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
TNJeff
October 31st, 2009
7:11 pm
The thug mentality leads to undisciplined play & thus mega penalties which never changes. The stupidity factor leads to turnovers. Nice combination! Last year blamed injuries. What does Richt do now that he doesn’t call the plays? He certainly doesn’t motivate the players. Did he not learn anything by making Moreno ride the bench and losing more than a season of eligiblity from him – the season’s gone, play Murray @ QB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe "Sucks" Cox
October 31st, 2009
7:11 pm
Pitbull Richt is not changing his staff thats why he must go
Mark Richt
October 31st, 2009
7:11 pm
I understand something needs to be done. If our defense doesn’t show some improvement next year, I am going to not give Willie as big a raise and I had originally planned. I may change my mind tomorrow when I’m not so emotional.
georgia tech breakin neckz
October 31st, 2009
7:11 pm
b and s on tebow
Pit bull
October 31st, 2009
7:11 pm
Players did very good, they can’t help it the coaching sux!
Doug
October 31st, 2009
7:11 pm
Oh yea, and I forgot to mention the damn gimmicks – black jerseys, black helmets, stampeding the endzone. This is so rinky-dink high school stuff.
dawgtrey
October 31st, 2009
7:12 pm
Even Ray Goof’s teams didn’t look this bad.
Are you homers happy now? All your rah-rah for WM and MB.
We might — MIGHT — beat Tn Tech. But AU, KY, and GT will whip this team into a pile of dust.
Sick of It
October 31st, 2009
7:12 pm
They had a week off. Everyone in the world picked the Gators to beat them. And not just beat them, but destroy them. Herschel Walker’s SEC TD record was on the line (in danger of being broken by a player on their most hated rivals’ team!), it was Tebow’s last game in Jax, and Urban Myer called those timeouts last year…Did the Georgia Bulldogs take any of this and get a fire lit under them? Grow a pair? Man up? Get angry? No. They rolled over and showed their little bellies. How many times do we have to see stupid penalties? How many times to we have to see an obviously overmatched quarterback make ill advised throws? The team showed no discipline. It’s infuriating. Oh well, Happy Halloween everyone. You got to see your first massacre already…
ABBA DAWG
October 31st, 2009
7:12 pm
WATERLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA WATERLOOOOOOO
TNJeff
October 31st, 2009
7:12 pm
45ACP
Uhhhhh yeah, we don’t know nothing bout no futball – we just stupid / all coaches r grat!
Gator in the Hootch
October 31st, 2009
7:12 pm
When do the Georgia fans start telling everyone how Georgia is going to win the National Championship and beat Florida in 2010?????????AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 17 out of 20 AGAINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ncdawg95
October 31st, 2009
7:12 pm
Get Cutcliffe post haste.
Yamadawg
October 31st, 2009
7:12 pm
Maybe… Cox isn’t as bad as he looks. After all, he is being coached by the same group that has the Dawgs looking as if every day is the first day of contact at spring drills. They obviously cannot plan or coach around his abilities or strengths. Good coaches can put players into situations in which they can achieve over their heads…
Mike Smith
October 31st, 2009
7:12 pm
We may go with some trick helmets against the Saints.
Old School
October 31st, 2009
7:13 pm
45-42
45-19
41-17
HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!!!!
Whine on Fleabags!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
senoiadawgs
October 31st, 2009
7:13 pm
I will never support CMR again and here is why.
We played like a bunch of thugs today most important!!!!! This is totally unacceptable. No discipline whatsoever and no consequences for their actions.
2. Continuing to start Joe Cox. This serves zero purpose. He can’t win games now and helps none for next year. 8 games and at least 1 int in each. Today 3 plus a fumble. This is unacceptable and does nothing for next year.
3. Not firing CWM earlier. This is just a disgrace.
4. Continuing to play Miller, Evans and Jones. They all clearly suck and Miller is thug #1.
Anyone care to disagree.
Another Thing
October 31st, 2009
7:13 pm
I hope Georgia never wears those stupid black helmets and uniforms again. They need to be burned.
