Catching Up

Well, things have been pretty dead around here the last few months, but now I've got some extra time on my hands, summer workouts are starting, and we're about to go full-tilt preseason. Before we get into any camp reports, conference blasts, or preseason picks, though, I'd like to catch up on a few things.

1. Tressel Out. This has been everywhere the last two days. I wanted to wait until the SI piece hit to do anything with it, but I don't feel there's enough substantiated in the article to really hit the program. 28 players received free tattoos since 2002, a few cars may or may not have been made a little too easily available, weed, and a tattoo parlor owner who just got charged with money laundering and drug trafficking. Oh, and Tyrelle Pryor is the subject of as second, independent NCAA investigation. If any of the big stuff gets confirmed, the program could be hit USC-style, but for now, it might just be the Buckeyes vacating some wins. If anything, the piece was an indictment of Tressel's character. Time and time again, he used ignorance as a defense to avoid any wrong doing in his program, stretching back to his Youngstown State days.
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UPDATE: Apparently, none of this swirling maelstrom of scandal and rumor has hit home with TP, yet. How else do you explain him showing up to a team meeting last night in another new car? Even if it's legit (which, judging by past reports, it's not) why even take the chance and stir the pot even more.
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2. Garcia Back In. I, for one, am shocked by this. /sarcasm.

3. That coach in GA who went 6-7. Paul Johnson has made it clear he does not support oversigning.And why would he? I imagine it's hard to hit that total with quality recruits when you're in direct competition with the SEC. That said, last season's win total isn't the only thing he and Richt have in common. Richt's been cast opposite Nick Saban in the SEC blogosphere lately as an opponent of over signing. But both GA coaches still support gray shirting. 

4. Party in the WVU. Dana Holgorsen likes to party. Everyone thought the drunken casino ejection was bad, but forgivable; especially after the contrition he showed. But now at least six more incidents have been made public. From casinos to golf courses and race tracks, Holgorsen has made the rounds of the wild and wonderful rec spots WV has to offer - and been tossed from all of them. Maybe WVU shouldn't start selling alcohol in the stadium just yet...

5. Academic Progress Rate. This is not quite the same as taking a four year average, instead using year-by-year numbers. But, Richt's numbers for 2009-10 are impressive:

This, and the fact he sold a $2 million lake house so he could donate more to charity really makes you want to pull for the guy.


6. Phil Steele. This year's Phil Steele will be out soon, and rumor is he's picked Auburn last in the SEC West. That seems a bit surprising to me. They did lose the Battering Cam, but does that mean the Tigers should drop from National Champs to last in their own division? I mean, c'mon, they can at least beat Ole Miss...can't they?

7. CWS. Georgia earned an invitation to the Corvallis, OR regional.  They'll be in the pool with Oregon State, Creighton, and Ark-Pine Bluff. The 2,000 mile trip is not the best hand dealt out by the seedings, but Georgia's record isn't exactly great.

Ja'Juan Story likes to, um, loosen up before a big game.

My new favorite Florida Gator, Ja'Juan Story, was interviewed today by the Gator Country fanblog. When asked about pre-game rituals, he gave a very honest answer: "Well, I take a doodoo." That's the first time I remember actually reading the word "doodoo" on a cfb blog. It does get a little better.

Q: That’s your FAVORITE pregame ritual?

A: Well, that’s the only thing I do. That’s one thing I have to do before every game, or I won’t feel energy, and I’ll just feel slow. When I do I just feel light on my feet and everything, and I feel faster, so that’s what I do.

Q: You know I’m going to write this in a story right?

A: Well, I mean, that’s what it is. I doodoo and then listen to Katy Perry.

Katy Perry? Man, this shit just gets better and better.

Dynasty Update: The Book

We all enjoyed tracking the glorious career of the man who is arguably the greatest man to coach the game of college football, Ace Journeyman. The details got a little hazy after that second Georgia national title, but there was certainly glory between the hedges after the updates died...including the legendary back-to-back-to-back BCS titles in the 2040's. He won over 300 games, approached double digit national titles, helmed fifteen perfect seasons, and owned every conference in which he coached. He's a legend, a born-winner, a fighter, and a champion...but he's also a man. And now, it's time for the man to write his memoirs.And the first step? The title, of course. So, inspired by this EDSBS post, here are some possible titles for Ace Journeyman's biography.

