VIDEO FLASHBACK: Odell Thurman Runs A Loooonnnnngggg Way

The 2003 Auburn Tigers came into the year ranked in the Top 10 and poised for a run at the National Championship. However, after opening the season with two road losses* to USC and Georgia Tech, respectively, it seemed that the Tigers may have been given a little bit too much respect by the pollsters.

While they quickly recovered from the stumble—winning their next five games in a row—by the time they met up with the Georgia Bulldogs in Sanford Stadium, they were losing steam fast as they'd lost two of their last three games—including a heartbreaking 20-24 loss to Ole Miss in Auburn—and were trying desperately to get back on the winning track.

Georgia, coming off their first SEC Championship in 20 years, was enjoying their resurgence in the SEC as a perennial contender—under the leadership of third-year head coach Mark Richt and defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder—and entered the contest ranked No. 7 in the nation, with a 7-2 overall record.

Considering the history of this rivalry, the average football fan would have thought Georgia's chances were pretty good coming into the contest—after all, they were playing this game at home. However, the truth of it was, Georgia hadn't beaten Auburn, in Athens, since 1991, and had only accomplished the feat three times in the previous 14 meetings at Sanford. It wasn't exactly a sure thing for Georgia.

However, the offense didn't need to be great on this day, as it was all about the defense. The Dawgs held the Tigers to 259 yards of total offense and put the kibosh on their stud tailback, Carnell Williams holding him to 45-yards on the day.

That said, the most memorable defensive play of the game came in the fourth quarter when linebacker Odell Thurman collected a tipped Jason Campbell pass in the Auburn endzone, and ran it back for 99-yards and the score—sealing the deal on a 26-7 Georgia Bulldogs' victory.




*The Auburn/USC match-up was played in Atlanta—a neutral site.

Georgia Bulldogs: Tight End Is The New Wide Receiver

In case you missed the bulletin, A.J. Green is gone. No longer will No. 8 traverse the fields of Sanford Stadium, and while there is currently not a guy on the Georgia Bulldogs' roster who seems ready to step into Green's huge shoes—have no fear—the tight end could be back in style again.

While a plethora of questions are worthy of conversation where the wide receiving corps is concerned—can Tavarres King be effective as a No. 1, will Marlon Brown or Rantavious Wooten ever become legit, is Michael Bennett the sleeper of the SEC this season—there seems to be little of that wondering going on where the tight ends are concerned. As a matter of fact, the only question that seems to keep cropping up is whether or not Aaron Murray will be able to air it out enough to keep his plethora of ends happy?

We start, of course, with Orson Charles who has been beastly since his arrival on campus in 2009. He has rarely disappointed, but you get the feeling that the best is still yet to come with this young man. Perhaps in his second season catching footballs from best friend, and former Plant High teammate, Aaron Murray, we will finally see him reach his full potential.

Next up is Aron White who, at 6'4", 239, is one of the smallest tight ends on the depth chart, but who has continually made his presence felt on the field during some of the more crucial downs. He's been hampered a bit by an injury this spring but, as the senior leader of this group, what he offers in poise and experience far outweighs his stat line which, given the lack of attention this position has been  given over the years, is still impressive.

Arthur Lynch looks like he's ready to make a difference on the football field this season as well. The redshirt sophomore gained better than 20 pounds this past offseason, and has looked solid in drills thus far. Lynch has always been lauded for his great blocking ability—a trait that will always get you on the football field for Mark Richt—but he has the potential to be every bit as useful as a pass-catcher. Look for him to step it up this season.

Finally, there's Jay Rome—who isn't even enrolled yet. You can expect to see him get a better than average shot at early playing time in 2011. He's got the size, the speed, the build, and the potential to make a nice contribution for the Bulldogs if placed in the right offensive situations.

There's no doubt that Georgia will be looking for playmakers this year and, as already mentioned, the wide receiving corps could use a boost with both Green and Durham now gone. It wouldn't surprise me to see one of these guys, perhaps Charles or White, step onto the football field in a hybrid role to fill in the blanks—particularly Charles who is known to get loose in the middle of the field to make the big play.

If offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, can FINALLY see fit to open up his playbook to include more offensive sets for his talented tight ends, perhaps the obvious void in the receiving corps won't seem nearly as daunting.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Why Boise State and Why Now?

In case you didn't know, the Georgia Bulldogs and Mark Richt will be placed on display for the whole world to see at the start of the 2011 college football season.

The announcement that the Bulldogs would face Boise State, in Atlanta, for the annual Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game was both a surprise, and a statement, that the new athletic director, Greg McGarity, wants Georgia to get back to being a brand that the college football world recognizes a contender.

That said, the turmoil, and the question marks, surrounding Mark Richt, Georgia football, and the overall direction of the program just went from being a local/regional story to a national one.

Is that the kind of attention Mark Richt really wants?

Can this opportunity provide the spark that he and the team both need to get back on the right track this off-season? Will the fans who gave up on the coaching staff long ago come back and support them now—temporarily ditching their seats on the 'Fire Mark Richt' train?

These are the types of questions you have to ask because, while it's easy to applaud this move and say that it will benefit the program from both a financial and, hopefully, a recruiting standpoint, there are also more serious repercussions if the move backfires.

For one, this isn't the Boise State program of 2005. The one that Georgia dismantled and decimated at Sanford Stadium, 48-13. That was Dan Hawkins' team and he left shortly after said season for the "greener pastures" of the BCS friendly Big 12—opening the door for his offensive coordinator, Chris Petersen, to take the reigns. 

Chris Petersen has not only been every bit as successful as his predecessor, but he's moved the Broncos into the realm of major contenders.  His team has become a staple of the BCS Top 10 and, barring some unforeseen catastrophe, they are poised to make yet another appearance in a BCS bowl this year—their third in five years.

By contrast, Georgia hasn't seen a BCS bowl since 2007 and their overall win-loss record has dipped lower in each successive year since that time. 

That said, this time around, Boise is likely to be the favored team entering the contest.

In other words, this game would be a great opportunity for Georgia because Boise will enter 2011 as a Top 10 team, and if Georgia can beat them on a national stage, then it would be a tremendous start to their season.

That said, you also have to entertain the possibility of what it would mean if Georgia lost. That would certainly be a bad omen for Richt's future prospects—especially if the remainder of the season played out in much the same way the prior two have.

Of course, if the team lost but was able to find their footing and go on a run, a scenario pointed out by  one of my loyal readers, Bill B., then who knows. As Bill pointed out, both Virginia Tech (2010) and Oregon (2009) lost their season openers to Boise State, but still ended up finishing well.

That's a very good point, too. Oregon won their next seven games and moved into the Top 5 before a late season loss to Stanford spoiled their season. Still, a Pac-10 Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl wasn't a bad consolation prize. 

As for Virginia Tech, they stand to win the ACC and they too could end up in a top-tier bowl come seasons end—so, there is a bright side.

However, you still have to wonder if this game is meant to send a message. Is this McGarity's way of letting Richt know this is his last chance to shine?

It could very well be and, for the sake of Georgia's fans, let's hope that he's ready to shine brightly.


Related articles

• Georgia Bulldogs Go "All In," Agree to Meet Boise State Broncos in Georgia Dome to Open 2011 Season (dawgsports.com)
• Boise St. to face Georgia in 2011 opening game (sports.espn.go.com)

Former Georgia Bulldog, Verron Haynes, Has a Message for UGA Haters

Verron Haynes is a former running back for the Georgia Bulldogs. He solidified his place in Bulldog lore with the well-known "P-44 Haynes" play...you know the one:



Yeah, that one.

The play that started the run of wins and championships for Mark Richt at Georgia. The play that, arguably, marks the moment the tide changed in Athens, GA and Georgia football went from perennial mediocrity to national contenders.

Well, Mr. Haynes has a message for all the people who decided to call for Mark Richt's head when the chips were down.

He, along with many other former players, didn't take too kindly to the shots that coach Richt, the program, and the team took during the four-game losing stretch. So, he had this to say to the bandwagon jumpers who are now back to being "loyal" to the red and black:

Gotta love that. I always did like, Mr. Haynes.

College Football Debate: To Pay or Not To Pay—Should There Be A Question?

