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
UCF98
December 31st, 2010
7:32 pm
dandydawg..we don’t pick the opponents – we just beat the ones that show up! Not our fault all you could do with all those 4-5 star recruits was finish #9 in SEC!! Maybe UGA should apply for Conference USA membership! HaHaHaHaHa!!!
JOD
December 31st, 2010
7:32 pm
wag, get off your sister.
Same ol' Talk
December 31st, 2010
7:32 pm
Dont worry bulldog fans next year is our year to win it all! With our best player leaving we should be even better to hit the SEC hard and finally win the ship! Don’t get down, Auburn is paying off the Athens police force to let those DUI’s and missed court dates pass. GO DAWGS
DamntheButcher
December 31st, 2010
7:32 pm
0-4 vs top 25 teams
Give me Liberty or give me Georgia
December 31st, 2010
7:32 pm
WHO HAS THE “HIGH SCHOOL OFFENSE”?
LakeDawg
December 31st, 2010
7:32 pm
I think UGA has now officially sunk back to the Ray Goof era. That was a painful time. We have spent 21 years trying to get back to pre-Goof levels and haven’t made any progress. And we’re going to give CMR another year!? Its beyond painful. I’m numb. Is UGA EVER going to get it turned around? My life is running out.
Flatsdawg1
December 31st, 2010
7:32 pm
Richt showed no confidence in his team to move the ball one foot against UCF. Truly shameful to the players, fans of the team, and hell my girlfriend went to Ole Miss and said the same thing
nobody
December 31st, 2010
7:33 pm
Actually, I think some UGA fans are beginning to understand the concept of reality…you are not an elite program. But don’t let what some 18-22 year old young men determine your viewpoint of life. Go get one of your own.
Grim Reaper
December 31st, 2010
7:33 pm
MEMO to the Atlanta Jounal Constitution:
Please leave these messages up through Sunday as this is much better reading than the comics section!!!!!!!!
Georgia? Really? Your loud mouth obnoxious we don’t want to play in Jacksonville anymore and can’t even beat Central Floida silver pissed in britches fans, YOU DON’T SUCK, YOU SWALLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5 stars equals 7 losses and 11 arrest
December 31st, 2010
7:33 pm
oh it will be okay, just go eat some ribs and barbque and then down your sorrows with a dozen or so donuts, gain 30 more lbs and waddle back home in your GA sweatshirts to cover up those 40 lb spare tires you all have
Vain Jangling
December 31st, 2010
7:33 pm
Listening to CMR’s postgame interview on the radio. “Give ‘em credit. They’re a very good football team, like we knew all along. . . We weren’t able to take it the distance . . . I think this will be a great learning experience for Murray . . . We’re looking forward to next season . . . We got a little time to rest and reflect a little bit. . . Thank you!” Bland as bland can be. No spark. Certainly no fire. No explanation. Pass me the No-Doz. And Scott Howard just said, “We’re not that far away.” I hope Munson’s not listening.
Orlando Gator
December 31st, 2010
7:33 pm
Wish UGAg weren’t the SEC representative in this game so that I could’ve truly enjoyed it.
GIVE ME A BREAK
December 31st, 2010
7:33 pm
I was embarrassed for Tech until I watched UCF defeat UGA. Two field goals with all that NFL talent. What will UGA do next year without Green? Good Grief!!!!!
AJ Joke
December 31st, 2010
7:34 pm
Gaaawwd….am I overrated or what???
UGAKev
December 31st, 2010
7:34 pm
UCF, our recruiting class was not top ten last year
WestOfAthens
December 31st, 2010
7:34 pm
First and foremost: Jeff Shultz, you are a shmuck, but you already know that eh?
Secondly, the coaching staff lost this one.
A field goal on fourth and an inch, first drive, bowl game? Looooooooong opening drive? We need some intelligence occupying the sidelines, FACT
Pascal
December 31st, 2010
7:35 pm
A few comments about the game:
1. It was obvious that neither the UGAy goons or coaches were ready for the game. It was obvious that UCF was.
2. The whole team sucked.
3. How much longer will dawg fans put up with this kind of crap with Richt as coach? More importantly, how long will McGarity put up with it?
4. Some of the UGAy players, and a lot of the fans were crying after the game ended. This was heartwarming for decent, intelligent people to see.
5. When the cameras zoomed in on some of the UGAy fans, it was very clear why most states have laws against incest. It was also clear why beer companies are so profitable.
