There will be a live blog tomorrow at 7:45 as our Georgia Bulldogs take on the Vanderbilt Commodores between the hedges.
ATHENS, Ga – The Georgia Bulldogs will open up spring camp tomorrow afternoon coming off a 10-4 season that included the teams’ first appearance in the SEC Championship game since 2005.
Coming into his 12th year as head coach of the Bulldogs, Mark Richt will step onto the practice field with a new 5-year contract. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham had his contact extended three more years in the off-season as well. The contracts have been agreed upon, but the final details are still being worked out.
On the field, the Bulldogs enter as the one of the favorites in the SEC East. There are many reasons why that is the case, including the depth that returns on the defense, and an experienced quarterback leading the offense. On the other hand, there are also reasons for skepticism as off-field problems. CLICK HERE for a preview of the offense as spring practice commences.
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For updates of Georgia football during spring camp in preparation for the 2012 season, follow me on Twitter @Mike_Reiter and like me on Facebook at Facebook.com/SportswithMikeR
Hello Dawg Nation its time for a new season of Georgia baseball. I would like to take us back circa June 2008. It was hot. It was the midwest in the Summer. There were our Dawgs were poised to take Omaha by storm. There were names like 3B Gordon Beckham and pitcher Josh Fields that who were wearing the silver britches back then. The Dawgs ascended to the top of Omaha only to fall to the other Bulldogs from Fresno State. Since this point, we have had our struggles. In part to a stacked SEC East. Where at one point last year the third best team in the league, South Carolina, was third in the country. Then went on to win the national championship against who else but the Florida Gators.
The Dawgs come into this new season ranked #11. Other preseason SEC hopefuls include:
1) Florida 3) South Carolina 4) Arkansas 
LSU 10) Vanderbilt 11) UGA 22) Mississippi
Starting line for the Dawgs
1. rf Peter Verdin #16
2. cf Conor Welton #11
3. ss Kyle Farmer #17
4. LF Hunter Cole #6
5. 2B Levi Hyams #3
6. 1B Colby May #25
7. Dh Brett DeLoach #22
8. C Brandon Stephens #5
9. 3B Curt Powell #8
Starting Pitcher: Alex Wood
Top 1st
Andrew Williams pop out in left field (Hunter Cole) to start the season. Alex Wood registers his first K of the year against Jay Lizanich. On the third batter Wood clocks a nasty change up to retire the side.
Bottom 1st
First hit of the new season is by the center fielder Conor Welton. With two outs and Hunter Cole’s first time to the plate Welton gets the signal to go…. safe. 3 pop outs end the inning. Hunter Cole is a highly recruited freshman from South Carolina, and got a good crack at it but it wasn’t enough.
Top 2nd
Alex Wood lets Kenny Wood on after a tough one to his left shoulder. However, the defense did its job and little doing in the 2nd for the Blue Hose.
Bottom
Levi Hyams knocks it about 350 feet to CF, but it stays in the park for the fly out. We have 4 really good cracks at it, but nothing doing so far. You get the feeling that the flood gates are about to open.
Top 3rd
Wood’s fastball is on today with his 3rd strikeout of the ballgame coming against Brandon Paul. Hunter Cole runs down an over the shoulder catch to end the top of the inning.
Bottom
One pitch. First homerun of the season for the Dawgs comes from the catcher Brandon Stephens. Curt Powell and Peter Verdin both hit back to back easy infield choppers to only be bailed out by SS and 3B errors. Again! Conor Welton lays down a perfect left infield bunt, and the pitcher slips. The bases are loaded! Kyle Farmer chucks it deep, and Curt Powell comes in on a sac fly. 1 out. Hunter Cole sees one pitch…. fly out. 2nd out, men still on 1st and 2nd. Wild pitch to Levi Hyams moves everyone a base. He goes down on strikes. Dawgs 2-0
Top 4th
With two easy outs, prior to the center fielder Conor Welton comes flying in to make a sliding out.
