Bulldawg 14 bowl, 2014

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FROM THE EDITOR: VANCE LEAVY It’s hard to believe the 2014 regular season has come and gone. Without question, everyone who bleeds red and black was striving for much better than a 9-3 record.

Bottom line, a magical season wasn’t in the cards, but everyone in the Bulldog Nation must stay united for the playing of the Belk Bowl in Charlotte on December 30 against the Louisville Cardinals.

As our cover says, end it with a 10.

10 wins … a top 10 ranking.

And most importantly, a flawless performance in the Belk Bowl worthy of nothing but a 10.

If you looked close at the photos of the players on our cover, then you noticed that all the players included will return next season to “carry the torch” as senior Chris Conley encouraged in his speech at the football banquet this past Saturday.

2015 looks bright with the awesome news that Jordan Jenkins, Leonard Floyd, Malcolm Mitchell and John Theus will return. But without question, any optimism towards next season will be dashed if Bobby Petrino and former UGA defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham and their team aren’t defeated in a few weeks.

End with a 10 … Bulldog Nation.

Now, I wouldn’t be doing my job, if I didn’t touch on some aspects that I believe need to occur for our team to finally reach the pinnacle of college football in the coming years. So without further ado, here’s all I want for Christmas and the new year…

Keep it Loud and Proud Bulldog Nation Our fanbase continues to make Sanford Stadium difficult on opposing teams. To me, the vibe is the best since the early 80s. With Alabama coming to Athens in the middle of 2015 that’s exactly as it needs to be. Our players thrive the most when our fans are making lots

of noise. Keep it coming, Dawgs!

Shore up the gameday snafus We have a coach that has had great success during his tenure at UGA. But for whatever reason, each season includes various gaffes. It’s time for Mark Richt to reorganize what goes on in the headsets during games. He needs help in decision making in the big moments.

Surely, someone on our football coaching staff knew that a squib kick at the very end of the Tech game didn’t make sense. To me, it’s not that hard of a fix, but it begins with our headman realizing shortcomings. Overall, the blunders were improved this season, now it’s time to eliminate them once and for all.

Continued improvement from our optimistic defense With a skeleton crew, Jeremy Pruitt produced a solid defense in his first season. It was refreshing to see our team always attacking the football. You have to think it will only get better moving forward with the addition of even more playmakers. Stock up …

More depth and strength on both the offensive and defensive lines In all three losses this season, our team was pushed around on both sides of the ball. I don’t pretend to know what it will take to avoid this, but do have faith this is a top goal with our coaching staff. The 2015 recruiting class is shaping up to be excellent, but we must close with more fast and strong big uglies.

No more kicking early field goals in Jacksonville I’m not going to rehash all the awful memories of UGA placekicking on the banks of the St. Johns River.

So many times, good momentum has been lost versus the Gators when making the decision to kick field goals. Put the hammer down moving forward and make touchdowns the only option.

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Remember and respect the great Bulldogs before us This past year has been tough with the passing of many individuals that gave so much to Georgia. We said goodbye to legends like Dan Magill, Cecelia Seiler and most recently longtime UGA supporter Leon Farmer, Jr. (tribute page 13). As Bulldogs, it’s our solemn duty to never forget our legends by always doing what they did … give back to our University.

That will do it for me. Please enjoy our final issue of 2014. There’s tons of bowl coverage including the addition of a new contributor to BI, Hamilton Culpepper. He’s only 12, but you are sure to love the presenting of his SEC 2014 Hammys on page 14. Good stuff, indeed.

And there are plenty of photos, including the ones from the Senior Banquet. What a great class. You gentleman have served your University and football team with great diligence and dignity.

We salute you wholeheartedly, but ask that you finish with a 10.

Happy Holidays to all. See you in Charlotte. 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, Hamilton Culpepper • 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, Jack Hayes, Will Hayes, Bear Jordan, Tim Roberts, Cullen Sewell, Thompson Sewell, Champ Vance Bowl Preview, December 16, 2014

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By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated

ON THE FIELD

THE BIG FIVE

When the Georgia Bulldogs take to the field Dec. 30 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. for the Belk Bowl game, they will be confronting one of the nation’s very top defensive units.

Georgia’s opponent, the Louisville Cardinals, will enter the contest with the country’s third-best defense against the run as they allow opponents a meager 93.7 yards per game on the ground. Only Penn State and Alabama are above the Cards in rushing defense.

In total defense, Louisville ranks sixth in America as it surrenders only 293 yards per game, allowing opponents to pass for an average of 199.6 yards per contest to couple with the low run defense mark.

And the mastermind of this rock-solid Cardinal defense? As all Georgia fans know, it’s Todd Grantham, who served as the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator from 2010 through 2013 and is now in his first season at Louisville in the same role.

The Cardinals of former Atlanta Falcons and Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino — now in his second head coaching stint at Louisville — will fly into the Belk Bowl with the identical 9-3 season record owned by the Bulldogs. Louisville went 5-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. The Cardinals clicked to wins over Miami (31-13), Murray State (66-21), Florida International (34-3), Wake Forest (20-10), Syracuse (28-6), N.C. State (30-18), Boston College (38-19), Notre Dame (31-28) and Kentucky (44-40). trademarked and the property rsity. The Louisville losses came to Virginia (23-21), Clemson and unbeaten Florida State (42-31). orial use(23-17) only by AP members.

Georgia, come Dec. 30, will have to deal with a bundle of Cardinal playmakers ... on both sides of the ball.

With Louisville averaging 149 yards rushing per game and 246 passing, sophomore tailback Brandon Radcliff (No. 23), 5-9, 207, has run for 648 yards and 11 touchdowns while former Auburn running back Michael Dyer (5), a 5-9, 212-pound senior, follows with 481 yards and five touchdowns. Passing-wise, sophomore quarterback Will Gardner had thrown for 1,669 yards and 12 touchdowns before the former Coffee County High product was lost to a season-ending knee injury in the Boston College game. Reggie Bonnafon (7), a 6-3, 206-pound freshman, then took over the QB reins and has thrown for 850 yards and five scores but he too was injured and had to be relieved

by another redshirt freshman, Kyle Bolin (14), in the finale against Kentucky and the 6-2, 211-pound Bolin promptly earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors by throwing for 381 yards and three touchdowns in the shootout win over rival Kentucky.

Receiving-wise, the Cardinals show tremendous balance in their pass-catching corps as senior Eli Rogers (6), senior DeVante Parker (9), sophomore James Quick (17) and senior tight end Gerald Christian (18) show 40, 35, 34 and 30 catches, respectively.

In Parker’s case, he played in only the Cards’ past five games and amassed his 35 catches for 735 yards and five touchdowns.

And that nationally highly-ranked defense Coach Mike Bobo’s Bulldog offense is facing? How about Louisville junior safety Gerod Holliman (8)? The 6-2, 213-pound Holliman, a first-team All-ACC selection, has 14 interceptions this season, which matches the NCAA single-season record set by Washington’s Al Worley in 1968. Sophomore linebacker Keith Kelsey (55) and junior safety James Sample (2) are the Cardinals’ tackle leaders with 78 and 76 stops, respectively, and Louisville’s book-end defensive ends, Sheldon Rankins (98) and Lorenzo Mauldin (94), are bound to present problems for UGA offensive tackles John Theus and Kolton Houston. The 6-2, 305 Rankins has seven sacks and 12.5 tackles-for-loss this season and the 6-4, 252-pound Mauldin, a second-team All-ACC selection, has 6.5 sacks and a team-high 13 tackles-for-loss.

So, clearly, Louisville has the talent to get the best of the Bulldogs in the upcoming Belk Bowl and here are the Big Five factors that will enable the Cardinals to do just that:

1. Louisville defense, play with confidence and swagger

You know you’ve got one of the leading stop-em crews in the country and one Todd Grantham has to know the Georgia offense’s tendencies so go out and hit the Bulldogs in the mouth from the opening whistle and live up to your national billing.

2. Shut down Mr. Chubb

This falls in line with the No. 1 factor above. Don’t let the Bulldogs’ talented, SEC Freshman of the Year get into gear. Be the first defense to hold Nick Chubb (as a starter) below the 100-yard rushing mark.

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3. Get in Hutson Mason’s face the game long

While putting the clamps on Chubb and his backup freshman tailback, Sony Michel, make Mason try to beat you through the air. Bring the pressure all game with your outstanding defensive ends, Lorenzo Mauldin and Sheldon Rankins, and it should throw kinks into the UGA offense.

