Georgia’s new reality: From on the brink to BCS possibility
If Mark Richt and the Bulldogs win two more games they'll play for BCS title. (Brandt Sanderlin/AJC)
This is why we love sports. This is why it’s the greatest reality show we have going – unscripted and unexpected, with fluctuating emotions of fan bases from game to game.
Who foresees this? Who looks at a 0-2 Georgia team last season, with coach Mark Richt under assault by fans and media, with the program a non-factor in the SEC for more than two years, boat-raced in the conference by Alabama, Florida and LSU, and thinks: By the end of next season, those Bulldogs may have a chance to play for the BCS championship?
After some early hiccups in Athens Saturday, Georgia buried Georgia Southern 45-14. That’s one development that surprised nobody. What changed the landscape of college football’s national race is what occurred later that evening.
Kansas State, the BCS’s No. 1 team, got body-slammed 52-24 by Baylor (the same Baylor that was 1-5 in the Big 12 before kickoff). Oregon, the BCS’s No. 2 team, was upset at home by Stanford in overtime 17-14 (the same Oregon team whose point totals had ranged from 42 to 70 in its first 10 games).
These developments made happy people of everybody in the SEC office and a significant portion of the population in Georgia and Alabama. The losses by Kansas State and Oregon opened the door to the winner of the SEC championship game getting a pass into the BCS title game. When the new BCS rankings came out Sunday night, the top five teams were as expected: 1) Notre Dame; 2) Alabama; 3) Georgia; 4) Florida; 5) Oregon. Kansas State dropped all the way to sixth.
For the Bulldogs, it comes down to this: Win two games and they’re in. Yes, really.
Beat rival Georgia Tech at home next week (they will be favored) and Alabama in two weeks at the Georgia Dome (they will be underdogs) and the Dogs will play for their first BCS title.
Suddenly, residents of this state – at least those not associated with the teams on North Ave. – bark in unison.
Richt will have a difficult job trying to keep his players focused on a football game this week. That’s not the norm. Getting players to think about a game against their state rival shouldn’t be a chore. But the circumstances are extraordinary. Georgia’s last national championship came in 1980, and even if the Dogs need three more victories to win another one, nobody imagined they would get this close – not this year.
Just consider the reaction by some Georgia players on Twitter immediately following Oregon’s loss to Stanford:
• Quarterback Aaron Murray (@aaronmurray11): “Yesssssssssssss!!!!!! The Murray household just went crazyyyyy!!!!!!”
• Running back Keith Marshall (@truthh4): “Can’t lie. I’m excited right now.” But he followed that with: “Gotta focus on GT first.”
• Wide receiver Tavarres King (@TKUnoDos): “ALL SMILES!!!!!!!!”
• Cornerback Sanders Commings: “Thank you Baylor, thank you Stanford.” And Sunday morning: “And I wake up pinching myself. Yea it’s real. We control our own destiny.”
• Safety Marc Deas (@DatBoiDeas): “Show me the BCS!!!!”
Richt will try to ground them all this week. But one thing Georgia has done well is respond to adversity, whether it’s a loss (like getting pounded by South Carolina) or struggling early in against an inferior opponent (like Saturday against Georgia Southern). Maybe that grounding effect can work in high times, too.
“The one thing that’s different about this team is our composure,” wide receiver Chris Conley said following Saturday’s win. “We haven’t had guys freaking out on the sideline when something’s not going right.”
It follows that now they can’t freak out when everything is going right.
By Jeff Schultz
Recent ramblings from the digital jukebox
• Upsets launch Georgia into BCS title picture (updated game column)
• Short takes: Murray wakes up the offense
• Live: Georgia hopes for easy day against Georgia Southern
• Weekend Predictions: Dogs, Jackets, Falcons and the lust triangles
• Falcons’ flaws aren’t worse than any other NFL team
• College hoop kings provide rare thrills for Atlanta
• Falcons’ startling admission: Ray Edwards was a blunder
• Will SEC get team to BCS championship (answer below) (with video)
• Short takes: Murray, Georgia defense and angry Auburn fans
• Georgia wins SEC East, and looks like threat to Alabama
• Richt is coaching through pain (because he fell off a swing … honest)
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358 comments Add your comment
Bama Sucks Sweaty Balls
November 18th, 2012
4:55 pm
@ truth,
The answer is …because yo mama is too lazy to do that job.
woofie
November 18th, 2012
4:57 pm
I thought it was because they can!LOL
The Truth
November 18th, 2012
5:03 pm
Think uga would want to take on Spurrier again? He could beat uga anywhere, with any team, and at any time. Spurrier OWNS ga!! If uga played South Carolina again today, SC would beat ga like a red headed stepchild. Wish the Gators could bring Spurrier in for just that one game in Jax every year. Would be like old times. Until Mushcamp can beat his alma mater, I smell a rat. Would Muschamp really throw a game? Just sayin…
Dog!
November 18th, 2012
5:08 pm
Mark this down–these Dogs are on a mission and will beat alabama, get in the BCS against Notre Dame and pull the upset! 1980 rematch!!! Dogs 26 ND 20! BCS champions!