By now, most everyone has either read or heard about the interview that, Josh Luchs gave to Sports Illustrated regarding his time as a sports agent. It's an interesting read, chocked full of all types of tidbits that make you raise an eyebrow at just how seedy the world of college athletics can truly be— when no one is watching.

However, after finishing the article, only one question can possibly come to mind: Should the NCAA allow amateur athletes to be paid or not?

The question is simple enough, but the answer is more complicated than any could possibly imagine because there is no black and white response to a query that has so many shades of gray. Of course the hard-line response would be to say that athletes are paid already—via their cushy $100,000 plus scholarship.

While the majority of college graduates will exit with a mountain of debt, most athletes will exit not only debt free, but with a degree that will be worth something in the job market, and a level of recognition that, depending on where they live, will grant them an opportunity to find a career that pays well.

Think about the sheer number of former athletes who find their way into the broadcast booth, onto the radio, and linked to lucrative business offers just for the use of their name and image—mostly because they played football or basketball.

There are benefits to being a successful collegiate athlete—even if you aren't an all-conference player who manages to garner a pro contract.

That said, the NCAA, and the institutions that these athletes serve, are also getting paid. The A.J. Green incident shed new light on the fact that a college athlete is powerless to what they can do for monetary gain. He sold his jersey for $1,000 and, while he was wrong for doing so, the NCAA sells a replica of his jersey for—at minimum—$50.00.

Look around Sanford Stadium and count the number of No. 8 jerseys—how many do you see? Is it more than a $1,000 worth—does Green get a cut of that? Did Reggie Bush reap the benefits of his No. 5? I bet Tim Tebow could have paid for a lot of circumcisions with his No. 15—just putting that out there.

Furthermore, look at the video game industry, they've struck gold with NCAA football series—the recently released NCAA 11' football sales increased 8% over the previous version. Keeping that in mind, it has to sting a little when a popular college football player sees their jersey number, but not their name, featured amongst the 100-plus schools the game promotes—knowing that most fans will know exactly who they are on said game.

And then there's the issue with players accepting monies, gifts, or favors. If they do so, there are steep consequences attached. Yet, the NCAA expects them to get by only on what they are allowed to have under the guidelines: tuition, books, meals, and on-campus housing are covered. However, there are no stipends given to cover other non-academic expenses: clothing, entertainment, etc.

Many of these athletes are poor and don't have the means to do anything.

Sure, the NCAA allows them to work but, let's be honest, what student-athlete has the time to fit a job into their daily commitments? Between practice, training, classes, tutoring-sessions, and study time, there isn't enough time in the day to hold down a job?

So, that leaves the athlete to depend on his/her family for any extra expenses and most cannot afford to do so.

That said, there will be some athletes who will take advantage of their popularity by accepting money and gifts from an agent, a booster, or an overzealous fan. Is that the right thing to do? No, but, despite what the NCAA has to say about why student-athletes aren't paid, there is a need for further discussion on how to best address these matters.

The debate is one that has so many angles that it's difficult to tackle them all, but it's anything but black and white—it always has been.

What say you?

Georgia Bulldogs Football: After Four Losses, Georgia FINALLY Feels The Thrill of Victory

Last week it seemed improbable that the Georgia Bulldogs would get anywhere near a win—anytime soon.

As recently as Tuesday, even coach Richt seemed hesitant to give a vote of confidence to his team—apparently balking at the mere idea that they were favored by nearly two scores over a Volunteers program that very nearly sent the LSU Tigers to a bitter end the week prior.

What a difference a week and a change in philosophy can make for one football team.

This week the Georgia Bulldogs finally walked away from the football field with a win, and they looked quite impressive doing so. They secured their first SEC win of the year and their second win of the season by defeating the Tennessee Volunteers 41-14 at Sanford Stadium.

It was clear from the first possession of the game that this was going to be a different football team on this week. The tell-tale sign appeared when Tennessee was not allowed to score on their first possession.

That may seem like small potatoes, but Georgia has been horrid over the last four weeks at doing just that.

Starting in week two, the Georgia defense allowed the opposition to score on its first possession each and every week. Georgia's offense took the field, in each of their last four games, trailing their opponent. So, the fact that they were able to get a stop on the first defensive series against Tennessee, and follow that up with a touhdown, on the first offensive possession, was a welcome sight for Georgia Bulldog fans.

