Gators vs. Jackets at Talladega

In the interest of full disclosure (and in case this is your first visit to my space), I am a Southeastern Conference football fan. I live and breathe it, in all of its glory.

Like most college football fans in the southeast, I recognize the conference as the best. Others merely play out their games to see who should lose to the SEC champion.

It's pompous I know, but it's how we roll.

From its grills outside the stadium to its gridiron fanfare, the SEC is simply superior.

I will also be honest that during bowl season, I root for just about any team playing against an SEC team. The exception is Georgia, as I have now given them enough money in tuition for my degrees to call myself a rabid Dawg.

Oh, and I also pull for any SEC team playing Georgia Tech. Uh...unless it’s Florida.

If that ever happens I would just succumb to whatever is on Jennifer's to do list. Because that game could only entertain me if it were played on the track of a NASCAR race.

No, maybe you misunderstood. Actually during a race... 

Come to think of it, that might be the first time I watch an oval track with cars travelling at such ridiculous speeds that Rosco P. Coltrane's head would spin and his revolver would discharge Plaxstyle...

I digress.

A large number of SEC fans have this feeling of pride in their conference that somehow requires them to root for the teams that their own team competes against every season. 

The SEC is best and we need to pull for each other. We need to show the country how our boys play football.

Do we? 

Is it really necessary and vital that Coach Spurrier has my support for his chickens to have any shot at beating a Hawkeye?

Bad example. Maybe Darth Visor actually did need my voice. 

See, in my mind, pulling for Florida to win yet another national title only hurts my team's chances at it next year. Or the year beyond...or ever again!

That and it would likely make my head implode. 

Let's face it, a Georgia fan pulling for a team of reptiles actually does NOT make the gators chomp harder. Tebow doesn't need me cheering heartily to defeat a team of BoomerSooners.

That's what his cape is for.

Why exactly should I hope that South Carolina wins against Iowa when Georgia not only plays the Gamecocks each year, but recruits against their coaches along the same interstates? And does Bama forgetting that their season is 14 games long this year help the Dawgs' chances at securing a commitment, maybe even a signature of a 17 year old?

Hard to say, but I'll take my chances. Go Utes! 

So as this year's bowl season began, all of the attention was focused squarely on the Big 12. And it turns out there are actually 12 teams in the conference, unlike the Big Ten that actually has 11.

No wonder their teams can't win at football, they can't count to 11! 

Yet again I stray...

Anyway, this attention was newsworthy because the SEC had won the previous two BCS Championships, but had taken some lumps from the media during the regular season. It seems Auburn, Tennessee and LSU had disappointed them.

Altogether now...Awww!

The Big 12 was sexy, high powered, offensive...and full of controversy. While Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma argued over who should play Florida (or Bama...remember they were that close) the SEC was going about their business. 

Practicing. Scheming. Concocting new formations. Having dinner with agents. Come to think of it, maybe Andre Smith knew what was coming in the Sugar Bowl.

And while I was looking at the schedule of bowls and wondering how the SEC would manage just four wins, Rich Brooks had his coaches watching film. Bobby Johnson had his players practicing 45 yard field goal attempts that would erase 53 years of post season misery. Coach Nutt had his Rebels running some sprints.

Coach Fulmer ate another pie.

This all went on behind my back; therefore I picked my beloved conference to finish the post season at .500. And I smiled at the thought that they might do worse.

Now it's no wonder my bowl pool left me at the shallow end before Santa even returned to the North Pole. Not only did Brooks' Wildcats and Johnson's 'Dores win, so did the Rebels and even LSU. WAHOO!

While the national media was setting the stage for a ceremony in which college football's torch would be passed to the sexy new neighbor with the shiny new Heisman and the ever subjective tie-breaker system, the SEC was setting the table.

And cleaning their plates.

Even before Florida won (everybody with me...) ANOTHER national title Thursday night, an argument could be made that the SEC still reigned supreme.

Now, in the words of our favorite Friend Joey Tribbiani, the point is moo.

Three pretty crystal footballs in three years. Six wins and two losses in the bowl season. And not one respectable coach fired in over a month.

The SEC is not back. It never left. The torch it carries is not petering out; it is burning brighter than ever.

Big 12, your case for supremacy has been dismissed. And not by some 1996 OJ Simpson trial judge in LA named Ito. Closer to one like Judge Jackie Glass in Las Vegas.

