the Friday Misery doesn't wear chaps

Hey Beevo, keep your dadgum ivoryish bovine protrusions away from our doggy!

steered clear

Seriously, why is that thing on the field? I've heard many raise the question, but have yet to hear a true answer. When Ralphie visited Sanford he was on his best behavior. I don't think his handlers even had to sedate him. I mean he ran on the field without trampling Joe Cox. Thank God!

But if this is the same Texas mascot that was at the Sugar Bowl a few years ago, give him a horse tranq for God's sake!

And I don't even know if Uga is travelling. I sure wouldn't if I were Boom and knew what that ornery two-ton sumbitch tried against Que. Give that good boy a tummy rub and let him just nap through the pre-game from the comforts of the Seiler sofa.

(UPDATE: Charles says Boom will indeed be safe in Savannah this weekend.)

when the secondary is a primary concern

Deeeeep.

Breath.....

Okay, it was uneasy then uncomfortable then unfathomable to watch our secondary get torched time and time again Saturday night. I get it, that was not fun at all. Offense was eating up yards and putting up points, but the defense just couldn't make ol' Missy State quit!

It starts, in my humble never been a tackle football coach's opinion, with the pass rush. I was a little, just a little, too hard on the secondary on Tuesday. Upon further reflection, every time we sent a blitz they had the correct call. And it went for a lot of yards if not a touchdown.

We just couldn't get our hands on the kid. And that starts in the trenches. Tomorrow we have to be able to generate a push and at least get some hands in Ewers' face. We made Miss State one-dimensional early. They wanted to run the ball, but we wouldn't let them.

Here's a dude that can GATA!

And while that eventually turned on us when they started to pass, we need to do the same tomorrow night. Yes, it's hard when Mykel isn't 100%. It's hard with Mondon sidelined. But these kind of games are won up front.

Now everybody...yes, even you pea brains in the back still whining about Kirby's forearm shiver. Let's all get into a three point stance...that's it...get your ass down Poindexter! Okay, now. Right arm up ready to chop wood, and...GET AFTER THEIR ASS!!

egos are especially bigger in texas

Gather around longhorns, and put your 10 gallon learning caps on. You are officially in the SEC now, so you have to act right. Yes, even though you were named after a steakhouse chain. And no, most of us don't want you around here anyway. And it's not because we're afraid of you. No, the decisions were and are made above our paygrade.

So listen here, stop whining every time an opposing fan gives you the horns down. Yes, we know it hurts your feelings and we saw when the Big12 front office enabled you like a green-faced toddler that doesn't wanna eat strained peas.

Grow a pair. Instead of putting a replica of a bull's scrotum on your trailer hitch, try loosening your girly chaps and find your own set. This is the SEC son! We can joke about Vandy "blowing the Admiral", and Carolina's choking chicken, and still have some modicum of respect for each other. Yes, we bark at perfect strangers. Yes, Florida claps like the graduating class for the directionally challenged. Missouri goes on the road...to play UMass! And don't get me started on Tennessee's Tour de Franzia or their depressing locker room mantra:

Narrator voice: "It was true. It could not be found."

Taunting, trash talk, turning Parliament Funkadelic's P-Funk hand signal upside down...it's all part of the fan experience. It's expected. It's understood. (And yes, I understand Auburn is more of an exception. But trust me, they're worse than a toddler with strained peas in his ears.)

Now, proudly pat that SEC patch on your jersey and understand you are now playing in the ELITE playground. No more plastic primary colored fake shit. I'm talking solid wood foundation with steel bars. I guess what I'm saying is, if the slide in our playground doesn't chap your ass, then an inverted set of fingers shouldn't either.

Let's all circle up and pray...take off your cap and let's see your pretty-boy haircut Arch! There we go...Lord, please protect these men tomorrow night as we continue to pray and look for ways to support hurricane victims across the southeast. And please, pleeeeaase! Let us get Ewers jersey dirty. Even after 8:50pm. Because we know it's ALWAYS 10 TO 9 IN TEXAS!! AMEN and Go Dawgs!

Bonus - this week's 4th & 3 Dudes episode

The best to ever wear the Collar!

 RIP Que! #DamnGreatDawg

A 2x National Champion
A 2x SEC Champion
A 2x Peach Bowl Champion
A Sugar Bowl Champion
A Rose Bowl Champion
An Orange Bowl Champion

Forever and always, a #DGD.

