LIVE from Dogs-Gators, and everybody’s feeling the heat
Georgia's Mark Richt and Florida's Urban Meyer greet each other before the game (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
JACKSONVILLE — Time to play.
Was thinking last night — while Tim Tucker and I strategically avoided “The Landing” area — about the enormous pressure on certain individuals in today’s Georgia-Florida game. It’s odd only in that both teams are unranked going into this contest for the first time since 1979. So much for national ramifications.
But think about the pressure on . . .
♦ Mark Richt: Georgia has won three straight but you can’t just wipe out a 1-4 start. If the Dogs lose, they are absolutely, positively dead in the SEC East (I think) because they would lose tiebreakers with both Florida and South Carolina. They also would need to win two of their final three games (Idaho State, at Auburn, Georgia Tech) just to become bowl eligible.
♦ Urban Meyer: Think he’s not feeling some heat? Here’s a guy who appeared to have a serious health issue, suddenly retired, then even more suddenly unretired. He explained his chest pains as “esophageal spasms” and some immediately wondered about truthfulness. We can’t know if Meyer’s heath has affected the way he’s gone about his job this season but we know this: The Gators have lost three straight and they rank 89th in the nation in total offense. Florida can still win the East but if they lose they’ll be 2-4 in the East and all but cooked. For those Dogs’ fans looking for a possible omen, here you go: The last time Florida lost four straight was in 1988. The fourth loss in that streak came to Georgia 16-3.
Uga VIII was out on the town. (Kidding. It's not him.)
♦ John Brantley: It can’t be easy replacing Tim Tebow, but the Gators’ quarterback was expected to be better than this. In his defense, the offensive line and running game have been awful. But nobody could have expected these numbers through seven games: six touchdown passes, five interceptions, 10 sacks. Brantley had four touchdowns and zero interceptions against Miami (Ohio) and South Florida so you can do the math on the five SEC games.
♦ Aaron Murray: He has been great this season. But he never has played in this stadium or a game of this magnitude. Richt planned to talk to the freshman during the week about trying to maintain his composure. Also, Florida’s defense is still pretty good.
♦ Chris Rainey: Not too much pressure on him, huh? Mr. Time To Die Guy shouldn’t even be in this game (my opinion) but Meyer believes he has paid a big en0ugh price for texting a death threat to his estranged girl friend. He won’t have his phone during the game so he’ll actually have to speak his threats.
One last thing on Rainey: If you have no problem with him coming back because you believe he deserves another chance, that’s fine. But the worst — and most prevalent — excuse I’ve heard is that athletes used to do these dumb things all the time and we never knew about it. The point? I have no doubt that star athletes got away with things before that they can’t now. But that doesn’t make what happened before right. Fact is, that was wrong. Coaches never should be allowed to go pick up his star player from the sheriff’s office and say, “I’ll take care of it. He’ll run steps.” Pretty sure the science teacher isn’t doing the same thing for his students. (”Oh, he’ll just do extra experiments.”)
♦ Caleb King: He’s coming back from a two-game suspension after being arrested for failing to appear in court for a speeding ticket. The fact Washaun Ealey has a sprained knee may necessitate King taking on a major role. By the way: Funny line this week by Richt. He noted the Dogs are undefeated this year when they have a running back suspended (3-0 during King and Ealey suspensions). When asked Tuesday if any player has been suspended yet this week, Richt cracked: “It’s early.”
Fortunately, everybody made it through the night without handcuffs. One less thing to worry about. I’ll be back later with a few shots from the stadium and any updates, but I figured I would post a blog early.
Meanwhile, Freddie Mercury and David Bowie provide an appropriate tune …
♦
Our photographer, Brant Sanderlin, took a little video of the scene in The Landing last night and stumbled on this unsanctioned fight between Georgia and Florida fans:
♦
Catching up on Georgia-Florida week
♦ Weekend Predictions: Dogs go down to Gators again
♦ Urban Meyer slammed again for Chris Rainey decision
♦ This is the week Georgia’s defense needs to step up
♦ Dogs’ key to beating Gators: QB, defense or something else?
