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Chanticleers Good Medicine For Bulldogs

By Don Stone - Football Atlanta

     Outside of Sanford Stadium before the game, I heard a desperate fan trying to unload a few tickets of a friend who decided not to show up. Someone asked, "How much?"
    "Face value...$40 bucks," he said.
    "Not today," was the answer. "I'll give you $15."
    And the deal done.

      Now, this was more like it...the way a Saturday in Athens is supposed to look like.
     Three touchdowns for the Dawgs in the first quarter. Two more and it was 35-0 by halftime. The Chanticleers barely mustered a yard in the interim. To be fair, Coastal Carolina did rack up a whopping 48 total yards in the first half.
     But what else would you expect a Chanticleer to do?
     What is a Chanticleer, anyway? And, who's great idea was it to name a football team that in the first place. I'd like to hear what that meeting sounded like.
     "Let's call them the Panthers." Naw, how about the Wildcats? Naw, I've got it. The Chanticleers. How graceful sounding!"
     Their media guide actually praises its "uniqueness."
     Actually, its from Chaucher's Canterbury Tales and came to the University when it was a member of the University of South Carolina system from 1954-1993. A Chanticleer is a rooster who rules the barnyard with cunning and wit. His competitiveness never wanes as he battles to the end, using his brains to come out on top every time....except between the hedges.
     Felt the need to clear that up since I mocked its name.
     What is it with that state and its obsession with roosters and gamecocks? Are they that terrifying? But, I digress. Back to the game.
     The premise here was, if you get whipped by the big brother, then go stomp the little brother.
     The Bulldogs needed to stomp someone. If they didn't, then an disappointed fan base would. This feast must have reminded them of the last time they dined like this. As Mark Richt said before the game, "the last time we won was Thanksgiving."
     This was a massacre. Early in the second half, UGA was playing mostly backups. Hutson Mason was in at quarterback. No difference. Eleven minutes into the third quarter, it was 52-0. Actually, by the time I was done typing that sentence, it was 59-0. And, at this point, the Bulldogs had two touchdowns called back for penalties.
     A bit of mercy followed by the offense who pretty much just ran out the clock. The defense, on the other hand, was thirsty for a shutout, and got it.
     In case you're wondering about the school scoring record...no chance. UGA beat Alabama Presbyterian with 108 points in 1913. Most points scored since 1933 was 81 against Mercer in 1941. It was, though, the most points scored by a Bulldog team in about 15 years when they ran up 70.
     As the fourth quarter started, the big new scoreboard had its Russ Cam shot. The interim mascot was soundly asleep on his ice bag inside his house. Not sure if it was the Chanticleer offense or defense that was causing the snoozefest.
     Overall, after the way this season started, who can complain about a blowout? A fun day was had by all wearing red and black. A good way to get things back in gear and get ready for a return to SEC competition as the Bulldogs head to Mississippi State on Saturday. Next home game is in two weeks as the other team from that state visits Sanford Stadium.