the Friday Misery puts down the fork, and picks up the gauntlet

“Aww...look at these poor little Dawg fans,” she said as she came upon our table. Then, as she wiped away fake tears, “Did they get their wittle feewings hurt?” 

There was no logical retort to make, as indeed, we had.

Comfort food in an uncomfortable moment

Paul Dupre' has a cozy little restaurant in Baton Rouge where his staff serves food inspired by his grandmother's home cooked meals. Elsie’s Plate and Pie has everything a southern palate might find comfortable to a hard working fork - okra, tomato pie, red beans & rice, pork chops. And of course, plenty of fried catfish.

It is also true that this is where our crew sought comfort after witnessing Kirby’s Dawgs get spanked harshly and very publicly by Coach O’s bengal bayou tigers last season. It had been quite a day for our hungry appetites already, having been invited into the infamous JR Vendetto’s tailgate. Under the shadow of the campus' Memorial Tower he and his fellow Louisianans had graciously served up gumbo and boudin and jambalaya and enough shrimp to feed Ignatius Reilly for at least a week. 

Nick Offerman as John Kennedy
Toole's sardonic protagonist

Although Ignatius would probably wash em down with a glass of sherry instead of all that cold beer. And given his penchant for grandiose complaints, he’d even find a way to underappreciate and pick nits at anything that graced Miss Elsie’s dinner table. But last October, as our band of dawggone tired travelers gathered around an outside table under the evening sky at her restaurant’s namesake, we needed comfort. To travel and witness a loss is one thing, but to see the team get beat so soundly was even more devastating than humbling.

So we passed around plates and argued over which dish was best (and for the record, it was the seafood pot pie in my humble opinion. But the Natchitoches meat pie will likely be my order the next time I’m there) all while punishing ourselves by reliving this failed play and that bad call and DEAR GOD DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THAT FAKE FIELD GOAL! 

There's something about sharing a table being weighted down as much by great food as good friends' voices. On a day that ended badly on the playing field, it was comforting to find familiarity in conversation and used silverware. Not to mention napkins used beyond their ways and means.

Yes, looking forward to another visit to Elsie's. But next time I hope to not be interrupted by an LSU fan spewing hateful truths and logic.

this offensive echo chamber is offensive

Look. We've all been arguing about it for months. And I know by now I’m not going to convince you one way or the other. I know that. By now you’ve either decided to hate this Georgia offense until you’re blue in the face, or to support it despite it’s awkward and unwelcome visage. 

As a person who is himself very often awkward and also, at times, finds himself unwelcome, it should be no secret I’ve chosen the latter stance. When Jake Fromm turns one way to hand the ball off and the ball carrier of note has moved in an opposite direction, I can relate. Just a few months ago I fell head first into the backyard trying to catch my dog by the collar before he gobbled up his own excrement. (I know right? I was all like “WTF dude! Naw, don’t do...oof.”) Like Fromm, my intentions were true. But the dog zigged when I thought he had committed to the zag.

We all pay a price for our inadequacies. It’s just that mine are less public. And not punishable by a 300lb lineman barreling in on me.

But can we all agree that we’ve said everything that needs to be said at this point? Does it really do any damn good to rip the scab off again just to shove it in a fellow Georgia fans’ face?

Regardless, by tomorrow night around 7:30 you’ll have one of a couple options: 1) keep pissing in your own cheerios and wallowing in your own misery over the fact that this offense hasn’t lived up to its potential despite its 11-2 record and third straight trip to the December Dome, or 2) enjoy another incredible win over LSU on the grand national stage.

Kind of like we did here. And also here. And I especially enjoyed it when we did it here.

I hold true to the lifestyle of being a Georgia Bulldog fan where it means you take the good with the bad. In other words, I’m just as much a Dawg fan now as I was when we lost to Georgia Tech 40-23 my first year at UGA back in 1990. 

Ray Goff wore a UGA conductor cap. I wore a grimace.

People train don't run outta
Wichita huh Coach?

