College Football Zealots Mid-season Round-table

College Football Zealots has convened another round-table, this time in two parts.  The first questions are below.

At the mid-way point what makes you the most excited about this Georgia football team?  The upside.  While the simple answer is the defense, since it has been at least seven years since I didn't have a foreboding sense of abject dread every time we had to punt, the complete answer is the upside.  Georgia hasn't played a quality opponent with a fully put together game yet.  We've had good defensive performances.  We've had good passing performances. We've had good rushing performances.  We have had games where we didn't crap ourselves on special teams.  I realize it is a big 'if', but if we ever put it all together and keep it together, we will be a dangerous football team.

Which player has been the biggest surprise on defense (and why)?   Bacarri Rambo.  I was on him all last season and during the off season for his lapses in 2010.  He has stepped up big time and is a big part of why we are in the top 10 in total defense in the nation. Take away the two trick play TDs (Ole Miss and Vandy) and it is hard to remember anyone throwing a big pass against him.  This time last year, the mention of 'wheel route' would elicit a Pavlovian response of cursing about Bacarri from most Georgia fans.  Now, offenses have to trick play to get him off his coverage.  He plays pass coverage like a corner and running plays like a linebacker, and rarely makes mistakes on either.

What needs to happen for Georgia to run the table in the rest of their games?  1) Get better at recognizing misdirection and delays on defense; 2) Find a way to get the curse of Fabris off the special teams; 3) Have Murray finally get his timing on long pass plays down pat; 4) Get complete games from Crowell.  Special bonus answer in the event we play in the SECCG: Have all the pieces come together and hope Trent Richardson is suspended.

Part two is coming next week.  Many thanks to Kevin at CFZ for putting this together.

TD

Mid Season Questions

The folks at College Football Zealots have asked me to do another round table, this time in two parts.  I'll have my answers tomorrow, but I am curious about your thoughts.


At the mid-way point what makes you the most excited about this Georgia football team?

Which player has been the biggest surprise on defense (and why)?

What needs to happen for Georgia to run the table in the rest of their games? 


TD

Half Way Home - Mid-Season College Football Review

I'll take a look at Georgia later this week or early next week, but I wanted to look around the college football landscape and see what has surprised me.

• Expansion. Well, I'm not surprised, but it has been a story.  I've thought for a while TCU was headed some place other than football hell the Big East.  I guess Missouri's handling of trying to get out of the Big12 is a bit of a surprise.
• Southern Cal's lack of defense.  I think Arizona State's improved play has everyone not in Tempe scratching their heads.  On the other hand, Monte Kiffin has looked like Monte Hall coaching this bunch.  
• Hot seat talk about Dooley.  Hey, I'm not taking up for the guy.  I hate orange as much as the next guy.  However, any Tennessee fan that thinks fter 18 games, six of which are being played with essentially an all-star high school team, that Dooley isn't getting it done is an idiot.  He might not be the long term answer, but clamoring for a new coach now gets you a Mike Locksley type hire.  Not an improvement.
• Oklahoma State's offense. Dude. They look like UNLV basketball in the 80's.
• Texas A&M's first half play.  Wow, they are among the best teams out of the gates I have seen in a long time.
• Texas A&M's second half play.  Wow, they suck.
• Wisconsin's march through the B1G.  The Badgers called the Houston Nutt QB Transfer Clearinghouse and ended up with Russell Wilson from NCState.   Dude is 83 of 111 for 1391 yards and 13 TDs.  The Badgers have the easiest road to the BCS championship game at this point, with only road games against Michigan State and (snicker) Illinois between them and a rematch with Nebraska at Lucas Oil Stadium for the B1G championship.  Oh, and their defense is the tits.
• Decided schematic advantages.
• Georgia Tech throwing the football. Paul Johnson hates that newfangled shit, but it sure works.
• Clemson at 6-0. Wins over Auburn, Florida State, and Virginia Tech? A coach named Dabo? Nah, no worries, man. Just living the upstate dream.
• Auburn's defense.  They've made amends a bit with their strong performance against South Carolina, but they won early on mirrors and camera angles. Ted Roof has looked every bit the former head coach at Duke with the way his unit has tackled.

What about the season to this point has surprised you?

Is it just me?

