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)

It's 7:56 PM and GT still sucks!

Always fun to beat the Jackets. As Munson kept saying, it was a very odd game with two fumbles in the end zone (that could have been disastrous) that turned into touchbacks instead of points for Tech. Tons of credit to Knowshon and Ramarcus Brown who after making mistakes (not catching the lateral and getting in Mikey Henderson's way during a punt, respectively) who erased their mistakes by hustling back to the ball, and Knowshon knocked the ball out of the back of the end zone and Brown recovered it after the ball doinked off of his helmet or shoulder pads. Those two plays were the 14 points that gave us the game. Naturally, there were plenty of other plays that gave us a lead and other players, but to me those were the momentum savers that would have given Tech leads and possibly given them the game.

BUT! BUT!

31-17. I've said it a few times in the past and the first time on here, but the Dawgs could go 1-10 and the 1 win be against Tech and the season wouldn't be a total loss.

So far as my prediction for a 24-10, I got the 14 point spread, but a little off on the score. And with the Jackets teeing off on Knowshon, I picked the wrong back to reach the century mark for the Dawgs, and Choice, as expected had over 100 yards. Now, the good news for the future, we should have a change of pace back for Knowshon next year in Caleb King who can do what Brown did tonight and burn defenses who are focusing too much on Knowshon. Oh, and there's the fact that Teck probably will suffer from QB-fruit-basket turnover if Gailey sticks around. And there lies the problem with that. They could get a decent coach who knows how to use his quarterbacks . . . but it seems mediocrity has been 'ok' on the Flats of late.

Here's to making it 8 next year and increasing the misery for the Bugs to match the famous 'Drought' for the Dawgs back in the 50s. (Coincidentally, this year marks the 50th anniversary of Theron Sapp earning his nickname as the 'Drought-breaker.' The Boner-Herald has an article on that today.) How important is it to beat Tech? Sapp, who had a decent career, making All-SEC twice, but joined the ranks of Walker, Sinkwich, and Trippi based largely on his 1957 performance against Tech, recovering a fumble playing as a back-up on defense and scoring the game's lone TD on the drive immediately following the recovery. 34, 21, 62, and . . . 40, the 'Drought-breaker.'

Rivalry Weekend
I'll have to say that in terms of this being a big weekend for rivalries and big games. This weekend hasn't disappointed in terms of games not being complete blow-outs (OU & UF aside), and we'll see what Damn-burn and Bama do in the Iron Bowl. And so far Mizzou & KU have been after each other AND a stopped fake field goal!

As for the SECCG, sometimes you win sometimes you lose, but as a redeeming balm we have what looks to be good bowl possibilities . . .

Bowls
Now to wait for the bowl line-up. I'd be shocked, at this point, if the Dawgs don't make the BCS this year, despite not playing for the SECC. After this week, the Dawgs should be no lower than no. 5 in the polls and possibly as high as no. 4. For a shot at the National Title, so many weird things would have to happen between now and then that were it any other year, I'd say there were no way for it to happen, and I still would be wonderfully shocked if it did happen. But right now, I'm picking the Dawgs in either the Rose against USC or the Orange against the ACC Champion (which ever team doesn't play to lose next week). Naturally both those scenarios depend on who wins where next week.

. . . All for now
. . . And to HELL with Ga Tech!

The Trade School & Bowl changes

As I'm watching the Hawaii-Boise St. game with my Dad, we both agree that we want nothing to do with either of them in the bowl games if we make it to the BCS. Hawaii because they throw the ball and throw the ball & throw the ball some more. Brennan had over 400 yds passing at the end of the 3rd quarter . . . no thank you.

The good news (I think) is that LSU's loss should mean that if UGA doesn't play in the SECCG (which I'd much rather do, but that's not up to the Dawgs just now) that they could end up in the Orange, Fiesta, or Rose since the SEC Champ would land in the Sugar and probably play Boise or Hawaii. So it's up in the air pending tomorrow's results

BUT

. . . if the Dawgs don't handle the Gnats, it's all pointless talk so, that said . . . tomorrow's opponent, you really don't need any introduction, but . . .

If two of the greatest Bulldogs ever hate Georgia Teck, shouldn't you? Dan Magill and Bill Hartman remind everyone how they should feel about Tech, they're even worse if they win!

Georgia Institute of Technology
(they're not actually a University, don't let them forget that)
First played: 1893
Meeting No.: 100th meeting
Series Record: 58-36-5 (thank GOD for Dooley's 16-9 mark against GT, otherwise it's nearly a dead heat and the Teckies are even more annoying than ever)
Our Nicknames for them: Gnats, Teckies, Nerds, Bugs, pick your favorite
Their nicknames for them: Yellow Jackets
Their nicknames for us (read: 'reasons to hate this team more'): UGAG, Puppies, Cesspool of the South--this one really gets my goat (speaking of, thank God we didn't go w/ the Goats for our mascots!). Rivalry Meter (Level of Hatred 1 = you should beat this team like a drum, almost like when we used to play regularly Mercer way back in the 189os; 10=The Great Satan, Steve Spurrier): 9, simply b/c we've beaten them 6 years in a row isn't a reason for forgetting how f-ing annoying they are when they win. Hell, they're annoying when they lose, what am I talking about?! I would thoroughly enjoy another 51-7 shellacking, but what Dawg fan wouldn't!
Prediction: Like UGA last week against UK with Sr. Day, GT comes out flat, and that means trouble for the Jackets who will play tough and keep it closer than it should be taking advantage of at least one UGA mistake: Choice gets over 100 yds; and Knowshon 100+; UGA 24 GT 10. If the Dawgs play mistake free and like they did in the 1st & 4th quarters against Auburn: UGA 45 GT 17

WRECK TECK! Here's hoping we can make it 7 in a row and UK can pull off the upset against UT!!!

