Wednesday Links (1/6)

Given that the only significant football news yesterday was the announcement that Georgia's starting strong safety was leaving school early, it seems odd to be saying this but... yesterday was a heck of a day for UGA sports.

First off, any day Georgia Tech gets trounced (and despite what seemed like a relatively close final score, that was a thorough butt-whooping by Iowa) in a BCS bowl game, UGA fans have to chalk that up as a big win.

Then add to it that Mark Fox's supposedly rebuilding Bulldogs toppled the No. 17-ranked Yellow Jackets at Stegeman (keeping Tech's winless streak in Athens at 38 years and counting!) and the results are one heckuva day for Dawgs supporters and a pretty sad day for St. Simons & Co.

As for Fox's Dawgs, last night was really a signature moment for the team.

For one, it was UGA's first win over a top-25 opponent in nearly three years (the last being a buzzer-beater over LSU in January of 2007).

Secondly, it was an in-state rivalry game that both bolstered Georgia's credentials significantly and proved to be an epic fail for Tech. In many ways, it was exactly what Tech did to UGA on the football field two years ago, only Georgia was actually the better team throughout this game as opposed to Tech's one big quarter against Reshad Jones, et al.

Third, make no mistake, this was a marquee opponent, if only because Derrick Favors was on the court. Favors is one of the biggest recruits to come out of the state in years, and he picked Tech over UGA in large part, he said, because Tech was the better program historically. Well, what might the next big recruit in the state be thinking when he watches that undermanned UGA team completely thwart Favors and pull out the win?

(Besides, who could want to go to Tech when the school is known for things like this?)

Fourth, while there were plenty of scouts there to see Favors, who spent much of the game on the bench after early foul trouble, it was Trey Thompkins who looked like he was ready for the NBA. He scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half, grabbed six boards, had two steals and was 8-of-9 from the charity stripe. And while Tech can function without Favors, Thompkins is the Georgia offense. He more than shouldered the load.

And fifth, the timing of the win couldn't have been any better for Georgia. No. 3 Kentucky looms this Saturday, and coming off a bad loss to Missouri, a confidence booster was big for the Dawgs. Fox said before the season began that confidence might have to come from areas beyond wins and losses because, quite frankly, no one could be sure how many games this team would win. Instead, the wins have turned out to be a pretty decent measure, and the results have been surprisingly good. The players, I think, really believe they can go into Rupp and win on Saturday. (Of course, they actually did do that last year, so anything's possible.)

Based on pure numbers, the Dawgs are actually one game worse than they were at this point last year, but no one is saying this team has underachieved. Quite the opposite.

Georgia still isn't likely to be a tournament team, but with wins over Tech and Illinois, the Dawgs are clearly better than most of us thought. And it's not that they're any more skilled -- by that measure, too, they might be worse than a year ago -- but they have a ton of fight in them, which makes them more than worth rooting for.

And there's the problem. Simply put, there aren't many people rooting for Georgia.

“I thought the crowd was good, but there weren’t enough of them here," Fox said after the game. "The ones who were here were good late in the game, and we appreciate them. This team’s going to have to overachieve for the next couple of months, and we’re going to need bigger, stronger and better crowds every time out because tonight they were a big factor.”

Hey, it's not my job to be a shill for UGA and tell you to fork over money to see a basketball game at Stegeman. Times are tough, money's tight, and I'm certainly not going to lecture you on your responsibility to support an athletics department that generates more revenue than the GNP of some small countries.

But if you're in the market for something to do, and if you've got that cash to fork over, chalk me up as a believer that this team has earned your money. Last year was a makeshift group with zero direction. This year, it's a team that plays with a ton of heart, even if the skill level isn't exactly SEC caliber up and down the roster.

It was a fun game to watch last night, and my guess is that there will be more fun games to watch the rest of the way. And that's not something anyone has been able to say about the action at Stegeman in a while.

OK, on to some links...

-- Yahoo! anonymously sources information that seems to be the common opinion these days that Todd Grantham is going to be Georgia's next defensive coordinator.

Now, Mark Bradley is no doubt shaking his head in disgust at the mere notion of someone other than Kirby Smart landing the job, but let me tell you why I think this would be an exceptional hire...

While the argument can certainly be made that Grantham isn't an SEC guy and won't be an asset on the recruiting trail, I think just the opposite could be true.

When the top-flight recruits are trying to decide between a handful of elite programs, there are minimal distinctions from one school to the next. But Grantham offers a big asset to Georgia that Bud Foster and Vic Koenning and Kirby Smart and John Chavis would not -- he knows the NFL.

Want to get prepared to make the jump to "The League"? Well this guy isn't just going to tell you that he can do it, he has the resume to prove it. He has the connections at the next level to get your name out there. He knows every bit of what coaches in the NFL are looking for and can make sure you are armed with those skills before you leave Georgia.

Think about this: Yes, Florida will be sending a ton of players to the NFL in this year's draft. That's a big deal. But here's the sales pitch Georgia can make...

Are you a talented tailback? Well Florida's offense is built around these multi-dimensional speed guys that leave NFL guys scratching their head wondering how they'd fit in a pro-style offense. At Georgia, we're the school that has produced Herschel Walker and Garrison Hearst and Knowshon Moreno. We're Tailback U. You'll get your chance to shine here without being upstaged by the "system." You are our system.

Are you a budding star at quarterback? Hey, Florida has a guy people are calling the greatest college player ever and because he never played under center, NFL folks are wondering if he should play fullback at the next level. At Georgia, we just made a QB the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, and our system is as close to what you'll play in at the next level as you'll find in the SEC. Heck, Matthew Stafford's coach called him the most prepared college QB ever. That's what we can do for you.

Are you an elite wide receiver? That's great. We've got a guy named Mohamed Massaquoi who just turned in a heck of a rookie year in Cleveland because we prepared him for the NFL. Oh, and I know we haven't had a history of big-time receivers here, but all that has changed. We've got a guy named A.J. Green who is going to be a first-round pick in the next NFL draft, and he's changed the paradigm here. You can be a part of that, too.

Are you a high-end defensive star? You obviously have your sights set on the NFL, and our new defensive coordinator knows exactly what it'll take to get you there. He's been in The League for a decade, has tons of connections and has worked with some of the best players the NFL has to offer. He can make you that good, too.

That last one was the missing link in that sales pitch the past few years. And it's not that Georgia wasn't recruiting good talent on defense, but who was the last Georgia defensive player to get drafted high and really make a big impact in the NFL? It's been a while, and don't think for a second that recruits don't notice. Hiring an NFL guy is like a get-out-of-jail-free card for the Bulldogs on the recruiting trail. Now we have the answers, they can say.

Moreover, it would be more than just a sales pitch. For all of you fans concerned about the strength and conditioning program or how well prepared Georgia's players are to perform at an elite level -- here's a coach who knows from experience. He has spent the last decade working with NFL players and knows how they prepare. He'll have a say in making sure Georgia is doing it the same way.

And no, he's not a "Mark Richt guy." But isn't that what everyone has been complaining about for the past two years? Too many Mark Richt guys. This is clearly an outside voice who is going to bring a much different perspective to Butts-Mehre than there has been for the vast majority of Richt's tenure. That's a very good thing.

Yes, it's a concern that the college and NFL games are different, and he'll need to adjust to offensive schemes he hasn't seen much in the pros and he'll need to hit the recruiting trail hard, which is something he hasn't done in a while. But much of that can be balanced out by hiring the right assistants. And the benefits of bringing in someone with Grantham's resume are pretty obvious.

-- And here's a perfect example of a story Georgia recruits might have been turned off by before: Dannell Ellerbe clearly has tons of talent, and yet he went undrafted. He's proving himself at the NFL level now, but he had to work that much harder to get there.

-- Of course, if Georgia wants to stay in the market longer, money should really be no object (h/t Kathleen). (And as a side note to that article, it's great to see Syracuse listed as one of four profitable programs that lost money on their football team.)

-- On the other hand, while Mark Richt is a patient man, 18-year-old kids often are not. And it might be that Richt is pushing the envelope on their patience about as far as it can go.

-- Jon Fabris landed on Charlie Strong's staff at Louisville where he will again coach defensive ends (and, with a little luck, will also be handling kickoffs when they play Syracuse next year).

-- The Detroit News says it's time for the Lions to take off the kid gloves in their handling of Matthew Stafford. Funny, I didn't realize throwing him out there behind a joke of an O line all year was using the kid gloves.

-- After tearing up the D league, Sundiata Gaines is getting his shot with a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz.

-- I fully support this business decision. After all, ugly people get all the breaks and attractive people have such a hard time finding Mr. or Mrs. Right.

-- In the last decade, the cost of listening to music or reading the newspaper or watching a movie essentially fell to zero thanks to the Internet. And yet cable companies continued to jack up prices. And it's going to get worse.

I just moved and, after years of having DirecTV (which I generally liked, even if it was a bit more expensive than I'd like) I was forced to switch to Charter, thanks to the treeline surrounding my house. Now I'm paying even more than I did before for fewer channels, far less HD channels, less DVR space and a ton of headaches that didn't exist with DirecTV. And I have no other options. Ugh.

