Flash-mob hysteria, QB injuries and that other football

Why shouldn't Aaron Murray be able to enjoy a pick-up game? (AJC staff)

Why shouldn't Aaron Murray be able to enjoy a pick-up game? (AJC staff)

I was off Monday and away from the UGA blogosphere during the afternoon when the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it furor over Aaron Murray’s ankle set the Bulldog Nation atwitter — or, I should say, aTwitter.

So the ankle that “team sources” told a student journalist was broken in two places turned out to be merely sprained in a pick-up soccer game and no real threat to Murray’s status as Georgia’s starting quarterback. Stand down, Hutson Mason and Christian LeMay.

What was most interesting to me coming in on this flap after it was over was seeing some fans harumphing about how Murray was irresponsible and shouldn’t have been playing soccer or any other nonfootball sport where he risked injury, to begin with.

Listen, if you’re going to try and make bubbleboys out of UGA’s “franchise” athletes, you might as well also ban them from riding those scooters that are the preferred mode of transportation around campus for today’s Bulldogs. Riding in Athens traffic is a lot more dangerous than playing soccer.

Besides, that sort of thinking ignores the fact that these kids are, for the most part, athletes, not just football players. Many of them grew up playing more than one sport. Mark Richt certainly recognizes this, as we’ve seen with the diving excursions and having the team play ultimate frisbee after practice for fun and fellowship. Guess what, many of them shoot hoops when they get a chance, too. They’re college kids, let them have some semblance of a normal life!

The other thing that struck me was the way the Murray incident brought to the surface that streak of latent soccerphobia that seems to permeate a certain strata of Southern sports fans and sportswriters. So we’re told that Murray getting hurt is one more knock on a game that ought to be reserved for kids or “furriners.”

You can thank soccer for giving us Kevin Butler. (University of Georgia)

You can thank soccer for giving us Kevin Butler. (University of Georgia)

I’ve never really understood the irrational fear and loathing that soccer engenders in some folks around here, unless it’s just because in the grand scheme of the “beautiful game” Americans aren’t worldbeaters. Sort of like the way some Georgia fans have always tended to put down “basketball schools.”

Just remember this about soccer, though. UGA folk hero Kevin Butler was all-state in that other football for Redan High and without his soccer skills, he no doubt never would have made that 60-yarder against Clemson, gotten a Super Bowl ring and been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Play on!

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— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg

196 comments Add your comment

dawg67

February 22nd, 2011
11:03 am

dawg67

February 22nd, 2011
11:05 am

let the kids play… you cant (and shouldnt) control what they do in the off season id much rather the kid play soccer than get arrested!

PDX Dawg

February 22nd, 2011
11:06 am

anyone hating on Murray needs to get a life.

cmdawg99

February 22nd, 2011
11:07 am

Cuz

February 22nd, 2011
11:08 am

He was playing Soccer? What is he a commie?

YardDawg

February 22nd, 2011
11:09 am

I wish Richt would let the backup QB get more playing time so if the worst happened, it wouldn’t be like starting over again

Dawg Dude

February 22nd, 2011
11:15 am

@ YardDawg, lets focus on winning more than 6 games first.

devildawg

February 22nd, 2011
11:15 am

Wow, Kevin Butler went to Redan High School! My, how times have changed.

Maconbulldog

February 22nd, 2011
11:18 am

Wow really he was playing Soccer……..he was not doing kegstand or in Valdosta messing aound. He was just playing a pick up game. Geezzzz. Springed his ankle. But I do like YardDawgs idea of letting the back ups get some reps..

JaxDawg05

February 22nd, 2011
11:21 am

Soccer threw me for a loop. I thought for sure he hurt his ankle playing racquetball with David Pollack.

goodness gracious

February 22nd, 2011
11:36 am

I followed Murry in high school and was huge fan of his coming to UGA. He had a great season last year. Just look at the numbers. That being said It seems to me that something is missing when he is out there. I want my starter to be a game winner and have some wow factor. Am I the only one who is hoping LeMay will come out and wow everyone and win the starting job? I hope Murray can prove me wrong. Zach would have won that job last year and to me displayed that wow factor im looking for before his run in with the law. With Murray back there I believe were getting nothing more than a game manager at QB

42-34 Dawgs STILL Run This Street

February 22nd, 2011
11:39 am

Totally agree Bill, folks like AJC and Red & Black jumped the gun on this one. Pollack and Buck said not-so-fast-my-friend and they were right!

Go Dawgs!

Buster

February 22nd, 2011
11:39 am

Murray’s 0-6 against winning teams, threw 7 td’s against them. He’s not irreplacable, I’ll say that.

Buster

February 22nd, 2011
11:42 am

Murray was morally wrong here, he went against the greater good of the team.

Sam

February 22nd, 2011
11:45 am

Geez Buster and goodness gracious–what more do you want out of Murray. He played incredibly well for a frosh. I think the losses can be attributed to a pretty porous defense and some mishaps (like losing to CU on a handoff that was a safe play to set up a FG to win the game).

I find it interesting that Goodness thinks LeMay is so golden. To me, I smell trouble brewing with him. I’ll take Murray over any returning QB in the SEC.

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Georgia Bulldogs-UGA, Tim Tucker and Gordo, AJC Junkyard Blawg. AJC Junkyard Blawg said: Flash-mob hysteria, QB injuries and that other football http://bit.ly/dQ6n26 [...]

schmeckdawg

February 22nd, 2011
11:50 am

William, I couldn’t have said it better myself. He could have done the same thing stepping off of a curb the wrong way. Then what, lock him in his room until Spring practice starts! He’s a kid for god sake, leave him alone!

Go DAWGS!!!!!!!

schmeckdawg

February 22nd, 2011
11:51 am

Buster=Jerry=Trey!

Rick Astley

February 22nd, 2011
11:53 am

AJC,

There are at least 100,000 people in our great state who would be better as your UGA blogger than Bill ‘KMart’ King. Please, for the love of God, replace him.

