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FROM THE EDITOR: VANCE LEAVY It’s hard to believe that the 2014 regular season is down to one last game. It seems like it was just yesterday that, all of us in the Bulldog Nation, were thrilled to be done with all the preseason speculation, prior to toe meeting leather in the opener against Clemson.
urday relishing the opportunity to spoil Senior Day. Bottom line, Tech is overdue for a victory, which is why our seniors and the entire team must dig deep not to let them get any momentum.
It’s been an adventurous season with the unfortunate suspension and then injury of Todd Gurley. But thankfully, this 2014 unit proved to be just that in overcoming the major adversity of the situation. In my opinion, Georgia’s success this season is, without a doubt, due to the awesome leadership displayed by our senior class.
In this issue, our sports guys remind all of us of the importance of beating Tech. Christmas is just a month away and the thought of not putting up a Christmas tree is something Jeff Dantzler, Murray Poole, Logan Booker and John Frierson simply don’t want to contemplate. Pure nausea is the word that comes to my mind, when having to imagine anyone celebrating on our field after the game, other than our awesome group of seniors.
For that reason, dedicating this Georgia Tech issue cover to them was a no-brainer. A big thank you goes to the likes of David Andrews, Michael Bennett, Chris Conley, Amarlo Herrera, Hutson Mason, Damian Swann and Ramik Wilson. And of course, there are many other seniors that have also provided the leadership to keep this 2014 team focused week in and week out. We salute and respect of all you for being damn good Dawgs. While I’m tempted to rattle off some amazing stats that this 2014 class has compiled, I refuse to do it because the ultimate task of beating our in-state rival is still before them. By now, we all know that a Georgia football season isn’t complete unless the Bees from North Avenue go down. And give the Yellow Jackets their due in putting together a highly successful season themselves. You can bet they will arrive in Sanford Stadium on Sat-
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Swat those Bees early and often!!!
I have the utmost confidence that our team understands the must have urgency of a victory on Saturday. With a noon kickoff and it being the Thanksgiving holiday, I am a little concerned whether our fanbase will be juiced the way they need to be. However, given the increased vibe in Sanford Stadium the last few years, I’m hoping that I’m worrying for no reason. We all need to enjoy Thanksgiving and rest on Friday to ensure that we all enter our beloved stadium 30 minutes before kickoff. By doing this, the Bees will know that our fanbase is ready to rumble and we will also get to enjoy the awesome ceremony when our seniors, with their parents, are recognized prior to kickoff. And then let the swatting begin! I hope you will enjoy this issue of BI. It’s another great one thanks to the
blowout victory over Charleston Southern last week. And I highly encourage you to immediately go to our center spread (pages 12 and 13) where you will find a Todd Gurley poster drawn by the ultimate Bulldog, Jack Davis. I’ve said it many times, Mr. Davis is one of the nicest and loving men I have ever known. And he has given so much to the University of Georgia. Next to the Gurley poster (page 12) you will find an incredible column by Loran Smith talking about Jack, who turns 90 on December 2. We wish him an early happy birthday and sincerely thank him for all his generous contributions to our publication throughout the years. Finally, I want to again thank our seniors for all their hard work. Finish the drill like warriors. Beat Tech! And yes, I realize that if the stars align (Arkansas beats Mizzou), we will head to Atlanta to play for the SEC Championship. If that should happen, we will be ready for a special issue of BI. But for now, the focus is all on the enemy as it should be. See you in Sanford by 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. Go Dawgs!!!
• Editor : Vance Leavy • Creative Director: Cheri Leavy • Multimedia Director: Greg Poole • Sports Guru: Jeff Dantzler • Layout/Design: Cheri Leavy, Vance Leavy • Sales: Caroline Kinney, Nancy Kenerly • Sports: Jeff Dantzler, Murray Poole, John Frierson • Sports Intern: Logan Booker, Jordan James • Interns: Emory Kole, Frances Plunkett, Molly White • Cover Design: Boyd Martin • Sports Photography: Rob Saye • Columnists: Carlton DeVooght, Rob Sherrell, Loran Smith • Delivery: Jack Abernathy, Will Hayes, Bear Jordan, Tim Roberts, Cullen Sewell, Thompson Sewell, Champ Vance Georgia-Ga. Tech, November 25, 2014
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LOGAN BOOKER
A Saturday for the young pups ... By Logan Booker Bulldawg Illustrated
There was something different about Athens this Saturday as the Georgia Bulldogs welcomed FCS opponent Charleston Southern to Sanford Stadium. The atmosphere was a far cry from the raucousness and debauchery the same hallowed ground witnessed the week before. This past week you could not help but notice the massive amounts of young Bulldog fans lined up for the Dawg Walk, along the hedges spotting their favorite players and sitting in the stands alongside their parents. It was a day that traditions and lore of the Bulldog Nation had the chance to ignite inside the next generation, which they will one day pass down again. Sanford Stadium and the area surrounding is not always kid friendly. When opponents like Auburn roll into town with a 7:15 p.m. kickoff, the atmosphere may smell a bit like bourbon along with audible language we may not want our kids to hear. Love it or hate it, it has become part of the big game atmosphere that so many look forward to during the 45 weeks a year there is no football in Athens. But there are a couple times each season that the atmosphere couldn’t be further from what is previously described. When the opponent on the ticket is one not within the “power 5” conferences, and usually has a direction in its name, the secondary market gets flooded with tickets available to those who may not be able to afford the yearly donations necessary to get UGA football tickets. As a result, families take full advantage of snagging up tickets for the little fellas.
When I went out to shoot the Dawg Walk, it felt more like a day care field trip than a bunch of grown men and women fired up about beating the opponent coming in. The railings were lined with smiles, cheer and awe from kids who were more worried about their upcoming high five strategies than any lead the Dawgs may give up over the next few hours. All around campus, the “drunk obnoxious Georgia fan” chants were replaced with miniature UGA sweaters and hats chasing around small Bulldog logoed footballs under the fall foliage that has blanketed campus. Talks amongst adults at tailgates were likely more about how their children have progressed through the first couple years of grade school than how Nick Chubb would dice through the Buccaneer’s defense. Inevitably, strategies were likely laid out and discussed how their children would be eligible to one day enroll at UGA like they had. Many of us may remember the first few times our parents took us to Athens to see the Dawgs play. At the time it didn’t seem like much more than a family picnic with a football game attached. That was a time when the traditions we live by and fight for today were nothing more than something our parents looked silly doing. But at some point it struck a chord and became as much a part of our lives as it was the ones who introduced them to us. This past Saturday, when the players got off the bus to the cheers of many, the Redcoat band would fire up the battle hymn, the crowd pointed to southwest corner of the stands in anticipation of the lone trumpeter and Hairy Dawg ran wild through the stands, love and loyalty was created. When Chris Conley would haul in
photo by Logan Booker
impressive touchdown catches and Nick Chubb ran the ball 83 yards at a time, new passions were planted. Whenever an announcement comes out of the Butts-Mehre offices that a deal has been struck to invite a school to Athens to serve as a sacrificial lamb to the Georgia players, grumblings often occur through the fanbase. But the most important aspect that is often overlooked until game day is the fact that those games become immensely important to the heartbeat of a program that stretches across so many generations. The older crowd had one of the best times in years as Georgia punished Auburn under the lights a couple weeks back. And they will hopefully have a great time as a game taken very seriously takes place this coming week with Georgia Tech invading our town. But in-between those days for the adults was a day for the young pups. A day that will not be remembered for the lopsided score, but for the day so many youngsters were reborn. This time as Bulldogs, true and through.
