Mike Leach is Colonel Jessep

Monday 12/28/09

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Coach Leach to Chancellor Hance: I run my team how I run my team. You want to investigate me, roll the dice and take your chances. I coach in front of 40,000 armed season ticket holders who would kill for me, so don't think for one second that you can come down here, flash your C.V. and make me nervous.

Tuesday 12/29/09

Coach Leach to A.D. Myers: You see Gerry, I can deal with the two-a-days, and the pulled groins, and the high ankle sprains. I don't want too much money, and I don't want medals. What I do want is for you to stand there in those faggoty white patent leather shoes and with your West Texas mouth and extend me some fucking courtesy. You gotta ask me nicely.

Wednesday 12/30/09

A.D Myers: Coach Leach, did you order the Isolation?
Attorney Ted Liggett: You don’t have to answer that question!
Coach Leach: I'll answer the question!
[to Myers]
Coach Leach: You want answers?
Myers: I think I'm entitled.
Coach Leach: You want answers?
Myers: I want the truth!
Coach Leach: You can’t handle the truth!
[pauses]
Coach Leach: Son, we play in a conference that has great teams, and those great teams have to be defeated by men with guts. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Chancellor Hance? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Adam James, and you curse the Pirate. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That James's isolation, while tragic, probably saved games. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves games. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me as that coach, you need me as that coach. We use words like cover two and zone read. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent coaching football. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who cheers and accepts praise for the glory of the very victories that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide them. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a playbook, and start coaching. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
Myers: Did you order the Isolation?
Coach Leach: I did the job I...
Myers: Did you order the Isolation?
Coach Leach: You’re GD right I did!
Coach Leach: [Hance dismisses the Board of Regents after Leach's revelation about the Isolation] What is this? What's going on? I did my job, I'd do it again!
[stands up defiantly]
Coach Leach: I'm gonna get on a plane and go on back to the Alamo Bowl.
Chancellor Hance: You're not going anywhere, Coach. ESPN... vilify the Coach!
[Joe Schad takes his post]
Chancellor Hance: Coach McNeill?
Coach Leach: What the hell is this?
Coach McNeill: Coach Leach, you have lost the right to coach the Raiders. Any statement you make...
Coach Leach: I'm being fired from coaching? Is that what this is? I'm being fired from coaching? This is funny. That's what this is. This is...
[turning to Myers and lunging at him]
Coach Leach: ...I'm gonna raid your village, plunder your homes and enslave your women! You fucked with the wrong Pirate!
Coach McNeill: Coach Leach! Do you understand you are fired as I have just stated to you?
Coach Leach: [contemptuously] You fuckin' people... you have no idea how to run a football team. All you did was weaken a football program today, Myers. That's all you did. You put winning football games in danger. Sweet dreams, son.

Dawgs Independence Bowl Wrap Up

Apparently, we don't need a new Defensive Coordinator. Did you see those strange plays by our defeinsive backs where they stayed close to the receivers and when the ball came near, they used their hands to reach out and knock it down or to grab it and run the other way? Weird!

Our pass rush disrupted the Aggie QB's rhythm all night and forced him into lots of bad throws. And... we did it with a 4 man rush on most plays. Wow!

Loved how our running game finally got going once Bean Anderson replaced Vance at Right Tackle. We certainly missed Josh Davis, but once Bean came in, things started working. Happy to see Chapas rip off a few double-digit gainers.

While it was great to get AJ Green back, Joe couldn't seem to hit him in stride on a single pass. Every reception was a leaping grab and no chance to run after catch. But... how about Aron White stepping up for two TD grabs! Also liked the way Mike Moore played his last game as a Dawg.

Last thing... It sure was a beautiful thing to be on the receiving end of costly turnovers deep in enemy territory. Thanks A&M.

And one big Thank You to all the seniors and any other players who played their last game as Dawgs. Your hard work and commitment has provided us with many thrills in the past few years and I wish you well as you move on to your next challenge.

Go Dawgs. GATA!

HDD Prediction and Predilection: Texas A&M Edition

As a blogger, I have been a lot like Hank Moody lately... the writer who doesn't write. Trust me when I tell you that I have successfully wasted that time in other worthwhile pursuits. Regardless, I have followed all of the Dawg Bloggers who actually blog and Tweet. Since our search for defensive coaches has produced less reliable information than an FOIA request to a Democrat Administration, I haven't bothered to opine.

