Back to barking: 2010 Dawgs, Damon Evans, Mark Fox and more
Time to give some credit to Damon Evans. (Curtis Compton / AJC)
I’m back from vacation and pretty much caught up on what’s been happening while I was away, so here are some quick-hit thoughts on what’s caught my eye. Feel free to chime in. …
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach pretty well sums up my feelings about Mark Richt’s 2010 team: “If Dogs get anything out of [Aaron] Murray, they’re going to win 10 games. Best WR in the country. Two good backs. Senior-laden OL. Best kicker and punter in the SEC. All comes down to defense.” … I know it’s fashionable among some folks in this venue to mock Damon Evans as some sort of Michael Adams lapdog, but what does it say about the depth and strength of UGA’s athletics program that Georgia was No. 2 to Florida in the standings for the SEC All-Sports Trophy despite mediocre years for football and basketball and a terrible, last-place finish in baseball? Of course, to some of you that means nothing because you don’t care about spring sports or women’s sports and, in fact, it’s football or nothing, right? Those Dogs fans who take a larger view should be pleased, though, that UGA is competitive across the board. … Speaking of roundball, the signing of “Mr. Georgia Basketball” Marcus Thornton gives a pretty encouraging answer to the big question that was still hanging over Mark Fox as Georgia’s head coach: Could a guy with no SEC background recruit in this part of the country? We already knew based on what he achieved with an undermanned roster this year that the guy can coach. Things are definitely looking up for UGA basketball, and I think ultimately the hiring of the little-known Fox may be considered a major coup for Evans. … Finally, this only concerns UGA in relation to events such as the SEC Championship held at the Georgia Dome, but my take as a taxpayer and college sports fan is this: If Arthur Blank wants an open-air stadium for the Falcons, he should fund it and build it himself. The state and city can’t support two stadiums, a retractable-roof facility replacing the Dome seems prohibitively expensive, and giving up all the events that an enclosed stadium can host just so Blank can get what he wants makes no sense at all.
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187 comments Add your comment
reallygroovy7777
May 26th, 2010
8:14 am
Enter your comments here
reallygroovy7777
May 26th, 2010
8:15 am
ijust posted a comment wheres it at
On Beating Florida...
May 26th, 2010
8:56 am
Georgia keeps losing to Florida because of the mental side.
Georgia has been pysched out by Florida.
Florida takes the will out of Georgia by jumping out to an early lead, winning the 1st quarter.
In 8 out of 9 of the last Geoirgia-Florida game, whoever won the 1st quarter, won the game. Why?
Mentality. The 1st quarter sets the tone, and if you break the will of the opponent, they’re much easier to beat.
Georgia needs to get better at breaking the will of their opponents EARLY, if Georgia dominates the 1st, NOT THE 4TH LIKE RICHT TEACHES, they’ll win every game.
Richt’s record when he’s leading after the 1st quarter is 60-6.
On Beating Florida...
May 26th, 2010
9:01 am
How you START the game, determines how you FINISH, and with Richt, if he’s winning at halftime, he’s going to win 12 or 13 games a year.
Finish the Drill, and emphaszign the 4th quarter, is LOSING THE FLORIDA GAME for Georgia. It’s who plays best EARLY and SETS THE TONE.
Play good in the 4th quarter & Finish the Drill? No.
Play good in the 1st Quarter and SET THE TONE and BREAK THE WILL.
On Beating Florida...
May 26th, 2010
9:07 am
cONFIDENCE.
Dominate games early.
Be 8-0 heading into Florida.
Richt has NOT been good in those areas in the past. Will it change?
Doubtful, if Richt could change, he would have.
Meyer is a master at buuilding confidence in his players and his team.
Florida usually dominates Georgia early, and Florida is often in 1st place in the SEC East heading into the Georgia game.
Meyer gets it.
Glenn
May 26th, 2010
9:17 am
Could you get rid of Tebow’s picture I am tired of looking at it. May be get rid of Barnhart too.
156th
May 26th, 2010
9:23 am
WOW! Now I know what it feels like to be Willie Martinez!!!
DawginLex
May 26th, 2010
9:30 am
It is all about the defense folks. 2006 florida doesn’t sniff a title without the defense. Same last year with Bama.
Look back at richt’s tenure in Athens:
2001-2005 with BVG-2 SEC titles and 1 runnerup
2006-2009 with WM-poor tackling, no 3 and outs and no forcing turnovers and no SEC East titles much less SEC titles
It’s all about the defense. The offense is going to score. Can we stop anyone when it counts?
