Jeff Schultz

An empty doghouse. It has been that kind of season in Athens.

ATHENS — They got bruised in Stillwater, blindsided in Knoxville and humbled in Jacksonville. Also, their dog died.

Put it all together and Georgia’s season is a like country-western song.

So here’s my question for you: If you’re still watching, what is it you’re hoping this team can still accomplish?

The Dogs play their final home game of the season tonight against

Mark Richt has tried to keep everybody focused on the season, not what comes after.

Kentucky. The backdrop isn’t what this team’s seniors were hoping for, especially after what seemingly was projected two years ago when Georgia finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation. But there are still some tangible goals left.

I’m guessing if Bulldog fans could lay out a perfect finish to an imperfect season, it would go something like this (in order of priority):

1) Beat Georgia Tech next week.

2) Win the season’s final three games (Cats, Jackets, bowl …

Continue reading We’re live from Georgia — and are you still watching? »

Does this man ever sleep? Here was Herschel Walker before he appeared on "Celebrity Apprentice" in April.

For those Georgia fans who might be down about the season or the passing of Uga VII, well, look at the bright side: Your most famous football player is about to jump into an MMA ring.

OK, so maybe that wasn’t quite the pick-me-up you were looking for.

Two months ago, we told you that Herschel Walker had signed with Strikeforce, a California-based promotional company that stages mixed martial arts bouts. The news was surprising, given that, while Walker is a sixth-degree black belt, he’s also 47 years old. But he’s apparently serious. Strikeforce announced Walker’s first bout will be held Jan. 30 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla.

Smart promoter. The Super Bowl is in south Florida the following week. That’s worth a few thousand fans right there. No opponent has been announced. It probably would be worth a few more tickets if they can find a former Gator in MMA.

The …

Continue reading Herschel Walker’s first MMA bout set for Jan. 30 »

It hasn't been an easy (or pain-free) season for Matthew Stafford.

Matthew Stafford is 1-6 as a starter this season, recently threw five interceptions in a game at Seattle and has one of the lowest quarterback efficiency ratings in the NFL at 59.5.

But guess what? It’s not all bad.

Stafford is earning points with the Detroit Lions for his toughness. He has been playing through a knee injury in Detroit that caused him to miss two games (plus the bye week). According to the Detroit Free Press, “Stafford still doesn’t put weight on his right knee when he gets up off the turf, but he makes a point of getting up quickly.”

He also avoided throwing any interceptions against Minnesota despite being constantly harassed and/or sacked.

I know. The natural reaction is: For a $78 million contract, that’s what he’s supposed to do. Fair enough. But we tend to find out about quarterbacks when they get body-slammed every week. So it counts for something.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said …

Continue reading NFC rankings: Falcons down, Stafford up, Mora still nuts »

Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer has run to the head of the pack for running backs, says NationalFootballPost.com.

(I updated this blog with some comments from Wes Bunting below)

Georgia Tech’s latest surge has done more than just elevate the Yellow Jackets to the No. 7 team in the country. It has raised Jonathan Dwyer to the No. 8 draft-eligible player in the nation, at least according to one scouting website.

In his “Super 30″ rankings updated this week, Wes Bunting of NationalFootballPost.com lists Dwyer, a junior, as the best running back on the board and the No. 8 overall NFL prospect, ahead of Cal’s Jahvid Best (16th) and Clemson’s C.J. Spiller (22nd). Bunting called Dwyer “a violent runner who exhibits good vision between the tackles and has the initial burst to separate from defenders at the second level.”

Dwyer, who hasn’t yet said that he will enter the draft, has rushed for 610 yards and six touchdowns in the last four games, with a 7.27 per carry average.

Bunting also …

Continue reading Tech’s Dwyer would be No. 8 player in NFL draft, scout says (UPDATED) »

It was down the stretch of the regular season last year when the defense of the tumbling football program at Georgia allowed 38, 49, 38, 13 and 45 points, and almost every week the secondary looked like the after shot when a chicken truck collides with Fred, the crazy neighbor, who just had to show you some tricks on his new motorcycle, because, like, you know that old joke about the last words heard by a redneck: “Hey, watch this …”

(We don’t have a rednecks in the audience today, do we? No? Just two? OK …)

The 13 points the Dogs allowed in that stretch last season came to Auburn, and soon after

Ever notice how the plan always sounds so good?

Tommy Tuberville was shown the exit ramp. I thought about this last week when Georgia beat Auburn again, 31-24 — they should play them more often — and Mark Richt lauded the defense, notwithstanding its current No. 11 ranking in the SEC and No. 56 nationally against the pass and its No. 120 ranking nationally in takeways (eight), all of …

Continue reading Predictions: Dogs win, Birds lose, Vols — empty your pockets »

All for one? Notsomuch. That's Steve Belkin on the far right and the non-Belkins to the left. More often than not they haven't played as a team. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com)

We are now witnessing the Atlanta Spirit’s alternate universe.

