Bulldawg 11 auburn, 2014

Thank you Cecelia Gunn Seiler ... BEAT AUBURN!

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FROM THE EDITOR: VANCE LEAVY Wow, what a difference one week will make in college football. After the thumping our Bulldogs took in Jacksonville two weeks ago, they had the choice to either wallow in it or turn around and blast the next opponent on their schedule. I assume we can all agree that the 63-31 pasting of Kentucky in their own stadium shows that our 2014 Georgia Bulldogs team still has plenty of fight.

And that’s the way it should be, because we are Bulldogs, after all.

Speaking of our beloved mascot, our Auburn issue of Bulldawg Illustrated has a very special meaning as we pay tribute to the late, Cecelia Gunn Seiler. By now most folks know the story of how Mrs. Seiler and her new husband, Sonny were given a bulldog as a wedding gift over 50 years ago. The young couple decided to take the dog to the Georgia game and the legend of Uga was born.

But something legendary, doesn’t just happen on its own. And in the case of Uga, his owners, the Seilers, are the unsung heroes that everyone in the Bulldog Nation should always treasure and appreciate. Unfortunately, on June 5, Mrs. Seiler passed away, but not without leaving a lasting legacy behind.

In our center spread (page 12, 13, 14) , BI’s Murray Poole’s tribute story includes comments from several folks that knew Mrs. Seiler best. I won’t give away the farm, but with adjectives like caring, wonderful, marvelous and devoted, I hope you get a good idea how special Cecelia Gunn Seiler was.

Because of this, Cheri and I wanted to do something over the top to pay tribute to Mrs. Seiler, so we enlisted the help of DTproductions in Athens back in August to discuss creating a video. Immediately, all of our creative juices began to flow. Originally, the plan was to have the

video ready in mid September, but the deeper the creative folks at DT delved into the project it became obvious that more time was needed to hit the necessary homerun for the special tribute.

I’m now happy to report that the video “Our MaMa” will be available for viewing this Wednesday on bulldawgillustrated.com. And we hope you have the same chills, smiles and tears that we experienced when first viewing it. The guys at DT have done an excellent job and we are so appreciative of all their countless hours of hard work. On page 11, Murray Poole goes behind the scenes with the folks from DT on the making of the video. Please enjoy learning more about them and also feel free to let them know the awesome job they have done.

Also, don’t miss Loran Smith’s column on Mrs. Seiler on page 10.

Rest in peace, Cecelia Gunn Seiler!

Now, it’s time to get ready for one helluva football game on Saturday night as the Deep South’s oldest rivalry returns.

Not that playing one of your biggest rivals at night, after being on the road for over a month isn’t big enough, but finally running back Todd Gurley returns after serving a four game suspension.

No matter where you stand on the NCAA/Gurley situation, if you are like me, it will be great to see #3 return to action. Obviously, he made a mistake, but like in most cases, good normally comes from tough circumstances. To see Gurley’s teammates and coaches rise to the occasion in his absence has been an encouraging sign for the future of our football program.

And on Saturday night, we are all reunited with the opportunity to pay Auburn back from the Prayer at Jordan-Hare from last season. Believe me, I

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won’t recount that painstaking evening, only to say that giving War Eagle its third loss of 2014 certainly sounds great to me.

To get you ready for the game, our sports folks are on point, as usual. As is the case each year, JD (page 4) reminds us that no one has taken more from Georgia than Auburn. Grrrrrr. And Logan Booker (page 5) is definitely feeling better after the Kentucky romp, but thankfully isn’t doing any crazy predictions for this game because he knows when Georgia and Auburn meets anything and everything is bound to occur. And at my request, John Frierson (page 20) lays out the path of Georgia somehow making it into the College Football Playoff. Basically Georgia needs to win by 30 the rest of way and have lots of carnage that is completely out of their control. We can all still dream, right???

Finally, enjoy our fan photos from Lexington (page 15-18) and another one of Cheri’s Georgia Girls features on page 19.

Now, it’s time to get some rest Bulldog Nation … a night game in Sanford beckons. Let’s throttle the Tigers for “Our MaMa” Cecelia Seiler!

• 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 • 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-Auburn, November 11, 2014

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Free Gurley and Go Dawgs!!!

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LOGAN BOOKER

Richt needs to keep the foot on the gas

By Logan Booker Bulldawg Illustrated

those demanding an explanation for the previous week, or even calling for his job in many instances.

It’s been a rough week for head coach Mark Richt. Losing to the worst Florida team in decades while being ranked in the top-10 will do that to anybody. Aside from being blasted by media and fans alike, he even admitted after the Kentucky game this past Saturday that he received “interesting” text messages from family and friends saying that they were praying for him through the ordeal.

After the Bulldogs defense sputtered its way into halftime by allowing another drive by Kentucky that resulted in a touchdown, the game was once again close. Separation was needed to start the second half as the Wildcats were beginning to look nearly unstoppable on their offensive side of the ball. That separation came in the form of a quick interception that lead to a Bulldogs touchdown, and then a quick Wildcats punt that lead to another touchdown as freshman Isaiah McKenzie pranced into the end zone for the second time of the game. One may have expected a normal Mark Richt coached team to step off the gas and revert to playing not to lose. It’s happened plenty of times in the past, making it a safe bet.

So when Richt and company took their 5-week stretch of not playing a home game to yet another hostile SEC stadium, Richt knew he had to do something to show some fire and once again show the fanbase that he wants to win as badly as they want him to.

I could tell the minute the Georgia players stepped onto the field in Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington that they were loose and ready to play some backyard football.

They neither feared nor overlooked the opponent wearing all gray with metallic blue helmets on the other side of the field. They were there to play Georgia football and not bow down to or be intimidated by another name on a jersey that was not their own.

And while the defense continued at times on its season-long roller coaster of acclimating itself to a new coordinator and scheme, the offense got back to its 2014 ways by never punting and scoring on every possession. Whether via the kick return, on the ground or through the air, Richt had his offense once again resembling the ones he put together at Florida State in the ’90s that lead to his hiring at the University of Georgia.

But one instance in particular in Lexington made me believe more than anything that Richt truly acknowledged

But this day was different. As the TV timeout occurred prior to Georgia kicking the ball back to Kentucky with a newfound 25-point lead, Richt went around to every single unit on the Bulldogs’ bench with a fire and intensity you rarely see from the normally stoic head coach. All up in his players’ faces, he repeated with scowling intensity that “We are not letting our foot off the gas this time!” This phrase was accompanied by other terms of motivation that would get me in trouble for submitting them for print.

The fire and intensity that so many fans have demanded of or dreamed about from Richt peeled back the curtain, if only for a moment, and revealed itself, even if it was away from the television cameras or nowhere near the UGA fan section.

But I was mere feet away, and witnessed every bit of the intensity in person, believe me or not.

And let their foot off the gas his team did not, as the

photo by Rob Saye

Bulldogs went on to score 14 more points en route to a convincing and dominating win over a Kentucky team that has shown glimmers of life this season against highly ranked opponents.

But for Bulldog fans, this story will only mean anything if the leader of the their team continues his desire to play the game his way going forward, and not just for a half in Lexington. It will be needed more than ever as Georgia is scheduled to face by-far its toughest opponent of the season when Auburn comes marching into Athens ready to repeat what they did to the Bulldogs last season.

Expect some intense practices this week. Expect minimal media availability. And as Georgia returns to Sanford Stadium for the first time in seemingly forever, so does its best running back since Herschel Walker.

There’s going to be a party next Saturday as Todd

Gurley breaks through that G during pregame. And a glimpse of what could be possible was seen last Saturday.

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

Expect another dandy Saturday

By Jeff Dantzler Bulldawg Illustrated

Back in 1892, Georgia and Auburn met for the first time at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. The two teams have played 117 times, with the Tigers winning 55, Georgia claiming 54 and eight games ending in ties. Throughout the years, several factors have made this rivalry unique and extra special. These two have played some of the most exciting and meaningful games in Southeastern Conference annals. There have been an inordinate number of upsets. There has been a trend of road team victories. Georgia and Auburn have tremendous familiarity. Auburn, located in “the loveliest village of the plains” of eastern Alabama is just across the Georgia line. As big as the rivalry is on the field, many of the seeds are sewn on the recruiting front. While fighting arch-enemy in-state Alabama for the finest of in-state prospects, Auburn recruits heavily in the Peach State, particularly metropolitan Atlanta and West – hotbeds of talent located within Georgia’s borders but many are located much closer to Auburn’s campus than Athens. Auburn is, was and likely always will be the Bulldogs biggest recruiting rival. Though there is a tremendous desire to win and no love lost between the two, the hatred of Auburn-Alabama, Georgia-Tech and Georgia-Florida is not as palpable.

One of the reasons? Perhaps the cross-over history.

Vince Dooley, Georgia’s hall of fame coach of 25 years, went to Auburn. Five of the six SEC championships the Bulldogs won under his watch were clinched at Auburn. Legendary, beloved defensive coordinator Erk Russell, at Dooley’s side from 1964-1980, went to Auburn. Pat Dye, who led the Tigers to three SEC titles in the 1980s, was an All-American at Georgia, helping lead the Bulldogs to the 1959 conference crown. His 1983 Tigers won the school’s first SEC title since 1957. That Auburn team, which was crowned national champions, was coached by Ralph “Shug” Jordan, a former assistant football coach and head basketball coach at Georgia.

