ATHENS, Ga. -- Nakobe Dean's eyes are glued to the TV above him. Fresh off football practice and film sessions, the Georgia linebacker is in the middle of Pauley's, a loud restaurant in downtown Athens. The Monday night game in late November is on every screen, but tonight Dean's the main event, the reason everyone is there, wearing Georgia red, dropping off canned goods at the front of the store before coming up to say hello and take a picture.
In the midst of all the hoopla, Dean still can't turn off the part of his brain that gravitates toward the ball.