UPDATED: UGA awards scholarships to 8 walkons, Kent Turene out
ATHENS – For decades, coaches have enjoyed awarding what they call the “battlefield scholarship.” It’s that special moment enjoyed at least once a year when they get to call up a walkon before the team and deliver some good news.
“Son, you’ve really showed us something the last few weeks and we want to show our appreciation by putting you on scholarship,” or so it goes.
Thanks to some drastic attrition since last season, Georgia coach Mark Richt got to do that eight times on Thursday. During a team meeting at Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall late in the evening, Richt awarded one-year renewable scholarships to eight different players: junior guard John Bodin of Covington; junior wide receiver Taylor Bradberry of Winder; senior outside linebacker Matthew DeGenova of Kenner, La.; senior cornerback Eric Elliot of Kennesaw; sophomore tailback Brandon Harton of Reidsville; sophomore cornerback Blake Sailors of Athens; junior tailback Wes Van Dyk of Highland Park, Texas; and senior linebacker Jason Veal of Lilburn.
It’s not known if that’s some kind of record but it has to be for Georgia, at least in the modern era.
The Bulldogs were able to award eight grants because, with classes set to start Monday, it was down to 77 players on scholarship. The NCAA-allotted maximum has been 85 since the late 1980s. Eight below is a rarely-heard number for a team that is not under some type of NCAA restriction, and Georgia is not.
Awarding eight also means the door is effectively closed on linebacker Kent Turene of Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. Turene, whose high school transcript has been tied up at the NCAA Eligibility Center all summer, told the AJC he intends to attend Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia if he can’t get his freshman eligibility resolved but, as of Friday morning, he hadn’t given up on being able to attend UGA this fall.
“I haven’t made a decision yet but that’s what I’m thinking right now,” Turene said Friday morning. “[Georgia] just told me I needed to make a decision, but that’s what I’ll probably do.”
Fork Union is a prep school. Turene said he should be able to go there, take over the classes currently in question by the NCAA and enroll in Georgia in January.
“That’s the plan,” he said.
Of course, the Bulldogs had so many opportunities available only because so many players had squandered theirs in the last nine months or so. For one reason or another, Georgia has lost 14 players who would have otherwise been eligible to play this season.
Some of those players are not around for good reasons, such as NFL lottery pick A.J. Green and fellow early-entry draftee Justin Houston. Others just couldn’t hack it one way or another, such as Caleb King, who lost his academic eligibility, and Washaun Ealey, who never bought into Richt’s team concept of “the Georgia Way.
In any case, the news of the eight awards was distributed via a brief news release from UGA late Thursdsay night. So Richt was not immediately available. Hopefully we’ll be able to hear from him about it later this morning after the Bulldogs wrap up their 10th practice of the preseason. I’ll let you know what Richt says if and when he does comment.
You’ll note that five of the eight scholarship recipients are underclassmen. That means Georgia will have to make a decision after the season who to keep on aid or who to not. As UGA spokesman Claude Felton pointed out Thursday, “even Isaiah Crowell’s scholarship is a one-year renewable” (though there is a national movement to make them multiyear deals). So these new Dogs won’t be renewed at the expense of a prospect with an offer come February.
In the meantime, here’s a rundown of the players who otherwise could have been a part of Georgia’s 2011 team:
LOST DOGS
- OL Brent Benedict, RFr. — Transferred to Virginia Tech
- LB Marcus Dowtin, Jr. — Transferred to North Alabama
- TB Washaun Ealey, Jr. – Transferred to Jacksonville State
- TB Caleb King, Jr. — Academically ineligible, will enter NFL supplemental draft
- WR Logan Gray, Jr. — Graduated with eligibility, transferred to Colorado
- WR A.J. Green, Jr. — Early entry into NFL draft
- OL A.J. Harmon, Jr. — Transferred to Alabama State
- LB Justin Houston, Jr. — Early entry into NFL draft
- DE Jeremy Longo, Jr. — Medically disqualified
- DT Chris Mayes, Fr. — Did not qualify, attending junior college
- OL Tanner Strickland, Sr. — graduated with eligibility remaining
- OL Trinton Sturdivant, Sr. — knee injury, career over
- LB Kent Turene, Fr. — Has not qualified
- DB Nick Williams, Jr. — Transferred to North Alabama
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126 comments Add your comment
up early
August 12th, 2011
5:51 am
1st
Booyah
August 12th, 2011
6:01 am
2nd
Carrollton DAWG
August 12th, 2011
6:13 am
3rd
Snellville Dawg
August 12th, 2011
6:17 am
4th
dd
August 12th, 2011
6:21 am
Thanks to all 14 for your contributions.
Sorry that it didn’t work out or hasn’t worked out yet.
My family will keep you in our prayers.
Thought I would say something decent before the trolls wake and come with the cheap shots.
Funny, how most never let anyone know which school they are a fan of.
