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The Cornerback Battle Rages On
Dean Legge | dawgpost.com
ATHENS, Ga. -- Many anticipated electrifying speedster Branden Smith to cement himself at the top of the depth chart.
After all, Smith, a sophomore, was one of the most coveted cornerback recruitsGeorgia has signed in the past decade, and fans like to see blue-chip recruits live up to the hype early.
But a lesser-used rising senior thwarted Smith’s advances. Vance Cuff’s name began to be thrown around by coaches and players from the very beginning of spring practice.
The Moultrie native entered spring with only one career start to his credit, never having intercepted a pass in three seasons. When all was said and done, Cuff was named one of the Most Improved Players on defense—and as the starting corner—after spring drills.
Despite Cuff winning the spring battle, the war for the spot is still far from over.
“I wouldn’t put too much into those post-spring depth charts at all,” said cornerbackBrandon Boykin. “I mean, it’s just kind of like giving you an idea of who is where, but we still have to go through the fall and summer and freshmen coming in. With things like that, you really don’t know.”
Smith spent much of his time, and made more of an impact, on offense in 2009. He lined up at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, rushing 17 times for 208 yards and two touchdowns.
Don’t expect Smith to disappear from offensive packages in 2010, but there is an emphasis from the coaching staff to better prepare him for defensive work.
“We want to use Branden offensively still because he was very effective,” coach Mark Richt said. “But he will probably be getting a lot more work on the defensive side of the ball, and he may very well be the starter by the time the season rolls around.”
Also spending time with the kick and punt return teams last season, Smith’s variety of roles stunted his defensive growth, he admitted.
“I wish I could have played defense a little more last year, but on the other hand, I’m just here to help the team win, that’s all,” Smith said.
Smith entered spring the favorite to claim the job, but under new secondary coachScott Lakatos each player had to adjust to the new pressing technique and man-to-man philosophy.
Aside from Boykin, who enjoyed a breakout year last season, the rest of the secondary entered spring with a clean-slate, and a chance to prove themselves worthy.
Cuff thrived under Lakatos’ ideas and direction, as it became clear the battle would be between he and Smith for the job.
“It’s a little different,” Cuff said. “But you know, football is football. There aren’t too many things you can say that are going to be different, as long as you’re talking about football.”
Cuff’s success doesn’t mean Smith didn’t take to his new teacher as well. Performing slightly behind Cuff, Smith also enjoyed a productive spring.
“Coach Lakatos is real different from [former] coach [Willie] Martinez,” Smith said. “Both of them have their ways, just teaching different stuff. Now we’ve got to learn the things (Lakatos) is teaching us, and his teaching style is way different. Coach Lakatos, he sits down and shows us how to do things. He is a teacher, really.”
Not resting on accomplishments from spring, Cuff entered summer workouts understanding Smith would be right on his heels to take the job should he slip.
Although the position battle is a friendly competition, and both players have said they want what’s best for the team, Cuff is a senior with only one more year to make his mark at Georgia.
“Like I said earlier, I think everybody is pretty much on the same playing field,” Boykin said. “Both of them are looking really good. Branden and Cuff—they both can play each position—wide, short and nickel so we’re just really trying to see what the strengths of each and every person here so I think coach Lakatos can see what we’re doing in the summer and put people there in the fall.”
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Sweet Karma, Rodgers and Other Volunteers Arrested
Don Jacobs | govolsxtra.com
KNOXVILLE - Police this morning charged two University of Tennessee football players and are questioning at least two others in connection with an early-morning bar brawl that left one police officer unconscious in the street with a head wound.
The injured and kicked officer and a bar patron were sent to the University of Tennessee Medical Center after being beaten by a group of people identified as UT football players. Authorities are withholding that patron's name pending notification of relatives.
Knoxville Police Department Officer Robert Capouellez was found unconscious lying on the street outside the Bar Knoxville, 1820 Cumberland Ave., during the 1:50 a.m. melee, according to KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk.
"It appears he was a patron, not in uniform and off duty," DeBusk said this morning.
Capouellez was undergoing treatment at the University of Tennessee for a head wound, DeBusk said. The 24-year-old officer has been with KPD since August 2008.
