The Guys in Silver Britches

State of the BullDawg Nation

Between Thanksgiving, my birthday and the annual renewal of Clean Old-Fashioned Hate...this time of year is the ultimate trifecta for me. And for as long as I can recall, all I've ever really wished for on my birthday is to beat Georgia Tech. More years than not, that wish comes true. Last year, sadly it did not.

I'm not going to go into some YouTube temper tantrum here. But the annual clash between the Dawgs and the nerds does carry a lot of emotion for me. Jacksonville is our biggest game of the year, no question. Florida's the ugly bully on the playground you love the opportunity to smack around. But the Trade School is our brother. We work with him, share roadways with him, sometimes even the family dinner table. Beats the hell out of me why a Dawg would marry an insect, but it happens.

We've had a year to remember what it's like in this state when we lose this game. To add insult to humility, this season has been found on the map just north of shambles. We don't know which coaches will be on the road recruiting Monday no more than we know how close to the credit limit the cards in our wallet are gonna go at the shopping malls this afternoon. We've got players like Boling, questioning whether or not they can resist the urge to give up on the season.

Ahh, yes. Now I remember the feeling we all had back in late November 2000. This is ground zero. How are ya? It's been awhile. We're not too far removed from a time when the disgruntled dimwits were the upstream swimmers that stuck out like a sore thumb. Now it's the fans who scream about everything being okay, just take a deep breath who sound so out of tune.

But the truth is, I don't care. That's Monday. This is Georgia Tech. This is now. That is then.

So today I'm blowing out candles with full authority. There's no hesitation, no pause for contemplation. Beat Tech!! I'll scream in my head. Beat the ever lovin' (doggy doo) out of them.After that I'm leaving the new Dawg garb I purchased this summer in the closet and gonna go with what feels most comfortable: black wind pants and red Georgia t-shirt.

If that's what it takes to get Fabris to allow the deep kick then I may just never take them off.

It's Georgia-Georgia Tech folks. If you've spent this season belly-aching about how horrible the team is, get over yourself. If you can't wait for the season to end, stop and smell the gridiron. Your team needs you. If you're just completely exasperated, spent, through, done, exhausted...lose the skirt Alice and man up.

There's no BCS bowl, no top 25 ranking and no New Year's Day tailgate to look forward to. It's just 60 minutes of football. Some clean old fashioned hate. A little gravy for the turkey.

Too often as fans we get caught up in worrying about the perceivable outcome of games. We're so invested in ourselves not getting surprised we'd rather just write the game off and go about our pity party. All I'm trying to say is that just won't do Reader.

Historic Mark Richt Field will be surrounded by nerds tomorrow night. Why? Because they're winning games. Otherwise, not so much.

We're Dawgs. We wear our colors and fly our flags in rain and sun, for better or for worse. Coach Richt has led his team to a 6-5 season thus far and I still gave thanks yesterday that he was our guy. We pull the upset tomorrow, we're cheering. We lose by 28, we're cheering.

We're Dawgs. And the guys in the silver britches deserve that much.

War Damn Feeble

Remember this?

Coupla things:

• I would complain about Thurman carrying that ball as if it was a loaf of marbled rye, but hell...it was an INT. And he took it back. Didn't we do something similar in Knoxville this season?
• Anyone else amazed that those headphones actually covered Tubs' ginormous lobes?
• Let's do this thang!

Go Dawgs!

From the highest ranked team in the nation......

.....to the second best team in the state of Georgia. It's a good thing Georgia State's football team is still in the building phase......

Fans who had withstood dampened tailgates, wet sacks and eggless HamDogs were rewarded with a misleading first half and a lackluster, uninspiring second. I'll be glad in years to come when I can tell my daughters I was there when Larry Munson walked out onto the playing field for the first time during a game and I stood to tip my hat. And I'll be proud to also tell them that I saw Mohammed Massaquoi nearly single handedly beat Tech with a stellar performance in his last game in Sanford.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock Saturday I tried to find Stafford and Moreno on the field. I figured this is likely the last time to see them dressed out between the hedges. I wasn't able to find Stafford in the chaos, but Knowshon could easily been seen sprinting out to the center of the field as a large number of Tech players converged on the "G". I also noticed that he was largely alone and that he was pretty effective in convincing his opponents to celebrate in other ways.

Many Dawg fans spent the remainder of the weekend finalizing their Santa Wish Lists. Knowshon returning for '09 had likely been atop most lists. I would reckon that now "Martinez leavin'" tops the lists. Richt quickly quashed that debate, but guaranteed changes in practice habits AND results next year. Hopefully tackling teammates to the practice turf on Bloody Tuesdays instills some intensity that can last for an ENTIRE game.

