Another case of SEC showing up Big 12
Aggies QB Jerrod Johnson runs into a wall of red. (Associated Press)
A few more thoughts and notes about Georgia’s win over Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl. …
No one will call this a game for the ages, but Georgia’s 44 points were a bowl record for the Dogs, surpassing the previous high of 41 in the Sugar Bowl win over Hawaii, and Georgia’s six touchdowns matched a record set by the 1941 Dogs in their 40-26 Orange Bowl win over TCU. Not bad considering the offense hardly registered a pulse in the first half. …
What kept Georgia in the game (and with the lead at halftime) until the offense could get on track and begin to wear down a surprisingly effective Aggies defense was the Dogs’ special teams play. If this didn’t drive home the importance of special teams to Mark Richt, I don’t know what would. He has indicated in recent days that he would be amenable to devoting one of the Dogs’ coaching slots to a full-time special teams coordinator. Let’s hope that comes to pass. …
Tight end Aron White has sort of become the Dogs’ stealth star. While most of the media attention has been lavished on Orson Charles, White has been a clutch player. Monday night, he came up big, tying a Georgia bowl record with two touchdown catches and being named offensive MVP of the game. When A.J. Green is covered, White is a good alternative. …
But let’s not forget Michael Moore, who had two big catches for 34 yards and jumped on that fumble in the end zone on a TD that was credited to Caleb King but really should have been Moore’s, as replays showed King lost the ball before he broke the plane of the goal. …
Kudos also to the game’s defensive MVP, Geno Atkins, who had three tackles and a sack and, more importantly, a blocked field goal. Atkins was pretty quiet much of the first half of the season but came on strong in later games. …
Aggies QB Jerrod Johnson finished 29-for-58 for 362 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Dogs, but hardly looked like the player who attracted so much attention for his showing against Texas.
What was the difference? Part of it might have been that his performance against the Longhorns was juiced by it being a rivalry game. But it’s hard not to conclude that a bigger factor was that he wasn’t going up against a Big 12 defense. Georgia’s defensive front harried Johnson all night long and while he made some nice plays, he also looked rattled on more than one occasion and made some bad decisions. Johnson only had six picks all season before this game, but Georgia snagged two and could have had three more. …
Joe Cox was … Joe Cox. Not a great night on those sideline routes and he threw a pick (though this one didn’t produce any Aggies points), but he also made some key throws, including the two touchdowns to White. The fact that he came within one touchdown of tying Matthew Stafford’s season record and yet had a mediocre season overall is kind of mind-boggling. …
Coming back from injury and a lengthy layoff, A.J. Green still led the team with six catches for 57 yards, but he was quite visibly rusty. He seemed to lose track of the ball on a couple of plays, got tackled more easily than usual on a couple of screens, and was visibly bothered when he went up high for one of his patented acrobatic catches but didn’t come down with the ball (though you have to give credit to the Aggies defender for excellent coverage). Perhaps Green’s greatest contribution, however, was acting as a decoy, particularly on one of Aron White’s TD receptions. …
The Dogs’ running game really missed Josh Davis on the line in the first half, with Vince Vance struggling mightily. It wasn’t until Justin Anderson was inserted into the lineup in the second half that Georgia was able to run the ball with authority. And that they did, with Washaun Ealey (not “Early,” Mr. Franklin) having 78 yards on 13 carries, Caleb King having 16 carries for 60 yards, and the Dogs’ fullbacks showing some power late in the game, as Shaun Chapas racked up 43 yards on five carries and Fred Munzenmaier added 20 yards on four carries. Heck, even Cox finished with positive rushing yardage for the night!
Which brings up the nonfactor that A&M defensive end Von Miller, the nation’s sack leader, was in this game. Clint Boling might have drawn flags by jumping early a couple of times, but he did a masterful job of handling Miller, who finished with just four tackles and no sacks. …
Quantity doesn’t equate to quality, as the Aggies offense proved Monday. They ran 92 plays for 471 yards, the most offensive plays ever against a Mark Richt Georgia team, and yet were held 14 points under their season scoring average, and that last touchdown was against the Dogs’ scrubs when the outcome already had been decided. Again, Big 12 football vs. SEC football.
