Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A little off topic

Normally I only discuss sports here, but I'd like to stray off topic to something that hit me today.  I've realized that my favorite song of all time may be "Susanne" by Weezer.  It's not because the song is epic or complicated, but the sheer talent in Rivers Cuomo comes out in that song.  If you've never heard it, the song is played at the end of Mallrats and it's about an A&R Assistant at Geffen Records when Weezer was first starting out.  It just amazes me that someone can put those words to lyric about how someone touched his life.  I've been playing guitar since I was 14 years old and this song caused me to realize that Cuomo has more talent in his left pinky fingernail than I do overall.  I realize it's just a random thought, but I felt I should share it.  This song amazes me every time I hear it and I wish I could write songs like that guy.

Monday, December 29, 2008

We're Back

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and Santa brought you everything you wanted.  I'm well rested and still full from the home cooked meals.  I'm going to get back to posting soon, but have some stuff to catch up on at work that I put off due to the holiday.  In lighter news, I'm currently 4-8 on my bowl picks in the office pool I participate in.  If I ever give you gambling advice, please cover your ears and run away.  That is, of course, unless you like losing your money.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas!

Well, I'm leaving today to head home for some quality time with the parents.  Internet is on the fritz there, so I expect little to no posting the next few days.  Since I won't get a chance tomorrow I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and safe traveling.  See you in a few days.  BTW, if Notre Dame loses tonight and has two straight losing seasons, does that mean they'll be calling Urban Meyer tomorrow?  We can only wish.


Merry Christmas everyone!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Georgia Basketball; Epic Fail Thusfar

I shouldn't be surprised. I've even said so before. Last night, the UGA men's basketball team played an epic, OT thriller and lost on a last second half court. Their mighty opponent, you ask?



The mighty Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Islanders, of course!

Sigh....


Where does the basketball program go now? I realize it's quite a knee jerk reaction to immediately place the blame on a coach, but seriously... This is the second loss this season to a team with hyphens in its name. I really don't expect a lot when it comes to our basketball program. I realize that Georgia is, and always will be, a football first school. To use a quote from Damon Evans, there isn't even a "blind spot" with this program. The perception outside is that it's crap, and quite frankly the perception within the Bulldog Nation is that it's crap.

Coach Felton got dealt one turd of a hand when he took the reclamation job from the pits of the Harrick downfall. He literally put up flyers in the dorms asking students to come out and walk on because he was so desperate for warm bodies. But we're past that point now. The scholarship reductions are gone. No, the lack of talent is a product of kicking our most talented players off the team, or guys like Billy Humphrey having multiple run-ins with the law. I really don't know where to go at this point, but it can't get any worse, can it?

The only reason Coach Felton wasn't on the chopping block last year was because of that miraculous run on GA Tech's basketball court. Damon Evans didn't tie his hands by making some contract extension to Felton, which was smart. My belief is that Felton was as good as gone otherwise. The way this team is playing right now, the NIT looks like a far reach. Heck, maybe we'll turn it around and post some impressive showings in conference play. Right now, I'm just not seeing it. I implore you Coach. Please do not lose to Kennesaw. That would just give bragging rights to every stripper in Atlanta. (For those not in the know, next time you're at the Cheetah or Pink Pony, ask the lady where she goes to school. I guarantee you she will say Kennesaw State.)

Monday, December 22, 2008

Playoffs?!?!


That's right, Falcon fans. You can rejoice. We're going to be playing football in January. I'm still in disbelief. You don't come into a season with a rookie HC, rookie QB, rookie GM, and on the heel of the Petrino/Vick debacle last year and expect to make the playoffs. What a job this group has done. After the Cowboys decided to lay an egg Saturday night in likely its last ever game at Texas Stadium, and the Bucs decided not to show up for the 4th quarter against San Diego, the Falcons needed only a win at Minnesota to clinch at least a wildcard spot. Despite being outplayed by the Vikings, the Falcons used seven Viking fumbles to jump out to a big lead and ironically the Falcons scored the winning TD on a Matt Ryan fumble that was recovered by Justin "Johnny-on-the-Spot" Blalock for his second huge Ryan fumble recovery in as many weeks.

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's your rookie QB!

To top the day off, the Giants and the Panthers clashed in New Jersey last night for a classic game that decided the top overall seed in the NFC. The Giants emerged victorious and the Panthers have still only wrapped up a playoff spot. By some miracle, should the Falcons dispatch of the Rams on Sunday and the Saints defeat the Panthers in New Orleans, the Falcons would win the division, grab the #2 seed, and be playing a home game in January for the right to play in the NFC Championship. What an early Christmas present Mike Smith, Matt Ryan, Thomas Dimitroff, Michael Turner, Roddy White, John Abraham, and company have given Falcons fans. Thank you Arthur Blank for making the right choices and setting this franchise in the right direction.