Police have charged UT freshman Da'Rick Rogers, 18, with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, DeBusk said. Rogers is a 6-foot-3, 205 pound receiver out of Georgia.
Rogers, a five-star wide receiver from Calhoun (Ga.) High School, was widely considered the crown jewel of coach Derek Dooley's first recruiting class with the Vols last spring after Dooley pried him away from Georgia.
Rogers was ranked the top recruit in the talent-rich state and among the top 100 prospects int the country. He wasn't an early-enrollee and missed spring practice, but after showing up last month for summer school he was expected to contribute right away in the UT passing game thanks to his blend of size and speed.
Darren Myles Jr., a sophomore safety, was questioned by UT police regarding an alleged assault on a campus officer, police said.
Myles was charged with assault, resisting arrest and evading arrest, according to a corrections officer with the Knox County Sheriff's Detention Facililty. He was being held in lieu of $2,000 bond.
Myles had an encounter in April with Knoxville police just hours after the Orange and White game. He was charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after a 2:29 a.m. incident at Sobu, 6213 Kingston Pike. Club bouncers had removed Myles from the business, but he continued causing problems in the parking lot.
Myles was riding on the hood of a car when officers arrived, police said. Officers said he fought them when he was arrested, but no officers were injured.
Two other football players, Denarius Moore, 21, and Montori Hughes, 19, were being questioned this morning about the assault on Capouellez, police said. They have not been charged.
Moore is a senior wide receiver out of Tatum, Texas. Hughes is a sophomore defensive tackle out of Murfreesboro.
"According to multiple witnesses, the male victim from inside the bar was involved in an altercation with another patron when several additional patrons jumped into the fight," DeBusk said.
"Employees of the bar intervened and pushed the fight outside onto the sidewalk. Officer Capouellez intervened in an attempt to stop the fight when he was attacked.
"According to witnesses, the officer was hit in the head and knocked to the ground. Once on the ground the suspect kicked the officer several times before fleeing the scene. Six individuals were identified as potential suspects. These individuals were located and detained for questioning. It appears several of these individuals may be associated with the University of Tennessee football program.
"One of the suspects has been turned over to UTPD, who will file charges after one of their officers was assaulted while attempting to take this individual into custody.
"Several witnesses as well as potential suspects are still being interviewed. I will release additional information as the investigation moves forward."
DeBusk said "there could be additional charges as the investigation continues."
Of the people detained by police, DeBusk said "most appear to be associated with the UT football program."
DeBusk said police alerted Dooley, who is out of town, of the incident this morning.
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What To Expect From Georgia's Offense
nextkobe11 | youtube.com
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlA7quLEMXE&feature=related"]YouTube- What to expect from Georgia Bulldogs Offense/Special Teams in 2010[/ame]
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Jackson, King Arrested This Morning
Dean Legge | dawgpost.com
Tavarres King (above) could be a key loss if suspended for an extended period of time.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia running back Dontavius Jackson and wide receiver Tavarres King were arrested this morning by university police on alcohol-related charges after the vehicle they were in was pulled over on East Campus Road.
Jackson was charged with six misdemeanors, including driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of an accident and underage possession of alcohol. King, listed as a starter on the preseason depth chart, was charged with underage possession of alcohol.
Jackson was driving a Chevrolet Avalanche that belonged to King when officers noticed he did not move over for a separate police stop on the road and was traveling at a high rate of speed, university police chief Jimmy Williamson said. Two police vehicles were at that stop and one left to pull over Jackson at about 3 a.m.
Police had a report that a vehicle had been struck earlier by a Chevy Avalanche, and the driver of the car that was hit identified a tag number and described some of the occupants.
“That just happened to be the car that our officer was behind, and he pulled them over,” Williamson said. “It was determined that vehicle was responsible or had been involved with the accident with the other vehicle and had left the scene. There was damage consistent with both vehicles colliding.”
The vehicle that Jackson is alleged to have hit sustained minor damage, Williamson said.
Jackson also was charged with violating conditions of a learner’s permit, following too closely and violating the move over law.
