The Countdown 2011: 19 Days to Go

QB Mike Tamburo, #6

With the Munson-esque cautious skepticism of our first game starting to crop up online, it definitely is starting to feel like football is almost here, with seemingly only a quick trip to stock up on bourbon left before kickoff on Labor Day weekend.

Phillips-Union Cherry blend; goes down surprisingly smooth at September Gameday temperature.

One interesting blurb that I read in the spring and immediately forgot may have a slight impact for our first game: redshirt sophomore transfer QB Mike Tamburo, #6 of the Georgia Bulldawgs (and formerly #9 of the Boise State Smurfs).

The beat writers mentioning that Tamburo has not been asked yet about the Broncos' playbook, implying that game planning for Boise State has (obviously) not yet begun, brought the transfer QB back to mind.

Tamburo, who graduated from North Gwinnett in 2009 and chose Boise over several other D-I schools, suffered a torn ACL his first season up North and lingered at the bottom of the BSU depth chart ever since.

What sort of a weapon could Tamburo be? Inevitably he will be part of the scout team offense during Boise State prep, either in a wide receiver role (which he filled part-time with Boise) or more obviously as the scout QB (as seen in his Youtube HS highlight reel, or as a former "Brother in Arms"-- see below). With the (theoretical) 20-hour NCAA limit on mandatory team activities capping practice time in-season and the 29 practice limit on fall preseason practices, any insights on quickly implementing a realistic BSU simulation should help the Dawgs.

The kickoff game versus Boise State will likely not be of the 2005 vintage; any insight on the margins about the Smurf offense, player tendencies which may not show up on tape or ability to assist game film analysis will help out immeasurably.

Expect to hear a few more blurbs on Tamburo as your liquor shelves are stocked and Gameday crawls oh so slowly nearer...

The newest Dawg in his former colors on the far left. Maybe Boise State will reprint this poster and sell it in a similar fashion as the Cleveland Cavs' owner.

The Countdown 2011: 22 Days to Go

10 Things I Already Hate About This Season

The season is still 3 weeks away, but I am noticing some trends that are just annoying. Here are my top ten things I already hate about the 2011 season.

1. People (especially when it is Georgia fans) calling Richard Samuel the incorrect name of Richard Samuels. Come on people! This is your team, how hard is it to actually know their correct names.

2. The Longhorn Network. If Texas becomes independent in the next few years, they may very well become as annoying as Notre Dame.

3. Coverage of USC football like they are still a powerhouse. They are still ineligible for bowls and the new Pac-12 Championship game, they have a bad head coach who does not have any history of winning, suffered through major attrition, yet still, ESPN treats them like a top 10 team. Give some press to schools who have gotten better in recent years like Oklahoma State or a team that actually has a chance to win the Pac 12 like Arizona State. I'm not saying they won't be a great team again someday, but right now, they are paying for being cheaters.

4. Recruiters, recruiting services, and recruiting violations. Is it really necessary to put Georgia on the front page of ESPN.com for self reporting a violation when coach McClendon accidentally called a player who shared the last name with a friend? We all know recruiting is a shady business, it has been for years. But it is a lot cleaner now than it used to be. I especially hate the holier than though fans from other conference who like to rag on the SEC. Give it a rest.

5. Is Coach Richt on the hot set??? If you are a coach a program that is used to winning between 9 and 11 games every year and suddenly you have 3 consecutive years where you fail to reach that goal, then most likely you are going to get fired. It is the same in the business world. The question doesn't need to be asked anymore.

6. Aaron Murray's stats were inflated by having AJ Green to throw to. Yes, Green was an amazing receiver who helped Murray out, but AJ missed four games. Aaron Murray had one of the best statistical season by a Georgia quarterback ever, not just for a freshman. One player does not make that much of a difference. Matt Stafford had Massaquoi, Green, and Knowshon in the backfield, and barely had better numbers than Murray last year.

7. Poor Ohio State. Seriously, they brought it all on themselves. I certainly hope the NCAA drops the hammer on them like they did on USC.

