Researchers at the Institute for Water and Health (IWH) at Georgia Southern University initiated a new project in Marion, Alabama, to address the city’s aging water infrastructure and its impact on human health with a focus on community-based research, workforce development and environmental justice.

The pilot project in Marion, Alabama, is a collaborative effort between Georgia Southern and the University of Alabama. IWH Director Asli Aslan, Ph.D., is the principal investigator (PI) and Lacey Huffling, Ph.D., from Georgia Southern’s College of Education, and Lanna Nations, director for education and outreach for the Alabama Water Institute at the University of Alabama, are co-PIs.

In partnership with the city of Eastman, Georgia, the project includes an internship program for next-generation water operators and a peer mentorship program for current water managers. Project leaders seek to improve communication and foster trust between local authorities and residents, contributing to long-term environmental health and equitable access to safe drinking water. 

Aslan sees workforce readiness as a critical component to maintaining standards in water management. 

“Nationwide, community water systems are managed by specialized professionals to ensure safe water every time we turn on the tap,” noted Aslan. 

According to her, about 50% of water operators working at these facilities will retire in the next decade, but only 10% are expected to be replaced. Training the next generation of water operators and developing leaders for rural water systems is a matter of national security. 

“The Institute for Water and Health is committed to launching a regional program to equip future water managers with the necessary skills to ensure safe water for all,” Aslan continued. “This pilot project will lay the foundation for this goal and aims to expand the program throughout the southeastern United States.” 

The project is funded by Alabama Power and Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, a Georgia-based program that funds and supports networks through resources across businesses, research universities and government entities.

To learn more about this project and other IWH research and educational programs visit here or email [email protected].

A trend that Georgia will need to break to be successful in the college football playoffs.

The Georgia Bulldogs are tasked with going up against Notre Dame in the college football playoffs in the Sugar Bowl. A battle between two of the sport’s biggest brands and one that will have to of college football’s best defenses on the field. That also means offensive success will have to be earned in this matchup but there is one offensive trend Georgia will need to break in order to be successful in the playoffs as a whole.

With Georgia expected to be without starting quarterback Carson Beck, the offense will likely be more predicated on running the football with Gunner Stockton in the mix. Stockton himself can add to the run game but getting the ground game going has not been Georgia’s strong suit this season.

Georgia ranks 98th in the country for rushing offense, averaging 129.2 yards per game, 4.2 yards per carry on an average of 30 attempts per game. Some of that can be attributed to Georgia being banged up at running back this season. Trevor Etienne has missed multiple games this year, Roderick Robinson didn’t play his first game until the final week of the regular season and Branson Robinson got hurt against Auburn earlier in the year. That has left Georgia at times with true freshman Nate Frazier and walk-on Cash Jones leading the charge.

The Dawgs have been efficient enough for the run game to not be a massive problem and at times the rushing attack has been productive, just not at the level of consistency that Georgia would like it to be at. All of that will need to change during the playoffs if the Dawgs have any hopes of winning their third national title in four years.

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Whatever happened to the old fanshots section? I hadn’t really planned on writing a whole post, just providing a link to an article that summarized all of the reasons ND really should be considered the favorite in the Sugar Bowl. So here I am having to actually write out an entire post. Oh the life…

Georgia entered the season with all the pomp and circumstance you’d expect from a team fresh off two national championships in the last three years. Ranked #1 and everyone’s favorite pick to three-peat, they kicked things off in dominant fashion by dismantling a supposedly strong Clemson squad in Week 1. The “ESS-EEE-SEE! ESS-EEE-SEE!” chants were deafening. But then came Kentucky.

In a shocking turn, Georgia barely scraped by with a 13-12 win over the Wildcats. Yes, Kentucky. A game marred by an overturned Pick-6 that could have flipped the result and an offense that looked completely adrift, the Bulldogs survived more than they won. And it didn’t get better from there.

The following week in Tuscaloosa, the Dawgs looked shell-shocked from their near miss. Alabama, despite their own issues, came out swinging and stormed to a 28-0 lead before Georgia could even blink. While the Bulldogs managed to put points on the board later, the damage was done, and the Tide rolled on. Looking back now, with Alabama’s glaring flaws becoming more evident, that loss casts an even darker shadow over Georgia’s season.

Then there was the Ole Miss debacle and the marathon against Georgia Tech on Thanksgiving. Four overtimes to beat Georgia Tech is not the stuff of legends—it’s the stuff of memes (and this coming from a Jackets Alumn). These games solidified what was already becoming painfully clear: Georgia is not playing like an elite team this year.

All of this underscores a significant downturn for a program with sky-high expectations. The Bulldogs’ talent pipeline and championship pedigree might keep them competitive, but this season has revealed cracks in their armor. Whether it’s a temporary blip or the beginning of a larger issue remains to be seen, but for now, Georgia’s struggles serve as a reminder that even dynasties can wobble.

Of course, in true SEC fashion, rival fans will have their fun. (Yes, we see you, “Roll Toilets.”) But for Georgia, it’s back to the drawing board—and maybe a long, hard look in the mirror.

Now that I have my official word count, I can get to the link I meant to originally post:

Georgia vs ND Season Stats

I made a comment on a thread recently that the only reason Vegas has UGA as a 1.5 pt favorite right now is simply because of their name. If you look into any major stat, either simple or advanced ND comes out on top in just about every category. Here are a few that really will tell the tale IMO:

Yards per play

1. Notre Dame: No. 13 overall: 6.64 yards per play.
2. Georgia: No. 45 overall, No. 8 in the SEC: 6.11 yards per play

Total defense (yards allowed per game)

1. Notre Dame: No. 8 overall: 295.3 yards allowed
2. Georgia: No. 35 overall, No. 9 in the SEC: 336.5 yards allowed

Scoring offense

1. Notre Dame: No. 4 overall: 38.8 points per game
2. Georgia: No. 29 overall, No. 5 in the SEC: 33.2 points per game

Scoring defense

1. Notre Dame:No. 3 overall: 13.8 points allowed
2. Georgia: No. 21 overall, No. 7 in the SEC: 20.4 points allowed

Notre Dame holds clear advantages over Georgia in several key areas, making a strong case for their superiority this season. Offensively, Notre Dame outpaces Georgia by a considerable margin, both in production and efficiency. On defense, while the gap isn’t as pronounced, the Irish still hold a significant edge, with more consistency and impact across all phases.

What truly sets Notre Dame apart, however, is the sheer number and quality of their dynamic playmakers on both sides of the ball. Whether it’s explosive skill players on offense or disruptive defenders capable of flipping a game, the Irish roster appears deeper and more versatile. Meanwhile, Georgia is navigating a transition at quarterback with a sophomore at the helm—an undoubtedly talented player but one still finding his footing in the big moments.

It’s worth noting that advanced stats, which we know Hayden will dive into soon, may shed even more light on the nuances of these comparisons. For now, though, the eye test and baseline observations highlight a team in Notre Dame that feels more complete and prepared to execute at an elite level. Just some food for thought as we gear up for the deeper analysis.