For Dogs, the colors were black … and blue
Is Joe Cox pointing to the next Gator he'll be throwing the ball to? (Bob Andres / AJC)
Florida defeated the Georgia Bulldogs again Saturday in Jacksonville with a large assist from … the Georgia Bulldogs.
After spotting the Gators two touchdowns in the first quarter, Georgia managed to pull back within four points. But the two bugaboos that have plagued the Dogs all season derailed any chance of staying in the game: penalties and turnovers.
The Dogs had eight penalties in the first half. They fixed that problem in the second half, drawing only one flag, but switched to their other favorite way of shooting themselves in the foot, turnovers, with four.
I don’t think that’s what they had in mind when Mark Richt and his staff have said the Dogs need to play “balanced” football.
Starter Joe Cox was lifted halfway through the fourth quarter after throwing his third pick of the half, and then we got the answer to the question of why we haven’t seen more of Logan Gray at QB this season. He is an absolutely terrible passer. The interception he threw from the Georgia end zone to Brandon Spikes, who literally walked in for a score, should become part of an instructional video on how not to play quarterback.
There were positives in the game for the Dogs, mainly in the second quarter when they showed their resiliency and threatened to make a game of it. While Florida looked on its first two drives like it was going to move the ball at will, the Georgia defense stiffened after that and was doing what it could to keep the game in hand, considering the Gators have Tim Tebow. But the second half giveaway staged by Cox and the Georgia offense put the defense in an untenable position, giving Florida a short field too many times. And Mike Bobo actually called a decent game, mixing up the run and pass and moving the ball … until a penalty or turnover would kill the drive.
Basically, the lack of discipline that has characterized recent Richt teams undercut everything good that they did. It’s tough enough to beat a team like Florida if you play your best football. Make that many mistakes and it’s impossible.
One last thought: I’m sure the idiot fringe of Dogs fandom will blame the loss on Georgia reviving the black britches for the first time in 11 years and breaking out black helmets for the first time in UGA history. That’s asinine. The color of what you’re wearing doesn’t cause you to commit penalties or turn the ball over.
Florida won because they’re the better team. But Georgia made it easy for them with too many stupid mistakes.
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414 comments Add your comment
Coach Mark RIcht
November 1st, 2009
4:32 pm
On Monday morning I will announce my resignation as Head Coach at UGA. I have accepted a full-time position with Carpets of Dalton to make TV commercials. They have hired my wife too as we make such a cute couple sitting on a couch pitching furniture. That is the reason I have a year-round tan and wear sunglasses at all games, even night games. Plus I hate the way those headphones I wear mess up my hair. I keep having to fluff it up during the game to keep it looking good. So long to all you UGA suckers…errr I mean supporters, who have paid me millions of dollars for pretty much nothing. When you visit Carpets of Dalton tell them CMR sent you. I get a cut from all the furniture you buy!!! Its great to be me!
Dawgs=Titanic
November 1st, 2009
4:55 pm
Several years ago I worked in a business that had a boss with a weak heart. There was no self-discipline, and workers did what they pleased. It reminds me of the current situation with the dawgs. No discipline, and the players act up when they want. Well, it seems little if any progress is being made within the dawg camp. Things will get better when, and only when, the weak boss is put out to pasture.
go tech
November 1st, 2009
4:58 pm
I would say something but it’s nothing good, so I’ll just not say anything.
booger man from Hartwell Ga
November 1st, 2009
6:06 pm
WHEN DREADLOCKS ARE OUTLAWED, ONLY OUTLAWS WILL HAVE DREADLOCKS…..PRESIDENT OBAMA
2010 is the Year!
November 2nd, 2009
6:52 am
This UGA team is young with a lot of injuries. In 2010, with Tebow gone, the Dawgs will beat florida and tennessee and win the east—mark it down! Florida will be fighting for 3rd place in the division next year with brantley, who’s overrated. The dawg D will eat him alive next year and bring home the SEC east trophy—take it to the bank baby!!! Dawgs 30 Fl 17.
Vince Dully
November 2nd, 2009
8:34 am
Just imagine it is 1980 again, then you’ll all be happy.
globeflyer
November 2nd, 2009
8:43 am
As a Bama fan, it never gives me pleasure to see the Gators win, but, as a SEC fan, I felt sorry for The Dawgs. As bad as some want to paint Cox, the culprits, to me, are the staff. The Georgia players are so undisciplined it pains the casual observer. The defensive scheme was nowhere near where it should have been and the poor play cannot be blamed on (lack of) talent. Underachieving is a product of coaching and some changes have to be made or UGA will continue to flounder….
