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
LawDawg
December 21st, 2011
2:01 pm
True Dawg Fan: Really? It is a worse schedule in terms of what their overall record would be. I assume you are not a UGA graduate (and therefore not a “true” dawg fan) because there is no way you could have gotten a high enough SAT score if you genuinely think that what Bradley wrote is contradictory.
Joycee Banicheck
December 21st, 2011
2:02 pm
Sean… Hines Ward
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:03 pm
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
1:54 pm
And its a top tier bowl bc they pick in the top for SEC schools.
Sorry but the Big 10 #4 vs. the SEC #5 is not a top tier bowl. A year from now nobody will even remember who played in this game. The game rarely even sells out.
Wow how dumb are you??
Its a match up of the losers of the conf titles. So yes it is a top tier non BCS bowl along with the cotton and the Capital one bowl.
Anything that includes the top 6 of the SEC (Even though uga is more like 3 or 4, but you can claim 5th all u want) is a top tier bowl since the SEC is hands down light years ahead of other conferences.
Just stop posting you clown, we all know you are an idiot.
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
2:03 pm
Fire your current coach and hire one that does not run an archaic offense
You are right, we should fire CPJ and hire an NFL coach who runs an NFL offense. Then the recruits will be beating down our door. Chan Gailey proved that with all of those amazing recruiting classes.
Say It Aint So
December 21st, 2011
2:04 pm
Keith Brooking made his living pile jumping. Thats how you pad your stats.
Dawgington
December 21st, 2011
2:04 pm
Just cause Bradley talks about State doesn’t mean we have to talk about a sub par program.
DawgHunt
December 21st, 2011
2:05 pm
Meh…. Basketball is not a priority.. thanks anyway.
Say It Aint So
December 21st, 2011
2:06 pm
Would Reggie Ball fall into those “amazing recruiting classes”?
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:06 pm
LawDawg
December 21st, 2011
2:01 pm
True Dawg Fan: Really? It is a worse schedule in terms of what their overall record would be. I assume you are not a UGA graduate (and therefore not a “true” dawg fan) because there is no way you could have gotten a high enough SAT score if you genuinely think that what Bradley wrote is contradictory.
Actually I did but thanks. And in the context he used the words he contradicted himself. hink what you want but your wrong. I highly highly doubt you went through UGA law school as I have multiple friends that went through that program and you would have been chewed up and spit out in 2 weeks.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:07 pm
think
Gary
December 21st, 2011
2:08 pm
You call getting blown out 42-14 hot? What big win did they have this year? Tech was the best team they beat this season. LOL
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:09 pm
@ LawDog- Too bad we cant test you on this but I doubt you could even name 5 players on UGAs team. Run along fringe fan, run along
Huh
December 21st, 2011
2:10 pm
Preseason top 10? Dude you’re insane.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:11 pm
Gary
December 21st, 2011
2:08 pm
You call getting blown out 42-14 hot? What big win did they have this year? Tech was the best team they beat this season. LOL
Frst off you didnt even get the score right, second looking at the final score and then making an ASSumption makes you look dumb. Go back and watch the game clown.
Actually Auburn was better. Vandy prob would have beat you this year, Florida would have beat you like a drum.
GT= Joke
Huh
December 21st, 2011
2:11 pm
What happens when jarvis orson and rambo all bolt. Lucky team to not have to play anyone worth a crap aside from boise. That says a lot when you play an sec schedule and boise was by far the best team you played.
StatePantherLand
December 21st, 2011
2:12 pm
Who cares about GT/UGA? Atlanta is ours!
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:13 pm
Huh
December 21st, 2011
2:11 pm
What happens when jarvis orson and rambo all bolt. Lucky team to not have to play anyone worth a crap aside from boise. That says a lot when you play an sec schedule and boise was by far the best team you played.
Sc was just as good.
Jarvis didnt even file papers u moron, learn to read. Bacarri might go but prob wont, eben if he does we have 3 guys ready to take his spot. Orsen prob will go, but we have 3 TEs ready to replace him too. Jay Rome the number 1 TE in the country last year out of HS also a BA basketball payer and will stay in shape this winter playing with the team.
Do research so you dont look so dumb.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:14 pm
StatePantherLand
December 21st, 2011
2:12 pm
Who cares about GT/UGA? Atlanta is ours!
Someone forgot the meds this morning
Gary
December 21st, 2011
2:14 pm
Yeah you’re right dumbdogfan. The blowout was even worse. Yeah I watched the game. You played well for a half. But football is 4 quarters dumbass. Not 2. Auburn was better? Now that is funny considering they got blown out by clempson and gt blew out clempson. Btw, nice spelling and grammar. Typical dumb dog fan with no college education.
