LIVE: Georgia tries to forget SEC ending, close with win
Aaron Murray high-fives Xzavier Ward before the Capital One Bowl. (Brant Sanderlin)
ORLANDO — When asked the other day if he viewed this season as a missed opportunity to win SEC and BCS championships, Georgia coach Mark Richt said, “Every year is a missed opportunity, I think.” And that’s probably the right thing to say, even if it’s not every season the Bulldogs come within one tipped pass of winning the SEC title and going to the BCS championship game.
When Georgia faces Nebraska today in the Capital One Bowl, the question is whether we’ll witness any hangover from the last game. The Dogs (11-2, coming off a 32-28 loss to Alabama, No. 7 BCS) may be a more talented team than the Cornhuskers (10-3, coming off a 70-31 loss to Wisconsin, No. 16 BCS). But that doesn’t always mean anything in bowl games. Witness Georgia Tech vs. USC. Or witness Georgia’s last two bowl efforts — losses to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl two years ago and Michigan State in the Outback last season.
I ran into this guy in the parking lot. Who's his dentist?
OK, a few quick things about today’s game and then I’ll open the cyber-venting lines:
– The Dogs’ defensive front will have to put up a better effort than it did against Alabama (350 yards rushing). Nebraska ranks ninth in the nation in rushing at 254.5 yards per game but only 81st passing, although quarterback Taylor Martinez has thrown 21 touchdown passes.
– The defensive line will be missing nose tackle John Jenkins, who is academically ineligible, and possibly end Abry Jones (ankle), who is questionable. Kwame Geathers will start for Jenkins.
– Nebraska’s defense ranks first against the pass, but that’s a little misleading. Opponents seldom have had to throw against the Huskers because they’re so weak against the run (97th, 194.8 per game). Also, the Big Ten is not full of wide open offenses. So expect a heavy dose of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall today.
Final thought: I think Georgia wins today. Finishing the year with a win and losing the last two bowl games should be motivation enough. A victory also could leave the Dogs as one of the top five ranked teams in the nation.
But if Georgia players are thinking about the SEC championship or the NFL draft, everything goes out the window, and they’ll lose today.
What are your thoughts? The floor is yours.
– Jeff Schultz
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1,585 comments Add your comment
gethimoffmyteam
January 1st, 2013
2:53 pm
Time to go Coach Christian!
Athens PD
January 1st, 2013
2:53 pm
Nebraska leads at the half. Fire Richt and egg Murray’s house.
North Ave. Faithful
January 1st, 2013
2:54 pm
5150 is mad at me now.
LagDawg
January 1st, 2013
2:54 pm
Three years starting and Murray looks lost. Didn’t learn anything from the SECCG. He still does not know about clock management. Horrible coaching on both sides of the ball and both lines look like crap. Start the 2013 season at 0-2. Mark it down. I said and if you don’t like it, get a reality check. Nothing will change on either side of the coaching staff. I agree with Garner, UGA has too much money not to bring in top tier coaching for all their sports program. I haven’t seen anything in this game to show where it will get better next season. Murray has done whatever he does, now do the fans a favor and move on so someone with better skill can take over and Grantham has to make some kind of changes on this defense so that it will get better. Right now this is not a BCS caliber team. BCS talent, but not BCS coaching.
UGA Season Ticket Holder since 1986
January 1st, 2013
2:54 pm
We’re throwing against the number 1 pass defense in the country. When Murray is bad, he’s beyond terrible; but he’s still the most prolific passer in the history of the SEC no matter what the Haters post. I wish Marshall or Gurley could avoid the last guy between them and the goal line. Georgia should have been up 30-17 instead of down 23-24.
Funny
January 1st, 2013
2:54 pm
Got to love it. N 24, UGA 23…half
Buckeye
January 1st, 2013
2:54 pm
We remain 12-0 and #3 in the AP.
dogs, with 2 losses are # 7
WIth three losses?
Out of the top 15.
HA!
GFY
January 1st, 2013
2:54 pm
Suckeye:
Try proof reading before you hit submit…..in your excitement you messed your pants again.
Georgia
January 1st, 2013
2:54 pm
Yeah, the two minute premature ejaculation drill. It’s the coaching. Very mediocre. Sorry, not a championship team. Just a bunch of sandlot wannabes with ugly cheerleaders.
