Latest / Beliefs, Ballots, And BullDawgs / Wednesday August 5, 2026
Transcript
- Greg: Hey, good morning, everybody. It is Wednesday, August 5th. I'm your host, Craig Miller, and this is the latest episode of Beliefs, Ballots, and Bulldogs. ⁓ we're going to start the show off a little bit differently today, and I'm gonna ask all six of you that that listen to me on the radio to pay some attention and take a look at my new ⁓ my new lid here. This sent to me by a new buddy of mine, ⁓ Jake Ray, founder, CEO, or and doer of all pool-related things at Jake's pool service in in North Georgia. If you if you're in the North Georgia area and and you have a pool, you should look my dude up. ⁓ Jake and I connected because well Jake has poor taste in in entertainment and and listens to the other podcast I do with ⁓ with my buddy ⁓ David Smith called The Common Sense Superheroes. And from there he found this show and Jake and I struck up a little friendship. And for ⁓ for whatever reason he he seemed to ⁓ wanna wanna send me some some nice swag from his company and it's just another example of how you you never you never really know. what you're putting out into this world and and how far it may be reaching and and you know it may be having a greater impact than than you really know. So shout out to Jake. I'm I'm glad to have you listen. And and also guys, he Jake tells me he's gonna be starting his own podcast in the fall, ⁓ a pools and barbecue theme podcast. And from what I've heard from the my friends up in North Georgia, Jake knows this stuff in both arenas. So I'll be sure to keep you guys posted on when he ⁓ when he drops that first episode so you guys can all tune in. On the ⁓ on the UGA theme stuff for the day, we're gonna something a little bit different and we're gonna ⁓ kind of take a break from ⁓ breaking down position rooms and play calling and and schematic stuff. We're gonna have a little more fun and we're gonna talk about some of the the dogs behind the dogs, so to speak. Because one of the cool things about about the Georgia programs ⁓ as a UGA graduate myself is is that we we have a lot of people on this staff that have real ties to this university. And You know, some of them obviously like Kirby played there and now coached there. You know, we there's others that went to school there. ⁓ there's some that have coached there before or been with Kirby before. So we're just gonna give some of these guys a shout out and just go through some of the names that people may or may not know and and just take a chance to give these guys a little run and a little shine and and hear their name call for once. So ⁓ obviously the first one is it is Kirby. I mean it that was pretty obvious. Kirby played D B at Georgia, graduate from Georgia. ⁓ and now has returned home to to build the monster UGA football program that that we all knew we could be. So Kirby's not just a not just a Georgia head coach. Kirby is Kirby's coaching at home. Kirby's protecting his house and and protecting something that he lived. ⁓ and then much like that, you got you got Bobo, ⁓ the former quarterback and and longtime assistant in the past. He's he's the current and former offensive coordinator and w one of the most debated names in Athens. ⁓ love every call or or hate every call. Bobo's roots run deep. He he wore the uniform, he called the plays, he's coached the quarterbacks. But Mike Bobo has lived and breathed Georgia football from just about every angle. And I promise you, he loves that university and he wants to win as much as anybody. And we move on to James Coley. And Coley's not a not a Georgia alum, but he's definitely part of kind of the Kirby smart era, so to speak. He he was on that original staff, helped recruit numerous stud recruits. ⁓ left and then then he came back. And that that matters because he understands what what Kirby wants. And having coached together and chose to come back signifies that these guys like working together. They understand they're they're on the same page, so to speak. And then we move on to one of the possibly the greatest recruiter in the country, Todd Hartley, ⁓ UGA graduate, and and just one of those guys that feel like he was built for this program. He is he has been an absolute legend recruiting tight end rooms and building out a a tight end room that's just Absolutely insane. It's become a national selling point for the entire university. And and when we talk about how Georgia uses tight ends as as weapons, Hartley's Hartley's one of the main reasons that that that reputation as Georgia as tight end you ⁓ continues to grow. ⁓ we got Glenn Schumann. Schumann has has been with Kirby since the beginning. And at this point, she shoe almost feels like part of the foundation of the program. He's helped build the linebacker room, he's helped you know run the run the defense with Kirby and and become one of the more i important kind of consulting and defensive minds i in all of college football, I think. Next, we'll talk a little bit about Trey Scott. Trey Scott was a name that ⁓ a lot were uncertain about when he came to Athens, but ⁓ feels like he's been coaching for forever under Kirby now. And and when you think about names that that have walked through Trey Scott's room, well, you had Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Trayvon Walker, Devontae Wyatt. ⁓ Georgia's defensive front has been a huge part of the identity of this program. And and Trey Scott has had a major hand in that and deserves the recognition for such. Then we got Mike Kavan. Mike's an old school Georgia guy. He's a former, former Georgia quarterback, long time coach, been an admin, been in the administration at Georgia. And he was kind of a bridge from the Dooley to the Kirby area. Just one of those names that's that's always been around the program and just not in the media guide. He's had his hands involved, and and he's he's one of those guys that people know walking around the Buttsmere building, and Mike Cavan lives and bleeds red and black just like they all do. Then we move on to a former running back and and ⁓ former team captain Robert Edwards. one of those guys that that older dog fans remember with with super, super respect. Edwards was was absolutely gonna be a legend and and and had his NFL career cut short for injury. So but now Robert Edwards is back on