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FROM THE EDITOR: VANCE LEAVY Oh boy, where shall I begin? Another Georgia-Florida installment has come and gone and unfortunately the demoralizing feeling that I’ve felt so many times from a loss to the Gators is back in full force. I guess I can take some solace in the fact that I warned anyone that would listen that the game against Florida was going to be tough. Still, this one was brutal as our team and coaches were dominated on all fronts. However despite the disappointment of a truly, magical season being all but over, the page must be turned and that means focusing on the next opponent … a pesky Kentucky Wildcat team. Surely, by now, everyone in the Bulldog Nation realizes that any team in the SEC is capable of beating our Bulldogs on any given Saturday. Discounting any opponent in our football conference is fool’s gold. You can bet that Kentucky would love nothing more than finishing off a wobbly Georgia team. Hopefully, leaders like Chris Conley, David Andrews and Amarlo Herrera are up for the challenge. Without question, they are needed in a bad way this week to see if this
2014 team has the moxie to finish this season in style. And on the coaching front, the Florida Gators continue to be a Rubik’s Cube for Georgia’s Mark Richt. Five wins versus nine losses against one of your top rivals is hard to hide from. And because of that, many in the Bulldog Nation are fit to be tied, which I completed understand. Personally, I think the majority of the frustration comes from the fact that Richt’s bad losses always resemble one another. How many times can folks be expected to watch breakdowns in all phases and not be left wondering if a change at the top is the only way to rectify the problem? Still, I do think Richt and company have done an overall commendable job this season. But make no mistake about it, they need to finish strong and that starts on the road at Lexington on Saturday. To rally the Bulldog Nation, we went with nothing but fan photos on our cover for this issue. As is always the case, this year’s Georgia-Florida saw our fans doing their part by flocking to the Golden Isles and Jacksonville to support our
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boys in red and back. Yes, the result wasn’t what any of them wanted or expected, so they’re naturally bummed out. That’s why we’re calling for the Beatdown Rebound. Our fans, players and coaches must accept what happened (a beatdown), but quickly rebound because making it to Atlanta to play for the SEC Championship is still possible. And with that, I will bid you farewell. This issue is packed with photos from Georgia-Florida and our sports guys get you ready for what must happen to beat Kentucky on Saturday. Don’t give up Dawg Nation. Jump in the car and make the roadie to Lexington because our team is going to rebound. Go Dawgs!
• Editor : Vance Leavy • Creative Director: Cheri Leavy • Multimedia Director: Greg Poole • Sports Guru: Jeff Dantzler • Layout/Design: Cheri Leavy, Vance Leavy • Sales: Caroline Kinney, Nancy Kenerly • Sports: Jeff Dantzler, Murray Poole, John Frierson • Sports Intern: Logan Booker, Jordan James • Interns: Emory Kole, Frances Plunkett, Molly White • Cover Design: Boyd Martin • Sports Photography: Rob Saye • Columnists: Carlton DeVooght, Rob Sherrell, Loran Smith • Delivery: Jack Abernathy, Will Hayes, Bear Jordan, Tim Roberts, Cullen Sewell, Thompson Sewell, Champ Vance Georgia-Kentucky, November 4, 2014
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Lesson learned after Gators rout Dawgs Bulldogs were ready to unleash in amazing supersized HD. And as Nick Chubb walked the 50-yards with his teammates with his helmet held high in pregame tradition, the feelings from the last two weeks all felt right.
By Logan Booker Bulldawg Illustrated
Winning on the road is always nice. It’s one of those things in college football that will drive a team’s and fanbase’s confidence through the roof. Especially when it’s done without the near-consensus Heisman Trophy leading running back, who was suspended prior to said games.
And things still felt right after Georgia completed the first quarter up 7-0, only haven allowed 42-yards rushing for a Gators offense deemed atrocious by anybody with a professional opinion. But then the unraveling began, which could be felt all along the Georgia bench as a fake field goal tied the game, and then Florida quickly regained possession and another rapid touchdown put the Gators on top for good.
So when the University of Georgia finished a most-impressive stretch of handing Missouri and Arkansas its two worst losses of the season while the Bulldogs were the visiting team last month, the bye week brewed up a bit of overconfidence throughout the great state of Georgia.
If you had the pleasure of golfing with me last week on Jekyll Island during the Georgia-Florida Golf Classic (which I implore you to register and participate in next season!), or talked with me in the days leading up to the Georgia-Florida game, I would have attempted to sell you the illusion that Georgia was unbeatable this past week. All week I had a number in my head of 44-20, in which the Bulldogs would hand Florida its worst loss in the rivalry in nearly three decades. But au contraire.
The Georgia team who had popped two SEC opponents in the mouth leading up to this day had reverted to the one we watched in South Carolina earlier this season, seemingly intimidated by the notion of trailing in a ball game outside of Sanford Stadium. The energy was sucked out of the Bulldog’s half of the stands and field and amplified by those wearing the combinations of blue and orange. The game plan of running Chubb up the gut – which worked so well up to that point – was nowhere to be found in the radio signals sent down from the offensive coaches above the field. And for the next 35 minutes of football an eternity in real time, the Florida fans and players held a pep rally at the expense of an over-confident Georgia team and fanbase.
Upon walking out onto the field of the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, all seemed to be going just as I imagined. Watching the boys warm up, the focus and intensity seemed to be there. The pair of 60 by 362 foot new jumbotrons at Everbank Field seemed to capture every bit of bottled up emotion the
I was told time and time again over the past two weeks to not let my confidence get too high. Every one of my elders who have followed Georgia since Vince Dooley walked the same field as a coach down in Jacksonville warned me that there have been way too many instances where Georgia was supposed to win
And among the victims, none other than myself.
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that game but instead laid an egg. However, I refused to believe them as I single-handedly decided to begin a revolution of UGA students and younger followers to no longer be intimidated by the names on the matchup in late October/early November along the banks of the St. John’s River. The combination was perfect for Florida to derail what was starting to present itself as an outside chance of Georgia finding its way into the first ever College Football Playoff. Gators head coach Will Muschamp had nothing to lose as his bags in Gainesville are all but packed and awaiting his one-way ticket out of Florida at the end of the season. Georgia was feeling way, way too good after beating what truly aren’t that impressive of teams on the road. All the talk was about sending Muschamp on the road early as opposed to game execution and focus. I was just too young and inexperienced to see it. A mistake you’ll never hear me make again as long as I am around and this rivalry is being played.
