the Friday Misery says FTMF!

"We need a miracle!" screamed Dorsey Hill, now fortified by more than collards.

"Holding pigs for my dad to castrate was quite a challenge. I can't say that helped prepare me for football, but it sure did remind me a lot of sacking Steve Spurrier." - Bill Stanfill

"Hey Stevie...BOO!"

With your bright orange shirts and your sissy blue britches, you can go to Hell you sonsabitches! Gators...Gators...how'd ya like to bite my ass?!

How much do I hate florida? Turn the toaster oven to 500, throw it into the center of a thousand suns, and then into the molten lava center of a box of pizza bites.

the legacy of Willy Napier

On the day of November 28, 2021, Napier was known for bringing success to the Sun Belt Conference's UL-Lafayette. He was known as a solid recruiter, and was replacing known counter-recruiting aficionado - Danny Mullen. It seemed a thoughtful pivot for the bull gator intelligentsia.

Also, Billy had turned that ULL program around. They made bowl games in all four of Napier's seasons there as he lead them to a 40-12 overall record. Could he be the full package for florida? And would that aforementioned intelligentsia give him the space and time to right the ship that Muschamp, Sharkdaddy McIlwain, and Mullen had steered into jagged rocks?

Recruiting has improved, which is to say the current gator coaches engage in it and recognize its importance. But (current Georgia backup QB Jaden Rashada) is currently suing Napier and the Gator Guard Collective for failing to stand by their NIL commitment of $13 million and change. It's the first suit of its kind.

And for any gator fan that has stumbled from their single-wide/meth lab over here? When I type "suit" I'm referring to a legal action, not the fact that your 15 jersey with the sleeves ripped off matches your frayed edged jorts.

So in summation, it's been and still is rocky water in the swamps around Gainesville. Ya hate to see it! Where does the SunBelt Billy legacy lead? A win tomorrow could warrant it more time on the gator sideline. A loss might find it at the bottom of the swamp chained to a concrete block.

a Hate as old as time

Gator family, or alligatoridae as it were, have been around since well before Steve Spurrier returned to Gainesville. I'm talking the Eocene epoch, like before they evolved into eatin' boogers. Man came along roughly 29 million years later. Many species of alligatoridae are now extinct. So despite the age difference, the overall record in this series is almost unfathomable - 8 billion humans and nearly a billion dogs to roughly 3 million embiggened lizards.

Why? Well, all scientists agree (even the ones on campus in Gainesville wearing their lab coats backwards) that the alligator evolved much more slowly than mammals and even birds.

I know, shocker right?! These are the reptiles whose fans clap as if their left hand is on fire. Have you ever seen an alligator wearing jean shorts? No, me neither. Then again, I guess jorts are cheaper than alligator skin outerwear.

According to their team fanpage Wiki, in 2010 after outlasting the Dawgs in overtime 34-31, their fans "were found to gather in large numbers for group courtship, the so-called 'alligator dances'." Egad! Sounds like a scene from a late night Cinemax flick.

No thank you! So despite all the millenniums of evolution (mostly on our part fellow Dawg fans), the goal remains the same.

Beat.

Florida.

of note

Did you know that during the years of Prohibition, Georgia dominated this series 6-2-1? Which proves that a florida tackle football team is no better when they are sober.

I believe I took this pic prior to the 2017 WLOCP. On one hand I took it because I have two daughters, and this is not mine nor their mother's impression of "chivalry". But I also took it because...screw you florida douche ass punk! Be a man and carry the case of beer! Jesus, it's not a toothbrush or, Heaven forbid, a non-fictional account of College Football prior to the 1990s!

I imagine it went down something like this:

"Hey babe, let's go catch that bus and get to lil Dickie's tailgate. And can you carry the beer? This bad ass lanyard and my Skoal Bandits are really weighing me down."

"Well, you made me pay for them, so I guess it's only right."

