Seven walk-ons awarded scholarships; two of them may start

ATHENS – Georgia coach Mark Richt on Sunday awarded scholarships to seven walk-on players.

Two of them — tailback Brandon Harton and defensive back Blake Sailors — are former walk-ons who were placed on scholarship last year and were renewed for the coming year. The other five are all getting aid at UGA for the first time, including fullback Merritt Hall and safety Connor Norman, who figure to start or play significant roles early in the season. The other recipients are cornerback Luis Capella, receiver Rhett McGowan and linebacker Kosta Vavlas.

Georgia, of course, is infamously low on its scholarship numbers for the coming. It had 72 before Sunday’s actions by Richt. As it is, the Bulldogs remain six below the NCAA maximum allotment of 85.

Here’s a look at the seven recipients:

CapellaDB Luis Capella, junior, Augusta: Capella (5-10, 176) is third-string cornerback and special teams player. He graduated from Richmond Academy and has made the AD’s honor roll and the SEC academic honor the past two seasons.

HallFB Merritt Hall, redshirt freshman, Alpharetta: Hall (5-11, 238)  earned the No. 1 spot on the depth chart during spring practice and was named “outstanding walk-on.” He remains Georgia’s starting fullback heading into the second week of preseason camp.

hartonTB Brandon Harton, junior, Reidsville: Harton (5-6, 174) earned a scholarship last season and played in five games. He led the Bulldogs in rushing against Kentucky with 101 yards on 23 carries.

McGowanSE Rhett McGowan, junior, Calhoun: An all-state player and team captain at Calhoun High, McGowan (6-0, 190) has played in nine games the last two seasons. He finished with 7 catches for 84 yards last year and caught a touchdown pass against New Mexico State.

NormanDB Connor Norman, redshirt sophomore, Duluth: Norman (5-10, 208), who attended Peachtree Ridge High, played in all 14 games for the Bulldogs last season, mainly on special teams, and recorded 13 tackles. He could start at free safety if Bacarri Rambo is sidelined as expected. Norman received a most improved award in 2011 and outstanding walk-on on defense this spring.

SailorsDB Blake Sailors, junior, Athens: Sailors (5-11, 186) is a cornerback and special teams stalwart who has played in every Georgia game the past two seasons. A 2009 graduate of Oconee High, this is the second year in a row Sailors earned a scholarship

VavlasLB Kosta Vavlas, redshirt sophomore, Tarpon Springs, Fla.: Vavlas (6-0, 219) is an inside linebacker who is currently listed as third-team “Mo” behind Alec Ogletree and Christian Robinson. He played in all 14 games last season, finished with 19 tackles and received a most valuable special teams award.

220 comments Add your comment

Frank Lane

August 12th, 2012
10:55 pm

I think that Connor Norman may be better than Rambo. He always knows where the ball is and gets there.

Frank Lane

August 12th, 2012
10:56 pm

Jeez I was first. Never happened before.

WtfWruthnkn

August 12th, 2012
10:57 pm

Good for them

NC_Dawg

August 12th, 2012
11:02 pm

What a great reward for hard work and dedication. Congrats Frank, pistos!

Top Row Dawg

August 12th, 2012
11:05 pm

Wooo 7 scholarships, we are getting closer to 85 every day.

Goldenrod

August 12th, 2012
11:11 pm

Coach Paul Johnson would NEVER stopp so low as to have to award schollies to walk-on’s.

LOL at the Mutts and Coach Helen Hunt! Shows the shape of their program after booting all those thugs.

Red Stick

August 12th, 2012
11:11 pm

I know those boys and their loved ones are thrilled. Good for them!

Geaux Tigers
Go SEC

The Factor

August 12th, 2012
11:18 pm

Blake Sailors is a stud on special teams. Never seen a white kid that fast (4.28). Should have him running back punts….

gadawg43

August 12th, 2012
11:19 pm

Its pretty bad when our walkons are better than Techs starters

Champion Dawg

August 12th, 2012
11:19 pm

Congratulations Men. Well deserved by all. GATA. Have a great year and careers. Bulldawg Nation loves and supports all the players, coaches, staff of the 2012 Georgia “G” Bulldawgs. Do us proud.

ConyersDawg

August 12th, 2012
11:20 pm

Tell ya what Goldenrod, let’s meet at the N Peachtree BP station at 8 AM Monday and I’ll knock your teeth so far down your throat you’ll have to drop your pants to chew your food!

Typical classless techie coming on the Big Brother’s blog to try to cut down Coach Mark Richt. Why don’t you wake up and realize one fact – WE RUN THIS STATE

Michael Collins

August 12th, 2012
11:25 pm

Hey Goldenrod, with your Reggie Ball degree from tech maybe you should learn to spell “STOOP”…

Meanwhile what is the standard deviation of 10 out of 11 wins by the Dawgs in the Richt era? That’s what I thought…crickets.

Kori4U

August 12th, 2012
11:29 pm

ConyersDawg u made me laugh so hard saying that! Damn

Commit to the G

August 12th, 2012
11:31 pm

Classy move by Coach Richt. SO proud to have him as the leader of this football team, these boys deserved the scholarships for their hard work on the practice field and on special teams.

It’s time to make it pay off on September 1st! Beat Buffalo!!!

Paul Johnson

August 12th, 2012
11:34 pm

If only my team was relevant on the national stage, I could get guys like this too.

Mr Tech

August 12th, 2012
11:37 pm

Class of '98

August 12th, 2012
11:37 pm

Congrats, fellas. GO DAWGS

North Georgia Dawg

August 12th, 2012
11:57 pm

Blake Sailors is a stud on special teams. Never seen a white kid that fast (4.28). Should have him running back punts….

Neither have I, Sailors is always one of the first players to the return man on special teams. He deserved to have it renewed.

North Georgia Dawg

August 12th, 2012
11:59 pm

Norman seems like a really hard worker and a guy who could contribute a little with Rambo out, though I don’t think he’ll start. Hopefully he’ll play great though. Hall obviously has played great to be ahead of Samuel on the depth chart. We’ll see if he stays ahead of Hicks at that position.

North Georgia Dawg

August 13th, 2012
12:02 am

Hahaha, please get a life! We were the SEC East champions and have beaten your team 10 of 11 against your program. Are you bitter?

Goldenrod

August 13th, 2012
12:13 am

You know how I got my name? I always get a chubby at the beginning of the UGA/GT game, but by the end I’ve pizzed myself :(

North Georgia Dawg

August 13th, 2012
12:14 am

ThreeDawgKnight

August 13th, 2012
12:21 am

Kosta Vavlas:
played extensively last yr on defense.
Grantham likes the kid.

Brandon Harton:
better than Carlton Thomas.
He would be a scholarship player to begin with
on most teams and would be in the playing rotation.

Vance Duly

August 13th, 2012
12:23 am

Honkies who can run a 4.28 forty are almost as rare as a Tech QB who can complete a pass more than 10 yards downfield (to one of his OWN players, that is)….. Run, Sailors, run……

Congrats to these players — they are the type of guys who deserve it. GO DAWGS!

7576DAWG

August 13th, 2012
12:31 am

With so many recruits playing games it is refreshing to know that these walk-on’s, could have gone to a lot of programs on scholarship but wanted to be Dawgs so bad they were willing to walk on without any guarantee of anything. These are true DGD’s and reading how much they have already contributed to our program, some with scholarships last year and others playing on their on dime, are well deserving the recognition.

RED DOG 77

August 13th, 2012
12:46 am

I am dlighted to read uplifting stories like this one…………especiially when I see that the game of football can be a vihicle of hope for some kids who might not otherwise get the chance at a college education………….And this story is about my beloved BULLDOGS, making it all the sweeter………………..GO DOGS……..we are just about there…………GATA…………RED

Randawg

August 13th, 2012
12:50 am

-Congrats to these guys for getting scholarships…good for them and I hope they succeed and help us out.However,we should NEVER be in a position when we only have 72 players under scholarship in the 1st place!!…Shows a lack of planning and poor recruiting!!

