Don't let your NYE be an epic fail

Stay safe tonight Reader. You have my permission to do something I wouldn't do. But if you get this crazy, you deserve more than a bad headache tomorrow morning.

DawgCast Outback preview

Derek and I talk about ol' Sparty and how we think the Outback plays out. If you missed it yesterday, check it out. Or download the Stitcher app to your phone for free and enter "Dawg".

SkyCam gate 2011

Wasn't it Iowa that put a beat down on Tech a couple years ago? And don't the engiNerds mass produce technical equipment for ESPN when they should be learning how to cut block?


Well...

h/t @RTDEW

Dawg questions, Spartan answers

You asked the questions and Mike provided the answers.

BourbonDawg - Who's the biggest deep threat for Michigan State?

-- B.J. Cunningham. He isn’t a burner, but he is great at going up and getting the ball. He has shown tremendous body control and athleticism throughout the year and is the leading receiver in MSU history. He also is Kirk Cousins’ go-to receiver. Keshawn Martin would be a close second because he is a burner, and has emerged as a downfield threat this season.

SugarHillDawg - Do you see the Spartan rush offense as a real threat to Georgia's defense?

-- I do, but not as a threat to post 200 yards or some crazy number like that. Le’Veon Bell has been playing really, really well lately and is hard to bring down. I do think they run the ball away from Jarvis Jones, especially early. Honestly, the run game for MSU will be the number one key to the game, because if they don’t get it going it will leave Georgia with the freedom to blitz and blitz and blitz Cousins.

CLT Dawg - How do you think the MSU offensive front matches up with Georgia's defensive front 7?

-- With the Georgia defensive line, pretty well. The front seven … the matchup isn’t as good. Jones obviously is scary, and Alec Ogletree is a great linebacker as well. Right tackle Dan France has his work cut out for him in blocking Jones. The tight ends (Brian Linthicum, Garrett Celek and Dion Sims) will be used in blocking plenty, as well as fullback Todd Anderson. The running backs, Bell and Larry Caper in particular, do a good job blocking, too.

The MSU offensive line was a real concern early in the season, but they have jelled very well of late and haven’t allowed a sack in five games. That will change against Georgia, but I do think they will do a good enough job for the offense to do some good things. The size and speed of the Georgia front seven, thought, would give Georgia an advantage against the offensive line of MSU.

RTDEW - How will the loss of your long snapper affect the Spartans' special teams?

-- Let me put it this way, had anyone heard about Matt Giampapa this season? No. Which means he does his job and doesn’t make mistakes. But, based on the fact that the freshman long snapper Matt Giampapa beat out Steve Moore in a competition late in the fall, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. The coaches certainly feel that way and are very strong in backing Moore – who has played in games this season.

MortonUGA - I haven't seen Mich St play. Is the QB very mobile? Are the defensive linemen quick off the block?

-- Cousins isn’t very mobile. He can run if he has to for a few yards, but won’t break off a 20-yard run or anything. They will run some play-action bootleg plays once in a while, but he will throw out of those sets. Backup Andrew Maxwell, who will be playing in the game is much more mobile. He is more of a threat to run and out of the bootlegs, he can definitely pull it down to run.

Jerel Worthy is the fastest defensive lineman off the block you will ever see. Too quick, in fact. In the past two years, I can think of at least five penalties for jumping offsides – including one in the Big Ten Championship Game. Ends Will Gholston and Marcus Rush also do a great job off the block, more so with Gholston, but none compare to Worthy.

5thYearSoph - Is the MSU offensive scheme centered on establishing the run and setting up the play-action pass? Also, does Cousins have the arm to really hurt teams deep?

-- It is run-based, and definitely uses plenty of play-action off the run. Mark Dantonio and offensive coordinator Dan Roushar will seek to establish Bell early, and then start trying to open it up. When I looked back at the Big Ten title game, the first quarter had eight runs play in two total plays, and the second quarter had 15-of-25 plays in Cousins’ hands.

Is he going to air it out 60 yards routinely? Not so much. But he can hurt teams downfield, but it will usually be done in a more finesse sense of a hitting a wide receiver down the sideline.  

