Independence Bowl: The better team won
Washaun Ealey and the Georgia running game took a while to get on track. (Associated Press)
The first half of Georgia’s game against Texas A&M in Shreveport didn’t look so promising for the Dogs, mainly because poor play by the offensive line stymied the running game and led to some questionable play-calling by Mike Bobo. The Aggies were having success with run blitzes on first down.
But A&M’s fast-paced offense wasn’t looking much better early on. Georgia’s much maligned defense looked good up front and got a lot of pressure on Aggies QB Jerrod Johnson, though linebacker and secondary play was sketchy.
Neither team scored in the first 27 minutes. They both looked rusty.
The difference in the first half was Georgia’s superior special teams play.
Georgia’s halftime adjustments on the offensive line were successful and the Dogs eventually took command of the game in the second half. And they seemed like the better conditioned team, too, as the Aggies looked flat-out tired in the fourth quarter. Thankfully, this wasn’t the same Jerrod Johnson that Texas saw in their regular season finale.
Basically, the better team won tonight.
It’s difficult to draw many conclusions about next season from this game since the Dogs will have a different QB and a new defensive coordinator. But I was encouraged by how Georgia ended the season.
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516 comments Add your comment
Really?
December 29th, 2009
12:40 am
You beat 6-6 Texas A&M….the 9th best team in the Big 12. You took almost the entire first half to even get points on the board, and even then it was done with Beamerball…..
Congratulations?
Dawg Gone
December 29th, 2009
12:40 am
We have severeal issues. One is recruiting. We are not getting enough great players. Maybe the gurus say we are but if that’s the case we are not doing a good job coaching.
We are a physically weak team. The conditioning coach is not teaching them to finish the drill. Too often this season we have been manhandled. That also is a refelction of the toughness of the coaching. We must remember this is a game, but to not prepare to give ones best, coaching or players, is not to full fill your potential.
To compete for championships, we must have better players, more dedicated, skilled coaches. I scoffed years ago when Spurrier wondered what happened to all those highly recruited players who came to Ga. But years later, we must asked oursleves the same question. We are not likely to have a trench player chosen till very late in the draft. You win games in the SEC with trench players….tough, strong, physically fit trench players.
Cuz
December 29th, 2009
12:41 am
I bet those grad assistants would take 100 G’s apiece. Wow that just eliminated furlough days.
HardTruthSoldier...
December 29th, 2009
12:42 am
Hey Boy, Yeah you! You thankin bout quittin Florda? Gone be missin that Tebo fella so dadgum bad, you loosin it. Well don’t worry bout nothin, this sucka Lame K gon be a leavin soon, like he did wit da Raidas, da ole Ball coach? Well he gettin ole, Auburn hide a coach that was 5-19 fo he got there, so dat fella in GAWga, Richt gone be yo only competion in 2010,2011. Thank goodness you in da East, cause Bama, LSU, and Maybe Ole Miss would be a load yerly. But celebrate tonight, you still got Tebo, Spikes, and 6, maybe 7 Nfl playa’s on dat team. Next year doh dem Dawgs gone be angry and dun grew up sumin terrible. Coss you won’t be there doh coss you need rest. Well gotta go now, Call Bama Stan, tell him how they dun cause you ta take a break! Bye now!
RED DOG 77
December 29th, 2009
12:42 am
ugafan426, Cant disagree, but I do hope we get that gps Cuz was talking about.
Gdawg
December 29th, 2009
12:42 am
CMR please hire Rodney Garner as your DC. This guy can coach and recruit. I was very concerned about whether or not my Dog’s would be prepared, especially along the lines of lining up correctly, substituting, and penalties. Gardner proved that he can get these guys ready to play. I saw fire in that defense tonight. Don’t forget that Texas A&M scored 39 on #2 Texas. Georgia had pressure on Jerrod all night and with few blitzes. Those guys were just ready to play. Go out and hire a solid DB and LB coach and let Garner have the DC Coordinator role along with the DL responsibilities. CMR congrats on 90 wins in 9 seasons. Go Dawgs.
Cuz
December 29th, 2009
12:42 am
Thanks Really. The congrats means alot.
ugafan426
December 29th, 2009
12:43 am
I think it is hilarious that Tech fans try to make themselves feel better by making fun of UGA’s bowl game. You lost, get over it, your school is too hard for you to be spending all your time hating everything about UGA
Note- YOU LOST TO THE TEAM THAT PLAYED IN THE INDEPENDENCE BOWL (the independence bowl….really??!!) Thought I’d correct my grammar before a tech fan gets on here and calls me a retard
30-24
GATORHATER
December 29th, 2009
12:44 am
Atlanta Jacket says…
Ugag dominates a 6-6 team – congrats…
UGA dominated a 10 -2 Ga Tech team too!!
