It dont get any sweeter

Folks, its a short post. I will be back in full force soon.  Very soon, but I just had to speak up and say it is SWWWEEEEETTTTT to beat Florida in football AND basketball in the same year.  The hoop dawgs have won their last 3 of 4 against the reptiles in Athens.... I loved the win yesterday, and I am still not over the win in October...

Go Dawgs

Dont Ever Forget

The motto of 2012.

Go Dawgs

SEC Predictions for Week 3- Sept 15th & 17th

This week the SEC gets featured on thursday night as well as Saturday afternoon and to be honest I am kinda glad. I am not back with the NFL yet, and probably wont be for sometime. I have been waiting for football all week long and cant wait to see the dawgs get a win under their belt this week. Until I can step into Sanford again, I will be glad to see SEC football. So here are my thoughts on this weeks matchups...Feel free to call me out and tell me how wrong or awesome I am when its over. Let's start with Thursday.

Thursday Night Lights with Lester Miles & Daniel Mullet

AKA- LSU @ MISS STATE

The man who played Obi Wan to Tim Tebow has his guys rolling in directions they havent been since they were beaten in the GA Dome by Peyton Manning and the Great Pumpkin. Mullen is a good coach, but he hasnt beaten ANYONE in the west other than Ole Miss. Sure he beat UGA and Florida last year, but neither team was at their best at any time last year. Say what you want about him being great, but until he does more than that I am NOT impressed nor asking for his hire anywhere near here. The verdict is still out on him in my court. That loss to Auburn last week didnt help any. Les Miles team Destroyed Oregon in a game that I thought would be closer than it was. of course that many turnovers will make things look much worse than they are.. right Georgia? I like what Mullen is doing over there in Starkville, but lets face it. Over there its coach or ..or...or... well you get the idea. I think Miss State will hang around, but LSU is still pretty good. 28-19 LSU wins it.

Awbarn @ Clem & Son- Well, last year, Clemson went down to the plains and gave the tiger-eagle-showmedamoney-all in-plainsmen all the wanted. Turns out Auburn got their moneys worth and Cam was able to lead his team to a close hard fought win. Auburn lost all those players but found a way under the salary cap to have another good recruiting class. They used the rest of their money to have a lucky horseshoe surgically implanted into their head coach. This game is at Clemson, and while they dont really impress me yet, they got a VERY good recruiting class themselves. Auburn holds the nations longest winning streak, but this week the luck runs out. 27-17 Clemson

Ole Miss @ Vandy- Vandy is headed in the right direction and under new coach Franklin they are gonna knock people off that they shouldnt, and hang tough with those who needed a easy game. Ole Miss lost a ugly game to BYU, and this game is basically a pick-em. I think Ole Miss will win, but Vandy is gonna do what they always do.. 24-20 Rebels

Coastal Carolina @ UGA- After the toughest schedule based on rankings in GA history, the dawgs should get a win under their belts this week. Just be dawgs!! not meeeooowww cats ok?Dawgs win big. 42-3

Tennessee @ Florida- Well, how do you pick this? This game comes down to the QB's. According to the guys in Chattanooga, Tyler Bray is better than Peyton at this point in his career. (smokin something i say) The gators are under new Coach Will Muschamp, and neither team has played anyone yet. Conference openers can be tough to pick. Bray has been terrific, but really hasnt played any competition to speak of. I am also anxious to see what the lizards can bring at the QB spot in Brantley. Its a home game for Florida, and therefore I give them the edge. Lucky for UGA, both these teams play LSU AND BAMA and both should lose to the bayou bengals and the tide, so if GA can beat them both, then we would finish ahead of each of these teams in the east, barring a horrible collapse in effort. I will take those odds. Therefore, it dont really matter who wins to me since I hate them both, and UGA doesnt benefit either way at this point really. So I will take the swamp things by 4. Florida wins 30-26

Navy @ South Cackalacky-- Carolina Covers whatever the line is. NEXXTT!!!

Louisville @ Kentucky- I think the cats win this. Even without Randall Cobb, who left them for the NFL and 108 yard kickoff returns. Cant think of a score. Kentucky wins I say.