Against Tech we built a pretty good lead heading into the locker room. In fact I was pretty pleased with the defense that had allowed a mere 6 points in helping build a 28-12 halftime lead. But whoever spoke to the team at halftime should be checked for an engineering degree. That third quarter was pathetic. By the fourth we suddenly realized that just going through motions wasn't going to garner that 8th consecutive win, but by then it was too late. The killer buzz had turned into Killer Buzz that would not be denied.

Sure, if we had gotten one more shot in the waning seconds we may have put together a miracle. But MoMass and Stafford can only do SO much.....right?

And let's give some props to our beloved senior wideout. Eleven catches for 180 yards and 3 TDs. Wow! A day to remember for Massaquoi. I'm just glad his team gets one more chance to send him out a winner.

And speaking of that upcoming bowl game, remarkably Saturday's result (likely) did little to affect our destination. Of course it all trickles down from the top. If Bama loses to floriDuh they will surely get an at-large BCS (Sugar Bowl) bid. And the same can be said for the reverse scenario. So even with the loss to Tech, it's hard to imagine the Dawgs not going to the Capital One Bowl to face Michigan State. The only team within one game of the Dawgs is Ole Miss and they seem bound for the Cotton.

I had made the argument that Martinez needed this game more than the yeller jackets. I stand by that assessment, but it is apparent that Martinez's D lacked the ability to prove they could earn it. Halftime adjustments have been an area where our coaching staff has been getting outdone all season (see Jacksonville, Auburn, Kentucky). Saturday around 1:30 we had the chance to step on these insects and notch that 10th win. We were up two big scores and had just exploited a depleted secondary. What happened?

Fans want Martinez gone. Richt wants staff continuity. BDBs solution: promote Rodney Garner to Co-Defensive coordinator NOW. Garner is the lone leftover from Donnan's staff. He's shown loyalty to the program. He's also expressed interest in making the next step to coordinator. If the problem is preparation, let Garner coordinate practices. If the problem is in-game adjustments, let Garner game-plan and game-manage. (photo RedandBlack)

Would that be a bitter pill for Richt and especially Martinez to swallow? Sure. Would it keep the staff intact, the '09 commitments and the returning roster happy? To quote Sarah Palin, "you betcha!" Those that want Martinez gone are entitled to their opinion and I have certainly chimed in on that side of the field. But who would we get in his place? Muschamp was the hot name and is now off the market. And after seeing Texas give up big numbers (albeit to very good offensive teams) I'm not sure that is who we want. Plus he didn't exactly turn the SEC offenses on their ear while at Auburn. John Chavis is looking for a job off Rocky Top. He kept the Fulmer ship afloat for over a decade. Or how about stealing one from another SEC school: Ellis Johnson at South Carolina or the gators' Charlie Strong? Yeh right!

I'll take Richt's decision to keep Martinez, afterall it is his staff. But something's missing. It's been missing all season. We used to GATA. Now we just watch their ass run towards the end zone. It can be argued that some change is necessary. Give Garner a chance at an expanded role.......

Enough of the bad, let's get to the ugly. Suspensions:

• Miranda. I'm not real sure why. I guess I'm still bitter.
• Martinez. You say it wasn't bad scheme, just execution. So when you feel the heat you throw the players under the bus? You have a couple weeks to look in the mirror, then get ready for the next opponent. Letting three teams score over 40 and two others 38, that spells poor coaching my friend.
• CMR. The buck stops with the head man. Donnan won twice against Tech, but lost his last three. You won your first seven. Although many would like you to, no one really expects you to actually can Martinez. It's admirable to stand by a friend through rough waters. Just be sure to find your way back to solid ground if the water only rises....
• Blair Walsh. I hate giving freshmen a suspension, but you're a veteran now. Two kicks out of bounds? Your leg is well-celebrated and documented as a strong one. Tee it up and aim for the uprights, not the cheerleaders.

And due to the weather and dire conditions we must give a few shout-outs:

• David and Allen for stepping up in others' absence.
• Ann for showing her hubby who wears the pants.
• Papa Nama for picking up the slack for whoever forgot the ice......
• Chris Bryan for overcoming a Thanksgiving Day cornhole injury to help Bernie unseat the Nama/Trammell machine!
• And lastly, Bernie. Without him Fred would still be huddled in the bed of his truck outside of Plant Services. Who's the man?

