Hope it’ll be a Dog day afternoon for LSU
I’ll be off as usual on Tuesday, and the Blawg will return on Wednesday.
In the meantime, the news announced today that Georgia’s Oct. 3 home game against LSU has been set for 3:30 p.m. by CBS means the Dogs will play their first afternoon game of the season in Athens and first daylight game since the opener in Stillwater.
Frankly, that suits me. Night games are a nice change of pace, particularly during the heat of September, but even if you tailgate, that makes for an awful lot of time to kill before you go to the stadium. I’m glad to get back to afternoon football.
This will be Georgia’s first appearance of the season on CBS. The network’s usual team of Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Tracy Wolfson will provide coverage. They’re not bad, but Lundquist has slipped some in recent years, often missing developments or misidentifying players, and I think the CBS coverage was stronger when it had Todd Blackledge as analyst instead of Danielson.
I thought the ESPN crew covering the Georgia-Arkansas game did a good job. Brad Nessler is a definite improvement over Mike Patrick and I like Blackledge’s insights into the game. He and Nessler were pretty evenhanded Saturday night; they obviously were wowed early on by Ryan Mallett but ended up giving Joe Cox his due.
And sideline reporter Erin Andrews’ “hot librarian” look worked for me.
But ESPN’s game day wrap-up continues to suffer from the increasingly ridiculous Lou Holtz. Saturday night, he was babbling on about Notre Dame in the middle of the recap of the Georgia-Arkansas game until Rece Davis reminded him what game they were on. It’s long past time for ESPN to put Lou out to pasture.
On the radio, I thought the new ISP-era Georgia broadcast sounded slickly packaged. A bit too much so.
I used to get as aggravated as anyone with Loran Smith’s postgame locker room rambling, but I don’t find Chuck Dowdle’s puffball questions to Mark Richt any more illuminating. And now that they’ve quit airing the player and assistant coach interviews live, dropping taped snippets of them into the call-in show instead, it all sounds a bit too canned. I liked the live chaos of the old locker room show. I also miss the days when the network aired at least parts of Richt’s postgame press conference.
As for the UGA radio network’s “Dog Talk” call-in show originating from the Hotel Indigo in downtown Athens (as they incessantly tell listeners), it’s pretty much a snooze. David Greene is very personable but comes off kind of bland in his assessments of the game. And Jeff Dantzler just talks too much. They don’t take enough calls, either.
Athens’ WNGC (which I can pick up in DeKalb County) cuts away from the network to do its longtime “Fifth Quarter Show” opposite “Dog Talk,” and while the “Fifth Quarter” misses Kevin Butler a lot this season, it’s still more entertaining and more informative than the official show.
Host David Johnston isn’t afraid to express an opinion that might run counter to thinking at Butts-Mehrer. And while Butler’s replacements, former players Kelin Johnson and A.J. Bryant, start off sounding like they’re still on the team and have been indoctrinated with coachspeak, they usually loosen up once the calls begin. Also, because they were on the team not that long ago, they have some unique insights into the current lineup.
Plus, it’s just not Saturday night without hearing a call from “Macho Man.”
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180 comments Add your comment
BS Patrol
September 21st, 2009
7:14 pm
Hey Tuck,
Just can’t keep your mind off Tech, can you? Ga had nothing to do with Tech’s loss. What a dweeb! Dweebzilla!
And go back to being Reality Yech, will you?
NewnanDawg
September 21st, 2009
7:20 pm
Mark May just requested that ESPN supply more polish for his cufflinks since Holtz seems to be spitting low to the left these days. Reece is pleased with the “directional spitting” scheme.
NewnanDawg
September 21st, 2009
7:21 pm
Sorry – I believe he spells it Rece
The Ghost Of Erskine Russell
September 21st, 2009
7:22 pm
Pardon me if I don’t partake of this brand new “Joe Cox Player Of The Week” Kool-aid.
All of this chest bumping and “told you so” stuff about Cox is all well and good, but may I ask what is gonna happen when we play a school that we CANNOT put 50 points on? A team that (unlike us) actually has a defense?
The answer is before our eyes: OSU 24, UGA 10.
Madison Dog
September 21st, 2009
7:40 pm
Enter your comments here
How bout a “Black Out” on Saturday night again the Sun Devils???
