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
OchreBugMan
November 22nd, 2009
7:24 pm
An open letter to Dawg Fans:
Dear Dawg Fans,
Face reality; you’re team is sorry! This year, you’re no good! If you wish to think of grandeur, it will take a history book! (1980-82) Repeating history while not impossible for other teams, probably is for you. It is the greatest delight to see so many dawg fans experience the usual angst and turmoil that so many other teams experience at some time are another. If Karma was a reality, it would, indeed, be fair to say that yours has changed for the worst and it could not have come at a better time. Fortunately, karma and all the other religious nonsense is not real; you’re experiencing a good dose of the fortunes of luck.(in your case, the bad kind). This year you are just an average team and nothing more. Next year will be the same (regardless of who may be the coach). Georgia Tech congratulates you on this and the many lame seasons you will suffer in the future. (Great Big Smile)
A bunch of idiots
November 22nd, 2009
7:30 pm
What are you guys doing comparing QB stats or what Stafford did or did not do in the pros? What difference that CMR was associated with former Heisman winners; how many games did that win this season?
I stayed last night until the clock was 0:00. No one around me left until KY just had to take a knee. But no one has to defend when they leave…the guy who suggests its the fans fault needs a bullet to the head.
There needs to be a minimal IQ test before one is allowed to post on here.
Gatormeat
November 22nd, 2009
7:31 pm
When you think about it, why would any decent recruit even consider ga. Just look at the coaches that are around just in this area, Meyer,Saban,Johnson, and the like. Why would a player want to play for richt,bobo,and martinez? ga is the place players go to lose and be forgotten, Fl,Ala,GT, and even Clemson would be a much better place for their careers. Let ga have their independence bowls and come to Florida and be a real football player, and a winner
matt
November 22nd, 2009
7:32 pm
Atl-iens- you don’t think the 2nd half play calling played a part in that pathetic crap called a football game?!?!?!
you can shove that 3 and 10 draw play up your a$$ along with the toss sweep to the short side of the field from the 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dawg is spelled d-o-g
November 22nd, 2009
7:34 pm
I hate to pile on, but I’ll do it anyway [jumps on pile].
kevin
November 22nd, 2009
7:36 pm
a bunch of idiots….if u stayed til the clock said 0:00 last nite…..then your name really suits you…..I turned the TV to the food network and watched a woman put a beer can in a chickens butt to bake…..better than watching a wildcat put a foot in a dawgs butt……
dawgie
November 22nd, 2009
8:00 pm
Just a thought: At least going to a UGA game is fun and the tailgating scene is great. You don’t have to worry about getting robbed & shot or your car stolen like you do at the GT campus! Not that Athens is the safest city by any stretch of the imagination, but the ATL is a flat out ghetto in comparison.
BTW>I wanted to get a photo of the scoreboard/jumbo tron right after the game last night, but they turned that sucker off so quick, it would make your head spin! I guess they were just as pissed as the rest of the Dawg Nation. GO DAWGS, Sic Em!
HOG EATER
November 22nd, 2009
8:03 pm
I wonder if UGA has the worst coaches or the dumbest players? Or both?
sccatfan1
November 22nd, 2009
9:48 pm
Here is a take from wildcatblueblog.com. I am not responsible for the content.
“The Bulldogs basically moved the ball at will in the first half as UK struggled in both the rushing and passing game. Perhaps the Bulldogs were playing the game for UGA VII, the recently deceased Bulldog mascot. The famous doghouse stood empty on the sidelines and ESPN provided enough pictures and features on the pooch that it made it seem like a papal succession ceremony. Perhaps the Kentucky defense was distracted and were watching to see if white smoke poured out of the doghouse because Joe Cox racked up two passing TD’s and Blair Walsh booted two FG’s and GA went into the half leading 20-6.”
Tron5000
November 22nd, 2009
9:51 pm
Now you people are resorting to talking about your cars being robbed at Tech games? That’s the ammo you have left in your cannons?
