Georgia Bulldogs: Will They Be As Good In 2011 As Auburn Was In 2010?

Let me be the first to say this: when E$PN personalities talk, I rarely listen. In my very humble opinion, E$PN is a spin factory and most of what they say is driven by an agenda—a network agenda—to bring in more ad dollars, more reader subscriptions, and more viewers.

Now, they aren't alone in that respect, many of today's networks operate in that way, but E$PN is the big daddy of them all, and that makes them a little easier to criticize.

That said, this response by Bruce Feldman, to the following question was intriguing. Here is the question and the answer in their entirety—well, in the most complete form one could get them in without paying for more:

From mattplanet: What impact do you think these latest big recruits will have in improving the Georgia Bulldogs' chances in the SEC East next year?

This "dream team" plan at UGA of bringing together many of the top local players seems to be working out great. Landing five-star DE Ray Drew is a big addition to a defense that needs help. Drew, by most accounts, has the tools to be an impact guy for the Dawgs in their 3-4. Jay Rome, the nation's top tight end, is a guy who can block and catch and should team well with speedy Orson Charles. Malcolm Mitchell, the nation's No. 7 WR, won't be A.J. Green, but his outstanding speed and ball skills will only make their passing game more dangerous. Now, if they can reel in Isaiah Crowell, the country's top back, that could take even more pressure off of quarterback Aaron Murray and pump some much-needed juice back into the Bulldogs run game.

While it's easy to see this 2011 class shaping up to be something special, it isn't the first time that Mark Richt will have had a good class. Prior to 2009, Georgia was often in the Top 10 or Top 15 for recruiting some of the best prospects in the nation—both in and out of the state.

That said, the question isn't what this "dream team" will do for Georgia, but what Georgia will do for this "dream team".

Crowell will be an important part of the puzzle, but Caleb King was every bit that part four-years ago was he not? One player can bring hope, but none offer a guarantee. Shoot, not even Vince Dooley could have told you how good Herschel was going to be when he got to Georgia.

It's a crap shoot and nothing is a given.

The point is this: the success of this recruiting class, on the field, has as much to do with the coaching as it does the players, and no one knows, as of right now, if the coaching will be exponentially better, the same, or worse.

Everything is a work in progress and this Georgia program is no different. There are still many questions that will need answering before long—strength and conditioning cannot be the only piece of the puzzle in need of replacing or tweaking.

Is Georgia capable of making the kind of turnaround in 2011 that Auburn did in 2010? Absolutely, but lets not put the cart before the horse just yet.

What say you?

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Revisiting 2002's Game Against The Auburn Tigers

On November 16, 2002, the Georgia Bulldogs still had plenty riding on a win over their oldest rival—the Auburn Tigers. Georgia came into the game ranked No. 7 in the nation, with the SEC's best redzone defense, and a hungry second-year coach in Mark Richt.

The team was facing a red hot Auburn team who, with names like Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown, Karlos Dansby, and Travaris Robinson, were not lacking in the talent department.

Their potent offense was ranked first in the conference and the Tigers led the league with 28 rushing touchdowns.

Add to that, Auburn was carrying the bragging rights in the series—riding high on a three-game winning streak entering the game.

The Tigers were also ranked 24th in the nation and had, eight times prior, played spoiler to Georgia's bid for an SEC title. They felt confident that they could do so again—despite the fact Georgia was favored by two points.

The Bulldogs had endured a crushing loss to the Florida Gators in the two weeks prior, ending their shot at an undefeated season, but that made their resolve to win this game that much stronger because a loss would place their fate in South Carolina's hands.  They didn't want to see their first chance at an SEC title slip away based on a tie-breaker that failed to go their way.

The game turned out to be one for the ages.

Despite the shoddy performance of Auburn quarterback, Jason Campbell, who had two first half interceptions, the Tigers led 14-3 at the half—due in large part to the hard running of Ronnie Brown and a Georgia offense that couldn't seem to get out of their own way.

However after an ankle injury to Auburn's Ronnie Brown, the defense seemed to find it's groove against the Tigers running game. Even more, the offense started finding some success against Auburn's secondary. The combination of the two translated into 14 points for the Bulldogs in the third quarter.

By the start of the fourth, the score was 21-17 and, for a time, that looked like it would be the last points either side would score.

The Tigers defense got tighter in the fourth, forcing a fumble by Michael Johnson and an interception by David Greene. Luckily for coach Richt, his defense was equal to the task as they kept the Tigers from mounting any moves either.

So, after multiple stalled drives on both sides, it came down to one more Bulldog possession to either win it or go home.

A 40-yard completion to Fred Gibson placed the Bulldogs within field goal range, but at 21-17, they needed six, not three—it was the endzone or game over.

