Welcome to Tuesday, Bulldog fans! If your calendar also reads August 20, you know you’re 11 days away from the start of the 2024 Georgia Bulldog football season. If your calendar reads something else, you’re in a faraway time zone or you need to manage your calendar better.
It’s the final week before game week. In effect, the 4th 3rd and final preseason game. So we’re giving our starters a breather, letting them rest up, applying appropriate amounts of bubble wrap, all in anticipation of another great season at Dawg Sports. So you’re stuck with me. Like Stetson Bennett, I might throw a few picks, try an ill-advised hero play or two, but I hope I get that game-winning TD in a meaningless game.
The angle. The pass. The catch. pic.twitter.com/a52hecDtDf
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 18, 2024
We begin with some good news on the Athens-Clarke County Police front. Reckless driving charges were dropped against Smael Mondon, Jr. At ACC Municipal Court Monday, Mondon pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor driving offense, and had previously attended driving classes and paid a fine. In exchange, the other charges were dropped. And while this makes his availability for the Clemson game more certain, it doesn’t mean Coach Kirby Smart won’t serve up some sort of discipline for the star linebacker, including missing some game time.
Yesterday you saw macondawg’s post on pre-season hardware. I guess the networks wanted to get out in front of the Associated Press. But not to be outdone, the venerated AP released their All-Americans. And 3 first teamers study in the Classic City. Sure enough, Carson Beck leads the way, with guard Tate Ratledge and safety Malaki Starks joining him. Dylan Fairchild is the lone Bulldog on the AP 2nd team.
You know Georgia is ranked #1 in the AP Poll, released last week. And now ESPN has unveiled it believes UGA to be #1 in its Preseason College Football Power Rankings. The reasons? Carson Beck, “perhaps the best offensive line Smart has had at Georgia”, and a great defense. And you know this, man!
Continuing the rankings theme, the University of Georgia Women’s Volleyball team starts the season ranked as the #25 team in the nation. We need some juice in the Steg, at least before it turns cold.
That’s all for now on a slow news Monday. Unless you’re a Georgia Tech fan, in which case you’re more concerned about the embarrassment of being harassed in a distant land by people you can’t understand, and who know your mascot as a German Wasp. Let us know if any news breaks, enjoy your day, and as always…
GO ‘DAWGS!!!