You're suggestions are welcome in the comments.

1. The Journey - it's a play on the subject's name and it's succinct...too succinct, so it probably needs a long, bogged down sub title, like "one man's lifelong passion for a game and glory" or some thing lame like that.Too bad Ace is a secular humanist; there won't be enough Bible-beating to really live up to suck a vague title.

2. Once and Future Bulldog - This one plays to the home crowd. Focusing mainly on the Ace's playing days in Athens and his triumphant return as head coach, this book would fly off the shelves in Georgia and lend itself to lackluster appearances at Touchdown Clubs, Barnes and Nobles, and Borders across the southeast.

3. Bourbon and Bulldogs - This would have to be a tell all, including the rough and rowdy personal life of everybody's favorite football coach. Included would be the three-day bender Journeyman took before coaching against his beloved Bulldogs back in his Michigan days.

4. Win Forever...But for Real, Because I Didn't Fuck Over My Program and Escape to a Shitty NFL Job in Seattle - Because fuck Pete Carroll, that's why.

5. I Won at EASTERN MICHIGAN. You're Point is Invalid - Because, seriously, winning at E. Michigan was probably the hardest thing Ace did.

6. Seriously, Eastern Michigan - Seriously, have you ever actually seen how bad that program is?

7. Better than Bo - This one focuses on the days in Ann Arbor and really pissing on a legend. Sure, you can argue Bo would still be the best coach in Michigan history, but he doesn't hold a career candle to the man, Ace J.

8. All I Do Is Win - With help from D.J. Khaled. Forward by Charlie Sheen.

9. Fuck You. - This book is one page. It lists Ace's career record and includes a killer daiquiri recipe. It flies off the shelves.

10. Bear Who?
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Honorable Mention: Ace in the Hole: The Sexual Conquests of the World's Greatest Coach.

Ealey to Transfer.

I really hope Isaiah Crowell lives up to the hype. Not that Washaun Ealey ever lived up to his  hype, but at least he had experience. But, with Ealey being granted a transfer this afternoon, that already questionable running back corp gets shakier. The perfect things for us would be if Crowell comes in and rips it up as a freshman, puts all this weak RB play in the rear-view, and churns turf all the way to double digit wins. But, I remember our last great hope from Carver, Columbus - maybe you've heard of him, Japser Sanks? So, don't color me confident that we won't feel Washaun's loss this season. As for Ealey, where will he go? Message boards are lighting up with Georgia Southern rumors. But, with a granted transfer, he can play FBS ball, so why drop down? To be close to home? If that's the answer, then good riddance - if you never outgrew middle-GA, then you should've never came to play in the classic city. Oh well, if he does head to Statesboro, I guess we'll see him in 2012.

It Doesn't Take a Barnhart

Thanks, Tony, for the update: Apparently, South Carolina is close to reinstating Stephen Garcia. Can you blame them? Well, yes, actually, you can easily criticize the decision - but I can see why they'd feel better about their chances with super surf brah in the garnet and black than playing somewhere else.

Losing.

I never really got into the new Charlie Sheen thing; it's shallow and stupid. But, now he's crossed a line he'll never cross back from:

Good day, sir. Who gets boo'ed off the stage faster there, Sheen or Paul Johnson?

G-Day

G-Day was this weekend and the Black beat the Red, 18-11 (does anyone really care who wins this game?). Here are a few things that stood out to me:

- I'm not comfortable with the defense as a whole. Mainly because we had NOBODY to actually play in the secondary. I know that injuries will heal and all the freshmen will be on campus next month, but not getting to see anything made me nervous. It's not like we've been a defensive powerhouse that last few years.

- Now, despite my feelings with the D as a whole, there were a couple individuals who stood out. Kwame Gathers looks like he's growing into his role nicely - and we'll need it. I'd say the same about Alec Ogletree, too.

- Offensively, I'm concerned with our Sun-Belt caliber wideout corp. With AJ gone, somebody's going to have to step up, BIG TIME. We do have a lot at tight end and there will be a stable of backs to use, but we need something on the outside.

- Aaron Murray had a good game, but that's no surprise. Christian LeMay led a TD drive and showed serious potential - especially arm strength and athleticism - and could be neck-and-neck with Hutson Mason for the 2-spot. Mason was up-and-down, but that's to be expected in this type of scrimmage.

