Friday Misery - The Iliad of Todd Damn Gurley

gift (n) - 1. a present; 2. something given to another with little to no expectation of reciprocation; 3. a pair of socks your grandmother knitted, wrapped in tacky giftwrap, and set underneath the Christmas tree next to your brother's Red Ryder carbine action 200 shot range model air rifle; 4. an ability, particularly one that sets one apart from some other poor goddamn bastard.

Or...gift (adj) 1. something designed to kick you in the nads when you least expect it. As in, "That gift horse had little tiny men with spears and shit in it."

What you (don't) need to know
The Trojans of Troy AL come to town after a heart-breaking loss to some Christians from Abilene TX. Nevertheless, these tackle footballers are warriors, led by Larrinius Blakenius and his epic two-headed quarterback not to mention a sieve of a defense. Trojan beat writer Homer describes Blakenius' systemic path of destruction peace and solitude amongst his foes.

"...Its devastation, which put pains thousandfold upon joy in the hearts of the Achaians hurled in their multitudes to the house of Hades a locally owned Hooters strong souls of heroes and ample breasted women, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting of dogs, of all birds, half-cooked chicken wings and the will of Zeus Mark Emmert was accomplished."

Asked just what the hell that meant, Homer expounded...

Always thought Aphrodite was a bitch anyway
A bite of apple golden fair, and war was born
The Alabammians sharpened swords and spear,
the bitter rage of halitosis unleashed,
Yet still Knowshon he runs with angst afoot. 

Haugabook valiantly stoned condemned Palamedes,
Yeh then turned his gaze towards his concubines,
But it was Allen of Asher that made him his own Aphrodite,
Blakenius called a timeout and Willinius Martus gasped for air.

Many years passed but smoke lingered,
gathered on the tongue of Slive's master schedule,
Right Click, Cut, Paste! and battle born anew.

Achilles, after doing his hair.

In the distance, an Achaen farted his disdain.

Fat from years of conference mid-major expansion,
Spoiled of bowls of dates, olives and GoDaddys,
The Trojans packed their chariot bus with armor,
El Caminos' beds chock-full o' possum jerky.

Y'all?!? Yah they verily!

The drums beat and the storm gathered,
Memories of DeMarcus, Umenyiora, Leodis,
Elbert and DuJuan on their minds,
They would dance on these Dawgs' graves!

But oh snap went the pigskin,
Homer loosed a barbaric "Doh!"
A Trojan warrior decapitated and lifeless,
Leonard Floyd done sacked yo ass Troy!

The crowd, stunned at the grotesqueness,
Was yet entertained beyond measure,
Rose to its collective feet, roared, then
Tweeted that shit soldier boy!

With full AT&T LTE service. True dat.

Achilles, thine heel hath been named Todd Gurley.
Die in your own Alabammmmian entrails,
A Sun Belt noosed 'round thy neck, 
Unleashed these Dawgs of War.

And my World Literature teacher in high school thought I used Cliff Notes. Tsk. tsk. Let's close in prayer shall we? "Dear Lord, please protect us from Achilles' hair dryer on 3rd and long and allow our baton twirlers to sneeze hard enough to beat these menfolk of troy. Thank you and Amen."

Richard Manuel is dead.

Music has always had calming influence on the scattered, covered and smothered thoughts that bounce around my head like three olds that just discovered hot chocolate.

No less than ten times during the last week I've written a post aimed at bridging the gap between the 2013 season of ACL tears and the upcoming winter of waiting. Each time I've deleted it just to start over the next evening. Like many relationships and algorithms and small batch bourbons, it's complicated.

Yet, I'm intent on simplifying it. Despite the fact that doing so likely means not getting my point across completely.

Now, where was I again? Oh yeh, The Band. We can argue about their lasting impact given their series of stops and starts. But there's little doubt in regards to their influence on the music industry. And that is essentially what leads to this post - influence.

When I last deleted said post, I slammed the laptop closed, jammed the earbuds in and hit shuffle. What follows is the best video version there is of the song, one goddamned beautiful song about The Band's influence on one man. Sure, you can find shorter versions. But they don't have this guitar solo or brass section. So press play, and let the night air cool you off.

My only point today is that sometimes finding one true meaning is a pointless act of desperation. As a blogger I got lost in the forest without a single tree in sight. Got to sinking in the place where I once stood. I've let it simmer. Gonna also let it resonate too. Probably tomorrow. Maybe. Most likely.

For now I think I'll crank up The Weight. Take it away Levon!

Indoor practice facility, comprehensively speaking

You can't get a more comprehensive analysis of the indoor practice facility argument than Groo's post yesterday. Take a few minutes and read it in its entirety. He's compiled all the research and addressed the topic completely.

Regardless of your gut instinct on the issue, read this and re-examine. Make sure you have facts to support your position.