Worst of all, I can't watch the end of the season of "Friday Night Lights" now until it comes on NBC (with commercials!) in the spring.

-- On a bright note for TV, "Chuck" is set to return this week, and I'm intrigued by the new look of the show.

-- Here's yet another Q&A with the creators of "Lost" who have to be approaching some sort of record for doing these types of things.

-- In our bad idea for an 80s remake section this week, we can only hope the delay of the new "Robocop" gets extended indefinitely.

-- And finally, who woulda thought you needed someone to "invent" the quarter-pounder? I mean, it's just a cheeseburger with, you know, a quarter-pound of meat. Anyway, the guy who came up with this tasty bit of genius died (though the story doesn't say whether it was from heart disease).

And for all you Michael Scott's out there, I'll allow you to chime in with "that's what she said" following this line: "I felt there was a void in our menuvis-a-vis the adult who wanted a higher ratio of meat to bun."

Reshad Talks NFL, Future

Reshad Jones met with media today to discuss his decision to leave school early and enter the NFL draft. He told me earlier today that he expected Rennie Curran would be announcing today, too, but backed off those comments this afternoon, and UGA sports information director Claude Felton confirms that Curran has not yet made an official decision.

As for the rest of what Jones had to say, here ya go...

On making his decision...
“I decided to come out of school early. I talked about it with my family and prayed about it. I got my stuff back from the NFL advisory board. Like I said, I sat down with my granddad, and we kind of felt this was the best decision for me.”

On his NFL evaluation...
“I don’t want to go in-depth on what my grade was, but it was pretty good. It was good enough for me to make my decision.”

On his hopes for the draft...
“I hope to be a first-rounder. I think it is possible with the strong safety class this year. I’ll have to go the combine and just work my butt off and see how everything goes.”

On what he thinks the knocks on him are...
“A lot of guys probably think I can’t run as fast as I can, so really I just need to blow up the combine like I know I can and just increase my stock and move on up the draft board.”

On NFLers he talked to about the decision...
“I kind of talked to Mohamed (Massaquoi). We’re pretty close. And he just said, ‘Man, the next level is a business, and make sure you’re mentally prepared for the next level. I think you’ve got all the tools physically. Just make sure you come prepared mentally.’”

On waiting for a new DC to be hired...
“I was considering doing that but the time was getting close and I knew that whatever I was going to do, I needed to make my decision. I know I needed to do it fast, and I got my papers back and talked about it with my grandparents and I knew it was time for me to make a decision. I decided to come on out because I needed to start training and preparing myself for the next level.”

On the reaction from Richt/Garner...
“Coach Richt and those guys supported me. They said I’ve done all I can do at Georgia, I’ve been great for Georgia, and they supported me whichever way I was leaning.”

On his career at Georgia...
“I think I had a pretty solid four years here at the University of Georgia. I was all-conference last year, second team, and I made second-team this year. I think I’ve made some tremendous strides over a four-year period, not only on the football field but off the football field also as a man. I’ve matured, and that’s what led me up to making my decision also. I feel like I’m mentally and physically prepared for the next level.”

On how prepared Bacarri Rambo is to step in for him...
“Watching Bacarri grow, I think he’s going to fit right into my shoes. He’s learning the game, he knows his stuff now, and I think he’ll be a big help for Georgia and the secondary next year.”

On the reactions of his teammates...
“A lot of guys were thinking about me leaving, talking about me leaving, but they probably said that because there’s always room for improvement. You can always get better. But I felt like the time was right for me to make that jump.”

On what he thinks the last year accomplished for him...
“I think I’ve always been physically ready. I just wanted to learn the game a little bit more, get in the film room, break down tape and just know the game more. That extra year gave me more opportunities to evaluate the game more and be a better player.”

On whether playing for a new DC in a new scheme affected his decision...
“That would be kind of hard coming in my senior year learning a whole new scheme when I’ve been a part of the same scheme for four years. That would be kind of hard to get a hold on.”

On whether he talked to Willie Martinez...
“I talked to him and let him know the way I was leaning. He said to just make sure you do the right decision and he was going to have my back and support whichever way I do.”

On his final two games...
“I had a pretty good season last year but I ended off on a bad note last year. Playing a great game in the Tech game and the bowl game kind of solidified my decision of making the jump early.”

On where he thinks he ranks right now for the draft...
“I’ve had a lot of people say right now that I’m ranked in the top five safeties to come out and enter the draft, so I really want to be in the top two safeties. So I’m just going to keep working and see what happens.”

Jones Headed to NFL, Curran Could Follow

Georgia safety Reshad Jones is headed to the NFL, and it’s expected that linebacker Rennie Curran will follow suit. Both players will hold a teleconference with media today to announce their decisions.

(UPDATE: UGA says no teleconference is scheduled and that Curran has yet to make a decision. Reshad Jones will meet with reporters today at 2 p.m.)

Jones, who flirted with the NFL last year before ultimately deciding to return to school, said he will definitely enter the NFL draft this year after finishing second on the team with 68 tackles and making three interceptions.

Jones said he has not yet hired an agent or decided where to train, but he expected to do so within “the next couple of days.”

A year ago, Jones said input from a few former Georgia players and the wishes of his family kept him in school. This time around, he said he has their full support, particularly from family members whom he talked with extensively before making up his mind.

“They really just want the best for me,” Jones said. “We sat down and talked about it and they said I was ready, too.”

Jones said his evaluation from the NFL was “good enough for me,” but said he didn’t wish to discuss the evaluation further.

While the decision for Jones was ultimately an easy one, he said, that didn’t seem to be the same feeling within the locker room.

“Everybody knows it’s best for him to come back,” fellow safety Bryan Evans said before Georgia’s bowl game. “He has the potential to go higher next year than this year. But it’s up to him. If he feels this is his time to go, he’ll make that decision for himself.”

Curran led the SEC in tackles with 122 this year and will be a part of the teleconference, Jones said, but he could not confirm Curran’s final decision about the NFL.

Georgia still does not have a defensive coordinator hired, and defensive tackles coach Rodney Garner had said following the Bulldogs’ bowl game that he hoped both players would wait until that decision was made before making up their minds on the NFL. At the time, that is something both Curran and Jones said they planned to do.

On the Bright Side: The 10 Best Moments of Georgia's 2009 Season

I apologize that it's probably a little late for something like this -- I had planned to write it in the day or two after the bowl game -- but better late than never, right?

Anyway, I put together a quick list of my votes for the 10 best plays of the season for Georgia, counting down in reverse order.

Given that Georgia's season was marked by disappointment and bad losses, I figured I might have trouble coming up with 10. As it turned out, the opposite was true, and I could have easily extended the list to 20. The truth was, as bad as some moments were in 2009, they were probably more than matched by the highlights, and my guess is that, in a few years when Georgia's place in the standings looks a bit better, most fans will look back on last season with a lot more fond memories than it probably appears right now.

Anyway, without any further delays, here's my list...

Honorable Mentions:

-- Brandon Boykin's 100-yard kick return vs. Tennessee. This might have been his most impressive run of the season, but it turned out to be a fruitless bit of momentum as Georgia's offense could get nothing going against the Vols in what was easily the Dawgs' ugliest loss of the year.

-- Drew Butler's 68-yard punt against Oklahoma State. Fans probably would have preferred that Georgia didn't need to rely on its punter quite so much in 2009, but that was the way it unfolded, and Butler responded perfectly. In his first punt as Georgia's starter, Butler booted a huge bomb to swing field position in the early going against the Cowboys and he continued his long punts throughout the season en route to All-America honors.

-- Washaun Ealey's 8-yard run against LSU. OK, an eight-yard jaunt in a game that the Dawgs ended up losing might not seem like much, but it was the first carry of Ealey's career and it effectively marked the turning point in Georgia's season. Ealey, who hadn't seen any action in the first four-and-a-half games of the season and appeared headed for a redshirt took a toss sweep from Joe Cox and rushed around the right side to the 48-yard line. The eight yards matched the total Georgia had on the ground up until that point in the game, and Ealey's hard running sparked the listless offense, which scored its first TD of the game on that drive. What was a moribund rushing unit early in the year became the strength of the offense by season's end, thanks in large part to the emergence of the freshman tailback.

10. Brandon Boykin's kick return vs. Texas A&M. For a guy who already had two 100-yard returns for touchdowns, this 81-yarder must have seemed like a walk in the park. But the truth was, it answered A&M's first score and set the tone for the game. A&M was a disaster on special teams, and with Georgia's defense struggling and the offense stuck in neutral for the early part of the contest, it was Boykin's big play that proved to be the spark in the Bulldogs' fourth straight bowl win and eighth win of the year -- the 13th consecutive season they accomplished that mark.

9. Richard Samuel's 80-yard run against Arkansas. In some respects, it was the perfect illustration of why Samuel needs to stay at tailback. His breakaway speed is impressive, and after his initial burst through the line of scrimmage, he shifted into another gear, cruising virtually untouched for the score, which pulled Georgia to within four in a game it eventually won 52-41. But it also showed Samuel's drawbacks -- he was, after all, untouched thanks to a brilliant block by Ben Jones -- and the rest of his one-hit-then-fall-to-the-ground runs only seemed more frustrating after this one.