6. How much stuff has A.J. Green sold already? How much is his stuff discounted when UGAy loses and he plays like crap? :-)
7. How is Russ taking the loss? Oh, I see, he’s crapping all over everybody. Sorry about that, coach Richt. I’m sure those stains can be removed from your pants.
8. Aaron Murray demonstrated how devastating it was to lose Zach.
9. Good news for the seniors playing their last game for UGAy – you’ll never have to spend another night in the Athens jail. The lawyers and bail bondsmen of Athens salute you.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
dandydawg
December 31st, 2010
7:35 pm
Grim…. I wrote it the way I wanted to write it. Now What?
All of you other loser on here talking bout we can’t take the trash talking… I say we can, but not from other losers…. look at you nasty gator fans on here… and the rest of you… what’s your school!!!
Give me Liberty or give me Georgia
December 31st, 2010
7:35 pm
NO TD’S BUT A LOT OF FAT LINEMEN THAT MISSED A MULTITUDE OF ASSIGNMENTS AND A RUNNING BACK THAT HASNT BROKEN A TACKLE SINCE HIS LAST HS GAME. YOU GUYS REALLY LOOKED LIKE YOU WERE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO LOSE. CONGRATUKLATIONS
True Dawg
December 31st, 2010
7:35 pm
We all need to rally around CMR. He is the right man for the job. It’s just a little rough patch. He’s got my support, and I know he’ll turn things around. Keep your stinking money, you bandwagon whiners. You’re no Dawg fans any how.
Say "Go Dogs" honey
December 31st, 2010
7:35 pm
“noe nogs!” –
sorry – she took her teeth out
SECElite
December 31st, 2010
7:36 pm
Jeff,
We win it all next year! This was a transitional year where the 4-star talent didn’t catch up to the 5-star coaching. All the pieces will fall into place next year. I know I said this last year, and the year before, and the year before . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . We are an elite program with conference and national championships galore. We have the best educated, most articulate, fan base in the nation. We dominate the joke insects at will. Our status as an elite program cannot be questioned. You read it here first; we win it all next year! I know the great Dawg Nation agrees!
Go Daaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwgs! I love me some Dawgs! There’s nothing finer. . . . . . . .
Loyal Dawg Fan Forever
December 31st, 2010
7:36 pm
Richt cannot coarch Top-Ten talent!
Joey
December 31st, 2010
7:36 pm
Unless and until Richt and his entire staff is shown the door, get ready for a lot more of what we just witnessed. This team isn’t even mediocre and next year will have arguably less talent than now minus AJ, Houston, etc. The rot is systemic and Richt is the problem.
Auburn Tigers Fans show UGA how to win
December 31st, 2010
7:36 pm
UGA has a horrible football team, horrible fans, horrible cheerleaders, horrible stadium, horrible coaches, horrible facilities, but recruit great football players, but turn them into poor players who commit crimes, penalties, and have more arrest than touchdowns.
We at Auburn have shown UGA, Alabama, South Carolina and everyone else on how to win and do it right, we do not need any help from any other school, we can do it on our on. We win and win fairly easy and do it right.
Have a great winter you losers and keep the infighting up, the rest of us enjoy it.
TampaGator
December 31st, 2010
7:36 pm
Oakwood Dawg….
Muschamp was a Gator fan living in Gainesville, Florida as a young kid….and was one when he lived in Georgia. His best friend in the world is a former Gator free safety. He has publicly stated he wanted to play college football at Florida…but they did not offer a scholly. He went to Georgia as a walk on for financial reasons….YES…his heart has always been a Gator….and…yes…he probably would have considered the Georgia job…but not taken it. He publicly stated that the ONLY place he would have left Texas for IS Florida…and he DID.
60's Dogfan
December 31st, 2010
7:37 pm
I think not only the UGA and Tech results, but by the end of “Bowl Month”, the overall results will prove that 6 and 6 teams have no business being in bowl games. College championship games should be all finished by the end of New Years Day, too.
Give me Liberty or give me Georgia
December 31st, 2010
7:37 pm
I BETTER NOT EVER (AND I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME), EVER HEAR ANOTHER DAWG FAN TALK DOWN TO ANYONE (AND I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME AGAIN, ANYONE ON AN AJC BLOG AGAIN.
FACTS
December 31st, 2010
7:37 pm
No matter what talent UGA brings in, the Head Coach will not get the maximum out of their skills, sorry he is just not a motivator. Playing not to lose is what playoff bound NFL teams do, not winning college programs
Coin of the Realm
December 31st, 2010
7:37 pm
Two field goals. That’s… really… impressive.
NOT!!!