4. Cardinal offense, do your job

Keep Jeremy Pruitt’s defense off balance with a good run-pass mixture and light up the scoreboard like you did against Miami, N.C. State, Boston College, Notre Dame and Kentucky this season. Good as the Cards’ defense is, it will need ample help from the Louisville “O” to win this game.

5. Show the SEC, the ACC is pretty good, too In the season finales Nov. 29, the ACC scored a fourway knockout over the SEC teams with Georgia Tech beating Georgia, Louisville beating Kentucky, Florida State beating Florida and Clemson beating South Carolina. Use that as a stepping stone, Cards, and keep the ACC streak against the supposedly-stronger Southeastern Conference going.

ON THE FIELD

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

THE BIG FIVE

By Logan Booker Bulldawg Illustrated

2. The entire defense needs to play with a chip on its shoulder

You are not going to New Orleans or Pasadena this bowl season. Sure, there were times throughout 2014 that it felt like a real possibility, but then college football happened. Confusing losses were dropped on this Georgia Bulldogs team and instead of suntans or beignets it will have to be NASCAR museums and wearing jackets in Charlotte.

Most of the players on the Georgia defense played under Grantham before he left them.

This game will be the golden opportunity many of them likely wanted to show him that he made a mistake. Although the players and fanbase seem much happier with Jeremy Pruitt in Athens, they still have not forgotten the defensive frustrations Grantham seemed to give them.

Don’t think for a second this will not be in the minds of the Georgia defense all game.

But things are not all pessimistic considering what could have been. The Belk Bowl provides an opportunity to see something different. Three consecutive years of playing a Big Ten school in Florida grew tiresome. So when the news dropped that the Louisville Cardinals would square off against the Bulldogs on Dec. 30th, the first thing that came to everyone’s mind was the matchup against former defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. It is intriguing and quite good from a football standpoint too. But for Georgia fans to take a little bit of optimism into the long offseason, five things will need to happen:

3. Hutson Mason keeps rolling The senior quarterback caught some criticism early in the season but really came on strong at the end. Some of the passes and decision-making he exhibited in the last few games were nothing short of great. With Louisville being stout against the run, Mason will likely be needed more in this game than some earlier in the season.

1. Nick Chubb, just be you, man Nick Chubb has been the feel good story of 2014. He has single handedly given Georgia fans reasons to look very forward to 2015 and beyond. He will be tested in a big way in Charlotte as the Cardinals will throw the 3rd ranked rushing defense at him. But Chubb has not let any rush defense slow him down as of yet, and you should expect another fun day watching him run.

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The special teams have had its highs and lows throughout 2014. Multiple blunders are what led to defeat at the hands of Georgia Tech last game, which cannot happen in Charlotte. With two stout defenses going up against one another, field position and possessions will be of the utmost importance. The special teams will need to work for, not against itself.

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Jeff Dantzler’s Dirty Dozen Bowl Previews South Carolina vs. Miami Shreveport, La. December 27, 3:30 p.m.

Texas A&M vs. West Virginia Memphis December 29, 2:00 p.m.

Arkansas vs. Texas Houston.

December 29 , 9:00 p.m.

This is the most disappointing season that Steve Spurrier has had at South Carolina. Coming off of three consecutive 11-2 seasons, the Gamecocks are 6-6 – that includes the first loss to Clemson in the 2010s. South Carolina was a consensus preseason top ten pick, but got smoked in Columbia by Texas A&M in the season opener. Several close losses knocked them off track, and now the Gamecocks will try and salvage a winning record. On the other side is Miami, which still hasn’t recovered from the crippling sanctions due to cheating. The Hurricanes had much of the country rooting for them when they jumped out to a first half lead over Florida State, but that loss to the Seminoles took a lot of wind out of their sails. Motivation is the big key for this one, as is the case with virtually all these bowls. Who knows what kind of weather will hit the Gamecocks and Miami for this one?

The Aggies looked like they hadn’t skipped a Johnny Manziel beat with the blowout of South Carolina to open the campaign. But a trio of big number losses to Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Alabama – no shame in who, but boy the how many – did away with any Aggie championship dreams. A late season victory over Auburn rekindled some of the fire. A&M, especially with young quarterbacks and promising freshmen, is one of those teams that will eye their bowl as a launching point for 2015. West Virginia certainly had its moments this season, highlighted by a pair of last second field goal victories and the upset of Baylor in Morgantown (Ohio State sends thanks). But the Mountaineers still can’t put it all together. The travel of the Big XII probably doesn’t help. This is the only bowl where an SEC team is the underdog

These two old Southwest Conference rivals will square off in Houston, and that’s good.

The Razorbacks are on the way up, sitting at 6-6. Texas is also 6-6, hoping that Charley Strong has the Longhorns heading in the right direction. These two old foes played some memorable, historic games through the years, including one of the biggest in college football annals, Texas’s 15-14 victory in Fayetteville in 1969, a match-up of No. 1 vs. No. 2. The Hogs have the biggest offensive line in college football and excellent backs. They figure to challenge Texas by running straight at them. Arkansas got signature wins for second year coach Bret Bielema in successive shutout victories over LSU and Ole Miss. They would love to add Texas to the hit list.

Longtime fans of these two schools will certainly appreciate this rare meeting between these two old bitter foes.

LSU vs. Notre Dame Nashville December 30, 3:00 p.m.

Ole Miss vs. TCU Atlanta December 31, 12:30 p.m.

Mississippi State. vs. Tech Miami December 31, 8:00 p.m.

LSU closed out the regular season with a nice victory over Texas A&M. The Bayou Bengals have routinely been in the hunt for the SEC championship and high national honors in the 2000s. That was not the case this season, and a trio of years of having numerous underclassmen – especially on defense – leave early for the NFL took its toll. But the Tigers still had their moments and will be a high preseason pick for 2015. The Tigers and Fighting Irish have met 10 times all time, all since 1970, and the series is 5-5. LSU rolled to bowl victories in Shreveport (with white helmets) in 1997 and in the 2007 Sugar Bowl. Motivation won’t be a problem for either school as these are two of the titans of college football. Notre Dame looked as though it would be a playoff contender, even after the heart-breaking loss at Florida State, but Arizona State and Northwestern dealt them big blows and the Irish are 7-5. Les Miles team should be healthy and hungry and load up on Leonard Fournette.

These are two of those teams that were dreaming on the playoffs. TCU lost only at Baylor 61-58, blowing a 21-point fourth quarter lead. The Horned Frogs were inside that top four, but fell out despite a blowout victory over Iowa State when Ohio State dismantled Wisconsin. Ole Miss was undefeated, in the midst of a dream season. The Rebels lost a heart-breaker at LSU, then lost in just unimaginable fashion to Auburn. Ole Miss bounced back from a big, bad loss at Arkansas to take down Mississippi State, doing away with their cross-state rivals playoff hopes.

Ole Miss’s defense will have to carry the load. It would be tough for the Rebels to score with TCU if this is a shootout. Gary Patterson has done an incredible job in Fort Worth. Hugh Freeze has the Rebel faithful feeling their best about a championship run since the golden days of Johnny Vaught in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Georgia fans are wondering if Miami could have been the destination, had the Bulldogs beaten Tech? Instead the Yellow Jackets got the win and nearly pulled off the ACC Championship Game against Florida State.

Meanwhile the other Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference, had their potential playoff hopes dashed by their hated rival Rebels in Oxford in the Egg Bowl. With what Ohio State, if it is any consolation, the brand-name power of the Buckeyes probably would have trumped MSU for that final spot. A healthy Dak Prescott and Josh Robinson should be able to put up plenty of points and yards. The question is whether the MSU defense will be ready for the Yellow Jackets high octane triple option attack, led by sensational sophomore quarterback Justin Thomas, a big-play burner?

This is Tech’s second trip to the Orange Bowl in the last six seasons. Dan Mullen has a physical, tough team. That front seven will have to be at its best to take down Tech.

Auburn vs. Wisconsin Tampa January 1, 12:00 p.m.

Missouri vs. Minnesota Orlando January 1 , 1:00 p.m.

Florida State vs. Oregon Pasadena, Cal. January 1 , 5:00 p.m.

The Badgers got blown out 59-0 by Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Then, stunningly, Gary Andersen took the Oregon State job after just two seasons at the helm in Madison. That’s some major turnover at Wisconsin over the last few years. Auburn was in the playoff mix, but a brutal schedule caught up to the Tigers, as they fell in November to Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama.

