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
CPJ's pricelss face shot
November 28th, 2010
1:15 pm
Two pics must be hillarious:
1.) CPJ’s fat face when the Balir Witch shanked the PAT. Amazing.
2.) The pic of CPJ when the final uga pick off was made.
9-1 and when UGA lately is soooooooooooooooooooooooo lousy.
Go Dogs
UGA class of 71 & 73
TO say that IF so and so played is
November 28th, 2010
1:21 pm
To say that had Nesbitt played GT woulda/coulda/shoulda is dumb. It is as dumb as saying that had Frankie Sinkwich played UGA would have done so and so.
Neither guy played and that IS the way the game is played ……………..morons. Geeeeeeeeez.
What is priceless, is the dumb “let em score” thing. Yeah, 8 points are better than one point. AAAAHAHAHA
What if GT fumbled the snap or what if UGA intercepted the ball? Um, ah, UGA DID do that and GT did lose by 8. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
Reggie Ball is now moved back to second plave in all time dumb things that GT does in UGA games. Sadly, Reggie to this day still believes there are 5 or 6 downs in college football and to throw the ball out of bounds on 4th down is ok.
Roswell Jacket
November 28th, 2010
1:30 pm
I grew up a UGA fan but graduated from Tech and now a Tech fan. Either way a sad day in GA. If defense wins championships, we are in for a loooooong wait.
Reg, the founder and glorious leader of the PFJ
November 28th, 2010
1:33 pm
Ok, here’s the deal…Tech hung in there tough. Game plan was great and coaching was excellent. But…could’ve, should’ve, would’ve don’t cut it, believe me Dawgs know that all to well. Which program will come out on top next year because of all the crap this year, who knows…It was a tough game that either team could have walked away with, but the Dawgs won and that is the bottom line. Yeah, there is not a person (with any brains, at least) that sat in that stadium or watched it on the tube that can’t say UGA was lucky to win. If I was a Tech fan, it wouldn’t make me feel any better and as a hard core Dawg fan it was tough to watch. We are both in need of some serious help, but we need the extra practice time and we got it. I will enjoy the bowl season and hope for better things next year…
DAWG with bag over head again
November 28th, 2010
1:39 pm
joe taxpayer,
I’m with you. I see nothing that makes me think that anything will be better next year. Last year CMR gave us a “complete” reevaluation, and look what we got. Same old problems with attitude, recruiting, conditioning, questionable play callling, and off-field trouble. The one change we made seems to be a bust. Grantham was completely and utterly clueless against Tech’s toss sweep. As far as I’m concerned the whole lot can leave for Coral Gables today.
UGA
November 28th, 2010
1:47 pm
To all the people whining about Ealey not taking a knee after he got a first down instead of scoring, I guess you would have been armchair quarterbacking today had he taken a knee and then we end up fumbling a snap and letting Tech drive the field and kick a field goal to win. The problem with most of you is that you think you know how to coach better than Richt but in reality most of you couldn’t even coach a bunch of 8 year olds in pee wee. Quit reliving “your glory days” when you were the “star” football player in high school but you “lost” all of your yearbooks to prove it. Go Dawgs!!
Sick of this coaching staff
November 28th, 2010
2:11 pm
It’s time for a change dawgs.
Loser Talk
November 28th, 2010
2:12 pm
How can you tell which was the losing team? Figure out who’s supporters are supplying all the loser talk. Sweet Lord! One team scored more points than the other. The team that scored the fewer points was the loser. Get it? Tech lost.
Aiken29801
November 28th, 2010
2:18 pm
Class ass from Georgia. Complain all week about dirty play from Auburn then replay shows UGA player ripping helmet from Tech players head (After the tackle, in the pile). Talk all year about how TECH sucks then brag about beating them (by a point). If they suck so much, what’s there to brag about? You bums deserve the team you have and all the misery that comes with them.
JB
November 28th, 2010
2:19 pm
Yellow Fuzz is finnished. KO’d in the 15th and finnal round! RIP little man! YOU have zero creddibility here so STFU for good!
Junkyard dawgs
November 28th, 2010
2:20 pm
We steal run this state
joe taxpayer
November 28th, 2010
2:20 pm
UGA 1:47 No one is blaming Ealey about not taking a knee. We are blaming CMR and staff for not coaching Ealey to take a knee. He did what he is coached to do. No blame or fault to him for not out thanking CPJ he did his job not CMR and staff.
JB
November 28th, 2010
2:22 pm
Hey yellow fuzz:
F
U
C
Q
Aiken29801
November 28th, 2010
2:23 pm
Whoops, The opening of that facetious remark should read Class Act
joe taxpayer
November 28th, 2010
2:28 pm
Also, UGA 1:47 You are right about 1 thing. I couldn’t coach a bunch of 8 year old pwee wee kids. CMR does not need to out coach me but Saban, Urban, Johnson and etc. etc. Thats the issue not what I think but can he beat them. While he knows more about football than me, does he know more then the elite coaches in this league.