It was determined that King, 19, a sophomore from Mount Airy, was the owner of the vehicle and that he also had been drinking, police said. King was charged and released at 7:04 a.m. on a $500 bond.
Also arrested in the incident on underage possession of alcohol charges were Darren Brooks Whatley, 18, and Marygrace Elizabeth Azar, 20. A fifth passenger was not charged.
Jackson, 20, a redshirt sophomore from Franklin, was booked into the Clarke County Jail at 6:25 a.m. and remains there. The reserve had four carries for 38 yards last season.
Jackson admitted he was the “peacemaker” in an alleged assault on a married couple in an Athens taxi cab on March 28. No Georgia players were charged in the incident.
Georgia coach Mark Richt is aware of the incident this morning and is gathering information, associate athletic director Claude Felton said. He will determine discipline when he has all the necessary facts, Felton said.
Under UGA Athletic Association policy, a first-time alcohol offense automatically brings a suspension of 10 percent of the season. That would mean King and Jackson would be suspended for the Sept. 4 season opener against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Another Georgia player, cornerback Jordan Love, was arrested earlier this week with obstruction of a police officer, but his attorney has said he believes that charge will be dismissed.
Jackson’s DUI arrest comes in the same week that athletic director Damon Evans resigned following his June 30th DUI arrest in Atlanta.
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NCAA TOP 25
PRESEASON
1. Alabama
BUZZ: The Tide has not lost a regular season game in the last two years. They are loaded on offense with a veteran quarterback, the Heisman Trophy winner, and one of the top receivers in the nation. Despite having just two starters back on defense, they will still be one of the top units in the country. Alabama will also be favored in all 12 games and likely the SEC Title game as well. They have four tough road games this year and could end up facing a loaded Florida team twice. Their last six SEC opponents all have a bye prior to playing them. Add it all up and I just see them slipping up once in the grueling SEC and they did have a couple of close calls last year.
2. Ohio State
BUZZ: Terrelle Pryor made great strides last year and should continue to grow as a Quarterback and leader this year. They do have to play both Iowa and Wisconsin on the road but have eight home games this year. Of course, they don not have to play and win a conference title game if they go 12-0. Ohio State, behind a good offense and defense, is favored to get to their fourth Title Game in the last nine years.
3. Texas
BUZZ: The Longhorns are once again one of the most talented teams in the country and might have the best defense in the nation. They do face 9th ranked Nebraska in Lincoln and 15th ranked Oklahoma in Dallas but should be favored in almost all of their games. They did lose Colt McCoy, their top receiver, and have not really had a feature back since Jamaal Charles in 2007. Still, Texas is a serious National Title contender.
4. Oregon
BUZZ: With Jerimiah Masoli, the Ducks were a top four team. Without him, they should drop to around #10 in the polls. His replacement, however, should do well and are a stronger team than the 2009 version, which was young along both lines. Oregon still won the Pac-10 and finished eleventh in the nation. They did get USC, Cal, and Oregon State all at home last year which means now they have to go on the road to face them. Still, this team should be 7-0 and very confident when they head into USC on October 30th. A win there and solid play from their Quarterback would put them in the national title picture.
5. Boise State
BUZZ: Boise State has the most experience team in the nation with ten starters on each side of the ball. Last year, they finished 14-0 and #4 in the nation and they are 26-1 over two years with their lone loss by one point. They face a very easy schedule and are unbeatable on the Smurf Turf. They have to play both Virginia Tech (in Landover, Maryland) and Nevada away from home though but are clearly one of the most talented teams in the nation. If they knock off Virginia Tech on September 6th, they could be heading for the Title game.
6. Florida
BUZZ: The Gators won the National Title in '06 and '08. Last year, they were 12-0 and top ranked in the country but lost to Alabama in the SEC Title game before walloping Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl. Tim Tebow and all of his heroics are gone but John Brantley actually improves the passing attack. The rush totals will obviously not be as strong. Despite losing all but five starters from last season, the Gators should still have a top defense. The schedule is not as easy though as they face Alabama, Georgia, and Florida State all away from home. If they beat Alabama on October 2nd, Florida would likely face them again in the SEC Title game, making it a tough road to the National Title game.
