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
Tech is pathetic
October 30th, 2010
9:32 pm
Really, I never lied on my resume. What do you mean? And I beat Georgia every year.
Seriously man. I did. I love Tech.
Salty Dawg
October 30th, 2010
9:32 pm
You just wait, here we come Idaho!
College Football Expert
October 30th, 2010
9:32 pm
Ahh, GT going to a bowl game and UGA not, hahahahahaha
Andy in Blairsville
October 30th, 2010
9:33 pm
Why not just join the Big East where you can be competitive?
JP
October 30th, 2010
9:33 pm
LMAO…LMAO…UGAY..LMAO
Next year
October 30th, 2010
9:33 pm
Now GA can focus on RULING the state of GA! Looks like you are ahead of GA Tech, GA Southern and GA State… YAHOO!!!!! GA Rocks!!!! Go DAWGS!!! 6 or 7 loses!!! Pappa John Pizzas for everyone!!!!
GatorGreg
October 30th, 2010
9:34 pm
OWNED!
Herschel Walker
October 30th, 2010
9:34 pm
Idaho State is a 10 point favorite.
Party school
October 30th, 2010
9:34 pm
Herschel Walker
October 30th, 2010
9:30 pm
Why didn’t the thugs wear red panties?
How do you know they didn’t?
#1dawg
October 30th, 2010
9:35 pm
stendek, you make all UGA fans look bad, cool it before you burn!
Will Stockdale
October 30th, 2010
9:35 pm
Kansas, NC state and Clemson. Yeah, they are real good. real good i tell you. I think one of them
surely is in the top 50. yeah, real good. But we beat South Carolina State (who?) and Middle TN St real good (who?).
Fred Dog
October 30th, 2010
9:36 pm
Whats Richts record against URBAN?
IF UGA is serious about winning the SEC EAST – they need to move on and hire a coach. This is painfull!!!
Look – Richt is a great man, a good football coach – but he has proven that at BEST – UGA will only be seond in the SEC EAST. This is a mediocre program – losing to Colorado – SERIOUSLY!!!
This is turning into RAy Goff all over again.
OVERTIME play calling really was bad – no – make that pathetic! Florida knew they had the game won even before the coin toss.
A win tonight would have been HUGE – a LOSS – devasting – this program is 4-5 – and will wind up 3-5 in SEC play and will have to beat TECH to be bowl eligible. PATHETIC>
HELL _ GOD DAM IT _ WE LOST TO FRIGGING COLORADO> This season has been a nightmare – and last year too – even LANE KIFFIN beat the mighty DAWGS. PATHETIC!
TIME TO GET A NEW COACH
DO NOT give ma a raw raw speech on how much heart and character UGA showed tonight – WE LOST THE GAME. RAY GOFF ALMOST beat FLORIDA a couple of times – when we were not getting BLOWN out. THIS was the best chance we had at beating FLORIDA – and we CHOKED.
Why did we choke – because Florida has better coaching, better athletes, and did not give the DAMN game away.
IT”S TIME FOR RICHT TO GO! HE HAS HAD HIS CHANCE _ AND HE HAS PROVEN THAT HE CAN NOT MAKE IT HAPPEN AT UGA> 2005 WAS A LONG TIME AGO _IT’S TIME FOR RICHT TO GO>>>>NOW!!!
GatorGreg
October 30th, 2010
9:36 pm
UGAg the Notre Dame of the SEC….
Gator Fan
October 30th, 2010
9:36 pm
It was a well fought game by both teams. The fans are the ones that should be fired. And that includes a lot of Gator fans. The hate spewed out over a football game is ridiculous.
Burroughston Broch
October 30th, 2010
9:37 pm
ThUGA fans want to change to home and home arrangement with UF. Nothing would change – ThUGA is 3/18 in the last 21 meetings. ThUGA is becoming irrelevant on the national scene, despite paying one coach $3.2million per year. For all you finance majors and MBAs, that’s a lousy ROI.
GatorGreg
October 30th, 2010
9:37 pm
I’m a pathetic loser. Please help me.
stendek
October 30th, 2010
9:38 pm
I want Dawgs to succeed #1(?)Dawg! More than I can say for you. Status quo huh? Forget it! STENDEK
Mobile Dawg
October 30th, 2010
9:38 pm
That hurt Gator Greg !
Still up by 7.
October 30th, 2010
9:39 pm
Regardless, it will take at least 7 more years to tie the series record.
Yes, 7 years. We still own you, bitches.
MttPF
October 30th, 2010
9:39 pm
attention muttards — uou really thought UGAG was relevant in the SEC??
UGA Fans
October 30th, 2010
9:40 pm
Andy your retarded! They are still fans of UGA even though the may have been talking in the stands.
If your going to argue get a brain 1st.
Next year
October 30th, 2010
9:40 pm
Look at all the CMR haters now– last week everyone LOVED him. Last week, GA was great. They beat 3 “solid” SEC teams. Last week! Next year!
Bwahahaha
October 30th, 2010
9:40 pm
choked again losers
bet your redneck fan base leaves garbage all over fax and st simons
4 and 5
October 30th, 2010
9:40 pm
enough said
Corch Myer
October 30th, 2010
9:40 pm
stendek Are you that insecure that you have to make this personal against Coach Richt? Is that game the only thing in your life? I feel sorry for you.
Tech is good at something?
October 30th, 2010
9:41 pm
Surely there is something Tech is better at than UGA. surely., why else would tech
fans troll uga sites. ahhhhhh……living vicariously. i make more than you and had more
fun in college. so stfu, tech losers.