RIP UGA X 🐶#GoDawgs https://t.co/QJmwx4pDYG pic.twitter.com/nTLFttlznp

— Classic City Collective (@ClassicCityCLTV) January 23, 2024

WarTiglesmen killer - Uga V

Might as well start this off right. In what is arguably the greatest game of this old and storied series, Uga V showed some bark and some bite in taking a lunge at Tiger receiver Robert Baker. Those of us who remember the lackadaisical first half like to think this memorable moment sparked the team towards their epic comeback. Mr. Baker may now be facing life in prison for trafficking heroin, but he's doing so with his genitalia intact.

Barely.

Uga IV's Magillicuddy, damn good Dawg!

Crappy officiating vindicated

Whew!

Alabama defensive lineman Quinton Dial won’t be suspended for the BCS national title game by the Southeastern Conference due to a hit that included helmet-to-helmet contact on Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray.

The league said it looked at footage from the SEC title game and is leaving any discipline to the schools.

“The Southeastern Conference has completed its review of video from the 2012 SEC Football Championship Game,” the league said in a statement released today. “Several plays involving both teams were reviewed. After review, all subsequent action will be handled internally by the two institutions and the conference office is satisfied with their actions.” 

I recognize that Georgia was dishing some stuff up too. And I also recognize that on the interception return, at the moment that Aaron Murray was hit he was really fair game. But the hit by Dial was helmet to helmet. Clearly.

In the NFL Dial would've lost a chunk of a paycheck. In the SEC, this type of thing is handled "internally" with stadium stairs. At best.

Unbelievable. Not surprising mind you. But still unbelievable.

Friday Misery - not so chantastic

It's College Football Eve. Forget about that fake pepsi shit from last night or whatever crap game's on tonight. Tomorrow is the Classic Coca-Cola of tackle football. It's the real thing baby!

We waited out eight months like a boss. Like a ten year old kid starting his Santa list in the early months of Spring, we suffered through the monotony that is baseball, resisted the urge to vomit on the NBA parquet and tuned in as Costas blathered incessantly during the Olympics. Now it's time to rip open the presents and shake that Tannenbaum.

College football is here!

Ford's still full of Bull
I wanna hate so bad. I wanna loathe the opponent on Saturdays. I don't just wanna dislike them. I don't just wanna find them irritating and distasteful. I want to hate them to their core.

They cheat this state. (via)

For months now I've been alluding to Buffalo as Chan Gailey's team. Hey, I can count the number of things I know about Buffalo NY on one hand, and still have enough fingers left over to adequately grip a drumstick of fried chicken. One, I know it's cold. And two, I know they have a football team that misses field goals in the Super Bowl.

There. That's it. So back in January, shortly after Michigan State blocked Blair Walsh's redemption boot in overtime, I looked ahead to the 2012 season schedule and saw "Buffalo". I jumped to the conclusion that we would have yet another afternoon's worth of entertainment watching Reggie Ball count to four and other chantasticisms. That's not only something to look forward to, it is also something that fuels the hate just a touch.

The Buffalo Bulls, as in the University of Buffalo and not the AFC East professional team with one vowel derivation, do nothing for me. I'm glad we get a cupcake to tune up on. I'm eager to see the backups play as much as possible. I hope our confidence level is much higher tomorrow night than it was a year ago leaving the Dome.

All I'm saying is that it wouldn't hurt if a "Bull" fan dropped by the tailgate tomorrow and said I talk too slow, or that grits are the food of a losing confederacy, or that Jasper's knee was not down.

Yes, I believe Al Ford went to the University of Buffalo. At least that's what I'm telling myself. Hate that sumbitch. To the core.

Some cheese with your entitlements?
Despite all the excitement of the season upon us, I still got angst y'all. It's been a couple years since we had our cupcake prior to the main course. LA Lafayette strolled into town in 2010 and didn't leave until we had icing smeared all over our faces and cake crumbs on our suspended #8 jerseys.

I hate it when side stories dominate the action on the field. And no matter how many ankles Keith Marshall breaks and how many baby bulls Jarvis sacrifices on Grantham's table, the headlines will be about the suspensions, or how inferior the opponent was. "Poor little buffwalo. Mean ol Richt hurt their wittle feewings."

