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
ignition
November 24th, 2012
2:59 pm
So UGA has banished 5* Quaterback of the Dream Team to the 3rd string and is now probably transferring..
Dream Team hasn’t been all that dreamy so far..
Vampire Bill
November 24th, 2012
2:59 pm
I hate garbage points too. All the bug fans at work are going to claim it was close at the end.
kingdaddy
November 24th, 2012
2:59 pm
Don’t fret Doggies. This is good for our 2nd team. They need to get tossed around to realize how much work they need for next year. This is good for them, don’t get mad…
Supersize that order, mutt
November 24th, 2012
2:59 pm
King daddy…..no suddenly about it. Most Tech fans never pull for anybody UGA plays. No difference now
billyho55
November 24th, 2012
2:59 pm
WELL HOT DAMN BOYS, WE GOT US A TOUCHDOWN! COMPLETE EMBARASSMENT TODAY! HOPE THE AD CANDIDATES ARE WATCHING THIS!
Sierra Dawg
November 24th, 2012
3:00 pm
Mason is redshirted and LeMay is in the doghouse. If Murray goes pro (big if), Mason will be the guy next year. And he’s a better passer, believe it or not.
Jarad
November 24th, 2012
3:00 pm
The idea that cut blocking should be outlawed is stupid. For that matter, we should outlaw tackling. The NFL has become a girl’s sport already, lets keep college football like it is.
BubbaGolf
November 24th, 2012
3:00 pm
Well, Grantham, you proved everyone wrong…you could stop tech for only one TD on the ground…you are a genius to keep the starters in the 4th quarter to prove that. Why are you not a head coach???
Will
November 24th, 2012
3:00 pm
Tech can’t get a touchdown but on the backups. I didn’t want them to get anything. Period. But oh well. And the score could be much worse had Richt kept everybody in. We could have easily put up 60 points today.
GT Fan
November 24th, 2012
3:01 pm
Appreciate the answers reguarding the QB depth chart for the Dawgs.
LeMay is 3rd string? Wow, wasn’t he a big recruit?
GT Fan
November 24th, 2012
3:01 pm
Okay … here’s LeMay.
macrotech
November 24th, 2012
3:01 pm
OUCH…uga OWNED us in EVERY aspect of this game…props!
blamegame
November 24th, 2012
3:02 pm
GT is going to be living a kind of vicarious life next week and jan. 7th 2013
Sierra Dawg
November 24th, 2012
3:02 pm
Watch for it to get chippy soon.
DantheMan
November 24th, 2012
3:02 pm
People bash me a lot for talking trash on the blogs. I have never gotten so pathetic as to whip out my phone during a game to do it. So congrats, you found a group lower than me.
Well, GTBob, it’s been a LONG time since you had the oppurtuntiy.
GT man
November 24th, 2012
3:02 pm
Everytime Murray plays GT, he looks like a heisman !!!!!! Until GT can get a coach, i wish we would drop ga. We sure cant beat them. PJ is intimadated by richt and his players are afraid of ga. PJ needs to resign now !!!!!!!!
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
3:02 pm
Richard Samuel, one of the biggest busts in UGA history getting some work. The game must be really out of hand.
Stinger1
November 24th, 2012
3:02 pm
You know it’s easy to laugh at a team that has no D Coach. Or O coach …….. Ga Fans……………THE ONLY SPORT YOU BEAT TECH IN IS FOOTBALL . We beat you soundly in every other sport . So don’t be too proud.
If do right, no can defense
November 24th, 2012
3:03 pm
@Grinch, Michael Johnson… yeah that should be the clear way forward… except that Radakovich screwed up by gift-wrapping Paul Johnson a contract extension and a hefty 10 million buyout… cash we do not have to get rid of him. Also Radakovich bungled our only success… the ACC title had to be vacated because of his poor handling of the situation.
Burdell
November 24th, 2012
3:03 pm
UGA fans, be careful! I think you have a pretty good football team, but you haven’t beaten anyone very good yet. This game today only shows how wide the gap is between UGA and GT, not how good GA is! Being a GT alum, I can tell you, this GT team is beyond bad!!!
GT1990
November 24th, 2012
3:03 pm
@schultz
Why can you not answer the question? Someone needs to bash johnson tomorrow in the paper.
Vampire Bill
November 24th, 2012
3:03 pm
Wonder why the bugs don’t put in their second string? hahahaha
Jarad
November 24th, 2012
3:03 pm
UGA won because the defense stiffened up when they needed to. Tech may still outgain UGA in yards, but only UGA was capable of closing the deal.
Will
November 24th, 2012
3:04 pm
Who is wearing what in the SEC title game? Will UGA be in red or white?
