LIVE: Bulldogs, Jackets vie for more than bragging rights
The early scene from Sanford Stadium, site for the final regular season game for Georgia and Tech.
ATHENS — Good morning. Before we get to the game, I have a small request: Let’s be civil.
I understand emotions (and beer) often cause sports fans to jump the rails a little bit. Because we will have both Georgia and Georgia Tech fans on this blog, the chance for a verbal inferno becomes even greater.
But the same rules apply: no profanity, no profanity that is cleverly disguised with punctuation marks, no racist comments, no sexual innuendo, no stealing of screen names to give the impression that somebody wrote something when they really didn’t, no … well, you get the idea. You can praise, mock, laud and criticize all you like. But let me share something an old editor of mine once told me: If you have to ask, “Can I write this?” the answer is probably no.
Fair enough?
OK, onto the game. Georgia and Georgia Tech is, first and foremost, always about 364 days of bragging rights. But it’s so much more than that today.
– Georgia needs a win to keep hopes alive for a berth in the BCS title. That’s also contingent on the Bulldogs upsetting Alabama in the SEC championship game next week. The Dogs would still play for the conference title even if they were to be upset by the Jackets. But obviously a lot of steam would come out of the game, and certainly it would deflate the fan base.
– Georgia Tech needs a win for a credibility boost and, in that sense. It also would give Jackets fans some hope for the ACC championship game against Florida State and/or a better bowl game. Tech has won three straight. But it has been a largely rocky season and they slipped into the Coastal Division title and a conference championship berth through the backdoor, benefiting from Miami’s decision to bow out in hopes of minimizing expected NCAA sanctions.
Georgia fans have reason to be concerned: Even though the Dogs have shown themselves to be the better and more talented team, there’s a possibility of players being distracted by all of the SEC and BCS talk.
Georgia Tech fans have reason to be concerned: Even with the late-season bounce back and the added skills that quarterback Vad Lee brings to the lineup, the Jackets’ defense hasn’t stopped anybody. Georgia has a balanced offense led by quarterback Aaron Murray (12 touchdowns, zero interceptions since the fourth quarter against Florida) and freshman running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall.
Bottom line: This is a rivalry game, and strange things often occur in rivalry games. At the risk of sounding cliche, I suspect Tech’s best chance to win today will be based on turnovers and winning the special teams battle. Georgia probably also doesn’t want to get into a scoring battle (as was the case in 2008, when the Jackets won 45-42). Red zone production is key for both teams.
That’s it for now. Have fun all. I’m here to serve.
And with that, the cyber venting lines are open.
By Jeff Schultz
Post-Thanksgiving blog blowout sale
• 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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1,171 comments Add your comment
shep
November 24th, 2012
11:39 am
Wilbo is the dumbo. I love ur humor Schultzi!
Greg
November 24th, 2012
11:41 am
I love rivalry week!
North ave. faithful
November 24th, 2012
11:43 am
Good luck to you dawgs next week, but to hell with ya today! GO JACKETS!!!!
jack bull
November 24th, 2012
11:44 am
So we’re having a Civil War here today?
Oh, speaking of, the Civil Wars broke up..dang, I liked them.
JSS
November 24th, 2012
11:44 am
Ha!!! Don’t tempt me, “I’m a meenie weenie!” RME!
dawgingatorville
November 24th, 2012
11:44 am
GO DAWGS!!! Send Tech back to Atlanta with a big loss!
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
11:45 am
DP
November 24th, 2012
11:10 am
Can I mock Mark Bradley for banning anybody from his blogs who dares to call him out on the nonsense he writes?
=================================
That is WHY MARK BRADLEY gets so few hits now. Nobody is allowed to post on his blog.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 24th, 2012
11:48 am
TO HELL WITH GEORGIA !!!
DP
November 24th, 2012
11:48 am
Schultz actually works at his columns. Compare the level of effort in his Countdown columns, complete with great pictures and national sports stories, with one of Mark Bradley’s pathetic slapped together in 10 minutes “Heat Checks”. I sure hope the AJC is paying Schultz at least double what Bradley makes.
HA
November 24th, 2012
11:48 am
Really Greg? Ole Miss and AU are better than Tech? You’re an idiot.
jack bull
November 24th, 2012
11:48 am
For some reason, Tech worries me more than Bama. Bad feeling in the ole gut this morning…
of course, it could be the leftovers.
