Archive for The DAWGS
Fearless Friday Football Prediction: Week Two
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Well, I’m 0-1 on the season. Last week I predicted a 31-24 UGA victory. The good news, I DID get the 24 right for Oklahoma State. Bad news, UGA didnt score anywhere close to 31. Let me discuss my thoughts on the Okie State game, and then I’ll get to my prediction for tomorrow.
First, the negatives. Our offense was nowhere close to consistent. We looked great the first drive; drove the ball 80 yards down the field and scored on our first possession. 7-0 DAWGS right off the bat. We were running the ball on them and running it well. Our answer? We abandon the run. Usually we wait until the Florida game to do that. If you can run the ball on the other team, ride that horse until it dies. I was not too happy with our quarterback play on Saturday. Since he supposedly had bubonic plague or something, I’ll give him one more week. To phrase my feelings and observations nicely, Joe will not be the QB at my hallowed alma mater for too much longer. Logan Gray simply brings a better arm and chance to win, being a good passer and a scrambler. Special Teams play was not special. We gave up a 74 yard kick off return and had a punt return for a TD called back for a block in the back. Turnovers killed us on both sides of the ball. We dropped 3 potential interceptions for a grand total of 0 turnovers. On the other hand, OSU took 3 away from us: a Cox interception, a Cox fumble, and a Carlton Thomas fumble deep inside our own territory. Not as an excuse, we had a few big calls go against us that were game changing. OSU went for it on 4th close down close to their own endzone. We clearly stopped them, but they were given a ridiculous spot. A huge back-breaker was a third down in the 4th quarter. It was a 17-10 game. On third down from the 35 yard line, OSU went for the deep ball. Our saftey, Reshad Jones, blew their reciever up on a clean hit. His reward was a penalty. Totally ridicilulous call. OSU went from trying a “iffy” field goal to a TD. Thanks refs. Watch the video and see how bad the refs blew this call. At least their reciever paid the price for it. 
Now, the positives. Our Defense played GREAT ball. A lot more attitude and swagger than last year. Our QB had more passing yards than theirs. Our running back had more rushing yards than thiers. Besides a few NFL-caliber catches, we held their all-world WR Dez in check. We cut their average total yardage in half. Our Defense definitely played well enough to win. In fact, of OSU’s 24 points, I only chalk up 10 on our defense. As I mentioned, one score was based off a 75 yard kick return, and another off a offensive fumble deep inside our own territory. Our punter played a fantastic game. Our skill players were WIDE OPEN pretty much the entire game. If the QB position steps up and can get these guys the ball, we’re going to put a lot of points on the board. The OL played a great game. In fact, there were several plays that came close to being huge had they held a block a 1/2 second longer. For the first game of the year, great performance.
The best news of all? We’re 0-0 in conference play, which is what really matters. We lost to a really good team on the road. We’ll get better. Speaking of conference play….
The DAWGS now face Crackolina on Saturday. The South Crackolina offense has less of an indentity than we do, and far less talent. Their Defense, on the other hand, is fantastic. South Carolina always manages to have a good defense. Keep an eye our for the leaders of their defense, Norwood and Matthews. That said, the Dawgs rebound Saturday against the LAMEcocks. Our offense will not put up 600 yards of offense, but you’ll see a lot of improvement. The #2 (on the depth chart anyway) QB Logan Gray will grace the field a good bit. If you haven’t been following the goings-on in Athens this week, Gray has got a lot of work with the #1 offense in practice. Reading bewteen the lines, Cox has a dead arm, the coaches know it, and are trying to balance honoring the 5th year senior (Cox) but also playing Gray in order to give us a better shot to win. It’ll be a low-scoring defensive stronghold in the first half, and the DAWGS pull away in the 2nd half. Fearless Friday Prediction: UGA 24, Lamecocks 13. Yes, Steve Spurrier, plan on getting your visor dirty this Saturday between the hedges!
Fearless UGA Prediction!
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- After what seems like EONS, college football season is finally here! Anybody with male anatomy has an extra spring in their step with the knowledge that their favorite team is going to be cracking heads with inferior opponents every Saturday until January. Females are a lot less less excited. Mainly because if their husband’s team loses, they have to put up with their husband’s weeping, gnashing of teeth, and deep dark depression until Monday Morning. (Not that I would ever do that of course!) All that said, I’m estatic about this football season! Here’s some reasons why:
- Molly Kate’s first football season. The Bible says to, “ train up a child in the way they should go, and when they get old they will not depart from it.” The Cottle house trains them early!
