Bulldawg 3iss, 2013

2013

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9/2012

BI

From the Editor

Here we go Bulldog fans, it’s time to focus on the task at hand that JD talks about on page 4 throughout 2013 and wear out the with the 2013 football season just a few hot summer months away. opposing teams.

The goal for this season is arranging a trip to Pasadena, which will culOn the defensive side, Coach Richt threw a curve ball when he minate on Jan. 6, 2014 with the playing of the national champijust named Damian Swann as the lone leader. Before you panic, go onship game. and read the story and know that Georgia’s headman did name sevLike in last year’s Season Preview issue, this go round nobody eral others on D who have the potential to join Swann as an outright at BI is shying away from talking about winning the whole enchilada. leader..

In fact, our veteran sports man Murray Poole (page 18) has predicted Although there are no organized practices during the summer, the Dawgs to play for the title for the second straight year. it’s always fun to debate what player will be where when Fall Camp As we all know, Murray was just a few yards short from his preand kickoff finally arrive in August. On page 6, Jeff Dantzler goes diction coming to fruition in 2012. He nails it this year in my opinposition by position and, to no one’s surprise, the 2013 team looks ion, which is why we filled the best to be loaded on offense with tons of expelooking helmet in America with beautirience. And the defense is also loaded, but ful red roses for our cover. in another manner … a slew of potential.

You gotta admit, it really looks Once you have digested all the playgood. ers, it’s then time to turn to page 14, so JD Kudos must go to our long time can take you game by game in the navicover extraordinaire, Boyd Martin, for gation of the 2013 schedule. Folks, all I producing another beauty. And big can say it that this one is front-loaded and thanks go to Edward Armstrong in Redbrutal. We all know and have talked about fern Village on St. Simons Island for not Clemson, South Carolina and LSU all in thinking I had lost my mind when I one month, but someone reminded me walked into his shop with a helmet askjust last night to not forget the trip to ing for the ultimate rose arrangement.

Rocky Top after hosting the Bayou BenOur sincere hope is our cover gets gals. everyone in the Bulldog Nation comMy goodness, the scheduling gods pletely fired up this summer and believ- Channeling my inner Pasadena mojo, I dug up this photo have struck down with vengeance after ing that a trip to the west coast in January taken with Bulldog legend Charley Trippi in 2003. Trippi the cupcake dockets the last two years. was named the player of the game on Jan. 1, 1943, the last is there for the taking.

But you know what, I say bring it on Of course, we, as fans, must always time the Bulldogs played in Pasadena. and so does Murray Poole with his game remember that while our desires are to by game prediction that I spoke of earlier win it all every year, it really doesn’t have much to do with us. Instead, (page 18). Murray says we only go down to one team in 2013. I it comes down to the student-athletes who have worked their entire won’t ruin the surprise, so enjoy. life to play for the red and black. And those young men can’t perform Of course, no issue of BI is complete without searching out at a championship level without outstanding instruction from their friends and family on our photo pages. Enjoy our shots from UGA coaches.

Days at Atlanta, Augusta and Macon. And Loran Smith and his orSo does this 2013 University of Georgia football team have what ganizers put on another great event in Athens recently for the UGA it takes to hoist the crystal football? The march towards achieving Chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of that begins at Clemson on Aug. 31. And to win there it will require Fame. It’s always great to see so many Bulldog legends in one place. a ton of leadership from the veterans on the team.

And don’t miss our Q&A with Paige Grantham on page 5. Her Like we do every year for this issue, Murray Poole tracked answers are awesome. down Coach Richt (page 8) to ask him his four top leaders (two on Finally in our centerspread, make sure to check out our Bulloffense and two on defense). To no surprise, quarterback Aaron Murdawg Guide to the Golden Isles. And when you’re heading to the ray was on the top of the list for the offense. Joining him, Richt named coast, make sure you enjoy some of Chef Dave’s suggestions. lineman Chris Burnette.

Well that does it for me. Here’s to a safe and enjoyable summer Having spent time with Burnette at a banquet, all I can say is he’s for everyone in the Bulldog Nation. And to our team, keep it in the very impressive in all phases of life, which Coach Richt touches on road, as a wise man used to say. We will see you back in late July when talking about him. However, something new I learned was with our coverage from the SEC Media Days. the “punch” Burnette possesses in his ability to move people in the Until then, remember the goal is arranging a trip to Pasadena. trenches. Yummy. Let’s feed those impressive running backs of ours Go Dawgs!

Season Preview Cha Cha Cha Publishing Inc. Editor Vance Leavy Editorial & Ad Director Cheri Leavy Sports Guru Jeff Dantzler Sales Caroline Kinney, Holly Stanfill Sports Murray Poole Multimedia specialist Greg Poole Layout/Design Cheri Leavy, Vance Leavy Cover Design Boyd Martin Sports Photography Rob Saye Columnists Carlton DeVooght Al Hickson Rob Sherrell Loran Smith Chad White Delivery Hatton Abernathy, Martin Cameron Matt Clutter, Will Hayes, Frank Sinkwich IV, Champ Vance 2013 Season Preview, June 4, 2013

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4 • Bulldawg Illustrated

Can Georgia overcome being “too young, too early” on defense?

Can the Bulldogs offensive line take that next step and be a dominating unit?

Can Georgia, for the first time since 2010, consistently make field goals?

If the Bulldogs can pull out three yes’s to these questions, there’s a very good chance that the 2013 edition of the Georgia football program can be in a very similar position to that of 2012 – playing in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game with a shot to compete for the national title.

Let’s start with the Bulldogs strengths.

Todd Gurley is the nation’s premier tailback. He is the total package, touched by the football gods with thunderbolt legs and every physical and instinctual trait any pigskin toter could dream of. Gurley may very well be the Bulldogs best since Herschel Walker himself made red and black dreams come true. Like “The Goal Line Stalker,” Gurley had some of his best performances in the biggest games. He ran for over 100 yards and scored against Florida, Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee.

With Gurley as the engine, Georgia’s offensive machine has all sorts of weapons to play off of. Aaron Murray is back for his fourth season as the Bulldogs starting quarterback.

Numerous records have fallen, and more are sure to follow. But for Murray, it comes down to eliminating those few major miscues and joining the elite cast of SEC champion Georgia quarterbacks.

There are weapons, including the speedy home-run threat Keith Marshall, who’s catch, spin and score in the Capital One Bowl was jaw-dropping, and Malcolm Mitchell, an elite talent who should shine and put up monster numbers while focusing exclusively on offense. Tight ends Arthur Lynch and Jay Rome could be one of the top pair in the country this season, adding further capabilities to a unit oozing with options.

Which takes us up front.

John Theus, Kanarious Gates, David Andrews, Dallas Lee, Chris Burnette and Mark Beard are all back. Xzavier Ward had a strong spring and is in the rotation. And here’s hoping that Kolton Houston will be as well.

If this unit makes the jump from good and becomes great, maintaining those blocks for a count longer, opening a few more holes for Gurley and Marshall, giving Murray just a little more time, this could potentially be Georgia’s best offense since Frank Sinkwich and Charley Trippi led the Bulldogs to the 1942 national and SEC championships. By the way, I realize last year’s team broke some of those records, but in a lot more games, plus there was a dud in Columbia.

Most of the question marks for the Bulldogs of 2013 clearly center around the defense. Georgia must replace seven starters, all of whom are on NFL rosters, including two-time All-American Jarvis Jones, one of the greatest defenders in Bulldog annals. Jones two performances in Jacksonville, which triggered badly needed back-to-back wins over Florida

will live forever in Georgia lore.

What makes it tough too, is that the roughest part of the schedule is straight out of the gate. Arguably, Georgia’s three toughest tests come in the first four games.

