Georgia’s win not art, but we’ve come to expect this
The Dogs celebrated after Justin Houston's interception in final seconds sealed win. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS — It was supposed to be easier than this.
But then, so was the Colorado game.
So was the Mississippi State game.
So was . . . well, let’s just assumed “easy” left town with Louisiana-Lafayette 12 weeks ago.
The offensive line hasn’t been the dominating unit that Georgia expected. The defense under Todd Grantham certainly hasn’t improved like expected. (Did Willie Martinez leave just his playbook in Athens or was that his spirit?) The physical and mental edge that the Bulldogs have often lacked over the past three seasons? Still lacking.
This is what Georgia fans get in 2010: a 6-6 record in this season’s deep sea of 6-6 records. The Dogs won 42-34 over Georgia Tech on Saturday. They became bowl eligible, not because they were much better than the Yellow Jackets but because — until a touchdown with 1:29 left — the opposing kicker had missed an extra point.
The teams combined for six turnovers plus a botched opening kickoff return by Georgia. When the Dogs and Jackets accounted for three fumbles in four exchanges, I’m pretty sure every bowl official in attendance stood up and left.
But if you’re a Georgia fan this season, you take it. Why? Because a win at least makes the 6-6 record far more appealing aesthetically than 5-7. Because a bad bowl game is better than no bowl game. Because this season has predominantly lacked beauty from the outset, save the acrobatics of A.J. Green and the surprising play of freshman quarterback Aaron Murray.
In retrospect, it was silly to think that the fact the Dogs were two-touchdown favorites suddenly would propel them to a dominating performance.
“It would’ve been sickening to be 5-7 right now and for the season to be over,” coach Mark Richt said.
Who knew a bottom-tier bowl game in Birmingham or Memphis could look like paradise?
It was nearly three months ago to the day Saturday when Richt looked ahead to this season like a child peering through the window of a toy store. He talked about his offensive line. He talked about veteran leadership. He talked about a turnaround on defense. But when asked for a won-loss projection based on the schedule, he balked.
“I used to do it more than I do now,” he said in August. “What year was it — [Matthew] Stafford’s freshman year [2006]? I kind of did it that year a little bit. We didn’t have a great season. Everything looked different than it was.”
Sort of like this year. There’s no spinning it. The season went sideways, and the Dogs have been wobbling almost from Day 1.
Richt will be back next season, and he should be back because winning two SEC titles in his first five seasons earns him the right to fix the problems. But he has a lot of problems to fix.
Aaron Murray completed 11 of 14 passes with three touchdowns in first half but didn't throw much in the second (4 for 5). (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
He can leave Murray alone. The young quarterback entered this season as the team’s biggest question mark, and he ended it as one of its few strengths. But almost every other area is due for an overhaul.
It wasn’t difficult to tell this was a game between 5-6 and 6-5 teams. The Dogs’ Shaun Chapas dropped the opening kickoff and Tech recovered (technically it’s not a fumble, just early humiliation). But the Jackets failed to score on that possession or the next one, despite starting at the Georgia 27 and 46. Their second drive? It ended with a fumble.
In the end, it wasn’t so much which team had fewer thumbs — we’ll call that one a tie — but which best took advantage. The Jackets’ first three fumbles all led to Georgia touchdowns. The Dogs’ fumbles led to bupkis for Tech.
Murray was phenomenal early, completing 11 of 14 passes for 220 yards in the first half and touchdowns to Kris Durham, Orson Charles and Bruce Figgins. But the Dogs couldn’t get through this without some drama. They jumped to a 14-0 lead and to fizzle ad see Tech come back with touchdowns on three of their next four possessions to tie it at 21-21.
The Dogs jumped back ahead by two touchdowns on a Washaun Ealey run and a Justin Houston 18-yard return of a fumble. But the Jackets, who had 512 yards in offense (411 on the ground), drove through the Dogs’ defense for two more scores.
Only a missed a extra point by kicker Scott Blair with 4:57 left kept the Dogs ahead, at 35-34.
