Georgia shows signs of life (for those still paying attention)
Tavarres King's second touchdown catch made the score 35-0, and the rout was on. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS – It’s best to not get lost in the blur of “what-ifs.”
What if the first opponent was 1-AA roadkill and not a ranked team? What if Georgia had a week to work out flaws before playing Boise State? Or an easy game to prep for South Carolina? Then would they be leading the SEC East today? What if Marcus Lattimore had suddenly declared before last week’s game, “On second thought, I’m going to save my legs for equestrian. Away with you, Mr. Spurrier”?
It’s just not worth it.
Georgia dug a deep hole, and it’s going to be a while before anybody will be able to see light again. The hole didn’t get any deeper Saturday. But otherwise, we saw what we already knew: The Bulldogs are physically superior to Coastal Carolina. They rule over all Chanticleers. Say it loud, say it proud. They led 21-0 after roughly 17 seconds and 38-0 one series into the second half, when all starters headed for Barcaloungers.
They won 59-0. If they can do this to Coastal Carolina, imagine what they could do to Liberty, and Presbyterian, and Stony Brook. Big South: You are the gum under the SEC’s shoe.
“All right. We got a victory,” coach Mark Richt said.
It was the first time Richt he could use those words in a postgame news conference in nine and a half months.
Georgia had not won a game since beating Georgia Tech on Nov. 27. Since then, Athens had witnessed various forms of suffering, anguish and humiliation: A lifeless defeat to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl. A body slam by Boise State in the season opener. A woulda-coulda-shoulda loss to South Carolina.
“This probably won’t turn a lot of people’s heads,” quarterback Aaron Murray admitted.
But a win was needed for some kind of cleansing. Or exorcism. The Dogs just aren’t feeling the love these days, and they know it will take a long series of victories — or at least one in Florida — before they feel it again.
Even one of the team’s cheerleaders could be overheard as the final seconds ticked down, “Yay! We’re 1-2!” the words dripping with sarcasm.
The good? There is a pulse after an 0-2 start. A 59-0 win takes a certain level of effort and pride, even if the marquee reads: Godzilla vs. Bambi. It was the Dogs’ most lopsided victory since a 70-6 win over Northeast Louisiana in 1994. Richt can only hope it’s a greater launching pad than it was for Ray Goff 17 years ago.
But some of the negative vibes around the program also were reaffirmed. There were about 10,000 empty seats in Sanford Stadium at kickoff. Attendance (tickets distributed) was announced as 91,946, which is the first non-sellout (by 800) in the Mark Richt era. Georgia had sold out 64 straight. The last non-sellout came in Jim Donnan’s final game against Georgia Tech in 200.
We can quibble about how close the number was to listed capacity. But bottom line: When the most popular sports property in the state fails to sell out for the first time in 11 years, it’s significant.
So it was a little surprising when Richt said, “I don’t think it’s a big deal. It was just about taking care of business.”
For players, that last part is true. But externally, confidence will build again only if Georgia can string together wins over the next four weeks: at Mississippi, Mississippi State, at Tennessee and Vanderbilt. It would create some momentum going into the Florida game.
“Our goal is to go 10-0, and that started today,” Murray said.
“I’m sure most people just view this as as somebody we should have beaten,” cornerback Brandon Boykin said. “But a game like this, just getting the shutout, gives us confidence.”
OK: What if? What if Georgia had played Coastal Carolina first?
“I wouldn’t have wanted that,” Boykin said. “I wanted to play a tough team at the beginning of the year. That game showed us what we needed to do to get ready for South Carolina. We played better last week because we had a rough time with Boise.”
In other words, this is your team. The schedule wasn’t going to change that. Now it’s about making the headache go away. We’ll know more over the next few weeks.
By Jeff Schultz
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556 comments Add your comment
5150 UOAD
September 17th, 2011
10:20 pm
It will be interesting to see how many Dawgs that buy Tech tickets to be at the game in Atlanta will not show if the season is not going well.
UGA2002
September 17th, 2011
10:21 pm
10-2!!!! SEC EAST!!!! SEC CHAMPS!!!! BCS!!!! TOP 5 CLASS!!!! RANKED #1 NEXT YEAR!!!!
I wanted to see what it was like to write an idiot because we beat a H.S. team 59-0.
funny...
September 17th, 2011
10:21 pm
And Aaron Murray was still throwing behind open receivers.
I don’t see it, he’s not that great. He missed so many throws today.
Hutson Mason comes in and makes a beautiful “Staffordesque” throw to Charles for a 33 yard TD. Aaron Murray wishes he could make that pass.
td
September 17th, 2011
10:21 pm
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 17th, 2011
10:16 pm
You have been busted as a fraud and a hater and you can not stand it. Go put on som Yellow to match that streak you are showing by blindly posting hate on blogs.
Summit Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:22 pm
I love the Dawgs…..not sure about this win or Richt……Games to come will reveal the “Real Dawgs!”
