Bulldawg Illustrated Athens Issue 1

Bulldawg buzz • Hoop Dawgs • The magic of a Gym Dogs meet • Landers/Summitt • Fan profiles and photos

Athens

the sports and social scene beyond the hedges

Bulldawg buzz • Hoop Dawgs • The magic of a Gym Dogs meet • Landers/Summitt • Fan profiles and photos

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The Publisher Vance Leavy Throughout the years, my wife, Cheri, and I struggled with how to add more University of Georgia sports to Bulldawg Illustrated. Yes, we are devout lovers of the Georgia football team, but like most red and black faithful, no matter what the sport we support any student athlete that represents our alma mater.

The biggest challenge was imagining how on earth we would tackle so many sports like basketball, gymnastics, baseball, golf and tennis. Of course, those are just a few. And unfortunately from a production standpoint most of these sports do not occur during the fall when BI has weekly issues.

Now I guess, some may think the easy and logical solution would be to simply add more issues. And they would be correct, but they would be underestimating the blood, sweat and tears put into every issue we produce.

Don’t get me wrong, we absolutely love what we do and hope it shines through in the final product. But taking on another bulk of issues simply was mind-boggling.

Enter, Ryan Scates.

Several years ago, Cheri had her first encounter with Ryan.

The young freshman on his way to conquering the world was involved in starting an awesome philanthropic group, UGA Autism.

Since Jack Davis had most graciously provided art for our BI covers since 2003, Ryan inquired to Cheri if perhaps she would assist in Jack created the logo for Uga Autism.

If you don’t know Ryan, his passion makes it almost impossible to say no to anything he has on his mind. Naturally, he got the perfect Jack Davis original he sought.

We kept up with Ryan, as he did with us the last few years.

And then this past fall, he became our intern and did some amazing articles and videos for us pertaining to Georgia football. We knew he had plenty of talents, but each project he dove into blew us away more and more.

Cheri has dubbed him a “true renaissance man” and let’s not forget, he’s 22 and still in college.

After seven years of trying to figure out how to truly cover all the other UGA sports, I had an epiphany less than a month ago.

However my plan wouldn’t work unless Cheri and I had someone who would truly champion the project.

Luckily for our readers, both Cheri and I are also hard to say no to, as Ryan liked our vision for Bulldawg Illustrated Athens and accepted our offer to be its editor. And him getting into UGA Law, hopefully secures him for several more years.

We only had a very small problem. How were we going to launch a new product within a month, with the holidays staring us square in the face? Welcome to the publishing world, where anything is possible if you’re willing to burn the midnight oil in pursuit of sending that final page.

I’m now arriving at that point and what an incredible rush it has been seeing it come together. Particularly, watching Ryan’s zest in covering three basketball games and a gym meet in 6 days ... action photography, interviews, etc.

And our subject matter couldn’t have cooperated any better for our inaugural issue as Lander’s Lady Dogs are undefeated, Mark Fox and company punked the Jackets and Courtney McCool’s awesome flour routine secured a 1-0 start for the Gym Dogs, under new head coach, Jay Clark.

Exciting stuff indeed!

Ryan, Cheri and I certainly look forward to delving into all the other sports with a new issue every other week until June.

Our cover says it all in the passionate faces of Courtney McCool, Harry Dawg, Coach Mark Fox, Ashley Houts, Coach Andy Landers, Trey Thompkins, Coach Jay Clark, Jasmine James, Grace Taylor and Ricky McPhee.

Let our journey begin beyond the hedeges …

Publishers: Cha Cha Cha Publishing Cheri and Vance Leavy Editor: Ryan Scates

Layout Designer: Vance Leavy Web Maven: Cheri Leavy Videographer: Ryan Scates

Athens

the sports and social scene beyond the hedges

Page 6

Lady Dawgs

Page 9

Fan ProFiles

Page 10

Hoop Dawgs

Page 12

Gym Dawgs

The EDITOR Ryan Scates Athens locals know that from August through December, everyone is a Dawg fan. When the excitement of football season grips the state, it is hard for anyone from the stodgiest “double dawg” to the most raucous supporter from an outlying area to avoid getting caught up with football fever.

