Georgia starts slow, then writes winning script (UPDATED)
If Dogs' comeback wasn't big enough statement, this was.
(UPDATED: 1:15 a.m.)
COLUMBIA, Mo. — By the time this night was over, Georgia had to be more than just somebody else’s memory.
Decades from now, there couldn’t be any warm-and-fuzzy storylines about how some newbie won its first SEC game, because the flip side to that would be that the Bulldogs had lost it. There couldn’t be the tale of how a long-standing program (Georgia) had stumbled in its conference opener for the third straight season, this time falling to a program (Missouri) that some questioned was even worthy of this leap.
But by the time the evening ended, Georgia didn’t have to worry about that. The Dogs had several early hiccups Saturday. They turned the ball over. They committed penalties. They trailed as late as 20-17 with less than three minutes left in the third quarter. Then they changed the script.
The Dogs scored the final 24 points of the game. They scored 38 in the final 30:30 of the game after managing only a field goal in the first 29:30. They won 41-20.
It’s too early to know if Georgia is a great team. But that is how great teams react. They take over games and look like they’re ready for the moment, especially when the opponent looks like it isn’t.
As the game ended, Georgia fans in one corner of Memorial Stadium, chanted, “Old man football! Old man football!” The reference was to the Missouri player who had mocked their style.
Big mistake by the Tigers. Fond memory for the Bulldogs.
“We all heard it — that was great,” quarterback Aaron Murray said.
“”Hilarious,” wide receiver Marlon Brown added.
Defense held Dogs in it until Aaron Murray got going.
It was 3-3 until late in the second quarter. Brown said, “I was thinking, ‘Wow, this really is ‘old man football’ — for both teams.”
But Georgia drove to a touchdown with 30 seconds left in the first half, and suddenly it couldn’t be stopped. In one stretch they scored on five of six possessions (four touchdowns and a field goal), although the last two touchdowns of the game were gimmes, set up by Missouri turnovers caused by linebacker Jarvis Jones: an interception and return to the Mizzou 1, and a sack and forced fumble at the 5.
“I think we showed people we can play,” Jones said. “In the first half, they threw a variety of punches at us, they showed us everything they had. In the second half we were more comfortable. And we made plays.”
Meanwhile, the Tigers unraveled. It started with their head coach, Gary Pinkel. He called for a fake punt early in the fourth quarter when Georgia led only 24-20. Some might call that the element of surprise. In reality, it was an awful message to send his players. It was like telling them, “We can’t win this playing normal football.” There is nothing wrong with calling a fake punt, but not at that point of the game.
Also, it failed. Punter Trey Barrow was stuffed on a fourth-and-11 run by Sheldon Dawson at the Tigers’ 38. The Dogs converted that into a field goal and outscored Missouri 17-0 from that points.
Jones: “That was a big turning point for us.”
Nobody went into Saturday expecting a blowout win. Georgia showed flaws last week against Buffalo (soft defensive line, off-target quarterback), was missing bodies (four defensive starters suspended) and was playing on the road against a solid opponent that obviously was pumped for its SEC debut.
But the one thing nobody in Athens wanted or expected was a reminder of last season’s first significant test of the season. Remember the Boise State game? The Bulldogs looked outcoached and overmatched physically by a perceived inferior team that night. They trailed 28-7 in the third quarter and lost 35-21.
That’s sort of what it looked like for a half (or more) against Missouri. The offensive line didn’t block well. Murray was off target. He frequently overthrew receivers, and the one time when he underthrew a receiver (Brown), the pass was intercepted — and on the first play after Georgia had recovered a Missouri fumble.
There were other problems. Malcolm Mitchell belatedly and foolishly decided to field a punt on a bounce and in traffic. Of course, he got hit and fumbled. The Dogs finished with 12 penalties, including five false starts. There were dropped passes. Placekicker Marshall Morgan made 52-and 41-yard field goals but missed an extra point and had another ricochet in off the upright.
But defense, despite also having some bumps, kept the Dogs in it until Murray and the offense got going. With Georgia trailing 20-17, Murray completed consecutive passes to Brown (40 yards), Michael Bennett (22) and Brown (11) again, the last one for a touchdown and a 24-20 lead.
