Georgia Sports Blog

Don't Forget Chance Veazey Like We Did

2009-11-20T18:11:00.001-05:00

We didn't mean to ignore Chance Veazey since his accident, but we have. Veazey was our new starting second baseman for the upcoming season until a terrible auto/scooter accident has left him paralyzed. That type of injury not only obviously ends Chance's promising baseball career, but also means he and his family have a very long and expensive road ahead of them to get Chance back to something like a normal life. He is currently recovering at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. You'll recall that the football team wore a sticker on their helmets last weekend in Veazey's honor. (Image: Athens Banner-Herald)

I love dogs, especially ones that wear a red jersey, but let's not lose perspective. Before you go to buy a new black polo for Uga VII Saturday, don't forget to help Chance Veazey's recovery. You can send money or simply send Chance a few words of encouragement (email address required for some reason). It all counts.

Get well, Chance, from all of us at the Georgia Sports Blog.

Quinton

Uga VII Has Died

2009-11-19T17:18:00.010-05:00

R.I.P.

The AJC reports that Uga VII (aka: "Loran's Best") passed away today. UGASports.com, WSB and the local NBC affiliate are also reporting this story. According to the AJC/WSB the cause of death was heart attack. His father Uga VI also died of heart problems.

Uga VII was approximately 5 years old.

Uga VII debuted at the Aug. 30, 2008 game against Georgia Southern, and his record stood at 16-7. My favorite memory of him was leading the Dawgs out onto the field in Tempe, Arizona. That was the longest distance any of the Uga's had traveled since Uga IV went to the Final Four in 1983.

It's important to remember that Uga VII was a family pet for Sonny and Cecelia Seiler, and it's always tough to lose a family pet. Our thoughts are with them through this time.

As of this posting, there are no announced plans for an service (Uga VI had a private service), nor have there been any public discussions of an interim mascot for Friday or any longer term plans. As someone on the DawgVent suggested, an appearance by Otto II or some other cousin may be in order. But it's too soon to know.

Damn Good Dawg.

PWD/Dawgnoxious

Tailgating on North Campus...your days are numbered

2009-11-19T12:01:00.000-05:00

It's one thing to empty a dumpster on your bitter enemy's front yard. It's another thing to empty one on your own yard. One makes you a mean prankster. The other makes you a stupid slob and a horse's ass. There's no excuse for leaving North Campus looking like this.

And this wasn't the work of hobos or homeless people post game. This was what it looked like because the students and recent alumni who tailgate on North Campus made it look this way. Sweeping changes are needed to protect North Campus. Some or all of the following options need to be on the table at this point:

Banning tailgating on North Campus
Pay for Play tailgating in a limited number of labeled spots with fines for littering in that spot. This is my favorite option.
Banning Styrofoam Coolers on the Entire Campus. This is a no brainer The cost of buying one is so low, there's no reason to not just abandon it at the end of the tailgate. As you can see from the image above, North Campus is littered with Styrofoam Coolers.

The Athletic Department also needs to step up and invest in more trash bins. They are bringing the fans to town. They have a $28 million surplus. They need to help us keep the place cleaner. The University shouldn't be the one stroking that check. It should be the AD.

We had to go a long ass way out of our way on Saturday to get a trash bin for our very large tailgate. There just aren't enough bins. However, even without more bins fans can and should bag their own garbage. Just dropping it where you stand is completely unacceptable.

It's a damn joke what's happening on North Campus. And if you tailgate there, your days are numbered if the UK game ends the same way the Auburn game did in terms of filth. And even people like myself and Dawgnoxious who hate Mike Adams would stand behind him on his efforts to protect North Campus from what appears to be a massive group of idiots with no home training whatsoever who tailgate there.

See Also:
-- Slum Dogs - Augusta Chronicle
-- Time to Crack Down on tailgate Tras h - AJC

PWD

A Master Class in Poking a Stick at your Enemy

2009-11-19T12:00:00.001-05:00

This is wildly off topic, but it's a great read. It's an exchange between French and Irish diplomatic officers leading up to the World Cup 2010 Qualifier Match between the two countries. The exchange involves a request for a VIP Box for the French President.

Nothing like an elegant poke in the eye to your rival.

(So...it's a fake. You know what. It's still funny.)