- Charlie (at 3 and 1/2) is starting to get into the whole football thing. Today, he’s been saying, “Go Dawgs,” “Auburn is a bad word,” and “We don’t like the Gators.” I’m a proud papa!
- My alma mater is ready to lace up and hit somebody. For the past two weeks, people like Todd McShay at ESPN have been making statements like, “Oklahoma State’s offense is going to shred Georgia’s defense.” Really dude? I think the inverse is going to happen. The key is to hit Okie State’s QB Robinson early and often. If the pocket collapses all game long, it doesnt matter how all-world your WR is. He won’t see the ball. And speaking of all-world wide recievers, the sporting world seems to have forgotten that our wide reciever, A.J. Green, LED the SEC in recieving yards last year as a true freshman. Bottom line, Georgia is a much deeper, much tougher team. I know we have a “new” quarterback in Joe Cox (5th year senior), but our offensive line could probably make me look good as a QB. Samul is relatively new at RB, but he’s a load. He’s not going down easily. And finally, we’re just durn faster than Okie State. Speed kills, and we have it on both sides of the ball. Our defense is ready to redeem that abysmal (bu UGA standards) defensive campaign of last year, and that starts today. My Score: UGA 31, Cowpokes 24.
- Here’s the score predictions from my family. Dan: UGA 20, Okie State 17. Charlie: UGA 48, Okie State 3 (now thats a fan!). Katie: UGA 10, Okie State 17. Karen: UGA 13, Okie State 21.
- Hunker Down You Hairy Dawgs!
Charlie’s Fishing Trip….and what we’re doing this weekend
Posted by: | Comments-Charlie and I had a GREAT time fishing yesterday. He caught his first fish! Then he kept catching them…he caught 7 or 8 fish! We went to a private pond here in Troup County with my friend Michael Oleson. Charlie caught bream, crappie, and his (our) favorite, BIG BASS.
-Charlie actually planned our fishing trip. Katie had a baby shower last night (click HERE to see some of the gifts she got), so it was a dudes night. When I asked Charlie what he wanted to do, his response was “go catch big bass and then go to Burger King.” Sounded like a winner to me! Here’s some pics from our trip:
-This has been a really busy week, but I’m just about done (FINALLY) with my to-do list from work. Today, we’re going to Douglasville to hang out with some of Katie’s family and then hopefully go out to eat with some friends of ours. Today will be a fun break in a really stressful week.
-You don’t want to miss out on this Sunday’s message. I’ll be teaching in the 10:55 contemporary service and my message is called “Guilt Trip.” I’m not going to tell you the whole sermon now, but if you (or a friend) struggles with feelings of guilt you really need to be there! God doesnt want you to carry around feelings of guilt, and we’ll learn how to get past guilt. If you can’t come, check my blog again on Monday and I’ll give you the recap. After church on Sunday, we’ve got our senior recognition service at 2:00. We’ve got some great seniors graduating that I know God is going to do some BIG things with. Congrats calls of 2009!
Monday Morning Recap- May 11
Posted by: | Comments- Yesterday was a great day. I’m so blessed to be surrounded by such great moms. My mother Marianna is a FANTASTIC mother, and my mother-in-law Karen is super. But, of course, my wife wins the prize! Katie is an awemome mom to Charlie (and soon to Molly Kate!) and an awesome wife. I married way out of my league, and I couldn’t ask for a better wife/mom/friend than my wife. I love you so much!
- We got a chance to see both sets of moms this weekend, which almost never happens. We went to Tifton to see my parents from Thursday to Saturday. We had a blast. We got a lot of quality hang time together, got to meet Corey’s new girlfriend Rikki, and I got to fish with my dad and brother. Corey lost a fish that was MINIMUM 10 pounds. Bummer. Here’s a picture of Katie, Charlie, and I in front of Cottle Road.
- Katie’s parents and her grandmother Dolly came for our Mother’s Day service (which was prefect except for Katie having to serve in the nursery haha). Then they came to the house for lunch and got to stay all afternoon. It was so nice! We got a lot of projects done around the house, specifically in Charlie and Molly Kate’s rooms.
