LIVE BLOG: Georgia seeks bowl bid (and revenge vs. Tech)
Georgia players, angered by a home loss to Tech in 2008, planted the "G" flag after last year's win at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
(This will serve as the Georgia live blog when the game starts. We’ll also have a Tech live blog on, as they say, another network.)
ATHENS — Hello and welcome to the last game this season that anybody at Georgia or Georgia Tech will remember.
The Jackets (6-5) still have a low-level bowl game to play. The Dogs (5-6) hope to still have a low-level bowl game to play. But tonight’s meeting is really about the final opportunity for either school to create a highlight in a
The memory of Tech players (like wide receiver Andrew Smith) mangling the hedges lingers with Georgia players.
mostly miserable season.
As Georgia defensive end Demarcus Dobbs said, alluding to the last four years of his senior class: “I don’t know if we’ve left a legacy. But I know if we don’t make it to a bowl game, that will be one legacy that we leave. … We’ve done a lot as a class. But the only thing that matters is how you finish. Nobody going to talk about the Sugar Bowl. They’re going to talk about what we did our senior year.”
Kickoff is still several hours away. But there’s no reason to wait until then to start the banter. This will serve as your live Bulldogs’ blog during the game. I’ll update it later when I get to the stadium.
A few thoughts before kickoff:
♦ Georgia is favored by as much as two touchdowns. Sounds about right. While strange things happen in rivalry games, the only absolute about either team is that the Dogs can put up points, led by the Aaron Murray-to-A.J. Green connection. In the last six games, Georgia has put up point totals of 41 (Tennessee), 43 (Vanderbilt), 44 (Kentucky), 31 (Florida), 55 (Idaho State) and 31 (Auburn). I realize Mike Bobo bashing is a favorite pastime of fans but offense hasn’t been the problem, defense has. And about defense . . .
♦ The only way I see Tech winning this game — other than via multiple Georgia turnovers and penalties — is if the Jackets run for a ton a yards and dominate in time of possession, keeping Georgia’s offense off the field. So the onus is on defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and the Dogs’ defensive front. The Jackets are without starting quarterback Joshua Nesbitt and their offense isn’t nearly as fluid with backup Tevin Washington.
♦ Tech coach Paul Johnson knows his team is undermanned this game. He’ll have to “steal” a possession or two. So a couple of trick plays, like a fake punt, wouldn’t be surprising.
♦ Neither team has a win over a quality opponent. The difference is Georgia still needs a win to become bowl eligible. If it can’t beat Tech, it doesn’t deserve a bowl. The Jackets had lost three straight until having to scramble to beat 3-8 Duke last week.
Now, about this rivalry. The road school has won the last three meetings. Tech has split two since Johnson’s arrival. But if the high point for this Georgia senior class was going 11-2 and winning the Sugar Bowl in 2007, one of the low points was losing to Tech at Sanford Stadium two years ago.
To punctuate the upset, Jackets’ players tore off pieces of the hedges — something Georgia coach Mark Richt has reminded his players of this week.
“Coach Richt’s definitely been quick to tell us about that,” guard Clint Boling said. “We’ve got pictures all over the locker room. We definitely know what they did last time they were in Sanford Stadium.”
Wide receiver Kris Durham, another senior, said: “That sticks out more to me than [beating Tech] last year. It’s something you remember. You can still Google and see the pictures. They’re very vivid online.
“Those [hedges] are sacred to us. That gets to you a little bit. We didn’t protect our own house. We didn’t protect the hedges. We can’t say anything bad about them tearing up our field because we didn’t prove it between the lines and they did. They beat us.”
OK, that’s it for now. If you missed it, here’s a link to my interview with athletic director Greg McGarity earlier in the week. He’s standing behind Richt and says the coach will be back next season, and I agree. While I’ve been critical of Richt and the direction of the program in the last two years, my view is he has earned the chance to turn this around.
I’ll check back later.
♦
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2,645 comments Add your comment
Dawgman
November 27th, 2010
5:21 pm
atltiger15,
You are right. It doesnt take a genuis to see that Auburn is a 8-4 team without Cam Newton. So I would say that the 180k was a pretty good investment. Man, can you imagine if that kid would have stayed at Florida? Very scary thought being a dawgs fan, but then again with Mark Richt at the helm, it really doesnt matter anyway because him and Bobo would find a way to lose regardless.