Even more, Georgia did not give up the big plays that have killed them over the losing stretch.

Aside from a huge catch and run by Justin Hunter in the second quarter, and a 2-yard run by Tauren Poole near the end of the third quarter, Tennessee found it difficult to sustain a drive against Georgia's defense. Tennessee quarterback, Matt Simms did the best he could under duress, but he never got comfortable in the pocket, and that led to an inability to find any offensive rhythm against the Bulldogs.

The defense looked as good as it did in week one against Louisiana, and it was clear that Justin Houston, Akeem Dent, Brandon Boykin, and Christian Robinson were all playing with a little extra something under their helmet on Saturday, because all made some significant plays at key moments in the game.

This was the win that the Georgia Bulldogs and their fans needed. It was long overdue and could be just what the doctor ordered for a beleaguered and put-upon coaching staff that has witnessed its fair share of criticism over the past month.

While there can be no guarantees offered the rest of the way, for once, in what seems like a long while, the Georgia Bulldogs can celebrate a win in Athens.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 10 Things You Need To Know About Tennessee

The Georgia Bulldogs are back from Boulder, Colorado and they are 1-4. Everything else is irrelevant at this point as the majority of Georgia fans likely woke up on Sunday morning asking only one question: when will the Bulldogs get another win?

It's useless to recap another disappointing Saturday, because there is no way to adequately explain how a game that could have been won by this Georgia team, was instead, again, lost by them—in such heinous fashion.

As with every week, so far this season, it's just time to move on and focus on the next opponent. This week that's the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols have shown plenty of fight the last few weeks: winning in overtime, at home, against UAB and in nearly upsetting a vastly overrated LSU team in Baton Rouge this past Saturday.

This team is hungry for an SEC win, and they are more than willing to come into Sanford Stadium to get it. So, what should Georgia fans know about the 2010 Vols?

1. They have a solid running back in Tauren Poole.

If people thought the running game at Tennessee was going to suffer minus the talents of Montario Hardesty and Bryce Brown, they were sadly mistaken. Tauren Poole has done a more than capable job of carrying the load this year.

The junior already has three 100+ yard rushing games—including a 109 yard performance against the SEC's best rush defense (LSU) last week—and he's one of the best offensive players on the team. He should not be underestimated.

2. They are steadily improving from week-to-week. 

The Vols aren't a bad team, they're a young team. They've fought through every win and loss and they've done so with a lot of heart. The quarterback play gets better each week, and the careless mistakes that seemed to plague them in the early-going are fewer and fewer as the team gels. It's easy to see that they are coming into their own under Dooley.

3. Matt Simms is gaining confidence. 

The junior quarterback has done as well as you can expect, standing behind a young offensive line, with little pass protection. His numbers may not seem impressive, but he's been money in third down situations (particularly those where between 3-7 yards is needed) and his toughness has made him a fan favorite. He's not particularly mobile, but he can make plays on the move if he has to.

4. Gerald Jones is the leader of this offense. 

After the heartbreaking loss to LSU, the senior wide receiver was said to have gotten in the face of the offensive lineman, asking them the following: "Ask yourself, are you doing your job?" He doesn't shy away from giving or receiving criticism, and he's definitely one to watch on third downs—84 of his 132 yards this season have come in those situations.

5. Eric Gordon—remember that name. 

David Oku has been the primary return man for the Vols this year but the flashes of brilliance that Eric Gordon displayed against LSU this past Saturday could be a harbinger of things to come. He's got nice speed and some killer moves in his game and, if given too much space, could soon break free for a touchdown—giving the Vols just the spark they need on special teams.

6. Nick Reveiz is the heart of the defense.

The linebacker is considered, by many, to be the emotional leader on the defense. He's not the strongest, fastest, or even the most talented player, but he plays with a ton of heart and he brings intangibles to the field that defensive coaches love to see (toughness, leadership, and sound fundamental play).

Statistically, he leads the SEC in tackles (50), but his leadership is probably the most important part of his game.

