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 Step Child
October 30th, 2010
11:14 pm
In the real world, if you are a fortune 500 company(FBS) and you are getting beat by your rival (Florida) every year and another competitor every other year and this has been the pattern for 5 years. A good Board would recommend some new blood and leadership to be brought in(Grantham and a defensive staff) to shake things up and create a new line of ideas to be competitive. If after that change we still had issue( arrests, suspensions) and were getting beat by competitors who we should beat then a good board would fire the CEO and bring in a new guy or gal to lead the company.
The past 3 to 5 years this UGA company is not moving forward, but standing pat and not paying dividends.
BUZZ
October 30th, 2010
11:15 pm
I am sure the Bulldogs and Richt will enjoy the SEC Championship in Atlanta. My question is how can they get enough seats to accomodate the entire team and is the game available at the Clark County jail..
See you in November!!!
jellybeandawg
October 30th, 2010
11:15 pm
Bill,
Mike Stoops also
Steve Spurrier
October 30th, 2010
11:15 pm
Good night flea bags. I have an early tee time.
Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
11:15 pm
What’s that’s pain I feel in my chest?
Chuck Dowdle
October 30th, 2010
11:16 pm
Everything is okay. Go Dawgs
GR82BAG8R
October 30th, 2010
11:16 pm
Phil, why would Harbaugh want to leave Stanford for Georgia??? Coaching at a private university has its advantages.
BIll
October 30th, 2010
11:17 pm
Phil,
Jim Harbaugh is NOT leaving Stanford for UGA. What would UGA offer him that Stanford isn’t already ponying up (or their rich alumni could’nt pony up). Also, he’s in line to take over his alma mater Michigan if Rich Rodriguez dosen’t start winning soon.
Outsider
October 30th, 2010
11:18 pm
Jellybeandawg: So what is your point? How many BCS games did Donnan coach in? How many SEC titles did he win or even play for? Sure Donnan could recruit; trouble is, he wasn’t a very good coach. I presume thats why ya’ll fired him. RIch reminds me of Tom Osborne at Nebraska. Back in the mid and late eighties, he couldn’t beat Barry Switzer and Oklahoma. Many in the Nebraska fan base wanted him fired in the early nineties, and Osborne even thought seroiusly about taking the Colorado job in 1991. But, thankfully for the Nebraska program, cooler and more rational heads prevailed, and the rest is history. THe recruiting class that came into Nebraska in 1991 graduated in 1995 with a record of 48-2. Be patient. You guys have the right man for the job. You have a terriffic youn quaterback. Your future is bright, unless you hit the panic button and throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Sec Step Child
October 30th, 2010
11:18 pm
Trish…it would take a little more than that to keep Malzahn ( i think). He has a pretty large ego and who would blame him, everywhere he has been he puts up 30 points game. Maybe a car carrier load of KIA’s from the West Point Plant right down the road would keep him. LOL
jtdawg
October 30th, 2010
11:18 pm
Mr. Dawg – 6-6 might be asking too much….
Fake Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
11:18 pm
I know what UGA fans can do. How about taking bets on when the next UGA player will be arrested? The season is not over. Ya’ll may be able to get a bowl.
jack wagon from mamby pamby land
October 30th, 2010
11:19 pm
It’s just all so unfair.
jellybeandawg
October 30th, 2010
11:19 pm
Bill I agree about Harbaugh. No way he would leave, but a lot of great, highly qualified coaches would no doubt about it.
Bobby Bowden
October 30th, 2010
11:19 pm
I’m sorry Mark but the Bowden Way just doesn’t work in 2010. Even FSU has finally figured that out.
Charlottedawg
October 30th, 2010
11:19 pm
Folks….especially those of you that are on the ledge……step away….step away now. Firing Richt is not the answer. Aaron Murray has played exceptionally well this season….including tonight…..other than the fumble and OT INT….he threw for over 300 yards, with 2 TDs and 2 INTs. That ain’t too shabby for a Redshirt freshman QB in his 1st UGA/FL game…..and to be honest….Green should have come back for that ball on the 1st INT and Aaron White pretty much sucks…and should’ve caught the 2nd one. Dawg fans have to just face the facts that there is a mental wall that the players and coaches can’t seem to break down in this series…..Richt had the right idea in 07′ when he allowed the players to celebrate in the endzone…you may disagree, but it served its purpose…which was to get them to play loose….that’s been the problem all along…the talent is there, but for some reason, they come out tight and can’t ever seem to catch up (or catch a break for that matter)…..that being said, I do think that UGA looked like the better team tonight….and they should’ve won the game….
