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
Katherine
October 16th, 2010
11:36 pm
SECWest
October 16th, 2010
11:33 pm
Katherine – Ummm no i’m not stupid
…yeah, but it appears you can’t spell “I’m”… like I said above, Karma is a bitch(e).
Seriously? You idiottard….I did spell it right……you must be an allbarn fan.
Rob
October 16th, 2010
11:36 pm
Maybe the biggest question in the East is how SC responds to the Kentucky loss. Do they take a deep breath, regroup, and realize they still control their own destiny or do they fold down the stretch?
Delbert D.
October 16th, 2010
11:37 pm
How can Georgia and Florida both finish with with 3 losses when the have to play each other??
Paul in RDU
October 16th, 2010
11:37 pm
To the people making calculations on the SEC East based on UGA and UF each finishing with 3 losses – it can’t happen. Both teams have lost 3 SEC games already and they have to play each other.
Dawg Whisperer
October 16th, 2010
11:37 pm
Jeff, what if you had more hair, would you have a happier and fulfilled social life? (I’m not saying that you don’t.) Let’s learn to accept the reality of our circumstances and prevail through the hard times. Perseverance build character. Coach Richt has demonstrated fortitude and leadership and has had his team play well these past two weeks when everyone was jumping ship after a 1-4 start. Playing the “what if” game is a waste of time and has no real redeeming value. Let’s just see if the dawgs learn from their past errors and continue to improve.
Katherine
October 16th, 2010
11:38 pm
SECWest
October 16th, 2010
11:35 pm
Katherine – people are way to sensitive
…you corrected me about my spelling above. Don’t you mean “too” sensitive? Thought so. Karma is a bitch(e) because it takes one to know one.
Yes I did have a typo there….
Delbert D.
October 16th, 2010
11:39 pm
Paul – Great minds think alike.
Jim Doanan as in Doans Pills
October 16th, 2010
11:39 pm
TXdawg… hypothetically with a three way tie at 5 – 3 , it was messed up by fla losing to Miss. State. Tiebreaker goes to head to head , then inner division wins would be the next determining factor I believe.
L-Dawg
October 16th, 2010
11:40 pm
Well done Jeff.
Icenupe
October 16th, 2010
11:41 pm
Jeff Schultz, do you agree with my Herschel Walker is better than Tim Tebow argument? Herschel never lost a game in the SEC back when the SEC was a run-first conference (even more remarkable that he couldn’t be stopped). In fact Herschel never lost in Sanford Stadium! And no, I am still in my late 30’s but I cringe at the “Tim Tebow is the greatest college football player” declaration I heard so much over the last 3 years.
Big day for Grantham’s defense, Ealey, Uga VIII and, really, all the Dogs | UGA sports blog
October 16th, 2010
11:41 pm
[...] Jeff Schultz’s column, which notes the team has a pulse that was barely detectable at 1-4: 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?” [...]
SECWest
October 16th, 2010
11:42 pm
Katherine – I did spell it right
I’m is spelled I’m as in a personal pronoun. You spelled it “i’m” which is incorrect. Of course, you’re too stupid to know the difference (notice that I also know the difference between “to” versus “too” but you don’t). You should give up while you’re behind.
And yes, War Eagles!
He Hate Gator
October 16th, 2010
11:42 pm
I think Herschel Walker could beat Baby Jesus to a pulp…
Buford T. Pusser
October 16th, 2010
11:43 pm
UGAy wins consecutive games over the two worst teams in the SEC, and at home, and everything is now corrected? Jeff, you have been drinking the Kool-aid. UGAy is terrible and may not win another game this season. You inbred trailer-trash redneck UGAy fans better resign yourself to the fact that a losing record and no bowl game is a certainty. The Sheriff has spoken.
Paul in RDU
October 16th, 2010
11:43 pm
Delbert – I agree!
TXDawg (The Real TXDawg)
October 16th, 2010
11:44 pm
JSS – you brought the ACC into the equation with your comment. Also, I never said that UK would be a cakewalk. I expect them to play us hard, however, I do believe the DAWGS have a turned the corner for the better. I expect them to win every remaining game except for Auburn and I’m not convinced on the outcome for that one yet (until the week of the game).
