Nick Marshall, one Wild Dawg

Even before this article delved into "emergency running back" talk, I was already thinking of Hines Ward type versatility.

Nick Marshall’s coach said he wasn’t surprised to hear UGA football coachMark Richt mention that Marshall may play some QB in college.

Marshall is one of the most decorated quarterbacks in the history of Georgia high school football, but signed with the Bulldogs to play defensive back. Richt told reporters recently that Marshall may see time at QB in Georgia’s Wildcat formation — or the “Wild Dawg” as Richt likes to call it.

“No surprise there,” Wilcox County football coach Mark Ledford said. “We talked about that after Nick committed to play defensive back. Coach Richt called up to say that he might put some kind of package in there for him.

“After watching Nick for four years, I would say any way that Georgia could find a way to get the ball in Nick’s hands, that would be a great idea.”

And yet...I still have a "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude. Call it The Bobo Postulate - you have to have at least one wild hair to have a Wild Dawg.

Big John is pissed!!

h/t ecdawg

As the academic rumor mill churned last week, John Jenkins found himself at the center of speculation as to whether he would even be in Athens much less challenge Kwame Geathers at nose tackle. In an effort to find the source of the rumor, I used my cellular device to call the old ball coach on the golf course...

Moob over Garcia. You're sittin'
on my Banquets.

"Heywho'sthis?!?...oh, that Bernie fella. No, there's no truth to it. I was just sick of hearing about my drunk nekkid quarterback. Thought I'd shine the spotlight some where else." 

Then with a little chuckle..."And HEY! It worked, for a little while at least. Kinda like that draw play we'd run back in '96 when Wuerffel was there. We'd hand that thing to Fred Taylor..."

The rest trailed off as I hung up. Besides, I could tell the Visor was well into his case of Banquet Beer. But I share all that because Chip Towers has gone directly to the source (why didn't I think of that?) and spoken to Jenkins and his coach. The bottomline is that Jenkins is in no academic trouble or turmoil. He didn't stop going to classes and isn't going to fail out of school before he even sends his first dinner picture to Coach T.


He's good. No problems. However, September 10th 'tween the hedges...you might not wanna be standing between him and the Carolina quarterback. I hear Big John likes chicken almost as much as totin' his backpack full of #2 pencils to class. And after reading this he's probably gonna be mighty pissed at the gamechickens.


Say it with me Reader, State Trooper Fist Bump! GATA!

The Nkemdiche Brothers

Recruiting Late
First, the expected news. Dillon Lee did not name UGA as his choice last night. He named Bama over FSU and the others. Georgia was late in the game and wasn't really expected to land the in-state prospect, despite the fact that his brother Dallas is currently on Richt's roster.


There's some frustrations over this one, some of which is understood. But it's important to remember that as it stands right now Richt's 2012 class is going to be pretty small, especially compared to last year. Right now I think we're looking at around 8 fewer scholarships to offer. And if there was ever any doubt about how Richt feels about oversigning, he's made it perfectly clear here recently.


I don't like that a local kid I think is going to be a heck of a player in college has decided to cross state lines. But after looking into the situation more, I'm not as bothered by the fact that we were so late to the Dillon Lee party. Some programs serve scholarship offers out of ice cream trucks it seems. Richt and staff are more methodical, laborious. And after this year's class they hauled in, I'm more than willing to cut them some slack over a kid that's ranked 24th at his position nationally.


The Denzel Nkemdiche Situation
This is a great wrapup ($$) by Fletcher Page on the developing story of the Nkemdiche brothers. I frequently disclose that I'm not a huge follower of recruiting. I keep my finger on the pulse, but don't update my notes each and every day like some do. So I'll also freely admit that as recently as a couple weeks ago I had never heard of Denzel. Perhaps I had read the name here or there, but it was his brother Robert that has most recruitniks star struck.


Robert Nkemdiche is in 10th grade. He's 16 years old. I mention that because of what's next. He's nearly six and a half feet tall and weighs 265 pounds. He's a beast and has been on everyone's radar for awhile. The Nkemdiche's are from Grayson, GA. There isn't a Div I school on their radar that is closer than UGA.


