Taking the UGA blog ‘to the people’
It’s late February and things are about to really crank up on the Georgia athletics scene.
- The basketball regular season is almost over and postseason play is right around the corner. Lost in all the drama and drudgery surrounding the Bulldogs’ men’s basketball team this season is the fact they will be defending their SEC tournament title down in Tampa. Who knows, a hurricane could strike, right? If so I’ll be there to chronicle it. And I imagine they’ll have to hire a coach sooner or later. We’ll cover that, too. Anyone else wondering if the Lady Dogs will get left out The Dance?
- Baseball season has already cranked up and the Diamond Dawgs are having to rebuild their lineup after last season’s national runner-up finish. They have some arms, though, and some good young talent from what I’ve been able to see. Methinks they may be pretty good again.
- Of course, spring football practice begins in mid-March and we’ll be all over that as always.
- Georgia’s loaded for bear as usual in men’s and women’s tennis and golf. And as we’ve learned recently, the track teams aren’t too shabby either.
I mention all this because I need your help. My aim is to make this blog as interactive and user-friendly as possible. So I need to know what it is you most want to read about here.
Is it football, football, football all the time? Do you want to see mini-features and Q&As on the gridders every day? Or would you prefer a nice balance, touching on baseball and basketball and the non-revenues fairly regularly?
Speaking of football, I’m going to be over at the Butts-Mehre Building Wednesday afternoon where several players will be available for interviews. I’ve already done Q&As with QB Logan Gray and TBs Dontavius Jackson and Carlton Thomas I still need to share. Who are some other players you’d like to hear from or some subjects you’d like to see discussed?
I’m getting assignments from my editors all the time. Might as well take it straight to “the people,” right? So what do you say, people?
Now for a few links:
Not sure if you’ll find this of interest but this is a direct quote from Florida quarterback Tim Tebow regarding next year’s game against the Bulldogs in Jacksonville: “Come see us beat Georgia again.” . . .
Speaking of Florida, TE recruit Orson Charles of Tampa apparently has eliminated the Gators from consideration, according to a report in the Palm Beach Post. . . .
Mike Merola, captain of the 1950 Georgia football team, passed away recently. . . .
This is kind of old news but I didn’t see it when it came out. So, for what it’s worth, Georgia was voted among the Top 5 programs in the nation for producing a family atmosphere. . . .
Charles Bloom, associate commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, is trying is hand at blogging. So the least I can do is direct some of you to something he calls “Principled Profiles in Sports.” Let me know what you think.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
115 comments Add your comment
bank walker
February 25th, 2009
11:57 am
Please, in the future, do us the favor of excluding any Elane Kitten articles. He is a drama queen, only looking for attention, and he really isn’t worth your effort in writing. GO DAWGS!!
Right On Time
February 25th, 2009
12:00 pm
Chip,
You probobly have nothing to do with it, but the poll question of the day is just plain stupid!
“Who would you like to see in Athens if Richt left?” Dumb on it’s own.
THEN our choices are Saban, Myer, Nutt, Spurrier and Miles?
Thursdays poll question:
If you lose your job in this economy, would you rather 1)lose your house and car or 2)have a sharp impliment deflate your eyeball and then not be able to pay your medical bills?
Dawg fan
February 25th, 2009
12:01 pm
I am a football fanatic but more coverage of all the spring sports as well would be great. Baseball, track, tennis, golf, etc. Also, if there would be a way to better police the reader comments that would be appreciated. The trash talking/sour mouthing comments become absolutely disgusting (don’t know if there is a way for readers to selectively block some comments). If I want to hear trash talk and whining I will just watch FOX News. TKs.
Huh?
February 25th, 2009
12:03 pm
I hate to be rude, but if BugKiller could shut the hell up it would really nice. Thanks.
BugKiller
February 25th, 2009
12:08 pm
Nope.
Chip Towers
February 25th, 2009
12:09 pm
Right on Time: I think Georgia’s reps will at least reach out to Tubby to gauge his interest. But I would think it’s a longer-than-long-shot. He makes $3.3 million per year and has a $13 million contract with a hefty buyout. I don’t think the Dogs are going to go down that road. . . . And, no, I don’t have anything to do with the poll question. And, yes, I agree with your assessment of this one.