Gus Malzonne’s team should be re-energized for the bowl. After what Ohio State did to the Badgers defense, Auburn’s high octain offense must be licking its chops. The Tigers receivers are pro’s. They look the part and can run. When current athletic director Barry Alvarez was coaching Wisconsin, he led the Badgers to an upset win over the Tigers in the Capital One Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2006. Now he has to be wondering why two coaches have departed in the last three years for destinations where winning a championship is more difficult than at Wisconsin?

When Texas A&M and Missouri came into the Southeastern conference prior to the 2012 season, it was a near unanimous conclusion, outside of Columbia, Mo. at least, that the Aggies were far more likely to have early success.

Well Texas A&M went 11-2 in its first year and finished in the top ten. But over the last two seasons, Mizzou has made back to back trips to the SEC Championship Game, while recording road victories at Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina. Gary Pinkel has been named the SEC Coach of the Year, Shane Ray is the defensive recipient – the second straight year that honor has gone to a Tiger – and Marcus Murphy was voted top special teams player. Missouri took down Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl a year ago to go 12-2. A win over the Golden Gophers would give Mizzou an 11-3 mark this season. Minnesota has had its best season in a while, contending for a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Golden Gophers are 8-4 and would love a signature win over – a new – SEC foe. The Gophers are tough and physical. Missouri’s defensive line is outstanding, despite losing a pair of all-stars from last year’s squad.

This should be a high-scoring affair with a pair of elite quarterbacks in Marcus Mariota and the most unpopular player – well-earned and deserved – in the country, 2013 Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston. The Ducks are favored by eight and a half. Florida State has been behind in most of its games this season and the Seminoles aren’t as good as they were while winning the national title in 2013. But Florida State knows how to win. Winston has juice around him at tailback and receiver, and the Seminoles have the best tight end in the country, Golden Gran-Bear Nick O’Leary. He is one of the country’s toughest match-ups, and has pulled Florida State to at least two wins they wouldn’t have gotten had he signed somewhere else. FSU figures to utilize O’Leary to pound away at the middle of the Oregon defense.

The Ducks are so explosive, a threat to score on any play in any phase of the game. That offensive line will need to be healthy and at its best, or the Seminoles front could give them big time trouble.

Oregon was extremely impressive in the revenge PAC-12 Championship Game rout of Arizona.

Alabama vs. Ohio State New Orleans January 1 , 8:30 p.m.

Tennessee vs. Iowa Jacksonville, Fla. January 2, 3:20 p.m.

Florida vs. East Carolina Birmingham, Ala. January 2, 12:00 p.m.

These are two of the grand traditions in college football who have both been tremendous in the 2000s. Nick Saban and Urban Meyer have combined to lead teams to six national championships, in addition to a slew of other top five finishes in the polls. This will be the third time these two have met in a national semifinal. The 2008 and 2009 Southeastern Conference Championship Games, which Florida and Alabama split, were de facto semifinal games for a berth in the national title tilt. Alabama is the favorite and Ohio State doesn’t have a good history against the SEC. But this is Meyer. This is the sixth team he has coached in his last 10 years that has either won the national title, gone undefeated, or been a game away from playing for it.

Despite what turned out to be a horrible loss to Virginia Tech, the Buckeyes 12-1 record and Big Ten Championship Game rout of Wisconsin was impressive, considering they did it with three quarterbacks. Amari Cooper is an incredible talent at receiver for Bama, the Tide has superb backs and a physical offensive line. In Saban’s critical losses at Alabama, they have been plagued by special team’s breakdowns. Bear Bryant’s Crimson Tide beat Woody Hayes’ Buckeyes in the 1978 Sugar Bowl.

Now that’s tradition! It was 35-6 Bama, by the way.

It would have been a stretch 15 years ago to say that the Tennessee faithful would be excited to going to a bowl game at 6-6 vs. a 7-5 Iowa squad. But it has been a couple of years, the Volunteers are on the uptick with some talented young skill players, and they are happy to be headed to Jacksonville.

Iowa has been a Jekyll and Hyde Big Ten team.

This extra practice time will benefit Tennessee looking ahead to next season. Butch Jones team will be one of the favorites in the Southeastern Conference’s East Division. A one-point loss to Florida and three-point loss at Georgia are good indicators. But the win at South Carolina was the real big one. Of course there is the matter of Missouri in the SEC East. The Volunteers figure to be tough to beat in Jacksonville.

Going through a transition, the Gators are eyeing a win to close the season to finish with a winning record. Treon Harris getting this practice time will be big. Motivation will be a question. But new coach Jim McElwain will be taking notes. The defense has talent and the offense showed against Georgia that it can run the football. It’s not like Florida doesn’t have good players. East Carolina looked like it may be bound for a major bowl berth, but faltered down the stretch. The Pirates will be up for a big time SEC foe. The Gators are expecting to be in a much better bowl in the very near future. There is such a fine line in the SEC. Florida went for an 11-1 regular season in 2012 to 4-8 the next year.

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

10-3 finish will help the heartache

By Jeff Dantzler Bulldawg Illustrated

It’s just not meant to be for the football gods. In my life, largely driven by Georgia football, amongst my Christmas wishes, included with winning at least one more national championship on the gridiron was beating Tech nine in a row, just looks like it won’t happen.

The chance was there in 1998, Joe Hamilton fumbled, and the refs didn’t call it. In 2008, the Bulldogs led 28-12 at the half and lost.

This season would have been six straight. Plus a 10-2 record and likely berth in Miami in the Orange Bowl. The Bulldogs last played in the Orange Bowl on January 1, 1949. But missed opportunities and a costly special teams decision did the Dogs in.

For a young boy at the age of eight, having the Bulldogs win the 1980 national championship was an incredible experience. There was Herschel Walker running over Bill Bates, thrilling win after white-knuckling triumph, Buck Belue to Lindsay Scott, down went Auburn, down went Tech, and finally Notre Dame in New Orleans with the Kelly brothers, Rex Robinson, Scott Woerner’s picks, Chris Welton’s fumble recovery and the freshman’s shoulder getting popped back into place. It was an incredible first kiss igniting a lifelong love affair which has outlasted several others and been a daily source of conjecture, interest and angst.

When it comes to bowl games, the next two are the ones that really stand out.

Heartbreak.

Worse than a really bad breakup.

Dan Marino, with Knox Culpepper pulled down by a blatant facemask holding penalty that wasn’t called, threw the game-winning touchdown. As I cried in my room, my wonderful father came back, trying to somehow console his son, to tell me that Clemson had won – hey where was Kirk Herbstreit calling for the rematch then – and we wouldn’t have won the national title anyway. I screamed “I don’t care!” You see Georgia was No. 2, losing only to Clemson.

Had the Bulldogs held on and won and Clemson fallen to Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, Georgia would have hoisted

a second successive national championship.

A year later, I got the greatest Christmas gift I have ever and will ever receive. My parents, at my grandparent’s house, delivered Sugar Bowl tickets for the “Game of the Decade” battle between the Bulldogs and Penn State. It was No. 1 vs. No.2. Undefeated Georgia had captured a third consecutive Southeastern Conference crown, Herschel was awarded the Heisman Trophy, and a win over the Nittany Lions would have meant another national championship.

I cannot imagine, at any point in my life, Powerball/ Mega-Millions lottery or mid-80s Kathy Ireland included, being more elated than when I got those tickets.

There were tears at the end of that devastating 27-23 loss, the most significant setback in Georgia football annals.

Lots of them. My wonderful mother, who was sitting with my cousin in another section of the Superdome while I sat with my dad, felt the wrath this time. You see, my lucky red Georgia shirt that simply had Georgia in white with a black outline around the letters written across the front.

Simple and elegant. It was a winner in every game in 1982.

But with the Superdome at night, in New Orleans, my mom did not think the T-shirt Sugar Bowl worthy. Yes, the top half of the “o,” second “g” and part of the “I” in “Georgia” which had been ironed on at the Sports Unlimited at the Statesboro Mall – as was the custom of the day – were falling off. But it was 11-0. So also for Christmas I got a sweet red Georgia jersey with the growling Bulldog wearing the “G” beanie with the collar on the front, the number “34” on the back, and white and black circular striped on the sleeves. I loved it. I don’t know how many hundreds of times I wound up wearing it. But I did not love the idea of wearing it to the game. It wasn’t 11-0 like the old classic with the top half of three letters wilting like a dying flower.

A true classic.

So when Dad and I met up with Mom and my cousin Bud, I screamed “it’s your fault for not letting me wear my lucky shirt!”

What a treat I must have been to raise.

It would be 20 years until Georgia would win another SEC title, with a slew of near-misses and heartbreak in between. The Georgia people are still waiting on that next national championship, with some near-misses and heartbreak since January 1, 1981.