Dawggy
December 31st, 2010
7:37 pm
Hope the Gators and Tide win tomorrow after the embarrassment today. Someone has to represent our conference with pride. We pissed down our leg today.
dandydawg
December 31st, 2010
7:38 pm
Orlando Gator… you should be more worried about that whupping them nasty gators going to get with that lame a$$ coach…. but hey… at least I won’t be watching that! See you watching us!!! Y’all love them Dawgs!!!
Auburn Tigers Fans show UGA how to win
December 31st, 2010
7:38 pm
Mark Richt and his staff should have spent more time looking at tape, preparing a game plan than attending Crowells games, pep rallies and texting a running back to come to UGA…ha ha ha ha ha…
UGAKev
December 31st, 2010
7:38 pm
we suck and it will prob not be any better next year but I will never stop loving or watching my dawgs
DawgByte
December 31st, 2010
7:38 pm
Wow, what can you say about that disaster in Memphis. If our defense has improved over the course of the season they sure didn’t show it today… that was absolutely pathetic.
Can anyone on this planet explain to me why Richt didn’t go for a TD after driving 96 yards? UCF couldn’t stop us for a single loss on that drive and CMR calls for a field goal… are you kidding me??? Richt needs to be kicked in the nads with a hobnail boot for that call.
Nice going Trinton…. nice chop block to destroy what should have been the game winning drive. More boneheaded mental mistakes from a team that reminds me of something Ray Goff would produce.
In the final analysis this is a fitting end to a disgusting season. If Richt thought his rear was a little warm from his coaching seat… well it just got white hot.
WAR CAM EAGLE
December 31st, 2010
7:38 pm
HEY GEORGIA, WHAT DOES AUBURN LOOK LIKE FROM DOWN THERE?
JOD
December 31st, 2010
7:39 pm
LETS HOPE THE DOG FANS FINALLY UNDERSTAND ONE THING; YOU ARE NOT BIG TIME, NOR AN ELITE PROGRAM. THAT IS LEFT FOR THE ALABAMAS AND OHIO STATE’S. YOU ARE A MID TIER PROGRAM ALONG WITH GT… STAY AVERAGE UGA
ryan
December 31st, 2010
7:39 pm
The haters can have the floor Richt and UGA deserve the mud to there face loosing to a conference USA team even more embarrassing no SEC team has lost to that conference pathetic .
way to go george
December 31st, 2010
7:40 pm
4-0 against ugag in his last 4.;
,mighty ugag couldnt even score a td. AND they had their best hsn reciever elligble too.
CHOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BIG DAWG
December 31st, 2010
7:40 pm
Would all of us on this blog have a job if our evaluations were less than 50 %. I do not think so—enough said
UGAKev
December 31st, 2010
7:40 pm
your right dandydawg why would a florida fan waste his time watching us…lol i could care less about watching a florida game unless it was a benefit for us
GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME GEORGIA
December 31st, 2010
7:40 pm
I HOPE EVERYONE THAT IS NFL ELIGIBLE LEAVES
TampaGator
December 31st, 2010
7:40 pm
dandydawg…what…that lane a$$ coach who won two national championships at Florida. Yeah…Penn State will probably beat the Gators….but only because the Gators do not have a QB worth a crap. Weiss…if he comes…will fix that…because every major QB in the country will want to come to Gainesville to play QB to prepare for the NFL under Weiss….BE “IF” THOUGH.
FACTS
December 31st, 2010
7:40 pm
SECElite are you OK, who is suppose to light a fire next year? THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK! LOL
30 year Dawg fan
December 31st, 2010
7:41 pm
@ War Cam Eagle –
The usual. Cow chips.
Double J
December 31st, 2010
7:41 pm
I’m getting drunk
Orlando Gator
December 31st, 2010
7:41 pm
dandydawg – I pull for all SEC in the bowl games, including UGA today. But let me spell this out. Penn State / UCF. Joe Paterno / George O’Leary. Big Ten / Conference USA. See any differences??
GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME GEORGIA
December 31st, 2010
7:41 pm
MAYBE GEOPRGIA SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER SWITCHING CONFERENCES
dandydawg
December 31st, 2010
7:41 pm
C’mon TampaGator… I have always considered you to be a smart poster. Do you honestly think Muschamp would have said anything differently. Heck… he’s the head coach. Now, you know you are smarter than that!!!
Loyal Dawg Fan Forever
December 31st, 2010
7:41 pm
UGA 4-7 against Div 1 teams.
Idaho Massage School does not count.