What's the key to landing Robert Nkemdiche? His older brother Denzel. 


Denzel has signed to play next year with Miss. Gulf Coast. However, since then he has recently cleared a Div I eligibility hurdle. If everything else plays out just right in the next couple of weeks, he should join an SEC school this summer. He's visiting Ole Miss, he also likes Georgia. Wherever he ends up this Fall is likely where his brother ends up.


A lot more is known about Denzel's academics than his athletics. Because he has only recently qualified, he's not ranked by most recruiting services. But he's a good athlete (5'11", 195lbs) and could likely contribute and compete. 


Hope it's in Athens. Unlike with Lee, I feel pretty good about our chances.

Monday's Meatloaf - Stupidity has run amok

How to implicate yourself in 20 words or less:

Sometimes it's just better to keep your mouth closed. That said, I hate when I lift some chicks purse and then she tells the judge there was more crap in there than there actually was. Pisses me off! 

She doesn't even look like she knows how to use a calculator.

Today's Ingredients

• UGA Athletics news to come. But first, this is the biggest news from the weekend. Welcome home Exile! Whatever shall we call thee now?
• Teams continue to find that it's hard to beat the Dawgs in tennis. Both the men and the women have advanced to the round of 16 and play later this week in California.
• Not a great weekend for the Diamond Dawgs, but they did earn their spot in the SEC Tourney with a win over the Wildcats.
• The softball team couldn't quite win the SEC Saturday, but they will host a regional this week against Georgia State.
• Mike thinks the "Tale" is wagging the Dawg once more.
• Remember, tonight we find out where Dillon Lee intends on playing football in college.
• ecdawg enters into the college playoff discussion with some words he thinks Tony Barhart missed.
• PWD had an intriguing post yesterday about the future of Georgia Sports Blog. Hmmm...
• Although the "should have lost" descriptor makes me cringe, Martin van Dawgin has the first post in an installment designed to evaluate Coach Richt.
• If you don't know the name Nkemdiche, Chad Simmons says you should become familiar ($$).
• Yes! I've been saying this more and more the last couple years - get the student athletes off the social webs as much as possible. 
• Although I do disagree with Mr. Sanchez, I think Coach Fox has the right idea: let the guys who've shown they can handle themselves maturely have a longer leash.
• "Tressel doesn't deny wrongdoing. By hiring Marsh, Tressel intends to not deny himself the best chance of survival." If Jimmy Tressel weren't so slimy he might actually be cute. h/t Senator
• Not long after finding out that Mike Blakely might transfer from Gayturdsville to Skip Holtz's South Florida team, we also find out that FUs Chris Dunkley may do the same thing.
• Lastly, Serena Williams recently graduated from the Erin Andrews School of Attention Whoring, magna cum laude no less.

Always willing to try something different, today I'm coming to you from the luggage compartment of my mother in law's car. She's leaving our home today despite the pleadings of all of its denizens. She intends to head home, a return to retirement living. Peace and quiet reawakened.

But the thought of detoxing two kids who've spent nearly two weeks being entertained by their grandparents, plus dealing with my tonsilless patient...I have decided to leave as well. When the going gets tough on the homefront, dads typically resort to extreme measures. Hence the reason I'm currently huddled up with a spare tire and trying not to yelp when she hits a pothole.

Meanwhile, I'm sure my kids are on the school bus, crying. They'll spend the day trudging through their readings, some math word problems...maybe a visit to the library where they'll mindlessly thumb through a book. Lunch and recess will lift their spirits. And then they'll get off the bus and realize their mom is their own to care for. They'll debate which one has the better measuring skills when it comes to liquid narcotic oral suspension. Mrs. Bernie will whisper at them, with several exclamation points!!!!!

(Crap) just got real in the Bernie home y'all. Everybody might love Raymond, but in my house this dad is getting a different vibe. And yet I'm starting to feel bad about leaving. This was a stupid idea, what was I thinking? When my lady's old lady pulls over to refill her iced tea, I guess I'll hop off and head back south. Any readers around the Charlotte area that are Atlanta bound today? 

