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
Steve
January 1st, 2013
3:01 pm
I think even Tech could go undefeated in the little ten conference.
Question
January 1st, 2013
3:01 pm
NICK SABAN OWNS URBA MEYER. THAT IS WHY URBAN WALKED OUT ON HIS TEAM 2 TIME AS FLORIDAS COACH BECAUSE HE KNEW HE COULDNT BEAT SATEN.
Timmy
January 1st, 2013
3:02 pm
No way Murray is an NFL QB. More David Greene that Matthew Stafford. With apologies to Greene.
50 ways to leave your lover
January 1st, 2013
3:02 pm
Snoop is willing to completely write off 2013 in return for Richt’s head on a silver platter..
phil
January 1st, 2013
3:02 pm
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?
*********
nope.
Bama fan's old quote. It is even obvious to them
January 1st, 2013
3:02 pm
BamaJeff
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Mark Richt on UGA committing so many penalties
Sometime late in the game Gary and Verne mentioned UGA always being one of the most penalized teams. They went on to say that Richt suggested that it’s not a problem. What coach would think that way? Can you imagine Coach Saban saying that committing a lot of penalties is not a problem? The Dawgs are always loaded with talent. Talent isn’t the reason they can’t get over the hump. Mark Richt will not win a national title if he continues to field an undisciplined team. And I wonder how many of his starters will be suspended for the first game or two next season?
blamegame
January 1st, 2013
3:02 pm
Bungeye what trailer park do you reside in?
goFalcons
January 1st, 2013
3:02 pm
IT matters and they are playing hard and watch what I say,,,,Nebraska will get tired and we will pull away from them
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
3:02 pm
Trolls…
UGA89
January 1st, 2013
3:03 pm
Buckeye what is your problem?? We don’t even play OSU but you come on the UGA blogs everyday to put us down. Did UGA reject your application? I’ve never even been on aOSU blog. Why? Because I don’t care about them. They’re meaningless.
UCF Fan
January 1st, 2013
3:03 pm
Hey, Happy New Year GA. Remember the 10-6 loss to us. We do. Cheers.
phil
January 1st, 2013
3:03 pm
Stafford stinks too….the guy is fat and lazy….a joke.
GB's Hamburgers
January 1st, 2013
3:03 pm
Enter your comments here
He Hate Gator
January 1st, 2013
3:03 pm
Maybe RIcht’s most talented team yet, but lose and they are yet another underperforming underacheiving non-Top 10 team.
mh18
January 1st, 2013
3:04 pm
Hey Jeff you could make my year so far if you give me a shoutout? Thanks, Go Dawgs..
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
3:04 pm
Glad we didn’t play Wisconsin…
Truthiness
January 1st, 2013
3:04 pm
Typical UGA play. Rely on superior athleticism to win. Suffer when outcoached, out-motivated, and out-hustled. Rack in the cash. Give the big boosters a good show. Wait til next year. Not bad entertainment, but leaves a little lacking in the excellence category.
Moist Dawg
January 1st, 2013
3:04 pm
I am literally sick after watching that half. Aaron Murray is the Tony Romo of college football. CMR and the staff needs to get their heads out of their a$$es before I punch another hole in the wall.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 1st, 2013
3:05 pm
@Buckeye
The SEC was a little to tough for your Head Coach ,I think he will do better in the Little 10 or 12 or however many teams you have.Too bad your administration was too stupid to take a bowl penalty last year. Not just CHEATERS but they compound it by being STUPID.