Smitty

August 13th, 2012
12:52 am

great news for these guys

ptmmac

August 13th, 2012
1:12 am

Go Blake! You are more fun to cheer for then most of the rest of the team combined. I might be a little bit biased, your cousin is a business partner of mine. Go Dawgs!!!

I am impressed with the quality of the players on this list. Just wish there was an Offensive Lineman here. UGA seems to be able to keep the top quality on the defensive line. The O line needs some love. Since the Stinchcomb brothers left we have not had as many standout talents here as we need to win championships. I wonder how many games we lost because we couldn’t convert 3 down with short running plays. I would bet the stats are really ugly here. I think this also contributes to some of the predictability of the offensive play calling. If one play is always working for 5 yards a pop, then almost anything else seems more surprising. We need some meat in this game.

nobody

August 13th, 2012
1:26 am

good for these young men…to earn a scholarship, you have to be better than a player already on scholarship … I would much rather have them than Derrick Yancey… frankly, I don’t care where Yancey goes….I want only those guys who want to play for us…who are totally “committed”…a term that all these prima donna “me guys” will never understand…

Paddy

August 13th, 2012
1:31 am

Norman & Sailors”s names will be called alot this fall. Congrats to all these players.

dbc

August 13th, 2012
1:57 am

Congrats to all. Proof that hard work does pay off.

Frank Lane

August 13th, 2012
2:27 am

Might as well be on probation. Total lack of roster management.

7576DAWG

August 13th, 2012
2:56 am

After having said what I said earlier I am glad for these kids to get rewarded but Georgia is only doing themselves a disservice when we come in so far below the total allowed scholarships of 85.
This is the third year in a row we have given a lot of scholarships to walk-on’s.It is okay to give 1 or even 2 scholarships to walk-on’s because of all the variables that have to come out perfect in order to not affect the total number allowed of 85 scholarships but to give 5 to 7 every year to walk on’s is a practice that I hope McGarity ends. I don’t care how good these kids are they are not better than most of the other Georgia boys that are going to other SEC team because we did not recruit them hard enough.

TY

August 13th, 2012
4:37 am

Gee, So we have these extra scholarships, They cannot do anything but collect dust until next year unless they are used somewhere. Why deny any kid who is busting his tail for the team a scholarship because they are a walkon and we have these left over scholarships. Some people just do not have a heart and all they ever will be is “MEAN”!

Skint

August 13th, 2012
5:16 am

I know these guys work hard just like the scholarship players. However, there is a reason most of these guys were not recruited. Our coverage teams were awful last year, and we have several of these guys on special teams. We should be OK against our non conference schedule, but will struggle against SEC teams.

Destin Dawg

August 13th, 2012
6:03 am

Good for them, could be playing on scholarship for other schools, but wanted to be Dawgs !!

Dawgie Poo

August 13th, 2012
6:06 am

Dawg fans keep telling yourself that these kids could have played at other schools but choose to be a Dawg. It’s nice you all think so highly of yourself. @ Dawg 43….keep believing that these guys are better than scholarship players at other schools. I doubt your the only nad licking redneck that believes this. This is a reality check as to how far your program has fallen. It is a feel good story though so congrats to these players.

Jim

August 13th, 2012
6:24 am

Nothing against theseyoung men; however, this is the second year in a row that Georgia has done this. You CAN NOT compete in the SEC with walk-ons.
An analysis earlier showed that over the last four years both Alabam and LSU had signed the equivalant of a one year recruiting class more than Georgia. Good thing we do not play then thia year. We will see the bif difference NEXT year with our inexperience and lack of depth.

Just the Facts

August 13th, 2012
6:27 am

nobody
August 13th, 2012
1:26 am

good for these young men…to earn a scholarship, you have to be better than a player already on scholarship …

==============

Some of these guys are third string backups and special team players only. They are not realty beating out other players or turning away scholarships from other schools.

That being said, they want to be at Georgia. They are the quintessential
student-athletes that probably truly value their education…and values what it will mean outside of football playing days. Congrats to all of them.

tenn.DAWG

August 13th, 2012
6:34 am

All DGD’s,now GATA !

Nahila

August 13th, 2012
6:42 am

I agree that UGA needs to sign a full class as possible every year but our walkon program is very important to our being able to attract possible overlooked players who bring other intangibles to the team such as work ethics, time management and quality grades, role models to our scholarship players to witness those players going thru the same drills as they are and doing it for the love of the game. That speaks mountains of respect and makes the scholarship players not only appreciate their good fortune but also strive to improve their abilities as well. Last count there were 35-40 walkons on the team that mostly compose the Scout teams which are very important to our success and the few that earn scholarships keep the dream alive for the others.

TDawg

August 13th, 2012
6:51 am

Some of these guys are better than our recruits. Sailors is an outstanding ST guy and he does have to beat out scholarship guys to be on special teams. Same with Vavlas and Norman. Q Harrow was good on special teams but since these guys got the job done in the classroom they start on ST and get his scholarship that he apparently didn’t care enough about to do the work. Congrats to some DGD’s and in 19 days lets GATA

These kids earned it!

August 13th, 2012
7:03 am

Love this story. I, too, was a walk-on in baseball Division I. Got cut by UGA’s Steve Webber and I told him that I wasn’t through with baseball. Played at Mercer U, Division I, and then was signed to play baseball later with the NY Yankees.

So, all of these 5 Star studs who pan out at UGA should take a hard look at the will and determination of players like the aforementioned.

vince

August 13th, 2012
7:08 am

I saw enough of these guys chasing the Honey Badger last year. What a joke.

Game Changer

August 13th, 2012
7:10 am

One to three walk on given scholarship for the year: A REWARD

At these numbers the last few years: MISMANAGEMENT WITH NO LEADERSHIP OR ACCOUNTABILITY

SSI

August 13th, 2012
7:12 am

Congratulations to all these young men. Hard work does pay!

My family is looking forward to another successful season for the Dawgs!!

Rick

August 13th, 2012
7:17 am

I was a walkon at UGA. It is a great tradition. The 1980 team had several walkons that earned scholarships. They provide a lot of leadership and play the game for the right reasons. Because we love the game and always wanted to be a DAWG. Congrats to these guys. Show those recruited players what it’s all about!

Burdell

August 13th, 2012
7:24 am

Goldenrod you are an idiot troll. Of course CPJ offers scholarships to walk ons…it happens every year. Former C Sean Beford was originally a walk-on. GO JACKETS!

KeepDreaming

August 13th, 2012
7:28 am

Congrats to these DGD!!!! Well deserved!!

tammy jacobs

August 13th, 2012
7:29 am

HEY VINCE… The only people chasing the Honey badger now are the POLICE!!!

Lowcountry Bulldawg

August 13th, 2012
7:32 am

Vance Duly

August 13th, 2012
12:23 am

Honkies who can run a 4.28

Personnally I find the use of honky rather offensive. If this where a AA player what term would you have used? It does not make it ok to use racially derogative terms just b/c the young man is white.

