UGA wins in Nashville; can it possibly win in Jacksonville?
Was what we saw Saturday a circling of the wagons? (Photo by Frederick Breedon IV)
Nashville – I’m going to say something, and you’re going to laugh. You’re going to laugh so hard you’ll make like Chipper Jones and pull an oblique muscle. And that’s OK. I’ll feel you’re laughing with me, not at me. (Sort of.) So here goes:
Georgia has the mighty Gators where they want them.
I know, I know. It sounds like the dumbest line I’ve ever written, which would make it the dumbest line in the history of lines. But the Bulldogs will play in Jacksonville on Halloween with nobody expecting them to do anything but lose by six touchdowns, and that’s not a bad way to approach such an opponent.
“We having nothing to lose,” A.J. Green said Saturday. “We know we have a chance [against Florida]. We’re going to go down there and play hard and play fast and play physical.”
I know, I know. You’re saying: What evidence exists to suggest Georgia is capable of doing any of the above, let alone all of it? Saturday’s game? Hey, that was against Vandy. And I hear that, too. The Bulldogs led by just seven points after 40 minutes and outgained the SEC’s worst offense by only 103 yards. But it was, I submit, better than losing.
And let’s be honest: After what happened last week in this state, we weren’t sure Georgia would win again this season. But they won 34-10 Saturday and got incrementally better. Said quarterback Joe Cox: “All three phases [offense, defense and special teams] played well. We really needed a game where we all played well.”
Georgia ran the ball harder and better, at least in the second half. The defense didn’t allow Vandy quarterback Larry Smith to turn into Joe Montana, or even Jonathan Crompton. The great Green made another great play, turning a sideline hitch into a 65-yard touchdown. It wasn’t the greatest performance in the history of football, but it was the best Georgia has looked in 2009.
Loading ...I know, I know. It was still just Vandy, and this Vanderbilt team is a shadow of the past few. But with all the negativity swirling around Georgia, it was a heartening first step.
Said linebacker Rennie Curran: “Coach kept telling us we have to represent the guys who’ve worn the jersey before, the guys who had the ‘G’ on their helmet and who might not have appreciated the way we’ve been playing. Now the weight’s been lifted. We know we’ve still got an opportunity to do great things this season.”
Like give regal Florida a royal run? “Yeah, why not?” said freshman Orson Charles, a Florida native. “We had an edge today. We’d heard our coaches were going to get fired, but we listened to them. We had a team meeting [Tuesday] and just talked. We broke everything down and said we had to put it in the past.”
Said Mike Bobo, the offensive coordinator who worked from the sideline this day: “A lot of people don’t give this team a lot of credit, and I’m talking about Vanderbilt. But they’re a tough team, and to get something going gave us some confidence. I hope that can carry over against Florida.”
I know, I know. It sounds silly. But it sounded pretty silly two years ago to think that a Georgia team that had been blown out in Knoxville and needed a late Vandy fumble to survive here would go to Jacksonville after a bye week and unhorse the reigning national champ. And remind me again: How’d that one turn out?
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512 comments Add your comment
molardog
October 17th, 2009
7:57 pm
hospital administrators….lawyers….football officials….all have always been tremendous wastes of oxygen.
Herschel Talker
October 17th, 2009
8:00 pm
No chance. Period. Let’s hope I’m wrong.
Buddy Rae
October 17th, 2009
8:01 pm
Were there any dancing today?
Tampa Gator
October 17th, 2009
8:02 pm
Georiga 87…Tebow does not have many come from behind victories in the fourth quarter because the Gators are rarely ever behind in the fourth quarter!!!! Also, the refs make calls. The players win or lose games on the field. The call against Georgia did not cause them to lose. Georiga’s poor play after the call did. Same today. The Gators D stood up when Arkansas got into the red zone area. Arkansas didn’t. Also, their kicker missed. The Gators’ kicker didn’t. This is how you win championships. Georgia will learn this lesson some day, maybe. So will Georgia fans…but I doubt it. I guess now that you beat the powerhouse Vandy team, who lost to that other power team Army, you guys are now back in the national championship picture and all those Georgia fans who jumped off the bandwagon last week have now jumped back on and blaming the refs for everything that does not go there way. Good luck with that.
