Georgia GymDog Shayla Worley joins me on Heatin’ Up to discuss high fives, height issues and hats plus some slightly more serious topics.
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Here’s the picture Shayla was referring to in the interview
The GymDogs in their pre-meet mall trip wearing goofy hats
Homeboy can fly.
UPDATE: Turns our Polee has put off his decision after Oregon entered the picture with a scholarship offer. The Ducks basketball team recently hired Creighton’s Dana Altman as head coach and Altman wasted no time in calling Polee. Contest for coolest Nike schwag is on.
Westchester High School senior Dwayne Polle is to announce his commitment between UGA and St. John’s this Saturday during halftime of one of the All-Star games he is participating in. Originally, Polee committed to USC as a junior. When Tim Floyd resigned amongst the O.J. Mayo fiasco, Polee re-opened his recruitment. Listed at 6′7″, Polee is an explosive wing player known for high-flying dunks and devastating blocks. It’s been clear from the get-go that Mark Fox has been recruiting this guy hard, with reports of Fox at an L.A. airport the day after the Bulldogs were eliminated from the SEC tournament. Talk about a red-eye flight.
If Polee does commit to Georgia, Bulldog fans can expect one thing from Polee: highlights. Check out the video below to see some of Polee’s games with his high school and AAU team. Travis Leslie and Polee dunk contest? In the works, I’m sure. To check out a more professional story, here’s the link to the AJC.
Red and Black beat writer returns to the podcast to discuss the dismissal of Zach Mettenberger and what it means for the Georgia football team.
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Former Georgia Bulldog, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Atlanta Falcons running back Verron Haynes joined Dayne,Dave, and Matt on the Triple Play. He talked about his discussions with teams, his time with the Steelers, wearing his Super Bowl ring to business meetings, and of course, The Hobnail Boot! Here is the interview in it’s entirety. You can catch awesome content like this every Tuesday on WUOG on The Triple Play (3p) with Dayne Young, Dave Tarter, Matt Ryan, and producer Trey Roberts.
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Just earlier this week, the University of Georgia recieved the shocking news that already suspended (1 game) QB Zach Mettenberger would be dismissed from the team due to violation of team policy. On another note, UGA rank last in the SEC in graduation. But I have good news, we are first at somethings! Team arrests and equestrian. UGA reported over 37 arrests in the since 2007. Maybe it is too easy to get in trouble in Athens: the women, the bars, the weather, etc.
However, our savior (as it appeared on G-Day), did not even get arrested in Athens, but over spring break in another Georgia town. Should Coach Richt be more lenient because Mettenberger was arrested in another city or should he treat the QB with the same discipline? Well, since action has already been taken, UGA fans can only discuss whether they agree or not with the punishment.
It is hard to disagree with any kind of punishment, because Mett absolutely deserves to be made an example out of; however, his punishment was too strict. Should we really dismiss our future starting QB when the next 2 kids on the roster are yet to impress anyone. Mett was the biggest and best out of the 3 QBs, and definitely to be considered for the starting job. But this kid was too dumb to figure that out. It is very difficult to get dismissed from the University of Georgia as the future starting QB. I’d have to imagine this kid isn’t too bright, and he probably wouldn’t be smart enough to get a real job considering he was arrested and dismissed from the team, as I say again the future starting QB. Now, I know all of us have had our troubles from time to time, but if I was to receive an MIP (minor in possession) right now, I would still be at the University of Georgia. We should be preparing this young adult for the NFL, as it seems to me, his only really way of making a decent salary (considering he was kicked off the UGA football, which is not necessarily loaded with Foundation Fellows). Zach Mettenberger needs to be better prepared by his coach. They need to teach him the correct ways to deal with legal trouble if he wants to succeed at a higher level.
Lets talk about Ben Roethlisberger. It is no coincidence that this man was charged twice for sexual assault. People just don’t go around throwing sexual assault charges. Roethlisberger has been a problem for the Pittsburgh Steelers since Day 1. Yet, he still gets to run off and do whatever he likes; whether it’d be because of 2 Superbowls or just being an NFL QB. There is no difference between the two but if Ben can get out of these charges, then why can’t Mettenberger slip away from some weak offenses.
We play football in the hardest conference in America, and the schools around us aren’t necessarily playing by the rules. I’m not advocating that we break rules to win, but if we can keep Mettenberger rather than immediately dismissing him and letting him run off to Tennessee, is that a successful days work? Carlos Dunlap gets a DUI and plays in the championship game. Derrick Rose never took the SAT and played in the championship game. 2 coaches on opposite ends of the spectrum-Urban Meyer and John Calipari- but both winners. Maybe it is time we take notes and bend the rules.