The Bulldogs go to Clemson and then host South Carolina. Following an open date and North Texas, which fortunately doesn’t get to suit up its most famous alum “Mean” Joe Green, LSU visits Sanford Stadium. We’ll know when September is done whether this is a championship caliber team or not. By the middle and end of the season, the Bulldogs figure to be outstanding. But can the offense dominate and carry the load while the defense finds itself?

There is a good core of talent and experience defensively with Garrison Smith, Jordan Jenkins, Amarlo Herrera and Damian Swann. Jenkins is the heir apparent to Jones at outside linebacker. He has the talent and football savvy. The discipline he showed by simply staying at home was a big part of the Bulldogs defensive success from Florida through Tech, when the Bulldogs allowed less than 20 points in five straight wins. Swann has amazing ball skills. He is just savvy with the pigskin in the air, on the ground or in his vicinity.

But clearly for the Bulldogs to win the whole thing, it will take some immediate contributions from a host of newcomers.

True freshman early enrollee Tray Matthews has the makings of a star at safety and Georgia has some muscle added to the mix up front.

The expectations are not high on defense, but this unit has a chance to be good. For any championship dreams to come true, it will have to get good early.

Peeking ahead, the Bulldogs defense in 2014 will have a chance to be exceptional.

Then there is the place-kicking situation. In Georgia’s six losses the lost two seasons, there was a missed field goal in five of them. Too many games in the rugged SEC, especially with this brutal schedule, are decided by paper thin margins. It takes touchdowns to win championships, and Georgia was excellent in the red zone last year. But when drives do bog down or the clock dictates it, the Bulldogs must be able to convert easy kicks.

If Georgia can come out of September 3-1 or 4-0, it could indeed be a special season. The trip to Knoxville, home date with Missouri and venture to Vanderbilt that follow LSU and proceed the open date prior to Jacksonville present potential trap upsets. But great teams avoid those. It might not be easy, but those three October games should go Georgia’s way on the strength of superior offensive firepower.

Then comes the home stretch.

Georgia was painfully close to a remarkable victory and a shot at the national title. The sting of the loss to Alabama was made even worse by the ease in which the Crimson Tide pummeled Notre Dame.

There must not be a hangover.

There must be a fire to return to the edge, cross over and cash in.

It’s the final step for a program that has been one of college football’s best for the past 15 years.

Poole Shots

by Murray Poole

Paige Grantham loves the college atmosphere

The Grantham Family Olivia, Todd, Paige and Corbin

Don't get Paige Grantham wrong, she loved being the wife of a coach in the National Football League. But what Mrs. Grantham likes even better is being the wife of a college football coach ... especially since her husband plies his trade in Athens, Ga. Paige, of course, is married to Todd Grantham who, after coaching defense with the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts − and also coaching collegiately at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, and Michigan State − is entering his fourth season as the Georgia Bulldogs' ultra-successful defensive coordinator.

And Coach Grantham's better half says things couldn't have turned out more enjoyable for her and her family since the move to the University of Georgia.

"I would say recruiting is the biggest difference in the two (NFL and college) but both have a lot of same similarities," said Paige. "There are pros and cons to both. Time-wise, I think it is all about the same other than the recruiting part of it.

Like in the NFL there's not as many weekends for recruiting and so forth but as the draft approaches, there are some weekends involved. But there's not the traveling that recruiting takes on in college.

"But the most important thing that has really stood out to us since coming to Georgia is just how family-oriented it is here because, in the NFL, it is strictly a business," she said. "And our kids have really enjoyed it here. Especially our 12-year-old son, Corbin, he has really enjoyed being a part of the Georgia program because he gets to go hang out with his dad a lot more than he ever did in the NFL. You know, Mark and Katharyn (Richt) are great about including the kids in a lot of events and Corbin gets to be the water boy on the sidelines for all the home games, and then they enjoy getting to go over and play in that new indoor practice facility and just things like that that they never had the opportunity to do in the NFL. They never even really got to go to a lot of practices in the NFL and they get to do that here."

Indeed, for Paige Grantham, the family atmosphere the coaches, their wives and children are involved in at Georgia supersedes almost anything else.

"Again, I would say the biggest difference is just how family-oriented it is here," Paige emphasized. "Not to take away from the NFL because we have a lot of great friends there and we did a lot of fun things but just as far as the kids getting to be involved a lot more here, that's made it good for them."

And as far as what Paige Grantham thinks her husband's influence has been on the Bulldogs defense these last three years, check out her response to her favorite UGA football moment in the following question-and-answer session with Bulldawg Illustrated: Years married, children?

We have been married 16 years this past March. Corbin is 12 and he was actually born on our anniversary, March 8. So I get kind of gypped a little bit on our anniversary because we're always celebrating Corbin's birthday but he never forgets either, so I'll take that. And Olivia is 9.

The most gratifying part of being married to a college football coach?

I love meeting all the different people here in college football and even in the NFL it's great meeting so many different people from all different walks of life ... all the way from recruiting parents and the people you're at different functions with, it's just fun meeting different people from everywhere.

The most challenging part of being married to a college football coach?

Coaches' wives, they're kind of jack-of-all-

trades. We run the household. Most people, I think they think it's a glamorous life and at times it can be. But it has its ups and downs. Coaches' wives take on many roles. A lot of them are both mom and dad a lot of times of the year. We're at all of their sporting events, we're working with homework every night, we're their taxi drivers ... you name it, we're kind of doing it just because the guys are so busy trying to win ball games and working long hours. Todd works some days 16 to 18 hours and he very rarely during the season gets to see the kids and spend a lot of time with them.

So the coaches' wives are there to help keep it all going and running smoothly.

Where did you grow up and what made it special?

Todd and I grew up in the same hometown in Pulaski, Va. and actually went to the same high school. I graduated in 1988 and he graduated in '84. We never knew each other in high school because he was four years older than me; obviously, we met later in life but we did go to the same high school. It's a beautiful part of the country and it's near Virginia Tech and of course that's where Todd went to school. It was a small town so everybody knew everybody. High school football was big there so it was a fun town to grow up in but definitely I would say the beautiful mountains of Virginia, the Appalachian Mountains, made it special.

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Other than rooting on the Bulldogs, what are some of your other passions?

I enjoy playing tennis and most of the time I spend my time at our children's sporting events. So we do a lot of baseball, football, basketball, and girls softball. So that's kind of my passions, attending our children's sporting events and playing a little tennis when I can get that in.

What do you like most about UGA and living in the Athens area?

I love the pageantry of Athens on Game Day. That's one of the things when we first moved here and went to my first game that stood out to me, just all the pageantry that's involved here in Athens on Game Day. It just gives you chills really, it takes your breath away when you drive down Milledge on Saturday morning and everyone's all decked out in their red and black and all the girls in their red dresses. So I would just say I love that everything's family-oriented and I love the pageantry of college Game Day on Saturdays here.

If your husband wasn’t a college coach, what career do you envision him having?

Actually, two things. Todd loves to fish so I could see him wanting to pursue becoming a professional fisherman on, what is it, the Bassmasters tour? But also, he's a numbers guy so I can really see Todd being a financial advisor or something with finance because he's such a numbers guy, and he's good at it.

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Your favorite UGA football moment?

I'm going to tell you it would have to be the Vanderbilt game a couple of years ago, when Todd and (Vandy coach) James Franklin had words. It was from that moment, that night, that I really feel that something changed with our defense. I think that night really propelled us to go to Jacksonville (the next game) and beat Florida. And I feel like the kids, they had a different mentality from that point and they believed in themselves, and I also feel that they really believed in Todd and what he was teaching them and asking of them. And I think they knew from that moment he was behind them and he was supporting them as if they were his sons. And I just think they've totally bought in from that moment ... just something I can't explain it. I know everyone has mixed feelings about what happened that night but our boys bought in that night.

