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.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,377 comments Add your comment
I think St Simmons is one funny SOB....
November 22nd, 2009
12:19 am
C’mon UGA fans…..this is who you are!!!!!!!! It’s not like you are a national power or anything. CMR (should we really put a “C” in front of his initials?) won a couple of SEC titles with Donnan’s players and that’s about it. UGA is know for that fat guy that paints his head (how long you think it takes him to do that?) and a bunch of inbreds that are crying over a stupid dog. If he wasn’t dead, that performance tonight would have killed him.
archangeladidas
November 22nd, 2009
12:20 am
Brandon Spikes this, brandon spikes that, Brandon Spikes,Brandon Spikes, Brandon Spikes, Brandon Spikes, Brandon Spikes. Losers!!! Go GATORS!!! 41-17! 17 out of 20!!!
Georgia Really Sucks
November 22nd, 2009
12:20 am
Willy’s dismissal should be automatic. Richt’s should be given serious consideration. You don’t lose to Kentucky at home. You just don’t. Period.
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
November 22nd, 2009
12:20 am
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
Fan of both schools
November 22nd, 2009
12:20 am
If UGA had won, then you would have kept your coaching staff intact. I think Richt is a great coach, but he has some housecleaning to do.
no hope
November 22nd, 2009
12:20 am
I sure hope the UGA team is coming to Atlanta by bus and your not allowing them to drive on their on, they’ll all get arrested for invalid drivers license.
JacketGirl
November 22nd, 2009
12:20 am
I wish the Jacket fans would show some class. You can gloat about the game without making total asses of yourselves. Who gives one iota about the dog? This IS football, right?
montanadawg
November 22nd, 2009
12:20 am
We NEED to lose to the Jackets and our lousy bowl game if we hope to emphasize the point that change is needed. Penalties, stupid mistakes, etc….GOD, I AM SO FRICKIN’ SICK OF THIS BROKEN RECORD!!!!! DO WE HAVE TO DO THIS KIND OF CRAP 8 OUT OF 10 WEEKS? WE SPEND MILLIONS ON COACHES AND THEIR STAFF AND STILL IN THE 9 YEARS OF RICHT HAVE NEVER DANCED IN THE BIG GAME! Now, we look like we’d be lucky to dance with the pigs on the sidelines…
Wally Butts
November 22nd, 2009
12:20 am
I have turned over in my grave–the Dawgs lost to Kentucky? Kentucky? Is that even possible?
Joe Cox, yes I will have some fries. Thanks and keep the change.
This Guy Must Be From The Glades
November 22nd, 2009
12:20 am
First off, I’m a Liberal Democrat, BUT what kind of Jive Ass name is “Rantavious”???
The Analytical Truth.....
November 22nd, 2009
12:21 am
I still hate Tech.
DawgFan24
November 22nd, 2009
12:21 am
CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHY WE ARE SQUIB KICKING WITH A 14 POINT LEAD?
I mean seriously, I have held back all year long, but the coaching mistakes in the second half of this game is making me sick to my stomach. I cant believe we have REGRESSED as a program. I hope CMR can right this ship, and fast. Yes, a win against the North Ave. Nerds would do just nicely. But after tonight, I seriously doubt this squad can pull it off. Has Bryan Evans graduated yet?
yarddawg
November 22nd, 2009
12:21 am
WOW!
GaGator
November 22nd, 2009
12:21 am
Georgia had the most prospective recruits that they have had all year at the game tonight.
The appalling exodus of fans with over two minutes to go and only down by seven, must have run off any self respecting recruit they had tonight. Sad, very sad.
No Bowl
November 22nd, 2009
12:21 am
Unhappy, if you give over 10k a year to UGA, then you are not only unhappy, but a moron. Give some to cancer research, children’s hospitals, homeless shelters. Georgia’s got plenty of money, the SEC gives them millions every year. The other places do good, and as much as I love it, college football doesn’t mean much in the scheme of things.
Gabe
November 22nd, 2009
12:22 am
It’s so funny waiting to hear how both Buck Belue and David Pollack will dance around this on the radio……BWWWAAHHAAAAHHAAAAHHAAAAA!!!!
Pi$$onaDawg
November 22nd, 2009
12:22 am
Diddy get a weed eatr
southern star
November 22nd, 2009
12:22 am
who calls a toss sweep in the one yard line???? Horrible call, but this was not a coaching issued to night, just Joe Cox being horrible and our special teams being the worst I have seen in a long time. Where was Charles in the second half?
we r georgia
November 22nd, 2009
12:22 am
you tech people on here KILL me with laughter! you talk so big and with so much trash in your mouth- next week you will probably have to swallow it. your boys are emotionally intimidated by us REGARDLESS of our record. “it’s the georgia game, OMG, THE game of the year! we lose and our season is worthless! oh yeah, forgot, we won our division in the ACC and are playing for the title! wait, we’d rather beat georgia instead.” you people are so insanely jealous of us you can’t see straight through those coke bottle glasses! we may be having a bad year, but we are STILL GEORGIA. you guys will be tech losers forever regardless if you win every single game for the rest of your lives.
relax dawg fans! hell, just wait till next year.
