicted it before and have no reason to alter my assertion. The Georgia Bulldogs will win out. We have yet to see the full power of the machine in motion. We are watching young players gel. We are watching Freshmen and Sophomores learn complicated systems and assignments. Our coaches have found a great bunch of young guys that want to be coached and have bought into being a Bulldog. Seems getting rid of a couple of guys can go a long way.

I could go on about this and that but here's the abbreviated version that I assume everyone can see for themselves. Defense is playing great. Offense seems to be picking up. Bobo is calling a better game. Special teams is awful. I assume the coaches see all these things and will address what needs to be addressed. I'm on a purely opinionated mission here.

I'd love to see us win out. South Carolina needs to drop one. We get to play LSU or Bama. We trip them up. We go to a BCS bowl and execute against a great opponent.

By the end of the year, we will be the team that nobody wants to play.

**UPDATED** 4:45pm. Nov 1.

So I just read that Crowell, Carlton Thomas, and Ken Malcome are suspended for failing a drug test. On top of that...Richard Samuel is out. We literally lost 4 running backs since Saturday.

I am going to say that while that flies in the face of my bad luck theory...I choose to look at it in a positive light. At least it happened before the New Mexico State game and not Auburn.

Will be interesting to see if this dies or gets worse. A lot worse. I hope our luck is good.

One Key Stat

Here's the only stat I care about for the Georgia/Florida game this weekend. 12-1.

While this could be properly interpreted as 12 beers for 1 guy (this guy)...that is not why I listed those two numbers.

12-1 is the turnover score in the last 3 meetings of these two teams. In fact...the last 3 UGA QBs have all had 3 INT games respectively. During that time we have taken the ball from Florida...ONE...freakin...time.

Murray threw an INT on his first pass....and on his last pass..in last year's matchup. This is simply not something that you can live with.

I have to believe that sheer odds are on our side this year. There's no way Florida can win this many years. There's no way we can turn the ball over that many times. Math won't allow it. We will show up. We will execute. We will stomp the Gators.

There. That's my expert analysis.

Another Ugly Trip To Tennessee

Just happy to squeak by with the win. That's two weeks in a row we got out of Dodge with a bruise or two but the ugly W.

My theory is still intact. I said it before on this blog. The Dogs will win out this year. Seems even more bold and half cocked given our performance of late.

The theory is based on a couple of things....

Mostly blind allegiance to a team that is half as good as I wish they were...another is the feeling that we're out of bad luck..finally. It's the feeling that we have an incredible set of components that have still not clicked as the one solid unit. Still having miscues, penalties and missed assignments. The difference this year? We are actually winning a couple of the close and ugly games. I think every team needs to win a couple clunkers and get a little lucky during the course of a good season. I just have this nagging feeling that we will get our act together and really hit that next gear.

A week off. Crowell will heal. Malcolm Mitchell will heal. We can prepare for the Gators without "overlooking" some other opponent. We can review last year's game play by play and realize that Aaron Murray lost that game for us by being a freshman. And it's okay. No worries.

This is the year we turn around the Gator curse.

We have a ton of room for improvement. Now is the time to move from "needs improvement" to "don't look now but the Dogs are good".

Mississippi sweep. Tennessee sweep. So far so good.

Tennessee

What is it about the Tennessee game that chaps my hide every year? I can't put my finger on it. I mean, I know the orange is the easy "go to" answer. They look like crappy popsicles in those get ups. Is it the redneck fanbase? Maybe...but then again the Dogs have their fair share too. Could it be that they play that damn song every time they score?...or gain a yard?...or snap the ball? Probably.

In truth our rivalry, while old, has not been as bitter as it should be. I just naturally hate orange and Tennessee is the worst offender. I just don't like them. Period. And I think that it's healthy to despise a team for no other reason than that you just sorta...do. Just sort of can't stand the bastards. There you go.

Not really scientific but honest.

By the way...look at this gem from Da'Rick Rogers. Here is his wisdom on leaving UGA after committing 7 months earlier. Out of nowhere. Flip Flop.

Tell us all about it, Da'Rick:

Q: Did Georgia have any hints or signs that you were going to flip on them? Did you surprise the coaches when you switched to Tennessee?

