Thursday, June 30, 2011

Ducati MotoGP Team - The Presentation



Ducati MotoGP Team - The presentation

Ducati MotoGP Team - The presentationThe Ducati MotoGP Team is made up of people. Come and meet them during a working day!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Georgia Basketball Schedule Update


Sicemdawgs.com listed four non-conference games added to the schedule. Originally, we had heard that the first two games of the CBE Tourney in Athens might be against Niagara and William & Mary. However, we're now hearing that George Washington will be one of the CBE Teams destined for Athens (ht - MemphisDog).

Interestingly, there's an outside chance for a terrific Georgia sports weekend Nov. 11th. We open the weekend and the season with a home basketball game against Wofford. Then we get Auburn at home on Saturday. Potentially, we'd get another basketball game on Sunday at home in the CBE Tourney. It's a long shot, but possible.

As of today, here's the schedule:
    Home:
      Wofford 11/11
      CBE Game 1 (11/13-11/15) TBD
      CBE Game 2 (11/14-11/16) George Washington or TBD
      Cincy 12/2
      Georgia Tech 12/6
      Furman 12/23
      Winthrop 12/27
      Mercer

    Neutral:
      CBE Game 3 (ND, Cal or Mizzou) 11/21
      CBE Game 4 (ND, Cal or Mizzou) 11/22

    Away:
      Xavier
      Colorado
      Southern Cal (Not Confirmed) 12/17
For a start like that, we'll need Kentavious Caldwell.

PWD

MotoGP Action From Qatar 2009



MotoGP action from Qatar 2009

MotoGP action from Qatar 2009The best of the action from the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, the opening round of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship.

Georgia Preseason Preamble

There are two things I keep thinking about when I start to write about the upcoming season:
  1. How close to the Dawgs are to being overlooked due to the people putting an inordinate amount of weight on last year's performance having anything to do with this year's team.  Not to say they aren't related; they are.  It is too easy to say Georgia lost to UCF and move on to the next team without evaluating what has happened since then.  Similar thing happened in 2007 after the Sugar Bowl win over Hawaii. 
  2. How close the Dawgs are to being rightly overlooked, with root causes of the recent past failures being the reason.  Failures of training, failures of scheme, and failures of development.  The answer to a turn around isn't simply saying run fewer quick draws or make the players eat right.  The answer is figuring out what the failures are and fixing them. DNA level failures.  Not doing so, and now, likely means a regime change in Athens.
I've talked about one of the changes that probably is the most obvious.  Getting guys stronger and eating better.  It remains to be seen if the new approach is working, but getting guys to lay off Waffle House and Burger King is a start.

I'm no schematitian, but as a team, we fail to utilize our best talent.  We fail to prepare for the most important times in games.  We blow time outs at crucial junctures.  We are on our heels and playing reactive football, on both sides of the ball, too much.   We don't find plays that work, then run those plays until the other team figures out how to stop them.  I'm bearish on this changing.  Several years ago, Georgia was singled out by the SEC officials for their hurry up offense and a rule interpretation was implemented to help defenses against hurry up offenses. Think about that, then think about the delay of game penalties and time outs we have blown in the recent years because we were unprepared for the next play.

The offensive line is thin.  We'll need inovative play calling to get guys open in space, without having to ask the linemen to create that space.  We'll need players who are ready to go from the day training camp opens.  We'll need those players to buy in and have each others back.  We'll need coaches that aren't afraid to fail and desperately want to succeed.  Not just succeed, but make the other team's coaches look badly outcoached.

I personally don't think there is any one answer to what has happened over the past few years. When you look at the downfall of large organizations, it is rarely one big thing that is the source of the downfall, it is almost always a plethora of small things that become cumulative.  Any one or two or three of those problems won't cause the downfall. I don't know if it has been a lack of oversight, lack of competence at key positions, or a lack of caring about either.  I do know incremental changes have been made the past two seasons, and we have tangible evidence of a mindset change at the top.  Very top.

Great leaders are adept at knowing personal and organizational weaknesses and isolating them.  Great leaders are adept at knowing what they are good at and maximizing those strengths.  For five plus years, we saw the great leader in Mark Richt.  For the past few, we haven't, at least to the best we can tell (I am willing to say the change in Dcordinator, although a year late, still has time to pay off due to implimentation lag time). 

Do I have faith in Coach Richt's ability to correct what has gone wrong?  I don't know, but I surely want to.  Do I have evidence that my faith wouldn't be misplaced? Absolutely.  There is also evidence that my faith would be.  Mark Richt lost to UCF, but he also was the coach that the SEC had to slow down.  Will he become the guy to slow down again?  To still be in Athens in 2012, I think he has to.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Classic Game Room - MOTO GP 10/11 Review



Classic Game Room - MOTO GP 10/11 review

Classic Game Room - MOTO GP 10/11 reviewClassic Game Room reviews MOTO GP 10/11 for Playstation 3 PS3, also available for Xbox 360. This motorcycle racing game published by Capcom has ...

Monday, June 27, 2011

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup



Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup

Offensive Line Woes

With Brent Benedict leaving the program, we have three (is that right?) O-line backups that were on campus in the spring.

Looks like Searles got out when the getting was good. You could say he left the cupboard bare, too.  We need Watts Danzler and Zack DeBell to show up ready to play, because they are going to get the chance to.

