Preseason rankings and greatest Dogs of the modern era
We’ve already had a discussion of whether Mark Richt’s 2011 Dogs should be a preseason Top 20 team and, if so, how high, but it’s worth noting that magazine publisher Athlon Sports has tagged Georgia at No. 14 in its Top 25 countdown and sees the Bulldogs winning the SEC East.
Athlon’s optimism about the Dogs ” rests with the influx of recruits [as in Isaiah Crowell], the return of [Aaron] Murray, the second year in the 3-4 defense, and a favorable league schedule that does not include Alabama or LSU — the two top teams in the West. This might not be a vintage Georgia team that is capable of competing for a national title, but the Bulldogs should be in the hunt to win the relatively mediocre SEC East.”
Sounds like a pretty fair assessment, though I’m not sure I’m ready to predict the Dogs winning the division.
Meanwhile, Athlon also takes a shot at listing the Top 10 Georgia Bulldogs football players of the “Athlon era,” which goes back to 1967 (meaning no Frankie Sinkwich, Charley Trippi or Fran Tarkenton).
You know who’s No. 1, but beyond Herschel Walker the choices get interesting: Defensive end David Pollack is No. 2, followed by two-way iron man Champ Bailey, defensive back-rover Terry Hoage, quarterback David Greene, offensive lineman Matt Stinchcomb, defensive tackle Bill Stanfill, defensive back Jake Scott, linebacker Ben Zambiasi and running back Garrison Hearst rounding out the top 10.
OK, hard to argue with most of the names on that list, but what about College Football Hall of Fame member Kevin Butler? Or All-America defensive linemen Richard Seymour and Marcus Stroud?
Should defensive back Scott Woerner get a look? Then there’s receiver Lindsay Scott, a sentimental favorite in the Bulldog Nation; quarterback Eric Zeier, who perhaps doesn’t get the attention he deserves because he played on a couple of pretty mediocre teams; hard-hitting safeties Greg Blue and Thomas Davis; all-around offensive star Hines Ward; and running back Tim Worley. And maybe younger fans will want to make a case for Knowshon Moreno and/or Matt Stafford.
So, is there anyone on Athlon’s list you’d replace? And if so, who would you add?
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254 comments Add your comment
MOG
May 17th, 2011
1:40 pm
I stand by my statement, without Shockley, Greene would be on the biggest bust list!!
ckgator
May 17th, 2011
1:40 pm
JB – thanks for your concerns. I lived through that… but the sleeping giant is awake and the future looks very bright indeed.
Dawg Gone
May 17th, 2011
1:41 pm
Mike Bob 17 INT you mean that new Gator HC with the stellar record in the SEC..and you loud mouths call us delusional…
DawginLex
May 17th, 2011
1:42 pm
future looks bright with charlie Weis?
DESTROYER OF ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFETS AND MAJOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL PROGRAMS
Notre Dame thanks you for hiring him. KC Masterpiece stock dropped 20 points when he left KC
reebok
May 17th, 2011
1:44 pm
As a Tech fan, I would say that UGA could definitely win the SEC East this year, and if so, more power to them. Altho I will probably stop short of pulling for the Dogs in the SEC Championship…!
JB
May 17th, 2011
1:46 pm
ckgator………..just a reminder. You guys lost 5 last year and your ” future looks bright” coach quit before he was fired I guess. Your new man has never won a game. Good luck in the future.
JB
May 17th, 2011
1:49 pm
reebok. Thanks. If Dawgs open 2-0, they’ll go to Jacksonville undefeated.
aaron in arizona
May 17th, 2011
1:50 pm
someone mentioned ray donaldson, C, and he was a very good one.
remember another center that was all american in mid 80’s time, i think it was chris or peter anderson? i know last name was anderson, he was on bob hope’s tv show for all americans, and he recovered a fumble at clemson for a td that helped win the game. i think it was peter anderson, right? someone help me here.
truedawg
May 17th, 2011
1:51 pm
Hines Ward 2nd hands down. Also Bill Standfill and Eric Zeier. I know everyone seems to hate Bobo though he was a great QB, that outback bowl he had the best half of any dawg QB ever. I dunno about stats but game changer and heart? one quote for ya “just give me the damn ball!” Run Lindsay! I don’t think any list could say top dawgs and not mention Hines though.
