As expected, Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno both announced they would forego their finals seasons of college eligibility Wednesday, opting instead to declare their eligibility for the NFL draft, where they are expected to be first-round selections.
"It's been a lifelong dream to play in the NFL," Moreno said. "It's been a journey. Coming to Athens, it's been like a second home to me. It's been wonderful."
In an amusing moment, Moreno revealed that he had forgotten to actually submit his paperwork to the NFL advisory committee -- which fits well with the notion that he didn't know who Roger Goodell was. As cliched as it sounds, I really believe Moreno really didn't put any thought into where he was going before the season ended.
Stafford, on the other hand, said he had pretty much made up his mind before the bowl game that he was leaving, but taking his uniform off for the final time in Orlando was difficult, causing him to once again wrestle with the decision. But like Moreno, he couldn't pass up the opportunity.
"I'm just extremely excited I got to play here in front of these fans and the people of Athens," Stafford said. "I'm glad I had the chance to wear that 'G' on my helmet and represent it the best I could. I hope for the best."
I'll have full stories on the guys' decisions as well as some info on the future for UGA, and I'll post links here as soon as they're up.
In the meantime, what are you favorite memories of the Stafford and Moreno eras? What do you think the Dawgs are capable of next year without them?
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Stafford, Moreno Say Goodbye
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17 comments:
You should be happy that self serving Stafford is gone. I am a gator fan, but grew up a dawg fan and this guy has not done anything for you guys but keep you out of the big games and championships. Mark Richt will do a great job finding someone who really cares about UGA and who wants to win.
Aligator - You must be lost. Your nest is south of here. Go slither back into it.
No doubt dreams from 2006 are unfulfilled. But I wish them the very best. I believe it was a good decision for both.
For Stafford I would have to say the winning drive his freshman year against Tech. I went to Tempe in September, so for Moreno it was definitely his soar into the endzone. The whole stadium was in awe.
Well, I hate to see the familiar faces go, but this actually gets me even more excited for next season because we're going to be seeing a lot of fresh faces. It also gives us two more available scholarships, and considering we already have 18 solid commitments that loosens things up a bit for us to go after a few more high school stars. I'm prefectly confident that Joe C. can carry the team on his back, he has earned the respect of all the guys and has a much better arm than people give him credit for.
As far as my favorite moments, I would have to say Moreno's run against Florida last year where he jsut didn't quit, that was unbelievable. It was just pure will. I'd say the Stafford to Henderson TD in OT against BAMA was my favorite Stafford moment. Him sprinting down the field to jump in that dogpile was awesome.
I have to kind of agree with Aligator...I never thought Stafford's heart was in it as much as it should have been. He's a phenomenal QB and football player but not a real leader on the field. Tebow is a good player but a phenomenal leader. His heart is into every play and it shows and it's contagious. So is Moreno's. I'll miss them both but I'll mostly miss Moreno's enthusiasm, personality and never say die attitude. I wish them both every bit of success.
I'm in agreement with Universal Remonster - I'm excited about next year. I'm doubly excited about some of these new recruits.
Go Dawgs!!
The main memory I'll have of Stafford & Moreno is that stretch of games in '07 starting w/ FLA & ending w/ the Sugar Bowl.
I appreciate their contributions, and they share no blame for the team not living up to expectations this year.
W/ that said, I am confident that when I am old & gray and looking back on this decade, the players who will come to mind first will be Pollack & Greene.
We sure a losing the majority of our offensive production in one presser. i saw a graphic somewhere that was in the neighborhood of 85% was due to these two. But I have to agree with something I heard CMR say during same presser. Staf and Know leaving is exciting, exciting because it opens up all kind of competition for the spring. This can only get better. Never mind blaming someone for what was missing. Its done, over. I look forward to some new guys straining their guts to get a start and we'll see what happens after that.
#1 Stafford memory: him running all over Auburn in the rain in 2006.
#1 Moreno memory: the insane right-i-mean-left TD run vs. Florida in 2007.
slither slither .... you know i am right ... Herschel Walker is my hero dumbass
My favorite memory from my 3 football seasons at UGA have to be the Blackout Auburn game in 2007. I will never forget the utter disbelief I felt when they ran out in black jerseys. It's not a specific Matthew Stafford-Knowshon Moreno memory. But it is definitely the best memory from my time at UGA.
Aligator, Come back from the dark side!Once a Dawg, always a Dawg. How sweet it is!
My favorite Stafford memory-His fantastic, amazing scramble and beautiful pass to AJ Green in the Kentucky game this year.
My favorite Knowshon memory-The Celebration touchdown, stretched out into the endzone with the Georgia G perfectly aligned on the ball crossing the line for the score!
Best of luck 24/7!!DGDs!!
We root for the dawgs in every game but one ... i used to want to throw my tv out the window when i saw stafford's sloppy play. no tebow will not be a better nfl qb. i just wish that stafford would have had the uga heart like david green or moreno or coach dooley ... stafford cared about three things, himself, women and drinking ..
Alligator, you are a joke. I can appreciate comments when you criticize a player's performance on the field. Once you start attacking their character, you become everything that is wrong with the blog world. You think internet anonymity gives you licenst to attack someone on a personal level that you've never spent five minutes with and gotten to know. You generalize Stafford as "stafford cared about three things, himself, women and drinking". How do you know this? Do you talk to him on a daily basis? Do you go to class with him? Do you go drinking with him in downtown Athens? I'm guessing the answer to those three questions is no. I'm fine with saying Stafford doesn't hit the deep ball consistently or he makes boneheaded throws at times because those both are facts. I can't appreciate an attack on someone's character for which you have no basis.
Well put AuditDawg and the blackout was an awesome experience Selena.
DH - any idea on where Asher stands with his decision?
Guys,
I do know people that know him well, and they are from the ATL and from Athens and I am repeating what they say.
When we had Doug Johnson as a QB, he may have played well, but he was a self serving douche bag.
I have been a UGA fan since about 1975, so i can speak a little to the subject of players performances and their character.
hugs and kisses,
Aligator
i agree, mostly, with alligator. Staff was a great talent and a good qb, but he didnt have the heart for UGA that others (Pollack, Moreno, all the Baileys, etc.) had. for him, college was simply a phase he had to stop at to make it to the NFL. While I'm grateful for what he accomplished for our program, I'll also be glad to see someone back there that cares about the past and future of The University.
Well, if that's the case Bugsy then Joe Cox is our man. I loved his comments towards the end of the '06 season when he told reporters that transferring to him was never an option. He said he was committed to UGA and was staying regardless of where he was on the depth chart.
Go Dawgs!
I do hope Joe Cox does you proud and I hope he does it because he loves UGA and not just being there as a stepping stone to the NFL ... well put
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