In a fight to the finish, Georgia shows it can punch back
Whoosh! Branden Smith scores on an end-around. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Athens — We learned something about these Bulldogs on Saturday night. We learned that they might not be as gifted or as polished as vintage Georgia teams, but we learned that they still have Bulldog-sized hearts.
Yes, they played better — at least on offense and on special teams — than they had in Stillwater, but the revelation was that they played infinitely harder. They could never quite shake South Carolina, but if not for their resolve they wouldn’t have exited with a careening victory. They’d have left 0-2.
And an 0-2 Georgia team would have touched off a hue and cry unlike any raised since Mark Richt came north from Tallahassee. We know from the week just past that even one loss is enough to set off Bulldog Nation. (”Bench Joe Cox!” “Fire Mike Bobo!” “Hire Jon Gruden!”) A second loss so soon into the 2009 season would brought the even bigger heat. And there were long and scary moments when a second loss seemed a distinct possibility.
They trailed 17-7 early, and if not for a Brandon Boykin kickoff return it would have been worse. Then they squandered 14 points off a 15-point lead by snapping the ball out of the end zone and by throwing the ball to the outrageously talented Acworthian Eric Norwood, who plays for South Carolina, and inside the final minute there was no assurance 0-1 wouldn’t become 0-2.
It was 41-37 with 6:13 left when Carolina took the ball, and within every Bulldog fan’s mind danced something other than sugarplums. Georgia would have to bank on its defense to halt somebody with the game on the line, and we all know what Georgia fans think of their defense and its coordinator. But this time the men of Willie Martinez made their stand.
Inside the Georgia 10-yard-line, inside the final 30 seconds, Carolina throwing for the end zone, and the men of Martinez held up their end. Stephen Garcia’s final two passes fell incomplete, neither of them great throws, but neither were directed toward a receiver left unencumbered. The indomitable Rennie Curran foiled the last throw, and in the end nothing much mattered except the rather astonishing score:
Georgia 41, South Carolina 37.
Loading ...Joe Cox, the quarterback deemed insufficient to requirements by some among his constituency, had a nice enough game except for one regrettable interception. He kept Georgia moving after it fell behind early, and when it was 38-23 Cox seemed to have put the Gamecocks away. But then a bad snap became a safety, and then there came a field goal, and then Norwood’s interception return for a touchdown, and suddenly it was tied.
Except it wasn’t. DeAngelo Tyson, a sophomore defensive end from Statesboro, blocked the automatic PAT, and Georgia still held the skinniest of leads. That’s the kind of play a defensive end doesn’t figure to make, a quick turnaround after the opposing D has just scored, but Tyson threw up his hand and kept the Bulldogs in front by being, not to put too fine a point on it, a bulldog.
And that’s what Georgia fans could and should take from this one. This isn’t a great team by any measure, but it was never going to be. What was troubling about falling to 0-1 was how readily the Bulldogs succumbed to Oklahoma State (which just lost to Houston — yikes). What we needed to see this night wasn’t if Georgia was the nation’s most gifted assemblage — it isn’t — but if it still can play the full-tilt brand of football that made this program famous.
It took a while, both literally and figuratively in a game that lasted four hours, but we have our answer. There’s still fight in these Dawgs. These 1-1 Dawgs.
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539 comments Add your comment
Sisters of the Weak
September 13th, 2009
10:38 am
Wow we are very proud that our newest member in UGA lived up to its billing in that Classic match up last night. We are so excited about another divisional match up in the coming weeks. UGA at Vandy should be fabulous and interesting.
Dog Nation
September 13th, 2009
10:39 am
Our defense sucks. Repeat – SUCKS!!!!!!
Haterz
September 13th, 2009
10:41 am
Exciting game…I’m glad we won, but fellow fans, like Bradley said, what happened to, “Just win”?
I swear most of the people on this board, the few that aren’t creepy, trolling, Tech and Florida fans, would post complaints about any victory.
Bottom line, we aren’t perfect. We don’t have Tebow at QB. We don’t have USC’s talent pool. I’m tired of haterz blasting UGA after a win. Go root for another team if you want.