Three straight incompletions by Greene, coupled with a five yard penalty, meant Georgia was now facing 4th and 15 on the Auburn 20. For many, the game was all but over, and Georgia's shot at their first SEC Championship in 20 years was done—finished.

Then came an unforeseen miracle...it's name 70-x Takeoff AKA David Greene to Michael Johnson:



Georgia would win the game, secure a spot in the SEC Championship game, and finish their dream season by giving Georgia fans their first SEC Championship since Vince Dooley and Herschel Walker roamed the sidelines together. 

This weekend, the Georgia Bulldogs of 2010 have an opportunity to play spoiler and, even though the stakes won't be quite as high as they were in 2002, it would be nice to see a little magic from these Dawgs on Saturday, wouldn't it?

Vince Dooley on the Georgia Bulldogs' 1980 Championship Team: "Herschel Was That Missing Piece" (VIDEO)

Former Georgia Bulldogs football coach, Vince Dooley, took a moment to sit down for an interview with the University of Georgia's student newspaper, the Red and Black, just prior to the start of Georgia's 2010 football season. In this taped interview, Dooley discusses not only the 1980 National Championship won by his team, but also what he feels is the future of the football program at Georgia.

The interview is in two parts: (h/t to wrbrown4):



Part 2...Vince Dooley on why Georgia hasn't won a national championship since 1980:

Herschel Walker Was In No Hurry To Sign in 1980 (VIDEO)

Found this video on YouTube (h/t ghostoferkrussell who always finds some great clips). It's an interview by Bill Hartman with Herschel Walker who, at the time, was just a 17-year old prospect with a decision to make about where to spend the next four-years of his academic life.

The most intriguing part was the very beginning of the report where it was alleged that Walker's might have been bought—he was shown driving a shiny new Pontiac Trans Am. As it turn out, his daddy bought him the car, but the mere mention of it shows just how far back the idea of questionable recruiting tactics actually goes.

Of course, Herschel eventually chose to sign with the Bulldogs, but not before national signing day had long since come and gone:




My favorite line was the one offered by Walker's teammate, Brill Jenkins, who said "He loves his homework...I think he would give up football, give up sports, just to do his classwork".  Classic.
I don't know that No. 34 valued the paper and pen over the gridiron glory, but he certainly was one heckuva running back...and dancer (h/t ghostoferkrussell):



Gotta love that...

UGA Set To Name Greg McGarity As Next Athletic Director (AD)

It didn't take nearly as long as most Georgia Bulldog fans anticipated, and the choice, at least from the outset, appears to be the one that most fans are more than willing to accept. Greg McGarity, the longtime associate athletic director for the Florida Gators, has reportedly been hired by Michael Adams.

Initially, the search for the next athletic director (AD) was thought to be one that could take up to six months or more. It seemed conceivable that the sports programs would endure an entire season without anyone serving in that capacity—save interim AD, Frank Crumley.

But, as daunting as that sounded, most fans were willing to wait—they didn't want another quick decision.

There were many who felt that former AD, Damon Evans, was hired too quickly in 2004. McGarity was a candidate back then as well, and had more experience, but Michael Adams wanted a guy that he felt comfortable with, who wasn't necessarily a Vince Dooley guy, and who he could say he hand-picked—in short, Adams wanted this hire to be his own.

He got his wish and Evans was hired. However, once Evans resigned after his DUI arrest, it became clear that the next individual to take over the slot would need to be chosen a bit more carefully and, preferably, come into the position with more experience than Evans did back in 2004.

It was at that time that many fans and followers of the Georgia Bulldog football program started rehashing the name of Greg McGarity. He was not only an Athens native, but an alumnus of the University of Georgia and a former friend/colleague of Vince Dooley—the Georgia coaching legend who served as the AD for more than two-decades before being unceremoniously let go by Michael Adams.

It was the latter point about McGarity that made some feel that he would, again, not get a serious look for the job. Adams has long been criticized for his penchant for hiring people who aren't as likely to challenge his authority.

However, after the Evans debacle, Adams may have seen the writing on the wall and might have thought it best to hire a person that the athletic association board members were comfortable with as well—something he didn't necessarily consider when both Damon Evans and Jim Harrick (former mens basketball coach) were hired.

Whatever the reason (because clearly the above is up for some debate), Greg McGarity will bring years of experience and class back to the position.

He has been a key member of Jeremy Foley's staff at the University of Florida over the last decade and played a prominent role in turning the athletic department, particularly the basketball and football programs at Florida, into SEC powers.

Georgia Bulldog fans will probably hear a lot of good-natured ribbing about stealing away a Gator to try and find success, but they'll take the teasing if it means that Georgia can get back to the business of winning big in the SEC.

To read a short bio of McGarity's skills and experience, click here, but expect more to come as the official announcement of his hire is slated for tomorrow.

