LIVE from Liberty Bowl: A.J. and Russ are in, Uga is out
Russ is in the house! (Literally.) He's got his bowl game face on.
MEMPHIS — Welcome to the end of Georgia’s season. I know. The Liberty Bowl is not what you were expecting, and neither is the modest goal of trying to finish with a winning record. But Memphis is a nice place, particularly if you’re into barbecue, and I can recommend the ribs at the “Germantown Commissary” (albeit not a BBQ-sounding place).
I would’ve saved the bones for Uga VIII but, alas, he has a tummy ache and didn’t make the trip from his palace in Savannah. At least, that’s the word that the Seiler family is putting out. I’m more inclined to think Uga just didn’t want to make his bowl debut at a game so beneath his standards, particularly since he came in as such a highly touted recruit.
Or maybe Uga’’s just academically ineligible like Caleb King. Like everybody else, he lost interest after the Florida game. Like King, he missed five “academic-related appointments” (obedience school).
So, we have this significant change the depth chart: Russ, The Temporary Mascot, is back!
Don’t, worry. Russ has more bowl experience than Aaron Murray: He won the Independence Bowl last year. Come to think of it, maybe Georgia Tech should’ve borrowed Russ last week for its game in Shreveport. Does Russ get holiday pay for this? The poor mutt was probably happy in retirement, playing shuffleboard at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm.
But this could be good news for the Dogs. Russ is only 4-4. But he’s 1-0 in bowls and won his last game over Tennessee. Also, Georgia is 3-1 when both Russ and A.J. Green are in the lineup. (Kudos to newshound Tim Tucker for supplying me with that statistic.)
Meanwhile, back here on earth . . .
A loss would give Georgia (6-6) its first losing season since 1996, when the Dogs went 5-6 in Jim Donnan’s first year. Ironically, the last time the Dogs lost in the Independence Bowl was to North Carolina State, which had Donnan at quarterback, in 1967.
Here’s the good news: Donnan is not in Memphis.
But do I think Georgia will lose this game? No. Central Florida will be able to put some points up but in the end I don’t think George O’Leary’s defense will have an answer for Murray-to-Green.
Take one last look at Green because this likely will be his final collegiate game. He most likely will be a top-five NFL pick and I don’t believe the threat of an NFL lockout has any significance. Remember, any college junior who comes out can always take a nice little $1 million loan from an agent to hold him over, just in case the league doesn’t play next season. The potential of a lockout affects mostly mid-to-low-round picks, not first-rounders.
As for the significance of this game, it’s obviously a much bigger deal if the Dogs lose (panic!) than if they win (expected). But going 6-2 after a 1-4 start would be a slight boost going into the offseason.
Not sure what kind of crowd this game will draw but I’m guessing not great. The last report was that the Dogs had sold only 5,000 tickets for this game and gave about 1,000 tickets away for staff and families. That would still leave about 4,000 from its 10,000-ticket allotment.
If you missed them, here are links to a couple of stories from the week worth looking at:
– Tucker’s story on Murray, who’s about to break every significant, single-season Georgia passing record as a freshman.
– Tucker’s piece on the homecoming and disappointing season by Marlon Brown, a highly touted receiver out of Memphis.
That’s it for now. I’ll be here to report on the game and all of Russ’s movements.
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC; friend me at 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
2,311 comments Add your comment
Still in Jail
December 31st, 2010
5:06 pm
Hey Bulldog Nation?
Are my Dawgs killing Central Florida? I’m not able to watch in the Auburn Jail. These folks didn’t appreciate me setting fire to Toomer’s corner. When is someone from Bulldog Nation coming to bail me out?
ATLBadger
December 31st, 2010
5:06 pm
Oooh, all those four and five star recruits doin’ real well out there today!
Herry Perry
December 31st, 2010
5:06 pm
Enter your comments here
Jeff Schultz
December 31st, 2010
5:07 pm
Greg — Neither one of us covered the game. But was Tech dreadful? Yes. Although Air Force actually was the favorite in that game. What’s your point, bub?
FLA DAWG
December 31st, 2010
5:07 pm
Kat,
This is not a Pile On Katherine site. I’m glad you’re a Dawg Fan!
I’m proud of UGA and that is why I (and most others) refuse to accept deteriorating performance by this coaching staff.
Some of us began blogging about a developing problem with benches filled with great talent and missed opportunities year after year.