Cuz
December 29th, 2009
12:44 am
HardTruth, you need spellcheck.
HardTruthSoldier...
December 29th, 2009
12:45 am
Dawg Gone mad as hell ain’t he? I like his at ti tude!
ugafan426
December 29th, 2009
12:48 am
NEWSBREAK- Florida’s gameplan for the Sugar Bowl
1) Beat Cinci
2) After the game, Tim Tebow heals Urban Meyer
3) Tim Tebow ascends into heaven
DawgFan
December 29th, 2009
12:49 am
Hey Really? We may have taken the first half to get on the board against Texas A and M but we ran over Tech like hell in both halfs.
HardTruthSoldier...
December 29th, 2009
12:49 am
Cuz, Don’t ack like we didn’t go schoolin ta gether, That’s why you spell cuz that weigh. Gettin in the sity and ackin all fancy an thangs!
Cuz
December 29th, 2009
12:50 am
Gatorhater, I see the word dominate and I think of Lara Flynn Boyle in Men in Black II.
RED DOG 77
December 29th, 2009
12:50 am
Cuz, I certainly understand what you are saying, I remember pulling for Kim King and Lenny Snow in the Orange bowl in the late 60s against Spurrier and Fla., But these modern day yellers are just different
Cuz
December 29th, 2009
12:51 am
I spell Cuz this way because Cus just looks weird.
HardTruthSoldier...
December 29th, 2009
12:53 am
Did I just feel 30 Dawgs, and 24 nerds fightin in the alley. Oh that was just another 8-1 flashback! Dreams of Reggie and Chan keep coming to mind!
Cuz
December 29th, 2009
12:55 am
Red Dawg, I understand your thinking, But two of my best friends are Jackets and this football stuff is fun, but not what really matters in life. The Dawgs lose a game and I am bummed for a few minutes, then my daughters remind me of what is really important. This is fun, blogging and sports are just a respite from the real krap we all face on a daily basis.
Mauijacket
December 29th, 2009
12:57 am
C,mon Red Dog—just this once—–how bout a little “Gold” amd navy “Blue” for one night??
Cuz is in!!
I remember Tarkenton for goodness sakes!!!
Cuz
December 29th, 2009
12:57 am
The Geneva Convention will not allow 30 Dawgs against 24 Jackets. Eric Holder is watching.
HardTruthSoldier...
December 29th, 2009
12:58 am
Cuz, Actually I can spell very good, but hey I’m in the Heart of the South, and you were able to understand me, so what does that say about the South? Y’all country, and can’t understand proper diction!
RED DOG 77
December 29th, 2009
1:01 am
Ever got stung on the lip trying to pour gas down their little hole? well I have. Just cant bring myself to like em after a stunt like that……..did get the gas in the hole though, Ah victory !
RED DOG 77
December 29th, 2009
1:05 am
Maui, how bout this ,I will root for you, cause you seem alright, but I aint wearin no yeller
Mauijacket
December 29th, 2009
1:06 am
Yeah—I been stung—-and bit by a slobbeering mutt—but hey—what the hell—forgive and forget—-what about a nasty hawkeye—whatever that is?? hehehe
Mauijacket
December 29th, 2009
1:07 am
Good enough for me—–we are going to find a way
RED DOG 77
December 29th, 2009
1:07 am
Testing 123, Maui come back?
RED DOG 77
December 29th, 2009
1:14 am
Dadgummitt, told you I was too slow for you young whippersnappers, I will be a ripe old 58 next month ,never learned to type, you know , just slowly hunt and peck, but yep we find a way if these youngsters would just relax
Mauijacket
December 29th, 2009
1:18 am
well—you got me by about 4 but a feel 92—but the maui weather helps—-i feel your pain on the H and P method—also—for some crazy reason i have started to mix the letters up a little bit—i blaime it on trying to be fast—not so sure……………..
RED DOG 77
December 29th, 2009
1:18 am
Goodnight all enjoyed the exchange….RED
RED DOG 77
December 29th, 2009
1:20 am
PS ..Maui You are a swell Bee
Mauijacket
December 29th, 2009
1:22 am
have a great evening RD
macrotech
December 29th, 2009
1:46 am
Cuz, you’re on a roll! UGA seems to have found a ‘D’ and I look forward to seeing them getting back in the hunt! NOW, if Tech can find a ‘D’, we’ll see a win in Miami and MAYBE slow down those running backs of UGA! It was a good win for the Dawgs! I STILL can’t believe that Cox was only three touchdown passes short of tying (?) Staffords record for touchdown passes in a single season….too bad UGA didn’t find their ‘D’ earlier….anyway, nice way to end the season!