Taking umbrage against UGA fans who don’t like soccer? Thats just stupid, some people don’t like it-so what. Also, everyone is well aware kickers often come from soccer. Thanks so much for crediting soccer for giving us Kevin Butler.

dawgfacedboy

February 22nd, 2011
11:55 am

The kid was a freshman people!!! Did you expect him to be our savior this year?? Overcoming defensive lapses and unfortunate ball security by the RBs??? He was supposed to math Ryan Mallett (a 1st round draft pick) throw for throw?? He was supposed to tackle Lattimore and hold on to the ball for Ealey?? He was supposed to out do Cam Newton?!?!? He was supposed to do what has only been done 4 times in the last 20 years by beating Florida (as a freshman)????? A freshman can only do so much. Let’s not forget that if not for the freak Lattimore he would’ve been SEC frosh of the year.

Good grief.

Bubba

February 22nd, 2011
12:03 pm

Youth baseball coaches are the worst when it comes to bashing soccer. They feel it takes kids away from their mind-numbingly boring “sport,” since soccer’s actually fun to play. Not to worry, though, all the big fat kids who are full grown by the time they’re 12 will continue to excel at Little League.

Donny D

February 22nd, 2011
12:06 pm

Bubba-The kid who really wanted to be good at baseball but just wasn’t, after years of failure and at his parents urgining he switched to soccer at age 9 and had a lot of fun. You know, soccer is so much less pressure and he was a ‘contributer to the team’ in soccer.

Let the past go Bubba, its over.

Bubba

February 22nd, 2011
12:08 pm

Don’t you need to go reserve the batting cages, DD?

dawgfan

February 22nd, 2011
12:08 pm

Soccer is an incredibly dumb and boring sport. The US could dominate world soccer with ease if other more popular sports were not occupying our top athletes. Think if a great all round athlete like Reggie Bush had been playing soccer since the age of 2 like they do overseas. That is just but one example. If guys like that took soccer seriously the rest of the world would be playing for 2nd place. This is why we turn our noses up at soccer.

As for Murray, he had a great freshmen season but needs to learn how to play a complete game. He would light the world on fire one quarter and then go MIA the next. But here is the thing, he was a freaking freshmen. He will get better.

Donny D

February 22nd, 2011
12:11 pm

Yeah Bubba, I’ll get right on that. Why don’t you come join us? We’ll even let you wear your shin guards and Umbros.

schmeckdawg

February 22nd, 2011
12:19 pm

Hey Bill, what is the latest in the Washaun Ealey saga? I am guessing since it has been “All Quiet On The Western Front,” that things must have worked out. What say you?

Go DAWGS!!!!!!!!!

Bob

February 22nd, 2011
12:27 pm

Soccer is incredibly boring? Sure. Watch the last 3 minutes of an NBA game that takes 30 to play due to a seemingly endless number of timeouts and a definitely endless number of trips to the “exciting” free throw lines. That coupled with an incredibly long and boring regular….or should I say…pre-season and you have the makings of about as boring a sport as well …. curling.

Soccer has boring games….soccer has incredibly exciting games. And this is true of most any sport.

beakerdawg

February 22nd, 2011
12:28 pm

dawgfan, of which I am too, the same could be said for european football or rugby, train their boys from age 2 to play american football and we could be in 2nd place, athletes are athletes

SoCal Dawg

February 22nd, 2011
12:31 pm

Soccer is lame…

beakerdawg

February 22nd, 2011
12:31 pm

take away the helmet and tone down the pads and i bet you want have people leading with their head

UGA Alumnus

February 22nd, 2011
12:33 pm

Sports translate into each other. Eye/Foot coordination is just as important in sports as Hand/Eye coordination. My basketball skills dramatically increased as my soccer skills did.

It’s not directly related to the Dawgs, and I’m not even a fan of his, but Kobe Bryant attributes his edge over his opponents to growing up in Italy playing soccer. He says the foot skills he developed playing soccer give him that edge. And I know it’s true from experience.

Also, Murray isn’t the first UGA athlete to play in a pickup game of soccer. I played pick up soccer with UGA football players when I was a student there. I also played many a game of pickup, full court basketball with UGA football players.

Let them play. It’s good for their emotional health as well as physical health, and translates back into the game of football.

beakerdawg

February 22nd, 2011
12:34 pm

excuse me, will not have instead of want – you will not have people leading with their head

Cam Newton

February 22nd, 2011
12:37 pm

Damn, I wishes I could sell the rest of deez laptops!

Cecil Newton

February 22nd, 2011
12:39 pm

Its okay son, we’ll find a way to use them in our new community outreach center at the church.

63vet

February 22nd, 2011
12:44 pm

He ’springed his ankle’? That should give him some bounce come football season.

LAKE OCONEE DAWG

February 22nd, 2011
12:48 pm

Bubba:
Nothing like watching 90 minutes of a thrilling nil to nil soccer game….That will get your juices going….What a game!!! And it still is un-American…..

Buckeye

February 22nd, 2011
12:50 pm

Not as dumb as Roethlisberger and his motorcycle……………………..

Hell, he could have sprained his ankle stepping off a damn curb. Jeez.

In the meantime, I say the over/under on some form of “Fire Mark Richt” is post 44. I’ll take the under.

mgdawg

February 22nd, 2011
12:50 pm

In the offseason let them play around; however, in season should be about football and football only. As someone else stated, playing a pickup game of soccer is the least of our worries in the offseason.

Dawg Man

February 22nd, 2011
12:54 pm

Goodness gracious- Please in your spare time look up freshman numbers from David Greene, Eric Zeier, Quincy Carter, DJ Shockley, Mike Bobo, Buck Belue, and Matthew Stafford. What you will find out is that Aaron Murray has better numbers than ALL of them in his freshman year. Is that enough WOW for you or are you expecting Murray to do the moonwalk on top of defender’s heads?

Buckeye

February 22nd, 2011
12:55 pm

I played pick up basketball against OL Bill Roberts ( 6′6” 300lbs Buckeyes and Super Bowl Champ NY Giants) Didn’t fear his injuries, feared for my life!

