Last Minute Valentine’s Day Shopping, Dawg

I probably should’ve posted this earlier in the week to help give you a head start, but let’s face it…you still wouldn’t be doing anything about it until now anyway. So here’s some ideas for that special Dawg in your heart.

• Tickets to See the Dawgs Play. Whatever sporting event strikes her fancy, you’ll earn big bonus points with this simple, yet timeless gift. As a bonus, you get another opportunity to bark like hell.
• The Georgia Snuggie. Help her stay warm in style.
• A Customized Replica Jersey. Nothing says I Luv U like a Dawg jersey with Bernie’s Watergirl printed on the back.
• Wanna get more intimate? How ‘bout these pajama bottoms paired with this tank top? Maybe you’re tired of the little lady’s dainties that came from that store in the mall with the awesome catalog. If so, buy her a set of these unmentionables.
• Perhaps your mate needs a new gameday purse (ie. bourbon transporter) or a new recipe book for tailgating ideas.
• Redecorating the home? She’ll love this acrylic tapestry.
• Maybe the wifey likes things with some more shine. I feel ya. Try this Executive Series Timepiece. You don’t have to tell her it came from WallyWorld, plus she might finally have dinner ready on time for once.
• If you need to take her on a vacation, why not make it Athens on Gameday? If you already live in Athens, tell her You My Lady! all over again this fall against the backdrop of the St. John’s River.

And if all else fails…buy her a subscription to BerniesDawgBlawg  and take her for a coupla chili dogs at the Varsity Sunday night. You’ll thank hate me later.

Happy ValenDawg’s Weekend Reader!

Trivial Update – “Lettering in History”

Here’s a recap of yesterday’s episode:

ThursdaysRTrivial is coming up after this PSA: You can piss away your dreams, but Tweetdeck don't flush.

ThursdaysRTrivial ep 32 "Spring Awakenings" The weather outside is still frightful, but ThursdaysRTrivial is always delightful. REPLY back your answer for a chance at a fabulous prize. According to Dawg historian and coaching legend Dan Magill, what sport is the oldest varsity sport on campus?

Winning takes a lot of effort, but giving it 110% doesn’t always guarantee W’s. Yesterday @BPMackie gave it his all…or at least loaded up a seven shooter full of bullets and took wild aim. Here’s his laundry list of educated guesses: equestrian, basketball, tennis, wrasslin’, baseball, bobsledding, and turkey bowlin’. And even though Mackie eventually stumbled upon the correct tweet, it was only good enough for a stand up double cuz @allyugadawg fished her phone out of the bowl just in time to provide the correct answer – Baseball!! Go Diamond Dawgs!!!

I trust Ally will enjoy this authentic Claude Derrick Philadelphia Athletics jersey from the 1912 World Series. It’s not a new crackberry, but should look nice from the stands at Foley this spring. Mackie meanwhile gets a stolen copy of E. Merton Coulter’s notes, a treasure for any UGA historian (or just a guy needing some light reading while at the office. But please secure your phone before coppin’ a squat…..).

In case you’d like to get in on the act too Reader….Who were the pitcher/catcher tandem on that first UGA baseball team that were also brothers? Hint…the pitcher introduced the curve ball to the South. Winning comment gets a free shout-out in Monday’s Meatloaf. Or a coupon for a free medium fries at Burger King, expiration date yesterday at noon.

And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter. Maybe you can slow down the Dan Magill wannabe in Ally in episode 33.

Game, Set, Match with Coach Diaz

I read In Dawgged Pursuit a few weeks ago and was eager to post something on it, but couldn't find the interview on the actual website. If you're a USTA member in the Atlanta area, you probably have already had the pleasure of reading it in print. I doubt if it made the other regional issues of Inside Tennis, but after reading it a second time...I sure hope so.


Manny Diaz is not just a great coach and leader, but a true ambassador for the University of Georgia. I don't know how many tennis fans I serve here, but all Dawg fans can easily become Diaz fans. I've included some excerpts from the interview below, but you should check it out in its entirety.

