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
SaltyDawg
November 22nd, 2009
9:47 am
Do the coaches know how to give players the directions to the Barber Shop in Athens? I guess their preparing them for the NFL.
Super Dog
November 22nd, 2009
9:51 am
Hey Damon Evans
Why don’t you allow the fans to pay face value for tickets and not have to pay for parking
And the heat will be off you some
The DawgNation
November 22nd, 2009
9:53 am
The luster is off the Mark Richt era. His program has declined fast. Richt has held onto to several incompetent assistant coaches for too long and now he is putting his own job in jeopardy. The team he fielded this year is the worst coached team I have ever witnessed at UGA and I have been attending games since the early 1970s.
Richt must make several changes to his staff and rethink his own approach to the game. His teams lack discipline and heart. The Dawgs just gave up and quit last night! It was sickening. Mark Richt owes every Dawg fan a serious apology for the lazy and inadequate job he and his staff have done as of recent.
sonny
November 22nd, 2009
9:53 am
If GA Worried about Football like they do for that Dog maybe they could win
Super Dog
November 22nd, 2009
9:53 am
Im mean Really is anyone shocked at this season
Cmon people we had the talent that we had last year and lose 3 games and get embarrassed by Tech and Fl
And you think we were going to have a good season
This staff doesn’t know how to use talent
Lou Vales
November 22nd, 2009
9:55 am
Have you ever noticed how this FRATERNITY of announcers and color men DON’T BELIEVE a ANY coach in America should be fired. They are all doing great jobs, need more time, talk about past accomplishments. You would think after awhile they would get so tired of kissing butt that not only would their lips be in a constant state of pucker but that they would starve due to lack of nutrition.
Emeril
November 22nd, 2009
9:55 am
In some cultures, dog meat is a delicacy. Kentucky sure feasted on it last night. Come to think of it, some Cowboys, Gators, Tigers and Volunteers did too. The Yellow Jackets have it lined up for a post-Thanksgiving meal as well.
Falcon 34
November 22nd, 2009
9:55 am
The mask has finally been ripped off of this program. Call it a coincedence or not, but we have been on a downward plane crash since Brian Van Gorder left Athens (yes, we won the SEC Title w/ Willie in 2005, but many fail to remember that if South Carolina doesn’t beat Florida, then they go to Atlanta instead of us). Anyone remember the 4th and 19 collapse against Auburn at home that year?
Richt’s Ice cool demeanor worked well with Van Gorder’s fire, but this team is the epitome of undiscipline and being completely soft. You can count on at least two or more blowouts a year or losing to games we should have absolutely won. Will a simple change in the defensive coordinator make that much of a difference? I used to think so, but I’m not so sure anymore. Richt needs to take a serious evaluation of every aspect of his program. He’s earned the right to correct his problem in the next two years. Whatever happened to Finish the Drill?
Points Given Up Since 2006-
2006 – Tennessee(51), Vandy(24), Miss St(24), Kentucky(24)
2007 – Tennessee(35), Troy(34)
2008 – Georgia Southern(21), Alabama(41), LSU(38), Florida(49), Kentucky(38), Georgia Tech(45)
2009 – Oklahoma State(24), South Carolina(37), Arkansas(41), Tennessee(45), Florida(41), Kentucky(34)
Not to mention the talent that has gone on to start in the NFL: Stafford(Lions), Moreno(Broncos), Massaquoi(Browns), and Asher Allen(Vikings)……all starting as rookies in the NFL. This coming from a team that failed to win the SEC.
Neutral
November 22nd, 2009
9:56 am
To everyone demanding Richt’s head on a platter: Who should be the coach? Once you name him, why do you think he would take a job where a little adversity will have “Bulldog Nation” calling him and his family everything but beloved children of God and demanding he be fired immediately?
Willie Martinez
November 22nd, 2009
9:56 am
i am already preparing my game plan for tech.we are going to ger ot ass beat.
any suggestions ,please send to my email at athletic association.
Terd Furgeson
November 22nd, 2009
9:57 am
Gawd Awful, and you must be a douche bag.
