LIVE: Georgia tries to overcome hangover, finish strong
Don't expect the Bulldogs to remain scoreless for long today against Idaho State.
ATHENS — Welcome to Hangover Week. Most of us just lie on the couch. Georgia plays Idaho State.
Seriously, this was intended to be Relax and Rejoice Week. When the schedule was made, the Bulldogs’ hope was that they would be coming off a victory over Florida and would use this Division 1-AA (FCS) opponent as a relative bye week before having to go to Auburn, as it looked to secure a spot in the SEC title game.
The only thing that held form was that this game still should be a walkover. Idaho State isn’t even a good Division 1-AA team. The Bengals won their season opener over Montana-Western (an NAIA school with an enrollment of 1,290). But they’ve lost seven straight since. They’re 3-32 since October of 2007. They’re 1-14 against Division 1 (FBS) opponents since 2000.
In other words, don’t expect any drama today. Georgia not only should win but should be able to flood the field with backups by the second quarter. It would be surprising if No. 2 quarterback Hutson Mason didn’t play half the game.
The bigger question about the Dogs is the mindset from this game forward. They played poorly at the outset last week against Florida, then fought back from a 21-7 halftime deficit to tie it in the fourth quarter, only to lose in overtime, 34-31.
That leaves them 3-4 in the SEC and 4-5 overall, which means hopes for an SEC East title or an upper-tier bowl game are cooked. They would have to win their final three games (Idaho State, at Auburn, Georgia Tech) to have any shot at a good bowl like the Chick-fil-A.
More likely, they are headed for the Birmingham or Liberty bowl (the last two in the SEC pecking order). That’s assuming they go anywhere. They need two more wins just to qualify but that seems more likely now that Tech quarterback Joshua Nesbitt is out after suffering a broken arm Thursday night at Virginia Tech.
Back to the mindset thing: How the Dogs play these last few weeks could indicate more about next season than this one. If they play hard, smart and show some resolve, it’s a positive sign. If not, it leads to more questions about the program’s direction going into the offseason.
Finally, a word about coach Mark Richt. As much as his future has been debated in blogs and on message boards, I still don’t believe he’s on the firing line. Now, that could change in the next few games. But my sense of the situation right now is the same as it was before the season — that if the Dogs had a bad season (and this is a bad season), Richt would be on the so-called “hot seat” next year.
The only way I see that changing is there’s a complete implosion in the last three games. Again, that’s just my opinion. As always, I welcome yours.
I’ll be back shortly to start live blogging. Meanwhile, about that hangover: Has anybody ever run into Mike Tyson after too many beers?
“This is my favorite part”
♦
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
724 comments Add your comment
ATL XMAN
November 6th, 2010
11:51 am
just want to make sure im clear. last year cox was better…this year murry is better and getting better with every game he plays. but if murry played last year, uga only wins 3 or 4 . 1 redshirt makes a big difference
jack bull
November 6th, 2010
11:52 am
i origially thought Auburn would lose to UGA and UA, but that’s not looking so good right now..i still think they lose to Alabama
Jeff Schultz
November 6th, 2010
11:52 am
Jack Bull — if you said that, and I laughed, I apologize. How’s that? Auburn’s had a great season.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
November 6th, 2010
11:52 am
Bobdog: Georgia would have beat Florida with 31 points except for one problem. FOUR turnovers lost and ONE gained. The offense gave Florida 17 points on turnovers.
Yellow Fuzz
November 6th, 2010
11:53 am
Ole Dawg,
Yes
Chip on the shoulder
November 6th, 2010
11:54 am
The Cam Newton story looks to be more and more like a hit piece. Anyhoo, Cam Newton will have a few things to say about UGA next week. I’m sure he’ll take his anger out on that crappy UGA defense.
jack bull
November 6th, 2010
11:54 am
ah, thx Jeff, you’re a man of integrity…maybe…lol
Jeff Schultz
November 6th, 2010
11:54 am
JSS — Don’t know about 40 Watt but a great band, Galactic, played the Theta Chi house last night (my son’s fraternity). They don’t play frats any more — they’re too big now — but some guy knows the manager or something so they played there. Son described the show as “epic” and he’s “surprised the house is still standing.” Then again, if you saw the house, you’d be surprised it was standing anyway.
