Georgia playing at level we haven’t seen under Richt
Dogs accept Governor's Cup after the win, but they're after something bigger. (Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – This is new ground. Or, more accurately, new air.
Georgia had never reached this elevation before under Mark Richt — not in BCS ranking at this point of the season, not in perception of championship potential.
It didn’t feel like this even during those two SEC titles early in Richt’s tenure, when Georgia already had been cropped out of the national pictured. It wasn’t this real when a Sugar Bowl win left the Bulldogs with a postseason ranking of No. 2, after they already had been leapfrogged in the BCS and left out of the national title game.
Never before in late November under Richt could we look at Georgia and legitimately think: That team can win it all.
Now we can.
Georgia didn’t just beat Georgia Tech on Saturday. It humiliated the Jackets 42-10. The tilt on the scoreboard would have been even greater if Richt hadn’t pulled starters with more than 10 minutes left in the game.
The Dogs led 7-0 after one minute, 14-0 after six minutes, 28-3 at halftime. They made touchdown drives look like wind sprints, ranging in elapsed time from 29 seconds to 2:42. They dominated the game physically. When is the last time Georgia played with that level of urgency?
Linebacker Alec Ogletree and Georgia's defense have had a lot of reasons to celebrate lately. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
This team is playing with an edge it hasn’t for years. It has beaten its last four opponents (Ole Miss, Auburn, Georgia Southern, Tech) by scores of 37-10, 38-0, 45-14 and 42-10. That’s a composite dismembering of 162-34, give or take a limb.
Please, don’t come back with: “But look who they’re playing?”
Georgia has seldom stepped on opponents like this, certainly not in November when everybody, fans and pollsters, are watching.
With the score 42-3 Saturday, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo still could be seen and heard screaming in the coach’s box when things didn’t go well, at one point yelling into his headset, “Get your [bleep] off the field!” after the offense went three-and-out and players walked (not ran) to the sideline.
“Yeah, my dad texted me,” Bobo said later, somewhat sheepishly. “I guess he heard it on radio or TV. But you’re playing in Sanford Stadium. You should at least run off the field.”
Does this seem like the same Georgia team to you?
It was apparent after the win over Auburn: The Dogs are good enough to beat Alabama for the SEC championship. They are good enough to win its first national championship since 1980. They can pass: Aaron Murray has 14 touchdown passes, zero interceptions since the fourth quarter against Florida. They can run: Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall combined for 163 yards, four touchdowns and no carries for losses against Tech, and continue to look more like veterans than freshmen.
Most important, the defense, which had been expected to carry the Dogs all season, only to struggle early with suspensions and injuries and maybe a little bit of day-dreaming about the NFL, now is playing up to expectations.
This isn’t the same team that suffered so many hiccups in the first eight games. It’s certainly not the same team that lost at South Carolina 35-7, which prompted an egg assault on the home of some players and attacks via social media.
“At the end of the season, we might say that game helped us,” Marshall said.
“It was definitely an eye-opener,” linebacker Jarvis Jones said.
“This team is different. This team has something to it,” linebacker Christian Robinson said.
And then this: “I’m just glad my house is safe right now.”
This is the not same defense that was called out as being “soft” by senior strong safety Shawn Williams. Most agree he was on target with his comments, even if he was wrong to throw selected teammates (like Robinson) under the bus.
Richt said his team’s defensive leaders, most of whom passed up the chance to enter the NFL after last season “had a vested interest in his this season went.” He then added, “When Shawn Williams saw it slipping away, he felt he had to say something about it. He challenged everybody. He couldn’t stand what he was seeing. But I think everybody respected him for what he did. They may have not liked what he did but I think they agreed with it.”
Last year, Georgia reached the SEC championship game against No. 1 LSU. They led 10-0 after the first quarter, then gave up the next 42 points.
“We’re a different team,” Jones said. “We feel like we can beat anybody.”
They certainly look the part.