- Our church service yesterday was great! We did a special Hymns service to help celebrate a special day. We asked the moms in our service to email us their favorite hymns. So here’s the set list from yesterday: In Christ Alone (Matt Papa), How Great Thou Art (Charlie Hall), Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Hillsong), Amazing Grace (Chris Tomlin), and The Wonderful Cross (Matt Redman). We also tried to love on the moms there by giving away from manicures from a local business and also giving every mom a flower on the way out. To all my church buddies, what did you do in your church to honor moms?
-The Isuzu Trooper saga continues. I’m in the process of getting it repaired right now. In the mean time, my buddy Jamin was gracious enough to let me borrow his car. There’s only one small problem with the car. Check out the stickers on the back. As you all know, I am an obsessed UGA fan. All I can say is, I probably deserved this. Talk about karma….sheesh.
-Please pray for me- I’ve got an INSANELY busy week (even for me). This Sunday morning I’m teaching on Guilt in the 10:55 service (which I am pumped about!). I also have to get ready to teach a 30 minute segment on youth ministry. Tomorrow evening, we’re unveiling plans for a school of youth ministry in LaGrange to help disciple/teach bi-vocational and part-time youth workers. Exciting! I also have to get a slide show and message together for our senior recognition service this Sunday afternoon. Add that in with the regular weekly stuff, and this week will be a doozy!
Sunday Morning Recap
Posted by: | Comments- First of all, we didnt have any medical emergenices in the service this morning, so that was a big positive.
- The new time (we’re in week two) is helping a LOT. We’re getting back a lot of the young families we had lost because we were getting out so late every week. Plus, it’s really helped our breakdown crew to be packed up and gone by around 12:30. It’s been a win-win.
- Our band was kicking yesterday morning. My worship band is better than your worship band. Seriously. I’m not joking. This is the most talent I’ve EVER been around in ministry when it comes to music.
- We’re in a series called “Tackling Life’s Meanest Problems.” Yesterday I taught on sexual temptation.
- I opened my message with “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye. I work at a First Baptist Church, so that is way outside the box. As of Monday, April 27 at 10:15 a.m., I am still employed. We’ll see how long it lasts.
- I hit sexual temptation as openly and honestly as I could. I am assured that everybody in our room (550+ again!) is struggling with sexual temptation on one of three areas. #1) Pre-marital Sex. #2)Pornography. #3)Adultery.
- Here’s some staggering stats I found while doing some research from my sermon. On the issue of pre-marital sex: Nearly 75% of teenagers have had sex by the time they turn twenty. Nearly 50% of teenagers have had oral sex. 33% of high school students are sexually active.
- On the issue of porn (thanks to my boys over at Triple X Church for these) buckle yourself in: 40 million Americans regularly visit pornographic websites. This will blow your mind. 72% of those people are male. 28% are female. Its not just a man’s problem anymore. There are 4.2 million pornographic websites, which is 12% of all pages on the internet. There are 2.5 billion pornographic emails sent every day. You want to hear some even scarier statistics? The average first age of exposure to internet pornography is 11. 90% of 8-16 year olds have view pornography online. Let’s take it to our churches: 53% of Christian men consume pornography. One out of every two men that love Jesus are viewing pornography. That’s crazy. 51% of pastors say that it is a temptation, and 37% say it is a struggle.
- On the issue of adultery, these stats from The Journal of Psychology and Christianity writes “that some reports suggest an astounding 50-65 percent of husbands and 45-55 percent of wives have had extramarital affairs by the time they are 40.” Even if those stats are way high, we still have A TON of people cheating on their spouse.
- Now, pick your jaw up from your computer keyboard. Yesterday, we looked at how to have victory in the area of sexual temptation. I read from Genesis 39, the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. The main key to have victory in this area comes in only two words: BE CAREFUL.
- Here’s the short version of my message. BE CAREFUL: It happens to everybody. Joseph was not a sex-crazed maniac looking for some action. He was a lover of God. He was doing the right thing, but sexual temptation found HIM. BE CAREFUL: Don’t Be Alone. Even though Joseph exhibited big-time character in this story, the story goes south when he goes by himself to check on things and he and Potophar’s wife are alone. If you struggle sexually, don’t be alone with whatever or whoever your temptation is. BE CAREFUL: Don’t Fight, Flee. I love what God teaches us here in this sory but also in 1 Cor. 6:18. When it comes to sexual temptation, don’t fight. Run away. Run as far and as fast as you can. If you fight, you lose. Don’t try and show your computer what “good” websites you can go to. Leave your laptop at the office. If there’s some flirtation going on with a co-worker (and you’re married), move to a different desk. Ask for a transfer.