RNB

August 13th, 2012
7:40 am

Wake up people. The football program is in sad shape. We have less scholarship players than USC, and they are on probation.

vince

August 13th, 2012
7:49 am

Saw enough of these guys chasing Florida kick returner last year. What a joke.

vince

August 13th, 2012
7:54 am

Hey Tammy, whats that got to go with anything

RHall55

August 13th, 2012
8:00 am

Good job guys….but this does not need to be an on-going process where every year 7-8 schollies are given to walk-ons; the next to receive will be Preston Mobley!! The problem here is that UGA will bypass kids that could come here on scholarships….such a Antonio Riles, long time UGA fan but UGA quit calling, or a Marcus Caffey, now a starting corner for KY, who wanted to come to UGA, but was never offfered…..the problem is CRG who rarely gets out of Athens to see these kids….the kool aid drinkers look only at a rating not at the kids we dropped / missed on / or under recruited….CRG tired of you being out recruited by Lorenzo Ward, Trooper Taylor, and Kirby Smart!!! C’MON MAN GET TO WORK!!! BTW: nobody…in your message…it is Derrick Henry, not Derrick Yancey!!!

Just Saying

August 13th, 2012
8:01 am

Speaking of “jokes”…….how’s it going VInce?!?!

vince

August 13th, 2012
8:03 am

Just, get a clue. Guess you liked sorry special teams play last year. Be prepared for the same this year

Just Saying

August 13th, 2012
8:05 am

Great way to honor and reward these guys and in no way does this affect recruiting quotas since these are 1 year scholarships.

Larry

August 13th, 2012
8:19 am

Let’s get one thing straight. Richt is not giving these guys a scholarship because he’s a nice guy or because he needs them to play football. Richt is not a nice guy, and most of the walk-ons will be riding the bench most of the time.

No, they’re getting scholarships because the players who were recruited by Richt have such poor grades that only with the walk-ons can the team’s average grades be even remotely close to acceptable.

It’s pathetic and shameful that Richt’s recruits are so brainless that he has to scour the campus to find enough walk-ons to pull the team’s average grades up. The old fart Vince Dooley never had to rely on walk-ons, since in those days, they parked players in the joke of remedial studies for four years, then fixed their grades so it looked like he had a bunch of Rhodes Scholars, when in fact, very few of the players ever graduated or even passed a legitimate college-level course.

Today, with more scrutiny on the program, Mark Richt has to jump through a few more hoops to deceive the public that his players are bonafide students. Thus, the warm welcome that intelligent walk-ons get. It’s also worth noting that walk-ons seldom have the off-field issues that Richt’s recruits are notorious for.

When and if these guys actually get on the field, be sure to give them a rousing reception. They’re the guys who put the “student” in student-athlete, and they’re about the only players on Richt’s team who can read and write at the college level. Most of his recruited players would be hard-pressed to recite their ABCs, even during those rare times when they’re not drunk or stoned.

Just remember that UGA is the world’s #1 Party School and the proud winner of the Fulmer Cup. So keep your expectations low and your hopes high, and Richt’s walk-ons may just save the day in a close game or two.

Dawg-Gawn

August 13th, 2012
8:23 am

Killing two birds with one stone?

Surely, a coaches heavy incentive laden contract that might have a clause in it, which calls for a certain amount of money be paid, if the team’s GPA reaches a certain level…… nah couldn’t be, not coach Richt?

If so, easy money……. Cha-Ching!

Believe in the “G”

RedandBlackDAWG

August 13th, 2012
8:33 am

All of these young men are deserving of a scholarship. They contribute to the team even if they don’t start, because they help to get the first team prepared. It takes a lot of determination and guts, to be a walk on at a major university, and know you are usually going to be fodder, with a few exceptions and a scout team member. They contribute much to the team.
As far as the GT guys on here spouting off about these guys. Most likely, they would be playing a full load if they had gone to GT.

DawginLex

August 13th, 2012
8:35 am

rhall

Merritt Hall is killing people and is still the #1 fullback. Hardly a walkon resume

Marcus Caffey just flunked out at UK BTW

Diehard Dawg

August 13th, 2012
8:36 am

Go white boys…

DawginLex

August 13th, 2012
8:37 am

Larry

You know what is shameless and ridiculous?

That a walking talking breathing douchebagusmaximus like you is allowed to comment on a UGA blog

Just shutup and go blow up your blow up doll date for tonight

RedandBlackDAWG

August 13th, 2012
8:37 am

Larry

August 13th, 2012
8:19 am
I am going to assume you are a techie, since it is about time for your ilk to brag about how hard it is academically to make the grade at your school, and how poor UGA standards are. That is good for about the first two or three losses and then, once again, it gets old.

North Georgia Dawg

August 13th, 2012
8:38 am

I love to laugh at some of the moron trolls on here. I bet these guys couldn’t get a date with a normal woman if they tried. They would look her up on the Internet instead. Our program has not “fallen”, we did fairly well last season, but lost some close games because of special teams and turnovers late in games. We could have easily beaten South Carolina and Michigan State if not for missed field goals and unnecessary field goals. I sure would have rather had our season last year than freaking Auburn.

North Georgia Dawg

August 13th, 2012
8:42 am

The reason Georgia gave these guys scholarships is that they worked really hard and most of them contributed in some way on special teams. Urban Meyer awarded several scholarships to walk-ons as well if you remember. A lot of coaches do. Sailors, Norman and Hall are all guys who should certainly contribute in some way.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
8:51 am

Does this mean they get to keep the scholly until they graduate or just for this year?
Doesn’t Richt do 4 year scholly?
Will this hurt recruiting more good players for “13″ class?

Pete

August 13th, 2012
8:53 am

Some of these guys should be getting scholarships. Congrats to them and it keeps the other walk-ons working hard. But, if this takes away from the # of recruits the team can bring on board in January, it is too many. The team needs as many recruits as possible to enrol early and go thru spring practice.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
8:54 am

DiLex you may not like what LARRY said but it has a lot of truth to it for helping the grades and graduation rate.

Abe Lincoln

August 13th, 2012
8:55 am

Congrats to these guys. My only question is why didn’t we use all the other scholarships that we have for fall semester. Go Dawgs ! Reward as many as possible.

RxDawg

August 13th, 2012
9:03 am

So that’s where all the white boys play!

Hehe, I kid I kid. Grats to these young men. I guess that’s the good side of not having all our scholarships filled out. Yes I’d rather them be filled with purebred Div 1-a studs. But I don’t think having 70 scholarship players vs 85 scholarship players is going to have the detriment to the team that some out there feel. There is probably a psycological component that having walk ons brings. The biggest is work ethic. Go Dawgs baby!

crossdawg

August 13th, 2012
9:03 am

Good lookin bunch a guys. G A T A

NC_Dawg

August 13th, 2012
9:04 am

Larry, you are a moron.

LHarding Dawg

August 13th, 2012
9:05 am

I’ve always said to keep a certain number of scholarships for walk on’s. Recruit and get the special high school players available, but give scholarships to walk on’s. You might not be sure what that special high school player can do. You damn sure know what a walk can do because he’s been in camp for a year or two.

RxDawg

August 13th, 2012
9:08 am

Nahila
August 13th, 2012
6:42 am

About as well said as it can be.

RxDawg

August 13th, 2012
9:12 am

“Marcus Caffey just flunked out at UK BTW”

Refresh my memory Lex. Who was he again? The name is right there but I can’t place it.

steverino

August 13th, 2012
9:15 am

As Burdell has already pointed out, Goldenrod is and idgit, (and most likely NOT a GT fan at all, after having said that CPJ would never award a scholly to a walk-on). Probably not 7 at one time, mind you…but several current Jackets on ’ships started out by walking on. There’s always a lot of debate about whether it should be done, or saved for a HS hot shot. I’m no Dwag fan, and 7 IS a lot at one time…but congrats to these players. It’s THEIR team.

Old Dawg

August 13th, 2012
9:16 am

Great news for these guys and their families. They are good examples for working hard and earning your rewards!

LHarding Dawg

August 13th, 2012
9:17 am

Larry could really do with some medical help!