Bottom 4th
Brandon Stephens is having a big opening day. He records an easy double with a hit deep to left. Curt Powell brings him in with the two out single. Dawgs 3-0. Peter Verdin with a hit to left-center pushes Powell over to third. Two outs with Connor Welton to the plate. Welton will take a base after the walk. Big hitter Kyle Farmer is at the base with the bases loaded….pop out behind third base. The Dawgs get one and squander three.
Top 5th
RF Peter Verdin lays out for the grab and the ball slips through the glove. Stand up double to start the inning for Gabe Grammer. Peter Verdin grabs the next one at the warning track. Billy Motrant hits a slow chopper midway to third and Alex Wood barehanded throws him out at first. Andrew Williams brings in Grammar on the single. Dawgs 3-1.
Bottom
Levi Hyams takes an early crack at it, the first baseman Kenny Bryant knocks in down but cant hang on. Single. The next pitch he takes off and is safe at 2nd. He scores after a quick single (Dawgs 10 hits). Dawgs 4-1.
Top 6th
Alex Wood looks like he is starting to waiver just a bit. He gives up two easy singles to start the inning to Jay Lizanich and Brad Zebedis. Wood strengthens a bit with two straight Ks. Matt Peden up…. and down 3ks.
Bottom
Curt Powell takes the 6th by storm with a crowd pleasing triple. Verdin takes a force out to second, but Powell comes on home. Dawgs 5-1. Conor Welton walks. Kyle Farmer rips it to the corner and brings him in. 6-1.
Top 7th
#34 Pete Nagel replaces Cone. Brandon Paul single gets the ball rolling but not much else.
Bottom 7th
Brandon Stephens takes one to the right field wall for the double. One out. Two more batters go by with little success. Still 6-1 Dawgs.
8th Inning
Not much happening for either team in the 8th we go to the 9th with the Dawgs up 6-1.
9th
Bryan Benzor comes on for the save. 3 up 3 down. Dawgs win! 6-1. Go to 1-0.
Georgia plays the Blue Hose Saturday at 2. Good night.
As many of you know, one of the best days to be a dawg finally arrives tomorrow. I am speaking, of course, of National Signing Day, and this year, UGA will be treated to one of its most exciting in a long time. No doubt rests in my mind that it will be a great day to don the red and black. There is a lengthly line of talented recruits deciding tomorrow, so make sure to find a comfy spot to zone in on the action– and get there early! I hear several choice restaurants fill up fast.
Here is a schedule and breakdown of recruits announcing tomorrow to be aware of:
DL Dalvin Tomlinson (McDonough, Ga./Henry Co.) 8:45 a.m.
Accolades: 4 star recruit, AJC Super 11 selection
Deciding between: Alabama, Georgia Tech, UGA
Prediction: Dalvin has never shown the dawgs a whole lot of love, but UGA remains a finalist. For a long time, I have predicted he would end up a yellow jacket. He certainly has the academic record. However, Alabama’s staff has recently told him that they have room for him, despite what they had said previously. How this is possible, after having to defer Atlanta RB Justin Taylor to their 2013 class, is beyond me. Nonetheless, as soon as Bama said they had room, Dalvin promptly cancelled his UGA visit. He’s going to the Tide.
WR JaQuay Williams (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) 8:45 a.m.
Accolates: 4 star recruit, Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl selection
Deciding between: Auburn, UGA
Prediction: JaQuay has been long committed to Auburn, but the attrition within the program, headlined by offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn’s jump to Arkansas State, has led to several of Auburn’s recruits rethinking their decisions. JaQuay is among them. UGA is pushing HARD. The most recent development here is UGA offering fellow Sandy Creek stars Shaquille Wiggins (2013) and Demarre Kitt (2014). It would be inaccurate to say the three of them haven’t discussed the idea of playing at UGA together. It’s a really close fight right now. Probably 50/50. If I HAD to make a pick, I’d say he sticks with Auburn, but the dawgs are definitely under heavy consideration because of the options at quarter back in Aaron Murray, Christian Lemay, and Brice Ramsey (2013 commit).