Missouri panicked. It didn’t look ready for the moment. Pinkel’s fake punt backfired. It was over.
This memory was all Georgia’s.
By Jeff Schultz
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687 comments Add your comment
Dawg Haus
September 9th, 2012
12:52 am
Good win and good night to all the loyal Dawgs out there!
moobsjohnson
September 9th, 2012
12:52 am
Did you know my shirts come with pre-formed man boob slots. All the better to breast feed GTBob. He gets cranky when he can’t get man titty fast enough.
stendek
September 9th, 2012
12:52 am
Old man football? Pass that Geritol! Cough cough.
kingdaddy
September 9th, 2012
12:53 am
Bob
I think you’re jealous. You should be. We will stay in the top 10 while you will still be a cupcake on our schedule. We need to drop you and pick up a better team like Savannah State, lol…
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
12:53 am
This was a big win because we earned it, didn’t quit, stared adversity down, and overcame it.
lol. Give me a break. Stared adversity down? Missouri kept it close for as long as they could which was a bit of a miracle in and of itself. They were incredibly outmanned. UGA’s second team could have easily beaten them.
Ghost
September 9th, 2012
12:53 am
Lsu 42 you are nothing but a low life loser. since your in Atlanta , perahps our paths will cross and you fill in the blanks little kitty
Glory between the Hedges
September 9th, 2012
12:53 am
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
12:50 am
Sad you had to pull that name out. You are desperate now. Dawg fans can care less about that game tonight. Bring LSU or Bama to us this season when Gurley has a whole season under his belt.
TossSweep
September 9th, 2012
12:53 am
With a little over a minute left in the first half, Mizzou went for a touchdown. If Bobo was in the same position, does anyone think he would have enough gonads to go for a touchdown? Based on past history, he would have ran the ball and go into half time. I think Mizzou’s coaching staff is better than Georgia’s. Georgia won because of more talent tonight, not coaching.
Jarvis Jones saved the jobs of the Georgia coaches tonight, folks. Bobo has to go.
Herman the One-Eyed German
September 9th, 2012
12:54 am
Why would CMR call for a bunt at that particular point in the game, with no one on base? Very perplexing. Sorry, but #7 we ain’t.
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
12:54 am
I think you’re jealous. You should be. We will stay in the top 10 while you will still be a cupcake on our schedule.
I accepted many years ago that GT is terrible. Doesn’t change the fact that Missouri is as well.
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
12:55 am
lsu42izzatyourIQ?
September 9th, 2012
12:47 am
Please 42, you’ve whined enough. We get it, you’re a bitch. Go home and diddle your daughter like a good cajun. Red stick. Named for your mama’s tampon by chance?
—-
Hey moderators. Might want to check this one out. Raping a child is not a joke.
stendek
September 9th, 2012
12:55 am
Guess that team in Texas does not think of SEC as a cakewalk league either. Not good time for newbies.
FLA DAWG
September 9th, 2012
12:55 am
OMG how bad are the Mizzou uniforms !!??
The only thing worse would be the GT uniforms………………or watching LSU get stomped by Bama again.
MIZZOU, Boys if you’re gonna play SEC Ball then get some class rags………”kno whut ah mean ?”
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
12:55 am
Anybody know any 15-yr. old girls I can talk to tonight?
Columbus
September 9th, 2012
12:55 am
I LOVED that Kentucky aint worth a “shirt” line Schultz!
The Dogs offense has now came to life and I expect them to be a sight to see the rest of the season in the passing game. Especially if we ever get Mitchell back over there where he belongs.
