In boxing, there is a type of fighter called a "gatekeeper". He's capable and has skill. He might have contended for championships during his career. But, each such fighter has serious flaws that will always keep him from a title shot. Instead, when promising young fighters come along, the gatekeepers welcome them to serious fights. If the promising youngster beats the gatekeeper, he continues to close in on a title shot. If not, he looks for work down at the docks.
Is this not exactly what Georgia has been the past five years? A team that the up and coming play to gauge their progress toward the elite? Boise State failed in 2005. West Virginia passed. The Pokes failed in 2007 and so did Hawai'i. Alabama passed with flying colors last year. Maybe Okie State passed last Saturday.
Maybe it is just the oddities of our new scheduling philosophy, but it seems that we play a lot of teams about to emerge on the national stage. If they beat us, then they are roundly hailed by the national media. If they lose, they are forgotten. West Virginia went on to top ten finishes in 2005-2007 and got as close to the national championship as we did in 2007. Bama went on to a BCS bowl last year and look like they are on track for a similar result this year. Time will tell about Okie State, but the breaks are falling their way so far this season (Bradford, Gresham).
Quinton
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