The Word

Latest word from UGA? There is none, really. Will Joe Cox remain the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback? Will the Bulldogs win another game after beating Tennessee Tech next weekend? And when will Sanford Stadium finally come up with a name for their hot dogs (C’mon, if Los Angeles can come up with “Dodger Dogs,” surely a school like Georgia with a DOG as its nickname can think of something)…

These are the musings I have at 2 a.m. in the morning when I’m devoid of coffee. Welcome to my world.

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I remember a co-worker of mine when I worked in Gainesville Ga., writing the first sentence about a Florida blowout of UGA when they played between the hedges in the mid-1990s. it went something like, “you can open your eyes now, they’re gone.”

I think that wording also applies this year.

No more does Georgia have to worry about Tim Tebow. He’ll be gone after this year. No more does Georgia have to worry about its defense coached by Willie Martinez. HE’LL probably be gone too after this year. The same may go for UGA quarterback Joe Cox.

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Here are the links to The Herald Tour videos from Pelham high school this week on YouTube.

Herald Tour, Part I

Herald Tour, Part II

Here are the rest of Paul Dehner Jr.’s predictions leftover from Friday’s Herald.

SEMINOLE COUNTY (6-2) AT RANDOLPH-CLAY (2-6):  A few weeks ago nobody would have thought these two teams would play a close game against each other. Seminole was rolling up points by the dozens and the Red Devils were on their way to what could be a winless season. But in the last three weeks Randolph found two wins and pushed sub-region champ Miller County in a 39-28 loss.
Seminole is favored to win here, but the Devils can score with them.
PREDICTION: Seminole County 51, Randolph-Clay 38

WORTH COUNTY (3-5) AT WESTOVER (3-5): These two teams have the same records but two different stories. Worth appears to have found its identity and even held a lead against Peach County last week in the third quarter. Westover hasn’t led much of anything the past four weeks, all losses.
Worth believes if it wins this week against the Pats and next week against Monroe they will be in the playoffs. That will likely be true if they could pull it off. They should get halfway there tonight.
PREDICTION: Worth County 16, Westover 7

DWS (8-2) AT BROOKWOOD (3-7): Brookwood is down this year and DWS is back up to its standard position. Technically, the Knights have nothing to play for with the Region 3-AAA title already in hand. But coach Allen Lowe wants to use this as an important dress rehearsal as the last game of DWS’ regular season. Expect more of the same from the Knights.
PREDICTION: DWS 40, Brookwood 10

TERRELL ACADEMY (7-2) AT WESTWOOD (3-5): The Eagles and Wildcats have had an exciting rivalry over the years that of late has been dominated by Terrell. The Eagles have won four consecutive in the series since losing eight of the previous nine.
Terrell is favored to keep its current streak alive, though the return of Mason Worsham at QB for the Wildcats gives them a fighting chance.
PREDICTION: Terrell Academy 28, Westwood 21

First things first.. COMMERCIAL TIME!.

ok, not the typical commercial I usually show ya on here, but the song IS fitting (and I’m sure co-worker and die-hard yankees fan Barry Levine will appreciate it — any guy who brings in a small-wide screen tv into the newsroom so he can watch his Bronx Bombers is a sports fan in MY books!!)

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I’m gonna do something I don’t think I’ve done all year — run a blog without a commercial and marching band? Not a chance.

Some things are just too sacred to change.

I’m gonna lead the blog with Georgia Tech, which certainly should get its due after thumping Virginia on Saturday. That’s right, Jackets! Party like it’s 1990, the LAST time you guys beat the Cavs in Charlottesville. After Miami fell against Clemson, Tech only needs to win its two remaining ACC games to play for the conference title. And how did they do it? Seriously, if you don’t know how Tech is winning right now, you’re probably waiting for the BYU-TCU game story to be on here (HA!). Tech runs the ball — period. Here’s the game story from the AJC. And you (well, ME) thought the Jackets’ offense was a gimmick that might work in high school or junior college. Whoops! Here’s the story from the Macon Telegraph about today’s win.

Now, keeping up with my blog tradition, here’s a commercial break. Only fitting, I know, right?

Want to know what else happened, as far as the AP top 25? Click here.

At Georgia, the Bulldogs are getting ready for QB Tim Tebow and Florida, as this story illustrates.

Now, onto the game I was at, Saturday. The Rams let a game get away they should have won. Albany State’s normally dominating offense was far from that Saturday against Tuskegee as the Rams lost, 21-19. Here is the game story I wrote from that game, as well as a sidebar with a focus on ex-Albany High star Ryan Jackson, who plays for Tuskegee. I have already written my column for Monday on Saturday’s game, and I will give you a hint what it’s about — missed opportunities.

The biggest story from the top 25 today was how Bama struggled. Well, what else is new when it comes to the Tide’s offense? Even in 1992, a mediocre offense that scored occasionally with David Palmer was carried by Antonio Langham and the Tide’s defense. That’s just the Bama way. Here are some more stuff on Bama-Tennessee.

As for Auburn? Auburn fans can open their eyes, now. That game’s over with LSU dominating them. Here is a story from the AP on that. Here is some more writings on the Auburn loss, and another blog is here from the Mobile Register’s Evan Woodbery.

And with the FSU ‘Noles, the coaches found a way to spark their team’s comeback win Thursday against UNC, as the Tallahassee Democrat writes about here.

I would be surprised if Bama is still atop the AP poll. The Gators did not play that well either against Mississippi State, but look for the two teams to be switched today. I think, however, for now they have proven themselves to be the country’s top two teams.