2015 Southeast Georgia Health System

Bridge Run

photo by Rob Saye

There was some hope that maybe this would be the year, maybe Georgia would make it to the inaugural fourteam College Football Playoff. But the Bulldogs lost a heart-breaker to Steve Spurrier, who has beaten Georgia more than any coach ever, and South Carolina. Todd Gurley then got suspended. The Bulldogs were rolling, but got beaten badly by a 6-5 Florida team. The dreams of the playoff were painfully doused. But Georgia rolled Kentucky and Auburn. Then Gurley got hurt. Then came the Tech game.

When losing to Tech, it is hard to have any excitement for the bowl game. The pain, disappointment and hurt lingers.

A victory over Louisville and 10-3 record is a much better option than the alternative. But what the Bulldog faithful are most looking for is a performance that will give hope that a team that lost twice off of open dates this season and a program that has dropped three of its last four bowl games to schools with inferior talent, has changed, altered, bettered and corrected whatever hasn’t been going right when Georgia has had extra time. That would be a big step forward and further feed that hope that sometime soon it will again be the Bulldogs time, season and realization of the dream.

Join Southeast Georgia Health System for good, healthy fun as we host a 5K Run and Walk across the scenic Sidney Lanier Bridge. Runners and Walkers register now at sghs.org or active.com.

Food • Vendors • Awards • Live Entertainment PRE-RUN PASTA PARTY AND RUNNER’S EXPO Friday, February 13 • 5–8 p.m.

Sidney Lanier Bridge Southbound Side Brunswick

2 0 1 5

Benefiting the Southeast Georgia Health System Cancer Care Programs

Race start: • 8 a.m. Firefighters Challenge • 9 a.m. Runners Start All runners, including those on teams

Pasta Party Price $5.00 Pick up your bib number and dri-fit shirt.

• 10 a.m. Walkers Start All walkers, including those on teams

BRIDGE RUN AND RUNNER’S EXPO Saturday, February 14

Location: Run begins at the southbound side of the Sidney Lanier Bridge

Late Walker Registration: 7–9 a.m.

Runners must be pre-registered Awards Sponsored by:

Pinova Cash Awards $1,000, $500, $250 Top 3 Male/Female Runners

• Registration: $25 for individual before January 13; $30 for individual January 13-February 3; $40 for individual February 4-11 ($2 discount per person for teams of 10 or more) • Deadline for runner registration: Wednesday, February 11, 11:59 p.m.

To volunteer for the Bridge Run, please call 912-466-1071.

Runners and walkers of all ages are welcome. To register or for more information, visit sghs.org or active.com.

Or, call 912-466-BRUN (2786) or 1-800-537-5142 ext. 2786.

Southbound U.S. - 17 across the Sidney Lanier Bridgewill be closed for the event from 6 a.m.–1 p.m.

Southeast Georgia Health System is a tobacco-free organization. facebook.com/SGHScares

8 • www.bulldawgillustrated.com

12/2014 © 2014 SGHS

OFF THE FIELD

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

Lorenzo Carter, AJ Turman, Jasmine Johnson and Jordan Davis

Jordan Jenkins, Quayvon Hicks and Ray Drew

2014 Senior Awards Banquet

Becky Reynolds, Chris Conley and Wanda Jenkins

Stephanie Whitworth, Anna Murphy, Mark Richt and Deandra Saddler

Jake Edwards, Emma Schauder, Brice Ramsey, Lindsey Cheek, Thomas Swilley

Malcolm Mitchell, Jim Thompson and Keith Marshall

David Andrews and Kolton Houston

Sterling Bailey and Reggie Carter

Thomas Swilley and Andrea Swilley

Marlo Herrera and Stacy Dallas

McKenzie Dempsey, Nick Chubb and Lacey Shaw

Jeb Blazevich and Alexa Gilomen

Damian Swann, David Lefkowitz and Lorenzo Carter

Matt Presnell, B Presnell, Martha Henderson, Laura Wilfong

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

OFF THE FIELD

2014 Senior Awards Banquet

Ty Frix, Jim Claussen and Dan Hensley

All-SEC Players, Amarlo Herrera, Ramik Wilson, David Andrews, Damian Swann, Greg Pyke, Jeb Blazevich, Lorenzo Carter and Nick Chubb with Mark Richt

Caroline Blackshear, Anna Erdman and Becca Haaland

Mark Richt and Susan Mehre

Indi Somers, Dantzler Watts and Riley Somers

Nelle Kester and Joey Vitale

Amanda Morales and Isaiah McKenzie

Jeff Andrews and David Andrews

Rob Saye, Nick Chubb and Robby Saye

Coaches Leadership Award Offense - Michael Bennett, David Andrews and Chris Conley

OFFICIAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

Athens Regional Health System looks forward to every exciting football game and to providing unmatched care for the fans.

We’re the #1 fan of those we serve.

AthensHealth.org 10 • www.bulldawgillustrated.com

OFF THE FIELD

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

2014 Senior Awards Banquet

John Eunice, Jay Rome, Lindsay Eunice, Malcolm Mitchell, Tammy Eunice and John Eunice

Will, Ron, Luke, John, Anna Courson, Hailey Clark and Eileen Courson

Emalee Sigur, Keith Marshall, Haley Bird, Amelia Hill, Hillary Bird and Mack Bird

David Andrews receives the Vince Dooley MVP Award from Vince Dooley and Mark Richt

(back row) Will Hayes, Dominick Sanders, Frank Sinkwich, John Hayes (middle row) Hatton Abernathy, Thompson Sewell, Hamilton Culpepper, Cullen Sewell (front row) Jack Abernathy

Nick Chubb, AP Freshman of the Year, with Mark Richt Captains Damian Swann, Amarlo Herrera, Hutson Mason, Mike Thornton, Kosta Vavlas and permanent, team captain David Andrews with Mark Richt Joe and Cathleen Tereshinksi

Todd Gurley and Olivia Davison

Ramik Wilson and Regina Wilson

Steve Jones and Lillian Kinzey

Chris Conley praised Coach T for teaching he and the team what it means to bleed red and black

Katie Maxham and Chris Conley

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www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 11

LOGAN BOOKER

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

2014 season was ‘dramatic’ indeed

By Logan Booker Bulldawg Illustrated

Head coach Mark Richt took the podium just moments after one of the most deflating losses of both his career and the history of Georgia Bulldogs football. As he stared almost blankly at the gathered media he was asked to describe the 2014 season in one word. “Dramatic” he said.

A better word could not describe the roller coaster of emotions that you, the Georgia football fanatic, have experienced over the last three and a half months. From the elation you felt after getting off to such a great start, to the frustration you felt when Todd Gurley was benched, to the long walk you took back to your car after being shocked in Sanford Stadium over Thanksgiving, your 2014 football season may seem more like a dozen seasons rolled into one.

Optimisms were perhaps at an all-time high back in early September. The nation watched as Gurley made a statement against Clemson, declaring this was going to be his Heisman Trophy season. ESPN could not stop talking about how fun your Bulldogs were to watch and practically penciled them into the new College Football Playoff. It was a feeling you’re not used to, as the national media oftentimes seems so pessimistic when it comes to your team.

But that feeling that seemed too good to be true was just that. You didn’t really think Steve Spurrier was going to allow the big heads in Athens to keep swelling did you?

The next game at South Carolina was one of the more puzzling games of 2014. How did a defense that looked so strong against Clemson allow a fifth year and first time starting quarterback look like Peyton Manning? Why did your coaches not hand the ball to Gurley on the 4-yard line with a chance to go up late? Those are questions you’ll never know the answers to. And as you know, there has never been a longer drive back home from Columbia.

But things quickly began to look back up. The next few weeks brought with them more awe from the leading Heisman candidate and a nail biting win over Tennessee, giving your Bulldogs five straight over the Vols. Another impressive showing against Vanderbilt and you started to forget the loss to South Carolina and started thinking more about that Playoff.

CAPITAN

TM

Little did you know, a storm was brewing. Your emotions were about to go from joy to anger and sadness, all at the hands of a no-name memorabilia dealer from north Georgia.

The most dominating player since Herschel Walker was benched just before a crucial four-game SEC road trip for signing autographs and profiting off his own likeness.

The feeling you had of being punched in the stomach wasn’t even about the fear of losing football games as much as it was being robbed of watching greatness.

But while you grew more and more frustrated with the lack of information regarding the status of your cemented superstar, another was born. Nick Chubb had already impressed in a limited role, but you cannot convince me for a second that you thought he would be as good as he was in Gurley’s absence. After slicing up the defenses of Missouri and Arkansas on the road, you, once again, felt optimistic about the state of your team going to Jacksonville. I even wrote how you should relish in the positivity surrounding that game and urged you to have no fear of the Gators for a change. And unfortunately, your team seemed to have also taken the ho-hum approach.

