5+1 reasons UGA’s loss was even worse than it seemed
Here's the first of Joe Cox's several interceptions. (AJC photo by Bob Andres)
1. With Georgia within 14 points and still 10 minutes to play, some 10,000 Georgia backers up and left. Think about that. You’ve paid for tickets, parking, food, hotel and gas/airfare to come watch your team, and your team still has a theoretical chance. (One tipped pass and it’s a one-score game.) And you have so little faith in your team that you walk out. And your program has won 10 or more games six times in the past seven seasons. This would seem to say, at least to me, that Mark Richt is losing his constituency.
2. When Georgia pulled within 14-10, it did its huddle-up-and-jump-around thing on the sideline, and I typed on the live chat, “I smell a late hit coming.” It came on the kickoff. Michael Gilliard, late hit. It is uncanny how this team cannot play by the rules.
3. Florida scored 41 points without doing anything extraordinary. No Gator rushed for 100 yards. No Gator had 100 yards receiving. Tim Tebow’s longest completion was for 29 yards. Not until the game’s final drive did Florida gain 30 yards on a scrimmage play. And the Gators didn’t throw a fourth-quarter pass (though Tebow was sacked once). And a merciful Urban Meyer had John Brantley take a knee with the ball on the Georgia 20. Think Spurrier would have?
Loading ...4. Joe Cox was supposed to be a game manager. Instead the fifth-year senior has been wilder than Matthew Stafford was as a freshman. Stafford had 13 interceptions in 2006 and didn’t start every game. Cox has 12 interceptions in eight games. And the second interception Saturday was just sad: Pressured, Cox tried to throw the ball out of bounds but couldn’t sling it far enough. The exact same thing had happened in Knoxville. Which brings us to …
5. Tennessee. It’s coming fast. If Georgia didn’t figure to finish ahead of Florida in 2009, neither did it seem any other SEC East school posed an imminent threat to the Bulldogs’ hold on second place. South Carolina is ensconced as a 7-5 or 8-4 team, and Kentucky and Vandy are Kentucky and Vandy. But Tennessee has now beaten Georgia and South Carolina and has played Florida and Alabama close, and that’s a scary sign. Because if Tennessee in Year 1 under Kiffin can have the same overall record as Georgia in Year 9 under Richt, what happens in 2010?
6. The black helmets. Just embarrassing.
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1,240 comments Add your comment
nochancedogs
November 1st, 2009
10:07 pm
Fire Richt, bring back Ray Goff
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:08 pm
uga will never have a problem recruiting as long as richt is there..he sends too many to the pros.good recruits like going to the pros..
Where's Erk?
November 1st, 2009
10:10 pm
Great post Mark and I agree with your column today 100%. Also then and Now I was there then and Now I am considering giving up my lower level south side season tickets cause I would rather hunt and not get so upset on saturday. It is killing me watching this coaching staff fall apart. It is time for them to go, all of them. Pay Will Mushchamp what ever it takes and make him our new HC and let him hire some hard core butt kicking coordinators that will threaten kids that mess up with there free rides and head butt them till they bleed. People used to be afraid of playing us now it is becoming a joke. I think CMR is a great guy, but I also think he is way to soft to win big in this league anymore. He does not have what it takes to win against Meyer, Saben, Miles,etc and if we play Ark to many more time Petrino will own him too. I really hope UGA doesn’t make the same mistake UT did with the Great Pumpkin…he way overstayed his welcome.
JaxGator
November 1st, 2009
10:10 pm
Glad that you dog fans are more concerned with Ealys’ eyes than being totally humiliated by Florida again.
Ted Striker
November 1st, 2009
10:11 pm
Lowcountry Bulldawg — You’re nothing to me.
GTBuzz81
November 1st, 2009
10:13 pm
Remind me,exactly which team has the high school offense?
nochancedogs
November 1st, 2009
10:14 pm
Maybe the doga can get some recruits from Florida. The one’s the Gators don’t want that is. Of course you can try to empty some of the prisons in the state also, they would fit in fine with your team
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:14 pm
richt has beaten every coach you just mentioned..believe me he will beat them again..he is too good a coach not too..uga will continue to win with richt and company and wont have to threaten kids in anyway…muschamp? haha what a joke of HC..let him stay in the big 12 where its easy to win..
atl xmen is delusional
November 1st, 2009
10:14 pm
Keep wearing those rose-colored sunglasses clown
GTBuzz81
November 1st, 2009
10:19 pm
The black helmets and pants kind of matched the mood of all the Ugay fans,they are all morning the demise of what they thought was the greatest team of all time.Do everyone a favor,go out,get a job,move out of the trailer park then get a life.
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:20 pm
tech runs an offense that most of high schools run all over the state of ga…not one pro team runs that offense..why? because it does not work against the better defenses it goes up against..a top 10 defense will shut that gimmick offense down and techs weak def wont bail them out.like i said before enjoy gails players now while you still can..when pj high schookl players get there..winning 9 games a year is over..
