Getting closer to kickoff, almost July

This summer seems to be flying by. I think when you have kids in school, a wife that teaches school, you pay a lot more attention to the summer break. Granted, each morning that I get up at 5:45-6a, (yes, I utilize the snooze button often), it is easy for me to resent the rest of my house sleeping in. But, the bottom line is that I enjoy my family being happy and there is no doubt, all members of my family happiest during the summer. For my wife of course, just taking a break from her job/dealing with students, parents and adminstrators, other teachers etc, she really enjoys it. For my daughter who is now a teen, she goes through periods of boredom, trying to work out how she can hook up with friends almost every day. My son actually is NOT involved with sports except camps during the summer-I love baseball and wish my son was good enough to play all stars but for many reasons I am GLAD he is not an all star-from playing baseball a big portion of the summer, to dealing with certain ego maniac parents, let's just say I can deal with him not being an elite player at this point. All that being said, with each passing day the summer break is coming to a quick end. My son has football camp July 9-11 at the local HS (Grayson) then football evaluations July 18th and 19th, and then we start football practice, 5 days a week for two hours on July 23rd. AMAZING to think about playing/practicing football in July but hey, that is what we do. When football starts for my son and our team, I know it is only a matter of days before the UGA football team will report to camp. This season holds so much promise, it is easy to see why most of the Bulldog faithful are excited about getting the season kicked off. As we get closer, there are still some issues or concerns I think most fans have about the program. I will list my top areas of concern or at least questions for the upcoming season-

1) The offensive line. Who will be our starters? how will they hold up this year? Will we finally have enough quality depth to be two deep? This area to me is so critical to our success this season because all other elements are in place for the offense to be explosive. Currently the OL consists of Gates and Houston at OT (we have to assume he will be able to play this season), Burnette and Lee at G, and Andrews at C. Last time we saw Andrews, he REALLY struggled at G-day, course he was against two of the better NG he will face all year in Jenkins and Geathers, but still after have Ben Jones start for 4 years, it is cause for concern. At OT, Gates has played primarily G during his career but you have to like the fact he came right in as a TR FR two years ago and got PT. Houston is a mystery because he had to sit out last year and no reason has ever been given. Speculation is he was using a banned substance (maybe steroids) but that is just a guess. Burnette and Lee both have started quite a bit and I think can do a decent job. Course we have the best OL we have recruited in many years coming in as well in John Theus. I can see him getting instant PT at one of the tackle spots. Depth wise, we have the JUCO transfer Beard, along with Long brothers, Watts Dantzler, Xzavier Ward, and Zach DeBell. Also the other incoming FR, Greg Pyke. Can Coach Friend get a good starting line in place, can the backups be solid contributing players-that will be a huge question mark this season. Considering we have a veteran and talented player at QB, finally have a nice stable of RB's, nice core of WR's and TE's, the true missing link for the offense is the OL. If they can do a somewhat decent job of pass protection and run blocking, I believe our offense can be tough to stop. With a defense that appears set up to be outstanding, if the offense can avoid turnovers and score some points, this truly could be a special season.

2) The special teams. Let's face it, we were HORRIBLE last year on special teams. With Blair Walsh having his worst season in Athens, Butler having a decent but not spectacular season, giving up punt returns, kickoff returns for TDs, giving up the fake punts, having punts blocked, you name it we stunk. Now we have two new kids coming in looking to take the jobs available. Collin Barber at P, and Marshall Morgan at K. I think perhaps our coaches took special teams for granted last year, thinking with the two kickers we had going into their SR year, all that would shake out just fine. With new kickers and with our bad play last year, I am hoping special teams is something we really work hard at. I also hope that when it comes to our offensive play calling, because we have a new kicker in place, maybe Bobo/Richt will call plays differently than in the past. Sometimes you got the feeling that they would go conservative thinking, don't take a chance on making a mistake because we have a sure 3 points here. I hope that changes this year.