DawginLex

August 13th, 2012
9:23 am

The schollies are for one year and do not affect anything regarding the 2013 class

Marcus Caffey and Josh clemons were 2 runningbacks from Atlanta that a lot of us wanted Richt to recruit along with Crowell. Caffey was moved to DB and was going to start at Kentucky but he is academically ineligible. Clemons is hurt but when he returns, he will most likely start at RB for UK.

We could have used them both last year

I-DOG

August 13th, 2012
9:23 am

Frank Lane:

I also feel comfortable with Norman playing safety. Obviously, Rambo is the more elite athlete (bigger, stronger, faster), I like the idea of having one safety who isn’t as athletic, but always seems to be in the right spot at the right time and makes the sure tackle even if it isn’t a spectacular hit.

Can’t recall the name of the young man we had a few years ago who was about 5 11 and was a former walk on who was always in the right spot and played in front of better athletes. He got burned real bad in the Auburn game on a 3rd and very long when he was way out of position, but it was revealed later that he had a concussion and shouldn’t have been in the game at that point.

Sometimes, just having a safety play the assignment and do the basic job is better than having one that makes the big hit.

BreakingNews

August 13th, 2012
9:23 am

Sailors can flat out fly! Watched him when he played at Oconee….he was also a state champion in track in the 300 hurdles

Paddy

August 13th, 2012
9:24 am

Goldenrod’ no awarded schollies at GT to walk-ons???? You are kidding, right? Woody and Bo used to award schollies every year to the equipment managers. You need a little work on football lore! It makes enjoying the sport that more interesting.

JB

August 13th, 2012
9:31 am

I’m very very happy for these young men. Bigger hearts and better attitudes and work ethic of a lot of 5 stars types. I’m not sure though this process helps us win a NC. Let’s go win 14 games. Go Dawgs.

Dawg Whisperer

August 13th, 2012
9:34 am

Larry, if you spent less time hating on UGA/coach Richt and more time comprehending the article content, you would see that most of them actually played in multiple games last year. They “earned” their scholarships. In business the idea of rewarding someone’s significant contributions is an everyday event but when people hate, common sense just goes straight out the window.

Beast from the East

August 13th, 2012
9:35 am

Congrats to all these young men and their families. That said, it speaks to a larger problem of recruiting and attrition to having that many scholarships available. Better hope the injuries are few and far between this season or it could turn into a rough year.

norcrossdawg

August 13th, 2012
9:36 am

CONGRATULATIONS WALK-ONS!! FROM A FELLOW WALK-ON WHOM EARNED A SCHOLARSHIP BACK IN 1981! I had to beat out many scholarship athletes and also gain a starting position before Coach Dooley awarded mine, seems scholarships are alot easier to obtain these days (7 scholarships—REALLY). GO DAWGS

ARdawg

August 13th, 2012
9:38 am

Dropped Twinkie, some schollys are auto renewed and some are not. But, in essence they are all “awarded” each year

DIT

August 13th, 2012
9:39 am

@Red Stick

Your post on the 1st page was pure class. Thanks. Too bad some others can’t take your que and just see what’s going for what it is. I don’t care what team your on. It’s hard to get a scholly as a walk-on. Proud of these Dawgs!

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
9:39 am

Personal: LUIS CAPELLA; Born: Dec. 5, 1989; Major: Economics.
2011: One of team’s Outstanding Scout Team Award recipients.
*Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for fall semester.
2010: Member of the scout team.
*Earned Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for spring semester.
High School: Richmond Academy.

Personal: JAMES MERRITT HALL; Born: July 9, 1992; Major: Agricultural & Applied Economics.
2011: Redshirted and earned Athletic Director’s Honor Roll distinction for fall semester.
High School: Wesleyan

Personal: BRANDON HARTON; Born: November 15, 1990; Major: Psychology

Personal: RHETT DANIEL MCGOWAN; Born: Feb. 1, 1990; Major: Sport Management.
Earned Athletic Director’s Honor Roll distinction for fall semester.
2009: Named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and Dean’s List for summer and fall semesters.

CONNOR REID NORMAN; Born: Aug. 12, 1992; Major: Exercise & Sport Science.
*Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for fall semester.
2010: Redshirted and named to Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for summer semester.
Peachtree Ridge Honor graduate and two-time academic letter award winner.

BLAKE MICHAEL SAILORS; Born: May 23, 1991; Major: Consumer Economics.
2010: Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Earned Athletic Director’s Honor Roll distinction for spring semester.
2009: Named to fall 2009 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.
Member of Beta Club and on the Honor Roll at Oconee.

DIMITRIOS KOSTA VAVLAS; Born: July 23, 1992; Major: Biological Science.
Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for fall semester.
High School: Member of National Honor Society and Greek National Honor Society and maintained above a 4.0 GPA throughout high school.

You may not like what LARRY said but look at these players…….ALL making the UGA grade point average and graduation rate look a lot better.
Nice of RICHT to award Good STUDENT athletes a Scholly because that is what College football should be about, but it is making the SCHOLARSHIP APR and GPA really jump.

DawginLex

August 13th, 2012
9:40 am

for those complaining about the lack of being at 85:

Do any of you know how many we can take to a road game??

70

McDawg

August 13th, 2012
9:41 am

relax Larry-these guys earned it

VINCE

August 13th, 2012
9:43 am

Hope these guys aren’t playing against Georgia Southern. They will beat us.

DawginLex

August 13th, 2012
9:44 am

Red Stick is proof that you can be a fan of another team and comment on an opponent’s blog and do it in a classy way

sammiamm

August 13th, 2012
9:45 am

I am ready for some football.

Talk is cheap, after all.

Go Dawgs–all the way.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
9:46 am

Burdell
August 13th, 2012
7:24 am

Goldenrod you are an idiot troll. Of course CPJ offers scholarships to walk ons…it happens every year. Former C Sean Beford was originally a walk-on. GO JACKETS!
====================================================

Bedford became the STARTING CENTER……The aforementioned UGa players have not EARNED Starting jobs at positions that PLAY more than maybe 10 plays a game. BIG Difference.

Spanky

August 13th, 2012
9:50 am

I think Connor Norman plays like one of my all-time favorite dawgs,..Terry Hoage. Nice to see his hard work get rewarded with playing time and a scholly…as well as Merritt, Sailors, and the other guys!! Can’t wait to see the sea of red at Sanford!! Go Dawgs!!

VINCE

August 13th, 2012
9:53 am

Spanky, Terry Hoage was an all-american who played in NFL. What a dumb comment.

Spanky

August 13th, 2012
9:56 am

Hold the f up!! Why do you nerds care who our coach gives schollies to?? Were you there at practice? What is your point?! The dawgs have knocked your “goldenrods” into the dirt, over and over again! Win something, THEN say something!….that’s how it works!

pike dawg

August 13th, 2012
10:03 am

tell me if I’m wrong but on each play it’s just 11 versus 11 right? Who cares who the last 10-15 players are on the roster? Whether they are scholly players or walkons they ain’t seeing the field unless your winning by 40 or losing by 40. Good grief I don’t want to here the “depth” argument…if you have just 66 scholarship players you are 3 deep at every position. You people need to calm down..the kids we are taling about here for the most part you will only know their name when they run out of the tunnel on Senior Day and get their picture with Richt and their parents. I appreciate their hard work and dedication to UGA as much as the next guy, congrats tpo the young men who earned their scholly. They were not given one only to throw it away by being an uneducated fool and doing something stupid.

DawginLex

August 13th, 2012
10:06 am

twinkie

Merrit Hall is the starting fullback. Ahead of Samuel. Ahead of Hicks. He is killing people in practice and will play more than 10 snaps per game

The Factor

August 13th, 2012
10:10 am

For those of you who think none of these guys got scholorships out of HS, you would be dead wrong on that count. They may not have gotten rides to UGA but they did elsewhere and WANTED to be Dawgs – not entitled dawgs. We have seen plenty of those over the years, right? I know for a fact one was heading to Auburn before Tuberville was let go.