You Richt haters enjoy this win? Richt is solid. Calm under pressure. This used to be celebrated. Bobo? Still suspect but better. Richt is a great coach. Richt is the best coach in UGA history matter of FACT. Cant handle a couple of down seasons? Then you better go root for a nother team every few years because they ALL have down seasons. UGA had theirs and are STRONGER THAN EVER. I have NEVER seen UGA”s foundation and future look better in my 32 years of watching them. THIS team is going to only get better and better, including the already STOUT defense when the starters get back. OGLETREE IS A BEAST! Definite All-American and add Rambo and that is 3 All-Americans at least on our D….Bobo is still the weak link. Not Richt. UGA has NEVER been am ELITE program and you all expect them to be. Richt is about to take them there. Stay tuned and support your team and coach. See you in the SEC Championship game…and for the next 5 years! Its going to be a great time to be a Dawg fan. People say Richt gets as good of players as Bama. NOT TRUE. Bama gets FAR MORE 5 STARS….FACT. IT took Saban 10 years to win a NC and he is the KING. THis is Richts 12th season….you expect EVERY coach to win a NC in their first 10 years? ROFL…Took Dooley, the Bear 18 years of being a head coach, takes most of them 15 years with a few recent exceptions at elite schools. UGA is not elite in football, but Richt has had us in the top 10 more the last 10 years than EVER in UGA history during a 10 year span and we are there again. We won a game msot people thought we would lose. Better condiitoned UGA was in the 4th. Better adjustments after halftime. Big plays by Jarvis(from Columbus I might add). UGA weathered the storm in a hostile environment, They deserve a lot of love, but not too much. But they DO DESERVE ALL OF OUR SUPPORT AND SO DOES A GREAT COACH. RICHT. HE WILL TAKE US TO THE PROMISE LAND SOON. BOBO? HES BETTER BUT STILL HAS GOT TO IMPROVE MORE. RICHT IS A GREAT COACH AND WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE HIM AS COACH OF OUR BELOVED DAWGS! HERE COMES ANOTHER 10 WIN SEASON. THAT WILL MAKE WHAT 8 IN 12 YEARS? WOW. SOON WE WILL GET THE BREAKS AND GET OUR NC SHOT. SHOULD HAVE IN 2007 LIKE BAMA DID LAST YEAR BUT WE DIDNT, LSU DID. THEY WON IT ALL, WE WOULD HAVE DESTROYED THEM HEAD-TO-HEAD….SO DONT FORGET THAT. RIACHT HAD THE BEST TEAM IN THE NATION IN 2007 BUYT DIDNT GET THE SHOT BAMA GOT LAST YEAR. AND THE NEXT YEAR WHEN THEY GAVE US THE CONOLIATION PRIZE OF BEING RANKED #1? ANY OF YOU WITH HALF A BRAIN KNEW THAT UGA HAD LOST FOR TOO MANY IMPORTANT PIECES TO BE WORTHY OF EVEN A TOP 5 RANKING. RICHT DIDNT BLOW IT, THE TEAM SIMPLY WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND CERTAINLY NOT AS GOOD AS THE TEAM WE HAD THE YEAR BEFORE. SO GET YOUR THINKING STRAIGHT. GET BEHIND THIS MAN INSTEAD OF CRITICIZING HIM AND SEE WHAT HE CAN DO. HE WILL WIN THE NC AT UGA. HE WILL AND HE WILL IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS….AND HE WILL BRING UGA TO THE ELITES LIKE BAMA, USC, OKLAHOMA, LSU, PENN ST,
GO DAWGS. A FEW MORE OF YOU GET OFF THE RICHT HATING BANDWAGON…HES NOT A PROBLEM. WITHOUT HIM OUR RECRUITING WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY INFERIOR. ALL HE NEEDS TO DO IS GET A FEW GUYS TO LAY OFF WEED AND STOP TESTING THEM AFTER SPRING BREAK! THAT CRAZY A.D.! ANYWAY, ITS GONNA BE A GREAT YEAR. WE MIGHT BE READY TO CONTEND FOR IT ALL COME THE END OF THE YEAR….YEAH
moobsjohnson
September 9th, 2012
12:56 am
Those same Mizzou coaches made the incredibly stupid 4th down call in the second half that seemed to swing the momentum to GA. Maybe they aren’t quite as astute as you think.
Glory between the Hedges
September 9th, 2012
12:56 am
GT Bob
UGA’s second team could have easily beaten them
And that’s exactly what we did tonight with our defense. THANKS
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
12:56 am
When the press and the nation’s collegiate coaches place UGA at #7, somehow that carries more weight/credibility than your poll, Bob.
