Hey everyone. Thanks for taking time yesterday to monitor Pro Day and the Cap City Classic here at the HABOTN. Our numbers are above what I'd expect this time of year, so BIG UP to all the HOTTIES.One of the peripheral (but intriguing) stories from Pro Day was the re-appearance of Steve Gandy. Many of you remember him as a powerful safety-turned-linebacker who "retired" in August 2007 after suffering a third college concussion.
He suffered several similar injuries in high school. After the dizziness and irritability didn't subside in August 2007, Gandy elected to walk away from football. Two years later, though, he's trying to earn a professional contract.
Here's what he had to say Wednesday ...
On where he wants to play: "I think safety is my spot. It's a better spot than linebacker. I'm too small to play linebacker. I don't like to have regrets, but if I could go back, I wouldn't have moved to linebacker. I feel like I can make a difference at safety."
On his health: "I've been playing ball since I was five. Sometimes, your body gets to a point where it needs a break. I feel like the same Steve Gandy who came here in 2004 ready to go. Hopefully I can get some pads on soon and see where I'm really at."
On if doctors advised him to walk away for good in 2007: "When I decided to quit football, it wasn't that they wouldn't let me play. I was just trying to do what was best for me. I decided to go back and give it one more shot and let God guide me."
On his Pro Day performance: "I did pretty well. I could have done better. I performed last week at the CFL combine and I had better numbers there and stuff. That's disappointing. This is just one day. I felt good, so that's all that matters."
GANDY'S NUMBERS FROM PRO DAY (comparing him to LB Merrill Johnson and CB Jerraud Powers)
*40-yard dash, seconds
Gandy -- 4.65
Johnson -- 4.60
Powers -- 4.44
*Vertical, inches
Gandy -- 31.5
Johnson -- 40.0
Powers -- 35.0
*Broad jump, feet-inches
Gandy -- 9-6
Johnson -- 10-5
Powers -- 10-3
*Bench, number of 225-lb reps
Gandy -- 14
Johnson -- 17
*(LB Chris Evans) -- 14
*=Powers didn't participate in the bench press drill.
Substance
ReplyDeleteI hope it works out for Steve, everyone needs a dream.
ReplyDeleteSo, he's likely going to the CFL, right? At least to get back into things?
ReplyDeleteDL, Again? this is definitely a conspiracy
ReplyDeleteit looks like i killed the previous thread for over an hour.
ReplyDeleteapparently my hatred for all things crimson had some major HABOTN ramifications.
i can't say that i'm sorry for that. :)
I don't know where Gandy will land. He hasn't endured contact in years.
ReplyDeleteNice feel-good article on Blatt, Sunshine Pumper.
ReplyDeleteAuburn vs The Hilltoppers from Western Kentucky tonight at Plainsman Park.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to start doing that, Peter ... Twittering my stories for you all to read.
ReplyDeleteI never felt good about posting them to the front of the blog. It's just recycling the p00p I've already written.
With Twitter, the links won't clog the blog and interested parties gets more direct access to the stories.
It's a WIN WIN.
I hope it works out for Steve! He played hard while at AU! That's really all you can ask for. wde
ReplyDeleteI like it. Direct links through twitter are better than searching the MA site, which I am more unlikely to do.
ReplyDeleteRecycled poop is nice,though. A lot less poopy than the first time around.
ReplyDeletePeter -- should I link to the "real" pages or the "scaled down" pages.
ReplyDeleteYou reckon most people snag Twits from real computers or mobile devices?
Twitter = good
ReplyDeleteClog Blog = bad
I could actually read your stories then. The MA isn't so searcher friendly.
I do both, honestly...I prefer to retrieve most of my tweets from the phone. If the article/linked site is conducive to mobile reading, I get the pleasure of having it on the go. If not, mental bookmark to go check it out online.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what you are doing to scale back. If it means leaving things out of the article, I would rather just read it on the web so I can get the whole thing.
tech talk makes Harrison frustrated. don't understand. fire bad!
ReplyDeleteWe allegedly have a mobile site, http://m.montgomeryadvertiser.com, that eschews all the graphic clog.
ReplyDeleteIt's just words and maybe a pic.