LB/S Josh Harvey-Clemons (Valdosta, Ga./Lowndes) 9 a.m., Live on ESPNU and ESPN3
Accolades: 5 star recruit, Under Armour All-American, AJC Super 11 selection
Deciding between: Florida, FSU, Miami, UGA
Prediction: Arguably UGA’s most important recruit for National Signing Day– for a while now, JHC has been rumored to be UGA-bound, but FSU is making one giant push that is leaving me in doubt. The issue with FSU is their distance from JHC’s hometown of Valdosta. Tallahassee is only 1.75 hours away from home, while UGA lies over 4 hours north. JHC’s grandfather wants him to stay close, and FSU fits the bill. Florida has been a long time player, but I don’t think they are much of a threat. Miami has tried to cast its name onto the ballot late, and JHC obliged with a visit, but I see Miami as an impossibility due to being much farther than even UGA. In the end, I think JHC winds up in red and black.
OT Brandon Greene (Ellenwood, Ga./Cedar Grove) 9 a.m.
Accolades: 4 star recruit, Under Armour All-American
Deciding between: Alabama, UGA
Prediction: Greene has been committed to Alabama for a good while. UGA’s coaches have been getting after him pretty hard in the past few weeks, but I think he remains solidly committed to Bama. Not too much to talk about here.
DE/LB Kenderius Whitehead (Lithonia, Ga./Martin Luther King) 9 a.m.
Accolades: 4 star recruit, Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl selection
Deciding between: Clemson, NC State, UGA, UNC
Prediction: Currently committed to NC State. UGA has been chasing hard after Whitehead for a very long time, and he was giving lots of positive messages. However, 2 things have always held us back with Whitehead. First, Whitehead wants to play in a 4-3 as a DE, but Coach Todd Grantham wants him as an OLB in our 3-4 scheme. Second, Whitehead does not seem to want to compete with Jordan Jenkins and Josh Harvey-Clemons. Can you blame him? He sticks with NC State.
ATH Will Redmond (Memphis, Tenn./East) 9:30 a.m.
Accolades: 4 star recruit, Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl selection
Deciding between: Mississippi State, UGA
Prediction: Redmond is currently committed to Mississippi State, and they are pitching good playing time to him– that’s something UGA can’t do right now. Even though UGA just flipped his buddy, Sheldon Dawson from Memphis, I’m confident Redmond will roll with the other bulldogs.
DE/LB Josh Dawson (Tucker, Ga./Tucker) 10 a.m.
Accolades: 4 star recruit
Deciding between: UGA, Vanderbilt
Prediction: It’s not often that you see a player like Dawson playing the role of “plan B,” but that’s kind of what he is right now. He has been committed to Vanderbilt, but the ‘dores have seen some flips, and Dawson could very easily be another. I think Dawson will commit to Georgia, especially if Josh Harvey-Clemons decides to take his talent elsewhere.
JUCO WR Cordarrelle Patterson (Hutchinson, Kan./Hutchinson CC) 11:30 a.m., Live on ESPNU
Accolades: 5 star recruit
Deciding between: LSU, Mississippi, Tennessee, UGA
Prediction: Cordarrelle, a JUCO prospect, is the second recruit here that one can make a case for being the most important recruit for UGA on National Signing Day. The reason I say that is because I think he can help UGA win an SEC championship in 2012. Patterson is a one-and-done guy, who will leave for the NFL draft after a season, but that’s all UGA needs to win it all. Patterson has been leaning toward UGA for a good while, although he has flirted with a handful of schools. The two biggest things working in our favor with Patterson are his relationship with Tony Ball and UGA’s close proximity to Patterson’s home state of South Carolina. I feel confident he will land at UGA.
