An ESPN-fueled buzz gathers around the Georgia Bulldogs
Isaiah Crowell hasn't played a collegiate down but casts a long shadow. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
More and more folks are thinking warm thoughts about the Georgia Bulldogs, and some of those folks work for ESPN. (Which makes their thinking significant, given that ESPN runs the part of college football Mike Slive doesn’t.) Citing cases:
• Bruce Feldman of ESPN Insider lists Georgia as his No. 8 best-value choice to win the BCS title. (Link requires registration.) Not the SEC East, not even the SEC — the BCS.
By “value,” he means getting long odds in Las Vegas on a team that has a legitimate shot. Feldman notes that Georgia opened at 40-1 to take the BCS but is down to 25-1 already. Feldman’s rationale for including UGA:
If the Dawgs were still at 40-1, they’d probably be a spot or two higher on this list. I’m on record as picking them to win the SEC East. I expect QB Aaron Murray to emerge as a star and for Isaiah Crowell, the nation’s top-rated RB recruit, and a healthy Caleb King to boost one of the SEC’s worst running games. They have talent on the defense, and it’s Year 2 in Todd Grantham’s 3-4 scheme.
• Esteemed former colleague Mark Schlabach, also of the worldwide leader, has Georgia rated 17th in his post-spring Top 25. That’s up one spot from his post-Signing Day ranking, but the bigger news lies elsewhere. Schlabach now places the Bulldogs ahead of South Carolina, which he drops from 15th to 19th.
See, Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia has been suspended again. Which leads us to …
• KC Joyner, also an ESPN Insider, puts Garcia’s presumed replacement Connor Shaw atop his list of shaky spring game performers. (Link requires registration.) I’m not sure how much weight should be placed on any spring game, but Joyner studied film and graded Shaw poorly.
All of which reinforces a notion that has been stirring these past couple of months: The team that finished 2010 by losing to Central Florida will enter 2011 as a team with buzz attached to it. Part of this has to do with the Dream Team. Part has to do with Georgia’s schedule: No Alabama, no LSU, no Arkansas — plus South Carolina and Mississippi State and Auburn at home. A bit of it has to do with Garcia and the Gamecocks.
Add it up, and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see the Bulldogs considered the favorite to win the East by the team SEC Media Days arrive. And I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see them actually go out and do it.
By Mark Bradley
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652 comments Add your comment
Bodda Getta
May 12th, 2011
12:04 pm
I see a lot of UGA fans whining about “trolls”.
The truth is that SEC fans come here to get a few laughs, because no other football program in SEC history is a bigger joke than Georgia is right now.
The same thing happened on al.com when the Dubose / Frannie / “Its Rollin’ Baby” / Probation / Shula / Phyllis era was in full bloom. It eventually ended for Alabama.
Now that Georgia has its own Shula with a Butt Cut and recently had its own Dubose as an Athletic Director, the opportunities for humor here are endless.
Pardon the pun, but just “Roll” with it dawg fans!
This phase will likely end when you change coaches next year.
Bronco Billy
May 12th, 2011
12:06 pm
Boise State 67, UGA 14.
That should end all the crap talk.
GeoffDawg
May 12th, 2011
12:07 pm
Bronco Billy, this isn’t Idaho. Posting a fictional game score doesn’t usually count as the final word.
1eyedJack
May 12th, 2011
12:07 pm
Bronco Billy, that is crap talk and it appears to be coming from a true crap talker.
Paul Winchell
May 12th, 2011
12:08 pm
Ealey and King should start a ventriloquist act together. I’m just not sure which one will be the dummy.
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
May 12th, 2011
12:09 pm
HT
Are you rooting for the TEAM to win, which will result in a contract extension?
OR
Are you rooting for our team to lose badly and Richt to get fired?
Richt is the coach in 2011 like it or not.
Dawglasville
May 12th, 2011
12:11 pm
Cant stop laughing – I understand that this is not English class and that it is all in fun. In my humble opinion I think it is vile to call another man, who I’m willing to bet you don’t know, illiterate. I think it screams of racism.
