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
UGA is a second rate football school
November 27th, 2010
12:29 pm
What is it about UGA crybabies that compels them to steal other names?
Katherine
November 27th, 2010
12:30 pm
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
Programs have down years and rebuilding years…..and people who gloat like you are…well it’s just sad. Enjoy it…because the down times happen to every school..not just uga. It’s how you handle winning and being on top that shows what you are really made of.
UGA VIIII
November 27th, 2010
12:30 pm
Im ready coach, put me in
Techbuzzer
November 27th, 2010
12:30 pm
Two words that will have THUGA running for cover – florida and DUI
reebok
November 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
I hope I’m wrong, but I think UGA will cover the point spread with room to spare. I’m hanging my hopes on the fact that rivalry games are unpredictable…so I’ll be watching and pulling for my Jackets…I won’t be sober, but I’ll be watching!
Alabama fan
November 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
Did we play anyone yesterday?
CHDawg
November 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
Dawg fans,
the supposed opposing team fans magically come and go based on who is winning. They usually aren’t fans from these other teams, but frustrated Tech fans like St. Simons assuming aliases. Note that the identities assumed are only from teams that can talk smack to UGA. St. Simons must have posted 10K msgs here after Tech’s lone win–these folks are sick.
GT has more NT than UGA
November 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
The only thing that stinks more than UGA are red panties.
Pepper Rogers
November 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
A couple of shoestring plays and we might keep Ga within a three td reach !!!
Katherine
November 27th, 2010
12:32 pm
Reebok…I hope it’s a good game
I’m so excited to be going!
PB
November 27th, 2010
12:32 pm
SEC West 2010 Champs,
You made your point several times already. Yes, Auburn is better than UGA this year, and you will probably be in NC game. But quit saying the same thing over and over. it is getting old.
bugsquasher
November 27th, 2010
12:32 pm
Where or where is our friend St Simon?
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
12:33 pm
Uga VIII you ain’t ready. You have slept through most of your games so far this year. It is a Night Game Big Bad Bruce better have a nap before game time if he want to stay up for the whole game toinght.
DIT
November 27th, 2010
12:33 pm
Techbuzzer – “Two words that will have THUGA running for cover – florida and DUI”
Very funny
One word that will have tech running for cover – GEORGIA!
St Simons
November 27th, 2010
12:34 pm
{{{{{{{{{{{{{ 49-31 }}}}}}}}}}}}}}
HAHHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHHAHHAHAH
UGA VIIII
November 27th, 2010
12:34 pm
Ive been practicing my crotch bites….
Steve
November 27th, 2010
12:34 pm
How bad was Auburn just 2 years ago? Did not even go to a bowl game. UGA will go 9-3 before a bowl next year and should compete for the SEC in 2012. Murray is a stud!
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
12:35 pm
“One word that will have tech running for cover – GEORGIA!”
Doubt GT is scared of a 5-6 team.
UGA VIIII
November 27th, 2010
12:35 pm
Learned them from my great granddad
Hayseed Dixie
November 27th, 2010
12:35 pm
I oftened wondered why something as obvious as the whole “Red Panties” thing didn’t catch on more, you know, with students throwing em at games, chants, sayings and so on…
And then it hit me.
It’s cause UGA really doesn’t matter. I mean, really, that’s why.
They have top 10 recruiting classes and no one, no one, gives a good gol darn.
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
12:36 pm
Michigan fumbles on the OSU 9 yardline. WOW getting a 1stdown getting ready to score and they FUMBLE.
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
12:36 pm
“How bad was Auburn just 2 years ago?”
Not sure what that has to do with a 5-6 UGA team.
Murray is a dud! FYT
“should compete for the SEC in 2012.”
HAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHA
UGA VIIII
November 27th, 2010
12:36 pm
I have red panties on
Huh?
November 27th, 2010
12:37 pm
“WOW getting a 1stdown getting ready to score and they FUMBLE.’
Bama did it twice yesterday.
Steve
November 27th, 2010
12:37 pm
Poor St. Simons. He has no life. Why on Earth would he post the UGA/Auburn score? Makes zero sense. I guess when Tech loses to UGA every year, you have nothing else to say.
