Dawgs dispatch Binghamton soundly

Coach Diaz's men's tennis team opened NCAA play yesterday with a 4-0 thumping if visiting Binghamton. Behind the freshman Ben Wagland, who was stepping in for a senior who left the team earlier this week, the Dawgs made quick work of the opening round and will face Northwestern today at 3pm.

“Usually we struggle a little bit more first match of the NCAAs after a couple weeks of inactivity, but guys have practiced hard and the guys have got a great sense of focus, so we played a pretty good match,” (Diaz) said.

SECCG rewatch, in pictures

I'll collect more thoughts together (more than what I could put together last night) later after having watched (and deleted!!) the game against Bama. For now, I thought I would share a couple pictures that at least help to tell part of the story from that epic game.

First, here's Coach Richt voicing his displeasure after Tree was flagged for roughing the passer. I slowed it down and replayed it and it is clear he says, "That's bullcrap!"


It was 3rd and 6 and McCarron had thrown it high and through the endzone. They would've been forced to kick a field goal, but now had first and goal. Two plays later Tree stones Lacy at the one and Ramik Wilson forced a fumble. That made it third and goal again, this time from the five after McCarron recovered the fumble. The next play Commings jumped a hitch route and it was Saban's turn to say "That's bullcrap."

The call on Tree was probably the right one. It was close and I would've probably thrown the flag too. Unless of course Tree had changed his name to Quinton Dial. Regardless, I thought it was funny to see Richt say "bullcrap" in slow-mo and then get vindicated by Tree's goal line tackle and Commings' pick.

Okay, now it's time to get serious. This graphic popped up towards the end of the third quarter as Bama was beginning to exert their will on the ground.


In a word, ouch. More on this later, but we had an excellent defensive gameplan to start. We were soft and tired as the game wore on however.

Lastly, many asked why I was subjecting myself (and my followers) to this nightmare. I think Chi-Town Dawg put it best in his comment yesterday:

I still have mixed emotions about that game. It was the most amazing and emotionally exhausting UGA game I've ever seen. I was absolutely drained after the game and was sitting in the lower level at the 15 yard line, so it ended right in front of me. I was upset after the loss, but at the same time felt at peace because the team and coaches played their hearts out and left everything they had on the field. Unlike some past losses to USCjr or UF, I wasn't pissed because they gave it their all and as CMR said we just ran out if time. It was a game for the ages and it was a shame that either team had to lose. you could tell both teams realized they were playing for the MNC that night. Having said all of this, it won't make watching the game any easier!

Yes, exactly how I feel. How many games can you remember where you were genuinely pissed after a loss? Colorado was the penultimate for me. No, make that Columbia last season. Whatever. The point is, this game will always be a thorn in our side. It will haunt us forever. But it was a pleasure to watch this team play again. It was a point of pride to see the Georgia Bulldogs play a game against the best team/program in the country, put them on their heels time and time again, even after getting punched in the mouth. We never gave up. And our players left it all on the field. Right where their coaches had asked them to.

We're all different and we all deal with pain in different ways. But this was good for me. Sure, my heart broke all over again on that last play. How could it not? But win or lose it is always a pleasure to see your team play with that much skill, determination, preparation and heart.

Plus, at the end, after Coach Saban gave us his sincere compliment, and Richt explained how proud he was of his team, I got to press "Erase".


And move on. Go Dawgs!

Relay for Life, helping to kick cancer's ass for years

Some have asked, so I wanted to give an update on Connor. He's the kid I posted about a while back.

My family has some close ties with Connor's family. We're in awe of everything they've had to go through to support his fight against leukemia. Proud to say he's back home and seems to have beaten it once again. Just a remarkable story that combines bravery, tears, faith, joy and good doctors.

Which is why we'll be heading out to our local Relay for Life spot this evening. I hope you are doing the same in your neck of the woods. It'll be a good time to recognize and support those who have faced off against cancer and won, as well as remember those who weren't as lucky.

Hard to imagine Dr. Gordy Klatt knew what this event would become nearly 30 years ago when he started walking a track to raise money to fight cancer. Relay for Life pulls in millions of dollars to help fight this awful disease each and every year. Then again, he probably knew exactly what he was doing.