Transitioning stanza

But I won’t wear a grimace tomorrow. Nor a UGA train conductor’s cap for that matter. And not because I’m too proud to be upset over a season like this that we’ve been begging for. For years now we’ve wanted a program that took us to back to back to back SEC Championship contests where we could see how we could stack up against the conference's elite as well as the nation’s best.

During the Richt years we had a taste of it every now and then. His teams took the lid off the cardboard box that held the cake and we got to drag our finger through the icing a bit, During the Donnan years we got close enough to stare at the lid...until Quincy threw yet another interception in Columbia and we just settled for another Little Debbie.

During the Goff years we played with toy trains evidently. I don’t know. I can’t remember anymore. 

No, tomorrow I will not be wearing a grimace because we’re gonna win this damn thing. I’m sick of hearing about this unstoppable LSU Fightin’ Tiger offense and ready for Kirby to change the national narrative to “Hey, maybe this Georgia defense is really THAT good. Garsh!”

Have we faced an offense this good? Nope. Not close. But have they faced a defense as good as Tae and JR and company? I bet not. And I'll take the Dawgs in that fight.

All. Damn. Day!

We're already living rent free in Dabo's head. Tomorrow Fromm and Co. make Coach O drop another F-bomb on his way down to 4th in Sunday’s rankings. Joe Burrows gets next week’s Heisman, but Rodrigo gets carried off the field on Jordan Davis’ shoulder as the red and black confetti reigns down.

Strike your pose Burrows, but #RespectTheSpecs! Always.

Now, if you will, please bow your head...Dear Lord Baby Jesus...gives us one more shot of Herrien barreling downhill with sights set on an LSU defensive back. And then please, please let our defense get after their ass! Go Dawgs!

-------
For reference if you're interested - Elsie's Plate and Pie. You won't go wrong, promise.

Also, if you're unfamiliar with the Ignatius Reilly reference, go buy a copy of Confederacy of Dunces, Toole's only book, may he rest in peace. From his tragic end we must celebrate every incredibly vivid character he gave us.

What the hell is going on here?

One of the most interesting pictures of the college football season. Can you tell me what the hell is happening? Miles hunkering, Bielema towering, trooper itching to pull the sidearm....wow.

Gameday! Homecoming! Let's do this!

Hey, if you're in Athens, have a great day! The opponent may not spark the typical gameday ignition. But Homecoming is such a great time to be in Athens. Teach your kids about some traditions. Give a stranger a fistbump. Ring the bell!

If you're not joining us, hunker down and relax. We got this. We're gonna have a great game, reminisce with friends and get after it!

Now, some other thoughts for the day.

• Right off the bat, LSU beats Bama tonight. Mark it. Lester is Nicky's kryptonite.
• How long does Gurley play? Probably as long as he wants. But I tend to think midway through the second...quarter.
• How many points do the Mountaineers score? I'd put the over/under at 17 and bet the under.
• Who do y'all think is the offensive star today? I'm hoping someone like Reggie Davis or Jonathan Rumph. But I'd hazard a guess with JJ Green first.
• Other action: Florida rebounds against Vandy, Mizzou handles Kentucky, Auburn rolls on Rocky Top, Ole Miss beats Arkansas and A&M trounces Missy State. Chickens take a nap.
• Elswhere, FSU sleeps its way to another win, Oregon wins loses, Clemson and Tech rest up for a weekday meeting.
• Aaron Rodgers' injury has left the door open for a former Dawg. Can Matt Stafford get the Lions on top up there? Here's some analysis on the Lions vs Bears. 
• Seahawks are wondering if Roddy White's return could bolster the Falcons' roster.
• And my little flag football team finishes their season tomorrow. Please pray they all show up with their flags, and the fortitude to make it through an entire game without having to go to the bathroom. Or chase rogue butterflies.

Lastly, here's a list of top betting sites if you're really bored. And really, Bama could run away early. Maybe. I just think LSU has a better shot than most think.

Wednesday's gimpy ankle headers

Looking more and more like Todd Gurley won't be ready by the time the team leaves for Knoxville. Let's just hope that has much more of an impact on his Heisman numbers than the actual game itself.

