Bulldog Nation struggles with after-effects of big loss
Let's keep the emotional connection between UGA fans and players a healthy one. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
As we’ve already discussed, the Bulldogs’ face plant on national television Saturday night was plenty embarrassing by itself, but that was nothing compared with the classless display of pique that transpired later that night at the Athens home of some team members.
As was first revealed in a Twitter posting by linebacker Christian Robinson, the house he shares with quarterback Aaron Murray and several other players was egged and rolled with toilet paper after the blowout loss to South Carolina.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for Murray, who learned the day after the game that his father would have to have cancer surgery, part of what he described as “probably the worst 12 hours of my life.”
While the idiots responsible for the vandalism no doubt were unaware of the situation with Murray’s father at the time they were engaged in their childish act, the two bits of news naturally got connected in national news mentions, including on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” — exacerbating the damage to the Georgia football program’s image and, probably, its recruiting efforts as well.
A disillusioned Robinson, after returning home to find the vandalism in Athens, tweeted, “Seems that people turn on you when you’re not perfect. Thought we were in this together.”
At least one tweeter, who may or may not have been involved in the vandalism, responded: “We didn’t turn on u cause u aren’t perfect we turned because u didn’t put up a fight … your play deserve egging.”
I find that response every bit as moronic as the act that was being discussed.
I agree with one caller to this week’s “Bulldog Hotline,” who said that anyone who would commit an act like that is not a fan. They’re a criminal.
But while I truly believe that only a tiny fraction of fandom thinks like that, I can’t deny it’s a part of the sports scene today. As I noted a few months back when I wrote about some of the positive aspects of extreme fandom in college football, UGA is not alone in that regard — whether it’s the poisoning of trees at Auburn’s Toomer’s Corner, sexually humiliating a fan from an opposing team or even fatally shooting each other over the outcome of games.
I’ve seen plenty of disgusting behavior over the years by fans in red and black, and in this very forum I’ve experienced firsthand the depths to which the lunatic fringe of Bulldog fandom can sink. I recall a few years back having to ban one UGA fan because of language he’d used in the Blawg comments. This was shortly after my Dad had been hospitalized, and when I refused to reinstate the commenter, he sent me an email saying he looked forward to the day my father died.
And then had the gall to follow that up with another note asking if I’d changed my mind!
Obviously, we’re not talking about the sharpest knives on the rack here.
Fortunately, the Georgia players don’t appear to blame Bulldog fans in general. “It’s a small group,” Robinson said this week. “That’s what I’ve been hearing and that’s what people have been talking about. It’s a small group of people. Right when I sent out that tweet, I had probably 700 people tweeting me reminding me of that.”
When I put the question to Junkyard Blawg followers on Facebook and Twitter — Is this just a few isolated morons or is fandom getting out of control? — the majority seemed to agree with Robinson.
“They’re not real fans,” said Johnathan Tatman of the vandals. “I may have cussed [Murray] and the rest of the team for 4 quarters and wanted to puke, but a real fan will not do something so childish to their team.”
Some looked at the bigger picture. “I think it’s indicative of the way the world is now,” said Marcus P. Cannon. “Look at Kansas City’s fans applauding Matt Cassel’s injury on Sunday. Sick people. But you add alcohol to young dumb college kids and they throw eggs.”
Said Luke Jeffrey Mills VIII: “I think this is a sign of where our society is headed. Granted there will always be the core that will support through thick and thin, but it seems prevalent that the fringes are the ones with the loudest voices. Just look at fandom in pro sports and how it’s getting out of control, and compare that with politics. It’s getting to the point where it’s my team/affiliation is the best and you’re stupid for cheering/agreeing with the opposing side. Infantilism is running rampant in America.”
Alan Cason complained that “the lunatic fringe always gets the publicity. It’s the true fans who continue to support the guys who are representing Georgia on the field that should get some PR.”
Reggie Warren feels criticism of the team was deserved after the South Carolina game, “but retaliation, threats, and vandalism are criminal and despicable.”
“As a former player,” said Michael Kavouklis, “I was mad at the the outcome and I was embarrassed by our team’s poor performance, but they don’t deserve this type of treatment. It’s frustrating to all of us when we lose ALL of the really big, significant games for the last four years BUT HAVE SOME CLASS!!! It’s still a game and we will have our day. Show the recruits why they should come here, not why they should stay away from a bunch of stupid, ignorant fair weather fans who think that they are the only ones disappointed by the outcome. TRUST ME, the players are already hurting more than you can imagine. Fans can only share the credit if they support their team in the bad times as well as the good times. As embarrassing as the loss to SC was, these idiots are 1000 times more embarrassing to the UGA community!”