7. Virginia Tech
BUZZ: The Hokies might have the best backfield in the entire country with Tyrod Taylor and a pair of 1,000 yard backs. Bud Foster will always have a top defense and Frank Beamer will continue to have great special teams. If they can get past Boise State, VT could open the season 9-0 and be ranked in the top five in November. The biggest test is playing Miami and North Carolina in back to back weeks on the road.
8. Texas Christian
BUZZ: The Frogs may have been the best non-BCS team in each of the last two years but due to some closes, have not finished in that spot ranking behind Utah in '08 and Boise State last year. The team is loaded with 16 starters back. They have to play Utah on the road though. TCU is not just a threat to be a BCS buster but if all the big boys have one loss, this is a team that would be worthy of playing in the National Title game and the MWC might not need an act of Congress to get them there.
9. Nebraska
BUZZ: The Huskers must replace Ndamukong Suh who took home almost every major defensive award in the country, still they should have a top five defense in the nation. Last year their offense averaged 323 yards per game and yet they came within one second of upsetting Texas in the Big 12 Title game. This year, the Huskers face a easy schedule. They do not face any top 25 teams on the road. It is only year three for head coach Bo Pelini and he has quickly put the Huskers in the national title contender's role.
10. Iowa
BUZZ: The Hawkeyes defense shut down a potent Georgia Tech offense in the Orange Bowl allowing just nine first downs and eight starters return from the defense. Quarterback Ricky Stanzi won every game he started and finished in '09 and they get their toughest foes (Ohio State and Wisconsin) at home. Iowa is one of the Big 10 favorites.
11. Wisconsin
BUZZ: The Badgers must sustain momentum generated by beating Miami in the Champs Sports Bowl. Can they do it again? Can they beat Ohio State at home? Or Iowa on the road? If they can split, and win the games they are expected to win, they can put themselves in the Big Ten championship discussion.
12. Georgia Tech
BUZZ: The Yellow Jackets should again contend for an ACC title despite losing four early entries to the NFL Draft -- including two first-rounders. The expectations are a testament to Paul Johnson's coaching abilities. Nesbitt's experience, and improvement along the offensive lines, where Paul Johnson prefers athletic and agile blockers, should result in points. To have a truly special season though, new defensive coordinator Al Groh must work some magic with the defense.
13. Southern Cal
BUZZ: USC is coming off its worst season since 2001 and is without its talisman, Pete Carroll. New coach Lane Kiffin is expected to win immediately. There are just enough marquee players to think that last year was nothing more than a blip and that the Trojans will be on top once again.
14. Miami FL
BUZZ: The "U" could finally be back. They play in the tough ACC Coastal Division but get key games vs. North Carolina and Virginia Tech at home. They have to play Ohio State and Georgia Tech on the road but are my pick to be ACC champs.
15. Oklahoma
BUZZ: With national championship expectations, Oklahoma suffered through its most disappointing season in the Stoops era last season. But despite the injuries to many of its stars, the Sooners didn't quit and won their final two games to generate momentum for this season. The schedule is tough again with Florida State, Cincinnati, and Texas on the slate. But if the offensive line improves, double digit wins and big prizes are not out of the question.
16. Pittsburgh
BUZZ: In each of the past two seasons, the Panthers have had a chance to win the Big East title in the final few weeks -- only to lost to Cincinnati. All the talk about progress, lofty recruiting rankings and close losses is getting old. It's time to actually win a conference crown.
17. LSU
BUZZ: The Tigers must find some much-needed offensive firepower. They challenged Florida and Alabama last season before falling short. Defensive attrition creates concern, although Peterson's presence is enough to bolster any backfield. Stamina and late-game dominance will be critical to the Tigers' success.
18. Penn State
BUZZ: With the quarterback position unresolved, it will be difficult to win at Alabama, Iowa, or Ohio State. The defense will be strong enough to keep Penn State in the top half of the Big Ten, but contending for the title seems a bit out of reach.
