It’s a quasi-regular annual feature here at GTP: my list of 100 things I hope to experience/enjoy this season. And yes, there are repeats from previous lists, because some pleasures are timeless. Feel free to add, subtract or nit-pick in the comments.
- Seeing how those Big 12 offenses hold up in the big, bad SEC.
- Will Muschamp, reminded of how it feels to be on the losing end of the Cocktail Party. Again.
- Mike Bobo, avoiding blame.
- The comebacks of Justin Hunter, Knile Davis and Marcus Lattimore.
- The first emotional presser Corch has at OSU.
- A year without uniform gimmicks for Georgia.
- A good night game, HDTV and a glass of Woodford Reserve at my side. Ahhhh.
- Seeing if Junior can hold up coaching the number one team in America.
- Seeing if the NCAA can hold up watching Junior coach the number one team in America.
- FIAR, B!
- Denard Robinson vs. the Alabama defense.
- Brian VanGorder and Willie Martinez, together again.
- Jarvis Jones’ improvement.
- Popeye’s fried chicken.
- Tyler Wilson’s toughness.
- Thursday night football minus Craig James.
- September home games at night.
- Seeing if the “SEC – Year of the Quarterback” meme has legs.
- West Virginia’s offense laying waste to most Big 12 defenses.
- Most Big 12 defenses laying waste to Charlie Weis’ offense.
- The Georgia-South Carolina game.
- Calibrating the temperature of SOD’s hot seat.
- Big John Jenkins’ improvement.
- Referring to the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”.
- Seeing if Dorial Green-Beckham lives up to the hype. (That can wait until after Missouri’s second game, though.)
- Watching the excitement of the Washington State fan base grow during Mike Leach’s inaugural season.
- The first cold beer at the first tailgate of the season.
- The warm feeling I get when Georgia’s defense steps on the field.
- The warm feeling I get when I’m reminded that this is Michael Adams’ last year on the job.
- Finding out if last year’s Auburn offense was Malzahn’s fault, or the quarterbacks’.
- The patented Spurrier visor toss.
- Life after RGIII, Andrew Luck and Kellen Moore.
- Mark Bradley explaining Paul Johnson’s genius after the Virginia Tech game, regardless of the outcome.
- The next thing Mark Richt loses control over.
- Aaron Murray’s footwork.
- Uncle Verne’s chortle.
- Kickoff strategy under the new NCAA rules.
- Seeing how much Jim Grobe can squeeze out of Wake Forest.
- Geno Smith and Logan Thomas, for different reasons.
- Georgia surviving the suspensions.
- The over/under on the number of catches Georgia Tech’s leading receiver has this season.
- Checking to see if Paul Petrino successfully covers in his brother’s absence as offensive coordinator.
- Contemplating how much Gator fans reminisce about the good ol’ days with John Brantley taking the snaps.
- Russ, in another season as Da Dawg.
- More commemorative bourbon bottles.
- The Army-Navy game. Just like every year.
- TCU and Gary Patterson stepping up in class.
- The next clever wrinkle in offensive strategy.
- John L. Smith’s first sideline meltdown.
- The losing coach’s presser after the Florida-Tennessee game.
- Auburn-Georgia, along with every other historical rivalry the powers that be managed to keep their grubby hands off.
- The number of comments Spurrier makes about the schedule after the loss to LSU.
- Vanderbilt’s Sanford Stadium welcome.
- Seeing if FSU can avoid underachieving.
- The development of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall.
- Finding out how many decent teams there are in the Big Ten this season.
- Jadeveon Clowney, middle linebacker.
- The last in-broadcast Penn State observation of the year.
- A strategically located Porta-Potty with a short line in Jacksonville. (This will always be on my list.)
- The inevitable Clemson meltdown.
- Malcolm Mitchell’s healthy hamstrings.
- Thursday, August 30, 2012.
- Rocky Long, taking the plunge on avoiding the punt.
- The Montana Project.
- A general decline in BCS complaining.
- Another all-SEC matchup in the national title game, bitches. Just because.
- The pregame flight of the Auburn eagle.
- The public vote by vote breakdown of the last regular season Coaches’ Poll ballots.
- Koulton Houston being cleared to play. Finally.