Katherine
October 16th, 2010
11:44 pm
SECWest
October 16th, 2010
11:42 pm
Katherine – I did spell it right
I’m is spelled I’m as in a personal pronoun. You spelled it “i’m” which is incorrect. Of course, you’re too stupid to know the difference (notice that I also know the difference between “to” versus “too” but you don’t). You should give up while you’re behind.
And yes, War Eagles!
lol ok you win….but you did say ain’t and you are an allbarn fan…so I’m not sure what you won ha
Dawg555
October 16th, 2010
11:46 pm
As agonizing as it has been to see the Dawgs start so miserably, I am enjoying all of this upheaval. God, I love SEC football.
JSS
October 16th, 2010
11:47 pm
@ TX DAWG…
Where? I never mentioned ONE (1) thing about the Atlantic Coast Conference or any of its members. It is alright to talk, but don’t makeup lies and outright untruths…
Katherine
October 16th, 2010
11:48 pm
I agree dawg55….just like watching the braves this past season….. agonizing but fun
Delbert D.
October 16th, 2010
11:51 pm
My favorite Greek philosopher is Apostrophes.
Innocent Bystander
October 16th, 2010
11:56 pm
“Lots of bears in Mississippi” might be the lamest reasoning ever. There’s lots of white plantation owners in Mississippi too, but apparently that doesn’t matter.
TXDawg (The Real TXDawg)
October 16th, 2010
11:56 pm
The 3 losses talk was hypothetical, whether it’s UF, UK, or whichever schools have 3 losses as long as there is a 3-way tie.
Bottom Line
October 16th, 2010
11:57 pm
WDE!!!!!!
Your Tigers are a very good football team. I would say Cam Newton is the front runner on Heisman race after today. With that said, Ya’ll have problems on defense and should Mr. Newton get hurt, ya’ll become average on offense real quick.
I think the match up with LSU wikk be a great one-their D vs. that offense of yall’s. Looking forward to that one.
SECWest
October 16th, 2010
11:57 pm
Katherine – nice to see you concede defeat. I used the common colloquialism “ain’t” on purpose just as I purposefully misspelled bitch(e) to avoid the direct reference of the word bitch. You felt compelled to insult me about spelling despite your own misspellings. So, you deserved to be called out accordingly.
Delbert D.
October 17th, 2010
12:00 am
There are lots of armadillos in Mississippi. But who would want roadkill as a mascot?
Katherine
October 17th, 2010
12:03 am
LOL if you say so…took you long enough to come up with that…but if it makes you feel superior..then go for it.
Winston Wolfe
October 17th, 2010
12:03 am
@SECWest……..with your pompous, holier than thou attitude…..you sound an awful lot like a tech fan. To not mention your allegiance until asked is also very “tech like”. If you want to give a godam english lesson, go to some liberal blog where you’ll fit right in. Assclown.
J Clay
October 17th, 2010
12:04 am
Honestly, instead of playing what if and worrying/dreaming of a mircale scenario to win the East, why don’t we be proud of the win today and worry about playing a pretty good Kentucky team on the road? That is part of the problem some of the UGA faithful have (that the nerds and others like to point out) one or two wins and the comments get delusional…Could it happen? Sure. But only thing that matters at this point is winning some games – the last 2 weeks were a start, lets get a road win next week. And before all the talk of bring on the Gators – remember we play on road while they have 2 weeks to hear “how bad they are” before they play us…
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
October 17th, 2010
12:06 am
NO SEC IN THE BCS!!!
HAHAHA!!!
Delbert D.
October 17th, 2010
12:06 am
From an article on the New York Times college football page:
“The Colonel Reb Foundation’s leaders will dress in replicas of his costume and tour the state next week, talking to members of the local news media and trying to reverse the school’s decision. “We’re not giving up,” Mr. Ferguson said. “The Rebel Black Bear is just not the tradition we’re used to at Ole Miss.”
Robbie Brown, the author of the article also parenthetically mentions that “Ole Miss” was a nickname for a slave owner’s wife.
dbc
October 17th, 2010
12:09 am
“Turn this season into something special…” Are you serious? All these two wins against terrible teams have done is delay the inevitable. CMR needs to go and UGA needs new blood. By this time next year we’ll be singing the same tune and CMR will still be saying “we’re close.” Please. The MO of CMR’s teams are always the same.