Herbie HamHocks
May 12th, 2011
12:13 pm
How in the heck are you going to motivate your offensive lineman !? There’s no depth! No one to push the starters! Richt and bobo should be replaced simply for letting it get to this stage. An earlier blogger stated Uga lost Boling, Chris Davis, and Josh Davis to graduation. Kevin perez, Jonathan Owens, Tanner Strickland, and Ben Harden to attrition. Trinton Sturdivant to injury. and apparently A. J. Harmon to academics. To top it off, Richt and Bobo go out and bring in the 9th rated offensive line class in the conference ! And last night Richt told the Greenville Bulldog club that Benedict’s knee was not fully rehabbed. Are you kidding me! Why doesn’t Mcgarity look at this and voice concerns? The situation with the offensive line borders on negligence and exposes the indifference of Richt and Bobo that continues to cost the program. These issues were reasonably forseeable and could have been avoided by a coaching staff with an ounce of motivation! By the way, thank you for Jason Peacock, our 6′6″ 330lb. starting left tackle from Milledgeville, Ga. PIG SOOEY, RAZORBACKS !!
So Sad
May 12th, 2011
12:13 pm
It’s kind of sad to see all the Dawg fans getting so excited this year (just like the year before, the year before that, etc.). How long is it going to take for UGA fans to realize that UGA is simply no longer relevant in the SEC? In the national picture, UGA isn’t even a blip on the radar, and hasn’t been since the preseason #1 ranking three years ago.
Sit back and be grateful for the six or seven wins you’ll get every year. Coaching genius Mark Richt may take you to 8-4 or even 9-3 occasionally, but other teams will still win the SEC, meaning no BCS bowls and no top 10 final ranking. Most years, UGA will be very lucky to finish in the top 50, and only after a big bowl win over a nobody opponent.
It’s a different world now, and Dawg fans need to adjust their expectations downward to reflect reality.
Unfortunately nothing is going to change until UGA changes its mediocre coaching. That’s where the difference is, and that’s why everyone outside Dawgtard Nation just laughs at Dawg fans getting so excited year after year about what a great recruiting class UGA gets. It doesn’t matter how many blue chip high school players go to UGA, they simply don’t get the coaching they would get at Florida or Alabama, to name two schools whose programs are far ahead of UGA. And that’s not going to change as long as Mark Richt is in Athens.
UGAgrad92
May 12th, 2011
12:14 pm
Boise State? You half to be joking – talking trash to UGA.
First, our football tradetion speaks for itself – 5 national championships. How many does your “school” have?
Second, we could win a championship almost every year if we let in all the players that want to play for us. Its just that our school classes are to hard so we have higher standards than most schools – like Boise State.
We will beat you down so hard you won’t ever want to leave your little po-dunk, red neck state again.
Ted Striker
May 12th, 2011
12:15 pm
I’m just glad your column doesn’t require registration.
dawgster12
May 12th, 2011
12:17 pm
King is not ineligible.
Wait a Minute
May 12th, 2011
12:18 pm
I think we will win the East and make a run at the BCS Championship. ESPN only confirms what I believe.
Herbie HamHocks
May 12th, 2011
12:19 pm
You offensive line problems were forseeable and could have easily been avoided by a coaching staff with a modicum of motivation. How is richt going to motivate the starters? There’s no depth, no one to push them, What a mess. What a program
kb
May 12th, 2011
12:20 pm
Bronco Billy , 48-13 be competitive then talk.Seem to remember the same crap talk in 2005.
UGAgrad92
May 12th, 2011
12:22 pm
One More Thing Boise Staters,
Shut up and go tend to your sheep before you make me mad
89Dawg
May 12th, 2011
12:24 pm
In response to the earlier post from “SanMarco”…you made one valid point in your 3 paragraphs of hatred for UGA…you stated that Dawg fans should perhaps lower their expectations…so while that may be good advice, True Fans start every season believing this will be the year…. and two mediocre seasons will not erase the overall consistency shown (and therefore envy invoked) by the previous 8….I guess other programs should consider themselves to be as “Lucky” as you put it, to have the following results:
FINAL AP RANKINGS for UGA
‘08 13
‘07 2
‘06 23
‘05 10
‘04 7
‘03 7
‘02 3
‘01 22
FLA DAWG
May 12th, 2011
12:25 pm
Dawgs being picked to win The SEC East !?
Now I know we’re in trouble. Remember the last time we were picked to win big?
Yeah, last year in preseason!