Cuz
September 21st, 2009
7:45 pm
I posted that earlier today Madison. No responses. The safe crowd wants Tennessee Tech I think. Funny, Arizona State lost their “Goldout” game with us and I bet they still have them.
Cuz
September 21st, 2009
7:48 pm
Hey Ghost, I guess none of your defensive teams or Southern teams ever got better after a loss. You could have fooled me. Go buff your head.
Cali Dawg
September 21st, 2009
7:55 pm
Why worry about Holtz? I “think” that every school he coached went on some form of probation after he left. But, he was named to ND’s Hall of Fame, what do you expect him to do? Isn’t that what HOFer’s do?
JB
September 21st, 2009
7:59 pm
Wow, Bill King, an average writer at best, going after one of the legends. Verne may has lost a step but he is one of the all timers and Danielson calls it like it is.
Gary has forgotten more about football than Bill King, his family, my dog, my family, myself, my co-workers and everyone else on this blog will EVER know about the game. I don’t think Bill is qualified to critique anything about broadcasting, leave that to the professional journalists.
Live play by play is extremely hard. I did some in college for UGA women’s softball and you gotta do your homework (don’t laugh it was for WUOG student radio). Blackledge is also a good pxp but he did not have as good on air chemistry as Verne has with Danielson. The WORST thing ESPN did was taking Ron Franklin off the Saturday primetime game on ESPN a few years ago. He is a true professional and knows southern football better than anyone else.
And btw no one cares about the postgame radio shows….we care about winning games.
Gbal
September 21st, 2009
8:02 pm
DANIELSON IS VERY Annoying in my opinion.
NewnanDawg
September 21st, 2009
8:07 pm
Actually JB – the postgame shows are very helpful when you go to the game in person and don’t have the replays and commentators. The atmosphere live is great, but you are bound to miss something and the postgame can sometimes be very enlightening.
I agree that most of us know about as much about play by play as we do being a head coach of a Div. I college football team, so most of the opinions are just that – opinions of how they sound to each listener.
Go Dawgs! Beat the devils coming to Georgia! Call Johnny if you have to.
JB
September 21st, 2009
8:22 pm
Yes that’s a good point Newnan, but I’m not going to write a silly blog nitpicking a radio call in show….how about we fix our secondary before we complain about the airwaves.
DawgNation
September 21st, 2009
8:23 pm
Good reply to JB’s post NewnanDawg. Bill is writing a blog not an article for the AJC. He is entitled to his opinion just like you and me and all the others who post on his blog. Lighten up a bit. Your expert analysis would have gone a lot further if you just left the personal attack out and gave your reasons for disagreeing.
Cox supporter from day 1
September 21st, 2009
8:43 pm
we will put up 50 on ASU and LSU. No one will match our point total for the rest of the year(including teabag and cryer). Thank God for a high octane offense cuz our defense will give up major points
poopdawg
September 21st, 2009
8:44 pm
i’m not qualified to be a critic, but Gary Danielson is a jackass. He is forever trying to set up , what he thinks will happen in the game . Have you ever heard him say i was wrong , when the opposite happens 90 dam percent of the time. He is the best , just ask him. He loves to here himself talk. JB i agree i miss Ron franklin.
Johnny DangerDawg
September 21st, 2009
8:44 pm
DawgVoiceofReason,
Lots of those ESPN guys are smug know-it-alls. That’s why I miss Terry Bowden. That guy was kinda goofy, and I had no problem with that.
freebabe
September 21st, 2009
8:45 pm
Lou Holtz is a moron & needs to clean his freaking dentures.I’m a big LSU fan & it should be a good game. Geaux Tigers!
dawg07
September 21st, 2009
8:46 pm
Holtz is too much. Would prefer a fresh face a little more objective.
Johnny DangerDawg
September 21st, 2009
8:51 pm
Chris,
I love your comment about Craig James. So true. Rece Davis and Chris Fowler are likable. The only time Herbstreit was biased was when he complained that UGA should have given Donnan more time to build an elite program instead of firing him but then said OSU firing Coach Cooper was the right move (even though the situations were actually pretty similar).
Johnny DangerDawg
September 21st, 2009
8:55 pm
Doctor Lou is the stupidest segment I have ever seen. Questions like “How is Florida going to put pressure on Alabama’s QB?” and insightful answers like, “They can do it because they have a great coach named Urban Meyer!” Wow. Just…. wow.