Mark Richt is potentially a Terence Edwards dropped pass against UF in 02′ and a UK missed field goal against UT in 07′ from playing for 2 National Championships…..LSU lost 2 games and won the National Championship (despite the fact that I thought UGA was a better team at the end of that season)…He has led UGA to 2 SEC championships and played for another…..honestly….I don’t care what you think…..other than maybe Nick Saban or Mack Brown (and that’s questionable)….who do you think UGA would hire that is going to do a better job? Stoops can’t win the big game…..Tressel is in the same boat…..and those guys aren’t leaving their respective programs anyway….so who?
I’m happy with the Head Coach….it’s probably time for Bobo to move on, Grantham looks to be getting his defense steadied, and UGA has a lot of talented guys ready to roll for next season.
Let’s keep our heads up and look forward to toppling an undefeated Auburn in a couple weeks.
Sec Step Child
October 30th, 2010
11:20 pm
Serously ..would someone with a lot more knowledge of UGA depth please tell me what is the starting lineup at UGA going to look like in 2011? It just looks a whole lot less talented.
Tony Barnhart
October 30th, 2010
11:20 pm
The rugged SEC has worn down even the teams. If the Dawgs win out, and UF loses every game, and SC loses every game, and Ky lossess every game , and Vandy losses every game, … then the Dawgs could win a six-way tie breaker of teams with 6 losses.
Just goes to show you how tough and rugged, and just how much better the SEC is.
uga_fan39
October 30th, 2010
11:20 pm
face it we are stuck with CMR for at least 1 more year, probably 2. Only way to get him gone sooner is to stop selling out the stadium. Next years team will be even worse off than this one with the loss of Green, Houston, Durham. Defense can only improve though, theres no way to get any worse..I hate to say it but defensively we’re not better with Grantham so I take back all i said about Martinez. Does it take an act of God for this defense to stop 3rd and long ???? Sitting here in my hotel in Jax listening to all the gator fans on the street partying, must be nice ….
some things are more important than Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
11:21 pm
`
———— Go Georgia Tech ———
5150 P.O.A.D.
October 30th, 2010
11:21 pm
Gr82BAG8R
Great call. Harbaugh would talk to the current UGA players and laugh. After having the type of smart players he has at Stanford he is not going Ghetto Slumming with the types of Bright young minds UGA gets.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
11:21 pm
Ya’ll could get Terry Bowden or the Bowden that was at Clemson or Bobby Bowden….You could also clone Vince Lombardi…
jellybeandawg
October 30th, 2010
11:22 pm
Man these USC cheerleaders in their tight white sweaters is a thing of BEAUTY! So bouncy and round!
Mark Bradley
October 30th, 2010
11:22 pm
Tech sux. Right reneck nation?
Reality Check
October 30th, 2010
11:22 pm
Stanford will not pay 4 million for coach under any circumstances. If UGA is willing to go Alabama style, they can get Harbaugh. Chip Kelly is signed to a longterm deal and has a huge buyout so he would be way more difficult.
Mark Bradley
October 30th, 2010
11:23 pm
Let me assure you the Dawgs WILL NOT GO 8 and 4.
jtdawg
October 30th, 2010
11:23 pm
BIll
YOU are the frikken loser – if you don’t care, then WTF are you even here? If it means so little to yu and your important life, then spend time Trick or Treating or something jackazz….
Newsflash, some people really take pride in football and our University…..one’s we graduated from fool. Yeah you’re one of about how many? Oh yeah you are a grad so everyone shut up, support happless Richt and go about your mundane lives.
BTW fool, the 50% taxes that you care so dearly about? Well it also goes for great, important things like….
PAYING THE 3 MILLION DOLLAR SALARY OF OUR INEPT HEAD COACH. Keep supporting him blind homer. It’s obvious, as you stated, football isn’t important to you, you could care less how $3M of tax money is spent.
So be quiet and go back to watching the Desparate Housewives rerun with the REAL breadwinner in your family…
jack wagon from mamby pamby land
October 30th, 2010
11:23 pm
Tony Barnhart My head just exploded- again.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
11:23 pm
I agree about the USC cheerleaders.
Party school
October 30th, 2010
11:23 pm
UGA sucks up the best talent in the state, getting a top 10 class every recruiting year and do absolutely nothing with it. They are the black hole of talent in Georgia. They are a complete waste of talent and an embarassment.
