The year of the Dawg?
Most NCAA football teams report for practice this week, which marks the beginning of a very special time of year for A Free Man, and A Free Boy. While his Mum is not enamored of this photo, I’m pleased to see that Baby Z is working on his game face for the upcoming season. He’s even got a bit of drool there in the corner of his lip to indicate that he’s preparing for the 2008 season with just the right amount of rabidity.
Those of you who are relatively recent readers may not be aware that A Free Man’s Saturdays (now Sundays) in Autumn (now Spring) revolve largely around the exploits of the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team. You may not know that I take the goings on of my alma mater’s football team so seriously that I have been known to be reduced to tears after a tough loss and have woken neighbors on two (soon to be three) continents with glorious, though often untimely, shouts of victory. Even Baby Z has been, possibly unwillingly, caught up in the excitement of the college football season - sporting a different Georgia Bulldogs’ inspired ensemble every Saturday last Autumn. Well, almost every Saturday.
Well, the 2008 season is around the corner - a mere 26 days away - and a lot of the pundits have my Dawgs ranked at the top of their preseason polls. I tend to be a bit skeptical - the Bulldogs have big games at LSU, Auburn and Arizona State and a “neutral” site game against the loathsome Florida Gators. In addition, some members of the team are acting like they’ve already won a national championship. Jinx potential aside and despite the tragic loss of our mascot earlier in the year, it looks like it could be a great year to be a Georgia Bulldog. And, yes, we’ll be taking wagers from anyone who has the stones.
You may be surprised to learn that Georgia Bulldogs gear is hard to come by in places like the south of England and South Australia. So, Baby Z and I have relied largely on family, friends, and blog readers to help us out. For example, the top he’s wearing in the picture at top comes from our friends at The Dawgcast. Now, I’ve got a little deal for you my readers. Georgia Bulldogs gear is remarkably hard to come by in South Australia. So, Baby Z and I are willing to reciprocate any gifts of kid sized Dawg kit* with a little something special that you may not be able to find in your neck of the woods**. Just one more think I need to say….
SIC ‘EM DAWGS!!! WOOF WOOF WOOOF!!
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* Other SEC teams’ kit are not welcome, Jamie.
** Kangaroo scrotum wallet, Jason.
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Elliott Smith’s posthumous “New Moon” is available from 
.
UPDATE
Jamie brought out the Gator smack talk early, so I feel justified in responding with a brief photo essay:
Popularity: 84% [?]
FYI, AFM, the rabid-insanity-teams in Australia always seem to wear the colours black and white. Collingwood in the AFL, Port Adelaide in the SANFL.
In SA, West Adelaide wears the Georgia Tech colours. And thir mascot is another bad-tempered dog. As they say in Oz, you may choose to barrack for them. You will horrify and disgust the Arizaphale household, but that will make excellent blog-snipe material.
HB8
P.S. BTW, blogger seems to have eaten your last comment about cool brass band music on DüE. I’ll mail you the text, and if you’d care to re-post it on your next visit, I shall install a pithy follow-up.
headbang8s last blog post..There’s always a Somethingfest
06 Aug 2008 at 7:04 pm
Oh boy oh boy….football season is nearly here. Your posts last year nearly made a Grid Iron fan of me. (seriously)
Zac is certainly a ‘contenda..’
HB8: a) Chris is far too intelligent to ever follow West Adelaide…. I do not see him as bloodhound
b) I notice you did not email ME my eaten comments!! Not worthy of a repost??? Were you hoping I’d come up with something better? More intelligent? Pithy perhaps?
Fat chance. I can barely remember my address at this point.
arizaphales last blog post..Battle Of The Choirs
06 Aug 2008 at 11:34 pm
You may not believe it, but I was glad to see Georgia in the top spot of the preseason rankings. It seems like its been a long time since that spot wasn’t held by either USC or OSU, two teams I’ve never really liked. Although if the Big 12 got half as much respect as the SEC or Big 10, Missouri might be challenging Georgia for the top spot.
Too bad Georgia and Mizzou aren’t likely to play (unless we think national championship already?), otherwise I’d take you up on a wager. Perhaps for a different Australian novelty item though….
06 Aug 2008 at 11:45 pm
I think Georgia is also heading into the season as #1 in off-season arrests.
07 Aug 2008 at 12:02 am
I’m nervous about this season. I’m a FSU fan, myself, and we’ve had some very iffy years lately.
Gypsys last blog post..Sounding the retreat
07 Aug 2008 at 12:56 am
You and Jeff, counting down the days! He was watching a game from last year on Fox Sports South last night (drooling about the same amount as Z in the pic). Soon I suppose we’ll be breaking out the video tapes of the better games (we have all the big games since we met in ‘98… Is that weird?) I really, really hope it turns out well for the Dawgs this year. This is the first year Grant will be old enough that the whole family can go to games together.
As for Bulldog gear, how do you feel about hand-me-downs? If you’re okay with them, just let me know Z’s size, and I’ll see what we have from my guys. Otherwise I’ll keep my eye out for him when we do our Dawg shopping this year.
Jessica Ks last blog post..Grant at the Beach
07 Aug 2008 at 1:07 am
Is there a new Uga yet?
Starrlights last blog post..I’m Too Sexy For My Cat - WW #61
07 Aug 2008 at 3:58 am
Sigh. I am a Yellow Jacket and am NOT looking forward to this football season. The only thing I can do is hope UGA crashes and burns.
I’m afraid we can no longer be blogfriends until football season is over. See you in January!
courtneys last blog post..Mothers. Am I Right?
