GP T H E G E O R G I A P L A Y B O O K

FOURTH ISSUE OCTOBER

THE STUDENT SECTION UGA students give their opinions on the current state of UGA football

THE ROAD AHEAD10 wins is what fans want. We talk about the obstacles UGA will need to overcome to get there

Volleyball’s Ann Dylla and cross countries Leslie Boozer shed light on women’s athletics

WIL SPENCERThe newly crowned Southern Intercollegiate tennis title holder talks motivation and lessons learned

+ We go over the 10 plays that brought Athens the most joy and sorrow

6. THE RUNDOWNSHighlights on all in-season UGA sports

18. WIL SPENCERThe newly crowned Southern Intercollegiate tennis title holder talks motivation

20. THE ROAD AHEADMark Richt and an SEC-Eact title

22. SITUATION ANALYSISHow the UGA soccer team handles dead ball situations 24. UGA FOOTBALL Five good and bad ones

30. A WOMAN’S GAME Volleyball’s Ann Dylla and cross countries Leslie Boozer shed light on women’s athletics

32. THE STUDENT SECTIONUGA students talk football

Contents

let us knowwhat you think by going to thegeorgiaplaybook.com and hitting up our contact section. We want to know what you like, dislike, and want to see more of so we can make the magazine as good as possible.

ContributorsCREATOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNJustin Gaymon

WRITERS/EDITORSA.J. Pappas, Jonathan Branch, Brittney Hubbard, Jordan Tomas, Amanda Humer

THE RUNDOWNSAmanda Humer and Justin Gaymon

THE STUDENT SECTIONJonathan Branch

COVER PHOTOEvan Stichler

WOMEN’S TENNIS PHOTOSAshley Strickland

FOOTBALL PHOTOSAshley Strickland, Evey Wilson

GOLF PHOTOSParker Moore

All other photos courtesy of Georgia Sports Communication

PHOTOGRAPHERSEthan Treacy and Justin Gaymon

help outWe’re a growing group that’s still looking for help in any and all areas. If you’d like to get involved with The Playbook just email thegeorgiaplaybook@gmail.com

CheCk us outTwitter:@georgiaplaybookFacebook: The Georgia PlaybookWebsite: www.thegeorgiaplaybook.com

editor’s LetterLife is a competition, and if you don’t work hard and play smart, you’re going to lose. Whether you’re a working professional or an athlete, you can’t afford to wait for opportunities to arise. You need to make them happen on your own. I’ve always been told this, but as I’ve grown older, it has become clearer and undeniable. In fact, it’s one of the main reasons that I decided to start this magazine.

After graduating from UGA, I wanted a job that was fun, creative, and intellectually challenging, but I didn’t have the time to begin a full-time career with my hectic traveling schedule for track & field. So instead of searching for a flexible job, I created my own. I’ve put more work into this magazine and have learned more from it than I ever could have imagined. Right now it’s 7:21 in the morning and I’m going on my second night without sleep so this issue can be released on time. I’ve put a lot of tough hours into this, but I love every moment. It’s something that I can call my own and be proud of, even if there are a few imperfections.

I’m writing this with the hope that it will inspire you, my readers, to go out and chase your dreams. I know it sounds cliché, but we only have one life to live, and the worst thing you can do is waste it. If you want to make a difference in the world, search for an area that interests you, and start thinking of ideas. Take that idea, put it on paper, and take the first steps towards making it happen. But you have to be smart. Plan your steps wisely and don’t wait until the last minute like me, writing this editor’s letter at the crack of dawn.

To everyone that’s helped out and supported The Playbook, I want to say thanks. I couldn’t have made it happen on my own, especially the latest issue. I’m glad I took a chance on this idea, and even happier that you’re here with me.

You can get more on me and my travels as a professional track athlete at my blog www.justingaymon.tumblr.com

Justin Gaymon

October 2011

The RundownsSeptember Coverage

This past month has left UGA football fans with a lot to fathom. Many waited on pins and needles to see the fruits of the new strength and conditioning staff’s labor. Others were eager to see if the “Dream Team’ recruiting class would turn out to be a fantasy or a nightmare.

But one thing is for sure, fans were disappointed to see Georgia’s first offensive drive at redemption against Boise State. It began with a false start, rush for zip, pass for zip, second false start, and a delay of game. The night didn’t get too much better for the Dawgs from there. Boise exploited Georgia’s weaknesses and properly executed an up-tempo style of play, overtaking the Dawgs 21-35. Georgia would go on to lose a closer game the next weekend to South Carolina at home, 45-42.

