Georgia goes up 10-0, then goes down hard to LSU
After early success, it was a difficult night for Georgia's Aaron Murray. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
(UPDATED: 9:20 p.m.)
This is when all involved with the Georgia program will tell themselves, “Well, we got here.”
They will cling to the fact an inspired defense allowed LSU only 12 yards and zero first downs in the first half. They will bang their heads against the fiberglass Uga’s throughout downtown Athens over the what-might-have-beens, if two dropped touchdown passes on their first two possessions hadn’t left the team with only a field goal. They will grit their teeth as they mold toy Honey Badgers out of Play-Doh, then crush them with their fists.
But in the end, the Bulldogs’ return to the SEC Championship game after six years resulted in an ugly tilt on the scoreboard. The final: LSU 42, Georgia 10.
That might not tell the whole story. But it reaffirms what we sort of knew: Despite the season’s 10-game winning streak and the remarkable resiliency we witnessed after a 0-2 start, the Bulldogs just aren’t there yet.
“It doesn’t seem real right now that our momentum stopped,” said tight end Aron White, whose first-quarter touchdown gave the Dogs a 10-0 lead. “It really catches you off-guard when all of a sudden the accolades and the wins stop. It’s definitely going to take a while to get over. But at the end of the day, I don’t think a loss to the No. 1 team in America from the best conference in America is going to take away from the season we’ve had. We can’t say we’re the best, but we can say we were pretty damn good.”
Hard to believe, the Dogs led 10-0. They would have rejoiced more if they didn’t believe that it should have been 21-0, the residue of dropped touchdown passes by Tavarres King and Malcolm Mitchell. They will wonder how a game in which they once held a 134-7 advantage in totals so completely spun out of control.
“Basically we lost the momentum, they gained it and we couldn’t slow it down,” coach Mark Richt said.
Three months ago, the Bulldogs left the Georgia Dome after a 35-21 loss to Boise State, leaving most wondering about their direction, their resilience and, most of all, Richt.
That shouldn’t be the case any more. But the sting of 42-10 losses tend to sting a while.
Following White’s touchdown, the Dogs’ next 10 possessions resulted in seven punts and three turnovers (all leading to LSU touchdowns). The Bulldogs saw a game that they were implausibly dominating get turned around by a gravity-defying punt returner known in the swamplands as the “Honey Badger.” Sophomore Tyrann Mathieu returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to give LSU what the offense couldn’t: points. Then he brought back another one 47 yards early in third quarter – unofficially breaking seven tackles along the way. That set up a second touchdown and gave the Tigers a 14-10 lead.
Richt on Mathieu: “I’ll be honest: I enjoy watching the guy play football, other than when he plays against us.”
Soon, it was like somebody pulled the stopper out of the bathtub.
A fumble by quarterback Aaron Murray led to another touchdown. The Dogs’ wore down on both lines. LSU then ran them into the ground. The SEC championship was theirs, and the Dogs’ 10-game winning streak was over.
By midway through the fourth quarter, a Dome crowd that was two-thirds Georgia fans was two-thirds empty with a decidedly purple-and-gold tilt.
The Dogs will have a few weeks off before their bowl game. They’ll need it to recover — mentally moreso than physically.
About the what-might-have-beens: The Bulldogs’ defense forced six straight three-and-outs. But that success didn’t carry over to the offense. King dropped a third-down pass in the end zone on the first drive, forcing the Dogs to settle for a 40-yard field goal by Blair Walsh. Malcolm Mitchell dropped a third-down pass at the LSU 5-yard-line on the second drive, seemingly preoccupied with turning to run into the end zone. This time, Walsh missed from 45 yards.
A 10-0 lead against No. 1 just isn’t good enough when it should be 21-0.
“We wanted to have a better show then we ended up showing for 60 minutes,” Richt said.
It was a good show for a short while.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,203 comments Add your comment
DAMON
December 3rd, 2011
9:26 pm
Okay guys, let’s be fair……….LSU IS NOT a college team.
There, don’t you feel better……have a glass of warm milk
Bubbaq
December 3rd, 2011
9:26 pm
Why is Crowell still on the team??? He needs to go! Nothing like a thug to bring down the whole team
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:26 pm
UGA excuses:
1: The refs were paid off.
2: LSU cheated.
3: Les Miles paid off the GA Dome.
4: The GA Dome astroturf cheated.
5: CBS paid CMR to lose.
Edvis
December 3rd, 2011
9:26 pm
Georgia’s game plan was perfect, their execution was not. And even if it had been, I’m not sure 28 points would have stood up against this bunch from the bayou. They seem seriously bad-a$$ and I don’t think anyone can beat them. Georgia simply did not have the running game, and I think it’s time to cut the losses with Crowell — his bulldog puppy is probably house trained by now.
That's GREAT
December 3rd, 2011
9:27 pm
Mista,,,,,Mark Richt you can’t bring a donkey to the Kentucky derby!
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:27 pm
“Why is Crowell still on the team??”
Because UGA fans said he was the next Herschel Walker.