8. Florida State suddenly being cocky again. One 10-4 season and a bowl win over an SEC school sure has made FSU fans think the 90's are back. They have to get past Oklahoma first. And then win an ACC Championship (shouldn't be too hard to do).

9. Auburn and the trees...well, really anything related to Alabama and Auburn fans being idiots. Driving to my wife's family reunion, I listened to the Paul Finebaum show for the first time in my life. Good God, the people who call into that show are idiots. This year, I feel like it will be a competition over who has the better sob story: Auburn and the Trees or Alabama and the tornado. Clearly, Alabama has suffered the far greater tragedy. But don't tell that to the Barners.

10. The college football playoff debate. It will never end until there is a playoff. You can argue forever, but the BCS is in place and it will determine the National Champion. Suck it up and quit complaining.

The Countdown 2011: 30 Days to Go

#22

The preseason Coaches poll was released today and the Georgia Bulldogs check in at 22. I was not sure that the Dawgs would even be ranked this season after finishing the 2010 season with an ugly loss to Central Florida and suffering through an off season of losing starters from last year's team (through graduation, early draft entry, or just plain stupidity).

But being ranked 22 feels about right for the Dawgs headed into this season. There are 8 teams from the SEC ranked in the top 25 and only Florida (at 23) was ranked lower. Alabama and LSU are both national title contenders and who knows what will happen at South Carolina and Miss State. The beauty thing of being the SEC is that you can rise from a low preseason ranking to the top just by winning games. Look no further than last season for proof.

In 2010, Auburn began the season ranked #22 in the coaches' poll. They struggled early against Mississippi State, nearly lost to Kentucky, and were down three scores to Georgia and Alabama. but their ability to make it through the SEC unbeaten allowed them to ascend to the top of the polls.

While I seriously doubt Georgia will be playing in a BCS bowl this season, a trip to Atlanta is not out of the question. Wins over Boise State and South Carolina in the first two weeks of the season would most likely jump the Dawgs into the top 15 (if not the top 10). And considering Georgia avoids Bama, Arkansas, and LSU on the schedule this fall, they may find themselves ranked highly by the time the Florida game rolls around.

Here's to wishful thinking!

The Countdown 2011: 33 Days to Go

30 Years

Today is my 30th birthday. Wow, that is hard to say. I was born in the summer of '81, seven months to the day that Georgia won its last National Championship in football. And while the Dawgs have failed to make it back to the top in the last 30 years, they have had some pretty amazing moments. Here are just a few facts about the last 30 years of Georgia football.

- 4 SEC Championships: 1981, 1982, 2002, 2005
- 26 Bowl appearances with a record of 16-8-2
- 1 Heisman Trophy Winner (Herschel Walker) and another Heisman Trophy Finalist (Garrison Hearst)
- Posted a 22-8 record against in-state rival Georgia Tech
-Had players win the Nagurski (Champ Bailey) and the Lombardi (David Pollcak) awards given to the best defensive players in college football.
- Produced 20 first round NFL draft picks, including #1 overall in the 2009 draft (Matthew Stafford)
- Turned an 18 year old kid from Snellville, Georgia with no family ties to any major school into a die hard Bulldogs fan.

Here's to hoping the next 30 years are filled with at least as many memories as the last 30 years were.

GO DAWGS!!!

The Countdown 2011: 44 Days to Go

TEN THINGS I AM THINKING RIGHT NOW ABOUT THE 2011 SEASON

1. I would much rather see Richard Samuel carrying the ball up the middle in the season opener than Carlton Thomas. While it is never good to have suspensions and I still think Samuel would be better as a linebacker, this just feels better.

2. So we are going to wear Pro Combat jerseys. They better not be solid black and please God, no red face masks.

3. As the season gets closer, I can't help but feeling the South Carolina game is going to be much tougher than the Boise State game.

4. If the Dawgs can't beat a Tennessee team that only has 24 upper classmen on it in Knoxville, then something is seriously wrong.

