Georgia loses to Kentucky, and the song stays the same
This is the picture? Do you really need to know more? An interception by Kentucky's Shane McCord of a Joe Cox pass set up the Wildcats' winning touchdown in a 34-27 upset of the Dogs.
ATHENS — They got bruised in Stillwater, blindsided in Knoxville and humbled in Jacksonville. Also, their dog died.
Nobody intended for Georgia’s season to unfold like a country-western song. It just sort of turned out that way.
So what were the objectives Saturday night? Easy. To create a memory for seniors who were playing their final game in Sanford Stadium. To diminish chances of the season ending in Shreveport. To look convincing enough in a win over Kentucky — whose 6-4 record entering the night mirrored Georgia’s — that the Bulldogs’ somewhat jaded fan base would start salivating over a possible upset next week on North Ave.
They whiffed.
With representatives from the Independence and Liberty Bowls in attendance, the Bulldogs held a 20-6 halftime lead over Kentucky, then unraveled like they have far too often. They committed four second-half turnovers. The Wildcats scored four touchdowns. Georgia went down, 34-27, in its final home game of the season, and it’s just as well because there probably are not a lot of folks around Athens who wanted to be subjected to another game this season, anyway.
Mark Richt is going to have a chore trying to keep his players pumped up after this one.
Most fans in the students section wore black. At this point, we can’t be certain if they were mourning the sudden loss of Uga VII, or the passing of significant bowl game hopes.
The Dogs just lost a home game to Kentucky for the first time in 32 years. Their record is now 6-5. It’s the most losses ever for a Mark Richt team. They would need to upset Georgia Tech and win whatever low-grade bowl game that takes them just to match Richt’s all-time low win total at Georgia in 2001 (final record: 8-4).
By any measure, it has been a dreadful season.
This won’t make things any easier for Richt. He has been fielding questions about the future of the program and what changes he might make, both in direction and his coaching staff. All this has been going with games still left in the season. Richt has been trying to lay out some tangible goals for his players –one of them was to close the season with five straight wins, which would have led to a respectable final record of 9-4.
Last week, the Dogs responded with a win over Auburn in possibly the team’s best performance of the year. But this was one of their worst — at least the second half was.
It looked like it might be an easy night. Four straight scoring possessions (two touchdowns, two field goals) to close the first half gave the Bulldogs a 20-6 lead. But if you throw out the Tennessee Tech game, do you know how many easy games this team has had this season? Zero. What could not have been predictable was a complete collapse.
It started when Branden Smith fumbled the second-half kickoff return. That set up one Kentucky touchdown. Joe Cox connected with Rantavious Wooten for a 43-yard touchdown to restore the Dogs’ 14-point lead at 27-13. But no lead has been safe with Georgia’s defense, not even against pedestrian teams like Kentucky. It’s why defensive coordinator Willie Martinez may have coached his final game in Athens, at least as the defensive coordinator.
The defense did nothing to help secure Martinez’s future. Late in the third quarter, the Wildcats closed to 27-20 when quarterback Morgan Newton hit La’Rod King for a 21-yard score. Early in the fourth, tailback Derrick Locke got behind the defense down the left sideline, snared a pass from Newton and blasted off for a 60-yard touchdown, tying the game.
Instead of responding with a score, Georgia responded with a meltdown. On the ensuing drive, Cox threw a pass over the middle right to defensive tackle Shane McCord. That set up the Cats at the Dogs’ 8-yard-line and led to Randall Cobb’s second TD of the game and a 34-27 Kentucky lead.
The meltdown was soon complete: While driving for a would-be tying score, Washaun Ealey fumbled a pitch at Kentucky’s one-yard line with 2:21 left. Another possession ended with an inteception. Checkmate.
This was not how Georgia expected its final home game to go. But it also didn’t expect the losses to Oklahoma State and Tennessee and so many other messes this season. The song never changed.