Saint Simons
November 28th, 2010
2:28 pm
Memo To Tech Fans:
Here are the only things that matter today:
1. 42 – 34 (Tech lost again)
2. Georgia has beat Tech 9 out of the last 10 games. Richt is 9-1 against Tech.
3. Georgia has one 5 straight games inside your woeful stadium.
4. Georgia’s total victory count over Tech is 61-35-5. That is total and complete domination.
Say what you want, but even if Blair tie’s the game we still get the ball with plenty of time to motor our way to the endzone, like we had done all night long. Execuses only count if you think moral victories count. However, let me clue you in… they don’t. You found a way to lose to Georgia again.
Tech sucks!
LIVE BLOG: Hot Falcons get another big test from Packers | Id.Armedium.com
November 28th, 2010
3:17 pm
[...] ? Georgia wasn’t any more impressive in a win than it was in some losses [...]
AO
November 28th, 2010
3:41 pm
Wreckmaniac…. how many times do we need to beat Tech before you guys get any better? Got bad news for you, pal… this is as bad a UGA team as you will ever see and you STILL got beat. Tech and Johnson have as much chance of beating UGA again as you have of being a contestant on Final Jeopardy. Zilch.
Dave from GT
November 28th, 2010
6:21 pm
You are right, perhaps WE should drop YOU from OUR schedule.
It sure won’t affect our chances of getting to a BCS game, but it sure will affect your chance of getting to any Bowl game.
The hedges are overrated.!!!!
Dave from GT
November 28th, 2010
6:22 pm
I went to the game last night and could not decide if it would be harder to teach a DAWG to piss in a toilet, or stop drinking out of it !
arpiem
November 28th, 2010
6:27 pm
When GT let the Dawgs score to get the ball back, any smart coach would have gone for two. UGA was already up by one, so if they didn’t make the two, and GT scored, they would have kicked the EP. If UGA had made the two, Tech would have required two scores to tie. It’s a shame we don’t have a coach smart enough to figure that out, but it was the first thing that came to mind.
Ha
November 28th, 2010
6:35 pm
AO…in typical UGA fashion, I would have to say that Tech honestly beat themselves.
axel
November 28th, 2010
8:31 pm
I’m afraid as long as Richt is coach, the Dawgs will never be a powerhouse again. He is obviously a great person, but maybe his skills are more as a missionary than a coach. I ask you: is he earning his almost 3 million $ a year?
Sigmadawg
November 28th, 2010
8:45 pm
The cupboard is virtually bare at UGA. If Green leaves the only bright spots will be Charles and Murray. It is apparent that UGA does not have any top tier Wide Receivers or they would have been making significant contributions all year. No dominating Defensive Lineman are currently on the team and that must be a priority to sign several if UGA is ever to right the ship. Enough of the wait until next year crap.
grantham is an improvement
November 28th, 2010
9:19 pm
i still like our d better this year at least we are aggressive and get some sacks and some takeaways, that never happened under willie. i have to wondetr if CRG might have something to do with our persistent d line problems? he would appear to be the common denominator of both lousy defenses. i know he can recruit but . . . .
hugedawgfan
November 28th, 2010
11:24 pm
As long as Bobo is backed by CMR, it will not get better. You set a record in scoring? Look at who it was against. Please. Why do we abandon what is working? UGA is the easiest team to prepare for. Just wait on them if the gameplan is working, Bobo will change it. Just pathetic to see CMR standing behind Bobo—Make the change at season’s end–get a real coordinator, please. See if Cutcliffe will bite on a job change-he has done it before.
hugedawgfan
November 28th, 2010
11:25 pm
Can CRG recruit? Where is that evidence?
PulpStuff
November 29th, 2010
12:00 am
Dawgs had the most points. Tech gave them the last seven. Tech would have won the game if you take away the turnovers. Dawg defense simply could not stop the option offense. Dawgs are just not strong enough, don’t tackle or block very well, and seem to have no pass rush at all. They need an attitude adjustment and recruit smarter players and less rappers and dancers.
Just saying...
November 29th, 2010
12:46 am
The following is a comment made that Mark Bradlley’s blog would not accept:
Mark,
Interesting spin you place on the game After reading the article I had to go back and make sure we won the game I attended last night.
Give credit to Tech’s O line and RB Allen. They did a great job of blowing us off the line and Allen would get 4 yards just by twisting and falling.
Our Defense is a couple of players away. The efforts of the players was great and ultimately was the reason we prevailed. They refused to give when their backs were against the wall. I am extremely proud of the players but the coaches must do a better job of recognizing our shortfalls and correcting them.