7. They have an opportunistic secondary. 

The Volunteers have six interceptions as a unit this season (28th in the nation). Sophomores Prentiss Wagner and Janzen Jackson are both more than capable of defending any wide receiver in the country—particularly Jackson who, as a five star recruit out of Louisiana, has already made his presence felt on the field. Wagner has two interceptions this year—both returned for touchdowns.

8. Speaking of opportunistic...the pass defense is top notch. 

So far this season, the Vols pass defense (ranked 13th in the nation) has 21 passes broken up, 22 quarterback hurries, and three forced fumbles (h/t cfbstats.com). They rank third in the conference—following only Alabama and Florida, respectively. By contrast, in the same category, Georgia ranks 79th (that's a match-up worth noting).

9. Despite point No's. 7 and 8, the defensive front hasn't put opposing quarterbacks on their backs much. 

The defensive line of Tennessee has struggled getting into the backfield. The Vols only have five sacks this year, despite their ability to put pressure on the quarterback.

10. They haven't done a good job protecting their quarterback this season. 

Through five games, Matt Simms has been sacked 18 times. If there is one weakness the Vols have certainly had this year, it's in pass protection. Simms has managed to do well, despite their short-comings. Said Simms, "I think I've kind of mastered how to take a sack and just protect my body and protect the football, as crazy as that sounds."

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Arkansas Comes To Play...Will Georgia?

It's high noon as this article is being written and that means the Georgia Bulldogs are getting set to kickoff against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Sanford Stadium—it's gameday in Athens, GA!

That statement alone should be plenty to get any Georgia Bulldog excited but, in the malaise that has followed the news that A.J. Green, Branden Smith, and Shaun Chapas won't play today, people seem to be feeling a little less than confident about what the outcome will be.

Last night, the Twitter feed was bursting with commentary as both fans and frenemies boasted about the Georgia Bulldogs chances of remaining relevant without A.J. Green to catch the ball from his new quarterback. One individual even surmised that the Bulldogs would be 0-3 in the SEC by the time it was all said and done—a notion so ludicrous and short-sighted, in my opinion, that it became necessary for this author to launch into a rant all her own.

Yet, I digress.

No one can overstate the value of A.J. Green to this Georgia team. He's a playmaker, a man amongst boys, and a future pro ball player—without question. That said, he doesn't play defense. The Georgia Bulldogs played without passion or fire last week against a South Carolina team that seemed more motivated than ever to make it to the SEC Championship Game this season—no matter what A.J. might have done last week, he wouldn't have been on the field when the tackling was taking place.

How much of a difference could he have truly made?

Georgia cannot play like the timid bunch of schoolboys they played like on last Saturday. If they do, they will lose again today. There is no question about that. However, my expectation is that these Bulldogs will be ready to play and focused on winning—A.J. or not, they will be ready to get after those Hogs.

My faith is in the red and black—where's yours?

Time to play a little football.

College Football Odds Week 3: 10 ATS Winners for Saturday (9/18)

Another week, another date with the odds makers. Week two found my luck to be slightly less than stellar as both the Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech didn't get the wins I predicted they would—against the spread (ATS).

However, in the end, the Lady ended the day 5-5 ATS—nothing to write home about—bringing the season total to 8-7 (ouch).

This week is bound to be better, if not, a change in profession might be considered. So, without further ado, here are ten teams who should be ATS winners on Saturday.

1. Georgia vs Arkansas: Arkansas (-2.5)

The feel in Athens right now is that the Georgia Bulldogs are a team that lacks any real continuity on defense and the Razorbacks are going to go into Sanford Stadium and steal a key conference road win—kicking the Dog' while it is still down. I don't see that happening, I simply do not. I expect to see a much more motivated team this week, playing in front of the home crowd, and I suspect Arkansas will be a little off kilter playing their first true game of the year.

The Lady's Pick: Georgia

2. Kansas at Southern Miss: Southern Miss (-5.5)

Despite what the win over Georgia Tech alluded, Kansas is still a team that hasn't found an identity. Georgia Tech ran into a buzz saw and didn't know how to get out of their own way. Southern Miss is a much more balanced team, with a significantly better passer standing behind center.