Some other things of note:

• A lot of comparisons to Saturday's win over LSU in terms of crowd noise/excitement with 1984's win over Clemson. I wasn't there for Kevin's Butler's monster kick, but Marshall was. So he adds some thoughts on the big win.
• And in another post, sUGArdaddy has some cool and historical thoughts on the LSU game, as well as some observations.
• Any way Connelly breaks down the stats, he comes to the only conclusion possible - LSU at Georgia was just a remarkable game.
• Another fun activity this week has been all of the pictures from the LSU game. Tyler brings up some good "winning" ones from Jim Hipple. The second does the most for me I guess - Richt fist pumping, Bauta flying, troopers smirking, Watts Dantzler just being Watts.
• Where was Quayvon on Saturday? Mostly spectating like me and you.
• Chris Conley gets mic'd up!
• Murray Poole scouts Tennessee.
• It's been a while since Tennessee beat a ranked team. Quite a while.
• Looking for some Vol stats in bold colors? Here ya go. Like we said yesterday, Butch Jones' first defense up there really knows how to take the ball away.

Lastly, Loran writes a letter to Larry Munson. Can you imagine the replay his voice would be getting this week if he'd been around to give us the picture on Mett's last incompletion?

BDB Gameday Semi-Live, the LSU tailgate

The game was spectacular. We all know that. But one of the reasons that win felt so incredibly awesome was because we always have so much good food and good times at the tailgate, it's just nice to finish it off with a victory like that.

Saturday was no different around campus before the game. Great food, drink and fun everywhere. And you'd be hard-pressed to find anything that cute little show over on Myers Quad had that we didn't: Predictions, check. Interviews, check. Product placement, check. Game analysis, check. Wardrobe changes, check!

So when you get 21 minutes to spare, enjoy.

Kudos to Nama for putting all of this together. Mrs. Bernie and my kids for the signage. And the rest of the guys and gals that made this Saturday one of the best ever in Athens GA.

Go Dawgs!

Sunday's very hoarse thoughts

The most intense and loudest game I've been a part of in Sanford. I might be saying that out of leftover emotions from the win, but it truly was a special experience. The fans really brought it. The students were unbelievable. One of those times you can say with certainty that together we were a twelfth man doing our part to help the team win.

• Grantham did a good job of limiting the LSU rush attack. 
• But all of that success was overshadowed by the three man rushes on third and long. YGTBFKM!
• LSU converted 10/15 third downs. Against a great offense like the Tigers' that can be expected I guess. But the distances they traveled to convert some of those is troubling. And especially frustrating given how good of a job we did against Hill. 
• Okay, on to the positives...
• A little surprised we used so much shotgun. Made me feel a little silly for emphasizing the fullback position so much earlier in the week. Oh well. It definitely worked as Bobo was content from start to finish with spreading their defense out and letting Murray do his thing.
• Marshall became the workhorse and was close to breaking a couple for long ones.
• The offensive line was tremendous, again. Murray had all the time he needed and more. The running lanes were there more often than not.
• And pass protection was one of the keys to this victory. Georgia sacked Mett four times and pressured him into some bad throws as well. We knew that would be important as he is not the same quarterback when forced to move. Meanwhile, Murray rarely felt pressure and kept a clean jersey.
• Willie Martinez will look at game film later today and wonder how in the hell he's going to cover all of these receivers.
• Of course he'll also hope Gurley doesn't make the trip. (More on that later, but sounds like it's about 50/50. We'll see how much he can practice this week.)
• Well hello there Marshall Morgan.
• And hello to you as well Josh Harvey-Clemons!
• Another key to the win obviously was special teams. Beckham is a very dangerous return man and we contained him really well. Our gunners lit him up good on the bobbled punt. That was huge.

Lastly, fitting that Murray and Mettenberger finished the game with almost identical passer ratings. Both played a whale of a game. Sure am glad it was our guy taking a knee at the end. 

#VictoryFormation

Friday Misery - Lestocracy: like an autocracy that smokes grass AND chews it

Franch /adj/ 1. to describe someone or something as being from the eternally puny country of France. 2. to have smelly armpits 3. thinking highly of oneself without one damn good reason [ex. Dem some franchy good tiger you got right der Co' Miles, I gayRUHNtee!]

