Special Dawg Reports

The recent fire of Dave Van Halanger, Director of Strength and Conditioning for the University of Georgia, sparks new names and faces.

Brown playing for the Atlanta Falcons

Joe Tereshinski was recently promoted to the position of Director of Strength and Conditioning by Coach Richt. It is not clear yet if Keith Gray (Assoc. Head Strength and Conditioning Coach) or Clay Walker (Strength and Conditioning- doctoral student), will be coming back to assist Coach Joe T. These men have given many years to the University of Georgia’s program, they truly bleed red and black.

Effective January 1st, one of Georgia’s greatest running backs, Thomas Brown, will be rejoining the UGAfamily once again; not on the field, but in the weight room, on Joe Tereshinski’s strength and conditioning staff. I had the opportunity to talk to Thomas about his new opportunity and how he felt about coach Richt offering him the job. “I chose the University of Georgia coming out of high school because I wanted to be a part of a program that is committed to excellence. It will be an honor to return to this great University and aid in the continuing development of our student-athletes on and off the field”.

Thomas, an Atlanta native from Tucker High School, just recently ended his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons and the Cleveland Browns. Thomas has a beautiful wife, Jessica Brown, and two lovely kids, Orlando and Tyson. Thomas is very excited to be back close to home with his friend and family. So if you see some new faces around UGA’s practices or games don’t hesitate to go up and Meet the Brown’s and shake the hand of the strongest pound for player UGA has seen in a long time.

A common occurrence for Brown

Recent firing of head coach at the University of Miami, Randy Shannon, turns a lot of attention to the future of UM. Randy Shannon gave the University of Miami four good years of football. After graduating from “the U” and becoming the head coach years later was a dream come true.

Melvin Bratton

University of Miami has always been known to be a power house program when it comes to college football. With the recent departure of coach Shannon I had the opportunity to talk with one of Miami’s greatest running backs to ever come through the program, Melvin Bratton. When asked how he felt about the recent firing of coach Shannon, he had this to say: “Coach Shannon gave four years of head coaching. Randy will be a success as a head coach. He made mistakes on the job, but he also learned from those mistakes. That is why he will be a good head coach somewhere else.”

When asked about the struggles of Miami over the past few years under Randy Shannon, Bratton felt that Randy shouldn’t have hired Randy’s guys.” Meaning friends and ex-teammates. Bratton was very clear with me. He felt like Randy had no one on the staff to step up to him and give him that positive and negative feedback.

Darrell Fullington

Miami is known for their bad boy mentality in the past years; the swagger on the field, the high intensity level, and their showmanship. Bratton said that he went away from what he knows and what he was taught as a player at UM. The bad boy mentality wasn’t there and it showed. “Randy cut and shut the door off for alumni coming back and having relationships with current players.” Growing up in the state of Florida I have always known that Miami has a strong alumni presence when it comes to football. When players finish their senior year they always stay and train for the combine at the University of Miami. That shows that the program and the school support their ex-players and invite them to keep a relationship with the program. This was very shocking to me hearing that Randy shut the door on his fellow teammates which created a division, whether he meant it or not. Former Safety for University of Miami, Darrell Fullington said, “Disappointing one of our own couldn’t lead us back to the top. Out of respect, he’s still family. Family doesn’t always do what you want them to do.”

ESPN’s 30/30 host “The U”, Melvin Bratton, had this to say when asked about who he would like to see as Miami’s next head coach. “If they have the money for Jon Gruden he will be our ideal coach for the job. He has the mentality that works for what Miami needs. I also asked him what he thinks about UM going after UGA’s Head Coach Mark Richt. “No, that’s a bad move. You’re getting back into the same type of coach Randy was, the good boy mentality.”

Those are two big time coaches for The U to go after. It makes sense for Mark Richt to go back to his roots at UM. He’s a Florida boy at heart and it won’t be a bad look for Miami. If Jon Gruden takes the job, so many positives will come out of his hire. The experience, relationships, and success he has built in his coaching career will be an immediate impact on the University of Miami’s program. Other coaches up for UM hire are Texas Tech’s Tommy Tuberville, and Oklahoma’s defensive coordinator Brent Venables. It’s been reported that Gruden has been offered $3.4 million per year.