By Jeff Schultz
Post-Thanksgiving blog blowout sale
• Short takes (UGA): Rambo’s ascent, Gurley’s comfort
• LIVE: Bulldogs, Jackets vie for more than bragging rights
• Upsetting Georgia would give Tech needed boost for future
• Weekend Predictions: Georgia will win on Red-and-Black-Saturday
• Vince Dooley: Joy from Georgia’s resurgence, pain from son’s firing
• Wonder why SEC is on top? Look at other conference finals
• Falcons win — but run before somebody changes their mind
• Short takes: Ryan awful, defense great, win important
• Georgia’s new reality: From on the brink to BCS title possibility
• Upsets launch Georgia into BCS title picture (updated game column)
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802 comments Add your comment
Final Word
November 24th, 2012
10:39 pm
Later fellas……I gotta go take a big dump
kerryb
November 24th, 2012
10:40 pm
Tampa, If that happens what can the rest of the country say with seven NC’s in a row by 5 different teams? It will only get worse when the playoffs start. Imagine if it started this season?
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
10:41 pm
Dawgnole just changed his posting name to “DawgwithoutaNole”…….and Noley Noley Noley….suddenly has become lonely lonely lonely.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
10:42 pm
You guys are so easy.
The problem for you is you have nothing to draw on to say “we’re national championship quality!” Nothing. Except one win against Florida that required massive turnovers and a hurricane or something.
Really, you don’t have the players and you definitely don’t have the coaches that we have. You just don’t. And you know it. So when you say UGA > Bama, you realize, everyone is laughing.
Should we read that bleacher article again?
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
10:44 pm
kerryb….
I could only wish it started this year…..as Florida would be playing in the playoffs. Florida’s defense is very, very good. The offense got a lot better today. And Matt Jones had a break out game today at RB….what a workhorse he is going to be next year.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
10:45 pm
@tampagatorwholovesgeorgia
Uh, what running game? The one that racks up the yards against no names and falls flat when it plays a real team? The passing game that when playing ranked teams goes 1 TD and 4 INTs? The coaches who everyone wanted fired? The team that racks up more yards in penalties than rushing?
You think that’s going to beat Bama? You’re nuts.
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
10:45 pm
But don’t look now…..but USC has driven inside the 5….down by 9 with 10 min left. Still hope. But little.
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
10:49 pm
RTR…..
Obviously….you are one of those fans who runs only on team bias and emotion. So little need to have conversation with you. But….unless you are blind…..Georgia’s offensive line has come of age….they have two of the best RBs in the country…..their QB is thinking about coming out to play in the NFL…..and Georgia’s defense is very, very good. As I said…..Bama will have their hands full with the Dawgs next Saturday…..and I think Georgia wins.
C from Marietta
November 24th, 2012
10:49 pm
Enter your comments here
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
10:50 pm
Florida was losing despite four turnovers from FSU, it took five turnovers to finally pull ahead. I mean 4 turnovers should be 4 TDs, instead, it’s you down 20-16??
Wow…. what’s the deal with barely beating Jacksonville St, Missouri and Louisiana Lafayette???
I’m starting to think, the SEC East is benefiting greatly from all of the work the SEC West has done over the years. You’re riding our coattails and thus are over ranked for what you’ve accomplished.
Not So Fast
November 24th, 2012
10:51 pm
RTR, Florida’s resume is extremely more impressive than Bama’s this year. They also beat Texas A&m something your team couldn’t do because they choked.
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
10:54 pm
Wow…….big deal beating Texas A&M, LSU, South Carolina…….and the best team in the ACC…..FSU……scoring 37 points in the process despite not taking advantage of those forced early turnovers……but used the last one in the 3rd quarter to spark a 20 point run on FSU. And….by the way…..Florida has played the toughest schedule in the country this year….and they are 11 and 1. Not bad.
UGA OWNS gtu
November 24th, 2012
10:55 pm
Well, that was fun! Crushing gtu will never get old!
We OWN gtu. Always have, always will!
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
10:56 pm
Your QB is thinking about coming out to play in the NFL.
And today the ESPN announcers said “well, eh, you know, he does good against bad teams, we want to see what he does against good teams.”