Back to reality. Danny Wuerffel ain't walking down that tunnel tomorrow. More to the point, Trevor Etienne ain't gonna be wearing a helmet with the cute cursive print on it. Prohibition is long over. It's time to work those corked bottles, snap back cans, twist tops and shot glasses. It's the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party! It was a metal, steel chair. With about a five inch cushion! JAWS was about a shark, not a gator. Monthly parole is no longer a undergraduate major, the Urban era is done. FTMF! That's what my coach said. One bit, two bits, three bits ain't gonna get you shit tomorrow! Lindsay RAN so Munson lit the cigar. Your fans throw meth raves and your players throw cleats. You're so poor, you couldn't keep Cam Newton on the roster. You're closer to a circus than a College Football Playoff. To give a nod to ol' Dorsey again, "I haven't worked since Texas, and I haven't slept since Clemson. You expect me to go back home when we play Ole Miss in six days!??" God IS a Bulldog!

Now let us bow our heads...dear little baby Jesus, in the words of Dan Magill, please smite these florida Philistines and keep our ice cold and our Dawg hearts warm. In the name of Nat Hudson, Robert Edwards, Dick Sam IV, and Nakobe Dean...Amen and Go Dawgs!

Friday Misery - It's Tricky to not get fat

Despite spending an entire Saturday feasting on chicken, the greedy, rapacious pig turns to vats of cheese balls, bags of pork rinds, processed cheese foods, and spoonfuls of sour cream.

It should go without saying that it gets ugly...

buncha fat bastards

Auburn was fat against Jacksonville State and they needed an overtime session of deep knee bends to escape with a victory. Bret Bielema can’t keep his fat mouth closed and it’s cost him some dignity Arkansas some check marks in the win column. Ohio State is deep into the process of getting fat on all of their scheduled cupcakes and Northern Illinois nearly huskie’d them out of their pre-arranged slot in the CFBOMGPLAYOFFS™.

Sharpen your pencils Dawgs. I’ve got a question for you. What can you learn from those half-assed examples?

[crickets….]

PUT THAT PACKAGE OF DOUBLE-STUFFED OREOS DOWN…otherwise you’re going to go and attempt your tackle of Willie Quinn and get thrown off like a trigga tray.

Down...Set...JUKE!

Let me introduce y’all to somebody. He’s equal parts badass and superior technique. He’s as fluid as Walter Payton and can drop the hammer harder than Dick Butkus. He’s but a freshman, yet his talent is incomparable. He once hiked the football to himself, threw a 15 yard out, ran downfield, took the lateral with one hand while stiffarming an all-state linebacker with his other, dipped his shoulder, plowed through a safety, and scampered the remaining 76 and a half yards for the touchdown.

In the post-game locker room he interviewed himself for the local radio station and then finished his Precalculus while combing his hair. He wanted to look fresh for his high school sweetheart when they met for chocolate milkshakes at the Tast-EEE-freeze.

So stick your fat paw out there Reader and shake David-Michael Carrell’s hand.

Firm grip huh? He’ll use that same grip tomorrow to destroy your hopes and dreams with just one snap of the ball. You’ve been contemplating hard for Alabama and the Crimson Tusks ever since The Visor disengaged his headset last Saturday. You’ve been talking all week about air finger quotes The Road to Atlanta air finger quotes You’ve been message boreding since Sunday about air finger quotes The Playoff Chances air finger quotes. And you’ve been promising the little lady that “Oh sure honey, I’ll stay home from the game and paint your toenails Saturday afternoon as long as you’ll make that cheese dip for the Bama tailgate...smoochy smoochy smoochy.”

You make me sick and WIPE THOSE OREO CRUMBS AND THE GODDAMN CHEESE DIP OFF YOUR SLACK JAW SON!

Cuz while you’ve been drooling on your Dell Inspiron 500xKLps38RG21 you bought off Craigslist even though it had the missing * key, and while you’ve been blathering on and on to your neighbor over the chain link fence, gotdamn David-Michael Carrell's been practicing. He’s been watching film. He’s been carrying little Adelaide Jean-Pierre Paul’s books to class.

