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
Drivers Ed
November 6th, 2010
1:42 pm
Can’t wait for the Oregon Ducks matchup in a couple of years.
Jeff Schultz
November 6th, 2010
1:42 pm
JSS — didn’t make it to a package store so can’t answer that.
Krogunner
November 6th, 2010
1:44 pm
Florida is really rolling…
Joey
November 6th, 2010
1:45 pm
Ga Dawg 97,
I’ve watched every play of every game this season. Aaron Murray is a huge talent, he is also a freshman, and if you can’t see that, you need to go learn some football.
Check his first year stats with other 1st year QBs in the NCAA this season. Compare his stats with Stafford’s first year’s stats.
Jeff Schultz
November 6th, 2010
1:45 pm
Idaho State offense: 4 punts, 2 interceptions, 1 first down, 26 net yards.
UGA buys a win for $525,000
November 6th, 2010
1:45 pm
UF 34 Vandy 0
J Clay
November 6th, 2010
1:45 pm
Ed – the Oregon series was cancelled several weeks ago
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 6th, 2010
1:45 pm
Still can’t believe we get a live blog for ISU while GT/VT didn’t
Varsity urnge
November 6th, 2010
1:45 pm
Jeff, you’re insane to think that much is wrong with the program. If we hadn’t fumbled in the games we’ve lost, it’d be a different season.
J Clay
November 6th, 2010
1:47 pm
Varsity – Disagree completely – there is a lot wrong with this team and program – who of significance have we beaten?
Party school
November 6th, 2010
1:48 pm
We’ll be running the table from here on out.
Varsity urnge
November 6th, 2010
1:48 pm
Who has Florida beaten?
JSS
November 6th, 2010
1:48 pm
@ Drivers Ed….
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Man that was a winner for post of the year!!!
Has McGarrity announced that Coastal Carolina will be visiting in consecutive years yet?
Varsity urnge
November 6th, 2010
1:48 pm
Who has Oklahoma beaten/
DawgNation
November 6th, 2010
1:49 pm
That is what talent will get you. Way to go AJ
Jeauxseph
November 6th, 2010
1:50 pm
Jeff and Picassokat, I’m thinking the microscope has already been dusted off and investigative questions have already been initiated. With G.McGarrity overseeing things, I believe most executives that take over in a large organizations, have been briefed to its strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. I don’t know anything about GM and dont pretend to….however, a set of eyeballs on this and being able to fog a mirror for the last 5 years would lend one, or many to ask, what truly is going on in Athens??? Yes Jeff, a large number of questions could be posed in your column between Dec 7 and bowl season. Even if UGA isn’t a participant, we will all be reading.
Jeff Schultz
November 6th, 2010
1:50 pm
A.J. turns a little underneath pass into a 46 yard TD. Even against a 1-AA opponent, not a lot of players can do that.
J Clay
November 6th, 2010
1:50 pm
Well – they beat us for starters (again), and I presume they will beat South Carolina next week, they also beat Soth Florida who is better than any team we’ve beaten
Zamfir on Ludes
November 6th, 2010
1:50 pm
Murray hasn’t been right in the head since he got creamed a couple of games ago. He hurries his passes even though the pocket is secure and doesn’t seem to trust his tailbacks’ blocking incoming blitzers. Sometimes a guy can get hit really hard and then start to flinch. Back in my day they called it getting gun shy.
Oh and by the way, Dawgs fans can forget about A.J. Green coming back. If he can make it out of the season healthy, he’s gone. He has received so much positive national publicity this year despite acting like a dumb<ss, and #4 or #6 draft money is too much to roll the dice he doesn't get hurt next year and fall to #32 draft money status.
Party school
November 6th, 2010
1:50 pm
Why do we play our best games against easy opponents?? We’d be top 10 if we played like this every week.
Varsity urnge
November 6th, 2010
1:51 pm
You don’t lose that many close games, without some luck, and we have none. You should have listened to the pregame and how many close games the 1980 team won. One play in each game, and we’d be looking at a successful season.
