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
Let da Big Dawg Eat
November 22nd, 2009
11:25 am
Hey yellasissies, you HATERS-
If your boys are so good, let’s see what they would do AGAINST KENTUCKY.
SEC RULES, ACC SUXXXXXXXX!!!
Dave from GT
November 22nd, 2009
11:26 am
Do you think Cox should be your starter next week ?
Told you to watch out for U KY !
Next week …. doomsday for the DAWGS!
Uga7andElvisLive!
November 22nd, 2009
11:27 am
When UGA heard that there would be KY at Sanford on Saturday, they just naturally bent over.
Just a Bad Senior class
November 22nd, 2009
11:28 am
It all boils down to a bad senior class this year – Owens and Atkins are a joke – they are supposed to be NFL bound and cannot push the Oline back – they cannot get in the backfield and they cannot stop an option team or a team with a running quarterback -
Also, wtf is the deal with our kickoffs – giving Kentucky the ball at the 50 Yard line on a squib kick – the senior class and the coaching staff is a big joke this year
I guess the seniors that are supposedly “NFL bound” do not want to risk getting hurt and play at 1/2 speed all year –
That is why the commentators were praising the “young” guys – b/c at least the young guys play – more than I can say for the seniors
And Joe Cox has got to be the worst quarterback in the history of GA – I mean he waiting 5 years b/c no one else wanted him – there was no where to go -
I for one am glad this season is over and Cox will be gone along with Atkins and Owens – and if R. Jones wants to go too – that is fine b/c he has done nothing to make me want him to stay
Tron5000
November 22nd, 2009
11:28 am
I hear Chan Gailey is available. At least he’s guaranteed to get you 7 wins. That’s 1 more than Richt will get this year.
BOOGIE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
November 22nd, 2009
11:29 am
YELLOW NUZZ….REGGIE BALL WANTS TO PLAY ONE MORE YEAR
Just a Bad Senior class
November 22nd, 2009
11:29 am
also – who the he__ __ calls a pitch on the 1 yard line???
JACKSON
November 22nd, 2009
11:30 am
Hey Techie!
At least UGA can sellout a stadium when they’re having an off year—Grant Field is NEVER sold out–even in a 10 win season–GREAT fans bud!.. the only Tech game that sells out is the one vs. UGA—because of GEORGIA fans!!
MichaelStipeDawg
November 22nd, 2009
11:30 am
UGA’s offense turned to “Jelly” against “KY.”
We
November 22nd, 2009
11:30 am
The “Pedestrian” Wildcats have a better record (7-4) than your almighty Bulldogs (6-5). Kentucky came out with a “make plays!” attitude in the 2nd half. Georgia played scared, scared of winning. But Kentucky took it, make no mistake.
73 Dawg
November 22nd, 2009
11:31 am
Mark Richt should be selling Ford trucks full time. No,no, Ford would have to have a bailout if he did. Maybe he can take a church, God will take him win or loose. Resign from coaching, CMR you are a failure!
KY Vince
November 22nd, 2009
11:31 am
Seriously, that was a big-time effort from Georgia last night. They had me scared that they might knock us off and pull of the W.
I know that the loss stings, but UGA almost won last night. Georgia fans, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You are much better than we Wildcats had given you credit for.
godawgs
November 22nd, 2009
11:33 am
Lou-
Yeah, I like to compare Fla to Georgia. Cox beat up on Tebow this year in TD’s (21 vs 14), yardage (1945 vs 2564), and took less sacks than the over-hyped QB (23 vs. 10). Nice QB that Timmy Tebow. Anybody in the NFL interested in Tebow? Not.
What in the world does Mark Richt’s religion have to do with my post about how the last time Richt had a 4 loss season he rebounded and become #2 in the country the NEXT SEASON? I don’t WHY Richt responded with a 4 loss season by getting to a #2 ranking the NEXT SEASON. I just know he DID.
browndog
November 22nd, 2009
11:33 am
The good programs in the SEC have surpassed UGA and now the not so good programs have caught them as well. Probably back to the days when 8 wins was a miracle. At least the stress level will be down so there is a bright side. Good luck against GT, they will certainly need it. GT should be favored by at least 21 and should easily cover.