Walmart Stock Report
October 30th, 2010
11:23 pm
Attention Walmart Share holders, Walmart stock is taking a major plunge due to the UGA fans returning their merchandise back to our local stores.
Chip Kelly
October 30th, 2010
11:24 pm
We are better than you
Mark Bradley
October 30th, 2010
11:24 pm
Did I say Tch sux out loud?
jack wagon from mamby pamby land
October 30th, 2010
11:24 pm
jtdawg Get a life man- you are making a complete fool of yourself.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
11:25 pm
Walmart should send that stuff to Chile.
Tofu Dan
October 30th, 2010
11:25 pm
Mark Richt is 17-23 against ranked teams. The scores don’t lie. He’s beaten up on the unranked with four/five star talent. Over time that’s made for a nice looking career record. But when faced with a similar talent level, he usually loses. Good recruiter. Can’t say much else on his behalf though.And I can’t say a sudden improvement after a decade is very likely.
But Bobo will be the fall guy. Richt’s apologists will win.
Gator 4 Life
October 30th, 2010
11:25 pm
We will beat the Gators When H Walker’s son starts playing at UGA. The DAWGS have NO Heart. The difference between UGA Girls and the Gators is simple. UGA hopes to win vs. FLA knowing they are going to WIN. CMR would have lost his job by now if he worked in the state of FLA. Losing is not accepted. The FANS are still going to support UGA win or lose . Its crazy to continue to live off a lucky play from 30 years ago. GO Puppies.
Chip Kelly
October 30th, 2010
11:25 pm
Fake Urban Meyer- they aren’t cheerleaders, they’re song girls and our cheerleaders are hotter than USC’s song girls.
Randy
October 30th, 2010
11:25 pm
Jeff Shultz,
You are the Cynthia Tucker of football.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
11:25 pm
Tech is going to wear out UGA. I am going to give Coach Johnson some of my plays.
Mississippi State
October 30th, 2010
11:26 pm
Gator 4 Life- you still suck this year
Outback Bowl
October 30th, 2010
11:27 pm
We still aren’t sold on the Gators
Army Dawg
October 30th, 2010
11:27 pm
I think the team played a great game. Murray made some mistakes, but without him, we don’t even tie the game in the second half. He’s going to be very successful in his career at UGA. Our defense made some great plays. It’s easy to sit back and complain “Why didn’t they just fall on the fumble?”, but if they’d done that, someone would say, “Why’d he fall on it instead of returning it?” While this has been a miserable season, for me, it’s mostly because of just how close we’ve been. A key fumble or a key play seems to have cost us at least three games. I just checked and we’ve got a bye week next year with a good number of players coming back on both sides. If we make a bowl game with the new defense, AJ’s suspension, the freshman quarterback, I say next year is Richt’s “put up or shut up year”. If we don’t make a bowl game (meaning we probably also lose to Auburn AND GT), then it’s probably time to fire Coach Richt and start new next year. In the end, its not my call, and I’ll still cheer for these Dawgs!
JaxDawg
October 30th, 2010
11:28 pm
We’ll get ‘em next year! OH WAIT, we’ve been saying that since 1990!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At least Rainey PROBABLY won’t kill his girlfriend!
CMR – Do the honorable thing and resign after we beat the techies.
For what its worth
October 30th, 2010
11:29 pm
Fake Urban Meyer, If South Carolina has their running back, Florida will not be the east champs, Florida couldn’t even beat Bama which the Gamecocks did and barely beat UGA.
No Dawg Like A Dead Dawg
October 30th, 2010
11:29 pm
Ahhhhhh…..The SWEET SMELL of another UGA loss……For some reason, it NEVER GETS OLD!!!!!
THWG!
Dr. Phil
October 30th, 2010
11:29 pm
It’s never good to base your entire social life, your ego, and the size of your dick on whether your football team wins.
TheAntiMe
October 30th, 2010
11:29 pm
This team gets more pathetic every year. As it is now, they are totally unwatchable. I would rather have a freaking root canal done than watch this sorry team play.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2010
11:30 pm
I know one thing….beating UGA is good for the soul. Just reading these UGA post are laughable just like the football team. Some UGA fans actually had to the nerve to tell me they were going to win knowing they did not believe it.
Greg McGarity
October 30th, 2010
11:30 pm
I like that dude at Iowa State