J E F F DA N T Z L E R’ S G E O R G IA- K E N T U C K Y P R E V I E W
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A victory over Wildcats is a must By Jeff Dantzler Bulldawg Illustrated
Georgia’s playoff dreams were train-wrecked in the 38-20 loss to Florida this past Saturday in Jacksonville. Having pieced together five consecutive wins since a heart-breaking 3835 loss at South Carolina, a game that was filled with missed opportunities, Georgia led the Gators 7-0 and faced a secondand-four around the Florida 35. Next thing you know, Florida led 31-7. It was a staggering setback. To paraphrase the loveable Charley Brown when pontificating over his little league baseball team, “every year we lose the first game of the year and the last game of the year. And all the ones in between.” Well it’s obviously not that bad for Georgia. But the last few seasons, every year, the dogs seem to get their hearts ripped out every year and get blown out every year. The 2012 campaign certainly comes to mind, what with a 35-7 thrashing at the hands of Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks and then that excruciating 32-28 Southeastern Conference Championship Game loss of the generation to Alabama that had the Bulldog nation collectively searching, figuratively of course, for a tall bridge. Indeed, this past Saturday’s 18-point loss marks the ninth straight season that Georgia, with its vast resources, support system, talent, passion, history, tradition and fertile recruiting grounds, has lost a game by 15 or more, i.e. two touchdowns plus. To be a champion, that’s something that the Bulldogs must collectively solve in the offseason. It hasn’t helped that over the past five seasons, the Bulldogs have lost A.J. Green and Todd Gurley for a collective eight games due to suspension. But first things first, Georgia, though the biggest of dreams is gone – the Bulldogs have two losses to teams that have a collective eight setbacks who have yet to play each other –could still finish 10-2 and play for the SEC Championship. Cue the Jim Mora Sr., because before the Bulldogs can think about that caliber of a season, the next challenge is a big one at Kentucky. Under the watch of second year coach Mark Stoops, Kentucky has gone from awful in 2013 to one of the most improved teams– if not the most improved - in the country. Kentucky was 2-10 last season, and 0-8 in Southeastern Conference play, including a 59-17 trouncing at the hands of Georgia in Sanford Stadium. When the schedule came out, this looked like a classic, dangerous “trap” game, having to
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go on the road to Lexington between the battles with ancient rivals Florida and Auburn. That was before anyone had any idea that the Wildcats would go from being a doormat to potentially bowl bound as one of the best teams in the SEC East, and that Georgia would be licking its wounds from what a vast majority of Bulldog fans would describe as somewhere between an extremely frustrating to embarrassing loss to the Gators. Can Georgia bounce back and begin to salvage what was shaping up as a potentially golden scenario of a season? Here’s how the Bulldogs must deal with Kentucky, which fell to 5-4 with a 20-10 loss at Missouri. It starts with the defense slowing down Patrick Towles. Through the years the Wildcats have had their share of superb signal callers, including Tim Couch and Jared Lorenzen. Towles has the ability to join the class of Southeastern Conference record setters. The 6-5, 238 pound redshirt sophomore, after bouncing up and down the depth chart for two years, grabbed the starting job and has been one of the top signal callers in the land. He has a big accurate arm and is an excellent runner, which, when combined with his size, makes him one of the top dual threats in the league. Towles had a spectacular performance in the Wildcats 45-31 loss to top-ranked Mississippi State on October 25. He threw for 390 yards on 24 of 43 passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions, while running for 76 yards and a pair of scores. That total on the ground included a 48-yard jaunt. Towles has the confidence, the swagger and the bloodlines. His grandfather is Hall of Fame pitcher and former United States Senator and Congressman Jim Bunning, a father of seven, who famously threw a perfect game on Father’s Day 1964 for the Phillies against the Mets. Due to Towles running ability, Georgia will likely play zone most of the game. Pressuring the passer is a must, and when the Bulldogs get there and have the chance, they must bring the big man down and put the Wildcats “behind the chains” as often as possible. If the Dogs don’t make life uncomfortable for Towles, he could have another memorable showing. Kentucky has other weapons to go along with a typically massive offensive line. Towles has several outstanding pass-catchers, including big play maker Ryan Timmons, who will test the Georgia secondary. Four different Wildcats have a reception of at least 56 yards this season. The Bulldogs must be stout against the run, and that means limiting Towles and standout sophomore running back Jojo Kemp, who had 17
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carries for 131 yards and three touchdowns in the Wildcats 4538 victory over South Carolina. Georgia should be able to have success running the football. Despite the attrition that has hit the tailback position, the Bulldogs have done an excellent job in the run game. That has been an Achilles heel for Kentucky. The Dogs are at their best pounding away behind a strong offensive line with elite backs, and then throwing off play-action. That’s the formula to move the ball against the Wildcats. It figures to take a lot of points, because the Wildcats have proven throughout SEC play that they can score. On the Bulldogs last two trips into opposing teams stadiums, Georgia won the turnover battle by a combined plus-nine. In the 34-0 win at Missouri, the Dogs forced five turnovers. In the 45-32 victory over Arkansas in Little Rock, Georgia forced four turnovers. The Bulldogs did not have a turnover in either game. Meanwhile in Jacksonville, the Bulldogs were done in by a catastrophic performance in the kicking game. An area in which Georgia was vastly improved from a year ago reverted to the special teams that was all too familiar in 2013. Losing those two battles, especially on the road, lead to goalposts coming down and upset scoreboards that appear on T-shirts and media guide covers. Jacksonville was a brutal blow. Georgia needs this badly.
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ON THE FIELD
BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED FLORIDA
By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated
GEORGIA TECH
THE BIG FIVE KENTUCKY
No matter the records of both teams, the Kentucky Wildcats more often than not are a handful for the Georgia Bulldogs when the game is played in Lexington. If you don’t believe as much, take a look at the OLE MISS past four meetings of the Dawgs and Cats in the Bluegrass state. In 2006, Kentucky rose up and beat Georgia 24-20; in 2008 the Bulldogs had to outscore the Wildcats by 42-38 in order to survive; in 2010, Georgia again won a shootout by 44-31 over UK and, just two years ago in 2012, the Bulldogs bareSOUTH CAROLINA ly got by the Wildcats by 29-24. And this coming Saturday’s high noon kickoff (ESPN) in Lexington promises to be more of the same ... the Bulldogs having to fight for their canine lives to stay at the top of the SEC East Division. Most certainly, this Kentucky football team of second-year head coach Mark Stoops seems to be a tougher brand of Cat than the UK teams of recent years. The Wildcats headed toVANDERBILT Missouri this past Saturday sporting a 5-3 season record and a 2-3 conference mark. Although they were manhandled 41-3 in Baton Rouge by a vastly-improved LSU team, the Wildcats took the fight to Mississippi State, the nation’s top-ranked team, all afternoon long on Oct. 25 before eventually falling by 45-31 in Lexington. And in Kentucky’s other SEC defeat, it took the Florida Gators into three overtimes in Gainesville before being nipped 36-30. So yes, the Kentucky Wildcats, who downed South Carolina by 45-38 this season, are fully capable of upsetting Georgia on Saturday. And here are the Big Five factors that could pave the way for the Big Blue throwing a kink into the Bulldogs’ quest to make it to Atlanta for the SEC championship game:
LSU 1. Turn your big QB loose on Georgia
Wildcat quarterback Patrick Towles (No. 14) gave the Mississippi State defense fits all day with his running and passing. The 6-5, 238-pound sophomore completed 24-of-43 passes for 390 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 76 yards on 24 carries and two more scores ... and that included seven sacks of Towles by the State defense that MISSISSIPPI negated his total rushing. He hasSTATE the ability to keep the Georgia defense guessing as well.
