GEORGIA DROPPED A GAME AFTER WINNING FIVE STRAIGHT POST-SEASON GAMES. NC STATE HELD US FIVE RUNS BELOW OUR GAUDY ELEVEN RUN AVERAGE AND BEAT US IN THE HEAT AT FOLEY FIELD. THE SERIES WILL BE SETTLED TOMORROW AT 4 PM, COVERAGE BY ESPN2. LOSE AND WERE DONE; WIN AND WE MOVE ON. THE GOOD NEWS: WE HAVE REALLY EXCELLED IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION THIS YEAR AND IT IS UNFAMILIAR TO THE PACK. GO DAWGS!!!
DOES SATURDAY GAMEDAY HAVE A SPECIAL FEELING TO YOU? BOY, ME TOO. PUT ON YOUR DAWG GEAR. ME TODAY: CAMO GEORGIA BASEBALL SHIRT I GOT A COUPLE YEARS BACK FROM COACH ELLER AT “THE FRAT” AND BLACK SHORTS AND A TAN HAT THAT SAYS GEORGIA. I WAKE UP SAYING, “GO GEORGIA.” FROM THERE, I GET THE COFFEE IN ME, GET SOME BREAKFAST IN ME AND HIT THE ROAD FOR THE CLASSIC CITY WITH FAMILY AND/OR FRIENDS, OR I TURN ON THE TUBE AND GET THE PAPER OUT. EITHER WAY, IT’S MY DAWG DAY. AND I LOVE THE DAWGSLIFE Y’ALL…I LOVE IT! ONE WIN AWAY. ONE WIN AWAY. ONE WIN AWAY. THE DIAMOND DAWGS NEED TO PLAY RELAXED BASEBALL IN FRONT OF THE KUDZU CRAZIES, SCORE NEAR OUR POSTSEASON AVERAGE (AN AMAZING 11 RUNS PER) AND PITCH AND FIELD WELL – WE HAVE THE BEST D IN THE SEC. I EXPECT TO SEE RECENT-MILLION DOLLAR BABY JOSH FIELDS CLOSING THIS ONE OUT. LOSE TODAY (ESPN2, NOON) AND WE PLAY AGAIN TOMORROW AT 4 PM…SUNDAY GAMEDAY FEELS A BIT TOO DIFFERENT…CLOSE ‘EM OUT, DAWGS.
ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CURRENT DAWGS, SENIOR BRANNAN “WHITESTUFF” SOUTHERLAND IS THE BEST FULLBACK IN THE COUNTRY. HE CATCHES THE BALL WELL; YOU CAN’T STOP THAT MAN WHEN WE NEED A YARD; HE THRIVES ON SMASHING HEAD FIRST INTO MIDDLE LINEBACKERS. YOU, TRUST ME ON THIS ONE, DO NOT WANT ANY PART OF HIS JOB. AND NOW: HE IS OUT SIXTEEN WEEKS WITH A SURGICALLY-REPAIRED FOOT. DO THE MATH. THAT’S WELL INTO THE SEASON. SO REDSHIRT SOPHOMORES FRED MUNZENMAIER AND SHAUN CHAPAS MUST STEP UP HUGE FOR US TO PRODUCE LIKE WE SHOULD. IT IS BEST THAT WE KNOW NOW NOT LATER - AND WE DO – THAT WE WILL BE WITHOUT BRANNAN’S SERVICES TO START THE SEASON, SO THAT COACH RICHT AND COMPANY MAY BETTER PREPARE THE YOUNG GUYS FOR BATTLE. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, FULLBACK IS THE HEART OF THE BATTLE. THOSE TWO ARE SOUTHERLAND CLONES WE HOPE AND HAVE PLAYED WELL IN LIMITED MINUTES AND ON SPECIAL TEAMS…AND NOW FOR THE FIRST TIME THE SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON THEM. GET WELL, BRANNAN. WE WILL NEED YOU FOR THE STRETCH RUN.
GEORGIA DEFEATED NC STATE 11-4 AT FOLEY FIELD TODAY IN ATHENS UNDER A SEARING SUN. TEMPERATURES TOPPED 95 DEGREES AS TREVOR HOLDER PITCHED EIGHT AND TWO-THIRDS INNINGS WHILE GIVING UP ONLY TWO RUNS. AS HAS BEEN THE USUAL THIS POSTSEASON, GEORGIA SCORED A BUNCH OF RUNS. WE ARE AVERAGING OVER ELEVEN RUNS PER GAME AND ARE NOW ONE WIN AWAY FROM THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES IN OMAHA. NC STATE MADE THINGS INTERESTING IN THE 9TH WITH A COUPLE OF RUNS, BUT OVERALL THEY WERE NO MATCH FOR THE HOME TEAM. A WIN TOMORROW AT NOON OR SUNDAY AT 4 WILL CLINCH THE SERIES FOR THE DIAMOND DAWGS. BOTH GAMES ARE SCHEDULED TO BE TELEVISED BY ESPN2. HOPE A FEW OF YOU IN YOUR OFFICES TODAY APPRECIATED THE COVERAGE. NOT ALL OF US CAN SIT AROUND AND WATCH TV ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
WE GAVE UP TWO THEN GOT FOUR; OLSON, BECKHAM AND POYTHRESS WITH BIG HITS. OLSON HIT ALMOST .700 IN THE REGIONAL AND IS STILL ON FIRE. BECKHAM WAS TAKEN 8TH OVERALL BY THE CHICAGO WHITESOX AND SMASHED A DOUBLE. POYTHRESS IS HUGE. WE GO TO THE FOURTH.
STILL NO SCORE. TWO HOT TEAMS PLAYING TODAY…AND IT IS ALMOST UP TO 95 IN ATHENS, GA.
DAWGS COMING UP TO BAT AFTER TURNING A DOUBLE PLAY. HOLDER NEEDS TO KEEP THOSE FASTBALLS DOWN – HE ALLOWED TWO SINGLES IN THE FIRST.
