Georgia proves only it also can lose a close game to Florida
Aaron Murray led rally but had too many mistakes in his first Florida game. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
JACKSONVILLE — It wasn’t humiliating. Is that better? After two mostly miserable decades in this rivalry and consecutive dismemberings of 49-10 and 41-17, should it feel better to know Georgia walked off the field and could have won?
“No — it’s a loss,” Akeem Dent said.
“An L is an L,” A.J. Green said.
“This kind of hurt more,” Washaun Ealey said.
Georgia came close Saturday. That shouldn’t be the objective.
Maybe comebacks say something about a team’s character. Maybe the Bulldogs grew up a little in the second half. Maybe the quarterback won’t have early-game jitters next time. Maybe one year again, they’ll actually beat Florida.
But this program should not be about gauging the degree of severity of losses.
They lost in overtime 34-31. They showed remarkable resolve by rallying from a 21-7 halftime deficit to tie it twice, the last time at 31-31 with 4:36 left in regulation. That’s certainly more resiliency and substance that the past two Georgia teams showed in Jacksonville.
A.J. Green's 15-yard touchdown sent the game into overtime.
But here’s the reality check. This is not a great Florida team. It entered with its worst regular-season losing streak in 22 years. This is certainly the worst team Urban Meyer ever has fielded. It’s so bad that a 4-4 Georgia team on the wrong end of a lopsided rivalry was favored.
The Dogs lost anyway. That makes 18 in the past 21 years.
“I really don’t look at it like that,” said athletic director Greg McGarity. “College players have a two- or three-year window. They weren’t here the whole time.”
He is right about that. The real problem is that the one-year view is no better.
At 3-4 in the SEC, they are dead in the conference race.
At 4-5 overall, they are clinging only to mathematical possibilities for a lower-tier bowl.
The Liberty Bowl never should be the objective.
Green has been through three of these Florida games now. He probably won’t go through a fourth. The NFL calls. But it will take some time to forget this one.
“I swear I thought we were going to win this,” he said.
The loss dropped Georgia to 4-5 and Mark Richt to 2-8 against Florida. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
The comeback started with a field goal in the third quarter, making it 21-10. The Georgia scored touchdowns on its next three possessions. Murray, after completing only 5 of 14 passes with two interceptions in the first half, went 13-for-21 with two touchdowns in the second.
And we wondered: “Where did this team come from?”
“We were clicking on all cylinders,” Green said. “We had the momentum.”
Trailing 31-24, Murray drove the Dogs from midfield with under seven minutes left. On third-and-goal from the 15, he found Green in the middle of the end zone to tie the score. The teams went to overtime.
One more Murray mistake decided it. He tried to hit Green in the corner of the end zone, but the pass was tipped by linebacker Jelani Jones and intercepted at the 11 by safety Will Hill. (He nearly returned it for a touchdown but was pushed out of bounds at the 4-yard line by Tavarres King.)
Murray on the interception: “I’ve just got to learn from it. I wish I could take that throw back.”
The Gators got the ball back and ran three plays before Chas Henry’s game-winning 37-yard field goal.
Green, as a member of the field-goal block team, had a close-up view.
“I felt like I was going to block it,” he said. “It was real close.”
How close?
“I could feel the wind from the ball. Then I turned around and thought, ‘Dang.’ I was hoping a bird would fly down and knock it down.”
That just doesn’t happen in this rivalry. Things go wrong. Meyer justifiably gets torched for deciding to bring “Time To Die” guy, Chris Rainey back from suspension for this game.
What happens? Rainey scores the game’s first touchdown on a 20-yard run.
But this was less about Rainey than it was about Georgia. The Dogs are better than they were at 1-4. But not a lot. Beating Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky doesn’t prove a lot. Nor does losing close. It just makes for a little more pain and a little less humiliation.
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1,166 comments Add your comment
SEC EAST
October 30th, 2010
10:45 pm
Look up flea bags, what do you see? Mr. Superior, that’s who. Bwa bwa bwa bwa bwa bwa bwa bwa bwa bwa bwa bwa
jtdawg
October 30th, 2010
10:46 pm
sum dude44
we are IN seven years of purgatory and it started in ‘06
Wait- we are in 21 years of Purgatory – with no end in sight ;(
Ralph E. Carlisle
October 30th, 2010
10:46 pm
I have watched Georgia football since 1933., Sometime they win, sometime they lose.
Headley Lamar
October 30th, 2010
10:46 pm
now someone please explain how Richt is as good (or better) a coach than Saban or Meyer.
Ok ill take a shot. Despite two very subpar years his winning pct is better than Saban and close to Meyers.
