Highs (and lows) from a Saturday win Between the Hedges
Damian Swann recovers one of the two fumbles he grabbed Saturday. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
A few more thoughts and observations following Georgia’s come-from-behind blowout of Ole Miss. …
What was really impressive about Aaron Murray’s play against the Rebels was the way he maintained his composure in the midst of those five early sacks. I think I only saw him make one really bad pass all day, when he overthrew Chris Conley. And his touchdown passes were all literally “SportsCenter” highlight material, particularly the laser shot that a scrambling Murray zipped to Tavarres King to put Georgia ahead at the end of the first half. …
In addition to the standouts I mentioned Saturday night — Murray, the Ogletree twins and Todd Gurley — several Dogs deserve special mention for their efforts against the Rebels. Cornerback Damian Swann had two fumble recoveries, a sack, broke up a pass and made three tackles. He’s developed quite a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Replacement defensive end Garrison Smith is really coming on strong. He had seven tackles and a sack Saturday. Conley continues to be a good possession receiver, making a couple of first-down catches. I’m surprised he hasn’t gotten the ball more often. And punter Collin Barber also is developing nicely. He averaged 48.2 yards on his kicks Saturday, with his best one being a 60-yard boomer. …
With Georgia sitting on the Ole Miss 8-yard line and facing third-and-2, I thought to myself, “Too bad we never give it to the fullback any more. This would be a great place to do it.” And then Mike Bobo did exactly that and Zander Ogletree got himself a touchdown. I’m hoping that’s a sign the lost fullback page has been returned to Bobo’s playbook. …
While the Rooskie touchdown pass got all the attention, Georgia tried another trick play Saturday, with a quarterback throwback that took too long to develop and didn’t pan out. I wonder if they’ll work on that one and we’ll end up seeing it again. …
I really hate it that the season’s feel-good story — the long-awaited development of senior Marlon Brown as a go-to game-changing receiver — has ended with his ACL injury. Brown had turned into a reliable big man with great hands, and with Michael Bennett already out for the season, that’s going to be a major loss for the Dogs.
Yes, Georgia is pretty well-stocked at wide receiver and still has lethal weapons in King and Malcolm Mitchell, and Murray has been spreading the ball around quite a bit. But when the Dogs need someone to go up high in traffic, they’re probably going to have to rely on tight ends Artie Lynch and Jay Rome. Lynch caught one pass Saturday for 31 yards but has had a few drops this season, so the answer might be Rome, who caught three balls against Ole Miss. …
The officiating Saturday left a lot to be desired. The personal foul call on Shawn Williams was ridiculous since the Ole Miss ball carrier essentially ran into him out of bounds. And, as has been the case in other games this season, there appeared to be no concept among the officials of what constitutes offensive holding. …
It was also a rough day early on for the Georgia offensive line, especially freshman John Theus, but they adjusted nicely in the second half, which I’m sure Murray appreciated. …
Another aspect of Saturday’s game that left something to be desired was the crowd, which never really got all that noisy, even when the Rebels faced a third down. There also were some folks in the stands who were early to boo the Dogs, starting with a failure to convert a third-and-9 in the second quarter and then again in the last minute of the first half when back-to-back sacks were followed by Murray and Bobo mismanaging the clock (right before Murray threw that terrific last-ditch TD pass to King).
On top of the boo birds, the crowd started to trickle away almost as soon as the fourth quarter began, and once Georgia went ahead 37-10 with 8:29 left on the clock, the fans (particularly students) started streaming out of the stadium. I’ll never understand college football fans who don’t want to stick around for the post-game celebration of a big win. That’s one of the sweetest parts of the whole experience!
Georgia’s uninvolved home crowds are a big reason why Sanford Stadium isn’t nearly as intimidating a venue as it should be.
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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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146 comments Add your comment
Joey
November 5th, 2012
10:47 am
“…but Tech fans are proud of our heritage…”
****************************************
If you Tech fans are so “proud,” how come none of you go to your football games?
Another thing I bet all you Techies are proud of – that almost-decade-long matter of Major NCAA Probation.
SSIgator
November 5th, 2012
10:49 am
UGA football coaches – a conundrum wrapped in an enigma since 1980.
