Miss. State: A History

Although both are charter members of the conference, Georgia has only met the Western Bulldogs 21 times. The Good Dawgs hold a 16-5 advantage and have won 9 consecutive meetings, dating back to 1974 and a 38-14 MSU win in Jackson.

Georgia won the most recent meeting 27-24 in Athens in 2006, a game remembered for Mo Massaquoi hearing the boo birds after struggling with the droppsies midway through his sophomore season.

When they last met in Starkvegas in 2005, DJ Shockley led the way to a 23-10 victory, sending Georgia to a 4-0 start that culminated in an SEC Championship. Shockley finished the day with 312 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Leonard Pope caught 3 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown, while MSU's running back Jerious Norwood was held to 43 yards on 14 carries. Clearly, the '05 SEC Champions could still remember the habits of a hard-nosed Brian VanGorder defense from a year prior.

And clearly today, the '10 version of the Red & Black Dawgs still remember those bad habits of a third-and-Willied defense.

Miss. State's a well-coached football team that provides enough danger to send Georgia to 1-3 in the stinging midst of ringing cowbells. The Good Dawgs have never lost 3 consecutive games under Richt, and if that trend is to continue, Georgia will probably have to run more than two formations on offense.

The 3-4 defensive growing pains may continue to suffer against a very good offensive mind like Mullen's. But at least Miss. State quarterbacks Chris Relf and Tyler Russell have shown a propensity to throw interceptions. Yet in a 29-7 loss to LSU last week, Miss. State outgained the Bayou Bengals in total yardage.

Starkvegas: Beware of Dog, but remember the first Miss. State mascot, Bully I, got hit by a bus on campus.

Thoughts on ESPN College GameDay

My wife and I had the fortunate experience to attend a VIP event for ESPN's College GameDay this weekend in Auburn. I know a lot of you watch this pre-game show every Saturday morning as I do, but seeing it from behind the barriers and up close brings a whole different experience. I have a new respect for the show, as well as the on-air personalities.

Having never seen a TV broadcast up close, I was amazed at the number of crew members and staff involved in the production of this show. Everything begins each week on Thursday afternoon when the GameDay bus rolls into town with the production team. As soon as everyone arrives, the support equipment, fences, and sets are set up along with the monitors, cameras, speakers and miles of cable necessary to transmit the show. 5am on Saturday, everyone is on the scene reviewing stats, scores, news and prepping for the show. Over 100 staff and volunteers are on hand to aid in the logistics of producing the show.

We were shown around the tour bus driven by a great gentleman named Bobby, who is a veteran and Georgia Bull Dawg. He drives the GameDay bus for 14 weeks during the fall in addition to the college basketball season, and he seems to know everyone on the staff. He is a great guy with a lot of little stories from his travels, and was so well respected by the staff. Amazingly, he gets to take his wife and dog on the road on the bus in between games.

A Dawg helps bring GameDay to your city.

We were also shown the production trailer. Pulled behind a semi, this trailer expands to hold the entire production team of roughly 15 people, 137 monitors, and the security and satellite equipment. From here, all the TV feeds from the site, from the remote reporters to the live feeds coming from Bristol, are combined to form the seamless show you see every Saturday.  The staff in this trailer spend about 18 hours every Saturday coordinating the broadcast from GameDay to kick-off. The amount of direction and coordination we saw while the show was filming was intense. 

This was one section of 5 in the production trailer. 137 monitors in total!

Bringing everything together are the on-air personalities: Erin Andrews, Chris Fowler, Desmond Howard, Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso. The biggest thing I noticed was the amount of security on hand. Each broadcaster had two officers escorting them between the set and the bus, with Ms. Andrews having three or four. They are constantly on the move between the main set, the "practice field" and their tour bus. Make no mistake, they were in the heat of the Auburn Plains the majority of the time but still managed to keep their professional cool.

Kirk and his police escort

Desmond Howard making his way to the set.