Recruiting ends up being one of the biggest reasons to have an indoor facility. They’re supposedly heavy artillery in the facilities arms race, and being able to hook up a game console to the display inside your facility is all part of the package designed to impress and awe prospective players. Schools still manage to sign highly-ranked classes without such a facility, but we can’t deny the wow factor.

Even though it'll probably happen some day, I still say no. Sure, it'll be used occasionally to escape bad weather and frequently to show off to recruits with a hard on for shiny things. But more often it could be used because it's just too hot or because there's a threat of a rain.

That's weak sauce. I mean, how often do we play tackle football indoors y'all?

Repost: 50 days...into the season

Last homework assignment for the week. This one is from the summer of 2011. I think it both fits the feelings around the Dawg Nation today and preps well for Jacksonville. GATA.

Whether you like Coach Richt, dislike him or are somehow just plain indifferent...you have to give him credit for making some changes the last couple years. Did he wait too long to turn the program around? We're soon to find out. 50 days until toe meets leather in the Dome. 57 until we all meet at Sanford for an early season must win against the Gamecocks.


But today I want to look well ahead of that to 50 days into the season. While Richt is a popular topic of discussion and print, my feelings on him are easily summed up: I like him, I want him around a long time, but it's program first and coach somewhere after that. On this special occasion with just 50 days left before kickoff we need to explore something deeper. We need to get our minds right for the entire season, not just the first game of the season.


Ironically for me, that starts with one game. 50 days into the schedule we'll be gearing up for the biggest game of every season. Jacksonville. The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Georgia - Florida. Battle on the St. John's. Don't think of this season in terms of a number that would make it successful in your opinion. And don't worry about whether our coach will be on the sidelines next year. Richt's the coach of the Georgia Bulldogs. Once toe meets leather it doesn't go beyond that.


Would a 10 win season thrill me to no end? Well, can a black knight score 10 measly points and beat you? I'd love a 10 win season. But I want something more than that. I want once again to cheer for a team that has toughness. Not just at the opening kick and not just on one side of the ball. I want a team that's man enough to stare their arch nemesis in the eye and hunker down one more time despite how much it hurts, how exhausted they are or what the score is.


WLOCP. A one game barometer. A 60 minute reading of the pulse of the program. Beating Boise would be sexy. But proving we can beat the team that's flat out owned us the last two decades is Jennifer Aniston wearing nothing but a Scott Woerner jersey hot! There's no comparison. 


Even beating Carolina as the proposed pre-season front runner of the SEC East would be great and would go a long way towards paving the way to Atlanta. But the road to the GA Dome in December goes through Jacksonville in late October. Always has. The difference between beating chickens and beating gators is like the difference between leasing and owning a car. One's cool. The other is something to build on.


And brothers, sisters...we need hammer and nails, not spackle and a coat of paint. We've been shoveling our own grave for too long. So with 50 days until the season Reader, I'm not gonna ask if you're ready for football. I'm not gonna talk about how cool it would be to beat the Broncos and spoil their season right out of the gates. That's not my mindset. For 21 years we've watched one single game swing in one direction. If the 2011 season is to be considered a success there will be shouts aplenty of Go Dawgs!! from those escalators leaving AllTel stadium October 29th. The drives and flights back to all destinations red and black on the 30th will be peaceful and not tormented like so many of the last 21 times we've left Jacksonville.


We'll know then that our Dawgs are not only ready to start a fight, but also ready to finish it. We won't need a funny looking uniform to pump us up before kickoff. We'll see our Dawgs in their usual road gear and the fervor will come naturally. We won't even need unsportsmanlike flags littering an endzone to punch the opponent in the face. We'll do that because that is what our UGA forebears have done for generations. The WLOCP is our game. We own it and it's been taken from us because we've gotten lazy and proficient at coming up with excuses. It's time to reclaim the GA/fla game, and it's gonna take our full concentration. A complete, concentrated effort. Fan, coach...player. Our voice, their guidance and a Dawgs' heart.


So my question is simple this morning. With 50 days until the season, are you ready for 50 days into it?

Recruiting, conditioning and other off season crap

It's times like these you learn to live again...


The weight of Old Man Winter can be worse than bothersome. Once the bowl is over the tendency is to disperse, cave in to what the wife has been nagging you to do...or worse...pick up exercising. But if there's one thing the loss to MSU did for me it was to assure me that there is much work to be done. So here's my immediate agenda.

Really Bernie, I get it. You're not a Kernkraft fan.

