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
LHarding Dawg
October 28th, 2012
4:44 pm
Just got in from Jacksonville where we absolutely had a great time watching the Dawgs win two in a row from Florida. First time since 1988 that Florida didn’t score a touchdown. Congrats to the defense and Jarvis who had a great game.
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
4:45 pm
Personally I am rooting for UGA in the SEC championship. If they won then it would pretty much lock the SEC out of the MNC game which would be much more funny then UGA losing.
Thomas Brown
October 28th, 2012
4:55 pm
That comment is as stupid as the 1 where you said why does UGA care what their BCS ranking is. Say # 6 UGA and # 1 Alabama play each other. How many places do you think UGA jumps with wins over # 7 Florida and # what then # 2 Alabama ?
The Last Real Analyst
October 28th, 2012
4:59 pm
UF Fans, Tech Fans, Just stop the hate. Georgia beat you (UF) And Old (Racist) Miss here we come, Then on to the Auburn Roast before we take home the State Title against GSU and Tech. Alabama I would tell you to worry, but you got problems next week. LSU IS MAD. Nobody is saying much about them and your going to be really walking in a Tigers den that is severely hungry for respect. Tide Boys, two losess this year are coming. One from your west and the beating you’ll get in the dome. P.S. The one thing that scares everybody about GEORGIA is nobody knows which GEORGIA TEAM will show up. That alone scares Bama. But for now good luck next week, God knows you gonna need it in the Valley of Death.
HOUDAWG
October 28th, 2012
5:06 pm
Hey SSIGator ……. kiss it, you SOB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
5:17 pm
How many places do you think UGA jumps with wins over # 7 Florida and # what then # 2 Alabama ?
Even if UGA beats Bama by 50 points they will not jump over an undefeated Kansas St, Notre Dame, or Oregon team and it is looking like at least two of those teams will go undefeated. Even if they all lose, I doubt UGA could get in after the season they have had.
Glory between the Hedges
October 28th, 2012
5:22 pm
gtbob,
K- State will slip up one game. Notre Dame will lose at USC. The only team I see going undefeated is Oregon of those three.
ARdawg
October 28th, 2012
5:27 pm
GTBob
Your a bitter dude. Did you find that BYU game satisfying at all? I did.
Bob It is a given that a one loss SEC team will leap over those undefeated teams of other conferences if the SEC champ has one loss. Be it UGA, Bama or LSU. Georgia however likely would not if there were two undefeated teams because of the ugly loss. Bama or LSU no doubt would. The SEC is recognized as the power conference. About 6 slots above the ACC
Old School
October 28th, 2012
5:31 pm
Shout out to Garrison Smith, he played a great game also.
Go Dawgs!
Thomas Brown
October 28th, 2012
5:32 pm
Tampa Gator
“A ref came out of nowhere (the same one who made the call on Easley) and threw a flag for facemask on Leon Orr. I just watched the replay. No one even touched his face mask. The FSU game will be very similar to the Georgia game. Florida had one more first down. Florida converted 6 or 17 3rd down opportunities. Georgia 1 of 10.”
_________________________________________
Well, you’ve shown your North End of your Southbound horse all day Tampa Gator. If there was no facemask, then why did Leon Orr after Todd Gurley was face down in the turf, take his hands off his facemask ? Watch the same replay as everyone else Tampa Gator. As for your B.S. that Easley did not violate any college football rule grabbing him and holding him to the ground while the ball is clearly in the air to him Easley on his back, again, watch the same replay we all saw.
If the FSU game is going to be the same as the UGA game, then I presume you expect Florida State to take the ball away from your offense 6 times on strips and picks ?
Georgia converted 1 of 10 1st Downs, oh, sorry to point out but that was a 3rd and 5 from the 45-yard line, us ahead by a point when Aaron Murray threw the football to Malcolm Mitchell for a Passing Touchdown with Arite Lynch block downfield to put us in the end zone again on a drive where Aaron Murray tried a Todd Gurley run once for nothing and every other play was Aaron Murray willing our team down the field to put the game away, while even you admit that Florida would have just had our Defense take the ball away from you, again, if it was allowed was the ball was in the air for Easley to be prostrate on top into the ground. How many Touchdowns did Jeff Driskel manage your team to ?