Screw that. And some of you Dawg fans aren't in the clear either. You'll whine about the early kick. You'll lollygag your way into the tailgate...LATE! You won't even know the words to "Hail!"

Sit and spin, Mr. McShitty Fan

You. Make. Me. Sick. You've had eight months to use the Massengil and that's the best you can come up with for gameday? Getting all vocal like a 7th grade school girl walking into the stadium with your chardonnay breath and your turkey burger tailgate fingers, moaning on and on about ticket prices and and the good ole days when you know damn well back in the good ole days you were too busy pretending to be a grunge rocker to suffer with the rest of us when Robert Edwards' knee gave way. While Hines was playing every position known to man you were in your parents' garage writing crappy lyrics and trying to imitate Eddie Vedder.

Yes you, wannabe Georgia fan with your unenthusiastic bark and your uninspired polo with the awkwardly large pit stains, Kurt Cobain called and wants his depression back. While you've been whining the Dawgs have been grindin'. You think Kolton Houston wants to hear your crap? You think Shawn Williams gives a good shit about your time of the month? Just stay home, or leave your tickets on the wall like the rest of your cronies. Plenty of decent fans ready to make a little Sanford Stadium noise. Hunker down with 92,000. 

Yeh, we got this one covered Mr. Smells like Teen Spirit. For the rest of you, see ya tomorrow. It'll be September then. And football will finally be here.

Go Dawgs!

#teamRuss renamed #teamUgaIX

It's about time. GATA Russ!

"Russ is officially UGA IX. Go #dawgs. Hope he leads us to a title."
https://twitter.com/BD_illustrated/statuses/241204077529276416

Friday Misery - of rust and Russ

Although the college football horizon is in full view now, that doesn't mean we're completely ready. The months of JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyandAugust create a LOT of rust. I can't just expect August 31st to roll up and be completely able to give you a Friday Misery at the drop of a calendar page. That takes a certain energy level that an 8 month hibernation just doesn't prepare you for in the way we all need it to.

I mean, are you just going to show up at the season's first tailgate without checking the tents, giving them a test run, counting the chairs in storage, or cleaning the cobwebs out of the cooler? Are you just going to assume your tailgate buddies will bring the buns and condiments to complement your grilled meats and cheeses?

It's called PREPARATION people! The first cousin of another key word, PLANNING. Throw a few handfuls of it on your face to WAKE. YOUR. ASS. UP. I know it's Buffalo and all, but it's still college football. It deserves your focused energy, your undivided attention and at least a few moments of time to knock the rust off the gameday mindset. Commit to the G y'all!

 Don't hate. Appreciate the brindle y'all!  (via)

C'mon people. Don't put off today what you can already have checked off the list tomorrow. Chan Gailey's coming to town Sept. 1st, without Reggie Ball. That's not so Chantastic.

Don't bite the paw that feeds you
There is no Uga IX, yet. I'm a little agitated with this mess. We keep moving forward and backward in the process of what really amounts to a family choosing their pet. Despite the ties to the University, Uga has always been the Seilers' pet first. Otherwise I'm sure the AJC would paste up pictures of the puppies and Carvell would do mock ups of recruiting pieces and Bradley and his cronies would blather on and on about how Coach Richt has lost control over the bloodline and then we'd all tumble over one another to vote in a poll.

Meanwhile, here's Russ. Does Russ give a damn if he's named the official mascot? Probably not. Just tell him when it's time to wear the sweater and he's ready. As chuckdawg mentions he gets taken off duty and pushed back on whenever UGA needs him. But he doesn't get the glory of being an "official" mascot.

Yet Russ is ANYthing but a stand in like Magillicuddy or Bugga Lou. No, the longest a temporary mascot had to fill in before Russ was the infamous Otto that came to the rescue when Uga IV injured his knee during the 1986 season. Otto's shift lasted four games and he went 3-1. Russ has a resumé that spans 21 games now, if I carried the one in the right spot.

He's earned more than our adoration and appreciation. He's deserves our respect too. Russ is a damn good Dawg!

Speaking of dogs, it's just me and my chocolate lab this weekend. Girls are off to a wedding, which means several things. Most importantly, I'll always know where the remote is for the next 48 hours and my ears won't be ringing from pre-teen pop music. I might just spend the weekend listening to Elvis and watching Fast Times over and over again. You know, "learning about Cuba" and stuff.