But despite the lows, it’s still a great time to be a Dawg. Why? Because of the drama. This season has fans on the edge of their seats with anticipation because every moment, every play, and every game is critical to this team. UGA’s football program has more to gain or lose than it has in a very long time. A future head coach and team’s reputation are all on the line.

Since the disheartening loss to South Carolina, the team has recorded wins from Coastal Carolina and Ole Miss to get back at .500 and in contention for an SEC-East title. Boise and South Carolina may have been the toughest opponents UGA will have to face, so it is possible for them to win out and resemble that 2007 team that closed out the season on a seven game winning streak after consecutive early season losses. Matchups against Mississippi State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Florida will prove to be make or break.

Like Mark Richt’s squad, the UGA mens’ tennis team began its season with a highly anticipated match against Boise State. The tennis team, however, had better fortune against the Broncos, winning nine out of 12 matches. Senior Wil Spencer played like a man on a mission, knocking out two Boise players on his own and pairing up with France native Saudio Doumbia for a couple wins in doubles play.

Spencer went on to lead the Bulldogs throughout September, closing the month by claiming a Southern Intercollegiate title. Entering the Southern Collegiate Championships on September 25th, seeded second and ranked sixth nationally, the Florida native took out three opponents, including fellow Bulldog Ignacio “Taco” Taboada, and finally top-seeded Eric Quigly for the tourney win.

The event, which UGA hosts annually, was created by Georgia tennis legend Dan Magill who is always more than happy to see a fellow Dawg take the title. Teammates Garrett Brasseaux, Sadio Doumbia, and Ignacio Taboado represented red and black as well, all managing to advance to the 44 year old tournament’s quarterfinals.

The Dawg’s had a good run at a national championship last outdoor season and look like they’ll be in contention once again come spring. But before then they’ll get some good practice at The Georgia Tech invitational in early October, and ITA regional and national matches throughout November.

The Lady Dawgs Tennis team opened their fall tournament season September 16th at the Georgia Tech Invitational. The ladies had a successful weekend at the tournament with singles victories by Kate Fuller, Lauren Herring, and Maho Kowase, and doubles victories by Rachael Hart/Alina Jerjomina and Lilly Kimbell/Maho Kowase.

Next the women continued tournament season by heading to Indiana for the Hoosier Classic. The ladies were extremely successful in this tournament, going 6-1 in singles play. The tournament was round robin style and the team successfully won three of the four singles flights. The ladies doubles did equally well going 9-3 overall in the tournament.

The Lady Dawgs will continue what has so far been a highly successful fall season with six players competing in October’s All-American Championships in California.

The UGA cross country team started the season with a powerful statement at its home-opener, the Bulldog Invitational, sweeping the meet for the third consecutive year.

The home crowd cheered on team captain Matt Cleaver as he was the first to finish for the Dawgs (24:45.37), and second overall behind Alabama’s Carrison Kemei. Georgia’s Brandon Lord and Brett Richardson also had impressive finishes. The two snagged the third and fourth place spots behind Cleaver, and completing UGA’s rigorous course in 25:03.74 and 25:12.08.

The 8k race, which featured 11 southeastern schools including Georgia Tech and Mercer, was won by Georgia with a combined team time of 2:05:36.47. The average UGA runner completed the course in 25:07.30 with Georgia having seven athletes finish within the top 10.

Alabama was the home team’s biggest competition, but lulled behind with a team average that was 57 seconds slower than Georgia’s.

The team went on to capture a win at the Georgia State Invitational and took a respectful 13th place finish at the Notre Dame Invitational. They compete at Wisconsin in mid-October before heading to SEC Championships on October 29th.

Women’s cross country stand-out Kristie Krueger has had a dominant career at UGA. Though the senior runner did struggle with injuries last season, she started 2011 with her fifth consecutive win at UGA’s Bulldog Invitational.

Looking relaxed, she finished the 5k race with a time of 17:25.92, nearly half a second faster than her nearest non-Georgia competitor. The Georgia team ran with an average time of 17:57.66 with teammates Ashley Shiver, Leslie Boozer, and Anna Bowles finishing second, third, and fourth.

