Has Georgia duped us again, or was this just a hiccup?
Mark Richt wasn't pleased with his team's opener, and justifiably so. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS – Teams like Georgia don’t put teams like Buffalo on the schedule to build character. Teams like Buffalo are put on the schedule because they’re perceived as safe, possibly even a punchline. Georgia was willing to pay the opponent $975,000 because that’s how much it takes now to find a school willing to suffer public humiliation and say, “Fine, hit me with that two-by-four. Just make sure our hotel has decent pillows.”
Something went wrong Saturday. Georgia paid for the entertainment, maybe a little exercise, but the expected embarrassment was closer to home. That might seem harsh given the Sanford Stadium scoreboard had a distinct tilt at the end: 45-23. But it shouldn’t be considered nearly satisfying, not for a program that went into the day with a preseason No. 6 ranking and aspires to something greater than just outlasting South Carolina in the SEC East Division.
Great teams don’t have first games like this. Great defenses don’t allow touchdown drives of 75, 94 and 75 yards to an opponent that went 5-19 over the past two years and was shut out twice by Temple. Top teams from the SEC shouldn’t allow a projected fifth-place team from the Mid-American Conference East 243 yards in the first half. The Bulldogs, a 37½-point favorite, led only 24-16 after two quarters — that because of a 100-yard kickoff return by freshman Todd Gurley, a gift goal following a blocked punt and a missed Buffalo extra point.
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said he had some choice "adjectives" for his players at halftime. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
Mark Richt is good in math. “If not for that, we’re losing at halftime.”
The defensive front got pushed around. (Buffalo rushed for 199 yards, including 147 in the first half.) Quarterback Aaron Murray frequently was off target. (Even Richt took a rare public shot at a player, referencing Murray’s overthrow to Tavarres King, saying: “He’s a veteran. You get a guy open like that on a post [pattern], you have to hit it.”)
Only Gurley and Georgia’s wide receivers were above criticism. Gurley was above everybody, actually. He had the kickoff return for the touchdown, two other scores on runs of 10 and 55 yards and he rushed for 100 yards on only eight carries in his debut.
But most Georgia players often looked like their heads were somewhere else, maybe Columbia, Mo., where the Dogs open conference play next week.
“Even the coaches had issues,” Richt said. He referenced plays when Georgia had 10 and 12 players on the field.
Was this an early hiccup? Or have we been duped again?
Nothing that occurred Saturday made you think this team is special. Actually, this was closer to a disturbing reminder of last season’s opener against Boise State in the Georgia Dome. The Dogs looked shockingly unprepared, unfocused and sloppy.
“I felt like garbage at halftime,” nose guard John Jenkins said.
“It wasn’t pretty,” Richt said. “I wasn’t thrilled with the way we played. We missed some early shots, offensively. We gave up some big plays.
“Am I concerned about it? Yeah. If we don’t play better than that next week, we’re going to come home sad.”
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was understandably animated on the sideline, and certainly at halftime with his players. His vaunted defense was missing five starters because of suspensions and injuries, but even he acknowledged, “That’s no excuse.” And he was right. Missing key players in the secondary doesn’t excuse the play of the defensive front.
“Play better,” he responded when asked what he told his players at intermission.
When asked if he delivered the message to the players that calmly, he said: “Not really. No. I don’t think you can [write] everything. I had some adjectives in there.”
Georgia carried its highest preseason ranking since 2008, when it was No. 1. The 92,000 fans who showed up expected more. They booed loudly in the first half. Thousands left at halftime. Thousands more left in the third quarter. The weather was humid, and the performance wasn’t worth sticking around for.
“If we wanted this to be a cakewalk, we should’ve came out and done a better job,” defensive end Abry Jones said.
Sometimes you don’t get what you pay for.
By Jeff Schultz
•
– New feature: My three observations on the game
•
Some selections from the jukebox
– Gonzalez knows if Braves fizzle, he’ll be one to catch heat
– Georgia State pounded in opener as growing pains continue
– Weekend Predictions: Dogs yes, Jackets no, Hawaii (duh)
– Paul Johnson will defend Tech’s offense, but not defense
– Countdown: Vandy’s she-QB, ESPN’s ‘power,’ creepy bobble
– College football, Week 1: Somehow it keeps getting better
– Isaiah Crowell ‘happy,’ seeking fresh start at Alabama State
– MLB’s drug policy too soft — teams should be docked wins
– NFL is damaging its own product with replacement officials
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
1,006 comments Add your comment
DawgNole
September 2nd, 2012
12:02 pm
Eric C.
September 1st, 2012
7:34 pm
And don’t forget Buffalo had all year to prepare for this game…this was their superbowl, give them a little credit…they didn’t make many mistakes and didn’t turn the ball over.