I packed a PB&J. I'll split it with ya...? The rest of you enjoy your Monday. 

Bernie

In the case of King v Ealey

First off, let me apologize for the problems with the posts yesterday and today. Actually, not sure why I’m apologizing since I can’t really control the gerbils that power the inner workings of Blogger. Hopefully they’ve got things back on track for good.

Secondly, if you’re convinced that King is already academically ineligible you’re going to find the rest of this post a waste of your time. Because I think it’s just the opposite. If I’m wrong I’ll gladly pay my blogging fine and endure whatever ridicule thrown my way. As long as those of you who have jumped the gun on this agree to admit you were wrong, publicly…privately...whatever. As PWD pointed out the other day on Twitter, there’s a precedent for things like this being wrong. We live in a world where the value is mistakenly placed on being first…not necessarily being right.

Today I wanted to draw a definite distinction between these two running backs. They share similarities in their position on the field and the fact that they’ve become familiar with the doghouse. But while I’m happy that UGA and Ealey have parted ways, I’m equally pleased that Caleb King will be around next season.

King is a well rounded back that I just have to believe is ready to put the past behind him. The past includes injuries, standing in Knowshon’s shadow, trouble with the law and certainly other poor choices. I think he’s equally ready to embrace the role of Crowell’s backfield “supervisor”, take the ball from Murray and do Damn Good Dawg things with it.

I think it’s short-sighted to lump King in with Ealey, as many have seemingly done. By most accounts, Ealey was bad for the locker room. King has had moments where he’s hurt his team, that’s more than fair. But I think he can make the team better on the field and off. Ealey had moments like the game in Lexington last year where he made the team better on the field. But ultimately he’s all about two letters, M and E. He wants to be a premier back but is working off a 16 year old ego-centric mindset. I hope his 21 year old body grows out of that real soon. Just wasn’t going to happen in Athens.

On the other hand, I think King’s already transforming himself. I think he’s prepping for his swan song. Join me in hoping it’s a tune we can bark to.

Buford's Lee to announce Monday

Dawg fans have been wondering two things regarding the recruitment of Buford's Dillon Lee: 

1. What took so long for Georgia to offer one of the state's top prospects who also happens to have a brother on the roster?
2. And will Georgia's tardiness affect Lee's decision?

Well, we'll know Monday what Lee's plans are.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder from Buford High School confirmed to the AJC that he will announce on Monday whether he will join his brother with the Bulldogs — or commit to one of his three other finalists of Alabama, Florida State and USC.

Here’s Lee on Wednesday night with quick hits on his final four:

• Florida State: “I really like the campus and whole environment there in Tallahassee.”
• Alabama: “I really like what they do on defense. I like their defensive coaches and the defensive system they have.”
• Southern Cal: “That has been my favorite team growing up … my whole life.”
• UGA: “That’s my in-state school. My brother plays there. My whole family is Georgia fans, and I’ve been going to games there my whole life. I know a lot about them, and I’ve been trying to get to know the new linebackers coach since he was hired.”

Lee has accumulated nearly 20 offers; ironically, UGA was most recent, despite the family ties. Georgia linebackers coach, Kirk Olivadotti, called Lee with an offer from the Bulldogs on May 2. Georgia hired the former NFL assistant on Feb. 18.

Hard to go against Bama here. But I still like our chances too...despite being late to the party.

Running Back Depth

Ealey's departure sent a mere ripple along the depth chart. Washaun was as behind on the clipboard as he was in attitude. The lack of a running attack is something that has been addressed in the off season. But there's much work left to do. 


Yesterday the rumor mill chugged along heartily as people speculated as to the future of Caleb King. But from comments Coach Richt made last night, it's pretty clear at this point that King is still very much a part of the RB equation.


Put the cart down and slow your gallop folks. Grades are all in Monday. I have a really good feeling everything's gonna be okay.


