I guess it’s finally time . . .

The World Series has been over for what, almost two months now? Soon will be, anyhow, and the thing I’ve been putting off during that time is, well, congratulating the Phillies.

I guess it’s finally time.

So, congratulations, however belatedly, to everyone who was happy when Philadelphia won the World Series. I was not happy, but that doesn’t matter.

You see the Phillies beat Tampa to kick off the fall, which was bad enough, but then it’s been one financial disaster after another – nothing but bad news on the economy as we head to winter.

I’m happy now though, which is why I guess I’m finally, though grudgingly, able to congratulate the Phillies.

Why am I happy?

Well apparently, at least according to CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and the New York Yankees, the economy is working again. That’s great news!

And with the Yankees spending like, well, the Yankees, it feels like order has been restored to the Baseball Universe. Now if Christmas will hurry up and get here, and get over, then we can get on with the New Year’s parties and such, and then, finally, spring training will be in sight . . . and then may the baseball gods bring healthy arms and lively bats to everyone in the N.L. East except the Phillies.

Author Keith Gaddie: Leading a Bulldog’s Life

Dr. Keith Gaddie is an award-winning broadcast journalist, the author of more than a dozen books, a professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma—and most important of all, he is an unapologetic, die-hard fan of collegiate athletics who was raised in the heart of SEC country. His colleagues know him as a polling and elections expert, but Dr. Gaddie’s real area of expertise is the SEC—a subject he learned at home and in person, thanks to his father.
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Dr. Gaddie tapped into his intimate knowledge of SEC sports to write the University of Georgia title in the Sports by the Numbers series—and he delivered an absolute hit for fans of Georgia football and the SEC. We caught up with Dr. Gaddie for an interview shortly after Thanksgiving.
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What is your favorite story in the book?
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The story about Georgia dismantling Clemson at the beginning of the book is my favorite. Everyone forgets how intense that rivalry is, in the shadow of the Cocktail Party and the Auburn Game and the annual with Tech. But having endured the teams of Charlie Pell and Danny Ford, it was good to be there when Eric Zeier took apart Clemson the same day the Braves won the pennant. Also, all the stories on the great Bulldog defenses, and especially the development of the Junkyard Eight defense in the 1970s – Georgia might be tailback U, but the Dawgs live and die on good D.
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You were in Athens some during the season—how did fans react to the book?
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Nothing but positive. Every person who bought the book is getting the three things they want from an SBTN book – stories they knew, stories they didn’t know, and stories that make them pause. That’s a good sports book.
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If you could update the book with a favorite highlight from the current season, what would it be?
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I’d want to talk about UGA’s win over LSU, going down to Baton Rouge and just taking apart the Tigers. I also wish that we hadn’t gone to press before the announcement of UGA VII, “Loran’s Best,” because we should have paid more tribute to him and to the late UGA VI.
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How would you sum up the current Georgia season?
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Frustrating. It was frustrating to start so highly ranked, and watch the sportswriters knock us down even though the Dawgs were winning and suffering from injuries and other player absences. Losing to Alabama especially stung – I may have to drop by Nick Saban’s house on Lake Burton with Rod Blagojevich and see if we can work something out for next season. Wait, that’d be illegal, never mind. The ‘Bama and Florida losses were almost palatable, but the loss at home to Tech, with the Jackets gaining 409 yards on the ground, that was a lousy way to end the regular season, though it was a great battle and one that kept me glued to the set – I had to be at Bedlam and couldn’t get to Athens.
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A lot has been written about Alabama and Florida gaining a recruiting advantage over Georgia, what's your take on that situation?
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I have not been close enough to the recruiting situation to say, but the days where Georgia can go into Florida and also assume that south Georgia is a UGA farm system are long gone. In the future the Dawgs will have to continue to recruit nationally in order to hold pace. But, any kid who ever came to Athens and spent the weekend squired around by a Bulldog and a Georgia Girl should have a hard time taking a pass on Athens. It’s the greatest place on Earth.
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Where do you rank Coach Richt against the likes of Urban Meyer and Nick Saban?
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Better. Richt might not have beat Meyer and Saban this season, but he also started the season with multiple players sidelined. And, despite those deficiencies, the Dawgs were winning. But more important is that Richt came into Athens and did something that only two other modern Georgia coaches have done: he came into Athens and made the job his own.
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Who do you think deserves the Heisman this season?
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As hard as it is to admit, Tim Tebow has my unofficial vote for the Heisman in 2008. Tebow is a throwback to guys like Charley Trippi – a big back who can throw and rush, but he doesn’t hesitate to get in there and block. He’s willing to get hurt, and he’s got the size to play line. More important, though, is that Tebow motivated his teammates and was the key to the Gators’ success in the SEC. You have to respect humility and talent and guts, and Tebow has all of that and more. It’s just a shame he wears blue and orange.

Computer sides with Oklahoma.

The first computer ranking is official and it looks pretty dismal for the Texas Longhorns.

The Sagarin computer ranking has Oklahoma ranked #1 in the nation with Texas not too far behind. Check it out when you get a chance http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/fbt08.htm

I understand the anger that is felt by all UT and Texas Tech fans. You lose one and your whole season is shot. Both will go to Bowl games and both may stake claim to a Big 12 South co-championship, but the computers don't lie.

Here is why OU is ranked #1:

5-1 record vs. Top 30 teams.
2-1 vs. Top 10 teams.

Texas and Texas Tech on the other hand is 3-1 vs. Top 30 teams and 1-1 vs. Top 10 teams.

I can hear the argument now from UT fans... "We beat Oklahoma!!!!!" But don't forget that Tech beat you.

The bottom line is that UT and Tech are getting a raw deal. These teams are all equal, but Mizzou needs an opponent and this is the way the Big 12 decided to handle it... to let the BCS rankings decide in case of a three way tie.

The human polls and the other computer polls should follow the Sagarin rankings which means OU is in, Texas and Tech are out.

Sorry guys, you truly did get hosed this year.