Oklahoma, Texas, others - you can ask for a retrial in August. But if Tebow and Sanchez return like they should, my vote would be for the Gators to defend their title(s) against the Men of Troy next January in Pasadena.

And this Dawg fan says, Go Trojans!

Coaching Changes For Richt's Staff

...and no, not the changes you may have been thinking about at the end of last season.

Bryan McClendon has been promoted from graduate assistant to running backs coach. The move was made after Steve Greer retired from his position as Director of Football Operations. John Eason assumes that role and former RBs coach Tony Ball will now coach receivers.

Just a little more Dawg flair for CMR's staff. McClendon is of course the son of Willie McClendon, who is eighth on the Dawgs' career rushing list. The younger McClendon played receiver under Richt for four seasons.

Greer, a former Bulldog All-American, served as a coach under Dooley and Goff. He coached at Georgia for 27 seasons. Beginning in 1996 he assumed the role of Director of Football Operations. 

His son Michael you may remember was a receiver and kick returned under Donnan.

Full Story at GeorgiaDogs

Stafford and Moreno Have Returned To Athens...

...to hang up their red and black gear.

Both players have reportedly made their decisions and will announce their intentions to turn pro today at afternoon press conferences. 

Spring practice may have just gotten a whole lot more interesting.

Garner Stays...exhale.

In an off-season that has many Georgia Bulldog fans blue in the face, the average barker is once again breathing a sigh of relief.

Georgia assistant head coach and defensive line coach Rodney Garner has announced that he will remain on Coach Mark Richt’s staff despite being courted heavily by Tennessee as their new offensive line coach.

“Certainly I'm flattered and am sincerely appreciative of the interest shown by Tennessee,"  Garner explained. "But in the final analysis the positives at Georgia were the determining factors.”

The positives Garner spoke of were being able to coach the defensive side of the ball, raise a family in the Athens community, and work for a head coach who is potty trained. Garner also took the time to mention that he is eager to work with Georgia’s returning linemen and the 2009 recruiting class.

Garner is the lone holdover from Jim Donnan’s staff and has gained a reputation as a solid recruiter and exemplary line coach. His resume includes four NFL first-round draft picks from his defensive line: Marcus Stroud, Richard Seymour, Charles Grant and Jonathan Sullivan.

That alone is reason for all of the interest in Garner, who has also recently interviewed with Auburn for their head coaching position. But a closer look reveals a deeper reason Tennessee’s new regime came after the Georgia coach.

Garner served at Tennessee before joining Donnan’s Georgia staff in 1998. At the time Fulmer and Tennessee were regularly taking recruits from the state of Georgia, specifically the Atlanta area. However, since Garner left Knoxville the only top recruit the Bulldogs have lost to Tennessee has been Eric Berry of Fairburn, Ga.

The common denominator in the equation is Garner. The coach has not only helped develop NFL-worthy prospects, but has helped build the fence around the state of Georgia.  Fulmer and staff no longer had an easy drive down I-75 into Atlanta to evaluate talent and talk to mamas.

Since 1998, Fulmer and Tennessee enjoyed seasons of success, and countless buffets. But not success to the tune of the teams that included Tee Martin and Jamal Lewis. As seasons came and went, the wins became more and more difficult.

Enter Lane Kiffin.

Tennessee’s new head guy is known as a recruiter, but not necessarily in the Southeast. The decision to hire the young Kiffin was not an immediate threat to Georgia, but set in motion a series of other decisions that could have led to a piece being missing in Richt’s staff.

Tennessee also hired the esteemed NFL defensive mind and head coach’s dad, Monte Kiffin, as their new defensive coordinator. The salary agreed upon is a whopping seven figures.

Garner, who very much wants a coordinator and eventually a head position, undoubtedly took notice.

Then late last week, Tennessee also signed Ed Orgeron as their defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. Many Georgia fans who had already lived through the courtship from Auburn of not just Garner but offensive line coach Stacy Searels, may have felt Richt’s staff was safe from being cherry picked.

But then the University of Tennessee jets started flying across the border. And the occupants of the planes were not in the Peach state just to call upon 18-year-old recruits.

Garner was listening. He was even flying back with them to Knoxville.

Even as the state of Georgia’s top football prospect was announcing on national television that he would play ‘tween the hedges next year, the two schools were vying for Garner’s services. Offers were trumped by counter offers.

