Let’s go Dawgs! Via Online Athens (the Georgia USA one, not the cradle of democracy), some history on the University of Georgia’s handsome mascot pictured above, Uga X:
The legend of Uga was born in 1956 when Georgia law student Frank “Sonny” Seiler and his bride Cecelia, also a UGA student, were given a white English Bulldog puppy for a wedding present. The following football season, Cecelia made the pup — now a full-grown bulldog — a red jersey with a white G on the chest and they took him to Sonny’s fraternity house for a pre-game party.
Someone jokingly suggested they take Uga to the game and, to their surprise, he was ushered right through the stadium gates. He was such a hit in the stands that coach Wally Butts asked if he could be the team mascot.
The rest, as they say, is history.
For the last 60-plus years, a descendant of that first Uga has roamed the sideline at Sanford Stadium in Athens as well as traveling with the team to stadiums across the country.
The iconic mascot has led his team onto the field in every major college bowl game except one — the Rose Bowl.
That changes today, and our own Georgia football super-fan Raven and bride are at the Rose Bowl to see it. Go Dawgs!
At 8:45, Alabama plays Clemson. Roll Tide!
That is all. Open thread!
PaulWartenberg
UCF just beat Auburn earlier 34-27 in a game that really wasn’t that close. The Knights were just owning the Tigers for much of the game.
So anybody who thinks Alabama should have been invited in even though they weren’t the SEC Champs: UCF BEAT THE TEAM THAT BEAT YOU. And UCF is UNDEFEATED.
The College Bowl System is rigged AND USELESS. Nobody should take that “championship” seriously.
And this is coming from someone who’s not a fan of Central Florida (GO BULLS).
trollhattan
Confess it was look #3 that I finally got the visual pun. Turned off the coffee maker too soon, methinks.
cope
Enjoyed the shit out of UCF beating Auburn. A couple of my former high school students are on the team. Also, too, after a 7 year course of study, that’s where our daughter graduated.
Oh, yeah and earlier, Liverpool scored in extra time to notch their 2nd victory in 3 days.
And finally, saucy chicken thighs, rice and garlic bread are about to get washed down with a nice glass of red so, except for the weather (no super Moon photos for me tonight), not a bad start to 2018.
Yarrow
Been out most of the day. Has Raven checked in?
eclare
Yay!
Lapassionara
Not a great start for Georgia. Oh well, now it looks like Georgia scored. ?
James E. Powell
Michigan blew a 16 point second half lead to lose. The only Big Ten team to lose its bowl game.
Sports talk pundits will still call Harbaugh a great coach who has totally changed the game in the Big Ten.
eclare
@Yarrow: Commented on his departure for the day at 3 AM
Betty Cracker
@cope: No super moon here on the west side either — it’s cloudy as hell and COLD! My kiddo made it home from her snowy road trip. I told her the crappy weather followed her home!
Ohio Mom
@Yarrow: I am waiting for his photos of the floats.
JMG
Raven might wind up being called out of the stands to be a Georgia linebacker. Couldn’t do worse than they have so far.
Yarrow
@eclare: Thanks. I saw that this morning. Wondering if he commented on the parade or getting to the stadium or anything.
Japa21
@James E. Powell: Yep,he has really made his mark. I might be biased,being an MSU grad but UM and Harbaugh blew it today.
ETA The only way a SEC team can win apparently is if their opponent collapses.
Lapassionara
@Betty Cracker: It is 10 degrees here in the greater St Louis area. Too cold to go to the stored, so I am making baked cheese grits with instant grits! ?
The Dangerman
@JMG:
Surprising. But the OU OL looks huge. Suspect that Lawry’s (where the Beef Bowl was a few days ago) served up a few to these big boys.
The playoffs have to go to 8 to get a team like UCF in. Well done, UCF.
Omnes Omnibus
@Lapassionara: It is 1 degree here.
Lapassionara
@Omnes Omnibus: Yikes!
frosty
@Omnes Omnibus:
.
13 on the Mason-Dixon line. I feel warmer!
Japa21
Mayfield is a fairly decent QB.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@The Dangerman: The kid took me to Lawry’s* for Father’s Day(my request) and those cuts are HUGE, also extremely good.
*I’ve lived in the LA area for 55 years and never had been.
RobertDSC-Mac Mini
@James E. Powell:
He is a fucking embarrassment. Really disappointed in my Wolverines today.
