Georgia enjoys a laugher and tries not to wonder, ‘What if?’
Celebration time: Carlton Thomas is mobbed after a first-quarter touchdown, igniting a 43-0 rout. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS – Since Georgia is way past concerns about where it ranks in the Harris Poll, there’s little in the way of buildup for the unveiling of the first BCS standings Sunday. Certainly, there’s no reason for fans to reflect and wonder: “Will Vanderbilt’s record hurt our strength of schedule?”
But that shouldn’t matter right now. There is a pulse.
One week after thumping Tennessee 41-14, the Bulldogs boat-raced Vanderbilt 43-0 on Saturday.
That’s two wins by a combined 70 points. The only lingering depression following consecutive dismemberings stems from the fact the schedule is now exhausted of teams from the Volunteer State.
Seven weeks into the season, a 3-4 record is not what anybody in Athens had aspired to. But aesthetically, it’s far more appealing than 1-4 was — or what 1-4 seemingly projected to.
The latest win even inspired two Capital One Bowl officials to sit in on coach Mark Richt’s postgame news conference. A tad premature, perhaps.
Consecutive wins over bad teams at home don’t reveal a lot about how good a team is. But it certainly makes everybody stop guessing where the bottom is. It also says something about character.
As Richt summarized neatly: “It looks like we’re getting better. It looks like we’re playing with more passion. We’re getting some momentum.”
Next week at Kentucky will be a slightly tougher test. (The Dogs are 0-3 on the road.) The following week against Florida will be significantly tougher. (No reason to revisit inglorious history right now.)
Win those two games, and suddenly two Capital One Bowl officials won’t look so out of place. Uga VIII would be elevated to deity status.
If Georgia manages to turn this season into something special, people are going to start showing up at Uga’s doghouse, asking him to lay paws on their forehead.
The Dogs weren’t without some minor flaws Saturday. Among other things, Richt and his team burned three timeouts in the first five minutes of the game. But what followed was mostly a performance that gave them the look of a wrecking ball. Richt was even allowed to even joke about the early management issues. When asked about officials not checking replay when a seeming touchdown pass to A.J. Green was ruled incomplete, the coach cracked he couldn’t debate it because: “I didn’t have any timeouts left.”
"Big Bad Bruce" (Uga VIII) fell asleep during the game, apparently having concluded, "My work is done here." (AP photo)
But when a defense pitches a shutout and limits an opponent to 140 yards and an offense amasses 547 yards, there’s not a lot to pick on. The offensive line blocked. The running backs ran hard, broke tackles and didn’t fumble (Washaun Ealey: 123 yards, one touchdown). Aaron Murray threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns, and Green didn’t even account for most of that (he was the third-leading receiver after Kris Durham and Tavarres King).
The Dogs’ only challenge will be not looking back, not asking: What happened in Columbia? And Starkville? And Boulder?
“Obviously it hurts, especially when you look at the way we’re playing now,” tackle Clint Boling said. “Where was this two or three weeks ago? But we just have to move on from it. There’s nothing we can do about it now.”
“We just have to control what we can control,” Durham said. “Just get wins. That’s all we can do and hopefully get some help along the way.”
A two-game winning streak shouldn’t inspire parades. But it represents a breakthrough. Georgia hadn’t won consecutive games all season. They hadn’t won consecutive SEC games in 13 months — September of last season over South Carolina and Arkansas. Those were the same two opponents that started the spiral this year. Before the win over Tennessee, the Dogs were 2-7 in their previous nine SEC games. Now they will go to Kentucky with a chance to balance the season record.
Forget the BCS. Right now, it’s about cleansing, winning and landing somewhere north of Shreveport.
Durham again: “We were embarrassed the way we were playing before. We’re trying to get tougher as a football team.”
They are. We’ll soon find out where it gets them.
♦
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540 comments Add your comment
Reggie
October 17th, 2010
7:07 pm
How about the major league meltdowns by Spurrier & Meyer this weekend.
Both living in ‘Choke City’.
