Last night Avery Walls of Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy joined Score Atlanta's The Official Visit, and spoke with co-hosts Fletcher Proctor and Scott Janovitz. One very refreshing personality trait of Walls immediately was evident in the interview and that was that Walls sees football as a chance to get a quality education. Walls is viewed by some as the best safety prospect in the state of Georgia, and his recent bone-jarring hit in a 27-0 victory over North Florida Christian Academy has become a youtube phenomenon. While Walls is flattered by the praise he is receiving from coaches, media members and recruiting services, he also is quick to praise other Georgia safety prospects such as Grady’s Damian Swann and Corey Moore of Griffin for their past efforts. “They are both fine players, and as far as who is the best, I think at the end of the year we will see how everyone’s season goes and we can look at the tape.”
Walls transferred to Eagle’s Landing Christian for his senior season, and so far, is loving his new school. Walls said he loves the staff, the coaches and the environment of his new school, and he said he will benefit from his new surroundings as he moves forward in life. “Everyone is united,” Walls said of the renowned academy, known for its strong Christian attitudes.
As far as recruiting goes, Walls noted that he has enjoyed the process but is happy that it has settled down a little. “The attention really jumped after (receiving) the first offer from Oklahoma.” Walls tried to visit Norman recently but the trip fell through. The Sooners might still get an official visit, but Walls says he will try and use his officials for places that are far away. He is planning a trip to Ann Arbor this weekend to see Michigan, and he will head west to Oregon on October 2 and to Cal on October 9.
Those four schools made Walls top eleven, as did Connecticut and Virginia, as well as South Carolina and Tennessee. Distance, clearly is not a factor for Walls. “I can go anywhere and have support.” Walls mentioned that he has family in Connecticut as well as Ohio, which is not that far away from the Virginia campus. He also praised Virginia for taking two or three-star players and turning them into first-round NFL draft picks.
The most important thing about where he will attend college though seems to be the degree he will work towards while working on the gridiron. “Academics are the key. I want a good system.” Walls said the school must meet his two most important criteria: a Tier One academic institution and it must have a quality business program. Most of the west-coast schools that Walls will visit meet those two factors as do UConn and Virginia. South Carolina and Tennessee are the only two schools from the south that Walls is really considering, but that has a bit less to do with academics as it does with the SEC and its “great fans.”
“I went to a camp at South Carolina and I have a former teammate at Tennessee. Those are two really good schools too,” said Walls of the SEC East members. Oklahoma, the first to offer Walls also has an interesting connection to Georgia. Former Bulldog defensive coordinator Willie Martinez is now a defensive backs coach with Bob Stoops and the Sooners, something that intrigues Walls.
“OU is a great school, they have great tradition and a great fan base. Also, Willie Martinez is a great defensive backs coach,” revealed Walls about the “in” OU has.
While a timeline for his decision has not been announced, Walls does say that he is planning on graduating on December 20 and then matriculating to his college choice in January. This, he hopes, will help him adapt to college. “I want to stay ahead in my classes,” said Walls of his reasoning for wanting to enroll early. His first year expectations on the field are also ahead of the curve. “I am going to listen to the players above me, the ones that have been through recruiting and have gone through adjusting to college.” Walls reiterated the importance of getting to know his teammates. “When I (arrive on campus), I will already have a relationship with the coaches, so I’ll try and meet all of the other players, and that should make us better as a team.”
Avery Walls with his talents in the classroom and on the football field really could go anywhere in the country and make an impact early. Expect whoever snags Walls to benefit not just on the football field but also in the community. Walls could be as galvanizing a force to a team and a city as Tim Tebow was to the Florida Gators, but he’ll never tell you that. He is too nice and too humble to toot his own horn. He’ll just let the youtube hits do that for him.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
The Zone gets acquired by Star94!
Sports Radio 790 The Zone was founded in 1997 by co-presidents Andrew Saltzman and “Steak” Stephen Shapiro, however as of Monday, August 30, Lincoln Financial Media (FM Star 94.1) has caused a shakeup in Zone management. Lincoln Financial Media announced earlier this week that it is purchasing the assets of Big League Broadcasting, aka The Zone. According to a release from Lincoln Financial Media, who has leased the WQXI-AM frequency to 790, senior management of The Zone will remain in place following the acquisition, but Star’s VP/GM Rick Mack will be promoted to Senior VP/GM and will oversee LFM’s stations in Atlanta.
Said LFM President and CEO Don Benson in a release, “the addition of 790 The Zone strengthens our Atlanta operations and (Mack) is the perfect person to lead this new unified effort for us.”
Several members of The Zone’s higher-ups will have a bit of a role shuffle as Saltzman will become VP/GM of WQXI and will report to Mack. Neal Maziar has been named Station Manager, according to the release and Shapiro, a Mayhem in the AM co-host, will serve as Station Brand Manager. Said Saltzman in the release, “we have accomplished a great deal as entrepreneurial broadcasters, and this acquisition allows 790 The Zone to compete at an even higher level. I am please with the development of this strategic partnership.”
Shapiro said he has enjoyed the experience of building The Zone from scratch. “It’s satisfying now to be part of one of the great radio companies in America. Big League and LFM has always made a ton of sense, and I’m thrilled to see it come to fruition.”
No timeline has been announced on any potential changes either behind the scenes or personnel-wise.
After 36 years of roaming the sidelines on University of Georgia games, Loren Smith is being replaced by Chuck Dowdle on the Georgia Bulldogs radio network. Smith will still participate in the pregame show while Dowdle’s role will expand from just working the postgame show. Dowdle retired from WSB-TV last December and has been a part of 680 The Fan’s coverage of the Atlanta Braves and has appeared on 680 The Fan programming as well.
Football rules the city of Atlanta for 51 weeks a year and we are certainly now in a bit of a football frenzy with the start of the college pigskin season. I tuned to 680 The Fan last Monday and immediately a smile came to my face when I heard Jim Donnan on the Rude Awakening. The former Georgia head coach really seems to have found his caller as a football commentator, and I really enjoy his folksy manner when talking about football opposed to defending his play-calling as Georgia’s head coach. Much like Lou Holtz, Coach Donnan has grown on me after stepping away from the sidelines and I have become a reborn fan of Donnan. I must admit that when he was let go as head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, I spit good riddance at him, but now, I welcome his voice on 680 whenever I hear it.
High school football was certainly the rage last week on TELEVISION and it should be again this week on the local level. Last Saturday, CSS’s Matt Stewart and Chuck Oliver brought both games of the Progressive Football Challenge from North Gwinnett High School and I thought the coverage was decent. Oliver did a great job offering color, but I didn’t think the sideline reporter brought anything to the broadcast, and Stewart rushed a few calls that a little patience would have been better for the moment and he could have confirmed the ruling and the player. But I will look forward to DVRing those games to watch after getting home from providing color commentary for the Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Friday Night game of the week. (This week should be an emotional evening as McEachern will retire the No.5 of former running back Rajaan Bennett, who was scheduled to go to Vanderbilt before becoming the victim in a murder/suicide. The Indians will then face No.2 Lowndes. The best pregame show in the state begins at 7 p.m. with the game getting under way just after 7:30. For more details, visit gpb.org/sports.)
ESPNU had a pair of high school games on the air and will be at it again this week as Class AAAAA No.1 Camden County, the two-time defending state champion, host USA Today No.2 Miami-Central. The coverage begins at 8 p.m. this Friday.
As far as last week’s GPB game of the week, Collins Hill hosted a “blackout” for just the second time in school history, and the strategy worked as the Eagles knocked off No.8 Roswell 13-9. Taylor Heinicke, a member of the Score Metro-44 entering the game, earned his way onto the Score 44 with nearly 200 yards of passing, including a 51-yard TD and a one-yard TD sneak. The Score 44 is a fluid list that can change each week if a player does enough to earn his way onto the list. For this week’s list, check out our website at scoreatl.com or you can go to our high school site, gaprepnews.com. The gaprepnews site is done in conjunction with the GHSA and is updated several times a day with the best stories from all around the state. If you missed the Collins Hill/Roswell game, you can also watch the replay on gpb.org/sports or on gaprepnews.com.
An interesting argument was made last week on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday, heard on Sports Radio 790 The Zone, during The Great Debate. The debate was “which will get more coverage this fall: the Braves as they make a playoff run or the Georgia State Panthers’ first football season?” You might think the easy answer is the Braves, but interestingly enough David Rosenberg made some nice arguments for the Panthers, saying that football rules in Atlanta and history can be made each weekend as Georgia State does something new each week, ie, a first touchdown in school history, a first win, a first shutout, etc. Also, should the Braves start to fade down the stretch, people will tune out and instead focus on the new local football team. I don’t necessarily agree with him, but he brought up some interesting points. Baseball is America’s pastime, but football has become America’s passion. If the Braves don’t make a deep run and if Georgia State gets hot early, folks may decide to get in on the ground floor and forget about the Braves.
Finally, the Young Guns on 790 The Zone were announced last week. Four guys will be given a regular spot one night a week to do a show. The Young Guns are on a 90-day probationary period and when the “trial run” is over the future of the Young Guns will be decided. I am looking forward to hearing these guys without being shackled by Steak running point and we can hear if these guys really are the next big thing. They were introduced to Atlanta during a recent edition of Pollack & Bell and one of the young guns promised that, if it were up to him, they’d only talk football. Hopefully they can come with a fresh angle and not something that four other shows per day have already recycled over and over.
Can you believe he said that?
“We’re big believers in sports radio, with the success of our other properties in Denver and Miami. The Zone’s veteran management team and roster of talented employees will give us an even stronger presence in the format.”
Don Benson, LFM President and CEO. The Zone was acquired by the same folks that own Star 94, and let’s just hope that Cindy and Ray don’t get offered a spot with Mike Bell when away doing ESPN. That might make Mike Bell’s head explode.
Said LFM President and CEO Don Benson in a release, “the addition of 790 The Zone strengthens our Atlanta operations and (Mack) is the perfect person to lead this new unified effort for us.”
Several members of The Zone’s higher-ups will have a bit of a role shuffle as Saltzman will become VP/GM of WQXI and will report to Mack. Neal Maziar has been named Station Manager, according to the release and Shapiro, a Mayhem in the AM co-host, will serve as Station Brand Manager. Said Saltzman in the release, “we have accomplished a great deal as entrepreneurial broadcasters, and this acquisition allows 790 The Zone to compete at an even higher level. I am please with the development of this strategic partnership.”
Shapiro said he has enjoyed the experience of building The Zone from scratch. “It’s satisfying now to be part of one of the great radio companies in America. Big League and LFM has always made a ton of sense, and I’m thrilled to see it come to fruition.”
No timeline has been announced on any potential changes either behind the scenes or personnel-wise.
After 36 years of roaming the sidelines on University of Georgia games, Loren Smith is being replaced by Chuck Dowdle on the Georgia Bulldogs radio network. Smith will still participate in the pregame show while Dowdle’s role will expand from just working the postgame show. Dowdle retired from WSB-TV last December and has been a part of 680 The Fan’s coverage of the Atlanta Braves and has appeared on 680 The Fan programming as well.
Football rules the city of Atlanta for 51 weeks a year and we are certainly now in a bit of a football frenzy with the start of the college pigskin season. I tuned to 680 The Fan last Monday and immediately a smile came to my face when I heard Jim Donnan on the Rude Awakening. The former Georgia head coach really seems to have found his caller as a football commentator, and I really enjoy his folksy manner when talking about football opposed to defending his play-calling as Georgia’s head coach. Much like Lou Holtz, Coach Donnan has grown on me after stepping away from the sidelines and I have become a reborn fan of Donnan. I must admit that when he was let go as head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, I spit good riddance at him, but now, I welcome his voice on 680 whenever I hear it.
High school football was certainly the rage last week on TELEVISION and it should be again this week on the local level. Last Saturday, CSS’s Matt Stewart and Chuck Oliver brought both games of the Progressive Football Challenge from North Gwinnett High School and I thought the coverage was decent. Oliver did a great job offering color, but I didn’t think the sideline reporter brought anything to the broadcast, and Stewart rushed a few calls that a little patience would have been better for the moment and he could have confirmed the ruling and the player. But I will look forward to DVRing those games to watch after getting home from providing color commentary for the Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Friday Night game of the week. (This week should be an emotional evening as McEachern will retire the No.5 of former running back Rajaan Bennett, who was scheduled to go to Vanderbilt before becoming the victim in a murder/suicide. The Indians will then face No.2 Lowndes. The best pregame show in the state begins at 7 p.m. with the game getting under way just after 7:30. For more details, visit gpb.org/sports.)
ESPNU had a pair of high school games on the air and will be at it again this week as Class AAAAA No.1 Camden County, the two-time defending state champion, host USA Today No.2 Miami-Central. The coverage begins at 8 p.m. this Friday.
As far as last week’s GPB game of the week, Collins Hill hosted a “blackout” for just the second time in school history, and the strategy worked as the Eagles knocked off No.8 Roswell 13-9. Taylor Heinicke, a member of the Score Metro-44 entering the game, earned his way onto the Score 44 with nearly 200 yards of passing, including a 51-yard TD and a one-yard TD sneak. The Score 44 is a fluid list that can change each week if a player does enough to earn his way onto the list. For this week’s list, check out our website at scoreatl.com or you can go to our high school site, gaprepnews.com. The gaprepnews site is done in conjunction with the GHSA and is updated several times a day with the best stories from all around the state. If you missed the Collins Hill/Roswell game, you can also watch the replay on gpb.org/sports or on gaprepnews.com.
An interesting argument was made last week on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday, heard on Sports Radio 790 The Zone, during The Great Debate. The debate was “which will get more coverage this fall: the Braves as they make a playoff run or the Georgia State Panthers’ first football season?” You might think the easy answer is the Braves, but interestingly enough David Rosenberg made some nice arguments for the Panthers, saying that football rules in Atlanta and history can be made each weekend as Georgia State does something new each week, ie, a first touchdown in school history, a first win, a first shutout, etc. Also, should the Braves start to fade down the stretch, people will tune out and instead focus on the new local football team. I don’t necessarily agree with him, but he brought up some interesting points. Baseball is America’s pastime, but football has become America’s passion. If the Braves don’t make a deep run and if Georgia State gets hot early, folks may decide to get in on the ground floor and forget about the Braves.
Finally, the Young Guns on 790 The Zone were announced last week. Four guys will be given a regular spot one night a week to do a show. The Young Guns are on a 90-day probationary period and when the “trial run” is over the future of the Young Guns will be decided. I am looking forward to hearing these guys without being shackled by Steak running point and we can hear if these guys really are the next big thing. They were introduced to Atlanta during a recent edition of Pollack & Bell and one of the young guns promised that, if it were up to him, they’d only talk football. Hopefully they can come with a fresh angle and not something that four other shows per day have already recycled over and over.
Can you believe he said that?
“We’re big believers in sports radio, with the success of our other properties in Denver and Miami. The Zone’s veteran management team and roster of talented employees will give us an even stronger presence in the format.”
Don Benson, LFM President and CEO. The Zone was acquired by the same folks that own Star 94, and let’s just hope that Cindy and Ray don’t get offered a spot with Mike Bell when away doing ESPN. That might make Mike Bell’s head explode.
Monday, August 30, 2010
North v South Georgia debate rages on
The great debate over North Georgia vs South Georgia high school football could get another exciting chapter added this season as through the first two weeks of the season, two teams in Class AAAAA seem to be rising above the others, just not yet in the rankings. While two-time defending champion Camden should not be counted out, despite returning just three starters, North Gwinnett and Lowndes seem to be on their way to separating from the field.
For the second straight week Lowndes took apart a metro-Atlanta school, this time laying waste to Peeblebrook 47-7. Quarterback Cole Parker threw just six passes in the win, completing five and four of those for touchdowns. The Vikings ran out to a 33-0 halftime lead after going up on South Gwinnett 28-0 through three quarters the week before. What makes the victory even more impressive is that running back Troy Braswell was limited to just 36 yards on nine attempts and both Tyler Hunter and Geraldo Orta were held out to rest injuries. That speaks of the volume of the depth that the Vikings possess this season. The Vikings travel to McEachern this Friday in GPB’s game of the week. Check out the four Score 44 players involved on gpb.org/sports this Friday!
Speaking of depth, North Gwinnett head coach Bob Sphire worries about depth along his offensive line, but he has depth for DAYS in the backfield. At quarterback Scott Hosch and CJ Uzomah can rotate however Sphire wishes them to and at tailback, the Bulldogs can go four deep. Joe Jones at fullback was impressive against Bob Jones (AL) in the Bulldogs 42-20 win. Jones scored once while Donnie Miles notched two scores. Ethan Kilgore also toted the rock in the Thunder-n-Lightning backfield. And freshman Dante Sawyer ran hard, though a 6’3, he might be better suited as an H-Back/TE/receiver.
While Camden certainly has to be dethroned before a new champion can be crowned (and that may be asking a lot after Camden’s 65-14 win over Savannah), the early results certainly flatter the Bulldogs of North Gwinnett and the Vikings of Lowndes. If North Georgia has a shot at recapturing some credibility in the debate, the hopes may be pinned to North Gwinnett.
For more of this debate, log on to gpb.org/sports/xl this Wednesday at 8pm for the Sports Central XL on Georgia Public Broadcasting. We'll have Hal Lamb from Calhoun as well as two sports writers from around the state to debate the topic.
For the second straight week Lowndes took apart a metro-Atlanta school, this time laying waste to Peeblebrook 47-7. Quarterback Cole Parker threw just six passes in the win, completing five and four of those for touchdowns. The Vikings ran out to a 33-0 halftime lead after going up on South Gwinnett 28-0 through three quarters the week before. What makes the victory even more impressive is that running back Troy Braswell was limited to just 36 yards on nine attempts and both Tyler Hunter and Geraldo Orta were held out to rest injuries. That speaks of the volume of the depth that the Vikings possess this season. The Vikings travel to McEachern this Friday in GPB’s game of the week. Check out the four Score 44 players involved on gpb.org/sports this Friday!
Speaking of depth, North Gwinnett head coach Bob Sphire worries about depth along his offensive line, but he has depth for DAYS in the backfield. At quarterback Scott Hosch and CJ Uzomah can rotate however Sphire wishes them to and at tailback, the Bulldogs can go four deep. Joe Jones at fullback was impressive against Bob Jones (AL) in the Bulldogs 42-20 win. Jones scored once while Donnie Miles notched two scores. Ethan Kilgore also toted the rock in the Thunder-n-Lightning backfield. And freshman Dante Sawyer ran hard, though a 6’3, he might be better suited as an H-Back/TE/receiver.
While Camden certainly has to be dethroned before a new champion can be crowned (and that may be asking a lot after Camden’s 65-14 win over Savannah), the early results certainly flatter the Bulldogs of North Gwinnett and the Vikings of Lowndes. If North Georgia has a shot at recapturing some credibility in the debate, the hopes may be pinned to North Gwinnett.
For more of this debate, log on to gpb.org/sports/xl this Wednesday at 8pm for the Sports Central XL on Georgia Public Broadcasting. We'll have Hal Lamb from Calhoun as well as two sports writers from around the state to debate the topic.
A big weekend for Gwinnett sports
The stars of Friday night were out in full force last week as the first full weekend of high school football officially kicked off. Collins Hill was breaking in a new coach in Kevin Reach, who joined Georgia Public Broadcasting's Sports Central XL and he mentioned several times how excited he was just to get out there as a first-time head coach after 23 years of coaching. He noted that leading up to the game, one of the man differences in being a coordinator, as he had been for the last twenty years, and being a head coach is "so many little things." Reach said, "You touch everything in the program. It's a lot of fun, but a lot of hard work."
Reach would have the best player on the field in Score 44 QB Taylor Heinicke as the Eagles hosted the No.8 Hornets of Roswell. Despite being outgained in the first half, Heinicke hit Nick England for a 51-yard touchdown to give Collins Hill a 7-3 halftime lead. Two Roswell field goals would leave the Eagles down, but then Heinicke, the QB that Reach says is "the best he's coached in 23 years," led the Eagles down the field before he himself plunged the ball into the endzone for the 13-9 lead. That score would stand as the Eagles started the season 1-0. Reach gushed about Heinicke, saying "he's well poised, good in the film room and the catalyst for us."