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Fear can be a great motivator! By Jeff Dantzler Bulldawg Illustrated
Picture the Yellow Jacket players and fans ripping off pieces of the hedges for souvenirs. Visualize the photograph of the Sanford Stadium scoreboard with the final score trumpeting Tech on top. Think of the billboards in Atlanta and their video board on Interstate 85. It is agonizing to even think about it. But fear can be a great motivator. And for every Georgia fan, player and coach, when it comes to the ultimate in gridiron misery, there is no greater pain than falling to Tech. You can bet your last dollar that the Jackets are hungrier to beat Georgia than they have been in years. Tech has had an outstanding season, bound for the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game with a record of 9-2. The Jackets buried Clemson 28-6, a signature win on their campaign, and had last Saturday – giving Tech a full two weeks to focus in on the school they hate so much, that most every one of their cheers ends in “To Hell With Georgia.” While the Jackets were off, Duke fell to North Carolina, opening up the spot in Charlotte for the matchup with Florida State. The faithful of the Golden Tornado thought they had it a year ago, but Georgia rallied from a 20-0 first half deficit to topple Tech 41-34 in double overtime. Todd Gurley had four carries for 50 yards and two touchdowns in the extra period, and Leonard Floyd had the big stop that led to the Georgia win. It was a painful loss for Tech, but has served as a great motivator. The Yellow Jackets were not a high preseason pick, but an opportunistic defense and typical high octane offense led by standout signal caller Justin Thomas has already delivered one of the team’s two big goals of this season. Now they want Georgia badly. Under Mark Richt’s watch, the Bulldogs are a robust 12-1 against Tech. The one really stung. Georgia led 28-12 at the half in 2008, and Tech came back to win. It would have been an eighth straight win for the Bulldogs in the series, matching the infamous drought of 1949-56 when Bobby Dodd’s Yellow Jackets beat Georgia an excruciating eight straight years. Many life long, passionate Georgia lovers hoped to live long enough to see the Bulldogs reach eight and then topple the mark. The winning streak over Tech is now at five games for Georgia. So how can Georgia make it six? It starts with the Georgia faithful bringing the same intensity and passion delivered in the Bulldogs 34-7 trouncing of Auburn two weeks ago. Yes the kickoff is early. Yes the weather doesn’t look great. Yes it is the Thanksgiving holiday. Yes, many younger Georgia fans take for granted beating Tech. Much like many a great American who lived through the
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great depression may be or may have been what would be considered frugal by today’s standards, the younger generation of Georgia people must understand the pain of going through eight straight years of losing to Tech – that’s nearly 3,000 days between victories over “The Enemy,” so coined by the greatest Bulldog ever Dan Magill. Will Sanford Stadium be rocking and full for the high noon kickoff? Football is the ultimate symbiotic relationship, fans and players feed off of one another, and the Bulldogs will need the fuel on Saturday. Thomas is a headliner at quarterback for Tech. When Paul Johnson’s triple option offense is cooking, it is one of the most difficult in America to slow down. It starts with stopping the fullback. If Georgia can’t do that, the result for the defense could be similar to that of South Carolina and Florida. When Thomas gets on the corner with the option to throw it, pitch it or run it, he is lethal. A leading candidate along with reigning Heisman Trophy winning, scandal plagued Florida State signal caller Jameis Winston, Thomas is a leading candidate for first team All-ACC quarterback honors. He can throw it, and the speed, well he was the high school state champion in Alabama in the 100-yard dash. Speaking of stopping the fullback – the “B” Back in Tech’s flexbone triple option attack, Georgia fans should shudder to think what would have happened last season had the Bulldogs outstanding reserve tailback Brendan Douglas stuck with his verbal commitment to Jackets instead of following his heart when the dream scholarship offer came from Athens. Douglas is part of a talented stable of running backs, led by the nation’s No. 1 freshman ball-carrier Nick Chubb. Of course the corps took another major hit when the Gurley was lost for the remainder of the season in the waning minutes of the victory over Auburn. Without a doubt, Gurley and Chubb were the top 1-2 running punch in the land. Douglas is a strong runner between the tackles, and Sony Michel, like Chubb a blue chip recruit, has been one of the country’s top freshmen runners when healthy. Georgia has to ride the running attack to pound away with Chubb leading the way behind the David Andrews led offensive line. And a fullback. When Georgia is under center and running, the success rate is substantially greater with a fullback in front of these great runners to help “clean out the hole.” Without Gurley, Georgia doesn’t have near the big play punch, so downs can’t be squandered. Situations like a 7-0 lead at Florida, with Chubb cutting through the Gators, facing a second-and-four on their 24, downs, series and possessions. It may take a lot of points to win. It may take an offensive performance like the one at Kentucky when the Bulldogs scored touchdowns on seven of nine possessions and ended the first half and the game on the other two.
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Georgia’s quarterback Hutson Mason and the receivers, as good as the running game is, must make plays. Go back to the win over Auburn, four times Georgia receivers had the opportunity to haul in aerials that would have been either touchdowns or long gainers. None of those four passes were hauled in. The Bulldogs must make those plays to beat Tech. Then there is the kicking game. It has been dramatically improved over last season. Yet in the two losses, huge breakdowns have contributed to the heart-break. Georgia must at least get a push here, and connecting on kicks, having outstanding coverage, avoiding getting fooled on a fake and perhaps breaking a return would go a long way towards a victory over Tech. The great, incomparable, iconic Erk Russell always implored his teams to have “a bad case of the wants.” In the end, that’s what it comes down to. How bad does every single person who bleeds red and black, from those in uniform to those on the sidelines to those in the stands, want it?! Tech sure does, and they would love to have Georgia’s faithful, “The Majority Party of the Empire State of the South,” and certainly the vast majority of their home town, roll into Atlanta for the SEC Championship to be greeted with painful proclamations of a Yellow Jackets victory over the Bulldogs. Fear can be a great motivator. And every Bulldog player, fan, coach and alum should always be motivated by the fear of losing to “The Enemy,” the greatest gridiron pain any son and daughter of Georgia can ever feel.