8. Caleb King's 75-yard run vs. Georgia Tech. A win over Tech following the dismal performance in 2008 would have been satisfying regardless for UGA fans. But beating Tech at its own game? Well, that was sheer perfection. And no play epitomized that effort more than King's big run on Georgia's first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. The touchdown gave Georgia a 14-point lead and immediately put an end to any delusions by Tech that it would own the second half. It turned out to be a crucial touchdown, too, given that the Yellow Jackets would rally down the stretch, and King's score proved ultimately to be the difference in the game.

7. Joe Cox to Israel Troupe against Auburn. On first blush, it just seemed like a big play at a crucial time -- plenty of reason to be included on the list, but nothing particularly overwhelming. But it turned out to be so much more. One play earlier, Georgia's start wide receiver, A.J. Green, injured his shoulder when being tackled near the sideline. As he made his way back to the locker room -- not to return during the regular season -- Troupe entered the huddle without even garnering a notice from his quarterback. The play was called for Green, and it wasn't until the team broke the huddle that even Cox realized his favorite target wasn't on the field. No matter. Troupe played the part perfectly and hauled in his first reception of the season -- a 50-yard bomb that put Georgia on the scoreboard and sparked a 31-24 come-from-behind win over the Tigers.

6. A.J. Green's touchdown run vs. Vandy. I call it a touchdown run because, really, that's what it was. Green took a quick toss from Joe Cox at the line of scrimmage, then put on a show for the sparse crowd by dashing through, over and around defenders for a 65-yard touchdown -- the longest of his impressive career. The score gave Georgia a 7-0 lead in a game that turned out to be one of the rare easy wins for a team that had to scratch and claw for each measure of success in 2009, and it was without question the most entertaining highlight to watch of the season. Once again, Green proved there's nothing he's not good at on a football field.

5. Reshad Jones' INT vs. Georgia Tech. This was a big play just in terms of the game's outcome to be sure. Jones picked off Jaybo Shaw with 6:41 left in the first half and Georgia nursing a seven-point lead. The Bulldogs then marched 57 yards for a touchdown to take a 14-point lead into the half in a game they'd eventually win by just six. But in terms of sheer emotion, the play was even bigger -- a perfect piece of redemption for Jones, who was singled out as the biggest reason why Georgia lost to its in-state rival in Athens the year before. The Bulldogs' win over the ACC champs in the regular-season finale was as much about heart and determination despite overwhelming disappointment a week earlier, and Jones' pick embodied that perfectly.

4. Virtually the entire South Carolina game. OK, I'm cheating here by throwing a bunch of big plays into just one moment, but how can you pick the signature play from a game that had so many of them? Brandon Boykin returned a kickoff 100 yards to answer SC's first score. Branden Smith took a reverse and sprinted through the Gamecocks' defense for a 61-yard touchdown. DeAngelo Tyson blocked a PAT that essentially proved to be the difference in the game. And, of course, as has become habit, Rennie Curran squashed South Carolina's final hopes by breaking up a pass at the goal line on the Gamecocks' last offensive play. The game had a little of everything, and the Georgia highlights were numerous.

3. Bacarri Rambo pass break-up vs. Auburn. It's a moment fans won't soon forget from 2009, but sadly, Rambo has no memory of it whatsoever. With the Bulldogs leading 31-24 in the final moments of action, Auburn had driven deep into Georgia territory in hopes of throwing for a game-tying score. They nearly had it, too, when Chris Todd hit Mario Fannin over the middle at the 1-yard line, but Rambo came in from behind and leveled Fannin. The ball bounced to the ground, and so, too, did Rambo. The freshman safety laid on the field for nearly 20 minutes without moving following the hit as the entire crowd chanted his name. He waved to the fans as he was carted off the field, signaling to his team to finish the job, which is exactly what they did, stuffing Auburn on its final two plays to secure the win.

2. A.J. Green touchdown reception vs. LSU. It's easy to forget now because of what happened in the aftermath, but had Georgia won this game, Joe Cox's long completion down the sideline to Tavarres King and subsequent touchdown throw to Green in the back of the end zone to take a 13-12 lead over LSU would have gone down not only as the biggest play of 2009 for Georgia, but one of the most memorable moments in the team's history. Unfortunately, referee Marc Curles put a damper on the celebration by throwing a flag for -- well, celebration -- and Georgia's ensuing kickoff was returned to the Bulldogs' 38. LSU scored two plays later and won the game.

1. A.J. Green's field-goal block vs. Arizona State. It's not that we didn't already know Green was great. He had proved that more than a few times (with plenty of examples on this list alone). But when Green blocked what would have been a go-ahead field goal try with 4:31 to play in the game, he cemented his legacy as the ultimate hero of Georgia's early season. Of course, he wasn't done with the heroics just yet. When the offense took the field, Green chipped in with three catches on the final drive, including a 36-yard reception on third-and-6 that set up the game-winning field goal by Blair Walsh. In what was a down year for Georgia, those two plays made the difference between respectability and outright embarrassment for the Bulldogs. In fact, that's probably a good way to sum up just how important A.J. was all year.

So, what do you think? How would your list shape up? Any arguments with my conclusions?

Mixed Results as Dawgs Prepare for Tech

In case you hadn't noticed amid the football coaching search, Mark Fox's squad has a big game coming up Tuesday against Georgia Tech. To get you prepared, we turn to our resident hoops expert, Mr. Fletcher Page...

Over the Christmas break Georgia basketball fans witnessed their Bulldogs upset Illinois, take down two lesser opponents and then get completely smashed, 89-61, on the road by Missouri.
And that’s OK. For now.

Missouri is by far the best team Georgia has played to date, since the Tigers advanced to the Elite Eight last year and returned most of their key pieces. Georgia is a young team, and will take time to adjust to the rigors of playing on the road.

But the loss did offer some insight into a disastrous method to combat Georgia with.
Pressure.

Tigers coach Mike Anderson (you know, the coach Georgia targeted last spring before Fox was hired) is famed for his “Fastest 40 Minutes in College Basketball.” The Tigers have a deep bench, and press obsessively from start to finish. The goal isn’t always to force turnovers, but instead to force the tempo. Missouri wants to get steals, but if the press is broken, the Tigers entice quick, low percentage shots. This increases the possessions in the game, and wears opponents down. The results against Georgia?

-- Starting point guard Dustin Ware had six turnovers.

-- Shooting guard Ricky McPhee gave the ball away five times.

-- Travis Leslie added another four.

-- The team as a whole had 23 turnovers.

-- Missouri scored 35 points from those turnovers.

Sounds simple, but Georgia gave away 23 opportunities to score, meaning Missouri had 23 more chances to score. That stat alone is why Georgia was defeated, and lost the game so decisively.

But another key to the loss: Leading scorer Trey Thompkins picked up two fouls in the first five minutes of the game.

Trey played only eight minutes in the first half, scoring just three points as the Tigers jumped out to a 46-28 lead. For all intents and purposes, the game was over. This may seem like a small storyline in a random out-of-conference game in early 2010. But think about this? If Thompkins gets in foul trouble in future contests, who is going to carry the scoring load? Get crucial rebounds? Provide the feeling that as long as this guy is on the floor Georgia still has a shot to win? Leslie can score, but is still working to become more consistent. And if and when Trey hits the bench, there is no way his replacement can provide the same production.

This team depends on Thompkins more than teenagers do Facebook. It’s that simple. I hate to put too much pressure on a sophomore, but he is the key. He’s the reason Georgia wins games, and in turn, will be the reason the Bulldogs will lose some. And that’s the way Thompkins wants it.

“My teammates need me to do that, they let me know everyday that I need to be more of a leader, and a vocal leader,” he told me after a recent victory. “If that’s what I need to do I’ll do it.”

And I’ve seen Thompkins talking more during games, telling, teaching, showing, directing. This is his team now, no doubt about it.

“It’s something that individually you notice, but at the same time you need other people to help you know it is OK to do that,” Thompkins said of his vocal leadership. “My teammates take criticism very well, and I thank them because at the same time they criticize my game as well. I’m not perfect at all and they let me know that every day. It’s a punch them, punch back type of thing.”

Anyway, enough harping for one loss. Here’s a few thoughts to get ready for Georgia Tech on Tuesday.

As a team, first the good:

-- Georgia is second in the SEC in defensive rebounding. The Bulldogs have put forth immense effort to control the glass, in order to stop second chance points.

-- The Bulldogs are leading the conference at the free-throw-line, shooting 70 percent thus far.

Middle of the pack:

-- Defensively, Georgia is ranked fifth in the SEC, holding opponents to 64 points a game.

-- The Bulldogs are sixth in blocked shots, with over five-and-a-half per contest.

And, the bad:

-- Georgia, once again, is last in the SEC in scoring offense, averaging 65 a game. Needless to say, the Triangle Offense, as expected, is still a work in progress. An offensive side note, Georgia is 10th in assists, evidencing the lack of distribution.

