It’s Monday morning, and it’s time we got up to speed, and, by "we," I really mean "me." I was in a mediation all day on Thursday, after which I drove up to Athens for a continuing legal education seminar beginning on Friday. Frankly, that kept me incommunicado at the end of the week, which had me playing catch-up all weekend, so, if I’m late to the party on some of this, I apologize profusely, but here’s the latest, in case you hadn’t noticed, accompanied by this week’s YouTube musical selection featuring William Shatner:
For it to be the so-called “offseason,” it was a pretty busy weekend in Bulldog Nation, with contests taking place in men’s and women’s basketball, softball, women’s gymnastics, and men’s and women’s lacrosse. Updates will follow in due course regarding recent events in women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s track and field; as you may have noticed, the Dawg Sports staff is dividing up reporting responsibilities on a sport-by-sport basis to enhance the variety and thoroughness of the site’s coverage of University of Georgia athletics.
On that same subject, my thanks go out to Pete Campbell, one of the many readers who have been kind enough to leave comments or send e-mails regarding our recent coverage of Georgia men’s and women’s lacrosse. I’m impressed by the knowledge and passion of those who have voiced their support---I have learned, for instance, that lacrosse, like basketball, is a sport entirely indigenous to North America, and that the Indians who considered it a suitable way to train for (or, in at least one instance, a suitable substitute for) war referred to it as “the Creator’s game”---and I’m grateful to Pete for sending me some pictures from this week’s men’s lacrosse action, including this one:
Seth Emerson has been dropping details on us right and left lately, bringing us the news that point guard J.J. Frazier has committed to play for Mark Fox, defensive back Shaq Wiggins has committed to play for Mark Richt, Chris Sanders hopes to return to Georgia after a year at Georgia Military College, and Greg McGarity wants to preserve Georgia’s permanent rivalry with Auburn while keeping the SEC slate at eight games so the Bulldogs periodically can schedule Clemson. All I can say about the latter is that McGarity is doing the Lord’s work, and I salute him for it.
Apparently, Hines Ward likely has played his last down as a Pittsburgh Steeler. In a related item, I probably have rooted against a meteor obliterating Pittsburgh for the final time. While we’re on the subject of popular former Bulldogs who now are professional athletes, John Isner beat Roger Federer in the Davis Cup.
Auburn defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder (I throw up in my mouth a little every time I type that) already appears to be having an impact on the Tigers’ defense, as Auburn announced Wednesday that cornerbacks coach Philip Lolley is being kicked upstairs. This probably means Coach VanGorder plans to hire a secondary coach of his own choosing. Wait; are you thinking what I’m thinking? Say, you don’t suppose there’s a chance that . . . well, you know:
Chizik gave no indication which direction he'll search will take him, but he could lean on new defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder for some advice on at least one possible candidate. VanGorder knows Willie Martinez, who coached with VanGorder at Georgia, Central Michigan and Central Florida, and is available after leaving Oklahoma. . . .
Martinez spent the last two seasons at Oklahoma. He left the program after the 2011 season when head coach Bob Stoops hired his brother, Mike, to coach defensive backs.
Martinez and VanGorder were on the same Georgia staff for four years. Martinez replaced VanGorder as defensive coordinator in 2005, a position he held for five seasons.
Well, Coach Martinez succeeded Coach VanGorder as Georgia’s defensive coordinator; I wouldn’t exactly say he replaced him. Still, if the thought of Aaron Murray and Malcolm Mitchell going up against a Willie Martinez-coached Auburn secondary doesn’t get your Monday morning off to a slam-fantastic start, then, man, you’re reading the wrong weblog, my friend!
Go ‘Dawgs!
0 recs | 37 comments
Figures....
We may finally get to go up against “third and Willie” and they are going to pull the plug on the South’s oldest rivalry.
MikeInValdosta - February 13, 2012
The ultimate...
Prevent defense.
Jman781 - February 13, 2012
On a related note
My young cousin was just accepted into Auburn, so any and all condolences are welcome. He wants to go into engineering, so I suppose it could have been worse (Tech). Oh well, nobody’s perfect…..
Lady Dawg - February 13, 2012
I, on the other hand, would be reluctant to say that Willie “succeeded”.
