Game Nine: The Border War

October 28^th

Vs. University of Florida (Jacksonville, FL)

Quick history lesson for Georgia vs the Florida Gators. Georgia leads the series all time 46-36-2. That’s what a Dawg fan will tell you. Only, it doesn’t seem that way because the Gators have won 14 of the last 16. And the game is played in Jacksonville, which is a “neutral” site (meaning it is neither team's home field). Most of that dominance was brought on by Steve Spurrier. But even after he left in 2001, we’ve only beaten them once in four years. I think those are the losses that frustrate most fans because those games from 2002-2005 were winnable. Now, to boost our pride we Dawg fans like to remind ourselves that we’ve played in the SEC Championship Game three out the last five years, and the Gators have played in zero out of the last five. So when a jean short wearin Gator likes to point out there recent dominance, ask them to show you a SEC ring from this century. Despite the average Georgia fan telling you that they’d trade a Florida loss for an SEC Championship every year, I’m calling double BS on that. When you get dominated by a team because they’re just better all the time, that’s one thing. But losing to an equal or lesser team again and again and again………..simply maddening. Down in the cockles of the heart of every Dawg fan burns the desire to shut these Johnny-come-lately, we-had-Spurrier, trailer trash rednecks up. Whoops, did I say that out loud? See, the bar has been raised. We want to have our cake and eat it too. We want to beat Florida, win the SEC, and hoist the national championship trophy.

So anyway, Quarterback Chris Leak heads up the Gator offense. I don’t care what anyone says, Leak is a damn fine college quarterback and will be an even better pro QB. Gator fans who make fun of him should have their mullets shaved. Head Coach Urban Meyer begins his second year down there. If I have to hear one more time how successful he has been in the second year of wherever he goes, I think I’ll scream. If Florida is better, it will because Leak has three years of experience, their defensive line is solid, and they have a slew of talented receivers, headed by Dallas Baker and Andre Caldwell, not because Meyer is a genius. Even Meyer himself said he couldn’t believe how fast the SEC defenses were (compared to where he coached before), so my feeling is that he knows he’s been neutralized.

So even though I love our defense, even though the Gators seemingly have no running game, even though I think our QB play will be more impressive than last year’s Florida game, and even though they lost a lot on their offensive line…………you see where I’m going with this? As much as I hate it, I don’t think we beat the Gators this year. This will be our 9^th straight game and I think that will have much to do with it.

Here’s hoping that Coach Richt proves me wrong. I’m going to the corner to pout.

Relax, boys. We’ve got Kentucky next week.

Game Eight: Identity Crisis

October 21st
vs Mississippi State University (Athens, GA)

Ever listen to a psychologist talk about "finding yourself"? Is there a more annoying phrase than that? Well, ok, "two wrongs don't make a right" gets under my skin. Maybe I'm a meathead, maybe I've just been fortunate enough to have a pretty solid head on my shoulders, but I've never had to "find myself" (though I have woken up in the morning and wondered where the hell I am).
On Saturday 10/21, the Georgia Bulldogs will have to do just that - find themselves. Number one, the "other" Bulldogs of Mississippi State come rolling into town. Number two, this will be the second to last game that we are expected to win. MSU Coach Sylvester Croom is itchin to make strides on the field, he's certainly cleaned up that program off the field. At some point, they will want a better rally cry than "We got Ron Zook fired!" They would LOVE to pull an upset, especially if our loss column reads "1" or "0" (By the way, their quarterback's name is Henig, shown above. I don't want to hear anyone else make fun of "Tereshinski".) The other identity issue is that by now, our QB situation should be completely settled (except for the Second Guesser's Club) and most of us will be wondering what the fuss was all about. As the wear and tear of the season goes on and injuries take their toll, back-ups become heroes and other teams start to see that there is no such thing as being "too deep" at any position. Five straight stellar recruiting classes is paying off. Starting middle linebacker gets hurt? Plug in a blue chip recruit. All three running backs are banged up? Send in Mr. New Jersey. The Dawg's depth is what will beat Mississippi State, only because they haven't had that luxury yet.
Oh, and rest up this week. Next Saturday is the World's Largest Outdoor Anti-Michael Adams Rally.

Game Seven: Dawg Days

October 14^th

Vs. Vanderbilt (Athens, GA)

Ok, so the Dawgs record could be 6-0 by now. Or it could be 3-3. Regardless of our record, here’s what the environment in Athens will hold. The injury bug will have bitten, NFL Draft Analyst Mel Kiper will be raving about defensive end Quentin Moses, and if you’ve watched a UGA game on TV for the first time, you will eventually have a dream about that bald-headed Georgia fan who paints the dog on his head (I freakin LOVE that guy!).

