The Countdown 2009: 38 Days to Go

38

Jersey number of 2008 Sugar Bowl MVP Marcus Howard. Against Hawaii, Howard had 3 sacks, a forced fumble, and a touchdown (after the huge hit above on Hawaii QB Colt Brennan.) Howard was perfect in Willie Martinez's defense, a quick end who had the ability to put lots of pressure on the quarterback. Howard now plays linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts. Here is a look at some of Howard's other career highlights at Georgia.

Why Georgia Fans Should Root for Sam Bradford to Win the Heisman

With the departure of Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, the Bulldogs do not figure to have a serious contender for the Heisman Trophy on their squad in 2009. Even if either of those players returned, I doubt they would have been able to wrestle the award away from the three players who were the finalists for the award last season - Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, and Sam Bradford. Considering that two of those players already have a Heisman and the other could have easily won the award last season, I see no way that one of these three does not take home the trophy in New York come this December. While Georgia fans do not have one of their own to root for, they should all be rooting for Sam Bradford to become only the second player to win the Heisman Trophy.

Let me state, for the record, that I do not think Sam Bradford is necessarily better or more deserving to win the award over Tebow and McCoy. However, as the defending champion, there's evidence to support Georgia fans rooting for him as the best player. But my argument here is less about why Sam Bradford should win the Heisman and more about why Georgia fans should root against Tebow and McCoy.

Let's start with Tim Tebow. Do I really need to spell it out? HE PLAYS AT FLORIDA. I bleed Georgia red and I will always root against the Gators when given the choice. Some people will argue that it looks good for the SEC when a player from the conference wins the Heisman, but I could really care less. A second Tebow Heisman would mean another year of Florida playing well and would probably include another victory over the Dawgs in Jacksonville. For those reasons, Georgia fans should not root for Tim Tebow to win the Heisman this fall.

Next, we move on to Texas quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy is entering his fourth year as the starting quarterback in Austin and the Longhorns expect to battle Bradford's Oklahoma Sooners for the Big XII Championship again this fall. I think McCoy is a fantastic player whose passing and running makes him a top candidate. The real reason Georgia fans should root against McCoy is that for him to win the Heisman, the 'Horns will most likely need to be a contender for the national title and thus they would need to finish with more than 10 wins on the season. Colt McCoy has won 32 games as the starting quarterback for Texas and if he wins more than 10 games this fall, he will become the winningest quarterback in NCAA history. As I pointed out in The Countdown, the current record for victories as a starter is held by former Georgia starter David Greene, and I do not want to see another Bulldog-held NCAA record fall.

With the cases against Tebow and McCoy, that leaves Bradford the lone man for me to root for this fall. Boomer Sooner, Bradford!

GO DAWGS!

The Countdown 2009: 39 Days to Go

39

Yards ran back for a touchdown by Lynn Hughes on an interception thrown by Florida quarterback Steve Spurrier in 1966. Florida entered the game 7-0 after beating Auburn the week before and had locked up the Heisman Trophy. The Dawgs would intercept three passes on the day as Spurrier and the Gators would miss out on a National Championship.

(Hughes, first from the left, as a member of the 1966 Playboy All-American team. This was the only picture I could find with Hughes online.)

The Countdown 2009: 40 Days to Go

40

Points scored by the Bulldogs in their first bowl victory, a 40-26 defeat of Texas Christian University in the 1942 Orange Bowl.

Frank Sinkwich led the attack for the Bulldogs, completing 9 of 13 passes for 243 yards and 3 touchdowns. Sinkwich added 139 yards and another touchdown on the ground. as he earned game MVP honors. The Dawgs led 33-7 at the half, prompting Coach Wally Butts to call it the greatest offensive performance he had ever seen.

The Countdown 2009: 41 Days to Go

41

The number of UGA records that Herschel Walker holds that UGA recognizes. He holds 16 SEC records and 11 NCAA records that are recognized. 1981 was probably his best season even though he is more recognized for his 1980 freshman season and his 1982 Heisman. Herschel averaged 171.9 yards a game during his sophomore year in 1981.

The Countdown 2009: 42 Days to Go

42

Number of career victories by David Greene as Georgia starting QB, currently an NCAA record. The record was previously held by Peyton Manning. Greene's record while the starter at Georgia was 42-10 and he is also the SEC record holder for career yards with 11,270.

Poppin' Fresh Admits To Snubbing Tebow

The Pillsbury Doughboy, commonly known as Poppin' Fresh, admitted early Friday morning that he stole Steve Spurrier's ballot and voted for Jevan Snead over Tim Tebow.

"I won't apologize for who I've voted for, only that I deceived and brought criticism on my dear friend, Steve Spurrier. I did what I thought was the right thing at the time. I consider this discussion over," Poppin' Fresh said.

According to reports, Poppin' Fresh has been a long time admirer and friend of Steve Spurrier, going back to when the two met in New York when Steve Spurrier won the Heisman Trophy. Poppin' Fresh had just become a household name the year before as the new spokesman for Pillsbury and attended the ceremony as a guest of honor.

Sources have said Poppin' Fresh was a devout gator fan for decades before switching to being a gamecocks fan when Spurrier became a head coach at the University of South Carolina. Poppin' Fresh has also followed Spurrier throughout his career, even purchasing a house in Durham, North Carolina when Spurrier was at Duke University.

"I wouldn't be totally shocked if Poppin' did this. He has been friends with Spurrier for so long, I think he'd do anything for him, including taking the fall for not voting for Tebow. It's sad to see, but there's also something good to say about an undying loyalty to a friend," said Herman Cain, a former vice-president at the Pillsbury Company.

"In fact, Poppin' Fresh may be Spurrier's only true friend left," Cain continued.

When asked about Poppin' Fresh's presence on campus in Columbia, South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia said, "Doughboy is always around during the football season. Sometimes him and coach will go to the basketball games and get drunk in the president's box. He's a cool guy, likes to party, but he's never too intrusive on the program."

Steve Spurrier is scheduled to speak at the annual SEC Media Days on Friday afternoon.

The Countdown 2009: 43 Days to Go

43

Years that Larry Munson was the voice of the Georgia Bulldogs. "Run Lindsay, Run", "Hobnail Boot", and "Hunker Down" will live on in lore of Georgia football for ever.

BREAKING NEWS: WE FOUND OUT WHO DIDN'T VOTE FOR TEBOW

Guess what? I'm lying. Why?

BECAUSE WHO CARES!

I can't take reading on so many blogs, newspaper websites, and even having to listen to Skip Bayless and other ESPN douchebags ponder who in the world didn't vote for TEBLOWME.

I'm also sick, as is Earl, of listening to Floriduh fans whine and cry about it, as if it is the end of the world. One measly ass vote and you would've thought one of these coaches commissioned a second bombing of Pearl Harbor since the fervor and anger over this is so constant.

I realize it's July, we're all bored, yet all pumped at the same time.

However, get over it.

Suck a nut, Tebow.

The Countdown 2009: 44 Days to Go

44

Seconds left on the clock when Georgia got the ball back late in the 4th quarter of the 2001 Georgia- Tennessee game. David Greene completed a five yard touchdown pass to Verron Haynes for the Georgia win. In the immortal words of Larry Munson, "We just stepped on their face with a hobnail boot and broke their nose. We just crushed their face."