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www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 5

2013 season preview: position by position photos by Rob Saye

By Jeff Dantzler/BI Quarterback

Aaron Murray has broken a slew of records as a three-year starting quarterback, and many more are in his cross-hairs. His decision to return for a fifth and final season in the program is a big reason that expectations are so high for 2013. Now the question, can Murray continue his excellent play, while eliminating the ghastly turnover? If so, there’s no reason Georgia’s offense shouldn’t be amongst the nation’s best. He has good touch on the deep ball, and because of excellent athleticism, is at his best when on the move. Georgia rolling him by design, especially with the lethal threat of superstar tailback Todd Gurley running the pigskin, gives the Bulldogs all kinds of options.

Behind Murray is the more than able Hutson Mason.

Georgia has been very fortunate to have Mason in the fold. Perhaps if the Bulldogs get a healthy lead or two (or maybe he could play for the entire North Texas game), Mason can get a lot of action.

Christian Lemay and Parker Welch return and will vie for the third string job presumably. True freshman early enrollee Brice Ramsey will redshirt unless there was a myriad of injuries.

Running Back

Not only is Todd Gurley in the class of Rodney Hampton, Garrison Hearst, Tim Worley, Robert Edwards and Knowshon Moreno, he may very well be the best tailback since Number 34 himself Herschel Walker “The Goal Line Stalker.” He is the total package, with the physical tools of speed, size, strength and power. Gurley combines those rare physical blessed attributes with uncanny instinct. He has the footwork and vision – and finishes the run.

Todd Gurley is America’s premier tailback.

Speedy Keith Marshall is an excellent counter-puncher.

Given a seam, he has shown – notably against Vandy and Tennessee – breakaway touchdown speed. There are question marks behind these two.

Kyle Karempelis and Brandon Harton are walk-ons who have produced when given the opportunity, notably against New Mexico State in 2011. True freshman early enrollee J.J. Green has serious quicks, but is not very big. He could project as a slot receiver, return specialist or defensive back, but could be pressed into tailback duty this season. Incoming freshman A.J. Turman wll be given a look as well.

Georgia certainly would like to get Gurley and Marshall on the field simultaneously at times this year, meaning depth at the position is vital. Recruiting for the tailback position is off to a rousing start for next year.

Fullback is also in good hands with Merritt Hall, who knows which holes to clean and which way to spray enemy would-be tacklers. Quayvon Hicks could be a strong fullback as well.

Wide Receiver and Tight End

Georgia was hit hard by injury here last season, and the Bulldogs have talent to replace in 2013. But Malcolm Mitchell is electric, one of the best players in the Southeastern Conference. Allowed to focus solely on offense in 2013, he could have an exceptional year. Statistics can show you different things, but the players that opposing defenders circle and account for when they are playing Georgia are Gurley and Mitchell. His catch and dash, splitting a pair of Gators at the goalline, is one of the signature plays of Georgia’s win in Jacksonville.

Chris Conley has been sure-handed, and showed big play ability with his long touchdown against Nebraska.

Michael Bennett was having an outstanding year before going down with an injury prior to the South Carolina game.

If he is back at top form, Georgia is really in good shape on the perimeter.

6 • Bulldawg Illustrated

Two young receivers who could be future standouts are early enrollee true freshman Tramel Terry, who could redshirt due to a knee injury, and redshirt freshman Blake Tibbs.

With Arthur Lynch and Jay Rome, Georgia figures to be as good as anyone at tight end. Both have size, speed, strength and can catch it in traffic.

Offensive Line

For Georgia to go to that ultimate top level, a key this season will be for the offensive line to go from solid to outstanding. Young and thin a year ago, the line did a good job for an offense that put up big numbers. But a lot of Gurley runs were great ones made off of stalemates up front. The question now, can this line move people?

Alabama had a great line and great backs.

Georgia has a great back, and the thinking is that this line will at least be very good.

John Theus was one of the nation’s top freshmen a year ago and an anchor at right tackle, or perhaps on the left side.

Kenarious Gates was the left tackle last season and could remain there, but when starting guard Dallas Lee’s knee flared up, Gates would move inside and Mark Beard would come in at left tackle. But you would think that left tackle is a spot where the Bulldogs would like to have the same standout for a vast majority of the snaps. Lee and Chris Burnette, All-SEC second team a year ago, are good at guard, and David Andrews is one of college football’s top centers. Xzavier Ward made big strides in the spring and is certainly a factor at tackle. Georgia needs that depth. Another big lift could come from the NCAA coming to its collective senses and declaring Kolton Houston, who was projected as a starter a year ago, eligible to play.

For players like Zach Debell, Watts Dantzler, Hunter Long and Austin Long, now is the time.

Georgia brought in four true freshmen on the offensive front. They will need to mature quickly, because Georgia will start three seniors this year.

Defensive Line

A lot of talent was lost on defense, but at all three levels, newcomer impact – particularly from junior college and prep school players, and early enrollees – combined with a nucleus of standouts could make this unit better than expected.

Up front, Garrison Smith is one of the SEC’s best defensive linemen. He’ll man one of the end/tackle spots. Along the rest of the line, there is highly touted redshirt freshman Johnathan Taylor, who shined in spring, big and strong transfers Chris Mayes and John Atkins give Georgia muscle. The Bulldogs need it. Alabama gashed the Bulldogs last season and the run defense struggled the two weeks before as well as the game after.

Will Ray Drew shine? The former five-star recruit hasn’t done much in his Georgia career, but the door is wide open for him to be a vital cog on the front. Is it Sterling Bailey’s time? He is athletic and long, and had a strong spring. Mike Thornton is another highly recruited player vying for snaps.

Out of Taylor, Mayes and Atkins – all 300-plus pounds – that is a lot of strength up front.

If the newcomers are ready, and a couple of other realize their potential, the defensive line should be just fine.

Linebacker

Jarvis Jones is one of the great defenders in school history.

The two-time All-American had three of the great performances in Georgia annals – the Bulldogs don’t beat Missouri or Florida twice without him. Alec Ogletree was an outstanding athlete who made splash plays, but was unreliable. The big key for this group this season is the continued development of

Jordan Jenkins, one of the nation’s top freshmen a year ago.

As he emerged on the opposite side of Jones, Georgia had true stellar bookends. So who will play opposite Jenkins, a standout player with tremendous football instincts? It could be James Deloach, who, like Johnathan Taylor, is from tiny Millen, Georgia.

Amarlo Herrera is a run-stuffer supreme in the middle.

He is one of the top middle linebackers in the league and could flourish in 2013.

With Jenkins and Herrera, that’s a fantastic corps. So out of Deloach, Josh Dawson, T.J. Stripling, Chase Vasser and Ramik Wilson, there is experience and talent from players who have been in the program. And then there are the newcomers.

No less than a half-dozen linebackers (depending on where some wind up lining up) were signed in February. Prep schooler Leonard Floyd, early enrollee true freshman Reggie Carter, and highly touted fellow frosh Johnny O’Neal, Tim Kimbrough, Shaun McGee and Ryne Rankin.

By the end of the season, this could be one of Georgia’s best positions.

Next year, prior to season, the pundits will be talking about how flat out stacked Georgia is at linebacker.

Secondary

The Bulldogs could be outstanding at corner with one of the league’s best ballhawks Damian Swann and Sheldon Dawson, who shined on special teams as a freshman in 2012.

Swann makes interceptions, scoops and causes fumbles, and he has a nose for the end zone. Georgia hasn’t had a corner with these ball skills since Tim Jennings.

Now at the nickel and back-up spots, freshmen will be looked to. Brendan Langley and Shaq Wiggins were highly recruited, and it’s a good bet that secondary coach Scott Lakatos would love for at least one of them to be ready to go.

Safety is Georgia’s biggest concern. The spring did a lot to alleviate some of those. True freshman early enrollee Tray Matthews has dynamo written all over him. He could be another Sean Jones. Josh Harvey-Clemons was the spring defensive MVP, but is suspended for the opener. His name has been mentioned more for off field issues than on. For the highly recruited sophomore, it is time for him to answer the bell.