Scam
December 3rd, 2011
9:27 pm
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!! will lose 42-10 in Dome on Dec 31
How bout them dawgs
December 3rd, 2011
9:28 pm
classless when they win and classless when they lose.
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:28 pm
“will lose 42-10 in Dome on Dec 31″
No that was UGA, ma’am.
JB
December 3rd, 2011
9:28 pm
2010 champ……………I would really like to beat your whiny little ass to a pulp. Check this years score when we played your little prison team.
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:28 pm
“classless when they win and classless when they lose.”
UGA fans are exactly like Philly fans. Losers to the end.
Brian
December 3rd, 2011
9:29 pm
The only thing that makes this bad is a lose to a team in a state that is a waste of tax dollars.
rahvi
December 3rd, 2011
9:29 pm
The Georgia Dome has become a place for opposing teams to take over and rout the fair weather “alledged” Atlanta fans. Just like this past January, when the Green Bay Packer Cheeseheads laughed the Falcon losers into the aisles in the 3Q, LSU fans did the same.
It has become so predictable- Atlanta fans are an absolute joke…
Scam
December 3rd, 2011
9:29 pm
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!! like wearing white windbreakers
James
December 3rd, 2011
9:30 pm
Getting boat raced by what may be on the best college football teams of all time feels much better than losing to Georgia Tech.Wait, I’ve only had that feeling once in the past 10 years so life goes on.If Tech’s team could play like their fans trash talk and hurl insults maybe they could get back to the ACC championship game.This Georgia team will be back in the championship game next year.And once again Tech fans will past the time cheering for the SEC west team because Georgia just beat them the week before and Tech is idle and preparing for a minor bowl game.Georgia got beaten by an amazing football team that has been winning like this all year.My hat is off to them.
JB
December 3rd, 2011
9:30 pm
rahvi………………go back to Iran
fljacket76
December 3rd, 2011
9:30 pm
I’m just wondering if the knowledgeable dawg fans will now admit that this was the weakest 10 win team ever. Scheduling gods gave you a gift this year, and when the rotation turns around it will be nearly impossible to win 10. Oh wait, I forgot about the “Dream Team(s)”. LOL
How bout them dawgs
December 3rd, 2011
9:30 pm
First on the blogs to denigrate a team and it’s fans when they win, and first to cry about getting the same treatment when they lose. Poor pitiful little puppy dogs. They got their butts whipped on the field and now they are getting their little feelings hurt here on the blog
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:31 pm
“I would really like to beat your whiny little ass to a pulp.”
The AJC doesn’t like it when people make threats, ma’am.
“Check this years score when we played your little prison team.”
UGA wrote the book on prison.
Kiss The Ring
December 3rd, 2011
9:31 pm
UGA in 1980 had an average opponent record of 4-7. Is it really a national title whenyou go undefeated playing nobody?
Maybre Cracker Barel should recall those beta tapes.
As it turns out, Limbaugh was right all along about McNabb
December 3rd, 2011
9:31 pm
And as it turns out, this overrated poser of a “Dream Team” was as close to being good as were the Phil. Eagles.
At least we won’t be seeing those hillbilly car flags around the ATL this week as the front-running owners will once again be hiding them in shame.
True dawg
December 3rd, 2011
9:31 pm
You know if,”IF” was a “FIFTH” we would be drunk! We played great the first half then fumbled it away, then the coaches didn’t stand up at all after that and put us in position to win. I hope OKstate and VATech win to create a BCS mess! No none conference champ should play, the TIDE Saban begging for a free pass to the BCS! I love the SEC but that’s not right!
RxDawg
December 3rd, 2011
9:32 pm
Confucius says he who has no RB’s worth a crap losses game.
cmac22
December 3rd, 2011
9:32 pm
Play action pass does not work when there is no run game!!! I believe that most offensive coordinators learn that when they first learn to play the game!! Bobo never did
JB
December 3rd, 2011
9:32 pm
fljacket76………….Yes, we admit it, and glad Tech was part of it as they are every year. See ya in Athens next year for the next one.
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:32 pm
JB
It’s really not a good idea to post threats on a public newspaper blog. For all you know, I could be a lawyer.
Just saying.
Kiss The Ring
December 3rd, 2011
9:33 pm
Its Nick Fairleys fault!
Edvis
December 3rd, 2011
9:33 pm
I still believe it was a good year. Great to be in a position to play the best team….
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:34 pm
“Its Nick Fairleys fault!”
Not to mention Bush’s fault, Cam’s fault, etc..
JB
December 3rd, 2011
9:34 pm
Champ, you would be lawyer beat to a pulp…LOL
JAWJeRDAWG
December 3rd, 2011
9:34 pm
The LSU Tigers played the better game tonight overall and won; congratulations to them for winning the SEC!
UGA started out well, lost focus on some early dropped passes and fumbles, or LSU might really have had an up-hill climb to get back into the game if we had scored when we have those opportunity.