Brock
December 21st, 2011
2:15 pm
dawgfan- good god boy give it a rest. you cry about tech…….CONSTANTLY! any good things to say about your own team or do you simply enjoy looking like a jackass?
StatePantherLand
December 21st, 2011
2:16 pm
College town..DOWN TOWN!
Gary
December 21st, 2011
2:17 pm
Dumbdogfan can’t even spell his players name right. It’s OrsOn idiot. And sc would get bitch smacked by boise. You are clueless, which doesn’t surprise me as am uneducated redneck dog fan.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:18 pm
Gary
December 21st, 2011
2:14 pm
Yeah you’re right dumbdogfan. The blowout was even worse. Yeah I watched the game. You played well for a half. But football is 4 quarters dumbass. Not 2. Auburn was better? Now that is funny considering they got blown out by clempson and gt blew out clempson. Btw, nice spelling and grammar. Typical dumb dog fan with no college education.
Grammer and spell check police watch out people. Even though you mispelled words too
If you knew it then why did you post the wrong score and not correct it huh??? Since your so awesome at grammer and spelling an error like that surely couldnt have passed you by, no way not when you are the police of that sort of incident.
Actually I went to UGA and graduated Magna Cum Laude, how about you?
AU is hands down better than GT. Law of transitive properties doesnt work here sorry retard.
StatePantherLand
December 21st, 2011
2:19 pm
8 game winning streak!!!!
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:20 pm
Brock
December 21st, 2011
2:15 pm
dawgfan- good god boy give it a rest. you cry about tech…….CONSTANTLY! any good things to say about your own team or do you simply enjoy looking like a jackass?
Cry about tech hahahahaha. What in the world would give anyone a reason to cry about tech?? The only thing that comes to mind is us crying that u make it to easy for us to beat you every year.
Jackass?? If retards like you didnt post I wouldnt let them know they are dumb. Everyone has their own opinion. I just like to tell others when their opinion is stupid.
StatePantherLand
December 21st, 2011
2:21 pm
True Dawg Fan… times are changing and we will be a threat! Just you wait!
BiggdawgK
December 21st, 2011
2:22 pm
The north avenue trade school fans are always good for a laugh just like their snarky coach and their thug cheap shot players. Most teams that lie and cheat at least manage to win but not the trade school. Even as pathetic as the gaytors are this year they would still be a beat down on the trade school.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:22 pm
Gary
December 21st, 2011
2:17 pm
Dumbdogfan can’t even spell his players name right. It’s OrsOn idiot. And sc would get bitch smacked by boise. You are clueless, which doesn’t surprise me as am uneducated redneck dog fan.
Oouch I havent memorized the spelling of all 85 scholarship althetes names, man you got me good on that one. That hurts deep man you shouldnt be so mean.
And no SC wouldnt be any kind of slapped by boise if they had Lattimore and Garcia.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:23 pm
StatePantherLand
December 21st, 2011
2:21 pm
True Dawg Fan… times are changing and we will be a threat! Just you wait!
No they arent and no you wont
Gary
December 21st, 2011
2:23 pm
Oh okay. You get blown out by Boise. Next week you lose a squeaker to SC at HOME and sc would beat boise. Ok dude. Put down the moonshine.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:23 pm
BiggdawgK
December 21st, 2011
2:22 pm
The north avenue trade school fans are always good for a laugh just like their snarky coach and their thug cheap shot players. Most teams that lie and cheat at least manage to win but not the trade school. Even as pathetic as the gaytors are this year they would still be a beat down on the trade school.
Exaclty. And wouldnt have been the only ones from our schedule
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
2:24 pm
Its a match up of the losers of the conf titles.
Wow, it sounds a lot more exciting now. Nevermind that nobody really respects either team which is why they fell so far down the totem poll when bowl season came around. Nobody cares about the Outback bowl except the tames playing in it.
Stinger2
December 21st, 2011
2:25 pm
dawgfan has developed his closing line “GT=Joke.
Good work little fella. Did your Dad teach this to you?
Now run ask mommy for a snack and then take your nap.
See you tomorrow.
StatePantherLand
December 21st, 2011
2:25 pm
Oh really? Your really sure of yourself. State is coming.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:26 pm
Gary
December 21st, 2011
2:23 pm
Oh okay. You get blown out by Boise. Next week you lose a squeaker to SC at HOME and sc would beat boise. Ok dude. Put down the moonshine.