It probably also means less leafy greens and more grilled meat. Like I said, it's all about the PREPARATION. Stay miserable Dawgs. Only 15 more days.

GATArchives: Dooley's favorite mascot

In 1986 the Georgia Bulldogs faced a number of key injuries, especially in the backfield with the loss of both Tim Worley and Keith Henderson. But the injuries weren't just limited to the field. Uga IV injured a knee as well the morning of the Vanderbilt game. When it was clear that the bulldog wouldn't be able to fulfill his gameday duties officials called on his brother Otto.


Fast forward to what would eventually become known as the "Game Between the Hoses" and Otto is doing quite well. Here carlmilton provides an old tape of a halftime report. Even through Tim Brando struggles with the correct pronunciation of Uga, it's a good look back at one of UGA's greatest temporary mascots.

Wow, those were some bad jokes. Real bad. If you're interested in highlights from the game (which had one of the more chaotic endings in college football history) carlmilton also has those loaded up here.


Back to Otto, he ended up with a record of 3-1 and handed the duties back over to Uga IV by the end of the season. It was clear the temporary mascot had won the head coach's heart as he "came off the bench and got the job done." Which is another reason he reminds me of our current mascot. Although Russ is likely to pass the collar soon, he's been there when the Dawg Nation has needed him, twice now. Like Otto, he really knows how to GATA.

Closing the 'dore on Vandy and douchegate

I rewatched the game yesterday and had a few more thoughts to share. Was it ugly? Oh hell yes it was. But I thought Blutarsky put it best when he pointed out that this was the kind of game we lost last year. That Colorado loss still sticks in my craw, so I find it easier to take ugly wins against Vanderbilt.


Offensively the plan was about the exact opposite of what I thought it should be, run first to open up throwing lanes. It's not that I was afraid of Vanderbilt's secondary, I just don't think Vandy had played a good rushing team. Can't really pin this one on Bobo as he could not  start the game with his leading rusher. So even more praise should be lifted towards Aaron Murray for the game that he had.


But I will point out one thing I think Bobo missed. When we're trying to run out the clock and close the game out, isn't it easier for the defense to read a run play from the shotgun formation? Wouldn't we have been better served in the I-formation where at least the linebackers have to spend at least some mental energy deciding where the ball is going? 


And yet still...the Rambo pick gives us the ball with just 70 seconds to ice and we can only move backwards. Unbelievable. Nearly as unbelievable as using a timeout to gather ourselves before they rush 11 guys towards Drew Butler and we still can't block them all. So glad Butler and Sailors could cause just enough disruption in the ensuing chaos to prevent the Commodores from scooping and scoring.


Also, if not for that 3rd down snap that went over the Commodore quarterback's head, we don't win that game. They were running at will and there didn't seem to be any solution to stopping it, at least that we could come up with.

Somewhat wild, but not so crazy.

In the end I hope the team takes some pride from facing adversity in all directions and still getting out of there with a road win. Because of that there is still much to play for. Great game for Ray Drew, Marlon Brown (actually all of the receivers stepped up big given the game plan), Richard Samuel, Abry Jones and Orson Charles!...to name a few.


I didn't really listen to the broadcast team of Rathbun and Couch Saturday night. Yesterday though my ears bled as I was subjected to Jordan Rodgers being billed as the next best thing in the SEC. I really expected to hear Aaron Rodgers pipe in at some point throwing away all mystery as to whether he was in the booth with them or not. In the debate of what's worse: SEC officiating or SEC broadcast teams...the margin is narrowing. If not for Uncle Verne, well...Penn Wagers would be in trouble.


Now...douchegate. Not surprised at all that Grantham is being billed by some as the villain in the "events" at midfield. I'm not going to link to them because 1) they're easy enough to find if you really have to subject yourself and 2) I'm not going to help these guys get any extra clicks. What really agitates me is that I now know the head football coach at Vanderbilt's name. I miss the days when the Commodores would come up in conversation once, maybe twice a year. And you would simply say "Oh, you know...the guy that looks like Steve Martin...Bobby Johnson! Yeh him."


