While Ann Althouse is claiming “UW” for her University of Wisconsin, we need to correct one more thing that her Husky corespondent missed. “Dawgs” refers to the school with the top mascot in the nation – Georgia. Saying “Go Dawgs!” requires a Southern accent. Otherwise, it comes out with a Midwestern “dahgs” or Lawngyland “dowahgs” or plain ol’ “dogs”.

As they are the occasional New Year’s Day victim on our path to a 10-win season, we’ll support the Badgers’ exclusive use of “UW”.

And while we’re at it, a note to our friends to the east:

• USC means Southern Cal
• Carolina means North Carolina

It’s the time of year for the preseason media blitzes, and as usual, there are some gems coming out.

“I get excited every time I think about going up to play at Clemson,” said Eric Winston, the 6-foot-7, 312-pound all-America candidate left tackle for the Miami Hurricanes. “I’m told it’s the biggest stadium in the ACC — Death Valley — that they have great fans who make a lot of noise; I think all of us are excited about it; that’s why you come to play at Miami, to be in situations where you’re on the road in front of 80,000 people.”

Um…so to play in front of 80,000 you choose a school that will only see 80,000 for road games? He sure as hell won’t be playing in front of 80,000 at the Orange Bowl. “Playing at Cameron Indoor really gets me going, so I think I’ll go to Wake Forest.”

1) Tennessee 1998

Some Georgia fans bring up the transition from Peyton Manning to Tee Martin almost as proof that Georgia won’t miss a beat in the post-Greene era. OK, the Vol run to the title in 1998 and many other instances before and since showed that life can go on or even get better after a superstar leaves. Can we leave it there? If I never hear another comparison to the 1998 Vols, my blood pressure will be much better off. Shockley and Martin have skin color in common, and that’s about it.

If you want something from Tennessee 1998 to think about, look to the other side of the ball. Those Vols came into Athens and held a sky-high Georgia offense to three points. That’s championship football. Does Georgia have anything resembling the defense that Al Wilson led into Athens and into the postseason that year?

2) Relishing the underdog role

There is a line of thinking that Georgia’s likely preseason ranking in the low-teens is somehow an advantage. There is somehow less pressure on Georgia and they can make some noise in the underdog role.

Don’t buy it.

To begin with, underdogs are usually underdogs for a reason – you’re not as good as the favorite. But overlooking that obvious point, let’s look at the realities of this season. The Tennessee and Florida games are the only instances where Georgia might be an underdog. OK…possibly Auburn as well. Tennessee will be hungry to end a two-game home losing streak to Georgia. Florida will be very focused on showing that the new coach can dominate Georgia as well as the past couple of coaches have. We are past the 15th anniversary of Georgia’s last consecutive wins over the Gators. Entering those huge games as underdogs is somehow supposed to be a good thing?!?! The Vols are going to think less of Georgia and the Hobnail Boot and Sean Jones because the Dawgs’ ranking is slightly lower?

I guess some people are just gunshy. Georgia is not the kind of program that “sneaks up” on an opponent from the underdog role – there are too many rivalries on the schedule for that to happen. Teams like Northwestern or TCU come out of nowhere and surprise people. It’s not a good thing to make a run at a title or even the BCS coming from so far behind. A top program like Georgia, even in a “down” or “rebuilding” year should strive to be the hunted. All of this is silly anyway – no team with three straight 10+ win seasons is going under anyone’s radar.

3) Georgia will just run over people this year.

I don’t doubt the talent in the backfield or on the line, but in this case it’s all Missouri: Show Me. Show me the attitude and will to run the ball that prevailed at the end of the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Show me the ability to stay healthy and turnover-free in the backfield. Show me the next fullback ready to get nasty and lead the way. Show me a line that is not only not a liability anymore but is a strength. Show me a passing game that prevents a defense from focusing on stopping the run.