Joey
November 5th, 2012
10:49 am
And speaking of Tech, is anybody else more worried about our game with Ga Southern than the one with Tech?
DJ
November 5th, 2012
10:56 am
wine and cheese baby…..we’ll never change. you get a game here or there that moves the meter with the fans but for the most part, there’s just more important things to the average georgia guy than sitting in the stands going nuts cheering for four hours.
Tired of the hand sitters
November 5th, 2012
11:13 am
Im tired of fans leaving early too. Im tired of South Carolina, Clemson and LSU being a more intimidating venue than Sanford Stadium. In big games the passionate fans are going to and need to stand the entire game.The ole hand sitters need to stay at the old folks home and watch the game on the big screen.Our students are pathetic in leaving early too. We need a culture change in Athens!
always predictable
November 5th, 2012
11:26 am
YOU know GT is getting abused when ther silly savage, candy man and come on the UGA blos to talk SAT scores. Sad.
Me? UGA History major. Retired quite nicely at 57, from Corporate America. Now 64. UGA did well by me AND we have a top 5 football program. WHAT is not to love???
Go Dogs!!!
DJ
November 5th, 2012
11:26 am
1.)south ga people want to get home at a decent hour.
2.)atl people want to get a jump on 316 traffic and half of them are transplants anyway
3.)students are either so hungover from friday or so anxious to get on with it sat that they get bored.
we dont have enough Harvey Updykes in our fan base
Joey
November 5th, 2012
11:29 am
“Just know that we Gators will be rooting against you, and laughing our tails off if you blow this rare opportunity.”
****************************************
The Gator, just so I understand you, you Gators are sneering at UGA for possibly backing into a SEC Title.
And at the same time, hoping that the Gators back into a SEC Title if UGA blows it?
That’s interesting.
drew
November 5th, 2012
11:35 am
students are very drunk before the game and then because the student section is directly in the hot sun for the whole game, they get dehydrated and leave once its in hand to go downtown
ARdawg
November 5th, 2012
11:40 am
Joey
I don’t know how much of that “backing into” the East title pertains to the Dawgs this year. If SC and FL both had 1 or 2 as did UGA, then yeah maybe that is backing in. But, to be tied at one loss with the team you’ve beaten shouldn’t be considered backing in. Let the detractors and GT trolls say what they wish. Tied with FL with one loss and we beat them is not backing in IMHO
Desert Fox
November 5th, 2012
11:43 am
I was at the GA-ASU game in ‘08, in Tempe, AZ. Almost half the stadium was filled w/GA fans. A lot of us, both ASU and GA fans were standing but no one was complaining because in that stadium the seating levels are a good 18″ or so high so no one behind has their view blocked if you’re standing. After that win CMR made a lap of the stadium thanking the seas of red while ASU fans quickly filed out. May not be that way in Sanford Stadium since its older but if folks want to stand and cheer their team just deal w/it! And if they boo thats their business and who’s to say that booing doesn’t get the coaches and players more involved to correct whatever the hell they’re doing wrong. I’ll bet the AL fans at home games don’t boo their team because when they show up they come to play and are prepared unlike the dawgs that rarely play to their potential especially at the start of games. I’m glad the dawgs won and hope they continue to win but do it in a fashion thats expected of a team ranked #5 in the nation. Folks get tired of under achieving players and coaches and you wonder why they boo? Come on man!!
Rusty Hardin
November 5th, 2012
11:45 am
Bill, I am so tired of the student bashing in all if these blogs. I have two girls at UGA and both love football. My wife and I graduated from UGA, and my younger brother. Someone should have considered the consequences of forcing most all of the fraternity houses so far from Sanford Stadium. In my time these were the gathering places for students and were close enough to enjoy without being late to games or leaving early. These kids have to tailgate far from the stadium and deal with the red solo cup patrol. Don’t even get me started on the stupid student ticket process. Total waste of energy there. Make it friendlier around the stadium for the and make their tickets mobile, then bash them if they really deserve it. By the way, it breaks my heart to hear our fans booing the Dawgs, there is never an excuse for that
The Other Lake Dawg
November 5th, 2012
11:49 am
The first sack was not Theus’ fault, it was Gurley’s. Iinstead of backing up Theus’ block, Gurley came all the way up on the tackle’s right shoulder, so when the DE started around to Theus’ right, Theus couldn’t slide over and make the block.
