Georgia will take an ugly win like this any time
Jarvis Jones had a monster game (three sacks, two forced fumbles) to lead Georgia. (Bob Andres/AJC)
Everybody is going to call it ugly. The quarterback was awful for most of the game. The opponent had six fumbles (four lost) and two interceptions. Two of the supposed best teams in the SEC swapped turnovers, penalties and dropped passes. If the late Sid Gillman was watching, he would’ve covered his eyes and screamed, “No! My eyes! My eyes!”
But does it matter?
Ugly is barely beating Kentucky after a bye week. Ugly is looking flawed against Buffalo and Florida Atlantic. Ugly is giving up 44 points to Tennessee. If beating the No. 2 team in the BCS — especially when it’s Florida — is considered ugly, it’s a canvas of ugly that the Bulldogs would wrap themselves in any day or night.
As Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, he of the three first-half interceptions, said Saturday night, “I know I’m going to get stressed out when I look at the film. But it’s still a great win.”
Georgia, drop-kicked at South Carolina three weeks ago, seemingly comatose in the SEC and again floundering in a season of high hopes, rode ugly back to respectability Saturday. The 17-9 win over Florida put the Bulldogs in control in the SEC East. They need only beat Ole Miss and Auburn to secure a berth in the conference championship — and in the process stomped on all those can’t-win-the-big-one claims.
Malcolm Mitchell danced into the end zone with a big touchdown after Aaron Murray's pass beat the blitz. (Bob Andres/AJC)
The win had historical significance: It was the Dogs’ first time winning in consecutive years against Florida since 1988 and ’89. That’s long ago enough that the coach for that first game was Vince Dooley.
The game also had personal significance for Mark Richt. Battered for doing so poorly against top-10 teams (1-9 since 2008), the Georgia coach stayed on the field long after the game was over, going from one end of the stands to the other, celebrating with fans.
Winning this game last season, some believed, may have helped saved his job. Winning the game this season was even more significant because of the Gators’ stature.
Appropriately, it happened because of
Mark Richt was only 1-9 against top 10 teams since 2008 before Saturday.
defense, in general, and Jarvis Jones, in particular. Jones had three sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He knocked the ball loose from tight end Jordan Reed at the Dogs’ 18 with five minutes left, as Florida was moving in for a potential touchdown.
Jones’ amusing self-analysis: “I don’t know my stats, but I think I had a good game.”
The defense, whether motivated by external criticism or the internal slap from safety Shawn Williams, who called his team “soft,” had one of its better games of the season. Florida was held without a touchdown in a Georgia win for the first time since 1988.
Jones again: “I think what Shawn Williams did, he challenged us. Obviously we needed it. … Everybody was calling us names, calling us soft. ESPN, everybody on TV. Soft, soft, soft, soft, soft. As a man, you take it personal.”
Here’s a suggestion for Richt: Have one player call everybody a name every week. Couldn’t hurt.
Georgia led only 10-9 when Murray made amends for a mostly horrible night (12-of-24, three interceptions). On a third-and-5 from the Gators’ 45, he dropped back, beat blitzing safety Josh Evans and completing an 8-yard pass to Malcolm Mitchell. The receiver spun away from cornerback Loucheiz Purifoy and then cut across the field and ran to the end zone, giving the Dogs a 17-9 lead with seven minutes left.
The game’s only other touchdown — a 10-yard run by Todd Gurley — came early in the game following a Florida fumble. Of course. Florida had six fumbles (losing four) and six turnovers (Georgia three). The teams combined for six turnovers in the first half. They didn’t need marching bands — just the percussion section with the sounds of crashing cymbals with every bobble and misfire.
The Gators had only four turnovers in their first seven games. Yet quarterback Jeff Driskel fumbled on two of the first three plays of the game (Jones recovering the second). See, it doesn’t matter how ugly one team is if the other is worse.
Linebacker Jordan Jenkins said the team was inspired by a pregame speech by defensive end Cornelius Washington, who touched on all of the expected themes: no respect, big game, rival opponent.
“It was the craziest and wildest he’s ever been,” Jenkins said. “He was talking about how everybody was doubting us. He had us all pumped up and ready to go out there and knock some heads.”
Sometimes, that’s how games are won. The win is all anybody will remember.