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InsideTennis: The history and fanfare of Wimbledon is great. Roland Garros has Paris, and the U.S. Open is an event like no other. But there’s nothing quite like an NCAA team final — six matches going on at the same time, fans yelling. What makes the atmosphere so special?
Manny Diaz: You’ve got kids playing with such heart, such enthusiasm. You can pick a match to watch from the six that are going on. Three doubles matches. You see great variety. It’s a little more “rah-rah.” It’s a zoo. It’s a jungle. It’s that kind of passion for the game that you see in college matches.


IT: For those who haven’t experienced May Madness on the Georgia campus before, how would you describe it?
MD: Our crowds were really, really rowdy when we started hosting the NCAAs. We hosted them now for 25, 27 years in the past 30 years. In the beginning, our crowd was basically a football crowd — the Deep South in the early ‘70s. But the more we hosted it, the more our fans became tennis fans, the more they became educated from just wild, football fans to being more informed. While our fans are right now many in numbers — we’ve got over 6,000 fans out there for the NCAA Championships — our fans are much more educated and tennis savvy than they used to be.

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If you’ve never been to an NCAA tennis match, check one out this spring at Dan Magill Tennis Complex. It’s nothing like what you see on television as you watch Wimbledon or the US Open. The atmosphere is electric, an organized rowdiness that is closer to Saturdays in the fall than it is a fortnight in London.

And this interview with Coach Diaz really paints the picture. The excerpt above barely scratches the surface Reader. Diaz goes on to make any Dawg fan proud with the way he talks about Athens and the University of Georgia. He also analyzes John Isner’s rise in the ATP rankings…and gives Inside Tennis his all-time Georgia lineup.

Great read.

Some related links:

• John Isner’s Website
• UGA Tennis Schedule for Men and Women
• The Manny Diaz bio
• the 2010 NCAA Tennis Championship homepage
  
  

Going Deep Without Depth

The spurned by the state’s top wideout talk has slipped to a dull roar. Thankfully. And while it is now perfectly clear that we’d much rather have Baccari Rambo than one Da’Rick Rogers, the reality must still be faced squarely in the mirror.

Who’s lining up with AJ this fall?

Sure, many writers will spill ink over the QB race to succeed Joe Cox. But really, this is Aaron Murray’s to lose. And of course we already know who runs this state. So the other offensive skill position needs to be addressed. It’d be nice for one of these guys to step up in what should be AJs final season. We lose Michael Moore who produced a modest 25 catches for 249 yards in ‘09, but was second on the team with 5 TDs. However, we get back Kris Durham who is a natural fit with his size in the slot position that Moore often occupied. 

Here’s a look at the returning names along with their ‘09 numbers:

Player	Rec	Yds	TDs
AJ Green	53	808	6
Tavarres King	18	377	1
Israel Troupe	4	39	0
Rantavious Wooten	10	197	2
Marlon Brown	2	15	0
Orson Charles	23	374	3
Aron White	13	198	4
Arthur Lynch	2	17	0
Figgins/Durham	did	not	play

With all due respect to Tavarres King who had some big grabs last season, the numbers really drop off after #8. Troupe has had moments of brilliance that hiccup within lags of non-playing time. Wooten’s skillset may be unquestioned, but his size will limit his opportunities down close to the goalline.

And while many fans will focus their attention on the broad shoulders of Marlon Brown, the answer may also be found at the TE position. As Paschall wrote, Georgia’s tight ends are poised to complement a receiving corps that even Coach Richt admits is not as deep as he would like.

Depth is definitely an issue at receiver. I would say we don’t have, at this moment, a good number that I feel comfortable having. During the season, you’re probably going to play around six or seven, and that’s what we have right now, so everybody’s going to get their share.

From reading that quote it might be easy to surmise that Logan Gray will be counted on to provide some extra depth. Yet truly, it’s unlikely at this point that even Coach Ball knows how well the athletic quarterback will fill into the role of a pass catching playmaker. So it’s clear that someone will need to step up. A dependable deep threat and athletic ball hog needs to line up on the field opposite AJ Green for a reasonable amount of fear to strike the hearts of SEC secondaries. Preferably two deep threats and ball hogs. Maybe three...I'm greedy.