In other Gwinnett high school action, Buford used three Seon Jones touchdowns and Alex Ross threw for an early score in a 40-19 win over Gainesville as the Wolves look to win its fourth-straight state title. GAC also got a victory in its first game of the season, defeating Columbia 42-7. Dacula needed overtime but dispatched Mill Creek 34-31.
Grayson and North Gwinnett both took on powerful schools from Alabama in the Progressive Football challenge. The Rams started the day with Spain Park and Grayson got two quick scores on the board early. Korey Jones first ran for a score from 21 yards out and then on the next drive, took a pass from Nick Schuessler for a 23-yard score. The Rams would go on to win 20-9.
In the nightcap North Gwinnett took on Bob Jones and it marked the third straight exciting week for the Bulldogs after a televised scrimmage against Grayson and a date against Lassiter in the Corky Kell Classic. The Bulldogs, No.3 in the state entering the game, certainly proved up to the hype, rolling to a 42-20 win. For the second straight week, the ground game got it done for North Gwinnett. Donnie Miles had two rushing scores and Joe Jones scampered in for a score as well in the rout that was over at halftime.
Football was not the only sport making some serious news in Gwinnett. Out on the softball diamond, Providence Christian's Kylie Kleinschmidt made some history by striking out her 1000th batter in a recent loss to Buford High School. The event came as the Stars competed in the Wolves Invitational, and the loss dropped Kleinschmidt to 4-2-1 on the season, after Providence tied Union County 0-0 earlier in the invitational. Providence Christian's coach Scotty Strong was proud of his star pitcher's performance. "Kylie is a very dedicated and hard working player. She has been looking forward to her senior year for many reasons." Strong continued, "One being the opportunity to lead these girls towards a great season and getting back to Columbus, GA for the Elite 8. The other reason being that she has a heart to mentor the younger girls and have some solid team unity." Strong credited God for giving Kleinschmidt, "tremendous talent and a sweet heart." Strong says that Kleinschmidt is more than just a tremendous player though and he is proud of her as a young woman. "She has been around the game of fast pitch softball for many years and she is leaving a legacy here at our school and in our community."
Reach would have the best player on the field in Score 44 QB Taylor Heinicke as the Eagles hosted the No.8 Hornets of Roswell. Despite being outgained in the first half, Heinicke hit Nick England for a 51-yard touchdown to give Collins Hill a 7-3 halftime lead. Two Roswell field goals would leave the Eagles down, but then Heinicke, the QB that Reach says is "the best he's coached in 23 years," led the Eagles down the field before he himself plunged the ball into the endzone for the 13-9 lead. That score would stand as the Eagles started the season 1-0. Reach gushed about Heinicke, saying "he's well poised, good in the film room and the catalyst for us."
In other Gwinnett high school action, Buford used three Seon Jones touchdowns and Alex Ross threw for an early score in a 40-19 win over Gainesville as the Wolves look to win its fourth-straight state title. GAC also got a victory in its first game of the season, defeating Columbia 42-7. Dacula needed overtime but dispatched Mill Creek 34-31.
Grayson and North Gwinnett both took on powerful schools from Alabama in the Progressive Football challenge. The Rams started the day with Spain Park and Grayson got two quick scores on the board early. Korey Jones first ran for a score from 21 yards out and then on the next drive, took a pass from Nick Schuessler for a 23-yard score. The Rams would go on to win 20-9.
In the nightcap North Gwinnett took on Bob Jones and it marked the third straight exciting week for the Bulldogs after a televised scrimmage against Grayson and a date against Lassiter in the Corky Kell Classic. The Bulldogs, No.3 in the state entering the game, certainly proved up to the hype, rolling to a 42-20 win. For the second straight week, the ground game got it done for North Gwinnett. Donnie Miles had two rushing scores and Joe Jones scampered in for a score as well in the rout that was over at halftime.
Football was not the only sport making some serious news in Gwinnett. Out on the softball diamond, Providence Christian's Kylie Kleinschmidt made some history by striking out her 1000th batter in a recent loss to Buford High School. The event came as the Stars competed in the Wolves Invitational, and the loss dropped Kleinschmidt to 4-2-1 on the season, after Providence tied Union County 0-0 earlier in the invitational. Providence Christian's coach Scotty Strong was proud of his star pitcher's performance. "Kylie is a very dedicated and hard working player. She has been looking forward to her senior year for many reasons." Strong continued, "One being the opportunity to lead these girls towards a great season and getting back to Columbus, GA for the Elite 8. The other reason being that she has a heart to mentor the younger girls and have some solid team unity." Strong credited God for giving Kleinschmidt, "tremendous talent and a sweet heart." Strong says that Kleinschmidt is more than just a tremendous player though and he is proud of her as a young woman. "She has been around the game of fast pitch softball for many years and she is leaving a legacy here at our school and in our community."
Sunday, August 29, 2010
2007 National Signing Day...the ones that got away
February 2007. Looking back at National signing day at the time, Georgia pulled in the No.13 overall class according to ESPN.com, but as we are NOW in 2010 when all of these guys are prepping for a senior (or redshirt junior) season or ALREADY in the NFL, I think "What about those two that got away from us!"
For the 2011 signing class Mark Richt is making it a point to CLOSE OFF THE STATE and compile a DREAM TEAM comprised of in-state talent that can lead Georgia to a national title. And the thing is, he's been pretty successful thus far in securing in-state talent. I just wish that he had done this for the 2007 class. On National Signing Day, Georgia watched as Antwane Greenlee signed with FSU, but that is OK because Chris Little left FSU for us that day. (WHATEVER. No real win or loss there). The Dawgs managed to get some offensive line help in Trinton Sturdivant, Justin Anderson and Clint Boling, but the real disappointment is NOT getting excited that Israel Troupe said yes after Eric Berry said no (also sad, but honestly after the disappointing 2006 season and with Berry's connection to Tennessee, it was a long-shot at BEST), but losing Cameron Heyward of Peachtree Ridge to Ohio State and Allen Bailey of McIntosh County Institute to Miami.
Yep, those two guys that will be in the NFL next season, likely after both going in the first round (first half of the first round, too!) and we were happy with Justin Houston (who I am a FAN of) and Charles White (a linebacker that...is he still on the team?). I love JHou, but can you imagine a 3-4 with Heyward at one DE spot with Allen Bailey and Justin Houston at the two OLB spots? WOW. You could probably even put Bailey at DE in the 3-4 and not feel bad about it too. WOW. Imagine that defense this season.
If you had Heyward and Bailey on that 2008 team that was crushed by Bama in the blackout game....different story. Those two wouldn't have let Tech come back from that halftime deficit in 08.
Those two would have gotten some pressure last season on the Okie State boys...and LSU...and Tennessee...and KENTUCKY for pete's sake.
CMR must sit back and wonder, "WOW, how did I let those two get away." Though, remember, if he had gotten those two, Willie Martinez would likely still be in Athens, because those two, with JHou still at DE would be enough to provide pressure from the front four. I always thought CWM's system was fine, he just needed players to play in it...which he didn't have the last two seasons. Oh well. Grantham is here now and hopefully Georgia can adjust to the 3-4 and quickly to have a great season.
I just wish this season included Heyward (PS, Drew Butler the starting punter's high school teammate. Come on Drew, I know you won Punter of the Year, but you couldn't help recruit your boy?) and Bailey because then Georgia would really be a force on defense. No.23? No way. More like No.3. Eat it Boise State.
For the 2011 signing class Mark Richt is making it a point to CLOSE OFF THE STATE and compile a DREAM TEAM comprised of in-state talent that can lead Georgia to a national title. And the thing is, he's been pretty successful thus far in securing in-state talent. I just wish that he had done this for the 2007 class. On National Signing Day, Georgia watched as Antwane Greenlee signed with FSU, but that is OK because Chris Little left FSU for us that day. (WHATEVER. No real win or loss there). The Dawgs managed to get some offensive line help in Trinton Sturdivant, Justin Anderson and Clint Boling, but the real disappointment is NOT getting excited that Israel Troupe said yes after Eric Berry said no (also sad, but honestly after the disappointing 2006 season and with Berry's connection to Tennessee, it was a long-shot at BEST), but losing Cameron Heyward of Peachtree Ridge to Ohio State and Allen Bailey of McIntosh County Institute to Miami.
Yep, those two guys that will be in the NFL next season, likely after both going in the first round (first half of the first round, too!) and we were happy with Justin Houston (who I am a FAN of) and Charles White (a linebacker that...is he still on the team?). I love JHou, but can you imagine a 3-4 with Heyward at one DE spot with Allen Bailey and Justin Houston at the two OLB spots? WOW. You could probably even put Bailey at DE in the 3-4 and not feel bad about it too. WOW. Imagine that defense this season.
If you had Heyward and Bailey on that 2008 team that was crushed by Bama in the blackout game....different story. Those two wouldn't have let Tech come back from that halftime deficit in 08.
Those two would have gotten some pressure last season on the Okie State boys...and LSU...and Tennessee...and KENTUCKY for pete's sake.
CMR must sit back and wonder, "WOW, how did I let those two get away." Though, remember, if he had gotten those two, Willie Martinez would likely still be in Athens, because those two, with JHou still at DE would be enough to provide pressure from the front four. I always thought CWM's system was fine, he just needed players to play in it...which he didn't have the last two seasons. Oh well. Grantham is here now and hopefully Georgia can adjust to the 3-4 and quickly to have a great season.
I just wish this season included Heyward (PS, Drew Butler the starting punter's high school teammate. Come on Drew, I know you won Punter of the Year, but you couldn't help recruit your boy?) and Bailey because then Georgia would really be a force on defense. No.23? No way. More like No.3. Eat it Boise State.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Collins Hill soars to season-opening win
For most of the first half the No.8 Roswell Hornets dominated its season-opening game at Collins Hill over the unranked Eagles. The Hornets, who knocked out Collins Hill 30-27 in double overtime in last year’s playoffs, lived in Eagles territory for most of the first half, yet only had a short field goal to show for three trips inside the Collins Hill 20-yard line. A Hornets fumble on the one and a missed field goal kept Collins Hill in the game early and Score 44 member Taylor Heinicke took advantage. The Collins Hill QB hit Nick England on a 51-yard touchdown to give the Eagles a 7-3 halftime lead. In the second half, Roswell once again dominated the ball early, even taking a 9-7 lead with two more Ty Long field goals (41 yards, 35 yards) before Heinicke was at it again.
After a miraculous catch gave the Eagles first-and-goal at the two, it took three QB sneaks before Heinicke broke the plane for the go-ahead score. The two-point conversion was no good, but Collins Hill suddenly had a 13-9 lead with less than five minutes to play.
Roswell started its final drive on its own 25 but could only reach the Collins Hill 39 before a fourth and four pass was dropped by a Hornets receiver. A three-and-out left Roswell with one play and 12 seconds to heave a Hail Mary 62 yards, but Hornets QB JP Douglas could not even get a pass off as Travis Parker sacked Roswell out to ice the game.
In all honesty Roswell dominated the game without a superstar like Collins Hill can boast in Heinicke. The sum of the Hornets is far greater than the parts and you can really see that the TEAM that came in ranked No.8 deserved to be there. In not for silly, season-opening penalties and costly turnovers, the Hornets would have walked away with a big road victory. The Hornets racked up 276 yards to Collins Hill’s 231 and the ground attack of Roswell is certainly one that could keep them playing late in November. Martez Sumler had 61 yards on fifteen first-half carries, but it was his costly fumble on the one that kept the Hornets to only three points early. In the second half, Andrew Kawteng took over and finished with 16 rushes for 92 yards. He was a man possessed at times, but he couldn’t get some clutch yards late, costing his team.
On the other side, Heinicke did enough to warrant his coach calling him the best he’s had in his 23 years. Kevin Reach won his first game as a head coach and he can thank his QB’s moxie and his poise. Heinicke was a perfect 7-7 in the first half and finished with 168 yards and two total TDs. Heinicke is 6’1 and can really throw the ball. A scholarship offer should be coming soon. In the meantime he’ll have to settle for inclusion in the Score 44, an honor that is well deserved after tonight.
After a miraculous catch gave the Eagles first-and-goal at the two, it took three QB sneaks before Heinicke broke the plane for the go-ahead score. The two-point conversion was no good, but Collins Hill suddenly had a 13-9 lead with less than five minutes to play.
Roswell started its final drive on its own 25 but could only reach the Collins Hill 39 before a fourth and four pass was dropped by a Hornets receiver. A three-and-out left Roswell with one play and 12 seconds to heave a Hail Mary 62 yards, but Hornets QB JP Douglas could not even get a pass off as Travis Parker sacked Roswell out to ice the game.
In all honesty Roswell dominated the game without a superstar like Collins Hill can boast in Heinicke. The sum of the Hornets is far greater than the parts and you can really see that the TEAM that came in ranked No.8 deserved to be there. In not for silly, season-opening penalties and costly turnovers, the Hornets would have walked away with a big road victory. The Hornets racked up 276 yards to Collins Hill’s 231 and the ground attack of Roswell is certainly one that could keep them playing late in November. Martez Sumler had 61 yards on fifteen first-half carries, but it was his costly fumble on the one that kept the Hornets to only three points early. In the second half, Andrew Kawteng took over and finished with 16 rushes for 92 yards. He was a man possessed at times, but he couldn’t get some clutch yards late, costing his team.
On the other side, Heinicke did enough to warrant his coach calling him the best he’s had in his 23 years. Kevin Reach won his first game as a head coach and he can thank his QB’s moxie and his poise. Heinicke was a perfect 7-7 in the first half and finished with 168 yards and two total TDs. Heinicke is 6’1 and can really throw the ball. A scholarship offer should be coming soon. In the meantime he’ll have to settle for inclusion in the Score 44, an honor that is well deserved after tonight.
This week's TheFletch
Enjoy this week's edition of TheFletch! and log on tonight to http://gpb.org/sports for the Collins Hill/Roswell game
High school football started with a bang last week as the Corky Kell Classic ushered in the 2010 season. Sports Radio 790 The Zone was at the Georgia Dome all day long, providing play-by-play for all four games pitting Gwinnett County schools against Cobb County schools. The two crews were fun to listen to, but the regular Friday night crew of Trey McDaniel and John Michaels was outstanding. McDaniel is a true pro at calling the games, setting the scene with a rich voice that does not allow for any campiness that some radio play-by-play men can sometimes slip into without realizing it. Perfectly contrasting McDaniel is Michaels who, despite being a Miami Hurricanes fan, really knows the game. You can tell Michaels has talked about football for years and loves performing. Michaels always seems to have a good time when paired with McDaniel, sometimes rendering McDaniel speechless with a wrestling reference, but only for a second as McDaniel immediately clicks back to calling the game. The entire day was great fun. The 790 guys really did a good job and folks riding around Friday nights should tune in to 790 to catch McDaniel and Michaels calling football.
In case you missed the Corky Kell Classic, you can still go back and watch them, with 790’s crew piped in over the video on gpb.org/sports or you can find the link on gaprepnews.com. And one final note on the Kell Classic, kudos to Scott Janovitz for working with the 790 crews at halftime and in between games, providing recruiting news and nuggets and also breaking down other sports to keep everyone sane. (Of course, for more Scott Janovitz and his recruiting insight, tune to Sports Radio 790 The Zone for Score Atlanta’s The Official Visit.)
The 2009 high school football season achieved record ratings for Georgia Public Broadcasting and because of the popularity, GPB media has responded by striking up a partnership with Score Atlanta to launch a new division GPB Sports. The new entity will, according to a article on Score Atlanta’s website “change the way Georgians experience high school sports by creating new programs and access across all its platforms.”
Score Atlanta’s president IJ Rosenberg was named director of sports for GPB and will oversee all of GPB’s online sports programming and marketing while also serving as executive producer of GPB’s weekly television sports program GPB Sports Central.
Sports Central kicked off earlier this week and can be seen on GPB-TV every Wednesday night at 7:30 with replays Friday nights at 11 p.m. and Saturday morning at noon, both replays complete with sports scores. The show itself will be complete with breaking news, features and polls from around the state.
Immediately following the show online will be Sports Central XL, a live webcast and video chat. The webshow will feature interviews with coaches, players and other important figures on the high school scene. Guests for the first show included North Gwinnett’s Bob Sphire, Collins Hill coach Kevin Reach and an expert discussing concussions on the high school level. You can catch Sports Central XL on gpb.org/sports.
Finally, GPB once again proudly presents Friday night football on gpb.org/sports. Last week Charles Ward and I brought you Collins Hill and Roswell, live from Collins Hill. This season’s slate looks to be incredible as GPB will once again travel all over the state to bring the best games to the web and into your living room. For the complete schedule, visit gpb.org/sports or scoreatl.com.
Georgia Public Broadcasting isn’t the only place to see certain high school games this season. ESPN2 arranged for the Carver-Columbus/LaGrange game to move a 24 hours to September 17 so that the “World Wide Leader” could broadcast the game. Carver-Columbus has a pair of players in the ESPN Top 150 in Isaiah Crowell and Gabe Wright and LaGrange is a traditional state power that ESPN2 felt the need to get the game shifted to another night in order to broadcast it. Two-time defending Class-AAAAA state champion Camden also is going to be on national television this season, taking on a team from Florida, and in order to be on television, the school required two other schools to move a game to earlier in the season to accommodate a schedule change with Camden. Savannah High School and Groves were forced to play one week early so that Camden could face Savannah on the date that the other two were first scheduled for, just to squeeze in a game against a team from Miami. I have a small problem with this. I realize it is good exposure for a high school recruit to be on national television, but having TWO other schools move a date around so you could open up a spot on your schedule? That just seems selfish to me. If television didn’t want your game, then you don’t get a game in front of the country. Don’t inconvenience two other programs so that YOU can get some big-time exposure. YOU, yourself, need to try and make it work. Don’t make others do your dirty work.
I caught the first hour or so of the “Young Guns” on 790 The Zone last week and I must say that the show was a bit slow. Several different candidates rotated in and out with Steak Shapiro from Mayhem in the AM leading the discussion, but it wasn’t much of a discussion. It was a while before Shapiro let the “young guns” really talk and even then, it was a bit more of a job interview than an actual radio show. Then Shapiro seemed to tire of the concept towards the end and the discussion waned from sports to other non-sports topics, fine for talk radio, but not for SPORTS talk radio. I spoke with one of the young guns candidates, whose name I will not divulge, and he said he didn’t feel he got enough time on the air as much of it was dominated by Shapiro. He said he wished he could have gotten to make a few more points. I’m interested to see how far the station is going to let the young guns go in the future and if they’ll be let off the leash anytime soon.
Can you believe he said that?
“We’re nearing September and we’re anticipating one of those down-to-the-final-weekend chases that emblazoned 1991 and 1993 in our memory, but …It won’t happen.”
That was the AJC’s Mark Bradley taking all of the fun out of the stretch run of the baseball season. Bradley hypothesizes that both the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies will make the postseason, so it really doesn’t matter who wins the division. Except that it does. I’d rather face the second best possible opponent as a division-winner instead of the best possible opponent as the wild card winner. I certainly hope the Braves and the Phillies both make the playoffs and meet up in the NLCS, but don’t say that the rest of the season doesn’t matter. It clearly does.
High school football started with a bang last week as the Corky Kell Classic ushered in the 2010 season. Sports Radio 790 The Zone was at the Georgia Dome all day long, providing play-by-play for all four games pitting Gwinnett County schools against Cobb County schools. The two crews were fun to listen to, but the regular Friday night crew of Trey McDaniel and John Michaels was outstanding. McDaniel is a true pro at calling the games, setting the scene with a rich voice that does not allow for any campiness that some radio play-by-play men can sometimes slip into without realizing it. Perfectly contrasting McDaniel is Michaels who, despite being a Miami Hurricanes fan, really knows the game. You can tell Michaels has talked about football for years and loves performing. Michaels always seems to have a good time when paired with McDaniel, sometimes rendering McDaniel speechless with a wrestling reference, but only for a second as McDaniel immediately clicks back to calling the game. The entire day was great fun. The 790 guys really did a good job and folks riding around Friday nights should tune in to 790 to catch McDaniel and Michaels calling football.
In case you missed the Corky Kell Classic, you can still go back and watch them, with 790’s crew piped in over the video on gpb.org/sports or you can find the link on gaprepnews.com. And one final note on the Kell Classic, kudos to Scott Janovitz for working with the 790 crews at halftime and in between games, providing recruiting news and nuggets and also breaking down other sports to keep everyone sane. (Of course, for more Scott Janovitz and his recruiting insight, tune to Sports Radio 790 The Zone for Score Atlanta’s The Official Visit.)
