Heat Check: History says 14-2 Falcons would be Super lock
How the last 14-2 Falcons fared. (AJC photo by Marlene Karas)
Our weekly Heat Check commences with a team that just aced its final regular-season exam.
FALCONS: Beat the reigning Super Bowl champion 34-0, which, according to Elias, is the worst shutout loss ever suffered by a reigning Super Bowl champion (Elias also notes that only three previous teams in NFL history had been shut out the week after scoring 50 points. You mightn’t be surprised that the Falcons, who beat the Saints 62-7 in 1973 and then lost to the Rams 31-0, made that list.) Atmospheric reading: The Falcons can finish the regular season 14-2. Every single Falcons team to finish a regular season 14-2 has reached the Super Bowl. (OK, so that’s a grand total of one.)
HAWKS: Were briefly tied for first place in the NBA Southeast before losing here to Golden State by 22 points. Atmospheric reading: At hand is a case of extremes — tonight the Hawks play in Washington, owner of the league’s worst record, and Wednesday they play host to Oklahoma City, owner of the best. But the Hawks have beaten the Thunder the past two meetings, including one in OKC on Nov. 4.
GEORGIA: Held a Capital One Bowl media session last week, which turned into — I’ll confess that questions from this correspondent contributed — a lengthy review of the SEC championship game. Atmospheric reading: It’ll be interesting to see how interested the Bulldogs are in playing Nebraska. Not very, would be my guess, and I can’t really blame them.
GEORGIA TECH: After years of losing to lesser lights in bowls — Fresno State twice, Utah twice, Air Force once — Tech now gets to play one of the biggest Big Names. As you’ll recall, USC was ranked No. 1 in preseason. Atmospheric reading: The Jackets haven’t won a bowl since Reggie Ball was a sophomore (and also the bowl MVP). The date was Dec. 21, 2004. The opponent was Syracuse, which promptly fired its coach.
GEORGIA TECH HOOPS: Just received a talent infusion courtesy of the Poole family. Stacey Poole, a transfer from Kentucky, will become eligible this week, and younger brother Solomon, who started the fall as a high school senior but is now an enrolled-and-eligible collegiate freshman, played six minutes against Alabama State on Monday. Atmospheric reading: Remember how thin last year’s 11-20 Jackets were? This team can go 10 deep, and it’s a pretty fair 10 at that.
GEORGIA HOOPS: Only one basketball program in the Big Six leagues has suffered seven losses already — this one. Atmospheric reading: As we speak, the Bulldogs are about to play a morning game at the Stegesaurus against Mercer. Georgia has already lost home games to Youngstown State, Southern Miss and Iona. It would behoove Mark Fox to beat the Bears. Update: Georgia beat Mercer 58-49.
By Mark Bradley
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102 comments Add your comment
Joey
December 18th, 2012
11:47 am
What’s that about, SSigator?
Buckeye
December 18th, 2012
11:51 am
joey,
Trade you Clarett for Ealey and King. At least we won a NC with Clarett
SSIgator
December 18th, 2012
11:52 am
Simply a holiday greeting Joey – no ulterior motive.
Buckeye
December 18th, 2012
11:53 am
Here at #UGA’s Stegeman Coliseum for “Businessfan’s Special” game between Dogs and #Mercer. 4,000 school kids makes it loudest of year.
Guess you dogs have to bus in fans from somewhere.
SEC! SEC!
Joey
December 18th, 2012
12:07 pm
Congratulations on that Title, Buckeye. Looking more and more like a tainted one, however.
As for Ealy and King, we kicked them off the team – without the NCAA telling us to.
Joey
December 18th, 2012
12:10 pm
Merry Christmas, SSIgator.
You’ll have to pardon my suspicion – thought you might be setting me up for something!
Joey
December 18th, 2012
12:12 pm
Merry Christmas, SSIgator.
Joey
December 18th, 2012
12:13 pm
Merry Christmas, SSIgator.
Pardon me for being wary . . .Haha.
Buckeye
December 18th, 2012
12:20 pm
joey,
Can you afford the $7 tickets on Stubhub for dog hoops?
Buckeye
December 18th, 2012
12:22 pm
From the WSJ
joey, I see your taint and raise your taint:
As for the Heisman, Georgia’s Herschel Walker won the trophy in 1982, one year after remedial English instructor Jan Kemp came forward and complained that the athletic department had pressured her to give passing grades to nine football players who failed her course, so that they could play in the 1982 Sugar Bowl against Pittsburgh (a game Georgia ultimately lost on a fourth-quarter touchdown pass by Dan Marino). Ms. Kemp was never forced to reveal those names, but the scandal tainted not only Mr. Walker’s career at Georgia, but his Heisman Trophy. He has never been asked to return his Heisman.
Buckeye
December 18th, 2012
12:24 pm
joey,
Remedial
Failed
Lost
Tainted
dogs, 1981 SEC! SEC!
NFC South Champs
December 18th, 2012
12:24 pm
Crush the Detroit Lions and wrap it up.
