Sound off on Stafford’s legacy, mix-and-match uniforms, spring stupidity
Do you consider Matthew Stafford a Damn Good Dawg or just a talented guy who spent three years in Athens? (Associated Press)
As the NFL teams take their pick of the best of the nation’s college football players again, Dogs fans’ thoughts naturally turn to a year ago and UGA’s $41 million man, Matthew Stafford, going first in the draft.
Yes, a year ago the considered opinion of the NFL brain trust was that Mark Richt’s program had produced the nation’s best quarterback, which pleased most fans in red and black. And yet Stafford doesn’t seem to hold much of a special place in the hearts of a lot of folks in the Bulldog Nation.
My son was commenting the other night on the frequency with which you see Georgia fans taking shots at Stafford, who clearly isn’t viewed with anything like the affection folks have for SEC championship winners David Greene and D.J. Shockley or even earlier quarterbacks like Eric Zeier who, like Stafford, failed to bring a conference title to Athens.
Maybe, he suggested, some Georgia fans see Stafford as getting more out of UGA than UGA got out of him. Oh, they’ll cheer for him to do well in the NFL, but he’s not beloved as you might expect a No. 1 draft pick to be.
I’ve said it here before: Stafford and Knowshon Moreno probably were the most talented quarterback-tailback tandem UGA has ever had, but I’m not sure they’ll ever enter the pantheon of Bulldog immortals because they left school early without achieving what the Bulldog Nation expected of them.
So how do you feel about Stafford a year later? If he becomes a big success in the NFL (which might require getting traded), do you think that will add some glow to his UGA legacy?
SEEING RED, BLACK AND WHITE …
Talking to the Lake Country Bulldog Club this week, Richt was asked about the possibility of another Blackout and Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald reports he first took an applause poll of the fans in attendance (more seemed against a Blackout) and then said, “What I’m thinking is if the seniors really want one, we might do it, but they’re going to have to earn maybe making it to Atlanta or beyond to get a Blackout,” Richt said.
Which sounds like an entirely reasonable response, the key being if they earn it.
Do you ever want to see those black helmets again? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
But Richt went beyond that and raised the possibility of black jerseys (or, gulp, helmets) just becoming another rotating part of the Dogs’ uniform wardrobe, much like black uniforms have for other UGA teams, including basketball.
“What I’m thinking about doing, and it won’t happen this year,” Richt said, is “it wouldn’t be a bad idea if we have red, black, white jerseys and maybe a red helmet or maybe another color helmet, I don’t know, black helmet. And then just say this is part of what we do and then maybe make them match. Not to save them for any one special game. … I think just winning games is the most important thing.”
Well, he’s right about the winning, but I think perhaps he’s on to something with demystifying the black jersey by taking it out of the “special” category. And after all those years of watching that clip of Herschel run over Bill Bates, I’m sure I’m not the only fan who’d get a kick out of seeing the red britches again. (Though definitely not with red jerseys and helmets.)
I also liked the black britches a few years back with white jerseys and red helmets, but not with red jerseys. And the black helmet? I’m not so sure about the black helmet, which I doubt would have won over many fans even if the Dogs had somehow managed to upset the Gators last year while wearing it.
What do you think? Would you favor the Dogs mixing it up a bit in their uniforms, or would you prefer to stick with the tried and true standard uniform of red helmets, silver britches, red tops at home and white jerseys on the road?
TALK ABOUT BAD TIMING …
Two thoughts on Trent Dittmer’s arrest this week in Athens for public intoxication:
First, if you consider the home page of a newspaper’s Web site to be the digital equivalent of the printed paper’s front page, it’s amazing to me that anything to do with a walk-on backup punter who’s never likely to grace the field in a game could be considered front page news, even an arrest.
And second, we all know that college students are prone to do stupid things from time to time, especially related to drinking. But how clueless does a young man have to be to go out and get drunk, get in an altercation and get arrested the same week one of his team’s quaterbacks has been publicly humiliated and kicked off the team for an alcohol-related incident?
Sounds like it’s time for one of those team meetings.
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314 comments Add your comment
REALDAWG
April 22nd, 2010
2:59 pm
your sick
UGA
April 22nd, 2010
3:01 pm
I wouldnt mind the black jerseys for night games in Sanford?
REALDAWG
April 22nd, 2010
3:04 pm
This just in….. Jimmy Clausens alleged attacker has been captured. When captured he said i told you i was going to hit em all in the mouth…..GT no longer has a coach.Paul Johnson
please....
