Nkemdiche talks leaders

DawgNation's Radi Nabulsi caught up with Grayson HS's Robert Nkemdiche to talk about how his recruitment is progressing. In the video below he discusses each school and is specifically asked about Coach Richt's newest hire, Daryl Jones as director of on-campus recruiting. Jones was a coach at Grayson Nkemdiche's freshman year.

Originally we were supposed to hear of the top player's decision this week, but he decided to take some more visits before making a commitment. Jones' hire certainly makes Nkemdiche feel more comfortable in Athens. However the competition for this kid's signature is fierce.

Diamond Dawgs open SEC tourney with a loss

Not enough action at the plate with runners in scoring position. Vanderbilt wins 4-1.

Diamond Dawgs play today at 4:00 against Auburn with their backs against the wall. Here's some post game quotes from Perno and Hyams.

Georgia Head Coach David Perno
Opening statement:
“(Vanderbilt) did a great job. That relief pitcher, (Brian) Miller, was outstanding. We just didn’t have any answer. We just had a tough time putting anything together.”

On how Vanderbilt’s pitching was able to limit Georgia offensively…
“The side arm guy was tough. He did a good job. I thought we did a good job against (Drew) VerHagen, we just couldn’t score. We couldn’t grab momentum, and Alex (Wood) struggled a little bit controlling tempo of the game and just wasn’t himself. We just never could grab momentum.”

Levi Hyams (Sr., Second base)
On his effort today…
“They got the big hits when it counted. They took advantage of their opportunities, and we didn’t. We got some runners on, and I feel like we were on VerHagen, but that rubber arm guy, he’s pretty good. All of his stuff had sink, and he got a lot of us out. Tip your hat to him, but they took advantage of opportunities, and we just didn’t. That’s what it boils down to.”

On tomorrow’s elimination game against Auburn…
“Backs against the wall. That’s the same thing it was last year. We’re in the same situation. We lost the first one to Vanderbilt, and then we came back and won a few and got ourselves to Regionals. It’s the same situation. We’re going to play like there’s no tomorrow and keep grinding and try to get better every day. (We’ll try to be) better offensively and like Coach said, if we back our pitching a little more, I think we’ll be all right.”

Humpday Hurdling Hilarity

I know what you're saying. "Bernie, how could hurdling be funny?"

My answer..."You're welcome."

h/t ecdawg

Perno talks SEC Tourney

Here's part of his press conference from yesterday on getting ready for the SEC tournament in Hoover.

The Diamond Dawgs lead off against Vanderbilt today. Full bracket here.

Limited number of football tickets available

A limited number of football tickets are now on sale through Georgiadogs.com. Single game tickets are available to Buffalo, Florida Atlantic and Vanderbilt (September 1st, 15th and 22nd respectively). In addition some season tickets are available as well.

Due to visiting team ticket returns, a limited number of tickets to three home football games will be on sale to the general public starting Monday, May 21, 2012 @ 9a.m.
Single game tickets are $45 each and are available to the following home games:
September 1 Buffalo
September 15 Florida Atlantic
September 22 Vanderbilt
All single game tickets ordered will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis.

Also, a limited number of football single season tickets will be on sale. Season tickets are $280 and will be sold as singles only as no pairs will be available.

Tickets will be available for purchase online and by calling the Athletic Association ticket office 1-877-542-1231.

MASTERCARD AND VISA ONLY.

Monday's Meatloaf - expanded thoughts

Spent the weekend in Clempson visiting the folks. Had a long conversation with Dad at lunch about the off season topic du jour, expansion and it's step-brother the playoff. I was interested to get the feeling around there about how things were playing out, specifically after FSU went semi-public with their desires.

Whine and cheese douche

The easiest way to look at the ACC right now is as a divided nation. It's been that way forever really. It's just that it's no longer just an oddly shaped mole that gets some attention every now and then. Now it's a cancerous mass that is being picked and prodded from every angle.