19. Oregon State
BUZZ: Someone needs to take over the offense at quarterback. Katz should get first crack at it. He'll have plenty of support with talented receivers and ball carriers. The defense should keep the team in games while Katz develops. If all goes right, the Beavers will be back knocking on the Rose Bowl door, just like the last two seasons.
20. Arkansas
BUZZ: This, by far, appears to be the best team in Petrino's three years at Arkansas. The offense could soar, but the defense and kicking game still win championships in the SEC. Games three and four versus Georgia and Alabama, Arkansas' first SEC games, will determine if these Hogs launch a flying start or face their customary Operation Regroup by mid-October.
21. Florida State
BUZZ: The Seminoles have not appeared in such good shape since the start of the 2000 season. If they get renewed defensive muscle, they could easily make a run at the ACC Atlantic division title and play in the league title game for the first time in five years. The coaching staff is revamped, a new philosophy is in place, and FSU seems poised to head upward with a strong core of returning starters.
22. North Carolina
BUZZ: The Tar Heels will play one of the toughest schedules in the nation, starting with an opener against LSU in Atlanta. To have the kind of season Carolina is hoping to achieve, the Tar Heels will need to avoid the kind of devastating injuries that have hurt the team so much in the past two years. But if the Tar Heels can remain healthy, there is no excuse for not making a serious run at a very special season.
23. Utah
BUZZ: Utah has proven itself time and again as one of the nation's elite. This looks like another top 25 edition, and the Utes, buoyed by strength of schedule, could rise to BCS bowl contention.
24. Cincinnati
BUZZ: The Bearcats have won 18 straight regular-season games and back-to-back Big East Titles. Simply maintaining the status quo will be a huge undertaking for Jones, who received early reviews by being more player-friendly and accessible than Kelly was. That's nice for the players, but will it translate to victories?
25. Houston
BUZZ: The Cougars are favored to win the conference title. If the defensive and offensive lines remain intact throughout a difficult non-conference slate (at UCLA, vs. Mississippi State) and league play, the Cougars just might crash the BCS party.
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Richt Suspends Jackson And King
Dean Legge | dawgpost.com
Tavarres King (above) making a catch against Auburn last year.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia’s offseason continued to be anything but quiet on Sunday when coach Mark Richt suspended two football players indefinitely from team activities, a day after their early morning arrests in Athens on alcohol-related charges.
Reserve running back Dontavius Jackson will have to sit out at least half the upcoming season—six games--after he was charged with six misdemeanors including DUI, leaving the scene of an accident and underage possession of alcohol.
Starting wide receiver Tavarres King will serve a minimum one-game suspension. King was charged with underage possession of alcohol.
“I’m disappointed in their decision-making and lack of judgment and they will both pay a stiff price,” Richt said in a statement released Sunday evening. “All our players need to understand that it’s a privilege to be a Bulldog and their conduct needs to reflect the standards we expect.”
Information is still being gathered that could lead to additional penalties, according to Richt, who has spoken to both players since their arrests, associate athletic director Claude Felton said.
The arrests of Jackson and King bring the number of Georgia players arrested this offseason to seven—all since the start of spring practices in March.
Three have been dismissed from the team—quarterback Zach Mettenberger, outside linebacker Montez Robinson and punter Trent Dittmer.
The latest suspensions come a week after athletic director Damon Evans resigned following his DUI arrest in Atlanta.
Team activities that Jackson and King will miss for now include summer workouts and strength and conditioning sessions.
Georgia is scheduled to begin preseason practices on July 31. It remains to be seen whether Jackson and King, both redshirt sophomores, will be reinstated by then.
Under UGA Athletic Association policy, a first-time alcohol offense automatically brings a suspension of 10 percent of the season.
Jackson was driving a Chevrolet Avalanche that belonged to King on East Campus Road when officers noticed that he did not move over for a separate police stop on the road and was traveling at a high rate of speed, university police chief Jimmy Williamson said. Two police vehicles were at that stop and one left to pull over the Avalanche at about 3 a.m.
Police had a report that a vehicle had just been struck by an Avalanche and the driver identified a tag number and described some of the occupants.
Jackson, who had four carries for 38 yards last season, was also charged with
violating conditions of a learner’s permit, following too closely and violating the move over law.