In the mean time, here's a few points I'm pondering.

• Caleb had a good Spring, as far as that goes. The GDay game aside, I think this is something we can measure pretty realistically based on Coach Richt's public comments recently, especially regarding Ealey. If King had entered Spring drills with anything less than a smile on his face I'm fairly certain we would've heard about it.
• That's not to say CK's past isn't fully behind him. The reason he missed the bowl game may seem like a minor detail in some eyes, but setting things right academically would be a huge stiff arm. If we don't hear anything negative in the next several days about his grades, that would be a great thing. 
• Let me re-emphasize that...it would be a GREAT thing. As much as some fans want King to hit the highway, I'll continue to contend that having him in the backfield this Fall is extremely important from both a consistency standpoint and a protection standpoint.
• Malcome was a breath of fresh air this Spring. I still wonder how much he can create on his own. And I wonder that because of our offensive line's struggles and inconsistency last season. But he's shown he has good vision and can grind out some yards that's for sure.
• Thomas is not an every down back. Last season made that clear, abundantly clear. However, used effectively he can be a change of pace back when put into space with good blocking. He should never be put in any danger of getting lost in Ben Jones' armpit...or worse, well...nevermind.
• Crowell. The red carpet has been rolled out. Everyone's eager to see what he does with it. The faster he absorbs things (playbook, blocking assignments, pass routes...) the more versatility McClendon and Bobo have in their backfield.

Right now I like the group we have. We have some experience that is eager to make the most of his last opportunity. We have some size and a lot of speed. More than anything we have a group that can help an offensive line out some as it grows into what we need it to be.

We'll see where things are closer to September 3rd.

NCAA flexing little used and underdeveloped muscle

Mark Emmert has watched THE!! Ohio State University football program turn into a bastion of ethical ineptitude. He's also practiced his sashaying while AwwBarn wrote the checks for their national championship.


But today's a new day!

Mark Emmert wants to start hitting NCAA rule-breakers hard.

The governing body's president said Tuesday he wants schools that violate the rules to pay a stiff penalty -- one that's punitive enough to make coaches and others think twice about cheating.

"We need to make sure our penalty structure and enforcement process imposes a thoughtful level of concern, and that the cost of violating the rules costs more than not violating them," Emmert said.

Talk is cheap Mr. Emmert. Wake us up when you finally decide to use your broadened resources for enforcement. 


Except you Central Florida. Y'all should probably stay awake. A good lamb never slumbers during its sacrifice.

On Washaun

When the news broke, like anyone else I naturally assumed that he had gotten into some kind of legal trouble again. But this sounds more like a parting of ways thing. A divorce that seems to have been a long time coming. Most people seem to think Ealey ends up in Statesboro. Hard to tell if that is just because that has been the rumor for the last 6 months or if there is something factual behind it now. But Georgia Southern is very close to his home and he could play right away there. 


We'll see. 

That's the short of it. The long of it is that Washaun evidently has decided that he doesn't want to be a part of the new attitude in Athens. Richt has purged some bad attitudes since the end of last season, he's had some that graduated and the rest have decided to fall in line. In late February it seemed as though Ealey had decided to be a part of that last group. Now it seems as if that isn't the case.

My hope is that he is simply eager for a new venue and a fresh start. That would be the silver lining. If he didn't want to become the player he can be in Athens, I sincerely hope he does so elsewhere. He's got too much talent to waste his good years bucking against structure and rules.

The fact of the matter is that EVERY tailback that comes to Athens has a TREMENDOUS amount of pressure on their shoulders before they even arrive. It's been that way since the fall of '83. Some have thrived under that pressure like Hearst. Others have faltered like Jasper Sanks. Ealey faltered, but he didn't blaze out like Sanks did. A new area code might do him a world of good.

And I think it will do the Dawgs good as well.

Monday's Meatloaf - Hydrocondoning it

Been a busy weekend as I've had to drop back into zone coverage on the homefront. Mrs. Bernie is now tonsil-impaired and the recovery time is full of crushed ice and heavy narcotics. 


