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
Vick=Dog killing Thug
June 17th, 2011
4:58 pm
I think it will all lie on the D as the offense will struggle. I like Murray and admire his guts but until I see that he wont Choke in the big games, well he’s not a gamer. Dawgs have a lot of holes to fill but I’m behind them 100%
GA Sandlapper
June 17th, 2011
5:16 pm
No one really has any idea what is going to happen in the East this year. I cannot wait for September 10th to get here!!
jasont13
June 17th, 2011
5:22 pm
@ This Dawg Want Hunt.By your accounts, South Carolina should have fired Spurrier about 4 years ago right?
jasont13
June 17th, 2011
5:25 pm
Funny how people say defense wins championships, but as soon as you do not win its the offenses fault. UGA scored over 20 points in three of their 7 loses, unfortunately the defense gave up over 20 points. If the defense was worth a crap last year there is three wins. Easily could have been 9-4, if the defense does its job and plays better.
fpice
June 17th, 2011
5:39 pm
Still got Mark Richt coaching.
Paul in RDU
June 17th, 2011
5:40 pm
Last week it was Phil Steele and this week it is Athlon. Neither of these 2 publications have a good track record when it comes to their preseason forecast of UGA
2010 Athlon preseason 15 Steele 19 Final AP NR
2009 Athlon preseason 14 Steele 13 Final AP NR
2008 Athlon preseason 5 Steele 9 Final AP 13
Paddy
June 17th, 2011
5:40 pm
I have not felt ferklempt since Pat Boone sang with Sandra Dee. What memories!
Les Miles = winner; CMR = not so much
June 17th, 2011
5:44 pm
same thing every year…pathetic fan base will run with any hint of positive news, only to be crushed at years end. Liaten, ya startin’ 0-2…accept it now and avoid the pain later, losers…
Swamp Dawg
June 17th, 2011
5:47 pm
Anyone who says that we do not know what is going to happen has not drunk their Kool Aid today. And you know what that leads to? That’s right! Free Thinking and no one wants that!
Senator Blutarsky
June 17th, 2011
5:49 pm
If you take out all the winning teams we went against last year (Auburn, SC, Miss St, Florida, UCF)
UGA was ranked #1 in turnover margin, which is TERRIFIC!!!!
True, we were ranked LAST against winning teams in TO margin,
but #1 against LOSING TEAMS IN turnover margin for 2010!!!!!!
Delbert D.
June 17th, 2011
5:50 pm
Paddy – Sandra Dee…hit me right in the heart with that post. Where are my nitroglycerin pills?
Senator Blutarsky
June 17th, 2011
5:51 pm
MARK RICHT WENT 6-1 AGAINST LOSING TEAMS LAST YEAR!!!!!
6-1 BABY!!!!!!
Senator Blutarsky
June 17th, 2011
5:51 pm
MURRAY GREAT VS. LA LAFAYETTE!!!!
ugakev
June 17th, 2011
6:00 pm
les miles, just shut your mouth nobody in the bulldawg nation gives a crap what you think. But you obviously care what we think or you wouldnt be trying to get a rise out of us with the nonsense you speak in a uga blog. Your pathetic and make the entire lsu fan base look stupid. Are you still sour over
the 52 pts we put on you in your house? pathetic! stop embarressing yourself and just go ride off on one of your airboats down in your swamp.
gt4ever
June 17th, 2011
6:01 pm
This article is so Funny! Please rank UGA number 1, please…… All these delusional Dawg fans can gloat until, well, they start the season….. UGA win the SEC east… What a JOKE! The articles were probably written by Journalism graduates from UGA…..
dmr
June 17th, 2011
6:01 pm
It wasn’t too long ago a Georgia team was ranked Preseason #1. Preseason doesn’t mean a thing. If these coaches don’t remind these players to ignore all the media hype, they will be trying to wipe away the memories of another awful season. The game is played on the field and nowhere else.