Dawg Man

February 22nd, 2011
12:57 pm

Geez people, you do watch the games before you comment right?

dawgfan

February 22nd, 2011
1:02 pm

Bob, I haven’t followed the NBA since Michael Jordan retired.

Beakerdawg, LMAO. You think those fat ankled pasty whited could hang with the top American football players? Get real. I bet most of them couldn’t crack 4.8 in the 40. Your point is laughable.

Soccer is dumb and boring.

Cecil Newton

February 22nd, 2011
1:04 pm

Enter your comments here

David Beckham

February 22nd, 2011
1:08 pm

Hey Dawgfan, you’re right. They do run 4.8 in the 40. But I’ll let you in on a little secret: It’s 40 meters. See, a meter is longer than a yard. Get it?

Jeff

February 22nd, 2011
1:16 pm

I completely agree. As a former UGA student I used to play pickup basketball at Ramsey against lots of football and basketball players (Matt Stafford, Billy Humphrey, etc.) and none of them ever got hurt doing it. Pickup sports are just a form of offseason cross-training that are MUCH less likely to injure someone than competing in their actual sport. Aaron Murray was just as likely to sprain his ankle playing two-hand touch as from playing soccer so lay off the guy.

Cuz

February 22nd, 2011
1:22 pm

Murray is a redshirt Freshman. In class standing he must be a sophmore. I had a blast as a sophmore at UGA, what I can remember of it.

THE MAJOR

February 22nd, 2011
1:23 pm

I heard Nic Fairley hit him again. And Fairley’s team won because the UGA OL was playing goalie and couldn’t block anything.

Idiocy Abounds

February 22nd, 2011
1:25 pm

While I believe whole heartedly that the folks grumbling about Murray doing something other than American Football in his off season should get a life, the call from Bill King for everyone to “chill” is pure idiocy. This coming from a man who last week devoted a column to the bloodline of the UGA’s. Which is more important Bill? The quarterback who could throw the game winning pass or the mascot? Are you really accusing Ga fans of overreacting? You were so distraught about the mascot that you wrote a blog about it. When was the last time UGA took a hand off on 3rd and short with the game on the line? (well he wouldn’t because we can’t run the ball and would have to pass it, play action, no doubt) That’s kind of like the pot calling the kettle black isn’t it?

DawginOH

February 22nd, 2011
1:26 pm

Let Murray enjoy an afternoon on the soccer field with his friends! It sure beats some of the other extracurricular activities in which some of our players have engaged over the past few months.

papadawg

February 22nd, 2011
1:37 pm

Good Grief people he could twist his ankle on the treadmill. What do you him to do sit on his butt and not stay in shape.

Felix Millan

February 22nd, 2011
1:40 pm

Bill- any word on Perno being on the hot seat. Or, for that matter, Andy?

1eyedJack

February 22nd, 2011
1:42 pm

Soccer sucks….unless you’re playing with the girls…but then again it’s against the rules to use your hands.

Don't swallow the hook

February 22nd, 2011
1:43 pm

You guys are getting played, big time, by the Skittles eating, Red Bull drinking adolescent tool/troll that has nothing better to do then change his name and post nonsensical statements about the Dawgs, and Murray in particular.

DawginLex

February 22nd, 2011
1:49 pm

The QB competition this spring is going to be wide open. Lemay will not beat out Murray but you can bet your rump he is going to play. And it will be more than the obligatory 1 series per game ala DJ Shockley.

That will have UGA set at QB for the next 2 years after 2011.

oakwood dawg

February 22nd, 2011
1:51 pm

In mho, soccer is the most un-american sport in this country and if you don’t think it is a boring game then you don’t know the definition of boring. That being said, I don’t care if AM plays a pick up game of soccer as long as his most attention (and I think it is) is being the best QB for the dawgs. Really don’t want to get political, but I’m going to anyway i.e. multiculturalism is the cause of all the un-american activities/sports in this country today.

DCDawg

February 22nd, 2011
1:57 pm

Didn’t Murray return to win a FL state championship after breaking his leg early in the season? In somehting like 6 weeks? Even if it was worst than a sprain, the kids got heart! Any truth to the rumor that CMR told him the hosptial he would have a scholly to UGA no matter waht?

Fire Mark Richt

February 22nd, 2011
1:58 pm

Soccer? What’s next for Murray – earrings and a ponytail? A Peugot and Evian water? Box seats at the French Open?

This can’t be good. Butler was an exception. He practiced soccer only so he could launch long kickoffs and be part of the coverage team. His nickname was Butt-head.

WIN WITH RICHT

February 22nd, 2011
2:08 pm

Fire Mark Richt

You make a good point. He could start watching Nate Burkess and eating quiche. Like Barney Fife used to say NIP IT IN THE BUD!!!

Rick S

February 22nd, 2011
2:10 pm

On another topic: When is Greg McGarity going to ask Andy Landers to retire or move-on as Georgia’s Womens Basketball Head Coach? Georgia Womens Basketball got blown out AGAIN by a far superior Tennessee team that by the way has several excellent players from “you guessed it” the state of Georgia.

Just making the NCAA Tournament but getting eliminated after the first round is not making progress or competing like a championship program!

Just my thoughts.

Sleeper Service

February 22nd, 2011
2:11 pm

Soccer is a great off season sport as the conditioning is second to none. Is it exciting like football? No and it doesn’t have to be.

Ben

February 22nd, 2011
2:11 pm

Soccer might actually be the best sport a football player can play in the offseason. It’s great for developing agility, footwork and stamina.

I don’t blame the kid at all for this injury. However, if I were Mark Richt I would have one strict rule for the player’s offseason sports activities. No intramural sports whatsoever! Play with or against your teammates only. We don’t know if Murray was playing with his buddies in the backyard or a fraternity intramural league. College intramural sports are the most bush league version of organized sports you will ever see. All it takes is one meathead frat-daddy to try and show up a big bad football player and before you know it a real injury happens.

Felix Millan

February 22nd, 2011
2:13 pm

I’m with you Rick S

Bo Williams

February 22nd, 2011
2:14 pm

Not as dumb as some of the things I did while in college, such as getting snookered and going skeet shooting.