Alain the site fixer
@Lapassionara: Grits sound so good on this frigid winter night if only I wasn’t still stuffed from breakfast. I made my mom’s cheese souffle, a family standard, for the first time without her, and made the normal full size recipe which left me with an extra third, unclaimed. (Being a voracious souffle, quiche, etc. eater, I happily ate her share) The results were quite good (rise, flavor, texture, crust, but too salty), but I tried to pull it from the oven way too soon and had to re-bake it for a bit once I found the still-liquid middle. Eating that much butter, egg, and Gruyere was a joy, but for the first time in 46 years, I had too much!
Oh yeah, I like to keep a small can of smoked oysters in the cupboard to throw into grits; add some cheese and instant grits turn into something quite satisfying.
Betty Cracker
Damn, Georgia better make some adjustments or this will be a blow out!
japa21
@frosty: -3 just outside Chicago.
JPL
@Betty Cracker: It’s quickly looking that way.
japa21
@RobertDSC-Mac Mini: Don’t worry, maybe the Bears will hire him so they can continue to be a mediocre team.
James E. Powell
@RobertDSC-Mac Mini:
I’m a Buckeye Till I Die so I found the whole thing very funny.
Betty Cracker
@Lapassionara: I love cheese grits. I almost never make them because I’m the only one in the family who likes grits. But there’s a cafe we like that has wonderful cheese grits served with shrimp. It’s fabulous!
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
Near disaster today – we’re taking down Christmas since we’re just sick and not hungover (bed at 10:30), and in the process of throwing stuff out – which included my annual closet clearing of dry cleaner bags and excess hangers (10 garbage bags worth), I accidentally failed to complete lately shut the front door.
The dog had been chilling on the secure back porch, (and I don’t worry much about him – he’s got excellent location sense), but the Countess’ special little princeling cat is the light of her life. A coworker of hers found him in a park this summer, emaciated and about 5 weeks old, wobbly on his feet. He’s now a handsome and strong young man with a penchant for escape to see other parts of the house and the outside world.
I flew into a full panic – we’re super cold, and looking at single digits tonight. I went outside to scour the woods, and wasn’t seeing anything. Thankfully, the little slug was napping so hard he didn’t notice his golden ticket.
If that cat had disappeared today, I’d be a dead man.
Lapassionara
@Betty Cracker: I don’t particularly like grits, but I like baked cheese grits a lot. I chopped some jalapeño and stirred that in with the cheddar. Shrimp and grits is a favorite.
Trying to distract myself from the game, which looks bad right now for Georgia.
Yutsano
@Lapassionara: I tend to never panic in the first half. The coaches get 10 minutes at halftime to make adjustments and reformulate strategy as need be.
If by the 4th quarter none of that is working however…
Paul T
No cable=No ESPN which means absolutely no bowl games. So, who cares?
On a hike with the camera at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Orange County, Ca, a banner tow aircraft was patrolling the beach with a banner that read:
“Happy New YR&Higher Taxes-Thanks, GOP.”
Photo available on request.
danielx
-2 and dropping, supposed to get down to -14 tonight…so they tell me. Also learned a new word, which is sort of unusual. Thought maybe it denoted the beginning of the second year of the shitgibbon’s reign, but no….
Possibly not good news for east coast Juicers.
Betty Cracker
I’m having a couple of old fashioneds for medicinal purposes. I left an orange and knife on the cutting board after I made the first.
Hubby is making pizza and roasting a head of garlic to spread on the crust. He cut the top of the garlic off with my knife and put it back on the cutting board without rinsing it!
I tried to ignore the garlic infusion in old fashioned #2 but eventually had to dump it and start over with a new knife. Blechh!
cope
@Betty Cracker: Cold (for here),windy and spitting rain. At least now I know who to blame.:)
Mike J
I think the illegal immigrant school is going to win.
Seanly
Go Tigers! Hoping that my Clemson Tigers can beat the Alabama Crimson Tide again – maybe this year don’t spot them 14 points early on.
Mnemosyne
@PaulWartenberg:
My niece will be starting at UCF in the fall. I hope she doesn’t get too involved in partying and forget to go to class.
debbie
@James E. Powell:
The OSU fans on my FB feed are all angry at Michigan for making the Big Ten look bad. /eye roll/
Mnemosyne
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Tam O’Shanter is now owned by Lawry’s — has been for a while now. They do a hot Sandwich Bar at lunchtime that’s really good.
frosty
@Betty Cracker: Oh the humanity!! Garlic-infused Old Fashioneds!