And that’s the bottom line we should all take away from this, I think. The team did not play well and the coaches did not do a good job. And it’s completely valid for fans to say so. But we should always keep in mind that the players are college students, not hardened professionals. Pouring salt in an open wound, as the Dogs’ Artie Lynch put it, isn’t going to help matters. Let’s keep the emotional connection between fans and players a healthy one that both can benefit from.
And while it’s perfectly OK to be concerned about and frustrated by the direction of the Georgia football program, we should keep it in perspective and not overreact to one loss.
As Michael Askins put it: “I love college football and I get emotional when the Dawgs lose a game. But I remember that it is just that … a game. There are a lot more important things in life than winning a football game.”
Got something you want to discuss concerning UGA athletics? Or maybe a question you want the Junkyard Blawg to tackle? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
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232 comments Add your comment
Bill
October 10th, 2012
8:05 pm
Just wondering . . .
Is Bill King a Tech fan?
Dawg Tired
October 10th, 2012
8:08 pm
You’ll need more than a tinfoil hat when it all unravels.
WhinyBabies
October 10th, 2012
8:11 pm
Paranoid fruitcakes have also been around for quite a while. You didn’t invent it.
Dawg Tired
October 10th, 2012
8:17 pm
You’ll need more than the fruitcake when it all unravels. After all, there is only one fruitcake and it is simply mailed from one house to the next.
Reilly
October 10th, 2012
8:20 pm
And it just gets worse: Florida 45, Georgia 24
WhinyBabies
October 10th, 2012
8:22 pm
Dawg Tired,
They will deliver them in black helicopters, won’t they?
Reilly,
The worst of it will be losing to Hugh Freeze.
smart dawg
October 10th, 2012
8:23 pm
One lose is a big deal when the expectations for the dawgs are so high this year. A second lose will be heart braking!
no dawg
October 10th, 2012
8:33 pm
What is wrong with all the GA fans truth hurts
no dawg
October 10th, 2012
8:33 pm
Were is all the support
Browndog
October 10th, 2012
9:19 pm
Give SC their due……..they played a great game. SC is a talented team and if they beat LSU they will have a great shot at winning out. Based on the performance of LSU thus far, got to give SC the nod.
joe jenkins
October 10th, 2012
9:24 pm
I’m just about through with being negative about this loss. We all knew our offense was not going to run as smooth without bennett….Still alot to play for. if we win out theirs no telling what might happen…..if we win the sec……I still think we lose two more….i hope not……but our o-line is really just to young to win a championship and it’s no surprise because we really havent had a good o-line since 02
LowcountryDawg
October 10th, 2012
9:27 pm
Coaches records against nationally ranked teams:
Auburn’s Gene Chizik (since 2009): 11-7 (.611)
Alabama’s Nick Saban (since 2007): 14-9 (.609)
LSU’s Les Miles (since 2005): 21-14 (.600)
Georgia’s Mark Richt (since 2001): 18-27 (.400)
South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier (since 2005): 8-24 (.250)
Tennessee’s Derek Dooley (since 2010): 1-9 (.100)
Kentucky’s Joker Phillips (since 2010): 1-9 (.100)
Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen (since 2009): 1-13 (.007)
Vanderbilt’s James Franklin (since 2011): 0-5 (.000)
Florida’s Will Muschamp (since 2011): 0-5 (.000)
OkieDawg
October 10th, 2012
9:44 pm
Hey Low C Dawg…And your point is?
LowcountryDawg
October 10th, 2012
9:51 pm
Just thought I would throw it out there. Interesting everyone above him has a NC.
salioD
October 10th, 2012
10:02 pm
hopefully, usc loses to lsu and fla so the Dogs can win the east title when they beat fla in jacksonville in a few weeks!
LowcountryDawg
October 10th, 2012
10:09 pm
salioD,
Not trying to attack you, but your comments are the prime example of why this program accepts mediocre. We hope we can back our way into the SEC championship? Really?
Is that what Champions do? Oh hey lets’s back our way in. NO! Great teams are ready to rise up to the big occasion and make statement. They prove to the country they can compete with anyone. They WANT to play the best in the land. Pathetic talk.
SatillaDawg
October 10th, 2012
10:10 pm
Disappointing and frustrating loss, but I will always love my Dawgs, win or lose.
Go Dawgs!