I would say at this point, #7 may be the only other answer we feel completely comfortable in giving. But I bet by summer’s end we have another. What say you?

Monday’s Meatloaf – A Manning for Regular Seasons

Small portions today Reader. I anticipated you probably over-gorged yourself last night anyway.

So another season of gridiron battles came to a close last night. Congrats to the New Orleans Saints on their great achievement. Sure, winning the Super Bowl is awesome. It’s their first ever. So when everyone in the City of Saints finally sobers up, sometime around Cinco de Mayo…well then I guess they will rebuild the city once again.

But, the greatest achievement for the Saints was proving to the rest of the world that one dude named Peyton Manning is actually a human with faults. I mean, my God…he chose Rocky Flop as his institution for higher learning not so long ago. Since leaving Knutsville, the guy’s done nothing but walk on NFL waters. And evidently lost the battle of the hairline.

But I digress. Look, I know Peyton is the nicest guy to ever wear urranjah and you can’t deny that he has a beautiful name. But I’ve grown sick of the greatest eveh and the all he does is win close games talk. The Saints proved he can throw as many TD passes to opponents’ jerseys as his own.

The good news for Peyton is that once he’s old enough, he can always perform at halftime to help make ends meet.

BahZINGah!!



Today’s Ingredients

• Saints fans in Louisiana are basking in Manning’s late game unheroics as well.
• Wasn’t that a fast game, by Super Bowl standards? And thankfully so, considering how often we were subjected to Jim Nantz uttering the phrase Who Dat? as if he had just finished a triple non-fat latte and the Wall Street Journal. Ugh.
• Congrats to Jon Stinchcomb and Charles Grant! UPDATE: I'm an idiot for not including Travis Jones in that brief list. (h/t Mike)
• As far as the commercials, they just stunk. Doritos was good. The Snickers one with Betty White and Abe Vigoda was probably the best. The Tim Tebow spot....WOW! That was incredibly offensive. How dare he tackle his mother and then smile with her as if they have a strong relationship.
• Vandy’s recruiting coordinator and LBs coach, Warren Belin is hired to fill out Coach Richt’s staff.
• Weiszer recaps Saturday night’s win over Vandy.
• There’s a new sheriff in SEC town, and his name is Chahizzy. Whatevs. Call me when he starts winning in living rooms and on football fields.
• Now that this Da’Rick Rogers kid has gone on record as not knowing who Baccari Rambo is, maybe some Dawg fans can work through this grieving process a little quicker. What a tool!
• And speaking of tools, this Seantrel Henderson kid must recognize something in USC.
• Hale is on vacation, but left us with plenty to chew on.
• The Senator wonders if Corch is readying for the new season with one eye on the safest exit.
• Lastly, I know it’s cold and the northeast has like 32 feet of snow. And it’s no secret that Mother Nature can be an ill-mannered lady. But weather should never be anything to kill one’s self over.

That’s about all for today folk(s). Now go give Monday a swift kick in the (pants).

Bernie

NSD Unplugged - UPDATED

National Signing Day has come and gone, but the rumblings are still reverberating throughout the nation, like shockwaves after a modest earthquake.

But there is no devastation here. Trust me. The AllJackCrap and national spin doctors can regurgitate whatever bullshit nonsense they would like. I guess that’s what happens when your program is spurned by some high profile recruits who decided to go play ball with their BFFs instead of in Athens.

It hurts getting told no. Nickell Robey…hmmpf, whatevs. He woulda been a good kick returner that had the outside chance at growing into a dimeback. Da'Rick Rogers…he decided it was more important to go to a program that had a complimentary scholarship to give to his HS QB. His decision, his right. For me, I applaud Coach Richt for not venturing down that slippery slope. Scholarships to the University of Georgia are to be given premium value, never scalped on the streets in Calhoun, GA.

Lastly, BJ Butler. I’ve always agreed with CMR on the decision to never pull an offer to a kid once given. Stepping back from the perspective of one class at a time, recruiting is a PR game. Richt may be the dean of SEC coaches, but he’s still making inroads along the recruiting paths of our great state (read: Carver HS). Butler behaved in a way in which a scholarship should’ve been pulled. Him deciding a fresh start elsewhere was in everyone’s best interest.