Johnathan Swift -A Modest Proposal
According the AJC, and just about everyone else, Bulldog QB Zach Mettenberger has been dismissed from the University of Georgia football team for a “violation of team rules.”
According to Claude Felton, there was not a new incident that spurred the decision. Mettenberger was arrested over spring break in Remerton, Georgia for underage drinking and possession of a fake ID. That case is still under investigation. It’s highly likely that new information in the case led to the decision to dismiss the redshirt freshman quarterback.
The move likely assures Aaron Murray the opening day gig as starting quarterback for Georgia. The Bulldogs return 10 offensive starters and were in the midst of a three way position battle involving Mettenberger, Murray, and Logan Gray.
As for Mettenberger, there’s no word on what he’ll do or where he’ll go next. If he intends to continue his football career, there are a number of likely destinations including Boston College, a school that recruited him heavily out of high school. If he choses to transfer to a Division 1 FBS school, he’ll have to sit out a year. If he goes FCS or Division II, he can play right away.
Kirk Carter here from Foley Field for another installment of some Clean Old Fashioned Hate. I’m a little late to the party, so no long winded introduction for this blog. Instead, I’ll try and update you with all things Georgia baseball related between innings. (more…)
Direct your hatred here.
With the G-Day practice over and done with, the unwashed masses of Bulldog Nation are flooded with optimism about the upcoming season. On some blogs and message boards I’ve read that Georgia will win the SEC East. Don’t start decking your trailers out with a 2010 SEC Champion banner just yet, this team stinks. Georgia is going to be an 8-4 team AT BEST, and will likely be reprising its role in Shreveport at worst.
Kirk, why are you so down on Georgia? It’s not because I enjoy raining on parades, the answer to that obviously rhetorical question is: “because I’m smarter than you.” While Georgia is returning 10 starters on offense, they’ll be breaking in a new guy at the most important position on the field… quarterback. No matter who the guy under center is, there are going to be some lumps and a steep learning curve. Its a shame that Georgia will waste its most talented player since Herschel (I’m talking about AJ Green).
However, the real problems will be on defense. I’m the only one who hasn’t drank the Kool-Aid on new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Sure, he’s said nice things and screamed at his players… but I remember a former defensive coordinator who did those same things (his name rhymes with Billie Car-tinez). Wake up from the day dream folks, Georgia’s defense isn’t going to be that good and here are three reasons why. (more…)
Mr. Georgia Basketball Likes to Dunk, A Lot
As reported by the AJC this past Thursday, Westlake High School senior forward Marcus Thornton has requested release from his letter of intent from nearby Clemson University after Tigers head coach Oliver Purnell bolted to DePaul University.
Acting as sort of an agent for his son, Thornton’s father, Billy, was asked if either Georgia or Georgia Tech were in the mix to pick up Mr. Georgia Basketball himself. “Absolutely, and for all the obvious reasons…it’s really early because we haven’t had the chance to talk to either of them personally. Georgia Tech is here in the ACC, and they always seem to have a lot of talent there. Georgia is an up-and-coming program. They seem to have some (player) needs.”
I’m sure we can all take confidence in the fact that Mark Fox has given Mr. Thornton a call or two since Marcus made the news he was exploring his options, especially since the word “absolutely” hasn’t exactly been a word we’re used to coming from star recruits when talking about UGA’s program.
The funny thing is, neither Georgia or Tech offered Thornton during the so-called “early period” in November. Not surprising, considering the other offers were from the likes of Wake Forest, Maryland and Xavier. It (or my optimistic thinking) now appears that the two state schools may have an inside track for the 6′7″ stat-machine. With the schools I just mentioned, if they don’t get a big recruit, they just get another one, usually filling out their recruiting classes by the time the McDonald’s All-American game rolls around. While I’m not saying that no school other than UGA and Tech will show interest, the fact that the late signing period (May 19th) creeps closer, staying close to home might not be such a bad idea. Especially with the newfound “success” of each program.
Georgia Tech, after an up and down regular season, found themselves in the ACC Championship game against eventual NCAA champion Duke and almost beat Ohio State in the NCAA tournament. And although the Bulldogs couldn’t win on the road, they proved that Stegman Coliseum does in-fact have a pulse other than during Gym Dog meets. And with Travis Leslie returning and Trey Thompkins on the verge of returning (there’s that optimistic thinking again), the Bulldogs could make some big noise in the SEC next year.
The question is, how does Thornton see this situation? In Georgia, he could see the potential of being “that” freshman that leads a program out of the bottom of the conference to the top. In Tech, Paul Hewitt’s shaky, but consistent competition in arguably the best basketball conference in the country is surely an attractive selling point. However, the biggest selling point has to be Paul Hewitt’s ability to prepare players for an eventual NBA career.