LA DAWG

February 22nd, 2011
2:15 pm

Enjoy college and all that it has to offer. In a few short years he will be working for a living be it as a professional football player to a Teacher and will not have the extra time to spend enjoying the little things like a pick up soccer game. I love GA Football as much as the next person but you have to allow kids to have clean honest fun.

Ray

February 22nd, 2011
2:21 pm

Can’t find QB in Richt’s 25 coaching history, besides Aaron Murray, who had a winless record over a season against winning teams.

Murray beat teams like Vanderbilt and Idaho State people, get serious.

Ray

February 22nd, 2011
2:24 pm

The risk wasn’t worth a little soccer game. Good grief this kid lacks common sense.

UGA FRIEND

February 22nd, 2011
2:34 pm

Some UGA fans trying to make a big deal over nothing.

Dr. Phil

February 22nd, 2011
2:35 pm

Murray survived the beat down by Nick Fairley only to injure his ankle in a soccer game. Well, it wasn’t a bar-room brawl. Have a quick recovery.

Ray

February 22nd, 2011
2:43 pm

I’ve noticed Murray has a timing issue. Murray usually throws in front of or more often, behind receivers. Or waits too long to throw and gets sacked 23 times. Just hasn’t the slightest.

Now he’s out on a soccer field, right before Spring gets going?

For a QB timing is everything, this kid’s almost always doing the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Dawg Gone

February 22nd, 2011
2:45 pm

Ray willing to bet he beats your team this year.soccer gets a bad rap when American males watch highly payed grown men, crying like little girls every time some one comes with in 30 feet of them.

beakerdawg

February 22nd, 2011
2:49 pm

maybe back in the 1930’s it was white pasty thick ankles in soccer (which would describe every other american professional athlete at that time), there is plenty of 4.3/40 yd speed in professional soccer

Ray

February 22nd, 2011
2:51 pm

Sure wish Richt had just suspended Mettenberger instead of kicked him off the team. Would have been looking at a shot to win the SEC in 2011.

Watch LSU this season, and you’ll understand what I mean.

dawg85

February 22nd, 2011
2:53 pm

Soccer is pretty fun to play and good exercise but is soooo boring to watch — guess you have to grow up with it like they do in Europe.

What I’d really like to know is who is the poster who keeps coming on with the same mantra about Aaron Murray. The posts are easy to recognize. I suspect it’s one nerd (or possibly a collection of nerds) who think that what they are doing is funny and clever.

“Goodness gracious I was a big fan of Aaron Murray … blah, blah, blah.”
“Aaron Murray only threw seven touchdowns against teams with a winning record … blah, blah, blah.” (BTW Check the numbers again Buster — i thought nerds were good at math).
“He hasn’t won against winning teams … blah, blah, blah.”

Aaron’s line against the BCS champs — 15-28-273, 3 TDs and 0 Ints. I’ll take that any day. I’ll also take his line against the nerds — 15-19-271-3 TDs and 0 Ints.

The week leading up to the Tech games the same nerds were here saying the exact same things.

Nerd trolls on the loose, but then I guess that’s what you do when you don’t have a girlfriend.

Ray

February 22nd, 2011
2:53 pm

The bad news is, Georgia will lose the first two games, as Richt won’t give up on his delusions about Murray (remember, Richt stayed with Murray after going 1-4 last year thinking Murray would win out).

After 0-2, Richt will bench Murray, and Georgia will go on a run.

dawg85

February 22nd, 2011
2:54 pm

Ray knows nothing about football.

Ray

February 22nd, 2011
2:55 pm

Murray’s signature win so far is Idaho State.

Adams

February 22nd, 2011
2:57 pm

Lot of Georgia fans on here sound fed up with Murray’s performance against winning teams.

HM

February 22nd, 2011
2:58 pm

Yippee! Soccer. I hope they weren’t keeping score. We don’t want anyones’s feelings to get hurt. I wonder if the team mom brought granola bars and juice boxes for after the game. Gotta love those socks!

Adams

February 22nd, 2011
2:59 pm

Ray-

Good point, you’re right, Murray hasn’t led the team to a single victory in his career against a winning team.

Murray’s also 0-6 when the other team scores first, Murray has never led the team to a come from behind victory either.

beakerdawg

February 22nd, 2011
2:59 pm

read “The Game of Their Lives” the 1950 Team USA World Cup team and tell me how unamerican those players were and what they did to represent our country

polskidawg

February 22nd, 2011
3:00 pm

Sadly, most “fans” of that type are idiots.

Adams

February 22nd, 2011
3:05 pm

Murray only wins games where:
1- UGA scores first
2- Georgia plays a team with a losing record

George

February 22nd, 2011
3:13 pm

Ray and Adams know nothing about football.

Adams

February 22nd, 2011
3:14 pm

You guys are lucky I’m on this blog. Nothing but facts. I am the man.

Ray

February 22nd, 2011
3:14 pm

You guys are lucky I’m on this blog. Nothing but facts. I am the man. Do I sound familiar? Wonder why?

Ray

February 22nd, 2011
3:16 pm

Skittles and Red Bull. baby!

Mike

February 22nd, 2011
3:16 pm

I guess it’s easy to be jealous of your rival quarterback when yours is soooo bad.

Adams

February 22nd, 2011
3:16 pm

Skittles and Red Bull. baby! Is there an echo in here?

The Real Dawg

February 22nd, 2011
3:17 pm

Skittles and red bull and no girls. Now that is creepy.

WIN WITH RICHT

February 22nd, 2011
3:19 pm

Adams

Are you any relation to Gomez and Morticia?

shankit

February 22nd, 2011
3:20 pm

Birmingham News
Reports from Tuscaloosa is an Auburn fan has called in and
taken credit for poisoning 17, 80 year old trees around the Bryant Denny
Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Upon examination by Alabama Power, it was acknowledged the trees were
actually telegraph poles, which they would remove and update with modern
telephone poles.