Frankly, I’d have unloaded Bobo at the same time as Martinez was dropped. Richt has allowed Bobo to call the Offensive shots to the demise of this team. Our players cannot tackle or block. A blind man can see it. This is basic football. And we can’t play it.
Richt is the owner of this entire problem. He’s had more than enough time to fix it and has not. This bowl game is one of the lowest points in UGA Football History.
Katherine wears red panites
December 31st, 2010
5:07 pm
I think the red panties are causing the dogs to cramp up.
Nub
December 31st, 2010
5:08 pm
Hey Cathy …. Crawl back in your hole !!!! We still own you and you work for us ….!!!
East German judge
December 31st, 2010
5:08 pm
Well said, Herry Perry.
jack
December 31st, 2010
5:08 pm
Chris Peterson
Kirby Smart
Gus Malzon
The TCU coach
Jim Harbough if available
Brian Van Gorder if he can hire good staff
There are a few for you
____________________________________________________________________
All good ideas, but none are likely to have any interest (with the possible exception of Patterson, but even that’s a long shot now that TCU has gone to the Big East). Maybe Malzon or Mullen.
The point is that Georgia has to get rid of Richt before they can really start looking seriously. And the longer they wait, the less attractive the job will be.
Katherine wears red panites
December 31st, 2010
5:08 pm
Wayshon just hijacked the team bus and is headed back to Athens.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 31st, 2010
5:08 pm
5150 P.O.A.D
Seriously dude
You lost to Airforce
No one goes to Airforce to play football,
Tech should drop down to Div II
can Tech beat Georgia Southern? I doubt it
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 31st, 2010
5:09 pm
Kat
I don’t even pick on you like your own dawg fans are. Be good and cheer how you want to for your team.
Katherine wears red panites
December 31st, 2010
5:09 pm
6-7 looks about right for Saint Richt and the Thuga nation.
Katherine
December 31st, 2010
5:10 pm
It’s fine poad…they don’t bother me but thanks . I understand how people are frustrated..I am too.
Ex Dawg Fan
December 31st, 2010
5:11 pm
How the heck did we not get Cam Newton? He seems like the proto type UGA scholar athlete!
WAR EAGLE BABY
December 31st, 2010
5:11 pm
“Keeping drinking the kool-aid looser, life and success passes drunks by”
dear Flat Tire, what is a Looser? hahahahahahahahahahahha you mean losers? That would be you
Jeff Schultz
December 31st, 2010
5:11 pm
The O’Jays are doing Love Train . . . .!!!
Michael Jordan's annoying kid from UCF
December 31st, 2010
5:12 pm
Ya’ll ain’t nuthin’. Recognize greatness. We own the 52nd annual Autozone Liberty Bowl, peeps.
distant dawg
December 31st, 2010
5:12 pm
Pathetic….. should be down 3 scores if CF could execute. Bad bad day to be a DAWG. Sums up a most dissapointing year. Doesn’t look good even for next year.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
December 31st, 2010
5:12 pm
ESPN is reporting that Big Bad Bruce has gastrointestinal problems. Methinks Richt may have some of his own after this game.
Red *see through" panties
December 31st, 2010
5:12 pm
7-6 sounds like the best way to go,
Flatulent Old Dawg
December 31st, 2010
5:12 pm
I can not believe I have just watched one of the worst coached teams’ for the past 1 1/2 hours. Our brilliant coach kicks a field goal, after his offense just moved the ball the length of the field, because our brilliant coach hasn’t got the balls to go for a 4th and inches at the 3 YL. FIRE RICHT. This guy is a joke.
Logan Booker
December 31st, 2010
5:12 pm
Flat Tire – Air Force is RANKED. Jackets and Dawgs? Not so much. So your solution is for the Jackets and Dawgs to drop down to Division II?
Mr. Positive
December 31st, 2010
5:13 pm
Well…at least we have the Braves.
Ummm…I meant the Hawks.
Thrashers?
How about those FALCONS!!!! Rise up!!
middle GA Dawg
December 31st, 2010
5:13 pm
Murray sucks!!!!!! Thank God Lemay is coming to UGA.
The Tourist
December 31st, 2010
5:14 pm
After listening to Mayor A.C. Wharton, Memphis sounds like a great place to visit!
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 31st, 2010
5:14 pm
FLAT TIRE
You sir are a JACK WAGON Playing some ambey pambey football today.
Yea, well....F Off! Let the BIG DAWG EAT.
