What's Left to Say? Plenty.
The editor of the Birmingham News apparently thinks we've already lost to Auburn.
John Kaltefleiter from the Athens Banner Herald sounds like he's either gleefully watching the Hindenberg go down or about to jump out a 30th story building, it's tough to tell.
I'd like to give all of you some good news, some glimmer of hope, but there simply isn't any, yet. One of two things will happen over the next three weeks: either we'll find out that Mark Richt is a great motivator and his troops will respond, or this thing will continue spiraling out of control. There is really no evidence that the first will happen, and plenty of reason to think the second will. I'm hoping that we'll upset either Tech or Auburn. Even one would be a huge boost.
Unlike Kyle King, I do not believe we should forego a bowl game if offered one, no matter what happens. First, I'd note that there's absolutely no chance of that happening because of our own administrative imperatives and our contract with the SEC. Second, I generally don't find refuting utopian scenarios terribly productive and point number one makes this whole argument an exercise in utopian discourse.
But turning to the meat of the argument, my position is fivefold.
First, any experience is good experience when you're breaking in a young team that's learning how to win. That is precisely what we'll be doing in Boise, Shreveport, San Fransisco or wherever we end up (hopefully). As Kaltfleiter notes, Ian Smith, Seth Watts and a number of other guys we'll be counting on to stop the bleeding next year are unknown quantities. They need snaps to improve, not more time around the buffet table. Though Mikey Henderson might do well with some of that. He can get it after the bowl season.
I know, Kyle argues that we're risking a heartbreaking loss, that could send things further out of control. I'd point out that Georgia Tech experienced an embarrassing and heartbreaking loss in the Emerald Nut Bowl last year and will be playing for a conference title this year, having shattered the heretofor unchallengable Law of Chan Gailey Equilibrium. If only we could be so unfortunate.
Second, Kyle's argument, taken to its logical conclusion (much like David Hume's empiricism), is absurd. Following Kyle's logic, we should really just not play next season because a) we're bound to get people injured and b) we'll only really be ready for a title run in 2008 anyway, so why risk damaging our egos and losing momentum? Because life is full of risks. It's a dangerous business, walking out your front door. (HT: J.R.R. Tolkien). Either you make good things happen, or you let bad things happen to you. But one thing's for sure, you can't win the ones you don't play.
Third is a deontological point. I believe the point of having a football team is to play football games. I don't think we should turn down the opportunity to do that unless a) the game's in downtown Baghdad, b) it's a home-and-home with the Al Queda All-Stars, or c) the game is scheduled during the season finale of Heroes (which Paul WesterDawg and I agree is just that awesome). No one ever got better by sitting on the couch watching and crying in their cranberry sauce.
Fourth is an appeal to authority. Kyle says he'll be ready to finish the drill next year. I would argue, and I think Mark Richt would agree, that there's no clean distinction between this year and next. A bowl game, even in East Bumblefudge on December 12th against the Southwest New Mexico School for the Blind, is finishing the drill. As Bear Bryant once said (quoting loosely): "The first time you quit, it's hard to do. After that, it gets easier and easier." If we give up on this year, next year it gets easier. And that's a bad thing.
Finally, the future is now. A bowl game against a mediocre opponent (which, let's face it, this year describes us pretty well) gives us an opportunity to see who wants to play next year, and to look at some young guys during those invaluable bowl practices. Some might forget that we are currently recruiting a scad of offensive linemen (Trinton Sturdivant, Tanner Strickland, Vince Vance, Chris Little) who will be eligible to enroll in January and attend bowl practices. They can only do that if we actually have bowl practice.
To quote the innimitable Blutarsky "Over!?! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!?!" I say no, fellow Dawgfans, it was not over then, and it's not over now. We will get this ship turned around. But not sitting next to Uncle Fred watching the Weedeater Classic or the Bourbon Bowl and eating leftover ham. We gotta play our way out of this one, because, as they say in South Georgia, when you're running through a hog pen, you can do anything in the world except stop moving. Cause that's when it really stinks.
While I'm sure Kyle can certainly refute these arguments (he gets paid for that kind of thing, ya know) I have to admit he's got a long way to go to sway me on this one. More later,
John Kaltefleiter from the Athens Banner Herald sounds like he's either gleefully watching the Hindenberg go down or about to jump out a 30th story building, it's tough to tell.