5. I think Knile Davis will up being the best running back in the SEC this year. Lattimore, Richardson, and Dyer will be good too, but too many weapons at receiver for Arkansas will lead to a lot of long carries for Davis.

6. Brandon Boykin is going to turn some heads in the SEC this fall. Most people (outside of Georgia) only know him for his kick return ability. That will change.

7. The offensive line is thin, but not bad. In 2007, we had two returning starters and freshmen on the line. We all saw how that turned out. This year, we have three returning starters plus another senior. If the line can stay healthy, they may surprise a lot of people this fall.

8. Jarvis Jones' eligibility may play a key role in the Boise State game. I fully expect him to be one of the best linebackers in the SEC by the end of this season, but if he has to miss time early on, the linebacking corp will be left pretty thin on experience.

9. As bad as last season was, I am glad to see Georgia fans are still supporting the team. Despite there not being a true cutoff score for tickets, we still managed to sell out all of the tickets (for now). Tennessee is having to cross promote with NASCAR to try and sell tickets for its home opener. Just sad. A turn around season for the Dawgs will keep this thought out of mind.

10. This looks like it will be awesome. Set your DVRs.


GO DAWGS!!!

The Countdown 2011: 53 Days to Go

Custom NCAA Football 12 Covers

Today is the release of NCAA Football 12. I have not picked up the game yet (I am at work) but I found a couple of custom covers.

AARON MURRAY

AJ GREEN

The Countdown 2011: 54 Days to Go - Parking Passes on Sale Today

I back today with a quick reminder that 2011 season parking passes go on sale at 9:00 AM this morning. Parking passes can be bought at http://gameday.uga.edu/.

I am going to try and pick back up the countdown next week with my thoughts on the Caleb King situation.

The Countdown 2011: 78 Days to Go

Reasons to Love Athens: Feta and Fries at the Grill

(Note: This is the first in a series of posts on this year's countdown about the home of our Georgia Bulldogs, Athens)

One of the reason Athens is known as a great college town is the abundance of great restaurants. From fine cuisine to a late night snack, the Classic City has a little something for everyone. For those of us that spent many a night at the bars downtown, the last choice of the night was often to pick between one of two places: Little Italy or the Grill. And while I loved getting a few slices of pizza, nothing beats the french fries with feta at The Grill.

The Grill has been open on College Avenue for over 20 years and is the perfect late night destination for the hungry college student. When you end up hungry after a night downtown this fall, head on over to The Grill and order the fries. You won't be disappointed!

The Countdown 2011: 79 Days to Go

Caleb King: One Last Chance

When Caleb King chose to come to Georgia, most fans in the Bulldog Nation rejoiced. The best running back from the state of Georgia (who was considered one of the best in the nation until a leg injury his senior year) was staying home. The expectations were high when Caleb arrived on campus in 2007. With the emergence of Knowshon Moreno that fall, King stayed on the bench and would not make his debut until the 2008 opener against Georgia Southern. King ran well that ( totaling just under 100 yards on the ground) and Georgia fans remained optimistic.

Now, almost 3 years later, many Georgia fans see King's career as a failure. From a series of injuries to academic and off field issues, King has never lived up to the hype. But there have been highlights to King's career. The 75 yard touchdown against Georgia Tech in 2009 may be the one most remember, but my favorite was a play which King never touched the ball. Against Auburn in 2009, King blocked an Auburn defender into the air as Joe Cox hooked up with Israel Troupe on a long touchdown.

Blocking is the one area where most people are satisfied with King. He has been the best blocking back for the last few seasons. Georgia's offense requires its running backs to block and with Crowell just arriving on campus, the Dawgs will need a solid blocker. My hope is that Caleb takes this final year to win back the Georgia fans. If he finally lives up to expectations, he will not only make himself a better draft prospect but he will help relieve some of the pressure off Isaiah Crowell.