Update:  Smitty came to his senses and told Ryan to cut that Superman crap out.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Thank you Mike Smith and Matt Ryan

The Atlanta Falcons have made this fall pretty special for me and this was icing on the cake. With the win yesterday, the Falcons have guaranteed a winning season this year. If you told me at the beginning of the season that the Falcons would have a winning season, be in playoff contention with two games left to play, and their rookie QB would only truly play like a rookie two times in fourteen games thusfar; I would have asked you to sell me what you are smoking. The Falcons season has softened the blow of the disappointment that was UGA's season and the presumed incompetency that has been the Atlanta Braves' offseason moves for me.

Thank you Mike Smith and Matt Ryan. The next round's on me, fellas.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

If you thought what Auburn did was strange...

Ball State's head coach, Brady Hoke, has taken the head coaching job at San Diego State. Is this really a move up? At best, it's a lateral move. I don't see the Mountain West as that more prestigious a conference than the MAC. People are making some silly decisions these days when it comes to coaches.

Update: (H/T Doc): Looks like San Diego State could possibly be tripling Hoke's salary which right now stands at a relatively-speaking, paltry $240K. Pretty damn hard to turn down a 300% increase in salary. It certainly makes a lot more sense for the move. Also, I hear the weather in San Diego isn't half bad.

It's not Patrick Nix, but...

Auburn has hired Gene Chizik from Iowa State as its next head coach. Chizik went 5-19 in his two years at Iowa State including a 10 loss streak this season in which he avoided playing Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech. Congrats Auburn, looks like you got the man to lead you into further futility. Seriously, could this have been a worse hire? Turner Gill seemed like the obvious choice. I don't know if it feels better to beat Auburn, or if it feels better for Auburn to beat Auburn.

Update: In an even crazier turn of events, Iowa State essentially told Auburn they could one up them. I mean, hiring an ex-Auburn defensive coordinator worked out so well for them last time... Will Muschamp has to be wondering why no one's made an offer that exceeds his head coach in waiting status at Texas.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

My argument for Matthew Stafford

I posted this over at DawgSports, but I thought I'd share it with anyone that would like to read it here:


215 completions on 352 attempts for a 61.1% completion rate. 3,209 yards through 12 games for an average of 267.4/game, 9.12/attempt, and 14.9/completion. 22 TD's to only 9 INT's for a 2.4 TD/INT Ratio. An overall passer rating of 153.17 which places him 15th out of 119 passers, behind only Tim Tebow in the SEC.

Asides from the quantitative measures I mentioned above, have you guys seen the games he's kept us in this year? He played most of the second half of Alabama after getting his bell rung pretty good and helped make the score a little more respectable. He was the only player on the offense making plays in the South Carolina game. He was nearly flawless at Kentucky, at Arizona State, and against Georgia Tech. If he doesn't have the games he had at Kentucky or GA Tech, we get blown out of the water. He made huge throws in the LSU game. Dude is 20-5 the last two years, same as Tim Tebow.

My question to what seems like a growing faction of the Bulldawg Nation; Do you honestly believe yourself when you say we'll be better off next year without Matthew Stafford lining up behind center? That production is pretty difficult to replace (keep in mind he's done this behind one of the greenest and thinnest O-Lines I've ever seen). Imagine what next year could be like playing behind an offensive line that is more mature and stronger. I don't think we'll see it as the $$$ are pretty hard to pass up, but Stafford is Damn Good Dawg and anyone who thinks otherwise, please prove me wrong. Sure, he makes the mind-boggling throw every now and then, but tell me what QB doesn't that isn't Tim Tebow or Sam Bradford. Keep in mind the O-line issues when comparing those three. Of the Oklahoma games I've watched this season I don't think I've seen Bradford get touched and Tebow has a more than adequate line. Put those guys behind UGA's O-Line this year, and I have a sneaking suspicion their numbers wouldn't be so outrageous. His one bad game this year was Florida, but that was a case of him being the only player on the field that seemed to give a crap and tried to force things because no one else was.
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Stafford may never win an SEC or national title, but it's not like it's all his fault or our problems are going to be magically solved if he leaves. If anything, we're going to regress on the offensive side of the ball and have to rely on the defense even more next year. And we all know how I feel about that...

Let me know what you think.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

My Christmas List

Santa,


I've been a very good boy this year.  Please let this happen for me.  I'll never ask you for anything else again, I promise.