Corey Moore will likely be the other starter at safety, while junior college transfer Kennar Johnson and freshman Paris Bostick could fight for time as well.

Special Teams

Let’s start with the good. Collin Barber was outstanding at punter in the second half of last season and should be one of the SEC’s best. There is also plenty of talent and firepower, no matter what direction Georgia looks, to man the return game.

Speedy Justin Scott-Wesley may be a natural returning kickoffs.

The influx of newcomers means more bodies and talent for the coverage and protection units. Ty Frix was a great snapper and Georgia doesn’t figure to skip a beat with Nathan Theus.

And then there is placekicker. Over the last two years, too many Georgia losses have been marred by missed field goals.

Last season, extra point attempts were far too shaky. Marshall Morgan is back for his sophomore campaign. Will he be the kicker that nailed long ones in wins over Missouri and Tennessee? If he struggles, there will are other candidates. Adam Erickson, who did an excellent job on pooch punts (a la fellow Clarke Central alum David Dukes), is one of a few options.

Clearly, Georgia needs a steady toe. Too many games in the rough and tough SEC are decided by a scant few points. And if the offense, which was stellar in the red zone last season, does bog down, there has to the confidence that at least the short ones will be made.

Mark Richt’s leaders: Murray, Burnette and Swann photos by Rob Saye

By Murray Poole/BI eorgia's young and rebuilding defense drew accolades from both head coach Mark Richt and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham this spring, as the Bulldogs on that side of the ball impressed the staff with their willingness to work, their athleticism and a combination of quickness and speed that maybe even last year's veteran unit didn't possess.

But until this new-look defense takes to the field against Clemson's high-powered offense in the Aug. 31 season opener in the Tigers' Death Valley, no one − Richt, Grantham, the other UGA coaches or fans − can say exactly how the Bulldogs will perform in 2013. After all, 10 or more of those 2012 regulars could be playing in the NFL this coming fall.

That's why, when asked to name his primary four leaders of his upcoming 13th edition in Athens, Richt could tab only one player on defense ... junior cornerback Damian Swann. Like everyone else, he's waiting to see who's going to step up in the heat of battle, in their first season as a full-time starter, and grab the leadership reins.

"On defense, Swann definitely," said Richt. "And really, besides him, I don't know right now.

"Swann has been there and played a bunch and is very talented and very motivated to have a great year. It's going to be interesting on the defensive side of the ball this season. But Damian had a really good spring and it helps to be a productive player and a veteran player."

Swann is the unquestioned leader of the Georgia secondary. The 5-11, 189-pound product of Atlanta's Grady High started all 14 games for the Bulldogs in his sophomore season while receiving the Most Improved Player award. He totaled 53 tackles and two sacks and came up with four interceptions, two coming in Georgia's win over Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl.

"You know," said Richt, still referring to potential defensive leaders, "a lot of our guys, you've got guys like even Ray Drew, Sterling Bailey, even Garrison Smith. Garrison's a sen-

G

ior but Garrison was always under the wing of ... whether it was Abry (Jones) or someone else. He was never really the veteran guy until now so he's got to learn how to be that guy.

So it's going to be interesting to see what happens this summer, to find out just who emerges because, right now, I couldn't tell you, to be honest with you.

"But Damian's got to be a leader there in the secondary," said Richt. "There are some very young talented, really talented players back there; safety in particular, those two guys are very talented. Tray Matthews has a lot of good leadership qualities. I don't know if as a true freshman he'll lead the way or not. But he plays, practices and approaches the game very mature so he's caught everybody's attention pretty quickly."

On the offensive side, however, where the Bulldogs bring back 10 starters from 2012's record-setting attack, Richt doesn't hesitate in singling out senior quarterback Aaron Murray and senior guard Chris Burnette as his two team leaders.

"Obviously, Murray would be one, and I would say Chris Burnette is the other," Richt related. "Aaron obviously has been doing it for a while. I've been saying it for the longest but he's a 365-day-a-year leader. He loves ball, he works at it all the time. Like I talked to him (after spring practice), at least Maymester you've got to get out of town but he's 'nah, I'm going to be here.' But I told him you don't need to throw, just relax and do something besides throwing the ball. Give yourself a break," said Richt. "So he said, 'maybe I'll throw once a week.' But he just can't take it, not doing something to try to get better on a daily basis and he spearheaded our off-season last year. He's got a really good formula ... we had a great offseason last year, a great summer and he's going to organize that again. Aaron's such a high achiever, so competitive and it really rubs off on everybody. It gives you a lot of confidence, when your triggerman knows what he's doing, it's a big deal," said Richt of Georgia's four-year starter at quarterback who has thrown for a career total of 10,091 yards and 95 touchdowns and surely rates as both an All-America and Heisman

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Trophy candidate in his final season in Athens.

The 6-2, 322-pound Burnette was a 12-game starter for the Bulldogs in both the 2011 and '12 seasons and is assuredly one of Coach Will Friend's ringleaders up front as Georgia returns every single offensive line starter from last season's 12-2 team.

"Burnette has been very productive," said Richt. "He didn't participate in the spring (after shoulder surgery) but that doesn't disqualify him from leading because he's already been a leader. He's one of the best examples of a student-athlete that you could have, you could hope for. I think the offensive line in general, they are really, really close and I think whoever's leading that group I don't know if he necessarily has a tough job because all those guys work hard. They know they've got to work hard to have a chance to be good. They're not like these prototypical monsters − they're good, very good football players but they know they've got to work to really be special. Chris just has a lot more, we call it punch. If you can move somebody when you strike them .... some guys just don't have much punch. Some guys are bigger looking and better looking and they just don't move people like Chris can.

And he's a good pass protector, too. But he's just smart.

"One thing about our O-line," Richt added, "they're really a pretty smart bunch of guys. They know what to do and it gives us the ability to change a lot of plays at the line, the ability to change who the Mike linebacker is at the last second and everybody will know who to go to, because you can't hardly just call a run play and expect it to work. You'd be guessing for it to be right so sometimes you've got to come to the line and make some changes and they're really good at that."

And if another really good leader emerges on defense to complement Damian Swann and offensive cohorts Murray and Burnette, these 2013 Dogs could find themselves back on the road to the SEC Championship Game, for a third consecutive year.

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BULLDAWGS GUIDE TO THE GOLDEN ISLES Compiled by Cheri Leavy

In The Kitchen: Tailgating Coastal Style

Tips to Enjoy the Coast Describe a day of you entertaining house guests in town.

How do you show off our area?

With Dave Snyder, UGA Graduate and Chef/Owner Halyards Restaurant Group, St. Simons Island Take us from sun up to sun down.

With Elizabeth Brunson, UGA Graduate St. Simons Island

Shrimp Spread

Breakfast on the deck at my house watching the sun reflect off the windows of the homes in Brunswick . It looks light tiny beads of fire across the marsh. Next, on to the water to either fish or ride to see wildlife and barrier islands until lunch. Pick up a sandwich at Tramici and visit village for a bit of shopping while making sure to leave time to visit beach. Dinner back at my place to eat while watch sunset.

1 8 oz. package cream cheese 1 stick margarine 1 small onion finely chopped 1 rib celery finely chopped 2 tablespoons mayo 2 tablespoons lemon juice Dash Worcestershire sauce Salt & pepper to taste 1 lb. shrimp peeled, cooked, chopped

Tell us a little bit about the Saint Simons Food and Spirits Festival on October 1-6, 2013.

Soften cheese and margarine and blend well. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Chill 2 hours.

Serve with crackers!

The festival is a fun way to raise funds for Hospice of the Golden Isles. The local farmers, fishermen, chefs, craftsmen, and artists get to show off the bounty that is Southeast Georgia.