He’ll lay in wait for that moment when your tired ass trumbles clumsily down the steps towards the concession stand for your third refill of Coca-Cola and fifth refill of stale ass popcorn, just when you’re content that the defense has stopped the Jaguars and forced a punt, David-Michael Carrell gonna smile when the captain calls the play in huddle. Just two words….It’s Tricky.

If there’s one thing fat, lazy bastards can’t detect it’s the few moments before their own pants get pulled down. Shanked. While you’re scrambling around with your stained Wranglers around your ankles, David-Michael done somehow snapped the ball to hisowndamnself. Up in the middle of the thirty-eight Southern University fans that made the trip, several rows above the Human Jukebox himself, a loud cry rains down.

“RUN D-M C!! RUN D-M C!!”

Your cognizance catches its breath and you shake the fuzziness out your earholes where it slithers down your neck just before you manage the only words that make any damn sense in this world, the same world that’s so suddenly been turned upside down and bassakwards….

“OH. SHIT.”

On the field, where the score was somehow 17-9 in the third quarter, David-Michael Carrell has hurdled, spun around, juked, jived, bowled over, and sprinted past every single special teamer Coach Mark Richt could legally trot out onto the field to score the Jaguar’s first touchdown. The roars haven’t even begun to subside when D-M C tacks on the two point conversion out of the Wild My Adidas formation.

WTF?!?!? Tie game. All your Georgia bros in the stands suddenly are remorseful for the snickering and the taunting they did at Abuurn two weeks ago. Because the beloved Dawgs are too heading towards overtime against what they were told and were telling themselves was a vastly inferior opponent. It ain’t fun when the tables turn y’all. You suddenly wish you’d laid off the canned whipped cream you spread all over those greasy pork chops Tuesday night before you washed em all down with a two liter of cream soda. You wish you’d’ve said no to that Crisco and Cookie Crumbles Cheesecake Wednesday evening while you watched Dancing with the Stars and sipped slurped Cheerwine. No, not the slice of Crisco and Cookie Crumbles Cheesecake. The entire Crisco and Cookie Crumbles Cheesecake.

"The whole damn cheesecake? You be illin'.

Fat is lazy. Fat is crumbs on your tired ass needs to be ironed 2008 Matthew Stafford Wal-Mart jersey. Fat is bad life choices. Fat is assuming transitive properties and oh by the way and anyhoos Sakerlina’s chickens are better than Southern’s jaguars.

Fat is you today. Fat is NOT you tomorrow. Get your ass home and eat a gotdamn celery stick. Logoff the DawgVent for one friggin’ moment. Pretend you don’t want to just drop that log of Velveeta into the deep fryer at your cousin Pete’s house. Cousin Pete ain’t met David-Michael Carrell. Cousin Pete ain’t had a belt that’s fit since Quincy Carter’s last pass in Columbia SC. Cousin Pete’s “tummy tuck” doctor gave him a Nutri-Slim coupon and a pat on the back. Cousin Pete likes to talk.

You're here today because you want to listen. So here you go...

You need to walk right into Sanford Stadium tomorrow with a briefcase full of respect, straighten that business tie and take your seat. Tackle Damn Football happens whether you’re prepared or not. Tackle Damn Football is between two teams that are hungry and haven’t been fed all week. Their fans want more. Their fans NEED more. Their fans don’t WORRY ABOUT GODDAMN ALABAMA A WEEK IN F---ING ADVANCE!

Either shake David-Michael Carrell’s hand. Or watch him run right by your ass.

Now, let us pray. “Dear Lord, please don’t let the human jukebox and the longsnapper get too tricky. I repent my gluttonous ways and put my faith in Lawrence Harry Munson who always warned me to not get too big for my own damn silver britches. Amen.”