Open mic night with Coach Mike Bobo

The keynote speaker at Augusta's UGA Day has a new twist on an old plan for Jadeveon Clowney this fall. Although offensive coordinator Mike Bobo never admitted to just not blocking the sack freak in last season's 35-7 loss in Columbia, he did show off his movie knowledge and cast Aaron Murray as Burt Reynolds' Paul Crewe. 

"Most important thing to do is to protect the quarterback - ME!"

 

“I think we’re going to do the old Burt Reynolds’ Longest Yard and not block and let (Aaron Murray) throw it as hard as he can at him,” Bobo said, laughing. “We’ve got to realize he’s going to make some plays. We’ll do some things to try to discourage him. Maybe he’ll change his mind, think he needs to sit out and turn pro.”

 But in the end, this is all we need to hear about this fall's SEC opener:

“I think our guys are eager to play that game,” Bobo said. “We were obviously embarrassed that game and got thoroughly whipped by that defense. We’ll be ready for that game. I promise you.”

Some other tidbits from Bobo last night:

• Freshman wideout Tramel Terry is ahead of schedule on rehabbing after his surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered back in December.
• Chris Burnette is said to be in great shape, despite missing the spring due to shoulder surgery.
• Since he was in Augusta, Bobo spoke at length about Brendan Douglas, a star at nearby Aquinas High School. “It was huge for us to get (Douglas) late in the process. He’s a guy we always liked. He’s a big guy. He’s strong. I always felt he wanted to be at Georgia. Guys who tend to do really well want to be there. Guys like that have always been successful at Georgia.”
• A little concerned over the depth behind Gurley and Marshall, Bobo expects both Douglas and fellow freshman AJ Turman to play this fall.

Watts Dantzler vs tornadoes, the sequel

via his twitter...awesome.

Two hours til kickoff in the #SECCGrewatch

I'm getting antsy. And I can't think of anything more to add than what I came up with the other day. What has been most interesting has been to hear the varying reactions. Corbindawg thinks I'm crazy, but who didn't know that already. Regardless, I have adult beverages ready; I bought extra in case that pass is tipped again. I have a sinking feeling that was a wise purchase.

And if you'd rather not relive the pain along with me, I certainly understand. You'll probably want to skip my SEC Championship Game Rewatch reaction post tomorrow. And you'll definitely want to mute or unfollow me on twitter beginning around 8:07pm.

Go Dawgs!

Gurley and Marshall: separate, equal and intertwined

This piece by Aschoff is not very well written (and fwiw, Gurley used twitter to help the ESPN writer correct a thing or two), but it tells us in more detail what a lot of us already suspected: our star tailbacks are splendidly dull.

“We’re both smart enough to the point that we know what not to do so that we won’t get in trouble,” Marshall said. “I feel like we’re mature enough. Anything could happen being at the wrong place at the wrong time, but we try to stay out of certain situations.” 

Instead, they choose cinematic situations. The two usually spend off nights (when they don’t have football, studying or tutoring) going to the movies or rummaging through the $5 movie bin at Wal-Mart. 

Some gems include “Superbad” (Gurley’s favorite), all three “Rush Hour” movies, “Scarface” and “Blow.” The two even went to the theater and saw “The Call,” starring Halle Berry, and “Olympus Has Fallen” on back-to-back nights. 

That's a far cry from their predecessors, and their predecessors before them. Which is what makes it so refreshing to read about a couple guys that could get into any trouble they wanted, yet still prefer to walk the straight and narrow.

Jimmy Williamson must be furiously scratching his head.

Biggest challenges on the 2013 schedule

So yesterday we looked at the most important games for this fall. But that doesn't necessarily mean those were the most difficult games on the schedule. Of course, it's hard to foresee just how good some of these teams will be. For instance, Mettenberger could have a renaissance year under a new coordinator. Also, there could be key injuries, suspensions or even weather that impacts how a game develops.

But again, this is an alternate exercise to twiddling your thumbs. So here we go.

