A.J. Green says Georgia ready to ’shock people’ in Auburn
A.J. Green had two touchdowns. Later, he had a message for Auburn. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS – On the same day Georgia commemorated the 30th anniversary of the 1980 national championship team, the current incarnation of the Bulldogs had to embrace something significantly south of that: bowl life.
When a team starts 1-4, even Birmingham starts to look like the promised land.
But forget Birmingham or Nashville or Memphis. There’s an opportunity for the Dogs to celebrate something far more significant a third-tier bowl game — and certainly more tantalizing than Saturday’s 55-7 win over a Division I-AA punching bag, Idaho State.
Hello, Auburn.
“I know we’ve got a chance to win,” A.J. Green said Saturday. “I feel like they haven’t faced anybody else like me and [quarterback] Aaron [Murray] with our offense. We’re really going to show them. We’re going to shock a lot of people.”
This might be the first time in recorded history a player on a 5-5 team has thrown down the gauntlet against potentially the best team in country. But you’ve got to admire the spunk.
Georgia’s quest this season has long since been reduced to that of a spoiler. Embracing that is the Dogs’ best chance for mental and physical survival.
Last week’s overtime loss to Florida hit this team hard emotionally.
Green: “I still carry it with me.”
It was a foregone conclusion they would beat Idaho State. The Bengals are bad even by I-AA standards, having now lost eight straight and 33 of their past 36. Put it this way: Idaho State (No. 206 in Jeff Sagarin’s computer rankings) entered the week ranked lower than even Georgia State’s opponent (Lamar at 204), and lower than the first-year Panthers (185).
Idaho State accepted a $525,000 payment in exchange for the likelihood of getting pounded. That’s precisely what happened.
Upsetting Auburn (10-0) wouldn’t nearly make up for losses in Starkville and Boulder and every other headache associated with this season. But it would ease the pain of the big picture. Imagine being jobless and then hitting a $10,000 scratch-off lottery ticket..
Green again: “A lot of people are probably going to favor them. But that’s just talk.”
“They’re going to be ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation, and we haven’t beaten a ranked team all year,” Murray said. “Our last two games [against Auburn and Georgia Tech] are against teams with winning records. We can still salvage a lot.”
Murray threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Green caught two of those scores and finished with six receptions for over 100 yards. Each played only one possession in the second half.
The Dogs, however, were not without some early hiccups. They started this game like their heads were somewhere else. Jacksonville, probably.
Georgia’s first three offensive possessions produced only two field goals and a punt. Some fans booed, particularly when coach Mark Richt chose to go for three points on fourth-and-2 from the Idaho State 20 on the opening possession.
The score was only 6-0 after the first quarter. I’m not sure, but I think I saw Todd Grantham give Mike Bobo a choke sign.
But any sense of drama left the building in a 35-point second quarter. A partially blocked punt set up the Dogs at the Idaho State 43. Six plays later, Caleb King ran in from 3 yards out. Bacarri Rambo had an interception and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown soon after. Then came another interception, this by Brandon Boykin, and one play later Murray threw a 3-yard scoring pass to Green. Georgia scored 21 points in 2:15. The rout was on.
Here’s the big picture in the SEC: Seven teams are bowl eligible. Georgia isn’t one of them. An upset of Auburn would change that. It also would give the Dogs something significant this season: a highlight.
It’s an obvious long shot. But a team clings to what it can.
♦
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1,074 comments Add your comment
War Eagle 1
November 6th, 2010
7:35 pm
A.J. Green is a two-bit, loudmouthed punk. He’s also a known lying cheater.
I’m sure Auburn is quivering in fear.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
7:36 pm
“I’m sure Auburn is quivering in fear.”
I don’t know how Newton will sleep knowing that AJ Green said that UGA will beat Auburn.
Aeronautical Principles
November 6th, 2010
7:39 pm
“… we are really about 8-10 plays from being 7-2 or 8-1.”
And if a pig had wings, it could fly. Dream on.
bob
November 6th, 2010
7:39 pm
Congrats so far eagle chicks. You still have UGA, Bama, & Fla in a row. Auburn will earn that trip to the National Championship if they win in Atlanta.
AJ please be quiet, you have already hurt us enough this year. It is better to sneak up quietly when they are thinking of Bama.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
7:39 pm
War Eagle 1
November 6th, 2010
7:35 pm
A.J. Green is a two-bit, loudmouthed punk. He’s also a known lying cheater.
I’m sure Auburn is quivering in fear.
So he is a punk because he is pumped up and thinks they can win? I wouldn’t get too cocky if I were auburn…anything can happen…ask a lot of other number one teams this season.
browndog
November 6th, 2010
7:39 pm
Auburn is expected to win so UGA will play loose and have some fun. Hopefully it is an entertaining game, like the game with UF last Saturday, but with a different outcome.