For reasons that aren't clear to me, I can't link to that iteration of my stories. I get something that's halfway between the full-fledged site and the mobile site.
No idea why.
twitter is not technical. that's what makes it appealing. it uses cute words like tweet and twit. That way, it feels nice when your head explodes.
ReplyDeletetwit doesn't sound cute to me
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah. the MA mobile site sucks. Full links work fine in my mobile browser (Blazer).
ReplyDeleteloves 3rd person
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Hilltoppers, they are in the NCAA tournament again this year, and any year they are in they are always my cinderella pick.
ReplyDeleteI bet you love Ricky Henderson then Mon.
ReplyDeleteI'm listening to Silversun Pickups' "Lazy Eye" right now. What a song that is.
ReplyDeleteI dislike Western Kentucky.
ReplyDeleteThey're a knock-off version of the state's real university.
i'm diggin the twitter links. sweet.
ReplyDeletei dislike them too JG. i spent an entire 10 months working at E.A. Diddle arena. i got out as soon as i could. stupid red blob.
ReplyDeletethat red blob is hilarious.
ReplyDeleteJGT - I was checking out your archives and ran across this observation from you on 03/22/06:
ReplyDelete"I do not believe Ed Orgeron is upwardly mobile. I think his next job will be at a smaller school, or as a second-tier assistant at another college program, or in pee-wee ball after a graphic sideline meltdown."
Dude, that is truly profound. Any thoughts on lottery numbers?
Diddle Arena sounds like a place that would make you go blind if you went there too much.
ReplyDeletei did almost get thrust into emergency action in the 'Big Red' costume back in 2005. i can't remember what the occasion was but the student was nowhere to be found. someone else took the bullet, though.
ReplyDeleteit was then i lost all respect for the big red guy. no way some random guy gets thrust into emergency Aubie duty. it's blasphemous!!!!!!!!
Jay,
ReplyDeleteWKU is a knock off of Louisville?
Mon, i started at WKU in Oct. 2004 and they had just completed renovations. Diddle is the basketball arena. it's pretty nice. it makes Beard-Eaves look like a 2A high school gym.
ReplyDeleteNice song Jay. It's in my workout rotation on my ipod. Their song Well thought out twinkles is good as well. Im listening to Arcade Fire right now.
ReplyDeletescottie,
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean by "emergency Aubie duty".
Dude... Aubie is real.
my bad Lowcountry. i mis-spoke (sp?).
ReplyDeletei love me some Aubie. my cousin is a "friend of Aubie". Aubie is my homeboy.
whew. glad i cleared that up.
You can't rip on Big Red. He's the words greatest sports equipment eating red blob mascot out there.
ReplyDeleteMonica had no clue who Ricky Henderson was. Monica Googled him and now Monica loves Ricky Henderson.
ReplyDelete"In 1996, Henderson’s first season with San Diego, he boarded the team bus and was looking for a seat. Steve Finley said, “You have tenure, sit wherever you want.” Henderson looked at Finley and said, “Ten years? Ricky’s been playing at least 16, 17 years.”
In 1996, Henderson’s first season with San Diego, he boarded the team bus and was looking for a seat. Steve Finley said, “You have tenure, sit wherever you want.” Henderson looked at Finley and said, “Ten years? Ricky’s been playing at least 16, 17 years.”
From http://www.faniq.com/blog/The-25-Best-Rickey-Henderson-Stories-Of-All-Time-Blog-15243
Yeah, I've known a few friends of Aubie in my time, too. But I also have a 3 year old and a 5 year old: they aren't so sure about Santa, but they have deeply rooted faith in Aubie.
ReplyDeleteI like the Rickey Henderson/John Olerud story.
ReplyDeleteOlerud has a condition where he has to wear his batting helmet in the field. Henderson played with him one year in Seattle and then a year later with the Mets. He walks up to him with the Mets and says, I played with a guy last year who had to do the exact same thing with no clue it's the same guy.
HA @ RK - Jay G. will gettcha for that.
ReplyDeleteLowe and Scottie -- this was weird though. On Saturday, Aubie was in Auburn for the AU - LSU game; then an hour later he was in Little Rock for the Women's game against Tennessee -- they must have had a chopper on top of BEMC waiting for him
ReplyDelete“Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I’m trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?”