WDE
November 5th, 2012
11:58 am
Man are the trolls going to completely come unglued if we beat Auburn.The wailing and gashing of teeth going on now is epic and I can’t wait to hear it when they are completely unhinged ! Go Dogs !
Natureboy809
November 5th, 2012
12:03 pm
I don’t know if anyone mentioned it or not yet, but people left early to see Alabama-LSU at 8 PM.
AltamahaDawg
November 5th, 2012
12:04 pm
Its always fun to read the occational debate about how terrible georgia fans are at games. Very predictable are these arguments:
1.I was at the game and people were telling me to sit down and be quiet.——I have never one time ever saw a person told to stop yelling at a game. I guess it’s possible found the one section where team support is frowned upon, but more likely you were just being rude and doing that dumb, turn around and fuss at the guys behind you becasue they aren’t doing it the way you insist, and got what you deserved.
2. I went to the huge game at XYZ stadium, when they were playing Georgia in a HUGE game, and I remember how noisy they were. …..hmmm….sort of like how we were when they were here in the HUGE game in Athen? And did you go back to that XYZ stadium the next week when they played an Ol Miss type?
3. I’m tired of our fans being exactly who they are. ……………OK your choices are what?
dawgfacedboy
November 5th, 2012
12:16 pm
“Nkemdiche, who didn’t get a scholarship offer from Georgia and said the game was “extremely personal” to him.”
Ummmmm he wasn’t offered a scholarship because he couldn’t qualify academically. Richt also put in a word for him at a smaller school to help the kid out. Not sure why it is so “personal” for him. As if he was “disrespected” or something.
AltamahaDawg
November 5th, 2012
12:17 pm
The most obvious flaw in that theory that booing serves some constructive purpose is that the PLAYERS hear the boos, as well. And they aren’t sitting there telling each other.”Aw It’s ok, they just want the coaches to run more this or that”. They are sitting there thinking……..”we’re out here busting our tails and these SOBs are booing us?”
Tired of the hand sitters
November 5th, 2012
12:18 pm
People complaining about heat wow… ever been to the hot arm pit of South Carolina called Columbia? Those fans , students are standing the entire game with sandstorm blaring and waving their white hankies the whole time in games. Its our fans that have become soft instead of our football team. LSU and Clemson students are always there early and late during the games no matter who they play. Their fans are loud and proud. We have nothing but a bunch of prudes. Our Coaches ad players look like deer caught in head lights at the South Carolina game. We need this in Athens at every game!
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 5th, 2012
12:24 pm
Actually Ive seen booing actually help many times sway Richt into going for it and then watching the players get all excited that their Energy Vampire coaches are going for it
Upper Deck
November 5th, 2012
12:25 pm
AltamahaDawg, it happens at Stanford stadium. I’ve witnessed it several times in the upper deck, home side of the field. Are people being rude by standing up on 3rd downs?
Texas Dawg
November 5th, 2012
12:25 pm
Concerning the comments about the fan participation. I haven’t been to a game in Athens in years. In fact even when I attended UGA, spent most of my time on the “Tracks”. Really had a great time there… but that’s another story.
So my comments are based on what I’ve seen and heard from televised games, plus some recent attended games here in TX.
There does seem to be something lacking… Three things come to mind.
1. Stadium wide cheers; Aside from “Georgia – Bulldog” there don’t appear to be many… I’ve noticed that other venues/fans have all sorts of cheers, white towels, etc. and have you ever been to a Texas AM game. Everyone, and I mean everyone is involved in the “Yells”. Plus it is almost annoyingly loud. Tremendous school spirit there.
2. Redcoat band. Don’t get me wrong, I love the band. But their music (during the game) is terrible (IMO). Same thing played over and over and over. That threatening ominous tune is fine at times, but how bout mixing it up? Anybody remember James Brown performances?