Quick thought on Gameday
Most of you know I'm not a fan. I rarely get the opportunity to tune in. And when I do I'd rather thrust sharp knives deep into my ear canal than listen to Herbie perpetuate his hidden agendas and Corso ramble on about being at the Alamo with Davy Crockett and how that factors into the problems with Indiana's defense.

But tomorrow, if you're able, please watch it. Very closely. Because sometime early next week our own version of gameday will air right here. That's right, at the tailgate we're filming BDB Gameday Live, complete with expert analysis, signs and celebrity guest pickers (not named Les). Gonna be fun. And you'll be able to contrast and compare.

One thing's for sure. We'll do a lot less damage to Myers Quad.

Gurley and his Minutemen
Gonna make this short and bitter, with the bureaucratic option to veto that and make it long...and bitter.

Give me your disheartened, your disbelievers, and your disenchanted. Lend me your ear! Cast aside your minute criticisms, your worries and your apprehensions. The only thing we have to fear is...the end of college football season. So stand up straight! Have faith in Aaron Murray! Keep calm and Quayvon! Hunker down deep with Garrison, entrenched in your own Dawgged constitution. We don't need fidgety fingers, nervous nellies or the bitching and the moaning.

For tomorrow, our enemies invade our rich and storied history. They threaten our congressional assembly 'tween the hedges. They bring with them an evil form of government, one built on the falsehoods of building character among young men and rampant inbreeding. In short, they are formidable and we will need your voice, your clear conscience and your intestinal fortitude.

Lester has voted everyone back on the island with his sexual deviants, his jambalaya stuffed ballots and his honeyless badgers. He hides behind the illusion of kindness and second chances. But just like the Berlin Wall, he'll eventually lay in rubble at our feet.

#LesMilesTeamVote...eat it or flick it?

The destruction starts tomorrow ladies and gentlemen. While the national media turns a blind eye towards his practices, we will begin the process of hammering through his party platform built on failed drug tests and "team" votes. We may not be able to shut down his campaign funds, but we can make damn sure there will be no successful stumping in Athens GA, USA.

No sir Lester! You insufferable, idiotic bastard. Your ways and means around the system carry no silent majority here. We don't use cheap ballots and voter fraud as way to govern. While Jeremy Hill was practicing pick up lines on underage girls and pummeling bar patrons in Red Stick, Todd Damn Gurley was saving innocent lives with just his presence. He was carrying a bookbag of awesome to undergraduate classes. He spent his off season balancing the power of justice.

Poor job. Shitty effort Lester. Your étouffée smells as rotten as the swamp rat cooked into it. 

Go Dawgs! #commitottheG #ballforPaul  #beatLSU

Who has the bigger game, Murray or Mett?

The case for Murray. He's faced one of the conference's best defenses in South Carolina and comes into this game as the conference's top rated passer. Actually, the Gamecocks are only the seventh best passing defense in the SEC, but Murray and his offensive mates handled the pass rush and the secondary expertly. Plus, Murray's at home and should give LSU a real test through the air.

The case for Mettenberger. He's a hot quarterback right now, mostly do to the early returns from the arrival of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Last year Mett's rating was a pedestrian 125. Through four games this season he's up to 193 and ranked third in the conference. Cameron's run first system sets up well for his quarterback's skills to take shots when he can get them and rely on the skill players around him. He's already nearly surpassed last season's touchdown total with 10 scores and he's only tossed one pick in 91 attempts. Plus, playing in familiar surroundings in Athens as his first real road test of the season should help him to settle in and make good, accurate decisions with the ball.

Advantage: Murray. While it's a nice storyline for Zach that he's doing so well under Cameron, Murray meanwhile is in his fifth season under one system. He'll manage the game a lot easier with the home crowd as a backdrop and he'll find holes in a youthful LSU defense as long as 1.) his line gives him time, and 2.) Gurley has success running the football. And I think both of those things happen tomorrow.

