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
NOBODYYOUKNOW
November 6th, 2010
9:32 pm
Thats locker room bulletin board material. I’m no Auburn fan, nor UGA fan for that matter, but would love to see the dogs beat em. But now I sure would put my money on Auburn. 99 times out of 100 when some player makes statements like that all it does is fire up your opponent. I’ve seen UGA play and have seen Auburn play. Aurburn is the better team.
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:32 pm
And this year they would really have trouble with Ky, Vandy, Tn, Ga, Fla Miss- yeah buddy.
umm they would. Listen Facts are facts.
The SEC has far and away the best BCS record.
They have the most players in the NFL.
Any more questions?
Gary
November 6th, 2010
9:33 pm
Can Georgia just go ahead and forfeit the Auburn game to save the embarrasment? No telling how many touchdowns Cam Newton will put up on Georgia, maybe 10?
Cam Newton is the most dominant QB to ever play in the SEC, there’s no way Georgia can stop him.
And Aaron Murray will get blown off the field, the kid’s a joke.
do-dah do-dah
November 6th, 2010
9:33 pm
Headley Lamar In Ga years ago – that team hardly compares to the one the past 3 years.
And you think Ga would beat Boise??? How about Oregon- How about New England??
I fully expect Ga to jump into the top 15 after today’s fine showing.
barneyb
November 6th, 2010
9:34 pm
Nice thought, but even as a lifelong UGA fan, I’m relaistic. Aim high Dawgs, but ain’t gonna happen. Richt and bobo will be outcoached again.
Beast from the East
November 6th, 2010
9:35 pm
CATHOLIC HAMMER,
How could anyone have tied Auburn? They’ve won every game they’ve played.
Go pray for forgiveness!
Funny Stuff
November 6th, 2010
9:35 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.”
You have no idea how many stupid, misinformed, self-righteous people that circulate this blog. I especially love the convicted DUI folks that criticize student athletes for minor infractions that would never reach a court of law.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:35 pm
“Oh, and don’t forget: Auburn got tied by Clemson earlier this year. Face it folks, they aren’t that great.”
Auburn is the only team in the nation to have beaten 4 top 25 teams. The facts say you’re a moron.
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:36 pm
I fully expect Ga to jump into the top 15 after today’s fine showing.
I dont. They have had a terrible year. I wouldnt expect a program with the 11th most wins in NCAA history to stay down long however.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:36 pm
“Auburn got tied by Clemson earlier this year.”
Nominee for dumbest post of the day.
JB
November 6th, 2010
9:36 pm
watching Carolina……They ALWAYS fold the last of the season…..I think they take on the personality of Spurrier and his smart mouth and try to win with their mouth rather than on the field…..They will lose to Florida and Clemson.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
9:37 pm
I say never give up…and anything can happen. I’m glad the uga team doesnt listen to people that say they are going to lose for sure. I don’t see anything wrong with AJ trying to pump up his team…it is, afterall, a game that never ceases to surprise people.
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
November 6th, 2010
9:37 pm
AZ State was a PAT away from a tie with Wisconsin.
UT is one of those SEC teams, right?
WA State is admittedly pathetic.
UCLA lost to KS State out of conference and beat Houston and Texas. They have since fallen off in conference play (the Pac-10 is tough).
The jury is still out on UW. They lost to a bad BYU team, but have looked solid in other games.
Don’t try and feed me that nonsense that the Pac-10 is “weak”.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:38 pm
“I’m glad the uga team doesnt listen to people that say they are going to lose for sure.”
No, instead they listen to fans who claim, every year, that UGA will win the national title.
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:38 pm
And you think Ga would beat Boise??? How about Oregon- How about New England??
Boise – maybe Is the game in Athens? Oregon – no not this year . New England – no they are a professional team.
crabapplejoe
November 6th, 2010
9:38 pm
@Headley Lamar who wrote: “Remember the last time Boise St played an SEC team? I do . It was UGA and it was a huge blowout.”
Remember the last time Alabama played a Mountain West team? I do…it was Utah and it was a huge blowout….just sayin’ we can play that game all night. No SEC school would schedule a home/home situation with Boise State or TCU when they can pay Coastal Carolina, Chattanooga, Louisiana-Monroe, etc. to come to their fields….and Boise/TCU are not gonna take the money to only play away in the SEC anymore…its a stalemate
Beast from the East
November 6th, 2010
9:39 pm
Katherine,
I’m not advocating that UGA should accept defeat. I was just saying that AJ was an idiot for publicly stating that. If you want to pump your team up, you do it in the locker room, at practice and on the field of play. Never in the media.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:39 pm
“Don’t try and feed me that nonsense that the Pac-10 is “weak”.”
3 teams from the SHAT-10 are ranked in the top 25.
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
9:39 pm
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:38 pm
“I’m glad the uga team doesnt listen to people that say they are going to lose for sure.”