Well, what has he done against good teams? How many teams has he beaten that are ranked at the end of the season? (meaning they weren’t overrated}
1-10?
And that one win he was really bad?
I think it’s pretty ugly. He can come out, but he may go undrafted. I think they’d have to say if he was hated by his own fans… why would we pick him up?
Speaking of that we’re still forecasting 5 in the first round. How about you?
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
10:56 pm
……and…..by the way…..FSU got that lead off Florida turnovers.
C from Marietta
November 24th, 2012
10:57 pm
First, I would like to congradulate Bama on thier West Division title.
I think this will be a hard fought battle.
My prediction is UGA 24 – Bama 21. Yeah, Koolaide drinking UGA homer
QB – even
RB – even
OL – Bama
WR/TE – UGA
DL – even
LB – UGA
CB – UGA
S – UGA
Coaching staff- Bama slightly
Exp – Bama
GO DAWGS!
C from Marietta
November 24th, 2012
11:00 pm
@ Tampa Gator
Thanks for showing UGA some love. I have to admit.
I would be nervous playing the Gators again.
Looks good for ND so far.
Good luck in the Sugar Bowl.
Not So Fast
November 24th, 2012
11:01 pm
RTR do you have any football knowledge at all? You do realize a lot of qb’s who succeed in the nfl had crappy college records right? And you do understand that some quarterbacks who have awesome records in college are crappy in the Nfl right?
C from Marietta
November 24th, 2012
11:04 pm
@ Tampa Gator
Yeah, looking at Flordia’s schedule. They have to be respected for only losing 1 game. They would be in 2014. ND just missed their chance to ice the game.
Thomas Brown
November 24th, 2012
11:05 pm
6 of the BCS Top 10 teams are The SEC in the Final BCS Poll after 4pm Saturday night at the Georgia Dome, as The SEC ran every ACC team off the field on this day, as I guaranteed The SEC would do to the All Cupcake Conference.
Florida State’s only win all season long over any team in any top 25 poll today, was over Clempsum Farmers, who themselves have – 0 – wins over any team in any top 25 poll today. # 75 in the nation in Worst Turnover Margin nationally, even against such cupcakes reared its ugly head in this game. # 4 Florida who has beat # 15 Florida State, # 10 South Carolina, # 8 Texas A & M whom they will NEVER give the Heisman Trophy to their redshirt freshman Johnny Football who had scholarship offers from Oregon and Stanford, and # 7 LSU, is NOT an underdog to # 15 Florida State who beat NO ONE. It was double the score of FSU by Florida until as time expired Florida State pulled within 11 points. Non-game. Never was going to be a Florida State win. Not ever. EJ Manual does not take care of the football. Jimbo Fisher, if he wants to get a better job, has to beat the cupcakes he has been losing to at Florida State and he has racked up a long-list of cupcakes he’s lost to at Florida State Criminoles, and he has beat NO ONE.
GameDay – I will be on it at the Georgia Dome. Alabama, everyone feels is the # 1 team, and while Alabama has beat everyone in college football all-time, UGA has done pretty well against them. We’ve got it going on, and Alabama least of all, wants to face us.
____________________
4-0 SEC over ACC today
____________________
10 points over Clempsum Farmers, South Carolina
11 points over Flawed State Criminoles, Florida
32 points over Georgie tek, Georgia
44 points over Weak Forest, Vandie now 8-4
Great Day for The SEC, not the least of which is of the 4 guarantees I made over the All Cupkake Conference today, # 4 Florida beat # 15 Flawed State Criminoles. Now, go have your
STINKING ACC CHUMPionship Game between LOSERS to The SEC, again.
___________________________________________
Who’s top ACC team ? Trick question, as there ain’t 1
___________________________________________
2 ACC teams, 1 who beat the other, otherwise NEITHER beat any team in any top 25 poll today.
And, what was this crudola, that the All Cupcake Conference allowed Notre Dame NOT to join their conference in football.
3 years in a row, not 1 ACC team makes the final AP Poll Top 10.