Tampa Gator
October 17th, 2009
8:04 pm
Yeah, Mark, the only way the Gators beat the Dawgs is if the refs win it for them like last year. Good luck with that, too. The only way the Dawgs beat the Gators in Jacksonville is if their talent outplays the Gators talent, which is possible but unlikely.
browndog
October 17th, 2009
8:06 pm
Tampa Gator you have to admit those were two awful calls on ARK.
Buddy Rae
October 17th, 2009
8:07 pm
My gawd watching Bammer and SC here and the Tides D is awesome!
Logo sTomping Dawg
October 17th, 2009
8:08 pm
I told you Buddy Ray!
firemarkricht.net
October 17th, 2009
8:09 pm
We won’t even beat Auburn OR Tech. I’ll give you one GLARING reason why Urban will have the Dawgs circled multiple times…the endzone celebration in ‘07. He wants to ram it down Richt’s throat…and he will again…TOs and all.
firemarkricht.net
October 17th, 2009
8:11 pm
BTW, this win will not silence critics of Joe Cox. He beat Vandy…how desperate are the homers for a win?
molardog
October 17th, 2009
8:11 pm
must say….I agree with TampaGator.
Tampa Gator
October 17th, 2009
8:12 pm
browndog…the personal foul call was one of the worse calls I have ever seen (even worse than the call made on Green). But the pass interfernce call could have gone either way and it usually goes against the defensive player in that situation…almost every time. Still, the refs don’t win or lose games for teams. Teams do. Arkansas could not make the plays it needed to in order to win the game. The Gators, especially Tebow, Cooper, and Sturgis, did…big time. That is why the Gators have been and remain a championship type team…every year. Florida was obviously flat from the LSU game (and had 4 turnovers to boot), but the Gators had it in them not to quit (like another team I know that was in Knoxville recently) and find a way to win…like the champions they are.
Clipboard Joe
October 17th, 2009
8:15 pm
Joey boy will throw 3 picks against Fla. Count on it. Vandy made Joe a heisman like canidate player today!
sckot
October 17th, 2009
8:15 pm
UGA can beat UF if the specials teams play like they did in the Tenn game. The offence plays like they did in the S.Carolina game. The defence plays like they did at Vand. and if UF overestimates UGA Just play a complete game in all areas. UGA has the talent
Macclenny_man
October 17th, 2009
8:15 pm
Georgia can beat Florida but with coaching that we have on offense and defense probably not!! The coaches better put some fire in the boys!!! They better coach to win instead of not to lose!!! Arkansas lost to them today because they played not to lose!!! On 3rd and 4 you run just because you are in field goal range!!! Come on even if Arkansas gets the field goal Florida would have at least tied it and went to overtime!!!! Arkansas had them on the ropes and didn’t try to put them away!!!! They should have thrown it on 3rd and if they didn’t get it went on 4th!!!!! They had to get a touchdown and run more time off the clock!!!! Florida isn’t as good on defense as people think!!! They haven’t faced a decent team with any passing skills until today. Look what happened!!! Florida gets the lead then when they know u have to throw it they blitz and get to the qb!!!! If we beat Florida it will because we could throw the ball!!! We haven’t ran the ball on anybody in 6 games and what did we keep trying 2 do today!!! I think we can score on the Gaytors don’t think we will stop them very often though!!! If we can cover there te hernandez and wr Cooper we can slow them down!!!! Do you hear me MARTINEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring the pressure from everywhere!!! Spy Curran on Tebone!!!!!!!!! Play Boykin and Smith man to man with 2 deep safety help with Rambo and Jones!!!!
Buddy Rae
October 17th, 2009
8:16 pm
Bama is killin SC
browndog
October 17th, 2009
8:17 pm
Alabama looks like the best team in the country.
Buddy Rae
October 17th, 2009
8:18 pm
10 – 0 Bama!
browndog
October 17th, 2009
8:19 pm
Tampa Gator I agree they found a way to win, just thought the calls were awful. Just seems like the refs are more involved this year in big plays.
Buddy Rae
October 17th, 2009
8:20 pm
Damn some nice lookin Bama cheerleaders!
