GP T H E G E O R G I A P L A Y B O O K

SECOND ISSUE APRIL 2011:

Dylla Gets His DueThe recently crowned national champ talks about forgetting the past, and laying it all on the line when it counts most

We go back in the day and look to the future with Trey Thompkins and UGA basketball

CHASING THE PERFECT 10See what it’s like to be a Gymdog and compete in a sport where perfection is attainable

GEORGIA FOOTBALL DREAM TEAM MEMBER RAY DREW TALKS FAITH AND FOOTBALL

Aaron Murray has more than pride at stake for this year’s G-Day game

+ Why UGA’s softball team showsNO MERCY!

6The Rundowns give highlights on all

in-season UGA sports

20Lady Dawg Ebony Jones talks about the team’s

tournament run24

Senior swimmer Mark Dylla talks about his long road to NCAA glory

30Chasing the Perfect 10

32Go Back in the Day and Look to the Future with the

men’s basketball team

36See why the softball team shows no mercy

42Updates on the recently injured outfielder Johnathan

Taylor

44Football and Lobster Tails

CONtENtS

LEt US kNOwwhat you think by going to thegeorgiaplaybook.com and hitting up our contact section. We want to know what you like, dislike, and want to see more of so we can make the magazine as good as possible.

CONtRIbUtORSCreator:

Justin Gaymon

Editing:

Justin Gaymon

Jared Dunn

A.J. Pappas

Camrei Terrell

Ethan Treacy

Writers:

Justin Gaymon

Julie Gilkison

Karthik Adimula

Brian Etelman

Eve Machovec

Brooke Lane

Melanie Watson

Photography:

Ethan Treacy

Justin Gaymon

Social Media:

Andrew Chapman

Graphic Design:

Justin Gaymon

hELP OUtWe’re a growing group that’s still looking for help in any and all areas. If you’d like to get involved with The Playbook just email thegeorgiaplaybook@gmail.com

ChECk US OUtTwitter:@georgiaplaybookFacebook: The Georgia PlaybookWebsite: www.thegeorgiaplaybook.com

EDItOR’S LEttER

April 2011

The second issue is finally here. A little later than I wanted, but hey, running a magazine on your own presents a lot of challenges. Don’t be sur-prised if a couple of the rundowns aren’t up-to-date

When the first issue came out I was really ner-vous about how people were going to perceive it, but the issue received an overwhelming amount of attention and praise. I’m grad you guys liked it. Hopefully the second issue won’t be so bad either.

I’m currently in the beginning fazes of my 2011 track and field season. I started the year off in early March with two meets in Australia. I won both races, running in Melbourne first then Syd-ney. The meets were great, and I can’t wait to go back and visit the cities. Melbourne was my favorite by far. There I got to experience ev-erything from catching an Australian football game, to hanging out with meerkats at the zoo.

My next two meets will be Kansas Relays on April 22nd and Penn Relays the weekend after. I’ll be running my specialty, the 400 hurdles at Kansas and competing for USA in the 4x4 at Penn.

You can get more on my travels around the world at my blog justingaymon.tumblr.com

Justin Gaymon

As the all-important month of March began in the world of college basketball, the Georgia Men’s team found themselves in prime position to make a run at the nation’s most coveted post-season competition, the NCAA Championship Tournament. The newly expanded field of 68 looked to include the Dawgs, who had posted a record of 19-9 heading into the month of March, putting them in the always uncomfortable position as a bubble team. Splitting their final 2 regular season games with a blowout win over LSU and a closely contested loss at Alabama, Georgia found themselves in desperate need of a win in the SEC tournament to help their case for March Madness acceptance.

Drawing a 4 seed in the Eastern division of the conference tournament, the Dawgs ran through Auburn and all of their various undecided mascots in the first round to earn the convincing victory needed to pad their National Championship resume. Following a second round SEC tournament loss to Alabama, Head Coach Mark Fox and his revamped Bulldogs held their breath all the way up until Selection Sunday, when they learned that they had earned a 10 seed and a 2nd round match-up with 7th seed Washington.

Against the Huskies, the Dawgs were unable to find the offensive rhythm that had made them so dangerous throughout the regular season as they struggled to finish at the basket and got no points from their bench en route to a thrilling 3-point loss that ended their season.

The RundownsMarch-Mid April coverage

As the month of February ended, the Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball team found itself in a minor funk, battling a 3 game losing streak. However, the tremendous early season start fueled by outstanding play from Memphis, Tennessee native Jasmine James and leading rebounder Porsha Phillips helped to all-but clinch a spot in March Madness’ NCAA Tournament.

But first, Andy Landers’ squad entered into the SEC tournament as a #4 seed, thus earning a first round bye and extra time to prepare for their 2nd round game that pitted them against #5 seed South Carolina. The Lady Dawgs went to work and wiped South Carolina out of the conference tournament with a 32 point victory, earning them a spot in the semi-finals against long time rival and perennial powerhouse Tennessee. Unfortunately, Georgia’s conference tourney run would end in the semis following a lopsided defeat to Pat Summit and her Lady Volunteers.

