Georgia is just lucky to have No. 8
What we learned over the weekend:
1. Georgia is really lucky to have No. 8: I knew the Georgia-Arizona State game was going to be ugly. After three straight tough games and with LSU coming to Athens this week, there was no way that Georgia was going to be sharp. The Bulldogs could have had an easier night, however, but the old problems of turnovers and penalties just killed them again. At the end of the evening, Georgia won the game because it had A.J. Green and Arizona State didn’t. Bill Parcels always said that football is about players making plays. Green is a great player and he made the plays that Georgia needed to win. Georgia is 3-1 and 2-0 in the SEC. That’s not a bad place to be. But there is no way the Bulldogs win Saturday if they turn it over three times.
2. Ole Miss was overrated: Don’t get me wrong. Ole Miss has a good team and will have a good season. But the Rebels simply did not look like a Top 10 team to me in the preseason. I wasn’t surprised Ole Miss lost at South Carolina. But I was surprised at how poorly Houston Nutt’s team played. Quarterback Jevan Snead looked confused for most of the game. You have to give a lot of the credit to the South Carolina defense, which has played lights out except for the game with Georgia. And here is an early tip. Ole Miss does not have a walkover this week when it goes to Vanderbilt. The Commodores beat the Rebels last year in Oxford. But this is a game Ole Miss has to win with Alabama coming to Oxford on Oct. 10.
3.Tim Tebow is lucky that he wasn’t seriously injured: A normal human being would have been hurt pretty badly with the shot that Tebow took in the Kentucky game. But Tebow, who is a beast in the weight room, is not a normal human being and “just” came away with a concussion. Florida can be second-guessed for having Tebow in the game throwing the ball with a 31-7 lead. But the truth is that what Florida did is consistent with what they’ve done with Tebow his entire career. ESPN can be second-guessed (and should) for showing shots of Tebow throwing up into a bag. I’m just not sure that was necessary. The ambulance shots were a little over the top as well. I spoke to several people at Florida close to the situation on Sunday and they are cautiously optimistic that Tebow will be able to play on Oct. 10, when Florida plays its next game at LSU. The next 48 hours, I was told, will be crucial in determining how long Tebow will need to rest. But even if Tebow can’t go in Baton Rouge, Florida can still win as long as its defense keeps playing like it did against Kentucky.
4. Paul Johnson really knows how to coach. When a team is struggling the way Georgia Tech struggled against Miami, a coach has to do one of two things. He has to coach his players more. Or, he has to coach them less. Good coaches know which one to do based on the team. Paul Johnson realized that he and his staff were coaching Georgia Tech’s players too much after the Miami game. The players had too much to think about instead of just taking advantage of their talent. So Georgia Tech simplified the defense, demanded better execution on offense, and the result was a very impressive 24-7 win over North Carolina. All good coaches make adjustments. The really good coaches know when to turn up the heat and when to back off.
5. All the one-loss teams are back in the national championship race: With four Top 10 teams—Ole Miss, Miami, Penn State, and California—all losing last week you have to say that all of the one-loss teams like Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, and Southern California are back in the hunt. Look, if Alabama/Florida/L SU and Texas go undefeated, life is going to be pretty simple. An undefeated SEC champ will play an undefeated Big 12 champ.
But two of the three SEC teams in the top four have to lose because Florida plays LSU on Oct. 10 and LSU plays at Alabama on Nov. 7. And the way the first month of the season has gone (7 of the AP preseason Top 10 have already lost), you would have to says that the odds are against having two undefeated teams from the major conferences at the end of the regular season.
Yes, Boise State could go 13-0. I’ll talk about the No. 5 Broncos and their chances of getting into the big game on Tuesday. But here’s a hint: Look at the Boise State schedule and tell me if they should get in if the Broncos are the only undefeated team in the country.
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310 comments Add your comment
HungLikeATrunk
September 28th, 2009
8:19 pm
unfortunately for you, uga doesnt have coaches to coach those young players up so another year doesnt help. Also, if green is indeed a good receiver, he will go the way of noshown and leave the next qb after only a year. And, go ahead and name replacement as if there won’t be a drop off like you did this year. lol. cox just as good as corky or king and fumblitis as good as “i leap div 2 players”
Toates
September 28th, 2009
8:20 pm
Crimson Nation,you are proud of Alabama and its history. It is storied and do not know who can truly argue differently. But for you to piss on Georgia is really kind of sad as you have to admit, you have to go back to get to Alabama’s last SEC Championship, don’t you? I mean, if you can reach back and ask a Georgia fan when was the last time you won a NC, I could, if I wished, ask you when was the last time you won the SEC CG? I can tell you that CMR has two of those this decade and that Alabama has none. But that would be stupid as I know your history and find that petty. But don’t let me be the old guy here and ruin the fun, as I see this is more of a smack talk, piss on everybody under some cute internet name for some folks.