In a way, Branden Smith is a prime example of how things have changed in the state of Georgia leading up to National Signing Day. He will graduate from Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta and had a stellar game in the Under Armour All-American game.

Historically, Georgia has had difficulty recruiting in Atlanta. Champ Bailey, Garrison Hearst and even Herschel Walker all came from rural areas of the state. It seems Georgia coaches had trouble getting into high school coaches’ offices…and bleachers.

In Mark Richt’s press conference after being hired in late December 2000, he quickly mentioned the importance of recruiting within the state. He firmly acknowledged that he felt championships could be won with the talent being developed within the state.

Within two years he had added an SEC trophy to Butts-Mehre’s collection and his staff was turning in travel receipts that were easier on the recruiting budget. Atlanta had opened its doors to the new Georgia regime and players like DJ Shockley, Thomas Brown and Thomas Davis had traveled down highway 316 towards Athens.

Last week, when Orgeron signed as a position coach in Knoxville he inked a deal that will pay him more than most coordinators. This potentially put Georgia in a hardship to keep their man as they could not match figures with Tennessee.

Willie Martinez, Georgia’s defensive coordinator, had drawn the ire of many fans for the defensive performances in its three losses and a couple of its wins. So the timing was not right to give their own defensive coordinator a lucrative raise given the Bulldog Nation’s discontent. And to give Garner a raise over Martinez’s compensation was inconceivable.

It seemed Tennessee was in a position of power.

But Coach Richt had an audience with his assistant coach last and Garner made a decision he felt he could live with. His family has spent 11 years in Athens.

Georgia fans are glad they will spend at least one more.

Bleacher Version

David Hale's CMR Teleconference Transcript

Greek Literature, Anthropology....

...or NFL Combines...??

Decisions, decisions. Tick, tock...

We gotta start with the defense. We all realize that this match up set up well for Coach Willie Martinez's unit. There wasn't much mystery in what the Dawgs would do to combat Ringer.

But my oh MY!

I'm very well aware that I have hopped over the fence a few times on the Dawgs' DC, but the Capital One Bowl was a prime example of how the beleaguered defense has been the scapegoat this year.

The game itself was billed for its offensive stars. Javon Ringer and Knowshon Moreno as the Doak finalists, Matt Stafford as the star quarterback, and AJ Green and MoMass as the Georgia receiving duo that could become the second and third receiver in Dawg history to surpass 1000 yards in a season.

 

All that offensive pub and it was 6-3 at halftime.

The Dawg O turned it over twice, Mimbs gulped a Slurpee too quick before a 4th down and had a brain freeze, and the Spartan offense continually punched the Dawg D in the mouth (as predicted by their tight end, more later). And yet CWM's crew kept fighting.

Spartans take over on the Dawg 6 yard line, no problem. Completely irresponsible roughing the passer call, sobeit! 

The defensive responses came in the form of passion and intensity. Given the opportunity to tuck tail and make plans for the week leading up to Spring classes, Allen, Atkins, Ellerbe, Jones and Curran snapped the strap a little tighter and went to work.

Sacks, brutal hits, jarring blows and relentless pressure. The only reason Stafford was awarded the CapOne MVP was because the officials didn't have enough hardware for the entire defensive unit.

In fact, so inspired was the Georgia QB by his defensive compadres' level of play that his best play of the first half was...a tackle. It saved a Spartan touchdown after a tipped pass and interception. The Dawg D took over from there. They forced a field goal.

Coach Mark Richt admitted that it was probably not a good decision to scale back the tackling during practices earlier this season as the injuries mounted. Looking at a sideline Thursday that was littered with black wind pants in lieu of silver britches, I'm not sure he had much of a choice. However, the defense clearly tackled better after more physical bowl preparations. 

That and they played a whale of a game for their coaches. 

And speaking of coaches, it appears Garner is seriously considering heading to Knoxville to join young Kiffin's staff. I hate to see him go, but CMR is in a position where he really can't ask Evans to compete with the serious coin being thrown around up there. 

The elder Kiffin will make seven figures...as a coordinator. Their d line coach and recruiting guru(you remember Ed Obegone!) will make more than most coordinators. It appears as if the decision will come soon.

If Garner does fly, look for Coach Lilly to take over recruiting duties. As far as the position coach position, Garner has interviewed enough lately that I would think Richt has a well developed short list.

