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.
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,074 comments Add your comment
AUBC
November 6th, 2010
9:10 pm
TCH…Oregon has a weak Strenght of Schedule ranking through 10/30/10. Auburn has a much stronger the SoS ranking, almost double (based on several differnet computer evaluations). Fear oregon? Why?
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
9:11 pm
Beast from the East
November 6th, 2010
9:09 pm
Katherine,
I disagree. You don’t trash to a superior team. Heck, you don’t talk trash to ANY team before you play them. Players that do that are idiots.
Thats your opinion……I respectfully disagree.
Joel
November 6th, 2010
9:11 pm
Beating Idaho St. 55-7 was nice, but Auburn up next.
Auburn gonna put a number on Mark Richt.
Cam Newton gonna run up 75 yards on Georgia’s inexperienced defense.
Murray? The only questions are:
How bad will Murray play in the first quarter?
How many interceptions will Murray throw?
How many passes will Murray throw into the ground or sail into the stands by accident?
How many sacks will Murray get in the first quarter with his indecisveness?
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:12 pm
I guess the “joke” was on the SEC that night
The SEC record in BCS games speaks for itself.
I dont think TCU or Boise St would scare an unbeaten SEC team that much.
Kenai Ocelata
November 6th, 2010
9:12 pm
AJ Green is a joke.
Beast from the East
November 6th, 2010
9:12 pm
AUBC,
Just focus on the next opponenet. Your team controls it’s own destiny. They’ll have a month to prepare for whoever they face in the big game, if they make it.
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:13 pm
Highest Winning Percentages By Conference in BCS games
Conference
Percentage (Record)
Southeastern
.737 (14-5)
Mountain West
.667 (2-1)
WAC
.667 (2-1)
Pacific-10
.643 (9-5)
Big East
.500 (6-6)
Big Ten
.476 (10-11)
Big 12
.412 (7-10)
Atlantic Coast
.167 (2-10)
Independents
.000 (0-3)
ub
November 6th, 2010
9:13 pm
bobo still sucks blew the fla game with 5:53 in first half.
Jason
November 6th, 2010
9:13 pm
I can’t bear to watch the Auburn beatdown of Georgia. It will be like a Pro team playing a high school team.
I can’t believe the TV station opted to cover the Georgia-Auburn game, instead of the SC-Florida game.
it won’t be close, should be a blowout by the end of the first quarter, especially considering the way Aaron “Choke in the first quarter” Murray plays.
do-dah do-dah
November 6th, 2010
9:14 pm
I think a NC game between Oregon and Auburn would be very entertaining.
Beast from the East
November 6th, 2010
9:15 pm
Does anyone think that the ACC should still get an automatic BCS bid? Look at their record from Headley’s post above. Pitiful.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
9:15 pm
i don’t get why everyone drinks the boise state kool aid…..let them play in a real conference and then maybe they will earn my respect.
Inmates R Us
November 6th, 2010
9:16 pm
How many arrests this week?
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 6th, 2010
9:16 pm
we were already #1 in SoS and #1 overall in the puters, and today teams we beat(lsu and either ark or sc) gain in the polls…we go up
The Natue Boy...@ Jason
November 6th, 2010
9:17 pm
CBS chose UGA/Aub over SC/Fla because of national appeal….the Dawgs beat Auburn…(you didn’t get the memo..??)
DOGGIE IN NC
November 6th, 2010
9:17 pm
Since so many of you are so sure the Tigers are going to roll UGA big time, then step up and put your money where you mouth is. I am taking the DOGGIES and the points. One can loose and still win, although I think the DOGGIES take them straight up! GO DOGGIES!
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
November 6th, 2010
9:18 pm
According to the two best statisticians in the BCS ranking “system”, Sagarin and Massey, the Pac-10 is stronger than the SEC this year, and Massey has all Pac-10 teams in the top 10 in SoS. Oregon State at #1 and Oregon at #1.
Of course, when was the last time an SEC champ played a Pac-10 champ for the college football national championship? Does anyone know?
The Natue Boy...@ Trisha
November 6th, 2010
9:19 pm
a Georgia boy did you wrong..?? or are you just a die hard Auwbuuun fan..??
