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.
♦
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
447 comments Add your comment
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 28th, 2010
9:58 am
thegooddawg,
Johnson’s strategy backfired. It only meant he lost by 8 instead of 1. GT has no passing game, no 2 min offense, and no chance to score 80 yds away with less than 2 min left in the game.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a D give up like GT did last night.
gss303
November 28th, 2010
9:59 am
war eagles or tigers or whatever your name is this week:
The NCAA is coming……12-0 may turn into 0-12.
Something to think about.
Jupiter
November 28th, 2010
10:02 am
CMR is headed to Miami… why else would he want to stick around and coach a team supported by fans who hate him and a winning percentage of 75%. You UGA fans are clueless and classless. Sometimes I’m embarrassed to be associated with the same team. I wish everyone of you losers would go support Tennessee or Ole Miss or Auburn or anyone else but UGA.
bdog10
November 28th, 2010
10:06 am
Atticus,
It is amazing to me how people can give up on people so easily. If our football team and coaches gave in as easily as you we’d be 0-12. The foundation is there for good football. If we land a couple of the recruits they are after we will build an unbelievable team. Give ole Grantham another spring and just watch. He has a very good history. Go Dawgs.
Katherine
November 28th, 2010
10:07 am
Jupiter
November 28th, 2010
10:02 am
CMR is headed to Miami… why else would he want to stick around and coach a team supported by fans who hate him and a winning percentage of 75%. You UGA fans are clueless and classless. Sometimes I’m embarrassed to be associated with the same team. I wish everyone of you losers would go support Tennessee or Ole Miss or Auburn or anyone else but UGA.
I’m embarrassed for you if you think the idiots on these blogs represent the majority of dawg fans. If coach richt goes, then he goes. Regardless, he has a lot of people who support him and a few idiots, who know nothing about football, making ridiculous comments on a blog. Just keep perspective and dont lump all fans into one category.
Wes Durham's Gigantic Bottom
November 28th, 2010
10:08 am
Great moral victory for GT.
Russ from the dog pound
November 28th, 2010
10:09 am
I am very proud of this team and particularly the performance of our defense under coach Grantham. And how about that last touchdown run and celebration by Ealey? Our offensive line just blew Tech out of the water on that one.
SEC: Arkansas is sweet; Georgia survives; Florida flops : Woods Recruiting
November 28th, 2010
10:10 am
[...] Georgia’s win isn’t art, but Dog fans have come to expect that, writes Jeff Schultz of the AJC. [...]
dawgster
November 28th, 2010
10:11 am
Jupiter…believe me Coach Richt has alot of support from the dawg nation, don’t worry so much about the ones on here that would not be pleased until he wins a NC..He made changes in the off season last year, we need to give that decision a little time to see if it was the right move and from what i know, there will be some S&C changes at the end of the year, so there are some things going on, but be assured Coach Richt will be our coach next year…go dawgs
Dan
November 28th, 2010
10:11 am
(((((42-34)))))
OkefenokeeDawg
November 28th, 2010
10:13 am
So Tech had a few more yards (what 20?) than UGA last night, and we gotta hear about that all year?
Dang, we had a lot more yards in ‘08, but the Dawgs LOST the game!
Tech LOST last night.
Moral victories are for pony leaguers, boys, not college football.
Katherine
November 28th, 2010
10:16 am
Wes Durham’s Gigantic Bottom
November 28th, 2010
10:08 am
Great moral victory for GT.
There is no such thing as a moral victory. Both teams had a ton of turnovers and Georgia ended up with the W. Georgia practically gave the game away with all their stupid turnovers. Can’t you just say congrats and leave it at that? Yes I know the dawgs had a bad season, but it is nice to go out with a win. They have a lot to work on for next season so they better get started now.
RxDawg
November 28th, 2010
10:18 am
“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.”
Um, yeh look in all fairness right after that UGA marched right on down to the 20. If the game was tied, we would of kicked a field goal instead of going for it on 4th down. Don’t pin the win/loss on GT’s kicker.
Charles M
November 28th, 2010
10:19 am
The last two to three years same results 10 to 12 players suspending for various reasons. No discipline and very poor coaching at every position. It is time for this AD to assess the football program and get CMR plan for how he plans on turning this program around. Each year top recruits come in and they lack motivation and discipline. The defense is a destroy the offensive lack any imagination. No one seems to have a clue what to do.