Young Grasshopper
December 29th, 2009
1:52 am
It’s official!! UGA ACC CHAMPS!!! CROWN EM!!!
BeachGaBulldog
December 29th, 2009
1:58 am
Great win! The offense took awhile to get going, and I thought the one person who hurt us was Vince Vance. He was the only person whose name I heard mentioned on missing assignments. Thank God he is gone.
I thought the D was awesome. To me, anything besides Willie’s D was an improvement. And, for the person who said Garner should be DC, get your head out of your ass.
Jerrod Johnson was good, but he wasn’t this Tebow like stud that I kept reading about.
After that lousy call by the refs on Aron’s catch in the 1st half, I was glad to see things even up on the clock issue to end the half. Too bad the refs stuck it to us again on Tavarrus’ catch. The refs were wrong on both of our CATCHES. They know in their heart that they were wrong.
GO DAWGS!
savanadawg
December 29th, 2009
2:36 am
Thank God this season is over. I didn’t really think I would care about the game, but I actually (slowly though) felt my blood pressure rising because of the poor play. We still have a ways to go on “D”. The tackling can get much better. Do have to say that as soon as the game was over we immediately get better at QB.
Realist.
December 29th, 2009
3:21 am
Atlanta Jacket,
“Ugag” dominated a 10-1 Tech team too. Don’t get it twisted.
Realist.
December 29th, 2009
3:28 am
Prediction,
Alabama will slaughter Texas 52-21.
I’m a Dawg Fan, but more important a fan of Football.
SEC Represent!!!!!
ROLL TIDE!!!!!!
BuLLdawg
December 29th, 2009
3:53 am
44-20, you think Bill King ?
Who writes your stuff ?
Yourself ?
This is your headline ?
Better team won.
Excuse me ?
Texas A&M has a LOSING RECORD. They were ranked Number 63 in the BCS Rankings, now they go down from that.
Texas A&M played the NCAA Official Strength of Schedule Number 85 and UGA Number 7 this season.
And, you run in here and proclaim the better team won.
44-20.
Texas A&M best win this season was UNRANKED Number 34 Texas Tech who just FIRED THEIR COACH.
Texas A&M plays in the Big XII who is well on their way to their RECORD number of bowl game losses as they are EVERY YEAR, like the ACC and Big 10.
We set the UGA All-Time Record for points in a Bowl Game, won our 26th Bowl Game to find only 2 teams ever with more Bowl Wins than us, and you Bill King come in here and proclaim that the better team won.
3 TD and a Field Goal we WON by.
What is there some damn question of who the better team is ?
Damn it Bill King, this is your last blog for the season ?
The better team won.
Just quit Bill King, really, if that is all you can do for headlines.
I’ll write it for you.
Jim007
December 29th, 2009
3:55 am
Amazing, with Willie and those other defensive losers gone the team plays Much Better.
Good Decision Coach Mark Richt, now keep it up !
BuLLdawg
December 29th, 2009
3:55 am
8 or more UGA Wins every season from 1997 to 2009. No program but us has accomplished this.
GA tek has failed to achieve 8 wins 6 of these 13 seasons in a row UGA has.
2 programs have More Bowl Wins than UGA.
GA tek is NOT one of the 2.
132-33 Texas starting 1997. Loss to Alabama not included.
131-32 Boise State starting 1997. play BYU.
128-33 Ohio State starting 1997. play Oregon.
128-38 Florida starting 1997. play Cincinnati.
125-40 UGA starting 1997.
125-41 Virginia Tech starting 1997. play vols.
125-43 Oklahoma starting 1997. play Stanford.
122-42 Southern California starting 1997.
118-47 Florida State starting 1997. play West Virginia.
117-45 Miami of Florida starting 1997. play Wisconsin.
117-49 Nebraska starting 1997. play Arizona.
116-48 Tennessee vols starting 1997. play Virginia Tech.
115-48 LSU starting 1997. play Pennsylvania State.
114-51 Wisconsin starting 1997. play Miami of Florida.
113-48 Michigan starting 1997. NO BOWL GAME.
111-47 TCU starting 1997. play Boise State.
111-49 Oregon starting 1997. play Ohio State.