To LSU’s benefit they didn’t have to come very far from behind to win; their depth and talent took advantage of our mistakes, and scored on UGA’s offensive, defense and special teams mistakes and never looked back.
They deserved to win the game and I hope they win the MNC; they are a complete and dominating team. If we hadn’t made those early mistakes, this game might have had a different ending. To their credit, it didn’t.
I’m proud of UGA. After an 0 and 2 start, few felt the Dawgs had a chance to win the SEC East. Though it took loses by SC for us to win the East, we won all the next 10 games on our schedule and deserved to play in the SECCG.
Though we lost, this team fought hard despite the mistakes they made; even to the last play.
I’m proud to be a UGA fan and look forward to cheering on my Dawgs in whatever Bowl Game we go to.
Looking at the year as a whole, good job coaches and players.
I feel AD McGarity needs to lock down CMR and CTG to long-term contracts where we can get the recruits we need to make this team competitive for the upcoming seasons; that’s imperative.
I didn’t expect us to win this game; after our start, I’m just happy that we got there, and hope this year we have built the team chemistry nucleus for a better football team to begin 2012.
We need to recruit at least two more good RBs to support RS and KM, and some athletic beef for the O and D lines. I know IC was hurt a lot, but like others has said, I’m not so sure whether or not he’s an SEC back; hope time proves that wrong.
Let’s get a win in our Bowl Game, get those contract extensions in place and any changes in coaching-focus that might be necessary, fill our position-of-need in recruiting, work hard in the off-season S&C, and I believe UGA will be even more competitive next season.
Congrats to UGA for their body of work this year; you could have folded after the first two games and you didn’t; as a UGA fan, I like that and commend you for that. .. Go Dawgs!
Dalton
December 3rd, 2011
9:34 pm
@2010…so much pent up hate! Are you okay?? Listen, Georgia EARNED the right to play in the SEC Championship game this year. They dominated in the first half, but ultimately suffered by not scoring more points. LSU put on a clinic in the second half. That’s why they are the undisputed #1 team in the country. Hats off to them. LSU earned it. But, why so much hate from you and others?? I’m really sorry that your team was down this year. They’ll be back! I know that the majority of Tiger fans have way more class than your showing on this blog. GO DAWGS! Let’s win the bowl game and top off a great season!
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:34 pm
“Champ, you would be lawyer beat to a pulp”
The AJC keeps a a record of IP addresses, JB.
You’ve been warned.
(go gators)
December 3rd, 2011
9:34 pm
ga pups top 5 recruiting class every year nothin 2 show for it no nat. title since 1980 walker is not comin back
Chillahill
December 3rd, 2011
9:35 pm
Hey rahvi those are athens fans Atlanta fans were at the GT game! Oh wait now im really confused.
Sideline Dude
December 3rd, 2011
9:35 pm
Well, Boo Boo did it again: Run on first & second down, gain two yards & then have to pass on third & 8. And the offense looked so good on the first two series. Why then go back to the same old play calling? The man has got to go.
JB
December 3rd, 2011
9:35 pm
And Champ, your post have IQ in the 80 range….Lawyer…don’t think so…….Porter at a law office…probably….
Kiss The Ring
December 3rd, 2011
9:35 pm
JB is soooo tough on his keyboard! BWAHAHAHAA!
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:35 pm
“so much pent up hate! ”
No, I’m having a blast making fun of delusional dawg fans.
Simple
December 3rd, 2011
9:35 pm
If you recruit dumb undisciplined players, you get dumb undisciplined game play. Stop recruiting dumb thugs and institute some discipline.
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:35 pm
“And Champ, your post have IQ in the 80 range….Lawyer…don’t think so…….Porter at a law office…probably….”
Keep typing, ma’am. Keep making threats.
JB
December 3rd, 2011
9:36 pm
I’m shaking champ
Kiss The Ring
December 3rd, 2011
9:36 pm
UGA earned a right to play in the SECCG likeParis Hiltonearned her money.
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:36 pm
” your post have IQ in the 80 range”
Written by someone who has never taken an english class. UGA offers remedial english for people like you.
Scam
December 3rd, 2011
9:37 pm
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!! lost 3 of last 5 games by combined score of 132-31
Pago Pago DAWG
December 3rd, 2011
9:37 pm
We need to face facts…..UGA is barely an average team, next year won’t be much better. It’s indeed sad..
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:37 pm
“I’m shaking champ”
Maybe you should dry yourself off, ma’am.
Kiss The Ring
December 3rd, 2011
9:37 pm
How many of these UGA posters actually went there?
2010 BCS CHAMPS!!!!!!!
December 3rd, 2011
9:37 pm
“lost 3 of last 5 games by combined score of 132-31″
14-0 in 2010. Nuff said.
Dogbegone
December 3rd, 2011
9:38 pm
JB, you are a sore loser Dog type. Get over it dude. Take comfort in the fact that Auburn, Alabama, Florida and LSU have won several national titles within the last 15 years running. That is as close as UGA will come to a national title. Live your football life through them dog man. It’s your only hope of surviving as a dawg. Peace to you pup fan.