2. Get those UK wideouts open against the UGA secondary Kentucky doesn’t own huge receivers but the Wildcats do own three fast, jitterbug-type pass TENNESSEE catchers who are capable of finding the seams in the Bulldogs’ secondary and pulling in Towles’ passes. They are sophomore Ryan Timmons (1), 5-10, 195, senior Demarco Robinson (9), 5-10, 158, ukathletics.com and senior Javess BlueAll(8), 6-0, year’s and the property NOTE: helmets and191, logoslast are trademarked their hauled respective college or university. leading receiver of who in a 58-yard touchfor the UK defense to get pressure on Georgia QB These logos are reproduced for editorial use only by AP members. down pass from Towles against Mississippi State. Mason, limit his passing game and therefore try to
3. Make the Bulldogs respect your running game Quarterback Towles can’t be the only running threat against the capable Georgia rush defense, as he often was against the other Bulldogs, so it’s going to be imperative that UK tailbacks Jojo Kemp (3) and Braylon Heard (5) step up and get it done carrying the football Saturday. Kemp, a 5-10, 192-pound sophomore, and Heard, a 5-11, 189-pound junior, stood 1-2 in the Kentucky running game entering the Missouri battle this past Saturday.
4. Get pressure on Hutson Mason Not many people have stopped the Nick Chubbled Georgia running game but, certainly, the Wildcats can’t allow both facets of the Bulldogs’ offense to beat them. That’s why it will be vital
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at least make the Bulldog attack one-dimensional. And the Cats have the defensive ends to do just that in the persons of Za’Darius Smith (94), a 6-6, 263-pound senior, and All-SEC Alvin “Bud” Dupree (2), a 6-4, 264-pound senior, as well as the team’s leading tackler, linebacker Josh Forrest (45), a 6-3, 236-pound junior.
5. Get the home crowd into the game from the opening kick The Wildcat Nation was on its feet and roaring from the get-go against those other Dogs from Mississippi State. The same thing must happen in this game if the Bulldogs are to go down. Raise the roof when Georgia has the ball and get your defense stoked to fever pitch, thereby forcing the Bulldogs into turnovers that could mean the difference in winning and losing when the final buzzer sounds.
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ON THE FIELD
THE BIG FIVE
2. Tackling needs to improve
By Logan Booker Bulldawg Illustrated
A tough, tough one to swallow last week, as Georgia basically didn’t do anything it had to do to beat one of the worst Gators teams in the recent history of that program. But time, and the season, marches on as Georgia is being handed no favors in once again going on the road to play an SEC game away from home. Kentucky is usually looked at as a “W” on the Georgia schedule, but there is just something different about these Wildcats this season. They have stood tall, challenging almost every team that has come its way. Nobody expected this team to give No. 1 Mississippi State a scare the other week, but they did. Nobody expected them to beat South Carolina in Lexington earlier this season, but they did. They will be anything but a pushover like they have been every so often over the years. And in order for Georgia to get back on the right side of the win/loss column before (finally) coming back home to Athens the following week, some execution that was not seen in Jacksonville will have to take place.
1. The defensive line needs to show a push This past week, the defensive line was not able to move the opposing offensive line the way it did the previous two weeks. As a result, Florida was able to establish a run game that was non-existent until then, nearly having a pair of 200-yard rushers. Kentucky is not exactly known as a running team, but unless this unit re-finds its purpose, they very well could be before this coming Saturday is over.
Without calling out individuals in a loss that was clearly a team defeat, there were some very, very sketchy tackling techniques taking place in Jacksonville. Something that cannot take place if Georgia plans on winning this week in Lexington. Kentucky has a big quarterback who likes to drop his shoulder and run, and if the Bulldogs cannot wrap him up, blue may not only describe the grass in the state of Kentucky, but also the mood of the Georgia defense.
3.
Wide receivers need to make plays
Enough emphasis on quarterback Hutson Mason. He has been at or a bit better than mediocre all season, but the wide receivers are doing him no favors when it comes to getting open or making big plays. Multiple times Georgia dropped shouldbe catches last week and it’s at the point in the season that shouldn’t be happening. Who knows where Justin Scott-Wesley has been, but Malcolm Mitchell, Chris Conley and Michael Bennett are each capable of getting open. Kentucky did not record an interception against Missouri last week as the Tigers picked apart the Wildcat’s secondary using a plethora of receivers all day. It’s time Mason’s weapons do him some favors.
4.
Tight ends need to be ready, too
The tight ends became a bigger part of the Georgia offense late in the game when they became desperate, but Mason should be hitting his tight ends regularly. The opposing defense will always enter the game planning on selling out on the run, and that should be the time the short passes get
photo by Rob Saye
implemented to keep defenses honest. Jeb Blazevich is showing he will be special over the next few years, and Saturday could be a perfect time to show some packages Georgia has not shown yet which use him to his fullest as the Bulldogs enter their final game without running back Todd Gurley.
5.
Fans on the road
I have used this as a point a few times over the last month, but never has it been more important for Georgia fans to make a showing on the road than now. The fanbase is down, the team is likely down and they will need to feel the support in a stadium where the Kentucky fans are just waiting to boil over when that big-time win inevitably will come, and soon. So hit the road, Bulldog fans. There is no more beautiful drive in early November than the trek from Georgia to Kentucky, so use it as therapy to get over the tough defeat last week. This team needs you right now, and you need your team. Safe travels, once again!
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GEORGIA GIRLS: UGA GRADS’ FEEDS TO FOLLOW Compiled by Cheri Leavy
SIDNEY WAGNER Sidney is the interior designer and shop owner of Charleston’s TOP
Eclectic, an interior design studio and home decor shop selling furniture, art, accessories, lighting and other goods for the home. I dig her artist spotlights and design posts on her blog so she is one to add to bloglovin’.
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Athens TD club owes a lot to Candler Meadors
NAN MCCOLLUM MYERS Nan Myers is one of my favorite newbies to the grand dames of the South. I am saying she is the next generation of interesting, creative and eclectic ladies below the mason dixon line. She is a “jill” of all trades in Thomasville, GA. (Firefly, Nan Myers Events, and Shotgun Supper Club) FOLLOW!