By Jeff Schultz
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844 comments Add your comment
North Georgia Dawg
October 28th, 2012
1:00 pm
Exactly, Georgia earned it by committing no turnovers in the second half and playing lights out on defense. I haven’t seen Georgia play with that kind of fire in a long time and I loved it. They looked very confident from the opening kickoff and did not play like they were intimidate… unlike Murray in the first half. Luckily, he made some good throws in the 4th quarter. I still am not happy with Bobo though, I wish he had given Murray some screen passes or quick slants after he threw his first pick or two. That might have relaxed him some more.
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 28th, 2012
1:03 pm
TampaGator..sucks to be 0-2 in this game under Willy BOOM don’t it?I know this one hurt lol.
AdMan
October 28th, 2012
1:03 pm
Well said kingdaddy…Florida didn’t come to play and Georgia did…nuff said… no need hashing out every play and pointing fingers…something that Tampa Gator just can’t seem to understand!
T-man
October 28th, 2012
1:03 pm
Great win dawgs(called it friday)Fla is one dimestional…..A win is a win is a win,2 yrs from now all that will be remembered is the win.you have chance to play for the SEC championship,stay focused,as far as my team…..crickets
Tampa Gator
October 28th, 2012
1:04 pm
DP…..
Driskel was not worse. He was better than Murray in the game. More passing yards. Most completions. Less turnovers. And a lot more running yards. Driskel is not expected to block Jarvis Jones. Driskel made a lot of plays yesterday when he did not have Georgia players tackling him in the backfield or when his arm was not hit when throwing. Did you see him take Florida down the field in that last drive? He did not fumble that ball. Driskel is basically a freshman….and he is a stud….and will continue to become even more so for the rest of this year and next. But you can think whatever you want………..but I said I was gone. So I need to stop reading and go….bye.
gamewatcher
October 28th, 2012
1:12 pm
go away Tampa Gator you whine and post like a loser….AdMan’s correct.. quit crying over the Gators getting their azz’es handed to them.
Preston
October 28th, 2012
1:14 pm
Play like that every week and you’re undefeated. Proud of the win but still wondering why we look like crap one week and world beaters the next. Coaching.
Preston
October 28th, 2012
1:19 pm
ESPN polls showing that most people think Florida just lost it rather than UGA beating them. I guess those turnovers were just handed to us huh? Fools. UGA was fired up like I haven’t seen them in years. Fun to watch! Shawn Williams was a beast!
Jordan Reed
October 28th, 2012
1:22 pm
Can I PLEASE get a towel and perhaps a bucket?! boo hoo hooo!!!!!
Tide Rising
October 28th, 2012
1:23 pm
Well well. I see the dawgs lucked into a win with the help of 6 Florida turnovers. The unfortunate thing is that now you’re on a collision course with Alabama. And you don’t want that. If you think Bama is going to turn the ball over 6 times keep dreaming. AJ hasn’t thrown an interception dating back to the MSU game last season. I cannot wait to spank that dawg ass.
Tide Rising
October 28th, 2012
1:24 pm
“ESPN polls showing that most people think Florida just lost it rather than UGA beating them.”
And they would be right.
Bulldawg
October 28th, 2012
1:29 pm
Preston,
That’s what happens when the Dawgs lose a game like South Carolina. It destroys any creditbility we should have. If things were to work out with Georgia getting back into the top five, they would never be given a shot at the National Championship because of that one ugly loss. It’s still a beauty contest and Georgia is not seen as one of the beauty queens.
Ugabulldog81
October 28th, 2012
1:29 pm
Jarvis Jones for President! Can’t make it to any more games. The rest of my season tickets are on Ebay. 181009605685
DawginLex
October 28th, 2012
1:30 pm
Joey
I told you
ARdawg
October 28th, 2012
1:31 pm
Tide Rising
Georgia smacked FL in the mouth and took that game. Turnover’s are part of the game and yes they do count. Rub yourself one off thinking Bama doesn’t turn the ball over. Florida didn’t either until yesterday. The bug can bite any team and it will bite yours. You arrogant twerp
ARdawg
October 28th, 2012
1:34 pm
Bulldawg
True that. Honestly, even if we do win out and give Bama a beatdown in the SECCG, we still don’t deserve a shot at the NC. That hope was gone in Columbia SC 35-7.