Last season’s game was the most improbable ending in the history of this series, topping even Auburn’s “anti Belue-to-Scott” fourthand-13 conversion in 2005 that led to the punch-away fumble, the Auburn recovery, the ruling, Georgia’s decision not to let Auburn score, and the subsequent game-winning field goal in that 31-30 Tiger victory. Incidentally, I was with the Georgia women’s basketball team that weekend for a tournament in Lubbock, Texas, watching in a one star hotel room. I had to shower twice after the game, just to try and wash as much of the stench, pain and hurt of that one away.

Georgia has won six of the last eight since that night in Athens.

So Auburn had that play and then the one last year. If the Bulldogs could have just defended a couple of fourth-and-longs, it would be eight of nine. But that’s Georgia-Auburn.

And this is also some of the bizarre and baffling mojo hanging around Athens. Georgia, again, has won six of eight against Auburn.

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So it would be the Bulldogs who have twice played for national championships over that stretch, right? No. The two years Auburn beat Georgia, in 2010 and 2013, it was the Tigers who played for the big enchilada. But that is Georgia. Similarly, from 2002-2008, Georgia won double digit games in six of those seven seasons.

Bulldog arch-rival Florida had two double digit win seasons. So it was Georgia that played for and won a pair of national titles in the stretch, right? Right? There are other examples that make Georgia fans look to the football heavens with a puzzling, “this could only happen to us, right?” gaze. Like name the last two SEC champions that didn’t play for the national title and/or go undefeated. Georgia and Georgia.

Good grief.

No school has taken more from Georgia than Auburn. The Tigers have handed Georgia three of the eight most devastating losses in Bulldog annals. That doesn’t include the maddening losses of ’05 and ’13. To be fair, the game a year ago, Auburn led 27-10 and 37-17. It was a game the Bulldogs had no business winning, then no business losing. But there was no way the football gods were going to let Georgia win squeakers over Florida and Auburn after losing to Vanderbilt.

No, the ones to Auburn that were the most devastating of blows came in 1942, 1971 and 1983. Just a refresher drive down misery lane…The Bulldogs of 1942 were 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in the land after a 75-0 shallacking of Florida. The Gators had beaten Auburn. The Tigers then beat Georgia. The Dogs would recover to blow out Tech, win the SEC and then topple UCLA in the Rose Bowl. The Bulldogs were consensus national champions, but not undisputed. In 1971, Georgia, Auburn and Alabama were all undefeated in mid-November. It is still considered by longtime Bulldogs fans to be the toughest ticket in Sanford Stadium annals. Auburn won. Georgia would go on to edge Tech and North Carolina in the Gator Bowl to go 11-1. But there would be no SEC title. In 1983, Georgia was 8-0-1, Auburn 8-1. The teams were ranked third and fourth nationally. Auburn won. Georgia went on to beat Tech and then Texas – which handed Auburn its lone loss of the season – in the Cotton Bowl. But there would be no SEC title. In fact, between 1971 and 1988, losses/the Wonderdogs tie to Auburn cost Georgia the SEC titles of 1971, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1988. That is a lot of hardware.

Now there is another big battle between these ancient rivals, but it is not as big as it could have been. Georgia was smoked by Florida two weeks ago, ending any dreams of the College Football Playoff. Auburn this past week had its good fortune come to an end in the form of two costly fumbles in an upset loss to Texas A&M. This a week after Auburn survived at Ole Miss, as the Rebels lost in as devastating a fashion as could be imagined. Georgia meanwhile, took down Kentucky 63-31 on the heels of the embarrassment in Jackson-

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ville. For Auburn, its playoff dreams are also over. The Bulldogs still have a shot at the SEC Championship Game, but to get to Atlanta, must defeat Auburn.

To do so, Georgia’s defense will have to have its finest performance, and that might not be enough. Gus Malzonne has an offensive juggernaut with a powerful, up tempo running game and big play passing attack. Leading the attack is quarterback Nick Marshall, who began his career, of course, at Georgia. Auburn is one of the most difficult teams in the country to slow down. Georgia must come up with turnovers, that is how to get off the field against the Tigers.

It may take a N.O.T. – a non-offensive touchdown. Maybe it’s the defense, and maybe Isaiah McKenzie, who returned the opening kickoff and a punt for a touchdown in Lexington. The Bulldogs special teams had made tremendous strides, but was a disaster –a la 2013 – in Jacksonville. Despite Mckenzie’s heroics, there were still some hiccups, on kick returns, in Lexington. Georgia can’t afford to give any possessions away against Auburn.

Finally on offense, the Bulldogs have to do what they do well, and do it fantastically. Georgia’s stable of running backs is the best in college football. Todd Gurley is back, joining the dynamic freshmen Nick Chubb and Sony Michele, plus Brendan Douglas. When under center with a fullback to clean out the hold behind the David Andrews-led offensive line, Georgia’s running game is extremely difficult to slow down. That opens up the play fake.

Odds are, it will be a great one, complete with a dramatic twist or two. That’s how the South’s oldest rivalry tends to go.

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated

ON THE FIELD

THE BIG FIVE

You remember it, the fluke 73-yard touchdown pass the Auburn Tigers used to beat the Georgia Bulldogs by 43-38 last season in Auburn.

You can bet the Bulldogs themselves remember it as the play is a thorn that has remained in the team’s side to this day. Quarterback Aaron Murray had led a furious Georgia comeback that had erased a 20-point deficit and had the Bulldogs within a fourth-and-18 stop of stunning the Tigers.

But there it came, Nick Marshall’s desperate heave down the field and Georgia’s Tray Matthews in position to intercept, only to see the ball batted up by teammate Josh Harvey-Clemons and Auburn wide receiver Ricardo Louis running under the deflected pass and going on to the end zone with just 25 seconds left to break Bulldogs’ hearts everywhere. The “Immaculate Deflection” indeed!

Of course, the two UGA players involved in that play are no longer around, both being booted off the team. Ironically, Matthews is now at Auburn and Harvey-Clemons followed defensive coordinator Todd Grantham to Louisville.

So while the Bulldogs should hold a heap of revenge motivation entering the 2014 meeting with Auburn Saturday at Sanford Stadium, the Tigers will be coming between the hedges primed to show they can handle Georgia once again, without the help of a fluke, miracle play at the end. trademarked and the property Since that November night of ‘013, Auburn has ersity. combination of talent and, yes, the lucky orial used use only a

by AP members. bounce of the ball again to keep on winning. The Tigers of Gus Malzahn rocked Alabama last year with the 100-yard return of the Tide’s missed field goal before losing to Florida State in the BCS national title game and this season, had outscored every team but top-ranked Mississippi State while storming to a 7-1 season record and 5-1 SEC mark.

But the Tigers’ luck finally ran out as, ranked

No. 3 in the college playoff rankings before this past Saturday’s home game against Texas A&M, Auburn fell behind 35-17 to the heavy underdog Aggies at halftime and then lost two fumbles near game’s end to be stunned by A&M, 41-38.

So now the 7-2 Tigers will try to douse the Bulldogs’ SEC East title hopes come Saturday evening. That said, here are the Big Five factors for the Tigers to beat Georgia for a second straight season.

1. Score, score, score Auburn has rolled up the big numbers on offense all season long and there’s no reason to think the Tigers can’t do the same against a Georgia defense that was jolted for 38 points by a suspect Florida Gator offense and then 31 more by Kentucky in the Bulldogs’ romp in Lexington.

2. Pound the Bulldogs with the spread option running game Again, against a Georgia defense that was hammered for 418 yards on the ground by the Florida running backs, turn quarterback Nick Marshall (No. 14), leading rusher Cameron Artis-Payne (44), who had run for 974 yards entering the A&M game, and speedster Corey Grant (20) loose and inflict pain on the Bulldogs both outside on the edge and inside the tackles.

3. Keep the UGA defense off balance with the air game Marshall, who would love to frustrate his old team again after being given his exit papers in Athens, had rushed for 631 yards and a 6.6 average entering this past Saturday’s action but he had also thrown for 1,357 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has the arm to get the ball to his talented receivers -- leader D’haquille Williams, Quan Bray, Sammie Coates and that 2013 villain Ricardo Louis -- and burn the Bulldogs’ young secondary. Accomplish that and the running lanes will be open the night long.

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4. Smother Gurley and Chubb from the start

The Tiger defense has given up a lot of points this season but it simply has to step up somewhat in this big football game. With superstar Todd Gurley returning to the Georgia backfield after his fourgame suspension, hit him hard and often from the very start, every time he touches the ball. Both Gurley and talented freshman tailback Nick Chubb are bound to get their yards but Auburn defense, you simply can’t allow the Bulldogs to control the football the game long, thereby limiting the scoring chances for the explosive Tiger offense.

5. Hush the Sanford Stadium crowd early on This stadium is going to be rocking from the outset, what with the return of Gurley to the lineup and, as mentioned, the chance to extract great revenge from the fluke, unreal happening on the Plains last season. So, Auburn offense, score fast and often after the opening kickoff and make a hush fall over all those nearly 90,000 fans donned in red and black. Taking the Georgia crowd out of the game early could certainly pave the way to another Tiger victory.

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ON THE FIELD

THE BIG FIVE

By Logan Booker Bulldawg Illustrated

2. Linebackers need to be mobile. Very, very mobile.

Throw out the record books! Throw out the rankings! It’s time for the 118th edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry as Auburn makes its way east to face Georgia in Athens.

Stopping the run has been a challenge recently for Georgia, but what they are about to face on Saturday against Auburn is unlike anything they’ve seen this season. Quarterback Nick Marshall is going to tuck and run, fake a pitch and run, drop back and run, and run run run from left to right a whole lot.