3) Suspensions. What we know right now is that Sanders Commings is out for the first two games but we still don't know officially about the status of Branden Smith, Alec Ogletree or Baccari Rambo. Also of course still nothing about Kolton Houston. Most speculate Smith to be out at least a game, Ogletree 2 games and Rambo as many as 4, since this would be his second offense. Why is that so important, because we play Missouri in week 2 and they are a team that likes to spread out 3-4 wideouts, thus having quality and dependable defensive backs becomes a huge issue. For this reason alone, our best WR Malcolm Mitchell was moved to corner. We have one incoming player that can help in the secondary in Sheldon Dawson and then also they are counting on RFR Devin Bowman.


All those concerns are big, but I think we have enough overall talent to have a great season. I truly believe that as usual, game 2 of the season will have a big impact on our season, we just will be playing a different opponent this year in game 2 than has been the norm with South Carolina. Thing about Missouri, they have been a VERY successful program the last 5-10 years, they are no pushover and we get to play them at their place for their very first SEC game. This reminds me a lot of the Okie State game a few years ago, let's just hope the result is different-what we have going for us this time is a better defense and a better QB (let's keep Murray healthy going into the game). Also, instead of it being the first game of the season, we do have a cupcake/exhibition game to help us get ready to go.

Finally, on the recruiting trail we lost a recruit in Priester and gained one in Rico Johnson-a kid that dazzled UGA coaches enough in one camp day for them to offer him a scholarship on the spot, coaches don't just do that, he must be a special talent. He had to sit out all of last year due to moving schools, but all indications is the kid is legit and can play either WR or DB.  Several big time prospects had a great visits last weekend, including Reuben Foster who is verbally committed to Bama currently and Laremy Tunsil the great 5 star OT from down in Florida. His Mom loved Athens and so did he, that is a good sign and we can use more elite level talent for the OL for sure. Foster loved his visit and also is very good friends with many of the UGA commitments. I don't know if we can flip him but never hurts that a kid continues to visit your campus. Hopefully he continues to come back. The big kid from my neck of the woods (Robert Nkemdiche) committed to Clemson. When I first heard this I was thinking-REALLY?? But, it makes a lot of sense. The HC at Clemson Dabo Swinney and the HC at Grayson HS were college roommates at Bama. Two other Grayson kids have already verballed to Clemson, I have heard his GF is also going there. The ACC is a lesser conference, so the kid can dominate immediately and start immediately there. He said the UGA campus, per his HS coach, was too big!! I have never heard that excuse before but if that is how he feels, so be it. I do find it interesting the first college game will be in Death Valley, against UGA. Should be interesting to say the least.

Well, all for now. I might not post again for awhile. A week from today my wife and I leave for our 20th anniversary trip to Nassau, Bahamas. We are staying at Breezes all inclusive. I have done cruises MANY times but never done the all inclusive. I have read a lot of good and bad reviews of the place we are staying but I think we will have a great time. It is rare that we get away for a vacation without our kids-and honestly that is how we want it, we love having our kids on our vacations. That being said, sometimes it is nice to getaway just the two of us, like it was when we first got married. Thankfully, my mother in law and my parents are nice enough to keep our kids while we are away. My parents also will serve to pet sit our family dog and my son's fish, and daughter's birds-a special thanks to them in advance for helping us out.  SO, with all that in mind, if you have read through this blog I hope you have enjoyed it some way. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and as always, GO DOGS!

It has been a long time since I last posted! WOW

Since my last blog entry, a lot has happened. First of course, the baseball team collapsed down the stretch, losing two of three to last place Bama, then dropping two straight in the SEC tourney and thus missing the NCAA tourney for the second time in three years, with a team that was picked to be MUCH better. Granted, Perno lost his closer-and we did seem to lose some tight games late. But still, and I have said this before and will say it again, there is NO EXCUSE in UGA baseball not making a regional NCAA tourney EVERY YEAR. Ok, maybe one year out of 10 you might slip up but otherwise, just no excuse with the talent base in place, Hope, etc. All that being said, AD McGarity said Perno is back next year, and also recently proposed upgrades for Foley field-needed regardless of who the baseball coach is. So, Perno is coming back, he has a very solid recruiting class coming in and a lot of kids coming back it would appear at the moment-pending draft decisions. Next year is vital for him and I just hope he either tanks and make McGarity's decision easy, or has a magical year that again makes his decision easy. Thing is though, if he has just a good season and makes the NCAA regional-as was the case in 2011, does McGarity fire him them?? Look, I like Coach Perno-played at UGA, assistant coach and head coach in Athens, I understand that his Mom is very ill, that he lost his closer for the entire season-I get all that. BUT, I was VERY disappointed he was allowed to stick around. This reminds me of the Jim Donnan situation-Dooley wanted him to stay, Adams insisted he be fired. Well, of course Dooley and Adams probably couldn't agree that the moon is white and the sun is yellow. Adams hired McGarity and let's him run the show, and Adams is retiring next year so again, this is all on McGarity. I hope for his sake, and for Perno's sake this was the right call-on the surface I totally disagree with it but it is not my decision. For now I have to trust that GM did the right thing.

