A realization hits when you see Courtney Kupets, Tiffany Tolnay, Grace Taylor and the other UGA Gymnasts perform.

You are suddenly aware the best athletes on campus do not play at Sanford Stadium in the fall.

I mean, seriously.

This is my first year of covering the back-to-back-to-back-to-back NCAA Champion Gym Dogs and I can only think of one adjective.

Damn!

Is that an adjective? Not sure. But what am I sure of is that Stegman Coliseum--in all due respect to everyone who has performed there--is the house Suzanne Yoculan built.

I was never that caught up in gymnastics before this year. Sure, I watched the Olympics. I am old enough (gasp!) to remember Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci and how they got our attention years ago. But for me, honestly, it took a back seat to other sports. Not anymore.

A Gym Dogs' event is just that. An event. Complete with fireworks, laser lights and, once the overhead lights come back on, some of the best single performances you will see from student-athletes.

In addition, the enthusiasm of the athletes is startling. Standing in the back hall area prior to the entrances of the teams, I have heard the Gym Dogs chant--the entire team I'm talking about--"It's great to be a Georgia Bulldog!." A few weeks later I listened as the Crimson Tide team sang, "Yea, Alabama" before running into the arena.

Once the event gets underway, the precision, the grace and this sheer ability at first catches you off guard, but then you realize you are seeing something special. I was there when Kupets performed on the bars and beam against Alabama. And I never thought seeing a number flash up on the scoreboard would move me, but seeing a 10.00 appear was as as exciting as anything I have seen this year.

And then afterwards. After you have seen what you think is a spectacular performance, after all the roses have been handed out, all the confetti has been shot out of the cannon for another Gym Dogs win, the reporters are led back to interview the team and...and...the girls are...NOT HAPPY!?

What?

Well, I should qualify that. They are happy to win. But not happy in that they think they can do better. Not just better, but a LOT BETTER.

So perfection comes with a price. And that price is a realization that you may never get there, but you will never stop trying.

Go see the Gym Dogs perform this year. And you will say the same thing I first said.

Damn!

I have often wondered why fans get so shook up about athletes leaving school early and going to the pros.

There's always someone else.

Matt Stafford set a Georgia single season touchdown record with 25 this past season and announces he leaving school early and heading to the NFL Draft.

You had a fine career in Athens, Matt, but:

There's always someone else.

Knowshon Moreno rushed for over 27-hundred yards in only two season at Georgia and he too is going pro.

You were a sensation, Knowshon, but:

There's always someone else.

To me one of the wonderful things about College Football is the new faces we see at key positions every 3-4 years. Granted, Stafford was good, but aren't you kind of excited to see how Joe Cox will perform. Or even if he will perform. Could be that Aaron Murray or Logan Gray or Zach Mettenberger prevails during summer camp.

Knowshon was incredible. But are you just thrilled about the prospect of Dontavious Jackson living up to his hype or if Washaun Ealey can scores as many touchdowns in Athens as he did at ECI?

And if you are all tied into ratings by the "services," did you know that Jackson was ranked the overall 8th best running back in the country when he left high school? Not good enough for you? The fact is Knowshon was ranked the 10th best running back in the country when he left New Jersey.

With A.J. Green coming back, with a more experienced and healthier (hopefully) offensive line and some new blood in the backfield, I am pretty pumped about the 2009 Dogs.

Stafford and Moreno were wonderful. Great young men to make UGA proud.

But have a nice NFL career, guys. I have not lost a minute of sleep over your departure. Why?

There's always someone else.