Out, damned scaffolding

The scaffolding is coming down.  Good riddance.

It's nice to know there is a high degree of confidence that the glass isn't going to shatter and rain down on our heads, yes?

h/t Red and Black

Fix the Steg

One problem with the basic premise of this blog - that is, rocking the Steg - is the potential damage it could do to the building itself.

Anyone who has been to Stegeman the last two seasons has noticed the scaffolding, which is there because of issues with the glass panel installation.  Thankfully, the university is taking steps to (hopefully) fix the problem (maybe) once and for all.

I, for one, love the look the glass panels give to the building.  Therefore, I hope the repairs are successful, and good riddance to the scaffolding and tarps.

h/t Red & Black

The End

The paper towel dispensers in the Stegeman Coliseum trick me every time.  The picture tells me to wave my hand for a paper towel.  The text tells me to wave my hand for a paper towel.  Only after waving for a second or two do I remember that the picture is a lie.  The machine may be built to dispense them automatically, but in Stegeman Coliseum, I have to push the panel if I want a damn paper towel.

When the Georgia basketball team runs onto the court, what do you see?  I see a team built to control tempo and pace, to grind out possessions, to get the ball to the rim, and to exert defensive pressure on your shooters.  Then I wave my hands and it's 8-0.  Then I wave some more and it's 18-2.  Soon, it's 39-13 and it's too late.  The machine is not working like it is supposed to, and the architect is standing with his arms crossed, looking bewildered.

It is almost beside the point that Georgia cut that lead to 4.  Was there ever a moment you thought they might win?  The reality this morning is that Georgia got run off their home court by a good-not-great Louisiana Tech team and the season is over.

The crowd, by the way, was spectacular.  The lower bowl was mostly full, and the building was loud.  People were on their feet screaming when Georgia cut the lead down to 18 after half.  18!  Cry apathy all you want, but there are plenty of fans who clearly want good basketball in Athens.  Stegeman was rocking yesterday despite perhaps the worst 10 minutes of basketball I have ever seen.

So where does Georgia go from here?  I know what I think, but mine is but a voice in the wilderness.  Greg McGarity has the one and only vote, and it is time for him to make a decision.

I will say this:  if McGarity finds himself looking for a new basketball coach, calling Michael White the day after Louisiana Tech loses wouldn't be a bad start to a search.

Rock the Steg

Here's what I know about Georgia basketball:

1. The history is spotty.
2. The recruiting is challenging.
3. The fans are fickle.
4. The success is often fleeting.
5. The apathy is often overwhelming.

I was a freshman at the University of Georgia in 1999.  The first basketball game I attended was against Tennessee State (yes, I had to look that up).  I paid $1, walked in with my brother 15 minutes before the game started, sat down in about the fifth row at the free throw line, and was hooked.

By my senior year, I had to get to Stegeman Coliseum 2.5 hours early just to get my courtside seats.  Sellouts were common and national TV was a reality.  Dick Vitale came to Athens!  Ezra Williams threes were blowing the roof off the building.

So here's what else I know about Georgia basketball:  if you build it, they will come.  You can call Georgia a football school all you want, but if the basketball team is winning, there will be butts in the seats.  The talent in the Atlanta area is staggering, and Georgia can be successful on the hardwood.

It's time to take the lid off of this program.  It's time to Rock the Steg!