Swarles Barkley

February 22nd, 2011
3:21 pm

WIN WITH RICHT -

Love the Adams Family reference. I’m afraid it might have gone over the techies’ heads, though.

soccer is king

February 22nd, 2011
3:22 pm

soccer is the #1 sport on the planet – by far! it’s a tremendously stressful game, requires amazing cardio fitness and teamwork.

the fat slobs on UGA’s line wouldn’t have a prayer in a soccer match. but wait, you have a new strength coach, right?

Swarles Barkley

February 22nd, 2011
3:26 pm

Soccer is tough to play. NASCAR is tough to do. Golf is extremely difficult for 99% of humanity.

Put simply, just because an activity or sport is difficult does not mean it is fun to watch. I give professionals in all of these sports ( and NASCAR too, even though it’s not a sport ) for how hard it is to do what they do. But I have zero interest in watching them do it.

debo

February 22nd, 2011
3:30 pm

I love all the football fans here ragging soccer. I’m a huge UGA fan, and played soccer in High School and College. Those who think it is un-American, well all I can do is sit back and think of you as Jimbo from Southpark “dey took are jerbs!!!!!”. Ignorant rednecks, and I’m sure they are proud of it. Then there are those that think it’s a sissy sport. #1 – I’m sure you’ve never played it. #2 – I’m even more sure you’re an overweight balding fat slob sitting hiding behind a computer and can’t wait to get home and hump some chickens. I love american football and the NFL. But you trailer trash seem unable to realize that Soccer is the number 1 sport in the world…oh well…can’t educate everybody, to bad they’ll let anybody on a computer though…

Adams

February 22nd, 2011
3:31 pm

No one was happier when they heard Murray’s ankle was only sprained than….

THE FLORIDA GATORS!!!

jarvis

February 22nd, 2011
3:31 pm

I like Buster’s point that 7 TD’s in 6 games is somehow terrible.
What a toolbox that guy is.

jarvis

February 22nd, 2011
3:32 pm

Good one Adams.
You had me with the “….”. Suspense was killing me.

debo

February 22nd, 2011
3:32 pm

I am not a UGA fan. Soccer is easy to play. Murray’s the greatest QB in the history of planet earth.

Swarles Barkley

February 22nd, 2011
3:32 pm

Hopefully you did not interpret my post as ragging soccer. It’s painfully boring in my opinion, but not unAmerican. And just because someone doesn’t like a sport doesn’t mean you should call them a balding fat slob. It’s just an opinion, grow up.

jarvis

February 22nd, 2011
3:33 pm

then again 0-6 against winning teams isn’t great, eh?

Swarles Barkley

February 22nd, 2011
3:34 pm

Soccer is not easy to play. This is not debatable. I do not like the sport, but anyone who’s tried playing it (including myself) will tell you it’s difficult to perform at a high level in soccer.

WIN WITH RICHT

February 22nd, 2011
3:34 pm

Thanks, Adams family is my favortie show, I watch re-runs all day long.

Swarles Barkley

February 22nd, 2011
3:35 pm

Then again, you kic a ball in a goal and run. I’ve never played it myself.

Swarles Barkley

February 22nd, 2011
3:35 pm

Murray played great against Idaho State, ya’ll go easy on him, HE’S A FRESHMAN!!!

jarvis

February 22nd, 2011
3:36 pm

Murray’s winless record when getting behind in a game, 0-6, isn’t good either.

dawgfan is dumb

February 22nd, 2011
3:37 pm

dawgfan, you are dumb and boring.

WIN WITH RICHT

February 22nd, 2011
3:38 pm

Murray showed great judgment by playing that soccer game before Spring. He should be rewarded with an award for his intelligent choice there.

dawgfan is dumb

February 22nd, 2011
3:38 pm

I am the onyl smart one here.

Swarles Barkley

February 22nd, 2011
3:40 pm

Man oh man, did you see Murray play against La Lafayette last year? Wow, looked like Cam Newton on that game. La Lafayette is a lot better team than people think.

jarvis

February 22nd, 2011
3:41 pm

Even though Murray didn’t score against UCF in the Bowl game, he tried hard.

Swarles Barkley

February 22nd, 2011
3:42 pm

Murray’s winless record when getting behind in a game, 0-6, isn’t good either.

Swarles Barkley

February 22nd, 2011
3:42 pm

Murray excelled against Idaho State. He was so cool under pressure. The future is bright. Watch the video from that game.

jarvis

February 22nd, 2011
3:43 pm

Man oh man, did you see Murray play against La Lafayette last year? Wow, looked like Cam Newton on that game. La Lafayette is a lot better team than people think.

WDE

February 22nd, 2011
3:54 pm

I’d just like to point out that there was not a single post on this blog telling people to wait out the Cam Newton situation.

WIN WITH RICHT

February 22nd, 2011
3:58 pm

This ain’t Paraguay or France. In the SEC football is KING!! Who gives a rat’s hairy patoot about that sport.

WIN WITH RICHT

February 22nd, 2011
4:00 pm

WDE

The Cam Newton situation? Cam has jumped ship and will watch in the rearview mirror as probation hammers Awbarn. Just like Reggie Bush did at USC>

WDE

February 22nd, 2011
4:02 pm

Frank

February 22nd, 2011
4:02 pm

WDE: “I’d just like to point out that there was not a single post on this blog telling people to wait out the Cam Newton situation.”

Huh? And?

WDE

February 22nd, 2011
4:03 pm

I love Georgia, but act like an Auburn fan on here.

WIN WITH RICHT

February 22nd, 2011
4:03 pm

WDE-

Duh, like we all didn’t know that?

Frank

February 22nd, 2011
4:05 pm

WIN WITH RICHT: “Duh, like we all didn’t know that?”

Really?

WDE

February 22nd, 2011
4:06 pm

Please don’t ask me no hard questions about Auburn, cause I ain’t a real Auburn fan, just fake it here. Ok?

