hangukdawg
06-11-2008, 02:25 PM
I'm not one to get overly sensitive when others talk about my team. OTOH, I've never seen as much hatred spewed towards UGA as I have this offseason. It's pretty normal to get it from UF and UT and the SC fanbase. UF and UT are bitter rivals and that happens every year. While SC is a little farther down the totem pole for UGA on the rival list, we do rank no. 2 on theirs (though most of their fanbase would say a distant number two). But reading quite a few boards, it seems we're getting the hate from quite a few schools that usually have no qualms with us at all, like Bama and Arkansas.
All I can say about it is this:
I don't know if we will be ranked no. 1 at the start of the year, but I'm pretty sure the guys are not supposed to consider the schedule ahead in their week to week rankings, but rather who is the best team at the moment. Given that, I don't think anyone has a better argument than UGA for that top spot. Some have just as good an argument and I'm not gonna cry if we're not no. 1. But I don't think anyone else has a better claim.
I can guarantee you that Mark Richt most assuredly wants the no. 1 spot. I think what he's said is that you earn that with your play and is trying to keep the team focused by sharing some past experiences with FSU. But he'd be a fool to shy away from being preseason no. 1. It gets your name out there nationally, you are always gonna be a main discussion point for the ESPN Gameday folk and it's just good for business all the way around. Secondly, you are in the best spot to absorb a loss on your quest for a NC if you start there. Thirdly, you don't have to worry about being another Auburn if you should go undefeated. You're guaranteed a spot in the MNC game.
I like Alabama and have always gotten along with their fans. But I also know them well enough that if they were in our shoes, they'd be talking just as much or more trash as any of the UGA fans out there.
I'm not as familiar with Arkansas folks, but I'm pretty sure they'd be pretty excited to be where we are going into this year.
As I've said before, if UGA fans can't be excited this offseason, when should we be?
All that said, if I were a UF fan, I would think we have a great shot at the conference and a good shot at the NC.
If I were an LSU fan I'd think the same thing.
If I were a UT or AU fan I'd think we had an outside shot at the NC and a good shot at the conference.
I realize UGA is not alone in it's feelings, but I think the feelings of the fanbase are legitimate and not silly daydreams. Which reminds me? Does anyone here remember "Corey Jenkins for Heisman".
All I can say about it is this:
I don't know if we will be ranked no. 1 at the start of the year, but I'm pretty sure the guys are not supposed to consider the schedule ahead in their week to week rankings, but rather who is the best team at the moment. Given that, I don't think anyone has a better argument than UGA for that top spot. Some have just as good an argument and I'm not gonna cry if we're not no. 1. But I don't think anyone else has a better claim.
I can guarantee you that Mark Richt most assuredly wants the no. 1 spot. I think what he's said is that you earn that with your play and is trying to keep the team focused by sharing some past experiences with FSU. But he'd be a fool to shy away from being preseason no. 1. It gets your name out there nationally, you are always gonna be a main discussion point for the ESPN Gameday folk and it's just good for business all the way around. Secondly, you are in the best spot to absorb a loss on your quest for a NC if you start there. Thirdly, you don't have to worry about being another Auburn if you should go undefeated. You're guaranteed a spot in the MNC game.
I like Alabama and have always gotten along with their fans. But I also know them well enough that if they were in our shoes, they'd be talking just as much or more trash as any of the UGA fans out there.
I'm not as familiar with Arkansas folks, but I'm pretty sure they'd be pretty excited to be where we are going into this year.
As I've said before, if UGA fans can't be excited this offseason, when should we be?
All that said, if I were a UF fan, I would think we have a great shot at the conference and a good shot at the NC.
If I were an LSU fan I'd think the same thing.
If I were a UT or AU fan I'd think we had an outside shot at the NC and a good shot at the conference.
I realize UGA is not alone in it's feelings, but I think the feelings of the fanbase are legitimate and not silly daydreams. Which reminds me? Does anyone here remember "Corey Jenkins for Heisman".