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
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:21 am
UGA wins with major slap down.
Mr C.
October 28th, 2012
12:21 am
…….Jarvis Jones, in particular. Jones had four 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.
Jeff, Not sure which game u watched. Jones knocked the ball out of Jordan Reed’s hand around the 5 yard line with roughly 2 mins to go.
ARdawg
October 28th, 2012
12:21 am
Georgia brought it to the Gators tonight. The Gators are a good team just didn’t have enough. My hats off to Florida. It was a good game. I loved watching it and thankful for the opportunity. No ribbing, no smack. We were better and we don’t apologize for that. I have more respect for the Gators than I ever have. A great game and they lost with class.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:22 am
Mark Richt did a damn good job today.
Big Dawg
October 28th, 2012
12:23 am
Muschump is a psycho, CMR is a great man, Dawgs win & it’s a great weekend! TY Dawgs gator tastes good lol hahaha we win win win Techies your next JJ will eat you alive!
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:23 am
Classy Georgia won with class.
10-2 is a good year! Right?
October 28th, 2012
12:23 am
@Pulpwood and anyone else for that matter,
Stop using the term “suicidal”. It is classless. Don’t feel sorry for me either, I just want the team to play better than it has the last four games and majority of the season. So, why should I have to keep my opinion to myself while others that agree with are ok? You are the one who’s pathetic because you can’t present a different opinion and can only fight back by telling everyone else to shut up. That’s pretty pathetic. I’m very happy with me, but obviously you are insecure about your own opinions because you have to try and censor everyone elses.
DawgNole
October 28th, 2012
12:24 am
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
12:19 am
You will say anything as long as you do not give Georgia accolades won’t you?
Sorry, I can’t give them accolades when the only reason they won was because Florida pretty much gave them the game. UGA didn’t even play moderately well in the game. It was like watching two 1st graders slap each other.
_____________________
Oh you closet gator fan you!
Timmy
October 28th, 2012
12:24 am
Ummm … BYU 41-17 … UGA 17-9 what am I missing????
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:25 am
Give Jarvis Jones the game ball.
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
12:26 am
My hats off to Florida. It was a good game.
Yeah, 6 turnovers and two other fumbles is a great performance. Kudos to them. Hardly anybody could have beaten them today.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:27 am
Georgia will win an ugly National Championship
and Dawg Nation will celebrate.
Jj
October 28th, 2012
12:28 am
After all the ugly losses in Jacksonville, an ugly win is beautiful.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:29 am
Another defeated gator slides back in the swamp.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:31 am
Florida and South Carolina pack it in,
Dawgs get ready for SEC Championship.
Whiznot
October 28th, 2012
12:33 am
Someone get Aaron Murray psychological help because he suffers from a serious case of Big Game Phobia. I postulate that majoring in psychology warped Murray’s psyche and instilled a deep-seated fear of failure that results in mental meltdowns. Either that, or it’s Bobo’s fault.
Whiznot
October 28th, 2012
12:35 am
I took Psyche 101 at UGA and all the profs and psyche majors were fruitcakes.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:37 am
It was a huge win for Coach Mark Richt
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
12:37 am
Someone get Aaron Murray psychological help because he suffers from a serious case of Big Game Phobia.
Luckily for him he couldn’t play bad enough to lose this game.
Sargent Carter
October 28th, 2012
12:37 am
First, Georgia has to take its next games against Ole Miss, Auburn and Georgia Tech one game at a time. Georgia is clearly the superior team in each of these match-ups. Obviously, what UGA has missed for the past years, playing with heart, or as Pat Dye would say, “being man enough” was found for this game, on defense. The football gods only know what was transpiring for this offensive powerhouse turned keystone cops. Saying Georgia runs the table, as it should, it appears we will be playing Alabama for the SEC championship. The upside. The one weakness at the start of the season was the offensive line. At sec championship time, they will have a year under their belts. It is also true that now we know that we have two outstanding running backs. Aaron Murray hopefully learned something from the Florida game. The South Carolina game is a washout coz we beat Florida who stomped South Carolina. Alabam’s offense is steady but not in any way awesome, they play off their defense. There is the rub….Can Georgia’s offense score 17 to 20 points on the Tides defense? It could be one helluva game…maybe, just maybe
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:39 am
All the experts picked Florida to win and all the experts were wrong.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:41 am
It was a special game because all the Dawgs had a chip on their shoulder
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
12:41 am
All the experts picked Florida to win and all the experts were wrong.
