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.
♦
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
2,645 comments Add your comment
Steve
November 27th, 2010
12:09 pm
I can’t wait to see the look on Auburn’s face when South Carolina upsets them next weekend. Will be hilarious. Auburn has gotten lucky so many times this year. Luck is about to end. Even if they do go to the NC game, Oregon will score 100 on that pathetic defense. Auburn still gave up a ton of yards yesterday.
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:09 pm
Prediction: UGA wins this game and everyone in the stands will shout ” WE WILL WIN THE NATIONAL TITLE NEXT YEAR!”
bugsquasher
November 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
you got that right…… auburn = wieners, georiga = winners
Steve
November 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
And I love how this Auburn loser “2010 West Champs” is on a Georgia/Georgia Tech blog talking smack.
John
November 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
Bobo did score 6 points on South Caorlina.
And 12 points on Miss St.
I’ve noticed Bobo’s team scored more points when AJ Green got back on the team.
Not sure Bobo had much to do with the points, more AJ than Bobo.
Just look at the SC and MSU games.
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:11 pm
“I can’t wait to see the look on Auburn’s face when South Carolina upsets them next weekend.”
That’s the exact same statement losers have made for the last 2 months.
NEXT!!!!!!
“Auburn has gotten lucky so many times this year.”
Every winning team gets lucky.
“Luck is about to end.”
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWN
“Even if they do go to the NC game, Oregon will score 100 on that pathetic defense. ”
LOLOL
“Auburn still gave up a ton of yards yesterday.’
And STILL WON THE GAME! HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAAHAHA
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:11 pm
“georiga = winners”
5-6 says differently, loser.
Gordon
November 27th, 2010
12:11 pm
What about UGA tearing up our field after the game (see Ben Jones picture) and planting a flag in the middle of it? To the winner go the spoils, but let’s not pretend the Jackets are any worse than the Dogs when winning on the road in this series.
UGA 38-20, unfortunately. It would have been a great game with Nesbitt, but injuries are part of the game.
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:12 pm
“And I love how this Auburn loser “2010 West Champs” is on a Georgia/Georgia Tech blog talking smack.”
Whatever makes you feel better, loser.
Felix Millan
November 27th, 2010
12:12 pm
Is there any games worth watching today? I don’t see one in GA.
nice use of the English language
bugsquasher
November 27th, 2010
12:12 pm
Agreed…. Back to the matter at hand…….. Ga vs Ga Tech…… (auburn cant help being losers and cheaters and stupid)
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:13 pm
“nice use of the English language”
You forgot to capitalize the first word of your failed attempt at a comeback. Oh, and you didn’t end the sentence with a period.
Steve
November 27th, 2010
12:13 pm
If you don’t think Oregon will destroy Auburn’s defense, you really don’t know college football. What’s it like to have no life by the way?
Blackberry Pie
November 27th, 2010
12:13 pm
UGA 38-20, unfortunately. It would have been a great game with Nesbitt, but injuries are part of the game
This statement by Gordon leaves no doubt that you are a complete idiot. The thugs at UGA can’t beat colorado so Tech will stomp the dog crap out of thuga
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:14 pm
“(auburn cant help being losers and cheaters and stupid)”
12-0, no evidence and………………
Sucks to be you, loser.
LOL
November 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
Hey d-bag from AU, this is a UGA/Tech blog, not a running your mouth cause my team bought a championship blog. Thanks. Enjoy your precious last few days in the SEC. We’ll miss you!
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
“If you don’t think Oregon will destroy Auburn’s defense, you really don’t know college football.”
Oregon has beaten three teams with winning records this year. Auburn has beaten 5 top 25 teams this season.
You were saying, loser?
“What’s it like to have no life by the way?”
You tell me.
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:16 pm
and my boyfriend will beat you up when he gets here…….
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:16 pm
“this is a UGA/Tech blog”
No, this is an AJC sports blog with a lame UGA game as the topic.
“Enjoy your precious last few days in the SEC. We’ll miss you!”
So where’s the evidence, dumb a$$?
CHDawg
November 27th, 2010
12:16 pm
Blackberry wrote, >>I guess trying to run on the field and fight against auburn was did in practice by the mutts<< Any chance of switching to English for this argument, Blackberry? You have to understand that Fairley and his cheap/dirty play had injured a number of QBs this year, and the players saw it on film. After a night of cheap shots/late hits from him the Dawgs got frustrated. Big mistake, and both coaching staffs addressed it I'm sure. Fairley did much better, although the same mocking dancing behavior was still evident after the Iron Bowl. Too bad.
Steve
November 27th, 2010
12:16 pm
Yea it will be pretty funny when Auburn loses all of these wins and gets put on probation again. They have been in trouble several times in the past. If any Auburn moron really thinks there has been no cheating, they need help.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 27th, 2010
12:16 pm
This is for you arrogant SEC West UGA Hater:
November 23rd, 2010
7:14 am
The Auburn Hillbillies
Come and listen to a story about a kid named Cam,
A liar and a thief, but Auburn didn’t give a damn
Then one day he got paid to play the game
And out of nowhere the investigators came
NCAA that is, judge and jury, Committee on Infractions
Well the first thing you know Auburn decides to go “all in”
Cheating didn’t matter just as long as we can win
Glendale, Arizona is the place we want to be
So we threw out the rulebook and called ourselves “family”
The Auburn family that is, yes we cam, “lean on me”
Well now it’s time to say goodbye to Cam and all our wins
He’ll play in the NFL with that same s.h.i.t. eatin’ grin
How in the world could we have been such fools,
Now we have to pick up the pieces of what’s left of our school
Sanctions that is, reduced scholarships, bowl bans
We’ll be back now y’hear?