By the way, I noticed Feldman had nothing to say about our O Line. How will Isiah & Caleb run win no holes to run through?
I hope these ESPN guys are right but they are so often wrong it is not reassuring.
Now Vegas is a different story. These guys are uncanny in their predictions. An improvement from 40 – 1 to 25 – 1 to win The BCS is interesting. But 25 – 1 are still long odds. I wonder what the Vegas odds are of The Dawgs winning The SEC East and The SEC? Anyone know?
Gatorzone
May 12th, 2011
12:29 pm
Hey, good luck Dawggies… But, with your recent past expectations vs. results with Richt… I wouldn’t book my tix to the championship game just yet…
Oh, and you do still have to play Florida and South Carolina… Right?
Yellow Fuzz
May 12th, 2011
12:30 pm
Pass the Koolaid please
Herbie HamHocks
May 12th, 2011
12:32 pm
Petrino is said to be very pleased with Jason Peacock, a 6′5″ 330lb offensive tackle from Milledgeville, Ga. Will probably start at left tackle. Compares favorably to Tennessee’s right tackle, N. Gwinnett’s JuWuan James.6′6″ 330lb. Pig Sooey and thanks for Peacock!
DIT
May 12th, 2011
12:33 pm
Some of you are falling for the pre-season hype again! I did last year and was extremly dissapointed. We can have people say all the positive stuff about the Dawgs all summer. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Dawgs, However, for the most part it’s the same people returning all around. That awesome recruiting class will not be able to make up the difference to be SEC Champs let alone BCS Champs. Only about 1 to 2 impact players.
Man, let’s just play one game at a time and see how it unfolds. Last year was miserable. I will not put myself through another pre-season summer of high expectations just to see it fall apart. I would like nothing more than to see CMR turn it around, stay on at UGA for another 10 years. Lot of work to do before that happens.
Right now it should all be about Boise State, they will be tough despite what some think, THAT’S IT!
Go Dawgs!
Fisher
May 12th, 2011
12:33 pm
Western Carolina 92, TECH 6 (missed the extra point kick)
Yellow Fuzz
May 12th, 2011
12:33 pm
here we go again. lol
Central Florida
May 12th, 2011
12:34 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
89Dawg
May 12th, 2011
12:36 pm
Do I need to print the TOP 25 Finishes for Tech over the last 10 seasons?….You cannot argue facts and results…simply own up to them….we stunk the past 2 seasons, I have confidence we will be better…
Double Zero Eight
May 12th, 2011
12:36 pm
I am sure Richt will strongly advise his players
to ignore the “buzz” and the media regarding accolades.
What looks promising on paper does not always pan out.
They should focus on trying to win the EC which is a
realistic goal.
Simple Jack
May 12th, 2011
12:37 pm
If he is a ‘92 grad. h.h.he j.j.just might want to get his m.m.money back.
LawDawg
May 12th, 2011
12:38 pm
UGA ALWAYS has high expectations because the fan base is HUGE and excited…..contrast that with the Nerds expectations: they have ZERO excitement and will avg. about 35000 to their home games. Oh yeah, they will also lose to Georgia AGAIN!!!!
ckgator
May 12th, 2011
12:39 pm
Order your pre-season Nat’l Champoinship rings today Georgia fans! Bahaha.
Yellow Fuzz
May 12th, 2011
12:39 pm
89Dawg:
YOU’RE LAST 3 MEETINGS WITH TECH HAVE BEEN TIGHT. GET USED TO IT LITTLE MAN.
LawDawg
May 12th, 2011
12:40 pm
Fuzzy,
How many wins do the Nerds have over UGA the past 10 years? GOOD BYE!!!!!!
Wait a Minute
May 12th, 2011
12:40 pm
35000 in attendance to a Nerd game? That’s an insult to 35000. More like 20000.
Dawg Tell
May 12th, 2011
12:43 pm
I hope the team does not read this. If so, we just set ourselves up for another long season.We(UGA) have a huge problem with letting crap like this in ESPN go to our heads.Hell;I would rather not be picked in the top 25 this year.All I want is a mad and hungry team,trying to get respect back in the SEC!!! GO DAWGS!!!
dawgso55
May 12th, 2011
12:43 pm
Crap!! I was hoping that we wouldnt even be ranked…..its so much better to be the underdog and move up each week…..and we(the Dawgs) still have alot of question marks on both sides of the ball….
