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
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:05 pm
“Maybe after the auburn game Cam will ask to get paid…..”
Comeback fail.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:05 pm
“don’t count your laptops & no chance he wins the “H””
Then again, you’re not a voter.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
8:05 pm
Like I said Cam…..i wouldn’t get too full of yourself just yet…it might come back to haunt you.
TampaGator
November 6th, 2010
8:06 pm
But…..I am not sure if Auburn’s DBs are good enough to play A.J. and his big mouth.
But I do know that Georgia’s defense isn’t good enough to stop Cam and Company.
Auburn 55…..Georgia 30.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:06 pm
“Downplay the wins, hype the losses.”
UGA hasn’t beaten a decent team this year. Nuff said.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
8:07 pm
I don’t think anyone with potential scandal will be winning the heisman again..ala reggie bush…but you never know.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:07 pm
“i wouldn’t get too full of yourself just yet…it might come back to haunt you.”
“Might” is the key word in your poorly written insult.
rkglsu
November 6th, 2010
8:07 pm
I’m pulling for you Georgia.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:07 pm
“I don’t think anyone with potential scandal will be winning the heisman again..ala reggie bush…but you never know.”
Doesn’t matter what you think.
Daniel
November 6th, 2010
8:08 pm
May be he should focus on beating teams that lose to Kansas.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
8:08 pm
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:07 pm
“i wouldn’t get too full of yourself just yet…it might come back to haunt you.”
“Might” is the key word in your poorly written insult.
That isn’t an insult….just saying anything can happen and when you get too over confident..it usually does.
Terry
November 6th, 2010
8:08 pm
Here’s the thing.
Back in 2007, Saban was year 1 putting the 3-4 defense in.
About the 11th game, he faced La Monroe and lost 21-14 and gave up 280 yards to La Monroe.
Today, Grantham faced Idaho State in the 10th game, and gave up 7 points, and only 150 yards.
Grantham’s defense is also averaging less than 20 points a game, where Saban’s D gave up over 22 a game in his first year putting the 3-4 in at Bama in 2007.
Could Grantham be better than Saban?
Cam Newton
November 6th, 2010
8:09 pm
UGA will lose to two teams that lost to Kansas.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:09 pm
“just saying anything can happen and when you get too over confident..it usually does.”
Oh, so because you say so it means it will happen……. LOL
Coach Grohbo
November 6th, 2010
8:10 pm
Terry,
Get real. That La-Mo team would beat Idaho State worse than Georgia did.
Chase
November 6th, 2010
8:10 pm
Schultz….did you ever play a sport in your life? Now, I know the whole Arena and all, but really you seem like a kid that was picked on in high school. Did some athlete steal your girlfriend?
I know, you will come with some witty line that makes you laugh, but really were you picked on that badly. I am guessing your hate for Richt also comes from your lack of faith. I too am not much of a church guy, but you are about as transparent as it gets.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
8:11 pm
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:09 pm
“just saying anything can happen and when you get too over confident..it usually does.”
Oh, so because you say so it means it will happen……. LOL
No of course not…boy you sure can dish it out but you can’t take a little criticism back….
always a silver lining
November 6th, 2010
8:12 pm
Katherine Let;s see if you and all the happy campers on here will be on here next weekend after the game. Seems like all your “beat the Gators by 40″ fans week before last disappeared after you lost to the worst Gator team in 10 years.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:12 pm
“No of course not…boy you sure can dish it out but you can’t take a little criticism back….”
You must be under the false impression that I care what you think.
BAW
November 6th, 2010
8:12 pm
If you couldn’t stop Trey Burton and the fighting meyer’s from running all over you how are you going stop a team that averages over 300 yards a game rushing in the SEC. You are not being overlooked puppies and you’re not sneaking up on anybody. We’ve been rolling newspapers for weeks waiting for you. BAD DAWG!!!
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:13 pm
UGA was preseason number one in 2008.
How did that turn out?
Chase
November 6th, 2010
8:13 pm
Schultz….did you ever play a sport in your life? Now, I know the whole Arena and all, but really you seem like a kid that was picked on in high school. Did some athlete steal your girlfriend?
I know, you will come with some witty line that makes you laugh, but really were you picked on that badly. I am guessing your hate for Richt also comes from your lack of faith. I too am not much of a church guy, but you are about as transparent as it gets.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:14 pm
Hey, where are all the Alabama bloggers who were making fun of Auburn?
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
8:14 pm
always a silver lining
November 6th, 2010
8:12 pm
Katherine Let;s see if you and all the happy campers on here will be on here next weekend after the game. Seems like all your “beat the Gators by 40″ fans week before last disappeared after you lost to the worst Gator team in 10 years.
Yes I realize that they lost….and it has been an awful year for the dawgs. You all act like its some kind of insult that the team and fans still are hoping for wins and wanting the team to finish well. lol wow
What?