Team leaders Krueger, Boozer, Shiver were rested in Georgia’s following meet, the Georgia State Invitational. But Nevertheless, the team was able to pull out a win with tough runs from Carly Hamilton, Abbie Robinson and Anna Bowles who ran times of 22:37, 22:39 and 22:42 to complete the 6k race.

The team’s last September race took place at Notre Dame, and was led once again by Krueger. She finished 17tth out of nearly 200 athletes. The team finished the 5k race in 18th place with sophomore Savannah Kirk and Bowles being the final two athletes to score points for the Dawgs.

September was a month of progress for this year’s young group of UGA golfers. The guys started the year getting into the swing of things with a seventh place finish at the Carpet Capitol Collegiate Classic. They went on to take second in the Adams Cup of Newport, and finally ended up with a win at the Northeast Tri-Match.

The Carpet Classic, which featured 12 southeastern teams, was captured by Auburn who went 13 under par. UGA finished the 54-hole event eight over, but saw outstanding play from junior Bryden Macpherson who placed a career-high, third overall at 5-under par.

Macpherson continued to play well in Rhode Island’s Adams Cup where he bested his Carpet Classic career-high finish to take second at 10-under par.

Freshman Nicholas Reach took the reigns as the Bulldog leader at the Northeast Tri-Match against Princeton and Army. Reach finished 1-under par with a final single day score of 69.

The 15th ranked team looks to continue its advance at the Brickyard Collegiate Championship in early October. Georgia, the matches reigning champion, looks to shoot well against a field that includes the likes of Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Florida State.

This year’s women’s golf team is full of veterans who are eager to use their experience toward making a run at a national title. But the number 11-ranked team got off to a slow start during the first round of its first tournament of the year at the Cougar Classic.

The women finished day one of the meet in 10th, but progressed to 5th on day two and finally jumped to tie for 4th on the final day of play. Emily Burger led the charge against the 22 team field with a 3-under par score on day one. Marta Zamora and Rocio Sanchez were the best in red and black on day two. They both scored 5-under par with Zamora leading the team on the final day and shooting her second 5-under par score. LSU created separation early on and won the match with a team score of 848. The Lady Dawgs recorded 864 strokes, placing one spot behind Florida and two behind North Carolina.

The team went on to finish its final September tournament on September 25th with a 12th place finish. Burger led the Georgia women, shooting a 218, 2-above par. Milena Savich, Rocio Sanchez, Silva, and Abby Johnson also scored for Georgia shooting 225,226, 233, and 260.

Though they played well, the Lady Dawgs were disappointed with their performances and are looking forward to bettering their position at their next match on October 7th at the Tar Heel Invitational.

The Lady Dawgs Soccer team kicked off its season on a positive note with a 3-1 victory over Furman. The ladies followed this victory with two disappointed home losses, but recovered by winning their next five games, including going on the road to win the Minnesota Gold Classic Tournament. Sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Baker was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after her efforts in this tournament helped the Dawgs win in overtime.

The ladies opened their SEC schedule with a 1-0 loss to rival Florida but escaped an 0-2 SEC start with an exciting double overtime victory to South Carolina. UGA won 2-1 with both Georgia goals scored by Alexa Newfield.

Newfield has been a key player on the women’s soccer team this season, scoring critical goals in three overtime victories. Though it is early in the soccer season, Newfield has already been named SEC Player of the Week and National Player of the Week on two separate occasions. As the team’s leading scorer, she averages over a goal per game

The Lady Dawgs continue their season with upcoming SEC games in October at Arkansas and at LSU. They then play seven opponents, all of which SEC members before starting the SEC tourney in early November.

The Lady Dawgs Volleyball team started their season strong with opening wins against Liberty and Florida A&M in the Hotel Indigo Bulldog Invitational. But since finishing as the runner-up in the Invitational the team has struggled. The Lady Dawgs went 2-7 in their next nine matches, including losses to Georgia Tech, Tennessee, and Kentucky but managed an encouraging victory over then undefeated Samford.

The team earned their first SEC victory when they defeated Ole Miss 3-1. During this game Senior Kathleen Gates became the sixth player in Bulldog history with over 4,000 career assists.

Most recently the Lady Dawgs lost a very close four set match to Alabama. The team evened the match at 1-1 before Alabama took the third set in extra points and won the fourth set by a mere three points. Sophomore Brittany Northcutt was a key player in this match with 15 kills, 12 digs and 16.5 points. The loss to Alabama dropped the team to 5-9 overall.