I have also gotten word that the alumni of Miami will come together and help the university pay for the coach they want, so money will not be a problem as long as they get the production that they’ve been waiting for.

Kelin Johnson Exclusive: Zach Tells Me About His Top Choices

Courtesy of Marc Browning and Kansas.com

Mettenberger’s Butler Community College rolls into the National Title Game at the Citizens Bank Bowl in Pittsburgh on December 5th, as the departed former Georgia would-be starting QB narrows down his choices of which team he’ll play for next season.

This past Saturday Zach passed for 382 yards and six touchdowns, pushing his season total to a school-record 31 TD’s and one rushing touchdown in the Region VI title game at Blackmore Stadium.  The ex-Dawg has been through a lot since his departure from Athens.  He has been working really hard to get back to the top after his lost Bulldog opportunity.

Butler is No. 1 in the NJCAA football rankings and much of the success has came from QB Zach Mettenberger.

When I asked Zach about his season this year, he told me “We have worked so hard for this and all my accomplishments this year are a reflection of the teammates around me. We have one more goal now and that’s to be National Champs.”

Mettenberger has been named the Offensive Player of the year and the Overall Player of the year for the Jayhawk West Conference.  I know hard work always pays off.  It may not come when you want it, but it pays off soon or later!

With 31 TD’s on the year – 2 rushing TD’s, with only 3 INT’s for 2,512 yards. Zach has received offers from Arizona, Alabama, Louisville, Cinncy, LSU, Texas A&M, Ole’ Miss, Arkansas, and Troy.

Mettenberger tells me that LSU, Texas A&M, Arkansas and Arizona are his Top choices. Zach will be on his way to LSU for a visit this weekend and I am sure they will lay out the red carpet from him.

Where do you think he will end up?

I can no longer keep my mouth shut about Cam Newton and the
allegations against him. As an ex- player in the NCAA and having
played for one of the top teams in college football, I take pride in
this game.

I am not happy that Cam has been accused, and practically
convicted in the media, of taking money to play college football. I
am sure that thousands of other alums of college football share these
feelings. For me and many others, football has created life-long
memories, opportunities and blessings. The game has taught me many
lessons. In Pop Warner football I learned keep my mouth shut and
let the play on the field speak for itself.

Cam Newton is an amazing football player and definitely has the “IT” factor. Yes, he has made mistakes before, which has been proven. He left UF and attended junior college. He served his punishment and appeared to have learned his lesson.

This is why the allegations against Newton make me angry:

If the NCAA has known about this since January of 2010, why is it coming out now?

Why does it come out when he is being considered for the Heisman
trophy, which honors the best college football player in the nation.
Why why is it coming out when his team has a chance to compete for
the national championship?
Why are leaks springing now about his academic records at UF that happened two years ago? Why should that matter now? What does that have to do with his current enrollment at Auburn?

I know as an ex-athlete that academic records are confidential. Nobody is supposed to leak that information. The only people who have access to a player’s academic record are his
counselors and his football coaches? So you tell me how it leaked out
of UF?

The Media seems to be bent on bringing this young man down. 
may not take away from the fact that he’s a wonderful football player
but it does significantly tarnish his image. Cam Newton’s image is now
being questioned by the NFL teams and this will hurt his draft stock
immensely. This was a man that had paid for making bad choices and now
seemed to be on the right track. The University of Florida,
Mississippi State, the media and whoever else made these claims should
be ashamed. If a football player broke rules- YES, he should be
punished- but at the same time PROVE IT. There are only unproven
allegations against Cam Newton.

The NCAA knew about these allegations since January. If they have the
evidence to prove them, they should do so. If not, they should “let
the young man enjoy his short time in the spotlight of fame because
tomorrow is not promised to you!

It’s crazy the world we live in, it’s a What have you done for me lately.. so if Cam Newton wasn’t the Star QB he is right now the allegations against him right would still be under the table.

-Kelin

Copyright 2010 Kelin Johnson

October 27, 2010  -Butler Community College QB Zach Mettenberger told kelinjohnson.com exclusively today that Nick Saban at the University of Alabama has just extended an offer for him to play for the Crimson Tide with a full scholarship.  The offer comes just over a month after he received a full ride to play for Louisiana State University. And this weekend, Zach is taking a visit to Texas A & M.