07 Aug 2008 at 4:37 am
You sound like my cousin-in-law and her love of her alma mater, Auburn. I’ve never seen so much Auburn baby gear in all my life. Never having gone to a major university, I don’t fully understand the craziness of fall college football. If I HAD to side with a particular team, it would be the WVU Mountaineers (How ’bout them ‘Eers!).
So, that being said, what size is baby Z, what is your addy down under, and can I get a didgeridoo (with a native Australian to play it) in return?
Hee hee!
07 Aug 2008 at 5:08 am
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07 Aug 2008 at 5:35 am
Headbang - thanks for the AFL tip, but I looked up the “Bloods” and 1) They have lost every game this season except one and 2) Their nickname is that of a common U.S. gang - could get me in trouble back in the ole US of A.
Ariza - wait til this year and I’ll actually make you a fan!
Jason - I do think the Big 12 is underrated, but still not up to the SEC standards. You know I’m cheering for the Tiggers as well!
Nathan - NUMBER 1! NUMBER 1! Whether it be for the best on the field or the best drunken thugs, we’re still NUMBER 1!
Gypsy - you’ve got a lot to be nervous about. My Dad’s and FSU fan and I’m pretty sure their the third, maybe fourth best team in Florida this year.
Jess & CMGD - I’m mailing you my mailing address he’s in 12 months now, so anything from 12 - 24 and we’ll be styling. No problem with hand me downs as well. CMGD - I know that you’re in the Peach State - maybe it’s time for a conversion?
Starr - I suspect.
Courtney - It could be worse - you live in the heart of Vol country. You could be a UT fan. As a Techie, at least you’re cheering for the right state. And hell, I admire you for your loyalty to what is a truly pathetic football team.
07 Aug 2008 at 6:24 am
University of Michigan fan over here…. I’ve already got Tyler’s outfit purchased and ready for kickoff. I’ve verified that I do indeed receive the Big Ten Network in HD from my satellite receiver.
Joes last blog post..Sarah dropped the baby!!!
07 Aug 2008 at 6:27 am
Ah, good. We’ve got a representative from the underrated Big 12 and now, the massively overrated Big 10! Joe, I can rant at you when some Big 10 team ruins the National Championship game, again.
07 Aug 2008 at 8:06 am
First, don’t all Georgia fans drool all the time anyway?
Second, for a UGA kit, why does it have to be red and black? Why not dress Zach like the typical dawgs fan–in a Hooters T-shirt and black-denim “acid-washed” cuts-offs that have not been washed since the last time Georgia won a national championship? Perhaps accented with a McCain for President trucker’s cap?
And, Joe, do we have to watch Ohio State lose yet another national championship game again this year?
07 Aug 2008 at 8:35 am
Ouch, strong words, James. I’d like to respond with a few visual images that I think clarify things:
http://www.afreeman.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/gator-fan.jpg
http://www.afreeman.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/gator-fan-2.jpg
http://deepsouthsports.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html
07 Aug 2008 at 9:33 am
Hey, I think someone is using my image in those photos without my permission!
But I am actually writing to defend Georgia against Nathan’s cruel jests about the number of arrests of UGA players. For years Georgia has been criticized for not preparing its players for life post-football, especially after UGA cancelled its class in “Deep fryers and deep frying: an appreciation.” These arrests are just part of their academic experience in Athens, providing that “real world experience” that universities so prize, and preparing the ‘Dawgs for their inevitable stints in the U.S. penal system.
07 Aug 2008 at 11:21 am
You know, you’re right Jamie. UGA is negligent, not preparing it’s players for the reality of life after college. I mean, a good number of our athletes will make the NFL, but those that aren’t good enough don’t have the luxury of degrees like these that I found in the UF academic catalog:
- B.A. - Import and Export of Exotic Reptiles
- B.S. - Swimming Pool Maintenance and Repair
- B.A. - Tanning Lotion Application
- B.S. - Window Tinting
- M.S. - Coca and Cannabis Cultivation
- Ph.D. - Beach Leisure Studies
However, based on some of those photos, it looks like they need to fanny up their coverage of genetics down there in Gainesville. I’d be happy to come over, for the right price, and give a remedial lecture on the effects of inbreeding.
07 Aug 2008 at 12:05 pm
It always bums me out when one dies, even though they end up being virtually identical. When I move to Georgia in 2013 I’ll go holler at a game for ya ;0
Starrlights last blog post..I’m Too Sexy For My Cat - WW #61
07 Aug 2008 at 12:16 pm
You wish your Ph.D. was in Beach Leisure Studies.
07 Aug 2008 at 12:57 pm
That poor, poor child.
I’m on board! Go Gators!!!!!!!!
07 Aug 2008 at 2:26 pm
Oh man, you sports dads. I am so going to get a mock-up made for my new Diapers of the Big 10, support your team by swaddlin your bebe’s heiner with your team’s logo. Fill your heart with team spirit while your child fills his pants. Oh, I’m going to make a bazillion dollars. I’ll even donate to their defense fund.
Chriss last blog post..Is This What They Mean When They Say Animal-Style?
07 Aug 2008 at 4:07 pm
Jamie - I wish my Ph.D. had been in Gator Stomping
Ben - Nice to hear from you, surprising that so many Gator fans know how to use computers.
Chris - I would totally buy those, I mean if you got the right league, diapers of the SEC.
07 Aug 2008 at 4:35 pm
My husband is from GA so secretly he is cheering you on, even encouraging you. However, even though I have no hopes of being competition for the two of you, my alma mater is the University of Kentucky, so I’m rolling my eyes at all your cheering.
And he knows better than to cheer outloud around me. I’ve trained him well.
07 Aug 2008 at 7:19 pm
man, I want a PhD in Beach Leisure Studies
09 Aug 2008 at 12:26 am