The Factor

August 13th, 2012
10:11 am

sorry about “scholarships” above.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
10:12 am

DiLex I know a player or 2 are really PLAYING a lot of plays but many are still just Special Teams. I don’t think it is bad they got a Scholly.
They are STUDENTS as I posted their Academic Credentials.

Spanky

August 13th, 2012
10:13 am

Vince, you are no stranger to dumb comments, huh?? You should know! Stop being a douchey-clown!

The Factor

August 13th, 2012
10:13 am

@pike dawg

Do you actually watch UGA games? All of these guys contribute in a big way , some more than others EVERY game. Good grief…

PAUL SUCKS BIG JOHNSON

August 13th, 2012
10:17 am

what’s my record against teams that have a winning record?? damn i do suck johnson.

VINCE

August 13th, 2012
10:20 am

The factor, thats why we cant beat a top team

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
10:21 am

PAUL SUCKS BIG JOHNSON
August 13th, 2012
10:17 am

what’s my record against teams that have a winning record?
================================================

Paul your record against ALL teams is the same as RICHT’S 34-19

Ted Striker

August 13th, 2012
10:26 am

Congrats to all. You don’t earn a one-year walkon scholarship unless you EARN it.

And that’s true no matter what your team colors are.

10-4, Striker over and out.

UGA Insider

August 13th, 2012
10:29 am

“We’ve got a ways to go on special teams”.

CMR after special teams practice Saturday morning.

Walk-ons and freshman everywhere…This may be worse than last year and last year cost us 3 games.

pike dawg

August 13th, 2012
10:39 am

re..the facor..yes I wtch UGA games..170 of them and counting…and I’m not talkng about thes specific players..I know a couple of these guys will play some important snaps..I’m just talking in general the last 10-15 guys on a roster are there to stand around and simulate the other tams offense/defense in practice. The point is the majority of those guys you don’t count on to pla so who cares if they are on scholly or not.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
10:40 am

And what about the many players over the years at UGA (and every other school) that WAS recruited, sign to a scholarship, and had thier smiling face in the newspaper that never cracked the second string? That would have made you feel better than these guys who had to prove they were worth a scholarship? I hate to break it to you’ll but not every guy we sign has 20 offers from every top school in the nation. We sign guys all the time deciding between UGA and NC State (as an example). Everybody does.
I would think these guys will contribute more to the effort than the bottom 7 guys in that category.

The fact that we still have 9 spots to give and certainly there are plenty of walk-ons tells you that theese guys didnt “get” anything. The ARE scholarship worthy players. As I said before, if fixing the numbers ( to stop the internet chatter on “numbers”) was the issue, they could have done that easy enough a long time ago.

nobody

August 13th, 2012
10:46 am

Just the Facts:

Your Comment: “Some of these guys are third string backups and special team players only. They are not realty beating out other players or turning away scholarships from other schools.”

My Response: I do not disagree; however, in all fairness, many of your scholarship players are also third string backups and special team players only. The difference is, these non-scholarship kids came in wanting to show they could play, and proved that they could…

Your Comment: “That being said, they want to be at Georgia. They are the quintessential
student-athletes that probably truly value their education…and values what it will mean outside of football playing days. Congrats to all of them.”

My Response: Absolutely….

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
10:48 am

Is special teams the reason that you keep predicting UGA to lose at least 5 games?

bitter

August 13th, 2012
10:51 am

Congrats to yaa—-play hard because the chance that you could be part of something special—————waiting with baited breath

————-for –Turd Roll——-so many _______faces

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
10:52 am

1-0 Boston College 2008 (9-5)
4-1 Clemson 08 (7-6) 09(9-5) 10(6-7) 11(10-4)
2-0 FSU 08(9-4) 09(7-6)
1-3 UGA 08(10-3) 09(8-5) 10(6-7) 11(10-4)
1-3 Miami 08(7-6) 09(9-4) 10(7-6) 11(6-6)
3-1 UNC 08(8-5) 09(8-5) 10(8-5) 11(7-6)
1-1 NCSU 10(9-4) 11(8-5)
1-3 VPI 08(10-4) 09(10-3) 10(11-3) 11(11-3)

14-12 come back with Richts numbers.

The Tide is rolling and nothing can stop it

August 13th, 2012
10:56 am

You may not have a nationally relavant season in over 30 years, but at least you don’t oversign. UGA; the golden standard of morals in college football (just ask Isiah Crowell)

Kerryb

August 13th, 2012
11:02 am

Goldenrod

August 12th, 2012
11:11 pm

Coach Paul Johnson would NEVER stopp so low as to have to award schollies to walk-on’s.

LOL at the Mutts and Coach Helen Hunt! Shows the shape of their program after booting all those thugs.

___________________________________________________________

Goldenrod forgets that our walkon players are better than their scholarship players.

Kerryb

August 13th, 2012
11:05 am

These are only one year scholarships and since we got them to use for this year we might as well help some guys that work really hard for the team. It will also help their families with the cost of college. Why let several scholarships go to waste when they can be used. Good for them.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
11:06 am

Kerry B keep telling yourself that with NO proof. You can’t prove anything you said. STATS prove ability in the game. your players don’t have enough stats to even register.

Ace

August 13th, 2012
11:07 am

Should be more coming, as the arrests will continue as long as Richt is around.

Kerryb

August 13th, 2012
11:23 am

Every player on UGA’s roster is better than Tech’s. Why do you think we’ve beaten them 10 out of the last 11 years?

buckhead benny

August 13th, 2012
11:23 am

Now you know where UGA’s football academic average comes from- They must be factoring in all players on the team rather than scholarship only- I would like to see the stats on scholarship only athletes academically- I imagine it’s not that great-

Kerryb

August 13th, 2012
11:26 am

The last I heard UGA athletes were near the top in graduation rate in the SEC where Tech was dead last in the ACC.

sapelodawg

August 13th, 2012
11:27 am

Bama & LSU ge

Kerryb

August 13th, 2012
11:27 am

Now I’ll get the stupid comment, “well, Tech is a lot harder than UGA”.

sapelodawg

August 13th, 2012
11:30 am

Bama, LSU et al get 5 star recruits. USC & Penn State have been punished by limiting their total # of scollies ………. Saint Mark has a self-limiting program ……….. he can’t recruit 85 young men …… what a dilbert.

Homepage | MrSEC

August 13th, 2012
11:34 am

[...] Seven Georgia walk-ons have been put on scholarship… and two may wind up [...]

Kerryb

August 13th, 2012
11:36 am

You know, even with 70 scholarship players we are still going to whip Tech’s behind.

zbulldawg

August 13th, 2012
11:36 am

Being a good student & hard work pays OFF ! Let this be a lesson to those who think they have it MADE ! Go Dawgs Contrals to all you young men, you make me proud to be a Dawg fan !!

Joey

August 13th, 2012
11:38 am

UGA just signed it’s 7th DB, this one a Juco player. Grantham’s getting a huge defensive class – maybe that will entice him to stay.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
11:44 am

Kerry B BAMA had more players on the Honor Roll so Bama is a better academic institution than Vandy, Forida & Georgia?
Tech is LOW in graduation because they don’t offer EZ classes and the Professors don’t pass a kid so he can play on Game Day. GET a CLUE. When UGa has 70+% Special Admits don’t tell me UGa has a difficult path to graduation/degree.
You are SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW how it really works.