ReplyDeletebut Hornet, he is NEVER at two places at once. EVER. you can quote me on that.
ReplyDeletei think he and Jack Bauer are friends. he's always get connections on the 'inside'. i'm sure he has a super secret jet or something.
Hey, I got Ed Orgeron's future kinda correct.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSo when does Lane Kiffin's attack on Auburn start? It seems he's tried to make negative comments on everyone else or steal coaches from everyone else in the SEC, we can't be too far off his target.
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow tech-tard, what the H is Twitter?
ReplyDeleteIt makes Austin sad that anyone would not know who Ricky Henderson is.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found those Mon . Harrison was prepared to send you those quotes.
ReplyDeleteMonica apologizes to Austin for making him sad. Monica is just so MLB ignorant. Monica appreciates Harrison's eagerness to spread the Ricky love.
ReplyDeleteAustin accepts Monica's apology. Austin also apologizes for further extending this ridiculous third person conversation.
ReplyDeletenOw you gone an done it. Just when I get on board you gona do what ....twitter. Is that like chatting?? or forum u gating Where can we find a twitter? Is it a bird or a plane or is it SUPER DOM?
ReplyDeleteIf you don't know what Twitter is, you probably don't need it.
ReplyDeletethat reminds me of those Osmose commercials....."If you don't see Osmose on these little yellow tags, believe me, you don't want it."
ReplyDeleteHA Digger - Go check it out here:
ReplyDeleteTwitter
I'm pretty sure nobody NEEDS twitter.
ReplyDeleteOK I am a full fledge member of twitter. It said I had no friends .......on twitter, now I am going to cry.
ReplyDeleteYou don't know what I need.
ReplyDeletego to HABOTN.com, and click "follow me on twitter." Then, Jay G will be your friend (Kinda. You follow him, but he won't follow you. It's an all give and no take relationship with him).
ReplyDeleteI'm just saying
ReplyDeletecome on Harrison. you know you need Twitter. just admit it. it's the first step.
ReplyDeleteI already avoid facebook on purpose, this seems to be another internet fad I am willing to live without.
ReplyDeleteIt's overrated in my opinion, Harrison.
ReplyDeleteThanks Peter F. I got there and saw many of jay's articles but no where to chat??
ReplyDeletethen I choose to listen to your opinion Mon, because it resembles mine. Problem solved!
ReplyDeleteI was at Auburn when Aubie first appeared. There was only one friend of Aubie that year. He was in such demand that he nearly flunked out of school.
ReplyDeleteAfterward, there were multiple friends of Aubie.
Aubie=infinitely better than Big Al or a Hilltopper, whatever that is
ReplyDeleteKiffin won't attack Auburn he's scared of the badass Chizik
ReplyDeleteyeah the Chiz could take Kiffin hands down... Especially with a lil Rocker off the top ropes..
ReplyDelete"Hello Kiffy" and his band of Hannah Montana fans won't mess with Chiz, and they won't mess with Curtis, and they definitely know what'll happen if they dare smart mouth Trooper.
ReplyDeleteThey'll get a Delta Force Z boot somewhere it hurts really fast.
Twitter is of no use to me in my persona life. Facebook handles my needs.
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to a few feeds -- most notably Bammerham News writer Ian Rapoport and Jackson MSU ace Kyle Veazey -- but I rarely receive the Twits. So it's basically pointless.
I'm seeing posts on blogs that pro scouts will be telling Andre Smith that being "weak, slow and fat is no way to go through life" after an underwhelming performance at UAT's Pro Day.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad.
"It's sad"????? Is that compassion coming from Jet instead of hate? Say it ain't so!
ReplyDeleteLOL @ Andre Smith. If he didn't do all of this to himself maybe .1% of me would feel bad for him. I read a few of the blogs that finebaum mentioned a few minutes ago and there are some blistering reviews of his pro day today.
ReplyDeleteSaban sure does a good job of "getting their mind right" for the next level!
dig, twitter is not for chatting. twitter is for being completely absorbed with what you are doing/thinking/invoved in, letting the world know by tweeting this, and voyeuring into the lives/activities/thoughts of others...in other words, it's facebook status updates, without anything else that makes facebook so desperately over-rated.