1. Speaking of the Athletic Director, sometime soon we will all engage in an activity called "Letters to McGarity". I'll provide a sample letter I've used almost once a week this season, you provide your own fingers for the typing. My topic of interest is the use of a certain "song" (for lack of a better word) at Sanford that drives me effin' batty. You can join me in that endeavor or choose another one. Either way, the innerwebs are our medium. Let's not keep our voices muted.
2. RECRUITING!!! We have less than a month until national signing day. I'll have updates on prospects and some analysis of how we're doing and how we project to close. NSD 2012 may not have the sexiness of NSD 2011 yet, but there are some definite needs to address as the last two games showed us in ugly 3D detail.
3. PLUS, I'll be there at Butts-Mehre as usual to bring you information, pictures, videos and doughnuts. If you're stuck at work, just keep the http here at BDB and your finger on the F5 button.
4. Speaking of which, on Monday I'll be launching a special month of supporting your local Dawg. The Dawg Nation is lucky to have plenty of podcasters, great media guys and tons....TONS of bloggers. Why not give back, even a little, to show some support for their efforts. 
5. BotW - I'm determined to make these posts once a week. Slowly the offerings around my neck of the woods are much more diverse. Plus I now listen to 2.78 beer podcasts a week and have my own Oxford Companion. So, I has some knowledge y'all. Still, if there's something more you'd like from these just let me know. 
6. And if you'd like to guest post a review of the brew in your glass, PLEASE let me know. Your efforts will be paid handsomely with a beer at a 2012 tailgate.
7. DOT COM!!!! Some of you may have noticed, but if you haven't I adopted my own domain this week. A few months ago I didn't know what the hell that meant either. But for you there shouldn't be much different around here other than the fact that you can now reach my little corner of cybersphere using the blogspot address OR....(....awkwardly long drumroll....)...berniesdawgblawg DOT COM!!

Seriously though, a little exercise isn't going to kill you. Maybe dust off the treadmill this weekend. And lay off the pork rinds too Junior.

Remember this guy?

Something's been irritating me. Let me get straight to the point here.


I keep seeing articles and comments about how Boo Malcome should get the start in the bowl. As we discussed yesterday, people are sick of #1 and ready for someone who runs like Malcome did late in the Tech and LSU games.


Great. I get that. But what I don't get is how soon we forget this...

As I said yesterday, I'm not giving up on Crowell. And I have enjoyed what little I've seen of Malcome so far. He definitely seems to have turned a corner.

But for my money...given EVERYTHING Richard Samuel has done to help this program...EVERY sacrifice and position change...the starting tailback spot at the University of Georgia is DICK SAM IV's to lose for the remainder of his matriculation in Athens.

Now, as you were.

Friday misery, chapter 10: deep battered and Kentucky fried

So here we are, at the cusp of the SEC East title. We've spent the entire week patting ourselves on the back. Making ourselves feel nice and awesome after beating the everlovingshitoutof Abuurn. We're holding elevators for each other. High fiving. Picking up the lunch tab. Handing out contract extensions...


Slow your damn roll son.

This is my bourbon, and my ring.....which is
worth about $49 less than the bottle.

2009's Senior Day
Need I remind everyone? As nice as it was to savor the win last Saturday...the 2009 edition of Georgia/Kentucky tasted like ass. It too was the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Uga VII had just passed away. And just like this year, the students had left the team behind so they could spend some time with their mommies. To continue the trend, that game was also the Sanford season finale so there were seniors to acknowledge.


And we wet the bed.


Randall Cobb helped the Wildcats stretch their paws all over our second half defense then Ealey lost the handle on a toss sweep at the UK 1 yard line. There was much angst in the stands. Rich Brooks threw kitty litter in Richt's eyes. Pissed me the hell off. Ugh.


Blue grass stains
Quick! The only good things to come out of Kentucky?....bourbon...*chirp, chirp*

Looks like fish to me.

I would add Marshall Raylan Givens and his hottie Winona, but perhaps tv characters are a stretch. So I asked some folks last night for anything good that comes out of the blue grass state that doesn't rhyme with smourbon. I got A LOT more answers than I expected. Ranging from I-65 to beer to My Morning Jacket. Thanks to Gary, Kelly, Jen, Hamp, Tyler, Brad, and Shan for kicking Wiki-Kentucky's ass.


Ok...so I'll acknowledge them as a worthwhile and necessary state in our great union. They have good music, horses that are fast enough to take your wallet, and they evidently invented the art of frying chicken. Or at least claim to.


But you know what? Screw that! They're still worthless. My doctor says to eat more fish, my wife has my wallet...and my bar has enough bourbon to last until 2012. I think.


Compare this!
It's also been a week to compare seasons. Richt was asked earlier to assume we win the East and then compare this season to other seasons in which we went to Atlanta. Writers and bloggers have jumped on board, some understandably cautiously and others with the fearlessness of a drunk pissing on a cop's pants leg.


C'mon, let's huddle up here a moment so I can darken the sunshine that's been blowing up your ass...we ain't won shit! You know how sweet that Auburn win will taste if we stub our toe against the Joker? Think back to the South Carolina loss a couple months ago and add about two stadium cups full of piss and vinegar. 


Yeh, that bad. So come to Athens ready to fight Dawgs. Bring a cooler, but put some business in it and let's put our best foot forward. There's work left to be done. 