After the pomp and circumstances in Butts-Mehre Wednesday I was wiped out. I barely made it through the basketball game (kinda wish I had given in to rest earlier) before retiring. So my analysis of this year’s class is later than others’. And they have done a more eloquent job than I could have. So I’ll just give you a few of those links, provide some additional commentary and then throw in a prognostication.

• You are going to have a hard time not enjoying Ucheedawg’s three part series over at The Grit Tree on the small town recruiting experience last Friday in Rochelle, GA. If you haven’t read it, do yourself a favor and check it out. Even if it means that report is a little late getting to the boss this afternoon. Part one, An Evening With Coach Richt starts it off, followed by The Bryan McClendon Perspective and Rural South Georgia Recruiting – The Fans’ Perspective.
• Also check out the Signing Day Wrap by Ucheedawg.
• Hale uses some reader comments to guide his Protecting Their Turf piece evaluating the Dawgs’ class this year and why it’s light on home grown talent….and provides a needs and analysis piece as well.
• Towers sees some diamonds in the rough rankings.
• Streit on why Rogers’ decision doesn’t worry him.
• Some great NSD coverage from ECDawg over at Leather Helmet, including a nice recap and this post about our newest 5 star LB.
• With the news of floriDuh’s new DC taking in faxes Wednesday then clearing the office Thursday, Exhile smells reptile turds.

Back to the Butts-Mehre floor the tension was palpable, but the mood couldn't be dampened. Some grumbled but most couldn't let a trip to Heritage Hall be spoiled by a handful of teenagers. And in the end maybe most felt the way I did: I'd much rather CMR get the right defensive coach, even if it eventually meant losing out on some of the premium rated talent.

It amazes me how caught up in the recruiting rankings some people get. There's no trophy given out for first place in that race ladies and gents. Those rankings take subjectiveness and add a whole nutha level to it. Take my hand, don't be afraid and just throw those things out the door. Don't care what this class is ranked compared to others'. Actual tackle football games are won in the fall. Gimme a small class of kids that wanna be Georgia Bulldogs and you'll see me smile each and every first Wednesday in February.

Yet, even the idiots have voices. No sooner had CMR and Coach Searels answered the first question Wednesday on the health of Trinton Sturdivant, than a simpleton raised his hand for the next opportunity to speak. This guy had evidently read that Coach Richt and his staff were becoming complacent. He wanted to know if it was true.

And while the head coach handled it with his usual measure of aplomb, I can’t help but shake my head in disbelief. The man just fired his close friend, let go the same colleagues who helped him lift the SEC Championship trophy just a few years ago. And there are fans who think he’s complacent? Go back to your basement and suspend that message bored account for all that’s good on God’s green Earth.

Similarly, to get upset over a 17 year old’s decision and rant about it behind the mask of your computer screen is at best juvenile. Sure, it hurt getting spurned by so many talented players, some more than once. But it’s important to remember that Coach Richt signed a couple other recruits in addition to the 19 LOIs Wednesday.

When Coach Todd Grantham spoke Wednesday the energy picked up, the blood began to flow a little faster. If he can bring that energy to a group of fans with too much sick leave, then imagine what he’ll do to our defensive roster. And while Lakatos seemed somewhat surprised by the SEC fervor, he no doubt had the faith of the fans.

The winds of change surrounded the 1980 Nat'l Championship trophy Wednesday morning at 11:27am. I trust it'll spread to the huddled masses on the floor as well.

And also remember there’s one more scholly position open on CMRs staff. I think that by mid next week Travis Jones is moving to Athens…with a Super Bowl ring. And if I'm right...that would be a 6 star recruit.

Geaux Saints.

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UPDATE (4:55pm): Warren Belin has been named a LB coach for Georgia. Belin comes from Vandy where he was their LB coach and recruiting coordinator.

