Live from hot Jax: Only 30 (of 32) writers pick the Gators!
This is not as it seems. The sweater is orange. It is, of all things, a Gator dog. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Jacksonville — It was raining when I boarded the plane at Hartsfield-Jackson at 7:45 a.m. It is not raining here, unless you count sweat beads. Here it’s hot. Here it’s hot even by Florida standards. And, speaking of sweat …
Your genius correspondent managed to leave his glasses in Tim Tucker’s rental car at the stadium, necessitating another walk to/from distant Lot P. This marks the second time in 13 months I’ve left my glasses in a rental car, and the first was in Tempe, Ariz., where it was only 97 degrees and we were parked even farther away.
But enough about this perspiring writer. Let’s talk about other writers. The Florida Times-Union asked 32 writers, some of whom might actually have seen Georgia play in the past five years, for a prediction. (None of the 32 were from the AJC, you should know.) Thirty picked the Gators. The two exceptions: Matt Hayes of Sporting News and Scott Michaux of the Augusta Chronicle.
By tradition the Georgia-Florida crowd is split down the middle, but there seem many, many more Gators here this time. Perhaps Georgia fans are keeping a lower profile. Perhaps they sold their ducats. Perhaps they’re using the proceeds from that windfall to buy out Willie Martinez.
And I have to tell you, it has been a long time since I arrived at a stadium (with or without glasses) feeling as I do. I don’t see a way Georgia can win. I suppose Florida could fumble 10 times, but I can’t really see Florida doing that. And I can’t see the team with the better offense and better defense not winning.
But I have, as we know, been wrong before. I covered the Super Bowl between the Rams and the Patriots, in which St. Louis entered with the better offense and defense. I picked the Patriots to lose 42-3. They won 20-17. So I guess stranger things have happened. But not many, I submit.
With that, the floor is open for your comments and observations and contributions to the Free Willie Fund. I’ll be here all day, unless I feel the need to walk back across the parking lot and sweat through my shirt again.
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3,111 comments Add your comment
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
2:50 pm
teebow will go 11 for 33 with no td’s, 2 intercepts, 128 passing yards. on the ground 16 rushes for 61 yards, 1 fumble, no td’s. you heard it here first.
Preydawg
October 31st, 2009
2:50 pm
Lemme say this about Willie before I go. I think the guy gets somewhat of a bum rap. We continually have 3 and outs. His D is out there waaaaayyyy too long. I was sitting near the bench last week at Vandy. You can hear the coaches and players there when they talk because they are so close to you. I was shocked at how intense this guy is when he coaches. He got MY attention.
If we had some time of possesion and if Gardner would get more out of the D line, I think we have a totally different perception of our defense. Some of our breakdowns are not his fault.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
2:51 pm
Just saw esteemed former colleague Mark Schlabach, now of ESPN. He thinks Georgia will win. Really.
Cuz
October 31st, 2009
2:51 pm
Keith, I will try not to disturb your hive then. Pulling for my homestaters tonight in Nashville also.
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
2:51 pm
cornerback bryan evans will win the game’s mvp award.
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
2:52 pm
thanks preydawg. that’s what i’ve been saying for the past 2 years.
Seth
October 31st, 2009
2:52 pm
6 turnovers by iowa. 5 picks. and they are only down 3 thanks to the refs. What a crock.
Keith
October 31st, 2009
2:54 pm
Thanks Cuz. I have some honey from my cousin if you are hungry. Goes good with grilled Gator legs. LOL
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
2:55 pm
schlabach knows a thing or 2 about football. present company excluded.
Mike S
October 31st, 2009
2:55 pm
SO what is the over under on Swamp Jesus breaking Hershel’s record?
bjfussell
October 31st, 2009
2:55 pm
MARK, as a georgia fan, the only way we win is if tim teblow breaks herscheals record and herscheal storms the field and breaks his neck, hey i can dream…..
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
2:56 pm
i will hold gators scoreless today or my real name isnt marion campbell.
outkasted
October 31st, 2009
2:56 pm
Lets go DAWGS!! The young pups come to ply today!!!!