Shout outs

• Ol' Willie, for reasons already stated.
• the Capital One Bowl for the gift bags that included the thunder sticks; somehow Conner and Ainsley's both disappeared before our 8 hour trip home...??
• section 327 for representin' down in Orlando.
• the nine teams in my pool of picks this year who covered for me (Bama - that obviously excludes you). Safe to say I'm not winning the dough this year. It's all yours Brenda.
• An anonymous blogger somewhere out there (I've forgotten where I read it) that submitted this joke for the blogosphere's enjoyment: What's the difference between Alabama football and a dollar bill? You can still get four quarters from a dollar. 
• All of the seniors (and any juniors that choose to declare next week) for another 10 win season and four (or so) years of dedication. You're welcome back anytime.
• Coach Mark Richt for 82 wins in eight seasons. ReMARKable. Anyone who doesn't appreciate what you have done for UGA Athletics is either too young to remember the Goff years or too ignorant to complete a coherent thought.
• And lastly, my reader. Go ahead and give your own shout out to your first grade teacher.

Trivia Roundup

T. Namaman correctly answered Bernie's Burning Question last week. MSU tight end Charlie Gantt commented that the Dawgs would back up a little bit when they were hit in the mouth every play. You're obviously dying to see it Trivia Master. Here are Bernie's angels, fretting a sweat...

So another victory (seventh in as many tries) over a Big Ten team in a bowl caps off a weird, yet successful season for our beloved Dawgs. We started out on top and will finish...somewhere lower. We average two season ending injuries a week and still manage ten wins.

Ron Courson deserves some time off don'tcha think?

We'll see how much potentially losing Garner would hurt what is shaping up to be another great recruiting class for the Dawgs, especially Marlon Brown. Coach Kiffy has quite the man-crush on the star receiver. Lilly you may recall accomplished quite a lot at FSU coordinating recruiting and Bobo has quickly established himself as a force in mama's living room.

And speaking of recruiting, Branden Smith is scheduled to announce his college choice in tonight's Under Armour All-America game. And a smattering of 2009's early enrollees are arriving on campus as we speak, including Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger.

Check back early and often Dawg fans, and others that are so inclined. There's coaching and recruiting news/analysis to follow. We'll call it BDB's version of mat drills.

Peace and goodwill to men.

Bernie

Spartan Mothers and Their High Expectations

As Greek young men prepared for their first battle, their nurturing mommies were rumored to have given them an ultimatum that challenged their manhood and undoubtedly made the little hairs stand up against their tunics.

"With it or on it."

The ancient muthas referred to the soldier's shield. To return with it equated to a victorious warrior; to return on it meant they had perished, but in honor.

....and we would complain when our mothers would insist we finish our grits.

But to return without their shield meant they had performed what would later become known as "pulling a Petrino"; they had seen the field of battle and decided to drop their weapons and scurry home...to mommy. Or in Petrino's case, the warm, loving arms of a late night WooPigSooie!!

Well, the Dawgs have landed in Orlando where they will do battle with the Spartans of Michigan State, all against the backdrop of Mickey, Minnie and...doh, garsh! Goofy.

For the Dawgs, Coach Searels is still in the fold, which last week's BDB poll overwhelmingly predicted (if six of seven votes can be associated with overwhelmingly). Stafford and Moreno are still in red and black...for now. No academic leave 'em behinds and the number of green jerseys in practice is....dwindling.

Things are looking pretty good it seems.

And did we mention that the bowl preparations have been...spirited? A fracas or two (you know...a donnybrook) during scrimmages is a clear sign that the boys are taking this game seriously. 

For their part, Michigan State brings a solid running back who ran for more than a mile against Florida Atlantic. Against Penn State...well, barely to the mailbox. 

Shield or no shield, the bottom line for this Spartan offense is - as goes Ringer, so goes the Spartans.

Coach Martinez will undoubtedly use his defense to force Spartan QB Hoyer to make plays. It would be a great time for an INT in the secondary (hey! I asked for it for Christmas and it wasn't under the tree...maybe Santa left it in Orlando) Meanwhile Coach Dantonio will hope to keep Stafford and Moreno on the sideline weighing professional options.

But, in the words of the esteemed and slightly senile Lee Corso, not so fast my friend! Spartans can't slow the Dawgs' roll. Stafford, Green, Moreno, MoMass...heck! Maybe even Dobbs again...they all score.

The good news for Michigan State...they return to East Lansing...but without their shields. Let me know if you want one as a souvenir. 