Millie
November 22nd, 2009
9:57 am
UGA fans should be making their reservations now for the Toilet Bowl. Yes, it’s come to that.
Richt should be run out of Athens on a rail, along with Bozo and Martini.
Yellow Fuzz
November 22nd, 2009
9:57 am
Preseason Number 1
Alabama
Florida
Georgia Tech
Oklahoma State
Louisiana State
Tennessee (not Tech)
Florida
Kentucky
Georgia Tech
Papa John
Super Dog
November 22nd, 2009
9:58 am
Damon Evans
Are you reading these blogs
You better make Richt do something
Or else you can join Chunky Weiss and pack your bags and go and become AD at Mercer where athletics don’t matter
Truth
November 22nd, 2009
9:58 am
Dooley had one losing season in 25 years, but Dolley teams never were poorly disciplines and this poorly coached. When he got beat it was almost always because the other team had more talent. Dooley would have probably executed his assistants for doing as poor a job as Richt’s do much less fired them.
The job Mark Richt and his staff did this season is disgustingly inadequate. I can see that Mark Richt’s future at Georgia is in serious trouble.
Terd Furgeson
November 22nd, 2009
9:58 am
Willie Martinez, deep zone every play. Giving them a 30 yard cushion should keep them from passing.
Bad Decision, Orson
November 22nd, 2009
9:58 am
There is an article about Orson Charles “breaking out”, bad choice of words for ANY Georgia player.
Uh oh!
November 22nd, 2009
9:59 am
Don’t look now, but one of your prized recruits was in Knoxville “visiting” this weekend. Hehehehe UGA VIII needs to be female. That way she will squat like the team does.
G8TR
November 22nd, 2009
9:59 am
Here’s a head-coaching record to consider: Ron Zook/UF — 8-5 in 2002; 8-5 in 2003; after three losses in 2004 – fired at mid-season. If you demand excellence, maybe you’ll get it.
On the other hand, please keep Mark Richt at UGA as long as possible.
Another Dawg Fan
November 22nd, 2009
9:59 am
We have lost faith in Mark Richt and his program. It is time for change.
Millie
November 22nd, 2009
10:00 am
Undisciplined thugs blow another one. On and on it goes with no end in sight.
Georgia Tech will win by at least 30 points in the coming beatdown.
Salt Lake
November 22nd, 2009
10:00 am
dawgs are toast, stick a fork in em . 6 and 6 and CMR is still smirking and planning no changes,
mike addington
November 22nd, 2009
10:00 am
We should have known Richt wasn’t a head coach when he blew the time-management decisions in his first season–the Auburn game I think it was. If he didn’t learn that after ten years as an offensive coordinator at FSU, then he’s pretty dense. To not have a dependable backup quarterback to back Cox is inexcusable. Cox’s eyes told the story that he wished he could find a rock to hide under after a couple of those interceptions, but who could Richt put in? The other guy looks even more frightened, no confidence. Clue to Richt–you need a dependable backup at every position. That loss last night was squarely on Joe Cox and Richt for not having a backup for him. Now, if I could just figure out how Richt had such good teams at the beginning of his tenure, I’d be satisfied. The only thing I can come up with is that Van Gorder was the driving force, the fire behind those teams. UGA has been going downhill since he left, with a rare spurt here and there.
eBuzz
November 22nd, 2009
10:00 am
Along with many others, I agree that Saint Simons is an embarassment to GT fans. There’s nothing wrong with a little good razzing on both sides, but he(she?) is a moron. Of course, UGA has a few, too.
to the rest of the GT bloggers, don’t get too cocky yet. There is no guaranteed victory, and the ghost of UGA VII may very well bite us in the *ss if we’re not prepared. Look back to LSU last year for a solid lesson. We’ve come a long way since Chan, but we’ve struggled in many of our games and could have easily lost several. UGA has also struggled and lost many games that they could have won. A play here and a play there for both teams.
Go Jackets.
dan
November 22nd, 2009
10:00 am
Herschel Talker,
I kind of sorta agree with your points.