- Watching to see if Greg Mattison took any lessons away from his stint as Corch’s Florida DC that are applied in this year’s Michigan-Ohio State game.
- Barkevious Mingo. Because I love saying the name.
- The Notre Dame Bowl Watch – with that schedule, it’s going to be a lengthy one.
- My fellow Dawg and Gator travelers on the highway to the WLOCP.
- The clarion call of CBS’ intro music.
- John Theus making Jarvis Jones proud.
- Watching drunks play beer pong.
- The successful return of 344-Fullback.
- College bands. I’ll take ’em over the piped-in stuff all day long and twice on “Zombie Nation”.
- The last five minutes of this season’s most embarrassing upset.
- Seeing Charlie Strong’s reaction if Louisville wins a conference title.
- Josh Harvey-Clemons, putting the star in the star position.
- Ralphie.
- Bill Snyder working his magic again.
- Friday morning breakfast at T-Rays in Fernandina Beach.
- The anguished cries from the Arkansas fan base to bring back Petrino if the program falls out of the double digits win zone.
- The smile on Mark Richt’s face as he explains to the media at the SECCG presser about winning the East with 69 recruited scholarship players.
- The variety of offenses on display in the Pac-12.
- Wisconsin’s import a starting quarterback approach, minus Paul Chryst.
- That first cool, crisp fall afternoon in Athens.
- The Red River Rivalry.
- Marshall Morgan successfully kicking his first field goal under pressure.
- Missouri’s home crowd for its SEC opener.
- Will Muschamp’s warm welcome to College Station, Texas.
- Any tailgate playlist with James Brown on it.
- Political wankery kept to a minimum. (That’s definitely a hope, not an expectation.)
- Figuring out whether Ellis Johnson misses South Carolina more, or vice versa.
- Cornelius Washington lives up to potential, spends entire season kicking some righteous ass.
- November 3rd: Oregon vs. USC and Alabama vs. LSU.
- Seeing if Mike London can keep things going in Charlottesville. (A win over Va. Tech would be nice.)
- Finding out how much of a difference that schedule really makes.
It won’t be long now.
Nothin gets the blood flowing or the heart racin more than the clarion call of CBS’ intro music. It is the soundtrack to beautiful SEC football
LikeLike
I like CBS’s music a whole lot better than Fox’s NFL music, which always reminds me of the Christmas carol “Sleigh Ride.”
LikeLike
I thought I was the only one who noticed that.
LikeLike
August 30th can’t get here soon enough! Great list. I won’t be able to concentrate at work today after reading this post.
LikeLike
Nice list. I am starting to get excited about watching the next Florida QB. It starting to look like neither Brissett or Driskell has stepped up, after their public practice last weekend. http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8280793/florida-gators-hold-sluggish-practice-open-fans
LikeLike
they are both way better than john brantley, doug johnson or shane matthews for that matter. they will be fine. look muschamp is no spurrier or meyer but he is not pell or zook either. we are gonna be 8-4 this year and lose to all of the ranked teams, yes the Dawgs, and win the Peach bowl!
LikeLike
Rooting against our rivals all season long..
LikeLike
Aaron Murray announcing that he will be returning his senior year to attempt being the first player to win consecutive Heismans and BCS Championships
LikeLike
79. you forgot “…as long as it’s not happening in Athens, Georgia.”
LikeLike
I’d be perfectly okay with that happening to a certain opponent in Athens the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
LikeLike
oh, that would be no upset.
LikeLike
Great stuff! Of course the only one of those 100 that you’ll never, ever see is a “strategically located Porta-Potty with a short line in Jacksonville.”
LikeLike
Actually, my tailgate group has been renting one of those for the past couple of years. Best money we ever spent. 😉
LikeLike
My head just asploded. That’s why you lawyers get paid the big bucks.
LikeLike
I married into a UVA family, so I’m really hoping for #99. And these Hokie fans around here are. just. insufferable.
Great list, but nothing on the WR group? Like, “Verne and Gary NOT mentioning that the offense really misses Malcom Mitchell”.
LikeLike
By the time Verne and Gary see MM, he’ll be playing a fair amount at WR.
LikeLike
How about “Hail to Georgia” and “The Battle Hymn” around 12 noon on September 1? Larry’s voice over the Sanford Stadium PA for the 1st home game since going to the press box in the sky?
