New GDay Format

The captains will choose sides on Monday instead of just going 1s vs 2s on GDay.

Richt said the April 16 G-Day game will have a new format.
Offensive and defensive captains on the red and black teams will pick sides.
“We’re going to let the players choose teams,” Richt said.
The previous format was the No. 1 offense vs. the No. 2 defense and vice versa.
Now a first-team center might line up next to a second-team guard.

All of which begs the question, what happens if Kwame gets chosen as a quarterback?

- Posted using BlogPress from Bernie's iPhone

Spring Practice Notes, 4/7

This'll probably be short and sweet as we just had a long day touring Savannah. Did you know Terry Bradshaw and Joe Namath once attempted to debaucherize downtown Savannah? More on that later.


Meanwhile, practice resumes today. Let's hit some highlights.

• Weiszer brings a picture of what Abry Jones can do at DE with Kwame growing into the NT role and John Jenkins coming in this summer. I had forgotten what great size Jones has for that position.
• Massaquoi...Durham...Bennett.
• Instant panic and the position of left tackle don't necessarily go together. But Sturdivant is making it work now.
• The new and improved Grantham 3-4 is throwing some loops. And I approve.
• Lastly, in addition to what was posted yesterday on Caleb...here's a great post by Page that I missed. Pretty much sums up where things stand with our senior RB.

I understand the frustration with Ealey and King's lack of consistent production. Really I do. I can't speak for Ealey just yet...and I hesitate to buy in on Spring quotes...but King seems both poised for a breakout season AND the perfect mentor for the young pup who's about two-thirds the way through Senior English.


For one, I'm gonna give em some space to do some work.


Go Dawgs!

Spurrier speaks on Garcia's "winning"

h/t Leftover HotDog

That both says nothing...and everything all at the same time.

Caleb King's Speech

A group can only be as strong as its weakest link. And last season a good argument can be made that Georgia's RBs were the weakest part of the offense. Ealey, King and Thomas never hit a rhythm. Injuries, self inflicted suspensions, inconsistent blocking...play action dives on 3rd and long.


Caleb King, facing the media for the first time since missing the 2010 season finale, sounds ready to turn a 180:

“I know I’m going to have a good season this year,” King said. “I believe the fans will come after that. That’s just extra motivation as well. Of course, you want people yelling your name and all that. In football, people love that. That’s the name of the game. I think that comes with the good plays and the long runs and the tough runs.”

More than midway through spring practice, King is quietly going about his business on the practice field. Coach Mark Richt said King “did a very nice job” in the team’s first scrimmage on Saturday.

“Caleb’s been practicing very well,” Richt said. “It seems like he’s really practicing with a really great focus and a physical attitude. He seems to be in pretty good condition. Every time he makes a run as of late, he pops up and sprints back to the huddle. He’s trying to play and practice with a lot of energy.”

Exactly the soundbytes you want to hear from a 5th year senior who's never had that breakout season. A big time recruit that knows a little about where the new kid is coming from.

This will be the final season in Athens for the fifth-year senior, who will be pressed for playing time by incoming freshman Isaiah Crowell. Crowell is rated by ESPN.com and Scout.com as the nation’s No. 1 tailback signee.

“That’s just a little more motivation to go in the weight room and (for) every practice,” King said. “I can’t wait until he comes here. I’m going to try and put him under my wings and tell him, ‘Everything I did, don’t do,’ pretty much.”

But actions always speak louder than words. And King isn't just talking the talk.

 This time around the offense won three of five to win the day for the first time this spring, according to coach Mark Richt. Quarterback Aaron Murray said that tailback Caleb King “looked awesome today,” including a touchdown run of about 67 yards. 

Jort Schedule

Thanks to Kerri for the schedyule. Click to enlargigate it.

Monday's Margarita - Live from Yankee Beach

This episode is SPF 99, for your own protection.


After fighting through a logjam of Michigan, Ohio and Quebec license plates to get here, I guess I should've suspected I'd be sharing sand space with so many Nanooks of the north...especially after previous experiences.