I'd like to give all of you some good news, some glimmer of hope, but there simply isn't any, yet. One of two things will happen over the next three weeks: either we'll find out that Mark Richt is a great motivator and his troops will respond, or this thing will continue spiraling out of control. There is really no evidence that the first will happen, and plenty of reason to think the second will. I'm hoping that we'll upset either Tech or Auburn. Even one would be a huge boost.
Unlike Kyle King, I do not believe we should forego a bowl game if offered one, no matter what happens. First, I'd note that there's absolutely no chance of that happening because of our own administrative imperatives and our contract with the SEC. Second, I generally don't find refuting utopian scenarios terribly productive and point number one makes this whole argument an exercise in utopian discourse.
But turning to the meat of the argument, my position is fivefold.
First, any experience is good experience when you're breaking in a young team that's learning how to win. That is precisely what we'll be doing in Boise, Shreveport, San Fransisco or wherever we end up (hopefully). As Kaltfleiter notes, Ian Smith, Seth Watts and a number of other guys we'll be counting on to stop the bleeding next year are unknown quantities. They need snaps to improve, not more time around the buffet table. Though Mikey Henderson might do well with some of that. He can get it after the bowl season.
I know, Kyle argues that we're risking a heartbreaking loss, that could send things further out of control. I'd point out that Georgia Tech experienced an embarrassing and heartbreaking loss in the Emerald Nut Bowl last year and will be playing for a conference title this year, having shattered the heretofor unchallengable Law of Chan Gailey Equilibrium. If only we could be so unfortunate.
Second, Kyle's argument, taken to its logical conclusion (much like David Hume's empiricism), is absurd. Following Kyle's logic, we should really just not play next season because a) we're bound to get people injured and b) we'll only really be ready for a title run in 2008 anyway, so why risk damaging our egos and losing momentum? Because life is full of risks. It's a dangerous business, walking out your front door. (HT: J.R.R. Tolkien). Either you make good things happen, or you let bad things happen to you. But one thing's for sure, you can't win the ones you don't play.
Third is a deontological point. I believe the point of having a football team is to play football games. I don't think we should turn down the opportunity to do that unless a) the game's in downtown Baghdad, b) it's a home-and-home with the Al Queda All-Stars, or c) the game is scheduled during the season finale of Heroes (which Paul WesterDawg and I agree is just that awesome). No one ever got better by sitting on the couch watching and crying in their cranberry sauce.
Fourth is an appeal to authority. Kyle says he'll be ready to finish the drill next year. I would argue, and I think Mark Richt would agree, that there's no clean distinction between this year and next. A bowl game, even in East Bumblefudge on December 12th against the Southwest New Mexico School for the Blind, is finishing the drill. As Bear Bryant once said (quoting loosely): "The first time you quit, it's hard to do. After that, it gets easier and easier." If we give up on this year, next year it gets easier. And that's a bad thing.
Finally, the future is now. A bowl game against a mediocre opponent (which, let's face it, this year describes us pretty well) gives us an opportunity to see who wants to play next year, and to look at some young guys during those invaluable bowl practices. Some might forget that we are currently recruiting a scad of offensive linemen (Trinton Sturdivant, Tanner Strickland, Vince Vance, Chris Little) who will be eligible to enroll in January and attend bowl practices. They can only do that if we actually have bowl practice.
To quote the innimitable Blutarsky "Over!?! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!?!" I say no, fellow Dawgfans, it was not over then, and it's not over now. We will get this ship turned around. But not sitting next to Uncle Fred watching the Weedeater Classic or the Bourbon Bowl and eating leftover ham. We gotta play our way out of this one, because, as they say in South Georgia, when you're running through a hog pen, you can do anything in the world except stop moving. Cause that's when it really stinks.
While I'm sure Kyle can certainly refute these arguments (he gets paid for that kind of thing, ya know) I have to admit he's got a long way to go to sway me on this one. More later,
posted by MaconDawg at 9:51 AM
2 Comments:
Macon,
I agree with all 5 of your reasons. I think the fifth reason is the most important. Teams going to bowl games get extra practice time that would get you put on probation if you were a non-bowl team. With a team that executes as poorly as this one and with a coaching staff that still has no clue what the identity of this group is, additional practice time is the only way to make any strides out of the darkness.
Stafford needs about 1000 practice reps between now and any bowl game that will only help his maturation process.
Go Dawgs.
"No one ever got better by sitting on the couch watching and crying in their cranberry sauce."
AWESOME line.
I've been meaning to write an article about the lunacy of turning down a bowl invite. I just haven't gotten around to it.
Solid.
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