2011 college Heat Check: Georgia got hot; Tech got warm
Tech's Stephen Hill feels the hot breath of the Bulldog D. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
We’re nearing the end — news flash! — of the calendar year, and our weekly Heat Check takes on broader scope. We review the year just past, and we look toward 2012 and we tick off folks in the process. Got that? Here we go.
Georgia Bulldogs: They rose from 6-7 to the top of the SEC East, winning 10 consecutive games in the process. Then they lost by 32 points to LSU. The debate will rage until next September whether Georgia got really good again or just benefited from a bunny schedule. The view here is that it did both. (The two aren’t mutually exclusive.) But it’s true that the Bulldogs lost to the three best teams they played, and it wouldn’t hurt to beat Michigan State in the Outback Bowl. 2011 Heat Index: A hot season removed Mark Richt from the ol’ hot seat. 2012 Hotness Outlook: Should be a preseason Top 10 pick and the favorite to win the East.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: They rose from 6-7 to 8-4, but losing four of the final six games took the edge off the turnaround. That said, Tech did beat a team that is gracing a BCS bowl, and it is scheduled to return just about everyone of consequence. But the schedule will be tougher next season: Virginia Tech, Clemson and Georgia must all be faced on the road. 2011 Heat Index: The one-season slide was arrested, which was the main objective. 2012 Hotness Outlook: A better team facing a worse schedule should produce a similar record, give or take a game.
Georgia State Panthers: The brightness of a 6-5 inaugural season faded to the reality of a 3-8 followup. And next year GSU opens conference play in the Colonial Athletic Association, which could deliver another slice of reality. 2011 Heat Index: What have you done for us lately, Bill Curry? 2012 Hotness Outlook: More chills could be forthcoming.
Georgia basketball: The Bulldogs qualified for the NCAA tournament as an at-large team for the first time since 2002 but lost to Washington once there. The whole season had a similar mixed feel — Georgia was good enough again to take seriously but managed to lose most every serious game. And then Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie left early for the NBA. The 2011-2012 Bulldogs are 6-5, having won two in a row after losing four straight, and one of those four losses came against Georgia Tech at Stegeman Coliseum. 2011 Heat Index: Making the Big Dance was nice, but the season could have been nicer. 2012 Hotness Outlook: A chilly winter awaits.
Georgia Tech basketball: The Jackets had another losing season, prompting the buyout of Paul Hewitt and the advent of Brian Gregory. With limited talent, the new man has done OK. As noted above, Gregory beat Georgia in Athens, something Hewitt never managed. Tech should be 9-4 headed into the New Year, which figures to start with a thud — first Alabama, then Duke. 2011 Heat Index: An upgrade at coach constitutes a warming trend. 2012 Hotness Outlook: ACC play will prove no day at the beach.
Georgia State basketball: Fired Rod Barnes and hired Ron Hunter, who has led the Panthers to a school-record-equaling eight consecutive victories against nobody you’ve heard of. Which, in the grand rebuilding scheme, beats losing eight in a row to Name Brands. 2011 Heat Index: It’s getting a bit warm in the walk-up gym, if you get my drift. 2012 Heat Index: If Hunter can get close to .500 in CAA play, he should be the league’s coach of the year.
Kennesaw State basketball: Fired Tony Ingle and hired Lewis Preston, who comes with nice credentials. But this is a tough job, and Preston’s first season began with a 44-point loss at Wisconsin and has continued apace. The Owls are 2-8, having lost six in a row. But they are ranked 63 spots ahead of Georgia State in ESPN Insider’s RPI, for what that’s worth. 2011 Heat Index: Think Antarctica. 2012 Hotness Outlook: Think Saskatchewan. Which is warmer than Antarctica, is it not?
By Mark Bradley
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495 comments Add your comment
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
12:06 pm
SSIgator
December 21st, 2011
12:01 pm
Hankie Aron -
“not true, Mark is a good writer capabe of good to great opinings”
Have to agree with that statement. He is far better than Chump “Captain of the Blog Police” Towers and not nearly as sensitive. Wait, that may not be totally fair. Towers may simply be going through male menopause which will make one cranky as DawginLex can attest to.
Bradely and Schultz are clowns and barely even writers. These clowns are just like the rest. Get a small story and see how they can blow it up into something more than it is. Like the CTG incident at Vandy and Richts ‘Hot Seat”.
And neither can back up their opinions with factual statements. Carvell is just as bad, the Tech writer is a little girl. Bill King is a homer but at least admits it in his writing.
AJC- Averege Journalism Corporation
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
12:07 pm
Why do you even post. You are a complete idiot. You wanna talk easy schedule just look at GTs and how awful they did with such an easy schedule.
GT was supposed to be awful this year. A lot of experts picked GT to not make a bowl game, and the vegas over/under for wins was 6. They overachieved. UGA on the other hand, did what pretty much everyone expected, which was beat the bad teams, and lose to the good teams.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
12:07 pm
December 21st, 2011
12:04 pm
the pups schedule is even more of a joke next year than this years. Buffalo, ga southernn, fl atlantic, and tech. what a joke. Assuming they flip mizz with bama the pups will once again lose to the best two teams they play (USC, and AU) and will lose to the mighty gators for a 9-3 record. They will continue the 5 plus year search for a meaningful victory.
ahahahahahaha run along retard. There is no room for such outlandish predictions. You might as well say that Palin will be the next president while your at it hahahahaha
spider
December 21st, 2011
12:08 pm
dawgfan, i always enjoy the view from the cheap seats no matter what stadium im in.