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312 comments Add your comment
crabapplejoe
December 29th, 2009
8:38 pm
Spiller would be a nice additon because he is so multi-talented. Gerhart could never be drafted by the Falcons because of our fan base demographics….maybe Green Bay, Indianapolis or the Patriots.
DP
December 29th, 2009
8:41 pm
Ingram is a mediocre running back? 1542 yards rushing, another 332 receiving, 6.2 yards per carry, more 10+ yard runs than any back in the country, 15 touchdowns, over half of his yardage after contact. He played against every SEC team except Georgia and Vandy plus Virginia Tech. He didn’t pile up yardage against patsies because he was pulled early; he only averaged 83 yards/game against the 3 weak teams Alabama played versus an average of 129 per game against the rest of the schedule.
You think Ingram is mediocre? Did you ever watch him play?
Envy isn't healthy
December 29th, 2009
8:42 pm
It’s comical that the Tool fans are trying to downplay UGA’s win over A&M based on the Aggies NOW losing record. Aren’t these the same Tool fans that are bragging about an ACC title (laughing) in a conference where half the league is .500 or worse? Just a thought
Dirt McGirt
December 29th, 2009
8:45 pm
moron,
you left out the fact that UGA beat S. Carolina who dominated Clemson. Since you wish to use that line of reasoning, you have to acknowledge this piece of information, and, using your logic this means UGA would have beaten Clemson. Your logic is flawed. Everytime this team A beat Team B who beat team C so team A would beat team C is just a crap argument that holds no water.
Houdawg
December 29th, 2009
8:45 pm
Hey Dan ……. here’s your facts :
(((((((((( 30 – 24 ))))))))))
And , how many rushing yds did the Dawgs have vs GT ?
Lieutenant Dan
December 29th, 2009
9:00 pm
I know we slam each other pretty good during the regular season and rightfully so as the season progresses. But from one Bama fan nice win by the Dawgs. You represented the conference very well. We’re still all family in the SEC. But I just hate to leave it on such a positive note. You’re still not getting Kirby LOL!
GT IS STILL A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 29th, 2009
9:12 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA, FOREVER AND EVER.
GT IS STILL A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 29th, 2009
9:13 pm
AND WILL BE FOREVER AND EVER.
GT IS STILL A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 29th, 2009
9:16 pm
YELLOW TUCKS. HAVE YOU SEEN YOUR IMAGE AT THE END OF YOUR STREAM ON THE WATERLESS URINALS OF THE CALLAWAY GARDENS. YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEE YOUR PROPER PLACE IN THE ORDER OF THINGS IN THIS UNIVERSE. HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA FOREVER AND EVER.
whitedawg
December 29th, 2009
9:25 pm
Wisconson beating up on Miami is priceless.
dbc
December 29th, 2009
9:39 pm
This article would have some validity had the Dawgs beat Okie State. Not really now though. Texas A&M did more to lose this game than UGA did to win it. Just being honest. That and the secondary dropped three sure int’s, two of which were pick sixes. Again lack of focus. While I would love to say this win propels the team into the off season, all it does is point to some glaring problems that need fixing, pronto. God love Joe Cox and his fighting spirit, but you could clock his passes with an egg timer. Hope Murray brings some zip to the offense next year. And hopefully Bobo adds five or six new plays to the same five he always runs.
RED DOG 77
December 29th, 2009
10:12 pm
Pretty clear SEC v Big12= no contest, however, give credit where credit is due, our whole D line played like men on a mission last night, Owens, Westin, and Atkins were on fire. Hats off to them Coach Garner, and the entire D . That A.M qb looked like he had lost his best friend even before the scoring started. GO DOGS !!
Vince
December 29th, 2009
10:15 pm
Dont forget Jan Kemp
DawginLex
December 29th, 2009
10:31 pm
I guess Bama Stan is an honor graduate from the Trade School Junkie school of football prognostication.