Pardon me for butting in and will leave you all to whatever it is you all prefer to do here. I originally came here to slam on Tony B. as I did not agree with his assessment, though it sounds logical on paper. It is the reality that differs.
Take care, and good luck this weekend.
Call it Like It Is
September 28th, 2009
8:21 pm
Hey Jeff Greissinger
To answer your dumb questions here you go.
1. Tebow = Class
2. Tebow = the best all around college football player ever
3. Tebow = An example of what or how a football player should carry himself on and off the field.
He is an all around good kid. I once saw him tell a group of young kids that he would return at a certain time just to sign autographs.
He knows he is blessed to be the player he is and he wants to be a positive role model, unlike most.
Forget who he plays for since he is a Class Act!
Enough Said!
Rabid Dawg
September 28th, 2009
8:23 pm
Boise State vs Ohio Satae in the No One Cares Bowl
Navigator
September 28th, 2009
8:25 pm
It’s really simple for me, Boise State needs to get into the PAC10 (or 11), just ASU and Arizona did when they didn’t get respect. Until then, Boise State will not get enough votes playing 8 patsies a year.
Crimson nation
September 28th, 2009
8:25 pm
Toates,
Yes. your running backs are all young. But what the hell does that matter if they are all just average to begin with? Not one of them has the “it” factor to be a great sec rb. Even you know that. Ditto for your offensive line. They don’t dominate and whoop people’s arses at the point of attack the way Bama’s line does. If they could they would have paved the way to a solid ground game against that horrific Okay state defense.
Your receivers are a different story. All are decent, good young players on par with Bama.
As for Logan Grey. He is not the answer. Joe Cox has turned out far better than he showed against the pokes. And yes AJ has singlehandedly saved the dawgs. You would be staring at 0-4 without him. And that really says something
HungLikeATrunk
September 28th, 2009
8:27 pm
kinda like uga vs who did yall play in your bowl last year bowl?
Crimson nation
September 28th, 2009
8:33 pm
Toates,
It seems to me that you’re doing the typical dawg thing where you only want to pick a point in time that suits your argument. So instead of looking all time or from the inception of the 2 division format you want to only conveniently look at the Mark Richt era except of course for the very recent 4 years of course. How convenient.
Also, you might want to check your history. You say we haven’t won an sec title in the last 10 years. Actually we did in 1999. So in the worst era of Alabama football ever we still won our division 3 times and have 1 sec title which is barely behind Georgia winning 2 sec titles and 3 divisions. Don’t you get it? The point is that at your best your barely better than us at our worst.
I'm Bill Curtis and my Internet and I are on the go.
September 28th, 2009
8:33 pm
Alabama, glad your team knows how to play football again. Where have you be for the last 10 years?
You have 1 good season in lord knows how long and here you are. On an Atlanta, GA. blog. Pounding your chest like Tarzan. Call Paul Finebaum and tell HIM how proud you are.
Not Atlanta, GA.
You got the pro baseball team yet. No, what a shame. How about that pro football team yet. No, what a shame. How about that pro ….. nevermind.
Rabid Dawg
September 28th, 2009
8:34 pm
S E C Baby complain about the other lame conference not our own
TrueCrimson
September 28th, 2009
8:42 pm
Alabama football has indeed suffered a difficult decade Bill Curtis. Since 2000, we have only had 3 10 win seasons — 2002, 2005 and 2008.
And as for professionals, Atlanta certainly has more than any city in Alabama. But then, we aren’t really into paying for sex.
woofn
September 28th, 2009
8:44 pm
ga really lucky to have #8…#8 as in what do you mean?
HungLikeATrunk
September 28th, 2009
8:47 pm
rabid, conference fandom if for lower tier teams in a conference. it serves as an excuse. see uga. and Bill, what pro team does uga have outside of that paid but sorry harrick b-ball team?
As for atlanta, you got water supply? nope that’s ours and Floridas. lol. and what has the pro teams of atlanta done since alabama’s last national championship? yep, one world series championship. without looking it up, i guarantee Alabama has more national championships in football alone than uga football, tech football, braves, hawks, thrashers, and falcons have.