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By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated
ON THE FIELD
THE BIG FIVE
The Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech will be motoring between the hedges this coming Saturday and with unquestionably their finest team in years, the Yellow Jackets feel like they’re capable of defeating the Georgia Bulldogs for only the second time in Mark Richt’s 14 seasons at the UGA helm. The Jackets of Paul Johnson, the ACC Coastal Division champions after Duke was smashed by North Carolina last Thursday night, will enter the high noon kickoff boasting a 9-2 season record, the same 2014 mark owned by the Bulldogs. Tech finished its ACC slate with a 6-2 league record and will face Florida State in the conference championship game on Dec. 6 in Charlotte, N.C. The Jackets enter Saturday’s battle riding a fourgame win streak, having wrecked Clemson by 28-6 two weekends ago. The Jackets’ two defeats this fall came Oct. 11, a 31-25 setback to Duke at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and on Oct. 18 when they were outscored 48-43 by North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Georgia Tech had an excellent chance of toppling the Bulldogs last season in Atlanta, streaking out to a 20-0 lead before Hutson Mason and Todd Gurley fueled a furious Georgia comeback that enabled the Bulldogs to swat the Yellow Jackets in two overtimes, by 41-34. Tech will come to Sanford Stadium again sporting one of the nation’s top ground assaults. With their rushing average of 327.9 yards per game, the Jackets rank third in the country in the FBS statistics behind only Navy and Wisconsin. In 5-11, 189-pound sophomore quarterback Justin Thomas (No. 5), 6-1, 218-pound senior B-back Zach Laskey (37) and 6-2, 231-pound senior A-back Synjyn Days (10), the Jackets can sting opposing defenses with a threepronged running game in their vaunted triple-option spread offense. The speedy Thomas has run for 827 university. yards (5.4 avg. per carry) and five touchdowns while Laskey and Days follow with 608 and 592 yards, respectively. Thomas has also thrown for 1,396 yards and 15 touchdowns this fall and has two big senior targets in 6-3, 222-pound DeAndre Smelter (15) and 6-5,
241-pound Darren Waller (88). Smelter has 32 receptions for 671 yards and seven touchdowns while Waller has pulled in 15 passes for 248 yards and three scores. Defensively, the Jackets have also sparkled in their current four-game win streak and are tied for second nationally with six defensive touchdowns this season. Prior to this past weekend’s games, Tech led the FBS with five interception returns for touchdowns. Junior safety Jamal Golden (4) leads the way with four picks while junior corner D. J. White (28) follows with three interceptions. Sophomore linebacker P.J. Davis (40) is Tech’s tackle leader with 90 total stops and is followed by senior linebacker Quayshawn Nealy (54) with 75 tackles. The Jackets’ defensive anchor up front is tackle Adam Gotsis (96), a 6-5, 282-pound junior. So, clearly, the Yellow Jackets have the weapons to ring up a rare victory over the state rival Bulldogs and here are the Big Five factors that can enable Tech to do so: ramblinwreck.com
1. Control the football early on with your potent ground attack
Do that and you can silence the Sanford Stadium crowd, which could be slow arriving for a noon kick. Get the lead, Jackets, and unlike last year, don’t squander that lead.
2. When passing the football, do it well
The Georgia defense is going to sell out to stop Tech’s option offense, the way it did against the Auburn Tigers, so let Justin Thomas get the ball often to his tall wideouts, Smelter and Waller, and keep the Bulldogs off balance a bit.
3. Somehow, someway slow down the Bulldogs’ talented freshman tailback, Nick Chubb
Jacket defense, you don’t have to worry about facing the great Todd Gurley (ACL injury) this time around so don’t let the powerful Chubb single-handedly beat you. In the games he’s started Chubb has run for at least 143 yards every single time so
take up the challenge to keep him short of that total on Saturday.
4. Pressure, pressure on Mason
If the Georgia Tech defense does slow Chubb and the rest of the Bulldog tailbacks this game, you’ve also got to be prepared to deal with Hutson Mason’s play-action passes. And the best way to do that is to bring the house on Mason, each and every time he drops back to throw.
5. Above all, have the confidence you can beat Georgia No doubt, the favored Bulldogs have gotten into the Yellow Jackets’ heads over the past decade, what with their many losses to Georgia, so Georgia Tech 2014, you be the team that breaks the UGA stranglehold. Play with confidence and swagger and know you can take down the Dawgs just as you did against Clemson, Miami, Pittsburgh, N.C. State and Virginia Tech this season!
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ON THE FIELD
THE BIG FIVE
By Logan Booker Bulldawg Illustrated
wins. If not, it’ll take other factors to help.
Buckle up. It’s time for Clean Old-Fashioned Hate. And while this game between the Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets has been absolutely dominated in favor of the Bulldogs since kids now entering high school were born, it will always make you nervous. It’s the single factor yearly that decides if you get to put up a Christmas tree in your home or not. In a bit of a twist, Georgia Tech is coming into Athens as a top-20 team, something that hasn’t exactly happened over the last handful of years. Georgia’s rivals from Atlanta seem to have a bit more of an edge than they have lately, feeling like this could be their once every 6-8 years they beat the mighty Bulldogs and claim stake to the elusive state championship they live and breathe for every day of their lives. But it seems this game is played tough most years no matter what the separation in rankings may be. This year should be no different as two potent offenses square off against two equally sketchy-at-times defenses. And in order to prevent Tech players and students from plucking a souvenir piece of the sacred hedges, five factors will have to hold true in Athens this holiday weekend.
1. Nick Chubb needs to continue doing Nick Chubb things While Georgia is not exactly down, it is down its best player since Herschel Walker. Many were excited to see Todd Gurley run through the Tech defense, again, but they will have to settle for a true freshman that has laid a foundation this season to break records over his Bulldog career. Nick Chubb has been running like a hot knife through butter against some very solid SEC defenses, and Georgia Tech will not offer anything as good as what he’s already seen. I’m assigning a magic number of 170 yards to Mr. Chubb. It may seem a bit high, but as you know by now, not unlikely. If he hits that number, Georgia
2. Linebackers need major, major discipline If you’re not a fan of Georgia Tech, then it’s nothing but frustrating watching them run up and down the field with their triple option offense. And the key to stopping them on their infamous pitch is having linebackers know their roles and assignments, and not bite on fakes. Leonard Floyd, Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson will need to eat, sleep and breathe the pitch this week and execute near flawlessly this Saturday. Any missed assignments, and the Yellow Jackets diving at the Georgia defense’s knees will result in some really long plays for Tech.
