LIVE: Georgia looks to make quick work of Buffalo, move on
Thirty minutes to kickoff. Fans may want to get here quick before the blowout starts.
ATHENS — For the first time since November, I can begin a blog with, “Good morning from Sanford Stadium.” The Georgia Bulldogs plan to have the Buffalo Bulls for a light lunch.
Let’s get to the important stuff:
• 1.) It’s humid. I mean, really stupidly humid. My iPhone right now says 81 degrees (projected high in Athens: 93). But it feels more like a sauna on July 1 than the almost-fall cooling temperatures of Sept. 1. Logic suggests this will affect Buffalo more than Georgia, not that we would have attached any trace of suspense to today’s outcome even if it was 72 degrees with a soft ocean breeze. (The point spread is 37½. I say the Dogs cover. See the rest of my picks here).
• 2.) This is the first game for Russ, The Temporary Mascot, as Uga IX. I’m hoping this ascension to full time means the poor dog finally gets insurance benefits. I had to crack up at athletic director Greg McGarity’s statement the other day: “Russ has endeared himself to the Georgia people over the last three years. His dedication to duty when called upon has been exemplary and it’s fitting that he takes his place in the official line of Georgia mascots.”
People. The dog is in a crate. What’s he going to do? Make a break for it and hop a bus to Starkville?
(You may now commence with your cyber attacks on me for making Uga jokes.)
• 3.) This is a good chance for Georgia to test its depth on defense and try some players in different situations. Five defensive starters are expected to miss the game: Cornerback-wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (sprained ankle), cornerback Sanders Commings (suspended two games for domestic battery), linebacker Chase Vasser (suspended two games for DUI), linebacker Alec Ogletree (violation of team rules) and safety Bacarri Rambo (violation of team rules). Georgia has never confirmed reports that the Olgetree and Rambo both failed drug tests or that they have been suspended (and for how long).
• 4.) I’m most interested to watch the Dogs’ offense, particularly the play of the offensive line (which I believe ultimately will determine what kind of season they have) and the effectiveness of freshman tailbacks Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. As much as the excommunicated Isaiah Crowell was undone by off-the-field issues, most recently felony gun charges, he easily was the best running back the Dogs had.
That’s it for now. I’ll post any updates on the lineup and suspensions as warranted. Now, I may head down for a pre-game chat with Russ.
Welcome back to college football.
The cyber venting lines are open.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,078 comments Add your comment
catlady
September 1st, 2012
4:54 pm
We will see what happens when we pay other SEC schools. I think we are overrated–I hope not–but it is a problem seems like every year. We can certainly expect other SEC teams to be used to heat, and be deep on the bench (mostly).
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
4:55 pm
kingdaddy why were you not on during the game?
catlady
September 1st, 2012
4:55 pm
Oops, I mean PLAY other SEC teams. We may need to PAY a few, too.
blackandwhitestripes
September 1st, 2012
4:55 pm
But wait with their schedule, they don’t need one.
Bad Dawg
September 1st, 2012
4:56 pm
The only thing I was impressed with today was Todd Gurley, Keith Marshall, and Michael Bennett. This team looked like it shouldn’t even be ranked if you ask me.
Oracle of Mariett
September 1st, 2012
4:59 pm
After a decade with Coach Richt, we have seen the product that he brings to the table. His teams are not total embarrassments, but they are not in national contention either. He means well, he is a good guy, but this is as far as he can take our program. If you are waiting for CMR to change, you are going to be disappointed. What you saw today is a typical Coach Richt team. Embrace the mediocrity or challenge our university to be better.
GTT
September 1st, 2012
5:01 pm
Isaiah who?
DawgNole
September 1st, 2012
5:02 pm
Devil’s Advocate
September 1st, 2012
4:47 pm
Dang, there I go again bashing Bobo. Bad me! I honestly will say that Bobo has earned my curiosity to see how he calls the Mizzou game.
_____________________
Solid observations throughout your post, but “how he calls the Mizzou game” is the most relevant. DECENT opponent, hostile environment. THEN we’ll see if he’s REALLY “earned” your curiosity.
Jeff Schultz
September 1st, 2012
5:03 pm
Follks. Working on the column now but I just posted three quick observations on Georgia’s [unimpressive] win.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2012/09/01/three-observations-on-georgias-win-over-buffalo
Bad Dawg
September 1st, 2012
5:03 pm
Let Gurley prove that he’s the man for an entire season or two before people start calling him the next best thing.
