All Bulldogs present, accounted for in Tampa for Outback Bowl
Greetings from Tampa. Or, more accurately, Indian Rocks Beach. That’s where I’m staying this week.
Brought the fam and found a great deal on a condo on this little strip of beach just south of Clearwater and Sand Key. So while I’m shuffling between football practices and news conferences and luncheons covering the Bulldogs this week, at least my wife and son can enjoy some sand and surf.
Getting here was no small task. I don’t know how many Georgia fans are making the hike down here — the Bulldogs sold out of their 12,500-ticket allotment and many more are supposedy coming in addition — but if you’re driving, be sure to allow yourself some extra time. I left mid-morning Monday and, , including a stop for gas and one short stop for a quick meal, it took us 10 hours to get here. Normally it should take 7 or 8. About the time I saw my first column of brake lights I remembered an old vow to never travel the day after Christmas.
Construction along I-75 in South Georgia — hasn’t that been going on for like 30 years now? — exacerbated the situation. That and the uncanny knack of people to run their cars into the back of others. I saw it happen three times myself. So if you’re driving I’d humbly suggest leaving really early in the morning or late at night. That, or just do what I usually do — fly here.
Anyway, as a result of the unanticipated delays, I didn’t make it to A La Carte Pavilion for the “Outback Steakhouse Team Welcome Dinner” for both the Bulldogs and Michigan State Spartans. My chief reason for wanting to make that was to find out if all the players showed up. Invariably there are some stragglers or academic casualties for bowl games.
But I spoke on the phone to UGA Sports Communication associate Steve Colquitt and he assured me that everybody showed up on time except for one unnamed player who got sick on the way down (he had to stop but is expected later). Otherwise everybody is expected to be present and accounted for.
If you want more details, my pal Gentry Estes, clearly a more proficient traveler, made it for Monday evening’s festivities and filed this report at Dawgs247.com. He reports that head coach Mark Richt said that all players maintained their eligibility for this year’s bowl, a marked improvement over last year when there were three academic casualties for the Liberty Bowl.
The Bulldogs will resume preparations in earnest Tuesday morning with their first workout at the University of Tampa. I’ll file some reports from there later. They moved the starting time up 20 minutes because of expected rainy weather. Forecasts call for rain all day and perhaps some thunderstorms, but it’s supposed to clear out quick and be sunny and mild the rest of the week.
So come on down! Just take your time getting here.
There’s much more to come this week. In the meantime, here’s some links to the last few stories I’ve written in advance of the Outback Bowl:
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157 comments Add your comment
7576DAWG
December 27th, 2011
1:21 pm
UGA Insider
Totally agree that Georgia could be undefeated in 2012. Moving the South Carolina game to our sixth game was huge. I bet that Spurrier is not happy. He want’s to play Georgia as early as possible because he feel’s he can get his players’ ready, faster than we can be ready , and he would be correct going by our success the last few year’s.
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
1:23 pm
4.29
Claims to be on the team as a walk on!
190 comments Add your comment
4.29 GPA
December 15th, 2011
2:33 am
What you have
Dawg48
is a Georgia Bulldogs’ graduate, a walk-on, who does not understand why you would run in here and
Well I guess not all players are present and accounted for in Tampa.
I hope your team mates and coaches don’t know you are trash talking them!
Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid
December 27th, 2011
1:23 pm
Dang
I forgot
The Spelling Bee Police is always on this blog.
Must be a UGA thing since you have nothing to brag about going on 3 decades now and your best comeback is looking for words that are misspelled.
4.29=biggest idiot ever
December 27th, 2011
1:27 pm
This is actually the first time i have ever commented on this blog so this is my handle. HAHA I will give you that some of the things you post really are truth, but when you are asked to prove something that I know is wrong you wont. Why is that? Prove others wrong and you type out what they previously said and rag the crap out of them to no end. What about your non sense? Im callin it out now so tell me again the answer to the question?
