How about: "Wild Dawg" or "Rabid Dawg" or "Dawgs Gone Wild"

One NFL offensive coordinator commented that his philosophy centered around getting the football into the hands of your best play makers as often as you can, anyway that you can. I believe Houston Nutt's staff at Arkansas did a very good job of that by allowing Darren McFadden to take direct snaps from center and create opportunities on his own, as well as for running back mate Felix Jones. This wide open style of offense was known as the "Wild Hog" offense of the Razorbacks. In the NFL, the Miami Dolphins have their own "Wildcat" attack which allows direct snaps to Ronnie Brown with fellow running back Ricky Williams in the slot and quarterback Chad Pennington spread out as a wide receiver. They have been creative, as well as successful in this formation. I could envision Georgia having either Knowshon Moreno or Caleb King taking direct snaps out of the shotgun formation, then using the other for fakes or hand offs or decoys. Run an end around to A.J. Green out of this 'wild thing' and you would have the chance to use three of your fastest and most elusive players. All on the field at the same time. Now that would give defensive coordinators more to consider with the Bulldog's offensive attack. After the Tennessee game, I think they have our fade routes and quarterback keepers pretty much figured out.

Please Don't Flag That Dawg!

Georgia has had more of those yellow flags thrown at them than any other major college football program in the country this season. The Bulldogs have been flagged 53 times for 437 yards, while their opponents have been penalized 21 times for only 165 yards. Dawg' coaches have made a concerted effort in practice to curtail these mistakes, while at the same time not taking away the aggressiveness of the players. With so much on the line with every game now, Georgia cannot afford to give their opponents any more gifts. Maybe the Bulldogs will save the refs some back strain by not forcing them to keep bending over to pick up flags. According to practice reports, they could also save themselves from some of the physical strain of 'penalty punishment' by playing a little smarter. If not, the talented teams of the SEC will make them pay on their own.

Georgia -vs- Tennessee

Georgia -vs- Tennessee, 2008 version. Georgia comes into the showdown with the Vols coming out of an off-week which followed a trouncing at the hands of Alabama. Tennessee enters the clash following a lackluster win over Northern Illinois where UT introduced a new starter at quarterback. So there you have it; you've "got the picture". The take on the contest by 'Opinion on Sports' is that Tennessee will play their best game of the year against Georgia in Athens. They always play the Dawgs well, and this year will be no exception. But this year will not be like the trashing Georgia got in Knoxville last year. Mark Richt's Bulldogs will not be ambushed 'Between the Hedges' again this week. We will not trail by 31 points at halftime again. Our offensive line will perform better, and Knowshon Moreno and Matthew Stafford will both have big days. Tennessee will put some points on the board against the Dawgs defense, but Georgia will prevail Saturday afternoon. It will not necessarily be a rout, but it won't be close either. It was said last year that Georgia 'saved' Phillip Fulmer's job by the way his Volunteers manhandled the Dawgs when he himself was constantly hammered by the Vol Nation. He is again being lambasted this season, but he cannot count on Georgia to bail him out. This year, those same Bulldogs will be the ones nailing another nail in his coffin.

Brannan Southerland Returns

Georgia's senior fullback Brannan Southerland returns to the Bulldogs lineup for Saturday's annual showdown against Tennessee. With the fullback's somewhat 'humble' role in offenses these days, you might be inclined to respond 'big deal'. Well, getting the big #36 back in the Dawgs backfield is huge for several reasons. One is that he provides that good 'ole intangible of leadership. Senior leadership at that. You can't buy it, you can't borrow it. You just gotta have it. Southerland's got it and we need it. Two is that he is arguably the best blocking fullback in college football. With a guy like Knowshon Moreno lined up at tailback, how important do you think a dude like Southerland is? Also, Matthew Stafford has to be encouraged by such a competent weapon returning to his backfield. Three is that he can always get you that crucial one, two, or three yards when you absolutely have to have them. He is clutch. The fourth reason is that he has excellent hands, especially for a fullback. We have utilized him as a receiver often before, and this adds another dimension to our offense that coordinators have to prepare for. Hopefully, he is completely healed and rehabilitated from foot surgery and we will have him in the Bulldog backfield for the remainder of the season. Borrowing a phrase for the 'Herschel Era': "Let the Big Dawg Eat"!

Don Larsen: "Pitcher Perfect"!

October 8, 1956, The Yankees Don Larsen pitches the first perfect game in World Series history. Yogi Berra's huge bear-hug of Larsen has to one of the most famous photos in Yankee and Yankee Stadium history. New York shut out the then Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0 that day. The Yankees were in the World Series practically every year in the 50's and 60's with guys who didn't make huge salaries but loved to play the game and played it at a high level. Today, they can't even get to the post-season with a lineup filled with talented millionaires who seem to care more about themselves as opposed to the success of the team. I will admit Derek Jeter is an exception to that selfish theory, and I believe he would have fit in just fine with the Mantles, Berras, and Fords of that era. It really doesn't fill strange that the Yanks aren't in the playoffs, it actually fills kind of good!

Hey Plaxico Burress: Phone Home E.T.!

Let me see if I can get this straight: Plaxico Burress signed a new renegotiated contract at the beginning of this season in the neighborhood of $7 million per year over five years. That's a $35 million deal. Now that we have that all figured out, what I can't fathom is how an employee who makes(earns?) that kind of cheese can not report to work without calling in. It shouldn't matter if you're a professional athlete, a school teacher, a clerk, a factory worker, or butcher, baker , candlestick maker. It is a courtesy, not to mention an obligation. A professional responsibility.