Dawglasville
May 12th, 2011
12:44 pm
For you younger bloggers you may want to Google the Jonestown Massacre before use the phrase, “Drink the Kool Aid.”
UGAgrad92
May 12th, 2011
12:45 pm
Nerds – be quit and fetch your UGA grad boss some coffee.
And FLORIDA fans, you don’t even get to work in offices – so just keep digging the ditches. We appreciate it.
Yellow Fuzz
May 12th, 2011
12:45 pm
LawDawg
10 years, 50 years, 100 years I could care less. The last 3 meetings between Paul Johnson and Mark Richt have been extremely tight. I went to all 3 and you probably did not. Expect more of the same. Tech coaches coach up!
DIT
May 12th, 2011
12:46 pm
“YOU’RE LAST 3 MEETINGS WITH TECH HAVE BEEN TIGHT. GET USED TO IT LITTLE MAN.”
Now that was too funny. I know that your fellow tech fan base on here had to cringe at that the same way I cringe whenever a fellow Dawg says something about last years score with UF was close……… Bottom line we lost. Don’t embarrass yourself and you institute with that kind of comeback!
DawginLex
May 12th, 2011
12:46 pm
all the games vs UGa with Gailey were close too except for that beautiful game in 2002
BillyBob Dawg
May 12th, 2011
12:47 pm
This year why don’t you pass me Koolaid powder. I think I will need to snort or shoot up the stuff if we get our doors blown off against Boise like Alabama a few years back.
UGAgrad92
May 12th, 2011
12:47 pm
Nerds, please keep quit and get your UGA grad boss some more coffee.
And Florida grads, just keep diging your ditches or picking your fruit – whatever career you decided to go for.
Mark (another one)
May 12th, 2011
12:47 pm
DawginLex said it for all us Dawg fans.
I am looking forward to a great year supporting the Dawgs and certain that Richt and his staff have prepared the team. I don’t worry so much aboutwhat we call the exhibition season (this year that’s Boise, Tech, Coastal Carolina and New Mexico State). The first goal has to be to win the SEC East. I respect all opponents but the SEC competition is the best in the country, and that needs to be the first goal every year. Win the East. Win the SEC. Win the Bowl. The fourth goal of going undefeated is rarely at stake suring the exhibition season.
LawDawg
May 12th, 2011
12:48 pm
Fuzzy,
My lonesome friend, I have been to more UGA-Tech games than you have all games combined. Football is a game of results, not moral victories. You Nerdclowns would be national champs every year if moral victories counted. However, they do not. What is the Won-Loss record for Tech against Georgia the last 10 years? I’m sure you are smart enough to figure it out.
UGAgrad92
May 12th, 2011
12:49 pm
Oh yeah, Alabama grads….I do want fries with my burger. Thanks for asking.
89Dawg
May 12th, 2011
12:49 pm
Fuzz…we are used to Tech playing us close, congratulations for making it interesting…but how does it feel to go 1-9? And it bears repeating….FIVE TOP 10 finishes in the PAST 10 YEARS….you should change your name to Green Fuzz…and btw, its “your”…not “you’re”….GENIUS…
1eyedJack
May 12th, 2011
12:50 pm
“The last 3 meetings between Paul Johnson and Mark Richt have been extremely tight.”
Again with the moral victories?
GTBob
May 12th, 2011
12:50 pm
Nerds, please keep quit and get your UGA grad boss some more coffee.
Between this gem and the fact that UGA fans expect to win the National Championship every year, its pretty obvious that UGA fans have a very loose grip on reality.
BillyBob Dawg
May 12th, 2011
12:50 pm
DIT WIT
The last 3 games were extremely tight (unlike your last 3 with Florida-LOL).
Just be glad that last year YOU didn’t lose YOUR starting QB in the first quarter! It was very close to being “last 2 out of 3″ AH!
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
May 12th, 2011
12:51 pm
DIT
Not one UGA fan on here thinks we will win the BCS Championship this year. Not one. You should read the article. ESPN is only talking big to get more hype surrounding BSU vs. UGA at the GA Dome. Thats it! If this game wasn’t being televised by ESPN, you wouldn’t hear anything about UGA. UGA has never gotten love from ESPN, never! It feels kinda icky.