Three years ago today, I turned three recent e-mails to a handful of friends of mine into my first day’s worth of postings at the weblog then known as Kyle on Football. The following December, Peter Bean was kind enough to declare that crude initial effort the "Best ‘Almost There’ Blog," and Dawg Sports debuted the following February. Roughly a year later, MaconDawg came over from his previous digs, as well.

By and large, I said everything I needed to say two years ago when commemorating one year in The Dawgosphere, but I didn’t want to let the anniversary pass unmentioned. I am especially grateful to MaconDawg for joining in on the fun, and to all of you for your readership and contributions. I trust a good time is had by all, but I know that, for the last three years, a good time most certainly has been had by me.

Go ‘Dawgs!

As I mentioned last week, my wife and I took a weekend trip up to Memphis recently. I solicited reader input on things to do, thinking someone might clue me in to a good BBQ joint. You responded with gusto. Needless to say, my wife and I didn't come close to doing all of the things you helpfully submitted. Ergo, we'll probably make a return trip sometime soon.

Thanks again for all of your suggestions!

MaconDawg (and Mrs.)

Not really "eavesdropping," but definately conversing with the other side.

I just got back from a bid-ness trip to Orlando and met one of my new co-workers who graduated from UF in '01.  I did not immediately reveal my affinity to all things Red and Black, but could hardly mistake this young man's connection to UF...seeing that his entire workspace cubicle was a virtual shrine to any/all things Gator.  When the inevitable question was asked of me, "So, where did you go to school?" I proudly said, "UGA...class of '86."   My new co-worker's happy-go-lucky demeanor immediately changed and a serious pall replaced his otherwise youthful, pink and rosy complexion. 

"We've got to beat Georgia.  If we don't win a game this year, this is the one.  But of course, we've got an incredible offense..."

To which I replied, "Yeah, but defense wins championships.  I think we've (UGA) got both sides of the ball covered."

By now, my young friend became a bit more uncomfortable with the whole direction of the conversation.  But then, the predictable history lesson was summoned:  "Well, we pretty much own you guys.  15 of 18 or something like that."

To which I replied, "Yeah, perhaps that era has ended.  I think you'll find that a little research will reveal the streaky nature of this rivalry.  And it is a rivalry again.  But good luck to you, anyway."  I still don't think the younger generation understands how important history is in a rivalry at all. 

If he is typical of the general Gator consensus out there, the pressure is on.  The sort of pressure we heaped upon ourselves as a fan base and team for nearly two decades.  It's palpable. 

How 'Bout EM!

As everyone who knows me is well aware, I have an unhealthy relationship with bacon. I recently saw my son eating a fruit roll-up and it occurred to me that I wish someone would start making bacon roll-ups.

I was, therefore, quite pleased when my brother-in-law, Craig---a Texas native, Ole Miss alumnus, and current New York City resident---recently sent me the following e-mail:

I am in North Carolina right now and I just had my first chance to add bacon to a Chick-Fil-A sandwich. It was everything I hoped it would be. How have I lived this long and never done this?

I also was able to introduce another native New Yorker to Chick-Fil-A for the first time. We dined in, of course; per my recommendation, he got a #1 (no bacon - he wasn't ready for that yet) and enjoyed it so much that he went back to the counter for another sandwich and a 4-pack of nuggets.

We discussed the bacon/hot chicks theory. I opened the discussion by explaining the basic principle that any situation in life can be improved by adding bacon, hot chicks, or (usually) both. He began to wonder if there is a situation that is actually hindered by the introduction of hot chicks into the equation. "Perhaps marriage?" he queried. "You're married. Aren't hot chicks just a distraction?" To which I responded: "That's why I added bacon."

Go ‘Dawgs!

Recently, a friend showed me this video (I guess made a few months ago?) that CBS sportsline did with the baseball team.  It is absolutely hilarious but I wanted to post this video to only FURTHER the conspiracy theory of these Nike bats.  At the 50 second mark you can see Gordon Beckham expressing his displeasure with the bats.  