PWD

Non-football comments from Auburn weekend

2009-11-19T08:29:00.002-05:00

Earlier in the week, Orson Swindle did a really nice write up on his experience at the Georgia vs. Auburn game in Athens. Given that Orson has an undergrad degree from Florida and a graduate degree from GT, this is high praise.

He also put up a piece about Auburn installing a urinal on our sideline during the Game. I sit pretty close to this debacle, so I know they generally went in there with a medical bag looking contraption that they threw in the garbage when they walked out. Although, I'm not sure all of them brought in a baggie. Regardless, the Aubies were shuttling in and out of the urinal so fast during the game I couldn't help but wonder....what are they hydrating those dudes with?

Friends around me that watched this episode swore that this wasn't the first time AU has brought an outhouse to Athens; although, they thought it was the first time they bagged their pee. Auburn -- Innovation in Port-a-Pissers Since 1861.

PWD

Why Georgia Fans May Care What Happens in Statesboro

2009-11-18T09:30:00.000-05:00

Georgia Southern looks increasingly likely to fire head coach Chris Hatcher. Why should Georgia fans care? The short answer is because it might be bad for Tech--and what is bad for Tech is good for America, and UGA. And it is a fun opportunity to say I told you so.

First some back story: In 1985, Georgia Southern offensive coordinator Paul Johnson convinced Erk Russell to install a derivation of the wishbone --the "flexbone"-- also known as the triple option. It has been wildly successful in Statesboro, including a six national championships.

When Paul Johnson left Georgia Southern for Navy, Ga. Southern hired current Georgia Tech co-offensive line coach Mike Sewak as head coach, firing him in 2005 with 35-14 record for not living up to the program's expections.

Enter ~~self-immolating career masochist~~ Brian Van Gorder in 2006. Van Gorder abandoned the triple option (and a few of Erk's other traditions, like winning). Then Van Gorder abandoned Georgia Southern after a single dismal 3-8 season. Ga. Southern next turned to Valdosta State's coach Chris Hatcher. It's safe to say that in year three, Chris Hatcher has been an utter failure in Statesboro. The "Hatch Attack" [sic] spread offense has resulted in a 4-6 record headed into the final game of the season against ~~who cares~~ Citadel. Hatcher has never made the playoffs.

No reason. Just like this photo.

Pardon the prelude. You ask: what does this have to do with us? Georgia Southern's final game of the season is Saturday, and the axe could fall on Hatcher shortly thereafter. Georgia Southern fans would like nothing better than to see the triple option return. The best candidates to do that are people who have worked with Paul Johnson. Which means that Georgia Southern may pluck a coach from Paul Johnson's staff. Likely candidates include:

Giff Smith, Georgia Tech recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach. Giff Smith is a Georgia Southern graduate, former Georgia Southern and Navy assistant. He's probably the leading candidate and sentimental favorite.
Todd Spencer, Georgia Tech co-offensive line coach. No ties to Georgia Southern, but has 25 years of experience coaching option offenses.
Brian Bohannon, Georgia Tech quarterbacks coach. A UGA grad, Bohannan played under Coach Goff, graduating in 1993. He been with Paul Johnson for more than a decade. The quarterback is key in the triple option, and Georgia Southern may want to hire a young guy.
Ivin Jasper, Navy offensive coordinator. The only likely non-Tech assistant candidate, Jasper is a Hawaii graduate, but coached with Johnson at Georgia Southern and Navy. Navy's win over Notre Dame didn't hurt his chances. Let's hope he doesn't get it.

If Georgia Southern does whack Hatcher, it will be interesting to see if they raid Paul Johnson's staff to bring back the triple option. It could foreshadow what happens to Tech's head coach if Bo Pelini can't ~~get his dick out of the dirt~~ make his program relevant.

Hoop Dawgs drop one to Wofford

2009-11-17T21:50:00.004-05:00

The Bulldogs lost to Wofford 60-57 tonight. The Dawgs had a chance to send the game into overtime with 3.1 seconds left. Dustin Ware went to the free throw line down by two points. Ware made his first shot, but he missed the second. Essentially ending the game.