Tide Rising
October 28th, 2012
1:37 pm
ARdawg,
Show me a game in the last several years where Bama has lost more than 1-2 fumbles in a game. I doubt think you can. Do you really think Bama could turn the ball over 6 times? Florida’s one weakness the whole year is that they don’t have a vertical passing game. It was only a matter of time before someone figured that out, stacked the line on D, and blitzed Driskel relentlessly. Bama does have a vertical passing threat. Try that crap against us and we’ll put 30 on the board by halftime- just like last time.
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 28th, 2012
1:39 pm
The majority of the teams that have won a NC did so with at least one loss.
Tide Rising
October 28th, 2012
1:44 pm
“give Bama a beatdown in the SECCG,”
Give Bama a “beatdown”? Seriously. In the Saban era we have lost a grand total of 3 games by more than 7 pts- 11 to UF in the 08 seccg in a game in which we led in the 4th qtr and by 14 to both Utah and USCe. I doubt you guys will be giving us a “beatdown”. You don’t have the horses to do it.
The only hope you would have is if AJ played the worst game of his life, that Bama had numerous uncharacteristic penalties and turnovers, and that Murray played the game of his life, and that UGA played with zero turnovers or penalties. That is the only way you could possibly eke out a slim win against Bama. And even if you did that there is a good probability that 2 of the 3 unbeaten teams still alive- Oregon, ND, and K State, will stay unbeaten and meet in the title game over a 1 ugly loss UGA team.
Honey boy
October 28th, 2012
1:45 pm
And, I know I keep saying it…”It ain’t how it’s how many”… Al you dawg haters can suck the gator tail!
Take your self righteousness into next year…oh and tell someone who cares!
DawginLex
October 28th, 2012
1:49 pm
tampa gator
It was quite a pleasure to witness UGA putting another beatdown on Florida and listen to the whining and excuse making from the gators
Yes, another beatdown
The tables have turned haven’t they?
When y’all would win 16-13 like in 2003 you called it a beatdown. 20-13 in 2002 was a beatdown.
So 24-20
17-9
are 2 beatdowns
Your coach is now 0-6 in the Gator Bowl
BULLDAWGS FOR MUSCHAMP TO GET A LIFETIME CONTRACT
Tide Rising
October 28th, 2012
1:51 pm
The first win over a top 10 ranked team in years(with the help of 6 turnovers) and all of a sudden the dawgs fans think they are world beaters.
6 turnovers or you lose
October 28th, 2012
1:53 pm
Really?! UF had 6 turnovers and UGA only wins by 8? UGA will be throttled by Alabama.
Tide Rising
October 28th, 2012
1:53 pm
Only in delusional dawg land is an 8 pt win a beatdown.
gamewatcher
October 28th, 2012
1:55 pm
It’s funny …Tide Rising calling the Bama QB by his first name like he knows him personally. Tide Rising you are a pompous little prick that nobody on this blog takes seriously.Go play with yourself and keep telling yourself how great you are while everyone else laughs at you behind your back!…..LOLLOLLOL
6 turnovers or you lose
October 28th, 2012
1:56 pm
Funny. Had UGA lost 17-9, they would ahve all been calling for Richt to be fired! How sad it is to be UGAG.
6 turnovers or you lose
October 28th, 2012
1:57 pm
gamewatcher…..Tide would beat UGA with their 2nd string!!!
Dawg Whisperer
October 28th, 2012
1:57 pm
It’s apparent from sampling some of the comments that there are a whole bunch of sour grape GT fans. They live and die to criticize UGA. It’s a sad existence but hey knock yourself out hatin’. Problem is nothing you say has any effect on anyone except yourself. Negativity is unhealthy. As for UGA, we’ve got joy, joy, joy down in our hearts….
DawginLex
October 28th, 2012
1:58 pm
hOW SAD IT IS TO BE YOU TROLL BOY
and tide rising, your sister is waiting in bed and she wants more cigs too
just take them out of her pocket before your 400 pound self gets on top of her this time.
Glory between the Hedges
October 28th, 2012
2:01 pm
Tide Rising
YAP YAP YAP…You must be 12.
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
2:01 pm
T. Rising
Ask Driskel how he feels today. It was a physical punishing beatdown for Fla.s offense. Zero TDs to the #2 team in the nation. Watch the game again, oh yeah, you probably never watched it in the first place. You are just talking out of your other piehole…again…
6 turnovers or you lose
October 28th, 2012
2:02 pm
Poor – UGA. How does Spurrier do vs UGA??? Let me know when you play Alabama, LSU, MIss St or Texas A&M during this regular season. Oh right, you don’t. Easiest schedule in the SEC.