Trivial Update "Cruitin is Crazee"

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#ThursdaysRTrivial is coming up right after this PSA: The English Patient sucked. Bad. Real bad. (You're welcome)

#ThursdaysRTrivial ep. 31 "Cruitin' is Crazee" It's the Twitter Twivia game that's as legendary as the gum on the bottom of your shoe. With NSD in the rear view mirror, let's see how well-read you are tweep. REPLY back your answer for a chance at a fabulous prize. What TWO recruits did Coach Richt and Bryan McClendon see play hoops Friday night?

I don't know if it was google proof, but it was an answer that surely would prove a difficult find for your average Dawg fan. But...Ally ain't your average Dawg fan. It took less than three minutes for her to tweet in with the right answer, Nick Marshall and Lonnie Outlaw...coupla Wilkes Co. studs.

For her trouble, Ally gets the distinguished privilege of taking Catfish for his afternoon walk around The Grit Tree. The leash is over there next to the Royal typewriter.

National Signing Day '10 Journal

Blogging live from Butts-Mehre! Check back throughout the day for updates on who's ink'd, videos, pics, doughnuts and who knows what else.

This is the day so many message "boreders" have fretted over, coaches have turned gray worrying about and I've used as another excuse to come to my favorite city in the whole world.

So prop your feet up, keep the F5 key within reach and let's GATA.

Some related readings while you wait on the fax machine to purr:
- Last year's journal
- Mackie weighs in on Da'Rick bashing
- Mike evaluates the muckraking at CMRs expense

5:14am Up a little earlier than usual, reading up on who's expected to sign.

5:15am quick note: if you have a question feel free to post it below. If I can't answer it, I'll either find someone who can or just fake it.

5:50am hungry. Need Waffle House. Now.

6:15am Egg n cheese sammich with em scattered smothered and covered. Yessiree!

6:20 back home for a quick "pit" stop.

6:31 another stop at QuikTrip. They're gasoline may be guaranteed but the sanity of your stomach after one of those breakfast selections under the heat lamp, not so much. Trust me.

7:02 roll of UGA letterhead fax paper to the reader that can tell me where this pic was taken (Update: FireGuy708 is the official winner. Enjoy the paper. Guess I don't need to tell you it's flammable...)




7:10 little known NSD fact, Rex Robinson used a red crayon to sign his LOI. Atta boy Rex!

7:17 about this time last year Branden Smith was faxing in his fresh ink and fleet feet to Butts-Mehre.

7:21 maybe it's nerves...or breakfast, but stomach's singing. Thank you ZanTac.

7:24 well known NSD fact, 30 years ago Herschel was no where close to making a decision.

7:36 Michael Bennett and Brandon Burrows ink in. Welcome gentlemen, we're glad you're here!

7:37 someone keeps stepping on the 960theRef feed. Annoying.

7:40 plenty of parking in the deck. Guess Da'Rick scared some fans off. In better news, not nearly as cold as last year.

7:45 they've got the student spaces blocked off this year. Maybe we can go w/o the threat of towing then.

7:49 entering hallowed halls..




8:07 some updated signings: Demetre Baker, TJ Stripling, Kolton Houston and Jakar "the Hitman" Hamilton.

8:08 update on doughnuts: selection is better than last year...but I'm avoiding them.

8:10 pic of Kelin and Chuck




8:15 Mackie tells me to give Dowdle the rabbit ears. I treat the suggestion like the doughnut table.

8:17 buzz developing on Thornton as we wait on his decision at 9:00.

8:24 Kenarious Gates gives us his signature. Word is his feet are as big as Dowdle's.

8:30 going to empty the bladder. You know, just in case Thornton does sign with us.

8:35 Chuck and Grantham talking Dawg. Then a clip of him leaving (mostly to test the video on this app).

9:01 word is floriDuh's class is about done. Guess they're all on work release today.

9:02 Thorton to Penn frickin State!?! WTF? (just rumor on the BM floor) Ambles to USC. Has the hots for Layla. Boone to LSWho, big surprise.

9:03 Marc Deas is a Dawg. As is Hutson Mason. Welcome to our Nation!

9:16 Dowdle struggling with the Ogletree signings, may have committed a KiffyBaby.

9:17 Crowd cheers when director allows Chuck to say both Alec and Zander have signed. Dowdle thinks they're cheering for him.

9:19 Agree with Hale, Akins to Central Florida really hurts. Ugh.

9:31 some video of the scene here

9:52 THORTON IS A DAWG!! Thank Gawd!

10:03 judging from the page views some of you need to be careful the boss ain't around

10:05 Garner sitting down with Dowdle. Chances he gets asked about the departures....slim and none.

10:07 sorry about the spacing around the pics. This app definitely has some kinks. And if the videos aren't working, I'll fix that asap.

10:10 listening in on some jackhole preach about how good a job Felton was doing. R U effin' kidding me?

10:13 Jalen Fields is a Dawg with some sacks in him. Welcome aboard!

10:20 PSA: if you parked at the Kangaroo across the street, the slushee will be a lot cheaper than the towing bill.

10:23 Telvin Smith may be wavering huh? Hmmm...

10:25 when visiting Butts-Mehre it's really uncool to lean against the cases. Bring a chair next year lightweight.

10:36 just saw on AJC that Smith stuck with FSU. If we had been able to steal Smith and Green from Noles that woulda made my day.

10:39 ticks me off they don't have these interviews mic'd. Are Hartman donations down that much that we can't afford technology from the 50s?

10:53 I'd tell u what Coach Baker is saying about the soccer team but I can't (really) hear what he's saying.

11:03 Bacarri Rambo getting ready for Kelin's questions




11:23 update on officials: Derek Owens, Ken Malcome and Brent Benedict.

11:25 still waiting on Bobo and Richt. Crowds a little more than half capacity I would guess.

11:27 Coach Richt takes the mic (that's only there for tv) and introduces his new hires. Says Water Girl should be back to full time since Jon is getting married. Won't comment on Da'Rick for obvious reasons ( but nice try dude). Searels says Sturdivant will be ready. Bobo says QB race is in good hands and that he's excited to have Mason. CMR also says Samuel is working out as a LB.

11:35 Big Dawg makes best comment when he pleads with Grantham to bring the junkyard back. CTG says if he does he expects a bark. Crowd obliges.

11:56 more updates and videos soon. I'm hungry!

CMR talking about off season and positions

1:35 Newberg on 680theFan says we're still in it for Christian Green. He'll choose between us and FSU at 3:30.

Here's CMR talking about the Ogletree twins

4:49 After attending parent/teacher conferences for my girls I emerge to surprising details. Champ Bailey asks me how our class is shaping up (via twitter).

4:50 check some updates and looks like Christian Green (FSU) did indeed slip through our grasp as did Adrian Coxson (floriDuh). Neither were big surprises, but Green really wanted to come to Athens. Sounds like it came down to location and friends.

4:51 BUT...looks like a very lanky, athletic WR did officially sign ($$) his Georgia LOI, Lonnie Outlaw (yes, you read that right). Downside is that he will attend GMC this fall. Not Athens. He'll actually need two years there to become eligible for UGA. But when he does officially become a Dawg, Outlaw not only enters the competition for the WR rotation, but also coolest name on the team with Baccari.

4:55 I guess WR becomes the position in question with this class. I'll have a more thorough evaluation up (probably Friday) later. But I think we addressed all of our needs.

9:02 Hoop Dawgs just lost, again. That means it's time for bed. What a day!

I should have a wrap-up post by Friday. Good night Reader.


- Posted using BlogPress from Bernie's iPhone

Countdown to Signing Day…1 (UPDATED)

With just hours to go, let's break this down into what we know and what we can speculate.

What We Know

• Jeff Whitaker is AwwBarn bound. The large, athletic DT became the latest headliner for Chizik’s class.
• Telvin Smith stuck with his commitment to the Noles.
• Parking is gonna be at a premium tomorrow morning at Butts-Mehre. I may just go over and sleep in my car tonight. It’s not supposed to be cold is it?
• UPDATE: Kentarious Gates of Greenville SC will not sign with Kentucky tomorrow. Instead he will become a Dawg at 11AM. Gates is a large young man (6'5" 298) that could play either guard or tackle.

