Malcolm Mitchell on Hornung watch list

One of Richt's most versatile players is also one of the nation's.

Happy Birthday America!

Y'all have a safe and happy Fourth!

Schmitt named Female Athlete of the Year

Five time Olympic medalist Allison Schmitt has been recognized as the SEC's top female athlete.

At the 2012 Olympics in London, Schmitt won three gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal. She became the first Georgia swimmer ever to win an individual gold as she claimed the 200-meter freestyle title. Schmitt also anchored the victorious 800-meter freestyle and 400-meter medley relays. She came in second in the 400-meter freestyle and placed third on the 400-meter freestyle relay. With six Olympic medals (including a bronze from the 2008 Games), she ranks first all-time among Georgia swimmers. Following the Games, Schmitt owned one world record and four American records in long-course meters.

The Canton, Mich., native returned for her senior year and helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to the NCAA and SEC titles. She won the NCAA crown in the 200-yard freestyle and helped the 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays notch victories. At the SECs, she picked up titles on the 200-, 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays. Schmitt earned the Honda Sports Award as the nation’s top swimmer. She is attached to one American record and two U.S. Open marks in short-course yards.

Schmitt is the fifth Georgia student-athlete to earn SEC Female Athlete of the Year recognition, joining golfer Vicki Goetze (1992), basketball player Saudia Roundtree (1996), swimmer Kristy Kowal (2000) and gymnast Courtney Kupets (2009). 

An honor well deserved. Thanks for coming back Allison and thanks for another great season. Go Dawgs!

Marshall Morgan arrested for BUI

Happened over the weekend on Lake Sinclair. Not good. (h/t Nabulsi)

Monday's Meatloaf - the Prez Adams interview

In this edition of the meatloaf, done and gone UGA president Michael Adams sits down with me to clear the air a bit, thereby closing a dark chapter in my blogging history.

Bernie: Thanks for coming Mike. Now, lets get this over with...
Prez Adams: No problem really. Although the correct address is of course "Former President Adams". (adjusts his bowtie with the canned cheese and Cabernet stains.)
B: Well, my dime means you have the following choices - Mike...or the more casually accurate Former Prez Asshole...
PA: Good gracious. I'm much more accustomed to pulling the strings rather than being used as a common puppet...but I really do want that sausage mcmuffin...
B: Whatever gets us through this prez assh..I mean Mike. Let's start with your plans now that you're done as UGA's dictator and the university has rejected your designs for a new $25000 office. Does this mean you'll have to live in Russell Hall, with the common student drinking Milwaukee's Best and planning ousters of resident assistants that refuse to give you your own private shower time?
PA: ahem...No. I'm working on starting a course for kickball in the Phys Ed department. As well as a fund reallocation class for UGA finance majors. Hopefully one day I'll get that office.
B: Over my dead body. So how is your kickball game?
PA: I'm working on waddling out grounders and my pitching roll. The other day I almost kicked one past the second station thingamajig. 
B: Incredible. Will you still attend the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party now that you're no longer UGA's ruler supreme? 
PA: You mean the Georgia-Florida game. And of course. The football program has enjoyed tremendous success while I've...
B: No. I meant the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. And you've done little to nothing to be honest.
PA: But you'll recall Bernie that I hired Richt and changed the name of that game...
B: Lemme stop you right there. You're starting to make an Adams out of yourself.

Today's Ingredients
- Evidently Adams also sat down with Emerson. If you're interested in reading more revisionist history.
- And kudos to Kerri for the best Prez Adams is leaving tweet.
- And since she brought up photoshop, thanks to BassinDawg for his efforts in tailoring Adams' gift so perfectly.
- Personally, I'd've been more impressed if David Greene had designed the new playbook app.
- Speaking of cutting edge, Blutarsky is already preparing for the WLOCP.
- Lady Sportswriter updates us on Christian Miller.
- Dude You Crazy finds the bar is set quite higher in College Station.
- Heard a radio ad the other day referring to the reigning Sun Bowl champion Georgia Tech. Well, ecdawg explains that they lost some cash getting out there.
- Clempson gon' Clempson y'all.
- Yep. Clempson gon' Clempson.
- Lastly, new president Jere Morehead has some words for us.

Now, back to a Mickey Dees dining room...

Prez Asshole: So, I can get a second mcmuffin right?
Bernie: Sure. You want an order of grits with it?
PA: What are grits?
B: That was a test. You passed. And failed. Congrats. Let's try another one: how many points is a three pointer worth?
PA: That's not funny. That was that goddamn Dooley's hire. All I did was drop the name.
B: Ah yes. I forgot your Wiki-history was written in pencil. Now, noving on. What will be your lasting legacy in Athens: a greedy cash whore or a backstabbing tyrant with a penchant for opening his piehole way too hard...?
PA: I don't like either of those options. Can I stall long enough to order a McRib and an apple pie?
B: No. This place reeks of Auburness and other not so special sauces. Plus you'd probably order an unsweetened tea with it just to piss me off. Damn yankee.

