Georgia Bulldogs: Wherefore Art Thou, Jordan Love?

Photo Credit: Richard Hamm

Jordan Love is a redshirt sophomore from Glen Allen, VA.

Coming out of Deep Run High School in 2009, he was thought to be a sleeper candidate for the Bulldogs defense.

One of his most trumpeted attributes was his speed—he was clocked at having run a 4.4 forty—which made him an attractive option for  more than a dozen schools that recruiting year (including Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee).

Recruited by former Georgia defensive coordinator,  Willie Martinez, Love seemed tailor made for the type of scheme Georgia's secondary ran at that time—the soft zone—which was focused on minimizing deep ball plays. However, in truth, such coverage often left the secondary susceptible to getting beat short and mid-range plays made in front of them as they often played 8-10 yards off the line of scrimmage.

Enter Love's speed.

Theoretically, if your corners and safeties have enough speed, they can make up ground quickly, even on the short and mid-range pass plays—making the chance for a big play less and less likely. Even more than that, Love was felt to have the mindset of a safety. He liked to play big, hit big, and punish guys whenever possible.

His three-star ranking at that time didn't seem to truly give you a picture of his possibilities at the next level.

Yet, here we sit two seasons later and all we've seen of Jordan Love is a series of unfortunate events—from an unfortunate injury in his first season to an unfortunate encounter with Athens police in his second (not to mention that whole being stolen from thing)—he hasn't truly had an opportunity to prove that he can do anything aside from being shown the wrong kind of love at Georgia.

On the positive side, though, he hasn't been resting on his laurels this spring and, even though he has yet to prove the value his skill-set would have in the 3-4, you have to be figuring on him having a chance to do so this year—if he can stay healthy. 

I have no expectations for Love beyond being a reserve at this point, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him become the type of player who knows how to make the most of the plays he's given.

Bitter Much?

While perusing the offerings of chuckoliver.net, I came across this little gem from one of the site's contributors, Joseph Wyatt:

...When you run a program that has been as undisciplined as Mark Richt does it’s easy to see why “secondary violations” should be viewed just as importantly as major ones. You don’t want your players picking and choosing which rules they will abide by, so the head coach needs to set the example.  But that’s exactly what happens at UGA, players like Washaun Ealey and Caleb King decide which rules should be important to follow and there’s never any real consequence. 

It's easy to see why UGA has discipline issues...they learned it by watching Richt.

This excerpt is from an article—if you want to bother calling it that—about coach Mark Richt's credibility as a disciplinarian on a team where suspensions have become more prevalent than most would like—particularly in the last 18-months. 

The premise of Wyatt's post might have been more intriguing had it not been such a poorly veiled attempt to make Richt look like some sort of "aw, shucks' con-man.

As a matter of fact, it seethed with so much contempt, that it led me to question the author's allegiances—a question which was quickly answered upon reading the following byline underneath his name, "Atlanta native, lifetime Georgia Tech fan."

Well, that explains that. 

Herschel Walker: In 1980, "We Didn't Think We Could Lose"

I found this great video with Herschel Walker talking about the mentality that he, and the whole 1980 National Championship team, kept during their undefeated season. He makes the point that if everyone is on "one page", then you will have a team that is tough to beat.

Considering the various disappointments from last season, it seems safe to say that the 2010 team was definitely not on one accord.

If nothing else, coach Richt has to get his team back to feeling like it can win on Saturday—against any opponent. They need to get their confidence back, on defense and offense because, otherwise it will be tough to best the poor 6-7 record of last year.

Perhaps Herschel needs to come in and give a pep talk. He's already expressed a willingness to help the program in any way that he, legally, can. So, I say bring No. 34 into the weight room, throw him out there on the field with some pads on, and let these kids see what a true athlete looks like.

I have no doubt that Herschel could still run a few people over right now.

Here's the clip,



(h/t jwhat01)

Georgia Football: Fans Want Less Tailgating Restrictions In 2011

Last season, the University of Georgia introduced new tailgating guidelines to North Campus.

The restrictions were a response to the massive trashing of the historic area, and many of them placed a big damper on the gameday experience. The imposed new guidelines were as follows:

• No tailgating until four hours prior to kickoff. 
• No tents, kegs, generators, household chairs, amplified music, tables longer than 4 ft., or grills are allowed. 

Essentially, you were allowed to stand around, with a soft drink cosi, and an ipod and that's not exactly the type of fan experience you want—particulary if you're a student of the university.

So, the Student Government Association (SGA) at the University of Georgia is lobbying for a repeal of some of those restrictions—specifically the "no tents and four-hour time ban". Their hope is to have the restraints liften in time for the 2011 football season. However, as of now, it doesn't look like the university will be biting on their suggestions. 

According to George Stafford, vice president in charge of gameday activities, the tailgating experience didn't get the test-run it needed last season due to Georgia's early kickoff times. Most people simply didn't have time to enjoy the atmosphere because the games were often at, or shortly after, noon.

He feels that another year is needed to truly gauge the effect of the restrictions on the gameday experience.