♦ Early Georgia-Florida primer (and why Meyer is catching heat)
♦
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2,829 comments Add your comment
tallahasseedawg
October 30th, 2010
8:17 pm
Like i have been saying CTG defense is a joke, CWM could have done the same $#@* for less money .He is a fraud.CMR screwed his self with this hire.CTG has his @#$ handed to him again.He has know solution(ZONE DEFENSE WITH A BAD SAFETY IN RAMBO) or idea what the SEC is.CMR has had his days,darn good guy.I believe it is finally over!!!!!I just wish you would have waken up earlier.
REALITY CHECK
October 30th, 2010
8:17 pm
All u Richt haters who want to fire him.
Who do u plan to replace him with?
collegeballfan
October 30th, 2010
8:17 pm
“…perhaps Dawg fans could begin 2011 without the perennial national championship talk. After 30 years, perhaps the reality check would change your luck.”
Doubt it. UGA fans are not much into reality. They still persist in the thought that UGA is a perennial national football power. In 30 years UGA has one NC and 5 conference titles. That ain’t much.
Having said that I cannot think of a single reason why UGA should not be a perennial top national power. The high school talent is in the state and they recruit the top talent year after year.
Like Spurrier said years ago, they get the talent but do not do anything with it.
It’s a puzzlement.
Dawgs?
October 30th, 2010
8:17 pm
GA Dawg97…You are absolutely correct. I saw 4-5 calls that would have gone against UGA had the refs not overlooked them
Junkyard dog
October 30th, 2010
8:18 pm
Fire Richt Hire Meyers
Einsteindawg
October 30th, 2010
8:18 pm
F#ck Richt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wahat a POS.
Thomas Eagle
October 30th, 2010
8:18 pm
I questioned Mark Richt’s abilities to motivate a team years ago when they were half way winning with exceptional athletes who should have made UGA a dominate power in the country. He has failed us over and over. The guy just doesn’t have football accumen or desire, nor is UGA winning games an ultimate goal of his. He has other pursuits on his plate. I saw just how much Urban Meyer wanted to win this game this afternoon. Richt was on another planet. We need a head coach at Georgia who wants to win and motivate his players. Period….
F.A. Grantham
October 30th, 2010
8:19 pm
How did my 750,000 a year D look today? Boy I sure am glad you dumb rednecks hired me .Excuse me I have to get some of that post game grub. You want to see GATA stand back boys!!!!
crossdawg
October 30th, 2010
8:19 pm
Satilla Dawg…IF we run the table we still don’t need to be humiliated in the Oil Bowl or Plum Bowl or Squash Bowl
michael
October 30th, 2010
8:19 pm
Hey Bozo, you are simply brilliant on all of your 2nd and 10 playcalls! Why do you continue to just waste that down? You put handcuffs on the entire team with your ignorance. At Georgia unfortunately, we do not get a 2nd down which definately puts us at a disadvantage. The Dawgs clearly showed the better talented athletes, but were let down by their inept coaching staff again.
Fire Richt
October 30th, 2010
8:19 pm
Jim Harbaugh in 3….2……1…..
Andy in Blairsville
October 30th, 2010
8:21 pm
It’s amazing how small UGA’s players are. They would never stand a chance up against a AL.
Einsteindawg
October 30th, 2010
8:21 pm
Hey Grantham, why would you think I could/would hire someome better than me?
CHDawg
October 30th, 2010
8:21 pm
On the bright side folks: Caleb King had his best game ever–great blocking; great runs. Orson Charles had a great game, too.
sam
October 30th, 2010
8:21 pm
Chris Petersen
REALITY CHECK
October 30th, 2010
8:21 pm
Why would harbaugh come to UGA? He’s next to replace Rodriguez at UM
Michael
October 30th, 2010
8:21 pm
Satilla Dawg’s support causes Dawgs to lose. Thanks for no longer supporting the Dawgs — please keep your “funds”. Your support has likely caused 18 losses in 21 years. GO DAWGS!