Delta Stewardess
June 17th, 2011
6:02 pm
If Murray is the best we have at QB we could be in trouble.
Blue & Orange?
Why those colors again?
The Vols, Auburn, Florida, and the METS. I can’t stand Orange and Orange and Blue even more.
Delta Stewardess
June 17th, 2011
6:07 pm
I hope J Taylor has a nice night at Turner Field. maybe the weather will be good. I hope people will give the rangers a standing Ovation when they take the field just for Drafting J Taylor.
rs
June 17th, 2011
6:14 pm
Bulldogs will be fine.Finally the defence will have players to do justice to the 3-4.Last yr.it was the defense not the offense that lost a lot of those games.Also a lot of players are going to step up.
This Dawg Want Hunt!!
June 17th, 2011
6:30 pm
Southga, you are in total denial. If you don’t think Fulmer and Tuberville beat Richt regularly, your cool-aid tastes even better than most UGA fans. You must not remember when Tubs ran all over Richt’s defense, and he told Richt in order to win in the SEC you have to be able to run the damn ball. Well Tubs knew it, and he still got canned, your savior Richt still hasn’t grasped that concept, and the clown is still in Athens. This clown and his Boy BooBoo have no clue of how to develop a running game, and that’s why they will never, and i mean NEVER win another SECC. Too many good coaches in the league now, Saban, Miles, Spurrier, Dooley, Cheesestick, that all understand that simple concept, but the idiot Richt and his hand picked O.C. haven’t figured it out yet. Hell even Muschamp at Fl. understands that, he has to, he played under Dooley. Go drink your cool-aid, and get back to me after the first two games, by then even your cool-aid will be sour
AltamahaDawg
June 17th, 2011
6:39 pm
wow cool-aid 3 times in one post. and some name calling. Too bad you couldn’t have worked in “clown” one more time. That would have really proven how smart you are.
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 17th, 2011
6:40 pm
OZ,
I think you need to be in Kansas, along with the tin man because he also was missing a brain. How many times can you repeat the same thing? Man, you are about as original , well, ummmm, shoot I can’t think of one thing you are original at.
Richt`s Hammer
June 17th, 2011
6:47 pm
I think I am going to throw up.
I can`t win 6 games and beat Florida too. It is just not right.
Win P.
June 17th, 2011
6:47 pm
Until UGA can “beat” Florida,they will be remain a could have..should have, but didn’t team.
Swamp Dawg
June 17th, 2011
6:49 pm
This Dawg Want Hunt!! = This Dawg Won’t Hunt!!?
Richt`s Hammer
June 17th, 2011
6:50 pm
If the heaven`s part and I win the sec east, bama will put 50 on choakdawg and murray will be in the hospital. Woe is me.
AltamahaDawg
June 17th, 2011
6:51 pm
And while we are on that subject…..can you grown men, please try to express your opnion without saying kool-aid every third post? is that possible? I’m sorry, I just think a person of even modest intelligence could do something besides repeating some worn out ,over used, cliche’ every time. Thats would embarrass me if i couldnt come up with something better. but thats just me.
And for the goodness sakes, want hunt, at LEAST understand the use and relavance of the term. Clearly you don’t even know what it means.
Let's take a quiz
June 17th, 2011
6:51 pm
1. How many SEC schools, outside of Florida, have a winning record against Mark Richt?
2. Who is considered the top young QB in the SEC?
3. What do Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden, Nick Saban, John Wooden, and Coach K have in common?
4. What is considered the premier college town in the SEC? (this is a slam dunk no one should miss)
Answers:
1. ZERO
2. Aaron Murray
3. For their first ten years as a head coach, none had as good a winning percentage as Coach Richt.
4. Athens
Swamp Dawg
June 17th, 2011
6:55 pm
“And for the goodness sakes, want hunt, at LEAST understand the use and relavance of the term. Clearly you don’t even know what it means.”