MotoGP Jerez 2011 - Start Practice - 1



MotoGP Jerez 2011 - start practice - 1

MotoGP Jerez 2011 - start practice - 1MotoGP Jerez - the riders in MotoGP practice start procedure, after the completed training session. In Jerez one can get very close to the riders ...

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Jerez Race 1 Highlights



Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Jerez Race 1 Highlights

Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Jerez Race 1 HighlightsAction from the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup race 1 in Jerez

Saturday, June 25, 2011

The Wait Is Over. MotoGP 2011 Is Here!



The wait is over. MotoGP 2011 is here!

The wait is over. MotoGP 2011 is here!Class of 2011 ready for MotoGP Season opener in Qatar

Friday, June 24, 2011

Casey Stoner On 2012 Honda 1000cc MotoGP Prototype



Casey Stoner on 2012 Honda 1000cc MotoGP Prototype

Casey Stoner on 2012 Honda 1000cc MotoGP PrototypeCasey Stoner testing the 2012 Honda prototype, a 1000cc version that will be allowed in MotoGP for the 2012 Championship.

Trey and Travis Reunited in LA

No, not the Lakers.

Good news, they were drafted.  Bad news, they were drafted by the Clippers. In the second round.  Trey went with the 37th pick, Travis with the 47th pick.  They will join Blake Griffin in LA, so the Clippers are building on something.

Hopefully, both will end up getting signed (neither are guaranteed contracts) and being part of that something.  As Paul put it, the basketball program needs them to succeed.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Good Luck to Travis and Trey Tonight

Tonight's NBA draft is enormous not just for those two kids, but also for Mark Fox and the basketball program.  As we've said numerous times here, Fox's basic pitch is "come to Georgia and your dreams can come true.  There's no reason to leave the state when your dreams can come true while you play in front of your friends and family."

To make that pitch truly come to life reality, he had to prove:
-- That he could convince Georgia fans to sellout SEC games. (Done)
-- Get Georgia into the NCAA Tourney. (Done)
-- Put kids from in state AAU programs into the NBA (Pending)

Neither player is a lock first round draft pick, and it's possible that both could go completely undrafted.  Given the league's rule that only first round picks have guaranteed deals, I still can't fathom Travis going pro.  But that's water under the bridge.

The reality is...Georgia basketball desperately needs these two kids to get drafted as high as possible, and it would certainly energize our recruiting pitch.  Heaven knows, Fox needs all the assistance he can get on the recruiting trail right now.

Good luck to Travis and Trey. We need this to work out for you.

PWD

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

2011 FIM MotoGP World Championship - Le Mans (FRA)



2011 FIM MotoGP World Championship - Le Mans (FRA)

2011 FIM MotoGP World Championship - Le Mans (FRA)Highlights of the 2011 FIM MotoGP World Championship in Le Mans (France)

Strength or Not?

Let me start by saying this: I am cautiously optimistic about the strength and conditioning changes made earlier this year.  It is clear that the program wasn't working, based on stats and the eyeball test. I place no stock whatsoever in the typical blather coming from Athens about how tough it is and how this is the most intense summer evah!


Even if it is change for change's sake, it will be better due to JT2's intensity and no-BS approach to things.  I like the hires that have been made in Gilbert and Brown.  Both are winners who get what dedication means.  Both, by all accounts, were strong leaders who showed up to work during their playing careers.

However...

I do worry about Brown and Gilbert's approach as rookie coaches.  It isn't out of the ordinary for teams to hire former players to work the weight room.  It provides a good connection to past successes.  The current players connect better with dudes in their 20s than with dudes in their 50s and 60s.  If Brown and Gilbert are left to working accountability and work habits/ethics into the player's routines, those hires are probably wins.  I do worry about the 'this ain't how we did it' issue and falling back to whatever DVH was doing, potentially bringing back bad work habits.  If they start thinking they are still players and go all buddy buddy with the current roster, instead of being coaches, nothing improves.

I think JoeT2 is a good choice to lead the S&C program.  He has extensive experience in S&C.  He won't be confused as anyone's buddy.  I am pretty sure he eats live wasps for breakfast, just to get the juices flowing. Were there other good options? Sure.  Would I have been happier if the program had done a more thorough search? Yes.  I still think JT2 has the tools to be an effective leader of the program.  I hope he listens to the younger coaches in the program, continues to evaluate what is working in the program and what isn't and makes changes nessisary to reverse the slide.   

Now, I don't normally think that a college degree in your field is a must to be good at your job.  However, as a buddy put it when we were discussing the S&C hires: "The human body is at least moderately complex."  My biggest concern is how much does the regimen actually improve performance past mere excellence.  We are talking margins here.  Stopping a fake punt late in a game.  Executing a fake punt late in a game. One missed block. Not blocking somoene in the back on a big return.  One sack.  One blown coverage.  One less blown time out because someone needed a breather. Out jumping someone for the ball.  Cutting back inside, instead of to the sideline. One tackler shucked off.  Hunkering down one more time.

Do I think you have to have a degree in physiology to be a good S&C coach?  No.  It wouldn't hurt to have someone who could tell the players how working on one muscle group impacts other muscle groups or how to recruit and control quick reflex muscles (I have to admit, I am out of my depth here; working out for me involves dragging 300 lbs of equipment to a tailgate 5-8 Saturdays a year*).  It seems that Rex Bradberry is that guy, although he is in charge of nutrition, so I wonder how much he works on weight training.  Conditioning needs to improve, too.  Nutrition is a huge part of that, so I don't discount his role in conditioning.