The Friday Misery is ready to BAT THAT SH*T DOWN!!

How do you get a WarDamnTiglesman to stop writing funny checks from under the table?
You bat that shit down.

We ain't ready. Not me. Not you.
We spent all week fighting over our own colors. We ain't ready. Our hashtags and our tweets and our lunch time chats and our phone conversations and our message bored typing and our emails and our BookFace posts and our dinner table conversations were all full of piss and vinegar and disdain for each other. We ain't ready. In a week when we should've pulled together, all we did was pull ourselves apart. We ain't ready. A day before the biggest damn game of the season and you're more worried about what I'm wearing tomorrow night than spending every goddamn second hating Auburn. We ain't ready. On the eve of the schedule's biggest nationally televised showdown and I'm more worried about whether there's enough bourbon in my tailgate cup to make it so far into the evening than I am about measuring just how high the Auburn tree grows without branching. We ain't ready. We had all week to do nothing but hate Auburn, and we just pissed that shit away. We ain't ready. We were kicking Kentucky's ass so hard it afforded us an extra couple hours to look down on our ugly ass step-sister from Opelika and yet all we did was beg Coach Richt to arrange our wardrobe. We ain't ready.

We ain't ready. But we're gonna get there. Tighten that belt. Drain that drink. Clench that fist and set that jaw. The days are up and we're down to hours now. Let's go...

"...we may not have it all together. But I believe

together we can have it all."

Proof. Ain't the size of the Dawg in the fight, but
the size of the fight in the Dawg.

Together.
It's not the colors on your back that matters, because it's what's in your heart that makes a difference. I give you my word and I raise my hand. Please, let's ready them as one and let's steady them for the storm of emotions. Let's prepare our hearts and minds to weather the tumult below our feet. It won't be given to us so we must prepare to take it, to earn it with every moment and every snap of the ball. Just to say we are ready is not nearly enough. We must breathe it with every word and we must clench it against the cold November night air.

We've spent 41 days on the road away from home. We withstood obstacles we didn't know existed. We fought enemies we thought were vanquished. They said we were a team but with just one player. They said we were a program without merit. They said we couldn't and yet we did. They said we'd perish and yet we survived.

Our flaws were exposed for the world to see. And yet we scored. Yes, we scored against the odds and while he sat; we scored when they said we wouldn't and we scored when they said we couldn't.

We are one.

Talk is cheap and it said Mason wasn't ready. Talk is dirty and it said that other team "was due". Talk was for Saturday mornings and we came to play on Saturday afternoons. We didn't do it all but we did as much as we were able. We proved to be an imperfect team and an imperfect fanbase. Our vulnerabilities were displayed, at times embarrassingly. But together we're Georgia. Together we are one. Together we move forward, because divided we will lose.

They are Auburn. Their spring practice is writing checks and building "steeples". While we work, they copy answers and get the better grade. Lady Fortuna may have been born on Toomers' Corner, but she doesn't have a ticket to this game. She tried to hand me money but fumbled it on the snap.

They are Auburn. They cheat for the chance. We fight for the honor. They steal for the spotlight. We grind for the Glory. They are only Auburn, but we are always Georgia. Tomorrow is one more opportunity to stand beside you and with Munson in our ears and bourbon on our breath, hunker it down one more time you guys!

When the Dawgs take the field we will raise our eager hands and lay our voices down upon them as one. They will know we mean hard business when the earth beneath them shakes. There, in Sanford, we will stand side by side. Our voices will be one and our spirit will remain unbroken. We will bring everything we have to Athens, prepared to lay it all down.

Yes, the opportunity was there last year and it fell horrifically from our fingertips. This year, in Athens...tomorrow night, in Sanford, we're gonna BAT THAT SHIT DOWN!! Because we are Georgia, and because we are one.

Bow your heads please...Dear Lord, please protect the toilet paper dispensers in Athens this weekend. As well as our local livestock. And whenever you have a spare moment, hand Todd Gurley the ball. Again. Amen.

