NSD Unplugged - UPDATED

National Signing Day has come and gone, but the rumblings are still reverberating throughout the nation, like shockwaves after a modest earthquake.

But there is no devastation here. Trust me. The AllJackCrap and national spin doctors can regurgitate whatever bullshit nonsense they would like. I guess that’s what happens when your program is spurned by some high profile recruits who decided to go play ball with their BFFs instead of in Athens.

It hurts getting told no. Nickell Robey…hmmpf, whatevs. He woulda been a good kick returner that had the outside chance at growing into a dimeback. Da'Rick Rogers…he decided it was more important to go to a program that had a complimentary scholarship to give to his HS QB. His decision, his right. For me, I applaud Coach Richt for not venturing down that slippery slope. Scholarships to the University of Georgia are to be given premium value, never scalped on the streets in Calhoun, GA.

Lastly, BJ Butler. I’ve always agreed with CMR on the decision to never pull an offer to a kid once given. Stepping back from the perspective of one class at a time, recruiting is a PR game. Richt may be the dean of SEC coaches, but he’s still making inroads along the recruiting paths of our great state (read: Carver HS). Butler behaved in a way in which a scholarship should’ve been pulled. Him deciding a fresh start elsewhere was in everyone’s best interest.

After the pomp and circumstances in Butts-Mehre Wednesday I was wiped out. I barely made it through the basketball game (kinda wish I had given in to rest earlier) before retiring. So my analysis of this year’s class is later than others’. And they have done a more eloquent job than I could have. So I’ll just give you a few of those links, provide some additional commentary and then throw in a prognostication.

• You are going to have a hard time not enjoying Ucheedawg’s three part series over at The Grit Tree on the small town recruiting experience last Friday in Rochelle, GA. If you haven’t read it, do yourself a favor and check it out. Even if it means that report is a little late getting to the boss this afternoon. Part one, An Evening With Coach Richt starts it off, followed by The Bryan McClendon Perspective and Rural South Georgia Recruiting – The Fans’ Perspective.
• Also check out the Signing Day Wrap by Ucheedawg.
• Hale uses some reader comments to guide his Protecting Their Turf piece evaluating the Dawgs’ class this year and why it’s light on home grown talent….and provides a needs and analysis piece as well.
• Towers sees some diamonds in the rough rankings.
• Streit on why Rogers’ decision doesn’t worry him.
• Some great NSD coverage from ECDawg over at Leather Helmet, including a nice recap and this post about our newest 5 star LB.
• With the news of floriDuh’s new DC taking in faxes Wednesday then clearing the office Thursday, Exhile smells reptile turds.

Back to the Butts-Mehre floor the tension was palpable, but the mood couldn't be dampened. Some grumbled but most couldn't let a trip to Heritage Hall be spoiled by a handful of teenagers. And in the end maybe most felt the way I did: I'd much rather CMR get the right defensive coach, even if it eventually meant losing out on some of the premium rated talent.

It amazes me how caught up in the recruiting rankings some people get. There's no trophy given out for first place in that race ladies and gents. Those rankings take subjectiveness and add a whole nutha level to it. Take my hand, don't be afraid and just throw those things out the door. Don't care what this class is ranked compared to others'. Actual tackle football games are won in the fall. Gimme a small class of kids that wanna be Georgia Bulldogs and you'll see me smile each and every first Wednesday in February.

Yet, even the idiots have voices. No sooner had CMR and Coach Searels answered the first question Wednesday on the health of Trinton Sturdivant, than a simpleton raised his hand for the next opportunity to speak. This guy had evidently read that Coach Richt and his staff were becoming complacent. He wanted to know if it was true.

And while the head coach handled it with his usual measure of aplomb, I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief. The man just fired his close friend, let go the same colleagues who helped him lift the SEC Championship trophy just a few years ago. And there are fans who think he’s complacent? Go back to your basement and suspend that message bored account for all that’s good on God’s green Earth.

Similarly, to get upset over a 17 year old’s decision and rant about it behind the mask of your computer screen is at best juvenile. Sure, it hurt getting spurned by so many talented players, some more than once. But it’s important to remember that Coach Richt signed a couple other recruits in addition to the 19 LOIs Wednesday.