Also, everything I read anything about lacrosse, I can’t help but think of this guy:
AdamLilly - February 13, 2012
A random thought based on the b-ball improvement we've seen recently
does anyone know if it is a specific rule that a team must have a winning record to get in the NIT? I know that teams seem to always have that, but if we finished say 16-16 what does everyone think our chances would be of getting in the NIT?
Dawg in Beaumont - February 13, 2012
I think you need to at least be .500
Not in conference play, but overall: NIT selection procedures
It’s not a requirement, per se, as the above link does not include any limitations regarding record; however, since only 32 teams make the tourney, they won’t likely select a sub-.500 UGA team.
Looking at the schedule, we’ll need to beat South Carolina twice; one of LSU, Kentucky (yep), Florida, or Vandy (probably need to beat LSU, although Florida and Vandy are home games); and the first game of the SEC Tourney. That would have us finishing at 16-16…
It’s a tall order, but if they can beat #18 on the road, they can do it. What a great accomplishment if they do. Truly.
And Mr. Robinson, great finish to the game on Saturday. Our non-binding agreement still stands :-)
Jman781 - February 13, 2012
I think 3 more regular season wins + a conference tourney win is do-able
South Carolina is a bad team but I certainly know winning on the road is never a given. Wednesday is absolutely huge for our NIT hopes.
Dawg in Beaumont - February 13, 2012
I wanna say
the rule used to require .500 or better, but that changed once a couple big names they wanted fell below that mark. But we aren’t a big name they’d want, so we may need a stronger than .500 record to get in. Maybe we can sneak in to one of the lesser tourneys like the CBI or CIT. I’d like the younger players to get the experience if possible.
Mr. Sanchez - February 13, 2012
Even if it's a lesser tourney...
I’d take it.
It’s sad when the thought of playing in the N.I.T. excites me.
Jman781 - February 13, 2012
Consider where we started
Just follow Dr. Marvin’s advice.
Mr. Sanchez - February 13, 2012
Death Therapy?
RedCrake - February 13, 2012 via mobile
Well said, Mr. Sanchez.
I agree completely. I have a question, though: Isn’t the CIT the one that only takes mid-majors, or am I confusing it with one of the others? I hope I’m confusing it with one of the others—-I’m almost positive there is one that doesn’t take major conference teams—-because we should have a shot at the CIT, since two former Georgia coaches serve on that tournament’s selection committee.
T Kyle King - February 13, 2012
Yeah, I got no clue
even as a college basketball fan, those less than the NIT Tourneys have never been able to get my interest. Invite Georgia though, and that’ll change. For at least a year.
Although I see their list of teams from last year, and no majors. So you may be right.
Mr. Sanchez - February 14, 2012
In its three years, the CIT has taken only mid majors
However, I don’t see any rule of theirs saying they only take mid majors. It may just be a tradition thing (if you can use tradition to describe a three year old tournament). Their website has a Mid Major Top 25, so the whole enterprise is probably all about rewarding and recognizing the little guy.
The984 - February 14, 2012
So they're inviting Nick Saban to this year's tournament?
vineyarddawg - February 14, 2012
Don't forget...
Our band gave Georgia Tech’s band an A♭ass-whoopin’ in a
there’s no such thing as a friendly game of football that involves Techfriendly game of football , stole their lunch money and glockenspiel.DavetheDawg - February 13, 2012
Is a glockenspiel what a handgun salesman gives you when you want....
a Smith and Wesson, but he’s trying to convince you to buy some other inventory he needs to unload before New Year’s? Or is that something else?
The Quincy Carter of Accountants - February 13, 2012
Nope. That's right.
Swarles_Barkley - February 13, 2012
You wanna give me that spiel, punk?
DavetheDawg - February 13, 2012
Do we got any SE Georgia posters from near Ludowici?
I’d love to hear more on the 2013 PG commit JJ Frazier.
Mr. Sanchez - February 13, 2012
JJ from FBCA
I have never posted, but JJ has played BBall at FBCA with my nephew. I watched the kid play varsity ball from 8th grade on. Be very excited about him. Awesome kid. This is also FBCA first recruit to a D1 school. Look for a lot of great BBall talent there. I grew up in Wayne County, Jesup, GA and just moved back for the first time in 12 years. Be very excited about JJ though.
