Talking football . . .
(Hey. Just a note that this is my last post for a while. I’m on vacation until July 14. By then, we’ll be only about a week away from SEC football media days, to be soon followed by the start of preseason practice . . . and, before you know it, the trip to Stillwater. For now, here are a couple of stories I did on the impact of Georgia’s ultra-lucrative new marketing and media deals — this one about how some of the new money will be spent and this one about the effect on the fans.)
Athens — About once a week in the quiet months between spring ball and preseason practice, a number of Georgia football players meet with beat reporters covering the team at the Butts-Mehre building. Honestly, these sessions don’t generate much news. But here are a few things I picked up in this week’s availability:
– Another voice expressed the view that the defense is motivated to redeem itself after last year’s debacles. “I feel we don’t get as much respect as we need to, but that comes in due time,” linebacker Marcus Dowtin said. “Based on some of the things that happened over last year, I think we kind of got looked down upon. I mean, we have a lot to improve on, and that’s what we’re working hard to do this year.” Asked if he’s approaching the season with a chip on his shoulder, Dowtin said: “The whole defense is . . . preparing like that, working hard. I feel personally that I’m definitely working harder preparing with a chip on my shoulder because I have a lot to prove.”
– As you know, there’s lots of need –- and opportunity –- at the receiver position, where the Dogs will be looking for guys to step up beyond sophomore star A.J. Green and productive senior Michael Moore. In his second season in the program, Tavarres King thinks he’s ready to play a big role. “I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m feeling more comfortable,” King said. “The speed of the game has kind of slowed down to me.” He’s put on eight pounds since the end of spring practice, to 184.
– King said the reality is that Green “is going to get double-teamed. He got double-teamed a lot last year. But it’s very important to find that guy [to take some pressure off]. It could be Marlon Brown, could be Rantavious Wooten, could be Mike Moore, Israel Troupe, myself.” King said the receivers, as a group, are “viewing it as an opportunity. Eveybody’s eyes are wide open for this thing.”
– Like others, King thinks freshman tight end Orson Charles and freshman cornerback Branden Smith will contribute at WR. On Charles: “Orson is awesome. . . He’s always ready to go. You can tell he’s got his head on his shouders. He’s always focused, excited. He’s a smooth cat.” On Smith: “Branden can run like a gazelle.”
— Richard Samuel, the sophomore tailback who missed spring practice after wrist surgery, said he’s not quite 100 percent yet. “I can’t do as much weight” as before the injury, he said. But he reiterated he’ll be a full participant in the battle for the tailback job come August.
– Samuel agreed the tailback battle will be decided by much more than ball carrying. “Basically what the coach looks for [is] someone who can still get the job done without the ball –- running your routes, making the right blocks, making the right reads,” Samuel said. “So having those components is essential . . to be the starting running back or the running back who gets the most touches.”
– I missed the visit with tackle Trinton Sturdivant while working on another story elsewhere, but he told my esteemed colleagues on the beat that the versatile offensive line is working out this summer with a stable No. 1 unit: LT Sturdivant, LG Vince Vance, C Ben Jones, RG Cordy Glenn and RT Clint Boling. Of course, no one will be surprised if that changes a bit by Sept. 5. Sturdivant, who missed all of last season after knee surgery, is 100 percent.
– And finally, Samuel weighed in on the team’s attitude and approach: “Everybody is working harder, pushing themselves harder. Everybody is just striving, striving for the best. . . . Basically, the team is leading the team. We are not allowing anybody to slack off.”