As with everythig this off season, the answers won't come until we get to live football in 70 or so days.

TD

*Even fewer times now that UGA seems to want every home kickoff to be at a Big 10 like 11am.

It's Les Miles' World...

We just live in it. This is hilarious. (ht - Blutarsky)



I love that the LSU athletic department put this together for him.

PWD

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

MotoGP Estoril, Portugal - Highlights - Red Bull Rookies Cup 2011



MotoGP Estoril, Portugal - Highlights - Red Bull Rookies Cup 2011

MotoGP Estoril, Portugal - Highlights - Red Bull Rookies Cup 2011We take a look at the exciting third and fourth rounds in Estoril, Portugal where the rookies fight for every position around the track despite ...

Monday, June 20, 2011

Real Auburn Championship Rings


So, without looking at the years, could you guess which national championship ring is more real? 

Any bets on when the one on the left becomes as real as the one on the right?

TD

(H/t to Matt Hinton at Dr. Saturday)

MotoGP Brings The Battle To Estoril



MotoGP brings the battle to Estoril

MotoGP brings the battle to EstorilReigning MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo has won from pole position at Estoril for the past three consecutive seasons, can he make it a fourth ...

Self Scouting? Self Awareness?

After the 2001 season, Mark Richt famously sat down with Homer Smith, former offensive coordinator for a variety of programs, and did some self scouting and self evaluation of the program. The work included clock management strategy and other areas. Regardless of whether or not you feel that it worked* I respected Richt for bringing in an outside look at the program.

One of the things I've wondered many times since 2006 or so...does Richt still seek outside counsel for issues such as self scouting? My guess is no. It's like he's gone through years of just sheer avoidance when it comes to glaring issues. A quality outside expert should be able to talk to you about...
  • Directional kicking and the rudimentary math surrounding this idiocy
  • Evolutions in Strength and Conditioning
  • Scouting 2nd and 10 play calling tendencies
  • And of course...tendencies in the punt return game
Why am I mentioning this? My reaction to Richt's comments last week about great punting and forcing the other guy to fair catch were about the same as Blutarsky's. As in...where the heck have you been Coach? You sent Logan Gray out all those times with absolutely no intention of returning the kick OR going after the block. Just wasted down after wasted down. And why?

All of this goes back to my fundamental issue with the program the past several years which I've mentioned many times:
1. Lack of a sense of urgency -- if you thought you could get fired tomorrow, you wouldn't let problems like those above fester. Now that his job is on the line, innovation returns to Athens.

2. Lack of a Meritocracy -- if a senior or junior is allowed to play no matter how often he is "buddy checked" into the weight room or half asses it in practice, what incentive does an underclassman have to work harder? They'll get the starting job eventually via attrition or graduation. The depth chart becomes the sporting equivalent of royal succession. The same lack of meritocracy allowed Jancek and Martinez to hang around as long as they did. By fixing issue #1 with a pretty obvious hot seat, it's amazing how much work is being put into resolving this one. (Note: This is the real value of Coach T. He busts everyone's balls)

3. Personnel Utilization -- We'll see if this has been resolved, but the most recent example of this in action is the utilization of Branden Smith. Barring injury...any game plan that involves more carries for Carlton Thomas than Branden Smith should be thrown out before it sees the light of day. Hit youtube and watch Smith's run vs. South Carolina as a freshman. You think Urban Meyer, Nick Saban or Les Miles would've had a weapon like that remain so grossly under utilized?

I'm reluctant to be "that guy" with "that blog" who constantly pounds on the negative. And it's not all negative by any means. Plus, I do feel a greater sense of urgency around the program now, but it never should have come to this.

We shouldn't be in a position with such a narrow margin for error entering this season. We have to stay healthy and catch a few breaks early to keep the wheels on the track. While the schedule is easier this year...Boise, South Carolina, Miss State, and Tennessee are all a helluva lot hungrier right now than Georgia was last year.

How hungry is the team now? The sound bytes are nice, but we'll find out in about 75 days. In the meantime, healthy doses of self scouting and self awareness would prevent us from being on such a precipice again.

PWD


*We won the SEC in 2002 so I file that conversation in the "what worked" category.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

MotoGP Riders Support Japan



MotoGP riders support Japan

MotoGP riders support JapanAfter the recent events in Japan, the MotoGP riders send messages of support. You can also do so by sending a Video Response to this video.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Vote Early and Often


EA Sports is hosting something another. All I know is Georgia v Tennessee in the first round, so we need to win.  That is enough alone to go vote. 

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/post/_/id/6658208/8-georgia-vs-9-tennessee

H/t to sicemdawgs.com.


The NCAA needs a Frank Abagnale, Jr.



If you saw the movie Catch Me if You Can, you know the story of Frank Abagnale, Jr. The legendary check forger and con man who was ultimately captured and became an asset to the FBI in their war on check forgery. He later became a security consultant of sorts advising Fortune 500 companies on how to keep the bad guys from stealing from you.