One Magic Moment
November 18th, 2012
5:08 pm
SC & FL are not in the national title picture or discussion. Nuff said
Gators Suck Snot
November 18th, 2012
5:09 pm
Richt OWNS Will Muschamp
Ellijay
November 18th, 2012
5:11 pm
WE Run this State
Top News | The Worthington Post
November 18th, 2012
5:11 pm
[...] Georgia’s new reality: From on the brink to BCS possibility – Atlanta Journal Constituti… [...]
gg
November 18th, 2012
5:16 pm
DOES ANYONE TRULY BELIEVE THAT MURRAY CAN WIN A BIG GAME??? DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN MURRAY AT ALL?? DON’T GET ME WRONG, I LIKE THE KID. I THINK HE’S TALENTED AND HAS A BIG ARM, BUT I QUESTION HIS MENTAL TOUGHNESS!! THIS IS GEORGIA’S WEAKNESS GOING INTO THE BIG GAME VERSUS ALABAMA. PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE MURRAY IS A BETTER PASSER THAN MCCARRON, BUT I DON’T THINK HE CAN HANDLE THE BIG GAME PRESSURE AS WELL AS MCCARRON. WE WILL SEE. HOPEFULLY MURRAY WOULD PROVE ME WRONG!!!GO DOGS!!!!
Vitalis
November 18th, 2012
5:18 pm
I’m tired of Saban.
The Truth
November 18th, 2012
5:19 pm
Check back with me when Richt wins a national title
Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg
November 18th, 2012
5:21 pm
Remarkable? One of the softest schedules in the SEC. dismantled by Gamecocks and Gators hurt themselves. The yawn teams Dawgs played have a combined winning percentage of just over 30%. Come on!!!!
Vitalis
November 18th, 2012
5:21 pm
Just beat Saban and bury the hatchet.
Good Dawg
November 18th, 2012
5:25 pm
Dont hate GA cause they are no. 3. It is what it is.
WIN IT ALL DAWGS!!!
doggoneit
November 18th, 2012
5:28 pm
Truth…… it reminds them of your mother
Turkeyneck
November 18th, 2012
5:29 pm
Go ahead. Look past the bugs. They are way overdue and no one gives them a chance. It’s gonna feel great plucking the heart from the mutt’s chest!! Bees 51 UGA 48
tell me again
November 18th, 2012
5:30 pm
Nobody wants to win more and knows what is at stake more than the Dawgs – they will take care of business. They’re talented, they’re hungry and they’re ready……..GO DAWGS!
doggoneit
November 18th, 2012
5:32 pm
Truth where you watching the championship game ? You know the one with Ga. and Bama not SC
Russ the Mascot
November 18th, 2012
5:36 pm
We going all the way guys!!!!!!!!!!!
KILL THE BUGS
KILL ALABAMA
KILL ND.
GET ON THE DAWG BUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a joke
November 18th, 2012
5:40 pm
The Babe,
No way that both of these happen.
Saban loses a 2nd game this season and Richt beats a real top 10 team. FL is a joke and FINALLY the ROCK has come back to Atlanta. Wait, I mean finally the pollsters drop FL in the polls for their pathetic play. LSU too.
What a joke
November 18th, 2012
5:48 pm
Check that. Finally the pollsters dropped SC, FL, LSU after their pathetic play.
SC was tied 7-7 with Wofford in the 4th qtr last night. The same team drilled GA by 28.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 18th, 2012
5:48 pm
Don’t worry dWag fans it will still be “Wait til Next Year” in Athens at Christmas time.
What a joke
November 18th, 2012
5:52 pm
If GA routs GT they are in big trouble the next week. Over confident + thug = true stupidity.
Beat Tech
November 18th, 2012
5:52 pm
Hmmmm… I get the feeling that a lot of these Bama posters are really Bug fans painfully aware of their imminent thumping this week.
Go Dawgs!
te29wr
November 18th, 2012
5:53 pm
Tenn got rid of Coach Dooley and all we need to do now is get rid of the fans who no one can make happy and beat Ala and shut off the CrimsonTide
OLD DOG
November 18th, 2012
5:55 pm
Just a note to Bergamont: It is on record that the state of Ala has mor trailers (not double wides) per registration than any other state in the union. The even surpass Alaska. So I would expect you to know about trailer trash. If it weren’t for Bummer you wouldn,t have anything to do but watch old George Wallace replays on tv with Bear Bryant Golden Flake commercials. Always living in the past.
What a joke
November 18th, 2012
5:56 pm
Richt finishes with losses in 2 of the last 3 games. That’s not a prediction. That’s Richt.
OLD DOG
November 18th, 2012
5:59 pm
First word I have herd from a good friend in Knoxville is the job is Kirby Smarts if he wants it. He levered Bama for more money when the UGA DC came open so the only way to get a raise is to become a HC. Time will tell but he is due.
