Who does #2 work for?

So, the stint at #1 only lasted a week (in game years). It seemed inevitable that the Dawgs would drop past the winner of USC-Ohio State anyway, so maybe it's better to be #2 heading into the South Carolina game, just to put a chip on the players' shoulders. The big question mark is who will fill the shoes of Jeff Owens. I'm hopeful that question will be answered by Kade Weston's speedy return and the emergence of a new superstar from the ranks of underclassmen.

But more importantly, a hearty welcome goes out to the next generation of the nation's best mascot:


Anyone who was able to watch the pre-game inauguration realizes that it probably took about an hour to get Loran's Best to actually face the camera for this picture. Mostly, he seems to want to show the crowd and the camera his other end. Rest assured, Uga VII is all male. Reich reports that the new doghouse has a special air conditioner, which is good because it was hotter than Hades at the Georgia Southern game.

So hot, in fact, that we learned personally about the energy crisis. As player after player went down with cramps, it was immediately apparent that inadequate fuel was obtained prior to the game. It wasn't just the cramps, however; it appeared that Georgia Southern's defense was out of gas starting with the coin flip. The empty tanks proved contagious, though, as our own defenders gave up 21 points after we ran up a 38-0 lead. In the end, we were all standing there with our thumbs in the air trying to figure out what direction the wind was blowing. Is this team the real deal? The accelerator was down to the floor and then it seemed like the engine just stopped. Had we driven right by our opportunity to put a shutout on the board? Were the warnings of our elder Uniting Dawg correct - that the 21 points allowed to the patsy from Statesboro would be enough to lose the precious #1 ranking?

A few McDonald's cookies and a 2-minute nap in the backseat later, I realized that we had been up 38-0 when we were playing our two-deeps on the depth chart. A lot of players (69, as it turns out) had seen the field by the time Georgia Southern (or was it Georgia State?) could remove their goose-egg from the scoreboard. Plus, we were wowed by several new stars on offense. I think we saw the birth of the most explosive offense we have ever had, with Caleb King and Richard Samuel showing that all the hype just might be real, and the receiving corps showing they might be the most talented bunch we have ever had.

Next week's tailgate will be crucial for calming nerves. The DOTWU Severe Weather Team is eyeing the latest hurricane models to determine if Hannah or Ike will pose a threat to tailgating festivities. The plan is to arrive pre-dawn at the Driftmeir building with ponchos and enough High Life to fill a five-gallon gas can.