The hybrid option/spread that Auburn will bring against Georgia will be scary at times. They will score points. But the linebackers of UGA have an opportunity to come up with just a few big plays that could result in either stops or even turnovers, allowing the Georgia offense to do what they do.

Contain the option pitches and force Marshall to throw all night, and good things could happen for the Bulldogs.

And while this time last week Bulldog fans’ optimisms may have been a bit lower, Auburn showed the country that they are not always full of lucky charms and rabbits feet by losing at home to unranked Texas A&M in a weird, not-so-lucky fashion.

But that doesn’t mean that Auburn will not continue to find ways to win big in big games, or that they are just going to fold it up and let Georgia have its way. No, this rivalry is one that will always have meaning, no matter how out of reach the ultimate goals of a season have become. And with Georgia wanting nothing more at this point than to beat the remaining rivals on its schedule, certain keys will have to take place:

1. Welcome back, Todd Gurley!

Todd broke NCAA rules. Todd was punished for what could be considered an appropriate amount of time pertaining to guidelines of the rules he broke. But his suspension is over now, and he will lead his team onto the home field of Sanford Stadium this Saturday where you can rest assured the Bulldog fans in attendance will go absolutely nuts! And now with the newfound experience and super-success that freshman Nick Chubb acquired in his absence, Gurley will only re-add a level of potency to a Georgia backfield that might even be considered unstoppable when healthy and at full strength. Run hard and run straight at Auburn, and tackling him will get real old, real quick.

3. Hutson Mason continues to roll.

Despite have some shaky moments in 2014, senior quarterback Hutson Mason has been throwing the ball well lately. All throughout the four game, fiveweek road trip, he seems to have found a comfort zone that allows the offense to stay balanced. And balanced he will have to be in order to keep Auburn on its heels this Saturday. As much as Auburn scored, they seem to allow scoring just as fast. And in order for Georgia to have the run game working, a downfield pass here and there will be necessary.

With wide receiver and deep ball threat Malcolm Mitchell starting to play better and better, the area between Mason’s ears will be a vital key to beating the hated Tigers at home this week.

4. Isaiah McKenzie keeps returning footballs.

With both a kickoff and a punt return for touchdowns against Kentucky last week, the reputation will certainly reach the Auburn game plan when it

photo by Rob Saye

comes to kicking to Georgia. It’ll be a win/win for the Dawgs as the ball will either get into McKenzie’s hands, or short kicks should result in good field position for the potent Georgia offense. However, if Georgia wanted to really throw an intimidating curveball into the kick game, they would stick McKenzie and Gurley in the return field together in some capacity.

5. UGA Students.

It’s been way too long since UGA had a home game. Sanford Stadium has sat lonely for far too long as students have gazed over the bridge, imagining what it must feel like to have their team play there again. And with the mixed combination of a “homecoming” of sorts and the return of Todd Gurley - the most beloved player amongst the students - the atmosphere is going to be insane. Hide your kids and hide your wife, because Athens is going to be an adult atmosphere this Saturday, and the raucousness and debauchery will all begin in that student section, both prior to and during the game.

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

JEFF DANTZLER

A View From ... Auburn ARKANSAS

By Jeff Dantzler Bulldawg Illustrated

Andy Burcham is one of the voices of the Auburn Tigers, a top flight announcer, good buddy and longtime contributor to this issue annually. He once again offers his unique insights into the South’s grandest and most unique rivalry.

FLORIDA Talk about the impact of Gus Malzahn on the program?

His focus is what strikes me the most about the man. His demeanor doesn’t change regardless if the opponent is an FCS team or one of the top rivals on the schedule like Georgia or Alabama.

Can you begin to describe the roller coaster ride from 2010 through this season with the highs and lows?

The highs included the finishes of the Georgia and Alabama games. In a two week KENTUCKY span we witnessed two of the most incredible finishes in Auburn history against the top two rivals on the schedule. No question, the low was the final minutes of the BCS title game against Florida State. Looked like it would be another incredible finish and it was for Florida State.

AUBURN

Andy, those wins over Georgia and Alabama, can you being to describe that emotion last year?

Hard to describe just one of those games, let alone both. Those games will go down in the legend of Auburn football forever.

The most underrated part of this Auburn team is its defensive line, is their performance against Georgia maybe the biggest factor in the game?

GEORGIA TECH Until the win at Ole Miss, Auburn’s defensive front had trouble putting pressure on the quarterback. This is just the opposite of last season. This year, it’s done well against the rush, but had trouble putting pressure on the quarterback. Of course Auburn hasn’t seen a running attack like Georgia yet.

Did last year take the cake for your memories from this incredible rivalry?

Not only this rivalry but Alabama as well. I couldn’t imagine the Georgia ending could be topped until two weeks later in the Iron Bowl.

LSU

• • • • • •

Cameron Artis-Payne seems to have found his niche following Tre Mason, has that been one of the biggest factors in the offense’s outstanding production?

His style is very similar to Tre Mason. Low to the ground, nothing flashy. He seems OLE MISS to get stronger as the game goes along. He is on track to break Mason’s school record for rushing yards.

Is this duo of pro-looking wide receivers the best you have had since your trio in ’04?

That’s a good comparison. Williams (pending injury status) and Coates are bigger and more physical than the trio in ’04. I believe they have more speed on the perimeter.

SOUTH CAROLINA

What is your take on Georgia?

Never saw what occurred in Jacksonville coming. Didn’t think Florida stood a chance against the Georgia offense. I was impressed with the way Georgia dealt with the Gurley loss. After the Florida game, it would be easy to say Georgia is in trouble, but not with Auburn coming to town.

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LORAN SMITH

Remembering Cecelia Seiler

By Loran Smith Bulldawg Illustrated

Hanging around Dan Magill’s office during my college years brought about many rewarding and enlightening experiences. There were emotionally, uplifting social engagements—a fulfilling exposure for a provincial country boy— introductions to persons of note and a brush with colorful personalities: coaches, sportswriters, former lettermen and a colorful character or two.

Everybody loved Magill. They enjoyed impromptu visits with Georgia’s indefatigable Sports Information Director, Bulldog Club Secretary and tennis coach—even when he was “snowed under” and had no time to talk. One of the first personalities I got to know from that unforgettable scene was Sonny Seiler whose family owned the Georgia mascot, Uga. Dan loved Uga and was the one who suggested to Coach and Athletic Director, Wallace Butts, that Uga become Georgia’s official mascot in the mid-fifites.

The mascot of record had been Mike, a brindled, robust bulldog given to lazily hanging around the field house, most often in the company of Clegg Stark, Georgia’s colorful waterboy. Mike slept, ate and slept. Little more. When he got to Sanford Stadium, he continued to sleep. He didn’t make any road trips, as I recall, unless it was when Georgia played Tech at Grant Field. The Seilers would change that routine.

Sonny, the consummate fan, wanted to travel to out of town games because of his rabid support and love of Georgia football. It wasn’t long before Uga began to attract attention from the press, the host schools and fans. In those early years, Cecelia, his pretty wife, traveled with Sonny who was always on the field and in the locker room. Cecelia was always in the background. However, if the Ugas could talk, they would tell us who was the most important person in their lives. It would be the caring, doting and selfless Cecelia, “MaMa,” to the Seiler family and to the long line of mascots until her death last spring.

Every member of the Seiler family—Swann, Charles, Bess and Sara included—has made a contribution to the well being of the Georgia mascots over the years, but Cecelia was the one who was the caretaker and the caregiver to the

Ugas dating back to Uga I, which was a gift from a family friend in her hometown of Columbus.

When you visited the Seilers when they lived on 44th Street, Dutch Island and lately, near the Savannah Yacht Club, Cecelia was always making sure that the mascots were never allowed to fret. She spoiled them just like she spoiled her grandchildren. Everybody in the neighborhood knew where Uga lived. Children frequently knocked on the front door of the Seiler home, politely asking if they could take Uga for a walk. Cecelia, generous and gracious, would bring Uga to the door, place the leash in the hand of an admirer and off they would go around the neighborhood. A lot of kids in Savannah reached adulthood, having the privilege of saying, “I took Uga for a walk when I was growing up.”

Cecelia made a lot of friends for the University of Georgia by sharing Uga with an adoring public.

It was Cecelia who took the reigning Uga to the vet, gave him his medicine, and washed him and bathed him regularly. She made Uga’s sweaters for the games in Athens.

(The Ugas have their own wardrobe.)

During the eighties, and beyond, I often found my way to Savannah where the Seilers were genial and accommodating hosts. Sonny would organize a fishing outing on his boat, “Silver Britches.” Uga would often join us. Uga would stand in the wind, his front feet propped up on the deck of the forward landing of the boat with his head erect and rigidly at attention as if he were in a military parade. In the rushing wind, Uga struck a regal pose as Sonny cruised the marsh. While we were fishing, Uga would rest peacefully, napping and snoring as we cast for trout and bass.

Sonny always came home with a “mess of fish.” Then he would clean them and turn them over to Cecelia and a heart warming social ensued.

Sonny tended bar and Cecelia cooked. Anybody could “fix” a drink, but Cecelia had few peers in the kitchen.

Sonny, being an avid fisherman, had many productive outings in the rivers and marshes near their low country–style home. Cecelia learned to prepare speckled trout that would shame the chef at the Ritz. Fried trout, with the patient and creative Cecelia on the point, was married up with her unparalleled hushpuppies, grits, and tomatoes from the Seiler garden. Her family was the beneficiary of her comforting

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kitchen expertise.