OkieDawg
October 10th, 2012
10:11 pm
My bad LowCdawg…I missed the message. You are correct and your point is well directed. Good point.
LowcountryDawg
October 10th, 2012
10:15 pm
I’m just as dire hard as the next guy, but I’m tired of all this. And hey at end of the day it would be nice to be back there, but by god if we make it there we better beat Bama. With us backing in, it only continues the vicious cycle that Richt is the greatest coach
Derek
October 10th, 2012
10:20 pm
Yes, I am a Richt loyalist but not blindly so. He has put together some great teams–better than most programs in the USA. He is one of the top ten active coaches in America. And you want to fire him? We should be thankful that Richt plans to finish his career in Athens–he is, thankfully, not looking to leave UGA. And the AD is very happy with Richt. So cry all you want Richt is here to stay.
Mobile Dawg
October 10th, 2012
10:26 pm
Bill, no struggling here. I’m mad as hell, tired of the imposter we have as a head coach. I’ve been tolerant with Richt, hoping he would learn, apply, see results. The guys recruit very well ranking wise, but we never have an Oline, one of the two strengths of a great team. They put numbers of players in the NFL, but can’t produce results themselves. I’m done until Richt is gone, or until he proves me totally wrong. I think we lose two more this year minimum.
Last but not least, Richt takes none of the responsibilty for his failures.
OkieDawg
October 10th, 2012
10:28 pm
Hey Derek…Is that you Barbara? Are you trying to deflect the criticism away from your little boy’s performance at Tennessee? Do you support De’Wreck Dooley? Disgusting…Barbara
Mobile Dawg
October 10th, 2012
10:29 pm
Derek, in the immortal words of Larry, no not Munson, God rest his Bulldog soul, the Cable Guy. You just can’t fix Stupid.
LowcountryDawg
October 10th, 2012
10:38 pm
Let’s back our way into another SEC Championship!!! Then we can get stomped by Bama, since we will probably take the week off to prepare, then we can beat up a BIG 10 team this year and guess what??? Man Dawgs look good this year they have a returning stud QB and RB’s, let’s put them at #8 preseason. Repeat…..
Mobile Dawg
October 10th, 2012
10:42 pm
We don’t back in this year LC, let’s hope McGarity is for real, Richt’s not. My worry is that nothing will happen until Adams is gone.
LowcountryDawg
October 10th, 2012
10:48 pm
In my view with our schedule so easy it’s going to take awhile. It will take two seasons with the bottom dropping out to make it happen, which will never happen because we keep enough talent to remain around 8-10 wins. Only stance McGarity has is to walk in with his record against ranked opponents and top ten’s.
VeeJay
October 10th, 2012
11:15 pm
We have a GREAT HEAD COACH.
Mark Richt’s teams have finished in the final AP Poll top 10 20 out of last 25 seasons.
Let’s get behind this team, and start focusing on things to FIX stuff.
1- Let murray run to slow down the passrush
2- Use 2 te’s and Malcome or Samuel to slow down the passrush
3- Line up with 2 TE’s and ram the ball down their throats
4- Use some big fast guys at DE in pass situations like 6-8 Lowe, 6-7 Morant, 6-6 Stripling, 6-6 Drew, 6-5 Faloughi. Must get more pressure on the QB, need more sacks.
5- Let the young guns loose at OLB to get double teams off Jarvis like Jordan Jenkins & Clemons.
6- Move to 4-3 in run situations, bulk up dline with new blood like Geathers, Smith, and Thornton. New guys need a look, the current front 3 are getting demolished.
7- Oline, focus on legal cutblocks, makes up for inexperience
8- Wide REc’s, get off the jam, use your hands, run some picks play, stack 2 or 3 WR’s, etc.
SSIgator
October 11th, 2012
12:31 am
VeeJay -
Are you related to Patrick?
Voyager Dawg
October 11th, 2012
12:33 am
I don’t think you should ever blame the players and it is way out of bounds to ever vandalize anyone’s home. The S. Carolina game was like most of the big games over the past decade and ended in a disappointing loss. The players haven’t been at UGA over that period of time, but the coaching staff has. For whatever reason this staff just can’t get a team up for the big games, or at least hardly ever. Like Aaron Murray’s father, I’m dealing with the big “C” word and realize there are things in life much more important than a football game and it is horrible that the young man had to deal with everything over such a short period of time. I wish Aaron Murray and his family all the best as they deal with the health issues. I will always support the Dawgs win or lose. I am just learning to set my sights on the really important things in life…….