I'm having a difficult time not drinking a big glass of kool aid with the news coming out of Athens.  On one hand, I know we are still thin at offensive line and are one injury away from a true freshman starting.  On the other, the defensive news is just delicious.

Or it could be I am just that hungry for football to start.

TD
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UPDATE: Check out today's practice pics on Dawg Post.  Justin Scott-Wesley is even more cut than he was based on his pictures from the state track and field championships.  Also, the over/under this season on the number of dbacks that take on Figgins one on one in the flats on a toss sweep and need to be helped off the field is 2.5.  Damn, he's a beast.

College Football This Season

Just thinking about the season, this might be a year of transition, nationally.  I'll get to the SEC in a bit, but in the Big 10, Nebraska joining will change that dynamic.  The Pac-12 (or whatever they are calling it) is in a continuing state of flux due to the USC probation and emergence of another team to rival them on a yearly basis, plus the impending addition of Utah.  The Big 12now10 still has to address the Texas issue.  Speaking of Texas, was last year an outlier or a new reality for the Longhorns?

I could write a whole article on Big East suckitude.  The ACC looks to be business as usual.  Oh, and there is that plucky team in Boise that plays in the cute stadium with the blue carpet.

My off the cuff thoughts on the season:

• The Big East will have a one loss champion.  They won't play in the National Championship Game. If the SEC East is a kingdom of blind men, the Big East is a kingdom of incontinent, hobbled toy poodles. West Virginia just happens to have the best doggie diapers.
• USF will beat Notre Dame on Sept 3rd.  Lou Holtz will swear he knew it, then blame Charlie Weiss. The media annoints USF the next TCU team that will unseat West Virginia.
• There will be upsets of BCS-autoqualifier teams by non-BCS conference team on September 3rd (USF over Notre Dame BYU over Ole Miss*) and September 24th (San Diego State over Michigan).  USF because I like any Skip Holtz coached team to have the upper hand when they are given plenty of time to scheme.  San Diego State because they are a better team than Michigan.
• Nebraska won't win the Big 10.  They won't even play in Lucas Oil Stadium in December. As good as their defense has been, their offense has been just that bad.  I don't see that improving enough to stay with Michigan State.
• Utah will win the Pac-12 South, but by default.  USC will go undefeated; consults Tommy Tuberville on having national championship rings made.
• Texas will look to be all the way back, until they get blown out in back to back weeks in Ocotber. The Sooners' defense will make the revamped offense look not revamped in the Red River Shootout.  The next week, T. Boone Pickens buys Canada and declares himself Pope of Saskatchewan after the Cowboys humiliate Texas in Austin.
• Boise State won't play in a BCS Bowl this year.  TCU will win the MWC, then move to the kingdom of poodles.
• Ohio State will only win six games.  The folks in Columbus find a way to blame Herbstriet.
• One of those wins will be Michigan.  Who says cheaters always lose?
• Houston will be a surprising top-10 and undefeated team on October 30, but will end up not playing for the C-USA championship.  Surprisingly, their first loss of the season will be to a lame duck Neil Callaway at UAB.

These are just a few things I've been thinking about.  Any surprises you are looking for around the nation this season?

TD

*Thanks to the two commenters for pointing out that USF is in the Big East.  Originally, I had them seperate like you see above, but lost my nerve on the BYU over Ole Miss win, so in the interst of editorial brevity, I combined them without thinking about USFs conference, which is more like a confederation of low rent hooker shanties inhabited by blow up dolls than a real conference.  I'll go on a limb with the BYU thing, too.

A UGA Tradition Born Eighty Years Ago

This is a day late, but the Sanford Stadium hedges celebrated their 80th birthday yesterday. The history of the hedges via ESPN.com.

Damn Good Dawg Dan Magill wrote a first person account of the history of the hedges back in February.

Charles Martin, Father of the Hedges

Decision Time on World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party

UPDATE: It looks like the game will stay in Jax. Tim Tucker reports Damon is expected to recommend a six-year contract to the Athletic Board. Damon: "I strongly believe staying in Jacksonville at this time is the most appropriate thing to do." Il Duce is "in full support" of Damon's recommendation. Now all we have to do is win. GATA!

***Original Post***
The AJC reports that the UGA Athletic Board is scheduled to make a decision on the location of the Georgia-Florida game at its meeting today.