Our Defense took the ball away from your Offense and played keep-away with it all night long. Our Offense punched it in to begin the game and to end the game. Thus, while our Defense held Florida to 3 field goals, we put up 2 Touchdowns directed by Aaron Murray.
When you lose; try being a man and come into your Opponents Blog and say them straight-up. Congratulations. Your Defense stymied our Offense all night long.
As for your B.S. braggadocio about you guys putting up a 12-1 season and how great that is; you will not play for the BCS National Championship; you will not play for The SEC Championship and you are not, again, The SEC East Champion.
In addition, you lost twice in a row with your new coach, who also bragged how badly he would beat us, and still hasn’t either of his 1st two seasons. Our Defense held your Offense without a TD all day long. None. The game was decided on the field, and the winner is the team whom it was obvious to all even before the kick-off, came into the game with intensity.
You’re still trying to come-up with something to what ?
Save Face ?
You Lost, again, get over it. We’re 42-38-1 in Jacksonville, after beating you twice in a row.
Maybe if you could have held us to 0 1st Downs on 3rd Down Conversion attempts, you could have lost by 1.
If you are supposed to be such a great running team, and everything was the ref’s fault that you lost Tampa Gator, how come all you could get on our Defense was only 83 yards rushing while we put up 123 yards rushing on your great defense ?
You even ran the football 6 more times than we did.
If your Defense was so great, and Our Quarterback and Our Offense so much worse according to you, why did we have more total offense than you had ?
Too obvious posting replies to the likes of you.
We had 7 more yards of total offense than you had on 10 fewer plays than you had.
Your Quarterback only threw 2 interceptions while our Quarterback threw 3 ?
You forgot to mention that our Defense forced 6 fumbles, 4 of which your offense also did not go get the ball, but our Defense, again.
Why leave all this out Tampa Gator ?
We punted the ball twice inside your 20-yard line. Remember ? You couldn’t score a TD all day ? Coming back to you ?
And, if Jeff Driskel was so much better than Aaron Murray, how come we had 5 sacks and you did not get 1 sack of Aaron Murray ?
One-sided B.S. from you all day long Tampa Gator. How come your kicker did not make a single solitary point after touchdown, PAT ? Was that the ref’s fault to ? You don’t know diddle-e-squat about being a fan. And, you are a horrible loser – just as you used to be a horrible winner; so that doesn’t surprise me, either.
Wake me up with Will Muschamp actually does what he GUARANTEED he would do 2 games ago, now ?
Between Jordan Reed crying because Jarvis Jones took the ball away from him, down 8 points with a minute and the game and your whining in here all day long about the refs cheated, it just makes the win all the more satisfying. God, I hate Florida fans.
short memories
October 28th, 2012
5:40 pm
If we beat Ole MIss and Auburn it will be because of the players and not the coaches. I am proud of the defensive players for standing up and taking charge. They did it due to embarrassment or personal pride or whatever but they did it. Our pansy coaching was not going to do it. They temporarily saved Richt’s hiney.
where is Yellow Fuzz
October 28th, 2012
5:42 pm
Hey Yellow Fuzz how does it feel to be ranked 95th in the latest BCS poll “little man”? TEN points behind the mighty Middle Tennessee State. Can’t wait to play you AH’s in November on our way to a BCS Bowl (hopefully).
hHhHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHhahahahahahahahahahahahah
ahHAHAHAHAHhahahahHAHhahHAHhahHAHhahHAHhahHAHHAhHhhHHAAHAHA
hHhHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAAHhahahahahahahahahahahahah
ahHAHAHAHAHhahahahHAHhahHAHhahHAHhahHAHhahHAHHAhHhhHHAAHAHA
(((((((((((((((( 95th in the NCAA ))))))))))))))))) hahahahahahahahahaha
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
5:45 pm
K- State will slip up one game. Notre Dame will lose at USC. The only team I see going undefeated is Oregon of those three.