OT Avery Young (Palm Beach Gardnens, Fla./Palm Beach Gardens) 2 p.m., Live on ESPNU and ESPN3
Accolades: 5 star recruit, Under Armour All-American
Deciding between: Auburn, Florida, Miami, UGA
Prediction: Another of UGA’s most valuable pursuits of National Signing Day. After the loss of Chester Brown due to matters beyond his control, it’s critical that Georgia secures one more lineman in this class. Avery has grown up in and has family in the state of Georgia, and UGA has long been considered his leader with Florida also in strong consideration. However, Auburn has come on very strong in recent months. Additionally, seemingly out of nowhere, Miami, too, has stuck a claim for Avery. A claim strong enough that some think he could end up a hurricane. Unlike any other prospect on this board, I think Avery really could end up in one of more than just two places. This is a close one, but I think UGA will prevail, and the dawgs finally get some depth at tackle.
We won’t be in Tampa tomorrow, but there are a few good men that will be. Be sure to check them out for all of your Outback Bowl news, commentary, and analysis. And even something funny.
Mike Reiter, SportsWithMike.com
Might be doing some analysis from the Twitter account tomorrow, so follow that if you haven’t already.
Sam Smith of blogs.bulls.com joins Ace McNeil and Mac Little to break down the Chicago Bulls and their Central Eastern division counterparts. Why has the buzz surrounding the Bulls been so quiet? Are the moves the Bulls made enough? And are the Pacers more of a threat? All this and more are discussed.
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Eureka! Here’s the the first podcast out of our 12-Hour NBA Preview. Josh Kinsey and Mac Little are joined by Michael Cunningham, the Atlanta Hawks beat writer for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The guys ask MC about the “No excuses mantra”, the development of Jeff Teague, a player to look for a breakout season (cough, Marvin Williams, cough), and MC’s plans had he missed an entire NBA season. And some other things.
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We’re having some technical difficulties here at WUOG Sports. Apparently editing a twelve hour NBA Preview show is difficult for programs like Audacity and Garageband.
But we’re still trying. Stay tuned.
It's back baby.
We here at WUOG Sports love the NBA. We love it so much that we began to wonder what we possibly could do with all of our free time over the break. With the lockout appearing like it would consume the entire NBA season, what were supposed to do Christmas Day and various other weeknights? Talk to our family? Sounds lame.
So when we found out that the players association and owners had come to a preliminary agreement over the new collective bargaining agreement and were indeed set to tip-0ff on December 25th, our hearts inflated with joy. No longer were we forced to talk to relatives with attentiveness, no longer would we have to labor through the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl, no longer would we have to pretend college basketball was equally as entertaining.
No sir, the NBA is back. And the unfortunate part is that while most of the big NBA headlines are being written, WUOG’s airwaves went into Break Radio. How were we to share our excitement with the people of Athens and beyond?
Here it is: a 12-Hour NBA Preview Show brought to you by none other than the fine sports staff at WUOG. We start tomorrow at noon and end at midnight. This is not a show for the faint of the NBA heart.
The show will be split into six, two-hour segments. Each segment will be talking about a main theme of the NBA season and then preview each division.
Want guests? We got them? Some of the best basketball writers from across the country are calling in to WUOG to help us in our fearless endeavor.
We’ll be talking trades, CBA, Hawks, Kobe, you name it. We will talk about everything. It’s time to step your NBA game with WUOG Sports. Here’s a schedule of tomorrow’s programming:
12PM-2PM Ace McNeil and Mac Little, Top NBA Headlines and the Central East Division, Guests: TBA
2PM-4PM Josh Kinsey and Mac Little, Atlanta Hawks and Southeast Division, Guests: Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat writer for the Atlanta Journal Constitution
4PM-6PM Matt Ryan and Mac Little, Potential and Actual Player Transactions and the Atlantic Division, Guests: Vincent Thomas, SLAM Magazine and FSS Columnist
6PM-7PM Trey Roberts and Patrick Bender, the new guard of the NBA and the Northwest Division Guests: Darnell Mayberry, Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for The Oklahoman
7PM-8PM Mac Little, the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, Guest: Larry Coon, NBA writer and resident salary cap expert for ESPN.com
8PM-10PM Ken Nasse and Mac Little, Update on NBA Headlines and Pacific Division, Guests: Corey Butler, former UGA point guard, current coach at Stanford University and self-proclaimed Kobe Bryant lover
10PM-12AM Mac Little, Show Wrap Up and Southwest Division, Guests: TBA
Listen in at 90.5FM Athens or at this link anywhere else. If you can’t listen tomorrow, we’ll be rolling out podcasts of all of our interviews within the week.