Nebraska Fan
January 1st, 2013
3:05 pm
Listen to game here.
http://player.streamtheworld.com/liveplayer.php?callsign=KLINAM
GA Fan Here
January 1st, 2013
3:05 pm
There are severe problems at GA. Yes, I understand we have won a lot of games the last 2 years. Outside of FL, this year, we have not beaten a good team. Although we came close with AL, our Program is light years away from the AL Program & yes, LSU. Is it Coaching? Grantham has vastly unachieved with a # of NFL players. Bobo runs Marshall up the middle & gets no yards. Marshall is not an inside runner against a good defense. In fact we cannot run the ball, period, when we really need to. Something is wrong when Gurley can’t get one to two yards. It took forever to get the tight ends involved. WHY? How many Fullback carries do we have this year? Murray, to be so smart, makes a lot of dumb plays. Going to the NFL this year, you have to be kidding. Also I still don’t know who is calling what on the offensive plays. CMR is constantly talking into his headphone when we are on offense. Who is he talking to? I feel the same way about Smart at AL. I think Saban is very involved & I believe keeps Smart on a very short chain.I am also tired of hearing a propect that we want say”Well GA got in too late.” I know we don’t oversign, but come on. I’m glad Garner is gone. I think the Top Recruting Bus ran over his foot several years ago. In fact, he may be driving a bus after his stint at Auburn. We have to recruit more GA Players that are getting away. Many never had GA on their list. Why is that? We run a Pro Type offense & defense & send a lot of people to the Pros. I know we can’t get them all, but we are not even close on some top GA players. Hell, I just don’t know, but something is very wrong at GA. By the way, Nebraska is not a good team. Is CMC the problem? I honestly don’t know. Do you replace him? Well, who do you hire?
DawgNole
January 1st, 2013
3:05 pm
Wet Willie…keep on smiling
January 1st, 2013
2:49 pm
Really when the blocked punt was kicked and slapped out of bounds for a safety then you know Ole Mo isn’t wearing red and black today.
_____________________
Yup. That 5 points is looking pretty big right now.
phil
January 1st, 2013
3:05 pm
GoFalcons = totally blind homer, aka why we never win anything that matters….
Lovers of mediocrity.
goFalcons
January 1st, 2013
3:05 pm
Bama is old school, if players get in trouble the police, the campus and the whole state of Bama will cover it up. I bet Bama has just as many troubles but they cover it up. I give them credit for their dedication and love of their program
blamegame
January 1st, 2013
3:06 pm
Bungeye’s favorite color is brown
JB
January 1st, 2013
3:06 pm
Love the Dawgs, but i’m guessing it’s a good thing we are not representing the SEC in the NC game. We can’t stop the run. I’m ready for the Murray era to end also….. We just need a new era of Dawgs and watch them grow. Next year is gonna be preparing for the year after anyway. 7-5 I’m guessing.
kingdaddy
January 1st, 2013
3:06 pm
5150
You going crazy???
ole man
January 1st, 2013
3:07 pm
Purdue 7 and Okla St..55 in 4th 8 mins to play…maybe uga should play Purdue Steve.
phil
January 1st, 2013
3:07 pm
Moist Dawg
January 1st, 2013
3:04 pm
I am literally sick after watching that half. Aaron Murray is the Tony Romo of college football. CMR and the staff needs to get their heads out of their a$$es before I punch another hole in the wall.
********
get a life, doofus.
GB's Hamburgers
January 1st, 2013
3:07 pm
It’s halftime. Murray has thrown two touchdowns but believe it or not has not thrown one accurate pass.On the catches that have been made, the receivers have bailed him out. Also I noticed Marshall falling down on the first two runs. Apparently they aren’t wearing the right shoes for this turf. He fell down again as Murray’s pass went overhead and ended up as a pick six. The defense? Great atheles? What a laugh. If the athletes are that good then the coaching is that bad. We’re being outplayed by lesser athletes and out coached at the moment.
goFalcons
January 1st, 2013
3:08 pm
I will always say good things about UGA, Falcons, and the greatest baseball team in modern era,,,,the Braves, Heck, i was on Tech site yesterday pulling for them. I like to stay positive instead of thinking about the bad
Tony Romo
January 1st, 2013
3:08 pm
I resemble that remark. Look at my stats. I am an elite QB that just can’t get er done in the critical moments.
phil
January 1st, 2013
3:08 pm
Fire CMR, please!!!
