UGA fans, what’s an acceptable result in Jacksonville?
Is it possible to lose to the hated Gators and still feel good? (AJC photo by Pouya Dianat)
Georgia heads to Jacksonville unranked, which it almost never is, and a two-touchdown underdog, which it never is. It will be met by a team that hasn’t lost since September 2008, a team tracking a second consecutive BCS title. (Know how many schools have won consecutive BCS titles? None.)
Put simply, Georgia is up against it in a way unaccustomed to Georgia teams under Mark Richt. It lost to Florida 49-10 a year ago in what seemed a coin-flip game going in. This one is no coin flip. This outcome seems foregone.
But hope springs eternal in the breast of every fan, and on the day before Halloween I want to ask Dawg fans this question: What would you deem an acceptable outcome Saturday?
A narrow and honorable loss? (Within a touchdown, say.) Or is actual victory the only satisfactory result? And here’s a twist: If beating Florida convinces Mark Richt he doesn’t need to make changes within his program, would you rather Georgia lose? Or would beating the Gators when they’re ranked No. 1 be worth another year of Willie Martinez?
I’d put up a poll, but I don’t think the parameters of a poll are broad enough. I’m interested in your thoughts. So rather that click on “yes” or “no,” I invite you denizens of Bulldog Nation to avail yourselves of the white comment box below. And I thank you in advance. And you’ll hear from me again Saturday afternoon from you-know-where.
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700 comments Add your comment
Yellow Fuzz
October 30th, 2009
6:09 pm
Wait a minute.
Sorry to interupt.
Roddy Jones just ran for another touch down.
OK. Back to your Florida preparations.
Proud Gator
October 30th, 2009
6:10 pm
Get ready for a repeat of last year!!! Enjoy another humiliating loss. GO GATORS!!!!!!!!!
KIFFIN
October 30th, 2009
6:11 pm
Can we come to Jax. and score some more touchdowns?
Gator4life
October 30th, 2009
6:11 pm
I personally am scared of the mutts. I have been a Florida fan for over twenty years and can’t remember the last time I was actually worried about a Georgia game. Hope we play better than we have lately, or it will be a long day for us.
Saban
October 30th, 2009
6:12 pm
you can come back to Alabama and miss some more field goals if you like, moron.
Rome
October 30th, 2009
6:13 pm
The score is not important here. What is important is the social aspect of adults gathering and consuming large quantities of alcohol and gouging themselves with volumes of red meat all culminating in a neo-vomitorium celebration. Let them bark ! Let them roll across the floor doing “The Gator” Let them blow a 2.2 on the breathilizer and bring in more revenue for the state of Florida. Let Mark Richt speak on Monday morning on WSB Radio and tell us why football makes so many people ……………like Romans of old!
Delbert D.
October 30th, 2009
6:15 pm
Yellow Fuzz – What’s interesting is that Roddy Jones is, what, 4th in the A-Back rotation this year.
Glenn
October 30th, 2009
6:16 pm
This is a no win situation for the Bulldogs.
If Georgia wins, then Willie Martinez stays on. If Georgia loses, the Mark Richt either has to retain Willie Martinez, or he has to go back to all of the recruits he promised he was going to retain, and explain why he lied to them when he didn’t keep him as the defensive coordinator.
It’s a sad day that this conversation is even having to be taking place. Do the UGA fans deserve to be subjected to be questioned as to whether we would be satisfied whether with a close loss to Florida rather than a blowout? We’re talking about the Georgia Bulldogs, not some second rate program, like Arkansas State. This is ridiculous. Keeping it close? Are you kidding me? With our talent?
We’ve heard all of the excuses – we’re going to tighten up our special teams; defensive play; work on our offense, blah, blah, blah. We get blown out by Tennessee and now we’re hoping we don’t get blown out by Florida. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
GT Fan
October 30th, 2009
6:21 pm
ugaaccountant:
Even GT fans don’t like St. Simmons. Every team has bottom feeders posing as fans. I “hope” GA beats FL.
BullDawg Mike
October 30th, 2009
6:25 pm
First, no matter the outcome I still love Georgia football. Having said that, you can’t keep going into these big games with HOPE being your defense. You can’t win when your offensive game plan is a wing and a prayer!! Sometime the Dawgs are going to have to man up. If they don’t, than we will become a second tier team in the SEC. When championships are mentioned, Ga will not be in the conversation anymore. That day is fast approaching. It’s tuff to imagine being another Vandy or being like Miss. St. , but it’s not looking too good right now.
booger
October 30th, 2009
6:26 pm
last year doggs hung in until the 4th quarter. L is still L, though. maybe a team leader will emerge, like the gators tim tebow. there’s one in there somewhere.
Georgiagirl
October 30th, 2009
6:27 pm
It warms my heart to hear that a 20 year Florida fan is worried about the game. I have been waiting since 2007 for this game. Last year made me cry. Please don’t let us down Dawgs. I wanna see another spirited coach and spirited game and God help us, another Dawgpile!!!
