Cocktail Thursday: Troy Edition.

Real life has once again intervened with a vengence, so that you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out the five things you need to know before the Bulldogs' Saturday showdown with Troy. In the meantime, you'll have to settle for Cocktail Thursday.

Often on Thursday I offer you a libation themed around the upcoming game. However this week I'm breaking with tradition and looking backward (let's just hope that the 'Dawgs don't follow my example, because that could be disasterous against the Troy Trojans). Last Saturday against Florida, I have to admit I was seriously worried up until the very end. However, one sign that we might have things in hand came when Rennie Curran stopped Andre Caldwell on 4th and 2 in the 4th.

Rennie is just a tackling machine, and that's something this team has needed in the linebacking corps. Missed tackles are contagious, and the fewer carriers we have, the better. And we've done an absolutely horrible job of stopping teams on big 3rd and 4th downs (see, for example the 4th quarter of the South Carolina game). Tony Taylor was the guy who stepped up in that situation in the past. Rennie's bid to become the next big play 'backer is a welcome development, even if he has a long way to go to be an every down fixture on Willie Martinez's D.

So, while Rennie may or may not start this week, you should toast to his future with a Rennie Currant. It's made by mixing 1 and 1/2 ounces of Absolut vodka kurant (made with currants, not Currans), 1 ounce of triple sec and 2 ounces of cranberry juice. Mix well in a high ball or similar glass and enjoy. It packs a punch, just like our favorite vertically challenged freshman linebacker.

Until tomorrow,

Go 'Dawgs!