Tech could not stop AJ, Durham, Charles, Figgins, and Murray, but our offensive coaches could and did. In crucial situations we ran 1st and 2nd downs into the middle of the line where we had made nothing. The passing game was going. Is that arrogance or ignorance?
Finally we ran outside and it worked. It’s been there all year but we have refused to run it. Not only mixing run and pass changes it up but different types of runs does it also. We have the speed to run outside but never used it until late last night.
When something is working ride it until they prove they can stop it. Tech sure rode the dive to Allen.
As far as outsmarting us…Richt was just being diplomatic and not putting down Johnson. He was probably thinking what an idiot. Genius had just used his timeouts and you are going to tell us he was going down the field in a minute on the ground with no timeouts AND get the 2 pt conversion…or he was going to use the nation’s worst passing offense to go the distance?
C’mon Mark, you are smarter than that. You are just trying to stir the pot or make Tech fans feel better about their situation. If they left the game feeling good about that aspect, then so much for the myth of their intelligence.
Oh, and BTW, why would a highly ranked receiver such as Stephen Hill or current recruits consider playing in that offense where the best they get to do is run the every 3rd play in to the QB and get 1-2 pass attempts per game?
9 of 10….Go Dawgs!
Just saying...
November 29th, 2010
12:47 am
Yo Pulp…42-34…’nuf said
FLA DAWG
November 29th, 2010
6:56 am
Jeff,
You seem to think this is the first season Richt has had problems. What about the last three years when The Dawgs have lost to every good team? I submit he has had his chance and has made things worse. His response that being 5 – 7 would have been sickening is a reminder to Dawg Nation that Richt believes 6 – 6 is NOT sickening!
We have a Head Coach who is out of touch with SEC Football. A 6 – 6 season with so much talent and seniors is proof.
Think this season was bad? Next will be worse. The other SEC Teams will improve. We will just stay the same.
Now THAT is sickening!
barrow dog
November 29th, 2010
7:10 am
well… the season is finally over… i hope the extra practice days help, somehow. This year has been anything but pleasant, but I am, and will always be, a proud UGA fan. See y’all next year.
SEC: Arkansas is sweet; Georgia survives; Florida flops : Acrylic Sports
November 29th, 2010
7:10 am
[...] Georgia’s win isn’t art, but Dog fans have come to expect that, writes Jeff Schultz of the AJC. [...]
MURPHY
November 29th, 2010
7:40 am
Two bad teams batteling it out on Sat.Thanks goodness the Dawgs were able to pull it out.Said all week this would be a close game.Glad this season is behind us.I will be interested to see what coaching changes we make in the off-season.This program must get turned around in a hurry.Tenn and Carolina may be the Beast of the East for the next 2-3 years.
BBUUUHHHUUHHUU
November 29th, 2010
9:56 am
WWWAAAHHHAAAAHHHAAA
You lose again and still talk trash
We laugh at your tears
61-39-5
TOTAL DOMINATION
42-34 ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL YEAR LONG
Richt is 9-1 against you dou*c*h*es and it’s just going to keep happening
Keep CPJ and the triple joke forever
We love it
Time for your basketball whipping – AGAIN
longtimedawgfan
November 29th, 2010
10:03 am
actually, when it comes to recruiting, we DO NOT own this state…it appears that Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Tennessee and Clemson OWN this state… it is embarassing that these schools recruit in our state more effectively than UGA does. Indeed,these other schools, collectively, ARE Georgia’s flagship school…go figure….
longtimedawgfan
November 29th, 2010
10:08 am
folks are wrong to criticize Bobo’s calling of running plays…think about it…had we passed every play, our defense would have been on the field 120 plays instead of the 90 they were…like Tech, we needed to give our defense a break everytime we could…I have no problem with Bobo’s playcalling….what we need is a running back who keeps his head up, his eyes open, and who will deliver a blow rather than flinch before getting hit, and fumble….
LIVE BLOG: Hot Falcons get another big test from Packers | MMC-NEWS
November 29th, 2010
10:59 am
[...] ♦ Georgia wasn’t any more impressive in a win than it was in some losses [...]
hotdawg
November 29th, 2010
11:13 am
Shultz,
As usual, you missed the main story: the continuing domination of Georgia Tech by the Georgia Bulldogs! What is it now, nine wins in ten years or ten wins in eleven. Anyway, the magical coach Johnson whose guile netted Tech an eight point loss instead of a one point lost is heralded for his
failed attempt to win. As for Mark Richt, I’ll take him over Nick Saban or Auburn’s new coach (can you say cheater) any day!
RLM
November 29th, 2010
11:13 am
First…I am a Tech Fan
Second….I said UGA should win by 21 points easy…a blowout.
