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
BIG TECH FAN
November 22nd, 2009
2:08 pm
Pope Richt, here’s a new gimmick for next week! Bring UGAY VII back from the dead with a dress and high heels to pep that garbage team up! You can call it: “The Real UGAY Housewives of ATHENS” LOL
JSS
November 22nd, 2009
2:09 pm
Are you kidding me? “The costumes instead of your regular uniforms?” UGA has no regular uniform, every uniform you have ever had was stolen… Your uni was a silver helmet, red jersey and gray pants… The so-called honorable man was trying his best to instill some kind of winning tradition in you Bulldogs back in the early 60’s and stole the Packers G and put red helmets on…Then in 1978 after Auburn went all orange on ‘em with Brooks and Cribbs, Gimmick U pulled out those silly red britches… Then in 1980, the Gimmick pulled out the “silver britches” for the first time in two decades… The rest is history, black pants in the Outback, Black jerseys against Auburn… Gimmicks for gimmicks… Etc.. etc.. etc…
UGA fair weather fan
November 22nd, 2009
2:09 pm
Typical Georgia fan – it’s always next year, next year we will beat you, next year we will win a Title, the refs lost it for us, the coaches lost it for us, Joe Cox is the only problem.
GTSteve
November 22nd, 2009
2:10 pm
any truth to the rumor the UGA has hired Ron White as their publicist….You can’t fix stupid
You get the break of a lifetime last night, you had advanced a blocked punt for a first down, I didn’t even know the punting team could do that, and your best player..your punter..tries to tear a guys head off by his face mask….YOU CANT FIX STUPID AND YOU CAN’T SPELL “A THUG” WITHOUT UGA
Douglas
November 22nd, 2009
2:10 pm
Glad dawgs lost….now it’s time for the house-cleaning to begin. On MR’s show, he looked like a dear caught in the headlights again. I really like the guy but boy have I lost respect for him as a coach. Maybe he should go to Seminary and get his MDIV degree and be a preacher — he would be great at that.
Tebow Delivers Pizza in Superman Cape!
November 22nd, 2009
2:11 pm
Rumor has it Tebow will be delivering pizzas in a Superman Cape. He’s even using his heisman as Hood Ornment on top of the pizza Delivery truck. He gives everyone at the door a little speech:
“You have never seen anyone who will drive faster, deliver pizza better, wear his cape more proudly, or have a cooler hood ornament. God bless America”
CatsFly
November 22nd, 2009
2:12 pm
Coach Richt, take ‘em up on their wishes. Get the hell out of that God-forsaken hole of Athens, and go to school where they love their team, win or lose. You will be a winner escaping whiners. Those ego-raped maniacs would sell their families to get wins so they could stoke their depraved egos. I pity the poor Univrersity and the good citizens of Georgia who are labled because of those pitiful Georgia fans. Recruits are going to wise up as well. I’m sure good kids like Joe Cox will think twice about coming to UGa in the future. Then you will be left only with thugs.
Albert the Alligator
November 22nd, 2009
2:12 pm
Poor Uga VII never got to taste victory in Gainesville. Sorry buddy you are in a better place now.
wolfman
November 22nd, 2009
2:14 pm
Tell me again about the ACC?????
“UNC’s reappearance in the poll gives the ACC five ranked team, the most of any conference.”
EttieB
November 22nd, 2009
2:16 pm
Object lesson: Rennie Curran will likely leave for the NFL because he has an illegitimate one-year-old daughter he says he needs to “provide for.” Why didn’t this moron babydaddy think about this before he knocked up his girlfriend and then left her high and dry?
Curran is just one example of the unprincipled, undisciplined thugs that Richt recruits. And you expect to win with these jerks? Ha ha!
MeanMachine
November 22nd, 2009
2:17 pm
FIRE Richt! Fire ‘em all! 5 losses (soon to be 6) at UGA is NEVER acceptable under any circumstances! One of the worst coaching jobs I have ever seen at UGA! Penalties, turnovers, missed assignments, lack of focus, and poor execution have nothing to do with talent. What a disgrace!
UGAisso1980
November 22nd, 2009
2:17 pm
The truth hurts . . .
North Carolina moved back into the Top 25 at No. 23 after winning its fourth straight game, 31-13 at Boston College. UNC’s reappearance in the poll gives the ACC five ranked team, the most of any conference.
Pi$$onaDawg
November 22nd, 2009
2:17 pm
BIG BAD SEC? SEC East #2 UGA spanked at home on senior day by KENTUCKY, SEC West LSU #2 beat on the road by NEW #2 Ole Miss. HAHAHAHHA.