NERVES:I’m always nervous going into a big match. But there’s a fine line between being nervous and being paralyzed. But the nerves go away pretty quickly, and I’m still confident.

motivation:God. He’s given me the ability. He’s surrounded me with the people. I wanna go out and bring glory to him. I do it for my Dad and everything he’s taught me. My mom as well. My teammates are huge. When I’m playing, I’m trying to show my respect for them by playing hard. I wanna reflect the Georgia name well. And I’m playing for myself. I love it and I’m playing because I love it. I love the game, I love the competition.

THE TEAM:[As a team] we go in and were confident, and that’s huge. All of us have been together for at least a year now so we understand each other and get along unbelievably. We trust each other and have our confidence. But at the same time, we’re never overconfident or cocky. We have a history of national championships and we work super hard to uphold that.

G A M E P L A N S A N D M O T I V A T I O N

W i l S p e n c e rLESSONS LEARNED;I think I’ve gotten smarter, so that’s helped. The more you play, the faster you can break down people and understand their games. So now I can recognize their weaknesses and know what to do. I’ve also learned that It’s not always about the flashy shots. That’s for the younger players. The older ones go for the smarter shots. High heavy across court. Ones like that. But I still have a habit of going down the line when I shouldn’t on my backhand. But I’m getting better with that.

STRENGTHS:I’m an aggressive base liner and also a counter puncher. My Dad doesn’t like me counter punching too much because he wants me to be more aggressive. But I’m pretty quick and make other guys hit a lot of balls back. I have a lot of fight

IMPROVEMENTS:I’m trying to go to the net a lot more. If I add that element to my game it’ll make it a lot easier. It can surprise the guy and add a few points to my match. I’m trying to add dimension so I’m not one or two dimensional. Just adding elements to my game.

FRESH OFF OF WINNING A SOUTHERN COLLEGIATE TITLE

WITH SEPTEMBER IN THE REARVIEW,

THE roAd AheAdGeorgia has already played the two toughest and, in all likelihood, the two easiest foes it will face all season. Entering October back at .500, this month may very well dictate whether Georgia can capture 10 wins and get back to the Georgia Dome for the SEC Championship in December. While 10 wins is certainly possible, the next four games are the most crucial for the Bulldogs.

MISSISSIPPI STATE:The Bulldogs from the SEC West started the season 2-2, losing 41-34 in Auburn then 19-6 to LSU. But Mississippi State, who opened the season ranked 20th in the AP Poll, may be the best team remaining on Georgia’s schedule. Mississippi State travels to Athens following a sluggish overtime victory over Louisiana Tech, yet Georgia fans know all too well not to take their West division counterparts for granted. Last season, Georgia fell in Starkville 24-12. Chris Relf ran for over 100 yards and Vick Ballard scored twice in MSU’s victory last year, and both are key players on this year’s version. This season both teams come in averaging over 30 points per game, so an offensive showcase could be possible in this matchup.

TENNESSEE: The last time the Bulldogs traveled to Knoxville, it wasn’t pretty for the Bulldogs. It was Lane Kiffin’s first and only year at UT, and the Bulldogs were manhandled 45-19. However, last season Tennessee, under Derek Dooley, traveled to Athens and carried a 41-14 loss back to Knoxville. Dooley’s squad has already suffered a loss against Florida and would need a victory over the Dawgs to stay in contention for an SEC East title. Sophomore quarterback Tyler Bray has a formidable go-to receiver with Da’Rick Rogers, a one-time Georgia commit as a prospect, who has filled in for Justin Hunter. Hunter was the Vols’ leading receiver in 2010 that suffered a torn ACL against Florida and will miss the rest of 2011.

BY JONATHAN BRANCH

Vanderbilt: The Commodores could be the most improved team from 2010. In head coach James Franklin’s first season, the ‘Dores already have more wins than each of the previous two seasons. Vandy’s defense snatched 14 interceptions in the first four games of the season, including nine against SEC opponents Ole Miss and South Carolina. The Commodores were kept off the scoreboard last season in Athens in a 43-0 Georgia victory. Chris Marve leads the Vanderbilt defense that was allowing less than 16 points per game entering their game with Alabama.