UGA buys a win for $525,000
November 6th, 2010
1:51 pm
UF 41 Vandy 0
Roy Barnes
November 6th, 2010
1:51 pm
If all of you morons would have voted for me, I promised that UGA would never lose a game while I’m Governor. Since you morons did not help me out….I am washing my hands of UGA!
Krogunner
November 6th, 2010
1:51 pm
Enter your comments here
snapshot
November 6th, 2010
1:51 pm
Idaho State? Do they play all of their programs including the cosmetology department?
J Clay
November 6th, 2010
1:52 pm
Agree that luck matters – BUT we should not have needed luck in most of the games – that is the problem – we’re waiting on a lucky break, rather than going out and beating someone
dawgfan
November 6th, 2010
1:52 pm
AJ is the MAN!!! now lets get him out of the game to make sure he doesnt get hurt! seriously
Big Dog 98
November 6th, 2010
1:52 pm
Well…at least we are better than GT.
DawgNation
November 6th, 2010
1:53 pm
34 points n the first half. Time to get the 2nd and 3rd teamers in.
always a silver lining
November 6th, 2010
1:53 pm
Dawgs begin anew their trek to win the SEC.
UGA buys a win for $525,000
November 6th, 2010
1:54 pm
better that GA Tech? That’s not saying much.
J Clay
November 6th, 2010
1:54 pm
The best team we will beat all year is Georgia Tech – and that is not saying much – though it will be nice to remind them that Georgia Tech is to Georgia as Georgia is to Florida
snapshot
November 6th, 2010
1:54 pm
You have to be kidding me, is their mascot a spud?
Yellow Jacket 89
November 6th, 2010
1:55 pm
Georgia’s next game will be against Agnes Scott College. Georgia is a pick by 3 points.
Joey
November 6th, 2010
1:55 pm
Come on, “always a silver lining,” that’s cruel. Dang, thats just mean . . .
Ga Dawg 97
November 6th, 2010
1:55 pm
Joey, the upside on murray is limited (he’s not going to grow another couple inches). All I’m saying is if we want to compete at an elite level, murray is not the answer. He may have a decent year or two and take us to an Outback bowl or so, but that’s about it. Maybe LeMay is what we need.
UGA buys a win for $525,000
November 6th, 2010
1:55 pm
34 points on a scrub team. NICE!
Dawg555
November 6th, 2010
1:56 pm
Why is AJ still in there?
dawgfan
November 6th, 2010
1:56 pm
why is AJ still in the game????
snapshot
November 6th, 2010
1:56 pm
Do they have their own football field?
snapshot
November 6th, 2010
1:57 pm
Why don’t you play the band?
DawgNation
November 6th, 2010
1:57 pm
snapshot yes they do. Its is a 12,000 seat dome arena. They adverage about 5500 per game.
Joey
November 6th, 2010
1:58 pm
That’s right, Yellow Jacket 89, then the game after Agnes is even easier! It’s against Georgia Tech, in which UGA will be a pick by 10 points.
Party school
November 6th, 2010
1:58 pm
How many seniors do we have on the OL?
JSS
November 6th, 2010
1:58 pm
Idaho State should have picked a toothless Saber-tooth Tiger for a mascot!
Borodawg
November 6th, 2010
1:59 pm
Ga Dawg 97, your height logic is flawed majorly. Remember a guy named Zeier? He was 5′10 max maybe. Drew Brees? 5′10 maybe. UGA will never get on the championship level till they have a championship defense. Look at Bama, McElroy is not that good but they have a dynamite defense and run folks. Offense gets you points, Defense gets you wins.
Party school
November 6th, 2010
1:59 pm
AJ needs the yards to pad his stats for the draft.
snapshot
November 6th, 2010
1:59 pm
The amazing thing is most mutt fans think this is a real football team that plays on a blue field.
snapshot
November 6th, 2010
2:00 pm
little mutt 98, that remains to be seen.
Varsity urnge
November 6th, 2010
2:00 pm
i’ll bet Idaho state’s field looks better than the blue field.