DAWGS
November 24th, 2012
3:04 pm
And GT takes the lead in Forced Punts 3-2! GT JUST MIGHT PULL THIS THING OUT! WHAT A GAME!
GT Fan
November 24th, 2012
3:04 pm
I feel for Samuel …. he’s been around, and done A LOT for the UGA program. Seems like a really good kid. Wish it (football career) could’ve been better for him.
Al Bundy
November 24th, 2012
3:04 pm
Does UGA require all it’s recruits to have a criminal record? And if so, does it have to be a felony or will a misdemeanor do?
I hope the Crimson Tide wins by 50! Roll Tide roll!!!!!!!!!!!
bsg3003
November 24th, 2012
3:05 pm
`whatever happened to cornelius washington?
kingdaddy
November 24th, 2012
3:05 pm
Did you see Richt get in Zanders face after he caught the out of bounds pass on the sidelines???
JB
November 24th, 2012
3:05 pm
Nobody employed to fire CPJ today at Tech
USMC DAWG
November 24th, 2012
3:05 pm
“Things you didn’t expect: 10:31 left in game and UGA has pulled starters.”–Jeff Schultz
Jeff, what are your thoughts on Paul Johnson and his lack of recruiting and lack of defense?? just curious.
ramguy68
November 24th, 2012
3:05 pm
Maybe Tech was looking past the Dawgs to playing Fla St next week…lol
The Grinch
November 24th, 2012
3:06 pm
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
3:02 pm
Samual a bust?
He had an 80 yard TD run against GT and was then converted to a LB. Because of a depth problem at RB he was converted back from LB to RB.
Bust? Hardly. I’d say he’s a DGD!!!
Michael Johnson
November 24th, 2012
3:06 pm
LeMay was a big recruit, but the offense is complicated. Hutson is #2 because he has a bigger command of the offense. LeMay would be starting for GT.
ScoutDawg
November 24th, 2012
3:07 pm
Yeah Jarad, because the NFL knows nothing about football, but they outlawed nerd blocks.
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
3:07 pm
Folks — its 2:46 early but I think I can take this risk. Just posted my UGA short takes on the game. You’re welcome to switch commenting to over there. Will be back shortly with the full game column.
http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2012/11/24/short-takes-uga-rambos-ascent-gurleys-comfort/
Leghumpers Ahoy
November 24th, 2012
3:07 pm
It’s really sad that UGA alumni and fans have only their football team to take pride in. It’s even sadder that this pride depends on the performance of illiterate clowns who don’t even come close to meeting minimum academic requirements. 84% of UGA football players are what UGA calls “special admits,” which is just a euphemism for admitting bozos who can’t even read.
This sorry practice not only cheapens all UGA degrees (which are pretty worthless to begin with), but embarrasses the State of Georgia and its citizens. And Mark Richt is the one behind the atrocities at UGA.
So enjoy your victories, and be kind to your former players when you see them working menial jobs in custodial or sanitation services. Or pushing a shopping cart around, looking for a warm place to sleep at night. That’s your UGA reality.
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
3:08 pm
Samual a bust?
He was a 5 star running back. In his senior season he is getting mop up duty in his final game. I would say that is a bust.
dean
November 24th, 2012
3:08 pm
That was some impressive cussing coming out of the coaches booth.
USMC DAWG
November 24th, 2012
3:08 pm
Cut blocking! sucks!
JB
November 24th, 2012
3:08 pm
Get Tech off the schedule. Till this crap teaching Johnson is gone
DantheMan
November 24th, 2012
3:09 pm
Only a Tech fan could refer to Richard Samuel as a bust. Do you remember what he did to YOU? To Florida? He would be your best player.
Eric C.
November 24th, 2012
3:09 pm
Why does the 2nd/3rd string team have to look like Georgia State?
kingdaddy
November 24th, 2012
3:09 pm
Holding…again…
ignition
November 24th, 2012
3:09 pm
57 Suuuuucccccckkkkkkssssss……..
Michael
November 24th, 2012
3:09 pm
Fire Coaches Richt and Bobo!
billyho55
November 24th, 2012
3:09 pm
SCHULTZ,
AM I ALLOWED TO SAY THE WORDS WE HEARD FROM THE COACHES BOOTH?
The Grinch
November 24th, 2012
3:09 pm
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
3:08 pm
As opposed to your sterling D1 football career, right?
ScoutDawg
November 24th, 2012
3:10 pm
OK GTBob, now you crossed the line. If you had a player with as much HEART as RS4, maybe you would be winning this game. Even with Fish Fry.
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
3:10 pm
Stopped posting but still watching…..and Wrapping Christmas presents…
P
O
A
D
Today and every day………………..