The Countdown 2011: 80 Days to Go

Tight End U

During the 1980's and early 1990's, many fans liked to call Georgia Tailback U. From Herschel Walker to Garrison Hearst and Terrell Davis, the Dawgs always seemed to have a great player at the running back position. While Georgia has had good players consistently at a number of positions in recent years, the tight end position has been extremely strong.

When Coach Richt arrived in Athens, he already had a great tight end in Randy McMichael. When McMichael moved onto the NFL, Benjamin Watson (who began his career at Duke) took over and after two successful seasons moved on to the New England Patriots. The next great Georgia tight end was Leonard Pope, who became a hero to Georgia fans after catching two touchdown passes in 2004 victory over Florida. After the Dawgs won the SEC in 2005, Pope moved on and Matrez Milner became starting tight end. Milner performed well enough to get drafted by the Atlanta Falcons. Ironically, one of Georgia's best teams of the decade (2007) failed to feature an NFL tight end. Tripp Chandler had some drop issues, but would still have been a starter at most SEC schools.

And that leads up to the group of tight ends currently at Georgia, which may be the strongest tight end group in the country. The group is so strong that Bruce Figgins was able to move to fulback this year. Orson Charles is poised for an All-American season and senior Aron White would start at almost any school in the country. Artie Lynch is coming off a redshirt season and we haven't even seen Jay Rome in a bulldog uniform yet. Georgia truly has become tight end U in college football.

The Countdown 2011: 81 Days to Go

Profile: Christian Robinson

Number: 45
Class: Junior
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 226
Position: Inside Linebacker

Career Totals:

Games Played/ Started - 25/11
Tackles: 65
Sacks: 2
Tackles for Loss: 6
Fumble Recoveries: 2
Quarterback Pressures: 4

2010 Review:
Robinson became a starter for the Dawgs in 2010, appearing in all 13 games (including 11 starts). Robinson and Akeem Dent formed a good foundation in the middle in the first year under Todd Grantham. He recorded a career high 6 tackles against Georgia Tech.

2011 Preview:
From everything I have read, Christian Robinson has become one of the team leaders of the defense. His vocal leadership, along with solid play on the field, will make him a player to watch this fall. I am really excited about him being paired with sophomore Alec Ogletree at inside linebacker. Look for an increase in Robinson's tackle total as last year's team leader, Akeem Dent, has moved on to the NFL.

The Countdown 2011: 82 Days to Go

2011 Opponent Profile: New Mexico State

School: New Mexico State University

Mascot: Aggies

Conference: WAC

Last Conference Championship: 1978 (Missouri Valley Conference)

Head Coach: DeWayne Walker (3rd season, 5-20 overall record)

DeWayne Walker became head coach at New Mexico State in 2009 after spending three years as defensive coordinator at UCLA (and as interim head coach in a loss to BYU in the 2007 Las Vegas Bowl). He has failed to have much success at New Mexico State, winning only a single conference game each of the last two years.

Rivals: New Mexico and UTEP

Last Season: 2-10 (1-7 in WAC)

Interesting Fact: "The Woodson Curse"

Future hall of famer Warren B. Woodson became coach of the Aggie program in 1958. His team won the 1959 Sun Bowl and went a perfect 11-0 during the 1960 season. After a few more successful seasons, the university administration invoked a clause which required state employees to retire at age 65. Woodson was turning 65 that year, and despite another winning season and a blow out over rival New Mexico (53-7) he was forced into retirement. In 40 years since Woodson's forced retirement, the Aggies have only had 4 winning seasons and have not returned to a post season bowl game.

New Mexico State travels to Athens to take on the Dawgs on November 5.

The Countdown 2011: 83 Days to Go

Isaiah Crowell: High School Numbers and Predictions

Georgia has had many players with amazing high school statistics come to Athens to play for the Bulldogs. That case holds true for Georgia's top player in the class of 2011, Isaiah Crowell. Here's a look at the amazing stats he put up at Carver-Columbus.