The Hawks are winning, having started Thursday tied for the NBA’s best record. The Thrashers are winning, already having more victories than they had by mid-December last season. The attorneys are winning, having backed Steve Belkin into a corner with seemingly only two undesirable options: pay back millions for ownership’s past  financial losses just to stay in the group, or walk away with nothing.

“I’m sleeping a little better because I don’t have the Belkin lawsuit hanging over my head any more,” owner Michael Gearon said. “But honestly, I’ll sleep a lot better when more fans start showing up in the building.”

And therein lies the problem. All is good on wood and ice. But Gearon suspects the problems at the box office, …

Continue reading Will success of Hawks, Thrashers alter our view of Spirit? »

Count Daryl Johnston among those who don't doubt Matt Ryan.

Jumping off the Matt Ryan bandwagon? Daryl Johnston has a message for you.

“If they’re selling, I’ll buy their seat,” said the Fox analyst and former Dallas Cowboys fullback. “His intangibles are off the chart. He’ll be fine. It’s very difficult to find a quarterback, and the Falcons have a very, very good one. He’s a young guy who’s going to get better. Did he set the bar high last year? Absolutely. But what he’s going through now is completely normal. Peyton Manning went 3-13. Troy Aikman was 0-10. I’m not saying Matt Ryan is either one of those guys, but it’s normal to struggle.”

Johnston worked the Fox broadcast last week when Ryan threw two interceptions that played into the Falcons’ 28-19 loss at Carolina. He also watched the Falcons’ wins over San Francisco and Washington, and will work this week’s game against the New York Giants in the Meadowlands.

Ryan has thrown at least one interception in six straight …

Continue reading Worried about Matt Ryan? Johnston says you’re nuts »

Don't worry, Arthur. I think your team might still make it.

Not that there isn’t reason to be concerned about the Falcons, what with Matt Ryan struggling, and Michael Turner hobbling, and the defense never being that good to begin with, even before injuries.

But have you looked around? I just did.

For sake of argument, let’s give the four divisions in the NFC to New Orleans (South), Minnesota (North), Dallas (East) and Arizona (West). That leaves up to seven teams (I’m being generous) vying for two wild card berths in the conference. It’s way too early to get into tiebreakers, although it’s worth noting that losing to the New York Giants Sunday would hurt the Falcons in head-to-head scenarios. But you know what? The Giants may not even get that far.

Here’s the breakdown. I’m listing the teams in order of how I would rank their wild card chances.

♦ Green Bay (5-4): I’m betting the Packers are in. They have a relatively easy schedule with one very difficult game (at …

Continue reading Breaking it down, Falcons still have good shot at wild card »

Georgia coach Mark Richt is intent on trying to keep everybody focused on the season's last few games, not what may happen next. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@AJC.com)

ATHENS — In Mark Richt’s let’s-salvage-what-we-can-out-of-this-season nirvana, Georgia closes the year with five straight wins, the coach adds a 9-4 season to his resume and the panicking masses calm down just enough to stop waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, screaming something about the triple-option.

Maybe 9-4 wasn’t the dream in September. But it became the dream in November.

There’s only one potential pitfall to that scenario. Wins over Tennessee Tech, Auburn and even Georgia Tech (rivalry game) can send out false signals. A strong finish says something about the character of young players who didn’t quit on a season that unraveled early. But it doesn’t explain a year and a half of disappointment in the program.

Continue reading Richt’s plan should be based on Georgia’s start, not finish »

Big Bird, guest hosting for the vacationing Count, denies ever "flipping the bird." You be the judge.

The Count is vacationing this week. Too bad. He could have given us all a lesson on the number one. According to The Count’s favorite source, legend, the number one sign dates back to the ancient Romans, where it was commonly referred to as digitus impudicus, or, get your hands off my wife’s toga or I’m going to kickus-your-butticus. Much later, at least three or four weeks, digitus impudicus came to be known as, “flipping the bird.” When I asked Big Bird if this dates back to one of his ancestors, as I was told, he waved hello. At least, I think he waved hello. Can you tell? We count down . . .

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10. Bud Adams: You’re a old bitter man

In full disclosure, let me start by saying I don’t like Bud Adams. I don’t like any sports owner who tries to hold up his city for a new stadium and then moves the team when he doesn’t get his way. Adams took the Titans (Oilers) out of Houston …

Continue reading Countdown: Bird-flippers, Glanville and now Barkley’s face? »