As football season winds down, however, oftentimes so do the once “die-hard” Georgia fans who leave Athens to be forgotten until the hope of Autumn comes back once more, leaving the tried and true Georgia men and women to support the Dawgs through Spring semester sports and the vibrant social calendar that comes with the changing seasons.

Whether you are a lifelong Athenian, a UGA student, die-hard Hoop Dawg, Gym Dog, or Lady Dogs fan, or just an avid enthusiast of all things “Georgia”, we have created Bulldawg Illustrated Athens with you in mind.

Check-in with us bi-monthly in print and 24-7-365 on our website www.bulldawgillustrated.com for the latest on Athens’ spring semester sports and social scene. As a reader, you can count on B.I. Athens bringing you insightful commentary, coverage of some of the University’s most decorated programs and players, the latest buzz on what is happening around town, quick rewinds to catch up on your favorite UGA sports teams, the fan photos you have grown to depend on from Bulldawg Illustrated, and much, much more.

Some highlights from this issue include a preview of the Men’s Basketball SEC slate, a fan’s perspective on the Georgia gymnastics experience, the latest in trends around town with Cheri Leavy’s Guide2Athens, and some great photos from Georgia teams in action at Stegeman Coliseum.

After having the opportunity to cover some basketball games and gymnastics meets in person, I can confidently state that any given event under the round roof of Stegeman features world-class athleticism. Sitting under the basket during the Hoop Dawgs’ contest against Tech, I got the cameraman’s view for three of that night’s “Top Ten” plays on ESPN’s Sports Center. You can imagine my déjà-vu when seeing the replays of Travis Leslie flying over my head on TV that night. (If you looked really hard on an HDTV, I think you can see my elbow in the corner of the screen!)

Also, for this issue I had the distinct honor of interviewing two of the best coaches in women’s basketball in Georgia’s own Andy Landers and Tennessee’s Pat Summitt. While your faithful editor is as Georgia as red clay, my Tennessee roots go back for generations, and interviewing Summitt was such a big deal that I could not stop myself from immediately calling my Grandfather afterwards to assure him that Coach Summitt is just as nice in person as she is successful on the basketball court.

With both Georgia basketball programs playing their hearts out as conference play heats up, the five-time defending national champion gymnastics team sitting atop the national rankings, and plenty more action coming down the pipe with tennis, baseball, softball, golf, swimming and diving and track and field, perhaps there is no better time to be a Georgia Bulldog than after the state’s focus has shifted beyond the hedges.

Enjoy our first issue, and Go Dawgs!

1-877-456-4624 info@bulldawgillustrated.com www.bulldawgillustrated.com Friends of Bulldawg Illustrated @BD_illustrated Special thanks to UGA sports communication for use of some photos

Sales Associates: Kelley Blanton Andrew Miller Holly Stanfill Michael Santos

Contributors: Jeff Dantzler Anna Ferguson

JefF DanTzler Magnificent moments against Tech

Free delivery, Athens-Clarke

For my inaugural column in our newest venture, Bulldawg Illustrated Athens, it occurred to me that it would be apropos to highlight what has been a highly successful decade for Georgia athletics against, to quote Dan Magill, the greatest Bulldog ever, The Eternal Infernal Enemy – Tech. So here we go, straight from the heart of America’s greatest college town, Athens, GA, the magnificent seven moments of Red and Black splendor against the Jackets in the 2000s.

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January 12, 2010

6. Chris Haack has carried on Georgia’s great men’s golf tradition and built the program into a national powerhouse. The Bulldogs second national championship under his watch came in 2005 in Owings Mill, Md., as Georgia blitzed the competition with all five golfers shooting an even par 70 on the final day of the event to win by a landslide 11 strokes at the ultra-challenging Caves Valley Golf Club. The second place finisher . . . Tech.