DawginLex

August 13th, 2012
11:51 am

Joey

Paris Bostick is not JUCO. He is from Plant HS in Tampa

The Factor

August 13th, 2012
12:00 pm

@pike dawg

I stick to my original comment to you. Blake Sailors, for example, is one of the best special teams guys on kick-off and punt coverage we have had in 25 years. He is so disruptive because of his speed, he often gets double teamed and still helps with no run backs. But you should already know this …..right?

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
12:03 pm

Kerryb, what Goldenrod seems to forget is the names of the walk-ons that Johnson has given scholarship awards to. And plenty. Clearly he doesn’t know enough about tech’s roster OR his Coach to even offer up opinions.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
12:04 pm

Judo, player he meant. For flexibility.

Wrecker

August 13th, 2012
12:17 pm

Congrats to these guys! Like someone said earlier, these guys were not handed anything. They earned their position with hard work and determination.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
12:22 pm

Blake Sailors (as well as McGowen, Harton, Norman) can hardly be in this conversation at this point. Regular players since last year,Thier (former) status as a walk on is no more relavant now than stating how we just gave scholarship to a bunch of high school kids. CLEARLY these guys are more of an asset at this point as some of them will be.

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
12:26 pm

7 scholarships to walk-on players? Really?

I can understand giving out 1 or 2. Most teams do that to reward one or two kids, but UGA needs to stop filling up scholarship numbers by handing out scholarships to walk-ons…instead, how about getting more recruits to come to UGA?

DawginLex

August 13th, 2012
12:27 pm

goldenrod

These 7 kids would be the jewels of Tech’s recruiting class yet they walked on at UGA.

See the difference in the level of football?

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
12:29 pm

….and when you get the recruits to UGA, make sure they pass class and stay out of trouble. That way, we don’t have this problem in the future.

SEC FAN

August 13th, 2012
12:36 pm

@ConyersDawg – I’ll meet you down there you low down classless hillbilly and I’ll knock your tooth so far down your throat, well then you’ll just look like the rest of the Dawg Nation!!

VINCE

August 13th, 2012
12:53 pm

I dont really care to pay big bucks to watch walk-ons play. Guess ill stay at home and watch on TV

Moneyball

August 13th, 2012
12:53 pm

@ golden shower – UGA would beat beat tech with 85 walkons.

@ SEC FAN – nice of you to defend your boyfriend like that.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
12:56 pm

Well it was 2 last year. Which is normal you say. Then 2 more this year. ALL of whom played extensively. So basically, you are hung up on all those 3 players, extra?

Abnerish

August 13th, 2012
12:58 pm

First Musketeer I’ve seen at UGA in a LONG, LONG time! Awesome! Congrats Capella!

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
1:00 pm

AltamahaDawg….Spin it however you want to…the4 bottom line is this…Those 7 players would not be getting scholarships if it weren’t for your lack of disclipine off the field….period.

I’m glad some fine guys are getting rewarded, but let’s not get carried away. Most schools don’t give 7 scholarships to walk-ons.

7576DAWG

August 13th, 2012
1:02 pm

I am glad that we can give 5 to 7 loyal walk-on’s a reward for all their sacrifice but truth be known it will be a miracle if any of these kids ever are given a chance in Pro ball. That being said I am sure they were local hero’s , somewhere , when they played high school football and they would have been very good Division 2 football players or Division 3 football stars but there is a reason that even the Division 1 IVY League players never make it even to tryouts at the Pro level.
Giving scholarships to walk on’s is a great “feel good” article but in the SEC when you are playing against a team who is 2 and 3 deep you get killed in the second half because you don’t have the depth of quality players that it takes to win championships.
MCGARITY end this stupidity and mind set. It’s okay to give 1 or 2 walk-on’s scholarships but 5 to 7 is absurd or just plain crazy.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
1:03 pm

I don’t understand why the report is 7. Two of them are scholarship player coming back, like 54 other players.

Just an idea .....

August 13th, 2012
1:03 pm

I suspect that these kids WORK HARD in practice, on game day and in the classroom. YOU CANNOT have enough guys like this on any team, business or football.

Everyone of these guys wil make their mark before they leave UGA, if only in ONE game, i suspect. I also think that all will graduate.

Go Dogs.

Chip Towers

August 13th, 2012
1:05 pm

AltamahaDawg: I, too, was counting Harton and Sailors among the returning scholarship players. But apparently their agreement was for one year/

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
1:06 pm

AltamahaDawg…as you know, scholarships are a 1 year deal. Okay Okay…so two of the walk-ons from last year were given another scholly this year. I get your point…I’m just not sure why you are making it.

Like 7576 said above….it’s a feel-good story. But the fact is that these “fine young men” that have been doing it the “UGA way” would not be getting scholarships if not for the off-the-field behavior of several other quality players.

Joey

August 13th, 2012
1:11 pm

Lex, you’re right. Scout.com sends me alerts of UGA’s new committs and for some reason, Steven Nelson from CA is still on top, though he committed back in Feb.

http://georgia.scout.com/a.z?s=135&p=9&c=8&toinid=740&yr=2013

topdawg

August 13th, 2012
1:12 pm

@Goldenrod UGA’s walk-ons are better than Georgia Tech’s starters!!!

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
1:14 pm

I am not spinning a damn thing. I stating the way it is. 2 last year, 2 this year, which you say is perfectly normal.
Plus the extra 3. YOU are the one spinning it to say other schools would never do this.

I guarantee you that YOUR school has and will recruit and give scholarships to players of less caliber than these at times.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
1:16 pm

DawginLex
August 13th, 2012
12:27 pm

goldenrod

These 7 kids would be the jewels of Tech’s recruiting class yet they walked on at UGA.
================================================

Please STOP you are looking just ignorant.

SEC FAN

August 13th, 2012
1:18 pm

@Moneyball, I was defending your wife!!!

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
1:20 pm

Thanks Chip. I saw that you reported it correctly, but what I questioned was the headline, which is SO often crafted to be slighly misleading. (I understand that you don’t write those)

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
1:20 pm

So the STORY about RICHT giving ONLY 4 year scholarships means ONLY if you get an OFFER right out of High School?
UGa fans were touting RICHT Guaranteeing 4 year Scholarships. Well that is now proven to be ONLY true for kids offered right out of high school if these are just 1year deals for walk-on players.

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
1:23 pm

AltamahaDawg….set the number where-ever you want. The fact is that UGA is way under the scholly limit based on the actions of several players that were more talented than the walk-ons that just got scholarships.

Would other schools do it? Of course…I never said they wouldn’t. Most other schools would give walk-ons scholly IF they had the kind of problems that UGA has had. The point that I was making is not that Richt didn’t do the right thing in granting the scholarships….it is that UGA should have never been in that position to begin with.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
1:23 pm

So your problem HUH, is not that THESE guys are D-1 worthy players getting scholarships. It’s that we don’t have 92 D-1 worthy schlarship players but this topic was just as good of an excuse as any to make that point?

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
1:26 pm

WE are all aware of the attrition HUH. It is what is it, Nobody “wants” to have lost those guys, but given what we know about them now, nobody would really want them back either. So we are just going to deal with reality , if you don’t mind.

Perhaps the debate should NOT be that your school wouldnt give THESE guys a ride, but rather that they probably would never have dismissed or run off the ones we did. It that more to your liking?

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
1:27 pm

No…I didn’t say that these guys were or were not D-1 worthy. I’m saying that they wouldn’t be getting scholarships if not for the off-field problems of more talented players,

If you are ok with it…then maybe one day UGA field a team of only walk-ons that have been granted scholarships.

Buzz

August 13th, 2012
1:29 pm

Conyers Dawg, you mean, you GUN this state

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
1:31 pm

AltamahaDawg…you need to turn your anger in the right direction…that is, toward the players that have done wrong and got kicked off the team.

If you want to have a debate about the lastest UGA myth that UGA is tougher on players than any other school in the country…I will be happy to go there. but was it my intention, no.