SECWest
October 17th, 2010
12:11 am
Katherine – You started this by insulting my post. It backfired on you when you had misspellings in your replies and now you are deflecting your gaffs by claiming that I’m trying to feel superior. What a feeble attempt of defending your own arrogance. You might want to actually think before you post next time. Obviously I received an education at AU which is more than you can say you received at your school.
Katherine
October 17th, 2010
12:12 am
oh lord secwest…i was being a smart ass….what is your deal? Chill the hell out….what an idiot.
JSS
October 17th, 2010
12:13 am
@ Delbert…
Randolph CC (NC) resembles that remark…
J Clay
October 17th, 2010
12:18 am
SEC West, in your brilliance you used “gaff” = an iron hook with a handle for landing large fish.
OR the spur on a climbing iron, esp. as used by telephone linemen. Asopposed to using the word “gaffe” = a social blunder; faux pas. Proving once again it’s not usually a great idea to go after one’s typing on a sports blog. But hey, you are brilliant maybe you were referring to a hook with a handle, but as I read the context I think you look pretty dam stupid calling her out and then not using the correct word in your diatribe (I can define this word for you if need be)
SECWest
October 17th, 2010
12:18 am
Winston Wolfe – What a tool. Katherine started this academic nonsense and deserved to be called out for her arrogance. I went to Auburn, Class of 1990. I could care less what you think. You Dawg fans are so obsessed about GTech that you think that anyone that challenges you is obviously a GTech fan. Get over it. Normally I don’t have problems with Dawg fans but my guess is that you’re actually a Bama fan. I can’t wait for us to put your team in their place in November.
Delbert D.
October 17th, 2010
12:18 am
SECWest – I paid for 2 years at Auburn for my daughter, and she didn’t learn words like “colloquialism” (I don’t use that nearly enough, myself.) She thought the parties were really great, though. I thought, “$25,000 for 2 years of partying? I should have just paid for a country club membership.”
Since Vince
October 17th, 2010
12:20 am
You folks here are delusional. Like I have said before, this season is OVA for UGA. Its Fools Gold right now for UGA. Now go get your Tums and let reality soak in.
Katherine
October 17th, 2010
12:20 am
Again secwest…it was just a smart arse comment by me lol You need to take a valium or something and relax.
SECWest
October 17th, 2010
12:21 am
Katherine – you were indeed being an ass. Thanks for admitting that.
J Clay – Katherine started the spelling contest. Your point proves my point if you took the time to read the posts. As Katherine said, she was being an ass, what is your excuse?
Winston Wolfe
October 17th, 2010
12:21 am
SECWest……you do know this is a sports blog…….right? Did they teach you that at AU too? Just because you never got picked for games on the playground and never have set foot on a football field, doesn’t mean you have to make up for your lack of masculinity by pontificating behind a keyboard. Go drink some Earl Grey and go to bed……
Katherine
October 17th, 2010
12:21 am
I said I was being a smart ass…you on the other hand are just an ass and I really do feel sorry for you. You can’t even laugh and have fun…which is what I was doing.
J Clay
October 17th, 2010
12:23 am
SECWest – I was merely reaffirming your brilliant mind and superior intellect, obviously
Katherine
October 17th, 2010
12:24 am
lots of shake ups in the top 25 today….very interesting.
SECWest
October 17th, 2010
12:25 am
Delbert D. – point taken. There are serious academic pursuits at AU but we do like to party as well. The key is to be balanced, something that is largely missing with some of these bloggers I might add.
Delbert D.
October 17th, 2010
12:26 am
SECWest – Thanks for posting your allegiance. I am intrigued about the possibility of secret agents from Alabama and Georgia Tech on the blog. Maybe they will blow their covers.
Katherine
October 17th, 2010
12:26 am
SECWest….you don’t really know anything about anyone who blogs on here. To assume….well you know what that means.
Katherine
October 17th, 2010
12:28 am
Well the bama/ole miss game is just about over….pretty much the outcome that I expected.
J Clay
October 17th, 2010
12:29 am
I was hoping for a Bama cover for “recreational” purposes