John
August 12th, 2011
6:23 am
first
dawgfan
August 12th, 2011
6:37 am
I am a huge fan of being able to award deserving walk-ons scholarships. Shows them, and any future prospect that would walk on, that coaches like Mark Richt do value their contributions and consider them part of the team. So often the walk-ons are simply viewed as tackling dummies then to get out of the way when a “star” comes through … now they’re on level playing field. Good for them.
Paddy
August 12th, 2011
6:38 am
Did Nick Williams transfer because of lack of playing time?
Destin Dawg
August 12th, 2011
6:39 am
dd.. these trolls .. techies… gators.. S.C. etc… could you imagine how depressed you would have to be to get on their blogs… spew hate.. negative ??? munt be vampires.. no job… no life !!! Go dawgs… Richt’s a great guy…. this will be our year… Project ” Dome to Dome “..
Wrecker
August 12th, 2011
6:41 am
From a Tech fan: It is good to see these guys’ hard work rewarded. See you in November.
yea
August 12th, 2011
6:44 am
I started for 3 years on a college football team, scored many touchdowns at wide receiver, made player of the week several times and honorable mention in our conference one year. But, the best moment in my college sports career was when I was told I had earned a walk on scholarship. Calling my mother and telling her was fantastic and hearing her tell me how proud she was …. well….the very best. These young men accomplished something they will always remember. Congratulations to them!
KornDawg
August 12th, 2011
6:51 am
I could be mistaken, but I believe Mark Richt has stated in the past that when he gives a scholarship to a player, as far as he is concerned, it’s a four year deal. I know technically they’re one-year renewables.
slydog
August 12th, 2011
6:52 am
My only issue with this is I hope CMR is committed to renewing the scholly’s for these “non-stars”, as long as they stay consistent. They didn’t come to UGA in order to go to the NFL. They came because they genuinely wanted to be Dawgs, both on and off the field. I believe it would be torture if these young men are on scholarship one minute and back at financial aid the next because of some unproven noob. The other thing is, why not leave maybe 5 slots open? Attrition and available scholarships are the #1 reason Auburn is kicking our tails for some of the best in state talent. “Look, we have many spots and scholly’s open and we just won the NC” is one hell of a slogan to sell to kids. Alabama faces alot of attrition too, especially on the defensive side of the ball, not to mention those players cut by design…lol Just sayin
Big Ol Stinger
August 12th, 2011
6:58 am
That’s pretty cool, good for those kids!
You’re right Destin, you’d have to be a depressed, low life, POS to go on another teams blog and spew hate and negativity.
Don’t you agree dawgfan/headley lamar?
JB
August 12th, 2011
7:06 am
I don’t think you would ever see Saban do this. Maybe a kid or two, but 8. Alabama , according to Rivals, currently has 47 offers out for next year. They aren’t finished. What kind of message does that send? Maybe they just think “we’re Bama” and we’ll get back to you. I don’t know. I’m glad this article made clear the ONE year at a time deal. You can bet Saban is not for changing that. He cuts kids every year.. As of now, it’s legal. Right, maybe not, but legal. Go Dawgs
mgdawg
August 12th, 2011
7:08 am
That is really great, but one thing I wonder about is how many could uga have signed next year if they wouldn’t have done this? From what I understand 25 is the limit even if you have 30 available, so if they were going to have over 25 available then it really makes a whole lot of sense. However, if they aren’t going to be able to sign a whole 25 next year because of this, it kind of makes you wonder how smart of an idea it was to give this many to walkons.
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
7:10 am
Why would they leave 5 scholarships unused this year? If I were a walk on I’d be more than willing to take the free money with the expectation of maybe not having it next year (which I was already expecting not to) rather than not having it at all.
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
7:13 am
They gave them to walk on becasue they were laying around, and some of these guys are seniors. Why not? It would be a waste not to. Next year is next year, and this doesnt change anything. Unless they end up keeping one of them with a player that deserves to keep it, in which case..isnt that the goal?
Russ the spotted bulldog
August 12th, 2011
7:20 am
You work your tail off, let Adams paint your backside, and they dump you for a pretty face. That’s how these one-year things work.
Uncle Dawg
August 12th, 2011
7:22 am
Great for these kids. Hard work and playing for a guy like Richt means many good things come to you. But funny, seems Tech has a “starting” right tackle who is a walk on and has yet to earn a scholarship. Gotta wonder why no scholarship yet. He is the Starting Tackle! And with the current state of the line at Tech you would think the starting tackle would be on scholarship. Difference in coaching philosophies I guess.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 12th, 2011
7:33 am
AltamahaDawg,
Thank you for the voice of reason. These young men where prepared to pay for all four years. They will more than gladly take one year as a free ride. The poster you are responding to I am sure is in favor of the, “Every kid gets a trophy” program also. Gotta love those “participation” awards.
JB
August 12th, 2011
7:39 am
Well, I’m shocked, but not surprised. The entire Auburn Mafia got off scott free in Alabama yesterday. Found not guilty and some charges with a miss trial…. With wire taps…LOL… stuff movies are made of. The prosecution shocked. I guess some of that same money got to the jury.