-- Georgia is shooting 42 percent from the field, 32 percent from the three-point line, both ranked ninth in the SEC.

-- The Bulldogs are 11th in the conference in turnover margin (-2.17) and 11th in assist-to-turnover ratio (.83 a game).

A few observations:

-- I’ve rehashed a few points numerous times so I won’t linger. Trey Thompkins is really good. Travis Leslie is coming along nicely, scoring 18 against Missouri.

-- I’ve been slightly disappointed thus far with Dustin Ware. He’s fresh off a six turnover game, and is shooting a mere 34 percent from the field. I get that he’s under immense pressure, being the only tested point guard on the team, but I expected more offensive efficiency from him. That being said, even with the turnovers, Ware is still the only player on the perimeter I trust with the ball and I respect his decision-making. He’s still learning. I see him turning his shooting woes around.

-- Every time Ricky McPhee shoots a three, I expect it to go in. The former walk-on is shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc, yet when he pulls the trigger, I know it’s going to fall. For a good time, watch him shoot in warm-ups.

-- Sophomore Drazen Zlovoric isn’t gun shy. He’s taken 30 shots, only making eight of them. But he keeps on shooting. The old saying goes, “You can’t score if you don’t shoot.” What if you can’t score when you do shoot? Same tag applies, he’s still learning. Expect the percentage to go up. Surely.

-- Coach Mark Fox says Albert Jackson is the best defensive player on the team. I tend to agree.

-- I had high hopes for junior Chris Barnes coming into this season. He started five games in place of the injured Jackson early, but hasn’t seen much run since. With Thompkins on the floor for his all-around awesomeness and Jackson out there to provide defensive relief, Barnes has blended into the outskirts of the rotation.

-- And here is my take on the freshmen, Demario Mayfield and Ebuka Anyaorah. Actually, here is Ware’s take on the two...

“They are known as very good defensive players. Ebuka has really come in and played good defense, but is also starting to make some plays on offense for us. They’ve been really coming around the last few weeks and they are really great athletes. We’re definitely going to use them.”

I believe the scoring will come for both Mayfield and Anyaorah. Maybe not this year, but down the road, as they both mature, I see some offensive production. For what it’s worth, I want to point out that Anyaorah has been on the floor down the stretch of several close games this year for his defensive versatility. Fox uses the redshirt freshman to play multiple positions, and Anyaorah can defend guards and posts, play on the perimeter or in the frontcourt in zone looks. Those types of contributions may go unnoticed by some, but not me.

With all that said…Georgia Tech is very talented club, but like Georgia, the Yellow Jackets are young. Expect anything from the Bulldogs, as they continue to learn and grow within Fox’ system. See you in Stegeman.

-- Fletcher Page

UGA Notes: Samuel Expects to Stay at RB

He opened the year as Georgia’s bell-cow tailback, but the pickings got slim for Richard Samuel by midseason, and 2010 remains a bit of a mystery at this point.

But while rumors have swirled surrounding a potential move to linebacker for the rising junior, Samuel said he’s happy to stay right where he’s at. In fact, that’s the plan – for now.

“Going into spring my thought is that I’m still going to be playing running back,” Samuel said. “If coaches decide to do anything with me, I’ll be glad to do whatever helps the team win.”

Head coach Mark Richt said that there could be several position changes in the works for Georgia players, but he declined to comment on any specifics, saying those announcements would likely come following national signing day when the Bulldogs have a better idea of what their new recruiting class will look like.

“I'm not saying there's some certainty that there'll be some changes but there's going to be some thought about that as a staff,” Richt said. “What you want to do at this point of the season, which is very young and brand new, is to get everybody in the right spot where they'll have the greatest chance of success.”

That’s the lingering question surrounding Samuel, who landed the starting tailback job to start the year after a strong fall camp coupled with an injury to Caleb King made the decision easy.

Samuel had 51 carries in Georgia’s first three games and had more than 85 yards of total offense in each, including a 16-carry, 104-yard game against Arkansas. But his yards-per-carry slipped throughout the early season, and when King returned from injury and freshman Washaun Ealey exploded onto the scene, Samuel’s role virtually disappeared. He failed to earn a single touch in any of the Bulldogs’ final four games.

Georgia has two running back commitments for 2010 so far -- Ken Malcolme and Alexander Ogletree (who is likely to end up at fullback or linebacker) -- and King and Ealey appeared to have secured the bulk of the carries out of the backfield by year's end.

“He got some nagging injuries, and I think he lost a little confidence at times,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “Richard’s a guy who needs some confidence, too. He’s relatively new at playing the position and developing those instincts. We’re not disappointed in Richard that he’ll never play running back. I think he has a bright future and a lot of ability, but it’s growing into his role. He just hasn’t figured it out totally yet, but I would not say Richard Samuel’s done and he’ll never play running back.”

He may not be done, but Richt publicly acknowledged that a move to linebacker, where Samuel played in high school, was a possibility earlier in the season. So the speculation continues, and that’s fine with Samuel.

While he wants to stay at running back, and he believes he can ultimately succeed there, he said the difference between playing tailback and linebacker isn’t such a broad leap for him.
“I liked both of them about the same,” Samuel said of his high school days. “It’s hard to choose between running back and linebacker.”

QB BATTLE BEGINS

When Georgia left the field following an Independence Bowl win over Texas A&M, it officially marked the end of Joe Cox’s career at Georgia and the start of a new era at the quarterback position.

Rising junior Logan Gray will enter the spring as the Bulldogs’ only experienced quarterback, but the Georgia coaches are still waiting to learn whether Gray even plans to play quarterback when practice begins again.

"I think he's trying to make a decision right now,” head coach Mark Richt said of Gray, who has considered moving to wide receiver where he could earn more playing time down the road. “I don't know for certain what he'll come up with but we want to respect what he wants to do. We didn't put a timetable on that."

Whether or not Gray swaps positions, it appears that freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger are far enough along that the coaching staff believes Georgia can win with one of them as the starter in 2010.

While both redshirted last season, Cox said they both showed enough on the practice field to inspire confidence.

“They both have the ability and they’re both really smart kids,” Cox said. “I look at them and I know that both of them are past where I was my true freshman year in understanding what’s going on. They adjusted rather quickly, and once both of them get a chance to compete with the first team and understand that it’s open and this is their chance to play, that does a lot for your confidence level.”

Confidence has been a key for both young quarterbacks, but both have made strides, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said.

For Mettenberger, the goal was to improve his footwork and fundamentals to match his impressive arm.

“He’s got to continue to improve with his foot quickness,” Bobo said. “Just seeing a lot of strides there, and he’s not just relying completely on his arm.”

Murray was clearly the better performer in Georgia’s scrimmages, and his preparation has been lauded by coaches and teammates, despite his role as a redshirt. But there are still small things to polish, Bobo said, if Murray wants to step into the starter’s role with confidence.

“Being able to progress faster, seeing it faster and understand the concepts, and that will come with reps,” Bobo said. “He can move in the pocket, he can use his legs and he has a really quick release. He can get rid of the ball quickly. He’s got a lot of confidence and belief that he can get it done, and that carries over when he’s in the huddle.”

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?

It’s hard for coaches to ask much more of A.J. Green, the All-SEC wide receiver who was virtually Georgia’s only playmaker during the early part of the 2009 season. But when putting his entire season into context, Bobo thinks there are still a few chinks in the armor that Green could improve upon during the offseason.

“He’s got to stay healthy for a full season,” Bobo said. “He’s got to get bigger and stronger. He’s got to be able to run routes with a little more consistency. There’s no denying his playmaking ability of catching the ball in the air and doing things when he has the ball in his hands. But it’s being more consistent and being able to finish the season and a good offseason in the weight room will help that.”

Green finished his freshman campaign by nearly eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark, but a nagging groin injury hampered him throughout the year.

As a sophomore, Green finished with 53 catches and 808 yards receiving, but he missed three of Georgia’s final five games and reached the end zone just once after Oct. 3.

“He’s a tough kid and a physical kid,” Bobo said. “I think he wants to stay healthy for the entire season so he can do what he does for 12 games, and there’s no telling how good he can be or how many plays he can make for a full season.”

SURGERY-FREE SPRING

A year ago, January was filled with doctor’s visits and trips to the hospital for many of Georgia’s players. This year, Richt said the Bulldogs are hopeful that they’ll avoid the operating table altogether before spring practice begins in March.

“I don’t think there’s any,” Richt said. “The surgeries that have already happened are the only ones we anticipate this offseason, and that would be tremendous for us.”

Right tackle Josh Davis, who underwent two offseason shoulder surgeries last year, missed Georgia’s bowl game against Texas A&M, but Richt said he should be fine to return for spring practice.

Left tackle Trinton Sturdivant, who tore his ACL for the second straight season in Georgia’s opener against Oklahoma State, isn’t likely to participate in spring drills, Richt said, but is recovering quickly.

“I am glad it’s nothing serious with Josh and that he’ll be back and won’t have to deal with any offseason surgery,” Richt said. “I don’t think we expect Trinton to participate in any live contact in the spring, although we think he’ll be far enough along to do some walkthroughs.”

