Vince Dooley: Kennsaw, Kansas What the Heck...

Vince Dooley has led the football exploratory committee at Kennesaw State for the past ten months. Today the podium, as well as the spotlight, was his to announce to everyone in attendance that his committee was advising the school to proceed with plans to field a team. It was to be a really big moment for everyone associated with the school. Only he had a slight mental lapse as to where he was and whom he was working for, referring to Kennesaw as Kansas State. The school plans to begin play in 2014 as an FCS member. That's Kennesaw State who plans to begin play then Vince.

Some Bad Signs in the A-T-L

The Atlanta Braves lost again this afternoon to the Washington Nationals 4-2 in Atlanta, undone by a grand slam home run in the second inning. The starting pitching, which had been our strength throughout the season, has now forsaken the Braves. Atlanta's modus operandi is now to fall behind early, miss scoring opportunities all through the middle innings, then try to have a big eighth and/or ninth inning. That is not a very good scenario for a playoff contending team. After tonight's action, Atlanta could find itself three games behind Philadelphia with 15 games remaining. Granted, the Braves do have six games left against the Phillies, but they don't want to play those games too far behind in the loss column. At this point the Wild Card looks awfully good, but it could be fading as well if losses continue to pile up. That lead could shrink to a mere 1/2 game today or tomorrow. All is not lost at this point for Atlanta, but they have to turn this downward spiral around. And fast. The pressure is mounting.

Dawgs -vs- Hawgs: Big Game or Must Win for UGA?

Let me assure you, when Georgia meets Arkansas in Athens Saturday it will be a must win situation for the Bulldogs. It became a big game as soon as the schedules were released, and it became a must win as soon as the lights went out on the Dawgs in Carolina last Saturday. If Georgia opens up the season with two consecutive SEC defeats, the heat and pressure on this team and coaching staff will be up in the unbearable vicinity. Two SEC losses would be next to impossible to recover from this year. It would mean that the Bulldogs really have declined to a second-tier conference program. None of the above would be very pretty as far as the Bulldawg Nation is concerned. But so much for the downside. If Georgia does prevail 'Between the Hedges' Saturday afternoon, things start to look bright in the classic city once again. The Eastern Division title hopes are rekindled, and order would be restored. We have to admit, for the first time in forever, the East is down this year. In addition, UGA's Western schedule isn't as tough as it has been in recent years. There is plenty of light at the end of this tunnel at this point. With all of that being said, Georgia must improve as a football team in EVERY phase of the game. They must play much better than they did against South Carolina. Furthermore, they must become a team that improves week by week, every week. If that happens, everything will turn out to be "dawglicious". If not, get the women and children off the street 'cause this could get ugly...

The ACC: A Basketball Conference Now More Than Ever

Check this out sports fans: Georgia Tech loses to unranked Kansas, Florida State gets demolished by Oklahoma, Miami is throttled by Ohio State, and highly ranked Virginia Tech is ambushed by FCS program James Madison. On a single Saturday when the ACC could have stepped up and proven itself as an elite football conference, they fell back on their true moniker of 'basketball conference'. For example, "Yellow Tech's" defeat was at the hands of a Jayhawks team who was working on a two-season eight game losing streak. Both Miami and FSU were expected to compete evenly with OSU and Oklahoma respectively. But the Seminoles were blown out and the Hurricanes lost by a not close twelve. The Hokies of Virginia Tech was to be the premier program of the conference, instead they are 0-2 after succumbing to a program they should have handled easily. But the good news for these four benchmark programs is that they get to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference where the competition week in and week out is weaker than a Mike's Hard Lemonade. But be careful, Wake Forest upset Duke in your own powerful conference yesterday. Now all of you boys go have a fine season, because somebody has to play in the ACC Championship Game. And basketball season is looming large...

Pete Rose: Put Him in the Hall of Fame

The Cincinnati Reds honored Pete Rose Saturday on the 25th anniversary of his record setting hit number 4,192. Rose, who is 69, made a rare on-field appearance and stood at first base waving to a cheering crowd. The Reds had not previously been allowed to hold any on-field ceremonies to honor Rose or his achievements in the game. The lifetime ban from baseball that he agreed to for gambling on the game leaves his involvement to nothing more than the ordinary fan. I think it's time for Pete Rose to be pardoned and inducted into the Hall of Fame. He's paid a stiff price for a high crime, but the "Hits King" belongs in the Hall. I've never been a rider on the Rose bandwagon, but we'll never see anyone break that record for many years, if ever. He needs to be elected for that alone, but also for the way he played the game. No player ever loved playing baseball more than Rose, and not many ever played it better. Certainly no one with more hustle and enthusiasm. Go ahead and put the guy in the Hall of Fame. He deserves it because he was one of the best baseball players ever. Besides, there's probably no one in there now who doesn't have a few skeletons in their closets as well.