A. “I don’t know. I don’t know about the coaches. They can feel however they might have felt. It was all for me. You know, I had to go where I could be happy and I’m in a great place now. I’m happy here.”

Like my opinion...his quote is not really scientific but honest.

But read closely.

"It was all for me."....and the eloquent, "They can feel however they might have felt."  The tense doesn't agree but I think you get the hint.

Da'Rick is actually perfect for the Vols. Stay there. Then leave early because some dumb agent oversells your ability to a third tier NFL team.

Go Dogs!

Just Catching Up

Oh...well hello there average Bulldog fan. I have to say that I totally agree with you. This blog sucks really bad. Nobody should ever check here for any stats, facts, or reliable information.

In fact, I haven't updated it since I walked out of the Dome wondering who those guys in the clown suits were.

We totally blew the South Carolina Game and we completely dominated the high school opponent we faced last week.

And now for the bold prediction.

Huh?

That's right...it's time for the bold prediction.

The Georgia Bulldogs will not lose another game this season.

What?

I'll say it again...The Georgia Bulldogs will not lose another game this season.

I say this mostly because our luck cannot get any freakin worse. At least 3 solid years of absolute shit luck. Horrible. Unthinkable. Just when we think we are doing great. The hag, skank, bad luck slut rears her nasty head.

No more.

Dogs execute. Dogs win. All. Year. Long.

We will destroy all takers and be considered top 5 next year.

Go Dogs.

Past, Present, Future All In One

Because nobody reads my blog, nobody will notice that I didn't really follow up about the dreaded Boise State game.

I'll say this. We had no game plan. We executed the "no game plan" game plan to perfection. An utterly winnable game but we instead showed up in Maybelline red clown suits and played like unfocused all stars.

In fact, that's what we are.

As a result our past, present, and future collide on Saturday. What the hell does that mean? Well...it means the past season was a living nightmare, the present situation is ugly, and the future of the program will hinge on this one game. Win and we call off the suicide watch for most fans and we put things back on track. Lose and it's "I told you so" for the Richt detractors. Lose and the faith in the Mark Richt Era is shattered.

If You Need A Reason - Part 2

It's gettin' ugly in the chat rooms on ESPN. Check out this gem from a turd swallowing gonad calling himself, get this, the Boise Gentleman.

HERE IS HIS RUNDOWN:







BoiseGentleman




This game is a serious clash of blue collar VS entitlement issues.


Not 1 Georgia fan feels they have to "earn back" what they lost. They earned it once, and that's it. Teams don't have to keep up that level of effort.


The name alone should earn them a win... what a crappy fan base. AND! The players suffer from this syndrome! That is where the fans learned it from.


I am sorry Georgia fans, I really am for you. Because you guys were so dominant! You've earned a TON of respect and swagger from many years of great football seasons. All of that has led you to the notion that this will be a cakewalk. When in reality, none of those years were earned from any of these players on your roster today. All the trash talking... all the cockiness, will all make it that much harder when you are dealt a loss.


Have a little humility yourself. Last year should have been the ideal wake up call on behalf of all your program represents. But, as we can clearly see, the UGA faithful have learned nothing from it. As if last year never happened! Somehow, it is 1980 every year for most of you folks! This is the basis for my sorrows to you all. That negligence of failure is a coping mechanism to distorting the false reality of power.


Even worse, there seems to be no target of acceptance that things have changed anywhere near the foreseeable future. All hope on that obvious mental fiasco is long gone. I mean, it isn't like only a few of you have this faulty belief... It's nearly all of you! Almost like a suicide religious cult... and all of you, are holding cups. Right before kickoff, you will have the free will to take a step back and get a better, more clear understanding of the true state of things with your football program. The time for entitlement and feeling like you no longer have to work for it is over!


Every last one of you make your program look out of touch and classless. Imagine a brand new (independent) fan comes into these boards, and is deciding what team to root for. How you act, and what you say goes a long way in whether or not Georgia makes a new fan. If I had no dog in the fight, I sure as heck would not become a Georgia fan based on what you all type. You sound like a bunch of obnoxious fools, always putting people down. Disrespectful and in denial of last year.


As I said before, I am truly sorrowful of any Georgia fan who still feels like they are better than someone else. Some much needed respect is due from your corner.


