Diamond Dogs Fall to the Rebels

Figures, the first game I get to actually go to as opposed to listen to while I'm at work (my normal MO), the Dawgs lose. It was a pretty good game for almost 8 innings, however. Both starting pitchers looked really good, throwing some heat into the high/mid 90's. Our offense was pretty much blah the entire game, whereas they usually got a guy on, only to have him get stranded. I also feel like we stole a whole lot of bases during this game. I mean, in one inning, a guy stole 2nd and 3rd in rather quick succession.

All in all, a good, enjoyable Saturday afternoon at Foley Field that could have been a little bit better, had only the Dawgs pulled one out.

Horrible, HORRIBLE Pick

Goddamn Falcons. Matt Ryan? Matt Fucking RYAN!?

Arthur Blank is killing this franchise deader than dead.

Damn Good Dawgs!

Dawgs clinch another series with a 9-8 victory over the LSU tigers. What a season we've had so far. I only get to follow it through the radio, so far, but I'm hoping to catch a home game on a Wednesday upcoming either this week or next before the post-season starts. Gordon Beckham hit two more home runs to add to his league and NCAA leading total of 19. Looking forwards to seeing him play, instead of just hearing about it.

I guess it's another one of those years. Good Diamond Dawgs, good!

Just to get it off my chest

Working at the UGA Bookstore, I run into plenty of oppertunities to discuss college football with random people. Yesterday was such a day, when Hershel Walker was due into the store for a book signing of his new book, Breaking Free. Normally, everyone's in a good, friendly mood, and more than willing to play a little give and take with their personal team (no, it's not just Georgia fans that come in). I'm more than willing to admit that Georgia's not as good as people are saying, and I usually point out my fears of a lack of depth at key positions and the overall toughness of our upcoming schedule. And, normally, most people are genial and willing to do the same for whatever team they're discussing with me.

Well, yesterday, before 10 o'clock even, I ran into what might be the only mean Nebraska fan I've ever met. Generally, the stories about their fans all reference their incredible niceness. But this woman, who for no particular reason decided to argue with myself and a manager about her extra book (Hershel had decided to only sign his book, and 3 copies max for any one person on top of that) that she had no receipt for. Now, I don't care about you're personal life. Really, I don't. Yesterday was a stressful day wherein I got to be the bouncer turning people away from the line to meet Hershel, which brought fourth some rather strong invectives from many people. But this woman, who we were just asking the routine questions to ("can I see your receipt, you know Hershel won't be signing anything other than his books and isn't allowing pictures..."), decided to just casually throw into her argument that our behavior was "confirming the stereotypes that people all over this country hold about Southerners." I'm not going to lie here, I was completely flabbergasted by that comment. It came out of nowhere. The woman was not previously being rude, and myself and my manager had been politely explaining to her the rules Hershel's publicist had set up. What a bitch. It was the most casual insult I've ever had thrown at me.

The rest of the day went predictably well, with many people getting mad that they couldn't get their precious memorabilia signed, and many more being turned away due to extra long lines (and then me looking like a jack ass when 2 minutes later my boss would come and tell me to let a couple more people in line).

There was, however, one more incident. I was at the back of the line and had let a couple more people in, after I had made them aware that it was extremely likely Hershel would not get to them. In discussion with the nicer woman in front of me, a younger woman next to her started discussing the merits of "her" team, the Gators. Now, fine, you want to get Hershel's signature, I'm more than happy to let you. But then, in discussing the differences between Gainsville and Athens, she discussed how much worse Athens was, and in hushed tones, dropped her voice and said to me in a disgusted manner; "I mean, all those projects and blacks here in Athens just ruin the whole town. How disgusting they can't just leave." What to say, what to say. I hope that's not the typical Florida fan's view of the situation, because if it is, then I'm worried about that school on a more fundamental level than I've ever been before. She then proceeded to talk about how much more "liberal" Athens and the University of Georgia was, in a decidedly negative manner. I humored her, because, well, I was on the clock and angering customers isn't a job priority, but I must admit I was rather sickened by this young 'lady's' personality.