When Coach Todd Grantham spoke Wednesday the energy picked up, the blood began to flow a little faster. If he can bring that energy to a group of fans with too much sick leave, then imagine what he’ll do to our defensive roster. And while Lakatos seemed somewhat surprised by the SEC fervor, he no doubt had the faith of the fans.

The winds of change surrounded the 1980 Nat'l Championship trophy Wednesday morning at 11:27am. I trust it'll spread to the huddled masses on the floor as well.

And also remember there’s one more scholly position open on CMRs staff. I think that by mid next week Travis Jones is moving to Athens…with a Super Bowl ring. And if I'm right...that would be a 6 star recruit.

Geaux Saints.

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UPDATE (4:55pm): Warren Belin has been named a LB coach for Georgia. Belin comes from Vandy where he was their LB coach and recruiting coordinator.

Trivial Update "Cruitin is Crazee"

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#ThursdaysRTrivial is coming up right after this PSA: The English Patient sucked. Bad. Real bad. (You're welcome)

#ThursdaysRTrivial ep. 31 "Cruitin' is Crazee" It's the Twitter Twivia game that's as legendary as the gum on the bottom of your shoe. With NSD in the rear view mirror, let's see how well-read you are tweep. REPLY back your answer for a chance at a fabulous prize. What TWO recruits did Coach Richt and Bryan McClendon see play hoops Friday night?

I don't know if it was google proof, but it was an answer that surely would prove a difficult find for your average Dawg fan. But...Ally ain't your average Dawg fan. It took less than three minutes for her to tweet in with the right answer, Nick Marshall and Lonnie Outlaw...coupla Wilkes Co. studs.

For her trouble, Ally gets the distinguished privilege of taking Catfish for his afternoon walk around The Grit Tree. The leash is over there next to the Royal typewriter.

National Signing Day '10 Journal

Blogging live from Butts-Mehre! Check back throughout the day for updates on who's ink'd, videos, pics, doughnuts and who knows what else.

This is the day so many message "boreders" have fretted over, coaches have turned gray worrying about and I've used as another excuse to come to my favorite city in the whole world.

So prop your feet up, keep the F5 key within reach and let's GATA.

Some related readings while you wait on the fax machine to purr:
- Last year's journal
- Mackie weighs in on Da'Rick bashing
- Mike evaluates the muckraking at CMRs expense

5:14am Up a little earlier than usual, reading up on who's expected to sign.

5:15am quick note: if you have a question feel free to post it below. If I can't answer it, I'll either find someone who can or just fake it.

5:50am hungry. Need Waffle House. Now.

6:15am Egg n cheese sammich with em scattered smothered and covered. Yessiree!

6:20 back home for a quick "pit" stop.

6:31 another stop at QuikTrip. They're gasoline may be guaranteed but the sanity of your stomach after one of those breakfast selections under the heat lamp, not so much. Trust me.

7:02 roll of UGA letterhead fax paper to the reader that can tell me where this pic was taken (Update: FireGuy708 is the official winner. Enjoy the paper. Guess I don't need to tell you it's flammable...)




7:10 little known NSD fact, Rex Robinson used a red crayon to sign his LOI. Atta boy Rex!

7:17 about this time last year Branden Smith was faxing in his fresh ink and fleet feet to Butts-Mehre.

7:21 maybe it's nerves...or breakfast, but stomach's singing. Thank you ZanTac.

7:24 well known NSD fact, 30 years ago Herschel was no where close to making a decision.

7:36 Michael Bennett and Brandon Burrows ink in. Welcome gentlemen, we're glad you're here!

7:37 someone keeps stepping on the 960theRef feed. Annoying.

7:40 plenty of parking in the deck. Guess Da'Rick scared some fans off. In better news, not nearly as cold as last year.

7:45 they've got the student spaces blocked off this year. Maybe we can go w/o the threat of towing then.

7:49 entering hallowed halls..




8:07 some updated signings: Demetre Baker, TJ Stripling, Kolton Houston and Jakar "the Hitman" Hamilton.

8:08 update on doughnuts: selection is better than last year...but I'm avoiding them.

8:10 pic of Kelin and Chuck




8:15 Mackie tells me to give Dowdle the rabbit ears. I treat the suggestion like the doughnut table.

8:17 buzz developing on Thornton as we wait on his decision at 9:00.

8:24 Kenarious Gates gives us his signature. Word is his feet are as big as Dowdle's.