108-48 Utah starting 1997.
106-58 GA tek starting 1997. play Iowa.
Both of these 2 programs could move ahead of GA tek after their bowl games this year :
105-54 West Virginia starting 1997. play Florida State.
105-56 Auburn starting 1997. play Northwestern.
This program has not been good, now has it ?
104-55 Pennsylvania State starting 1997. play LSU.
There are Four (4) College Football Programs which have done better than UGA starting 1997, but :
TEXAS only won 4 games in 1997.
Boise State only won 4 games in 1997 too, and only 6 games in 1998.
Ohio State only won 7 games in 2001.
And, Florida only won 7 games in 2004 when they then hired Coach Urban Meyer, now gone.
4 programs who have done better than UGA the last 13 years starting 1997, but all 4 have had WORSE SEASONS than UGA had this season.
GA tek is Number 19 football program starting 1997, the last 13 years now. And, GA tek in the 13 years of going to a bowl game as has UGA, GA tek has failed to achieve as many as 8 WINS SIX (6) SEASONS starting 1997.
Only Alabama and Southern California have MORE BOWL WINS than UGA’s 26. And, UGA has a better winning percentage than Alabama in Bowl Games, while Southern California has feasted on the lousy Big 10 in the Rose Bowl.
ACC now stands at 84-86-2 All-Time in Bowl Games.
SEC now stands at 191-150-9 All-Time in Bowl Games.
And, while both UGA and GA tek have both been now this season, to 13 Bowl Games in a Row now, Georgia Tech has LOST 7 (MORE THAN HALF) of the 13 Consecutive Bowl Games representing the STINKING ACC. UGA is 11-2. GA tek 5-7.
By the way, the Attendance to the SOLD OUT Shreveport Independence Bowl UGA has NEVER LOST in, was greater than the Attendance at ANY GA tek home game this year.
UGA may well have the most players in the NFL next season.
UGA loses a QB who never did a damn thing but beat GA tek, 2 receivers who never did a damn thing, an OL who never did a damn thing, 4 Defensive Tackles 3 of whom are going to the NFL, a Defensive End who was injured for 5 years and accomplished nothing, 2 linebackers who were injured for 4 and 5 years and accomplished nothing, a Safety and a Cornerback neither of whom ever covered 1 man on 1 pass.
The way I see it, we lose 3 Defensive Tackles of the 13 Seniors. We always lose underclassmen to the NFL too. We have 2 open Scholarships 13 seniors and then the underclassmen going on the NFL. We have 20 commitments, too bad, because I sure would like to hit the trail to Gainesville January 8 and get me some of the 8 Top 37 Recruits in the Country who SAID they wanted to play for Urban Meyer, who now CANNOT. There is NO WAY URBAN MEYER WILL EVER COACH AGAIN. And, if Steve Addazio is going to be the HEAD COACH OF FLORIDA 3 days from now, having scored 17 fewer points each game of the 8 common opponents that Dan Mullen and Steve Addazio were the Florida Offensive Coordinators for the last 2 seasons, then by God Florida will LOSE RECRUITS.
I sure hope we hand the ball off and throw to Chapas and Munzenmaier next season. Both of them are going to the NFL too. 45 NFL Bulldogs today, 13 seniors, plus the underclassmen declaring for the Draft. And, then the AJ-C talks about 4 GA tek NFL draft possibilities with GA tek 25 NFL players.
Rodney Garner and Coach Richt, here is YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION :
Go get these Florida Recruits who said they want to play for Urban Meyer and now, NEVER WILL :
MACK BROWN King High Lithonia GA 4.38 in the 40-yard dash 5-Star Running Back ranked the Number 5 RB in the Nation by Scout.com.
NEIRON BALL Jackson High Jackson GA 6’ 4” 210 lbs. 4.5 in 40-yard dash, Linebacker, ranked the Number 16 Outside Linebacker in the Nation by Scout.com.
JORDAN HAYDEN 4.4 Number 23 Safety 4-Star from Maryland.
JOSHUA SHAW 4.5 from California Number 6 Cornerback in the Nation.
There, that should about do it. 4 for you gentlemen to go get January 8. Perhaps you know if the rest of the players from the state of Florida were always going to be Florida Gators no matter what, but these 4 said they wanted to play for Urban Meyer with his brain cyst and confused brain and with his heart valve chest pains.
If 1 of our 20 is a soft commitment, just tell him sorry, his spot was filled while he sat on the fence and withdraw his Scholarship.
There are 2 ways to make a sale. If you make a sale, that’s a sale.
