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
3:14 pm
see, nobody ever tells me these things
Hal
October 31st, 2009
3:14 pm
Mark another high scoring affair 100 or so miles west of you in tally. Gotta love them Noles.
SwineFluDawg
October 31st, 2009
3:15 pm
AJC Headlines 11/01/09; Cox throws for 350 yards – AJ Green catches three touchdown passes – Dawgs defense shuts down Gator rushing attack. Tebow has post game melt down and admits to affair with Urban Meyer; cries and promises that the Gators will not lose again this season.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:15 pm
I believe I saw that very game about three weeks ago, Hal. Except we had a lightning delay that night.
mash the bug
October 31st, 2009
3:16 pm
hey mike slive, what ever happen to freedom of speech? moron
Nate
October 31st, 2009
3:16 pm
Perfect timing for Aubarn to get hot.
mash the bug
October 31st, 2009
3:16 pm
Dawgs by 4 today. feel the karma
mash the bug
October 31st, 2009
3:17 pm
24-20
beatdowns galore
October 31st, 2009
3:17 pm
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2009/10/05/the-alphabetical-09-week-five/ <<<<<< Watch Markie boy get beatdown below Vince Dooley's Dady Joe Pa.
Hal
October 31st, 2009
3:17 pm
They might have another delay if it doesn’t end soon.
bugsquacher
October 31st, 2009
3:19 pm
yeah, mike s., whats wrong with the coaches calling them as they see them? heck the refs do…..
beatdowns galore
October 31st, 2009
3:20 pm
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2009/10/05/the-alphabetical-09-week-five/ <<<<< watch Markie boy get a beatdown below Vince Dooley's Daddy Joe Pa !
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:20 pm
revenge on the gators: all the dogs are going to do the endzone dance after the gators score!!
GeauxDawgs
October 31st, 2009
3:20 pm
Willie Martinez, Kenny Chesney is a new SEC referee for todays game
bugsquacher
October 31st, 2009
3:21 pm
and most of the time they are blind… is the seat getting to hot for the refs…. hmmmm, too much pressure to make the right call? so, we tell the coaches not to talk about it?
bugsquacher
October 31st, 2009
3:21 pm
we will lose for sure if willie is a ref
Not Disappointed!
October 31st, 2009
3:21 pm
Mark, how’s the weather?
Cuz, where’s 45ACP?
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:22 pm
Gator band is performing.
beatdowns galore
October 31st, 2009
3:22 pm
Better hope Fla, scores over fifty so UGA can right the ship to get rid of Willie !
mash the bug
October 31st, 2009
3:22 pm
GO DAWGS! GATA! PRIDE MAN, PRIDE!
mash the bug
October 31st, 2009
3:23 pm
GA BACKS HAVE A BREAK OUT DAY
sarfdawg
October 31st, 2009
3:23 pm
Question, Mark. If Tim Tebow does the “gator chomp” with his hands, and doesn’t get penalized for it, then suppose a Georgia player scores and does the same chomp, should it be a penalty? When Mo Mass did that two years ago and got the 15-yard celebration penalty, that was garbage, but Florida gets away with it weekly.
That said, Georgia’s TD score may make it go from 38-3 to 38-10. Sadly, I think Georgia’s got no chance. I hate it, too.
mash the bug
October 31st, 2009
3:23 pm
are they playing Dixie?
UGA ALL THE WAY
October 31st, 2009
3:24 pm
C’MON DAWGS. FANS TO…. SHOW YOUR DAWGS SOME SUPPORT!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:24 pm
It’s 84 degrees. And it feels it.
Just saw Vince Dooley. He said he’d been down on the field. He said, “It’s hot!”
sarfdawg
October 31st, 2009
3:25 pm
BTW, if you can get to a TV, there’s a great I-AA game between FSU and NC State coming to a thrilling conclusion.
Larry
October 31st, 2009
3:25 pm
We are going to get crushed, but maybe we will at least make a good showing. Go Dawgs.
mash the bug
October 31st, 2009
3:25 pm
go dawgs
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:25 pm
performing what???
bugsquacher
October 31st, 2009
3:25 pm
dawgs by 3
Chained Dawg
October 31st, 2009
3:26 pm
Well is there any indication which Georgia team has shown up today ?
UGA Bullfrawgs
October 31st, 2009
3:26 pm
If we can’t win, let’s cover the spread. And give Tebow warts too!
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:26 pm
cmr has told me i’m safe as long as fla doesnt score 60. exactly 60
Joe's Sack-Shack
October 31st, 2009
3:26 pm
Get ready Joe, it’s going to be a tough day on offense.
SwineFluDawg
October 31st, 2009
3:26 pm
HUNKER DOWN DAWGS! BITE THEM GATORS…PLAY SMART…PLAY TOGETHER…PLAY WITH CONTROLLED INTINSITY FOR 60 MINUTES!
always a dog
October 31st, 2009
3:27 pm
dawg days are coming and its coming today
Hal
October 31st, 2009
3:27 pm
Sarf
I bet you FSU puts up more points against the Gators in the swamp than Ga does in Jax. As for defenses, it’s a toss up.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:27 pm
Ordinarily I’d never rule Georgia out of any game. But this is an extraordinary occasion.
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:27 pm
this is going to be a long, long game folks
always a dog
October 31st, 2009
3:27 pm
I say pee on tebow, give him warts for sure
What ever for
October 31st, 2009
3:28 pm
Mark – I look forward to reading your blog throughout today. You do a great job. Unfortunately, I agree with you of your assessment of today’s game – I don’t see how the dawgs win either. Maybe with the pressure off of the dawgs, they’ll play loose – while, with Florida having the pressure of being #1 (and keeping it) along with trying to figure out their offense (hope Willie doesn’t let them “find” it today) – maybe Florida will be playing tight. Thanks for the updates.
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:28 pm
you sound like a ref bradley
always a dog
October 31st, 2009
3:28 pm
why mark, the breaking walkers record is BS?
sarfdawg
October 31st, 2009
3:28 pm
Hal, sign of the times, look at the empty seats in Tallahassee. I NEVER thought that I’d see that. I know times are lean at FSU, but that is shocking. Truly.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:29 pm
In a lot of ways I like the setup from Georgia’s perspective: Pressure’s all on the other team. But I just don’t see UGA capitalizing. Or being allowed to capitalize.
Drake
October 31st, 2009
3:29 pm
Anything is possible. Go Dawgs!
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:29 pm
I hate the media ” I love tebow ” crap….
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:30 pm
WILLIE MARTINEZ showed you i can capitalize bradley.
Chained Dawg
October 31st, 2009
3:30 pm
Im doing something a little different today….. I have my Jack Daniels Single Barrel instead of Jack Daniels.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:30 pm
Seeing the Gators prepare to run out of the tunnel recalls the time the Zooker led his men onto the field — and ran to the wrong bench.