Dawgs continue unlikely rise in preseason picks
Aaron Murray seems to be the key to optimistic preseason picks for Georgia. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
If this keeps up, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to keep my inner optimist from taking over.
I’m talking about another national college football preview picking Mark Richt’s Dawgs to win the SEC East in 2011, following on the heels of Phil Steele. This time it’s Athlon Sports, which sees Georgia winning the East and then losing to Alabama in the Georgia Dome.
The Athlon analysis of the conference sees the league’s balance of power remaining “tilted in westerly direction.” In the East, a return to Atlanta for the South Carolina Gamecocks is deemed “far from certain, especially with the ongoing drama with quarterback Stephen Garcia.” Meanwhile, Athlon notes that Richt “is probably one mediocre season away from unemployment. Fortunately for him, he has the horses to win the division, led by quarterback Aaron Murray, who has transitioned from question mark to lead Dawg.”
Georgia, Athlon says, “has perhaps the league’s top returning quarterback … a highly rated recruiting class and a favorable schedule.”
Of course, they do ask, “Has the SEC ever entered a season with less returning star power at quarterback? When a redshirt sophomore (Georgia’s Murray) is arguably the top returning QB, that says something.”
The final analysis is that “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.”
OK, definitely a bit underwhelming as votes of confidence go, but when you’re coming off a losing season getting picked to win your division is noteworthy. Even if it does look like an off year in that division.
What do you think, are Steele and Athlon just dazzled by Murray’s freshman numbers and the whole “Dream Team” thing, or are they on to something?
MASCOT SHOWDOWN
It’s a dog fight in SportsNation and EA’s “NCAA Football Traditions” voting as Georgia’s Uga and Tennnessee’s Smokey battle in the first round. As of this morning, Uga was in the lead with 52 percent of just over 30,000 votes tallied so far. You can cast yours here.
RINGING ENDORSEMENT
New UGA spot will focus on ringing the Chapel Bell. (University of Georgia)
Most UGA alums and fans I heard from thought last year’s low-rent spot promoting the university that aired during football television broadcasts was pretty embarrassing. So a group of alums, including some TV production professionals, decided to offer their services to come up with something better.
Thursday, a couple of hundred volunteers lined up in front of the UGA Chapel in Athens for filming on the commercial, which will show an endless line of students and alums lining up to ring the Chapel Bell. The promotional spot also will feature the song “Oh My Heart” by Athens’ own R.E.M., The Red and Black reports.
“What happened is, I think like a lot of Georgia alumni, I was disappointed with the UGA TV spot,” said alumnus Mike Martin, creative director of the commercial. “Rather than be a voice of criticism, I wanted to do something about it.”
Martin said R.E.M. agreed to have their song used in the UGA spot “because they love Athens so much and they wanted it to be a celebration of the University and the town of Athens.”
The new spot is scheduled to air Sept. 3 during the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game with Boise State.
Martin said many college commercials show generic images of professors holding test tubes and students throwing frisbees on campus. For the new video, however, they instead chose to showcase what makes the university and Athens special.
“We want people to choke up a little bit and be proud of being a Bulldog,” he said.
I’m getting a little verklempt already!
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405 comments Add your comment
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 17th, 2011
2:00 pm
Truth dawg where you at?
bitter "OLE" School dooley(aka vince)
June 17th, 2011
2:00 pm
allburn the usc of the sec————-lame kitten and jean sissyk——scum
Truth dawg
June 17th, 2011
2:01 pm
From SouthGADAWG88:— (Take a look at any coach in college football history…when you look at guy’s first 10 years coaching in a decent conference….very few would match Richt’s record.That’s a fact.)
Your right, but thats before CMR got a little arrogant and decided it wasn’t the great defenses that were doing all this winning….. CMR, Bobo, Callaway together cannot match the value of the defense that we had in BVG. When CMR gets this he will win agian, question is will he get it before he is fired? Hopefully yes because I for one love the guy! seriously….Im just tell the truth.
Still@theBAR
June 17th, 2011
2:01 pm
Atlanta87
But Richt coached Heisman trophy winning QBs and played in & Coached in MNC games. Richt was great at FSU. He will do the same at UGA right? Wait there was this guy named Mickey something on the sidelines too. What was his name? What was his job? That is right Mickey Andrews the DC. Richt had one of those but not now. Bobo isn’t as smart as Richt was when Richt was at FSU either. I have not seen Bobo get any better over the years.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 17th, 2011
2:01 pm
Truth dawg
I personally know someone who knows what goes on inside the program
It was Erk Russel who told Rict he better hire Van Gorder, Richt wanted his buddy all along and he finally got his wish, now thanks to his buddy he probably wont be employed by the end of the season
Oh well its about the program Coach Richt not you and your buddies
Truth dawg
June 17th, 2011
2:03 pm
North of ATL…yes the better football is in SGA, but there is one school I’m sitting at that drive the cart in our classification…I think you just figured out where I’m at.
defensive minded bulldog fan
June 17th, 2011
2:03 pm
when we were ranked #1 preseason our biggest obstacle was our schedule.which did not end pretty.I really believe we are going to have a sound football team.Offense wins games defense wins championships. todd grantham’s 2nd year we should lead the sec in defense. the one game that really scares me is mississippi state.however we can only play one game at a time’ and we have not even played one yet.