Auburn week - news and notes

Some headlines between Athens and Opelika. No two-ply needed.

- Cory finds Georgia's run defense improved over its performance against Florida, but still a ways to go.
- Kimberley remembers when Sugar fell from the sky.
- Shhhhhhh. Don't talk about it.
- sUGArdaddy reminds us of some chaos that surrounded the 2012 matchup between GEORGIA-auburn. And to hide our wallets.
- Relatedly, Spears breaks down the A&M-Missouri game.
- The team is stepping up for Gurley on the eve of his return and admitting "We're all human."
- Booker has some nice photos and a couple observations from yesterday's practice.
- With D'haquille Williams week to week, Quan Bray is expected to step up for the Tigers.
- And from the FYI File, ticket prices for Saturday have dropped significantly since I checked on Monday. Down from about $180 in the top deck to $148 and up.

Go Dawgs!

Bye week blues

The schedule sucks this weekend. And the SEC leadership expects us not to eventually revolt in the name of a nine game schedule? Jeebus.

I've decided to make enough bar-b-que to last until Sakerlina time, drink some brown liquor and talk like a pirate all weekend. But no, I'm not overlooking the bye week. As I said right after we beat Clempson on Saturday:

I'll be back tomorrow with some questions to ponder. Other than that, y'all make yourselves useful. Go Dawgs!

The Aaron Murray files: of pain and posterity

Been dumping a lot of videos from my phone onto YouTube and such. Came across this one and despite the gut punch that came after it, I felt compelled to catalog it on the blog. For no other reason than it's one of the gutsiest and most determined runs I've ever seen.

One day, when I play it for the grandkids and they ask, "Who is that?' I'll simply say, "That's what a Damn Good Dawg looks like."

Sorry for the shakiness and quality. That stadium was worse than bonkers.

Woerner's induction

Busy weekend, so I'm late with my own accolades. But suffice it to say I grew up pretending to be this guy in my own backyard. I heard his name on the radio a lot thanks to the greatest voice in Georgia Bulldogs history. And I'm as proud to honor him with the banner at the top as I am to remind my IPTAYing dad just how big of a Tiger killer #19 was.

Former University of Georgia All-America defensive back Scott Woerner was inducted into the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Saturday night in Macon at the organizations annual induction banquet held at the City Auditorium.....

In 1980, he almost singlehandedly led Georgia to victory over Clemson in a hard-fought 20-16 win in Sanford Stadium. Sports Illustrated named his as the nation's Defensive Player of the Week following his performance which included a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown in the game's early minutes. He followed later in the first half with a 98-yard interception return to the Clemson two-yard-line which stopped a Tiger scoring threat and also set up a Buck Belue 1-yard run giving the Bulldogs a 14-10 halftime lead.

By season's end, Woerner had intercepted five passes and made 47 tackles in helping lead Georgia to an undefeated, untied season and the consensus 1980 national championship. In the Sugar Bowl win over Notre Dame, Woerner capped his career with a key end zone breakup and an interception to seal the victory.

For my money, when it comes to defensive backs, there's Woerner and then Champ and Hoage. Everyone else is just trying to rise to the top.

Congrats Mr. Woerner! Hope your students give you a fistbump for me. Go Dawgs! 

Flashback: the 1996 miracle marathon

Nama and I were reminiscing on this one just this weekend. It's one of those games in Georgia history that you'll always remember. Just a classic contest that's broken into three parts: the first half that sucked, the second half comeback and a historical and extremely tense overtime. If only Uga V had gotten a hold of Robert Baker's balls athletic cup it would've been even more picture perfect.