Only in Bama….LOL
Billdawg
August 12th, 2011
7:40 am
Altamaha Dawg – These aren’t kids “laying aound”. A few will get some playing time. The rest spend their time on the practice team sacrificing their limited time and bodies to get the starters ready for the “prime time” games. These aren’t the “stars”, but their effort is as good or greater that those who do get to play in front of the 95,000 plus dawg fans. I celebrate their accomplishment as DGDs!!!
Frank Lane
August 12th, 2011
7:46 am
I was hoping that Connor Norman would be awarded a scholarship.
#1bamafan
August 12th, 2011
7:46 am
JB…You are correct in saying that you will not see Saban give eight walk-on scholarships. If that was the case it would be bad planning as far as recruitment goes. I know Coach Saban is a target for all other teams and coaches but most of the information is not correct. Bama fans are proud of the job that the coaching staff does and we look foward to another good year. I am also a fan of SEC football and wish the DAWGS and all SEC teams a good year. RTR
Trojan
August 12th, 2011
7:54 am
Why don’t the AJC write an article about CMR actually giving the attrition scholarships to walk ons instead as opposed to Saban giving attrition scholarships to the many that he oversigned. There is a stark contrast in the integrities of CMR and the Sabans and Chizics of the world.
Carl Spackler
August 12th, 2011
7:56 am
How great is that for these guys…congrats on “earning” the ships
My favorite though is “sophomore cornerback Blake Sailors of Athens”…tough kid, really is a Rudy type, love the way he doesn’t back down
Go Jackets!!!
August 12th, 2011
7:57 am
Proud of those 8 guys for showing that with hard work and dedication you can do great things. I hope a walk-on of our own, Tyler Kidney, gets the same treatment.
JB
August 12th, 2011
7:57 am
#1bamafan. I agree, when you look at Saban, and just want to look at results, there is no argument from most fans. The guy wins. All the other stuff is to fill sports pages and talk radio. Kudos. I’m hopeful with the talent the state of Georgia has and the second most profitable program in the NCAA, we’ll be there one day.
Fridawg
August 12th, 2011
8:01 am
Who wants to bet that all those transfers were major energy vampires?
by the numbers
August 12th, 2011
8:03 am
30th!
Satan
August 12th, 2011
8:07 am
I appreciate walk-ons, but rewarding them is out of the question. Son I have a enough trouble freeing up scholarships given to a blue-chipper who didn’t pass last year’s tryout.
I’m all about winning championships here. Never what the cost.
LOL
drive by dawg
August 12th, 2011
8:09 am
We shouldn’t have eight scholarships available for walk-ons in the first place. Can you imagine a championship-caliber program doing something like this? No, you can’t. Richt’s stubborn refusal to recruit for need and sign an adequate number of players has put is in a very difficult situation from a depth standpoint. This is unacceptable and anyone who thinks this news story is a good thing is a fool. It’s not a good thing. It is evidence of serious recruiting blunders and missteps and it represents mismanagement of the program. Period.
drive by dawg
August 12th, 2011
8:10 am
Saban and Richt are both paid millions of dollars each year to win, not to run a charity. Saban has his priorities in order. Does Richt? We will see soon enough.
bardawg
August 12th, 2011
8:11 am
Judging from the way Blake Sailors played in the Vanderbilt game last year , I’m surprised to find out that was’nt already on scholarship. The young man definitely displayed an GATA attitude.Congratulations to all the young men!
Destin Dawg
August 12th, 2011
8:14 am
hey this is college football… we all want to win… student/athletes ??? you only get a signing bonus in pro sports… oops I forgot Awlbarn
Toccoa Dawg
August 12th, 2011
8:19 am
This is one of those stories that makes you proud to be a dawg fan. Thanks Coach Richt
For want of a troll
August 12th, 2011
8:33 am
Walk-ons play a vital role in Mark Richt’s plans. Since walk-ons had to meet the academic entrance requirements, they’re a lot smarter than Richt’s recruits. The walk-ons won’t play very much, but their grades are much higher, so they pull up the team’s overall grades considerably.
Why does it take a troll to figure that out?
RedandBlackDAWG
August 12th, 2011
8:37 am
MGDAWG,
I don’t think it matters as far as next year. These were 8 spots open from this year, 2011, so it is either use them or lose them. I think it is great he did this. He couldn’t have used them for 2012 anyway, so they were like open spots that could be filled this year, but not carried over into next year. It shows that CMR is a classy kind of guy, to do this. Those 8 kids were probably, mostly practice squad guys but now they have less financial burden on their lives and their parents. Good move CMR.
DawgInaTruck
August 12th, 2011
8:37 am
As you get older and have children of your own, you learn that you take much more pride in your kids’ accomplishments than your own. As a parent of a college age kid myself I am thrilled for these eight student-athletes and for their parents. That is a day they will never forget.
I am much more optimistic about this football season than I have been the last two but, off the field, a story like this reminds this super-loyal UGA grad why we are lucky to have a guy like CMR in charge.