It's been a long trip this season BDB readers. What started as a pea brained idea, grew wings with the help of VP Trammell and now our readership rivals that of the Saskatchewan Gazette's Op-ed pages. BDB will be back on occasion in the month of December with ramblings and other general nonsense. If you're interested in that sort of First Amendment entitlements, y'all come back now, ya hear?

Bernie's Dawg Blawg - it's what Jefferson and Washington were thinking of when they put pen to parchment and it's what Al Gore envisioned when he sat at his desk to invent the internet.

What better way to finish off the regular season than with a Chris "Search Engine is my middle name" Nama BDB trivia victory. His fingers did the typing and his iPhone discovered that "we picked it (our heart) up, and we (stuck) it back inside" when we nearly lost on the flats back in '97. Congrats my friend. It is no longer legal to mail hobnail boots as they are considered a weapon in SEC land, so you'll have to stop by the BDB offices to pick up your prize. Just call Betty, our front office admin asst at (800) BDB-rocks ahead of time to give her your boot size.

Happy Holidays readers! Next Monday we'll take a look at the juniors around the nation who may take their talents to the pro level. Your homework for next week:

• Paul Westerdawg's analysis of Moreno and Stafford's decision and how the potential NFL rookie cap may impact them with a link to Tim Tucker's AJC article.
• David Hale weighs in on the issue.
• If you can't get enough if our lovable Uga, you'll enjoy this piece from ESPN Travel.
• And pics of the tailgate: HamDog the Rematch.

We here at BDB wish you and yours all the egg nog you can swallow and as much fruit cake as you can stomach. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good defensive bowl game.

Bernie

Tryptophan induced stupors are always cured.....

...........by a little gridiron gravy.

'nuf said Monday, right? As long as we're clear on who plays and who stays tomorrow morning, we'll keep this short and sweet. I've got some leftover turkey waiting on me and I'd also like to fit in 18 holes before the rain.

Almost a year ago things were Utopian-like in Athens, at least in the realm of football against the in-state rival. Coach Mark Richt had notched his 7th win in as many tries against the hated bees. Chan Gailey was doing just enough to continue on as the leader of the flats. And although Reggie Ball had moved on, his replacements had not produced a win against the Dawgs either.

Then Gailey was shown the door. I remember a conversation with Chris "Buzz" Miranda during the subsequent search for leadership. I asked him who he liked to get the job. During the history of our friendship we have disagreed on many things ranging from the sublime (whether Joe Hamilton actually played 7 seasons or not) to the ridiculous (who's triple bogey putt was more difficult). It turns out we agreed on one thing: Paul Johnson was the candidate best suited for the job.

Of course our angles were drastically opposed. He wanted Radakovich to hire Johnson right away. I hoped the talks would break down and Johnson would stay in Annapolis. I tried to place a call to Tech Athletic offices to voice my undying support for Gailey being rehired, but the phone just rang......and rang.

Come to think of it, Miranda? Did you give me the right number?

In the end of course, Johnson was hired. "Buzz" even reports that he was the only candidate of the seven to interview with Prez Clough and was offered straight away. And now on the precipice of another match-up between the Dawgs and Jackets, the two teams stand with nearly identical records.

I've spent a lot of time reading this week. One of the hot topics has been which side needs a win the most. The Dawgs are looking for another 10 win season and a Capital One bowl berth. The Jackets want to beat Georgia for the first time in this millennium.

But it is also worth wondering, who (individually) needs this win the most. BDB argues for Coach Willie. I know that Johnson has marked this game from the time he was introduced as GTs most important. And I know a win tomorrow would cement his first season on the flats as a tremendous success. But Willie doesn't just want a win. He needs it.

If the Dawgs D can put together a strong performance against an offense that shredded Miami on national TV it wouldn't necessarily put Martinez on a pedestal. But it would dampen the shrieking coming from his critics.

Another question......... which game is more important to Tech: The one between the hedges or the one up in Blacksburg? If given the choice between the two, would the average Jacket fan take a win versus the Dawgs over a Cavalier upset against the Hokies? Just a question.

If you force me to put the shoe on my foot, as a Dawg fan, would I rather have a W against Tech or a W against the gators? Well, ........I would insist on both. : )

The vegas line has shrunk since the beginning of the week. I still believe the Dawgs can put up some good numbers, but if they are to cover the spread (something the Dawgs have a knack for not doing) they will need to tackle .......WELL! Dwyer and any other pigskin carrier that had a turn was rarely touched near the vicinity of the line of scrimmage against Miami. And when they were it was fleeting.

If there is a bright side to facing this offense it is that our defense's Achilles heel this season has been it's pass rush. That will be but a small factor tomorrow. I expect the Dawgs to struggle some against Johnson's triple option attack, but not on the scale that the Hurricane D did.