Forever Dawg
November 22nd, 2009
11:34 am
The first thing we need to do is teach our football players how to read so they can pass a driver’s test. Then we need to get them to think while on the playing field. I would rather have two and three star athletes that can think than have all these 5 stars who probably couldn’t get into a decent school otherwise.
jesse james
November 22nd, 2009
11:34 am
GoDawgGo – I can tell you one thing, they don’t read this stuff. I am as disappointed as anybody. You know I sit back and if I remember we have won one national championship. Some of these bloggers think we have tons of them. I am as frustrated as anybody, but I’m realistic, and by the way Tech fans I think you have won only one in the recent years. It all goes back that this will be the year that loyalty to upper classmen cost us. Coach Richt knows it, and I am sure he will fix it. I can see where he was coming from, but at some point you have got to go with the best. You could see it on his face last night. And I feel for Cox, he was probably put in a position he shouldn’t have been in. He had no confidence the last 10 minutes of the game. I still think Coach Richt is the man for the job. All you Charlie Strong supporters, if you remember his defense under Zook was pitiful. His defense has been strong when he is with a strong head coach.
SadDawg
November 22nd, 2009
11:34 am
Just a Bad Senior class, did it ever occur to you that Owens, Atkins, and Jones are playing exactly like Martinez wants them to? I mean, wouldn’t he take them out or bench them if they weren’t? Willie Martinez has them playing the way they are playing!!
Tron5000
November 22nd, 2009
11:34 am
Jackson, Grant Field will be completely packed when Tech destroys the puppies next week. You wanna talk football, or seating? Or brains? Or number of players arrested? Or wins and losses? Or how much better Mark Richt’s winter tan is than Paul Johnson’s? Get a clue.
realitysucks
November 22nd, 2009
11:34 am
Waaa Fire CMR Waaaa Fire CWM Waaaa my trailer caught on fire from Mamas meth lab Waaa I have to deliver pizza tonight Waaaa
bill
November 22nd, 2009
11:35 am
Is anyone else upset that Butler was caught on camera laughing on the sidelines after his stupid penalty after the blocked punt? We would have had a first down with good field position and momentum. At least no one else was laughing with him!
FullMetalJacket
November 22nd, 2009
11:35 am
JACKSON:
Your math is wrong (big surprise) regarding selling out Grant Field. True, we don’t sell out every seat for every game, but we also do not SELL OUT OUR TEAM AND COACH at the drop of a pin….or a dog. As to fan and alumni support, Tech has one of the highest alumni support rates per capita (measured in dollars) in the country, including THE highest for public universities. Look it up.
Yellow Fuzz
November 22nd, 2009
11:35 am
JACKSON,
What good is a sell out if 50% of your fans leave in the fourth quarter while your team has a chance to win the game? DO YOU KNOW HOW BAD THAT IS BUD?
PKelleyJacketFan
November 22nd, 2009
11:36 am
Some of my fellow Jacket fans on here aren’t showing much class…The annual Tech/UGA game is typically a great, excititing game (even when Reggie Ball was playing). I know I can’t be the only Tech fan who isn’t gloating. Even when GT wins, what does it even mean when UGA has had such a bad season? All I have to say is that UGA has EVERYTHING to GAIN and Tech has EVERYTHING to LOSE!!! The best part?? Its an 8:00 pm game, just gives the players too long to goof off and lose focus. Coaching before the game next weekend is going to be just as important for BOTH UGA and Tech!! Tech fans….PLEASE show a little more class!! GO JACKETS!!!
Yellow Fuzz
November 22nd, 2009
11:36 am
Very well stated FullMetalJacket
SadDawg
November 22nd, 2009
11:36 am
Jesse James, Richt has always done this – remember Joe T? Why would he fix it?
HelluvaEngineer
November 22nd, 2009
11:38 am
All joking aside, Mark, an interesting column would be a classic debate that is brewing between which coach has done less with more talent: Mark Richt or Paul Hewitt?
JACKSON
November 22nd, 2009
11:40 am
tron5000–aka Pepper Rodgers!
some clearasil might help—see you at the North Avenue Trade School—-is Tech still getting its cheerleaders from Agnes Scott?…whew!!!