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1,377 comments Add your comment
dawgman
November 22nd, 2009
7:33 am
Uga is dead and CMR doesn’t feel so good himself….bring back Lewis, Vince,Larry and most of all, Erk
Chan Gailey
November 22nd, 2009
7:36 am
Is UGA going to call me now for that job? I had already worked for UGA for 8 years. Seems like they would now let everyone know I work for them??And I can bring Reggie Ball in with me because he was my number 1 assistant and helped UGA in many ways.. He still has the Jersey UGA gave him behind closed doors.
c
November 22nd, 2009
7:37 am
HAVE YOU WONDERED WHY ALL OUR PLAYERS CAN’T PLAY GOOD FOR US BUT SHINE IN THE PROS … JUST LOOK AT THE COACHING STAFF AND THEIR UTILIZATION OF OUR PLAYERS
BY THE WAY MVP FOR GA IS DREW BUTLER … AT LEAST WE HAVE HIM FOR THREE MORE YEARS THANKS DREW
CornieBread
November 22nd, 2009
7:39 am
I wonder if the GA football “team” is still doing early morning mat drills. And their purpose is what? Georgia coaches probably should put every player that has played the last 2-3 weeks in time-out and not practice (for what it’s worth) Sunday, Monday & Tuesday. A good idea for the coaches might be for the players to have a bad mitten tourn-ament amongst themselves to have some fun. But then again, the way they are playing football, the strings on their rackets would probably break when they attempt to hit “the birdie”.
Big Dawg-N- VA
November 22nd, 2009
7:40 am
Orson and Rantavious did very well. I am excited about next year. I think that Murray will go into the spring as the #1 QB. The defense will be better plus we have an all-american at PK and will have one at P. Our special teams need to be coached up with the exception of Boykin/Smith and kick/punt returner. If we can keep the current recruiting class together and not lose any, we should win the East and compete for an SEC title next season.
This season we trusted Joe because he earned that trust with his loyalty to the program. Thanks Joe and we wish you luck going forward. I expect for us to be more “ruthless” with the play calling on both sides of the ball next season or CMR will be gone. I hope for his sake he reads this blog.
verge
November 22nd, 2009
7:41 am
Now you UGA fans see what people have been telling you. CMR is not your man! Its only going to get worst. Open your eyes. A top 10 recruiting class has not helped, so what make you think things are going to change. UGA top 10 recruiting class.. UGA should be ranked # 1., and on, and on, and on. Win the SEC EAST then start you can brag.
WHY DO MUTTS BARK? CAUSE BEES STING
November 22nd, 2009
7:42 am
THANK YOU KENTUCKY,AND ALSO SHOUTS OUT TO WILLIE AND BOBO,YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB,KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AGAINST TECH?
dawgtail
November 22nd, 2009
7:42 am
Maybe Bobo the Clown will go to Ga Southern and take Martinez with him.
Everytime the camera would pan at Richt and Murray was seen there standing around him it only made me angrier. Richt’s love and loyalty for Cox, Bobo’s incompetence for being unable to get Murray coached up, both were the main reasons we never saw Murray with the ball this year. So I suppose the question should be: CMR and CMB, are you happpy now?
Just keep going to the games and keep sending in your donation check. Walk around with blindfolds on and keep thinking “it’s just a down year” or “we’re rebuilding”.
Pepper Rogers
November 22nd, 2009
7:43 am
This is scary because Kentucky is an SEC team and therefore better than any ACC club but Tech ain’t no Kentucky. I’ll be in my seat early in the south’s tiniest stadium to see the Dogs put Tech to rest on Saturday. Tech will be revealed on Saturday as an ACC poser. Go Dogs!