November 6th, 2010
8:15 pm
@Cam
How many times when you have seen this much smoke on an athlete, does the fire go out and turn out not to be true over time? Hopefully, the media has it wrong…….
Party school
November 6th, 2010
8:15 pm
Kansas 52, Colorado 45 lol
Lets see:
North Dakota State > Kansas > Colorado > UGA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:16 pm
“How many times when you have seen this much smoke on an athlete, does the fire go out and turn out not to be true over time?”
I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about. This “scandal” is over a year old and the NCAA/SEC never found anything. There is no way Chizek/Auburn would risk going on probation over one football player.
Jeffrey
November 6th, 2010
8:16 pm
Auburn will be favored by 21.
Georgia will get crushed.
Murray will throw 6 interceptions.
Defense will give up 800 yards to Cam Newton.
TampaGator
November 6th, 2010
8:17 pm
Terry…..
Yeah…..Grantham is obviously a better coach than Saban….your logic proves it!
Talk is cheap
November 6th, 2010
8:17 pm
AJ Green couldn’t carry Cam Newton’s jock strap.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:17 pm
“You all act like its some kind of insult that the team and fans still are hoping for wins and wanting the team to finish well. ”
No, the non UGA fans are laughing at UGA fans right now because you clowns act high and mighty every single year before one game has been played.
What?
November 6th, 2010
8:17 pm
@Party
Is that an insult? We have great looking chicks too!!
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:18 pm
“Grantham is obviously a better coach than Saban….your logic proves it!”
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:18 pm
“We have great looking chicks too!!”
That end up in your athletic directors car. LOL
Terry
November 6th, 2010
8:18 pm
Weird that Grantham’s defense is giving up less than 20 points a game in his first year installing the 3-4, where Saban’s defense gave up over 22 a game in his year installing the 3-4 at Bama.
Grantham’s LB’s also have more sacks this year, and tackles for loss, than Alabama’s.
Could Grantham be a better defensive coach than Nick Saban?
Sugg Id
November 6th, 2010
8:19 pm
Auburn, like GT, will just be praying for a win, seeing how we own their asses. Gonna grab one for the thumb Saturday on the Plains.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:19 pm
“will just be praying for a win, seeing how we own their asses.”
Guess that’s all UGAY fans have these days.
Coach Grohbo
November 6th, 2010
8:19 pm
Alabama fans pinning their season’s hopes on Georgia.
Let us know how that works out.
What?
November 6th, 2010
8:19 pm
@cam
With her looks certainly she was an Auburn coed
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:20 pm
“With her looks certainly she was an Auburn coed”
Insult fail.
Terry
November 6th, 2010
8:20 pm
Grantham’s D is ranked better than Saban’s was in 2007 in BOTH scoring, and total yards.
Both are in their 1st year installing the 3-4.
Auburn Man
November 6th, 2010
8:21 pm
AJ Green talking smack already. I wonder why he didn’t tell everyone UGA was gonna shock Auburn last week after he helped confirm that UGA will always be Florida’s b-i-t-c-h.
TampaGator
November 6th, 2010
8:21 pm
….you know…that Florida team looks like it has no future….playing those 17 truly outstanding true freshman (and 10 more talented redshirt freshmen) every Saturday. Today…they presented one, Jordan Reed….kind of looked like a combination or Cam Newton and Tim Tebow today. Rocket arm. Big. Fast. Redshirt freshman QB. Runs the spread like he was born in it. Yep….the Gators are Dawg meat for years to come.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
8:21 pm
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:17 pm
“You all act like its some kind of insult that the team and fans still are hoping for wins and wanting the team to finish well. ”
No, the non UGA fans are laughing at UGA fans right now because you clowns act high and mighty every single year before one game has been played.
Umm Cam…you are assuming all uga fans are like that…how many do you acutally know? Are you going by bloggers online? Don’t assume things about a whole group of people…you know what they say about that…. I could say things about almost every team’s fans in the sec…but I don’t know them personally…just some idiots online so I won’t.
George
November 6th, 2010
8:21 pm
The freshman QB Murray outgunning the stud Cam Newton?
Surely you jest.
Mark Richt isn’t THAT GOOD of a QB coach is he?
What?
November 6th, 2010
8:21 pm
@Cam
Enjoyed it…..”break a a leg” next week…..out
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
8:23 pm
Katherine
I know plenty of UGA fans who are obnoxious. You seem alright though.
TampaGator
November 6th, 2010
8:23 pm
Terry….
Yep….they really shut down the Gators offense lask week. No doubt. Better than both Saban….and will be better than that Penn State coach when he is done. Do doubt about it.
GADAWG93
November 6th, 2010
8:23 pm
why is everyone taking shots at AJ? Its not a bad thing for the best player on a team to show his boys that he is confident going into a tough game. Stop taking shots at him because he is the best WR in the nation
JSS
November 6th, 2010
8:24 pm
@ what r u dawgs smokin…
Son, they ain’t smokin’; that’s IV drug abuse dementia!!!