Go Dawgs! GATA!!
RedandBlackDAWG
August 12th, 2011
8:40 am
For want of a troll,
This is not about academics. Who cares if you somehow think that is somehow important when it comes to athletic scholarships? Do you think that any NCAA team, awards athletic scholarships based on how smart the kid is, other than sports smart?
Dawglasville
August 12th, 2011
8:41 am
Very proud of these young men. These are the guys you go to battle with. The guys who make you better Monday – Friday. They are every bit as vital to this program as the 5 star guy. This has been a great off season. Hopefully it will translate in to some big wins.
Luke
August 12th, 2011
8:42 am
@drivebydawg: Between the number of people transferring, the guys graduating, and the number of guys recruited, is why you have 8 unused scholarships. Its hard to say who will be transferring and who won’t. You have 8 guys who are transferring undergrads or never became eligible alone. You can’t predict that number when you’re recruiting kids because most of that happens after the signing period.
That being said, congratulations to the boys who worked hard and got some free money out of it. Enjoy it, coming from a Tech fan. Good luck, keep up the hard work, and we’ll see you in November.
It Will All Work Out
August 12th, 2011
8:42 am
@billdawg…I don’t think he was refering to the kids laying around but the scholarships.
J-School
August 12th, 2011
8:47 am
Billdawg: I think Altamaha was talking about the scholarships ‘laying around’ – not the athletes.
J-School
August 12th, 2011
8:48 am
Missed it by that much.
CTown Dawg
August 12th, 2011
8:53 am
These 8 kids are basically the white boys whose parents could afford to pay for college. The coaches know this when recruiting them. They know better than to waste a scholarship on a kid from the ‘burbs. They get “preferred” walk-on status knowing they will never play a down, but can tell their kids and grandkids that they were a Dawg!
Pup Fan
August 12th, 2011
8:53 am
Not much discussion about the Turene situation huh?
Dawgs Beast
August 12th, 2011
8:55 am
It seems like something is wrong at UGA for Logan Gray to transfer as a senior. Why would he leave UGA after 3 years ? There’s a lot more to that than has been said.
Dawgs Beast
August 12th, 2011
8:57 am
How can Harmon,Dowtin,N.Williams,L.Gray,Benedict,& Ealey all be problems that need to tranfer to other schools ? I think the problem is the UGA coaching staff.
JDawg1785
August 12th, 2011
8:59 am
I hate it that Turene has run into these problems. Hopefully he’ll hang in there and everything will be resolved soon.
Congrats to the 8 Dawgs on new scholarships this year! Great news!
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
9:02 am
Yea, I’m not getting the logic of why they would have left these laying on the table? “what about attrition” has nothing to do with it. Filling those next year is not affected by unused spots the year before.
The other point I don’t get is: it’s potentially such a bummer if one of these guys don’t get renewed next year (which they weren’t expecting to have it to begin with) that it would be better for them to not have it this year either. I’d feel like that was pretty well spelled out up front, and I’m sure they jumped all over it.
And why on earth would Saban NOT award left over scholarship to a walk on? It has ZERO to do with his recruiting for the next year. And who says he hasn’t. I think the deal is that with his oversigning, he is forced to reduce scholarships, so it hasn’t really been an issue, but leaving free money on the table for no good reason is NOT a brilliant strategy from him, I can assure you.
Dawgs Beast
August 12th, 2011
9:02 am
Instead of awarding the 8 scolarships to second fiddle players they could have lowered the ticket prices to games $1 each ticket…
DawgInaTruck
August 12th, 2011
9:05 am
Pup I think the vast majority of us understand that, while we would like to have Turene on the field, it is in his best interests to be properly prepared for the academic portion of being a STUDENT-athlete. I wish the kid nothing but the best regardless of how things unfold. I hope he becomes a Dawg and a valuable player we can count on but, more than that, I wish him success for this new phase of his life.
Beast, I have talked to UGA personnel and boosters. No matter of who you speak with, you hear nothing but praise for Logan Gray. This was a kid recruited from another region and, athletically anyway, things didn’t pan out. Regardless, he worked hard in the classroom and on the football field. Everyone I have spoken with says you couldn’t find a better young man and that any parent would be very proud of who has grown up to be.
JB
August 12th, 2011
9:08 am
I just think from a financial standpoint with these kids families this is big news. These are pretty tough times.
NCDawg
August 12th, 2011
9:16 am
Has Sturdivant officially retired? He only played 1 year and got a medical redshirt, I think he still has some eligibility left. I understand if he doesn’t want to come back after another knee injury, though.
DawginLex
August 12th, 2011
9:16 am
WHO CARES WHY THE KIDS LEFT?
THEY ARE GONE!!!
We all need to focus on who is here and support them and the coaching staff until a new staff comes in(if it happens).
i am so sick and tired of folks whining about Ealey and Gray and Mett.
THEY ARE GONE!!!