Reality
November 22nd, 2009
7:43 am
Mark Richt/UGA Football + Paul Hewitt/GT Basketball. Both can recruit but neither can coach.
snapshot
November 22nd, 2009
7:44 am
If you are a true mutt fan, you will stay with your team. I live in mutt country, in fact this whole state is mutt country. I am a true, and I mean TRUE Tech fan. I have stayed with this team through thick and thin. I get really tired of the crap handed to me by the leg-humpers and will not even take the time to give it back at this point. Just one thing, see you at BDS next Saturday.
Go Yellow Jackets!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yellow Fuzz
November 22nd, 2009
7:45 am
Good morning dog nation,
Wow. Talk about “fair weather” and “bandwagon” fans! With 2:10 to go in the game, down by ONE score with THREE time outs left and the stadium exits were packed with the dog nation fans?
The same dog nation fans that lecture me here on having CLASS? hahaha.
You azzholes are spoiled rotten and deserve everything negative that comes your way.
In the final 2 minutes:
Bobby Dodd = 50,000 fans in their seats supporting their team
Sanford = 50,000 fans in their exits supporting themselves
No wonder all your better players ALSO bolt for the exit (NFL) after 3 seasons.
You guys are impossible to play for!
verge
November 22nd, 2009
7:45 am
If A.J. Green was smart he would get out of there and go make millions! Some one please convince him, his best days are over at UGA. He could have been a #1 draft pick at some other SEC schools. Slow down all you UGA fans before you start cursing me out. Look at him now. Hurt, and for what? Stop thinking about yourselves and what’s best for this young man.
WienDawg
November 22nd, 2009
7:45 am
Fullmetaljacket, a comment for you. First, watching all of this from across the pond is not easy. Team is not disciplined. Richt’s decision-making across the board is crap. For FMJ, your comment on us leaving and it not looking good on ESPN2? Thanks for your compassion, but really? Did you consider what your highschool stadium looks like when you can’t sell-out your games when you’re in the top 10? Attendance at your last home game was a joke (upper stands empty? are you serious?) and even the Euro punks who follow American football noticed. Next weekend for you is not going to be easy. At least your stadium will be full thanks to the Dawgs.
Rabble Rouser
November 22nd, 2009
7:46 am
What’s wrong and what’s right.
What’s wrong – First play of first drive we down field on play action. We’ve done it so much, everyone in the stadium knows its coming. Result, incomplete pass, fail on 2nd and long, miss getting the first, punt. Next example – Second and One from the Three…..we have 550lbs of fullback on the sidelines and we run what…..PLAY ACTION…..Cox has to throw it away, we fail on third and short to convert, leave four points on the field.
Bottom line – this gimmicky, draw-it-up-in-sand approach to game management will not work in the SEC. KY was one of the worst teams in the conference in stopping the run and it took us a quarter to start running right at them. Score should have been 28-6 at the half.
What’s right – ALL of the offensive playmakers are freshman and sophmores. We basically have been competitve (except TN and FLA) with a bunch of young guys and a 5th Year Freshman QB (sorry Joe, that’s what you are).
Gotta wonder if we shouldnt have brought one of the young guys along. Future is bright talent wire……can’t say we’ve got the grey matter on the sidelines though.
Tail between my legs
November 22nd, 2009
7:46 am
ouch!
P
November 22nd, 2009
7:47 am
Let’s go after CPJ, we can afford to buy out that little measly contract the nerds are paying him. I know he would like to coach in the big time.
____________________
He is coaching in the big time and this time next week your head will really be hurting.
P
November 22nd, 2009
7:48 am
UGA fans are a big part of the problem.
pcbuzz
November 22nd, 2009
7:49 am
Now I know how Dawg fans felt when wishing Chan would be given lifetime contract for GT. Bobo, Martinez,, Richt all deserve bonuses and life contracts. Life on the Flats is good.
Mr. Gordy
November 22nd, 2009
7:51 am
Secret: All of Tech’s head coaches are fatties because they spend a whole lot of time once they get to Atlanta over here at the Varsity eatin’ chili dogs. So there, now you know.