Sad Richards
September 1st, 2012
5:04 pm
Tired of the same excuses of “we will get better”. Its the same ole crap. UGA is a sinking ship with Richt.
joe jenkins
September 1st, 2012
5:04 pm
james franklin will eat us alive….losses to colorado and ucf….okie st and boise st and mich st…with an pending loss to mizzo a coming….richt use to win on the road baby…damn those day’s are long gone….well i disagree with u john….ctg is overated….buffalo should have never scored….they finished i think 117 in the nation last year.lol
DawgNole
September 1st, 2012
5:05 pm
kingdaddy
September 1st, 2012
4:52 pm
Why all the sad trolls? We won, be happy. S.C. won, UT won. Fla. will probably win but Bowling Green is giving then a game. Vandy looked good. SECe will be fine. Won’t know about GT until tonight, but hope they win. Getting ready to go to the “Shell House” for some oysters and shrimp, then “Party-town”. Way to go Russ, GATA big brown butt…
___________________
We won’t know about GT until MONDAY night, but I hope they win, too. I ALWAYS want my teams to play respectable (record-wise, anyway) opponents. It proves NOTHING to beat a loser.
Mike
September 1st, 2012
5:11 pm
Enter your comments here
Mike Bobo
September 1st, 2012
5:12 pm
To all you disgruntled, can’t be pleased Georgia Fans, how many of you make $750,000 like I do?
HaHa
Jim Jack
September 1st, 2012
5:12 pm
What a defense! We have a GREAT DC. That only cost us $850,000.00 and a three year contract? WOW! We are lucky! Our poor offense only put up 45 points. That idiot Murray threw what, 10 interceptions?
joe jenkins
September 1st, 2012
5:13 pm
after watching boise st vs mich st…i think they both still would beat us this year…they both are more physical on both sides of the ball…..i bet erk russel was rolling around in his grave watching that buffalo qb run all over us
Mike Bobo
September 1st, 2012
5:15 pm
http://www.open.georgia.gov/sta/search.aud
Mike Bobo
September 1st, 2012
5:17 pm
Search for Robert M. Bobo. $242,499. Plus the funds that my endorsment of Cruex brings in.
joe jenkins
September 1st, 2012
5:19 pm
I agree jim jack….first richt started stealing from the university…then bobo…now ctg…geez even slick willie could hold buffalo to 23 points
Here we go
September 1st, 2012
5:26 pm
We are not a top 10 team.O/L grade C.D/L gradeD.D/B grade C. Linebackers grade C.Running backs B(Gurley-A).WR grade B. Special teams grade B. Team effort grade C.Coaching grade C.I was saying a 9-3 season,now we could be 8-4.USCe,Gators, and AU will be in the loss column.Then the same ole loss to someone we should beat(Vandy,Vols,Mizzo).
Really?
September 1st, 2012
5:43 pm
It’s the favorite time of year for those sad little nothings who live to hate Georgia. They writhe in ecstacy as they hide behind their keyboards and take cheap shots t teenagers who WON a football game. These pathetic losers that have nothing but hate to warm them insult an belittle kids who have already done more with their lifes than the anti Georgia klan will ever do with their so called lifes.
No surprise the majority of these hate filled sad sacks pretend to be Georgia fans or fans of any other school than the one they actually “like”. Of course very few of these idiots like anything since misery and failure is their most consistent companion.
5150 as usual is camped out on the Georgia blogs. He spews so much anger and vitro it is obvious why the only job he has ever managed to hold is selling birdhouses online. HA HA HA HA I’m not kidding that is what he REALLY does to support himself. If you can call living with your mom and not paying your baby mama child support “supporting himself”.
Really?
September 1st, 2012
5:46 pm
How bout that Gurley!!!!!!!!!! Loved the 2 stiff arms on that last TD run.
Devil's Advocate
September 1st, 2012
5:48 pm
I do wonder why people speak of Richt as if he’s performing like Donnan. UGA has won the SEC East a pretty decent number of times under Richt considering the dominance that Florida and Tennessee had preceeding him. Let’s not forget the arrival of Spurrier at South Carolina has made them a respectable (but not elite, don’t get it twisted Cock fans) program. Richt has enjoyed 10+ win seasons throughout his tenure. Sure, there have been disappointments but all but 1 team is disappointed every season.
