Georgia Wildcats, er Bulldogs: Bicenquasquigenary Jubilee pt. IV (much delayed)

Go Goats? Go Wildcats? . . . Go Dawgs!

Well, believe it or not (and most folks know about the goat), Georgia's teams were once represented/called Goats and Wildcats before they were called Bulldogs. The Wildcats have been largely left off (i.e. I've not read a reference to UGA using Wildcats until reading it in the editions of the R&B from 1920).

1920 is significant because not only did UGA field its first undefeated football team that year, but it was the year that a Bulldog was set as the team mascot in favor of Wildcats, largely via the influence of Morgan Blake's writing after the UGA-Auburn game that year. Below is the very first Red & Black to reference Georgia's teams as 'Bulldogs'.


Interestingly, the same edition also references the team as Wildcats at some point too.

Will write more on this later, but wanted to get a quick post up.

GO DAWGS!

AFN
DCC
8 February 2010
Athens, GA

UGA's Lion among Men, Bicenquasquigenary Jubilee, Pt. III

Dean William Tate
Again, a current/semi-current event inspires a post to celebrate UGA's 225th anniversary. Within the last week UGA has officially dedicated the expansion of the Tate Student Center, the original part of which, with the 'this-looks-like-it-should-be-the-world's-largest-Pizza-Hut' roof, was dedicated in 1983 and named for the late Dean of Men (later Dean of Students), William/Bill Tate.

A photo of Dean Tate during the 1961 integration of UGA.

He was truly a giant at the University, and one who despite very strong personal convictions seemed to be able to separate those from what he needed to do as an administrator and devotee to the principles and idea that was for him The University of Georgia.

The Tate Expansion to the right with the Miller Learning Center at the head of the quad.

Despite the dedication, my inspiration for this post came from an article I found in the most recent (26 Aug 2009) Flagpole Magazine. (Not only do I get to talk about one of UGA's greats, but I get to plug Athens' weekly magazine). In the 'pub notes' section, Pete McCommons, who was student council VP during the 1961 confrontations regarding the admission of Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter (later Gault) to UGA, recounts several memories of Tate during that time and regarding Tate's status as what amounts to a Lion on-campus--in the minds of students and faculty alike.

I'll quote a couple highlights, but leave McCommons to elucidate the Dean's career.

Regarding UGA's integration:

"That week may have been Dean William Tate’s finest hour. Whatever his own sentiments were, the federal court had ordered the integration of the University of Georgia, and he saw his duty as Dean to protect those two students and to protect the university."

Tate's sense of humor:

“'Son, do you know what a revolving son-of-a-bitch is?”
“No, sir, Dean Tate.”
“A revolving son-of-a-bitch, the Dean intoned, ”is a son-of-a-bitch no matter which way you look at him.'“

I'll leave the rest to McCommons: Part I (from Aug. 12) & Part II (from Aug. 26).

Good stuff. Enjoy.

. . . and to HELL w/ Georgia Tech!

AFN
DCC, Athens, GA, UGA
27 August 2009

UGA's First Building? Bicenquasquigenary Jubilee Series, Pt II

"June 30, 2009
"by Matt Weeks
"Athens, Ga. – Remnants of a former building and artifacts dating back more than 200 years have been uncovered beneath the foundations of New College on the University of Georgia’s North Campus, allowing a glimpse into a long-lost chapter of UGA history."

“Awesome!” was my first internal response, and perhaps verbal, to the news that construction crews and afterward archaeologists had uncovered the foundations of what could represent the University of Georgia’s very first building underneath the foundation of New College while renovating the building.

Having lived and worked near an archaeological dig for two years, my second thought was, “I want to see it.” Pictures are nice and all, but if anyone has an ‘in’ with Danny Sniff and can get me into the belly of the beast (i.e. the basement of New College while this is going on), I’d be ever grateful.

And finally in the slow machinations of my brain, as I was walking across the North Quad and ruminating about material that could be the focus for my next post, it clicked. It probably had something to do with the fact that I glanced over at New College while I was thinking about it, but really, should it have taken me that long to come up with that? No, never.

The official press release notes some pretty interesting bits from what they’ve uncovered, and by the looks of the pictures, the remains of the earlier building cover a fair amount of the floor (see below). Apparently you could have used the basement of New College as a dungeon as well or a nice oubliette, perhaps.