Go Dawgs!

Don't burn the cart before the horse Dawg fans

If you want to put the cart before the horse and talk about the return to Atlanta on December 3rd, go ahead. I'll hope to catch up later this week. I've gotten by this season pretty well by not making predictions and assumptions. I'm not going to break from that habit now. Even though it appears Kentucky fans have lost all hope and would rather see us beat them Saturday than Spurrier return to the GA Dome.


However, I would like to address a point. Many have said that while they would love to return to the GA Dome in the SECCG, there is little hope that little ol' Georgia could pull the upset against mighty Bama. It's doubtful we'd contain Petrino's offense either. And don't even get them started on how badly LSU would slaughter us.


For shame Dawg fans. For shame. Have you learned nothing? Is it the schedule of 8 wins that unsettles your stomach? Because the truth is that it compares pretty well. Do you bark about Grantham's defensive statistics and rankings on Saturday...only to prattle with the masses about them being overrated and inflated during the week?


Don't embarrass yourself. More importantly, don't embarrass the rest of us. And most importantly, don't abandon your team that got you into this conversation. No, all would not be lost should we be strong enough to return to the SEC's big party. I'm pretty sure Grantham has a holocaust cloak.

the not so Happy Valley mirror

I just don't have the stomach to get too deep into the mess in Happy Valley. I try to find solace in the hope that each person involved, from Joe Paterno down to the the administrators and officials that stood in his shadow, get their due punishment one day for turning a blind eye on what was going on.


For Sundusky...quite simply, his days should be spent in eternal hell.


But as a college football fan, I forced myself to read this blog post - "I am... Penn State..." by Hamlet's Mistress. After attempting to acknowledge the pain that the direct victims must feel at the years and years of abuse and neglect going on in the Penn State Athletic offices, I turn second to the indirect victims...the Nittany Lion fans, players and Penn State alumni. This is written by just one of them. My guess is it speaks for thousands.

I am…  so many things that I can’t list them all.  But let me name a few.  Disgusted, shocked, ashamed, humiliated, angry.

I am a Penn State grad class of 2000.  While I don’t talk about it all the time and I’m not constantly rah-rah-ing about my choice of higher educational institution, I have always been very proud to be counted among the Penn State Alumni base.  Penn State Nation.  It is one of the things in my life I am the most proud of.

Having that stripped away…  I feel almost like I’ve lost a part of my identity.  And it’s one of those things that you never really know how much a part of you it is until it’s gone.

I am not proud of my alma mater anymore.  I don’t know if I will ever be proud of it again.

Gut wrenching. And that's just a snippet. Read the whole thing and tell me you wouldn't feel the same way if something of this nature were uncovered at UGA. What was brought to light at Miami recently is a Sunday School lesson compared to this mess in Happy Valley.


While I can't possibly imagine what Sandusky's victims have gone through all these years, I try my best to empathize with the Penn State fans, faculty and alumni. If there is anything that would force me away from my seat in Sanford Stadium or a television set this Saturday...if there's one thing that could turn my stomach at the sight of MY team...damn.


I hurt for that monster's victims. I feel for the Penn State Nation.


h/t @TLanceB for the link

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!

Nike Pro Combat Unis...a lonely nation turns its eyes to you

Finally. Today the national crisis is over. Everyone who keeps fretting over the uniform for the Boise State game can finally catch your much needed peek at the threads. We're like a bunch of kids anticipating the day when finally Santa leaves the surprise for a morning unveiling. We know it's coming. And we know when it's coming. We just don't know what it is.


And that's evidently too much for some to handle, even with practices, scrimmages and injury news to use as a distraction.


I know I've given Coach Richt his share of the blame for our obsessiveness over uniforms. But frankly, even given the black jerseys of both Glory, Glory and #epicfail...the attention paid towards uniforms that Nike has provided the program to use for the opening game is embarrassing.


As many head over to Picture Day and the rest wait for the cyber unveiling, I only ask that you remember two things when you decide whether you like the uniforms or not: it's one game and fans don't have to wear them.


Yes, the hand-wringing is finally over. Unless it's just beginning.

Monday's Meatloaf - Vampiric Kool-aid

Something has to give. We're still weeks away from football and yesterday I actually stopped clicking the remote once it hit a channel with major league baseball on. I kept yelling at the players for being offsides.


Like many Dawg fans, this weekend I read this article about the "energy vampires". If you haven't read it the synopsis is that if any football players are viewed as hurting the team with a bad attitude, poor choice of words or detrimental behavior they are called out by their teammates. For 24 hours they are subjected to embarrassing pictures of themselves plastered around the locker room after being doctored up with fangs and red eyes.


The message is clear: get on the bus or get off of it. Simple, easy and to the point.

ONE win...TWO wins...

