DOA: North Campus Tailgating

Gameday in Athens lost its luster today with the announcement of new rules concerning tailgating for the 2010 football season.

http://gamedaygameplan.com/gameday2010

North Campus, home to a good majority of Georgia fans (including Bubba 'N Earl), has essentially been eliminated as a tailgate spot begin this fall. If the trash was really the issue, they could have implemented a few simple rules to help make sure things were cleaned up. Instead, the University took the extreme approach. What's next? Are they going to turn all of campus into a family free, no alcohol zone?!?!?

Tailgating is a gameday tradition and is one of the reasons football in the South is something special. Ole Miss would never think about shutting down The Grove, but UGA essentially just shut down the closest thing we had. I know people were upset about the trash, but to all those people who threw a fit, I hope you're happy.

What's on My Mind - March15th

Let the Madness begin! The NCAA tournament kicks off this week's list of things that I'm thinking about.

- Bracket busting - My final four: Kansas, Kansas State, Duke, West Virginia. Yes, two teams from Kansas and no Kentucky. I'm going with the rest of the country on this one, my national championship pick is Kansas.

- The Bulldogs got screwed - The Mississippi State Bulldogs that is. 23 wins and .5 seconds away from an SEC tournament championship and somehow they get left out. Most people say they should have won more games or beat Kentucky, but based on that logic they should definitely be in over Florida. Florida only had 20 wins and lost to Mississippi State in the SEC tournament. How that gives them a better resume than MSU is beyond me.

- Spring practice kicks back off again. Why the hell did they have two days of practice and then go on Spring Break? Consider that some of the players (hmm, hmm, Mettenberger) spent their spring break boozing it up, what did they really learn in those two days before the break.

- The QB competition will once again be the focus. With Mett out of the race, Murray and Gray will duke it out the next few weeks. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Murray will win the job.

- G -Day is just a few weeks away. The Masters is great and all, but I'll be in Athens. I can watch golf on Sunday.

Wonderlickin' - Bradford as smart as Stafford, Tebow...not so much

Matt Stafford and Sam Bradford share a lot of things in common:

- Stafford was the top quarterback in his draft class and was drafted # 1 overall. Sam Bradford is the top rated quarterback in this year's class and has a good chance of being drafted # 1 overall by the Rams.

- Both Stafford and Bradford suffered shoulder injuries during the 2009 season and ended the season on the injured list.

- Both are considered ideal NFL quarterback size and have strong right arms.

Another similarity between these two was discovered today with the release of the Wonderlic test scores from the 2010 scouting combine. Last year, Stafford scored an impressive 38 on the test that is supposed to test learning aptitude. Bradford finds himself atop the 2010 QB class with a score of 36, far outdistancing fellow potential NFLers Colt McCoy (25) and Jimmy Clausen (23). And what of the Golden Boy of this year's draft, Tim Tebow? Timmy finished at the bottom with a score of 22. That's very similar to another athletic left handed quarterback who struggled to make the change from a running QB in college to a passer in the NFL:

Vick scored a 20 on his Wonderlic.

At least the team won't have to worry about Tebow running an illegal dog fighting ring.

Georgia Pro-Day 2010: A Defensive Minded Affair?

Spring practice has begun and while the current Georgia Bulldogs are using these next few weeks as their first official work for the 2010 season, a number of now former Bulldogs are using this time as their last chance to work out on the Georgia practice field. In a few weeks, Georgia will host its annual Pro Day, a chance for those players who are eligible for this year's NFL draft to showcase their talents in a familiar environment. Last year, Georgia's Pro Day was a show case on the offensive side of the football. Future first rounders Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno along with Mohammed Massaquoi (2nd round) were the stars on display. Dannell Ellerbe, Corvey Irvin, Jarrius Wynn, and Asher Allen would also go onto pro careers, but the defense was definitely outshone by the offense.