Fortuitous finds for my blog. Thank you, New College construction crews. Love, me.

Some interesting bits from the find:

• The foundation, and therefore the building, was there before the 1819 construction began on New College (a la the Romans constructing buildings on top of buildings, though I doubt we’ll find any catacombs on campus). No direct connection has been established with Josiah Meigs, UGAs first acting president.
  
• Because of construction, the uncovered brick floor was 7ft below the current ground level at New College.
• The brick, unlike later building materials for UGA, was made locally, which you can apparently discern from their color.
• The crew found a Lamar period pottery bowl. For those not familiar, it means it’s very old, as it would have pre-dated even the founding of the colony of Georgia (1350-1600), which means that whoever left the bowl was a collector of some sort. My guess would be a professor, who though much later than intended had his wish in preserving Lamar culture.
• “. . . other artifacts found are a handmade spoon, wrought iron nails, blown-glass bottles, glazed cookware and an instrument that resembles a modern fire poker.”

In my history-geek brain, that’s just awesome. Rumor has it that they’re going to try to have it where folks can see it when they finish the renovation, but at this point, it is just that, unfounded rumor. But it’s a rumor with which I’d definitely be satisfied should it come true.

As a result of this, I'm trying to sort out in my head the relative/exact age of the buildings on campus. There will be a list that I'll post soon. Why? Because I'm going to create it if it hasn't already been done!

AFN
DCC
5 August 2009
Athens, GA

Bicenquasquigenary Jubilee!

The University of Georgia: 1785-2010 Celebrating 225 years!
If you know that the above means 225th Jubilee, congratulations, you're doing very well on your preparations for the GRE!

In the spirit of one of this blog's original intents, to post both UGA academic & athletic history and traditions, I hope to produce a series of posts leading up to the 225th anniversary of The University of Georgia's founding on January 27, 2010. In deference to the dates that lead up to the present, I think that I'll progress from the beginning, as is only fitting.

As you will find in the title of the blog at the very top, the picture behind 'Iron Pillars, Silver Britches' is from the Charter of UGA, reading 'the Trustees of the University of Georgia.' The full text, as well as archival pictures of the Charter can be found at the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library. By virtue of being the first state-chartered institution in the country, the University has also named one of its scholarships for the founding document, the Charter Scholarship.

An Acknowledgment of the Ignorance or Inferiority of our own
That said, without having to get complete permission from the Archives, I'll cite a few pertinent quotes, with a bit of commentary.

"By the REPRESENTATIVES of the FREEMEN of the STATE of GEORGIA in General Assembly and by the AUTHORITY of the SAME . . ."

Well, the way that's expressed has certainly changed in the last 225 years, but I won't belabor that point as the changes from that statement seem relatively obvious.

" . . . Sending them [the youth of Georgia] abroad to other countries for their education will not answer these purposes, - is too humiliating an acknowledgment of the Ignorance or Inferiority of our own, and will always be the Cause of so great foreign attachments that upon principles of policy it is not admissible."

Certainly, you would not hear this from an academic today. Whether you were to focus on UGA's rankings for sending students on studies abroad (5th in the nation among research universities, with 30% of each graduating class studying abroad at some point) or on the general atmosphere in academia that if you want to work (read: 'be a professor') at an institution it is imperative that you get your Ph.D. elsewhere, you would be hard pressed to find a department at UGA that holds to this particular part of the Charter. I think it can be safely said that, depending on your point of view, you could see this as a 'for better or for worse' part of the Charter. For my part, it's certainly an improvement that our students are encouraged to study at locations and with professors who have such varied experiences, pulling from more than 200 majors and programs that UGA now offers.


The Rising Hope of our Land

" . . . that our present happiness joined to pleasing prospects should conspire to make us feel ourselves under the strongest obligation to form the youth, the rising hope of our Land to render the like glorious & essential Services to our country."

Such language ought to be used more often. A shame none would well understand it. "The Rising Hope of Our Land" certainly is an excellent way to refer to students, and yet I have not made it out of the preamble of the Charter. I'm surprised that we have not a student organization or honorary that's taken this monicher or some form of it for its name. I'm sure when writing this the founders never imagined the possibility that the student body population would grow to over 34,000, which would have made up over 1/3 of the entire population of the State of Georgia when the first census was taken in 1790.

