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
Paul in RDU
November 27th, 2010
2:41 pm
Jeff – Don’t worry checking on my posts – I had a problem with my router
chris o bomb
November 27th, 2010
2:41 pm
what’s the good word? to hell with georgia!!!
DamntheButcher
November 27th, 2010
2:45 pm
I have said it over and over. Auburn is 2 wins away from the SEC having its 6th NC on Mark Richt’s watch. Mark Richt is letting UGA fall deeper and deeper into the pits of hell. Mark Richt should have been fired 3 years ago before he brought UGA to the level in football of Kentucky, Mississippi & Vanderbilt. FIRE MARK RICHT before the game tonight.
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 27th, 2010
2:49 pm
PAUL STILL SUCKS BIG JOHNSON! 9 OUT OF 10
TY
November 27th, 2010
2:49 pm
DamntheButcher – Who do you replace CMR with?…. please be realistic
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 27th, 2010
2:51 pm
DAMNTHEBUTCHER……… YOU MUST BE A TECH FAN
The Regulator
November 27th, 2010
2:51 pm
Q: Why don’t they teach sex ed and driver ed at UGA?
A: They don’t want the mule to get too tired.
DamntheButcher
November 27th, 2010
2:52 pm
TY
I don’t know who you replace him with. That is why GM is making the big bucks. Looks like it worked out pretty good for Auburn don’t it? I bet Tommy Tubbervilles record the last 3 years at Auburn was better that Mark Richt’s at UGA.
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 27th, 2010
2:53 pm
hey at least we do not run a high school offense
DamntheButcher
November 27th, 2010
2:53 pm
No I am a GA fan. I am just not one of the kool-aid drinkers like you fools that thinks Mark Richt is doing a great job.
DamntheButcher
November 27th, 2010
2:54 pm
How many bad years in a row will it take for you idiots to realize that Mark Richt has no clue anymore? He blamed it all on WM after last year and the Defense is even worse this year in a down year in the SEC.
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 27th, 2010
2:55 pm
Enter your comments here
DamntheButcher
November 27th, 2010
2:55 pm
And to all you kool-aid drinkers……. What have I said above that is not true?
TY
November 27th, 2010
2:56 pm
Dude, I get that you are not happy at all with CMR, but you just made my point. There is no one out there right now that we can replace him with that will do any better. The really good coaches have been locked into these long contracts. There is no one out their to replace him with.
Your saying fire him yet you can’t think of a replacement. That’s like having a family of 5 and quiting your job without having a back up plan.
I partially agree with you. If CMR does not dramactically turn it around next year, 10 wins plus, then he probably will be replaced.
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 27th, 2010
2:56 pm
Well we can both agree on this….At least we are not tech fans!
Georgia wants revenge?
November 27th, 2010
2:57 pm
Give me a break. Georgia won last year. And when Tech wins in Athens, it’s tradition to tear up the hedges. Come on jeff
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 27th, 2010
2:57 pm
I agree TY
The Regulator
November 27th, 2010
2:58 pm
Q: How many UGA fans does it take to change a light bulb?
A: About 90,000. One to change the bulb, and 89,999 to stand around and talk about how great the old one used to be.
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 27th, 2010
2:58 pm
l love kool-aid
TY
November 27th, 2010
2:59 pm
DTB……Please check your stats because you have no clue when you say the defense is worse than last year. This year, while not great, has been much better than last year. Not sure where you get your infomation from, but you need to drop your source. Unless your a techie, then I understand where you are coming from…..
TY
November 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
“And when Tech wins in Athens, it’s tradition to tear up the hedges.”
Thank the Lord that is only once every 20 years!!!
DamntheButcher
November 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
Hey I don’t get paid to come up with a replacement. I am sure there are coaches available but I don’t know who they are. I didn’t know who Chip Kelly was until this year and it’s worked well for Oregon. I would never have guessed that Auburn would have hired Gene Chizik but again,,,, Auburn is 2 wins away from a NC. The 6th NC on Mark Richt’s watch.
Nesbitts Broken Arm
November 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
Let the NERD BASHING BEGIN!!!!!!
ScoutDawg
November 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
Was born in 1969, class of ‘90, don’t front like you are a DAWG, silly imposter nerd.
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 27th, 2010
3:00 pm
it could always be worse paul johnson
Nesbitts Broken Arm
November 27th, 2010
3:01 pm
Yeah TY, by then we need them trimmed anyway!
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 27th, 2010
3:02 pm
the D is better this year and will be better next year
TY
November 27th, 2010
3:02 pm
DTB….. Next year will be the year if CMR is still around or not. Being that you are not any part of UGA, why are you even worried about it? And why care? Just curious. Again, unless your a techie then I get it!
DamntheButcher
November 27th, 2010
3:03 pm
TY
I am glad you are into the stats. I am into damn wins. Suck up all the Mark Richt loving stats you want. Is this years GA team better or worse than last years? Was last years team worse than the 2008 team? Was the 2008 team wors than the 2007 team? Now there are some stats for you and you know where you can stick them.
Steve
November 27th, 2010
3:03 pm
UGA’s defense is bad huh? They are 19th in the country in overall defense. What a moron. Go look it up. Tech has zero chance tonight.