You have undoubtedly felt let down in Jacksonville before if you’re a Bulldog fan. But this one hurt. Just days before you were crushed, again, at finding out Gurley would not be back as soon as you thought. And if you thought the ride home from Columbia was long, you weren’t even prepared for the circumnavigation of Jacksonville back to Athens after that debacle.

But you cheered again when Isaiah McKenzie returned kicks at Kentucky alongside Chubb doing impressive Chubb things. You knew the following week there would finally be a home game and Gurley was going to suit up.

And on a freezing night, I am not sure you or I have partied harder during a 55-minute stretch of football as we did at the expense of Auburn. It was with 5-minutes left that your roller coaster season once again took a dip.

The quick snap of a ligament in Gurley’s knee and you were forced to say goodbye to one of the greatest, most-loved players that ever ran between the hedges. It was enough to make a 27-point win over the highly ranked Tigers feel like a loss.

Then you were forced to watch and cheer for teams

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12 • www.bulldawgillustrated.com

photo by Rob Saye

you’ve never thought of cheering for in your life. Go Tennessee? Go Arkansas? Somebody just beat Missouri already!

But it didn’t work. What seemed like an automatic bid to Atlanta earlier in the season was canceled the day before taking on a surprisingly highly-ranked Georgia Tech.

And on that day, your roller coaster trip would go through the most highs and lows of any game as footballs were fumbled at the goal line, an improbably lead was taken with mere seconds remaining and an overtime shocker left you dazed and confused as to what had just taken place. You had to watch your hedges getting torn up as Yellow Jackets posed for pictures with branches in their mouths.

This brings you to today. Instead of preparing for a Playoff game in New Orleans on New Year’s Day you’re planning a late December trip to Charlotte to play former defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s Louisville Cardinals in the Belk Bowl.

Nothing comes easy being a Bulldog football fan. You subject your emotions to torture every fall. This one was no different. But by surviving silly seasons like you have done in 2014, you’ll only enjoy the elusive golden season that much more when it finally comes.

Dramatic? Yeah, coach Richt. I’d say that was a pretty good way to describe 2014.

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

L E O N FA R M E R , J R . T R I B U T E

Compiled by: Cheri Leavy

Our team at Bulldawg Illustrated thinks the world of Vickie and Leon Farmer and we were saddened by the passing of Big Leon. We visited with some Bulldogs who share their thoughts on what Leon Farmer meant to University of Georgia Athletics.

“Leon was one of the great all-time Bulldogs and may have had the biggest heart of all. He was an intelligent person and I always enjoyed his company and insight. His support and friendship had no boundaries. He told you the truth and would tell me if I coached a good or bad game. He made suggestions and 99% of the time he was correct. He was truly interested in everything UGA; including the academic pieces and he loved all the sports, track, golf, basketball and football. He loved everything Georgia and supported it all.”

Andy Landers Hall of Fame Lady Bulldogs basketball head coach “Not only did Leon Farmer have the capacity to give, but he had an awesome passion for giving. He loved all of our sports teams and we loved him. He and Vickie’s generosity contributed to countless male and female student-athletes being able to earn degrees from the University of Georgia and win SEC and National Championships.”

Carla Williams Executive Associate Athletic Director

“Leon Farmer was was one of the most unique and generous men I have ever known. The UGA Athletic Association and its 600 plus students athletes have benefitted tremendously through his endowment of 16 scholarships covering most of our sports programs. I personally feel blessed that Leon and his wife, Vickie, chose to endow a women’s tennis scholarship in my name and in memory of my late daughter, Amanda. We will all miss Leon, but we will never forget him”

Barbara Hartman Development Specialist of The Georgia Bulldog Club

“Leon was one of the finest Bulldogs with a life steeped in Georgia traditions.

He loved Athens and the University and generously invested in the community with both his resources and his emotions. His book about his life, growing up in Athens, is a treasure and reflects his appreciation for having lived the good life as a native Athenian and Georgia Bulldog.”

Loran Smith Co-host of Tailgate Show for Georgia Network, executive director of The Georgia Bulldog Club

“Leon was a fellow marine, and so were his father and son. They also represent generations of tremendous supporters of University of Georgia Athletics. Leon’s father Sarge was a part of getting the original Hedges installed at Sanford Stadium and Leon was rightfully proud to tell that story.

Leon was a personal supporter and he is certainly going to be missed.”

Vince Dooley former legendary Georgia head football coach, athletic director “Mr. and Mrs. Farmer are two of the greatest and most generous Georgia fans and supporters ever. Once Mr. and Mrs. Farmer got to be celebrity guest coaches and sit on the bench at a Lady Bulldogs game. They got there earlier than I did, which is like two and a half to two hours before tipoff. Mr. Farmer wore a nice suit, with a red Georgia sweater, and to top it off, a Bear Bryant style houndstooth hat. He made Mrs. Farmer come up to me during a timeout and ask which one of the dance team girls I was sweet on, because he didn’t want to pick out the same one. What a great man, what a great character.”

Jeff Dantzler Athens radio personality, announcer Lady Bulldogs basketball, UGA historian “We have been friends since I came to the University of Georgia in 1956. It was a great honor for me to be inducted into the Georgia Athletic Association’s Circle of Distinction at the same time as Leon Farmer and Jack Turner. Leon and I were competitors in the beer business and I respected him as he was an honorable businessman. I am going to miss my buddy, Leon. He was a wonderful person.”

Don Leebern, Jr. Chairman of Georgia Crown, Alabama Crown, and Tennessee Crown Distributing Companies, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

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www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 13

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

HA M I LT O N C U L P E P P E R

And the 2014 SEC Hammys go to ...

By Hamilton Culpepper Bulldawg Illustrated

Best Quarterback

The best QB in the SEC would have to be Dak Prescott. It was close between Prescott, Nick Marshall, and Blake Simms but Dak steals it in a very close one. He wins though because he was a Heisman candidate and his athleticism is outstanding.

Best Running Back

The best RB is by far Todd Gurley but with a four game suspension and a torn ACL we have to give it away so . . . I’d give it to Alex Collins. He’s the RB of the Arkansas Razorbacks and is a starter on their explosive offense and another outstanding RB to back him up.

Best Wide Receiver

The best WR is Alabama’s Amari Cooper by a landslide. He is also a Heisman candidate. And, with a QB that can throw it to him right on the money so his stats are through the roof. But when Blake Simms doesn’t throw it in the breadbasket he’s got the ups to grab it.

Best Defensive Player

helmets and Auburn’s classic jerseys and Mizzou’s modern day matte finished helmets and of course Georgia’s silver britches and blood red jerseys are awesome but Ole Miss’ powder blue helmets and red jerseys win. C’mon man! There is no competition for that. I mean that is throwing it back. So my winner of best unis is Ole Miss’ powder blue helmets with red jerseys.

Bell Ringer

I’m going to give Shane Ray the Bell Ringer award. He drilled Blake Simms in the SEC Championship game. Although it was called for targeting and he was ejected from the game and Alabama scored it was one of the hardest hits I’ve seen in a long time. Like I said, he’s a boss.

Football Love Connection

I know as a Bulldawg we hate Auburn, actually nobody in the SEC likes the Tigers. I mean “War Eagle” and their mascot is a tiger! They don’t know who they’re pulling for. But Sammie Coates and Nick Marshall just click. With Sammie Coates running a 4.3 40 yard dash Nick Marshall can throw it up and knows that Sammie can get down there. It’s kind of like they’re puppets when they get on the field so I’m going to give them the

Heartbreaker Best Defensive Player

Shane Ray who plays for the Missouri Tigers.

Last week he drilled Blake Simms and for it he was ejected from the game for targeting. HE’S A BOSS!!!

Best Trick Play

I hate to give this award to them but I have to. I think Florida’s fake field goal against Georgia is probably the fake this season. But Georgia’s fake against Tech was pretty good too. The only reason I’m giving it to Florida is because they scored and it changed the momentum of the game.

The Swagger Award

(We all know that the Ducks win but it’s the SEC Hammies) Now I know Alabama’s old school

Ole Miss is an off and on team being #3 at a time then losing a couple games and dropping to #18 and is now back in the top 10 as the #8 team.

When they were losing those couple games, they were short one player and this player was no ordinary player he was a huge loss to this Ole Miss team. His name is Laquan Treadwell. He was running for a game-deciding touchdown against the Auburn Tigers when a Tiger went to tackle him he went down in a funny way and it literally broke his leg in half. So this was a huge heartbreaker.