Ware's miss was bad, but he was 3 of 4 on the night from the line. The bigger problem was Jeremy Price and Chris Barnes' collective performance at the charity stripe. The two bangers went an epic fail 4 for 12 at the line. If you're looking for the key to failure, that's it.

The team also went 2-14 from the three point line. That obviously didn't help either, but that's just what our personnel is. A team without much of an outside shot.

The Good:

This wasn't like the Winthrop debacle in Felton's first year. That team had 4 quality starters on it that stone cold quit and lost on effort by 20 points. This team played much tougher than that. They seem to have bought in, and they were mostly in a position to win the game. They just didn't make the open layups, free throws, dunks and three pointers to win it...easily.
The team has come light years in terms of entry passes into the paint. That's significant because the bulk of our talent is inside, and we'll see a ton of zone.
Travis Leslie looks like a different player. His stat line was impressive at 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and no turnovers. That's right...no turnovers.
Trey Thompkins had 14 points and 16 rebounds, and he managed to play the final 5 minutes or so with four fouls.

The Bad:

The Free Throw shooting. 11 for 20 is pathetic.
The crowd. I can't really bitch about this because I haven't been to many weeknight jobber games like this over the past 5+ years. But still, the attendance was really bad. We need the students to come back. Obviously, this game didn't sell any tickets.
The three point shooting.

We are what we are. We're a team with a handful of quality inside guys who can play around the rim and get points, but we can't shoot free throws to fully leverage those opportunities.

We lack much of an outside shooter, and that's not a shock. Ware's stats probably look worse than his ability. He'll make more of his attempts once he settles down and takes a smarter shot. During this one, he put too many off balance leaners into the air from too far beyond his competency. We don't have a bomber to get the other out of zone so we're going to have nights like this if the 3 doesn't fall.

It is what it is. The team will look dramatically better when the transfer Gerald Robinson starts playing at the 2 guard next year. But that's not going to help right now.

It's still a product worth coming out to watch
We are playing smarter ball, and they were in a position to win the game. They just have to make more plays. It's not the eye gouging display of offensive ineptitude that we showed under Felton. It's a more watchable product. It's just going to be a work in progress for a while, and we'll have to roll with it for a while.

PWD

Bulldogs Host Wofford Tonight in Basketball

2009-11-17T12:10:00.001-05:00

The Bulldogs will attempt to start the season 2-0 tonight at 7:00 pm in Stegeman Coliseum vs. the Wofford Terriers. You may look at the schedule and say "pssfftt...Wofford." But Wofford played Pittsburgh lights out over the weekend.

At one point, Wofford lead Pitt by 13 points in the second half, and Pitt didn't retake the lead until 2:26 left in the game. Granted, Pitt lost all its starters from the 31 win Elite 8 team from last year, but they're still Pitt. In other words, tonight might be incrementally tougher than the New Orleans opener.

The Banner-Herald has a profile of Drazen Zlovaric and notes about the Wofford game.

A Word About Scheduling:
I'm mostly a fan of Coach Fox's first schedule. Granted, a lot of the tough games (at VT, at Mizzou, vs. Illinois in Gwinnett) come from left over deals that Coach Felton organized or the SEC mandated game against St. Johns. But it's mostly good stuff with quality mid-majors sprinkled in, and it gets progressively harder as the team gets more accustomed to his system.

However, the UAB game next Saturday was a mistake. We play the Blazers at 8:00 pm on the road at the same time we'll be playing UK in football at home.

I get why you would want to play a non-televised road game in an SEC heavy town like Birmingham ... it's a sure fire empty gym and no home crowd advantage for the other team. But the game is going to be televised by CSS, and our fans are going to miss it. It's just a blown opportunity by UGA. I hope Fox gets the message that scheduling any games on Saturdays in the fall is a mistake. I'm pretty sure that we already have a policy against scheduling any home games on Fall Saturdays. We just need to extend that policy to road games as well. At least for our big sports.

See Also:
-- Walk-on to face former Team - Red and Black

PWD

UGA-Tech Kickoff @ 8PM

2009-11-16T14:32:00.003-05:00

Per AJC.

See Also:
-- UGA vs. Georgia Tech Tickets

Great Moments in Schadenfreude

2009-11-16T12:30:00.000-05:00

Credit the kid for eating his crow in public. Classy kid. But honestly, they could bottle this sort of Schadenfreude, and I would wear it as a cologne on game day. Spectacular.