What’s led to the optimism about the running game is the flashes that were shown by Lumpkin, Ware, and Brown over the past two seasons. Who couldn’t be excited about the way Thomas Brown closed the Outback Bowl? But a dominant running game is built on consistency, and Georgia hasn’t come close in a while. The Dawgs were able to run the ball to hold off Wisconsin and their NFL-quality defensive line, but they couldn’t get out of reverse against Georgia Tech. As soon as one back heated up, an injury or the long offseason has cooled him down.

The pieces seem to be in place, but several big things must change if the running game will be a strategic weapon for the Dawgs. It can’t just be measured by yardage. The effective running team must be confident enough to use the ground game at key situations and remain with it even if early success is slow to come.

4) Boise St. has no idea what a summer night in Athens is like

This ballgame is not being played in the Iraqi desert or even Waycross, and Boise State players don’t have to dodge polar bears during summer workouts. An early September evening in Athens could very likely be warm and sticky and even stifling. Both teams will have to deal with the conditions, and both will be practicing in plenty of heat this summer. Besides – if we’re counting on oppressive heat to turn the game…there are bigger concerns.

5) Increasing academic standards

All handwringing to the contrary, there has not been a single instance where a football player was denied admission who legitimately met NCAA minimum standards and who has kept his nose clean. There certainly have been some bizarre and unfortunately very public cases over the past couple of years. Still, every report about the several signees who will not enroll at UGA this fall seems to mention athletics and football in particular faced with a “climate of increasing academic standards”. That’s nice, and entrance standards at UGA certainly are increasing for the average applicant, but the entrance standard for a scholarship athlete remains the same: meet the NCAA minimums, do so honestly and legitimately, and stay out of serious trouble in high school.

The admission of student-athletes at UGA has been in the news lately because five signees from the incoming football class won’t be enrolling at the University (this year, anyway). There has been a misconception that Georgia’s academic standards for student-athlete admission are somehow higher than at other SEC schools. There has also been some ridiculous backslapping going on congratulating Georgia for upholding “academic integrity”. The Red and Black chimes in today with the best example yet of this self-congratulatory nonsense.

In late spring, former recruits Darius Dewberry and Brandon Sesay were denied admission …because they failed to meet NCAA academic requirements. The fact that they could not get into the University regardless of athletic skill proved a point: academics matter.

No, the point it proved was that these two did not meet minimum NCAA requirements. They would not have been able to play ball at Stanford, Auburn, nor anywhere in between.

Was the University simply using them as an example, only to let other subpar student athletes in under the radar?

What!? Dewberry and Sesay didn’t even make it to the point where UGA admissions would have had a say. Congratulating Georgia for turning them down is a bit like congratulating United States border authorities for not allowing someone into the country who was kept from boarding his plane in Berlin.

We got our answer when Jamar Chaney, Corey Moon and Jamar Bryant also could not gain admission for various academic reasons.

Again, both Moon and Bryant had problems with the minimum NCAA requirements. Chaney’s case is the only instance where the University’s Faculty Admissions Committee came into play.

What follows though takes the cake:

Yes, we want skilled and talented athletes on our teams, but we want them to measure up to the academic standards of this University as well. With academic standards improving every year, it is reasonable to expect recruits to meet the same standards as the rest of the student body.

Wow. Is the Red and Black under the impression that those student-athletes who made it in come anywhere close to the same academic standards applied to the rest of the freshman class? Do they believe that the average test scores of this football class, unlike all others before it, will lie above the bottom of the lower quartile for the whole freshman class? They’re not that out of touch, are they?

It’s amazing. The Red and Black is not alone in complimenting UGA on their academic integrity based on the fact that these five won’t be suiting up for the Dawgs, but this is the most over-the-top case I’ve seen. The rest of the class prepares for life in Athens, many of whom have three-digit SAT scores, and not a word is said.

The fact is that Georgia will admit any student-athlete that legitimately meets NCAA minimum standards and does not have questions of character. They will even admit partial qualifiers (see Jermaine Phillips, Martrez Milner, and Greg Blue as three recent examples), though the program is limited to two partial qualifiers at any one time. It’s worthy to note that these “subpar” partial qualifiers are now 2-2 in graduating from the University.