Mary Wanna
November 22nd, 2009
7:52 am
Guess that wasn’t just a bad dream after all. What a suck fest. UK looked pretty good as usual and we can’t get thru a game w/o penalties and turnovers destroying us, as usual.
Is it possible to bench the coaches next week? Seems our players win in spite of them on occasion.
Hokie from afar
November 22nd, 2009
7:52 am
Tech fans. Don’t crow too long remember Johnson still is playing with Gailey’s players
Jim Nichols
November 22nd, 2009
7:52 am
I have to wonder if the QB recruiters at UGA just took a holiday in The Stafford Years, and thought he’d be there forever? We now have a 5th year Senior at QB, and his “back-ups” are Freshmen…Hmmmm… Do I see an alarming GAP there? A huge, gaping hole? No other Senior QB? No Junior QB? What the hell? It is obvious to me, where the fault lies; right on the doorstep of the Coaching Staff.
For anyone who criticizes Joe Cox this morning, and I’m sure the AJC newspaper blogs will be full of them, from the usual “fair-weather fans”, I say:
“Before you feel qualified to condemn young Joe Cox, you need to meet a few criteria:
(1) You must have played real football, in high school or college.
(2) You must have endured some mental pain or anguish, in the process.
(3) You must be a graduate of the University of Georgia.
Unless you meet all those criteria, just shut up.”
JimDawg, UGA Class of ‘60
Dunwoody DAWG
November 22nd, 2009
7:53 am
We suck.
south o' 20
November 22nd, 2009
7:53 am
Is that any way to honor UGA VII? Where da pride b-actche? Where da pride?
DocDawg
November 22nd, 2009
7:53 am
I have refrained from commenting for two years after being told I was negative.
Richt has got to go. Its as plain as the nose on your face.
Gatormeat
November 22nd, 2009
7:53 am
How foolish and pathetic dog fans must feel. Your FB team got beat down, your BB team got thumped, and your fans will not even stay for the end of the game. Recruits, I hope you watched this so you will know that Florida and Tech are the better places to go. Athens is a dead end with trailer park trash fans. Watch the SEC title game and see real football teams playing real football. Next year is coming dogs and the mighty Gators are already thinking about you and how badly we will beat you into the ground. Get used to it, it is going to be like this for years to come
ledemk
November 22nd, 2009
7:54 am
St. Simons, you are nothing but an @ss-wipe…no class…and I would like to see how you can do better. I have read most of these reviews…and you are the lowest of the lows…that is for d*mn sure. In “real”…Joe Cox gave up where most Seniors should not have given up…at the end, where it mattered most. I could only shake my head and see it all…to the very end, in upmost embarrassment. I only hope..that Richt et al gets a PROVEN QB…someone with class and consistencies. If they have a proven leader…regardless of if he is a FR, SOPH, JR or SEN…doesn’t make any difference. Just pure leadership. UGA VII…I would have dedicated this game for him…BUT…there was no class…nothing. This game was given up when the 2nd half KO was returned, fumbled…it was all done. It was GA’s first-half…KY…send half. Noticed I said “KY”…maybe that is exactly what GA got…some KY…and they got “thrusted”. Maybe…at GT…a miracle…diminshing all hopes for GT. Maybe, possibly…some “luck of the Dawg” could be thrust upon what is “left of the season”…we can only hope. I will be a true “Dawg” until the end…but this season…the worst it has been since Richt has been there…can only get better. You can only go up from the bottom. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ohio State fan
November 22nd, 2009
7:55 am
If I were a high-profiled recruit, I would stay away from Athens – Richt looks like a dead man walking. He’ll get another year but the results won’t be much better, who is the quarterback?
Sad but true, an era is ending for Georgia.
TheAntiMe
November 22nd, 2009
7:55 am
Mark Richt seemed to be bragging after the Auburn game about how the win against the Tigers proved that he and his coaches have been right all along this season.