ON THEIR OWN

For the past four years, Kade Weston, Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins have been virtually inseparable as Georgia’s big three defensive tackles. But now all three are preparing for the NFL draft, and Weston said he’s still getting used to the idea of life without his partners in crime.

"Right now, it’s starting to be a business," Weston said. "It can’t be, oh, we want to go here together. It’s what’s best for me from a business perspective.”

TOUGH LOVE

In the wake of scandals at Texas Tech and Kansas, coaches are getting a more critical look at how they motivate and push their players, but Richt said that won’t make much difference in Georgia’s preparations.

“It won’t change one thing in regard to what we’re trying to get accomplished on the field,” Richt said. “I want our coaches to push the young men to do their very best. Not many young men can be at their best unless someone pushes them beyond their comfort zone. But there’s a way to do that that’s well within what every parent would want to be done.”

Score One for Democracy

Just got this note from our pal ChicagoDawg, who is in Beijing for work...

David – I thought you would get a kick out of knowing that you are officially banned in China. I am in Beijing this week on business and your blog is not accessible. I suspect at some point in the past it was discovered that you were sending subversive messages via your blog and every reference to Willie Martinez was actually code for the “central government.”

And to think, my high school teachers said I'd never amount to anything.

Smart Money Isn't on Kirby

For those of you still holding out hope that Kirby Smart will be the next Georgia defensive coordinator, it might be time to let go.

Gentry Estes of the Mobile Press-Register has some interesting quotes from Smart on his blog today that seem to support the general consensus that Smart and Georgia ain't happening.

"It's been great," Smart said. "It's been great having these players and doing this, and I'm looking forward to it next year. I mean, we've got a lot of good players coming back."

And as for moving on, Smart said he might be interested in a head coaching job, but even that wasn't something he's in a rush to attain.

"If a better opportunity presents itself, then obviously that's something down the road. But young as I am, I'm happy to be where I'm at and happy to be at University of Alabama."

What I've been hearing all along is that there was never much mutual interest from Smart or Georgia beyond some basic discussions (and possibly a little lobbying by Smart's good friend, Mike Bobo). So is there still a possibility that Smart returns to Georgia as the DC? I suppose, but at this point, it's a long shot at best.

Sunday Links (1/3)

I wanted to start today with a comment, posted anonymously:

"why oh why have we not hired a DC yet...this is so annoying. now ESPN's rumor central says it could be mid January before we announce and they are proclaiming it will hurt recruiting...ANNOYING."

First off, if you only keep one New Year's resolution this year, let it be to stop reading ESPN's rumor board. Remember when they said Mark Richt was getting fired so Georgia could hire Charlie Strong? Or remember when they said there was an 80 percent chance Mark Stoops was getting the DC job, even though they simply misread a story saying that about the Florida State job?

Trust me, they know less about what's going on than you do. All they're doing is combing through stories on other sites and either drawing outlandish conclusions or, potentially, just making things up.

I'd also recommend avoiding FootballCoachScoop.com as well. Perhaps the least integrity of any site I've ever seen that professes to actually cover sports.

Secondly, I hate to sound like Mark Richt when I write this but... the coaching hire will happen when it happens. There's really no point in fretting over the when part of it, because it will do you no good.

Besides, what's the worst case scenario? Georgia misses out on one, maybe two recruits? That's probably unlikely, but even if it's true, isn't that much better than dropping close to a million bucks and several years of games wasted on the wrong coordinator? Yes, we'd all like to see this happen sooner than later -- particularly me, who would LOVE a vacation -- but the most important thing is that Richt finds the right person for the job.

Besides, signing day is still six weeks away, and while the new DC might be another carrot for Georgia to dangle, that's all just sizzle. Mark Richt is the steak. He's why recruits come to Georgia, and he's no doubt doing a thorough job of convincing his guys that he has their best interests at heart when making this hire.

Of course, it does behoove Richt to get something done in the next week to 10 days, both to get the rest of the coaching staff in place in time to make some in-home visits before signing day and to talk to players like Rennie Curran and Reshad Jones about their NFL decisions. But again, those are short-term issues, and Richt is making a long-term hire.

The other two major concerns I've heard from fans are these:

1.) The media is overplaying the angle that Richt has been turned down by too many potential assistants.

2.) Richt looks like an idiot because he's been turned down by too many potential assistants.

While the two statements seem like they're mutually exclusive, there's probably a kernel of truth to both.

On one hand, the Bulldogs' DC search is really the big news around Georgia (which should frustrate the heck out of Tech fans, right?) and the media is bound to be covering it as extensively as possible. But Richt isn't talking about it, so that leaves two other possibilities for reporters, bloggers and TV and radio types -- they can track down leads from other places or they can speculate endlessly.

There have been some solid leads tracked down, and some of those leads -- from Bud Foster to Vic Koenning to John Chavis -- have turned out to be pretty accurate. At least as far as we know. Again, Richt isn't talking, and what we know about hearing from the potential hires is that it is but one side of an often complex story.

In the cases of Foster and Chavis, both got new deals out of their dalliances with Georgia, so it behooves them to talk up the level of interest UGA had. I'm not saying they're lying -- in fact, I'd probably argue that most of what they've said has been accurate and professional -- but again, it's their version of events. In Koenning's case, he wanted to come to Georgia, and Georgia had at least moderate interest in bringing him in, but because the Bulldogs were slow to move, the situation was complicated by what happened at Illinois.

So what do we have? We have lots of speculation, which would be fine if so much of it wasn't digested by fans as if it were more substantive than that. We have at least three coaches who were approached about the job who have wound up with new contracts from someone other than Georgia. And we have Mark Richt, still waiting silently.

So yes... the dire developments have been a bit overstated.

And yes... from the outside, Richt is looking a little silly right now. After all, it's one thing to have a short list of candidates. It's another to have a wish list. It at least appears like it has been more of the latter so far.

But again, that's all the more reason not to rush to remedy the situation. Because if Richt looks bad now (and I'm not sure he should -- after all, he's aimed high), he'll look far worse if he brings in someone who can't handle the job. The headlines this time next year will be all about how he failed to bring in a real DC like Foster or Chavis or Kirby Smart.

What behooves Richt, regardless of the current public perception, is to make sure he has the right guy in the end. Because if Georgia's defense shaves 10 points per game off their total from 2009 next season, no one will even remember that Foster and Chavis and Smart were discussed at all, and the 2011 recruiting class will be looking at UGA as a destination for big-time defenders.

Now, on to some links...

-- The Leather Helmet Blog takes a closer look at a couple of the potential DC candidates now coaching in the NFL.

-- Dick Bumpas' name won't seem to disappear in the coaching rumors, but Macon Dawg thinks that maybe it should.

-- Marc Weiszer looks at the best records during the 2000s in college football and sees Georgia comes up ninth. That's pretty solid, but what jumps out at me is this: Of the eight programs ahead of UGA, two play in mid-major conferences (so presumably, Boise State and TCU wouldn't have enjoyed quite that success playing 10 years in the SEC); Of the top 10, the SEC has three teams. The Big 12 is the only other conference with more than one (2 - Oklahoma and Texas); And other than the non-BCS teams, every team ahead of Georgia on the list has a national title in the 2000s.

-- If I had a criticism of Mark Richt after the 2007 and 2008 seasons, it's that he put a bit too much stock in the team's strong finish. Hey, the Sugar Bowl was a big win, but Hawaii was hardly a worthy adversary. And 10 wins is generally a good thing, but it still constituted a disappointment a year ago. I think Richt allowed those things to cloud his judgment about some of the underlying problems.

This year, he's talking up the end of the season again. The difference is that he made changes that needed to be made anyway, and that's extremely commendable.

-- This is from a few days ago, but it's a great photo essay of the Independence Bowl from Friends of the Program. It really gives you a sense of the excitement that is Shreveport, La.

-- Da'Rick Rogers didn't exactly light it up in the Under Armour All-Star game.

-- I enjoyed Every Day Should Be Saturday's thoughts on the Sugar Bowl... and Brian Billick really didn't suck. Which was a surprise.

-- Hunker Down Dawg has the perfect analogy to the Mike Leach situation at Texas Tech.

-- Get the Picture tries to make sense of everything that's happening at Texas Tech right now, and this section sort of jumped out at me...

"Picking a fight with ESPN is a risky strategy, as we’re all seeing right now."

I'm not arguing with the Senator -- because he's probably right -- but is that really what's going on? Is this really a fight that involves ESPN? I've only been following the story in bits and pieces, but it does sort of feel that way, right? First because the primary player involved is the son of ESPN's Craig James. Second, because ESPN is covering the story so extensively.

But really, is ESPN picking sides? Is this about fighting ESPN? And should ESPN be "fighting" in a story it's covering, regardless of whether or not Leach is trying to pick a fight?

I don't know the answers, but I think think the fact that we're asking them -- and the fact that many fans are openly rooting for Leach simply because they dislike ESPN -- goes to show what happens when a network that size starts shirking its journalistic responsibilities in favor of ratings. ESPN is the single biggest purveyor of sports news, and the vast majority of the people I talk to simply don't trust much of what the network reports.