This video includes Munson's call and his comments. Classic game in a classic rivalry.

h/t Dawg19

The Voice in my ears

He made the highlights a lot higher. And he commiserated right along with us during any difficult year. If I was frustrated, he was was exasperated. If I was full of joy, it was his voice that pushed me that final step to the top of that mountain.

courtesy of 1980Dawgs

To commemorate what would have been his 90th birthday, and to recognize his 42 years as a University of Georgia broadcaster, UGA will rename its Sanford Stadium booth after Larry Munson before tomorrow's game.

Hunker it down Mr. Munson! You are forever missed.

Tennessee prep - 1973 in Knoxville

As legendary as Larry Munson was, it took a while for the connection to form between him and the program and him and the fan base. Many point to the 1973 upset of the Volunteers in Knoxville as that turning point. This video takes us through that game with comments from Munson and the game's hero Andy Johnson.

Nothing sucks like a big orange.

h/t Dawg19

Of course, I'll have more on Munson tomorrow as we celebrate his birthday. I don't know about you, but I really miss that gravelly voice in my ear.

Flashback - 1982 Clemson

I've already established that Coach Magill is the greatest Dawg. If you disagree with that, please excuse yourself forthwith. This is a great highlight video for these reasons:

1. Magill opens it up and sets the frame like none other.
2. Munson waxes poetic like none other.
3. Clempson fails, like none other.

Flashback - 1982 BYU

The Mormons stormed into town with Steve Young as the signal caller. It was just a few days after a Monday night game in Sanford that saw Georgia handle Clemson 13-7. Now Dooley's Dawgs had to face the Cougars' high flying offense. But in the end BYU and Young couldn't handle a junkyard, Herschel's broken thumb or the Butler's right boot.

Look at it! Look at it! Look at it!

via Dawg19

Get the picture now...

h/t Mac

Flashback: Rex "kicked the whatchamacallit out of it!"

1978 against Kentucky. Behind the feet of Willie and the foot of Rex, the Dawgs escape Lexington with a last second win. I've heard Rex say before that he really didn't have to boot the ball hard from that distance. But that's not the way Larry Munson saw it.


"The clock just will not stop!....the clock's against us!"

h/t Dawg19

Flashback: 1982 Auburn

Thanks to Dawg19 we can hear Munson wax poetic about his cigar and about how the Dawgs hunkered down one more time at Auburn in 1982. Good stuff.

We'll hang around on the plains for tomorrow's GATArchive. Come on back around for the game between the hoses.

Munson Memorial Video

Munson, in his own words

This is the video that was shown Saturday. If your blood runs red and black, view only with a few tissues nearby. It creates quite a bit of dust that gets in your eye at several points.


A pleasant and comfortable reminder...so thankful Larry Munson chose the Georgia Bulldogs as a home for his voice.

Monday's Meatloaf - a picture to invest in

I hate strong-arming anyone into anything. But as a parent sometimes you just have to do that with your kids. Saturday morning they were no more interested in a trip to Athens than they were one to the dentist. Now, it didn't get so bad that I had to pull the Santa is watching card. Very closely I might add. But suffice it to say they weren't as eager to pile into the car and venture down 316 again as they were back in September.


And in some ways I could relate. This was the first Saturday in a long while that not only didn't have Georgia football to prepare for, but also didn't have any games that related to its well being. It would be nice to simply laze around, watch a movie and maybe catch a nap.


But damnit, I was going. And they were going with me.


It's not everyday you get a chance to give back to someone you've admired for decades. Larry Munson never needed anything from me except the energy to get the picture and hunker down one more time. I never had to jumpstart his car in a parking lot and I was never so lucky as to help shove his boat into a pond somewhere. So Saturday was my chance to say thanks.

Yes, I was there in 2008 as we said goodbye at halftime of the Georgia Tech game. That is one of my favorite moments in Sanford. But it's never completely felt right to me. That's not a knock on UGA admin or anyone else that put that tribute together. It's just that I was also there for the game itself. Saturday afternoon in Sanford was more intimate, was just about Munson and was a celebration of his life in addition to his career.