Outback Bowl Preview

Well, the time is almost here. Georgia takes on Michigan State in the 2011 season finale on Monday. After answering each other's questions earlier in the month, Mike of The Little Brother Blog and I decided to collaborate on a preview. We break down the Outback Bowl matchup from both sides of the ball and give our keys to the game as well as which players to watch. Here are our thoughts.

When Georgia has the ball

Bernie -- I wish I could say the Dawgs will come out and run the ball early, often and effectively. But we don't know how strong tailback Richard Samuel will be coming back from injury or how many carries Crowell can manage. So the key for Georgia will be how well quarterback Aaron Murray works through his progressions and finds his targets. To do that we'll have to slow down the MSU pass rush. I think our interior line can match up well with All-American Jerel Worthy, but we've suffered with protection on the edge. So neutralizing William Gholston and Denicos Allen will be key.

Fortunately for Georgia, there isn't anyone in the nation that can effectively cover Orson Charles. So if we can provide Murray adequate time, I think our #7 and our other playmakers can get the separation needed to move the chains and make big gains.

Mike -- The Michigan State front seven is going to try and put a lot of pressure on a team that allows a considerable number of sacks and an offensive line that is massive, but not quick. The blitz packages defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi employs will try to exploit the lack of quickness of the offensive line and the shaky blocking of Orson Charles with the use of his linebackers from all angles, and bringing Johnny Adams on corner blitzes. Adams and the other defensive backs do a good job in man coverage, and should be spending most of the game working to lock down the Georgia receivers and give the front seven time to get into the backfield. Will Gholston will be huge off the edge and should have an advantage in putting pressure on Murray. 

Georgia has a well-balanced attack, and Murray effectively moves the offense down the field. But apart from LSU, he has not seen a secondary as physical and with as many playmakers as Michigan State has. If there is ample pressure on Murray, there should be enough three-and-outs to give the ball back to Kirk Cousins and the offense.

When MSU has the ball

Mike -- The run game will be a focus early, and also keeping Cousins on his feet. In an attempt to use the speed and aggressiveness of the Georgia defense against itself and neutralize the blitz, the passing game will go laterally to Keshawn Martin, B.J. Cunningham and Keith Nichol in the flat and let them try to make some plays. Offensive coordinator Dan Roushar will seek to spread out the Bulldogs defensively and get the ball to his playmakers and let them try to make something of it.

The most important thing the MSU offense can do is convert third downs -- something Georgia does a great job of stopping. They did not allow a first down to LSU in the first half of the SEC title game, and held the Tigers to 1-of-9 in the game. Michigan State will have to do a much better job of that if the Spartans are going to come out on top in this one.

Bernie -- I like what MSU has going in Bell and Baker. Together they give opposing defenses a lot to think about. But they're going to have a hard time getting yards Monday in Tampa. In the games in which the Spartans struggled to rush the football (Notre Dame, Ohio State and Nebraska) defenses were able to contain #24 and #4 and make the Spartans one dimensional. Christian Robinson and Alec Ogletree have really benefited from having true nose tackles in Athens with Kwame Geathers and John Jenkins. Together they'll work to clog up the middle while Jarvis Jones creates his usual havoc on the outside.

If the Dawgs can pin their ears back it could be a long day for Kirk Cousins. On the other side of the coin, if Bell and Baker can break loose and put up 100+ it would give the veteran QB enough time hurt Georgia downfield.

Three keys for Georgia

1. Creating a pass rush. I haven't seen anyone that can block Jarvis Jones yet. The smart teams just go ahead and start holding him early to try and contain his relentless pursuit. I think Georgia has a secondary that can match up with MSU's downfield targets, but if Cousins has time to use his eyes to scan the field it wouldn't be good for the Dawgs.
2. Establish the ground game. When Richard Samuel went down in late October with an ankle injury he was at his highest moment as a Bulldog. I think he's the guy to watch in Georgia's backfield. He's an effective runner with good speed to go along with his size. Plus he's really good in pass protection. So if he gets 15-20 touches that bodes well for Aaron Murray and the passing game that relies heavily on the play action.
3. Avoid the turnovers. Safety Bacarri Rambo has reaped the rewards of a defensive front that consistently puts pressure on the quarterback. As a result Georgia enters the Outback Bowl at a +7 in turnover margin, same as MSU. Who protects the ball better? Like with so many games, whichever team answers that question best is usually the one on top at the end.