UGA has picked up several commitments since I last blogged, and now lost perhaps their top commitment in Derrick Henry. Let's start with Henry-he has visited UT and Bama recently and the kid has decided he wants to look around and thus is decommitted. What do I think-FINE by me. I think a kid if not sure, should do exactly what Henry is doing. Tramel Terry did it early, he came back to UGA and firmed it up later. Henry might do the same or might go elsewhere but this is a BIG KID that seems to insist on playing RB even though at 17 years old, he is already bigger than any running back we have on our roster-except maybe Richard Samuel. What does that mean, well, typically when a kid hits college-and the food provided by the athletic association, the kid puts on weight for sure. SO, is Henry really going to play RB in college-he says for sure yes but I think most folks probably believe there is no way it happens. But, you tell him sure son, you can play RB here when in reality you pencil him in as a LB or DE after he arrives on campus.

To recap the recent commitments-again, non binding so we could have more Derrick Henry's but since I late posted in the middle of May, here are the kids we have received pledges from recently-

Josh Cardiello OL from Buford-6'2 280, looks like a nice guard or C prospect to me
Brandon Kublanow OL from Marrietta (Walton) 6'3 283, a great guard prospect
Uriah LeMay WR from Mathews, NC (Butler HS) 6-2 188, little brother of Christian, polished WR
Reggie Davis WR from Tallahassee, Fl (Lincoln HS) 5-11 180 smaller WR but with great speed.
Naim Mustafaa-DE from Alpharetta, 6-4 235, son of former GTU player Reggie Rutland (who also played in the NFL for 7 years).

From what I have gathered, this weekend figures to be a big recruiting weekend in Athens as a few elite level prospects plan to be on campus-

2013 ClassLaremy Tunsil- 5 Star OL
Reuben Foster- 5 Star LB
Jordan Davis- 4 Star TE from Thomas, GA
Trey Matthews- UGA COMMIT
Alvin Kamara- 4 Star RB, Norcross, GA


2014 ClassMilan Richard- Tightend from Calvary Day, GA
Raekwon McMillan- LB from Liberty County

Ok, so Tunsil would be a huge pickup since we seem pretty set on our recruiting of interior OL, we need a couple of solid OT's, we have only Bynum at OT so far and he is headed for a redshirt without question, being he is 6-5 and 250 right now. With a class of 30 as we expect, I think we need to sign at LEAST 6 OL maybe 7. There are a few other OT's we are going after and have legit shots to get, including Richard Seymour's nephew (or is it his son??) who is a big kid playing OT at North Gwinnett. Foster of course is a stud at LB but now is playing his senior year at Auburn HS, after leaving Troup, he is already committed to Bama-he would be a huge get if we could flip him-not betting on that happening. Kamara might be insurance policy #1 in case Henry does go somewhere else. Kamara is good friends with many current UGA pledges and is a nice back with electric speed, he would be a great get. The McMillan kid for class of 2014, well, lets just say he might not be Nkemdiche or Foster, #1 and #2 players in the nation for class of 2013, but most expect him in the top 10. Would be great to make progress on his early recruitment.


So, not much else going on for now. Just enjoying the lighter traffic with school out, my kids are not doing any sports at the moment except for camps/classes a few days a week. Just back from a week at the beach (Thanks again Mom and Dad) and soon will make a trip to the Bahamas with just the wife (20 years of marriage)-this day and age is quite the accomplishment! I hope to blog again in the next couple weeks and then as football gets closer and closer, hopefully at least once a week. Hope for those that actually do read my blog, you are doing well and having a nice summer. GO DOGS!