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
UGA ALL THE WAY
October 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
Ill go ahead and predict that there will be some questionable calls on UGA and Flo. will get help from his boyfriends callin the game if anything gets near him…. i REALLY hope im wrong
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
Whoops. Flag. Personal foul on GA.
chris
October 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
we do look like grambling..in more ways than one.
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:50 pm
THATS THREE…..FLAGS
LoveMyFalcons
October 31st, 2009
3:51 pm
So how many helmets have been stripped now?
W&Ws
October 31st, 2009
3:51 pm
It’s not because the Dogs are getting beat by a better team. A personal foul on Georgia on the first drive. More penalties. THAT’S why it’s hard to root for this team.
Mitch (the one in Rome)
October 31st, 2009
3:51 pm
We are so damned undisciplined. I can’t believe that crap.
UGA Bullfrawgs
October 31st, 2009
3:51 pm
It looks like a seam route to Charles will be open. Mark, how far back is Florida playing its safeties?
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:51 pm
HMMMMMMMM, THOSE TWO WEEKS REALLY HELPED THE DEFENSE AND FLAGS
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 31st, 2009
3:51 pm
BS!!!!!
uga89
October 31st, 2009
3:51 pm
Wow. Glad we changed up our uniform instead of stupid penalties. NOT.
dawgfan13
October 31st, 2009
3:51 pm
Flag again and Spikes is taking Georgia out of their game. He is enticing them to make stupid plays. This is rediculis! A drive killer!
Old School
October 31st, 2009
3:51 pm
Here goes the Conspiracy Theory!! Yep, another dumbass PF on the Fleabags. What an idiot!!! typical UGAG!!!
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:51 pm
That’s 35 yards in penalties already. Josh Davis with the violation. Ripped Brandon Spikes’ helmet off.
Firemarkricht.net
October 31st, 2009
3:51 pm
Well coached team, Mark.
No More
October 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
Here we go no penalties on FL aready two on us. FL never gets called for holding, chop blocks, you name – are you kidding me. SEC fix is in for FL and AL. You sports guys can blow that off all you want, but it is real.
boots
October 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
Stupid mistakes. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Michael Stipe
October 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
3 penalties already. Jeezus, please us!!!
UGA ALL THE WAY
October 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
DID I CALL THAT OR WUT!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
Odd call. Run on third and 15. Not even a draw.
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
I WOULD WEAR SUNGLASSES TOO, IF I WERE RICHT….DONT WANT ANYONE TO KNOW ME
uga89
October 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
3rd and 15? LOL. Nice play call.
Charlie (is) Strong
October 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
Can’t make mistakes against this D
Chained Dawg
October 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
Well Good call BOO BOO!!!!!
boots
October 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
3 and 15, and we hand off? Crazy. I could call a better game.
Reality Check
October 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
Oregon called, they are not happy that UGA is taking their spot as uglies uniforms in NCAA.
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:52 pm
BOBO PLAY CALLING TO NOT LOSE BIG
Wont Jones
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
a run play on 3rd and 15?
gcs
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
Why is Florida playing Grambling today?
.
Jim Doggg Wallace
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
gooooooo Dawgsssss ….
droolers
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
oh yeah? well your fans wear jean shorts! hahahaha. i love watching this game every year.
Dawg Nation 09
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
That was a horrible call on 3rd and 15 to run the ball.
Firemarkricht.net
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
MARK, do you think Richt is scheming which uniforms to wear during the 2nd half?
Zeke
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
Nice kick. We need a 3 and out or turnover bad.
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
BUTLER AND GREEN …. ONLY TWO DOGS ON THE FIELD
SuperB
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
3 freakin’ penalties for 40 yards in the first six minutes. How long can we tolerate sorry coaching from Mark Richt? And what’s up with those awful black helmets and pants? For Richt and Martinez– win or pack. I am sick of being outcoached by every team Georgia plays! If Damon Evans is hellbent on going to Jax every year, let him do it as the ex-AD!
disgracefulcoaching
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
Wow. 93 yards to go. Should take them about 4 minutes this time.
dawgfan13
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
What the f*** kinda call is that? What a joke! Play to lose. not to win = BLOW OUT It will be 21-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Mark Bradley
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
Big punt.
We’ve played 6 minutes plus. Georgia has three penalties and one first down. Florida has seven on the board.
TXDawg
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
The best thing about the Bulldogs this season…..Drew Butler’s consistency.
Chained Dawg
October 31st, 2009
3:53 pm
one bright spot …our kickers have shown up so far!
Mark
October 31st, 2009
3:54 pm
How sad is it when the best execution of the day is a punt?
Georgia is next
October 31st, 2009
3:54 pm
Butler is the man
Old School
October 31st, 2009
3:54 pm
Yeah, No More probably thinks Castro was in the weeds in Dallas back in ‘63. What a bunch of crybabies these Fleabag Fans are!
TXDawg
October 31st, 2009
3:54 pm
Trying to be optimistic, you know.
jerry
October 31st, 2009
3:54 pm
Just wait ’til Logan Gray fakes a reverse and runs up the middle. That’ll fool them Gators.
mash a bug
October 31st, 2009
3:54 pm
MAYBE THEY WILL CHANGE UNIFORMS AT HALF… TRY TO CONFUSE FLA….THATS THE STRATEGY
45ACP
October 31st, 2009
3:54 pm
At least we can out kick them.
JENNYGAWGADAWGS
October 31st, 2009
3:54 pm
COME ON DOGS.
UGA Bullfrawgs
October 31st, 2009
3:54 pm
Wonder if there was a prop bet speculating whether we’d have more yards of offense or of penalty yardage?