Erin Andrews

After the taping, we had a chance to take a photo with the crew on the set, in addition to a meet-n-greet. Chris Fowler is very professional and almost stiff, much like you'd expect from a broadcast news anchor. Kirk Herbstreit is very fan-friendly, taking time to sign autographs and going out of his way to see fans outside of the fence line. Out of the 5 broadcasters, he stuck around the longest. Desmond cuts the most jokes around the set. Erin Andrews was very elusive and did not stick around. But the most interesting of the crew is Lee Corso.

Kirk Herbstreit



Don't worry Josh, I passed your message along to Chris. A restraining order is pending.

 Watching Lee on TV, you can see that he has come along way in dealing with the effects of his minor stroke. In person, it is a bit more noticeable, but I admire how well he has persevered and also how approachable he is to those around him. I had great conversation with the coach discussing Auburn and our traditions, the rolling of Toomer's corner, and the game that day. He also let me in on the lapel pin he wears each week. For those of you who are curious, the pin he wears is a B-2 stealth bomber with an American flag on it. It was given to him at the Air Force Academy by the former B-2 wing commander, and its a rare pin to receive. He wears it in honor of our service men and women. It was great to talk Lee and see his passion for college football.

Lee is the man.

Getting up each Saturday going forward will bring a new appreciation for my favorite fall pre-game show. I'm in awe at the logistics, team work and coordination it takes to produce College GameDay each week. It will be hard not to think about the cameramen out in the heat, the statisticians feeding endless numbers, and the guys in the truck for 18 hours on Saturday who help bring it all together. While I won't always agree with the on-air personalities and their picks, I will appreciate their hard work after seeing it in person.

Thoughts on Arkansas

I've waited a few days before writing my thoughts on the last minute loss to Arkansas on Saturday. For much of the game, Georgia looked like a team lost. Lost in the expectations of the fans, in the talent of the other team, and looking for an identity of its own. My thoughts on this game were all over the place, from the incredibly disappointed to the extactically optimistic. When we stopped the Hogs again after getting back to a tie in the fourth, I'd be lying if I said I did not think we were going to win on a field goal. If there is one word I could use to describe my feelings, the word is polarizing. We are 1-2 and looking at a long season ahead, but there certainly are some bright spots from the game.

Let's start with the bad:

- We lost. There's nothing worse than losing in football. Doesn't matter if it is by 1 or 100, it is still a loss in the books. And while I am happy we fought back and had a chance to win, it doesn't really matter in the end.
- Poor Aaron Murray. Yes, he held on to the ball too long a few times, but his receivers were covered. Would you have rather he thrown it up and risked an interception?
- Blown coverages. We got burned short and burned deep. Why can we not defend a crossing route over the middle???
- Without AJ, it is clear we are missing a deep threat. Arkansas stayed in man coverage and the receivers were not getting much separation to take advantage.
- Ealey is a good runner, but we need Caleb back in the game. He is an excellent blocker Ealey clearly is not getting the job done.
- We really missed Branden Smith.

Now, the positive:

- Murray is a special player. Yes, he still makes some freshman mistakes. But he was about one 15 yard pass away from having his very own "David Greene" moment.
- Durham continues to impress me. When AJ gets back, Durham may get even more chances to shine.
- The tackling was improved.
- We fought back. The team could have easily caved with Arkansas up 14 in the 4th. But they didn't. To all those fans who left, shame on you. The team didn't quit, why did you???

We've got to pick up the pieces and move on. There is still a lot of season left. Losing to arguably the best South Carolina and Arkansas teams each school has had in at least a decade does not make me feel so bad. We can right the ship in Starkville on Saturday.

GO DAWGS!!!!

Monday Morning - Still Coming Down

Bloodied, bruised, battered and wondering. It's the state of the program this Monday morning. Here's to it not being so in six weeks. A man can hope.