- You could tell people were STRUGGLING with this big time yesterday. While I was teaching, the looks on peoples’ faces were breaking my heart. Sexual temptation is eating people alive right now. I’ve already gotten several texts and emails about the message. Pray that God will bring some healing this week!
Wasting Away Again In Tommy Tubberville
Posted by: | CommentsIn honor of the UGA vs. Auburn game tomorrow, here is a very fitting song you need to watch. Auburn’s in turmoil, and I personally love it. I never hated Auburn until I moved to LaGrange. We’re only about 30 minutes from Auburn’s “campus” and it’s awful. This song pretty much sums up what going on down in Auburn this year. My beloved DAWGS are gonna roll tomorrow. Mark it down.
Weekend Notes: Happy Birthday Charlie and D-Now Tifton
Posted by: | Comments- Today is my son’s birthday. He is two years old today. Where has the time gone? I am so blessed to be his dad. He is a constant source of joy and laughter. He has such personality already. Charlie, I am honored to be your dad and I’m excited to be able to watch you turn into a young man who loves Jesus.
- Charlie stayed with my parents this week. I’m glad he got to, but we really missed him. We met up with my parents last night in Tifton at a awesome bbq place, and Charlie was so excited to see us. He was Mr. Talkative last night. My favorite was when I put him in his car seat after dinner. He looked at me, smiled and said: “Gators-BOOOOOOOOOOO!” Charlie had already learned the truth about the Gators and is a DAWG to the bone!
- I’m about to go incognito for the weekend. I’m teaching a small group for my home church’s Disciple Now in Tifton. I may or may not have internet access at the home where I’ll be leading a group. Pray that: my small group will be ready to learn, I’ll get some sleep this weekend, this weekend will have a huge impact on the lives of students; pray for me as I preach in the main worship service on Sunday morning.
Georgia WHOOPS the pineapple warriors
Posted by: | CommentsWell y’all, I made the trip to the Big Sleazy to watch UGA stomp Hawaii. I’ll post more thoughts later, but just wanted yall to see this picture I took with my cell phone. Sorry dude, Aloha means 12-1.
Shafted…
Posted by: | CommentsSince I am pretty mad at the whole thing right now, I’m not gonna say much. I am going to cut and paste a great post from the Dawgvent courtesy of Saxon Dawg.
Here’s what we have learned:1, It’s NOT better to lose early. If you’re the correct team, you can lose to an unranked team on your home field in your last game, and it’s no biggie. You’re better than the team that has won six straight.
2. It’s NOT important to get the highest rank possible. The voters can simply ignore it and take who they want on the last week.
3. It’s NOT important to take advantage of your opportunities. You can be #1 twice and lose to greatly inferior teams, and it’s no biggie.
4. It’s NOT about how you play. It’s NOT about peaking at the right time. Those things can simply be disregarded.
5. All BCS teams are created equal, but some are more equal than others.
6. None of the above is binding, because rules are only rules until it’s convenient to ignore them.
I’ve Got A Bad Feeling….
Posted by: | CommentsSo the impossible happened. Numbers 1 and 2 both lost last night. In the BCS, Ohio State was #3 and we (UGA) were #4. Logically, numbers 3 and 4 would move up into the National Championship game. After all, all the ESPN pundits couldnt quit talking about how UGA was one of the hottest teams in the country. That is, until the unthinkable happened and Pitt beat West Virginia. So here were are statistically primed to step into the National Championship, but all of a sudden all the talking heads at ESPN are arguing that LSU should vault ahead of us in the BCS. Yes, I know LSU won the SEC. Being a UGA fan, I know how hard it is to win the SEC. I applaud LSU. But the fact is, they should not jump us. They were ranked #1 in the country twice and blew it twice. Dang, last week they lost to an unranked Arkansas. The whole BCS thing is a mess. It’s all of a sudden turned into a political popularity contest instead of simple math. If the BCS rankings all of a sudden need to fly out the window at the end of the season, why have rankings? Why not just have the college football equivalent of a Miss USA pagaent at the end of the year?
I think that UGA will get rear-ended on this one. ESPN is doing their part to sway the vote. Luckily, we have a polished head coach who is trying to debunk some of the garbage ESPN is spewing. Guess we’ll find out tonight at 8:00. Go Dawgs!
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