WDE

February 22nd, 2011
4:08 pm

I like to choose handles that either have :
1) CURSE WORDS (wde–YOU KNOW WHAT THE d STANDS FOR, RIGHT? hEEE HEEE)
2) words that can be re-interpreted in a a bad way

I do have a 5th grade sense of humor.

Oakwood Dawg

February 22nd, 2011
4:20 pm

Wow, is debo ticked! Can’t be a dawg fan—must be a transplanted yankee cause he doesn’t know that college football in the deep south is not only a religion but also the most watched sport. He needs to transport himself back to the north before one of our rednecks gets to him and makes him wish he had never come south.

Bo Williams

February 22nd, 2011
4:23 pm

How many TD’s did Murray and AJ score in their bowl game? How much progression did they show between games 4 and 12? So which game is more indicative of how good they are, they early games or the last game?

shane#1

February 22nd, 2011
4:25 pm

It is time for Richt to go. We can’t have football players running around on a field and getting hurt. Sarchasm now turned off.

Buck Blew

February 22nd, 2011
4:28 pm

thank the heaven’s above and soccer for Kevin Butler…..the greatest Dawg of all time. even greater than herschel and me.

Dixie Redcoat Band

February 22nd, 2011
4:29 pm

Let’s see, soccer…the only game you can walk away from for 2-3 hours and return and the score is still 1-0.

Averyboy

February 22nd, 2011
4:32 pm

That shrill screaming yesterday was the projection of every THUGA fan’s real fear that they don’t really have much to put on the field next year, and if Murray goes out….instead of the usual 3 to 4 losses, it’s back to another 5 loss season minimum.

WIN WITH RICHT

February 22nd, 2011
4:45 pm

Who has stolen my handle?

Flatwoods Dawg

February 22nd, 2011
4:49 pm

Down here in by the swamp, we ain’t into soccer. Thought it was a girlie sport. BTW, I thought hockey was something that floated in the toilet instead of a sport until the USA won the Gold Medal.

shane#1

February 22nd, 2011
5:03 pm

Flatwoods Dawg. “down here in the swamp”, well howdy neighbor!

Old School

February 22nd, 2011
5:04 pm

Soccer is a communist plot to make sissies out of America’s youth.

UGADawg83

February 22nd, 2011
5:10 pm

Bill,
Some days its just better to write nothing at all. This was the most inane blog you have ever produced.

South Ga Dawg

February 22nd, 2011
5:21 pm

AFTER GOING 6-7 THEM BOYS DONT NEED TO BE DOING ANYTHING BUT LIFTING WEIGHTS AND WORKING ON FOOTBALL AND SCHOOL RELATED ACTIVITIES.

VININGSDAWG

February 22nd, 2011
5:30 pm

We need to quit the Auburn stuff, Nothing will happen there. It is the product of being BCS CHAMPS.

Give Murray a break, he could sprain his ankle in downtown Athens getting drunk.

dawgfan

February 22nd, 2011
6:43 pm

I don’t think soccer is a sissy sport or that its un-American. I just think its dumb and boring. There is very little strategy involved relative to American football. Its just a bunch of guys kicking a ball around and tripping each other. That’s it. Sure, they can run fast and have great endurance. Whoopee. Its dumb. Oh, and did I mention its boring? No one can claim with a straight face that its not a boring sport when the combined scores are 4 points or less. Its dumb and boring. End of discussion.

SHANKIT

February 22nd, 2011
6:44 pm

Congratulations again to the AJC for assembling their group
of idiotic bloggers to another stupid topic by an idiotic “journalist” ???

A.J. finished the drill by running out of bounds

February 22nd, 2011
6:48 pm

Enter your comments here

Yaz

February 22nd, 2011
7:00 pm

I’ve never understood how anyone – even an alumnus – could support and take pride in UGA’s football team. When you look at their history for the past forty years, how can anyone ignore Jan Kemp and the “remedial studies” scam, the Jim Harrick fiasco, the DUIs in the athletic office, the DUIs and other arrests of players, the #1 party school tag (i.e., the most drunk students), the suspensions and outright dismissals, the Fulmer Cup, and on and on?

As disgraceful and humiliating as it is, I don’t see many alums and fans demanding an end to this sordid activity. It sets UGA apart as the kind of school most people abhor, and it’s become an embarrassment to the whole state of Georgia.

Will it never end? Apparently not while Mark Richt is at UGA. Richt is perhaps the biggest hypocrite in the United States. But even with all the cheating and lawlessness that he ignores, he still can’t win the SEC.

So you’re paying him to be BCS champions, but he can’t even win his SEC division. So why do you pay him millions of dollars a year?

Just asking.

The Tick

February 22nd, 2011
7:23 pm

mark richt and aaron murray are going nowhere in 2011 … except the BCS championship game!

mdbatl

February 22nd, 2011
7:41 pm

Yaz,

Go back to Boston and don’t win the World Series.

AltamahaDawg

February 22nd, 2011
7:59 pm

You’ll have to ban them from JoeT’s weight room as well.

Although this appears to be one of those many phantom stories. Somebody says something stupid in a blog, (usually with some agenda having nothing to do with the topic), somebody copies it for lack of an opinion, then the blogs report it as if “people” are saying….

Roy

February 22nd, 2011
10:15 pm

Thats funny getting hurt playing with the Grass Fairies!

Ted Striker

February 22nd, 2011
10:17 pm

EXCELLENT column, Bill. Outstanding.

dawgfan

February 22nd, 2011
10:20 pm

Yaz, crybaby bitter loser no life Techies such as yourself are an embarassment to the state of Georgia. Most of your alums don’t even stay here after they graduate. They just pizz in our sewers, clog up our streets, and dirty up our air. And what does the State of Georgia get in return? Not a damn thing. You leave and turn your noses up at Georgians. All take and no give. Why don’t you pukes go ahead and move your school to Singapore or something? You won’t be missed.

college football

February 23rd, 2011
12:05 am

MURRAY FOR HEISMAN!

cloudman

February 23rd, 2011
8:21 am

SOCCER is for sissies

The Ghost of Wally Butts

February 23rd, 2011
8:28 am

Guess some of the avid dawg fans would have been happier if Aaron would have been doing more customary or typical off-season dawg activities….like getting arrested or selling Libery Bowl jerseys or something.