She and Sonny met on campus and were married when Sonny was in law school. During that time, a family friend gave Cecelia an all-white male Bulldog, which would eventually become Uga I. In addition to studying law, Sonny worked part time in the athletic ticket office where he became a friend of Dan Magill. When Mike became old and infirm, it was Magill who suggested to Coach Butts, that the Seilers’ bulldog become the official mascot. This led to the Uga dynasty and no one was more important in perpetuating that dynasty than Cecelia. She doted on all the Ugas just like she did her children and grandchildren. She never neglected any of them. Her love for her alma mater was ceaseless. She cared about the University of Georgia just like she cared about her family and the Bulldog mascots over the years.

When you go through life, you enjoy it to the fullest when you are the recipient of hospitality from your friends.

Obituaries don’t list those good times in a person’s life, but I count those times spent in Savannah and enjoying one of Cecelia’s trout dinners as a highlight of my life. She was the ultimate hostess. The University of Georgia never had a more loyal friend. You could say the same about the Ugas.

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Passion abounds in making of ‘Our MaMa’ video

By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated

A three-minute video capturing the life of the late Cecelia Seiler and her immeasurable contributions to the University of Georgia through the raising and nurturing of the lineage of Uga mascots, is being released this week − the week of Georgia’s home battle with the Auburn Tigers − by DTproductions and Bulldawg Illustrated.

The video, “Our MaMa,” is accompanying a feature story in Bulldawg Illustrated on Mrs. Seiler, who passed away in early June after lovingly caring for the Uga mascots since the mid-1950s.

Narrators will be famed former Georgia head coach and athletic director Vince Dooley, Georgia Network Tailgate Show co-host and author Loran Smith, UGA historian and Athens radio personality Jeff Dantzler and Margaret Story, who is Cecelia’s oldest granddaughter.

“The whole concept was brought to us

by Cheri and Vance Leavy and Bulldawg Illustrated,” said DTproductions spokesman and producer Sam Birdsong. “We had developed a relationship with Greg Poole (BI Multimedia Director) and through him we met Vance and Cheri, and they presented us with this opportunity. We love the Dawgs and we’re video story tellers. We love telling amazing stories using video and the one about Cecelia and Sonny Seiler and their whole family just kind of spoke to us and we wanted to make it,” he said.

Birdsong, who received a degree in environmental engineering from the University of Georgia this spring, said his company first began researching the Seilers and the Uga lineage by reading the book, “Damn Good Dogs!” which was co-authored by Kent Hannon and Sonny Seiler, husband of Cecelia.

“We also watched the movie produced

Cartter Fontaine, Sam Birdsong, Connor Butterworth, Andrew Levy and Kelly Smith

alongside of that video ... just learning about the Seilers,” said Birdsong. “We never met Cecelia Seiler before she passed but we were kind of understanding the magnitude of this video. We wanted to make something that was appropriate and respectable to Sonny and his family because Sonny spent his whole life with her and here we are trying to make a video about her that encompasses their whole relationship. And having never met her, that was kind of a daunting task but through the Leavys and being introduced to the Seilers and some of their friends, we started to get an idea of who Cecelia was as a person and the importance she’s had on Bulldawg Nation.”

Although Birdsong, being a student at the university and well-versed in all things Bulldog, was very familiar with the beloved Georgia mascot and the Seiler family, he said a trip to their Savannah home was indeed enlightening.

“We made a trip there to get some footage from the Seilers’ living room,” Birdsong said. “I mean, it’s essentially a museum of Georgia memorabilia and that was really a special moment for us. We were there for about an hour and they’ve got everything from the jersey that Herschel (Walker) first

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wore as a Bulldog to the collar Uga was wearing at the national championship to thousands of Dog figurines they’ve been given throughout the decades ... it kind of gave us a more personal look into their family and the dedication that they’ve shown over the years.

“Through the process we decided we wanted to write a narrative for the video,” Birdsong pointed out. “Typically in the other videos, we use just natural interview but we wanted to choose the wordings very correctly for this video so it’s going to be about three minutes long.”

Included in the tribute to Mrs. Seiler will be a good bit of footage about Athens and Sanford Stadium. “And we were on-site for picture day, with Swann Seiler (Sonny and Cecelia’s daughter) and Uga and getting pictures with the players,” he said. “We went to a practice before the Clemson game and got some footage of the football team on the practice field and we also went to the Troy game and got some footage of Charles, the brother of Swann, who does a lot of the handling and taking care of Uga. We then went down to Savannah and got that footage and through all that, it’s just going to be a lot of recognizable Athens locations, a lot

of Uga and some history and memorabilia.”

Birdsong said he’s simply one guy in DTproductions’ five-man company with the other members being Cartter Fontaine, Kelly Smith, Andrew Levy and Connor Butterworth. “As a company we make videos for businesses for the Internet,” he said.

“Often they are overview videos about what the company does and that’s kind of how we got our start. But as we’ve grown over the last year and a half we realized there’s a lot of opportunity to use video to get your message across. Now, we’re very versatile and make all kinds of video.

“Officially, as a company, we’ve been doing this for a year-and-a-half,” Birdsong added. “It started about five years ago, me and my two roommates at Georgia at the time just started making videos as a hobby outside of our school work. None of us went to school for video production, we all did different things but as time went on we just got better and better and just kind of saw an opportunity to start our own company, and we decided to take it.”

“The tribute video will live on the Internet and be free to anybody who wants to watch it,” he said. “It will be easy to find, just go to www.bulldawgillustrated. com on Wednesday. It will be just a quick, three-minute video that is an overview to Cecelia’s devotion to the Dawgs and how the Seiler family is the ultimate fan family who, through their dedication and loyalty, have made sure that Uga is at every game.

They’ve kind of been the pioneers of Bulldawg Nation today and the dedication that you see people showing, young and old and near and far.

“Uga is a superstar and the ultimate symbol of the University of Georgia that everybody connects with in some way, with the comparison of our football team and our fans and our academics all through him and the Seilers are a big reason for all that.”

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A tribute to Cecelia Gunn Seiler: Unsung hero of her family, UGA’s mascots and the Bulldog Nation

photo by Cheri Leavy

By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated

June 5th of this year was a sad day in the Bulldawg Nation. For when Cecelia Gunn Seiler passed away at the age of 80 in her hometown of Savannah following a lengthy illness, all University of Georgia alumni, fans and followers had lost the true matriarch of the famous lineage of Georgia mascots.

Indeed, Cecelia Seiler was the true mom for eight generations of college football’s most famous mascot, Uga. Along with her husband, Frank “Sonny” Seiler, son Charles and daughters Swann, Sara and Bess, Mrs. Seiler lovingly raised and cared for the white English bulldogs for over 55 years while serving her UGA alma mater with undying devotion.

But from the moment in 1956 when Sonny and Cecelia received an English Bulldog as a belated wedding gift from Frank Heard, a family friend of the Gunns, and the Uga legend began, these dogs became much much than Georgia football mascots to Cecelia − they became loving family pets that she nurtured every single day, until she became physically unable to do so.

“People in the public never know what goes on behind the curtain,” said Sonny Seiler. “Cecelia took care of these dogs at home like you would a baby. She made Uga’s clothes

up until when we started getting the material from the manufacturers of our football uniforms. And we still get it from them so his jerseys match the team’s. But she did all of that by hand with the first three or four dogs.

“She took them to the vet, she fed them, she washed them, she walked them, and people don’t realize this but an English bulldog is a high-maintenance animal,” Seiler pointed out. “They require a lot of attention. And Cecelia responded to interviews, she responded to questions that people have who just come through Savannah and call. You never know, we don’t object to this because we know we’re out in the public domain anyway and we chose to do that but we don’t short change people who just call and sometimes just want to see the dog and get a picture. She used to do that.”

Sonny said he helped Cecelia as much as possible with the care of the bulldogs but for the most part, had to tend to his law practice. “I was practicing law all day everyday and I would be out of town a lot,” Seiler said. “And she did all of that up until the time she got too sick to do it.”

Charles Seiler, son of Sonny and Cecelia who has long handled Uga on the sidelines at every football game, said the famed tradition of the Georgia mascots has only continued today because of all the hours his mom and the rest of the family devoted to the pets.

“If I had to make a comment on what kind of work my mom had to go though it only takes for you to have to get thrown into it, because I took over taking care of him all the time when she got to where she couldn’t do it,” said Charles.

“I’ve got to tell you, it’s a big job.

“Back then when they (his parents) first got started, they never dreamed that the dog stuff would become as big as it did,” reflected Seiler, “and really and truly, it really took off in 1980 when we won the national championship and then TV started carrying every game at that time. When we first started he was just a family pet but as his popularity grew and as the demand on his time increased it really

became a hard job.

“Back in the day everybody in the family had a little piece (of Uga) but if somebody wasn’t able to do anything, mom would have to step up and do everything, and she did everything for a long time,” Charles said. “So she was a real trooper with all that. But we’ve had a lot of help over the years and it’s a good thing.”

Dr. Stanley Lester of Savannah, veterinarian of all the bulldog mascots since Uga V in the late 1980s. was one who witnessed firsthand the special care of the dogs given by Cecelia Seiler. “ I think about the dogs themselves, they were not just a mascot, they were a family pet and that’s how they were treated,” said Lester. “But, even that, those dogs were so well adjusted you know how much attention they got on game day up there. Seeing those dogs and how gentle and calm they were with the fans and people that came to see them, pet them and get their picture taken with them, you know good and well that Cecelia spent so much time with them,” he said. “That was just second nature with those dogs. You know you see some bulldogs that you have to be careful with them because they are a little bit on the antsy side. The amount of people that were seeing them, it never ceased to amaze me how in awe people held the Ugas and it was because of Cecelia and the Seilers, the amount of time they spent with those dogs.