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:17 pm
Hey Jeff
Just so’s ya know. Some loser UGA fan has decided to use my blog handle.
Thanks, winner.
Eddie
November 27th, 2010
12:17 pm
This blog aint’ about Auburn.
You dudes must have got the wrong website.
this is the Georgia, Georgia Tech game.
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:17 pm
Coffee Bluff DAWG
Where’s the evidence?
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:18 pm
I know we are cheaters, but it is our tradition
DIT
November 27th, 2010
12:18 pm
I know it’s a stretch…. UGA wins and could win big. At saying that……. so what? Now we have to call tech a signature win in the season. That tells you how bad each team has been this year.
How Bout Boisew State???? What on earth happened there!
2010 SEC West Champs and winner of the biggest comeback in Iron Bowl History
November 27th, 2010
12:18 pm
Steve
Yawwwwwwn, wake me up when that happens.
I’ll wave to you from the SEC Championship game. Good luck sitting in your trailer during bowl season.
UGA is a second rate football school
November 27th, 2010
12:19 pm
Hey UGA fans
Who will you all be pulling for in the off season when UGA has to sit home due to a 5-7 record?
Steve
November 27th, 2010
12:20 pm
Auburn’s passing defense so far this year, 255 yards allowed per game. Ranks 101st. Ha. Oregon is #2 in the country in total offense. Should be hilarious.
bugsquacher
November 27th, 2010
12:20 pm
The Georgia Defense will rise up and be counted today. This will be a shut out…… AJ will have a banner day. Not going to be pretty for the Tech fans.
Russ from the dog pound
November 27th, 2010
12:21 pm
Nick Fairley, wah, wah, boo hoo!
Katherine
November 27th, 2010
12:22 pm
Hey everyone. For the people on the blog that are already bashing uga and tech…why don’t you just leave? If this game isn’t important to you…why are you here? It is obviously important to the fans of those schools……
bugsquacher
November 27th, 2010
12:22 pm
For the first time under the lights Ga vs Ga Tech………
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
12:22 pm
MAN OHIO STATE looks wierd with Red Helmets and Jerseys. It looks like Michigan is playing The Scarlot Knights.
Steve
November 27th, 2010
12:22 pm
“UGA is a second rate” how will UGA be 5-7? They own Tech and will kill them today. UGA is second rate huh? Would you like me to list all of their SEC Championships?
Katherine
November 27th, 2010
12:23 pm
so did anyone hear how mc elroy is? He looked like he had a concussion.
DIT
November 27th, 2010
12:23 pm
I’m not going to sit here and rip into Auburn. Congrats to them. It was a heck of a come back win yesterday. They have not had any games taken from them and are still playing. Obviously the proof is not strong enough… so far. Until or if they are sanctioned I’m pulling for them to win the NC and keep it in the house(SEC).
I use to think that Oregon’s offense was untouchable until the last 2 games. If it does come down to Auburn and Oregon the winning team will have to score over 50 points. Talk about a wild shootout!! Of course South Carolina might have something to say about that on Saturday. Should be fun to watch!
Oh, and Go Dawgs!
bugsquacher
November 27th, 2010
12:23 pm
Just got a call from UGA VIII…… he is taped and ready to go……
Blackberry Pie
November 27th, 2010
12:23 pm
bugsquacher
November 27th, 2010
12:20 pm
The Georgia Defense will rise up and be counted today. This will be a shut out…… AJ will have a banner day. Not going to be pretty for the Tech fans
Another idiotic statement from a mutt fan.
Steve
November 27th, 2010
12:24 pm
Katherine, because those rednecks in Alabama have no life. Plus what else is there for them to do in that piece of crap state?
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
12:24 pm
bugsq
After all the DUIs and fights before, during, and after this game it will probably be the last for a long long time too.
Kenai Ocelata
November 27th, 2010
12:25 pm
Think about the football team THUGA puts on the field. 96% of the players are academically provisionally accepted, with Adams and his cronies knowing full well that they will use up all their coaching and tutors and elligibility and then have their asses kicked out on the street and soon be pushing grocery carts around Atlanta looking for a warm place to sleep. What a pitiful way to run the State’s flagship university.
There’s a reason why UGA is known far and wide as The Cesspool of the South.
Congratulations on your big Fulmer Cup win. You make Auburn’s players look like choirboys by comparison.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 27th, 2010
12:26 pm
2010 SEC West Champs,
Lighten up a little dude – this is just a poem. You’ve had a good year and broke a 4-game skid against UGA.
Stop coming on here hating on the DAWGS.
bugsquacher
November 27th, 2010
12:26 pm
POAD…. you are probably right……. so I hope the Dawgs make it a memorable one…..
Blackberry Pie
November 27th, 2010
12:26 pm
I wonder how many thugs will get arrested before kickoff. Ole Saint Richt must have the mutts on 24/7 lockdown
Steve
November 27th, 2010
12:26 pm
“Kenai” are you really that pathetic? Like reposing the same stuff over and over huh? Funny how Tech and UGA are constantly competing for the same players. They just choose UGA since they have real facilities and a real team. “Nesbitt For Heisman!”
UGA is a second rate football school
November 27th, 2010
12:28 pm
Steve
Who cares about SEC Championships from years past? NO ONE!!!!!!
This year, UGA is 5-6. LOL
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
12:29 pm
Michigan is looking better than OSU, but it is 0-0 7:05 left in the 1st. There should be some good games today, but the GAMES will have to go a long way to be better than ALL the GAMES yeaterday. Aub v Bama and Boist St v Nevada were great games.
UGA is a second rate football school
November 27th, 2010
12:29 pm
Katherine
If you can’t take a little heckling, YOU LEAVE!