Friday Links: Will A.J. Green Be The No. 1 Pick?

Friday is here and that means the 'Lady' will take a break from writing about sports, but not before I drop a few interesting links to buffer your morning web wandering.

Could A.J. Green go No. 1?

According to Adam Schefter, a noted NFL Insider, A.J. Green is considered by many to be the "top-rated player in the draft". Does that mean he could go No.1 overall—defying the opinion of some pundits who felt that Julio Jones' great combine, coupled with Green's bizarre pro day, made the former Dawg slip down many a draft board. We shall see what happens with this one, but it sounds to me like Green is still in a very good position.

Domonique Wilkins in brawl.

Apparently someone didn't give this man the memo. Didn't he know that Wilkins is known as the "human highlight reel"? Surely, he didn't think he was going to get a punch in on this former Bulldog great—tsk, tsk. According to this publication, Wilkins was attacked by a former NBA ref seeking to collect a debt of $13,000 from 'Nique.

Jakar Hamilton and Shawn Williams: dueling safeties.

Neither Jakar Hamilton, nor Shawn Williams, were better than true freshman Alec Ogletree last season. Now, on 2011, with Ogletree moving to linebacker, these same two players are hoping to do what they couldn't do last year—win the starting safety job and play it well. I hope that they both are committed to getting the job done, Georgia's options here are relatively slim.


Could the Bulldogs run the table in 2011?

This mailbag question by a college football fan prompted this response from a Rivals writer, "...
even if Georgia did go unbeaten in the regular season, it still would have to play in the SEC championship game, where Alabama or LSU likely would be looming. Your optimism is respected, but I cannot share it." Read the whole response here.

What's next for Auburn after the HBO report?

"The NCAA would need more than just allegations made by these players to bring a case against Auburn. But it’s enough for it to start asking questions." I don't know if the NCAA will ask questions that actually lead them anywhere, but perhaps they'll do their due diligence—you recall how they handled the Cam Newton situation, right? They'll just ask. 'did you cheat'? to which Auburn will reply, 'no'. Okay, carry on then.

Not everyone is convinced Cam Newton will be successful at the next level.

"Newton has only been exposed to basic coverages in the SEC due to the nature of the Tigers' offense, leaving scouts and coaches diligently working to determine his football acumen in workouts and meetings." So, what you're saying is, Newton looks good in person, not on paper? Well...who didn't know that?!?

Oh, I get it now, it's okay for Auburn to pay players—if they did. 

Funny, I don't think this guy would have this opinion if Alabama were the school on the proverbial hot seat for running an elaborate pay-for-play scheme, "...It's time to say, yes, Auburn paid players. And that did everyone else does too." So, as long as everybody else is doing it, Auburn shouldn't be penalized. Well, I'll buy that convenient logic for $1.


Steve Spurrier is unimpressed with his quarterbacks—as usual.

This is hilarious. I love the part where Spurrier says the mediocre play of his quarterbacks is likely why they'll be "running the ball about 50 times a game with Marcus". You hear that, SEC? Focus on the run!

(h/t GamecockAnthemTube)




HBO Roundtable With Rich Rodriguez, Jason Whitlock, etc. 

Georgia Bulldogs: Aaron Murray Is Ready To Take A Few More Hits in 2011

Aaron Murray (standing left of center) has gained weight and muscle under the guidance of Joe Tereshinki's strength and conditioning program—and it shows:



While you hope to see the offensive line protecting the backside of No. 11 a lot better in 2011, it's nice to see that Mr. Murray is ready to take a few shots, if necessary.

Keep pumping that iron, boys.

Georgia Bulldogs: Mark Richt Has Faith, But How Many Still Have Faith In Him?

If you're a Georgia Bulldog fan, it's not likely to have escaped your attention that Auburn's Gene Chizik became yet another SEC coach to win a national title in under five-years.

Believe and say what you will about Cam Newton, and the dirty NCAA, the fact remains, Auburn has a recent national championship to brag about and Georgia does not.

Gene Chizik, booed by Auburn fans a mere three seasons ago, has a Sears Trophy and a Heisman winner on his head coaching resume.

Mark Richt has????

And it's not just Chizik that boils you. It's the departed Urban Meyer (won two titles in five years), the fiery Nick Saban (won a title in his third year), and the gunslinging Les Miles (won a title in his second season). All won the big one within a short period of time.

And Mark Richt has????

Yet you are told to have faith that Richt's time will soon come.