LikeLike
Todd Gurley rushing for his 1000th yard.
LikeLike
Waking up early on a Saturday NOT to run errands or do yard work.
LikeLike
#7 — Give Angel’s Envy a try.
LikeLike
Ooh. That sounds promising. Thanks for the heads up.
LikeLike
S. Williams doesn’t crack your #100? I’m dying to see how Grantham uses him, especially during the suspensions.
LikeLike
The boos from UGA when any non white player or coach does anything good.
LikeLike
Right. You a Vandy fan?
LikeLike
No, just a sarcastic UGA fan.
LikeLike
In that case, well played, sir. 😉
LikeLike
The pre-game trumpet solo in the southwest corner of Sanford Stadium. Sends chills down my spine — everytime.
LikeLike
I get chills just thinking about it.
LikeLike
Amen to #78.
LikeLike
Road trip to Kentucky: distillery tours (Buffalo Trace, hello!), ponies (Keeneland!) and Hounds kicking ass!
LikeLike
Forgive my ignorance, but what’s FIAR, B?
LikeLike
Scroll to the top and click on “Lexicon”; I had to ask the same thing once. It will be worth your time!
LikeLike
Ahh, I see. I had looked under “F” instead of “other.” People will be confused the next two years when they can’t find it under “S.”
LikeLike
..and I still don’t follow, being out-of-state and far removed from the bleating of Bug fans.
LikeLike
Stranger, if you are looking for further explanation, here goes: this year will be Four In A Row, B! (The Senator says “Baby”, but I’m not that civilized) over the Jackettes. The first letter of the acronym changes according to what our streak is. Currently we’re on TIAR,B! heading towards FIAR, B!
If you weren’t looking for further ‘splaining…uh, nevermind.
LikeLike
Thanks, man … that sets me straight! Always want to be in the Loop here at GTP.
LikeLike
About #7, I have migrated from Woodford Reserve to Jefferson’s Small Batch. Similarly priced but seems to be smoother
LikeLike
Jefferson’s is good stuff.
LikeLike
27 + 89 = heaven. Can’t wait. Great list.
LikeLike
Great list. Please elevate UGA vs SC, pounding the whiny visor to #1.
LikeLike
How about this one, Senator? Will you have access to the game by game picks in the pool? If so, how about the first time a commenter gets cross-checked and called out on an “I knew so and so would lose” rant with their submitted picks.
LikeLike
89
LikeLike
Don’t care what you say, Baba O’Riley intro before a heated night game is one of my favorite parts of UGA football. Clear the pipes.
LikeLike
#101. Reading GTP game analysis and comments Sunday mornings. 😉
LikeLike
this
LikeLike
Huzzah!
LikeLike
102. Coed’s on Milledge Ave….We may be older but we can damn sure still look.
LikeLike
I’m definitely older, but my vision is still pretty good. 🙂
LikeLike
Waited for the other shoe to #73: Returning home from the WLOCP with the winning score plastered all over the UGA cars.
LikeLike
Wonderful, wonderful. #62 shocked me, though. I’m so focused on the Mizzou game, about which I have the appropriate level of Munsonian paranoia, and the fact that I will have to play host to a fanatical Notre Dame fan on September 1 (kickoff 6:00 a.m. PDT) that I damn near failed to realize the season opener is so near. And on that blessed day we get the Arrogance Bowl between Spurrier and Franklin, and the Pirate Mormon Leach against his alma mater! Bring it all on.
LikeLike
I think you have given us our own East bowl, the Arrogance Bowl. But Spurrier still gets to wear the “Good Guy” white visor?
LikeLike
What I am most thrilled about is not having to listen to Craig James Dumb ass next Thursday night!!
LikeLike
Great great list…particular numbers 53, 73, and 74.
You just made this Dawg in Australia very homesick. I’ll only get to experience two weeks of college football in the states this year.
LikeLike
59.A strategically located Porta-Potty with a short line in Jacksonville. (This will always be on my list.)
We’ve been renting our own Porta-John for years!! Best $70 you will ever spend. No lines, very clean (never used at construction sites etc), mirror for the ladies, Plastic Ivy along the inside….and they will drop it off and pick it up at your tailgate site or parking spot.
LikeLike