Question
January 1st, 2013
2:54 pm
OHIO ST SUCKS. URBAN MEYER SUCKS. EVERYTHING ABOUT THE STATE OF OHIO SUCKS
Buckeye
January 1st, 2013
2:55 pm
Stick an egg in Murray’s little mouth.
50 ways to leave your lover
January 1st, 2013
2:55 pm
THe last play was a dead ringer for the last play in the SEC championship game.
Murray will never play NFL football…
tmc
January 1st, 2013
2:55 pm
wow, another bad clock management sequence by CMR.
Why does he not hire or have someone, who is good at time management, right next to him telling him what to do? it’s got to be ego…
cause he consistently is bad at it.
The Monger
January 1st, 2013
2:55 pm
“Chuck Do Little is a JOKE a…hole. How does he still have a job?”
Who? Chuck or Mark Richt?
Also, why does Richt insist of sending out Marshall Morgan time after time to miss field goals? It just seems like he doesn’t care about 3 points every time he does that. What is worse Bulldog fans, Aarron “pick 6″ Murray in big games or this Marshall kid trying to get within 50 feet of the uprights?
DOUGLISVILLE DAWG
January 1st, 2013
2:55 pm
DANG DAWGS U NOT LOKING N E GOOD CANT BELEIVE U LOOSING TO CORN HOLES NERBRAKSA. IF THEY LOOSE THEY NEED 2 FIRE MARK RICK
answer
January 1st, 2013
2:55 pm
He went out to center of field for coin toss and was not supposed to. Was told to leave.
son's who?
January 1st, 2013
2:55 pm
Nebraska is not a great team, but they are not awful either. I tip my cap to them for their effort and play. Georgia is playing like …… Georgia. Confused, and frustrated, and trying to force something that isn’t there (the passing game) instead of exploiting the opponent’s weakness (rush defense).
Always a fan, through good times and bad.
LagDawg
January 1st, 2013
2:56 pm
The RBs seem to be winded so fast. The whole team seems to be out of shape. Still need a better S&C Coach. Stop taking the cheap way out and bring in better coaches and then UGA will win a NC.
Flat Tire doesnt live in Delusionalville Ga.
January 1st, 2013
2:56 pm
5150 UOAD
I agree about Do-little; what I want to know is how he got Loran Smith to step down from his job
I miss Loran
Erk Russell's Dog
January 1st, 2013
2:56 pm
Same old song with this bunch ,Clock Management 101 ,I guess CMR flunked that class,does he think he gets a point for having a timeout left at halftime..Bobo’s play calling is disjointed as usual.Run the damn ball Nebraska cannot stop the run,but BOBO is determined to let Murray throw the ball into double coverage all day.
phil
January 1st, 2013
2:56 pm
GTAE70
January 1st, 2013
2:50 pm
This is a 1 pt game – anybody could win. Murray is a good QB and will play on Sunday. Why are all of you so down on this team? I certainly do not understand you guys. Teams in a bowl game are not patsies so what do you expect? Support your team!!
**********
right. Anybody could win. Get real, you doof. Another loser fan who accepts mediocrity.
It’s clear we lose today. Who cares anyway.
Steve
January 1st, 2013
2:56 pm
Buckeye, are you really that dumb? The SEC is terrible huh? What’s the Purdue/Oklahoma State score? Michigan/South Carolina? Who won Minnesota/Texas Tech?
UGA89
January 1st, 2013
2:56 pm
Buckeye… Put an asterisk by that record. Cheaters
short memories
January 1st, 2013
2:57 pm
Adams is retiring and maybe he will take his buddy Richt with him
Dawg Patrol
January 1st, 2013
2:57 pm
Either Murray is on or he’s not and when he’s not he’s REALLY not. I’m tired of wondering which quarterback is going to show up.
Buckeye
January 1st, 2013
2:57 pm
question
Urban sends his undefeated regards.
TIME OUT!
TIME OUT!
TIME OUT!
Ah, the memories.
jack
January 1st, 2013
2:57 pm
Another typical “Dawgs playing to their competition” game. After watching this pathetic first half, it’s a good thing we are not play Notre Dame in the NC. That would have been a HUGE ugly national exposure for our lack of quality coaching. Once again, this year,, WHO HAVE WE BEAT ????
phil
January 1st, 2013
2:57 pm
The notion that Murray can play in the NFL is laughable!