Florida: The storylines are abundant for this matchup. First-year Florida head coach Will Muschamp makes his first appearance in this rivalry since playing safety for the Bulldogs in the early ‘90s. The Bulldogs have won only three times in the last 21 meetings with Florida. The Gators won the 2010 matchup in overtime after safety Will Hill intercepted Aaron Murray’s deflected pass to A.J. Green. Muschamp’s defense allowed less than 10 points per game through their first four games, propelling the Gators to a 4-0 record. The Gators have three playmakers in the backfield with Tray Burton, Chris Rainey, and Jeff Demps, all of whom combined for four scores against the Bulldogs last season. Two great former NFL coaches will face off when Charlie Weiss’s Gator offense faces Todd Grantham’s much-improved defense. It may be tough to top last year’s evenly-matched contest, but this year’s game could be just as exciting.

A large percentage of goals can arise from “dead ball” situations. Therefore, it’s important to practice and master this aspect of the soccer game. Carli Shultis, a sophomore forward from McDonough, Ga, explained an important dead ball outcome; corner kicks.

Many people who have never played soccer have no idea what a corner kick is. And when terms like “dead ball,” or “set piece” are spoken the terms wiz over most people’s heads like a foreign language.

A set piece is anything where the ball is dead and someone is kicking it: like a free kick, foul kick, goal kick and corner kick. These plays, which are the only ones the soccer team rehearses, are important because they allow players to take up various positions that suit their individual strengths.

The attacking team in a corner kick has the advantage because striking a motionless ball is technically easier, and the attacking team has time to push

situAtionANALYSIS

BREAKING DOWN DEADBALLS AND CORNERKICKSBY BRITTNEY HUBBARD

and set up their players into dangerous positions for the opponent.

The UGA soccer team has different numbered corner kicks. When the coach wants the team to run a certain kick he will signal to the team which one he wants them to do based on his body language.

Carli explained corner kick #1 where two players will start on the goal line. The player who starts on the near post will make a four yard burst of speed to lose her defender and create space. She then flicks the ball behind her when the other player, normally a tall player and one good at headers tries to get the ball back into the mix. This corner causes deception because it throws the defenders off with the flick of the ball.

Set plays rarely need to be complex; instead it’s more important to practice accuracy, timing and disguise. Dead-ball situations can create a greater scoring opportunity and increase the team’s chances of scoring directly.

5anyone. This play gave the Georgia Bulldogs an early 7-0 lead and kicked off the season in a sensational fashion.

2. AARON MURRAY throws a 36-yard touchdown to Orson Charles

THE PLAY: Against Boise State, Murray dropped back, was well protected by the O-line, and had plenty of time to find Orson Charles running open down the sideline for a touchdown.

BEYOND THE PLAY: The Bulldogs were down 28-7 in the third quarter, and they were facing a critical fourth down with 2 yards

FIVE GOODONES

to go. If the Dawgs couldn’t make something happen there, then the game would have been virtually over. To the surprise of Boise State, the Bulldogs went deep instead of just trying to pick up the 2 yards for the first-down and ended up with a 36-yard score instead.

3. ISAIAH CROWELL rushes for 28 yards against South Carolina

THE PLAY: Crowell got the handoff from Murray; saw nothing on the right side, so he cut the run back left into the hole. Here, he met two USC defenders, but found a way to bounce off both of them. Next, he broke the run outside, got past another defensive back

1. BRANDON BOYKIN’S 80-yard run for a touchdown against Boise State

THE PLAY: In the season opener, Boykin lined up as wide receiver, came into motion, took the handoff from Aaron Murray, and ran past everyone on his way to the end zone.

BEYOND THE PLAY: This play sent the Georgia Dome into mayhem, chaos, bedlam…whatever you want to call it. It was the first score of the most anticipated game of week one of the college football season, and Brandon Boykin did not intend on disappointing

5UGA’S TOP FIVE, AND NOT SO TOP FIVE PLAYS

BY JORDAN THOMAS

and finally went down at USC’s 26-yard line.

BEYOND THE PLAY: Isaiah Crowell is the truth. After all the hoopla and talk about the highly anticipated recruiting class, we finally got to see it on the field. The former blue-chip prospect showed off his skills and easily exploited the South Carolina defense on his way to a 118-yard rushing day. By the way, he did this with only 16 carries (7.4 yards per carry)! Bulldog fans will anxiously look forward to seeing more of this guy in the upcoming games.