For the Dawg Nation however the water is a little muddier. While it's always great to be a Georgia Bulldog, that doesn't mean one should go blindly into each season. Especially with a 6-7 stinker in the rear view mirror. On the other hand, just because the play has been well below SEC standards recently, that doesn't mean one should chunk rocks at the driver while refusing to acknowledge one's own alma mater.


I've tried the kool-aid at this time of year before. I found it comforting and pleasant until the calendar turned to September. This season I hope we all take a show me first attitude. Again, it's not the win totals at the end of November that truly matter. It's the fight in the dawg once the junkyard's fence is rattled. 


In short, don't assign a number to this season Dawgs. It goes deeper. A bus is useless without a destination. We need our junkyard back. No other stop will suffice.


Today's Ingredients

Uh...what's the point?

• "Volvos don't beat Mack trucks. They just survive the crash." Ladies and Gents, Kit addresses a letter to Boise BS.
• Danny adds his thoughts from yesterday's practice while Genxdawg runs down some hot reads from Fall camp so far.
• This week on #IsaiahWatch: ahead of the curve but still behind Samuel...for now.
• Whether it was Mason having an off day or Branden Smith's 5HourEnergy was at its peak, I like that the DB had a career (practice) day.
• Speaking of defensive backs, Big Muddy was excited to see Nick Marshall's name mentioned as a practice standout.
• And...speaking of Nick, he made H2H's countdown yesterday.
• Kyle says we need to step up our game before the season begins and provides a quiz. I'm proud to say I passed.
• Tyler thinks a number change will take place, a change that will make it easier for playmakers to share the field.
• Bill King remembers the "original" Chipper. Sounds like a Damn Good Dawg to me.
• the Senator has a couple more SEC drinking games ready. Here and here.
• Kimberley updates us how that kid AJ is doing.
• Audience analogy participation: "________ is kind of like watching fireworks in the Opelika daylight." I'll go with "Making sense of AwwBarn's mascots'.
• When sandwiches fail: I love BBQ, but you'll never catch me grabbing one of these from a Subway "sandwich artist".

I don't know Reader, I'm just not worried much anymore. There were a few weeks there that I thought the roof was caving in a bit, like when we were suddenly down to two scholarship backs and realized the offensive line depth is reliant on some freshmen. But I think those things are working themselves out.

I don't mean that to read that I think we're already world beaters. No I'm simply referring to my state of mind. The offense is going to be fine. There's plenty of talent there, just as there is on the defensive side of the ball. What will make or break this season is our attitude. And I'm not just talking about the team. The Dawg Nation is in waters that have been charted before, but it's been awhile since the boat has been this unsteady.


We need to proceed with caution. We all need to be excited with a win, but not so much so that we help create another atmosphere of entitlement. Beating top ten Boise would be spectacular. But it would still just be one plugged hole on a ship that has many structural flaws. It won't be until November that we can take a full scale assessment of the program as a whole.


So slow down a bit. Don't suck the energy from other fans. But also be mindful that you don't just blow it around haphazardly. Tempered enthusiasm not only gets you on the bus but also assures you are ready for a season's worth of 60 minute football games, just as we hope the football team is. For better or worse...and whether it's sooner or later...once the ship is done pitching and rolling, it's a lot easier to drink the kool-aid again.


That's your meatloaf Reader. Take it one bite at a time please.


Bernie

Last Another word on Nike's uniforms

Late each day I usually check my little blog's stats. I specifically like to see what/if any hits came from Twitter and Facebook. Google+ too, but that's still developing. Yesterday I posted something on the Nike uniforms with the headline "Nike Unis". In hindsight that was a little misleading. I probably should've titled it so that it didn't give the slightest implication of having a picture of them. The Dawg Nation is jonesin' for a sneak peek. Want proof? Glad you asked.


My post on Aron White's achievement got about one-tenth the hits from Twitter as the uniform post. One-tenth! And it also about doubled my last post to hit an all-time Twitterfeed high.

Nope, not this time.

Anyway, my point is really two-fold. To be fair I'll lead with Richt. He's helped create this frenzy over any variance in the normal uniform. It worked one and a half times (Hawaii to be fair, is barely worth a half). The other times have been disastrous. So now if there's even the faintest rumor that a costume change is coming we all get worked up to the point of hypertension.


Slow down Dawgs. This is a lot less about Richt catering to seniors wanting strike a pose in all black than it is about catering to the program's cash cow, Nike. They write the checks and now it's time for the Dawgs to climb onto a national stage and pay the shoe man. And while I understand why we all get bent out of shape, we also need to realize that the players are pretty geek'd up about it. It's pretty special for them and that's what it's all about.


And it could always be worse Reader. We could be cheering for a team in cream sickle orange that's still in the shadow of a great phat pumpkin. Besides, if what I'm hearing is correct (and I think it is) we're going to be pretty happy with the way they look. We'll win the warmups based on looks alone. It's up to what happens on Woodruff Field in the next few weeks that'll determine whether we win the actual game.