Best of the Blogs | MrSEC.com
November 28th, 2010
10:20 am
[...] Georgia’s win isn’t art, but Dog fans have come to expect that, writes Jeff Schultz of the AJC. [...]
Top Recruit
November 28th, 2010
10:20 am
A box of red panties will be shipped to the Yellow Jackets because they dropped their pants again.
Caution…do not get caught up in the statistics and scores.from this game as the decider of future courses. A word to the not so football wise. Look at the play of certain players in certain plays and the returning roster for UGA.
It is good to have almost a month to review play and personnel.for Georgia. Alot of practice time will be devoted to next years players and where to make changes and fill the gaps. UGA will stress the running game hereafter on both sides of the ball. Look at the underclassmen and where they are as far as being physically ready.
Richt and McGarity must have a sense of urgency about changes. No rush, but there will be changes in the rushing game.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 28th, 2010
10:22 am
independent,
Ugly post. GT secondary turns a 1-yard completion into a 66-yd Durham TD pass play. You need to fix your D before coming on here to claim that GT was cheated.
Boozer
November 28th, 2010
10:23 am
Why should UGA fire Richt? He had a new QB and a new defensive system that he does not have the personnel for. Besides, in 10 years Richt is 9-1 versus GT. If your going to have a down year, atleast beat your in state rival.
DawgByte
November 28th, 2010
10:23 am
Two weeks to prepare for Tech’s triple option and Grantham came up with that? You’ve got to be joking me! He ran his 3-4 all game long with ZERO adjustments. Instead of putting 9 guys in the box and jamming the line Grantham put our inside LB’s 5 yards off the ball. I could have put a better plan together than that piece of junk.
Where was Garner all year and where was his input on the game plan against Tech? Is it just me or is time for Garner to GO!
I’m glad we beat Tech, but it didn’t need to be this close… that was a ghastly defensive performance.
Steve
November 28th, 2010
10:25 am
Why do Tech fans ALWAYS have excuses when they lose? UGA could win 51-0 and they would have a reason or excuse why they lost. Tech, again, lost to a bad UGA team. Deal with it dorks! As you should know by now, UGA will always own Tech. It has been like that since day 1. Next year will not be any different.
dawgster
November 28th, 2010
10:26 am
Charles M…do you really not think that our AD is not doing that, him and Coach Richt talk everyweek and they will be doing the same after the season..There are some things in the works right now…Also, you have to give Coach Grantham a season or two to get the players he wants and needs to run the 3-4…Everyone wanted CWM gone and we weren’t happy with the 4-3 either..Its about getting the right players here, something our defense has not been doing the last few seasons…you say we are getting top recruits, well thats true we are getting some good ones but if you believe in the recruiting services, then you will see that the past few seasons Bama, Gators adn LSU just to name a few have done even better…I think our AD a;nd the coaching staff realize that we have to upgrade out talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball, you don’t win Championships without a very strong defense…go dawgs
Saint Simons
November 28th, 2010
10:26 am
((((42-34)))) OMG, I won’t come out of my trailor for another 10 months. If you see me I’ll be crying at another Tech loss to Georgia.
9 out of the last 10.
5 in a row at Bobby Dodd
2IAR-B
Tech sucks!
schultz is an idiot
November 28th, 2010
10:26 am
Where are all the bug fans? Fire Richt!
Dan
November 28th, 2010
10:27 am
512 yards in offense and Tech still couldn’t win!
Southside Drug Rep
November 28th, 2010
10:31 am
I was cold wallking down to hear the Redcoats with one finger in the air (no, not THAT finger) and was very surprised to look up and see the final UGA TD. Georgia wins…one point or eight or forty-four…that’s all that matters to me. Tough season but the band played on and we’re going to a bowl. See you at the Georgia Dome Labor Day weekend!
bravesfansince66
November 28th, 2010
10:31 am
The bone head plays by special teams and our inability to stop the Tech running game is pitiful. I agree we had two weeks to prepare for this game and we couldn’t do a better job against a backup QB? This game is a perfect example of poor coaching and execution. And it is insane to think we are going to get different results with this coaching staff. I hate to say it but it starts at the top. I am glad for the win and glad we are bowl eligible but the play of this team has been nothing less than embarrassing all year. and oh yeah, what happened to the great running back we were supposed to see in Caleb King? He has been a supreme disappointment to say the least!
