The optimism chart needs a new name

Perhaps you remember this attempt to graph my expectations for the coming season. Three months later the update looks like heart monitor hooked up to a cadaver.























There is some good news, though. Check out Dan up there expecting a 9-3ish season.

"We will be good enough to beat almost everyone," he said. "But because of the O-line we won't be able to get past the best teams."

I judged that to be somewhere between reasonable expectation and irrational optimism, but at this point my judgment is essentially worthless.

Then there's Huff, who asked to be placed "somewhere below the actual chart in the 'We are f*****' area."

Joe was essentially unchartable:

"I recently dropped from my February 'unreasonably high expectations' to something closer to this," he said. "That represents one day."

We can be a sad, sorry and confused group of people in the summer.

Tell you what, Benedict

Let's just say I'm saving a picture of you, in case you transfer to Florida and make an All SEC team.

Let us hear from you, friend, so we can wish you luck.

Tickets mail Aug. 8, to all donors

If you donated for the first time this year, you picked a really good year to start. From the UGA Athletic Association:

For the 2011 season all Hartman Fund contributors with a minimum $250 per seat 2011 contribution, will receive adjacent renewable season tickets. Assignment of renewable season tickets, away game and single home game tickets are based on cumulative score, annual contribution and availability. Season tickets are scheduled to be mailed the week of August 8

Hines Ward: 'til the wheels fall off

I caught a good bit of Hines Ward's interview this morning on Colin Cowherd's show. Asked about retirement plans, Hines said he's talked to Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders and Emmitt Smith about it.

They all told him "to play 'til the wheels fall off," he said.

Hines continues to mold a Hall-of-Fame career in the NFL. He's only 46 catches short of 1,000 for his career, tied for 8th all-time with Randy Moss.

If you discount Herschel's USFL years, have to figure Hines is Georgia's most successful pro since, who, Fran Tarkenton?

NC State's Wilson picks Wisconsin over Auburn

Bad news for Auburn will always be good news for me. From the Associated Press:

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Former North Carolina State quarterback Russell Wilson is headed to Wisconsin, potentially solving one of the biggest hurdles standing between the Badgers and a Big Ten title. ...

Wilson also considered Auburn before settling on Wisconsin.

It's OK. We have plenty of 5-star o-linemen

You know what, Summer? You're a real bitch.

Brent Benedict, a redshirt freshman offensive lineman from Jacksonville and a former five-star recruit, left the team due to “personal reasons,” head coach Mark Richt said in a news release on Sunday. Benedict (6-foot-5, 312-pounds) was slated to back up Chris Burnette at right guard.

Columbus AAU accusations sound very bad

Son of a bitch. From The Ledger-Enquirer:

Police records show that an unauthorized bank account controlled by Adams and Porter was used to pay for flights to and from Los Angeles for Jarvis Jones, a two-sport star at Carver High School who played football for one season at the University of Southern California, and for the cell phone bill of the mother of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a five-star shooting guard from Greenville High School.

NCAA rules do not allow amateur sports organizations to provide expenses for athletes in excess of actual and necessary travel, room and board, apparel and equipment for competition and practice.

The story is solid, well-sourced, based on a local police investigation and gives an example of how the NCAA responded in a similar case.

It's hard to see how this doesn't lead to suspensions for players we were absolutely depending on.

Update: I don't expect rationality from the NCAA anymore. This is from Jarvis' USC bio:

Overall in 2009 while appearing in the first 8 games, he had 13 tackles, including 1.5 for losses. He suffered a neck sprain at Oregon and was sidelined for USC's last 5 games.

The most recent flight paid for was Oct. 9, 2009, just after the 5th game that year. So it would be possible to "suspend" him for 3 games he played for USC in 2009.

Again, I default to "NCAA will screw us."

GATA, Coach

Welcome home Coach Richt. I like where your head's at.

“He’s a good kid, but I’m not going to help Boise State."

Tony Gilbert, another home run

Thomas Brown and now Tony Gilbert? We're building a roster of wants-it over-achievers on that S&C training team. From The Telegraph:

Former All-SEC linebacker, three-year Georgia letterman and NFL veteran Tony Gilbert has been named an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Bulldogs.

Times-Recorder: Leonard Pope saves child

From the Americus Times-Recorder:

"Leonard was inside, and he came out of nowhere and dove into the water without any hesitation, cell phone in his pocket and all. He saved my son’s life, and I am so thankful that he was there for me and my child.”

Amen.

Please Herschel, don't hurt 'em

Boys, you ain't ready.

While the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner is in town for a couple of days, he will speak to the team and plans to work out with them tomorrow, including Crowell.

BOOM: Anti-matter trapped for 17 minutes

We need to get some of this shit.

Talk of "annihilation events" in this article. It sounds dangerous:

"In our universe, for example, positive charges favor heavy particles, matter is favored over antimatter, and forward time is favored over reverse."

I'm assuming a Large Hadron Collider was used, and the AP dateline was from Geneva, near the collider. But articles I've seen don't say.

Marilyn: I don't get it.

Me: Exactly.

test

Why the rapture didn't happen

Macho Man: Everything happens for a reason.
























No idea who's responsible for this, but I found it here. I'd love to know who to credit, and who to talk to about a line of beach blankets, curtains, bedspreads and other appropriate products.

Will Muschamp, let's go fishing

It's not the guarantee, Will. It's that smug little look I can see on your face.

Auburn with a Lake: I understand

All in all, I'd rather go to Eugene. But Coach Richt, Mr. McGarity, I get it. We're heading to Clemson. Not going in August / September would have been nice, though.












Clemson: We got a rock and a hill and it's 103 degrees in South Carolina.

Boise tickets sold out

Well, will you look at that (scroll down). There wasn't a problem. Groo was right, again.

Update: I called the ticket office just to confirm this:

"They sure did (sell out). We didn't have but a couple of thousand up in the nosebleed section, but they sure went fast."

"Character, character, character."

- UGA Defensive Captain Christian Robinson via Twitter, shortly after Washaun Ealey's transfer was announced.

Me: Something tells me he's not just transferring ...

Joe: He's running away from JT II? I like that much better.

Nick Marshall will carry all you love

When am I gonna hear some Nick Marshall at safety talk?

From Seth Emerson:

And if the team gets in a pinch, it always has Nick Marshall. The incoming freshman is going to be a cornerback, but he played quarterback at Wilcox County, and has a pretty good arm.

The thinking here has been that Nick Marshall is likely to play wide receiver, given our issues there.

Update: Sorry, I was thinking of Malcolm Mitchell, a db/wr Richt has said will probably get a shot at wide receiver first. Bottom line is we need a couple of guys in this class to be awesome in the right positions this year, and I'm starting to think we'll get that, because I'm ridiculous.

We have dogs that jump from helicopters

Damn.

















Image: Tech. Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez, U.S. Air Force.