The NCAA is to the point where it needs its own Frank Abagnale, Jr. They need a seasoned out of work coach who knows their rule book inside and out...and more importantly knows where the cracks are. A guy that understands tricks like:
  • Getting quasi-illiterate kids diplomas from the local Mall
  • Funneling cash through area church offering plates
  • Balloon financing programs for cars
  • The ATM Card for Jocks program
  • "The room isn't free we just don't collect the rent" lodging program
  • Using blindness as a learning disability to help basketball players pass the SAT
Each of those is a real example of a recruiting story from the past 10 years. Right now, the NCAA Enforcement Staff is playing checkers while the cheaters are playing chess.

They need an inside man who can help them close the loopholes. I nominate Jackie Sherrill for the position. While not as handsome as charming as Leonardo Dicaprio...he is the kind of guy that would take the bull by the scrotum and attack this problem if paid properly.

Why bring this up?
We're hearing rumblings that a group of rival alumni in Birmingham are playing a game of anything you can do I can do better in regards to pay for play. And the shenanigans certainly are not limited to the shadow of the Vulcan as Ohio State fans well know.

It's one thing for a group of alumni to pool their cash and sneak money to a kid in an organized and disciplined manner. But things aren't quite so subtle any more. Things are getting flat out reckless and careless.

For instance, you shouldn't repeatedly get drunk and tell everyone in ear shot that you paid $50k for the best player in your state. That's not something even your own friends and fans can keep a secret...and no I'm not talking about a GA or Alabama kid.

That said...who can blame kids or their parents for extending their palms? You're broke and sitting in your living room is a coach making more than $2 million a year, a coordinator making more than $500k and sometimes two position coaches who combine to make another $500k. That's four guys who could easily be millionaires sitting in your home asking you to play for them.

What incentive does anyone in the room have not to make sure the kid is taken care of? It's one thing to slip a kid a few bucks, help a parent get a better job or "pay the going rate" as Bear used to say. It's another to have a situation where you're trying to manage a salary cap during your recruiting process.

It's a scary time in college football. And the NCAA needs an entirely different approach to dealing with it.

PWD

*I would've nominated Fulmer, but he's too busy applying for the Tennessee AD job.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

MotoGP Class Of 2011



MotoGP class of 2011

MotoGP class of 2011Have a look at the MotoGP line-up for the 2011 season

New UGA Halftime Commercial


Spent the morning serving as an extra for the new halftime commercial for UGA.  I'm easy to recognize among the 200 folks that showed up.  I'm the dude in red with a Georgia hat on.

Hopefully, the concept, which sounds very cool, will come together.  Has to be better than the text thing from last year.

It is set to debut during Boise State in the Dome and on ESPN.  If I come up with a copy before then, I'll post it.

TD

Europe Welcomes The MotoGP Battle



Europe welcomes the MotoGP battle

Europe welcomes the MotoGP battleJerez marks the start of the European rounds of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship, as the title hopefuls intensify their individual quests.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Projected Georgia Kickoff Times

Here is my best guess for Georgia's kickoff times:
  • Sept 3: @GA Dome in Chick-fil-a Kickoff Game against Boise State -- 8 ESPN
  • Sept 10: South Carolina -- 4:30 ESPN
  • Sept 17: Coastal Carolina -- Noon or 7:00 FSN/CSS
  • Sept 24: @ Ole Miss -- 12:21 SECN
  • Oct 1: Miss State -- 12:00 ESPN/2/U or 12:21 SECN
  • Oct 8: @ UT -- 7:00 ESPN/2/U
  • Oct 15: @Vandy -- 12:00 or 7:00 FSN/CSS/ESPNU
  • Oct 29: (Jax) UF -- 3:30 CBS
  • Nov 5: NMSU -- 1:00 PPV
  • Nov 12: AU -- 12:00/3:30 CBS or 7pm ESPN (most likely noon on CBS)
  • Nov 19: UK -- 7:00 ESPN/2
  • Nov 26: @GT -- 3:30/7:30pm ABC/ESPN/2  or 3:30 ACCRegional
Each school gets a PPV game, that is either Coastal Carolina on September 17 or New Mexico State on November 5. 

SEC Games, September 17th (games already scheduled listed in bold):
Ole Miss at Vandy - SECN 12:21
Tennessee at Florida - CBS @ 3:30
Navy at South Carolina - ESPN 2 @5:00

Coastal Carolina at Georgia
N. Texas at Alabama
Troy at Arkansas
Louisville at Kentucky
LSU is at Mississippi State on ESPN on Thursday, Sept 15th at 7pm
Auburn plays at Clemson on Sept 17th on ABC at noon

I think the UK-'Ville game will be on ESPN at 11am or 7pm.  It is possible Coastal would be a noon kickoff on ESPNU, but there are better games for ESPNU to carry, so I am sticking with CSS/FSN. 

SEC Games, November 5:
LSU at Bama
South Carolina at Arkansas
Ole Miss at Kentucky
Vandy at Florida
NMSU at Georgia
UT Martin at Mississippi State
Middle Tennessee at Tennessee
Auburn is off
Nothing is scheduled for this date, so a lot depends on records through the October 8th/15th games or possibly the late October games if CBS exercises their late decision wildcard.  You have to think the four conference games and Middle Tennessee at Tennessee are more interesting than NMSU at Georgia, even if Georgia is 8-0 and unscored upon.  That is why I think this game is PPV.