- As far as running back goes, I think everyone was disappointed that Isaiah Crowell isn't enrolled yet. I'm not alone in wanting to see what he can actually do. He was at the game, however, and drew more fan fare from the Bulldog nation than Matt Stafford, who was on hand for the half-time former-QB challenge.

- Ken Malcome had some nice runs and showed not just quickness, but good strength in breaking tackles on the outside. Caleb King had a helluva stiff-arm, but he's probably playing with a huge fire under his ass right now.

- Beyond the on-field stuff, there was a good crowd, pushing Sanford to half-capacity and Russ was looking good on the sideline. Honestly, he's got my vote for mascot - this demand for an all-white seems to be creating a Hapsburg-ian lineage of inbred weaklings who die too quickly.

And now, we wait. Twenty more Saturdays...

Shocking.

Welcome to Arizona State, where even the kids aren't safe...

Two in the pink...fuck, never mind. Even I'm not comfortable finishing this one (h/t StubFlub)
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UPDATE: Since we're on the topic of ASU, check out the makeover the Devils have received from Nike. A new logo adorns slightly modified home and away unis:

I gotta admit, I like it. But I do hope they keep the cartoon-ish devil emblem around for certain throwboack combos. Also, the Devils have added an all-black:

Awesome. Between the new unis, the sexually innuendo of the hand signal, and certain cfb geniuses calling for good things in Tempe, it could be a good year to be a devil.

Mainly on the Plains

Man, even with winning a BCS Title, Auburn can't seem to catch a break. The Newton scandal specter haunted the program all season, a few Tigers celebrated the off-season with an armed robbery that broke the Fulmer Cup, and now Real Sports is airing a special exposing some serious pay-to-play accusations. So, let's run down the standard defenses: nothing has been proven about Cam, everybody's got a few bad apples, and the p2p was so long ago, nobody cares anymore. Christ. You may as well throw in "Y'all just hatin'." As a amtter of fact, someone did; from an Auburn fan in the comments: “Why defend it or worry about. Statute of Limitations is 7 yrs, soo suck it you tree killing Updykes! Nothing can nor will be done about anything that happened all those years ago. Have fun choking out our National Championship that will not be vacated.” War Eagle, baby. There's also a nice "Auburn's not the only school doing this" comment that references Ohio State. Well, duh. We know it's probably happening everywhere, but it sure seems to happen more in some places...
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UPDATE: After looking into this special a bit more, it seems that these former Auburn players are going to dime out a few more schools, too. They mention Michigan State and Ohio State in the linked transcript, but there apparently will be a few more mentioned in tonight's special. Part of me hopes Georgia gets mentioned, albeit a very small part. I mean, nobody wants their program to be in trouble, but it seems lately even our recruiting violations are boring. We landed Crowell, a highly touted, much sought recruit and everyone was thinking there had to be a violation somewhere. And there was. We had him line up in formation in the indoor arena. Yawn. We even break the rules Richt-like. And I know we won the Fulmer Cup last year, but it was steady, constant effort; petty crime after misdemeanor - you know, the fundamentals. We had none of the flash and flair of Auburn's 80-point armed-robbery extravaganza.

Maybe It Shouldn't Happen.

I'm going to piggy-back off of the Senator's peice from today here:

I have gone back and forth on my support of mid majors over the years. I love a good upset or Cinderella story, pulling for Boise against Oklahoma in '07 and having to be the voice of inclusions in most debates I have on the subject. But, I think I'm done with it now - or at least ready for some new players. I'm tired of Boise State and TCU; I pulled for VA Tech to begin the season and Wisky to end it. I was thrilled when Nevada beat the Broncos....and, oddly enough, would have cheered for Nevada against a big boy. So, why the 'Pack but not Boise? I guess because Nevada's new. Give me somebody new to sheer for, please. We've been behind Boise for 5 or 6 years and gotten nowhere. Let the Pack give it a shot. TCU? Yesterday's news. It's like Fresno State: boring. Let's see Idaho or San Diego State make a run and knock ff a big boy - or a UAB or Troy. Hey, it could happen. Especially when we consider what it takes to get there.