And I also believe our offense will fair well against the bees' D. I remember Moreno not playing much last year against Tech so I think he will come out hungry; in fact he and the other skill players in silver britches should do very well. And if we can convert red zone opportunities into TDs it should keep our defense relaxed and on their toes.

Dawgs count to eight and send Johnson's Jackets back to Hotlanta empty handed.

Dawgs 28

pesky pests 24

Trivia this week brought to you by Bernie himself. Larry Munson shut off his mike earlier this year and will be honored in between the 1st and 2nd quarters tomorrow. One of his greatest lines came at the end of the '97 Tech game after the pass interference and the Bobo TD pass to Corey Allen. What did he describe that we did with our heart? Winning comment gets a hobnail boot. God bless ya Larry!

If you eat a hamdog, please don't forget your Monday morning cholesterol check. And if you show up at Sanford at 11:30, you will bark like a Dawg.

Bernie

Please stand by.......

......the State of the BullDawg Nation address will commence shortly.

If everyone will take their seat we can get started, it's gonna be a busy start to an important week. While we wait for Bernie to take the podium, let's take some time to go over a few announcements. Can you hear me in the back? ...... Good.

• Nama's research staff once again reins supreme. He walks away with a case of homebrew from Miranda's basement. Miranda is a true Tech fan and a great (albeit somewhat quiet) supporter of BDB. We can understand why he is reluctant to voice his opinion, especially this close to the BIG game. So we especially appreciate the question and the sponsorship. Nama - don't forget to use a glass.
• Bye Week Shout-outs:

1. Congrats to Mr. Rolle on what has to be one of his all time best days Saturday. Myron is obviously a smart young man, so smart money is on him choosing Oxford.
   
2. The students in Dr. Burnette's class. I know your teacher all too well. If Dad starts to correct my writing while in class, please inform the principal....and my mom.
3. Mohamed Massaquoi - happy birthday!
4. Jack Bauer for surrendering himself for the good of the kids!
5. Boomer-Sooners for going all PlayStation 2 on the Red Raiders from Lubbock. My oh My!!

• Bye Week Suspensions:

1. 790 the Zone for blatant, unabashed bias against Bernie. That's the last 790 contest I bother entering. They obviously can smell a 680 the Fan listener when he enters the building. Blow-hards!
2. Florida Gators - just because.

• When we mapped out our Saturday viewing schedule, we had no idea that the best game of the day would be the Versus Pac-10 matchup. Here's hoping the Beavers de-feather the ducks and create the rematch the granddaddies at the Rose Bowl deserve.
• BDB "followers" welcome. Sign up today and receive a free Reggie Ball jersey. sign up over here - - - - - - - - - - >
• And lastly, please don't overindulge on Turkey later this week. Saturday morning's tailgate needs your full participation.

And now for Bernie's Dawg Blawg's first annual address to the BullDawg Nation, BDBs creator and owner, head writer and floor sweeper, chief editor and toilet scrubber ..........Bernie.

Two words.....two simple words

State of the BullDawg Nation

Glory, Glory to ol' Georgia! Heroes have graced the field before you. Men with hearts, bodies and minds of which the entire Bulldog Nation can be justifiably proud.......

Gather round faithful readers and let's hunker down to business. There are but 5 days until the game defined best as Clean Old- Fashioned Hate. We've come a long way since the beginning of the season. There have been thrills and chills, ups and downs. We've had highlights and lowlights, TDs and 3 and outs. We've felt the dry heat and survived the cold wind on the plains. Now it's time to evaluate, reflect, reminisce. All to gain a clearer picture of where we stand, together as one nation. In a sea of red and black.

With dreams of a December trip to the GA Dome and even Miami in January proven to be of the pipe variety, many fans turn their thoughts to the 2009 season. Questions about the professional futures of numbers 24, 7, 2 and 95 are argued, debated and blawgged. As awkward as those conversations are, they are a welcome distraction to the red-faced shouts for the heads of coordinators to be sacrificed .......... immediately.

And now a new breed of bulldog stands ready to take the field of battle, to assume the reins of their Georgia forebears and continue that tradition.....