Also, coach Richt seemed to be saying that all of those who have expressed concern over the play of his team this season were proven wrong by that great win over Auburn.
I don’t forsee any self-righteous rants from coach Richt after this disaster at home against Kentucky. Just amazing.
chuck allison
November 22nd, 2009
7:56 am
UGA’s problem is not their first class coach or their valiant team. UGA’s problem is their classless fans who expect far too much from their team. In order to have winning teams, somebody also has to lose. And it might as well be UGA as anybody else. What is needed is new lowered expectations by the fans. Things are just getting back to normal.
revwreck
November 22nd, 2009
7:56 am
Hokie from afar 7:52
And Richt is still playing with Richt’s players
Dwayne
November 22nd, 2009
7:56 am
I’ll say it. Rictht,Ricth Ricket or however you spell it, is Godly, which is wonderful in everyday life, but doesn’t do a bit of good on the gridiron. He is strong on God, but weak as a football Coach. Moms, Dads and Grandmas hear that and think “oh how wonderful” …yeah, real wonderful, undisciplined football team, blind loyalty to weak assistant coaches, mad alumni…Its just an opinion.
Just for the record. I Love Jesus, I am a Christian, I Love God the Father. Amen.
Yellow Fuzz
November 22nd, 2009
7:57 am
A few facts about Sanford Stadium (and the dog nation)
1. Seating capacity 92,678
2. Exit row capacity (in the final 2 minutes of a close game) 49,821
3. Talk about a “lack of discipline”
4. 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, 4 Cokes, and 40,000 fans turning their backs on their team!
St. Simons gets squashed!
November 22nd, 2009
7:57 am
I wanted to be really first for next weeks article when the dawgs upset the bugs. Insect lovers, you need to think about this; your little sweet bees have everything to lose and our dawgs have everything to gain. Prognasicators said this was one of them sandwich games and boy howdy was it – danged messy one at that.
So here we go, let it begin. Tech goes in wanting to preserve their once in a life time record and Georgia is preserving nothing. We may end up having 200 yards in penalties but somebody is going to pay for this seasons disaster.
Go DAWGS!!!!!
WienDawg
November 22nd, 2009
7:58 am
Writing from 6 hours ahead of most of you and still noticing these foolish comments about our Dawg fans leaving early. The ONLY reason why that highschool stadium on North Ave will be sold out next weekend is because of the Dawgs. Watching with my Euro boys Tech´s last home game with empty upper stands even when your in the top 10… and even these Austrians were laughing!
DostaDawg60
November 22nd, 2009
7:58 am
Hmmmm. This AJC “Sports Writer” Jeff Schultz is from LOS ANGELES. He NEVER played football…He’s an alien.
I rest my case…
verge
November 22nd, 2009
7:59 am
Someone tell me, is Murry the answer to all the problems in Athens? I don’t think so. He will make the same freshmen mistakes Cox is making. Come on, that’s what Cox is a 5th year freshman. Look out for Auburn, Tenn, Bama, Ole Miss, Miss St. and Florida. Winning the SEC EAST looks better for some of these teams than it does UGA. Going to be interesting to see just how long CMR stays in Athens coming in 2nd & 3rd every year.
Conservative White Male
November 22nd, 2009
7:59 am
Richt is a man of Christ, he will turn those players into men. I like to win but I see the good that Richt is doing in these young mens lifes.
many do not have father figures and come from bad neighborhoods, he makes them respectable
Dwayne
November 22nd, 2009
7:59 am
“Unless you meet all those criteria, just shut up.”
Sorry Jim, did not know people can only blog unless they meet your criteria.
Reality
November 22nd, 2009
8:00 am
Ledemk….What happened last night was indicative of some of the GT teams in years past. The Dawgs quit. I remember when UGA would never quit. GT was envious. Now the roles are reversed. This comes down to coaching…time for a complete change.