-- I don't watch "Saturday Night Live" often anymore, but I will make it a point not to miss Charles Barkley as host.

-- I have seen the future for me, and it doesn't end well. So long, Washington Times sports section.

-- Here's a look at some commemorative stamps the postal service will be releasing this year. I like the impressionist artists and the Negro Leagues ones quite a bit.

-- The new "Ghostbusters" film will start shooting next summer. Woo-hoo! (I think.)

-- Focus offers the 11 best businesses on TV.

-- Ever wonder what happened to '90s alt bands The Verve Pipe and Presidents of the United States of America? You'll be surprised.

-- And finally, I am mother friggin' tired of these mother friggin' snakes in this mother friggin' trailer!

Go Eagles!

Catching Up With... Sean Jones

It has been way too long since we've done one of these, but with our All-Decade team coming out last week and the Philadelphia Eagles on the verge of a huge game against Dallas, this seemed like the perfect time to catch up with one of my favorite former Bulldogs, Sean Jones.

Sean is currently a starting safety with the Eagles, but he spent his college career in Athens, helping Georgia to the 2002 SEC championship and earning All-American honors a year later. Here's what he had to say about the All-Decade team, the coaching search at Georgia and, of course, his soothing of my concerns about this week's big game...

David Hale: We did a feature a few weeks ago where we let readers vote on the best Georgia players of the decade at each position. I think safety was one of the tightest votes, with you, Thomas Davis and Greg Blue all getting a lot of support. So I've got to put you on the spot right away -- who would get your vote?

Sean Jones: You know I'm going to say myself. Nah, but Thomas Davis and Greg Blue, they definitely had a lot of big plays at Georgia. They were an impact that we needed, and I think we all played better, all played our best football when we were out there on the field together. I think all three deserve credit.

DH: Do you still keep up with those guys and share a little trash talk about back in the day?

SJ: Oh definitely. The University of Georgia, it seems like everybody still talks to each other. No matter what year you come in, I know I still talk to a lot of guys I went to school with. Thomas Davis is one of my best friends, Greg Blue is a good friend. I actually went to TD's wedding this past year and we had a chance to get together and go to the LSU game together. It's always fun getting back to Athens and seeing all the guys and getting back to how it used to be when we were back in college.

DH: Well speaking of catching up with old teammates, Philly has sort of become a second home for Bulldogs. You have big Max Jean-Gilles, Reggie Brown, Will Witherspoon and Chris Clemons all up there. What's that like having so many former teammates playing with you now?

SJ: That's great, man. Just seeing guys you went to school with, guys you pretty much grew up with, become the man. The Philadelphia Eagles' colors are green, but you see a lot of red walking around here every day. Our equipment guy (at Georgia) sent us a care package so we're definitely rocking a lot of the UGA stuff around here. And it's fun. It's fun to see guys you grew up around and went to school with, and now playing professional football together and winning and going to the playoffs. It's a testament to what kind of program the University of Georgia has and the kind of work Mark Richt did for us.

DH: On that topic, what do you think of the pro prospects for Georgia's current safety, Reshad Jones? I know he considered leaving early last year, and Thomas Davis was one of those people who told him to stay in school. I guess he's going through a similar decision process now. What would you tell him to do?

SJ: I haven't actually talked to any of them, but the NFL, it's definitely a business. It's definitely fun though. It's a job, but it's also fun. It's the same thing as playing college football but you get paid for it and you have to go out there and win and you have to go out there and make plays. It's definitely more intense football. I think Reshad is definitely a professional football player, and I think he has great cache in the draft. With hard work and dedication, I think he's going to be OK in the league.

DH: I know you came up under Willie Martinez as your position coach, although Brian Van Gorder was the coordinator when you were there. What was your reaction the changes on Georgia's coaching staff last month?

SJ: It's always tough because we pretty much were a family out there when I was there. When Mark Richt came in, he brought in Willie and Van Gorder, and I just remember those days from the mat drills to the summer workouts to just pushing us. But at the same time, he developed us in our character, our toughness to be men, and I think we all remember that. It's unfortunate that the university had to move on, because Coach Martinez was definitely one of the best DB coaches I've ever had. I know they're going to move on to do great things ahead though, so I'm not too concerned about that issue. But it's still hard. I still talk to Willie Martinez, Coach G, Coach Richt. It's a family atmosphere and I'm glad I went to Georgia for that reason.

DH: There are obviously a ton of rumors swirling about who the next defensive coordinator is going to be. Is that something you guys in the NFL still pay attention to? Are you following the story?

SJ: I definitely do. It's a lot invested in UGA. It's like being at home, looking back at your high school teams back at home and seeing how your brothers and family are doing. I definitely keep tabs, I'm on top of everything, every big game, every week who they play. I know all the guys on the team. We might not be able to get back to the games as much as we'd like to, but there's definitely a lot of guys in the NFL looking back and wishing that they all do well.

DH: A few of the names out there in the DC search are current NFL guys. Do you think an NFL coach would succeed at Georgia or is there a big difference between coaching players in the pros and coaching in college?

SJ: I really don't think it's an NFL or a college thing. I think it's just getting the right coach, the right pick for that job. We want a coach that's a good coach, knows football well, knows the game plan, we want a coach that gets pressure, that motivates the guys. But we still want a coach that's as good a man, as good a person off the field. So we want to balance that, balance football and being a good guy that's going to help raise the kids, build character and make them better men when they grow up.

DH: I guess this is off topic a bit, but seems to be the big conversation this week -- what did you think about Urban Meyer first quitting then taking a leave of absence?

SJ: I actually saw it and it kind of shocked me when he said he was going to stop coaching. I definitely respect that decision because we love this game so much, but it's definitely still a game. You want to go out there and live life and enjoy your family and enjoy everything because you never know when your last day will be. So I respect that decision for him to see the whole big picture and try to get healthy so he can get back to the game he loves.

DH: OK, last question -- I'm a huge Eagles fan, and I need you to guarantee me a win this weekend in Dallas.

SJ: Oh, I'm definitely guaranteeing that, man. Going down to Dallas, we're playing for the East championship, playing for a bye, so it's a lot on this game and I think we're definitely ready. We're ready for this challenge and we're going to go down there and get the win.

Music to my ears… Hopefully Sean backs it up on the field. Big thanks to Sean for his time in doing this interview. Hopefully we'll have a few more of these coming up soon.

Picking the Winners: Bowl Season (Part 4)

And the losers keep coming...

JANUARY 2

International Bowl (Toronto): South Florida (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois (7-5)
Spread: South Florida (-6.5)

Dan: Simply put in this game: A Big East team only giving 6.5 to a MAC team that has the same record has to be considered a gift. It has to be. Do not overthink this one. And I have nothing else to say about this game other than South Florida is based in Tampa and Tampa would be a fun place to go to college… South Florida 34, Northern Illinois 21.

Dave: Hey, South Florida Bulls, congrats on your season, eh. Here's everything you'll need to know a-boot your bowl vacation: You'll leave sunny Tampa and travel to the Great White North to… Canada! Don't forget your passports. Customs can be a real bear, eh. But if you like maple syrup and LaBatt's, oh my are you in for a treat! Oh, and those bowl gift packages you hear so much about… they're legit! Here's what you get: A half-pound of Canadian bacon (or as we call it up here in Toronto, "bacon"), a Maple Leafs parka furnished by the good folks at Starter, Snow's "Greatest Hits," a copy of "Strange Brew" on Beta (we don't have VHS up here), a coupon for one free lap in our Olympic-sized pool filled with Molson, and, of course, a date with Alanis Morissette at the finest waffle emporium Canada has to offer. Oh, and one last thing, don't forget our fields up here are 110 yards (or as we call 'em, "meters"). Have fun, eh!… South Florida 36, Northern Illinois 10.

PapaJohns.com Bowl (Birmingham, Ala.): Connecticut (7-5) vs. South Carolina (7-5)
Spread: South Carolina (-4.5)

Dan: Poor South Carolina. Relegated to the Papa Johns Cowl with their faithful having to travel to Birmingham for a game. I can think of about 20 places I’d want to spend New Year's and Birmingham is definitely not on that list. Every year I feel that South Carolina does this. They do just enough to finish 6-6 or 7-5 and leave their faithful wondering what if. After they got done spanking Clemson in the final game of the year our good friend from Atlanta sent me a text explaining how his team would be 10-2 or 9-3 every year if they played in the ACC. This sort of banter goes back and forth every year between us. So I was left wondering… would I rather be mediocre in the SEC every year or the top dog in the ACC every year? I think I’d rather be the top dog. So guess what buddy… you don’t play in the ACC. Enjoy the Papa Johns Bowl this year and the Music City Bowl next year. One day you’ll play on New Years Day. One day. But until then keep wondering what if… South Carolina 28, Connecticut 17.

Dave: Here's the thing about bowl sponsorships… I've never even heard of half the sponsors. I had to ask about six people in Shreveport before someone could tell me what Advocare V100 was. Gaylord Hotels is just funny. Beef O Brady's bought their sponsorship rights like 12 minutes before kickoff. The Emerald Bowl is actually sponsored by a brand of nuts. Who knew? And yet, there are some bowl sponsorships that stand out. PapaJohns.com is one of them.