Buckeye
December 18th, 2012
12:27 pm
joey,
How much do tattoos cost anyway?
Joey
December 18th, 2012
12:30 pm
Sure Buckeye, but I won’t be making 522 mile round trips for the product they are putting on the court this season.
Buckeye
December 18th, 2012
12:30 pm
joey and dwags,
Relive the glory days!
SEC! SEC!
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3761411&sportCat=ncf
Joey
December 18th, 2012
12:39 pm
Buckeye, it wasn’t Herschel – he was actually never even mentioned. Herschel actually came back to Athens, finished his classes and got his degree in criminal justice, after his stint in the USFL.
At any rate, the scandal cost the UGA president (Fred Davison?) his job.
I have no tatts, but read that the ones some of the Buckeye players got were $1000 – $2000.
Nacho Cheese Sauce
December 18th, 2012
12:45 pm
No braves heat check
Dawglasville
December 18th, 2012
12:50 pm
Hot – Birds, Dawgs, Tech Basketball
Pretty warm – Hawks (without the guilt of that stupid contract to No Show Joe)
Dry Ice cold – Fox and the Dawgs
I really can’t believe that some of you guys waste your time pointing out how bad UGA basketball is. This is Georgia, not Kentucky or North Carolina.
Buckeye
December 18th, 2012
12:50 pm
joey,
I understood no names were ever mentioned.
Remedial English cheating? Really, joey?
ADMan
December 18th, 2012
1:34 pm
Hey Buckeye…..do you know what a dick is?….thats what you are…. and rumor has it that you’re also hung like a field mouse…
Steve
December 18th, 2012
1:46 pm
Why do you people even comment or deal with that Buckeye loser? Can’t you see he has no life? I mean he is on here bashing UGA basketball. Who cares about UGA basketball? That’s like making fun of Tech football.
Joey
December 18th, 2012
1:53 pm
You need to reread your own link, Buckeye. This was going on EVERYWHERE. That’s why it was such a big deal, and why it changed college football, not just UGA.
Buckeye
December 18th, 2012
2:03 pm
adman,
Stay classy!
Buckeye
December 18th, 2012
2:04 pm
Phew, ball dogs squeak out a W against Mercer!
SEC! SEC!
Joey
December 18th, 2012
2:07 pm
Steve, I am a UGA fan. All sports, though obviously football first. It’s frustrating that half of the SEC’s basketball teams will go to the Big Dance, including both of the new members’ teams, and UGA will again be lousy.
UGA has one of the top earning Athletic Depts in the country. There’s no excuse to not have a competitive basketball program.
Joey
December 18th, 2012
2:09 pm
Well beating Mercer is probably an upset, sad to say. Don’t know how good FSU is this year, but Mercer beat the Seminoles.
Steve
December 18th, 2012
2:12 pm
Joey, I am a UGA fan as well but as you know, UGA usually does nothing when it comes to basketball, just like Tech in football. That’s the way it is. I am just saying to ignore that Buckeye little boy. He obviously has a lot of jealousy inside. No other reason he would always be on UGA blogs bashing the SEC and UGA. He is sad and angry that Ohio State can’t beat an SEC team and won’t be in a bowl this year.
Joey
December 18th, 2012
2:30 pm
No, Steve, Buckeye just likes to agitate, I almost think he is also a Tech fan, with his borderline hostility. I like to give it back when he starts up, but, BUT, he may not know it, but he and I agree on one thing, and it’s something lots more important than football.
Stinger 2
December 18th, 2012
2:43 pm
Mark: When something good happens with the Braves (could be sooner than later)
will you include a heat check for them? I think a nice summary and analysis from you
on the moves Frank has already made would also be good reading for us true fans.
The extension for Fredi was well deserved. He has one of the best winning percentages among active MLB managers for the last two years in spite of the unjust criticism he has endured.
Alphare
December 18th, 2012
2:57 pm
I am pretty sure Falcons will win a Championship before UGA does.
bulldogbubba
December 18th, 2012
3:13 pm
@Mr.Stinger2 – I too was wondering why no Braves Heat Check? I miss watching the games and look forward to Spring. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!! The same goes to ALL Braves fans.
Dawglasville
December 18th, 2012
3:41 pm
Alphare – pretty sure the Falcons will win a championship before your Gamecocks do. Will this be the 6th or 7th bowl win in the school’s history? I think this will be the 5th for Vandy if they win.
Joey
December 18th, 2012
3:41 pm
Stinger and bulldogbubba, I think Wren is done making moves, for now. I think in ST, he wants to see: 1) if Francisco fills our needs at 3B, and 2) how a Constanza/Gatis platoon will look in LF, before deciding where Prado plays.
I think he holds on to the $10M he has left til June, and knows where his needs are. I also think if my #1 and #2 work out, and Uggla continues to struggle, Wren will move Uggla for a bag of balls and Prado goes back to his natural position, 2nd base.
What do y’all think?
