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
GIVE ME A BREAK
October 30th, 2009
8:21 pm
Alabama and Florida rank the SEC officials #1.
Silly Rabbit Tricks R for Willie
October 30th, 2009
8:29 pm
Lauren what a you got?
Well Larry
Im down here on the sidelines stunned at the play calling going by Willie M
Tim Tebomb can’t even complete a pass, FLA can’t score and Ga is running all over them the score is 45-10 Ga
Cautiously Optimistic
October 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
This is FLA. we have to win. Losing a close one is unsatisfactory in my opinion. Yes I would rather lose by a small score than like last years but a loss is still a loss. But that will only keep my emotions up till late in the game then I’ll get pissed because we could of had them. I do want to see some changes in the off season but I dont want to have a losing season and not go to a bowl to get the changes. Dont we have some sort of record or at least one of the top records for consecutive bowl games? I want to keep that going. Even if we make good on the rest of the season I have to believe that CMR will and already see’s that a change is in order. Winning this game would make the season for me. I’m sick of losing to them and a win would make the record over the last 6 years like 3-3 I think? We need to turn this trend around for the reason that we are starting to feel like we cant beat them even when we have the better team. Also for payback, in 02 they ruined a NC shot for us with our only loss when I know we had the better team. The 2 big wins circled for me since everything started looking so bad was of course UF And Tech, I’m tired of hearing how cocky there fans have gotten since last years 3 point loss to them. Now they act like they have dominated us for 7 years in row, I really want to shut them up. Normally I would be happy for them until they play us. I’m glad to see there program getting better and for the games with them getting tougher, but it’s ironic that now that they have risen a little we have dropped a lot.
On a side note, after listening to CMR on The Fan the other day, he said something that bugs me, he stated that he didn’t think he had to do a whole lot to motivate the team for the UF game, that they know how big it is. Well they should but it seems just about very year they are ready and were not. I bet Meyer isn’t sitting down there thinking the same way, I’ll bet he’s cracking whips in Gainesville. I’m no coach but that was just what I was thinking when I heard that.
Dennis G. Berdanis
October 30th, 2009
8:30 pm
Mark, UGA would have won last season if the refs weren’t determined to punish Richt for the previous year’s TD celebration. It all started when we picked off Tebow and they called a bogus penalty on us to bring it back. It continued when the tv announcers were calling the obvious pass interference on UF when they returned an INT after mauling the receiver for a TD and the officials looked the other way. That 49-10 was the SEC punishment, not UF coming up with a rout.
TC
October 30th, 2009
8:35 pm
I agree Willie’s got to go.I think he will be gone at the end of the season ,no matter the record.
I just can’t understand the “fans” who want to throw Richt out the door half way thru a mediocre season.Look at all he has done for UGA football.2 SEC titles ,numerous 10 win seasons,numerous
seasons in the final top 10. You guys are idiots.
Swamp Chomper
October 30th, 2009
8:38 pm
UGA fans will take their ass whipping and like it. I hope that is “acceptable”.
HairyDawg
October 30th, 2009
8:51 pm
I figures we got to sack T-blows 4 times to start them clanging bells again in his helments.
Once T-blows has the clanging bells and starts throwing the picks sixs to the Dawgs, we should be able to run up the scoring. FLA will have to try a running a game, and that aints so good for them. They can’t runs good ever sintces they Harbin did the smart things to tell Myers to shove it while collectioning big bucks in NFL.
With no running and no passing from Gaytors, Dawgs will shuts out Gaytors on scoring board. Then Dawg D is going to hunker out the big plays of defenses touchdowns.
While Gaytor D is pretty better than most D’s, I dont thinks AJ Green is stoppable by Gaytors. He will torch them for a few Lindsey Scott long catch TDs.
UGA will close down FLA scoring while gettting scoring from UGA D touchdowns and AJ Green big plays.
Thus, a big scoring blowout by UGA with timeouts to rub Gaytors tails in it would be acceptsable and sweet. Also, we need to get ringing bells started back in T-blows head so FLA loses 2 SEC games, and Dawgs play for SEC champs with winning Sugar Bowls trip.
bwell DAWG
October 30th, 2009
8:52 pm
If a loss means getting rid of Martinez, and the Strenght/Conditioning coach . . . may Fla score 300 points
Gene Stallings
October 30th, 2009
8:57 pm
You are right!! We have not played anyone worth a darn from the ACC ever. Even that sad sack of a team from LSU whipped up on Ga Tech last year. If that happens, you know you have a weak conference. Maybe no one from the acc will schedule William & Mary again to save the league some embarrassment!!