Here's the story: I have a legitimate phobia about ordering pizzas over the phone. I distinctly remember my mother, who is notorious for being indifferent in situations that call for immediate decision making, forcing me to order Dominos one time when I was probably 12 or 13 -- prime self-confidence-building age. Anyway, I told her I didn't want to because I didn't know what I was supposed to be ordering. She told me to do it anyway. So I called… I ordered two pizzas… and of course there were follow-up questions. And of course, I didn't know the answers. And of course, my mother was no help in providing them. On the other end, the Dominos employee was making fun of me and then yelled at me to hang up and call back when I knew what I wanted. It was traumatizing. (And yes, I realize now the absurdity of being laughed at by a guy answering phones at Dominos.)

Anyway, for years after that, I refused to order a pizza over the phone. I'd force someone else to do it or I'd simply go out and order in person. I couldn't bring myself to dial the numbers and place the order on my own. And then, lo and behold, a bowl game comes on the TV informing me that Papa John's, the most innovative pizza delivery service in history, now has a Web site that will allow me to order pizza over the Intergoogles. It was like a giant weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Suddenly the world of food delivery was my oyster. I was a new man. It changed my life.

So God bless you, PapaJohns.com Bowl. You gave me the freedom to come home drunk at 2 a.m. and order a greasy late-night treat without having to feel like an idiot… even if I did misspell my name on the order form… Connecticut 21, South Carolina 20.

Cotton Bowl (Dallas): Oklahoma State (9-3) vs. Ole Miss (8-4)
Spread: Ole Miss (-3)

Dan: This is my top pick of the bowl season… Oklahoma State has regressed as the year has gone on. I was shocked to see that they were even 9-3. Huh? Really? They will not know what to do with themselves when they see Dexter McCluster from Ole Miss, one of my favorite college players by the way.

On another note, I was recently informed that Oxford, Miss. is probably one of the coolest places to watch a college game and just a generally awesome town. I was SHOCKED by this news. Really? Mississippi has something to offer to America? Wow. That must be my Northern bias I guess because I naturally assumed that Mississippi was a dump. Lol. But I will take people's word on this subject. I guess everyone probably thinks Jersey is a dump where I live, so to each their own. When in reality Jersey has a few things to offer too with the best part being the shore.

As for this game Ole Miss rolls… Mississippi 38, Oklahoma State 17.

Dave: Here's what I love about this picks column… It was just last month I spent a significant portion of our picks column discussing my favorite SEC towns and talking about how I'd never been to Oxford and how great it was. But Dan doesn't read that. He just moves ahead with his day like my picks don't matter. Well guess what, Danny Boy… I'm working on picking winners at a 39 percent clip! That is money in the bank, and you're missing out.

Anyway, this game, of course, is being played in Jerruh's World on Jan. 2 -- one day before the Eagles and Cowboys face off in the regular-season finale in Dallas to decide who will win the NFC East. If the Birds win, they'll be the No. 2 seed in the NFC and earn a first-round bye. Sweet. If they lose, they could potentially drop all the way to the No. 6 seed and not even have a home game. Not-so-sweet. And making things even more intense on Sunday, I'm playing in my fantasy football championship game. (And as a side note, I'm playing against a guy who used the computer to autodraft his team and selected four tight ends on draft day. This is why I hate fantasy football.) My last two trips to our fantasy league Super Bowl met with peril, and I lost both games. I'm hoping the third time is a charm this season, but it's really just too much on the line. Fantasy money, Eagles' playoff hopes, potentially having to hear crap from my friends who like Dallas for an entire year… this is why it's total B.S. that you can't buy kegs on Sunday in Georgia.

Of course, before we get to all that, I have to pick this game, and hopefully this is gets all my bad luck out of the city of Dallas before the Birds kick off… Ole Miss 45, Oklahoma State 17.

Liberty Bowl (Memphis, Tenn.): East Carolina (9-4) vs. Arkansas (7-5)
Spread: Arkansas (-8)

Dan: Is this why you hired Bobby Petrino, Arkansas fans? So you could go to the Liberty Bowl? Happy? Remember that when Houston Nutt was your coach you used to regularly play on New Year's Day? Now you are left playing in the Liberty Bowl. Arkansas is the Clemson of the SEC -- a school that thinks they are better than they actually are.Quite pathetic if you ask me.

As for this game, they should not be laying more than a TD to anyone. ECU saw a similar offensive team in Houston recently and was somewhat able to shut them down. I think they’ll be able to do that here as well… Arkansas 27, East Carolina 21.

Dave: OK, so I haven't taken these picks too seriously since starting bowl season with an 0-6 record. I get that. But let's take a bit of a closer look at this game, just for the fun of it.

On the surface, East Carolina's defense appears to be decent. They rank first in Conference USA in scoring defense, allowing just a shade over 22 points a game. Not too shabby.

But look closer: The Pirates are 110th nationally in pass defense (and astoundingly, C-USA has eight teams ranked 99th or worse) allowing 262 yards per game through the air. In three of their four biggest games this year -- vs. North Carolina, West Virginia and Houston -- they allowed an average of 33 points per game. On Virginia Tech get stuffed among big-name teams, and as Dan has told us numerous times, Virginia Tech simply can't throw the football well. And then we look at East Carolina's opponent for this game -- Arkansas, and cannon-armed QB Ryan Mallett. I foresee trouble for the Pirates.

Now, back to utter ridiculousness for a second… my buddy posed this question to me yesterday while watching the Rose Bowl: "Jim Tressel has become completely known for the sweater vest look. He owns it. So… if you were a college football coach, what would be your look?"

My answer: An ascot. I think people would have to respect a college coach who dressed as well as Charles Nelson Reilly.

My buddy's answer? A full white Reebok track suit. I liked the idea, but I think Dan's answer was even better. He suggested wearing the full football uniform, including pads. This made me laugh out loud when I pictured Joe Paterno trudging up and down the sidelines with shoulder pads and a helmet on.

I also suggested a sombrero would probably command a great deal of respect on the sideline, but I wanted more ideas. So I reposted the question on Twitter. Here's some of our top results...

@ThinkingBulldog suggested a bolo tie. That'd be a solid choice for the Alamo Bowl.

@SoundGuy79 says a coach wearing a cape would get some newsprint. I couldn't agree more.

@mosmyownspace recommended a hoop skirt. I'd be worried about coaching on a windy day though.

I loved this one from @jasbragg, who wrote: "I'd go for more of The Dude look. Shades, robe, sirty undershirt. Wait, I'd prob look like Belichick." Classic.

@jdfelt knows how to look classy: "blue blazer. White button down. Khakis. Braided Belt. Loafers - no socks." Right from the gridiron to the schooner. Beautiful.

Our pal @PaulDehnerJr took time out from covering the Sugar Bowl to suggest a full suit of armor including a lance. This seems like a real possibility at Mike Leach's next gig.

@HitchJack suggests a tuxedo t-shirt because, "it says 'im formal...but i like to party'." HitchJack, your tweets are a like a combination of Fergie and Jesus.

@Rex Robinson5's suggestion? "Wife beater, tighty whiteys and knee high socks with Chuck Taylors." I feel like a kicker could probably get away with that.

@FrankPhronen chimes in with this: "I'd slick my hair back and wear a solid white turtleneck with a black dickey underneath." I feel like I've seen Woody Hayes actually wear that in some grainy clips from the '70s. Or at least Mike Brady.

@hamptanner tried to pull from a few ideas and suggested the tuxedo tshirt and cape but would top the ensemble off with some parachute pants. You can't touch that!

But I think the classiest look comes from our friend @JeffOstenson who suggests: "Top hat. Hands down. Maybe monocle to top it off." Ah, the look of pure genius.

Excellent suggestions, all of them. And to finish up on the game, let's say… Arkansas 45, East Carolina 31.

Alamo Bowl (San Antonio, Texas): Texas Tech (8-4) vs. Michigan State (6-6)
Spread: Texas Tech (-7.5)

Dan: Quick… name Michigan State's best win? I guess it was against that powerhouse Northwestern program. That was the only win they have against bowl eligible teams. And they have a slew of suspensions to deal with. Yes they do. Texas A&M is starting to get healthy and actually has a decent defense and good offense. So I’ll take the Red Raiders… Texas Tech 41, Michigan State 20.

Dave: OK, which New Year's 2010 story is funnier -- Mike Leach locking Craig James' kid in an electrical closet for being a pansy or Gilbert Arenas pulling a gun on Javaris Crittenton over a gambling debt? I mean, they're both great. It's so hard to choose.

Of course, here's my favorite part about the Mike Leach fiasco, from ESPN's story:

Two days later, while the Red Raiders practiced at Jones AT&T Stadium, James was placed in a room that is used for postgame interviews involving opposing coaches and players. James told school officials he was placed in an electrical closet inside the room.

"I walked Adam to the room, which was at least as big as a two-car garage," Pincock wrote.

