It's college football's offseason. That's not my problem. It's not your problem. It's our problem. And collective problems call for collective solutions.
Thus we present Free Form Friday. Until further notice, I'll spend Fridays posting a vaguely organized compendium of non-sequiturs, pop culture observations and college sports miscellany which you may discuss in the comments, or ignore in favor of your own topics. Think of it as your weekend open comment thread.
As you've no doubt heard by now, the Georgia Theatre in Athens caught fire early this morning. Paul Westerdawg has some photos of the blaze (along with a comment thread that will take you down memory lane), and the Banner Herald has photos showing that the facade at least appears intact, and confirmation from owner Wilmot Greene that he intends to rebuild. That said, when a building that old catches fire there can be all sorts of structural gremlins which come out of the woodwork. Here's hoping the place is properly insured and can be repaired, so there'll be more of this:
As you've also no doubt heard, Dennis Dodd sometimes writes things that makes you scratch your head. I know the feeling. You put a few hundred words in print every week and you'll eventually type something dumb, confusing or inflammatory. But it's a real feat of literary prowess when you write something that gets bucket hat wearing wunderblogger Orson Swindle in on defending the Georgia Bulldogs arrest record. If the world were fair, Dodd would have to give us all access to his driving record so we could see how many parking tickets he got in college and then flap our gums about how out of control he was, and how his adviser and/or resident assistant should be held accountable for it. But the world is not fair, which probably explains why the Georgia Theatre is smouldering and Urban Meyer hasn't come down with a minor, treatable infestation of Egyptian blood flukes.
Three Words: Adult. Kickball. League. Now I just have to find out if Brandon Coutu has plans for the offseason. If not, I have cash money which I hope will secure his services as the cleanup hitter for the team I'm putting together.
Finally, as you've no doubt heard, Georgia State will be playing football in 2010. But have you heard that they'll be playing a game against Alabama in Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2010? I understand that Alabama fans want one last chance to throw things at Bill Curry. I know a few Bulldog fans who feel the same way. But this is no way to schedule if you want to be taken seriously as an SEC powerhouse. If you're going to play 1-AA schools, at least play one coming off a 3-9 season which included a stirring victory over Gardner-Webb. Or one that lost at Liberty by 6 touchdowns (Go Gator!). Because life is all about the standards you set for yourself, Crimson folk.
Feel free to pepper the comments with a) your favorite Georgia Theatre memories, b) your appraisal of Dennis Dodd's writing, c) a really gross story about your own bout with egyptian blood flukes (or Urban Meyer, whichever), or d) which playground sport is most suitable for adult league play. Other than dodgeball, because Dodgeball references are the low hanging fruit of sports blog comment sections everywhere.
Until later . . .
Go 'Dawgs!!!