LEAVE IT ALONE!!
slydog
August 12th, 2011
9:26 am
@JB even though these are hard times, but 6 of 8 of them are from GA. And they got into UGA based off of academics. I’m pretty confident they all have HOPE, Pell grants, and loans. The school portion, including room and board, is covered. Problem is, there may be not much money left after that, but the necessities are already paid. The upside is with a scholly this year, some of that financial aid refund money can go back in their pockets. Just to keep it real, if your parents HAVE to take out a PLUS loan or any kind of education loan, those students usually do not attend UGA. And I do mean if they HAVE TO take a loan out, not if it’s an option. As far as the two from out of state, I’m pretty sure after year 1, they have an out of state waiver, like most regular students.
cantondawg
August 12th, 2011
9:27 am
Dawgs Beast,
Yes…There is alot more to the Logan Gray situation than what was said. Unfortunately, You’er not much of a dawg fan or you would know it by know. Logan Gray was at UGA for four years and graduate from UGA and decided he wanted to play somewhere where he had a chance to play. He transferred to Colorado to play with his brother.
bubba4dawgs
August 12th, 2011
9:33 am
shows what you know, Dawgs Beast……which spells nothing!
icallbs
August 12th, 2011
9:54 am
@Big Ol Stinger: “You’re right Destin, you’d have to be a depressed, low life, POS to go on another teams blog and spew hate and negativity.”
Big Ol, I agree 100%. Unfortunately the mostly juvenile lunatic fringe on all sides is here to stay.
Mark Richt 2011 Farewell Tour
August 12th, 2011
10:00 am
Oh my god he is such a good guy!. I just cant believe what a great man he is! He is such a good christian man. His heart is sooo big. What a great family man.
Too bad his job is to be a good coach! He ran off good talent, kept an inept OC and will be gone in 12 Games. He can go be a good guy somewhere else. You Richt supporters make me sick.
DawginLex
August 12th, 2011
10:03 am
Go throw up somewhere then Farewell tour dude because Richt isn’t going anywhere. I am not a Richt supporter, I am a Dawg and he is our dam coach.
What are you doing, hoping we lose so we get a new coach?
Th eonly loser on here is you so go F yourself
Uuugghh
August 12th, 2011
10:05 am
This is a transition year. You would see the same thing if a new coach came in and said “Boys-it is my way or the highway…” Some folks chose highway and Richt is rewarding a few that chose “his way.” These scholarships would be wasted if not used–it would be stupid to not give them away. It builds a ton of goodwill and helps the team come together. I wish the NCAA awarded 90 scholarships and required every team to give 5 to walk ons every year. Of all the stories written about the dawgs in a year–this one is my favorite every year. Whther it is 8 or 1, it is always fun to read!
PreyDawg
August 12th, 2011
10:11 am
Instead of a rundown on the lost Dogs, give us a summary of each kid that got rewarded last night. They are DAWGS, those other guys are not.
DawginLex
August 12th, 2011
10:12 am
Killer injury for Arkansas today in scrimmage
RB Davis lost for year
Petrino applying for jobs all over country
CMR Titanic
August 12th, 2011
10:12 am
This ship is still sinking….get off the kool aid now……….
SEC Fan
August 12th, 2011
10:14 am
Richt can’t find any other players worthy to receive a scholarship from UGA beside a “walk-on”? I hear he’s a little thin at offensive line.
Lets Face It
August 12th, 2011
10:15 am
If UGA goes 0 – 2 and loses to the gators you can stick a fork in Richt.
Brian Asselstine
August 12th, 2011
10:15 am
People want Richt to “renew” these each year. Even if he does not, at least he has helped these kids parents with tuition cost for at least one year. As a parent of a child in college, I wish someone would pay her way if only for one year. Good job coach even if only for one year.
Tobias Funke
August 12th, 2011
10:18 am
Blake Sailors is an all*star on special teams. Very well deserved. Congrats young men. GATA!!!!!!!
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
10:19 am
Yea SEC fan, we all wonder why Richt doesnt go out and hire more O-linemen from other colleges in August as well.
Mr. Nice Guy needs to Win
August 12th, 2011
10:19 am
Richt is paid big money to win and compete for championships so he needs to start getting it done in an urgent fashon.
Eat and Tweet
August 12th, 2011
10:21 am
Jenkins is out of shape and dont let anyone tell you different.
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
10:23 am
I agree, Sailors is very deserving. I sort of thought he was awarded a scholarship last year or before though.
Bodin, (see there ya go SEC fan), an o-linemen, why the heck not?
Bradberry caught one of the few TDs in the scrimmage, he must be good enough to at least line up with the others.
RB, Harton, from Reidsville had some stats too.
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
10:25 am
If a vendor offers me a discount, I certainly do not refuse to take it because he cannot guarantee it’s going to be available next year.
Barnabas Collins
August 12th, 2011
10:26 am
Im not a energy Vampire but UGA is going to stink this year. http://smellsliketweenspirit.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/barnabas-collins-dark-shadows.jpg
TampaGator
August 12th, 2011
10:26 am
Nice list.