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Blame Mark Richt? He’s Not The One Who’s Embarrassing UGA
Mark Bradley | ajc.com
Mark Richt (above) has tried to cut down the arrests in Athens with no success.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Mark Richt is a nice guy. Mark Richt believes in forgiveness. Mark Richt looks for the best in people. Mark Richt coddled Odell Thurman.
All of this is true. None of it explains, at least not fully, why Georgia players keep getting arrested.
Let’s stipulate that Richt was too lenient for too long. But he has toughened since the egregious offseason of 2008, when eight Bulldogs got arrested and stole a goodly part of the luster that should have descended on a team ranked No. 1 in preseason for the first time in school history. He has kicked more guys off the team. He has instituted an automatic one-game suspension for anyone arrested (for the first time) on an alcohol-related charge. Yet here Georgia sits, two summers later, having cut its offseason arrest total by …
One.
Seven Bulldogs have been arrested this calendar year. Three have been dismissed from the squad, including Montez Robinson, who figured to play at linebacker, and Zach Mettenberger, who might have challenged Aaron Murray as Georgia’s starting quarterback. Backup tailback Dontavius Jackson, arrested Saturday on DUI and five other charges, has been suspended for half the 2010 season.
This is no longer the Richt of repeated second chances, but it hasn’t much mattered. Bulldogs are still messing up — even as we note that an arrest isn’t a conviction, we must also face the reality that getting arrested generally isn’t a signal of meritorious behavior — even though they should know their actions can and will have consequences.
No, Georgia isn’t alone in having football players make the wrong kind of headlines. But it has happened so often with these Bulldogs that each incident bears a subtext: It isn’t that a Georgia player has been arrested but that another Georgia player has been arrested. And Richt, as head coach, must bear some responsibility. But responsibility isn’t the same thing as blame.
This man is a football coach, not a prison warden. In the name of discipline, he cannot put his men under dormitory lockdown. If he did, it wouldn’t be discipline. Discipline is about having the freedom to make choices and then choosing wisely. Too many Georgia players continue to be, for want of a better word, unwise. And that’s not on the head coach. That’s on them.
Maybe Richt needs to be more careful about the players he pursues — recruiting risks tend to bite the hand that signs them — but that can be said of every program everywhere. Richt is in business to win games, not to oversee the glee club. He’s going to be in a lot more trouble if Georgia goes 8-5 again than if another 19-year-old gets caught with a beer. But the 19-year-olds have to smarten up.
If they can’t grasp that there’s increased scrutiny on this program — especially after the arrest and resignation of Damon Evans — they’re not bright enough to attend an institution of higher learning. If they can’t understand that being a Bulldog is both an honor and a responsibility, they shouldn’t be allowed to wear the red jersey.
Too many college athletes (and not just Georgia athletes) have been so pampered they believe they’re untouchable. Reality check: They’re not. Just because a bunch of folks followed their recruiting and got excited when these blue-chippers put on a certain school’s cap doesn’t mean a player can’t be arrested, can’t be disciplined, can’t be forgotten in the time it takes to say, “You’re off the team.”
Say what you will about Mark Richt, but for more than a decade he has carried himself in a way that has conferred honor on UGA. He is, alas, only one man. He cannot make choices for 85 others. He can try to lead them, teach them, punish them when necessary, but in the end everything comes down to free will.
Too many Bulldogs act as if they’ve been handed a free pass through life. (Reality check: Nobody gets one of those.) Too many Bulldogs need to grow up or go home.
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Facebook Campaign Likes Matt Stinchcomb For Georgia AD
Tim Tucker | ajc.com
Matt Stinchcomb (above), a former player, has always been a fan favorite in Athens.
ATHENS, Ga. -- A Facebook campaign is underway for Matt Stinchcomb as Georgia’s next athletics director.
A “Stinchcomb for AD” page went up in the past few days, and last time I looked, 360 people “liked” it.