3. Televised games. Sadly I doubt much can be done about this. The live game experience is pretty much ruined by the long pauses in action. I was at a UT game a few weeks ago, and honestly I don’t think the games are nearly as much fun as they used to be…
So maybe it’s just me, but I do think we can do better. Be creative, try out NEW things and keep trying until something sticks…Then a new tradition is born.
traffic hater
November 5th, 2012
12:26 pm
Top Row Dog is absolutely right . . . there is NO NEED to stand the entire freaking game. It didn’t used to be that way, and the games were FAR more enjoyable.
Another reason people leave early, when the game is well in hand, is when it’s a late game and nobody wants to get stuck in Athens with 94,000 people hitting the road simultaneously.
Tired of the hand sitters
November 5th, 2012
12:28 pm
“They are sitting there thinking……..”we’re out here busting our tails and these SOBs are booing us?” Umm yeah Busting their tails for poor play and execution which should be booed.
dawgfacedboy
November 5th, 2012
12:31 pm
A collective group of people boo for a reason. This isnt’ high school where the vast majority of people in attendance are family, friends, and community members. A series of bad plays, or bad effort, etc. deserves a boo. Stop being oversensitive to their self esteem. If they play well you cheer, if they look unprepared, clueless, poor effort, poor execution, etc. you boo. You don’t continue to clap and say “good try everybody, we’ll give it another go next time”. Again, stop being oversensitive to their self-esteem. Expect excellence not “close enough”.
zbulldawg
November 5th, 2012
12:33 pm
Not to worry !! Conley & Wooten will just step up & keep it going. We will miss Brown & his blocking & leadership skills. I hate that Marlow has worked so hard to get to this point. He will be a steal for some NFL team. LET THE BIG DAWG EAT. To all you WR recruits if you want to play early & often you need to come be a part of this DREAM TEAM. It WILL be alotta fun with the running game we have. And don’t for get about the QB’s & this PRO style offense !! GETUSUM
AltamahaDawg
November 5th, 2012
12:37 pm
And justifying it, makes it no less classless. The argument that booing is called for, have ZERO to do with the under/over acheivement of particual players or coaches. The point is that grown ups with any small degree of rational thought, understand that not only is it a totally unbecoming of the fanbase, but its also counter-productive at the time.
In short, booing at the Ole Miss game was 100% about the person doing it, not somebody else.
zbulldawg
November 5th, 2012
12:39 pm
Oh Yea that young man that everybody is talking about that picked UT over us ! I bet he wish he could change his mind now. Yes UT scores alot of points but they can’t beat anyone like that in the SEC. And poor ole Dooley is going to get booted before he can build a defense What a shame !!!
AceDawg
November 5th, 2012
12:43 pm
The state of Georgia for some reason seems to have more mild fans. Sure they are quite loud in the Georgia Dome for Falcons games and for big UGA games, but in totality they are a casual bunch that don’t pack the stands when a team has even turned to mediocre. Consider the Braves, Hawks, deceased Thrashers, Falcons when they struggle, Georgia Tech, etc. I guess Georgia is a better place to live than many others and people enjoying getting to the bars and/or getting home. Maybe that is all there is to it.
AltamahaDawg
November 5th, 2012
12:46 pm
Nope, standing on 3rd down is not rude. I do all the time, and not one time has anybody been offended. I’ve sat in just about every section there is too.
Now, Do I stand every single 3rd down, irrespective of the situation, or the mood/timing of the game, and blattently dare anybody behind me to say something……..no. I take other paying fans around me into consideration.
If that isnt good enough,(as you seem to think isn;t in some cases) I’d just go about my business and not worry about them.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 5th, 2012
12:49 pm
Poor players and coaches getting booed
Im sure their self esteem will be destroyed and they will have to seek counseling for the rest of their life
I mean we all know in the in the real working world when we dont do our jobs like we are supposed to, our boss gives us a warm Richt hug and says keep up the good work right????
Thank goodness we dont get threatened to be fired when arent doing our jobs a peak performance man Im glad of that
SSIgator
November 5th, 2012
12:55 pm
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville -
Funny comment by the Yoda of all things UGA football. He must irritate even the UGA fans at the home games if he is constantly having to move from one section to another. Who knows, maybe you will luck out and get to sit with him some day.
huh?
November 5th, 2012
12:57 pm
“Georgia Tech – win or lose – does so with honor and integrity”
You’ve got to be kidding !