Nice call stan. I’ll be sure to not call you the next time I want to look into the future.
DP
December 29th, 2009
10:42 pm
Crabapple, the only common opponent of Alabama and Clemson was South Carolina. Ingram had 24 carries for 246 yards, including all 6 carries on a 69 yard scoring drive to put the game away in the 4th quarter. Spiller had 9 carries for 18 yards against SC.
Any questions?
kb
December 29th, 2009
10:44 pm
Ya know, I’m sorta like a new comer on this blog. I am also both a UGA and Tech fan. What I really don’t understand though is this one bothersome thing. Why all the hate for the opposing team? Now, I can’t stand the gators. I don’t care to make any comments on their blogs because it’d be a waste of time for me to do so (then again, they my not be as fortunate as we are to have a popular blog as this.) My point is if you don’t care for either team, go post you blog somewhere else. Go Dawgs! Go Jackets!
Mr. Kotter
December 29th, 2009
10:50 pm
Just wondering…if Richt watches enough good defenses like Wisconsin’s who have white players, will he eventually get over the idea that only black athletes can play defense? It’s not as if his Florida A&M defenses have been tearing up the world since he’s been there.
dawgfan
December 29th, 2009
11:14 pm
ACC about to go 1-3 in bowl games thus far.
Another fine post-season showing by the All Crap Conference.
Gt4ever
December 29th, 2009
11:24 pm
crabapplejoe….. You have to be kidding… Toby Gerhart is a good back, but please….. There are several running backs better than Toby. Ingram was one of them, hell, Dwyer is another.. Spiller, Dwyer and Ingram are ALL better backs than Toby….
SEC Blowhards
December 29th, 2009
11:28 pm
In the last 5 years, in the 13 bowl games matching the SEC and Big Ten, the Big Ten has 7 wins, the SEC has 6.
Dennis G. Berdanis
December 29th, 2009
11:37 pm
I’d have more confidence in Bama if they didn’t let little Utah whup their butts last year. And that was with Saban. So not a lot of confidence he can prepare a bowl team.
DP
December 29th, 2009
11:45 pm
OK, Crabapple, now that I see you lamenting the lack of white players on defense for Georgia I understand why you like Gerhart better than Ingram.
A “coal black” Miami?
Don’t you have a Klan rally you need to get to?
DP
December 30th, 2009
12:14 am
Crabbleapple, I didn’t bring race into it and I wasn’t the one who referred to Miami players as “coal black”. What compelled you to give that description? Didn’t think the AJC would let the N word slip through?
Nation of Islam rally? I’m as white as you are, just don’t wear a sheet.
Florida Defense Down Big...
December 30th, 2009
12:39 am
Florida gave up 41 points and 490 yards to the #28 in total yards defense (Bama).
Georgia gave up only 21 points and a little over 400 yards to the #5 rasnked in total yards defense (Texas A & M).
Florida Defense Down Big...
December 30th, 2009
12:40 am
Oops, meant to say #28 and #5 ranked in total yards OFFENSE. Sorry, it’s late.
Let's Get Georgia Basher Banned
December 30th, 2009
12:46 am
He’s easy to spot, he’s into posts about gay or sexuality, or racist comments.
Any time you see that, report that comment. Let’s get him banned. This clown needs to be banned from this site.
Just click on “report this comment” anytime you see a comment that’s inappropriate about racist or sexuality, obviously, this is a sports blog, not a political blog.
And then the IT guy will look up their IP address, and if enough of us complain, this guy will be banned forever from posting his useless drivel.
BuLLdawg
December 30th, 2009
6:12 am
ACC this football season is 10-14 against other BCS teams, so far.
Big XII this football season is 4-8 against other BCS teams, so far.
Big 10 this football season is 6-9 against other BCS teams, so far.
Mountain West Conference is 7-9 against BCS teams, so far.
PAC-10 this football season is 9-7 against other BCS teams, so far.
Big East this football season is 10-7 against other BCS teams, so far.
SEC this football season is 11-5 against other BCS teams, so far.