April 22nd, 2010
3:04 pm
most talented runningback / quarterback tandem in the HISTORY of UGA?
how about most over hyped?
how about most underachieving?
but I am biased because I have high expectations….yeah, I do….and a few names to go along with those high expectations….
Musa Smith, David Greene, DJ Shockley, Francis Tarkington, Charlie Trippi, Frank Sinkwich, Eric Zeier, Garrison Hearst, Rodney Hampton (stafford was an insult to his old number,) Mike Bobo in ‘97, Robert Edwards, Tha Thrilla from Camilla, Lars Tate, Tim Worley, Keith Henderson, Carnie Norris, Herschel Walker, Terrell Davis, Wayne Johnson, Q.C.
too easy
April 22nd, 2010
3:05 pm
thugs in jail, deciding what color uni to wear, and playing what if with past “almost” national titles….ladies and gentlement, your UGA fan base
G
April 22nd, 2010
3:06 pm
Robert Edwards was the man! Boykin reminds me of him on his returns the way he runs
david
April 22nd, 2010
3:06 pm
I think the black helmets would be okay if the “G” was red. I still say nothing but red helmets though. I say bring the red pants back but only with white jerseys.
G
April 22nd, 2010
3:07 pm
If he got to the sideline he was gone
egeagle
April 22nd, 2010
3:10 pm
It looks as if a lot of the drivel put here by staunch dawghaters seeped into the consciousness of Dawg fans. Stafford didn’t come back for his senior year, nor did Herschel, and you can blame neither one. Staff won just as many SEC titles as Payton Manning, Eli Manning, and many others. He’s been back to UGA functions, and he definitely showed cajones by winning that game in which he was hurt. I also remember him making tackles and giving effort after turnovers. Tackling Eric Berry in the open field is no easy feat. Knowshon was great and would have been even more spectacular with a big, senior dominated line. That’s something neither of the two got to play behind.
UGA needs to leave the unis alone. They are a classic combination.
Do Athens cops get some special bounty for busting UGA players and fans? I’ve been to Auburn, Florida, Florida State,Tech, and Bama games and have never seen so many people hallsed and cited for even the most minor offenses. As a Georgia Southern fan, I know that even we have kids who get drunk, stay out late, and carouse, butdon’t hae the glare of a spotlight to shine on them.
And where else could the AJC get so many blog hits?
CLEVON LITTLE
April 22nd, 2010
3:12 pm
1st things 1st: Stafford = talented, but erratic. And no, we don’t love him. 2nd: The luster is gone, at least for now, on the black-out deal. Wait another 2-3 yrs & in the right situation, MAYBE, bring it back. 3rd: Silver britches, red jerseys & red helments look the best, although black jerseys with the same silver & red combo look really good, provided it’s not dubbed as a ’special’ event.
egeagle
April 22nd, 2010
3:13 pm
That’s hassled, and my v key sticks. Sorry for the dyslexic typing
Anonymous
April 22nd, 2010
3:13 pm
Ron Roberts,
Enough with the koolaid. UGA was not the best team in the country in 07. Lost to an unranked Carolina team at home and got blown out by UT. And lets not forget that Vandy beats you if they don’t fumble going in for the td that woulda put the game on ice. Championship teams may lose as LSU did on the road in triple ot to 2 bowl bound teams but championship teams do not get BLOWN OUT. LSU also beat VT which ended the season 4th or 5th in the
nation and beat em 48-7. LSU also beat UT and did it with a backup qb. LSU deserved it plain and simple.
Also, you come up with the excuse that UGA lost to UF cause Shockley was hurt but conveniently ignore the fact that Tebow was playing hurt in 07 and that UF had 3 key Defensive lineman out for that game. Typical excuse making by dog fans.
How2fish,
Sportsmanship? Teaching young men how to succeed? Are you serious? After all the soulja boy dancing on the sideline when beating AU, the piling on in the end zone in the UF game? All the other unsportsmanlike penalties in the 07 UF game? The 21 UGA players that have either been arrested or cited by the police in the past 2 years. Surely you jest. You guys are wayyyyyyyy ahead of everyone in the Fulmer cup rankings. No one is even close. Isn’t there a dog player getting arrested literally every weekend it seems?
REALDAWG,
Saban is bolting after this season? Really? Why didn’t he take the USC job or the ND job earlier when they opened up? What’s that? He’s going back to the pros? After taking a million dollar pay cut from a historically plum Dolphins job to go back to college? Sorry dude but his NFL bridges are burned. What’s that? Urban Meyer is leaving? Sure buddy. Surrrrre.