The 2009 high school football season achieved record ratings for Georgia Public Broadcasting and because of the popularity, GPB media has responded by striking up a partnership with Score Atlanta to launch a new division GPB Sports. The new entity will, according to a article on Score Atlanta’s website “change the way Georgians experience high school sports by creating new programs and access across all its platforms.”
Score Atlanta’s president IJ Rosenberg was named director of sports for GPB and will oversee all of GPB’s online sports programming and marketing while also serving as executive producer of GPB’s weekly television sports program GPB Sports Central.
Sports Central kicked off earlier this week and can be seen on GPB-TV every Wednesday night at 7:30 with replays Friday nights at 11 p.m. and Saturday morning at noon, both replays complete with sports scores. The show itself will be complete with breaking news, features and polls from around the state.
Immediately following the show online will be Sports Central XL, a live webcast and video chat. The webshow will feature interviews with coaches, players and other important figures on the high school scene. Guests for the first show included North Gwinnett’s Bob Sphire, Collins Hill coach Kevin Reach and an expert discussing concussions on the high school level. You can catch Sports Central XL on gpb.org/sports.
Finally, GPB once again proudly presents Friday night football on gpb.org/sports. Last week Charles Ward and I brought you Collins Hill and Roswell, live from Collins Hill. This season’s slate looks to be incredible as GPB will once again travel all over the state to bring the best games to the web and into your living room. For the complete schedule, visit gpb.org/sports or scoreatl.com.
Georgia Public Broadcasting isn’t the only place to see certain high school games this season. ESPN2 arranged for the Carver-Columbus/LaGrange game to move a 24 hours to September 17 so that the “World Wide Leader” could broadcast the game. Carver-Columbus has a pair of players in the ESPN Top 150 in Isaiah Crowell and Gabe Wright and LaGrange is a traditional state power that ESPN2 felt the need to get the game shifted to another night in order to broadcast it. Two-time defending Class-AAAAA state champion Camden also is going to be on national television this season, taking on a team from Florida, and in order to be on television, the school required two other schools to move a game to earlier in the season to accommodate a schedule change with Camden. Savannah High School and Groves were forced to play one week early so that Camden could face Savannah on the date that the other two were first scheduled for, just to squeeze in a game against a team from Miami. I have a small problem with this. I realize it is good exposure for a high school recruit to be on national television, but having TWO other schools move a date around so you could open up a spot on your schedule? That just seems selfish to me. If television didn’t want your game, then you don’t get a game in front of the country. Don’t inconvenience two other programs so that YOU can get some big-time exposure. YOU, yourself, need to try and make it work. Don’t make others do your dirty work.
I caught the first hour or so of the “Young Guns” on 790 The Zone last week and I must say that the show was a bit slow. Several different candidates rotated in and out with Steak Shapiro from Mayhem in the AM leading the discussion, but it wasn’t much of a discussion. It was a while before Shapiro let the “young guns” really talk and even then, it was a bit more of a job interview than an actual radio show. Then Shapiro seemed to tire of the concept towards the end and the discussion waned from sports to other non-sports topics, fine for talk radio, but not for SPORTS talk radio. I spoke with one of the young guns candidates, whose name I will not divulge, and he said he didn’t feel he got enough time on the air as much of it was dominated by Shapiro. He said he wished he could have gotten to make a few more points. I’m interested to see how far the station is going to let the young guns go in the future and if they’ll be let off the leash anytime soon.
Can you believe he said that?
“We’re nearing September and we’re anticipating one of those down-to-the-final-weekend chases that emblazoned 1991 and 1993 in our memory, but …It won’t happen.”
That was the AJC’s Mark Bradley taking all of the fun out of the stretch run of the baseball season. Bradley hypothesizes that both the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies will make the postseason, so it really doesn’t matter who wins the division. Except that it does. I’d rather face the second best possible opponent as a division-winner instead of the best possible opponent as the wild card winner. I certainly hope the Braves and the Phillies both make the playoffs and meet up in the NLCS, but don’t say that the rest of the season doesn’t matter. It clearly does.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Be sure and check out tomorrow night's game on GPB
Tomorrow night, go to
http://www.gpb.org/sports/football/match/2010/08/27/roswell-at-collins-hill
(or just click on the title of this blog entry)
for the first stop on Georgia Public Broadcasting's Football Fridays: Road to the Georgia Dome. Charles Ward (PXP) and I will be at Collins Hill for a rematch of the incredible 30-27 playoff game from last season.
Last night on GPB.org/sports Sports Central XL, we interviewed Kevin Reach of Collins Hill, who is just days away from his first game as a head coach. He sounded excited and doted on several of his players, including QB Taylor Heinicke.
Tomorrow night should be amazing if it can match last season's playoff game. Log on to gpb.org/sports and follow the links/tabs to Football Fridays. (you can even read from my GPB blog while you are there!). The action starts at 7 with the best pregame in the state and stick around after the game for the postgame show with myself and Bob Houghton.
Oh, and if you happen to be listening to 790 The Zone Saturday morning around 10:25, that handsome voice you hear...yep that's me.
http://www.gpb.org/sports/football/match/2010/08/27/roswell-at-collins-hill
(or just click on the title of this blog entry)
for the first stop on Georgia Public Broadcasting's Football Fridays: Road to the Georgia Dome. Charles Ward (PXP) and I will be at Collins Hill for a rematch of the incredible 30-27 playoff game from last season.
Last night on GPB.org/sports Sports Central XL, we interviewed Kevin Reach of Collins Hill, who is just days away from his first game as a head coach. He sounded excited and doted on several of his players, including QB Taylor Heinicke.
Tomorrow night should be amazing if it can match last season's playoff game. Log on to gpb.org/sports and follow the links/tabs to Football Fridays. (you can even read from my GPB blog while you are there!). The action starts at 7 with the best pregame in the state and stick around after the game for the postgame show with myself and Bob Houghton.
Oh, and if you happen to be listening to 790 The Zone Saturday morning around 10:25, that handsome voice you hear...yep that's me.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Some very important NFLers
Note: this will appear in the November issue of Hooters magazine. Enjoy!
Older sportswriters will forever say that baseball is America’s past-time. They are the only ones left saying that these days. The NFL moves the meter these days and because of that, the kings of the gridiron are the kings of the sports galaxy. Whereas Michael Jordan used to rule the sports endorsement parade, now football players drive the bandwagon. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and even Jerry Jones all appear in national commercials but are they the most important people in the league right now? Are there other people that are potentially more influential in today’s NFL?
You have to start with the commissioner aka the self-proclaimed “protector of the Shield” Roger Goodell. This is a man that took over the post and immediately made his presence known by doling out punishment for actions he deemed were not worthy of his standards for the league. Goodell punished the late Chris Henry, Adam “Pac Man” Jones, Tank Johnson, Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Vick among others for incidents that may not have necessarily been brought up in a court of law but were in his court. Goodell isn’t just a punisher though. He has taken the league to new places, including regular season games in London and Canada, a Pro Bowl in Miami and the NFL draft into primetime. Goodell has seen his Super Bowls break television records and has worked out a blockbuster television deal. Pete Rozelle may be the most famous commissioner ever for what he did for the league in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, but if Goodell keeps making the owners and players record amounts of money and the ratings continue to soar, the Goodell might take that mantle away before he steps away from the post.
One of the men that Goodell “works for” Jerry Jones is certainly one of the most important men in the NFL. After he took over the Cowboys, he won three titles in the mid-90s before going on a long and dry playoff drought. Last season, the Cowboys finally won a playoff game, but despite the playoff failures for over a decade, Dallas is still one of the most popular teams in the NFL. Dallas was dubbed “America’s team” after all of its successes and Jones was a big reason for the Cowboys being as popular as they are. Jones brokered deals with major sponsors like Nike and Pepsi while turning Texas Stadium into a mecca for football fans. Then Jer-rah opened up a brand new Cowboys Stadium that cost $1.3 billion dollars that multiple Texas cities were competing to have within their limits, just for the cachet that comes with Jones’ Cowboys. His new playground is the third largest capacity in the league in terms of seating capacity, but if you factor in standing-room “seats,” over 110,000 can watch a game. Jones himself is the biggest star on the biggest team in the league and while some may call him a punchline, he spends money bringing in players and coaches and GMs because he wants to win. And the man is making some serious coin too, as he’ll host the Super Bowl this season.
With all due respect to Jones and Goodell, they aren’t in the trenches, and when you talk about who is important in the NFL, you need to talk about the guys that wear the helmets. This is a quarterback league and the QBs are certainly the stars. Tom Brady of the New England Patriots is the poster-boy for modern QBs because he is handsome, has a supermodel wife and three Super Bowl titles in four Super Bowls. Brady is a star that goes beyond the football field due to his matinee idol looks but the guy is also in the NFL record books after going 18-1 in the 2007 season. Brady took less money in his last contract, which enabled his team to go out and get several other pieces, namely Wes Welker and Randy Moss, and helped the Pats come within a miracle helmet-catch away from a fourth Super Bowl title. Brady will set the bar this year with his new contract and if he were to leave, about 30 teams would line up for his services, despite some recent injury history. This guy is the face of a franchise that the league is proud of.
While Brady has the Super Bowl rings, Peyton Manning has the MVP awards and is clearly one of the most popular players in the history of the NFL. Manning finally won a title a few years back, but it might be his sense of humor that makes Manning so important to the league. The Colts QB is hysterical in various commercials as well as Saturday Night Live and helped the NFL get over the black eye Michael Vick and Pac Man Jones gave the Shield a few years back. Manning’ s personality also showed that players don’t necessarily need to wear uniforms for people to recognize them in commercials. Manning also will help set future QB salaries when he reupps with Indy in the upcoming off-season.
Darrelle Revis might end up being one of the most important figures in NFL history if he doesn’t step on the football field this season. Revis was a holdout through the first few weeks of camp, threatening to hold out for the entire season if the New York Jets don’t meet his asking price during a contract renegotiation. New York and Revis agreed to a deal when Revis was drafted, but the star cornerback has become the best shutdown player in the game today and is seeking to be compensated as such. The Jets however are standing pat. If Revis DOES sit the season out in his prime, therefore killing the J-E-T-S’s Super Bowl chances in the process, it might set a dangerous precedence for other players to do the same thing. Many may go ahead and sit out seasons in the future that maybe never considered doing before because they didn’t want to be the first. Revis could be the Jackie Robinson of holdouts if he sticks to his guns.
Football is in fact America’s new favorite game and the NFL is the creme de la creme of the pigskin. Everyone that is associated with the league is important, but these five rise above the rest when it comes to today’s game. If you don’t believe it, just check out the ratings of a game featuring one or two of these guys and see how it stacks up to the NBA Finals or a MLB playoff game. The NFL dominates and these five have been driving the bus.
Older sportswriters will forever say that baseball is America’s past-time. They are the only ones left saying that these days. The NFL moves the meter these days and because of that, the kings of the gridiron are the kings of the sports galaxy. Whereas Michael Jordan used to rule the sports endorsement parade, now football players drive the bandwagon. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and even Jerry Jones all appear in national commercials but are they the most important people in the league right now? Are there other people that are potentially more influential in today’s NFL?
You have to start with the commissioner aka the self-proclaimed “protector of the Shield” Roger Goodell. This is a man that took over the post and immediately made his presence known by doling out punishment for actions he deemed were not worthy of his standards for the league. Goodell punished the late Chris Henry, Adam “Pac Man” Jones, Tank Johnson, Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Vick among others for incidents that may not have necessarily been brought up in a court of law but were in his court. Goodell isn’t just a punisher though. He has taken the league to new places, including regular season games in London and Canada, a Pro Bowl in Miami and the NFL draft into primetime. Goodell has seen his Super Bowls break television records and has worked out a blockbuster television deal. Pete Rozelle may be the most famous commissioner ever for what he did for the league in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, but if Goodell keeps making the owners and players record amounts of money and the ratings continue to soar, the Goodell might take that mantle away before he steps away from the post.
One of the men that Goodell “works for” Jerry Jones is certainly one of the most important men in the NFL. After he took over the Cowboys, he won three titles in the mid-90s before going on a long and dry playoff drought. Last season, the Cowboys finally won a playoff game, but despite the playoff failures for over a decade, Dallas is still one of the most popular teams in the NFL. Dallas was dubbed “America’s team” after all of its successes and Jones was a big reason for the Cowboys being as popular as they are. Jones brokered deals with major sponsors like Nike and Pepsi while turning Texas Stadium into a mecca for football fans. Then Jer-rah opened up a brand new Cowboys Stadium that cost $1.3 billion dollars that multiple Texas cities were competing to have within their limits, just for the cachet that comes with Jones’ Cowboys. His new playground is the third largest capacity in the league in terms of seating capacity, but if you factor in standing-room “seats,” over 110,000 can watch a game. Jones himself is the biggest star on the biggest team in the league and while some may call him a punchline, he spends money bringing in players and coaches and GMs because he wants to win. And the man is making some serious coin too, as he’ll host the Super Bowl this season.
With all due respect to Jones and Goodell, they aren’t in the trenches, and when you talk about who is important in the NFL, you need to talk about the guys that wear the helmets. This is a quarterback league and the QBs are certainly the stars. Tom Brady of the New England Patriots is the poster-boy for modern QBs because he is handsome, has a supermodel wife and three Super Bowl titles in four Super Bowls. Brady is a star that goes beyond the football field due to his matinee idol looks but the guy is also in the NFL record books after going 18-1 in the 2007 season. Brady took less money in his last contract, which enabled his team to go out and get several other pieces, namely Wes Welker and Randy Moss, and helped the Pats come within a miracle helmet-catch away from a fourth Super Bowl title. Brady will set the bar this year with his new contract and if he were to leave, about 30 teams would line up for his services, despite some recent injury history. This guy is the face of a franchise that the league is proud of.
While Brady has the Super Bowl rings, Peyton Manning has the MVP awards and is clearly one of the most popular players in the history of the NFL. Manning finally won a title a few years back, but it might be his sense of humor that makes Manning so important to the league. The Colts QB is hysterical in various commercials as well as Saturday Night Live and helped the NFL get over the black eye Michael Vick and Pac Man Jones gave the Shield a few years back. Manning’ s personality also showed that players don’t necessarily need to wear uniforms for people to recognize them in commercials. Manning also will help set future QB salaries when he reupps with Indy in the upcoming off-season.
Darrelle Revis might end up being one of the most important figures in NFL history if he doesn’t step on the football field this season. Revis was a holdout through the first few weeks of camp, threatening to hold out for the entire season if the New York Jets don’t meet his asking price during a contract renegotiation. New York and Revis agreed to a deal when Revis was drafted, but the star cornerback has become the best shutdown player in the game today and is seeking to be compensated as such. The Jets however are standing pat. If Revis DOES sit the season out in his prime, therefore killing the J-E-T-S’s Super Bowl chances in the process, it might set a dangerous precedence for other players to do the same thing. Many may go ahead and sit out seasons in the future that maybe never considered doing before because they didn’t want to be the first. Revis could be the Jackie Robinson of holdouts if he sticks to his guns.
Football is in fact America’s new favorite game and the NFL is the creme de la creme of the pigskin. Everyone that is associated with the league is important, but these five rise above the rest when it comes to today’s game. If you don’t believe it, just check out the ratings of a game featuring one or two of these guys and see how it stacks up to the NBA Finals or a MLB playoff game. The NFL dominates and these five have been driving the bus.
Log on to gpb.org/sports/xl tonight
The debut of the Wednesday night Georgia Public Broadcasting's webcast Georgia Sports Central XL is TONIGHT at 8pm on http://gpb.org/sports so go and check it out. You can click on the XL link at the top of the page on gpb.org/sports OR you can just add /xl onto the end of the address. Every Wednesday night I'll be co-hosting with Mark Harmon. You can also participate in the live chat with Alex Ewalt of Score Atlanta fame.
Tonight's guests include North Gwinnett's Bob Sphire and Collins Hill's Kevin Reach.
One hour. Should be fun
And tune in on Friday for Friday Night Football, Road to the Georgia Dome. Charles Ward and I will be on the call as Roswell takes on Collins Hill. Link to the game either on gpb.org/sports on through the ghsa.tv site.
Tonight's guests include North Gwinnett's Bob Sphire and Collins Hill's Kevin Reach.
One hour. Should be fun
And tune in on Friday for Friday Night Football, Road to the Georgia Dome. Charles Ward and I will be on the call as Roswell takes on Collins Hill. Link to the game either on gpb.org/sports on through the ghsa.tv site.
Darrius Caldwell very Enthusiastic to be a Jacket
“Playmaker, hard-worker, loves to play the game of football.” That is how one of the newest members of Georgia Tech’s recruiting class, Mays (GA) defensive end Darrius Caldwell, describes himself. Earlier this week on Score Atlanta's The Official Visit, co-hosts Fletcher Proctor and Scott Janovitz welcomed Caldwell in for a quick chat about his pledge. Yellow Jacket head coach Paul Johnson received the commitment of Caldwell over the weekend following a visit that left Caldwell glowing days after. “I’m very excited right now. I’ve always been a fan of Tech.” Caldwell said multiple times during a recent interview that he was impressed with the enthusiasm found all over campus, starting with the head coach and trickling down to the assistants as well as the players and others associated with the program. “I committed after meeting with Coach Johnson and I saw his enthusiasm. That’s my biggest thing.”
Caldwell wasn’t kidding when he said that enthusiasm was his biggest thing. The Yellow Jackets’ zeal and tradition led him to pledge to Georgia Tech over South Carolina, Virginia, Ole Miss, UCF and West Virginia he admitted. He also warns that those schools would be wasting their time if they believe they can flip him away from Tech. “I have no reason to visit any other school. I’ve given my word and I’m going to recruit for my new school.”
The defensive end says he is working on his speed and strength as he will switch positions at the next level. Caldwell said he spoke with the Tech coaches and he will be an outside linebacker in Al Groh’s 3-4 defense, opposed to the hand-down end he is now in his high school’s 4-3 attack. The position switch doesn’t bother him though as he trusts his future coaches. “I’m going to do what the coaches want,” Caldwell said. “They’ll put me in a position to succeed.” He also said that he’ll heed their advice on what to do his first season on campus. While he said he’d love to have an impact right out of the gate, if he struggles to pick up the new position, he will gladly wait in the wings. “If they want me to redshirt, I’ll do it.”
Overall, Caldwell seems positively thrilled to be one of the newest members of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket recruiting class, which has recently been picking up steam, especially in North Carolina. Looking back Caldwell had zero dislikes about the recruiting process. “The whole thing was a joy for me. Hard work pays off and it was an honor.”
Caldwell does want a state title before he departs for Tech however. The senior said that while he has improved his consistency, the team overall has got a lot better and is going to be a major player this season. “We’ve got the best defense in the state. We’re very disciplined and we’ve got young players ready to step up and make plays.” The Blue and Gold Raiders of Mays face Dunwoody this Saturday to begin the season.
Caldwell wasn’t kidding when he said that enthusiasm was his biggest thing. The Yellow Jackets’ zeal and tradition led him to pledge to Georgia Tech over South Carolina, Virginia, Ole Miss, UCF and West Virginia he admitted. He also warns that those schools would be wasting their time if they believe they can flip him away from Tech. “I have no reason to visit any other school. I’ve given my word and I’m going to recruit for my new school.”
The defensive end says he is working on his speed and strength as he will switch positions at the next level. Caldwell said he spoke with the Tech coaches and he will be an outside linebacker in Al Groh’s 3-4 defense, opposed to the hand-down end he is now in his high school’s 4-3 attack. The position switch doesn’t bother him though as he trusts his future coaches. “I’m going to do what the coaches want,” Caldwell said. “They’ll put me in a position to succeed.” He also said that he’ll heed their advice on what to do his first season on campus. While he said he’d love to have an impact right out of the gate, if he struggles to pick up the new position, he will gladly wait in the wings. “If they want me to redshirt, I’ll do it.”
Overall, Caldwell seems positively thrilled to be one of the newest members of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket recruiting class, which has recently been picking up steam, especially in North Carolina. Looking back Caldwell had zero dislikes about the recruiting process. “The whole thing was a joy for me. Hard work pays off and it was an honor.”