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
1:30 pm
4.29 = Rudy!
Alabama Dog
December 27th, 2011
1:35 pm
GT4ever: you were spot on. When they beat tech on November 26th, they STILL hadn’t beaten a decent team!!!!!!
gt4ever
December 27th, 2011
1:38 pm
The truth hurts Alabama Dog….. But, the bottom line is that we are not very good, and to hear all these prognosticators talk about NC, is just hilarious… I must admit that you should be playing for a NC, seeing how you have recruited top 10 classes every year for 10 years….
Lowcountry Bulldawg
December 27th, 2011
1:39 pm
Last time I checked Miss St, Florida nor Auburn will finish in the Top 25. So NO LSU will NOT have BEATEN 8 teams who will finishin the TOP 25. Looks like my nominee for Blogger of the Year is stumbling down the stretch.
Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid
December 27th, 2011
1:42 pm
Yea
That LSU team really isnt that good
They beat UGA by 32 points; that same UGA team had 10 wins too
Dawg48
December 27th, 2011
1:46 pm
Lowcountry
You couldn’t stay out of it could you.
Lol
Mako
December 27th, 2011
1:48 pm
Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid ……we ain’t got problem with misspelled words…just the dork writing ‘em without spell checking
TampaDawg
December 27th, 2011
1:48 pm
who’s going to the game? You will see TampaDawg out there with the black Dawgs shirt with the big “G” on the back and wearing the ACU (Army Combat Uniform) boonie hat. Look for me.
Alabama Dog
December 27th, 2011
1:51 pm
gt4ever: NC next year? Who knows? Every journey begins with a single step. They made the 1st step this season making it to the SEC Championship Game. I’m not delusional enough to predict a NC next year, but the pieces are there to make a run at it. IF IC can get himself straightened out, and with Keith Marshall coming in, they should have a 1-2 punch at running back they haven’t had since the days of Worley, Hampton & Henderson. Some BIG ifs, though. IF the starters who can come back don’t jump ship to the NFL, Georgia should have more than a decent shot.
Mako
December 27th, 2011
1:52 pm
gt4ever…..what’s up with the Train Whistle at the trade School….Techies so smart that reading a watch to tell time is complicated or something?
Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid
December 27th, 2011
1:53 pm
Mako
Hey dork there is no spell check on here. I dont feel like copy and pasting to word and back to here.
Oh and since you want to spell check how about correcting you’re last post with proper grammer then.
Oh can you find the mispelled word
DORK
Mako
December 27th, 2011
1:55 pm
Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid…..10-4 dork!
Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid
December 27th, 2011
1:58 pm
10-4
Will that be UGA’s final record this year
eh dork boy
gt4ever
December 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
Who wears a watch anymore….? I never heard that whistle while I was there… Alabama, you will never win the big game…. No Heart!
Mako
December 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid…….better reach down and feel again……there ain’t no boy here!!
dork
Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid
December 27th, 2011
2:02 pm
Mako
No thanks Im not that way; sorry to ruin your holiday
Mako
December 27th, 2011
2:03 pm
gt4ever….well good old Tech sure blows a whistle everyday at 5 til most hours….uh, I work across North Ave from campus
Alabama Dog
December 27th, 2011
2:10 pm
gt4ever: ENOUGH HEART to beat tech 10 out of the last 11, even when they were supposed to be the better team!!!!!!
gt4ever
December 27th, 2011
2:12 pm
OK, alabama, you just keep hanging your hat on beating GT. See how many NC’s that brings you….
Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid
December 27th, 2011
2:12 pm
UGA Goals for 2012
Another 10 win Season
Another uniform change
Another motivational book
Another we are the national champions until game 2 or 3
Another Herschel Walker is coming
Another Dream Team recruiting class
Another you just wait til next year
Another loss to good teams
Another win against the greatest team to ever play college football GT; LOL and then trash talk
and my personal favorite
Another round of multiple players from UGA go the NFL but yet they cant beat every team in the SEC East
Am I missing something?
gt4ever
December 27th, 2011
2:14 pm
that about sums it up Jack…..