LSU fans were rumbling about the Les Miles hot seat before mid-September 2011 and they quickly shut their traps.
How many BCS Championships have Les Miles, Nick Saban, Gene Chizik, Urban Meyer won in the past decade with just NFL-caliber players? 0
How many SEC or BCS championships has Spurrier won at SC? 0
UGA’s coaching is fine, we just need the right bell cow(s) on offense. Richt has won the SEC 2 times, played for the championship 2 other times, and perhaps his best team didn’t qualify in 2007 because they started the season slow (I’ll admit that was a coaching issue). As a matter of fact, the beginning of 2007 and the entire 2008 season are the major cases for “bad coaching” and that wasn’t even X’s and O’s. Richt should have leaned on Moreno early in 2007 (looks like he’s learned that lesson the way Gurley and Marshall are allowed to run out of the gate) and the team just needed more leadership and focus in 2008.
In 2002 and 2007, UGA was 1 regular season win away from a legit shot at playing for the BCS Championship. And yes, I know UGA still would have had to beat LSU in 2007 but I’ll take the opportunity over the what-if. Every coach has had bad loses, but every great coach has had their lucky breaks and special seasons too. LSU won the BCS with 2 losses, Florida has never had a perfect season, and Bama won one of their’s without even winning the conference championship. I’d call that luck in the grand scheme of things. Four of the SEC’s BCS Championship teams required outside help to do it. UGA didn’t get help in 2002 and Auburn didn’t get help in 2004. Both of those teams would have had a great shot of winning the BCS Championship Game in those seasons.
UGA has had great talent over the years but on offense we haven’t had our Tebow, Newton, Richardson, Ingram, or Russell. Moreno was the closest thing to those guys talent-wise but he didn’t have the heart or will to win a championship (take me out coach) like those guys. That’s not a knock on Moreno, he just wasn’t wired that way. Stafford was just passing through on his way to the NFL. Murray appears to be the same as he checked his draft status last season. If he has great numbers this year I wouldn’t be shocked to see him bolt only to get drafted at the end of the 1st or likely in the 2nd round.
Hopefully Gurley and Marshall turn out to be our Ingram/Richardson combo. Super talented guys who are really driven to win a championship. It’s a must-have for those kinds of players, not a nice to have while I put up great stats before making millions in the NFL. Those guys are so dedicated to winning and achieving greatness that they were willing to come to the same school and compete for playing time not only with upperclassmen but each other too. That tells me they are more interested in winning than personal gain. I hope at least one of these guys turns out to be that magical player that a team can lean on for an entire season.
*Fingers crossed*
kingdaddy
September 1st, 2012
5:51 pm
51pennies & 2 quaters
How do you know I wasn’t, lol. I was on CTs for some of the game, Shultzie’s later. Getting ready to party. I may have been here longer than you think…
DawgNole,
Thanks man, I thought it was tonight. Hope GT kicks their butts and is undefeated when we meet…
GO DOGGIES…
F. Sinkwich
September 1st, 2012
6:29 pm
Fun game.
D missing half their starters, dudes.
Murray a little amped up.
It’s all good – W.
Next week Mizzou. Will be fun to watch.
FALKONS
September 1st, 2012
6:43 pm
Look its like this, the Georgia Bulldawgs are not the best team in the nation nor the SEC, but they have a cance to win every game on their schedule. Every game will be tough because of our shortcomings! I do agree that Gurley needs at least 20 touches at the tail back position. He seems like the kind of runner that gets stronger as the game goes. I like the quick passes to T King and I love Bennetts ability to block and catch big passes. As far as the kickers I give them a b+ the field goals look shaky but the kick offs and punts were on the money. The jury is still out on the defense until we get all of our parts back. The offensive line was just OK. I hope Theus will be able to go next week. I think the dawgs will be ok, but they will have to play special football to win in SC and Mizzou. They will have to play well in Jacksonville and they will have to respect Tenn and Vandy when they come to Athens. Every game will be a battle so just enjoy the ride.
Jeff Schultz
September 1st, 2012
7:00 pm
Folks, the game column is posted, if you want to shift commenting over there.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2012/09/01/has-georgia-duped-us-again-or-was-this-just-a-hiccup/