It’s clear that the Red and Black editorialist has not thought through the consequences of expecting “recruits to meet the same standards as the rest of the student body.” No Division 1 football program, even Stanford or Duke or any other academic powerhouse, has an average test score for incoming football players anywhere near the average for the rest of the class. Even Stanford’s freshman football class would have an average test score well below the average UGA freshman.

If someone is going to make these ridiculous platitudes praising academic standards, at least be honest and admit what it would do to the landscape of college sports. Many alumni fully acknowledge and can live with the lowering of admissions standards for incoming athletes. Those gushing praise over the 2005 “stand” taken by UGA to deny admission to these five players either don’t understand the NCAA’s minimum standards, don’t understand the academic credentials of most of the rest of the class, or are so hung up on Georgia’s academic standing that they are willing to seize upon this news as proof of integrity and standards. In any case, the posturing comes across as ridiculous and unintentionally quite funny.

Because even the best athletes should at least be passing students.

Let’s finish up an editorial on academics with a sentence fragment.

I was going to write something pithy and overly-analytical about the 2004-2005 men’s basketball season now that it’s over, but what’s the use? The take-away from this season is that the team didn’t disgrace itself and there’s the core of a fine bench unit emerging for the coming seasons.

CFN came out with a piece this week that, among other things, had Richt as the SEC’s most “overrated coach”.

That might ruffle some feathers until you realize that they pretty much only had two coaches from which to choose.

These are new or new enough to get a pass:

Croom – and we know he won’t be criticized for a while
Meyer
Orgeron
Miles
Spurrier might be included here too…he has a reputation but has done nothing at SC yet except thin the herd

These are insignificant or doing poorly enough to ensure that they are of in no danger whatsoever of being overrated:

Johnson
Brooks
Shula – still getting a pass for probation

That leaves us with only four guys who have been around long enough and have been successful enough to possibly be thought of as overrated.

Richt
Fulmer
Nutt
Ears

Two of them just won their division and have undefeated seasons to their credit, so no one is going to make themselves look foolish by pinning an overrated label on them even though it might apply. Then you have Nutt. For some reason everyone loves him and even considered him a serious option for high-profile jobs at Nebraska and LSU. I just don’t see it. So unless you don’t buy into the Cult of Nutt™, Richt is pretty much the only coach left.

Christi was selected with the 12th overall pick by the Los Angeles Sparks. LA is one of the top teams in the league, but they failed to capture a three-peat title due in part to the lack of post depth. They addressed that need with Thomas who will back up or play alongside Lisa Leslie, one of the best players in the game who has become increasingly injury-prone. LSU’s Doneeka Hodges will join Christi in LA.

Following this week’s team banquet, Christi will immediately head out to training camp April 25th.

From the Sparks release:

“We are very excited to have a lady of her caliber, who comes from a great basketball program, like Georgia,” said Sparks Head Coach Michael Cooper. “If I had to, I’d compare her to a female version of Tim Duncan. She’s really an excellent addition to our front court. She will be a great compliment to Lisa Leslie and Delisha Milton.”

“I’m looking forward to playing with Lisa Leslie and the exceptional veterans on the team,” Thomas smiled. “I’m confident that my ability to run the floor and help Lisa inside will be of value this season.”

In the meantime, Christi is still a student. She didn’t even attend the WNBA draft in person because, according to ESPN, she was catching up on schoolwork. The season is demanding on student-athletes, and here is a first-round draft pick having to put the books ahead of her moment in the sun.

This year’s great NCAA tournament introduced us to some incredible players, not the least of which was Minnesota’s Lindsay Whalen. An outstanding player, an entire city and state rallied around her and the Gophers on their way to the Final Four. Alas, the draft didn’t work out and she’ll be in Connecticut. Here’s a good analysis of the situation from the Minnesota perspective. Now while she wants to be in Minnesota, and they want her there, she can’t expect to last in the pros moping about the outcome of the draft. She’s heading into a situation where the fans will support such an outstanding player and needs to make the most of the opportunity. Michael Jordan wasn’t from Chicago, but there are now few people more identified with that town. Meanwhile, the same applies to the fans back in Minneapolis – they can’t let this outcome diminish their support of the teams and people they lived and died with over the past few months.