F.A. Grantham
October 30th, 2010
8:21 pm
Next year is gonna be our year.If we get a next year.
SOS Dawg
October 30th, 2010
8:22 pm
See Folks what happens when you have walk through practices and swim time. Im Sick of this coach,coaching staff and have been since BVG left.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
October 30th, 2010
8:22 pm
Gator,
Impressed w/Rainey the crimminal. Was he on a weekend release only from prison?
REALITY CHECK
October 30th, 2010
8:22 pm
Petersen would be great but doubt he’s coming-his offense would be fun to watch w/Ga players
ken egan
October 30th, 2010
8:22 pm
Georgia is soft from the top on down.
The talent in this state does not deserve to have
such a weak choice as a Mark Richt coached team.
I wouldn’t blame any of the talent for leaving
Georgia.
Einsteindawg
October 30th, 2010
8:23 pm
Only if we get rid of that pu$$y Richt!
REALITY CHECK
October 30th, 2010
8:23 pm
Fire Richt next year if they aren’t a 10 win team-UGA should be really solid next yr
No joy in Mudville
October 30th, 2010
8:24 pm
Three picks and a fumble. Thanks, Murray, you jerk.
Anyone have Zach’s phone number?
Macclenny_dawg
October 30th, 2010
8:24 pm
REALITY CHECK,
I am saying we hire Kirby Smart if offered the head coaching job he would come!!! But I like Manny Diaz defense coordinator for Miss. State. He should have been our d-coordinator this year!!! He is a young coach not proven but in 2 years u will see. Just remember you heard it from me 1st!!!
defacto
October 30th, 2010
8:24 pm
Coach Gary Patterson, Mr. McGarity on line 1
Michael
October 30th, 2010
8:25 pm
REALITY CHECK only wants 10 wins next year which means he accepts losing. I do not need loser/whiners supporting the Dawgs. GO DAWGS!
Kenosha,WI_DAWG
October 30th, 2010
8:25 pm
Hate to admit this, but UGA is UF’s beotch…FIRE COACH RICHT….
Athens Correctional fans complain about Chris Rainey?!?
October 30th, 2010
8:25 pm
I’ve never heard a bigger joke. It’s like a serial killer calling out a guy who murdered one person. This game was as advertised….two marginal teams with huge holes playing one another on a neutral field. Surprisingly, it was a rather clean game and the officiating was pretty decent. I was surprised Florida’s defense looked so bad. What happened to it? Aaron Murray does look pretty good, I hate to say.
If Florida could put up that many points what will Cam Newton do?!?
Will the Pups be able to qualify for the Weedeater Bowl? I’m doubting it….
ylojkt
October 30th, 2010
8:25 pm
LMAO South Ga Dawg – what game were you watching? The only thing the refs seemed to miss were all the holds that Ga was committing, while calling phantom holds on Fl. Can’t believe anyone could watch that trainwreck of a game, where their team coughed up the ball all day long and then blame the refs.
DawgsFan2010
October 30th, 2010
8:25 pm
REALITY CHECK, you think Georgia will be really solid next year even though they will be losing their best player ?
REALITY CHECK
October 30th, 2010
8:26 pm
Smart would be interesting, but dont u think UGA has enough cloudt to get a rising headcoach? Not sure the SEC is the best place to get your 1st head coaching experience given you’ve got Saban, Meyer, Spurrier, etc.
Ga Dawg
October 30th, 2010
8:26 pm
Coffee Bluff Dog
Rainey got 82 yards…he wasn’t the issue
So tired of this!
October 30th, 2010
8:26 pm
Who cares about effort. Win or Loose and we lost.
Jordan
October 30th, 2010
8:26 pm
My son Cameron who is a United States Marine called me from Afghanistan during the game. His patrol took on machine gun fire this week. He played high school football wit #4 Calab King and they were friends.He was not aware of the game today for obvious reasons bit he hoped Georgia would do well and win. We watched so many of these games together. We have a great country and a great team. Keep it positive and know whats really important. We will kick the “gators” butt next time. Go Dawgs!