Caldwell does want a state title before he departs for Tech however. The senior said that while he has improved his consistency, the team overall has got a lot better and is going to be a major player this season. “We’ve got the best defense in the state. We’re very disciplined and we’ve got young players ready to step up and make plays.” The Blue and Gold Raiders of Mays face Dunwoody this Saturday to begin the season.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Official Visit recap-top DTs and ranking the positions
Last night on Score Atlanta's The Official Visit, I, "Doc Proc" (as my co-host calls me. ITIOFD, I never attended medical school and did not do well in Botany while at Georgia) and my co-host Scott Janovitz broke down our top five senior DTs in the state of Georgia and also ranked the 8 positions in terms of strength for the 2010 football season (NSD class of 2011).
We also interview Mays DE/OLB Darrius Caldwell. I'll write something for that tomorrow that you can read here or on scoreatl.com or on chuckoliver.net.
Scotty's list
1. Gabe Wright: 6-3, 273 pounds out of Carver-Columbus. Seems to be a Auburn, Bama, Clemson and Georgia. He doesn’t have dominant size, but posses tremendous agility and footwork for a big man, is explosive off the line; looks like angry ballerina out there. Excels at rushing the passer and making plays behind the line of scrimmage.
2. LaMichael Fanning: 6-6, 285-pound transfer to Harris County. Committed to Alabama. Raw, plays both end and tackle, and his massive frame makes him look almost awkward on the high school level, freakish height. Still, he has great athleticism and speed, and plays the game a little out of control, but with great aggression; non-stop motor. Will be fun to see what Saban does with this kid. Really great athlete.
3. Jonathan Battle: 6-1, 280 pounds out of Americus Sumter. Offers from Arkansas and Louisville. Missed most of last season with an ACL, but recorded 99 tackles and four sacks as a sophomore. Teams are waiting to see what he does and if he’s healthy. Explosive off the line, great footwork, and tremendous agility. This kid is an animal in the making. Such quick hands, and explodes off the line with such aggression. Unblockable in 3a ball. Fights off blocks well, but moves so well laterally for a big man.
4. Chris Mayes: 6-5, 295-pounder out of Spalding. Committed to Georgia. Is no Gabe Wright, but moves pretty well for a big man. Does a good job of fighting blocks, disengaging, and making the tackle. Dominant against the run and looks to fit well as a nose guard in Georgia’s new 3-4 scheme.
5. Grady Jarrett: 6-1, 260 pounds out of Rockdale County. Committed to Clemson. Not huge, but plays with great leverage and explosion. Has a very good bull rush. Very quick off the line and a great athlete. Impressive pass rusher. Hard to block because of quickness. Moves across the line well.
His JUST MISSED: Thomas Niles: 6-2, 260 out of Gainesville. Committed to UCF; David Washington: 6-3, 270 pounds out of Lovejoy. Offers from Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Virginia.
My list included Fanning at #1, with Wright at #2 (because I believe Wright is more of a DE in the 3-4 whereas Fanning is a Full-ON DT in any scheme), Mayes at No.3, Grady Jarrett at No.4 and Norcross's Demetrius Alston in at No.5.
Then we ranked the positions for in-state talent this season. For the most part, we agreed, but he had his RBs a bit higher than I did.
His top ten list.....
1. DL: 11 defensive linemen in Georgia’s top 75. Ray Drew (DT), Stephon Tuitt (DE), LaMichael Fanning (DT), Sterling Bailey (DE), Gabe Wright (DT), Xzavier Dickson (DE), Chris Mayes (DT), Chaz Cheeks (DE), Jonathan Battle (DT), Jarquez Samuel (DE, Valdosta), Lorenzo Mauldin (DE, Maynard Jackson), Grady Jarrett (Rockdale County).
2. DB: 20 DB in top 75. Damian Swann (Grady, S), Corey Moore, Avery Walls (Eagle’s Landing Christian), Malcolm Mitchell (Valdosta), Nick Marshall (Wilcox County), Chris Sanders (Tucker), Chris Milton (Charlton County), Kadetrix Marcus (Stephenson), Devin Bowman (Ridgeland), Justin Coleman (Brunswick), Tyler Hunter (Lowndes), Brian Randolph (Kell), Jared Boyd (Stephenson)
3. LB: James Vaughters (Tucker), Shannon Brown (Cook), Terrance Smith (Southwest DeKalb), Amarlo Herrera (North Clayton), A.J. Johnson (Gainesville), Marcquis Roberts (McEachern), Jabari Hunt-Days (Hillgrove), Edward Muldrow (South Gwinnett), Demarcus Sherod (Columbia), Troy Gray (North Cobb), Justin Garrett (Tucker), Jefferson Ahiru (McEachern)
4. RB: Isaiah Crowell (Carver), Quartterrio Morgan (Mt. Zion), Marcus Caffey (Grady), Willie Davis (Stephenson), Akeem Hunt (Newton), Josh Clemson (Whitewater), Eric Scott (Washington-Wilkes), Zay Sharpe (Spalding), D.J. Tyson (Grovetown), Shaw O’Neal, Bradley Kilgore (North Gwinnett).
5. OL: Watts Dantzler (Dalton), Thomas O’Reilly (Pope), Xzavier Ward (Colquitt County), Alan Posey (Clarke Central), Bryan Chamberlain (Monroe), David Andrews (Wesleyan), Tarik Cook (Stephenson), Garrett Clark (North Gwinnett), Kyle Harris (Pepperell)
6. WR: Quan Bray (Callaway), Justin Scott-Wesley (Mitchell County), Chris Conley (North Paulding), Zach Witchett (Washington), Alex Chisum (Sandy Creek), Jeff Greene (Starr’s Mill), Nile Daniel (Griffin), Andre Sims Jr. (Brookwood)
7. TE: Jay Rome (Valdosta), Rory Anderson (McEachern), Alvin Dupree (Wilkinson County), C.J. Uzomah (North Gwinnett)
8. QB: Martay Mattox (Clarke Central), Akil Dan-Fodio (Redan), Ronnie Bell (Sandy Creek), Austin Brown (Flowery Branch), Carson Barnett (Landmark Christian), Kent Rollins (South Gwinnett).
My List (no need to put the players BACK in there)
1) DL
2) DB
3)LB
4)OL
5) WR
6)RB
7) QB
8) TE
We also interview Mays DE/OLB Darrius Caldwell. I'll write something for that tomorrow that you can read here or on scoreatl.com or on chuckoliver.net.
Scotty's list
1. Gabe Wright: 6-3, 273 pounds out of Carver-Columbus. Seems to be a Auburn, Bama, Clemson and Georgia. He doesn’t have dominant size, but posses tremendous agility and footwork for a big man, is explosive off the line; looks like angry ballerina out there. Excels at rushing the passer and making plays behind the line of scrimmage.
2. LaMichael Fanning: 6-6, 285-pound transfer to Harris County. Committed to Alabama. Raw, plays both end and tackle, and his massive frame makes him look almost awkward on the high school level, freakish height. Still, he has great athleticism and speed, and plays the game a little out of control, but with great aggression; non-stop motor. Will be fun to see what Saban does with this kid. Really great athlete.
3. Jonathan Battle: 6-1, 280 pounds out of Americus Sumter. Offers from Arkansas and Louisville. Missed most of last season with an ACL, but recorded 99 tackles and four sacks as a sophomore. Teams are waiting to see what he does and if he’s healthy. Explosive off the line, great footwork, and tremendous agility. This kid is an animal in the making. Such quick hands, and explodes off the line with such aggression. Unblockable in 3a ball. Fights off blocks well, but moves so well laterally for a big man.
4. Chris Mayes: 6-5, 295-pounder out of Spalding. Committed to Georgia. Is no Gabe Wright, but moves pretty well for a big man. Does a good job of fighting blocks, disengaging, and making the tackle. Dominant against the run and looks to fit well as a nose guard in Georgia’s new 3-4 scheme.
5. Grady Jarrett: 6-1, 260 pounds out of Rockdale County. Committed to Clemson. Not huge, but plays with great leverage and explosion. Has a very good bull rush. Very quick off the line and a great athlete. Impressive pass rusher. Hard to block because of quickness. Moves across the line well.
His JUST MISSED: Thomas Niles: 6-2, 260 out of Gainesville. Committed to UCF; David Washington: 6-3, 270 pounds out of Lovejoy. Offers from Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Virginia.
My list included Fanning at #1, with Wright at #2 (because I believe Wright is more of a DE in the 3-4 whereas Fanning is a Full-ON DT in any scheme), Mayes at No.3, Grady Jarrett at No.4 and Norcross's Demetrius Alston in at No.5.
Then we ranked the positions for in-state talent this season. For the most part, we agreed, but he had his RBs a bit higher than I did.
His top ten list.....
1. DL: 11 defensive linemen in Georgia’s top 75. Ray Drew (DT), Stephon Tuitt (DE), LaMichael Fanning (DT), Sterling Bailey (DE), Gabe Wright (DT), Xzavier Dickson (DE), Chris Mayes (DT), Chaz Cheeks (DE), Jonathan Battle (DT), Jarquez Samuel (DE, Valdosta), Lorenzo Mauldin (DE, Maynard Jackson), Grady Jarrett (Rockdale County).
2. DB: 20 DB in top 75. Damian Swann (Grady, S), Corey Moore, Avery Walls (Eagle’s Landing Christian), Malcolm Mitchell (Valdosta), Nick Marshall (Wilcox County), Chris Sanders (Tucker), Chris Milton (Charlton County), Kadetrix Marcus (Stephenson), Devin Bowman (Ridgeland), Justin Coleman (Brunswick), Tyler Hunter (Lowndes), Brian Randolph (Kell), Jared Boyd (Stephenson)
3. LB: James Vaughters (Tucker), Shannon Brown (Cook), Terrance Smith (Southwest DeKalb), Amarlo Herrera (North Clayton), A.J. Johnson (Gainesville), Marcquis Roberts (McEachern), Jabari Hunt-Days (Hillgrove), Edward Muldrow (South Gwinnett), Demarcus Sherod (Columbia), Troy Gray (North Cobb), Justin Garrett (Tucker), Jefferson Ahiru (McEachern)
4. RB: Isaiah Crowell (Carver), Quartterrio Morgan (Mt. Zion), Marcus Caffey (Grady), Willie Davis (Stephenson), Akeem Hunt (Newton), Josh Clemson (Whitewater), Eric Scott (Washington-Wilkes), Zay Sharpe (Spalding), D.J. Tyson (Grovetown), Shaw O’Neal, Bradley Kilgore (North Gwinnett).
5. OL: Watts Dantzler (Dalton), Thomas O’Reilly (Pope), Xzavier Ward (Colquitt County), Alan Posey (Clarke Central), Bryan Chamberlain (Monroe), David Andrews (Wesleyan), Tarik Cook (Stephenson), Garrett Clark (North Gwinnett), Kyle Harris (Pepperell)
6. WR: Quan Bray (Callaway), Justin Scott-Wesley (Mitchell County), Chris Conley (North Paulding), Zach Witchett (Washington), Alex Chisum (Sandy Creek), Jeff Greene (Starr’s Mill), Nile Daniel (Griffin), Andre Sims Jr. (Brookwood)
7. TE: Jay Rome (Valdosta), Rory Anderson (McEachern), Alvin Dupree (Wilkinson County), C.J. Uzomah (North Gwinnett)
8. QB: Martay Mattox (Clarke Central), Akil Dan-Fodio (Redan), Ronnie Bell (Sandy Creek), Austin Brown (Flowery Branch), Carson Barnett (Landmark Christian), Kent Rollins (South Gwinnett).
My List (no need to put the players BACK in there)
1) DL
2) DB
3)LB
4)OL
5) WR
6)RB
7) QB
8) TE
Monday, August 23, 2010
First weekly High School Blog o' the season
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, it is that time of year when the high school kids are about to gear up for the football season (well, some of them did last weekend, but this is the kickoff for GPB's programming, so there!). Be sure and check out gpb.org/sports for a weekly football blog that I'll be contributing to and watch my webcast Wednesday night on gpb.org/sports (with replays on GPTV on Friday night and Saturday mornings) and of COURSE the games on Friday nights, beginning at 7pm. This week, Roswell @ Collins Hill. Good stuff.
With no further ado.....
The first weekend of high school football in Georgia proved one thing above all others in my mind: Gwinnett really is great. Several Gwinnett programs made big statements on the season’s opening weekend and threw down the gauntlet to every other county in the state that it may be impossible to top as far as county-wide success this season.
Four Gwinnett County teams took part in the Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia Dome, with three walking away victorious. Peachtree Ridge sweated out a last minute field goal miss but the Lions did look impressive on defense, knocking out McEachern 24-21 to go 1-0 on the year. The defense took an interception back to the house and you may want to get used to seeing the defense make big play after big play, as that is simply what the Lions from Suwanee, GA do.
Brookwood displayed a potentially-lethal ground game featuring two 100-yard rushers en route to a win over Walton. Nick Thompkins churned up the yardage in the first half while Jamaal Cole ate up the real estate in the second half of a 27-10 Bronco victory. Factor in quarterback Ben McLane this season and the Broncos could make some serious waves come playoff time.
North Gwinnett made perhaps the biggest showing though of the opening weekend. The Bulldogs dominated after an early Lassiter TD, as CJ Uzomah accounted for over 150 yards of total offense and a pair of tailbacks stole the show. Ethan Kilgore and Donnie Miles both tallied a pair of TDs as well as each rushing for over 100 yards. North Gwinnett will next face off against Bob Jones (AL) at home in a Gwinnett showcase.
Even in defeat, Gwinnett County put on a good showing as Grayson neutralized Kell’s Brian Randolph for most of the game in a 13-10 loss. And South Gwinnett traveled south to Valdosta to face nationally-ranked Lowndes, only to fall 34-26. The Comets trailed at halftime thanks mainly to missed opportunities but began a ferocious rally in the fourth quarter. Down 28-0, the Comets got the lead deficit down to just eight before another costly turnover in Vikings’ territory dashed hopes of a comeback. Troy Braswell took a handoff 69 yards and to the house to push Lowndes’ lead up to 34-20. A late Comet touchdown would be window dressing, but not too many teams can say they’ve put 26 points up on Lowndes in one quarter on the road.
With the sheer number of teams, Gwinnett County of course is going to be special, but this season it seems the number of quality players in the county is larger than normal. It will be fun for Gwinnettians to boast about the quality of their county all season long and very few counties will be able to come back with any sort of rebuttal. Success surely lives in Gwinnett County and this year is no exception.
I will say that I am a bit surprised with Colquitt County's loss to Cook to open up the season. WOW. Rush Propst's run at a Georgia state title gets an early bump. Not saying they can't still win it all, but wow. The offense didn't sound impressive from the text of the live blog I read while the game was going on AND from reading the recaps.
Hey, good to see Norcross getting off to a victorious start. The Blue Devils have underachieved the last few seasons (sorry, but true) and maybe this year, they'll scrap their way to a run in the playoffs.
I am pretty pumped about seeing Collins Hill this Friday (on the gpb.org webcast!) Taylor Heinicke was on The Ride and at 6'1, he can wing it. It should be fun watching him as the center of the offense and not CPerkins. Throw it young man!
And for all of my Duluth Wildcats readers out there.....some remarks from your new head coach Corey Jarvis. Jarvis is the new head football coach at Duluth and the successful coach is trying to make his mark on the success-starved Wildcats. So far, says Jarvis, it has been a great experience. “I have been received well by the administration, the students, the community and the parents. The team is truly becoming a team.”
Jarvis came to Duluth after a run with ML King and that has helped with his new charges. “since a lot of the kids know the successes we had over at King and at my other schools, they have truly bought into the things that we do and have motivated themselves as well as others to be a better ball club.”
Duluth’s history has certainly motivated Jarvis and the team through summer workouts. “I believe if we mature in certain areas on defense and up-front on the offensive line the sky's the limit for this team and this program.” Duluth opens the season against Archer this Friday.
With no further ado.....
The first weekend of high school football in Georgia proved one thing above all others in my mind: Gwinnett really is great. Several Gwinnett programs made big statements on the season’s opening weekend and threw down the gauntlet to every other county in the state that it may be impossible to top as far as county-wide success this season.
Four Gwinnett County teams took part in the Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia Dome, with three walking away victorious. Peachtree Ridge sweated out a last minute field goal miss but the Lions did look impressive on defense, knocking out McEachern 24-21 to go 1-0 on the year. The defense took an interception back to the house and you may want to get used to seeing the defense make big play after big play, as that is simply what the Lions from Suwanee, GA do.
Brookwood displayed a potentially-lethal ground game featuring two 100-yard rushers en route to a win over Walton. Nick Thompkins churned up the yardage in the first half while Jamaal Cole ate up the real estate in the second half of a 27-10 Bronco victory. Factor in quarterback Ben McLane this season and the Broncos could make some serious waves come playoff time.
North Gwinnett made perhaps the biggest showing though of the opening weekend. The Bulldogs dominated after an early Lassiter TD, as CJ Uzomah accounted for over 150 yards of total offense and a pair of tailbacks stole the show. Ethan Kilgore and Donnie Miles both tallied a pair of TDs as well as each rushing for over 100 yards. North Gwinnett will next face off against Bob Jones (AL) at home in a Gwinnett showcase.
Even in defeat, Gwinnett County put on a good showing as Grayson neutralized Kell’s Brian Randolph for most of the game in a 13-10 loss. And South Gwinnett traveled south to Valdosta to face nationally-ranked Lowndes, only to fall 34-26. The Comets trailed at halftime thanks mainly to missed opportunities but began a ferocious rally in the fourth quarter. Down 28-0, the Comets got the lead deficit down to just eight before another costly turnover in Vikings’ territory dashed hopes of a comeback. Troy Braswell took a handoff 69 yards and to the house to push Lowndes’ lead up to 34-20. A late Comet touchdown would be window dressing, but not too many teams can say they’ve put 26 points up on Lowndes in one quarter on the road.
With the sheer number of teams, Gwinnett County of course is going to be special, but this season it seems the number of quality players in the county is larger than normal. It will be fun for Gwinnettians to boast about the quality of their county all season long and very few counties will be able to come back with any sort of rebuttal. Success surely lives in Gwinnett County and this year is no exception.
I will say that I am a bit surprised with Colquitt County's loss to Cook to open up the season. WOW. Rush Propst's run at a Georgia state title gets an early bump. Not saying they can't still win it all, but wow. The offense didn't sound impressive from the text of the live blog I read while the game was going on AND from reading the recaps.
Hey, good to see Norcross getting off to a victorious start. The Blue Devils have underachieved the last few seasons (sorry, but true) and maybe this year, they'll scrap their way to a run in the playoffs.
I am pretty pumped about seeing Collins Hill this Friday (on the gpb.org webcast!) Taylor Heinicke was on The Ride and at 6'1, he can wing it. It should be fun watching him as the center of the offense and not CPerkins. Throw it young man!
And for all of my Duluth Wildcats readers out there.....some remarks from your new head coach Corey Jarvis. Jarvis is the new head football coach at Duluth and the successful coach is trying to make his mark on the success-starved Wildcats. So far, says Jarvis, it has been a great experience. “I have been received well by the administration, the students, the community and the parents. The team is truly becoming a team.”
Jarvis came to Duluth after a run with ML King and that has helped with his new charges. “since a lot of the kids know the successes we had over at King and at my other schools, they have truly bought into the things that we do and have motivated themselves as well as others to be a better ball club.”
Duluth’s history has certainly motivated Jarvis and the team through summer workouts. “I believe if we mature in certain areas on defense and up-front on the offensive line the sky's the limit for this team and this program.” Duluth opens the season against Archer this Friday.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Breaking down the Heisman race for 2010
We here at SBF have enjoyed looking ahead to the upcoming football season. Of course we'll be doing picks starting in two weeks. Next week we'll be getting ready for the high school season to start (well it starts today, but GPB's games start next week).
For now though, we'll break down the Heisman race.
Clearly the winner will be Aaron Murray or Washaun Ealey of Georgia, but just in case it isn't, we'll take a look at the rest of the nation.
Terrelle Pryor of the Ohio State University. For whatever reason, people are already handing him the award. I guess because the class this season isn't strong heading into the season? He might win the Troy Smith "No one else was old enough" award, perhaps. He was finally unleashed in the Rose Bowl, but this guy doesn't move my meter. If Braxton Miller ends up going to duh Ohio State next season, I would say in a FAIR world, he actually might get a look. Seriously. That is how unimpressed with Pryor I am. Pryor? whatever. he should have gone to Michigan to play for RichRod.
