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
Blackberry Pie
November 27th, 2010
3:46 pm
aaron murray=Joe Tereshinski
atlvol55
November 27th, 2010
3:46 pm
Go Vols!! Tough season, but I give a lot of credit to Dooley for keeping team together. Lot of true freshman playing, including Bray. Tennessee looks like it could be on the upswing again.
Great weekend for the Vols…Take down Villanova in Madison Square Garden last night and take out the mildcats for the 26th straight time today
Stewart
November 27th, 2010
3:47 pm
Georgia is really good this year. They dominated La Lafayette, and had a great game against Idaho State. Looked fantastic against Verbilt, and played a great game against Tennessee.
Georgia has beat some powerhouses.
5150 P.O.A.D
November 27th, 2010
3:47 pm
My mother told me to get off the computer!
TY
November 27th, 2010
3:47 pm
reebok – I do wish you guys good luck as well.
Personally, I’d like to see both teams next year at or above 9 wins. I think both sides are embarrassed at the fact both teams are so bad this year. I’d like to see this rivalry get back to the national stage like Auburn/Alabama. It’s a ways to go, but it use to be there years ago.
TY
November 27th, 2010
3:48 pm
atlvol55 – Did y’all take care of UK? I know that you were up going into the 4th quarter
jack bull
November 27th, 2010
3:48 pm
he may be good eventually, but i’m talking about right now.. and i’m not so sure he’ll be better than Nesbitt.. Nesbitt was pretty good at what he did. Washington will have some mighty big shoes to fill the next few years..
atlvol55
November 27th, 2010
3:48 pm
yep…its over 24-14
Davis
November 27th, 2010
3:49 pm
Muuray is the new Ron Powlus. Supposed ot be great. Blah, blah. Flop. 5-6 record.
Powlus is the QB coach for University of Akron now.
TY
November 27th, 2010
3:50 pm
atlvol55 – Congrats!
You guys will be back sooner than most thought. You have a good young group there and a good coaching staff.
Blackberry Pie
November 27th, 2010
3:51 pm
Georgia has beat 5 great teams this year, what a great team.
Louisiana-Lafayette 55-7
Tennessee 41-14
Vanderbilt 43-0
Kentucky 44-31
Idaho State 55-7
Combined Records=17-40
Some powerhouse SEC School
TY
November 27th, 2010
3:52 pm
jack bull – I agree overall about Nesbit. He was a horse. Fun to watch. If he was given a coach that could work with his passing technique he would of had a great shot at the heisman. I know Washington can’t run like him, but he is a better passer.
Brock
November 27th, 2010
3:52 pm
If you guys like what Tevin is doing wait til we get Sims or Days in there. Those guys have potential to be better than Tevin or Joshua. Sims being the Nesbitt clone(size that is) and Days more of a Ricky Dobbs(bigger though) type QB. It’s gonna be fun seeing those guys in the next couple of years.
first tier program
November 27th, 2010
3:57 pm
As, an Auburn fan the best Christmas present is CMR coming back next year. It gives us an off week before we play another national program the bammers. Lets face it us, the tide, the gators, and LSU are the only national programs in the SEC.
JacketFan86
November 27th, 2010
3:59 pm
Check out this video of me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEdkLVzHUO4
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
4:01 pm
Fake 5150 POAD I see you have been working hard while I was gone. Do you feel better now?
Tenn needs to win and UGA needs to lose. UGA would be just ahead of VANDY teams. That would show Vandy for graduating more players than the dawgs. LOL. Never thought I would see where UGA and Vandy were fighting over wins and graduation rates.
Stewart
November 27th, 2010
4:04 pm
Hey, Idaho State is a great team, like La Lafayette, they’re both a lot better than their record indicates. those were two wins against big time programs.
Richt’s signature win this season was against Vanderbilt, shut them out, very impressive, they’re a top tier team in the making too.