Frogger
November 22nd, 2009
2:18 pm
I hope that good kids like Joe Cox do go elsewhere.
BIG TECH FAN
November 22nd, 2009
2:19 pm
SEC East is sooooo like the WAC Conference!!! HAHAHA
GTSteve
November 22nd, 2009
2:20 pm
UGA VII COMMITTED SUICIDE
EttieB
November 22nd, 2009
2:20 pm
And no, you can’t fix stupid. Stupid coaches, stupid players, stupid fans. Hope y’all enjoy the SEC championship game on TV. That’s the only way you’ll ever see it.
EttieB
November 22nd, 2009
2:21 pm
GTSteve, I think the autopsy will show that Uga VII died from yellow jacket stings!
BIG TECH FAN
November 22nd, 2009
2:21 pm
If I were Florida, I would petition the NCAA to move to the ACC or SEC West. They shouldn’t have to play high school football teams every year!!!
MissBlondie
November 22nd, 2009
2:24 pm
HA HA HA… we cordially invite you to a dawg slaughter off North Avenue, next Saturday.
‘Ramblin Wreck Style. UP WITH THE WHITE AND GOLD!
BIG TECH FAN
November 22nd, 2009
2:25 pm
Breaking News!!! UGAY VII COMMITS SUICIDE BY ELECTRIC CHAIR! Ol Sparky felt sorry for the poor lad!!!
godawgs
November 22nd, 2009
2:27 pm
fla had 4 losses recently, lsu too, they rebounded fine, richt’s only season before this with 4 losses, he finished #2 the next season.
2010 is LOOKING GOOD.
Urban Meyers to Notre Dame
November 22nd, 2009
2:29 pm
Urban Meyers, who said coaching at Notre Dame was any coaches dream, might soon have his chance. Weis out, Meyers in.
Sage of Blueland
November 22nd, 2009
2:32 pm
Curse of the dead doggy bones?
What a disaster!!!
Joe's Sack-Shack
November 22nd, 2009
2:35 pm
” this just in: Backup quarterback John Brantley can throw it. He’s a better pure passer than Tim Tebow and will add a dimension to the Gators’ passing game next season that they simply don’t have right now. Brantley’s polished enough throwing the football that the Gators aren’t going to go quietly into the night next season when Tebow departs. In fact, Brantley might be the third or fourth best quarterback in the SEC right now.” – Chris Low, ESPN
Just a reminder:
Batman – 6-5
Superman – 11-0
Chris Low, ESPN
November 22nd, 2009
2:38 pm
From bad to worse forGeorgia: There was already a black cloud hovering over Georgia’s football program. This season hadn’t been what anybody wanted, but then the Bulldogs went out and lost to Kentucky … at home. Not only did they lose, but they dominated the statistics and still managed to lose. But that’s what happens when you turn the ball over four times in the second half and have 75 penalty yards for the game. The Bulldogs (6-5, 4-4) are staring squarely into the face of their first non-winning regular season since Jim Donnan’s first season in Athens in 1996. The Bulldogs might not be one of the top two most talented teams in the SEC, but they’re certainly one of the top three or four. Talent is not Georgia’s problem. It’s focus. It’s execution. It’s player development and it’s discipline. When you commit as many penalties as the Bulldogs have the past two seasons and turn the ball over as many times as they have this season (26), it’s obvious that there’s a decay in the program somewhere that has to be addressed. Mark Richt has been as classy as they come and as consistent as they come. But if he doesn’t address this decay with more than just cosmetic changes, then it’s going to be addressed for him. – Chris Low, ESPN
Sid
November 22nd, 2009
2:40 pm
Seems as if some of the difficulty here is related to the last incident re: “a valid driver’s license”. Why not line up every player and check the _ _ _ m drivers’ licenses.Seems this lack of discipline is carried over to the field by the coaches and staff. Seems like there’s no fire in the belly,panic instead of eating the ball,a punter who is better at grabbing the face mask than punting and on n on n on. Clean house CMR and do a strong look inside your leadership decisions.. Start by asking if you want to subject the team, the Bulldog Nation, The University of Georgia(from which I hold three advanced degrees) and yourself to another season like this one!!!!