5150 P.O.A.D.
October 30th, 2010
10:46 pm
Teebow & Bay Bay are laughing at Knowshow having to wear a Gator shirt all week. Bay Bay wants to see Knowshow in a Tech shirt too.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
10:47 pm
Again, I like MR. He is not the problem. He is doing the best with what he has. You can’t take straw and make it into gold.
Bob
October 30th, 2010
10:48 pm
Coach Richt needs to figure out how to beat Florida…and every other team to whom our beloved Dawgs lose. But you numbskulls calling for a coaching change seem hellbent on ensuring the complete destruction of a program presently suffering from some fixable issues.
The car needs an oil change.
Damn it! Get me my bike!
Daddy, My Hat Fell Off
October 30th, 2010
10:48 pm
You go Buford……. Tell it like it is
5150 P.O.A.D.
October 30th, 2010
10:48 pm
How the DAWGS going to get to that FAMOUS 10 win average of Richts?
Phil
October 30th, 2010
10:48 pm
Why are we throwing that pass on 3rd down in overtime?? At that point just hand the ball off, get a couple more yards and take the field goal. You HAVE to come away with something. If you don’t score on your OT possesion, the game is pretty much over. The other team is already in field goal range.
Throwing that pass would too dangerous. Kick the damn field goal!!
10 years ago when we were looking for a coach and if somebody told me “I will give you you a coach that wins 75% of his games but will go 2-8 against Florida for the next 10 years, will you take that”?
I would have said ABSOLUTEY NOT!!!
Enough is enough people. Let’s go get somebody that can get it done against Florida. And top of all that, they Suck this year and Richt still can’t beat them!!
Headley Lamar
October 30th, 2010
10:48 pm
Welcome to below mediocrity and quit acting like you belong in a discussion of national powers.
We are a national power. With two very bad years in a row. Only a fool would expect that to continue.
We dont have the third most SEC titles all-time and the 11th most wins all-time in the NCAA’s for nothing.
jackthejester
October 30th, 2010
10:48 pm
Best receiver in the country and Bobo schemes to get him the ball 4 times. Even announcer stated that FU was not doing anything special to shut down Greene. They didn’t need to because we have Bobo. overtime play calls were awful. If Idaho State is smart, they will wear FLA jerseys next week and win by 14.
Headley Lamar
October 30th, 2010
10:49 pm
How the DAWGS going to get to that FAMOUS 10 win average of Richts?
Certainly wont this year. My bet is next year we will however.
VD
October 30th, 2010
10:49 pm
Back 30 years ago, the UF safety slipped and fell, and we won
DIZZY DOGG
October 30th, 2010
10:49 pm
Is the ball game over? Did we win?
Confused
October 30th, 2010
10:50 pm
How does CMR compare to the coaches we have had since dooley?! I don’t see why he is getting so much criticism when we lose, and praise when we win. Now, i dont think anyone is satisfied with 4-5, at least i know im not, but i still think CMR is our guy. I do think blowbo has got to be at the very least demoted to qb coach.
All that being said, i was proud of the way the guys fought their way back into the game and put themselves in a position to win. We have had more talented teams in the past give up at halftime when we were 2 scores down. Not these fellas.
Sec Step Child
October 30th, 2010
10:50 pm
Once again the poor player development at Georgia has created the precarious situation UGA finds itself in. The talent recruited at Georgia is on the same line and level as Florida,South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi St. and soon to be a lost to a Auburn Team. Whose fault is it the level and depth of players is where it is at? Coach Mark Richt. There is no getting around it.
This was the worst Florida team in over 10 years and this game should have never been close. If the staff at UGA had played the players and gained some experience and depth in 08 and 09 the drop off of talent after the first 15 on both sides of the ball would not be so prelavant.
No two ways around it, Murray should have played some last year. With the season UGA had last year he or Mettenberg should have got some snaps.
The next thing that is so funny is the Auburn fans on here talking trash. A poster on here made a comparison between Mark Richt and Tommy Tuberville. Then went on to say how much they like Tuberville but now they love Chizik. Well just keep all that love in mind next year when Auburn losese Newton, Fairley, their entire offensive line, Etheridge and Malzahn is calling plays as a head coach somewhere else next year.
As of today here is the power rankings in the SEC.
Auburn
Alabama
LSU
South Carolina
Arkansas
Mississippi St.
Florida
UGA
Kentucky
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Give us your power rankings.
Everyone in the SEC know the current staff at UGA is not going to challenge anyone in years to come. The players that are going pro, graduating and dismissals has and will create a void that is on the level of a probationary school.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 30th, 2010
10:50 pm
@Ralph E. Carlisle…congrats on longevity!!
Last year at AU homecoming, We met a 93 yr old man who’ father had played for AU against GA in the first AU GA game in 1892
THAT was cool!