5. A devastating Sanford Stadium loss to the Yellow Jackets in 2008 kept the Dogs from making history and matching the infamous drought from 1949 – 56 for the longest winning streak in series history. But from 2001 – 2007, Georgia topped the Yellow Jackets seven straight times, establishing dominance in the rivalry. Four of the victories came by double digits, and the seven straight victories equaled Georgia’s longest ever winning streak in the series.

LIVE MUSIC

REALLY?! WHAT ELSE COULD YOU WANT

7. This was not a win against Tech, but it did come on their floor. When a tornado swept through downtown Atlanta during the 2008 Southeastern Conference men’s basketball tournament, it sent the city and the event into utter chaos. In the wee hours of the night, it was decided that one quarterfinal game, the semifinals and the championship would be played on the campus of Ga. Tech at Alexander Memorial due to extensive damage to the Georgia Dome. The Bulldogs would win a second straight game on a last second shot, getting the first ever SEC Tourney win over Kentucky to advance to the semi’s, where later that Saturday night Georgia won for the second time in a day, downing Mississippi State. The Dogs, the sixth seed out of the SEC East then rolled past Arkansas to complete what was the biggest story of the conference tournament season around the country, winning the championship and cutting down the nets on Tech’s home floor.

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4. Georgia never lost at Bobby Dodd Stadium and historic Grant Field during the 2000s, winning five straight on the road over the Yellow Jackets. Under Mark Richt’s watch, Georgia has rattled off a slew of impressive achievements, and without question, at the top of the list is a perfect 5-0 vs. Tech in Atlanta.

Georgia won 31-17 in 2001, 34-17 in ’03, 147 in ’05, 31-17 in ’07 and capped it off when the 30-24 upset victory in ’09.

3. David Perno has built Georgia’s baseball program into a national powerhouse. In 2008, as a national seed, the Bulldogs were upset in game one of the Athens Regional at Foley Field, falling to David Lipscomb College. It was a long road back. But led by the sensational Gordon Beckham, Georgia unleashed an onslaught, topping Louisville and then drubbing Lipscomb. Next up were the Yellow Jackets. Tech needed one win, and Georgia two to advance to the Super-Regional. Behind incredible pitching from Nick Montgomery, Alex McCree, Will Harvill, and Joshua Fields and a blistering hot collection of hitters, the Dogs decimated Tech 8-0 and 18-6. Foley Field was absolutely electric with overflow crowds, including a collection of fans sitting in the pine trees beyond the left center field wall. The next weekend, the Dogs beat N.C. State in two of three to win the Super-Regional and advance to the College World Series for the third time in five years under Perno’s watch.

Georgia would then defeat Miami and Stanford, advancing to the CWS Finals in Omaha and finishing the season ranked No. 2 in the land.

2. The next morning before we were to tape a couple of radio shows, I waited outside of Mark Richt’s office. When he walked in with the world’s greatest Sports Information Director Claude Felton, Georgia’s second year coach looked at me and said with a grin, “I bet you’re a pretty happy guy today.� Indeed. The Bulldogs had just blasted the Yellow Jackets 51-7 to wrap up the 2002 regular season with an 11-1 record.

The Dogs had broken off the chain. Georgia followed up the thrashing with a 30-3 drubbing of Arkansas in the SEC Championship Game and then bested Florida State 26-13 in the Sugar Bowl.

1. He was the seventh or eighth choice.

But kept hanging on. Finally, David Perno was hired as Georgia’s head baseball coach after a five week search in July of 2001, as Ron Polk had returned to Mississippi State after helping guide the Dogs to the College World Series. Perno has become the best baseball coach in program history and established himself as one of the nation’s elite.