AC in Boulder
February 25th, 2009
12:18 pm
80% Football
10% Men’s Basketball
8% Men’s Baseball
2% Everything else
Huh?
February 25th, 2009
12:20 pm
It was worth a try. I see that its lunchtime. Chick-fil-a anyone?
The Truth
February 25th, 2009
12:23 pm
I’d like to hear about off season conditioning. It seems like every other year our football team has major injury issues. A few years back we had a lot of O and D line recruits that never panned out because they ended up have chronic injuries (some with behavior issues). After that season CMR said they would revisit the process for evaluating players during the recruiting process. Have we revisited the conditioning program this off season? Are mat drills to rigorous? Why aren’t other teams plagued with injuries every other year like we are?
The Sham
February 25th, 2009
12:26 pm
THROW US SOME UGA BASEBALL NUGGETS TO SATISFY US. THOSE BOYS ARE GOING TO BE SOLID THIS YEAR. SHOW THE LOVE NOW AND WHEN THEY WIN THE N.C. IN A YEAR YOU WON’T BE CONSIDERED A FAIR WEATHER REPORTER…
reservoirDAWG
February 25th, 2009
12:28 pm
Please Bugkiller, appease Huh?.
BugKiller
February 25th, 2009
12:43 pm
Not a chance… I will remain a voice of truth, crying in the wilderness, wearing sackcloth and living off of honeycomb and locusts.
If you all are happy with the status quo, as Coach Richt seems to be, what with his unwillingness to fire terrible coaches because they’re “family,” then I hope you realize that sooner than later, the status quo will begin to fall to 9 win seasons, instead of 10 win seasons, because Martinez will continue to drag this program down.
It’s what happened at FSU when the head coach there refused to fire his terrible Offensive Coordinator.
You think Richt would have been smart enough to learn from his mentor’s egregious mistakes.
Huh?
February 25th, 2009
12:47 pm
Sorry. I think I might have stirred the hornets nest.
Nowhere Bartender
February 25th, 2009
12:48 pm
hey chip i hope u read this far down
you know athens, its football football football all the time BUT i would really like to hear more baseball stories. especially with the mediocre bravos down the road, i need a good team to root for.
No more basketball until he hire a coach. its too pathetic
thanks
Music City Dawg
February 25th, 2009
12:49 pm
I like hearing what other schools are doing and/or saying (i.e. the Tim Tebow comment). It’s fun to see what the competition is up to.
NRBQ
February 25th, 2009
12:52 pm
Priceless fail, Atlanta Jacket.
Bonus points for managing to misspell your own quarterback’s name.
Nowhere Bartender
February 25th, 2009
12:53 pm
and if you could keep us updated on fields, beckham, and keppinger. i dont get to see many reds games and american league baseball is sacrilege
Right On Time
February 25th, 2009
12:54 pm
Thanks Chip. I was not aware Tubby was so handsomely compensated. I can’t imagine matching the base, much less the buyout. In fact, that would qualify as reckless spending. Oh well, here’s hoping for the undiscovered genius.
Captain
February 25th, 2009
12:55 pm
Atlanta Jackets — I always appreciate a good GT supporter posting profound comments, especially those like you WHO CAN’T CORRECTLY SPELL THE PLAYER’S NAMES. Who is Nesbot? Impressive post Dude. Not smart enough to insult the Dawgnation. Why don’t you check the spelling of the GT QB’s last name.
AceDawg
February 25th, 2009
1:02 pm
What would it take to grow enthusiasm and strong support for UGA basketball? Obviously, Harrick had the stands filled toward the end of his run because the Dawgs were winning, but enthusiasm shouldn’t fall off the face of the Earth when the Dawgs are mediocre. (Right now, I understand to an extent because they are doing awful, but c’mon Dawgs fans! They might win a game or two more if you all gave them energy).
GeoffDawg
February 25th, 2009
1:17 pm
I think atlanta jacket was trying to rhyme with robot. Robots….there’s a tech fan who really knows how to play into a stereotype.
LOLDAWG
February 25th, 2009
1:40 pm
well done GeoffDawg!Well Done.