Chip on the shoulder
November 6th, 2010
11:55 am
“Auburn’s had a great season.”
HAD???? Is their season now over or something?
Georgia-Idaho State preview: Bengals bring 7-game losing streak to Athens | UGA sports blog
November 6th, 2010
11:55 am
[...] Please follow @ajcuga on Twitter for updates during the game, and please join the conversation on Jeff Schultz’s live blog. [...]
JSS
November 6th, 2010
11:56 am
Hey Jeff Schultz…
Serious question, now that UGA dumped a trip to Autzen; can you ask Mcgarrity if they are ever going to return the away games that BYU, Boise, and UCLA came to play in Athens?
How Many
November 6th, 2010
11:56 am
,,,it might seem illogical unless one considers the fact that Alabama is the nation’s most passionate state when it comes to college football.
Andy Staples, Sports Illustrated, Nov. 2010
Jeff Schultz
November 6th, 2010
11:57 am
Chip on the shoulder — English lesson. I wrote, “Auburn’s had …” as in “Auburn has had,” as in it’s not over yet.
Bark Mradley
November 6th, 2010
11:58 am
What if Idaho St wins?
ATL XMAN
November 6th, 2010
11:59 am
no Miss st doesnt have better players but they do have older ones who are very talented. but UGA defense has given up less total yards, less passing yards and less rushing yards. there defense is not that much better than uga if better at all. also uga defense have the same amount of turnovers. Coach TG is the right hire. also wait until the end of the year and see where they are ranked.
JSS
November 6th, 2010
11:59 am
I’ve seen the Theta Chi house, it is a string and a thread… Tell the kid to keep the emergency ladder ready! My Goddaughter lives in Murray, enuff said!
Flo-Ri-Duh!
November 6th, 2010
11:59 am
Schultz – maybe I have not been banned? I did not use any “cuss” words. I just disagree with what you said about the choke sign. When I bring up the Georgia site I cannot find the Georgia vent anywhere. This has been going on for 4 days now. Does that mean I am banned for disagreeing? I did not use bad words.
Jeff Schultz
November 6th, 2010
12:01 pm
JSS — Obviously those weren’t home-and-home contracts. And the BYU (1982) and UCLA (1983) games were quite some time ago. By the way, Idaho State is not a home-and-home series either. (That was kind of a joke.)
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 6th, 2010
12:01 pm
What else is new. This program cannot open with a competitive D-1 program on the road, thus yeilding to the beatdown from ISU last year in Stillwater. UGA is all about beating up on small schools, which gives them some sort of unfounded cockiness.
Look at this year, LA-Lafayette, give me a freakin break. Then UGA fans start barking about other schools wiht soft openers, which has nothing to do with the tanked UGA program.
This game is pathetic, as is the program.
ATL XMAN
November 6th, 2010
12:02 pm
i think UGA steals a win and i think AL beats them aswell. UGA can score on AUB and if they keep cam newton on the sideline and just wrap up when they tackel , UGA can beat them by 10 or so.
dd
November 6th, 2010
12:02 pm
Hey Greg, what school do you support?
You didn’t mention that you’re an Auburn guy.
Curious as to which school you’re a fan of.
MURPHY
November 6th, 2010
12:02 pm
Schultz,
I dont see Richt turning this thing around without making some offensive changes and by that I mean Bobo.In my opinion Richt needs to hire an aggressive offensive coordinator.
jack bull
November 6th, 2010
12:02 pm
how empty is the stadium? i had to give my tix up today, have a lovely, uh, hang on, i just choked, wedding to go to later this afternoon…
Flo-Ri-Duh!
November 6th, 2010
12:03 pm
Schultz – thank you for your reply. I doubt if YOU banned me. I did not use bad words but maybe some of the PC types at AJC did.
Jeff Schultz
November 6th, 2010
12:04 pm
Flo-Ri-Duh –Honestly I’m not even sure if we still have the “Vent” since most people “vent” on blogs now.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 6th, 2010
12:04 pm
This game galvanizes who poor and tanked the UGA program really is. Other teams are on the heat of BCS points and UGA is in the marketing program. This is what separates great programs like Alabama, USC, Texas, LSU and Florida from UGA. They play the big boys, and win.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 6th, 2010
12:05 pm
Fill those stands and keep those checks coming. Make them payable to Vince and Barbara Dooley.