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
5:23 pm
Damn I changed channels and I thought Georgia was playing. Turns out the Grambling is playing on TV today too. Man I was sure UGA brought out the Black helmets.
DawginOH
November 27th, 2010
5:24 pm
Jeff, I think the AJC’s IT department needs to start working on a method of “troll control” for these blogs.
Jeff Schultz
November 27th, 2010
5:25 pm
Todd Grantham — At least one. Robert Hall arrested for battery in June.
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
5:25 pm
LSU and Arkansas are playing each other tough. Maryland and NCSU are tied at the half too.
todd grantham
November 27th, 2010
5:26 pm
He must have been trying to steal some clothes.
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
5:27 pm
“God don’t like ugly.”
What a stupid and utterly ridiculous comment.
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
5:27 pm
Enter your comments here
Mr. Turnip-Green Jeans
November 27th, 2010
5:28 pm
Neither of these teams, win or lose, deserves a bowl game.
When lousy teams are going to bowls, it tells me one thing.
There are TOO DAMN MANY bowls!
One day there’ll be a couple 2-10 teams duking it out in the “Homeless Crackhead Bowl.”
Given the fact these two teams are still in bowl contention, I’m assuming the “Sand Mountain Sweet-Tater Bowl” has gained NCAA approval.
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
5:28 pm
OMG Arkansas with 6 seconds left from their 20 yardline and score a TD pass. DAMN 80 yards 1 play and 6 seconds. That was great
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
5:28 pm
Hey, will the UGA/GT become the lowest watched ballgame of the year?
todd grantham
November 27th, 2010
5:28 pm
to complete that thought, no program can top getting an Athletic Director arrested.
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
5:28 pm
FINEBAUM
CBS says Iron Bowl rating was 7.5, up 56 percent from last year. Also highest rating of college fb game this yr on any network.
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
5:29 pm
Jeff
Hall arrested and the charges dropped. Hall has no record because of a Pre-trial conditions were met.
Dawgman
November 27th, 2010
5:30 pm
Guydog2, that was funny! It hurts because its true but that is funny.
Our O-Line will Mow the Bugs!
November 27th, 2010
5:31 pm
I can’t wait any longer…
ITS GREAT TO BE A GEORGIA BULLDAWG!!!!!!!
Our O-Line will Mow the Bugs!
November 27th, 2010
5:32 pm
GEORGIA!!!
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
5:33 pm
DAWGinOH what is a blog troll? I don’t see that we have to pay or have a single name registered to be on any of the blogs. If you are in OH then are you not trolling? You don’t even live in this state. If you don’t like it then go to a blog in OH.
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
5:35 pm
“ITS GREAT TO BE A GEORGIA BULLDAWG!!!!!!!”
You guys must REALLY be hard up for something to celebrate.
Richie_Rich1986
November 27th, 2010
5:36 pm
Another 3 and out for the Gaytors to start off the 2nd half. Here comes Ponder and the Seminoles!
Richie_Rich1986
November 27th, 2010
5:37 pm
BULLDAWGS!!!!!!!
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
5:38 pm
Richie_Rich I gues FSU really wants the State of Florida Championship bad this year.
Richie_Rich1986
November 27th, 2010
5:39 pm
5150 , They are playing hungry! Gaytors just can’t get the their Offense off the field!
RW
November 27th, 2010
5:40 pm
win or lose its better to be a dawg than a bug any day!!
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
5:41 pm
“Gaytors just can’t get the their Offense off the field!”
UGA can’t beat Florida. Funny ain’t it.
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
5:41 pm
Gators get a stop FSU wants to go for it. With the player down that gives FSU time to make a good choice of a play.
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
5:42 pm
“win or lose its better to be a dawg than a bug any day!!”
That comment sums up just how bad college football is in the state of GA.
Richie_Rich1986
November 27th, 2010
5:43 pm
huh? , Really dude grow up man…. what does uga’s play against florida have anything to do with Florida getting their butt whipped. Go to the beach with your blue jean shorts on and tank top and leave the football to people who can actually make worthy comments.
Jeff Schultz
November 27th, 2010
5:43 pm
POAD — Thanks, wasn’t aware of followup, I was just asked if any players were arrested.
Richie_Rich1986
November 27th, 2010
5:44 pm
I’m really liking Coach Jimbo’s play calling!! TouchDown SEMINOLES!!!!!