The Lady's Pick: Southern Miss

3. Vanderbilt at Ole Miss: Ole Miss (-14)

After the performance that Vandy gave last week, it seems risky to pick them twice in as many weeks, but I truly feel like they will play better this week against an Ole Miss team that hasn't exactly ruled with an iron fist this season.

The Lady's Pick: Vanderbilt

4. Washington State at SMU:  SMU (-20)

Washington State is terrible. I don't know that SMU can beat them by 20, but I feel fairly confident that SMU can score 20 against Washington State. Now, can Washington State score 20 against SMU?...That's the real question.

The Lady's Pick: SMU

5. Arizona State vs Wisconsin: Wisconsin (-14)

Neither team has really met a challenge this season, so both will probably look rusty against stronger defensive efforts. Expect the offense to struggle a bit early—on both sides.

The Lady's Pick: Arizona State

6. Air Force at Oklahoma: Oklahoma (-18)

Landry Jones is on a roll and the Sooner defense is coming together. The Falcons run a tricky scheme, but it's not unstoppable by any stretch. Count on the Sooners to figure things out early—long before the Falcons can do the same in Norman.

The Lady's Pick: Oklahoma

7. Louisville at Oregon State: Oregon State (-14)

The Cardinals aren't where they need to be yet, but they are getting there under Charlie Strong. Oregon State looked pedestrian against TCU—particularly on offense. The Beavers haven't found an answer for the departed Sean Canfield (QB) and that means a heavy emphasis on the run game. If there is one thing the Cardinals can do, right now, it's perform capably against the run.

The Lady's Pick: Louisville

8. Central Michigan at Eastern Michigan: Central Michigan (-9)

Central Michigan looks lost without head coach Butch Jones—now at Cincinnati—and Eastern Michigan is vulnerable against the run. Lucky for them the Chippewas running game is as bad as it's passing one.

The Lady's Pick: Eastern Michigan

9. Notre Dame at Michigan State: Michigan State (-3.5)

This match-up has been tough to call over the last four years as each team has traded wins at home and on the road. Notre Dame got the best of the Spartans last season but if Dayne Crist plays in this game, there is little doubt in my mind that the Irish will come away smiling.

The Lady's Pick: Notre Dame

10. Kent State at Penn State: Penn State (-23.5)

After getting nowhere offensively in Tuscaloosa last weekend, look for the Nittany Lions to find their scoring grove again this week.

The Lady's Pick: Penn State

Georgia Bulldogs Football: AJ Green Out Four Games????....The Hell?!?

The final word came down this afternoon and—after this Lady finished setting things on fire—it became alarming clear that the NCAA is full of shhhh...wait, this is a public blog, let me be careful about this statement.

Ahem, let's start again.

After hearing about the four-game suspension of Georgia's star wide receiver, A.J. Green, it became clear that the NCAA is one big ball of hypocrisy.

How on earth did they justify suspending Green four games for selling his jersey...on Ebay? They say the buyer "meets the NCAA definition of an agent"? Uh-huh, did A.J. know that his buyer was a bloodsucking vulture when he made the sale?

Last I checked, the profile of the sellers and the buyers on Ebay aren't necessarily an open book.

Furthermore, isn't this the same NCAA that gave the thumbs up to Jeremiah Masoli to continue playing college football? Lest we forget, despite what Houston Nutt espoused about second chances and whatever else he says to keep a clear conscience at night, Masoli was convicted of a crime and is, by all accounts, a criminal—yet he gets to play football on Saturday?

Too harsh?...Okay, lets try another, less sinister, example.

Isn't this the same NCAA that told Alabama defensive player Marcel Dareus that he would only need to sit for two games after he (knowingly, mind you) took $2000 in benefits from an agent at a party—that he took a flight to attend?

Sooooooooo, it's okay to accept gifts from an agent, or be a criminal, but it's not okay to make a profit from selling your own damned jersey?...Give me a break!

How many No. 8 jerseys are walking around Sanford Stadium on any given Saturday? You think the school and the NCAA isn't making money off of that sale?...Ludicrous is what this situation is, and it's high time the NCAA do a little more investigating into their practices because, from this vantage point, they look suspect as hell.

