UGA Game Ball Relay

I've been meaning to throw some pub this way for a couple weeks. This is a great chance for fans to participate in something unique and truly special. The UGA Game Ball Relay is set up for UGA lettermen to take part in a relay that will stretch from Atlanta's Shepherd Center at 10am Friday August 31st across 90 miles on its way to Athens at Sanford Stadium in time for kickoff against Buffalo. The cities including on the walk are Atlanta, Stone Mountain, Loganville, Snellville and Athens.

In addition to lending one's support by participating in the "Red Zone March", you can also donate and become a Red Zone Warrior.

CLICK HERE for additional details. And for updates you can follow @UGAGBR on Twitter.

via UGAGBR

Flashback - the 2002 season

There's a lot to remember and cherish about the 2002 season, and this video reminds us of all the highlights, big plays and subplots along the way. One of my favorite side stories will always be Tony Milton,. You'll remember that Milton was the kid Richt basically found living out of his car, gave him a chance and he became a legendary backfield blocker. In fact, he might be the reason a lot of young kids haven't started at running back until they can at least attempt to model a Tony Milton block.

And of course my favorite Munson quip from this video references a Milton run - "We put the WHOLE SCHOOL out in front of him!". Enjoy.

h/t Dawg19

Every time I see that blocked field goal against the Vols I think Boss gets higher than the last time I saw it. Absolutely superhuman.

Back to Milton, he once said "I'm more than willing to do anything to help the team...The coaches came to me and asked me if I would make the move. It's pretty much the same thing as tailback, the same blocking assignments.'' Kind of reminds you of another guy we have on the roster now, doesn't it?

Sizing up the competition (anonymously)

I saw Blutarsky and Tyler post on it earlier this week, so I decided to read up on what the SEC coaches were saying about each other's teams. If you haven't already you can as well, just click here. There's something deliciously intriguing about providing someone with anonymity. Kind of like giving a blogger... message boreder... twitterer...a person a keyboard and internet connectivity.

Anyway, thought it would be cool to look specifically at our biggest games this season through the lenses of SEC coaches. Here's what I took away from it.

Mizzou
The QB Franklin will be the real deal and the offense will make the Tigers a threat. However, the general feeling is that the defense won't be up to snuff. The question of toughness will be answered as the games wear on, and it will not tilt the scoreboard in Mizzou's favor.

However, will this affect the SEC opener at all? It's pointed out that Mizzou has to face Georgia, S. Carolina, Bama, Texas A&M and Florida. That's a tall task for an SEC fledgling. Eventually the collision course that is SEC Saturdays will affect the Tigers. I'm just not sure how much it will play into the game September 8th. 

Don't misunderstand. It will be a determining factor; how well Mizzou can handle Georgia's talent, depth and physical nature (especially when they have the ball) will play into the final score. But how much it does depends on Georgia in their first test on the season.

Tennessee
It's clear to the SEC coaches that Tennessee is a broken program. Words and phrases like "get himself straight mentally", "did not play hard", "soft" and "just okay" don't scare many opposing coaches. And it's clear to opposing fans that no one really knows how good this team will be. The Vols have the talent to do some real damage, even make a run for the SECCG. But you can just as easily see them only winning a game or two before folding up like they did last year.

Receiver is clearly the position that scares opponents the most. Justin Hunter was easily on pace to equal a sterling freshman season last year when he went down with an ACL tear. Cordarelle Patterson was a huge JUCO pickup for Dooley in the off season. And Rogers is back with the team again, right? I've lost track. If this talented corps can catch enough bottles balls from Bray it should really open things up for them offensively.

New USCe DC, Coach Ward (via)

South Carolina
The quotes on the Gamecocks are understandably glowing. Despite not winning the East last season, Spurrier did a masterful job at adjusting his tried and true playbook to the personnel he had on the field. It's clear that to beat the Gamecocks you have to win in the trenches, and last year's game at Sanford is a clear example of that. You might outplay them on the edges and downfield, but if you don't out tough them along the lines of scrimmage you are in for a long day.

However, one thing that is noticeably missing is the non mention of the new defensive coordinator, Lorenzo Ward. He was elevated to the position when Ellis Johnson left to become the head coach at Southern Miss. Ward will likely do a lot of things Johnson was successful doing. If it ain't broke right? He promises to have an attacking style and still has the personnel to make that happen.

But it's his first year running things. That's something to at least keep an eye on. As a basis to go from, Carolina was 10th nationally in scoring defense last season and 3rd in total defense. They were especially difficult for opposing offenses at home where they only gave up 12 points per game. On the road, that number more than doubled. Will the transition to Ward running things be smooth enough to rise to those numbers again?