2007: 22 carries, 219 yards, 3 TD

2008: 85 carries, 1,017 yards, 15 TD

2009: 175 carries, 1,915 yards, 25 TD

2010: 147 carries, 1,721 yards, 18 TD

Career Totals: 429 carries, 4,872 yards, 11.35 yards per carry, 61 TD

So what can we expect out of Crowell this fall? Marcus Lattimore rushed for 1,197 yards on 249 carries for South Carolina. This would be almost 100 carries more than Crowell had in any season during high school and with Caleb King and Ken Malcome around, I just don't see him getting more than 20 carries per game. Knowshon Moreno carried the ball 248 times as a freshman in 2007 despite splitting carries with senior Thomas Brown.

My prediction: 195 carries for 1,014 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Countdown 2011: 84 Days to Go

2011 Schedule: From Least to Most Important

12 - New Mexico State - November 5

A bad out of conference opponent the week after Florida. The Dawgs should be either eying an SEC crown or pissed off about another loss in Jacksonville. This one should be easy.

11 - Coastal Carolina - September 17

Any questions? The only reason it is more important than New Mexico State is that it follows two tough opponents to open the season.

10 - Vanderbilt - October 15

Vandy will be horrible again and the Dawgs should roll.

9 - Georgia Tech - November 26

Other than bragging rights, this game is not too important at this time. That could all change depending on how the season goes.

8 - Ole Miss - September 24

The first true road game of the season. Hopefully the Dawgs will be looking to go 2-0 in the SEC.

7 - Mississippi State

MSU surprised everyone last year, but I don't think they will be as nearly as strong this year.

6 - Boise State - September 3

This is important on a perception scale, but in the terms of the 2011 season, this one is not that important. The Dawgs could lose this one and still have a great season, just ask Virginia Tech.

5 - Kentucky - November 19

The Dawgs' final SEC game could have a lot to do with bowl positioning this fall.

4 - Tennessee - October 8

The Dawgs won easily last fall, but have struggle the last two visits to Knoxville.

3 - Auburn - November 12

REVENGE!

2 - Florida - October 29

This game is always important, but this year the Gators seem more vulnerable than they have since 2004.

1 - South Carolina - September 10

The most important home opener in a long time. Whether they win or lose in week 1 against Boise, this game is a must for a good season this fall. Win it, and you are the favorite for the SEC East crown. Lose it, and it may be another long year in Athens.

The Countdown 2011: 85 Days to Go

The Emergency Quarterback: Hines Ward and the 1995 Peach Bowl

Hines Ward is one of the greatest receivers to patch passes in Sanford Stadium. His 149 career receptions for over 1,900 yards puts him among the leaders in school history. But Ward's numbers may have been even better had he not been called on to perform other roles during his Georgia career. In addition to receiver, Ward also played running back. But in the 1995 season, he returned to his high school position of quarterback.

Starting quarterback Mike Bobo and backup Brian Smith were injured and Ward moved from emergency quarterback to starter. Georgia faced Virginia and while they would lose the game 34-27, Ward put on an amazing performance. The Dawgs rallied from a 24-6 deficit, Ward completed 31 of 59 passes for 419 yards. He had 469 yards of total offense. Here is a video that appeared as part of ESPN's Year of the Quarterback earlier this year:

The Countdown 2011: 86 Days to Go

How Larry Munson Came to Georgia

Larry Munson will always be the voice of the Georgia Bulldogs. From Lindsay Scott to the Hobnail Boot, Munson's calls are at the very heart of what Georgia football means to many fans. Most people know that Munson sat in the Georgia booth for over 40 years (1966-2008), but few Georgia fans know about his career before Georgia. Here's a look at how Larry came to Athens.

Larry grew up in Minneapolis and served as a medic in the Army during World War II. After attending broadcast school and working at a small radio station in North Dakota, he applied for a job in Cheyenne, Wyoming, used a recording of an Ohio State and Minnesota football game as an audition. In Cheyenne, Munson met and befriended Curt Gowdy. When Gowdy left his position calling football games for the University of Wyoming, he recommended Munson for the job. And so started the career of Larry Munson broadcasting sports.