UGA2002
September 17th, 2011
10:22 pm
The GA Tech yardage is impressive. I don’t care who you are.
if they put 700 yards up on us can we finally get a new coach?
sam
September 17th, 2011
10:23 pm
Donnan was coaching the Dawg’s in 200?
Sharkman
September 17th, 2011
10:23 pm
7-9 under Murray.
funny...
September 17th, 2011
10:23 pm
It’s amazing to sit in Sanford and watch receivers have to stop their routes to catch a pass from Aaron Murray.
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:25 pm
td, you are hopeless.
It’s nothing personal with Richt. It’s strickly business.
If he were in ANY other profession or at ANY other SEC school making $3M, he would have been fired for poor performance.
If he hand picked and assembled a totally incompetent staff over a ten year period
If he said that he was the CEO, not the coach, that’s unacceptable.
If he sat on the sidelines with no passion year after year, that’s inexcusable.
If his team had the most penalties, most arrests, flaunted the rules and choked every time they tried a uniform gimmick, anyone else would be gone by now.
He uses his faith much like the Taliban or Al Qaeda. It’s really just a mafia wrapped in religious cloaks. Religion has nothing to do with his coaching. That’s his private business, or should be. He has chosen to flaunt it to detract from his abysmal record.
It’s unfortunate that a good univeristy such as UGA evidently has so many ignorant graduates who are so slow to see through this Marjoe-level scam at over three million a year. US News and World Report will probably lower UGA’s rating when they put 2+2 together.
I demand that my university stand for excellence, honor, winning, championships.
I am glad that Grantham gave the opposing kicker the choke sign. I’m really peeved that Richt muzzled him so that now he is just another Buddha on the sidlines. Bobo isn’t even on the sideline–he’s up at the club level with binoculars.
I was an Army officer for 30 years. I know what leadership is. This is not leadership.
TD, you are a bona fide idiot.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 17th, 2011
10:28 pm
td
Ive been busted as a fraud and hater LOL please show me where
Lets get one thing straight I do not hate Mark Richt, I personally like Coach Richt, but as a coach Ive seen enough of losing the past 5 years
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:28 pm
Jeff, pleased ban TD from blogging for life. He brings no ideas nor adds any value to the conversation.
5150 UOAD
September 17th, 2011
10:29 pm
UGA wouldn’t dare line up and play TECH in the next 2 weeks or Richt would be out of a JOB before Halloween………….Trick or Treat……………LOL
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 17th, 2011
10:29 pm
td
td
But since you have spiked your Jack Daniels tonight with Kryptonite Kool-aid your having trouble seeing to read
All you can come up with for responses is Im a troll, I hate the team and coaches, and Im an Obama supporter
Again put down your drink and respond to my posts instead of childish comebacks, like troll, hater
Now please explain to all of us how since what you said about Michael Adams academic restrictions; how is it that we had a top 5 recruiting class and ranked #2 for the last decade
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 17th, 2011
10:30 pm
td
All you can come up with for responses is Im a troll, I hate the team and coaches, and Im an Obama supporter
Again put down your drink and respond to my posts instead of childish comebacks, like troll, hater, and Obama supporter
Now please explain to all of us how since what you said about Michael Adams academic restrictions; how is it that we had a top 5 recruiting class and ranked #2 for the last decade
cattle dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:30 pm
I cant stand brent musburger or 1 o clock games against 1aa teams , but there were 2 butts in our seats.
GR82BAG8R
September 17th, 2011
10:31 pm
Snoop Dog if you were really an Army officer for 30 years, then you made Colonel or at least W-5 – - in either case you would have been sent to “charm school” to teach you how to conduct yourself with honor and dignity at all times. Giving a kid the choke sign is neither, and it certainly is not leadership. The other team is your opponent, not your enemy…
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 17th, 2011
10:31 pm
td
But since you have spiked your Jack Daniels tonight with Kryptonite Kool-aid your having trouble seeing to read
All you can come up with for responses is Im a troll, I hate the team and coaches, and Im an Obama supporter
Again put down your drink and respond to my posts instead of childish comebacks, like troll, hater, and Obama supporter
td
September 17th, 2011
10:32 pm
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:25 pm
“TD, you are a bona fide idiot”
This statement alone proves that you are a “Hope and Change” supporter and proves you should not be listened to in any shape or manner. One day you my friend will may wake up and be a adult but you have a lot of living and learning to do in the meantime.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 17th, 2011
10:32 pm
td
Again put down your drink and respond to my posts instead of childish comebacks, like troll, hater, and Obama supporter
Now please explain to all of us how since what you said about Michael Adams academic restrictions; how is it that we had a top 5 recruiting class and ranked #2 for the last decade
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 17th, 2011
10:33 pm
td
Again put down your drink and respond to my posts instead of childish comebacks, like troll, hater, and Hope and change supporter
Now please explain to all of us how since what you said about Michael Adams academic restrictions; how is it that we had a top 5 recruiting class and ranked #2 for the last decade
cattle dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:34 pm
I dont remember Richt flaunting his faith???? Richts problem, just as Bobby Bowden wondered when Richt took the job is hes not tough enough.