And that won't have anything to do with what color the jersey is.

50 days...into the season

Whether you like Coach Richt, dislike him or are somehow just plain indifferent...you have to give him credit for making some changes the last couple years. Did he wait too long to turn the program around? We're soon to find out. 50 days until toe meets leather in the Dome. 57 until we all meet at Sanford for an early season must win against the Gamecocks.


But today I want to look well ahead of that to 50 days into the season. While Richt is a popular topic of discussion and print, my feelings on him are easily summed up: I like him, I want him around a long time, but it's program first and coach somewhere after that. On this special occasion with just 50 days left before kickoff we need to explore something deeper. We need to get our minds right for the entire season, not just the first game of the season.


Ironically for me, that starts with one game. 50 days into the schedule we'll be gearing up for the biggest game of every season. Jacksonville. The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Georgia - Florida. Battle on the St. John's. Don't think of this season in terms of a number that would make it successful in your opinion. And don't worry about whether our coach will be on the sidelines next year. Richt's the coach of the Georgia Bulldogs. Once toe meets leather it doesn't go beyond that.


Would a 10 win season thrill me to no end? Well, can a black knight score 10 measly points and beat you? I'd love a 10 win season. But I want something more than that. I want once again to cheer for a team that has toughness. Not just at the opening kick and not just on one side of the ball. I want a team that's man enough to stare their arch nemesis in the eye and hunker down one more time despite how much it hurts, how exhausted they are or what the score is.


WLOCP. A one game barometer. A 60 minute reading of the pulse of the program. Beating Boise would be sexy. But proving we can beat the team that's flat out owned us the last two decades is Jennifer Aniston wearing nothing but a Scott Woerner jersey hot! There's no comparison. 


Even beating Carolina as the proposed pre-season front runner of the SEC East would be great and would go a long way towards paving the way to Atlanta. But the road to the GA Dome in December goes through Jacksonville in late October. Always has. The difference between beating chickens and beating gators is like the difference between leasing and owning a car. One's cool. The other is something to build on.


And brothers, sisters...we need hammer and nails, not spackle and a coat of paint. We've been shoveling our own grave for too long. So with 50 days until the season Reader, I'm not gonna ask if you're ready for football. I'm not gonna talk about how cool it would be to beat the Broncos and spoil their season right out of the gates. That's not my mindset. For 21 years we've watched one single game swing in one direction. If the 2011 season is to be considered a success there will be shouts aplenty of Go Dawgs!! from those escalators leaving AllTel stadium October 29th. The drives and flights back to all destinations red and black on the 30th will be peaceful and not tormented like so many of the last 21 times we've left Jacksonville.


We'll know then that our Dawgs are not only ready to start a fight, but also ready to finish it. We won't need a funny looking uniform to pump us up before kickoff. We'll see our Dawgs in their usual road gear and the fervor will come naturally. We won't even need unsportsmanlike flags littering an endzone to punch the opponent in the face. We'll do that because that is what our UGA forebears have done for generations. The WLOCP is our game. We own it and it's been taken from us because we've gotten lazy and proficient at coming up with excuses. It's time to reclaim the GA/fla game, and it's gonna take our full concentration. A complete, concentrated effort. Fan, coach...player. Our voice, their guidance and a Dawgs' heart.


So my question is simple this morning. With 50 days until the season, are you ready for 50 days into it?

Monday's Meatloaf - Grand Days

Spent a lot of last week sitting on a deck overlooking the Roanoke Sound as well as the 14th green of the Nags Head Golf Links. If you ever play that course, when you get to this particular hole I can assure you that it's more than an extra club to reach the green. The wind is deceptively forceful and eats golf balls all day long. 

Yes, even Pro V-1s. A lot of this time my grandmother in law was sitting out there as well. We'd discuss the breeze off the sound, old memories and life in general. My grandparents have all passed. I'm thankful to have been adopted by Mrs. Bernie's Granny. She makes a mean bloody mary and constantly reminds me of all that I miss about my grandparents. Together they are my own personal microcosm of the greatest generation.

"Obviously you're not a golfer."

As a fan I'm constantly at some stage of worry with the Dawg Nation. But even more I worry about the state of our actual nation. I'm not some right wing nutcase that's convinced we're all going to Hell and I'm not a left wing fanatic that hasn't showered since Clinton left office. I'm just a dude man...trying to make some sense of the world. I worry that parents are not teaching their kids to value family. And a lot of times that value can start with a chair beside a grandparent. Like any other, my grandparents weren't perfect. They were better than that. They had seen decades of mistakes and years upon years of good decisions in spite of those mistakes. They'd shove some cash into every birthday card, but their time and their words were more valuable than anything the US Treasury could print.