Papa Smurf
November 24th, 2012
11:50 am
Any thing can happen and that’s why they play the game. Go Dawgs!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 24th, 2012
11:51 am
@UOAD … Bradley told the email address of the name thief though … derekdooley@aol.com. So Bradley is not all bad
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
11:53 am
Rick — No. And that’s your first and only warning.
bowwowdawg
November 24th, 2012
11:53 am
they are all ignorant jeff.you are best sportswriter @ ajc since the late,great mr. furman bisher. selah. oh yeah…go dawgs!!!
Jacket Man
November 24th, 2012
11:53 am
Attaocho with the flu for GA Tech.
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 24th, 2012
11:54 am
YELLOW JACKETS coming in HOT.
Jacket Man
November 24th, 2012
11:54 am
Read that “Attaochu”
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
11:55 am
SUPER….Thanks……But MARK gets mad and BANS a lot of people. he has me on Filter. I can post but until he reads it and says OK it is in “Your comment is awaiting moderation.” but that is OK unless it is a LIVE Blog then I an not in the Play-by-play conversation.
NotJoeCox
November 24th, 2012
11:56 am
Rumblings about a UGA wardrobe change.
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
11:58 am
JEFF…..has FUN with his blog….do I disagree at times? YES, but JEFF has a Thick Skin and like the BANTER and doesn’t get crazy like some AJC Writers/ Bloggers.
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
11:58 am
NotJoeCox– UGA in red jerseys, gray pants, red helmets … Tech in white jerseys, gol pants, gold helmets.
NotJoeCox
November 24th, 2012
11:59 am
Rumbling denounced! Thanks Mr Schultz.
1 4 GT
November 24th, 2012
12:00 pm
name thief email addy=derickdooley@aol.com…………………..
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
12:00 pm
GUYS We have a CHANCE again………………Danica Patrick divorcing husband after 7 years…………..
1 4 GT
November 24th, 2012
12:01 pm
GT has to earn everyon’s respect today…..ain’t nobody giving us any!
DP
November 24th, 2012
12:02 pm
5150 UOAD, Bradley had me in his “your comment is awaiting moderation filter” for quite a while, but when he wrote his latest ridiculous love letter to Mark Richt (”Knocking on the Door of Greatness”, based on going 1-1 including a 28 point beatdown versus the 2 ranked teams they’ve played) he made a preemptive strike and banned me before I could mock it.
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
12:02 pm
GOLD HELMETS………………great
JSS
November 24th, 2012
12:02 pm
Toe meets leather…
Greg
November 24th, 2012
12:02 pm
Good return Mitchell!
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
12:02 pm
Just the start Dogs wanted. Not the start Jackets wanted.
NotJoeCox
November 24th, 2012
12:02 pm
Nice start!
All Saints
November 24th, 2012
12:02 pm
Before the game begins, in tribute to our beloved martyred Saint Jan Kemp, let’s all bow our heads for a few moments of silent prayer. Thirty years ago, this courageous young lady risked everything to expose the corruption and massive academic fraud instigated by Vince Dooley, sleazy practices that continue to this day under coach Mark Richt. Gone but never forgotten, Saint Jan lives on in our hearts and minds as a guiding inspiration and as a symbol of resistance to the pervasive evil and corruption that dwell in Athens.
And now, let us all pray for Saint Jan…
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Thank you, you may now resume your normal activities.
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
12:03 pm
Kick Coverage still sucks.
DP
November 24th, 2012
12:03 pm
Schultz, unlike Bradley, doesn’t write stuff so ridiculous that it can’t be defended.
jack bull
November 24th, 2012
12:03 pm
sure wish Marshall returned kicks
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
12:03 pm
Looked Out before 1at down distance
jack bull
November 24th, 2012
12:04 pm
stadium looked somewhat empty.
Greg
November 24th, 2012
12:04 pm
7-0! That was easy! Suck it Tech!
1 4 GT
November 24th, 2012
12:05 pm
Entirely too easy!
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
12:05 pm
Nice PLAY no pass D.
made it toooooo EZ.
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
12:05 pm
Bang. That took 1:03.
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
12:05 pm
TW BURN the CLOCK and get the ball down the field.
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
12:06 pm
That actually took longer than I expected.
Mike Franklin
November 24th, 2012
12:06 pm
So much for deferring on the opening kickoff
JSS
November 24th, 2012
12:06 pm
That’s quick, deferring receiving is crazy
Greg
November 24th, 2012
12:06 pm
Tech is scared of UGA.
80sDawg
November 24th, 2012
12:06 pm
Impressive opening drive
playmeortrademe
November 24th, 2012
12:06 pm
Nice start, but what’s with all the empty seats at Sanford? Students can’t get out of bed for the Tech game?
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
12:07 pm
UGA touches ball 5 times: 47 KOR, 11 pass, 15 run, 15 pass, 3 run for TD.