But this time I'm especially bitter. If it weren't enough that they have to use our prime real estate to escape their snow laden lawns and try out their new black tube socks with the leather sandals...if it weren't enough that they speak with such strange syllabic accentuations...now they've apparently helped to close down our favorite restaurants.

It's nice to have a place to go eat that's right there in the complex. There's no need to try and remember where you put the car keys and you can enjoy a little happy hour with your lobster bisque. But someone complained that there was too much noise, no doubt interrupting the latest airing of the curling championships on ESPN Douche.

What's worse is now that the restaurant is closed, the beachside bar is closed as well, the one with the best burger on the beach and Buddy the bartender who never had to ask me what I'd like. He always knew there's no salt on my rim.

Today's Ingredients

• Overall, Coach Richt sounded pleased with the first scrimmage yesterday. And as if to validate most of the votes in my poll, Caleb seems to be running pretty well.
• Of course, one of the great things about Spring is CMR getting to know his scout teamers' names. Like Brandon Harton of Tatnall Co.
• Travis Fain has even more reasons why we should be impressed with Ray Drew.
• Aaron Murray. Is there a sophomore slump in his future? Is he bound for a big, big year 'tween the hedges? Many seem to think the latter is more likely. Included among those is ESPNs Chris Low.
• The Senator isn't buying into any Tyler Bray hype.
• Martin Van Dawgin tell us that sCam Newton has used some of his Barner fortune to purchase a nice resolution in the Georgia Assembly.
• The Mack Brown Network is coming to televisions this Fall. Check local listings.
• Cris Carter's son has decided to transfer to Tuscaloosa and play for Uncle Nicky.
• Don't look now, but Perno's Diamond Dawgs are doing pretty well in SEC play. 
• I-16 is a lot like watching The English Patient. It's about 3 hours of your life you'll never get back, with very little to show for it.
• Lastly, Dawgfan17 delves into the insanity that is anonymous posters. Careful man, that's like chasing a rabbit down a hole.

I guess I shouldn't complain too much about this invasion of northern depression. At least this time they're spending money instead of burning buildings and putting Pepsi on gas n sip shelves. It's definitely been worse. We haven't had to close the beach once yet because Nanook can't tell the difference between a porpoise and a shark.


Perhaps they've been taking marine biology lessons from my 9 year old:

But if Edith from Bowling Green doesn't retire that polka-dotted two piece I might just have my little angel throw one of those gelatinous masses in her lounge chair. The 1980s called lady...and you're not in them anymore.

As for you Reader, Have a great Monday. Salt or no salt?

Bernie

The Butler did it...Go Dogs!

Guess I have a soft spot in my heart for bulldogs. Enjoyed these videos about the Dogs from Indianapolis.

When Mayne stood outside of the silent NCAA offices and asked us to "do the math". I came up with $180,000, don't know about you.

It was a great run for the Virginia Commonwealth Rams. They're the story of the tournament if you ask me. Terrific coach, incredible team. Tribute to Anthony Grant for recruiting those guys. But Shaka Smart deserves whatever fortune he's about to inherit.

Back on point, Go Butler. Hope they're the last team standing tomorrow night. The world can always use more Bulldogs.

Public Relations, GDay and whatever else needs dusting off

Some Spring cleaning. Time to air this place out a little.


Leaving for the coast tomorrow. Thinking seriously about taking the wife and kids too. If you're on I-16, honk atcha blogger so I can show the family just how popular I am.


With the travel...the peeling of the shrimp...and the rinsing of the sand between my toes, there probably won't be a whole lot to read around here. At least until Monday morning when I'll have your Monday's Margarita shaken to perfection bright and early. Or at least in time for brunch.


Until then, here's some thoughts to pass the time. Don't forget to put in your order for salted rim or no salt.