Gowdy had left for a minor league baseball announcing position in Oklahoma City, and when he moved on to call games for the New York Yankees in 1949, Munson once again replaced him. In 1952, Larry moved to Nashville, continuing to call minor league baseball games and appearing on one of the first television fishing shows ever produced. He also convinced Vanderbilt University to begin broadcasting college basketball games on a local AM affiliate. the success of basketball on the station led them to add football to its schedule with Munson as its lead broadcaster.

Larry Munson would leave the state of Tennessee for Georgia in early 1966. But his main reason for coming south was not Georgia football. He had been hired as a member of the Atlanta Braves broadcast team for their first season in Atlanta. During Spring Training, Munson saw in the paper that Georgia radio announcer Ed Thilenius was leaving the position. He made a call to Georgia athletic director Joel Eaves about the open position. He got the job and took over as Georgia broadcaster that fall (despite continuing to live in Nashville. He stopped calling Braves games midway through that season.) The rest is Georgia football history.

During his career with Georgia, Munson continued to work in many different areas. He continued to appear on a hunting and fishing show in Nashville for the next 12 years, called Georgia basketball games from 1987-1996, and called games for the Atlanta Falcons from 1989 - 1992.

At the 57 second point of the video below, you can here some of Munson's calls from his days with the Falcons.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/09000d5d81b7a4a7/Top-100-Deion-Sanders?r_src=ramp

The Countdown 2011: 87 Days to Go

Marlon Brown: Time to Live up to Expectations

On National Signing Day in 2009, Georgia picked up a commitment (and national letter of intent) from 5 star wide receiver Marlon Brown. The 6'5'' receiver from Memphis' Harding Academy was considered one of the top players in the 2009 class and it appeared as though Georgia had found another superstar to pair with AJ Green. Many thought Brown would stay in state and attend Tennessee (there were reports on UT message boards as early as July 2008 that he had committed to be a Vol). Great expectations were leaped upon Brown when arrived in Athens, but so far those expectations have not been met.

Brown did not see the field for much of Georgia's first few games of 2009 and many thought he was headed for a redshirt. But when the Dawgs travel to Tennessee, Brown was on the field (to a chorus of boos from Vol fans) and made two catches for 15 yards. Those would prove to be his only catches for the entire season. 2009 was a wasted year and in my opinion, Borwn should have stayed on the bench and been granted a redshirt while he adjusted to SEC football.

When AJ Green sat out (and was subsequently suspended) for the first four games of 2010, it was another chance for Brown to step up. He never took hold of the starting job and immediately fell back on depth chart behind Kris Durham. Borwn did make his first career touchdown catch at Colorado, but overall it was another disappointing season. He played in 12 of the 13 games, making 11 catches for 133 yards and one touchdown.

Kris Durham has graduated and AJ Green has left early, leaving Brown the opportunity to become a starter this fall. If the Dawgs hope to continue the success in the passing game they saw last fall, Aaron Murray will need someone other than just Tavarres King to throw to. Hopefully Brown can step up and finally live up to the amount of hype he entered school with.

The Countdown 2011: 88 Days to Go

AJ Green’s Place in the Georgia Record Books

With AJ Green’s career in red and black now over, we can take a look back at his career in a historical context. When diving into the Georgia record book, it is clear to see that AJ Green could have easily become the most decorated receiver in Georgia history. But some nagging injuries and the suspension last fall caused him to miss 7 full games over the last two seasons. The career of AJ Green will be remembered as brilliant but also as “what could have been”.

Career Receptions

Green’s Total : 166

Place in the record books: 3^rd, behind Terrence Edwards(204) and Brice Hunter (182)

Career Yards

Green’s Total: 2,619

Place in the Record Books: 3^rd, behind Terrence Edwards (3,093) and Fred Gibson (2,884).