Headley Lamar
October 30th, 2010
10:50 pm
I would have said ABSOLUTEY NOT!!!
I would have said ABSOLUTELY. Psst here is a little secret for you. Although they were bad this year and UGA should have won Florida hasnt lost to ANYBODY over the last 10 years. Much less UGA.
jellybeandawg
October 30th, 2010
10:50 pm
Outsider:
DONNAN inherited a sinking ship and righted it, not Richt. The program was a complete disaster after the Goff debacle. If you will remember Richt came into the program loaded with talent and the majority of Richts success was with Donnans players.
Ole Ball Coach
October 30th, 2010
10:51 pm
Some things never change. Go Gatuh’s
bart
October 30th, 2010
10:52 pm
And by the way, Headley Lamar, UGA is fast becoming a mid level team. In fact, we might already be there.
simplythetruth
October 30th, 2010
10:52 pm
The decision on whether to remove Richt as head coach won’t be as difficult for McGarrity as you might think. Foley wasted no time removing Zook, once he saw the options available. It is hard to imagine that cash contributing alums would continue pouring cash down the crapper with the current HC running the program. If they do then they will continue to leave Jax. disappointed and disillusioned. McGarrity and Foley formed a formidable team. Richt should be prepared for the shoe that’s going to DROP.
ROZEMAN
October 30th, 2010
10:53 pm
If Richt doesnt fire Bobo after the season,then he should be let himself. We dont need anymore Bobby Cox loyalty stuff.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
10:53 pm
@Headley, UGA is not a national power. Are you smoke turnip greens? UGA has a really good season(11+ wins) once every 5-6 years. I fielded one of my worst teams and you all still could not win. This was ya’ll year and now I have snatched it away.
A.C.
October 30th, 2010
10:53 pm
Home & home. Take this cursed game out of Jacksonville. NOW.
savannahdawg
October 30th, 2010
10:53 pm
Hey JASON…….all southern football fans have lofty expections. Have you read the Florida papers and the fans asking for Meyer to be fired because of one tough year? It’s happening to him. Cooper at Ohio St gets fired because 10, 11 wins a year wasn’t good enough, he couldn’t beat Michigan! Bill Curry gets fired at Alabama for losing to Auburn and not being a bama guy to begin with. Chan Gailey couldn’t beat UGA, got fired! You people loved CMR when he first got here. Couldn’t stand Donnan anymore……….now you hate CMR and Bobo…………How long did it take Bowden to make FSU a power????? Didn’t happen overnight. Bobby took over that program in the 70’s?? 10 maybe 15 years before FSU has their run??
You want to be frustrated fans and voice your opinion………go ahead……..but some of you need to get a damn life! I hope you get this pissed when your kid flunks a class due to not doing their homework, or doesn’t come home by curfew, or uses the cell phone while driving!
This isn’t life people……………nothing but a damn football game! Rambo is a beast…love the big hits…..get some hands dude! AJ…………you are a superbeast!!!! Boykin…………an awesome beast with your returns! Murray……….a freshman beast who will become THE BEAST before it’s over! I wish UGA would have won to save me the abuse I’m gonna take Monday at work! Get em next year!!!!! I’ll start my trash talking in August!!!
The rest of you negative cry babies……………………….get a damn life and find a woman!!!! (or a man if that’s your thing).
Fake Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
10:53 pm
smoking turnip greens?
savannahdawg
October 30th, 2010
10:54 pm
Enter your comments here
Fake Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
10:54 pm
@AC, you could play the game on the moon and the results would be the same.
Headley Lamar
October 30th, 2010
10:54 pm
and the majority of Richts success was with Donnans players.
At least he won with them. Lets not act like Donnan was some kind of big winner.
He was 40-19 with one 10 win season.
LMFAO
October 30th, 2010
10:54 pm
Used to think you guys were the equivalent of Wisconson. Not any more. More like Minnesota.
BIll
October 30th, 2010
10:54 pm
I am not believing you bunch of LOSERS on this board are demanding that CMR must be fired.
As a UGA grad, it is embarassing that you Gomers come out of the woodwork after every tough loss to nitpick and second-guess.
The Government is taking over 50% of your paycheck and you’re complaining about playcalling and game management of a bunch of 18-22 yr olds in a game that has NO DIRECT BEARING on your actual life?
Nice priorities, IDIOTS!
This game bothered me for about 5-10 minutes, then I went about the rest of my life!
In reality, It’s a young team in a down year for the conference. Things will get better…
Personally, I have not always agreed with CMR (Esp. his QB decisions, (Tereshinski, Joe Cox) but UGA under his watch has been pretty consistent year-to year. (Except for the past couple of years, of course). Reason to be concerned if this continues into next year, but not yet…
Also, who do you have in mind as a replacement that is better?