GaMountaineer
October 30th, 2009
8:57 pm
CMR, WM and MB all gotta go. It’s not the record; it’s getting all that talent for so many years and wasting it. That’s nothing but a crime against football. It doesn’t matter who you root for, that has to make you sick. How do you pull off those stellar recruiting classes year after year but end up so bad? If GaTech had one half of the Dawgs’ talent over the past eight years they’d have won two NCs by now (even with Chan). CMR, WM and MB all gotta go.
steve
October 30th, 2009
9:01 pm
Florida 30-16 over UGA. Game will be ugly but Gators will prevail.
Delbert D.
October 30th, 2009
9:17 pm
Twisting it around for Mr. Bradley, if the Dogs win but look unrespectable is that a win?
Wes
October 30th, 2009
9:26 pm
To Saint Simons……..u r a total loser……all u got time for is to jump on our blog, and live in the past. Yes, Tech kicked our butts in the 2nd half last year, and seem to be having a very good season. congrats!!! However, you ,my friend, need to get a life, and move on. The past is ancient history! Go you hairy dawgs!!!!!
Chris82Atl
October 30th, 2009
9:33 pm
first off i never wanna see my dawgs lose. 2nd i think the best outcome for bulldawg nation to expect is a 7-9 game at best. though i do wanna see changes within the staff, but never just to see a coaching change. though rumor has it that charlie strong has been looked at by the bulldawg nation very seriously as a HC, again if the season turns out a complete bust or if CMR makes the changes and still doesnt accomplish bulldawg nation expectations of sec cg!
eighty five beers
October 30th, 2009
9:44 pm
should be an acceptable trip…
booger
October 30th, 2009
9:49 pm
does stafford have a little brother?
David Granger
October 30th, 2009
9:50 pm
I hope, in this game, that
1. Georgia allows NO long kickoff returns.
2. Georgia doesn’t blitz on third and long.
3. Georgia punt returners don’t MAKE a fair catch inside the ten yard line. Call a fair catch, sure…then knock the piss out of the first coverage guy down and get outa there. Let some of these things bounce into the end zone.
4. Coach Richt doesn’t give up on his QB’s passing ability…no matter how bad he may have looked…and starts calling draw plays on third and long all the time. (Playing not to lose, instead of playing to WIN.)
5. Georgia doesn’t make any STUPID mistakes or penalties…especially in CRITICAL situations.
6. Georgia doesn’t leave the middle wide smack-ass open, and let Tebow get crucial first downs (or worse) with that hesitation draw play he runs a dozen times a game.
7. Coach Richt never again pulls that deliberate penalty crap…I pull for Georgia, not that FSU scum.
8. The referees call all the unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against both teams as they SHOULD be called, as described in the rule book.
9. The referees don’t make any incorrect calls in critical situations. (They need a good game…and I’m pulling for ‘em.)
10. Georgia actually look like…as a team…that they are READY for this game.
If all this happens, I like our chances.
booger
October 30th, 2009
9:52 pm
lettermans top ten ways to…….what?
Tim Rupert
October 30th, 2009
10:00 pm
At least five sacks on Tebow and a 17 to 10 dawgs victory. I can live with that. I have a good feeling about this one. Go Dawgs.
Foosball for all
October 30th, 2009
10:00 pm
A victory is playing like you should win and then getting a win. A moral victory is showing that the linemen aren’t entirely “finesse,” but anchored in cement with some smashmouth mentality. And a secondary that dumps the scattered, smothered and uncovered appearance. Obviously, what I’d like to see is a victory where there’s some fire in the trenches to let loose a brand new running game, but that’s probably not going to happen. A moral (likely) victory simply means there’s enough fundamental skill readily apparent so that the team looks like it can beat Auburn or (over-rated) Georgia Tech.
My neighbor, an old-timer, told me he watched the UGA-LSU game and, after lengthy thought, came to this conclusion: Georgia’s team is essentially made up of teenagers, not adults, and it would be nice if the squad could win one more game of the five remaining. If the team didn’t win out, that’d be o.k., because we’d still pull for them anyway.
dd
October 30th, 2009
10:01 pm
miami 33 tech 17
Cautiously Optimistic
October 30th, 2009
10:04 pm
I dont think we Will win but I think we CAN win. We have the talent to win, but we are young and coaching is questionable. But I do think we are starting to put it together so who knows? This is college football where every game is a potential upset.