However, the season did not end there, as the Lady Bulldogs clinched a #6 seed in the national tournament and would face-off against the #11 Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee. Georgia’s opening game provided little challenge as the Lady Dawgs won in convincing fashion, 56-41. However, there would be no shortage of drama as the Seminoles of Florida State took Georgia down to the wire in their epic 2nd round clash. As she had all year, Jasmine James was able to pull through for the Lady Bulldogs as she completed a 3-point play with 2.1 seconds left in the game to put Georgia ahead by 1 point, which proved to be the decisively victorious moment of the game. Perhaps drained emotionally and physically by their buzzer-beating victory in the 2nd round, Georgia would succumb to eventual national champions Texas A&M in the Sweet Sixteen.

The Lady Dawgs started off the month with the Bulldog Invitational, hosting teams from all over, and winning it all. Staying strong, they went straight to a long string of SEC battles. They played 16 games in 3 weeks; dropping just 3 total, all to Alabama, but coming out on top, and taking over #2 seeded Florida.

Mid-March, 3 senior Dawgs had a lot to celebrate when Taylor Schlopy, Mega, Wiggins, and Alisa Goler were drafted in the 2011 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft on March 18. Schlopy was the second overall pick from the draft. UGA and Florida were the only two programs to have three players selected in a 20-player draft. the SEC had 10 out of the 20 picks.

After the Bama losses, the Dawgs never lost again the rest of the month, and is on to clinch the SEC. Mid-April they will be participating in a Strike-Out Cancer game, sporting all pink!

The #2 Dogs are on track to win the SEC Championship, and have a deep run in the NCAA Softball World Series.

The weather has turned warm, the trees have bloomed, the pollen has owned Athens and the Georgia Men’s Baseball team is now in full swing. Pun intended. The Diamond Dawgs shook off a rocky 2-5 start in the month of February to post 9 wins in March, which brought their overall record at the end of March to 11-14. This included a stretch where the Dawgs won 5 out of 6 games, including an ever-important win over SEC foe Alabama. In the matchup versus the Rolling Tide of Alabama, contested in Lawrenceville, Georgia, junior Zach Cone had an impressive day at the plate, finishing 2 for 4 with 3 RBI’s to fuel his team’s 3-run victory. Knoxville, Tennessee native Curt Powell turned in an awesome 4 for 5 hitting day to help seal the Dawgs’ 1st of many conference wins to come this season.

In the baseball powerhouse SEC, every conference win carries great significance and the Dawgs remaining schedule almost exclusively features games against SEC opponents. As the season goes on, Georgia will be looking for the bats of Levi Hyams, Zach Cone and Chase Davidson to lead the team on offense while the arms of pitchers Michael Palazzone, Alex Wood and closer Tyler Maloof will hold things down on the mound. The months of April and May will prove to be crucial as the Diamond Dawgs look to return to post-season play following uncharacteristically missing out on the conference and national tournaments in 2010.

Rifling through a competitive schedule and setting the stage early for the NCAA champs the touted Lady Bulldogs won the CSCAA/TYR Dual-Meet National Champion poll. With a shot at the title in their grasp the NCAA showdown in Aus-tin, Texas had all the poten-tial to be explosive. Allison Schmitt would lead formidable “sweet” 16 of contenders into the heart of darkness.

Optimistic after a solid set of preliminary races, the ladies from Athens would cruise into the final day of competition with 8 individual athletes and 1 relay still in the mix. Highlighted by a stellar individual effort from Wendy Trott in the 1,650m freestyle the Lady Dogs fell short to California in the final day of competition to take 2nd overall in the big dance.

Ranked 13th in the nation se-nior Mark Dylla and the Mens Swimming and Diving squad had their work cut out for them heading in to the NCAA cham-pionships. Of the 8 Dawgs to jet out to the show 4 were able to battle through the currents and secure a spot in the finals. Despite a less than desirable lane draw Bill Cregar was able to edge the field in the 400 indi-vidual medley.

Hungry and never to be out done, Mark Dylla would fire back after previous heartbreak to take his first title in the 200m butterfly. Mark’s strong finish would help propel the Dawgs to 10th in the nation overall.

In collegiate Track and Field, the month of March means the Indoor National Championships and another astronomical level of competition for the Bulldogs as they came off a 5th place finish at the SEC Championships.

Heading into the National Championship, freak-of-nature Torrin Lawrence looked to defend his 400 meter national title against some of the world’s best over that distance. The junior, representing Jacksonville, Florida, wasn’t able to pull out the victory, but posted a big-time 8 team points for the Dawgs as he claimed 2nd place in the event, running 45.96 seconds. Lawrence’s clocking in the final brought his career tally of sub-46 runs indoors to a mind boggling 7, making him one of the fastest and most consistent indoor quarter milers in the history of Earth.

The 8 points scored by Torrin would be all the Dawgs could muster, leaving them with a 26th place team finish, as Aaron Evans (800 meters) failed to make the final but was rewarded for his efforts by being named a 2nd team All-American.

On the women’s side, the Lady Bulldogs, lead by 12th year head coach Wayne Norton, took 6th at SEC Championships and had 4 women compete at the national meet, but could not manage to score any points. In spite of their shortcomings, Colleen Felix (triple jump), Latroya Darrell (triple jump), Lucie Ondraschkova (heptathlon) and Saniel Atkinson (high jump) all were named 2nd team All-Americans for their seasonal successes and national qualifying marks.