________________________
Uh, we also had all year to prepare for this game. Talk about irrelevant.
yarddawg
September 2nd, 2012
12:03 pm
Y’all have a good one, Ive got the hiccups now and have to go take a dupe!
Tampa Gator
September 2nd, 2012
12:04 pm
Andy
September 2nd, 2012
12:02 pm
“I am so glad that Bama wiggled out of having to playing the migjhty Dawgs this year. We are so LUCKY to get by another year. Thank You Jesus..”
you are right…..you got to play a much easier team in Michigan. But you did avoid Michigan State….as well as Georgia.
hot diggity dupe
September 2nd, 2012
12:04 pm
Big Crimson 75 – I have to agree with you.
I’ve been a Bulldog all of my life and went to undergrad there. I’m completely loyal to UGA, not to who they hire as the head coach. It’s obvious that he can’t do the job.
I love that our boy Kirby Smart is on the field next to Saban and I hope we hire him away from you guys, take that fire and passion, instill it into our players, and (with all due respect) meet you guys in the SEC Championship game and whip your butts! Because it ain’t gonna happen with Mark Richt and Mike Bobo driving this jalopy!
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
12:05 pm
What was the Fla. Bowling Green final?
Esquire
September 2nd, 2012
12:07 pm
dawgpaw
September 2nd, 2012
11:23 am
Dont’t ya just love it when the #6 rated team in the country has to look at the sideline everytime before they run a play. Huh I don’t remember the best teams doing that.
_________________________________________________
I think there were some Buffalo’s twirken’…………..
Big Crimson 75
September 2nd, 2012
12:09 pm
The Ike Crowell re-boot is underway!!!
dupe — Y’all can have Kirby. I’d rather have Sal Sunseri back.
hot diggity dupe
September 2nd, 2012
12:09 pm
kingdaddy’s up!! ‘Morning sunshine!
“Guys, what happened? You totally left me on the blog post last night. Uncool!”
A bloody mary and two Advil should help…
Rick James
September 2nd, 2012
12:10 pm
@5150 UOAD
Tech fans don’t say THIS COULD BE THE YEAR every year for the last 32. TECH doesn’t get the Overall Talent and Depth UGa does. I would lay bets IF TECH had UGa’s Talent and Depth we would win the ACC every year and be in a BCS game.
UGa doing LESS with MORE for 32 years and counting
————————————————————————————————————————-
I dont know what Tech fans say every year because I’m not obsessed with Tech football.I do wish them well every week but one because right now beating Tech every year does nothing to help Georgia’s strength of schedule.Lay these bets,if Tech had a coach who could recruit you would have the depth and talent you need to win the ACC every year and play in BCS bowl(which you would probably lose of course)If CMR and CPJ lose their jobs at season’s end CMR get another major job while CPJ is back in Division 2 or whatever its now called.As for Mike Bobo,put him on Georgia Tech’s staff right now and he would be the best recruiter they have.Funny how you seem to always put him down but his game plan always beats Tech.Maybe thats the real issue.Envy is the ulcer of the soul.Hope Tech gets things on track so you’ll have something to cheer about instead of making Georgia the obect of your frustrations.
Andy
September 2nd, 2012
12:11 pm
Have you heard the latest Bama got to play inside with the AC but when Michigan had to play outside in the heat. Will wonders never cease?
5150 UOAD
September 2nd, 2012
12:12 pm
KingDaddy slept off his late night posting……
The Gators are not all that and will not win the East as some Rambo Brownie Eaters said.
I’m guessing Mustang Sally didn’t get no Opening Day Victory Luv’n last night.
The Bear
September 2nd, 2012
12:12 pm
Floyd Mayweather Jr., reportedly wasted $3 million on Michigan to beat Alabama. I guess it is true getting hit in the head a lot does affect your decision making processes.
The Bear
September 2nd, 2012
12:12 pm
Floyd Mayweather Jr., reportedly wasted $3 million on Michigan to beat Alabama. I guess it is true getting hit in the head a lot does affect your decision making processes.
The Bear
September 2nd, 2012
12:13 pm
Oppsss
5150 UOAD
September 2nd, 2012
12:13 pm
@Andy you saw that too? HAHAHHAHA
Big Crimson 75
September 2nd, 2012
12:16 pm
When I think of the MEAC — I think Disney!!
Tampa Gator
September 2nd, 2012
12:17 pm
Big Crimson…..
You don’t win any friends coming on here and listing your high appreciation of Bama player performances against a highly overrated Michigan team……and stating that your freshman RB is better than Georgia’s freshman RB. But…..I think Gurley is going to be every bit as good at your back….maybe better. But both are going to be very good. A Bama and LSU are clearly the two best teams in the SEC again this year…..I think most intgelligent college football fans realize that….but we do not need Bama fans coming on bragging about it……suggest……be a fan of winning with some class.