Sid
November 22nd, 2009
2:40 pm
Seems as if some of the difficulty here is related to the last incident re: “a valid driver’s license”. Why not line up every player and check the _ _ _ m drivers’ licenses.Seems this lack of discipline is carried over to the field by the coaches and staff. Seems like there’s no fire in the belly,panic instead of eating the ball,a punter who is better at grabbing the face mask than punting and on n on n on. Clean house CMR and do a strong look inside your leadership decisions.. Start by asking if you want to subject the team, the Bulldog Nation, The University of Georgia(from which I hold three advanced degrees) and yourself to another season like this one!!!!
SEC WAC East
November 22nd, 2009
2:41 pm
The WAC Conference Champion has won the National Title two of the last three years……………yeah.
the good word
November 22nd, 2009
2:45 pm
GWH Rich, you are not a die hard loyal Tech fan…a true fan would NEVER, or could NEVER pull for UGA.
Your either in or out…
OcreBugMan
November 22nd, 2009
2:46 pm
Oh where art thou, mighty Bulldogs?
Thy lore has long since passed,
Since Hershel Walker has long left thee
National Champions you’ll never be
Take with pride your mediocrity
don’t compare with better teams,
Cause you’re just another passing flower
your glory days are gone, it seems
Saturday will bring great pride
for the team in black and gold
Them dawgs who wear the silver britches
undoubtably and as usual ..will fold.
If you wish, fire all your coaches
and wish away your redneck fans
but in the end we’ll still outrank you
cause our success is in demand
Adios, to our bulldog rivals
see you in the salad bowl
Mediocrity is not such a bad thing
but for it, there’s not a ring
How unfortunate it is to be
a sorry team like Georgia
and counted among the cast of teams
the very worst that make the SEC
Urban Meyers to Notre Dame
November 22nd, 2009
2:47 pm
urbam Meyers calls Notre Dame his dream job, says he grew up dreaming of coaching there and wants to coach there someday. Rumors are heating up again. Did I mention Meyers is Catholic?
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/jan/07/sports/chi-07-greenstein-bcs-urban-meye–dot–ar0jan07
Lame Duck
November 22nd, 2009
2:53 pm
UGA is dead and the football team totally sucks!!! Urban Meyers to Notre Dame….you better pray Urban goes to Notre Dame. Had any prayers answered lately??? Don’t think so. Yeah, Urban leaves John Brantley and all that talent in Gainesville and within a days drive off the campus for Notre Dame with no talent and will have to travel to universe to recruit…just because he is Catholic. Yeah, Meyer leaves the best college job in America for Notre Dame. Makes perfect sense to you.
Elistoned
November 22nd, 2009
2:53 pm
DID THE TEAM PRACTICE THIS WEEK? THE DAWG NATION IS MAD AS HELL. IT’S GOING TO TAKE A REAL EFFORT JUST TO WATCH THE TECH GAME. I’ M SURE THESE YOUNG MEN CAME TO UGA WITH THE PROMISE OF PLAYING FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS ; BUT ALL THEY GOT WAS “BLACK HELMENTS WITH A RED G . HOW CAN YOU RECRUIT?
godawgs
November 22nd, 2009
2:56 pm
Any of you who thinks Meyers plans to let a QB throw in his High School Offense is nuts. Didn’t work out too well for Tebow, now did it?
Meyers will turn Brantley into a running back, just like he did with Tebow.
#1 draft pick and Georgia PRO-STYLE Offensive star Stafford is enjoying his $50 Million and a job as starting QB in the NFL.
Urban Meyers to Notre Dame
November 22nd, 2009
2:59 pm
I am not the only person saying this, this rumor is HOT….3 hours old…Meyer to Notre Dame Weis is out….
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/18/urban-meyer-notre-dame-ru_n_362646.html
DanNotDan
November 22nd, 2009
3:01 pm
“Joe Cox has the respect of every player on this team.”
“Joe Cox understands the offense as well as any quarterback we have ever had here.”
“Joe Cox will manage the offense and make plays to keep us in every game.”
Who says CMR can’t evaluate talent………………………………….and we get to do it all over again with a 5 star freshman quarterback next year.
Frogger
November 22nd, 2009
3:02 pm
Meyer no longer will have Tebow so he will probably head to N.D. Nothing left to prove at Florida and a new oppertunity/challenge at Notre Dame will pull him away. Probably won’t help my Dogs any.
