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.
♦
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2,311 comments Add your comment
Red *see through" panties
December 31st, 2010
5:20 pm
It’s A.J. Green’s turn . . . . to step up to the plate.
Aaron Murray
December 31st, 2010
5:21 pm
Don’t you guys think my gloves look cool?
TampaGator
December 31st, 2010
5:21 pm
Maybe Florida should hire the UCF defensive coordinator to go along with Charlie Weiss!
Hit A Single
December 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
Fla Dawg – I will support him as long as he is the Head Coach. He has potential to be a hell of a coach, but if he doesn’t light some fire somewhere and start recruiting football players and not worry about a damn 40 time he won’t be there long.
Chris Phillips
December 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
What kind of message is Mark Richt sending his players and fans by kicking a field goal on 4th and inches at the goal line during a bowl game? If I am a player will that motivate me? If I am a fan will that promote confidence in my team; especially the coaching staff? Mark Richt said that he would calm down his quarterback before they open it up on the offense. What about handing the ball to Murray and say “I believe in you. You have proved yourself this season. Now calm down and go out there and win this game for us!” You don’t take away his confidence but you promote your qb’s confidence by believing in him. Plus, what about addressing the offensive line which is allowing pressure on our qb. Just sayin. Come on Mark Richt.
FLA DAWG
December 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
Kind of a bad play call there
Ummm
December 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
Story of CMR life at UGA the last 3 years, always makning the wrong decision…
1. starting J Cox instead of giving A Murray valuable experience last year, even in week 10!
2. Promoting W Martinez to D Coordinator
3. Red shirting K Moreno…Look at what Lattimore has done at USC, Moreno was just as good AND a 1st round NFL pick
4. Onside kick against UF last year?!
5. Deciding to not go with live tackling dills 2 years in a row, which we were bottom of the barrel in the SEC for missed tackles and stops on 3rd down
6. Not starting DJ Schocley against UF in 2005 when a he had a slight leg injury…The ONLY game we lost that year(by 7) AND DJ started the next week just fine(2005 SEC champs)
Aaron Murray
December 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
These are the coolest gloves ever!
dawginduluth
December 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
Richt won early in his UGA career with Donnan coached players and recruits. When those players, recruits and van Gorder left, that was the end of Richt’s winning ways. When we got him he was supposed to be able to coach at a NC level. He’s had great recruiting classes and hasn’t been able to deliver. He just isn’t very bright. Hell, he’s a dunce.
Dumbo
December 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
5150 P.O.A.D. – How was Shreveport you MidTowner……see Tech turned in another Wreck over there.
Vain Jangling
December 31st, 2010
5:23 pm
BWAAAAAHAHAHA! Our secret plan is working! Now that Central Florida has been lulled into a sense of complacency, we will unveil our secret weapon in the second half . . . the play action pass! BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHA! Unlease the . . . wait . . . what? That’s what we’ve been doing and it isn’t working? . . . Well, nevermind then.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
December 31st, 2010
5:23 pm
Jeff, are those boos I hear? I’ve been watching Coach Grantham and he looks steamed. Of course, it could be gastrointestinal.
Gameplan
December 31st, 2010
5:23 pm
Throw to AJ Green.
Every play.
icedawg
December 31st, 2010
5:23 pm
another horrible start to a half
jack
December 31st, 2010
5:24 pm
@Flat Tire – I’d be very happy with Patterson.
FLA DAWG
December 31st, 2010
5:24 pm
Hit,
He’s had a few years to do just that and has not.
Personally, I hate to see him return for next year but will gladly eat my words if he turns it around.
BobbyDawg
December 31st, 2010
5:24 pm
These guys are not playing like they want to win this game. Please don’t tell me that this is what we’re gonna start the season against Boise State with next year!
middle GA Dawg
December 31st, 2010
5:24 pm
Our backs are doing good. They are blocking just like booboo and richt want them too.
THE TRUTH
December 31st, 2010
5:25 pm
Did AJ just offer to sell his jersey to the CF defender???
icedawg
December 31st, 2010
5:25 pm
A few no shows.
Hale Almand
December 31st, 2010
5:25 pm
I wonder if any of the books about UGA football include the perspective of someone speaking for the late Jan Kemp? The perspective that “student” athletes like Lindsay Scott were playing years without taking college level courses? That the proudest moment of the football program was earned by players who never earned a single college credit?