Urban Meyer ain’t doing real well with that #1 recruiting class without Tebow, Strong, Harvin & Mullen.
Spurrier didn’t look too well without Lattimore in the 2nd half.
Yellow Fuzz
October 17th, 2010
7:13 pm
Reggie:
If Georgia beats Florida it WILL BE because Florida had a down year. Who are you kidding little man?
Yellow Fuzz
October 17th, 2010
7:15 pm
Reggie:
Having the longest winnign streak in the SEC East is nothing to brag about little man. It’s the weakest division of any conference in the US.
East gives the SEC a bad name
October 17th, 2010
7:19 pm
Enter your comments here
Devil's Advocate
October 17th, 2010
7:23 pm
Fuzz, you have that inferiority complex on high don’t you. The Jackets will mail it in for sure.
Reggie
October 17th, 2010
7:24 pm
9-4 finish has a funny way of making critics look dumb. Richt pretty much hits that mark every year, averages bout 10 wins a season.
Resaca's Top
October 17th, 2010
7:28 pm
Don’t mind him he is jealous and sore
Yellow Fuzz Top
October 17th, 2010
7:29 pm
He really is a great bottom, but knows nothing about football
Bulldog Joe
October 17th, 2010
7:42 pm
Georgia Bulldogs through Week 7 :
# 53 Total Offense
# 51 Scoring Offense
# 14 Total Defense
# 20 Scoring Defense
Reggie
October 17th, 2010
7:42 pm
3 losses in a row–is Urban Meyer on the Hotseat, or will he quit?
Bulldog Joe
October 17th, 2010
7:43 pm
Our Defense is 3 times as good as our offense.
Reggie
October 17th, 2010
7:45 pm
I think it’s safe to say Ark’s #1 SEC Pass Offense will match-up well with SC’s #12 sec pass defense. If Florida pulls off a win against the man they all hate, ex-coach Spurrier, then Georgia heads to Atlanta and finishes 10-4.
Bulldog Joe #2
October 17th, 2010
7:48 pm
Georgia is 2nd in SEC East.
Murray is outperforming McElroy & Garcia in almost category.
Offense is playing like everybody expected them to with AJ Green back.
Defense is settling down.
Georgia is an excellent team.
Hit A Single
October 17th, 2010
7:59 pm
Kentucky is very dangerous. Very talented offensively and defense isn’t bad. Another test for the Dawgs who are now playing pretty well with alot of confidence. A player like AJ can add that. Go Dawgs.
Bulldog Joe #2
October 17th, 2010
8:00 pm
Hey Bulldog Joe:
love those stats man. Is Georgia’s D great or what? Thanks for sharing.
Bulldog Joe #3
October 17th, 2010
8:00 pm
Bulldog Joe #2;
Good point.
Columbus_Tider
October 17th, 2010
8:07 pm
I dont think anyone from the east wants to play in sec championship game. At least no one is playing like it
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
8:21 pm
It’s truly funny to see how things have played out so far this season. Everyone was making fun of Auburn and now people are acting like Auburn is the greatest. As much as I love Auburn, our defense is terrible. If we had a defense I don’t think there’d be a team in the country that could hang with us.
Yesterday was like watching a basketball game. Still amazed we put 65 points up against Arkansas.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
8:22 pm
“Kentucky is very dangerous.”
You know, people were making cracks at Auburn for getting past KY by 3 points. They are a very good football team. Miss State is another team that has surprised a lot of people.
Reality
October 17th, 2010
8:23 pm
Let’s keep things in perspective. Two wins vs crappy teams does not salvage a season. If they win the next two then we’ll talk about redemption. We still have major holes and until we see progress, I’m not buying
Yellow Fuzz
October 17th, 2010
8:24 pm
Hey dogs, talk to me after you beat KY on the road.
And I have forgotten more football than all dog fans here combined. I actually played the game past Pop Warner League. Hahahaha!
Outback Special
October 17th, 2010
8:26 pm
Gee I hope we don’t have to invite Georgia this year.