Well, it's tough to have faith when you're losing players left and right— Justin Houston and Brandon Boykin could follow A.J. Green to the NFL, Darryl Gamble is gone, and both Marcus Dowtin and Nick Williams (sleeper talents to start 2010) are transferring—and necessary staff changes take so long to get made—the offensive coordinator is still...coordinating.

Your faith will only take you as far as your ability to overlook certain truths and, for a great many, that truth is this: Mark Richt's window to win a national championship has closed.

Does that mean McGarity should have dumped him after the bowl game? No, not in my opinion.

In truth, McGarity has done the right thing in allowing Richt this one last season to show what he's made of.

If 2011 proves mediocre, then he's out and McGarity has had more time to evaluate the program as well as identify possible candidates for the future.

He's just being sure all of his bases are covered.

In the meantime, one can only trust in the possibility that 2011 holds a better outcome.

It's all or nothing next season for Georgia football, under coach Richt, and faith or no faith, we are all hoping for a miracle.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Georgia Football: Richt Feels Like A "First-Year" Coach Again

Mark Richt's 8:30 A.M. press conference revealed a little and a lot about how he plans to approach the 2011 football season.

When asked about staff changes, he said there would be none,

“I’m not saying I’m taking over as the [offensive] coordinator or anything like that,” Richt said. “Mike Bobo is the coordinator; Mike Bobo is the quarterback coach, and Coach [Stacy] Searels is the running game coordinator. And they have done a great job . . . so I have confidence in those guys.

That quote says two things to you as a fan, 1) he knows that both Stacy Searles (offensive line coach) and Mike Bobo (offensive coordinator) are under serious fire after the Liberty Bowl loss, and 2) he's still too stubborn to make any real changes.

Now, the one thing that most of us armchair coaches and athletic directors hoped to see from Richt as he approached 2011 is a willingness to see the problems and make the changes necessary to correct them.

How is keeping the status quo the right thing to do?

Richt also stated that Greg McGarity put changes in place that would allow him [Richt] to focus more on the business of football,

I’m going to have the ability to have the time it takes to truly study the game of football, the trends and what’s going on, so a higher percentage of my time is going to be able to be used for that, which is exciting to me.”

While it's nice to know that coach will be getting back to the business of being a coach and not an administrator, you have to wonder why he didn't do that prior to now.

This isn't Georgia's first disappointing season under Richt—just losing one—you mean he didn't see a need to delegate those (i.e. academic liaison and mentor) duties before?

Let's be honest, It's tough to understand changes coming if no changes are being made. Right now 2011 looks a lot like 2010—something no one wants to see again soon.

And, quite frankly, it's becoming alarmingly clear that Richt and McGarity are placing all their bets on what JoeTereshinski—the new head of strength and conditioning—will be able to do with the much-maligned program.

That's a big bet to make in just one offseason.

On the flip side, perhaps Richt is just playing his cards right by not announcing any big changes on offense or defense. Georgia stands a chance at landing a pretty good recruiting class in 2011—barring any staff changes—and what good would it do to announce the firing of your OC and your line coach less than three weeks before signing day?

There's the slimmest of possibilities—because most of us know Richt doesn't operate in that manner—that this is all politics.

We'll see what the immediate future holds, but right now, there isn't much reason to stand up and cheer.







- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

College Football: What Does Vanderbilt Potentially Get In James Franklin?

The Washington Post is reporting that the Vanderbilt Commodores will be naming Maryland offensive coordinator, James Franklin, as their head coach—as early as today. Of course, the natural question has to be this: are they sure this time?

Remember it was this same publication that told us Gus Malzahm was on his way to Vanderbilt a mere days ago. Eventually it was discovered that Malzahn was only considering the offer. He later opted to remain in his current post at Auburn for more than double the money he received this past season.

If this story turns out to be accurate, Vanderbilt will finally be able to end their coaching search and get down to the business of rebuilding their football program.

James Franklin was due to receive a $1 million bonus at the end of the 2011 season if he was not offered the head coaching position currently held by Ralph Friedgen. Quite frankly, after the departure of Will Muschamp from Texas and, possibly, now James Franklin at Maryland, we could be seeing the end of that whole 'coach-in-waiting' title.

So, what will the Commodores get in Franklin?

For one, he is a phenomenal recruiter. He has long been thought of as one of the best recruiters in the ACC, and one of the top recruiters on Friedgen's staff. Furthermore, he's proven to be adept at grooming phenomenal NFL prospects—among his handiwork—both Josh Freeman (currently in his 2nd season with the Bucs) and Darrius Heyward-Bey (a Top 10 NFL Draftee) excelled under his tutelage.