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204 comments Add your comment
Rebel Rouser
June 28th, 2009
7:23 pm
Looks like macrotech had his feelings hurt…what a pitiful bunch of losers the tech fans are..you can tell by the number of them that show up on the Georgia blog that they have a large inferiority complex when it comes to UGA. They like to talk smack on here because in person no one will give them the time of day….I’ve got four Tech graduates that work for me and they are all clock punchers….always looking to punch out at quiting time whether their work is completed or not. Grow up bug fans…quit hiding behind this blog…you get respect when you earn it…go support your little team ….the big time programs don’t have time for you.
ramguy
June 28th, 2009
7:30 pm
I don’t worry too much about the Tech guys. I work with two of them and their boss is a grad of Southern PolyTech. I never miss an opportunity to point that out to them. Anyway the pressure is on them this year. They are the team that is supposed to be a world beater. Let’s see how it goes.
CHARLOTTE DAWG
June 28th, 2009
9:19 pm
i never knew that the whole time i was arguing with a *itch. no wonder
macrooonerd
June 28th, 2009
9:25 pm
Thats my real name so I had to be a tech fan.I took the ged and failed,so I must pull for tech so you’uns think I is intelogent.
macrooonerd
June 28th, 2009
9:26 pm
45+42=59-37-5
macrotech
June 28th, 2009
9:28 pm
I’m so embarrassed.good by.
CHARLOTTE DAWG
June 28th, 2009
9:41 pm
POAD, yeah, your bad too. And didn’t you recently admit you liked men? Now you and Micro Matza ball have something in common. You and Micro the *itch have totally reinforced my stereotype of Tech fans. And both of you about $hit yourself everytime I say something Non-PC. OH DEAR GOD! HOW DARE I! I bet both of your weak-minded, ACLU card carrying a$$es hate living in that wonderful red state. The site of the rebel flag probably makes you start twitching.
And Micro you worthless *unt! I stay off the Tech blogs b/c I am not an annoying insect nor a fan of insects. Pretty sure I could handle a bunch of star trek enthusiasts. Did you know Sayed Ahmed? I bet we violated his rights, didn’t we?
And POAD or choade, were you just making fun of UGA for having hot as hell girls all over their campus? Not really a bad thing dude. If you recall, your college days at the trade school didn’t have much eye candy with the likes of Micro walking around with her dark black hair, foreign accent, cankles, and tank a$$.
Micro, tell your boyfriend, Quantavious, that I said hello.
Don’t like all this stuff?…then stay away.
macrotech
June 29th, 2009
12:24 am
Rebel Rubber, my feelings haven’t been hurt in the least…not sure where you pulled that from…POSSIBLY, the same place CHARLOTTE DAWG pulls his little tales from… here’s a hint, most folk wipe it and dawgs lick it. Pretty sure you’re on the Tech blogs…apparently you are struggling with a ‘large inferiority complex’. CHARRED DAWG, AT LEAST there is evidence that you read my post this time. It’s not surprising that you’d rather pull for a ball licking canine over a pesky insect… keep speaking and revealing the kind of trash that you are. YOU are reinforcing every stereotypical redneck dawg fan! (Please, note; that I do not consider, even the majority of UGA fans to fit in this catagory). Here’s a thought…why don’t you and Rebel hook up and make each other squeal like pigs? CHARLOTTE, you’re not man enough to make me stay away! As for the person posting under my screen name… immitation is the greatest form of flattery… thank you! GO TECH!!!
www.DawgsNation.com
June 29th, 2009
3:03 am
http://www.DawgsNation.com
The Customer
June 29th, 2009
3:35 am
Hey, one of you nerds stop picking each others noses and fix the projector in Theater 6.
CHARLOTTE DAWG
June 29th, 2009
9:25 am
Unbelievable.
Tide Rising
June 29th, 2009
3:05 pm
Feel the hate. As a neutral fan I can’t wait to watch the dawgs and jackets this year. No. 1 I think it will be a great game. No. 2 It looks like the rivalry and the hate are back on. Can’t wait to see these blogs the day after the game.
As a neutral observor I will say that I’ve followed UGA football for awhile since I live in ATL and the dawgs have been good under CMR. Haven’t really followed Tech because Gailey just didn’t have it. But I love option football having grown up a Bama wishbone fan so I’m looking forward to watching Tech this season as well as UGA.
I will say to the dawg fans that as long as Johnson is at Tech this is not going to be a gimme game anymore by any means. Even with lesser talent Tech will be able to compete going forward not just with UGA but with just about anyone they play on a weekly basis. Its just that hard to prepare for an option offense you only see once a year and I don’t read too much into their game with LSU since LSU had a full month to prepare for the option offense.
Plus I think they can only increase the talent level. Even with the leftovers after the big dawg UGA takes their pick of the state crop Tech is still going to get a lot more talent than what they’ve played with lately. I think we will also have a tough time with Tech when we play them in 2013 and 2014. Anyway, looking forward to the season. What is it? 70 days or less?
Sanjaya and Rosie O'Donell Love Georgia Tech
June 29th, 2009
3:47 pm
The Customer: Now that was funny. Good stuff. Go Dawgs!
southgadawg88
June 29th, 2009
4:07 pm
….I have been talking Dowtin up for a minute and soon you guys will see why.The thing I liked about his HS career is that he went both was a tough RB and physical LB a lot like Samuel.I’m still holding on to the hope that Richard moves over to LB.Those two guys would be an awesome combo.I love the recruits we have picked up lately…size…speed..and athletic ability…this class has Defensive makeover all over it and I salute the staff for aggressively going after headhunters and playmakers…. overall this team will have a totally different look next year.
southgadawg88
June 29th, 2009
4:19 pm
…..I’m getting tired of talking about Tech already…in my book ANY team that gives up 40 pts has NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO BRAG ABOUT.That goes for UGA as well… had we pulled that game out I’d still be dissapointed with our play.However if the GT people want to feel good about a win period…congrats…but this is a new year ..time will tell how both teams perform this season..looking at GT’s last game I would advise them to wait until they play the games before they crank up the CPJ is the savior talk.It feels good to bloody the bully’s nose every now and then but that don’t mean it’s a trend.
Rebel Rouser
June 29th, 2009
7:23 pm
Hey macrotech….mission accomplished….I know who you are and even your friends are embarrassed by you. You talk tough but truth be known you are just a punk…never played competitive sports in your life because you were never any good at anything you tried (except picking your nose) I love getting you riled up…its so easy!Have fun watching your bugs go down in flames this year….I’ll be laughing every time you lose and….. so will your friendscause they told me they love to watch you lose your temper. November 28th can’t get here soon enough. Techs gonna get a good old fashion beat down.
macrotech
June 29th, 2009
9:32 pm
Rebel Rouser, BORING…..
BuLLdawg
June 30th, 2009
2:43 am
Tech ends up Number 50 in the Directors’ Cup All-Sports Trophy.
UGA is Number 18.
2000.
2001.
2002.
2003.
2004.
2005.
2006.
2007.
2008.
8 consecutive years and counting, Tech has ended up ranked WORSE than Coach Richt’s UGA program in the Final AP Poll.
And, as for ACC baseball, The SEC won the National Championship in that sport too.
Interesting that a Bama fan would not write about losing the 10 wins they lose 10-2 in 2005-2006, the 6 wins they lose 6-7 in 2006-2007, and the 5 wins they lose in 2007-2008 in their latest NCAA Major Infractions Database PROBATION textbook scandal. Obviously Bama fans have become accustomed to having their program on PROBATION – the only SEC team to be on PROBATION. How could a Bama fan venture into Atlanta’s WebPages, and ignore the Ruling by the NCAA putting Bama BACK on PROBATION right after going on PROBATION ? How can that be ?
BuLLdawg
June 30th, 2009
2:51 am
Bama has averaged 6 wins a year for the last entire 16 years and counting.
http://football.stassen.com/cgi-bin/records/fetch-team.pl?team=Alabama
WHY DO MUTTS BARK? CAUSE BEES STING
June 30th, 2009
8:59 am
YEAH I NEVER HEAR YOU MUTT FANS COUNT OUT WHO GOT THE MOST FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, MUTTS AT UGAY 1 TITLE, AND THE BUMBLE BEES HAVE 4,GO AND CHEW ON THAT! REDNECK HICKS!