Yeah, you’re gonna feel like you got robbed next week. Tech’s gonna meet you in the cafeteria and steal your lunch, milk and ice cream. But tell me again about all the national championships you’ve won and all will be right with the world.
What? What’s that you say? Tech has more NC than UGA? Oh, my bad.
Back to your regularly-scheduled programming.
Mike T.
November 22nd, 2009
10:05 pm
WE ARE NOT THE PRESEASON #1 NEXT YEAR
mike t.——why don’t you go back to likinyoknutts
WE ARE NOT THE PRESEASON #1 NEXT YEAR
Hey,why don’t you go 1500 miles due east take a big gulp of water and do us all a favor.
Mike T.
November 22nd, 2009
10:09 pm
What? What’s that you say? Tech has more NC than UGA? Oh, my bad.
59-37-5, yeah went ahead and added this year for ya’ll, but we still own ya,and will for a while.
More NC than the dawgs and still had to downsize your stadium and leave the best football conference in the country. I thought Tech was run by intelligent people. Ha.
Tron5000
November 22nd, 2009
10:13 pm
Mike T, you wanna know how intelligent Tech people are? Smaller school than UGA, fewer graduates than UGA, yet #1 in the country in terms of money donated to a private institution. Maybe if you guys didn’t spend all your pennies on Milwaukee’s Best, you’d have an argument. But you don’t, so you don’t.
YellowRose
November 22nd, 2009
10:37 pm
How cute when all the UGA rednecks opine with such enthusiastic certainty the infinite reasons for their great big ole sorry wonderless season!! And what’s even more preciously cute is their adorable credulity in believing they know with ultimate precision exactly what the little ole matter is. Why I’ve been filled with just utter delight so many times this season enjoying their overdone seriousness over a petty little thing like a football season. It makes me just want to hug those poor little critters for trying so utterly hard to figure out a simple little matter. Why it would just go and spoil everything if it got out that their pitiful little team was just plain old sorry. And I do not know what I would do to lose such enjoyment. Now don’t nobody in this blog go an spoil this thing. They’re entirely too cute and this is way too fun! Adieu !!
Whitfield County Dawg
November 22nd, 2009
11:52 pm
Do you know what the difference between GT and UGA is? GT is winning games and is a top 10 team. UGA, on the other hand lost what seemed to be a scrimmage. I’m going to keep it as civilized as I can.
Based on this season alone, and even if UGA played a flawless game, UGA will not beat Tech. This is why I say this. The last Tech game I saw was the Wake Forest-Tech game. Tech was not sharp at all in that game, but Tech still won. WF threw everything they had a Tech, Tech still won. WF stopped one of the best running games in the nation, but Tech won. What does UGA have that will stop Tech?
Cox is a 4th string JV QB. Our OC and DC obviously do not study game tape. And then there are the turnovers and penalties. UGA fans can make all the excuses they want. It’s not going to happen. Tech could give UGA their playbook, but yet Tech would still win.
I’m the biggest Dawg fan out there, but I’m also a fan of Football and a realist. UGA will not beat Tech.
Tron5000
November 23rd, 2009
12:54 am
Um, Tech had 412 yards and 4 TDs rushing against Wake. How exactly did Wake “[stop] one of the best running games in the nation”?
Whitfield County Dawg
November 23rd, 2009
2:32 am
Tron,
You are missing the point. What I’m saying is, on Tech’s worst day, UGA will not win. If I remember right, those TD’s were short yard runs. But that’s beside the point. I can tell you are a Tech fan if you can call out yards in a game right of the top of your head. And if you want to be a jerk about it, WF should have won that game because Tech played sloppy. It took overtime to beat WF. But as I said before and the bottom line is, Tech won, and will win this weekend.
av8rdawg
November 23rd, 2009
9:10 am
GWH Rich
November 21st, 2009
11:58 pm
Saint Simons – You’re an idiot and an embarrassment to the rest of us Georgia Tech fans who believe there’s nothing wrong with showing a little class, both in winning and losing, regardless of the team. All Tech fans should pull for UGA to win every game except one, and vice versa, for the final regular season game to really be of any major importance.