Drew, Patrick, Elizabeth Brunson

Trey, Drew, Patrick Brunson

What is one of your favorite restaurants in the Golden Isles besides your own to take visitors and why?

I like Indigo Coastal Shanty in Brunswick because of the bold flavors and Caribbean theme.

What should every visitor to the Golden Isles make sure they do before they leave?

Go out on the water.

What is your favorite dish at Halyards? At Tramici?

Halyards: Shrimp Taco–It’s spicy and light Tramici: Margherita Pizza and cold beer Soooooo simple and soooooo gooooood.

Where is the best spot to have your photo taken?

Sunset at Rah Bar ain’t bad.

Neither is sunrise on beach.

What do you order at Southern Soul Barbecue?

Ribs, lots of ‘em.

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WeAreBulldawgs.com WeAreBulld W dawgs co dawgs.co om UGA BOO BOOKSTORE OKSTORE TUESDAY Y TRIVIA CON CONTEST NTEST

G to Go to WeAreBulldawgs.com W A B lld ev every ery Tuesday Tu uesday for for o a chance to win o UGA Trivia our Trivia r Contest and a $20 Gift Gift Card Card t the UGA Bookstore Bookstore to

Q - Who did Ge Georgia eorgia defeat in the 1971 1 Gator Bowl?

A – North Caro Carolina olina Winner: Philli Phillip p Rodes - Alpharetta Alpharetta,, GA

FANS S OF THE WEEK K Alison & Carlos Carllos Medina from fro om Alpharetta, Alpharetta a, GA Q: Other Otheer than than H Herschel, errscheel, w who ho h is yyour our ffavorite avoriite B Bulldog ulldog aand nd n w why? hyy?

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Carlos: C arlos: l C Champ hamp B Bailey. ailleey. I’m I’m pretty pret etty sure surre he he could could l do anything anyt ythin h ng on on a college co ollegge football football field fieeld l that that he he felt felt like liike at at an an elite elilite level. leevel.

Q: Who Wh ho is your your favorite favoriite player player on on the current cu urrrent UGA roster ro osster aand nd w why? hyy?

Alison: A lil son: GURSHALL!!!

GURSHA ALL L!!! It’ It’s the the tandem tandem tag tag team! team! m Best Best story story from from last last yyear ear wa was as w when heen A Aaron aron M Murray ur u raay w wore ore a shirt sh hirt hi hiss m mom om m made adee tthat hat rread ead ““Keep Keep ccalm, allm, we’ve w e’ve ggot ot G Gurshall. ur urshall.” How How can can you you not not love lo ove this thi h s offense?! off ffeen nse?!!

Carlos: C arlos: l G Give ive m mee D Damian am miian SSwann. wa wann. n H He’ e’s ggoing oin ing tto ob bee h huge ug uge ffor or tthe he ssecondary econdary tthis hi h s yyear ear aand nd n needs eeds to to lead. le l ad d. I believe bellie lieve he’ll he’ll have have a h huge ug uge ge yyear ear in i 2013.

2013 Q: What Wh haat makes maakes k you yo ou u a true true Bulldog?

Bulldog?

Alison: A lil son: I’m I’m a sports sports t ffa fan an bbyy n nature. atu urre. Th Thee diff difference ffeerren e ce iis, s, I aam m a fa fan an ooff tthe he W Washington ash hin ngt g on R Redskins edskin ins aand nd tthe he A Atlanta tlanta B Braves, raaves, e bbut ut I ggraduated rad r uated ffrom rom Th Thee U University ni niver ersi sity off Georgia. o Georgia. I AM a G Georgia eorgia Bulldawg!!!

Bulldaw wg!!!

Carlos: C arlos: l Im married arried oone, ne, aand nd I kknow now EX EXACTLY AC CTL LY w what hat ttime im me ttailgating aillgaating ccan an begin beggin i on on campus. campuss.

Q: What Wh haat is the most mosst memorable meem mo orable p play lay yyou ou ha have ave eexperienced xp x errien nced in p person? ers r on?

Alison: A lliison: Easy.

Easyy. The The en entire ntirre Georgia Georgia team, team m, coaches, coacchees, fans faans (and (aand CBS CB BS crew) crrew w) dancing dancin c ng to to “Soulja “Soulja Boy” Boy” y at at the the start start of of the the fourth fourth quarter quarteer during dur u in ng the the 2007 blackout blackout against aga gain i st Auburn.

Aubu urn. n Perhaps Per erhap ps more more o off a ““momoment” m en nt” tthan han a p play, lay, bbut ut I w will ill tell tell that that story story for for decades. decades. Most Mo ost fun fun u I’ve I’ve ever ever e had had at at Sanford Saanf nford Stadium.

Stadium m.

Carlos: C arlos: l B Besides esides tthe he 2007 bblackout lacckout ga game ame vs A Auburn, uburn, ggive ive m mee tthe he 2006 C Chick-Fil-A h hicck-Fiill-A Bowl Bowl comeback comebac ack against aga gain i st V Virginia ir irgiinia T Tech. ech h. A After fteer bbeing ft ein ng do down own 21-3 aatt h half, allff, iitt wa was as ggreat reat tto o ssee ee tthe he ssad-faces ad-faces ooff aallll o off tthose ho ose mouthy mouthy H Hokies. okiies.

Q: Which Wh hich one one of of our our rivals rivvaalls do do you you enjoy enjo joy beating beating the most? mosst? t Alison: A lliison: We We host ho ost aan n aannual nn nnual ““Gator-Stomping Gaator-S - tomping Party” Partyy” at at our our house house eevery ver e yG Georgia-Florida eorgia-Floriida game, gaame, where wher ere we we hang hang a toy toy alligator alligaator by by a noose noose o on no our ur u ffront ront do door. or. N Need eed I say say more? more? e Carlos: C arlos: l Flo Florida. orida. Seeing Seeing Florida F riida win Flo win i that that game gaame is is lilike ike watching waatch hin ng a movie moviie where wher ere the the bad bad people people win. win. i Q: What Wh haat makes maakes k your you ur tailgating taaiilggatiing sscene cene n sso o sspecial? peci c al? l Alison: A lliison: Same Saame ffriends rien nds sin since nce c co college ollegge h having aviin ng aan n ex excuse xcuse tto o co come ome ttogether ogget ether e ffrom rom aallll o over veer tto o ce celebrate ele lebra rate tthe he he ttradition radi r ition aand nd tthe he ccampus ampus w wee lo love. ove. P Plus, lus, w wee co cook ok eg eggs ggs g oon n a ggrill. rill.

Carlos: C arlos: l G Good ood ffriends, rien nds, ggood ood ffood, ood, aand nd ce celebrating ele lebra ratin ng eeach acch w weekend eekeend ooff B Bulldogs ulldogs l F Football! oottball!l

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UGA Chapter - National Foundation & College Hall of Fame

Front row seated, left to right: Billy Slaughter, Athens, Post Graduate honoree; Jimmy Orr, UGA and Baltimore Colts; Charley Trippi, Georgia All-American; Frank Lankewicz, Suwanee, Tenn.; Post Graduate honoree; Preston Ridlehuber, Lake Mary, Fla., Post Graduate honoree; Frank Malinowski, Athens, Post Graduate honoree; Bill Hartman III, Atlanta, Contributor to Amateur football; Bill MCKenny, Lawrenceville, Post Graduate honoree. Back row, left to right: Lou Perno, President UGA chapter; Trummie Patrick, Roswell, sponsor; Tom Johnson, Athens, sponsor; Judge Steve Jones, Athens, immediate past president, UGA chapter; Kevin Jackson, Savannah, Title sponsor; Pat Hodgson, Athens; NFL coach: Giants, Steelers and Jets; Kevin Price, Athens, sponsor; Jimmy Turner, Athens, sponsor; Lenn Chandler, Athens, sponsor.