The Enterprise
June 30th, 2009
3:43 pm
1942 + 1980 = 1990
Hershal + noshown = J. Dwyer
WTF?? + SugarHillDawg = scene from Deliverance
45 – 42 = 1
Dooley + Goff + Donan + Richt = P. Johnson
8-0 = number of rings sold on EBay
University of Georgia + Georgia Southern + Valdosta State + Albany State + Morehouse + West Georgia + Fort Valley + Middle Georgia + Shorter = Georgia Tech
gdawginkalamazoo
June 30th, 2009
3:46 pm
Maybe our D will get fired up this year. My wish is that we play every game 100% till the end. Kind of like Florida does. No let up, no scoreboard watching. No taking off the third quarter. Sounds like having the D line back is going to make a world of difference for all the LB’s and DB’s. We have a ton of talent coming in that wasn’t there in the spring. OK State is going to be a great game to start the season. How we handle that game will set the pace and show us what we actually have on the D side of the ball.
I hate to say this but those Tech characters have the bragging rights for this year so IMO they can have their say here. For them a 3 point win was a 30 point win in their minds. Like them on here or not, like what they say or don’t, but they got the right this year. I don’t like it but those are the smack talk rules.
All that talk of recruiting woes should die down now. Richt and Garner are getting done again this year. I just hope it translates to complete games.
gdawginkalamazoo
June 30th, 2009
4:34 pm
Star Trek space ship + Whatever Nancy Pelosi is taking = The Enterprise.
WHY DO MUTTS BARK? CAUSE BEES STING
July 1st, 2009
8:53 am
SINCE YOU DONT HEAR IT FROM THE MUTT FANS, GEORGIA TECH HAS 4 NATIONAL FOOTBALL TITLES,TO THE MUTTS 1 NATIONAL TITLE,SO WHO HAS THE BETTER PROGRAM,SINCE UGAY CANT WIN THE BIG GAME WITH MARK (NUTUP) RICHT,AT LEAST THE BUMBLE BEES WON THE LAST ONE IN 1990!
WHY DO MUTTS BARK? CAUSE BEES STING
July 1st, 2009
8:54 am
PAUL JOHNSON 1-0 VS MARK RICHT 0-1
Saint Simons
July 1st, 2009
9:15 am
TECH owns uga!!!!!!!!!! 45-42!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
yellow fuzz's FLORIDA freind
July 1st, 2009
10:22 am
2008 Florida-georgia game recap
1st Quarter
Gators TD Percy Harvin rushed to the left for 13 yard gain (Jonathan Phillips made PAT) 7 – 0. Florida did NOT show a lack of class and send their bench onto the field to celebrate their first score.
2nd Quarter
Bulldogs FG Blair Walsh kicked a 34-yard field goal 7 – 3
Gators TD Tim Tebow rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain (Jonathan Phillips made PAT) 14 – 3
3rd Quarter
Gators TD Tim Tebow rushed to the left for 1 yard gain (Jonathan Phillips made PAT) 21 – 3
Gators TD Tim Tebow passed to Louis Murphy to the left for 44 yard gain (Jonathan Phillips made PAT) 28 – 3
Gators TD Tim Tebow rushed up the middle for 7 yard gain (Jonathan Phillips made PAT) 35 – 3
4th Quarter
Gators TD Tim Tebow passed to Percy Harvin down the middle for 25 yard gain (Jonathan Phillips made PAT) 42 – 3
Gators TD John Brantley passed to Deonte Thompson down the middle for 7 yard gain (Jonathan Phillips made PAT) 49 – 3
Bulldogs TD Joe Cox passed to Aron White to the right for 19 yard gain (Blair Walsh made PAT) 49 – 10. Bulldogs bench did not empty for another classless end zone celebration after their first touchdown of the afternoon. All 30,000 Florida fans and 1,200 Georgia fans that had not left the stadium applauded Georgia’s touchdown and PAT.