Douglas
October 31st, 2009
7:14 pm
4-4. How many more games do we need to lose to get some coaches fired? I hope we lose the rest of the games. If we could just lose to Middle Tennessee, that would be even sweeter! Go Dawgs! Lose some more…so we can get some new coaches!
HH
October 31st, 2009
7:14 pm
Surely, no GA fan should be surprised. Hopefully, Martinez and a few more of the incompetent staff Richt continues to cover for will be gone once the season is over. If not, hopefully Richt will be gone at the end of next season.
Super Dog
October 31st, 2009
7:14 pm
GO AHEAD AND CALL THE CINCINATTI COACH AND OFFER HIM THE JOB
OR GRUDEN
Dawgs1965
October 31st, 2009
7:14 pm
Not Cutcliffe, please.
Saluki Mike
October 31st, 2009
7:14 pm
I really don’t think it was as bad as most people thought it was going to be. Anyway, Happy Halloween everybody.
buzz
October 31st, 2009
7:14 pm
LOL – Oh my — the Dawg Nation must be despondent. Looks like Mark Richt is going the way of Ray Goff.
Macon Dog in Middle East
October 31st, 2009
7:14 pm
Well, Let’s look to GA Southern for coaching help. Tech did, and don’t we know it!
gadawg
October 31st, 2009
7:14 pm
4-4-0 relax guys we got them right where we want them…… great qb great coaching……. watch out guys we will play in the suckie team bowl with just 2 more wins…..
Middle Schooler
October 31st, 2009
7:15 pm
It seemed to me that Georgia players were more interested in being thugs on the field than disciplined, well executing football players. Way to coach them up and get em ready for the big game, Richt.
bluegrassdawg
October 31st, 2009
7:15 pm
Did CMR and co really think that by dressing these clowns up like Louisville would really help? Stupid uniforms, stupid penalties, stupid play calling, stupid defensive preparation, stupid. This is pathetic. Truly a team without HEART.
Cecil34
October 31st, 2009
7:15 pm
UGA plays like Vandy yet they recruit like Alabama – Richt is devoid of coaching talent and resorts to cheap motivational gimmicks to try to mask substandard coaching.
Tech is going bend Richt over and won’t use vaseline either…..
Grambling Coach
October 31st, 2009
7:15 pm
Would Ga be interested in donating those black helmets?
booger
October 31st, 2009
7:15 pm
jimbo might come over
Pit bull
October 31st, 2009
7:16 pm
I ‘m so mad I’m not giving the caoching staff first class accomandations this year on the cruise! Mark Richt
TNJeff
October 31st, 2009
7:16 pm
We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets! We want Pink Helmets!
georgia tech breakin neckz
October 31st, 2009
7:16 pm
dnt like tebow, fl, texas, sec, ap and coaches poll give to much love to those teams and going to drop one alabama over fla osu over texas tebow won’t make it in the NFL sec is not the best conference this yr and who picks top ten teams?
cralden
October 31st, 2009
7:16 pm
Gators rock. dogs sock.
Another also-ran season after being totally outclassed by FLA.
Nice quarterback play, btw.
rednecks…
Another Thing
October 31st, 2009
7:17 pm
Poor ole CJ Dawg – it’s fans like you that make Georgia look really redneck – unless you have something positive to contribute without having to put someone else down or make fun at another team – please don’t post. Yea – and good luck at “whipping” people – that still makes you a moron. Just go back inside of your single-wide and have another cold one.
Doug
October 31st, 2009
7:17 pm
Senoiadawgs: You said it. Thugs.We can’t beat a good team on the field, so let’s hit ‘em on the sidelines. All this reflects on the coaches. You are so right about Miller. A good coach would have thrown him off the team a long time ago.
Denver Dawg
October 31st, 2009
7:17 pm
Dawgs suck! Look for a drop in rank from 48
to 58.. Ha ha
Joebrave
October 31st, 2009
7:17 pm
Mark Richt is a damn pathetic puss!!! LOSER!!!!