Chris Bosh is the biggest name on the board, but Jarret Jack, Anthony Morrow, Mario West, Will Bynum, and Thaddeus Young are all having decent NBA careers as well. Even Luke Schenscher had a stint with the Bulls and Trail Blazers for a second. In the other corner, Mark Fox only has Nick Fazekas, Ramon Sessions, and Kirk Snyder from his days at Nevada. Sessions is the only player still in the league.
Despite Hewitt’s inability to replicate his NCAA finalist appearance, he does do one thing: get his players paid. And with Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors moving up to the NBA, he’ll have plenty of time to work with Thornton.
Still, Mark Fox should never be taken lightly. Rumor has it that Fox was in California the day after the Dogs lost in the SEC tournament to do some recruiting on some of the Golden State’s biggest players. I have doubts as to whether or not Dennis Felton ever left his office, so there’s an upgrade. I’m sure Fox’s pitch to Thornton will be along the lines of being the part of something big, the revival of Georgia basketball. If anything, he’s got his 1-0 record against Tech in his pocket.
However, Thornton’s orignial choice, Clemson, is still in the race depending on who they hire to replace Purnell. Thornton still has relationships with most of the players there so a sexy new hire might seal the deal once again. Still, one cannot count out Paul Hewitt’s savy recruiting skills or the new kid on the block, Mark Fox, when Mr. Georgia Basketball is now looking for a new home.
Of course this is pure speculation, but this is a blog so speculation is almost a requirement. If you’re not familiar with Mr. Thornton, get familiar with him with this video from the 2010 AAAA Semifinal against Central Gwinnet. The best part of the video is obviously the audio supplied by the amazingly talented DJ Khaled. Oh yeah, Marcus Thornton is pretty good too.
It was a busy Saturday afternoon for Bulldog athletics this Saturday. In between G-Day, the Spec Towns Invitational, and Georgia baseball, there was plenty to occupy a Georgia fan with enough free time.
ON THE DIAMOND
Cone was the hero for Georgia this afternoon, but the Dawgs came up short.
Georgia’s chances of an SEC tournament birth and a school-record third-straight NCAA regional appearance took another blow. The Diamond Dawgs lost a heartbreaker to Ole Miss 4-3 in 13 innings.
A Zach Cone home run in the bottom of the 9th sent the game to extra innings. Georgia had a chance with loaded bases in the bottom of the 12th, but a strikeout by Johnathan Taylor ended the rally and the Rebels posted a three spot in the top of the 13th off of pitcher Chase Hawkins. Georgia rallied for two runs in the bottom half, but the comeback wasn’t enough.
Georgia got a great pitching effort for the second straight game, but the offense has gone silent against Ole Miss.
I’ll be covering the game for you Sunday with another live blog at 2:00pm, so be sure to check it out after the High Noon Sports Show (Sunday 12:00pm)… which you can also listen to live at www.wuog.org/sports
ON THE TRACK
Georgia’s men’s and women’s track and field squads debuted the newly renovated Spec Towns Track at the Spec Towns Invitational. The new surface was kind to Georgia athletes as the Bulldogs posted 7 huge wins and a host of personal bests.
Junior Georgina Nembhard pulled off a double gold, nabbing first in both the 100m (with a career best 11.37) and the 200m (23.80).
In the men’s sprints, Michael Proctor finished second in 10.54, Eric Harris raced to second place in the men’s 200 with a time of 21.19.
Machovec posted a career best in the shot put. 'Bout time.
My former roommate Israel Machovec posted a career-best performance in the shot put with a throw of 59′9″ on his fifth attempt.
In the distance events, Katie Weise threw down a time of 17:20 to win the women’s 5000, while Summer Nelson posted a time 4:46 to win the women’s 1500.
Former Bulldog Caleb Vogt nabbed first in the 5K with a time of 14:46 while JP Hackney broke 15 for the first time en route to second place.
In the men’s 5000, sophomore J.P. Hackney registered his first sub-15:00 finish to be the runner-up. Hackney crossed the finish line in 14:55.94 behind former Bulldog Caleb Vogt (14:46.47).
The Georgia distance runners will be headed out to California next weekend for the Mt. SAC Relays.
ON THE GRIDIRON
Despite the stat-line, I'm still a goober.
Zach Mettenberger threw two touchdowns, one for each of his fake IDs, as the White team beat the Red team 17-7.
I refuse to write more about a glorified practice. Although, one quote really stood out… from DE Justin Houston:
“We came to play”
Glad to see Houston and the Georgia defense, which didn’t “come to play” at any point during the regular season, decided to come out and give it their best effort. Way to prioritize boys.