AJ
October 11th, 2012
2:11 am
Richt is asleep at the switch. Terrible coach
Consider This
October 11th, 2012
6:33 am
When UGA fans are frustrated with their coaching staff, they take it out on their players.
There’s something about that that just ain’t right. What did Mark Richt do, exactly, to attain his Messiah status at Georgia? Who does he have pictures of in compromising positions? The entire fan-base?
The AlphaDawg
October 11th, 2012
7:52 am
I would like to apply for the head football coach position at UGA. It can`t be too hard. I will do it for 500K. The first thing I would do is close the borders. No more teams beating us with players from Georgia. I would bring pride and motivation back .Its nothing like playing for your home state. I will be the special teams coach. Put the junkyard back in the defense. If CMR did half of this we would have at the least one NC.
Head in the sand.
October 11th, 2012
8:17 am
I feel good about our D. Our special teams get a bad rap…….SIGH…. TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE!
THWGT
October 11th, 2012
8:28 am
Let’s face it, its time for Richt to go….
He’s not coaching, he’s not developing, he’s too loyal to a Coordinator who is obviously outmatched (unless its a second tier school), we hear more and more stories about recruits who haven’t heard from Georgia after they’ve been offered…. What more do you need to know?
During the off season Richt made a statement that McGarity had removed some “duties” from his plate that would free up more of his time to get more involved… well??? Where’s the involvement? Where’s the planning and reviewing? Where’s keeping our kids out of trouble?
Richt needs to go.
Kirby Smart
October 11th, 2012
8:47 am
Derek – 3-9 vs. UF. just want to know how you defend that? And how does it feel to watch 4 other SEC programs win NC when we are losing to UCF in our bowls? To say that you are not blind is a joke.
ARdawg
October 11th, 2012
9:18 am
THWGT
Yeah this “cutting edge football” is wearing a bit thin
Bud
October 11th, 2012
9:19 am
who would you get to replace caoch richt?
Bud
October 11th, 2012
9:23 am
I hope coaching staff reads veejay’s comments. especially murray runing and the cut blocks for o line.
old dog
October 11th, 2012
9:25 am
Anybody who watched the game (and anybody who ever played on any level) saw that we got torn-up up front. We have not recruited o-line talent, we have not developed what we did bring in, and S.C. exposed us. Florida will do the same, and laugh if you want Dooley will take the next step in Tennessee because he (like his Dad) knows that the game starts up front! We cannot compete with the top-tier, and Murray is shouldering too much of the blame. Our backs can run wild on the lesser teams, and we can pass all over the field. But if your line is not top notch, it will get exposed, like ours did!
old dog
October 11th, 2012
9:26 am
p.s. (and it ain’t all about size) but our center is no more six-feet than Micky Rooney…just sayin’…….he’s 5′10 on a good day!
UGA man class of 71&73
October 11th, 2012
9:52 am
So easy this is. SCwanted to win and UGA was flat, out of it, dazed and had no manhood for the game. A UGA player from the Goff/Donnan era told me this week that SC TOOK UGA’ s manhood and the current players know it. he said this will hurt us down the stretch with more ugliness.
UGA is headed backto Shreveport at best. We are middling level team in the SEC and do not belong now in the upper tier. We are exactly where the ADM wants us to be. Filling the seats and just taking it.
UGA IS the FSU mold from the 70s
October 11th, 2012
9:57 am
FSU used patty cake lines on O. UGA is like that. CMR is STUCK in the mold of that era.
CMR does NOT get it, that in the SEC, you win on the LOS. UGA is a 9 win team, over 11 games.
UGA in the ACC would be number 1. Problem is that we play in the SEC.
old dog
October 11th, 2012
10:10 am
Bill,
You are nicer than the rest of us, and I know you are a fan. But can’t you TRULY( even though you cannot put it in exact terms) see JUST HOW BAD WE ARE up front?
sprouse27
October 11th, 2012
10:49 am
Well, I do enjoy reading the posts and absolutely think it’s time for a new head coach in Athens. CMR is a fine guy, but where is he leading this team? We get beaten year after year by teams that don’t have the same level of talent and resources as the Dawgs. Too many UGA fans have the same mentality that keeps people in jobs they hate. I hate my job but if I change to something else it MIGHT be worse. A known devil is always better than an unknown. Get over it. I’d much rather see somebody fresh and fired up than another year of CMR ordering happy meals on the headset during the game. Could we end up with a TN scenario? Sure. There are some risks. But the known is that we are not likely to win the SEC again under CMR no matter how many 9-10 game win seasons we have. I loved CMR those first five years and I still think he’s a great guy who runs a mostly clean program. But it is absolutely clear to me that he is not a BCS quality coach. There aren’t many of them out there, either. But I sure think UGA could do better in that department than what we have now. Or else we stay at mid-tier mediocity until CMR decides to retire. Just the way it is.
