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
Fake Urban Meyer
October 31st, 2010
12:06 am
Murray is a good QB.
jtdawg
October 31st, 2010
12:06 am
stiggywiggy you are correct. But we still love our Dawgs.
There will come a day when the worm turns, but until then we can say nothing…
jellybeandawg
October 31st, 2010
12:07 am
Richt will NEVER beat UF with any consistency, nor will he ever win another SEC so any delay in dismissing him is just postponing the inevitable.
Reality Check
October 31st, 2010
12:07 am
Yo Geogia Fan, you guys set the standard for dillusional
dbc
October 31st, 2010
12:07 am
I applaud Urban Meyer for making REAL changes during the open week. They may not have been perfect, even half polished or worked they way they were designed, but he threw a new wrinkle at a team he knows is poor on adjustments. Bottom line — Richt was OUTCOACHED again. CMR’s idea of a change is to have Bobo on the sideline instead of in the field box. WOW, how innovative? UGA is stuck in neutral with Richt and will be until McGarity finds new blood — or more succinctly, someone with a pulse. UGA should have dominated that crappy Florida team. Instead, well wait till next year. Same results again. Play calling was still predictable — actually horrible at times. UGA is still a fundamentally weak football team that operates as its own worst enemy. My son’s Pop Warner team practices covering fumbles every day. Always cover them, don’t pick them up and try to run. DUH! Even AJ is clearly fed up and I don’t blame him. CMR is the weak link of this team. I felt this way before this game and I feel even stronger about it now. All these kooks talking about UGA winning the East — R U kidding me? Auburn will obliterate us and even Tech isn’t close to a gimme. Will have 6 or 7 losses and Richt should be fired! Grantham’s D can’t stop anybody. And where is this great secondary coach we all heard about? Lakatos? The secondary is laughable they’re so bad. I also couldn’t help notice CMR giving an earful on the sideline to a player who was almost (and should have been) flagged for taunting after a TD. The player actually laughed in his face on national TV. Enough said.
Dookie
October 31st, 2010
12:07 am
Georgia Fan:
No not all of these fans are delusional like UGA. You can’t see that because you are “Georgia Fan”
You’re so smart, what about New England, New York, New Jersey, Dakotas, Minnesota, Nevada, Missouri, just to name a few? YOU SAID EVERY STATE…
Fake Urban Meyer
October 31st, 2010
12:07 am
California has their greens and Georgia has their greens. They smoke their and in Georgia we cook ours.
Reality Check
October 31st, 2010
12:08 am
Yo Georgia Fan… you guys have ALWAYS set the standard for dillusional
18-3 "Time to loose bi#@"
October 31st, 2010
12:09 am
I love it, dawgs! You guys were so dejected it was great after the game. And I thought whipping you was great(like we normally do) but beating you in ot is even better. See you next year in Jville, drink up and enjoy Rainey’s text message to the dawgs! hehehehe
Reality Check
October 31st, 2010
12:09 am
Want proof. Count the rednecks at the Idaho St game.
stiggywiggy
October 31st, 2010
12:09 am
I’m fresh from the United Kingdom and was not familiar with the game, but a bloke explained it all to me in a bar today while we watched the game together, and I do say it seems as though that Georgia Bulldog team does suck dreadfully.
Wright
October 31st, 2010
12:10 am
UGA played a good game but again and again when its crunch time just cannot seem to meet the challenge. This is what must decide CMR’s fate.
Georgia Fan
October 31st, 2010
12:10 am
Dookie, I get it though, my Oregon State and Oregon friends swear that USC, Stanford and Washington fans are way more conceited than Florida and Alabama fans- but it’s really just perspective. You think UGA fans are are more delusional because you don’t like them and you see them all the time.
Wallydawg
October 31st, 2010
12:11 am
I’m tired of our NFL Defensive Coordinator being out-coached by the better SEC coaches. Go back to Dallas Grantham.
jtdawg
October 31st, 2010
12:11 am
Reality Check – like you North Avenue Trade Schoolers aren’t?? buhwahahhaha.
Come back when you play in a real conference….
KimZ'spackage
October 31st, 2010
12:12 am
Now I know you people are full of it if you don’t think people in GA don’t SMOKE plenty of Greens. Please don’t tell me you think Q Carter wasn’t Blazing when he played at UGA.
Faith in Richt
October 31st, 2010
12:12 am
Keep ALL your faith in Coach and you’ll see…a national title this year. If he were to leave I would be lost…
Jesup Dwag
October 31st, 2010
12:13 am
It’s not like we’ve lost 15 out of the last 20 or anything.
dagnabit
October 31st, 2010
12:13 am
DAWGFAN!!! Are you rolling around in gatorpuckie tonight.
jtdawg
October 31st, 2010
12:13 am
stiggywiggy -
your mommy called and wants her laptop back….
Valdosta Dwag
October 31st, 2010
12:14 am
It’s not like we’ve lost 16 out of the the last 20
Fake Urban Meyer
October 31st, 2010
12:14 am
UGA fans are very delusional. It is fun watching them cry about how great they are and how they should be able to win this and that. If you did not know any better you would think they had won about 40 national championships.
Once again
October 31st, 2010
12:14 am
All is right with the world….