The men’s and women’s track teams finished out the month of March by transitioning to the outdoor portion of their schedule while competing at Georgia Tech, Arizona State and Mississippi State. Though still early in their outdoor efforts, many team members have posted marks in their individual events that will surely provide them an opportunity to compete for a national championship and important team points later in the season at NCAA’s in Des Moines, Iowa.

Coming off strong from the Puerto Rico Classic in February, the reigning SEC champs looked for March to be just as successful.

First, they headed to Las Vegas, but didn’t exactly hit the jackpot. The Bulldogs had a final-round total of 1-under 287 to wind up at 26-over 890. Oklahoma State took team honors at 1-under 863.

They then played two tournaments in Georgia; Callaway Match Play and the local Linger Longer Invitational, where they lost, then came in 3rd overall respectively.

It’s possible to see a GA/FL matchup when the Dawgs head to St. Simon’s Island for the SEC Championships April 14-16.

The pups, as Coach Liz Murphey likes to call them, started off the month a little slow. With in the middle scores starting to get them down, they pulled off high placing finishes in Coach Murphey’s namesake Classic held at the UGA Golf Course.

The Bulldogs, who are currently ranked 11th, are lead by junior Silva Zamora, who is close to beating the team record for most wins. She was named the golfer of the week by two golf organizations, as well as SEC player of the week following her performance. She’s currently the number 1 women’s golfer in the nation.

The girls next head to Auburn for the SEC Championships. They own a league-best 19 SEC titles in women’s golf, 11 team and eight individual crowns.

Starting off the second semester with 13-1, the women’s tennis team have stayed strong the entire season. Of the 8 matches played in March, 7 of them were won by a margin of 6 or more.

Senior Cameron Ellis finished off the regular season with a shutout win, and kept the lady dogs undefeated in the SEC. However, the 6th-ranked women have yet to face their toughest match. They next play 2-ranked Florida. But luck may be on their side; the last SEC team to beat the Lady Gators was our own Bulldogs in 2009.

Home or away, rain or shine, the men’s tennis team was unstoppable during the month of March. All of the matches were conference events; and of the 8 March matches, more than half of them were shut outs.

Coming off a 12 game winning streak, the Dawgs are going into the final three games of the season with a positive outlook, against rivals UT, USC, and UF. Led by senior Javier Garrapiz,, who was just named SEC men’s tennis player of the week, they will most likely head to the SEC Championships in Gator territory ranked #1 in the SEC and #6 nationally.

After ending the regular season at 6-5, the Gymdawgs were determined to finish their season strong.

They went down south to Birmingham, where they placed 3rd in the SEC Championships. Juniors Kat Ding and Gina Nuccio were plagued by injuries during the regular season, but finished 1st and 2nd respectively on the uneven bars. The Gymdawgs were ranked 8th for the NCAA Tournament, and finished 2nd in the regional. They will next head to the NCAA Championships.

Equestrian team went 2-1 for the month of February. They are now 7-2 for the season Coaches poll has them ranked third behind Texas A&M and Auburn.

The women’s equestrian team had been on a 6-game winning streak before the National Championships with a close loss to Auburn.

The Bulldog Hunt Seat team, defending national champions, is seeded 2nd behind rival Auburn. The Bulldog Western team improved from last year’s seeding to a 4-seed. They will begin the championships in mid-April.

On a bright note, the first ever All-American titles were awarded this year for the sport of Varsity Equestrian. 8 UGA riders were awarded a total of 10 honors, including sophomore Carly Anthony in both Hunt Seat events--the only Bulldog to earn such status.

Final Sweet 16 Game Against Texas A&M:If you want to be the best you have to play the best. We started the game really slow and they capitolized on that. It’s hard to dig yourself out of a hole when you start slow and I think we just got in too deep. It wasn’t our best game by far, and they just earned the win (Texas A&M went on to become National Champions).

The Little Things:The thing about the SEC is everybody’s good, and everybody can win on any given game. If you don’t focus on the little things you can lose easily. Turnovers can cost you a game. Free throws can cost you a game. Not getting back on defense can cost you a game. Thinking about it, I think it’s the little things that caught up to us and kept us from pulling through.

Strengths:My strengths are my defense because I’m long, lengthy, and

s o p h o m o r e l a d y d a w g

Ebony Jones talks sweet 16 and the l it tle things

athletic. I can move and have quick feet. That can really come in handy with mitigating things like when a guard gets beat on a drive.

Next year:Next year I want to stand out as a rebounder. I wanna have more of a presence on the block and get maybe two or three blocked shots a game. I wanna score a lot more in transistion and be more vocal. My goals are pretty high.

Want to Be Remembered For:That I was a hard worker and that I played with a passion. Someone that never gave up. That’s important to me.

The Future:If basketball doesn’t work out and I can’t play at a higher level I’ll probably start my own buisness. A tall girls fashion line. Jeans, blouses, tops all that. There’s nothing out like that now.