Ryan Mallett of Arkie. He has the cannon arm, but I KNOW his chances will drop starting around 9/18 at 12:30 when he throws his first pick to Brandon Boykin. Georgia has a habit of ending Heisman campaigns between the hedges. See Zabranksy, Jared: circa 2005. Once Arkansas loses 4 games, his name will officially be a ghost in the Heisman race
Jake Locker, U-Dub. I feel like I am writing about Mallett again. Once Washington loses 4 games, his name will be stricken from the record. Maybe he goes No.1 overall in the draft, but not to NYC for the Heisman presentation
Matt Barkley of USC. The best QB in the country. Too bad he is only a sophomore.
Noel Devine of West Va. He'll have the numbers if he can stay healthy. West Va should have the record if the QB doesn't trip over himself getting the ball to Devine. But people will look at the competition.
Christian Ponder of FSU. He has the arm and can move better than Mallett. If FSU reels off a few nice early wins, his name shoots up the list. If they win the ACC Atlantic, he is going to NYC. If he wins the ACC, he wins the award.
Jacory Harris of Miami. He'll get a lot of hype, but seriously? Do we REALLY think this guy is going to win it? No. But I am sure Randy Shannon still feels good about getting him after he read his name on a recruiting service website. Harris will be done in the race after a trip to Ohio State in September
John Brantley of Florida. Did I really read where TSN picked him to win the Heisman? Really? How far up Urban's butt are you guys?
Joshua Nesbitt of Georgia Tech. Well, he does have a genius for a coach (just ask him!), but Tommy Frazier he is not. He runs a high school offense and that won't win the Heisman. Plus he'll miss a game or two with an injury as he always does. And HEY, Tech doesn't have a backup anymore with Luallen and Shaw's departures.
Kyle Parker of Clemson. Not really, but Tommy Bowden likes him in his baseball pants.
Ricky Stanzi of Iowa. I am not certain he'll be able to keep the INTs down, but Iowa's record could give him a shot.
Mark Ingram Jr of Alabama. No one has repeated since Archie, not even Tebow. And honestly, Trent Richardson is likely to get more carries, which Ingram should welcome, to save his body for the NFL. I cannot see him going back-to-back. not even Tebow did it. Nor did Herschel, though he probably should have won it all three years he was in Athens.
Tom Savage of Rutgers. I will go cry now.
Kellen Moore of Boise State. I don't think someone from a tiny school will win. THE BIG BOYS ALREADY GAVE YOU ANTS A BCS BID, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?
So after looking around the landscape the answer is obvious: Aaron Murray wins his first of four at Georgia. There you go.
For now though, we'll break down the Heisman race.
Clearly the winner will be Aaron Murray or Washaun Ealey of Georgia, but just in case it isn't, we'll take a look at the rest of the nation.
Terrelle Pryor of the Ohio State University. For whatever reason, people are already handing him the award. I guess because the class this season isn't strong heading into the season? He might win the Troy Smith "No one else was old enough" award, perhaps. He was finally unleashed in the Rose Bowl, but this guy doesn't move my meter. If Braxton Miller ends up going to duh Ohio State next season, I would say in a FAIR world, he actually might get a look. Seriously. That is how unimpressed with Pryor I am. Pryor? whatever. he should have gone to Michigan to play for RichRod.
Ryan Mallett of Arkie. He has the cannon arm, but I KNOW his chances will drop starting around 9/18 at 12:30 when he throws his first pick to Brandon Boykin. Georgia has a habit of ending Heisman campaigns between the hedges. See Zabranksy, Jared: circa 2005. Once Arkansas loses 4 games, his name will officially be a ghost in the Heisman race
Jake Locker, U-Dub. I feel like I am writing about Mallett again. Once Washington loses 4 games, his name will be stricken from the record. Maybe he goes No.1 overall in the draft, but not to NYC for the Heisman presentation
Matt Barkley of USC. The best QB in the country. Too bad he is only a sophomore.
Noel Devine of West Va. He'll have the numbers if he can stay healthy. West Va should have the record if the QB doesn't trip over himself getting the ball to Devine. But people will look at the competition.
Christian Ponder of FSU. He has the arm and can move better than Mallett. If FSU reels off a few nice early wins, his name shoots up the list. If they win the ACC Atlantic, he is going to NYC. If he wins the ACC, he wins the award.
Jacory Harris of Miami. He'll get a lot of hype, but seriously? Do we REALLY think this guy is going to win it? No. But I am sure Randy Shannon still feels good about getting him after he read his name on a recruiting service website. Harris will be done in the race after a trip to Ohio State in September
John Brantley of Florida. Did I really read where TSN picked him to win the Heisman? Really? How far up Urban's butt are you guys?
Joshua Nesbitt of Georgia Tech. Well, he does have a genius for a coach (just ask him!), but Tommy Frazier he is not. He runs a high school offense and that won't win the Heisman. Plus he'll miss a game or two with an injury as he always does. And HEY, Tech doesn't have a backup anymore with Luallen and Shaw's departures.
Kyle Parker of Clemson. Not really, but Tommy Bowden likes him in his baseball pants.
Ricky Stanzi of Iowa. I am not certain he'll be able to keep the INTs down, but Iowa's record could give him a shot.
Mark Ingram Jr of Alabama. No one has repeated since Archie, not even Tebow. And honestly, Trent Richardson is likely to get more carries, which Ingram should welcome, to save his body for the NFL. I cannot see him going back-to-back. not even Tebow did it. Nor did Herschel, though he probably should have won it all three years he was in Athens.
Tom Savage of Rutgers. I will go cry now.
Kellen Moore of Boise State. I don't think someone from a tiny school will win. THE BIG BOYS ALREADY GAVE YOU ANTS A BCS BID, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?
So after looking around the landscape the answer is obvious: Aaron Murray wins his first of four at Georgia. There you go.
TheFletch for thisweek
There is supposed to be a paper this week. If not, here is TheFletch. Enjoy
High school football is the name of the game as Friday nights in Georgia are about to become a lot louder with players hitting and bands marching across the state. High school football has also never been covered like it will be this season. The season starts off this Saturday with the Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia Dome with four Gwinnett County teams squaring off with four teams from Cobb County. 790 The Zone will be sending a pair of broadcast teams to cover the four games all day on Saturday. In the past, the Zone has teamed up John Michaels and Trey McDaniel for game-calling duties on Friday nights and hopefully the duo is together once again for the Corky Kell as McDaniel has a great play-by-play voice while Michaels really has knowledge of the game and uses humor to lighten up various game situations.
After the Kell Classic is over though, the real fun begins when the entire state gets into action the following week. Leading up to the games, Georgia high school fans can tune in to Georgia Public Broadcasting’s system of networks on Wednesday for GPB Sports Central at 7:30 p.m. It is the only weekly high school sports television show in the state. The show will feature stories from around the state as well as local personalities participating in what should be a fascinating spin around the world of high school sports. The show reairs on GPB Friday nights at 11 p.m. with all of the final scores from that night’s games and then again on Saturday morning at 11 a.m.
A live webcast will follow the show on Wednesday nights, beginning at 8 p.m. Fletcher Proctor and Mark Harmon will be joined by Alex Ewalt, who will oversee a live interactive webchat during the program. The webcast will interview a coach, a sports writer from around the state as well as a player each week. Check out the web-show starting on Wednesday on gpb.org
Georgia Public Broadcasting is once again the place to turn on Friday nights as Friday night football returns. Charles Ward and myself are both back to call the action as Score Atlanta teams up once again with GPB on the road to the Georgia Dome for the state championships. This season will see a few changes to the web broadcasts. The first notable change will be the expanded pregame show. I will be joined by Bob Houghton for the best pregame show in the state. The coverage will look into all of the big games as well as major storylines from around the state as well as touch on recruiting news. The setup for the pregame show might also be more of a College Game Day set-up opposed to just taking place in a press box announcer’s booth. The other notable change will be an expanded post-game show. Bob and I will be back to wrap the night’s festivities with a complete look at the Score Atlanta scoreboard and a discussion of major upsets or big-time victories in the spotlight games.
Along with gaprepnews.com, GPB and Score Atlanta will be all over the high school scene this football season. Check out both websites for more info on the shows and webcasts as well as a schedule of where GPB will be broadcasting each week.
The AJC released its Super Eleven for the 2010 season, spotlighting the top eleven seniors for this football class. The AJC’s Michael Carvell appeared on Score Atlanta’s The Official Visit earlier this week to discuss the list and he revealed how the list was decided upon and expressed a few regrets over who was left off of the list. Carvell flat out declared that the best eleven were put on the list, regardless of where they were from in the state, however he did note that the five-person committee that came up with the list tried to get a good mixture of players at various positions, not just all defensive ends, like Carvell said they could have easily done with the plethora of players at the position this season. Carvell mentioned two players in particular, East Hall DE Sterling Bailey as well as South Gwinnett QB Kent Rollins as two players he wished could have been included on the list and he said he’s already heard from Colquitt County head coach Rush Propst over the exclusion of offensive lineman Xzavier Ward from the list.
Score Atlanta recently released on The Official Visit on 790 The Zone as well as gaprepnews.com and scoreatl.com its inaugural Score 44 list of the forty-four best seniors in the state as well as the best forty-four in the metro area. The list, unlike the Super 11 of the AJC will be a fluid list where players can move in or out depending on their play on the field. Check out the Wednesday webcast on GPB, The Official Visit on 790 The Zone as well as the Friday night webcast pregame and postgame shows for an updated list each week.
Finally, 790 The Zone listeners last week were as usual treated to Mike Bell and a David on their ride home from work. This Dave was Dave Archer though, as “Arch,” filled for the three-time All-American David Pollack. Arch once again demonstrated chemistry with Bell, getting all of his jokes and following up on Bell’s pop culture references with the next line from the movie or an impression that was delightful as a listener. And once again, zero fake laughter from Arch as the pairing never did seem forced. Arch was also quite useful in breaking down the Falcons’ first preseason game with the Kansas City Chiefs, giving an insight that can only come from a former QB and team color commentator. I hope The Zone continues to keep Arch on the speed-dial when Pollack needs a fill-in as he seems a natural on this format.
Can you believe he said that?
“Here’s an idea: Manny to the Braves. (Kidding. Sort of.)"
That was a headline to a recent Jeff Schultz blog in the AJC. I have to ask, Jeff, why are you kidding? You make a VERY valid point that the Braves needed a bit more firepower even BEFORE Chipper Jones was injured for the season. Yes, Manny would be expensive for the remainder of the year, but he is a free agent-to-be and the addition of his bat to the lineup would actually be the “fear bat” the Braves need to combat the Phillies’ and Cardinals’ pitching staffs in the postseason. Don’t just throw a great idea out there Jeff only to not truly stand behind it. Keep your stance Jeff. If you like Manny out there, stand behind your suggestion.
High school football is the name of the game as Friday nights in Georgia are about to become a lot louder with players hitting and bands marching across the state. High school football has also never been covered like it will be this season. The season starts off this Saturday with the Corky Kell Classic at the Georgia Dome with four Gwinnett County teams squaring off with four teams from Cobb County. 790 The Zone will be sending a pair of broadcast teams to cover the four games all day on Saturday. In the past, the Zone has teamed up John Michaels and Trey McDaniel for game-calling duties on Friday nights and hopefully the duo is together once again for the Corky Kell as McDaniel has a great play-by-play voice while Michaels really has knowledge of the game and uses humor to lighten up various game situations.
After the Kell Classic is over though, the real fun begins when the entire state gets into action the following week. Leading up to the games, Georgia high school fans can tune in to Georgia Public Broadcasting’s system of networks on Wednesday for GPB Sports Central at 7:30 p.m. It is the only weekly high school sports television show in the state. The show will feature stories from around the state as well as local personalities participating in what should be a fascinating spin around the world of high school sports. The show reairs on GPB Friday nights at 11 p.m. with all of the final scores from that night’s games and then again on Saturday morning at 11 a.m.
A live webcast will follow the show on Wednesday nights, beginning at 8 p.m. Fletcher Proctor and Mark Harmon will be joined by Alex Ewalt, who will oversee a live interactive webchat during the program. The webcast will interview a coach, a sports writer from around the state as well as a player each week. Check out the web-show starting on Wednesday on gpb.org
Georgia Public Broadcasting is once again the place to turn on Friday nights as Friday night football returns. Charles Ward and myself are both back to call the action as Score Atlanta teams up once again with GPB on the road to the Georgia Dome for the state championships. This season will see a few changes to the web broadcasts. The first notable change will be the expanded pregame show. I will be joined by Bob Houghton for the best pregame show in the state. The coverage will look into all of the big games as well as major storylines from around the state as well as touch on recruiting news. The setup for the pregame show might also be more of a College Game Day set-up opposed to just taking place in a press box announcer’s booth. The other notable change will be an expanded post-game show. Bob and I will be back to wrap the night’s festivities with a complete look at the Score Atlanta scoreboard and a discussion of major upsets or big-time victories in the spotlight games.
Along with gaprepnews.com, GPB and Score Atlanta will be all over the high school scene this football season. Check out both websites for more info on the shows and webcasts as well as a schedule of where GPB will be broadcasting each week.
The AJC released its Super Eleven for the 2010 season, spotlighting the top eleven seniors for this football class. The AJC’s Michael Carvell appeared on Score Atlanta’s The Official Visit earlier this week to discuss the list and he revealed how the list was decided upon and expressed a few regrets over who was left off of the list. Carvell flat out declared that the best eleven were put on the list, regardless of where they were from in the state, however he did note that the five-person committee that came up with the list tried to get a good mixture of players at various positions, not just all defensive ends, like Carvell said they could have easily done with the plethora of players at the position this season. Carvell mentioned two players in particular, East Hall DE Sterling Bailey as well as South Gwinnett QB Kent Rollins as two players he wished could have been included on the list and he said he’s already heard from Colquitt County head coach Rush Propst over the exclusion of offensive lineman Xzavier Ward from the list.
Score Atlanta recently released on The Official Visit on 790 The Zone as well as gaprepnews.com and scoreatl.com its inaugural Score 44 list of the forty-four best seniors in the state as well as the best forty-four in the metro area. The list, unlike the Super 11 of the AJC will be a fluid list where players can move in or out depending on their play on the field. Check out the Wednesday webcast on GPB, The Official Visit on 790 The Zone as well as the Friday night webcast pregame and postgame shows for an updated list each week.
Finally, 790 The Zone listeners last week were as usual treated to Mike Bell and a David on their ride home from work. This Dave was Dave Archer though, as “Arch,” filled for the three-time All-American David Pollack. Arch once again demonstrated chemistry with Bell, getting all of his jokes and following up on Bell’s pop culture references with the next line from the movie or an impression that was delightful as a listener. And once again, zero fake laughter from Arch as the pairing never did seem forced. Arch was also quite useful in breaking down the Falcons’ first preseason game with the Kansas City Chiefs, giving an insight that can only come from a former QB and team color commentator. I hope The Zone continues to keep Arch on the speed-dial when Pollack needs a fill-in as he seems a natural on this format.
Can you believe he said that?
“Here’s an idea: Manny to the Braves. (Kidding. Sort of.)"
That was a headline to a recent Jeff Schultz blog in the AJC. I have to ask, Jeff, why are you kidding? You make a VERY valid point that the Braves needed a bit more firepower even BEFORE Chipper Jones was injured for the season. Yes, Manny would be expensive for the remainder of the year, but he is a free agent-to-be and the addition of his bat to the lineup would actually be the “fear bat” the Braves need to combat the Phillies’ and Cardinals’ pitching staffs in the postseason. Don’t just throw a great idea out there Jeff only to not truly stand behind it. Keep your stance Jeff. If you like Manny out there, stand behind your suggestion.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Big East-easy Preview
Time for the final conference look for the upcoming college football season presented by SportsbyFletch. We've checked out all of the REAL BCS conferences, so now, we come to the Big Easy -er- East. There are actually two pretty good teams this season in the Big East, Pitt and West Va. The Neers need a QB, but they still have a dynamic running game. Pitt meanwhile has an even more dynamic ground attack with Dion Lewis a legit Heisman contender even as a sophomore.
Let's get it on with the Big East. Projected order of finish
1) Pitt. Could this FINALLY be the Year of the Stache? I say yes. Dion Lewis churned it up 325 times last year for 1799 yards, and was Big East Offensive PotY, over Pike, Devine and the rest. This season, they open @ Utah, have Miami in September, travel TO Notre Dame and end in Cincy in December. The schedule might jump up and bite them, but they'll likely only lose one conference game and they get West Va at home in the Backyard Brawl. On defense, Greg Romeus is back after winning Co-Defensive PotY for the Big East. A LOT to like about the Panthers.
2) West Va. Noel Devine is BACK after missing some time with an ankle injury. Yeah, he missed time, but the dude still racked up nearly 1500 yards with 13 TDs. I am not a huge fan of Bill Stewart and they need a QB, but whomever that is will have Ivan McCartney to throw to. West Va not getting a lot of love from everyone else because of the QB situation, but SBF will give them some love. Well, sort of. I'll turn on these guys so quick if they start winning too much, it won't be funny. I still hate the Neers dating back to the 2005-06 Sugar Bowl and that a-hole fan from College football Live that would send a video blog in EVERY friggin' day.
3) Cincy. I like Butch Jones. And he has a pretty nice returning QB that got some run last season in Zach Collaros. He is back and can move around well in the pocket. Factor in the two USC transfers and you've got yourself some weapons.
4) Rutgers. Every time I think about Rutgers, I always laugh at Greg Shiano for not taking the Miami job several years back and for thinking he'll get the Penn State job. HAHAHA. Then I cry a bit when thinking about Tom Savage, a guy that Georgia really could have made a move on, but backed off to go after Aaron Murray. Hopefully Murray works out but last season Savage looked good as a true freshman, throwing for 2211 yards and 14 TDs. Let's just hope Murray is the real deal. I have no reason to think he isn't but I just hope I'm not cursing Savage's (and Richt's and Murray's) name in the next two-three years.
5) UConn. They lose Scott Lakatos (as DB Coach to UGA. YEAH BOY) but HC Randy Edsall is still pretty strong for the Huskies. The running game will feature Jordan Todman, who had some nice flashes last season. he'll have a nice OLine this season and some of those close losses could become wins this season. They were really hurt last year by the death of Jazz Howard. This season, hopefully that won't still be weighing on them.
6) South Florida. No Grothe and no Selvie. But Skip Holtz is there and SoFla does have BJ Daniels. He can pass it (nearly 2000 yards) and run it (nearly 800 yards) after coming on in the fourth game. Holtz has a few talented players that were sent packing by other schools and the Bulls should once again challenge for a bowl.
7) Louisville. Charlie Strong will eventually get this thing going and he stole BJ Butler from UGA near signing day. As long as they don't get going next season on Opening weekend. Victor Anderson can run it for Strong's offense. He was hurt last year but went over 1000 in 2008.
8) Syracuse. Poor Doug Marrone. I hope Da Cuse wins enough games to keep his job. he knows football but is behind the 8-ball right now.
PS, think it is SOOOO friggin' funny how the MWC and the WAC are exchanging members left and right. Fresno State and Nevada are going TO the MWC while BYU is going independent in football and to the WAC for everything else.
solution: COMBINE THOSE TWO CONFERENCES for a superconference of 18 and the big boys can see how it works, that new SUPERCONFERENCE can get an auto-bcs bid and we can see legitimately how TCU, BYU, Boise State and (well, Utah is already going) maybe Houston or SMU(get them from Conference USA) do against each other in real competition. if you can call those teams "real"
Tomorrow: Heisman contenders
Let's get it on with the Big East. Projected order of finish
1) Pitt. Could this FINALLY be the Year of the Stache? I say yes. Dion Lewis churned it up 325 times last year for 1799 yards, and was Big East Offensive PotY, over Pike, Devine and the rest. This season, they open @ Utah, have Miami in September, travel TO Notre Dame and end in Cincy in December. The schedule might jump up and bite them, but they'll likely only lose one conference game and they get West Va at home in the Backyard Brawl. On defense, Greg Romeus is back after winning Co-Defensive PotY for the Big East. A LOT to like about the Panthers.
