Wrong Way

So I look at the AJC this morning and there's yet another story about some recruit and his current status. It appears that Henry is now leaning towards Alabama. I seriously think it's the 20th update on this kid and which schools are in the lead. Earlier, I saw a story about another kid whose name I forget. Let's call him Mr Hotshot. Anyhow, Mr Hotshot was commenting that he didn't go for the sales pitch approach. He's not impressed. He wants to go where he can get some playing time. Basically, the attitude is "show me something".

I have a note for the Georgia Bulldogs. Ignore these little brats. Am I the only one around here that is sick and tired of the updates on the whimsical leanings of a high school kid? Let's look, rather, at the fact that almost 30 of these little gems have been booted from the team in the last 3 or 4 years due to academic and character problems.

How about this Mr Hotshot..? Prove something to UGA. Show us why you are different than Carlton Thomas, Caleb King, Isaiah Crowell, Washaun Ealey, or any of the myriad list of running backs and other hotshot kids that got here and completely failed. And after what? How many hours did UGA coaches spend chasing these kids? How much time and money was invested so he could waffle and flirt and hold press conferences wherein a clever stunt reveals which school gets the honor of his presence. Go pack sand, Mr Hotshot. We'll get good kids without you.

I'm a fan of sports. I'm a fan of the Georgia Bulldogs. I get excited like the next guy but I found the line of tolerance. And it's behind us. Time to back up, boys. Let's get to a better place. I know recruiting is important but let's find a better way. You have more to offer them than they have to offer you.

How about a ceremony where we put up a bunch of faces on a board and reveal the new class on national TV. This recruiting thing is out of control. It's not bringing in better kids and when they get here they're not being coached to their potential anyway...but that's a different post on this blog.

Summer 2012. Same as 2011...and 2010.

First post of the calendar year 2012. Just to bring this thing up to speed, we looked pretty bad in losing to Michigan State in the bowl game. Had a chance to seal the thing more than once. We did not. So...we ended the season like we started. 2 straight awful losses to ranked teams.

 Now on to the really fun stuff. It would not be summer if Dogs fans did not wake up to the news that a crucial component of the team had somehow invented a new way to get chucked from the team or injured. I haven't even mentioned the suspensions. I lost count years ago how many big games were missing key guys. For the third straight summer, the Georgia Bulldogs lose a critical offensive component that was supposed to be "the year" that they shine. Starting with Zach Mettenberger...meandering through Damon Evans (forgot about that one...yes the AD is crucial)...let's jump over to Washaun Ealey and Caleb King and just nuzzle on up to yesterday where we learned that Isaiah Crowell carries an unregistered pistol in his Marquis. Good to know. Except that it's a felony.

 It brings me ZERO joy to see these guys go down. I'm not the guy that celebrates at the misfortune of others. Jump on the ESPN boards and you'll see what I mean. There are people straight up giddy at the thought of somebody crashing and burning..because...you know...that anonymous commenter's life is so perfect.

 Having said that, allow me to be shallow and selfish about the sports side of it. We need all the help we can get. As I mentioned, there are guys out on suspension already. We've had to move dudes from offense to defense. We've got a young O-line. It does not look good at the moment.

 Here's a perfect opportunity for Coach Richt to really show us something. Coaching. Yeah...no kidding, dude..he's the coach. NO...I mean show us why we pay the big bucks. He's on par with the top flight guys yet we always come back to the issue of coaching. Why are guys getting in trouble? Why do we recruit top 5 every year and lose all the big games? I know they're young guys and you can't remote control them all and make decisions for them. But how is it that coaches that Richt is on par with find a way to get it done? LSU was without a QB for awhile. They went undefeated. Bama has won twice in 3 years. We recruit as well as them. We pay our coaches on par (or reasonably close) with them. I like coach Richt. I've defended keeping him. But at some point you have to look at a nice guy and say..."dude, you've got all the tools. You've got the facilities, the athletes, the fan support, the best of everything...why do we keep falling short?"

 This is officially my last, "defend Richt" season. I didn't say that I'll hop on the "fire Richt" train. I am just tiring of the "aw shucks" attitude when we lose and/or another kid gets booted.