Bulldog to watch

Brandon Boykin. He came back for his senior season when he nearly left early. In his last game for Georgia he'll likely be charged with shutting down B.J. Cunningham. It should be fun to watch these two go after it and Boykin has the skills to neutralize Kirk Cousins favorite target. Boykin hasn't seen many balls thrown his way this season, but the Spartans will look for ways to get Cunningham involved early and often. Boykin should have plenty of chances to make some plays Monday. Plus, he's overdue for a kickoff return touchdown. Could he get one in his last game in the silver britches?

Three keys for Michigan State

1. Running the ball. The Spartans have been running the ball very well in their past five games, but now face their toughest test. The Bulldogs are ranked ninth-nationally against the run and have size in a defensive line and speed in linebackers to really challenge the Michigan State offensive line. The battle in the trenches will be key on both sides for MSU, but especially on offense. The Spartans must run the ball well and establish the ground game early and often. If they don't, Georgia will have all the freedom to blitz Cousins constantly and force the Spartans to pass more than they want to.
2. Cover Charles. The All-American tight end is easily the biggest threat the Bulldogs have in the passing game. Aaron Murray looks to him down the middle between the safeties, and on intermediate routes between the linebackers and safeties. Players like Chris Norman, Trenton Robinson and Isaiah Lewis will need to have eyes on him at all times. If there is one area this defense has been prone to lapse in this season, it has been allowing a big play. There cannot be mistakes like that against a very good Georgia team.
3. The decision making of Cousins and Andrew Maxwell. Cousins has only thrown three picks in his past eight games and he must continue to take good care of the football. Georgia will bring pressure and lots of it, which is why the Bulldogs have 17 interceptions. Cousins will have to be careful not to force throws, and be willing to take a sack or throw it away. Maxwell will be even more challenged against a high-caliber team. He will need to show poise beyond his years in decision making and not turn the ball over. How well the Spartan quarterbacks protect the ball and keep their defense resting on the sideline will have a lot to do with the success MSU has in the Outback Bowl.

Spartan to watch

Max Bullough. The Spartans middle linebacker is the key to the run defense and the pass defense. He leads the team in tackles and makes plays from sideline to sideline throughout the game. In the pass blitz game, he is central -- along with linebacker Denicos Allen -- to apply pressure on the quarterback. He will come through the A-gap either as the ball is snapped, or on a delayed blitz. The Georgia rushing attack will give him plenty of chances to make plays and the passing game should give him opportunities to get to Murray.

Overall Thoughts

Bernie -- These two teams share a lot in common: runners-up in their conference, rely heavily on defense and are well coached by experienced men who have their teams prepared. An intangible to keep an eye on is which team wants to win more. Georgia has made a significant turnaround from last season in which they rarely finished games strongly. This season they've played well in the 4th quarter. My feeling is that the Spartans are more upset about missing the Rose Bowl than the Dawgs are about losing out on the Sugar. Plus Georgia has a number of players from the state of Florida and Tampa area specifically.

So which team is more eager to win the Outback Bowl and willing to fight for it for 60 minutes? I think this is a close game for 3 quarters. I think the teams are about as evenly matched as any other bowl game's two teams. However, in the end I think Georgia has the playmakers on the offensive side that can eventually neutralize the opposing defense more effectively. I think Orson Charles, Brandon Boykin and Aaron Murray have big plays that make the difference.

Mike -- The winningest senior class in Michigan State history was "denied" a Rose Bowl for the second consecutive year. Getting the opportunity to play a BCS-caliber team in a bowl game is the next best thing, and they know it. The Spartans should come out firing like they did against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. If they come out flat, they will be in trouble.