I'm Bill Curtis and my Internet and I are on the go.
September 28th, 2009
8:48 pm
You know I could have a lot of fun with that sex in Alabama comment. But I won’t.
TrueCrimson
September 28th, 2009
8:56 pm
You’re just jealous because your cousin turned you down.
I'm Bill Curtis and my Internet and I are on the go.
September 28th, 2009
9:04 pm
Not 1 of the five titled topics mentioned Alabama football.
So why are you on here? An Atlanta, GA. blog.
Not Birmingham, Mobile, Huntsville, Auburn, Tuscaloosa or Mulga.
Atlanta, GA.
Pitiful. Y’all are really starved for attention.
That Mountain West Conference is tough.
Toates
September 28th, 2009
9:05 pm
You all miss the point of my responses. I only said what I did in jest, in response to whoever it was and said something along the lines of, you haven’t won a NC since 1980. Well, I in turn basically said the same thing using SEC CG, then referred to such as being petty, as it doesn’t mean diddly as to this year. Simple a pissing contest.
And if you read what I posted, I did not say this past decade, I simple said since Richt was here, as he led us to two SEC CG.
I’m sorry you think our Oline is nothing special, maybe it has a little to do with us losing two folks for the season since the season began and are rotating around a bit, yet I see we are doing just fine.
Why you have to win this argument that Georgia has to be awful is beyond me. They are not. The winningest SEC program this decade, an 8-2 Bowl record with 2 SEC Championships playing in three SEC CG. Average 10 win seasons under Richt, blah… blah… blah… that is not awful. Is it the pinnacle we want to acheive? Well, as far as the SEC CG is concerned, yes, though I know the team, coaches and fan base want the MNC as well.
But I am not going to let some internet posters piss all over the Dawgs and claim they aren’t chit. If it was so easy, Alabama would never have left the scene. They did, but now they are back. Congratulations. I swear, you all sound like Florida fans, already counting the Championship before it is won on the field. Amazing.
Oh, and you want me to to pick a time frame, here is one. SInce the BCS era started, only one team has been ranked in the AP Top 25 all 12 years, guess who that is? Yep, UGA. Not hanging my hat on that, but is does say something about the consistency of the UGA program in respect to the rest of the teams out there. Not a real bad down tick since its inception, but I bet you find some way to spit on that.
Time for some Monday Night Football, wings and beer. I’ll toast in your honor, Crimson, cheers!
HungLikeATrunk
September 28th, 2009
9:06 pm
why are you here? this isn’t an athens blog. that acc is tough.
I'm Bill Curtis and my Internet and I are on the go.
September 28th, 2009
9:07 pm
Paul Finebaum called and wants all of y’all back.
Phyllis misses you.
I'm Bill Curtis and my Internet and I are on the go.
September 28th, 2009
9:09 pm
Especially you hung.
I'm Bill Curtis and my Internet and I are on the go.
September 28th, 2009
9:11 pm
My point. This is Atlanta, GA.
The article is NOT about alabama football.
Rabid Dawg
September 28th, 2009
9:11 pm
Three biggest lies in Alabama
1-Didn’t know she was my cousin
2- Pickup is paid for
3-I swear officer…I was just helping that goat over the fence
HungLikeATrunk
September 28th, 2009
9:13 pm
go ahead and roll your wheel barrow with petitions to evans to fire martinez Bill. it worked last time with adams and dooley not. or, destroy your campus like the rednecks you are while tailgating. it’s college football not neckcar.
I'm Bill Curtis and my Internet and I are on the go.
September 28th, 2009
9:17 pm
My cousin took a box of Cheerios over to Alabama and sold them for donut seeds.
Made a fortune.
HungLikeATrunk
September 28th, 2009
9:18 pm
three biggest lies in athens
1) my trailer was insured that hot swept away by the flood
2) dooley didnt buy herschel a trans am
3) mark richt is a christian
superdawg
September 28th, 2009
9:22 pm
Enter your comments here
Mississippi State Bulldogs smack those yrllow dogs down hard!!haha
Rabid Dawg
September 28th, 2009
9:22 pm
the biggest lie….HungLikeATrunk
munson's fan
September 28th, 2009
9:25 pm
with espn being biased to the sec now, i’m not sure why south carolina and auburn are not top 20 teams. don’t they know how to market the sec in the rankings? they gush over sec speed every chance they get. my question is, if a player transfers from the sec to another conference, do they still have sec speed? does it work in reverse?