In just his third season, after a thrilling Regional Championship victory over Clemson, underdog Georgia swept the two-game Super Regional from the Yellow Jackets to advance to the 2004 College World Series.

When he was hired, I was never happier for a person, or a program that meant so much to me. It was 3:30 on a Saturday afternoon and Perno’s Bulldogs were bound for Omaha, where Georgia would win twice and finish No. 3 nationally. It was certainly one of my greatest moments in Georgia annals and the tops for the Dogs against Tech in the 2000s.

THE TICKER

Lady Dawgs move to unprecedented 16-0 with wins over UK and UF McCool’s 9.925 on floor the difference, Gym Dawgs 195.150, Stanford 195.050 Trey Thompkins and Ricky McPhee lead Dawgs to 73-66 win over Tech Women’s tennis coach, Jeff Wallace receives the 2009 National Coach of the Year award

UGA Men’s and Women’s Tennis begin 2010 season ranked #7 and #4 Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Teams Lead Academics in Fall 2009 Lady Dawgs 5th in the nation in scoring defense, giving up only 50 points per game Former Hoops Dawg’ Sundiata Gaines signs with NBA’s Utah Jazz

Bulldawg Illustrated Athens

5

Lady DAWGS

“This is one that always has the potential to be very emotional” Andy Landers on the Tennessee rivalry

UPCOMING BASKETBALL GAMES Thu, Jan 14 Sun, Jan 17 Thu, Jan 21 Sun, Jan 24

@ Vanderbilt @ Arkansas Tennessee Ole Miss

8:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

FSN FSN CSS

Go to georgiadogs.com for radio broadcast info

Historic start for Landers’ team, play Lady Vols January 21 Off to their best start in school history, Andy Landers and the Georgia women’s basketball team are redhot heading into the teeth of the Southeastern Conference. While Kentucky gave the Lady Dogs an overtime scare Thursday night, West Tennessee Freshman sensation Jasmine James put Georgia ahead 61-60 with just seconds remaining to ensure the victory.

Georgia’s late-period overtime comeback was just another example of Landers’ squad exceeding expectations. The eighth ranked Lady Dogs were picked to finish fourth in the SEC by the league’s coaches, and the team features more freshman (six) than returning letter winners (five). Now that the team has gotten off to a school record 16-0 start, this team’s potential for greatness is becoming evident.

“This team hangs in there, they make plays” explained a surprisingly relaxed Andy Landers after the Kentucky win. However, when asked what parallels he saw between his current squad and past championship teams at Georgia, Landers brushed off any comparisons.

“It’s just too early to tell,” declared Landers.

Landers and the Georgia faithful will not have to wait much longer to see what the 2009-2010 team is made of. Competing in one of the strongest women’s basketball leagues in the country, the road to an SEC title runs right through Carlton Street and Stegeman Coliseum. The first marquee showdown in “the Steg” comes on January 21st, as Pat Summitt and perennial power Tennessee visits Athens.

The Georgia-Tennessee contest features two of the NCAA’s winningest coaches, and the magnitude of the series is not lost on the shot-callers.

“I think our series is one of the best in the conference,” explained Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, who has nothing but respect for Coach Landers and the Lady Dogs. “Andy brings out the very best in his players,” continued Summitt “and with recruiting, he always brings in the kind of players that help you cut down nets.”

When asked about the context of the Tennessee ri-

valry, Coach Landers reflected on the growth of women’s basketball over his and Tennessee Coach Summitt’s careers. “(Women’s college basketball) has changed every way it can change since we started coaching.” Landers explained. “Between recruiting, facilities, staff, media, it’s changed every possible way it can change. The rivalry, however, is the same. It’s a game that both teams have embraced as a challenge.”

Pat Summitt could not help but agree with Landers’ sentiments on the growth of the sport. “There was a time when the Tennessee roster was only made up of players from Tennessee and the surrounding states. Today, recruiting has gone national, and taken what were regional rivalries onto a national stage.”