Friday's Blue Plate Special, Have It Your Way

Vince Dooley shares his thoughts on the Damon Evans resignation and Mark Richt assures us all that he's not worried about who will take Evans place.

The speculation over who will become the next AD at Georgia appears to be centered around division rivals. Florida's Greg McGarity has already come up in multiple publications and now comes the name of South Carolina's Eric Hyman.

I found a trillion other things to do while this was going on, including washing my hair, reading, and eating a bowl of grapes, but for those who really cared and didn't know, LeBron James signed with Miami on last night.

USC has been banned from the USA Today Preseason Poll—oh no!

In a tragic news item, former Kentucky center, Mel Turpin committed suicide. He was 49-years old.

Georgia's Jakar Hamilton is named as a player most likely to make a big impact in his first season.

Alabama decided to make their first game a holiday—the student body has been given the day off for their Thursday NIGHT game...okaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy.

The New York Times compares the Miami Heat to the New York Yankees.

The Georgia Bulldogs are leading after day one of the College Bass National Championship—I didn't know the Dawgs had a Bass fishing team.

That Nick Saban sure likes to see his name in lights, doesn't he?

A Few Possible Candidates For The Georgia AD Job (Updated)

Damon Evans is officially out as the Athletic Director (AD) for UGA Sports. His departure means that at some point, hopefully soon, a new AD will be appointed and the university will officially be able to close this sordid chapter.

Although no official word has been given as to when the search will begin or who the candidates will be, there is no shortage of opinion on who the prospects should/could be once the wheels are set in motion.

What follows are a few of the names that have surfaced more than once since Evans' departure became an inevitable probability and a brief look at their qualifications:

Greg McGarity, Executive Senior Associate Director (Internal Affairs), University of Florida: McGarity joined the University of Florida Athletic Department in 1992 and has assisted current AD, Jeremy Foley, in the supervision of both the football and basketball programs. He's a Georgia graduate and worked under former AD, Vince Dooley. He was also a candidate in 2003 when Georgia hired Damon Evans.

Carla Williams, Senior Associate Athletic Director, University of Georgia: Played basketball for UGA in the 1980's and was promoted to the job of Senior Associate AD in 2007. Currently serves as the administrator over women's basketball, gymnastics, men's and women's swimming and diving, and the equestrian program—which recently celebrated it's fifth National Championship.  She also served as the assistant AD at Vanderbilt from 2000-03.

Claude Felton, Associate Athletic Director for Sports Communications, University of Georgia: Has served as a member of the Georgia Athletic Association since 1979. His resume includes stints as the Senior Associate AD for External Affairs, Associate Athletic Director for Sports Information, and in his current capacity since 2004. He is a well-respected member of the Georgia sports community.

Dave Hart, Executive Director of Athletics, University of Alabama: An Alabama Alumnus (71') with more than 20-years experience as an AD—including stints at both FSU and East Carolina—Hart is widely thought to be the man behind the magic at Alabama. Current AD, Mal Moore, has passed most of the heavy-lifting on to Hart and it is thought that when Moore's contract is up in 2011, Hart will glide into the big man's chair. He would be a long shot, at best, for Georgia's vacant AD position.







Again, this is merely speculation and nothing has been said or done as of now.  Expect more in the coming weeks as UGA sorts out the Damon Evans situation, completely, and sets a course for finding the right man—or woman—for the job.

(Updated, 2:22 PM) Michael Adams has released his statement regarding the Damon Evan's situation:

"Yesterday, July 4, 2010, University of Georgia Athletics Director Damon Evans submitted his resignation, which I have accepted. As I said on Thursday morning when I first learned of the situation, this is not an example of the kind of leadership that I expect our senior administrators to set. I have high regard for Damon personally; I care deeply about him and his family.

"Under a separation agreement and release endorsed today by the executive committee of the board of directors of the University of Georgia Athletic Association, Mr. Evans will receive a $100,000 longevity bonus for his prior service, in accordance with the terms of his contract, as well as 3 months' salary as severance. We acknowledge the many positive accomplishments of his tenure, including an increased focus on the academic success of student-athletes, the overall financial strength of the athletic department and the hiring of many very good people as head coaches and senior leaders in the athletic department.

"I will address the future leadership of the athletic department during my regularly scheduled media briefing at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 6, in Mahler Auditorium at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education."

 

It sounds like the president is already getting ready for the future and the Tuesday press conference should be forthcoming with, hopefully, more concrete information as to what the next step will be and when the search process will begin. 

 

 

With Damon Evans Out As AD, Has Richt's Success Timetable Grown Shorter?

Coach Mark Richt has supposedly been on the proverbial hot seat ever since his 2008, preseason No. 1, football team failed to make a BCS appearance. However, the truth is, Georgia's coach is not on the hot seat at all—yet.