The 2010 Pro Day will be a much different story for the Georgia Bulldogs. There will no first rounders in this class and the majority of those looking to further their careers will be on the defensive side of the ball. Michael Moore and Vince Vance has nice careers at Georgia, but I do not expect to hear their names called on draft day. Here is a quick look at the players who are looking to make a name for themselves at Georgia's Pro Day:

- Rennie Curran, LB - The undersized linebacker was a tackling machine at Georgia. There has been concern about his size, but the numbers speak for themselves.
- Reshad Jones, S - Jones has all the tools to be a great NFL player. He improved his tackling in 2009 and should make for a nice mid to late round pick up.
- Jeff Owens, DT - One of Georgia's three outstanding defensive tackles, Owens returned from an ACL injury to put together a decent senior year.
- Geno Atkins, DT - Undersized for DT, Atkins can play some at defensive end as well. An impressive workout could push him into the second round of the draft.

Good luck to all of these former Bulldogs at the next level. We look forward to you continuing the proud Bulldog tradition on Sundays.

GO DAWGS!!!

Quarterback Competition - Could Mettenberger steal the show?

Spring practice looms and the competition for quarterback will become the main focus of the Bulldog Nation leading up to G-Day. Logan Gray's decision to stay at quarterback (for now anyway)means there are three guys throwing their hats into the fire this spring. I think it is safe to eliminate in-coming freshman Hutson Mason by virtue of still being in high school Mason does not have the skill set that Matt Stafford had to start as a true freshman and Stafford actually enrolled early. Gray is the most experienced of the bunch, but disappointing play in limited chances in '09 left many to think switching positions was the best route for Logan. Aaron Murray seems to be the chosen one right now and I believe he will ultimately win the job. But the real wild card in this race may be Georgia's other talented QB from the class of 2009, Zach Mettenberger.

Like Murray, Mettenberger was an Elite 11 QB during his senior year at Oconee County High School just outside of Athens. Listed at 6'5'' and 230 pounds, he definitely has the size that you like to see in pocket passer. Many have praised his strong arm, some saying it could be stronger than Stafford's was. But despite his size and arm, Mettenberger was labeled a project, a player that could be something special but just isn't there yet. Now, a year and a half into his career at Georgia, could Mettenberger step up and take charge?

Here are some highlights of Mettenberger from high school and G-Day last year:







Check the 1:39 mark


It should be a fun next couple of weeks on the practice field. May the best man win the job!

GO DAWGS!!!

Monday Thoughts: Things that make me happy

- Team USA. Helluva job. They may have the gold, but we outplayed them. Canada, look out in 2014, because this young US team will now be the experienced vets and you are going to have a big target on your back.

- Georgia beating Florida. Not nearly the same thrill as a football victory over the Gators, but very satisfying none the less.

- Quotes like this (h/t David Hale) by Branden Smith talking about the new defensive scheme:
"I believe that we’re going to get more interceptions this year. Last year, we didn’t get that many picks, and I believe it was the scheme we were in. The scheme we’re in now, it seems like something everybody’s looking forward to – linebackers, D-backs and especially on the D line.” - Branden Smith

- Colt McCoy giving mad props to Aaron Murray. All Murray has to do now is go out and win the job.

- Diamond Dawgs sweep the Hatters. I know it is just Stetson, but good teams take care of business against weaker opponents and the Dawgs took care of business this weekend.

- March - The end of winter, the return of good weather, UGA spring practice, Braves spring training, St. Patrick's Day, and March Madness.

SEC Out of Conference Shceduling 2010: Seven Great Match Ups

The SEC has always done its part to schedule tough out of conference games and 2010 will be another year marked by interesting match ups between schools who do not normally meet in the regular season. Here is a quick look at seven intriguing games to watch out for this fall:

LSU vs. North Carolina - Sept. 4 in Atlanta
Everyone keeps waiting for Butch Davis and the Tar Heels to have that breakout season they have been expecting. A win over LSU to start the season would be a great springboard into the 2010 season.

Penn State at Alabama - Sept.11
Penn State took advantage of sloppy play and conditions to beat LSU in the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day. I don't think they will find their visit to defending national champion Bama quite as pleasant.



Oregon at Tennessee - Sept. 11
Pac 10 Champion Oregon comes across the country to face Derek Dooley's Vols. The Vols did not fare well against the Pac 10 in recent years, dropping two games to a weak UCLA team.

