Tag: covid

Dannell Ellerbe gives his Georgia football pick-up basketball starting 5

Former Georgia linebacker Dannelle Ellerbe gives his edition of the Georgia football pickup basketball starting five.

Former Georgia and NFL linebacker Dannell Ellerbe gave his response for who he thinks would be the best five Georgia football players in a pick-up basketball game.

Ellerbe was a 2nd team All-SEC caliber linebacker during his time in Athens.  He’s had a great career in the NFL playing for the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles.

For some background on what we’re doing…

To help get you through quarantine, we thought of a fun and creative way to entertainer our readers.

We started by compiling our own pick-up basketball team made up of current Georgia football players. But why stop there? We then reached out to a few former Bulldogs and asked them to assemble their own teams.

Related: Our starting five (Here) — Isaiah Wilson’s starting five (Here) –Mecole Hardman’s starting five (Here)

We let them draft players who played at Georgia from the time they started their careers to present day. So for Ellerbe, he was able to choose Georgia players from 2004-2020.

We asked Ellerbe to pick five Georgia football players from his time at UGA to present (2004-current) to make up a basketball team.

Here is Ellerbe’s starting five:

Point Guard: D.J. Shockley (6-1, quarterback)

Shooting Guard: Tony Taylor (6-0, linebacker)

Small Forward: Antonio Sims (6-1, safety)

Power Forward: Quentin Moses (6-5, defensive end)

Center: Leonard Pope (6-8, tight end)

Ellerbe’s squad is old-school, and may include a few names that are unfamiliar to some of our younger readers.

We all know who D.J. Shockley is. Shock at point guard was a solid pick. He has the size, athleticism and playmaking skills to run the point. Can’t ask for much more than a dual-threat, SEC Championship Game MVP quarterback to be running point guard.

At shooting guard, Ellerbe went with former Georgia linebacker Tony Taylor, who was named MVP of the 2006 Georgia Bulldogs after leading the team in tackles. At 6-foot and 235 pounds, Taylor has the strength and athleticism to be a strong guard.

For the three spot, Ellerbe went with Antonio Sims, who played safety for the Dawgs in 2005 and 2006 before transferring. A rover, Sims would have great instincts and a nose for the basketball on the court. Lockdown defender who could surprise you with his athleticism on offense.

For the big men, Ellerbe showed some love to two of the greatest to ever do it at Georgia, Quentin Moses and Leonard Pope. Both of these men were monsters in Athens and can play bully ball down low.

I especially love the Pope selection.

Related: 

Our starting five (Here)

Isaiah Wilson’s starting five (Here)

Mecole Hardman’s starting five (Here)

President Morehead addresses UGA Alumni and Family amid coronavirus pandemic

University of Georgia President Morehead addresses UGA Alumni and Family amid the coronavirus pandemic.

As the country and the world copes with the COVID-19 crisis, University of Georgia President Jere Morehead penned an inspiring letter to Bulldog Nation in which he outlined several contributions made by the university, faculty, staff, alumni and students.

Switching 11,000 course sections to online learning to over 37,000 students in mid-semester was a herculean effort. From UGA researchers developing and testing new vaccines and immunotherapies to combat the novel coronavirus to a team of staff and students producing medical face shields for local medical professionals to UGA Campus Kitchen preparing and delivering meals to families in Athens, the UGA community has risen to the occasion during these unprecedented times.

President Morehead elegantly compared Georgia’s efforts to combatting COVID-19 to those fall Saturday nights in Sanford Stadium.

“…… a hush falls over the stadium. One at a time, lights appear all across the stadium, and as the Redcoats begin to play, thousands of individual lights rise and fall in rhythmic motion, creating a spectacle that captures national attention,” Morehead wrote. “Each one of those lights represents a small action taken by a single person. Collectively, these small actions create something big and impactful. I am so proud of everyone in our University community.”

It’s simply the “Georgia Way.” Stay safe Dawg Nation.

Here is the full letter:

Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends,

The University of Georgia, along with the rest of the world, is responding to a crisis the likes of which we have never seen. The last few weeks have been some of the most tumultuous in the history of our University, but as I write to you today, one week after university-wide online instruction began, I am truly inspired by so many things happening at and around UGA.

The shift to online learning required an incredible level of collaboration and effort to achieve, and UGA faculty, staff and students did all that was asked of them and more. Last week, our faculty delivered more than 11,000 course sections online to over 37,000 students, and we collectively participated in Zoom meetings totaling more than 4.5 million minutes.