ATLANTA, Ga — It’s Saturday in Atlanta and it is time for some clean, old fashioned hate as the Georgia Bullodgs take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium
The Bulldogs (9-2) enter this game on a nine-game winning streak and have already clinched a berth in the SEC Championship game next a week from today in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets (8-3) began the season 6-0, but lost three of their next four games before beating Duke last Saturday.
You can read the rest of my prediction here
Georgia won the toss and defered the option to the second half. With its first drive, the Georgia Tech offense went three and out headlined by a 15 yard chop block penalty that put DeAngelo Tyson out of the game with an ankle injury.
Georgia took over at the 11 yard line, and was able to gain a couple of first downs. Murray threw an interception on a play where he got hit and WR Chris Conley didn’t realize it and overran the route.
Overal, Georgia’s defense has done a good job running on the outside, but has struggled containing the run on the outside.
On the offensive side of the ball, Georgia has been able to move the ball through the air and Murray has looked good. The sophomore quarterback is 6-for-8, 93 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Lone touchdown was to WR Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett, Tavarres King, Orson Charles and Malcolm Mitchell all have one reception. Branden Smith has two receptions for 13 yards. Mitchell is the leading rusher with 20 yards on 1 carry. Smith has 1 carry for 6 yards. Murray has one rush for 5 yards (QB sneak on fourth down).
Ken Malcome, the lone running back with a carry, lost three yards on the first offensive play of the game. Crowell has not played yet, and although he is dressed out, it appears he will not play.
Bennett isn’t the fastest receiver, isn’t the quickest, or biggest. but he makes plays and runs great routes.
Georgia 7, Georgia Tech 0
This is Aaron Murray’s day, and we’re all just along for the ride.
Maybe it’s because Georgia Tech runs the ball so much in practice, or maybe it’s because Tech just doesn’t have the athletes. Whatever the reason, no one can stop Aaron Murray.
Outside of the interception (where he was hit), the sophomore quarterback hasn’t really missed any receiver and hasn’t really been hit (outside of scrambling).
Murray is 13-for-18, 193 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Charles is the leading receiver with 67 yards on four receptions. Mitchell, King, and Smith all have two receptions. Bennett and Conley have caught the two touchdowns.
If that isn’t enough, Murray is the leading rusher for the Bulldog with 35 yards on three carries. Which brings me to the next thing of note. Georgia has no rushing attack at all.
Of players with the listed position of running back, Georgia has rushed for 1 yard on 5 carries. Malcome rushed 1 time for -3 yards and Thomas rushed 2 times for 2 yards. Although Georgia has 61 yards listed on the stat sheet, 35 are from Murray and 20 are from WR Malcolm Mitchell.
On the other side of the ball, the Georgia defense has played fairly well and has held the Georgia Tech offense to 10 points.
The problem for Todd Grantham’s unit has been the outside and the “pitch” part of the triple option. There has been little success up the middle because of Jon Jenkins and Kwame Geathers.
Stat-wise, Georgia Tech has rushed for 164 yards on 30 carries and has held the ball for 17:36.
Alec Ogletree leads the Georgia defense with 6 tackles.
Georgia 17, Georgia Tech 10
Another quarter is in the books, and the Georgia Bulldogs have continued to impress.
Earlier, I focused on Murray, and although he added two more touchdowns in the opening frame of the second half, the story of the 3rd quarter was the defense and it has played phenomenal.
Georgia Tech has been able to run the ball, but when it starts to pass, it’s absolute comedy.
It just can’t be done. Teven Washington threw two interceptions in that frame, one that was all-but-gift-wrapped to Michael Gilliard. The other, a phenomenal play by Shawn Williams.
This matchup featured both the second ranked rush defense (Georgia) and rush defense (Georgia Tech).
Through three quarters, the advantage goes to Todd Grantham and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Georgia 31, Georgia Tech 10
