Jeff Dantzler in The Zone 9-16-26

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1:00Learn more at Kia.com or visit your Southern California Kia dealer. It's Jeff Danceley, he's the radio voice of Georgia Football, baseball, and women's basketball. And he joins us on our James Razorback Pizza Hotline Jeff. How you doing today, man? Happy Wednesday. Hey, Phil, great to hear from you, my friend. Looking forward to a stadium this weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing you. I mean, there is going to be a football game that you'll get to call too, and I'll be, you know, on the pre-game show for the Razorbacks. There's not a lot of people around here that are very excited about the game specifically, though. Don't know if you picked up on any of that from the last two or three minutes there, Jeff. Yeah. It's things have been a little bit rough in these first two weeks. Georgia looks good, but I guess it's a little difficult to tell based upon the competition. Is that fair? Yeah, that's exactly right. Georgia's played two opponents who are out, man, and in Georgia's done what Georgia was supposed to do. Go out and take care of business. And I think for Arkansas, that's one of the toughest games anybody from the SEC has played.

2:02Rice Eccles is a very tough place to play. You've got a great program, and you've just played a great game on Saturday night. So we are fully anticipating an extremely tough game out in Fayetteville. It's a very difficult place to play. Arkansas is always tough and physical. KJ Jackson, the heck of a quarterback at Marshall and House, who both were number six or both outstanding players. So we're anticipating an old-fashioned SEC Slover knocker. Is there also, I mean, you can just tell statistically at least there's got to be an uptick in the offense from Georgia from last year to this year. And Stockton's second full season as a starter. Again, a little difficult to tell, but when you've let a touchdown drive on all 11 drives, you've quarterbacked. What have you seen that makes you think that this Georgia offense is better this year than last year? Well, I think Gunner Stockton, who was great, grew to fame coming off the bench of a Carson Beck was injured.

3:03The SEC Championship game victory over Texas. And he had a tremendous season last year. And I just think he's improved his game in every area. Another key is our center drew Bobo, who's a fifth year player. Our offense coordinator, Mike Bobo, former quarterback at Georgia's Mike son. And Drew got hurt against Ted last year. So he missed the SEC Championship game in the sugar bowl. So I think getting him back, those are two fifth year players. Is that comfort level has been another key for this team? They have added nine players out of the transfer portal. That's it. I think that's the fewest in the SEC Jeff. You know, that has a lot to do with culture. I think also it's interesting when you're looking at an article put out by the athletic this afternoon. You know, they've made really good educated guesses on what each SEC football roster costs. Georgia's right there in the middle, you know, kind of actually in the bottom of the middle.

4:03And what they may be spending on this year's roster, which doesn't jive for the team that is the second ranked team in the country right now. Jeff is kind of interesting. Yeah, it is Kirby has just done such an amazing job. And the authenticity, his love for this university. It's just incredible. I think one of the big things that we've done here at Georgia is retention. Keep most of the guys you really, really want and Kirby kept almost all of them. There's one or two here there that's gotten away. And just when you kind of look at things, obviously the rules changed a few years ago. But it's borderline impossible to put together the kind of rosters that he had put together at Georgia that Nick Sabin. They put together at Alabama, at least for any period of time. So what you've seen, you know, a number one recruiting class today is not what it would have been five or six years ago.

5:03Just the way the game is played now just doesn't allow for that. So a Georgia's done a lot just in terms of development with player still breaking in a lot of good guys. And just picking your spots, the fill I know this here, you're a baseball guy like me. It's kind of like the great teams throughout the years and the majors you built through the minors and you plug holes with free agency. That's kind of the way Georgia's been able to do it still build through recruiting and maybe plug a hole here there through the portal. Jeff Dancer joining us the voice of the Georgia Bulldogs and I don't know if it was a baseball guy like you are Jeff because guys like Phil who are baseball guys start rooting for baseball season second week of the football season lately. And that's been a bummer. We're not the same boat. You also brought up Mike Bobo as if we haven't suffered enough. Let's remember the guy who led Colorado state to win over Arkansas. So I'm going to and then you just mentioned Nick Sabin. So I'm just referring to all the things we've already talked about.

