Fan talk: Burning questions for spring, ending the Dogs-Jackets rivalry and more!
Getting Isaiah Crowell back on track is a top priority for UGA. (Associated Press)
If your bracket’s already broken, perhaps some spring football is just what you need! Mark Richt’s Bulldogs begin practice Tuesday and will hold 15 practices over a four-week period, winding up with the annual intrasquad G-Day Game at 3 p.m. April 14 at Sanford Stadium. If you’d like to check out the 2012 roster and other tidbits about the team, you can find the 2012 Spring Media Guide online here.
Now, let’s dip into some of this week’s Junkyard Mail. …
Ricky Pepper writes: Bill, it’s that time when all the sportswriters are trotting out their “burning questions” for the spring, so what do you think are the burning questions facing Mark Richt and his team? Mine mainly concern the running game and depth in the secondary.
I think you’re on the mark, Ricky. Boosting the running game is indeed a major item on Richt’s 2012 to-do list, and that involves not just seeing whether the addition of competition from Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley (when he arrives in the fall) spurs some mental and physical toughness on the part of Isaiah Crowell, but also how good a job Will Friend does replacing three starters on what was already an inconsistent offensive line. If Friend’s able to get improved OL play, that’ll also help Aaron Murray. And with two starters likely out for the first couple of games, developing some depth in the secondary is definitely the biggest task awaiting Todd Grantham’s defensive staff. Along those lines, a lot will be riding on how well Malcolm Mitchell handles a potential two-way role. Plus, there’s interest in seeing how Christian LeMay looks at backup QB after his redshirt year. And then there’s the need to revamp special teams, which thankfully appears to be a high priority with Richt this year, and not just because Georgia has to replace the starting punter and placekicker. I was encouraged that the head coach said recently that he’d brought in several NFL coaches to talk about special teams strategies and practices and that the Dawgs will devote more time to that this spring. And I like that he’s talking about loading up special teams with starters, though I think (hope) he was joking when he said he even told Murray “he may be covering kicks.”
VidaliaDawg writes: I was interested to see a discussion on one of the Nerds’ bulletin boards about whether Georgia Tech would be better off ending its every-year series in football with UGA. It appears some of their fan base, mainly younger ones, thinks Georgia has too many advantages in recruiting and the Jackets will never be able to get the rivalry back on an even keel, while the older GT fans can’t imagine not playing Georgia. Others said they want to keep playing Georgia but would rather it not be at the end of the season. Labor Day was mentioned as a good time for the two schools to play. I mentioned this to some of my UGA friends and they surprised me by saying they don’t consider the in-state rivalry a must any more and would rather give up Tech as a yearly rival than Auburn. Georgia not play Tech? That makes no sense to me! What’s your take on this?
I’m with you. I know some fans of both schools think the rivalry is not what it used to be, but for the most part in recent years the games have been close, exciting affairs, even if Georgia has won most of them, and the rivalry between the two schools is one of the most storied in college athletics. On the subject of moving the game, I know that has come up occasionally in recent years with the rise of conference championship games, but I don’t think that’s really a major problem. I can see how having the two schools open their seasons against each other might please the TV folks, but I really prefer to keep it as the regular season finale. As for having to drop either the Georgia-Georgia Tech or Georgia-Auburn rivalry, that’s a tough choice I hope UGA never has to make.
Justin Cade writes: Bill, As we all know, Rodney Garner is Georgia’s recruiting coordinator. However, I’ve noticed that most signees cite their relationships with Coaches Bobo, Grantham and/or Richt as being instrumental in their decision to sign with the Dawgs. Coach Garner’s name is hardly ever brought up unless it’s by a defensive lineman. I’m not suggesting that Coach Garner is doing a bad job, but rather just wondering what exactly his position as recruiting coordinator entails. Any idea?
From what I understand, the assistant coaches are the primary recruiter in their own area and Garner, as the coordinator (since 1998), simply oversees it all. If one coach is going to be considered the “point man” overall in recruiting, it’s Richt. He’s generally the one who closes the deal with recruits’ families.
Michael Foster writes: Which Dream Team members who were freshmen last year do you think will have the biggest impacts? I know Ray Drew’s name has been completely drowned out by the success of Jarvis Jones and the emergence of Cornelius Washington as a sure starter. When and how often will we see Drew? And Artie Lynch is projected to start at tight end. Is it realistic to think Jay Rome won’t see more than 50-50 playing time this year?
