Marshall and week one is here!

Plus, episode 19 of 4th & 3 Dudes at the bottom, where Nama and I discuss how we think the team shapes up against last season's stats and the 2025 schedule. (Cord had a shit week and couldn’t join us. Not sure what that means for his Oregon State Beavers as they go up against Cal tomorrow night. We’ll see.)

But first, a few additional thoughts on our Dawgs as well as the weekend slate.

Special teams. I make this point in the episode below, but wanted to emphasize it a little more here. Hopefully it doesn’t happen often tomorrow, but when we line up to punt it won’t be a good time to leave your seat to go to the restroom. I’m going to play close attention to who the coaches are trusting in this phase of the game. Same for the return game.

Special teams can make or break a game, as we know. There are a lot of position battles to pay attention to tomorrow: OL, CB, Safety. Really every position has a depth chart to be chiseled out during these first two games before the trip to Knoxville. We need to include special teams in that focus for the sole purpose of flipping the field at keys moments later in the season, getting the offense in better field position with punt returns, protecting our kickers to do their job, etc etc.

The weekend looks glorious too. I'm looking forward to GA Tech at Colorado tonight. Tomorrow I'm excited to see what Fran Brown's fightin' Orangemen can do against Tennessee. Our Dawgs in the middle of the afternoon along with Bama going to Tallahassee. Tomorrow night Clemson hosts LSU in the fight for the rights to the term Death Valley. And Sunday I'll be watching both VA Tech at South Carolina and Notre Dame at Miami. I'll Monday night's tilt between TCU and North Carolina on hold and see if something better opens up.

What game(s) has you excited?

Okay, now on with show! Little longer than usual. But Nama and I are excited to talk about Georgia football again!

Game week thoughts - Marshall

I'm not one to typically dabble in week zero tv watching. But we've had nothing but rain down here and that meant that our usual Saturday golf game was cancelled. That probably saved me $10, which is the usual buy in for the Saturday game, but meant I needed to find some things to do around the house. 

So I turned on ESPiN as background noise. It was the Aer Lingus Football Classic, live from Dublin Ireland where Big 12 powerhouses Iowa State and Kansas State both struggled to keep a handle on the football in the first half. In the second half the teams erupted for 31 points. In the end it was a Kyle Konrardy field goal and a long game ending drive for the Iowa State win.

Not a great week zero of college football, which is tradition in itself. But was enough to lead me to just a few thoughts.

• First and foremost, I'm reminded that this is our second season without the Great Senator Blutarsky to lead us. Still the best college football blogger that ever has been. I'll continue to miss his words and insight.
• Secondly, the second season of 4th & Three Dudes is set to start this week. We had our official podcast planning session last week and are looking forward to entertaining as many as three or four of you weekly. You can watch us here, or search for us by name in your podcast feeder's search bar.
• Of course there's a lot of talk about how the SEC finally moving to a 9 game conference scheduling format affects Georgia. Most favor our permanent three as Auburn, Florida and either Tennessee or South Carolina. Too bad it won't be Texas since we always find a way to beat those bastards.
• Reports out of camp are mostly encouraging. Hope you're hearing the same. In general it sounds like Gunner is really stepping into his role and the talent is rich. Still pretty young and raw overall, but sounds like they will be ready to hit someone wearing green ASAP, and should be ready for that first road trip test up yonder by week three.
• Someone asked me yesterday what we are ranked. I answered that I think we're around 5, but the truth is not only do I not know for sure but I don't really care.

And I'm willing to bet that is about where you are too. I've never worried about preseason rankings, because the subjectivity is not just obvious, but it's rampant. Plus, winning two very recent National Championships has a way making college football a little less stressful.

Saturday, toe meets leather. And the rest will be sorted out with Coach Smart steering our ship.

All aboard!