Scooter
October 17th, 2009
8:21 pm
Mark: After seeing the LOUSY calls against ARkansas. AFter seeing the LOUSY calls against Ga versus LSU, and you can go on and on.. How about telling the SEC/NCAA that their “points of emphasis” has RUINED the college football game. Let’s make the “point of emphasis” to call the game properly according to ALL the rules and cut out this crap that certain penalties will be looked for over other penalties. This emphasis on protecting “defenseless” players has had a huge impact on college football games. Players don’t know what to do and its obvious the Refs have NO clue what to do. Take the billion dollars that the SEC gets and hire some professional referees. I have had it with guys who sell life insurance for state farm during the week showing up and messing up great SEC football games.
Super Dog
October 17th, 2009
8:24 pm
Lets get this one straight fans
We will not beat FL for one reason and one reason only
This coaching staff does not take this game seriously, never has never will
It shows every year on the field with play calling, and players emotions
Meyer and Spurrier both have talked about the importance of the game in seriousness and with sarcasim as well and it shows year after year
I’ve talked to players who played with Dooly and they said Dooly took the game very seriously
Maybe if our AD gets into some coaches head that championships are won through FL we might win this matchup again
Bo Joe the Clown
October 17th, 2009
8:30 pm
This UGA team is still a comedy of errors. Dawgs will be 6 – 6 going back to Nashville.
Mississippi State is next
October 17th, 2009
8:37 pm
Good Game Today Dawgs! Of course UGA can win in Jacksonville, this is the SEC. We survived Arkansas today after some very sloppy play and will have to clean up a little bit. I think Arkansas was last years Mississippi State game for the Gators and Florida is going to wake up a little bit after today. The offense looked sloppy but the defense is still playing fantastic and will anticipate the return of their leader Brandon Spikes after playing most of the game without him today. Anyway I don’t think the Dawgs will win but anything could happen. The defense will have to play their best game of the year.
browndog
October 17th, 2009
8:48 pm
Damn, GT looks really, really good tonight.
Sammy
October 17th, 2009
9:04 pm
So the puppy doggies win against lowly Vandy and all of a sudden they have a chance to beat Florida! Yes this may have been the silliest article in the AJC I have read since Terence Moore wrote that David Justice wasn’t appreciated in Atlanta because he is black.
dawgtrey
October 17th, 2009
9:14 pm
Guys this was VANDY today. Try to come back down to Earth. Beating Vandy does not translate into beating Florida (or Auburn either for that matter). Arkansas had a brilliant, absolutely brilliant, defensive plan today for Florida. Was Tebone sacked 6 or 7x? I lost count. But had their FG kicker not choked they’d have won. If you think Willie Martinez is capable of coming up with that kind of defensive plan, you are honorary members of the Blind Homer Society of Athens…and drinking some strong stuff so please pass the bottle.
bkbroila
October 17th, 2009
9:16 pm
Come on Guys….Florida has one hell of a Defense, but their offense is as bad as I have seen it in a long time…Tebow has the heart of a lion, but UGA can definately beat them….they actually have a Field Goal kicker
Army Vet
October 17th, 2009
9:22 pm
Didn’t notice if the thugs were “dancing” on the sidelines but I’m sure they have started trash talking. UF, AU, and GT are coming!!!!!
Starring Peter Graves as Capt. Over
October 17th, 2009
9:24 pm
I want whatever people are smoking thinking that because UGA beats a WRETCHED Vandy team, they are on the way to winning the SEC East & running the table. You people are delusional.
Supes
October 17th, 2009
9:27 pm
If by some miracle UGA beats FLA…the only way this happens is UGA plays a “perfect game” and FLA “well plays like they did today…below average”.
If FLA plays like they normally do, UGA has no chance of beating them this year.
FLA has the better defense and offense. They have Tebow. UGA has…*pause for dramatic effect*…Joe Cox! Noodle arm QB who is a backup in the SEC and is starting only b/c CMR is a complete loyalist and refuses to play the most talanted players at each position. Another reason why Brian Evans starts ahead of B. Rambo in the secondary (as an example).
UGA has 5 RB now…meaning we have NO RB. We are not Bama, where they go 3 deep at tailback (where the difference is…every one of those guys can carry the rock 25+ times a game). UGA has no such tailback right now therefore we are forced to trot out 4 to 5 guys and hope (one gets hot).