Bride of ChuckyKnapp
September 21st, 2009
9:19 pm
Bill, when you mention Erin Andrews or any other “hot librarian”, it is your duty as a news man to include photos.
Top Dawg
September 21st, 2009
9:32 pm
BK: You’re a great Dawg, but I cannot believe this column is about next weekend’s opponent, instead of this weekend’s opponent. As long as CWM is around, any game is loseable. (Is that a word? Probably not, but you know what I mean.), e.g. Auburn and Kentucky last year.
Ogeechee Dawg
September 21st, 2009
9:53 pm
HOLY COW!!! BILL KING REMINDS ME OF ALL THOSE NEGATIVE OLD FART ALUM AND FANS THAT YOU CAN NEVER PLEASE.
Bill King
September 21st, 2009
10:00 pm
Calm down. I’m not overlooking this week’s opponent. I wrote about the LSU game being in the afternoon because the time was just announced today.
Panther Run
September 21st, 2009
10:02 pm
Enter your comments here
Why is Kevin Butler not on the call=in show after the games?
45ACP
September 21st, 2009
10:05 pm
The Dawgs are a 12.5 point favorite against ASU.
Interesting that Mississippi is only a 3 point favorite against USC east.
Bill King
September 21st, 2009
10:08 pm
Oh, and to JB:
I’d be interested in knowing what exactly you think a “professional journalist” is. Someone who always agrees with you? My degree from UGA is in journalism. I’ve worked at the AJC since 1974. Among the many things I’ve done there over the years, besides be a news reporter, a rock critic and a copy editor, was cover television. And write reviews and critiques of broadcasters.
So if that’s not qualification enough for you, does that mean you think critiques of something can only be done by someone who has done it for a living? Sports can only be written about by ex-jocks? Movies can only be reviewed by actors? Records can only be reviewed by singers? Restaurants can only be reviewed by someone who’s owned or run a restaurant?
If so, that means you basically have no right to critique what I do since you’ve never done it.
william cranman
September 21st, 2009
10:10 pm
Bill I enjoy your columns but I’ve called you out on this before in the past. Loran Smith does not deserve your pot shots. The man has been a true Bulldog longer than most of us and while he may not be the best interviewer he has earned the right/respect not to take jabs from you or anybody else. Show some respect.
Fanboy69
September 21st, 2009
10:11 pm
Gary Danielson is the best announcer I have ever heard in all my ninety-three years of watching college football on television!
45ACP
September 21st, 2009
10:14 pm
I love music. We are about the same age Bill. A rock critic? Who is your favorite rock band?
Just asking….
SatillaDawg
September 21st, 2009
10:15 pm
Like I said Saturday night, Scott Howard, who does the Dawgs’ radio broadcast, BLOWS! He can’t keep straight what year team is on the field, i.e. he called Joe Cox, “Green,” during the ARRRR-Kansas game. And during the South Carolina game, he saw USC on the scoreboard and proclaimed the Dawgs were playing the “University of Southern Cal!” What a dork! His delivery’s as bland as Velveeta Cheese (sorry Kraft), he’ll NEVER be a Larry Munson and for those of us who often are stuck with only radio to hear our beloved Dawgs, surely there’s a radio play-by-play man out there somewhere in Dawg Nation better than this schmuck.
Bill King
September 21st, 2009
10:20 pm
Since you ask, 45ACP, The Beatles are my all-time favorite. But I like a wide variety of music, from The Who to Americana to Coldplay.
Cuz
September 21st, 2009
10:21 pm
Bill you have every right to get on your high horse. Just don’t fall. As we get older, we don’t seem to bounce as well. And I say that from experience, literal and figurative.
Bill King
September 21st, 2009
10:22 pm
Oh, and to William Cranman.
Did you not read my tribute to Loran the writer, as opposed to Loran the broadcaster, a few months back? Loran’s a great guy and a great Bulldog. A great radio man? Not really.
Cuz
September 21st, 2009
10:25 pm
Bill what is your feeling of Beatles Rock Band, Guitar Hero, whatever that krap is called. I guess I should be glad it brings more young people to the Beatles. But it just seems like sacrilege to me.