Auburn is up in the air because of the other games that day.  CBS has their noon and 3:30 double header for that date.  The 3:30 is exclusive, so they will pick the best of the Georgia/Auburn, Florida/South Carolina, or Bama/Mississippi State.  ESPN gets the next pick, then CBS will get the pick for thier nooner.  A noon kickoff is a hunch guess at this point.

Tech is a WAG, as that game could be the ABC game of the week or it could be local access.  As for the CSS/FSN games, they are supposed to be night games, but no telling what behind the scenes work will be done to keep night kickoffs from happening this season.  Probably depends on how things go on campus with the South Carolina game.

TD

*Huge h/t to Jim in Duluth for the tutorial on SEC football TV scheduling. 

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Leonard Pope to the Rescue



I can't help but mention....it's a deep ass home pool that Leonard Pope can't touch the bottom and reach above the water line.

PWD

MotoGP Rewind: Le Mans



MotoGP Rewind: Le Mans

MotoGP Rewind: Le MansCapture the excitement from Round 4 of the MotoGP World Championship, the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France, in the latest free instalment of ...

Three Diamond Dawgs Sign Pro Contracts

Nothing too crazy.  Chase Davidson and Cecil Tanner both were drafted out of high school, so the likelihood of their draft stock going way up as seniors is fairly low.  Both were drafted later, but with the way the baseball draft works, going out as a junior makes sense unless there is a significant chance you will put up a huge year, or you really want to finish your degree and play for the CWS.  Teams know you have no options once your college eligibility is finished, so senior ballplayers oftentimes will fall later or not be drafted at all.

As for Ben Cornwell, I was looking forward to seeing him next year after his performance in Corvallis.  That very performance probably got him the free agent contract from the Mariners.  He has already earned his degree, so staying for glory was about all he had left.  He'll report next week to some place in low A ball.

Good luck to all three in the pros.

Matt Taylor, a lefty pitcher that had signed with the Dawgs, decided to go pro after being drafted in the fifth round by the Orioles.  To date, he is the only signee to do so, but I wouldn't put money on him being the only one that does.

Final date to sign a contract is August 15th.

From Georgiadogs.com:
Current Georgia Bulldogs In the 2011 MLB Draft
Zach Cone, OF, Texas, 1st Round Compensation, 37th overall
Cecil Tanner, RHP, Oakland, 23rd Round, 706th overall
Michael Palazzone, RHP, 24th Round, 731st overall
Johnathan Taylor, OF, Texas, 33rd Round, 1,014th overall
Tyler Maloof, RHP, Cleveland, 34th Round, 1,028th overall
Peter Verdin, OF, Washington, 39th Round, 1,177th overall
Chase Davidson, OF, Houston, 41st Round, 1,240th overall

2011 Bulldog Recruiting Class
Dante Bichette, Jr., INF, N.Y. Yankees, 1st Round Compensation, 51st overall
Tyler Palmer, INF, Florida, 4th Round, 133rd overall
Patrick Leonard, INF, Kansas City, 5th Round, 156th overall
Matthew Taylor, LHP, Baltimore, 5th Round, 155th overall
Nick Delmonico, C/INF, Baltimore, 6th Round, 185th overall
Tyler Greene, INF, Philadelphia, 11th Round, 361st overall
Jarrett Brown, LHP, Boston, 23rd Round, 712th overall
Mike Mancuso, RHP, Chicago White Sox, 46th Round, 1,401st overall
David Sosebee, RHP, Boston, 48th Round, 1,462nd overall
Hunter Cole, OF, Washington, 49th Round, 1,477th overall
Heath Holder, OF/RHP, Colorado, 50th Round, 1,518th overall

Monday, June 13, 2011

Lord, please let us beat South Carolina

I don't actively engage in smack talk until I have had a couple of drinks.  For one, I am the type that doesn't get rolling unless I've had my mind freed from things like manners and convention. I think of the funny one liners, but my self-muzzle won't let me say them.  For two, I'm a funny dude when I've had a drink or two. Just ask my ex-wife.

Another thing about smack talk, it is hard to feel be entitled to the smack talk perch after a 6-7 season.  Call me old school, but by my view, smack talk by those that aren't winning is usually only seen from NBA and Tech fans. As a rule, I keep a low profile unless Georgia is winning, or I've had a few drinks. 

However, I am about to break my rule, since I read the most awesomely hyperbolicly awesome thing ever about South Carolina's upcoming football season (h/t Blutarski). Apparently, back to back beatdowns in the Georgia Dome does nothing to curb the enthusiasm of the Gamecock faithful. South Carolina talks about winning four championships a season: the state championship (against Clemson), the SEC East, the SEC, and the National Championship.  For those keeping score at home, they are 39 of 108 in the state championship, 1 for 18 at SEC East titles and 0 for everything else at the other two.  In fact, in South Carolina's two 'championship' seasons, the 1969 ACC title year and 2010, they were a three loss team headed into the post season. They are 0-3 in the post season in those 'championship' years.

There is no doubt South Carolina is a favorite to win the SEC East, but if it does, it'll be as much because of the suckitude of the rest of the division as it will be due to the 'Cocks having the "scariest offense in the nation."

Dude. Really?

When South Carolina accomplishes more than beating Georgia and Florida in the same season, then it might be time to crow.  Until then, winning the state championship and SEC East might make you hungry, but it won't make you accustomed to championships.  Perhaps Gamecock fans should hope the standard being raised is winning a game, any game, in Atlanta before dreaming of more.