80's Music Video of the Week - Rick Astley

Thanks to the rick-rolling phenomenon, Rick Astley has become a household name again.

However, too many people forget that Astley was not a one hit wonder, for the man had four Top 10 hits in the U.S. Two of those were #1 hits, including this weeks gem, "Together Forever."

Talk about 80's, this video has it all. Those great neon 80's color schemes, music that sounds like all his other songs, turtlenecks with sport coats, blondes dancing in the background, and it has Rick Astley! You can't get more 80's than that.

3rd Annual BNE Pick 'Em: Week 2

I have to say, everyone did pretty good last week. With the exception of the Techs losing (Va and Ga), most everyone had a winning record for the week. Don't forget to have your pick in by this afternoon. This week features some good match ups between GaTech and UNC, UGA and Arky-saw, OU and Air Force, BYU and FSU, Texas and Texas Tech and the game of the week, Clemson vs. Auburn.

Speaking of Auburn, there have been rumors floating around the blogosphere of a total "Blue Out" at Jordan-Hare Saturday night to combat the all-orange uniforms of Auburn By the Lake. Specifically, a photo of a very authentic-looking Under Armour helmet in navy blue has popped up, leading to rampant speculation of the Tigers wearing all blue, from the rumored helmet down to the pants, much like UGA has done for their "black out" games.

I'm all for having the stadium decked out in blue and I appreciate the jolt a new look can bring, but Auburn has one of the best looking uniforms in college football and its a classic look that should not be messed with. Making a uniform switch can bring you luck; look at Notre Dame and their green jerseys. On the other hand, making a switch from tradition can bring you bad luck; look at Notre Dame and their green jerseys. While the black uniforms for UGA worked in 07 and for the Sugar Bowl, making a huge statement and pumping up the fans, using it too often can result in an embarrassing black eye...

First UGA, then VaTech, then Texas Tech and now we might see Auburn making a switch? Come on folks, let's leave the uniform gimmicks to the experts over at Oregon...

For the BNE Pick 'Em Top 5, we'll be presenting the top performers of the week and the overall standing. So without further delay...

1. AUMav's Picks with 237 points and a 20-2 record. Yeah, suck it bitches!
2. allyugadawg with 225 points going 17-5
3. BLACKOUT (18-4), woof woof (16-6), G.D. (17-5), and Dawgfan17 (20-2) all with 221 points
4. WarriorDawg (16-6) & FelonWaites (18-4) with 220 points
5. and finally, Dawgsman81with 219 and an 18-4 record

Overall leaders:

1. woof woof: 566 and 37-12 
2. Dawgsman81: 561 and 39-10
3. G.D.: 560 and 38-11
4. AUMav's Picks: 557 and 40-9
5. HayDuke: 554 and 39-10

And now for out Bottom Feeder of the Week, sponsored by my favorite time-wasting website, www.cakewrecks.com. Once again, BFotW will throw out those who did not make picks and those who seemingly don't understand how to make a pick. So, with this in mind, this week's Bottom Feeder of the Week is LostinAlabama with a whopping 95 points. The entire group managed to average 436 points, but you couldn't break 100? 11-11 for the week picking Vandy over LSU, Tennessee over Oregon and Penn State over Bama, and with such high confidence? Come on now, I thought we went over how to make picks when our friends from last weeks BFotW helped us with counting. You know what, I'm a sport. I'm willing to forget this whole mess. In fact, I even got you a cookie cake from our sponsor, www.cakewrecks.com to show there's no hard feelings and to help you enjoy your football Saturday...

Oh lord, the horror, the laziness, the blue icing...just don't hold it in front of your crotch and take a photo...

Get your picks in by the end of the day on Friday. Saturday morning, get up early and look for me and my lovely wife on ESPN's College GameDay, built by The Home Depot. Maybe if I'm lucky I can wrangle my way onto the set and meet up with Fowler, Howard, Corso and Herbstreit.

WAR DAMN EAGLE!