More specific (accurate...???) predictions:

• Dawgs  41 Spartie 13
• Bernie shells out more money in concessions for Conner and Ainsley than he did on the tickets. BTW - Ainsley wants to know if the Citrus Bowl sells cotton candy. If not, she'd rather just see the game at Sanford (there's no reasoning with her...believe me, I've tried).
• Stafford lets the CapOne win marinate a week, then announces he's staying. And Asher opts for more education too.
• Moreno is much harder to predict as he is NFL ready now. But I say he announces he's good for another year of hurdling and breaking ankles 'tween the hedges.
• So the UGA Bookstore sells another 2 trillion of #24 jerseys, by mid-February.
• Georgia fans temper their off-season enthusiasm in '09. By late August, we're all thrilled with a top 15 pat on the back.
• DC Martinez gets a stay of execution from disloyal, hot under the collar fans (who...?? me??). They decide that since CMR has won over 80 games in eight seasons and has a 6-2 bowl record (after Sparty turns tail), he might actually know what is best for the program.
• That's right belligerant bulldogs, just lower the phone and the PBR. Nice and easy....
• And of course...all Dawg fans have a very happy New Year.

Trivia this week brought to you by Hannah Montana. Santa invested a lot in her this Christmas. It's her turn to give back.

How does Spartan tight end Charlie Gantt plan on getting the Dawgs to "back up a little bit"?

Winner gets a video clip of my daughter playing guitar for Hannah's band. Pace yourselves on New Year's Eve Dawg fans. Hate for anyone to miss the opening kick...or have to explain to their mother how they lost their shield. 

Bernie

Parking fines, Gravy and too much Nog!

Coaching News...

All is pretty quiet around the BDB offices this week. The head man has given most of the staff some well deserved time off. The only sounds are the taps of the keyboard and the Gurgh! of the water cooler every now and then. Oh! Someone left cookies out...cool!

I had hoped we'd have some news regarding Coach Searels by now. But evidently CMR and Damon Evans are still putting together a package to try and keep the O line coach in Athens. That or Coach Searels is pondering the two offers. But just the fact that we haven't read that he is moving to Opelika is good news for the Dawgs. If CMR could escape this off season with both line coaches still in the fold it would be his best recruiting effort to date. 

And says a lot about the state of the Bulldog Nation.

Weighing in Auburn's favor:

• the fact that Searels played there. 

Weighing in Georgia's favor:

• stability under CMR
• a young, talented line that returns for '09
• good rapport with Coach Bobo
• and the absolute mess that is Auburn right now.
  

Surely we'll have an answer by the time the team reports to Orlando Friday...

Testing...onetwothree...testing

"Is this thing on?"

BDB posed the question, who is your favorite all-time Dawg? If it weren't for Adam, all we would have heard was (...chirp...chirp) crickets. We even put a poll up with a smattering of 'tween the

 hedges All-Stars. Ten votes...and about five of those are Bernie's (4 for Pollack, 1 for Herschel). 

Come on folks, if BDB is gonna shell out the benjamins for these sexy gadgets, the least you could do is use them.

And for entering the discussion, Adam and Demiko both get their tabs at Steve's picked up at the field trip this winter. The rest of you dolts are on your own.

My favorite Demiko play was the catch against OleMiss in Oxford. Great game, great place to watch the Dawgs play, after tailgating in the Grove. Southern hospitality at its finest.

Don't Park So Close to Me

I had planned to steer clear of any more text devoted to Dawgs pondering NFL futures. But I was afraid my readers may have missed this tidbit by DH of Bulldogs Blog and Macon.com fame. Georgia Athletics have a good number of beat writers bringing the red and black news to our hearts and minds. Hale is at the top - IMHO. 

This story may have fallen in his lap, but I found it interesting. Will the parking police tow away our hopes of having Stafford and Moreno back next year?

Trivia

Nama once again hopped on the Trivia Train. By now his closet is stuffed with useless prizes from BDB trivia. But since he knew Clark Griswold's response to son Rusty's question, "It's not going in the yard, Russ. It's going in the living room", he takes home a beautiful new dual bag vacuum. I suspect Christine's heart will skip a beat!

Shout-outs

• All of the Dawg December grads! Way to go!
  