We won. Be happy. Enjoy it. It’s a good feeling. GOOOOO DAWGS!
jaglaw
September 13th, 2009
10:41 am
NEWS FLASH….. Uga safety, Jones has just made his 7th personal foul in 7 games.( actually its more, because he has had multiple fouls in some games…great discipline)
azdawg
September 13th, 2009
10:42 am
Those of you that are calling for Cox’s head, LAY OFF! He had a lot better game than the week before. He made some mistakes but only one could be called brainless, the downing call. His INT was a great read by an all american LB and his fumble resulted from a blind side hit. He made the plays when he had to especially the TD to Green. Its not his fault the game was close. HE DOESN”T PLAY DEFENSE!! If you want to lay blame look no further than the DC.
To Mark Bradley. I’m very curious to what your column would have read had SC scored the winning TD in the final seconds. What would be your opinion of the Defensive strategy then? You’re right on one point. Recruiting is over rated. GA won this game on heart not talent.
41 38 49 38 45 24 37
September 13th, 2009
10:43 am
Willie couldnt stop Georgia State last night. Defense hasnt improved at all and Okie State was a joke that all of these blind homers refused to believe. Sure was a real quiet Sanford Stadium when the Houston – Okie State score was announced!
meansonny
September 13th, 2009
10:45 am
Buford Dawg,
Their leading rusher (117 yards) was their QB.
Their QB threw for 313 yards. But his average per attempt was 5.9. He also threw an INT. Not very efficient.
The defense executed the gameplan almost as well as could have been expected. There were plenty of missed tackles on some rushes that extended drives (many of those were on Garcia’s scrambles). But we avoided the big play pretty well.
When the opponent’s leading rusher is the QB on busted pass plays… you’re doing all right (those were often our blitz packages or the few times we threw man2man coverage out there).
Obviously… it will only get tougher as we face better opponents. Especially ones with QB’s known for their mobility and speed. But I’m looking for improvement week to week. And the ‘W’ of course.
Go Dawgs!
Haterz
September 13th, 2009
10:50 am
Jaded Jacket… why are you here. Ha ha…we won…that must really bother you.
jaglaw….CMR coached us to a win… what more do you want? 10 point wins, 20 point wins, 30 point wins?
Dog Nation…yet we still won. So why are you so upset. Do you care more about defensive stats than the W?
Seriously, except for the Tech fans on this board, who are just pathetic losers – go back to you Mommy’s basement – I don’t understand the teeth-gnashing after a win. Complain all you want after a loss, but enjoy the win dudes. We won. GOOOO DAWGS!!!
Jaydaque
September 13th, 2009
10:51 am
Where is Marlon Brown, why are we not playing him? Two top wideouts (
Green and Brown) along with Samuels running hard and Charles in the middle, where is the problem regarless of Cox as far as the Offense goes?
Bored of the Go-Dawg Nation
September 13th, 2009
10:55 am
Giving up more than 10 points to SC is very concerning. You are talking about a Carolina team that will do well to cross midfield in most of their games. No one celebrates mediocrity like the Dawgs. Your season ended with that egg you laid in Stillwater. Speaking of…Houston? Really? Have fun at the Motor City Bowl.
U Idiots
September 13th, 2009
10:57 am
I have been a GA fan all of my life. A win is a win, but to those of you who say we got homecookin’. Every penalty called against the Gamecocks was legit. If you understand football, you would know that. We have a long way to go, but every game is different. No offense against OSU, but plenty agains the Chickens. Enjoy the win.
Haterz
September 13th, 2009
11:00 am
Bored of the Go-Dawg Nation…
So why are you here…posting….wasting your time?
shards1967
September 13th, 2009
11:01 am
This game perfectly portrays the future ( 2009 ) for the Dawgs. To me, they do look like the old Frosh teams that played on Turkey Day vs. jackets years ago. Ragged we are like a frosh team. Now? They are just a very ragged, POOR SEC quality team with no defense.
The ONE pic that we got was actually great, as the young man ( Boykin? ) for UGA JUMPED UP with his eyes on the ball, to catch it. Evans and Jones #9, have no ability to do that or in fact, cover even an average flanker. They stink. They prefer to do late hits or cheap shots …………thugs.
We will win 5 or 6 games …………and all games LSU and Florida are toss ups.
If we are “lucky”we are in the mighty Weedeater Bowl in Shreveport vs. Oklahoma State, both at 6-6. We are perfect for each other. Where is the 5th year GREAT LEADER QB???? he has no talent and looked DUMB for hitting Norwood. Dumb he is. 5 years and he does that ?????
Not cognitive of D over the field of vision. Horrible is Jumpim Joe Cox. Joe The Plumber.
