Georgia to Honor Troops

The Georgia Bulldogs will honor Georgia's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team by wearing the unit's insignia on the back of their helmets this weekend. The 48th Brigade is now deployed in Afghanistan. Here's hoping the 48th, as well as the Dawgs, kick butt this weekend. USA & UGA!

The Blue Field Needs to Go

Blue is for swimming pools. Center court at the U.S. Open is blue, and I can live with that. Not pool table felt though. Nor tartan track surfaces. And certainly not football fields. No way. Come on Boise State, enough is enough. Your blue field is putrid, at best. When the Broncos played Oregon last week (you remember, the "punch" heard 'round the world), Boise was decked out in all blue uniforms. You really had to concentrate to see the players. They blended in with the blue turf. Since the NCAA is so big on regulations, why can't they decree that the blue turf must go? Give Bobby Bowden back his games, just don't give Boise their blue field. I like Boise's wide-open brand of football, but I just want to see it played on a green surface. So much so that I'll donate the first can of green spray paint. Go for it Boise! Let 'Buster Bronco' gallop out on the surface of his ancestors: green grass.

Two Great Teams or Just One Great Game?

After Miami defeated Florida State Monday night 38-34, all the ACC purists said this was just what the conference needed. Their two showcase teams fighting it out down to the wire. They feel the ACC needs for the 'Canes and the 'Noles to be back in prominence. You can't very well have a car show without that vintage Ford and Chevy, can you? And hey, who needs that SEC defense anyway? Just run that score up like an American League baseball shootout. That's ACC football at its finest, and the fans and media love it. I'll admit, it was a great football game. Up and down, back and forth, big plays and exciting plays. The ACC does need these two teams to contend again, and they can contend in that league. They just aren't ready for the big time yet. They aren't BCS contenders yet. But hang in there boys. You're in a weak-sister league where only a couple of teams play hard nosed defense. That gets you half-way there by itself. Anyway, thanks for a great clash, even though you're not great teams. And one more thing: Bobby, you're another victory behind that other old guy at Penn State.

Kip Smith: 67 Yard Field Goal

Legacy's Kip Smith set a new Colorado state record by kicking a 67 yard field goal. Even if it was off of a tee as a result of a free kick, 67 yards is 67 yards. The 6'2" senior has verbally committed to Minnesota.

Georgia -vs- Oklahoma State

Settle in Bulldog fans, it's going to be a long ride. Georgia picked up where it left off last season. The only positive change I detected yesterday from a year ago was that we did tackle better. We continue to have a passive defensive philosophy, we still cannot cover a kickoff, and offensively we remain very vanilla. If you are an avid Dawg fan, it really isn't that hard to call plays right along with Mike Bobo. Sadly, he's that predictable. After one game, I know less about quarterback Joe Cox than I did before the game. Was he playing with the ill effects of medication and flu-like symptoms? Was he just not very sharp, like having an 'off' day? Can he play better? Will he play better? Consistently? Plus, I don't think very many teams would trade tailbacks with us. Our experienced offensive line looked anything but that. They failed to control a defensive front they should have dominated. Probably the second weakest they will see this entire season. Chew on that for awhile as the SEC teams come rolling in. Speaking of weak defensive lines, Georgia left Stillwater with no sacks, and no turnovers. Doesn't that sound suspiciously familiar? We again failed to win the oh-so-important turnover ratio: OSU - 3, UGA - 0. Our defensive backs still seem to be too intent with talking 'smack', rather than playing football. To wrap it up for me, Georgia seems to play like a team trying not to lose, as opposed to a team trying to win. There is a huge, huge difference in the two. We don't GATA, on either side of the ball. That comes down to philosophy, to coaching. Two more questions for you: 1)Can we improve, and 2) Will we improve? I realize it is early, but once these Saturdays arrive, they seem to fly by quickly. And we're starting out 0-1.

Joe Cox: I'll Be There...