Dawgtards love to return to 1980, but their memories are really short when it comes to remembering an earthshaking event that happened a few years later that showed the world what a joke UGA athletes were and what a scam artist their beloved Vince Dooley was (and is). So for all those dawgtards with short memories or who think their athletes are actually taking real courses and trying to graduate, here’s the quote that broke the trial wide open and showed what a slimeball Dooley is:
O. Hale Almand Jr., a lawyer for the defense, offered a justification for the favorable treatment accorded the athletes, citing a hypothetical player. “We may not make a university student out of him,” he told the jury, “but if we can teach him to read and write, maybe he can work at the post office rather than as a garbageman when he gets through with his athletic career.”
Nothing has changed at UGA, they just do a slightly better job of keeping things quiet, but that’s hard to do when 45 of your player-thugs have been arrested, isn’t it?
UGA: WINNER OF THE FULMER CUP AND THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
icedawg
December 31st, 2010
5:25 pm
Maybe next year they should play in a HS stadium and fill it.
middle GA Dawg
December 31st, 2010
5:25 pm
Good job ealey way to block and run the ball. At least ealey wants to win.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
December 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
I’ll be living in John’s Creek soon. They’ll have to send a car for me on game day.
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
dumdo
Sorry I own a farm. I like my guns. Wouldn’t live intown. Don’t let your boyfriend pull to hard on those ears during you new years loving.
icedawg
December 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
Quick whistle?
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
Ref was quick on that Blow REF. Are you a UGA freshman chick Blowing that fast.
45ACP
December 31st, 2010
5:27 pm
Just throw it to Adriel Jeremiah all night long. You can do it.
Jeff Schultz
December 31st, 2010
5:27 pm
Russ — Yes, there’s been some boos.
Ummm
December 31st, 2010
5:27 pm
This can’t keep going like this and CMR expect to keep his job. I am insensed at the way our football team always plays like this.
Yes, I blame the Coaches. How many years in a row to I have to watch our team that I passionately LOVE come out like this, do the coaches not know how to light a fire under these players and come out with any intensity/desire? I am so fed up, 3 years running!
Junk Yard Dawg
December 31st, 2010
5:27 pm
I have been a Georgia fan since 1998 and this crowd is by far the smallest I have ever seen the Dawgs play in front of. This is shameful!
Buford
December 31st, 2010
5:28 pm
Is Richt’s haircut what you call a “bikini cut?”
Hit A Single
December 31st, 2010
5:28 pm
Fla Dawg -Yea if he doesn’t beat Fla. it will be over. I still believe he can do it. Coach Joe T. in the weight room is going to make a difference. I have already heard some players may not make it. He isn’t going to put up with all this crap. He is by far the most intense Dawg on the sidelines. He is pissed with the whole situation. You will see some attitude changes or there ass will be on the road.
45ACP
December 31st, 2010
5:28 pm
Had that quick whistle happen to me a few times.
icedawg
December 31st, 2010
5:28 pm
Dawgs have some good receivers for next year: King, Charles
icedawg
December 31st, 2010
5:29 pm
nice run
Katherine
December 31st, 2010
5:29 pm
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?
No not at all…I’ve really enjoyed watching them
Hit A Single
December 31st, 2010
5:29 pm
Maybe Van Gorder called the locker room at half, because I see some fire, I think.
5150 P.O.A.D.
December 31st, 2010
5:29 pm
45ACP I wouldn’t tell that. HAHAHAHHA. Does your wife know?
Ummm
December 31st, 2010
5:29 pm
Jeff, is this not PAINFUL to watch?! I can’t watch the rest of this game. Sorry man.
FLA DAWG
December 31st, 2010
5:29 pm
Hale,
Who are you again?
Never mind. Who cares?
Since Vince
December 31st, 2010
5:30 pm
Looks like another good drive for 3 points…..
Paul's Johnson
December 31st, 2010
5:30 pm
If you feel that it is so shameful, why didn’t YOU pack up and go to Memphis?
Vain Jangling
December 31st, 2010
5:30 pm
. . . and then when I was four years old we moved to Copperhill, Tennessee. No, wait. Maybe I was three. No, I guess I was four. Anyway, we moved to Copperhill . . .
icedawg
December 31st, 2010
5:30 pm
We’ll miss Green but have some good receivers that can step up.
Generic ESPN announcers
December 31st, 2010
5:30 pm
“Mike Bobo is coaching a heck of a game.”
Huh?
45ACP
December 31st, 2010
5:31 pm
No, I faked it. hahahahahaha
icedawg
December 31st, 2010
5:31 pm
Murray been throwing too much into traffic.
Since Vince
December 31st, 2010
5:31 pm
looks like the sophomore jinx is warming up for Murray…
Ummm
December 31st, 2010
5:31 pm
I think that CMR has finally proven to us all that he is a much better O coordinator than a head coach. Please take a job somewhere else, or win the SEC in 2011.