“It’s been an honor for me to be able to be associated with Uga and the Seilers all these years,” added Dr. Lester.

“They are just such fine people and good, caring people and dedicated people. I know Cecelia carried that dog all over this state and about all of it is by driving. They drive up to Athens to catch the team plane, otherwise all the miles are driven. And I would say those dogs are lot better travelers than you and I have ever been.”

Dr. Tommy Lawhorne, a starting linebacker for Georgia from 1965-67 and a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award winner, became close friends with the Seiler

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family not only because of his athletic career at UGA but though his medical practice in Cecelia’s home town of Columbus.

“The Seilers are wonderful folks and Sonny and Cecelia and all their children have been a great asset to the state and a great asset to the university,” Lawhorne said. “Cecelia was a wonderful gift to the university; indeed, she was the mama to Uga all these years. I’m sure everyone realizes Uga I was given to them as a wedding gift.

“I’m from a little bitty country town in south Georgia (Sylvester) but have spent most of my professional life in Columbus, where Cecelia was from,” he said. “But I think Cecelia was a wonderful lady. We lost her a few months ago and like I say, she was the mother to Uga all these years and raised Uga like she raised her kids. He was one of them. The Seilers are wonderful folks, just good old honest, straight-forward people and I can’t say enough about them. If everybody in the world were like Sonny and Cecelia Seiler, the world would be a better place to live,” Dr. Lawhorne said.

Another Columbus, Ga. connection to Cecelia Seiler is Don Leebern, Jr., a starting right tackle on the Bulldogs’ 1959 SEC championship team and a former member of the Georgia Athletic Board who now serves on the university system board of regents.

“Cecelia was three or four years ahead of me at Columbus High School but what a beautiful lady,” Leebern recalled. “Sonny definitely − I think everybody would agree − out-married himself. That’s for sure. And Sonny would be the first to admit it, she probably helped him academically, too.

“She was certainly like a mother to Sonny, as well as the dogs,” Leeburn said. She was just a great lady and everybody’s going to miss her. Certainly, a lot of people in Columbus will miss her. She was the type of person when she walked down the hall at Columbus High School, all of us (boys) were, ‘where’s Cecelia, looking for Cecelia Gunn.’ Oh, my gosh, she was that pretty! But she really helped Sonny, she really did. And she would help anybody she was around. You know, behind any great situation is always a wonderful lady and that certainly applies to Cecelia.”

Kent Hannon, editor of Terry Magazine of the UGA Terry College of Business, co-authored along with Sonny Seiler the book “Damn Good Dogs!”

“In his dedication in the front of ‘Damn Good Dogs!’

Sonny wrote: ‘To Cecelia, the true mother of all these dogs, who does far too much work and gets far too little credit,’” Hannon said. “And Sonny meant every word of that dedication. As if taking care of a family of five weren’t enough, Cecelia thought of Uga as yet another member of the family that needed tending to. ‘These dogs require a lot of attention and care,’ said Cecelia. ‘But we got Uga before I had my first child and they’ve been a fixture in our family ever since!’”

Hannon points to the staggering amount of travel the Seilers endured through all the years in support of Uga and their university.

“In the course of 50-plus years of arduous driving from Savannah to Athens and back home again, the Seilers estimate that they’ve driven more than 175,000 miles in support of the mascots . . . that’s the equivalent of circumnavigating the globe by car seven times!” declared Hannon. “And typically, the person at the wheel for the Seilers’ trips to Athens for football games and various university and alumni events was Cecelia. When the Seilers arrived in Athens on a game day Friday, Cecelia’s first stop would be at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, where she would walk Uga inside for his pre-game medical checkup and bath. When the dogs needed to see their family vet back in Savannah, Cecelia made the appointments and drove the dogs there. Who gave the dogs their baths? Cecelia. Who filled their bowls at mealtime?

Cecelia.”

Hannon loves recounting Sonny Seiler’s story of when famous Hollywood actor Clint Eastwood flew to Savannah

in mid-April 1997 to visit Jim Williams’ mansion and to assess Uga V’s acting chops for Eastwood’s film version of John Berendt’s best-seller “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” in which both Uga and Seiler had roles.

“Cecelia brought Uga V to my office that Saturday morning,” Sonny recalls, “and when Clint walked in he took an immediate liking to the dog. You should have seen the two of them. Clint got down on the floor and was wrestling with Uga. Clint was rubbing Uga’s head when he said, ‘Uga, I’m going to make you a celebrity.‘” At which point, the seldom-bashful Cecelia delivered a classic rejoinder: “Mr. Eastwood, Uga is already a celebrity.”

“Cecelia was as sincere as she could be when she told Eastwood that,” reflected Sonny Seiler. “He laughed, he knew he had a winner then.”

Two long-time friends of the Seilers who still assist the family with Uga’s game day operations and can be found under the Sanford Bridge with the group prior to each game are UGA alumnus Bill “Snake” House and Bobby Lenihan, former deputy commissioner of the state department of revenue.

“I’ve been a friend of the Seiler family since 1952,” said House. “And I was privileged to be invited by the family to sit with them at Cecelia’s funeral service. I go with Sonny every ball game to put the flowers where the dogs are entombed at the stadium.

I’m retired from Campbell Soup Company and my first move with Campbell Soup I was transferred to Savannah after the army,” he said. “Sonny and I were two blocks away in the neighborhood. Cecelia was the most wonderful lady in the world in my opinion as far as contributions to the University of Georgia because their dogs were free-of-charge more or less. I don’t know they’ve ever been paid for anything except probably some compensation for room and traveling because Uga’s always up at Georgia for various occasions.

“Like I said, Cecelia was just a marvelous lady,” House reiterated. “She and Sonny shared everything with the university. The Seiler family is the University of Georgia, in my opinion. Swann (Seilers’ daughter) has done a wonderful job on the athletic board and as president of the alumni association and they’re still very active.”

........Continued NEXT PAGE

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In his position with the revenue department, Lenihan helped arrange for Sonny Seiler to get the different Uga license plates for his SUV. “Sonny would go through the process like everybody else as far as going to the tag office in Savannah but I was the one that arranged for him initially when we would order them with each dog,” said Lenihan.

“When a dog would pass away and we’d go to Uga VI or Uga VII, I kind of kept things up to date for those tags on his SUV. Each of them would have Uga’s name and when we went to the Roman Numerals, it was classier and everything and that’s how the logos read anyway. And that’s how we met,” added Lenihan, “trying to save out those tags for him so that he would have them when a new dog came into play. For me, that blossomed into a real friendship with the Seilers and that was 1980, and I’ve gone to games with them and been friends of the family since then.

“Cecelia epitomized the southern lady,” Lenihan said.

“She loved those dogs so much and of course she loved Sonny and the children and the grandchildren. She was a great momma, a great grandmother and her love for those dogs and the university was unparalleled. She was just a joy to be around.”

Mark Schlabach, a writer and columnist for ESPN and a UGA graduate, once visited the Seilers’ home in Savannah while getting material for a book that featured the Bulldogs’ mascot.

“I’ve known Sonny for several years and knew Cecelia and her daughter,” said Schlabach. “It seems like Sonny has always been associated with the Uga line more than she ever was but if you spent any time with them, it was pretty clear that they were more than mascots to her. They were family pets and family members. She cared for those dogs and really loved them and nurtured them. She was in it for much more than it being the mascot lineage for UGA. Like I say, to her they were pets more than anything else.

“Cecelia sacrificed a lot to keep those dogs healthy and train them to what they can do on the sidelines,” said Schlabach, “and I just hope over time that people appreciate and understand the commitment and contributions she made to Georgia.”

Two of Cecelia Seiler’s long-time and very cherished friends are Athens ladies Jenny Sligh and Peggy Galis.

“We were not sorority sisters but we were at Georgia at the same time,” said Jenny Sligh, who owns the Appointments at Five in Athens. “And, also, I was from Savannah and that’s where she moved to and married Sonny, a boy from Savannah that I grew up with. But I was friends with her at Georgia and she started dating Sonny, Frank Seiler, and I’ve just known them forever.

“Every time she would come to Athens she would come

photo by Vance Leavy

by my shop and we would renew our friendship,” said Sligh.

“I visited their home in Savannah a couple of times. Certainly, she really loved those dogs. If she could put up with Frank Seiler, Sonny Seiler, all these years she could certainly put up with those bulldogs,” she said, laughing. “When we were at Georgia and she first started dating him, I said, ‘Cecelia, you don’t want to date him ... I’ve known him since the first grade. He was a bad little boy!’”

Peggy Galis, also a UGA graduate, said her husband, Denny, and Sonny Seiler were at Georgia together.

“We’ve been friends a long time,” she said. “The Seilers have always been famous in Georgia but when John Berendt’s book and the movie made Sonny sort of famous everywhere, we had friends come from as far away as California and they were just dying to meet Sonny Seiler. So we had friends come and that was all they knew about Georgia, they just wanted to meet Sonny. And Cecelia would arrange dinner for you and she was just always gracious and generous,” Galis remembered. “She was always so much fun. But I sort of knew Cecelia in a different way, not so much with Uga and all that but through bar trips, the Georgia Bar Association. Sonny was president of that so they took lots of trips and we did too and actually my parents traveled with them back in those days, too. But as I say, Cecelia was gracious and generous and always lots of fun.”