TY
November 27th, 2010
3:04 pm
Nesbitts Broken Arm
Yeah, after 20 years the hedges get a bit thick! Good way for the tech football team to put their education to use!!! I just opened a can of worms!! ha ha
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 27th, 2010
3:04 pm
All dawg fans will feel a little better tonight around 11 o clock
Nesbitts Broken Arm
November 27th, 2010
3:05 pm
Uh, the damnthebutcher. What games have you been watching? Because i can remember cussin Martinez out like red-headed stepchild last year and the year before. He was CLEARLY the fault then and Grantham has shown improvement. Thats always a plus in the FIRST year after switching defensive schemes…
Russ, the Unemployed Mascot
November 27th, 2010
3:06 pm
That Seiler boy ain’t right. I tried to say hello awhile ago and he acted like he didn’t know me. Well, he will know me after tonight. I plan on biting a chunk out of his white a$$-loving leg. Mistreating a little dog is unbecoming of a major university football program. UGA shouldn’t do it either.
TY
November 27th, 2010
3:07 pm
DTB….. Why are you getting your shorts in a wad? I’m just having a conversation. I’m trying to understand what you are saying and why. Usually, when one gets upset it’s because they can’t take the truth and have nothing left to intelligently talk about. So here ends our conversation……And
GO DAWGS AND CMR!!!!
DamntheButcher
November 27th, 2010
3:07 pm
Steve
You must be a genius… UGA scores 30 against FL & Auburn and don’t even win have aq chance to win the game. Damn that GA defense is better than the Steel Curtain or the Purple People Eaters. I bet teams fear to step onto the feild and face that GA defense it’s so damn strong.
Nesbitts Broken Arm
November 27th, 2010
3:08 pm
DAMN its good to be November again! Waiting on the win for another YEAR OF BRAGGING RIGHTS!!!!! OH….and King just scored AGAIN!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! GO DAWGS!!!!!!!
The Regulator
November 27th, 2010
3:09 pm
Albert Einstein arrives at a party and introduces himself to the first person
he sees and asks, “Vat is your IQ?” to which the man answers “241.” “Zat is
vonderful!,” says Albert. “Ve vill talk about ze Grand Unification Theory and
ze mysteries of ze Universe. Ve vill have much to discuss!”
Next Albert introduces himself to a woman and asks, “Vat is your IQ?” To which
the lady answers, “144.” “Zat is great!,” responds Albert. “Ve can discuss
politics and current affairs. Ve vill have much to discuss!”
Albert goes to another person and asks, “Vat is your IQ?” to which the man
answers, “51.”
Albert responds, “How ’bout dem Dawgs?”
TY
November 27th, 2010
3:09 pm
King scored and Murray just threw a bomb to AJ…. TD! That will be a broken record tonight!
NOBODYYOUKNOW
November 27th, 2010
3:09 pm
Oh those bad bumble bees tore up our hedges. Those bushes are sacred to us dawgs. Yea, Yea, go piss on a tree you dumb hounds. Your team danced all over the Tech logo. The whole big bad bulldog team went out into the endzone at the gator bowl. You self rightous idiots are just as guilty of stupid behavor as anybody else. And no I’m not a Techie. I honestly beleive the so called dog nation are the biggest crybabys in the SEC. and the country. (UGA 45 Tech 14).
The Regulator
November 27th, 2010
3:10 pm
It took me all night to think of that one…….. I’m soooo Gay!
Atlanta Tiger
November 27th, 2010
3:11 pm
Just to help you out with that blur that use to be called a memory:
Weekend Predictions: Dogs win — Auburn, not so much
5:02 pm November 24, 2010, by Jeff Schultz
Auburn at Alabama: It’s been quiet on the Cam Newton front. You would’ve figured somebody at Alabama would’ve started a rumor about him dating Lizzie Borden or being part-Klingon. But even if Cecil “Huggy Bear” Newton and the NCAA don’t derail Auburn this week, Alabama will. War Eagle this, mister: The Tigers are No. 5 in the nation in scoring offense but No. 60 in scoring defense — two spots lower than Georgia Tech. The story’s over: Bama covers 4½.
DamntheButcher
November 27th, 2010
3:13 pm
Again I don’t care how much improvement you idiots think UGA is making. The record has gotten worse for the 3rd straight year. How can that be improvments? Can’t you idiots figure that out.
JacketFan86
November 27th, 2010
3:14 pm
TO HELL WITH GEORGIA!! TONIGHT CPJ WILL BE 2-1 AGAINST UGAG!!
Winston Wolfe
November 27th, 2010
3:14 pm
Regulator……I hope you’re at least amusing yourself; otherwise, just a huge waste of space and oxygen
Vance Duuley
November 27th, 2010
3:14 pm
I’ve never understood how anyone – even an alumnus – could support and take pride in UGA’s football team. When you look at their history for the past forty years, how can anyone ignore Jan Kemp and the “remedial studies” scam, the Jim Harrick fiasco, the DUIs in the athletic office, the DUIs and other arrests of players, the #1 party school tag (i.e., the most drunk students), the suspensions and outright dismissals, the Fulmer Cup, and on and on?
DamntheButcher
November 27th, 2010
3:15 pm
If UGA loses 8 games next year some of you will say oh the team is improving.
layinlow
November 27th, 2010
3:16 pm
I’m not an imposter but keep telling yourself that and keep wallowing in mediocrity. When tech fans would say there is nothing dumber than a Georgia Bulldog it used to make me mad. But now when I look around at fans like you I have to admit they have a point.
Steve
November 27th, 2010
3:16 pm
JacketFan86 = Loser as well as virgin for life. What a bummer.
Russ, the Unemployed Mascot
November 27th, 2010
3:16 pm
These late starts are rough on our program. Somebody has to stay with the running backs all day to make sure they don’t get arrested before the game. Big Bad Bruce is no good for that sort of thing because he is sooooo inbred. When Seiler tells BBB to “sit” he never knows what BBB’s gong to do.