• Dawg QB recruit Aaron Murray who overcame a devastating injury and came back to lead Plant HS to victory in the State Semi-finals and Championship game. Makes me feel pretty small having spent the last three days complaining about this hangnail.
• The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia (thanks for the spelling correction honey!) Bowl. As expected it was a great one. Even if the Horned Frogs didn't cover...
• Everyone at Wal-Mart this morning. It's so relaxing to shop on Christmas Eve morning with so many cheerful and jubilant people.
• Charles, for bringing the oysters to the annual Wilkinson Family Christmas Dinner Saturday. Conner thanks you as well.
• And of course, Adam.

Since it's Christmas Eve, BDB has added a special section to this edition. As fans, we tend to be greedy at times, whiny at others, unrealistic, pithy, and really whiny at other times. That being said, given our hugely unsuccessful (insert sarcastic grin) 9-3 season, BDB has put our concerns, thanksgivings, well-wishes all together into one list.

Red and Black Christmas Wishes

• A Capital One Bowl victory
• two more Rennie Currans and three more AJ Greens
• one Brannan Southerland TD run from the one yard line, for old times sake
• an arrest free off-season
• a blackout free season
• a recruiting class as heralded in three years as they are in Feb '09
• an INT by a defensive back next Thursday; if it were a picksix it would be gravy on the turkey
• a placekicker that can boot it into the endzone...everytime...with no return...ever
• at least 90 yards receiving for MoMass and 49 for AJ next Thursday
• a decision to have the GA-Fla series moved to alternating sites: GA Dome and Jacksonville for instance

Feel free to add others as necessary. Merry Christmas Dawg fans!

Bernie

Yes, Virginia......Bernie is Coming for Christmas

Surely you've noticed the haste with which this edition has found its way to the foot of your tree. BDB will be taking a much needed break to venture north along that beautiful stretch of interstate between the Mall of Georgia and Petersburg.

The journey may begin Friday afternoon, but between potty stops, gasoline fill ups, the notorious DVD switch from The Little Mermaid to Madagascar, dinner at some Wendy's the '90s left behind, the less popular DVD switch from Madagascar to Cinderella II and a Charlotte NC traffic jam or two .......

It'll be early Saturday morning before the Tahoe loaded to bear with suitcases, Christmas presents and empty french fry containers pulls in to the in-laws. How Santa does it, I'll never know.

News outta Athens this week..........Stafford, Allen, Atkins and Moreno have officially dipped their toes into the waters of the NFL. They'll have until January 15th to decide if the feedback they get is worth putting on their NFL swimsuit a year (or two) early or not. For the best rundown, check out David Hale's Media Notes on his Bulldogs Blog. (BTW - I asked DH about Owens, he said he would check the next time the big guy was available to the media, likely Friday. UPDATE - Bulldogs Blog reports that Owens says he's definitely staying. Use the link to discover another nugget.....)

This week I've begun reminiscing of a few years ago when David Pollack was faced with the decision of forgoing his amateur status for NFL stardom or staying in Athens to study and attend class. Particularly with Stafford and Moreno, there has been this feeling since '06 like they would leave Athens as beloved as any other Dawg. Should they choose to go, it won't take as long to clean out their locker as it did Greene, DJ, Pollack, Musa, Brown....others. Knowshon would leave some breath taking highlights, Stafford some impressive throws. (image SI.com)

When Pollack decided to stay, he became even more endearing to the Bulldog Faithful. Willing to sacrifice a nice paycheck for another year on campus was both enlightening and encouraging amid today's society of instant gratification.

On that day he became Bernie's favorite all-time Dawg. Let's open the phone lines.......Who's your favorite Dawg?

Dawg Bones

• Sounds like CMR isn't expecting any casualties from the classroom heading into Bowl preps. I don't know about you, but I'm anxious to hear the crack! of pads coming from the Butts-Mehre backyard.


• I keep rinsing and repeating, but I just can't get the taste of that poor, poor defensive performance against Tech out of my mouth. And January 1st is still a ways away.


• Take this Techies! UGA graduates enjoy a better value for their post-secondary education. We're not delivering your pizza anymore, we're hiring the high school kids to do it for us.


• Georgia back-up punter Drew Butler is evidently trying to get one of his Sugarloaf neighbors (Matt Ryan) to play a round of golf with Matthew Stafford. Hey Drew, if ya need a fourth......???


• If they do tee it up together, I'm guessing Ryan will fall in line with Archie Manning as advising Stafford to stay. Wonder if Peyton (that makes a great girl's name doesn't it?) and Eli will also get a chance to speak to the Dawg QB.