It seems especially appropriate in this tribute to the late

Cecelia Seiler to listen to her daughter Bess Seiler Thompson, now of St. Simons Island, as she somewhat emotionally talks about the experience of growing up in their Savannah home with her parents, brother Charles and sisters Swann Seiler, still of Savannah, and Sara Seiler Story, now of Athens.

“My mother took care of her precious bulldogs just like she took care of my father and my brother and sisters,” says Bess. “She was very devoted to them. She was the one who fed them....who bathed them and took them for veterinary checkups. She stayed up with them when they were sick.

When I was a little girl, we had a female bulldog named Boogaloo. She had several litters of puppies and mom was always there to help her bring them into the world. She would have one of those tiny plastic kiddie swimming pools layered with fresh blankets...this was the playpen to keep Mrs. Boogie and her pups safe.

“Mother could lift an 85-pound bulldog to put him in the back of our station wagon just as if he was a four- pound bag of Dixie Crystal sugar!,” Bess continued. “She and daddy together would faithfully drive Uga to all of his appearances ... whether in Athens or to an away game or to so many of the special appearances he made. For Uga’s I and II it was mostly football games. With the popularity of television and football games and athletics being aired, the requests for his appearance became more frequent and off they would go!

Many sacrifices were made to have Uga attend an event. It was a labor of love for her and for my father. Mama loved meeting the fans...especially the children!

“Mama loved her dogs, just like any other pet owner, and this is something that that some people don’t understand,” Bess said. “When Uga was at home with us in Savannah he was just a dog! Our dog, our pet! Uga lived in our backyard with a doggie door to the laundry room to escape the elements! My sister and I tried to teach them tricks ... like jumping through a hula hoop to get a piece of cheese − fail! My sister Sara and I took Uga III as a puppy to a pet contest at our school and he won third place − third place??

Sometimes Uga would escape our backyard by getting through the fence and my brother Charles would scream, “Uga’s loose, Uga’s loose!” All the neighborhood kids would join in the chase to catch him and, believe it or not, he could run like the wind!

“I tell you all this because it’s important to understand the sense of loss we feel when we lose an Uga,” said Bess.

“We mourn the loss of each one, each having a special personality and place in our heart. And no one felt the loss more than my mother ... because she was their mama.

“I like to imagine my mother as she reached the pearly gates being greeted by all of her beloved bulldogs ... each and everyone so happy to see her and be with her again!”

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Georgia 63 Kentucky 31

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

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OFF THE FIELD

Georgia 63 Kentucky 31

WE’RE PR PROUD ROUD T TO O SUPPOR S SUPPORT T Help us march march tto o a million dollars Jim Reilly and Justin Rey and Johnny Rey Mark and Amy Saunders and Ruben Bailey ffor or the A thens sc Athens community! ommunity!

Loran Smith Athens TD club owes a lot to Candler Meadors

Please visit athenshealth.org/ITSDonations athenshealth..org/ITSDonations & onate tto oT eam Alic e in W allkerland and T he P eeps donate Team Alice Walkerland The Peeps

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 eligibility, Wallace Butts in his heyday as a college coach, the master of the passing tame. What a season to remember! Georgia won the national championship with an undefeated season and a 20-10 victory Swann, Vavlas, Houston and Andrews Tim, Jenny and Anna Vaughn and Matt and Nickie Fountain Sarah Beth and Greg Hardin over North Carolina inCaptains the Sugar Bowl New Year's day, 1947. Trippi was chosen by the Maxwell committee as college football's outstanding player.

Not many touchdown and quarterback clubs flourish today. First of all, sitting coaches won't take the time to travel and speak. Even with the use of an airplane, 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. BasAlice in Walkerland andSwinney The Peeps: ketball too.

For years has served on the make the effort toAmanda speak inCisco the hinterlands Charles Diona and Christina Conley Shane and T. Trumbo and he Charles R. Trumbo Alec Pierce and Team Ryan Dobrin statistician crew for Bulldog basketball. for $1,500.00 or less. (l-r) Alice Gaylene Ward, Kelley Blanton (l r) Cindy Clark, Anne Hansen, H Alice Pruitt, G aylene W ard, K elley Blant on At the meetings of the club, he was Since its inception, the Touchdown Club of Athens, has had three secretaries: the welcoming committee, reservation coTheir Shoes one-day walk IIn nT heir S hoes iis s a 113.1-mile 3.1-mile o ne-day w alk tto o Harry Atwell, who was the first. He was ordinator, ticket dispenser, troubleshooter followed by Jimmy Hayes who gave up the and greeter with an eternal smile of goodwho have with cancer and rrecognize ecognize tthose hose w ho h ave llived ived w ith c ancer a nd rraise aise role in 1981.

Candler Meadors suc- will and good cheer. From his seat at the Loran Smith Center Cancer Support. ffunds unds ffor or tthe he L oran S mith C enter ffor or C ancer S upport. ceeded Hayes and is in his last year as ex- head table, he was always an attentive lisThe Center provides non-medical support services T he C enter p rovides n on-medical s upport s ervices ecutive secretary, having served in this tener to every speaker, always asking enatt n no charge) anyone community. ((most most a oc harge) tto oa nyone iin n tthe he c ommunity. capacity for 32 years. He will still be with thusiastic questions. He loved being part of the exciting atmosphere of the Touchus, however, as Secretary Emeritus.

Candler who Harry Atwell was an interesting char- down Club of Athens. acter, given to innocent name dropping. joined the club in 1958 is one of the most Patricia seniorFriend, members.

You Andrews can count&onLainie your had a mid-western background Bill McCullough and KimHe Hayes Stefani and Mike Hurt and Carrie Beverly Davis and Sonny Tiffany and Rob Allison left hand those who have been members was friendly with Big Ten luminaries along Bobo Timmerman 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 taking his own sonalities who often visited the club-- 26 years before Bring theover family for dealFrank Howard of Clemson, Peahead ership, Meadors Mercedes Benz, Volkpictures withfor the he operated 12 Big years..

Walker of Wake to1:00pm Forest and, of course, swagen which 10:00am at the oceanfront Jekyll Island Convention Candler, who grew up in Atlanta, reGeorgia's colorful coach, Wallace Butts.

Guy, storytime at Candler has served the club longer than ceived his business degree from UGA in Center for the area’s largest gathering of &inrefreshments!

Taylor House the Air Force 1951-53. any The officer and Grady has worked with Georgia 1951and served brides-to-be and wedding vendors.

634 Wallace Prince Ave coaches from Butts to Vince Doo- In high school, he rode a street car to Boys Forhemore information visit:was High where played football and ley to Mark Richt.

Athens, GA 30601 athletic" by his senior class.

For years, Candler managed the op- voted "most www.juniorleagueofathens.com "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 didinating the meeting dates with the rector.

Mark Richt, Bulldog head coach, says, Athens Country Club, sending out the meeting notices, taking reservations, "We need more fans like Candler Meadors. choosing the menu, facilitating the meet- He is always loyal to our program and is ings, corresponding with speakers, book- forever ready to extend a helping hand."

If those who appreciate Candler's keeping, setting up meetings of the officers and board of directors, keeping contributions to the Touchdown Club of the files in order and being the cheerful Athens, bellied up to the bar to toast him 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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December 13th

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18 • www.bulldawgillustrated.com

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

OFF THE FIELD

Spotlight on University of Georgia Graduates Every week, Cheri Leavy shares a Q&A with a Bulldog Belle on BulldawgIllustrated.com.

Share a favorite memory from your time at UGA: I remember my first football party I hosted … I got a keg and some Boston butts. I was so excited! My Aunt Cathy and Uncle Jess came up from Sylvania, and I told them make sure you get here early in case I need help getting the keg out my car. I knew my guy friends would not be over early, in case they stayed up too late the night before!

I lived within walking distance to downtown and the stadium – perfect combination for people always wanting to hang out at your place!

Hometown: Sylvania,GA. Screven County. I tell people Screven County is in between Savannah and Augusta on the Savannah River!

Current Town: Columbia, SC. Years at UGA: Terry Business 2007-2011

Family: My husband is Jason Lee (an Auburn graduate, it’s going to be an exciting game) and we have a cat named “Wilbur” and a German Sheppard named “Montana aka Monty Bug”.

Profession: I am a CPA by day and I am owner and creator of Valine’s Famous by night! I have always wanted to work on launching my recipe, and I finally took the first steps last November. It has been both hard and rewarding at the same time! I tell people…this is not your normal cocktail sauce. It is Valine’s Famous Cocktail Sauce with a lime twist, a story and an experience all bottled into one! You pop the top and it is entertaining made easy! The packaging ignites with hints of UGA red and lime green and a soft blue to give it that coastal feeling I love! I am looking forward to launching this month! Sign up for the newsletter to find out when it’s for sale.

Share a tailgate recipe: Peel and Eat Shrimp: You know it isn’t a southern tailgate until you throw some sweet Georgia boiled shrimp into the mix! I always start my boil with some black peppercorns, limes (juiced and throw in the rhine) and a good beer! Toss in your shrimp and cook them until the shells lightly lift off the meat!

Describe Athens in three words: Friends, Music and Good Times

... my husband is an Auburn graduate ...

Describe your typical Bulldog game day: Have a game plan the night before of what you want to wear … you know us southern women are always changing our minds! Get up early, roll that hair and have it fixed so it withstands any gameday weather! Load the cooler up with some snacks and ice cold bevos then head out to your favorite tailgating spot! I still remember a comic strip that was in the Athens Flagpole right before a noon game. The comic strip basically told everyone they needed eight hours of tailgating before a noon game, so you need to at least plan on starting your tailgate at 4 a.m.! I think we tried!