Is like seeing the Pips go off and record a hit album.

For three years (or whatever), these guys were the role players, the steady contributors, the sixth men, the rythym section and backup singers of a great band.

They developed into very good players at what we asked them to do, but what we asked them to do was usually rebound, defend, and help guys like Layne, Williams, and Jarvis Hayes shine.

It’s not that we never asked any of them to be the man or that they never stood out here and there…it’s just that what we’re asking them to do every night is so different from what we’ve asked them to do in the past (especially Rashad, Jonas, and Damien). The road adjusting to these new roles obviously hasn’t been smooth, but it’s encouraging to see the response. Rashad stepped out first with some big shooting early on. Chris – jeez…just pencil in the double-double. Now we’re seeing the team recognize how to use Jonas and, as Felton noted, Damien looked much, much more patient.

If those things we saw from the seniors were a one-game flash, then the Tech win is useless except a feel-good to keep the fans off Felton’s back (for this week anyway). When you’ve worked three years getting really good at doing something and then are told that your role must be different because of the team’s “challenges” (to use Felton’s word), it can be hard to accept. I hope the win serves to show the players that these are the roles they can win with this year. I also hope the coach realizes the flexibility these “backup singers” are showing in finding their way as the frontmen and will scheme to make the best use of what they’re doing. Keep feeding Jonas. Keep encouraging Damien that his best role is going to the basket and being deadly from the stripe. Get Rashad the chance for open looks or isolation to blow past his guy.

It looked like the players and coach are buying into each other a bit more – I hope it’s not just one game…that would be a bigger shame than losing that Tech game.

Georgia’s offensive line injuries and changes that gave Purdue the chance to drop more men into coverage took away a bright spot that was helping Georgia score at will early on.

Fred Gibson and Reggie Brown were having their best game as a duo. Even in the second half and into overtime, there were significant catches. Gibson owned the cornerback that was on him, and Brown came up with big plays after making a nice catch for several clutch first down receptions.

Lots of people are questioning the offensive playcalling, especially at the end of the first half when there might have been a chance for more points. I don’t share that view – the series at the end of the half did a good job to reverse any momentum Purdue had at the time.

If you told me that we would be handing Brian VanGorder a 14-point lead and the opportunity to adjust at halftime, I’d take that any day.

Purdue had stolen every bit of momentum and we went out there and stopped the leak. The running game really stepped up and didn’t give them the chance to get the ball back. If you heard the ABC announcers, the Purdue sideline was very confident that they’d get the ball back and put more points up before halftime.

I’m not that impressed. Remember, the big goal was to bring in this huge new interest base and watch the TV money roll in.

Miami – probably the best football program there is. Nationwide fan base for TV but lukewarm local fan support. Outstanding baseball program. So-so hoops. Definitely the jewel of the expansion.

Va Tech – good football program, mediocre at best elsewhere. No nationwide fan base…more like occasional interest to see what they will do against Miami. Very limited regional base in rural western Virginia. Solid local and loyal fan support – more like Clemson than any other ACC member in that regard. They are in the ACC primarily because the Virginia State Legislature said so. From a football perspective, a good pickup. From business and other sports, blah.

BC – supposed to be the Pied Piper that brings the NE interest to the ACC. Not going to happen. If the market for NE football was so rich, Miami, BC, VT, and Syracuse wouldn’t be looking to jump. Upper limit of 8-3 as a football program, occasionally good at hoops but not consistently, but they will have the ACC hockey title sewn up. Limited fan base, not much national interest unless there is an upset story going on vs Miami or Notre Dame. Georgraphic disconnect from Maryland to Boston will isolate BC and strangle any rivalries that might develop.

His line Saturday: Reggie Ball 11-24-1-116

That would be 46% passing for a whopping 116 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT. That’s plenty for another glowing Furman Bisher column. Yet he finds it his place to promise, “we won’t lose again.”