Vanderbilt is hungry for a young coach with innovative ideas and the energy level necessary to rebuild their shattered program and if Franklin does, in fact, turn out to be the chosen one, they could do a lot worse. 

Georgia Coach Mark Richt Talks High-Dive and 2010 Bulldogs (VIDEO)

College Football: The 20 Most Interesting Storylines To Watch This Season

College Football is a finicky sport. The fans are judgmental, the boosters are relentless, and the media is...well...the media.

That said, we haven't seen the first snap of the college football season yet, but we already can just about guess the stories we'll be implored to pay close attention to this year. Some of them have already begun to creep into our daily newsletters (can Alabama repeat), while others are just now making it into rotation (will Masoli succeed at Ole Miss).

Either way, this year promises to be something special, I can't wait.

1. How well will Lane Kiffin do at USC?

Let's face it, the guy isn't the most appealing individual in the world and most fans—outside of Southern California—would love to see him fall flat on his face. However, if he is able to parlay his way to an 11 or 12 win season, he will shut a lot of the doubters up—even though his team won't be bowl eligible until after the 2011 season. 

2. Can Florida still be dominant without Tim Tebow? 

Talk is cheap. Play the games and then tell me what a great team you are now that superman has officially left the building. The Gators are getting a lot of love, despite key losses on the defensive side of the ball. The team will lose this season—bet on that—the only question is, how will the fans take it when they do? 

3. Will Houston Nutt regret allowing Jeremiah Masoli onto his team?
 

Houston Nutt is taking a big risk with Masoli—that's obvious. However, if the risk pays off, he's a genius. He'll likely save his job and Nathan Stanley would be that much better in 2011. On the other hand, if Masoli gets in trouble or falls flat, Nutt could find himself out of a job real soon. 

4. Can Alabama repeat as national champions?

The real question needs to be, can Alabama get back to the SEC Championship game. As much love as people have for the Tide, they are a lot more human than they were last season and the target on their back isn't that much easier to carry minus the likes of Terrance Cody and Javier Arenas. If the Tide expect to repeat as SEC West Division Champs, they will need to fight through a horrendously tough schedule and overcome the fact that they will have both an inexperienced punter and kicker for the first time in four-years. 

5. Will Florida State thrive under Jimbo Fisher?

The Tallahassee faithful finally got what they wanted, they ran Bobby Bowden out of town and happily ushered in the start of the Jimbo Fisher era. Fisher, so far, has shown he's got the midas touch as he reeled in a solid recruiting class for 2010 and is already well on his way to a solid 2011 as well. Will he be the man who returns the Seminoles to their former glory?

6. Can Georgia Tech get defensive?

The Yellow Jackets didn't have much trouble running all over their competition last season. but they did have some trouble stopping it. They brought in Al Groh to fix what ails them on that side of the ball—can he work his magic? Many feel that if the Jackets can find some balance, they can be contend for a BCS title. 

7. How much longer will Joe Paterno walk the sidelines in Happy Valley?

It's a question that many have asked a lot over the last several years. He's one of the last stalwarts of a coaching era that has long since passed him by—would a sub-par season put him under the gun again?

8. Is Boise State TRULY for real?

If the Broncos beat Virginia Tech in September, there is little doubt that they will ride a magic carpet to the BCS title game and FINALLY may be worthy of the respect they've been shouting for since 2004—maybe. 

9. Can the Nebraska Cornhuskers exit the Big XII with a conference championship?
Despite what Phil Steele has to say about the Sooners being the best team in the conference this season, Nebraska has a lot of reasons to want to stick it to the conference on their way out the door. What better way to do so than to win the championship that many felt they were deserving of last season—if not for that one measly second. 

10. Will Steve Spurrier be able to take the Gamecocks to Atlanta in December?

There are some who feel that if any team in the SEC East has a shot at dethroning the Gators, it's the USC of the east. If Spurrier can get his guys clicking on all cylinders, he could have a shot to do what no other coach in the history of South Carolina football has been able to do—win an SEC Championship. 

11. Can the Ohio State Buckeyes go all the way with Pryor at the top?

The Rose Bowl, supposedly, was the coming out party for the much-maligned Terrelle Pryor. He was poised and focused on every down as he led his team to the win over the highly-favored Oregon Ducks. To some, his success in that game spelled the turning of a corner for the young man—was it really that? 2010 promises to see him playing an even bigger role in the offense as a passer as he looks to both lead the Buckeyes to the national title game and contend for the Heisman. 