Listen, there is no denying that what Green did was wrong because, at the end of the day, rules are rules, but to give him four games is a bit excessive—much like the celebration penalty last season that—in the eyes of many—cost Georgia a win over LSU.

But, no need to digress.

As for the team and how they will adjust, well, this suspension just means it's time for the Georgia Bulldogs to hunker down and do what they need to in their stars' absence.

A.J. is out so...STEP UP, Marlon! Catch the ball, Rantavious!  Git' er' done, Tavarres! The team is counting on you guys, along with Israel Troupe, Kris Durham, and Logan Gray—show us what you got.

As for the AJ Green ruling, Georgia is appealing—as well they should—and, hopefully, the NCAA will come to their senses. Although, given the time it took for them to come down with this decision, it seems doubtful that they will change their minds anytime soon.

Tough break for Georgia, with South Carolina looming on Saturday, but hopefully the dimming of one star simply means the emergence of another. Stay tuned for more commentary on this later—after the Lady calms down, that is...*mumbling*...four games, what a bunch of bullshhhhhhh....(sorry, public blog, gotta be careful)

Georgia vs. Louisiana QB Analysis: Aaron Murray vs Chris Masson

The Georgia Bulldogs will face the University of Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in week one.

This match-up should be won by the Georgia Bulldogs, but the Cajuns are a feisty team and did catch at least one BCS team sleeping last season, defeating the Kansas State Wildcats, 17-15, on their home field.

Subsequent contests against BCS teams would not be as successful. They lost to both Nebraska and LSU by a combined score of 86-3. However, this early in the season, it is reasonable to expect that the Cajuns will be ready to go.

In anticipation of the game, Lets take a look at the various head-to-head match-ups that we'll see that day.  These will be relatively brief looks and will focus in on one particular aspect or position.

Up first is the quarterbacks—Aaron Murray and Chris Masson.

The first question that has to be asked with Murray is, will he be mentally ready to take the field and play as effectively as he has in summer practices?

Both coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, have given Murray their full vote of confidence. However, despite the strides he's taken, most fans will still be on pins and needles until Murray proves he can perform in front of a large crowd.

Murray, himself, still admits to having "jitters" when he steps onto the field at Sanford Stadium—even an empty Sanford—and while a few frayed nerves are expected, the crowd at Stanford, which is expected to be a sell-out, will anticipate his calming down in a hurry.

It should help that he won't be facing too much of a pass rush from the Cajuns.

The offensive line should have no problem getting Murray the time he needs to scan the field and find an open receiver. The Cajuns ranked 106th in sacks last season, tallying only 12, and often were stalled in their efforts to get into the backfield. On the other hand, the strength of the Cajuns defense lay in their second-level defenders—the linebackers and the secondary.

Senior linebacker, Grant Fleming, who ended 2009 with 89 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 5 tackles for loss, will be one to watch. He was moved from outside to middle linebacker over the spring and will be the leader of this unit.

Fleming, along with outside linebackers, Daylon McCoy and Devin Lewis-Buchannan (both starters in 2009), will look to slow down the Georgia running game—which fans can expect to see a lot of early.

Even more, the secondary returns all three of its starters. As a unit they were responsible for a, more than respectable, 16 interceptions in 2009 (23rd in the nation). It's an impressive number to be aware of, especially when you consider Georgia—with their above average talent—had only ten.

Hopefully Murray can avoid some of the mental lapses and overthrows that have plagued him at certain points this summer.

As for Chris Masson, he will be in his second full season at the helm. He was fortunate in 2009, as is Murray this year, to have a very good offensive line to stand behind last season. However, the Cajuns will replace three starters in 2010 and there is some doubt as to whether or not they will have a sufficient running game to offset their passing attack.

The Cajuns ranked 72nd in the nation in rushing offense 2009—nearly last in the Sun Belt. They are playing around with several options at that spot this summer and hope that someone will step up and be the difference.

Junior Julian Shankle returns and will offer some experience in the backfield but, the odds on favorite to get the most carries is likely going to be the incoming freshman, Rob Walker—he has impressed all summer as both a runner and a pass-catcher.

