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Random Thoughts

If you’ve never been to Hawaii, you should go. Absolutely amazing place. I was fortunate enough to go to Maui for my honeymoon a few years back. TV shows can somewhat capture the pure beauty of the place (especially now that HD is the norm…although Magnum PI tried), but the atmosphere and amazing climate were really something. Think Florida, only better in every possible way, including the presence of mountains and the general lack of Gator fans. OK, pretty much the only thing Florida and Hawaii have in common is the ocean and that ain’t even the same, so forget that comparison.

There’s almost no way to voice displeasure over the outcome of the BCS without sounding like a whiny UGA fan so I won’t go into too much detail, but you know I have to say something. I don’t think there’s some vast ESPN conspiracy to keep UGA out of the MNC, but I do have to say I was completely disappointed in the way ESPN lobbied so strongly across the board for two teams. I was particularly disappointed in Herbstreit for tossing UGA out of the picture so quickly and repeatedly under the premise that they didn’t win their conference championship when he lobbied hard for a Michigan-OSU rematch last year. Lastly, my one question to those ESPN talking heads would be that had Notre Dame been ranked #4 in the last week of the season, not played and had #1 and #2 both lose, do you think there’s any chance at all they wouldn’t be in the title game? But wait, they wouldn’t have won their conference title either. Oh, I see, it doesn’t apply to everyone, just those schools with guts enough to be in a conference that plays a conference title game.

While I think most UGA fans would have preferred a matchup against a team like USC in a bowl like the Rose that we so rarely have an opportunity to play in, I think most would agree that a primetime New Year’s Day bowl in a game that everyone is saying is one of the top 2 or 3 “must watch” bowls is a nice fall back plan. I hope the Rose enjoys dismal ratings.

As I’m typing this particular part of the writeup, Central Michigan is driving to their bowl with Purdue at 48 apiece. Ugh. They are our 2nd easiest opponent next year. Our schedule is absolutely brutal next year, especially that 4 game stretch that goes @LSU, UF in Jax, @UK and @AU. That is as bad as it gets although Kentucky will likely take a big step back next year.

OK, some end of season recognition for a few things:

• Favorite moment of the year: the entrance of the team prior to the AU game…that game was over before it ever started…I’ve never seen that stadium like that
• Favorite drive of the year: the opening drive against UF, and I’m not talking about the celebration…9 plays, all runs, 1 TD
• Key play of the year: OT pass to Henderson to beat Bama…the season could’ve gone a lot different if that play doesn’t happen…plus it was a precursor to the fun coming later
• Underappreciated play of the year: Moreno poking the ball free from Burnette’s hands resulting in a touchback and Georgia’s ball. If Moreno doesn’t make that play, who knows what happens.
• Offensive MVP: in a bit of a shocker, I’ll have to go with Trinton Sturdivant…Moreno gets all the pub and he was a true blessing, but Thomas Brown was nearly as productive and if he and Lumpkin don’t go down, Moreno probably isn’t required to be as productive…Sturdivant came in as a true freshman at a position of tremendous need and was a rock all year. I don’t know where we would’ve been without him.
• Defensive MVP: tougher call here but I think I’ll go with Danell Ellerbe…he was the one mainstay in the LB corps all year as injuries and newcomers flitted in and out…he also managed to lead the team in tackles

We’ll be wearing the black jerseys again. That went well earlier. If we can bottle a fraction of the emotion we channeled for that game we’ll be OK. If we bribe the PA system controllers to play Back in Black we should be good to go. I was also pleasantly surprised to hear 2 o the ESPN radio guys talking about the black jerseys and how they were the best college football jerseys they saw all year. Impressive. Looks like we’ll be wearing them once a year from here on out, late in the year each time. I imagine Auburn can expect to see us wearing them in Athens every other year. It wouldn’t surprise me to see it cycle each year between Auburn and GT with whichever game is in Athens.

I like the Haka (or Ha’a as I believe Hawaii refers to it). For those who don’t know, it’s a traditional warrior dance that’s performed to an opponent. Hawaii does it and personally I think it’s great. It’s unique. I don’t think it’s done to show up an opponent at all. If that’s the case, there are a ton of rugby teams that would be offended. Personally I hope the NCAA relaxes and lets Hawaii perform the dance. But I’m not counting it. The NCAA stopped being practical years ago. Now they just make money.

Have a safe weekend,
Jody