Who did they have at #8 this week? Oh yeah, another overrated SEC team who was exposed.
DAWG FOR REAL
September 9th, 2012
12:56 am
GTBob GEORGIA SOUTHERN WOULD WIPE THE FLOOR WITH YOU NERDS. UGA WONS THIS STATE NERD. I BET YOU GOT BEAT UP IN HIGH SCHOOL EVERY DAY,THUMPED ON THE EARS
moobsjohnson
September 9th, 2012
12:56 am
So quit doing that LSU42.
Mobile Dawg
September 9th, 2012
12:57 am
Bob, you are truly an annoying little piss ant. I hope that gratifies your existence buddy. Good Night, and congrats Dawgs for a Great win @ Mizzou. Not perfect but seldom does perfect exists in our mortal lives.
kerryb
September 9th, 2012
12:58 am
Ga Tech wishes they could break the top 25.
Glory between the Hedges
September 9th, 2012
12:58 am
I accepted many years ago that GT is terrible. Doesn’t change the fact that Missouri is as well.
I also accepted the fact that Georgia has choked in these games the past few seasons and finally turned it around tonight.
Dawg Whisperer
September 9th, 2012
12:58 am
Trivia question. When was the last time they won a conference title?
————————————-
You’re right, it is a trivia question which means I don’t care but I do recall that they were in the running for a national championship a few years ago. I could continue this tit for tat all night but I’ve got to get up in the morning and worship something more important than football. Go God!!
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
12:59 am
GTBob GEORGIA SOUTHERN WOULD WIPE THE FLOOR WITH YOU NERDS.
They lost to Citadel today. We aren’t quite that bad.
"NO means NO, Zach"
September 9th, 2012
12:59 am
Texas A&M should improve the SEC West, since they get to play 2 teams from Mississippi each year.
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
12:59 am
@Glory, I’m sure there are a lot of UGA fans really wishing Arkansas was on their schedule. At least for the next 3-4 weeks. Then after that they’d prefer to stick with Florida Atlantic types.
Ouch. I like what Colin Cowherd once said when they were discussing a playoff. He said I wouldn’t mind a playoff if it was just the SEC. Screw that, just the SEC West.
He had that right. Looking at the stats for last year, South Carolina was the best team in the east. Finished 9th. You guys finished 19th. Difference is you didn’t play anyone from the west that mattered.
So should I just stick with the last big UGA win was over #24 Michigan St in 2008?
DAWG FOR REAL
September 9th, 2012
12:59 am
GTBob i dont see many acc teams ranked. By the way, georgia tech is not ranked. If tech played in the sec,they would get their a$$ handed to them every week.
kerryb
September 9th, 2012
12:59 am
Must stink to be a Tech fan and lose your first game and know you will lose your last of the season and may beat some cupcakes in between.
Herman the One-Eyed German
September 9th, 2012
1:00 am
Okay, pulling it out in Q4 against an unranked team — I get it. UGA once again unprepared despite talented players. But, one must ask, where are the Snowdens of yesteryear?
ugavant
September 9th, 2012
1:00 am
For the seemingly few of you who graduated from 6th grade:
…Blood and destruction shall be so in use
And dreadful Touchdowns so familiar
That SEC coaches – both East & West – shall but smile when they behold
Their Teams quarter’d by the hands of Murray;
All pity will be choked with the felling of Gators & ‘Cocks:
And Jarvis Jones, ranging the field for revenge,
With Gurley by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in SEC Stadiums, with a Champion’s voice
Cry ‘HAVOC,’ and let loose the DAWGS of war!!!
[with apologies to Will (HBTD) S’peare
CoachFishFry
September 9th, 2012
1:01 am
LSU you’re daughter is waiting. Of course it won’t matter to you if she’s asleep or awake right?
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
1:01 am
Ga Tech wishes they could break the top 25.
I can’t really say I care much about the top 25. Its pretty meaningless. We will more than likely be ranked this season though. Not that we deserve it.
