re: You guys said the Georgia fans would be insufferable (and you were right).

I intend to troll the shite out of them with the Ringo gif as least as much as they've trolled us on 2nd 28 Tua gif. They've earned it.

quote:

---

Fully agree, a rising tide raises all boats. Would love to see baseball get some much needed love and money, and basketball needs to spend some money launching Crean into the Sun.

---

Unlike everyone else on SEC Rant, I am not an insider and privy to the behind the doors conversations in the UGA athletic department, so take this for what it is worth...

My hope has been once football has put 1980 to bed, it would allow the athletic department to focus on baseball and basketball.

UGA basketball is complete arse, but it starts with firing Crean, hiring someone who will successfully recruit the Atlanta metro area, razing Stegeman, and replacing it with something newer. Maybe not something as small as Auburn's new bball place, but something that gives a true home court advantage.

For baseball, Foley has to be expanded and modernized. The SEC West stadiums are amazing and Florida just completed an upgrade along with KY . I am not saying it needs to be increased in capacity to Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State levels, but something like Kentucky and Florida's stadiums with a ~6,000 capacity expandable to ~8,500 for SEC series, Regionals, Supers, and vs. GTU would be good. The stadium is really limited by its location being locked in by Rutherford and Pinecrest. I'm not an architect or stadium general contractor, but I am sure those professions can figure something out with the space limitations.

With an upgraded Foley, I believe you'll have an "if you build it, they will stay" impact on the Georgia baseball talent. The Georgia high schools kids that are going to get drafted high in the MLB draft are rarely turning that professional opportunity down because the facilities at LSU, Mississippi St, GTU, or Vanderbilt are better than what they'll have at the Rookie level or A Level baseball teams they'll be assigned to, so those guys are gone anyways. UGA has to start winning the baseball recruiting battles among kids from Georgia: the Dansby Swansons (Vandy), Matt Beatys (Bellmont), Skye Bolts (UNC), Brandon Leibrandts (FSU), Adam Fraziers (Miss. St.), Brady Houses (UTK), Kumar Rockers (Vandy), Kris Bensons (Clemson) and Kent Emanuels (UNC).

quote:

---

For baseball, Foley has to be expanded and modernized. The SEC West stadiums are amazing and Florida just completed an upgrade along with KY . I am not saying it needs to be increased in capacity to Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State levels, but something like Kentucky and Florida's stadiums with a ~6,000 capacity expandable to ~8,500 for SEC series, Regionals, Supers, and vs. GTU would be good. The stadium is really limited by its location being locked in by Rutherford and Pinecrest. I'm not an architect or stadium general contractor, but I am sure those professions can figure something out with the space limitations. With an upgraded Foley, I believe you'll have an "if you build it, they will stay" impact on the Georgia baseball talent. The Georgia high schools kids that are going to get drafted high in the MLB draft are rarely turning that professional opportunity down because the facilities at LSU, Mississippi St, GTU, or Vanderbilt are better than what they'll have at the Rookie level or A Level baseball teams they'll be assigned to, so those guys are gone anyways. UGA has to start winning the baseball recruiting battles among kids from Georgia: the Dansby Swansons (Vandy), Matt Beatys (Bellmont), Skye Bolts (UNC), Brandon Leibrandts (FSU), Adam Fraziers (Miss. St.), Brady Houses (UTK), Kumar Rockers (Vandy), Kris Bensons (Clemson) and Kent Emanuels (UNC).

---

Agreed all around. And Brooks has already said that they’re going to address Foley, we just need Strick to dream big and not hold back on what he wants and not just what we need. If that means buying up half the parking lot beyond left field and putting a giant player development center a la Arkansas and what Ole Miss has planned then so be it. Invested in football and it paid off; blueprint is there as is the talent for baseball and basketball (though the key to basketball has long been a separate downtown stadium; Stegeman needs to be turned over to Gymnastics and Womens basketball full time with a joint-owned stadium walking distance to the bars downtown for mens basketball)

quote:

---

UGA DaWGs-2021 National Fracking Champions!!!!, Damn I love the sounds of that..

---

Had no idea we won the hydro-geology Natty as well! Didn’t think the week could get better!

quote:

---

From the outside looking in it always appeared to be some strange balancing act where they want the best of the best, but they have to temper their targets based on the MLB draft and other factors such as a kid's desire for a college degree, development, etc

---

There's much more savvier college baseball guys on this board than I am, but that isbthe way I have looked at it too.

I'll let others speculate on how NIL will impact college baseball, which is something that I think will have greater effects on that sport than even football.

quote:

---

From the outside looking in it always appeared to be some strange balancing act where they want the best of the best, but they have to temper their targets based on the MLB draft and other factors such as a kid's desire for a college degree, development, etc.

---

That’s pretty much right. It’s a lot of gambling and sometimes you can get a Corey Collins or Cole Wilcox to turn down 2nd round money to come to campus. What Stricklin and Kenney have actually done incredibly well is to evaluate and develop guys who are no real threat of going pro out of HS. Georgia does well enough in recruiting (I think last class was #11 nationally) but it’s not like football where all those guys in your class are going to show up so you have to be prepared to develop the lower end guys.

Fun fact, Jayson Werth, Scott Rolen, Brandon Phillips, and John Rocker all signed to play at UGA before going pro instead

Eh, Georgia fans are worse on gameday than on message boards.

Dudes don't know how to hold their liquor so they start barking at folks and breaking property.

We all had one of those friends if we've ever been close to a good time. lol.

In person, the sidewalk Georgia fans are pretty bad. They can't watch a game without being inebriated. Luckily, I've been around the better ones here and in person. Night and day difference.

I'm pleasantly surprised at how quiet they've been around here and I live in the heart of UGA country. It's like they're more relieved than anything.