With two Georgia letter winners hailing from the Volunteer State (Jasmine James, Memphis and Jasmine Harrell, Lebanon), there is no doubt that the GeorgiaTennessee contest will be one of 2010’s best matchups in Stegeman Coliseum. Tickets are available at the Georgia box office and online at georgiadogs.com. photo and story by Ryan Scates

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January 12, 2010

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SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY 12

THURSDAY 13

Georgia M Tennis vs. SEC Indoor Tournament, Atlanta

18

19

Georgia M Tennis vs. SEC Indoor Tournament, Atlanta

14 Georgia W Basketball vs.

Vanderbilt, 8:00 PM, Nashville Tenn.

Georgia M Basketball vs.

Ole Miss, 8:00 PM Athens

17

FRIDAY

20 Georgia W Basketball vs.

Tennessee, 7:00 PM, Athens

Georgia W Tennis vs. TBA Athens

16

15 Georgia M Tennis vs. SEC Indoor Tournament, Atlanta

Georgia M Tennis vs. SEC ndoor Tournament, Atlanta

Georgia W Tennis vs. TBA Athens

Georgia W Tennis vs. TBA Athens

Georgia Track & Field vs.

Kentucky Invitational, Lexington Ky.

Georgia Track & Field vs.

Kentucky Invitational, Lexington Ky.

Georgia Gymnastics vs.

Alabama, 8:30 PM, Tuscaloosa Ala.

Georgia M Basketball vs.

Mississippi State, 3:00 PM Starkville Miss.

21 Georgia W Basketball vs.

Tennessee, 7:00 PM, Athens

SATURDAY

23

22 Georgia Track & Field vs.

Hokie Invitational Blacksburg Va.

Georgia Track & Field vs.

Hokie Invitational Blacksburg Va.

Georgia Gymnastics vs. Utah 9:00 PM,Lake City Utah

Georgia M Tennis vs. USCUpstate, 1:00 PM, Athens

Georgia Track & Field vs.

Kentucky Invitational, Lexington Ky.

Georgia Swimming & Diving vs. University of Tennessee (M/W), 1:00 PM, Athens

Georgia W Basketball vs.

Arkansas, 3:00 PM, Fayetteville Ark.

Georgia M Basketball vs.

Tennessee, 5:00 PM, Athens

24

25

Georgia W Tennis vs.

South Florida, 1:00 PM Athens Georgia W Basketball vs.

Ole Miss, 1:00 PM, Athens

26

27 Georgia M Basketball vs.

Florida, 7:00 PM, Gainesville Fla.

28 Georgia W Basketball vs.

Mississippi State Starkville Miss.

30

29 Georgia W Tennis vs.

Virginia Tech, 2:00 PM Athens Georgia Gymnastics vs.

Auburn, 8:00 PM, Auburn Ala.

Georgia Swimming & Diving vs. South Carolina (M&W) and Alabama (M&W), 1:00 PM, Athens Georgia W Tennis vs. Ga. State / William & Mary, 2:00 PM, Athens .

Georgia M Basketball vs.

South Carolina, 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, Columbia S.C.

For tickets and info 8

January 12, 2010

georgiadogs.com

Gotta LOVE THE FANS

Name: Amy Bray and Addie Powell Residence: Athens Occupation: Owner of Slippers Why are you a supporter of the Gym Dawgs? Amy says GA gymnastics is family fun, it’s exciting and you really feel like you get to know the team. We have been season ticket holders for 17 years.

N

Name: Reign Streiter Residence: Athens Occupation: Realtor Why are you a supporter of the Hoop and Gym Dawgs? If you’re a Dawg fan for one sport, you’re a Dawg fan for all sports.