JB
November 6th, 2010
12:05 pm
loading up this schedule with the likes of today is not much fun. i would rather go 9-3, 8-4 with great games vs 11-1 loaded up with this mess. serves no good….
Jeff Schultz
November 6th, 2010
12:05 pm
Murphy — What coveted offensive coordinator would leave a good job and come to Georgia, realizing Mark Richt’s future might be uncertain? That’s not a knock on Georgia, just the situation.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 6th, 2010
12:05 pm
A great offense will win you a few games, a great defense will win you championships.
Jeff Schultz
November 6th, 2010
12:06 pm
Jack Bull — Too early to tell. But I’m guessing there will be at least 15,000 empties.
JSS
November 6th, 2010
12:06 pm
I just like to make those brave UGA ( “we ain’t afraid of anybody” ) feel bad for being scared to go West of the Rockies
ylojkt
November 6th, 2010
12:06 pm
There’s no way anyone is serious if they write UGA will lose today. If they do, then it’s the shock of the century and merely a hangover from last week. However, after losing every year to Florida, they should have the hangover thing down pat by now, consider them functional drunks, like Jeff.
He Hate Gator
November 6th, 2010
12:06 pm
JB, how fun is 4-5 with games like this?
jack bull
November 6th, 2010
12:07 pm
can’t wait to see H Mason come in, go 8-9 with 175+ yds 2 TD’s…that may leave us saying,,hmmmmm?
Hairy Dawg
November 6th, 2010
12:09 pm
Dawgs returning to dominants today and then goning table running to mash Aubie and pointy heading bugs. We get healthy break to get well and unloading whooping can on pestky techmites.
He Hate Gator
November 6th, 2010
12:09 pm
Any accomplishment against the 1-7 Idaho St means it was done against a 1-7 Idaho St…
JB
November 6th, 2010
12:09 pm
Bobo goes down with the ship. it’s Mark’s offense,Bobo is the puppet master.Do you really think someone will come in and turn things upside down on O? No !
ullragincajun
November 6th, 2010
12:09 pm
Idaho St in the Upset- read it here first
Decatur Dawg
November 6th, 2010
12:10 pm
Aaron Murray = Reggie Ball = Cancer.
It’s time for Mason to start. Or call Zach.
ylojkt
November 6th, 2010
12:10 pm
LOL – Michigan scored on first play of the game, looks like my pick is gonna roll.
ATL XMAN
November 6th, 2010
12:12 pm
there is a reason mason will be coming off the bench to play. even if he throws for 300 all that means murry would have hung 500. murry is the better qb. and mason knows this but i im sure bob and richt will have mason coached up to hold his own if murry ever has to miss some games.
Dawgtards R Us
November 6th, 2010
12:12 pm
Id-a-ho State 27, thUGA 24.
Buh bye, Richt.
JB
November 6th, 2010
12:12 pm
he hate gator….. i mean 4 years from now with a new coach and a good team, and like Florida,having 4 or so of these a year, and our friends at tech are heading there with
gailey’s guys gone
Reese
November 6th, 2010
12:13 pm
I expect Gergia to lose, Alabama was caught off gaurd against La Monroe in 07. Hopefully, the game will be another close loss, try to compete.
He Hate Gator
November 6th, 2010
12:14 pm
I hate these kind of games, barely win and its “that’s all you can do?”, win big and its “yeah they can run it up against a bad small school”, lose and, well,….lets not go there…
JB
November 6th, 2010
12:14 pm
Dawgs 45………..I Da Hoe 17
Stewart
November 6th, 2010
12:15 pm
I don’t see anything happn to Mark Richt, in his only losing season at Georgia. 4-8, yres, it’s a bad year, but it’s his only losing season in 10 years. But if he doesn’t have a winning season in 2011, then yes, he’ll have to go.
He Hate Gator
November 6th, 2010
12:15 pm
Enter your comments here
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 6th, 2010
12:16 pm
Murphy, I could not agree more and I really do appreciate your knowledge of Dogs and objectivity.
It was like Appalachian State opening with Michigan….and Michigan had nothing to gain and everything to lose. Most of the problems with UGA program resides on your AD’s and this is where the changes need to be made.
UGA needs to open with a competitive program on the road, and even if they are ranked and lose, they lose early (i.e. Alabama) then they have a chance to climb back into the race.