But, I do want to go on record predicting a narrow victory by the Dawgs in the Independence Bowl today. By my reckoning, both teams will have success moving the ball and scoring points. I am concerned about the Aggies' QB who has a good arm and is extremely mobile. He looked great against Texas and they have a speedy receiving corps that has me concerned that our pass D could be exposed again. But, the good news is that Baccari Rambo will be back and hopefully will continue to make the same impact he made in his last couple of games before his concussion.

On the other hand, I think Joe Cox will take advantage of his last chance to throw footballs to AJ Green and Company. Man it seems like an eternity since we were able to be thrilled and awed by AJ's talents. It will be great to have him back on the field. It will be twice as nice if we are able to run the ball like we were at the end of the regular season. However, the loss of Josh Davis will hurt. (At least I think he is out or at a minimum, he is ailing.)

My expectation is that both teams will eclipse the 30 point barrier. In fact, I think this game will be won on the toe of Blair Walsh at the end of regulation or in overtime. Yes, I am expecting nothing less than another close nail-biter, which is a fitting way for this season to draw the curtain.

Pay special attention to Rennie Curran today because it may be your last chance to watch him in a Dawgs uniform. I hope not, but just in case! We need Justin Houston to bring the vicious pass rush and be a disruptive force in the Aggie backfield. In addition, let's hope to see a grand finale from the tremendous trio of senior tackles - Owens, Weston and Atkins.

Lastly, how great would it be for OchoDos, Mike Moore, to finish his career with at least one more TD grab.

HDD Final Score: DAWGS 34 - Texas A&M 31.

GO DAWGS. GATA!!!!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Merry Christmas Dawgs and non-Dawgs alike.

Can't wait to see what Santa brought my kids that I can play with!

Footie Picker Bowl Edition

I am in last place in my Footie Picker league of about 12 guys. I have been utterly awful this season, as in most seasons. Before you get angry with me for picking A&M to cover, be aware that I expect the Dawgs to win, but by less than 7 points. I won't mind if we win by more, however... as I said... I am in last place anyway. Here goes nothing...

Fresno State 11.5 Wyoming
Rutgers 2.5 Central Florida
Southern Miss 3.5 Middle Tennessee State
Oregon State 2.5 Byu
California 3 Utah
Nevada 15 Smu
Ohio 2.5 Marshall
Pittsburgh 3 Unc
Southern Cal 9 Boston College
Clemson 7.5 Kentucky
Georgia 7 Texas A&M
Ucla 3.5 Temple
Miami (Fla) 3 Wisconsin
Bowling Green 1 Idaho
Arizona 1.5 Nebraska
Missouri 6.5 Navy
Houston 4.5 Air Force
Oklahoma 8 Stanford
Minnesota 2.5 Iowa State
Virginia Tech 4.5 Tennessee
Auburn 7.5 Northwestern
West Virginia 2.5 Florida State
Penn State 2.5 Lsu
Oregon 3.5 Ohio State
Florida 10.5 Cincinnati
S. Florida 6.5 Northern Illinois
South Carolina 4.5 UConn
Ole Miss 3 Oklahoma State
Arkansas 7.5 East Carolina
Texas Tech 8 Michigan State
Tcu 7 Boise State
Georgia Tech 4 Iowa
Central Michigan 3.5 Troy
Alabama 4.5 Texas

Tiebreaker #1: How many points will Alabama score in the BCS title game? 27

Tiebreaker #2: How many points will Texas score in the BCS title game? 13

Tiebreaker #3: How many points will Georgia Tech score in the Orange Bowl against Iowa? 31

Mumme Poll Ballott

Top Five

• Alabama
• Florida
• Texas
• Cincinnati
• TCU

Next Seven

• Boise State
• Oregon
• Ohio State
• Iowa
• Georgia Tech
• Virginia Tech
• Penn State

This was the hardest week by far to rank the last 5 teams. I had to hold my nose to put two ACC and 3 Big Ten teams in the Top 12. I think this will get turned upside down during bowl season.

How 'Bout Them Redeeming Dawgs!!!

Dawgs 30 - Tech 24. That was a hell of an effort from all of our players and coaches. Tough slugfest and our guys came out on top.

I am leaving for China in 6 hours and need to go to bed, so I will come back on Monday (when I arrive in Hong Kong) and share my thoughts. Until then... Smile because the Dawgs own the State of Georgia as usual!

