Larry Eustachy acknowledges your game Carl Pelini

Really only because this gives me an excuse to post one (or two) of my favorite all time pics in all of college athletics. That and the thought of a couple coaches blazing one up in the FAU Owls' film room gives me a chuckle.

Oh yeh. Get your creep on Larry. Then make room in the basement for another disgraced coach. Bo's bro is moving in!

Pinkel punishment, fair...right?

Full disclosure: I have blogged (repeatedly) while under the influence of both bourbon and beer...sometimes both. If there were a law against that I would accept my fine, suspension or expulsion, whatever it may be.


But what about Gary Pinkel? Missouri suspended their head coach for one game and instituted several monetary penalties. Two Tiger players sat out the first two games of the season because of drunk driving arrests. So the news of Pinkel's punishment seems fair. After all, isn't it a double standard if the head coach doesn't accept some sort of team suspension?


Then again, is it best for the team that their head coach remain on the sideline? Missouri is trying to gain bowl eligibility. Perhaps players should be held to a different standard because a university is designed to teach them, and sometimes that includes right from wrong. Pinkel on the other hand is a grown man. His consequence will also come from the courtroom.


In the end I think this is a private matter within the walls of the Mizzou football program and I think Missouri made the right decision. I mean, what are the precedents here? What other coaches have gotten DUIs? Mike Price had a massive alcohol induced brain fart. And everyone knows Eustache prefers PBR. They lost their jobs over their indiscetions. But those are oranges and this is an apple.


I think...? What say you? Is Pinkel's punishment enough...too much...fair?

As far as coaches gone wild, Larry still carries the torch.

Today's lesson: APR vs PBR

One guy enters next season with the highest APR rating in the country...

Get After That Academicz Coach!!

...and another guy enters next season with the highest PBR rating in the country...

A cold can is my jam bro.

The league only has room for one. To be settled 'tween the hedges, September 10th. Stay tuned.

Coaches Gone Wild!

From Uncle David, who happens to be a Damn Good Dawg as well as a Pirate over forty...


Tim Floyd on the other hand, just went crazy as a $hithouse rat the other night.

If that ref is sleeping with Floyd's wife, well...then I might understand. But damn son, take a cue from Eustachy and have a Pabst with a coed.

Monday's Meatloaf - The Over/Under on Coaching

The game had just begun to ebb back into the faint recesses of our collective minds Saturday when Coach Fox held his post-game tweet up. He was appreciative of the late afternoon support. He sounded genuinely excited about the victory and the promise it provided for the remainder of the season.

(If you are Twitter illiterate, don't fret. Tweets
read from bottom to top.)

But he also (politely) criticized fans for chanting "Overrated" towards the end of the wild kitties' suckitude, questioning the reason behind it. And whether you just got caught up in the moment or you actually were more concerned with demeaning the opponent as opposed to pumping up the home team, it's hard to argue the logic.


The Dawgs were the underrated team that proved to make a bigger impact on the SEC standings in the opener. So glad Coach Richt, his entire staff and many players were reportedly at the game to witness a group of Dawgs fighting for every hard earned point, hustling for every loose ball, and executing a game plan masterfully designed to take down a top ranked opponent.


Because the football team has been playing games as if they were entitled to the win. They are the overrated team that has yet to realize that there is no pedestal to stand on any longer. Whatever was left of that thing was demolished in Boulder and then burnt in Memphis.


Thanks to Coach Fox and his hounds for an inspiring, much needed win. It was great to see the students come back to town early and the fans pack the Steg. You all didn't disappoint in the least. But thanks most of all for the lesson.