Changes must take place or 2010 will be exact replica of this ugly season.
Harry Dawg!!!
steve medors
September 13th, 2009
11:02 am
Arkansas is a lot better then the SEC realizes. I am not saying Arkansas will win but I can assure you they have more weapons than the Gamecocks.
Good luck in Fayetteville
chris in athens
September 13th, 2009
11:07 am
BigJDawg, I am with you man, why is everone elso so dang negative, WE WON. Here is the funny thing that is sickening, jaglaw in your posts you use the words “we” and “us” when talking about the team. Are YOU on the team?? If not then there should be no “we” and “us” and everone on this blog who is not employed at UGA to coach football or if you do not donate millions to the program should shut up and let the coaches do their jobs!! We DO NOT HAVE THE DE’s to get a pash rush and that ALONE is our only problem on defense!! With a pash rush we would be incredible!!
Haterz
September 13th, 2009
11:08 am
Shards1967
This just in…we won.
Kevin
September 13th, 2009
11:10 am
I thought coach said he was going to use Marlon Brown this week?
Haterz
September 13th, 2009
11:12 am
Besides the WIN…our special teams units looked pretty good. Besides the poor snap on the punt, which was pretty painful, the kick returns and blocked PAT were encouraging. I think it is fair to say that special teams played a large role in our WIN.
jaglaw
September 13th, 2009
11:17 am
HaterZ….i am not concerned over the number of points we win by, its that pathetic DC we have giving up another 30 point game. did you read the article comparing defenses when van gorder was here? yes i know, we dont have van gorder, but we can find someone better than martinez. take time to read my post….the shot wasnt at CMR, it was at CWM.
Jeb
September 13th, 2009
11:20 am
I have no problem with Joe Cox starting and playing most of the game but I am curious about one thing.
Is Florida playing Tebow the entire game or are they getting their young QB, Brantley I think, some quality time playing? I haven’t followed the Gators other than knowing the blowout scores they put up against the JV teams they have played the past 2 weeks but I bet the young QB got some time.
We need to do the same with our young QB’s. Maybe just a series, mayby more. I do know that one handoff per game will not prepare anyone for next year.
Yes we did win the game and I’m glad. People do have the right to voice their concern about the lack of Defense on the team. If they continue to bend, bend, bend and give up 30 plus points, we know it’s gonna be a disapointing year. Improvement is a must on D but I am happy with the win.
jaglaw
September 13th, 2009
11:22 am
Haterz, i am not the only person who thinks marinez needs to go.
Martinez will be the most valuable coach for tech, uf, lsu, etc, but not for UGA.
Johnny Test
September 13th, 2009
11:23 am
MIKE the Military Vetern. Mike, I am just a guy with an opinion like all the rest of the folks on here. I don’t obsess on wins and losses, I move on. You should too.
jaglaw
September 13th, 2009
11:26 am
jeb, the florida back up did get playing time…his stats and his rating is higher than cox’s. he through for at least 2 td, then i turned the channel. of course he was playing small schools, but the fact is, he will be ready next year, and our qb wont.
chuck
September 13th, 2009
11:29 am
The definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over, and expecting a different result. That is Georgia, and until they make some changes especially on defense (coach) that is the way it will be.
Haterz
September 13th, 2009
11:31 am
jaglaw….
Should have read your posts more carefully. My bad. I too would rather have van gorder than martinez, but I’m still happy about the win.
And I don’t think our D is “pathetic.” You bring up some good points about VG vs WM, I just don’t think it’s as bad as you state. We’ll see, maybe we’ll go 5-6 and our D will be awful or maybe we’ll win 10 games again.
Indydawg
September 13th, 2009
11:32 am
Dawg fans, don’t get sucked into Mark Bradley’s kool aid.
This may be the worst coached team in the SEC. Undercoached kids bail us out everytime.
