Even Independence Bowl can tell us something about Georgia
Mark Richt entertained the horde of media (slight exaggeration) in Shreveport this week.
Let’s start with two facts. 1) Seven SEC teams landed in better bowl games than Georgia: Alabama (BCS), Florida (Sugar), LSU (Capital One), Mississippi (Cotton), Tennessee (Chick-fil-A), Auburn (Outback), Kentucky (Music City); 2) Only 6,800 of the Bulldogs’ 12,000-ticket allotment to the Independence Bowl was sold, which of course leads to the obvious question: How did they find 6,800 people to go to Shreveport?
So it’s safe to assume that most of you are not thrilled with the fact that the final memory of the 2009 season will be the Dec. 28, 5 p.m. time slot tonight on ESPN 2. (Programming note: The Independence Bowl follows the Premier League soccer game between Wolverhampton and Manchester City.)
But I’m here to tell you that tonight’s game does mean something for Georgia’s season. Besides, it’s worth watching if for no other reason than more updates from the minds of Urban Meyer.
This is what a win over Texas A&M tonight accomplishes. It leaves Georgia at 8-5, which aesthetically is a more pleasing than 7-6. It also means the Bulldogs will have gone 4-1 in their final five games after the Florida loss, including the win over Georgia Tech. (The lone defeat came to Kentucky, a development so stunning that even Rich Brooks is going to retire.) A win keeps recruits who are on the fence about Georgia at least still on that fence, or maybe even pushes them over it. A loss possibly tips them in the wrong direction.
The biggest problem with tonight’s game is it doesn’t give Georgia fans a true preview of next season. Next season’s quarterback won’t be playing, which stems from coach Mark Richt’s decision not to take the redshirt off of freshmen Aaron Murray or Zach Mettenberger. In a sense, next season’s defense also won’t be playing because Richt hasn’t hired a defensive coordinator yet (nor at least two other assistants).
But what you can take from tonight’s game is seeing what underclassmen are making plays tonight. Who looks like they are treating the game as a bonus and not a booby prize?
We can also find out something about Richt. This will be the first game he has coached since he fired Willie Martinez. Given the pressures and time constraints stemming from the job search, as well as recruiting, I want to see where the man’s level of energy and enthusiasm is at coaching a football game.
It’s not the game you wanted. It’s not the day or time slot you wanted. But it’s not a game devoid of meaning.
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395 comments Add your comment
GA TECH TAKES BIG DUMP IN ITS $14 MILLION BOWL
December 28th, 2009
3:42 pm
Oops, sorry, that is next week.
mason
December 28th, 2009
3:43 pm
(( 30-24 ))
hahahahahaaaaaaa
Glad it still hurst so bad. Better get used to it techmites because you won’t beat UGA again for another decade.
hahahahahahahaha
A Rod
December 28th, 2009
3:45 pm
Hell uga would probably win the conference championship also if it was in the ACC
wow...dozed off for a minute
December 28th, 2009
3:47 pm
@Connect the dots….congratulations on being a 1-aa football player!!! The definitely gave you credibility on your novel of a post. Well, except that fact you said absolutely nothing.
I’ll summarize so everyone else doesn’t fall asleep at their desk…
@Connect the dots thinks that Georgia will go 7-5 next year and said something about recruiting. He has no idea what he is talking about.
Pi$$onaDAWG
December 28th, 2009
3:48 pm
Mark & Jeff WHO is LIVE from the Waffle House in Shreveport for this great game even the Dawgs(that TRAVEL so well) Didn’t go to?
A challenge for Tech fans....
December 28th, 2009
3:49 pm
Name two teams on your schedule that would have beaten Georgia this year…..go!
SOUTHGADAWG88
December 28th, 2009
3:51 pm
How does Chavis compare to WM over last 4 years?curious
Oh Where
December 28th, 2009
3:54 pm
Oh. where, oh, where has my little dog gone?
Oh, where, oh, where can he be?
With his wins so few and his losses so many,
Oh, where, oh, where can he be?
Bob Dylan
December 28th, 2009
3:54 pm
Rather watch Man City vs Wolverhampton.
Bob Dylan
December 28th, 2009
3:55 pm
One would be Clempson, since they beat Kentucky.
A challenge for Tech fans....
December 28th, 2009
3:56 pm
also lost to Tech…twice
acc=weakersister
December 28th, 2009
3:56 pm
To A CHALLENGE FOR TECH FANS…..I’m not a Tech fan….but depending on location….Clemson, Miami, and Va Tech all could have beaten UGA. You lost to KENTUCKY! Ok? That’s enough from you.