South Florida at Florida -Sept. 11
South Florida has been a consistent contender in the Big East the last few years, but after firing head coach Jim Levitt they will face a lot of questions. Do they have what it takes to put up a strong fight against the reloading Gators?

Clemson at Auburn - Sept. 14
A rematch of the 2007 Chick-Fil-A Bowl, Auburn hosts "Auburn with a Lake" in this early season game. Will Cameron Newton be ready to handle his first big test on the Plains?

Georgia at Colorado - October 2

The Dawgs should win this game, but it may be a challenge. Colorado almost upset the Dawgs at home in 2006 and Georgia has to travel to Mississippi State the week before.

Arkansas vs. Texas A&M - Oct. 9

Offense should not be a problem in this game as two high scoring teams with talented (and tall) quarterbacks square off. The question is, will there actually be any defense played at all?

Ole Miss Mascot - From Old Southern Gentleman to Star Wars Alien?

Ole Miss's new mascot? You've got to be kidding!

I'll admit it, I am huge Star Wars fan. Call me a geek, but George Lucas's space opera is one my favorite movie series of all time. Star Wars has carved its own little space in the college football world because of the film's music (created by John Williams). And while Auburn playing the imperial death march is fine and dandy, never would I figure a Star Wars character could appear on the sidelines of a major college football program. That may all change in the near future.

The AJC is reporting that the Ole Miss student body is currently pushing for Star Wars character Admiral Ackbar to be their new mascot. Ole Miss is currently searching for a replacement for Colonel Reb, whom the school retired a few years ago after some felt the mascot was not politically correct. The students are voting for the new mascot online. How does Admiral Ackbar connect to Ole Miss? Because in The Return of the Jedi, Admiral Ackbar was the commander on the Rebel Alliance. Ole Miss Rebels...Rebel Alliance...makes sense, right? Yeah, not so much.

Seriously Ole Miss, if you let this happen you will become the laughing stock of the SEC. Can't you just get an old dog (Georgia, MSU, Tennessee), cat (LSU), or other annoying animal (see Auburn's Eagle, Florida's Gators, or Cocky)? Seriously, Vanderbilt would never consider replacing the Commodore with a walking Commodore 64!

This is the SEC. In the words of Admiral Ackbar himself, switching your mascot to a Star Wars character is a trap!

Lets leave the Sci-Fi and fantasy stuff to the Nerds.

USA! USA! USA!

I'm not a big hockey fan, but I found myself captivated last night watching the USA defeat the mighty Canadian team at the Olympics. Yes, Team USA is made up of some good NHL players and they have an exceptional goalie, but the Canadian team roster reads like an All-Star team. Clearly, Canada was more talented, as they remained on the attack throughout much of the second and third periods. But the scrappy American team continued to fight, and this empty net goal, a pure hustle effort, signified why the Americans won the game:


These Olympics are turning out pretty amazing for the American hockey team. Maybe the Georgia Bulldogs should take some notes about playing with heart and use it on the field this fall.

U-S-A!

Thoughts of the Week - Feb. 19

With the current dead period before spring practice and work keeping me busy, posting on the blog will continue to be light for the next few weeks. Here are my quick thoughts for this week:

1. If the NCAA comes down hard on USC for transgressions during the Pete Carroll era, what will happen to the program if it gets in trouble under Kiffin (which it eventually will)?

2. The Winter Olympics...still not as cool as the Summer Games. And Canada, no one expected you to live up to China's opening ceremonies, but come on. That was PATHETIC.

3. Dawgs drop another one on the road after leading at half. If this team had any depth, we would be sitting near .500 in SEC. Instead, we are 3-8. Fox's team will turn that around next year.

4. Georgia baseball season kicks off this weekend. Georgia is ranked #22 and has one of the toughest schedules in the country. It is an even year, but I don't see this Georgia team having the success that the '08 team had.

5. The quarterback battle is coming into focus. Logan Gray is staying at QB, which I think is a mistake. I would be very surprised if Aaron Murray did not win the job, but if Mettenberger really has improved as much as they say, there may be a real dog fight (no pun intended).

6. 9-3. That is my prediction for the worst record they Georgia will have next fall. Easy schedule combined with 10 of 11 starters back on offense and a new defensive scheme = New Year's Day Bowl. Count on it.