Hondo
October 30th, 2009
6:35 pm
Fl- 31
Ga- 10
Amen
THe Chickenman
October 30th, 2009
6:38 pm
My god bulldogs fans! You should be ashamed.. MISS ST hung in there with them and they are joke of the conf… CMR will have our boys ready, this is the first time in years i have been in jacksonville with the bulldognation not 100% behind our boys.. PRESSURE TEBOW AND WE WILL WIN. bottom line he cannot throw the football even meyer knows that hince him never going under center and making reads
catfish31015
October 30th, 2009
6:40 pm
I just wonder if Florida can live up to all this hype……Go Dawgs…….
Yellow Fuzz
October 30th, 2009
6:55 pm
catfish31015
“I just wonder if Florida can live up to all this hype……Go Dawgs..”
georgia never has but I do think Florida (and Tech) will.
LawDawg
October 30th, 2009
6:56 pm
UGA should win this game. Notwithstanding that assertion, Bobo and Martinez should both still be fired after the season.
With 38 players in the NFL, in the top 3 I believe, and with athletes on the field superior to Florida, the only reason for the downturn is the coaching and scheming. Since Richt stopped calling the plays and VanGorder left, UGA has schematically been in decline.
To compete at the pinnacle and win championships, UGA needs championship coaches. We need coaches that other people want, ie VanGorder. Nobody is knocking down Martinez and Bobo’s door trying to steal them. With the talent advantages UGA has, that is a glaringly apprent problem. Despite the fact that Bobo and Martinez are good men, they are making superior talent look mediocre instead of having sperior talent make mediocre coaches look superior.
Florida is struggling and I believe the Dogs will take it to them tomorrow. I also believe, however, that UGA has the money and the reputation to attract top notch coordinators for both sides of the ball and should do so.
Despite the players saying it is their fault (honorable), the blame lies with the coaches and the scheme. It is the coaches’ responsibility teach the player to be disciplined and to know what is going to happen in a given situation.
Excuse time is over, the Dogs need to get to work and start beating teams they aren’t supposed to like years past.
gameon
October 30th, 2009
6:57 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8GuH9oDHrU here’s your Fri night dance music
45ACP
October 30th, 2009
7:00 pm
I might enter my comments here. If I want to.
Former Georgian
October 30th, 2009
7:02 pm
I would be happy with another LSU game (no turnovers!), but with different referees this time!
Porter
October 30th, 2009
7:03 pm
Go (insert redneck accent here)
Daaaaaaaaaawwwwwwgs.
Gators in a walk puppies, get your drink on.
ovadatop34
October 30th, 2009
7:05 pm
No moral victories!! The Dawgs can win this game. I am tired of all the talk about bad coaching and the supposed lack of talent. We have some of the best talent in the country and a head coach that will go down as one of the best coaches to ever coach at UGA. It is time to stand behind the program and get up for this game. LET THE BIG DAWG EAT!!
Ole Kincade
October 30th, 2009
7:05 pm
Hey Buck, Tennessee just scored again!
We’re #48 … and dropping…
Big Dawg?
October 30th, 2009
7:09 pm
.. You mean little puppy right… Nothing
big about these dawgs except the mouths
of their fans..
Team quit in Stillwater in week 1 while the
obnoxious travelling puppy fans were screaming
‘enjoy being in the top 15 for another couple
of hours’.. Uh ah… Where are the dawgs ranked
today?
let the big dog eat gator
October 30th, 2009
7:10 pm
here some party music and video to go with your cocktail party tonight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8GuH9oDHrU
Denver Dawg
October 30th, 2009
7:10 pm
Not expecting much of anything tomorrow,
to think otherwise is foolish.
Ironic
October 30th, 2009
7:21 pm
Go Jorts!
Gen'l MacArthur
October 30th, 2009
7:23 pm
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR VICTORY….
Send Willie packing! GO DAWGS!!
I shall Return!!
Ironic
October 30th, 2009
7:25 pm
i wonder how many uga fans will complain that uga is not #1 in the bcs if they happen to win
Gator tastes like chicken
October 30th, 2009
7:30 pm
Gators will lose. Period. No chance they beat a well rested, pissed off, georgia team that is way more talented top to bottom. Pi$$ on the Gaytors.