I’ll be surprised if both Ray Drew and Jay Rome don’t see considerable playing time this year, though I think perhaps Drew stands to see more reps early on. Of the other second-year Dream Teamers, everyone, of course, is hoping Crowell matures into the superb, game-changing back he showed flashes of last season (and that he manages to stay on the field more than last year). John Jenkins should have a big year on the defensive line and on the OL David Andrews may wind up as the starting center and Watts Danztler likely will see quite a bit of playing time. Mitchell will be a big performer, splitting time between offense and defense, and with Malcolm playing two ways Chris Conley might see more balls thrown his way.
Steve in Roswell writes: If you haven’t already done it, rank the games this year in order of difficulty. Personally I’m thinking the Mizzou road game Sept. 8th may be the toughest this season, but it would be interesting to read your perspective.
It’s kind of early to be handicapping the season, but at this point I’d say South Carolina definitely looks like the toughest game. Because Missouri is the conference opener and Georgia will be missing a couple of starters, that road trip could be the next toughest game. Florida in Jacksonville is always a challenge. After that, I’d say Auburn, Tech and Vandy would be the next toughest remaining games, with Tennessee possibly creeping into that group depending on how they do early in the season.
Norman Jones writes: Bill; I sat down in front of you (Row 46) for 36 years till I gave them up last year. Having to park futher and futher away, expense, and other interests finally got me to reluctantly let them go. I’m about your age and wondered what you think about these young bloggers who demand we challenge for a national championship every year and want Mark’s head otherwise. I want to win as much as anybody, but at what cost? We saw Vince field a few weak teams, but he always got us back on top and did it the right way. I think we have a coach now that is probably the envy of 90 percent of D-1 programs. I feel so lucky to have a coach who is such a class act that good kids want to come to Athens to play for. The what-have-you done-for-me-lately crowd drive me nuts, especially when they don’t have nearly the financial investment in the program us old timers do. Thanks for letting me vent.
I think those who were calling for Richt to be replaced after a couple of disappointing seasons should look at what has happened in Knoxville since Phil Fulmer was deposed.
Got something on your mind concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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245 comments Add your comment
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
1:10 pm
Paul in NH….you know UGa dropped the h-n-h with Oregon and replaced one of those games with the Loser in the DOME to Boise St.
Ghost
March 17th, 2012
1:11 pm
Still , I said replace Tech with quality OOC, , of all the teams you mentioned we also beat in the first match ups.Boise, Mich State, Colorado,Okie state Georgia football was down in 2009, terrible in 2010, and much improved in 2011, and 2012 will be better.
dawgfan
March 17th, 2012
1:11 pm
Oh here we go with the Bama and LSU references. Further proof that the UGA-Tech rivalry is totally meaningless. When discussing UGA football Tech fans are not Tech fans. They are fans of Bama, LSU, or any other school that can actually beat UGA. What is the point of this “rivalry” if Tech fans don’t even identify themselves as Tech fans when they talk about it? I see none.
Thanks.
Paul in NH
March 17th, 2012
1:12 pm
“Tech struggles to beat Duke”
Winning 8 in a row at an average margin of victory of 20 points is struggling?
Ghost
March 17th, 2012
1:12 pm
Still, You don’t want the 16 points?
dawgfan
March 17th, 2012
1:15 pm
Okay Paul in NH, fair enough. You’ve really owned Duke. How about this? Tech struggles to beat any team with a living breathing pulse. Virginia Tech owns you. We own you. Miami has made a complete mockery out of you the past 3 seasons. You cannot win a bowl game. You cannot even win at freaking VIRGINIA.
Tech is a total joke.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
1:17 pm
Ghost UGa might have the talent. Hell you had it and went 6-7 and 34-19 the last 4 years, but have not delivered with that talent. Maybe this could be the year, but you know how many time they last 32 years that has been said. The Issues are the O-Line and Bobo/Murray’s game day mistakes.
Paul in NH
March 17th, 2012
1:18 pm
OK dawgfan
I’ll see your Virginia and raise you one Colorado and one UCF
Ghost
March 17th, 2012
1:19 pm
Paul, I was doing the same thing people like still do , you only beat Duke by 7 points last year.
Tech average score vs tech during the Richt era is 31 -19 . And there have been times like 2011 when Richt could’ve run up the score or the games when UGA took a Knee for the last 1 while in tech territory.
Jacket99
March 17th, 2012
1:21 pm
I’m with you. I know some fans of both schools think the rivalry is not what it used to be, but for the most part in recent years the games have been close, exciting affairs, even if Georgia has won most of them, and the rivalry between the two schools is one of the most storied in college athletics. On the subject of moving the game, I know that has come up occasionally in recent years with the rise of conference championship games, but I don’t think that’s really a major problem. I can see how having the two schools open their seasons against each other might please the TV folks, but I really prefer to keep it as the regular season finale. As for having to drop either the Georgia-Georgia Tech or Georgia-Auburn rivalry, that’s a tough choice I hope UGA never has to make.