And if you are REALLY wanting to know more about the BYU-TCU game (sigh) … click here.

OK, there. you have it.

well, not completely, yet. Here is today’s marching band, not only honoring Iowa’s last-second win, but also — the KING OF POP! I couldn’t find one of them playing “Billie Jean.” anyway…

GO GET ‘EM.

Before I do anything, I would like to direct everyone’s attention to my favorite video of the high school football season. This one was captured at Terrell County last night. On the surface the 99-yard fumble return for a touchdown appears to be a normal high school football play. Exciting? Yes. Extraordinary? No.

That is until, my boy, No. 42 running all alone down the field on a convoy, well, let’s just say he loses his footing. The video is in the player at albanyherald.com. No hate here, but let’s be honest, that’s comedy.

You don’t believe people falling is funny? Well, here is more evidence otherwise.

Now, here are the five things I learned Friday:

1) Deerfield-Windsor is going to repeat as state champions. I typically don’t like to make declarative statements like that as predictions, but their performance last night leaves me no other option. Westfield was the unanimous top team in GISA. They were undefeated and relatively untouched. They had this game circled on their schedule all season after losing in the state title game last year at DWS. All signs pointed to Westfield finally having its day.

Then Deerfield dominated every aspect of the game and won 27-7. With Tony Zenon at tailback they have the star power and the speed on everyone they see. With Reggie Brown at wideout and Banks Kinslow at QB they have the ability to pass whenever necessary. With Justin Webb and Quinton Adkins they have depth in case of injuries.

And, oh yeah, I don’t think their defense hasn’t allowed double digits points since before the swine flu showed up.

Add in the experience of having won the big game last year and it seems the only thing that can stop DWS from another title is itself.

I sure would like to see how this team competed in GHSA Class A….sorry, couldn’t resist.

2) Bainbridge may be the most inconsistent team in Class AAAA. One week the Bearcats look like they can compete for a region title. The next week, they look like they sent the JV team to the wrong field. Not sure how to explain the Bearcats, one week after beating Hardaway to put themselves in prime position for a postseason run to lose to hapless Upson-Lee. This was the same Upson Lee team without a region victory and losses against lowly Lee County and Americus-Sumter.

This performance was very un-Pilcher-like. Typcially his teams are always up for games and never overlook an opponent. We can be sure the Bearcats won’t overlook anybody the rest of the season.

3) The Internet may explode this week and it will be the fault of SGA and SCA. Never has there been more talk on the message board than the back and forth surrounding these two schools. From the transfer of Nile Knapp to the transfer of the city school players to Old Pretoria Rd., they have been galvanizing programs. More than anything, they love to hate on each other. They will play this Friday for the Region 3-AA title and No. 1 seed entering the state tournament.

If only David Bell turned out to be the brains behind Balloon Boy would there be more hits on The Vent this week.

4) Pelham is the feel-good story of the year. The Hornets will play for a sub-region title against Clinch County on Friday. There have not been two more opposite programs this decade, but here they meet with significant stakes. A win would guarantee the first home playoff game in Pelham since 2001.

Caleb Morrell has turned into an outstanding quarterback and his collection of running backs around him have been exciting. If they are good enough to beat Clinch, rather than the rest of the relatively bad region they play in, is yet to be seen, but they have now won four games in a row and have the confidence that it can be done. Two thumbs up to everybody down there. Looking forward to coming to the game on Friday. Just send me an email with a great place to go to eat when I get there!

5) Seriously, falls are funny.

Check out the Herald Tour with YouTube for instant viewing.

Click here for Part I

Click here for Part II

Today’s brief Daily Word is brought to you by Greek God of Lust ex-Mets GM/ESPN announcer Steve Phillips, who apparently hasn’t learned anything since being sued a few years ago by a former (female) Mets underling when he was running the show in the Big Apple for sexual harrassment. The case was, naturally, settled hush-hush out of court.

However, mutiple news outlets are reporting Wednesday that this time Phillips had an affair — BTW, he’s married with four kids, although his wife is divorcing him ASAP — with an ESPN production assistant, who in turn outed Phillips to his wife after he broke it off recently. Turns out the chick, Brooke Hundley, 22, is also kinda crazy, at one point posing as a student at Phillips’ son’s school in an effort to find out more information about the Love Doctor and also tearing through Phillips’ front lawn and smashing into a stone column (whatever that is) in an effort to get away from the wife after she showed up just as Ms. Hundley was posting a note with all the affairs’ sorid details on the door. Classy move, dear.

I’m under the weather today. And this is the best story of the day. So that’s all I got.

Enjoy.

SIDE NOTE: No one at ESPN likes Steve Phillips. And haven’t for a long time.

Well, after eking out a win like the Atlanta Falcons did last night, all I can say is this — they found a way. It wasn’t graceful, pretty by any means. The Bears had their chances to win, but on their final opportunity, the Falcons’ defense kept its ground. As they say, a win is a win and it had perfect timing since the Falcons were on NBC’s Sunday night game for the first time. Here’s the Associated Press’ story. In the AJC, they make note that last year’s game between the Falcons and Bears was pretty exciting, too. As AJC writer A. Orlando Ledbetter puts it in his first sentence of today’s game story — “The NFL schedule makers might want consider pitting the Chicago Bears and the Atlanta Falcons against each other more often. This is getting to be fun.” Here’s the rest of THAT story. Super Bowl, anyone? Evidently, Bears and Falcons fans are thinking of Miami quite a bit, lately as you can see from reading this story from Yahoo!

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