12. Which team will be the BCS buster this season?

There seems to be one team every season that "comes out of nowhere" to surprise the college football world and make things very interesting for the pollsters. Last season, it was TCU and Boise. Boise was so much a surprise as a given, but, they did make the conversation interesting for a moment—particularly in light of the Longhorns poor game against Nebraska. Cincinnati was another. Who will it be this year? 

13. What player will finally break through and stake his claim as one of the premier college players in the nation?

Trent Richardson, Andrew Luck, and Dion Lewis all put up flares last season and the glare from that action was bright enough that expectations are higher for all three gentleman in 2010—especially for Luck who is already getting Heisman buzz. Who else will prove themselves indispensable parts of their respective teams? 

14. Which coach will finally wear out his welcome?

Odds are at least one or more head coaches will see their tenures end this year. Who will they be? Heavy wagers should be placed on Dan Hawkins and Ron Zook—neither of whom have seen a winning season in quite some time. 

15. What new coach will see the most success in his first season?

Charlie Strong is making noise in Louisville. Brian Kelly is going to introduce his high-powered offense to the Irish. Joker Phillips is trying to break out of the shadow of Rich Brooks at Kentucky. Derek Dooley wants to erase the bad taste that Lane Kiffin left at Tennessee. Skip Holtz wants to make South Florida great again...they all have a legitimate shot to do what they want to do, but how long will it take? Who will do the most with the least in 2010?
 
16. Will Rich Rodriguez finally get the ball rolling in Ann Arbor?

He has the team and the system in place to make this season a special one for the Wolverines. If he can't get it done this year, many feel he will be out of a job.

17. How many teams will go undefeated this year?

The fact that Boise, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, and Alabama all went undefeated last season left a bad taste in the mouths of many college football fans who would love to see a playoff coming in the near future. Will the same be said this season? Chances are there won't be as many as last year but anything more than a couple and a firestorm could crop up yet again.

18. Will the Georgia Bulldogs get back on track in the east and mount a challenge to the Florida Gators?
 
Many are saying that Mark Richt is on the "hot seat". That's not nearly as true as most would have you believe but a return to the SEC Championship game this season would cool a lot of the madness that has surrounded the team over the last 8-months.

19. Can Jim Harbaugh lead Stanford to a Pac-10 title without Gerhart?
 

A lot of pressure is being placed on the shoulders of Andrew Luck and there is plenty of optimism at Stanford after last seasons performance. However, this is a new year and the Cardinals have plenty of questions to answer on both sides of the ball. Can Harbaugh lead his team to the conference title game and, if he does, will he be called upon for something bigger not long after?

20. What potential Top 10 team will be out of the running early due to an unexpected loss?

 
It's happened time and again. A team goes in with high hopes and high expectations but is met with a nasty dose of on-field reality. Who will that team be this year?

Five SEC RB's Who Have A Shot At Eclipsing 1,000 Yards in 2010

The SEC is a conference that isn't short on running back talent. As a matter of fact, the current holder of the Heisman trophy currently makes his home at the University of Alabama—Mark Ingram. That said, there is plenty more talent where that came from and, at least some of it, is a tad under-appreciated due to a lack of exposure.

However, the way to the big time is paved in a 1,000 yard runner. The SEC, for all it's great talent, only saw five players hit that mark in 2009. In 2008, it was four, In 2007, a banner year, there were eight, and in 2006, there were only two (Both from the University of Arkansas).

So, as much as it is an expectation in the pro ranks to see a tailback cross the 1,000 yard threshold, it's not an easy feat in the SEC where the defenses often make every yard count and the running back by committee (RBC) method of employing the ground game is more than the rule than the exception in this day and age.

Even still, there are a few guys who have the potential to reach that milestone in 2010—in no particular order:

1. Derrick Locke, University of Kentucky

2009 Stats: 196 attempts, 908 yards, and 6 touchdowns

Derrick Locke missed one game last season in order to rest a sore knee. That one game, against Eastern Kentucky, could very well have been the difference in him eclipsing the 1,000 yard mark in 2009.

2010 brings some challenges his way as the Wildcats lost four starters on their offensive line at the end of last season. That said, a player as talented as Locke has never had a problem being productive on the football field.