Who has the bigger game, Herrera or Barrow?

The case for Herrera. Dude has been a magnet for tackles this season, and a bright spot on a defense that has struggled with its youth. He will need a big game tomorrow if Grantham's defense is going to stop the LSU ground attack. Much of the time he'll be going toe to toe with the Tiger's enormous fullback - JC Copeland. Herrera gives up some size there, but I like Georgia's defensive front (even against a very athletic and talented LSU offensive line) to free up enough space to allow Herrera to get to the ball carrier early and often.

The case for Barrow. Like his UGA counterpart, Lamin Barrow is the experienced leader for his position group. When LSU makes a tackle, Barrow is usually in the middle of it one way or another. He also has a knack for breaking up passes and interrupting pass routes from his will position. He's a team leader and will be a key component for the Tigers in this tough road test.

Advantage: Barrow. I think a convincing case can be made for either. And truthfully, this post has a lot to do with the opposing fullbacks - Quayvon Hicks and JC Copeland. Copeland is going to be running at Herrera and the heart of the young UGA defense all night, clearing holes for his tailbacks to follow. Bobo will run at Barrow's weak side plenty, but I see the LSU senior having more freedom to make more plays over the course of the game.

Who has the bigger game, Gurley or Hill?

The case for Jeremy Hill. The guy is averaging over eight yards a carry. Against Auburn last week he toted the rock 25 times for 184 yards. He's the workhorse in a stable of good backs. And that may be the biggest benefit for Hill - that he's one of four running backs on a team that likes to run downhill 40+ times a game. Eventually the defense gets worn down and when that happens anyone of the four can take it the distance. And that's usually Hill.

The case for Gurley. The conference's top running back is getting nearly six yards a carry and is faster and bigger than last season. He's also a threat in the passing game, something that Hill is not. And that's just an extra dimension that will keep defenses guessing. The secret is out, Gurley is a downhill runner that can gash you, but he can also find the edge as well as cut back to an open hole. He's the full package and he tends to rise to the occasion in big games.

Advantage: Gurley. I see Gurley having a similar performance to the one he had for the gamecocks. Very workmanlike and helping control the clock at the end. Around thirty carries for #3 would spell disaster for LSU. They won't gear up to stop the run for fear of Murray carving them up. So Gurley will grind it out behind another impressive performance from the offensive line.

#LesMilesTeamVote - Can we hunker down?

Oops. Looks like there's one abstention.

#LesMilesTeamVote - the piss test

Thanks to SmokeWagon for reminding me...

Did [insert name of key starter] fail another drug test?

h/t CuppyCup

NO! Honey Badger starts!

Stakes even higher for this "Mett vs Murray" battle

If you've been living under a rock I bet by now you can still hear the echoing theme for this week's game: Zach Mettenberger is returning to play against the team that kicked him off in 2010. It brings to our ears and eyes all sorts of subplots as well: his mom is still under gainful employment in Coach Richt's office; he has all sorts of old friends still playing for Georgia; he's a local boy from Watkinsville done good, then bad, then good again.

But the most interesting on and off the field happens to be that he renews his individual rivalry with Aaron Murray. Signed together to compete for playing time once Matt Stafford left early Joe Cox finished matriculating, they competed against one another on campus through workouts, practices, scrimmages and GDay games for over a year while redshirting.

Back in the day...

Looking back, it’s entirely possible Mettenberger may not have stayed at UGA anyway if Murray had been the guy, or vice versa.

“I doubt both of us would have stayed,” Murray said. “I’m sure one of us probably would have left. You could be talking to him right now and I’m at LSU or another school.”

With the situation as it is, Mettenberger’s return to Athens has increased the hype for an already massive game set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

But for Mettenberger, there is the obvious attention accompanying that, even with Richt saying he gave Tammy the week off to avoid an “awkward” atmosphere at work.

“It is just another game,” Mettenberger told reporters in Baton Rouge. “It is unfair, the situation that my teammates and family are being put in and all of the crazy questions that people have to answer. I should be the one that has to answer the questions. I don’t want any outside media or spotlight on myself or my relationship with Georgia to take away from this game and the experience for all the other guys.”