Defensive end Akeem Dent, on the field, turned around just in time to see the miss.
“I turned and looked and was like: I know he didn’t miss it. Did he miss it?” Dent said.
A 20-yard touchdown run by Ealey with 1:29 left made it 42-34. Tech had one last possession fall short.
Two 6-6 teams stumbled over the finish line.
“I don’t care what bowl game we’re going to,” Green said in likely his final game at Sanford Stadium. “It’s better than going home right now.”
After the disappointment of the 2008 season with Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno and the pronounced slide of the last two years, it’s clear Georgia’s future doesn’t come with any guarantees. Richt doesn’t need to fix the quarterback. But he needs to fix everything else.
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447 comments Add your comment
Ha
November 28th, 2010
12:35 am
Raxe…then Richt and Bobo must be clowns for not showing the confidence that they should…can’t have it both ways…it’s one or the other.
atl xmen
November 28th, 2010
12:36 am
coach granthem is the man…look for the defense to really tighten up next year when he has some more of his players in there and the current ones back with a year under there belt. defense played well enough to win and forced 4 turnovers.
Marcus
November 28th, 2010
12:36 am
Ah, only 33 more days until Christian Lemay comes to Athens.
Christian Lemay is
On the way
to save the day
for UGA.
Pirtdawg
November 28th, 2010
12:36 am
I thought Martinez was the worst we’d ever seen…….fair weather?
Wes Durham's Gigantic Bottom
November 28th, 2010
12:36 am
I am surprised that the genius Paul Johnson decided to pass the ball three times with 2:54 left in the 4th…..I remember the article about CPJ when he was hired and some coach or friend of turkey neck was quoted to the effect of Mark Richt having to be “very worried”….as bad as the game was and as bad as the last two seasons have been, the nerds cannot beat Richt….give him a chance to rebuild…we’re an Isaiah Crowell away from being a good team again.
rincon dawg
November 28th, 2010
12:37 am
Raze
If A. Murray is so bad why is it that he is now the all time leading passer in a season for the Dogs? Why is he one touchdown short of the record for the year. Hes a freshmen and he is doing better than any other freshmen in the history of UGA. He is not the problem.
What an AWFUL Excuse For A Football Game
November 28th, 2010
12:37 am
What a BRUTAL game to watch!! There’s a big difference between watching excellent coaching and talented players run up the score on each other to see who’s standing at the end…..And watching sub-par coaching and Keystone Cops players running around trying to give them game away to the opposing team.
Both of these teams just flat out SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!! There is nothing to be proud of. Todd Grantham and Al Groh may go down in history as the TWO WORST DC HIRES in the history of college football in GA.
I just want to go puke my guts out…….And I feel like I need a shower after watching that pathetic excuse for a football game tonight. I can hardly wait to see what Richt and Johnson have to say. Then I’ll probably puke and shower again…..
Marcus
November 28th, 2010
12:38 am
Aaron “Choke City” was in fine form tonight.
Played well when it didn’t count.
The took a sack on 3rd and 9–what’s new?
4th & 1 on the 5 yard line–QB sneak for 2 inches? Choked.
4th & 1 AGAIN inside the red zone? Fumble for 2 yard loss.
Completed 1 pass in the ENTIRE FOURTH QUARTER.
Choke City ALMOST lost the game.
Ealey & Houston came through–Mr Clutch.
2 n 10
November 28th, 2010
12:38 am
Who will we play in Pizza bowl or independence?
Saint Simons
November 28th, 2010
12:39 am
((((45-42))))
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEdkLVzHUO4
Marcus
November 28th, 2010
12:40 am
Let’s see here.
Georgia won by 8.
Add in the 14 from Murray’s 2 4th & 1 chokes and that’s a final score of
55 to 34, if Murray doesn’t choke on those 2 4th & 1 plays.
Raze is Marcus
November 28th, 2010
12:41 am
You make me sick. A. Murray is the real deal. The problem lies with the coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball. You are a moron with your stupid stats. He is
#1 in the hearts of true UGA fans. That is the only stat that matters.
clean old fashioned ownage
November 28th, 2010
12:41 am
i thought reggie ball graduated?