The Side Splitter

Georgia was playing Troy. When Sony Michel ran about a 50 yarder to about the 10-yard line.

The very next play they give it to Sony again and he makes it through the pile and is about to get drilled when Greg Pyke steps in and literally bear

BOWL TIME

illustration by Hamilton Culpepper and Chris Lee

hugs Sony throwing him into the end-zone for a Bulldawg touchdown! When I saw that from our seats I almost peed my pants so that has to be the funniest play this season.

Best Match-up

This season when Ole Miss played Alabama in Oxford it was College Game Day’s first time there ever. So for starters that was huge for all the Rebels. Then, the Rebels go in there and show up Alabama, with a final score of 23-17. This knocked Alabama to a one-loss team and making Ole Miss the #3 spot in the nation. Ole Miss stormed the field tearing down the goal post with an awesome win for the Rebels.

Best Play of the Season

Hutson Mason takes the snap handing it to Nick Chubb, Chubb finds a hole and goes for it makes it through to open field. He’s got blockers ahead of him running right towards an Auburn Tiger near the sideline - POP! Oh my gosh, he just trucked a Tiger laying him out. Chubb splits two more guys scoring a Georgia TD to really set the tone of the game. The Best Play of the Year award goes to Nick Chubb when he trucked an Auburn dude. “My God a freshman!”

It’s

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2014 Belk Bowl • UGA vs. Louisville • Dec. 30 • 6:30 ET 14 • www.bulldawgillustrated.com

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BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

JOHN FRIERSON’S PERSPECTIVE

Dogs must win to avoid a season to forget

By John Frierson Bulldawg Illustrated

a team that spent some time ranked in the top 10 would look really bad and feel worse.

Most of college football’s bowl games, at least from the outside looking in, are of course completely meaningless. There might be more marquee bowl games now with the new playoff format, but most involve decent-to-good teams that are rewarded for finishing a couple of games above .500.

It would not only be a fourth loss, it would be a fourth loss to a team with less overall talent than the Bulldogs. That would only ratchet up the grumblings within the fan base that this program has a tendency to underachieve.

Bowling Green against South Alabama in Montgomery for something called the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl? Snooze. South Carolina versus The U, in Shreveport, La., for the (good grief ) Duck Commander Independence Bowl? For many that may sound more like a punishment than a reward. That said, without the Independence Bowl we wouldn’t have gotten one of the greatest halftime interviews ever; just Google “Joe Kines halftime” and bask in the awesomeness.

And for a lot of fans, Georgia’s Belk Bowl matchup against Louisville probably looks about as meaningless as so many others? Heck, a lot of the Dogs’ fans would surely agree that this isn’t exactly what they had in mind after the season began with a 45-21 thumping of Clemson.

Here’s a good rule of thumb for anyone new to college football: great seasons don’t end in Charlotte on Dec. 30.

But just because this isn’t one of the elite bowl games doesn’t mean there aren’t stakes, and high stakes at that.

There is a lot on the line for the Bulldogs in this one.

First and foremost, Georgia needs to avoid a fourth loss. Ten win seasons don’t mean as much as they used to because teams play more games than they did 20 years ago, and play more cupcake games, as well. But four losses for

Then there’s the Todd Grantham factor, which will probably be overhyped leading up to the game but is still real. (Louisville also has a pair of former Dogs in Josh Harvey-Clemons and Shaq Wiggins but they’re sitting out this season and won’t be in uniform.)

Grantham was never overly popular with the Bulldog crowd during this four seasons in Athens. When the defensive coordinator surprisingly took off for Louisville last January, I didn’t hear too many folks lamenting his departure. Especially not after the Dogs hired Jeremy Pruitt away from Florida State.

But when someone leaves you for what is deemed (fair or not) a lesser destination, it’s hard not to feel jilted — even if you’re not entirely displeased to see him go.

Georgia’s defense is better in 2014 under Pruitt than it was in 2013 under Grantham: the Dogs ranked No. 52 in total defense last season and are up to No. 16 this season.

But Grantham hasn’t exactly struggled with the Cardinals.

His defense ranks sixth nationally in total defense and, perhaps most importantly, No. 2 in stopping the run, allowing just 93.7 yards per game.

Run defense numbers can be deceptive because if you play a bunch of pass-happy teams then your rushing yards allowed number won’t be very high no matter what. But

photo by Rob Saye

that’s not the case here. Louisville has faced 382 rushing attempts this season, which is the second-fewest in the ACC, and the Cardinals’ defense has held the opposition to just 2.9 yards per carry.

And that brings us to the most compelling part of this matchup: Georgia’s strong rushing attack against a very stout Louisville run defense. Can SEC freshman of the year Nick Chubb (1,281 yards and a healthy 6.9 yards per attempt) pace the UGA offense like he did for so much of the season?

Chubb has been spectacular for most of the season, but he was a non-factor in the second half of the Dogs’ loss to Georgia Tech, gaining just 12 of his 129 yards in the final two quarters and overtime.

So will this be a bowl game to remember? Maybe, though something pretty special would probably have to happen to make it so. More than anything for the Dogs, they have to make sure it’s not a game, and thus a season, to forget.

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www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 15

BULLDAWGILLUSTRATED

OFF THE FIELD

Georgia 24 Ga. Tech 30

WE’RE PR PROUD ROUD T TO O SUPPOR S SUPPORT T

Loran Smith

Athens TD club owes a lot to Candler Meadors Help us march march tto o a million dollars Megan Tymchuk, Melanie Sheahan, Maggie Jennings, Shea ffor or the A thens sc Athens community! ommunity!

Pickert, Katherine Sarris, Kimia Nezafat

Please visit athenshealth.org/ITSDonations athenshealth..org/ITSDonations & onate tto oT eam Alic e in W allkerland and T he P eeps donate Team Alice Walkerland The Peeps

The Touchdown Club of Athens had its beginning in 1946, organized to support Georgia football after World War II. The year '46 was a very good year.

Charley Trippi was in his final year of eligibility, Wallace Butts in his heyday as a college coach, the master of the passing tame. What a season to remember! Georgia won the national championship with JA Bruner, Jason Lefkowitz, Adam Harper Bruner, an undefeated season and a Lefkowitz, 20-10 victory Frankie Rutledge, Marie Rutledge and Nina Ellis, John Wise and Mary Whitney Long with Uga IX North Carolina Sugar Bowl Dianne Reagin, Kim Metcalf, Jim over Metcalf and Sid Reaginin the Rutledge New Year's day, 1947. Trippi was chosen by the Maxwell committee as college football's outstanding player.

Not many touchdown and quarterback clubs flourish today. First of all, sitting coaches won't take the time to travel and speak. Even with the use of an airplane, it still would take, even for a short haul, three or more hours to speak to a Candler Meadors with Gene Stallings club within a couple hundred miles.

Coaches make too much money today to thusiastic fans of Georgia football. BasTeam Alice in Walkerland Kayla and The Peeps: ketball too. Keith For years he has on the make effort and to speak in the hinterlands Sam Avant and Katie Lansing Grantthe Wruble Lindsey Hodges Harper, Mitchell andserved Ford Neel Alexandra Brown and Susan Brown statistician crew for Bulldog basketball. for $1,500.00 or less. (l-r) Alice Gaylene Ward, Kelley Blanton (l r) Cindy Clark, Anne Hansen, H Alice Pruitt, G aylene W ard, K elley Blant on At the meetings of the club, he was Since its inception, the Touchdown Club of Athens, has had three secretaries: the welcoming committee, reservation coTheir Shoes one-day walk IIn nT heir S hoes iis s a 113.1-mile 3.1-mile o ne-day w alk tto o Harry Atwell, who was the first. He was ordinator, ticket dispenser, troubleshooter followed by Jimmy Hayes who gave up the and greeter with an eternal smile of goodwho have with cancer and rrecognize ecognize tthose hose w ho h ave llived ived w ith c ancer a nd rraise aise role in 1981.

Candler Meadors suc- will and good cheer. From his seat at the Loran Smith Center Cancer Support. ffunds unds ffor or tthe he L oran S mith C enter ffor or C ancer S upport. ceeded Hayes and is in his last year as ex- head table, he was always an attentive lisThe Center provides non-medical support services T he C enter p rovides n on-medical s upport s ervices ecutive secretary, having served in this tener to every speaker, always asking enatt n no charge) anyone community. ((most most a oc harge) tto oa nyone iin n tthe he c ommunity. capacity for 32 years. He will still be with thusiastic questions. He loved being part of the exciting atmosphere of the Touchus, however, as Secretary Emeritus.