These teams are mirror images of each other, and I am torn between thinking it will be a shootout or a defensive showdown. But, the Spartans defense has struggled in the first quarter and gives up plenty of yards. I don't expect that to be much different this time around. The second quarter, though, has been the best for the Spartans (in two games with Wisconsin, Michigan State outscored the Badgers 45-0). I expect them to turnaround after a rough first quarter and take the lead. Only difference, they must keep the foot on the gas in the second half and not let up. Kirk Cousins and his trio of senior wide receivers will have to be making plays and executing throughout the game. If they do that, they should win.

Prediction

Bernie -- Georgia 27  Michigan State 13

Mike -- Michigan State 28 Georgia 27

Crowell's sick days

Crowell asks for a sick day...playing the part of Crowell, is Bernie. Playing the part of Coach Richt, Mr. Burns.


Bernie: Excuse me, Mr. Burns....I don't feel well.
Mr. Burns: Too many "donuts" Bernie?
Bernie: Well, no. I just don't think I can practice today. Do you have a thermometer?
Mr. Burns: ARE YOU ASKING FOR ANOTHER SICK DAY? I MIGHT REMIND YOU THAT YOU'VE EXCEEDED YOUR QUOTA, TENFOLD!!!!
Bernie: Dock me Coach. Throw me in the dungeon. I just can't keep up with DickSam4.
Mr. Burns: This is NOT an oligarchy #1, this is a monarchy and I'M THE SUPREME DICTATOR AFTER TAKING US BACK TO THE A-T-L beeotch!
Bernie: Don't you have one green jersey left? I heard Gilliard out ran a bull. He don't need it no more.
Mr. Burns: Green jerseys were left at Butts-Mehre in my new Ford F-150. Here's a dollar. Try getting a cab. Team Bloomin' Onion Dinner is at 7 though. Be back before I order the Choc Thunder from Down Under!
Bernie: [shrugs shoulders...takes place on sideline, willing to accept consequences]


Whatever they may be.

Countdown to Kickoff - Outback Bowl

Al Keck gets us ready for the Outback Bowl.

TEH SEC SKED 2012!!!!!1

The anticipation was almost too much.

BUT IT IS HERE

Sept 8    at Mizzou

Sept 22  Vandy

Sept 29  Tennessee

Oct 6     at S. Carolina

Oct 20   at Kentucky

Oct 27   WLOCP

Nov 3    Ole Miss

Nov 19  at Auburn

So no bye week before Florida...BUT the gators have South Carolina on October 20th.

Other than that, about as expected. What are your thoughts?

Spartan Focus: BJ Cunningham

The quality on this video is low, but it shows how Michigan State playmaker BJ Cunningham is used to help with run blocking (they frequently run to his side for a reason) and to make big gains down field.

I think I'd like to see how Cunningham goes against Commings. More later, but that may be a key battle to watch on Monday.

LeMay to stay

While Hutson waits until January to make his decision, Christian LeMay will stay in Athens next season. Not that he had to make a decision. He just decided to put some pesky rumors to rest.

“That is something that is definitely out of the question,” LeMay said. "I am just trying to get better and learn things. Yeah, I am staying.” 

The freshman was surprised that the rumors were taken seriously by anyone. 

“I don’t know where these things start,” LeMay said. “There are always things out there in social media. I am going to be here.” 

Special Teams question. Cordarrelle Patterson an answer.

Coach Richt is already beginning to address 2011's special teams' questions. Perhaps this year's #1 JUCO prospect is one of the answers.


Cordarrelle Patterson from Rock Hill SC averaged 51.8 yards a return on kickoffs this season for Hutchinson CC in Kansas. With Boykin leaving we have a void at kickoff returner. I know the competition in the SEC is a little different than in the Jayhawk Conference. It'd be hard to put up those kind of numbers against the speed and size in the SEC. 


But jeez...52 yards a return! If nothing else maybe Richt can consult with the Hutchinson staff. Whoa!


Back to Patterson, he's down to Tennessee and Georgia it looks like and the Dawgs are on solid footing to land this big time receiver.

The Gang's all there!

Wahoo!

The Spartans - waddya wanna know?

You remember Mike right? He's the MSU blogger that I did a Q&A with a week or so ago. Well, we're also working on an Outback Bowl preview post that we'll "co-post" on later this week.