Ball must be counting on his defense to back up his mouth, because his play so far doesn’t show the stuff needed to ensure victories for his team. His so-so play has gotten a pass because he’s only a freshman, but that excuse only holds so much water. Every complete forward pass is not in and of itself a sign for a golden future, though every pass that doesn’t hit the ground has so far seemed cause for gushing by the Atlanta media. For all of the adulation and talk of a near-win, the game came down to Ball’s ability to position the team for a winning field goal, and the job didn’t get done. He might someday be a quarterback capable of leading his team with the game on the line, but he’s nowhere near there yet. Until he is, he might want to let Tech’s proven playmakers like Fox and Smith do the talking.

There have been rumblings from over in Columbia that 1) DJ Shockley should not have thrown for the endzone late in the game and 2) Damien Gary should not have returned the onside kick for a touchdown. How pathetic. This from the same crowd that craves equality with the Bulldog program and loves to point out the narrow differences in the last two outcomes in the series.

So you want to pull an onside kick down 17 with under a minute left IN SANFORD STADIUM?!?!? I only wished Georgia had tried an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. Damien’s return was a big UP YOURS to the games and futile tactics Lou Holtz tried all game but especially at the end.

Holtz outsmarted himself all day. The punt gimmick worked…once. The next time, the punter nearly had an uncomfortable meeting with Pollack. There was the FG to break up the shutout. CLANK – the sound of justice. Then, not having learned a thing from his failed last play in 2002, he decides once again to run to the left side needing only a yard on 4th down – guess who was waiting? Must’ve been another “fluke”, because once again David Pollack and a safety were waiting behind the line of scrimmage.

Then they try to call timeout with 1 second left?

Gimmicks. That’s all Holtz had, and his team deserved the results.

Successes:

– Brought the issue to the public. There might’ve been people who were vaguely aware of who Michael Adams was. Now, I don’t think there isn’t an active member of the University community who doesn’t have some sort of take on this.

– Transitioned the issue to members of influence within the UGA community. As much as President Adams would like to mock the handful who took visible actions like sending those $0.34 checks, when names like Payne, Bestwick, and Foundation trustees start speaking out and questioning the leadership of the University, there is a serious implication for the President’s ability to lead, lobby, and raise funds in the future.

Failures:

– Enormous PR failures when faced with the “academics vs. athletics” spin. Instead of being prepared to meet that head-on, the response was to fumble around into charges of extravagant spending and vague accusations of micromanagement. The perception of the movement as football-only yokels has caused some to distance themselves from the movement.

– Failure as yet to show a strong show of numbers or power. Yes, the petition was supposedly signed by 60,000. Internet forms are next to worthless. The few hundred that showed for the rally or mailed in $0.34 checks have only been met with amusement and condescension by the media and the President. It’s too early to determine if there has been a dent in the fundraising ability of the President.

– Failure as yet to, well, axe Adams.

It seems as if many of the non-athletic complaints gainst President Adams have to do with financial oversight, specifically those expenses outlined in the AJC. His chartering a plane, the houses, the remodeling, etc. Spending of UGA funds seems to rest with the office of Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration Hank Huckaby. How much discretionary spending is the president allowed, and who has oversight over that spending? Obviously if it’s Foundation money being spent, the buck stops with the Finance Committee of the Foundation Board headed by Treasurer Michael P. Marshall (who has served several terms as Foundation Treasurer).

Adams’ spending might be extravagant, but so far I haven’t seen anything to suggest misappropriation or fraud – both definitely reasons to fire someone. But if Adams is just spending too much or unwisely, there are supposed to be internal controls to keep it in check. If the concern is with Adams spending excessively or inappropriately, the investigation should naturally turn to what those internal controls are and what the criteria are for them to kick in. I know that’s not as sexy or simple as “FIRE ADAMS”, but there you are. The spending issue will not get Adams removed unless it can be shown that the controls that should be in place have turned into a rubber stamp.

PS – It should also be noted that Huckaby, essentially UGA’s CFO, is on the search committee for the new AD and is the Athletic Board treasurer. It should also be noted that he has been distracted lately with additional duties within the Perdue gubernatorial administration.