Uuugghh
August 12th, 2011
10:28 am
crabapplejoe…it is my understanding that Rivals etc only discriminates against bad atheletes.
Not to share time with you on your reverse racism soap box–but I do wish that the 5th star would be entirely attributed to the classroom. This way a true 5 star athelete would be the total package. A 4 star could be an all world athelete but dumb as rocks. 5 star kids are all world and book smart to match.
Also, as the patch on my overalls says “Love don’t see no colors.”
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
10:28 am
Energy vampire would be an upgrade for a troll.
Tobias Funke
August 12th, 2011
10:29 am
Watch out Dawg fans. The trolls are starting to crawl out from under their bridge. They better watch out for Lex this morning. He is in a bad mood.
TampaGator
August 12th, 2011
10:30 am
For all of you Dawg fans who think I am a moron…..which I am for making this prediction for the SEC East this year:
1. Georgia (wins the East, but loses to Florida for the 19th time in 23 years….sorry)
2. South Carolina (loses to Georgia)
3. Florida (loses to Bama, LSU, SC…..but not Georgia….sorry)
4. Tennessee (better not lose to Kentucky late….or swtich with them)
5. Kentucky (lost too much, but will get better during the year)
6. Vandy (because they are Vandy)
bucket
August 12th, 2011
10:30 am
Congratulations to the 8 Dawgs on earning their scholarship! I looked over the list of 14 and some of them left for opportunity, some left because of injury, some left for academics, and some left because it was time for them to do something else besides being a cancer in Athens. But DaiginLex is right – it really doesn’t matter anymore! I am intrigued by some of the changes in the offseason and I am excited about getting a new year underway. Some of you fans need to make the same decision that some of the players had to make – decide if you are on or off the bus!!! I am not a CMR homer, I am a UGA homer. CMR is our coach right now and I am not going to get on a public forum and blast my team’s coach. Our team will either enjoy more success on the field this year and CMR will continue as our coach or we will have a new coach next year. But I am not going to wish bad things and instigate bad things on my team just because of who the coach is. UGA is bigger than me and CMR.
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
10:30 am
UUgh, if you even understood the point there, you did better than me. I know there was somekind of racial angle to that, but I read it twice and still couldn’t figure out what it was.
TampaGator
August 12th, 2011
10:37 am
Oh…..SEC title………Bama beats LSU and wins the West…….undefeated. Then plays Georgia…..and wins 35 to 10. Again, sorry.
Georgia improves on the Liberty Bowl outing….but loses a close game in the Senior Bowl to a much improved Michigan team, which lost out ot WIsconsin for the Big Ten title. Bama wins the National Title by beating Oklahoma 31 to 28 on a last second FG…..and the SEC wins the BSC title yet again.
Unfortunately, Florida plays in Atlanta later then early December and beats Miami in the Chick Bowl.
Oh….you FSU fans…..including Naganole……FSU comes to THE SWAMP with one loss and makes it two. The SWAMP has never been that loud, ESPN reports…..well….maybe during the Bama game, which Bama wins 27 to 21.
Tobias Funke
August 12th, 2011
10:37 am
Amen, bucket. Some of these fans are hoping we have a bad year so Richt gets fired. And then what? They can never answer that. True dawg fans root for the team, not the damm coach.
Dome to Dome. Win with Richt. GATA.
As Bart Scott once said, “CAN’T WAIT!!!”
Jonkdawg
August 12th, 2011
10:37 am
I am first i just didn’t say it!
TampaGator
August 12th, 2011
10:38 am
That should be …….wins the BCS…..but I was thinking BS title, of course, because Florida has won two of them….so they have to be BC, right?
TampaGator
August 12th, 2011
10:39 am
…..again….I meant…..”so they have to be BS, right?” Time to go get some more coffee.
DawgByte
August 12th, 2011
10:43 am
Sorry, but I don’t like this idea at all. If they’re willing to walk on and they don’t require a scholly, why waste one??? This just effectively reduces the size of the next class. WTF!!!
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
10:44 am
Picking the Dawgs might get you labled a Moron quicker.
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
10:48 am
No it doesn’t. Next years class is completely unaffected by using scholarships this year that otherwise goes unused. You can’t bank them.
DawgByte
August 12th, 2011
10:50 am
AltamahaDawg – Thanks for the clarification. I retract my statement! Not that anyone cares.
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
10:53 am
Well, then I am glad I edited all the !&*%F!!(&$ out of it.
Tobias Funke
August 12th, 2011
10:54 am
DawgByte
Really dude? Really?
I-DOG
August 12th, 2011
10:56 am
May have already been addressed, but Billdog, altamaha wasn’t referring to the walkons laying around, he was referring to the scholarships, meaning UGA athletics has plenty of money so to let 8 scholly’s go unused this year was kind of a waste.
Even if it is just for one year, it is nice to have a scholarship. I’m sure it made some very happy parents
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
11:04 am
I have known a couple of walk-on over the years, and even though they work as hard as anyone, they are what they are. So a fellow raising his game to the level of being awarded a scholarship puts him pretty much in the same category of a recuited player.
