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
Savy Steve
October 31st, 2009
6:52 pm
BOBO SUCKS
Cecil34
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
i do believe that Grambling University would have given the Gators a better game than the Grambling-clad imposters that took the field.
The more years I watch GA take on FLA the more I think Richt is an idiot.
He consistently and ineffectively tries to motivate his team only to succeed in motivating FLA.
The black uniforms, jumping up and down on the sidelines as if they have never scored before just confirms that Richt is short on imagination and coaching savvy, while firing up FLA to no end.
This ineptitude on the behalf of the GA coaching staff to properly prepare their team (with a week off no less) just confirms the mediocrity that is now CMR and the UGA program.
Cautiously Optimistic
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
Tuck Febow!
Haha
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
You talk so much trash about your 4 and 5 star recruits. You are getting creamed against fla’s second string defense. Gator chomp for you dawgs! Clap Clap. Enjoy it for another long offseason.
National champs back to back GEORGIA!
tyler
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
I say UGA beats AU and UK (tenn tech of course) and probably loses to GT. 7-5- Music City or Liberty Bowl.
Georgia still sucks
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
BRANTLEY IS DA MAN!
fcmr
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
White and Gold
Repeat let me spell this out like when you take the order at the VARSITY.
Whatta ya have whatta ya have GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE
booger
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
gettin close to meyers two minute warning
ATLDawg
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
Looks like UGA is trying to secure a spot in the Poinsettia Bowl.
icedawg
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
UGA has developed a losing tradition against UF.
georgia tech breakin neckz
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
georgia sucks time for mark richt to find a new home tn, fl, and georgia tech can you say hot seat. again georgia sucks.
Buckhead Bulldog
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
I hope we finish 4-8….the coaches, oh so, desrve the humilation.
Vanderbilt is next
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
Brantley is the man, believe it.
Give Me A Break
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
WE STILL LEAD THE OVERALL SERIES!!!!!!!LOLOLOLOLOLOLO
Gdawg 82
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
Did the coaches get the word that the furlough ended??
Cuz
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
No reason to pull a redshirt off Mett or Murray for a losing season. Either think before you post or quit drinking.
Todd in Dothan
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
You think this sorry team will be Auburn. Yeah right.
ga_wholesale
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
FOR SALE: Slightly used black helmets. NCAA approved. Stock up now. Rock bottom prices. Contact UGA Sports Equipment Office.
Chained Dawg
October 31st, 2009
6:53 pm
was that not drawing attention to a player no penalty on Tebow?
Gators wear JORTS!!
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
I can’t believe UF won’t renew Strong’s contract….we got a place for him in Athens….as soon as Willie goes…
ATLDawg
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
Verne’s stories are making me nauseous.
monty
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
Tebow has the record(good for him) but only an imbicile would try to justify Tebow as being a better runner than Herscel Walker!
AJ Green for QB!!!!
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
“National champs back to back GEORGIA!”
Georgia hasn’t won back to back nation titles ….
Barry Jay
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
I would feel very fortunate to make a bowl. After this season, I think we are going to need a team shrink.
JenChicktastic
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
CMR and CMB are asking to be fired. How dare you throw Logan Gray to the wolves after the mess you made with Joe Cox. He should have had to stay in and play out this embarrassing performance.
Thogwummpy
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
OH….I almost forgot. With a week off, the Dawgs have STILL been manhandled all game long. Disgusting. Therefore, Strenght and Conditioning coach…should also be: GONE
Dawg5150
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
Forget Willie.. Fire Richt now!!
Give Me A Break
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
I think our players should just walk off the field
JB
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
Nice tackle, Gamble.
Vanderbilt is next
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
Weapons everywhere on that bench
Finally
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
Glad to see you wake up Mark. Get the heck out of dodge.
Cuz
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
Todd, Auburn has the worse defense in the SEC. Florida has the best in the country. Yes I think we beat Auburn.
icedawg
October 31st, 2009
6:54 pm
I guess they’ll use all of their TO’s
rsdawg
October 31st, 2009
6:55 pm
So much for an upset……it is just us Dawg fans that are upset. We get the best recuits in the country and everbody beats us. What is wrong with this picture?
georgia tech breakin neckz
October 31st, 2009
6:55 pm
yall cant get right.
Pit bull
October 31st, 2009
6:55 pm
Urban says Ga defense is good, Means, please keep willie martineze!
Fitten
October 31st, 2009
6:55 pm
Nah, not alive anymore.
That stadium parking lot is a disaster to get out of… and Bradley wants those poor UGA fans to stay until the end.
How much money would it cost to get Brian Kelly to get here?
Gators wear JORTS!!
October 31st, 2009
6:55 pm
Well…we fought for a little while…thank god we get to go back home Between the Hedges!!!
DP
October 31st, 2009
6:55 pm
Watching Logan Gray come into the game cold and having a passing situation from inside his own 5 yard line against one of the top defenses in the country was like watching a horror movie when the guy cracks open a door and you have your hands over your face, looking with one eye through your fingers and waiting for the axe to hit him in the head. The only question was whether it was going to be a safety or a pick.
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
6:55 pm
ga wholesale: very funny post
White & Gold Forever
October 31st, 2009
6:55 pm
Who likes that run??
Super Dog
October 31st, 2009
6:55 pm
SCORE AGAIN COME ON
DAMON EVANS I HOPE YOUR WATCHING
THIS PROGRAM UNDER YOUR WATCH LOOKS LIKE A CIRCUS
Bob Horner stayed hurt
October 31st, 2009
6:55 pm
I was prepared for this…….like many people in the dawg nation….
jerry
October 31st, 2009
6:55 pm
UGA has the most 8 win years in a row of any team. Ain’t that something?
icedawg
October 31st, 2009
6:56 pm
I don’t think that UGA has won back to back SEC championships.
Cuz
October 31st, 2009
6:56 pm
What time is the Tech game?
Tim
October 31st, 2009
6:56 pm
UGA has inferior players and they are not well coached. Richt is nearing the end. He’s lost the team and the recruiting the last couple of years has left them with severe problems on both sides of the ball. Question is: Who do you hire?
t-mac
October 31st, 2009
6:56 pm
Gotta love the “Mean Machine” uniforms! (not)
I find it a perfect fit cause UGA is a bunch of talented, but undisciplined team that can’t stay away from penalty’s.
I just wonder when the Head Coach is going to begin to be held responsible for the players play and problems….?
Joshua
October 31st, 2009
6:56 pm
Who is going to be Georgia DC next year…….lets here. If Willie is gone, who do we go after….
JR
October 31st, 2009
6:56 pm
Love the players. they work SO HARD. F the coaches!