Last but not least…UGA is very young at many of the skill positions, dudes are still making mistakes…Wooten with the stupid pentaly today (another example).
So no Mark, I don’t believe there is a way UGA can beat FLA this year. I hope they prove me wrong, but FLA is the number 1 team in the country. Logic says we don’t have much of a shot at all.
takedowndawg
October 17th, 2009
9:28 pm
Tampagator, you know that you fl is not as good as you were last year and you know it. The lost of Percy Harvin to the pro’s has exposed a weakness in the gators. Other than Tebow, fl does not have a power back or power receiver. Neutralize Tebow on his 20+ runs and making the teams 1st dns.and the team is doable for a loss. What are you going to do for power next year? Brantley? No, I think if Weis leaves, Meyer leaves as well especially if fl does not win the SEC or NCd. Offer him six ND and I bet he goes.
Huck
October 17th, 2009
9:30 pm
26-21 another miracle on Duval Street…..
Tebow
October 17th, 2009
9:33 pm
Georgia is # 119, Go Dawgs.
aaron
October 17th, 2009
9:40 pm
you are out of your mind here, that is unless the urbanites have another 4 turnover game.
seriously though, we just beat a bad vandy team, and we’re 2 days removed from most screaming “fire them all!”
i don’t see us getting hammered by UF, but even though we were good today, there is still no reason to think we can win.
Call it Like It Is
October 17th, 2009
9:44 pm
What a joke ya beat Vandy, big F deal.
No chance against FL as they will have a new scheme against the weak GA team.
Enough Said!
dd
October 17th, 2009
9:45 pm
we won’t have a shot against florida if the officials show up
what an obvious fix to make sure florida remained # 1
that was embarrassing for the sec today
arky should be at the ncaa offices first thing monday morning
Athens Police
October 17th, 2009
9:46 pm
Is that Kiffin coming out Richt’s back door?
Tampa Gator
October 17th, 2009
9:47 pm
takedowndawg…I agree with you, Meyer is going to leave a talent rich program in Gainesville that is only going to get more talent rich after this year’s recruiting class, leave a future first round QB at Florida (yes, Brantley) who still has 2 years left there and go to a Notre Dame team that will not have a proven QB, will forget that he will have Debose and Moore back next year at WR (from injuries) plus Thompson and others, will forget he returns half of his defense and everyone one of the two deep players (most 4 and 5 stars) that will step in for them next year, and go to Notre Dame that barely has enough star players to start, leave a program where most of your recruiting is done in one state to go to a program that requires you to recruit players in California, Hawaii, New York, Texas, etc, etc. and where you have to fight every big time program in those states for those players vs. recruiting only against one good program in Florida (that’s Miami, not FSU). Also, he is going to forget he is making over 4 mill a year at Florida and his family loves living in Gainesville with they best friends, the Billy Donavan family (who know first hand why not to leave the Gator program) and move that family to cold, South Bend, Indiana where he no longer has any contacts of family connections. Yeah, Urban Meyer is a highly intelligent man and he will, for sure, forget all that and head to Notre Dame next year. Keep believing that and see where that gets you. Plus, Florida does not play the 2008 Florida football team. If they did, they would probably lose by 4 or 5 points to them. All they have to do is beat everyone on their schedule this year, which I think they are capable of doing. If they do, the will win the National Championship for the 3rd time in 4 years…yet another good reason for Meyer to bolt for the wonderland of South Bend. Makes perfect sense too me!!! Yep, I agree with your line of thinking completely. You obviously put a lot of thought and supported your thinking with facts that make sense to me. Yep, I think you hit it right on the head. The Gators are not as good as the 2008 Gators and Meyer is a goner to the Irish.
Call it Like It Is
October 17th, 2009
9:47 pm
dd,
U have no clue what u are talking about as Fl won the game fair and square.
U sound like a typical UGAY moron always whinning about the officals.
U are done in JAX!
Enough Said!
jay dub
October 17th, 2009
9:52 pm
Can we stop whining about the officials now? UGA has two weeks to prepare – just do it!