8:30 going to empty the bladder. You know, just in case Thornton does sign with us.

8:35 Chuck and Grantham talking Dawg. Then a clip of him leaving (mostly to test the video on this app).

9:01 word is floriDuh's class is about done. Guess they're all on work release today.

9:02 Thorton to Penn frickin State!?! WTF? (just rumor on the BM floor) Ambles to USC. Has the hots for Layla. Boone to LSWho, big surprise.

9:03 Marc Deas is a Dawg. As is Hutson Mason. Welcome to our Nation!

9:16 Dowdle struggling with the Ogletree signings, may have committed a KiffyBaby.

9:17 Crowd cheers when director allows Chuck to say both Alec and Zander have signed. Dowdle thinks they're cheering for him.

9:19 Agree with Hale, Akins to Central Florida really hurts. Ugh.

9:31 some video of the scene here

9:52 THORTON IS A DAWG!! Thank Gawd!

10:03 judging from the page views some of you need to be careful the boss ain't around

10:05 Garner sitting down with Dowdle. Chances he gets asked about the departures....slim and none.

10:07 sorry about the spacing around the pics. This app definitely has some kinks. And if the videos aren't working, I'll fix that asap.

10:10 listening in on some jackhole preach about how good a job Felton was doing. R U effin' kidding me?

10:13 Jalen Fields is a Dawg with some sacks in him. Welcome aboard!

10:20 PSA: if you parked at the Kangaroo across the street, the slushee will be a lot cheaper than the towing bill.

10:23 Telvin Smith may be wavering huh? Hmmm...

10:25 when visiting Butts-Mehre it's really uncool to lean against the cases. Bring a chair next year lightweight.

10:36 just saw on AJC that Smith stuck with FSU. If we had been able to steal Smith and Green from Noles that woulda made my day.

10:39 ticks me off they don't have these interviews mic'd. Are Hartman donations down that much that we can't afford technology from the 50s?

10:53 I'd tell u what Coach Baker is saying about the soccer team but I can't (really) hear what he's saying.

11:03 Bacarri Rambo getting ready for Kelin's questions




11:23 update on officials: Derek Owens, Ken Malcome and Brent Benedict.

11:25 still waiting on Bobo and Richt. Crowds a little more than half capacity I would guess.

11:27 Coach Richt takes the mic (that's only there for tv) and introduces his new hires. Says Water Girl should be back to full time since Jon is getting married. Won't comment on Da'Rick for obvious reasons ( but nice try dude). Searels says Sturdivant will be ready. Bobo says QB race is in good hands and that he's excited to have Mason. CMR also says Samuel is working out as a LB.

11:35 Big Dawg makes best comment when he pleads with Grantham to bring the junkyard back. CTG says if he does he expects a bark. Crowd obliges.

11:56 more updates and videos soon. I'm hungry!

CMR talking about off season and positions

1:35 Newberg on 680theFan says we're still in it for Christian Green. He'll choose between us and FSU at 3:30.

Here's CMR talking about the Ogletree twins

4:49 After attending parent/teacher conferences for my girls I emerge to surprising details. Champ Bailey asks me how our class is shaping up (via twitter).

4:50 check some updates and looks like Christian Green (FSU) did indeed slip through our grasp as did Adrian Coxson (floriDuh). Neither were big surprises, but Green really wanted to come to Athens. Sounds like it came down to location and friends.

4:51 BUT...looks like a very lanky, athletic WR did officially sign ($$) his Georgia LOI, Lonnie Outlaw (yes, you read that right). Downside is that he will attend GMC this fall. Not Athens. He'll actually need two years there to become eligible for UGA. But when he does officially become a Dawg, Outlaw not only enters the competition for the WR rotation, but also coolest name on the team with Baccari.

4:55 I guess WR becomes the position in question with this class. I'll have a more thorough evaluation up (probably Friday) later. But I think we addressed all of our needs.

9:02 Hoop Dawgs just lost, again. That means it's time for bed. What a day!

I should have a wrap-up post by Friday. Good night Reader.


- Posted using BlogPress from Bernie's iPhone

Countdown to Signing Day…1 (UPDATED)

With just hours to go, let's break this down into what we know and what we can speculate.