If he can get the ball rolling early, starting with three fairly manageable opponents, he could have enough momentum to keep it going all year long.

2. Warren Norman, Vanderbilt University

2009 Stats: 145 attempts, 783 yards, and 3 touchdowns

Last season, the rising sophomore averaged 12 carries per game—12. He parlayed that into 783 yards of ground offense for a Commodore team that often had trouble creating much offense at all. He did it against lesser tiered opposition as well as some of the better run defenses in the league (Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee all gave up better than 5.0 ypc to Norman in their contests).

If new coach, Robbie Caldwell, can quell an offensive line that is competent enough to open a running lane or two, and Vanderbilt can find a way to get Norman the 3-4 more carries a game, there is little reason to believe he won't eclipse the 1,000 yard mark in just his second season.

3. Jeffery Demps, University of Florida

2009 Stats: 99 attempts, 745 yards, and 7 touchdowns

Not sure if many people know this yet, but...Jeffery Demps is really, really, really, fast. His 7.53 yards per carry average was tops in the SEC last season and he did more with less than any other back in the conference—despite the presence of No. 15 on his team.

This year, he will have more opportunities to showcase his world-class speed as new quarterback, John Brantley, will concentrate more on the pass than the run and someone will need to pick up the slack on the ground that Tebow left behind.

Add to that fact, the Gators have one of the best offensive lines in the country coming into 2010, and you have to like Demps chances to not only make it to 1,000, but eclipse it substantially.

4. Trent Richardson, University of Alabama

2009 Stats: 144 attempts, 749 yards, and 8 touchdowns

The Alabama Crimson Tide have a very good chance of producing two 1,000 yard rushers next season.

The prowess of Richardson is already well known by SEC fans and he isn't expected to scale it back one bit come 2010. His biggest roadblock might very well be his Heisman winning teammate, Mark Ingram, who will look to match his stellar 2009 numbers (1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns) while, hopefully, leading his team to another SEC Championship.

That said, Richardson is all about having fun and there is little pressure on him to do anything more than play his brand of football and tons on Ingram (carefree and all-out). If he continues to do that, 1,000 yards is not only manageable but, quite possibly an expectation in 2010.

5. Washaun Ealey, University of Georgia

2009 Stats: 125 attempts, 717 yards, and 3 touchdowns

Ealey didn't put in his first appearance of the year until the Bulldogs faced LSU in game five of the 2009 season. He was limited to a handful of carries but, ask any fan of the team and they will tell you, without a doubt he was a definite spark in the Georgia Bulldog's offense that day.

Ealey only got better as the season progressed and he added an exclamation point at the end by delivering a 183-yard performance against the teams bitter in-state rival, Georgia Tech.

2010 offers a new quarterback, a more-experienced offensive line, and a heavier reliance on the run game to get the offense moving. Ealey, along with Caleb King, will be expected to get his mojo going early and it's expected that he will be ready for the challenge.

If he can keep his head on straight and maintain his focus, he will have little trouble making his presence felt in the SEC East this season.

Georgia Bulldog CB Jordan Love Arrested

Jordan Love, a redshirt freshman, was arrested last night after failing to cooperate with law enforcement and charged with misdemeanor obstruction of justice. 

According to a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Tim Tucker, UGA Police responded to a call about three individuals shooting fireworks near an on-campus dorm. Upon arrival, they questioned the perpetrators and Love, who was allegedly among the accused, "was arrested for obstruction for not giving his name and date of birth."

He was released this morning on a $5,000 bond from the Clarke County Jail.

Love was listed as a third-string cornerback on the depth chart at the end of spring and was hopeful to make an impact in 2010. Given the relative lack of depth at the corner spot, it was a realistic possibility—his potential was trumpeted here in February—but his status will remain in doubt until we hear from Mark Richt.

Coach Richt has already shown that he is not willing to take chances on players who get into trouble with the law. Montez Robinson, Zach Mettenberger, and walk-on punter, Trent Dittmer have all been dismissed from the team during this off-season.

Will Love suffer the same fate? 

Just when it seemed that the actual football team was starting to shake the negative glare off their collective helmets, this happens. Coach Richt has to be shaking his head—I know I am.

(UPDATED 1:21pm): According to MSNBC, Love may not face any charges at all, UGA police chief, Jimmy Williamson is stating that there may have been a communication breakdown in the interaction that Love had with law enforcement. Love, apparently, either would not or could not divulge his middle name. The officer on the scene interpreted his inability to offer that information as evasiveness.

