Georgia-Florida series: Welcome to the new normal
Ain't it sweet! (Georgiadogs.com)
Old memes die hard.
On “SportsCenter” late Saturday night one of ESPN’s talking heads introduced a recap of the Dogs’ big win over the Gators by noting that “Florida has owned this series” since Steve Spurrier arrived in Gainesville.
That’s just the sort of glib commentary we’ve come to expect from the self-proclaimed Worldwide Leader in Sports. Yes, we all know the Gators dominated the Georgia Bulldogs during the Spurrier years, with the former Gator QB going 11-1 against the team he hates above all others.
We also know that during that span University of Florida fans developed an interesting amnesia about all the years that went before, acting as if modern football history began in 1990.
It’s understandable that folks in Gainesville like to cite the Gators winning 18 games against Georgia since that time, but it’s also completely arbitrary.
Why start with 1990? Why not start with 1964, when Vince Dooley arrived in Athens? Oh, yeah, he had a 17-7-1 record against the Gators, which they’d just as soon forget.
But the lazy media penchant for playing along with that Gatorized view of football history should have run its course by now. The Visor has been absent from Gainesville for more than a decade and is no more relevant to the discussion these days than Dooley is.
In the years since Spurrier left, the Georgia-Florida rivalry has become ultra competitive. The past nine years? Florida holds a slim 5-4 edge. Over the past six years, it’s dead even at 3-3.
So let’s put to rest this business of anyone “owning” the battle for the Okefenokee Oar, OK?
Unless, that is, we want to start the count with 2011, the Muschamp Era, during which Georgia has won two in a row, making Coach Boom 0-fer against his alma mater.
How’s that for being owned?
A few other thoughts and observations from the Dogs’ win over the Gators …
Jarvis Jones, named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season, deserves all the plaudits he’s gotten after the Florida game, but let’s give a big woof also to Damian Swann, who forced the fumble that was recovered by Jones on the Gators’ third offensive play of the game, setting up the Dogs’ first score, and also intercepted a Jeff Driskel pass in the third quarter, leading to a Marshall Morgan field goal.
While we’re at it, let’s note that Mike Gilliard, who felt “disrespected” after Shawn Williams essentially called him out earlier in the week by saying Alec Ogletree and Amarlo Herrera should never come out of the game, responded nicely. Gilliard had six tackles against the Gators, which tied him with Williams, Ogletree and Herrera.
Zander Ogletree celebrates with fans after the win over the Gators. (Bob Andres / AJC)
And how about forgotten man Zander Ogletree, who came in at fullback after Merritt Hall got hurt and not only did a good job blocking but caught a pass for a first down on Georgia’s first drive. …
There’s a fine line between inspired play and out of control, and the Dawgs crossed it too many times Saturday, drawing a ridiculous 14 penalties for 132 yards. The challenge for the Georgia coaching staff this week (particularly on defense) is to find a way to keep the players fired up for Ole Miss while getting the penalty situation in hand. …
Georgia hasn’t had very good luck with trick plays this season. Too often, they appear to be successfully completed only to be wiped out by a penalty, as was the case again Saturday with the onside kick. …
Malcolm Mitchell is back where he should be and that produced great results Saturday, with the erstwhile cornerback catching five passes, including the big one for a touchdown. Which prompted one of my favorite postgame quotes from Mark Richt, who shortly before that had pulled Mitchell after an unsportsmanlike conduct call. “I’m glad I put Malcolm back in the game,” said UGA’s master of understatement.
JUNKYARD MAIL CALL
Got something you want to discuss concerning the win over Florida or the upcoming game against Ole Miss? Or maybe a question you want the Junkyard Blawg to tackle? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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201 comments Add your comment
DawgInLex
October 30th, 2012
10:26 am
never demanded a national title in my posts; what I have stated is there is no excuse that a top 10 paid coaching staff with more NFL talent cant win big games
********************************
Liar
All you have talked about is national titles and beating Saban
You said last week that beating florida was not enough and until Richt won the SEC and beat Saban and won the national title, you will continue to bash
Clue for you moron
We just won a big game
God you are dumb
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
10:29 am
DawginLex
I didnt say you said we would go 13-0 I was just saying you like the others have been talking again about winning a national title this year with “”our current team”"
now did you not post that stupid article the other day about us going to the national title?
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
10:30 am
Dawgin Lex
Show me where Ive demanded that we win national titles
DawgInLex
October 30th, 2012
10:38 am
Do you want me to go back and get your posts from last week?
You said until Richt beats Saban and wins the SEC, that beating Florida was not enough in your eyes to stop bashing. All you have done today is complain about no big wins yet we just got one.