the staff. And and he, you know, when when former players join the staff, I think that gives a little bit more credibility and and that helps when it comes to recruiting and stuff like that. And and when he talks to to the younger crew about wearing the G, that that's not a guy that's just guessing what it feels like. He he knows and and that matters. ⁓ same thing with with Warren Erickson's on the staff. Warren Erickson's a recent dog on the on the an offensive lineman on the national title teams and and now helping in in the offensive side of the building. And you know that's there again, that's one of those that's that's kind of that's the kind of move that it's easy for fans to to fall in love with. He he went from the fight to now preparing the next group for the fight. And and that's a that's a cool story for for those of us with deep rooted you know UGA ties. ⁓ you got a guy like Brian Gantt and Brian Gantt's a former defensive lineman from back in the day. He's one of those behind-the-scenes guys that that people may not talk about a lot, but but programs like Georgia need guys like that. People don't realize the size and scope of of these departments to run these football programs. And and and they run on people like Brian Gantt who just know what he's doing behind the scenes. And again, never gets the recognition or credit he deserves, but but Brian Gant's a name that that people should note. We got a I've mentioned here before, an old buddy of mine from my time in Athens, Jonas Jennings, ⁓ former offensive lineman, played for years in the NFL and and now works in the player development office. And that's a that's a cool combo. He he has lived the the player experience as a as a star at UGA. He he's lived the pro experience in the NFL, and now he's helping, you know, young guys in in Athens understand what it takes beyond just playing on Saturdays. ⁓ we've got a guy on the on the ⁓ staffed now by con Connor Norman, ⁓ former UGA letterman worked his butt off as a walk-on just to get on the field. And, you know, if you know a guy story like Connor Norman, for for Connor Norman to be a letterman at UGA is is a cool thing and shows how much he's willing to put into this university. You know, it's not just it's not just about coaching. He's he's now leading the the sports medicine operations and And it's cool. Like you talk about player health and rehab and readiness and trust. And and this is a guy who was recently in the locker rooms going through those wars. So he knows what it's like and and can relate physically and mentally to these guys. ⁓ we got a guy ⁓ by the name of Ryan Maldolino, ⁓ been with Georgian football for a while, now now serves as the head athletic trainer, ⁓ has been around, you know, the championship level football and and knows ⁓ knows what that standard is, the close-up, the inside grind where Where we don't always get to see the work, but but guys like Ryan Maddalino, they they know what's put into this program day in and day out. And we don't see it, but I promise you the players see it. The players know it. ⁓ and then we gotta throw out some love to s Scott Sinclair, you the the strength and conditioning guy, been around the program forever, one of the kind of quiet engines of the program. He he's been there since Kirby's first season. ⁓ when people talk about Georgia being physical, being deep, having that fourth quarter strength, and that What Scott Sinclair has built is is that story. So and and then you got John Lilly. John Lilly's backfellow. John Lilly's been in Athens a hundred times, ⁓ multiple stops in Athens, ⁓ coaching tight ends, coaching special teams. ⁓ and now he's a he's a senior assistant on the offensive side of the ball. And, you know, John Lilly's just one of those guys that's been around football forever. ⁓ just just a veteran guy that that gives the staff some some institutional memory and and credibility from from Georgia Days past. ⁓ another name that that you some may not like is Stacy Searles. You know, Stacy Searles has come running back around the block. And he was here during the Rick tenure and now back under Kirby. And and again, if if if Kirby trusts this guy and and Kirby's coach this guy, this guy knows Athens and it it must be a good fit. And Stacy Searles must want to be in Athens. So you know he he's one of those coaches with with a long SEC resume. And and again, he's got some history in the building. So that adds credibility. That's that's part of being a winning organization. ⁓ and then we got Mo Smith. Mo Smith played I I'll never forget Mo Smith's interception against Auburn, intercepted for a touchdown after he transferred from from Alabama, ⁓ played his final season in Athens and and really was a key part of that defense. And and and you know, even a guy that transferred in from Alabama, you know, now having played his senior season in Athens and graduated from Athens and now coming back, it it kind of has that once a dog, always dog mentality. I and that's a that's a cool connection. You got guys like Jaden Hunter and and Javon Wills who who both recently come through the program. And you know, those are just a list of some of the names. And that's that's what to me makes this program feel different. It's it's not just the facilities, it's not just recruiting rankings, it's not just about the money and the helmets and the uniforms or or the national brand. It's the people that make the program work. It's the number of people in the building that that know the Georgia standard and know who Georgia is supposed to be. ⁓ either because they've they've played here before or coached here before or studied here or or her help have helped Kirby build this thing over time and understand that standard. Those those types of connections matter. When you've got former dogs teaching current and future dogs, the standard doesn't just get explained. It it gets passed down like a legacy. And and that's how a a program becomes more than just a team. That's that's how Georgia stays Georgia and that's that's the ultimate goal. All right, we'll get into our scripture segment of the day. And it's why does God remember? And why does God forget? And can can God forget anything? I mean, he's he's God, he is all knowing. ⁓ nothing has ever just occurred to God, nothing has ever surprised him, nothing has ever