Check out the PILE of broken bats in the corner of the locker room.   That has to be like what 20-30 bats just sitting there shattered?  This is absolutely ridiculous that our team has to put up with Nike and its crappy baseball bats.  I haven't played baseball since high school but I'm pretty sure it's a sign when no I knew on my team or the other team EVER used Nike bats.  Besides, I have only seen ONE shattered metal bat in my entire life let alone a pile of 20 or so.

I'm not saying let's dump Nike completely (I like our apparel just fine) but this crap they call bats is preposterous.  And while I'm ranting, I saw a commenter that said that Nike is still supplying our swim team's gear.  Has anyone been paying attention to the Olympic swimming trials lately?  See any Nike gear out there on Michael Phelps or ANY other top swimmer?

About time somebody raised this issue:

Unfortunately this is probably going to sound like sour grapes, but this issue has been around since long before we even thought about Fresno State.  The AD has basically blown off every single person who tried to raise the issue.  I realize baseball is nowhere near as important in the grand scheme of things as football (basketball is arguable at a place like UGA), but that doesn't mean you should force your team to use inferior equipment.

Hello, Dawg faithful. I've been doing some coach record analysis lately, and yesterday I got to Mark Richt. If you want to see my whole analysis and interpretation it's here; if you get past some light ribbing near the beginning you probably won't have a problem with it.

But, the main deal is a table that breaks down his record by site, and another that breaks down his record by quality of opponent. Only games against I-A competition were included.

I give you the tables here if you want to provide your own analysis, though I think Kyle's well-documented fondness for him probably covers the sentiment pretty well.

By site:

The neutral site games are the annual Florida game in Jacksonville and the SEC championship games Richt has been to.

Here is by tier of opponent. A first tier opponent is a team that finished the year with a winning percentage of .750 or better, a second tier opponent finshed from .500 to .749, a third tier opponent finished .250 to .499, and a fourth tier opponent finished .249 and below.

Not too shabby, eh? If I were a betting man (and if I was, I'm sure Richt would frown on me for it), I'd probably wager that he'll pass up Vince Dooley the coach by the time he's done.

See y'all in Jacksonville in November, and may you have the best season that the second place team in the SEC East can have.

When Dawg Sports made the jump to SB Nation 2.0, we pared down the blogroll on the right-hand sidebar, but now we're giving thought to beefing it up again.

That's where you come into the picture. There are so many sports weblogs out there that no one can keep up with them all and some diamonds in the rough may be toiling in relative obscurity, much as MaconDawg and I were at our respective former weblogs.

What's out there that's good? I'm not looking to limit this to Georgia blogs, or even to S.E.C. or Southern teams. I'm already familiar with all the SB Nation blogs, but, aside from the blogs within this network and the well-known weblogs with which we all are familiar, who's caught your eye who might not have caught mine?

Let me know in the comments below. Thanks in advance.

Go 'Dawgs!

Join the Atlanta Sports Council on July 28th at the Hilton Atlanta as we kick off the 2008 college football season. Hear the experts' predictions and the coaches' expectations for the upcoming season. Attendees receive a complimentary 2008 Athlon College Football Preview Magazine.

Scheduled Guests:
Tony Barnhart - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lee Corso - ESPN College GameDay
Paul Johnson - Head Coach, Georgia Tech
Mark Richt - Head Coach, University of Georgia
Bill Curry - Head Coach, Georgia State University

Registration begins at 11:30am & Doors open at 11:45am
Lunch Program from 12:00-1:30pm
Event Tickets $30 ASC Members & $40 for Non-Members

To purchase your ticket please call 404.586.8470
or complete a ticket order form (click link below) and fax it to 404.586.8508
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Email epeterson@macoc.com with questions.

Want to be a member of the Atlanta Sports Council? Visit us at
Atlanta Sports Council - Home

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from Josh Kendall, Dawg Post