In 1978 my father moved us to Moody AFB in Valdosta, GA where he got stationed. That fall I was in seventh grade and was working on some chores (e.g., raking pine straw and picking up pine cones, washing cars inside and out every weekend). To help pass the time on Saturdays I'd turn on the radio and listen to Larry Munson call UGA Football games. Since UGA's freshman QB Buck Belue was from Valdosta (followed by QB John Lastinger), I found it easy to root for the Dawgs as a local player (albeit rival, as I later attended Lowndes County HS) was starring for them. Since then I've been an ardent UGA fan, esp. football (living in "Titletown USA" for 7 years helped nurture my love for the sport).
During high school my dad made my older sister, myself, and younger brother [currently a Major General select in the USAF] take Air Force Junior ROTC. As a senior I had a Congressional nomination from Senator Sam Nunn and Congressman Charles Hatcher to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, and the USAF Preparatory School. Unfortunately, it was discovered during my flight physical that I had a hernia that required surgery and thus was medically disqualified from receiving a scholarship to any of the military academies or to a college ROTC program for one year. Given that my father was poor (he was an enlisted service member) and there was no money for me to attend college, I sucked it up and enlisted in the Air Force as a Computer Operator (which morphed into a Telecommunications Operator before I was done). After ~5.5 years on active duty, I separated and enrolled at the University of Georgia and put myself through school. After graduating in December 1995, I worked as a Chemical Lab Technician for a few months in Valdosta before being accepted to Air Force Officer Training School. After earning my commission I spent ~15 more years on active duty as a Communications and Information Officer before retiring.
As for first discovering a UGA sports message board online it was in April 1996. That is, I was hanging out in the Valdosta Municipal Library surfing the net when I stumbled upon the 'Dawgvent'. I must admit that I was instantly hooked as I found it informative and interactive on a subject I was passionate about. Unfortunately, Dawg Master (Jason) ended up selling his site a few years later to Oregon Dawg (Steve). Transitioning from a great look-and-feel of Dawg Master's website to Alliance Sports then Rivals platforms was disappointing. Once Steve split the 'Dawgvent' into a pay site and made the 'Dawgchat' a free board a couple of years later I started looking for other UGA sports websites to hang out on. For a while it was the 'Dawg Run' then on Independence Day weekend of 1999 I created my own non-profit (i.e., no subscription fee, no ads) UGA Sports website called 'Dawg Treasures'. I ran that for 7 years until I moved to a new job overseas that required I work 12+ hours per day while completing Air Command & Staff College by correspondence at night and on weekends, while married and caring for my two young boys (one of which was a newborn). Then in 2012 I became active on Dean Legge's 'Dawg Post' website (although I had been a member there since 2001).
Fwiw, I feel better about UGA's Football program now than I have since Coach Richt's second season in 2002 when the Dawgs finished 13-1 (only losing a heartbreaker to Florida in Jacksonville on a dropped TD pass and a lateral for a TD that was called back). With the way Coach Smart has been recruiting and the administration finally opening up the bank (e.g., investing in a $30.2M IPF, $63M West End Zone Construction, and a budget increase of ~$12M/yr more for Smart), I think we're going to finally win another National Championship, or two, or three...
Well, I'm looking forward to getting to know y'all. Over the years I've met dozens of UGA fans (e.g., Aldog, AllDawg, BamaDawg, CameronDawg, Cartersville Dog [RIP], cowboy, Crash10, Dawgfiend, Dawg Master, Dawgpaw, Erk, flikdiva, GaDawg, G Lady, Groo, gulfportdawg, Hacksaw Dawg, ibdawg, Jim from Duluth, Karate Dawg, Lan4Dawg, Lawrenceville Dawg, Lilburn Dawg [RIP], Moosefish, Nekkid Dawg, Old Dawg, Oregon Dawg, Rabid Dawg, the Four Horsemen) I've met on message boards at get togethers, tailgates, and games.
During high school my dad made my older sister, myself, and younger brother [currently a Major General select in the USAF] take Air Force Junior ROTC. As a senior I had a Congressional nomination from Senator Sam Nunn and Congressman Charles Hatcher to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, the Merchant Marine Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, and the USAF Preparatory School. Unfortunately, it was discovered during my flight physical that I had a hernia that required surgery and thus was medically disqualified from receiving a scholarship to any of the military academies or to a college ROTC program for one year. Given that my father was poor (he was an enlisted service member) and there was no money for me to attend college, I sucked it up and enlisted in the Air Force as a Computer Operator (which morphed into a Telecommunications Operator before I was done). After ~5.5 years on active duty, I separated and enrolled at the University of Georgia and put myself through school. After graduating in December 1995, I worked as a Chemical Lab Technician for a few months in Valdosta before being accepted to Air Force Officer Training School. After earning my commission I spent ~15 more years on active duty as a Communications and Information Officer before retiring.
As for first discovering a UGA sports message board online it was in April 1996. That is, I was hanging out in the Valdosta Municipal Library surfing the net when I stumbled upon the 'Dawgvent'. I must admit that I was instantly hooked as I found it informative and interactive on a subject I was passionate about. Unfortunately, Dawg Master (Jason) ended up selling his site a few years later to Oregon Dawg (Steve). Transitioning from a great look-and-feel of Dawg Master's website to Alliance Sports then Rivals platforms was disappointing. Once Steve split the 'Dawgvent' into a pay site and made the 'Dawgchat' a free board a couple of years later I started looking for other UGA sports websites to hang out on. For a while it was the 'Dawg Run' then on Independence Day weekend of 1999 I created my own non-profit (i.e., no subscription fee, no ads) UGA Sports website called 'Dawg Treasures'. I ran that for 7 years until I moved to a new job overseas that required I work 12+ hours per day while completing Air Command & Staff College by correspondence at night and on weekends, while married and caring for my two young boys (one of which was a newborn). Then in 2012 I became active on Dean Legge's 'Dawg Post' website (although I had been a member there since 2001).
Fwiw, I feel better about UGA's Football program now than I have since Coach Richt's second season in 2002 when the Dawgs finished 13-1 (only losing a heartbreaker to Florida in Jacksonville on a dropped TD pass and a lateral for a TD that was called back). With the way Coach Smart has been recruiting and the administration finally opening up the bank (e.g., investing in a $30.2M IPF, $63M West End Zone Construction, and a budget increase of ~$12M/yr more for Smart), I think we're going to finally win another National Championship, or two, or three...
Well, I'm looking forward to getting to know y'all. Over the years I've met dozens of UGA fans (e.g., Aldog, AllDawg, BamaDawg, CameronDawg, Cartersville Dog [RIP], cowboy, Crash10, Dawgfiend, Dawg Master, Dawgpaw, Erk, flikdiva, GaDawg, G Lady, Groo, gulfportdawg, Hacksaw Dawg, ibdawg, Jim from Duluth, Karate Dawg, Lan4Dawg, Lawrenceville Dawg, Lilburn Dawg [RIP], Moosefish, Nekkid Dawg, Old Dawg, Oregon Dawg, Rabid Dawg, the Four Horsemen) I've met on message boards at get togethers, tailgates, and games.