The Touchdown Club of Athens had its beginning in 1946, organized to support Georgia football after World War II. The year '46 was a very good year. Charley Trippi was in his final year of SARA LLOYD eligibility, Wallace Butts in his heyday as a Sara Lloyd is an owner and designer of Mimi and Muff, college coach, the master of the passing www.mimiandmuff.com with her sister where they design their own tame. What a season to remember! Georgia won the national championship with fabrics, creating them into resort wear. Their facebook is fun and makes an undefeated season and a 20-10 victory you want a trip to the beach. Did I mention they are UGA cartoonist Jack over North Carolina in the Sugar Bowl Davis’ granddaughers? New Year's day, 1947. Trippi was chosen by the Maxwell committee as college football's outstanding player. Not many touchdown and quarterCHRISTY back clubs flourish today. First HULSEY of all, sitting coaches won'tChristy’s take the business, time to travel Colonial House of Flowers, in Statesboro helps create some of the South’s and speak. Evenmost with beautiful the use ofevents. an air- Her instagram and blog are packed with DIY for entertaining. plane, it still would take, even for a short haul, three or more hours to speak to a Candler Meadors with Gene Stallings club within a couple hundred miles. Coaches make too much money today to thusiastic fans of Georgia football. BasROBIN For yearsGERBER he has served on the make the effort to speak in the hinterlands ketball too. Gerber is co-owner statisticianRobin crew for Bulldog basketball.of Annie Griffin Collection with her sister – it for $1,500.00 or less. At theis meetings of the club, he was Since its inception, the Touchdown a contemporary women’s line distinguished by effortless style, feminine Club of Athens, has had three secretaries: the welcoming committee, reservation cosilhouettes, and bold prints. Harry Atwell, who was the first. He was ordinator, ticket dispenser, troubleshooterCheck out the inspiring instagram. followed by Jimmy Hayes who gave up the and greeter with an eternal smile of goodrole in 1981. Candler Meadors suc- will and good cheer. From his seat at the lis- WARD ceeded Hayes and is in his last year as ex- head table, he was always an attentive ERIKA ecutive secretary, having served in this tener to every speaker, always asking enI love this Atlantan and queen of the work life balance. She is Principal Designer, Erika Ward part capacity for 32 years. He will still be with thusiastic questions. He loved being of the exciting atmosphere of theInteriors Touch- (www.erikaward.com), Editor of BluLabel Bungalow (www.blulabelbungalow.com), us, however, as Secretary Emeritus. Candler who Harry Atwell was an interesting char- down Club of Athens. Co-founder of Room Service Atlanta (www.roomserviceatlanta.org) and spokesperson for For more to follow, name check dropping. out the blog joined the club in 1958 is one of the most acter, givenfeeds to innocent Pledge. I look to her instagram for daily inspiration. post on: bulldawgillustrated.com He had a mid-western background and senior members. You can count on your was friendly with Big Ten luminaries along left hand those who have been members He has been a with personalities like Frank Leahy, Notre longer than Candler. Dame head coach. Hayes ran McGregor member of the board of directors for 53 Printing Co. for years and was a quiet, years and served as President of the club soft-spoken type who enjoyed the club so- in 1967. As a businessman, he was in sales cials and particularly appreciated the wit and humor of well known coaching per- with Heyward Allen Motor Company for • Residential and Commercial Moving DON’T MISS OUR ANNUAL 26 years before taking over his own dealsonalities who often visited the club-• Local and Long Distance Frank Howard of Clemson, Peahead ership, Meadors Mercedes Benz, VolkWalker of Wake Forest and, of course, swagen which he operated for 12 years.. • On-site Document Destruction Candler, who grew up in Atlanta, reGeorgia's colorful coach, Wallace Butts. • Document Data Storage Candler has served the club longer than ceived his business degree from UGA in • Go Mini’s Portable Storage Units any officer and has worked with Georgia 1951and served in the Air Force 1951-53. high school, he rode a street car to Boys coaches from Wallace ButtsDecember to Vince Doo- In2nd Tuesday, 4pm - 7pm • Packing Materials High where he played football and was ley to Mark Richt. "most athletic" by his senior class. ForTours years, Candler managed the op- voted Hors d’oeuvres Door Prizes and More! "We appreciate Candler's long time erations of the Touchdown Club, handling all the administrative chores, managing loyalty to the Touchdown Club and his the checkbook, collecting dues, supervis- love of the Bulldogs. If you pick the most ing the accounting which, for years, in- loyal friend of the University of Georgia, cluded a $50.00 contribution to the you would have to give consideration to Georgia Athletic Association. He wore Candler. For sure he loves the Dawgs," many hats within the organization: Coor- says Greg McGarity, Georgia athletic diLindsay Transfer & Storage, Inc. senior living dinating the meeting leaders dates inwith the rector. Mark Richt, Bulldog head coach, says, Athens Country Club, sending out the 180 Trade Street "We need more fans like Candler Meadors. meeting notices, taking reservations, 801 Riverhill Drive Athens, GA 30606 Bogart, GA 30622 choosing the menu, facilitating the meet- He is always loyal to our program and is 706.369.7100 wesleywoods.org forever ready to extend a helping hand." ings, corresponding with speakers, bookTel: 706.549.8902 If Methodist those who appreciate Candler's keeping, setting meetings theHealthcare + United A Community ofup WESLEY WOODS + Affiliated of with Emory Church / North Georgia Conference officers and board of directors, keeping contributions to the Touchdown Club of Duke Lindsay the files in order and being the cheerful Athens, bellied up to the bar to toast him dlindsay@thelindsaygroup.net face of the Touchdown Club of Athens. for his years of work, the bartender would All the while, he was one of the most en- have to work overtime to fill the orders.
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www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 9
OFF THE FIELD
BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED
Jenna Dajani, Allen Reed, Shay Momack, Samantha Turnbach and Steve Lore
Georgia 20 Florida 38
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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED
OFF THE FIELD
Georgia 20 Florida 38
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www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 11
BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED
OFF THE FIELD
Georgia 20 Florida 38
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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED
OFF THE FIELD
Georgia 20 Florida 38
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www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 13
OFF THE FIELD
BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED
Spotlight on University of Georgia Graduates Every week, Cheri Leavy shares a Q&A with a Bulldog Belle on BulldawgIllustrated.com.
Hometown: Columbus, GA Current Town: Atlanta, GA
Profession: I’m a luxury travel consultant and manage my own travel planning brand, Vacations by Lindsey. I work one on one with my clients to provide them with customized vacations around the globe – from island hopping in the Caribbean to venturing on a safari in South Years at UGA: Africa, and everywhere in between. It’s been my goal to educate 2007-2011 others on the value of using a travel agent – I save my clients time School: and, often, money (never costing them more, that’s for sure!) and am Franklin College passionate about the trips that I plan. I have more details, along with of Arts & Sciences, a travel blog that I keep, on my website: www.vacationsbylindsey. English Major com. I’m very fortunate to have found a career that I love and I even get to test out the products pretty often with trips of my own!
