How big of a deal should off-field issues be?

It’s with a great sense of pride that in my office at my real job hangs a nicely framed diploma trumpeting the fact that I’m a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia. 

So any time you see headlines, such as Saturday morning, that two players from the football program have been arrested within a two-week span, it is initially unsettling. 

But in the big picture, as far as competing for a national championship, how much of an issue should off-field issues be? Sure, if you have friends of other SEC teams or worry about drivel being pushed forward by the likes of a Corbin Dawg’s favorite radio sports talk host, bearing criticism of the program can be unsettling.

I want to be very direct. I’m not defending what Jonathan Taylor did. You NEVER have an excuse for assaulting your wife/ girlfriend (we’re looking at you as well, Ray Rice). 

But 18-22-year olds will be idiots, and they do so all over the country. Why they tend to do so in Athens? Who knows? 

But if this team wins the MNC or wins the SEC title, what do you think will be remembered more? Off-field issues or the season results?

Jake Scott is one of the most iconic players in UGA history and had a spotted off-field record. Some 30 years ago, some of the team leaders faced team discipline prior to the season. Half a year or so later, that same team won a National Title. What do you think is remembered more?

Once the season starts, off-field issues will hopefully fade.

Pre-season camp cannot begin soon enough.

Lugnut Dawg

 

 

Disappointing, but not shocking

Josh Harvey-Clemons’ time in Athens is officially over, with him being kicked off the team for a ‘violation of team rules.”

You’d assume that he did something similar to the previous teams that he was suspended. If that is the case, JHC needs help, and it is best to leave Athens to get it.

It’s for the best that JHC is no longer in Athens for everyone involved. JHC and UGA need to move on. Inevitably, this was going to happen soon, so it’s very good for Georgia that it was prior to spring ball so that some other guys can get looks such as Tray Matthews or Corey Moore.

For JHC, it closes the book on a highly touted potential that was never realized. When you come in as a five-star recruit with signing day drama, the onus is on you to deliver big, and those expectations are hard to match (see Crowell).

JHC not only will never live down an errant tip on the plains, but also that he had all the talent in the world and pissed it away.

Go Dawgs!

Lugnut Dawg

JHC, Sheldon Dawson suspended

You know, our secondary has caused us a lot of heartburn and headaches. Even before the team heads to Jacksonville, it’s back on track once again.

Many reports are out that Josh Harvey-Clemons and Sheldon Dawson have violated team regulations and will miss the bowl game. Early rumblings indicate it is academics related.

Two quick takes:

The key to Georgia winning this bowl is how motivated it is. When two players don’t care enough to keep their stuff in order, it is a bad sign. You worry that with all the bad breaks, players have given up before the bowl arrives.

How much rope does JHC have left? This is his second suspension of the year and he was also in the car during Crowell’s gun incident. How long until Richt, to use his own phrase, ‘helps him find where the door is?’

Go Dawgs! (and do not violate team rules, for Dawg sake)

Lugnut Dawg

Last Look Back

Saturday night was tough. Fun, but tough. Clemson is a very good team that has a legitimate chance to play for a MNC. It kind of feels like one of those times (they happen often it seems) where UGA is going to say at the end of the year that the only team that kept them out of the MNC game is the team that won it all. Not saying Clemson is going to win it all, but they’ve got a great opportunity to play for it.