TD

Georgia Bulldog Blogger Q&A

Thanks to everyone that added their answers to the five questions below.  Here are my answers to College Football Zealots Bulldog Blogger Roundtable Q&A:

1. Which game is more critical for Georgia to win: Boise State or South Carolina?
I can't chose both? Virginia Tech lost to Boise AND James Madison, but the story of their season was the ACC Championship and Orange Bowl berth, unless you are a Virginia fan and all you have is throwing Boise and James Madison in Hokies fans' faces. Or a Stanford fan, since the Orange Bowl win is all you have for the next 20 years.

I have to say South Carolina. Lose to Boise and we have to listen to the national media crow about Boise State's OMG!1! awesomeness. Lose to the Gamecocks and we have to listen to the Carolina fans crow about two in a row. And likely watch them play in the Georgia Dome again in December. Being a one-loss SEC champion is preferable to being a one-loss BCS at-large team.

2. Other than Isaiah Crowell, which incoming freshman do you think will have the biggest impact in 2011?

Got to be Ray Drew. If he shows up in shape, he'll probably start at the Dome against Boise State. Even if he doesn't start, he'll have significant playing time. Malcolm Mitchell and Zach DeBell will prove to be big-time freshmen, as well. 

3. Who are some under-the-radar guys that you think will step up for Georgia this year?
Bruce Figgins. He'll provide a very valuable, and needed, extra set of hands out of the backfield with the move from TE to FB. He isn't going to get more than 10 looks a game (handoffs and passes), but those will be money plays. His blocking ability allows some flexibility with TB personnel, as well. 

4. What makes you most excited about seeing Georgia play this year?

The potential. All of the pieces are in place to win the East. The East isn't what it was in the early 2000s. We have a returning QB that will probably be all conference...or more. The defense has a lot of upside, especially with the addition of John Jenkins in the middle. The schedule, outside of Boise State, is manageable. The new S&C program is passing the eyeball test. 

Georgia lost too many games by getting dominated in the 4th Q and inside their own 20 on defense. Stop both or either of those, which I think they can, and Georgia has a solid season. 

5. What makes you the most nervous about seeing Georgia play this year?
The potential for disaster. The offensive line is thin, the schedule is front-loaded, the running game is unproven, the receiving corps is less proven and the S&C program change could prove to not work. If Georgia isn't competitive and loses the first two games in blowouts, it will like a Georgia Tech fraternity party: ugly early. It won't be a fun year to be a Dawg fan with the kind of dissension that will occur.

6. Athlon Sports has rated the Dawgs at #14 and Phil Steele has them at #9 in their pre-season polls. Both have Georgia winning the SEC East and playing in the Capital One Bowl. What needs to happen for Georgia to live up to these lofty expectations.
Win ballgames. Crowell has to learn to pass block. Murray needs to get hooked up with the TEs and find another WR go-to guy.  Gathers, Jenkins, Drew, Jones, Ogletree and the rest of the defensive front seven have to be dominant.  We also have to be sound in in the defensive backfield.

Most importantly, the coaches need to trust themselves and their players. We were too tentative at times in play-calling and too unprepared inside the 20 on both ends of the field and both sides of the ball. Coach to win, instead of coaching to not lose. Georgia has the talent to stay with any team in the SEC, possibly probably with any team in the nation. Putting it all together and figuring out what has been missing from the intangibles side of the equation for the past few seasons is paramount to a resurgence in Athens.

Trailer For Feature Length MotoGP Documentary ‘Fastest’



Trailer for feature length MotoGP Documentary ‘Fastest’

Trailer for feature length MotoGP Documentary ‘Fastest’Following the success of ‘Faster’ and ‘The Doctor, the Tornado and the Kentucky Kid’, director Mark Neale is now preparing ...

Sunday, June 12, 2011

MotoGP Rewind From Jerez



MotoGP Rewind from Jerez

MotoGP Rewind from JerezRe-live the Grand Premio bwin de España with some exclusive footage for the second Rewind video of the season

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Rossi-Stoner Laguna Seca 2008 Battle



Rossi-Stoner Laguna Seca 2008 battle

Rossi-Stoner Laguna Seca 2008 battleat the Red Bull US Grand Prix at Laguna Seca on 20th July 2008. ... MotoGP Laguna+Seca Valentino+Rossi Casey+Stoner USA California Corkscrew ...

A Little Test


Just testing a mobile blogging app for my Android based phone. If you know of a solid app that plays well with Blogger, a virtual keyboard, and Android, please let me know.

This was posted with Blogaway, which seems to work fine, but just curious if anyone else has used other apps. I know the Blogger mobile app leaves something to be desired.

TD

Friday, June 10, 2011

MotoGP Rewind: Estoril



MotoGP Rewind: Estoril

MotoGP Rewind: EstorilCapture the excitement from Round 3 of the MotoGP World Championship, the bwin Grande Prémio de Portugal, in the latest free instalment of MotoGP ...

College Fooball Zealots Roundtable

I was asked to participate in a Q&A with several Dawg bloggers to be posted Monday at College Football Zealots.  Hopefully, my answers to the following questions will be somewhat sound.

I'll post my answers early next week. What do you think?

1- Which game is more critical for Georgia to win: Boise State or South Carolina?

2- Other than Isaiah Crowell, which incoming freshman do you think will have the biggest impact in 2011?