Im sure if you would have told the experts that Florida would attempt to set a record for turnovers in a game then they would have changed their minds.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:42 am
Clearly, the Dawgs answered the call.
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
12:43 am
First, Georgia has to take its next games against Ole Miss, Auburn and Georgia Tech one game at a time.
Oh come on. UGA could send their scout team to those games and win without a problem.
World's Largest Outdoor Gator Beating
October 28th, 2012
12:44 am
The win put Georgia in the SEC East driver’s seat.
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
12:44 am
Clearly, the Dawgs answered the call.
17 points, three interceptions, and 132 yards in penalties. Yeah, they really showed what a great team they are.
MAJOR DAWG
October 28th, 2012
12:46 am
Live from Bagram, Afghanistan…Good morning, JUNKYARD DAWG Nation…HOW BOUT THEM DAWGS!!!! Awesome win for for the players and fans! Watched the first half (AFN) until 2AM, had to get to bed…woke up and dialed the score…. What tremendous leadership and mental toughness by our defense in the 2nd Qtr holding FLA to just FGs, opposed to TDs after our turnovers…and on their last drive! WIll be wearing my red t-shirt under the uniform today! BELIEVE, BELIEVE!!!! GO DAWGS
Sawdawg90
October 28th, 2012
12:47 am
I’m not quite sure why there is all this negativity after we won such a big game! You people suck! Give the DAWGS some credit. It doesn’t matter how ugly it was…..we walked away with the W. As for those of you who are giving Richt a hard time for hanging with fans….why shouldn’t he? I would if I was him and had to listen to the constant carping from the supposed supporters of the University of Georgia I would enjoy it too. Let the man have a good time. I’m a UGA graduate and longtime fan, so I say “Once a DAWG always a DAWG!!” through thick and thin!
tittiboi21
October 28th, 2012
12:50 am
We won plain and simple and now we are back in the hunt for everything we set out to achieve this year. Pick it apart how you want but we beat the #2 team in the country and kept them out of the end zone. They played inspired ball tonight and now we are 7-1 and lead the east. Hate all yall want but true fans agree with me
PIERCE COUNTY DAWG
October 28th, 2012
12:50 am
JEFF SHULTZ A WIN IS NOT UGLY!!! WE WON THIS ONE PLAYING SMASH MOUTH FOOTBALL TONIGHT. WE ARE THE LIZARD LOVERS AND HATERS THAT BEAT THEIR GUMS ALL WEEK LONG. WE OWN THE GATORS. I WILL ENJOY THIS 365 DAYS. DO DAWGS,YOU DESERVE THIS WIN,ENJOY IT. US REAL DAWG FANS ARE PROUD OF YOU.
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
12:50 am
It doesn’t matter how ugly it was…..we walked away with the W.
I think most UGA fans are probably concerned because UGA once again played a really poor game, only they got away with it this time.
Strange Murphy
October 28th, 2012
12:53 am
GTBob is, well good Lord boy’s a world class loser. His team sucks, got the crap beat outta them AGAIN today and all he can do is troll over here and try to start carp with a team who has only lost to his sad excuse for a team once this century.
TO HELL WITH TECH!!!
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
12:53 am
They played inspired ball tonight and now we are 7-1 and lead the east.
You would honestly say that UGA played a good game tonight? Do you hope they play just as well against Alabama in the SEC championship?
PIERCE COUNTY DAWG
October 28th, 2012
12:54 am
Gt Bob we will beat you yellow flies in a month. Beat your gums boy your time is coming with your high school team. Loser go chase a car,you do not belong on this blog hater.YOU YELLOW FLIES WILL GET A BEAT DOWN COME NOVEMBER,WITH YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COACH AND TEAM!!!