Ed Pilcher

February 23rd, 2011
8:30 am

Like I used to tell my Thomas Co Cental players…….Soccer is football for a**-holes.

Rush Probst

February 23rd, 2011
8:31 am

Amen, Coach Pilcher……

Rance Gillespie

February 23rd, 2011
8:32 am

Preach on, fellow football coaches!!

Lee

February 23rd, 2011
8:34 am

Soccer has no business being played here in the USA. If you want to play soccer, move to Mexico, England or Europe. Football, Baseball, Basketball and Hockey are what we play here…. Now if Soccer were full contact….

UGASlobberknocker

February 23rd, 2011
8:34 am

Our old friend Willie Martinez has helped get Oklahoma in hot water …by questioning players about missing voluntary workouts..makes me glad he’s gone..not that I needed another reason. check out the link

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6148972

Jim

February 23rd, 2011
8:44 am

Murray needs to beat a winning team before anyone mentions Murray as even a good QB, much less great.

Years ago

February 23rd, 2011
8:58 am

Back in the mid 70s, a star UGA linemen was water skiing up at lake Lanier and fell into some submerged barbed wire, left over from the old farm days before the lake was filled. It cost him an entire season or most of it.

Stuff happens.

This thing about soccer this and that is a waste of time.
Go Dogs.

Just saying

February 23rd, 2011
10:44 am

Nick Marshall will be the best QB in Athens on the day he arrives. This includes Fran Tarkenton.

Halston

February 23rd, 2011
10:51 am

Murray tends to choke under pressure.

Let me give you an example.

Murray completes 67% of his passes against losing teams, but just 55% against winning teams.

Murray is 5-1 record against losing teams, 0-6 record against winning teams.

Murray is 6-0 when Georgia scores first, 0-7 when other team does.

Halston

February 23rd, 2011
10:52 am

Murray only threw 8 td’s against winning teams, Newton & Mallet threw 14 td’s against winning teams 2x more than Murray.

AltamahaDawg

February 23rd, 2011
12:04 pm

So you are saying you like a more expereinced QB running the show? Great news for you then!

Halston

February 23rd, 2011
12:30 pm

Murray needs to beat a winning team before anyone mentions Murray as even a good QB, much less great.

Jim

February 23rd, 2011
12:31 pm

Murray only threw 8 td’s against winning teams, Newton & Mallet threw 14 td’s against winning teams 2x more than Murray.

DawginLex

February 23rd, 2011
1:31 pm

Murray has the best stats of any freshman QB ever at UGA.

He is the best returning starting Qb in the SEC.

He will be fine regardless of what this idiot thinks who keeps signing on as multiple people and having this conversation wiht himself.

Lemay will play too.

Nick Marshall will play defensive back and some offensive plays. He didn’t go to Tech because he knows his NFL future is as a defensive back plus he didn’t want to get beat tot death running the TO.

Fire Mark Richt

February 23rd, 2011
2:42 pm

Didn’t know we played hockey here, Lee. Only if you’re from Massachusetts or Minnesota, maybe. That’s a Canadian and European sport. But at least it’s played by real men as opposed to the sissies that play soccer. Those guys roll around in agony every time they’re tripped. Yet they never seem to be seriously injured. Amazing.

WIN WITH RICHT

February 23rd, 2011
4:04 pm

Aaron Murray is 6-0 as a starter when the opposing team scores fewer points than the Dawgs. Also, his completion percentage is 100% when one of his teammates catches the ball. When you look at all the statistics, your point is still moot.

Fat Ball Coach

February 23rd, 2011
5:04 pm

Watch for the news flash….Murray does have a broken ankle……..bank………..

Robert Wilson

February 23rd, 2011
6:14 pm

Having had the privelege to play for Coach Vince Dooley from 1972 to 1975, I seem to remember that we were, in fact, forbidden to ride a motorcyle–which would have included the “scooter” as well. We never considered it an unusual rule, in fact, it made some of us feel a little special, even valuable. But then Coach Dooley–and Coach “Erk” Russell–each had their own unique way of making all people feel special and valuable both on and off the field, athlete or not!

T Hoage's army

February 23rd, 2011
6:31 pm

“Soccer was imported by foreign governments to subvert our American way of life.” Hank Hill

kristin

February 23rd, 2011
9:26 pm

Bill King, you’re F*^”ing idiot. The guys are just what you are saying, ATHLETES. They should be able to play anything they want without arrogant a-holes like you telling them its dumb. My guess is you sucked at playing sports when you were younger, especially a sport like soccer. A sport where you needed a little coordination and didn’t have any. Don’t be upset that soccer is getting more popular as the years go by. It will all be shoved right in your face one day on how awesome it is. JackAss.

AltamahaDawg

February 23rd, 2011
9:36 pm

Being younger about the same time Bill was, I can safely say that nobody knew one way or the other if if he sucked at “a sport like soccer”. There wasn’t one.

ugab

February 23rd, 2011
10:08 pm

Murray chose to play soccer and get hurt! Murray don’t care about Uga. What happened to the mentors MR hired or promoted?

ugab

February 23rd, 2011
10:12 pm

t bow played soccer 2. everyone calm down. he won a nc.

Doug

February 23rd, 2011
10:21 pm

Murray’s #119 ranking as a QB in the 4th quarter as far as passing accuracy goes, won’t win him any nicknames like ‘Mr. 4th Quarter”, that’s for sure.

Best name I’ve found for him yet is Joe Cox Jr, without the ability to beat a winning team. Murray’s about as short as Cox was, throws about as many interceptions, and chokes in big games like Cox did. Murray’s not as mobile as Cox, Murray took 2x more sacks than Cox.

bitter larry munson (9") size does matter

February 24th, 2011
12:00 am

ever have a high crouch sprain with a co-ed?? best injury ever!!!hahaha

bitter larry munson (9") size does matter

February 24th, 2011
12:02 am

kristin—-calm down–hel- ////lie down—get a rub in da-tub with ole larry

woebegong

February 24th, 2011
5:49 am

Attached is an article cohttp://network.yardbarker.com/college_football/article_external/the_2011_heismanpunditcom_heisman_trophy_watch_list/4211468
This link provides some interesting information conncerning our young quarterback. Some serious football fans on here might find it interesting. Alabama fans might also be interested since it concerns a certain running back also.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Jborodawg

February 24th, 2011
7:54 am

I agree completely with everything Bill says…on this particular issue.