Hey, Marcus
November 28th, 2010
12:42 am
Murray completed 75.9 percent of his passes, his career best, and piled up 271 yards with three touchdowns.
Marcus
November 28th, 2010
12:42 am
Can’t wait for a real poised QB, Christian Lemay, to get here man in 33 days, we can’t take any more of Aaron “Choke City” Murray, he almost lost Georgia a game for 6th time in a row with his 4th quarter jitters, need another Mr. clutch besides Ealey in 2011.
stendek
November 28th, 2010
12:42 am
Johnson > Richt
UGA QB > Tech Backup QB
Tech Backs > UGA Backs
UGA Receivers > Tech Receivers
Inconsequential = UGA & Tech
Somebody wake up the damn dog mascot. Tell him the game is over! STENDEK
crap sandwich
November 28th, 2010
12:44 am
Grantham does not have the players that are SEC quality. The DL had to be replaced this season as 5 off and on starters were gone. Blame the lack of talent on recruiting and play of the players. Grantam did the best job as possible with the players he inherited.
Raze is Marcus
November 28th, 2010
12:44 am
Christian Lemay got kicked off his high school football team. Wow he must be the real deal.
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 28th, 2010
12:44 am
WE DO STILL RUN THIS STATE. AND ALL YOU RICHT HATTERS AND TECHIES JUST GATA DEAL WITH IT
TGT
November 28th, 2010
12:44 am
I can’t believe Richt(or Bobo) opted to score at the end instead of running out the clock! Fumbles, missed opportunities, etc. I’m a UGA grad, and a fan for life, but I can’t take much more of this poor play. We won the game, but Tech should have! We are fortunate to have won, and all Georgia fans know how Tech fans feel. You can’t beat us, and we can’t beat Florida. Georgia and Georgia Tech should both be ashamed of the 2010 season. What a miserable joke!
S.B.T.P.
November 28th, 2010
12:45 am
I realize it is very difficult for the large majority of thUGA fans to put this game in the proper perspective. GT was a 15 point dog and not expected to compete. However, if not for a missed extra point and the GT defense not giving up the last TD on purpose, the outcome may have been different.
Your supposed superior athelets and recruiting classes may help you you rationalize the marginal victory but the bottom line remains that you were outcoached on all fronts. Say what you will about CPJ, but he coaches up the players in his program, not down.
I raise these issues so that you may use them as talking points when you report for the midnight shift at the poultry plant or convenience store.
It must be a miserable existence to watch the game in your trailer with the knowledge that you have to dress in your car to punch the time clock.
The Sheriff has spoken.
playmeortrademe
November 28th, 2010
12:46 am
Joining the ACC was the biggest mistake Miami ever made. Look at how the ACC drug down FSU over time.
Richt is similar to Shannon…he’s earned some time with the SEC titles in 2002 and 2005 and the 2007 finish but even the most die-hard fans have to see that he’s lost something at UGA…on-field talent, command, something…and the program is moving in the wrong direction, and the off-field incidents and tonight stupid crap before the game just adds to it. Listen, if the guy could not win in 2008 with Stafford, Moreno and AJ Green, and instead gets blasted at home vs Bama, loses again to Florida with a chance at the east, gets a miracle win at UK, and then beat again at home vs Tech, I don’t think he ever will. I do think he would make a GREAT ACC coach where the stakes aren’t as high week after week. Miami plays two or three big games? FSU, Tech (and he owns Tech), and Clemson?
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 28th, 2010
12:46 am
HEY MARCUS YOUR STILL S AD BAG!
Ed (The Original)
November 28th, 2010
12:46 am
Fire Richt. That last touchdown was a boneheaded play, especially for a coach in his 10th season as a head man. Georgia Tech had two chances to pull the game out at the end; 1. Georgia scores; 2. Georgia turns the ball over. They had no chance at all if Georgia takes a couple of knees. Richt gave them a chance, and they ended up on Georgia’s side of the field before throwing the pick.