Which got me thinking...what do you want to know about the Spartans? Do you have a question you think Mike could answer and help you prepare better for the bowl game? Want to know more about their top ranked defense or their experienced signal caller? Perhaps you'd like to know more about a specific player or just how this team is different from the Spartan team we played a couple years ago in the CapOne. 


Fire away! Post the question in the comments, hit me on the twitter or shoot me an email. Only serious questions that provide an opportunity for good feedback will get posted. So word them carefully and consult your nearest dictionary if needed.

On Charles, Rome, Lynch...and Figgins

89 = DamnGoodDawg

No meatloaf today. After all that Christmas Day turkey and fixins I just didn't have the energy to make a meatloaf. If all goes well I should have some leftover turkey for your Tuesday. However, I did want to share a couple really good reads.


First, Ching evaluates ($$) the tight end position with White graduating and Charles possibly leaving for the NFL. Jay Rome ended up redshirting this season and is now on the bench for Coach Fox. Lynch is the often forgotten man at the position. White and Bobo talk like he will more than fill any cleats left behind. There's also a nice interview with Rome by Nabulsi.


Georgia has proven they have the system to support multiple tight ends. And even should Charles turn pro (which many think he will according to the poll) we should still have some quality depth, just inexperienced. Lynch has seen few legitimate snaps and Rome will be just a redshirt freshman. We have a commit in Ty Smith of Colquitt Co as well.


Also, really good read by Clarkson on Bruce Figgins' career as a Dawg and what his graduation meant to his family, especially his mom who is fighting breast cancer. Figgins' road in Athens has been a little bumpy, but he's proven to be a team player and a damn good Dawg. I'm really sad to see him go. I think I get pretty soft and mushy when it comes to players who change positions to help the team. I've heard Richt say on a couple occasions that he's hesitant to hand the ball off to someone who's never had a carry in his career. I get that. But I hope we work 89 into the plan some more in the Outback. Would bark extra loud if he found the endzone.


And I really hope NFL scouts see what he did this year as a fullback and see him as a valuable commodity in a tightend/H-back role. I think he'd do well. And it couldn't happen to a better man. Stay strong Ms. Figgins and GATA Bruce!

From all of us at BDB...

Christmas Eve Traditions

For as long as I can remember Christmas Eve has been my favorite day of the year. Even as a kid I enjoyed the traditions and warmth of family time on December 24th as much or more than Christmas Day itself. I hope you are having a terrific Christmas weekend. There's a lot to be proud of in the Dawg Nation. But it doesn't come close to the joy of this time of year. I'm taking a moment here to lounge and take I some football while smelling the smells coming from the kitchen. Later we'll go to church and then I'll make the traditional Christmas Eve meal, shrimp and grits. Then some readings, singing, cookies laid out. Maybe a movie. And bedtime. You just can't beat it. Hope your traditions bring a smile to your face that rivals the one on mine. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Schedule and a lump of coal

So we won't have a 2012 schedule until after Christmas which feels like a big lump of coal in the stocking. Okay. Whatevs.


PWD laid out what he's hearing, which is a good mix of what has been leaked and what is known fact (ie. the OOC games are locked and loaded). Here's what he has:

Week 1: Buffalo (home)
Week 2: Missouri (away)
Week 3: Florida Atlantic (home)
Week 4: Vanderbilt (home)
Week 5: Tennessee (home)
Week 6: South Carolina (away)
Week 7: Kentucky (away)
Week 8: BYE Week
Week 9: Florida (Jax)
Week 10: Alabama (home)
Week 11: Auburn (away)
Week 12: Georgia Southern (home)
Week 13: Georgia Tech (home)

What do you think? I definitely would like to get South Carolina later in the season and I really enjoy the off week before Jax. Other than the awkwardness of having the name Missouri up there, I think it's about what we could hope for.

About that College Station trip

Not that Georgia fans would say we told you so Aggies...but...we told you so.

Phone records obtained by Dawg Post through a Freedom of Information Act request indicate that Richt only left the state of Georgia twice the week after the SEC Championship Game: a recruiting trip to Raleigh, NC the night of December 4th; and to participate in an Outback Bowl press conference on December 8th.