How is 14 points a blow out? please explain bc to me (and the rest of the world) thats a 2 possesion game and a blow out usually consits of winning by 4-5+ possesions.
Ever heard the saying learn from the losses?? Hmmm wonder if the offense did learn something from that and got better for the next game??
StatePantherLand
December 21st, 2011
2:27 pm
Georgia Southern is nothing.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:27 pm
Gary
December 21st, 2011
2:23 pm
Oh okay. You get blown out by Boise. Next week you lose a squeaker to SC at HOME and sc would beat boise. Ok dude. Put down the moonshine.
How is 14 points a blow out? please explain bc to me (and the rest of the world) thats a 2 possesion game and a blow out usually consits of winning by 4-5+ possesions.
Ever heard the saying learn from the losses?? Hmmm wonder if the offense did learn something from that and got better for the next game??
Had we showed up against SC with the same lack luster offense we would have been beaten by 21 points against SC
Brock
December 21st, 2011
2:28 pm
TDF- was my post directed towards you? STFU dipsh!t dawgfan is known for posting about tech like it’s his job and never his own team. that’s what I was referring to.
But if you feel the need to be the tough guy on the blogs be my guest
Nom Nom Nom Chucks....Taylor or Norris
December 21st, 2011
2:28 pm
If they fire Bill Curry next year…..college football has officially become hysterical.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:29 pm
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
2:24 pm
Its a match up of the losers of the conf titles.
Wow, it sounds a lot more exciting now. Nevermind that nobody really respects either team which is why they fell so far down the totem poll when bowl season came around. Nobody cares about the Outback bowl except the tames playing in it.
Its ok little guy, maybe one day Tech will win a bowl game so you can stop pretending you dont care. I would be jealous too if we were in the Sun bowl and yall got a top tier bowl. hahahahaha but that will never happen so….
StatePantherLand
December 21st, 2011
2:30 pm
Curry will carry us and he will win!
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:31 pm
Stinger2
December 21st, 2011
2:25 pm
dawgfan has developed his closing line “GT=Joke.
Good work little fella. Did your Dad teach this to you?
Now run ask mommy for a snack and then take your nap.
See you tomorrow.
Well GT does =Joke so what he is saying is true.
Brock
December 21st, 2011
2:28 pm
TDF- was my post directed towards you? STFU dipsh!t dawgfan is known for posting about tech like it’s his job and never his own team. that’s what I was referring to.
But if you feel the need to be the tough guy on the blogs be my guest
Well if you werent such a moron us big bad dawg fans wouldnt be so mean to you. Its ok I hear your mommy calling you she will kiss it and make it better for u.
StatePantherLand
December 21st, 2011
2:31 pm
“Our attitude is we respect everybody; we fear nobody. We will play anybody, anywhere, anytime” Bill Curry.
True Dawg Fan
December 21st, 2011
2:32 pm
StatePantherLand
December 21st, 2011
2:31 pm
“Our attitude is we respect everybody; we fear nobody. We will play anybody, anywhere, anytime” Bill Curry.
thats bc these teams will pay an insane amount of money for you to come out to be their whipping post.
TheEagleWay
December 21st, 2011
2:33 pm
State.. what a joke.
Brock
December 21st, 2011
2:35 pm
TDF- wtf are you talking about? You just start talking out of your a-hole now? that post didn’t even make sense?
oh sh!t he got me with the mommy line. jesus christ some people
tony
December 21st, 2011
2:35 pm
Tech just need to recruit 4 and 5 star athletes and UGA needs to hire a quality OC who will embrace SMASH MOUTH FOOTBALL! If Mr.Richt does this, I believe the dawgs can win a national championship next season.
StatePantherLand
December 21st, 2011
2:35 pm
Our attitude is we respect everybody; we fear nobody. We will play anybody, anywhere, anytime
Stinger2
December 21st, 2011
2:37 pm
True Dawg Fan: are you and dawgfan one and the same?
You post indicate a pattern of the same old stuff.
Remember, when a person says nothing, others may think he or she is wise and smart. Think about it. Run along now, Mommy says you have been on her computer too long.
GTBob
December 21st, 2011
2:37 pm
I would be jealous too if we were in the Sun bowl and yall got a top tier bowl.
You can try to convince yourself that the Outback is just below a BCS bowl if you want but it just makes you look foolish. Last year 7-5 Florida played 7-5 Penn State in this game. OMG what a top tier bowl game.