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
2:03 pm
Lex, you’re still alive. I thought Topper was gonna cap ya???
DawginLex
October 28th, 2012
2:04 pm
he never showed up
I even wore a nametag
He is a wimp
Dawg Whisperer
October 28th, 2012
2:04 pm
I’m not so sure Tide Rising is a Bammer… sounds like another double agent to me. Who cares? We win.
AdMan
October 28th, 2012
2:05 pm
Last time I checked Georgia had a lot to do with the Gators six turnovers…it hurts doesn’t Gator fans?
Dawg Whisperer
October 28th, 2012
2:06 pm
Let the losers complain about how them dawgs won. As they say, stats are for the losers to grouse over.
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
2:06 pm
How’d that BYU game turn out for you 6 turnovers???
Glory between the Hedges
October 28th, 2012
2:06 pm
6 turnovers or you lose,
You must be a Tech fan. Don’t be so sour over the beat down from a bunch of mormoms.
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
2:08 pm
I love the poor ol Techies. They will feel better when flu season gets here and they have a new supply of head-cheese, lol…Go Falcons…
wreckmaniac
October 28th, 2012
2:08 pm
Even a blind hog finds a acorn once in a while
wreckmaniac
October 28th, 2012
2:09 pm
Well, this means that the next win over a top 10 team will be in 2019.
Tide Rising
October 28th, 2012
2:10 pm
gamwatcher,
What dat? Nobody pays me no attention? Then why you posting to me sonny?
6 turnovers got it right. Had UGA lost the game every one of these goober dawg fans would be calling for Richt’s head today. Do you guys have any semblance of an idea as to just how laughable you guys are?
“and tide rising, your sister is waiting in bed and she wants more cigs too”
DawginLex Gone with the Wind with all the itermarrying cousins was based on Georgia- as was the man rapin hillbilly book and movie Deliverance. Nevertheless I am amused about your redneck jokes every time I drive down 441 in Athens and look down at that trailer park. BTW did you ever get the names of those 6 Bama players that your wife’s hairdresser’s sister’s cousin’s uncle’s brother saw in Tuscaloosa jail who got let go?
kingdaddy,
No doubt. Driskel took some punishment yesterday. UF was clearly unprepared for all the blitz packages Georgia presented and as I stated Florida’s one weakness is the lack of vertical passing game. Bama doesn’t have that issue. But go on celebrating your first win over a highly ranked team in years and years. It happens so rarely for you guys that I figure ya’ll need to party hard.
Dawg Whisperer
October 28th, 2012
2:10 pm
UGA “D” dominated and the oline played probably their best game. They are improving as the season progresses. As usual Gurley was a tough customer and Mitchell is a play maker when the ball is in his hands.
wreckmaniac
October 28th, 2012
2:11 pm
Richt is calling for a “red-panty-out” for Auburn.
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
2:11 pm
Wrecker
we all know it won’t be Tech, lol…
Dawg Whisperer
October 28th, 2012
2:13 pm
Really, Tide man… does it bother you that much that UGA won? It was a football game. Nothing more.
ARdawg
October 28th, 2012
2:15 pm
Tide Rising
October 28th, 2012
1:44 pm
“give Bama a beatdown in the SECCG,”
Give Bama a “beatdown”? Seriously. In the Saban era we have lost a grand total of 3 games by more than 7 pts- 11 to UF in the 08 seccg in a game in which we led in the 4th qtr and by 14 to both Utah and USCe. I doubt you guys will be giving us a “beatdown”. You don’t have the horses to do it.
_________________________________________
I was speaking hypothetically but, I wouldn’t expect a toothless mullet wearing, Alabama in-bred redneck living in a trailer park to know the difference.
This is the SEC moron and anybody can and will beat anybody on any given day. You speak of turnovers as they don’t count. NEWSFLASH, they do count. They are as much of the game as touchdowns and they don’t lesson the victors victory because the opposing team had them.
Say hello to the rest of your sister humping in-bred pals on the Finebaum show for me
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
2:15 pm
T. Rising,
Thanks, we are enjoying it immensely. Why does it bother you so much???
Dawg Whisperer
October 28th, 2012
2:15 pm
Jeff, you should make everyone show their driver’s license before posting. I’m thinking some are aliens (from Bammerland).