But that’s not all.  Even in the midst of this significant work, UGA faculty, staff, and students are finding creative ways to apply their expertise and commitment to serve needs in our local community, state, and nation during this challenging time.  UGA researchers, for instance, are developing and testing new vaccines and immunotherapies to combat the novel coronavirus and leveraging data science to better understand its spread and transmission. A team of staff and students is producing medical face shields for local medical professionals facing a shortage of protective equipment.  UGA Campus Kitchen is delivering prepared meals and groceries to food-insecure families in Athens.  These are just a few examples among many, and I encourage you to visit https://news.uga.edu/ to read about these vital efforts.

Our alumni, parents, and friends also are responding en masse to meet this moment. Donating to student emergency funds, sewing protective masks, shifting their businesses to produce hand sanitizer, treating COVID-19 patients: so many Bulldogs are rising to the occasion to help those around them. Even in the face of a global pandemic, we continue to serve our communities.

When I see how the Bulldog Nation is responding, I am reminded of those fall Saturday nights in Sanford Stadium when the fourth quarter begins and a hush falls over the stadium. One at a time, lights appear all across the stadium, and as the Redcoats begin to play, thousands of individual lights rise and fall in rhythmic motion, creating a spectacle that captures national attention.

Each one of those lights represents a small action taken by a single person. Collectively, these small actions create something big and impactful. I am so proud of everyone in our University community—near and far, on campus and off—for raising their lights during this very challenging time. Together, we are making a difference, and we are showing the world what it means to be part of the Bulldog Nation.

Hoping you remain safe and healthy,

Jere W. Morehead

President

Isaiah Wilson gives his Georgia football pick-up basketball starting 5

Isaiah Wilson is the first player to give his Georgia football pick-up basketball starting 5 he would choose if they were to play a game.

After the UGA Wire staff created our own Georgia football pick-up basketball starting five, we wanted to hear football players’ lists of their own five.

We reached out to a number of former Georgia football players via Twitter, text and Instagram and asked who they’d choose as their squad.

Former Georgia offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson was the first to respond and give his own starting five.

Here is Isaiah’s starting five:

Point Guard: Jamie Newman (6-4, quarterback)

Shooting Guard: Richard LeCounte (5-11, safety)

Small Forward: George Pickens (6-3, wide receiver)

Power Forward: Bill Norton (6-6, defensive tackle)

Center: Jordan Davis (6-6, defensive tackle)

Wilson went with size in his picks, taking defensive tackles Bill Norton and Jordan Davis (both standing at 6-6) as his front court.

How would that team stack up against the team that we assembled?

Click the link below to see our squad.

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Drafting 5 Georgia football players for a pick-up basketball game

The UGA Wire staff has released a list of the Georgia football players we would take for a starting 5 in a pick-up basketball game.

The UGA Wire staff got creative amongst this brutal sports drought and put together a starting five of Georgia football players that we would take part in a game of pick-up basketball.

We also asked a number of football players via Twitter who they’d take as their starting five as well, and will be releasing those to see how the lineups match up.

The Dawgs have some serious hoopers on the football team and this couldn’t be a better time to showcase their skills.

Here are our picks:

Pick No. 1: Point Guard, Jamie Newman (6-4, quarterback)

We chose Newman with the first overall pick as our point guard. Newman’s strong arm and accuracy on the field will translate to his shooting and passing ability on the court. Newman’s size and ability to see the court and facilitate is why we chose him first at point guard.

Pick No. 2: Shooting Guard, Richard LeCounte (5-11, safety)

We went with LeCounte at the shooting guard position because he has athleticism, vision and grit on defense. Playing defensive back helps LeCounte to see the whole court and facilitate the offense while also helping him play scrappy defense. He’s a slasher, meaning he uses his athleticism to get to the rim and finish with contact.

Here’s a bit of preview of what LeCounte would be doing on our squad.

Pick No. 3: Small Forward, George Pickens (6-3, wide receiver)

Pickens’ freak athletic ability gets him the third pick as a small forward.  If you’ve ever spent any time at the Ramsey Student Center, you’ve most likely seen George Pickens putting in work on the basketball courts. Pickens’ speed, agility and catch ability would make him a scoring and rebounding machine for our squad.

(Skip to 0:43 for Pickens’ dunk)

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Georgia football recruiting: Bulldogs offer New Orleans WR

Georgia football has offered 2022 receiver out of New Orleans, LA. See the latest Bulldog recruiting news here.

Coronavirus can’t stop Kirby Smart and the recruiting train that is Georgia football (keeping socially distant of course).

The Dawgs have offered class of 2022 wide receiver Aaron Anderson out of Edna Karr High School in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Anderson is going into his junior year of high school and is already making his name heard as one of the highest recruited receiver in his class.  He stands at 5’7″, 182 lbs and shows incredible agility and after-the-catch ability.