When you want to know what life as a sports writer is really like, think about those three sentences. Adam James is angry about being put into a room that is used for visiting media interviews that the trainer describes as "as big as a two-car garage." Imagine, if you will, that two car garage filled with three dozen overweight media members, some of whom are carrying oversized video cameras and asking dumb questions as aggressively as possible while sports information department employees shuffle players in and out. That's my daily life. But it gets Mike Leach fired? I can only assume that James missed out on the press box meal and was angry about it.

Anyway, I'm not going to venture to guess what actually happened here, but I will predict a hefty payout on Texas Tech's part. But I'm thinking, particularly after last year's contract issues, they were just happy to be rid of Leach. I'm sure Tommy Tuberville will do fine there until the administration decides they hate him, too. Fun times.

As for the game, if Urban Meyer take a six-month vacation gets Florida fired up, I'm betting the firing of the scurvy sea captain at Texas Tech provides enough motivation for a win in this one… Texas Tech 28, Michigan State 14.

JANUARY 4

Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.): Texas Christian (12-0) vs. Boise State (12-0)
Spread: TCU (-7)

Dan: I for one am disappointed that these two teams are left playing each other. I would have liked each to be matched up against a BCS conference team to see what they really are made of. I swear the big boys did this so they wouldn’t need to be embarrassed by the little guys. That is my story and I’m sticking to it.

Speaking of embarrassing, here is a good story from our younger days: One night a few of us went to the Party Block in Ocean City, Md. Ocean City is an OK place to party, and the party block had three bars in one and lots of easy targets.

So we head out partying and do lots of Jager shots and car bombs and have a good ole time and throw our hats in the ring with a bunch of ladies. On that night, none of us were successful so we decided to head home. Well all of us except for our one friend. He thought it was a good idea to get pizza. Thirty minutes passed and we can’t find him so we decide to go home. Mind you, the house we used to stay at was a good 15-minute ride from the party block so we had no idea how this guy would get home. The next morning around 9:30 a.m. he comes stumbling in. I go, “Where were you?” I expected some crazy story about how he was partying all night or met some girl. His reply" “I don’t know what happened but when I started remembering things it was 7 a.m. and I was in a parking garage. That is all I know.”

Yup that sums up our lives back then. What does this mean about TCU and Boise game? Well I don’t know. Just that Boise stays within the number… TCU 27, Boise State 21.

Dave: I'm boycotting discussing this game as a protest against the utter ridiculousness of making these two teams play each other rather than giving them a shot at embarrassing Georgia Tech. It's pretty sad when the Fiesta Bowl is funneling money illegally to politicians and I consider that only the second most corrupt thing about this game. I hope they at least have the decency to dye the field blue… TCU 31, Boise State 21.

JANUARY 5

Orange Bowl (Miami): Georgia Tech (11-2) vs. Iowa (10-2)
Spread: Georgia Tech (-4)

Dan: I wonder if Iowa City is one of those sneaky fun towns. You know those places. You do not expect them to be very fun, but they are the only game in town, have tons of bars, and attract a lot of talent resulting in them being a great place to hang out and party. Since Iowa is the major university in the state, I bet that is Iowa City. Sure it is Iowa, but they have tons of bars and a good time all around. I bet it is the kind of place where everyone is always doing Jager bombs, car combs, whiskey bombs… you name it. Iowa City is the place to be! Well that is what I think at least. For this game the ACC has been a joke so far during bowl season and I do not see that stopping now… Iowa 21, Georgia Tech 20.

Dave: Truth be told, I used to like Georgia Tech. Not in any meaningful way. I mean, I didn't root for them or anything. But they were at least likable. You had Calvin Johnson, who was so talented you had to enjoy watching him. You had Tashard Choice, who to this day is one of the nicest kids I've interviewed. You had Reggie Ball, who was just a walking punchline and always made for good column-writing fodder. I wrote a piece after the 2006 ACC title game comparing Reggie to the lazy guy in your office who tries to take the credit for when a sales pitch goes well, only he slept in the car while you made the pitch. People loved it. And then you had Chan Gailey, who was a perfect foil to my early days as a reporter.

In my first press conference with Chan, I made the mistake of asking a question about seniors on the team and mentioned Reggie Ball, who was a junior at the time. I'd meant to say "veterans" instead of "seniors" but I was a little groggy from a three-hour drive from Albany, and he made sure to call me out on it. We had several other conflicts like this over my two years covering him, too. But the best story was no doubt this one...

I was working on a project on recruiting over the summer and had set up interview times with Mark Richt and Chan to get some quotes. It was June, and it just so happened to coincide with a convention a few of my old friends from San Diego were attending in Atlanta. So I drove up to Athens and did a full day's worth of interviews with Richt and a few other UGA coaches, then headed to Atlanta where I was going to meet up with my friends of the evening before a morning interview with Chan.

Not surprisingly, the night got a little crazy. At one point, my buddy was behind the bar drinking directly from a tap of Guinness.

Anyway, even in my debilitated state, I remembered I had to be in Chan's office at 8:30 the next morning, so I set the alarm on my phone. Unfortunately I must have done a bad job of setting it ("why separate knobs!") because at 8:45 I woke up to a phone call from the Georgia Tech SID wondering where I was. Of course I lied and said the hotel failed to give me the wake-up call I'd ordered and told her I was on my way.

I jumped in the shower, was dressed and in my car in about 11 minutes. I arrived at the Tech football offices and was sweating bullets. I already knew Chan hated me -- after all, he'd made a point to call me out on something I'd done wrong during virtually every encounter I'd had with him put to that point -- and I was expecting the worst. I was armed with a valid excuse, but I didn't figure it would matter. I knew he'd be mad regardless of why I was late.

So, after a few minutes of waiting, they show me into his office, where Chan is sitting behind a huge wooden desk shuffling through some papers. I come in, shake his hand and apologize profusely. He tells me to have a seat, which I do, and he sits and takes a long look at me. Feeling a little overwhelmed, I just start by explaining my story angle… this whole in-depth background on why I was doing this story and what I hoped he might be able to help me with and just way, way more information that he would want or need.

Silence.

He stares at me for what seemed like an hour, leans back in his chair, takes a deep breath and says, "So how was last night?"

All the blood must have rushed from my head (though most of the "blood" was probably diluted heavily by Jack Daniels still) and he gave me a big grin and said, "I'm just messin' with ya, kid." He went on to answer every question I had and it was by far the most pleasant conversation I ever had with the man, despite it being, by far, the most irresponsible I've ever been as a journalist.

Anyway, those were the halcyon days at Tech. Now? Eh, they're impossible to like. Two slightly better-than-average seasons and they think the world of themselves. They're actually a decent offense and Josh Nesbitt seems like a solid QB. That's no fun. We need Reggie to make fun of! Paul Johnson's a solid coach with a stern attitude, but something tells me he wouldn't find me showing up for an interview 45 minutes late because I overslept all that amusing. There's no personality to these guys. I miss Chan… Georgia Tech 27, Iowa 21.

JANUARY 6

GMAC Bowl (Mobile, Ala.): Central Michigan (11-2) vs. Troy (9-3)
Spread: Central Michigan (-3.5)

Dan: Earlier in this column I made fun of a bowl game that was being held in Birmingham. Well it looks like it actually can get worse. There is a bowl game in Mobile. That has to be worse.

Also I think this bowl name should be changed from the GMAC Bowl to the United States Taxpayers Bowl. I mean we, the taxpayers, do own GMAC now . . . no? They did just received their third bailout from the U.S. Government . . . no? Oh wait this post is supposed to be fun and not touch upon those issues that would drive you nuts. As for this game Central Michigan is a machine. I do not see them losing in this one… Central Michigan 31, Troy 17.

Dave: I'm so angry that I won three games in the last round of picks. That more than doubled my previous total! It totally threw off my mojo.

In fact, here's a great text I got from Dan regarding our picks: "I've had a nice last two days fading my picks on your blog… hahaha… just had Ohio State… Ridiculous I just realized I should fade myself!"

Seriously, I hope you all have had the decency to do the same and, ideally, start a bit earlier. This has been an impressive run. Do you realize if I'd simply bet $100 on every bowl game so far and taken the opposite of what I picked here, I'd be up $1,500 already? And there are still nine more games left! I'm money in the bank.

And when you get to the point I'm at, you really have nothing left but to celebrate failure. Because I always say that, if you're going to be bad, you might as well be really bad. I had a friend get a 4 on an English exam one time. That's embarrassing. I mean, it means you tried and still got a 4. I'd much rather a zero. I'm not sure this is a zero -- and in fact, it's probably more like a 4 -- but hey, it's still impressive, right? Right? Come on! I need this!… Troy 21, Central Michigan 20.

Bowl record: Dan 11-14, Dave 5-20.
Regular Season record: Dan 59-70-3, Dave 57-72-3.
Overall record: Dan 70-84-3 (.455), Dave 62-92-3 (.404)

One more game to go… stay tuned for our national championship game predictions later this week...

Happy 2010!

Bulldogs Blog is still celebrating Newmanium. We'll be back with new posts tomorrow. Hope your 2010 is off to a great start.