I would think there is something to be gained from having this sort of carrot out there in order to bring out the potential “2-star” recruits that are already on board. That seems like a much better bet than the bottom % of each class that we sign every year.
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
11:11 am
Glad to hear so many folks saying that their support of Richt is BECAUSE they put the program above any coach, player, or temporary circumstance.. It’s about supporting UGA, and he IS the coach. I have never ever understood the idea that supporting the coach somehow puts him above the program. Completely backwards logic to me. IN fact I always thought the folks that DO put him above the program are the constant bashers.
Tobias Funke
August 12th, 2011
11:12 am
Crabapplejoe
Take your hate somewhere else. Did you not get enough hugs as a child?
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
11:16 am
Matthew and Aaron and Timmy and Johnny were some pretty highly rated white boy names that didn’t go play soccer.
Uuugghh
August 12th, 2011
11:28 am
Hey crabapplejoe here are some suggestions:
If you are really angry at Rivals because you perceive them as racist, don’t pay for their service.
If you think the recruiting rankings are biased, don’t follow recruiting.
If you don’t like the racial breakdown in college football, don’t watch it.
There are very simple ways to ease your frustration…now if you could refrain from posting any more nonsense–that would ease mine.
Thanks!!
If you think
crabapplejoe
August 12th, 2011
11:40 am
@UUUgghh: I see you didn’t answer my simple question about Wes Welker and Dwight Clark…..I guess its because simply answering that question honestly destroys your whole world view that Rivals is not biased and the recruiting process is not discriminatory. I certainly don’t pay for Rivals “service….and I love college football and will continue to watch it……I root for the two stars
crabapplejoe
August 12th, 2011
11:42 am
@Tobias Funke: Take my “hate” somewhere else? I am pointing out that Rivals is completely biased against a certain group of folks and you call that “hate”….now that’s funny I don’t care where you’re from…..LMAO. You probably think the sky is red too….makes about as much sense as your comment.
Uuugghh
August 12th, 2011
11:44 am
Oh-my bad! I thought that question was both rhetorical and ignorant.
crabapplejoe
August 12th, 2011
12:00 pm
@Uuugghh: Still can’t/won’t answer the question I see…..LOL….I always know I’ve won an argument when the other person can only make ad hominem attacks…too funny…but thanks for playing.
BiggdawgK
August 12th, 2011
12:01 pm
Congrats to all these young men. It’s nice to see that hard work does pay off.
It is always sad to see the countless haters on the ajc blogs. Even worse is the number of these truly pathetic losers who use Dawgs or Dog in their name. Even though their “lifes” are filled with despair and they hate UGA they still are oh so desperate to be affiliated with the Bulldogs even if it only in their sad pathetic tiny little fantasy world.
Dennis
August 12th, 2011
12:19 pm
This practice is good for any program. On one end of the spectrum you are trying to project guys that are in the 10th and 11th grade for scholarship committments. On the other end there are guys that may grow and blossom late that given a chance could contribute. You want to encourage these type of guys coming and giving it a shot.
DawgInaTruck
August 12th, 2011
12:20 pm
Those of us who have been around a while remember the GATA game and how significant that was. Heck, for years when we would arrive at hotels for out of town games the marquee out front would read, “Welcome Dogs-GATA”
I’ve wondered over the years how many of our players knew how special those four letters are. Congratulations again to these eight sudent-athletes. They truly know how to GATA!
Coach Grohbo
August 12th, 2011
12:23 pm
While the rest of the SEC refreshes their lineups with recruited players, UGA refreshes their lineup with walk on students that no one else wanted.
This is one big reason why recruiting rankings are misleading.
DawgInaTruck
August 12th, 2011
12:49 pm
Uh Coach could you explain how this is a reason that recruiting rankings are misleading, since RECRUITING rankings deal with RECRUITED athletes and not walk-ons? Think before you type dude.
Big Albany Dawg
August 12th, 2011
12:58 pm
Logan Gray he justs wants to play that’s all. But it isn’t looking so good for him on the Buff’s depth chart….
Floyd
August 12th, 2011
1:13 pm
Nice roster management there, coach. This is basically the equivalent of self-imposed probation in terms of numbers. Hey Richt – WAKE UP!!
DawgInaTruck
August 12th, 2011
1:21 pm
Floyd, while it is obvious you are trying (albeit unsuccessfully) to be a troll you are sort of on the mark. If you had been paying attention, you would have already known that CMR has previously stated that some guys left on their own while some were helped out along the way. A portion of this purge was self imposed and it has already resulted in a much better conditioned TEAM and an incredibly improved TEAM atmosphere. Maybe it is you who should wake up. Regardless, now that you have been properly informed, you no longer have your own ignorance as an excuse.
Beth Savage
August 12th, 2011
1:40 pm
Sailors and Bradberry will get definitely get some playing time this year, not only contributing in practice, but in EVERY game as well.