Obviously not. Please explain.
This Dawg Want Hunt!!
June 17th, 2011
6:58 pm
Great comeback Altamaha, too bad you can’t debate the facts. Funny thing dude, i may have cool-aid in my post, but i don’t drink it like you and all these other brainwashed UGA fans. I went to Knoxville the last 4 trips and watched your wonderful coach get his ass whipped, and i saw his unprepared team get embarrased by Bama in athens, and i watched his team give up 50 to Tenn. in athens, and i watched Kentucky beat his unprepared team in Lexington, and in Athens, and i have watched his pathetic coaching staff get their asses handed to them 8 out of 10 years in Jacksonville. so unless you can defend this clown and his staff. then you are the clown for thinking he will turn this program around. Maybe if i put clown in my post more often, you will get the picture. By the way, for any clown that thinks UGA is better than South Carolina, i have a few facts for you. S.C has depth at running back, wide receiver, O.L., D.L, Linebacker and Secondary, especially the saftey positions, something that Richt and his wonderful stafff doesn’t , due to their lack of recruiting by need. Keep drinking the cool-aid, and keep reading rivals, because that’s all that Garner and RIcht do.
Beast from the East
June 17th, 2011
7:07 pm
Let’s take a quiz,
1. I’ll take your word for that. But I can think of a couple of schools outside the SEC that do (UCF, Colorado, Okie State, Boston College, WVU)
2. Tyler Wilson at Arkansas
3. They all won multiple National Championships.
4. GAINESVILLE!!!!!! (but opinions vary, LOL!)
It Ain't Rocket Science
June 17th, 2011
7:08 pm
Roper,
It is kind of unfair to compare Tebrow and Newton and say other QB’s in the league or specifically UGA should have the qb running. Tebrow and Newton were rather big kids compared to most teams QB’s. LeMay is even lighter than Murray, so I can’t see him getting 1000 yards rushing no matter what. I don’t believe Alabama had a running QB and they won the MNC. Athletes like Tebrow and Newton do not come along that often. I really don’t even see any 2012 recruits that measure physically to these two coming in at QB. QB’s usually run when they WR’s are covered or a play is broken. A good pocket passer can be just as productive as a running QB.
SHANKIT
June 17th, 2011
7:20 pm
Buckeye
I had a Buckeye tree in my neighbor’s yard, that every time a good
little storm would come thru, it would blow these ol’ nuts in my pool.
I don’t know if I had rather have a Tennessee Coon Hound howling all
night, or a Buckeye nut tree next to my pool.
Both Suck.
Ramblin' man
June 17th, 2011
7:23 pm
I bleed old gold and white, but I hope they are correct. I’d LOVE to see UGA win the SEC East (In fact aanyione other than Darth Visor or the Jort-wearing swamp-dwellers!). However, I think 1 word sums up why it won’t happen: Bobo. He is way too predictable to be competitive in the SEC. As far as players go, ya’ll are just fine — even on the OL and at WR. Talent has NEVER been an issue for UGA. Coaching and motivation however are another story. I really like CMR and think he is a good man (and remember, I’m a TECH grad!), but he’s got to drop the gimmicks and truly inspire his team this season or he will be coaching elsewhere next season, and that would truly be a shame.
Good luck and best wishes to The Dawgs —– until that last game in November anyway!!!
I think both programs are flying under the national radar at the moment, but both are going to have a few surprises for some opponents next season!
Still@theBAR
June 17th, 2011
7:26 pm
no way
Still@theBAR
June 17th, 2011
7:27 pm
Let’s take a quiz?
#1. Since the SEC east goes through Gainesville (Jacksonville for the Dawgs) the only team Richt needs to have a winning record against is The GATORS.
#2. Hahhaha 13 games played and lost 7 of them. That is the BEST the SEC has to offer at QB Really?
#3. All those coaches you mentioned have National Championships too. So Richt will win the MNC @ UGA?