PWD

UGA vs. Auburn 2009 Photos (Part III)

2009-11-16T11:59:00.000-05:00

All images by Jim Hipple. Click to enlarge.

Joe Cox to Tavarres King

King on the Move.

Israel Troupe makes the grab.

Troupe's first touchdown.

A big first down catch by Troupe from Joe Cox.

All images by Jim Hipple. Click to enlarge.

PWD

Bowl Projections

2009-11-16T06:49:00.003-05:00

My overall reaction to Saturday's game is one of relief mixed with joy mixed with four fingers in the air in honor of the first four game winning streak over Auburn in 61 years.

My secondary reaction is "Whew, I don't have to go to Shreveport." Northern Louisiana isn't completely off the table, but a win over the Wildcats on Saturday will push that possibility totally out of the picture.

Some of this week's Bowl Predictions are in:

I think it's a mild stretch to have us in the Liberty right now against Houston since the Cougars don't even lead their division in CUSA. That distinction shockingly belongs to SMU.

The long and short of it is this. If we win out, we're going to the Outback or Chick-Fil-A Bowl. If we lose, we could end up in a variety of places from Atlanta (unlikely) to Nashville to Memphis. Personally, I think a split in the next 2 games puts us into Nashville against UNC.

Some games that would help us include LSU over ARK, Clemson over SC, and maybe UK over UT. Although, the biggest piece of the puzzle is clearly beating a very tough Georgia Tech team.

PWD

UGA vs. Auburn 2009 Photos (Part II)

2009-11-16T04:00:00.000-05:00

All images by Jim Hipple. Click to enlarge.

My favorite. Ealey slips past Auburn.

The defense on the stop.

Rennie deals with some shenanigans.

All images by Jim Hipple. Click to enlarge.

UGA vs. Auburn 2009 Photos (Part I)

2009-11-15T23:48:00.006-05:00

All images by Jim Hipple. Click to enlarge.

~~Is Richt doing a Richt Flair "WOOOOOO!" over on the left?~~ Or not. Talk about wrong. I think the dude I was talking about has a mustache. lol.

Caleb King

Touchdown.

Boykin on the return.

I think this is Brandon Boykin after the interception.

All pictures by Jim Hipple. Click to enlarge.

PWD

Get Well, Bacarri Rambo

2009-11-14T23:02:00.000-05:00

When you say your prayers tonight, don't forget Bacarri Rambo. He made the play of the game with that hit, but no game is worth a player's well being. It appeared every precaution was taken, but any time a player has those spooky rigid arms after a hit, you're reminded of the violence of the game and what these guys are risking by playing the way they do. Get well, Bacarri.

Although not as urgent, a prayer for A.J. is warranted, too. The last I heard was a AC joint problem. I'd imagine he's doubtful for next weekend, but that is speculative at best.

Quinton

SEC Releases Proof of LSU's Non-Interception

2009-11-13T13:13:00.006-05:00

Fark of the Day.

As ~~Tony Montana~~Rogers Redding says, "In the SEC, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women."

UPDATE: Another angle

While I'm always in favor of good officiating, the irony of LSU losing on a blown call is not lost on me.

Basketball Opens Season vs. New Orleans tonight

2009-11-13T08:00:00.003-05:00

Mark Fox begins his tenure in Athens officially tonight at 7:00 pm with his first home game as the Bulldogs will face the New Orleans Privateers.

Your Help in the Turnaround:
We need as big a crowd as possible tonight. Fox and Athletic Department worked hard to line up a game on a football weekend for Fox's debut. Now, we need to deliver butts in seats. The biggest piece of turning around this program is hiring a great coach who recruits great players. Obviously. However, the Georgia fans are critical to turning around this program, too.

The "How to Recruit Against the Home State Bulldogs Manual" includes:

Page 1: Their fans don't support their team.

In reality, our fans have done a great job of supporting our program when we've put a quality product on the floor. For instance Tubby's two years and Harrick's last three years. To accelerate recruiting...and believe me our talent level needs a boost...we as fans are going to have to buy into this program a little earlier this time. Waiting until after the team is good isn't enough. It needs more help than that.