Time expired
Georgia fans walked to their parking lots with their tails between their legs while thousands of Florida fans did the chop thing in their faces (and behind their backs as they walked by). Hundreds did the humerous “woof woof” thing and took photographs next to Georgia fans that had passed out in the shrubbery around the stadium.
Did someone say “decade of dominance”? How about double decades of DESPOTISM!
yellow fuzz's FLORIDA freind
July 1st, 2009
10:24 am
Georgia = Florida’s old bitch and Ga Tech’s new one.
BuLLdawg
July 2nd, 2009
1:40 am
Both Tech and UGA have six (6) National Championships listed in the Official NCAA Football Records Book Bowl Championship Division.
6 UGA National Championships in Football.
What is true is that Tech, who has not been ranked ahead of UGA in the Final AP Poll 8 Consecutive Years and Counting (Entire Coach Richt Era)…
Tech has NEVER been ranked Number 1 in any Final AP Poll ever.
Now, how many NC in football does Tech have ? Or, UGA ?
BuLLdawg
July 2nd, 2009
1:44 am
Tech doesn’t have 4 NC and UGA 1. Tech has NEVER been ranked Number 1 in ANY Final AP Poll.
The very same polls who ranked Tech Number 1 six times, have in fact ranked UGA Number 1 six times, according to the Official NCAA Football Records Book Bowl Championship Division.
UGA 6 NC Football.
Tech 6 NC Football.
Only Tech NEVER Number 1 in ANY Final AP Poll.
superDawg
July 2nd, 2009
9:21 am
Amen
WHY DO MUTTS BARK? CAUSE BEES STING
July 2nd, 2009
10:38 am
MUTT FANS GOT RINGS LATELY 1980,UGAY HAS 1 NATIONAL TITLE IN 1980,MUTT FANS HAVE TO LIE TO MAKE THEIR TEAM LOOK BIGGER THAN THEY ARE,45-42
PAUL JOHNSON 1-0 VS MARK(NUTUP)RICHT 0-1. 4 NATIONAL TITLES G.TECH TO UGAY 1 NATIONAL TITLE.
WHY DO MUTTS BARK? CAUSE BEES STING
July 2nd, 2009
10:45 am
THE BUMBLE BEES WON THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1917 1928 1952 AND LAST IN 1990,YOU MUTTS ON THE OTHER HAND ONLY HAVE 1942 AND 1980 TO LOOK AT FAKE REDNECK MUTT FANS,LIE ABOUT THERE HISTORY AT UGAY,MAD BECAUSE THE NERDS HAVE MORE FOOTBALL NATIONAL TITLES.
superDawg
July 2nd, 2009
4:38 pm
WHY DO MUTTS BARK AND BEES STINK.Go online and learn the facts you are one of dumbest obama voting idiots I have ever seen on these blogs.obama says check is in the mail so go see.
Dawg Man
July 3rd, 2009
9:34 am
With the dawg defense loading up with all these superstars, they will be the team to beat in the SEC in 2010. Also, look for UGA to beat Tech this year like a rented mule. I’d be surprised if Tech gets 13 points—they were exposed in the lsu game. That gimmick offense will not work this year.