Candler who Harry Atwell was an interesting char- down Club of Athens. acter, given to innocent name dropping. joined the club in 1958 is one of the most members. You can count on your He had a mid-western background and senior Joell and Mike Ruckman Miles Young and Lauren Young Andrew Youngerman, Julianna Byers Nicole Jensen and Amelia Metcalf left hand those who have been members was friendly with Big Ten luminaries along and Robby Robinson He has been a with personalities like Frank Leahy, Notre longer than Candler.

Dame head coach. Hayes ran McGregor member of the board of directors for 53 Printing Co. for years and was a quiet, years and served as President of the club soft-spoken type who enjoyed the club so- in 1967.

As a businessman, he was in sales cials and particularly appreciated the wit and humor of well known coaching per- with Heyward Allen Motor Company for 26 years before over his own dealsonalities who often visited the club-• Residential andtaking Commercial Moving Frank Howard of Clemson, Peahead ership, Meadors Mercedes Benz, Volk• Local and LongheDistance swagen which operated for 12 years..

Walker of Wake Forest and, of course, • On-site Document Destruction Candler, who grew up in Atlanta, reGeorgia's colorful coach, Wallace Butts. ceived his Data business degree from UGA in Candler has served the club longer than • Document Storage any officer and has worked with Georgia 1951and served in the Air Force 1951-53.

• Go Mini’s Portable Units In high school, he rodeStorage a street car to Boys coaches from Wallace Butts to Vince DooHigh where he played football and was ley to Mark Richt.

• Packing Materials For years, Candler managed the op- voted "most athletic" by his senior class.

"We appreciate Candler's long time erations of the Touchdown Club, handling all the administrative chores, managing loyalty to the Touchdown Club and his the checkbook, collecting dues, supervis- love of the Bulldogs. If you pick the most ing the accounting which, for years, in- loyal friend of the University of Georgia, cluded a $50.00 contribution to the you would have to give consideration to Georgia Athletic Association. He wore Candler. For sure he loves the Dawgs," many hats within the organization: Coor- says Greg McGarity, Georgia athletic diLindsay Transfer & Storage, dinating the meeting datesInc. with the rector.

Mark Richt, Bulldog head coach, says, Athens Country Club, sending out the meeting 180 notices, taking reservations, "We need more fans like Candler Meadors.

Trade Street choosingBogart, the menu, facilitating the meet- He is always loyal to our program and is GA 30622 ings, corresponding with speakers, book- forever ready to extend a helping hand."

If those who appreciate Candler's keeping, up meetings of the Tel:setting 706.549.8902 officers and board of directors, keeping contributions to the Touchdown Club of the files in order and being the cheerful Athens, bellied up to the bar to toast him Duke Lindsay face of the Touchdown Club of Athens. for his years of work, the bartender would dlindsay@thelindsaygroup.net All the while, he was one of the most en- have to work overtime to fill the orders.

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P O O L E S H O T S - S TAT S T HAT M AT T E R :

By Murray Poole Bulldawg Illustrated The Georgia Bulldogs experienced a Sanford Stadium blackout after all, in the annual battle with the state rival Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Nov. 29.

The Georgia offense was blacked out by the Tech defense.

The Bulldogs’ defense was blacked out by the Jackets’ punishing triple-option ground game, and the Georgia special teams were blacked out by both Tech and some poor coaching decisions by the UGA staff.

The result, as all in Bulldawg Nation painfully know, was a 30-24 overtime stinging by the Yellow Jackets. Georgia came into the contest nearly a 13-point favorite over the ACC Coastal Division champions but finished it with only the second loss to Georgia Tech in the past 14 years and, a final 9-3 regular season record and no spot in the SEC title game, which was the Bulldogs’ primary goal for this 2014 campaign.

Georgia, of course, is now bound for the Dec. 30 Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. against the Louisville Cardinals.

Only the day before, things had begun turning black for Georgia when Missouri clinched the SEC East crown by downing a stumbling, bumbling Arkansas team that in no way, shape or form resembled the Razorbacks that had posted consecutive shutouts of LSU and Old Miss the previous two weekends.

And then came the Georgia Tech stunner in a contest that the then 8th-ranked Bulldogs could have easily put away in the first half had they not squandered away two scoring chances at the Jackets’ 1-yard line.

Before we get into our Stats That Matter breakdown, I want to throw out a few numbers that clearly reflect the reason Georgia doesn’t sit today with its sixth consecutive victory over The Enemy, which the sage Dan Magill unlovingly called the Yellow Jackets.

Here they are:

24 - The number of points the Bulldogs scored in this game ... some 18 points below their SEC-leading average.

399 - The number of rushing yards the Georgia defense surrendered to the Tech ground attack, which nearly matched the 418 hung on them by the Florida Gators.

194 - Georgia’s rushing yards against the Jacket defense, well short of the Bulldogs’ 265-yard season average.

1 - Maybe the most important number in this game as both Nick Chubb and Sony Michel fumbled the ball away at the Tech 1-yard line, thus denying the Bulldogs a chance to go up 21-0 in the first half and maybe swat the Jackets down for the count. Whoever said, “The best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores,” well, no truer words were ever spoken.

43 - Where Georgia Tech started its game-tying drive after the Bulldogs’ inexplicable squib kick, with just 18 seconds left to play after a 3-yard Hutson Mason-to-Malcolm Mitchell TD pass had seemingly clinched the win for Georgia at 24-21.

The Jackets ran the squib kick back to their own 43, got a 21-yard scrambling run from QB Justin Thomas and then sent the game into overtime at the buzzer on Harrison Butker’s career-long 53-yard field goal.

9 - The Tech yard line where Mason’s intended pass to Mitch-

ell again, after the Jackets had scored first in the stadium’s first-ever overtime period, was picked off by Tech’s D.J. White, thus ending the game and sending the Tech players and fans into instant celebration for a rare victory over

GEORGIA

24

GA. TECH 30

Georgia.

Now, here are the Stats That Matter for Georgia-Georgia Tech, 2014 rendition:

Plays of 20 plus yards (offense/defense)

For the Bulldogs, there was an early 24-yard pass from Mason to Chubb, there was Chubb’s sterling 65-yard jaunt down the home sidelines which, unfortunately, came up short of the goal line and evolved into Chubb’s fumble at the Tech 1 two plays later, and there was Damian Swann’s 99-yard sprint to paydirt in the third quarter after he yanked the ball away from Justin Thomas when the Tech quarterback was still on his feet trying to score from the Bulldogs’ 1-yard stripe. Place-kicker Marshall Morgan also had his 28-yard run to the Tech 3 on a fake field goal attempt but, also, that outcome resulted in just a field goal rather than a six-pointer.

The Georgia defense, meanwhile, allowed Tech only three plays that gained 20 yards or more but was gashed all day by the Jackets’ runs of 4,5, 6 and 7 yards on the dive play and outside option pitch.

Untimely mistakes (turnovers, penalties, clock management miscues, etc)

Unfortunately, too many of these and again, the primary reason Georgia lost this football game. The two turnovers at the Tech 1-yard line by Chubb and Michel, a 49-yard field goal attempt by Morgan that was blocked by the Jackets, a 15yard roughing-the-passer penalty on Georgia’s Toby Johnson which helped Tech get out from the shadow of its own goal line when the Bulldogs had the Jackets backed up at their own 3, the now infamous squib kick (which Mark Richt took sole blame for) which enabled the Jackets to get new life when they were all but down and gone and, finally, a questionable timeout by Georgia in an attempt to “freeze” Tech’s Butker prior to his 53-yard game-tying kick with four seconds left. Rather than the Jackets maybe rushing the kick, the called timeout by Richt enabled Butker to calm and compose himself for the biggest kick of his career. And then, for Georgia, the most costly turnover of the day when Mason’s pass in OT went right into the hands of Georgia Tech’s White.

Special teams wins vs. miscues

There was of course the late squib kick when a kickoff by Morgan out of the end zone would have made the Jackets line up at the 25 with just 13 seconds left and likely in no way get the ball into field goal range, and there was Morgan’s blocked field goal try in the third quarter. There was also the time when, once again, two players on UGA’s kick receiving team, Quayvon Hicks and Jay Rome, simply looked at each other on a Tech pooch kick, allowing the ball to fall untouched to the ground and enabling the Jackets to recover at the Bulldogs’ 27. Luckily, instead of seeing Tech put the game away at that point the Dogs got the ball back via a Thomas fumble (recovered by Amarlo Herrera) with just 2:41 remaining and marched to the go-ahead touchdown from Mason to Mitchell, with just the 18 seconds remaining. So those were all the special teams miscues, and the primary special teams win was good kickoff and punt coverage by the Bulldogs ... which made the squib kick near the end of regulation play even more perplexing.