No I did not post an article about the national title. I said we need to worry about Ole Miss
DawgInLex
October 30th, 2012
10:40 am
And BTW sport, this team is ranked 6th in the BCS and is not out of the running to win the SEC East and the SEC and the BCS, all things that you have said are impossible to accomplish with this coaching staff.
I’m not guaranteeing anything either so don’t go there.
But you can’t win it if you don’t even get to play for it.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
10:40 am
DawginLex
Again learn to read
I said nothing about putting Mason in the FL game; I was stating that Richt and Bobo created a no QB competition environment by basically telling Mason he isnt playing at all this year
I said nothing about bringing Mason in the FL game
Please learn to read
DawgInLex
October 30th, 2012
10:47 am
I bet you wanted Mason to come in
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
10:54 am
DawginLex
Ive nothing about this coaching staff needs to win a national title to change my mind
I did say that winning out this year would change my perception of them
But Ive never demanded this coaching staff win national titles; just make UGA respectable
Good luck on finding where I posted they must win the national title
Also
Its too late for Mason; why would we even bring him in to a game mid season; give me a break
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
11:08 am
DawginLex
What gets me about you and Altamaha is you two and many of the other kool-aid gang are so quick to come out and defend your Hero instead of looking at where the program is
All Ive ever done is respond to the moronic statements year after year from some of these fans who come on here before the season starts and during the season before we lose about “”We are wining the national title this year blah blah blah
Richt is the best coach; Bobo is the best OC blah blah blah
All ive said is; no we arent wining a National title with a coaching staff that cant win big games but everyone including you and Altamaha is quick to post garbage about how Richt has 100 wins; and the coaching is fine and blah blah blah
100 wins against mostly unranked teams is nice and really not hard to do when 8 games on your schedule are almost sure wins almost every year with the talent that UGA gets compared to their opponents
Chamionship coaches dont have a 1-10 record against the top 10; 1 win in 4 years against the top 20
while having more players go into the NFL than any other SEC school
and with such a poor record against decent teams why should the UGA season ticket holder be forced to pay such high prices for season tickets while a coaching staff that cant get it done against ranked teams is paid a top 10 salary
a national championship isnt happening under this staff and thats all ive said to the kool-aid crowd who think other wise
but I guess that doesnt make me a real UGA fan
DawgInLex
October 30th, 2012
11:11 am
All you do is gripe about the past and about things you cannot control.
I support the players and the coaches until they are no longer our coaches.
I believe we are getting better. The rest of the year will determine it.
I think we are saying the same thing honestly in 2 different ways.
You believe it absolutely won’t happen and I believe it might.
Doesn’t make me a kool aid drinker
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
11:27 am
DawginLex
Its not griping its called bringing people down to reality with all this NC talk year after year week after week
Richt hasnt ever fielded a NC caliber team and never will; his teams are undisciplined and are never playing at the level they should; I mean seriously every game each year either the D is playing lights out and the offense is playing awful and vice versa;
Rarely do both offense come together as we saw in one game this year Vandy; Aub last year; and many others can be named
And that my friend is the problem with Richt and is why we will never win the NC so I have a problem when people come on here looking stupid by saying this is the year
Just look at AL they play great on both sides of the ball week after week; we stumble around against the likes of KY etc sure bama doesnt win all the time but they dont look like we do
I support the players and the University as for the coaches I dont because they are only there for their job;
they leave for other jobs all the time; me and you will be UGA fans long after they have moved on to other coaching positions;
I mean come on Dooley was about to go to coach at Aub one time remember that
AltamahaDawg
October 30th, 2012
11:35 am
I’ve got kids, so I am very used to dealing with somebody thinking If they say something over and ove enough, that somehow its true.
DawgInLex
October 30th, 2012
11:46 am
2002 team was pretty darn good and din’t cheat to win the SEC.
2005 injury to DJ hurt the momentum that team had.
We lost to WV but if he stays healthy, Florida and Auburn games might have been different. We might have gotten a shot.
Those 2 teams were in the mix. This team can be in the mix if they stay motivated.
Part of this whole BCS title thing is luck. Florida in 2006? USC crapped the bed against UCLA or Florida is in the Sugar Bowl like us in 2002 and 2005.
I only want them to win what they can control and that is the SEC East and then the SEC.
The rest is a beauty contest hosted by Kirk Herbstreit
DawgInLex
October 30th, 2012
11:50 am
I gotta get back to work
We all want the same thing
WINS!!!
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
11:51 am
AltamahaDawg
And what do you continue to say over and over???