College Football Expert
October 30th, 2010
9:41 pm
Nothing good for UGA this season. Nothing. Regrettable, forgettable, disgraceful. Fire Preacher man now!
Sourgrapes
October 30th, 2010
9:41 pm
“Still up by 7″ – a seven game difference in a series this long is not “ownage”. And at this rate, the series will be even in 9 years.
#1dawg
October 30th, 2010
9:42 pm
Fred dog, UF didn’t have better players they just made the plays and we didn’t. LUCK my friend is sometimes better than being good.
UGA has had bad luck.
UGA79
October 30th, 2010
9:43 pm
Look, Dawgs puckered….. passes through the hands of receivers ……… they were afraid of losing.
Florida played with swagger & we played like scared freshmen.
Another year, another loss in Jacksonville.
This sucks!
From Where I Sit
October 30th, 2010
9:43 pm
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another loss to the Gators!!!!! LOL
Enough Said!!!!!
Will Stockdale
October 30th, 2010
9:43 pm
34-31 Georgia loses AGAIN…… Same story different day . HAHAHA
College Football Expert
October 30th, 2010
9:43 pm
bad luck, bad players, bad coaching, bad all around
Idaho State
October 30th, 2010
9:43 pm
Idaho State… I am worried– I fear the french fries!!!
Gator Guy
October 30th, 2010
9:43 pm
Hey uga, Quit your belly-aching about Rainey playing–half of georgia’s team had to get permission from their probation officers just to leave the state—whatever, more excuses from a loser program, because hey, that’s what losers like you do—-it will be nice to party in Atlanta after winning the SEC–at least when UF comes to town, the average IQ of your state goes up by 50%—HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
c,ehjg
October 30th, 2010
9:43 pm
#1 Dawg…how has UGA had bad luck?
AL E. GATOR
October 30th, 2010
9:43 pm
UGA made it a close game – but I knew we would win and UGA would lose.
IF Sanders Commings just falls on the ball – could have been a 10 point swing possible 14 for UGA. BUT LOSERS never make the play!
Jusy what FLORIDA needed – a week off and GEORGIA as the next opponent – LMAO!!!!!
GO GATORS!!!!
sourgrapes.
October 30th, 2010
9:44 pm
it is the series record, dipsh!t. and 9 years is a long f’ing time. so in other words,
at best, florida will even the series in another decade. great argument. you must
be a lawyer. a crappy one at that.
College Football Expert
October 30th, 2010
9:46 pm
Such domination by one team against another reminds me of Tech owning UGA in the 50s Just sick pwnage
xman
October 30th, 2010
9:46 pm
I’ve never said this before – but it is time for Georgia to go another direction than Mark Richt. I truly believe Richt is one of the most decent men in college athletics, but Georgia will never reach the top of the pile.
God Bless Mark Richt, I truly feel God has something more important in life for him than worrying about ALL OF YOU WHINNING “FANS” THAT CAN’T STAND THAT GEORGIA IS HAVING AN OFF YEAR…SHAME ON EVERYONE OF YOU “FANS.”
Who would Georgia get as a coach that could do any better? Jon Gruden would not come to Athens and he’s the only person that I would even consider…
Get over yourselves, you bunch of whinny drunk tailgators – Georgia is having a bad year….SHUT UP AND BE GLAD THAT YOU HAVE A COACH LIKE MARK RICHT!!!!!
Idaho State
October 30th, 2010
9:46 pm
Tater Power!
UGA79
October 30th, 2010
9:46 pm
We came in with a 4 game streak and full of confidence. UF had lost three in a row. Why did UGA look like the team losing? this game is in UGA players head. They feel they will lose, thus the passes through the hands in critical times.
We puckered!
Chili Dog
October 30th, 2010
9:47 pm
Own it Dawgs.
Sourgrapes
October 30th, 2010
9:47 pm
Wow. What a well-formed argument “Soutgrapes.” Your reading comprehension skills must make your coworkers at Denny’s swoon.
47-40 is not “ownage” – it’s basically a tie. And yes, at the rate Mark Richt loses to Florida, the series will be even in about 9 years.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
October 30th, 2010
9:47 pm
Tech is good at something?,
Yes, Tech beat UGA in men’s tennis 1 time out of the last 70 matches.
Gator guy is stupid
October 30th, 2010
9:48 pm
let’s see, logic (which you clearly lack and has been pointed out by countless good Gators)
selling a jersey, underage possession, hitting a parked car, or not paying a speeding ticket
does NOT, NOT, NOT equal threatening the life of a young woman. Good thing for
Rainey that was not my daughter. He would be a dead man. Literally. I would show him
a painful, painful lesson. Point is, and you damn well know it, it was much worse than anything ANY GA player did. I can at least admit that is not why we lost. I give credit to the Gators. Great game guys. But to you stupid fan, STFU. you have no class and no character just like Meyer.
Will Stockdale
October 30th, 2010
9:48 pm
Florida = Medium Bowl Game
Georgia Tech = Medium Bowl game
Georgia = TOLIET BOWL
HAHAHAHAHA !!!!
34-31
GATORSTUD
October 30th, 2010
9:48 pm
The only thing that gets the duwgs through this time of year are replays of run landsy run. jr duwgs probably think he is still on the team.
Idaho Nation
October 30th, 2010
9:49 pm
Does anyone know much about the Tater Nation??? Any chance we can beat them???
College Football Expert
October 30th, 2010
9:49 pm
toilet bowl, haha