Stewart
November 27th, 2010
4:05 pm
Did you guys see that game Murray had against La Lafayette? Wow, made some moves on that team big time. Showed me just how good Murray is. la Lafayette’s a great team.
bugsquasher
November 27th, 2010
4:06 pm
THERE’S A BEAT DOWN COMIN…… because thats the only way I can have sex
Blackberry Pie
November 27th, 2010
4:07 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i_Z-Y3YJW4
Thuga at its best
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
4:08 pm
Jeff Schultz
Any word on who the Refs are for this game. I hope it is not the crew we had last week at the Duke game. Those guys were terrible.
Blackberry Pie
November 27th, 2010
4:09 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEdkLVzHUO4 I love Ga Tech check me out
first tier program
November 27th, 2010
4:10 pm
UGA stands for Unacheiving Great Athletes
Blackberry Pie
November 27th, 2010
4:10 pm
Wow Georgia ignorance at its finest
first tier program
November 27th, 2010
4:12 pm
How much did UGA pay for CTG? At lest Auburn is getting more bang for its buck. HaHaHaHaHa
ARdawg
November 27th, 2010
4:13 pm
Hey Jeff,
Is it possible you could repost information on where the Nerd blog is and maybe a road map on how to get there. Be sure it’s color coded and has big letters. I suspect they don’t read so well…*snicker*
Get ready Bugs. We’re just hours away from your annual beat down. Assume the position
Oh and welcome to the blog
jack bull
November 27th, 2010
4:13 pm
thats pretty funny there, first tier, seeing as this is the first year in a long time Auburn’s beat UGA.. and to think it will all be for nothing after it comes out Cam made a cool 200k off of y’all…we’ll get to say Auburn hasn’t beaten UGA in 5 years after it’s all said and done…
Buckeye
November 27th, 2010
4:15 pm
Ohio State = BSC
UGA = “lower level bowl”….maybe.
HA!
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
4:17 pm
ARDAWG
you are kidding right? Jeff was running this blog since this morning. If you think it will EVER be just dawgs licking or butt sniffing each other you have to be stupid. You have to have both teams fans posting to make a game blog worth visiting.
Supes
November 27th, 2010
4:17 pm
atlvols55,
congrats to Tenn….earlier this season it looked like you may only 3 games all season long and now to bowl eligible…not a bad little turn around. Dooley will need to step up next year and win 8 games or so to build on this season, but overall I guess Tenn fans should be happy with this season. Looks like you also finally found a QB.
Come on FSU…it’ll be nice to see FLA with another L on their record.
BILLY JACK
November 27th, 2010
4:17 pm
AUBURN WILL RECIEVE THE DEATH PENALTY AFTER EVERYTHING COMES OUT-IT WILL MAKE SMU LOOK LIKE JAYWALKERS.EVERYTHING IS ON A WIRE TAP IN THE HANDS OF THE FBI AND NCAA.HAVE A GREAT LAST SEASON OF FOOTBALL.
Tucker T
November 27th, 2010
4:18 pm
WE MUST PROTECT THIS HEDGE!
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
4:18 pm
GATORS FUMBLE and the NOLES have it. that makes 21 TOs for the Gators.
Dumbo
November 27th, 2010
4:18 pm
Gonna be a late arriving crowd, St Mtn Freeway is slow already. Yikes!
first tier program
November 27th, 2010
4:18 pm
New era jack bull. New program in its second year. CMR in his tenth. CGCis just getting started.
Hit A Single
November 27th, 2010
4:18 pm
This is attended by a bunch of Dawg wannabees! I have never seen such jealousy! Go Dawgs and break all these hearts that are pulling so hard against you. Buckeyes = Most overrated program in the last 20 years and your President knows it.
UGAKEV
November 27th, 2010
4:19 pm
LMAO at any Auburn fan claiming to be a first tier program!!!!!! Auburn fans your a one hit wonder, thats it. The only reason besides some lucky breaks is one player that will be gone next season. You might not even make a bowl game next season! Enjoy this 1 out of every 100 year season…lmao!! Nobody cares about Auburn even when you win in that little crap hole you call a college town
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
4:21 pm
Tucker T if I had a daughter at UGA that is the first thing I would teach her too. “You Must PROTECT Your HEDGE”
jack bull
November 27th, 2010
4:22 pm
just getting started with coach Eugene Chizik. i see, so, who’ll be the OC next year when Gus leaves? i guess you’ll be starting again…I’ll give Eugene credit, heck it was only a few years ago he didn’t win a game as a head coach..