Bruce Pearl went to UT and sold the hell out of his product to anyone that would listen. For his first game in Knoxville, they had a near packed house against a directional school from across the state. Pearl was a nobody nationally from Wisconsin with no SEC credentials. Granted, he's the best product evangelist in the coaching business, but their fans still gave him a shot on opening night.

Now, we need to meet Fox half way.

Here's hoping you can make the game. If you have a hotel room in Athens tonight, there's no reason not to be there. Go Dawgs.

See Also:
-- Bringing a New Attitude - ABH
-- It's Showtime -- AJC

PWD

(PS -- The best player on the New Orleans squad is former Bulldog Billy Humphrey. Unfortunately, Humphrey had knee surgery recently, and he's listed as questionable for the game. I'm sincerely hoping he makes the trip because he's due a standing ovation for helping us win the SEC Tournament in Felton's next to last year.)

At SC, you'll work at the Gas Station. At UT, you'll rob it?

2009-11-12T11:52:00.001-05:00

Lane Kiffin told a recruit that if he committed to South Carolina he would end up pumping gas for the rest of his life. Apparently, the idea of working at a gas station is much less appealing than the idea of robbing someone outside it.

Three Vols were arrested this morning outside of a Knoxville Gas Station for their alleged involvement in an arm robbery attempt. This was no wacky paperwork DMV oriented mix-up. This one allegedly involves a get away car, a wheel woman and a gun. Nothing Sucks Like a Big Orange Stick Up.

Not sure what I like best about this story.
A. One of them was wearing UT merchandise during the crime...that's branding baby.

B. They targeted their alleged victim so poorly that the "mark" had zero dollars in their wallet...that's film study baby.

C. They were in a Prius as the alleged get away car...that's protecting the environment baby.

I guess it would've been cooler had they had their shirts off chanting "Wild Boys Want Your Money!"

PWD

You Have a Choice Saturday

2009-11-12T07:02:00.000-05:00

If you're thinking of going to the game Saturday you have a choice to make. Are you going to support the Dawgs and be part of the solution, or are you going to throw gas on an open flame?

In 1999, Auburn came into Athens to face an ill prepared UGA team...at night That defense found itself down 31-0, and a segment of our fan base completely lost it's mind. There was a raining down of boos like I've never seen before or since. A few idiots even walked down to the sidelines to give the players AND recruits a piece of their minds.

It was the biggest recruiting weekend of the year, and it was a complete meltdown. We lost every single recruit that attended that game except one. We also lost juniors from the next recruiting class who were in attendance.

No kid in their right mind would've signed for UGA had he seen that display. I've seen booing everywhere. I've seen it at Auburn, Tech (many, many times) and elsewhere. But I've never seen anything as toxic as that '99 Night.

If things get out of hand and you're about to lose your shit, JUST LEAVE. Just leave the stadium. There's no reason to turn a bad play into a catastrophe. Coaches can recruit around a blowout. Even elite programs get blown out from time to time. Coaches know how to talk to that. But they can't recruit around fans killing their own team.

If we Fire Willie and whoever else this offseason, the next coach needs raw materials to work with. They don't need a recruiting class to unravel before them.

Don't make it harder to turn this thing around.

You can either be part of the problem or part of the solution. If you can't sit there without berating the players or without booing, just get up and walk the hell out. You're not going to convince Richt to fire anyone by booing, giving anyone a piece of your mind, or showing your ass.

PWD

Early Signing Day Update

2009-11-11T16:24:00.003-05:00

Today is the beginning of the early signing period, which is like Signing Day for football without the stupid hat tricks and unwarranted pomp afforded high school football players. Coach Fox is expected to sign Florida forward Cady Lalanne, the nation's No. 142 overall prospect according to Rivals. The fact that Coach Fox's first 2010 signee is a top 150 guy is promising, considering UGA has been largely absent from that list in prior years. The bad news is that there are seven Georgia players on that list and we have signed none of them. Only Jelan Kendrick, a national top 10 prospect and the top guy in state, remains uncommitted at this point.

Coach Landers also expects a good day. Point guard Ronika Ransford, guard Khaalidah Miller, and center Ariel Johnson are supposed to sign with the Lady Dawgs. Both guards are top 40 prospects. It's another top 15 class to add to last year's stellar group. It's nice to see the girls program getting a bit more recruiting attention.