Career TD Receptions

Green’s Total: 23

Place in Record Books: 2^nd, behind Terrence Edwards (30)

Pass Receptions in a Season

Green’s 2010 Total: 57

Place in Record Books: 5^th. Brice Hunter holds the single season record with 76, but keep in mind AJ’s total was in 9 games.

TD Receptions in a Season

Green’s 2010 Total: 9

Place in Record Books: 2^nd, behind Terrence Edwards 11 in 2002 (Edwards also missed time that year for injury)

The Countdown 2011: 89 Days to Go

My Top 10 Games of the Last 10 Years

The last ten years of Georgia football, aka the Mark Richt era, have seen some amazing on the field moments. Here are my ten personal favorites.

10. 2005 SEC Championsip - Georgia 34, LSU 13

The Dawgs "backed in" to the SEC Championship despite losing to both Florida and Auburn and most people did not give us a chance. But two long touchdowns to Sean Bailey from DJ Shockley were the beginning of the demolition of LSU.

9. 2008 - Georgia 27, Arizona State 10

The Dawgs had lost the pre-season #1 ranking but looked great on national television against the Sun Devils. AJ Green put his name on the national map and Knowshon Moreno leaped into the end zone. Just a fun game to watch.

8. 2011 - Georgia 31, Georgia Tech 17

Tech had beaten us the last few years. I was at the game in Bobby Dodd and Billy Bennett just kept making field goals. It got the Richt era off on the right foot against the gnats.

7. 2007 - Georgia 42, Florida 30

Everythig about this game was great. From dancing in the end zone to Tebow rolling around in pain.

6. 2002 SEC Championship - Georgia 30, Arkansas 3

Georgia won its first SEC Championship in 20 years in dominating fashion. Matt Jones and the Razorbacks never stood a chance.

5. 2007 - Georgia 45, Auburn 20

The original blackout. The most amazing college football crowd I have ever seen.

4. 2004 - Georgia 45, LSU 16

The Dawgs got revenge for the two losses to the Tigers in 2003. David Greene could not miss and we absolutely ran the Tigers out of Athens.

3. 2005 - Georgia 48, Boise State 13

People kept talking about little Boise coming to Athens and beating the Dawgs. No sir.

2. 2008 Sugar Bowl - Georgia 41, Hawaii 10

The Dawgs were the best team in the country. It is a damn shame we didn't get to play for the national title. The defense took out its frustrations on Colt Brennan.

1. 2004 - Georgia 31, Florida 24

I was a 5th year senior and we had never beaten the Gators. They had already fired Ron Zook and we had Leonard Pope. Florida tried to make it interesting, but we held on. I have never been back to Jacksonville since then.

The Countdown 2011: 90 Days to Go

Underrated Performances: Michael Johnson vs. Auburn in 2002

The 2002 game against Auburn is on of the most memorable games in Georgia football history. Not only did the Dawgs earn their first trip to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta (at which they would win their first SEC Championship in 20 years), but they won the game in dramatic fashion. Sophomore quarterback David Greene found receiver Michael Johnson in the end zone on fourth and 15 from the Auburn 19. Everyone remembers Johnson's great catch and Larry Munson's legendary call:



But many people overlook Johnson's performance, which was one of the best single game performances in Georgia history. Michael Johnson was a junior receiver from Tulsa, Oklahoma who had not seen a lot of playing time until this point in his career. But with receivers Terrence Edwards and Damien Gary out and Fred Gibson playing with a hand injury that caused him to wear a cast for much of the season, the Dawgs needed someone to step up. Michael Johnson was the man to answer the call.

In the victory over Auburn, Johnson caught 13 passes for 141 yards and the game winning touchdown. Prior to the game, he had only caught 11 passes all season. His 24th catch of the 2002 season will forever remain the most important catch of his career. I was in the third row of the opposite end zone when Johnson made the catch and until the following Monday morning, I thought Fred Gibson had actually made the play (that was the first time I saw any highlights on TV).