ReptilesRule
October 17th, 2009
9:54 pm
Yes Mark, if UF plays the way it did today by fumbling the ball 4 times and missing wide open TD passes, anything is possible. That should have been a 24 point win instead of an escape. I was in the Swamp today and the two most words spoken was not “Go Gators”, it was “Ole Miss”. Florida lost to SEC West teams in the Swamp during it’s recent 2 National Championships and still has Miss State away in a State where Florida has struggled badly. If they play that way in Starkeville, it will be an embarassment. But hopefully today, we have got it out of our system. Maybe this is the team, despite it’s lack of recievers, that can do it. Stay tuned.
GaCracker
October 17th, 2009
10:00 pm
Logo it was Arkansas too (Dawgs beat them in their own ballpark, while Gators eked one out in the Swamp cause Tejada couldn’t kick!
Tech Tony
October 17th, 2009
10:00 pm
I wouldn’t say Georgia is going to win in J’ville or anything, but even before today, I’d say I see no reason why the Dogs can’t compete with the Gators.
Uf’s defense is really tough but offensively it looks like it lacks the downfield capabilities it has had in years past. Get a few turnovers and get some pressure up the middle (which is very possible) and UGA can hang right there.
I’m guessing the spread, since it’s a neutral field, will have Florida laying about 15. If I had to decide today based on that number, I’d take the points.
The year has been a tough one in Athens so the team’s emotional state will be vital but there are enough athletes at Georgia to make it a compelling game.
UGA wins in Nashville; can it possibly win in Jacksonville? | Mark … | Nashville update today
October 17th, 2009
10:01 pm
[...] you’ll attain same Chipper designer and vantage an catercorner muscle. View post: UGA wins in Nashville; crapper it mayhap get in Jacksonville? | Mark … Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: and-pull, and-you, chipper, chipper-jones, hard-you, [...]
ReptilesRule
October 17th, 2009
10:13 pm
BTW, and be honest with yourselves…has anyone EVER met a LOSER who DIDN”T complain about the refs??? If you don’t believe me, just stroll on over to the Knoxville News Sentinel comments section, which is full of losers, and see what they’re all talking about! There’s not a team in existence who hasn’t been “robbed” be an officials call. For years, UF has been one of the most penalized teams in the SEC, so I’m not some big advocate of the referees. But the truth is, that in 99% of the games, the calls even out and don’t determine the outcome. And it didn’t today.
takedowndawg
October 17th, 2009
10:15 pm
fampagator, It would apprear you might finally have the picture, being the smart guy that your are. Hopefully, you don’t own a loaded gun sitting on your dresser when He LEAVES! We are sure that you could not fathom that. It might make your mama, or mother, as you might prefer, upset when you Leave! Oh well, another one bites the dust, as they say. Your are a little sensitive aren’t you tampagator? Probably are under age 33 or less, Enjoy, this year tampagator.
Dawg Whisperer
October 17th, 2009
10:16 pm
Gator fans are unbelievably arrogant. Yeah, TampaGator, you’ve got everything figured out. You are the epitome of a know-it-all. Your blogs are way too long and no one really gives two cents what you have to say. You have your opinion and nothing more. Facts belong to history but not you or any other mortal knows the future. Just shut up!
Pit bull
October 17th, 2009
10:18 pm
YOU guys have short memories! Fla. called two time outs on Ga at the end of the game last year. On purpose! Not one, but TWO! Thats called rubbing your nose in it, if you don’t know. During the game their LB HELD moreno on the ground while he shouted insults into his face. Meanwhile Ga players walked by and looked and said “oh my my’. This was played during the Nat. Championship game for the whole country to see and is still played today. Also, don’t forget the scene of Stafford lying on his back with his hand outstretched to a fla player standing over him. The Fla player extends his hand as if to help Stafford up, then at the last second slaps Stafford hand away. Disgusting!, Dawgs, win or lose, please play like you GOTTA PAIR. PS You owe that LB some Trash Talking and Urban and his holliness an Ass Kicking! Also, you owe Tebow a bruising, Don’t give him a hand up after he had two time outs called on you to DISGRACE you!
ReptilesRule
October 17th, 2009
10:21 pm
Urban to Notre Dame? God, can’t we just have another discussion about whether O.J. really killed his wife???