In other news, I seem to have caught a head cold. Hoping like hell it’s not the crud everyone’s been talking about.
Mnemosyne
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes:
FWIW, the vast majority of cats would get to the open doorway, go, “Fuck, it’s cold out there!” and go back inside. Cats tend to have more common sense about those things than dogs.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Mnemosyne: I know they were owned by Lawry’s, the Sandwich Bar sounds intriguing, better than the Costco pizza across the street though?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Betty Cracker: I bet the youths would start buying garlic old fashioneds if they were offered by the right bartender in the right place
Schlemazel
@Omnes Omnibus:
Its -2 here, quite yer whining. It did get to be +2 as the high today
Mnemosyne
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Depends on if you’re in the mood for roasted pork or mozzarella cheese, I guess. It’s definitely more expensive than Costco pizza.
The sandwich bar is actually located in the bar, but they don’t expect you to order alcohol since it’s mostly a lunchtime thing and it’s not 1955 anymore so three-martini lunches are passé.
Mike J
@Schlemazel: It’s 45F here, but not enough wind to go sailing until Saturday.
Schlemazel
@Betty Cracker:
Sorry, BC, that made me laugh. You could have started a new trend!
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Mnemosyne: Hope you and G had a nice New Years Eve/Day. I enjoyed my sparkling grape juice while madame and the kid got blasted on two bottle of champagne and we all enjoyed shrimp platters from across the street from the Tam.
danielx
@Betty Cracker:
Barbaric.
Betty Cracker
@frosty: Ugh! Hope it’s not the crud! For me, at least, it started as the sniffles, then turned into a hideous cough. I don’t feel all that terrible, but it’s impossible to get a decent night’s sleep, which wears one down.
Mnemosyne
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
We did — I made beef stew in the crockpot and we drank wine and watched “Thin Man” movies and “Simpsons” reruns. Today we both had a bit of work to do since I procrastinated on turning in some pre-work for my upcoming novel workshop and he now has (online) students to tend to. We DVR’d the parade but I haven’t watched it yet since the cat won’t relinquish the right end of the couch for me to do that in comfort.
Betty Cracker
Pretty slick trickery there, Sooners! (I bet Raven is cursing up a storm!)
Japa21
@Betty Cracker: If OU scores at the beginning of the second half,this game will be over.
eclare
@Betty Cracker: Yeah, I hate it, but that was smooth.
Betty Cracker
Rodrigo Blankenship is an awesome name!
cope
@Mnemosyne: That’s what happened to our daughter: too much fun semester 1, 2 years getting an AA at community college, back to UCF, multiple major changes but, by gar, she finished.
Baud
Not looking good for Raven.
Mnemosyne
@cope:
This is my niece who has the Devil Woman as a mother, so I’m hoping that not having to move back home with a crazy narcissist will be enough motivation to keep her focused. She’s a pretty good kid and is currently balancing some partying with good grades, so I hope she’ll be able to buckle down when she’s on her own.
JPL
@Baud: or the rest of GA fans.
Baud
@JPL: That TD helps. Rooting for you.
Betty Cracker
Dawgs!
Yarrow
This game isn’t over! Tie game!
eclare
Go Dawgs!
The Dangerman
Whoa Nellie!
/keith jackson
Yarrow
What a game for Raven to be there to see!
JPL
AJC sports columnist…
Georgia leads Oklahoma 31-31.
https://twitter.com/MarkBradleyAJC/status/947993571013009408
O. Felix Culpa
Interception! Woot!
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
INT!
O. Felix Culpa
TD!!!
ETA: I bet Raven is enjoying the second half somewhat more than the first.
eclare
@The Dangerman: My fave! Yay Dawgs!
Jerzy Russian
Drop your linen and start your grinnin’!
JPL
@JPL: So Bradley of the AJC has esp… hmmm
Mingobat (f/k/a Karen in GA)
Well, this is certainly going better than I was expecting a little while ago.
eclare
C’mon D!!!
Gin & Tonic
Put the game on because I wanted to see what’s what (not a football fan) and Jesus, that split-screen shit is distracting. Why do I need four simultaneous feeds from different angles? Who watches anything like that?
O. Felix Culpa
@Gin & Tonic: Weird. I’m not seeing all that split screen stuff. It would drive me crazy too.
Gin & Tonic
@Gin & Tonic: OK, duh, the other ESPN is showing it normally. Obvs I’m not a big football watcher.
