From Athens-29 Days and counting

Another great post, Buc! You said a ton, and your thoughts are correct.

I agree about Johnny Football - I hope he keeps his eligibility, because I want those Crimson Tide LBs to have another shot at him. And another . . . and another . . . Then I want to watch the rich punk fade into obscurity, the way Ryan Leaf did after his college "career" ended. Someone said it somewhere else, but it bears repeating - I want to watch "Johnny Football versus Nicky Hardware", and I know who will get the best of that match up this time around.

As for the NFL . . . I hate to say it, but you are right about college football and the NFL. They will soon be one and the same. That hurts too, because I love college football. I do NOT love pro football. No marching bands. No team spirit. No traditions. No loyalty. No fight songs. No tailgating (I know, I know . . . Packers fans would disagree with me . . . but that's because what THEY call tailgating and what I call tailgating are two different things . . . those who disagree are invited to Jacksonville and the barrier islands around the end of October - you'll learn a thing or two). Oxford, Mississippi beats Green Bay, Wisconsin, every day of the football season. Sorry, Wisconsin, but it's true.

Soon we'll be paying college players and recruiting kids in elementary school (I think that's already happening). As we all know, in-state loyalty is all but finished. Sad.

But it's almost fall, and we're getting close to kick off time - I'm going to cling to my favorite sport until there's nothing left to hold onto!!!

GATA!! Coach'em UP!

This year the game I had circled was the SC game. Lat year was a train wreck. Can't agree more Thriller ... monkey has to come off our backs for us to move on. That game has left a bad taste in my mouth for way too long. Hearing that the coaches are getting their in players faces early is music to my ears. We don't have time to ease into season. First 4 games have 3 teams in top 15 tells me enough.

Thing that I haven't heard much about and I think it needs to be mentioned. How may times did we hear about our "soft west conference schedule" last few years? The ole ball sack even went as far as to say out of conference wins/losses shouldn't be counted the same as your own conference wins/losses. Have you seen the Lamecocks west opponents? Arky? Miss St? Give me a break. Shut-up Spurrier.

Tickets came Saturday! I am FIRED up! Go Dawgs! Let's GATA!

ESPN in Athens and probably the one thing that came out of the interview led by Chris, David and Herb that impressed me the most . . . . Over the summer when AM had practices posted with times, the young players were there. That was not the case last year when many of us were thinking we were ready and most of our defense returning. Herbstreit was the one most impressed with Georgia overall. Floored me.

Some probably won't like this statement, but it is the way that I view it "now". Several of the players came back to increase their chances in the NFL draft. One man in the middle that all can see when looking at youtube videos, played "his" game, not the defense as it was laid out by Grantham. On top of that played as many games as he could and throughout that period failed to crack the books. All about me.

First pad knocking of the season, Richt made some statements that lead me to believe both sides of the ball are on track to perform.

Keep hearing about Clemson's speed, most of it toward their receiver. They will see more speed than they have seen in a long time from a defensive unit. Believe that is one of the "high points" with our 2013 defense.

Sammy Watkins also returns and will be Boyd's favorite target. A first-team AP All-American as an all-purpose player in 2011 when he had 82 receptions, Watkins played in just 10 of the 13 games (and one of those was for just two snaps against LSU) last year, but still finished with 57 catches for 708 yards and three scores. He averaged 107 all-purpose yards per game. He is a consensus preseason All-American for 2013. Lifted from a Clemson site.

This season I am hoping that what we read and view in the media is real.

Young men remaining in Athens to practice. Says a lot to me. While we may not reach the top spot when the season is over, my wish is that everyone buys in to what "can be". Said before, funny shaped ball, a single bounce or bounces can change a season . . . . both good and bad.

With you thriller, in for the long haul. My nature is to "squawk" on occasion, do know that my heart is in the right place, and that is between the Hedges.

Young pups breaking bones in practice, sounds like Mark Richt is on course to be in mid season form in game one.

I love speed, we have it along with commitment it appears.

Buc, I love to see Sammy Watkins stats. You know why? Because his stats from last year make him look like an average UGA receiver. Not that that's bad, but if he's supposed to blow me away - well - he ain't exactly Calvin Johnson. I know he was injured last year, but so was Malcolm Mitchell, and he also played a few games as a corner, and had numbers almost as good as Watkins. As for Taj Boyd, he's a really good QB. But with all of our weapons - I'll GLADLY take AM.

Bring on the season.

thriller, really good observation(s).

Not going to be surprised to see formations with four wide. Fully expect to see the ball being tossed to Marshall and others out of the backfield. Who is going to cover our tightends? I don't have a clue. Know one thing, both of our TE's have large bodies. Would not want to go face to face with either.

Good post thriller.

Edit: Just saw this article . . . . think that Clemson players realize that Georgia will come to play.

dogbytesonline.com/tajh-boyds-in-person-...-for-bulldogs-73480/

One other observation about Sammy Watkins. He had 57 catches last year. Not ONE of our receivers had that many. What does that tell me? Well his yardage was less than TKs, so he's not as explosive as TK. Also, that many catches makes me wonder if Taj Boyd may sometimes get a little case of "tunnel vision"? Maybe AM spreads the ball around a little more because he has better field vision? Just thinking out loud.