Despite suffering from "flu-like" symptoms the past couple of days, Georgia quarterback Joe Cox says he will play Saturday against Oklahoma State. Cox did not make the trip to Stillwater with the team, but confirms he will make the trip later today. Cox relates that he is feeling much better. Whew... You just gotta go, Joe!

Everything Could Have Been "Fina in Carolina"

If you had the not so distinct privilege of watching South Carolina play at N.C. State Thursday night, you certainly were not treated to NCAA football at its finest. In fact you witnessed two weak sister teams going head-to-head futilely. Two conclusions drawn from the festivities: South Carolina must get better, and N.C State can't get worse. State will be on the losing end of one heck of a lot of ballgames this season. In other words, they will tote a bunch of tail lickins!

There is not one team in the SEC they could defeat, and there might not be one in there own Pansy ACC either. They are bad! Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks were slightly less than impressive themselves. Not what you would call a dominating performance by any stretch. The Carolina defense did show promise, but the offense appeared to be inept, which as has been the norm for them lately. There is much work to be done in Columbia. And hang on 'Cocks, the SEC is looming large...

No Pregame Handshakes For UGA & Okie State

The American Football Coaches Association had requested that before all season opening games this week, that opposing teams take part in a pregame handshake. Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy had already expressed his concern regarding this gesture. Now Oklahoma State has made it official: No pregame greetings between the Bulldogs and the Cowboys Saturday afternoon. No problem with either team concerning this decision. Georgia head coach Mark Richt had said since his team was visiting, they would comply with whatever the 'Boys decided to do. It really is a good decision. Get fired up, compete to the best of your ability, and shake hands after the battle. That's just football...

Charlie Weis: "Billboard Boy"!

A new billboard facing the Notre Dame campus and located only about a half-mile from Charlie Weis' office subtly offers a good luck wish to the head coach. In this instance, it is felt the honeymoon with Weis and the Irish is long over and it's time to for him to win big in South Bend. If this turns out to be another disappointing season for the Fightin' Irish faithful, the next billboard will probably be pointing Weis on a quick route out of town. How about "Out of Time , Out of Town"? Like I said yesterday, it must be college football season.

Tim Hudson: Welcome Back!

After nearly 13 months of recuperation from elbow ligament surgery, the Braves Tim Hudson returned to the mound Tuesday against the Florida Marlins. He pitched 5.1 innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 earned runs. Atlanta won the crucial inter-division game by a score of 4-3. Hudson had to wait out a long three hour rain delay before making his first pitch on the very same field that he suffered his injury on over a year before. He gave up two doubles and two runs in the first before settling down and pitching well. He was pulled by manager Bobby Cox after giving up two walks in the sixth. Having Hudson back gives Atlanta six strong starting pitchers as they continue their stretch run for a play-off berth.

Memphis Pulls T-Shirt

Memphis has pulled the "Bust A Nutt" T-Shirts off the shelves. The Tigers play the Ole Miss Rebels in their opening game, and the reference of course, is to Mississippi head coach Houston Nutt. I'll give the designer an 'A' for cleverness, but an 'F' for taste. Especially since the game is actually being played on Sunday afternoon! It must be college football season.

Georgia vs Oklahoma State: It's Getting Close

It is now Tuesday of Game Week number 1. And don't forget, South Carolina and N.C. State get us started on Thursday night. Fox Sports has a helpful TV schedule for the Labor Day weekend covering Thursday through Monday. The Dawgs and the Cowboys put it on the tee at 3:30 P.M. eastern time Saturday afternoon. Georgia got good news yesterday as Guard Chris Davis and Center Ben Jones (above) both returned to the practice field (sprained ankles). That puts the experienced offensive line back together, and allows for a solid rotation with the second guys. Tailback Caleb King (also sprained ankle) practiced yesterday as well, but only to a very limited degree. It is still unclear if King will even make the trip to Stillwater. It will come down to how he practices today and Wednesday. This is possibly the best physical condition, referring to the lack of severe injuries, Georgia has been in for a season opener in several years. It's all getting close...