Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Baseball today vs. Mercer before showdown with #1 Vandy

Today marks the last non conference game of the season for the Diamond Dogs, who right now you could say are REALLY sitting high on the NCAA bubble. With a 26-26 record and needing to finish above 500 overall to have a shot at regional, the game today is beyond crucial, especially with #1 Vandy coming to town Thursday-Saturday. If the Dogs lose this one, I fear the odds of making the tourney are slim to none, it would take winning the SEC baseball title to get the job done. The way this team has played down the stretch, I think the idea of them winning the SEC tourney title is more than a bit unrealistic. But, that is why you play the games. As I mentioned though, first up is Kennesaw State, a team that beat UGA 12-8 earlier this year and has won two straight in the series. You can read a little more about the game clicking on the link below.

http://dogbytesonline.com/baseball-preview-kennesaw-st-at-georgia-45533/


On the recruiting front, we lost out on Dillon Lee, brother of current UGA OL Dallas Lee. Dillon is headed to Alabama, he chose the Tide over us, FSU and Southern Cal. I had thought we had a chance with this one due to having his brother on our roster, but it really came down to Bama offered a long time ago and we offered May 2nd. Now, a big part of that late offer is because we are on our 3rd LB coach in 3 years. Every LB coach has a different style they like and recruit, it appears our last LB coach, Belin liked other kids better than Lee. Our new coach, Olivadotti liked Lee and extended the offer but it was just too late. I wish the kid well, he appears to be a solid prospect but if he were my son, I would be a little concerned about him heading off to Bama to be honest. While there is NO DOUBT Nick Saban is a great college football coach, he is a college football coach with a pro coach mentality. If you come in and can't win a job, you will be replaced and after a couple years likely will be on your way to make room for the next recruit. I also, and this is just my opinion, don't see Saban staying at Bama for more than another year or two. Look at his track record-I know Bama is maybe considered different but eventually a place like that burns you out when you have Nick's personality. Course Bama fans will NEVER believe that to be true.
Overall134–53–1 (college)[a]
15–17 (NFL)
Bowls6–6


Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1972–1974
1975–1976
1977
1978–1979
1980–1981
1982
1983–1987
1988–1989
1990
1991–1994
1995–1999
2000–2004
2005–2006
2007–present
Kent State (GA)
Kent State (D. Asst.)
Syracuse (D. Asst.)
West Virginia (D. Asst.)
Ohio State (DBs)
Navy (D. Asst.)
Michigan St (DBs/DC)
Houston Oilers (DBs)
Toledo
Cleveland Browns (DC)
Michigan St
LSU
Miami Dolphins
Alabama


In an interesting development, it appears Robert Nkemdiche's older brother Denzel is going to qualify academically after all. He played corner at Grayson High, UGA had helped place him at a JUCO in Miss, but now has offered him a spot in Athens. Per Denzel, there is a 100 percent chance that Robert will attend the same school he attends. The brothers are very close and they want to play college ball together-again, per Denzel. In recent interviews I have watched, Robert has hinted it could work out that way but it might not. Some might say, Denzel is only getting an offer from UGA because of Robert but don't sell the older brother short, I feel sure he would have received a lot more offers had his academics been in order-but certainly a LOT of schools would be willing to give older brother a shot in order to land younger brother who likely will be the #1 prospect in the country as a SR in high school-he is THAT good. But Denzel is a good football player too. Right now it appears to be between Ole Miss and UGA, I think it is a no brainer that UGA will get him at this point. He would be a solid addition to the dream team class, he likely will redshirt but then would have a shot to play the next fall. I have feared that Bama would come in and steal Robert in the end and they still worry me just because the head coach at Grayson bleeds Crimson and white, but this is a good start for UGA and let's just hope it is indeed a package deal.

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