Florida
First off, this is just gold for all my fellow gator-haters:

Scheme was also a problem because they were trying to play a pro-style offensive with spread-style players. (Former offensive coordinator) Charlie Weis never seemed to have a handle on what he could do to get the offense going.

They were maybe the fastest team that we played against, but I did not think they were tough, and I think there were some issues between some players and coaches on the offensive side of the ball.

There's little question that last season's Florida team was a shell of its former self. They lacked their usual intensity, size, toughness and were noticeably awkward in trying to adapt track stars into formations and systems ill equipped to showcase their wares. Going forward Muschamp's team will have to become a tougher team that can handle 60 minutes of football. Dropping the dead weight of Weis' "decided schematic advantage" could go a long way towards helping that. And at times the defense just seemed a step or two away from getting things together. Year two in the system should help.

Overall, this team will be improved. In the Athlon piece a coach noted that Florida's offense was composed of very dangerous TE's and RB's, but teams weren't afraid of their wideouts. For the Gators to turn things around that will have to change. Additionally, it's hard to get a handle on just how much further Muschamp can take the team in another off season. He inherited a mess. A super fast track team of a mess, but a team in disarray nonetheless. 

Auburn
The analysis starts here with the coordinator changes. Just like with Florida (offense), Tennessee (defense) and South Carolina (defense) the adjustments to new systems and styles will go a long way in determining the season's win-loss record. And the Plainsmen have it on both sides of the ball.

On offense, Scott Loeffler takes over for guru Malzahn. Fortunately for Auburn Loeffler has had a tour through the SEC before in 2009 with Florida. Unfortunately - 

I don’t know about the quarterback situation. I guess they don’t either. That’s never a good thing.

Of course, Brian Vangorder takes over for Ted Roof as defensive coordinator. That's a certain upgrade. But along with it, Willie Martinez takes over as secondary coach for [insert ANYone's name here] and that's a surefire downgrade. 

Ultimately, I think Auburn's defense keeps them in a lot of games. How many of those turn out to be wins depends on how well the quarterback position pans out. There's a lot of young talent at running back (even without the freshman Robinson who is surely not going to play anywhere this season) and they have senior McCalebb to lead the way. The Auburn Tigers could be a fortified unit come November, or a team desperate for a win.

Is it September yet?

"This house...is clean, of energy vampires."

Let this be a warning to Zombie 5 Star: Energy Vampires are near extinction in Athens.

Coach Richt made mention ($) that he has plenty of stakes left to destroy them, but there are no Energy Vampires in his locker room currently. He even went so far as to say that "'The Energy Bus' was last year", hinting that the team is moving on.

Hope this is also a warning to any five star, top ranked, super recruit zombies out there that are brain dead and really want to bring their "So Cray Crunk Game" to Woodruff Practice Fields. Of course, the coaching staff can't know completely if the recruit is a potential zombie. But hopefully these undead ballers are now inclined to stay the hell away from Athens. 

Because if not, shovels that will lop your head clean off are even more plentiful than wooden stakes.

"I'm a Zombie 5 star. Every program in the country wants 
my flesh eating skillz." (via)

Paris Bostick, a true grinder

via Corey Long, ESPN

Yesterday Plant HS safety Paris Bostick made a commitment to Coach Richt to be a part of the 2013 class. He's a safety with very good size, especially considering he's just entering his last year of high school. At this stage in his development, Bostick can close on the ball extremely well and isn't at all shy of the sport's physicality. Once he works on some fundamentals he projects well at safety (especially Grantham's "star" role) or a hybrid linebacker.

Yes, for those who have been clamoring for the 3 star kid that loves to work, practice and get better, you have your man in Paris Bostick. Although he's one of three safeties committed to UGA for 2013, he brings a different skillset as well as a unique mindset.

Not to mention a difficult history. If you're unfamiliar with Bostick's story, you probably won't be for long. He's a great kid, one the DawgNation will enjoy cheering for in the coming years. Unlike many his road to Division I wasn't paved so smoothly. He's lost his father, grown apart from his mother and recently became emancipated. He picked us over an impressive but comparatively modest selection that included Arkansas, West VA and Louisville. 

You know it takes something special for me to post on recruiting in August. Paris Bostic has worked harder than most to get this far. And I can't wait to see him develop 'tween the hedges.

Video - Bostick talks about his commitment

The anti-Orson

One of the two most intriguing sub-plots to this season's offense for me is the tight end position. That's why I was thrilled BullDawg Illustrated let us listen in as Lynch talked about his role this season and why he's excited too.

Don't Underestimate Arthur Lynch

Monday's Meatloaf - "We all need someone we can lean on"

"Coach Richt, thanks for coming over."

"Well sure. Why are all the cars in your  driv...Wait a 
minute!"

"Don't freak out coach."