No, instead they listen to fans who claim, every year, that UGA will win the national title.
And your point is? That is every teams goal at the beginning of the season….if it isn’t then why bother.
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
November 6th, 2010
9:39 pm
Have you people forgotten the game against Clemson?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/gameflash/2010/09/18/42837_recap.html
24-24 at the end of the 4th quarter. That’s a tie.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 6th, 2010
9:39 pm
Have the catholics fully dropped all hope of Notre Dame EVER being relevant again and latched onto the other non-AQ schools?
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:40 pm
“The jury is still out on UW.”
Washington? They are 3-5 now.
Joe the Plumbbob
November 6th, 2010
9:40 pm
Any UGA thugs arrested tonight?
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:40 pm
“24-24 at the end of the 4th quarter. That’s a tie.”
Gotta love stupid people.
kgtech
November 6th, 2010
9:40 pm
The whole dawg world is smoking crack and bad crack at that if they even
fathom UGA beating Auburn.LMFAO. After 11/27 you will be 5-7 and only wishing you were in
Shreveport. AJ go back and get your GED and stop dreaming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hate Florida
November 6th, 2010
9:40 pm
but they are going to win the SEC East and upset the SEC West Champ in Atlanta and the SEC is going to be shutout of the BCS title game- take it to the bank
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 6th, 2010
9:40 pm
I hope GA brings those nifty black-out jerseys to Jordan-Hare..you know, the ones from the Alabama game when you were #1
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:41 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle
ND hasn’t been a relevant football school since the 80’s.
cattle dawg
November 6th, 2010
9:41 pm
Cam Newton… The best college qb that money can buy!
Mountain Dawg
November 6th, 2010
9:41 pm
A.J. Green is a two-bit, loudmouthed punk. He’s also a known lying cheater.
Hey, War Eagle 1 (Turkey Buzzard)
At least Green’s daddy didn’t sell him to Turkey U for $200K. Auburn is a quivering, stinking pile of crap!
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:41 pm
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
Auburn is 10-0. Not sure if you’ve heard, but there isn’t a tie in that record.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:42 pm
“Cam Newton… The best college qb that money can buy!”
Yet you have no proof. I bet you believe in Santa Claus.
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:42 pm
Are you seriously comparing the Mountain West to the SEC?
If so im afraid there isnt much more to discuss.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:43 pm
“At least Green’s daddy didn’t sell him to Turkey U for $200K. Auburn is a quivering, stinking pile of crap!”
If you have proof that his dad sold him to Auburn, the NCAA wants to talk with you.
cattle dawg
November 6th, 2010
9:43 pm
The same black jerseys that smacked the Auburn war buzzard chicken hawk tigers?
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:43 pm
“but they are going to win the SEC East and upset the SEC West Champ”
And you base that on what logic?
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:44 pm
I hope GA brings those nifty black-out jerseys to Jordan-Hare..you know, the ones from the Alabama game when you were #1
No we are bringing the ones we wore against you a few years back.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:44 pm
cattle dawg
Have fun watching all the other SEC go to a bowl game this year. We’ll send you a postcard.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 6th, 2010
9:44 pm
@ Florida..Wes Bynum knows how to defeat the gators:)
But according to florida congresswoman Corrine Brown..coach irvin meyers and percy harvey are not only da best academic but one of the best defense plays eveah
GO GATA!
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:44 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle
HAHAHAAHHAHH!!!!!!!!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 6th, 2010
9:45 pm
@Headley..oh the ones you wore before we had CAM? good luck:)
cattle dawg
November 6th, 2010
9:45 pm
The $200,000 man, Cam Newton.
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:45 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks5mTJzQNrM
I hate Florida
November 6th, 2010
9:46 pm
but go ahead and bet against if you think you have too much money.
Cam Newton Rocks
November 6th, 2010
9:46 pm
“The $200,000 man, Cam Newton.”
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn.
War Eagle 1
November 6th, 2010
9:46 pm
How much did thUGA offer for Newton?
do-dah do-dah
November 6th, 2010
9:46 pm
The SEC has had a nice run for the past 4 years or so with a good team or two each year- but not so much before then – winning 4 of the prior 14 NC’s. But somehow SEC fans now believe that it has become your birth right to send at least one team to the NC(if not both). This too will change- .
Headley Lamar
November 6th, 2010
9:46 pm
oh the ones you wore before we had CAM? good luck:)
Dont you mean bought?
Katherine
November 6th, 2010
9:46 pm
is it true there are shirts that say “in cam we trust” instead of in god we trust? i heard that.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
November 6th, 2010
9:47 pm
@CNR notice who is not here tonight???
The sad reality of a Bama defeat is that there will be a spike in wife/sister beatings in Tuscaloosa tonight.
WAR!!!!!!!!!!!DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!EAGLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAR CAM EAGLE, TOO!!!!!