3- Who are some under-the-radar guys that you think will step up for Georgia this year?

4- What makes you most excited about seeing Georgia play this year?

5- What makes you the most nervous about seeing Georgia play this year?

6- Athlon Sports has rated the Dawgs at #14 and Phil Steele has them at #9 in their pre-season polls. Both have Georgia winning the SEC East and playing in the Capital One Bowl. What needs to happen for Georgia to live up to these lofty expectations.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

MotoGP Rewind: Qatar 2011



MotoGP Rewind: Qatar 2011

MotoGP Rewind: Qatar 2011motogp.com brings you an exclusive recap of the first round of the 2011 season, the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

MotoGP: After The Flag (Video Podcast)



MotoGP: After the flag (Video Podcast)

MotoGP: After the flag (Video Podcast)

Football Stuff Forthcoming

Just wanted to give a heads up that I'll post some football stuff next week.  Hopefully, I'll have my TV times figured out and be in a better place to put a couple of hours into breaking down the forthcoming season. 

We are inside 90 days until kickoff, so it is time to get excited/start fretting.

MotoGP Official Video Podcast



MotoGP Official Video Podcast

MotoGP Official Video Podcast

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Intensifying MotoGP Battle Goes To Le Mans



Intensifying MotoGP battle goes to Le Mans

Intensifying MotoGP battle goes to Le MansRound 4 of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship, the Monster Energy Grand Prix de France, takes place at Le Mans where a number of close rivalries ...

Diamond Dawgs Finish Season

For a team that has been to Omaha every third year in the past ten, this season was just about as head scratching as you could possibly imagine.  After the late, late night (American Time) finish Sunday, the Dawgs end up with a winning record, advancing to the NCAA regional finals, making a run in the SEC tournament from the losers bracket, yet making us all feel like we could have, should have had more.

I was going to make this a Profiles in Hope article, but since I don't want to steal PWD's meme, and can't spell porfiles profiles, or hope, without spell check, I took the easy way out.  This team is stocked with guys that have a year or three left.  Of course, the trick is how many of them get drafted high enough for a bonus to lure them away.  You have to think Palazzone is out, since he's been drafted twice.  This season has done nothing but made him look very likely to get a top three or four round pick, at worse.

Zach Cone is already off the board, getting taken last night in the Sandwich Round (between 1st and 2nd rounds) by the Rangers.  Signee Dante Bichette, Jr. (Orangewood Christian, Maitland, FL) was drafted by the Yankees in the Sandwich Round, as well. Nick Delmonico and Tyler Greene are other Georgia signees that bear watching over the next couple of days.  Both are projected top 3 rounders.   Depending on who you talk to (I prefer my liquor store owner), top two rounds is super bonus money, but what is a $100K among friends? Getting them to Athens would be spectacular, but getting one of the two to Athens would be a good goal at this point.  Losing Bichette, Delmonico and Greene to the South Atlantic and Texas Leagues would hurt.

Perno started this season on thin ice, IMHO.  It might be too early to say it, but getting so many players back, coupled with what could have been in 2011 will make it a very interesting year in 2012.

TD
=========
UPDATE: Delmonico gets drafted by Baltimore early in the 6th. Tyler Green comes off the board to Philly with the last pick of the 11th round.  If I had to guess, I'd say we still get one, but not both of these guys.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Barcelona's Sagrada Familia Receives A Visit From Jorge Lorenzo



Barcelona's Sagrada Familia receives a visit from Jorge Lorenzo

Barcelona's Sagrada Familia receives a visit from Jorge LorenzoThe reigning MotoGP World Champion rode his Factory Yamaha YZR-M1 machine in front of the famous landmark ahead of this weekend's Gran Premi Aperol ...

Dawgs lose to Jags in NCAA Golf Finals

Augusta State down the Dawgs 3-2 to win back to back NCAA Championships in Golf.  Russell Henley and Bryden Mcphereson pick up Georgia's wins in Stillwater. 

Congrats on a good season for Chris Haack's team.  With strong seasons from sophomores Mcpeherson and Mitchell, the future looks bright for the Men's Golf team.  Many thanks to Seniors Henley, Rob Bennett, Harris English, and Hudson Swafford, DGDs all.

No word on if the two teams will meet at Washington-Wilkes Country Club for a season ending rubber match.

TD

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Catalunya Calling... MotoGP Heating Up



Catalunya calling... MotoGP heating up

Catalunya calling... MotoGP heating upTune in for Round 5 of the 2011 MotoGP World Championship, the Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya, as the battle for MotoGP supremacy heats up under ...

Dawgs Face Creighton in Elimination Game

Oregon State took care of Creighton last night 5-1.   First pitch is at 4pm on ESPN3.com.

The winner will face Oregon State at 9pm tonight, with the 'if'game scheduled for tomorrow at 9pm.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Dawgs Top Duke Blue Devils

Dawgs advance over Duke in the NCAA Golf Championship semi-final match 3 matches to 2.  They will face defending national champion Augusta State.  Yeah, I had to check to make sure I saw that right, too.  But the Jaguars won last year (I had to check the mascot, too) and advanced to the finals by defeating host Oklahoma State 3 matches to 2.

Russell Henley, Harris English and Bryden McPhereson won their matches to give the Dawgs the win.

Georgia faced Augusta State early in the season in a stroke play tournament in Macon in the Brickyard Invitational, besting the Jags by one shot to win the tourney.

