"Nick Chubb with the game's first score!!"

Originally posted at BullDawg Illustrated

First, I tend to poke some fun when I log onto Twitter...

Hey, show some respect y’all and don’t forget that a lot of Dawgvent orthopedists lost their job today. Sad. #Dawgs #ChubbStrong

— Bernie (@BernieDawg) August 1, 2016

Yes, there were a lot of "experts" out there on the internets from last October up until yesterday when Nick Chubb was seen participating in full drills with the rest of his team, just like his coach Kirby Smart said he would.

Suddenly, those "rumors" that Chubb was ahead of the prognosticated schedule seemed more than true. Suddenly, whoever starts at quarterback seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, Nick Chubb proved once again he's not just some mere human.

He's Nick Chubb. He wears number 27 for Georgia. And he'll be the first one to cross the goal line in the Georgia Dome against those baby blues.

Go Dawgs y'all!

It's time for a Paper Sack Mentality

Originally posted at BullDawg Illustrated

It’s time for a paper sack mentality.

Sometimes I can be a little slow on the uptake. While I wait for you to stop laughing...I was on vacation with family in the Outer Banks couple weeks ago and noticed (finally) that the baggers at the grocery stores there don’t ask if you’d prefer paper or plastic. There’s only one option, paper sack. Well, unless you have enough kids to carry $200 worth of bread, lunchmeat, steamed shrimp, and beer.

Excuse me, but what the hell are you typing about Bernie?

Glad you asked.

I have nothing against Mark Richt and what he did for this program. Seriously, if you know me you certainly understand I’m a big fan of the guy and recognize that he unquestionably took our beloved tackle football team to a level that I both enjoyed and used to indoctrinate my kids into the culture of being a Georgia Bulldog. As the clock drained on Historic Mark Richt Field last November, I thought he’d saved his job.

I was wrong. And I’m okay with that. It all worked out. All parties involved seem to be better for it in the end. Georgia’s former biggest rock star got a new gig as the head coach at his alma mater. Georgia’s newest rock star got a new gig as a head coach at his alma mater. As they say, win, win.

But for us, we were in a plastic baggie world. The last few months, as we watched the transition into the Smart Era, it has become clear that it has a new, harder, leaner and hopefully meaner feeling to it. Things are all business, keenly focused on one goal - beating the man in front of you. It’s an old school mentality; a paper sack mindset.

Yes, it’s a difficult concept for us old farts to get a hold of when we have to embrace things like elevated energy in recruiting, non-stop promotions of the brand, something called snapchat, and seeing our coach use local helicopters like air-ubers between high schools. But this is what the new hard-nosed age of college football is. Teams that would like to win hope the ball bounces their way. They hope that this season the plastic bag isn’t over-taxed, that the roster holds up. Meanwhile teams that intend to win are chomping at the bit to force the issue. They tote their weight using paper sacks because that’s how you win in the fourth quarter. That’s how you lean on SEC defensive lines with the game in the balance. That’s how you stock the pantry in September and especially November.

Yes, I have trouble following recruiting the way Smart rolls. It reminds me of having to read The Canterbury Tales. I understood generally what was going on but I was dog-paddling along the surface in the middle of a tempest that could easily swallow me whole. But I do understand old school football. I do understand that in the Southern landscape you have to be bigger and stronger to get to Atlanta. I know that you have to run the damn ball as if your life depends on it to survive trips to places like the Columbias and Opelika. And I damn sure know that you have to have the bigger set of stones when you roll up to EverBank Field in Jacksonville.

So yes, I look back fondly on the era that has closed. But I’ve thrown those plastic baggies in the recycling bin. I’m ready to use tight ends for more than scholarship slots. I’m ready for sound game-planning. I’m ready to close the state’s borders and give Malzahn, Muschamp, Saban, Butch, McIlwain, Jimbo and even ol’ Dabo a one finger salute. I’m ready to turn the tide of the St. Johns for a long, Dooley-like stretch. I’m ready for UNC!