If you get the a key player or two and a coach who can recruit and exploit three star talent, you only have two-maybe three-tough teams to beat in any given season. Last year, Boise had to beat Virginia Tech and then survive and they were considered in. Next year, Boise plays only one BCS team: Georgia. And while UGA is a solid program, they're certainly in a funk. TCU? They play Baylor...and that's it. Here are Five BCS Busters the Orlando Sentinel says to watch for: BS, TCU, BYU, Tulsa, and Nevada. They play 8 BCS teams...combined. BCS teams play 8 BCS opponents each. Let's say these teams are legit. Boise plays three of them. Add that to the date with Georgia and that's still only four high caliber games. Big whoop. As Blutarsky points out, "compared to the gauntlet that a school like Florida has to run (playing the other MNCs from the past five years back-to-back-to-back), that seems a little light." That's right, Florida plays Alabama, LSU, and Auburn all in a row. What do those teams have in common? They've all won BCS titles during the SEC's 5-year run. Who won the other two? Florida. But they still will get less consideration than any of the mid-majors listed above.Compare that to Boise State's murderers row of Toledo, Tulsa, and Nevada.

Of course we know why Florida won't get the consideration. Talent lost, new head coach, new offensive system, etc. But what if Muschamp got to lead the Gators against this schedule? Suddenly, Georgia becomes their hardest game and we know how that rivalry's played out in the last two decades. So, beat the Dawgs and ride out the cake walk all the way t the BCS title game. See? It's all schedule. And, if a mid-major can get to the big game with that salte, maybe it just shouldn't happen after all.

Tressel Knew?

According to a breaking report, yes. Supposedly, Tressell knew about his players selling memorabelia way back in April...a full eight months before suspensions were levied. Remember when AD Gene Smith said  everybody just found out about the illegal sales in December? Well, that might all be bullshit. And, if it's true that Tressel did know and didn't do anything about it then, it could mean a whole mess of problems for the vest:

"If Tressel failed to inform Smith or the Ohio State compliance department about the players’ dealings with Rife, he could be charged with multiple NCAA violations including unethical conduct, failure to monitor and a failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance. In general, a coach is required to act on, or pass along reasonable information about possible rule violations for further investigation.

Section 4.1(d) of Tressel’s contract with Ohio State stipulates that he “supervise and take appropriate steps to ensure … members of the Team know, recognize and comply with any such laws, University Rules and Governing Athletic Rules and immediately report to the (Athletic) Director and to the (Athletic) Department’s Office of Compliance Services in writing if any person or entity, including without limitation, representatives of Ohio State’s athletic interests, has violated or is likely to violate any such laws, University Rules and Governing Athletic Rules.”

Section 5.1 (m) of his contract also states that failure to promptly report “any violations” could lead to “termination by Ohio State for cause.”

Ohio State itself could be cited with playing ineligible players and forced to vacate its 2010 season, when it won a share of the Big Ten championship and finished 12-1. It could also face further sanctions for major infractions."

Throw this in with all the suspicion surrounding the cars Terrelle Pryor's been driving, and this could be a rough off-season in Columbus. Well, at least he finally beat an SEC school.
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Saw this nugget quoted from an Ohio State message board: "Jim Tressel should just say they informed his DAD but he never knew anything about it." Awesome. (h/t smartfootball)

Vatican Assassin Warlords.

I was so hoping someone would mash these things up: Charlie "Sorry, Winning." Sheen and the unofficial Auburn 2010 theme song, "All I Do Is Win." Mainly, because I don't know how to do this kind of shit myself.

It Could Be Another LOOOONG Season

Georgia has a strong baseball program, among the most stable in the SEC, but there have certainly been some down stretches. And, judging by the Diamond Dawgs 2012 so far, we're in the middle of another one. Last season, Georgia only won 16 games. Sixteen! That's awful, especially for a team only 2 years removed from the CWS finals. Well, this season's not looking any better, folks. The Dawgs are 2-5, which includes being swept by Stetson and a mess of errors and unearned runs against Baylor. Let's hope we can take the game with Furman Wednesday, because the looming weekend home stand with Florida State does not look good...

Oh, well. I did a good job of keeping up with basketball this season, Dawgs and Hawks both, and hope to do the same with baseball. Granted, it's way harder for me to keep up with baseball once we hit game 700, but I'm gonna try. I'm even hoping to get to a Braves game or three this summer, and of course, there's no excuse not to see the Diamond Dawgs; I live five blocks from Foley Field.