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www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 13

2013 season preview: the schedule photo by Rob Saye

By Jeff Dantzler/BI Clemson August 31 – Death Valley

This is the biggest Georgia-Clemson matchup since the golden days of the rivalry in the 1980s, highlighted by the Bulldogs 13-7 Labor Day Night 1982 victory in a meeting of college football’s last two national champions. This used to be an annual meeting between these schools that are a mere 70 miles apart. But expanded conference slates have severely stricken the number of duels between the two over the past 20 years.

The Bulldogs last lost to Clemson in 1990 in Death Valley. Since, Georgia won an epic 1991 showdown, prevailed in 1994 and 1995, taken a 31-28 2002 thriller and rolled 30-0 in Tiger Town the following year. Both the Bulldogs and Clemson were top ten teams a year ago and figure to be preseason top ten picks in 2013. The offenses are loaded with headliners. Taj Boyd is the top quarterback in the Atlantic Coast Conference and fleet receiver Sammy Watkins figures to return to the form of his freshman year, when he was one of the nation’s most electric players. The Tigers must replace star tailback Andre Ellington and receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a first round pick. Offensive coordinator Chad Morris aims to run as many plays as possible. Against LSU, in a thrilling 24-22 Chick-Fil-A Bowl triumph, Clemson ran over 100 plays. For a Georgia defense that must replace a slew of starters, this will be a supreme challenge. A Clemson win puts them squarely in the national title picture. For the Bulldogs, it is the first of two straight mega-showdowns, as South Carolina visits Athens the following week. But a highly touted tangle of the Tigers and Dogs sure does bring back a lot of great memories.

South Carolina September 7 – Sanford Stadium

Before Steve Spurrier arrived at South Carolina, the Gamecocks had never won more than two in a row in the series with Georgia. This season, they aim for a fourth consecutive victory over the Bulldogs. A year ago, the Gamecocks embarrassed Georgia 35-7 at Williams-Brice Stadium.

The Gamecocks have gone 11-2 for two straight years, and they’ve had to finish the last two years without Marcus Lattimore, sadly stricken with season-ending knee injuries in late October of both 2011 and 2012. Lattimore is an all-time Bulldog killer. As a freshman, he ran for 184 yards against the Bulldogs in a 17-6 Gamecocks

14 • Bulldawg Illustrated

win. In 2011, he chalked up 176 yards, as South Carolina won 45-42 in Athens. He topped the century mark a year ago as well. Georgia is glad he is in the NFL. But JaDaveon Clowney, the likely No. 1 pick in next year’s draft, is back as college football’s most devastating defensive end.

Over the last three years, South Carolina – yes South Carolina – is 14-1 vs. Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Clemson, Alabama, Nebraska and Michigan. Tech is always the biggest game to win, and turning the Florida series keys Georgia’s championship hopes. But a win over the Gamecocks this season is absolutely essential on many levels for Georgia.

North Texas September 21 – Sanford Stadium

If the Bulldogs are 0-2, the meeting with the Mean Green, coming off two losses to rivals and an open date, will be one of the all-time deflating weekends in Athens. If Georgia splits the first two, title hopes are still alive. If Georgia is 2-0, the Georgia people will be on fire. This should give Georgia plenty of time and preparation to get ready for another mega-showdown the following week. North Texas’s greatest alum is one of the most dominating defensive linemen in NFL history and star of maybe the most famous commercial ever, Mean Joe Green.

LSU September 28 – Sanford Stadium

Georgia and LSU have had some monster showdowns in the 2000s. The Bulldogs and Tigers are 1-1 vs. one another at Tiger Stadium and 1-1 vs. one another between the hedges in the 21st century. LSU has won two of the three SEC Championship Game meetings. The Tigers were 10-3 a year ago, with the trio of setbacks coming by a total of just 14 points. LSU lost a tremendous amount of talent to the NFL, but the Tigers have done a tremendous job recruiting in the 2000s and have reloaded time after time. If Georgia can come out of this game 3-1 or 4-0, then the Bulldogs can make all their dreams come true.

For SEC Championship Game hopes, LSU really needs it. The Tigers also play Florida out of the East. Alabama gets Tennessee and Kentucky. As if a Bulldogs-Tigers battle isn’t big enough, there is the extra drama of Georgia transfer Zach Mettenberger, the local product out of Oconee County High School who was dismissed from the team in 2010, returning as the Tigers quarterback.

Tennessee October 5 – Neyland Stadium

From 1989-1999, Tennessee won nine straight in the series. In the 2000s, Georgia is 9-4 against the Vols – and should be one better, as the 2004 loss to Tennessee is one of the program’s most painful and costly of the century. The Bulldogs have won three straight, including last year’s 51-44 thriller between the hedges. On the last trip to Knoxville, the Dogs won 20-6, which ended a two-game blowout losing streak at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee will have a strong offensive line and A.J. Johnson is a stellar linebacker. But the Vols lost big time firepower at the skill positions, including high draft picks Corarelle Patterson and Justin Hunter, and quarterback Tyler Bray. Plus the defense gave up a ton of points last year, and the Volunteers, like the Bulldogs, have issues at place-kicker. Butch Jones is the new coach at Tennessee and has naturally delivered a lot of enthusiasm. But they haven’t played a game yet and the schedule is brutal. You can bet that Jones, like every Vols coach before him, will heavily target the Peach State for recruiting. It’s vital for any championship dreams and staying on top in the rivalry for series and recruiting pride and purpose to start Jones off with a loss and continue Georgia’s dominance vs. the Vols.

Missouri October 12 – Sanford Stadium

There will be no doubt if Georgia is a championship caliber team or not. If the Dogs are rolling, this one and the next are undoubtedly trap, upset alert specials. If Georgia has two or three losses, these next two could help get the season back on track. Missouri was beating Georgia late in the fourth quarter last season in Columbia, but the Bulldogs scored the final 24 points of the game – thanks largely to Jarvis Jones – to pull it out 41-20. Without a doubt, the strength and grind of the SEC took the Tigers by storm a year ago. But Missouri won at Tennessee and nearly upset Florida, falling 14-7 in the swamp. A healthy James Franklin gives the Tigers some juice on offense. But the player who could really take the Mizzou offense to the next level is sophomore super recruit wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham. He’s big, fast and has hands.

Green-Beckham has been compared to a young Calvin Johnson and will be one of the toughest tests for Georgia’s secondary all season. Coming off successive games with LSU and Tennessee, the Bulldogs had better not let Mizzou sneak up on them. The Tigers could certainly be a party spoiler.

Vanderbilt October 19 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Vanderbilt Stadium

Auburn November 16 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jordan Hare Stadium

There was Terry Hoage saving the night in 1983. There was the excruciating tie in 1985. There was a devastating loss in 1991. And more recently, the Dogs, thanks to a couple of fumbles and an incredible athletic play by AllAmerican punter Drew Butler somehow hung on to win in 2007 and 2011.

Plus, Vanderbilt derailed the Dogs in 2006 in Athens. So there shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be much need for Mark Richt to deliver a speech on just how dangerous the Commodores can be, especially in Nashville. Plus, Vandy is very good now. The Commodores posted a 9-4 mark a year ago, going 5-3 in SEC play and closing the campaign with seven straight wins, including a rout of Tennessee and Music City Bowl pasting of N.C. State. The seven consecutive victories is the longest active win streak in the SEC. Didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d ever hear that about the Commodores did you?

James Franklin is an outstanding coach and has spurned offers from other suitors. The Commodores defense should be very good and receiver Jordan Matthews is one of the conferenceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best, the likely owner of several league records when his career is done. But Vanderbilt must replace standout tailback Zac Stacy and play-making quarterback Jordan Rodgers.

The Commodores wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able to sneak up on anybody, but Georgia had better be ready. An open date follows and then the Gators.

As the Southeastern Conference tries to figure out the schedule, Georgia is being sent to the plains for a second straight year.