I AM DONE WITH THE DOGS
October 30th, 2010
8:26 pm
BBQ BIG BAD BRUCE——-IF BOBO IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB THIS YEAR—-LET”S BBQ THE DAMN DOG
AFDawg
October 30th, 2010
8:27 pm
Jack Bull, You are wrong. Aaron Murray didn’t lose this game. Yes he made mistakes, but he also got the Dawgs back into the game. CMR and Booboo put him in a bad situation. You don’t tell your quarterback to throw over the middle when you are already in field goal position with one of the best kickers in the game on your team and your QB has already thrown a near interception on his first pass in OT. Even the announcers were saying — “should UGA dare throw again”? I’ve been saying since the loss to Colorado — clean house, keep Grantham and get rid of all the other coaches. This is terrible to say — but I’m hoping the Dawgs go down against Auburn and Tech. That is the only thing that will force the AD to take action. Face it — Georgia Football is not enjoyable right now. They are finding ways to lose with great talent — it’s sickening. From now on when UGA calls looking for money for anything I’m going to tell them — not until you get rid of Richt. I’m also going to send back all of those donation requests with the same thing printed across them. I think all of the alumni should do this — they’ll get the message.
Michael
October 30th, 2010
8:27 pm
No, Kirby Smart’s defense lost to a clearly inferior South Carolina squad. This indicates he has lost control of the team and should be immediately fired. Right? GO DAWGS!
REALITY CHECK
October 30th, 2010
8:27 pm
MICHAEL, if ur a UGA a fan you accept losing-right?
Atlanta Gator
October 30th, 2010
8:27 pm
It was a good win for the gators, but ultimately a disappointment for the University. While I loved the win, Chris Rainey should never have been let on the field or to ever wear the U of F uniform again. Threats against women should never be tolerated under any circumstances and Urban Meyer should know that and if not him then the AD Foley should have.
But to UGA fans if you can’t bet us this year then I don’t know if you will ever bet us again and that is a wonderful feeling.
Mario
October 30th, 2010
8:27 pm
Was he on a weekend release only from prison?
Yes, just like the UGA thugs.
Gatorbait
October 30th, 2010
8:28 pm
Schultz you and Bradley talk smack all week with inappropriate comments like Urban Crier, bashing Rainey etc. The UGA loss couldn’t happen to two guys more deserving of a loss. Urban is laughing at both of you.
Drew
October 30th, 2010
8:29 pm
I wonder if the Rainey thug will make up with his girlfriend now? or if Georgia will ever begin to climb out of the cellar? oh wait, they are under the cellar. MAYBE ROY BARNES WILL LOSE AND THE WHOLE WEEK WILL NOT BE A BUST!
RO GA Dawg
October 30th, 2010
8:29 pm
If the Dawgs can not win this one they should join Emory in the none FBS touch FB tampoon leauge. The Dawgs do not have a place playimg at this level. Time to work on their academic standing and forget sports.
Ron
October 30th, 2010
8:29 pm
I had no idea that I would ever let UGA Football upset me again. I was wrong. This had to be one of the most disturbing games I have ever watched. Nothing was right, coaching, players, nothing.
DawgsFan2010
October 30th, 2010
8:29 pm
Hey Jordan, thanks for putting things into perspective. Hope your son comes home safely and tell him we’re proud of what he and the rest of the troops are doing.
Michael
October 30th, 2010
8:30 pm
Hey Jordan, your son Cameron rocks! Like those Dawgs. GO DAWGS!
THE (G) ON THE MUTTS HELMET STANDS 4 GATOR
October 30th, 2010
8:30 pm
CHIP KELLY ANYONE?
KIRBY SMART?
Flat Tire on I-95 Jacksonville
October 30th, 2010
8:30 pm
Reality Check
2-8
I guess you enjoy 10 win seasons but also enjoy watching FL at home playing for Championships