The Vanderbilt Commodores comes to town and Georgia will be celebrating homecoming. I honestly don’t know what to think about Vanderbilt. They lost all-universe QB Jay Cutler to graduation, and they still have a pretty good wide receiver in Earl Bennett. But seriously, before I go on, Georgia beat Vandy last year WITH Jay Cutler. On their own turf. Vanderbilt may be one of the most respected colleges in the nation, but they have not had success fielding a winning football team. So I really don’t see a reason why the Dawgs can’t beat them between the hedges. But by now, a LOT of our questions will be answered. How good can (insert starting QB here) be? Is our defensive backfield even better than last year? Will our running backs Thomas Brown, Kregg Lumpkin and Danny Ware all return for their senior years? Ok, that last one will be a yes, but you get where I’m headed.

Oh, also. The seventh game will be the first meeting of the “Mark Richt Second Guesser’s Club”. You see, even though this man has proven himself a winner, conducted himself with class on and off the field, and raised the level of play at Georgia, there will be those who will be pissed off that there’s not more. Of course, some of this is Richt’s fault. He keeps winning and therefore we fans get greedy. Before he got here, the last SEC Championship trophy we got our hands on was halfway through Ronald Reagan’s FIRST term as president. Richt has won two in five years. This second guesser’s club will crowd the bars and chat rooms with cries of “He can’t manage the clock!” and “He’s not utilizing (insert player from the screamer’s hometown) enough on special teams!”

Look past these fools. The bad thing about diehard college football fans (and unfortunately, I’m one of them) is that we think we know EVERY-THING. Sure, we don’t have the football pedigree that Coach Richt does, and we don’t sit in on the meetings or watch practices. But we just KNOW what’s best for our team.

If you’re placing bets, put money on Mark Richt. Every. Single. Time.

Game Six: Redemption

October 7^th

Vs. University Of Tennessee (Athens, GA)

The redemption here could go either way. In 2005, the Tennessee Vols had one of the most disappointing years ever in college football. They had a preseason ranking of around #3 and many had them pegged to be in the national championship game by the end of the year. Starting with the UT/UGA game last year, the Vols went on to lose 5 of the next 6 games, they lost their best defender, Jason Allen, for the rest of their season, and they had a QB controversy in full swing. Coach Fulmer’s team ended up 5-6, missing out on a bowl game for the first time since….well as far back as I can remember. Wait, as far back as I care to remember. You see, I HATE the Vols.

I spent about 11 years in East Tennessee, and while I have fond memories of my life and times there, it was way too long being for a Dawg fan in Vol country. So I did enjoy their misery last year.

But it’s not about me. It’s about a UT team desperate to get out on the football field to prove that this was a travesty, an aberration. For the Dawgs, this will be a giant step in being able to prove that they belong every year, not just when the stars align. I don’t know anyone, Vol fan or not, who doesn’t think Tennessee will have a strong year. Let’s just hope they can field a team.

This is another game I can’t predict. The Vols have a tendency to lose the easy games, and win the ones they shouldn’t.

(Notice how I got through that without using the words, “probation” or “Drunken Cooter”?)

Game Five: The View

September 30^th

Vs. University Of Mississippi (in Oxford, MS)

If you ask any fan of an SEC school their favorite place to watch a football game, they will probably tell you their own school’s stadium. If they don’t, I’m pretty sure the laws in most states will allow you to slap them silly. Ask them their SECOND favorite place to watch a game, and they’ll probably tell you Oxford, Mississippi. I know what you’re thinking. Why? The Ole Miss Rebels haven’t been “in the hunt” for a while, what could be so special about being there? First off, they have LOTS of pretty women. Then there’s tailgaiting at the Grove. There’s the Mannings. I already mentioned pretty women, right? Tradition at Ole Miss means something to all SEC fans.

Recent football has been another issue. The Rebels record the last two years is 7-15. During those two years they ran off one “legend” (David Cutcliffe, now at UT) and brought in another (Ed Orgeron, mastermind behind the USC Trojans defensive line) Enter QB Brent Schaeffer. Two years ago at Tennessee, he was the first true freshmen to start an SEC opening game in a cajillion years. After some problems in Knoxville and a parting of ways with Coach Fulmer, he went to a couple of different junior colleges (I think one was named after a tree) and he’s FINALLY landed at Ole Miss. Schaeffer gives the Rebel offense instant credibility. And they’ve got a linebacker named Patrick Willis who could fend off a bull to go tackle a rhino. However, this is the SEC where depth matters. The Rebels are being projected around .500 or lower. As for the Dawgs, this is an away game and Schaeffer scares me. By the end of September, he could really be taking off and clicking on all cylinders.

Of course, so could Tereshinski. Or Joe Cox. Or Blake Barnes or Matthew Stafford. Dawgs win a squeaker with a solid running game