Junior high jumper Saniel Atkins leaped into the number 4 spot in the school record

books at Georgia’s Spec Towns Invitational (5-10.75)

The men’s tennis team headed into SEC Championships on a 12 game win streak

April’s Lucky Numbers

16Track and field recorded 16 victories during their seasons first home meet

8The Gymdogs will head into National Championships ranked number eight in the country

419

2011 marked the Lady Dawg’s 19th Sweet 16 appearence

12

BULLDOG BALLERBy Eve Machovic

This past month former UGA women’s basketball star Teresa Edwards was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Edwards’s years at UGA were some of the greatest moments in Lady Bulldog’s history. She won three SEC championships and led the Dawgs to the Final Four twice, becoming NCAA runner up in 1985. Since then, Edward’s career has only heightened, being the only American basketball player male or female to ever participate in 5 Olympic Games.

On the wall near the Lady Bulldogs locker room is a shrine of photos and memories of this Bulldog baller.

She is one of many reminders to urge both women and men’s team to keep playing and working hard to reach their goals.

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: COLLEEN FELIXOn April 8th, at UGA’s outdoor home-opener, triple jumper Colleen Felix bursted her way to the top of the national charts. The junior used her

home turf to her advantage, leaping and bounding to an astonighing nation leading mark of 44 feet, 6 3/4 inches. Felix hopes to join the Georgia tradition of triple jump excellence by capturing her first NCAA title this June.

Mark Richt: Football

“My goal this spring was to make sure that we are a physical football team and we are a team that is going to get after it every time we put the pads on.”

David Perno: Baseball

“This is a special group of guys and I think we might be on to something here.”

Jay Clark: Gymnastics

“The mood and the attitude is one of confidence and aggressivness. We need to compete with a little bit of venom and not be timid.”

The Coaches Corner

By Eve Machovic

Soccer looked focused and amped in their spring exhibition games, starting off with a 3-2-1 record.The team kicked off the season with two home games earning a win against University of South

Carolina 1-0 and rallied a scoreless tie against Florida State.

Georgia played and beat Kenneaw State 3-0 at the KSU Soccer Stadium.Three Lady Bulldogs Alexa Newfield, Torri Allen and Nicole Locandro scored goals, and Meghan Gibbons and Nikki Hill were recorded for the assists.

After an easy win the Lady Bulldogs traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee to play another SEC team, Tennessee, and UNC Greensboro. They battled but lost 2-1 against the Lady Volunteers. Rising senior Ashley Miller scored an the first goal against Tennessee with an assist from Jamie Pollock, but Tennessee’s corner kicks lucked out. Ashley Miller scored her second goal on the trip against UNCG, and Nicole Locandro andTori Allen added to the 3-0 victory. Caitlin Woody had another shutout to tally herup for her third one in a row.

The team hosted a big game against the undefeated Atlanta Beat (Women’s Professional Soccer team). After playing a hard fought game, the Ladies ended up losing 2-1.

JUST FOR KICKS

Imagine if everything you’ve worked for came down to one moment? A moment that lasted less than two minutes, but you worked for, for years. Could you imagine what kinds of craziness would be going through your mind before that moment started?

Well 200-yard butterfly swimmer Mark Dylla can. For the past four years he’s endured countless early morning workouts that left him gasping for air, and afternoon swims that had his muscles begging for mercy.

But he put himself through all of that for a reason, so when the NCAA National Championship meet came around he would be prepared and able to come back to Athens with a gold medal around his neck.

Every year of Dylla’s collegiate career he went into the national meet with the number one time. But unfortunately, he was never able to capture a national title during his freshman, sophomore, or junior seasons.

So when National Championship time rolled around his senior year, which was his last chance to capture the title that he had been working for, can you imagine what must have been going through his mind?

Throw in the fact that he was robbed of a championship title the year before, and that this year was the first year he entered the meet without the fastest time. Now you have an idea of what type of craziness must have been going on in Mark Dylla’s head before his final National Championship moment.

Mark

Victory Lap

Dylla’sBy Justin Gaymon

GP: So what was your biggest goal for the year?Dylla: I wanted to go into NCAAs and win the 200 butterfly. That’s been the goal all year. Every year I’ve taken the top time into NCAAs but was never able to finish the year with championship. I wanted to finally get that monkey off my back.

GP: What happened at last year’s National Championships?Dylla: Basically they called me for an illegal turn on my first wall. That was highly disputed. I touched the wall first by over half a second. It wasn’t even close. I celebrated and everything, but in the end they took the win away from me.

GP: That must have made you hungry for revenge. With that happening to you last year what was going through your mind before this year’s Championship race?Dylla: The whole afternoon I was pacing back and forth. I couldn’t sleep. My heart was racing. I did every thing I could to get my mind off it. Every time I shut my eyes I

GP

saw the race, but I had a sense that it was going to happen.

GP: That anxiety must have been worse during your warm-ups. What was that like?Dylla: I felt good in warm-up. I felt a little heavy in the water but I was just confident in the training and everything I did all year. Last year I hit the wall, thought I won and got disqualified. But that wasn’t in the back of my mind this time.

GP: So what do you normally focus

on before a race?Dylla: You focus on the little things. It’s not the big things at our level. You have to stay within your own race, rely on what you’ve been trained to do, and not get caught up in the moment. I don’t have any rituals, but I go through the motions and do what I always do. I don’t let the pressures of NCAAs and races get to me. You just

gotta step up and win the race.