—————————————————–
I agree with Bill. I like the tradition and wish the teams were better to make it more relelvant nationally. Besides, if you dropped Tech from the schedule, you would have no reason to make your “We Run This State” signs anymore. They would have to say “We Beat GSU” or “Go Dwags!”.
Jacket99
March 17th, 2012
1:22 pm
relevant…doh!
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
1:25 pm
dawgfan you jumping on MIAMI for 3 years then USC has made YouGeeA their B. too right?
The DWAGS have feasted on the easy SEC teams. 2 D-1 OOC Cupcakes, Vandy, Kentucky, USC(typically), an Ole Miss or Miss St add Tech and uga should sleep walk to a bowl.
dawgfan
March 17th, 2012
1:33 pm
“I’ll see your Virginia and raise you one Colorado and one UCF”
I’ll see your Colorado, UCF, and whatever irrelevant crap you can come up with and raise you 10 wins out of the past 11 years Techie. You Tech fans simply do not get it. UGA has many faults. It just so happens that your total disgrace of a football program isn’t one of them. What in the world is so hard about this for you to understand? Use your calculators if it helps nerds. Good grief.
Georgia Tech=JOKE.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
1:37 pm
Do the Bulldogs have one of these? http://blog.roadandtrack.com/2012-dodge-challenger-srt8-yellow-jacket-2011-los-angeles-auto-show/
Gordon
March 17th, 2012
1:44 pm
There is a simple answer to the problem of having 14 teams, which is the root of the Tech/UGA problem. Most people on both sides would rather play the game if it didn’t mean giving up a rivalry in the conference, in UGA’s case Auburn. AD’s want 8 conference games because it gives them at least 7 and sometimes 8 home games. Simply get rid of the divisions. Each team has 3 permanent opponents that they play every year (in UGA’s case it would be Florida, Auburn, and someone else). The other 10 teams are rotated in 5 each every other year. The advantages are numerous:
1) 8 conference games for AD’s, which means at least 1 “interesting” non-conference game for fans.
2) You see every other team in the SEC at least once every two years, and at least once every 4 years in Sanford stadium.
3) The best two teams in the SEC would participate in the SECCG. This year it would have been Alabama/LSU. It would be almost every year a national semi-final (or quarter-final if we go to +1) game and be even bigger than it is.
4) Every team would get to keep its two biggest rivals. The third might be problematic, but remember you play everyone at least every other year.
Everyone should be happy with this setup. The divisions don’t make sense anymore (Missouri in the East?) anyway, and haven’t been around long enough to be considered that much of a tradition.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
1:44 pm
dawgfan…………so football is all you have and UGa is a JOKE.
Here is why we are not a joke and don’t have envy…………………………………………………………………
Students are not imagining it if they think it’s harder to get in to Georgia Tech.
Those admitted for next fall boast an average 3.9 GPA and a 1430 out of 1600 on the math and verbal SAT. By high school graduation these students would have taken an average of eight college-level courses, such as Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate.
About 14,700 students applied for one of the 2,400 spots for fall or the 250 spots for this summer. The admitted class represents 86 countries and 49 states. No one from Wyoming was admitted.
Only 1 in 4 — 24 percent – of entering freshmen in Georgia’s public four-year colleges get a degree within four years, according to a new database compiled by the Chronicle of Higher Education that looks at nearly every U.S. college.
Okay, time for bragging rights, but not much bragging. The University of Georgia has by far the best completion rate in four years — 51.3 percent, compared to just 35.1 percent for Milledgeville’s Georgia College and State University, No. 2 on the list. Georgia Tech is third-highest at 32.9 percent. Our regular students are real smart and have a hard time.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
1:49 pm
GORDON make it 10 Conference games and get rid of the 1 FCS game. I know but the SEC is too TUFF. Give me a break. I want to see games that are worth paying money to see. Paying $45 or more to see Troy or Ga Sou is a JOKE and the fans are screwed. To hell with the BSC and the MNC. They are jokes and not true Champions anyway. Play most of your Conference. Give your fans VALUABLE games for the MONEY spent. The REAL CHAMPS are the Conference Champions anyway. The rest is Writers, ESPN, and Computer FLUFF.