We Own You
November 28th, 2010
10:32 am
A won over Tech is like sex…..the worst I ever had was magnificent. 9 out of 10. Think about THOSE numbers for the next 365 days.
sb
November 28th, 2010
10:32 am
I am a UGA fan. With that said neither teams deserves to go to a bowl game, and here is why. Both are just 6-6. Excluding the 2 cream puff teams they both played UGA has not beat a team with a winning record, and GT has only beaten1 team (N.C.) that has a winning record. Last nights game was embarsing to both teams fans. Neither defense could stop a high school team. I say let them both go home and think about next season.
Kramerica
November 28th, 2010
10:33 am
Georgia won but was definitely outcoached. Just think if PJ had UGA’s talent.
jp
November 28th, 2010
10:34 am
fire meyer and saban and spuirrer they all have 3 losses
joe taxpayer
November 28th, 2010
10:35 am
dawgster at 10:26 you said you don’t win Championships without a very strong defense well look at Auburn they will.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 28th, 2010
10:35 am
Steve,
“Why do Tech fans ALWAYS have excuses when they lose?” You’ll never see many GT fans just come on here to say congrats.
Since we’re 9-1 over GT this decade and we’ll win anytime from a good year to a mediocre year (I’ll claim this year as mediocre, even though Murray had a great FR year) GSU might be the 2nd best team in GA. They moved on in the playoffs with a W yesterday.
Glad to see Houston came to UGA and didn’t stay home to play at GSU.
Techbuzzer
November 28th, 2010
10:36 am
When all you UGA fans sober up just think that Florida State proved last night they are a better team than UGA. Beating Tech by a hair that lost its star quaterback before the game and by a missed kick of one point proves very little.
joe taxpayer
November 28th, 2010
10:36 am
Miami will not hire CMR. He can not control his players in Athens do you think he will fare better in South Beach.
southernfan
November 28th, 2010
10:39 am
Georgia Southern goes to the finals and UGA limps to Shreveport with its tail between its legs.
Send Bobo and Richt to Florida State and Southern to learn how to become a top team without a bunch of Thugs..
CT Dawg
November 28th, 2010
10:42 am
Looks like the wackmaniac can’t add very well…..9-1 UGA over the last 10 years…..your not our rivals….your our second homecoming game
Paul Johnson’s offense couldn’t pass the salt at dinner…..see you next year at our practice facility in the ATL….Gooooo Dawgs
GT
November 28th, 2010
10:42 am
Hey UGA: You were lucky to win this game. Allen torched your D for 166 yards and GT compiled 411 rushing yards with their so-called HS option. We beat ourselves and should have easily won this game. Anyway, great season and congrats on a huge win. You actually beat a team with a winning record. Good luck in your awesome bowl game.
Steve
November 28th, 2010
10:43 am
Thank you “Techbuzzer!” Excuses excuses. Cracks me up. Obviously it did not matter who started at QB for Tech if they had over 500 yards of total offense you dork! Still lost. So funny.
Steve
November 28th, 2010
10:46 am
Hey “GT,” what awesome bowl game is Tech going to? Did it suck being up all night crying? You should have easily won this game huh? Just like last year? And in 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004……. Freaking dork.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 28th, 2010
10:47 am
GT,
Why does GT always claim UGA is lucky. Hey, UGA just got lucky 9 out of 10 yrs. Fix your slow GT secondary before whining again.
GT secondary turns a 1 yd pass completion into 66 yd TD. Your D was almost as good as Vandy.
45ACP
November 28th, 2010
10:53 am
A year after winning the ACC and going to the Orange Bowl, Tech (6-6) may be bound for Shreveport, La., for an Independence Bowl pairing with Air Force.
John
November 28th, 2010
10:54 am
Schultz,
There seems to be one problem with your constantly-repeated phrase “CMR will be back because he deserves to be back.”
Says you.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since the title days. Clinton got caught with a chubby intern, the wrong Bush son got elected President and Ricky Martin came out of the closet.
DISCLAIMER: I make no claim that this last sentence can survive the scrutiny of a historical timeline. Except the Ricky Martin part – that was a watershed moment for me. I was still smarting from Clay Aiken – now Ricky Martin too? I need to get my gay-dar re-calibrated.