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Bulldawg Illustrated Athens

9

Hoop DAWGS

UPCOMING BASKETBALL GAMES Wed, Jan 13 Ole Miss Sat, Jan 16 @ Mississippi State Sat, Jan 23 Tennessee Wed, Jan 27 @ Florida

8:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

SECN ESPN2 FSN CSS

Go to georgiadogs.com for radio broadcasts

Coach Mark Fox has his players believing, which will be needed as SEC play continues.

Optimism high with Tech win and quality effort at Kentucky With what has become the bi-annual thrashing of Tech in Stegeman Coliseum and a strong effort displayed at Kentucky’s Rupp Arena behind them, the Hoop Dawgs and first year Mark Fox are looking to make a splash on the SEC scene in 2010. However, competing in a division that includes a resurgent Kentucky program and what have become dangerous squads in Florida and Tennessee, do not look for Coach Fox to get a warm welcome from his local colleagues.

The SEC media picked Georgia to finish dead last in the conference, citing a poor 2008-2009 campaign and a first year coach as evidence the Dogs would be down in 2010. While the media’s logic may be sound, the proof is in the hardwood for any Georgia faithful, who saw the underdog Dogs dominate ACC rival Georgia Tech in Athens.

Perhaps the media that expects a measly firstyear coach’s varsity to back down in the face of “superior talent” and “undeniable athleticism” should

first consider what that first year coach has to say to his players behind closed doors.

“I told our players, ‘I expect you to win.’” Stated Fox in a matter-of-fact manner after the Tech win.

“And I told them, ‘Don’t run around like you just won the Super Bowl after you win the game tonight, because you are expected to win.’”

A bold statement for a first-year coach out of Nevada, but if you know Mark Fox, or have seen this Georgia team hustle, you know their brazenness goes all the way to the scoreboard.

With upcoming games against Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Florida, the Bulldogs are going to need a lot of hustle and a Junkyard-attitude to hold their own in conference play. With four players scoring in double digits against Tech, the Dawgs are showing they know how to play more disciplined as a team, and the difference is reflected in the stats.

Georgia is averaging 22 foul shots per game, compared to 17 a year ago. Georgia also has led the SEC

in free-throw percentage through January, in contrast to the 2009 team that ranked 11th out of 12 in free throw percentage at season’s end.

Georgia is not without some outstanding leaders, however. Forward Trey Thompkins was named SEC Player of the Week following the Dogs’ win over Illinois in Duluth. Thompkins was the first Bulldog to win the award since Sundiata Gaines was recognized in February 2008. Also, outside threat Ricky McPhee has established career highs in six categories so far this season (points, rebounds, minutes, steals, three pointers and field goals) Standing between Georgia and the SEC Crown are conference powers Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and LSU. While the mainstream media has written Georgia off as a pretender for 2010, strong performances against Illinois, Georgia Tech and Kentucky have shown that with Mark Fox, opponents can expect the unexpected. photo and story by Ryan Scates

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January 12, 2010

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Attention Dawg Fans – Join the UGA Tip-Off Club and help support Coach Fox and the basketball dogs Join us as we roll into Columbia to watch the Bulldogs chew up the Gamecocks in an SEC East Battle on Sat. Jan 30.

Cost: $55 for members, $70 for non-members Price includes chartered bus ride to and from Columbia, Dinner in at Jillian's in Columbia, and a ticket to the game.

Hurry and act now because space is limited The UGA Tip-Off Club has played an integral role in UGA basketball for more than 50 years. All proceeds raised by the go to support UGA Men’s Basketball For more information about the UGA Tip-Off club or to register for events, please visit www.ugatipoffclub.com.

Bulldawg Illustrated Athens

11

Gym DAWGS

Teacher and pupil, Jay Clark and Grace Taylor

UPCOMING MEETS Sat, Jan 09 Fri, Jan 15 Fri, Jan 22 Fri, Jan 29

Stanford 4:00 p.m. @ Alabama 8:30 p.m.

ESPN2 (1/24 @ 1pm) @ Utah 9:00 p.m. @ Auburn 8:00 p.m.