(and, no, Kirby Smart and Will Muschamp aren’t leaving Bama and Texas for the gig, either!)
Remember, Michigan got rid of Lloyd Carr because he had a losing recued against Ohio State. Their program under Rich Rodriguez may or may not have it’s first winning season since Carr left in 2007. Food for thought.
And for you LOSERS that are calling for CMR’s head,
WAR DAMN EAGLE
October 30th, 2010
10:55 pm
Hey goobers, Coach Cheezedick here. You Bullfrogs might want to think about cancelling our little game over on the Plains. We will absolutely DESTROY you. That’s a war eagle promise. Coach Out.
Mr. Excuse
October 30th, 2010
10:55 pm
Did A.J. play today?
savannahdawg
October 30th, 2010
10:56 pm
Thank you Bill
Headley Lamar
October 30th, 2010
10:56 pm
@Headley, UGA is not a national power. Are you smoke turnip greens?
No. UGA is 11th all time in wins. I think we were like 3rd or 4th in wins the last decade.
Only a fool would think we arent a national power but keep kicking while we are down.
jellybeandawg
October 30th, 2010
10:56 pm
Also its a ridiculous argument to advocate keeping one coach out of “fear” that the new coach may be worse. Should we just wait until we are 6-6 every???
Then you will say “Well why should we fire a 6-6 coach if its possible the new coach might go 4-8 every year.” You will never improve with this mentality.
Steve Spurrier
October 30th, 2010
10:56 pm
You guys get all the No. 1 recruits but can’t do anything with them. What’s up with that? I’m just an ol’ ball coach but it seems to me you guys should be doing much better than your are.
BWA BWA BWA BWA BWA BWA
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 30th, 2010
10:57 pm
@sec, not talking trash here..I said people should stop trashing Mark Richt ..we had a great coach in Tommy Tuberville…only a few well heeled boosters wanted him out, and he was out..but he is still popular with AU fans..and Chizik has been much better than expected ..I reserve my long term planning for how to make money..football is great but still doesn’t affect my life..I’m enjoying AU’s run while it lasts, like I said, #1 at least 2 more weeks..I’d say it’s much more UGA and Bama fans who come out of the womb saying their team should be Nat Champs every year..
Fake Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
10:57 pm
I do not have an issue with CMR. He is a great coach. Who would you all get to replace him?
5150 P.O.A.D.
October 30th, 2010
10:58 pm
Are Bobo and Murray starting some of that Tebow & Meyer man love crap too? Is Murray crying abd Bobo is trying to kiss him and make it all better.
Where are all the DAWGS screaming about H. Dent’s forearn to the head of the Gator player knocking his helmet off. I mean a hard forearm shot to the chin. That should be a 1/2 game right there. EYEGAUGE = FOREARM SHIVER to the head.
BIll
October 30th, 2010
10:58 pm
And for you LOSERS that are calling for CMR’s head, I will repeat: who do you have lined up that would do better?
God
October 30th, 2010
10:58 pm
How’s it been going since charging the endzone?
jellybeandawg
October 30th, 2010
10:58 pm
Headley Lamar,
Well why dont you compare Richts last 5 years with Donnans last 5 years. Not a lot of difference my friend
jellybeandawg
October 30th, 2010
10:59 pm
Bill,
Dan mullen among a handful of others.
BG
October 30th, 2010
10:59 pm
Jeff, Just admit that you are a Dawg hater and a Tech nerd!!
God
October 30th, 2010
10:59 pm
What? you didnt think I saw that bush-league crap?
Sec Step Child
October 30th, 2010
11:00 pm
I will repeat this one more time for some of you people who think CMR is the answer at UGA.
THIS IS THE WORST FLORIDA TEAM IN OVER 10 YEARS, AND IF ANYONE THINKS NEXT YEARS FLORIDA TEAM WILL NOT BE ALOT BETTER THAN THIS ONE, THINK AGAIN, and NEXT YEARS UGA TEAM WILL BE EVEN WORSE THAN THIS EDITION WITHOUT AJ GREEN TO DRAW DOUBLE AND TRIPLE COVERAGE, AND DURHAM TO CATCH THE NEEDED THIRD DOWN PASS FOR A FIRST DOWN, AND HOUSTON WHO IS IN THE NFL NEXT YEAR. UGA’s BEST PLAYERS ARE GONE NEXT YEAR AND NO ONE..NO ONE IS CLOSE TO BEING READY TO STEP UP AND TAKE THAT THEIR PLACE.
Alan
October 30th, 2010
11:00 pm
Murray was good, when it didn’t matter, and bad, when it did matter, like the 1st quarter and over-time. Kid doesn’t have a sense of timing.