As for UGA tonight, it was certainly ugly. A completely winnable game that looked to be under control until they returned for the second half. It was a harsh reminder of how Tech nearly gave away the Clemson game earlier this season.
Keep your chins up UGA fans. You may be down now, but all good programs turn it around quickly.
Thanks GWH RICH I feel the same way about Tech ! I always hope they win every game except one ! And well, I don’t even care about this years anymore! Go play for a national championship and win !
Dog-gone
November 23rd, 2009
9:18 am
Has anyone done an investigation?
UGAVII may not have died of natural causes…maybe he was depressed watching these Dog impersonators and committed suicide!
DAWG FOREVER
November 23rd, 2009
10:14 am
The team always takes on the personality of the coach and NEITHER HAS A PULSE!!! What do you expect?
Bigdog73
November 23rd, 2009
10:31 am
There must be some coaching changes. The tackling ability of the secondary is not even pop Warner level. As far as the fumble at the end of the game, Cox has made bad exchanges all season, he’s been out of position all year on the exchanges. CMR always is telling them to step up and be a Leader, CMR it is now your time to step up, do the right thing make the changes you need to make. I know you are dedicated to your staff, but you firstmost (after God) need to be dedicated to the fans. Don’t be afraid of putting points on the board, don’t sit on a lead. By all means let’s see some gang tackling.
Tron5000
November 23rd, 2009
1:16 pm
av8rdawg, that’s bogus. I’ve been a Tech fan my whole life, and I pull for UGA to win exactly 0 games. Actually, maybe over Arkansas, because my hatred for Bobby Petrino is just on a different level. Kinda just wish that when those 2 teams played, the field would open up and swallow the Bulldogs and Bobby Petrino into the fiery pits of Hades.
Rivalries create dislike, which leads to hatred. Would you suggest to a Red Sox fan that they should pull for the Yankees, unless the 2 are playing? That may be a different scenario, because they’re in the same division. But would you tell a Lakers fan they should pull for the Celtics unless the 2 teams are playing one another?
The reason I so dislike UGA is because of its fans. The idiots who tried to talk trash in school for wearing a Tech shirt. Or even to this day, the grown UGA fan who sees me in the grocery store and makes a comment like, “That’s an ugly hat.” I have friends that are UGA fans, but the vast majority of Georgia supporters are absolute morons, and rabid ones at that. They’re generally extremely classless individuals, like the unwashed masses that will be invading Grant Field this weekend, many of whom will be drunk off Milwaukee’s Best and attempting everything in their power to goad Tech fans into fight. They don’t use logic. They know nothing of reason. But they sure know how to bark.
I really wish this were not an 8:00 game. Just gives those fools more time to pound tall boys before stumbling into our stadium.
Tron5000
November 23rd, 2009
1:16 pm
Big dog, I’m sure there’s some gang activity on UGA’s football team, but it ain’t tackling.
Russell
November 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
anybody who calls a hb dive on 3rd and 9 with 2:50 in the game down a td doesn’t deserve to even be in the stadium. Note we did convert the 4 and 11 but still. Also, when you bring in both of your fullbacks for the third and goal on the 1 yard line, lets try not to run a pitch. Bobo is just as much to blame this year as Willie.
Mollenkopf
November 24th, 2009
9:52 am
This article acts as if losing to UK is worse than losing to a FCS school. UK is a solid football team and you would do well to remember them because this isn’t the summit for UK. GO CATS!!!!!!!!!!
ebruce
November 24th, 2009
12:08 pm
Pedestrian?….It seems that UGA were the ones that got run over.
Bryce
November 28th, 2009
11:27 pm
St. Simons, 30-24 (hahahahhahahahahhahahha)