"Freak out? You said we were going to watch the closing 
ceremonies."

"I know. This is actually an intervention. We're ...well, 
concerned..."

"An intervention? Coach T,  you're behind this 
aren't you?"

"Coach, we just ALL think the goatee was a 

good idea."

"You're bringing me here, under the pretense of an 
Olympic hors d'oeuvres party to try and convince 
me to shave less?"

"It stood for something new Coach, something 

different..gave many fans a reason to believe."

"Well it gave Kathryn a rash."

"We understand. It's something that's yours,

not really our business...but we embraced it,

nurtured it, cared deeply about. And you.."

"Wait a min..."

"NO! YOU wait a minute...you left it dismantled,

broken and alone in your sink. Like it or not, it

was a part of DawgNation. We NEED it back."

"You can HAVE it Bernie. It's actually still

in the trashcan I think."

"No...you're not hearing me coach. With ALL

due respect, we NEED it back on your face."

"I don't believe this (crap)."

"There! That's it! It would just drive the point

home if you had that epic goatee to go along

with the general badassery."

"Son, I can give ya all ya can take. It's not

like I forgot how to be a badass."

"Yeh, it's just that with it, certain things are

implied. No need to state them..

Your goatee would not have punted to the 

Honey Blazer. Or if it did, the kid woulda fumbled

just trying to run past it. It also would not have 

kicked the FG in Memphis, and if it told me I had

never been in the arena my only response 

would be 'Yessir.'

"I see. You all got it bad for Evil Richt."

Fistbumps for the room. Gets to Mrs. Bernie who simply holds out an empty hand. Richt reaches deep into his chinos and retrieves the guilty Gillette. It's a bit rusty, splattered with blood and has bits of gray beard in between the blades. He hands it to her, looks her in the eye...

"Don't worry darlin'. I won't paint it black anymore either."

As the Ford F-150 motors away, we all swear we can hear The Stones blaring through the streets of Dawgville USA. "Get it on rider. You can bleed all over me."

via Dawgden, via ABH

Today's Ingredients

- Your 2013 national champions, the Georgia Bulldogs. Has a nice ring to it.

- Over at DawgSports, Redcrake takes us on a musical journey through the heart of the 2012 schedule and Dawg2011 lays out a bracket of hate for us to vote on.

- ecdawg found a Mizzou blog that broke down the SEC opener for us. Rather favorably I might add.

- Yesterday I introduced some Erk Russell oldschool math by subtraction. Meanwhile Richt was adding to his scholarship numbers.

- Stands to reason doesn't it, that if Bobo wants this kind of number from Murray that he also has confidence in the line protecting him and the playmakers behind and around him. Does it not?

- Can't help but notice that Gurley's stock has soared in the poll over there since that scrimmage last week. Ching has a nice feature on the kid.

- "I don't know if it would be me or not...Kiante Tripp used to switch positions on both sides of the line a lot." Samuel on being a Tripp

- Nice post by Blutarsky on what is looking like will be JHC's first role in Grantham's defense.

- I don't know if it is as big as #34 like CCRider advertises, but he does give us a history lesson on Sports and Grits while introducing GATANews.

- UGA's freshman class passed their first test yesterday.

- I don't know who the Higgs Boson fella is Tyler references, nor do I care anything about his particles. But I agree that the Bragg piece on the SEC in ESPN: the Mag is an excellent read. 

Those yankees...bless their hearts. Yes, we all need something we can lean on. We prefer whiskey, front porches and college football. They have cheeseheads, snow tires and weathermen in parkas.

Which reminds me, best of luck to friend of the blog Fletcher Page who is relocating. He has taken an assignment in a place called Illinois. Darren the Intern tells me this is within the contiguous US but outside of the sweetened tea boundary. We wish him well and look forward to reports of how the Fightin' Zooks Illini's chances are looking for Pasadena, or the Little Caesars Bowl in beautiful Detroit.

In fact I gave Fletcher a barometer for his birthday a couple weeks ago. He's always been the first to provide "Richt's Eye on the Sky" report of the weather. Not sure if that thing predicts snowfall or not. Perhaps he too should wear a goatee to protect against the elements.

Rest of y'all, here's your fork and a napkin. Keep the lunch out of the beards #TeamGoatee and have a great Monday!

Bernie

AwwBarn's "Chiz Rag"

I just don't have any words. At least any that I'd feel good about being in print.

h/t SicEmDawgs

Oldschool Math, Erk's way

Again from his calendar comes this "friendly reminder": an equation of sorts. Have you ever wondered what Coach Russell's mind was like as a conundrum, wrapped inside an enigma, and expressed through a mathematical word problem?

Well, get out your calculators.

Georgia Bulldogs, 2012