DawginOH
November 27th, 2010
5:44 pm
5150, my apologies to you for getting a job in another state and wanting to keep up with my alma matter’s football program. If that makes me a troll in your book, then so be it. You know the saying about the word “tomato,” I guess.
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
5:44 pm
Richie_Rich1986
Take a remedial English class at UGA.
“Go to the beach with your blue jean shorts on and tank top”
I would if I were a dawg fan.
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
5:45 pm
FSU stomping on the Gas Pedle hard. Goes for it on 4th and Inches and then a TD pass.
Richie_Rich1986
November 27th, 2010
5:46 pm
Huh?,
are you really trying to correct my grammar on a blog? lol dude get a life man. People like you are the reason I get on this blog to get a good laugh.
OkefenokeeDawg
November 27th, 2010
5:46 pm
“It doesnt take a genuis to see that Auburn is a 8-4 team without Cam Newton”
*********************************************
Dawgman, I have to disagree with you on that point. I thought the same thing, but during the second half yesterday, watching the AU drives that Bama could not stop, I started asking myself, if Cam was UGA’s QB, would he be as good as he is at Auburn?
I decided that no, he wouldn’t be. Cam made a couple of long pass scores but the rest of AU’s scoring drives are on the OC. I don’t even know who AU’s OC is, but he made adjustments at halftime that Smart/Saban could not keep up with. All of the motion and mis-direction had Bama’s D guesing (usually wrong) the entire second half. I hate Fairley and think Cam is a cheat/thief, but it was almost fun watching what a talented OC can accomplish.
My point is, Cam is a great talent, but if AU and UGA switched QBs, their seasons would still be about the same.
Auburn’s OC > UGA’s OC.
Richie_Rich1986
November 27th, 2010
5:47 pm
POAD, I’m loving the Seminoles play-calling. If that was Bobo on 4th and inches he would of thrown a bomb to the endzone with no check down routes.
RW
November 27th, 2010
5:47 pm
huh? we obviously have your attention HUH?
clay
November 27th, 2010
5:48 pm
Hey schultzy. Will there be an empty seat in the house tonight?
Richie_Rich1986
November 27th, 2010
5:49 pm
Okef, I wouldn’t trade Aaron Murry for Cam Newton for a second!
Suckeye
November 27th, 2010
5:49 pm
Richie_Rich1986
If that was UGA on 4th and short CMR would have tried a Field goal. Bobo would be sighed a sigh of relief.
jack bull
November 27th, 2010
5:49 pm
watching the UF/FSU game, a question came to mind…when was the last time UGA tried a fake punt, a fake FG or a on-side kick out of the blue? i can’t think of anything in recent years.. UF has tried 9 times this year alone. and has been successful 8 of those.. i know our defense isn’t any good(which would be a good reason not to try, so as you don’t give up a short field if you don’t make it), but, it kinda would be a good reason to try at the same time…
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
5:49 pm
DawginOH
I am just not happy with what people call trolls. There are many of us who are on here all the time. We don’t like the same teams, but we should be able to comment. Most of the time it is fun, but you are right sometimes it gets ugly.
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
5:50 pm
Richie_Rich1986
I just like to irritate dawg fans who post garbage about other teams when their own team isn’t going to a bowl game.
Thanks
Richie_Rich1986
November 27th, 2010
5:51 pm
suckeye,
your right but I was just refering to the arkansas game when we came back and had the 3rd and 4th mid-field and Bobo calls a play to send every Route 20+ yards down field with no check down for a Redshirt Freshman Murray! in saying that I have all the faith in the world in Murray but really?
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
5:51 pm
Well the Badgers are going to the ROSE BOWL for sure.
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
5:51 pm
OkefenokeeDawg
Yesterdays game proved that it was a team effort and not just about Cam Newton. The defense really stepped up and shut Bama down. Our coaching staff did a tremendous job by not freaking out and giving up like most other staffs would.
OkefenokeeDawg
November 27th, 2010
5:52 pm
Jeff, say the game is tied and goes to overtime. Say you like to gamble, and Vegas lets you place a new bet on the outcome.
Who would you bet on? Richt or PJ?
todd grantham
November 27th, 2010
5:52 pm
Yes, I understand that Robert Hall worked 50 hours of community service at a Jos. A. Bank store.
Suckeye
November 27th, 2010
5:52 pm
You mean the Suckeyes are not going to the Rose Bowl??? darn.
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
5:52 pm
“Well the Badgers are going to the ROSE BOWL for sure.”
Wisconsin is a VERY good team.