3. The secondary needs to both sell out on the run AND be on their toes Georgia Tech has a quarterback this year. He is not only good at running the option, but he is more accurate with his arm than any quarterback Tech has trotted out the last several years. While Tech will run the ball the vast majority of the time, Justin Thomas will just as quickly throw the ball down field, and on the money. The Georgia secondary will be needed to help contain the run early and often. But they also need to keep a close eye on that tricky handoff, because as soon as they think the A-back or B-back has the ball, a receiver might already be running the ball into the end zone behind them as they bite. Going to be a tricky and frustrating day for this unit.
4. Georgia’s wide receivers need to offer balance With quarterback Hutson Mason coming into his stride as the season has gone on, the Georgia wide receivers too have stepped up. Chris Conley has been making some phenomenal catches while Malcolm Mitchell and Michael Bennett are finding themselves open as well. The Georgia Tech defense has been known for giving up rushing yards this season, and the receivers will be needed desperately to
photo by Rob Saye
keep them guessing. Georgia cannot be one-dimensional and expect Nick Chubb and Sony Michel to run all day. Even if Georgia’s game plan is to run the ball down Tech’s throats, passing now and then is still going to be important.
5. Mark Richt continues to sit on the state’s football throne Mark Richt owns Georgia Tech. I have yet to file a Freedom of Information request to confirm this, but I am quite certain he pays property taxes on the Yellow Jacket football program every April. Whatever offense or head coach Tech has thrown his way, Richt has merely laughed, flicked it away and publically brushed his shoulder off. This mindset he has adopted when it comes to the Georgia state championship game has become contagious to the fanbase as well. And this needs to continue on Saturday. Richt must continue feeling superior to his in-state rivals and do whatever it is he has done the 13 times he has faced them, resulting in 12 wins. A loss this week will make a feel good ending to this season transform into a year of torture in a hurry. If Richt continues, then you once again get to put up a Christmas tree.
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A View From ... The Flats
FBC ACC LOGOS 081303: Football ts for the Atlantic Coast conference; elated stories; ML; ETA 4 p.m. </AP>
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By Jeff Dantzler Bulldawg Illustrated
Eric Brand works for Athens Sports Radio 960 The Ref and for Rivals.com as a Tech Recruiting Contributor. He does an outstanding job and offers his insight on “The Biggest Game of Them All.” ton?
Is Justin Thomas on his way to being the Jackets’ best quarterback since Joe HamilCL
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I think it is too early in his career to say that Thomas is better than other quarterbacks at Tech. For instance Josh Nesbitt won an ACC championship and was named the 2009 ACC first team quarterback. That being said, I do think Thomas definitely has the talent and potential to surpass Nesbitt who in my opinion is second to Hamilton. Thomas has the Jackets poised to win the ACC in years to come and could even make first team ACC this season considering Jameis Winston’s sloppy play and off the field issues. What has the quality of this season done for the popularity of Paul Johnson with the Yellow Jackets fans? Fans of the Jackets are finally Arealizing with the right personnel, coach Johnson’s system FLO LA can work again. I admit that in the offseason I thought that Paul Johnson needs to go just as much as the rest of the fan base. I said if Johnson doesn’t have at least 8 wins this year he needs to be gone. He has surpassed that number with 9 prior to UGA and any post season play. What would it mean for Tech to beat Georgia? It would put an exclamation point at the end of a solid season for the Jackets. Tech hasn’t won against UGA since 2008 and I think the win would further solidify Paul Johnson’s position for the long run. It’s not the end of the world if Tech does lose though considering it isn’t a conference O game. CA OL AS A O
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What is your take on Georgia? Georgia is a very talented team with the ability to score in a variety of ways. This year has been the year of the running back in Athens, but UGA does have a more than capable passing game with Mason and several talented receivers. So that being said you have to respect the passing game as well as the run. Is the win over Clemson the most impressive of the season thus far? After the Virginia Tech win, I thought that would be Tech’s most impressive win since VT beat Ohio State early in the season. But after a bad year for the Hokies and a 22 point win over Clemson it is easy to say that the win over the Tigers is most impressive. Even though Deshaun Watson was taken out of the game in his third series Tech still played great and I think they would have won either way. Who do you think will win? It is really hard to say this year. I think it will be a close game to say the least. Tech is playing great team ball and playing with a lot of passion, but it is hard to overlook the huge talent gap between the two teams. UGA has had much stronger recruiting classes for as long as I can remember and will most likely continue to do so. My prediction is a high scoring game with a lot of rushing yards for both teams. UGA 41 – GT 38 AS A
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What does Tech need to do to beat Georgia? If Tech is going to beat UGA they are going to have to take a page out of Florida’s book and run the ball on the edge. The pitch man in the option is going to be the key to game for the Jackets, but it is going to be tough considering Tech’s fastest running back, Broderick Snoddy, broke his leg against Clemson. Would it mean even more to win this season since the Yellow Jackets were close to getting it last year? Last year was definitely a heartbreaker A FO to S say the least for the Jackets. To blow such a G A large lead and lose in overtime always makes for more tension in the next meeting. But I think this year is more important because Tech is looking to get a good bowl at the end of NOTE: Allwill helmets and logos the season and a win of UGA look really goodare ontrademarked the resume. and the property of their respective college or university. These logos are reproduced for editorial use only by AP members.