Quickwork
October 30th, 2009
7:33 pm
I really think that GA will win this game because FLA is having trouble scoring in the red zone. There only running back to speak of is TEBOW who is still showing signsofhis concussion with bad decision making. They should have lost too ARK. and M-STATE was close until the 4th. I have got to imagine that GA will pull out all the stops this game, pull out a form of the WILD DOG with Logan Gray and Branden Smith. Caleb King will finally get 100yrd. rushing. AJ will be AJ and we will cut down on false starts, holding and personal fouls. It has been proven that if u hit FLA in the mouth that they will fold thats why they are the only SEC team that loses too the BIG TEN constantly. But Mark Ricth constantly plays there game. every time we win the running game is off the chain so thats what he needs to do. field position and running the ball with a late fumble by TEBOW GA 24 FL 20. and everyone keeps talking about Willie Martinez at least the Defense has showed up at times our offense has not been good since Richt has been there remember the Red Zone problems until Moreno came. so Bobo is more of a problem in my eyez.
Gator tastes like chicken
October 30th, 2009
7:35 pm
It’s a good thing there will be lots of drinking going on tomorrow for the Gayturds sake. They will need it after we end their hopes of going to the Big Game. Gooooooooooooo Dawgs. Sic em’.
booger
October 30th, 2009
7:36 pm
What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight – it’s the size of the fight in the dog. Dwight Eisenhower
Rennie Curran's life quote
October 30th, 2009
7:40 pm
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for I am the baddest Dawg in the Valley.
77DAWG
October 30th, 2009
7:44 pm
Heard that FU offense is bad right now, don’t worry Willy will change that. What can you expect? CMR been telling how good FU is, and all of his players are now believe that. I wish Willy quit on his own and CMR get some admin work at Department somewhere. With all tha $$$ we spend to have CMR buy the time waiting for coach Bobby Bowden to retire is just plain stupid!!!!! I missed GA football of 70’s and 80’s even we don’t have too perfect record but we played like man on mission. I want GA to win by 1 point, 56 to 55 so firing of the phuckers seems legit.
browndog
October 30th, 2009
7:44 pm
UF has too much for UGA. I have seen nothing to date that indicates UGA can stay with UF, even on a Gator off day. Good luck to the Dawgs and hope does spring eternal!
West of Athens
October 30th, 2009
7:45 pm
djawjuh, it is treason.
Jondeal
October 30th, 2009
7:45 pm
50-3 would be acceptable, I hate the soft zone!
hedgepruner
October 30th, 2009
7:48 pm
DAWGS SUX ! Gators will win by 3 or 4 TD’s, no coaching, no defense,no discipline, nobody cares !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Urban Meyer
October 30th, 2009
7:52 pm
Has anyone found my upper lip?
Keep Martinez
October 30th, 2009
7:54 pm
What’s all this talk about getting rid of Willie Martinez? Believe it or not, he’s not a bad coach. His game plans are O.K., but the execution has often been lacking. Why? Because of all the young or untried players in the current lineup. Even in the latter part of the season, where we are, let him continue to sift through, to come up with the best personnel. It is absolutely stupid to call for a man’s job when he has had so very little to do with what’s been wrong.
FLA DAWG
October 30th, 2009
7:54 pm
In the past we’ve been underdogs and have pulled the upset. Our players this season are as good or better than those teams. Our coaches however, are not. We do not have the capability of pulling an upset. If UF gave up 8 turnovers on their own 5 yard line we would lose – and lose we shall.
This will be another game when The Dawg Coaches make an over – rated team like The Gators look like they are a Number 1 Team.
Mark My Words………………..the announcer(s) will say, “The Gators have shown why they are ranked Number 1!”.
The Dawgs have not shown up to several games this season. I expect them to be intimidated and overwhelmed. The Dawgs will lose by more than 3 TD’s.
Mad Dawg 20/20
October 30th, 2009
7:55 pm
hedgepruner-
Who has UF dominated this year? Charleston Southern, Troy state community college? UGA has played a real college football schedule and it will show tomorrow when you get your A$$e$ handed to you.
UGA-34
UF-10
FLA DAWG
October 30th, 2009
7:57 pm
No offense Mark but, how bad have things become when one must ask in effect “If The Dawgs lose but look respectable is that a win?”
Shame on us for allowing this to happen to our great tradition.
Satchmo
October 30th, 2009
7:58 pm
The monster within us can not except defeat. In this day in time, it’s not how you play the game, but how much money C B S can make by tweaking the outcome, at the right moment. The outcome is already decided, and listen to the the disappointment, by the guys in the booth, if somehow the Dawgs beat the Gators, The S E C officials,and C B S.
t
GIVE ME A BREAK
October 30th, 2009
8:04 pm
Are there two other teams any more overrated than Florida and Alabama? When they play somebody the truth will be seen. No talent just weak opponents.
Mad Dawg 20/20
October 30th, 2009
8:07 pm
Give me a break-
Texas should be no. 1. Al and UF squeak by pi$$ poor opponents every week.
icedawg
October 30th, 2009
8:09 pm
I hope the Dawgs are looking forward to their Tennessee Tech game.
icedawg
October 30th, 2009
8:13 pm
Is there any team more innovative than UGA?
KIFFIN
October 30th, 2009
8:15 pm
Saban, stand up when you speak to me.