What We Know

• Jeff Whitaker is AwwBarn bound. The large, athletic DT became the latest headliner for Chizik’s class.
• Telvin Smith stuck with his commitment to the Noles.
• Parking is gonna be at a premium tomorrow morning at Butts-Mehre. I may just go over and sleep in my car tonight. It’s not supposed to be cold is it?
• UPDATE: Kentarious Gates of Greenville SC will not sign with Kentucky tomorrow. Instead he will become a Dawg at 11AM. Gates is a large young man (6'5" 298) that could play either guard or tackle.

What We Can Speculate

• Robey is as good as gone. Word is Ol’ Man Kiffy has bent that ear pretty good.
• Kadron Boone is seriously considering the Dawgs ($$). But I think he ends up in Baton Rouge. He’s probably decided by now, but will announce from his school at 4pm tomorrow.
• Da’Rick Rogers will surprise everyone and stick with Coach Richt tomorrow. If I’m wrong the AJC might just get so giddy they piss themselves.
• Michael Thornton hasn’t trimmed his list much, but visited Auburn, Georgia, Penn State, USC (the real one) and Kentucky. I think he chooses Athens.

Those are my humble opinions. What are yours?

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Monday's Meatloaf - Don't Pick Your Nose at the Crossroads

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There’s a moment in every blawgger’s life when he (or she…) must take a step back and gain some perspective. And if I know you as well as I think I do Reader, right now you’re muttering something along the lines of You’ve needed more than a little perspective for quite a while now Bernie.

Thanks. I feel the love.

But the reality is that just as Coach Richt pulled the trigger on some pretty big changes back in early December, I feel the need to address some things around here. I don’t want things to get stale. After all, stale meatloaf is about as worthless as warm beer (notice the emphasis on about).

No, I’m not gonna make a run at Kirby Smart to take Darren the intern's gig and I’m not gonna ask the wife to be the water girl. More importantly, I’m not going offline altogether. But after Wednesdays’ 2nd Annual Nat’l Signing Day Journal, you may notice lighter than usual posting for a few weeks. Looking for answers, pondering life's mysteries.

It’ll be like that peyote scene in Young Guns…

She is my flower…DID YOU SEE THE SIZE OF THAT CHICKEN?!?

Today’s Ingredients

• I had a pretty good weekend, movie with the little lady, cozied up to my pal Jim, Supper Club at the Trammell’s…
• But Herschel…Damn! Herschel had a weekend. He treated Nagy like a 180lb SEC safety from back in the early 80s on his way to a third round TKO.
• And while the aftermath of Walker’s first MMA bout left Dawg fans impressed (yet somewhat unsurprised), others wonder if he’s a one and done wonder for Strikeforce. I don’t see it, but in case Walker is done, a former teammate has an idea for his next endeavour.
• And in case you missed it altogether, LeatherHelmetBlog has the full video of Herschel badassness.
• Could Odell Thurman be playing himself back into the NFL? (h/t LaJollaJennifer)
• And speaking of Jennifer, check out the world according to her.
• Damn. Looks like Catfish and Cornbread has come full circle. Just damn.
• Your silence Friday was deafening. Consider the Dooley Issue shelved. Of course it helps that Coach read my post and promptly announced he’ll watch the game October 9th from home (h/t Kyle King).
• Doesn’t look like we’ll be running into any homegrown Colorado blue chippers during our trip this fall to Boulder.
• Next year Stanford will win the Pac-10 and we can cheer for ol’ Willie in the granddaddy of them all.
• In a dreadful weekend for UGA sports where the Lady Dawgs (ugh) and the Gym Dogs (double ugh) lost to AwwBarn…and Coach Fox's crew let another one slip through their paws...the tennis team held their own to advance in the ITAs.
• Over the weekend the Dawgs lost a potential signature in Deon Rogers. This afternoon we’ll know for sure if Jeff Whitaker prefers red…or urranjah ($$).
• With the weather continuing to spit in Al Gore’s eye, not to mention leaving me wishing I didn’t live so far north…it’s nice to think warm, spring thoughts. You know, like track and field. Remember Torrin Lawrence? The Red and Black does.

And as we zero in on the day half the Dawg Nation spends pretending it’s a Nat’l Holiday and the other half spends pretending to work on spreadsheets at their desk (it’s the F5 key Frank….), hope springs eternal.