Jacket99
March 17th, 2012
1:52 pm
Hey Kool-Aid…that Challenger is a sweet ride, even if it is Mopar and not Ford. lol.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
1:59 pm
I know it is a nice looking hotrod.
Dawglasville
March 17th, 2012
2:21 pm
Still@theKool-aidBAR – for a guy who gets on the UGA blogs every day for the sole purpose of getting under Bulldog fan’s skin, it would appear that they got the best of you this time.
Dawg89
March 17th, 2012
2:29 pm
There is no longer a need to play Ga Tech. They simply are not in the same class as the SEC and the only purpose it serves is add validity to their season. Be honest, don’t you expect to beat Tech? Teams that you expect to beat don’t really matter. I would rather keep Auburn and remove Tech. There have been very few seasons where people expected UGA to be beat Auburn. Every year it’s a toss up. Hasn’t UGA beaten Tech 9 out of the last 10 times or something like that?
RT
March 17th, 2012
2:34 pm
Bill proved GTECH started the whole let’s stop the rivalry stuff.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
2:59 pm
@RT not at all check the dates on when this started. I know you can do simple math between February 9th and March 7th.
Dwag89 according to SEC fans NOBODY is in the SEC class. So playing Buffalo is the same class as the SEC? UGa fans just KNEW Boise St wasn’t in the SEC class neither is the Big 10 but look what happened. UGa risks losing to GT is possible but Colorado, Ga Sou, and Coastal Carolina is no risk. Well not 99.98% of the time.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
3:01 pm
Darn i hate getting ready for the tax man. Better to get started now then wait til the last minute. LOL
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
3:08 pm
Burning Question:
If UGa loses to Mizzou or 35:55minute Murray has a bad game how soon do you DWAG FANS want to see Mason or LeMay in the games to get practice and be ready to take the job?
dan
March 17th, 2012
3:09 pm
Tech isn’t much of a rivalry anymore, but then again is Auburn that much better? I mean I know they won the National Title in 2010. But do y’all realize that we have beaten them 5 out of the last 6 years by the average score of 34.3-21.3?
If tradition matters, then lets keep these two teams. But if it doesn’t, I’m fine with getting rid of both.
01HAWK
March 17th, 2012
3:30 pm
TIDE keeps on RISING !!!!!!!!!………………………Where is UGA in the discussion ?
Best start
> Luginbill’s take — Florida and Alabama are way out front. The differences are quantity and quality across the board. Alabama has focused on running backs, receivers, offensive and defensive linemen and tight ends. Florida has a couple of premier running backs and some big commitments on the defensive front. “Top to bottom, as far as talent is concerned, these two are a cut above,” Luginbill said.
> Bone’s take — Again, Florida and Bama lead the way. Florida has 10 commitments this year compared to four a year ago. One key commit is Daniel McMillian from Jacksonville, Fla., the nation’s No. 3-ranked middle linebacker. Top commitments for Alabama include five-star Georgian Reuben Foster, Autauga’s O.J. Howard and Huntsville’s Grant Hill.
> Shurburtt’s take — Alabama is the frontrunner with one of the nation’s premier early classes. “The Crimson Tide has struck early and often both in and out of state — Louisiana and Georgia have been good to Alabama,” Shurburtt said.
01HAWK
March 17th, 2012
3:42 pm
Oh how I remember UGA fans stating Boise State was not in the same class as UGA. That was not to long ago.
Boise does not play the same competition
Boise is to slow
Boise……………….If they played in the SEC they would be in OLE MRS, VANDY, and TENN class.
Boise plays in the WAC
I bet you can not remember now what was stated.
George Stein
March 17th, 2012
3:51 pm
Every single time a Georgia fan calls a Tech fan a nerd or dawgfan pops up (again) on the Tech blog or a Tech fan shows up here talking about silly arrests, it confirms that this rivalry is still very much alive. Anyone who disagrees lives in fantasyland.
Also, the “Tech started it” logic is better saved for third grade. Grow up already.
N.F.L
March 17th, 2012
3:57 pm
I think swann is a star in the making
Gator
March 17th, 2012
4:01 pm
O1 hawk, Boise plays in the Mountain West and had a senior laden team that played an almost perfect game against a very young Georgia team. They were the better team that day may ahve been a different outcome later in the year . If Boise played in the SEC week in and week out they wouldn’t win 10 games a season . A pathetic Tennessee team came withing a blocked field goal of beating bama not to long ago.Maybe bama will be able to keep FSU from signing 3 of its top six hS players in 2013.