I had to wiki this d-bag to remind myself where James Franklin came from prior to his stop in Nashville. Last year he was the head coach in waiting...at Maryland! Now he's going to bring Vandy to the top by teaching his offensive line to chop block and yelling at opposing players. Listen to his post game presser if you want to regurgitate your breakfast. The only reason he couldn't "find" Coach Richt at midfield is because he was too busy word tackling Shawn Williams.


You know what other name I know now? Logan Stewart. The Vanderbilt center. This curly red-haired piece of crap was the one aiming for the legs of our defensive line. His dive into the back of Kwame's knee should warrant a suspension and certainly deserves much more than a punch. He and Coach Franklin, I hope they have a long and happy marriage.


There. Book closed. Hello bye week.

Unsportsmanlike gray matter leads to more dirty laundry

After his second touchdown Saturday night, was what Crowell did by hopping up and down on the same level as what LSU punter Brad Wing did as he neared the goalline against Florida? Wing was flagged and the touchdown was nullified under the new live ball unsportsmanlike penalty rule. Crowell was not flagged.


In my view, neither Wing nor Crowell's actions were unsportsmanlike. Certainly not to the degree of getting a touchdown taken off the board. Yet both instances were closer to flaggable offenses than what AJ Green was penalized for in 2009. Actually his endzone "celebration" was similar to what Crowell did in that they both faced the crowd after scoring. While AJ's seemed to end there with teammates mobbing him, Crowell had distanced himself enough from his blockers that it took awhile for everyone to get to where he was jumping.

While the NCAA meant to take out some perceived mean-spiritedness, it took out a part of football’s soul along with it. Is a 52-yard fake punt run against a rival not worthy of some bravado? Was Green’s late-game score not important enough to warrant a few seconds with teammates?

And if not, then where is the line? Did Georgia running back Isaiah Crowell cross it on Saturday when, after scoring his second touchdown, he hopped up and down in a corner of the end zone while facing a crowd of Tennessee fans?

It is not athletes to decide, and so you’re likely to see some very conservative touchdown celebrations because, as White said, it’s just something teams now have to face without much recourse.

“Every team was informed in the offseason of the changes, and we’ve had to deal with it,” White said. “We’re definitely a team that’s seen some unsportsmanlike conduct and celebration penalties come back and bite us like at LSU two years ago. But to me, I don’t know, it takes a little bit of the fun out of the game when you can’t feed into your emotion and you can’t get too happy about making a play. Especially with a big play like (LSU’s), there should be a little more leeway, but it’s not up to me to say.”   

[ABH - White crying foul] 

And therein lies the problem. The unsportsmanlike penalty is a judgment call that can be interpreted differently by me than it is by you. Did Wing taunt the Florida players? Yes. So the referee was doing his job. But for the fans watching the game the punishment hardly fit the crime. By making it a live ball foul this season that thin line of judgment can carry with it a lot of weight.


To make matters worse, SEC officiating in particular appears to be worse than it ever has been. I know right? Like that ever seemed possible to type. But the "fumble" that never was...or may have been yet was recovered by a hamstring plus one achilles tendon is the perfect example of where SEC officiating has sunk to. Here we are a few days after the fact and no one really knows if he was simply ruled down (which replay clearly indicated he wasn't) or if the Tenn player had recovered before Herrera wraped his actual hands on the football (which replay also confirmed didn't happen).


If it was the former the refs are at best, simply incompetent. If it was the latter then they are at worst terribly biased. Which leads me back to the original discussion about the unsportsmanlike penalty. I'm left with two questions:

1. When is the time at which this rule truly hurts Georgia? In a game they can probably handle anyway such as Vandy or New Mexico State? Or in Jacksonville where everything works against us anyway?
2. Since it was the coaches that wanted this rule, will there be enough carnage from it this season for them to change their collective minds?

Sunday Thoughts on Missy

First and "butt" most...did Charles "Lipo" Weis miss a belt loop? Or did he just turn the Earth on its ear?