Yarrow
@Gin & Tonic: Where are you seeing that? I’ve just got a full screen of the game. I accidentally tuned to ESPN News channel first, which had several screens of commentators and other stuff. Then I realized I was on the wrong channel. The regular ESPN channel just has a full screen of the game.
Edit: Sounds like you did what I did at first.
eclare
Fuck
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
Oof.
Mingobat (f/k/a Karen in GA)
And that’s the game. Or maybe not, but I’m thinking it probably is because pessimism.
The Dangerman
45-38, but I’m feeling an OT coming. Already a classic, but we want a CLASSIC.
Betty Cracker
Damn. ?
?BillinGlendaleCA
@The Dangerman: There was a UCLA-U$C game like that, went for 4 OT’s. Bruins ended up winning.
Mr Stagger Lee
For the record I want Clemson to be Alabama, I don’t want t hear the worship of Nick Saban on ESPN. Oklahoma-Georgia living up to the hype.
Japa21
This may end up being exciting.
Betty Cracker
Wow, what an exciting game! Win or lose, Raven is getting his money’s worth!
Baud
Holy crap.
?BillinGlendaleCA
Damn, Raven’s getting his money’s worth on this one; though I’m sure he’d rather see a blowout for UGA.
Mingobat (f/k/a Karen in GA)
Okay, I’m done reacting to anything in this game. (Don’t like how it’s going? Just wait a couple of minutes.)
Japa21
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Hopefully his heart is holding up.
Jerzy Russian
@Betty Cracker: It has been a long day for him, in any event, and it is still not over!
Japa21
Georgia’s FG at the end of the first half looms critical right now. OU made a mistake then.
Betty Cracker
Can’t understand why Georgia didn’t try to get in field goal range at the end. Rodrigo is hot!
Japa21
That was almost the game.
Japa21
The second game can’t match this.
Steve in the ATL
@Betty Cracker: that’s creepy. He’s way too young for you.
The Dangerman
@Betty Cracker:
Ditto. I’d take one play and see what happens….
…then again, True Freshman QB. Hard call.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Steve in the ATL: Don’t judge.
Betty Cracker
Wow! This game!
Japa21
I predict Georgia will win.
Mingobat (f/k/a Karen in GA)
Prediction: this game won’t end.
ETA: NEVER MIND! GO DAWGS!
Jerzy Russian
@Betty Cracker: I am “watching” it on the ESPN app (no TV, too lazy to check out the radio). Does each team just get the ball on the 25 yard line and take pot shots at the end zone? How long are the overtime periods?
Steve in the ATL
DAWGS!!!!!!!
Japa21
Very happy for raven.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
*scaring the cats*
Jackie
And, to think Raven almost didn’t go! TD DAWGS!!!
Steve in the ATL
@Jerzy Russian: yes. Untimed.
Betty Cracker
Holy shit, what a game!
Japa21
@Steve in the ATL: And you too
SiubhanDuinne
I’m only following the score online, and comments here, and I care nothing about football — but my knuckles are white with the tension and excitement. Wow! Can’t wait to see raven’s report!
Feebog
Holy crap. Raven must be going crazy.
James E. Powell
My brother-in-law & I were screaming so loud that all three dogs are terrified and hiding behind the couch.
?BillinGlendaleCA
Wow, what a game; I didn’t watch, but “tracking” as Adam would say.
Betty Cracker
Very classy comment from Kirby Smart.
O. Felix Culpa
Amazeballs! Yay Dawgs! Yay raven!
Japa21
But the SEC still sucks.
James E. Powell
@Jerzy Russian:
A little late with the answer, but yes, each team gets the ball at the 25. They keep playing until one team outscores the other. Starting with the third possession, a team scoring a TD has to go for two instead of kick a PAT.
Betty Cracker
@Steve in the ATL: [whistles “Mrs. Robinson.”]
Cheryl from Maryland
HOLY SHIT! What a game!! So glad Raven went all in to see this in person.
Jerzy Russian
@Steve in the ATL: Thanks, apparently I am not aware of all internet traditions. I guess the game is over, and it ended on Georgia’s favor? I didn’t see how they got their final 7 points, I suppose I will read about it later.
Lapassionara
@O. Felix Culpa: Yes!
eclare
Wow! What a game!
Steve in the ATL
@Japa21: scoreboard
The Dangerman
Fine game. Raven, you best be hoarse as hell.
CLASSIC.
