Cocktail Thursday: Taking The Tigers By The Tail.

Surprisingly, this is the ninth football season (the first at MaconDawg's Blawg, followed by eight more here at Dawg Sports) in which we have toasted each approaching Georgia Bulldog football game with a themed libation. We've tasted beers and whiskeys, mixed drinks both old and new, drinks named for players and drinks which are more a state of mind.

Of course we've tried drinks named for Todd Gurley. But that doesn't mean we can't go to that particular well brand one more time. If ever there was a game which we needed the Bulldogs' bell cow tailback to take control of, it's this one. Establishing the run this Saturday would go a long way toward giving both Hutson Mason and the defense a chance to settle in and make in-game adjustments.

Gurley's 12 carry, 154 yard rushing effort along the shores of Lake Hartwell was the high rushing total of his  2013 campaign.Admittedly he would later flirt with the century mark in receiving yards against both Florida and Kentucky, but Gurley clearly just never was the same back after going down against LSU. Here's hoping that this year sees more downhill running and less downhill production for the big man from Tarboro.

Not that we're superstitious or anything but if, like me, you're willing to do just about anything to keep Todd Gurley on the field and running like an ill-tempered rhino, I suggest you join me in toasting Saturday's kickoff with a Todd Surly.

Start by combining 3 tablespoons of pureed strawberries (or if your tailgate doesn't have a blender, just mash them up good with a fork, it's okay) with 12 ounces of ginger ale, 2 ounces (or more) of gin, and a dash of orange bitters. I don't know if it will cure what ailed Todd Gurley in 2013, but it will cure what ails you in the nervous few moments before kickoff. Until later . . .

Go 'Dawgs!!!!