Ok, now...they're somewhat scattered but here they are:

- S/O to Matt from Roswell who recognizes a hot shot blogger when he sees one. *high five*
-  Aaron Murray...tragic hero or epic bullet in foot? Discuss...
- Judging from the voices I've heard, I'm not the only one who's sick of seeing Crowell on the sideline. Especially when the game is in the balance.
- Plan to rewatch today, but seemed like the line played better against a quality defensive front. Still have some protection issues all around, but hard to complain.
- Also from what I've heard, Crowell never stepped out. Ouch.
- Defensive backs who can also catch for $200 please Alex.
- Ok, who has kidnapped Blair Walsh? I mean seriously. Bring him back. Please.
- Can Orson and Malcolm go out on pass patterns on the same play?
- Disappointed that we let them off the mat. But this is a team that can now let its defense carry it. And that feels pretty good.
- Hello! SEC East race...and AwwBarn makes quite the awkward bed fellow.

You want to know how Coach Grantham celebrates keeping "Bullys" out of the end zone? He referees a two hand touch parking lot game with the coaches' kids...while balancing a Bud Light...and a blackberry.

Winning.


- Posted using BlogPress from Bernie's iPhone

Friday Misery, chapter 3: fake canines edition

Spanking ol Nutt up and down the field last weekend did little to quash my misery. To make matters worse we have to play host to the cheaters this weekend. Sure, they refused to pony up to Mr. Newton fell short of the asking price turned sCam's bagman away but they copied our mascot just like a 10th grade physics exam.


Plus, last season they manhandled us when the game was in the balance. Is there an equal and opposite reaction this season?


Fake Dogs
Uga was born into the Bulldog Nation in 1956. Five years later the Missy State Aggies adopted "Bully". Fifty years have passed and they still can't live up to their mascot's name. Aside from a 1998 appearance in the SEC Championship game and some uncharacteristic toughness last season, the Cowbells have mostly just clanked.


I've been to Starkville. It reminds me of a port-o-let: functional, but you just can't wait to be done with your business and get the hell out of there. But being trapped in a town that modern conveniences like electricity and running water left behind decades ago is no reason to steal a mascot. Imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, but this the South son. The only thing we should be trying to imitate is Grandma's grits.


Buy in
As much as the door to the UGA tackle football program has been used recently you'd think Coach Richt would just take the friggin' thing off the hinges. The latest departures were Derek Owens and Kendrun Malcome...then Boo came back. So we're not so thin at RB anymore, but I'm still perplexed.


This is going to start to sound like a Get off my lawn!!! rant, so you've been warned. I mean, what happened to the idea of hard work pays off? I mean damn, QB is the hardest position to break through if you're a back up and DJ Shockley waited 5 years to play. The G used to mean something to every player.


And don't start making excuses for these players that leave either. That makes fans sound ignorant. I know why Owens was unhappy, just like I understand why Malcome is frustrated. But damn, keep working and get ready. Don't settle for seemingly greener pastures just so you can drop a load.


Dewey-Decibels
If you're in the stands tomorrow, get loud. It's not a library folks. You're starting to really piss me off with this sitting on your hands and waiting for a microfiche machine to fall in your lap. (For you younger readers, microfiche is like Google without the bandwidth) If you're at Sanford to do research you've reached the wrong venue. Leave the decimal filing system for Monday's action. Let's use the Dewey-Decibel system instead.


To participate just try talking to the guy who's sitting in the seat across the stadium instead of the guy sitting next to you. If I can hear myself think it's a pretty good bet that the MSU offensive line can hear Chris Relf or that skinnier white kid that LSU nearly put in the hospital.


How do you win in the Dewey-Decibel System? Glad you asked. If the preacher can't hear your voice in the Call to Worship Sunday morning, you win. Simple. The raspier and ripped to shreds your vocal cords are, the better.


Trench Warfare
Losing to any team from the state of Mississippi is a lot like losing a Miss America pageant to Slovakian woman in a size 18 housecoat with warts in unkind places. It just shouldn't happen. But losing to the feaux dogs like we did last year is especially unbecoming. The bully became the bullee as they pushed our guys around like ragdolls and controlled the clock and the first down markers.


If the same thing happens tomorrow I'm going to go ahead and apologize to those in the row in front of me, because I will get sick to my stomach and it won't be pretty. There's no reason to get pushed around like that again. It's our playground and we should enjoy the swing as long as we want damnit. Give ol' Dan a taste of what it's like to be the kid in loafers at recess. 


Nothing short of dominating these half-bred, trailer squatin', live-in-a-town-with-a-semi-functional-water-tower, cowbell clanking mouth breathers will do. 


GATA....Dawgs!