Ghost
September 9th, 2012
1:01 am
lsu here kitty kitty loser tech troll bravery behind the keyboard seems to be your forte
kingdaddy
September 9th, 2012
1:02 am
Bob doesn’t try to win an arguement, he just likes having someone to talk to, lol…
DAWG FOR REAL
September 9th, 2012
1:02 am
You were last week you nerd. CANT WAIT TO HAND YOUR A$$ TO YOU AGAIN IN NOVEMBER. AND WE WILL HAVE ALL THE DEFENSE BACK. I KNOW HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS THAT WOULD WHIP YOU.
kerryb
September 9th, 2012
1:02 am
Only a Tech fan would say they don’t care about being ranked. Tech fans accept their failures really well.
Mobile Dawg
September 9th, 2012
1:02 am
One final note, our passing game won the game tonight, without a balanced, strong running game we can’t win a championship, JMO. Good night Bob boy.
DawginLex
September 9th, 2012
1:02 am
A 32-3 run is hardly pulling it out……………..
We all wish your father had pulled it out though so we wouldn’t have to read your crap……………
RED DOG 77
September 9th, 2012
1:02 am
No matter what anyone says, this was an ‘ol time slobberknocker………..Early in the season, first SEC game…………Some great plays some not so much,,,,,,,,,,,,an Oline that showed heart, and grew-up alot over two quarters…………recievers who could normally be counted on muffed a few, just to be picked-up by one very talented RB…………..er…….a make that three RBs. I don’t give a pile in the yard what you say about Murray or Bobo………..I will assure you,………you’re going to miss them one day………………All in all a great win for Georgia………….And remember ………..”my” BULLDOGS did exactly what I said they would do…………….They went to Columbia and beat the “LIVIN’ SNOT” out of the M Tigers…………………RED
rhbDAWG1
September 9th, 2012
1:02 am
Seldom does any team play a season without mistakes. This Georgia team made some mistakes, especially in the first half. Playing a perfect game the first of the year does not guarantee that you will play that well at the end and playing a lousy game or two at the beginning of the year does not mean that you will play lousy at the end of the year. I believe this team can play the disciplined football demonstrated by those teams in our conference who are, according to many posting here, we are “lucky” enough to be in the same conference with. One of those “GREAT” west division teams seems to have stubbed it’s collective toe, but I’m sure that you haters believe they would have beaten us Dawgs tonight. Do you detect any sarcasm?
Get off Theus’ back. I doubt that any of you negative posters have played even high school football, much less major college. The young man is acquitting himself well and is getting better. It’s tough to be facing 300 pound defensive linemen, especially at his young age. If he continued to progress, He will be all-american and a high draft choice.
Columbus
September 9th, 2012
1:03 am
BYW, UGA COACHES ARE NTO GOING ANYWHERE. I TOLD YOU LAST YEAR, RICHT WILL BE AT UGA ANOTHER 10-15 YEARS…Most people picked UGA to lose, but they didnt. Better conditioning. Better half-time adjustments….a QB that FINALLY WOKE UP! And Jarvis making big plays. STOP HATING ON THE COACHES. THEY ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE YOU LITTLE IGNORANT GIRLS. THEY DIDNT GO ANYWHERE 2 SEASONS AGO AND THEY CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE GOING ANY PLACE THE NEXT 5 YEARS….NO WAY. NO HOW. BECAUSE UGA IS GOING TO BE THE CLASS OF THE EAST THE NEXT 5 YEARS MINIMUM AND THIS YEAR THEY ARE GOING TO GET BETTER AND BETTER AND COME TIME TO PLAY THE COCKS IN COLUMBIA…..WE WILL BE READY TO DEMOLISH THEM AND PAY THEM BACK FOR THE GIFT THEY GOT LAST YEAR…
GO DAWGS! RICHT ISNT GOING ANYWHERE YOU YOUNG AND DUMB, WET BEHIND THE EARS WANNABE FANS…FACT! YOU CAN SUPPORT HIM OR STILL BE WHINING 10 YEARS FROM NOW ABOUT HIM….BECAUSE HE WILL STILL BE THERE WITH SEVERAL MORE SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS AND AT LEAST 1 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP UNDER HIS BELT….STUPID UGA FANS
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
1:03 am
Watch what we do to IDAHO next week. Yes, IDAHO!
