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
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:44 pm
thank god the highlight film in a couple of years will not look like GA with those black hats… everyone will think its a mistake
willie martinez
October 31st, 2009
3:44 pm
its early its early its early
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:44 pm
Mark Schlabach now insists I misunderstood him when he said UGA would prevail. He said he meant in basketball.
droolers
October 31st, 2009
3:45 pm
watching this game is fun every year
Firemarkricht.net
October 31st, 2009
3:45 pm
Richt is a gimmick!
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:45 pm
fire willie this second….take the headset away from him,,,dont wait Mark R
dawgfan13
October 31st, 2009
3:45 pm
Its amazing to me how the Georgia defense cant make any adjustments at all. That drive looked like the Tennessee game all over again and it will be interesting to see how Willie, Rict and the exscuse makers spin this blow out. Arkansas played with Florida for a game and Tenn did the same and even Miss State played for 3 quarters well the dawgs will get blowed away today and Willie’s fate will be sealed!
VINCE DOOLEY
October 31st, 2009
3:45 pm
WE LOOK LIKE GRAMBLING STATE IN THOSE UNIFORMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UGA Bullfrawgs
October 31st, 2009
3:45 pm
Joe Cox looks like an unlit match but let’s hope he comes out on fire.
Fools Gold
October 31st, 2009
3:45 pm
Well so much for the two weeks for adjustments!
Old School
October 31st, 2009
3:45 pm
Did Richt really think the black Grambling ‘G’ helmets would be inspirational?!?!
jerry
October 31st, 2009
3:45 pm
Now Joe gets to do his stuff. Whatever.
Douglas
October 31st, 2009
3:46 pm
I hope they kill us….I cannot wait to get a new coaching staff. I support the players…but not this joke of a coaching crew….pathetic. How does any one of them take their paycheck each week and look at themselves in the mirror with integrity?
Not Happy?
October 31st, 2009
3:46 pm
We did kick the ball in the end zone. It has gone down hill from there.
Blue
October 31st, 2009
3:46 pm
YEAH!!! BLACK HELMETS!!! THAT SHOULD HELP US WIN!!! PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF BLACK, RIGHT??? RIGHT??? PLEASE???
Zeke
October 31st, 2009
3:46 pm
It’s a long game. Still the first qtr. Show a little faith people.
Fools Gold
October 31st, 2009
3:47 pm
Can we get 3rd and short?
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:47 pm
ga is a disgrace…. its a shame to have the talent they do and let the coaching run this program into the ground….FIRE WILLIE THIS SECOND
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:47 pm
It’s third down and two. AJG?
tbone
October 31st, 2009
3:47 pm
CMR cna stick hi black helmets up his azz if he can willie boys nose out of the way. As the price is right says, their there for Funeral, Theirs!!!
UGA Bullfrawgs
October 31st, 2009
3:47 pm
C’mon Mr. Richt….coach like Eddie Robinson
JB
October 31st, 2009
3:47 pm
We have more wardrobe changes than Cher.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:47 pm
No. Penalty. And a skirmish.
CJ Dawg
October 31st, 2009
3:47 pm
Can we fire Willie while the game is going on? We were only out of place on defense 9 times. I think calls defensive plays with that childhood football game…the one with the lightbulb and the offense put a play down and then the defense put a play down ….. that’s willie’s idea. Only thing is his light burnt out….
Lows
October 31st, 2009
3:48 pm
PF on Fla. No call
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:48 pm
CAN YOU SAY FLAG AGAIN,,,, THATS TWO
Fools Gold
October 31st, 2009
3:48 pm
Nope
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 31st, 2009
3:48 pm
spunk in Ealy
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:48 pm
Penalty on Georgia. A.J. Harmon.
Lows
October 31st, 2009
3:48 pm
Helmet to helmet on the dead call. No PF called
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:48 pm
cj, i AGREE, FIRE WILLIE NOW
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:48 pm
Cox to Ealey. First down.
Zeke
October 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
There ya go Joe. I told you
Firemarkricht.net
October 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
Grambling is probably a better team than UGA. But I don’t think it’ll help.
RW
October 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
I guess the extra time was used to find new uniforms. DUMB
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
look like Knowshon it’s scary
Old School
October 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
I hate UGAG but I still love tradition— I just don’t understand why Richt would go to black helmets in the entire 100-plus year history of Dawg football. I just don’t understand.
Buckhead Bulldog
October 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
Ealey……B A B Y!!!!!!!!!!
Chained Dawg
October 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
Willie is an idiot!
Man Up
October 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
As much as i hate losing to the gators if we are gonna lose any how we might as well lose big .Anything to convince richt things have to change.
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
WE PLAY LIKE A 50 YEAR OLD CHER
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
First career catch for Washaun. And now a seven-yard rush.
dawgfan13
October 31st, 2009
3:49 pm
Make a good play, dont dance or hop around. Get back to the huddle and get ready to play.
TXDawg
October 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
Sorry for the late arrival guys…..posting on the wrong blog…guess it was a trick vs. treat…lol
Thanks for the heads up Mark!
jerry
October 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
Is Ealey the Answer?
Ross
October 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
Black helmets – what a frickin’ joke. Who comes up with this mickey-mouse crap?
-drl
LoveMyFalcons
October 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
Something seems to have the Dawgs somewhat fired up!
JB
October 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
Florida will get all of the penalties today in their favor. The SEC will protect their top teams which can bring the most exposure and money to them at the end of the year.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
Carlos Dunlap hurt.
First down Samuel.
Chained Dawg
October 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
Im on my second drink now