CSS (2/2 @ TBD) Go to georgiadogs.com for live coverage

Usual magical moments as team gives Jay Clark his first win Football has wrapped and Georgia fans have moved on to their second favorite sporting love: gymnastics. No, I take that back. For much of the Bulldawg Nation, gymnastics rank higher than pigskin, and with good reason. The Gym Dogs are ranked the No. 1 college gymnastics team nationwide, a position they have held for years. As if that weren’t enough, the team has also clinched the national championship title the past five years in a row. If the latest meet - when the Gym Dogs beat out Stanford for a close victory - is any indicator of what this new season has in store, yet another title could be in the cards.

Sitting in the stands at that recent weekend’s winning performance, it was difficult for me- as a graduate of UGA and a current graduate student at the school- not to become swollen with pride as the women of the team hurled, flipped and spun in unreal ways. True, it was a sight I had seen before, having attended a few meets here and there in the past. But sitting to my left was a fellow UGA graduate, my fiancé, who had never attended such an event. His reaction to the two-hour rally was one of flabbergasted amazement. (The sport, after all, is the original extreme sport, according to a recent interview from

the new Gym Dog coach Jay Clark.)

“I mean, I don’t know anything about the sport, but I can’t see any kind of mistake anywhere,” he said. “These girls are good.”

As my fiancé now knows, there is something wholly remarkable about watching these women twist, twirl, turn and tumble over the mats, beams and bars. As he also now knows, thousands of Gym Dog devotees will flock to Stegman Coliseum for any and every gymnastics meet.

At the recent sold-out opener, the student section was filled with both guys and gals ready to root on their tumblers at every turn; the stands were completely packed with spectators young and old; there was even a young follower from Maryland who trekked to Athens with her mother for the event.

All these fans packing in to see the ladies work their magic can make for a) a rally cry heard on the moon, but also b) crowds of huge proportion. For any Gym Dog enthusiast, there are a few tricks of the fan trade that can make attending the meet a bit more enjoyable. Read on for these five handy tips.

Tip No. 1: Anticipate crowds- get there early. It’s a promise that Stegman will get hectic, especially with all those little tykes around. Plan for a crowd and take your time.

Tip No. 2: Avoid the parking deck. It may sound enticing, but there is ample parking on campus that is worth the walk. It will take you longer to try to park in- and then exit- the deck than to walk from those free on-campus spots.

Tip No.3: Bring cash. Some of the concession stands only take that tried and true form of currency. You know you’ll want a souvenir cup, after all.

Tip No. 4: Bring the kids. Little gymnasts and otherwise, the tiny tots will stay silent and wowed the whole time.

Tip No. 5: If you are taking a Gym Dog newbie, don’t warn them about the team’s introduction opener. The fireworks, opening dance video and otherwise highly coordinated effort to bring the team to the crowd is mind-blowing. Let your fellow new fan(s) be surprised. As my fiancé said with wideeyed awe when the opener finished: “Fireworks?! Holy cow- do they do that every time? Oh man, I had no idea. That was amazing.” story by Anna Ferguson, photo by Ryan Scates

12

January 12, 2010

HOT PICS GeorgiA STANFORD Megan Dowlen, Nikki Childs and Kyla Dowlen

Mandy Riley and Madison Riley

Melinda Smith and Rita Wilson

Amy Bray, Addie Powell and Jeff Bray

Renee Armstrong and Paige Armstrong

Kahri Manuel, Kinley Manuel and Drake Manuel

Rachel and Nick Dahm

Brad McCoy and Banks McCoy

Vern and Nan Jones

Earl Daniels, Cecil Tanner, Michael Palazzone and Boobie Taylor

Anna Katherine Wilson and Sasha Davis

Sarah Schmidt and Holly Reed

Girls and Guys Night Out 2010 . . . . . . Giddy-Up!

