Decision day

Well, today is the day hopefully our recruiting train begins to take off in a big way. Earlier today, Deion Barnes out of Philadelphia, Pa, selected Penn State. NO SURPRISE there, I gave us a 1% chance with him just because he did visit and because we were in his final 2. But, it is virtually impossible to grab a recruit out of that state that Penn State wants. Let's face it, it is hard for the northern schools to come south to get kids unless a kid grew up there or has family there (See Cam Heyward as an example). If you have lived in warm weather, in most cases you want to stay put. But, losing a kid to Penn State is not that hard to swallow, we likely will not meet them except in a Florida bowl game.

This evening at 5:30, Jay Rome announces his decision. One that he wanted to make at the Under Armour game but was told you waited to late to let us know??? Anyway, seems he has known his college choice for at least 2-3 weeks, most expect he lands at UGA. I suspect that as well but certainly he should come in knowing a possible RS is in his future. That is one position where we are simply loaded. Maybe he can take a redshirt his first year and play for the hoops team who can use a big guy his size to at least grab some boards, we will lose our beef in the middle after this season. At 7pm, Malcolm Mitchell decides at a local restaurant in Valdosta. I have long thought he was a lock to Bama but many insiders are really believing he will pick UGA tonight, fingers crossed as Mitchell to me could make an immediate impact for us this fall playing WR or in the return game, he has blazing speed. So, Rome we need for his future potential and keep us as tight end U, Mitchell we need because he is an outstanding athlete and if he is ready to play, we have a need at WR this upcoming year.

Now, I read that Rome is driving to Tallahassee to make his pick, which is 80 miles from Valdosta, because of the ESPNU hookup?? Anyway, Ray Drew has said he will attend both announcements, does that mean Ray will drive to Tally, then immediately jump in a car and head back to Valdosta?? I imagine you can make that trip in about an hour and a half but Ray will certainly be winded will he not? I am now hearing Drew will not make the trips to either annoucement.

Well, looks like Searels will be leaving, from what I have heard at least. I hate the timing of it but really am not sorry to see him go. I have not been overly impressed with him to be honest. Now, who to replace him. The obvious choices, as I heard Buck Belue say yesterday on his show, Mac McWhorter or Hugh Nall because they have UGA ties of course. In one regard that makes perfect sense because of the hot seat Richt sits on, perhaps a guy that just simply loves UGA or has ties would be a good fit. I like Nall because I thought he always did a great job coaching the OL at Auburn, but he has been out of football now for two years-still feel like he knows what he is doing though. He also was briefly the OC at Auburn, so he would bring that experience which is a plus. But, time will tell what Coach Richt decides but certainly if we are to replace an offensive coach, Searels would be the one I would have voted for first. More later today.

The dream team is still alive, unless you have been too busy to know (or hiding under a rock), Jay Rome and Malcolm Mitchell BOTH selected UGA this evening. Rome started it out on ESPNU and then Mitchell followed that with his announcement in Valdosta just after 7:30. Rome made a note to call out Isiah Crowell and Ray Drew when he made his verbal, saying Come on, be Dawgs. Great job, hopefully those two guys, along with John Jenkins will sign with us as well. Despite all the gloom and doom surrounding the program from so many fans and media members, great job by the coaches in recruiting these guys and now they need to keep recruiting them until the very end. We all remember all to well, Da'Rick Rogers from a year ago.