Quiet Offseason Helps Freshman To Ease Into Bulldog Nation
By Don Stone - Football Atlanta
For most teams in college football, softer teams are
scheduled early. This is done for good reason. As a coaching staff, you're
dealing with largely a brand new team. There are many stars returning. You
know what to expect from them and can plan around it.
But, added into that soup are a ton of unknown
ingredients. Players who just six months earlier were running down the field
of their high school stadium and wondering about who to take to prom. They
were all stars on their teams, the best players graduating. But, this is a
whole new level. And, its easy to forget that these are 17 and 18-year-old
kids. Most of us normal folks had little responsibility in life at that age,
much less to be expected to be a difference maker in a multi-million dollar
business where your every move is analyzed and critiqued by throngs around
the state and nation.
But, that's what every college coach must deal with
every year at this time. You visit their homes in the offseason, talk with
their parents and convince them that their future will be bright if they
come to your school. Once you have done that sales job and they're on
campus, then you begin teaching them a whole new system and way of doing
things. Take a lot of what they learned so far and chuck a lot of it as
well. There's a lot to learn...not only the x's and o's of what to do on the
field, but how to avoid embarrassment and confusion with bad publicity when
they're out on their own. You inmpress upon each new player that he can't be
a wild partying guy like a lot of incoming college kids want to be. They
have to be aware that every move is being scrutinized and can reflect badly
on the team. You are what you Tweet! Georgia has had more than its share of
bad off campus publicity, costing them some valuable players.
The headline "Bulldog Player Arrested," has appeared all too often
in recent seasons. With over a dozen incidents in the last few years, this
off season has been refreshingly quiet of lawyers. But, there still were
some events that resulted in players being lost. Running back Caleb King was
found to be academically ineligible and is gone.
A player who showed a lot of promise at that position will now be
promising at Jacksonville State. Washaun Ealey had rushed for 1,528 yards
and 14 touchdowns in his two seasons at UGA. He had a hit and run arrest
last year that caused Mark Richt to suspend him from the opener. Another
suspension this spring was given because of a missed workout. The head
butting had to stop and a decision was made to have him transfer from the
team.
Offensive lineman Brent Benedict has transferred to Virginia Tech.
Offensive lineman A.J. Harmon, linebacker Marcus Dowtin, defensive back Nick
Williams, and wide quarterback Logan Gray...all will be playing elsewhere.
All of that diminishes that stability aspect of the team from
having experienced returning players familiar with what you do and what the
team and school are all about. It puts even more pressure on the new
recruits who have never played a down in a college football game.
So, as fans, we all sit back anxiously awaiting another fall of
college football. We check out the preseason training camps and hear about
who is looking good. We read the online reports of who to keep an eye on,
what coach is on the hotseat, etc.
But, behind the scenes, a lot of psychology is thrown into the mix
to get the best balance of experience and maturity and skill on your side of
the ball when kickoff finally arrives. Who does that the best will go a long
way in deciding who is still standing in a few months and who watches all
the excitement from their dorm rooms.
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