So I was thankful that attitudes had improved greatly by the time we crossed into Oconee County. Otherwise the beatings would have continued until morale improved! We had a nutritional lunch at the Varsity and by the time we were parked you could see the anticipation in their little eyes. We walked across the bridge and you could hear them playing some highlights and interviews,. They even said to me "That's him right Daddy?!?"


It was him. More specifically it was his voice. The same one that helped us get the picture for 42 years was there to echo along the east end one more time. The words of his own sons gave a glimpse into the man that existed beyond the headset. We sat and soaked it all in. My kids have only seen me cry once before I think. By the time Jonathan Munson finished speaking they certainly had at least a faint idea of why this trip, on this Saturday was so important for me personally.


And one day they'll think back and be even more thankful that they were to. I can point to pictures of the man and can give them game tape to listen to. And it was a cold shadow to sit in which made it even harder for young arms and legs to sit still for 83 minutes. But it was worth the small sacrifices as expected.


Because in the end all we have is time. And I'm thankful my time as a Bulldog coincided with so much of Larry Munson's career. Saturday was but a small investment in our day. But the memory of it will certainly reap rewards tenfold or more.


Today's Ingredients

• A lot of writeups over the weekend on the memorial. Travis recalls one of the afternoon's funnier moments. And vineyarddawg adds some pictures to his summary of the speakers.
• It wasn't just the memorial going on Saturday, but also the annual Gala which means lots of recruits in town. The DawgPost puts a bowtie on it all ($).
• When it comes to voting for CMR and Boykin, Big Muddy is asking for your chads to not hang.
• As the Senator points out, this new SEC scheduling thing is getting to be a headache.
• ecdawg reminds us that just because you put them in skyboxes doesn't mean Gators and Noles are gonna behave.
• Dawgola has put some thoughts and videos up on the Keith Marshall commitment.
• Speaking of Marshall, great post by Dukes on one of the more interesting stories developing this off season.
• To go with our new poll on potential pro Dawgs, the actual Pro Dawgs blog has yesterday's wrapup from the NFL for our former players.
• Lastly, don't forget to sign up for our 2nd Annual Festivus Bowl Pool. Time is running out with games starting Saturday. Password is "thestrike". It that doesn't make sense to you this former post may help.

Y'all have a great Monday. Go Dawgs!

Bernie

Munson remembered

"Not gonna cry because it's over. I'm gonna smile because it happened." -Charlie Whittemore (via Dr. Seuss)

Yesterday's memorial was an excellent tribute and a great experience for Dawgs, friends, colleagues and family alike. I'm quite sure Munson spent the afternoon smiling down on us through a cloud of cigar smoke.


According to the AJC about 3500 fans showed. I thought it was more than that. But it was a good crowd on the south end. It was impressive to see fans file in, very quiet and thoughtful. A videography played on the big board prior to the service. The silence was interrupted occasionally as we cheered for Lindsay to run, and as Carswell was mobbed.


Quick rundown of the program: 

• Scott Howard - great job of giving stories and providing transitions in between speakers. Talked about trying to talk Munson out of retirement after Music City Bowl in 2001.
• Greg McGarity - spoke briefly to Munson's legacy and importance to Georgia football
• Battle Hymn was played by the redcoats who set up in the west endzone
• Mark Richt - gave the invocation
• President Adams - emphasized his professional relationship with Munson
• Tony Barnhart - if you've read the book or heard Tony speak about Munson, this was about the same. Has a lot of good memories with the man.
• Wes Durham - this was a video message since Durham was on the road and couldn't make it. But it was as genuine as you'd expect from him. Good stuff.
• Coach Dooley - this turned into more of a roast for a while. Emphasized the personal side of Larry Munson. Dooley really had everyone laughing and added that Munson asked his worms to "hunker down" on fishing trips.
• Charlie Whittemore - former player under Dooley, now Asst. Athletic Director of Facilities. Evidently spent a lot of time getting to know Munson over the years. Gave the quote of the afternoon, see above.
• Jonathan Munson - his dad always called him "Josh", really helped everyone see how Munson could react to things in his personal life (like Josh's soccer games) in much the same way as he did in the Sanford broadcast booth.
• Michael Munson - spoke on behalf of the family as well, thanking many people who meant a great deal to Munson as well as the family, especially during the last few years.