What this is all about is that Burress failed to show up for the Giants regular Monday meetings/workouts, and never bothered to call in. His reason was 'personal issues', stating that his family comes first. I understand that, but at least have the decency to call your position coach and let him know what's going on. His boss is paying you $35 million, and that's a very good reason to keep the lines of communication open. He was fined and suspended for one game and not allowed in the Giants facilities. Then to top it all of, Plax does an interview and says he doesn't care what his teammates think about the way he does things. That sounds like a brush-off of his teammates to me. He also stated that he didn't lose any sleep over the suspension. What the heck. No big deal. After all, his fine was only $117,500, which isn't even 'chump change' for a guy raking in $7 mill. And now we arrive at the bewildering part of the entire situation. It comes out of the Giants camp that Burress has been "disciplined" over 50 times throughout his stay in the Big Apple. The organization renegotiates the contract of a player known to have "issues" on a regular basis. We're not happy with the way you conduct yourself Plax, but what the heck, here's a raise. I would say to the World Champion New York Giants and the troublesome Plaxico Burress. Good luck, both of you deserve each other. What the heck...

Steve Spurrier and Colleagues: Crying a River

South Carolina's Steve Spurrier has been named the "Whiniest" coach in college football. In all, a total of six SEC head men made the top 10 as compiled by Fox Sports. Joining Spurrier from his conference are: Rich Brooks, Urban Meyer, Tommy Tuberville, Nick Saban, and Les Miles. I'm sure none of those names is a surprise to any SEC fan. Oh by the way, I wonder how Phil Fulmer squeaked out of this list?

Frank Sinkwich: A Bulldog "Throwback"

Frank Sinkwich, Georgia's All-American halfback, is shown here breaking through the line against Tulane. Sinkwich led the Bulldogs to a National Championship, and he also was a winner of the Heisman Trophy. Years later, Herschel Walker would duplicate the feats of #21 above by being an All-American, winning the Heisman, and leading Georgia to a National Championship. Hey Knowshon, there's room for three here!

Almost to the day, O.J.

O.J. Simpson was acquitted of first degree murder charges on October 3, 1995. Thirteen unlucky years plus one day later, the man who "got away with murder", couldn't get away with armed robbery. At 61 years of age, the ex-football star likely will spend the rest of his life in prison. I guess his next book will be titled 'How I Should Have done It', as opposed to his earlier edition of 'How I Would Have Done It'. Perhaps the late, great writer and humorist Lewis Grizzard would have headlined: 'Johnny Cochran is dead, and O.J. don't feel so good himself!'

Chicago Cubs: Really Poor Baseball

Hey Cub fans, there's no curse this time. Just really poor baseball. No excuses this time. Just really poor baseball. Your Cubbies have made errors on top of errors, and the Dodgers have made them pay. The boys from the west coast come up with the big hit, and the Cubs don't hit period. Chicago plays what might be their two worst games of the year, and they pick the playoffs to go into a 'baseball funk'. Now you have to win three straight, beginning with two in Los Angeles.. It has been done, and can be done again. But not by playing really poor baseball.

Georgia in the SEC Championship Game?

I checked out one of the more popular Georgia blogs a couple of nights ago, and the comments posted there had the Dawgs one and done for this season. They were already crying and ready to throw in the towel. And these were Bulldog fans too (perhaps of the "fair weather" variety). They were already speculating about bowls that we wouldn't be invited to. Gee whiz guys. We had a conference loss earlier than this last year, and before it was all said and done, we were the hottest team in the country at season's end. Our opponent in the Sugar Bowl could have been anyone else, and they would have received just what Hawaii got. We finished the year that strong. And that good. Now back to this year. To heck with bowl speculations, I want us to play in the SEC Championship in Atlanta. If we do that, our bowl invitations will take care of themselves. And getting there is within our grasp. We still control that destiny. I like our chances against Tennessee, and I like the way we match up against Florida. The annual contest in Jacksonville will come down to pure emotion this year. One team just has to want it bad enough to go get it, and I think it will be UGA. Reality is about to hit Vanderbilt right between the eyes, and we will be part of that rude awakening for them. Kentucky is playing over their heads, and we will also be a part of bringing them back down to earth. Maybe we will at least leave them with enough to finally defeat the Vols, but they really don't know how to do that anyway. Now LSU in Baton Rouge really concerns me (no joke, Shurlock!), as does Auburn's physical defense. And we have to win at least one of those two to get to Atlanta. Without sustaining any more season ending injuries anywhere, but especially on the offensive line, we could again be very good each week beginning October 11th. If you want off the bandwagon, jump now. But remember, don't even try to get back on when we are kicking serious butt again. Go be a Jacket. I understand the Techies can always use some help trying to sell out Grant Field.

Surprise, Surprise...

Who would have thought that at this point in the season the following would be true:

1. The Vanderbilt Commodores are 4-0 and leading the SEC Eastern Division.

2. The Duke Blue Devils are 3-1 under new head coach David Cutcliffe.

3. Georgia Tech is operating their new run-oriented offense efficiently, while Auburn is struggling to run their new spread attack.

4. West Virginia is a very unimpressive 2-2 with all that talent and speed having returned on offense.

5. BYU is undefeated by not only putting points on the board offensively as one would expect, but by playing uncharacteristically good defense as well.

6. Ole Miss defeated Florida by stopping Tim Tebow on a fourth down rush attempt. In the 'Swamp" no less!

8. Oregon State defeated Southern Cal 'all night long' on a Thursday night.

9. Georgia trailed Alabama 31-0 at halftime. At home. Alabama led Georgia 31-0 at halftime. On the road.

10. Tennessee is a mediocre 1-3. Not surprising is that Phillip Fulmer is once again the 'King of the Hot Seat'.