ReplyDeleteI'm a compassionate conservative, Michael.
ReplyDeleteI hate seeing kids wasting a God-given opportunity like this ... it's like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
But, yes, I still hate Bama. With every fiber.
RIVALS TOP 100 for Class of 2010 was released peeps...
ReplyDeleteWhere's JHag on that list?
ReplyDeleteRivals 100 is out...lots of guys considering AU....I think we will have one of the best classes we have had in a long time if we can win 8 or 9 games ...LOTS of talent coming in next year i can feel it...i say top 10 class no worse
ReplyDeleteIf it's not a #2 or better class, Chiz should be fired.
ReplyDeleteIn the recent student government elections in Tuscaloosa, sophomore wideout Julio Jones has won election to a senate seat as a write-in candidate,
ReplyDeletewowzers
agreed michael, it would be an outrage of Auburn is not top 2 next year...FIRE CHIZIK!
ReplyDeletePUPPET HOUR!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love puppet hour. one of the best hours of late afternoon/early evening
ReplyDeleteI'll start puppet hour by announcing a campfire ... tonight ... 9ish.
ReplyDeleteIf you can't be there, you can make the next one.
nice. I might can actually participate in this campfire. I may be a few beers in, so I'll be on top of my game!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving me some puppet hour!
ReplyDeleteYou won't be the only one a few beers in.
ReplyDeleteWe don't need no water, let the Camp Fire burn!
ReplyDeleteI was going to live blog the Auburn-(Florida) game even though I'm not in Tampa, but I have to take call-ins that night.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing the obstacles one must face sometimes to do their job.
Jay G ... Hopefully TurboProp's team will win Friday night, and as the designated caller (victories only, of course), I can call to commisserate with you.
ReplyDeleteDear Leader,
ReplyDeleteOne could jump to the conclusion that you are experiencing "Substance" abuse.
Jay, how many times a week do you guys have to take call ins? I bet talking all those exciting high school golf results is quite a drag.
ReplyDeletep.s. I still really really REALLY hate bama.
ReplyDeleteESPN showing their a-day game makes me want to puke.
Jet--That's approach here in Greenville. The coaching icons..haha.. that run our teams never call in the losses, so I never know who wins because I refuse to read the greenville advocate.
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with the Greenville Advocate?
ReplyDeleteCall-ins suck, yes.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a good use of my time, in my opinion, but my organization created this mess and someone's gotta clean it up.
When my organization creates messes, I just take the day off and hope someone cleans them.
ReplyDeleteI'm Winston Wolf. I solve problems.
ReplyDeleteDo you sometimes have to clean up dead bodies for the Advertiser? This newspaper business is getting crazy.
ReplyDeletei just complain a lot and hope nobody asks me to help fix problems. it works sometimes
ReplyDeleteWere your Uncle Conrad and Aunt Ginny millionaires? Well, your Uncle Marsellus is. And if your Uncle Conrad and Aunt Ginny were millionaires, they would've furnished you with a whole
ReplyDeletebedroom set, which your Uncle
Marsellus is more than happy to do.
I like oak myself, that's what's in my bedroom. How 'bout you Jimmie, you an oak man?
If that wasn't a copy and paste job... color me impressed Jetster
ReplyDeleteOh, it was cut and paste.
ReplyDeleteBut I coulda come close off the top of my head ... close, not perfect.
A speech that good deserved accuracy.
Color me unimpressed
ReplyDeleteColor Me Badd
ReplyDeleteJay--Greenville Advocate is a typical small town paper I guess; but I just can't deal with the gossip news and the front page stories about garden clubs, and who wore the most swell dress at the jr. league lunch. The sports guy(s) are really...lacking. I'll stick to hacks like you that have their s together.
ReplyDeleteYou have really made me appreciate a good, professional, beat writer.
Btw, for you twitter lovers they are really pimping it on the late afternoon ESPN shows (around the horn and pti).
there's another thread
ReplyDeleteI like the twitter updates. It makes me sound popular when my phone makes the text message sound three times in a row after a meeting.
ReplyDeleteI would have never guessed Gandy trying to go pro. His numbers don't look great, but all the best to him.
ReplyDelete