Sanford Drive
October 31st, 2009
2:57 pm
UF has only been playing the other teams close so they can unleash everything against UGA. UF wins by 4 touchdowns.
bjfussell
October 31st, 2009
2:57 pm
are those refs still suspended?
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
2:58 pm
Dogs are on the field. Florida has decided not to warm up.
RoswellDawgAdam
October 31st, 2009
2:59 pm
Oh Lord, please let your divine prominence keep His Holiness Timothy I out of the end zone and keep Herschel’s record in tact.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:00 pm
As I type that, Florida takes the field. Now they’re running around. The Urban Crier is pacing, looking at a sheet of paper. On it is written, I’m guessing: Call more T.O.’s, baby!
Tyler
October 31st, 2009
3:00 pm
As warm as it is there Mark, does either team need to warm up? Haha
Goldfishy
October 31st, 2009
3:00 pm
I have seen the Dawgs win in Duval County and history can repeat itself. Negative gets you no where.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:00 pm
Tim Tebow is clapping. Excessively, it seems.
Not Disappointed!
October 31st, 2009
3:01 pm
Hi pups! “I’m more nervous than a whore in Church!” Good luck today.
Ramblin Wreck!
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:02 pm
did anybody see where the team bus went?
ESPN
October 31st, 2009
3:02 pm
Iowa is a joke. It looks like the Big 10 has bad officials too.
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:03 pm
bradley, you keep this up and i will cancel my ajc subscription.
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:04 pm
a fair shake is all i ask. georgiadogs.com is fair and balanced.
Not Disappointed!
October 31st, 2009
3:04 pm
I cant believe the Indiana vs Iowa Game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cuz
October 31st, 2009
3:06 pm
Mark, do you have any idea if they did not count Greenie’s bowl records if he would not own the most wins in NCAA history. If that is so, I will shut up about Herschel’s bowl games not counted. Herschel will always own the three year record.
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:06 pm
tebow is clapping because he saw his girlfriend.
Georgia is next
October 31st, 2009
3:06 pm
2 words: Florida Defense
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:07 pm
georgia is next: 2 words: willie martinez
Cuz
October 31st, 2009
3:07 pm
I did not know they still delivered the AJC in Athens.
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:08 pm
2 more words: con cussion
Not Disappointed!
October 31st, 2009
3:08 pm
Good luck pups!
ABBA DAWG
October 31st, 2009
3:08 pm
Waterlooooooo Whoa Whoa Whoa whoa Willies Waterlooooooooooo!!!!
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:08 pm
its a little known fact that i have a bungalo in buckhead.
RxDawg
October 31st, 2009
3:09 pm
There’s going to be 2 writers with a smirk on their face tonight!
HOW BOUT THEM DAWGS BABY! GATORS ARE GOING DOWN!
GeauxDawgs
October 31st, 2009
3:09 pm
I’m thinking if we pull this one off…it’s the golf equivalent of a hole in one on the way to a final round a 94……
Tyler
October 31st, 2009
3:09 pm
How many guys have to stay home to watch the game to take their kids trick or treating or pass out the candy. I hate halloween on Sats. They should always make it Friday.
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 31st, 2009
3:10 pm
Well…all the talk is irrelevant now we shall see just how mighty the Gators are in about 20 mins!!
ABBA DAWG
October 31st, 2009
3:10 pm
Dig that scene Mark Richt will be the beatdown Queen! Gators 56 Dawgs 13
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:10 pm
hang on, i’m about to get a little advice from loran.
dawgstephen
October 31st, 2009
3:11 pm
Hey Willie, Tim didnt see his girlfriend because Kenny Chesney isnt there.
bugsquacher
October 31st, 2009
3:11 pm
as usual, the writers are idiots…. enough said.
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:11 pm
why has everybody given up already? you aint seen nothing yet!
mash the bug
October 31st, 2009
3:12 pm
tebow isnt clapping, he has the clap.
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:12 pm
who is kenney chesney
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:13 pm
is this chesney guy on the gator offense? somebody tell me quick
Ugafan
October 31st, 2009
3:14 pm
I predict tebow will cry when the dawgs whoop em!
mash the bug
October 31st, 2009
3:14 pm
rather have Iowa than tech in the rose