In sports only I care about, blue chipper Kate Fuller signed with the women's tennis team. Fuller was the 2008 Georgia Junior Tennis Player of the Year and is a top national recruit. Alpharetta's Rachael Hart is also expected to sign with UGA.

Manny Diaz and the men's tennis program has commitments from two national recruits, but I don't know if they were signing today or not. Garrett Brasseaux of Covington, Louisiana and Californian Campbell Johnson are both top 20 prospects and are committed to the Dawgs.

Quinton

Auburn Previews

2009-11-11T08:48:00.005-05:00

The two best Auburn previews I've seen come from MaconDawg and Blutarsky. I haven't written anything about this game yet because what's to say really? Auburn's offense is good at things we don't defend well...namely fast paced, play action oriented, fairly balanced, misdirection attacks.

It's like a broken record this season. If Georgia's defense plays to its talent level and the offense can eliminate the turnovers, I like our chances. If not, we lose. That's been the story every game, and it will be the story til the bitter end.

If UGA wins out, we could go as high as the Outback Bowl. Although, that's much less likely than the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. If we don't take care of business against Auburn, we could be playing UK next weekend for the opportunity to play a bad Big East Team or a Sun Belt team at The Old Gray Lady in one of Birmingham's most dicey neighborhoods.

For us to win, this game needs to be a Dusty Rhodes vs. Tully Blanchard in a Loser Leaves Town Cage Match. The bloodier and more gruesome; the more I like our chances. If it looks like something from an After School Special that ends with Willie pointing at a doll to show where the bad offensive coordnator touched him, we're sunk.

PWD

Hookers and Blow?

2009-11-11T08:18:00.008-05:00

"I'll bury these coaching cockroaches," said Redding.*
From the two day old news bin, I have to ask. What exactly has the SEC been spending it's $2.5 billion on if not HD TVs for the replay officials to view the games? If Slive and Redding are spending ESPN's money on coke and whores, I give them style points. But it's likely nothing so cool.

If we're saving that cash for a rainy day, look around fellas. It's raining. At least on your refs. I literally refuse to watch sports on a standard non-HD set...at a bar. And when I'm at a bar, I'm drinking with my head on a swivel looking for hot chicks...and barely paying attention to the TV to start with. I certainly wouldn't run my business through a standard TV.

I would be more indignant about this, but Slive and Redding won't read a blog posting. The Internet is a fad.

PWD

*Obviously not.

UGA vs. Kentucky Kickoff Time Set

2009-11-09T12:13:00.004-05:00

The Georgia Bulldogs will face the Kentucky Wildcats in Athens on Nov. 21st at 7:45 pm (Source: David Hale's Twitter Page). The game will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2. Georgiadogs.com now has the full SEC TV schedule for 11/21:

Quick Thoughts from Fox's Debut

2009-11-07T09:53:00.002-05:00

I went to the Georgia vs. North Georgia exhibition game last night, and I would describe the experience in two words. Hope Inspiring.

Offensively it doesn't even look like the same team. We have a plan now. Under Felton's regime, how many times did Sundiata Gaines* bring the ball down the court and seem to aimlessly dribble out the shot clock or pass to a big man at the top of the key who would turn it over...because that's what big men do when they handle the ball at the top of the key.

It was maddening. We lacked player movement, ball movement and purposeful passing. Players were not put into a position to be successful offensively. That's not what I saw last night.

We pass. We move, and we don't dribble the air out of the ball. When Dustin Ware brings the ball across the court the passing takes over and the dribbling comes to a near stop. There's a plan of attack.

I'm not saying our ills are cured. They aren't. The team still has too many shooters and not enough makers. The opposition will zone us to death, and I'm not sure we have the shooters to punish them for it.

But we have an offensive plan now. And it's a plan that should bear fruit. Give this coaching staff a chance. Put your butt in a seat and cheer. Because the visually depressing product of the past few years is now one that inspires hope.

See Also:
-- Flashiness not Fox's Style - ABH

PWD

Oh yeah...Trey, Dustin, Leslie, Barnes and Price looked dramatically improved.

*Not a shot a Sundiata. He was doing what he was told to do.