Preston
February 25th, 2009
1:51 pm
I think you should keep doing what you’re doing. I know it’s tough trying to keep us fed with football news in the offseason but you seem to find a way to make it happen and I appreciate it. The other sports are interesting but a VERY distant second. just keep us informed mostly with the football program because that is UGA’s money maker. The things that I am waiting to hear about are the academic situations of the new guys coming in and which RB’s stand out during Spring practice and win the most playing time.
Music City Dawg
February 25th, 2009
1:56 pm
Agree with Preston — the RB situation has everyone curious, as does the QB situation. We assume Cox will take over, but who knows? He could get yanked.
Orson Charles interests me also. Although, I think he should quit being a drama queen and choose.
Cameron
February 25th, 2009
1:57 pm
Football, football, football. We want to know who the basketball coach is going to be. But, until they are relevant (or at least headed in the right direction) then that is all. Track: only the Lawrence kid. Baseball, sure some. But, don’t overdo it.
gdawginkalamazoo
February 25th, 2009
2:09 pm
godawg, that bullet comment was sad. Sad but hilarious. But only hilarious until somebody gets hurt.
Chip Towers
February 25th, 2009
2:35 pm
Hey guys. We’ll see how many of you are paying attention and navigating all the way down to the bottom of the blog. . . .
I’m over at the UGA football complex right now. At a little after 3 p.m., Joe Cox, A.J. Green, Aaron Murray, Makiri Pugh and Michael Moore will be available for interviews. A little later, Brandon Wheeling and Marcus Dowtin will be coming by.
So any specific questions you’d like me to ask? P.S. I ignore idiots.
bairet
February 25th, 2009
2:37 pm
Hey Chip, maybe a Q and A with Aaron Murray now that he’s officially a georgia student? Or maybe a Q and A with Kris Durham. His future at wideout was really looking bright before his injuries and A.J. Green’s emergence.
gdawginkalamazoo
February 25th, 2009
2:39 pm
Bugkiller, they also play Sister Sledge in the background when the coaches are having their annual reviews.
dangerranger6969
February 25th, 2009
2:40 pm
I would like to see a blog on what does uga get out of the game between ga and fla in jacksonville and why they dont go home and home
GeoffDawg
February 25th, 2009
2:41 pm
Hey Chip – you could ask AJ Green if he thinks he’s physically ready to handle the increased number of double teams he’s likely to face this season with the departure of Massaquoi.
GeoffDawg
February 25th, 2009
2:43 pm
I’d also like to know what Joe Cox personally thinks are his greatest strengths and weaknesses. That could provide some insight into the types of schemes we may see this Fall.
gdawginkalamazoo
February 25th, 2009
2:43 pm
Keep it football for the majority then punch in other sports as championships get closer, ie, golf, gymnastics, baseball. Or the “here are a few links” is a welcomed addition that you can put the other sports under.
Cuz
February 25th, 2009
2:58 pm
Ask AJ if he feels that he is under more pressure now that the other two of the titanic trio are gone.
Blog topics, start with a daily dose of football with other sports thrown in where warranted. And get a daily cheerleader pic with a Q and A discussing the advantages of the pro-style offense over the spread. Or some other important topic like why Willie Martinez doesn’t pronounce his name like we do in Augusta, it is pronounced Martnez, two syllables not three.
Cuz
February 25th, 2009
3:01 pm
Easy answer Mr. Danger. The Jax game is the South Georgia contingent of the Bulldawg Nation’s homegame. Just ask one.
Music City Dawg
February 25th, 2009
3:45 pm
Chip,
dangerranger6969 brings up a good point. Why don’t we play a home-and-home with FLA? I think we did one in the 90s, but before that, we were always playin in JAX. Why is that?
Not that it would matter, they would drill us either way.
RxDawg
February 25th, 2009
3:47 pm
Ask Joe Cox who is really going to stand out next year at WR other then AJ. I don’t believe Marlon Brown is just going to come in and knock all the other WR’s right off the depth chart. I know Moore is a good name to think about, but who else? Theres a lot of good recruits there that have paid their dues. Tony Wilson, Troup, Durham..ect.
Music City Dawg
February 25th, 2009
3:47 pm
Does anyone read Jeff Owens’ blog? I like the Q & A he does with the players.
Cuz
February 25th, 2009
3:54 pm
Music City, we did the home and home when they rebuilt the stadium for the Jaguars. Man that old stadium was a bunch of rusty bolts.
DawgGirl32
February 25th, 2009
4:05 pm
Who is Makiri Pugh?
Preston
February 25th, 2009
4:05 pm
Music City Dawg, We played a home and home series back when Spurrier was still at Florida because they were renovating the stadium where we play every year. The place had become a dump and UGA was close to pulling out of the deal and go to a permanent home and home but they put some money in the place and here we are playing them in the state of Florida every year.
dawgstephen
February 25th, 2009
4:08 pm
Those interested in hearing from some things at UGA regarding the offseason can listen to my radio interview i had 2 weeks ago with Coach Van Halanger. I posted it to my church website. Just scroll to the bottom of the page. here is the link.
http://www.dogwoodvalleybaptist.com/Radio.html
GeoffDawg
February 25th, 2009
4:09 pm
The home and home was when Spurrier ran up the score on those porous (Joe Kines?) defenses we used to trot out on the field. I wouldn’t be against evening up the playing field but I think I would rather see it alternate to the Georgia Dome every other year. Playing it at a “neutral site” lends the game a larger sense of importance IMO.
Chip Towers
February 25th, 2009
4:21 pm
OK, Aaron Murray was a no-show, which sucks because I was going to write him up for the morning paper. I’ll give you A.J. Green instead. Couple of things y’all asked for, then I have to get to writing. . . .
From A.J. Green, regarding double teams: “Yeah, I’m up for the challenge. I’m just going to have to work hard this spring, get better in the summer, get bigger. . . . The offense will be switching me around some, putting me off the ball, putting me in motion a lot and stuff like that. I think I’m going be all over the place this year, not just a ‘Z.’ I’m going to be the Y, the X, just everywhere.’
From Joe Cox, on greatest strengths and weaknesses: “I’d say my greatest strength is nothing physical, it’s my leadership abilities. I’ve said it before, that’s what I pride myself on, how I lead and how I conduct myself on and off the field. Weaknesses, really I could name just about anything. Not being a downfall, just being things I need to work on. You can always work on footwork, you can never learn an offense enough. Those are the things I’ve been trying to work on the most right now in the offseason.”
Z.Itchy
February 25th, 2009
4:25 pm
I’d like to know the offense and defense will look like compared to last year, especially in light of the exodus of Stafford, Allen, Massaquoi and Moreno.
GeoffDawg
February 25th, 2009
4:28 pm
Thanks Chip! I really like this new “blog for the people” format.
gdawginkalamazoo
February 25th, 2009
4:35 pm
I hope they put AJ in the e,n,d,z,o,n,e.
Music City Dawg
February 25th, 2009
4:43 pm
OK, thanks for the info. So, how did the JAX tradition get started to begin with? I’m sure we’re still in it for money reasons, but I wonder how it got started?
Old Dawg
February 25th, 2009
5:10 pm
Chip:
I’d really like to see a nice balance on all of the spring sports. There are so many great participants in those sports, with many of them pursuing advanced degrees in medicine, law etc. They’re also great characters with lots of stories about the matches and road trips. Plus, the tennis coaches are two of the best in the business and really great people.
Looking at it from a circulation/sales perspective, throughout my sports writing career stories on supposedly minor sports created a lot of buzz in rack sales and requests for extra copies of the paper.
I know I’ve mentioned this before, but feature stories and Q&As with former athletes are always popular. I enjoyed the recent pieces on Andre Hastings and Randall Godfrey y’all have written. Some writers and editors may look at stories like those as small town journalism, but in reality we’re all hooked on human interest stories. One of the best is right there in Athens, Brent Crimes. He played tennis at UGA and is an eye doctor … nice way to show that student-athletes can actually go on and earn great careers. Another one is Robert “Happy” Dicks, a linebacker from the 60s who is now an Athens neurosurgeon.
Chip, y’all do great work. Keep the great copy coming!
CornerPlaya
February 25th, 2009
5:17 pm
Why do the UGA corners continue to play pass defense with their back to the ball. I have seen it over and over, where a ball about hits them in the back of the head because they are not looking. Not only could they knock it down but have jsut as good of chance of an interception. CMR has said it is becasue once you turn around the receiver is gone..In my EXPERIENCE, it is obvious when the ball is released and it is still going to go where thrown and not change directions like a receiver. When you are at the bottom of the league in INT’s, maybe seeing the ball would help???