When we last met: Arkansas Edition

Georgia host Arkansas this weekend in a crucial game if Georgia wants to get back to the 10 win plateau. Last fall, the Dawgs travelled to Fayetteville in a rather similar situation. Georgia was 1-1 after looking sluggish in season opening loss to Oklahoma State and winning a shootout at home against South Carolina. Here is what the folks at College Gameday thought going into that game:


Georgia's "struggling, conservative" offense went out and defeated a high-powered Hogs squad, 52-41:


Georgia, coming off a tough road loss in Columbia, will now face an Arkansas squad that opened the season with two cupcakes on the schedule. The question once again is whether the Georgia defense can step up and force Ryan Mallett to make mistakes. While I don't expect another almost 100 point shootout, I sure hope the results are the same.

SEC Preview: Sept. 18

Alabama @ Duke
Line: Alabama -24
The defending champs in football. The defending champs in basketball. Unfortunately for the boys from Durham, they’re playin’ with the pigskin on Saturday. And Duke thought it was tough playing Butler in its basketball-crazy hometown of Indy. Coach K, this is what a real rockstar head coach looks like. Roll Tide 41-10.

Clemson @ Auburn
Line: Auburn -7.5
In the words of Lewis Grizzard, Clemson is just Auburn with a lake, and they’ll be seeking some extra hydration as the Plainsmen spread ‘em out and run ‘em. Cam Newton looks for real and Howard’s Rock is coached by a man named Dabo. But baseball great Kyle Parker (why would you ever return to Clemson?) will keep the ACC Tigers close as Auburn wears out its own defense again by either scoring quickly or going three-and-out. Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles don’t cover, but push the SEC’s record to 2-0 against the ACC this week. Identity Crisis 30-24.

Miss. State @ LSU
Line: LSU -8
The Bayou Bengals turned away the Western Bulldogs at the goal line last year to avoid cowbells ringing in their ears for 365 days. Jefferson and Lee continue to battle it out for most ineptness as LSU’s quarterback. State is better coached, but LSU is more talented and at home. Mike the Tiger 24-17.

Vanderbilt @ Ole Miss
Line: Ole Miss -12
Ole Miss seeks to run its record to 2-1 in games it’s favored by double digits in. Good luck to Georgia State versus Jacksonville State this week, they’ll need it. But back to the SEC as Robbie Caldwell looks to out motivate Houston Nutt in the respective pre-game locker room speeches. Ultimately though, Ole Miss is in the people-helping bidness, and it’ll pay off as Masoli leads the fightin’ Ackbars to their first home victory. Play Dixie in the Grove Again 23-10.

Florida @ Tennessee
Line: Florida -14
Remember when Tennessee actually kept this game somewhat close? Urban still hasn’t lost to the Vols and he isn’t about to this year. Of course, if Smoky was good this year, speedy Chris Rainey wouldn’t be missing from the team this weekend. It’s not good to be Chris Rainey anymore. But even speedier Jeff Demps will be there flying down the sideline when the Gators need him to be. Florida rights its offense. Blue, Orange 37-14.

Akron @ Kentucky
Line: Kentucky -24.5
The Joker Phillips era continues on its smooth path, and Rich Brooks still approves. Cats 40-16.

Furman @ South Carolina
Line: Furman’s a I-AA School
Damn you, Marcus Lattimore. The Cocks move to 3-0, and buy up tickets to the Georgia Dome for early December that they’ll have to sell in early November.

Weekend Garbage

Because there is always something to complain about:

GREAT MOMENTS IN DEAD SILENCE

If you happened to not catch the UGA-Cocks game on television, then you missed out on a bloody assault that could only remotely be considered legitimate broadcasting. Things got started off right with absolute silence coming from Bob Davie and Mark Jones during kickoff, with a total of 60+ seconds of silence. This amount of broadcasting silence occurred at least one additional time in the broadcast.

