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What criteria define a DGD ?

donmedeiros

Kasey and Jim Wallace recently opined that the term DGD might be thrown around a bit loosely. I had never really thought about it but I am now. My question is : What are the criteria you use when you deem someone a DGD.

For me the first criteria would be loyalty to the program - even above ability and performance.

I'd appreciate any thoughts and comments.

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Kasey

represent the program in a classy way even if they may not be a starter or big contributor (ie Ryne Rankin, Nate McBride).
seniors who contributed and played well (ie Richard LeCounte, Aaron Murray).
players who left early but did so well they earned the tag (ie Todd Gurley, Roquan Smith)
Great players in general who haven’t brought shame upon themselves or the institution.

who isn’t? Kids who stay a couple years and then transfer. I don’t wish ill of them, but they aren’t DGDs. So Tyrique Stevenson or Justin Fields or Cade Mays aren’t DGDs

JimWallace

To me, DGD status is a lifetime achievement award. It doesn't require superstar status, although being a superstar helps of course.

Think about an actual four legged dog. The dãmn good ones are loyal, solid, dependable, not a PIA, team players. They give it their all. They do what it takes. They stay the course.

In terms of Georgia football, a DGD doesn't abandon the team. Now, I do realize there are players who are unofficially asked to leave to make room for someone else, or perhaps told they might leave because they aren't going to make the travel squad. In that regard, Stetson Bennett comes to mind as a DGD. I'd say he's a DGD by any standard. During the games where JTD was the starting quarterback you'd see Stetson on the sideline encouraging and coaching up the player who'd taken his job. Stetson showed he was all about the team, and not all about Stetson. In my view, Luke Ford's a DGD; he didn't abandon his team but left for a compelling and classy reason.

A DGD plays by the same rules as the other dogs. A DGD learns the playbook and the plays and doesn't expect the football program and the playbook to conform to him.

A DGD doesn't leave for greener pastures.

Cade Mays was on the way to DGD status. It was his right to abandon his teammates and the university so he could go play junior varsity football with his baby brother and cheer on his father's lawsuit against the university, but guys like him surrender a lot including DGD status.

You feel good about the sportsmanship of a DGD. A DGD keeps things in perspective. Herschel Walker saying things like, "the ball ain't heavy" instead of acting all puffed up about his accomplishments cements his DGD status.

If they're a running back a DGD remembers the lineman who opened the big hole for them. If they're a receiver they recognize the quarterback who put the ball where they could catch it. If they're a lineman they see themselves as a component of a well oiled machine. A DGD must be a class act. He must not bring shame on our university or our team. He himself must be proud and honored to be a Dawg, and he must make us, his teammates, his coaches, the fans, proud that he is and always will be a Dawg.

We've had and currently have a lot of DGDs on our team.

Not everyone makes the cut.

Go, Dawgs!

texdawg

Respects their parents, eats their vegies, treats women properly, says yes sir/no sir, doesn't cuss, drives with the proper air pressure in tires, doesn't tear the tag off mattresses, doesn't storm the capital.....

And the most important.....votes republican.

OK OK OK.. I'm sorry... .too soon?

Palm_City_Dawg

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/23484/what-criteria-define-a-dgd

I second the loyalty aspect; number one character trait in my book.

DawgGirl96

Agree, thrown around way too much. Great points from Kasey & Jim. It's not about having to be a superstar on the field (although of course doesn't hurt), it's about loyalty, great team player & leader, doing things the right way on & off the field. In recent years we've had a lot of them including LeCounte & McBride this year. Sony and Nick being two of the very biggest in my opinion...their leadership helped catapult us into this new era of Georgia football.

MIghtydawg

When I think of a DGD, the image that comes to mind is DJ Shockley. He was an all world recruit who could have gone anywhere. Came to UGA and Greene exploded. Stuck around, worked on his game, considered transferring but decided he wanted to be a dawg for life. Was rewarded by winning an SEC title as a senior.

Canedawg2140

All I can say is you know one when you see one. They are all different, with different contributions. You just know.

...not everything can have a checklist...

SWDawg68

It has been used too often and in doing so, has taken on and become an irrelevant term that is used by many to describe almost every Dawg player.

I thought of it as a term that represented the best of any Dawg player, Coach or administraor who were just better, greater and fully embody what a True Georgia Bulldog represents!

I don't use it and haven't used it, not qualified to say it, but at times will agree when others use it for the "right ones"

I also don't believe I am qualified to even give examples, but I know it when I see it!

Thanks for posting this, it will make other think about it and maybe over time will become relevant again! Instead of thousands, it will be a couple of hundreds!

Go Dawgs!

JayDog

I too agree with @JimWallace that loyalty is important.

moos

Lasting popularity

DamnYankeeDawg

I agree with @Canedawg2140. DGD is not tangible nor clearly defined. You just know it when you see it.

It’s very similar to defining what a great leader is. Hard to define. As the great general George Patton once said about leadership...”Leadership is the thing that wins battles. I have it, but I'll be damned if I can define it.”

I feel the same way about DGD.

dragonslayer

https://forum.dawgnation.com/discussion/comment/510365#Comment_510365

What he said...

I'd add: doesn't have to be an athlete, there are plenty on this forum.

MWorkman17

A player that represented the program and university well, whether through great play or great character.

orlando

Wanted to be Dawg

Loves being a Dawg

Represents the team and school in the upmost manner

Dawg for life

Not just one but all of these to make the cut

Canedawg2140

Doesn't hand out McDonalds bags...