North Texas @ Alabama- Saban and his guys have yet to play anyone that much stronger than a state championship High School team, and this week is no different. We wont know how good Bama is until they get into conference schedule. Bama kills these guys 51-7

Troy @ Arkansas- While Troy slips up and plays people tough from time to time, they are no match for the hogs. Petrino and his boys throw it all over the yard. Hogs 34- Troy 10.

See yall @ the dawg walk in Athens!!

Go Dawgs

So What Now?

You have heard it said, and read it on the T-shirt "It's not the size of the dawg in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dawg". Never has that been more true than now. Everyone questioned how Georgia can replace its top 2 receivers from 2010. Then the 2 leading rushers were gone. What about the top Offensive Tackle suffering a 3rd injury?

Then the first 2 games do not go according to plan. The offseason went pretty well actually. The team worked harder than ever within the new S&C conditioning program. They got stronger, faster, more conditioned for the 4th quarter. Then Georgia faced its toughest 2 game opening schedule in its history. The first game we lost our starting inside linebacker and got beaten by a worthy yet puzzling opponent. The 2nd game the gameplan was better, the practices had been effective and both sides of the ball seemed to click. Turnovers and special teams cost the team 28 points and yet again regardless of only allowing 17 true points on offense, the team loses a heartbreaking loss. When Sunday rolls around, the OTHER starting inside linebacker has been lost for a few weeks.

So what now? How do you handle the first 0-2 start in 15 years? How do you respond to the adversity of being thin at important positions? I tell you how. You show up THIS week. You cheer as if undefeated Alabama were coming in to face our dawgs. (face it, we want them in the dome and you know it)

Look, I saw a difference in the team last week. I SAW IT!! We shot ourselves in the foot, and we lost. I saw the intensity that hasnt been there in a long time. Im mad that it left. I think things are on the right track. Im not saying, keep this guy, or fire that guy, im just saying, we have 10 games left. TEN GAMES!! and whether or not you want changes, or you support the entire staff, you have a job. GET BEHIND THIS TEAM!!! Let the season play out, and let the results, or lack thereof speak for themselves. We aint helping nothing by griping in public. If you wanna diss or criticize, just do it in the right way. More on that later.

GO DAWGS

Stay The Course

Look, I am not "happy" with 0-2. Starting with the toughest schedule based on the opponents rankings in UGA history only means you work harder in the offseason and focus earlier instead of a tune up game. I know there are people out there who are ready to throw it all out, and will look at record only and be "done with it" all.

As you know, I havent been one of those people and I am not right now. I didnt like week 1. I thought we played hard, but poorly executed. I questioned what the coaches would come up with since really South Carolina was a bigger game. I questioned would the players come out focused due to the fact the "lunatic" fan base didnt have the brains to leave the players alone.

I wondered if the offensive staff would run a play package better set to getting the ball into space and into our play makers hands. I wondered if the defensive staff would have the players up to the challenge of handling the best running back we will play all year, and against the coach who we hate the most.

Regardless of who you THINK ought to be coaching the dawgs, and I know some of you aint gonna like this, but we got the right man. That loss was NOT a product of bad play calling. (42 points) That loss was NOT a product of bad defense. (17 true points allowed) The coaches had them ready on both sides. They did. No argument there. Our quarterback picked a bad time to not protect the ball. A INT returned for touchdown, and a fumble from him returned for a touchdown, along with a bad exchange to the running back, cost us that game.

They got us on the fake punt. We "whiffed" on a tackle. I hate it. It was like a kick to the face after a knockout punch from Mike Tyson. Every time Georgia took the momentum and was in a place to put the game away, we handed it back to SC, every single time.

I went into SC knowing it was going to be tough. I walked out sick because we didnt just out play them, we outplayed them, and handed the game back to them finding a way to lose it.

When Mark Richt came to Georgia, these are the games and the culture that he came to change. Now he is faced with changing it again. Look, I am NOT loving the way things went in the last couple of years. I am not happy with it, but im still a dawg. Bottom line is this.