This is bush league, and typical Richt. Why we have to endure this is ‘11 is baffling to me. Maybe Miami will call him home after canning Randy Shannon. One can only hope.
And for those of you calling for an assistant’s head – get over Richt. He’s the captain of this ship, not Bobo, or Grantham, or Garner, or anyone else.
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 28th, 2010
12:47 am
TGT …FLY YOUR TECH FLAG PROUDLY
Tired
November 28th, 2010
12:48 am
ALMA
November 28th, 2010
12:26 am
I’ve lived on St. Simons for fourteen years, and there are very few GT fans. The same goes for our new most dreaded rival, Auburn. They are constantly in hiding and only come out at night. Also, the self-proclaimed Tech fan “Saint Simmons” is misspelling the name of St. Simons… Think he’s a dud, wouldn’t you say???
Most definitely. I live part-time on SSI and you paint it right. It’s Athens-South. Watch out, he’ll steal Alma–but I doubt he knows where that is.
crap sandwich
November 28th, 2010
12:49 am
Marcus will never sleep unless he has his black quarterback. Just like the only president he has ever voted for. , Marcus with his racist views will never accept the white race, and only blacks are acceptable.
Gatorman
November 28th, 2010
12:50 am
Hey my team got the daylights beat out of them, but at lease we beat the dawgs. Hey I hope the Falcons draft A. J. Green, he will become the clutch receiver Roddy White will never be. Just think how back the dawgs would have been with him, maybe 3-9. Don’t worry, Richt will be back (thank goodness), rode the good fortune of having a solid team when he arrived, problem is he can’t keep it going. I think ole PJohnson better find him 4 good defensive backs or learn to score 45 points every game. He also better add a bunch of passing plays into his arsenal next year too.
Yo STBP
November 28th, 2010
12:50 am
Lick my ball sack.
dawgster
November 28th, 2010
12:50 am
Hey Matthews dawg….amazing the articles that have appeared from the great duo of Shultz and Bradley…they give no credit to the dawgs for the victory, it was all luck, well you know there are a lot of teams that had luck go there way this year and against. we definately can say the same, but we made some plays too, but no credit is being given to that..yes neither team can brag about their defense, both teams have some problems, and hopefully the dawgs will get things corrected this off season…i can’t believe i am seeing calls to fire Coach Grantham after one season without his own recruits, unbelievable fair weather fans…the dawgs were fortunate to win, no one will deny that, but i’d rather be in our position than Tech’s right now…people can say whatever, but the bottom line is that we have won 9 out of the last 10…,you know all these excuses i’m hearing is just that, how many times have we said the same thing when playing the gators over the last few years, we still are finding ways to lose to the gators, even when we may have had the better game…anyway proud of the dawgs as always and especially tonight…go dawgs…
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 28th, 2010
12:50 am
ALL YOU RICHT HATTERS PLEASE GET OFF THIS BLOG. HE IS THE BEST COACH WE HAVE HAD IN YEARS AND WHEN WE BEAT BOISE NEXT YEAR DO NOT ACT LIKE YOU LIKE HIM. YOU ARE ALL TRADERS!
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November 28th, 2010
12:51 am
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@ Gatorman
November 28th, 2010
12:52 am
You and your Gators still suck. So what? They won over the 6-6 ‘Dawgs.
playmeortrademe
November 28th, 2010
12:52 am
And yes, I know 2008 problems were almost entirely due to the defense…but still, that team should have at least played for an SEC title and not the Capital One Bowl against Michigan State, who hasn’t been relevant since 1966.
TECH STILL SUCK'S
November 28th, 2010
12:52 am
ALL RICHT HATTERS AND TECH FANS…. LICK MY BALL SACK, AND JUST BE HAPPY WITH A W. AND BE GLADE YOU GEORGIA BULLDAWG!
dawgster
November 28th, 2010
12:53 am
I’ll say something else here….how many times have you seen a team quit on a play and let the other team score”…don’t ever remember in all my years of playing and coaching that i had a coach tell me not to tackle someone or have i ever asked a player to laydown while on the field…You can call it good coaching, but i have a problem when you just quit on play and actually let another team to score…something for everyone to think about…i don’t know, just doesn’t seem as something you should do…go dawgs
BentwaterDawg
November 28th, 2010
12:54 am
Marcus
What the fudge is your problem?