Pretty simple to me, if no one wants your offensive and defensive coordinator, they must not be very good.
bank walker
September 13th, 2009
11:35 am
Dawg fan here; I always try to be optimistic, but reality has now set in. We have a horrid defense, that will not get any better. Willie did not make any adjustments, and allowed the same ol’ 8 yard underneath passes all night long. We will never win any game of merit with a defense like this. I am tired of watching our beloved program slip back to Goff days, but we are headed there fast. Some thing has to be done, NOW!
td_dawg
September 13th, 2009
11:50 am
glad sanford isn’t filled with some of the people commenting on here….would’ve been booed off the field after the win. I agree there are concerns that need to be addressed, but this is the second game of the season, 1st SEC contest so let’s not go berserk. We have a lot of young talent that put up 41 points in a SCar game…Staff/Knowshon never did that for us. We won this week, now it is time to focus on adjustments/improvements and the next game. Maybe we do go on and win more than predicted by the “experts”. Lofty, i agree, but ANY GIVEN SATURDAY still applies. Be a Fan, Let them play, nobody is forcing you to watch. GO DAWGS!!!!
wreckmaniac
September 13th, 2009
11:56 am
The dawgs proved again that they couldn’t stop a herd of turtles but
Cox was sensational. What Richt should do is what he should have done
last year and that is give some snaps to each of next year’s candidates for the QB job but he continues to do what he did last year and that is pretend that Stafford was going to be in Athens the rest of his life. Cox has earned the job. There are many ways to prepare for next year but CMR clearly dosen’t believe in any of them.
Freddie G
September 13th, 2009
12:01 pm
I told you Dawg Fans that Joe Cox would be OK and he was. I thought he played well except for that interception to Norwood. I can understand the feeling of some fans to play one of the other QB’s but that seems so difficult for CMR to do, and I fully understand. Imagine waiting for 4 years showing that type loyalty, and then bypassed a second time and this time for a QB nothing close to the caliber of Stafford.
I am not sure of the talent on Defense, they still lack a pass rush. However they were put in some awful positions yesterday by the offense and special team. It seems that Bobo cannot stand success, as he strays from what is working repeatedly, resulying in some three and out, and putting the defence back on the field. I felt better about Samuel yesterday, but Bobo needs to realize that he is a north south runner, between the tackels and use him that way.
Good luck with the Hogs, but D will have to play better. Go Dawgs.
coach smith
September 13th, 2009
12:04 pm
Jeb
It doesn’t matter if the defense holds a team to 3 and out if their own offense is back off the field in 2 plays (turnover), 1 play (kick return), 1 play (kickoff fumble)
and each time that happens the more tired you get and the harder it is to get a 3 and out
please understand football before commenting
wreckmaniac
September 13th, 2009
12:05 pm
BugKiller: USC reloads every year. UGA reorganizes
Georgia Grad
September 13th, 2009
12:06 pm
How can anyone attack Cox after that win? This is going to be a good team. There is not the ususal sense of entitlement and self-centered posturing that has characterized Richt’s teams of the past.
Dippity
September 13th, 2009
12:07 pm
Georgia won the game, but they didn’t beat SC. SC beat SC. Two TDs called back; Garcia could have scored keeping the ball on the last play. Dogs got lucky. But better to be lucky than good.
Agree
September 13th, 2009
12:12 pm
If the Gamecocks had played better mentally, they would probably have put up 60 plus points on the Dawgs. There were several breakdowns in the red zone where they had to settle for 3. Those plus the 2 TDs called back plus the 37 points they DID get, and whaddya know? 60+
wreckmaniac
September 13th, 2009
12:15 pm
Bugkiller: Stop making a fool of yourself. Comparing USC to UGA is like
comparing the German army to the Polish army in 1940.
coach smith
September 13th, 2009
12:18 pm
The lack of football knowledge by sooooooo many posters is SCARY
Anyone calling for RICHT’s head is the absolute LUNATIC FRINGE that gives football fans a bad name (that goes for Saint Simons too b/c I’m sure his stupidity does not reflect all tech fans)
Georgia is consistantly a TOP 10 program with top 5 recruiting classes and is in the mix every year for SEC Championships and National Titles
So many of you (most who live in mommy’s basement) are so obssesed with the NC
well let me tell you…the getting to the NC game is about a lot of LUCK
Look: LSU lost their last game (2 losses overall) and made it because of the rest of the teams that year
meantime in 2002 UGA lost one game by one TD and didn’t make it becasue there were 2 undefeated teams from weaker conferences….the NC game is about LUCK
What is NOT LUCK is being a consistantly ELITE PROGRAM…and thanks to Richt…GEORGIA IS!!!!!!!!!!
truefan
September 13th, 2009
12:21 pm
jag why don’t you go route for usc or fla your no coach and a piss poor fan
truefan
September 13th, 2009
12:23 pm
take chuck and these other dawg haters with you
Dawg Fan 4 Life
September 13th, 2009
12:29 pm
Mark, good column sir. You’re right on the money. This is a very young team and they are gonna make mistakes but they showed a lot of heart down to the very last play. UGA won and some of the “so-called fans” are still calling for CMR’s head? You people are ridiculous! Anyone with any sense knew that this was gonna be a tough season. To me, they played a lot better than in week 1.