And, just to keep the mood alive, here's a video someone made of John Fogerty's "Centerfield" playing over clips from baseball movies:

Murray's Injury

This morning the Red&Black reported that Aaron Murray has broken his ankle in two places. Across Dawg nation, people reacted and re-reacted to this and other reports that expounded on the severity of the original article. However, the school never confirmed the report. This just set off more speculation, ranging from a simple sprain to, fuck, I don't know, a severed limb it seems like. According to Bulldogsblog, though, the injured body part is a foot, not an ankle, and, though the team trainer has inspected Murray, no final word has been released. Realistically, this could be a very low-impact injury, despite the sky-is-falling reaction:

"One thing to remember: Georgia has scheduled its first spring practice for March 10, the day before spring break, and then doesn't practice again until March 22. So conceivably Murray could be held out the first spring practice and then have nearly two weeks to heal."

So, let's not panic...yet. Until the program officially announces the details of the injury or just how severe it is, speculation just serves as agitation.

Too Meme-tastic to pass up...

Yep. Nate Montana has transferred to....Montana. BTW, who uplaods pics to that Montana blog, someone's grandma? And, if you're not familiar with the xzibit meme, go here....also, where have you been the last five years?

Ealey Out.

Washaun Ealey has been suspended indefinitely. Maybe we're starting to see just what exactly Richt's new approach to the team is going to be like. Maybe Ealey finally did something too egregious for a simple slap on the wrist. Either way, I like the message it sends. A new approach to discipline would go swimmingly with the fresh approach to "toughness" of the new strength and conditioning program and the brand-new facilities the team has at their disposal. Thins just could be headed in the right direction...but I'm still cautious. A top-5 class and a suspended star do not a turn-around complete.

More Crowell

Chill Dawg is Chill, brah.

Crowell.

Sign on the Line Which is Dotted.

Isaiah Crowell will be a Bulldog. Jeoffrey Pagan and Antonio Richardson will not. Kent Turene will. Johnathon Jenkins will let us know Saturday. Beyond these big names who were waiting to announce today, Georgia's class comes in as expected. No big verbals flip-flopped, no big names swung our way. I guess the closest call we had was Turene, who walked in to the gym in a Texas tech hat then switched out to a UGA one. But, our biggest signee put on the biggest show. Crowell, wearing a crimson tie to throw off the audience, brought out a live bulldog puppy after signing his LoI. Awesome. More later...

Signing Day's Eve

Tomorrow is singing day, ladies and gentlemen. Some of you will hit up Blind Pig or Buffalo's, maybe take the shuttles to Butts-Mehre, and generally revel in the celebration of glorifying teenagers' egos. But, most of us will just go to work and sneak peaks at cellphones or recruiting sites, hoping that our programs got who they were going after; actually, most will just wait and see when we get home later. See, despite what anyone tells you, tomorrow is more hype than anything - just ask a Georgia fan. We are a top-ten recruiting program over the last decade and what have we gotten out of it? Nothing. That said, I do hope we get our big targets. Isaiah Crowell and Kent Turene are the key guys to look for tomorrow and Johnathon Jenkins is waiting until Saturday. There's also still a very slim outside shot at getting Gabriel Wright, too, but it's doubtful. Honestly, if we land Crowell, we'll all feel better and think we've accomplished something. But will it matter? We need results on the field. Period.

Oh, well. Enjoy it, folks. It's Signing Day and then the Super Bowl and then that's it until the Draft. Honestly, I think Bulldog nation will be very disappointed tomorrow; I think Crowell signs with 'Bama, Turene balks, and Wright's a non-issue. Maybe we can wrap the class up with Jenkins on Saturday, but missing out on the over-hyped Crowell will certainly put a damper on all that 'Dream Team' drivel.
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UPDATE: Here's the best announcement timeline I can give you right now:
Jeoffrey Pagan: 9:00
Antonio Richardson and Kent Turene: 10:00
Isaiah Crowell - 1:30 (I would assume Wright will announce then, too, but that will probably better news for Auburn fans)
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Oh yeah, at least we got another spot open today. Logan Gray won't be here next season. Instead, he'll be transferring somewhere closer to his family after he graduates in May. He'll work on a Master's while he plays his final season of eligibility, likely at a small school in Missouri or Illinois.