WATCH Aaron Anderson high school highlights:

Anderson is currently ranked as the 52nd best receiver in his class and 15th in Louisiana by 247Sports.  He is smaller than the average college receiver, but Anderson’s talent shows a great upside with lots of time left for him to grow.

The Dawgs have also offered the #2 pro-style quarterback Maalik Murphy, the #1 running back Raleek Brown, and the #1 dual-threat quarterback Gunner Stockton, along with a number of other highly rated recruits among the 2022 class.

Georgia currently has no commitments in the 2022 class.

COVID-19 canceled Jake Fromm’s Pro Day, so he made his own

Georgia football Jake Fromm makes his own Pro Day workout amid the coronavirus outbreak less than three weeks prior to the 2020 NFL Draft.

The coronavirus pandemic has significantly shaken up the sports world for the foreseeable future and yes, this includes the 2020 NFL Draft. With the whole world in quarantine, NFL prospects will need to find alternate methods to showcase their abilities on the field.

Former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm held his own personal Pro Day in early March with wide receiver Tyler Simmons and tight end Charlie Woerner.

QB Country posted a short video with some highlights from the day on Twitter:

It’s good to see Fromm working out, trying to do everything he can to up his draft stock and prove he’s an NFL caliber quarterback.

The 2020 NFL Draft will be held April 23-25 in Las Vegas with no fans in attendance.

Kirby Smart talks coronavirus, Georgia football with Paul Finebaum

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart discussed the coronavirus with ESPN’s Paul Finebaum and how it will affect Georgia football in 2020.

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum had Georgia head coach Kirby Smart on his show this Thursday to discuss the coronavirus and how it’s affecting Georgia football.

“It’s unique. If you’re not ready to embrace a challenge or getting comfortable with being uncomfortable; we always use that statement around our place, this is the ultimate get comfortable being uncomfortable.” said Smart on the overall experience thus far. “When coaches have to go onto virtual networks like Zoom it’s not always good for guys that aren’t as young as these players. I’ve found that most of our guys are much more compatible with dealing with computers than some of the older guys are. So it’s been an experience, we do staff meetings by Zoom, I know NFL teams we’ve talked are doing the same thing and we’re able to do Zoom meetings with our players.”

Smart expressed his concerns with not having his new quarterback Jamie Newman getting any spring practice reps.  Newman, the Wake Forest transfer was rated as the #3 returning college QB, having 16-1 starting Heisman Trophy odds.

Along with a new QB, the Dawgs will also be showcasing a new offensive coordinator, Todd Monken this season.

“I think if everybody didn’t have it (spring practices), it probably wouldn’t bother me as bad.” Smart told Finebaum.  “It certainly, you know, we’ve got a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback coming in, whoever it’s going to be, and to not get those practices, boy, that’s tough.” But not very many people got a lot of it. On average I think we got three to four practices, or some of the SEC teams got in before they shut everything down. In the grand scheme of things that’s not a lot. I certainly think some young players, some mid-year guys that maybe came in thinking they were going to get a leg up on people, that may not be as big of a leg at all because they weren’t able to have those practices. If you were fortunate enough to have spring practice early, like some programs do, I certainly think that helps. To get 10 more practices in is huge.”

If issues pertaining to the coronavirus start to settle down, and the college football season is good to go, it is going to be an outright race for schools to get their players mentally and physically ready for the 2020 season.

On the matter of recruiting, Smart said:

“I think it definitely depends on when we get back and when kids are able to come to campus. Because you know as of right now we’re working off a May 31 date that anybody can come on a campus. Well, if that date keeps getting pushed back, it’s getting closer and closer to that early signing date. There’s a lot of debate and speculation out there. Should that early signing date apply? The problem with that is if you push that, you’re now pushing back on the next class.”

Finebaum asked Smart when he thinks team activities need to return in order for the season to realistically happen.

“I don’t think anybody should be really thinking about that right now as much as if we could put all our energy into washing our hands and the social distancing, we would do a lot better for ourselves than speculating on some of those things. We just don’t know the answer to so many things right now. The best thing we can do is batten down the hatches so we can have a season.”

Coach Smart’s concerns right now are not when things will return to normal, but more so trying to help contain the virus and do his part in preventing the rapid spread.  This is the best thing we can all do right now if we really want a college football season this year.

Smart finished with some lighthearted comments about his family’s quarantine routine and how he’s using this time to spend quality time with his wife and kids.