-AuditDawg

Monday, December 8, 2008

Final Coaches Poll

USA Today has posted the results of the final Coaches' Poll today (HT: The Senator). Both Pat Hill of Fresno State and Urban Meyer voted Georgia #21 in the last poll. I guess Urban is going to continue sticking it to the Dawgs even after he's out of timeouts. Maybe Mark Richt can use this as motivation next year? Lord knows the motivation tactics can't possibly be any worse than they were this year.

Mumme Poll, Week 15

Here it is kids, my final Mumme Poll for the regular season. As always, top 5 noted by asterisk with explanations to follow:

Alabama*
Florida*
Texas*
Oklahoma*
USC*
Penn State
Texas Tech
Utah
Boise State
Ohio State
TCU
Oklahoma State

-Alabama is in top five despite the loss to Florida. They didnʼt get their doors blown off like I expected and showed that maybe they did deserve that #1 ranking. The game with Utah should be interesting, but I expect them to win fairly easily. Obviously, project #1 for Nick Saban has to be to figure out a way to throw the ball when needed. Once they get down two scores, they donʼt have much of a chance at coming back.

-Florida had their most impressive victory of the year IMO. Thatʼs the first team thatʼs not crapped its pants just because Florida was on the other sideline since Ole Miss. Iʼm impressed with this team this year and I wonder whether Oklahoma can beat them. They have the championship team mettle and that showed during the SEC game.

-Texas is still in top 5 after being idle. They get a consolation prize of the BCS punching bag known as Ohio State. Letʼs see them take out their frustrations on the sweater vests.

-Oklahoma obliterated another team. This teamʼs offense is clicking on all cylinders right now and showing no signs of slowing down. I wonder if the surgery on Bradfordʼs hand will affect him in the title game. Iʼm excited to see this team go up against an elite defense and see if they can still chuck it around like theyʼve been doing.

-Penn State is smelling roses. I still donʼt think they can beat Alabama or USC, so that keeps them out of the top five. Weʼll find out half of that assumption on New Yearʼs Day.

-Texas Tech sure fell off the map quick. Apparently Leach is target #1 for Auburn. I wonder how Bobby Lowder will respond to Pirate football. This team gets a chance to redeem itself against Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl. That should be a good one.

-Utah is going to the Sugar Bowl. Hereʼs hoping they play more like Utah of ʽ04/Boise State ʼ06, than Hawaii ʼ07.

-Boise State remains in the top twelve after an unbeaten season, but no BCS dreams for them.

-Ohio State is going to the Fiesta Bowl. Hopefully because this game doesnʼt have national title implications riding on it, theyʼll actually show up and be competitive.

-TCU is in the top twelve. Maybe TCU deserves some national title credit. They along with Texas held the Oklahoma offense to its season low output of 35. Oh wait, they lost to Oklahoma. Nevermind then.

-This last spot was difficult to pick because Ball State decided to crap the bed against Buffalo. I mean who else are you going to put here. I went with Oklahoma State because they were the least embarrassed by Oklahoma in the last few weeks.

-This took about 10 minutes to compile as the only change from last week is Ball State being replaced by Oklahoma State. Itʼs been a fun ride this year. Iʼm curious to see how everything turns out after the bowls. Are we going to take it upon ourselves to crown a champion or are we going to be like the Coachesʼ Poll and automatically vote the BCS Title game winner?

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Bowling & Basketball

Whoo!!!  We're playing a bowl game in Florida.  What, that's not the one we wanted??  Aww, gee shucks, I'm just thankful we got some SEC wins this year.  (That was my best Mark Richt impression, BTW)  Hopefully the boys come out fired up and bring hell to Michigan State, but I have to agree with the good Senator.  I don't know what would be more frustrating; for the team to make a marked improvement showing they had the ability all year long, or the team to continue playing without a care in the world and showing that it's continued regression from the beginning of the season never stopped.  


With the basketball team's awesome show in Chicago yesterday, I'm real fired up about what I hope is the last year in the Felton regime.  The first post I made in this blog regarded Coach Felton, and I advocated he should be fired (granted, this was before the miracle run in Atlanta, but I was one of the few that felt he should still be out of a job).  While I attended UGA from 2002-2007, I worked as a basketball usher from 2004-2006, so I got to see a lot more basketball than the average UGA fan.  The typical Felton team has not changed one ounce from his first year.  Every game the team plays relatively solid defense, but seems to always go on a 10 minute scoring drought and still can't make a free throw if a gun were held to its head.  I don't expect much from our mens hoops team, but I think we can do better than cellar dweller.  Florida was a perennial joke in basketball until they made the effort to improve.  Unless Coach Felton gets this team to the NCAA tourney this year without needing some kind of miracle again, he should be shown the door at season's end.  If I weren't so adamantly against mid-season firings, I'd suggest he be shown the door now.  The program's talent level and stature within the SEC has not improved at all during his tenure.  We're now in year 6 and he's been free of the reduced scholarship burden long enough that the team should be at full strength.  Coach, I love your hard-nosed attitude, but sometimes the results have to match the effort, and I'm not seeing it with you.  In the end, wins are all that matters, and sadly there have been not enough wins to keep Coach around.