Keith Thompson
October 30th, 2009
10:10 pm
I’ am totally a Ga fan, But something has to give. Why don’t CMR try one of our freshman quaterbacks they sould do no worse than cox does. If cox finishes the season out what is our team going to be like next year with a new quaterback with no experience. The season is all ready over why not get the other guys ready for next year. Who knows they may be another stafford or eric zier waiting. Yes we need a hard nosed def cordinator who will fire up the players and a offensive cordinator badly. I would love to see Ga beat fla but it’s going to be far fetched if we keep making bad judgement on who we play or how many mistakes we make. Get a 2×4 and if someone commits a peanalty swat him. CMR is way to soft I think he is a good coach but not hard nosed enough to get Ga where the need to go. Go Dawgs
Swampdawg
October 30th, 2009
10:38 pm
Keys to the Game:
1. Blocking – Hold Blocks 1 SEC Longer – Open Holes
2. Get to Tebow – Rush Him up – Sack his A$$!
For years and years under 4 different Georgia Coaches, Larry Munson always barked out “Nooooo Blocking” on the games we lost. Same this year,except the current GA Broadcaster hasn’t picked up on that yet.(as a matter of fact he hasn’t picked up on a lot that Larry would call.)HOLY SMOKES! DID I SAY THAT? It’s all about the men up front guys! If we have good blocking and “Hold the Damn Blocks a Second More” and open some Damn Holes, we win! Come on you guys! Hunker Down One More Time! Oh Larry! We miss your great calls! The losses are worse without you. At least we had some great entertainment when you were there! Losses are tougher now.
If we Block! and If We Get to Tebow like we did in 07,we win 24-20
Men with the big “G” on your helmet , ARE YOU MEN ENOUGH!
Swampdawg – Jersey GA
gatordawg
October 30th, 2009
11:40 pm
Gators – 52
Dawgs – 6
Pit bull
October 30th, 2009
11:59 pm
I think I’ll just record the game. If dawgs win I’ll watch, lose, the hell with it!
gatordawg
October 31st, 2009
12:09 am
I’ll record the game AND watch it live. I’ll watch the game again later, because it it certain to be high entertainment value, regardless of the outcome.
longtimedawg
October 31st, 2009
12:21 am
We owned florida till spurrier came in the early 1990’s. He lit a fire under them like we need to have someone do to the current DAWGS! He changed the attitude that the gators once had (they always were intimidated by UGA … and most of the time found a way to lose the game even when they had a better team) UGA needs a coach to do the same now…… we have lost alot of close ballgames to UF in the past 20 years..ones that we would win prior to the sprurrier years….We must have a change in attitude and change in some coaches would not hurt either. UGA has the talent to play with UF this year…. they just can’t be disciplined enough to play a complete game. I love CMR and what he has done since at UGA. However, Some changes need to be made with the assistant coaches…..and fast the UGA program is slipping into mediocre just like the Ray goof and Jim Doonan years.
Go DAWGS!
dawg 11
October 31st, 2009
12:26 am
Either way I think Aaron Murray should get some reps in. Lets face it, Logan Grey is not the answer either. Lets put the future in a few times to show what he has got and since the season is a goner anyway, why not get him some experience…like say stafford in 2006
GaCFB
October 31st, 2009
12:48 am
Florida beware, another ranked team fell: West Virginia is #21 no more!
Tis the weekend for tricks and the treats of underdogs coming out on top (that means you’re on notice as well New Orleans)!
That70sGAdawg
October 31st, 2009
1:34 am
Boy, I miss Linda Day George….
bugsquacher
October 31st, 2009
1:47 am
Glitterbug, you’re an idiot and tech still sucks!
Atlanta Jacket
October 31st, 2009
3:12 am
If ugag wins it is close 20-17. If they lose it will be a blow out 35-10 type score. If uga can actually play well and not beat themselves they have a chance.
The Ghost Of Leonard Post-Toasties
October 31st, 2009
4:23 am
The Classic City Canines will toothless when they come back across the State line. The Sunshine State reptiles will be flossing their rows of teeth with bulldog whiskers.
In a blow-out of biblical dimensions…Leonard’s loser….Georgia.
Gators Run is History
October 31st, 2009
6:07 am
Enjoy this magical run gator fans—when Tebow leaves, the program will be back in the middle of the pack in the SEC. Brantley’s good, but no where close to Tebow. In 2010, the dawgs win the SEC east—mark it down!!!