I didnt see any fireable offenses last night. Sorry you did. You are wrong.
Offense plan was fine. Quarterback messed up. Freshman fumbled. Fix it. (it can be)
Defense never ever ever quit, and had a FINE plan. (only gave up 17 true points)
SPecial teams missed a field goal.

I saw a freshman who CAN handle the load. He will be a star and is everything we hoped.
I saw a defense GLAD to have Bacarri Rambo back, and a star emerging in Sanders Commings.
I saw Jarvis Jones take his performance from 1st game, and double it. Hes a monster.
I saw playmakers, at MANY positions, and I saw us put them in position to succeed.
I saw the replacement for Kris Durham. His name is Michael Bennett.
I saw 2 guys who could replace AJ Green. One of them will. It may be the freshman Mitchell.

I saw a team whos coaches had them ready according to gameplan. I am sickened by the loss, but guess what? I am just a fan. You think you were sick? you were hurt? think of those players. they are 10 times sicker than you. They are working hard. Whether you think this guy needs to go, or that guy is toast, do your team a favor and shut up about it.

This team is FUN to watch. I havent been that into a game in a while.. I was PROUD of the fight in this team. Whether or not you feel like it, that was a HUGE rebound and step in the right direction last night. This season could play out to be something special, or it could go wrong, but stay the course, get in your seat, attend the games, support the team, stay the course and find out.

The team deserves your support. Stand together and judge it at the end. Stay the course dawg fans. Just wait and see. There is something different about the makeup and chemistry of these guys. I am watching closely, and I see it. If you will control yourself and your emotions, you do too.

Shout out for Pat's Well Being

Throw out school loyalty, throw out your hate for orange. This is about a true legend, and a lady to be respected. Pat Summitt of the Tennessee Lady Vols has been diagnosed with early onset dementia. Our prayers, thoughts and well wishes here at the Dawg Stephen blog go out to her.

I had the chance to meet her 2 years ago at the SEC basketball media days, sit across the tables from her at lunch, and spend about 35 minutes one-on-one talking with her just about life in general.

Think how intense and mean spirited she seems when coaching a game. Now do a 180 degree turn in your thinking. Regardless of how much I hate orange, (AND I DO) I could not walk away from that interview and lunch with ANY hatred whatsoever for Pat Summitt the lady. She talked about hard work, dedication, how she was raised and the faith of her family that makes her who she is today. Truly one of the nicer, down to earth people I have ever met.

She didnt have to be nice to me. She had never met me, and she certainly didnt have to be nice to a guy wearing a "G" on his hat, but she did. She spoke with me as if I were the most important person she would speak with that day. I was more than a little saddened to hear of her condition, and I took just a moment to whisper a prayer for her and her family in this time.

Regardless of how you feel about Tennessee or what you THINK you know about Pat Summitt, take a moment and throw some well wishes her way. This is bigger than rivalry.

Coach Richt Had Other Things On His Mind...Like Coaching

I am just about sick of hearing people complain about the NIKE uniforms. I am almost to a point that I want the dawgs to wear them all year long just to stick it in some of your faces. Alas, there I go again with the mean spirit. I had promised to be a nicer, kinder, gentler Dawg Stephen this year, and I be hanged if some of you arent already on my fightin' side. I am with McGarity on this one. The Georgia "G" is still the same, and they DID use the school colors ok??

Some people have pointed out that "Saban wouldnt have put up with this!!" and "Saban didnt let Nike mess with tradition" My thoughts??? Maybe Coach Richt was too busy coaching to fool with this stuff.
Ya think? It may have even gone something like this....

Saban: "Leave tradition alone, I am not going to say it again, I have coaching to do"
Richt" "We are bound by Nike to wear it, do something the players like, I have coaching to do"

(if you watch the NIKE video, the narrator @ the :26 mark says "Get After Them Agressively").. VERY nice placement

The bottom line is this. The Players LOVE THESE UNIFORMS!! (i do too) They have been focused on Boise for MONTHS... They are gonna be juiced and pumped regardless, but they just want a little "Swag" for their coming out party against Boise. Let them have a little fun...Is there anything wrong with that? I didnt think so. Besides, if this is all you have to complain about come Sunday September 4th, I dont think that will be too much of a problem. Bottom line? Get behind the players and this team NO MATTER WHAT!! Know this brutal heat that you have sweated through this summer? yeah, they have to.