I MISSED THE MARK RICHT SHOW BUT I HEARD HE TOOK ALOT OF HEAT FROM THE CALLERS. I ALSO HEARD THAT HE SAID THAT IF THE ADMINISTRATION AT UGA WANTS TO FIRE HIM THEN THEY SHOULD. DID ANYONE SEE THE SHOW AND IS THIS TRUE?
spinning erks
November 22nd, 2009
3:03 pm
Hey godawgs ,Child Puhleeeze. The only thing that Joe”Howdy Doody”Cox will have more than Tim Tebow is losses ,and he only needed one season as a starter to it.
DawgFan
November 22nd, 2009
3:03 pm
New for next year. Defensive Coordinator, Offensive Coordinator, Special Teams coach. The return of AJ Green, along with what should be a good running attack and thank God a different QB. Oh, and UGA VIII.
GringoJoe
November 22nd, 2009
3:04 pm
“….Leading 20-6 at halftime at home on Seniors night and just flat out give the game away to a mediocre Kentucky team?” BIG DAWG 1980-Valdosta.
Um, I hate to be the one to break it to you, Big Dawg, but this season Georgia is the epitome of mediocre.
godawgs
November 22nd, 2009
3:05 pm
Since Joe Cox threw for more TD’s and yards than Tebow, I’d say Richt was right on the money. Joe’s a better QB than Tebow. Tebow IS a better RUNNING BACK.
Good Grief!
November 22nd, 2009
3:05 pm
The poor dog is dead and we suck!
BCS
November 22nd, 2009
3:06 pm
Brantley will throw plenty. That “high school” offense of Meyer’s is working pretty good, a Win is a Win no matter how you get there. You guys should know that from the Arizona State game and the South Carolina game. There is no sidenote for that Arizona State game saying * their excellent field goal kicker was hurt, they missed a late field goal to send it to overtime so the Dawgs won. 41-17, wow that must have been one heck of a high school.
godawgs
November 22nd, 2009
3:09 pm
Brantley or anyone else won’t throw in a Meyers offense–Meyers likes to turn QB’s into running backs. Doesn’t matter if the QB is Peyton Manning–ain’t happening. Meyers loves his High School offense and he ain’t gonna change what’s workin’ for nobody.
QB controversy
November 22nd, 2009
3:10 pm
New for next year – a very inexperienced QB. QB controversy hitting Athens Theatres 2010.
TampaGator
November 22nd, 2009
3:11 pm
FROGGER….you might want to read this from Chris Low from ESPN.com and fully understand why Meyer isn’t going anywhere and why the Gators might have just as good or better team next year:
“Backup quarterback John Brantley can throw it. He’s a better pure passer than Tim Tebow and will add a dimension to the Gators’ passing game next season that they simply don’t have right now. Again, it was mop-up duty, but you talk to enough people in and around the Florida program, and there’s a quiet confidence about some of the things they’re going to be able to do next season with Brantley at the helm. Of course, you give up Tebow’s third-down prowess and his ability to make all the clutch plays with his legs and arm, and you also give up his incredible will to win and the impact that he’s had on the rest of his teammates. But Brantley’s polished enough throwing the football that the Gators aren’t going to go quietly into the night next season when Tebow departs. In fact, Brantley might be the third or fourth best quarterback in the SEC right now.” by Chris Low – ESPN.com
P.S.
I, too, watched John Brantley throw yesterday and right now there is not a better pure passer in college football than this kid…including the current Texas QB. And nobody in the SEC right now throws the ball like this kid. And he is plenty athletic, too. He was running the option just as good as Tebow does. He just want have to run it as much since he will lead the SEC in passing next year. And the Gators also brought out two receivers you will hear plenty from next year…Hines and Hammond. Plus they will still have Thompson, will have Moore and Debose back. And the back up defensive players are just as fast and just as talented and the front line. The Gator chomp with Meyer at the helm will bite huge holes in SEC butts next year, too.
TampaGator
November 22nd, 2009
3:14 pm
goDawgs…you are ignorant as can be about Meyer and the Gators “high school” offense. Leak set the all time passing mark while he ran Meyer’s offense. Brantley is 5 times the better passer than Leak. Oh, Georgia Tech runs a high school offense, too. It is funny how those high school offenses make teams national powers and Richt’s NFL style offense makes them second rate.
Frogger
November 22nd, 2009
3:14 pm
I’m just saying that Meyer has accomplished enough at Florida. While they will have the talent to win next year I believe that Meyer sees another challenge at N.D. That challenge and a chance to return as head coach will draw him back to the Irish.
Bo in North Carolina
November 22nd, 2009
3:16 pm
There is a saying in management that “management gets what management demands”. Apparently CMR is not demanding much from his staff. For that matter neither is the AD.