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
1:03 am
GTBob i dont see many acc teams ranked.
Yeah, ESPN doesn’t like the ACC as much as the SEC. I can’t wait to laugh when Arkansas only drops to like 15th.
10-2 is a good year! Right?
September 9th, 2012
1:03 am
Look, the photo in Schultz column says it all about this program. You have Murray walking around like an idiot holding up a stupid sign, like Georgia just won a title or something. He should be the guy getting in others faces for doing dumb stuff like that. That’s not the way champions act… Champions let the other team talk and come in expecting to win a game like this, and then act like it’s no big deal afterwards.
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
1:04 am
At least we don’t have to play any SEC East teams for a while. When do we play Ole Miss?
LSU 42, UGA 10
September 9th, 2012
1:05 am
GTBob
September 9th, 2012
12:54 am
I think you’re jealous. You should be. We will stay in the top 10 while you will still be a cupcake on our schedule.
I accepted many years ago that GT is terrible. Doesn’t change the fact that Missouri is as well.
—-
Now now, GT is, I have no earthly idea how GT is. I saw the VaTech game and Clemson game last year. Hard to judge the ACC when Clemson is streaky and then allows WV to put up 70. But as to Missouri. I think they played well and are a solid unranked team. In fact, any team they led for almost 3 quarters, I’d consider that team about the same as Missouri if not a little better. But I think that Missouri shouldn’t be ranked, so I’d say the same about someone they led for so long.
Mizzou Texas A and M join SEC and BOTH lose
September 9th, 2012
1:05 am
We beat an unranked team, who will have 6 losses to just SEC teams; and, so will Texas A and M.
Faurot Field attendance 71,004
Marshall Morgan looked poor last week on extra points, and worse again tonight. One would think a Special Teams’ Coach would have noticed that last week and had him working on it.
Malcolm Mitchell was missed on offense again. Our receivers all dropped pass after pass all night long, except Jay Rome.
Mizzou had more 1st Downs than we did, and more of them on the ground than we did, in this Pass-Happy Offense. What were those play-calls by Mike Bobo tonight ?
How can a team have jitters at the beginning of that game ? After what we did last week, and what we’ve done over these current 8 years now – which is not beat teams who are Top 10 teams, and this certainly wasn’t one – one would have expected our Offense would step on the field and take the ball in for scores.
Asking too much obviously against this 7-6 Mizzou football team. Texas A and M too, Tampa Dawg, will also be 7-6.
Mizzou had more total offense against our defense, than we did against their pitiful excuse of a defense.
3 FUMBLES tonight and Aaron Murray’s interception.
2 more Sacks to bring that total to a zillion for Aaron Murray.
Boo Malcome is our Starting Tailback ? Another FUMBLE tonight and he has never on any day been our best Running Back.
Congratulations to Mark Richt for making the SUSPENSIONS all anyone would talk about pre-game.
Blake Sailors was an abomination.
Connor Norman right there with him.
Merritt Hall returns kick-offs for 7 yards each time ? No wonder they kick-off to him.
Quayvon Hicks at least they let Quayvon Hicks play – the 1 Fullback we’ve recruited in 6 consecutive recruiting classes with 200 fullbacks singed by our opponents every 1 of the 6 seasons.
12 penalties, nicely coached football team we’ve got here Mark Richt.
Aaron Murray 2012 now has 12 carries for minus 2 yards per carry.
Aaron Murray pass completions against these 2 cupcakes with Florida Atlantic next stands the same as last year when he is the # 72 QB in the nation in pass completion percentage.
Richard Samuel proved he should be on Defense, again tonight.
Christian LeMay did not get 1 snap against a 7-6 football team we beat by more than twice their score.
Christian LeMay averages more yards per game rushing than Ken Malcome.
Left Coast Dawg
September 9th, 2012
1:05 am
GTBob used to be StSimons
Offensive Offensive Line
September 9th, 2012
1:05 am
CMR….Knock,knock…hello!? anybody home?? Rule number 1….(If you haven’t heard) recruit good offensive lineman, coach them up & keep them healthy….Do it!