1. Absolutely agree about the losses to Zook, those were dreadful
2. Tennessee wasn’t totally in decline except for 2005 and 2008, They finished 11-2 in 2001 when UGA beat them, and the Vols went to the SEC title game in 2004 and 2007.
3.UGA until this year has performed well against LSU, even when they have been a juggernaut. They lost to them twice in 2003, but killed them in 2004, 2005, and 2007.
4. Absolutely agree about the lack of leadership, and I’ll take it one step further and say they those players “bought into” Mark Richt. But not anymore. These kids don’t care about this program AT ALL!!!
Alabama Jack
November 22nd, 2009
10:01 am
Respect all, Fear None
Pound the Puppies,
Then go to Tampa,
and get her done.
For dawg Fans:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shreveport,_Louisiana
Denver Dog
November 22nd, 2009
10:02 am
I’ve sent my last dollar to the athletic association, last night’s performance was pathetic.
Brant Evans
November 22nd, 2009
10:02 am
I watched the tailend of that UGA – UK game. It was hilarious. I didn’t realize that kid that played the banjo in Deliverance was Georgia’s QB.
Millie
November 22nd, 2009
10:02 am
Maybe UGA’s players could run faster if their parole officers would let them remove those heavy ankle monitors during the game.
McGarrett
November 22nd, 2009
10:02 am
Give CMR one more season. If he goes belly up then get him outta there. Well, I want him gone now his teams lack discipline and that will never change its just his style. Get himout now dammit.
Super Dog
November 22nd, 2009
10:03 am
Tech I sure hope you don’t make Willie look like a national hero this Saturday with all that smack
This just in
November 22nd, 2009
10:04 am
CMR has forfeited the Tech game, there’s no getting this team up for this weekend after last night debacle.
Alabama Jack
November 22nd, 2009
10:04 am
Wonder if the dagws will come out next week with Richt all holding hands. Didn”t work for Bobby Bowden against Tech, didn’t work for Charlie Weiss against UConn, and it won’t work for Mark Richt against the Tech Wrecking Crew.
Millie
November 22nd, 2009
10:05 am
Joe Cox = Reggie Ball, and you know how that turned out.
DJ
November 22nd, 2009
10:05 am
Enough is enough. Obviously, the special teams coach and Martinez are gone, but I am done supporting Richt and his “I’m a nice guy with such a calm demeanor attitude”. Results are the only thing that counts when you are making his kind of money. He should be gone too. Re-tool and hope 2011 we can be respectable again.
ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
November 22nd, 2009
10:05 am
GT fan here. You GT fans on here talking trash will go hide out in a little corner of your basement and suck your thumb if UGA beats us next week.
SECforever
November 22nd, 2009
10:05 am
Calm down everyone,,,Sherman is not burning through GA again! Last year you lost some great “SKILL” players to the NFL, really all your key skill players. Your best WR was out with injury. You lost a game that normally you wouldn’t lose, but your still a great program. Show some respect and quit making personal attacks, it just makes your program look classless!
Go Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaawgs!!
November 22nd, 2009
10:06 am
way to choke pups, 6 and 6 baby, wow how do you spell ugly? ugaly
Andy in Blairsville
November 22nd, 2009
10:06 am
Hey fair-weather fans: I hear Charlie Weis might be available!
dawgma
November 22nd, 2009
10:07 am
UH – BOBO THE CLOWN WOULDN’T PITCH ON THE 1 YARD LINE- WHOOPS HE DID LAST NIGHT!
Gainesville Rocks
November 22nd, 2009
10:07 am
now that was embarrassing and somewhat unexpected after being up 20-6.
mike addington
November 22nd, 2009
10:07 am
I agree with you falcon 4. I say do get Van Gorder, if possible. He keeps working his way up the food chain, so somebody besides us must think he knows what the heck he’s doing.
Super Dog
November 22nd, 2009
10:08 am
Damon Evans wake up
its time to have Richt in your office and explain to him Martinez will not be here next year and you better hire a special teams coach
Your offensive play calling better change and discipline better take place or
Or Else explain to him both you and him won’t be sitting in that office next year after the Tech game
Carl Spackler
November 22nd, 2009
10:09 am
dawgtail posted on November 22nd, 2009 7:42 am
“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.”