Which makes you wonder, was Da'Rick Rogers humming Rocky Flop as he got slobbery with the HillBillys crystal?

Don't fret too much Reader. We knew an Orson only comes around once in a lifetime. And an AJ is even rarer.

But the meatloaf's not rare anymore. Here's your fork. Let it do some work.


Bernie

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Countdown to Signing Day…4

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Da'Rick Rogers may or may not be committed. But plenty of other options and opportunities at WR in this class. In order of what I project our chances are at signing, here are those not named Da'Rick:


First and foremost, Michael Bennett
6'3", 185
Alpharetta
Bennett has been committed to Coach Richt since early summer and will make that official on Wednesday. He may not have the breakaway speed of some of the others in this class, but he is a well rounded prospect with good hands.



Jordan Akins
6'3", 180
Union Grove HS, McDonough GA


Akins is a two sport star who is down to Georgia and Central Florida. He is heading down to Florida this weekend after visiting Athens a couple weeks ago. Akins will need to add more size to play 'tween the hedges, but has great play-making skills that will make it hard to keep him off the field.  One factor that could tilt Akins in our favor is the opportunity to play for both Coach Perno and Coach Richt. His announcement should come before Wednesday.





Christian Green
6'2", 185
Tampa Catholic HS (FL)

Like our dear AJ, this Green will add on another 20lbs or so to fill out his frame. Also like AJ, Christian is his state’s own #1 HS prospect. Until then, (like Akins) his blocking downfield will be a liability. And we know the value CMR and staff put on blocking. However, he definitely has the athleticism and play-making ability to avoid a red-shirt. Played a lot of QB in HS, so his skills may be more raw than some other prospects. But Green would be a big catch. He's down to Athens and Tallahassee.





Kadron Boone
6'1", 195
Trinity Catholic HS (FL)

Boone is a Texas Tech commit that cracked the door open after the head pirate walked the plank. Although he is quick to point out that he remains a Red Raiders, many other schools are believed to be in contention this late: Georgia, West VA, Louisville and LSU. Boone has visited each campus with the exception of Baton Rouge, which is where he's heading this weekend. This biggest asset Boone seems to have is hands of glue.

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Keeping Up Appearances

In the wake of the Derek Dooley hiring in Knutsville, it seems most people are either ridiculously unencumbered by it or are somehow comfortable with it. I’m not normally one to harp on things, but this itches in a place I just can’t seem to scratch. If you’ll amuse me for a few paragraphs, I promise to put this on the back burner by end of business today. If you can’t stand any more words on this subject…feedbag’s below. Strap it on.

For one, the hire itself is a slap on the snout, a kick in the tail. Dooley is a Dawg name, not a mutt with blue ticks. If Mike ThumbuphisDumbass Hamilton wants to tell his constituency Dooley was his first choice, fine. Whatevs. We can see through the madness. This was a reach, a grasp for a name.

I guess Joe Lombardi has an unlisted number.

For two, there’s Vince Dooley’s response to his son getting the keys to the urranjah jalopy. Blather on all you want Reader about family pride and wanting your kids to enjoy success. But when you still represent Glory Glory and take up residence in Athens and Butts-Mehre, there’s at least an appearance of impropriety when you hum Rocky Flop. And it’s the appearance that you’re wearing an obnoxious color conservatively and quietly pulling for your son as the head coach at HillBilly U, all the while serving as the great ambassador for the nation’s oldest land grant university.

In his Playbook Dooley, a notorious worrywart, relates Herschel’s first game in every anxious detail. Using Broadway (a backup) to punt from our own endzone…late…clinging to the lead. Despite an earlier shankopotomous, Broadway booms a 47 yarder. The defense holds. Eventual national championship and perfect season still intact.

The passion with which Coach Dooley depicts that historic game, the gut-wrenching drama that unfolds in each paragraph…the man bleeds red and black. Yet, he’ll be conservatively wearing urranjah on Saturday October 9th. He’ll quietly be cheering for that blue-ticked hound. He may even hum a few bars of ol’ rocky flop.