February Febru uary 18th

Athens Country C Club Event Begins B at 6pm For more information call

706..548.4361 706.548.4361 or visit www www.hopehaven.net w.hopehaven.net or become a fan on Facebook $OO SURFHHGV WR EHQHÀW $OO SURF FHHGV WR EHQHÀW +WUM RWQV ][ NWZ IV M^MVQVO WN KWKS\IQT[ IVL PWZ[ L¼WM]^ZM[ \W JMVMÅ\ 0WXM 0I^MV WN 6WZ\PMI[\ /MWZOQI For entertainment we’ll provide a silent auction, gaming tables including poker, blackjack, roulette and craps, as well as 4 heart pounding, simulated horse races. Enter a horse and you’ll be saying, “Giddy-Up!”

off Northeast o Northeast Georgia Georgia

Bulldawg Illustrated Athens

13

Founders' Day Lecture

Bulldawg BEAT

In observance of the University of Georgia’s 225th anniversary, Gary K. Bertsch, a former UGA faculty member and administrator, will present the Founders’ Day Lecture at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 27 in the UGA Chapel.

Landers impressive win totals With his win over Florida, Lady Dogs coach Andy Landers’ record moved to 741-239 in his 31 year career as Georgia’s first and only full-time women’s basketball coach.

Landers is 44-8 versus the Gators.

Tip Off Club USC bus trip

First Pitch Diamond Gala

Nuptials in the air for athletes

The Georgia Tip-Off Club is taking reservations for their bus trip to see the Hoop Dawgs play South Carolina at Columbia, S.C. on Jan 30. Cost is $55 for members and $70 for non-members. Includes ride, ticket and pregame meal. For more information email: mathews@uga.edu

Event at the Foundry Inn to honor the Georgia baseball team. Meet the team, Coach Perno and Gordon Beckam.

Special guests include Bulldog freshman Chance Veazey plus a performance by Deepstep. For more information, diamondgala@gmail.com or call (706) 542-8186

Best wishes to Georgia gymnastics teammates Grace Taylor and Marcia Newby, who both were engaged on November 29, 2009 to former Georgia football letterman Andrew Johnson and Demiko Goodman!

The UGA Alumni Alum mni Association and Emeriti Emeriti Scholars present pr esent the

Founders' F ooun nders' Day Day a Lectu Lecture urre ~ 2010 ~

JJoin oin alumni, alum faculty and students in celebrating UGA's A'ss 225th A Anniversary Anniversary as thee nation's first state-chartered state-charterred university. universityy.

University Emeritus University Emeritus m Professor Professor Dr. Dr. Gary Gary K. K Bertsch Bertsch “UGA and ‘the ‘the risingg hope of our land’ land’ in a New New W World oorld O Order” rder” WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2010 WEDN NESDA AY, JANU UAR ARY 27, 20 010 O'CLOCK THREE O'C CLOCK AT AT THE UGA CHAPEL CHAPEL 14

January 12, 2010

Andrew Downs...

Downs...Appointments Appointments at 5...Athens 5...A Athens Interior Market...Dalton Market....Dalton Carpet One...Hawthorne One....Hawthorne House...Blane House...B Blane Marable...Christopher Marable...Christo opher Mark

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Marble Slab...Phi Bar Ba ar & Bistro...Red Eye Coffee...Rialto Coffee...Rialto Room...Smoothie Room...S Smoothie King...The Globe...The Globe...The Melting Point...The Point...The National

Something S Somethin thi n g FORE FO O RE Ever E er yone!

Eve yone e!!

Help support your community by purchasing tickets to the area’s largest professional sporting event, the Stadion Athens Classic at UGA. Local non-profit beneficiaries will receive 100% of revenue from all ticket sales!

Visit our Web site for a list of participating non-profits.

April Ap pril 29 - May M 2 Tickets Tick kets On Sal Sale e Now! www.stadionathensclassic.uga.edu w www .stadiona athensclassic..uga.edu

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