Lou Holtz
September 28th, 2009
9:25 pm
Notre Dame would slaughter Alabama.
t-dawg
September 28th, 2009
9:26 pm
Sorry to get this bama- ga started!!!! I have a correction AJ Green is the best receiver and Julio Jones is the best tight end!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lou Holtz
September 28th, 2009
9:28 pm
Grag Mcelroy couldnt carry jimmy clausens jock strap.
Lou Holtz
September 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
Notre Dame will go undefeated and win the BCS. what’s your point? Bark Madley predicts the same for the athens community college every year.
I'm Bill Curtis and my Internet and I are on the go.
September 28th, 2009
9:29 pm
If any other school had the recurring history of NCAA violations that Alabama has they would not be playing football. Being proud of your team is one thing but a little humility just might be in order.
I'm Bill Curtis and my Internet and I are on the go.
September 28th, 2009
9:34 pm
Especially on an Atlanta, GA. blog.
Beat your chest back in Alabama.
For crying out loud do these people have no shame?
Lou Holtz
September 28th, 2009
9:40 pm
why are cow college fans on an atlanta blog, especially when you cant read or type
t-dawg
September 28th, 2009
9:40 pm
Bama will loose 2 games this year!!!! No one will go undefeated.
Not Disappointed
September 28th, 2009
9:47 pm
This should be an interesting week for alot of college teams.
Go Jackets!
Sylvester Croom
September 28th, 2009
9:55 pm
I wish I was still at MSU. I think even I could stop that weak no passing game tech offense.
Sylvester Croom
September 28th, 2009
9:56 pm
Enter your comments here
rising tide
September 28th, 2009
10:02 pm
The Tide lost 3 O- line men last year plus a q.b. NOw their best passrusher is hurt however that is not an excuse for us because we have coaching. UGA has to out talent there opponets or they lose. Enjoy your 2 SEC rings(they are on e-bay) in 9 years. 9 years just 2 SEC championships. second tier and always will be UGA is slipping and the UGA fans know it!!
joe taxpayer
September 28th, 2009
10:03 pm
Wish I could agure with rising tide.
TrueCrimson
September 28th, 2009
10:08 pm
Bill,
This may be an AJC blog, but Tony doesn’t limit himself to an all-Atlanta audience. I’ve been posting here for years and I fully intend to continue doing so. I’m sorry if that gives you an inferiority complex.
Maybe you and ‘your Internet’ should just go somewhere else. I hear College Park has some really hot professionals.
Danny Ford, Charley Pell, Jackie Sherrill, Mike Shula,
September 28th, 2009
10:13 pm
Nobody can out pay Alabama, we all learned it there and we all got caught cheating. Put that in your trophy case. You rednecks from Alabama just don’t get it. You Pay like you practice, and as long as we can keep paying these kids like they did us and like we did, then we will be the winners forever, unless we play Utah.
Faithful, loyal, firm and true
Heart bound to heart will beat
Year by year, the ages through
Until in Heaven we meet.
Toliet paper, soap
joe taxpayer
September 28th, 2009
10:15 pm
Our players dance better then yours on the football field.
Denver Dog
September 28th, 2009
10:17 pm
Rising Tide, how many do you have in the last 8 years doofus?
Denver Dog
September 28th, 2009
10:18 pm
Rising Tide, you lost to UTAH, How the heck do you make that work?
Slide Rule
September 28th, 2009
10:53 pm
Something really smells in Tallahassee. Next FSU home game, they’re going to have the horse rider with the spear dressed as Mark Richt with the straw hat. You should read the stuff on their blog sites. Rumors of incredibly large $$ to hire him away from UGA.
Techie Since '59
September 28th, 2009
11:08 pm
Sylvester Croom -
You had your chance last year, remember? That was the beginning of the end. How’s retirement working out for you?
dog nutz
September 28th, 2009
11:12 pm
haters haters. yall know that Ga is the best team in our league. we will be the champions again this year. it will be great to see you loosers cry. the bulldogs rule and the rest are loosers. go stick that in your pipe and smoke it loosers
toccoa
September 28th, 2009
11:25 pm
Dawgs would be hurting with out Aj.Another well coached team with lots of time to prep,great de lb play,maybe the best game we won so far.Play Rambo,Smith against LUS and we will beat them again.