Favorite restaurant in Athens: Barberitos was my favorite place to go…I had to go in there once or twice a week.

Some of my friends were friends with the owner … they introduced me to it.

The only one during my school days was downtown.

I still love eating there when- I always pack my Bulldawg ever I can … definitely takes koozie and some bright red me back to those sweet days Georgia lipstick! at UGA.

Don’t forget to serve with some of my favorite Valine’s Famous Cocktail Sauce! It will make you yell “Hunker Down Hairy Dawgs!”

Jalapeno Corn Dip: 1 stick butter 8 oz cream cheese ½ cup diced jalapenos (2) 11 oz can sweet corn niblets (drained) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together softened cream cheese, butter, jalapenos and corn in a baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes and serve with corn chips! Serve with corn chips.

For more of Valarie Davis Lee’s responses, visit bulldawgillustrated.com

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

JOHN FRIERSON’S PERSPECTIVE

CFP not completely dead for Dogs

By John Frierson Bulldawg Illustrated

Consider this a sunny-side up column. In the face of daunting challenges, it’s pretty much all optimism and hope for the next 700 words or so.

The mission: find a way for the Georgia Bulldogs (7-2, 5-2 SEC) to make it to the College Football Playoff.

No easy task considering there are quite a few teams between the Dogs and a spot in the coveted four-team playoff. Still, it seems possible, albeit a long shot.

First and foremost, the Dogs have to finish super strong. That means doing to its final three regular-season opponents — No. 9 Auburn, Charleston Southern and No. 24 Georgia Tech (rankings are from Sunday’s new AP poll) — and the SEC West champion, what the Dogs did to Kentucky last week. What 16th-ranked Georgia has to do is win, win big and win with some style points to earn the playoff selection committee’s attention.

With Todd Gurley returning from suspension, maybe the Dogs can get some kind of Gurley bounce. If Georgia can look unstoppable on offense with the attack back at full strength, maybe the committee will take note not just of the Dogs’ record, but how the team is playing at the end of the season.

Style points will be needed to help mask how bad Georgia’s losses look now. South Carolina seemed like a pretty solid team way back on Sept. 13, when the Gamecocks edged the Dogs 38-35. Since then their only wins have come against SEC East doormat Vanderbilt and Furman. Not good.

The Florida loss still looks bad, but if the Gators

20 • www.bulldawgillustrated.com

can get on a roll to end the season then at least that one won’t have quite the stench that it did at the time. As you can already see, so very much of this is way, way out of Georgia’s control.

Also out of the Dogs’ hands is the SEC East title and a chance to play for the conference title. Georgia has to win the East and beat the West champion to have any shot of reaching the playoff. And to win the East, the Dogs must beat Auburn to finish 6-2 in SEC play and have East-leading Missouri (7-2, 4-1) lose at least once in its final three SEC games, which is quite possible.

The Tigers are at back-from-the-dead Texas A&M this week, at coming-alive Tennessee next Saturday and finish the regular season at home against a very hungry Arkansas squad.

So what happens if Georgia wins the SEC, beating Mississippi State or Alabama in the title game? Does that assure the Dogs of a spot in the final four? I don’t think so. Either would be a very high quality win, but I’m not sure it puts Georgia’s resume above any one-loss teams or even some of the two-loss teams.

Because Georgia’s two losses will be deemed (rightfully) bad losses, the Dogs will need some of the remaining one-loss teams to go down again, at least once.

It seems impossible for Florida State to lose to another ACC school, so let’s pencil the Seminoles into one of the four spots. The Pac-12 champion, which appears to be either Oregon or Arizona State, seems like a lock for a spot. Two down, two to go.

Similarly, in the Big 12 it looks like it is going to come down to either Baylor or TCU, who could be co-champions of a league without a title game. Surely one

photo by Rob Saye

of them would get a spot, so that’s three of the four.

That leaves only one spot for the SEC. Common sense (a dangerous concept in college football) would seem to dictate that the league champion earns a playoff bid by holding up the trophy in Atlanta. But say Georgia wins the East and beats an undefeated or one-loss Mississippi State or one-loss Alabama, what then?

In most any scenario Georgia will have a hard time presenting a better resume than the West champion, who won’t have lost to a pair of unranked teams. But could the committee pick a one-loss Mississippi State, which just lost to UGA in Atlanta, over the Athens Bulldogs if it came to that? Who knows? This is all unchartered territory.

What is certain is that the Dogs must finish very, very well to have any shot. The rout at Kentucky and the return of Gurley make that possible. As for the rest, maybe consulting some kind of witch doctor would help.

Les Miles probably can recommend a good one.

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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 Saturday in Lexington, Ky., it was the Georgia team that showed up in Missouri and Arkansas ... not the one that completely buckled under after the first quarter against Florida the previous weekend in Jacksonville.

With the offense scoring every single time it had the ball, except for the two times before halftime and at game’s end when the Bulldogs took a knee and simply killed the clock, Georgia ran up and down Commonwealth Stadium at will to the tune of 63 points and 559 yards of total offense (305 rushing, 254 passing) to rout the Wildcats 63-31 and thus get tuned up for Saturday’s invasion of the Auburn Tigers.

There were so many key plays and statistical numbers in this runaway Georgia victory and for the most part, good ones. But as we look at the Stats That Matter for this game, there also are a number of negative ones, miscues that allowed Kentucky to hang around at halftime when the Bulldogs led 35-24 and bumbles that might have cost Georgia dearly against a stronger opponent ... such as the one that’s venturing between the hedges on Saturday.

But, good thing, people like Isaiah McKenzie (TD kickoff return of 90 yards, TD punt return of 59 yards), Hutson Mason (13-of-16, 174 yards, career-high 4 TDs), Nick Chubb (170 yards rushing, TD), Sony Michel (84 yards, TD), Jonathon Rumph (4 catches, 81 yards), Chris Conley (2 TD receptions), Jeb Blazevich (2 TD catches), Malcolm Mitchell (4 catches, TD), freshman outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter (2.5 sacks, 9 tackles. 3.5 tackles-for-loss) and senior linebacker Ramik Wilson (10.5 tackles) performed so brilliantly on the offensive side of the ball, these Bulldogs were able to easily overcome anything bad that happened in the bluegrass.

That said, here are the stats that really mattered as Georgia showed Kentucky it still has a ways to go before climbing into the elite of the SEC:

Plays of 20 plus yards, offense and defense

The Bulldogs had nine of these, when one counts McKenzie’s two long kickoff and punt returns. The others were a 39-yard strike from Mason to Conley, runs of 55, 27 and 23 yards by Chubb, Mitchell’s 23-yard TD reception from Mason, a 47-yard strike from Brice Ramsey to Rumph, and Michel’s 23-yard TD dash. Kentucky, meantime, hurt the Bulldogs mostly with Stanley Williams’ 56-yard touchdown run in the first half. That was the only 20-yards plus play allowed by the UGA defense all day.

GEORGIA

63

KENTUCKY 31

Untimely Mistakes (turnovers, penalties, clock management miscues, etc)

There were a bunch here, primarily in the first half.

Receiving kickoffs, in fact, almost turned into a nightmare for the Bulldogs. Junior Quayvon Hicks fumbled one short UK kickoff, allowing the Wildcats to recover at the Georgia 23 which led to a Kentucky field goal.

Then, Hicks muffed another Wildcat kickoff before recovering the ball himself. And finally, Hicks ran into McKenzie while attempting to field still another kick, which momentarily stunned the much smaller McKenzie. Hicks, simply having a tough afternoon, was also tagged for a 10-yard holding penalty. There was a pass interference call on Aaron Davis on a third-and-seven play, an off-sides infraction against Leonard Floyd on another third-and-seven play, and even though he stepped up splendidly in filling in for the injured Floyd (shoulder) most of the game, freshman Lorenzo Carter had an inexcusable 15-yard out-of-bounds, late-hit penalty which kept a Wildcats’ touchdown drive going just before the first half concluded.

Special teams wins vs. miscues

See the miscues on the kickoff receiving team above.

That can’t be duplicated against the Auburn Tigers this coming Saturday. Of course, McKenzie more than lived up to his fabulous high school reputation with his kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns and the Bulldogs, in contrast, were outstanding covering the UK kickoff returns all afternoon. And good thing, they didn’t have to worry about covering punts because Georgia never punted the football against the Wildcats.

Missed Tackles

The Georgia defense missed some key tackles in the first half, especially on Williams’ 56-yard scoring run and on another 19-yard jaunt by Williams. Also, several times, when the Bulldogs had a chance to sack Patrick Towles, they let the big Kentucky quarterback break contact and turn the play into positive yardage.

Yards after contact

Chubb and Michel hardly ever went down on the first hit, turning three-yard gains into first-down runs.

Brendan Douglas, too, ran over a few would-be Wildcat tacklers in mop-up duty in the final quarter.

Turnovers (gained/lost)

The Bulldogs got a big interception from senior safety Corey Moore on Kentucky’s first play of the third quarter. Of course they also lost the ball once on Hicks’ kickoff fumble. Georgia actually fumbled the ball three times but lost only one of the bobbles.

photo by Rob Saye

Red Zone (offense/defense)

As mentioned, this Georgia offense was nearly perfect

in all facets against UK as it scored six-of-six times when driving inside the Wildcat 20-yard line. Kentucky was also perfect when getting there, going four-for-four on red zone scoring opportunities.

Third down conversions

Can’t get any better than the Bulldogs in this area as they converted all eight third-down situations into first downs. The Wildcats, meantime, could convert on only 9-of-18 opportunities.