The extra buildup could mean pressure when Mettenberger returns home, but Lynch is expecting the best from a close quarterbacking friend.

Well, he expects that from two friends, really.

“If I know Zach, he loves big games. He loves to play under pressure,” Lynch said. “That’s just kind of how he is, whether it was anything, pick-up basketball, video games. He just likes competition and likes to be a part of it and likes to play in big games -- as does Aaron. I think you’ll see the best of both worlds for those two guys on Saturday.

“I don’t think either are going to hold anything back.”

So not too much has changed other than the colors on one's uniform. And the fact that the winner gains ground on making an appearance in Atlanta later this season. While the loser has a tougher road ahead.

#LesMilesTeamVote - Funky Cold Medina?

With 100% of the precincts reporting, an overwhelming yes!

(If you'd like to see the video this gif was extracted from, click here. He's actually making a bowling reference to an Odell Beckham punt return...after dropping an f-bomb and nearly melting down. In other words, your average, run of the mill, typical Lester presser.)

Bobo, Chavis and turnovers

Ever since he was Georgia's starting quarterback Mike Bobo has been going up against legendary SEC defensive coordinator John Chavis. As a player, the Georgia offensive coordinator never beat Chavis' squad. As a matchup of opposing coordinators, he's had more luck with a 2-2 record.

This Saturday they renew their "rivalry" for the third time since Chavis joined Les Miles in Baton Rouge. Paschall picks up the story quite nicely here.

"I know they lost a lot of guys on defense, but they've always fielded athletes over there who can run and hit," Bobo said. "They always have big safeties and big corners, and Coach Chavis is going to do what he has done. His guys always play hard and fast, and we've got to get ready for a street fight, really, because that's what it is going to be."

The Bulldogs have struggled offensively in their last two matchups with LSU, managing 274 yards in a 20-13 loss at Athens in 2009 and 296 yards in the 42-10 humbling at the 2011 SEC championship game.

Chavis is 10-6 as a defensive coordinator against Georgia, having held that role at Tennessee from 1995 to 2008 before moving to Baton Rouge. He soon will be 57 years old and has been coaching in the SEC since 1989, giving him an "old school" label and an abundance of respect.

"When you think about it, what do most coaches say if they had a bad game or if things don't go well?" Richt said. "What are they going to go back to? They're going back to the basics and going back to fundamentals and learning how to tackle better and play with low pad level. All those things that meant something 20 or 30 years ago on defense mean something today.

"All those things that people think is old school is mandatory to having a good defense, and he's a great teacher of it."

Yes, Chavis emerged from the Fulmer firing up on Rocky Top better than anyone associated with it. LSU has always been known for a tough defense built on basic principles and the longtime assistant coach has been a great fit in Baton Rouge. In fact, LSU recently became the first school to put six defensive players in the first three rounds of the NFL draft. So SEC offensive coordinators aren't the only ones noticing what's going on down there.

But much like Georgia, Chavis is in a rebuilding project replacing many starters that are now drawing professional paychecks. One specific similarity to pay some attention to this week in getting ready is turnover margin. Both defenses are used to getting takeaways - LSU had a whopping 33 last season, Georgia had 30 of their own. But this season has seen a slow start in creating fumbles and interceptions. Georgia's been especially sluggish in this department and is on pace for just 13 on the season, while LSU has six total after forcing three against Auburn Saturday night.

Turnover margin has undoubtedly played a key role in LSU's two game winning streak over Georgia (2009's last minute Tiger touchdown in Athens and 2011's SECCG debacle). In the last meeting in Atlanta, the Bulldogs ended up -3 after a fumble that opened up the second half and then two interceptions. It was a messy performance that seemed impossible to mop up on the way to a 42-10 loss.

As usual protecting the ball will be key come Saturday 'tween the hedges. And as usual, Bobo will be looking to get the better of a longtime nemesis in that department.

LSU's offense - downhill and vertical

This is a good look at how new LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has molded the new offense in Baton Rouge. From his impact on Mettenberger's development, how he runs things like an NFL team and the differences in the running attack (albeit slight).