• New poll up today. Who gets the most carries at GDay? I think it'll be King. He's the most complete back. But I wouldn't be surprised to see Malcome emerge from the pack. Regardless, exercise your right to click.
• Your dichotomy of the day: the UGA and AwwBarn PR departments. In Athens they take a hit for unplugging the website on the last Hartman Donation Day. On the plain little village, well...another day to forget.
• In related news, the WarDamnTiglesmen I often come in contact with each week were either MIA or mighty quiet the last few days. Huh. That's peculiar given how well their vocal chords have been working as of late.
• And in regards to georgiadogs.com, don't get hooked into that it's all IMG's fault nonsense. I'm sure there's someone in Butts-Mehre responsible for that domain renewal. And they caused a lot of Hartman donor headaches yesterday.
• Back to GDay, how much does the scrimmage being aired impact your decision to go to Sanford? Personally, I'd rather be in Athens than anywhere else in the world. But Spring Saturdays do get busy. Between a kid's soccer game and a dinner party that evening, it'd be easier to use the remote.
• But I'm sure I'll be too eager to tailgate around some simulated football to miss it once it gets here. Plus, I'm dying to get into the rotation at nose tackle.
• Go VCU! I wouldn't be upset if Butler played Monday night though. Just hope whoever wins tomorrow's early game is the last team to cut down the nets. In short, I want to see both UConn and KenYucky lose just one more time this season.
• Lastly, Weiszer mentioned the other day that he ran into former Dawg Michael Lemon. You remember him right? Well, he's started his own landscaping business. If you live in the Raleigh area, look him up.

Hope you dropped by earlier for some Mike Campo Cake. If you didn't, your shoe laces are untied.

Happy Mike Campo Day, 2011!!

Two years. 730 days. It goes by so quickly. Seems like just yesterday young Mike Campo was learning how to ride a bike...

Need to catch up? Here's the quick of it:

Two years ago today Terence Moore was still getting paid for his douchebaggery journalism. On April 1, 2009 he wrote an "article" urging Damon Evans to make some calls regarding the Georgia basketball coaching position that was open at the time. To sum it up, Moore had half-heartedly moved on from promoting Michelle Obama's brother to endorsing Tubby Smith.

What ensued was hilarity, hijinx and near pandemonium in which a certain commenter baited the mental midget into sharing some knowledge of his craft. Here's a transcription:

Mike Campo 4/1/09, 11:38am - Mr. Moore, I am 12 years old and love reading your articles. I think they are great! Please keep writing and inspiring the youth like me to write!

Chief Craptastic 4/1/09, 11:48am - Mike Campo - Thanks for the kind words. Since you’re 12 years old, I’m sure you’ll change your mind several times in regards to what you want to do in life. But keep studying hard in general, and I’m glad you enjoy writing. The more you write, the more you’ll enjoy it, and the more you’ll develop your craft. Having the ability (and the will) to write effectively will help you in whatever you decide to do. So, Mike, keep listening to your parents and to your teachers, and you’ll be just fine. 

Mike Campo 4/1/09, 11:51am - Just kidding, your writing and opinions suck 

Chief Craptastic 4/1/09, 11:51-12:02pm - silence....

Mike Campo 4/1/09, 12:02pm - Sorry, my dad typed that. He doesn’t like you and says you are racist. i don’t know what that means. he want’s me to ask you when you are moving to another state? He says he’ll buy me a new bike if you go. Please hurry up and move far away.  

As Hale typed at the time, it's stuff like (this) that the internet was invented for. Wherever you are today Mike Campo...male or female...young or old...Schwinn or Huffy...we salute you!

Happy Mike Campo Day!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Other readings to help you celebrate:

• Last year's post celebrating the occasion
• The original Moore article, including the comments where Campo pwns him!!
• Willard's interview with Moore from last year's Mike Campo Day

Where's Ware?

As the saying goes...the ball is in your court Kevin.

The University of Tennessee has released Class of 2011 signee Kevin Ware from his National Letter of Intent, according to the Vols' compliance office.

Ware, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Ga., is ranked the No. 56 player in the nation by Rivals.com.

Ware, who requested his release after former UT coach Bruce Pearl was fired on March 21, sent the following messages from his Twitter account Thursday afternoon:

"i wanna thank Coach Martin and UT for releasing me, Im looking forward to the next couple of weeks and getting my recruiting process going.

UPDATE: Carvell has an update with direct quotes from Ware.