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:34 pm
GR82BAG8R. I beg to differ. Do you think Erk Russellhad honor and dignity or you another man who has been completely neutered in this PC world we live in today??
5150 UOAD
September 17th, 2011
10:35 pm
The Ohio State University never should have been RANKED after all that happened. Not Sure Miami is a Top 25 team.
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:35 pm
The football field is not where the niceties of charm school are practiced.
Costal Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:35 pm
85,000 is 30,000 more than Tech has in attendance in one of their rare sellouts!
GR82BAG8R
September 17th, 2011
10:37 pm
Snoop Dog, two words – -lighten up. This is college sports. It is not life and death. These kids are supposed to play and win- – and sometimes lose – - like champions.
5150 UOAD
September 17th, 2011
10:37 pm
True freshman for FSU looking good being thrown in the Fire against Oklahoma. WOW.
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:38 pm
You make a good point cattle dawg. but I do believe that Richt is slicker than a pig on the 4th of July and his schtick includes this “good man of faith” thing while he’s coaching in the middle of the Bible belt. Think about it…. Richt is stupid, but exceedingly sly and cunning and bears considerable watching. He has amassed over $30 Million dollars from the UGA coffers.
Roof Roof
September 17th, 2011
10:38 pm
@THE DAWG POUND
Paul Johnson is a great play-designer, a great play-caller, a great play-tweaker.
Coach Mark Richt said today “All right. We got a victory”. It was the first time Richt could use those words in a postgame news conference in nine and a half months.
GO JACKETS GO JACKETS GO JACKETS GO JACKETS GO JACKETS
confusasnoop
September 17th, 2011
10:39 pm
snoop, you ignorant slut. You are still limp……..
funny...
September 17th, 2011
10:39 pm
Oh great, those that weren’t in the military trying to tell us what it should have been like.
USAF officer retired here
GR82BAG8R
September 17th, 2011
10:41 pm
Snoop dog, “charm school” is the colloquial term for the Senior Officer’s school, where you are taught to comport yourself at all times like you are the representative of your country – - i.e. never do anything to disgrace your uniform. It is supposed to be a life lesson that you carry with you when your service to your country is over.
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:41 pm
Hey great 2B a Gater, i have no probem with the players. it’s our coaches. You are happy in that you have a good leader in UGA grad Will Muschamp. The Florida senior administrators are much smarter than their UGA counterparts. Of course you would like us to lighten up. Listen up, UGA will not be Florda’s Bitches after we get a quality coach because Georgia is full of football talent and a lot of florida talent would rather play at UGA if we just had quality coaches.
funny...
September 17th, 2011
10:42 pm
yeah, Paul Johnson is so great. What’s his record against the incompetent Mark Richt.
LOL
Troup Co. Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:42 pm
Truth is if you’re going to play in Primetime College Football…and make it worth watching, the Dawgs are going to have to pick up their game. We are slow as hell compared to top teams that I’ve been watching! I believe the Dawgs will get better and faster as the season continues.
5150 UOAD
September 17th, 2011
10:42 pm
Costal Dawg
UGA turns out Grads like Pimps turnout young girls. UGA as Millions of grads alive Tech doesn’t. More fools in Ga are dawgs that have stepped foot in a UGA classroom. Tech grads don’t stay in Ga after graduation. TECH will not out draw UGA ever. So what!
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:42 pm
Oh Gawd, we’ve just been infected with confuciusdog.
funny...
September 17th, 2011
10:43 pm
Comparing an internet blog to advanced training is laughable.
I mean really, some of you take yourselves too seriously. Step away from the keyboard, take a breath and remember this is the internet where everybody is somebody and nobody at the same time.
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:44 pm
Gr8Gator, it’s obvious that you never served in the military, so why do you think you should be lecturing me? GET OUTA HERE! doesn’t UF have a blog somewhere you can drivel on…
confusasnoop
September 17th, 2011
10:45 pm
Been looking for you. You can run but your still a girly man.
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:47 pm
Confu, you mamma just asked me to say hello….
GR82BAG8R
September 17th, 2011
10:51 pm
Snoop Dog, it is obvious you were no 30 year officer….
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:51 pm
Why didn’t we listen to Bobby Bowdoin? He warned us about da Preacha Man ten years ago…
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:52 pm
Actually, it was 31 you twit.
5150 UOAD
September 17th, 2011
10:52 pm
DID you just see the FSU TD play? 3 & 28 for a 58yrd TD……………True freshman QB……That ain’t not MURRAY playing for FSU.
Glory Glory
September 17th, 2011
10:52 pm
5150 UOAD has no life
GR82BAG8R
September 17th, 2011
10:53 pm
…but I am done for the night….
confusasnoop
September 17th, 2011
10:53 pm
snoop you are a blog bully. A wimp just the same.
Snoop Dawg
September 17th, 2011
10:55 pm
Good, Gaytor. Take your time before signing back in. I’m sure your gators need your sage wisdom more than the Bulldog Nation.