GP: What was the pressure like?Dylla: It was one of those races that was now or never. And obviously it was a lot of pressure. I knew what I wanted to do and exactly how I was goina run my race strategy. I said to myself this is my year and I had to get it done. One shot, no time outs.

GP: What was the competition like?Dylla: Tom Shields swam under the NCAA record a couple weeks before the meet. I was seeded second by almost a full second. I don’t think people counted me out but the odds were against me.

GP: So how’d you win it?Dylla: It was the last 25 that helped me win. I remember coming off that last wall and putting a quarter of a body length between us. I hung it all out there and just said I’m going for it. I never looked back and knew I wasn’t going to die. I just trusted in myself. There was no way I was quitting. He’s a strong closer (Shields), but I was fighting all the way to the very end. I was running off pure adrenaline and anger.

GP: How’d you feel when it was over?Dylla: I was almost 100 percent certain I won the race. I hit the wall and obviously I was ecstatic. It was one of the best feelings of my life.

GP: Did finally winning give you closure on not being crowned the national champ last year? Dylla: Everyone knew what had happened last year. Some coaches came up to me and said congrats to the back-to-back champ. They knew I was robbed. But it’ll never be recognized and I didn’t recognize it as one so all those well wishes were great, but I didn’t actually have one. I still don’t agree with it, but I’m happy it ended this way. Finally winning

erases a lot of the disappointment from last year. For it all to come together for me this year was amazing.

Dylla won his first 200-yard butterfly national title in a time of 1:40.60. He blew his competitors out of the water, setting a pace that moved him to the number three all-time spot in the event. Only Michael Phelps and Tom Shields, who took second, have swam faster.

This past season marked Head women’s basketball coach Andy Lander’s 27th appearance in the national tournament with the Lady Dawgs. The team made it into the sweet 16, but fell to the eventual national champion Texas A&M Aggies.

The season ended on individual high notes though, as senior Porsha Phillips garnered All-SEC 1st team honors and her sophomore teammate Jasmine James claimed 2nd team recognition. Khaalidah Miller was named to the All-Freshman Team and Meredith Mitchell was recognized for her effort on the defensive end of the court, making the SEC All-Defensive team.

LADY DAWGHONORS By Brian Etelman

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DAN MAGILL TENNISCOMPLEX

SPEC TOWNS TRACK SANFORD STADIUM

FOLEY FIELD JACK TURNER SPORTS COMPLEX

STEGEMAN COLISEUM

Built: 2003Uga V, Georgia’s mascot from 1990–99, carried theofficial name of “Uga IV’s Magillicuddy II” in honorof Magill.

Built: 1965The UGA holds the Spec Towns Invitational eachyear, a track meet recognizing his achievements andhis contributions to the school.

Built: 1964The very first game played had an attendance of13,200--which has never been surpassed.

Built: 1998The women’s soccer team is 204-40 at Home since the construction of the complex.

Built: 1929Hosted the medal round of the 1996 Olympic men’s and women’s soccer competition

Built: 1966Renovated in 1990, the same year that UGA won the College World Series Since the renovation, UGA owns a 378-193.

HOME SWEET HOME Exploring the home fields of UGA sports By Julie Gilkison

10They say nobody is perfect. But Like any rule, there are exceptions. Take gymnastics, for example.

CHASING THE

PERFECT

ontrary to most other sports, gymnastics is one in which a perfect score is an attainable – that score being the

revered “perfect 10.”

In a sport like football, we expect the quarterback to miss a few passes because there are variables he can’t control; whether it be a faulty offensive line, or a reciever who drops the ball.

But in gymnastics, we expect to see the occasional routine worthy of a perfect score – a notion that could potentially weigh heavy on the shoulders of any gymnast.

C

Even though the gymnasts’ individual scores comprise the overall team score, there is still the underlying pressure for them to put high individual scores on the board.

If they miss a step or overrotate on a turn in their routines, it’s all on them. Each individual score, low or high, goes up on the board for all to see.

For the Gymdogs however, scoring the“perfect 10” is not their goal.

“You don’t try to be perfect,” Sophomore Gymdog Noel Couch said. “You try to do the best you can every turn, every jump -- just focus on everything you do as pieces to the big puzzle.”

What motivates the Gymdogs is seeing their best they can do as beyond perfect.

“We look at it as, perfect 10? You can still do better and always improve,” Senior Hilary Mauro said.

Maybe that attitude is what makes the Gymdogs one of the best teams in the nation – consistently pushing the limits on what is perfect and therefore what is possible.

By Brooke LanePhotos by Ethan Treacy

GP: What city/town did you grow up in? Trey: I’m from Long Island, New York. But I was raised for most of my life in Lithonia, Georgia.GP: What was elementary school like for you? Trey: It was fun. I was the tall fat kid who was good at basketball.GP: Was being a kid tough or easy for you? Trey: It was easy, everyone wanted to be on my team.GP: Did you ever get bullied? Trey: Nah, I was too big.GP: When was the first time you picked up a basketball?