Because the Tigers are still going to run it right at you. Again and again.

While the differences may be most obvious in the passing game, Blue said there have been changes for the running backs, too - more motion, more empty sets. When it comes to running the ball, however, LSU's offense will look more familiar, Blue said - with himself, Jeremy Hill, Terrence Magee and Kenny Hilliard sharing carries and running downhill.

"The hot hand gets the ball," said Blue, whose 153 yards are third on the team behind Magee's 210 and Hill's 167. "That's real motivation. With all four of us in the backfield, there's a lot of competition back there. We're all great backs. Once you get in, you try to stay in.

And again.

#LesMilesTeamVote - Nacho Libre edition

via BassinDawg

Stretchy pants or no stretchy pants?

Chancho. When you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants in your room. It's for fun.

#LesMilesTeamVote week officially underway

Pay no attention to those blowhards on Myers Quad. We have more pressing matters.

The everyday use:

- paper or plastic?

- walk to school or carry my lunch?

- Golden Corral or Golden Palace III?

- loafers or have wife tie shoes again?

Roster management:

- sexy happy hands or Matt Mauck's niece?

- Hostess cupcakes or Orange Pride hostesses?

Game management:

- heads or tails? 

- fake kick or even faker kick?

- Bermuda or Fescue?

Please, add more in the comments. The possibilities are endless.

A statement and a question

First, we're going to kick LSU's tail next week. The week leading up to it is going to be almost as much fun as the game itself. It was a soggy afternoon and I'm just now about dried out. But I CAN NOT WAIT TO GET BACK AND SCREAM AND CHEER AND CHEST BUMP AND REFILL MY STADIUM CUP AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!

Next, crap on a broken record cracker. Are we the only damn team on Earth that doesn't have a kicker that can kick the ball into the endzone? Sometimes it seems like a coaching decision and others it seems like a different flavor of weak sauce. Either way it tastes like rotten corn dogs.

Just let Murray kickoff.

(Kidding. Really.)

Clemson's "landmark win" is food for thought

12 carries for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns

Just keep that stat line in mind as you read this...

I know I keep coming back to it, but I really hope Richt's staff watched the Chick-Fil-A Bowl with fidelity to prep for Clemson. Because only Les could manage to out Clemson Dabo.

Before he ran for re-election into the LSU backfield, Jeremy Hill was trampling through the Clemson defense in Atlanta like lil' Billy Tecumseh Sherman. He averaged over 10 yards per carry. The Clemsoning had commenced because they had no answer for the freshman tailback the entire game. Well, most of it.

Because there was one defender Hill could not elude - Leslie Edwin Miles. After a modest first half (5 carries 37 yards), Hill broke loose in the third quarter for 87 yards on just 7 carries. That helped LSU build a 24-13 lead going into the fourth quarter. It seemed insurmountable and many viewers turned the tv to get ready for the ball drop at midnight.

Instead, Hill played decoy the rest of the game and touched the ball exactly zero times in the final stanza. The drive chart for LSU in the fourth includes one rush, five passes, two three and outs.

Said Miles after the game:

"Tajh Boyd was phenomenal. I did not expect the heroic, if you will, efforts that he had."

LSU fans had to be wondering why they had even given Boyd the chance. A quarterback can't be heroic from the sideline while watching his teammates play defense. Meanwhile Dabo was calling it a "landmark win".

Perhaps that's exactly what it was. Gift wrapped by the Mad Hatter himself. And perhaps too much of my confidence in Georgia with this opener stems from this one game. LSU's defense was pretty good last season and had a lot of experience going into the bowl game. Yet still they gave up a lot of yards to Clemson. But they made a couple plays (like the opening run by Watkins to force a fumble and get their offense great field position) and did a decent job of forcing the Tigers into long yardage (Clemson was 8-18 in third down conversions).

So again, if our coaches studied this game like I think they did, they have to see that you can't give Chad Morris and Tajh Boyd 100 plays Saturday night. And by God, YOU HAVE TO RUN THE DAMN BALL!!