Was this unprofessional? Potentially. Was it a technical glitch? Possible, except it occurred too many times in the game.

Was it actually a relief to just hear the sounds of the game, rather than a couple imbeciles talk about everything but what's actually happening on the field? MY GOD YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EJACULATORY AMAZING IT WAS!

I CAN HAS CRAIG AND MIKE SAMMICH!?!

If you know me (which you probably don't), you know that I am no fan of Craig James.

This season, ESPN has decided to torture us by combining the raw and awesome powers of MIKE "Britney Spears" PATRICK and CRAIG JAMES into what has to be the most vicious mindfuck anyone could conjure up to torture college football fans.

They say evil doesn't have a face. They're sooooo wrong.

Hey, you know that Ron Franklin guy? Let's make sure he's on the 10:00a.m. coverage of the All Male Private College Your Grand-Dad Went To vs. The Program That Will Hopefully Still Exist By December.

You thought Thursday night with Jesse Palmer and ol' Craig were bad? Nope, you were wrong about that.

Someone at ESPN is just messing with all of us now, and to them, I'd have to say...touche. You have really upped the ante this time.

TALES OF DEFEAT

Michigan loses to Appy State? That's nothin'! Oklahoma gets beat by Boise and their 1937 Statute of Liberty Play? Such a defeat is for amateurs who know nothing about degrading losses.

To be a real professional in the art of public embarrassment, you have to lose to the smurf turf and a I-AA school in the same season, and you get the MVP if you do it in BACK TO BACK weeks!

Enter Virgina Tech, who recently handed over their man card after being shamed by James Madison University, a former I-AA champion.

Thank the Lawd! for that weak ass ACC, because the Hokey Pokey Dancers are looking at an 0-12 season and the kind of shame that never, ever goes away. Doesn't matter how hard you scrub, it ain't goin' nowhere!

THE APOCALYPSE IS UPON US, THE DAKOTAS ARE TAKING OVER

Last Week, North Dakota State (I-AA) defeats Kansas. This week, South Dakota defeats Minnesota. It was only in 2007 that Minnesota lost to North Dakota State. So for Minnesota, this is their second DAKOTA FAIL.

The Dakotas are on the rise and aren't taking your shit anymore, Big 12(?) and 11. They've beaten both of you and are setting their eyes on a 2 for 1 punch.

Mark your calendars now, on September 25 South Dakota State visits Nebraska for what can only be the Jackrabbits rise to the top of the Dakota hierarchy.

These things come in threes, so you better watch out Bo.

You're about to get invaded from the north, by South Dakota State. That's directionally confusing.

Lots of things to say, just not the right words to say them

It has now been a few days since the loss in Columbia, but I am still not sure how I feel about the game. While disappointed in the loss, there were some positives that I think Georgia can really build on through this season. Is this year going to end with a trip to Atlanta, probably not. But have I given up hope of a 9-3 season and a New Year's day bowl appearance? No.

The Bulldogs face a major challenge at home on Saturday with the high powered offense of Arkansas coming to town. As we saw first hand last year, Ryan Mallett and his stable of receivers can put up a lot of points. Arkansas has good, not great numbers, through its first two games after playing cupcakes in both contests. Georgia, on the other hand, played a tough conference road game that was within a single touchdown until late in the fourth quarter.

As shaky as the tackling was last week, I think our defense is definitely better than what Arkansas brings to the table. Justin Houston continues to be one of the most impressive looking players in the SEC and if we get pressure on Mallett, he will make some bad throws. On offense, I hope that the coaching staff has realized it cannot continue hold Murray back and expect to score many points. South Carolina loaded the box on Georgia and without the threat of deep passes, they forced the Dogs into 4 three and outs.

Vegas has us favored to win on Saturday, and right now I seem to agree. A Georgia victory on Saturday will be to turning this season around quickly. I just hope the team is ready, or else the trips to Starkville and Boulder may be a lot tougher (and more important) than we thought.