UGA vs. UT: High Hoops

I'm approaching my last week as a staff photographer with the Athens Banner-Herald. I turned in my two week notice Tuesday after months of agonizing over the direction to take with my life and career. In a few short weeks I'll be moving back to my hometown in Alabama to join my family's business and freelance on the side. As hard as it is for me to leave the people and things I love about this job and city it is time for me to make a change.
I've wanted to shoot basketball from the catwalk at Stegeman Coliseum for a couple years now. I knew time was running out last Saturday when I covered the Georgia vs. Tennessee men's game so I took the opportunity to experience some high hoops. After climbing to the top of the coliseum, up two ladders, and making my way across the shaky gridded catwalk I discovered very quickly that I hadn't thought of something very important. The buzzer which sounds probably 100 times a game was just a couple feet from my head as I leaned over to shoot the action below. Within minutes my head was pounding and I even thought my ears might be bleeding! I only stayed up high for half the game, returning to the safety of the ground with one of the worst headaches of my life. If there is a next time you better believe I'll be sporting some high quality earplugs. I'm glad I did it though. I don't want to leave anything behind that I wish I did.


Georgia coach Mark Fox gives a pep talk to his players before the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory over Tennessee Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Albert Jackson , left, and Tennessee's Kenny Hall go up for the tip-off in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Jeremy Price dunks over Tennessee's Sklyar McBee (13) in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Chris Barnes, left, and Trey Thompkins defend a shot by Tennessee's Wayne Chism in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Chris Barnes is surrounded by a pack of Tennessee defenders as they try to wrestle the ball away in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl yells to the court in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Trey Thompkins dunks in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum. Thompkins led the Bulldogs with 21 points and 8 rebounds.


Tennessee's Wayne Chism receives medical attention on the hardwoods in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia gathers around coach Mark Fox during a timeout in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Tennessee's Bobby Maze, top, and Georgia's Jeremy Price, left, watch as the ball rolls into the basket for 2 Georgia points in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Trey Thompkins dunks in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum. Thompkins led the Bulldogs with 21 points and 8 rebounds.


Georgia's Jeremy Price, right, knocks away a shot by Tennessee's Scotty Hopson in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Tennesse's J.P. Prince, left, shows frustration with teammate Kenny Hall after a missed opportunity in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Jeremy Price dunks in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Jeremy Price, top, is greeted by teammates Dustin Ware, left, and Travis Leslie after dunking the ball in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Chris Barnes, center, battles for a rebound with Tennessee's Wayne Chism in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Travis Leslie and Tennessee's Scotty Hopson (32) battle for a rebound in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


An enthusiastic Georgia fan covered in peanut butter cheers during the second half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory over Tennesee Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia mascot Hairy Dawg gives a piggyback ride to a Dance Dawg in the first half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Chris Barnes (4) goes up for a shot with Tennessee's Wayne Chism (4) defending in the second half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Dustin Ware is fouled by Tennessee's Bobby Maze in the second half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl yells to the court in the second half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Travis Leslie (1) dunks over Tennessee's Steven Pearl (22) in the second half of the Bulldogs' 78-63 victory Saturday at Stegeman Coliseum.

Willie!

The other night Willie Nelson came to town and I shot his son Lukas Nelson's opening act performance as well as 3 Willie songs before I had to go. People who heard I went to the show said things like "Oh I bet that was fun!" "What songs did you hear?" "How exciting!"
The truth was I couldn't even pay attention to what songs Willie was singing because I was so focused on getting as many decent pictures as I could from different angles in only 3 songs. It wasn't like I was rocking out at a concert, I was working. However it sure as hell beat most assignments.


Iconic country artist Willie Nelson performs Thursday Jan. 21, 2009, at the Classic Center in Athens, Ga.


Lukas Nelson (son of Willie Nelson) opens for Willie Nelson Thursday Jan. 21, 2009, at the Classic Center


Lukas Nelson plays the guitar with his teeth during an opening act for Willie Nelson Thursday Jan. 21, 2009, at the Classic Center.


Country music legend Willie Nelson steps onto the stage to perform Thursday Jan. 21, 2009, at the Classic Center.