“I can tell you this. I’ve figured this out. I’m not getting up at 6:30 again and going down with my wife to the Peloton to ride a bike. That only happened once and that won’t happen again. I made that mistake thinking that I could go down there and compete. I learned real quick that at 44, I’m not near as competitive as I used to be in the workout rooms. I’ve got to find other ways to get my exercise done, but I’ve enjoyed the time around the kids. So many people say it happens so fast that you blink and their gone. We’re actually getting to be present in their lives more than we ever have. I may never get this time again. So just trying to make the most of that.”

Dan Orlovsky says Jake Fromm is ‘best connect-the-dot QB in this draft’

Former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky says Jake Fromm is ‘best connect-the-dot QB in this draft’, breaks down film and predicts where he will land.

Jake Fromm, without question, left his mark on Georgia football in his three years playing between the hedges for the Bulldogs.

Fromm decided to forgo his senior season in Athens and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.  The question now is how will his skillset transition the pros.

Former NFL quarterback, and current ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky had some great things to say about Fromm on Friday.

In a tweet, Orlovsky broke down Fromm’s connect-the-dot ability with some film. Connecting the dots is basically when a quarterback reads his options and how the opposing defense is playing each of his receivers, one option, or one dot at a time.

Orlovsky complemented Fromm and said that “plenty of quarterbacks have ‘their trait/traits’ that make them the player they are.” and his is his decision making.

Fromm has never been a flashy quarterback that goes for home-run balls or the biggest play.  He’s smart, manages games, and gets the job done by picking apart defenses.

Orlovsky mentioned that the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans saints and New England Patriots could all be great fits for Fromm to land, come draft day.  He is a quarterback that would work very well in one of those systems, as these teams are in the market for a new franchise QB.

Future Hall of Fame QBs Drew Brees (Saints) and Philip Rivers (Colts) would be perfect mentors to Fromm for the next two seasons.  Tom Brady left the Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but Fromm would be in good hands in New England with head coach Bill Belichick.  He would also be reunited with former teammates Sony Michel, David Andrews and Isaiah Wynn, who all play for the Patriots.

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Kirby Smart provides rehab update on Georgia football WR Dominick Blaylock

Kirby Smart provided a rehab update on Georgia football WR Dominick Blaylock while spring practices are cancelled due to coronavirus.

With no spring practices as a result of COVID-19, we have very little information regarding the health of a few key players.

Thankfully, Kirby Smart filled everyone in during a teleconference with UGA reporters on Tuesday.

During the call, Smart mentioned that had there been spring practices this year, multiple Bulldogs would have been forced to sit out due to pre-existing injuries.

One player that Georgia fans have been wondering about is rising sophomore wide receiver Dominick Blaylock, who suffered a torn ACL in the first quarter of the SEC Championship loss vs LSU.

Smart touched on his rehab, and other players’, on Tuesday:

“The great thing about rehab is you can do it anywhere,” Smart said. “Ron (Georgia’s sports medicine director) has them set up. They can come in and do check-ins with Ron. If they choose to be here in town they can do their rehab locally here and have access to everything.”

Given the severity of his injury, nobody expected Blaylock, a former five-star receiver out of Marietta, to be able to train with the team this spring. The hope remains that he will be ready to go for fall camp in August.

Smart also mentioned backup quarterback D’Wan Mathis, who is still in the process of coming back after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst on his brain last May.

“Dom and D’wan they do exactly what you ask them to do, and they know it helps the future of their careers to be rehabbing,” Smart said. “And they’re committed to doing that. And the good thing is the NCAA has allowed us to help those guys.”

According to DawgNation, Mathis chose to stay in Athens during this time so he could remain close to the trainers and football facility.

However, if he did return home to Michigan, Smart said that that would have worked as well.

“The good thing is Ron knows so many people across the country every one of these kids he can reach out to somebody and have a whole network of people where they can get their rehab done,” Smart said.

Matt Stafford doing his part to help coronavirus first responders in Michigan

Former Georgia football star and Detroit Lions QB Matt Stafford is doing his part to help coronavirus first responders throughout Michigan.

Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft, is doing his part to help out his local community during the coronavirus pandemic.

Accompanied by his wife Kelly, who was a cheerleader at UGA when she and Matt met, the two have announced that they will pay for medical workers’ meals all throughout Michigan.

“We will be doing this at multiple restaurants in Michigan,” Kelly wrote on her Instagram story.

“I will announce them tomorrow here on my Instagram, so if you work at a hospital, please go grab a meal on us and please stay safe and healthy,” she added.

From Detroit television station WDIV:

The couple said they will cover up to $5,000 in orders made by first responders, including doctors, nurses, police officers and firefighters, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The giveaway will begin on Thursday, March 26 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Royal Oak Wahlburgers restaurant only. Customers should order online at wahltogo.com or on the Wahlburgers app. Only takeout or curbside delivery is available. First responders should be in uniform or show their ID badge.

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