We live in a world where you often have to take sides.
There is no “fence-straddling,” as my Dad used to say, allowed. You either love liver or you hate it. You think Celine Dion is a great singer or you think she’s an overrated gas-bag (guess which way I lean); you’re a Republican or you’re a Democrat; you prefer paper over plastic; you’re either “less filling” or you’re “great taste.” You get the picture.
Now we have to throw one more option into the mix. Does a decade end at 09 or does it end at 10? Was December 31, 2009 the end of a decade or will it not come until December 31, 2010? I tend to lean toward the latter because there was no year 0 AD. We went straight from 1 BC to 1 AD. Now I’ve gone and done it. I’ve given myself a headache. Anyway, most experts (whoever they are) seem to feel that we have just passed the decade of the 00’s at the end of 2009 so, I will fall in line with the theme of this column.
As anyone who reads this column knows, I am a Georgia fan. If you read this column because you are looking for a lot of facts, opinions, and commentary about Tech, Auburn, or any other school, for that matter, you are looking in the wrong space.
My heart belongs to the Red and Black and because of that, I thought it would be fun for all of you readers who feel like I do to look back at the past “decade” and relive some of its highlights on the football field. I want to look back at the Top 5 games of the past decade and also I will be naming my Top 5 players. This is my list so I am sure it will not agree with yours in both areas but I would love to hear your reasoning for a certain player or for a specific game. Write to me at the email address shown below and I’ll share your thoughts in a later column. Be nice!
Here goes. Let’s look at my Top 5 Georgia Bulldog players for the past decade:
#5: Billy Bennett
At the time of his graduation, Bennett was the SEC’s career leader and second in NCAA history in points with 409. He hit 31 field goals in 2003 which is another SEC mark. His highlight came against arch rival Georgia Tech in 2001 when he kicked 6 field goals and one PAT , a single game record at Georgia.
#4: Knowshon Moreno
I’m sure many of you would rank him higher but I’m still upset that he left us a year early. In 2008, he rushed for 1400 yards (fifth best all-time) and 16 touchdowns (fourth best). His highlight is easily his game against Florida when he rushed 33 times for 188 yards and three TD’s.
#3: Thomas Davis
One of the hardest hitting players ever to wear the Red and Black, he amassed 272 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and three interceptions. Against Alabama in 2003, he had seven tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery, and he blocked a punt and then picked it up and scored a TD.
#2: David Greene
This one is tough. My #1 and #2 could be flip-flopped with no difficulty. He is the best quarterback I’ve ever seen at UGA. Not because of his passing or running skills but because of his leadership. He holds the school record for completions, attempts, passing yards, and TD’s. I’ll talk about his highlight later.
#1: David Pollack
His interception of Corey Jenkins in the end zone says it all about what type of player this young man was. His defensive statistics are too numerous to mention. In my opinion, he has set the standard of how every Georgia player should play but, alas, there is only one David Pollack.
Honorable Mention: Boss Bailey, Tim Jennings, Brannon Southerland, Mohammed Massaquoi, Ben Watson, Max Jean-Giles, Jon Stinchcomb, Charles Grant, Rennie Curran, and (against my better judgment) Matthew Stafford.
Now for the best games.
#5: Georgia’s win over Florida in 2007
“The Celebration Game.” Georgia’s 42-30 win was memorable because it upset Urban Meyer so much that he couldn’t talk after the game.
#4: “The Blackout Game”
The Dawgs beat Auburn 45-20 wearing those black jerseys. The fans were charged up and so was Georgia that night. The jerseys should have been retired afterwards, however.
#3: 2005 SEC Championship
Georgia (#13) crushed LSU (#3) 34-14 with big plays in all areas of play. DJ Shockley had a big day with two early TD passes to Sean Bailey.
#2: “70-X Takeoff”
This was the signal call that Greene gave to the offense in the huddle on fourth down at Auburn in 2002. He found Michael Johnson in the corner of the end zone pulling out a 24-21 victory and a chance to play for the SEC Championship which they won a few weeks later over Arkansas.
#1: The “Hobnail Boot”
One of the most dramatic and exciting finishes to a game I’ve ever seen. Tennessee had just broken our hearts by scoring to take the lead but the Dawgs came roaring down field in the last minute of play led by redshirt-freshman David Greene. Greene stood coolly in the pocket and found Verron Haynes in the back of that checkerboard end zone and the Dawgs won 26-24.
Honorable Mention: Georgia demolishes Tech 51-7; Georgia demolishes previously unbeaten Hawaii 41-10; 45-16 win over LSU in Athens; comeback win over Virginia Tech in Chick-fil-A Bowl; 2007 overtime win over Alabama; and all the games involving Reggie Ball. I wish he had some eligibility left.
Randy Blalock is a columnist for the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at rblalock@mindspring.com.