Chuck Uga
November 28th, 2010
12:55 am
Putting off the inevitable. Facts hurt some of you delusional Dawg fans, don’t they! Richt has been passed by, and his refusal to upgrade his staff will cost him. UGA will finish no better than 8-4 in 2011 and lose once again to Florida. Tennessee will beat Georgia as well. They are better coached. I just don’t think McGarity will be able to hold off making a change after next season. There is NOTHING that can lead anyone to believe that UGA will be better in 2011. NOTHING. The sad part is I will still make my donation and still show up hoping I am wrong. But I won’t be.
Runner up Richt
November 28th, 2010
12:55 am
peace out dawgs Miami just called. I dont have to play Florida every year against them so peace out.
rincon dawg
November 28th, 2010
12:56 am
Hey Dawgster
Not trying to be rude but didnt Grantham have two weeks to prepare?
Chuck Uga
November 28th, 2010
12:56 am
Someone please tell me this person who posted this did NOT graduate from a government school:
“ALL YOU RICHT HATTERS PLEASE GET OFF THIS BLOG. HE IS THE BEST COACH WE HAVE HAD IN YEARS AND WHEN WE BEAT BOISE NEXT YEAR DO NOT ACT LIKE YOU LIKE HIM. YOU ARE ALL TRADERS”
gt fan
November 28th, 2010
12:56 am
I can’t believe your coaching staff fell for that trick at the end when we allowed you guys to score in order to give us a chance to tie.All you guys had to do was take a knee.What a COACHING BLUNDER & YOUR RUNNING BACK IF HE HAD ANY FOOTBALL SMARTS WOULD HAVE TAKEN A KNEE AT THE 1 YARD LINE.
Paul Johnson is an idiot
November 28th, 2010
12:59 am
So this “genius” is such a great coach? Allowing the other team to score in any circumstance is like somebody hanging on for dear life on the end of a rope and then lets go to spit on his hands for a better grip!
He was going to ride down the field on a 2nd stringers arm while playing right into UGA’s hands: giving them offensive plays more likened to what they’re used to defending. Most likely that contingency AIN’T gonna work out for you there short-bus!
rincon dawg
November 28th, 2010
1:01 am
If Im not mistaken didnt Duke stop Tech more than we did? Who have we stopped this year? Offensive side of the ball is great but dont give me the argument of switching to the 3-4 and not have the players for it. Texas A-M did the same thing and they have progressed into a good defense. We have not progressed much at all.
Dump Richt
November 28th, 2010
1:01 am
If Richt doesn’t go back to Miami I will be so disappointed. He needs to go back and help Miami! We can only hope!
Pirtdawg
November 28th, 2010
1:04 am
Has everyone forgotten Murray is only a freshman? Just cause your kid can’t make the 3rd string in pop warner you have to pick at every bad play. Never mind his excellent over all stats, lets just blame it all on the one guy everyone thought would be a weakness coming into the season. All of you are pathetic excuses for a Dawgs fan.
Surfdawg
November 28th, 2010
1:06 am
RAZE you are either an Idiot Dawg fan or Hutson Mason’s mama
still a dawg fan
November 28th, 2010
1:07 am
I now know why our players make so many boneheaded plays every game.That last TD we scored was a complete boneheaded play by our coaches that almost cost us the game.I still can’t believe that our coaches fell for that when all we had to do was take a knee & run the clock out.What a COMPLETE COACHING BLUNDER.What were they thinking?
BentwaterDawg
November 28th, 2010
1:07 am
Marcus is a tool
Surfdawg
November 28th, 2010
1:09 am
Good game to most of you Tech fans, you played us hard again this year.