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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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.

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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OK, there’s so much to talk about in college football today, let’s get right to the traditional commercial, which you will see anytime you visit a Scott Chancey blog. Pizza Hut’s first-ever commercial, courtesy of the Herald vault (OK, seriously, youtube; wow, amazing all the stuff they have). Has to give Pizza Hut a shoutout, especially the one in Camilla for letting me go in one of their booths late Saturday night and letting me turn it into a personal work station. Sorry, my fingers were just a tad too numb to type outside after covering the Mitchell County-Albany game. For those who seemed a little perplexed when a guy with a backpack walked into the Pizza Hut when you were there around 11:10 p.m. last nite, nothing to worry about — it was me.

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When it comes to Roddy White, I’m glad to know the Atlanta Falcons are getting the most bang for their buck – finally! It’s funny how an NFL player more known for DROPPING the ball after becoming a first-round pick out of UAB just up and demands more $$$ after a breakout season like the one he had last year. Well? so far, so good on the new contract he signed. 210 receiving yards and two touchdowns to a long way in validating the cash.

Maybe it was a change of quarterbacks. If there is one thing I remember about him dropping the ball when he first joined the falcons, it was that Michael Vick was also the quarterback, and White wasn’t the only WR to have problems catching the ball with Vick. Michael Jenkins had the same issue. Granted, Vick’s throws have just a little (ahem!) zip. A quarterback like Matt Ryan with a pace that receivers are comfortable with go a long way.

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For those of you who want UGA defensive coordinator Willie Martinez fired, he didn’t help his case to stay on with the Bulldogs today. Any defense that makes Tennessee QB Jonathan Crompton look good is in need of some dire help. That is, except for area players like Seminole County’s Bacarri Rambo who intercepted a Compton pass and returned it for a TD. Wow, I thought maybe Tennessee’s rushing game might give the Dogs’ defense problems. UGA has LOTS of problems after a 45-19 loss against Tennessee. Isn’t Tennessee rebuilding with a new coach? Not a good day for the Bulldogs. Here is the AP’s story. UGA has clearly lost its dominance at Neyland Stadium. After winning in Knoxville in 2001, ‘03 and ‘05, the Bulldogs have now lost two in a row there.

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While away this weekend at the beach, I DID manage to come across some NFL football on TV, and as they say, you learn something new every day.

Here’s what I learned Sunday — brace myself if I ever shake hands with former Dougherty High School star Daryl Smith, who starts at linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars. While Dick Enberg and Hall-of-Famer Dan Fouts broadcasted the game for CBS, Fouts had a fixation on Smith’s handshake. From what Fouts said about HIS handshake with Smith, I think it went something like this.

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OK, let’s get the show on the road.

But first, let’s sit back for a short commercial.

I’m sure the last thing UGA fans wanted to see this morning was LSU’s mascot after the Bulldogs’ loss. Here is the game story by Gwinnett Daily Post writer David Friedlander.  But Mike the Tiger wasn’t the problem. It was RB Charles Scott. I actually forgot about him after last season. Hadn’t heard from him much since he ran all over Auburn last year on the Plains. And Trinton Holiday? He’s always been a special teams threat for the Bengal Tigers. The AJC’s Mark Bradley was right — it was a one-play game, and the Bulldogs didn’t make the one that counted. UGA coach Mark Richt, however, seemed perturbed about the officials’ reaction to A.J. Green’s celebration after his TD catch put the Bulldogs ahead with just over a minute to go. The refs called “excessive celebration” and UGA had to kick from its own 15, and Holiday had a good return and — by now — you know the rest. Here is the AJC’s game story detailing Richt’s frustration. In the Macon Telegraph, ex-Herald writer David Hale leads his story with the stunning change of emotions within the span of two minutes.

I’m shocked at the ref’s flag on Green. Really, those calls are “judgment” calls and shouldn’t refs have a clue when putting celebrations like Green’s into context? Richt had it right when he said it was the right amount of celebration considering how LSU had dominated UGA during the first half and yet the Bulldogs took the lead on Green’s thrilling catch. Yet I’m also NOT surprised it was Scott who scored the winning TD. I saw him in person last year against Auburn. When healthy, Scott is the real deal.

Georgia Tech, on the other hand, won doing something the Jackets had not been known for doing during the past couple of years — throwing the ball. Here is the AP story and I think maybe the AJC was taken aback by how Tech won. The main-page headline talks about “running” past Miss. State and when you click on that headline, the inside headline says “pass” past Bulldogs. It’s a win, nonetheless, and here is the AJC’s story. It’s good to know the Jackets can pass when they have to.

And you know the saying, “Offense sells tickets, defense wins championships?” Well, defense once again played a huge role in Albany State’s 20-0 win against Lane. Mario Fuller and Terry McGhee scored touchdowns on defense, and here is our story courtesy of the Jackson (Tenn.) Sun. McGhee also scored a touchdown on a fumble return two years ago, and I THINK that was Fuller’s first TD at Albany State. Just looked it up. It was.

At Auburn, it was good to see Wes Byrum make field goals against Tennessee. Jeez, last year he couldn’t aim at the broadside of a barn. His FG clinched the Tigers’ 26-22 win against Tennessee. Here is the Birmingham News’ story. And are you as shocked as me that the Tigers are this good? Especially after last season? The Birmingham News’ Kevin Scarbinsky feels the same way. It was Auburn’s first road game of the season, and what tougher test than having to win a close game in front of more than 100,000 fans?  Auburn got it done.

FSU, on the other hand, did NOT get it done after Saturday’s loss against Boston College. Here is a column by The Tallahassee Democrat’s Steve Ellis about the Seminoles’ situation. Why the worrying? The Seminoles are 0-2 for the first time in the ACC. Here is The Democrat’s game story. And The Democrat’s Corey Clark, who used to work at our sister paper, The Gwinnett Daily Post, ponders the ramifications of FSU’s latest loss.

As to what else happened in the country Saturday? Here is a top-25 roundup. Nice rebound by Miami, eh?

Here are full game stories from the SEC on Alabama, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Arkansas.

The ACC? Here are full game stories on Maryland, Duke, Virginia, Wake Forest, and Miami.

And as for today’s college marching band? Gotta bring Auburn back up. They’re the only one of our “Big 4″ (FSU, UGA, Tech, Auburn) that is still undefeated. Sooooo, here ya go.

Now…… ya ready??

GO GET ‘EM!!!