Reality is this….UGA has had an inordinate amount of players get into trouble. That is the reality that I am talking about.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
1:35 pm

But you are saying it again, while claiming that you are not. You are saying that the ONLY reason all these specific players are getting scholarships is because of unusually low number.

As I pointed out, several times, FOUR of them WOULD be getting scholarship on probably 100 D-1 football teams. Most teams are not that maxed out at 85, except FOR guys exactly like these. (as you pointed out and agreed.

Which leave 3.

YOU are posing a position that would be true on IF UGA had given out 15 scholarships to walk ons. THEN its for sure, the attrition is the only way that would happen.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
1:36 pm

anger???? don’t even flatter yourself.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
1:38 pm

Oh I know you are making the point that you think we have some sort of “get in trouble” formula , going on here. That’s what I am saying. You are making THIS into an excuse to say that.

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
1:46 pm

AltamahaDawg…I don’t believe that it’s a stretch to discuss the walk-on given scholarship numbers in the context of UGA’s attritioin due to players getting into trouble. If you go back and read the posts of others before I even commented, you will see that some others are saying the same thing.

When is the last time that you heard that UGA, or any other school, granted that many scholarships to walk-ons at one time? Ok, so MAYBE some of these guys deserve a scholly. Maybe they don’t. You said that “FOUR of them WOULD be getting scholarship on probably 100 D-1 football teams.” How do you know this? Do you have the facts about how many scholarships from D1 football teams that they turned down to be a walk-on at UGA? If you do, please share.

If you want to experience the warm and fuzzies over the article, then go ahead. Please don’t allow my comments to stop you.

WDE

August 13th, 2012
1:47 pm

Great news for these young men , best of luck this season and you earned this !! Congrats!

Paddy

August 13th, 2012
1:54 pm

Chip….are not all schollie renewed each year, not just former walk-ons?

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
1:55 pm

Paddy…that is my understanding.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
1:57 pm

Seen em play my freind. And I know what players on othere teams look like. So I can make some assumptions. I never said a word about them turning down anybody to walk on here. I never said anything like that. Once again you are reading a bunch into it to avoid the simple point.

They ARE walk-ons, and just like EVERY team out there, walk ons get scholarships. YOU said that. A couple a year.

That leaves 3.

So, great. We awarded 3 scholarships to walk-ons as a direct result of being low in numbers.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
1:58 pm

Paddy….RICHT and the AJC did a story that RICHT gives 4yr Scholarships. That Story came about over the GREYSHIRTING at Bama….It was a HUGE Dwag Chest Bump. All Scholarships ar a 1 yr contract but RICHT said he offers 4yr deals to the RECRUITED LOI signing players.

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
2:03 pm

AltamahaDawg…based on your own numbers, it’s 5, not 3. It’s three more than the normal (if you discount the walk-ons from last year).

Exactly what point am I avoiding? I think anybody that has read our back-and-forth would agree that it is you that is doing the avoiding ; )

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
2:14 pm

It’s good to know, though, that we have a very talented player evalutation specialist on this blog.

DawginLex

August 13th, 2012
2:22 pm

twinkie

Just twisting your chain……….

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
2:33 pm

I’ll just state for the record. I am the fool for continuing this line.

What on earth is so hard here. YES its THREE MORE THAN NORMAL. 1,2,3. I’ve been saying that for an hour. Go back and look at my very first comment. Thats exactly my point. That was my ONLY point. You finally agree with me, after all that, then call me avoiding. It was a simple point. Nothing to avoid on my end.

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
2:39 pm

AltamahaDawg…trying to say over and over that I am avoiding something doesn’t help your argument. I will be happy to discuss whatever you would like.

Even IF you discount the two walk-on players from last year, Richt is awarding 5 walk-ons scholarships. My point is that the reason is higher than normal (which ever number you want to state) is because of the off-field issues.

Let me know what you think I’m avoiding, or what you would like to discuss, and I’ll be happy to.

Big Play

August 13th, 2012
2:42 pm

Why am I not hearing Schultz bash Les Miles over the Bager like he bashed Richt over Crowell? Questionable recuiting by the coach? More like reporting with an agenda from Schultz.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
2:54 pm

What you are avoiding is agreeing with me on a point I made and a hour ago, and you have restated several times.

'94 UGA Alumnus

August 13th, 2012
2:54 pm

Hey Vince,

Where is the Honey Badger now? Ultimately he will end up either in a jail cell or working at McDonalds (if he’s lucky).

WDE

August 13th, 2012
2:55 pm

@Big Play you make a good point, Jeff is still probably in shock Les pulled the trigger…I know I am, but I have to tip my hat to the HAT..that was a ballsy move..

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
3:00 pm

Nor did I say “over and over” you were avoiding something. I said it once, that I recall. And what you were avoiding was the simplisity of my point.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
3:04 pm

NOBODY said or was trying to say that attrition did not factor in. But the number of actual walk-on player given scholarships thnat can be directly attributed to that is 3. Three. Not 7 as you originally tried to make it seem. (because that is inaccurate) Not 5, because 2 is normal as you stated. Its 3.

3 is more than none. The More is because of attrition. 3 is also a small number and not nearly as bad as some try to make it sound. Are we good?

Moneyball

August 13th, 2012
3:06 pm

@ Huh? and other idiots: Why does it matter to you why UGA has scholarships available? Your obsession w/ UGA is tantamount to stalking.

Just the facts

August 13th, 2012
3:08 pm

UGA had 10 former walk-ons on scholarship in 2011 (i.e., John Bodin, Taylor Bradberry, Matthew DeGenova, Eric Elliott, Reuben Faloughi, Ty Frix, Brandon Harton, Blake Sailors, Wes Van Dyk, and Jason Veal), so this isn’t an anomaly, but a trend.

My question for Chip Towers is: did Coach Richt not renew Taylor Bradberry’s, Reuben Faloughi’s, and Ty Frix’s scholarships (they all have profiles listed on Georgia’s website)? Bradberry was awarded a scholarship last season on 11 August 2011. Faloughi was awarded a scholarship during UGA’s 2010 Football Spring Banquet. Frix (UGA’s starting snapper last 3 seasons) was awarded a scholarship on 10 May 2010.

http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2011/08/12/georgias-attrition-allows-mark-richt-to-award-scholarships-to-8-walkons

Jimmy Crack

August 13th, 2012
3:26 pm

Good job, young pups!

VINCE

August 13th, 2012
3:27 pm

Not about Honey Badger. About bunch of walk-ons trying to tackle him.

Chip Towers

August 13th, 2012
3:48 pm

Just the facts: Those guys remain on scholarship

4th and Long (Gone)

August 13th, 2012
3:49 pm

While I know the “regular” scholarships for recruits are technically year to year and not 4 years guaranteed, you never hear about them having to be “renewed” each year. However, for the walk-on’s this seems to be the standard process (one year at a time). Is that correct? So even AFTER they EARN a scholarship, it is only awarded for a year at a time, and it is not assumed to be renewed the following years?

Chip Towers

August 13th, 2012
3:54 pm

Paddy: At present all scholarships are one-year renewables, though that’s set to change in the coming years. Richt has said anybody he signs to a national LOI on signing days is good for at least five years as long as they abide by team rules. “Battlefield scholarships,” as I like to call them, are subject to whatever terms the staff places on them. In most cases that’s one year because they may need for prospects the following year.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
3:58 pm

Chip, I see the HeadLine master is mocking my earlier question. Now it’s a “Slew”. Take out my mind-numbing argument with HUH over how many is 3, and there’s is really not a lot of pages, I guess. That aught to attract a few more rivals to pipe in.

I prefer the term boatload myself.