Things have been looking better and better for Mettenberger since his departure from the University of Georgia back in April, after he ran into some legal problems.  With his new starting role at Butler Community College, he was named NJCAA Offensive Player of the Week on September 8^th.  Mettenberger has averaged 212 passing yards and almost three touchdowns per game this season, with a total of 1907 yards through nine games.  With these kinds of stats, there will be plenty more top teams knocking on his door.

KelinJohnson.com originally broke the news that Mettenberger was being offered a full scholarship to Louisiana State University back in early September, click here to read the original story.  LSU fans were getting pretty excited with the prospect of having the Butler CC standout return to the SEC and to a team who’s desperate for a reliable QB.  Only time will tell where he ends up, but this kid has got options.

Check back with kelinjohnson.com for updates on Mettenberger’s plans and Kelin’s Keys to the Game for this weekend’s Georgia-Florida game.

They’re a team that no matter what the score is they are going to keep  fighting, they’re going to keep playing the entire game.  Aaron Murray on Kentucky 10/19/2010.

Kelin Johnson breaking news from the practice field:

The dawgs are in full pads for the third time this week! This is the first time that this has ever happened and it shows that Coach and his Dawgs are serious about coming out fighting this Saturday.

Here’s how training usually goes:

Mondays are day’s where the the dawgs correct the Saturdays games day mistakes in shorts.
Tuesday’s are usually your hard hitting day’s.
Wednesday’s are shells day’s, a little hitting but not much hitting.
Then Thursday’s full game plan is in wearing shorts. The team always wears shorts on day’s like this, but not today.

Coach Richt has had enough of the soft play of his team. As an ex player in the program this means Coach is bringing down the hammer! I never practiced in full pads on a Thursday. I don’t think any of the teams after me have ever had a FULL padded practice… not to mention three!

Here’s this week’s practice schedule

Monday- Full pads
Tuesday- Full pads
Wednesday- Shells
Thursday- Full pads
Friday – no practice

This is all another reason for fans to join me this Saturday and Shout Out! Support for the Team.

Musa Smith Running Back for the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets following his career as a Bulldog RB. He was Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 3rd round (77th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft.

KELIN: It’s been a while since you been to Athens, What are you up to now?

MUSA: Its been year since i was in Athens..I miss it always love going back….Im part owner in a sports marketing company the deals with primarily NFL players in Baltimore, MD

KELIN: Let’s talk Dawg’s.. Your thought on the season so far?

MUSA: Honestly not very good at all…they’re not playing Georgia football like we all have become used to…so far disappointing Saturdays!!!

KELIN: Georgia really not off to a start in the SEC East. Do you think this team can come to have a winning record in the SEC?

MUSA: No unless they do a complete 360 and start winning games…hopefully we will have a 500 season.

KELIN: Leadership has been a up in the air with this team. What’re your thoughts..?

MUSA: Just from the few games i have watched…there’s not much leadership at all…leadership can come in different forms..but since i’m not down there around the players and in the locker room i can’t fully answer that question.

KELIN: UGA has known to be Running Back University over the years. What do you think about King and Ealey?

MUSA: I think they are talented good backs but are young backs and have some learning to do to become a complete RB’’s

KELIN: What would you tell this team before the game on Saturday..?

MUSA: I would tell them that there are some hungry dawgs… their back is up against the wall and they got to come out swinging and GATA because they have something to prove to themselves and will learn from this adversity as a team…and if you can’t get up for this game you need to stay at home!!

Musa Smith will be my guest this week on Kelin Keepin’ It Real Radio, along with Troy Sadowski who couldn’t make it last week as scheduled. So be sure to come down to Tate Plaza or listen in right here on my web site.

“We want to get something for the fans to cheer about this Saturday” -Aaron Murray 10/5/2010

Kelin Johnson Exclusive: One on One Interview with Aaron Murray.

Bulldog Raw:  Latest Video of Q & A with Aaron Murray from media day. (What everyone else also heard)

The Case for Keeping Coach

Ok, there are a lot of unhappy Georgia fans out there because of the recent loss. The Dawgs are 1-4 so far this year and people are calling for Coach Richt’s head. The fact is that the UGA Football team is not playing as well as they have in the past. When you’re not winning, it’s easy to point out negatives about the team. When I was in school, I remember walking around town with my fellow teammates, and fans would come up and tell us how great we were.