K-State is the best candidate, but I don’t see them slipping up anymore. They have blown out two teams in the past two weeks that are better then any of the teams they have left. Notre Dame blew out Oklahoma at Oklahoma yesterday and you think they are losing to a USC team that lost to Arizona? Its not going to happen. We will have at least 2 undefeated teams this year. And UGA would get left out against most 1 loss teams after their debacle at SC.
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
5:47 pm
Bob It is a given that a one loss SEC team will leap over those undefeated teams of other conferences if the SEC champ has one loss.
You are completely senile if you believe a 1 loss UGA team that got blown out by SC would get in the MNC game over an undefeated Oregon or Notre Dame team. Especially with their weak schedule this year.
Thomas Brown
October 28th, 2012
5:48 pm
Senility is thinking that Kansas State does not do what they always do, lose.
Georgia won on this day. Get over it
Bama Fan
October 28th, 2012
5:48 pm
Congrats on the win, Dawgs!
Maybe we’ll see you in the Dome?
RTR!!!
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
5:52 pm
Senility is thinking that Kansas State does not do what they always do, lose.
They seem to be doing a good job of not losing so far this year while playing a tougher schedule then UGA has.
DawgNole
October 28th, 2012
5:56 pm
Gotta agree with your 5:32 p.m. post, Thomas Brown. (Never thought those words would come out of my mouth.)
Tampa Gator has done nothing but show his azz today. I knew he was smug and arrogant–especially leading up to this game–but I’d actually thought that generally he was an “OK” blogger (at least for a gator) but he showed his true colors today whining about perceived bad calls. He forgot to mention that UGA had 4 more penalties (for 37 more yards) than fla.
By the way, your 6:24 a.m. post to “Gator” was actually civil–even showing respect (finally) toward fla’s accomplishments this season. Keep in mind that had the gators not beaten SC last week, yesterday’s UGA win would not have meant nearly as much. So we do owe them that. Too bad Tampa Gator had to get on here and moan–leaving a bitter taste in the process. Should’ve expected it, I guess–coming from a gator. He’d do well to take a lesson from his fellow fan, “Beast,” who’s earned my grudging respect for his relatively objective posts.
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
5:57 pm
They did it due to embarrassment or personal pride or whatever but they did it.
They did it because Florida is one of the worst offensive teams in the country and they turned the ball over 6 times.
Bama Fan
October 28th, 2012
6:01 pm
Kansas State’s schedule has been somewhat like Alabama’s. They beat some ranked teams, but those teams went on to lose other games after playing K State. Their win over West Virginia doesn’t look any better than Bama’s win over Michigan now. They do have some pretty big games to play yet. If they finish undefeated, then they’d have a good argument to be a Top 2 team. Too bad they don’t play a conference title game. That hurts them if there are 2 or more other undefeated teams at the end of the season.
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
6:09 pm
I don’t know that it will happen, but if UGA/Bama play each other in the SEC-CG and UGA pulls another upset, then beating a #1 & #2 at the end of the year, qualify as NC contender just as well as an undefeated K State or ND team that didn’t beat a #1 or #2, much less both. Your logic is flawed. It’s funny how things have a way of working their way out. It could happen just like that and if you say it can’t, then you are a moron in denial that knows,nothing about the history of NCAA FOOTBALL…
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
6:12 pm
DawgNole
I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop…
Ringleader
October 28th, 2012
6:28 pm
Tampax Gator…….You have called out most every Dog on the blog.
The “pass interference” in the backfield call you ar moaning about
was legally called. It was defensive holding. You are confusing the two, although they are the same. The guys with me thought the same thing, that pass interference could not be called in the backfield. I explained, why you may call it pass interference, it is a holding call, watch them step off the penalty.
DawgNole
October 28th, 2012
6:39 pm
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
6:12 pm
DawgNole
I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop…
_________________
Yeah–me, too.
Glory between the Hedges
October 28th, 2012
6:54 pm
Notre Dame blew out Oklahoma at Oklahoma yesterday and you think they are losing to a USC team that lost to Arizona? Its not going to happen.