Richt’s phone records, which indicate where he is when making a call and what location he is calling, show that the Georgia head coach was never in New York City or visiting Texas A&M as had been rumored on Internet websites and printed in major Texas newspapers.

According to those outlets Richt was supposedly visiting with Texas A&M AD Bill Byrne in New York City about the opening at A&M on Tuesday and was touring the facilities in College Station later that week. Richt’s phone records say otherwise.

Step up your game A&M. You're in the SEC now. Flight records are your best friend, in December and January especially.

Belue to sign 1980 Dawgs DVDs TODAY!

Because Nat Hudson gave the block of the season, Buck will be at The Varsity in Alpharetta tomorrow to sign copies of the 1980 Dawgs DVD.

For Immediate Release:

Buck Belue will be signing copies of "1980 Dawgs" tomorrow (Fri. the 23rd) at The VARSITY ALPHARETTA from 1:00 - 2:00 pm.  Copies of "1980 Dawgs" will be on sale twenty minutes early.  Address: 11556 Rainwater Drive, Alpharetta.  Just off Haynes Bridge Rd., West of 400, approx. 1 mile from North Point Mall.

Great time to pick up a special gift for a Dawgs fan and have it signed by a legend.

Buck is a UGA Football Legend and was quarterback of the 1980 National Champion Bulldogs. Today, he is co-host of the Buck and Kincade show on 680 The Fan, and a syndicated newspaper columnist.

Coach Richt - wins, loses

I'm back in the GA, ready to give my two pennies.


Coach Richt has always been the near perfect example of how you can't please everybody. He's too religious. Too nice. Doesn't show enough emotion on the sidelines. Gives sloppy, tongue happy kisses to his favorite coed.


He doesn't win enough to satisfy the fanbase; even after a 10-3 season some would jump at the chance to grab another Corch lolz. And now even when he does something out of the kindness of his heart he gets his hand slapped. While Ohio State ran out of shovels to cover up their improprieties and Penn State ran out of moral compasses, Richt's "handouts" bring the NCAA to the Butts-Mehre door.


Even when the guy wins, he gets punished.

BotW: the growlers

I have a message for craft beer drinkers and sellers of craft beer, and the message is the same for both.

Join in the growler movement or watch it leave you behind.

Regardless of whether you just haven't purchased a growler or are a retailer/tap manager and don't want to sell them, they are the way things are moving. To turn one's back on fresh beer straight from the tap is unAmerican. 

Unfortunately, this growler's empty now.

If you're unfamiliar, growlers are glass jugs that allow for "take-out" beer. You simply take your growler to a place that fills them and choose from one of their taps. The beer is generally cheaper than buying it pre-packaged since you are cutting the cost and expense of bottling. It will stay fresh for about a week, plenty of time to enjoy the labors of your favorite brewmasters.


Growlers are typically half gallons, but they come in varying sizes if you need one that's bigger or smaller. What's more important is to find a place that accepts growlers purchased from other locations. When you get your first growler you'll pay about $6 and it'll have the store's logo on it I'm sure. Most places will refill whatever growler comes into their store. Others I've heard of (ahem!....Whole Foods...) do not. That's a big beer foul if you ask me.


Unfortunately, the economy and/or other factors have slowed the impact of growlers in many areas of the United States.  In Gwinnett we've only recently gotten a local tap place for refills. Best of Brews in Duluth is new on the scene with 30+ taps. There's several places in Atlanta and a couple in Athens. I haven't been to The Beer Growler yet, but the best place I've been to by far is 5 Points West Side. Great selection with nearly 50 taps and great prices on everything I've seen in there. If you're in the Athens area check them out on the side of the store. And I've heard a rumor they have a growler station set up at the original location in Five Points.


Ok, you want an idea of what you can save and what the experience will be like. As you hopefully know, RJ Rockers' Son of a Peach is the official brew of BDB BotW. I typically pay about $12 for a sixer of it and only paid about $9 for the growler at 5 Points Bottle Shop this summer. And it was so fresh. Right off the tap you don't have to worry about the taste changing while on the shelf. It's there in all it's glory.