Coach Grohbo
August 12th, 2011
2:04 pm
Truck,
Each year, UGA leaves five to ten scholarship positions open or gives them to walk on students which no one else recruited. The rest of the SEC gives their scholarships to athletes competitively recruited by other schools.
If recruiting rankings were revised to take into effect who actually holds the scholarships at the start of each season, they would better reflect each team’s strength.
UGA would not be top ten or even top thirty.
Coach Grohbo
August 12th, 2011
2:07 pm
Floyd,
You are right. It is self-imposed probation.
Look on the bright side, Richt will be gone at the end of the season and his replacement will insist on playing by the same rules as his competition.
DawgInaTruck
August 12th, 2011
2:19 pm
Coach, you are still missing the point. Recruiting rankings ae based on the so-called quality of the class on signing day-nothing more, nothing less. We don’t leave five to ten scholarships open anually; no one does or can afford to.
We had heavier than normal attrition this year but, for the reasons I stated above, it was a good thing. What a lot of people also fail to understand is that the guys who have been awarded these scholarships are not only there for their love of the game and UGA, they have raised their game and made themselves into excellent football players.
BobbyDodd21/20
August 12th, 2011
3:18 pm
I bleed white & gold but I’m really happy for all these young men, it’ll be one of the top events of their lives…and thanks to all our very special military troops…you are smart tough guys & gals..
Otis My Man
August 12th, 2011
8:30 pm
Cameron Fordham needs a new home 6′4″ 285 center is transfering from LSU and the DAWGS need him! Northview HS Garduate 2010 Get him DAWGS!
Thomas Brown
August 13th, 2011
2:55 am
This is not good. There is no spin that can be put on 26 players who were average 3.58 stars not being able to play vs Boise State or South Carolina games 1 and 2 who could have been playing, instead. Adding yet 8 more scholarships awarded to guys who not 1 of whom has played on offense or on defense, and who will not, with average stars far less than Boise State’s 2-star offense and defense, cannot be spun into some positive Kool-Aid.
Every single Running Back on the UGA roster is injured today. http://dogbytesonline.com/crowell-on-groin-injury-handling-expectations-and-if-he-can-impact-like-lattimore-47622/
Boise State has won 8 games all-time in their entire history of college football against any of the 6 BCS Conference opponents of the 31 such games they have ever played. 25 percent winning percentage.
15 NFL Boise State players to 45 UGA Bulldogs NFL players today.
2.41 average # of stars according to Scout.com over the entire last 5 years of recruiting classes for Boise State to 3.58 for UGA.
0 Top 100 players Boise State
21 Top 100 players UGA Bulldogs
1 either 5-Star or 4-Star recruit over last entire 5 years playing vs us
51 either 5-Star or 4-Star recruits over last entire 5 years for us
# 69 average ranking of Boise State’s last 5 recruit class ranks
# 11 average ranking of UGA’s last 5 recruit class ranks
Georgia had better quit drinking the Kool-Aid and figure it out that Boise State is NO MATCH for the talent handed this coaching staff of Mark Richt.
32-18 is my prediction of the game, and by the way that is figuring that Brandon Boykin is lined up at running back.
30 fumbles 2011 season by UGA is my prediction and we are not good on offense at falling on 30 fumbles. Richard Samuel put the ball on the carpet in the last scrimmage. It was returned 65 yards for a TD by a 3rd string defensive player.
Thomas Brown
August 13th, 2011
3:00 am
Bobby Dodd is a college drop-out at the University of Tennessee at Obknoxiousville, who NEVER, not 1 time beat Vince Dooley.
Bleed white and GOLD ?
I thought you were the yellowjackettes ?
Georgia TBs Isaiah Crowell, Richard Samuel unable to practice due to injuries | UGA sports blog
August 13th, 2011
12:26 pm
[...] LB Kent Turene out, eight walkons in [...]
MT Dog
August 13th, 2011
4:24 pm
why doesn’t Ga save those scholarships for top 4-5 star players instead of walk ons?
Thomas Brown
August 14th, 2011
8:54 am
Exactly, MT Dog, sir.
Thomas Brown
August 14th, 2011
8:56 am
This is not good. There is no spin that can be put on 26 players who were average 3.58 stars not being able to play vs Boise State or South Carolina games 1 and 2 who could have been playing, instead. Adding yet 8 more scholarships awarded to guys who not 1 of whom has played on offense or on defense, and who will not, with average stars far less than Boise State’s 2-star offense and defense, cannot be spun into some positive Kool-Aid.
Bulldog_greg24
August 15th, 2011
9:23 am
According to the media guide UGA had 22 seniors on scholly. Three of the five are seniors so that is 25 schollys available, which is the new limit. These are new rules that the SEC implemented. Last year I believe Auburn signed 28 players based on the fact that they knew at least 2 would leave for the NFL. Sounds like Mark Richt and his staff did the math and knew they could only award 25 schollys so why not give out the 8 schollys if you still can sign 25 next February. I will not be shocked if UGA loses the first 2 and then runs the table.