Oh year Richt and Bobo are the best
They sure are Altamaha thats why theyve only beaten 1 top 20 team in 4 yrs cause they are the best
McDawg
October 30th, 2012
12:47 pm
anyone else notice all the eye gouging going on
BullDogMike
October 30th, 2012
1:23 pm
The only downside I can see is we may end up in Outback bowl again..If we win out and then can’t win at the dome. If Gators win out they will end up above us in the polls due to having only one loss. They end up in Sugar Bowl, LSU more then likely in Capitol One. Tampa is ok but its getting little old… If you go to conf. championship and lose, you’re screwed.
AltamahaDawg
October 30th, 2012
1:44 pm
Yea, like that. Just like that. Classic.
Come on now, if you are going to poke fun at yourself on cue, we must be ready to move on. I know everybody else is.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
October 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
Sorry taking a full 5 class load in college has disrupted my ability to post with any consistancy. I lived and died with the team just like always, its just that Monday through Friday I havent had the time to hop on a blog for an hour and a half a day.
I think AltamahaDawg hit the nail on the head with an earlier post. Putting Mason in is what teams with nothing on the line and no future do. We have a LOT to lose and an actual FUTURE as a program.
Think with this perspective of how things shape up for the next 2 years:
We go into next season with a RS Senior QB with records, division titles, and umpteen SEC games under his belt, to go with a good OL and 2 great RBs to try to hold up a restocking defense. That probably is good enough for 9 wins. Then 2014 comes around with the D restocked, granted not quite as much talent but still formidable, while two veteran RBs, veteran WRs, a (SHOULD be) great OL get to assist a system-savy, RS Senior QB looking to prove something after waiting his turn (shades of DJ Shockley). That could produce another great season.
Mark Richt sees the big picture, some of you are seeing red while trying to watch a football game, which is clearly disrupting your view of reality
Thank God for Reggie Ball
October 30th, 2012
2:03 pm
@BullDogMike
the problem is I dont think Florida will run the table because they have to go to Tallahassee and FSU is no joke. If they lose by 10 or 14 there is NO way they get to New Orleans. not over an 11-2 team that BEAT them.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
2:21 pm
Whats classic is you’re a Richt appologist through and through Richt can do no wrong even when it was obvious Willie Martinez needed to go you were on here defending the decison to keep him.
The UGA program even though weve been a joke against ranked opponents for several years doesnt mean as much as your hero comanding a top 10 salary
G-Dawg
October 30th, 2012
2:27 pm
Really boys!! Y’all sound like Williams and Gilliard last week.
Good win last weekend…but alotta work still remains.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
October 30th, 2012
2:28 pm
@Patched Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
Why is it an indictment on a person to support a coach of your team when he consistantly wins and wins a lot?
AltamahaDawg
October 30th, 2012
3:03 pm
Credit where credit is due. DawgIn Lex said that. But I have said for 2 yrs that the “we need to start Mason to teach Aaron Murray a lesson” has to be the stupidest meme I have EVER heard in following Georgia football.
AltamahaDawg
October 30th, 2012
3:09 pm
BTW, speaking of the futre, I got o see Brice Ramsey up close Friday night. he probabaly had the worst night of this season, but he still lead them to almost 50 points, threw for 2 TDs. (and actually threw 3 more that should have been caught) . Kid does it all.
Not thatIi expect him to be punting, but he averages over 40 yrds. Not that he will be kicking off, but has booted something like 45/50 out of the end zone. Has kicked a couple of FG too. Sold hotdogs at halftime, played the trumpet in the show, saved a kitten under the stands, and jumped off our team bus with noting more than his personal energy.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
3:11 pm
Thank God for Reggie Ball
A coach that consistantly wins against cupcakes and loses to ranked teams and a coach that consistatly wins against ranked teams and cupcakes is two different things
AltamahaDawg
October 30th, 2012
3:11 pm
Then he offered to proof read my posts.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
3:17 pm
No one is saying teach Murray a lesson
Its called put Mason in games when Murray starts the kind of garbage he did last week
and see how the kid does we will never know how Mason will react in game situations
who knows he might end up better than Murray
Tom Brady / for an injured Drew Bledsoe easily is a great example
Its not the stupidest thing in football if you’ve watched the game once which by your comments you never have
Athens Dog
October 30th, 2012
3:33 pm
Bill, I hate to say this, but Florida does own us during the lifespan of a lot of folks, including the entire student body of both universities that are under 22 years old. Spurrier owned us, Meyer owned us and even Zook owned us, 2 out of 3. Two in a row is great, I’ll take it. It’s a great start, let’s keep it going and get the results back in our favor over a say, ten year period.