Live scoring and video will be available at NCAA.com at 1pm.

Moto GP

moto GP
moto GP

Creighton Drops Dawgs in Corvallis

2-1 final.  There is a reason Creighton pitcher Josh Dufek only has one loss.  Palazzone had a great game, going the distance and striking out 5, giving up seven hits.  His only multi hit inning was the two run seventh that proved to be the difference.  That free swinging attitude at the plate hurt Georgia with the Dawgs swinging on seven of Dufek's 10 strikeouts.

Dawgs face UALR today at 4 on ESPN3.com.  Alex Wood will be on the mound for Georgia.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Based On Actual Race Locations

Based on actual race locations
Based on actual race locations

Comments Publishing More Frequently

I was blocked from Blogger.com from work about a year ago. So, I couldn't access the site to publish/release comments in any sort of a timely fashion.

Tyler isn't blocked currently. So, the comments will publish more frequently.

At some point, I'll get off my rear and research some decent authentication software that will allow us to "white list" regular posters. If you know of blog software like that for comment moderation (that is free and plugs directly into Blogger.com's template), let me know in the comments below.

PWD

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Has Had 59 MotoGP Wins.

has had 59 MotoGP wins.
has had 59 MotoGP wins.

Georgia Kickoff Times Announced

The SEC has set the kickoff times for a few TV games.  Dates that will impact Georgia:

Boise State - 8pm at the Georgia Dome on ESPN
South Carolina - 4:30pm in Athens on ESPN
Florida - 3:30pm in Jacksonville on CBS

Another interesting tidbit is CBS's doubleheader days: October 1st for the 3:30/8pm doubleheader and November 12th for the noon/3:30 doubleheader.  I'll look more deeply at the schedule, but the odds of Georgia getting in on the October 1st date are low.  We take on Mississippi State in Athens and there are a ton of intriguing match-ups on that date ('Bama at Florida, Texas A&M vs. Arkansas at Jerry Jones' football palace, South Carolina at Auburn, Buffalo at Tennessee). I look for us to be in the 3:30 game against Auburn on November 12, unless we are both terrible.

A couple of quick thoughts about the schedule so far.  The Boise State kickoff time isn't a revelation.  That game has been etched in stone as a 7:30-8pm kickoff since Truett Cathy invented the chicken sandwich.  Likewise, the 3:30 kickoff for Georgia-Florida isn't that surprising either, since we've kicked off around then every year since the '02 night game, as best as I can remember.

The 4:30 kickoff against South Carolina, however, gives an early test of the new tailgating rules.  I was scared this game, following what we saw last season, was going to be a 1pm (or 12:21) kickoff.  Glad we are getting back to some decent tailgating time. 

Now that the SEC has started scheduling games, I'll try to breakdown the season and project some start times in the next week.  If the conference office holds to their past pattern, they won't do too much more with the TV schedule until mid-July.

TD

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Valentino Rossi 46

valentino rossi 46
valentino rossi 46

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Diamond Dawgs First Pitch is 4pm ET Friday

Not a bad break for the Dawgs getting a regular start time. They take on the Creighton Bluejays at 4pm ET in Game 1 of the Corvallis regional on ESPN3.com. I'm not going all Kyle King on you and give you all the stats you can eat, but it is a break not to play the late game (9pm ET).

The Dawgs will send Palazzone (10-4, 3.20) against Creighton's likely starter Jonas Dufek. Alex Wood will get the nod for Georgia in the second game. It goes without saying that getting a win in the first game is huge, as it gives the Dawgs a chance to limit the number of innings the pitchers have to throw. With 61 games and 532 innings under their belt, any rest is welcome

The winner plays at 9pm ET Saturday against the winner of Oregon State-UALR . Loser plays at 4pm ET Saturday.

TD

Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi
Valentino Rossi

Inside the Hot Dog Factory

Putting aside this former Texas Longhorn player's breathless hating on the SEC, he provides a decent glimpse into the way a strong compliance office monitors student-athletes. How, you ask?
To use some blunt military language, the Texas compliance office does not (screw) around.
How much do they not screw around?
"If you have a car, the compliance office will have the make, model, and plate number. You have to show how you are making payments or who is making payments. They let you know that if you drive something other than the car you tell them about, it better belong to a family member and if you park it on campus you have to bring it to the attention of the compliance office. God forbid that the UT Parking Nazi’s give you a parking ticket and it go unpaid before sunset. Got an unpaid ticket? MadDog had a way to remind you to park in your correct spot and that’s AFTER the ticket was paid. If you live off campus, you have to provide your lease at the beginning of each semester and show where the money to pay the rent is coming from"
Seems simple enough. Before you get your drawers in a wad over Fulmer Cups and such, keep in mind the Longhorns have had plenty of their own issues with John Q. Law during Mack Brown's days in Austin.

The money shot comes in at the end, when the author makes the point I saw someone else make the other day about Coach Richt (I can't find the post, but it was in a Dawg blog discussing the number of secondary violations that get reported out of Athens):
Reporting those issues when they happen are proof that your program is controlling and providing oversight.
Two things to remember. First, absent precog droidnannys that go Minority Report on the players, abject stupidity will occur at times. That is very much a cost of doing business with 18-24 year old males. Second, the compliance office is only as strong as the people in that office...and the AD/Coaches that set the direction for that office.

TD