Coach Willie feels the most heat, although CMR has done a fair job of deflecting it. The defense has certainly lacked bite, but (in fairness) has saved us in a handful of tense moments. The main culprit from this blawgger's eyes has been the lack of consistent pressure from a four man front. You can argue that the D has been lacking in producing turnovers, but that is often a result of a heated rush, hands in the face of a QB with a sudden case of happy feet. In BDBs first edition the issue was raised: "Probably my greatest concern is defensive pressure. One sack against CMU - are you kidding me? Did Dooley use up all of Tardit's eligibility? Where's this season's Pollack/Johnson/Moses/Howard? Can Knowshon play from a 3 point stance???" Well, Martinez hasn't gotten so desperate that he's asked to use Knowshon on his side of the ball. But the fans have gotten desperate enough to wonder, "Why all the zone?"

The O line has been in the spotlight since Sturdivant was lost in two-a-days. But has performed well considering all of the juggling. AJ Green has exceeded expectations. And Knowshon seemed to respond to the questions about his substitution practices with a focus and determination that will almost certainly see him eclipse all of his totals from last year (needing just 91 yards and 38 carries to finish it off). And statistically Stafford has certainly surpassed his 2007 season as he looks for just 200 more yards to pass 3000 for the season.

Certainly there has been reason for confidence, optimism. All fans can remember a time when just sniffing another 10 win season was a pipe dream. AHEM!! (raygoff) AHEM!! Excuse me. And yet, there are blisters on the hand of this season that just won't go away.

The two biggest sores aren't just the two losses. It was more the way in which we lost. The build up to the Bama game was immense. It had been more than 9 months since we had ALL gone Johnny Cash on an opponent. ESPN Gameday had returned after a 1o year absence. We'd been to the desert and handily dispatched the diablos de la Sol. Knowshon had leaped into the endzone without a red cape. This was gonna be huge! And yet the game was over before Uga VII had a chance to get cozy with his bag of ice.

Three wins later we were heading down to Jacksonville. All we found was a determined reptile with the memory of an pachyderm. We were outmanned, outcoached and outplayed by our arch nemesis. It was the kind of loss we're not used to seeing under the Richt regime. And it was the kind of loss we never expected from this team that had started the season at the top. We drove back up to Athens with the realization that starting the season ranked #1 only allows you to start the climb at the front of the pack. The spoils go to the team that finishes the climb on top. Worst of all was the realization that we would not be that team, nor would we be the team that danced on the Dome floor in Atlanta.

It hurt.....bad.

The two wins since, remarkably have done little to soothe the burn. Kentucky by a hair and Auburn by whatever fraction was left. The grumbles had grown into shouts. The angst was all out turmoil.

As we prepare for another meeting between the hedges, let all of the Bulldog faithful rally behind the men who now wear red and black with two words, two simple words which express the sentiments of the entire Bulldog Nation......

My friends, we have muddled through a season that we had hoped and dreamed would be a pathway of entitlement. We were wrong. Wrong about our talent level, wrong about what to wear to certain games and wrong about where we stood in the national landscape.

But the season is not over.

Even as these blisters fester and make grasping anything difficult, painful ........we all know that Sanford Stadium will be a welcome sight come Saturday. We know the house will be jumping and the support not just unified but thunderous. As we watch our seniors hug their mamas we know we will cheer as one voice. And when the team bursts through the big G we'll all become unglued.

There will be one focus come Saturday. The memories of Jacksonville will become distant. On the graph that defines Saturday's game, that devastating loss on the first of the month will simply become a remote outlier, inconsequential. The loss at home to Saban's Herd will not only be in the background of our collective memory, it will be irrelevant. A double non-factor in a game that can define so much.

The Yellow Jackets will be visiting. Their bottles of white-out may still be half full, but they are looking to define their own season. The Dawgs will need our voices, our barks and our attitudes. There will be no other option than one of support, fevered fandom and concentrated chaos. It will be time to "tee it up between the hedges."

If you awaken Saturday morning and you ain't got it ......we kindly ask you to not bring it. If you are on your way down 316 and your red and black tank is only half-full, please turn around. Don't wait for the next stoplight. Go right through the median. I'll gladly pay the fine. If you are walking down the tracks towards River Rd and your bark is greater than your bite, you must find the maturity to sit this one out. Because you can only bring us down at that point. No late morning intervention is gonna pull you through. We'll talk you through it during the off-season.

Five days Bulldog Nation. Five days to come to peace with our two losses and embrace our 9 wins. It won't feel cuddly warm at first. But it is necessary and you will feel the rewards when you sit down at 11:30 to watch these seniors get their props. It will feel great when MoMass the Tech killa hauls in that first pass. It will feel incredible when Southerland pancakes a pocket intruder.

And when you do get that feeling, don't look for me. Don't feel like you have some overwhelming desire to thank me. Your attendance will be thanks enough. So don't look around for me.....

Just start barking your ass off!

GO DAWGS!!

Bernie