UGA24-7
October 30th, 2012
3:47 pm
These are some whiny gator fans. Just accept your loss like big boys. http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/gatorbytes/2012/10/27/gators-wr-solomon-patton-breaks-arm-in-loss-to-georgia/
No Bozos
October 30th, 2012
3:48 pm
Make Martinez Auburn’s head coach!
UGA24-7
October 30th, 2012
3:49 pm
I was looking for video of Shawn Williams taking that guy out when I found the article. Anybody seen a replay of it anywhere?
No Bozos
October 30th, 2012
3:50 pm
Bobo as his OC. Mr. Newton as paymaster. .
SSIgator
October 30th, 2012
4:08 pm
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville -
Wow, looks like you have your hands full. Between AltamahaDawg and his friend Nancy, you will be lucky to get a word in edgewise. But on the other hand, since they know all there is to know about UGA and football in general, why would you even bother? Probably best to just sit cross-legged on the floor before them on a yoga mat in the Kool-Aid Temple and chant every now and then.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
4:13 pm
SSIgator
Yea It seems I know nothing about football when I question a coaches ability to coach when that coach has only beaten 1 top 20 team in 4 yrs
SSIgator
October 30th, 2012
4:22 pm
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville -
Didn’t you get the message? After nearly a quarter of a century, UGA finally beat the Gators two years in a row. Congrats to the players for somehow finding a way to get it done because if it had been left up to St. Markus Rectumus and his over-paid assistants it probably would not have happened.
As Bill’s article states “Welcome to the New Normal” which translated means: every once in a while Murray will turn the ball over fewer times than his opponent and the coaching staff will claim victory in spite of their ineptness. So I guess all is right in the UGA football universe. Right?
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
October 30th, 2012
4:26 pm
Evidently so
I mean Im glad we beat FL but we did it looking terrible on offense and as I stated earlier
Richt never fields a team that plays good ball on both offense and defense in the same game and thats why he will not take this program to the next level
SSIgator
October 30th, 2012
4:28 pm
Hi Nancy. Even though you were a no-show at our tailgate this year you are welcome to join us next year.
DocDawg
October 30th, 2012
4:48 pm
Live on SSI, didn`t see many gator flags or T`s around from Thurs thru Sat this year, beach was Packed though which my boys caught on camera, no gator kites, but we`re ok with Fl fans joining festivities, makes it fun. They have Fernandina though to congregate, cool place. The SSIgator is indeed in absentia of late, but no doubt will return. Personally glad Fl has had a good year, knocked the evil genius out of it which is fine by me, hated to see M Lattimore hurt again, great young man and player, all the best to his recuperation!!
DawgInLex
October 30th, 2012
5:46 pm
SSI
You are welcome to go jump off the bridge into the St John’s River
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 30th, 2012
7:49 pm
The Tech fans have nothing else to do but become “fake” disgruntled UGA fans now.LOL
Pago Pago DAWG
October 30th, 2012
11:07 pm
Somebody told us that paul finebaum was a carpetbagger.
Sure would be nice if UGA had a backup qb ( not the redshirt) with Some playing time!!!! So we assume the kid from NC is a bust?
gordonguy1969
October 31st, 2012
7:58 am
I’m just stunned at the sheer immensity of the number of unemployed head coaches that shows up on this blog. Why, if UGA (or any school) hired them, there would never be another loss in the history of the school. All recruiting would go perfectly. All plays would be the perfect play, and there would never, ever, ever be another penalty. Oh, and UGA would win the BCS every year.
Unfortunately, there’s this thing called “reality”…..
dale
October 31st, 2012
9:13 am
SI, if Murray is inept, what does that make Florida?
DawgInLex
October 31st, 2012
9:17 am
The wimp SSI tattles on me to the mods yet gets to continue posting her retarded drivel
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THIS IS WHY THE AJC BLOGS ARE THE BIGGEST RUNNING JOKE IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE
No one has the guts to do anything about it.
dale
October 31st, 2012
9:33 am
besides a team with fans that are sore losers.
SSIgator
October 31st, 2012
10:26 am
Nancy, I never did any such thing, but maybe if you calmed down a little before you post you would not be inclined to write some of the profane things that you do. Maybe you should sign up for an anger management course. I am sure there is probably a school in Lexington that offers one. At least then you would probably be less stressed. Relax darlin’ – it is only college football.
DawgInLex
October 31st, 2012
1:04 pm
SSI
Why don’t you go somewhere else ma’am?
Richt owns Muschamp
Now go get your boyfriend to make you another salad
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
October 31st, 2012
1:24 pm
Hey SSI, you want to sign the petition?
shamsher
November 4th, 2012
3:07 am
nice infor mation