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JOHN FRIERSON’S PERSPECTIVE
Beat Tech: The proper Magill farewell By John Frierson Bulldawg Illustrated
When Georgia opened this football season against Clemson, the Bulldogs did so while wearing a small decal on their helmets honoring the late and beyond great Dan Magill. It was a proper tribute to an incredible Bulldog that had a bountiful 60-year relationship with his hometown university, and to one of the most interesting and productive men this country has ever produced. I’m thinking about Magill because it’s Georgia Tech week. Georgia’s legendary tennis coach, sports information director, fund-raiser, historian and so very much more, Magill, who died in August at age 93, is famous for referring to the Yellow Jackets as “the enemy.” But he wasn’t just doing schtick. “In all the time I knew him, I don’t think I ever heard him say ‘Georgia Tech,’” said Allen Miller, one of Magill’s all-time great players, who won an NCAA doubles title in 1983 (with Ola Malmqvist) and was a member of Georgia’s 1985 national championship team. Magill created one of the finest tennis programs in the country at Georgia, a tradition that has continued under Manuel Diaz. And beating Tech is part of that tradition. The UGA “netters,” as Magill would probably write, have great all-time records against virtually everyone; against the enemy, Georgia is 59-9. Those nine losses probably bothered him to the end. Miller and Magill had much to bond over during their decades-long friendship. A deep loathing of Tech was certainly one shared feeling. Miller, the longtime director of tennis at the Athens Country Club, said Magill was always in a great mood after beating Tech, looking relaxed and holding court even more than usual. And when Magill was holding court and telling stories, there wasn’t a better place to be anywhere. Few could ever entertain an audience like he could. I had the pleasure of spending many hours with the man, watching him run tournaments and his program and the Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame. Magill was like a grandfather to me — a feeling of affection I’ve maintained for decades, despite the fact that I’m the only member of the Frierson family not mentioned in his book “Match Points,” (probably due to my undistinguished tennis career) and despite the fact that he fired me. Twice. My mom worked as Magill’s secretary for a couple of years in the late 1960s, which is when my dad began his great friendship with the man. My brothers and I grew up a few blocks from the Georgia tennis courts and spent much of our childhood practicing there. Brother Jack eventually signed with Georgia and Magill, but the legend stepped down as coach in 1988, when Jack was a senior in high school. Around 1981 or ’82, I was a sweet but easily distracted kid, maybe nine or 10, playing in the old Crackerland tournament. In addition, Magill had hired me as a gofer, to help out when I wasn’t on the court. Why he offered and why I accepted, I don’t know. A few days into the event, Magill was in tournament headquarters behind court 5 and he began looking for me. I was off messing around with my friends somewhere at the facility and didn’t hear him calling for me over and over, even on the PA system. My dad, who was walking to the courts from our house, sure did. And he claims to distinctly remember hearing over the loudspeaker, the words: “John Frierson’s fired! John Frierson’s fired!” (No, my dad doesn’t laugh out loud repeatedly while telling this story yet again, more than 30 years later. Not at all.) I eventually learned I’d been canned and ran home to mom. While I cried, mostly out of embarrassment, she probably fought back laughter. She advised that I go back and apologize
to Magill for not doing my job, and maybe he’d take me back. I did and he did. Within 48 hours, if not 24, I was again MIA when he needed me and again over the PA system could be heard: “John Frierson’s fired!” Luckily, he never held it against me. He was Coach Magill, who will forever be the most quoted and imitated man in town. He wasn’t perfect, but he was spectacular. I think he liked that I became a fellow sports writer and we had many long visits during my years at the Athens Banner-Herald. A few times, when he was in his early 80s, he even asked me to join him for some doubles. I was honored. I still am. Georgia needs a win Saturday for a lot of reasons, including as a proper farewell to the Bulldog everyone should aspire to be.
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OFF THE FIELD
Spotlight on University of Georgia Graduates Every week, Cheri Leavy shares a Q&A with a Bulldog Belle on BulldawgIllustrated.com.
Name: Gabrielle Bratton Hometown: Raleigh, NC Current Town: Raleigh, NC What Years at UGA: 2005-2010 School: BFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing
Profession: I run a handmade jewelry business called Gabrielle Jewelry. My pieces combine historical fashion with contemporary style. One of my specialties is the lost wax casting process, where I integrate traditional clothing adornments into modern pieces of jewelry, preserving the original design by replacing it with metal. I also work with semiprecious stones in a variety of colors, styles and designs.
Describe Athens in three words: Eclectic, delicious and diverse. Share a favorite memory from your time at UGA: Late nights in the metals studio. I may have moaned and groaned about them at the time, but I treasure and miss them now. A specific memory that sticks out is the evening of my exit show at Lamar Dodd. I had a bunch of family and friends come in to town, and we had a great dinner at Five & Ten afterwards. It was a perfect way to celebrate four years of hard work. Share a tailgate recipe: Admittedly, I am not the best cook. I do a pretty good job trying to copy the Mama’s Boy strawberry mimosa. And while it’s not a conventional tailgate food, I always crave Little Italy after a long football game!
Band you heard while living in Athens: Wilco. Girl Talk. Always love seeing The Futurebirds and the Whigs. I haven’t heard them play yet, but a friend just introduced me to New Madrid (Athens-based) and I would love to go back for one of their shows. A favorite restaurant in Athens: Big City Bread Café. On my last trip to Athens I went for back to back meals. Mama’s Boy. I love brunch. And their strawberry mimosas. Five & Ten. It was always the special occasion spot so it has some good memories. A favorite shop in Athens: I always liked the second hand stores. One thing few people know about you: I can find four leaf clovers very easily.
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LORAN SMITH
Jack Davis is a GREATFUL Dawg By Loran Smith Bulldawg Illustrated
The Hampton River is 12.3 miles long, and Jack Davis, the extraordinary cartoonist--who has been a nice guy all his life, 90 years (next week) and counting—watches its waters meander by his homestead every day of his contented life. If he doesn’t shout out, his feelings express a Hallelujah chorus as he connects with nature and the river from his back deck. This is a man who believes in the biblical admonition that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Interestingly, life has given unto him, abundantly. There are countless benefits to savor and treasures to keep. His cup runneth over. The simple things in life are the highlights of his life. A sunrise on the Hampton River, an empty parking space, hot soup, cold beer and the chapel bell ringing into the night. In addition to his beloved Dena, his virtual life-long companion, Jack has many affiliations in his years which have made his day. He always had a boyish demeanor, a sophomoric enthusiasm and an untarnished reputation. He hears no evil, sees no evil and for certain, speaks no evil. He vocalizes with humble appreciation. “Hey man,” he might say after a deserving tip of the hat. “That’s just too much,” a genuine “aw shucks” personality with a golden rule lifestyle and a genuine appreciation for the sunrises and sunsets in his life. In between, his remarkable talent brought laudable results. Just think about this one little factoid. From his pen, he has produced drawings for 36 TIME Magazine covers. Then, there are 22 TV Guide covers. As a cartoonist, it was the company he kept all these years that brought him elevated professional rank. Cavorting with Mad Magazine in his prime, as well as that of the magazine’s, connected him with fans all over the country. With the exalted status that came his way, he was no different when he reached the top of the heap than when he was a “starving artist” in his early days in Manhattan. Modesty and humility have always been companions. Based on the best knowledge available, the worst thing he ever did in was to catch an opossum in the woods in North Atlanta, when the area was a woodland and not a collection of high rise condominiums and cacophonous expressways, and turn the marsupial loose at the downtown Varsity. Women shrieked, waiters flat footed to safety on