Here's some pictures.

Sanford flag at half mast

Stage is set for the guests

AD McGarity speaks of Munson's legacy

This photo displayed on the big board throughout except when a video was playing

With a sad heart...

...I aim my car towards Athens today. So many times I've driven into Clarke County and turned towards Sanford eager with anticipation, due mostly to one man's voice. Today however I go to remember his lasting impact on not just one Dawg Nation, but generations of college football fans alike.


The man who's passion for the Silver Britches was only outmatched by his voice. Today we remember you, forever we will miss you.


God Bless You Larry Munson!

Friday's Fathead Feedbag

As promised.


What's the big deal with Fatheads? I guess I can understand the ones that are of a team's helmet or something of the like that is timeless. But if I were from Wisconsin and was the biggest cheesehead to ever cut it, why would I want to lay down $100 on a Fathead of Clay Matthews when in a few years or less he might be a 49er, a Bengal or (gasp!!) a Viking?


What becomes of my fathead then? Ebay as a collector's item? Trashcan? Halloween decoration?

Fat, yet proportional.

It just baffles me sometimes what we spend money on. And trust me I'm including myself and those close to me in that. My 9 year old used to love to dump money into this gumball type machine at our local Kroger. Except instead of gumballs it gave you one of those little plastic containers with the cheap prize in it. She'd beg for $.50 and even break her piggy bank just to throw coins into that thing, turn the dial and hear the prize tumble down. She was just sure this time the little miniature puppy would come rolling out into her little palm.


WompWomp!...Another cheapass keyring. Which is just as worthless as a Vince Young Tennessee Titan Fathead.


The Feedbag

• Good thing Gator Charlie Weis Fatheads were never produced. Whew!
• I mean seriously? MusChomp didn't even know Weis had interviewed at Kansas? And found out on the way to his Gator Bowl presser? This season's been a Nightmare on Jort Street. It's like a UGA and FSU alum got together and wrote the script. I'd give it two thumbs up. Way up!
• Every one of Murray's TD passes in video, yes please (h/t Groo). Remarkable.
• Outback Bowl update: wanted to pass along some ticketing and lodging info I've received.

1. Tickets - per UGA: Tickets are $75 and can be ordered online now @ www.georgiadogs.com or by calling the Athletic Association ticket office 1-877-542-1231 between 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m. Monday-Friday. All orders will be filled in the order in which they are received and upon availability.
2. Lodging - got an email this week from Dan who runs a Tampa area Days Inn. He assures us it's a Georgia run hotel and plans to have it decorated in red and black as well as a complimentary hospitality room. Hotel has wireless, pool, free breakfast and rates as low as $45 for 1-4 person accomodations. Contact info: phone - (813) 977-1550; email - Daysinn05280 AT aol DOT com  address - Tampa Days Inn North  701 E. Fletcher Ave Tampa, Florida 33612

• Speaking of the bowl game...the players are getting a watch, a ring, $25 Outback giftcard, $150 BestBuy giftcard and a cap. You can check out each bowl's gifts here.
• It's official, Texas A&M is completely nuts. As if Coach Richt would pick his entire compound of Richtlets up and move all the way to College Station. This is what happens when beat writers and fanbases are just interested in throwing around names without understanding the men that bear them. So glad we're not in that position.

Speaking of worse than bonkers...quick reminder: tomorrow is Munson's Memorial. If you'd like a special sticker and ribbon, see Kevin at 11:30 in the Tate Center by the big tv. (check the FB page for more updates)

Already miss that guy. See you there!


Go Dawgs!