Stinchcomb, of course, is one of the best and brightest of former Georgia football players: an All-American offensive tackle in the 1990s, a member of the athletics program’s Circle of Honor and a summa cum laude graduate (3.96 GPA) with a degree in finance. He currently works, along with former Georgia quarterback David Greene, as a client executive in Atlanta for Seacrest Partners, a Savannah-based insurance brokerage and consulting firm.
The “Stinchcomb for AD” page calls him “a perfect selection for Athletic Director. A model husband and father, humanitarian, and successful member of the business community.”
Stinchcomb’s reaction to the Web site pitching him for AD: “I like the pictures.”
“I heard about that the other day,” Stinchcomb told me this morning. “I was at J.T. Wall’s golf tournament down in Milledgeville, and someone called me and told me about it.”
He said he doesn’t know who created the site, which he finds “flattering.”
“It wasn’t something that I thought, ‘Man, that’s completely out of left field,’” he said. “At the same time, there is some exploration that I think needs to be done before you jump in to something like that for consideration or candidacy or what-have-you.”
So … would Stinchcomb, 33, be interested in the job?
“The best way to characterize me,” he said, “is as a very interested observer at this point of what’s going on and what steps will be taken to maintain the trajectory of that program.” He said the field of athletics administration interests him and that he has spoken with some people regarding the job, although “no one I think in a decision-making capacity.”
Asked if he plans to aggressively pursue the idea, Stinchcomb said: “I haven’t excluded that possibility. But to say, ‘Have I thrown my hat in the ring?’ No, not necessarily. I wouldn’t want to enter into something of that magnitude without doing a significant amount of due diligence.”
The problem, of course, is that Stinchcomb has no experience in athletics administration, and UGA President Michael Adams said last week that he will be seeking someone with a high level of experience.
But it’s a cool Facebook page, in any case.
Stinchcomb has something else on his mind this week: The annual “Countdown to Kickoff Fan Festival” charity event — organized by Stinchcomb, his brother Jon and Greene – is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at the UGA Practice Fields. Former and current Georgia football players will run drills, play games, sign autographs and pose for photos.
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Pre-Season Heisman Watch List
Mark Ingram|HB|Alabama
Case Keenum|QB|Houston
Kellen Moore|QB|Boise State
Terrelle Pryor|QB|Ohio State
Jake Locker|QB|Washington
Toughest Places To Play
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Pre-Season All-Americans
Offense
Defense
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2011 Recruiting Prospects
Georgia Bulldogs Recruiting - Class of 2011 PLAYER NAME CALIBER HT WT HOMETOWN Thomas Allen, MLB 
6'2 241 Piney Green, NC Gary Woods, ATH 6'1 182 Gainesville, GA William Hall, ATH 6'4 212 Dock Junction, GA M.J. Rucker, QB 6'3 246 Mountain Park, GA Joel Alston, FS 6'1 220 Buford, GA David Wilson, DT 6'4 287 Riverdale, GA Leon Foster, MLB 5'9 218 Fort Valley, GA Jeff Bryant, FB 6'1 239 Penn Hills, PA Patrick Chambers, DT 6'3 278 Martinez, GA Avery Wesley, OG 6'5 315 South Augusta, GA Dustin Goddard, CB 5'11 186 Bainbridge, GA Tyler Townsend, FS 6'2 218 Bainbridge, GA James Thompson, OG 6'1 282 Vidalia, GA Joseph Doyle, FB 6'0 245 Phillipsburg, NJ Greg McNeal, MLB 6'0 242 Walton Beach, FL Cedric Adkins, C 6'1 288 Athens, GA Bob Kennedy, CB 5'11 164 Gainesville, GA Kevin Rogers, TE 6'2 252 North Decatur, GA Shane Foster, OT 6'4 309 Marietta, GA Quintin Fields, CB 6'1 175 Lawrenceville, GA Willie Gray, SS 6'3 218 Augusta, GA Jake Phillips, FB 6'0 278 North Madison, OH
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(0-0) ULL Ragin' Cajuns Vs Georgia Bulldogs (0-0)
Chris Fowler: Its finally here, the time you all have been waiting on... college football. Last year we saw upsets and close games in a truly exciting year. We saw the Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Texas Longhorns to win the National Title. But this is a new year, new faces, and a fresh start.