RedDawg
November 18th, 2012
5:59 pm
Beat Tech!!! Beat Tech!!! Beat Tech!!!
BDK
November 18th, 2012
6:04 pm
There are a lot of idiot haters on these blogs today. Some of them even believe that Tech won a national championship in 1991. Forget about schedules. UGA has a chance to be National champs if they run the table. If they do, they will have beaten two #2’s and one #1. National Champions! And well deserved. Go Dawgs!
What a joke
November 18th, 2012
6:04 pm
If Barkley plays for USC, USC beats ND (look at their margin of victory) and it is AL vs Oregon.
I predicted this 6 weeks ago. Bama by 9. Play like Stanford did and it will happen.
FootballTopFan(c)
November 18th, 2012
6:04 pm
Football Top Fan and football fans nationwide anxiously look forward to the (BCS) Bowl Championship Series games.
May the best college football team win.
We would like to see a consensus National Champion !!!
We love college football.
FootballTopFan@Yahoo.com
What a joke
November 18th, 2012
6:06 pm
Tech won in 91? That is a surprise that Miami would argue.
What a joke
November 18th, 2012
6:08 pm
Forget schedules. Yeah, right. Stick your head and in sand. Here comes Santa Clause, here come Santa Clause.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 18th, 2012
6:09 pm
It is Great…..the Dwag Fans are chanting “This Could Be The Year” again…..Soon it will be “Wait Til Next Year” soon enough.
OLD DOG
November 18th, 2012
6:11 pm
Let’s see now Coaching changes. Kirby Smart to Tenn.; Bobby Paterino to KY; Lane Kiffin to Auburn; Urban Myers to Ark. and Nick Saban to the Dallas Cowboys. Some jokes ……some possibilities.
Tools Everywhere
November 18th, 2012
6:13 pm
Tools with no life attacking the Dawgs! It’s ok, we can take it!! Ha! You’ve got to love being a Georgia Bulldawg!
What a joke
November 18th, 2012
6:20 pm
LSU 42, GA 10 and I bet 90% of you idiot rednecks thought GA had a chance before the game. A chance even a 1 pt win.
Please give to the United Negro College Fund. The mind is a terrible thing to waste.
OLD DOG
November 18th, 2012
6:20 pm
The tournamant has come down to (I) iF THE DAWGS CAN’T BEAT TECH AND BAMA THEY DON’T DESERVE TO PLAY FOR THE MNC.(2) If they win those 2 games they EARN there chance to play.. (3) Now It is all about the competition on the field No more 0f If this vote changes or that computer or if this happens then that changes things LET’S JUST GETTER ON AND PLAY THE GAMES. COLLEGE FOOTBALL SURE IS FUN; ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR TEAM IS WINNING.
BDK
November 18th, 2012
6:21 pm
Next victim for UGA is the highly over rated bumbling bees. I would love to see the dawgs win by a 55-7 score. But Richt will have the 3rd string playing by the 3rd quarter. Gotta save our players for the National Championship game! Time for the annual butt kicking! Go Dawgs!
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 18th, 2012
6:22 pm
16 years in the future an AJC Headline to read “Honey Boo Boo Girl graduates Magna Cum Laude with a Degree in Communications from UGa thanks HOPE and beauty pageant winnings.”
OLD DOG
November 18th, 2012
6:24 pm
Hey WHAT A JOKE “YOUR GUY GOT ALL THE NOSE CANDY AT HALF TIME IT’S REALLY HARD TO TACKLE A GUY THAT IS FLYING SO HIGH.
OLD DOG
November 18th, 2012
6:26 pm
16 YEARS AND YOU WILL READ “HONEY BOO BOO GIRL FLUNKS OUT OF ALABAMA.
OLD DOG
November 18th, 2012
6:28 pm
NEWS FLASH HONEY BOO BOO GIRL FLUNKS OUT OF BAMA
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 18th, 2012
6:29 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5CLeU2mFsk&feature=share
Munson calling the Tech vs UGa game
What a joke
November 18th, 2012
6:31 pm
I wonder if Richt gets routed for the second time this year if you clowns will finally bail on him. Nah, ain’t gonna happen. Pathetic is and pathetic does.
I can just see his usual demeanor after the SEC championship. No sweat off my back, I am worth millions and Adams loves me. Actually Adams agenda is education and he loves that Richt sucks.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 18th, 2012
6:32 pm
BDK………….hahah how many times this year did the back-ups play in a game? Twice maybe?
North ave. faithful
November 18th, 2012
6:38 pm
Just read your comment from first page of blog, your an idiot.
BDK
November 18th, 2012
6:45 pm
You struggled with Duke!!! We just played a team with the same high school offense as yours and you know the outcome. What kind of hallucinating drugs are you on to think that yech can win this game? You need to hope that Miami “gives” yech the division. Fl. State will bury Yech.
BobDawg
November 18th, 2012
6:47 pm
I loved our prep for the TO this past week… I think CMR and CTG rest the Boys some more this week so we have fresh legs against the Bugs….That’s all that matters this week….GO DAWGS!!!!