The University of Georgia or Franklin College?

"It is ENACTED, ORDAINED, and DECLARED . . .
" . . . THE BOARD OF VISITORS hereby vested with all the powers of visitation to see that the intent of this institution is carried into effect, and John Houston, James Habersham, William Few, Joseph Clay, Abraham Baldwin, William Houston, Nathan Brownson, John Habersham, Abiel Holmes, Jenkin Davis, Hugh Lawson, William Glascock, and Benjamin Talliaferro esquires who shall compose another board, denominated THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. These two boards united, or a majority of each of them shall compose the SENATUS ACADEMICUS of the University of Georgia. (emphasis added) . . ."

Interestingly, as noted in the emphasis on the last phrase, the institution, despite the tradition that the school was first called Franklin College, which represents the oldest and largest college at the University, it is clearly stated that it was indeed first 'the University of Georgia.'

Some of the names in the above list ought to be fairly familiar to students of Georgia history & geography as several have counties as their eponyms and Baldwin, Few, and Houston were three of Georgia's delegates at the Constitutional Convention two years later. The list effectively consitutes the list of the University of Georgia's founding fathers, though Baldwin is almost solely given credit as he was the institution's first titular president. As with much of the rest of the document this part of the Charter starts building the foundations, mechinisms, and bodies for governing the fledgling University.

" . . . FOR this purpose they are hereby constituted a body corporate, and politic, by the name of TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA; by which they shall have perpetual succession, and shall and may be a person in Law, capable to plead, and be impleaded, defend, and be defended, answer, and be answered unto, also to have, take, possess, acquire, purchase or otherwise receive . . ."

Again, I am emphasizing the intent for the institution to be the University of Georgia, despite its early monicher (see above). Not to mention the interesting countering to every ability . . . 'to plead and be impleaded . . .' etc.

University System of Georgia

" . . . ALL public schools - instituted or to be supported by funds or public monies in this State shall be considered as parts or members of the University and shall be under the foregoing directions and regulations."

This fell by the wayside at some point. I'm fairly certain that the University wouldn't want this responsibility today.

et cetera, &c., etc. . . .

And that's about it for this one, as I'm sure it's sufficiently long. I'm sure that I've enjoyed writing it far more than most will enjoy reading it. Nonetheless, there it is. Part I of the Bicenquasquigenary series on UGA, I suppose.

AFN
DCC
7 July 2009 Athens, GA

The Dawgs Shootaround

Here are 3 videos from the shootaround. I add a little commentary, but I'm pretty sure you'd get the idea on your own. Thanks to PWD over at Georgia Sports Blog. More photos and videos to come.

GO DAWGS!










Good News: Met Coach Felton and Damon Evans yesterday while we were greeting the team and coaches.
Bad News: Um . . . not sure there is any right now
. . . All for Now
. . . And to HELL with Georgia Tech!


-DCC '08
Washington, DC

Headed to see the Dawgs Dance! (And a little football)

First things first, if you're going to be in DC tomorrow, the Dawgs will be leaving Atlanta around 6:30pm (which means about 8pm arrival at Reagan-Nat'l and let's call it 8:15-8:45pm arrival at their hotel) come out and show them your support for winning the SEC Tourney!! More to come tomorrow when I get a better update on the times, etc. Second . . .

Well, I spent WAY more than I should have for the tickets, but I'll be there live & in person for the UGA-Xavier match-up on Thursday at noon-thirty-ish, depending on when the media idiots allow after they listen to themselves blather on for 30-45 min. AND I CAN'T WAIT!!!

I never would have thought that within 2.5 months that I'd see UGA in the Sugar Bowl & the NCAA Tourney at the same time. Last time that came about there were two guys named Herschel (following the 1982 Sugar Bowl) and 'Nique (following the 1981-82 season) who left their respective Dawgs' teams a year early. (why do the Heisman site and wikipedia have easier-to-find biographical articles on 2 of UGA's greatest sports legends than does georgiadogs.com?).

That's right sports fans both of the greatest players in Georgia's football & basketball programs left a year early. The result, trips to the Cotton Bowl & Final Four respectively. Yes, the Human Highlight Film left a year earlier than the Goal-line Stalker, but the point is that both teams did relatively well.