• TotalUGA.com reports the recruitment of the much sought after receiver Marlon Brown will likely come down to Georgia and the hillbillys. Ohio State among others also are in the mix. If Brown does choose Tennessee it will obviously be because of their new head coach's experience in running a high achieving, professional and respected program like the Raiders.


• Brown is in town on Saturday for an UNofficial visit. Let's hope it goes better than his Official visit, the Dawg's loss to Bama.


• And there is no truth to the rumor that CPJ will use the bulk of his new $17 million contract with Georgia Tech to finance a Dawg fighting operation. BDB has recently learned that the Dawg killer is actually a cat lover. All together now.....Awwww!

Friday's Feedbag

• BREAKING NEWS: BRETT FAVRE MAY RETIRE!


• And in what may be bigger news, Plax hasn't shot himself in the upper thigh in nearly three weeks.


• One of the best games on the entire bowl schedule may be Tuesday night's Poinsetta (did I spell that right Jenn?) Bowl. One of the nation's most powerful offenses in Boise State meets the nation's second best defense in TCU. Both coaches were heavily rumored on the coaching carousel, but got off the same place they got on. It may come down to which team was less distracted.

• BDB is thinking about organizing a winter field trip to see the Vince Dooley tribute. With the weather and the crappy game, just never made it over there the day the Wreck wrecked the streak.


• And you know what's within a couple blocks of the Dooley Tribute........Steve's. Steak and Cheese all the way and a dozen hot wings. OH YEAH!


• Statesboro Anonymous offers THIS LINK to you gentlemen who are waiting to the last minute to buy your wife or significant other a mop or an umbrella for Christmas.


• Six shopping days left reader!

Sudden Death Playoff Trivia - It's been two issues of BDB since the question was asked and we spent some time airing some grievances Monday. Well........turns out BDB does indeed have Seinfeld fans that thumb through its pages. Within hours of Monday's blog posting, we had a number of comments and emails, like .........nearly eight.
YadaYadaYada....Let's get to the prizes. The following made Bernie both chuckle and laugh uncontrollably, in no particular order:

• Erin's Seinfeldism on tabloid reading: "I think that people who read the tabloids deserve to be lied to."


• Nama's favorite episode is obviously The Chinese Restuarant as he submitted several doozies from that early show. Hard to compete with, "You're going by sound? What are we, whales?"


• Fred jumped into BDBs cyberspace with a "play" on The Serenity Now episode, blending it with Auburn's struggles to overcome their own ineptitude: "Mediocrity now!" Well done Fred, well done!


• Cord may hold the Penske file, but that doesn't prohibit him from reaching into The Abstinence episode to grab this classic from Jackie (the Cochranesque lawyer): "Miss Wilkie, your tobacco company has turned this beautiful specimen, into a horrible twisted freak."


• And Joe couldn't decide on just one, there's just so many right? My favorite among his offerings comes from The Marine Biologist, "The sea was angry that day my friends. Like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli."

Enjoy your Festivus Pole everyone. At the BDB family dinner, you all will NOT be listed among those who have disappointed me this past year. You're all winners in my book!

Trivia - When Rusty says, "Dad, this tree won't fit in our backyard. " How does Clark Griswold respond? Winner gets a brand new dual bag vacuum....to give to your wife for Christmas. "It's the best vacuum cleaner you'll ever have baby."

And with that another chapter of BDB comes to a close. We'll be back after a long weekend with a special Holiday version of BDB. Until then I leave you with the wise words of George Costanza: "Do you ever get down on your knees and just thank God that you know me and have access to my dementia?"

I'm sure your answer is.......some days.

Gotta run. These pretzels are making me thirsty!

Bernie

Auburn Officials are Full of Chizik........

Chizik is off the Chizzang!

Auburn has a new leader and his name is Snoop Dogg. Or at least it might as well be.

Mike Leach had an 11-1 record this season in the Big XII, but wasn't even given a glance. Gene Chizik went 2-10 this season in the Big XII and was given the keys to one of the top programs in the nation. You can officially place the Auburn faithful into two groups right now. Those with the word HUH? continuously hanging from their lips and those that are a little too quick to defend the hire.

You know, they say something like, "He's our coach and I support him. (long pause) DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO WIN IN AMES?!?!?" Simmer down, simmer down.