6:04And we used to get Eli Goldon a lot, you know, during the season and the thing I would ask him is what I'm going to ask you is, you know, at some point your program becomes so strong that you can only compare it to past versions of your own team. How does this Georgia team rate to you comparatively to some of the teams that you guys have had that have been really good and successful over the last five or 10 years. I think this team's got a chance to be in the mix. The standard that Kirby has created here is it's amazing. I mean, it's the type of thing guys just for me growing up a Georgia fan that always dreamed about. I mean, we've been in the top 10, nine years in a row, seven out of nine regular seasons. These are 11 and 1 or 12 and O the back to back national titles. We've went back to back SEC championships again. It's the type of stuff that you dream about for your team and I always felt that Georgia had the support system to be that kind of program. We just needed to get our guy and we're so fortunate that we've got our guy.

7:09People say about Georgia when it comes to I think just about every sport. That'd be good in everything. Just based on where the school sits, the furl recruiting land in every single sport. I mean, right all the way down women's basketball, men's basketball, baseball and football, honestly, should be good in all of them. And right now kind of are I think in most cases. Let's be real Jeff Arkansas is not a factor in the SEC race. What do you think about the league as a whole and you know, you got a tough schedule. The stuff is Texas. I was looking at the you know, the prognosticators of the odds makers. I think Georgia the favorite to win a league now. Some of that has to a schedule not that Georgia's disease, but maybe not quite as tough in some cases as Texas is. I think Georgia's got a chance to be in the mix, but the way I look at it, everybody in the SEC has got a tough schedule. It's just a degree of difficulty. You know, is it a 9.2 or a 10 every game is going to be tough.

8:09Kirby had a couple of his staff members do some research and over 40% of the intro conference games last year were decided by one score, one to eight points. And they were compared to other leagues going back years and decades and there was really no other conference in any other year that it even been close to that. And you know, you think about Texas last year and in Oklahoma fans, I think we're rightfully gripping that Texas had a little bit easier past than the than the sooner had through their first two years. But you know, Texas went out and beat Mississippi State by three on the road, beat Kentucky in overtime on the road, very, very tough games. And I think one of the things, and I even remember when Arkansas came in the league back in 92 along with South Carolina, I think one of the things that the newcomers to the league have seen and Phil, you'd probably talked about this with our friend from A&M and Texas and Missouri and Oklahoma.

9:09And whatever the sport is, it's not just like let's say in baseball, Arkansas in football, Georgia and women's basketball, LSU or South Carolina, it's every game is tough. And I think in football, what takes it to the next level, what other leagues don't have. And obviously that there are other great comments out there. But even for schools that might not be say a traditional top 10 SEC power, the physicality of the teams and just the atmospheres that you're playing in front of. And you know, no knock on Kansas or Iowa State, but it's a lot tougher going to South Carolina or start, Bill, than it is the aims or warrants for football game. It just is not a given here. Those schools might have a better football team, but as far as atmospheres of the physicality, there's just nothing like it. You know, Jeff, just when I thought you couldn't pile on more, you coming after the Iowa State grad, thanks a lot. This is really going well. He didn't even realize. I got a great program. I'm sorry you lost your coach. You did a great job.

10:09Yeah, I like the new guy. Okay, but yeah, I got a love met Campbell, too. But yes, those are all fair points. I'm not arguing that. Sorry, go ahead. I was just going to say it's like, so I mean, the way the way that you talk about what every weekend is like in the SEC is correct to a point. You know what it's like sometimes. And Jeff is the nicest guy on earth. He really is. And I had to tell him last year when he showed up to call it Georgia versus Arkansas women's basketball game that it wasn't going to be pretty. He tells me on the text ahead of time, this is going to be a great game. Can't wait to see it on his lake. Dude, it's not going to be a good game. You guys are much better. And he didn't believe me up until Georgia outscored Arkansas 26 to one in the second quarter. Then he realized it. But Jeff, this is what I mean. Every year, there's still in baseball. It's Mizzou. And unfortunately, this is where Arkansas fans feel the program is. They're the one team that doesn't belong. And I think the fear is that it's look, it was put on display against a potential big 12 champion in their building this last weekend.