Aaron Murray: Turn Him Loose & Let Him Play

Following Saturday's loss to South Carolina, Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said of quarterback Aaron Murray: "We wanted to protect our guy on the road. He was ready to play ball. I've just got to do a better job giving him a chance". Head coach Mark Richt added: "I thought Murray played pretty good actually. We've just got to allow him to play ball. Just treat him more like a veteran". So the head man and his offensive coordinator both admit, in a round about way, that they have been too conservative with Murray. The thing I don't get is that Georgia signed him out of one of the premier high school programs in the country, Tampa's Plant High. He was one of the most sought after quarterback prospects in the country. He was an 'Elite 11' quarterback. I realize the college game is a step up from prep ball, but he's been in the Georgia system for over a year as a redshirt. He's talented, he's mature,he's poised, he has a pedigree. Why would you hold the kid back? Let him use all his talent to give Georgia the best chance to win. That's what you recruited and signed him for. The Georgia coaching staff has a mindset that freshmen are not ready to walk on the Athens campus and play immediately. Heck, they play everywhere else in the country. Is the Bulldog system that complex, complicated, diverse and elaborate that it cannot be picked-up by a rookie? It doesn't seem to be on the field from a fan's perspective. If it is, let's start over with the playbook and make better use of the talent we know that is on the Dawg roster. As they say, "it ain't brain surgery".

Georgia: Gettin' It Kicked In Carolina

Georgia lost to South Carolina today by the score of 17-6. No excuses. The team that played better, executed better, tackled better, and was coached better won the game. As 'Stone Cold' says, "and that's the bottom line". The most surprising fact of the game was that the Bulldogs were still in the game until the Gamecocks tacked on a late field goal to secure the win. Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray played well, much better than a red-shirt freshman should be expected to play on the road in his first SEC encounter. UGA's veteran offensive line did play like freshmen, not resembling the effective unit the Dawg Nation had expected it to be. Georgia's defense made good adjustments at halftime, but the shoddy arm tackling was one of the Dawgs biggest letdowns. They did face the best running back they will see all season, and probably for the next two years as well, in Carolina's Marcus Lattimore (above). They also went up against Steve Spurrier's best team he's had in Columbia. They can legitimately win the Eastern Division this year, and I never thought I would say that about a Gamecock squad. Spurrier's or anyone else's. Their only test in the east will be playing Florida in the Swamp, but it's the best year to do that in a long time. They will also have to battle Auburn on the road, as well as 'Bama at home. As for Georgia, don't be so quick in writing them off after this loss. They were a horrible third down spot and a crucial lost fumble away from having this opening storyline changed. They have potential, but they must improve week by week, which translated means they must win each week. Right now they have to be a team that can handle adversity. Can they? Only time will tell. Stay tuned, because there's a lot of football to be played and one loss does not make or break a season.

Georgia vs South Carolina: Pre-Game

With all the prognostications already in, my last thoughts regarding the Bulldogs and the Gamecocks go like this. If Ben Jones and the offensive line of Georgia perform as a veteran group up front should, then the Dawgs will win today in Columbia. The absence of receiver A.J. Green won't even be a factor. The guys in the trenches must take the pressure off of quarterback Aaron Murray and allow him to settle down in his first hostile environment on the road. These guys in the interior line must allow Caleb King, Washaun Ealey, and Carlton Thomas to run successfully, if not run wild. To dominate the line of scrimmage is almost always a prerequisite to winning an evenly matched football game, today it is imperative. I believe the Dawg Nation will be pleased once again with the aggressiveness and discipline of Todd Grantham's defensive eleven. There again, the guys up front are key in pressuring Carolina's quarterbacks, thus increasing the likelihood for turnovers in the secondary. We win the kicking game, no question, as long as we cover our kickoffs successfully. As a footnote, I sure hope we kick off a lot. We possess the best punter and place-kicker in the nation. Period. The last thought concerns depth. It's already hot as heck in central Georgia about 2 1/2 hours for Columbia, so I know its very hot and humid there as well. Both benches will have to step up today. It's a question of whose bench goes the deepest. Those are my keys to victory, along with this last parting shot. If Willie Martinez was still the defensive coordinator at UGA, I would not like our chances. However, with the new guy dressed in black that we have, we win on the road today.