Today's Ingredients

• Our all world receiver went from#8 to #1...in our hearts...and maybe even the NFL draft. So long AJ. *sniff*
• Like Hoop Dawgs says, ESPN analysts are going to have to give Coach Fox and his players some props now.
• And Hedges to Hardwood adds a nice pic to their write of the win over Kentucky.
• Fletcher Page says one of Fox's recruits just happened to be in Athens ($$) for the big upset this weekend. I'm sure Shaq Goodwin liked what he saw.
• Coach Richt gathered his 18th commitment ($$) from Ramik Wilson over the weekend. It came a day after #17, Damian Swann.
• the Senator updates us on the final scene of the Georgia football season.
• In this article that outlines the 25 reasons Herschel was a great football player, I failed to find - The ball wasn't heavy....??
• And speaking of #34, Rex has confirmed that his Twitter account is actually him. So try and catch up with him.
• As if anything could make Les Miles crazier, it could be a Domino's Pizza plane that delivers him to Ann Arbor.
• I'm normally a sucker for a good overcoming the odds story, especially in college football. But Mr. Hancock...when sCam breaks rules to become the story of the year...no, I don't love that comeback story. But thanks for asking. 
• Can't argue with any of Barnhart's reasons why Auburn will win tonight. In the end I guess it all comes down to payroll. In Eugene they're rubbing coins together. On the plains, it's raining cash!
• Count me in with Mike, I'm a big Duck fan tonight.
• Rex Ryan is finding Folk's foot more and more attractive.
• Did Eustachy have some PBR before Southern Miss tipped off against Marshall?
• Lastly, Pete Postlethwaite passed away last week. Terrific actor. His name was Kobayashi. He worked for Keyser Soze.

I had fully intended on making this pan of meatloaf my 1000th post. But evidently my calculator malfunctioned; I hit that milestone Saturday...I think. There's a reason I majored in blogging, you don't have to use math much. It's a shame a guy can't rely on a gadget to do that work for him. Then again, maybe it was user error.


Reminds me of a joke...I don't know why I need to learn Algebra, when I never plan on going there.


Regardless of the reason though, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank everyone for the clicks. The support, suggestions, feedback, comments...it's all very much appreciated. And together, we can get through this difficult time. A terrific basketball season would certainly help. 


Just repeat after me:

We're a basketball school, with a football problem. 

It's awkward, sure. But how must the engiNerds feel...with neither. Here's your snow shovel Reader. Get that driveway clear before lunch.

Bernie

Monday's Meatloaf - Ohhhh, That Smell...

Whiskey bottles and brand new cars...oak tree you're in my way.

It happens once a year, almost always in the summer. When else, really? You're minding your own business and it hits you...you're ready for football season. For me it happened Friday just as I was rounding the big oak tree in our neighborhood that stands as the beginning of the homestretch for my cardio routine.

Of course, we end each season ready for more, we are Dawgs after all. But I'm talking about truly ready. We've all uttered the words God would football season finally get here? and we've all passed the Weber grills and the cornhole boards in the garage and sighed, audibly.

And we've all perked up a little when we hear our own Battle Hymn ringtone. Or we've paused a little longer than usual as we pass that picture in the office of Sanford Stadium. Double sigh.

But this feeling brings with it an uncanny sense of joy; a very real pep in your step. You can smell the tailgate heating up, can hear the thwump of the bean bags on the boards. You can hear a gathering of fans wonder who's that comin' down the tracks. You can see Uga...er...I mean Russ settle the family heirlooms on a bag of ice. AJ Green catches every ball in warm ups. 

Then suddenly the trumpet rings out from the southwest corner. I can hear it now. Clean, crisp...clearly amplified and full of Georgia Glory...

Nearly down to 50 days Reader. Can you smell it?



Today's Ingredients

• Of course, my elation at smelling some gridiron Friday turned into stomach indigestion Saturday morning with the news from Athens Clarke County jail.
• Coach Richt doled out the bad news for his players' turbulence this weekend. As long they don't get caught emerging from any alleys...Jackson would be back in the middle of October for Vandy and King would be ready for the trip to Chickumbia. UPDATE: news gets worse. More later.
• Having already picked Georgia to beat Arkansas this fall, former Dawg baller Steve Newman goes more in depth into how the game will play out.
• AuditDawg took a seat at the DawgSports desk and told us where he comes from.
• Earl counted down to one of Georgia's all-time best athletes yesterday, Robert Edwards.
• Bill King wants to know which game will be the hardest for the Dawgs this season...you know, other than floriDuh.
• I agree with The Senator that Georgia has nothing to be ashamed of in Phil Steele's decade analysis. We should be even more impressed by what Richt has done in December and January.
• Every night is Ladies' Night at Bar Knoxville. So was Da'Rick wearing pumps or heels? Meanwhile the investigation continues.
• Paschall tells us that the coaches are gonna have to kick it up a notch in Hoover if they're to keep up with the players this summer.
• That sound you heard yesterday was the vuvuzela dying a slow death. The end of the World Cup means two things: Justin Beaver can re-assume his place atop the Twitter Twending Twopics...and Paul becomes calamari.
• It's usually a good practice to keep one's distance from the media. But does this mean global warming talk has officially cooled off? h/t Bluegrass Pundit
• Lastly, some good stuff coming up on the blog as we go through our own summer workouts. Plan to have a month by month break down of the season as well as some positional exploration. There's surely some good stuff to come out of Hoover next week. And we'll also have an exit interview for David Hale as he packs up his Bulldogs Blog. That should at least get us to two-a-days...