#4. That depends on who you ask.
I score 100%
tar and feathers party
June 17th, 2011
8:07 pm
You ugly mutt reporters always have ugag winning the national championship in the preseason, only to have your butts handed to you in the regular season. Journalism should not be a college major, trade school material only.
AltamahaDawg
June 17th, 2011
8:07 pm
Reallty what depth does SC have at DL and LB? Or RB for that matter?
Dr Stu Green ...
June 17th, 2011
8:20 pm
Articles like these are what make soooo many of you Dawg fans DELUSIONAL! i.e. DDFs (Delusional Dawg Fans). As this keeps up (if any of you dumbarses were trolling mag-racks) – you’ll see Lindy’s ALSO has UGA ranked in the Top 16 (#16). And, mark my words here NOW (6/17) …… 99.421% of you DDFs will be swearing GA goes 11-2, 12-1 or…or, yes 13-0. I’ll bet my life on it.
Here’s a pretty good prediction for you DDFs:
UGA will win more than ONE game, and LESS than ELEVEN. And if, IF UGA wins the SEC East don’t go beating you chest thinking it’s some great accomplishment ….. the one thing these mags are getting correct is that the SEC East is pretty much a joke in 2011. It’ll be like being the tallest midget!
GA wins 10 (and no more) if they start 2-0. 7 or fewer if they start 0-2. Bet your mortgage on it.
AltamahaDawg
June 17th, 2011
8:30 pm
SC was subpar at safety last year and they are hoping some true and RS freshman can help. Is that your idea of especially deep?
AltamahaDawg
June 17th, 2011
8:34 pm
Georgia has signed what, 7 db in the past 2 years. 3 of whom were in the top 10 State of Georgia players at any position. Is that your idea of not recruting for that “need”?
AltamahaDawg
June 17th, 2011
8:42 pm
SC has a great RB, but this depth you speak of, tell us what you know of Miles or Baker, and why you like the depth they add. Was it the 162 yrds between them last year?
Q&A
June 17th, 2011
8:42 pm
Q: What does Coach Richt’s hair and UGA’s BCS hopes have in common?
A: They’ve both faded away.
Dawgbreath
June 17th, 2011
8:45 pm
0-2 most likely and then the pressure will be on. SC has too many weapons and have built a lot of depth at just about every position. Then there’s the man child Clowney. Spurrier will lay more misery on Bulldawg nation.
AltamahaDawg
June 17th, 2011
8:45 pm
Haven’t looked up that depth at LB and DL yet? Is the search for anyone in college football actually listing that as a strength and not thier biggest weakness slowing you down?
G8tor Lover
June 17th, 2011
8:46 pm
The dawgs will be a nice little hors d’oeuvre this year for the hungry Gators.
As always.
AltamahaDawg
June 17th, 2011
8:46 pm
want hunt? facts, debate?
Ya'll are funny (you UGA people)
June 17th, 2011
9:25 pm
Just sayin….
1962 DAWG
June 17th, 2011
10:03 pm
Facts are,
1. Murray will be just fine at QB and will be a team leader.
2. Boykin will be a leader on the D side of the ball.
3. Todd Grantham’s 3-4 D will be much improved over 2010. remember Saban’s 1st year at Bama with the 3-4 was a total loss.
4. No off-field issues so far this spring shows much improvement for not only our players but that our coaches are doing a much better job as well.
We may not win the east but, our chances of having a much improved season looks promising.
For all you bashing Arron Murray, He never lost a single game for UGA last season, and for anyone thinking that he’s he player responsible for losing the Florida game.
He’s not. If you’ll remember correctly he’s the reason we made it to overtime!! Not the reason we lost.
Cmon man
June 17th, 2011
10:06 pm
Spurrier just kicked a cb off of the team today for an alcohol related issue yet he gives garcia 5 chances! And you people talk bad about cmr!