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
Still@theBAR
May 17th, 2011
5:19 pm
JSAMM
Hines is the GREATEST DAWG to play the game at ALL levels. Take nothing from Herschel, but Ward had a better career at UGA and the NFL. Walker won a NC and the Heisman so that makes him a GOD to UGA fans. Herschel did more at UGA than Ward but in the NFL Ward has a better career. The question was DAWG at UGA, but BEST DAWG to PLAY the GAME all around has to be WARD.
GaCracker
May 17th, 2011
5:20 pm
Scot Woerner, Bill Krug
Still@theBAR
May 17th, 2011
5:27 pm
I noticed BILL said Greatest DOGS.
I think that would be the CUBS, LIONS, and the Knicks.
GaCracker
May 17th, 2011
5:30 pm
Does anyone remember than Dooley had Walker as 3rd string to start 1980 at Tennessee. Trivia: Who started? Answer: Donnie MacMickens!!!!!!
Tom
May 17th, 2011
5:32 pm
What about the Z man? Garrison should have been higher
Auburn is All In..... JAIL
May 17th, 2011
5:38 pm
Auburn RB Onterio McCaleb arrested here in Dekalb County this past weekend……
http://dev.chuckoliver.net/2011/05/auburn-rb-arrested/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ChuckOliverFootball+%28Chuck+Oliver+Football%29&utm_content=Twitter
Greg
May 17th, 2011
5:46 pm
David Green doesn’t belong in the top 10. He was fortunate to have played when we had a dominant defense and a very good offensive line.
icedawg
May 17th, 2011
5:49 pm
Can’t believe that Hines Ward is not near the top. Stanfill and Scott deserve to be higher.
Good Ole Days
May 17th, 2011
6:15 pm
The obvious consensus is that Fran Tarkenton is the overwhelming choice for all-time greatest player at UGA.
It’s also clear that Wally Butts was the last UGA coach who had both integrity and coaching success. Of course, it was easier in his day, before UGA started recruiting thugs and morons.
sTANLEY
May 17th, 2011
6:29 pm
concensus?
yes, DLex, conscensus between you and all your fake names.
Come on now, spreed up your posts, you’re slowing down.
Shawn Reed
May 17th, 2011
6:34 pm
To not include Hines Ward,a Super Bowl MVP player and overall the most gifted athlete during his last year, in the UGA Top Ten is mystery to me….i don’t question any on the list but to not include Ward strikes me as odd
TampaDAWG
May 17th, 2011
7:16 pm
I didn’t read all the comments but interesting what I did read nobody mentioned Sean Jones, I thought he and Thomas Davis were one of if not the best safety duo UGA has had? Just my thoughts
Ed Pilcher
May 17th, 2011
7:56 pm
In the words of Larry Munson…..”Scott Woerner, WOERNER, WOERNER, WOERNER!!!!!!!!!!
Delbert D.
May 17th, 2011
8:18 pm
It’s always difficult to separate the guys who became great pros from what they accomplished in college. Ward was certainly talented and very versatile at Georgia. For contrast: remember the former Georgia RB that rushed for over 2,000 yards and was Super Bowl MVP for the Broncos? What was his name and number, I forget.
RedandBlack
May 17th, 2011
8:26 pm
Everyone who has the honor and the ability to put on the Red and Black for the University of Georgia is a Top Ten Player. Thank you for all that you do Bulldogs!! Work hard both off the field as well as on the field for yourselves, your family, and for your university. Do that well and do not worry about the rest because you will be among the best. Georgia. Go Dogs!!
chazzo
May 17th, 2011
8:26 pm
robert edwards, terrence edwards, leonard pope, boss bailey, musa smith, brandon southerland (sp?), meat cleaver weaver, tardits (sp?)
powerhouse?
May 17th, 2011
8:30 pm
when Murry starts beating teams w/winning records, he’ll be on the list….lol
Come on Bill?
May 17th, 2011
8:35 pm
Another great summary Bill. Why don’t you just put out a weekly “must read” list instead of attempting to produce a blog? The good news is we only have 3.5 more months of this garbage.