However, according to Williamson: 


"there are personal reasons why, and I don't want to divulge the circumstances, but talking to those people (Love's parents) -- the point they made seems very reasonable. The officer didn't know those facts at the time. We will make that known to the court and let the court decide based on what is known now."

Perhaps everything will work out for the best after all—that would be nice. 

It Must Be "Let The Village Idiot Loose" Week in SEC Land

I saw this little bit of foolery from Paul Finebaum:

5. Mark Richt (Georgia): Everyone loves Mark Richt (blah, blah, blah), but can the guy coach? That's a strong question to ask for someone with two SEC titles and a glittering résumé. However, Georgia fans have stuck their heads in the sand recently, giving Richt a blank check while blaming everyone else.

Okay, I get it, Paul Finebaum has set a goal this off-season and it involves setting a huge flame to anything Georgia Bulldog related. Well, to each his own.

After all, I've said it once and I'll say it again, no self-respecting Georgia fan should allow anything Paul Finebaum has to say, ruin his/her happy place.

This man makes his living as a pot-stirrer and whenever he needs to find a way to draw more listeners and readers into his tawdry web, he says the most outrageously stupid thing he can imagine. That's his thing.

That said, I still find that lists (particularly those with rankings) irk me. My philosophy where those types of lists are concerned is if you're going to put yourself out there, do so with intelligence.

Don't be a moron.

Here is an example of me taking a moronic list to task. 

So, while I have no problem with Finebaum's decision to release another list ranking SEC coaches, I do take issue with his decision to place Richt at No. 5—particularly when neither of the two guys he ranks before him have 1) won an SEC Championship this decade, 2) have a winning record against Richt, or 3) have played in a bowl game of any significance—specifically a BCS bowl.

Bobby Petrino is 13-12 in two season's at Arkansas. That's it. His team went 8-5 last year and, barely—and I do mean barely—beat East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl.

As for Steve Spurrier, he might have been the "Ol' Ball Coach" at Florida but he's just an OLD ball coach at South Carolina where Richt has gotten the better of him eight times in nine years.

So, I  am willing to go out on a limb and say that Mark Richt is a better coach than both Bobby Petrino (whose done nothing yet) and Steve Spurrier (whose done nothing yet at South Carolina).

Try again Paul Finebaum.

You know, he''d be funny if he weren't such a prick...just saying. 

My advice to Georgia Bulldog fans where Paul Finebaum is concerned: change the station, there's nothing to see here, folks.

The SEC East Could Crown A New Champ in 2010—Will It Be Georgia?

"In the SEC, Florida will also go through a transition period as Tim Tebow can no longer be the savior. A number of other seniors from last year have moved on up as well. LSU should be ready for a rebound, but maybe not a BCS-type rebound while sportsbook odds makers probably won’t consider Georgia much of a BCS threat unless a quarterback quickly emerges." (FootballGamblingFreaks.com, 6/23/10). 


I read this statement and nearly laughed out loud as it's comical to me how much goodwill a national title grants you. Aaron Murray's inexperience aside, neither Florida nor LSU have a bonafide answer at quarterback in 2010.

John Brantley hasn't proven himself in an SEC contest—yet. The appearances he can tout to the Florida faithful amount to "garbage-time" blow-outs left for his pleasure by Tim Tebow. Not to mention, Florida lost more than half its offense to the NFL. Bye-bye Aaron Hernandez. Sayonara, Riley Cooper—so sad to see you go.

Furthermore, it matters little how phenomenal that 2010 signing class was, defensively, those guys haven't done a thing yet. Add to that, the man behind the plan—Charlie Strong—changed zip codes. If you don't think that matters—you are nuts.

So, when people just hand the SEC East over to the Gators simply because Urban Meyer is their coach and they've won it before, I find myself pausing a bit for station identification because—seriously—even Florida is bound to come back to earth a bit this season and that could mean a shift in the powers that be.

As for LSU, Jarret Lee and Jordan Jefferson combined make up one-half of a decent quarterback for the Tigers. LSU may have beaten Georgia last season but they too have lost a very significant chunk of their offensive production—including every significant carry in their running back corp.

In the West this year, it will be all about AAA—Alabama, Auburn, and Arkansas—LSU will not rebound nearly as well as most believe and that will have a lot to do with the lack of a running game to offset their schizophrenic production at quarterback.