GeoffDawg
May 17th, 2011
1:51 pm
MOG, in your opinion then, why wasn’t Shockley the starter?
Jasper Sanks
May 17th, 2011
1:51 pm
what about me?
Washaun Ealey
May 17th, 2011
1:53 pm
me too!
JB
May 17th, 2011
1:54 pm
I would hope Hines would come home and coach WR at Georgia one day, but if he wants to coach, the Pro’s is where he will be. He’s that good. Also probably a better pro than college player, but a damn good Dawg and player.
truedawg
May 17th, 2011
1:59 pm
Billy Bennett?
Big Bad Dog
May 17th, 2011
2:09 pm
Seth Ward is my pick.
Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it
May 17th, 2011
2:10 pm
Why do we even play? UGA has obliviously won the title next season. Just like last season, and the one before, and the one before…
MountainDawg
May 17th, 2011
2:12 pm
How’s about tackling machine LB Knox Culpepper? He holds the UGA records for tackles in a game (26 vs. GT in ‘83), total tackles in a season (170 in ‘84 & is 2nd on the list with 166 in ‘83) & total assists in a season (116 ‘84 & he’s is also 2nd on the list with 105 in 1983). Knox is one of the most underrated players in UGA football history.
shankit
May 17th, 2011
2:14 pm
Best three Dawg quarterbacks all played together in high
school at Valdosta, Buck Belue, John Lastinger, and
John Bond (Mississippi State Bulldog).
BG
May 17th, 2011
2:15 pm
Let the big Dawg eat!!!!!
UGA FRIEND
May 17th, 2011
2:16 pm
Isiah Crowell
Newman
May 17th, 2011
2:23 pm
Hard to add Moreno and Davis since Marky Mark red-shirted them both.
shankit
May 17th, 2011
2:24 pm
Garrison Hearst must have been pretty good to
have his backup sitting on the bench namely,
Terrell Davis.
edumacated
May 17th, 2011
2:24 pm
For years I have complained about how Michigan, no matter how bad they were the year before, gets a top 15 ranking year in and year out. I guess we might fall in that category now. No way should we even be in the top 25 or 30. Higher than that is a bunch of homers and their wishful thinking. Lets get real everybody. In case you forgot, Mark Richt fielded arguably the WORST Bulldog team in two decades last year. Now we are SEC East favorites? Yeah right.
shankit
May 17th, 2011
2:27 pm
Dawgs are only team to have three MVP’s in Super Bowl appearances,
Jake Scott, Hines Ward and Terrell Davis (who backed up Hearst at Ga.)
JB
May 17th, 2011
2:38 pm
This blog shows how little Stafford got out of UGA faithful………Other than a 60 mil contract. Lot’s of stats and no titles.
JB
May 17th, 2011
2:42 pm
If Richt wasn’t on the hot seat and we had a little depth at RB, Crowell would red shirt.It’s the Richt way. Wouldn’t matter if he was better.
Alabama Jack
May 17th, 2011
2:43 pm
Scobby Do – now that’s a great dawg
1eyedJack
May 17th, 2011
2:44 pm
I just wonder if Jake Scott will show up to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Concrete Pete
May 17th, 2011
2:50 pm
Yes Woerner should be there. So should Jeff Hipp, Jimmy Payne, Freddie Gilbert, Lindsay Scott, Hugh Nall, Buck Belue and every member of the ‘80 team. They are the only team with the heart, fire and guts to win a national championship. Without one, no one is truly great.
I am glad however that carpetbaggers Stafford, Moreno and AJ (I’m taking the) Green were not on the list. They couldn’t even get to the SEC title game, let alone win it
shankit
May 17th, 2011
2:59 pm
Concrete Pete
Right on, Brother, good to know there are
still some Dawg fans like you still around.