yarddawg
July 4th, 2009
9:48 am
Georgia 27 Oklahoma State 6 trust me
shane#1
July 4th, 2009
4:36 pm
There is some great reading on the Smart Football site about the offenses of CPJ and CUM. Carrying out your assignments on D against CPJ will not necessarily beat Tech. CPJ changes blocking assignments from play to play. Stick with your man and CPJ will have someone take you out of the play. CUM talked about the single wing. “How do you stop the run? Just put an extra man in the box. The single wing allows you to stretch the defense and make that extra man cover someone.” “We will not run against a formation with an unblocked man.” I think there are several ways to beat these teams. The easiest, of course is to win the line of scrimage. The tricky part is how to do that. I would rethink my D line against Tech and put my best athletes on the line. People that are agile enough to protect their legs from the cut blocks. Maybe go to a 3-4 and have one DT at nose and two DEs on the outside. I might switch Jones to CB and add Nick Williams at safety. CBs aren’t know for their ability to defeat blocks and tackle people to the ground. I would have Rambo as a monster man. Rambo ran a similar offense as a QB in high school, so let him read the formation and line up where he chooses. It is hard to assign a man to block a person when you don’t know where he is going to line up. Well, that’s enough for today. I do know this, just sitting there in a 4-4 isn’t going to beat either of these teams. Happy Fourth everyone!
YOUR BOSS IS GT GRAD
July 4th, 2009
8:47 pm
NOW EMPLOYEES, YOU MUST REALIZE PAUL JOHNSON IS GREATER THAN MARK RICHT.
Enough said
July 5th, 2009
1:42 pm
49-10, 45-42
Georgia = Florida’s old bitch and Ga Tech’s new one.
yarddawg
July 5th, 2009
2:00 pm
I don’t think Florida or GT will beat the Dawgs this year.
Prove It!
July 5th, 2009
2:50 pm
Blah, blah, blah.
Doesn’t mean a damn thing. Last year they were all talking about how hard they were working to live up to the high ranking, etc. The defense was talking about how they wouldn’t let what happened a few times (in Knoxville) happen again.
Wow, how quickly we forget about what is said each year and how quickly we all start drinking the kool-aid again. Show me and then I’ll get excited. CWM, we’ll see.
dawes
July 5th, 2009
10:05 pm
georgia tech will never be as good as the georgia bulldogs you tech people don.t have any class
KNelson
July 6th, 2009
8:43 am
Georgia, do you like your crow fried or grilled? Did any of you watch the Spring game? Neither offense could score on that poor defense. Go ahead tell us it was only the Spring game. 4 games into the season everyone else will serve you the crow as we see fit!
WHY DO MUTTS BARK? CAUSE BEES STING
July 7th, 2009
6:17 pm
WHAT HAVE THE MUTTS WON SINCE 1990? NOTHING! NATIONAL TITLES FROM 1990 GEORGIA TECH 1-0 AND UGAY 0-0!
fool me once....
July 7th, 2009
8:19 pm
I agree with prove it! The Dawgs will break your heart.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
July 8th, 2009
9:44 am
Well, really not much to talk about. Just another medioce season from a program that embarasses the state of Georgia.
8-4 at best, maybe 7-5. CMR will move towards his Miami job with 3 years from now when Florida, Alabama and LSU will continue to dominate this program.
DawginLex
July 8th, 2009
3:36 pm
Ah the interception idiot has arrived. i’d love to read some of your other venom spewing crapola filled posts regarding UGA. I bet you predicted 6-6 in 2005 with no David Greene.
Moron. come visit me at Sanford at the first home game. I’ll even wear a red shirt that says DawginLex on it so you can find me.
YardDawg
July 8th, 2009
7:43 pm
The Dawgs will suprise some teams this year. Look for a blowout win over ok state, a beatdown of lsu, UT, Ga Tech and Auburn. The rest of the games will be easy wins. I think Florida will be overconfident, and UGA can pull the upset. Mark it down–the dawgs will be in a BCS bowl this year! Ga Tech will be in a minor bowl, again.
superDawg
July 9th, 2009
12:35 pm
YardDawg tek will be in the toilet bowl.
Sanford Drive
July 9th, 2009
2:58 pm
Yeah, well, Jeff Francoeur was motivated to rebound this season, and we all see how that worked out.