11:15Everybody's afraid it's going to be worse this this Saturday. I just leave that open. It's not a question. It's just a statement to almost say I'll come and see you after the second quarter. Okay. Fill it up. By the way, we had some great eye contact with that half ended. Yes. Yeah, it was the look at his face. He didn't need to say anything. It was like, yes, I, I understand what you meant. Did he tip his cap at you? It's like, good call. Good call. I have to take the other three quarters Arkansas outscores Georgia, but the second quarter 26 to one happened. Hard overcome that. Yes. Yeah, well, I think with art, first of all, it's an incredible program when you're talking about the history, going back to Frank broiles and just the, some of the great teams they had through the 60s, the 70s and the 80s. And obviously made it to three SEC championship games. This league is just very tough. I think one of the things that might have hurt Arkansas a little bit.

12:15You know, with with A&M coming into the league and with Texas coming into the league. It made it a little bit tougher. Maybe to go recruit kids out of Texas and tell them that hey, you get to play in the SEC. And one of the things that I'd heard some some got you the some legendary razor backs who've been around for a long time, talk about to. Was it when Arkansas was the only school in the Southwest Conference. They also got a lot of kids from Texas because every game was a home game or you were going to your home state to play. I don't know if stuff like that's a factor whatsoever. I just I know it's a great program with a great history. And like I said, I anticipate a really good game on Saturday. But this league is we know and feel you mentioned like if you're Missouri baseball. It's just very, very hard to make that climb. It's just so difficult to do. You know, it's kind of like in golf, you might look say at the masters. It was only seven shots back. Yeah, but there are eight players between him and the lead. So are all eight of those guys going to come backwards while you go forward.

13:25It could happen. But it's very, very difficult. To make that happen. There's just so many great programs in this league. I can't wait till Phil gives you that knowing look in the second quarter on Saturday, Jeff. It'll be interesting. Send you a photo of it. I told you last thing before we let you go here. I want to ask about baseball because obviously we still root for coach Johnson, even though he's he's no longer in the state. But again, as if things weren't going well enough for Georgia. Now your baseball teams very nationally relevant for championships every year, too. What's your experience been like with him and what's the word on this year's team? Yeah, I love West that it was a dream season for us. We got to go to Omaha last year. I jealous of Phil going all those years. And as the first time we had been since 2008, it was just the tremendous year in West is such a great guy. Of course, growing up in Arkansas and working for the legend. They've been horned and he's just done a tremendous job with the program. But we're going to have a lot of new faces. We rely much more heavily on the portal and baseball than we do in football. So I'll have to, you know, come February start learning some new names and faces, but he put together a very good portal class.

14:40We've got some good freshmen and a few pieces covered back. So I'm excited about it. But as we know in this league, you know, it's happened for a second time now, Ole Missed in 22 and now Oklahoma 26. Somebody goes 14 and 16 in this conference. And not only makes it Omaha, they win the national championship. And I mean, you guys have followed it and been around it for a long time, too. I had somebody ask me back in May and Phil, you might have gotten this question. How many teams in this league can make it to the college role? See, I feel I asked me on selection Monday and however many teams make it, that's my answer on how many you're good enough. Because if you're good enough to get around 500 in this league and get in, you're good enough to get hot and make a run. Not wrong. Wild. I mean, even Florida from a couple years ago, 13 and 17 in the SEC finished national runner up. You never know. Unbelievable. It really is. So it's a, it's a lot of fun. And you know, these weekends, they're, they're just, they're basically what we had one of our assistant coaches.

15:40So now we've got eight wants to league starts SEC versus SEC weekend series every weekend. And Phil, I think you can be five or six of them could very easily be super regional. Every weekend. I think some of the football games every weekend could be a playoff games just I'm not sure if I think Ole Miss LSU maybe that could potentially be a playoff game. I'm not sure if there's any other in the SEC this weekend where you think that but that certainly is one of them. Jeff, I got to run safe travels. I mean, okay, guys, looking forward, looking forward to seeing y'all and Phil go, go get your burger. He goes for me. Okay. That's right. He knows his places. Yeah, for sure. He knows his place now really good friend would bring you one. When he sees you up there. So anyway, we'll say. You guys are the best. Yeah, safe travels, Jeff. Thanks for the time. Appreciate it. Thanks, Jeff. Anytime, guys, keep Bill out of trouble over there. Okay. Okay. That's, that is not difficult, actually. That's one of the few things that isn't, but I appreciate that. All right. Take care.