Phil
November 6th, 2010
9:20 pm
I told you guys SC’s pass defense would get torched by Ark.
I was right.
24-10 right now.
Mr. I'm a Liar
November 6th, 2010
9:20 pm
Idiotic words by an idiotic receiver.
do-dah do-dah
November 6th, 2010
9:21 pm
Katherine That’s a pretty weak argument Katherine- where else will they play? What other conference is looking for new teams? And they only seat 30 thousand for home games! They are stuck where they are and can only play the conference schedule that comes their way- just like the SEC teams do. Of course I guess they could look to play a bunch of one gamers against top 10 teams in their home stadiums (with no return games) every year- right??? Would that satisfy everybody that gives no credit to Boise and TCU?? What I’ll bet you is there would not be many top 10 teams that would agree to play TCU- even at home!!!
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
9:22 pm
Nature Boy..didn’t you hear…trisha said nothing that happened before 1984 matters because she wasn’t born yet….i guess she is the center of the universe LOL
crabapplejoe
November 6th, 2010
9:22 pm
@The Catholic Hammer: The Pac-10 had a better strength of schedule last year as well. In the tightest race in Heisman history, Alabama’s Igram beat out Stanford’s Toby Gerhart last year. Most of the people who voted for Ingram assumed that he played against a better SOS…when in fact, the opposite was the truth…and Gerhart who ran for the most yards and TDs got hosed.
do-dah do-dah
November 6th, 2010
9:23 pm
DOGGIE IN NC After today’s game with Idaho State the Dawgs are assured of being the favorites. No points for you pal.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
9:23 pm
do dah..it isn’t anyones fault that boise has a small stadium or plays sucky teams but their own. They don’t play anyone and thats a fact….they shouldn’t be in a bcs bowl game IMO
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 6th, 2010
9:24 pm
@ Nature Boy..
AU Alumni and played DIV 1 softball at AU…I grew up a Tech fan, went to AU, never looked back! Were a hell of an engineering school also!
War Eagle, fly down the field
Ever to conquer, never to yield
War Eagle, fearless and true,
Fight on you orange and blue
Go! Go! Go!
On to vict’ry, strike up the band
Give ‘em hell, give ‘em hell,
Stand up and yell, Hey!
War Eagle, win for Auburn,
Power of Dixie Land!
The Natue Boy...@ Kat
November 6th, 2010
9:24 pm
stop it…you just made made me spit out my beer….good stuff Kat…
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:24 pm
Would that satisfy everybody that gives no credit to Boise and TCU??
No but playing an SEC schedule year in and year out and having a winning record would.
Problem is they wouldnt. Injuries and depth would kill them by the end of the year.
Georgia 55, Idaho State 7: Read all about it | UGA sports blog
November 6th, 2010
9:25 pm
[...] Jeff Schultz’s column, which looks ahead to next week’s game: . . . Hello, Auburn. [...]
Scorekeeper
November 6th, 2010
9:25 pm
Auburn 38, UGA 17.
A serious beatdown. And quite humiliating after that goon Green shoots off his mouth.
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:25 pm
War Eagle, fly down the field
Ever to conquer, never to yield
War Eagle, fearless and true,
Fight on you orange and blue
Go! Go! Go!
On to vict’ry, strike up the band
Give ‘em hell, give ‘em hell,
Stand up and yell, Hey!
War Eagle, win for Auburn,
Power of Dixie Land!
Arent you missing a lyric or two? The ones about paying players like Cam and Bo?
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:25 pm
“Cam stole a computer and lied to the cops about it, an infraction that should be remedied by his incarceration, and resulted in even Urban Meyer kicking him off of the team at Florida.”
Gotta love stupid people. Cam didn’t steal a laptop, he bought one. Urban didn’t kick him off the team, either.
AUBC
November 6th, 2010
9:25 pm
BftE…after seeing my AU Tigers lose games win I was “sure” of a win…I do take them one game at a time. This year, it does not appear to me that any team is so much better than another…and that the game next against uga and then alabama will be another test to pass. Then there is the SEC Championship game if Auburn wins even one of two. If then the bowl game…winning out is unlikely, but possible.