the hoods of cars and the police came running--bringing about an “all hell broke loose” environment which makes you laugh with abandon if you picture that scene in your mind’s eye. Jack may have been mischievous when he was matriculating at North Fulton High School, but he has been a model citizen all his life, allowing his creative bent to keep him gainfully employed and literally making countless people happy and smile with affection. There was no premonition for greatness on his part or that of his friends when he was an SAE at Georgia, but they knew he had a special talent, beginning with his fraternity newspaper, which he called the “Bullsheet.” He soon was on his way. New York beckoned and he made the leap of faith. His cartoon characters, especially those of Bulldog persuasion, with the big feet and the slobbering tongue and an appearance that would scare the daylights out of the devil, has charmed and delighted Georgia partisans since he came home from World War II after three years in the Navy in 1945. Life was always getting better for Jack—from the beginning. He had the courage to start out on his own in Manhattan with only a little more than two nickels to rub together. He got up every day, took a pad and pen and began to draw. He was good at drawing because, in addition to talent, he loved what he was doing and was imbued by an uncommon work ethic. One interesting feature to his lifestyle is that there never was a party—and there were plenty of options for him and Dena when they lived in Westchester County and socialized with the upper shelf—when he stayed too long or had difficulty beginning the next day because he had enjoyed one too many. When I first got to know him, I took a train out of Grand Central Station one day, met him for lunch in Scarsdale and spent the afternoon with him. My initial thought was: How can this remarkable talent be so polite and unassuming? Doesn’t every man have an ego? If there is one who doesn’t, it would be Jack Davis. Pride in his work? Oh, yes. He was a perfectionist. He was thrilled to see his work on magazine covers and billboards and in Madison Ave. commercials, but he never flaunted his success. Every time you complimented him on something he did, it was always: “Thanks, man. What can I say?” Who among your friends has a UGA pedigree and has landed at a faraway address and returned home from Atlanta
with take-out boxes of chili dogs from the Varsity? And Poss’ barbecue? “That’s the greatest gift I have ever gotten in my life,” he once exclaimed when I gave him a pair of shoes from the Georgia football equipment room, which had the word, “Dog” lettered on the heel. “Hey, man, I wear my ‘Dog’ shoes every day,” he said over and over when we talked on the phone. His success with his Madison Avenue connections and the advancement of technology brought about his long time goal of settling at Hampton Point on Saint Simons. It came about officially in 1989. His success brought about the move and so did the Quip machine. He could draw a sample and transmit to an editor or art director for approval before sending in the finished product. Jack and Dena built a beautiful marsh home with a breezeway to his studio over the garage. He began each day with a cup of coffee and view out to the Hampton River from his deck. It ended with him (and Dena) enjoying a vodka martini and the same view. Nothing changes when he turns 90 next week. If this were an unabridged story of his life, it would not be finished until it was several volumes. Looking back, I can think of many deserving toasts to this remarkable Dawg loyalist, and I’m not sure how to best say it -- but I’ll make a stab. Jack Davis is a GREATFUL Dawg.
HAPPY 90th Birthday Jack Davis IT’S GAMEDAY IN ATHENS at these DAWG DESTINATIONS
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Tech CLASSICRewind Eddie “Meat Cleaver” Weaver 1981 Georgia 44, Tech 7
When it comes to all-time great days to be one of “The Chosen People of the Western World,” Georgia’s 44-7 “One Play and Call it a Day” rout of Tech on the flats is at the top of the list. The year prior, Georgia captured the 1980 national and Southeastern Conference championships with a perfect 12-0 record. The Bulldogs of 1981 put together a sensational encore. Georgia headed to Atlanta ranked No. 2 nationally with a 9-1 record, having clinched a second straight SEC title. Eight of the victories came by double digits. The ninth win would as well. On the first play from scrimmage, Buck Belue sold the play fake and hit Lindsay Scott down the right sideline for an 80-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Bang! It was a day for stars. Belue-to-Scott got it started. Herschel Walker had a spectacular day, punishing the Jackets defense with 225 and four touchdowns on 36 carries. It was the third time in the last four games that “The Goal Line Stalker” struck pay-dirt on a quartet of occasions. Of Walker’s 36 carries, 15 produced first downs and 12 went for over 10 yards. Freshman kicker Kevin Butler nailed a trio of field goals, and the dominating defense shined yet again. Leading the way was an awesome defensive line, featuring All-SEC stalwarts Jimmy Payne, Freddie Gilbert and Eddie “Meat Cleaver” Weaver, and a host of other standouts, including Tim Crowe and Dale Carver. Weaver was a dominating nose tackle, a disruptive force on enemy offenses. Georgia’s defense gave up just 98 points on the season, holding six of 11 regular season foes to seven or fewer points. It was the finishing touch on a grand campaign and one of the great days for the Georgia people to soak it in – defending national champions with a second straight SEC crown made complete with a 10-1 mark and 44-7 annihilation of “the enemy.”
Todd Gurley 2013 Georgia-41, Tech-34 (Double Overtime)
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Tech was leading 20-0 in the first half. Georgia was being embarrassed. And the Bobby Dodd Stadium crowd, which, as usual, had just as many Bulldog faithful as home fans, was just a little over half joyous. It was all Tech. Georgia fought back, with sensational tailback Todd Gurley and quarterback Hutson Mason, making his first start, leading the way. Georgia drew even in the second half and the game went to overtime tied at 27-27. Tech struck first. Georgia then gave the ball to Gurley three times and he scored. The Bulldogs then got the ball to start the second overtime and Gurley ran 25 yards on the first play for a touchdown. It looked like Tech was on the way to drawing even, but Leonard Floyd came up with an enormous tackle for loss on third and short. Tech then went to the air on fourth down and the Bulldogs knocked it away. Though things looked bleak, Georgia left Atlanta as a victor over the rival Jackets for the 12th time in 13 years under Mark Richt’s watch. At Bobby Dodd Stadium, Georgia ran its record to 11-1 against Tech from 1991-2013, with the lone loss coming in 1999, the infamous Jasper Sanks fumble call, which goes down as perhaps the worst officiating decision in the history of football.