But I even more eager to see what Kirby Smart can build for the long haul. Because that’s why they make paper sacks.

So grab some more beer and eggs and beef jerky and some steaks. It’s been a long off season and I’m sure we’re all hungry. As hungry as Uga V on a November afternoon back in 1996.

Go Dawgs y’all!

Karma, kiss my ass.

Look, I've been doing this blog here since September 2008. And we have nothing to show for it except some misguided clicks, poor spelling, swear words galore, and a couple of "gator" bowls.

So...if a little change brings unprecedented prosperity, then...well, I deserve some measure of credit.

(Not really. I know I'm just some asshole with a keyboard...)

Anyway, let's try something completely different. And see what happens!

"Lemme explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up..."

Sometimes a tweak is necessary. Sometimes a minor renovation. At other times you just blow everything to bits and start anew.

This is my first post in nearly two months. Life has steadily become busier and busier. Kids are getting older. And even when work is on the backburner it's just nice to not have another obligation step towards the front of the range top.

But this little corner of the Dawgosphere isn't going anywhere. No, I know most of you are gathered here hoping I'd just toss a lit match after lighting a cigar, torch the login ID/password, and watch the mutha burn.

"Finally this guy is doing something worthwhile!"

But no, I'm like the Dread Pirate Roberts. Hard to get rid of, even with ROUS's.

So in contemplating this site and the upcoming season, some measure of change seemed in order. If we're not at the beginning with Peter Falk and the kid from Wonder Years, and we're not at the end when Fezzik brings the white horses, where in the name of Florin are we?

Well, stay tuned. News is coming and I hope y'all will bring your mouse and your bookmark folder back when it lands here soon. Inigo needs to kill the six fingered man. Kirby needs to name a quarterback. Westley has been mostly dead all day. And Coach Chaney has promised to pass to the tight ends!

Grab the wheel burrow and let me try on this Holocaust Cloak...there will be blood this season!

Jacob Eason will start the season

Hey, it's the big question everyone is asking. So it's only natural to weigh in with a few thoughts.

Some think Ramsey will take the reins until Eason's feet are sufficiently wet. I just don't see that happening. Let's face it, Ramsey is a junior. He couldn't unseat Hutson Mason after a redshirt year, which made some sense given that Richt/Bobo were so inclined to go with the veteran game manager after Mason had stayed and waited for the Aaron Murray Era to close. So that made 2015 Ramsey's make or break year. Maybe Schotty didn't give him a fair shot. Maybe Ramsey just didn't step up and want it enough. 

via Macon.com

Probably a mixture of both, but I tend to think it's heavier on the latter.

Others think Lambert will continue on as the starter since he has the most game experience as well as a coordinator that knows how to call plays that use tight ends. And this would be a safe choice to make. Hell. we won ten games last season with Lambert as quarterback. Why not let the veteran guy run things while the kid learns the speed of the game?

Nope. Lambert will back Eason up and just maybe spell him a series here and there. But the freshman will start, and here's why:

UNC has trouble stopping the run. And that's putting it lightly for a defense that finished 122nd nationally in run defense. Chaney can run-run-run and use passing plays Eason is comfortable with to balance things out just enough.

Yes, it's way, way early. But 100 plus days out this feels like a conservative offensive gameplan type of game where we only need Lambert to hold a clipboard. And if Chubb miraculously is able to play September 3rd...we won't even need a quarterback.

“It’s a little easier sell.”

I get everything Kirby is getting at in this Weiszer piece on how opening a season against a big opponent is better for the off season workouts and preparation than putting on a bib before eating a cupcake. Playing a North Carolina is better for everyone, as compared to, say, a bunch of Ragin’ Cajuns from a directional bayou.

It’s better for the fans, even if a trip down to the GA Dome makes Dawg fans wince a little from memories of our last trip down MARTA. It’s better for the conferences that get a national showcase for their teams. It’s even better for euro 2016 fixtures!

But as Smart points out, the main thing is the players have something to legitimately look forward to. The preparation is more intense and allows the coaches and staff to instill a competitive drive for the long months of the off season.