Aaron
October 17th, 2010
8:41 pm
To any Auburn fans out there starting to talk like they are going to win the national title, GET REAL! Beating Arkansas was your only convincing win of the year. Auburn got very luck in their other wins. Their defense has to be one of the worst I have ever seen. Can’t win it all with that crap. Auburn will go 1-2 vs. Alabama, LSU, and UGA. Before you start saying there is no way UGA can beat Auburn, please see 4 years ago when a freshman QB and terrible UGA team came to Auburn and killed them. I believe Auburn was ranked #6 that year.
Outback Bowl
October 17th, 2010
8:50 pm
Auburn may not win the National title but they will stomp the dawgs very soon.
Aaron
October 17th, 2010
8:51 pm
Sure “Outback Bowl,” just like 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006 right? Murray is awesome and Auburn’s pass defense is PATHETIC. UGA’s defense is also MUCH better then Auburn’s.
Terry
October 17th, 2010
8:52 pm
Funny, the way some writers minimize wins, and exaggerate losses.
Oh well, such is journalism today.
Burt
October 17th, 2010
8:54 pm
Richt is 5-0 against Auburn, he owns them. And 7-2 against Kentucky, and 8-1 against Ga Tech.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
8:56 pm
“Beating Arkansas was your only convincing win of the year.”
We also beat USC which beat Bama, KY which beat USC, Miss State which beat FL and UGAY.
You were saying?
“Auburn will go 1-2 vs. Alabama, LSU, and UGA.”
LOL! Three weeks ago you clowns were saying Auburn would lose to USC, KY and Arky.
Keep on talking, clown!
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
8:56 pm
“Richt is 5-0 against Auburn, he owns them.”
?????????????????? Are you retarded?
Aaron
October 17th, 2010
8:56 pm
Burt, I am a UGA fan but how can Richt be 5-0 vs. Auburn when Richt has been UGA’s coach since 2001?
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
8:57 pm
“Murray is awesome and Auburn’s pass defense is PATHETIC. UGA’s defense is also MUCH better then Auburn’s.”
Keep telling yourself that, clown.
UGAY SUCKS!
DAVIS
October 17th, 2010
8:58 pm
Anybody else noticed how bad the Dallas Cowboys got after Todd Grantham left?
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
8:58 pm
Aaron
In case you missed it, Auburn put 65 points up against Arkansas.
Nuff said, dawg poop.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
8:59 pm
“Burt, I am a UGA fan”
And a jealous clown at that.
Aaron
October 17th, 2010
8:59 pm
“War Damn Eagle” I guess you can’t read. CONVINCING means they won convincingly. They squeaked by MSU, UK, and SC and could have easily lost all three. Don’t be in denial about UGA owning Auburn recently, including 2006 at Auburn with a freshman QB. You know how pathetic Auburn’s pass defense is. Worst I have ever seen. UGA’s overall defense is in the top 15.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
9:00 pm
“They squeaked by MSU, UK, and SC and could have easily lost all three.”
And you clowns lost to two of the above three.
“Don’t be in denial about UGA owning Auburn recently, including 2006 at Auburn with a freshman QB.”
Nothing like a loser UGAY fan living in the past.
“You know how pathetic Auburn’s pass defense is. Worst I have ever seen. UGA’s overall defense is in the top 15.”
HAHAHAH!!!!! Last time I checked, UGAY wasn’t in the top 25.
Richard Jr.
October 17th, 2010
9:00 pm
I’ve learned that when Georgia wins, Jeff will write something downplaying the win, and when Georgia loses, Jefff with write something hyping up the loss. So, basically, Jeff’s never a true gauge of Georgia, whether they win or lose, he’s 1 place I never look for real valuation.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
9:01 pm
“Don’t be in denial about UGA owning Auburn recently”
Cam Newton will put up 7 touchdowns on your “defense” before the first quarter is over.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
9:02 pm
“Jeff will write something downplaying the win”
Ok, well Jeff could have written: UGAY BEATS LAST PLACE VANDERBILT IN AN IMPRESSIVE WIN OVER A LAST PLACE TEAM!!!!