Tampa Gator
September 2nd, 2012
12:17 pm
Big Crimson…..
You don’t win any friends coming on here and listing your high appreciation of Bama player performances against a highly overrated Michigan team……and stating that your freshman RB is better than Georgia’s freshman RB. But…..I think Gurley is going to be every bit as good at your back….maybe better. But both are going to be very good. A Bama and LSU are clearly the two best teams in the SEC again this year…..I think most intgelligent college football fans realize that….but we do not need Bama fans coming on bragging about it……suggest……be a fan of winning with some class.
Tampa Gator
September 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
don’t know why that posted twice…..but I am glad it did.
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
Dope
you left the blog last night with your little tail between your bo-legs. So did Thomas Brown. He had to get back to his room before the guard made his rounds. Bunch of booger-eaters worring about UGA again. Get a life nerds. BTW, I’m not calling you sensitive girly-boys names, it’s affectionate words of endearment, lol. How about that dope? ESPN going to TAM? After watching Bowling Green push Fla up and down the field, I’m sure they want some of that, lmaoff…
5150 UOAD
September 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
Is/Did any of the “DWAGS are still great” fans watch the CSS replay?
Tampa Gator
September 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
don’t know why that posted twice…..but I am glad it did.
Dawg Meat OKelly
September 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
We read too much into this first game. Look at Florida’s struggle with Bowling Green. First games do not give a clear picture. Missouri will tell a story
Tampa Gator
September 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
don’t know why that posted twice…..but I am glad it did.
Here we go
September 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
Same ole same ole!!!!!!Wait till next Year.9 and 3 or 8 and 4. See you at the Outback bowl or Music City.
Tampa Gator
September 2nd, 2012
12:19 pm
did it again
5150 UOAD
September 2nd, 2012
12:21 pm
Tampa Gator
September 2nd, 2012
12:17 pm
Big Crimson…..
You don’t win any friends coming on here and listing your high appreciation of Bama player performances against a highly overrated Michigan team
………………………………………………………………………….
And making EXCUSES for the Joke game UGa played against HIGHLY TOUTED Buffalo makes you Einstein right?
GFJacket
September 2nd, 2012
12:21 pm
Rick James, when was the last time Tech had a recruiting class better than UGA’s. Johnson hasn’t. Gailey never did. Ross never did. O’Leary never did. Until Tech gets to offer some Turfgrass Management majors to the academically challenged blue chipper, UGA will always be able to get the best athletes. It is better positioned than its SEC rivals to recruit in its home state.
The question remains, what does UGA do with all that talent? It has perennial top 10 classes yet everyone around it is getting National Titles since 1980 – - even Tech.
Dawg Meat OKelly
September 2nd, 2012
12:22 pm
BTW Alabama seems to be a man among boys in the SEC. 4 300 lb monsters on their OL will clear a battlefield. Glad we don’t play Bama
Tampa Gator
September 2nd, 2012
12:24 pm
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
Dope
“ESPN going to TAM (A&M)? After watching Bowling Green push Fla up and down the field, I’m sure they want some of that, lmaoff…”
Sort of like Buffalo pushing Georgia up and down the field?????? Bowling green through 50 plus passes…..completed half of them…….mostly for less than 5 yards each. Florida gave most of those passes to them….and then closed down on 3rd down most of the time.
Long night last night?????
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
12:24 pm
Tamp, what was the final of your game, I missed it? I assume y’all won, but it was close last time I checked…
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
12:24 pm
Tamp, what was the final of your game, I missed it? I assume y’all won, but it was close last time I checked…
chazzo
September 2nd, 2012
12:24 pm
I have always been a Richt supporter. BUT, winning the SEC East because another team loses two games is just not acceptable this year. Win it outright with at least 11 wins or it’s moving van time.
Tampa Gator
September 2nd, 2012
12:24 pm
“threw 50 plus passes”
Tampa Gator
September 2nd, 2012
12:27 pm
27-14…….14 Gator penalities made the score closer than it should have been…..especially in the first half……made you want to get up and leave THE SWAMP…..because that is what we saw last year….drive killing penalties.
5150 UOAD
September 2nd, 2012
12:27 pm
BETS that Richt will still be around in 2016 when the NCAA will mandate Athlete students have to be as smart as regular students? UGa without 70%= Special Admits will make the dWags Ole Miss, Miss St, Vandy & Kentucky. Bama LSU & ArkieSaw will not fair much better. No more MOE RONs allowed to take 3rd grade degrees just to play a game.
