There’s someone conspicuously missing

Here’s a write up in the Red and Black listing awards winners at the annual team Gala on Saturday night:

Newcomer of the Year Award winners were redshirt freshman receiver Michael Bennett of Alpharetta, freshman receiver Chris Conley of Dallas, Ga., and freshman receiver Malcolm Mitchell of Valdosta (offense); freshman linebacker Amarlo Herrera of College Park and junior nose guard John Jenkins of Meriden, Conn. (defense); and freshman defensive back Quintavius Harrow of Columbus (special teams).

I haven’t talked much about Isaiah Crowell but that isn’t because I haven’t been thinking of him. I will state that he has my full support and well-wishes. Yes, we’ve got Keith Marshall and perhaps others coming in. But it is my belief that we are a better team with Isaiah Crowell. And with the support structure he has in place, I think Isaiah has every chance of being a better man. Just look at his teammates around him. They’re evidence of this.

Memorial service for Larry

http://twitter.com/#!/SethEmerson/status/141279084322881536

How amazing would it be to see a full house, completely silent? Just a sea of black with smatterings of red here and there. Silent in memoriam.

State Champions. Again.

Alright, I can’t really downplay it. Because very few things bring me as much joy as Dawgs beating Tech. And this one wasn’t close like the past couple of times. Dawgs were clearly the superior team with superior players and superior coaching. As it should be.

While I’m a bit worried about DeAngelo Tyson’s injury, I’m glad we got to rest Isaiah Crowell and get some much needed carries for Boo Malcolme. And what a fine job Boo did, grinding out some tough yards to run the clock late in the game.

I just have to say that Coach Bobo deserves a lot of credit this season. He made do with what he had to work with, implemented a new hurry-up scheme to get us running more plays and came up with several very good game plans, which our players executed on the way to nine straight wins. We’ve all given Coach Bobo a lot grief. I’d like to now thank him for job well done. Let’s keep it going!

We’re 10 and 2, folks and headed for an appearance in the SEC Championship Game. This will be our fourth trip there under Coach Richt and the third time we’ll play the Tigers of LSU. But I’m not quite ready to think about them or the game just yet. Because we just beat Tech to cap off a remarkable turnaround after coming off a losing season, including a bowl game loss, as well as an 0 and 2 start. Isn’t this exactly what we wanted after that loss to Sakerlina? Well, it’s happened and everything just feels right in the world. Tennessee. Florida. Auburn. Tech. Yup, just right.

How ’bout them Dawgs!

“Our guys knew who Erk Russell was”

Here’s the full transcript of Coach Richt’s presser today. Regarding pounding the rock down Tech’s throat:

“We always like to run the football, but you have to have backs who can do it and some backs who are willing to hang on to the football in the process.

Nice choice of words there. I’m pretty sure all of our backs are “willing to hang on to the football”. I think it’s interesting that Coach Richt is apparently emphasizing the mental aspect of it. After all, our two main backs for the Kentucky game don’t exactly see the field all that often. And against Tech, we may be relying on them more and more if Carlton Thomas doesn’t play and Isaiah Crowell isn’t quite ready to shoulder the full load. I’m sure Mr. Harton and Mr. Malcolme get the picture.

Speaking of getting the picture:

We are going to honor his memory at the ballgame with a decal on our helmet. We have a pretty good look at what it’s going to look like. It wasn’t quite what we were working on, but it will be something that will be very recognizable and obvious that we are honoring him.

Some variation of this would be my choice for helmet sticker

And now, word on Erk Russell:

The thing that’s a little bit different with our guys in their relationship to Erk Russell is that we invited him to come my first year. He spoke to the team, but he also spoke to the defense. There was a time where not only that group got to hear him, but we kept the video of it. From time to time we would show it to the defense, more so than the offense, because he was really talking about what he did with the defense. Our guys knew who Erk Russell was. They might not have been sitting in the room when he was there in person, but just about every defensive player that has come through here has seen the video. I don’t remember the last time we have seen it, but it’s probably time to pull the thing out.

I love this so, so much. And, yes, Coach, please pull out the tape. The way our defense has been playing, after seeing this tape and hearing Erk talk… Good lord. Yes, please pull out the tape for the Tech game, Coach.

Interview with Jordan Jenkins

Radi Nabulsi of DawgNation caught up with Jordan Jenkins during his visit this past weekend and got him to answer a number of questions regarding his recruitment. Jenkins was also asked to compare Georgia’s defense with what he’s seen out of Alabama’s and LSU’s. My favorite part is near the end of the interview when Jenkins mentioned that what “made his visit” was being able to spend some quality time with Coach Richt and his family along with fellow recruit Faton Bauta. Bauta, if you’ll recall, committed to us the following day.

I’m of the thinking that Jordan Jenkins is still leaning towards ‘Bama. But it is encouraging that his trip was apparently a successful one from our standpoint. Jordan’s interview, along with the things his father said after their visit, really gives one the notion that they were very pleasantly impressed by what they saw in the best college town it the country.

Put in Coach Fox!

http://twitter.com/#!/coachmarkfox/status/107526715173109760

Have I ever mentioned what a big fan of Coach Mark Fox I am? Firstly,  he’s a great coach who has begun the journey of bringing our basketball team back to prominence. Secondly, he loves UGA. And now there’s this Tweet.

I’m proud to have coaches on our staff who genuinely love doing what they do where they do it. Only good things can come of that sort of attitude and passion.

How ‘Bout Them Dawgs!

Football Outsourced

Have a look:

American football has never really caught on overseas, but a group of investors think the sport can succeed in a place where it hasn’t previously been tried: India.

Joking aside, how cool is that? I’m of the thinking that more football is a good thing. So Go Bhubaneswar Warhawks! Screech ’em!