How stinky is that ?
# 23 in 2011, Flawed State Criminoles, appear headed to about the same 2012.
# 17 in 2010, Flawed State Criminoles, will be about that tomorrow
unranked in 2009, Flawed State Criminoles, have just fallen off the map
# 21 in 2008, Flawed State Criminoles have been no good since Richt left
unranked in 2007, Flawed State Criminoles suck since Mark Richt left
unranked in 2006, Flawed State Criminoles lose to cupcakes beat no 1
unranked in 2005, Flawed State Criminoles suck
unranked in 2004, Flawed State Criminoles think they are great ? Huh ?
unranked in 2003, Flawed State Criminoles licking their wounds again now
unranked in 2002, Flawed State Criminoles have done nothing for so long now
# 15 in 2001, Flawed State Criminoles have NOT BEEN THAT HIGHLY RANKED SINCE
_______________________________
Enjoy your ACC CHUMPionship game
_______________________________
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
11:05 pm
Hey Tampa… Notre Dame just scored again.
I think what irks people here is that Alabama fans get to strut. But you get to strut when you win National Championships. Is that really that hard to understand?
I guess so.
Say go dawgs if you bark like a family pet at football games.
Or you’re a gator fan that likes Georgia. I’m pretty sure in the history of the BCS, no team has had a group of fans that made animal noises and paraded around an inbred dog? I’m not sure and probably won’t bother looking that little factoid up.
kerryb
November 24th, 2012
11:07 pm
I hope fans in South Bend enjoy this win if they win it. They have no hope after tonight. A team barely ahead of a USC team starting a first time red shirt Freshman QB has no chance against Bama or UGA. It will be like the Tech vs UGA game today.
cloudodust
November 24th, 2012
11:09 pm
Dawgs, congrats on beating Tech and sweeping through the East, well, almost. I’m sure Thomas (BuLLdawg) Brown will be coaching us down on these boards come midnight. The matchup next week will tell if you’ve actually reached that elusive pinnacle the Atlanta sportswriters use to sell ink or if it’s a pipe dream of glory. Truthfully, I’m of the impression that Alabama is a creature you haven’t seen the likes of this year so if you get through them, I’ll buy in. Until then, Go Fight Win and may the best SEC team bring home the Crystal.
kerryb
November 24th, 2012
11:10 pm
UF is still alive. USC long pass to the 1 yard line.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
11:10 pm
@notsosmart
A lot of NFL QBs came from crappy teams. Few come from large programs. It’s just the way it is. You’re own Matt Ryan was from Boston College, not a SEC, PAC ##, Big ## team. Smaller college teams produce better NFL QBs.
But you can’t talk out both sides of your mouth here. You can’t say UGA greatest team ever and say just because Murray is 1-10 in big games don’t mean nothing. He had the greatest team ever around him and failed to win, or he doesn’t have the greatest team ever and well, that’s why Alabama 49 UGA 21. T
ake your pick, either way, Alabama rollllls.
Not So Fast
November 24th, 2012
11:13 pm
RTR talking about Florida and Georgia fans when they have fans like Harvey Updyke and Brian Downing. Tampa Gator is one if the classiest fans that posts.
kerryb
November 24th, 2012
11:13 pm
cloudodust
November 24th, 2012
11:09 pm
Dawgs, congrats on beating Tech and sweeping through the East, well, almost. I’m sure Thomas (BuLLdawg) Brown will be coaching us down on these boards come midnight. The matchup next week will tell if you’ve actually reached that elusive pinnacle the Atlanta sportswriters use to sell ink or if it’s a pipe dream of glory. Truthfully, I’m of the impression that Alabama is a creature you haven’t seen the likes of this year so if you get through them, I’ll buy in. Until then, Go Fight Win and may the best SEC team bring home the Crystal.