4. AARON MURRAY throws a 33-yard touchdown pass to Tavarres King

THE PLAY: The Bulldogs were in a 3-wide receiver set coming out of

shotgun. Murray took a couple of steps back to get to his launching pad, and he threw a nice 33-yard pass to King who went up and got the ball over USC’s CB, C.C. Whitlock.

BEYOND THE PLAY: Georgia was down against South Carolina 45-35 with 2:25 left to go in the game. They needed to score, and they needed to do it in a hurry. Murray saw that Tavarres had one-on-one coverage on the outside, and he decided to take advantage of the opportunity. It couldn’t have come at a better time for the Bulldogs. With this score and extra point, they were only down 45-42 and had a chance to complete their comeback against the Gamecocks.

5. ISAIAH CROWELL’S 29-yard rush against Ole Miss

THE PLAY: UGA was backed up all the way to their own two-yard line. It was a third and nine, and what did Mark Richt and Co. decide to do? Give it to Isaiah Crowell. The Offensive line gave Crowell some room to work with, and he took the run up the middle, broke a tackle, juked, cut outside, and ran up the sideline for a 29-yard rush.

BEYOND THE PLAY: This kid is truly a playmaker, and after the Ole Miss game, you can tell that UGA’s coaching staff wants him to touch the football as much as possible. This guy is picking up 10-12 yards a clip. Every time he touches the ball, there’s a threat of him making a big play. This guys will be exciting to see grow over the next 4 years.

Continued on next page...

51. KELLEN MOORE passes to Kyle Efaw for a 12-yard touchdown

THE PLAY: The Broncos came out of a five wide-receiver set. Kellen dropped back and had more than enough time to find the underneath route. Kyle Efaw was dragging underneath UGA’s coverage; he caught the pass around the seven-yard line, and met UGA’s defense around the four-yard line. There, he encountered four to five Georgia defenders, but still found his way across the goal-line for the score.

BEYOND THE PLAY: Late in the second quarter, the game was tied up 7-7.The Broncos were looking to separate themselves from the Dawgs. With about 50 seconds left before the half, Kellen Moore found his sure-handed receiver, Kyle Efaw running across the middle of the field for the 12-yard touchdown. This put Boise State up by seven (14-7) going into halftime and the Broncos never looked back.

2. DOUG MARTIN scores on an 8-yard touchdown.

FIVE NOT SO GOOD ONES

5

THE PLAY: Boise State was lined up in an I-formation with a tight-end set up to the left as an extra blocker. The Broncos snapped the ball, pitched it out to Doug Martin, and he did the rest. He juked to fake like he was going inside but cut outside and then stiff-armed Brandon Smith on his way to the end zone.

BEYOND THE PLAY: Missed tackles and mistakes were a huge part of the UGA-Boise State game. This was simply an example of another one. This play, just like the one previously described, could have been stopped with a wrap-up tackle, but it was not, and instead the Broncos went up 21-7. Missed tackles could be a problem for the Bulldogs all-season.

3. STEPHEN GARCIA throws a 34-yard touchdown pass to Alshon Jeffrey.

The Play: Garcia dropped back on a second and seven, with about seven minutes to go in the second-quarter. He felt pressure coming from his left and rolled out to the right, launched the ball about 40 yards and dropped it right in the hands of Alshon Jeffrey. Mr. Jeffrey made a nice catch and got one foot in bounds in the end zone.

BEYOND THE PLAY: Big plays, turnovers and mistakes by UGA, and a late but heavy dose of Marcus Lattimore was the reason

for Georgia’s defeat in this game. This qualifies as one of the big plays that contributed to South Carolina’s win. The Stephen Garcia to Alshon Jeffrey connection is one of the best QB-WR combos in the country and we’ll definitely see a lot more from them as the year goes on.

4. MARCUS LATTIMORE breaks a 36-yard run all the way to Georgia’s 2-yard line

THE PLAY: With a little under five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, UGA was up 35-31. South Carolina was driving the ball down the field. They were at Georgia’s 38-yard line, when Marcus Lattimore did what he does best. He took the handoff, went straight up the middle, broke one tackle, cut outside, and there he went…all the way to UGA’s 2-yard line. A few plays later, Lattimore would punch it in for the TD.

BEYOND THE PLAY: This big run eventually led to South Carolina’s 38-35 lead. After that, Georgia never saw the lead again and would fall to a 10-point deficit before they eventually scored and lost 45-42. Marcus Lattimore had another monster game against the Bulldogs as he racked up 176 yards and a touchdown in this one.