2) West Va. Noel Devine is BACK after missing some time with an ankle injury. Yeah, he missed time, but the dude still racked up nearly 1500 yards with 13 TDs. I am not a huge fan of Bill Stewart and they need a QB, but whomever that is will have Ivan McCartney to throw to. West Va not getting a lot of love from everyone else because of the QB situation, but SBF will give them some love. Well, sort of. I'll turn on these guys so quick if they start winning too much, it won't be funny. I still hate the Neers dating back to the 2005-06 Sugar Bowl and that a-hole fan from College football Live that would send a video blog in EVERY friggin' day.
3) Cincy. I like Butch Jones. And he has a pretty nice returning QB that got some run last season in Zach Collaros. He is back and can move around well in the pocket. Factor in the two USC transfers and you've got yourself some weapons.
4) Rutgers. Every time I think about Rutgers, I always laugh at Greg Shiano for not taking the Miami job several years back and for thinking he'll get the Penn State job. HAHAHA. Then I cry a bit when thinking about Tom Savage, a guy that Georgia really could have made a move on, but backed off to go after Aaron Murray. Hopefully Murray works out but last season Savage looked good as a true freshman, throwing for 2211 yards and 14 TDs. Let's just hope Murray is the real deal. I have no reason to think he isn't but I just hope I'm not cursing Savage's (and Richt's and Murray's) name in the next two-three years.
5) UConn. They lose Scott Lakatos (as DB Coach to UGA. YEAH BOY) but HC Randy Edsall is still pretty strong for the Huskies. The running game will feature Jordan Todman, who had some nice flashes last season. he'll have a nice OLine this season and some of those close losses could become wins this season. They were really hurt last year by the death of Jazz Howard. This season, hopefully that won't still be weighing on them.
6) South Florida. No Grothe and no Selvie. But Skip Holtz is there and SoFla does have BJ Daniels. He can pass it (nearly 2000 yards) and run it (nearly 800 yards) after coming on in the fourth game. Holtz has a few talented players that were sent packing by other schools and the Bulls should once again challenge for a bowl.
7) Louisville. Charlie Strong will eventually get this thing going and he stole BJ Butler from UGA near signing day. As long as they don't get going next season on Opening weekend. Victor Anderson can run it for Strong's offense. He was hurt last year but went over 1000 in 2008.
8) Syracuse. Poor Doug Marrone. I hope Da Cuse wins enough games to keep his job. he knows football but is behind the 8-ball right now.
PS, think it is SOOOO friggin' funny how the MWC and the WAC are exchanging members left and right. Fresno State and Nevada are going TO the MWC while BYU is going independent in football and to the WAC for everything else.
solution: COMBINE THOSE TWO CONFERENCES for a superconference of 18 and the big boys can see how it works, that new SUPERCONFERENCE can get an auto-bcs bid and we can see legitimately how TCU, BYU, Boise State and (well, Utah is already going) maybe Houston or SMU(get them from Conference USA) do against each other in real competition. if you can call those teams "real"
Tomorrow: Heisman contenders
Braves acquire Derrek Lee for stretch run
The Atlanta Braves made a huge move Wednesday in an attempt to shore up the middle of the lineup with the loss of Chipper Jones to a season-ending ACL injury. Braves GM Frank Wren shipped three minor league pitching prospects to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for first baseman Derrek Lee. The new first baseman will join the club on Friday, when Atlanta travels up to Chicago for a series with Lee’s former club. Lee will take over first base from Troy Glaus, who was placed on the disabled list and will head to Class AAA-Gwinnett to get some reps in at third base, and Lee is quite a capable fielder, having snared three Gold Gloves in his 14-year major league career.
Lee can also rake at the plate, having won the Silver Slugger award in 2005 while leading the National League that year in batting average. Last season, Lee hit .306 with 35 homers and 111 RBI. This season, Lee has struggled while dealing with some injuries, but his .251 average is climbing as he is stroking the ball at a .313 average since the All-Star break, including .305 in August. Last weekend he hit four home runs in a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
This trade is certainly a move by the front office to show the team as well as the fans that the Braves will be making a run at the World Series this season. The Philadelphia Phillies have been weathering injuries while winning 20 of the last 25 games, but the Braves still have a 2.5-game lead in the NL East. Lee is a free agent-to-be and with Freddie Freeman tearing up Gwinnett this season, Lee can only be seen as a late-season rental. But Lee comes to the Braves at a good time for a cheap price (the pitchers the Braves gave up Tyrelle Harris (RHP), Robinson Lopez (RHP) and Jeffrey Lorick (LHP) were not on the Braves “untouchable” list and none have appeared higher than Class AA), and if he can help the Braves win a World Series title, the price would have been well worth it. Lee won a title with the Marlins in 2003 and he’ll certainly add some postseason experience to a team that has not been to the playoffs since 2005.
Lee is not a player that many people had on their radar for potential pieces the Braves could have added. Lee was rumored to be headed to Texas back in July and recently rejected a trade to the Angels. Lee waved his no-trade clause to come to Atlanta to be a part of a pennant chase, and, assuming he is healthy, should fit in immediately to the No.4 or 5 hole. I’d still keep Omar Infante in the lineup, most likely at second with Prado sliding to third like he’s been there his whole career. While I like Gonzalez hitting third, perhaps Braves manager Bobby Cox should stick with what is working and keep Infante at the top with Heyward at No.2 and Prado at No.3. Lee can rake in the cleanup spot with McCann fifth, Gonzalez sixth, Diaz or Hinske seventh (though you could certainly flip-flop those two spots) with Ankiel or Melky Cabrera eighth and THIS lineup would give up no easy outs in the postseason. The addition of one player (if he lives up to expectations) just sent waves across the National League. The Braves are players and ready for late-October baseball.
Lee can also rake at the plate, having won the Silver Slugger award in 2005 while leading the National League that year in batting average. Last season, Lee hit .306 with 35 homers and 111 RBI. This season, Lee has struggled while dealing with some injuries, but his .251 average is climbing as he is stroking the ball at a .313 average since the All-Star break, including .305 in August. Last weekend he hit four home runs in a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
This trade is certainly a move by the front office to show the team as well as the fans that the Braves will be making a run at the World Series this season. The Philadelphia Phillies have been weathering injuries while winning 20 of the last 25 games, but the Braves still have a 2.5-game lead in the NL East. Lee is a free agent-to-be and with Freddie Freeman tearing up Gwinnett this season, Lee can only be seen as a late-season rental. But Lee comes to the Braves at a good time for a cheap price (the pitchers the Braves gave up Tyrelle Harris (RHP), Robinson Lopez (RHP) and Jeffrey Lorick (LHP) were not on the Braves “untouchable” list and none have appeared higher than Class AA), and if he can help the Braves win a World Series title, the price would have been well worth it. Lee won a title with the Marlins in 2003 and he’ll certainly add some postseason experience to a team that has not been to the playoffs since 2005.
Lee is not a player that many people had on their radar for potential pieces the Braves could have added. Lee was rumored to be headed to Texas back in July and recently rejected a trade to the Angels. Lee waved his no-trade clause to come to Atlanta to be a part of a pennant chase, and, assuming he is healthy, should fit in immediately to the No.4 or 5 hole. I’d still keep Omar Infante in the lineup, most likely at second with Prado sliding to third like he’s been there his whole career. While I like Gonzalez hitting third, perhaps Braves manager Bobby Cox should stick with what is working and keep Infante at the top with Heyward at No.2 and Prado at No.3. Lee can rake in the cleanup spot with McCann fifth, Gonzalez sixth, Diaz or Hinske seventh (though you could certainly flip-flop those two spots) with Ankiel or Melky Cabrera eighth and THIS lineup would give up no easy outs in the postseason. The addition of one player (if he lives up to expectations) just sent waves across the National League. The Braves are players and ready for late-October baseball.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Big XII preview...Texas and OU? Really?
SportsbyFletch continues its preview of the college football season and we must pause for a moment as we look at the Coaches' preseason poll where OU is ranked in the top 10. Really? (OK, fine. I had the Sooners at #4.)
Seriously though? What was I thinking? Landry Jones got some reps, yes, but HOW MANY guys did they lose to the NFL draft? 3 of the first 4 picks for pete's sake! What? You say Stoops keeps the pantry stocked? OK Fine.
But honestly? Texas at No.3? (Wait, that was me again.) They lost McCoy sure, but Gilbert looked good enough in the BCSCG against Bama....when he wasn't throwing 4 INTs.
And as for the rest of the Big XII, where are you guys? (Wait, the same can be said of the SEC. Nevermind) You guys really need to consider bringing in TCU and SMU or Houston...somebody to keep 12 teams. Texas, you may not want to play in a championship game next season, but just wait until you go 12-0 then get jumped by a 13-0 Iowa, with a win over Nebraska in the Big11 CG to play Georgia in the national championship game. You'll want one then.
Let's get it going with a look at the Big XII South first.
1) Texas. The Longhorns lost some key players on offense, but the receivers are still good (no one really great) and the defensive secondary, led by Blake Gideon, might be the best in the country. The lines will be young but really talented, especially if freshman Jackson Jeffcoat gets some reps. he was one of the top players to sign last season. I expect Texas gives the season a real push, finishing likely 11-1.
2) Oklahoma. Landry Jones got a LOT of reps last year with Bradford missing most of the year. He should be comfortable back there, especially with an offensive line that has the potential to be better than it was last season, when it was still learning-well everyone except Trent Williams. The O-line returns some folks like Ben Habern at center, Stephen Good, and LSU-transfer Jarvis Jones. The wide receivers should also help LJones sleep at night with Ryan Broyles leading a pack of go-getters. OU receivers are always REALLY good in college, well good enough to be highly drafted, so they have that going for them. And the RB situation is headed by Demarco Murray, who is ONCE AGAIN back in Soonerland. The dline is anchored by McFarland, Alexander and Beal. Those guys are BIG.
3)Texas A&M. If you forget the beatdown that Georgia threw down on them in the Independence Bowl, you'll likely remember QB Jerrod Johnson, who passed for 3500 yards and a few decent tailbacks. He has a wideout target in Jeff Fuller, one of several WR to bring in 40 catches. On defense Von Miller will be good, but he is IT. Let's hope the new DCoor helps here.
4) Texas Tech. Tubs won at Auburn, so why should this be any different, especially when he has a few backs that he can maybe mold into Williams and Brown part2. The defense is switching to a 3-4 but the secondary returns three starters. Watch out for Detron Lewis
5) Okie State. Well, Mike Gundy is back and so is Kendall Hunter. Zac Robinson moved on and Dez Bryant is still an idiot. (You didn't know about rookie hazing? THAT'S GARBAGE, as your coach would say!) As for the defense, Joe Cox had ZERO trouble driving down the field on you that first drive. Bill Young....not impressed.
6) Baylor. What can we say about the Bears? Let's hope Robert Griffin is back at 100%. If so, Art Briles might be able to get something cooking. Otherwise, HELLO punter Derek Epperson!
BigXII North
1) Nebraska. Suh says that Jared Crick is better than he was. We'll see how the 6'6 junior does without Suh there to eat up the double-teams. RB Roy Helu can churn up yardage while Niles Paul will haul it in from whomever is tossing it up. The future Big11ers will easily cruise in this laugher of a division
2) Mizzou. Blaine Gabbert came on at the end of the season and he has a nice target in Jerrell Jackson. The Tigers rushing attack is led by Derrick Washington, but honestly, they just aren't as good as Nebraska. They play IN Lincoln this year: advantage Huskers. Mizzou has some good pieces on defense and a nice O-line, but the trip to Lincoln will cost them
3) Kansas. Easy schedule. About all you can say the Jayhawks have going for them Sorry Turner Gil, but Houston Nutt knew what was up by staying in Oxford. Yeah. that's about it.
4) Kansas State. Daniel Thomas was a 1000-yard rusher and the oline has four starters back. The defense actually might be OK....by BigXII standards.
5) Iowa State. QB Austen Arnaud is decent enough behind a line that blocked for a 1000-yard rusher. As for the defense (and remember, head coach Paul Rhodes was the Auburn DCoor before becoming head coach)....no pass rush and it cannot stop the run. NICE. But still better than.....
6) Colorado. Dan Hawkins is still there? Well, this should be an easy one for Georgia. I doubt the Buffs REALLY make a statement before heading off to the Pac-12. What happened to these guys? Besides a LONG time ago the coach's daughter getting knocked up by a player, then the guys getting into an uproar over a female kicker...then the other guys getting into some trouble with some other ladies on campus. Colorado is good at exactly ZERO things.
Tomorrow, the Big Easy!
Seriously though? What was I thinking? Landry Jones got some reps, yes, but HOW MANY guys did they lose to the NFL draft? 3 of the first 4 picks for pete's sake! What? You say Stoops keeps the pantry stocked? OK Fine.
But honestly? Texas at No.3? (Wait, that was me again.) They lost McCoy sure, but Gilbert looked good enough in the BCSCG against Bama....when he wasn't throwing 4 INTs.
And as for the rest of the Big XII, where are you guys? (Wait, the same can be said of the SEC. Nevermind) You guys really need to consider bringing in TCU and SMU or Houston...somebody to keep 12 teams. Texas, you may not want to play in a championship game next season, but just wait until you go 12-0 then get jumped by a 13-0 Iowa, with a win over Nebraska in the Big11 CG to play Georgia in the national championship game. You'll want one then.
Let's get it going with a look at the Big XII South first.
1) Texas. The Longhorns lost some key players on offense, but the receivers are still good (no one really great) and the defensive secondary, led by Blake Gideon, might be the best in the country. The lines will be young but really talented, especially if freshman Jackson Jeffcoat gets some reps. he was one of the top players to sign last season. I expect Texas gives the season a real push, finishing likely 11-1.
2) Oklahoma. Landry Jones got a LOT of reps last year with Bradford missing most of the year. He should be comfortable back there, especially with an offensive line that has the potential to be better than it was last season, when it was still learning-well everyone except Trent Williams. The O-line returns some folks like Ben Habern at center, Stephen Good, and LSU-transfer Jarvis Jones. The wide receivers should also help LJones sleep at night with Ryan Broyles leading a pack of go-getters. OU receivers are always REALLY good in college, well good enough to be highly drafted, so they have that going for them. And the RB situation is headed by Demarco Murray, who is ONCE AGAIN back in Soonerland. The dline is anchored by McFarland, Alexander and Beal. Those guys are BIG.
3)Texas A&M. If you forget the beatdown that Georgia threw down on them in the Independence Bowl, you'll likely remember QB Jerrod Johnson, who passed for 3500 yards and a few decent tailbacks. He has a wideout target in Jeff Fuller, one of several WR to bring in 40 catches. On defense Von Miller will be good, but he is IT. Let's hope the new DCoor helps here.
4) Texas Tech. Tubs won at Auburn, so why should this be any different, especially when he has a few backs that he can maybe mold into Williams and Brown part2. The defense is switching to a 3-4 but the secondary returns three starters. Watch out for Detron Lewis
5) Okie State. Well, Mike Gundy is back and so is Kendall Hunter. Zac Robinson moved on and Dez Bryant is still an idiot. (You didn't know about rookie hazing? THAT'S GARBAGE, as your coach would say!) As for the defense, Joe Cox had ZERO trouble driving down the field on you that first drive. Bill Young....not impressed.
6) Baylor. What can we say about the Bears? Let's hope Robert Griffin is back at 100%. If so, Art Briles might be able to get something cooking. Otherwise, HELLO punter Derek Epperson!
BigXII North
1) Nebraska. Suh says that Jared Crick is better than he was. We'll see how the 6'6 junior does without Suh there to eat up the double-teams. RB Roy Helu can churn up yardage while Niles Paul will haul it in from whomever is tossing it up. The future Big11ers will easily cruise in this laugher of a division
2) Mizzou. Blaine Gabbert came on at the end of the season and he has a nice target in Jerrell Jackson. The Tigers rushing attack is led by Derrick Washington, but honestly, they just aren't as good as Nebraska. They play IN Lincoln this year: advantage Huskers. Mizzou has some good pieces on defense and a nice O-line, but the trip to Lincoln will cost them
3) Kansas. Easy schedule. About all you can say the Jayhawks have going for them Sorry Turner Gil, but Houston Nutt knew what was up by staying in Oxford. Yeah. that's about it.
4) Kansas State. Daniel Thomas was a 1000-yard rusher and the oline has four starters back. The defense actually might be OK....by BigXII standards.
5) Iowa State. QB Austen Arnaud is decent enough behind a line that blocked for a 1000-yard rusher. As for the defense (and remember, head coach Paul Rhodes was the Auburn DCoor before becoming head coach)....no pass rush and it cannot stop the run. NICE. But still better than.....
6) Colorado. Dan Hawkins is still there? Well, this should be an easy one for Georgia. I doubt the Buffs REALLY make a statement before heading off to the Pac-12. What happened to these guys? Besides a LONG time ago the coach's daughter getting knocked up by a player, then the guys getting into an uproar over a female kicker...then the other guys getting into some trouble with some other ladies on campus. Colorado is good at exactly ZERO things.
Tomorrow, the Big Easy!
Damian Swann HONORED to be a member of Score44
For more of the Score44, go to www.scoreatl.com or gaprepnews.com
On Monday, one of the area’s best Division 1-FBS prospects joined Score Atlanta's The Official Visit, as co-hosts Fletcher Proctor and Scott Janovitz had a chance to speak with Grady defensive back Damian Swann. The standout safety has spent most of the off-season splitting time between learning a new position (cornerback) and the baseball diamond. Swann, the two-sport star, will be focused this fall though on becoming a lockdown cornerback as his recruiting process will heat up in a hurry. Because of baseball obligations, Swann missed out on various recruiting trips that rising seniors typically make during the summer before the season starts, but Swann isn’t concerned. “I can do visits in the off-season,” said Swann, as he disregarded the notion that recruiting might be a distraction this season.
The current season will be an important one for Swann and his Grady Knights. After a nice playoff run last season, Swann feels that this team improved offensively during the off-season. “We have the pieces to the puzzle to go all the way to a state championship.” Swann himself has worked hard and feels he can really make an impact at cornerback. “I feel I can cover anybody on the field, and that’s going to be an advantage to the team.” Swann denied that the position switch will make it tougher for recruiters to get a feel for how good he is.
Despite the switch, Swann is ranked near the top of every recruiting service’s list of defensive backs and is considered one of Georgia’s top prospects. He was recently named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Eleven as well as the Score Atlanta 44, but his Star-count and spot on various all-star lists doesn’t necessarily move his meter. “It’s an honor, but I just like to play football. Lists and rankings are a part of it, but I just like to play.”
So just who might secure Swann’s signature come National Signing Day? Several SEC teams have so far caught Swann’s eye. Swann said in the interview that he is interested in Alabama as well as Florida. Of the Gators, Swann said that “they’ve been one of the best, but they’re (going to) have a rebuilding year (in 2010).”
The Georgia Bulldogs have also drawn Swann’s interest as Mark Richt has run “a pretty good program the last few years.” Swann was very complimentary of the Dawgs’ future as well. “In a couple years, Georgia is going to be one of the best teams in the SEC, and I can help them be (one), if I decide to go there.” Swann also noted that the “Dream Team,” that Richt and his staff are trying to assemble is appealing but Swann isn’t necessarily buying into it.
As far as the possibility that Swann would stick close to home and attend Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets were all but ruled out Monday night. “I have no interest in Georgia Tech.” Though no explanation was necessary, Swann admitted that he wanted to get away from home, “an hour away at least,” as he wanted to see life outside of Atlanta.
The race for Damian Swann will likely last a long while though. While a timeline was not given he did say he was not afraid to take visits following his senior season if need be. Whoever gets Swann will certainly get a tremendous athlete that can not only play multiple positions in the defensive secondary but also a few on offense as well. Swann can pretty much do it all and would be a welcome addition on any squad that is looking for super-star athletes.
On Monday, one of the area’s best Division 1-FBS prospects joined Score Atlanta's The Official Visit, as co-hosts Fletcher Proctor and Scott Janovitz had a chance to speak with Grady defensive back Damian Swann. The standout safety has spent most of the off-season splitting time between learning a new position (cornerback) and the baseball diamond. Swann, the two-sport star, will be focused this fall though on becoming a lockdown cornerback as his recruiting process will heat up in a hurry. Because of baseball obligations, Swann missed out on various recruiting trips that rising seniors typically make during the summer before the season starts, but Swann isn’t concerned. “I can do visits in the off-season,” said Swann, as he disregarded the notion that recruiting might be a distraction this season.