That’s the difference between 11-1, 10-2 and 8-4, 7-5.
CLEVON LITTLE
May 26th, 2010
9:33 am
GLENN, I second that!!!!!! I just posted on TONY’s blog the other day to get rid of Tebow’s photo. Here we are in 2010 on a UGA blog, Tebow isn’t even in college football any longer & yet we still have to look at his picture every time we log on. I’m sure TONY has a picture of Tebow on his instrument cluster in the dash-board of his vehicle & a life-sized poster in his bathroom.
CLEVON LITTLE
May 26th, 2010
9:35 am
DawginLex , I do agree but 2005 SEC title was w/ Martinez, although he really stunk it up w/ West Vir. inthe Sugar Bowl.
Bulldog59
May 26th, 2010
9:36 am
DawginLex, totally agree, one correction, WM took over as DC in 2005 not 2006. BVG left after the 2004 season.
James T. Kirk
May 26th, 2010
9:37 am
The puppies will win their typical 5-6 games next year and declare themselves national champions. Same old story
DawginLex
May 26th, 2010
9:37 am
true but they were still BVG’s players. They overcame the coaching
DawginLex
May 26th, 2010
9:39 am
James t kirk,
You need to beam yourself back up to nerd ville.
Win 5-6 games per year?
You must mean SEC games only. I’m going to assume that is what you mean.
Otherwise, you are an idiot.
DawginLex
May 26th, 2010
9:40 am
Yeah, the WV game was the first sign that we had a problem
Bulldog59
May 26th, 2010
9:45 am
DawginLex, agreed.
JMc12203
May 26th, 2010
9:48 am
10??? Bo Derek you are not. Quit being so delusional and get real. We all know Schlabach’s predictions. They rarely come true.
Shreveport is home to # 2 in ACC per new contract
May 26th, 2010
9:56 am
I read last winter that the Independence Bowl takes the # 2 ACC team starting this next bowl season. THe Gator Bowl had the right, per contractual agreement to choose which ACC team to take like FSU last year, to honor Bowdon, but going forward the Gator is un affilated with the ACC. Is this correct?
If true, then the ACC will now be dining in the Shreveport Shoney’s or the local Waffle House. Hey, try Beudreau’s Shrimp ……………good stuff it is ……..ACC fans.
What comes around comes around.
sr citizen dawg
May 26th, 2010
9:59 am
whats wrong with the dome? its crazy: changing stadiums like changing socks
In the SEC Defense wins games
May 26th, 2010
10:08 am
Defense wins games in the big boy SEC. Yes, you need to control the ball on offense, be able to grind it out, yes, make some deep throws but grind it out. THAT is how the SEC is won.
Bama for two years now has been the epitomy of grind it out SEC ball. Saban knows this style has to be established. After all, his running back won the Heisman …………for grinding it out.
AJ Green may only catch a couple of key throws per game, as he will be a decoy, then we hit him deep. We cannot go deep to AJ every play or we will be sorry. We have excellent and athletic tight ends and other very talented wide outs and the ever steady Chris Durham, plus the soon to emerge Marvelous Marlon Brown. Wooten will emerge as UGA’s star receiver. He and Tavarres King are simply great receivers for Murray to go to on some crossing stuff or side line stuff.
Part of our strategy with a new QB will have to be grind it out football, so as to allow Murray to settle in. He is a leader and he will be fine, barring injuries. Injuries can impact any team at any time, by the way.
Caleb, Waushuan and our twoexcellent full backs will be the glue to bind it all together, coupled with our offensive line. Big boy ball it will be.
Go Dogs.
TommyJack
May 26th, 2010
10:10 am
Bill: Sorry to hear you put ANY stock in what Schlaybach says. Man is useless.
GBO
DawginLex
May 26th, 2010
10:15 am
Roll tide:
A couple of questions for you in response to your never ending blather.
1.) How many players are signed out of the state of Georgia every year?
2.) How many scholarships are available each year at UGA or any other D-1 school?
If you stay up late tonight and study real hard and research the answers to these two questions, you might decide to stop posting your nonsense.
On Beating Florida
May 26th, 2010
10:55 am
Defense? No, that’s not the key to beating Florida.
Most years Georgia had a defense that was in the top 20 in the country in points allowed, but went 2-7 to Florida.
South Carolina had a great defense last year, and went 7-5.
No, whoever wins the 1st quarter of the Georgia-Florida game, wins the game, 8 out of 9 years.