ORANGE BOWL COMMITTEE
December 28th, 2009
3:56 pm
CAN WE CHANGE OUR PICK TO FSU? The old man would at least get people to watch TV. FSU fans travel. FSU runs a pro style offense that looks good on TV. FSU has a real live mascot. FSU has good looking co-eds (for you tech fans, that means girls). FSU makes money in athletics. FSU sells out its stadium. FSU has good looking unifoms. FSU is closer. FSU throws passes that are completed. FSU doesn’t add to the gay population of South Florida.
BG
December 28th, 2009
3:57 pm
30 to 24 all year baby.
PHIL
December 28th, 2009
3:57 pm
First, and most importantly perhaps, “Connect the Dots” is an idiot who is in obvious denial about the REAL state of the football team over at the trade school. Their best team EVER got WAXED by the worst team we’ve had in 10 years. Things will be back to normal from now on.
But the problem with this game, to me, is that UGA matches up better with many BCS teams than they do Texas Tech. I think they match up better against Iowa, of course Tech, Cinci, Boise, TCU, (Those three are a joke and shouldn’t be allowed to be in the top 20) and of course both Rose Bowl teams. I think the strength of Texas Tech is the weakness of UGA and that it could be a bad day.
Bill
December 28th, 2009
3:58 pm
Mason, I’m not a UGA are a GT fan. I just think its funny dawg fans act like they won the SUPER BOWL by beating GT. HAHAHAHA! I’m all Bama Baby!
Snorkel (the forgotten Split)
December 28th, 2009
3:59 pm
Ok… so none of us made the trip to Shreveport. Did the AJC even bother to send anyone? I think they should let one of us do a live blog from the bar at Manuels… as long as they pick up the tab.
Bye bye DADDY
December 28th, 2009
4:00 pm
wait, wait, wait, what do you mean you are not retiring? How are we ever going to win the SEC east again?
A challenge for Tech fans....
December 28th, 2009
4:01 pm
the loss to Kentucky is an outlier…if we don’t fumble on the one, we win the game. Miami and VA Tech both lost to a dismal UNC team. Clemson, again, lost to Tech twice.
Tron Carter
December 28th, 2009
4:01 pm
I’ll tell you where the dog is..still taking dumps on historically terrible grant field (what we left of it) at Bobby Douche stadium.
30-24 massengill
Tom
December 28th, 2009
4:02 pm
Well those 6800 people there are the die hards. Kudos to you. Its just sad.
Boy
December 28th, 2009
4:02 pm
those hedges sure tasted good!
Boy
December 28th, 2009
4:05 pm
can’t wait for a second helping in 2010
James T. Kirk
December 28th, 2009
4:05 pm
Good luck in your toilet bowl game today, puppies!! I’m already fine dining in South Beach with many exotic hotties while you are stuck with trailer park chicks that waitress at the Waffle House!!!!
Tron Carter
December 28th, 2009
4:06 pm
So did 30-24 and the free hotdogs and cokes you get for attending the games at Bobby Douche.
Nice Program
#2 in fan support, even in your own hometown
Tech Man
December 28th, 2009
4:06 pm
Since Nov.28 I have realy been thinking how a team like ga beat us.Last night I watch the Kentucky Clemson game.We all know the history of games with ga and GA TECH with Clemson and Kentucky this year. Today I figured it out and I came up with one word. LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saban for prezdint
December 28th, 2009
4:07 pm
Anyone seen a defense around lately? I heard A&M and UGA are both in need of one by 5:00 p.m. today.
GT = UGA
December 28th, 2009
4:07 pm
For all of you Dawgs fans yelping about 30-24 this season, that ain’t exactly a statement score. Just like last year’s score wasn’t. The only statement that can be made between last year and this year is that BOTH PROGRAMS are pretty much equal at this point. And with the team from Atlanta apparently headed UP and the team from Athens trending DOWN, I’d be a little uneasy, if I wuz a Dawg.
ACC owns you!!!
December 28th, 2009
4:08 pm
The ACC is proving yet again to be the most dominate bowl conference in all the land. Our worst ACC team owned one of the best SEC teams last night. I look for more of the same to continue throughout all the bowls.
Bob Dylan
December 28th, 2009
4:09 pm
Phil send me what ever it is you are smoking man. everybody must get stoned
gdawginkalamazoo
December 28th, 2009
4:09 pm
AP Updateon the Urban Meyer story…. Urban said today that Urban’s next step is to have his head frozen like Ted Williams. Ironically that will be Tim Tebow’s same fate if drafted by Buffalo.