Steve in the ATL
@Jerzy Russian: Sony Michel took the snap in the wildcat formation and took the rock all 25 yards into the end zone
A Ghost to Most
Congrats to Raven and the Dawgs. That was a game for the ages.
Mr Stagger Lee
No shame for the Sooners, they played their hearts out. Congratulations Dawgs.
Mnemosyne
@Betty Cracker:
I am now old enough that my primary sympathy in that movie is with Mrs. Robinson even if she is kind of an asshole. That whole reluctant conversation about why she dropped out of college is heartbreaking to me now that I’m an adult. And Benjamin is in his early 20s anyway.
laura
RAVEN & BRIDE FOR THE WIN!!!!!11!!!!!!!
Japa21
@Steve in the ATL: Hey, I was nice and included you in my best wishes.
Yarrow
Wow! I was off making my black-eyed peas so I’m late to comment. What a game!
J R in WV
Well Georgia beats OU in double overtime, quite a noteworthy Rose Bowl. I bet Raven is frazzled, voiceless, more hoarse than a Budwiser Clyde!
Congratulations, Raven. Your boys did a good job in the end. Oklahoma hung in there til the very end. I have to admit, being a Big 12 team I kind of leaned toward Oklahoma, a little. But certainly glad for Raven, his sweetie, and all his friends in Athens. Next year, everyone!
And how about UCF, 13-0, should be national champs, the only un-defeated team in the nation!~!
Jerzy Russian
@Steve in the ATL: They seemed to have a lot of long running plays that resulted in scores. I hope they save some of those runs for next week.
J R in WV
It’s 4 degrees here, not abnormal, but a little more chilly than usual lately.
It’s as clear as a bell out, and when I let the dogs out for their (very) brief after dinner constitutional on the hillside, I noticed shadows on the back porch. I stepped out into the arctic freeze, and saw that big full moon in the sky. Got the wife and we agreed that it was an amazing sight through the naked tree branches.
Cold enough and then some! I always try to wear boots and have a heavy coat, gloves etc. You can’t change a tire with your bare hands in this weather.
We don’t bother with food and water, very few spots around here you aren’t within a few hundred yards of a home. And no one would turn people away tonight, would at least let you call for help.
It’s supposed to hit h]nearly 23 tomorrow, I’ll take the trash down and go to town to get fresh provisions. Tomatos, avocados, salmon, dried beans, etc. Going to have ice cream for dessert soon, after chicken and dumplings for dinner.
p.a.
Sounds like a helluva game. Congrats raven & Dawg fans, and eff espn for bogarting the big bowl games. (Last year I actually watched one on the espn app that was a full-time live feed sans announcers from the wire cam- I don’t have cable, but the wire cam feed was free. It was kinda cool, and the stadium p.a. provided adequate info.)
West of the Rockies (been a while)
@Mnemosyne:
“Fuck! It’s cold out there,” is not nearly as good a title as, “Baby, it’s cold outside.”
Ben Cisco (onboard the Defiant)
Just made it home, looking for Bama to win. Headed back to work tomorrow and half the place either went to or have kids going to Clemson, so it’s going to be interesting either way. ROLL TIDE!
Steve in the ATL
@PaulWartenberg:
This hot take is the Bernie Bro version of college football
opiejeanne
@Betty Cracker: I’ve been sleeping sproradically sitting very upright. The various cough syrups we have on hand including one prescription syrup that contains some drug that used to work for me but now just makes me wired and my heart racing. The Nyquil worked one night but Dave has the crud too so it’s all gone. The Mucinex seems to be second best to NyQuil for me, but the Delsym did nothing and I know someone here really liked it. I think we respond differently to various meds.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@opiejeanne: I took the (Target generic) NyQuil gel caps AND Mucinex DM for the cough when I had “The Cold”.
Mnemosyne
@opiejeanne:
Robitussin has an alcohol-free PM liquid that usually works for me, but read the label and make sure it doesn’t have the heart-racy stuff.
opiejeanne
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Thanks. Not supposed to do that, I think, but I did something like that two nights ago.
It’s 5am and I think I’m going to go swill a bit of the prescription stuff.
opiejeanne
@Mnemosyne: I know we have some Robitussin but I haven’t tried that yet. Maybe I should try that stuff. At first I was avoiding anything that would put me to sleep during the day but now I’ve reached the point where I need sleep so badly that I don’t care when I get it.
Part of my strategy is to put on the Cooking Channel and letting it run. I tend to find myself drifting off pretty easily.