Gen Neyland
October 31st, 2010
12:14 am
When complacency accepts 2nd place finishes on down, don’t complain. UGA should have a couple of SEC titles within the past 4 years but then there’s that dang Tebow character and those upstart Volunteers. The two best recruiting teams in the East played it down to the wire. Murray may be a darn good QB and will probably beat Florida before his time is up but without a SECC, it’ll be for naught in the big leagues. The prize is the Dome. That’s what they play for…
Fake Urban Meyer
October 31st, 2010
12:15 am
Quincy said he did not inhale. LOL
jtdawg
October 31st, 2010
12:15 am
KimZ’spackage -
Or Joe Hamilton, or Reggie Ball, or… wait – wasn’t their one Trade Schooler who got busted selling the stuff? yeah.. thats it…..
Dookie
October 31st, 2010
12:15 am
Georgia Fan:
True, I currently see them all the time. However, that being said, I can say they are in a similar category to Ohio State or maybe closer to Notre Dame. Each school could change things by actually being elite or at least backing up the hype, but that just might be too much to ask. Until then, the fans can be mad and angry over losses, but take it in stride. In these blogs and on GA sports radio next week, you will see that’s not the case.
VD
October 31st, 2010
12:16 am
We never lost 17 out of 20
stiggywiggy
October 31st, 2010
12:16 am
Look, A J Green is open. He’s wide open. Throw him the ball. That’s really him in that jersey, not the guy he sold one to. Trust me.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 31st, 2010
12:16 am
UT is going to be good next year. UGA will be the 4th best team in the East.
Once again
October 31st, 2010
12:16 am
the Dogs might have lost tonight, but next year is another story…
Oh wait, you said that last year, and year before, and ….
Bark Mradley
October 31st, 2010
12:17 am
What Ga if loses to Potato St?
The Song Remains the Same
October 31st, 2010
12:17 am
Death, Taxes and the Gators beating UGAg. The only guarantees in life!
G8R8U2
October 31st, 2010
12:18 am
“Meyer justifiably gets torched for deciding to bring “Time To Die” guy, Chris Rainey back from suspension for this game.”
Who is this moron columnist? Was Richt justifiably torched for only suspending Montez Robinson for 2 games after HE ACTUALLY DID HIT A WOMAN, not just threaten to? Was Richt justifiably torched for continuing to let Robinson stay on the team even after a second physical confrontation with the same woman? It took Robinson beating her like a red-headed stepchild for the 3rd time before Richt finally kicked Robinson off the team. Meyer? He’s kicked every player who ever actually HIT a woman off the team on the very first offense. Rainey was suspended for 5 games for a threat; which is 2.5 times as long as Robinson was suspended for actually following through with his threat and beating up his girlfriend. You UGA hypocrites are something else.
Oh, and the pass was tipped by Jelani Jenkins… we don’t have a player named Jelani Jones… idiot.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 31st, 2010
12:19 am
I hope Idaho State and beat up on UGA also. I can’t image the stuff that would be on this board.
Chuck Dowdle
October 31st, 2010
12:19 am
Did i mention its the 30th anniversary of the the UF safety slipping. Be there next week for the celebration
Chuck Dowdle
October 31st, 2010
12:19 am
One proud moment
KimZ'spackage
October 31st, 2010
12:20 am
jtdawg
I didn’t say they didn’t but one of your dawg brothers said the people from Cali smoke their greens and people in the south cook their greens. I was just saying he was crazy if he didn’t think Q Carter did some green smoking.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 31st, 2010
12:21 am
If it is legal to smoke your greens, then I am all for it…if that is your thing.
I Can't Bear to Look
October 31st, 2010
12:21 am
Did Florida make that field goal??
Sec Step Child
October 31st, 2010
12:21 am
10 things that will kill your program:
Players not as good as originally graded out of high school.
Coaches not adapting or capable of adapting to opposing teams game plan
Arrest
Suspensions
Lack of self discipline
Losing regularly to your rivals
Injuries
Early Departures to NFL
Lack of replacing players within system with players who know how to win
Coaches who do not have control over their program, causing losses, lack of support by the Alumni.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 31st, 2010
12:22 am
It is a cash crop.
Georgia Fan
October 31st, 2010
12:23 am
Dookie, are you kidding? Ohio State and Notre Dame are just as bad if not worse than UGA fans. Serisously, I’m not even denying that UGA fans are bad but you can’t be serious about OSU and Notre Dame fans. C’mon, now you’re just hating on UGA. Have you even listened to sports talk radio outside of Georgia? I went to a meeting at Wal-Mart a few years ago when Houston Nutt was still at Arkansas and the listened to sports radio in Bentonville- every other caller thought they should be playing for the national championship. It happens everywhere!
stiggywiggy
October 31st, 2010
12:24 am
Loren Smith is turning over in his grave.
Dookie
October 31st, 2010
12:24 am
Georgia Fan:
No, I agree, they may not be as bad, those 2 are the worst and there are some others in there…but you are in a similar category at this point.
Marcus Thomas
October 31st, 2010
12:24 am
G8R8U2- you make a great point
Fake Urban Meyer
October 31st, 2010
12:24 am
I can’t believe ya’ll actually thought you all were going to win. The last 20 years are not pretty for you all.
Fake Urban Meyer
October 31st, 2010
12:25 am
Steeler fans are the worst.
all rightie then
October 31st, 2010
12:26 am
Attention Walmart shoppers- clean up on Schultz’ blog in aisle 34. Huge pity party under way- kleenex no where in sight.
Gen Neyland
October 31st, 2010
12:26 am
Fake Urban Meyer : We’ll be better. How could we be worse..?