Aggie's restarting the moving van

As expected, looks like Texas A&M didn't turn in the keys to that U-Haul. (h/t cocknfire)

Texas A&M is expected announce that it will leave the Big 12 within the next week.

A person with knowledge of what was discussed during a conference call of the Big 12 board of directors Saturday told The Associated Press that Texas A&M officials gave every indication they were planning to leave the conference.

That person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks, says the only thing that could prevent the Aggies from making public their intentions to leave as early as next week would be if SEC officials decide they are not ready to add another team.

Texas A&M has publicly expressed its interest in joining the SEC.

Among items discussed during the Big 12 call Saturday was how much money Texas A&M would forfeit for leaving the conference.

Ball's back in the SEC court.

Damn Good Dogs, new edition

UGA Press announces:

The name Uga is synonymous with the Georgia Bulldogs, a perennial powerhouse among the top college football teams in the country. These English bulldogs are so revered that when they die, they are buried in a mausoleum at Sanford Stadium. But Uga is also a family pet, and Damn Good Dogs! gives readers a rare glimpse into the personal history of these nationally acclaimed mascots.

Filled with colorful anecdotes—such as Uga V’s famous lunge at an Auburn player, his appearance in several Hollywood films, and Sports Illustrated’s decision to put him on the cover of its 1997 college sports issue—Damn Good Dogs! provides the backstory to more than fifty years of collegiate sports history.

Wherever Georgia plays football, its famous mascot is there. At home games he stays cool in an air-conditioned doghouse or sits perched atop a bag of ice. When Herschel Walker won the Heisman Trophy in 1982, Uga IV became the only four-legged attendee at the Heisman banquet. And that—believe it or not—is just a small part of the history of the Georgia mascots.

Lavishly illustrated with more than five hundred photos and images of memorabilia from the Seilers’ private collection, this edition features more than eighty new pages of material on Uga VI, Uga VII, Uga VIII, and Russ, the super sub—including an Uga VIII photo album that is sure to be a fan favorite.

Additionally, you can attend any of these events to get your book signed:


- Saturday, Sept. 3 / 10:00 a.m. / Decatur, GA
Decatur Book Festival talk and signing at the Decatur Presbyterian Church. For more info on the festival click here.

- Friday, Sept. 9 / 11:00-1:00 p.m. / Macon, GA
Signing at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame

- Saturday, Sept. 10 / 12:00-1:00 p.m. / Athens, GA
Signing at the University of Georgia Bookstore

- Tuesday, Oct. 25 / time TBD / Savannah, GA
Signing at E. Shaver Books

- Friday, Nov. 4 / 3:00-5:00 p.m. / Athens, GA
Signing at the Georgia Center in the Pecan Tree Gallery

- Friday, Nov. 18 / time TBD / Athens, GASigning at the University of Georgia Bookstore for UGA Alumni Night 

CFA Kickoff Classic: it's all in the details

Details for the opening game against Boise State are emerging as we near single digits in the countdown. I guess some we already knew, like that Georgia is the home team. But the Broncos get the home locker room.


Ok. No offense taken Mr. Blank. Additionally, the east endzone will be orange and blue. The west, red and black. Midfield is for Mr. Cathy. Eat mor chiken!


I guess CFA officials didn't want to appear to give UGA too much of an advantage. Case in point: I guess I missed it when the game was first announced, but it appears that SEC officials will be <quote>refereeing<unquote> things in the Dome for Boise State vs Georgia. SEC refs HATE us. We couldn't get a set of Big 12 guys? Texas A&M is desperate for our attention over here, they couldn't sweeten the pot with some guys who actually understand NCAA tackle football rules?


I suddenly feel ill. Sick to my stomach with worry. I have a vision of Aron White catching a pass as time expires to win the game. He turns and hands the ball to Marc Curles...and gets a flag for excessive sportsmanship. TD negated. Game over.


The next morning, Curles awakes from a deep slumber. As he shakes the recurring dream where Coach Paul Damn Johnson is carrying him off the field after he kicked the winning field goal in late November...

Barking Shaking up the family tree

A second early passing of the University of Georgia's beloved bulldog is leading us all to a dangerous path that will be filled with even more divisiveness and ridicule than anything previously witnessed.