That said, I have a few closing remarks before we look ahead to SC.
1- Per usual, most of the hate I’m hearing is geared towards Aaron Murray, Mike Bobo, CMR and the offense. People, I understand that it is difficult to watch a draw from the shotgun and other questionable play calling, but UGA still scored 35 points vs. an ACC team. Don’t you think an SEC team should beat an ACC team when the SEC team scores 35 points? Don’t you think an SEC team should be most anybody in the country when they score 35 points? Very few people are talking about CTG’s front 7 that were dominated all night long. Our secondary (everyone’s main concern) actually played pretty decent against one of the best QB/WR combos in the country. We got gashed up front. It was bad. That is the main reason we lost. Not because Mike Bobo can’t call plays, and not because Aaron Murray can’t win big games. We got beat because our defense, an SEC defense playing an ACC team, gave up huge chunks of yardage all night long, and ultimately, 38 points. You give up 38 points and you deserve to lose. Sorry, I know it’s easy to hate on Aaron Murray and Mike Bobo, but if you do I think you’re wrong. Why do we let CTG and his defense off the hook so easily? Something I’ll never understand.
2- It’s not over. We have a lot of football left. We need to win on Saturday. Then we need to get ready for North Texas and LSU and win both of those games. Leave September 3-1 and we’re in good shape. Leave Jacksonville with only 1 loss and you’re looking at a possible SEC Championship game. Win that and let the pieces fall where they may. UGA is a good team this year. We have a long way to go. The sky isn’t falling just yet.

I know in today’s world of instant access and constant communication that we all have more avenues to vent today than ever before. Every time the Dawgs lose a game it seems as if life’s going to end. Trust me, it’s not. It’s still great to be a Georgia Bulldog. Always has been, always will be. Shake it off and gear up for a HUGE matchup this weekend. And as always, Go Dawgs!
ucheedawg

It’s getting hopes up, but allegations at UF?

Florida is a lot like Auburn in a number of ways. One of them is that we, as Georgia fans get our hopes up on numerous occasions that there’s a chance that the program may be in trouble with the NCAA.

Both programs, however, are teflon. Nothing sticks, no matter what. For Auburn, it was Cam Newton. Only an Auburn fan is convinced nothing illegal went on. At Florida…Zook and Meyer were largely given a free pass for off-field problems (can you image some of the Atlanta media covering UF’s program?). And then there was St. Timothy Tebow, whose after-play celebrations somehow were ok in the eyes of SEC officials.

So it comes as no surprise that while he was at Florida, Aaron Hernandez multiple times sought the counsel of, you guessed it, the best friend of any Gator athlete, Huntley Johnson. 

Oh but it’s ok. I’m sure that no athletes received preferential treatment. If you believe that, I’ve got some oceanfront property in Miller County to sell you.

Lugnut

…placekickers…

Look, I know we all get riled up about Darth Visor’s jabs at UGA. But he’s 100 percent right about it being an advantage to play Georgia early in the season since a few players will find a way to be knuckleheads in the offseason

h/t to Radi Nabulsi 

If there is a silver lining, maybe Bobo will have a more aggressive game plan than usual against the rock petters. 

 

Why a Playoff is a Good Thing

Last night solidified why a college football playoff is inevitable. The sport has gotten so big that we virtually have to enter into this unchartered territory. I had been on the fence about this topic, but last night my mind was made up.

We were one sleazy coach and a tattoo parlor away from having witnessed The Ohio State University and Notre Dame play an incredible football game for the 2013 MNC. No doubt, that game would have been epic. It also would have been akin to watching Ole Miss and Vanderbilt play for all the marbles. Alabama proved, once again, that the SEC is the elite college football conference in America. So, to sum up that thought, a playoff will bring us year-in year-out what almost didn’t happen this year.

There is zero doubt in my mind that if we had a 4 team playoff this year, Notre Dame would not have been playing for the MNC. There is zero doubt in my mind that if we had an 8 team playoff that Notre Dame would have made it out of the first round. You can bicker about how many teams and who those are, but I guarantee you Alabama would have made it into the title bout. Had Ohio State not been on probation, the best team would not have won the National Championship, and that’s a shame. In a world of transparency, we need a clearly defined winner. A playoff is the only system that allows that.

Stumbling slightly off the beaten path, I’m fairly certain that if we had a 16 team playoff that allowed multiple schools from the SEC to play, you would wind up with at least 3 in the final 4 if scheduling allowed such an event to take place. Point is, and I’m not trying to be SEC homer guy, but the SEC is the home of the best football in the nation. To have any type of scenario where an SEC school doesn’t have a fair shot at playing for the MNC at the current day in age is a travesty. I know how that sounds, but it’s the truth. Notre Dame can’t play with SEC schools, but had a place in the big game when more deserving teams did not. It’s not just Notre Dame. I don’t think Oregon, Stanford, Ohio State, Kansas State, or others are in the same class as the big boys of the SEC. I believe the two best teams in the nation played on December 1 in the Georgia Dome. I believe the best team in the nation won that game and walked to a much-too-easy win against a team that shouldn’t have been in Miami.