That said, the university is considering enacting more restrictions on other parts of campus—Myers Quad received significant damages during last season.

Either way, for the moment, it doesn't look like the SGA will be receiving any leniency from the university as far as tailgating is concerned.

WATCH: Tucker Carlson Thinks Michael Vick Should Have Been "Executed"

Okay, let me go on the record and say that I am not a Michael Vick supporter. As a Falcons fan, I feel he let his team and the City of Atlanta down by supporting the heinous act of dog fighting and allowing himself to get caught up in such a disgusting and dirty business.

That said, he served the time the government felt was fair for him to serve and, as such, is entitled to pursue his professional career in the NFL.

However, there are still some who harbor ill will towards Michael Vick and they wish him nothing but failure—no matter how many times he apologizes. Case in point, Tucker Carlson—sitting in for Sean Hannity—offered the following opinion:



Uh-huh.

Listen, no matter what your feelings are about cruelty to animals—dogs in particular—it seems a bit much to suggest that Vick's crimes were worthy of execution.

After all, this is the same society that allows multiple DUI offenders to roam the streets and endanger the lives of innocent citizens, and presents enough loopholes in federal hiring practices that a sex offender can find work as a volunteer—at an elementary school.

Just putting that out there.

Vick isn't supported by everyone—obviously—but how many would agree that he should have been executed for his crimes?...Honestly?

Cam-Gate: It's All One Big Conspiracy Courtesy of...Urban Meyer?

This has turned into quite the soap opera.

Today, Urban Meyer, the head coach of the Florida Gators was forced to make an outright denial of claims that he is the man behind the leaked academic cheating information that has been alleged against Cam Newton.

Said Meyer, "For anyone to think that I or anyone on our staff may have leaked information about private student records to the media doesn't know us very well. It's a ridiculous claim and simply not true."

(forgive us, Urban, but when you play miscreants like Chris Rainey, people are bound to question your ethics at some point—just putting that out there).

The reason for the big hub bub, a FoxSports.com article written by the, oft-wrong, Thayer Evans who states that an unnamed source relayed a story that makes Cam Newton look like a less than honorable character. Making matters worse Newton's own father won't even vouch for him on the claim, saying only "I wasn’t there...I cannot confirm or deny. At a time like this, I’m taking a defensive posture."


Well, isn't that just peachy?


Then came this tweet from Bill "Bubba" Bussey of the, Alabama-based,  Rick and Bubba Show, tweet:

He later would recant the tweet saying that it "did not come from the source I thought it did" and asking that people just dismiss it as "rumor". Well, that's all fine and good, but, why bother stating something like that if you don't have it properly sourced?

Just saying.


In other news, Gregg Doyel is no longer welcome at any Gator tailgate parties after writing this inflammatory piece that all but outright accuses the University of Florida for being the catalyst behind all of Cam Newton's recent problems.

Says Doyel,

"...this smear job now has escalated to the point where Florida isn't even pretending to stay out of it. It's no coincidence that Bond's "information"—which he shared almost 10 months ago with Mississippi State—is coming out now that Florida has fallen by the wayside while Auburn has surged to No. 2 in the BCS. Even before the latest academic allegations came out, Meyer was said to be in the middle of the Bond-Newton saga."

Ouch...guess Doyel isn't worried about what Meyer can do to him—he should have a chat with Jeremy Fowler. 

Either way, this whole thing gets funnier by the minute—at least for those who could give a flip about Florida or Urban Meyer. It's like watching a train wreck...in slow motion...and HD.

Wonder if any one will come through the wreckage with their reputations intact?

As for Meyer, well, aside from denying culpability, he's getting his team ready to play the Gamecocks this Saturday. A team that, should they beat them, will grant them an easy trip to play Cam Newton and Auburn in Atlanta for the SEC Championship.

Hey, wait a minute...ya think...nah, never mind. 

A Quick Update on Georgia DB Jordan Love

According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, the misdemeanor obstruction charges lodged against Georgia defensive back, Jordan Love, will be upheld.

Judge Charles Auslander determined that Love "did obstruct Officer [Kevin] Thompson, a law enforcement officer, in the lawful discharge of his official duties by refusing several requests to provide his date of birth and a correct spelling of his middle name". 

Love's attorney, William Stiles, states that he feels he has a strong defense and he and the Love family are prepared to take the matter to court—a hearing has been set for September 14th.

No word yet on how this most recent development will effect Love's standing with the football team.

John Oxendine Is Using The Georgia Logo for Votes And UGA Isn't Happy

I guess Mr. Oxendine can do whatever he darn well pleases, eh?



You know what's funny about this whole thing? Oxendine isn't even a Georgia graduate in the first place—go figure.

Hines Ward Encourages Top In-State Prospects To Go To Georgia

You gotta love this:



Hines Ward always supports his alma mater's efforts.

A little more video on the former Dawg—1997—at Georgia Tech:



Making Pro Bowl safeties look silly in the NFL:



And, finally, leaping over another former Georgia Bulldog: