Live from Tennessee: Can Dogs mute ‘Rocky Top’?
Welcome to Neyland Stadium, home of the favored Tennessee Volunteers. Wait. Favored?
KNOXVILLE — Remember two years ago? Or have you managed to exorcise that from your memory banks?
Georgia was 4-1 and two weeks removed from an overtime win at Alabama. Tennessee was 2-2 and two games removed from a 39-point loss at Florida. The heat on Phil Fulmer was at an all-time high. It seemed he had been tied to a spit and was being turned like a rotisserie chicken.
Then the Vols jumped to a 28-0 lead and won 35-14. My daughter, Sierra, a Georgia fan, had come up to Knoxville for the game with friends who were Tennessee fans. She was a tiny dot of red seated in a sea of orange behind one of the end zones in Neyland Stadium. Sometime after the third or fourth Tennessee touchdown — and the 38th playing of Rocky Top — she sent me a text message that read, “This really sucks.”
There is good news about today’s game. If Georgia loses, it wouldn’t be a total shock. The directions of these two teams is so uncertain right now that Vols are a slight favorite — and who could have imagined that a month ago when confidence in the Dogs was relatively high and Lane Kiffin was being lampooned?
Personally, I think the Dogs win a low-scoring, ugly game today. But that’s what most expected against South Carolina and it turned into an old AFL game. Georgia’s two biggest concerns today are: 1) Monte Kiffin is one of the game’s all-time great defensive coordinators; 2) Montario Hardesty is the SEC’s leading rusher (115 yards per game).
This is no great revelation. But for the Bulldogs to win they’re going to need Joe Cox and A.J. Green to make some plays. I wrote about the team’s offensive problems in a column the other day. The Dogs have failed to score a touchdown in six of the last seven quarters. Mark Richt and Mike Bobo should get more blame for that than Cox.
I used some of these Cox quotes the other day, but here are longer versions.
♦ On the offense: “You would like to be 5-0 and score 50 points a game. But we play in the SEC and it’s not going to be like that every game. It hasn’t been like that since I’ve been here. We haven’t had games where we just blew out everybody and our offense was hitting on all cylinders all the time. That’s just football. You’re going to have games where you struggle and you’re going to play teams that are good that are going to stop you. But the bottom line is we’ve been able to bounce back a lot from bad things that have happened. We’ve struggled at times but still managed to find a way to stay in games and to answer other teams’ touchdowns. I’ve been proud of a lot of the things we’ve been able to do. I think there’s a lot of positive things that people don’t see or people don’t understand that we’re doing that I think is going to help us out a lot this season.”
♦ On the problems being greater than just one position (quarterback): “Any time something’s not going right, [people] think you put a new quarterback in, it’s going to change the problem. …. Obviously, if we were throwing the ball every down and we had guys just running wide open, and I was missing them, well then, yeah, you could blame the quarterback all day. When you’re playing a team like LSU and nothing you’re doing is working and it just seems like you’re out of rhythm, that was something where we had to get the whole offense together at halftime and just really tell everybody we had to pick it up. We had to pick up our intensity, we had to execute better in the second half, and we did. We put ourselves in a position to possibly win the game and we ended up losing a heart-breaker.”
So what are your thoughts? It’s a day game today — Yes! Sports writer nirvana! — so I should have a little more time to focus on the live commenting.
Who’s going to be . . . FIRST!
(Almost forgot: Tim Tucker and I drove through McDonald’s this morning. Had the breakfast burrito. Big mistake. Please, for your own good, stay away from the breakfast burrito.)
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2,878 comments Add your comment
Spencer
October 10th, 2009
11:16 am
First?
Spencer
October 10th, 2009
11:17 am
Oh yeah…
Yellow Fuzz
October 10th, 2009
11:17 am
Hey Dog nation,
Ready for your 12:21 pm kickoff on Peachtree TV? lol. Who starts a game at 12 freakin 21 ?
I know Tech and other nationally ranked teams play tonight at 8:00 pm (PRIME TIME). Hope they show the game on your long bus ride back from Knoxville.
Yellow Fuzz
October 10th, 2009
11:17 am
Tomorrow
Georgia Tech will be ranked about 15th in the AP with a sterling 5-1 record (only loss to # 10 Miami in the rain).
and
Neither georgia or Tennessee will be ranked (for the second week in a row) with 3-3 records respectively.
I hate to say I told you so but _ ____ ___ __.
lol.
Yellow Fuzz
October 10th, 2009
11:18 am
Hey dog nation,
I hope you like the song ROCKY TOP because you are going to hear it about 14 times today. I think they play it after every touch down and extra point.
I will be doing the play-by-play again and will stand up and sing it with the sea of orange each and every time.
PDawg
October 10th, 2009
11:18 am
I have a bad feeling about this one. I think we are going to get beat.
jimmy
October 10th, 2009
11:19 am
go dawgs!!! please…..
RxDawg
October 10th, 2009
11:19 am
present
Yellow Fuzz
October 10th, 2009
11:19 am
The big question in my mind is
Who are you going to blame it on this week?
The ajc
Jeff Schultz
Mark Bradley
Tony Barnhart
Tim Tucker
Merence Moore
The refs
quarter back
running backs
wide receivers
tight ends
offense line
defense ends
defensive tackles
line backers
defensive backs
offensive coordinator
defensive coordinator
head coach
kicker
punter
long snapper
clock operator
chain crew
water boy
Boise Bowl representatives
President Adums
Damin Evans
Tennessee coaches
Tennessee fans
coach Doley
Hershal
Coach Munson
Alabama (31-0)
Florida (49-10)
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (45-42)
Oklahoma State (24-10)
LSU (20-13)
etc
etc
etc
etc
etc
etc
etc
etc
etc
etc
Yellow Fuzz
October 10th, 2009
11:20 am
PDawg,
I think you’d be correct
Brandon from Warner Robins
October 10th, 2009
11:20 am
Yellow Fuzz, do you have a life outside of posting pointless comments on a UGA blog?
jimmy
October 10th, 2009
11:22 am
dont lose yellow fuzz, you schmuck. way to have a decent season, its about time, it’s hard hogging the spotlight in this state for so many years. by the way, 13 wins since 1965, yea 1965. solid record against the dogs. nerds…..
Yellow Fuzz
October 10th, 2009
11:22 am
Brandon from Warner Robins
Yes, but I enjoy bitch slapping you georgia azzholes back to your rightful place
RxDawg
October 10th, 2009
11:22 am
UT’s X factor = Crompton
UGA’s X factor = running game
If one of the other has a great day uhoh for the other team.
If both have a great day there will be a cataclysmic explosion of forces. Nothing but a large crater will be left of Tennessee.
Yellow Fuzz
October 10th, 2009
11:23 am
jimmy,
I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted
bob horner had a sweet compact swing
October 10th, 2009
11:23 am
You should have gone to Hardees….I have no idea what to expect today….the dawgs have no identity….I too felt the way Sierra did 2 years ago….Go Dawgs…!!!!
RxDawg
October 10th, 2009
11:23 am
It’s good to see we have our Techies around. We have so much in common. Both being obsessed with the Dawgs. We really should put our differences aside and bond more.
Yellow Fuzz
October 10th, 2009
11:24 am
My girlfriend just asked me to let you guys talk your talk until the game starts. So the floor is your.
Sierra
October 10th, 2009
11:24 am
True facts. It did suck.
I’m hoping for better results this time around.
yellow fuzz- Rocky Top is by far the most obnoxious song ever. End of story (Dad, get your ear plugs ready).
Tuck Fech
October 10th, 2009
11:25 am
Do Tech fans know anything about THEIR program?? Or just that they are suppose to hate and envy our program??
Sierra
October 10th, 2009
11:27 am
Brandon from Warner Robins- in response to your comment to yellow fuz about pointless blogs- I completely second that thought.
Chained Dawg
October 10th, 2009
11:28 am
I dont have good vibes about this game Im sorry fellow dawg fans!
buzz
October 10th, 2009
11:29 am
Well, I have to root for UGA since I chose you in the office pick ‘em and put a little money on them. I think Tennessee is just too lost and with too little offense. I really expect this one to get ugly.
Go Tech!
Dog poop
October 10th, 2009
11:29 am
If the dawgs lose this one, then I will agree that they need to make coaching changes. The dawgs have more talent. And L. Kitten hasn’t shown any great coaching ability Tenn. has a great running back, but thats about it.Look at the facts,UGA more talent on the feild, more experance coaches. They should be more mature that to let that tacky orange crowd get to them. UGA by 7.
What do Tech "fans" and UGA fans have in common.....
October 10th, 2009
11:30 am
They are both obsessed with the Dawgs!!!!!
SEC still rules
October 10th, 2009
11:32 am
Yellow fuzz, you really have a girlfriend? I seriously thought you had no life
Tech Tony
October 10th, 2009
11:33 am
Being 105th in rushing and facing a pretty good secondary, Goergia’s got to hit a fe long passes today. And it’s probably going to have to be someone other than AJ Green because he’ll likely have Eric Berry on him over the top as help all afternoon. I like that #82 (Michael Moore, I think? sorry for not knowing for sure) so I’d look to him some in both the intermediate and deep games and hope that something good could come from the return game, provided Prince Miler is the return man on punts.
brian
October 10th, 2009
11:34 am
Say what you will about good seasons and bad seasons; they come and go. We were supposed to suck in 2006, and we ended up closing the season with three consecutive wins away from home at ranked opponents (include your vaunted Bees, Yellow Fuzz). We were supposed to be decent in 2007, and we ended the season widely regarded as one of the top two teams in the nation. And we were supposed to win it all last year, and ended up losing to Tech (even though we racked up over 40 points on their allegedly superb defense).
The REAL point is… regardless of the opponent or record, UGA games are always near-sellouts at the WORST. Tech practically has to give away tickets to put fans in the seats. When we travelled to Tech in 2006 (when we were “supposed” to lose), there was more red and black than cream and urine. Go figure.
Tuck Fech
October 10th, 2009
11:35 am
what Yewwow Fuzzie meant to say was….
“I am late for my World of Warcraft game meeting!! I’ll be back tomorrow to talk smack about your game… oh, and does Tech play today? or are the off?
Here is a recent video that surfaced of Yellow Fuzz when his mom canceled one of his World of Warcraft Accounts….. it’s a really sad video….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTxfLZwT7Pc
RockytopATL
October 10th, 2009
11:36 am
Strange parallels, Jeff. I also have a Georgia student daughter, who also will be a dot of red in the sea of orange today. As a Tennessee grad, I wish I could confidently predict a Vol victory. But I lack confidence, as does our offense. I will say our defense will be rugged, and if we can run the ball effectively, we will win. The difference in the two programs, as I see it, is that Tennessee is on the way up, and Georgia is on the way down. The question is who is the best right now.
As much as I love my daughter, I hope I get one of those texts like yours this afternoon.
–An old colleague
Yellow_Fuzz_is_a_UGA_fan
October 10th, 2009
11:36 am
Don’t blame tech for his antics. He isn’t one of us.
Sanford Drive
October 10th, 2009
11:36 am
Hope we find a running game today, my friends.
Trisha
October 10th, 2009
11:37 am
Go Big Orange!!!
brian
October 10th, 2009
11:37 am
I don’t think today’s game is totally doomed, but I d have my reservations. Honestly, if we can give Ealey more touches and Joe Cox makes better decisions, and if the defense from LAST week shows up again, we’ll be all right. If not… time to let #6 take some snaps.
Bryan
October 10th, 2009
11:37 am
Mark Richt = Phil Fulmer.
Wait and see. Undisciplined teams trying to win on talent alone.
UGA – Needs to admit it has a problem
Tenn – In stage 2 of recovery.
Tuck Fech
October 10th, 2009
11:38 am
Tech “fans” obsess so much over UGA football that they forget to buy tickets to their Thursday Night games……..
4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 cokes and a Program….. 1-888-TECH-TIX
M D Cain
October 10th, 2009
11:39 am
Yellow Fuzz, The Tech program has and will always take a back seat to UGA in Football. Sure you win once in a blue moon but you guys should really accept your second tier status.
brian
October 10th, 2009
11:39 am
For the record, I too was at the 2007 game in Knoxville. That was easily one of the top 3 worst games I’ve been to; by the time our offense started scoring, it was far too late, and they played like it. I hope that, even if Tennessee strikes first, we can keep the pressure on and show the grit that made last week’s loss to LSU bearable.
RxDawg
October 10th, 2009
11:42 am
Oh by the way. For the first time ever, AJ was mentioned for having a possible hiesman type of year on ESPN. It was on Game Day. Of course it’s still way to early, but it’s nice to see him finally get some love.
Jon P
October 10th, 2009
11:42 am
The game is already over. The Dawgs have lost…Jeff Schultz is at the game. He is the ultimate jinx. Every game that he attends is either a “L” for any team from the state of Georgia or else they play a horrible game! Remember the GT – Miami game? He was there! Remember the Braves late season winning streak? He ended it! He was also at the GA- Arizona State game…he brought bad weather with him. He was at the Tech-Clemson game and he led almost allowed Clemson to win! He was at the UGA-Oklahoma State game and you know how that turned out! We are doomed! Jeff…GO HOME!
dawgfan19
October 10th, 2009
11:42 am
This Georgia team is pretty bad. This Tennessee team is pretty bad. What it all boils down to, is who has the better coaches. Tennessee, with the exception of Head Coache. Where is the game being played, at Tennessee. Both teams have star players one on defense and one on offense.Who will win the turnover battle? Who will get the most penalties and cause their team critical yards and plays? What this all boils up to is a Tennessee win! Cox will be ineffective for most of the game, Rict wont make a change. The D Line will get punished, the O line will under achieve and Georgia’s coaches will lay an egg again. Final Score Tennessee 27 UGA 14.
Ed
October 10th, 2009
11:43 am
I like the Dawgs in a close, ugly game.
Meanwhile, we have soaring deficits, a worsening situation in Afghanistan and a president whose indecisiveness is drawing international criticism, unemployment nearing 10% (wasn’t there a “stimulus” earlier this year – score one for those of us who said you can’t stimulate the economy without tax cuts), a housing market that remains sluggish, and a government that is trying to socialize 15% of the economy in an audacious (remember that word) power grab.
But our president is REAL good at making the talk show circuits (except Fox News, which sometimes is critical of him) and accepting prizes for accomplishments that have yet to happen.
In response to what is happening, “journalists” like Jeff Schultz are turning their attentions to a radio talk show host, aka a private citizen exercising his constitutional rights to free speech, who disagrees with their politics. Glad to know the press is on the job!
Questions
October 10th, 2009
11:44 am
ANyone know how much TV generated revenue UGA stands to lose if we stay off the national radar (out of the polls)…like not being the featured SEC game on ESPN?
Einsteindawg
October 10th, 2009
11:44 am
Jeff, how did you get all this North Avenue Trade School trash so fired up? I thought this was a UGA blog. Maybe if they got this interested in their own team, GT might be able to half fill Grant Field. Anyway, I would gladly eat a breakfast burrito (maybe even 2 or 3) if it would help us beat the Vols. Thanks and behave yourself in Obknoxville. Peace.
TXDawg
October 10th, 2009
11:44 am
Enter your comments here
DevilDawg
October 10th, 2009
11:45 am
We have to realize that the dawgs are missing some key players. Injuries are really going to hurt us. One word the vols will remember after today “EALEY!” Without a doubt, this is going to be a good game.
TXDawg
October 10th, 2009
11:45 am
Interesting……am I getting censored today?
dagnabit
October 10th, 2009
11:45 am
does yellow fuzz’s girlfriend have hair on her chest
San Francisco Dawg
October 10th, 2009
11:46 am
It’s funny how we lose to two top ten teams and we scream to fire coaches and change qb’s….let’s don’t lose sight of the fact that we play in the best conference in the country and Tech plays in a conference that has no respect for one of the best coaches of all times, Bobby Bowden…Tech will lose tonight and half of these people on this board will be gone by tomorrow…Go Dawgs!
TXDawg
October 10th, 2009
11:46 am
Maybe yellow fuzz is the hair on her chest.