The location of the game has been a matter of intense debate among Georgia fans for several months now. PWD persuasively argued in March against moving the game. Go re-read PWD's take, because he nails it.

I am cautiously optimistic that this quadrennial waffling on the part of UGA is just a negotiating tactic for getting a better deal from the City of Jacksonville. Back in June future NCAA President Il Duce said, "[t]here are things we want yet out of the city of Jacksonville that can even the playing field a bit.” Like better coaching and better players over the last two decades? That's hardly Jacksonville's fault, but I digress.

This photo never gets old. Courtesy of Josh Massey.

Georgia has been successful posturing to leave Jax in the past. For example, we currently get $100K more than Florida to defray travel costs. However, I will be deeply disappointed if the Athletic Board votes to move this game out of Jacksonville. Neither of the other options are very appealing. The Georgia Dome is smaller and has the atmosphere of a podiatrist's office, and the notion of bringing those asshats to Athens every other year is repulsive.

It's hard to predict what Adams and his Board values more. By moving the game he gets a belated victory in his war to scrap the WLOCP moniker, but keeping the game in Jax generates UGA about $1 million more every two years. I'm guessing we'll see another 4 year deal to stay in Jacksonville.

When cocktail parties are outlawed, only outlaws will have cocktail parties

Aaron Murray Rehab Workout Video

It's not exactly Rocky chopping wood or pulling Paulie across the snow covered Siberian wilderness. However, in Aaron Murray's defense, there isn't much snow in Tampa to assist with that sort of workout program.

But it's still good to see how badly the kid wants to get back and help his team in the semi-finals and beyond of the Florida high school playoffs. Even if it does make me nervous. Check out his training / rehab video interview with TBO online.

PWD

Aaron Murray Rehab Workout Video

It's not exactly Rocky chopping wood or pulling Paulie across the snow covered Siberian wilderness. However, in Aaron Murray's defense, there isn't much snow in Tampa to assist with that sort of workout program.

But it's still good to see how badly the kid wants to get back and help his team in the semi-finals and beyond of the Florida high school playoffs. Even if it does make me nervous. Check out his training / rehab video interview with TBO online.

PWD

Real Fan Pain vs. Feeling Sorry for Yourself

Image: MGoBlog
As you think about this season and listen to sports talk or read message boards, you may hear/read someone say that "Georgia is terrible." Or "It's hard being a Dawg fan this year." That sort of hyperbole isn't constructive, and it's not really true.

If you want to see what it's like to really follow a terrible team, check out MGoBlog. Brian Cook writes about sitting through a game in "subfreezing wind chill, rain, sleet and snow" (Weather from ESPN) only to watch Northwestern beat his team and leave Michigan a gut punching 3-9. He describes it as the type of game that not leaving early empirically establishes a fan as hardcore. Per Brian:

If you put up with it (and far, far fewer than the announced 107,000 did), you are hardcore. You have a black belt in fandom. You get the Fandom Endurance III merit badge. If anyone ever questions your Michigan allegiance, you can just say "I was at the 2008 Northwestern game" and they will have to step off.

For me that "I was there when we hit rock bottom" moment was the 1995 Florida game in Athens. I sat until the bitter end as Spurrier ran the WR reverse pass to break 50 points in Sanford Stadium. The problem with staying through a debacle like that...you then owe it to yourself to never leave a game early again.

It's actually a burden. You now have to live up to that rep you earned during such a bitter loss. Past You will always be looking over your shoulder like Capt. Miller at the end of Private Ryan telling Future You...."Earn This."

(Image: Capt. Miller. Not Westerdawg)

That said...while sitting in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium this year, I honestly felt less like a soldier marching across the French countryside than I felt like Izzy from Grey's Anatomy wondering why Dr. Karev won't open to me. (Note: The Cocktail Party would be playing the role of Karev).

As Meyer hung 49 or so on us, I just thought..."I'm so stupid to keep coming back here. Jacksonville is not good for me. I need a healthier relationship with a kick ass mid-season, boozy neutral site bowl game." Yet, I ran home as fast as possible and wrote this piece about why we should never leave Jax.

Where was I? Oh yeah...wuss town referencing chick shows. Before that? Oh yeah...being a fan in tough times. Apparently, I digressed wildly.