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By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated All those Georgia fans, primarily of the younger generation, who think the Florida Gators, or Auburn Tigers, now rank as the Bulldogs’ biggest rival ... well, think again! Because if you truly believe that anyone other than the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is, or ever will be, the University of Georgia’s most hated rival, let the Bulldogs lose to the bumble bees a couple of times in a row and see how difficult it will be to live in the same state as the guys from over at North Avenue. Thankfully, that dismal scenario hasn’t been the case under Mark Richt’s watch as the Yellow Jackets have only defeated Georgia once in his 14 years at the UGA helm, in 2008 when Tech came between the hedges and erased a 28-12 Bulldog halftime lead to sting the Dawgs by 45-42. Now, however, here they come again, winging into Sanford Stadium Saturday at high noon and sporting their best team in years. Not only does Tech match Georgia’s 9-2 season record but Paul Johnson’s Jackets are champions of the ACC Coastal Division and will meet Florida State in the league title game on Dec. 6. As for Georgia, the Bulldogs still need an Arkansas win over Missouri on Friday to make it back to the SEC championship game ... after the Tigers took care of Tennessee this past Saturday night. Of course, in order to keep this streak going against Tech, the Georgia defense will have to slow down the Jackets’ vaunted triple-option offense, which is clicking again to the tune of 327 yards per game ... third best in the country. “It (Tech’s offense) is not easy to deal with,” said Richt. “We have a new defensive staff this year so it’s a new experience for them. It’s going to take a lot of focus and a lot of work and I’m just glad there’s no school this week. It should give us a little more focus. But it will be a tall order for our scout team to simulate that and it will be a tall order for our defense to stop it,” Richt said. As everyone knows, the Bulldogs got a little taste of defending the option on the past two Saturdays when the Georgia defense went against Auburn and Charleston Southern. And the Dawgs easily passed the litmus test against those two offenses, holding the Tigers to 150 yards rushing and one lone touchdown and checking the Buccaneers to only 211 yards total offense and just nine points. It will clearly be a Jacket offense of a different color come this Saturday but if the Bulldogs can closely approach the Stats That Matter they accomplished in the 55-9 rout of Charleston Southern this past
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Saturday, all Dawgs should be smiling late Saturday afternoon. Here are how those statistics unfolded against the Buccaneers:
Plays of 20 plus yards, offense and defense
The Bulldogs had a bunch of these, highlighted by Nick Chubb’s 83-yard jaunt to paydirt. Hutson Mason had 35 and 23-yard TD passes to Chris Conley and 30 and 20-yard strikes to Michael Bennett. The Georgia quarterback also hit Jonathon Rumph on a 22-yard pass. Brice Ramsey completed passes of 20 and 24 yards to Jeb Blazevich and Jordan Davis, respectively, and fullback Quayvon Hicks punctuated the Georgia victory with a tackle-breaking 33-yard touchdown run.
Untimely Mistakes (turnovers, penalties, clock management miscues, etc)
Nothing bad here at all. Ramsey threw an interception late in the game to spoil an otherwise sterling passing day and Kyle Karempelis fumbled the ball away at the Bucs’ 10 when Georgia was about to soar over the 60-point mark. Georgia had only three penalties for 30 yards with safety Quincy Mauger being slapped with a face-mask penalty and center David Andrews once being tagged for holding.
Special teams wins vs. miscues
Everything fine in this department as the Dawgs got a huge 53-yard field goal from Marshall Morgan and later a 27-yard field goal from Morgan, although he was wide right on a 49-yard attempt. The Bulldogs’ kick coverage was again exceptional and Georgia punter Collin Barber didn’t leave the sidelines all day long.
Missed Tackles
Jeremy Pruitt’s defense continued the sure tackling it displayed against the Auburn Tigers, drilling the Charleston Southern running backs and receivers upon first contact. Most assuredly, lock-up tackling will be more crucial than ever against the Georgia Tech backs this weekend.
Yards after contact
With the Bulldogs’ truly outstanding offensive front creating excellent space against the Buc defense, the Georgia backs didn’t have to break too many tackles in this game but, as always, the powerful running Nick Chubb (113 yards in one half) and Brendan Douglas (66 yards second half) again carried opposing defenders along for the ride.
photo by Rob Saye
Turnovers (gained/lost)
The Bulldogs, as mentioned, had only the interception and lost fumble late in the game while Charleston Southern also lost one fumble (recovered by Ramik Wilson in the game’s opening moments) and threw one pick, with Mauger intercepting Austin Brown.
Red Zone (offense/defense)
Georgia tallied points four out of five trips into the red zone, getting three touchdowns in the process. Charleston Southern scored its late touchdown on its lone excursion inside the Bulldogs’ 20.
Third down conversions
While the Bulldogs were 6-of-9 on third down conversions, the Bucs were successful on only 7-of-17 tries.
Run/pass attempts (total plays)
With the huge lead early on and allowing Ramsey to come in and sling the ball 12 times, this was the only time this season the Bulldogs threw for more yards (310) than they had rushing (270). Mason, Ramsey and Faton Bauta combined to throw 26 passes and completed 20 of them while Georgia ran the ball 37 times for the 270 total.
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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED
K E V I N B U T L E R’ S P L AY E R S O F T H E G A M E — G E O R G I A 5 5 C H A R L E S T O N S O U. 9
Kevin Butler, former University of Georgia legendary kicker and a member of the Georgia radio broadcast team, will each week during the 2014 football season select his offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week for Bulldawg Illustrated. Here are Butler’s selections and reasons why for the Bulldogs’ 55-9 win over Charleston Southern on Saturday. OFFENSE – Senior quarterback Hutson Mason, who threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Chris Conley on the Bulldogs’ very first play and went on to complete 10-of-12 attempts for 187 yards and three touchdowns while playing only the first half. “The senior had his quickest and most productive day as the QB for UGA,” said Butler. “A rating of over 200 points is unheard of in the SEC and the efficiency that he exhibited was awesome to see. Ten-of-12 passing for 187 and three TDs enabled Hutson to turn over the keys to the Bulldog Cadillac and let Brice Ramsey take the team to victory. Hutson has carried himself like a true professional and the Bulldog Nation appreciates his dedication. He’s a true Bulldog!” DEFENSE – Junior end Josh Dawson led the Bulldogs with a career-high eight tackles as the Georgia defense limited the Buccaneers to just one touchdown and 211 yards of total offense. “The junior from Tucker High School had one of his better games this year in a game were the Bulldogs needed some push up front,” said Butler. “Josh is developing into a force on the D- line at a great time for the Bulldogs to showcase a strong defense heading into the Georgia Tech game. Josh and his defensive line partners are the key to victory against Georgia Tech. Please show up and take care of business … we need you!” SPECIAL TEAMS – The Bulldogs’ entire kickoff coverage team, which smothered the Charleston Southern returners all game and gave the Bucs poor field position on most of their possessions. “The kickoff coverage team has done an excellent job this year with all the kickoffs UGA has had,” said Butler. “This is a unit that works together to eliminate the big return by any opponent. Field position is one of the most important statistics in football. The starting point for the opponent can put the defense in an aggressive position to start or finish a game. Our coverage team has shown consistent hustle and determination to set the tempo of the game. It’s a hidden factor that UGA has finally mastered.”
Most of college football’s big boys fattened up appetizers to get ready for the Titanic Thanksgiving Weekend showdowns. It is the biggest, most exciting, most pressure-packed week of the season. There were some great old rivalry games this past week in the Division I-AA/FCS level, as Harvard and Yale played for the Ivy title and Lafayette and Lehigh met for the 150th time, this time at Yankee Stadium. 1. Alabama – The Crimson Tide is hungry for a win over Auburn and berth in the SEC Championship Game. Alabama flirted with history a year ago, but was undone by Auburn’s epic missed field goal return for a touchdown. It will be hard for Auburn to slow Bama down. Amari Cooper is a tremendous weapon.