#call.it.as.i.see.it

If You Need A Reason

I'm waking up from a long slumber. I haven't really turned my attention to the Dogs yet. This past week I've been on ESPN chatting about the upcoming game. It doesn't take much to realize that Bronco fans have already checked off a "W". For most, it seems the only choice left for the season is which BCS bowl they'll be winning. They're unbelievably cocky. Yes, they have been a good club for a few years but sheesh...it's getting to be a bit much.

In case you think I'm overstating it...please watch the presentation below. Yes...they are serious.

Snore Fest

My goodness....this post is an act of desperation. It's like putting a mirror under a guy's nose to make sure that he's still breathing.

Hockey is done. NBA is done. MLB is in the boring stretch. The NFL is not going to happen this year.

Yikes.

This is the blogpost from the Antarctic outpost of sports boredom. It's the blip that lets you know someone is still out there...but they aren't doing anything but existing.

I've been arguing with Pac 10 fans on ESPN chats about bowl games, for God's sake! I'm bored.

Let's get it on. Bring on the Broncos.

I think I may start talking trash on message boards just to rile them up.

"blink twice if you are alive and you can hear me!"...

blink. blink.

...it's all i can muster...

must...maintain...

summer...sucks...

Ealey

News today that Washaun Ealey has been granted unconditional release from the team.

Several things come to mind. First, I am resisting the temptation to immediately jump to the cynical side of the issue (for once in my life). Reading posts on some blogs makes me ashamed to be a Bulldog fan. We don't know for sure why he left. We don't know what was actually said. We just know it didn't work out. Why jump on the guy with both feet?

Secondly, I feel a sense that we actually lost a valuable asset. I know the numbers didn't add up quite yet but I feel his best days are ahead of him.

Thirdly, I am happy to see that the coaches are indicating that they're willing to let talent walk away in order to stay true to the idea that the team is more important.

I wish Ealey the best. I'd like to see him go somewhere else and sort it all out. In the meantime, I look forward to the race to fill the void. Competition should produce nice results. Let's see who steps up.

Halfway There

By my calculations, Wed. May 4th will be the halfway point between the last time the Dogs took the field and the next. Some folks would argue that this is the best part of the sports year. NBA playoffs, The Masters, The Kentucky Derby, NHL Playoffs, MLB just started, the NFL draft is here...lots going on.

Not for me. My real sports season is truly concentrated on a few short Saturdays. I appreciate them at this very moment much more than I do when they arrive.

I know nobody else is counting the days yet...but I am.

I'm ready to shut the Bronco fans up already. Last time I watched a game in the dome I had to suffer celebrating Packer fans. I can't repeat that embarrassment. I want to walk out proudly while people from Idaho curse under their breath...while blue and orange paint mixes with tears running down their sad little cheeks.

Go Dogs. Please practice hard and really show up at the Dome on Sat. Sept. 3rd. See you there.

Spring Thoughts

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I'd like to announce that injury season has officially arrived. 18 players missed the latest spring practice and Trinton Sturdivant is out for the season. I feel really bad for this kid. By all accounts, he was on track to be a fantastic lineman with a ton of potential. Perhaps with modern medicine and rehab he can bounce back to normal and get an NFL look.

I hate that I'll miss the G-Day game. Reports from spring practices look pretty good.

This is also the time of year where I sit around and watch YouTube highlights of the Dogs and get stoked for next year. I might actually enjoy it more than the real game because I don't have to curse at the TV during penalties and turnovers.

Russ and the New Recruits

Sad to hear that, yet again, we have lost another UGA. Rest in peace, little fella. Looks like our old pal Russ will fill in for the time being. Russ is not technically qualified to be the mascot but he's really starting to grow on me.

As for the recruiting class, I think CMR reached pretty far up his sleeve to pull this one out. Congrats to their entire staff.

One question that remains from my post about recruiting last February. Will they be coached? Or will they be great athletes that are not utilized to their full potential? When they don't work as a team, the Bulldogs are a .500 team with 5 or 6 dudes that go on to get paid on Sunday. Great for them....not so great for the Red and Black. I put the onus on the coaches.

Let's go boys. Time to hit the weight room. We are no longer a proud program. We're a pretty good program with great upside. Time to coach the players up to the hype you sold them on mom and dad's couch last year. You promised them greatness, now coach them up to it.

Go Dogs.