LogicalUS
May 17th, 2011
8:40 pm
“Go ahead, name your 2nd team”
Heck, Bill can’t name the WRs, RBs, DLs, LBs but being the homers it is time to pump some sunshine. This is UGA….the heck with players, coaches and talent, UGA is guaranteed to win.
Then of course, comes September and the ugly spectacle of UGA fans cursing players on the sideline and ole Bill will be wondering why anyone is so upset as “everyone” knew that UGA was just reloading this year for the following year MNC.
Eddie
May 17th, 2011
8:54 pm
1 – Herschel Walker
2 – David Pollack
3 – Kevin Butler
4 – David Greene
5 – Terry Hoage
6 – Jake Scott
7 – Eric Zeier
8 – Champ Bailey
9 – Hines Ward
10 – Bill Stanfill
Honorable Mention (player):
Scott Woerner
Matt Stinchcomb
Garrison Hearst
Guy McIntyre
Richard Tardits
Knowshon Moreno
Thomas Davis
Honorable Mention (non player):
Erk Russell
Larry Munson
Mark Richt
Vince Dooley
Dawg89
May 17th, 2011
9:02 pm
There is no way Stafford should be on any top 10 list other than one dealing with disappointments.
Dawg Smawg
May 17th, 2011
9:15 pm
So, at what age exactly, do you out-grow this boy’s game ?
Dawg Smawg
May 17th, 2011
9:17 pm
OK, I’ll answer my own question. Evidently, many boys never grow up.
Hart Co.
May 17th, 2011
9:40 pm
Had Hines Ward did what he did for Ohoh state, Mich., USC, or ND, he would have won a Hiesman.
FB Fan
May 17th, 2011
9:57 pm
King you drunk on Kool-aid! How can you pick a team to win the east that loses a player a week to transfer, suspension, etc. etc.? No way Dawgs finish better than 3rd. Fla and USC are both better….. and lose less players (I can’t believe I am saying it but yes even Fla has less problem players that us). CMR you da man!
Gen Neyland
May 17th, 2011
10:12 pm
FB Fan : Please read, comprehend and re-think what you said when you study up on BK’s sentence in his blog that goes, “Sounds like a pretty fair assessment, though I’m not sure I’m ready to predict the Dogs winning the division.”
Top Dog
May 17th, 2011
10:17 pm
DJ Shockley had the best stats of any QB in a single season and missed two games.
Top Dog
May 17th, 2011
10:24 pm
David Greene while sharing playing time with DJ Shockley 1 SEC Championship in three years as a starter
DJ Shockley 1 SEC Chanmpionship in 1 year as a starter.
Top Dog
May 17th, 2011
10:29 pm
“The winningest starting QB in college football history”. What the heck does that mean??? Especially win you are splitting playing time with the backup QB every game. Shockley is the QB that broke all the single season passing and scoring records at UGA.
Thomas Brown
May 17th, 2011
10:58 pm
Last Five (5) Years :
56-9 Ohio State
56-12 Florida
61-5 Boise State
55-10 TCU
54-15 Oklahoma
52-16 Virginia Tech
51-14 Southern California
50-15 LSU
50-15 Texas
50-15 BYU
50-15 Utah
49-16 Wisconsin
49-16 West Virginia
49-18 Alabama on the field
48-16 Oregon
48-19 Missouri
47-18 Penn State
46-18 Auburn
46-22 Hawaii
45-20 Cincinnati
45-21 Boston College
45-20 Texas Tech
44-21 Georgia last entire 5 years # 23 won/lost # 23. I vote Mark Richt.
Nub
May 17th, 2011
11:22 pm
DJ Shockley was a DFDawg and should be included on any list of the best Dawgs ….. He is the reason why we won a third SEC championship in 25 years…. He could have transferred but didn’t and remained loyal to UGA and for that we owe him the honor of being considered one of the best….. The kid had a heart for the red and black…. Unfortunately others don’t get the example he set….. And you know who I am talking about!!!! Woof
Still@theBAR
May 17th, 2011
11:49 pm
Nub is that the Nick Name your wife gave you on your wedding night?
If you like DJ then you must love Q. Carter and D. Pollack. They were ALL HEART and little talent.
Mr. Phelps
May 18th, 2011
12:07 am
Buck Belue, without him there is no national championship.
Still@theBAR
May 18th, 2011
12:50 am
Mr. Phelps without Buck’s 8 yrd pass to l Scott you are right. Buck did so much he threw a ball as far as he did from 2nd Base to 1st Base in a baseball game.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 18th, 2011
5:53 am
Joel,
Did your shift finish early today at the fast food joint or in your case, is it possible middle school let out early today? Don’t you have homework or a menu to memorize. Go away little boy.
Hmmmm.....
May 18th, 2011
6:14 am
ckgator,
Just had to comment on the “more players have come through Alabama and Florida in the last 40 years than Georgia in the last 80″. What the heck are you basing that on? It sure is hell isn’t fact. Take a look at at any NFL roster. There are more players by a land slide from GA than from Bama, and just as many as ones from FL. GA is a top five state in recruiting. Only behind Cal, FL, Tex, and maybe Ohio, as a matter of fact lately they could easily be considered #4. There are way too many shcools that rely on GA to stack their teams with talent, like Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, etc. and that’s just in the SEC. Speak of what you know, although it looks like it isn’t much.
dawgdip
May 18th, 2011
6:15 am
Walker was the best RB but Hines was the best all round player and boy can he dance.
Hmmmm.....
May 18th, 2011
6:25 am
As a matter of fact here is some proof.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-04-21-draft-database-cover_N.htm
It’s from USAToday.com. Florida actually doubles up GA, but considering there are 3 really major Universities and a few others with some talent like USF and UCF, there should be more. Just so happens if you look at that list, they finish almost exactly in the order I previously stated, Cal, Tex, Fl, GA, Ohio.
Falcon60
May 18th, 2011
7:19 am
Not a UGA fan at all but there have been an impressive number of outstanding players there during my life. I personally can’t see any reason why Scott Woerner wouldn’t be on this or any other list. I watched him play in high school (I graduated from Jonesboro the year after Scott) and he was a phenominal athlete. He should be on this list.
It Ain't Rocket Science
May 18th, 2011
7:32 am
Thomas Brown,
Statistics are not a teller of the future and can easily be manipulated. That is how many schools you have listed there? I think there are 164 div. 1 schools so why not list them all and see how that looks. Statistics are only an good indicator of something when it is a static analysis and things will not change. Other than that, they look good, waste blog space, and prove nothing. 2011 is a new year, with new players and new attitudes. Include 2011 in your statistical analysis after it is over and it could be completely different. What you have is a record of past performance. Not a tool to be used in forecasting future records or goals. Football, isn’t about forecasting based on past statistics.
Vince
May 18th, 2011
8:14 am
Thomas Davis—Mike Wilson.
lanier
May 18th, 2011
8:15 am
the great Pulpwood Smith
sTANLEY
May 18th, 2011
8:20 am
No one would have ranked Georgia high if they’d known of the Ealey & Harmon transfers.
Most of these pre seaosn rankings were done before this terrible news broke.
If the rumors about Hutson Mason turn out to be true, it could be worse than 2010.
chilidawg
May 18th, 2011
8:49 am
Not saying he should be in the top ten, but the last paragraph mentions Blue… If you are going to mention names that far down the list, Leonard Pope should be in there, too.
Mtn Dawg
May 18th, 2011
9:05 am
Athen’s own Andy Johnson.
Big Dawg
May 18th, 2011
9:48 am
Mike (Moon Pie) Wilson should be on this list- he not only was a great all-american, all-sec o-lineman, but a great pro as well. The rest look fine, we have had so many great players since 1967 that it is really hard to choose who the top ten were other than Herschel, David Pollack, Bill Stanfill, Champ Bailey and Terry Hoage in my mind.
Go Dawgs
Timbodog
May 18th, 2011
9:55 am
Shockley has to be in the top 10 as far as I’m concerned. Though he only started one season, he was incredible. And he was a great role model. Completely unselfish in that he never demanded to start or transferred (though he was certainly talented enough to start at many other schools).
Also, Champ has got to be higher than Pollack.
Coach Grohbo
May 18th, 2011
10:33 am
No one on your current roster except maybe your punter.
TenSped
May 18th, 2011
6:34 pm
Dennis Hughes is a MUST on this list!!
why not?
May 20th, 2011
10:24 am
Buzzy Rosenberg