The Bulldogs rolled to a 38-0 victory last year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; leading 28-0 at the half â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to clinch the SEC East. The year before, Georgia pummeled Auburn 45-7 between the hedges. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 83-7 over the last two seasons. These types of scores just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen in this series, which is filled with thrillers, upsets and road victories. Georgia has won six of the last seven in the series.

The Tigers won 49-31 en route to the 2010 national championship. Never before has anything happened like what has gone on at Auburn. It was â&#x20AC;&#x153;All In for 2010,â&#x20AC;? and the Tigers got it. Two years later, Auburn went 3-9, and 0-8 in SEC play, firing coach Gene Chizik. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a lot of allegations around the program that date back to 2010. But Auburn has circled the wagons.

They had 85,000 at the spring game to welcome in new head coach Gus Malzone, offensive coordinator 2010. He hired Auburn alum Rodney Garner, longtime assistant and recruiting coordinator at Georgia. For the past decade, the classes he was in charge of, routinely finished somewhere between third and sixth in the SEC. Georgia and junior college transfer Nick Marshall is the frontrunner to be Auburnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s starting quarterback. Auburn figures to improve this season, thanks in large part to the up-tempo offense. But the Bulldogs still have more talent, and this is a golden opportunity to take the series lead (53-53-8) in the southâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest rivalry and maintain control of this classic grudge mach.

Florida November 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EverBank Field

Georgia has won two in a row in the series. Neither Steve Spurrier nor Urban Meyer is the coach. Tim Tebow is gone. So is Danny Wuerrfell. Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s embarrassing 3-18 record against the Gators from 1990-2010 is history.

The Bulldogs, in large part due to those thrilling victories over the Gators, have been to back-to-back SEC championship Games and finished last season ranked No. 4 nationally. The pride restored with those back-to-back Jacksonville victories has meant even more.

If Georgia could chalk up a third straight win, that would put those two dark decades in Jacksonville even further in the rear view mirror and continue to increase the Bulldogs national prestige. Florida had a great defense a year ago, but lost a lot of talent to the NFL. The offense figures to be much better with quarterback Jeff Driskell having a full year under center under his belt. Matt Jones and star recruit Kelvin Taylor should ably fill Mike Gillesleeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoes at tailback. Jordan Reed is a big loss at tight end. Perhaps the biggest loss is Caleb Sturgiss, arguably the SECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best place-kicker of the 2000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. For Georgia to be elite, the Bulldogs must control Jacksonville.

Three in a row would be just that.

Appalachian State November 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sanford Stadium

Well this is an easy one for Mark Richt to make the Bulldogs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overlook. Can you say Michigan 2007?

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when the Division I-AA national champion Mountaineers went to the Big House and slayed Michigan. SportSouth had a film crew with Appalachian State for that trip and it turned out to be a grand slam. Throughout the summer, it figures to be replayed several times. The psychotic offensive line coach, by the way, is now the O-Line coach for Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks. Appalachian State again figures to be one of the top contenders in the Southern Conference (the Division IAA/FCS version of the SEC) and a top ten team. The Mountaineers and their rival Georgia Southern, who was driving to take the lead late in the first half in Athens a year ago, are soon moving to Division I-A. No doubt this is a trap game. But championship teams win these, usually without too much second half drama.

Kentucky November 23 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sanford Stadium

A year ago, Kentucky had a terrible season, going 0-8 in SEC play. Georgia went 12-2 and was painfully close to playing for the national championship. But the season hung in the balance in Lexington.

Connor Norman had an enormous onsides kick recovery and the Bulldogs held on for a 29-24 â&#x20AC;&#x153;thank all that is good that we got out of here with aâ&#x20AC;? win at Commonwealth Stadium. A Kentucky offense that was awful running the ball, thrice ripped off first down rushes on third-and11 or longer. Jarvis Jones sat out that night.

Of course, Jarvis Jones plays for the Steelers now. Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defense truly shined the following game in Jacksonville. Mark Stoops was an excellent hire as the Wildcats new coach. They had over 50,000 fans at their spring game. Kentuckyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall talent level is around the bottom in the league. But there is some excitement with Bob Stoopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; brother, hired away as Florida Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defensive coordinator, at the helm. Again, this is a game, if Georgia is a championship team, that should be won without any fourth quarter sweat.

Tech November 30 Bobby Dodd Stadium/Grant Field

This is a first, with the way the schedule has been compromised with the SEC, Georgia has to go to both Auburn and Tech.

One of the great accomplishments of Mark Richtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tenure, is the 11-1 record against the Yellow Jackets. That one loss was brutal, 45-42 in 2008. It would have been eight straight and matched the infamous drought of 1949-56. Since, the Bulldogs have won four in a row, including a 42-10 romp in Athens a year ago and 31-17 victory on the flats in 2011. As usual, the Yellow Jackets triple option flexbone offense presents all kinds of problems. Before Bulldogs fans get too sure of a victory, remember, Tech was gashing Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defense last season. They were driving for a tying touchdown, but Baccarri Rambo ripped away a fumble and brought it back to midfield. Georgia then made it 14-0 and kept pulling away. What has been so impressive about the Bulldogs last two wins over the Yellow Jackets is how the offense has kept the pressure on. And that is a must, because when that flexbone gets rolling, it is downright difficult to slow down. Tech was certainly buoyed by an impressive Sun Bowl win over Southern Cal after coming up short in the ACC Championship Game to Florida State. The big key figures to be an improved defense.

There is a chance, that for a second straight year, the Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets could be playing with a championship game on deck.

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www.bulldawgillustrated.com • 17

Poole predicts Dawgs to Pasadena for title game photo by Rob Saye

By Murray Poole/BI ecause of a senior-laden defensive unit, a third-year starting quarterback in Aaron Murray and the promise of a much-improved running attack, I was one of many who envisioned the 2012 Georgia Bulldogs running the SEC table and making the trip to South Beach, Fla. for the BCS National Championship game.

And, well, you know the end of that story last season as just five yards of real estate the Bulldogs couldn't negotiate against Alabama in the conference title game prevented Georgia from playing a vastly overrated Notre Dame team for all the collegiate marbles ... an Irish team that wound up being routed by the Crimson Tide in Miami. Of course, Mark Richt's team finished 12-2 behind an offensive unit that shattered a bunch of school records and a defense that played well overall but admittedly didn't live up to its lofty preseason billing because of an inability to slow down potent running attacks.

Now, as the 2013 Bulldogs enter their summer workout routine and zero in on preseason camp in early August, it seems like early predictions for Georgia's chances this coming fall are all over the place. Although the Bulldogs return nearly everyone from that potent offensive attack of 2012, skeptics point to a Georgia defense that was riddled by graduation and early exits to the National Football League. How, they ask, can Todd Grantham's young and inexperienced defense have a prayer of slowing down the explosive offensive units the Bulldogs will encounter this coming season? And, also, they point to a more rugged 2013 slate − Clemson, South Carolina and LSU before September is even over − that will surely swat away any UGA championship aspirations in a New York minute.

But to that kind of talk I say − and I truly hate to echo Lee Corso − not so fast, my friend!

When I surge out onto that proverbial limb once again and make the call that this Georgia football team will go where last season's highly-touted bunch couldn't, I do so assuming that − unlike the 2012 defensive unit − Mike Bobo's talented Bulldog offense won't let a bit of complacency and preseason ballyhoo set in and will be a load for opposing defenses to handle, each and every Saturday. And I do so assuming that Grantham's rebuilt defense that displayed so much athletic prowess in spring practice and had both players and the coaching staff saying it is both quicker and faster than the touted unit of '012, will be good enough to hold serve against every offense it faces this season.

And special teams, where the Bulldogs struggled mightily at times last season, I'm expecting there to be vast improvement as Richt embarks on his 13th voyage in Athens.