All from his University of Georgia box. I can't help but wonder how Herschel feels about that?

the Friday Feedbag

• Speaking of #34, I wouldn't wanna be Greg Nagy tomorrow night. And T Kyle King's not sure how he feels about it.
• An American recluse and absolute genius passed away Wednesday. Jerome David Salinger gave us Holden Caulfield and then left the bestsellers list leaving readers wanting more.
• It's no fun to be yellow.  Maybe I'm not all yellow.  I don't know.  I think maybe I'm just partly yellow and partly the type that doesn't give much of a damn if they lose their gloves.  ~J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye. Just my humble one...but I think that was written for the kids on North Avenue. 
• The new voWels coach won’t have a DC until after most recruits have signed the letters of intent (h/t Senator).
• Color me shocked!! that Tebow has struggled taking snaps from a center who is uncomfortably close. Exile has the problem diagnosed.
• PWD looks at the next few basketball games and Daugman looks at what went wrong in Gainesville.
• Still have a couple of spots left on my team at Smartest Bulldog. Unfortunately I had to kick one reader off the team because the dimwit thought Herschel was a former basketball player and that our stadium was named after a Pac-10 team.
• Dawg commit Da’Rick Rogers’ QB is officially in the balance for the HillBillys. Which in turn muddies the waters of Rogers’ eventual LOI next Wednesday. Here's Dean Legge’s take on the lastest events ($$).
• The Diamond Dawgs will begin the season ranked #22 in Baseball America’s Preseason poll. Perno’s squad begin the 2010 campaign in Waco against Baylor February 19th in the QTI Apparel Opening Weekend Classic.
• In the midst of all the excitement about a new defensive coordinator, Groo reminds us of another major off season storyline.
• the Senator compares some interesting numbers.
• And if you missed this earlier in the week, go catch Leather Helmet Blog’s interview with Georgia DE Reuben Faloughi.

Trivial Update

Q - On January 27, 1785 the Georgia Assembly gave birth to the University of Georgia, the nation's first state supported school. On February 13th, 1786, the trustees elected Abraham Baldwin the first president of UGA. What city did this take place in?

A - Augusta.

The day after Founders' Day proved to be a good one for @shainam, as she was the only tweep to answer correctly. Shaina takes home a Yale pennant and a big slice of red velvet cake. Meanwhile, for buzzing in first @TraceyLMJ gets one of those cool wigs the dudes wore back then to cover their ginormous foreheads.

My wife often tells me I have my Dad’s sense of humor. She usually points this out when I find something ridiculously off the wall humorous, so I always take it as a compliment. Truth is, there’s many things I get from him…other than my dashing good looks. And until I too break 80 on the links, the greatest gift may be an appreciation of a good book. One of his favorite writers is Walker Percy. My favorite book has a foreword by Percy - A Confederacy of Dunces. Tragic story behind that, maybe you know it.

And in the 7th grade, the old man allowed me to read The Catcher in the Rye. The buzz in 2nd period at Clarke Middle back then was that it had all the good cuss words. As did half of the class I quickly marked it down on my book order form, the one that came once a month. Later that night, my mom frowned then passed the form to Dad. He said he wouldn’t buy it, but that I could read his copy.

Decades later, it’s not the new cuss words I learned that have stayed with me; it’s that Holden Caulfield was someone most teenagers could relate to. From his pubescent awkwardness to his distrust of adult interference, his first person experiences shook me to the core.

JD Salinger had a gift he was only willing to share a handful of times. But without him we wouldn’t have met Holden, the kid who took Huck Finn's lunch money and bought a pack of cigs with it. The kid who spat in the eye of phonies, much to our amusement and liking. The kid who taught me that there's more to life than learning creative uses for the F word. 

Now go call somebody a moron Reader. They hate it when you do that.

Bernie

Countdown to Signing Day…6

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Six days left. Gonna try to have as much recruiting stuff up as possible the next few days and will be blogging live from Butts-Mehre a week from today. But, for today…thought we’d look at where we stand going into the last week. Namely, who’s committed.

And by committed I mean in the new age D-1 prospect way, of course.