The Apologist
November 22nd, 2009
12:22 am
Top 5 reasons we lost
5. Recruiting, Recruiting, Recruiting
4. Half Time adjustments – what half time adjustments
3. We were looking ahead to the Tech game
2. UGA VII’s death was a distraction
1. Those blasted refs did it to us again
Comments
November 22nd, 2009
12:22 am
Is there any way to skip next week and avoid a bowl game. I really do not want to watch two more losing games. Worst, weak GA team I have ever tried to watch. Thank goodness I did not waste my Saturday and sold my tickets for an “actual profit”.
Dan
November 22nd, 2009
12:22 am
This Georgia team does not deserve to go to a bowl game. Never thought I’d say it but the whole coaching staff needs to go.
BeachReck
November 22nd, 2009
12:22 am
“DP
November 22nd, 2009
12:10 am
Georgia’s fans were a bigger embarrassment to the program than the team was tonight. I’ve never seen such a mass exodus in a game with the outcome still in doubt. ESPN gave a close up of it and the announcers were talking about it. That’s got to be great for the morale of the players coming back next year and for recruiting.”
I have to admit, I was also shocked. Totally understand the disappointment, but have personally seen the same fans mock and taunt opposing fans who did the same. I guess I thought the Dawg fans had a little more class.
m
November 22nd, 2009
12:22 am
Bag on Willie all you want but don’t forget Bobo.
Floundering Fox Hounds
November 22nd, 2009
12:22 am
Im not surprised that Ray Goof looks like eighty years old. thats what happens when you get into something over your head. Thats why Willie is bald.
Robby
November 22nd, 2009
12:23 am
What can you say…its the same old crap. Joe Cox should have been benched a LONG time ago when this was w/o a doubt a rebuilding season. Why keep him in when we had two highly recruited FR on the bench that could have been building chemistry with people like Charles and AJ. And Willie Martinez should have never even made it to this season much less through this season. After Tennessee I cannot imagine any logical reason to keep him on as d-coordinator. When it matters anyone can score on our dst.
And Tech fans. You should win next weekend but you may want to watch all the crap you toss out these. You did give up 42 on us last season and last I checked we have own your pathetic club for a LONG LONG LONG time. Just don’t go crawling to your mom’s basement hide out playing computer games if you get beat next weekend. And I still will bet you with our sorry record your stadium will be half full of Dawg fans b/c you have no loyal fan base. Just bandwagon jumpers!!!!
Worst game ever...
November 22nd, 2009
12:23 am
For a second straight week, Willie Martinez actually coaches a good defensive game, however, this time we completely fall apart after halftime. Sounds a lot like the Tech game last year doesn’t it?
JoD
November 22nd, 2009
12:23 am
The Analytical Truth…..
November 22nd, 2009
12:21 am
I still hate Tech.
We still hate you! Feeling is very mutual!
Engy
November 22nd, 2009
12:23 am
Sorry, but I’m one of the more vociferous Tech supporters and I have no qualms about kicking the Dawgs when they’re down. I want UGA to be completely marginalized in college football and I want GT to be the premier academic and athletic institution in the state. We’re already the former, we’re this close to being the latter.
I’ll see you guys on The Flats next week.
revwreck
November 22nd, 2009
12:23 am
if i were a uga fan my biggest concern would be why our players thought the whole thing was so funny on the sidelines
The real Denver Dog
November 22nd, 2009
12:23 am
No D, predictable offense, terrible special teams play. Who in the world is coaching this team? If X is successful, why do Y. In politics they say follow the money, on defense they say follow the eyes, they did, we lost. Meltdown is not the right word. Choke, Gag, quit, those might. Let it be known that from the time of the second half kickoff UGA was outcoached, out schemed, out played, out hustled and most disappointing to me, out scored. Congrats to Ky, and gang, we got beat.
hacks
November 22nd, 2009
12:24 am
you really can’t make this cr@p up, I’m still laughing….to see the look on the fans faces at the game..I mean you think because you are UGA you are suppose to be some team that dominates this country every season…who sold you that bill of goods? Like I said, what have you done in the last 29 years? nothing
John Tunuta
November 22nd, 2009
12:24 am
Where do I apply for Def Coord?
Dawg5
November 22nd, 2009
12:24 am
I admit, we stink this year…but it really makes me laugh to see all of these Tech fans on here acting like they’re the college football program of the century. You had a decent season last year and you’re doing great this year, but give me a break. You’ve been the laughing stock of football and the ACC for the past decade at least. The reactions on here will be PRICELESS when you lose to Clemson in a few weeks!
