Smart not so smart

[holeinthewall]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/father-of-georgia-k-rodrigo-blankenship-says-its-an-injustice-son-isnt-on-scholarship-220712858.html

Clearly came from Saban what a [CENSORED]

[FineAsSwine]

If this is true, Kirby is a major a--hole.

[jbcarol]

Kevin Butler finally weighs in on Rodrigo Blankenship situation

Butler was named first team All-SEC three times in his career.

He was also Blankenship's coach this past season. Butler, who was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1985, is back at Georgia finishing up his degree. This past fall, he served as an undergraduate assistant coach, working with the kickers and punters.

The former Georgia standout saw Blankenship improve greatly, especially after William Ham beat him out for the kicking job to start the season.

But as far as the question that's on every Georgia fan's mind — whether Blankenship should receive a scholarship — Butler gave a response similar to Blankenship's.

"For any college student that hopes to get a scholarship, the best way to do it is to go out there and perform and do your job professionally and be a good teammate. I'm sure, as Coach (Kirby) Smart says, he's up for consideration. But the bottom line is that three-quarters of a season do not make a career. Let's just keep building on it."

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/817773551289827328

Cameron Nizialek, who has kicked the past three years at Columbia in the Ivy League, said on his Twitter account that he will be a graduate transfer at Georgia this season. He will have a year of eligibility, and will be a walk-on.

While many would naturally connect Nizialek's addition to the Rodrigo Blankenship situation...

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/JTalty/status/817818654528114690

[jbcarol]

Meaner than a Junkyard Blawg: Smart's Bulldogs are showing up surprisingly high in a couple of these very early rankings.

nine teams placing ahead of the Dawgs on their list all played in New Year's Six bowls (including the playoffs) this year: Alabama, USC, Clemson, Ohio State, FSU, Oklahoma, Penn State, Michigan and Washington.

In picking UGA to round out the Top 10, SN said: "Here's the team that will be talked about than anybody else in the offseason. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel stayed in school, and Jacob Eason should make the jump as a sophomore. At least that's what we're counting on. Kirby Smart should be excited about Year 2. Bulldogs fans will be."

That puts the Dawgs ahead of LSU, Louisville, Wisconsin, Florida, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Auburn, Kansas State, Miami, Colorado, Texas, Tennessee
[, Arkansas] and South Florida.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/818633996070424576

Blankenship is rare walk on to get this honor

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/825065036716584960

The chances are good that when Georgia opens next season, the place-kicker will be Rodrigo Blankenship and the punter will be Marshall Long. That hasn't changed.

There just might be more competition along the way. Especially on kickoffs.

The latest is Brooks Buce, a kicker from Norcross. Earlier this month Cameron Nizialek, who kicked and punted at Columbia, announced he was coming to Georgia as a graduate transfer.

There could be more on the way, with Cairo High School's Cole Phillips still a possibility as a walk-on. All of this appears to be about adding depth and competition.

"Anytime you bring in more kids from a competition standpoint, it's good for you. That will help Rodrigo," said Marc Nolan, a kicking coach in the Atlanta area who has worked with many of the current and soon-to-be Georgia specialists.

Blankenship, coming off being named a freshman All-American, is the incumbent at kicker. He will be remaining with the program despite no assurance of a scholarship, a decision that will be made next August.

William Ham elected to leave the team, after losing his starting job last season. His spot is essentially taken by Buce...

[jbcarol]

Aubrey Solomon's mother is 'ticked off' at the Tracy Rocker rumors

When Caldwell first learned that her family's name was being associated with why Rocker is no longer at Georgia, she had a powerful reaction

"Ticked off" is the polite way to put that. Words really can't convey it, she said.

"I found the news to be disturbing, distracting and unnerving especially to find out while at work trying to figure out what these people are talking about," she told DawgNation. "I thought it was a joke and laughed till they showed me."

For the record: Georgia finished second behind Michigan. She said Rocker was not the reason.

Caldwell said they were affected by the scholarship that was no longer there for 4-star Texas RB and longtime UGA commit Toneil Carter.

Adding to the confusion: SEC All-Freshman kicker Rodrigo Blankenship was not extended a scholarship offer despite what he did to win games for the Bulldogs last season.

She said that was not her family's fight but that it was a factor into how they perceived UGA.

"We were concerned with the scholarship issues of those not either receiving (them) or getting it pulled and again (this was) not our fight but it played a factor," she said.

[Inhogswetrust]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/father-of-georgia-k-rodrigo-blankenship-says-its-an-injustice-son-isnt-on-scholarship-220712858.html

Clearly came from Saban what a [CENSORED]

That article states he has not been on scholarship for two years. Suddenly he wants one now due to what his family says is financial reasons. Something isn't adding up. Unless he was promised one and then it was taken back I don't see why they would fuss.

[jbcarol]

UGA's Rodrigo Blankenship in position to kick down a Kevin Butler record

College Football Hall of Famer Kevin Butler owns the Georgia record for touchbacks in a season. He had 51 in 1981, according to UGA. One has to ask specifically because it's not listed among the records in the Bulldogs' media guide.

For his part, Blankenship knew he was kicking off well this season and doing what his head coach wanted, which is to "kick it out of the end zone if you can." Blankenship has come through on that front 37 times this year. So just 15 more and he'll have the record all to himself.

"It'd be nice to get it," said Blankenship, who actually works every week with the Hall of Famer Butler, in his second season as a student assistant...

Talking about helping his team with field position. Getting a scholarship would also be appreciated.