To Hell With Georgia Tech

Did you think for one minute that I would not return to this space and boldly predict a Dawg victory? Fuck that shit... Pabst Blue Ribbon.

The Dawgs aren't a very good football team. Tech is an excellent football team. In an ironic twist of fate, the Dawgs are headed to a lowly Bowl while Tech is likely headed to a New Years Day Bowl. Tech fans are riding high and think of Paul Johnson as their savior. The Dawg fans are in a funk and want to see some heads roll. Tech fans are certain they will win tonight. Many Georgia fans agree with them. But... the fans don't play the game. They are "outside the arena" some might say. And the Dawg players have nothing left to play for this season except in-state bragging rights.

The athletes wearing red and black have more than enough talent to beat any Tech team. If these Dawgs play focused and avoid the mistakes that killed them last week, the Dawgs will win a close game. If these Dawgs force Tech into a few mistakes, the Dawgs will win comfortably. The only way these Dawgs will lose to Tech is by committing turnovers and costly penalties. I believe this will be the game that these Dawgs play with enough focus and determination to avoid those mistakes and will earn a measure of redemption at the Joke by Coke tonight!

The heroes for the Dawgs...

Bryan Evans - This is the one game that we need his run support skill and he will make some big plays.

Orson Charles - With AJ Green out with injury, Orson will be our primary weapon in the passing game. T. King, Wooten and Moore will all have important grabs as well.

Rennie Curran - Rennie will have to play the option from the inside out this year and avoid overpursuit. His diligent film study will allow him to be in position to make more plays this go around.

Zach Renner - Block that Kick!

HDD Prediction: DAWGS 34 - Tech 28

Go Dawgs! GATA!!!

Pulpwood Smith on Georgia Tech

Pulpwood Smith picks the Dawgs!!!

NSFW, ever.

Who Knows? You Don't, I Don't and Yellow Dog Don't

This Georgia team has been consistently unpredictable and predictably inconsistent. All of Dawgnation has had a Godawful taste in their mouth since the halftime of the Kentucky game when our team slipped into a coma. This was after the uplifting win over Auburn had everyone feeling skippy. So now, after a manic-depressive season that will be one to forget, one last order of business remains. Georgia Tech enters with a 10-1 record, a berth in the ACC Championship Game and a shot at their first ever BCS Bowl appearance. Georgia has a chance to wear the spoiler's cap, yet no one is giving them any chance. And for that reason alone, the Dawgs may have a chance.

Actually, our defense has been mostly uninspiring this season and could possible get torched for 500 yards of rushing. On the other hand, our athletes are as good or better than their athletes and it is a huge rivalry game with hometown bragging rights on the line. Tech wants this game but doesn't need it. The Dawgs need this win to garner some measure of redemption for a season otherwise destined for the rubbish bin of UGA football history. The question is, "How bad do they want it?"

Based on recent performances, Georgia should have no chance in this game, especially without AJ Green. Vegas agrees and has the Dawgs as an 8.5 point underdog. I am surprised they ave it that close.

Having watched Paul Johnson's offense during his Navy tenure and the past two seasons at Tech, it is clear that the only way to stop it is to play rigidly disciplined assignment-oriented defense and to create turnovers. This year, our defense has created only 7 turnovers and has shown no discipline when facing misdirection or zone-read types of plays. Guess what... the Paul Johnson offense is all about reads and misdirection. Tech will not lose if they do not have turnovers. Is this article inspiring any confidence in any Dawg fans?

So, if we can't stop them and we can't cause any turnovers, we just have to outscore them right? And we have to outscore them without AJ Green. And we have to outscore them with Joe Cox at QB who had his night game unbeaten streak ended last week with his two 4th quarter throws directly into the arms of Kentucky linemen. Anybody got any bright ideas about how we can score enough points to win?

When in doubt, go to your tight end. Especially when AJ Green is in street clothes. Our tight ends will need to catch a lot of balls Saturday night if we are going to have any chance. Not only that, but we will need to rush for no less than 200 yards. In other words, we will need to have our best rushing game of the season and will also need to have one of our best passing games of the season to win because we will certainly give up no less than 30 points to the Tech offense. I won't say it can't happen, but the odds are long.