I remember people saying the same thing about the Dawgs before the Florida game. USC will be ready for Notre Dame when the time comes. Notre Dame may even lose a game they are not suppose to.
14 Titles
October 28th, 2012
6:56 pm
Alabama’s going to deliver a beatdown over Ga in the SeC title game—Nick’s going for his third BCS title in 4 years. Bama beat notre dame, oregon or kansas state easy—book it.
DespiseThePuppies
October 28th, 2012
7:03 pm
Woof-woof. The Puppies have beaten the likes of Buffalo, Florida Atlantic, Vanderbilt, Kentucky (barely), Tennessee (barely). This and the Missouri game (MAYBE) were the only Ws against an opponent of any quality, and as someone else pointed out, Gators commit SIX turnovers and yet y’all can only manage 17 points. Really? Murray had 3 picks and last time I saw the stats, UGA had 142 yards in penalties. Nice. But there are all y’all moronic Doggies, thinkig you actually have something. Ha. Assuming UGA gets to the SEC Championship (although they control their own destiny, history has repeatedly demonstrated this program has no self-control whatsoever), it will be a ‘Bama cakewalk.
ARdawg
October 28th, 2012
7:04 pm
GTBob
It is you that is in denial there guy. Hypothetically, if UGA won out and won the SECCG It’s a pretty sure bet they would get in the NC game. And, like it or not leap over an undefeated team to do so. Just by virtue of playing in the SEC.
You didn’t answer my question on the BYU game there Bobby. Did ya’ll fry fish after the game?
Shannon1776
October 28th, 2012
7:21 pm
Honk if you hit Jeff Driscoll yesterday
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
7:23 pm
No need to start talking too much about NC scenarios for the Dawgs until we beat Ol Miss, The Barn, Ga.Southern and if we are focused and have a great game and Bama is off a little, then we can talk about NC games. Still a long ways off and I have said all along, “One game at a time! ”
Notice, I left Tech off this list. I didn’t forget them, they are just irrelevant as a football team. They keep bringing down our SOS…
Gamecock Chaining Down Dogs Annually
October 28th, 2012
7:24 pm
DawginLex
October 28th, 2012
3:30 pm
I live in Lexington KY turd boy
I wouldn’t go watch bama pay if someone paid my way
Maybe you can actually beat LSU and actually get to the Dome instead of backing in and begging for a mulligan
“A rather large guy”
Yeah, I bet. About 5′9″ 425 pounds
DING!!!!!!!
LMAO at you
________________________________________________________________
Talk about “backing’ into a game! Getting embarrassed by the Gamecocks, slipping past Kentucky and playing what is arguably the worst game on CBS all year! Too funny.
Do they still play High School Football in Kentucky? They seem to get all of their players from Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina.
You know that you and your dog brothers do not like the idea of playing of playing Alabama.
They will lay the wood to the puppies and send you and your team back to the Outback Bowl.
Grow up and stop wanting to fight people, it shows your level of intelligence that you have to fight over a true debate.
Gamecock Chaining Down Dogs Annually
October 28th, 2012
7:29 pm
Glory between the Hedges
October 28th, 2012
6:54 pm
Notre Dame blew out Oklahoma at Oklahoma yesterday and you think they are losing to a USC team that lost to Arizona? Its not going to happen.
I remember people saying the same thing about the Dawgs before the Florida game. USC will be ready for Notre Dame when the time comes. Notre Dame may even lose a game they are not suppose to.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Do you really believe that Oklahoma was any good? Their only meaningful win WAS Texas, and they had to come from behind to beat a pitiful Kansas team. Oklahoma has zero running game and they have shown again to be a paper Big 8 team.
No one is saying Notre Dame is not a good team, but they cannot stay with UGA, Oregon, LSU, South Carolina( with Lattimore) Kansas St, and many others.
Voice of Reality
October 28th, 2012
7:30 pm
To all the Dawg haters……..to effing bad for your team.
Gamecock Chaining Down Dogs Annually
October 28th, 2012
7:32 pm
One question for the Dawg fans. Do any of you think that the way UGA played against Florida that they would beat A good team with an offense? Everyone knew UF had little offense and used their defense to set up scores. Congratulations on the win, but that was very very ugly in Jacksonville.