Prez Asshole getting his jort on. (via BassinDawg)

PA: I'll have you know I grew up in the South. I take offense to that sir!
B: Yeh, but I bet your suitcase was made of carpet as you trudged around the north getting your head spun around about the War of Northern Aggression and how to be chivalrous. I saw you push that old lady aside to get your grubby hands on that half-assed breakfast sandwich.
PA: Well, after all I did to raise SAT scores and improve the campus, can I at least get a ride back to the Arch. Want to make sure Morehead hasn't discovered my decanter of cognac yet.
B: Please. You're the Former Prez Asshole of this town. Stick your thumb out to get down Baxter, then hop on a Milledge bus. 
PA: What's a milledge bus?
B: Not at all shocked to hear that come out of your fat mouth. But I am shocked I'm still giving you your gift.
PA: (makes an awkward face to where you're not sure if he's overly excited or just hoping it's a villa in Tuscany he can use...for research and development...)
B: Here. It's a pair of short jeans. Commonly referred to as "jorts". They're very popular, especially in areas of Florida near (coughs) Gainesville (coughs). Now you can kickball AND fly your freak flag.

With that I dropped a five dollar bill on the table, chunked deuces and went to Waffle House to celebrate. Scattered, smothered and covered. Stick a fork in that joker's reign. Y'all have a terrific Monday. Hopefully the new president drinks bourbon.

Bernie

Commodore moral outrage

Given the news out of Nashville, I'll be watching closely to see how the columnists in the local paper express their frustration towards Coach Franklin over failing his players, his team, his community, his campus and society as a whole.

Because it's his fault. Right Schultz, Bradley, Towers and Carvell?

Best Friday ever!!

Usually when he emails me it is to take even more credit for developing the HOPE Scholarship or to ask for a donation so that he can wine and dine bigger donors while in Tuscany or the south of France.

BUT NOT TODAY FOLKS!!

Come on back Monday when I give the guy his exit interview. I have the perfect going away present for him too.

Aaron Murray, true ladies' man

This might be the best Aaron Murray story ever.

Clasping her hands to her chest, Bradford squealed and with a smile on her face said, “My heart is getting weak.”

Bradford also received an autographed football from Murray.

“I’ll treasure this as long as I live,” she said as she stared at the football in awe.

Mildred might be the only person with a bigger crush on Murray than my nine year old. But I bet my daughter can throw a better spiral. Maybe.

Smith gets deserved shout-out from old coach

I teased Coach Rodney Garner some yesterday in the wake of his visit to Athens. But last night I caught up on some of his quotes and noticed something he said that has been sticking in my craw a bit.

“I would think Garrison (Smith) being a senior, he would be the leader. He’s got to be the guy that sets the tone for them. But he’s got some really good young guys that are going to bring a lot of athleticism to the table. I know Chris and coach (Todd) Grantham will do a good job of having those guys ready.”

Garrison Smith. Never heard an ill word about the guy. And while Swann continues to get much of the press about being the experience to help the youth on the defensive side of the ball (and deservedly so, for sure), Smith is the senior amidst all that inexperience. After tallying 57 tackles (including a career high eight against Tech) last year, we're lucky to have that guy around another season.

In fact, I'd bet Smith will help Murray carry the torch for the team at SEC Media Days. Damn Good Dawg!

Don't sleep on Georgia too hard y'all

We talked some last week about Heisman candidates. Yesterday ESPN's Travis Haney went through the SEC with a fine toothed comb to find who might be the SEC's best in terms of the trophy as well as title contenders. You know, outside of Alabama.

Ken Ward

In terms of the Heisman (the trophy an SEC player has won three of the last four years, and four of the last six), I have to agree with Haney on Jadeveon Clowney's chances. He'd have to destroy a Michigan player each and every Saturday to have a real chance. As a big fan of the defensive side of the ball, I don't think that's fair. But that's the way it is. Spurrier's not going to have Clowney return kicks is he?

But when it comes to Aaron Murray, Haney points something out that I neglected to catch last week when I was baiting y'all for other Georgia contenders. The effectiveness of Gurley and Georgia's running game altogether could dampen the Georgia signal caller's chances altogether.

How about McCarron's rival in terms of QB efficiency, Aaron Murray? The Georgia signal-caller completed 65 percent of his 386 passes last season, averaging 10.1 yards per attempt, tops in the country. However, two things that hurt Murray last season could again hamper his chances this campaign: If teammates Todd Gurley or Keith Marshall have big years, it could take away from the attention Murray receives.

"He's a very, very, very good player, but he doesn't have many big wins, does he?" said an SEC defensive coordinator. "I'm not saying that's his fault, because he's a player we'd 100 percent have to prepare for, but that's a big part of how quarterbacks are judged."

Big wins are like crack to the Heisman voters. And those wins for Murray could come this season. But will they come just as much because of the rushing attack? Food for thought. I still like Murray's chances to earn a spot in New York come December.

Next Haney looks at teams that could challenge Bama for the SEC, and consequently the final BCS title. He settles on a team from the East, but has Georgia, South Carolina and Florida neck and neck. Really giving a slight edge to USCe due to their schedule.

But who's coming out of the East? Let's follow the same theme for the past two seasons. The best team hasn't necessarily won the division. Rather, it's been the team with the clearest path that has come out on top. This season, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina all have relatively equal talent. But if you're a Gamecocks fan, your team has the most favorable schedule.

 I don't think the Dawgs had the "clearest path" last season. Maybe from the start, but it became pretty muddled by the time we were licking our wounds in Columbia. Still, it certainly amplifies the games between those three teams. And whoever gets the date with Bama in December (or whoever manages to trip the Tide up from the West), will have earned the opportunity.

Go Dawgs!