45ACP
September 21st, 2009
10:28 pm
Americana, how about The Drive By Truckers. Great band from Athens, GA. I believe.
william cranman
September 21st, 2009
10:30 pm
I did read it and enjoyed it. But to say that a great man like Loran Smith is “rambling” is uncalled for. He’s done to much for UGA athletics for those kind of comments to appear in this or any blog. If you don’t care for the way he does radio, just say that. Some of the words you use are to disrespectful.
Cuz
September 21st, 2009
10:32 pm
45, do you remember Phil And The Blanks? They were contemporaries of REM. And don’t forget Love Tractor, I am an Ag Major after all.
G8TR
September 21st, 2009
10:34 pm
Erin Andrews: Florida Gator. Sorry to have to beat UGA in this category, too.
Cuz
September 21st, 2009
10:38 pm
William, I love Loran as much as any Dawg fan. Great guy, first class individual. What would be a kind word to use instead of rambling, unfoucused maybe. I love it when he and Magill get together. I would make that a weekly spot. Everybody gets old, he is just not as sharp as he used to be. Larry saw it and he quit. I feel after this year Loran will too.
SatillaDawg
September 21st, 2009
10:39 pm
I thought this Blog was about the Dawgs…not the Beatles, Guitar Heroes, the Truckers, ad nauseum. Maybe y’all should start a Rock ‘N Roll blog. Let’s talk about the Dawgs. I agree with 45ACP. Sure, Loran’s no great radio guy, but he’s beloved by the Dawg Nation and besides, he’s not THE MOST IMPORTANT radio guy. That’s Scott Howard, who I believe falls way short of the caliber broadcaster UGA fans deserve.
Cuz
September 21st, 2009
10:40 pm
Erin Andrews and Layla Kiffin. Whoa Momma. You Gators have some hot grads.
And for the record, I liked Erin’s tribute to Tina Fey last weekend. Hot in a cerebral sort of way.
Cuz
September 21st, 2009
10:43 pm
Satilla and your nominee’s for head broadcaster would be……
SatillaDawg
September 21st, 2009
10:47 pm
You got me there, Cuz. I don’t have a nominee. I live down here in the swamp and don’t hear enough quality candidates to make an intelligent nomination. But I definitely think we can do better than what we have.
45ACP
September 21st, 2009
10:49 pm
Cuz, that was a blast from the past. Phil n the Blanks. Always like the play on words in their name also. There have been a lot of good bands from Athens, GA. B52’s, REM, etc.
I have a friend in Cherokee County that has a 10 acre garden. I help with the plowing and such. A very old Ford 8N tractor but it gets the job done.
Cuz
September 21st, 2009
10:54 pm
Satilla, just my opinion and treat it as such. I think Scott is a pretty good announcer in an age of just bad broadcasters. I think we have as good as we will get. He is a UGA grad and Zeir is getting better as the color man. I am spoiled by Munson, but there will never be another Munson. Wes Durham is as close as they come and the Bugs have him.
Cuz
September 21st, 2009
10:58 pm
45, I used to drive a tractor every day during my summers at home. I have not been on one in twenty years. I wonder if it is like riding a bicycle? I don’t think I have ever seen a bicycle with a PTO.
SatillaDawg
September 21st, 2009
10:59 pm
OK, I can play this music game, too….a quick cruise through my voluminous LP collection will turn up albums by Love Tractor, Squalls, Pylon, Swimming Pool Q’s, Glenn Phillips and Guadacanal Diary to name just a few. And of course, there’s the ubiquitous REM, B-52’s and….drum roll….The Normaltown Flyers! GO DAWGS!
45ACP
September 21st, 2009
11:04 pm
Alabama is a 15.5 point favorite at home against Arkansas.
I think Alabama wins but not by 15.5. I have been wrong before.
ASU record to date. 2-0
Idaho State W 50-3 1-0
Louisiana-Monroe W 38-14 2-0
I’m not sure I understand all I know about that.
SatillaDawg
September 21st, 2009
11:05 pm
Thanks, Cuz. I’m not totally down on Scott. I was just trying to get a rise out of someone. I think Scott has potential, but he needs to pay attention to what he’s saying, instead of just spouting off. I’m sure he’s making plenty of jack…so how about earning it and not making stupid mistakes like the ones I mentioned in my original post. Proper prior planning prevents p### poor performance. Maybe he needs to do some more pre-game prep. I’ll shut up now and give Scott a break. Thanks for responding, Cuz.