Jimmy The Greek's Zombie Self
November 6th, 2010
7:42 pm
My prediction, Auburn 45 Georgia 30. Brains!
georgia87
November 6th, 2010
7:44 pm
I want to see some creativity in Georgia’s offensive scheme before I have any confidence in our ability to win. Florida reworks their scheme, LSU designs some incredible trick plays (did you see that reverse?), Oregon goes uptempo…and Georgia can’t get the ball in the hands of their playmakers. The receivers were covered downfield early in this game. How is that possible? Are we really that predictable? Somebody needs to loosen Murray up before next weeks’ game. A bad first quarter could put us in a 30 point hole.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
7:44 pm
War Eagle 1
November 6th, 2010
7:35 pm
A.J. Green is a two-bit, loudmouthed punk. He’s also a known lying cheater.
I’m sure Auburn is quivering in fear.
So he is a punk because he thinks his team has a chance and it trying to pump them up? I wouldn’t get too cocky….ask a lot of other number one teams this season if anything can happen.
Caoch Grohbo
November 6th, 2010
7:45 pm
Auburn 63, Georgia 9.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
7:45 pm
serously….two post now and neither one shows up..wth
Gordon
November 6th, 2010
7:45 pm
If Auburn was going to overlook UGA, they aren’t now because a win sends them to Atlanta. They will be very motivated. UGA will have to play almost a perfect game.
17 of 20
November 6th, 2010
7:46 pm
I love that Georgia quarterback, he is a turnover machine.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
7:47 pm
War Eagle 1
November 6th, 2010
7:35 pm
A.J. Green is a two-bit, loudmouthed punk. He’s also a known lying cheater.
I’m sure Auburn is quivering in fear.
OK i’ll try this again…third time….. so he is a punk because he thinks his team has a chance to win and is trying to pump them up? I wouldn’t get too full of yourself just yet….ask a lot of other number one teams from this season…anything can happen.
always a silver lining
November 6th, 2010
7:48 pm
Man it doesn’t take much to rock the Dawg’s world. Beat a C-3 team and score 55 points on them and Ga is ready to beat the world again. And A J Green? You need to keep your mouth shut and just play. You and your selfishness have already cost Ga far too much this year.
What?
November 6th, 2010
7:48 pm
@War Eagle 1
Now that’s a good one. By the way, how is Cam’s on the side laptop business going? I think he is the only one who has shown some character issues….
5 Straight over the birds should be fun!!
Caoch Grohbo
November 6th, 2010
7:50 pm
AJ Green is a cheating punk. He is very lucky the NCAA went easy on him.
He lost his amateur status when he got paid.
WarDamnCam
November 6th, 2010
7:50 pm
AJ Murry can not throw the ball with Nick Farley laying on his A$$, and you sure can’t catch it, like LSU we will be taking a Knee on the 3yrd. line.
crabapplejoe
November 6th, 2010
7:52 pm
A.J. Green…..what a humble and mature individual….he will probably become arrogant and egotistical if he ever goes over 1000 yards in receiving…LMAO
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 6th, 2010
7:54 pm
Yep…beat UGA and we are sec west champs..the Iron Bowl can be played MORE loose..less uptight…AND might I remind you we put 340+ rushing yards on that LSU defense that kept Alabama to 21 points…SOOOO while not trashing talking the iron bowl, I likes our chances….
Caoch Grohbo
November 6th, 2010
7:55 pm
…or if he ever plays full season.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
7:55 pm
I like his enthusiasm ….it’s been a tough season for the dawgs. There is nothing wrong with still playing your heart out and trying to pump up your team. They have nothing to lose now…..and everything to prove. You never know…….
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 6th, 2010
7:55 pm
Yeah , GA is kicking A** in the FCS this year..gotta give them props…
In the SEC, not so good I guess…
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 6th, 2010
7:58 pm
AJ Green is auditioning to be drafted by TB and Raheem Morris..
What?
November 6th, 2010
7:58 pm
@Trisha, how about 5 in a row over the
plainsmen…Sound good??
Caoch Grohbo
November 6th, 2010
7:58 pm
Don’t give Georgia any FCS Division II props.
Idaho State beat them 7-6 in the 1st and 4th quarters today.
GADAWG88
November 6th, 2010
7:59 pm
‘I’m not sure, but I think I saw Todd Grantham give Mike Bobo a choke sign.”
haha I gotta admit this was funny. Even though I got Grantham’s back on the whole choke sign issue
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
7:59 pm
“They have nothing to lose now”
Sure they do. If they don’t win they don’t go to a bowl game.
what r u dawgs smokin...
November 6th, 2010
8:00 pm
how the heck is Georgia gonna beat Auburn? you dawg fans are so delusional..you have beaten Vandy, Tennessee, a directional Louisiana school, kentucky and Idaho State…lost to everyone of any value, but you are going to beat Auburn?