Joey
December 18th, 2012
4:07 pm
“I am pretty sure” if UGA and Tech switched conferences, UGA woulda had a cakewalk to the ACC Title, and Tech woulda finished 6th in the East, ahead of UK.
You believe that too, right Alphare?
Donaldo
December 18th, 2012
4:20 pm
Sorry Mark, the Falcons will never make it thru SF, even if they win a first round game. Niner defense will crush their game. Good season, but will yet again come up short.
extremus
December 18th, 2012
4:26 pm
History also says that Atlanta pro sports teams prematurely “handed the hardware” by certain AJC sports writers have a tendency to crash and burn in spectacular fashion. I’m hoping that the 2012 Falcons will break tradition and win the Superbowl, but in the meantime Mr. Bradley, could you please run an article or two about why they WON’T win just for good luck?
Stinger 2
December 18th, 2012
4:31 pm
bulldogbubba and Joey” Hope you and your families enjoy a great Christmas and
New Years. Also, I am a GT fan who wishes UGA well except on the Sat. after Thanksgiving. Dorry they could not finish that last drive in the end zone. I think they will handle Nebraska easily if they put SECCG aside. About the Braves: I believe they will give Francisco a good shot at earning the 3rd base job given the good reports about him in the winter league. If he cannot hit lefties they may have to platoon him and Prado at 3rd and use Johnson in LF when Prado is at 3rd. I don`t think they will
be able to get any team to take on Uggla unless the Braves eat a good chunk of his salary. Finally GT would have finished ahead of UT and KY.
Joey
December 18th, 2012
4:53 pm
Happy Holidays Stinger 2, and I pull for Tech – I hated this season for you guys, and think if PJ goes out and gets a young, recruiting, DC, the Jackets are back to competing in the ACC. PJ incorporating the pass into his spread/option offense is gonna pay dividends. Tech vs UT would be a sight – 130 combined points!
I do toss an insult at GT from time to time, but only in reply to the jackasses, like Alphare, GTBob,
et al.
Dawglasville
December 18th, 2012
5:00 pm
Joey – Alphare is a Gamecock fan whose only claim to fame is beating UGA 3 years in a row. They are playing for their 6th or 7th bowl win in school history which I believe will be two more than Vandy.
bulldogbubba
December 18th, 2012
6:14 pm
@Joey – To me it all looks good on paper but ST will be the time to shake it all out .Like you I believe it would be good business sense to hold that 10 million and see what we need at the break. Who knows what team will have a fire-sale at the break and we may get what we need then. I like the young talent we have and “IF” Fredi manages it right we should compete all season long.I like the platoon method for some of those positions because it gives some of those players a break who need one every so often and that bench player some at – bats to stay ready in case of injury.
BiggDawgK
December 18th, 2012
6:46 pm
GO Falcons Go Dawgs tech is a joke
Buzzzed
December 18th, 2012
7:06 pm
Tech has some BIG TIME talent on the Bball team. Check out how well our BIG MAN can move:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ABVSlBJXJs
They’ll finish middle of ACC this year, but the next couple of years are gonna be real fun to watch. ;^)
jo
December 18th, 2012
9:46 pm
Big test this weekend for falcons. They need to hammer the lion cubs to show they mean business and ready to continue ti be taken serious.
Bradley, there you go
December 19th, 2012
8:54 am
You said, “It’ll be interesting to see how interested the Bulldogs are in playing Nebraska. Not very, would be my guess, and I can’t really blame them.”
Already covering for a possible loss by GA, huh. Listen, Paterno had a great bowl record. Why? Winning a bowl, any bowl matters. Nebraska and Georgia both have something to prove. Should Nebraska lose, it will only validate the loss to Wisconsin. Same for GA. The loss would validate that Bama did not play a great game.
God, how much does rich
No you didn't
December 19th, 2012
9:01 am
Buckeye,
Dan Fouts called it. Bad call, Bad call, Bad call. The penalty that gave OSU a new set of downs vs Miami vs Miami winning the NC.
The only people that believe OSU won that game were OSU fans and Miami haters. Still leaves the vast majority that believe Miami won that game.
Yes, OSU had a questionable call earlier. Difference: There was still time after that call. With this call, the game would have been over.
Garth
December 19th, 2012
9:45 am
Where are all those fans who screamed and yell for Vick to stay? And whatever happened to Michael Vick, anyway?
Michael "The Dynasty" Vick
December 19th, 2012
9:50 am
I’ll be playing next year, just like Tebow. We both suck, but hey we fill seats.
AtlanGa Faldawgs
December 19th, 2012
11:51 am
is it just me, or, has there been a huge increase in “homer” sports journalism lately?
Buckeye
December 19th, 2012
2:25 pm
no you didn’t,
Ok. Then I guess I didn’t see us beat Arkansas.
Flo- Ri - Duh
December 19th, 2012
2:27 pm
Weren’t the Patriots undefeated in the regular season a few years ago with Brady? Didn’t they get beat in their 1st playoff game? YES & YES. Two more games and the end of the regular season and then sudden death begins. Get through the next two with a “W” and no major injuries – then the real season begins.