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November 19th, 2011. My now wife and I were huddled up in our car, tailgating in the cold morning in a parking lot just around the corner from the Oconee River. We were talking about getting married and she was ring shopping. As I was scanning my phone, a call came through from my old college roommate.

”Hey, man. Did you hear about Glen? He’s dead.”

He was shocked. I was shocked. This wonderful human being who never went a day without a smile on his face had been hit by a wrong way driver, sending him into a coma and shortly after, his death.

He was 36. It was way too early to lose a friend. He was survived by his college girlfriend, now his wife and mother of his two kids. Memories of intramural basketball and soccer and so many late night parties at Riverbend rushed through my mind. Life was precious, I thought, and somehow seemingly more fleeting now.

It was a hell of a note. Eleven years later, the roommate who called me that day also passed away. Again, survived by his college girlfriend, who became his wife, and mother of their four kids.

Such is life, as they say, but those teens and twenties accelerated to 30s and 50s quickly. Death came too soon. I have already outlived two of my best friends, and I consider myself relatively young. As the days go by, even with a large family of my own, I can’t help but think:

The years are getting lonelier.

“Getting old leaves something to be desired.”

January 6th, 2024. The Senator had been on a four day respite, apologized for the absence of posts and mentioned there had been a medical issue, and concluded with that statement above.

Many of you who follow along here were there. You posted well wishes. Somewhere in the early morning hours at 12:45 am the next day, Ranger Russ commented.

”Get better in a hurry”.

In a little over a month, the Senator was gone. Not long after, Ranger Russ followed.

Getting old leaves something to be desired. Damn straight.

Every time there was a break in his posts, the silence was deafening. Get the Picture was my first landing page every morning before any other news source on Georgia football. I don’t quite know what it was, but his blend of snark, satire, and seriousness, along with his analysis of games and outcomes was just what the Bulldawg doctor ordered. I followed religiously for years. If I was on vacation, it would be the only thing I’d check on throughout the day. I’d email him from time to time, and when he would reply with his name, Michael, it was like I was speaking to the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a mystic, or a prestige communication from a mythic hero or an esteemed author, like Lewis Grizzard.

Another reason I visited so often was because of the comments. I didn’t tussle much, but enjoyed putting in my two cents. From time to time I connected with Ranger Russ, and when I didn’t I’d still look for his take, usually something so obscene yet so poignantly appropriate in the moment that captures many of our feelings even if we didn’t dare express them publicly. He was a true genius of the dark arts of foul language that his comments could be preserved and taught only as an honors level language course on the North Campus in Athens. Occasionally we talked about fishing and hunting. He seemed like the kind of guy you wouldn’t mind having at hunt camp or at a tailgate, like he was a good friend you’d never met despite his somewhat sharp language.

We just completed an adventurous and interesting season, and I so desperately wished I was reading the Senator’s take on things and waiting for Ranger’s cussing to ensue rather than writing right now. A season started and ended in 2024, and without Michael’s voice, that thought returned to my head again…

The years are getting lonelier.

When I first reached out to Otis to volunteer to contribute, it wasn’t because I wanted to seek respect or become a professional blogger or to even replace the Senator. It wasn’t because I thought my insights were worthy of passing along to others. Honestly, many of my posts I might try to pen in the key of Michael, but the reason isn’t because of anything aside from this:

The years are getting lonelier.

The absence left in the wake of the Senator’s passing was surreal. It felt like I was a little lost. My honest to God daily routine and sanctuary was gone. His voice, and ours, were gone. It was our daily tailgate, our bar, our fishing spot. It’s where we got together to talk about what we love the most: Georgia football.

A lot of my posts are just kind of “hey did you see this” or “did you hear” kind of things. Something to get us talking again, to unite the brotherhood of Get the Picture again. While some of the comments are welcomed and appreciated when some of you say that a post is “Senator worthy”, I take it as high praise, but the part I appreciate more is that maybe we are getting a little closer to what normal was before February of 2024. And what I appreciate more than anything else are the comments, good or bad, because we’re all talking again, and taking the healing process day by day. And thanks to Georgia football, the Senator, and commenters like Ranger Russ and the legacy they started , we can be sure that we will continue to spin around the sun, with a common passion, as “Refugees”…together.

Thanks to all of y’all who have continued with us on this journey.

Turns out the years don’t have to be so lonely, after all.

Go ‘Dawgs.

Godspeed to Michael, Ranger Russ, and all of our friends who’ve crossed the bridge to the Promised Land. They and their voices are missed daily, but we’re all richer for knowing them and spending a little time together…while we had it.

– JP

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“As many of you, GTP was my first and eventually only stop for Georgia football analysis specifically and college football generally. I never met Michael in person, but when I read the news of his passing here, I felt like I had lost a friend. I sparred with him a few times on various topics, but his perspective was always based in rational thought even though I may have had a different opinion. This community is special to me, and I am humbled to be part of the team that tries to keep his legacy going.

“I attended the tailgate to celebrate Michael’s life before the Auburn game. His law school friends welcomed those of us who could attend as if we were his friends, too. I told everyone there who knew him how special he is to me and that he is our inspiration for how we do things. He really is the GTP Refugees content creator in perpetuity.” — EE

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“I can’t believe it’s been a year. At the same time, it feels like it’s been forever since we read a post from The Senator. Way too long. Losing him and Dickie Betts in the same year was personally difficult for me, as they were my favorites in two art forms. And if you don’t think blogging can be an art form, give it a try. I read every GTP post from Day 1, and I’m still working on my skills.

JP has been magnificent taking on the laboring oar for our group, with the rest of us filling in and commenting when we can. I feel like we got the community feel (and the purpose of GTP) back, even if we’re missing some of the wisdom.

I too had several correspondences with The Senator over the years and had planned to see him in Austin this year. He made it here in spirit, though, and brought home the win. Rest easy, Michael. Alav hashalom.”

• Dawg in Austin

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“Glory, glory to ole’ Georgia. Heroes have graced the field before you. Men with hearts, bodies and minds of which the entire Bulldog Nation can be justifiably proud. The tradition of unbridled excellence demonstrated by these individuals and many others spans more than a full century. And now a new breed of Bulldog stands ready to take the field of battle. To assume the reigns of their Georgia forebearers. To continue that tradition. Understanding that there is no tradition more worthy of envy. No institution worthy of such loyalty as the University of Georgia. As we prepare for another meeting between the hedges let all the Bulldog faithful rally behind the men who now wear the red and black with two words. Two simple words that express the sentiments of the entire Bulldog Nation…GO DAWGS!”

Rest in peace Senator. —Otis Day