Yes, Chizik won just 5 games while sipping his gin and juice during his tenure at Iowa State. But he lost his last ten and needed victories over Kent State and South Dakota State this season to avoid going o-for '08. From 2-0 to 2-10. Ouch! And don't think that he had the uneviable task of playing Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech. Cuz he didn't have to line up against any of them.

So, does Chizik have any ties to Garner? I dunno. But there are rumblings that part of the breakdown between Tuberville and Jacobs was their interest in releasing some assistant coaches from their duties and Tubs' loyalty to them. If that was a line in the sand, I would expect that Auburn officials would have a few names for Chizik to call.

Word on the street is Martinez isn't one of them.

But I would be surprised if we're not looking for a new defensive and offensive line coach in as little as a week. Both Searels and Garner are Auburn alums and former players and would be bigger losses than Moreno, Owens, Stafford and Allen put together. You can bet Pat Dye has already recommended them to Snoop....er...I mean Chizik. In fact, is that Tammy Mettenberger's phone ringing right now......

Heisman Trophy goes to a quarterback

So Tebow is left off of 109 ballots and yet gets more first place votes than Bradford. Congrats to Mr. Bradford and he is very deserving of this award, but it sounds like the Heisman voting could use an electoral college to further screw things up.

Bradford owes a BIG thank you to both voters with agendas and faulty tie breakers in the Big XII. Most voters waited until after last week's games to cast their ballot. McCoy probably should've won the trophy but didn't play. And the other finalist finished playing four hours before Bradford. This was a case of who holds the ball last, wins.

Dawgs put academic exams behind them, prepare for gridiron exam

News outta Athens is slow leading up to bowl preparations. It might be a good time to peek around and see what some other more knowledgeable writers are offering up.

First stop, David Hale has a two part interview with Damon Evans posted to his blog. I found his take on the season and more importantly the status of the program particularly refreshing.The man is obviously a good administrator with great leadership skills. Jay Jacobs ! Pay attention! Athens Banner-Herald's Marc Wesier ran a piece on the bonuses that are in store for the coaching staff. See if you think the numbers add up. Rivals has the bowl games ranked in terms of best to worst. Click HERE for The Dead Guy's run down of the SEC side of things or HERE to go straight to Rivals.

Exams are now over and practices will begin to pick up. I guess we'll also know soon if there are any academic casualties that get left behind as the team heads to sunny Florida. Meanwhile, let's get to some............

Shout outs:

• Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith for getting all up in Antonio Bryant's grill and showing him the way to his own sideline. Politely.
• Christine Nama for making sure dinner Saturday night wasn't Spumoni free. Ahh! You go girl!
• Munk for the following YouTube clickable. All together now: Fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra!
• ALL the talent at the W Hotel Saturday night. It was nice to get a glimpse of how the other half lives............ among other things.
• The nine Brian Nichols jury members who saw reason and argued on the side of logic.

Suspensions:

• The other three jurors.

Monday Leftovers:

• Last year this time we were all geek'd up about eh Dawgs' finish to the '07 season and were peeking ahead at the '08 schedule. It looked daunting at the time, but proved to be not so bad with teams like ASU, Tenn and Auburn failing to reach acceptable levels of competition in tackle football. Next year ain't no walk in the park. Will it also prove to be deceptive?
• And when I pored over the '08 schedule in August I thought 10-2 would be great. 9-3 ain't too far south of that, but it sure doesn't even feel good. I guess it's been several years since we've lost to both the reptiles and insects.
• Cheer up War Eagles. At least your coach is old enough to vote.
• Dan Mullen, newly appointed head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs will likely not call the plays in the National Championship game next month. Tebow says the Gators could handle the duty "by committee." I've already submitted a few I thought they should run, cc'd to one Bob Stoops, Norman OK.
• And one last link for you to pore over. January 15th is the deadline to declare for the NFL Mega Millions Lottery. Todd McShay alludes to a possibility that this year's crop of undeclassmen leaving early could increase by as much as 33%. No surprise that he lists both Stafford and Moreno as likely leaving.

And to wrap things up, the tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances. I've got a lot of problems with you people! And now you're gonna hear about it! Last week's trivia was a complete bust. BDB had one entry. It included a brief excuse and a Wikipedia link, that didn't link. Not exactly a Festivus Miracle.

But rules are rules and the Festivus Pole must go to someone. So the person that submits their favorite Seinfeld quote that makes Bernie chuckle out loud will win the playoff round. And will gain a leg up on the feats of strength.

Have a great week reader. Only 9 shopping days left.

Bernie