Opinion: Job one done, Felton must continue Dogs growth

No Georgia Bulldog fan will ever forget the embarrassment of "Harrick-gate:" the lies, the cheating, the kindergarten-level questions on a "college" exam, and -- most biting -- the national ridicule.

But after a week of basking in a national pat on the back, it suddenly seems as if Georgia men's basketball has cleansed itself of the dirt Harrick and his son dumped on the program back in 2003.

I even heard a national talk-show host refer to the Bulldogs as "America's Team" the other night -- and after pulling off the most improbable four-game run in recent NCAA history, the Bulldogs deserve the plaudits.

The trick is in taking the next step.

Now, the Bulldogs must build on the near-miraculous achievements made in the SEC tournament and prove that they can evolve as a team -- not just get hot for three days.

That doesn't mean that 14th-seeded Georgia has to win on Thursday when it faces third-seeded Xavier in the NCAA tournament (tip-off is scheduled around noon and will be broadcast on WDUN AM-550).

It simply means that the Bulldogs can't embarrass themselves. Don't give those same pundits who lauded Georgia over the past four days a reason to say, "Well, it was a good story while it lased, but they simply aren't that good."

And for coach Dennis Felton the task is even bigger: Carry this momentum into the offseason and make Georgia basketball a viable option for the state's top prep basketball talent.

Felton has already inked an impressive signing class -- most committing before the season even started -- including top prospect Howard Thompkins from Wesleyan. But it's a safe bet that if you gave many of the state's best players the option of playing at Georgia, Florida or Duke, the Dogs would come out on the short end.

Now, thanks to that insane weekend in Atlanta, Felton has the opportunity to start turning that tide for good. Call it a public relations boost worth its weight in gold.

We'll probably never know how close Georgia's coach was to being fired -- some college basketball insiders claim Felton was still on the hot seat heading into the SEC championship game -- but this is his opportunity to make a statement, one that says that Georgia basketball (and Felton) are back on the rise.

The SEC championship bought Felton at least one more season in Athens. And, after the hardships he's faced during his time at Georgia, he is entitled to it. Owing to the job he's done in cleaning up the program -- even Mike Mercer, who was kicked off the team this season, was on track to graduate early -- Felton deserves at least one chance to show what he can do with a full compliment of healthy, scholarship players. And wasn't cleaning up the program his top responsibility when hired?

Now that that seems to be completed, Felton must complete his second task: turning the Dogs into contenders.

The key is how Felton and the Bulldogs use the next few days and months. That time will decide whether Georgia has finally turned the corner or if what we just witnessed was simply one miraculous weekend.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/3/208176