Last Monday we were embarrassed by the image of Damon's mugshot and the police report that read too close to a penthouse forum (...or so I'm told Honey...). Today, embarrassed again by a story that has become all too familiar. Football player arrested...DUI...indefinite suspensions.

For Damon, the next step will certainly come. Last week I prophesized and (after placing my tongue in cheek) suggested Evans might end up at Southern Miss with Eustachy...they could share a Pabst. Well, Weiszer uses juxtaposition much better than I do in this nice story. 

Wherever Damon ends up, the grass may not be greener at first and it probably won't be outlined with english privet. But it'll be a start. And as for Jackson and King and their next start....that ball's in their court. Hopefully they (or anyone else for that matter) don't give Richt reason to wield anymore discipline.

As for you Reader, use a disciplined fork and enjoy your lunch.

Bernie

Monday's Independent and Prophetic Meatloaf

Let us all remember the wise words of George Costanza:  A meatloaf divided against itself, cannot stand.

I was thinking yesterday and nearly sprained something. I would like to share this prophecy with you, Reader. Imagine for a moment that I, Bernie...were to land my very own dream job. For hours each day I would drink beer on Sanford bridge, gulping in each malted hop just as fast as the ambiance around me.

And maybe one day after that I would be recognized for how well I was doing and be given a perch to sit in; I picture it like a red lifeguard stand, except taller. I would look down upon my passersby as they milled about toward the Journalism Building, or perhaps Tate Center for a game of pool. On gamedays, as the band played whenever our Dawgs scored the crowd would also look to me to perform some seemingly mundane ritual, like crushing an empty against my head. I would treasure this job like no other, put 12 ounces of energy into its frothiness and would shudder at the thought of doing anything to put it in jeopardy.

But then one day my ego gets too big for my authentic Georgia helmet autographed by the legendary Scott Woerner - To my great BullDawg Bud Bernie! You're the best! (Hey! It's my damn prophecy, stop laughing!). I lose a bet in Jacksonville and wear a pair of jorts to the next game. My risk/reward checks and balance fails me. I somehow think my awesomeness can survive such a travesty.

I'm wrong.

Mark Bradley is the first to call for me to step down. He writes that I've devalued my own two diplomas. Prez Adams is still blitzed from all the free promotional PBR I've been slipping him right after he publicly chastises the very stand on which I sit. What's worse, the Dawg Nation is embarrassed, hurt and pissed the hell off. My own brethren, tailgate buddies...even Stacy Searels won't return my phone calls.

Ashamed and forlorn, I step down after a heartfelt yet still amazingly empty apology. The end. Game over. They give my throne to some young upstart like Nama, or maybe even an outsider like Cord with little to no ties to UGA. By Hate Week I'm a forgotten beltloop on the Dawg Nation's silver britches. I take some menial job as a blogger and live out my days reminding people in grocery stores that I was once the guy who used my forehead to crush cans from Sanford Bridge.

Sad...beyond measure. Yet there's a lesson of course. And the one to take from this Reader...drink PBR, not martinis. At least you won't end up handing over a pair of red panties to a trooper and crying like a man about to be castrated by his own wife.