ChrysGoDawgs - February 15, 2012
Thanks Chrys, much appreciated
and welcome to the site.
Mr. Sanchez - February 15, 2012
Thanks!
I’ve been lurking forever. I adore this site. I just thought I’d finally post since I know this kid. Ludowici, Long County is such a small place right next to Jesup that I didn’t think many people would even know where to begin. I watched his current Coach, Matthew Sellars grow up into that position as well. Wow, that makes me feel old. I will definitely be attending more Georgia roundball games in the future. Jesup is a little closer than Virginia Beach plus that connection.
ChrysGoDawgs - February 15, 2012
What has Jammi German been up to lately?
Mr. Sanchez - February 13, 2012
Preserving the South's Oldest Rivalry
is going to be tough with only an eight game conference schedule. I think they will eventually bump it to nine on a permanent basis. AU-UGA, AL-TN and LSU-FL are at stake. With the top six teams in the conference represented in those three games, we should have the clout to muster the votes.
Having one permanent cross-divisional school and one rotator would leave eleven years in between games with the other schools and they can’t do that and still call ourselves a conference. The only real solution is nine conference games with one permanent and two rotators.
War Eagle Atlanta - February 13, 2012
Or...
Drop the divisions, have three permanent games a year, and rotate the rest…Does UGA really need to play Kentucky each season? (Notice I said “need”, not “want”.)
Since we may need two divisions, we can place Alabama in a division by themselves, as they don’t need to win division or conference championships to claim titles, anyway…
Jman781 - February 13, 2012
Getting rid of divisions would require a change in NCAA rules
Currently, to have a conference championship game, there must be two divisions of at least 6 each with every team in each division playing round robin. Then again, given that the MAC has one division of seven which don’t play round robin, I don’t know how much the NCAA actually cares. Still, it would be best if we got a rule change, and if any conference can do that, it’s the one that got the rules changed to allow for a conference championship game in the first place.
The984 - February 13, 2012
Stoopid
NCAA and its rulez.
Jman781 - February 13, 2012
The bottom line is its a big stinking mess because a handful of the top people in the SEC wanted more TV revenue.
They are destroying tradtions, a winning formula, and taking the SEC out of the SEC – all to get more SEC tv games. And the SEC was already making all the money.
Eventually we will get it to 16 teams somehow so we get even more money. And in 20 years it will change again.
tankertoad - February 13, 2012
And if we had the game anyway, what's the NCAA gonna do about it?
They aren’t gonna suspend the teams, or piss off such a huge revenue producer. Getting that rule change would be a pretty easy task imo, and you might have some of the other big boys join you in getting it changed. Unless the Big 10 finds tradition in the Leaders and Legends, or the Pac 12 in it’s North/South bit.
Mr. Sanchez - February 13, 2012
Seriously...
I got depressed when I envisioned a schedule that looked like this:
SEC Home: Kentucky, South Carolina, Missouri, Miss. State
SEC Away: UT, Vandy, Florida*, Texas A&M
OOC: GT, 1-AA Cupcake, MTSU, and Ohio…
Ugh.
Jman781 - February 13, 2012
Actually...
Replace Miss. State with Arkansas.
Now we’d play only four historical SEC teams…
Jman781 - February 13, 2012
Well, Coach Martinez succeeded Coach VanGorder as Georgia’s defensive coordinator; I wouldn’t exactly say he replaced him.
so true…..what a great line
for some reason that reminds me of the line from the movie Office Space…..when one of the characters was asked why he was missing work so much he responded, “I wouldn’t say missing!”
Ozam - February 13, 2012
UGA Rugby on Las Vegas news.
http://www.fox5vegas.com/video?clipId=6725707&autostart=true
skandrewj62j - February 13, 2012
"most dangerous live shot we've ever done"
Well, there’s your t-shirt, right there!
BarnettShoals - February 14, 2012
OMFG!
when asked whether or not the white cloth wrapped around his skull was a headband or a bandage, the Bulldog replied:
“Well, you shouldn’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answers to.”
DGD, GATA, GO RUGGERDAWGS!
BarnettShoals - February 14, 2012
That's the funniest thing I've seen
in a long time. Woof.
DavetheDawg - February 14, 2012
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