Boy oh Boy, have they brain washed you fans…Murray has been ready to go since the fall…he worked his tail off over the summer learning the playbook and anybody who knows anything about QB’s could see that he was superior to any of the others in the spring game and at every scrimmage…the true “DAWG Fans” bought into the quip that “Joe Cox gives us the best chance at winning” while the objective observers knew this wasn’t the case…CMR permitted everything to go on that has happened this year (poor QB play, turnovers, porous defense, penalties, suspect coaching, suspect game plans, no running game, suspect line play)…now I’m not saying that CMR is a bad coach, but he was/is just gutless not to have pulled the trigger and to make the changes required to save this season…next year this will all be forgotten, as the nucleus for a great team is there to be a top flight program…this freshman class is loaded with offensive talent and if the other team can’t get the ball, then this will take away their game plan…Bobo and Willie, if they can survive, will look like geniuses w/ Murray at QB, the top flight receivers, and a running game that will take off as the field is stretched by keeping the safeties from cheating all the time…
Just another observation…I think Cox’s arm just wears out the second half…if he has to take off every Wed. to keep his strength up, it really appears that there is a marked drop off in his effectiveness as the game(s) go on and they have to depend on the pass more and more…after the season CMR will probably own up to how bad Cox’s shoulder really is, and how heroic Cox was to lead this team w/ such a handicap…Cox has done his best, but it just wasn’t/isn’t good enough for this level of ball…a better game plan, and execution would have taken the need to rely on Cox’s arm the second half…don’t blame Cox, blame CMR
RedandBlack
November 22nd, 2009
10:09 am
If I were a high school recruit right now thinking about where to go to college and play football, then I would really want to go to the University of Georgia. Especially, right now. With the winning history that the Bulldogs have, there is assuredly, a great probability of being there at the beginning of contributing toward reestablishing a true winning program once that new recruit comes on campus. I would want to make sure that I graduate early from high school to get going in the new Georgia Bulldog program right away.
Folks, this is now where Georgia has turned the corner and looked in the mirror. Realize, admitting that there is a problem is the first and most difficult step to the road of recovery. Focus and keep your faith. Things are going to be getting a lot better over the next 100 days. I guarandoubletee. Go Dogs!!
Gator in the Hootch
November 22nd, 2009
10:11 am
Hey, it could be worse. You could have the Klu Klux Klan showing up at your game. In Mississippi, the dream is “The South Shall Rise Again.” In Athens, the dream is, “Will will beat the Gators next year and win the SEC.” Some dreams will never come true. Just accept it.
Yellow Fuzz
November 22nd, 2009
10:12 am
Nah, nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye
Forty Five Forty Two, In Athens, goodbye
Papa John Bowl, versus Rutgers, goodbye
Nah, nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye
Super Dog
November 22nd, 2009
10:12 am
Im sure we will come out holding hands
Wearing the Grambling helmet
With black pants and candy cane socks
Look out Tech we have a new gimmick for a victory
Did that really happen
November 22nd, 2009
10:13 am
To all that are frustrated; this blog does not mean a thing. Get on your phone and call the big money contributors. If you know the big money contributors share what their thoughts are about the coaching staff. Nothing will change until the big money demands change. The season is a bust; we saw that early; CWM defense is the worst in recent Georgia history; thanks for the great recap Herschal Talker, How about all those other games that we gave up over 30 points.
At least one university in Georgia has a coach and demands performance. That will be more than evident next weekend when Tech destroys our dogs. Maybe that WILL force change. Anyway; still love the Red and Black. We are just not any good!
SOREDAWG
November 22nd, 2009
10:14 am
It’s a good thing we did lose. WHY?? because if georgia won, everybody would of forgot about the penalties and the poor kickoff coverage AND the turnovers. All everybody would have been saying was that ga won and that’s all there is too it. HOPEFULLY this will be a message to mark richt that he needs to change his ways whip those players into shape. But another thing comes to mind. Now that Charlie Weis will soon be gone, maybe he could take the off. coord. job at ga. After all, he may not be a good head coach, but he was a good coord. for the patriots.