In terms of average coaching tenure, CMR’s glory days are ancient history. The program has been in a steady decline since 2008. What in the world leads you to believe he’ll find his missing formula for success now? Most likely he’s searched every pocket in every pair of britches he owns. It’s nowhere to be found. Face it.
And all this talk among the “stay the course” CMR proponents has one common thread…that CMR needs to figure out what the problems are and fix them. That kinda ignores the obvious: What if CMR is the freaking problem? The ongoing process of elimination tends to point in that direction.
Does Coach Richt have to relieve himself on the big G at the 50 yard line before you guys are shaken from your infatuation with him? Or is it false UGA pride? Is it a fear that Richt has screwed up the program so bad, UGA will be subjected to the repeated and public humiliation of being the rejected suitor?
So give him another chance, he might can fix this mess he made. That’s better than receiving a “No Thanks” from all the top candidates we covet as his replacement.
Is there somebody better than Richt out there? It depends on what your definition of “better” is. Better than the Coach who guided his charges to two SEC Titles? That’s a fair question. Better than the Coach UGA has had the last three years? Open the phone book and point at a name.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 28th, 2010
10:55 am
GT,
Terrible strategy at end of game by Johnson. Told his D to quit and then lost by 8 instead of 1.
That makes Johnson and GT a quitter and a loser.
BeerDawg
November 28th, 2010
10:55 am
now if we could only win 9 of 10 against Florida, then maybe I’ll actually be happy….
Doug
November 28th, 2010
10:57 am
A few have mentioned that Richt, Bobo and Grantham aren’t “the sharpest knives in the drawer.” This is a theme that needs looking at. When you watch Georgia, you just don’t get the feeling that someone smart is behind it all. You also don’t get the idea this a well-honed organization. Didn’t we lose the ball on the first and last plays of the game against Florida and then do it again against on the first play against Tech. We go out on the field rattled and stay rattled. Just a poor kid from Tech who whoofed a PAT kept Georgia alive. Otherwise the Jackets would have won this one. They were clearly more dominant that UGA. And yes, that was perfectly STUPID to let Tech let us score. There was not a lot of thinking going on.
takedowndawg
November 28th, 2010
10:57 am
Glad for the win, but nauseated with our defense. With few drive exceptions, Georgia elected or reacted to the option by “riding” with it rather than penetrated the option. If you “ride” with it you are going to lose continually giving up 5-9 yards a carry over and over again. The longer the option is allowed to move along the line of scrimmage, the greater the angles the back has to run through. The sooner the option is PENETRATED the smaller the angle the back(quarter and tb) have to operate in. You don’t ride it, you penetrate it early via stunts. The 3-4 was rightly exposed by commentators for its inside weakness unless you have a monstrous nose tackle to take on double and triple teams. For example, aka. Mt. Cody, for Ala. last year. It(3-4) is ok as a reserve passing defense but it has too many weaknesses on a college level unless you have specialized athletes. Most colleges don’t and most HS don’t. Most HS that are attempting to use it eventually lose in close competition.. Consider the games we Georgia might have won, if, the Grantham defensive 3-4 was not used so heavily? 2-3 more games, in my estimation. It is very vulnerable to the big play. We may have the specialized players in the future to utilize the 3-4. But, presently, Houston is as close to fitting the mold of a 3-4 player that Georgia has and we probably will lose him this year to the draft. I hope that CMR and CGT, look at improving this defensive group. Right now, as a defensive fan of the game, I am not too encouraged. The only bright spot was our turnover improvement from last year. I guess we must look for the “baby” in the dirty bath water of the 3-4. Right now, I am not sold on the 3-4 product.
Steve
November 28th, 2010
10:58 am
The WHAT bowl???
December 29, 2010 Washington, DC
Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman 2:30 pm ESPN
ACC No. 8 vs. C-USA No. 4
Projection: Georgia Tech vs. East Carolina
Doug
November 28th, 2010
11:00 am
Oh yes, one final thing: It the U of Miami DOES NOT come courting in a big way, that ought to tell the Bulldog Nation something. What does it mean if even UM does not want it star back?
Ole dawg
November 28th, 2010
11:03 am
Coffee …give it a break. You’re making all UGA fans look bad.
SoCal Dawg
November 28th, 2010
11:04 am
Sad, just sad…