Trey: That I can remember-4.GP: Were you a prodigy or did it take some time to develop? Trey: I wasn’t good til I was like 8.GP: Where did you hoop at? Trey: Doraville Recreation CenterGP: Did you ever imagine that you would be playing at a division one school, and preparing to go to the NBA draft? Trey: Not in my wildest dreams.GP: What TV shows did you watch? Trey: Guts, Wild and Crazy Kids, My Brother and Me, Legends of the Hidden TempleGP: What did you want to be when you grew up? Trey: NBA PlayerGP: What athletes and celebrities did you look up to? Trey: Jay-Z and Michael JordanGP: When did you ditch the training wheels? Trey: 6

GP: What was the biggest trouble you got into as a kid? Trey: I was four. I was watching a movie where the kids were trying to protect their house, so they put super glue everywhere and the bad guys got stuck. So I did the same thing with ketchup, and it got all over the kitchen.GP: If you could go back in time and tell yourself one thing what would it be? Trey: Work hard at all times. Never take a day off.GP: What do you miss most about being a kid?Trey: Not having responsibilities.

Trey’s father, Howard Thompkins Jr. was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1981 from Wagner College in Staten Island, NY.

Back in the DayBack in time with basketball stand-out Trey Thompkins, before he leaves UGA for the big times. Interview by Julie Gilkison

He was inducted into Wagner’s hall of fame after playing for them for three years, racking up 1,236 points and 779 rebounds.

Plagued by knee injuries, Thompkins left the NBA after a year and went on to continue his career in France.

GP: What influence did your father have on you playing basketball growing up?Trey: Everything

In spite of the tournament performance, it had become clear that Mark Fox has made a positive impact on the Men’s Basketball program and

given Dawg fans reason to get excited about basketball in March.

Following the conclusion of the

season, Trey Thompkins, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, decided to forego his senior season of eligibility and enter the NBA Draft, hiring an agent

to facilitate his jump to the next level.

The electrifying and extremely athletic junior guard Travis Leslie also entered his name into the NBA Draft, but has not hired an agent, which will allow him to withdraw his name and return to Athens based on the feedback he receives from NBA scouts and the teams that they represent.

Look to the Futureby Brian Etelman

I grew up a Georgia fan my whole life. Be-ing from South Georgia everybody grows up wanting to be a Dawg

I just want for our team to do the best. There’s nothing better than going out and need-ing a big out, and you getting the out for your team and your team-mates.

Colt Ford - Saddle Up

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inad-equate. Our deep-est fear is that we are powerful beyond mea-sure... - Coach Carter

To fly. Everyone wants to fly right?

Why UGA?

Inspirations

Game Song

Favorite quote

Super-power

Diamond Dawg Cecil Tanner, Tennis stand-out Nadja Gilchrist, and Gymdog Noel Couch talk inspirations and super powers.

I was really excited when I watched the Florida Georgia game and got excited when Georgia rushed the field and won.

I would have to say my mom and dad. My dad was an athlete and in-spired me to be a collegiate athlete. And my mom because she’s a really good person and hard working and inspires me to be the best I can be

Nikki Minaj - I’m the best

“When the lion is chas-ing the antalope the antalope never looks back.” My dad used to tell me [It.] It gives me strength when I’m winning so I can stay ahead.

I would probably wanna fly.

[When I was recruited] it was a flood of emotions. My parents were so excited for me. I wanted to commit right then and there. UGA was always in my dreams.

I’m inspired knowing I have the opportunity everyday to do what I love. I have a great coach, teammates, and Stegeman. Know-ing that I’m working on something so great really inspires me.

Rihanna - Rock Star

Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile. - Vince Lombardi

Ummm.... fly.

Cecil Tanner Nadja Gilchrist Noel Couch

Inspirations & Superpowers

Interviews by Melanie Watson and Justin Gaymon

How did it feel to be a part of the first softball team in the history of UGA Softball to be ranked #1 in the nation?

Bri: Obviously it was a big deal but at the same token it got stripped away very quickly because we played an SEC team (Alabama). It’s ultimately pre-season and it comes down to how we come out in the post season that matters

Goler: It was one of the coolest things ever. Down the road I get to tell my family that I was part of the number one ranked team. Now obviously we want to be on the #1 ranked team at the end of the season. It made me very proud to say that I was a part of that.

Wiggins: It’s an honor. Every team in the nation wants to be number one. It’s an

honor and it goes to show all the hard work we’ve put in since we’ve been here, how hard the coaches have worked and just everybody’s efforts to be the best we can be. Ultimately we just have to keep working and play SEC.

Did being on top change the team’s attitude/play?

Goler: As hard as you try to

Georgia Softball’s FinestSeniors Alisa Goler, Brianna Hesson, and Megan Wiggins talk making historyinterviews by Britney Hubbard

Have Mercy!The softball team hasn’t been just beating teams, they’ve been kicking the living crap out of them. They’ve made a habit of making their opponents literally beg for mercy, mercy ruling more than half of the teams they’ve faced this year.

The team mercy ruled GA Tech 10-2 on March 30th

ignore it when you’re playing it kind of hangs up over you because all you think is you can’t screw up or you’re going to drop. It is added pressure but realistically when you’re between the lines you have a clear head. But as far as when you look ahead at your opponents and things you look back on games I think it unfortunately changes the way you approach games and play to an extent.

How has the team’s attitude changed since falling from the number one spot?