Is it me??

After the epic suckage that was the Atlanta Falcons defense today, I started wondering that.  Why is it that my favorite football teams from the state of Georgia seem to go on these mind-boggling defensive lapses where your grandmother could get five yards a clip rushing the ball?  I dunno, but all I know is their playoff chances took a huge hit today.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Mumme Poll, Week 14

Okay, it's been a couple of days and now I've had time to relax and reflect after Saturday. I've gone on to more constructive things like my weekly Mumme Poll! Results should be up at the Senator's site tomorrow. Top 5 are noted by asterisk, with explanations to follow:

Alabama*
Florida*
Texas*
Oklahoma*
USC*
Utah
Texas Tech
Penn State
Ohio State
Boise State
TCU
Ball State


-My top five hasn’t changed from the past week

-Alabama and Florida set to meet in one of the more anticipated SEC title games with a bid to the BCS National Championship Game on the line.

-Texas and Oklahoma finish tied in the Big 12 South with Oklahoma representing the South in the title game due to BCS rankings. I don’t know if one can say that Oklahoma was not deserving, but that’s sure got to sting for the people in Austin. I guess looking at the season as a whole, beating Cincinnati and TCU is more impressive than anything Texas did out of conference. I’m sure that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.

-USC put the proverbial final nail in Charlie Weis’ coffin on Saturday. How did this team lose to Oregon State?? Their defense took the 1st half of that game off and has been lights out the rest of the season. I’d love to see a USC/Florida bowl game.

-Utah is idle, likely has its bid to New Orleans locked up.

-Texas Tech squeaks by Baylor. I guess in the end, a Cotton Bowl bid isn’t a bad consolation, but it’s certainly strange that they were completely out of the running for the Big 12 South. The loss to Oklahoma certainly was crippling, but this team went from national title front runner to 3rd best team in the Big 12 in a week. Using the BCS was definitely the wrong way to go about it.

-Penn State locked up its Rose Bowl bid and was idle. Joe Paterno also had successful hip replacement surgery so hopefully he'll be on the sidelines for the game. Say what you will, but Joe Paterno should stick around as long as he wants. He's one of the reasons why I love college football so much more than the NFL. He's an institution.

-Ohio State, also idle, is looking at a BCS at-large bid. Who would have thought that after the demolition in LA back in September. Kudos to Jim Tressel for keeping the troops focused and to the rest of the Big 10 (outside of Penn State) for being a glorified pillow fight. The Big Ten is kinda like the SEC this year with a huge gap between the top and the middle.

-Boise State was idle this past week, but they likely won't get a BCS bid. Per Mark Schlabach's chat on ESPN.com today and here (H/T, Senator), the gears are turning to get a bowl matchup with Ball State. That could be exciting. Like the Senator, I remember that great Liberty Bowl in 2004 when Boise State played Louisville. Maybe the most exciting game I've ever watched.

-TCU is the next best team IMO so they get in.

-Ball State gets in b/c they’re undefeated. I wanted to put GA Tech here, but I can’t get over the thrashing by UNC, the near miss to Gardner Webb, and Virginia Tech game. Tech was no doubt impressive in its last two games, but they got beat by some pretty inferior competition this year. Then again, that's the story of the year in the ACC this year. Their slogan should be "Thursday night in the ACC!!: Where ranked teams go to die". Ball State gets in by default as I refuse to consider a Big East team or any other ACC team.

-This took me 15 minutes.

-The first 10 teams were pretty easy to pick, but the final two were a toss-up for me. I don’t think Boise or Ball State are great teams, but honestly who else are you going to put there? Missouri lost, Oklahoma State got thrashed to home, and Georgia played the most depressing game since the loss to Tech in 1999. Of the three loss teams, I believe Tech may be the best, but who knows.

I know everyone hates this word, but I think it rings truer today than ever in college football. Parity exists, folks. The top flight programs are still going to stay at the top, but with the spread of talent due to scholarship limitations, any team is vulnerable on any given Saturday.