1. Clemson - Going to be a lot of added pressure on this opener, away from home and at night. Their offense will present a clear challenge for a young defense looking to make a name for itself. Can Murray settle in quickly? Can we control the tempo?
2. Carolina - They've won the last three games and the black eye inflicted last season in Columbia is still pretty unsightly. Come September, on paper, I think we'll still be the better team. But that ain't worth squat. Lattimore's moved on and Clowney can't play every snap, can he? Regardless, Richt's squad has their work cut out for them in these first two weeks of the season.
3. Florida - You can rest assured that Muschamp will put a hearty emphasis on ball protection before this season's annual renewal of the WLOCP. Richt will counter with a new found relaxed entrance to this game that eluded him until recently. But it only takes one bad break for the tide of the St. Johns to turn. And we know the ball can bounce awfully funny down there.
4. LSU - I think we're all anxious to see if Cam Cameron can get more out of Zach Mettenberger in his last season. And by the time the Tigers come to town their quarterback will have a few more games under his belt. LSU is always tough defensively, but offensively under Miles they've been erratic to say the least. Especially when Daryl Gamble isn't having the game of his life. Am I right? *fistbump*
5. Vanderbilt - We never play well in Nashville and the 'Dores took a thumping last year in Athens. If the new Vandy is truly improved, they'll be ready to give us all they've got.
6. Tech - Last season Grantham got a week of "free prep" against Coach Johnson's vaunted triple option and responded by putting the engiNerds firmly in their place 42-10. In 2011 we had Kentucky the week before and things were a little closer on the Flats. Can he prepare the new guys as well as he prepared the draft picks he just sent up to the NFL?
7. Tennessee - I don't know that Tennessee is going to be any more competitive this year, but my guess is that Butch Jones will have the dumpster fire put out well before the season. It still smells like a 2-3 year rebuild up there.
8. Auburn - I would probably have Malzahn's first team as a higher ranked challenge except that we get them late in the season. These Tigers strike me as a 5-7 team that fades down the stretch. 
9. Missouri - Mizzou is still just happy to be here and will wait to use the restroom until they're told to do so.
10. App State - The Mountaineers will be eager to show how ready they are for D1 football after being approved to move up to the Sun Belt in 2014. 
11. Kentucky - (Mark) Stoops is energetic. Stoops is excited to be in Lexington. Stoops will help the Wildcats win some games (plural!). The one in Athens won't be one of them.
12. North Texas - They won maybe four games last season and I think their nickname is the Rattlers. Or something.

I doubt it's the Rattlers. I took a flyer on that one. Is it August yet?

Abuurn's Bagman is Team Jesus?

Obviously a clever disguise to throw us off. But he's infiltrating metro Atlanta y'all with some stacks so fat he needs a UHaul.

Most important games in 2013

Athens is quiet and there will be little to talk about, at last until the meetings in Destin later this month. So this is just designed to be entertaining discourse. Kind of like whenever Jeff Driskel dropped back to pass in Jacksonville last season.

2013 Schedule

Aug. 31 at Clemson
Sept. 7 South Carolina

Sept. 21 North Texas

Sept. 28 LSU

Oct. 5 at Tennessee

Oct. 12 Missouri

Oct. 19 at Vanderbilt

Nov. 2 Florida (at Jacksonville)

Nov. 9 Appalachian State

Nov. 16 at Auburn

Nov. 23 Kentucky

Nov. 30 at Georgia Tech

We'll talk separately about the most challenging games of the upcoming season and compare where they rank. For now, the most important.

1. Florida (always and forever. Or at least until Paul Johnson takes the triple option to the swamp.)
2. Carolina (very close second given the shift in momentum of the series)
3. Clemson (this high because of the momentum it could provide with a win, on the road, at night, on national tv)
4. LSU (a little revenge factor here after letting them slip through our hands the last time they visited. Oh yeh, and that little championship game a couple years ago.)
5. Tennessee (new coach, new attitude, same result??)
6. Vanderbilt (maybe the 'Dores should be ahead of UT, but they're definitely higher than they used to be)
7. Mizzou (they're a bigger challenge than 8 and 9 right?)
8. Kentucky (new coach, new attitude, same result??)
9. Auburn (new coach, new attitude, same result??) 
10. Tech (same coach, same attitude, same result??)
11. App State (we are NOT Michigan!)
12. North Texas (we'll be wondering if we're getting Les Miles and Uncle Verne together the next week by halftime)

All kidding aside, with Tenn, Vandy, Auburn, Kentucky and Tech it'll be about keeping a streak heading in the right direction. New coaches can be dangerous equalizers. Remember KiffyBaby?

Anyway, that's the way I see it. Later I'll post my thoughts on which games present the biggest challenges. Have a hunch Clemson might move up.