Neutral
November 22nd, 2009
11:41 am
I don’t see the knock on Tech for not selling every game out. What is so wrong with having a fanbase that has *other* interests than just college football? Heaven forbid they live in a vibrant city with tons to offer.
No Name(required)
November 22nd, 2009
11:42 am
Schultz, I went down to the coffee shop this morning and bought the AJC’s sunday news paper and some good coffee, motivated by one simple reason to see and talk to the very attractive female who works there( I’m kinda working on her and got my foot in the door, but who knows I have been fooled before).
Some very good and interesting articles this morning, and the first thing I read was your column titled, “The problems start at the Top”. The statement that the “problems start at the top with accountability”, what do you mean? I need your reasons for stating that.
This was intense week for everybody, especially for coaches, but if the Media and sportswriters are going to have a major opinion on College Football then they need to be clear on what they are saying and back it up with good reasoning. I enjoyed your columns and Im going to continue looking for them and reading them, but I need to know what you mean by accountability and how that applies to the Coach.
JC
November 22nd, 2009
11:42 am
It is very difficult to just put one word on the problems with this program. I would say that they have the lowest football IQ of any team that I have seen. If you have ever played or coached you simply can’t put this off on the players. IMHO, this is poor coaching pure and simple. Between the penalties, turnovers, putting the players in awful situations with predictable playcalling, this will quickly make 5 star recruits look like 2 star recruits. Few deny the level of talent, but I have never seen a coaching staff stunt growth like this staff. The sad part of it is that, Richt will continue to say they just need to get better and work harder. There are no more excuses, this level of ineptitude is glaring. This staff is incapable of fixing this mess, so unfortunately a new staff will have to do the job.
Evil Genius
November 22nd, 2009
11:42 am
What happens to all those high school all americans UGA recruits?
Eric
November 22nd, 2009
11:43 am
Agnes Scott Fight song to tune of Ramblin’ Wreck!
“I’m a prissy pot from Agnes Scott anf dated a wreck from Tech.
He took me to the Varsity and taught me how to neck.
He filled me full of liquor–he filled me full of beer…Now I am a mother of a 10lb. engineer!”
flapjacket
November 22nd, 2009
11:44 am
Free Advice to UGA fans…take it easy on Joe Cox. He’s 22 and has had a disappointing season. I’m sure he feels absolutely terrible and this is not how he pictured his time in the sun. Remember he’s just a student. And he seems like a class guy.
Good luck next week. Rivalry games are usually closer than people think. I think Tech wins, but a close one – less than a touchdown.
Go Jackets!
Yellow Fuzz
November 22nd, 2009
11:44 am
PKelleyJacketFan,
Just so you know, I speak for myself and do NOT represent anyone else from the Tech Nation other than myself.
Not Disappointed!
November 22nd, 2009
11:44 am
I feel bad for the pups. Hope you get a good bowl!
Ramblin Wreck!
Crying Dawgs
November 22nd, 2009
11:44 am
godawgs – seriously, you’re arguing that Cox is a better qb based upon those stats? Truly a loser’s argument. But while we’re on the subject, you really should include Tebow’s 706 rushing yards and 11 additional TD’s (Cox – negative 24 rushing yards and ZERO TD’s for the year). In case you’re not familiar with football rules, rushing TD’s count for 6 points just like passing TD’s. Tebow’s passer rating (155) beats Cox’s too (136). Oh, and Tebow leads the undefeated, No. 1 team in the country. Cox? Not so much.
Not sure what the NFL has to do with college football (another loser’s argument), but take a look at Tony Dungy’s opinion of Tebow’s NFL potential. Not that Dungy knows as much about the NFL as you do, but his opinion may be worth considering.
easleydawg
November 22nd, 2009
11:44 am
I blame the coaching – pitching the ball on the one yard line, not knowing how to coach a team to win, poor play calling and poor defense not to mention poor discipline. Time to make serious changes!