CHDawg
November 27th, 2010
12:37 pm
DIT,
“Georgia” very good! It already has them running for cover…there is no football talk from them, only talk about UGA’s reform school progress.
bugsquacher
November 27th, 2010
12:37 pm
Tech goes down tonight….. its an annual thing with them…. bow to your master
GT84
November 27th, 2010
12:37 pm
what will happen if tech beats ga ,,, where will the bloggers be at…..ummm on their own blogs for once calling for their coaches head.
what a lame fanbase tech wins 35-28 in ai guess too some, not me but to some a upset
DIT
November 27th, 2010
12:38 pm
Thanks for the updates POAD. I’m not around a TV right now. I sure would like to see Michigan pull off an upset!
Steve
November 27th, 2010
12:38 pm
“Huh” Murray is a dud? Do I need to post his stats for you?
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
12:39 pm
Uga VIIII I remember in school 9 in roman numerals was IX right? I guess it is all that inbreading. You do know you are supposed to bite the other teams players in the crotch not yoursaelf. AHHAHAHA
KAT you better bundle up and fill with Antifreeze.
CHDawg
November 27th, 2010
12:39 pm
Steve,
the same reason he morphs into a Gator or a War Eagle fan–he is messed up and talking smack to Georgia fans on the AJC is his life.
Russ, the Unemployed Mascot
November 27th, 2010
12:39 pm
Special to the Jeff Schultz Blog from Russ, the Unemployed Mascot working freelance . . .
Some have speculated what the running backs will write on their forearms for the game. This unemployed mascot has found out. Ealey will have 367587321CC on his arm. King will have 373756438CC on his arm. The CC stands for Clarke County. Stay tuned for more.
DIT
November 27th, 2010
12:40 pm
CHDawg – Could not agree more. They know that they will lose and possibly lose big. The academics will be coming up soon!
GT84
November 27th, 2010
12:40 pm
in a rivarly game exspecially techvs ga their will be no blowout even though ga should kill them with all the talent they have it wont happen tech will surprise some tech wins 35-28
DIT
November 27th, 2010
12:41 pm
I hope that Murray is a “DUD” for 3 more years!
GT84
November 27th, 2010
12:41 pm
when ga loses will all the ga bloggers be on this blog??????????………..nooo
DIT
November 27th, 2010
12:42 pm
GT84 – Your probably right. On paper UGA should win big, but it will go down as a nail bitter probably!
Auburn Fan
November 27th, 2010
12:42 pm
UGA fans
Good luck today against GT. Even though a lot of you are angry about the GA/AU game, I will still pull for your team to beat Tech.
With that said, some of you need to accept the fact that Auburn is a great team.
Russ, the Unemployed Mascot
November 27th, 2010
12:42 pm
They would not give me a ticket for the game. Apparently, Big Bad Bruce has some family here for the game – his brother and his dad and his uncle. Bruce gave him my ticket.
DIT
November 27th, 2010
12:44 pm
Go Tech
DAWG
November 27th, 2010
12:44 pm
5150 P.O.A.D. Learn to spell
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
12:44 pm
DIT OSU at Midfield. Completing some passes. It is so STRANGE with OSU havin solid red helmets, Red Jerseys, White numbers lined in Black, with Grey panys and socks. 16 sec in 1st OSU 2nd and 2nd 19. End of thew 1st.
Steve
November 27th, 2010
12:44 pm
Auburn Fan, who is mad about the UGA/AU game? UGA was supposed to lose, and did. Just like Tech will tonight.
Pepper Rogers
November 27th, 2010
12:45 pm
In as much as I’d love to Tech win; Ga’s had 2 weeks to prepare for their biggest game of their season. (Again) And should have little trouble stopping PJs “High School” offense. But. THWG anyway !!!!!
bugsquacher
November 27th, 2010
12:46 pm
Just face it Tech….. You are an inferior school, inferior football program, inferior basketball program, inferior girls (oophs) no girls…… You desire to grow up to be a Georgia one day……… you have Georgia envy.
Steve "The King" Spurrier
November 27th, 2010
12:46 pm
Set your sights high Dawgs!! You run that state! You are a state powerhouse… again
GT84
November 27th, 2010
12:46 pm
why is everybody so confident ga will win bigtime???? the last 2 years the team soppose to win did not
Russ, the Unemployed Mascot
November 27th, 2010
12:47 pm
Coach Grantham has a big surprise for today’s game. He’s going to blow a vuvuzela when Tech tries for a field goal. Class act that Coach Grantham. Fits in well here.
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
12:47 pm
DAWG I just type fast as I can and hit send. I will try better if you will learn how to spell too. DOG not DAWG or Bout.