Mark Richt bought himself a couple years—at least—when he fired his defensive staff and hired the NFL minded Todd Grantham to install the 3-4 defense. So far, the word has been good out of Athens as both the players and the coaches are excited about the possibilities of playing an attacking-style defense 'Tween The Hedges' this year.

Even more, the attention given to keeping the state's best talent from leaving to play elsewhere has been a boon in Georgia's recruiting efforts thus far—13 players have already given their commitment to play for the Bulldogs in 2011.

However, in the blink of an eye, all of the good will that has been created by the positives were overshadowed dramatically by the actions of the, now former, Georgia AD Damon Evans. His DUI, potential infidelity, and overall bad publicity has brought his tenure to an end and the next question, if you are a fervent supporter of coach Mark Richt, has to be what will happen to him now?

Admittedly, it's a question that crossed my mind almost immediately after the Evans situation first came to light and I wasn't the only one.

Despite his recent indiscretions, Evans was a good AD for Georgia and he was a strong supporter of Mark Richt. He essentially gave Richt a blank check in his search for a new defensive coordinator and offered his firm support for 2010 and beyond as Richt set forward on a path towards recreating the Georgia football program in a light that would be much brighter than the one that's shone over the last two.

Now, with Evans out, will Mark Richt find that his timetable for success has been set on a faster track? After all, the new AD isn't likely to have any ties to Richt, Georgia Bulldogs football, or Vince Dooley (Evan's mentor). The next AD will most likely make the decision that makes the most sense for the bottom line—loyalties aside.

Furthermore, will Michael Adams be able to set aside his perceived need for a "Yes Man" in order to find an AD who is willing to go the extra mile to make Georgia football not only profitable but successful as well?

Some interesting candidates are already being kicked around, at least in the internet world, but nothing is expected to be done soon as a nationwide campaign is possible in determining the next man for this job. That said, can Georgia fans guarantee that the next AD will get along as famously with Richt as Evans did?

Can we be certain anymore that an 8-5 or 9-3 season will suffice in 2010? How long, or short, will the patience be if the new guy doesn't bleed red and black?

In the end, it's easy to predict that the good times will keep rolling but, from my perspective, this change could be as much for the bad as the good.

What say you, Bulldog/SEC nation? Could coach Richt be in trouble if Michael Adams tabs the wrong man for the job this time around?

(This article appears courtesy of The Lady Sportswriter)

Watts Dantzler Makes It Official, He's Going To Be A Georgia Bulldog

The recruiting saga of Dalton, Georgia's own, Watts Dantzler has come to a fortuitous end for the Bulldogs as the top offensive line prospect in the State of Georgia has opted to commit to the Georgia Bulldogs over the Auburn Tigers. The decision comes as no surprise to some as speculation was rampant for months that Dantzler would commit to Georgia.

The surprise, however, was in the timing of his decision. Many felt they would have to wait until November 16th—Dantzler’s 18th birthday—to find out for certain. Instead, Dantzler changed his mind and opted to honor his father by announcing his decision on Father’s Day.

His father, Danny Dantzler, played for former Georgia Bulldog coach, Vince Dooley, from 1971-73, as an offensive lineman. Danny, coincidentally, also tussled between Auburn and Georgia when he was a prospect but he eventually chose Georgia—just as his son Watts did today. 

The parallels are too obvious to be ignored and there is little doubt that Watts’ chose them for that very reason. He was very close to his father and, even though he knew his decision on where to play would ultimately be his to make—fully supported by those who love him—he always figured it would be Georgia in the end.

Said Watts:

 “Georgia was the best school for me because basically I felt at home there,” said Dantzler, whose father lettered as an offensive lineman at Georgia from 1971-73. “I’ve been going there since I was a little kid and always dreamed of putting on the red and black. Hopefully soon that will be a reality." (Chip Towers, AJC, 6/20/10).

The day’s events were dampened only by the absence of Watts’ father who passed away18-months ago from Lou Gehrig’s Disease. It was part of the reason he chose to announce now as opposed to November, what better way to include his father than to announce on Father’s Day where the spirit of him would be most appreciated and most felt among those around him,

"Doing this on Fathers Day truly means more than anything to me,” Dantzler said. “I had and still have the best dad in the world and I know he’s going to be proud of me today." (Chip Towers, AJC, 6/20/10)

It was a good day for Watts’ and his family.

Even more, the Georgia Bulldog nation can take pride in the fact that they were able to land another phenomenal in-state product for their 2011 class. Dantzler’s commitment brings the total to 12 and counting.

Despite the recent flack about the “Dream Team” approach to luring in top prospects, Georgia has done a nice job of locking down the guys they want this year—from an in-state perspective—Dantzler had offers from Tennessee, Auburn, Vanderbilt, and Alabama just to name a few.