Deepdiver565
November 6th, 2010
9:25 pm
Wow, these guys are desperate to not be known as losers. They have a 5-5 record and are trying to talk trash. This is total desperation from guys on a team that doesn’t want to look bad. Too bad. You are bad. You haven’t beaten anyone good this year.
Beast from the East
November 6th, 2010
9:26 pm
do-dah do-dah,
Both programs will have to play road games against top opponents if they ever want national respect. May not be fair, but that’s the way it is. Why would a team like Bama, UF, Ohio State, Texas, etc play at one of those small stadiums? They’d have nothing to gain and everything to lose. Boise State and TCU are the ones seeking respect. They need to follow the FSU model from the 80’s.
wildbill
November 6th, 2010
9:26 pm
The tv announcer today said that Murray’s slow start was ‘probably’ a hangover from last week. Maybe. I think he has ’stage fright’, and if that is the case, then how long will it take for him to calm down next week, if at all. Shoot, he might just faint flat out in Jordan-Haire.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:26 pm
“Cam aint faced a DE as good as Justin Houston….be afraid War Eagle fans…be very afraid….”
He ran up 200+ yards on the best defense in the SEC. I’m sure he’s not losing any sleep over UGAY.
DOGGIE IN NC
November 6th, 2010
9:26 pm
Won’t need any points, dippity do da!
crabapplejoe
November 6th, 2010
9:28 pm
I’m sure Boise State is glad that they don’t have to play teams on Auburn’s schedule this year like Chattanooga, Louisiana-Monroe (everybody’s whippin’ boy in the SEC this year) and Arkansas State….Kellen Moore would be shaking in his boots over the DBs on those teams….LMAO
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:29 pm
“I hope they get a shot to play Auburn for the title. Auburn IS the lesser of the 3 west division evils for the Gators….because they do not have the D that Bama and LSU have. ”
Urban is 0-2 against Auburn. Careful what you wish for.
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:29 pm
SEC also has more players in the NFL than the other conferences.
You can talk SOS this and computer that but the above statement says all you need to know.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
9:29 pm
crabapplejoe..how many ranked teams has boise state played this season? How many ranked teams does the typical sec team play? enough said.
do-dah do-dah
November 6th, 2010
9:29 pm
Headley Lamar Oh please – SEC is having a run right now(for the last 6 years) with 2 or 3 teams that are pretty good but the SEC is not that strong this year- the East absolutely is pitiful. And what the SEC will expand just so Boise and TCU could join so you could see them play an SEC schedule every year?? And this year they would really have trouble with Ky, Vandy, Tn, Ga, Fla Miss- yeah buddy.
Phil
November 6th, 2010
9:30 pm
Ark up 31-10 on SC.
Spurrier falls apart at the end of every season at SC.
Choke city.
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
November 6th, 2010
9:30 pm
Oh, and don’t forget: Auburn got tied by Clemson earlier this year. Face it folks, they aren’t that great.
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:31 pm
.Kellen Moore would be shaking in his boots over the DBs on those teams….LMAO
But they probably would lose to Alabama, UGA, LSU, South Carolina,
Remember the last time Boise St played an SEC team? I do . It was UGA and it was a huge blowout.
do-dah do-dah
November 6th, 2010
9:31 pm
Before these 6 years how did the SEC do in the NC races?? Can you say Big 10 and Pac 10 for so many years???
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 6th, 2010
9:31 pm
TCU should join the big 12 and play a REAL conference schedule if they wan’t respect. Beating the hell out of the smurfs year in, year out doesn’t make you great..just undefeated against the smurfs…
As for Utah beating Bama, it hurts my argument a little, but it was SOOOO CHOICE…I still have to smile:)
can TCU or Smurfturf beat any team on a given day? maybe…can they beat go0d teams and take a physical pounding 12 weeks in a row and go undefeated? probably NOT..other schools in REAL conferences rarely do..
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:31 pm
Oh, and don’t forget: Auburn got tied by Clemson earlier this year
Umm Auburn won that game going away.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:32 pm
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
Oregon has played 2 teams all year with winning records. Beating up on losing teams isn’t impressive.