If Masson's reconstituted offensive line can give him some time, as well as offer sufficient lanes for the rushing attack, then he will have plenty of options in the passing games to target.

Ladarius Green (TE) and Marlin Miller (WR) return to offer their talents and it is reasonable to expect to see Masson targeting both on a regular basis.

Finally, Masson is a fairly nimble quarterback himself. He was responsible for six rushing touchdowns last season—leading the Cajuns to No. 16 in the nation in redzone offense. He is just as much a scoring threat as any of his receivers or running backs and, in the Cajuns multiple offense, he will need to be accounted for at all times.

In Todd Grantham, Georgia Hopes To See Some Shades of '76' (VIDEO)

When you mention the name Todd Grantham around a Georgia Bulldog fan these days, you hear a lot about him being the man who will return the Georgia defense to a "GATA" brand of football.

For those of you who aren't aware of exactly what "GATA" means, it's an acronym for "Get After Their A--es" or, the more PG version, "Get After Them Aggressively".

It's a term that was born during the days of Georgia coaching legend, Erk Russell. Russell once roamed the sidelines of Sanford Stadium as the Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator. He is considered by many fans to be the symbol of how a defense should be—the father of the "Junkyard Dawg" (JYD).

He was also the man behind the stifling Georgia defense that would eventually win the National Championship in 1980. He is still thought of fondly by many a Georgia Bulldog fan, both old and young, because he was a hard-nosed, take no shorts, kind of coach who expected and often received the very best that his guys had to offer.

In his 17 years as coordinator, Russell coached the defensive unit to 27 shutouts. Georgia's opposition was held to less than 17 points in more than half of the games he coached (135 out of 192) and,  no opponent ever scored more than 28 points on an Erk Russell led defense.

Since his departure, there have been few who could come close to that kind of dominance.

Brian Van Gorder (2001-2004) was great, but his early departure did not set well with many and his replacement, Willie Martinez, didn't pan out.

Enter Todd Grantham.

He's a no-nonsense guy with a nose for defense. It's impossible not to listen to him and feel like you want to go out and hit something as hard as possible. He inspires the very essence of "GATA" already—without having coached a down—and if he ends up being anything close to advertised, Georgia is well on it's way to regaining their SEC respect.

So, with Alabama being the 'King of the Hill' right now, and Georgia being the underdog with, what many feel, little chance in hades of making the SEC Championship game this season, it seemed only fitting to post the video you see below because even the mighty ones have been known to fall.

Here's to a season where, hopefully, Georgia can make that happen...a girl can dream, right?



GATA...indeed.

The Colorado Buffaloes Lose Another Impact Player In WR Markques Simas

The Georgia Bulldogs will match up with the Colorado Buffaloes in week five of the 2010 college football season. The game is scheduled to broadcast at 4:30 on Fox Sports South so mark your calendar and set your smart phone.

Prior to now, the game was considered to be one of mild interest to me and a few others as the 2006 match-up between the two teams ended wildly in Sanford Stadium. So, this trip out west was thought, at least by me, to be one worthy of a little concern.

Well, since that time, Dan Hawkins' club has undergone a bit of a face lift on offense.

The wide receiving corps that was a major strength just lost the better half of its dynamic duo as Marques Simas, initially suspended indefinitely, was eventually released from his scholarship and has since  transferred to another school—San Diego State.

Andre Simmons, another potential talent at wide receiver, has been ruled ineligible for the year. The JUCO transfer had hoped to secure a bigger role for the Buffs this spring but, academically, was unable to perform and has, consequentially, been suspended for the season.

Toney Clemons, the transfer from Michigan, will still be of interest but the Bulldogs should have an easier time with the Buffs in the secondary with much of their talent depleted for the game.

Dan Hawkins is definitely on the hot seat this year and with Colorado expected to move to the Pac-10 after next season, there is serious doubt that Hawkins will be packing his boxes for the move with his team.

That said, the Georgia Bulldogs will still need to be wary of a team with this much adversity heading into a 'hot seat' season and on the verge of switching conferences. The pressure to perform and be proven worthy of their Pac-10 upgrade will be high and I don't expect them to give an inch.

Even so, if you are a Georgia fan, you have to be a little more confident heading out to Boulder now than before.