In the East, South Carolina is a feared commodity but, honestly, until I see Steve Spurrier giving more love to his quarterback, no team in the conference should be skeered' of what he's bringing to the field. He's been shaky for the better part of his career and this offseason is showing that those shaky ways are far from over. I can't wait to see how he handles the expectations that have been placed on him this season—something that, prior to now, he hasn't truly had to deal with.

Either way, no matter what South Carolina does against Georgia, they will not win the East—there I said it. They have never won the SEC, have never had an opportunity to try, and without a running game they are no closer to doing either than the were ten-years ago.

South Carolina is cocky—not good. They are a .500 team wanting to be better and that will remain the case no matter what happens in Columbia this season.

Which brings me back to the original reason for this diatribe, this is a new season and there isn't a team in the SEC East that can boast enough experience at every spot to say they can or will win the division. 2010 is a crapshoot—despite what Dennis Dodd has to say.

Georgia may not have a proven quarterback when the first whistle blows but here's my no-holds take on the teams in the East who supposedly will:

John Brantley: He'll have time behind that line but who is he going to throw it to...no, really...who? There's not a receiver returning who will have any significant history of making an impact. Plus, other than Tebow, have the Gators really tried establishing a run-game? This IS the SEC, right? At some point, that cute little spread Urban runs will need some tweaking.

Stephen Garcia: Georgia helped make him relevant in 2009 but he's not done enough to warrant  much respect. After all, he's barely important to his own team so why should anyone else in the East care? Just saying...

Larry Smith: He and Warren Norman will be about as relevant as Rafael Belliard was for the Atlanta Braves—pity.

Matt Simms: Unless Tennessee is going to do something about their lack of an offensive line, running game, or defensive playmaker, no one will be worried about Simms leading the Vols anywhere—particularly not to another big win over Georgia in Sanford Stadium.

Kentucky: I intentionally failed to name their quarterback because, no matter who it is, he'll be irrelevant. Georgia did what no other SEC team could last season—make Morgan Newton look good. That lightning won't strike twice—trust me.

If Georgia plays even a modicum better in the secondary this season, they have a better than average shot of winning the East—not competing for it—winning. That's a fact.

So, all the disrespect they have gotten based on the nightmare defensive woes of last season need to go precisely where they make the most sense—the trash can—because this is a new team with a new plan. It's time people start to recognize that point and give Mark Richt and company something that only Phil Steele seems to want to—r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

73 days and counting, Dawg fans, are you ready to sic' em yet?

Tuesday Morning Coffee: Some Links to Click While You Sip (6/22)

Jadeveon Clowney's father tells him to stick to football, 'don't do what I did'.  I'm pretty sure that if Jadeveon's college career becomes anything close to what is expected, his father will never have to worry about that happening.

Nick Saban gives a "revealing" interview to The Sporting News in which he talks about the public perception of him being a "liar"—especially given the way he ditched Miami like a two-dollar street John to flee to Alabama.

This writer thinks that Texas was cowardly for sticking with the Big XII instead of moving on to the more competitive Pac-10.

The Football Outsiders have released their preseason Top 25 and some very surprising teams show up in the bottom-half of their rankings. All I can say is, Ole Miss at 25?....Seriously?!?

I don't think that eliminating Arkansas for Georgia Tech or South Carolina for Florida State, would "perfect the SEC", but, to each their own.

The "have-nots" were smart to give up their money so that Texas and Oklahoma remained in the Big 12? Uh-huh....sounds like a load of bull to me. Bend over Baylor, Kansas, and Kansas State and make sure that you say "thank you sir, can I have another" with each beating you get from the chosen ones. 

It seems that Trojan fans aren't the only ones looking to strip Reggie Bush of something valuable.

What would football be like without the Big XII?....Hmmmm, I'd say it would be just fine considering that more than 60 percent of the teams in that conference are awful.

I fail to see the good in E$PN controlling all the BCS Bowls for the next four seasons. That network would sell it's anchors for a good billboard location. They are charging an absurd amount of money to have these bowls sponsored and one must wonder how good the crack is in Bristol because everyone there is clearly smoking it.

The UFL plans to start another franchise, this time in Virginia.

Rivals released it "All-Losers" Team today—those poor, defenseless, Vanderbilt players.

Two Georgia Bulldogs Listed on Outland Trophy Watch List

The 2010 preseason Outland Trophy watch list has been released and Georgia Bulldog linemen, Ben Jones (C) and Clint Boling (T) have made the cut.