Today's Ingredients

• First and foremost, if you haven't met Garrett Karp, you'd have a better chance from way down town. Courageous kid, great story. Cancer sucks.
• So now Damon Evans can focus on his family, the true innocent victims in all of this. Unfortunately, he's now three days behind after that ridiculous press conference Thursday. 
• His professional life will survive. Heck, he may even end up at Southern Miss with Larry Eustachy. And we know that guy drinks Pabst.
• Of course there's lots of responses to Evans' firing. But the big issue now is what the settlement is. We should find out later today just how much UGA was willing to pay to end this sad chapter. UPDATE: three months pay and 100K longevity bonus.
• The Senator thinks Bradley's panties are over-wadded. I detect an addition to the Lexicon evolving....
• Even before Ms. Fuhrmann was putting on her red unmentionables early Wednesday evening and some Buckhead bartender was mixing up the first of three vodka martinis, Quinton was wondering if Damon was being graded on a curve.
• Sidenote - now that the AJC has typed red panties more than the nerds have spilled their Yoo-Hoos over them...can we really call them unmentionables?
• Meanwhile the search is officially on today for a new AD. Bill King and Kyle's vote is for former Dawg and Foley underling Greg McGarity.
• Streit had a special edition to his countdown for July 4th.
• Meanwhile Noops celebrated in sweet style.
• LSU AD Joe Alleva says this is a big year coming up for Les and the football program. I just hope Coach Miles got some extra timeouts for Father's Day.
• Lastly, what's America come to when a former hotdog champ can't grab another 15 minutes of fame without getting cuffed and stuffed?

Sorry for the shorter list of ingredients today. Been a busy weekend coming off vacay and celebrating 234 years of superior dental care. 

But the real good news is that today is a new day. Sure, we'll have moments when Relationship Dawg Nation meets Independent Dawg Nation...like next Monday when the media covers Damon's courtdate. We'll be reminded of what once was. And more importantly what might have been.

But in the end Relationship Dawg Nation can't hurt Independent Dawg Nation any further. That's the Dawg Nation we know and love. Sugar Bowl Dawg Nation, Comin' Down the Track Dawg Nation. Yes, in the end we are still standing, maybe even better than ever.

It may be a Monday Reader, but wipe that mopey mug off your face and give the world a big Dawg smile. I mean, it could be worse...you could be a chicken rancher celebrating your first EVER national title...or a middle aged blogger still dreaming of his dream job. Either way, here's your fork. As always, try not to overtax it.



Bernie

St. Simons - a home away from Jacksonville

I've mentioned that I'm not cocktailing in Jax this season. Talked to Nama last night and we mourned over the loss of the feeling of packing on Wednesday and heading out Thursday for St. Simons.

So to hopefully satiate these grief stricken feelings, here's a list of the things I'll miss the most about St. Simons this year.

· an order of fried dill pickles at Gnats on Friday night.

· The common call of the Dawgs wherever you go and wherever you turn.

· a visit to Loco's on the way in.

· golf

· some cornhole while breathing in the ocean air.

· heading in over the bridge.

· The absolute absence of jorts and the color orange.

· The friendly folk.

· the feeling heading out Saturday morning. We've done the bus charter before and that has its advantages. But sometimes someone loses a significant bet the night before and has to be the DD. That's even nicer.

· a PBR (or two or six) at Gnats while we watch the late game Saturday night.

St. Simons is a peaceful place that makes the victories sweeter and the losses easier to stomach. If you live there I understand why. If you're visiting this weekend, have a great time...but also respect the island.

I look forward to my next visit.

Optimism Meets Reality, Both Can Be Wiley

At 11am this morning Damon Evans will introduce the biggest hire of his tenure as UGAs Athletic Director. The second guessing... well, that began long before he made his decision.

Mark Fox may one day be recognized as good a coach as Pearl, Donovan, Calipari...but on April 3rd, 2009 in name recognition only, he couldn't be any more a polar opposite. Fans are left wondering how we went from Anderson to Fox.

And for that I believe Evans must take some blame; his words set the fanbase up for a BIG hire. He set his sights high and the media and the fans took off running. From the sublime (Capel) to the ridiculous (Knight). While the mutha and the AllJackCrap pimped their supremely vetted candidates, fans ran rampant with names from Anthony Grant to Tom Izzo.

But give credit to Evans for putting the faith and the resources into a program that has lacked both for years. He aimed high and has given this alum reason to believe hoops is on the rise in the Classic City.