They would ask us questions about Coach Richt and say all these wonderful things about him: “He’s a great guy. How do you like playing for him?  Is he really a nice guy like people say he is?  We would respond that we loved coach and we couldn’t ask for a better coach then coach Richt.”

When I was being recruited by UGA back in 2004, Mark Richt looked my grandmother in the eyes when the question was asked to him, “Coach, how long do you plan to be at Georgia?” He answered with these words “ Mrs. Johnson, my wife and I plan to stay here at UGA. We do not have any plans to leave Georgia.” I was 18 years old when the UGA coaches were in my house eating with my family. If you had asked me then if I believed coach, I would have said no. It took me one year to really figure out that he was a man of his word. That’s why God has blessed him with the success he has had over the years.

In 2004 I came to Athens GA ready to play some football, thinking I was the best thing since sliced bread. But then I met Thomas Davis and Greg Blue. That year was one of my favorites at UGA. I learned so much from two great football players and soon to be All Americans and from other fantastic leaders such as David Pollack, Alorold Harrison, Oldell Thruman, Tim Jennings, David Green, Danny Ware, Thomas Brown, Fred Gibson, Gerald Anderson , Quentin-Moses , Dennis Roland…just to name a few. We even finished with an Out Back Bowl win.

In 2005 DJ Shockley led us to a 2nd SEC Championship win under coach Richt. There were so many key leaders on that team such as Mohamed Massaquoi, Martrez Milner, DeMario Minter, Charles Johnson, Sean Bailey, Nick Jones, and Tony Taylor. That year we finished number 1 in the SEC, but lost to West VA in the BCS Sugar Bowl.

In 2006 UGA had another top finish led by Mark Richt. Some key players that season were Tony Taylor, Paul Oliver, Asher Allen, Quentin Moses, Tra Battle, Danny Ware, Crag Lumpkin, Thomas Brown, AJ Bryant, and Fernando Velasco. That team overcame a lot that season but lost to Vandy, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida. They beat three top 20 teams in a row: #5 Auburn, #16 GT and #14 VT in the Chick-Fil A Bowl.

My senior year in 2007 we were 4-2 after 6 games, but then won seven in a row. We finished #2 in the nation that year. It seemed that nobody gave us respect so Coach Richt taught us if you want respect, you need to go earn it.

Coach Richt has always been the type of coach that cares and will do anything to help you win in life; on and off the field. Coach has brought this program from days where GT was kicking UGA’s butt up and down the field to now being 8-1 against GT. The ball coach has 2 SEC championships, 3 SEC East championships, 9 Bowl Game appearances and now fans call for his head. Let’s be real here: how many teams across the nation would love to have the type of coach Mark Richt is? I know we live in a world where we want to see immediate results, but life is not like that all the time. Coach has earned the right to get the train back on the right track. Richt can be trusted do his job and coach his football team. Look at the number of players that he has put into the NFL and observe the relationships he has built over the years for UGA.

Mark Richt never turned his back on his fans and by no means on his players when we didn’t live up to their full potential at times. So there is no reason why we should turn our backs on him when times are tough. Let’s not kick a dawg while he’s down!

I am not saying there are not issues UGA has to fix about this football team. Leadership has to improve, love and heart for the game needs to show up more, and I think this team needs to come together to fight for their season. It’s not my job to coach, it’s not my job to tell the whole world what Coach needs to do, it’s definitely not my job to point fingers. The previous are all up to Mark Richt, the players, and the staff to figure out. Our job is to make it easy on them with support and love.

Let Coach Do His Job!

“Honestly I think the irate fans calling for Coach Richt’s head should just calm down and take a breather. Coach Richt is one of the best things UGA football has had in a long time. His record speaks for itself. There is nothing else to say!” – AJ Bryant.

“Coach Richt put UGA back on the national map. He deserves the opportunity to revive the program. He’s brought 2 SEC championships and countless SEC East championships. I trust things will get turned around and UGA will be the UGA of the early and mid 2000’s.” – Greg Blue

“You never know how much something means to you until it’s gone. Let’s not push a blessing away because we want results now. New beginnings take time and if UGA needs a few years to get back to where they fell from, let’s support that and be positive at the same time.” -Kelin Johnson