Still, at this blog, we never pick against the Dawgs. We either don't pick, or we predict a Dawgs victory. I am not yet sure which it will be. If I can conjure up any way for the Dawgs to pull out a win, I will come back here tomorrow and blow sunshine up your ass and predict that the Dawgs will reverse all of the terrible trends they have establish this long season and will finally, in their 12th try, come up with a successful game in all phases for four quarters. Long odds, indeed.

Footie Picker Weekend of Thanksgiving

Here we go again with my round of awful picks.

Thursday

Texas 22.5 TEXAS A&M

Friday

Pittsburgh 1.5 WEST VIRGINIA
Alabama 12.5 AUBURN
CINCINNATI 18 Illinois
Nebraska 8.5 COLORADO

Saturday

Virginia Tech 13 VIRGINIA
Clemson 3 SOUTH CAROLINA
Tennessee 3.5 KENTUCKY
Ole Miss 7 MISS STATE
FLORIDA 23 Florida State
GEORGIA TECH 7 Georgia
LSU 3.5 Arkansas
SOUTHERN CAL 12 Ucla
STANFORD 7.5 Notre Dame

Mumme Poll Ballot

Here is my Mumme Poll ballot for this week...

Top Five

• Alabama
• Florida
• Texas
• Cincinnati
• Georgia Tech

Next Seven

• TCU
• Boise State
• Oregon
• Oklahoma State
• Ohio State
• Pittsburgh
• Iowa

I had trouble selecting the last two. Also, after Texas, I could scramble the next 4 teams and be fairly content with the results.

HDD Prediction and Predilection: Kentucky Edition

I was going to take the kids up to this game, but that fell through, so we will be watching it from Amelia Island. I am not sure what to expect but it is senior day and Joe Cox is undefeated at night. We will be without our biggest playmaker, AJ Green, so lots of other players will have to step up again just like they did in the second half against Auburn. I expect we will get our running game going and will try to hook up on a few deep balls. But, I would also like to see us work the short passing game effectively including screens, slants and short crossing routes. Our TEs may have a huge night - especially if Caleb King and Washaun Ealey are banging out 5 yards per carry.

Our defense will be facing an offense that is much less fearsome than many we have played this year. But, we cannot play without aggression and discipline. And we cannot play like a team looking ahead to Ga Tech.

I believe this game will be pretty boring with the Dawgs winning 27 - 13. But, all that really matters is getting the win.

GO DAWGS! GATA!

Footie Picker Weekend of 11/21

Ohio State 12.5 MICHIGAN
CLEMSON 19.5 Virginia
BOSTON COLLEGE 3.5 North Carolina
TENNESSEE 17 Vanderbilt
GEORGIA 8.5 Kentucky
ARKANSAS 10.5 Miss State
NOTRE DAME 6 UConn
Penn State 3 MICHIGAN STATE
STANFORD 7 California
OLE MISS 3.5 Lsu
NEBRASKA 16.5 Kansas State
Oregon 6 ARIZONA
TEXAS 26.5 Kansas
Oklahoma 6.5 TEXAS TECH

Quick Hitters

Georgia - Auburn Final Thoughts

1. Firefly Vodka - enough was too much. The Auburn game is my drinking Achilles heel.
2. I asked for lots of Rambo and we got it and more. He basically saved the game at risk of his life. He would make a damn good Marine!
3. I asked for more than 140 yards of rushing and we got 169 and all of that in the final 3 quarters.
4. I wanted Joe Cox to have a better night than Chris Todd. I will say that Cox's zero interceptions beats Todd's two.
   
5. I wanted AJ Green to get the ball 10 times. Unfortunately, he got hurt in the second quarter after 3 receptions. We will not have him back for Ga Tech and that hurts.
6. Beating Auburn always feels good. Really good.

Chance Veazey...There were lots of folks wearing Team Veazey shirts supporting the Bulldogs baseball player who was tragically paralyzed when he was hit by a car while riding a scooter. We met some friends of the Veazey family who described Chance as an outstanding All-American kid. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family as he learns to cope with this challenge. It sounds like Chance is the kind of guy who will continue to strive for excellence in all he does and he can use all the support Dawgnation can provide. Here is a link to Chance's Caring Bridge journal. Keep fighting Chance!