Missed Tackles

The Bulldog defenders were really locking up and bringing down the Jacket running backs on first contact for most of the first half but as the game went on and Tech continued to build on its huge time-of-possession advantage (36:23 minutes to Georgia’s 23:37 at game’s end), the Bulldog defense got worn down and allowed Zach Laskey (140 yards) and Synjyn Days (94 yds.) to break one tackle after another.

photo by Rob Saye

Yards after contact

Conversely, Chubb and Michel pulled away from Tech tacklers in the first half after first contact but in the second half, running room for the Bulldogs was virtually nil as the Jacket defense stacked Chubb up at the line of scrimmage, limiting the Georgia freshman to just 12 net yards over the last two quarters after Chubb had galloped for 117 in the first half.

Wonder if big, 257-pound fullback Quayvon Hicks could have helped the Bulldogs near the goal line that day?

Turnovers (gained/lost)

The Bulldogs lost the two fumbles and had the one interception but of course all those aforementioned turnovers were killers. Georgia got the gigantic 99-yard fumble recovery touchdown run from Swann and also the late fumble recovery by Herrera.

Red Zone (offense/defense)

Due to the two fumbles and overtime interception, the Bulldogs scored on only three-of-six red zone excursions while Tech was four-of-seven when advancing inside the Georgia 20.

Third down conversions

Bad, bad day for the Bulldogs here as they converted only four-of-11 third down chances. And Tech cashed in on only eight-of-16 opportunities. But both were perfect on fourth down conversions, Georgia going four-for-four and Tech going two-for-two.

Run/pass attempts (total plays)

With the Bulldogs having identical run and pass totals of 194 yards, Georgia ran the ball 39 times and passed it 28 times.

The Jackets were at their ground-pounding best, having 70 runs for the 399 yards and passing it 16 times for 64 yards.

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The first College Football Playoff is upon us and the match-ups are delicious. In Alabama and Ohio State, these are two of the grand programs in the history of the game – plus Nick Saban and Urban Meyer. With Oregon and Florida State, there is Heisman drama, a defending national champion and a two-time No. 2 in the last few seasons.

But where the decision makers really delivered is with a slew of great and attractive match-ups in the other bowls.

1. Alabama – The Crimson Tide put it all together in November and then rolled Missouri in the SEC Championship Game.

It will be a clash of college football traditional powers with Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. Amari Cooper is a game-changer, just the second wide receiver to win SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors.

2. Florida St. – The Seminoles know how to win. Nick O’Leary is the best tight end in the country and will be the prime target against Oregon. Florida State’s defensive line is extremely talented. The ‘Noles have lots of juice around Jameis Winston, and it may take a lot of points to win in Pasadena.

3. Oregon – What a career Marcus Mariota has had in Eugene. The Ducks hung on after losing to Arizona for a second straight season and then, like Alabama, put it all together in November. The rout of Arizona in the PAC-12 Championship Game was an eye opener.

4. Baylor – The Bears took care of Kansas State, but didn’t get the call for one of the playoff spots. Neither did TCU, which fell to the Bears in that 61-58 Waco shootout.

Baylor vs. Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl should be a great match-up and a Bears win will lock up a top five national ranking to end the season.

5. TCU – The Horned Frogs were dreaming of the playoff and blew out Iowa State in the regular season finale. But TCU got jumped by Ohio State. Of course the Horned Frogs will forever be kicking themselves for blowing the 21-point fourth quarter lead in Waco. Gary Patterson is a fantastic coach.

6. Ohio St. – Not that it is a surprise, but Urban Meyer has Ohio State winning big.

Major big. The 59-0 pummeling of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game got the big time brand name Buckeyes into the playoff. Urban Meyer and Nick Saban square off for a third time with a berth in the national title game on the line.

7. Mississippi St. – Dan Mullen’s Maroon Bulldogs had a tremendous season. But losing to their two biggest rivals down the stretch certainly hurts. It is doubtful that MSU would have held onto the fourth spot, but, there will always be the question. Mississippi State making it to the Orange Bowl is not a frequent occurrence. It should be a great game against the Jackets.

8. Michigan St. – Mark D’antonio has done a superb job as the Spartans head coach. Michigan State has been a physical, tough team who has beaten some big time teams. Their losses this year are to Oregon and Ohio State. It should be a great game with Baylor in Dallas.

9. Ole Miss – The Rebels got a season-saving victory over Mississippi State to close out the regular season. Ole Miss lost back-to-back heartbreakers at LSU and at home to Auburn. The showdown in Atlanta with TCU should be a dandy on New Year’s Eve. 10. Arizona – The Wildcats had an excellent regular season, highlighted by the victory over Oregon and topping of in-state rival Arizona State. They ran into a buzz-saw with the Ducks in the PAC-12 Championship Game.

11. Tech – Beating Georgia and making it to the ACC Championship Game and the Orange Bowl constitutes an amazing season on the flats. They had FSU plenty scared in Charlotte. The big difference this year is Justin Thomas. Tech has a great player at quarterback.

12. Kansas State – What a job Bill Snyder has done in “The Little Apple.” The three losses this year came to Auburn, TCU and Baylor. The Alamo Bowl match-up with UCLA should be really good.

13. UCLA – The Bruins were dreaming of the PAC-12 Championship Game, but came up short in the rugged South Division. UCLA and Kansas State both are hungry to close out with a high profile win in the almost always entertaining Alamo Bowl.

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14. Arizona State – The Sun Devils had some highlight wins this season, including a runaway win over Notre Dame, but came up empty down the stretch at Oregon State and Arizona. It could be tough to get jacked up for a 9-3 vs. 9-3 battle with Duke.

20. Wisconsin – The Badgers heads are spinning. For the second time in three years, a successful coach has bolted for a job where the chances of winning a conference championship are much less.

For the second time in three years, Barry Alvarez will coach the bowl game.

15. Georgia – What could have been for the Bulldogs. The overtime loss to Tech in a game of missed opportunities will forever linger in Athens. The Dogs take on fellow 9-3 Louisville in Charlotte.

Having former defensive coordinator Todd Grantham on the other sideline should serve as some motivation for a team that at times looked as good as any.

21. LSU – The Bayou Bengals got a nice win over Texas A&M to close out the regular season and are eyeing a 9-4 finish against the Fighting Irish in the Music City. There is a lot of optimism that the Tigers will be back to form and a favorite to win the SEC West in 2015.

16. Missouri – It was quite an encore for Missouri. The Tigers found their way to Atlanta for a second straight year, and closed in impressive fashion with wins over Tennessee, Texas A&M and Arkansas to get the berth in the Georgia Dome.

22. Utah – The “Runnin’ Utes” had a fantastic bounce back season, pulled off some big wins and were right in the midst of that tough PAC-12 West race.

The early drop would-be TD turned Duck TD in the loss to Oregon will be haunting.

17. Clemson – The Tigers have been really good the last three years and getting a much needed and sought after victory over South Carolina is enormous for the program’s psyche. With Deshaun Watson at quarterback, Clemson is a big time contender to win the ACC title next year.

23. Boise State – The Broncos found their way to the Fiesta Bowl to take on Arizona in the second year of the post Chris Petersen era. Boise State has been a tremendous success story since their arrival in Division I-A less than 20 years ago.

18. Auburn – That brutal schedule just caught up with the Tigers, as they lost three times in November. Gus Malzonne still has the Tigers doing well, and with Jeremy Johnson at quarterback next season, Auburn will be a prime contender in the brutally tough SEC West.

24. Nebraska – Big Red fired Bo Pellini after going 9-3 and Mike Riley takes the helm. Nebraska has such great tradition and the Cornhuskers are on the softer side – by far – of the Big Ten. The Cornhusker faithful are hungry for greatness.

19.

Louisville – In their first season in the ACC, the Cardinals put together a very nice 9-3 record. Bobby Petrino’s return is a success, and this first season would get a double stamp of approval with a win over SEC royal Georgia.

There is a lot of connections with Todd Grantham and Petrino, former Georgia D.C. and Falcons head coach.

25.

Minnesota – Jerry Kill has done great work with the Golden Gophers and they were a win away from playing for the Big Ten Championship. Playing Missouri in the Citrus Bowl is a big deal, and Minnesota getting to nine wins would give their long suffering faithful great cause to celebrate.

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