The Dawgs are getting some major national love in regards to the upcoming football season. I am a huge fan of all things UGA although I never attended a single class there. My sister went there, but that really hasn’t had an impact on me. I think the thing that hooked me was going dove hunting as a kid with my dad (I don’t hunt anymore, not that there is anything wrong with that). When I was 9 we went hunting at my grandparents farm in Villa Rica and listened to a freshman named Herschel Walker run over Bill Bates en route to leading the Dawgs to the National Championship. I have been hooked ever since. My kids know all the players names (even Quinn!) and we await the upcoming season with great anticipation. Why, we might just find a new HD big screen in the basement for just such an occasion. I’m just sayin’. The Dawgs will be on the tube A LOT this upcoming season, so that’s a reason. And we can play the Wii on it, too. Nan loves the Wii.
I must confess, however, that interspersed with the anticipation, I have some nervous thoughts as the Classic City Canines garner national attention in the national championship race. We haven’t even gotten to summer practice yet and there are already preseason polls out. I don’t want to be number one to start. I want to be top 5, but not number 1. I don’t know how many UGA fans I speak for in feeling this way, so I ask all the UGA fans: What do you think? How do you feel about the possibility of starting the season at the top? Nowhere to go from there but down. Pessimistic? Yes. I know. I guard myself so the fall isn’t so hard if it happens.
I’m with ya. Call us #2, call us #5, call us #10. Just don’t call us #1.
My mind goes back to an embarrassing UGA/UT game where both were in the top 5 I think? And we were maybe #3? The details allude me.
I do remember this. GameDay was there and the Dawgs looked DUMB and WAY overrated.
I much prefer when people expect LESS of us- that game was way too painful.
Though I would love for us to be National Champs. So #1 in January 09 is fine with me.
By: AnnieD on April 12, 2008
at 7:37 am
If I were Richt, I wouldn’t want to start the season at #1. That team isn’t used to being that high in the rankings. They don’t need the added baggage of that ranking on top of all the heightened expectations.
That said, the higher you are to start the season, the easier it is to overcome a loss and still be high enough when the BCS ranking starts to matter.
Are y’all enjoying UF day on ESPN?
By: ManUtd17 on April 12, 2008
at 12:27 pm
i call this feeling “munsonism”; a consistent hopeful pessismism about the football squad. after watching decades of games with my dad, i told him during the florida game that he should go for larry’s job next season.
i, like you brad, never attended a class at uga, but my parents did and i can remember listening to “the bulldog boogy” as a little guy. and according to espn, i am allowed to be a uga fan because of geographic (athens is closer to young harris than atlanta) and family ties (all my tech friends can kiss my….grits??).
see:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=rules/070905
i digress; yes, i think it is normal for you to feel this way about next season, but i am fairly confident that the dogs can make it to the bcs game; pending october’s schedule….
By: matt a on April 12, 2008
at 12:56 pm
Bill, I actually did enjoy watching UF on ESPN today. It makes me all the more excited about the fall! Serious question, though…how do they get that sweet gig? I thought ESPN would give it to Ohio St. or somebody not in the SEC since they don’t give us any love.
Matt, Munsonism, Munsonitis, whatever you call it, I got it. I think most AU fans I know have a similar disease, too. See the Tanner boys and ask them about the prospects for the upcoming season and you’ll see what I mean.
By: speedinguptoslowdown on April 12, 2008
at 3:16 pm
I agree. More pressure to live up to. I do believe we have a legit shot at the national title this year, to be sure. However, the pre-season chatter can lead to mental “germs” that take root during the season and bring a team down.
I want them to be ranked maybe around #4-#6 so they can get some anger in their bones about the low ranking. That’ll make ‘em fight harder to prove themselves #1.
Mental games. Motivation. It’s what it’s all about. I can’t wait for fall college ball. The best.
…..Enjoying an evening off from work!!
By: Sean Kirkland on April 12, 2008
at 8:17 pm
Well, I did go to many, many classes at UGA and marched four seasons between the hedges, and it’s exciting AND troublesome to start off the season too close to the top.
I think (being somewhat pessimistic and optimistic at the same time) that we will get an early blow (like a friggin South Carolina) and get us fired up to work our way back.
But I wish we could start around the bronze level with two teams above us.
By: Chipper on April 13, 2008
at 1:06 pm
I can’t say that I know how UF got ESPN to come down to Gainesville yesterday, but I imagine it was more attractive to the three Game Day hosts to be in Florida this time of year than in Columbus yesterday where it was 53 and drizzly. UF being Erin Andrews’ alma mater doesn’t hurt either.
It was a nice prelude to the fall.
By: ManUtd17 on April 13, 2008
at 1:54 pm
Bill, I agree. I would rather be in FL than OH just about any day.
Does Erin Andrews have that much pull?!
By: speedinguptoslowdown on April 13, 2008
at 3:25 pm
Got here through Steve and Randel. Great to see some college football talk going! I’m a Gator, but don’t get ESPN, so I missed all the UF love.
Moreno looks like the real deal. If he keeps running the way he does, it looks like he can catch the Heisman that McFadden never could.
By: cool dad on April 14, 2008
at 9:01 am
First of all how about Corso picking South Carolina to come out of the EAST???? No way in H that is happening.
Which brings to my next point, USC’s QB has been arrested i dont know how many times, yet he is still gonna be on the team. Same with LSU’s Perriloux, how many chances can a guy get? Richt would never let anything like that happen and they would never see the light of the playing field. He sent one of our best recruits (LB hebron) to a JuCo for doing less than those guys…
But finally, although I am hoping for a #2 ranking, I think no matter what Right is getting them ready to play. He has mentioned non stop the game when he was at FSU who was ranked on top then lost to miami 31-0. I the dawgs are #1 in pre season, I think UGa football and its fans will rise to the occasion, and we will see lots of good football. Some believe UGA is always good for one loss, but look at our team, Logan grey looked good as a backup and caleb will be a great RB for the next 4 years, so even if our QB or RB goes down, it will not be like a few years ago when shockley got hurt and we had to count on Joe T (SUCK) the third to try and beat florida, We are talented, Deep and we are going places. Just think about this… We have almost everyone returning next year as well… UGA glory years will no longer only be considered th 80’s… CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY TO BE APART OF HISTORY!!!
By: Harrison on April 14, 2008
at 11:19 pm
Well, I’m arriving late to the party, but I am extremely worried about the schedule. Tough road games all throughout. I can’t see us going undefeated, but let’s win the East and get to the Dome. With this schedule, we’ll be in the hunt for the Championship if we can get to the Dome.
By: Dave Dorsey on May 17, 2008
at 7:53 pm