The 3 Conferences, ACC, Big XII and Big 10, who are WORSE than the Mountain West Conference in games against BCS teams this season so far, has some explaining to do as to why they deserve some automatic anything – not giving the Mountain West Conference an opportunity to continue to beat the crap out of the ACC, Big XII and Big 10.
Big XII has to win tonight against the PAC-10.
All season long, here are the ONLY WINS by the Big XII over a BCS team :
Oklahoma State before NCAA ruled player not eligible beat unranked UGA.
Oklahoma beat none. Lost to Miami of Florida 9-4.
Texas Tech beat none. Played none.
Texas A&M beat none. Lost to Arkansas and to Georgia.
Baylor beat 7-5 U Conn. Lost to Weak Forest 5-7.
Kansas beat Duke 5-7.
Colorado beat none. Lost to West Virginia.
Iowa State beat none. Lost to Iowa.
Kansas State beat none. Lost to UCLA.
Missouri beat Illinois.
Nebraska beat none. Lost to Virginia Tech.
Texas beat none. Played none.
The Major Reason why the BCS is under fire is that these 3 suck conferences, ACC, Big 10 and Big XII do NOT do as well as the Mountain West Conference against BCS teams.
Nebraska, supposedly the 2nd best Big XII team, plays tonight.
Nebraska had better win for the sake of the Big XII.
Nebraska, whose NCAA Official Strength of Schedule was Number 46 before the bowls (GA tek SoS # 51 before the bowls), played Eight (8) games against “opponents” not even in a bowl game. (GA tek played 6 games against “opponents” not even in a bowl game.
Nebraska ALWAYS schedules teams who are NO DAMN GOOD.
Nebraska that is ALL they EVER do.
Nebraska beat no BCS team all season long.
Nebraska beat no ranked team.
Nebraska lost to the only BCS team they played outside the sorry Big XII.
Nebraska played 8 games against “opponents” who are NOT in a bowl game.
Nebraska, for all this, is Ranked # 22 in the Polls and got to play Texas for the Big XII Championship.
Because Texas won, they get to play Alabama, instead of TCU.
TCU of the Mountain West Conference has A FAR BETTER CLAIM than does Texas of the lousy sorry Big XII, to be playing Alabama.
And, if we had an 8-team Play-Off this season based upon BCS Rankings, the ACC would NOT even have a team in the PLAY-OFFS.
We don’t need 2 bowl games tonight. 1 is plenty.
We didn’t need 2 bowl games last night either. Again, 1 would have been more than plenty.
And, we don’t need 5 bowl games tomorrow night for God’s sake.
There are another 5 Friday. Good Lord.
And, another 5 on Saturday. We don’t need 5 bowl games in a day.
You cannot watch them all. It’s not possible. It waters down the bowl games.
The Bowl Games will exist AFTER the Play-Off is implemented.
Unless you do a 64-team Play-Off like Men’s Basketball, for example (65 play-in.)
There are 34 Bowl Games.
If you did an 8-team Play-Off and Started the Week after the Conference Championships (CHUMPionships in the cases of the ACC and Big XII), then you would play :
4 Bowl Games without a damn month or month and a half, the week after The SEC Championship Game. Both of those teams would be in the 8-team Play-Offs the following week.
Play-Off Games are on Saturdays, not Fridays or Thursdays or Mondays.
8-Team Play-Off AND BOWLS continue otherwise, just get rid of
5 Boise State plays 4 Cincinnati, first Saturday. Dec 12.
6 Florida plays 3 TCU, first Saturday. Dec 12.
8 Ohio State plays 1 Alabama, second Saturday. Dec 19.
7 Oregon plays 2 Texas, second Saturday. Dec 19.
2ND ROUND :
4 Cincinnati (if wins) plays 1 Alabama, third Saturday Dec 26.
3 TCU plays 2 Texas (if Texas beats Oregon which they would not.) Dec 26.
NOTE all the other bowl games, just continue on as planned and as they always have.
NOTE the ACC is NOT in the 8-team PLAY-OFF.
This is because the Mountain West Conference is BETTER than the stinking ACC.
