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Column: Georgia built on class, Dooley Code applies during college football’s trying transition
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Column: Georgia built on class, Dooley Code applies during college football’s trying transition
ATHENS — Georgia football fans are following this offseason intently, their program at its zenith under ninth-year coach Kirby Smart.
Comments
One of your best articles
Excellent points Mike. You noted the fever caused by various "experts" that Downs was headed to UGA. This caused many UGA to become obsessed with Caleb Downs, a player that had already placed UGA behind Alabama and Ohio State in his choices. I have never seen a longer thread on the Dawgnation Forum as the on titled Caleb Downs. When he chosed to transfer to Ohio State, many were shocked. I have to say there were some who rightfully noted Ohio State was his 2nd choice and pointed out the Downs family having an issue with UGA. Several posters, myself included, pointed out that UGA was fine without Downs. But many were convinced he was in Athens and were setting themselves up for disappointment. I don't recall you telling us Downs was coming to UGA, so thank you for that. I was thrilled when Kirby flipped KJ and expect great things for him. And you are right, UGA is loaded with talented young players as noted by the accolades placed on our 3 freshman. Again, thanks for this good article.
Downs might have been a nice get, but not necessary with the talent already on the roster.
As to Bama and roster raiding, they didn’t just hit Georgia in recent years… Tech’s best player comes to mind, among numerous others… let’s call it karma? 🤣
It's a business. It's a game. It's a religion.
Nice article, Mike.
Go, Dawgs!
You are absolutely correct Mike, the legacy Coach Dooley brought to eminence at The University of Georgia was CLASS as well as Power. As a graduate of The University and progeny of The Classic City, it is this legacy that I am most proud! As an adopted Texan now living in Arizona, I gladly wear my Red & Black....I realize some were disappointed at the Downs decision, can't say I witnessed any "****"....just wonderment at the possible rationale at what appeared to be an obvious transition......all sorts of speculation, as for me, I just figured the young man is very emotionally attuned to color.....he was all about The Crimson and White so the move to The Scarlet and Gray was so less stressful than the good ole RED & BLACK....BTW, there are no more POWERFUL colors in the spectrum than RED & BLACK......GOOO DAWGS, SICEM....WOOF, WOOF, WOOF!
It's a dog-eat-dog when it comes to recruits and competing for their attention against other programs for sure. It's too easy as Mike said to beat up on a kid,a kid I repeat, with the keyboard simply because they chose another program. Suddenly, their character is called into question,":they don't like competition", "they don't want to work hard" , "they want it handed to them", yada-yada,yada... . In actuality it really says something about the one making the accusations, doesn't it? I'm going to disparage a kid who doesn't choose my school.
I myself have questioned why a star HS QB would not want to play at a program, like a UGA, or a Alabama, Ohio,St, MIchigan ,Clemson, etc who are generally in the mix year in and year out for the NC. But even then, I'm sure they have their reasons, be it NIL, family loyalty, or to play for a QB "guru" who is known for producing HEismans winners. To each his own. As passionate as we can be for our program we do need to sometimes count to 10 and do a little soul searching in the heat of the moment.
Good article, Mike!
Great article, Mike! As long as UGA has Kirby Smart, they will recruit and compete at an elite level, winning some championships along the way. I'm guessing that Kirby wants players who WANT to be at UGA. Best wishes to Caleb (except when he plays against the Dawgs, of course).
Very nice piece, Mike.
I'd change two words because I think, unfortunately, the reality you raise goes further than a single generation.
"It’s a reality that the immediacy of
this generationtoday's culture is such that “next” is always at the top of the list."Just to clarify, Dawgnation was as guilty as any regarding reporting that CD is a done deal and on the way to Athens.
Concise article Mike good writing, thank you. ["But when Downs or any player chooses whatever school for whatever reason, neither he nor his family motives should have to come under scrutiny and attack on social media channels."] ["There are few things more cowardly and less credible than anonymous attacks, and those taking part should think twice before hitting the “send” button."] I think that people should place themselves in their shoes and examine their own motives in making the same life choices. 😎
When the Braves won the World Series, it really didn’t matter who the players were in the uniforms. Atlanta won the World Series!
Should the Falcons win a Super Bowl, the names on the back of the uniforms won’t matter. Atlanta won a Super Bowl.
That’s just the way it is in professional sports with contracts and player movement from year to year. College football is on the fast track to where soon we will simply be cheering for the brand regardless of who is in the uniform. For the casual fans, they are already there!
Thank you for the perspective, Mike. It's easy for us all to either overlook or disregard the fact that Saban's retirement really pulled the rug out from under the players, who were most likely very happy at Bama and finding success in their progression through the program, given they stuck around through the portal period. I imagine that, after getting through the grueling process of choosing their first college and doing the work to carve out their own spots over the tough season(s), having to suddenly reevaluate their futures due to external circumstances came as a body blow for some, if not all, of them. Talk about moving someone's cheese, huh?
You were spot on with the point about the imputation of bad motives to the players and families by disappointed fans. My love for UGA sometimes has me getting too wrapped up in the hype at various times and perhaps lashing out without all the facts. UGA already had an embarrassment of riches so far in 2024 and the Downs opportunity would have been sprinkles on top of the cherry on top of the whipped cream on top of the icing on the cake for the Dawgs, certainly not a necessary ingredient. You can't lose something you never possessed, so there is really no reason for any negativity around any of these Bama guys choosing somewhere else. Kirby & Co. aced the test, and everyone was happy, then some unexpected extra credit points were put up for grabs and folks started getting upset that they didn't capture them all; a bit irrational, huh?
There are manifold things to excite us all for 2024 and undoubtedly more to come in Spring, so let's raise our collective voice and shout GO DAWGS! SIC 'EM!
One of your best articles and applicable to to fans of EVERY major college football program. That's not a excuse for UGA fans but an admonition to all fans that we should keep the choices of teenagers and 20-somethings in greater perspective and show some class.
By the way, Jermaine Burton's college stats below. This is not an indictment of is character, just an honest question-did he really benefit greatly from his transfer? Would his statistics have been comparable for '22 and '23 if he had remained at UGA and stayed healthy?
2020 UGA 27 recep 404 yds 3 TD (substantially shortened season)
2021 UGA 26 recep 497 yds 5 TD (battled injuries much of the season)
2022 Bama 40 recep 677 yds 7 TD
2023 Bama 39 recp 798 yds 8 TD
I would think that he could, but I believe the writing was on the wall with how he's acted towards uga fans since he left. Kirby wants team 1st players. And Burton is not that. But some guys have that issue AFTER starting to play at UGA. And he was definitely one of them.