Win the first quarter, set the tone, break the will.
papadawg
May 26th, 2010
11:02 am
The offense will be fine, it’s the defense that is the BIG IF. The D has been on the down & outs for a few years but now we finally have a new DC and the jury will be out on him for a few games. Improvement(any improvement) on the D side & the DAWGS will fly a little higher this year
On Beating Florida
May 26th, 2010
11:05 am
Nope, it ain’t the defense, the defense has held Florida to 14 points, lost, 16 points, lost. Defense has been excellent against Florida for the most part.
It’s not defense, it’s whoever wins the 1st quarter, sets the tone, breaks the will, 8 out of 9 games, win the 1st quarte,r win the game.
On Beating Florida
May 26th, 2010
11:06 am
Richt has to CHANGE HIS PARADIGM.
It’s NOT about the 4th quarter, it’s about the 1st quarter.
DawginLex
May 26th, 2010
11:07 am
Considering we have given up 91 points to the gators the last 2 years, defense IS THE ISSUE
bubba dawg
May 26th, 2010
11:07 am
Richt has to change his what?
Bulldog59
May 26th, 2010
11:11 am
The truth about the Independence Bowl……..this agreement is effective 2010-2013
Beginning in 2010, the Independence Bowl will hold the third selection from the Mountain West Conference and the seventh selection from the Atlantic Coast …
On Beating Florida
May 26th, 2010
11:16 am
Nope, not defense.
In 2004, Georgia’s D gave up 24, and WON.
In 2007, Georgia’s D gave up 30 points and WON.
In 8 out of 9 games, whoever won the 1st quarter, won the game.
It’s how you start, NOT how you finish.
In fact, Georgia LOST the 4th Quarter in 2004 and STILL WON.
On Beating Florida
May 26th, 2010
11:18 am
If defense was the key, holding Florida under 20 points would win games.
It hasn’t won any.
Name 1 game where Georgia held Florida to under 20 points in Richt’s 9 years and WON THE GAME?
Just 1.
On Beating Florida
May 26th, 2010
11:20 am
Urban Meyer always schedules easy teams early, it’s how you start that build confidence.
Richt doesn’t know how to build confidence when it comes to scheduling or playing Florida.
4 inches taller?
May 26th, 2010
5:54 pm
MAX PREPS has Hutson Mason listed at 6′-2″ 180 lbs…why don’t you put your perceived considerable influence and knowledge to good use and learn how to use Google…aren’t you the same genius who thinks a 4.64 40 is WORLD CLASS SPEED (yea, if you are carrying a refrigerator on your back)…
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”
Mark Twain
Bill King
May 26th, 2010
7:57 pm
BuLL:
Schlabach’s “I can’t stand the Dogs” was a joke. He wrote a book about them.
fedupdawg
May 26th, 2010
8:04 pm
damon evans what a cross-eyed love of pres, michael keep this monkey and all teams will just like this year,?????????????????????????????????????
ATL XMAN
May 27th, 2010
9:35 am
uga will beat fla this year because just like the last two year when fla beat UGA. UGA will field more JR’s and SR’s and UGA offline is much more experienced now where as FLA is in the same boat UGA was last year and the year before, they will have tons of talent sitting and watching UGA jrs and srs beat up on some sophs and jrs. that simple
Peeved at ESPN
May 27th, 2010
10:16 am
Bill-
The anti-Georgia ESPN bias is there, Richt even wrote about it in his book.
Back in 2007, UGA was ranked #3, #1 and #2 ranked teams both lost, yet LSU vaulted above UGA.
The reason was UGA didn’t win the SEC. Of course, Oklahoma didn’t win their conference and was invited to the national championship, so ESPN, particularly K. Hierbstreet, went against precedent.
Both of Florida invites to national championship came off of 13-1 season where florida won the sec.
Richt went 12-1, won the sec, and was not invited.
The media anti-Georgia bias extended into the refs, where UGA has been flagged for more penalties than any other SEC team. Up 50% from 4 years ago.
Whether Mark S. is a lone Georgia fan or not, the main guys at ESPN are not pro-Georgia. UGA players usually don’t even get a mention on Kirk Heirbstreet’s all-star team, even though UGA has sent more players to the NFL than any SEC team this decade, and won 90 games under Richt.
Mark’s Ranking UGA pre-season out of the top 20 doesn’t reflect reality, since Richt’s teams finish in the top 10, 13 of his last 16 seasons in coaching.