The Mountain West is a better conference than the Big XII and the Big 10 Conferences too, but at least in the Big XII and in the Big 10, they have fans who follow college football.
The ACC doesn’t even have any fans who even follow the game of college football.
WORST ATTENDANCE.
WORST TV RATINGS.
If you want the Rose Bowl to have a game on the following Saturday January 2, have at it. They have always sent the LOUSY Big 10 to the Rose Bowl. What a crock.
Now, the Rose Bowl would actually get a TEAM for a damn change.
The Orange Bowl can go away for all I care. It has horrible ratings. It has horrible teams. It is in CRIME-RIDDEN Miami where NO ONE IS SAFE. No one goes, and it has the WORST ATTENDANCE of any Major Bowl Game. The Peach Bowl is a better bowl, for example.
The Sugar Bowl, since no one wants to play The Mighty SEC, always gets a crap team. Hawaii, please. Notre Dame, good Lord. Virginia Tech, I mean a lot of the time, the Sugar Bowl is LEFT with the dredges because NO ONE WANTS TO PLAY THE SEC in the Sugar Bowl.
So, the Sugar Bowl gets a good team as the opponent for the Sugar Bowl for a damn change, too.
Fiesta Bowl NEVER has been a MAJOR BOWL. That’s B.S. in the firs place. Just get rid of it too.
As far as I am concerned you can get rid of all the Major Bowl Games.
That is what the 8-TEAM PLAY-OFFS ARE. Anyway. Just drop the Major Bowls. They are the ones who DON’T WANT A PLAY-OFF.
Let the damn Peach Bowl BID against the Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl for the 8-TEAM PLAY-OFF BOWL GAMES. Let every bowl bid against each other. Whoever ponies up the most money, gets the game.
We will still watch these other bowl games, like Nebraska playing Arizona tonight.
Just get rid of some bowl games where there are 2 in one night to try to watch.
Or, get rid of some of the 3 days we have 5 bowl games no one can possibly follow; yet, those are supposedly the better bowls.
I think this will work.
Just the damn sorry ACC out in the cold.
And, gets rid of the bias of the Big XII and Big 10 and ACC over the Mountain West Conference, which is better than all 3 of those conferences.
You would have TCU playing Alabama.
I can assure you of that, too.
indianman
December 30th, 2009
7:14 am
coach meyer is on leave because all the good players is leaving and he won.t be able to stand winning 7or 8 games in a season for 3or 4 years
King of the Ewoks
December 30th, 2009
7:25 am
We are the champions of Shreveport !!!
bookie
December 30th, 2009
8:12 am
Hello gt alum time to pay your debt.Miami lost so bring me my cash.You can double up on the tech game if you have anything left.
Spike
December 30th, 2009
8:44 am
It sure was poetic justice seeing “Da U” get run over by the Badgers last night after watching that ESPN piece on them the other night. That game sure shut their big mouths in a hurry. Priceless.
Dennis
December 30th, 2009
8:49 am
How many of you idiots have SEC banners flying in your front yard? Give me a break. Do Vandy fans go around thumping their chest shouting SEC SEC.
What?
December 30th, 2009
9:16 am
BuLLdawg
Good entry, but long. I did not realize these facts until you presented them.
gtfanfrom1951
December 30th, 2009
9:23 am
Vandy was a better team than Texas A&M. Can you believe with a 6′7″ 250lb QB on fourth and a foot the coach calls a pass. What was he thinking? He must have call Chan for the offense play. You (UGA) need to stop playing those High School teams for Texas or did you’ll pay their coach and the long snapper off. Bama will beat Texas by 3 TDs if not more. Happy New Year to one all!!!
Gt4ever
December 30th, 2009
9:23 am
crabapplejoe needs some HELP! I will bet he probably never played the game….
What?
December 30th, 2009
9:31 am
Is that correct?