Jason
September 13th, 2009
12:30 pm
61 points in two games? 6 turnovers in two games? Wow! We lost our first game to a team that got beat by Houston. We barely beat a team that last week could only score 7 points against an awful North Carolina State team.
Anyone else losing patience?
Dawgs73
September 13th, 2009
12:32 pm
Ok, I think that we all agree that we would much rather have a “W” as opposed to an “L”, but the same theme remains with this coaching staff/team…penalties, turnovers, and NO ADJUSTMENTS ON DEFENSE. I can live with a tough nosed win against a quaility opponent, but I can’t live accept the lack of any improvement on the above mentioned miscues. What is it going to take for this coaching staff to instill the type of discipline this team sorely lacks? How does anyone explain this type of sloppy play in almost EVERY GAME???
Now to the defense…WTH kinda of a performance was that last night? Are we going to buy into “South Carolina is one of the more explosive offenses in the SEC” or are we going to pin this on the responsible party…WILLIE MARTINEZ. There is NO EXCUSE for this passively soft zone defense against a team (USC) that just scored SEVEN points against NC STATE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I have stated before and I will state it again, WE NEED A CHANGE AT THE DC POSITION. This team has had Top ten recruiting classes for the past 4 to five years, and yet still we have this BOZO as our coordinator.
Dawgs73
September 13th, 2009
12:34 pm
coach smith –
“well let me tell you…the getting to the NC game is about a lot of LUCK”
Truly great posts…I was wondering where you were born…oh, HOMERSVILLE. On the flip side, LOSERS like you, that’s right, LOSERS like you are the reason CMR takes ZERO heat and is our glorified leader. You are not willing to see the fault within UGA’s program and willing to ACCEPT (which in football or in life) is a LOSER’s mentality. If you are an OBJECTIVE fan, you will root like he!! for your team and not ACCEPT anything but the best. We should all be motivated by one thing, BEING THE BEST…that goes for fans, players, coaches. If you honestly believe the crap your writing then I guess living in “mommy basement” would be ACCEPTABLE by your standards
71 DAWG
September 13th, 2009
12:38 pm
Since I can see that most of the posted messages here were written on the 12th I can be fairly sure that you people didn’t actually attend this game, probably most of you have never been to a game in Athens. That makes you really close kin to almost all the Tech fans because we all know they have never been to a game! Most of you probably never played a down of football in your lives because you seem to have no understanding at all about how the game is played yet you all seem to think you know all about coaching. Get real!
UGA IV
September 13th, 2009
12:39 pm
The tradition and the power that is Houston might be better than UGA this year.
Dawg Fan 4 Life
September 13th, 2009
12:42 pm
Good article Mark. Right on the money! They just need to keep getting better each week. To me, they showed a lot of heart last night.
Dawg Fan
September 13th, 2009
12:42 pm
Enter your comments here
Dawg Fan
September 13th, 2009
12:43 pm
Good article Mark, right on the money.
Shane
September 13th, 2009
12:49 pm
Couldnt have said it better Coach Smith.
Problem is the Football IQ on here isnt very high. Some people just dont get it.
Hey thats life I guess.
TampaGator
September 13th, 2009
1:03 pm
Caught the end of the Georgia game and I was surprised by the score. Georgia’s offense must have shown a major improvement over the previous week, and the defense must have flopped for some reason. And I know Troy is not a powerhouse, but they moved the ball up and down the field on a fairly good Bowling Green team that just lost to Missouri last night. Troy could not move the ball at all against the Gator first team, second team, or third team defense. The Gators are loaded on that side of the ball…big time. The offense is starting to gel as well. Look out for Deonte Thompson and Omaris Hines as big time receivers this year. Rile Cooper and Aaron Hernandez already are. Demps and Raines can flat out run, too. I know it can happen, but I don’t see any college team that can beat the Gators this year unless the Gators sustain a bunch of injuries. And, again, John Brantley is the real deal folks. I heard that the network announcers for the game said he is the third best QB in the SEC right now, behind only Tebow and Snead.