Fan talk: Which would you rather have, a win over Florida or the SEC East title?

Welcome to Saturday. Three weeks from today Mark Richt’s boys will tee it up in the Georgia Dome against the Broncos.

If you didn’t order tickets to that game before it sold out and didn’t sign up for the season tickets that arrived in mailboxes this week but you still hanker to see the Dawgs play this season, you’re in luck.

A limited number of tickets to three of Georgia’s home football games — Coastal Carolina on Sept. 17, New Mexico State on Nov. 5 and Kentucky on Nov. 19 — will go on sale to the general public beginning Monday, August 15, at 9 a.m. All tickets are $45 and can be purchased online or by calling the Athletic Association ticket office 1-877-542-1231.

All single-game tickets ordered will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis and mailed within 10 days of the order being submitted, the athletic association says.

Meanwhile, I went to the funeral for a longtime dear friend’s mom in Athens Friday, and it was a lovely service. It was, of course, a typical Athens funeral in that the first words I heard from one of the surviving sons were … “What about Richt?”

You gotta love Athenians and their 24/7 devotion to UGA.

Speaking of Athens, I’ll be over there a couple of days while I’m off on vacation next week (with my fingers crossed in hopes that by the time I return Georgia will have a healthy tailback in good standing). But before I go let’s clear out some Junkyard Mail. …

Our old pal Cuz wants me to ask Bulldog fans which they’d rather have, a win over Florida or winning the SEC East. Says Cuz: “Tough one for me because I, like you, remember the total domination we used to have over the Gators. I went to maybe seven JAX games before Florida won one. We were dumbfounded, then just started laughing at the Florida fans who went out of their gourds. Now I understand. But to me, winning the East has got to be the most important step for this team and for Coach Richt. Both would be wonderful, but if I have to choose one, it will be winning the East.”

I have to agree, Cuz. As much as I would love for Georgia to beat Florida this season (and if not this year, when?), I’d much rather have the Bulldogs returning to the Georgia Dome on Dec. 3. I hated the losses to the Gators in 2002 and 2005, but I wouldn’t have traded winning the East for a win in Jacksonville either year.

Dawgtired writes: I’m sending this in hopes that you will unveil the scam Boise State is trying to pull on America. Their plight has been well documented regarding the “little man” being denied a chance to win the national championship in the current BCS system. I despise the BCS system not because it keeps the “little man” down, but because it doesn’t allow more teams to settle it on the field of play. This brings me to the Boise scam. No one argues that BS is a good team. I feel they are talented and extremely well coached. Much has been said about their success recently against the “big boys.” No dispute from me. However, while many naysayers point out that BS would struggle in a major conference, the grind of a long season is only part of the explanation. You see, BS’ success should be credited to the genuis athletic director for scheduling these games with the big boys. Nothing to lose and everything to gain for the program. Much has also been made about BS really only having to win ONE tough game to go undefeated each year. But let’s look closer. Yes, they have beaten Oregon twice, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech and TCU. Each of those wins had the same thing in common. BS was smart enough to schedule these as opening games of the season or they were bowl wins. Each allowed at least 4 weeks to scheme and prepare. Some allowed 8 months prep time. This year UGA draws BS in the season opener. BS coaches and players know that their season and respectability depends on winning this game. Is there any doubt they have been preparing for 8 months? UGA on the other hand is more concerned about the SEC title. Please someone, ANYONE, schedule Boise in the middle of their season or late in the season when they can’t devote every hour of prep to you! May John Jenkins welcome Kellen Moore to his senior season. Thanks, Bill.

You make an interesting point, though I should note that Gene Bleymaier, Boise State’s “genius” athletic director and the father of the Smurf Turf, was fired this week in relation to the school’s NCAA troubles. But while I think, yes, Richt and his staff probably are (and should be) more concerned with the SEC schedule than anything else, UGA scheduled Boise State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game for a reason … to regain the national football spotlight. I think the Dogs are taking the Broncos plenty seriously and certainly hope they’ve also put the past few months to good use.

Big Bad Brad writes: Bill, what’s your take on Texas A&M and SEC expansion? I don’t really see why everyone’s getting so excited about the prospect of the third- or fourth-best Texas program joining the best college football conference. I think the SEC is just fine as it is. You?

I think the SEC should add schools only if it can expand its footprint and add television markets and revenue. While the Aggies may not be the top program in their state, they’re the one that would fit best with the SEC West and adding A&M would get the conference into a key television market. So if they want to join up, I think the SEC should take them. Now, who else should be added to balance the league? A lot of folks like Florida State, and the Seminoles are certainly a marquee program, but I think a more valuable addition to the SEC would be Virginia Tech, which would get the conference into the D.C. TV market (where, my son notes, conference games currently aren’t available). I wrote about this subject last year when the SEC and A&M were flirting, and you can read those discussions here and here and here.

Got a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.

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