Kim
December 30th, 2009
9:34 am
Goodbye ugly ginger kid!!!
morons all
December 30th, 2009
9:53 am
If you really don’t understand the need for the conference of your preferred team to do well then you are not really college football fan. The reason the USCs, Ohio States and even the Texas’ of the world are not a lock for a national title berth each year is because of the poor play of their conferences. Get a clue
09.05.2009. OSU 24 - Georgia 10
December 30th, 2009
9:58 am
so much for once again showing up the Big XII.
That makes Georgia (or is it the SEC??) 1-1 vs. the Big XII… THIS YEAR.
Nice misleading headline… HOMER!!!
1980… 29 years and counting…
BTW: you can’t count OTHER schools National Championships as your own.
Envy ain’t got nothin’ to do with it.
Spike
December 30th, 2009
10:05 am
Do you notice that most, if not all the complainers on here about this strength of conference issue are fans of the ACC or some other panty waist conference are just simply envious of the SEC? But I’m tired of this subject. Let’s move on to something else.
"Simple" logic
December 30th, 2009
10:11 am
Simple logic:
I’m a Georgia fan so I root for Florida in the bowl games.
I’m an Auburn fan so I’m pulling for Alabama.
I’m an MSU grad, so I sure do hope Ole Miss wins the Cotton Bowl.
——————-
Educated logic:
Michigan Man: Hopes Oregon will BLAST the ohio state university
OU grad: $#@! Texas!
UVA prof: Go Vols!
Pitt Panther fan: Noles will win over WVU.
BuzztheKiller
December 30th, 2009
10:14 am
Great win UGA! I actually picked you in my bowl pool so was pulling for the team to win. As for claiming somehow beating one of the lower tier Big 12 teams says something about the SEC, not sure what other than an average team from one conference beat a below average team from another conference. I am sure some of you clowns will now be proclaiming a 2010 preseason national championship. Be sure and tune in primetime on 1/5 for a real bowl game that includes a conference champion!
Irony
December 30th, 2009
10:25 am
Did a Tech fan really just say you can’t count other schools’ national championships as your own?
jams
December 30th, 2009
10:26 am
funny how tool fans can only point to UGA’s loss to OSU. Shall I roll off the recent SEC wins over the Big 12, really?
123456789
December 30th, 2009
10:28 am
Just another case of the Lies & Corruption that CONTINUES to define UGA.
http://www.ajc.com/news/former-bulldog-s-lawsuit-261862.html
How ’bout them dawgs ??
I guess Bill King doesnt read too well.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
December 30th, 2009
10:30 am
Nice solid win and congratulations, but do not take too much away from this, because this is ground-zero of why your program is tanked.
The Aggies did not come to play, plain and simple and the Dogs jumped on them, of which they deserve credit. However, more has been expected from the Dogs over the past 10 years, and they have not delivered.
Therefore, do not take a solid win in Shreveport as some sort of new awakening. It will be back to business as usual next year with another 8-4 or 7-5 seasons with the typical beatdowns.
Matter of fact give CMR a raise and a contract extension, eveyone, including opposing coaches love him.
GreggJ
December 30th, 2009
10:32 am
I am huge fan of UGA but not fully sold on Big 12 vs SEC- Ok state whoopped us up pretty good in opening game- I just think we had superior athletes and players and coaches are finally playing when they saw their coaches and coworkers get fired
Spike
December 30th, 2009
10:32 am
Jams.. Just do it, baby.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
December 30th, 2009
10:33 am
This is not about the SEC, which we call know can dominate, but more importantly about your tanked program in Athens. Quit bragging about being in the SEC and making excuses for your losses, and correct your program.
Everyone in Athens is so happy about playing in the SEC and not their own program. The BCS is a Vegas crapshoot, and if you don’t believe it ask Alabama how they felt when Utah took them to the woodshed in the Sugar Bowl last year.
Will anyone step up and give the Big 12 credit if Texas takes it to Alabama? Not on this blog, because they are too narrow minded.
UGA Grad
December 30th, 2009
10:43 am
UGA – 13 straight bowl appearances
11 wins 2 losses
We don’t get to pick the opponents. We just play the games. Enjoy the Orange Bowl Tekkies. It will back to the Emerald Bowl for you soon enough.