Johnny dee
October 31st, 2009
7:51 am
Gators bite. Yellow Jackets sting. Can’t wait to see the puppies on 11/28/09. What;s the good word and how bout them dawgs!
Frogger
October 31st, 2009
8:05 am
The game is decided by the QB position. If you punish the opposing QB more than they punish your QB then your probably going to win. Tebow gives you the opportunity to put a hurting on him by running the ball numerious times during the game. The key is not just to tackle him but to tackle and hit him hard everytime he runs the ball. He must be made to not want to run the ball. Tebow provides the opportunity so the Dogs need to provide the pain. Let me be clear, even as a Bulldog fan, I don’t want to see anyone injured. Pain and injury are two different things.
Please SEC refs, stay out of the game and quit ruining college football.
Rogers Redding
October 31st, 2009
8:08 am
My Officials are the best in the land. We listen to CBS and the SEC bosses. They want Florida/Bama undefeated and in the SEC championship game and that’s what we are going to give them. Win some darn games and get ranked and you may get the calls.
Sloan
October 31st, 2009
8:12 am
To “The Question is Mute”,
Moot would have been the better choice of words, but the point is still the same. Bradley’s question is stupid!
Dawggone-It
October 31st, 2009
8:12 am
Losing it never an acceptable option – no moral victories here. What is sad is that I feel the same way today that I felt about this game around ‘94-’95 when UGA had no chance. And on top of that, Tebow breaks the record vs UGA. Miracles do occasionally happen.
GT Rules State
October 31st, 2009
8:32 am
bugsquacher … everytime I hit a blog, it’s the same ole same ole from you. Just look at the “current” results. Get angry with who you got today.
Tampa Gator
October 31st, 2009
8:34 am
At least Georgia fans have everything to gain and nothing to lose…I am
sure glad I am a Florida fan, where we have everything to lose every year. Georgia plays for respect. Florida plays for championships. Just the way it is right now.
GaGator
October 31st, 2009
8:49 am
Ditto Tampa Gator————It’s Great to be a Florida Gator
Hmmmmmmm
October 31st, 2009
8:52 am
One older gentleman said it best! I would have never thought it would happen, but Richt has lost control and has shown little or no leadership qualities or ability. When you have NO discipline, you may win a few, but your not going to reach your full potential. I’m picking UGA over UF simply because UF is not as good as years past. The SEC in general is not as good, so hopefully we will get a chance to make up for that A$$ whipping we took in the Peach bowl last year.
No Name
October 31st, 2009
8:55 am
Truth , UGA fans don’t like to hear the truth. As all fans don’t. Fans want PERFECTION. No excuses. And coaches better be aware of this before they accept the job. Thats why they make the big bucks. I’m no college alum, but I love to watch the games. I don’t contribute anything to any college. Therefore I don’t have or want any control over a coaches job.The thing I find hard to understand is why most alum and fans will not accept a season when their school has a off year. All teams go through this. You know the saying “just win baby”.
Hmmmmmmm
October 31st, 2009
9:00 am
Oh and for all you other GT fans that are gloating over UGA’s demise. LSU just scored again! We have Vandy tonight and oh, how quick the tables can turn!
GT Rules State
October 31st, 2009
9:05 am
You watch … UGA fans will run CMR off and he will come back and kick their A$$. Those fans expect way too much. Hadn’t had the NC in 30 years or handled a top 5 team in their stadium in the last 25 years. SAD. If they didn’t expect so much, they wouldn’t be so much fun to beat. Hey UGA … keep expecting! HA
UGA Glory Days Grad
October 31st, 2009
9:05 am
I’m a UGA grad and a life long Georgia fan. I have a lot of respect for Richt as a person but I am fast losing respect for him as a coach. If Richt is not man enough to admit he made some poor decisions in hiring WILLIE THE POOH and BACKYARD BOBO, then Richt has to go. I’m sorry but Martinez has Erk Russell rolling over in his grave. He is completely and totally out of his league. WILLIE MUST GO AND TAKE BOBO WITH HIM.
UGA Glory Days Grad
October 31st, 2009
9:11 am
Vote for your favorite Martinez nickname or nominate your own.
1) Soft Willie
2) Limp Willie
3) Willie the Pooh
4) Blind Willie
5) Willie the Wimp
GT Rules State
October 31st, 2009
9:14 am
now I understand …
http://www.reddirtkings.com/2009/10/dbfotw-painted-uga-guy.html