Tron5000
November 22nd, 2009
11:45 am
Jackson: Clearasil? Agnes Scott? Cheerleaders? What in the world are you talking about? I’m talking about football. You know, that game that UGA forgot how to play. But I forgive you for wanting to avoid the subject of your beloved puppies getting run off the field next Saturday. Lord knows you’re embarrassed, and rightly so.
overdonedog
November 22nd, 2009
11:45 am
win-(1)to gain victory in a contest(2)to succeed in arriving in at a place or a state(3)to get possession by effort(4)to obtain by work(5)to place first in a horse race(6)to gain as if in battle
Eric
November 22nd, 2009
11:45 am
If Tech can’t sell-out a 55,000 seat stadium during a winning season in a city of more than 4 million people—something is wrong!
FullMetalJacket
November 22nd, 2009
11:45 am
Brother HelluvaEngineer:
Paul Hewitt, hands down. When I heard just the last half of a radio report that “…Georgia Tech rewarded their coach with a one-year extension…” I nearly panicked…thinking it could be CPH they were talking about. Of course this should be his last year, short of a NC and a complete public recantation of his (inadvertent or not) racially motivated recruiting. Both CMR and CPH have disappointed, and both have charmed their respective bosses, but CMR has at least been competitive in his conference even if he hasn’t won it recently. CPH isn’t up to any of the ACC, much less the UNCs and Dukes.
jesse james
November 22nd, 2009
11:47 am
I’m not calling players names on here, but sometimes players don’t play the way they are coached. I saw a hit by Rambo last Saturday night. I didn’t see it last night unless it was out of bounds. That’s my whole point, we played some kids that just weren’t up to the task. You have some that don’t know how to win at the college level. I agree they should have been sat down. We could have been 6 and 5 with the younger guys. It’s like when we went with Zeier, Stafford and the most famous one was Herschel, what if Dooley had not put him in at Tenn. I’ll put the blame on the coaches, players,and fans.
73 Dawg
November 22nd, 2009
11:47 am
Willie, Bozo and Preacher Man are all over their heads.
When will it end ??????????????
David Granger
November 22nd, 2009
11:47 am
Yeah, all we’ve got left that we can do is screw up Georgia Tech’s season. (Which I’d almost hate to see…I like Tech.) And then go play some thump-a-chump in the Pissant Bowl.
I have had mixed emotions on Joe Cox all year. I always assumed that…because everyone always talked about how Cox didn’t have Stafford’s arm strength…he would not be real good at throwing deep, but accurate in the ten to thirty yard range. But he throws nice passes when he goes deep. In fact, he makes the same kind of deep throws that Tebow makes. They’re not laser shots, and they have a little air under ‘em, so the defense has time to get there now and again…and the pass is not always a perfect spiral, but is generally right on target and catchable.
But he can’t seem to throw short worth a rip. There have been SEVERAL games where he’d be trying to hit that little short flair over the middle, and…from fifteen yards away…he’d miss by five yards. He also seems to just fall apart at any kind of pressure. Some of Cox’s interceptions this year have been balls that the receivers should have caught…but many have been AWFUL throws, and most of them were real short ones.
Michael McClure
November 22nd, 2009
11:49 am
I guess I could make a comment about last night’s game, but why? Words can’t describe it. I hope the freshmen stay and don’t head to Tennessee, but who could blame them. The competition will tell high school kids…go ahead and go to GA and prepare to waste four years of your life. I watched Ole Miss. and LSU and both defenses hustled and hit. GA’s defense doesn’t understand those concepts. And the offense well they just don’t understand. This is the worst year I have ever seen of GA football. The program needs to be turned around and fast!
Jackson
November 22nd, 2009
11:49 am
tron5000???
Talkin’ football??? REALLY?…in your mother’s basement? with the rest of the geek squad?
jesse james
November 22nd, 2009
11:49 am
Sadawg – I see where you are coming from. But he did bench Joe T.
Hack bowl
November 22nd, 2009
11:50 am
God I hope UGA plays Notre Dame in a bowl game, see if either one can pull off a win…it would be the “God how the Mighty have fallen bowl”
DawginTexas
November 22nd, 2009
11:50 am
Very hard to win with 1st year starter, thats what Cox is. Now, with a very solid returning class for next year, we are going to put another 1st year starter at QB. We should have started murry 3 weeks ago…
FullMetalJacket
November 22nd, 2009
11:51 am
ERIC
If UGA fans can’t fill their stadium with LOYAL fans on a campus with 30,000 students in a state with 5 million rednecks….something is very right!