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
Super Dog
October 31st, 2009
6:49 pm
JOKE JOKE JOKE JOKE
THIS COACHING STAFF IS AN ABSOLUTE JOKE
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
6:49 pm
6-6 i hate that damn richt
CMR needs to go
October 31st, 2009
6:49 pm
CMR can’t blame the refs in this game – so what excuse will he use for this pathitic performance and yet another loss to the gators?
Cuz
October 31st, 2009
6:49 pm
Mark, I think we finish 5-7.
icedawg
October 31st, 2009
6:49 pm
Probably 7-5
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
6:49 pm
Had an extra week to prepare. Had the motivational gimmick with the helmets. And it’s 41-17.
Georgia still sucks
October 31st, 2009
6:49 pm
MONTY BUT THEY WERE TD’S PAL. U NEED MORE KLEENEX?
Joebrave
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
I wish Teblows damn back would get broken, geesh I hate that bast@rd!!!
BugKiller
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
45ACP
The ONLY moron who STILL defends the indefensible Willie Martinez.
God, dude, even with ALL the evidence through his WHOLE career that PROVES he’s a HORRIBLE football coach, and you STILL defend him.
You really are this stupid, aren’t you?
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
heads should roll. read this you lacky damon evans. affirmative action hire.
Ginger
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
I think you have to anticipate that someone with Stafford’s arm would go pro early and have a QB ready for this yr….Look at Fla….If Tebow had went Pro this past yr…Brantley would have been the QB and he is a pretty good passer…Also…really have to have 2nd QB because the main guy could always go down with need injury such as torn ACL etc.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
5-7? Come on now.
Savy Steve
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
Enter your comments here
Gators wear JORTS!!
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
Let Murray or Mettenberger start next week…it’s Tenn Tech…we wil wi…
Uhh…well I hope we do!!
fcmr
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
White and Gold, nice talking for a team that won 1 out of 8. The last time your team owned us was in the 50’s Since you don’t know anything about UGA football and think Logan is the future just get the hell out of here.
NewnanDawg
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
this is so embarrassing….and frustrating….4-4…wow
Joebrave
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
Te-Blows Meyer!!!!!
Cedrick (Arlington, TX)
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
Its about time they pulled noodle arm. I don’t care how bad Gray is because he has had minimum playing time. Hopefully he can get better and be ready for next year. Cause this year is gone, thanks CMR.
Macon Dog in Middle East
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
Hey Fitten, Are you still alive?
Cautiously Optimistic
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
Isn’t it ironic that CMR is supposed to be such a great QB coach that we have such poor play from the QB position?
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
OK, ladies and gents. I’m headed downstairs.
But not yet. Fight!
monty
October 31st, 2009
6:50 pm
Glad CWM defense and our O-line’s blocking or lack of pass protection could get Fla’s offense going.
war eagle
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
mark richt has a reeeeel nice tan
Fools Gold
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
Its gonna get worse dawg fans CMR has reached his plateau!!!!!!!
Sonny Clusters
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
Is it still time for sunglasses?
BIG TECH FAN
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
I would suggest that Georgia find a stud like our QB by next year or you guys are in for yet another frigid fall and winter!
Gators wear JORTS!!
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
Get Prince out of there….
icedawg
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
Richt should do some huge evaluation in the off season. He should have plenty of time to recruit and think about it.
White & Gold Forever
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
Thugs. Pathetic loser, can’t win, getting arrested thugs
JB
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
Sorry to interrupt your Tebow infomercial, Verne.
There was a football game going on.
DallasDawg
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
Oh well—PCMicron/Carquest/Meineke bowl here we come.
fcmr
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
Typical Prince Miller!
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
Just some jawing and shoving. No penalties.
Now I’m headed downstairs. Let me know if I miss the greatest rally ever.
AJ Green for QB!!!!
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
curious to read how CMR will sugar coat this loss, a sound defeat after an off week and he’ll probably be Mr. Happy Sunshine.
Ginger
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
Agree with you Mark….black helmets, Red helmets…so what —you have to play the game. But the trouble is no defense and no QB
Gators wear JORTS!!
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
DISCIPLINE….DISCIPLINE…DISCIPLINE…
Barry Jay
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
Tebow is still in the game?
45ACP
October 31st, 2009
6:51 pm
Your story grows old and weary.
Fire them all is such a simple solution.
Tebow
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
Put Brantley in
Cedrick (Arlington, TX)
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
Now they wanna show some emotion. It’s too late!!
icedawg
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
Has UF taken all of their time outs?
browndog
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
Will be very, very difficult to finish .500 so don’t think we have to worry about a bowl.
JR
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
This is embarrasing. Fire them all now and restart. I would rather see some new blood coaches in there rather than have to experience this ever again. I am seriously considering cancelling all donations and subscriptions to UGA until they make meaningful changes. What is CMR’s problem. He is a has been. Nice guy but can’t compete anymore. This is unacceptable!!!
Sonny Clusters
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
Fighting is not a good idea today. Not going well for anyone in red and black, er, black and white.
Thuga Dawg
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
Prince Miller is my fellow thug!
Joshua
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
Hey guys, with Willie Martinez obviously gone next season…….does anyone think that we have any legitimate shot at landing Charlie Strong(FL has said that it won’t renew his contract) or Kirby Smart( a Georgia Alumni). Just a thought, but if not those two….than who does UGA go with when it comes to DC.
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
teebow still in the ballgame. somebody kill that son of a bitch
Super Dog
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
WHY CAN’T OUR TEAM HAVE THE SAME INTENSITY DURING THE GAME AS THEY DO WHEN A FIGHT BREAKS OUT
RICHT DID WE RECRUIT THESE GUYS AT THE ATHENS BAR’S
catlady
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
I don’t usually advocate this, but after this game it would be appropriate to go and get drunk.
Gators wear JORTS!!
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
GOOD RIDDANCE TO TIM TEBOW!!!!!!!