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
Erk Russell's Dog
November 24th, 2012
1:08 pm
Hey 5150
What do you have at Tech ,’Real Blonde Fake Girls”?
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
1:08 pm
@ Gtbob, no I don’t but GT has no shot vs. UGA in the coming years because CPJ cannot recruit well enough.
What exactly would change if we got a new coach? There is no coach in the history of football that could elevate GT recruiting to the level of UGA.
Tim
November 24th, 2012
1:08 pm
Tech finally forces a punt. No matter how many yards GA Tech piles up, the Jackets defense must consistently stop the Dawgs. I don’t think they can.
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
1:08 pm
“Steve — Jeff can we get an early UGA/Bama prediction?”
<<< The winner will be very happy.
# 1 Bestest Jawja fan USA!
November 24th, 2012
1:09 pm
We gonna win cause we got Jobba Jone and Keef Marshall!!!
JB
November 24th, 2012
1:09 pm
Cpj gets more desperate. As the game goes. Look out. Turnovera coming
billyho55
November 24th, 2012
1:09 pm
THE VODKA IS BEING POURED EARLY TODAY FELLAS!
Will
November 24th, 2012
1:09 pm
If UGA makes the score 28-3, that pretty much would do it. But Tech is still in the game somewhat. It’s still a long climb, but Tech is still in it. They still suck but they’re in it.
Jackets '92
November 24th, 2012
1:10 pm
This game is the epitome of the state of GT football. Can we move the ball against top-level competition? YES. Can we rack up 400 yards rushing against top-level competition? YES. Can we consistently win football games? NO. As much as it pains me to admit it, GT will NEVER even sniff a national championship under Paul Johnson. If you are happy with rushing for 400 yards a game and losing 3-4 games EVERY year, then he’s your man. I believe it is time for a change. This offense, running on all cylinders, Paul Johnson’s BEST team has no chance of a BCS national championship. Zero.
Political Mongrel
November 24th, 2012
1:10 pm
Tech/Georgia again? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz . . .
phil
November 24th, 2012
1:10 pm
That is correct, gtbob…..
Give up forever more and do it now, you doof.
kingdaddy
November 24th, 2012
1:10 pm
GT girls going to to put-out tonight. Going to be some new Bull-pups in about 9 months. Poor Ol Nerds, just can’t win…
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
1:10 pm
STEVE…………..Uga Drunks 10 BAMA 34.
SatillaDawg
November 24th, 2012
1:11 pm
Dawgs look great!
Hope this running/passing/ball stripping team shows up against Bama….if Bama gets that far.
GO DAWGS!
USMC DAWG
November 24th, 2012
1:11 pm
I don’t care how many yards GT runs for today. Just keep them out of the end zone!
(keep it classy Georgia fans!)
Go Dawgs!
# 1 Bestest Jawja fan USA!
November 24th, 2012
1:12 pm
I miss Hershey Walkie.
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
1:12 pm
UZZI your are too OLD to do that.
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
1:13 pm
The REAL dWags come out.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 24th, 2012
1:13 pm
Nice play Jarvis Jones. Just another thug.
Junior Samples
November 24th, 2012
1:13 pm
WLOFF. Worlds largest outdoor fish fry. bwahahaha
Josh Chapman
November 24th, 2012
1:13 pm
Free first down from the ACC Refs
phil
November 24th, 2012
1:13 pm
Jarvis is an idiot….
Bench him.
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
1:13 pm
Give up forever more and do it now, you doof.
I have always been a huge proponent of giving up the UGA/GT game. It is nothing but negative for GT in general.
# 1 Bestest Jawja fan USA!
November 24th, 2012
1:14 pm
Why they pickin on Jobba Jone for?
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
1:14 pm
That’s not the way to capitalize on a penalty.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 24th, 2012
1:14 pm
Vad never sees coverage like that in practice.
Will
November 24th, 2012
1:14 pm
Hey GT fans, that’s your favorite QB VAD LEE lmao!
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
1:14 pm
Rambo is having a game — 2 caused fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception in half.