5. RANDALL MACKEY throws to Donte Moncrief for 38-yard touchdown.

THE PLAY: This was a creative, crazy,

trick play. Ole Miss was lined up in a wildcat formation. Their running back was lined up as QB, and their QB was lined up as the right wide-out receiver. Before the play, the receiver lined up on the left side of the field came into motion, Ole Miss snapped the ball, then handed it off to the receiver in motion. From the other side, their QB (Zack Stoudt) came around, and the receiver tossed the ball back to Stoudt. He got the ball, looked down the field and found Donte Moncrief wide open down the field. Moncrief easily caught the ball and waltzed in the easy score. Whew, that’s one complex, trick play to describe. The video demonstrates the play so much easier!

BEYOND THE POINT: This play gave Ole Miss their first touchdown of the game and gave them some hope. On UGA’s side, there was nothing they could do about this. Of course, there was obviously a breakdown in coverage, but with so much going on (as explained above in the play), it would be hard for Georgia’s secondary to stay disciplined and stick to their assignments. Occasional mental lapses are common, especially on trick plays, but UGA certainly does not want this to become a reoccurring problem.

Realized Potential

Obstacles Faced as a Female Athlete

Advice to

Young

Women

Breaking

Stereotypes

Volleyball middle hitter Ann Dylla and stand-out long distance runner Leslie Boozershed light on women’s athletics

Ann Dylla Leslie Boozer

A WOMAN’S GAME

I knew I had serious athletic potential my freshman year in high school when I got my first college recruiting letter, but I had a different sport in mind. Basketball was my main sport most of my life and I had only played volleyball on my school teams for fun. When we played in the state tournament my junior year I started receiving interest from big Division one programs and Prepvolleyball ranked me in the Top 50 for my class. I was extremely honored...

Maintaining femininity while being a serious athlete and feeling pressure to look a certain way.

Never lose sight of the love you have for your sport. When you have passion for what you do, all the hard work, early mornings, and time commitments aren’t a problem because you are getting to do what you love.

I feel people think female sports are slower, but I know volleyball is an extremely fast-paced sport and the games are fun to watch! Volleyball is still a sport that people are not as familiar with, so when the audience may not fully understand the game they may not be as inclined to watch.

I guess I realized that I could actually go somewhere with running during my high school career. We had a great high school team, won state year after year, qualified for nationals several times. But it was always a team success, not an individual one. It really hit me my senior year when I started getting contacted by college coaches. At that point, I realized I could be worth something in the future. Once that thought came to mind, I knew I couldn’t end my running career just yet.

...I could never have a body frame as small as your stereotypical cross country runner. Since nutrition and weight are such large components of my sport, it can be challenging not to compare myself to my teammates or other runners. At the end of the day though, I would love nothing more than to be living proof of a successful distance runner that is built of more than just skin and bones.

To young female athletes, all I have to say is, the time is now. Don’t wait until next year, next season, next game to really work at it. Give it all you got now, and don’t stop pushing until you’ve achieved everything you’ve ever dreamt of achieving.

It drives me insane that people view women’s sports as weak, lame, boring.. whatever the adjective. We give it our all, lay it all on the line, and fight like crazy just like guys do. Give us a little credit! Just cause we’re girls doesn’t mean It’s easy.

he University of Georgia football team didn’t start the 2011 season like many anticipated.

Disappointing losses to Boise State in the Georgia Dome and South Carolina in Athens had fans calling for changes. Critics and naysayers believed the lofty expectations for UGA could be dismissed and replaced with the same negative sentiments that the 2009 and 2010 versions of the Georgia football team received. T

THE

STUDENT SECTION

But many critics, sportscasters and analysts see Athens just a few weekends in the fall. A large portion of the 92,000 screaming fans in Sanford Stadium on Saturdays is made up of students. So how does the student body feel about the start of the 2011 football campaign?

“The [SEC] East is still open,” said Christian Adkins, a junior from Greensboro, NC. “Starting out 0-2 made every game after that much more important. We

can still win the East. I can see it being like ’07.”

Adkins’ forecast isn’t without warrant. The 2011 Bulldogs squad has similar characteristics to the 2007 team that finished 11-2 with a Sugar Bowl Victory.