What We Can Speculate

• Robey is as good as gone. Word is Ol’ Man Kiffy has bent that ear pretty good.
• Kadron Boone is seriously considering the Dawgs ($$). But I think he ends up in Baton Rouge. He’s probably decided by now, but will announce from his school at 4pm tomorrow.
• Da’Rick Rogers will surprise everyone and stick with Coach Richt tomorrow. If I’m wrong the AJC might just get so giddy they piss themselves.
• Michael Thornton hasn’t trimmed his list much, but visited Auburn, Georgia, Penn State, USC (the real one) and Kentucky. I think he chooses Athens.

Those are my humble opinions. What are yours?

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Monday's Meatloaf - Don't Pick Your Nose at the Crossroads

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There’s a moment in every blawgger’s life when he (or she…) must take a step back and gain some perspective. And if I know you as well as I think I do Reader, right now you’re muttering something along the lines of You’ve needed more than a little perspective for quite a while now Bernie.

Thanks. I feel the love.

But the reality is that just as Coach Richt pulled the trigger on some pretty big changes back in early December, I feel the need to address some things around here. I don’t want things to get stale. After all, stale meatloaf is about as worthless as warm beer (notice the emphasis on about).

No, I’m not gonna make a run at Kirby Smart to take Darren the intern's gig and I’m not gonna ask the wife to be the water girl. More importantly, I’m not going offline altogether. But after Wednesdays’ 2nd Annual Nat’l Signing Day Journal, you may notice lighter than usual posting for a few weeks. Looking for answers, pondering life's mysteries.

It’ll be like that peyote scene in Young Guns…

She is my flower…DID YOU SEE THE SIZE OF THAT CHICKEN?!?

Today’s Ingredients

• I had a pretty good weekend, movie with the little lady, cozied up to my pal Jim, Supper Club at the Trammell’s…
• But Herschel…Damn! Herschel had a weekend. He treated Nagy like a 180lb SEC safety from back in the early 80s on his way to a third round TKO.
• And while the aftermath of Walker’s first MMA bout left Dawg fans impressed (yet somewhat unsurprised), others wonder if he’s a one and done wonder for Strikeforce. I don’t see it, but in case Walker is done, a former teammate has an idea for his next endeavour.
• And in case you missed it altogether, LeatherHelmetBlog has the full video of Herschel badassness.
• Could Odell Thurman be playing himself back into the NFL? (h/t LaJollaJennifer)
• And speaking of Jennifer, check out the world according to her.
• Damn. Looks like Catfish and Cornbread has come full circle. Just damn.
• Your silence Friday was deafening. Consider the Dooley Issue shelved. Of course it helps that Coach read my post and promptly announced he’ll watch the game October 9th from home (h/t Kyle King).
• Doesn’t look like we’ll be running into any homegrown Colorado blue chippers during our trip this fall to Boulder.
• Next year Stanford will win the Pac-10 and we can cheer for ol’ Willie in the granddaddy of them all.
• In a dreadful weekend for UGA sports where the Lady Dawgs (ugh) and the Gym Dogs (double ugh) lost to AwwBarn…and Coach Fox's crew let another one slip through their paws...the tennis team held their own to advance in the ITAs.
• Over the weekend the Dawgs lost a potential signature in Deon Rogers. This afternoon we’ll know for sure if Jeff Whitaker prefers red…or urranjah ($$).
• With the weather continuing to spit in Al Gore’s eye, not to mention leaving me wishing I didn’t live so far north…it’s nice to think warm, spring thoughts. You know, like track and field. Remember Torrin Lawrence? The Red and Black does.

And as we zero in on the day half the Dawg Nation spends pretending it’s a Nat’l Holiday and the other half spends pretending to work on spreadsheets at their desk (it’s the F5 key Frank….), hope springs eternal.

Which makes you wonder, was Da'Rick Rogers humming Rocky Flop as he got slobbery with the HillBillys crystal?

Don't fret too much Reader. We knew an Orson only comes around once in a lifetime. And an AJ is even rarer.

But the meatloaf's not rare anymore. Here's your fork. Let it do some work.


Bernie

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