Defensive Commits Baker, Demetre OLB 6’0” 200 Orange Park (FL) Burrows, Brandon DE 6’3” 235 Walton Deas, Marc S 6’0” 180 Osceola (FL) Rogers, Deon OLB 6’2” 190 Treasure Coast (FL) Fields, Jalen DE 6’5” 251 Dalton Hamilton, Jakar * S 6’1” 198 Georgia Military Morant, Dexter DE 6’6” 230 Manning (SC) Ogletree, Alec S 6’3” 212 Newnan Ogletree, Zander MLB 5’9” 202 Newnan Owens, Derek CB 6’1” 175 Andrew Jackson (FL) Robey, Nickell CB 5’7” 165 Frostproof (FL) Smith, Garrison DT 6’3” 255 Douglass Stripling, TJ DE 6’6” 215 SW Dekalb
Offensive Commits Benedict, Brent OL 6’6” 290 The Bolles School (FL) Bennett, Michael WR 6’3” 185 Alpharetta Houston, Kholton * OL 6’5” 270 Buford Malcome, Ken RB 6’0” 215 SW Dekalb Mason, Hutson QB 6’3” 200 Lassiter Rogers, Da’Rick WR 6’2” 197 Calhoun *early enrollees

Some somewhat random defensive thoughts:

• Definitely a defensive heavy lineup, but we lost more on that side of the ball as well.
• I like the number of front seven commits we have, 7 of 19 so far. Eight of 19 if you include Alec Ogletree, who should eventually see some time that close to the line of scrimmage.
• In fact, Alec seems the type of player that will create his own position…I hope.
• Speaking of the Ogletrees, it seems Zander will get his first look at FB.
• With a new coaching eager to use abled bodies, having some young aggressive talent will be a good thing.
• Given the change in base scheme, DEs and OLBs are as interchangeable as brands of alkaline batteries.
• The secondary commits don’t jump out at you, other than Ogletree of course.
• Robey has been in the news a lot. I think it comes down to West Va and UGA, but he’s set to ride in KiffyBaby’s limo this weekend.
• If he drops us, not a big loss (pun intended). Here’s what Mackie did, playing off of a PWD tweet.

Some somewhat random offensive thoughts:

• Lots of people would like to see more linemen, and I usually number myself among them. But (correct me if I’m wrong)…we only lost Vance from last season’s roster.
• And the two we have in Houston and Benedict will be great players. Both are smart and hardnosed.
• Da’Rick becomes an important signee. If he chooses Rocky Flop over Athens in the final hour, this class drops.
• And while dropping in the much too publicized recruiting rankings is something that I don’t concern myself with…Rogers would be an immediate playmaker at receiver.
• I watched Malcome play once this year and was impressed. Losing Mack Brown to gayturdsville and Lattimore to whoever the hell he chooses doesn’t bother me so much.

Like I always say, if they don’t wanna be a Dawg…I don’t want em ‘tween the hedges.

What are your thoughts?

Super Bowl Dawgs

So we have our Super Bowl set, the last football we’ll see until G-Day in Athens. This matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts should be a good one. Both teams have high powered offenses, so it’ll probably come down to who can create the turnovers and play the best defense.
Maybe you’re like me and have trouble getting as fired up about professional football as you do college. So I thought we’d look at the Super Bowl through our red and black glasses in an effort to generate some interest.
For the Colts, we have Tim Jennings as the lone Dawg. I was a little surprised when I didn’t see Marcus Howard’s name on the roster, but evidently he’s moving to Nashville as part of the Tennessee Titans going into next year. Jennings had 57 tackles this season and three interceptions, giving him 161 and 4 respectively for his career.
For the Saints, we have Jon Stichcomb and Charles Grant. Unfortunately, Grant is currently on the IR with a torn triceps. Stinchcomb however is largely counted on to provide running room for Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush as well as give Brees time in the pocket against some of the league’s fiercest pass rushers. In the Super Bowl he will face two stalwarts in Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis who have 23 sacks on the season between them.
And if that’s not enough to compel your interest, maybe by game time you’ll find yourself confident enough to wager on the winner, or any of the many prop bets this Super game brings. If so, allow me to point you to a site where you can find the best Super Bowl odds and an opportunity to play those odds responsibly. Although there have been many blowouts in the final football game of the season, Super Bowl history shows that the game generally goes well into the fourth quarter before the Lombardi winner is decided.
However you decide to entertain yourself, I hope it’s a good game. At least as good as the cheese dip. Pass the nachos.

Happy Birthday Orson!

His gift to us..

Only fair that we should return the favor. Happy Birthday Orson!

And if you haven't read Hale's post on him yet, you really should. This kid continues to amaze with his leadership off the field and on. The sky's the limit.