Bluedawg
November 22nd, 2009
8:00 am
Everyone send a thank you note to Coach Brooks because this is the only thing that will get the Dawgs so amped up that they will pound Tech into puddin next week.
WilliamG
November 22nd, 2009
8:00 am
I’m a Georgia Tech fan but I do root for the Dawgs when the team plays anyone from Tech. And I know this has been a rough season – lord knows we’ve seen enough of them at Tech for me to understand.
One thing bothers me. It seems fine to call for the heads of the coaches. And, even though I disagree with a lot of it – for instance I think Richt is a fine coach having a horrible run the last couple of years – I think it’s fair game to disagree and call for him and his assistants to be fired. Worst case, it happens and a bunch of millionaires have to find new jobs. They’re professionals and know that all this goes with the territory.
But here’s what bothers me. Joe Cox obviously tries as hard as he can and cares deeply. He’s a kid. He’s an amateur, not a professional. Maybe he shouldn’t have played this year. But he didn’t make that decision. The coaches did. And yet the fans have treated him like a cur Dawg. Maybe you don’t have kids of your own, or maybe you just don’t care that he is suffering plenty already.
Please, if you think he hurt the team, then jump on the coaches about it – not on Cox. He’ll live with all this the rest of his life and your comments make for an ugly scrapbook for him. Leave the kid alone and go after the grownups.
Dick Clark
November 22nd, 2009
8:01 am
Welcome to the $25,000 Pyramid. Today our celebrity helpers are coked up UGA grad Deborah Norville (who?) and the late Soupy Sales.
Soupy, today you’re playing with coach smith, perhaps the most inane blogger in AJC history.
Soupy, you and coach smith have made it to the winner’s circle, in part because Deb got the bloody nose and left our set. Remember Soupy, you can’t get too descriptive here in the bonus round or you’ll get your nobody partner here disqualified. Here is your first subject…GO!
Soupy: legs on an insect…beers in a pack…
Coach Smith: duhhhhh Go Dawgs?
Soupy: flags over Georgia….white stripes on the US flag…
Coach Smith: I’m sorry, Mr. Sales. I’m distracted thinking of something else stupid to blog to Bill King.
Soupy: your IQ after 4 tests….the number of losses the Dawgs will take in the regular season….
Coach Smith: ohhhh that’s easy…things that come in sixes
SouthCarolinaJacket
November 22nd, 2009
8:01 am
Oh, well it’s up with the white and gold,
Down with the red and black,
Georgia Tech is out for a victory.
We’ll drop our battle ax on Georgia’s head; when we meet her, out team is sure to beat her.
Down on the farm there will be no sound
Till our bow-wows rip through the air.
When the battle is over,
Georgia’s team will be found
with the Yellow Jackets swarming ’round.
Tough year for UGA.
RIP UGA VII. RIP Lewis Grizard.
Kennesaw Dawg
November 22nd, 2009
8:02 am
This is rather revealing. From Jeff Hawes column in the AJC:
“When they did, Kentucky’s offense started picking up large chunks of yardage and scored more than 30 points for the fifth time this season, the other four instances coming against Miami (Ohio), Louisiana-Monroe, Eastern Kentucky and Louisville.”
So Kentucky scored more than 30 points against us and these teams?? So now we’re on a par with them?? How low can we sink?
revwreck
November 22nd, 2009
8:05 am
St. Simons gets squashed!
you mutts have only seen one other offense as good as ours….and they are a lot alike,,,,,good luck with that, even you dont really believe it…remember FL
OldGuy
November 22nd, 2009
8:06 am
In preparing for the game Kentucky obviously watched highlights from the Auburn-Georgia game and said, “Let’s don’t do what Auburn did”.
verge
November 22nd, 2009
8:07 am
Prediction, UGA pulls an upset over Tech next week.
17 of 20
November 22nd, 2009
8:07 am
Georgia should join the Big 10.