Jborodawg

February 24th, 2011
8:00 am

Kristin…I don’t believe you read the article, and just jumped right in with a comment.

Woebegong…DAGSSSSSSSSSS ??????? WTH ?

Jborodawg

February 24th, 2011
8:25 am

Yeah, it’s terrible for football players to have outside interests. Loran, whataya got?

http://dogbytesonline.com/smith-bulldogs-wr-conley-a-man-of-many-talents-42511/

woebegong

February 24th, 2011
8:34 am

Jborodawg,
That is a link to the Heisman link for who is on the early Heisman watch list. Murray and Richardson are on that list.
It was early, LOL.
GOOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

DawgGrad

February 24th, 2011
8:39 am

Bill wrote: “Sort of like the way some Georgia fans have always tended to put down “basketball schools.”

Where the hell did that come from in a column about Aaron Murray playing soccer. Did you just decide to slam the ‘Dawg Nation this morning just for the hell of it, or is it just that you can’t come up with enough things to write in your so-called blog? What a piece of garbage this blog is.

Snake Doc

February 24th, 2011
8:44 am

Playing soccer sure beats being accused of some sexual deviant action in the off season that costs you your whole senior season of High Skrool football. But being a sexual deviant can still lift you to number one in the hearts and minds of UGA boneheads!

Being UGA fan used to be fun, it used to mean something. Sense of pride in state, school and team! Now it means not so much and has become a folly of watching a bunch of mindless morons trying to make sense of why their Saint and his new Sunday Skrool project, can’t or won’t win a championship and the excuses that will be made for the Saint and his projects!

Snake Doc

February 24th, 2011
8:50 am

And I also find it interesting that the ones who beat up on Murray the most are the same ones that will defend the CEO with their last breath. What a bunch of freaks!

Mr. SEC

February 24th, 2011
9:05 am

Bill,
Is this the best you can do?

Glory Glory

February 24th, 2011
9:12 am

Bill, I don’t know how you do it but you succeed to prove each and every blog that there’s nothing dumber than a Georgia Bulldog. BTW, when are you going to change that retarded picture of yourself?

DawginLex

February 24th, 2011
10:08 am

Doug,

joe cox threw 17 interceptions his senior year.

Murray threw 7 in his freshman year.

Nice try but if you are going to spew, at least use your brain and get some accurate facts.

Matt

February 24th, 2011
10:43 am

DawginLex- thanks for saying what I was thinking while scrolling down

Doug- you are an idiot.

Kristin- I have to concur, did you even read the article? Let me know when soccer becomes as popular as football, baseball, and basketball. I assure you it won’t be in your lifetime. Of course as long as our immigration laws remain a joke you never know.

Snake Doc- I assume you are talking about Lemay?? Sexual deviant? Is that what you call a senior making out with a sophomore??

David

February 24th, 2011
11:33 am

Murray’s td’s,yards,/int’s were similar to Joe Cox’s, Murray just didn’t play as well Joe Cox did against the weak pass defenses. Murray faced some of the worst pass defenses in the country like South Caro, Auburn, Colorado, Arkansas, just didn’t show up when the team needed him to. Cox went 8-5, Murray went 6-7.

RxDawg

February 24th, 2011
11:40 am

Meh, I really didn’t pay the story much attention to be honest. It’s Feb.

As far as soccer goes, I’m not scared of it. I don’t paticularly enjoy it, but I’m not scared of it. It has always struck me as one of those sports that’s probably more fun to play than it is to watch. Kinda like Golf, or NASCAR/racing.

woebegong

February 24th, 2011
7:58 pm

To blast this young man for playing a pickup game of soccer, strikes me as people just looking to have something negative to say about UGA and him both. At least he was not out there getting into trouble, like a lot of kids this day and age get into. I believe he will really shine this year. Evidentally, so does the Heisman watch board as he is listed as one of the 25 candidates for the early watch.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Joe

February 24th, 2011
9:27 pm

Murray was on a bunch of ‘watch” lists last seaosn too. He choked, wetn 6-7, lost to every winning team he faced, 0-6. Not Heisman material. Not even Georgia material. Not even JUCO quality ball.

woebegong

February 25th, 2011
12:20 am

Joe,

It would appear the majority do not share your opinion on this young man. Only a freshman last year and he finished 2nd in the conference for freshman of the year. Think you might be surprised at what he will do this year.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

David

February 25th, 2011
7:29 am

Murray was on a bunch of ‘watch” lists last seaosn too. He choked, wetn 6-7, lost to every winning team he faced, 0-6. Not Heisman material. Not even Georgia material. Not even JUCO quality ball.

ATLSN

February 25th, 2011
9:47 am

If you’re an Atlanta/Georgia Sports fan and want to talk with other fans, check out our NEW message board.

http://www.atlsportsnation.com/forum

We have team forums for the Falcons, Bulldogs, Hawks, Braves, Yellow Jackets, Thrashers, etc. Please register and post! Be apart of a huge site in the early days of existence. See ya there! We’re looking for posters, moderators, bloggers/writers. Join up if interested.

woebegong

February 25th, 2011
10:48 am

One person on a team, be he QB, OL, RB or whatever doesn’t lose every game for the team. Murray was hampered by a bunch of problems that the UGA team as a whole had. He did a great job under difficult circumstances, as a Freshman and he will be a lot more comfortable this year with a stronger, better supporting cast. Quit babbling about this kids supposedly list of short comings. I doubt seriously whether you will be able to write anything negative about him credibly at the end of the upcoming season, but I am sure you nathsayers will give it your best shot.