The Outland Trophy is awarded yearly to the nation's top interior lineman, on either side of the ball, and has been handed out since 1946. It has been awarded to a Georgia Bulldog player only once—Bill Stanfill took home the honor in 1968.

Both Boling and Jones are thought by many to be future first-round draft picks and are expected to be very important pieces to one of the more experienced offensive lines in the nation for 2010.

The total number of players listed on the watch list totaled 63—including 11 SEC players—and the last four winners eventually would be chosen in the Top 10 of the NFL Draft that same year.

Other Notable SEC Players Listed:

James Carpenter, Alabama (T)
Omar Hunter, Florida (DT)
Carl Johnson, Florida (G)
Barrett Jones, Alabama (G)
DeMarcus Love, Arkansas (T)
Drake Nevis, LSU (DT)
Mike Pouncey, Florida (C)
Jerrell Powe, Ole Miss (DT)
Lee Ziemba, Auburn (T)

Also worth noting, linebacker, Justin Houston has been tabbed for the Bronco Nagurski watch list. The Nagurski is awarded annually to the nation's best defensive player. Houston is expected by many to have a stellar season operating under new defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham's, 3-4 defense.

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:

News and Notes from The SEC Spring Meeting in Sandestin

Urban Meyer brought the college football world to a screeching halt in late December 2009 when he announced that he was stepping down from his post as the University of Florida's football coach. At the time, no one knew or understood the exact reason why he was leaving but today we found out. Meyer disclosed that his heart is fine and the chest pains he experienced were due to espophageal spasms—a treatable condition. He has the situation under control for the time being and doesn't expect it to cause any problems going forward.

Coach Mark Richt addressed the 'hot seat' talk. He joked that he had no idea his name was even being mentioned as a candidate for the list. Somehow I'm pretty sure he knew all about it, but his focus is on making this team better. Said Richt: "My mindset has always been, let’s do what I think we need to do to succeed and try not to be influenced by anything other than the people who are closest to the program." Richt also reiterated the point that Aaron Murray was always going to be the starter for 2010—Mettenberger was, at best, going to be the No. 2 guy at quarterback. Furthermore. Logan Gray will remain the No. 2 QB until Hutson Mason proves himself.

All the "Nick Saban will jump ship again soon" talk can be halted for the time being since the coach has pledged his eternal allegiance to the Crimson Tide, saying "I am where I am. If they get a football team at Lake Burton, I might go there. Otherwise, I am where I am."

Commissioner Mike Slive continues to sidestep any talk of SEC expansion. His goal is to help the SEC maintain the dominance it has over the last four-years—he's not concerned with pulling out the ruler and standing next to the Big Ten. Said Slive, "Our goal is to maintain our position as one of the most successful conferences in the country. People have been drawing inferences from that and continue to draw inferences from that, but really that’s about all we’re going to say about it this week."

 

Memorial Day Charcoal: Links To Get You Cookin'

The Georgia Bulldogs Softball team will take on the Washington Huskies tonight as the Women's College World Series opens up in Oklahoma City. The game will air at 9:30 PM (EST) on ESPN2. Good luck to the team as it tries to continue it's hot streak against the nation's No. 1 team.


The Sporting News released it's preseason Top 100 on last week and the Georgia Bulldogs football team came in at No. 27. 


The NCAA is closer to announcing the findings of their investigation against the Southern California football and basketball teams. I'll believe it when I see it and I cannot believe that it has taken this long in the first place—ridiculous.

This writer feels that the SEC needs to beef up it's non-conference schedule. I agree but the SEC isn't the only conference with a cupcake addiction so, perhaps, he needs to give this advice to the Pac-10, Big 12, and Big Ten as well—just a suggestion.  


The president of Boise State University takes issue with the athletics over academics model that seems to be creeping into the college football philosophy. He feels that there is too much emphasis on the player and not the student and that is a problem. I see his point but, at the same time, when a player signs on with a big-time program as a highly-touted recruit, he is well aware of the perils of such a decision. Scrutiny will be a part of that equation and, it's possible, that his Boise, ID residency doesn't give him the proper perspective. He may dislike the emphasis on the "student" part of "student-athlete" but schools don't sign players just for their book smarts—they are trying to win football games. 


Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't take a moment to honor the great veterans and current soldiers who fight and risk their lives to keep us all free. Thank you to all the servicemen and women who sacrifice so much for us on a daily basis—among that group, I can count a member of our very own family who serves proudly in the USMC.  Happy Memorial Day!