OldFan
June 17th, 2011
2:03 pm
They’re sure being dazzled by something, Bill, but I think it’s largely in comparison to the dullness of the other teams in the East. I haven’t bought into the championship, yet with early momentum it’s definitely possible. But if the Dawgs start out 0-2, all the air will be sucked out of these inflated predictions, and the biggest concern will be keeping the whole season from going flat. We, and the players, need a sense coming out of the blocks that this team is not last year’s team.
Atlanta87
June 17th, 2011
2:05 pm
Honestly @ RabidDawgFan 7-5, 8-4. But who knows we could go 14-0 again. We have Clemson, South Carolina, LSU, and UGA all on the road. I’d love 2-2 in those four games. Alabama at home, but they are Alabama so another tough game. Florida, who the heck knows. Returning 5 starters too. Going to be a tough season, but not impossible. Sound about right?
bitter "OLE" School dooley(aka vince)
June 17th, 2011
2:06 pm
every hatter now at there local wal-mart while shopping for a all-burn T-shirt
that says —save our trees in toomers corner——————-find employment—–just saying
Atlanta87
June 17th, 2011
2:07 pm
Still@theBAR
So are you pro or anti Richt?
RabidDawgFan
June 17th, 2011
2:07 pm
And about the height thing…guys get over it. How tall is Drew Brees? He’s a Super Bowl winning QB. He’s shorter than Murray. He’s only 6′0. The height of a QB has nothing to do with it. Murray is a fierce competitor, and his day will come when he lifts that trophy over his head. He’ll win us an SEC title, which is more than I can say for Stafford, Moreno, A.J. Green, etc and all the other great players that played after the David Greene era.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 17th, 2011
2:08 pm
It’s all conjecture really at this point…I know the makings of a strong team when I see one though.Tell you what….ANYBODY out there willing to make the argument that the 09 or 10 teams looked better heading into fall camp?
RabidDawgFan
June 17th, 2011
2:09 pm
@Atlanta 87, I say that’s about right. Now do you think your going to beat UGA in Athens this season?
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 17th, 2011
2:10 pm
I think our biggest obstacle in 08 was losing 18 starters off of the two deep that year…not the schedule.
bitter noose picker in L/A----(lower alabamma)
June 17th, 2011
2:11 pm
no spitting in public places——–yes that includes your home away from home ——wal-mart
—————————————————hahahahahahahahh—–pay for play –loooooossseeerr
how2fish
June 17th, 2011
2:11 pm
If we beat Boise we face USCe at home with a boatload of confidence, that could really make the difference and we could be off to the races for the East title..however until we win week 1 I’m waiting and hoping for the best. We have had a couple of down years and we have to prove that we can win not assume that we will.
Martin
June 17th, 2011
2:12 pm
No…I said…to fall UNDER YOUR DEFINITION of depth. Your skewed version….then you would have to wait. As of now..UGA has depth but not experience.
Saint Simons
June 17th, 2011
2:14 pm
((((((((((((((( 45 – 42 ))))))))))))))) hahahaha
Still@theBAR
June 17th, 2011
2:14 pm
Atlanta87
June 17th, 2011
2:07 pm
Still@theBAR
So are you pro or anti Richt?
Yes! Depends on what is happening.
Pago Pago Dawg
June 17th, 2011
2:19 pm
Oh boy, here we go again…another PRE-season #1 (winning the East).
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
June 17th, 2011
2:20 pm
Saint Simons
Willy Martinez is no longer here. Tech had their chance. When is your next BCS bowl appearance another 40 yrs or so right!
1eyedJack
June 17th, 2011
2:20 pm
Bill, release your mind. Enough with the negative waves. You write the Junkyard Blawg. You should be a full-blown, dyed-in-the-wool, Red & Black homer.
A lot of hand wringing over the offensive line. UGA will have at least two NFL draft choices on this line in Glenn and Jones and possibly three with Anderson. Gates will be improved and hopefully Burnett or Benedict or Houston can man the other guard. I don’t think that’s going to be such a big problem, barring injuries.
I’m optimistic at 10 wins.