Alabama Dog
December 27th, 2011
2:15 pm
gt4ever: you’re right. I shouldn’t be “hanging my hat” on beating a SECOND RATE, LOWER TIER ACC TEAM 10 of the last 11, but it sure is fun!!!!!!
how2fish
December 27th, 2011
2:23 pm
@Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid well you could add we again pound your bunch into the turf, it goes without saying for gtwhatever and Bug U.
Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid
December 27th, 2011
2:31 pm
We pound my bunch in the turf
When did I become a Tech fan
You should cast another line into the water and try again.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
December 27th, 2011
2:33 pm
Couldn’t help it Dawg48.
Big Old Dawg
December 27th, 2011
2:53 pm
Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid……don’t you think it’s kinda shameful to enter a UGA blog and maintain anonymity of the school you support….all the while make demeaning and irrating comments against UGA…..if I was guessing I’d bet you’re a Chicken Chocker
BiggDawgK
December 27th, 2011
3:35 pm
I know it’s not easy but we shouldn’t hate jack sparrow nor any of his numerous aliases. Anyone who puts the time and effort into spewing hate about a team that obviously dominates his every thought deserves pity.
He has no friends, no loved ones and all his self worth revolves around making petty delusional comments about teenagers and being hated by total strangers. I am saddened that anyone even someone so bitter and angry has to live such a miserable life.
Jerry Blooger
December 27th, 2011
3:40 pm
Is anyone on this blog what they claim to be
kendawg
December 27th, 2011
3:52 pm
Why does everyone refer to HUTSON Mason as Hudson?
Harry
December 27th, 2011
4:15 pm
Wow! For the 2010-11 fiscal year, 81.1% of UGA’s entire Atheltic Department revenue came from football. Highest in the FBS:
http://coachesbythenumbers.com/coach-rankings/?reportId=10&c2010=on&minimumExperience=1&conferenceSelect=All&onlyConferenceYears=on&customizeViewSubmitted=Update+Ranking
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December 27th, 2011
4:35 pm
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Straight Shooter
December 27th, 2011
5:43 pm
Go down U. S. Highway 19, its four lane most of the way in Ga., then just N. of Tampa is a four lane toll road to Tampa. Not much traffic and a much more pleasant drive.
Vampire Bill
December 27th, 2011
5:45 pm
It’s pathetic how few if any people want to talk FOOTBALL on this blog. How about some talk of how we line up against MS and offensive and defensive strategies? Instead all we get is he said she said and immature insults and driving time to FL. Shaking my head as I pour another glass of egg nog !
waytogoricht
December 27th, 2011
6:03 pm
Richt is merely mediocre. Break down his “success” and his best record years occurred prior to Saban, MIiles, and Meyer arriving and setting themselves up after their first year of arrival. Unfortunately for Richt, Spurrier had already arrived at Fla. and was longtime set up and Richt I believe only beat him once(on a Fla. down year). Spurrier annually chewed him up and spit him out. Much like Spurrier is doing now with inferior players. This year Richt saved his job by beating Fla. on a down year when Fla. had a new coach who had vastly inferior players. In Richt’s best 13-1 year, who does he draw in the bowl game but Hawaii(undefeated, which made Richt look good, but with no quality wins and coming from an obscure conference. Of course Richt won, he faced June Jones coaching Hawaii. And how did that Sugar Bowl against Saban’s LSU team work out. No question mark required.
This year Richt in winning ten games, beat not the first quality opponent. Moreover, beat no team ranked higher than him. Which brings up Michigan State. In a poll I viewed Michigan State was ranked several spots higher than UGA. Let’s see how the underachieving Richt fares against State in the Outback.