No question, all of the above must mesh together if these Bulldogs are to have anywhere close to the season I'm about to predict for them here. Anything less, in any of those three areas, and can you say third or fourth in SEC East?

But here is how it should all unfold as Georgia, 2013, sets its battle sights on a third straight trip to Atlanta and, the big prize that lies beyond in Pasadena, Calif.

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Aug. 31 − at Clemson − Very, very tempted to go with the Tigers in this mammoth season opener in Clemson's Death Valley. After all, that unknown (at the moment) Georgia defense will be faced with the unenviable task of slowing down one of the nation's most explosive offenses led by Tajh Boyd, who threw for 3,896 yards and 36 touchdowns while leading the Tigers to an 11-2 record last season. Boyd, who has blue-chip receivers in Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins, is a true dual threat as he also ran for 514 yards and another 10 scores in 2012. And, too, the Bulldogs will be facing this formidable attack minus suspended strong safety Josh Harvey-Clemons.

But on the other side of the ball is where Clemson could be shaky, despite the fact the Tigers return some seven starters from the team that beat LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Fact of the matter is, I can't see Clemson slowing down the also explosive Georgia offense in this ABC-nationally televised battle. With the running of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall spelling the difference, the Bulldogs win an early shootout, say by 42-34.

18 • Bulldawg Illustrated

Sept. 7 − South Carolina − Surely, the Bulldogs won't drop a fourth straight game to Spurrier's roosters, will they? I don't think they will in this UGA home debut, in a contest that will provide the winner with possibly the inside track toward the East Division crown. But to finally whip Carolina again, Georgia must find a way to neutralize Jadeveon Clowney − likely the nation's finest defensive player − for the first time in three years and, also, a Bulldog defense which will still be catching its collective breath from a wild night in Clemson, can't afford to let Gamecock quarterbacks Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson take control of the football game. Avenging that disastrous evening in Columbia last season, Georgia takes down South Carolina by 24-17.

Sept. 21 − North Texas − Following two of the most grueling back-to-back opening games in years and a muchneeded open date, Georgia rolls up huge numbers against a Mean Green team that is coming off a 4-8 season in 2012 and, well, isn't so mean. The Bulldogs, 51-10.

Sept. 28 − LSU − Zach Mettenberger returns to his home town guiding a likely improved offense that features ace junior wideout Odell Beckham, Jr. and running backs Jeremy Hill, Alfred Blue and Kenny Hilliard. Only problem for the Tigers, you have to play strong defense to be an SEC contender and the LSU defense that led the Tigers to a 103 mark last season has been decimated by the loss of 10 starters to the NFL draft and graduation. Playing their third straight game between the hedges, Murray's right arm propels the Bulldogs to a 38-24 whipping of the Bayou Bengals.

Oct. 5 − at Tennessee − A very dangerous road trip up on the hill in Knoxville as the Bulldogs come off another emotional outing against LSU and turn around and face what could well be a revived Tennessee bunch under new mentor Butch Jones. With seven returning defensive regulars from Derek Dooley's final UT team that went 5-7 (1-7 SEC) last fall, the Volunteers will be primed to bounce the Dogs from the ranks of the undefeated on this first Saturday in October and thus brake a three-game losing skid against Georgia. By this date, however, that young Bulldogs "D" should be showing some fangs. Georgia climbs to 5-0 with a 31-17 jolting of the Vols.

Oct. 12 − Missouri − The Bulldogs return to Athens to meet another team that floundered to a 5-7 record in 2012.

But Gary Pinkel, with seven returning offensive starters and six defensive regulars back, is looking for the Tigers' second voyage through the treacherous SEC waters to be a little smoother. Won't happen here, however, as the Bulldogs overcome a fine individual effort by Missouri QB James Franklin and tame the Tigers for a second consecutive season, by about 42-24.

Oct. 19 − at Vanderbilt − The Commodores barely missed knocking off Georgia two years ago in Nashville (Grantham-Franklin get-together) and with Vandy bringing back seven offensive regulars and six defensive starters from last season's 9-4 squad (5-3 SEC), the Bulldogs will likely be forced to escape the Music City with their lives once again. If the Bulldogs don't allow Jordan Matthews, one of the SEC's very top wideouts, to go crazy they should avoid the Dores' upset trap .... but just barely again, by 2824. Now, for a week off to get ready for those Gators.

Nov. 2 − Florida (Jacksonville) − For the past two seasons, the Bulldogs have gone to the banks of the St. Johns River and began kicking this storied series back to the way it should be. And by that, I don't mean Georgia dominating the Gators the way the Bulldogs did all those years under

Vince Dooley but, simply, a game between two ancient foes that is a true rivalry once again, where nobody can truly predict for sure who's going to win prior to the kickoff. Will Muschamp's Gators are coming off last season's 11-2 record (7-1 SEC with the only loss to, guess who?) including a bitter loss to Louisville in the Sugar Bowl. And well, because I do look for this great series to plateau onto a very even keel in the upcoming years, I'm picking the Gators (yes, they still have all that talent in Gainesville) to snap their two-game losing string to the Dogs, say by 31-27. But as you can see, this tough setback won't prevent Georgia from heading for the Georgia Dome once again.

Nov. 9 − Appalachian State − Before the stretch run of Auburn, Kentucky and the Jackets, the Bulldogs better not take sleeping pills against a Mountaineer team that went 84 last season (6-2 SoCon) and, as you might remember, went to Ann Arbor six years ago and took down the Michigan Wolverines. After the Florida loss, though, the angry Dogs won't pull a Van Winkle. Georgia, 45-21.

Nov. 16 − at Auburn − Back to the plains for a second consecutive season the Bulldogs trot and they're bound to face a better Tiger team than Gene Chizik's final Auburn bunch, one that went a dismal 3-9 overall and winless (yes, 0-8) in the SEC in '012. For one thing, with 1,000-yard rusher Tre Mason back, the Tigers should be able to field a much-improved running game in new head coach Gus Malzahn's spread-option attack. Also, with nine defensive starters returning, you can also look for improvement from Auburn on that side of the ball. That said, these Tigers still don't have enough to prevent a seventh defeat in the last eight years to the Bulldogs. Georgia wins, 31-21.

Nov. 23 − Kentucky − Following a 2-10 season and 0-8 conference record, which spelled the demise of Joker Phillips in Lexington, the Wildcats have turned to FSU defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, brother of Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, to get things going in the bluegrass. Kentucky had better hope a defensive unit that returns seven starters from last year holds up because, if it doesn't, the UK fans will be looking ahead to basketball before October even ends. After that lackluster 29-24 win over the Cats last season, Georgia finds things a bit easier this time ... with a 3817 pasting of UK. Nov. 30 − at Georgia Tech − The Yellow Jackets, losers to the rival Dogs a stunning 11 times in Richt's 12 years at UGA, have to beat Georgia some time, don't they? Sure, they do. But until Paul Johnson comes up with a semblance of a passing game to complement his potent triple-option running game and until Georgia Tech finds more consistency on defense (and the return of Ted Roof may help in that area), who in the world can make a prediction of Tech beating the University of Georgia? In Atlanta, don't look for that 42-10 Bulldog blowout of last season but do look for Georgia swatting the hated bumble bees once again, by 42-28 this time.

So, there you have it, these 2013 Bulldogs surging to an 11-1 regular season worksheet with the only setback being to the Gators in Jax. Still, because of a couple more Florida losses along the way, Georgia will be back in Atlanta on Dec. 7 sporting a third consecutive Eastern Division crown.

Again, the opponent will be two-time defending national champion Alabama, which will barely edge out Johnny Football and the Aggies in SEC West and, this time, the Bulldogs won't fall five yards short. This time, an offense that has been frustrated only once during the season will combine with a defense that has more than held serve during the year to take down the mighty Tide and earn a trip to the west coast to play in that same arena where two guys named Trippi and Sinkwich cavorted back on Jan. 1, 1943.