Describe Athens in three words: Best City Ever! Share a favorite memory from your time at UGA: My all time favorite memory at UGA was studying abroad at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009. When I applied for the program, I was interested in pursuing a career in the film industry. However, as I experienced the ins and outs of the red carpet lifestyle and had time to explore France and Italy with my peers, my passion began to change. It was on an “accidental” trip to Venice when I watched the sun rise over the canals that I caught the travel bug. I knew I wanted to find a career that would allow me travel – but not necessarily like that experience (which included an overnight, overbooked train ride and about 40 hours without sleep). I was actually offered my job as a travel consultant during a conversation about this study abroad. Just a few weeks after my study abroad ended, I walked into my local travel agency for a brochure. I didn’t realize I was talking to the owners and happened to tell them all about Cannes – they offered me the position on the spot. It was meant to be!
... I owe so much of my career to UGA ... Describe your typical Bulldog game day: I’m a girly girl and have always loved the tradition of dressing up on gamedays – I think I spent more time getting ready for the game than I did tailgating (and sometimes even at the game – I’ll admit, I’m far from sporty – but I do have a soft spot for my Bulldawg football). I lived with some of my best friends – many of my favorite memories were carpooling to and from the games with one another – we’d tailgate and spend the day with each other rooting on the Dawgs! One thing few people know about you: I’m already living my dream job…but if I could do one thing besides being a travel consultant, I’d want to host a show on the Travel Channel. Watch out, Samantha Brown!
One thing few people know about you: I still crave my favorite meal at Last Resort – praline chicken and white chocolate cheesecake! If I lived closer to that restaurant, I’d be dangerous – I used to place takeout orders of just the cheesecake as a treat for myself after an especially stressful day. Or an especially good day. Share a tailgate recipe: Brown Sugar Lit’l Smokies (warning: these are super easy and highly addictive!) Bacon 1 Package Lit’l Smokie Sausages Brown Sugar I don’t have exact measurements, but you truly can’t go wrong making these. Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees and cut bacon into slices to wrap around each Lit’l Smokie Sausage. Insert toothpicks into each sausage and place on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with brown sugar – a lot of brown sugar. Bake until the bacon is crispy and the sugar is melted! For more of Lindsey Epperly’s responses, visit bulldawgillustrated.com
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OFF THE FIELD
BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED
2014 Georgia-Florida Classic - Jekyll Island
Herman Archie, DJ Jones and Dale Williams
Georgia Florida Classic Winners, Aaron Seitz, Fred Spinger, Kaleb Ingalls and Travis Williamson
Donald Hall, John Quick, Gary Belflower and Matt Belflower
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Jenna Guess and Aubrey Jacksina
Matt Storm and Brian Moore
Reed and Helen Ellis, Jack and Loraine Ryan and Louanne Theriault
www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 15
BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED
JOHN FRIERSON’S PERSPECTIVE
Playoff unlikely for the Dawgs By John Frierson Bulldawg Illustrated
Barring more than a few stunning surprises in the final month of the regular season, the inaugural College Football Playoff will go on without the Georgia Bulldogs. The playoff will be just fine without them, it seems, because things are shaping up for a spectacular finish. Georgia might have been a long shot to make it anyway given the relative weakness of the SEC East, the strength of the West and the high number of one-loss teams in power conferences with strong resumes. But last week’s Cocktail Party thumping at the hands of Florida was the Dogs going out with a whimper. Now, in the wake of the 38-20 stunner, it’s time to reassess and move on. As I’ve written here before, that’s way easier for coaches and players to do than it is fans. Still, there is much to play for and hardware still available for the taking. The SEC East is now led by that Missouri squad that the Dogs hammered 34-0 on its home field. The Tigers are a head-scratching 4-1 in the league with three games remaining, while Georgia is 4-2 with Kentucky (away) this week and playoff-contender Auburn between the hedges on Nov. 15. To win the East the Dogs certainly need to split their remaining games and possibly win both — a split could bring the Gators back into the race if they get on a roll — but that won’t be enough. Georgia also needs for Missouri to stumble, which might be more realistic than the Dogs beating Auburn given how both teams looked last week.
Mizzou visits a perplexing Texas A&M squad this week — the Aggies have gone from looking like the best team in America in week one to average at best — and head to Knoxville to face a rising Tennessee team next week. After that they close out their regular season at home against Arkansas the day after Thanksgiving. The Hogs will win an SEC game this season and that might be their best shot. Missouri could easily lose all three, but man is it hard to believe it has come to that for Georgia. Having to chase a team that you dismantled because against your biggest rival you were thoroughly manhandled on both sides of the ball. It’s a fickle sport, this football. It’s also fascinating. When the first College Football Playoff rankings were released last week, followed by the explosion of reactions on social media, it was confirmation that a playoff has only made college football more compelling and more popular. Surely college football’s big-wigs had to be wondering why they didn’t do this 20 years ago. As FoxSports.com writer Stewart Mandel tweeted Sunday, under the old BCS system everyone would be sitting around waiting for either Mississippi State or Florida State to lose. Now, with the four-team playoff, there are so many more teams in play and so much more to talk about. Some of it even civilly. The release of the selection committee’s top four, plus the next two and the other 19, well, it felt like picking which trees were going to have the most beautiful fall colors before any of them had even started to turn. There were still so many unknowns, as there still are this week.
photo by Rob Saye
If the release of the committee’s top 25 did anything, it provided all of us that follow the game closely with a road map. We could spread it out and look at all of the features, following one to another. These are the 25 teams on the committee’s big board — even if we know there are probably only 12 or 13 teams legitimately still in the hunt — and it’s on those 25 that we devoted our attention last week. This week, the committee is still ranking 25 teams but the pool of realistic candidates is even smaller due to losses by Georgia, Ole Miss and Arizona. And it will be smaller still next week, and so on. This college football season is reality and reality TV at their finest. For every team in the hunt, elimination may only be a loss, one sloppy turnover or defensive series, away. It sure was for Georgia, which if it wants to achieve any of its remaining goals has to quickly lick its wounds and be ready for a Kentucky that has looked both great and terrible in the past few weeks. That sure sounds familiar.