7. Ohio State – Things got a little scary for the Buckeyes for three quarters against Indiana. But Ohio State turned it on down the stretch to pull away and win. The Buckeyes should have no problems with sagging Michigan and then comes the Big Ten Championship Game.
2. Mississippi State – The Maroons got over the loss at Alabama with a victory over Vanderbilt. Mississippi State is physical and tough. This showdown with Ole Miss, the annual Egg Bowl, has been building to a fever pitch since that special Magnolia State October Saturday. If MSu wins, whether Atlanta is in the cards are no, the playoff is a very real possibility.
8. UCLA – The Bruins were extremely impressive in taking down cross-town foe Southern Cal. I love this game, they both were their home jerseys. It got off to a disastrous start with a pick-six. But UCLA took over. What a great weekend coming to determine who plays Oregon for the PAC-12 Championship.
3. Florida State – These guys keep surviving and they know how to win. It was scary for Florida State, but the Seminoles took care of Boston College on a closing seconds field goal. The ‘Noles had better be ready for Florida and then Tech in the ACC Championship Game. Nick O’Leary is a dominating tight end.
9. Georgia – The stage is set for one of the biggest games ever for the Bulldogs against Tech. Georgia has been hot since losing to Florida, can they keep it up? Nick Chubb may be the best healthy tailback in the country.
4. Oregon – It was easy pickings for the Ducks, as they took down Colorado 44-10 to make it 10-1 on the year. Oregon will be on upset alert against Oregon State. That will be an easier sell since the Beavers just took down Arizona State. If the Ducks win, they will likely have the PAC-12 title and a berth in the playoff on the line. 5. Baylor – The Bears got the offense cooking early and took down Oklahoma State with authority. The Cowboys are in a funny way right now, by the way. Baylor is sniffing another conference championship and staying in contention for one of those four coveted spots. It should be an easy 10-1 with Texas Tech coming to town. 6. TCU – Following the near miss escape against Kansas, the Horned Frogs had this past Saturday off to catch their breath and get ready for Texas. The Longhorns will be thinking upset in Austin, as Charley Strong seeks that signature victory in his first season. Gary Patterson has done a tremendous job in Fort Worth.
10. Kansas State – The Wildcats stayed tied atop the Big XII standings with a win at West Virginia. Kansas State has fallen to Auburn and TCU. Bill Snyder has done amazing things in “The Little Apple.” Next up, should be an easy victory over in-state foe Kansas. 11. Arizona – One of the best two-loss teams in the country brought out the hammer in the big PAC-12 South battle with Utah. The Wildcats of Rich Rodriguez are rightfully dreaming big. Arizona is 9-2 with arch-rival Arizona State coming to town for a mega-showdown. 12. Tech – The Yellow Jackets are hungry for a win in Athens. It has been since 2008. It was a productive offweek. Following Tech’s 28-6 smashing of Clemson, the Jackets earned a berth in the ACC Championship Game via North Carolina’s win over Duke. Justin Thomas is one of the best quarterbacks in all the land.
13. Auburn – The Tigers got scared a bit by Samford following the heartbreaking loss to the Aggies and blowout crushing by Georgia. Auburn tries to make it two in a row over Alabama, which will pull out all the stops to have its blood enemy not spoil the hopes of a national and SEC Championship for a second straight season. 14. Wisconsin – The Badgers and Minnesota will play for the division title, a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game and Paul Bunyon’s Axe. This is a great old rivalry. Melvin Gordon has gone over 2,000 yards. Gary Anderson is an excellent coach. 15. Michigan State – The two losses the Spartans have suffered, at Oregon and to Ohio State, have come by double digits after Michigan State had leads. But the way they have bounced back following the setbacks has been very impressive. Sparty ripped Rutgers 45-3. A 10-2 campaign will be theirs with a win in Happy Valley over Penn State. 16. Missouri – The Tigers play excellent defense. They won a tough game in Knoxville and continue to excel on the road. Now comes a big test with red hot Arkansas in Columbia. A victory over the Hogs delivers a second straight trip to the SEC Championship game. 17. Arizona State – The Sun Devils bounced back from their heart-breaking loss at Oregon State by throttling Washington State 52-31. Now comes one of the biggest in-state showdowns in series history, as the Sun Devils head to Tuscon to tangle with Arizona. It has been an incredible year on the gridiron in The Grand Canyon State. 18. Ole Miss – The Rebels suffered those two heart-breaking losses and got bitten by the injury bug. Critical turnovers have proven to be the difference between a fine season and a dream season. Ole Miss got pounded by rejuvenated Arkansas, and now must try and find a way to come back and spoil Mississippi State’s party in beautiful Oxford.
TOP 25 JEFF DANTZLER
19. Marshall – The Thundering Herd escaped an upset bid at UAB with a 23-18 victory over the Blazers. Marshall has an outstanding running attack, ranking seventh nationally with 294 yards per game on the round. Marshall should dust Western Kentucky on Friday to make it 12-0. The Herd is hoping for a major bowl bid. 20. Colorado State – The Rams are having a spectacular season, improving to 10-1 with a 58-20 trouncing of New Mexico. It is a big in-state showdown in Colorado Springs, as the Rams tangle with Air Force at Falcon Stadium. 21. Oklahoma – The Sooners got a performance for the ages in a beat-down of Kansas that improves them to 8-3. Samaje Perine ran for an astounding 427 yards on 34 carries with five touchdowns to set the NCAA single-game rushing record, a week after Melvin Gordon went for 408. Oklahoma hosts Okie State on December 6, trying to extend its dominance over the Cowboys. 22. Minnesota – The Golden Gophers chalked up one of their biggest wins of the 21st century, taking down Nebraska to make it 8-3 on the campaign. If Minnesota can upset Wisconsin at Camp-Randall, it’s the Gophers tangling with Ohio State for the Big Ten crown. 23. Clemson – The Tigers have a bright future with DeShaun Watson at quarterback. Clemson eased past a pretty bad Georgia State team 28-0. Now comes the in-state showdown with South Carolina. Steve Spurrier has led South Carolina to five straight wins over the Tigers – all by double digits. 24. Louisville – It was a sweet win for the Cardinals, as they edged Notre Dame to improve to 8-3 on the year. The match-up pitted a pair of former Georgia defensive coordinators, Brian Van Gorder and Todd Grantham. 25. Nebraska – The Cornhuskers were marching towards a Big Ten Championship Game berth, but have lost two straight. Melvin Gordon and the Badgers ripped through Big Red, then Minnesota won a squeaker. The ‘Huskers get Iowa this week, and try desperately to avoid a three game losing streak to end the regular season.
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