LOL
Outback Bowl was right
October 17th, 2010
9:02 pm
Before you dogs start to feel too much better about yourselves and your school, keep in mind that YOU are not ranked in the top 40 in ANY Poll.
AP
1 Oregon (39) 6-0 1,471
2 Boise State (15) 6-0 1,433
3 Oklahoma (3) 6-0 1,355 6
4 TCU (3) 7-0 1,340 4
5 Auburn 7-0 1,279 7
6 LSU 7-0 1,132 9
7 Alabama 6-1 1,121 8
8 Michigan State 7-0 1,062 13
9 Utah 6-0 1,019 11
10 Wisconsin 6-1 920 18
11 Ohio State 6-1 895 1
12 Stanford 5-1 828 14
13 Iowa 5-1 768 15
14 Nebraska 5-1 684 5
15 Arizona 5-1 619 17
16 Florida State 6-1 615 16
17 Oklahoma State 6-0 575 20
18 Missouri 6-0 552 21
19 South Carolina 4-2 372 10
20 West Virginia 5-1 346 25
21 Arkansas 4-2 343 12
22 Texas 4-2 267 NR
23 Virginia Tech 5-2 122 NR
24 Mississippi State 5-2 111 NR
25 Miami (FL) 4-2 85 NR
26 USC 80,
27 Kansas State 40,
28 Nevada 19,
29 North Carolina 8,
30 Northwestern 8,
31 Hawaii 8,
32 Michigan 7,
33 Georgia Tech 5,
34 Oregon State 3,
35 North Carolina State 2,
36 Baylor 2,
37 Washington 1,
38 Kentucky 1,
39 Air Force 1,
40 East Carolina 1
Jo Jo
October 17th, 2010
9:02 pm
Burt’s correct. Mark Richt does have a 5-0 record in his last 5 games iwth Auburn. He has their number.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
9:03 pm
Aaron
When UGA actually beats a ranked team, let me know. When Murry puts up 65 points on Arkansas, let me know.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
9:04 pm
“Mark Richt does have a 5-0 record in his last 5 games iwth Auburn. ”
5 years would go back to 2005.
2005 31 Auburn 30 UGAY
You UGAY gals are bad with math. UGAY has a 4 year win streak, not a five.
Aaron
October 17th, 2010
9:04 pm
Defensive Stats:
Auburn – Passing, 266 yards per game, ranks 104. Rushing, 101, ranks 14th
UGA – Passing, 186 yards per game, ranks 26th. Rushing, 104, ranks 15th.
Yea, Auburn’s defense rocks!
Aaron
October 17th, 2010
9:07 pm
Talk all you want little Auburn fan. I will think of you and laugh when Auburn ends up watching Bama go to the SEC Championship, or LSU. Auburn = OVERRATED! Arkansas also had their BACKUP QB in loser.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
9:07 pm
“Yea, Auburn’s defense rocks!”
Auburn 7-0 ranked number 4 in the BCS
UGAY 3-4 ranked number……………..oh that’s right, they’re not ranked.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
9:08 pm
“Talk all you want little Auburn fan.”
I don’t have to, clown. Auburn’s record speaks for itself.
“I will think of you and laugh when Auburn ends up watching Bama go to the SEC Championship, or LSU.”
I bet you think Hooter waitresses think you’re hot. LOL
“Auburn = OVERRATED! Arkansas also had their BACKUP QB in loser.”
Are you effing retarded?
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
9:09 pm
“Auburn = OVERRATED! ”
Auburn = RATED NUMBER 4.
FYT, CLOWN.
Aaron
October 17th, 2010
9:09 pm
Quote from “war damn eagle” at 8:21 – “As much as I love Auburn, our defense is terrible.” What a loser. You agree with me and then go into denial. Look at the stats moron.
WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!!!!
October 17th, 2010
9:09 pm
Aaron = loser clown who’s team sucks and lost to two teams that Auburn beat.
KY will destroy UGAY.