So grab a growler and by all means, start complaining to your local store that you need another place to get a refill.


Two quick updates:
*Speaking of Son of a Peach. Nama got a growler of it for a tailgate before the Kentucky game. Fred was cautious, just as I was because neither of us are wheat beer fans. But we talked him into it. And his reaction was the exact same as mine. You go from "There's no friggin' way I'm gonna like this." to "Holy crap this is like drinking a peach!" 
* Follow up on our reading post last week, here's some other good books about beer and brewing in addition to the ones we discussed.

1980 Dawgs on WXIA

Lenny Daniel and Scott Woerner promote 1980 Dawgs.

Charles to return, and break White's future record

I like Aron White's plan to get Orson to return for his senior season: score a touchdown and make him jealous enough to come back to break White's future record.

The big question is whether starter Orson Charles will go pro. White, who has been sharing snaps with Charles for most of the past few years, has an angle on how Georgia can get Charles to return: Get White into the end zone in the Outback Bowl. White and Charles are tied for the all-time touchdown record for a tight end at Georgia. So White, a senior, hopes that he gets one in the bowl game to take the lead, and then Charles decides he wants the record and returns for his senior year. “So everybody root for me to score a touchdown in the bowl if you want Orson to come back,” White said. “I’m doing this for you all, not for me.” White also joked - at least he was probably joking - that he didn't want Charles to go pro now and "kill my draft stock."

Everybody wins.

Humpday Hilarity: Puns for intelligent people

The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.

She was only a whiskey maker,  but he loved her still. 

A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption. 

No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

A dog gave birth to puppies near the road, and was cited for littering. 

A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie. 

A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.

Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana. 

Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head."

I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

The midget fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large. 

The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

A backward poet writes inverse. 

In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.

When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion. 

If you jumped off the bridge in Paris, you'd be in Seine.

Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says 'Dam!' 

Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

Two hydrogen atoms meet.  One says, 'I've lost my electron." The other says 'Are you sure?' The first replies, 'Yes, I'm positive."

Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication.

There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

h/t Mac

SEC Today - Outback Preview

Hannah Chalker, with the help of Scott Howard gets us ready for the Outback Bowl with a preview.

File this under...

....would not upset me.

Veteran defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson will be the next football coach at Southern Miss, two people with direct knowledge of the negotiations said late Monday night.

A press conference to announce the hiring of Johnson, 59, could be held as soon as today in Hattiesburg.

Johnson, Steve Spurrier's assistant head coach for defense at South Carolina, was in Hattiesburg on Monday. Johnson could not be reached for comment, but he told co-workers at South Carolina he would miss the Gamecocks' Monday night practice to interview for the USM job.

Not so special teams

Special Teams have been a big let down this season. Richt ponders why.

"We know we have got to get better," Richt said. "It's two things in my opinion that it could be -- either it's what we are doing schematically or it's who do we have on those teams. I guess it could be a third thing: Are they actually doing what we are asking them to do? In all those areas we must improve."

The Bulldogs will enter next year having to replace Boykin, Butler and Walsh, but it's the guts of each unit that Richt is ready to address.

"We'll probably do more special-teams work in the spring than we've done in the past," Richt said. "We knew we had a great punter, great kicker, holder, snapper and that kind of thing, but we also knew we had some youth on some of those teams. We lost [Akeem] Dent, [Darryl] Gamble, [Demarcus] Dobbs -- they were guys that could protect, escape and run and tackle a guy in the open field. We lost a batch of those guys, and we were a little shy on linebacker depth, so we just have to keep recruiting those kinds of guys.

"If we've got to put a bunch of starters on defense on some specials or starters at wide receiver or whatever you've got to do -- tailback -- I don't care what position. We've got to get the best guys out there and understand how crucial it is."

It might also be worth looking at how duties are handed out as well. I'd like Richt to think about taking things over himself.

Crowell speaks. Will feet follow?