Ron, Patrick, and How2fish,
Please insert loser excuses here——
Ron Roberts
April 22nd, 2010
3:16 pm
Anonymous…
…when Tebow was injured and lost to UGA, they were SMOKED. We held our own with Florida, despite having Shockley riding crutches.
And don’t forget those three UGLY letters Bama can never forget…U L M. You can’t spell “underwhelmed” without U L and M.
b
April 22nd, 2010
3:19 pm
UCF won at Bama ( what a dump)
b
April 22nd, 2010
3:20 pm
nice stadium awful town
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
3:21 pm
I seem to forget…… didn’t LSU lose its last regular season game and two of last seven? Didn’t UGA win its last seven in a row? Yeah clearly LSU was better than UGA. LOL
Anonymous
April 22nd, 2010
3:24 pm
Ron,
A 12 pt win over UF is not a SMOKING. Now 49-10. That is a true A$$KICKING SESSION. 41-17 now that also would be a buttkicking session. ULM? They must be pretty good. I just looked it up. Turns out they beat Bama by 7 that year while UGA beat Bama by 3 in OT. Apparently ULM is better than Georgia. Isn’t that a hoot!
South Georgia UGA Hick
April 22nd, 2010
3:26 pm
Who is this Fran “Tarkington” these bloggers
keep referring to?
how2fish
April 22nd, 2010
3:26 pm
Anonymous last I looked we hadn’t had every win for over 2 years voided because our players systematically stole textbooks..nor have we been on probation..I never knew that dancing on the sideline was a crime while I don’t agree with it I understand how the players might enjoy it..as NEWS FLASH..we seem to win when we dance…and before you get all bent out of shape about our program..does eye gouging ring any bells, or passing out behind the wheel the week of a bowl game or getting kicked off the team for beating the hell out of girls got any stones in that glass house ??
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
3:27 pm
Didn’t Ala lose to Utah in 2008? Has UGA ever lost to a midmajor? Certainly not in my lifetime.
Ron Roberts
April 22nd, 2010
3:28 pm
We hung 42 on Florida, and last i checked, Anonymous, Tebow didn’t play a snap on defense. Not one.
You can diminish the sting of the ULM loss all you want, but which one disappointed Bama fans more? HAHAHA.
Anonymous
April 22nd, 2010
3:29 pm
How2fish,
Jan Kemp. Ring a bell. Her exposure of UGA football players that were graduating while reading at a 3rd grade reading level says everything u need to know about UGA. And it aint good. End of story!
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
3:29 pm
I looked it up. Ala tops the list of top ten cheating programs.. how sweet
Anonymous
April 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
30 years and counting…………
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
3:30 pm
Jan kemp? Wasn’t she fired before that claim? Did UGA get wins vacated? H/mmm
Jim Harrick Jr.
April 22nd, 2010
3:31 pm
Move over Jan kemp. how many pts do u get for a 3 pt shot? Talk about cheating. HAHAHAHAHAHA
30 years and counting in between ncs
April 22nd, 2010
3:32 pm
Still 30 yrs and counting………. NO END IN SIGHT EITHER!
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
3:34 pm
seem to recall UGA had the wxact same record when they won the SEC as Fla and LSU when they won there NC. So is that an indictment on UGA or the selection process. Hmmm
20 years in between conference titles
April 22nd, 2010
3:36 pm
How does one achieve such a prolonged drought of conference championship mediocrity? How do you do that? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH
30 years and counting in between ncs
April 22nd, 2010
3:37 pm
Patrick,
Insert loser excuse here————-
30 years and counting in between ncs
April 22nd, 2010
3:38 pm
Still 30 years………….. How does one suck for that long?
Ron Roberts
April 22nd, 2010
3:39 pm
I see “Anonymous” has gotten more creative (and nutty). . . how do you post on this blog between rounding up shopping carts at Wal Mart?
South Georgia UGA Hick
April 22nd, 2010
3:40 pm
30 Years and Counting
It is kinda like 80 some what years before
you even win a SEC championship, of
course the first one ya’ll claim you were on
probation so it didn’t officially count.
how2fish
April 22nd, 2010
3:42 pm
Anonymous how many times has Bama been on probation since Jan Kemp? How about UF ?? And when the last time we had to fire a coach for shacking up with a stripper..again GOT ROCKS ??
30 years and counting in between ncs
April 22nd, 2010
3:45 pm
Ron,
Walmark provides me with a blackberry cause I round up carts better than anyone. That was pretty funny. I liked your humor. Entertain me some more.