Third…..UGA has had 10 years of recruiting classes in the Top 20 and Tech has had 1 Top 20 recruiting class….Advantage UGA
Fourth…..UGA plays in THE MIGHTY SEC against better teams and harder schedules and the last 4 NC and Tech plays in the ACC which doesn’t deserve a BCS bid….Advantage UGA
Fifth….UGA has a bigger stadium and TECH has the Joke by the Coke….Advantage UGA
Sixth….UGA has 10 times the fans in the state of Georgia than Tech has……Advantage UGA
Last….Winning 9 out of the last 10, with Reggie Ball at QB, Close games, and a gimme TD with less than 2 minutes left in a game that should have been a blowout, then boasting about in reality a 1 point victory…..Advantage for being ignorant about football….UGA
UGA wins by a land slide……For those who really understand the game of football….Tech should never win this game or even be remotely close but yet it is always close and YES UGA wins more than they lose but against comparable programs where do you rank?????? UF….Losing….Alabama…..Losing……Auburn…..Losing!!!!!!
Tech is an over-achiever and the fans of TECH are just like the UGA fans……FANATICS about thier team……Yes we talk trash but we have a right too….We are beneath UGA in all categories and by all rights we should have been blown out of this game.
As a closing note….If all of the UGA players put on Tech uniforms and all of the TECH players put on UGA uniforms and had a week of preparation who would win the game? When you ask and answer that question then you will have all the information needed to speak intelligently about this game every year. In this scenerio the game is a blowout and TECH embarasses UGA with thier own players.
Skitty Fritty
November 29th, 2010
2:36 pm
RLM:
Congratulations on your great “Moral” victory, are you going to get a ring made celebrating this major accomplishment?
We are glad you are so impressed with your football team and coach. We appreciate you losing by 8 instead of 1.
Thank you,
UGA Fan
BIGAL
November 29th, 2010
3:00 pm
The real tradgedy was that Justin Houston did not win the player of the game. It was given to the quarterback who fumbled the snap on Georgia’s last series. Then you wonder why he would want to stay at Georgia another year. You could not have asked for a better played game from anyone. Gooooo Justin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MURPHY
November 29th, 2010
4:16 pm
Tevin Washington-The new Reggie Ball ??
RLM
November 29th, 2010
5:08 pm
@ Skitty Fritty…You are probably one of those UGA fans who claimed that you were ACC Champs last year?????
I am not into moral victories…..I am not a fan of a coach who does not believe in the passing game except for the hunk-a-chunk and pray we can come down with it or get a penalty……And unlike your Dumb@$$ who thinks that the ring was for beating you it was a gift from the Peach Bowl that year that just happened to be the signature WIN in the season….Kinda like when UGA beats Florida….That is the signature win for the UGA program…..And REALITY is this….What IF Tech ties the game and wins in OT because of what MARK RICHT said was a STUPID play where he got outcoached on the Ealey TD???? You and all of the other IGNORANT UGA football fans would be saying “Should have taken a knee”
So Thank You for proving my point….UGA should win every year based on TALENT not the fans…..So Please either continue spewing your Joke by the Coke, SEC is better than the ACC, We have Great recruiting Classes, ETC or admit that I am correct with my assessment of the current state of College Football in the state of Ga.
UGA won by 1 pt or 8 pts UGA should win every time these teams play based on pure talent……Again swap the uniforms and prepare and suit up with the other teams coaching staff and see who wins the game….It Will Not Be Close!!!!!!
@ MURPHY…..I will wait to reserve my opinion on the New Reggie Ball statement.
P on GT
November 29th, 2010
5:56 pm
For all you people out there who can’t do the math, Georgia Southern has the best record this year at 8-4, winning more games than Big Brother in Athens and Little Sister in Atlanta. We don’t need PJ back in Statesboro. Our OC/OL Coach played and graduated from The University of Georgia and knows how to produce an offensive line that can actually block somebody. Our biggest fear is that CMR will come and take our line coach and our Defensive Coordinator away and then we will be like just another acc school.
Meanwhile, GaSouthern is in the playoffs and working hard to get ready for Willam and Mary. I tought you all would like to know since the AJC seems to forget to write about the best football team in the state.
Go Eagles!
Texas Dawg
November 29th, 2010
6:24 pm
With AJ and Duram gone next year we loose a huge amount of production at wide reciever. If the Defense doesn’t get MUCH better we are looking at 5-7 or 6-6 again. Defense couldn’t stop anyone this year…looked really bad. The turnover ratio was better but we don’t win that battle we were just sad…stats on d were good against nobodys.
AngryJacket
November 30th, 2010
1:29 pm
Jeff,
Who should our next coach be after GT finally wakes up next year and fires Johnson?