___________________________________________________________________________
Bama is NOT a creature we can’t beat. They are very beatable. Weak secondary and no edge pass rusher. Only one WR that you have to worry about and UGA has gotten very good at stopping the run. If you can stop the triple option 2 weeks in a row you can stop the runs between the tackles.
kerryb
November 24th, 2012
11:17 pm
Well, maybe UF is not still alive. USC is sorry
Pete
November 24th, 2012
11:18 pm
Bama 38, UGA17…Hope I’m wrong.
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
11:18 pm
Notre Dame vs. the Georgia vs. Bama winner. Well….maybe….next year. But Florida is as good as anyone this year.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
11:18 pm
Hey Tampa, USC failed to score in like 6… 7… 8… I wasn’t counting… but a lot of tries from the 1.
Notre Dame has the ball back.
kerryb
November 24th, 2012
11:18 pm
Pete, Bama won’t score 38 points on Georgia’s defense.
playmeortrademe
November 24th, 2012
11:19 pm
Well, ND wins. I hope whoever from the SEC plays them scores a goal line TD on them.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
11:19 pm
@kerry
Alabama is a monster you can’t beat.
kerryb
November 24th, 2012
11:19 pm
Florida fans know how Georgia fans felt in 2007.
kerryb
November 24th, 2012
11:20 pm
Bama is no monster A&M proved that. LSU proved that.
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
11:21 pm
kerryb….
USC is not sorry. But neither Notre Dame or USC stand a chance vs. Bama, Georgia or even Florida….in my opinion. But we will see now. Well….at least the Gators assured themselves the BCS Sugar Bowl today. Georgia better beat Bama…..or Florida will end up higher ranked and in a better bowl this year. That will not sit well with Dawg fans….will it.
kerryb
November 24th, 2012
11:21 pm
playmeortrademe
November 24th, 2012
11:19 pm
Well, ND wins. I hope whoever from the SEC plays them scores a goal line TD on them.
_______________________________________________________________
I don’t think there’s going to be a situation where an SEC team is going to have to score on the goal line. SEC O-lines will blow them off the ball.
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
11:22 pm
Maybe Notre Dame will schedule an top tier SEC team during the regular season……in the future. And then see what happens.
kerryb
November 24th, 2012
11:23 pm
Tampa, if you have 6 chances on the goal line and don’t score that’s sorry.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
11:24 pm
I have to tip my hat, that’s a stout defense.
Almost as good as Bama’s, but we only allow 9.3 points per game and they allow 10.1. Better than 18 points a game. geeish.
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
11:24 pm
……..and Lou Holtz is going to be spitting all over the place in the post game show.
“Notre Dame….sppppsas….sppoozzzz…..is not….spposs….spooopozzz….going to ever…..sppplazz…..lose…spooiozzz….ssppposss….another game….soollzzzz..ppss….EVER.
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
11:25 pm
No….that is a very good defensive stand by a team that wanted to play in the national title game.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
11:25 pm
NOTRE DAME VS ALABAMA!
kerryb
November 24th, 2012
11:25 pm
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
11:24 pm
……..and Lou Holtz is going to be spitting all over the place in the post game show.
“Notre Dame….sppppsas….sppoozzzz…..is not….spposs….spooopozzz….going to ever…..sppplazz…..lose…spooiozzz….ssppposss….another game….soollzzzz..ppss….EVER.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Yea, Daffy Duck will be in rare form.
kerryb
November 24th, 2012
11:26 pm
NOTRE DAME VS GEORGIA
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
11:26 pm
But…..USC…..does not have a very good OL….and that hurt them in this game.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
11:27 pm
alright, good night, i’ll be back all week and next Saturday when i’ll be here to ridicule the notion that Georgia = Alabama.
unless you take it stride and the only people here are the ones crying fire richt and stuff. if that’s all that’s here, i’ll say “told you” and go back to al blogs.
Tampa Gator
November 24th, 2012
11:28 pm
kerryb…..
I hope so. But Bama vs. Notre Dame is the game the national media is going to want…and probably all they are going to talk about next week. Go beat Bama……along with all the Tideesss.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 24th, 2012
11:28 pm
oh, trust me, there are millions of Notre Dame fans (and there are millions) praying for Georgia to win.
That ought to tell you something, eh?