Wiggins: I think it was a good thing. I think it made us a better team knowing we’re not where we should be at

the end of the season. [Our losses] have helped us find out things we need to get better and capitalize on. When you lose it makes you a better and stronger team, and I think that’s what it did. Now we can just fight to be #1 at the end.

Being seniors, what is your biggest goal: Personally and as a team?

Bri: I’d say our biggest goal is to win the national championship. Our motto is “to win the last game.” I think it’s a big deal because we went to the World Series the past two years and haven’t gotten the final result we wanted (some “Bling”). So we just need to go out

for the seniors to get the SEC ring as well as the National Championship ring.

Wiggins: As a team I’d say our goal is to do everything we can to get to the last game and win it. We need to play Georgia softball. We’ve experienced good and bad. I think we’re a great team and everyone has the same goal in their head right now. As a player I want to strive to get better every day. And work so I can look back and be a part of a team that made history.

Jennie Auger’s grand slam against UNC Wilmington

“Maybe we should let UNC Wilmington score just one.”

The Dawgs have so far outscord Florida 23-12

On Sunday, March 6th the Diamond Dogs were looking for something to give them some extra momentum to carry through-

out the season. A win would have been ideal, but in-stead they were handed something extremely hard to fathom.

On a play in which both Zach Cone and Johnathan Taylor were going after a line drive, a serious injury occurred. The players col-lided leaving Cone with a concussion and Taylor with a serious neck injury. Taylor was immediately transport-

ed to St. Mary’s Hospital where he would undergo surgery the next day to stabilize his spine. The following Friday, Taylor was relo-cated to the Shepherd Center to start the

rehabilitation process. The bulldog nation reacted strongly to the news of injury the minute it broke.

Taylor is a fan favorite but also a highly loved individual among his coaches, team-mates, friends, and even his professors. “J.T. is a role model. He has a passion for life that is undeniable and evident in everything he does”, teammate Cecil Tanner says.

UGA soccer player Riliegh McHugh says “J.T. is truly a good person and an inspira-tion to me. I write his baseball number, 2, on my wrist before our soccer games and it gives me the strength to go out on the field and get it done because I know if he could he would be playing his heart out for the Georgia Bulldogs right now.”

A page for Taylor has been established onCaringBridge.com, a site designed to keep

JOHNATHAN TAYLORWe may fall, but we get up.By Melanie Watson

2010:Batted 335with 29 RBI

Batted .500 over the final 13 games

.983 fielding percentage

Led the team with a .442 on base percentage

families and friends connected during health challenges. Everyday his guestbook is filled with positive comments intended for Taylor and his family.

Although Taylor is unable to join his team-mates on the field, his presence is felt in every game. This situation is nothing theteam ever wanted to face, but ever since it happened the team’s wins and losses have noticeably reversed.

The team has rallied on Taylor’s behalf, capturing both a five and seven game win streak since his injury. Johnathan is cheer-ing for his team but his team is cheering even louder for him. Just as the team is doing better, so is Johnathan as he goes through his recovery process.

Head baseball coach David Perno report-ed, “There is definitely optimism,” during a

news conference at Taylor”s rehab facility. “If anybody deserves a miracle it’s Johna-than Taylor.”

He is reportedly getting stronger and show-ing signs of progress day-by-day. Dr. Don-ald Peck Leslie has reported that he has recently been taken off a ventilator and is now breathing on his own. Taylor has also been going to rehab and has shown great progress in his upper-body and extremity mobility.

A fund has been set up for anyone who would like to donate to Johnathan Taylor and his family. You can keep up with Tay-lor’s progress, leave him messages, and donate to him through his CaringBridge page at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/Johnathantaylor. The Georgia Playbook would like to wish Johnathan Taylor a suc-cessful and Godspeed recovery.

Georgia fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming football

season. The anticipated “Dream Team” will finally get to step onto the field. This new team of exceptional recruits include five-star running back Isaiah Crowell, a promising handful of wide recievers and among others, Ray Drew .

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive end from Thomas County Central High School, has the potential tobe a college football star. Sure, Drew is a U.S. Army All-American and Dream Team inductee. A player with explosive power and game-changing capability. However, words besides “football player” embody who Ray Drew is. One is “Minister.”

Aug. 20 will mark the fifth-year anniversary of Drew

being ordained as a minister. He grew up in a Christian home and felt called to God at a young age.

“I wasn’t like most other kids,” Drew laughed. “I always wanted Bible stories to be read to me atbedtime.”

Drew uses football as a platform to get his message across while preaching at church and leading his school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes devotionals.

However, Drew exemplifies his religious values beyond church and FCA.

“Every time I sacked a quarterback, I would tell him ‘God bless you’ – I meant what I said, but needlessto say it messed with their mind,” Drew said.

Such a statement would confuse any sacked

A Player’s Prayers

A story about football and a guiding lightBy Brooke Lane

quarterback. And he doesn’t just surprise fellow competitors with his Christian sentiments.

“Ray texted scripture verses to all the coaches who were recruiting him,” said Bill Shaver, Ray’s highschool coach.

Among these recruiting coaches? Nick Saban, Urban Meyer and of course our very own Mark Richt. Drew even demonstrates his values in the community by making a variety of philanthropic efforts. So, another word that embodies Drew is “Humanitarian.”

