Oct. 9 continues to loom larger. That’s the date of the Georgia-Tennessee football game, which became the most compelling on UGA’s 2010 schedule the moment Derek Dooley was named the Vols’ coach. Now, there’s the added storyline of Da’Rick Rogers, the Calhoun High wide receiver who broke a 7-month commitment to Georgia to sign with Tennessee last week, potentially playing against the Dogs and encountering UGA safety Bacarri Rambo.

Rogers and Rambo have been going at it a bit on Facebook and Twitter since last week.

It started with a Facebook status update by Rambo, who wrote: “Bacarri Rambo thinks [it] is messed up how all of UGA high school commitments back out on us but I’m telling you now when I catch you on the field I’m going to knock fire from you.”

Rogers responded Saturday on Twitter:  “Who is Bacarri Rambo?”

Then from Rambo on Twitter: “Tell Darick ‘pretty boy’ Rogers he doesn’t have to know me but I bet he will feel me!! Lol”

Then from Rogers: “don’t worry about me ha … that’s your choice … last time i checked a big hit =’s you getting knocked out.”

Rambo: “I compete against the best receiver in the nation everyday at practice. Why should i worry about that guy.”

OK, on to other stuff:

– Saturday night’s crowd at Stegeman Coliseum wasn’t huge (an announced 8,131), but it was spirited and it again showed that the Dogs can enjoy a significant home-court advantage in the old building. “Everyone said when I came we need a new place,” UGA coach Mark Fox said after the victory over Vandy. “Heck, no, we don’t need a new place! We just need great fans like we had tonight and the right effort.”

– The approximately $12 million in Stegeman renovations approved by UGA’s Athletic Board last week won’t affect the seating bowl, but will make a   dramatic difference in the concourses and the exterior appearance.

– Interesting game Saturday. Georgia scored 23 points in the first half, the Bulldogs’  second fewest in any half this season, and 49 in the second half, their most in any half this season. The Dogs’ ball-handling, lousy in the first half, improved in the second.

– Of Georgia’s six SEC losses, four have been by four points or fewer.

– And the Georgia men’s tennis program continued its 21-year winning streak against Georgia Tech on Sunday. The Bulldogs beat the Yellow Jackets 5-2 at the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Facility in Athens -– Georgia’s 24th consecutive victory over the Yellow Jackets dating back to 1989. Georgia is a mind-boggling 50-1 vs. Tech in men’s tennis since 1969.

AJC