Old Dog
December 27th, 2011
6:12 pm
Talk already about winning all games in 2012 and a NC. Drinking the kool-aid. We are always champions before we actually play. The good news is that Richt is studying football. Maybe he could take Bobo to class with him. We pay Richt enough, he should already know football.
kral
December 27th, 2011
6:16 pm
sc inferior players really..no1 rb…top recruit in country on de…returning qb of sec east champs…great wr…and humble superrior admitted after this year’s game they were lucky that day
kral
December 27th, 2011
6:25 pm
and I need not forget no. 8..Ingram would probably start for anyone in the country
17% of all GT graduates are millionaires
December 27th, 2011
6:34 pm
Enter your comments here
TampaGator
December 27th, 2011
7:15 pm
Chip…….
No rocks in Indian Rocks since the Indians left town 200 plus years ago…..and nothing ever rocks there after 8pm either. BORING! Unless you think laying in the sun all day, eating dinner at 5:30, and watching re-runs of Lawrence Welk is interesting. But come on down to Clearwater Beach for some night life to report on.
Straight Shooter…….
That would be the Sunshine Parkway at U.S. 19 at Crystal River…..but that is a much longer drive….even with delays on I-75.
TampaGator
December 27th, 2011
7:28 pm
To all you Dawg fans coming down my way:
1. Make sure you go to Shepards at least one night for a REAL GOOD PARTY on the back deck overlooking the water. Good music, drinks, and a bunch of people having a real good time.
2. The Island Way Grill halfway across the causeway (just after the bridge and on the right) between Clearwater and Clearwater Beach…..has a wonderful Sunday brunch.
3. Frenchy’s (on the beach north of the Hilton)…..is a great place to hang out while on Clearwater Beach. Great bar!
4. The Beach Walk…..is a great walk is you like enjoying the people scenery.
5. Stay away from Indian Rocks Beach and Sand Key…..unless you are about dead.
TampaGator
December 27th, 2011
7:30 pm
By the way…….Shepards is on Clearwater Beach just south of the new Hyatt and just south of where the main beach area ends on the south end of the beach……maybe 100 yards walking distance further on the right. Looks like a hotel…..but walk through to the back deck for happy hour on Friday night. FUN. FUN. FUN.
TampaGator
December 27th, 2011
7:34 pm
If you enjoy walking….or really want a nice beach run that I take almost every day……start on Clearwater Beach and jog north down to Caladesi Island (it is now connected to Clearwater Beach since a no name storm back in the 80’s). If you get out early enough……you will see dolphins hunting and shells abundant….and lots of sandy white…..non populated…..beach.
TampaGator
December 27th, 2011
7:38 pm
P.S. I has been in the 80s during the day and in the 70s and 60s at night. Turned colder today….and going into the 40s tonight and for a few nights to follow. Just in time for your guys to have cooler practices. It will still seem like summer to the folks from Wisconsin.
…..also…..make sure you take in team beach day….usually on Thursday…….and the beautiful sand carving on the beach in front of the Hilton. The players show up for a bit….along with the coaches. Bands are there….along with the cheerleaders. Gets roudy….and fun.
AltamahaDawg
December 27th, 2011
10:38 pm
Any recommendations for Church?
What?
December 27th, 2011
11:14 pm
The title of this article is “All Bulldogs present and accounted for in Tampa for Outback Bowl…”
Except when you read the article and find out that one player didn’t make it because he is sick. Huh?
cmdawg99
December 28th, 2011
3:57 am
Let me guess. It started out “when was the last time we beat a team with a winning record”. Did that.. Then it becomes “Well when was the last time we beat a team in the top 25″ Did that . Now it’s “When was the last time you beat a a great team with an Established quarterback” So once we do that then what. OOOOOO let me guess. When as the last time we beat a ranked team with an established quarterback with an established back field..Bla,Bla Bla Go on you goofs. …………. Sic’em Dawgs!!!!