The GnaT’s new TV spot will feature a student taking a beat down while he’s being robbed and stripped naked.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 17th, 2011
2:21 pm
Every season is different and has it’s own dynamics same as every game.I don’t know if losing to BSU would wreck the season….even losing the first two…VT lost to Boise State AND James Madison to start the season last year and won 10 straight.
tide roll
June 17th, 2011
2:21 pm
South Carolina’s offensive line is led by 6′4″ 340lb. offensive guard Rokevious Watkins out of Atlanta Creekside. Alabama’s offensive line is led by 6′3″330 lb.offensive guard Chance Warmack out of Atlanta Westlake, Tennessee’s offensive line is led by 6′7″320 lb. offensive tackle JuJuan James out of N. Gwinnett. Ole Miss. offensive line is led by 6′4″ 320lb.center A.J. Hawkins out of Atlanta MLK. There’s your depth, and it’s legitimate. Of course if you signed these athletes you might have reduced your chances to land Dabell, Dantzler, and many more great hopes, and we simply can’t have that, can we UGA fans? This is why you lose, and will continue to.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 17th, 2011
2:23 pm
Where are all the BSU fans?…tell me how you are going to beat us.
Atlanta87
June 17th, 2011
2:23 pm
@ RabidDawgFan All I can say about that is “I sure as Hell hope so” and that you can count on me being there. I’ll probably be able to give you a more definite answer on September 4th after I see how y’all play against Boise State. Probably going to be the 1 time I hope UGA wins.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 17th, 2011
2:24 pm
Tide Roll ..I say UGA has a better record than BAMA this year.How about that?
bitter noose picker in L/A----(lower alabamma)
June 17th, 2011
2:28 pm
there’s my noose picker———tolit bowl tide——–go kill some tree’s——–loooosssser
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
June 17th, 2011
2:31 pm
I’ll cast my judgements until the freshmen come in and through summer/autumn practices. then we’ll know whose healthy and whose looking good.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 17th, 2011
2:32 pm
I mean you guys had the great Saban as HC,the great Kirby Smart at DC,Julio Jones,Heisman winning back,the back up back is considered at worst the 2nd best back in the SEC this year,the return of the super monster LB who was supposed to be better than McClain and all that.I didn’t see you hoisting any trophies.What makes you think you will be BETTER this year?
waytogoRicht
June 17th, 2011
2:32 pm
Never been wowed by Murray, never seen him do anything significant. Have seen passes batted down and his trouble seeing over the line of scrimmage. I understand the quote”Richt is one more mediocre season from unemployment” . I think he is one more Florida loss from unemployment.
Of South Carolina, Florida, Auburn and Boise, South Carolina may be most winnable, but after Richt loses both the Boise and South Caroklina games, he will go ohfer against Florida(for the ninth time) and Auburn. He will prove himself to the coolaide drinkers that indeed Richt is a dud of a coach and it will be see ya later Richt.,
Martin
June 17th, 2011
2:35 pm
Richt cant go 0fer against Fla. he has beaten them twice
1eyedJack
June 17th, 2011
2:35 pm
Hey tootsie roll, are you a robot or just have limited brain capacity?
Jimmy Crack
June 17th, 2011
2:37 pm
Don’t sleep on South Carolina. That’s Garcia’s job.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 17th, 2011
2:37 pm
I miss BULLDAWG
1eyedJack
June 17th, 2011
2:37 pm
Enter your comments here
Martin
June 17th, 2011
2:37 pm
in fact…..Richt has a winning record against every team he has played more than once except Florida. (tied at 3-3 against LSU)
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 17th, 2011
2:44 pm
Fla is Richt’s red herring right now…I know Tenn was wearing us out before Richt got here though.
Bonds R Us
June 17th, 2011
2:45 pm
The bail bondsmen of Clarke County would be happy to sponsor the video!
Still@theBAR
June 17th, 2011
2:45 pm
Is it true the new Uga will be a female? It seems only Females can win Championships at UGA. Uga IX should be female in celebration of Title IX too. Call Uga IX Yonclan. That was the 2nd meanest coach in UGA history. She is only 2nd to Erk Russell in toughness.
1eyedJack
June 17th, 2011
2:46 pm
I’m just hoping ya’ll are getting some rain up there in Athens. I’d hate to have to paint the field.
1eyedJack
June 17th, 2011
2:47 pm
Who’s Yonclan?
Another one of those years
June 17th, 2011
2:48 pm
Boise State 56
Georgia 13
After USC, it will be bye bye time for Richt. Good riddance!
Still@theBAR
June 17th, 2011
2:49 pm
The ex-Gymnastics coach. How do you spell her name? You know the lady living in sin with the still married Leeburn.
1eyedJack
June 17th, 2011
2:54 pm
Yoculan
WDE
June 17th, 2011
2:55 pm
tide roll all that talent and the genius that is Saban all those wonderful position coaches and you ended up blowing a 24 point lead vs the Barn and ended 4th in the West..blather on big fella blather on.
RabidDawgFan
June 17th, 2011
2:55 pm
Boise state 56, UGA 13? Now does that even sound logical? Some people are really stupid. Seriously.
Still@theBAR
June 17th, 2011
2:56 pm
1eyedJack
June 17th, 2011
2:47 pm
Who’s Yonclan?
Sorry Yoculan. Had to look up the spelling but I guess you know who I was talking about.
WDE
June 17th, 2011
2:56 pm
@Another one of those years son you into the Smurf drink a little early aren’t you..win against a SEC team first then run that mouth.