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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED
JEFF DANTZLER
A View From ... Lexington By Jeff Dantzler Bulldawg Illustrated
Darrell Bird helps us out at Bulldawg Illustrated covering the Georgia-Kentucky game for a second straight season. He does an excellent job covering Kentucky for CatsPause.com. We again thank Darrell for his superb work. Talk about the turnaround in Year #2 under Mark Stoops. If you know Mark Stoops’ history as an assistant coach then you know his units, from his time as a secondary coach to defensive coordinator, have all shown dramatic improvement in year two. Stoops can’t put a finger on it, but the obvious answer is good coaching and to surround himself with great assistants who know how to teach this game. With two of the best recruiting classes in school history on the field now as true sophomores and freshmen, it was expected that Kentucky would not make much noise until year three. Stoops had other plans. What has been the key to Kentucky becoming arguably the most improved team in the country? Two reasons: one on offense and one on defense. Quarterback play has enabled Kentucky to actually execute the plays in Neal Brown’s ‘Air Raid’ offense. Last year, UK struggled along with no quarterback and it showed. On defense, senior ends Bud Dupree and Za’Darius Smith have been as good as advertised. Give any defense strong line play and they will show stark improvement.
How impressed have you been with the quarterback play of Patrick Towles? Everyone around Kentucky always knew Patrick Towles had the natural ability to be a great quarterback in the SEC. As the grandson of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Bunning, it was simply in his genes. The question was always whether he would mature as a young man in time to take advantage of the opportunity. A meeting last fall when coach Mark Stoops told Towles he would have to redshirt jolted the quarterback to reality, and he has never looked back. The change in leadership is astounding. What did that win over South Carolina, with that atmosphere to boot, mean? The victory over Steve Spurrier and South Carolina gave instant credibility to Mark Stoops’ plan to rebuild Kentucky football. It wasn’t needed inside the locker room, but the win sent a shock through the fan base, which has been giddy ever since. Simply put, Stoops rebuilding plan is one full year ahead of schedule. What would it mean to beat Georgia? That you could drive by a Lexington horse farm and expect to see unicorns frolicking in the fields. Kentucky football is much improved, but it’s not that much improved. What is your take on Georgia? Perhaps the best rushing team in America, which is also Kentucky’s most glaring weakness on defense. See the Mississippi State loss for proof. UK’s offense can keep pace with Georgia, but not if the Dawgs keep the ball away by running the ball and chewing the clock.
ukathletics.com
What does Kentucky need to do to win? Stop the run, which won’t happen. They might slow the pace if they play well. That means Georgia will score so Kentucky must answer. The only Kentucky win is a high-scoring shootout assisted by Georgia turnovers. With all that John Calipari has done, three Final Fours, including a national title, is the anticipation that the Wildcats will win No. 9 this season? Anticipation, yes. Expectation, yes. Reality, yes if you ask the fan base. Honestly, this could be the most talented roster ever assembled and anything short of the national championship will be a letdown among the Big Blue Nation. That might not be fair, but it is life in the Bluegrass State. Just ask any Georgia fan about football expectations and you know what I mean.
www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 17
BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED
JEFF DANTZLER
Kentucky CLASSICRewind Jake Scott 1968 Georgia-35, Kentucky-14
Rex Robinson 1978 Georgia-17, Kentucky-16
John Lastinger 1982 Georgia-27, Kentucky-14
One of the most talented Georgia players ever had a sensational day in Lexington as the Bulldogs powerhouse Southeastern Conference champions took down Kentucky 35-14. When it comes to stellar All-American defensive backs, Georgia takes a backseat to no school, featuring all-time greats like Terry Hoage, Scott Woerner, Champ Bailey and Jake Scott. Arguably the nation’s top defensive back and punt returner of 1968, Scott teamed with fellow All-American defenders Bill Stanfill and Steve Greer to headline the SEC’s best stop unit. In the first game of the season, Scott had a sensational punt return for a touchdown at Tennessee, leaping over a helmet en route to pay-dirt. Against Kentucky, Scott tied set a Georgia standard, while tying NCAA and SEC records by returning two interceptions for touchdowns. The Bulldogs would finish the regular season with an 8-0-2 record, chalking up the program’s second SEC championship in three seasons under the watch of young head coach Vince Dooley and beloved defensive coordinator Erk Russell. Scott picked off 10 passes in 1968 and was SEC Player of the Year, while earning All-American honors. Playing just two seasons at Georgia, Scott set the school record for career interceptions with 16 – in 18 games. He was never better for the Bulldogs than against Kentucky. As an NFL standout for Miami and then Washington, Scott made history as the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl VII, as the Dolphins beat the Redskins 14-7 to complete what is still the lone undefeated season in modern National Football League history. .
Things looked bleak for the Bulldogs on a chilly, crystal clear Saturday night in Lexington, Kentucky. The Wildcats had raced to a 16-0 lead over the Wonderdogs, who would later continue their penchant for dramatic victories. Georgia came roaring back with a pair of touchdowns to cut the Wildcats lead to 16-14. The Bulldogs got the ball back one final time and mounted a drive behind stellar offensive line play and strong running for the Southeastern Conference’s player of the year – tailback Willie McClendon of Brunswick. On this cool, clear night, the booming signal of AM 750 WSB sent the magical call of Liltin’ Larry Munson from Miami to Maine, from the Atlantic to the Rockies. Long before ESPN when dozens of games were on television every Saturday, football fans surfed their radio dials for pigskin action across the land. None delivered better than the Greatest College Football Announcer Ever. And the Mighty Munson was never better. With eight seconds to go, the game came down to the golden toe of All-American kicker Rex Robinson, one of the great specialists in college football annals, who lined up for a 29yard attempt. “The whole stadium’s standing, no some of them are upside down, but they’re trying to stand!!! Rex sticks it up, it looks good, watch it, Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”
Undefeated Georgia was on the road against winless Kentucky, but the Bulldogs were in first half trouble. The Wildcats hit a couple of big plays to jump on top 14-0. Georgia would come fighting back, and the Bulldogs junior signal caller John Lastinger had one of his finest performances in red and black. A two-year starter at quarterback, the Valdosta native was the trigger man for the 1982 SEC Champions who went 11-1 and played for the national title, and the 1983 Cotton Bowl champs who finished 10-1-1. In Lexington, Lastinger led Georgia on one of its seven comeback victories of the campaign, tossing three touchdown passes, including a 64-yard scoring strike to Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker. All-American super toe Kevin Butler nailed a couple of field goals and the defense was tremendous in the second half, shutting the Wildcats out after intermission. The victory pushed the Bulldogs to a perfect 7-0 on the season and was a shining night for one of the winningest quarterbacks in Georgia history.
BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED
P O O L E S H O T S - S TAT S T HAT M AT T E R :
By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Stats That Matter told the true story of the 2014 Georgia-Florida game, played Saturday at wind-swept EverBank Field. But unfortunately for the shell-shocked, 9th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, it was the unranked and floundering Gators that put up the statistics that enabled them to maybe temporarily save Will Muschamp’s job with a 38-20 beat-down of the nearly two-touchdown favored Dawgs. On a Georgia defense that entered the game ranked second in the Southeastern Conference in rushing defense, the Gators simply lined up and shoved the ball down the Bulldogs’ throats. With Kelvin Taylor, son of former Florida All-American Fred Taylor, romping for 197 yards and two touchdowns and his tailback buddy, Matt Jones, running for 192 yards and also two scores, the Gators did to Georgia what most people figured the Bulldogs, the SEC’s leading rushing team coming in, would do to the Florida defense. After Georgia started fast and jumped to a 7-0 lead on Nick Chubb’s 39-yard touchdown run, it was pretty much all Gators after that as Florida tied the game on a fake field goal run, led 14-7 at the intermission and then went on to build a stunning 31-7 lead before the Bulldogs saved face a bit with two fourth-quarter scores. So, as the Bulldogs, now 6-2 on the season and 4-2 in the SEC and trailing the Missouri Tigers by a game in the East Division, attempt to find their game at Kentucky Saturday, here are the Stats That Mattered on just a dismal afternoon of football by the Georgia Bulldogs:
Plays of 20 plus yards, offense and defense
Let’s see, the Bulldogs got the 39-yard touchdown run by Chubb, another 35-yard scamper by Chubb, a 20-yard Hutson Mason pass to Michael Bennett, a 34-yard pass from Mason to Jeb Blazevich and 25 and 24-yard strikes from Mason to Chris Conley and Jordan Davis, respectively. But the Gators had some killer gains against the Bulldog defense, such as a 65-yard TD run by Taylor near game’s end, a 44-yard scoring burst by Jones, another 44-yard run by Taylor and a 21-yard scoring run on the fake field goal by holder Mike McNeely as the Gator offense got outside on the Georgia defensive end and outside linebackers the game long.
Untimely Mistakes (turnovers, penalties, clock management miscues, etc)
GEORGIA 20
FLORIDA 38
Why, with just under two minutes left in the first half and the Gators facing a fourth-and-two punt situation, did the Bulldogs let the clock run down to 1:09 left before calling a timeout? When Georgia got the ball back after the kick, they were on their own 18 with one minute left and little time left to score. Also, there was a five-yard off-sides penalty on the Bulldogs when they seemingly had the Gators stopped on third down at the Georgia 14. The Bulldog infraction in the third quarter enabled the Gators to get inside the Georgia five-yard line and convert an easy field goal. There was also a 15-yard offensive pass interference call against tight end Blazevich, nullifying a 19-yard Mason completion to Malcolm Mitchell at the Florida 3-yard line.
Special teams wins vs. miscues
Not a day to write home about for the Bulldogs’ special teams. Marshall Morgan, in a strong wind, missed a 39-yard field goal that the Bulldogs thought was good; in reverse, the Bulldogs’ defense allowed the Gators special teams to score on the 21-yard run on the fake field goal attempt. And the Bulldogs allowed a 38-yard punt return by Andre DeBose that set up another Florida touchdown. Georgia punter Adam Erickson did twice boot the Gators dead inside their own 20, at the UF 18 and 19 yard lines.
Missed Tackles
Time and again, as the Gator running backs raced to the edge, the Georgia linebackers and defensive backs couldn’t put them on the ground upon first contact. Therefore, what would have maybe been 3 or 4-yard gains turned into those 44 and 65-yard runs that simply stoned the Bulldog defense.
Yards after contact
Chubb, on both his 39-yard scoring jaunt and the 35-yard run on which he fumbled, pulled away from a number of would-be tacklers. Todd Gurley or no Todd Gurley, this 228-pound freshman should be a force in the SEC for at least two more seasons after this one.
Turnovers (gained/lost)
Pretty clean on both sides here as each team lost one fumble and threw no interceptions. Of course, the Bulldogs’ secondary didn’t have many chances for picks as Florida freshman quarterback Treon Harris only threw the ball six times. “We never put them in position where they had to throw the ball, quite frankly,” said Georgia head coach Mark Richt, alluding to the Gators’ 418 total yards rushing. “I don’t blame them throwing it just six times a game.”
photo by Rob Saye
Red Zone (offense/defense)
The Gators were three-for-three scoring inside the 20-yard line while the Bulldogs also only reached the red zone three times, getting points on two of the opportunities.
Third down conversions
Neither team was efficient here, the Bulldogs converting first downs just 8-of-16 times on third down and the Gators going 7-of-14 turning third downs into first downs.
Run/pass attempts (total plays)
This stat, most of all, tells the story of Florida’s dominance over the Bulldogs. While the Gators ran the football 60 times for the 418 yards, the fifth best rushing game in Gator history, and passed just six times for 27 yards, Georgia ran it only 32 times for a net of 141 yards … despite Nick Chubb’s 156 yards on his own. And having to fight uphill after falling behind 31-7 in the final quarter, the Bulldogs threw the ball 42 times, completing 26 for Mason’s 319 yards. In other words, just the opposite of the formula Georgia has used to win football games this season.
BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED
K E V I N B U T L E R’ S P L AY E R S O F T H E G A M E — G E O R G I A- F L O R I D A
Kevin Butler, former University of Georgia legendary kicker and a member of the Georgia radio broadcast team, will each week during the 2014 football season select his offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week for Bulldawg Illustrated. Here are Butler’s selections and reasons why for the Bulldogs’ 38-20 loss to Florida Saturday.
OFFENSE – Freshman tailback Nick Chubb, who rushed for 156 yards on 21 carries including a 39-yard touchdown run and also caught five passes for 59 yards including a 10-yard scoring pass from Hutson Mason. “In a game where we could not get the offense as consistent as needed, Nick Chubb was the only consistent player, producing 215 of the 460 total yards,” said Butler. “UGA started out running the ball efficiently with Chubb leading the way by ground and air. Unfortunately, he was not enough as the Gators put points on the board and the offense got out of rhythm and became Chubb- less. Look for Nick to kick up some Blue Grass in Kentucky.”