Ghost
March 17th, 2012
4:08 pm
Still ,why so critical of a sophomore QB that was 2nd team all SEC, Murray made some terrible mistakes , but the good far outweighed the bad. He will be very very good in 2012.His stats weren’t padded against Coastal or New Mexico State, Georgia played against 6 of the top 40 defenses in the country last year.Still don’t want 16 points?
Dawg Bite
March 17th, 2012
4:25 pm
Gordon @1:44, what you posted makes too much sense, so it will probably not happen. Basketball in the SEC got rid of divisions, and I think that worked out fine as far as seeding went in the Tourney.Something needs to be done to get rid of these crappy games against the Buffalo’s ,Coastal Carolinas, etc. It is expensive to keep up with season tickets as it is without having to endure meaningless games. Whoever said it earlier, just seeing the bantering back in forth between UGA and GAT posters tells me the rivalry is still alive. Just ask some of us older folks that had to live through Tech’s domination when they won 8 in a row way back when. We still consider it a rivalry, maybe more so than the one with UF, where we have been dominated the past 2 decades. Keep Tech and Auburn, drop the annual scrimmages we have to keep playing that no one cares about.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
4:27 pm
Ghost…Murray could DOUBLE all his stats next year and still be 7-5 if he only plays GREAT against the crappy teams. Murray is 2nd right now because of what people know of QBs returning. Shaw could be a lot better and same with Bray. Murray could still be the Turnover machine he has been for 2 years. I just don’t think he is all that and a bag of chips. I don’t think he is the Key to the dwags winning but more like the Key to the dwags losing. Look at the QBs in the SEC that have won the BSC! For the most part they don’t make the plays as much as they don’t make mistakes. That can’t be said for Murry. He had more SEC experience by last year than the last 3 BCS winning QBs had in their careers. Hitch your Dwag House to Murray if you want. I don’t think he has what it takes. Best thing he can do is hand the ball off and throw maybe 10 passes a game.
Still@theKool-aidBar
March 17th, 2012
4:29 pm
Burning Question:
Why in the name of George Lucas would UGA drop Tech?
We suck something awful and can’t beat UGA for nothing!!!
I’m tired of it, I mean it’s basically like we start off every year 0-1.
I’m tired of seeing cleat marks on our players uniforms after every UGA game.
That’s why I love my PS3 and NCAA Football. I’ll put it on easy and straight crush UGA everytime!!!
So go ahead and drop Tech, nobody talks about us anyways, see if I care.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
4:41 pm
fake….Still@theKool-aidBAR
You seem to take an interest and feel like posting under other peoples names makes you special.
James Stewart
March 17th, 2012
5:14 pm
Enter your comments here
Dawg48
March 17th, 2012
5:23 pm
01 Hawk must have been drunk the last time Bama plated louisiana Monroe.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
5:30 pm
48 did you find the CAT?
Watch any of the race today?
Pago Pago DAWG
March 17th, 2012
5:31 pm
Can UGA at least win a Major Bowl befor 2020??!! This is sad..
daddo
March 17th, 2012
5:32 pm
I think the NCAA requires divisions or there can’t be a championship game. And if u don’t have divisions, no eastern team would ever qualify for the game, even if u could have one.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
5:41 pm
HELP WANTED: I’m a Tech fan
Burning Question: Why God, why was I born a Tech fan?
Another Burning Question: Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor?
Ed
March 17th, 2012
5:52 pm
I have a solution that will enable Georgia, Georgia Tech, and all other BCS teams keep their rivalry games – drop the joke scrimmages against the likes of Idaho State and Georgia Southern. Since every team seems to play at least two of these games a year, that will solve the problem. The fans hate these games and they artificially inflate won-loss records. It’s an advantage that old school coaches like Dooley never had, and apparently didn’t need. Every game should be a potential win or a potential loss, otherwise it’s not real football.
Dawg48
March 17th, 2012
5:54 pm
Still, no signs yet. I missed the race.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 17th, 2012
5:59 pm
You have one of the motion hunting cameras just watching the bait?
01HAWK
March 17th, 2012
6:01 pm
Dawg48……………………………..DUDE………………………..You lost to UCF and COLORADO………………………………….PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
1980 was so 32 years ago
Dawg48
March 17th, 2012
6:01 pm
Yea, like the guys have on Monster Quest.
01HAWK
March 17th, 2012
6:03 pm
Gator………………………….Who cares which conference Boise St plays in………………………….All I know is that UGA fans were putting Boise State down very badly and it blew up in their face.
Dawg48
March 17th, 2012
6:04 pm
Hawk scat. Did I say ant thing about 1980?
Dawg48
March 17th, 2012
6:05 pm
Louisiana Monroe is a worse loss moron.