If it's the offseason, this must be the time for Georgia football players to begin taking part in basically harmless yet nevertheless maddeningly foolhardy incidents involving allegations of criminal wrongdoing.
Fortunately, the Classic City has never been a haven for the sorts of eyebrow-raising shenanigans historically associated with Oklahoma, Miami, Florida State, Tennessee, or, of course, Ohio (Ohio), but the Red and Black perennially have their share of arrests for driving on a suspended license or minor alcohol-related offenses.
This year, alas, will be no exception: Akeem Hebron, a redshirt freshman expected to compete for playing time at outside linebacker, was booked by the University Police Department for alleged underage possession of alcohol approximately at 8:00 this morning. (I am, as always, obliged to the Dawg Bone for directing Bulldog Nation's attention to this unfortunate news.)
Hebron will celebrate his 19th birthday on June 29. Obviously, it is early, but, although this sounds like a typical instance of a kid being away at college and making the same sorts of poor decisions many young men make in his position, I can't help wondering about the timing of his booking. 8:00 on a Sunday morning is an awfully odd time to be partying, even in Athens, so I will be interested to learn about the circumstances surrounding the allegations against Hebron.
In other news:
- The story of the death of the mother of defensive lineman Michael Lemon continues to unfold. Much like MaconDawg, I don't know the right words to say in this situation, except that our thoughts and prayers are with the Lemon family.
- I wanted Georgia to play Texas in the 2007 football season and, if Mark Schlabach is right, I will get my wish . . . in Glendale, of all places. The 'Dawgs have attended a Bluebonnet Bowl, a Capital One Bowl, a Chick-fil-A Bowl, two Citrus Bowls, three Cotton Bowls, three Gator Bowls, a Hall of Fame Bowl, an Independence Bowl, two Liberty Bowls, a Music City Bowl, an O'ahu Bowl, an Oil Bowl, three Orange Bowls, three Outback Bowls, four Peach Bowls, a Presidential Cup Bowl, a Rose Bowl, eight Sugar Bowls, three Sun Bowls, and a Tangerine Bowl, but never a Fiesta Bowl, so it might be nice to travel outside the Old Confederacy for a bowl game for just the second time since 1950.
- For anyone who came away from national signing day disappointed at a few recruits that got away, fear not: Georgia's 2008 class is shaping up nicely already.
- Paul Westerdawg recently interviewed Albert Hollis II. You'll want to check it out if you haven't done so previously.
- Finally, our congratulations go out to Tony Ball on the occasion of his induction into the U.T.-Chattanooga hall of fame. Good for you, Coach.