“When you walk in the weight room and you know you’ve got to play UNC the first game, there’s a commitment level I think is greater than other years. That’s one of the advantages of playing in that game.”

Of course, UNC is facing the same prospect of opening up against a Power 5 team. Last year their only regular season blemish was a season opening loss to South Carolina in which Tarhell quarterback Marquise Williams completed three passes to Gamecock defenders. And two of those were to Skai Moore in the endzone.

Georgia will not face Williams as he graduated and moved on. But after losing the 2015 opener and their two post-season games you can bet the Dawgs will face a team ready to start a new winning streak.

Kirby throws McGarity under Luda's bus

It's up for interpretation as to exactly what Coach Smart is referring to here...

Managing the information that gets out for public consumption? Or managing the control that entertainers have over the program when you're four days from an empty GDay promise and they've got you over a barrel?

Regardless, didn't take long for the administration's honeymoon after the Kirby's Home!! presser to end.

Three takeaways from #93KDay

It was a great day. Beautiful weather. And enough red to give Athens a true Fall Saturday feel in April. I love it!

A couple days to digest everything and read up on others' reactions, I wanted to add a couple thoughts.

First, the greatest thing to hear was that the former Lettermen were coming to Athens in droves as well. Mark Richt did amazing things to reach out to former players and the community as a whole. As a former player Smart has a deeper attachment though. Sounds like his colleagues are responding as well as anyone to him being back home.

Next, I think a tight end just caught another pass!!

And last, the bar has been set. As Fletcher Page wrote, it's on the suits to keep up with Kirby's vision.

GDay: Questions. Answers?

Stating the obvious, this spring game has a different feel. A buzz is in the air and I expect a record crowd tomorrow in Athens. Most everyone will try to crowd into Sanford for a glimpse at the rapper that bailed McG out, the pigskin slinger that should be at his prom in the northwest territories, and the coach that Mama called to come home.

Other than those new, shiny things, this will eventually be like any other spring game that provides more questions than actual answers. Unless Lambert takes a shotgun snap on first down and punts it into the Hedges while Ramsey wrestles Hairy in the northeast corner of the endzone, and Eason goes 10/12 for 250+ and a bomb to Godwin to win the game, we're not going to know who the starting quarterback against UNC will be until we hit Atlanta. (Pssstt, it'll be Eason...)

But, that doesn't mean there isn't much to glean from what we see tomorrow. Here's some things I'll be looking forward to observing on the field...

• Quarterbacks. Specifically how much of Chaney's playbook each one seems to carry into the huddle.
• Tight Ends. Do we have any on the roster this year?
• Defensive Ends. Barnett was making moves before a sprained knee slowed his rise in the depth chart. Rochester looked to be a worthy beneficiary until WalMart sold him a BB gun. Considering Rivers is suspended for the first three games, who steps up? 
• Running Back. Chubb is making inhuman strides, but we won't see him play tomorrow. We know what we have in Michel, so it will be interesting to see how Douglas and the younger ones pick up yards...and blitzes. (Pssstt, Crowder's number is 30.)
• The coaches. Past GDays have been a relatively laid back affair. I'm expecting more intensity to trickle down from the top tomorrow. You don't urge the fans to fill the stadium for a glorified scrimmage without wanting to give them reason to stand up and get loud.

And most importantly (to me at least), offensive line play. Catalina gets here this summer to add some depth. Is Ben Cleveland game ready? Have last years starters bulked up? Do we at least look like we can develop some quality depth heading into the Fall?

If you're heading into town, have a great day in Athens. It's always nice to see the campus in the spring time, especially when you can also hear the crack of the pads 'tween the hedges!

Go Dawgs!

We're gonna need some more dumpsters PAWWWLL!!

Wait, there's talk of SEC realignment? How long have I been hibernating?

That's just Gus being drunj Gus after $5 pitcher night on Toomers, right? 

I'm not ready for our property value to plummet that much. I mean, Muschamp ain't even finished unpacking (again) yet.

Gahtdamn.