Upper Deck
November 5th, 2012
12:59 pm
I agree with you that no one should “dare” anybody behind them to say something when they stand up. That is obnoxious. Those are not the situations I am referring to. We are on the same page here. My opinion has been molded by my experience with some, maybe a small subset of fans, that attend games at Sanford. I admit that it has only happened a couple of times, and I should really just let it go.
Tired of the hand sitters
November 5th, 2012
1:00 pm
Gee, as altamahadawg puts it, I think there should be proper fan participation awards given at the end of each and every ball game.
chiefdawg
November 5th, 2012
1:02 pm
I always stay around until the end of the game. being there to enjoy the victory at the end is “sweet.” However, I do believe that time and time again the crowd has been in the game only to have the team and coaches let them down.
The Stayer
November 5th, 2012
1:04 pm
I drive from Nashville to attend the games and I leave when the band leaves. I did the same when I lived in Reed Hall in ‘66.
Tired of the hand sitters
November 5th, 2012
1:07 pm
Remember too not to boo the refs on a bad call…. that is classless and also counter productive.Please be a hand sitter and sip altamaha’s kool aid.
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 5th, 2012
1:09 pm
SSIgator
Unfortunately Altamaha Dawg is not a season ticket holder and I wont be seing him there
But remember he is the ultimate UGA fan that when he speaks we all should listen an shut up even though he doesnt buy season tickets
AltamahaDawg
November 5th, 2012
1:12 pm
SSI and flat tire, just need to go ahead and get a room. It’s getting difficult to watch.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
November 5th, 2012
1:15 pm
@Patched Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
look, we’re all very sorry your gators won’t be playing in the SECCG this December, but there is no reason to get on here and talk trash to the team that beat you.
AltamahaDawg
November 5th, 2012
1:16 pm
Booing refs = booing our own player. Really?
Thank God for Reggie Ball
November 5th, 2012
1:18 pm
@Patched Tire
so you buy season tickets to come and boo and yell at players and coaches doing trying to do things you couldn’t dream of, yeah that’s a real UGA supporter right there, everybody kneel and honor his glorious stature
AltamahaDawg
November 5th, 2012
1:19 pm
Bingo!
Patched Tire On I-95 in Jacksonville
November 5th, 2012
1:29 pm
Thank God for Reggie Ball
1 Im a UGA fan
2 So when Richt cant go for it on 4th and inches inside the 10 yd line against powerhouse 10 time National Championship UCF in a meaningless bowl; Im supposed to sit there and be happy my coach is too chicken to go for it against a program that doesnt even stack up to UGA
Ok
but I guess you love mediocre UGA football
AltamahaDawg
November 5th, 2012
1:34 pm
Don’t forget that he gives his boss peak performance every day.
Joey
November 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
I wonder if we have a much lower % of students at games. Presumably students would be rowdier.
That could also be the reason for all that big income for the UGAAA.
gordonguy1969
November 5th, 2012
1:35 pm
Let me tell you something, with most of you guys on this blog the Dawgs could go 13-0 and win the National Championship in a blowout and you’d STILL find something to complain about. Of all things, you have to just harp and harp and harp on the fans. If I don’t stand up, it’s not because I’m not excited, that’s just me. All of this belly-aching is just that – belly-aching. The team is 8-1, if they win this weekend they’ll be going to the SEC Championship. Just enjoy the ride, for crying out loud.
North Georgia Fan
November 5th, 2012
1:37 pm
low SAT Scores –
Tech may have higher test scores for applicants but Tech also has the lowest athlete graduation rate in the ACC. In case you haven’t noticed, winning equates to big money for your athletic programs. Your recently departed AD understood this well.
Go ahead and require your higher test scores and continue to lose on the field and financially. Require an engineering degree to all fans who want to attend a Tech game while you are at it. Then you can really smug your way right out of college sports.
AltamahaDawg
November 5th, 2012
1:43 pm
Actually Joey, the students VS old alum argument has never been the issue. More student tickets would come from the most recent alumn to apply, so its not the old guys that would be affected. It’s the (most likely to be just as noisy(as current students) 20somehings that would be affected. And they would probabaly show up sooner and stay longer than the students.
Nobody tells the students that can’t be there, or not to be noisy, if they choose to.