UGA VII... You know that young Uga VII died unexpectedly Thursday. He will be buried in Sanford Stadium this morning. Our beloved White English Bulldogs make the world's greatest team mascots but they are not a breed known for longevity. Maybe the UGA vet school should work with the genetics department to come up with a super Bulldog that can overcome the ailments that commonly afflict this breed. That would be cool. In the meantime, we feel bad for the Seiler family and the loss of their pet, who was described as the sweetest of the Ugas.

A Real Man Can Cry, Can't He?

I ain't afraid to cry. Some things give me a tear every time... every time:

Watching my children achieve another milestone.

The National Anthem.

This...



The singing of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" at the processional of every Christmas Eve service.

Fantine's Death in Les Miserables.



The ending of "It's A Wonderful Life."

(Big time waterworks)

The singing of "Navy Blue and Gold" after beating Army or Air Force (or Notre Dame.)



And the glorious tears of joy after Georgia beats a rival. What is so beautiful is that our record was totally irrelevant to the insane joy of the Georgia faithful when we denied Auburn's final attempt and preserved the win! Thank you DAWGS!

HDD Prediction and Predilection: Auburn Edition

What does Vegas know that I don't know? Or, better yet, what do the nation's bettors know that I don't know. Throughout the week Georgia has been held as a 4 or 5 point favorite. As we speak, the Dawgs are giving 4.5 points.

Do they know that Georgia hasn't beaten a team with a pulse since harvest began? Do they know that we have beaten Auburn only three times in Athens since Herschel toted the pigskin? Do they know that we aren't silly enough to try another "Blackout"?

On the other hand...

Maybe they know that Coach Richt has never lost to Tennessee, Florida and Auburn in the same season. Maybe they know that Joe Cox, the Ginger Ninja, is lethal at night. Maybe they are looking at our three common opponents (Tennessee, Arkansas and LSU) and concluding that the Dawgs have done a little better. We beat Arkansas by 11, Auburn lost by 19; Auburn beat Tennessee by 4, we lost by 26; We lost to LSU by 7, Auburn lost by 21. Our net in these three games was -22 while Auburn's net was -36. Could that equate to a Dawg victory tomorrow? It could if we block, run, throw, catch, tackle, cover and kick well. I don't think anyone could possibly know what we will see tomorrow. But, I will tell you what I hope to see.

1. Lots and lots of AJ Green. Please throw it to him at least 10 times and start doing it early. If AJ gets going early, the matchups everywhere else on the field will quickly begin to favor the Dawgs whether we are running or passing. Auburn can't ignore AJ unless we do first. Seems obvious, but in 3 of our 4 losses, AJ saw the ball 5 times or less: (OSU = 4; LSU = 5; UF = 3.) He did have 8 receptions against Tennessee, but so many other things were going wrong in Knoxville that 25 receptions may not have been enough.

2. A solid game from Washaun Ealey or Caleb King or both. I favor having one guy shoulder the load. But in the end, what I want to see is a combined 30 carries for at least 140 yards. If we get that, we should have opportunities in our passing game that would otherwise shut down like screens, an open Orson Charles and less safety help against AJ..

3. Defensive end play! I know it was Tenn. Tech, but I would like to see a continuation of that speed rush that we saw from our ends last week, especially since Justin Houston will be back. A healthy dose of pressure from Houston, Washington, Robinson, Dobbs, et al will go a long way to making it a tough night for Chris Todd. He has a QB rating of 146.55 and has thrown 17 TDs, only 3 INTS and has been sacked only 12 times. By comparison, Cox's number are 136.99, 17 TDs, 12 INTs, 8 sacks. Tomorrow night, we need our Ginger Ninja to have a better night than Todd and our DEs are the key to making that happen.

4. First Blood! In more ways than one. I would like to see us score first, of course. But I also want to see lots and lots of Rambo. You know what I mean.

5. Finally, when this game is done, I want Rex Robinson and Kevin Butler to be thrilled... because that will mean that Blair Walsh and Drew Butler again had stellar performances. Frankly, with Drew, less will be more. But I would like to see lots of Walsh kickoffs and PATs and in the event that he is needed, perfection on field goals!

I will be heading out in one hour for the 6 hour drive. I will be running around Athens tonight in a monkey suit and will look forward to cranking up the tailgate early tomorrow. I haven't decided on my game day drink since, like our coordinators, no combination has been consistently successful.

HDD prediction: Dawgs 30 - Auburn 27.

GO DAWGS, GATA!