They've already got a better record against us than Tech does

Finally, real football in Atlanta.

Now we might actually get some competition from the ATL on a yearly basis. Next thing you know, the Kennesaw Owls will be playing football too. Crazy times we live in.

An oldie, but a goodie.

Ruminations

Like everyone else who went to G-Day yesterday, I got home slightly wet and mostly bored. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing like seeing the Dawgs play, but the game was over rather quickly, and the 2nd team offense just didn't have the offensive line cohesion necessary in order to allow Joe Cox to do much. It was so one sided that Logan Gray (who looked ready to be the backup this year) looked better than Cox at times. I spent much of the 2nd half convincing my friends this was more the offensive line's fault than Cox's, who I watched get left alone in the cold one time too many.

This, to me, was the biggest thing I learned from G-Day. Our O-line depth is, truthfully, rather flimsy. If our 2nd line is that...bad...then I can only hope we can make it through our brutally tough schedule with no offensive line injuries. A rather flimsy hope. Joe Cox is not a bad QB. In fact, I doubt he's any much worse than David Greene was during his first year. Cox, however, hasn't had the game experience that Greene had, and while his arm strength seems less than Stafford's when you watch his throws, I don't doubt he's a reliable backup QB (and a possible starter if Stafford leaves after this season).

Back to the O-line. There were many plays were the Black team QB had little to no time to throw at all. When #17, DeLaurial(sp?) was in, it seemed they jelled more-so than when Cox was behind them, but he didn't want to throw the ball. Unlike Cox, who knew good and well when he had to throw the ball away, DeLaurial seemed to hold the ball for minutes at a time in the backfield while slightly shuffling waiting for the perfect opening a wide receiver would never actually find. If we could take that reasonable 2nd-team O-line play and give it to Joe Cox, we'd have had a much more interesting game Saturday.

Most of you will ask why I cared so much about backup QB play. Simple. With Stafford and Moreno the biggest cogs in our possible run towards a MNC during the next two seasons, there is little doubt in my mind that at some point we'll see one or both of them injured (see Matt Flynn, DJ Shockley, John David Booty...any number of teams with national title hopes have seen their seasons hinge on backup QB play). I'm not particularly thrilled about this, but I was also aware that most people would be focusing on Caleb King and the other backup running backs during the game. This was proven true by a quick browse through the articles that popped up this morning. I saw very few focusing on the QB's play aside from mentioning Stafford's TD to Michael Moore. And the articles I saw mentioning the O-line basically focused on the 1st team, which was either much better than we've been lead to believe this off season, or had one of those miracle games where they put everything together. The 2nd team had no such luck. Missing key blocks on the right side multiple times during the 1st half. And generally making Joe Cox look horrible. At one point early in the 2nd half when the Black team's OC started calling roll out plays for him, I finally was able to convince my friends of the situation. Those plays looked remarkably similar to much of what Stafford was doing prior to the Florida game last season. That roll-right play that the Black team ran for a number of straight plays in the 2nd half came right out of the South Carolina game's play book for games with no offensive line play.

All in all, I'm definitely worried about depth. Not at the QB spot, but on O-line. Stacy Searles might be a genius, but he's one who isn't working with what appears to be a full deck. Without someone stepping up on the line, we look to be in for a long season. Let's hope that the games against Georgia Southern and Central Michigan allow our lines to get up to full game speed before we come up against what usually is a fired up South Carolina team looking for their one big win of the season.

Tales of Wine and D'oh!

I must admit, it is disturbing to see your under-21 starting QB downtown on a Friday night during Spring practices. I won't condemn it, because hell, I was doing it well before this point in my Junior year, but I will say I was tempted to walk up to him and ask him what the hell he was doing. I mean, seriously. Drinking out at the Arch Bar on a Friday in March versus a national title and possible #1 draft spot...I know which way I'd go. Get a senior on the team to pick you up some schnapps and drink at home. Your friends will come over. Mine did, and I'm vastly less cool.

Also, Jesus does he look like John Elway's bastard love child. I mean, seriously. Same fucking facial build.