The current season will be an important one for Swann and his Grady Knights. After a nice playoff run last season, Swann feels that this team improved offensively during the off-season. “We have the pieces to the puzzle to go all the way to a state championship.” Swann himself has worked hard and feels he can really make an impact at cornerback. “I feel I can cover anybody on the field, and that’s going to be an advantage to the team.” Swann denied that the position switch will make it tougher for recruiters to get a feel for how good he is.
Despite the switch, Swann is ranked near the top of every recruiting service’s list of defensive backs and is considered one of Georgia’s top prospects. He was recently named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Eleven as well as the Score Atlanta 44, but his Star-count and spot on various all-star lists doesn’t necessarily move his meter. “It’s an honor, but I just like to play football. Lists and rankings are a part of it, but I just like to play.”
So just who might secure Swann’s signature come National Signing Day? Several SEC teams have so far caught Swann’s eye. Swann said in the interview that he is interested in Alabama as well as Florida. Of the Gators, Swann said that “they’ve been one of the best, but they’re (going to) have a rebuilding year (in 2010).”
The Georgia Bulldogs have also drawn Swann’s interest as Mark Richt has run “a pretty good program the last few years.” Swann was very complimentary of the Dawgs’ future as well. “In a couple years, Georgia is going to be one of the best teams in the SEC, and I can help them be (one), if I decide to go there.” Swann also noted that the “Dream Team,” that Richt and his staff are trying to assemble is appealing but Swann isn’t necessarily buying into it.
As far as the possibility that Swann would stick close to home and attend Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets were all but ruled out Monday night. “I have no interest in Georgia Tech.” Though no explanation was necessary, Swann admitted that he wanted to get away from home, “an hour away at least,” as he wanted to see life outside of Atlanta.
The race for Damian Swann will likely last a long while though. While a timeline was not given he did say he was not afraid to take visits following his senior season if need be. Whoever gets Swann will certainly get a tremendous athlete that can not only play multiple positions in the defensive secondary but also a few on offense as well. Swann can pretty much do it all and would be a welcome addition on any squad that is looking for super-star athletes.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Pac-10
SportsbyFletch continues its preview of the college football season by today looking into the Pac-10. Next season the Pac-10 will grow to the Pac-12 with Colorado and Utah, but honestly, will it matter?
I say no.
And this year won't matter either. Why? Because as much as I dislike Lane Kiffin, he has the best team in USC, but the coaches decided NOT to put him in their polls and he cannot go to a bowl game. So even if he WINS the Pac-10, he won't, and therefore we'll have a 9-3 Oregon in the Rose Bowl SANS J.Masoli.
Boring.
Let's start with our overview and projected order of finish....
1) USC. Wait, that can't be. IT IS in SBF-land. Matt Barkley is the best QB in the country and the sophomore should get better because (through gritted teeth) Lane Kiffin can groom a QB. And while some talent flew the coop, most of it is still there. They will easily win 10 or 11 games. Book it. Too bad they'll be at home and NO ONE in the AP will even pretend to float USC a championship vote because they all hate Kiffin. Next season maybe Utah? or Oregon? can challenge them, but not this year. Though Kiffin is good for at least one L the team shouldn't just like Petey.
2) Oregon. LaMichael James is pretty good when he isn't in jail. Chip Kelly did very well in his first season with Masoli; you'd think he could do it again. They'll lose a few, but still go to the Rose Bowl because USC cannot.
3) Oregon State. I am a FAN of Mike Riley. He always has his team ready to knock off one of the big guys (too bad he loses to Boise State every know and then) and with Quizz Rodgers and his brother on the squad, these guys could certainly challenge USC and make the Civil War mean something. But I think he falls to maybe UCLA or someone he shouldn't lose to, which costs his squad.
4) Stanford. Screech's cousin has certainly turned out to be a COACH, baby! Throw in Andrew Luck and this team looks pretty good offensively. Too bad Toby left the squad. They could have used him this season. The unknown running game is worrying me. Go Jamal Patterson!
5) Washington- Jake Locker was smart to return for this season. Under Coach Sark last year he finally scratched the surface of his talents. Perhaps this season he takes that next step. Too bad they don't have much else.
6) UCLA. Norm Chow is good for 4 conference wins, right?
7) Arizona. They let the wrong Stoops go to FSU. And they looked AWFUL in that bowl game. Mikey Stoops might still be in trouble. I do like Nick Foles at QB though.
8) Arizona State. They nearly won last year in Athens. That will likely be the high point in THIS season too...
9) Cal. I am surprised Jeff Tedford hasn't put another QB bust in the NFL in a while...
10) Wazzou. Let's just move on.
Tomorrow, the BigXII
I say no.
And this year won't matter either. Why? Because as much as I dislike Lane Kiffin, he has the best team in USC, but the coaches decided NOT to put him in their polls and he cannot go to a bowl game. So even if he WINS the Pac-10, he won't, and therefore we'll have a 9-3 Oregon in the Rose Bowl SANS J.Masoli.
Boring.
Let's start with our overview and projected order of finish....
1) USC. Wait, that can't be. IT IS in SBF-land. Matt Barkley is the best QB in the country and the sophomore should get better because (through gritted teeth) Lane Kiffin can groom a QB. And while some talent flew the coop, most of it is still there. They will easily win 10 or 11 games. Book it. Too bad they'll be at home and NO ONE in the AP will even pretend to float USC a championship vote because they all hate Kiffin. Next season maybe Utah? or Oregon? can challenge them, but not this year. Though Kiffin is good for at least one L the team shouldn't just like Petey.
2) Oregon. LaMichael James is pretty good when he isn't in jail. Chip Kelly did very well in his first season with Masoli; you'd think he could do it again. They'll lose a few, but still go to the Rose Bowl because USC cannot.
3) Oregon State. I am a FAN of Mike Riley. He always has his team ready to knock off one of the big guys (too bad he loses to Boise State every know and then) and with Quizz Rodgers and his brother on the squad, these guys could certainly challenge USC and make the Civil War mean something. But I think he falls to maybe UCLA or someone he shouldn't lose to, which costs his squad.
4) Stanford. Screech's cousin has certainly turned out to be a COACH, baby! Throw in Andrew Luck and this team looks pretty good offensively. Too bad Toby left the squad. They could have used him this season. The unknown running game is worrying me. Go Jamal Patterson!
5) Washington- Jake Locker was smart to return for this season. Under Coach Sark last year he finally scratched the surface of his talents. Perhaps this season he takes that next step. Too bad they don't have much else.
6) UCLA. Norm Chow is good for 4 conference wins, right?
7) Arizona. They let the wrong Stoops go to FSU. And they looked AWFUL in that bowl game. Mikey Stoops might still be in trouble. I do like Nick Foles at QB though.
8) Arizona State. They nearly won last year in Athens. That will likely be the high point in THIS season too...
9) Cal. I am surprised Jeff Tedford hasn't put another QB bust in the NFL in a while...
10) Wazzou. Let's just move on.
Tomorrow, the BigXII
Monday, August 16, 2010
Commissioner Paul Mac turns on the Bi11
SportsbyFletch continues its college football preview by bringing in Big11 commish Paul Mac to break down the Big11. Wait, what just happened? Did Paul Mac just resign? He's only going to break down 4 teams? Why? because the rest suck? Agreed.
(Tomorrow the Pac10!)
1) Ohio State - Terrelle Pryor has arrived and the circuit has completed in his head. His Heisman candidacy depends on their beating Wisconsin and Iowa on the road. 5 years of Big 10 champion pedigree is going to be tough to knock off even if they do have one of the most difficult schedules in the Big 10 and have to go play at 2 of the 3 best teams not wearing Scarlett and Gray. Brandon Saine needs to eclipse Pryor as the leading rusher. Cameron Heyward is awesome and they have tons of depth. Miami is their toughest non conference game and it's in Columbus. Other than that..at Iowa. If they can survive Kinnick Stadium in Iowa city they probably finish the season Undefeated and headed to the BCS championship game.
2) Iowa - The best defensive line in the nation anchored by the best defensive end who should by all rights be playing in the NFL Adrian Clayborne. They also return safety Tyler Sash (6 picks) but lose Amari Spivey to the NFL early. Pat Angerer and AJ Edds are gone as well but the Hawkeyes will have one of the better scoring defenses in the nation again this year. Probably the best in the big 10. On offense they return excellent Senior QB Ricky Stanzi who needs to take better care of the football (15ints). Jewel Hampton who was sensational two years ago comes back from his ACL tear and they also have the capable Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher who were solid last season in the back field. Marvin McNutt and Derrell Johnson - Koulianos provide speed to burn on the outside. Iowa's biggest question this season is how to replace Left Tackle Bryan Bulaga; Right Tackle Kyle Calloway and Rafael Eubanks. Still the size is there and Kirk Ferentz is an offensive line mastermind. The Hawkeyes get their toughest games at home (Penn State, then Wisconsin and then the defacto Big 10 championship game vs Ohio State on November 20) 11-1 (unless they can flip the script on Ohio State who needed OT to beat them in the horseshoe a year ago) This would put a GIANT torque wrench in the BCS picture.
3) Wisconsin - easiest schedule of the big 4 no Penn State but they have to face Ohio State in Camp Randall then go on the road to face Iowa. I don't see them winning either. Even with John Clay who rushed for over 1500 yards last season and Scott Tolzien who was easily the most efficient QB in the Big 10 and threw for nearly 2800 yards and 16 TD's. They miss Garrett Graham but it's Wisconsin so naturally they have the 6-4 239lb Lance Kendricks to fill in. They are a very good team. I just think Iowa and Ohio State are better. They will finish 10-2 with those two losses.
4) Penn State - Could be the end for Joe Paterno after a 66 year run as HC and that burden will be felt by seniors Evan Royster and Stefan Wisnewski and I have to imagine they will play inspired. They have had a good run the last several years but even at Linebacker U replacing 3 NFL LB's in one year is daunting. They are really going to miss Navorro Bowman on the field though perhaps not on the police blotter. The good news... no stud MLB with knee problems for the first time in what seems like forever. They have to replace Daryll Clark at QB too. Penn State is going to be a grindingly tough out and if they play well they can beat anyone in this group but games at Alabama; Iowa and then in the Horseshoe could and probably will derail their efforts to get back to the Rose Bowl. I think they lose all the tough ones on the road and finish 9-3... then stomp the crap out of whatever SEC team they play in the Outback Bowl to finish with 10 wins.
(Tomorrow the Pac10!)
1) Ohio State - Terrelle Pryor has arrived and the circuit has completed in his head. His Heisman candidacy depends on their beating Wisconsin and Iowa on the road. 5 years of Big 10 champion pedigree is going to be tough to knock off even if they do have one of the most difficult schedules in the Big 10 and have to go play at 2 of the 3 best teams not wearing Scarlett and Gray. Brandon Saine needs to eclipse Pryor as the leading rusher. Cameron Heyward is awesome and they have tons of depth. Miami is their toughest non conference game and it's in Columbus. Other than that..at Iowa. If they can survive Kinnick Stadium in Iowa city they probably finish the season Undefeated and headed to the BCS championship game.
2) Iowa - The best defensive line in the nation anchored by the best defensive end who should by all rights be playing in the NFL Adrian Clayborne. They also return safety Tyler Sash (6 picks) but lose Amari Spivey to the NFL early. Pat Angerer and AJ Edds are gone as well but the Hawkeyes will have one of the better scoring defenses in the nation again this year. Probably the best in the big 10. On offense they return excellent Senior QB Ricky Stanzi who needs to take better care of the football (15ints). Jewel Hampton who was sensational two years ago comes back from his ACL tear and they also have the capable Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher who were solid last season in the back field. Marvin McNutt and Derrell Johnson - Koulianos provide speed to burn on the outside. Iowa's biggest question this season is how to replace Left Tackle Bryan Bulaga; Right Tackle Kyle Calloway and Rafael Eubanks. Still the size is there and Kirk Ferentz is an offensive line mastermind. The Hawkeyes get their toughest games at home (Penn State, then Wisconsin and then the defacto Big 10 championship game vs Ohio State on November 20) 11-1 (unless they can flip the script on Ohio State who needed OT to beat them in the horseshoe a year ago) This would put a GIANT torque wrench in the BCS picture.
3) Wisconsin - easiest schedule of the big 4 no Penn State but they have to face Ohio State in Camp Randall then go on the road to face Iowa. I don't see them winning either. Even with John Clay who rushed for over 1500 yards last season and Scott Tolzien who was easily the most efficient QB in the Big 10 and threw for nearly 2800 yards and 16 TD's. They miss Garrett Graham but it's Wisconsin so naturally they have the 6-4 239lb Lance Kendricks to fill in. They are a very good team. I just think Iowa and Ohio State are better. They will finish 10-2 with those two losses.
4) Penn State - Could be the end for Joe Paterno after a 66 year run as HC and that burden will be felt by seniors Evan Royster and Stefan Wisnewski and I have to imagine they will play inspired. They have had a good run the last several years but even at Linebacker U replacing 3 NFL LB's in one year is daunting. They are really going to miss Navorro Bowman on the field though perhaps not on the police blotter. The good news... no stud MLB with knee problems for the first time in what seems like forever. They have to replace Daryll Clark at QB too. Penn State is going to be a grindingly tough out and if they play well they can beat anyone in this group but games at Alabama; Iowa and then in the Horseshoe could and probably will derail their efforts to get back to the Rose Bowl. I think they lose all the tough ones on the road and finish 9-3... then stomp the crap out of whatever SEC team they play in the Outback Bowl to finish with 10 wins.
CJ Uzomah impressive in NoGwinn scrimmage
Auburn fans in the Atlanta area got a nice peek at a future Tiger over the weekend in a scrimmage one week before the start of the regular season. North Gwinnett QB/WR CJ Uzomah was a man among boys as his Bulldogs defeated county-rival and playoff –hopeful Grayson last Saturday in Suwanee, GA. Uzomah threw a first half touchdown on a nine-yard swing pass before moving out to wide receiver to haul in two pass receptions on another North Gwinnett scoring drive. Uzomah was under center on yet another scoring drive in the second half, finding a receiver on a 19-yard scoring pass. Uzomah finished off all of the scoring with a 46-yard touchdown reception. His unofficial stats for the scrimmage included 8-10 passing for 61 yards and two scores as well as three receptions for 68 yards and one score.
Uzomah recently committed to the Auburn Tigers as a wide receiver, though he said he was told by the coaching staff that he could see some time “under center” as a wildcat option. Uzomah also considered LSU, where he was being recruited as a quarterback. His high school coach Bob Sphire was very complimentary of Uzomah in the Gwinnett Daily Post, saying, “C.J. gives us so many options. He’s a great kid to coach. He’s a team player.” Uzomah spent his sophomore season backing up Michael Tamburo and serving as a wide receiver before moving back to QB his junior season. As a junior, Uzomah completed 59.5% of his passes for over 1700 yards and led his team to a region title and a deep playoff run. This season, Uzomah will spend some time at WR with junior Scott Hosch serving as the Bulldogs' QB.
As I watched Uzomah on the North Gwinnett field, I just thought, "WOW." This dude is 6'5 and he is just taller and bigger and faster than the rest of Grayson and even his own team. It will be hard to stop this guy when he's under center this year and who is going to be able to cover him one-on-one in the defensive secondary. I think it would be a mistake to let Uzomah play too much away from QB, but if the situation calls for it, sure. Just remember, in high school, you want your best player around the ball AT ALL TIMES. Uzomah needs to touch the ball on 95% of the plays, either as a QB throwing, running, handing off or receiving it from Hosch. Don't get too cute. This guy is a player.
Uzomah recently committed to the Auburn Tigers as a wide receiver, though he said he was told by the coaching staff that he could see some time “under center” as a wildcat option. Uzomah also considered LSU, where he was being recruited as a quarterback. His high school coach Bob Sphire was very complimentary of Uzomah in the Gwinnett Daily Post, saying, “C.J. gives us so many options. He’s a great kid to coach. He’s a team player.” Uzomah spent his sophomore season backing up Michael Tamburo and serving as a wide receiver before moving back to QB his junior season. As a junior, Uzomah completed 59.5% of his passes for over 1700 yards and led his team to a region title and a deep playoff run. This season, Uzomah will spend some time at WR with junior Scott Hosch serving as the Bulldogs' QB.
As I watched Uzomah on the North Gwinnett field, I just thought, "WOW." This dude is 6'5 and he is just taller and bigger and faster than the rest of Grayson and even his own team. It will be hard to stop this guy when he's under center this year and who is going to be able to cover him one-on-one in the defensive secondary. I think it would be a mistake to let Uzomah play too much away from QB, but if the situation calls for it, sure. Just remember, in high school, you want your best player around the ball AT ALL TIMES. Uzomah needs to touch the ball on 95% of the plays, either as a QB throwing, running, handing off or receiving it from Hosch. Don't get too cute. This guy is a player.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Chipper done for the year...and his career?
For the second time in his career, Chipper Jones’ left ACL has turned uncooperative and will force another season-ending injury, according to the team. Jones hurt his left knee on Tuesday after diving to snag a shot down the third base foul line. The Braves third baseman got the out but left the game after writhing on the ground. An MRI Thursday showed that the knee ligament was torn,” according to the team, though a report from the AJC said it was “stretched.” Jones will now undergo surgery to repair the knee, though no timetable has been set according to the team. Jones is scheduled to address the media Friday.
Rumors swirled earlier this year that Jones may choose to retire at the end of the 2010 season, despite several years left on an extension he signed last year. Jones momentarily squashed the rumors and then started mashing the ball to the tune of .307 with seven home runs and a .907 OPS in the last 44 games. For the season, Jones hit .265 with an OBP of .381 while slugging .426. If Jones is finished for the year, he’ll finish with 10 home runs and 46 RBI in just 95 games. The totals would all be some of the lowest of his career. In 2005, he appeared in just 109 games but still managed 21 home runs. Last season he hit one point lower on his batting average while in 2004 he bottomed out at .248. In 2005 he managed just 72 RBI while last year he drove in 71.
The injury was the latest in a string of injuries for the Braves. All-star Martin Prado was already on the DL when Jones suffered the injury in Houston. Prado is scheduled to take batting practice in the next few days and will be eligible to come off of the DL Monday. Another all-star Jason Heyward was already on the bench with his own knee issues when Jones left Tuesday’s game. Heyward missed action Tuesday and Wednesday due to a sore right knee he tweaked trying to make a play in Monday’s loss.
Rumors swirled earlier this year that Jones may choose to retire at the end of the 2010 season, despite several years left on an extension he signed last year. Jones momentarily squashed the rumors and then started mashing the ball to the tune of .307 with seven home runs and a .907 OPS in the last 44 games. For the season, Jones hit .265 with an OBP of .381 while slugging .426. If Jones is finished for the year, he’ll finish with 10 home runs and 46 RBI in just 95 games. The totals would all be some of the lowest of his career. In 2005, he appeared in just 109 games but still managed 21 home runs. Last season he hit one point lower on his batting average while in 2004 he bottomed out at .248. In 2005 he managed just 72 RBI while last year he drove in 71.
The injury was the latest in a string of injuries for the Braves. All-star Martin Prado was already on the DL when Jones suffered the injury in Houston. Prado is scheduled to take batting practice in the next few days and will be eligible to come off of the DL Monday. Another all-star Jason Heyward was already on the bench with his own knee issues when Jones left Tuesday’s game. Heyward missed action Tuesday and Wednesday due to a sore right knee he tweaked trying to make a play in Monday’s loss.
The SEC East
All week long I've been breaking down college football, first the ACC Atlantic, then the Coastal. Yesterday, with Paul Mac's help it was the SEC West. Now on to the SEC East. Next week, we'll have the Pac10, Big XII, Big Easy and finally the Big11.
No blogs tomorrow as I am taking the day off because I am getting old. I probably won't be able to see the computer.
With the Ados going NO further....
The SEC East
Overall...
I think everyone is just afraid of Pope Urban (and I am too! He is a CRAZY person. But I guess I'm just a scumbag), but honestly, while there might be talent on the roster, we won't know until they suit up. Yes most of the players there were a part of a 5-star No.1-ranked recruiting class, but college and the high school scenes are a bit different. You are asking all of those new defenders to just step into the shoes of everyone that was recently drafted? And hey John Brantley, you're a drop-back passer, which ISN'T Meyer's ideal offense. I wonder how that will work, especially without a running back. Oh Urban has a few scatbacks, but who will get the carry on 3rd and 1 with the game on the line?