This hire will immediately and continually be compared to Bama's with Grant. There was a public "discussion" between Donovan and Adams re: Grant; both Grant and Fox have been successful at comparable programs; Bama went sans search firm, while Evans added the support of extra eyes and investigative resources; and there was the obvious "pass" on the interview as Bama zeroed in on Grant.

I am of the opinion that Grant would have made the better presser, but fall short of feeling he's all that with a side of chips. The one advantage Grant has over Fox at this point is that he is more familiar with the recruiting roads in GA.

But sometimes a fresh name/face/blood can do wonders in sparking an interest, developing and repairing relationships. My guess is Fox will be able to hold his own there. At least until Jacob Dominique Wilkins turns 18 and chooses UGA for his hoops scholly....in 2024.  : )

I think in the end this hire and the process as a whole fully represents where our program is: looking for the best, but forced to settle for potential. It was nice to dream about Capels and Izzos, but if we wake up with a hidden gem I think we're just as happy.

Friday's Feedbag

• Had a real nice bit on Logan Gray and the QB situation this spring in the can; then Evans decided he'd rather me post on hoops. Note to Damon: I am your pawn, move me in the direction that best serves our blessed institution. (I'll give you your props a little later Logan....)
• Speaking of QBs, Tucker of the AJC adds another log to the freshman QB blaze with this piece that shows a little of JCs sense of self-deprecating humor. And Tucker also promises to feature Gray in a feature Sunday. It may be more in-depth than mine, but I bet mine gets a fraction of his reads - HA!
• Clempson's Saratt bedazzled Georgia batters for eight innings Wednesday night, but had to hand the ball to Vaughn outta the tiggers bullpen in the ninth. Just what Cerione, Poythress and Lewis needed to open up a three run ninth and a come from behind win to sweep a two-game home and home with the urranjah clad diamond dwellers. Will Harvil shut the door in the ninth. Big three game series with LSwho this weekend at Foley for our #1 Diamond Dawgs.
• By the way...if you're going to Foley this weekend, you already have a ticket. All three games are sold out. Hopefully mudda nature shines as brightly as the bullpen did Wednesday night.
• Carvell has the latest in what is the witless wonder's escapades up in the hills. It's a KiffyBaby World, the rest of us are just using the gravitational pull with greater success. And credit the AJC recruiting guy for getting in print what may be the only instance of Laney being humble....albeit in relation to his torso, not his tackle football coaching ability.
• The Queen rules. Literally. But I wonder if the very hip Obama left any Miles Davis or Snoop Dogg on that music player doohickie.
• The pissin' contest in Mile High is finally over. And the winner is....us, the fans that really don't care.

Some programming notes: if you are looking for this week's discussion on Athens' battle against trans fat, it's here. And BDBs official welcome to Coach Fox is here.

I'm on vacation as of Friday after lunch, but have a few things in the can that will keep you occupied while I'm away reader. Of course, if Jenn and I don't win our tennis match tonight, she may have me pack the car just to watch it leave without me.

Don't leave me with the lawn to mow. Don't leave me with the lawn to mow!

I'll leave ya with this: a month ago tomorrow, I laid out the facts for ya reader. I posed the possibility that Evans could be at the table with pocket jacks or trying to draw into a flush. I think he has four clubs and as a fanbase we'll wait to see what the river card turns up.

And hopefully it doesn't come up Eustache. Happy weekend!

Bernie

Georgia Basketball Coaching Search for Dummies

The facts, Jack:

• UGA DOES have a basketball program
• We do NOT know who will be the next b-ball coach
• The new coach will have MORE to work with than Felton did...duh!
  
• AD Evans would LIKE to have him in place in about a month
• We do have AN IDEA how much coin exists to fetch him
• We WILL have competition in the market (Arizona, Bama, possibly Virginia to name a couple)
• Bob Knight panders MORE than Charles Grant on Finley St.
• UGA has NOT hired Furman Bisher to conduct it's search. They went with Parker Executive Search of Atlanta instead.
  
• Evans could be in a position of STRENGTH (think pocket Jacks before the flop) or somewhere south of that (think trying to draw into a flush before the river)
• With the serious coin, Evans will NOT be in a position of weakness
• So far Master Adams has only COMPLEMENTED the search by having a sit down with Eddie Munster, aka GatorDon

IF that doesn't help, try this. Given what we actually know, Evans should be able to avoid this guy...