If you make a sale and it is against your Strongest Competitor, that is a SALE for YOU and a NOT SALE FOR THEM. That is TWO (2) SALES COMPARED TO YOUR ARCH RIVAL. Got it ?
Urban, we all wish you the best, certainly question this Steve Addazio and thanks for all the great games you had for us ALL sir. Now, please go take care of your health and live a long and prosperous life. If Florida Jeremy Foley puts you ever back on the field, I will assist in the lawsuit. You’re not well. I wish it were not true. Clearly, it is. Now, go beat Cincinnati. And, tell Jeremy Foley to hire a real coach. Steve Addazio. Really. If I were you, I would have FIRED HIM this year as OC. 17 points FEWER than Dan Mullen in the 8 common opponents of last year and this year, and just who in the hell chose that bald-headed perennial tight ends’ coach with no NFL playing or coaching experience as UF Head Football Coach ? Good Lord.
UGA hires NFL coach to be our Defensive Coordinator. I will take any of them, except for Brian VanGorder.
UGA Bowl Winning Percentage now stands at .611.
GA tek Bowl Winning Percentage now stands at .595.
GA tek is now 4 Bowl Wins short of UGA.
cantondawg
December 29th, 2009
4:35 am
Great win by the Dawgs. I have consistently said to give Richt time and he will work things out. He is an elite coach and we’re dang lucky to have him.
Where are all the village idiots now?
Bugkiller,Herschel Talker, Mcdaviddawg, Godawgs
Rogeriter
December 29th, 2009
6:14 am
Interesting note on Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry. In Georgia’s season, every team they played, except two, went to a bowl. Tech played six teams that didn’t make a bowl. Might show that some results depend on strength of your schedule. But good luck Tech against Iowa. This is one Georgia fan that will be pulling for you.
BuLLdawg
December 29th, 2009
6:30 am
UGA played 3 teams not in a bowl game Vanderbilt, Tennessee Tech and Arizona State.
GA tek played indeed 6 teams not even in a bowl game.
38-4 against non Conference opponents
In bowl games 7-2
90-27 Coach Richt in total, 9 seasons.
Only 2 programs have more bowl wins than UGA’s 26.
Over the last 13 years, 4 programs are better than UGA, but all 4 had a worse season than UGA just had.
125-40 UGA starting 1997, 13 years ago – last 12 all ranked in the Final AP Poll Top 25.
Joe Cox is the only UGA quarterback starting with Mike Bobo in 1997 to have UGA NOT RANKED in the Final AP Poll Top 25. 13 years of better QB than Joe Cox.
GA tek now 4 bowl wins fewer than UGA.
8-1 versus GA tek for Coach Richt Era 9 seasons.
We only lose 3 Defensive Tackles from this team. Urban Meyer is done no matter what, now. Get your brain cyst and heart pains taken care of Urban and don’t like to your recruiting class, clearly # 1 in the nation. Thanks for the good memories and great games Coach Urban Meyer.
The better team won ????
December 29th, 2009
6:39 am
Duh !! Texas A&M finished with a 6-7 record … think about that, they lost 7 …. 7 games this year…. I would HOPE the Dawgs were a better team than that…… the better team won ????? Sort of a dubious honor wouldnt you say ???
gtfanfrom1951
December 29th, 2009
6:47 am
Texas AM coach is the worst college coach next to Chan. I could not believe with less than a foot with a 6′5″ 250lb QB that you try to throw ball on fourth down. UGA needs to send Texas AM a thank you for all gifts they got in the game. 8-5 best record for a long,long,long time so enjoy.
Dawg Nation
December 29th, 2009
7:13 am
Alot of good young talent returning to Athens. If we can get solid q.b. play will compete for East next year. Its great to be a Georgia Bulldog!!!
Toe Meets Leather
December 29th, 2009
7:17 am
What a great win! Next year, it’s Music City Bowl or bust!
JB
December 29th, 2009
7:18 am
An that 8-5 team went into your building and ran it down your throat. Over and over and over and over… Well, you get the idea.
BTW, expect the same next yr. Our O will be a good deal better and your D will be worse. Scary aint it?
As for the game, we did look rusty but hung around until we starting getting it together and, as mentioned, then wore them down.
On to the Aaron Murray era.
Ya know Yech fans, one where we can not only run the ball but throw it.
HBTD!!!!!
ken farrar
December 29th, 2009
7:18 am
kudos to defense and special teams. offense? how many points did we score on offensive drives? maybe once. relapse of offensive line, we need help there. thrilled with win, congrats guys.