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
12:29 pm
Whats up with the double post?
Tamp, don’t get you thong twisted, I’m glad you won. Guess I’ll have to go find the score myself. I had a great night thankyou and the coffee is the bomb. Gotta drrop some wings off to my mom but I’ll be back…
Big Crimson 75
September 2nd, 2012
12:30 pm
I’ve crowed very little the past 24 hrs.
Why would I?
I know what my Teams all about.
I don’t think the #8 Team was anymore over-rated than the #6 Team.
Ga “fans” do a good enough job bashing their Program — they don’t need my help.
Uh-oh — Crows given up already.
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
12:31 pm
Thanks TG…
lol
September 2nd, 2012
12:31 pm
mark richt is soft. He should a be preacher and quit football coaching.
5150 UOAD
September 2nd, 2012
12:31 pm
DiLex…………………Hello………………….Hello……………DiLex where are you?……………..I CAN’T HEAR YOU……………..Any call on Louisville v Kentucky?
5150 UOAD
September 2nd, 2012
12:32 pm
Bi Cri……………..The CROW has already pulled himself out of the game after 3 runs?
The Mayor
September 2nd, 2012
12:33 pm
Schultz, keep your Yellow Stinger in Atlanta where you belong. You have NO clue what you’re talking about, or are so jealous that UGA just might have a good year. You could always find a job in Gainesville where they see things through the same cynical glasses…… UGA 46 GT 0….,
The Mayor
September 2nd, 2012
12:33 pm
Schultz, keep your Yellow Stinger in Atlanta where you belong. You have NO clue what you’re talking about, or are so jealous that UGA just might have a good year. You could always find a job in Gainesville where they see things through the same cynical glasses…… UGA 46 GT 0….,
Big Crimson 75
September 2nd, 2012
12:35 pm
51 — Was that a pistol in his hand!!??
Tampa Gator
September 2nd, 2012
12:35 pm
To give you people talking down about the Gators based on the game yesterday against Bowling Green……
Florida ran 62 plays in the game…….and ran the ball 41 times and passed 21 times. They were very unbalanced….for a reason……to establish the offensive line and the running game….which they did. They ran the ball so much that Bowling Green brought 9 players into the box….and Florida still ran the ball….except on 3rd and short a few times….when BG brought everyone into the box and Pease wanted to pass the ball but Muschamp told him “no”….wanting to establish the running game. You can’t run the ball when 11 are in the box…..and Muschamp said so after the game when the 3rd and short plays were stuffed. 7 guys can’t block 11. In a REAL game, if a team brought that many into the box, you simply fake the run and throw a TD pass. Florida did not want to do that in the game….and tells you all you need to know about Florida’s approach to the game. So forget Bowling Green and Buffalo……no one should care about those games now. You will see nothing like those games from either Florida or Georgia next week. Gator game replay and Muschamp show is over now…..so I am out. Have a nice day.
Woofy One
September 2nd, 2012
12:38 pm
Our Dawgs will be fine. Strap it on.
Atlas
September 2nd, 2012
12:40 pm
Is Jeff right, do great teams always dominate medicore teams?
LSU:
08, Beat Appal St 42-13 in opener
09, beat Wash 31-23 in opener
10, beat NC 30-24 in opener
LSU, a great team, usually doesn’t look great in opener.
Alabama:
07 Lost to La Monroe
08 Beat Tulane 20-6
09 Beat Fla Intl 40-14
11 Beat Penn St 27-11
So Bama also doesn’t always look great against bad teams, but Bama is a great team.
So Jeff, proven wrong. Sorry Charlie.
UGA winning 45-23 looks a lot like LSU winning 42-13 to Appal St or looks a lot better than Bama’s 40-14 win against Fla Intl.
Rick James
September 2nd, 2012
12:40 pm
@GFJacket
Rick James, when was the last time Tech had a recruiting class better than UGA’s. Johnson hasn’t. Gailey never did. Ross never did. O’Leary never did. Until Tech gets to offer some Turfgrass Management majors to the academically challenged blue chipper, UGA will always be able to get the best athletes. It is better positioned than its SEC rivals to recruit in its home state.
The question remains, what does UGA do with all that talent? It has perennial top 10 classes yet everyone around it is getting National Titles since 1980 – – even Tech
—————————————————————————————————————————
Cry me a river..Stanford does very well and Vandy is kicking CPJ’s a$$ in Georgia right now with recruits who could play at Tech.Stop hiding behind academics and hire a coach who can recruit.Nobody is say your have to have better classes than Georgia just better classes that the rest of the ACC.
5150 UOAD
September 2nd, 2012
12:40 pm
Bi Cri is he going to go all “On Any Given Sunday” on a defender trying to tackle him? LOL