. . . All for now
. . . And to HELL with Ga Tech!

DCC
24 November 2007

. . . All Hail to Dear Ol' UGA!

Believe it or not, THAT is the ending to Georgia's fight song, that's 'Hail to Georgia!' (bet you don't know the words or the tune--if you've played as a Redcoat you know the tune). 'Glory! Glory!' is nice and it gets the blood flowing, but there are all of four words in it. Of course, when you've had a few tailgating it's definitely easier to remember. I've always found it curious that 'Glory!' was written to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, particularly when most Southerners until recently would have refused to have anything to do with it as a 'Yankee tune.' But, that's neither here nor there . . .

'Hail to Georgia!'
I'm setting this up as a way to share my passion and love for my alma mater ('03-AB History, AB Political Science), both the school itself and things football related. As you may guess from my history degree, I'll several posts regarding the history of the school and the football and other athletics programs. I'll also post a good bit about miscellaneous college football debates and topics that I come across in conversations or on the internet. There will likely be some discussion of Big Eleven Conference topics as I went to grad school at Ohio State.

Before anyone asks, my loyalties are and ever will be with the Dawgs. In fact, my top favorite teams would probably rank something like this

1. UGA
2. UGA
3. UGA
4. anyone who beats UF
5. SEC (I generally find myself pulling against UF though--see my #4 team)
6. Ohio State
7. anyone who beats Michigan (yeah, I developed a hatred for 'that Team up north' while in Columbus)

And I could probably put UGA as 'all' of my top 10 favorite teams, but you get the idea. To steal from the old bumper sticker: My blood bleeds RED & BLACK with a high sUGAr content! I went to UGA football games in the womb, and Dad swears I was 'born barking, and had a relapse.' More on family connections in another post.

Now for a bit of explanation on the blog's name . . .

Iron Pillars

For the name of the blog, I wanted to touch on both the University of Georgia and athletics (read football). So for the 'Iron Pillars' part: it relates to the three pillars of the Arch, which has been at UGA as a part of a gate & fence system that was put up in the 1850s to keep the livestock from Athens & the surrounding countryside out of the University. Now, the joke goes that the Arch & fence keep the animals in (lame I know, but it comes from being a UGA Orientation Leader).

The Arch, before the 2007 Troy game.

The Arch itself once had gates in between the pillars and has served as the gateway to UGA since its installation. The Arch is borrowed from the State Seal of Georgia and the three pillars of the Arch represent Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation, and now is one of the most recognizable symbols of UGA.

I could go on with several traditions and stories about the Arch (and probably will later), Freshmen not being allowed to walk under it, many students choosing not to walk under it until they were alumni, it's status as a target for pranks by Teckies, etc.

That's for the Iron Pillars.

Silver Britches
For Dawg fans, this is really a non-requirement for explanation, but for those poor deprived souls. The Dawgs almost exclusively wore the Silver Britches until Dooley came in in 1964 and changed to white pants with a large red stripe. The Silver Britches made their reappearance in the 1980 Texas A&M game and we all know what happened that year. The Silver Britches didn't go away. Since then the Dawgs have worn the Silver Britches weekly on the gridiron with the exception of the following games and sartorial alterations (most of which have been a BAD idea)

Red Pants: 1980s Clemson (can't remember when) & 1988 S. Carolina. I'd actually love to see make a comeback for a big away game every now & then. Of course, the red pants are most famous for their appearance in Knoxville when as certain no. 34 made his college debut. I know there were other games when the Dawgs wore red pants before the Silver Britches made their 1980 comeback, one of which was the game in Lexington when Rex Robinson hit a FG to beat UK in the closing minute & Munson's call was 'Yea! Yea! Yea! Yea!' (apologies if there were a couple more 'Yea's' in there). Other than that I don't know. If anyone knows/remembers shoot me a message.

Black Pants: 1998 Wisconsin (Outback Bowl) & 1998 Cocktail Party. While the Black jerseys have been imprinted in the UGA fans memories forever, the pants were nice until the novelty wore off and we got the crap kicked out of us by UF, may they never be revived.

White Pants: 1999 LSU, UT, & 2000 Ga Tech. During the LSU game, they were worn in memory of offensive line coach Pat Watson, who had died the previous week after the UCF game. Coincidentally enough, Donnan thought having pants that looked like the Cream-cicles from Knoxville would help snap the then-10 yr drought vs. the Vols. We know how history worked there: 39-20 Vols and with similar results against the Gnats (27-15) in what would be Donnan's last game before being booted and the last loss that the Dawgs have had to endure against the Trade School. May the white pants be burned and never return.

So, all that said, the Iron Pillars are for the Arch, and the Silver Britches are for the 'britches' the Dawgs wear on Saturday.

. . . All for now
. . . And to HELL w/ GA Tech!

DCC
23 November 2007