Bruce Pearl: An Orange Clad Liar

Bruce Pearl lied to the NCAA. That's like one of the Corleones lying to the Godfather. He tearfully admitted as much. But he won't lose his life or a limb for his transgressions to the governing body as he would have to the head of a crime family. Come to think of it, he is the head of a crime family: The University of Tennessee. So what punishment hath UT bequest upon Mr. Pearl? It seems he will have his salary docked $1.5 million over five years. In perspective, Pearl made $1.9 million in 2009-10. He is guaranteed a $200,000 per year raise thru the 2014-2015 season, and will receive a $500,000 longevity bonus after the 2012-2013 season. So basically he forfeits his annual raises and his longevity bonus. No sanctions, no suspension for Pearl? His only restriction is that he cannot recruit off-campus for one year. Whether this is regarded as just a slap on the wrist by the university is a matter of opinion. I tend to think he came out pretty good. I'm sure coaches have been dismissed for a heck of a lot less before. The thing I am interested in seeing is how the NCAA comes down on Tennessee. Pearl is in charge of the development of a lot of young men, yet he admits to being a liar to protect his program. What kind of message is that for the lead Vol to be sending out? I hope the NCAA suspends Pearl with his time to a greater degree than the university did with regards to his money. They take away playing time from the athletes, why not take away coaching time from the coaches?

A.J. Green: I'm Sorry Man, I Think...

I don't even know where to go with this post. On the one hand, I feel really bad for A.J. Green. I almost feel that he should have turned pro this year instead of next, except for the NFL's three year rule. For his sake. The four game suspension that the NCAA handed down to Georgia's star receiver today for selling a game jersey is pretty stiff. Stiff as in one third of a season; a season that will be Green's last in Bulldog red. He's far too good to pass up a lucrative pro contract this next time around. When I consider how much money Georgia has made off of royalties from the sell of Green's number "8" jersey, I just wonder what's wrong with this picture. Then I switch gears and consider the fact that he was paid $1,000.00 for his jersey. He had to realize this was a red flag waving like crazy, and that it just wasn't right. That much dough for one game jersey? Heck, I would sell a huge part of my entire wardrobe for $1,000.00. But at the same time I'm a long way removed from 19 years old, thus my thought processes are hopefully much different (and improved!). Nevertheless, the only benefactors in this scenario are South Carolina, Arkansas, and Mississippi State, Georgia's next three opponents. Green's actions, no matter if innocently done or not, have hurt himself, his team, and his university. These guys have classes regarding this type of temptation. Will they ever learn?

Fred McGriff: We Need You Now...

Was Fred McGriff the last player we acquired after the season started who was 'lights out' for us? Fred came to town and was everything and more we hoped he would be. He helped lead the Braves to the post-season for several years. Atlanta acquired McGriff from San Diego in July 1993, and he promptly hit a big home run in his first game with the Braves. His offensive tear continued the rest of the season, that being one of the main reasons Atlanta secured the division title that year. He remained productive for the club until 1997 when he was selected in the expansion draft by Tampa Bay. When the Braves acquired Derrek Lee from the Cubs this year for the stretch run, I was hoping Lee would be the type first baseman that McGriff was. We all know that hasn't happened yet. The acquisition of Alex Gonzalez at shortstop has not been an overwhelming move up to this point, and Rick Ankiel is not our answer in center field. By the way, Atlanta lost their precarious lead over the Phillies last night. Unless someone steps up their game like Fred McGriff did, the Wild Card may be fleeting as well.

L.S.U. -vs- Oregon 2011

L.S.U. will play Oregon on September 3, 2011 in the Cowboy Classic at Cowboys Stadium. The announcement of the match-up was publicised today. The Tigers kicked off the 2010 season against North Carolina in the Georgia Dome last Saturday, while Jerry Jones hosted T.C.U. and Oregon State in his Texas palace, both as part of college football's opening weekend. The Kickoff Classic, sponsored by Chick-fil-A, and annually held in Atlanta, has become the staple of the start of college football each year. Then, Jerry got in on the act to further showcase his state of the art facility, as well as to make some serious cash. Don't be shocked if other arenas are brought into the fold to entice top Division I schools to open their seasons in new season opening events. I suppose it will be like having preseason bowl games on the first weekend each year. Think about it, why wouldn't Detroit match-up Michigan with a big name SEC opponent on Ford Field, or Indianapolis put Notre Dame against a well known west coast opponent in Lucas Oil Stadium? You never know, it could be coming to an arena near you.