He can’t play in college…
gethimoffmyteam
January 1st, 2013
2:57 pm
Rhett mcgowan..lmao..out of all the talented guys we bring in, year ina dn year out..rhett fucin mcgowan has the most targets of anyone. Way to find him Coach Christian!
50 ways to leave your lover
January 1st, 2013
2:57 pm
Snoop needs to change the subject for a moment And verify that as bad as UGAfootball is, I would never trade it for anything at Ohio State.
The only university more classless than Ohio State is Florida.
Yo…
Mariage Parfait Gueze
January 1st, 2013
2:58 pm
DOUGLISVILLE DAWG
January 1st, 2013
2:55 pm
DANG DAWGS U NOT LOKING N E GOOD CANT BELEIVE U LOOSING TO CORN HOLES NERBRAKSA. IF THEY LOOSE THEY NEED 2 FIRE MARK RICK
Wow
Question
January 1st, 2013
2:58 pm
OHIO ST SUCKS. EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING WITH THE WORD OHIO IN IT SUCKS
ylojkt
January 1st, 2013
2:58 pm
Coach Tanning Booth not looking so sharp. Why can’t he understand time management when it kills him constantly?
goFalcons
January 1st, 2013
2:58 pm
Time to come out this 2nd half and set the tone on both sides of the ball
Buckeye
January 1st, 2013
2:58 pm
uga89,
The “cheaters” (not the felons as in the dogs case) were not on the 12-0 team, little dog.
Timmy
January 1st, 2013
2:58 pm
Worthless half of football. What a joke.
Steve
January 1st, 2013
2:58 pm
Waiting for an answer little Buckeye. Those “big” ten teams are doing great! Such a tough conference little ohio state plays in!
UGA Season Ticket Holder since 1986
January 1st, 2013
2:59 pm
Idiots don’t know they’re wrong. Liars do. Liars are worse. Meet me at the bottom of the steps with 5:00 left in the first quarter of the first home game next season. I’ll be wearing black and red. You’ll be wearing black and blue.
Mariage Parfait Gueze
January 1st, 2013
2:59 pm
Seriously……Some of you are so full of human waste.
Is it possible Nebraska is a good team?
Todd Grantham
January 1st, 2013
2:59 pm
Guys I’ll give the choke sign and start droping the f’bombs on national tv in the second half.I am a classy guy just like our fan base. GO DAWGS!! WOOF WOOF!
The Monger
January 1st, 2013
2:59 pm
Who misses worse today…Aaron Murray trying to hit recievers or Marshall Morgan trying to hit a field goal? Also, Grantham is laughing all the way to the Bank with Mark Richt, after getting his raise. Now his defense couldn’t stop a high school rushing attack, let alone a Nebraska or Alabama running game. This program is sliding quickly down the slope of mediocrity. I will not rest until Mark Richt is fired. Luckily, I foresee a 7-5 season next year that ends with Richt’s walking papers. That is my hope.
Buckeye
January 1st, 2013
2:59 pm
steve,
Thanks for the sportscenter update.
mh18
January 1st, 2013
2:59 pm
Embarassing. Sloppy, sloppy on defense. Missed tackles, not playing their gap assignments. How much are we paying Grantham? We are giving this game away, to a team that gave up 70 points to a 7-5 Wisconsin team. I love the Dawgs but really? 23-24 halftime.
DawgNole
January 1st, 2013
3:00 pm
Murray yukkin’ up with a defender while walking back to the huddle. Just doesn’t appear that this one matters much to the Dawgs.
answer
January 1st, 2013
3:00 pm
murray could play for Rex Ryan….
50 ways to leave your lover
January 1st, 2013
3:00 pm
Snoop has been yelling alone in the forst for years that Richt is the real problem.
The fan base is in a catch-22 with this scam artist.
gethimoffmyteam
January 1st, 2013
3:00 pm
Clueless fucin coaches!
Georgia
January 1st, 2013
3:00 pm
I couldn’t believe that Georgia didn’t call time out. with 24 seconds left. They actually had the timeouts, but didn’t know what to do with them. Mark couldn’t know what he’s doing. He couldn’t. He belongs behind bars. Criminal neglect of the clock! Fifteen years.
Uncle Tom
January 1st, 2013
3:01 pm
I wonder what Richt saw in Morgan Marshall in high school. Did he kick straight back in those days? Kevin Butler has offered some technical suggestions on how not to slice everything way right, but it doesn’t seem to have taken.
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
3:01 pm
Trools are thick today as usual…