Robert
October 31st, 2009
7:17 pm
Laffing so much here now.. The dogs now have Chump Gailey for their coach … Now all they need is Reggie Ball…Oops Wait they have Opie Taylor…Monday will be so good when I return to work at Georgia Tech.. To Hell With Georgia Dawgs whom have been neutered.
ch
October 31st, 2009
7:18 pm
i want tuberville as my DC.
no x's and o's comment
October 31st, 2009
7:18 pm
did anyone get the tag number of that 18 wheeler that went thru Jacksonville and ran over the dogs
The Thin Guy
October 31st, 2009
7:18 pm
How is Joe Cox going to win the Heisman Trophy if Coach Richie Rich keeps pulling him from the game? Those black helmets were a stroke of genius. UGay has unlimited funds to acquire haberdashery. And defensive mastermind Willy Nilly’s plan to rest the defense by tackling on every other play was the key to holding The Gators to less than 50 points. Everyone is looking forward to next week’s big game against Tennis Shoe Tech. UGay may be the armpit of the SEC but they will be the cream of the crop in the OVC. Quite a resume enhancer with wins over the Vanderbilt Commodes and the Southern Hillbilly Institute of Technology. Next year schedule every team off an exit on an interstate in Tennessee excepts those nasty University of Tennessee Volunteers.
nd dawg
October 31st, 2009
7:18 pm
Play calling is pathetic. Bobo and CMR don’t seem to have even heard of the hurry up offense much less bought the For Dummies version of the book! Willie’s D is as solid as bowlful of soggy noodles. I feel bad for the players…they could be so much better with probably any coaching staff. I think they need to go get some really hungry coordinators from the schools that perenially look like BCS busters….those guys will recognize the opportunity to play on such a big stage and make the most of it.
Super Dog
October 31st, 2009
7:18 pm
LEAVE THE RED HELMETS AND JERSEYS ALONE PERIOD
GRAMBLING PLAYED TODAY AND IT SHOWED
hunker down
October 31st, 2009
7:19 pm
I just had a bad dream. Someone pinch me and wake me up please!
Anne
October 31st, 2009
7:19 pm
If GA had kept up the momentum in the second quarter, things just might have been different…but alas, they weren’t. As for georgia tech breakin neckz’s stupid comments about Tebow not being gracious when asked about Walker’s record….I guess we were watching two different interviews. Face it….GA has issues with coaching…not necessarily their players. Don’t worry, there’s always next year when Tebow and the crew won’t be back. But hey, if you lose then, who’re you gonna blame that one on?
Kevin
October 31st, 2009
7:19 pm
I thought Fla was playin Gramblin college at start then when game went on oh it was Ga non show up again n 4-4 record woohoo we have Tenessee Tech u think we win that game….If joe cox stop actin like bobby cox will win over Tenn Tech by 24 pts….willie Must Go
Clowns
October 31st, 2009
7:19 pm
What a waste of money on the helmuts and uniforms. UGA SUX! A laughing stock !!!!!!
Gerald Ball
October 31st, 2009
7:19 pm
georgia tech breakin neckz:
If the SEC is not the #1 conference, who is? What other conference has 2 undefeated teams, a one loss team (whose only loss is to one of the undefeated teams), and two 2 loss teams?
Tebow may make it in the NFL because teams may be more willing to accommodate his playing style than they were for, say, Vince Young. If Tebow goes to Jacksonville, they WILL center their offense around him.
Wow
October 31st, 2009
7:19 pm
F..K GA.,.,.and the ENTIRE COACHING STAFF. The only good thing from this is that maybe DAMON will get his head out of his ASS and GET RID OF ALL OF THE STAFF NOT A ONE NEEDS TO BE HERE ANY LONGER. MY(CONTRIBUTION AND TIx are NOT BEING RENEWED AND IF ANY OF YOU NON HOMERS WANT CHANGE YOU WILL DO THE SAME…..