Older Dawg
May 17th, 2011
3:04 pm
Remembering the Dogs of the 60’s, I have no problem with this top ten list.
Older Dawg
May 17th, 2011
3:06 pm
You’ve always got some Alabama/Auburn (same thing) trying to ruin the party. What’s he talking about anyway?
JB
May 17th, 2011
3:20 pm
Does a Gator Bellow? Wait till Florida loses 4 or 5 games and one is to Georgia. Muschamp better send the wife and kids to her mama’s.
Charlie Hayes
May 17th, 2011
3:21 pm
Hey Bill,
In 2005, the same bull mess was being written about the Dawgs. Can they win with a new QB (DJ Shockley)? Can the Dawgs Defense stop the high powered Boise State? Blah, blah, blah. Georgia won that game 48-13. I fully expect the same outcome this year in the Dome.
I also feel that Athlon has the Dawgs properly ranked as well has made a sound prediction about the SEC East race.
How can you be a lifelong fan and write articles always questioning the Dawgs ability. You either need to decide to be a AJC Sports Writer or a Dawg fan.
Write about some good news and stand behind the Dawgs! I nominate Bill King for “Come’on Man”!
Run, Lindsay, run!
May 17th, 2011
3:24 pm
Lindsay Scott spent his entire time at UGA in remedial studies (i.e., 7th-grade-level courses) and never passed a single college-level course. He wasn’t the only one.
Patrk
May 17th, 2011
3:31 pm
Last 2 years has …..what…..to do with this year?
Patriot fan
May 17th, 2011
3:36 pm
Hinds Ward is a pretty good dancer too.
SEC Football
May 17th, 2011
3:42 pm
Kevin Butler, you have to be kidding me!
Dink
May 17th, 2011
3:47 pm
Congrats to Jake Scott, member of the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011.
Go Dawgs!
AJ
May 17th, 2011
4:00 pm
OL AJ Harmon just transferred from Georgia.
2 gone in 1 week, man.
Hutson Mason rumored to be next.
LakeDawg
May 17th, 2011
4:05 pm
I’m surprised that Athlon got it right. That’s exactly how I would rank my top ten.
LakeDawg
May 17th, 2011
4:06 pm
AJ
May 17th, 2011
4:00 pm
OL AJ Harmon just transferred from Georgia.
2 gone in 1 week, man.
Hutson Mason rumored to be next.
This isn’t necessarily bad news. It might just mean they’re clearing out the dead wood. In other words, it might mean that CMR is getting serious.
Hot Dawg
May 17th, 2011
4:09 pm
I’d prefer to discuss a much more compelling topic; biggest bust of the modern era. I’ll start. Jasper Sanks.
GoDawgs
May 17th, 2011
4:14 pm
Don’t forget Rodney Hampton
Josh Lister
May 17th, 2011
4:29 pm
Wow, the Dawgs should not be #14. By the way http://www.CoachWatcher.com just updated their Hot Seat and Richt is still #1…
David Granger
May 17th, 2011
4:45 pm
Ray Donaldson was an awfully good player…not sure who I’d replace, though. It’s a shame there’s not a place on the team for Kevin Butler. We sure had a great run of kickers there, with Alan Leavitt, Rex Robinson, and then Butler all coming back to back to back.
JSAMM
May 17th, 2011
5:06 pm
As a college player, Hines Ward was asked to carry the load when all our QB’s went down and he handled it just fine. As an NFL player, he is the best Bulldog to make it big in the NFL. Superbowls! Superbowl MVP! And he is still doing it! C’mon Man! He should be #2 on this list behind Walker.
Loren
May 17th, 2011
5:12 pm
Whattaygot!!!! Larry’s the man!
Joe
May 17th, 2011
5:16 pm
Bill Stanfield, Jake Scott
Still@theBAR
May 17th, 2011
5:17 pm
Sturdivant has to be on the list just for all the crap he went through to try to be a DAWG. More HEART than Stafford Moreno, King, Ealey, and Cox combined. He had Pollacks heart just not the body to let him continue to compete at the highest level.