DawgNole
October 28th, 2012
12:57 am
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
12:50 am
I think most UGA fans are probably concerned because UGA once again played a really poor game, only they got away with it this time.
_____________________
You still on here thrashin’ around, buddy? Better hang it up.
To Major Dawg
October 28th, 2012
12:57 am
A win over the gators is nice. What Major Dawg is doing is heroic! God bless you for your service, sir.
Godspeed, and be safe!!!!
JRW7
October 28th, 2012
12:58 am
DAWGS win DAWGS win DAWGS win, this crow is so good, Congratulations CMR and the Georgia Bulldogs! Go DAWGS!
PIERCE COUNTY DAWG
October 28th, 2012
12:58 am
Gtbob good teams create havoc such as interceptions and turn overs that win games such as the one tonight. Some thing you and tech would know nothing about. jealousy is crueler than the grave cry baby!!! GO GET A LIFE LOSER.
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
12:58 am
Gt Bob we will beat you yellow flies in a month.
lol, well yeah I would hope so. We can’t beat anybody. We may not even play our starters.
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
1:00 am
Gtbob good teams create havoc such as interceptions and turn overs that win games such as the one tonight.
Yes, UGA is so overwhelmingly powerful that they caused Florida to have more turnovers in one game then they have all season playing against better defenses. That makes sense.
PIERCE COUNTY DAWG
October 28th, 2012
1:01 am
GtBob BYU beatdown go get on your own blog. You are the kid that always got his nose bloody in school. We own you nerds and THIS STATE!!! GO HOME,IT IS PAST YOUR BED TIME BOY. AND I SAID BOY!!!!
Erk Russell's Dog
October 28th, 2012
1:02 am
@GT Bob
If you think the Ga and Fla players looked like 1st graders slapping each other, Then Tech must look like a 2 year old crapping in his diaper in a sand box. Sure Fla turned the ball over six times but I think that the Dogs defense had something to do with the florida miscues.
tittiboi21
October 28th, 2012
1:02 am
QB play wasnt good but the rest of the team did play good. Bad QB play translated to missed opportunities in the red zone or this game wouldnt have been close so yea i do think we played good. Dont worry your annual ass whooping is coming up soon and then you will be able to start over on your 364 day dawg bashing since that is all you have
NYdawg
October 28th, 2012
1:02 am
Once again this season, we have a perfectly symmetrical football weekend: Georgia wins and Georgia Tech loses. The Dawgs are 7-1 and the Techies are 3-5. Georgia wins a big game on the road and GT shrivels at home.
UGA’s prospects for the next four games look bright. Exactly the opposite for GT.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
PIERCE COUNTY DAWG
October 28th, 2012
1:04 am
YOU NEVER PLAYED FOOTBALL AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT MEANS. YOU DO KNOW HOW TO MAKE AN A$$ OUT OF YOUR SELF THOUGH. YOU ARE PLAIN STUPID. YOU NEED TO TROLL ON YOUR OWN LOSER BLOG. YOU YELLO FLIES WILL FELL THE WRATH COME NOVEMBER. YOU ARE PLAIN STUPID
Hy Ronatt
October 28th, 2012
1:05 am
So, Richt will be back for more mediocre seasons, then? GOOD
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
1:06 am
We own you nerds and THIS STATE!!!
Quite an accomplishment. Hardly anybody beats us and the state of Georgia is a real football powerhouse.
DawgNole
October 28th, 2012
1:06 am
NYdawg
October 28th, 2012
1:02 am
Once again this season, we have a perfectly symmetrical football weekend: Georgia wins and Georgia Tech loses. The Dawgs are 7-1 and the Techies are 3-5. Georgia wins a big game on the road and GT shrivels at home.
___________________
I think GT just shrivels–at home AND away.
GTBob
October 28th, 2012
1:07 am
Dont worry your annual ass whooping is coming up soon
I can’t wait. Bring it hard this year. I want to see a real blowout.