Richard Dawson
November 2nd, 2009
9:24 am
FIRE MARK RICHT.
Instead of effective and passionate coaching, we get a steady stream of uniform gimmicks. And his legacy: the celebration penalty against Fla in 2007. He will never, ever, live that particular gimmick down. What an embarrassment.
uuughh...
November 2nd, 2009
9:40 am
Richts bag of tricks was apparently empty after the first blackout. It is over.
If they do can him…don’t we have to pay him through 2012 or something?
Surely a new coach could come in and install a simplistic offense (like our current 8 unsuccessful plays aren’t!) for a few games. A “do whatever you want” approach on D would be better than Martinez’s BS.
ALL of the coaches need to be replaced. Can you fire a volunteer coach? If not they should be arrested for loitering.
Even if they finish out the season the AD needs to be at the Falcons game tonight with contract in hand and giving Gruden a tour of his new facilities tomorrow.
uuughh...
November 2nd, 2009
9:43 am
…and if I ever see another black helmet, black jersey, or black pants on our Dawgs again it will be too soon.
DoctorC
November 2nd, 2009
10:41 am
It is so simple to fix the root cause of UGA’s demise….a complete lack of discipline and too many players who long for individual promotion versus the team winning a game. Bench Rashad Jones for the rest of the year and you will immediately improve the team. He is the most undisciplined player in the history of UGA football. Tell the players they better not celebrate one tackle, one catch, one TD, one deflected pass, one decent play of any kind until the game is OVER! If they violate this rule, they are benched for the game. Just play all out every play and get ready for the next play. When you score, hand the ball to the ref and return to the sideline…act like you have done it before and quit the showboating! Play with EMOTION on the INSIDE! It was pathetic to watch UGA’s players on the sideline dancing and calling out the Gators while they were LOSING! Meyer and Saban and DOOLEY would never allow such behavior. They DEMAND and receive discipline from every player. CMR and his staff have lost the fear factor of their players and that is not a good thing. There must be some accountability demanded of the players…for reference on what happens without accountability, see the Ray Goff era.
Big Ed
November 2nd, 2009
10:51 am
OK– I am torn beween the two schools–2 kids at UGA and 2 at UF–I live in Gainesville, and can only tell you that in my opinion what seperates the two schools right now is coaching and discipline. Meyer would NEVER play anybody who lacks the discipline UGA players have. And yes, they do act like FSU players, so maybe the history is there. Already this morning, Meyer is “reviewing” the Spikes tape. However, whatever his faults, he is NFL bound for huge $$, and is first team all-american. If you have ever been in the trenches playing, you know that that happens–on all sides. He shouldn’thave done it–and that’s that. He will pay for it under Urban. NO UF player wants to be on Urban’s bad side–even Tebow.
On the other hand, what will MR do to get discipline for all the unsportsmanlike things done during the game? Brag that they had the same issues at FSU! That statement says it all. He doesn’t have a clue.
It’s a shame because I pull for UGA whenever they play (if it’s not the Gators). But NO-ONE wants to play in such a big game every year when the outcome is 90% assured before the game starts. And if UGA doesn’t get it fixed quick, it will affect you for years in the recruiting area–and that takes years to have a number #1 again.
So–Good luck to you DAWGS– I wish you luck in fixing your team! It’s no fun winning against a team that doesn’t have their best game-face on.
Big Ed
November 2nd, 2009
1:19 pm
Here is a follow up on my earlier comments–What Would MR Have Done?
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Florida coach Urban Meyer has suspended Brandon Spikes for the first half of Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt after the star linebacker attempted to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey in a 41-17 victory.
Meyer says Spikes was retaliating after getting his eye poked earlier in the game.
Spikes is fourth on the team with 42 tackles and has three sacks.
He decided to return for his senior season instead of entering the NFL draft. The team’s defensive captain has missed most of two games this season with an injured groin. He played only a series against Arkansas and sat out the entire game at Mississippi State on Oct. 24.
gatorman
November 3rd, 2009
5:03 pm
We’ll let me chime in with one thing…..your problems are obvious your team is void of any real talent and they are poorly coached. They remind me of the Zooker’s years except he could recruit but couldn’t coach worth a damn. BTW…..go get’em Gator Girl!