So Back to UGA's Season
Travis Fain asks what numeric rating would you give this season on a schedule of 1 to 10...in terms of satisfaction. I can't imagine giving a 9-2 season anything below 7, but an 8 seems kind of high. Is 7.5 too low? Travis went with an 8. What would you give? If we go 11-2 with a win over Ohio State, I could see that score creeping up to 8.9 maybe.

Also, Senator Blutarsky talked about the feeling of satisfaction or lack thereof related to this season. So what score would you give this season in terms of satisfaction?

See Also:
-- Pick Your Metaphor - Maize n Brew
-- A comeback that wasn't - EDSBS

PWD

Real Fan Pain vs. Feeling Sorry for Yourself

Image: MGoBlog
As you think about this season and listen to sports talk or read message boards, you may hear/read someone say that "Georgia is terrible." Or "It's hard being a Dawg fan this year." That sort of hyperbole isn't constructive, and it's not really true.

If you want to see what it's like to really follow a terrible team, check out MGoBlog. Brian Cook writes about sitting through a game in "subfreezing wind chill, rain, sleet and snow" (Weather from ESPN) only to watch Northwestern beat his team and leave Michigan a gut punching 3-9. He describes it as the type of game that not leaving early empirically establishes a fan as hardcore. Per Brian:

If you put up with it (and far, far fewer than the announced 107,000 did), you are hardcore. You have a black belt in fandom. You get the Fandom Endurance III merit badge. If anyone ever questions your Michigan allegiance, you can just say "I was at the 2008 Northwestern game" and they will have to step off.

For me that "I was there when we hit rock bottom" moment was the 1995 Florida game in Athens. I sat until the bitter end as Spurrier ran the WR reverse pass to break 50 points in Sanford Stadium. The problem with staying through a debacle like that...you then owe it to yourself to never leave a game early again.

It's actually a burden. You now have to live up to that rep you earned during such a bitter loss. Past You will always be looking over your shoulder like Capt. Miller at the end of Private Ryan telling Future You...."Earn This."

(Image: Capt. Miller. Not Westerdawg)

That said...while sitting in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium this year, I honestly felt less like a soldier marching across the French countryside than I felt like Izzy from Grey's Anatomy wondering why Dr. Karev won't open to me. (Note: The Cocktail Party would be playing the role of Karev).

As Meyer hung 49 or so on us, I just thought..."I'm so stupid to keep coming back here. Jacksonville is not good for me. I need a healthier relationship with a kick ass mid-season, boozy neutral site bowl game." Yet, I ran home as fast as possible and wrote this piece about why we should never leave Jax.

Where was I? Oh yeah...wuss town referencing chick shows. Before that? Oh yeah...being a fan in tough times. Apparently, I digressed wildly.

So Back to UGA's Season
Travis Fain asks what numeric rating would you give this season on a schedule of 1 to 10...in terms of satisfaction. I can't imagine giving a 9-2 season anything below 7, but an 8 seems kind of high. Is 7.5 too low? Travis went with an 8. What would you give? If we go 11-2 with a win over Ohio State, I could see that score creeping up to 8.9 maybe.

Also, Senator Blutarsky talked about the feeling of satisfaction or lack thereof related to this season. So what score would you give this season in terms of satisfaction?

See Also:
-- Pick Your Metaphor - Maize n Brew
-- A comeback that wasn't - EDSBS

PWD

UGA and Knowshon Pumpkins

I was asked earlier in the week about this. I only got three responses, but they are really good. Here they are.


The first one comes from the guys at BloggingPantsless. They have instructions up for how they made their Knowshon Moreno pumpkin.

Along that same Knowshon Pumpkin path, there's this one from Laura R. I assume you would go about making the stencil pretty much the same way the Pantsless guys did. Just use the opposite cutting technique.




The G comes from Jenn W. of Dacula.


Thanks for sending these in.

PWD

UGA and Knowshon Pumpkins

I was asked earlier in the week about this. I only got three responses, but they are really good. Here they are.


The first one comes from the guys at BloggingPantsless. They have instructions up for how they made their Knowshon Moreno pumpkin.

Along that same Knowshon Pumpkin path, there's this one from Laura R. I assume you would go about making the stencil pretty much the same way the Pantsless guys did. Just use the opposite cutting technique.




The G comes from Jenn W. of Dacula.


Thanks for sending these in.

PWD