Jefferson Davis Hogg
November 24th, 2012
1:14 pm
perfect pass to Rambo!
kingdaddy
November 24th, 2012
1:14 pm
Keep passing Tech. We like-ee..
son's who?
November 24th, 2012
1:14 pm
Vad has tons of talent, but he needs experience. I think he will be a heck of a player one day.
439the
November 24th, 2012
1:15 pm
Integrity of ACC refs? Who cares…tech can’t win even when they cheat.
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
1:15 pm
Hey GT fans, that’s your favorite QB VAD LEE lmao!
lol. He is the best we have.
glory between the hedges
November 24th, 2012
1:15 pm
We need a long drive now
5150 UOAD
November 24th, 2012
1:15 pm
VAD………………….STOP………………..VAD…………………STOP…………you are not GOD… make Plays don’t TRY to make BIG plays.
Jeff
November 24th, 2012
1:15 pm
Ever since Paul Johnson introduced the triple option offense to GT, this rivalry game has become extremely boring with all the running plays.
phil
November 24th, 2012
1:15 pm
The dope smoker!
Nice!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 24th, 2012
1:15 pm
Cheap shot on Vad, but then he throws the damn ball away
Josh Chapman
November 24th, 2012
1:15 pm
Like I said, Vad Lee is the next Reggie Ball
Steve
November 24th, 2012
1:16 pm
How funny is it that Tech is in the ACC Championship? 52-10 FSU sounds about right.
Piney Woods Pete
November 24th, 2012
1:16 pm
I’ve never understood how anyone – even an alumnus – could support and take pride in UGA’s football team. When you look at their history for the past forty years, how can anyone ignore Jan Kemp and the “remedial studies” scam, the Jim Harrick fiasco, the Damon Evans fiasco, players beating up women, players urinating in public, the DUIs and other arrests of players, the #1 party school tag (i.e., the most drunk students), the suspensions and outright dismissals, the Fulmer Cup win, and on and on?
As disgraceful and humiliating as it is, I don’t see many alums and fans demanding an end to this sordid activity. It sets UGA apart as the kind of school that decent people abhor, and it’s become an embarrassment to the whole state of Georgia.
Will it never end? Apparently not while Mark Richt is at UGA. Richt is the biggest hypocrite in the United States. But even with all the cheating and lawlessness that he ignores, he still can’t win the SEC.
So you’re paying him to be BCS champions, but he can’t even win the SEC. So why do you pay him millions of dollars a year?
Just asking.
jack bull
November 24th, 2012
1:16 pm
we need to starting setting the nail, right here.
Will
November 24th, 2012
1:16 pm
Georgia’s O-line is BLOWING OPEN holes…goodness
Dose of Reality
November 24th, 2012
1:16 pm
Sorry bulldoggies, continue to beat your chests because Tech is one of the several cupcakes ugag has played…. those alabama boys are going to watch the tapes of you and realize who you truly are… an overrated (most overrated) number 3 team in history.
Iluvnutella
November 24th, 2012
1:16 pm
You guys know….Braine didnt even put in a bid when O’Leary was called by ND. We are still paying for that fat bald sumbiiiitch’s mistakes. O’leary actually went to Braine and asked what he could do. Braine said nothing, we are not getting into a bidding war.
Yella Britches
November 24th, 2012
1:17 pm
GT Bob-
I knew you were an idiot. No true GT fan worth a damn wants to give up GT vs UGA. You sir are a moron………..
Jeff Schultz
November 24th, 2012
1:17 pm
It should be noted here that Georgia doesn’t have a dominating offensive line but they’re just blowing GT front off the ball.
kingdaddy
November 24th, 2012
1:17 pm
Gurley man coming up to 100 in the first half…
GTBob
November 24th, 2012
1:17 pm
Georgia’s O-line is BLOWING OPEN holes…goodness
If UGA left their offensive line on the sidelines they would still get 10-15 yards a rush.
blamegame
November 24th, 2012
1:17 pm
Refs trying to give the woodteckers a chance