The 2007 season started with a hyped non-conference match-up against Oklahoma State, a deflating loss to South Carolina and a demoralizing defeat against Tennessee. The ’07 squad recovered to

finish the season on a seven game winning streak, largely due to the play of newcomer Knowshon Moreno at tailback and a quarterback in his second season as a starter, Matthew Stafford.

Likewise, the ’11 team features a newcomer at tailback, Isaiah Crowell, and Aaron Murray in his second season as the Bulldogs signal-caller. After two hard losses, the Bulldogs have won a pair of games against overmatched opponents, and

the schedule sets up nicely for a run at an SEC East title. The improvement hasn’t gone without notice from the student body.

“I think the players got a shock from Boise State but have built up morale,” shared Natalie Sween, a junior from Atlanta. “They’ve played a lot better since [Boise State].”

The players weren’t the only ones shocked by the loss to then-ranked No. 5 Boise State.

“Going into the Boise State game I thought that it would be a close and good game,” stated Janie Mertz, a sophomore from Marietta. “Afterwards I was disappointed and worried for the rest of the season.”

Many students, while sharing in disappointment, acknowledge Boise State has

recently been one of the most successful programs in college football, and the loss didn’t hurt Georgia’s chances at an SEC title.

“After the game, my fan-hood obviously put me in a slight state of depression,” declared junior Terence White from Alpharetta. “But being a non-conference game, that [loss] would just hurt us in a national championship run and our

ranking. We still have a long season ahead.”

While an appearance in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta is certainly within the realm of possibility, students feel getting there will be a challenge without an improvement in player performance and coaching.

“In the first conference game, we saw a few too many mistakes—fumbles and lack of run defense—to call it a good loss,” White explained. “But with such young talent, it’s not completely surprising to see us lose.”

“What UGA fans have been seeing and complaining about for years are conservative, third down draws which haven’t necessarily gone over too well,” White said in regards to coaching issues. “It seems that with a highly recruited Aaron Murray behind center, we would have a little more faith in him to put the ball in the air.”

“I think Bobo has a very good playbook, but he doesn’t use good sequences when he calls plays,” Zack Krause, a sophomore from Cumming, Ga., explained.

In previous years, many of the coaching complaints were directed to the defensive side of the ball, but this season things have changed. Even

“IN THE FIRST CONFERENCE GAME WE SAW A FEW TOO MANY MISTAKES...”

after losing both starting inside linebackers, first Alec Ogletree, then Christian Robinson, the Bulldog’s defense has been good enough through the first four games to be ranked 13th nationally in total defense and sixth in rush defense in the country.

“Grantham’s defense has made a good improvement from last season. The loss of Ogletree has made it tough at the beginning of the season,

but they’ve adjusted well,” stated Krause.

Time will tell if Georgia can continue the success seen in its victories over Ole Miss and Coastal Carolina.

The 2011 recruiting class, nicknamed the “Dream Team” by players, coaches, and sportswriters alike, has already had a major impact on this year’s team. Crowell and wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell headline the class that has already had 15 of its 24 members see playing time through the first four games.

“I think we had an excellent recruiting season which is always great in the ever-competitive SEC, but I still feel that needs to be translated

on to the field on Saturdays,” White declared. “It was good to see Crowell average over 5 yards a carry in a road conference game (Ole Miss).”

Although analysts have been quick to write off Georgia as a lost program, students see

signs of hope for the rest of the season.

“We definitely have it more together than last year,” Mertz stated. “I’m excited to see what happens in the next few games.”

Mertz is not alone in that excitement.

“I think the season is just going to get better as time goes on,” echoed Sween.

Still, some acknowledge that success is a must if the Bulldogs want to remain relevant in college football, and if Mark Richt would like to remain the longest tenured head coach in the SEC, he needs to win now.

“Sometimes programs go stale and need a fresh start. Sometimes excitement runs out,” Krause explained. “This two game stretch with Mississippi State and Tennessee is a tell-tale stretch for our season and Richt’s career.”

While students have varying opinions about what they see on the field, most believe that they can do

their part to help the Bulldogs return to the Georgia Dome for the SEC Championship.

“Having supportive fans I think is such a positive impact because it helps keep the momentum going,” said Mertz.

“I believe fan support can only take you so far and that [team] talent will eventually prevail,” White stated.

When it comes to support, White appeared baffled at the lack of attendance, spirit, and, in general, interests, regardless of the team’s record or opponent.

“If it’s a Saturday in Athens and you’re not the least bit excited, I feel bad for you.”

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