Kirby Smart
October 11th, 2012
11:05 am
sprouse27 – correct and my point exactly. Its better to try two or three times before we get the right guy than stick with the same and slip further in to the middle of the pack. Look at Florida it took a Zook (2-1 vs. Richt) to get an Urban.
sprouse27
October 11th, 2012
11:21 am
Well Kirby, I’m all for ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained.’ Don’t want to see CMR embarrassed, and truthfully, I really doubt the AD is going to replace him. But wow I’d love to see some new HC blood in Athens. Might mean we have a few 7-5 seasons, or worse. But hey, if we’re BUILDING towards something then it’s worth it. But watching the Dawgs these last five years has proven that we are in a rut. For some a comfortable rut, and for others, a very frustrating one. But TN will get it right eventually, and then we’ll have FL, SC AND TN beating up on us. Maybe we move to the ACC then?
ARdawg
October 11th, 2012
11:44 am
Bud
There has to be a coaching opening at UGA before it can be filled. One thing at a time. Let’s get the opening and then shop for the best available coach. Naming names at this point is pure conjecture but then, so is the vacancy huh?
ARdawg
October 11th, 2012
11:49 am
sprouse
We’ll likely have to break some eggs for a good omelet. A few 6-6, 5-7 seasons might be in order for a good coach to come in and get things right.
augDawg
October 11th, 2012
11:59 am
What more can be said ? We have seen Georgia come out in big games for the past 3 – 4 years and not have an answer for anything offense , defense or special teams that our opponent has come up with , thats a fact . Im sure like many others during the game I thought to myself that if we could just get some points before the half we could get back in the game . I have seen Georgia teams in the past come back from much worse . As the third quarter came to an end I realized that times have changed at Georgia . We are no longer a Team that responses well to being punched in the mouth . Teams from the early to mid 2000’s took that first lick from people and came back with their own . After the game while waiting in traffic we were talking in the car and this topic came up . We are no longer a Tough team full of 3 – 4 star players who have something to prove . We are now a bunch of 4-5 star players that are soft and feeling a sense of entitlement . I saw two things that really say alot about our program in its current state . 1st We did come out flat and EVERYONE except our Coach knows it . I dont know if Richt belives we were flat and he just could not say it to the media or if he truly belives that we were not flat . 2nd For the first time in a long time I saw a Georgia football team quit . When the hardest lick that was thrown all night was a hit out of bounds by our ALL-AMERICAN Safety late in the game out of frustration THEY QUIT . I have seen a bunch of talk about the lack of coaching and I agree to a point with most of it , but when you have to go back on a Coach to Motivate players in the Biggest Football game of most of their Career , who talk all year about giving it their all for 14 games to win the National Championship and then go out and look like they have never seen a football you cant put that on the Coaching .At some point as an Athlete you have to want to win that game . Its one thing to say we going all out for 14 games but its another thing to do it . I hate to keep referring to our ALL-AMERICAN Safety but when a 5 – 9 170 pound receiver takes a ball out of your hands that only says one thing , HE WANTED IT MORE . Im not sure if that is preparation or the lack of will to win . As I read the post this week i see alot of people calling out other fans for calling out the coaching .To the people that are saying Georiga fans are jumping ship i would like to say your wrong , I am a die-hard Dawg fan and have been for many years and I will be in Kentucky next week cheering for the team , but at some point people are going to start asking are they getting the ” bang for their buck ” its just the way the world works now. Georgia has a huge fan base that donates millions each year to the program and at some point Fans are going to get tired of losing the big one year after year . I know i am well past that point . I will close with this and I can only wish the higher ups in the athletic department would read this and give it some serious thought , When our program ( players and coaches ) say that it was just one game and the sun came up the next day so we still have a chance to win the east is the answer we get , then Georgia’s football program has taken a leap back into the mid-tier of the conference . Winning is everything these days and lately Georgia is not doing a very good job . Teams
Hanky Panky
October 11th, 2012
12:08 pm
UGA: HIRE JON GRUDEN FOR UGA HEAD COACH.
DRAFT JON GRUDEN. MAKE THE CALL. MAKE IT HAPPEN.
DAWG NATION: START THE MOVEMENT. JON GRUDEN FOR UGA HEAD COACH.
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