Gym Dogs vs. Stanford: Clutch

I had almost forgotten how much I adore covering Georgia gymnastics. The first meet of the season was an exciting one as the normally dominating No. 1 Gym Dogs allowed the No. 7 Stanford Cardinals to pose a threat until the final routine. Stanford cut Georgia's lead during the final rotation with solid beam performances meanwhile Georgia was forced to count a 9.150 on floor. It all came down to floor anchor Courtney McCool. By the numbers really all she had to do was not utterly screw up, but what she did was blow up with the highest score of the entire meet, a 9.925. That is the kind of stuff former Olympian McCool does on a regular basis. She is a clutch performer.
The yearbook photographer next to me had never shot a gymnastics meet. He kept pointing out how close the score was getting or that the Gym Dogs might lose. He doubted. I never did. I just told him "they'll win" in a matter of fact tone. I've only ever seen them lose once in two seasons and that was in the 2009 SEC Championship which they answered with a win in the NCAA National Championship. I'm sure those Gym Dogs deal with a lot of pressure for that reason. People who follow them just assume they will win. The new head coach Jay Clark, who is filling the shoes of the legendary Suzanne Yoculan that won an NCAA record of 10 National Championships during her 26 years as coach, will have to battle those expectations all season long. As for now though, meet one is won.


Georgia freshmen, Kati Breazeal, left, and Christa Tanella prepare themselves for their first meet as Gym Dogs Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.


Former Georgia gymnast Courtney Kupets, center, holds up the 2009 National Championship trophy as she and others are honored before the Gym Dogs' meet against Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia coach Jay Clark gets some encouragement from senior gymnast Grace Taylor after his first "Ask Jay" segment as the new head coach before the Gym Dogs' meet


Georgia freshman Noel Couch made her debut with a 9.850 on vault. Couch also delievered a 9.800 on floor.


Georgia freshman Noel Couch is greeted by teammates after her debut as a Gym Dog on vault during their 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum. Couch scored a 9.850 and also delivered a 9.800 on floor.


Georgia assistant couch Doug McAvinn reacts to Noel Couch's vault during the first rotation.


Georgia's Mariel Box scored a 9.750 on vault.


Georgia's Kat Ding salutes after sticking her landing on vault during the Gym Dogs' win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum. Ding scored a 9.775 on the event.


Georgia's Marcia Newby scored a 9.725 on bars and a meet high of 9.900 on vault.


Georgia's Shayla Worley made her debut as a Gym Dog with a 9.450 on bars.


Georgia's Cassidy McComb reacts after sticking her landing on bars during the Gym Dogs' 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum. McComb scored a 9.750.


Georgia coach Jay Clark hugs gymnast Cassiby McComb after her bars performance during the Gym Dogs' 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum. McComb scored a 9.750.


Georgia's Hilary Mauro scored a 9.775 on beam.


Georgia's Grace Taylor scored a meet high on beam with a 9.90.


Georgia's Courtney McCool scored a 9.675 on beam, but it was her 9.925 on floor that clinched the Gym Dogs' 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia's Courtney McCool scored a 9.675 on beam, but it was her 9.925 on floor that clinched the Gym Dogs' 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.


Former Georgia gymnast and current volunteer coach Courtney Kupets, right, and Junior gymnast Hilary Mauro get pumped up for floor.


Georgia's Grace Taylor scored a 9.150 on floor.


Georgia's Grace Taylor competes on floor during the Gym Dogs' 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.


Georgia freshman Shayla Worley scored a 9.100 after falling during her floor routine.


Stanford's Shelley Alexander competes on beam.


Georgia's Cassidy McComb chalks up before competing on floor.


Georgia's Cassidy McComb scored a 9.600 on floor.


Georgia's Cassidy McComb scored a 9.600 on floor


Georgia's Courtney McCool clinched the Gym Dogs' win over Stanford with a 9.925 on floor as the anchor on the last rotation Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum. McCool was the 2008 NCAA Floor Champion.


Georgia gymnast Courtney McCool gets a hug from assistant coach Julie Clark after her floor performance receives the highest score of the meet with a 9.925 on the last rotation of the Gym Dogs' win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.


Legendary former Georgia coach Suzanne Yoculan, who retired at the end of last season, hugs Courtney McCool after the Gym Dogs' 195.150-195.050 win over Stanford Saturday Jan. 9, 2010, at Stegeman Coliseum.