OoltewahDawg
April 22nd, 2010
3:45 pm
Stafford- a very good QB on a team that underachieved thanks to a lousy defense.
Unis- No more black helmets, please Black Jerseys in SECCG or Bowl games OK if earned, bring back the REAL Silver Britches, The Red britches and white jerseys looked good together, good combo for away games.
On Dittmer – I’m befuddled as to why he didn’t take a lesson from Mett’s dismissal.
chazzo
April 22nd, 2010
3:45 pm
Interceptions. what do Shockley, Stafford and cox have in common. they all gave up a pick-6 in a big game. There is a pass that UGA calls with a receiver out to the side with nothing and no one behind them except green. I know that opposing backs just lie in waiting for that play. Run the tape on every pick six. What play is being called? Scratch off the play book.
Never again with the black helmets
April 22nd, 2010
3:45 pm
Never.
30 years and counting in between ncs
April 22nd, 2010
3:49 pm
Ron, how2fish, and others. I am anonymous. What’s funny is that I’m not even a Bammer fan. I’m actually a Tech fan. I just let you guys assume that and let you run with it. That’s why I can’t answer some of your comments about Bama, their probation and all that stuff. I don’t know enough about them to really retort regarding all that stuff about Utah, UCF, ETC. I know some about them but not everything. Anyway, I just thought I would let you know since I’m signing off and leaving for the day. Its been a lot of fun razzing you guys.
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
3:49 pm
UGA finished top ten 6 of last 9 nine years. Ala once.
UGA won 11 bowls in last 13 years. Ala not so much
UGA finished ranked top 25 12 of last 13 years. Ala not so much
UG
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
3:51 pm
A tech faN….no wonder u hide. I would be ashamed to. 8 of 9 tech has lost. No wonder u hate uga LOL
Jay
April 22nd, 2010
3:54 pm
I don’t know Man, Herschel Walker was pretty gud. I guess you could be right though.
Best,
Jason
Athens, GA
30 years and counting in between ncs
April 22nd, 2010
4:04 pm
yes Patrick. I had you guys baited. I figured you guys would figure it out that I know some things about Bama but not a lot. For the record I guess I like Bama and Florida and I know something about both teams but I just like them both cause they beat you guys. I actually like Florida a lot more than the bammers though. I only became a little bit of a closet bammer fan after the blackout game but I’ve always liked the gators since Spurrier since they own you.
But don’t worry after we kick your a$$ on your own grass again this year I’ll go back to my Tech handle. In the mean time I really am gone for the day this time.
how2fish
April 22nd, 2010
4:13 pm
30 years and counting in between ncs thanks for coming clean but if your going to wait for a win in Athens to go back to you Bug handle..it will be a long wait..
patrick
April 22nd, 2010
4:23 pm
Ala beats us? Ummmm under richt ga tech and ala has equal wins against uga. One. That’s not beaTs that beat. Singular not plural
rrr
April 22nd, 2010
4:25 pm
this is why the program is in a down turn. CMR is more worried about what we wear than keeping the team in line
Jeff
April 22nd, 2010
4:30 pm
Stafford and Moreno left early and did not win any championships. They chose the $$$ before winning anything. However, if they had ANY defense in 07 and 08 we win back to back NCs. Those offenses in 07 and 08 were the best in the SEC regardless of what stats say. They will never be loved because they left early. I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t feel compelled to stay in school if someone offered me 41 million just to sign my name.
Mumbling to myself...
April 22nd, 2010
4:33 pm
Stafford and Moreno left because the NFL kept implying salary caps for rookies. Walker left for money. AJ probably will as well.
CLEVON LITTLE
April 22nd, 2010
4:41 pm
Anonymous , at the END of ‘07, UGA was playing the best ball. I believe LSU won the NC that year with 2 losses also. UGA was playing better than LSU, OSU or anybody else. Not saying that UGA deserved to go to the NC game more than LSU, but had they played LSU in the SEC CG, UGA would have almost without a doubt been the ‘07 NC.
38 Yardline Dawg
April 22nd, 2010
4:48 pm
DawginJax is absolutely right. Our red jerseys and helmets are a brand that we should stick with and be proud of…just like other perennial and traditional football powerhouses. The black jerseys were awesome at the Auburn game, I will admit. But fundamental football must be the Dawgs’ focus before any more gimmicky uniform changes are made again.
Surely our new defense and QB don’t need more “juice” (to quote CMR before the FL bashing last year) for this coming season.