Clemson fans are firmly entrenched in the "football side", better known as the Anti-Swoffords. The last straw really was adding Syracuse and Pittsburgh. The commish is akin to a four letter word and well below the mud underneath Danny Ford's tractor.


I think if I could have it my way I'd add Clemson and Virginia Tech to get to 16 teams and watch the rest fight over the crumbs. Like Tyler, I prefer games with meaning. So I'd rather add two teams with solid fan bases and good game day environments that make the trips worth it and the home fare better tasting. 


Cupcakes are for preschoolers.


Today's Ingredients

• Sorry for the small serving spoon today. Long weekend and then I spent most of last night watching the tennis team's season come to an end.
• CCRider sums up things in a way only he can.
• ecdawg has a look at the SEC baseball tournament bracket.
• Here's King's weekend sports summary.
• Blutarsky has the latest chapter in the 8 game conference epic fail tale.
• Like Kimberley I'll be pulling for Boykin to do well.
• Lastly, I read Saturday's entry by CRob on his Italy blog and come to two thoughts: I get a kick out of being able to peek in on these guys' trip to such a beautiful country, and I'm so glad #45 is on our team. Dude just gets what it means to be a Dawg.

One last thought on expanded bliss. I mentioned up there if I could have it my way. I guess if we were really to get out our own magic wands, I would:

• drop Mizzou like bad habit
• add VA Tech after throwing a bunch of monopoly cash at the floor of the Virginia state legislature to distract them
• add Clempson on condition that they would surrender Lake Hartwell forthwith
• then tell the chickens to take their sniveling somewhere else

There, back to 12 teams. We keep the conference championship game, just rename it the True College Football Championship, sponsored by BDB. Here's you fork Reader. Have a terrific Monday!

Bernie

Pepperdine bounces Dawgs from tourney

Tough loss last night for the men's tennis team. After losing the doubles point the Dawgs fought back to take a 3-1 match lead. After Wil Spencer lost the Waves had tied it at 3-3. So it came down to Sadio Duombia's match against Llompart. Despite forcing a third set, Sadio ran out of steam. Tough ending to a great season. Something we've come to expect from Coach Diaz's teams.

“Pepperdine just played a great match,” Georgia coach Manuel Diaz said. “They really owned the big moments. They were composed. They brought their best tennis at the most important times. I have to give them all the credit. Today was a day where they competed well and we gave all we had. We just came up a little bit short.”

Josh Cardiello makes it official

Josh Cardiello made official yesterday what had long been expected. He becomes Coach Richt's 16th commitment for the 2013 class. Here Radi Nabulsi talks to him about his decision.

Gear up for Glory helmet schedule

Now you have the 2012 schedule covered...one with jorts and helmets (plus a north avenue surprise)...and this one, which I think would make a beautiful desktop background.

Tennis team advances

The men's tennis team advanced to the next round of the NCAA tournament by blanking UNC 4-0 last night in Athens.

ATHENS, Ga. -- On a day that started with four SEC men’s tennis teams alive in the NCAA Championships, only Georgia remains to carry the conference banner in the tournament quarterfinals.

The Bulldogs overwhelmed North Carolina 4-0 Friday night before a highly partisan crowd of more than 2,300 at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.

“It felt really electric,” Georgia’s Nathan Pasha said. “The crowd is so big and it provides a lot of energy, so you have to do a good job of not getting too excited with everyone out there.”

This is the first time any of Georgia’s starters have played before an NCAA championships crowd in Athens, 40 years after Georgia first hosted the event. It has since hosted the championships 30 times thanks to the efforts of longtime coach Magill, who made the event a mainstay at UGA thanks to a carnival-like atmosphere that was highly uncommon for college tennis.

The Bulldogs gave the home crowd plenty to cheer -- and their applause undulated from polite oohs when Sadio Doumbia snuck in a crafty drop shot during his singles match to a loud roar when Pasha clinched the Georgia victory with a win at No. 5 singles.