I'm thankful my kids' grandparents provided the last two weeks of family for all of us. As I watched my parents and in-laws interact with my two girls I realized that in the scope of real life it was the equivalent of a full year of schooling crammed into two beach weeks. Compared to many of their classmates they are spoiled in that respect. Because we'll continue to provide them with as many moments like those as their little eyes and ears can take in.


Can't wait to share another bloody with Granny and casually recall the summer my grandparents took me on a trip to Fargo ND in their Airstream trailer. One KOA Kampground at a time...priceless!


Today's Ingredients

Don't forget Harton!

• How much did I keep up with my college football reading while on vacation? Well, as of this posting I'm only 429 items behind in my Google Reader. Nevertheless, here's some linkage.
• While Caleb interviews with NFL and CFL execs, the Dawg Nation turns anxiously towards Thomas, Malcome, Harton and Crowell. Tyler looks at UGAs rushing situation and finds it not as dire as he had feared.
• And the Senator brings up some 2003 stats to shift the focus from the RB position back to the defense where it belongs.
• Meanwhile, with DawgNight coming up this week Socrates looks at some backfield recruits that could make a difference on some college campus in the future.
• Groo looks at the addition of the new scoreboard and approves of the decision that bigger ain't always better.
• As Streit says, parking passes for gamedays this Fall go on sale today...if the website recovers from an early morning crash. 
• You'll need more than a subscription to read it, you'll also need a good 15-20 minutes. Fletcher's newest Mail Sack ($$) is over 10,000 words long!! 
• Easy to admit I'm not pleased with Perno's results on the field as of late, but you can't read this feature on him by ABH's Clarkson and not feel proud that he's been there for the team through its most difficult stretch.
• In case you missed it, hoopdawg caught a Los Angeles Clippers blog that had an evaluation of Thompkins and Leslie.
• Lastly, did you know the creator of Delta Force was a Damn Good Dawg? I didn't. (h/t TC)

I'm still a little mesmerized by Legge's feature on Orson. There's been a lot of talk this off season about the character adjustment going on in the locker room. The malfeasance has moved on in one way or another. In reflecting on that I'm sure Coach Richt felt a responsibility to all of those young men, wanted to help guys like Ealey see the right and good path. But he also owes it to young men like Charles to surround them with winning attitudes. Not just on the field but also in life.


So I leave you with OC's first TD as a Dawg. Watch the entire 10 minutes of highlights or just find the 6:50 mark and see his two catches in the game, back to back...for 62 yards.

courtesy of pr1sonmike

Well, it wasn't ready for your coffee. But after 11 hours on the road yesterday I did get it to you before lunch. Here's your fork...hope your Monday is grand Reader! 

Bernie

Conditioning...outside the hedges

I mentioned the other day that a little dissension is okay and understandable. But are we truly ready for what's ahead? As a group and as individuals?


I reflected on those questions personally yesterday. Actually I guess I've been reflecting on them since the 2010 season came to its miserable close. I began to consider what has worked, but more specifically what has not.

For instance, I tend to do season previews in August. It's mostly a way to fill space leading up to the frenzied first kickoff of the season. But really what do I know? Do I wanna invest in the hype of the off season workouts that were better than last year's which were supposedly smothered in awesome sauce themselves? Then, do I wanna take that investment and suppose which games are gonna be losses and which ones are wins?


I guess the truth is I actually would like to prognosticate some, but the fact is that it hasn't worked. Instead I think I'm going to focus on setting my mind right. If you stuck with me a couple weeks ago you suffered through some bitter memories with me surrounding the Ga/Fla game. And I'm leading up to a big post when we have about 50 days left, so you've been warned...


But my ponderings got me wondering: what are we doing to prepare ourselves for the season? While the team trains and studies is there something we can do beyond twiddling our thumbs? Is there a conditioning program for unsatiated fans suffering through their second consecutive off season of discontent?

I think there should be, and here's where I'm focused: what makes this season better for you? Is it a number, as in 10 wins? Is it a specific bowl or a certain goal like the SEC Championship game? Or maybe it's something a little more abstract like better fundamentals, better tackling, more disciplined play...? Ugh. That list could go on and on. But you get the idea.


Also, going back to the dissension in nation we should look at what happens when things go really well...or really poorly in September. Will you spend time and energy on I told you so's? If you've been chunking rocks at the Coach Richt bandwagon and we manage to beat Boise State and South Cracky will you continue your assault or reserve judgment until December? Conversely, if you're the most ardent of CMR supporters and we head into the game with Coastal Carolina still looking for the first win...or drive out of Jacksonville with yet another loss, at what point are you unsettled enough to say it's time to part ways?


The college football season is closer to a marathon than a sprint, filled with deep valleys and sharp peaks. We better get ready. Cuz whatever we've been doing hasn't been enough.

Dawg Nation Dissention

Was going to play golf the other day and had a nice outfit laid out before I went to take a shower. When I went to put them on the wife had decided that the shorts and shirt were to be worn for another occasion. (sidenote: I don't pack a lot of clothes on vacation, especially when we're going to have access to a washer/dryer). So instead I wore my white Georgia golf shirt of course.