Run/pass attempts (total plays)

You notice how Georgia is almost always in the “W” column when they run the football for more yards than they total throwing it. As mentioned, the Bulldogs rolled up 305 rushing yards on 39 carries while passing for 254 yards on 18-of-21 completions. Truth is, that’s an almost perfect balance to putting up huge numbers on offense, the way Georgia did against the University of Kentucky.

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WHICH TEAM WILL SHOW UP ?

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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 6 3

KENTUCKY 31

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’ 63-31 win over Kentucky Saturday.

OFFENSE – Sophomore guard Greg Pyke, who fronted the Georgia offensive line that enabled the Bulldogs to pile up 559 yards of total offense in the romp over the Wildcats.

“Here is my new Big Ugly!” said Butler. “The redshirt sophomore from Maryland is becoming a force on the offensive line. He’s not ugly to look at, just to play against. Greg’s athletic ability provides the offense with a player who makes his assigned block and then gets downfield for a second crushing block. This kind of hustle deserved to be commended because that’s why the Big Ugly Dawgs do the dirty work the best! Greg hasn’t reach his peak but he is headed there.”

DEFENSE – Freshman outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter, who started in place of Leonard Floyd and sparked the Bulldogs’ defense by recording nine total tackles, 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles-for-loss.

“The true freshman from Norcross had his breakout game against Kentucky,” said Butler. “The five star recruit performed like a 10 star defensive end with 5 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles, 2.5 sacks for nine yards in losses and 3.5 tackles-for-loss for a minus-13 yards. It was a totally dominating game from Lorenzo. As the development of the defense continues under Coach Pruitt, Lorenzo is a big part of that progression. His ability on the field was a factor in the game and we need him to produce like the force he is meant to be for UGA.”

SPECIAL TEAMS – Freshman kick returner Isaiah McKenzie, who returned the game’s opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, later ran back a Wildcat punt 59 yards for another score and also had a 12-yard run from scrimmage on a reverse play.

“Isaiah took the crowd out of the game from the moment he touched the ball with the opening kickoff return of 90 yards to put the Bulldogs in front for the rest of the day,” said Butler. “We have all known he is a threat but he let everyone know after his second TD of the day came off a 59-yard punt return to further break Kentucky’s back. We need IMK to be a weapon against Auburn if we expect to win out.”

photo by Rob Saye

- Compiled by Murray Poole

It was another great week of college football with a couple of SEC games standing out.

Auburn fell at home to Texas A&M, dropping out of the playoff picture. Alabama somehow came back and edged LSU in overtime. In the Big XII, Baylor and TCU flexed their muscles. In the PAC-12, Arizona State and Oregon put up impressive victories. In the Big Ten it was Ohio State. The biggest game in the country thus far this season will be on the capstone, as Alabama takes on top-ranked Mississippi State.

TOP 25 JEFF DANTZLER

1.

Mississippi State – It’s the biggest game in school history, as the top ranked Maroon Bulldogs clash with Alabama on the capstone. If State wins, there is margin for error with Ole Miss and Atlanta. Dan Mullen has a tremendous team, physical, strong, excellent running and passing and stout with the run defense.

7. Arizona State – Frank Kush and Jake Plummer’s echoes were awakened in the Sun Devils 55-31 victory over Notre Dame. Arizona State leapt to a hug early lead and the Irish came back to cut it to 3. But Todd Graham’s team turned it on and pulled away with an impressive victory. They are on track.

13. UCLA – The Bruins have caught fire again. UCLA is playing some of the best football in the PAC-12. Jim Mora Jr.’s team was cooking behind four Brett Hundley TD passes in a 44-30 win at Washington. UCLA is off Saturday, then the Trojans come to the Rose Bowl.

2. Florida State – The Seminoles don’t have the easiest of roads with Miami and Florida, but they have superior talent to everyone on the schedule. There is tremendous burst at both running back and receiver. Just beware if you are wagering on the ‘Noles in the first half.

8. Auburn – After winning yet again in absolutely improbable fashion, the Tigers dropped a heart-breaker at home to Texas A&M 41-38. The blocked field goal return for a TD and two late fumbles rocked Auburn’s playoff hopes.

They head to Athens this week for a big showdown with ancient rival Georgia.

3. Alabama – The Crimson Tide had their backs against the wall, but didn’t panic, pulling out yet another thriller with LSU. Now Mississippi State comes to town and Bama can take a huge step towards Atlanta and the playoff with a win. Big shocker here, Amari Cooper figures to be their biggest weapon against Mullen’s Maroons.

14. Arizona – Rich Rodriguez is doing excellent work in Tuscon. The Wildcats bounced back from the 17-7 loss at UCLA with a 38-20 victory over a Colorado program that is much improved under the watch of Mike McIntyre. The schedule is tough the rest of the way, with Washington, a trip to Utah and then rival Arizona State in Tucson.

9. Ole Miss – After the roughest, most heart-breaking two weeks in Ole Miss history, the Rebels had an easy time with Presbyterian College –despite the presence of one of the Blue Hose’s most distinguished alumni, Robby Kirk, in Oxford. The Rebels have Saturday off then go to Arkansas.

4. Oregon – Because a Utah player tried to look cool, he fumbled instead of scoring a touchdown to put the “Runnin’ Utes” up 13 then 14-0, Oregon scooped it up and made it 7-7. And the Ducks kept scoring and scoring and scoring. The PAC-12 is clamoring for an Oregon-Arizona State 11-1 vs. 11-1 matchup in the conference championship game.

10. Ohio State – The Buckeyes had slowly been putting together some impressive wins, and they put themselves in position to grab control of the Big Ten East in a mega showdown at Michigan State.

A missed Spartans field goal after an Ohio State fumble on a kickoff down 21-14 turned things. Ohio State heads to massively improved Minnesota Saturday.

5. Baylor – TCU has more impressive wins than Baylor, but, this just in, Baylor beat TCU! This playoff. The Bears, for a second straight season, just slaughtered Oklahoma, and it’s not like that is a common occurrence in Baylor football history.

11. Nebraska – The Cornhuskers were off this Saturday to get ready for a big shootout against Wisconsin in Madison.

It is one of the biggest games the Cornhuskers have played since joining the conference.

17. LSU – The Fightin’ Tigers got their hearts ripped out 20-13 in Death Valley by Alabama. A couple of penalties were extremely costly late in the game.

Do they have any heart left? LSU goes to Arkansas then plays at Texas A&M on Thanksgiving.

24. Marshall – The Thundering Herd is having their best season since their glory days under Jim Donnan and Bob Pruett.

Marshall made it an easy 9-0 with a 63-17 rout of once formidable Southern Miss.

Next up is Rice, as the Herd sniff a major bowl berth.

6. TCU – The Horned Frogs are rolling. That flat out took care of business against Kansas State. After suffering one of the most heart-breaking losses in school history at Baylor, TCU has put up huge numbers and been extremely impressive.

12. Kansas State – The Wildcats got turned away at TCU, costing them a playoff shot. But it was their first conference loss – the other was to Auburn – so K-State still has a shot at the conference title. Bill Snyder is once again doing impressive things in Manhattan.

18. Tech – The Yellow Jackets are rolling. Tech flat out smoked N.C. State in Raleigh behind the powerful running attack and a pair of defensive touchdowns. Next up is Clemson and then the Dogs. Tech is gunning for and coming for Georgia.

25. Minnesota – The Golden Gophers rebounded from a heartbreaking loss at Illinois to blast Iowa 51-14. The Gophers have a good running attack and the defense has found a way. Minnesota hosts Ohio State, then goes to Nebraska and visits Wisconsin. It is a very difficult stretch, but the Golden Gophers have to be enjoying this success

15. Georgia - The Bulldogs routed Kentucky 63-31 this past week, and now comes the renewal of the South’s oldest rivalry, as Auburn comes to town. It is big, but not as big as it was shaping up to be before Georgia lost in Jacksonville and Auburn fell to the Aggies.

The Dogs get Todd Gurley back.

16. Duke – What a job David Cutcliffe has done in Durham. The Blue Devils are 8-1 and sniffing a second straight trip to the ACC Championship Game.

The schedule could squeeze them.

They host Virginia Tech and then North Carolina on a Thursday. Cutcliffe has a tremendous offensive mind.

19. Clemson – The Tigers were getting a scare from Wake Forest, but pulled away in the fourth quarter to win. Next up is a big one against Tech. The winner could go 10-2, if they take care of their in-state rival that has dominated both.

20. Wisconsin – The Badgers have four straight since falling at Northwestern. This is a big one this week as Nebraska comes to town. The winner is really sniffing the Big Ten Championship Game. As usual, the Badgers are one of the nation’s top running teams.

21. Missouri – The Tigers are 7-2 and 4-1 in SEC play. That four-point loss at home to Indiana stings. If Missouri can run the table, a second straight trip to Atlanta is in the cards. Next up is a toughie at rejuvenated Texas A&M on Saturday night.

22. Oklahoma - All thoughts and prayers are with standout injured quarterback Trevor Knight, who took a big hit to literally add injury to insult in the Bears runaway victory. This one really stung because it was in Norman. That is two straight years Baylor has blasted OU. 23. Utah – The Utes had a golden opportunity to have a 14-0 lead, but showboating took precedent and an absolute dagger destroyed the upset opportunity. Kyle Whittingham is an excellent coach. Utah beat Stanford a year ago and they visit The Farm this weekend.

Welcome back to Athens ... Bulldog and McRib Nation

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