SPREAD THE RED on September 3rd.
GO DAWGS!!!

Facts Before You Speak, Get Over It Son, I Am With The Players!!!

Im reading a lot of people who are complaining about the Nike Pro-Combat Uniforms for the Boise State game in the dome. I am not one of them. Is this the uniform I would have designed? Nope. I would have stayed with silver britches. I just like that combo. Am I against these things? NOPE!! I am in favor of these uniforms and I am gonna tell you the reasons why.

1. ITS NOT A MOTIVATION GIMMICK- For it to be motivational gimmick, it would be something to spring on the team all at once to fire them up. In case you havent noticed, these guys have been fired up for months. I have followed players on facebook and twitter and ALL they have talked about since the spring has been Boise and SC, Boise and SC! They have been preparing and this stuff had nothing to do with it. They are ready.

2. GEORGIA DIDNT REALLY HAVE A CHOICE- This is part of a contract one of two ways. Either its part of the contract with Nike which we HAVE TO OBEY, or its part of the deal of playing in the Chick-Fil-A kickoff. Either way, its released 2 weeks ahead of time, so as Coach Richt said, theres "time to get over it". So for those who are pointing their fingers at McGarity or Richt, you need to get your facts in line before you spout off.

3. BOTH TEAMS ARE DOING IT, & ITS NOT A NEW IDEA- This isnt anything that Coach Richt came up with, this is something that NIKE has done, and has involved both teams. Its merely Nike just saying, here is the one game you wear what we say, and here is how you are gonna do it. Boise is doing this too, and if you were fan enough to be at the spring game you heard Gary Stokan on the big screen announce that BOTH Teams would be in home colors. We knew something was up then. Get over it!!!

4. THE PLAYERS LIKE IT.- Sure Coach Richt said it "excited the players" but that was 5 weeks ago. Thats why he showed it to them then. They are young men, and yes they got a little excited. He did this BEFORE fall camp even started. So that after the initial "high" was gone, they were still focused on the task at hand....preparing for Boise. They have commented that yes they cannot wait to "put them on" and play, but they know its just one game, and theres a job to do.

I have heard from people that this is from a coach who has lost his grip and a program with no upward direction. What a joke statement that is!!! This is about a coach with a retooled focus and a team who if he asks them to will run through a brick wall to defeat the opponent. Coach Richt hasnt lost his grip, and he hasnt lost this team. He has total control of this program, and anyone who is CLOSE to the program and hasnt lost their ever loving mind can see that.

This is one game, its FUN for the players, but as you all remember, their "fun" from seeing these uniforms wore off about a month ago. They will put them on September 3rd, but when they put them on, it will be nothing but looking good for them then. They will have spent a month of grueling practices and workouts in the brutal summer heat. These players will know what is at stake, they will be taking on a top 5 opponent on national TV, and a chance to put this program back where it belongs at the top of the SEC.

Greg McGarity is the Athletic Director we have been waiting on, and he will not put up with mediocrity. Lucky for us, Coach Richt isnt going to give him reason to.

Now you got 2 choices, you can either gripe and complain like the malcontent that you are, or you can search deep down, think about the players, decide either you are with us or you arent, put your red on, get your tail down to the dome EARLY, and lets show the nation that not only is our team back, but our support for them never left.

SPREAD THE RED

September 3rd, 2011
GO DAWGS!!!

Daaahhhlin' you look stunnin!!!

I have spoken with someone who HAS seen the NIKE combat uniforms, (no i will not tell you who, because they were told not to tell, and they HAVENT shown me or told me)...but they have said the Bulldog Nation is going to be THRILLED with what Nike has planned for us.

We should rest assured, this is not a gimmick, this is a contractual obligation to our clothier, and therefore something we HAVE to do. I was told, if you dont like these, then you arent a dawg.....

Go dawgs!!!

Gators wear... well you know.

Taken from the always terrific "people of walmart" website. This was taken in Florida. Good to always count on the gators in this time of waiting for football.