DEFENSE – Because no one player performed that well in the pummeling by the Gators, Butler called out the Bulldogs’ entire defense and gives his reasons why. “This was the toughest week this young Pruitt-coached defense has had all year,” Butler said. “When something like this happens to the defense, 418 yards rushing, they must circle the wagons. Because of the total domination of Florida’s running game, this week’s defensive player will be the entire defense. My reasoning? ... it will take all of these young and old Dawgs to RIGHT THE WRONG! I believe they will.” SPECIAL TEAMS – Like the defense, Butler opted to give no individual honors to special team players, due to the poor performance the Bulldog units had against the Gators. “UGA got struck with the rash of STD’s ... Special Teams Disasters,” Butler said. “In a game where the wind was a big factor, UGA keep hurting themselves in this unit. A missed field goal, poor coverage and dismal punting that never gained any field position. As a young team we must have solid special teams play in order to win and when we don’t, the Gators win. It was ugly. We must get tighter as a unit. No one player stood out so they all have to take responsibility.” - Compiled by Murray Poole
College football flies by. It’s Labor Day, next thing you know, it is November. Once again, we had a superb weekend of close games. The way the Auburn-Ole Miss game came to an end was so sad, and what a range of emotions for the Rebel faithful. Georgia’s loss to Florida was an eye-opener. The PAC-12 and Big XII both delivered. There are some great games this weekend, especially in the Big XII and once again the SEC. 1. Mississippi State – The Maroons survived their biggest upset scare, holding off the Hogs, escaping with a 17-10 victory and extending Arkansas’s SEC losing streak to 17 games. They get a breather with UT-Martin, then comes the mega-showdown. 2. Florida State – The Seminoles were in big time where dreams go to die (there and Tiger Stadium with Coach Les Miles), Thursday night in the road. Louisville was up 21-0 in the first half, but Florida State staged a tremendous comeback. Their defensive line is strong and there is juice on the perimeter. The 8-0 ‘Noles host improved Virginia this week. 3. Auburn – The Tigers have another outstanding team and they continue to have fortune on their side. Auburn gets sliding Texas A&M and then goes to Georgia, which just got beaten by Florida 38-20. You know what’s there Thanksgiving weekend. Auburn’s receivers look like NFL players. 4. Alabama – The Crimson Tide head to Baton Rouge for the battle that has been as good as any in college football since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa. LSU has found itself and Bama is loaded. This is the start of a brutal November schedule for the Tide.
7. Notre Dame – The Fighting Irish won a high-scoring shootout with old rival Navy. Notre Dame has an eye on the playoff. But they have their hands full this week, visiting Arizona State. The Irish need to win out and have Florida State win out. Brian Kelly is far and away their bet coach since Lou Holtz. 8. Oregon – The Ducks took out two years of frustration with a 45-16 shallacking of Stanford to improve to 8-1 on the season. Oregon is alive for the playoff if it can win out. Next up is another toughie, as Utah awaits in Salt Lake. 9. Michigan State – Michigan State had this past week off to get ready for the Titanic Big Ten showdown with Ohio State in East Lansing. It is one of the biggest games the Spartans have hosted. Last season, Michigan State wrecked the Buckeyes national champion hopes and earned a berth to the Rose Bowl. 10. Baylor – Not surprisingly, Baylor had no trouble with Kansas, rolling to a 60-14 win over the struggling Jayhawks to set the stage for the big Norman showdown with Oklahoma. Baylor leads the nation in scoring with 50.4 points per game.
5. Kansas State –The gap between Bill Snyder and the second greatest coach in K-State history is the biggest of any school in America. His two stints in Manhattan have been incredible. Kansas State has big time dreams and they need a win at TCU this weekend to keep the alive.
11. TCU – With ESPN Gameday in Morgantown, TCU survived another West Virginia upset scare, and escaped “Couchtown” with a 31-30 victory. On this huge day in the Big XII, they don’t come any bigger than the Horned Frogs showdown with Kansas State in Cowtown. Those enchiladas at Joe Garcia’s are extra good these days.
6. Ole Miss – This past weekend’s loss to Auburn was awful with a terrible injury and just mind-boggling the way it ended. Two turnovers inside the five, the second with their best offensive player suffering the terrible leg injury . . . these last two weeks for the Rebels have been crushing. But they are very good. If they only had a back.
12. Arizona State – It has been an excellent year of football in the desert, and the Sun Devils are a big part of it. They got blown out by UCLA and won on a Hail Mary over Southern Cal. The 19-16 overtime victory over Utah was enormous and now comes a major national battle as Notre Dame visits Tempe. There are playoff implications.
13. LSU – The Fightin’ Tigers had this past Saturday off to relish that incredible 10-7 victory over Ole Miss in Baton Rouge. Now comes the foe that has become LSU’s biggest rival of the 2000s, especially since their former coach arrived in Tuscaloosa. These two have played some classics and this one should be no different. 14. Nebraska – The Cornhuskers have just one loss and are quietly putting together an outstanding season. It looks like Nebraska will be the foe of either Michigan State or Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. That’s if they can take care of Wisconsin in a couple of weeks in Madison. It will be one of Nebraska’s biggest Big Ten games. 15. Oklahoma – The Sooners have lost a couple of heart-breakers this season, and would need to win out and get some help to claim a piece of the Big XII championship. This is a big one with Baylor coming to town. There promises to be plenty of points. 16. Ohio State – The Buckeyes have quietly chalked up win after win since falling at home to a pedestrian Virginia Tech squad. This one at Michigan State will be the indicator of whether Ohio State can have a special season. 17. UCLA – The Bruins defense really shined in a 17-7 victory over Arizona, a game in which the Wildcats grabbed the early 7-0 lead. UCLA has now won four in a row and are right in the mix for the PAC-12 South title. Jim Mora pulled a Puddy and had his players paint their faces. 18. Arizona – The Wildcats got off to a good start, but got turned away by UCLA. It is the second loss of the season for Arizona, to go along with a heart-breaker to Southern Cal. The Wildcats are still in the mix in the rugged PAC-12 South. Rich Rodriguez has done good work in Tuscon.
photo by Rob Saye
TOP 25 JEFF DANTZLER
19. Georgia – It was one of the worst losses of the Mark Richt era, as the Bulldogs, a 13-point favorite, got clubbed by Florida 38-20, eliminating the dream of a playoff berth. Georgia will have its hands full with an early kick at improved Kentucky Saturday. 20. Clemson - Off this past week, it is off to Winston-Salem for a Thursday night affair with Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. That loss to Florida State will really haunt them. It will cost the Tigers a shot at the ACC title. Clemson’s defense has been very strong. 21. Duke – David Cutcliffe continues to work his magic in Durham. The Blue Devils just won at Pitt 51-48 in overtime and now they go to Syracuse. Nothing like ACC road trips to Pitt and Syracuse. Conference expansion. Duke is sniffing a second straight trip to the conference title game. 22. Utah – The Utes are still in the mix in the PAC-12 South, but the 19-16 loss to Arizona State certainly stings. It is Utah’s second straight white-knuckler, following an edging of Southern Cal. 23. Marshall – The Thundering Herd sits at 8-0 and should win at downtrodden Southern Mississippi this weekend. What has happened to the Golden Eagles? They don’t need to get too far ahead of themselves, but a perfect regular season is within reach. 24. Tech – Justin Thomas is a dynamite quarterback and Tech has a typically strong, powerful rushing attack. Tech should win at N.C. State to make it 8-2. Then comes Clemson, an open date and the Dogs. Tech is gunning for Georgia. They badly, badly want to beat Georgia. 25. West Virginia – The Mountaineers have played in as many close games as any team in the country. The one-point, 31-30 loss at home to TCU certainly goes down as one of the most disappointing for West Virginia in their Big XII days. But this program appears back on track.
Kentucky can have their chicken, Dawgs want McRib!
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