This game tells us if this team quits or not. I don’t think they will. That has been the attitude lately in Athens and the kids just don’t quit. Not during a game and not during the season. I don’t think that a loss will influence recruiting one way or another. The kids that have commited will still be coming.
Go Dawgs!
UGA > GT
December 28th, 2009
4:10 pm
GT = UGA,
Hmmm….how does an unranked UGA team WITHOUT their best player, dominating the 7th ranked GT team in their own stadium when they had two weeks to prepare, equal to a slap at UGA exactly?
Tech fans are beyond desperate
CatsFly
December 28th, 2009
4:10 pm
Defensive coach of ACC’s 2d best defensive team says “thank you but not thank you to UGa”.
Tech alum '02
December 28th, 2009
4:11 pm
Heading down to Miami as we speak!!! Prostitution is legal down there, right????
GT = UGA
December 28th, 2009
4:11 pm
I guess you didn’t read the post, DA.
Tron Carter
December 28th, 2009
4:12 pm
Is 8 of 9 luck?
60-39-5 is a statement
gdawginkalamazoo
December 28th, 2009
4:13 pm
Just shows you the respect that they give the ACC Champs.. Sticking us in Shreveport. Damn ACC.
GT = UGA
December 28th, 2009
4:13 pm
But to answer you partially, how does 30-24 equal domination ?
paddy mae
December 28th, 2009
4:13 pm
Watch out, if Yech finishes in the top 25 they are surely to claim this season as yet another “national championship” year, Lol!!!!!
collegeballfan
December 28th, 2009
4:13 pm
athensdawg at 1:45 pm – I agree, the secret for UGA is running the ball. It is also the secret for every other team in the SEC. UGA would not or could not run the ball most of the year. I believe it was would not, most games they didn’t even try. Just throw the damn ball play after play. They must have set a team record for 3 & 6 outs.
Tron Carter
December 28th, 2009
4:14 pm
8 of 9 and 60-39-5 = domination
UGA > GT
December 28th, 2009
4:15 pm
The stats prove how one sided the game truly was, even without the best player in the stadium being on the field. Factor in how UGA had two surefire TD’s that their receivers dropped in full stride, it could have easily had been a slaughter.
GT = UGA
December 28th, 2009
4:15 pm
And another thing, UGA > GT, you don’t have to ADMIT that you’re uneasy about your program. I can read the posts from week-to-week. They tell it all.
On a side note
December 28th, 2009
4:16 pm
while the money is good, it is a shame to take players with potential like Stafford and others, and draft them into sh*tholes like Detroit and ruin their careers. If I was a player, I think I would rather go lower in the draft and make my money over the long haul.
The REAL Paul's Johnson
December 28th, 2009
4:16 pm
James T. Kirk:
“Good luck in your toilet bowl game today, puppies!! I’m already fine dining in South Beach with many exotic hotties while you are stuck with trailer park chicks that waitress at the Waffle House!!!!’
Sorry knob but dumpster diving with your Ethiopian boyfriend does not qualify as “fine dining with exotic hotties”.
Correction
December 28th, 2009
4:17 pm
Tron,
The series isn’t even as close as you state. The first ever meeting between the two, Tech used guys that didn’t attend GT. In 1943 & 44 they used players from other schools and they were also caught cheating during 1997-2003. So take away those 6 “wins” of theirs where they clearly cheated, and UGA is nearly 30 games ahead
Bob Dylan
December 28th, 2009
4:18 pm
Right on Tech 02. Just cruise Biscayne Boulevard and Party with Eugene.
Tron Carter
December 28th, 2009
4:18 pm
GT + free hotdogs and cokes/joke by coke X Paul Johnson’s “tough” talk/55,000 < UGA
kimble
December 28th, 2009
4:19 pm
The only people that are uneasy about their program are tool fans. Their best team since Colorado’s national title in 1990 and you can’t even beat Richt’s worst ever team, WITHOUT his best player none-the-less? And after Gailey’s studs say see ya after the Orange Bowl, it’s obvious next year is going to be a blood bath.
ORANGE BOWL COMMITTEE
December 28th, 2009
4:19 pm
HOW ABOUT THE U, CAN WE HAVE THEM. The U has good looking coeds that know how to dress for TV audiences. The U is local and would fill up the stadium. The U has great tradition. The U throws passes that are completed. The U has a national following. The U sells out its stadium. The U is after all is “THE U”. And best of all, The U has the Gators so scared they won’t even play them anymore. We love “The U” for our bowl game.