In other words, she's on doctor ordered vacay, bless her heart. Meanwhile I've become reacquainted with where the linen closet is, how to manage two kids by myself that like to pretend to hate each other and how to stuff their little faces with leftovers so that you can hear the coverage of the 18th hole of the Wells Fargo Championship on the tv.


I'm actually missing the wife's voice. Sure it was nice the first day or so not having her yell at me to turn the volume down on the TV. But now when I hear the ting-a-ling!! upstairs...wait a moment...and then hear the TING-AAAA-LING!!!!...well, that means I have to pause whatever's on, get off the sofa, climb the stairs, walk over to her bedside and lean down real close.


All so I can hear her whisper, "Turn the tv down!" Only wives can still use exclamation points with their whispers.


"Ok Honey." Then once I believe I am out of her narcotic ear range I whisper back, "Can I reheat you some leftovers yet?"


Today's Ingredients

• Lots of great UGA Athletics news, mostly from yesterday afternoon.
• Let's start with the Diamond Dawgs, who overcame a seemingly impossible deficit to avoid an Auburn sweep in Opelika. Thanks in part to a Kyle Farmer grandslam and a 9 run 9th inning, the Dawgs won 14-11.
• Next, Russell Henley may have had a harder time selecting a Mother's Day card than winning the Stadion Classic in Athens.
• And the softball team showed some muscle in beating MSU yesterday.
• Hedges to Hardwood has a hoops update that includes the latest on Kevin Ware.
• Exile bids farewell to Seve Ballesteros, who passed away over the weekend.
• So Stephen Garcia graduated from South Crackalacky. I didn't even know they offered double majors in Wasting of Talent and Abject Debauchery.
• the Senator brings to light a developing story I saw on an ESPN Outside the Lines feature yesterday. It's pretty awkward in the world of Nebraska athletics these days. I wonder how many collegiate athletic programs are paying attention. 
• There's a quote in this piece about the HillBilly's passing game that begs the question: What will the receivers catch the football with this Fall?
• You fellow Gwinnettians should've been pulling for Mucho Macho Man in the Derby Saturday. The hometown horse did us proud.
• Lastly, the quiet you hear out of Ohio is from Buckeye fans realizing that they may be setting the new standard on college football programs out of control.
• UPDATE: Univ. of Alabama NYC is having a silent auction tomorrow to raise money for the tornado victims. The items are naturally Crimson Tide based, but also included is a Tracy Wolfson sideline experience that can be used at any CBS game during the season. You don't have to be present to win. (h/t Kerri)

No word yet on if Uncle Verne's knee is part of the experience.

At the risk of hurting Rashard Mendenhall's feelings, can we now turn the Navy Seals on the NBA? After getting the kids to bed last night and fluffing the wife's pillow a little, I went downstairs and (quietly...very cognizant of the volume...) turned on the tv to get the golf highlights. It was a great finish up in Charlotte and I wanted to see it again and hear some soundbytes.


Instead I was treated to one of the sickest displays I've ever seen in sports. Move over Kent Hrbek, the LA Lakers are pulling your fat, tired ass off the bag.


I'm on record as not a fan of pro sports, mostly across the board. The NBA is at the top of that list. I don't enjoy the lack of rules, the lack of education in the majority of its workforce and the "Me Mentality" on display is a bad example for our kids and our society as a whole. So I'm a little upset with myself that I would be so surprised that the Lakers, who are supposed to be the gold standard of champions in the league would resort to bullying and flat out assault at the end of their season.


If you call yourself an NBA fan today, please watch the league closely. Those thugs should be spending time in jail to start next season. However if they're on the hardwood instead, use your voice and your remote to take a stand. There's no room for that in sports. And a league office that condones that type of behavior in any way doesn't deserve its own fans' time and money.


And don't be surprised if Seal Team 6 makes a run at their compound. I bet that Bynum beeatch would even use his lady as a human shield. Coward punk. As for you Reader...better late than never. Here's your fork, dig in.


Bernie