Sid
January 1st, 2013
3:08 pm
good to hear you Phil….looking forward to the Falcons bomb in 2 weeks…it’s a state of Georgia tradition.
Mariage Parfait Gueze
January 1st, 2013
3:08 pm
Nebraska gets the ball to open the second half……..
DawgNole
January 1st, 2013
3:08 pm
UGA89
January 1st, 2013
2:50 pm
I want to scream and break things.
______________________
Not a bad idea. Would you come over and break my TV so I can’t watch this anymore?
son's who?
January 1st, 2013
3:09 pm
On the few replays I ave seen of passes downfield, the receivers seem to run their routes and stop instead of coming back to the ball when Murray is flushed from the pocket. Of course, being 40 yards down field isn’t helping.
NCAA UPDATE
January 1st, 2013
3:09 pm
The penalties were as follows:
Public reprimand and censure
Three years of probation from Dec. 20, 2011 through Dec. 19, 2014.
Postseason ban for the 2012 football season, which includes the conference championship game.
Reduction of football scholarships from 85 to 82 for each of the 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years. This is an increase from the university’s proposal of five initial scholarships spread over three academic years.
Vacation of all wins for the 2010 football regular season, including the 2010 Big Ten Conference co-championship and participation in the 2011 Sugar Bowl. (self imposed by the university)
Forfeiture of $338,811, which is the amount the university received through the Big Ten Conference revenue-sharing for its appearance in the bowl game (self imposed by the university)
Five-year show-cause order for the former head coach.
Disassociation of the booster for 10 years, including among other conditions, the prohibition of any financial or other support (self imposed by the university).
Disassociation of a former student-athlete for five years, including among other conditions, the prohibition of any financial or other support (self imposed by the university).
phil
January 1st, 2013
3:09 pm
Lol, Sid!
We might get by the first game but i seriously doubt it! So sad.
We’re cursed in this state.
Dec-Bulldog
January 1st, 2013
3:09 pm
UGA will come back and win by at least 2 TD’s. Nebraska will start to make mistakes and fold. SEC football baby”………
ugafan13
January 1st, 2013
3:09 pm
Did UGA’s defense forget to get off the bus? How on God’s green earth can a group so talented play so badly? And will somebody please tell Murray to go for the NFL draft? To say his passes today have been inaccurate would be a gross understatement. At times during big games he just stinks!
UGA89
January 1st, 2013
3:10 pm
You know UGA doesn’t care about winning this game when we make Rhett McGowan the focus of our offensive scheme.
Mariage Parfait Gueze
January 1st, 2013
3:10 pm
If Richt is fires…..Who replaces him? No way can you find a replacement for him.
Steve
January 1st, 2013
3:10 pm
JB who do you see UGA losing 5 games to??? I see no more than 3 losses between Clemson, SC, LSU, and Florida. They will win the rest.
UGA Season Ticket Holder since 1986
January 1st, 2013
3:10 pm
You misspelled imbecile. Fool.
Hot dogs, frankfurters, and wieners!!!
January 1st, 2013
3:10 pm
Is it me…or is that T-Mobile girl smokin hot?
goFalcons
January 1st, 2013
3:10 pm
We have to many good things at UGA right now then bad!!!! I remember Vandy beating us at homecoming and losing to tech with coach ray goff. I loved coach ray goff but look how far we have come
short memories
January 1st, 2013
3:10 pm
The terrible clock management, lack of discipline, outcoaching and everything else I could almost take if it wasn’t for the arrogance of Marc Richt
45 ACP
January 1st, 2013
3:10 pm
Here’s hoping for some halftime adjustments and a better second half.
Reese Bobby
January 1st, 2013
3:11 pm
Roll Tide!
The score of the Cap 1 Bowl at halftime proves that UGA does not belong in Miami.
If you ain’t first, you’re last!