Ron
November 6th, 2010
8:00 pm
Well boys, we all thought that AJ didn’t sell that jersey or do anything else wrong, but we were wrong. But, the jersey was his, he didn’t just take it. So, no one knows yet what the Newtons did or did not do at this point. That is, unless you Auburn boys have been talking with: Auburn, the NCAA, the Newtons, the other people involved, etc. Maybe he did not do anything, but I don’t know & you don’t either. I do know one thing, GA has absolutely nothing to lose in this game. They have talent and that makes them somewhat dangerous. OK, maybe you win 65-0. What happens then, it just means that GA has lost 6 games instead of 5. Think about it.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:00 pm
“how about 5 in a row over the
plainsmen”
Whatever takes your mind off of UGA’s 5-5 season. LOL
Caoch Grohbo
November 6th, 2010
8:00 pm
Georgia has nothing to win now…except Coach Richt’s job.
TampaGator
November 6th, 2010
8:00 pm
Hey….A.J…..you really showed the SEC how to take it to Idaho State today…..but what happened to your circus act lask week???
What happened….Janoris Jenkins….that is what happened!
18 out of 21….come on back next year….and watch it be 19 and 22….
…and take it with you to the NFL.
Ron Roberts
November 6th, 2010
8:01 pm
GT Mustang… who did Kansas lose to the week after they beat you? STFU yourself, buddy boy.
What?
November 6th, 2010
8:01 pm
@Cam
with your history, you should know…..
college is forever
November 6th, 2010
8:01 pm
http://www.collegelunchboxes.com Even though they will be huge underdawgs I like A.J.’s spunk, and you know we have all watched enough sports to know that nothing is really a sure thing. Today is 7 weeks till Christmas check out the UGA Classic Tin Lunchbox. It really is very cool just ask one of the many thousands of Dawgs fans that own one. Available at Kroger or online. Come on Dawgs shock the College Football World next Saturday, Beat Auburn!!!
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:02 pm
Ron
The Newton story is old news that ESPN/NY Times is now bringing up. If Newton had done anything wrong, Auburn, Miss State and Florida would not have touched him.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
8:02 pm
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
7:59 pm
“They have nothing to lose now”
Sure they do. If they don’t win they don’t go to a bowl game.
I don’t think they really care about going to a sucky bowl game as much as keeping their pride. All I’m saying is that if by some chance georgia does win….i’d love to see all the auburn fans back on this blog afterward. You just never know what can happen in any game…the odds are against them but they always have a chance.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:02 pm
“with your history, you should know…..”
That Auburn will beat UGA?
That Cam will win the Heisman?
Joe
November 6th, 2010
8:02 pm
Grantham showed he is no Nick Saban, as he did not follow the Nick Saban choke game in 2007 against La Monroe as Saban was in his first year installing the 3-4 defense at Alabama with a loss to Idaho State.
But no one really thinks Georgia has a shot to lose by more than 21 to Auburn, geez, they’re the #1 ranked team in the country with the Heisman trophy winner as QB.
Georgia has a freshman QB that looked scared in the 1st quarter, again, and a 3-4 defense that’s given up 30 points to a lot of teams.
Auburn 60, Georgia 14.
Coach Grohbo
November 6th, 2010
8:03 pm
Ron,
Kansas beat Colorado. Did Georgia?
TampaGator
November 6th, 2010
8:03 pm
A.J.?????
Getting your PR lessons from Randy Moss?
Why don’t you run your big mouth when you beat a good team!!!
After the Auburn game….maybe you can ask Cam for his Heisman jersey…and you can sell that too.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:03 pm
“I don’t think they really care about going to a sucky bowl game as much as keeping their pride.”
What pride?
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:04 pm
“After the Auburn game….maybe you can ask Cam for his Heisman jersey…and you can sell that too.”
HAHHAAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!
Mick
November 6th, 2010
8:04 pm
Jeff-
Already downplaying the 55-7 Gergia win?
Typcial.
Downplay the wins, hype the losses.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 6th, 2010
8:04 pm
Nobody minds a little self promotion and bravado…It does start to get unseemly when the team doing it is 5-5 and still looking hard to get to the motel6.com bowl.
BUT nothing overshadows Bama’s 2nd loss in the SEC which makes me do the happy dance…
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
8:04 pm
Maybe after the auburn game Cam will ask to get paid…..
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:05 pm
TampaGator
I’ve read a couple of columns about Urban’s involvement with the Newton “scandal.” Now, if it turns out to be true that Urban is out for revenge, it won’t look good for Urban.
What’s your take?
Coach Grohbo
November 6th, 2010
8:05 pm
South Carolina took away Georgia’s pride way back in September.
What?
November 6th, 2010
8:05 pm
@Cam
don’t count your laptops & no chance he wins the “H”