1eyedJack
December 21st, 2011
12:08 pm
Bill King banned me soon after I said he looked like an Ewok in his picture.
@SSI Gator
December 21st, 2011
12:08 pm
We would like to welcome you back to pre-1990….6-6 my friend. Happy Holidays!!!
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
12:09 pm
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
12:07 pm
Why do you even post. You are a complete idiot. You wanna talk easy schedule just look at GTs and how awful they did with such an easy schedule.
GT was supposed to be awful this year. A lot of experts picked GT to not make a bowl game, and the vegas over/under for wins was 6. They overachieved. UGA on the other hand, did what pretty much everyone expected, which was beat the bad teams, and lose to the good teams.
So then why did after your undefeated start predict a NC for Tech this year and Next???? Huh, that must mean that you thought they were so awesome, beating your chest after beating 2 HS teams and a couple of joke ACC teams. Congrats on that one. O and by the way I havent looked yet did GT make it to the NC like you predicted?????
Go ahead and check for me I cant wait to hear about it!
oneyedjack
December 21st, 2011
12:10 pm
is smoking crack
george
December 21st, 2011
12:11 pm
“the dawgs are a year or two away” the favorite saying from delusional,pathetic dawg fans since 1980. Please tell me the last significant victory for the dawgs.
SSIgator
December 21st, 2011
12:11 pm
True Dawg Fan -
Then why read Bradley’s work or bother commenting on it? Oh, that’ right. The other advisors are busy so you get to play on the company computer. When you get back on floor duty at Tire Kingdom, what brand of tires do you most frequently “advise” your customers to buy?
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
12:11 pm
Wow, I just looked at UGA’s schedule next year. Assuming Missouri replaces Bama, UGA will probably only play one ranked team next year. That is pretty astounding for an SEC team.
To truedogfan
December 21st, 2011
12:12 pm
we’ve won four. how’s that one from 30 years ago looking right now?
1eyedJack
December 21st, 2011
12:12 pm
GTBob, your guys lost to Virginia and Miami. They couldn’t even beat the also-rans on their schedule. But keep stealing recruits from Middle Tennessee St. and Wofford. That should ensure that you will still be able to beat them.
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
12:14 pm
O and by the way I havent looked yet did GT make it to the NC like you predicted?????
I never said this or thought it. Is this ARDawg using a different name?
db
December 21st, 2011
12:14 pm
I will agree GT lost a couple of three games we should have won but we were the second youngest team in the nation. Good things are forthcoming for GT.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
12:15 pm
SSIgator
December 21st, 2011
12:11 pm
True Dawg Fan -
Then why read Bradley’s work or bother commenting on it? Oh, that’ right. The other advisors are busy so you get to play on the company computer. When you get back on floor duty at Tire Kingdom, what brand of tires do you most frequently “advise” your customers to buy?
ahahahahahahahaha actually i dont live in florida so…. But thanks for your concern. See I actually went to UGA and got a great degree in Financial Planning. Whom actually was just recognized as a top ten program in the country in that field. but once again thanks for your concern.
gdawginkalamazoo
December 21st, 2011
12:15 pm
I got a $5,000 check in the mail to day from Coach Richt. What a great guy! I vote to extend his contract.
@SSIGaotr
December 21st, 2011
12:15 pm
Just so you know, the Gators have had 31 years since our National Championship year to even up the series and they’re not there yet.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
12:17 pm
To truedogfan
December 21st, 2011
12:12 pm
we’ve won four. how’s that one from 30 years ago looking right now?
Actually you havent, You are claiming two from a period that there is almost 0 clarity and there wasnt a good system in place to deteremine the champ. and then the 1990 SHARED TITLE ahahahahaha. You can claim that all you want but no one recognizes you in the picture for it. Only Colorado hahahahaha
And ppl call UGA fans delusional
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
12:18 pm
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
12:14 pm
O and by the way I havent looked yet did GT make it to the NC like you predicted?????
I never said this or thought it. Is this ARDawg using a different name?
ahahahahahahahaha yes you did. QAnd no i have been using this name all year long
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
12:19 pm
To truedogfan
December 21st, 2011
12:12 pm
we’ve won four. how’s that one from 30 years ago looking right now?
claiming 2 form the ages when there was no system and clinging to the hope that ppl recognize you for the split 1990 title with colorado hahahahahaha. what a retard
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
12:22 pm
ahahahahahahahaha yes you did. QAnd no i have been using this name all year long
Ok, I will offer you the same deal as ARDawg then. If you can find a blog where I said this I will never post on the AJC blogs again. In fact, I will sweeten the deal. I will also donate 1000 dollars to a charity of your choice.