At the course I hadn't even made it to the proshop to pay my dues before I had already received a hearty Go Dawgs!! This made me proud to my red and black core, but later the guy who had shouted at me engaged me in a quick conversation at the turn.


He was not in a very positive state of mind about things. That's certainly understandable. After all we did a lot more cowering in the Dawg house last season than stretching the chain, bearing our teeth. But the fan also likened our play to a Sunday School classroom more than a Saturday afternoon on a football field. "I go to church on Sundays. On Saturday I wanna see football!!"


I also understand that. To borrow from a line of Bull Durham, "How'd we ever win six?" We didn't play like we hated our opponents enough. We may have wanted to beat those seven teams but we sure didn't look like we wanted to body slam them to the turf then press our cleats into their throats.


But in speaking to this gentleman (albeit ever so briefly) I also felt like he was taking a jab at Coach Richt that was more than unfair. I expect opposing fans to make a big deal of Richt's Christianity. And clearly this guy has seen all he cares to see of one Mark Richt on Georgia's sideline. But I had to disagree with his overall assessment to some extent. The team lacking the will to completely destroy opponents has nothing to do with the head coach's religion. The problem last season was the coaches wanted to win more than the team, there was a lack of communication and a lack of true leadership.


Of course, as Kit expertly points out this is all just my point of view. My own opinion based on some facts and some supposition. And of course this golf course example involves only two members of the entire fan base. The main point I want to make is this feeling of disarray is only natural. I'm not asking anyone to embrace it. Just accept it as a natural by-product of a losing season and a program we hope is in transition.


If absence makes the heart grow fonder, losing should make the heart hungry as hell. 63 days until we take the floor of the Dome. My fellow Dawg golfer predicts we'll lose but accepted my point that the schedule sets up pretty well for us. He thinks Richt is gone soon. I think he wins enough against this slate to earn a bucket of ice for his seat.


But it's early July. What the hell does anyone really know?

More on Pay for Play

It was announced yesterday that NCAA chief Mark Emmert will convene a meeting of the minds in August to address broad issues surrounding college athletics, namely whether players should be compensated beyond what they already are. Gathering at the summit will be 50 or so college presidents and chancellors. FWIW, Michael Adams has accepted his invitation.

Among topics on the agenda are how to maintain the governing body's policy on amateurism, a definition that allows schools to restrict how athletes are compensated for playing sports. That's not all Emmert wants to talk about. 

"How do we look at issues around the integrity of the collegiate model? Is there a sense that we need stronger investigative tools? Is there a sense that we need a more understood and more comprehensive penalty structure?" Emmert said in a statement. "How do we look at the embedding of athletics in a way that sends clear messages to institutions before student-athletes even arrive on campus that there is an expectation of academic success?" 

But it's the pay-for-play issue that will certainly get the most attention. 

It has been debated publicly for decades, and has gained fresh traction in the wake of high-profile infractions cases including that of reigning Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton and former Heisman winner Reggie Bush.

The ramifications have been felt at some of the nation's most prominent programs. 

Gee, thanks Cecil. I've made my case and even posted a poll here. But I'd like to revisit it at least once again here, because I see and hear some painting the stance of not paying athletes as some form of jealousy...or a case of the haves (as in athletic ability) and the have nots (...me...and maybe you).


For me it's not about that. Beyond my hang up with a growing sense of entitlement and the fact that I still feel an education is worth something, I just get this awful taste in my mouth for what the college game will become should we venture down Delaney and Spurrier's path.


Let me break it down some: currently your average Joe goes to school and gets as much of his expenses covered as possible through various means (parents, scholarships, savings, grants, part-time job, etc). Whatever is left over that is not covered is dumped into a student loan most likely. Nothing made me value my education more than working to pay it off once I was through.


On the other more athletic hand, if a school covers the expenses for attending classes beyond what it already does (tuition, room, board, books) it simply becomes a general manager, handing out stipends for a new pair of shoes or tickets to the latest Journey (...whatever) concert. The education component is completely taken out of the equation. The school is just a landing spot in a vast farm system.


One other point. I'm particularly interested in seeing how coaches handle this hot button topic now and going forward. The safe play is to voice support for the idea like Spurrier did. That way players, both current and potentials, see you as on their side.


Purdue hoops coach Matt Painter might be swimming upstream:

"Just handing them money so they can get new Timberlands or whatever, I don't think that's right," Painter said during a conference call with reporters Monday. "I don't want to lose the amateurism. They are getting their education paid for and a lot of people say that's what the NBA is for. If you want to get paid, go to the NBA."

Again, I'd be surprised if we don't eventually get to a point where we're extending this immense money bag towards the hands of the athletes who help create it. I'm just not convinced that's what is best for the college sport.