A Sugar Bowl berth in football followed by an NCAA berth in basketball courtesy of an SEC Tournament Championship, sounds oddly familiar, almost like it's happened before. Almost like it happened the last time UGA won an SEC Tournament Championship in Men's Basketball! The result . . . the Final Four.

Yes, I'm hoping beyond hope. But at this point, is there anything that can really tarnish the 2008 SEC Tournament Champions, 25 years after the last feat for the Dawgs? (check out this great article on the mindset of the players & coaches during the SEC Tourney from AJC: Four Days to a Championship Worst to First).

AND oh, by the way . . . how much of a welcome event is the SEC Tournament Championship for Mark Richt? First the man said he wept for joy for the team, damn I love that man. Second, how much more is it a boon-doggle for him to say to his players 'See what can be done!' and 'See! you count somebody out, and they'll bite you.' Just in case we all forget the preseason rankings mean absolutely squat except for where you end up. And if you do poorly, they mean nothing.

And, oh by the way, now at least the next 2-3 practices are forgotten about with the back-drop of the Tourney win and the NCAAs. So, if no one else wants to give Dennis Felton a raise, maybe Mark Richt and his assistants should pony up a little bit from his recent raise for taking some of the external focus off the 2008 football season and allowing him a better opportunity to re-focus his players' energy on the next practices rather than the coming season.

Good News: I get to see the Dawgs play in DC!
Bad News: Marcus Washington is gone for the year b/c of a lingering shoulder injury/shoulder surgery.

. . . All for Now.
. . . And to HELL with Georgia Tech!

-DCC '08
Washington, DC

'Dawgs do The Improbable! The Unthinkable! The Unbelievable!'

(The quote is courtesy of Scott Howard's call of the SEC Championship game today.)

Yes, I am a fair-weather Georgia Basketball fan. I'll admit it without a problem. I follow Georgia basketball enough to know whether they're doing well or not. BUT a GEORGIA BULLDOG through & through. It's a sad testament, perhaps, but I'll be honest: as a sport, I just don't like basketball that much. Nothing against Felton or Gaines or Bliss or Humphrey or Swansey or Jackson, etc., but b-ball just ain't my thing. Because of my Dad and my uncles, I should be a basketball fiend, but . . . but . . . OH, right . . . GOOOOOOO DAWGS!!!!!!!

I had said earlier that I just didn't have faith in the whole thing, somewhere along the lines of the comments that I'd made before the 2007 UF game (I wanted us to win the Cocktail Party/SEC Tourney. I was praying we could win the Cocktail Party/SEC Tourney, but the faith wasn't there). Indeed, other bloggers mentioned something about Georgia making it to Saturday being meaning monkeys were flying out of butts somewhere.

BUT what just happened HAS to be one of the most ridiculous accomplishments in sports history (Granted Coppin St., a 20 loss team, making the tourney this year is pretty remarkable as well), but THIS is the SEC, and whether it's a down year or not, winning 4 in 4 days is remarkable, not to mention 2 wins in 1 day. Oh, and the tornado, and winning on Teck's home court!!! I'm sure there are a few other impossibilities that you could add to the list, like winning more SEC games in a week than the Dawgs had all year. Just UNREAL.

Enter some kind of stupid miracle . . .

SOMEHOW, the Georgia BULLDOGS are the most (again to use Scott Howard's word) 'improbable, unthinkable, unbelievable' Champions of the Southeastern Conference!!!! Good GOD!

Cut down the Jackets' nets! Take the Trophy back to Athens! Come see me in DC!!!

If I can find a way to get a ticket for the NCAA Tourney game on Thurs against Xavier, I'll be there with bells on. Hell, I might even paint my torso or something crazy like that! (Ok, don't hold your breath on the torso paint thing.)

And, if you get a chance or have access to Scott Howard's call of either the Semi or Final game, get it and listen to it. I love Larry Munson. But I tell you, Scott Howard's gonna do JUST fine. Give the man the job when Munson steps down. The last four minutes were classic, clearly a Munson disciple and not scared of being a homer unlike so many DULL-AS-HELL 'objective' announcers these days who don't give the score, have no emotion, and well, just suck.

Anyway . . . I've just got 2 words . . .

GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DCC '08
Washington, DC (apartment)