SSIgator
December 21st, 2011
12:22 pm
gdawginkalamazoo -
Better ask the financial wizard TrueDawg Fan how you should invest that. Wait. Better not. He will probably talk you into new Pirrelli’s for all of your vehicles and there goes that 5k.
george
December 21st, 2011
12:27 pm
still waiting to the answer to my very simple question
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
December 21st, 2011
12:27 pm
Please compare UGa’s schedule to Bama’s. The pundits say Bama’s “body of work” entitles them to a shot at the Nat’l Championship, yet Ga played a soft schedule. The schedules are almost exactly the same.
SSIgator
December 21st, 2011
12:28 pm
george -
They are still looking, but don’t hold your breath.
Spike
December 21st, 2011
12:36 pm
GT Bob… Your team really sucks.
Cobb Dawg
December 21st, 2011
12:39 pm
Hope you’re right about UGA’s 2012 outlook, MB. But as for top 10 preseason, I’m not sure. I think they deserve it — but I doubt if the national sports media has come around yet. That just means you and I are, once again, ahead of our time.
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
12:39 pm
GT Bob… Your team really sucks.
Is this really the best insult you could come up with? At least try.
Scraping Teeth
December 21st, 2011
12:39 pm
Enter your comments here
Scraping Teeth
December 21st, 2011
12:40 pm
GT bobby: What is your point on these blogs?
gator fans: What happened to you program?
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
12:42 pm
SSIgator
December 21st, 2011
12:22 pm
gdawginkalamazoo -
Better ask the financial wizard TrueDawg Fan how you should invest that. Wait. Better not. He will probably talk you into new Pirrelli’s for all of your vehicles and there goes that 5k.
need 10M for my services sorry.
Scraping Teeth
December 21st, 2011
12:42 pm
Did UTk leave the SEC and go to Div. AAAA?
gdawginkalamazoo
December 21st, 2011
12:42 pm
SSI Gator, thanks for the warning! Good luck against THE Ohio State Buckeyes.
Scraping Teeth
December 21st, 2011
12:43 pm
What is the Sun Bowl?
Spike
December 21st, 2011
12:43 pm
Brevity is the soul of wit, and the handmaiden of the truth. Plus, I kept it simple so you could even understand it. Complain about how easy our schedule is if you want. One of the reasons this is so is because Tech is on it. Ten out of eleven and counting. Poindexter.
Scraping Teeth
December 21st, 2011
12:44 pm
Did Kristi Malzahn really think that Cam was that cute or did they pay her to say that?
SSIgator
December 21st, 2011
12:44 pm
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho -
“The schedules are almost exactly the same”
This is very odd. I don’t remember UGA playing Arkansas this year, but your right, they did both play LSU. However, I doubt you could call Alabama losing by three points and UGA getting hammered by thirty-two points the “same”. Dreamers can always dream though.
Scraping Teeth
December 21st, 2011
12:45 pm
Did UF do there homework before hiring the Muskrat?
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
12:48 pm
What is the Sun Bowl?
The meaningless bowl played two days before the meaningless Outback bowl.
Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
12:48 pm
We are the best team in the Nation…because we are UGA. We will win the NC the next 10 tears in a row….because we are UGA.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
12:49 pm
SSIgator
December 21st, 2011
12:44 pm
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho -
“The schedules are almost exactly the same”
This is very odd. I don’t remember UGA playing Arkansas this year, but your right, they did both play LSU. However, I doubt you could call Alabama losing by three points and UGA getting hammered by thirty-two points the “same”. Dreamers can always dream though.
Ark?? the most over rated team in the country beside Bama?? ahahhahahahahahaha
We scored more points then Bama could and shut them down harder in the first half than Bama did.
But your too dumb to look at the peices of the game instead you jus look at score bc ur too dumb to analyze anything.
O well Florida will suck for next 5 years which makes our schedule even easier hahaha
SSIgator
December 21st, 2011
12:49 pm
Scraping Teeth -
That is a question best answered by the AD, Jeremy Foley. You can probably contact him through GatorZone.com
Paul in NH
December 21st, 2011
12:51 pm
Georgia State Panthers: Outlook: More chills could be forthcoming.
Mark – You got that right. It was 9 F when I left Durham, NH on Monday and colder when I got to Orono. The Panthers are going to love the road trips up here!
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
12:51 pm
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
12:48 pm
What is the Sun Bowl?
The meaningless bowl played two days before the meaningless Outback bowl.
Outback meaningless??? So the first tier bowls out side of BCS are meaningless now??? ahhahaha dont try and put us in the same category as Techs crappy FB program. You had an awful season and got reqarded with a crap bowl. Thats how it works Sun.
Scraping Teeth
December 21st, 2011
12:52 pm
Does UF really care about its football program anymore?
Scraping Teeth
December 21st, 2011
12:53 pm
Does the triple chin option really work?
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
12:53 pm
rewarded
Spike
December 21st, 2011
12:53 pm
GT Bob.. At least we WIN our bowl games! O-6 in your last six. The Emerald Bowl called, and they really miss you.
Burdell
December 21st, 2011
12:55 pm
Hey 1eyedJack—
The last recruit to commit to Tech was actually a steal from Bama…just sayin’…
Time for some new material, buddy.