South Carolina is supposed to be FINALLY ready this season. We'll find out more on 9/11. Kentucky has a new coach, so does Vandy and Tennessee. As far as Tennessee goes, I guess Derek Dooley was full of crap about wanting to change the culture. If you REALLY wanted to, you'd have sent EVERYONE INVOLVED in beating up a cop off the team and gone 2-10 just to prove a point. Saban would have done that. Actually Saban would have kicked them off, then gone 10-2 just because he is Chuck Norris-like.
And as far as Georgia goes, they aren't preseason No.3 CFN, but they shouldn't be unranked, SI. Start off the year around 20 and slowly build. Could this team be 1-2 on 9/19? Maybe. Could this team be undefeated headed into the Cocktail party? Maybe.
I must say, with 10 starters back on offense and Aaron Murray not being a slouch, I feel good about the offense. As far as the defense, as long as people stop getting injured, this unit is going to at least have fire that it didn't have last season.
Projected Order of Finish
1)-tie Florida. While I think missing all of those people will be big, Florida is still Florida. They will fall @ Alabama, but likely beat Georgia and earn the right to reface Alabama in the SECCG. Though, I could still see Florida struggling against a tough and physical team like LSU, but come on. These guys finish the regular season with one loss...@ Alabama. Though I'd love to see Grantham just blitz the heck out of Brantley to see what happens.
1)-tie. Georgia is undefeated headed into the Cocktail Party, they lose, yet still go to the Sugar or Orange Bowl. Book it. One loss, 11-1. SEC-East co-champs. Sounds good to me. The running game won't be fancy, just effective. The Passing game will surprise people (Aaron Murray has AJ Green and his HS buddy Orson Charles!) and the defense can ONLY be better. Seriously. Add in the strong kicking game, and you've got yourself a ballgame.
3) South Carolina. Hey Stephen Garcia is back! Everyone NOT wearing Gamecock garb is cheering. Lattimore will likely be Spurrier's best back at SoCar, but he's just a freshman. The defense will be stingy again this season, but I don't think they can do it to Georgia. Nope. And forget them beating Florida. Sorry Stevie. Welcome to the Outback Bowl. Lou Holtz used to get them there all the time.
4) UK. That's right. UK ahead of Tennessee. This is FINALLY the year for the Wildcats to beat Tennessee. First time since 1984, according to our good friend Brandon Evans of http://chuckoliver.net. As long as Randall Cobb is involved in the UK offense, the Wildcats will be dangerous. But you KNOW too that CMR will want to beat their brains in for last year. Let's hope he does at least.
5) Tennessee. Is Matt Simms the QB? Tyler Bray? Who cares? TPoole is likely the running back. I saw him at Stephens Co his senior season and he can really move when he gets going (think Bowser from Super MarioKart), but sometimes he can be bottled up. For an entire half. But a enh defense. (at least that was the case in High School). The oline doesn't have much; neither does the dline. Dooley is in trouble.
6) Vandy. ICRC. I saw that yesterday. So funny. Vandy will be lucky to sneak out an SEC win this year, and would have been lucky to go 3-9 with Bobby Johnson at the helm. Sorry ICRC, but you might just go 1-10. I really feel for you, but I also want to destroy you and then get the starters out to rest them. Larry Smith likely at QB over Jordan Rogers (aaron's younger bro.) He is dangerous....sort of. Not really. This isn't Vandy 2005/ I shouldn't worry. Not going to. Cool color scheme though. Third best in the SEC. (Georgia #1, biased; Ole Miss #2, could just be the hot chicks but red and white and blue. very patriotic; Vandy's black and gold #3, think it is a color color scheme. I do)
No blogs tomorrow as I am taking the day off because I am getting old. I probably won't be able to see the computer.
With the Ados going NO further....
The SEC East
Overall...
I think everyone is just afraid of Pope Urban (and I am too! He is a CRAZY person. But I guess I'm just a scumbag), but honestly, while there might be talent on the roster, we won't know until they suit up. Yes most of the players there were a part of a 5-star No.1-ranked recruiting class, but college and the high school scenes are a bit different. You are asking all of those new defenders to just step into the shoes of everyone that was recently drafted? And hey John Brantley, you're a drop-back passer, which ISN'T Meyer's ideal offense. I wonder how that will work, especially without a running back. Oh Urban has a few scatbacks, but who will get the carry on 3rd and 1 with the game on the line?
South Carolina is supposed to be FINALLY ready this season. We'll find out more on 9/11. Kentucky has a new coach, so does Vandy and Tennessee. As far as Tennessee goes, I guess Derek Dooley was full of crap about wanting to change the culture. If you REALLY wanted to, you'd have sent EVERYONE INVOLVED in beating up a cop off the team and gone 2-10 just to prove a point. Saban would have done that. Actually Saban would have kicked them off, then gone 10-2 just because he is Chuck Norris-like.
And as far as Georgia goes, they aren't preseason No.3 CFN, but they shouldn't be unranked, SI. Start off the year around 20 and slowly build. Could this team be 1-2 on 9/19? Maybe. Could this team be undefeated headed into the Cocktail party? Maybe.
I must say, with 10 starters back on offense and Aaron Murray not being a slouch, I feel good about the offense. As far as the defense, as long as people stop getting injured, this unit is going to at least have fire that it didn't have last season.
Projected Order of Finish
1)-tie Florida. While I think missing all of those people will be big, Florida is still Florida. They will fall @ Alabama, but likely beat Georgia and earn the right to reface Alabama in the SECCG. Though, I could still see Florida struggling against a tough and physical team like LSU, but come on. These guys finish the regular season with one loss...@ Alabama. Though I'd love to see Grantham just blitz the heck out of Brantley to see what happens.
1)-tie. Georgia is undefeated headed into the Cocktail Party, they lose, yet still go to the Sugar or Orange Bowl. Book it. One loss, 11-1. SEC-East co-champs. Sounds good to me. The running game won't be fancy, just effective. The Passing game will surprise people (Aaron Murray has AJ Green and his HS buddy Orson Charles!) and the defense can ONLY be better. Seriously. Add in the strong kicking game, and you've got yourself a ballgame.
3) South Carolina. Hey Stephen Garcia is back! Everyone NOT wearing Gamecock garb is cheering. Lattimore will likely be Spurrier's best back at SoCar, but he's just a freshman. The defense will be stingy again this season, but I don't think they can do it to Georgia. Nope. And forget them beating Florida. Sorry Stevie. Welcome to the Outback Bowl. Lou Holtz used to get them there all the time.
4) UK. That's right. UK ahead of Tennessee. This is FINALLY the year for the Wildcats to beat Tennessee. First time since 1984, according to our good friend Brandon Evans of http://chuckoliver.net. As long as Randall Cobb is involved in the UK offense, the Wildcats will be dangerous. But you KNOW too that CMR will want to beat their brains in for last year. Let's hope he does at least.
5) Tennessee. Is Matt Simms the QB? Tyler Bray? Who cares? TPoole is likely the running back. I saw him at Stephens Co his senior season and he can really move when he gets going (think Bowser from Super MarioKart), but sometimes he can be bottled up. For an entire half. But a enh defense. (at least that was the case in High School). The oline doesn't have much; neither does the dline. Dooley is in trouble.
6) Vandy. ICRC. I saw that yesterday. So funny. Vandy will be lucky to sneak out an SEC win this year, and would have been lucky to go 3-9 with Bobby Johnson at the helm. Sorry ICRC, but you might just go 1-10. I really feel for you, but I also want to destroy you and then get the starters out to rest them. Larry Smith likely at QB over Jordan Rogers (aaron's younger bro.) He is dangerous....sort of. Not really. This isn't Vandy 2005/ I shouldn't worry. Not going to. Cool color scheme though. Third best in the SEC. (Georgia #1, biased; Ole Miss #2, could just be the hot chicks but red and white and blue. very patriotic; Vandy's black and gold #3, think it is a color color scheme. I do)
TheFletch says, Replace one Dave with another!
No hard copy of Score Atlanta this week, so this is the ONLY place to find TheFletch. Enjoy!
While the Atlanta Hawks made it once again to the second round of the NBA playoffs and the Atlanta Braves loaded up at the trading deadline while trying to hold its lead in the NL East, if anyone doubted what truly ruled the airwaves and the local webworld, it is, without question, football. Everyone from the Athens Banner-Herald to the AJC to 790 The Zone to Score Atlanta was all over the recent training camp openings of the four local football teams. The Atlanta Falcons have been going hard at each other with two-a-days and scrimmages the last few weeks and Score Atlanta’s Brian Jones has been covering it all for Score’s website and he was able to drop knowledge on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday the last few weeks on Sports Radio 790 The Zone. By being right in the action and being present at the press conferences, Jones is able to give an insight that the average fan blogger cannot give. Jones was able to comment on the scuffle between offensive lineman Sam Baker and rookie linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, having seen the event firsthand.
Jones has been joined by the AJC of course and D. Orlando Ledbetter has been able to twitter updates of camp throughout the day. For anyone needing a Falcons or football fix, the team has certainly been covered locally and nationally as well. After ESPN’s Colin Cowherd proclaimed that the Falcons was his NFC pick to go to the Super Bowl, it seems more and more people are now jumping on the Atlanta bandwagon. It is now more common than not to hear folks predict that the Falcons will win the NFC South and Phil Simms said earlier this week on 680 The Fan’s The Rude Awakening that he thinks the Falcons could certainly be a sleeper that could make a run in the playoffs. 680 and 790 have both been live at training camp with various shows, once again proving that football rules in Georgia. Even 790 The Zone’s Pollack & Bell were live at North Gwinnett High School for the Atlanta Falcons’ Friday Night Lights scrimmage and fireworks display.
But the Falcons are not the only team getting love around the state. When the University of Georgia Bulldogs opened up its summer practices, 790 The Zone’s Mayhem in the AM was in Athens for the event. The Zone also covered Georgia Tech’s practice opening. And Georgia State was given a platform to discuss its practices leading up to the inaugural season of Panther football last week on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday. The voice of the Panthers Dave Cohen, who also writes for Score Atlanta, appeared on air and gave the lowdown of how summer practice is going. Cohen gave some behind-the-scenes insight, revealing that the team will give multiple looks on offense and noting that Star Jackson was not simply handed a starting spot upon his transfer from Alabama, but he is rather earning the spot right now over two players that have been in Coach Bill Curry’s offense for two years.
The Atlanta Hawks will spend the 2010-11 season without big man Shaquille O’Neal, who signed last week with the Boston Celtics, but to read the AJC, it seems O’Neal left the Hawks at the alter. According to a recent headline on ajc.com, Shaq was “said to choose Celtics over Hawks.” However, if one cruises to ESPN.com or the WFNY blog, he/she would find that the Hawks were maybe third or fourth on the list of contenders for the services of the Big Shaqtus. Though O’Neal told friends that he would be open to playing for the Hawks, it was also rumored that O’Neal would go to the Heat, the Lakers, the Spurs, and the Knicks. Before O’Neal signed with Boston, Atlanta was competing with the Knicks for O’Neal’s services, but even AJC Hawks writer Michael Cunningham admitted in his story that the team wouldn’t be willing to meet Shaq’s asking price of more than the minimum when the team’s mid-level exception was still available or a guaranteed starting spot. Cunningham isn’t to blame here, it is ONCE AGAIN the headline writer for the AJC’s website who comes up with yellow journalism-level headlines simply to get clicks to various stories. Shaq wasn’t coming to Atlanta. Don’t make it sound like the Hawks were RIGHT THERE. The site misleads potential readers all the time, but it keeps working in terms of driving readers. Congrats on tricking your customers. You guys are shameless.
One paper that doesn’t feel the need to hoodwink its readers is the Athens Banner-Herald. Marc Weiszer provides great info about Georgia football several times a day with great blogs (that don’t turn into Georgia Tech and Florida mockfests), complete with honest quotes from players and stats that actually back up his thesis of each entry. With all due respect to Tim Tucker of the AJC, I’d rather turn to Weiszer on www.onlineathens.com to get Georgia info. Both papers have the same quotes, but I don’t have to deal with extra AJC fluff with ABH pieces.
790 The Zone listeners received a real treat earlier this week when Pollack & Bell featured a different David filling in for Pollack. Dave Archer or “Arch” as he is referred to in the business subbed in during a broadcast at Falcons training camp, and I must say that it was the best edition of Pollack & Bell that I’ve heard in some time. Bell and Arch had real chemistry and there was zero fake laughter. It genuinely sounded like these guys were having fun. It wasn’t all laughs though; Arch knows all about football and was very confident and knowledgeable on other sports topics as well. And he just seemed to understand Bell as well. The show never came to a screeching halt with a Bell reference that was older than 15 years into the past. Not only did Arch seem to get all of Bell’s references, but he joined in as well. 790 should at least consider the idea of floating an offer past Arch to see if he wanted to join the show on a more full-time basis. He certainly needs to be included as the first-call for a sub when Pollack is out of town doing ESPN work.
Finally, Score Atlanta will soon be releasing the Score 44, a list of the top 44 senior football players in the state of Georgia that will trump every other list of 10 or 11 or 12 that is put out by another publication. The Score 44 will be broken down on Score Atlanta’s The Official Visit over the next few weeks and we’ll even include the 12 that just missed the list. Throughout the football season, Georgia Public Broadcast and Score Atlanta will be keeping tabs on the Score 44 in our various platforms such as a midweek webcast, a Saturday morning radio show, and of course, The Official Visit. We hope the Score 44 will really take off and players will be excited to be included in the Score 44 in future seasons.
Can you believe he said that?“When I tell my colleagues that you get dressed, you walk across and people just maul you and bother you and internet people grabbing helmets, 'Sign this,' and we don't have security saying, 'Get the heck out of here.' You'll see a lot more 'get the heck out of here' from now on and let the kids go practice and concentrate on football."
That was Urban Meyer recently to the Palm Beach Post. Meyer would also call these people scumbags, but I am sure he was not referring to FANS that gather outside of the practice fields, likely little kids that worship the Gators and want them to just high five them or sign their hat. Way to call six-year-olds “scum bags.” Urban Meyer is a CRAZY PERSON.
While the Atlanta Hawks made it once again to the second round of the NBA playoffs and the Atlanta Braves loaded up at the trading deadline while trying to hold its lead in the NL East, if anyone doubted what truly ruled the airwaves and the local webworld, it is, without question, football. Everyone from the Athens Banner-Herald to the AJC to 790 The Zone to Score Atlanta was all over the recent training camp openings of the four local football teams. The Atlanta Falcons have been going hard at each other with two-a-days and scrimmages the last few weeks and Score Atlanta’s Brian Jones has been covering it all for Score’s website and he was able to drop knowledge on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday the last few weeks on Sports Radio 790 The Zone. By being right in the action and being present at the press conferences, Jones is able to give an insight that the average fan blogger cannot give. Jones was able to comment on the scuffle between offensive lineman Sam Baker and rookie linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, having seen the event firsthand.
Jones has been joined by the AJC of course and D. Orlando Ledbetter has been able to twitter updates of camp throughout the day. For anyone needing a Falcons or football fix, the team has certainly been covered locally and nationally as well. After ESPN’s Colin Cowherd proclaimed that the Falcons was his NFC pick to go to the Super Bowl, it seems more and more people are now jumping on the Atlanta bandwagon. It is now more common than not to hear folks predict that the Falcons will win the NFC South and Phil Simms said earlier this week on 680 The Fan’s The Rude Awakening that he thinks the Falcons could certainly be a sleeper that could make a run in the playoffs. 680 and 790 have both been live at training camp with various shows, once again proving that football rules in Georgia. Even 790 The Zone’s Pollack & Bell were live at North Gwinnett High School for the Atlanta Falcons’ Friday Night Lights scrimmage and fireworks display.
But the Falcons are not the only team getting love around the state. When the University of Georgia Bulldogs opened up its summer practices, 790 The Zone’s Mayhem in the AM was in Athens for the event. The Zone also covered Georgia Tech’s practice opening. And Georgia State was given a platform to discuss its practices leading up to the inaugural season of Panther football last week on Score Atlanta Sports Sunday. The voice of the Panthers Dave Cohen, who also writes for Score Atlanta, appeared on air and gave the lowdown of how summer practice is going. Cohen gave some behind-the-scenes insight, revealing that the team will give multiple looks on offense and noting that Star Jackson was not simply handed a starting spot upon his transfer from Alabama, but he is rather earning the spot right now over two players that have been in Coach Bill Curry’s offense for two years.
The Atlanta Hawks will spend the 2010-11 season without big man Shaquille O’Neal, who signed last week with the Boston Celtics, but to read the AJC, it seems O’Neal left the Hawks at the alter. According to a recent headline on ajc.com, Shaq was “said to choose Celtics over Hawks.” However, if one cruises to ESPN.com or the WFNY blog, he/she would find that the Hawks were maybe third or fourth on the list of contenders for the services of the Big Shaqtus. Though O’Neal told friends that he would be open to playing for the Hawks, it was also rumored that O’Neal would go to the Heat, the Lakers, the Spurs, and the Knicks. Before O’Neal signed with Boston, Atlanta was competing with the Knicks for O’Neal’s services, but even AJC Hawks writer Michael Cunningham admitted in his story that the team wouldn’t be willing to meet Shaq’s asking price of more than the minimum when the team’s mid-level exception was still available or a guaranteed starting spot. Cunningham isn’t to blame here, it is ONCE AGAIN the headline writer for the AJC’s website who comes up with yellow journalism-level headlines simply to get clicks to various stories. Shaq wasn’t coming to Atlanta. Don’t make it sound like the Hawks were RIGHT THERE. The site misleads potential readers all the time, but it keeps working in terms of driving readers. Congrats on tricking your customers. You guys are shameless.
One paper that doesn’t feel the need to hoodwink its readers is the Athens Banner-Herald. Marc Weiszer provides great info about Georgia football several times a day with great blogs (that don’t turn into Georgia Tech and Florida mockfests), complete with honest quotes from players and stats that actually back up his thesis of each entry. With all due respect to Tim Tucker of the AJC, I’d rather turn to Weiszer on www.onlineathens.com to get Georgia info. Both papers have the same quotes, but I don’t have to deal with extra AJC fluff with ABH pieces.
790 The Zone listeners received a real treat earlier this week when Pollack & Bell featured a different David filling in for Pollack. Dave Archer or “Arch” as he is referred to in the business subbed in during a broadcast at Falcons training camp, and I must say that it was the best edition of Pollack & Bell that I’ve heard in some time. Bell and Arch had real chemistry and there was zero fake laughter. It genuinely sounded like these guys were having fun. It wasn’t all laughs though; Arch knows all about football and was very confident and knowledgeable on other sports topics as well. And he just seemed to understand Bell as well. The show never came to a screeching halt with a Bell reference that was older than 15 years into the past. Not only did Arch seem to get all of Bell’s references, but he joined in as well. 790 should at least consider the idea of floating an offer past Arch to see if he wanted to join the show on a more full-time basis. He certainly needs to be included as the first-call for a sub when Pollack is out of town doing ESPN work.
Finally, Score Atlanta will soon be releasing the Score 44, a list of the top 44 senior football players in the state of Georgia that will trump every other list of 10 or 11 or 12 that is put out by another publication. The Score 44 will be broken down on Score Atlanta’s The Official Visit over the next few weeks and we’ll even include the 12 that just missed the list. Throughout the football season, Georgia Public Broadcast and Score Atlanta will be keeping tabs on the Score 44 in our various platforms such as a midweek webcast, a Saturday morning radio show, and of course, The Official Visit. We hope the Score 44 will really take off and players will be excited to be included in the Score 44 in future seasons.
Can you believe he said that?“When I tell my colleagues that you get dressed, you walk across and people just maul you and bother you and internet people grabbing helmets, 'Sign this,' and we don't have security saying, 'Get the heck out of here.' You'll see a lot more 'get the heck out of here' from now on and let the kids go practice and concentrate on football."
That was Urban Meyer recently to the Palm Beach Post. Meyer would also call these people scumbags, but I am sure he was not referring to FANS that gather outside of the practice fields, likely little kids that worship the Gators and want them to just high five them or sign their hat. Way to call six-year-olds “scum bags.” Urban Meyer is a CRAZY PERSON.
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