At the 2010 South Georgia High School Football Awards Banquet, Drew was honored with the KenHamlin Foundation Community Service Award – and for good reason.

In between practices, workouts, academics, family and church, Drew finds time to serve his communityin Thomasville, Ga.

Each Friday, he spends time at a nearby elementary school and reads to a kindergarten class. “The kids love Ray,” Shaver said.

Drew also makes a weekly visit to a local nursing home

where his grandma once stayed. “I befriendedsome of my grandma’s friends there, and still enjoy stopping by to say hello,” he said. “Just a short visit really brightens their day.”

Drew has grand plans for his future academic and atheletic careers.

Yet another word that defines him is “Dreamer.”

One of the reasons Drew is so anxious to attend UGA is to pursue a degree in communications.During the recruitment process he paid special attention to each university’s scholastic credibility. Onething about UGA that put a twinkle in his eye? Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Grady’s high national rankings made Drew feel

that much more reassured in his decision to come toUGA.

He plans to major in broadcast news in hopes of becoming a sports commentator.

“If I could can get paid to talk about football, then that works for me,” he said.

If you have ever heard his sermons or interviews, you know he is a very well-spoken young man. Hisdream of one day hosting ESPN’s Sports Center isn’t a far-fetched one.

As for the coming football season, Drew’s goal is to get some playing time and be a contender for Freshman All-American – a likely goal for many of the incoming class of Bulldogs.

Those who have worked with and coached Drew believe his future, both on and off the field, is a brightone.

More important to Drew however, is to reinstill fans’ faith in Georgia Football. It’s safe to say we all

expect major improvements this season.The pressure of expectations put on the Dream Team is a heavy one, but that isn’t weighing him down.

“If you try to live up to people’s expectations you will fall flat on your face every time,” he said.

His focus is on the improvements he needs to

make and the team he is now a part of.

What does he think about the Dream Team? A dream is only a dream until you make it reality.

“We’ve got this title, now we have to actually do something with it – get in the weight room, improvespeed, get ready for that first game between the hedges,” he said.

Those who have worked with and coached Drew believe his future, both on and off the field, is a brightone.

“Ray will be successful

wherever he goes because he stands for the right things, and people will be

positively affected by the kind of person he is,” Shaver said.

Perhaps the best thing about Ray Drew is that he isn’t just the answer to our football prayers. He is agreat addition to the incoming class of freshman.

He has shown coaches that they weren’t just recruiting a player, but a person. Now Drew can show fans,faculty and students just who that person is.

Photo Credits

Ethan Treacy:All Gymnastic photos,

Justin Gaymon:All track & field and softball photos

Steven Colquit:All swimming & diving and football photos

GA Sports Comm:pgs 6, 13-14, 23

Parker MooreAll men’s tennis and baseball photos

John Kelley:All football photos

Ashley Strickland:All basketball photos

Writing Credits

Brian Etelman:Men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s track and field rundowns. Look to the Future

Daniel Black;Men’s and women’s swimming and diving rundown. Football and Lobster Tails.

Julie Gilkison:Equestrian, gymnastics, men’s and women’s and tennis and men’s and women’s golf rundowns

Blame the rest on Justin Gaymono right pg 6 and 24

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14, the number of practices the dogs will have in the bag before Saturday April 16th’s G-day game. What is G-Day you ask? G-Day is a badass preview of what Dawg fans have to look forward to next fall between the hedges. As the eyes of the Bulldog Nation turn to Athens, fans will get a chance to see for themselves if the team has made any progress since last year’s Liberty Bowl fiasco.

Poised as ever, heralded red-shirt sophomore Aaron Murray talked in interviews about using his spring practices to work on his fundamentals. Murray listed “timing” and “moving around the pocket” as his major areas of focus.

On a dimmer note, the Dawgs are expected to have at least 10 players miss the red and black battle due to injury. Washaun Ealey (hamstring) and Trinton Sturdivant (knee again) will be among the sidelined for the game.

With Ealey out, Ken Malcome and Brandon Harton will be carrying the ball for the black squad. Caleb King, Carlton Thomas, and Alexander Ogletree are the tailbacks for the red team.

Trinton Sturdivant has been cursed

by the knee injury Gods, and is now suffering through the third knee injury of his career. Reports say the injury may be severe enough to keep the 5th year senior off the field for the rest of the season.

The list of downed-Dawgs also includes; cornerbacks Brandon Boykin and Jordan Love, defenseive end Garrison Smith, defensive back Sanders Commings, and safties Jakar Hamilton and Bacarri Rambo,

But sad as it may be, injuries are an inevitable part of football, and we me see some more after Coach Mark Richt vowed to dial up the practice intensity this year.

The team’s captains, Aaron Murray and Brandon Boykin (Black) and Christian Robinson and Ben Jones (Red,) were able to draft their G-Day teams this year. It’s safe to say that they picked their squads carefully because this year’s G-Day game has more than just pride and playing time on the line. There’s a lobster dinner at stake! That’s right the winning team gets treated to a feast of lobster and steak while the losers have to hang their heads in shame over a plate of franks and beans. To the victor go the spoils.

Football and

Lobster Tailsthat’s what georgia does!

N EXt ISSUE

FROM PARISwIth LOVE