ARdawg
November 27th, 2010
4:23 pm
5150 POAD
I don’t disagree with that. However I did take a peek at the GT blog and it was pretty disgusting. I think just one Nerd talking to himself
Buckeye
November 27th, 2010
4:25 pm
Facts to ponder while traveling to your lower level bowl……courtesy of the Columbus Dispatch.
• Ohio State wins its sixth consecutive Big Ten championship and its 35th overall, the second most among Big Ten schools.
• The six consecutive conference titles (outright or shared) ties the Big Ten record set by the Buckeyes from 1972-77.
• Ohio State has won 17 of its last 18 games and 44 of its last 49 Big Ten contests.
• Ohio State is 98-17 since the start of the 2002 season, the third-best record among FBS teams.
• Ohio State is 462-191-28 (.699) all-time in Big Ten games since 1913, the best winning percentage among Big Ten schools.
• Ohio State is now 59-5 at Ohio Stadium since 2002, the fourth-best home winning percentage among FBS teams in that span.
JIM TRESSEL
• Tressel is now 9-1 against Michigan since coming to Ohio State in 2001.
• Tressel is 105-22 in his 10th year at Ohio State and 240-79-2 overall. He is the second-winningest active FBS coach behind Penn State’s Joe Paterno (401).
• Ohio State is 95-7 under Tressel when it rushes for at least 125 yards.
• Ohio State is 29-4 under Tressel in the month of November and 17-1 since 2005.
• Tressel is now 91-6 when leading or tied at the half and 98-6 when leading or tied going into the fourth quarter at Ohio State.
first tier program
November 27th, 2010
4:26 pm
You still got CMR.
mo
November 27th, 2010
4:26 pm
I predict suntanhead will be in the tanning salon on Monday followed by Botox appts without a worry regardless win or lose…..you idiots pay a coach millions that won you 5 or 6 games, 11 arrest and counting..that went from the penthouse to the outhouse in two years, good up the good work on that
doggoneit
November 27th, 2010
4:26 pm
dogs offense better, defense awful, but still better than tech, special teams better, home field advantage -dogs should win by 17. By the way, Willie Martinez was vilified every week by dog fans, but Grantham gets a free ride. I thought great coaches adopted their schemes to the players you have and not the other way around. With our players, running a 3-4 defense has been forcing a square peg into a round hole.
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 27th, 2010
4:27 pm
ARd no matter what Jeff says this is still the JEFF SCHULTZ blog and since it is about Tech and UGA and started first the other blog will have a hardtime getting started. The other may take off is Tech is way behind and the DAWGS get to nasty and just name calling.
ARdawg
November 27th, 2010
4:27 pm
Buckeye
About the only thing those stats prove is, OSU does indeed play in a weak conference
Tucker T
November 27th, 2010
4:27 pm
5150 P.O.A.D.
No one wants the hedges of Tech girls.
War Damn Fairley Cam Eagle!
November 27th, 2010
4:27 pm
Well I see the Thuga nation is still whining about the Auburn Beat Down. I guess when you lose to Tech, you will blame Nic Fairley for the loss. If by chance your Thugs beat Tech, y’all should not qualify for a bowl since one of your wins was against mighty Idaho State. Don’t forget to wear your red panties to the game tonight.
1eyedJack
November 27th, 2010
4:27 pm
Al Groh forgot to bring his diapers…this could get messy.
FISH FRY!!!
mo
November 27th, 2010
4:28 pm
one thing at least you do not have to worry about the current uga athletic director carrousing with women, drinking and driving..no woman would be caught dead with that one, not enough money in the state budget for that…nice ears