GFY
October 28th, 2012
7:35 pm
Poor pitiful GTBobby……does not want to talk about his sad sack of a program……would rather try to denigrate the only real team in GA worth a darn.
GFY
October 28th, 2012
7:37 pm
Last I checked ND offense is ridiculed also GameChicken but yet they are ranked highly as well. What’s your point?
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
7:38 pm
Gamecrocks 5-2 and going nowhere fast. Sorry about Lattimore, he is a great kid. I didn’t expect to hear the cocks cry about UGA until tomorrow. Y’all are always a bridesmaid, never a bride. You aren’t the same without a running game. BTW, aren’t we ranked ahead of you losers again? You guys just can’t handle success very well. It was in your hands, you could almost taste it but once again, we beat the teams you can’t. Enjoy your win over us. It was the only significant game you won all year. We moved on while you folded like oregami. UT should have beaten your guys. Your team is officially shot-out…
kingdaddy
October 28th, 2012
7:42 pm
BTW
Don’t tell lil stevie what I said. I hate to hear a grown man cry…
DogsWinOut
October 28th, 2012
7:54 pm
Georgia will win the rest of their games and with a good game by jarvis, can upset alabama, who his overrated. Jarvis will get 3-4 sacks on the alabama QB and Murray can hit some big plays.
Chief Dawg
October 28th, 2012
8:05 pm
Hey all you Gator Posters like Flat tire on I95 and Gators or die you have something in common with the Eagles today you are all LOSERS!
Go Dawgs and RISE UP ATLANTA
See you next year PUNKS!
where is Yellow Fuzz
October 28th, 2012
8:07 pm
?
hahahahahahahahaha
JackDawg1
October 28th, 2012
8:09 pm
10-2 is a good year! Right? Its better than 2-10. I don’t know why I read this smut. You all are the worse fans in the world. No wonder you can’t get top recruits to come to UGA, they can read how fast you turn on players and coaches. And Dan Mullins is not a better coach than CMR. I would take another coach who is not a Georgian. But don’t call for the man’s job after his biggest win in years!
Alphare
October 28th, 2012
8:09 pm
ARdawg,
“if UGA won out and won the SECCG It’s a pretty sure bet they would get in the NC game.”
not so fast, my friend. I actually don’t believe UGA can. Remember Auburn?
If it’s BAMA/FL/LSU, I’d believe it. The world is not a fair place. ND is always overrated in the past 20 years I’ve watched them. That’s just how it is.
Birdhair
October 28th, 2012
8:10 pm
I just love coming onto the blogs and reading posts that light up GTBob
JackDawg1
October 28th, 2012
8:10 pm
would not take a coach who is not from Ga.
Richt>muschamp
October 28th, 2012
8:13 pm
if muschamp keeps losing to UGA, how much longer will he keep his job at fla???
Birdhair
October 28th, 2012
8:17 pm
Might be 1 downside to winning yesterday….have to listen to verne and danielson again next weekend. Sux.
JB at home
October 28th, 2012
8:19 pm
Carolina team, as usual, buys a ticket to see the SECCG. ” I don’t know what happens to good coach’s when they go to Carolina ( Holtz,Sprurrier) they just don’t pan out”….LOL
JB at home
October 28th, 2012
8:22 pm
Read the Gator message boards today…….Feeling on there is ” If Muschamp thinks that he can go 10-2, lose to Georgia every year and go to some second tier bowl, and we’re Ok with that, he won’t be here long”…… Hum, sounds familiar………….And that was a quote…..It’s the guy with the Gorilla wearing a Fla hat smoking pot on there. Check it out.
Game Changer
October 28th, 2012
8:26 pm
We get our shot at Alabama in the SEC Championship game unless Richt and Murray flounder in the next few games.
Alabama title game vs Kansas State
UGA to the Sugar to play Notre Dame
If we, UGA happen to upset Alabama, it will be a Kansan State vs Notre Dame NC Title Game