slipped his mind. So, how can the Bible say there are things God remembers? ⁓ and that would insinuate that there are things maybe that he doesn't remember? At first it almost sounds like a contradiction, but I I think if we understand it correctly, it it may be become kind of helped become one of the most beautiful truths in in all of scripture. It tells us something truly incredible about the heart of God. Think about the world we live in. The it the internet is permanent. It never forgets old tweets, old posts, old mistakes, old scandals, old failures. One bad decision can follow someone around for years and essentially become what they are known for. It's sometimes it can be, it can last decades for some people. And you know, if if we're honest, some some of us we're we're not much different. We re we remember the harsh words that somebody spoke to us 10 years ago and and we still don't like them. We we remember the betrayal, the broken promise, the arguments, the disappointment. Sometimes we even remember our own failures so vividly that we but We begin to believe they'll define us forever. And we're really good at remembering what hurts. But God isn't like us. Take a look at God's word. And in Hebrews chapter eight, God makes what what I believe is an an astonishing promise. For I will forgive their wickedness and I will remember their sins no more. How can an all-knowing God say he will remember our sins no more? H how does God suddenly become forgetful? That's not what he's saying. He he's not saying he he, you know, developed some sort of amnesia. He he's saying something completely different, something, you know, much deeper. He he's saying that he chooses not to hold those forgiven sins against us anymore. The debt has been paid, the case has been settled, the record has been cleared. Not because the sin wasn't real, but but because Christ dealt with it completely. That's the beauty of the gospel. That God doesn't sweep things under the rug. He placed it on the cross, dealt with it. It's done. And here's what makes this even more fascinating. Go go all the way back to Genesis in chapter eight. The flood had covered the earth. Noah had been on the ark for months. Everything outside was completely silent. And in Genesis chapter eight, verse one, God said there it says, but God remembered Noah. Did God like forget that Noah was floating out there? No, of course not. So so what does it mean? God remembered Noah. It it when when the when it says in the Bible in scripture, when it says God remembered, it it doesn't mean it in the manner of like he he recalled something he had forgotten. It means that he started acting according to his covenant. He moved in faithfulness, he fulfilled his promise. When God remembered Noah, he sent the wind, the waters began to recede, the ark eventually came to rest. Noah wasn't forgotten, not even for a single moment. God had been working all along. The same language appears all throughout scripture. God remembered Abraham. God remembered Rachel. God remembered his covenant with his people of Israel. And every time it it points to a a faithful action of God, not a lapse in memory. And and you gotta see the contrast there. God God remembers his promises. He remembers his covenant. He remembers his people. But through Christ, he chooses not to remember our forgiven sins and hold them against us. I mean, how much better can it get than that? We all tend to, as humans, do the opposite. But we remember people's failures and we forget God's faithfulness. We replay old wounds, but overlook answered prayers all the time. We certainly remember the criticism, but then we're quick to forget the grace. And maybe that's one reason why we struggle so much these days to find peace. We're remembering all the wrong things. Listen to what David writes in Psalm 103. As far as the East is from the West, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. Now look, notice David wasn't saying that our sins aren't serious. He says God removed them. East never meets West. That's way of that's David's way of telling us that when God forgives something, He doesn't keep bringing those forgiven sins from the past back into the courtroom. And it's it's hard for us to grasp because we don't forgive like that. We continue to bring stuff back from the past. We keep score. God keeps his promises. Are you are you still carrying something around with you that God has already forgiven? Maybe it's a decision that you made years ago. Maybe it's a relationship that you damaged, words that you just wish you could take back. Maybe, maybe it's a season of life that you're ashamed of. If if you've genuinely repented, if you've turned to Christ, why are you still trying to pay a debt that Jesus Christ already paid for you? Sometimes we're harder on ourselves than God is. And that's not humility. That's that's forgetting the power of the cross. The cross is where God's justice and God's mercy meet. God didn't ignore sin, he judged it completely. Every ounce of wrath that our sin deserved was poured out on Christ. That's why forgiveness isn't cheap. It was incredibly costly. Jesus paid the price that we could never pay ourselves. So when God says in the in the scripture, I will remember their sins no more, he's not pretending that nothing happened. He's declaring that Christ's sacrifice for Was completely enough, enough to satisfy justice, enough to extend mercy, enough to reconcile the sinners to the holy God. That's why the empty tomb matters. If Christ truly conquered sin and death, then your forgiven no longer has any authority to define your current present or your future. So here's the question I want you to carry with you today. What are you remembering and hanging on to that God has already forgiven? And what are you forgetting that God has faithfully promised to you? Maybe today's the day you need to try to reverse those things. Remember his faithfulness, remember his promises, remember his grace, and and stop chaining yourself to a past that Christ has already redeemed for you. Our God has never forgotten a single promise he's made. And through Jesus Christ, he no longer holds your forgiven sins against you. What an incredible God we serve. Have a great day. And as always, get in your Bibles, say your prayers, love one another, and tell the truth. God bless.