A Message to the Georgia Dawg Pound: Settle Down!

Ok Georgia fans, now that I have your undivided attention, please listen up!  No, I don't really want you to settle down, on the contrary.  I think you guys should keep up the intensity until the final second of the BCS Championship game ticks away.  No, this is not a lecture. This is, however, some sage preseason advice from some rabid LSU fans that were in your shoes exactly one year ago!

So, last year your Bulldogs didn't make it to the SEC Championship game even though you swore that they were the best team in the SEC East, right?  Then another SEC team makes it to the BCS title game, thus placing your Dawgs in the Sugar Bowl where they routed a Hawaii team that probably didn't deserve to be in a BCS Bowl. 

Now almost every "expert" has UGA ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in their preseason polls.  Sound familiar?  It does to LSU fans, right down to their Sugar Bowl beat down of a Notre Dame team that probably didn't deserve to be in a BCS Bowl to cap off the '06 season.

Need more parallels?  Ok.

In the summer of 2007, LSU fans got the heartbreaking news that their beloved and long time mascot, Mike V, had passed away.  Shortly before the season began, LSU procured a gorgeous new Siberian Bengal tiger named "Roscoe."  He was huge.  His head is about the size of a Volkswagen.  By the time the season got into full swing he was coronated as "Mike VI" and everything in Baton Rouge seemed back to normal. 

This past June, Georgia fans suffered a similar emotional blow when it was announced that their long time mascot "Uga VI" had passed away.  "Uga V" had endeared himself to me when he snapped at an Auburn wide receiver that got too close while playing between the hedges.  Fortunately, the Seiler family has promised that "Uga VII," will present for the Bulldogs' home opener against Georgia Southern.

There are few things more exciting than knowing in the summer that your favorite college football team will be going on a championship run in the fall.  Well, here's a six pack on me!  Here are six survival tips from someone who has been there recently:

1)  Don't criticize your players on the message boards if they make a mistake or even lose a game.  No matter what anybody says, the players read those message boards and being young and competitive you know they take every word personally.  I know it's a tall order, but the administration should try to keep the crazies off your boards!

2)  If you absolutely feel the need to criticize someone on the team to quell any frustrations about a shortcoming you may have in life, then criticize the coaching staff.  It won't always be easy since Mark Richt is one of the best coaches in all of college football. However, when a player sees his coach being burned, it usually fires the player up and makes him play his heart out.  Reverse psychology my friends!

3)  Don't take any opponent for granted.  No matter how much better you are on paper, everybody wants to knock off No. 1.  And last year everybody did knock off No. 2!  Avoid overtime like your life depends on it.

4)  Don't let the hype get to you.  With the Bulldogs being the odds on favorites to win it all this year coupled with young Mr. Moreno already being on the Heisman watch, it will be easy to start believing in your own invincibility.  Trust me when I tell you that this dark seduction will only make it hurt that much worse if the boys happen to lose one.

5)  Take it easy on ESPN.  Sure, those guys have their favorites but I think they are genuinely good at their jobs.  You can bet that Herbstriet will be on the USC wagon (again), and Lou Holtz will pretend he can see the teleprompter while attempting to tell you that this will be Notre Dame's year (what is this, 1988?). But, as long as old Lou doesn't give Georgia one of his infamous "half time" speeches, you'll be fine. 

6)  If the Dawgs drop a game, or two for that matter, let not your hearts be troubled.  Say what you want about the BCS, but it's been great for the SEC (excluding 2004).  Getting through an SEC schedule and then winning the SEC Championship game can almost guarantee you a spot in the title game.  Hopefully you guys won't drop two and need a Christmas miracle to get an invitation to the dance.

I remember December 1, 2007 like it was yesterday.  I went to Bruno's Tavern, a killer sports bar just a stone's throw from the Tulane University campus in New Orleans (and also walking distance from my house) to watch the SEC Championship game.  I couldn't make it to Atlanta last year due to a business deal that held me up from making my flight the day before. 

After watching the Tigers get past a tough Tennessee team to take the SEC crown, I figured I'd just keep hanging out and watch the Big 12 title game.  No. 1 Missouri had been on a hot streak powered by the arm of their outstanding quarterback Chase Daniel.  But tradition prevailed and the fourth No. 1 team of the 2007 season went down. 

By this time, well let's just say that I had gone through enough frosty mugs that I thought it better to stay put for a while rather than walk home.  And what the heck, Pitt vs. West Virginia was coming on and I was still holding out hope that No. 2 would continue to be the deadliest ranking in college football. 

As it turned out, being ranked No. 2 in 2007 was just like turning on the Weather Channel and seeing Jim Cantore reporting from your town.  My fellow Gulf Coast residents know what I'm talking about.  Well, let's just say that in Louisiana, Dave Wannstedt is almost as popular as Les Miles.

But seriously Georgia fans, the last thought I want to leave you with is this...Enjoy it.  Savor every moment of it.  Don't miss a single second of this season because it has the makings to be one you will tell your grandchildren about. 

From the moment you walk into Sanford Stadium and shed tears of joy at the first sight of "Uga VII" until the tears are running down Pete Carroll's cheek as he and his team watch Matt Stafford kiss the crystal just like Vince Young did three years ago.  Don't miss a single solitary second.  This is, after all, College Football.  The greatest show on earth.

P.S. See you in Baton Rouge on October 25th!