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.