Good read by Weiszer as Isaiah Crowell reflects on his freshman season. It's pretty obvious he's turning into a polished interviewee. Personally, if his feet can follow his mouth then I think he can break 1000 sooner rather than later. The Dawg Nation has grown tired of his attitude. But if #1 can back up the talk with some walk, then he'll hear the cheers loud an clear.

No meatloaf today. Out of town and the phone doesn't cook too well. Y'all probably need to get to shopping for the wives' Christmas gift anyway.

Oddly confident in the Outback

How confident do you feel about the bowl game?

As I was making my selections for the bowl pool and assigning confidence points, I came to the 2012 Outback Bowl. I guess I wasn't surprised to see many internet casinos had the Dawgs as a favorite, as many 3.5 points. But I'm not sure how confident I am that the team we last saw can hold up to that.


True, Michigan State isn't nearly the behemoths we saw in the Georgia Dome on December 3rd. However they are a solid team by all means. Their defense is stout. They have a stable of running backs and an experienced arm in the pocket. If you beat them you've certainly worked your tail off for 60 minutes.


Still, I think with some solid Christmas time competition at running back we can be the team that eventually pulls away from the opposing defense. The Spartans are faster than the usual Big Ten team, but I doubt they can keep up with Malcolm Mitchell very long should we establish a running game.


With the legalization of sports betting many college football fans are looking at bowl season to line their pockets with some easy money. I just hope those that take the Georgia Bulldogs end up on the right side of the ledger.

Jarvis not just talking the talk

Months ago he said he wasn't interested in entering the NFL early. It was music to Dawg fans ears, but we still waited with bated breath to see if a mid season quote was still in his heart at season's end.


Well, no real surprise that Jarvis wasn't just pumping sunshine.

Outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, a third-year sophomore and consensus All-American, said “there’s no reason” for him to send in paperwork since he had long decided to return.

“I love being here,” Jones said. “I love the guys I play with. I love my coaches. I don’t think I’m ready to let that go yet.”

Meanwhile, SEC linemen could use a tissue to dry their tears. On the upside they have several more months to practice their holding, cuz even that didn't always work to contain #29.

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER BOWL POOL!!

Only a few more hours until the 2011 Bowl Season officially kicks off. Here's the original post with link and password. "It's not over til you pin ya father!"

Bowl Pool, to benefit the Human Fund

It's the Second Annual Festivus4theDawgNus Bowl Pool. Frank's gotten the pole out of the crawl space and George is crying over his cassette tapes. The only thing you need is the following info:

Link to group's page

password - "thestrike"

Entry is free, but donations are generously accepted. All benefits to be given to The Human Fund. For Twitter updates on the pool, follow me here and/or Darren the Intern there. Winner gets a year's worth of free fake donuts from H&H Bagels.


If you have no clue what all this means, perhaps this clip can catch you up.

 

For my Spanish speaking readers, here it is translated. Usted tiene un sistema de creencias fascinante. 

Stuff that stocking, Dawggy style!

For all of you over zealous Holiday shoppers, please continue on your merry way. Nothing to see here...go on! Run along!


Now, the rest of you are like me I guess. Waiting until the last minute to get that shopping done. So after yesterday's post on Burns' book I thought I'd help us all out by listing some items that are high on my list.

• 1980 Dawgs DVD set. Here's my review and here's a link to their website. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS as part of your collection. A must, trust me.
• Belue to Scott. Here's my review and here's a link to the website. Also a MUST HAVE whether you lived through the 1980 season or you've simply heard about it in stories and Munson replays.
• Munson Bobbleheads - is there a better way to remember the great Larry Munson than to have him sitting on your desk whenever you need that pick me up? You can get it at Glory Glory stores as well as other places.
• Anything from Amazon - I've heard the guys at From Hedges to Hardwood shamelessly plug their Amazon tab on their podcasts. Figured I might as well do the same. If you're ever buying anything from the seemingly all inclusive website, why not use my button over there on the right and allow Amazon to cut me a commission? Especially if it's something as snazzy as a Kindle Fire!!

While you're shopping for your favorite Dawg, go ahead and buy yourself one of these items too. Or wait and see if it makes its way into your stocking. And if it doesn't, you can just gift them to yourself. It'll be another Festivus Miracle!!