December 31st, 2010
5:14 pm
College football’s $1.1 billion profit
By Chris Isidore, senior writerDecember 29, 2010: 9:59 PM ET
College football’s $1.1 billion profit
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The richest college football programs got richer in 2010, pocketing more than $1 billion in profits for the first time.
http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/29/news/companies/college_football_dollars/index.htm
smart dawg
December 31st, 2010
5:15 pm
Katherine,
Early in this blog, you said you became a dawg fan after moving to the area.
I can understand your (geographic) decision.
Do you sometimes think that maybe you acted impulsively?
THE TRUTH
December 31st, 2010
5:15 pm
If Nick Fairley wasn’t so dirty, Georgia would be in Glendale right now!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 31st, 2010
5:15 pm
jack
Patterson is not a long shot
TCU, Georgia
Big East, SEC
Less money, more money
Less Fans, more fans
Georgia wont ever be a less attractive job here is why
SEC
UGA has top 10 money
Warm weather
Top 10 Stadium
Athens ranked #1 college town and retirement town
The State of Ga ranks #4 in highschool football recruiting
UGA also has ranked #4 in putting players in the NFL since 1999
The State of Ga is one of the fastest growing states as seen with this yrs census as they added another senate seat
You need to look at the big picture my friend
Since Vince
December 31st, 2010
5:15 pm
This is embarrassing. Everyone in college football is laughing at the dawgs….
Hit A Single
December 31st, 2010
5:15 pm
The running back situation at UGA is in terrible shape and the worse it has ever been.
Big Dawg Cobb
December 31st, 2010
5:16 pm
No telling what the 2nd half will bring. Got to think dawgs will pull it out. Get this stinking season over with.
distant dawg
December 31st, 2010
5:16 pm
Hutson or Lemay next year? How about the whiff on Diaz at Mrs. state and instead over paying Grantham. WOW
AJ’s last game, can he take a few coaches with him? Trouble is some guys who need to stay will go as well. PATHETIC…..
greg
December 31st, 2010
5:17 pm
The point is you have left GT off the hook all year and you continue to do so…. I love reading your stuff but be balanced.
Hit A Single
December 31st, 2010
5:17 pm
If there is not some ass kicking in that dressing room the whole damn staff needs to be fired and I am a Mark Richt man.
Ummm
December 31st, 2010
5:17 pm
Murray does not suck, he has not played a down of live football for 34 days…Coaching staff of UGA set the tone for this game by kicking the FG instead of going for it w/ 4th and inches at the 2…SO GLAD I did not make the trip for this game, because I would be SCREAMING at the coaching staff for the playcalling, drive 400 miles to watch this pathetic performance…Field goals?
It’s a freaking bowl game, NOTHING to lose!!!
Story of CMR life at UGA the last 3 years, always makning the wrong decision…
Tony LaRussa's gold chain
December 31st, 2010
5:17 pm
Cheaters never win.
Nub
December 31st, 2010
5:18 pm
Hey Aaron …. We ant in wearing black 2 day!!!!
THE TRUTH
December 31st, 2010
5:18 pm
Please Isaiah Crowell!!! Come and save us!! Please!! Everyone knows UGA is the place where 5 star players reach their full potential!!!
distant dawg
December 31st, 2010
5:18 pm
I think UGA saw this coming….. I have a stomach ach now myself
Hit A Single
December 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
Besides running backs it is also the worst linebackers UGA has ever had.
WTF
December 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
Gutless . . won’t try for a fourth and inches after driving 96 yards? Not even calling time out and throwing a bomb with 14 seconds left in the half. I’m surprised the team hasn’t quit on the coaching staff (and I’m a CMR fan). Somethings got to give!
OJ
December 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
If the gloves don’t fit, you must aquit!…..
middle GA Dawg
December 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
The running back position is great. It is our pretty boy coaches and quarterback that aint worth a pile of dog crap.
Logan Booker
December 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
Since Vince – “Everyone in college football is laughing at the dawgs”
Actually I doubt many people outside the southeast are watching the game
FLA DAWG
December 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
Hit A Single,
If you are a Mark Richt fan then you are an endangered species my friend!
Hobnail Boot
December 31st, 2010
5:20 pm
Lou Holtz said CCCCCentral Fla and spit all over Mark May.
distant dawg
December 31st, 2010
5:20 pm
I would like some 3-4 star recruits who want to be at Georgia rather than the 5 star drama queens.