I dropped my fried twinkie

August 13th, 2012
4:04 pm

Thanks CHIP TOWERS….You explained the 4yr Scolly well. I know I read you article about Richt offering 4-5 years when the BAMA grayshirting came up.

Pitbull

August 13th, 2012
4:45 pm

Congrats young men on earning your scholarships on the practice field.

Play tough and show leadership for the younger Bulldogs.

Go Dogs. THWGT!

7576DAWG

August 13th, 2012
5:04 pm

How many walk-on’s got scholarships last year? Of the one’s that got scholarships how much did they play compared to the average scholarship player.
We need to keep up with how much did each of the 7 walk-on’s play in 2012 that were just awarded one year scholarships . That is how you gauge how good they are and do the coaches just need to do a better job at recruiting players. It is obvious that CMR’s philosophy is , that Georgia can always play the walk-on’s on special teams. How did that philosophy work out last year? We need to recruit a full class of SEC caliper recruits every year.Does anyone know how it sounds to rely on walk-on’s to help win football games and that is the answer to our problem with having the depth to win championships.

7576DAWG

August 13th, 2012
5:07 pm

should be high caliber , sorry.

AFDawg

August 13th, 2012
5:07 pm

Skint at 5:16 — preferred walk-ons do get recruited. You need to understand the entire recruiting process before making erroneous statements like that.

BillDog

August 13th, 2012
5:23 pm

Glad to see the walk-ons ear some scholarships. When Nebraska was the top team in the country, they had a strong walk-on program with some making first team every year.

You have to love football to be a walk-on!!!!!

Newnandawg

August 13th, 2012
5:48 pm

If Richt had signed more than 19 recruits last year (pathetic), we wouldn’t be giving walk-ons scholarships.

You think Bama or LSU is has extra scholarships to hand out? No. They use them on SEC and National Championship Caliber recruits.

UGA has the resources. We just don’t have the coach.

dwagdawg

August 13th, 2012
6:11 pm

topdawg

August 13th, 2012
1:12 pm

@Goldenrod UGA’s walk-ons are better than Georgia Tech’s starters!!
________________________________________________________

Then how about the Saturday after Thanksgiving you convince CMR to play nothing but walkons against GT’s starters…….

Skint

August 13th, 2012
7:23 pm

They might get recruited, but not at an SEC or major program. How many walk ons does Saban run out there early against an SEC team. How about Urban Meyer? Hell I was hoping Muschamp would recruit players like him. Our special teams are not good because we run our walk ons out there to cover kicks and punts.

@dwagdawg

August 13th, 2012
8:05 pm

Fact is tech has few players on there roster that would be on Georgias roster. Tech 2nd team B back (laskey) only other offers were Navy and Air Force. Several of Techs scholarship players only offers were from mid major or FCS programs.Conversely its a long list of players that held offers from Tech that chose Georgia. There’s a reason PJ recruiting classes are rated in the 50’s .its a big part of why Tech is 14-12 over the past 2 seasons playing in one of the weakest conferences in America with a schedule ranking in the 70’s.

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
8:09 pm

AltamahaDawg…I was avoiding agreeing with the SIMPLICITY of your point? Geez…you are reaaaally strectching now.

I believe it was YOU that suggested that what we should really be discussing was UGA’s tough policy on punishing players. I said that I would be happy to discuss that, then you changed the subject.

So…for the record…I don’t care what number you use regarding the number of walk-ons that got scholarships…the title of the article says 7…you want to use the number 3…ok whatever. My point, is that the reason those walk-ons got scholarships is due to the off-field issues…

dwagdawg

August 13th, 2012
8:38 pm

@dwagdawg

August 13th, 2012
8:05 pm

Fact is tech has few players on there roster that would be on Georgias roster. Tech 2nd team B back (laskey) only other offers were Navy and Air Force. Several of Techs scholarship players only offers were from mid major or FCS programs.Conversely its a long list of players that held offers from Tech that chose Georgia. There’s a reason PJ recruiting classes are rated in the 50’s .its a big part of why Tech is 14-12 over the past 2 seasons playing in one of the weakest conferences in America with a schedule ranking in the 70’s.

___________________________________________________

bark bark bark bark bark woof woof woof whimper whine whimper whine bark bark ruff ruff….

my challenge is simple……play a team of walk-ons against GT’s starters the Saturday after Thankksgiving and let’s see what happens, since topdawg thinks UGA’s walkons are better than GT’s starters…….didn’t ask for all the extra woofin, dawg-too-scared-to-use-a-handle…..

dwagdawg

August 13th, 2012
8:41 pm

oh yeah, and congrats to the walkons for earning a scholarship….

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
8:50 pm

On the contrary. I never suggested that. I suggested that you just think your school just wouldn’t have attrition from off field issues, but because …………was your real agenda. Frankly I never offered any explaination of policies, because frankly I assumed none that makes any difference to you.

AltamahaDawg

August 13th, 2012
8:52 pm

Yep, The article says 7. YOU pointed out 4 was normal. Stop pretending that three is some out of left field number, or the math is fuzzy..It’s YOUR number, based on YOUR comments. 7-4=3

@dwagdawg

August 13th, 2012
9:32 pm

it is my handle , and Georgia does use a ton of wal ons especially against tech when they were up by 3 tds in 3rd quarter. 4 and 5th team RB. 10-1 . 5.5 decades of domination. I said mnay of techs players wouldn’t be on Georgia roster, and very few would even be on the 2-3 deep even with attrition. Add to that Tech bush league coaching staff. No wonder its 7th or 8th in a wek ACC.

@dwagdawg

August 13th, 2012
9:33 pm

and i should spell check.

The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it

August 13th, 2012
9:43 pm

Hey Chip,

Why do you keep deleting me? I’m simply pointing out the various reasons that the team you write for can’t make it to big boy football.

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
11:29 pm

AltamahaDawg…is that what you do?…misquote others, and then try to make that the point?

I never said 4 was normal. I said 2 was normal. It was YOU that used the funny math and subtracted 2 from 5 and made it 3. I stand by what I said…2 is normal…5 (or 7) isn’t.

And you most certainly did suggest it…you tried to tell me what I was really getting at…and then suggested that maybe we should talk about how at other schools the players wouldn’t have been kicked off to begin with (suggesting that UGA’s policies are tougher than anybody else).

The point is…you want to put a positive spin on all of the scholarships given to walk-ons. Ok, so do it…don’t let me stop you. I happen to believe that it has more to do with other players getting kicked off the team. However, don’t try to make believe that I have avoided anything or that I said something I didn’t. You don’t like what I’m saying, and you want to argue about it.

Huh?

August 13th, 2012
11:53 pm

and AltamahaDawg…the number is 7, not 5…or 3…

2 of the players were walk-ons from last year that got a 1 year scholarship….so, they were considered non-scholarship players again this year…until Richt game them another year on scholarship…so the nuimber is in fact 7. If you still insist on subtracting 1-2 (which is what I said was normal), then go ahead. However, you are still at 5-6. Which is way high.

kingdaddy

August 14th, 2012
7:10 am

Congrats to all the hard work these kids put in. One thing is for sure, none of these kids take for granted their chance to get to play for the UGA. They are all DGDs and deserve our respect…

AltamahaDawg

August 14th, 2012
8:50 am

Go Dawgs

August 14th, 2012
10:39 am

I think Connor is better than Rambo also- plus none of the drama!!!!! Hopefully he makes a statement and Mr. Rambo gets a clear message……if he does, then Connor should still start even after Rambo returns……send a clear message that we are sick and tired of guys that cause problems…..

flo-ri-duh

August 14th, 2012
3:09 pm

Walkons don’t get scholarships at places like Aubarn, Bummer. Tick Hound “U”. Game Crocks and LSU- but they do “get taken care of”.