Today, we have a great slate of games including Oregon State vs TCU, Notre Dame with the new spread vs. Purdue, and then primetime game of the week: LSU vs North Carolina at the Georgia Dome. Those are later on in the day though, right now we have the early games.
One of the most intriguing early games is the Georgia vs Louisiana-Lafayette game. What are you guys wanting to see in this matchup?
Kirk Herbstreit: Well, I think its safe to say that we both feel confident that Georgia is going to win easily right?
Lee Corso: Yeah, no question.
Kirk Herbstreit: Okay, well what i want to see is Georgia's new defense. After many, many years using a 4-3 defense, Georgia made the switch to a 3-4 look this offseason. They hired Todd Grantham from the Dallas Cowboys.
So, yeah there will be some adjusting but they couldn't have picked a better team to test the defense with in the Ragin' Cajuns. The Cajuns have a dysmal offense ranked 93rd in scoring and 71st in the nation in rushing yards.
Now the interesting thing will be if the Dawgs can get pressure on the quarterback. The Cajuns last season only gave up 13 sacks last year. Now I know they lost three starters on the line, but it will still be fun to watch.
Lee Corso: Ummmm Kirk? How about wanting to see their freshman quarterback Aaron Murray? He is gonna have to make sure ball security is accounted for as the Cajuns were great at takeaways last year and have a good secondary.
And who doesn't want to watch A.J. Green? Man oh man is that an athlete. It looks like he just glides and throw it near him and its a reception. He is gonna have a huuuuuuuuge year this year.
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Lee Corso-
Kirk Herbstreit-
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Team Ratings
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Players To Watch
Dwight Bentley- CB
Can he slow down A.J. Green at all?
Aaron Murray- QB
Can he manage the game and guide the Dawgs to victory?
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Dawgs Settle Down After Rough First Half
Ealey (above) celebrating after his back-breaking 75 yard run.
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ATHENS, GA -- Well, everyone knew it would take some time for Georgia to get used to the new 3-4 defense. No one could have thought it started off so badly though. The Ragin' Cajuns gained 201 yards in the first half but only 98 in the second.
The game started off solid for the Bulldogs as Houston got his first sack of the season to draw a three and out on the opening possession of the game.
Georgia capitalized on the early start and capitalized. After a quick first down, King broke free for a 40 yard run but it got called back for holding. The offense stalled from there to get a field goal from Blair Walsh to go up 3-0.
Louisiana-Lafayette would drive down the field easily the next two possessions but both drives ended in a turnover to end the first quarter 3-0 Georgia.
However, the game changed when Ealey fumbled inside Georgia's side to give Louisiana-Lafayette prime field position. And they quickly capitalized with a touchdown to go up 7-3 early in the 2nd quarter.
Georgia responded quickly with a downfield strike to A.J. Green for 57 yards. Green would catch another pass for a touchdown to go into half time up 10-7.
Then, after halftime, everything seemed to click. The offense and defense got better as Ealey quickly stole the show.
Georgia would drive down on the opening possession of the second half to make it 13-7.
UL-L sustained a long drive but after missing a close field goal, seemed to fall apart. They gained only 43 yards after this point in the game.
King and Ealey put the game away with their amazing running showcase late in the game. The two combined for six rushes over ten yards in the final quarter and a half.
Georgia ended up winning 33-13 in a convincing manner.
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Team Stats
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Scoring Summary
First Quarter
4:26 FG UGA: B. Walsh, 50 Yd FG
Second Quarter
7:03 TD UL-L: R. Falgout, 23 Yd pass
5:02 TD UGA: A. Green, 13 Yd pass
Third Quarter
6:54 FG UGA: B. Walsh, 50 Yd FG
1:16 TD UGA: C. King, 6 Yd run
Fourth Quarter
7:44 TD UGA: W. Ealey, 75 Yd run
6:24 FG UGA: B. Walsh, 43 Yd FG
3:16 TD UL-L: A. Joseph, 23 Yd pass
0:56 FG UGA: B. Walsh, 24 Yd FG
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Player Of Game
Washaun Ealey - 13 carries, 151 yards, TD
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