I typically really enjoy Bill King's Junkyard Blawg, one of the few mostly redeeming sections of the AJCs sports (quote) journalism (unquote) department. And given the untimely passing of Uga VIII Friday it's hard to claim King's post yesterday was unnecessary. But it still strikes me as irresponsible to claim to be in a position to advise someone on how to handle their own family's business.


My wife and I attended our kids' parent teacher conferences last week. Since my kids are so freakin' awesome they of course had really good reports. But if instead the teachers had spent the time suggesting we change their diets...or use a firmer hand when disciplining...or perhaps use Colgate instead of AquaFresh for their dental hygiene...well, we'd have a serious boundary issue.


King's correct, UGA can choose a different breeder for Uga IX. He's also correct that the University will not venture down that road. The Seilers are the Duke and Duchess of all things UGA Athletics. They don't have supreme power by any means, but have earned a right to be treated with respect.


I've had to take a family pet to be euthanized recently. I'm sure many of you have as well. It's no easy thing. My kids adored our black lab and my wife and I had raised him since he was old enough to barely peek over his water bowl. So regardless of where you stand on this divisive issue you certainly have a right to your opinion. I just think having to read or hear about them publicly can only do more harm than good.


So write your letters to AD McGarity if you feel the need. Hell, go visit him in Athens as he seems more than eager to hear opinions and perspectives from the fans firsthand. But other than that, let the process run its course.

From the Southwest Corner...

...RIP UgaVIII.

Like a bad episode of déjà vu. Damn. Just...damn. Instead of trying to put words to typeset, I've decided to repost from November of 2009. There's not a game between the hedges coming up and this time it's Big Bad Bruce joining his predecessors, but the message is basically the same. I'll just add a caution to remember that this is a family pet first and foremost, and that goes for Dawg fans just as much as others.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Clint Eastwood once said to Uga, I'm gonna make you a celebrity. To which Cecilia Seiler responded, Excuse me, Mr. Eastwood...but Uga is already a celebrity.

That one little story from the making of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil explains a lot about the gap that exists between those who understand what a dear mascot Uga truly is and those who have no clue.

On Saturday we'll pay our respects to a dog that transcends the term that defines his role in college football nomenclature. A mascot is simple, common...a side show. Uga is the University of Georgia. His passing is forever etched in our minds as it is the stone mausoleum in Sanford Stadium. When we look towards the Dawg House, our hearts will sink.

For a football game inside Sanford Stadium is to be played not just between the hedges, but on Uga's turf. There should always be opposing players just outside of his leash's reach. But on Saturday evening, Uga VI's Loran's Best will be playing upstairs with Uga V's Whatchagot Loran. Perhaps Erk will even throw down a bag of ice. There'll be a tussle.

And we'll smile. Cuz our mascot is adored. The Uga lineage has posed for more pictures than any Hollywood star on the supposed walk of fame. Each interaction is cherished. Each casual glance rewarded with that lovable wrinkled countenance. How else could you explain the fact that Uga's line in August is longer than all others...put together?

Sonny Seiler once described Picture Day as Santa Claus at the mall - times 100. Fitting of a dog who has both a family...and a nation.

RIP Uga, you DamnGoodDawg!

Uga VIII is about to bite Lymphoma in the ass

Robert Baker got off easy with Uga V. Our newly appointed mascot Uga VII has been diagnosed with lymphoma. Stay firm Dawg fans. It's never rained harder. Time to hunker down. And when you bend a knee tonight, send one up for the Seiler family and their Damn Good Dawg!

The Dawg Blawgs Podcast - State of the Program

Giving bloggers space to type is dangerous enough. Give them a voice and all hell could break loose. But ecdawg (Leather Helmet) was brave enough to try. Click play if you want to hear me try to keep up with him, CCRider (Sports and Grits) and CorbinDawg (The Grit Tree). 


(FYI - there's several seconds of dead air space at the beginning. Just consider it a 4th and inches and GO FOR IT!!)


UPDATE: a commenter mentioned wanting to hear more podcasts on UGA. You can't get much better than the guys at Dawgcast or Kit's DawgGoneBlog. If they're not already in your queue, make it happen.

In the case of Cocks v Cam....

South Cracky vs AwwBarn

I hope the powerade is spiked with Miralax and all of the refs are either Clempson or Alabama graduates...if there is such a thing.

It's rainy and cold in the ATL. Enjoy your stay, then get the hell out.