Lots of rambling thoughts, but bottom line is I do believe last night proved the need for a playoff system, and I’m glad we’re moving in that direction. We’ll argue about that format for years to come, but the good thing is we won’t be stuck with 4 teams for very long. It will get to 8 and then 16 within a decade, and to me, that’s a good thing. 

Go Dawgs!

Ucheedawg

Richt 1, Media Hack 0

You know, anytime someone markets themselves as the ‘King’ of anything, it says a lot of about how big of an assclown they are. Chuck Oliver actually did all of America a favor with his cowardly post-game stunt on Saturday night. Last week, all of Atlanta knew how much of a bumbling fool the “Kang” is. Now all of America knows.

Were there questions about Georgia’s big-game showings coming into Saturday? Sure. But after a game like yesterday, to not only ask that question but also cowardly hide behind ‘some people’ is chickencrap.

Chuck Oliver is the King is only one thing. Being a first-class joke.

Lugnut Dawg

The Good, Bad and Ugly from Week 4

This was the first of several “big” weekends coming up. A few thoughts from around the SEC….

The Good

UGA- what can you really say? That’s how the number 5 ranked team in the nation is supposed to look.

South Carolina- SC offered up a beat-down of Mizzo. Good statement win for Cocky. October 6 looks pretty interesting right now. Can’t wait to find out who CBS picks this afternoon for their game.

Florida- The WLOCP could have a HUGE national impact if things shake out. Florida continues to look better. I know they only beat Kentucky, but they did it like we did against Vandy, how they’re supposed to.

Mississippi State- These Bulldogs are quietly playing good football right now.

The Bad

LSU. I thought LSU would win this one by 4 td’s. Instead, this was reminiscent of the 9-6 game a few years ago, only uglier. Still think LSU has talent, but that UF game looks alot tougher right now.

Mizzo- Really, they could fall into the next category, but while they’re pledging we’ll leave them here.

The Ugly

Arkansas- Dern. Rutgers? Really? The only question, as has been posed by many already, is where Petrino ends up next year. My money is on…..

Tennessee- My bet is that DD is lawyering in Georgia before UGA plays Tech. Or working on a contract with CBS. He does have the face and the personality. Either way is a win-win for him. Watch out for these guys next year with Petrino at the helm. I underestimated him it seems.

ucheedawg

All We Ask is 3 Years

I’ve said it about many UGA players, most recently Crowell. All we really ask is that for 3 years you make good decisions. It’s not that hard. 1,095 days of working hard, listening to your coach, and staying out of trouble. I think it can be done. After that, you can write your own ticket. Make millions as a 21 year old. Do whatever you want, you’ve got more money than you’ll ever need. All you’ve got to do is stay out of trouble for 3 years. Yes, I understand how tempting trouble is as an 18-21 year old. I was there, and I didn’t always make the right decision. But I managed to make it through 5 years in Athens without once getting locked up, receiving a ticket, or doing anything that would harm my future too bad. For these supreme athletes, you don’t have to make it 5 years. If you give it 3, then you’re free.

That concept blows my mind. I can already envision what some of the comments may be, and everyone is entitled to your own view. But really, it’s not asking that much to make good decisions every day for 3 years. The pull from evil forces isn’t that strong. So for someone like Tyrann Matthieu to have the desire to do drugs so badly that it harms what would be millions and millions of dollars for him just 1 year from now is absurd. Not saying I’m perfect, but if I’m Matthieu, I can guarantee you I’m not doing drugs. If I get in trouble, it’s for something else.

I do applaud Matthieu for taking corrective steps. For the sake of the Honey Badger, I hope he gets his life in order and comes to play in the defensive backfield for the Atlanta Falcons for many years to come.

ucheedawg