Falcon 34
November 22nd, 2009
12:24 am
Looks like the excuses have finally gone out the windown concerning Richt and his peeps
. Is the word finally out that Richt is not the guy to take UGA to the promised land 
Understandably, the Dawgs lost to Vandy, Kenucky, Tennessee the year after we won an SEC Title. And this year we lost to a first year coach @ Tennessee, Weak @– teams in Okie State and LSU, and another blowout by Florida.
NO MORE EXCUSES!!!!!!!!!! This program has become a joke. The time for sugar-coating is over
Super Dawg
November 22nd, 2009
12:24 am
Two words: Jerry Glanville.
dawg gone it
November 22nd, 2009
12:24 am
Jeff, it’s interception not inteception.
Why?
November 22nd, 2009
12:25 am
Did they call a toss sweep on third and one on the goal line? Did they not try to block the punt out of the end zone? Did they squib kick? Did they blow a 14-point lead in three minutes. Did they not fire Martinez last season? My dear uncle the Tech fan will be smiling down from Heaven as I pull for the Jackets next week in hope that Richt is not left with a choice but to issue pink slips. Richt must think of his own family and livelihood at this point.
Not so fast
November 22nd, 2009
12:25 am
Georgia Gator, the largest recruiting weekend was LAST weekend. The recruiting section is right behind us and it was literally almost empty. Nice try. By the way, tell Urban it’ll take the moving trucks about two days to get his stuff to South Bend.
Reality
November 22nd, 2009
12:25 am
If nothing else, next year’s quarterback will have a better haircut. Wonder if that’s been part of the problem.
NRE@gt
November 22nd, 2009
12:25 am
we r Georgia: how on earth can you come on here and bash the Jackets? your God-awful team just lost to Kentucky
Rocky Top
November 22nd, 2009
12:25 am
In the next decade, UT and UF will battle for supremacy for the SEC East, while UGA, SC, and UK battle for mid pack.
Go Vols
Taco
November 22nd, 2009
12:26 am
I am about to go to bed and I am so happy UGA found another way to make me sleep happy! Watching UGA lose makes my my week! Watching their fans cry and moan makes my turkey day seem so much sweeter. I cannot say my Jackets will win next week, but we have heart and coaching. This bulldog thing is deader than UGA IVXIXVIII or whatever that dang number is now. He may have commited suicide to avoid watching that abomination. Maybe they should just get a mutt till it turns around.
ToddShane
November 22nd, 2009
12:26 am
Well….next week will certainly be ugly. This Dawgs teams has quit on this coaching staff. Never a good sign. Even worse when you’re playing what’s essentially a top 5 team. The Georgia Tech offense rolls, and I mean ROLLS through the Dawg’s D. Expect 400+ in rushing yards….another 100-150 in passing yards from Josh Nesbitt. Georgia Tech lays a BEATDOWN on Georgia…courtesy of Coach Paul “Damn” Johnson.
JoD
November 22nd, 2009
12:26 am
we r georgia
November 22nd, 2009
12:22 am
you tech people on here KILL me with laughter! you talk so big and with so much trash in your mouth- next week you will probably have to swallow it. your boys are emotionally intimidated by us REGARDLESS of our record. “it’s the georgia game, OMG, THE game of the year! we lose and our season is worthless! oh yeah, forgot, we won our division in the ACC and are playing for the title! wait, we’d rather beat georgia instead.” you people are so insanely jealous of us you can’t see straight through those coke bottle glasses! we may be having a bad year, but we are STILL GEORGIA. you guys will be tech losers forever regardless if you win every single game for the rest of your lives.
relax dawg fans! hell, just wait till next year.
———————————————————————————
Bwahahahahahahahahahaahahah! UGA is so last year dude! Get over it, UGA is not or never will be a power house.
Nurse Ratchet
November 22nd, 2009
12:26 am
Were the Dalton indoor/outdoor carpet bowl game representatives at the game(IhopeIhopeIhope)?
Matt the Brave
November 22nd, 2009
12:26 am
Again, WHY did we not run the ball?! It seemed like in the second half that we didn’t even attempt to run the ball at all. And that’s all we had to do was to run the ball a bit, get those corners to have to crowd the box, then pass it. Of course, the announcers said on the radio that the defensive coordinator (or someone on the UK side) said that UGA’s offense was predictable. Something you never want to hear ever.
Did you see how many people were walking out with time left on the clock? I hope that someone is taking note of that. It’s going to be a long couple of weeks for our boys, I fear. I’m certainly hoping that we’ll see some changes on this staff to improve our chances week in and week out.
Pi$$onaDawg
November 22nd, 2009
12:26 am
I have pics of Richt B. Bowden and Willie in a bed together on a recruiting trip maybe all can just go away if I post the photos.
gtinnc
November 22nd, 2009
12:26 am
got to admit I was a little concerned until I saw UGA play tonight, now I’m not…
Andrew Travers
November 22nd, 2009
12:26 am
Note to TJ Stripling: Do you really want to play for the loser program in Athens?? Son, come on down to Atlanta and be a part of a winning program. When GT dismantles the mutts next Saturday night, your decision should be clear. Do you want to be the hammer or the nail?