T W Miller
November 1st, 2009
10:21 pm
Give Cox a break! The interception that Green fumbled when hit could hardly be called Cox’s fault. The interception by the Florida linebacker when he tipped the ball and it fell into his hands could hardly be called Cox’s fault. The interception on the sidelines was Cox’s fault, however he was throwing in a rush as he was about to be sacked. Why doesn’t somebody mention the good TD pass he threw, right on the money, and the other great completions against the #1 team in America? Why doesn’t expert Bradley mention these – he’s so observant!
nochancedogs
November 1st, 2009
10:21 pm
Richt and WM have created a new dog defense tradition. You remember the bend but do not break D of lore, well Richt and Co. have come out with the bend And break D. One advantage is the opponents O gets tired running up and down the field on you all day long. But hey, it is a plan anyway, can’t wait till next year when you get beat down again
Abe Lincoln
November 1st, 2009
10:23 pm
Opinions are like assholes; everyone has one.
GTBuzz81
November 1st, 2009
10:23 pm
Looks like Tech will end up with a better SEC record than Ugay this year.Maybe we should play for the SEC Crown.
Where's Erk?
November 1st, 2009
10:23 pm
I am so sick of this crap, I remember when UF was a total joke. the only thing they have ever had was Steve before UM. but even Zook owned MR. FIRE ALL OF THEM INCLUDING ADAMS AND EVANS
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:24 pm
i like cox…a little short ..but all in all he is pretty good..when our running game gets on track and we can mix the run and pass more he will be better..just too many passing situations that are 3rd and long
Ga boy
November 1st, 2009
10:25 pm
Where is the Weedwacker Bowl anyway?
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:28 pm
uga will have two more wins added to that sec win record…tech would lose to fla lsu and tenn by an avg score of 15…that high school offense wouldnt move the ball against their def line…berry would hit nesbitt so hard he wouldnt be able to finish
Keep Martinez
November 1st, 2009
10:30 pm
Quitcha gripin’! It was just one ball game. Let’s work hard and try to see if we can get ready for Tennessee Tech.
nochancedogs
November 1st, 2009
10:30 pm
I was looking for Ga in the top 25 poll, where are they? Oh thats right, they are unrated
GTBuzz81
November 1st, 2009
10:30 pm
atl xmen
Sorry,I forgot that you have to have players that are capable of reading to be able to run the triple option and Ugag doesn’t go after that type of player.I’m sure Ugay won’t stop it again this year,sure will be nice to see Tech put 60 or more on the board.What bowl will ya’ll qualify for?
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:30 pm
where is recruiting class ranked again? anyone know? there 2010 class that is
latenightgailbondguy
November 1st, 2009
10:31 pm
God help me I agree with you,
nochancedogs
November 1st, 2009
10:32 pm
High school offense- #10 Ga- unrated New sherrif in the state, take the backseat dogs
bdesav
November 1st, 2009
10:33 pm
CMR said on CBS at halftime talking with the reporter that the defense was terrible and that basically the offense wasn’t getting the ball to their playmaker. I believe that he knows the problems and that they will be addressed at the end of the campaign when they should be. This season was going to be tough because Georgia has played a legitimate team every week. There have only been two Georgia coaches that have won an SEC Championship and had their team finish in the top 5 multiple times. One is in the College Hall of Fame and the other is currently the coach.
I realize that the internet has allowed people to give instant feedback and vent their ideas and frustrations. However I am confident to leave it to the professionals to make the decisions. I am also confident the right ones will be made.
GTBuzz81
November 1st, 2009
10:34 pm
atl xmen
Did you say you liked short cox?I thought you liked the bigger ones,most Ugay guys do.
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:35 pm
i uga going to the chic bowl whipping another weak acc team…
and that offense is so easy hich school players run that offense..just in case you didnt know that..that offense is so easy to run a coach that has no football playing experience can run that offense…like pj…hope you like div 2a players because thats all tech will be recruiting..should be good when you guys play ga state
nochancedogs
November 1st, 2009
10:35 pm
If you tied Nesbitt’s shoes together he would still rush for 150 plus on that WM defense
tech fan
November 1st, 2009
10:36 pm
atl xmen…..Duke is 5-3…
nochancedogs
November 1st, 2009
10:37 pm
Now that Ga Tech is the superior football program in the state and the dogs suck at basketball to, what can the dog fans root for now? Maybe something like golf or womens field hockey
tech fan
November 1st, 2009
10:38 pm
and your a dummy….tell us all about how tough the dawgs are and any other team would have done far worse…lmao….and how the TECH option will never work….your such a douch
GTBuzz81
November 1st, 2009
10:39 pm
Doesn’t matter how the recruiting class is ranked,CMR and the gang won’t coach them up.What a waste of talent.
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:39 pm
like he did last year?..nesbitt wont rush for 50 against the dogs..if he does then tech loses..the only way tech wins if uga doesnt tackle the pitch option…
rxdawg
November 1st, 2009
10:39 pm
memo to CMR: quit screwing with the uniforms! Red & black plus silver britches were here way before you, and they will outlast you by centuries! This black crap has not worked since 2007, so how about trying to coach them up instead? Make it an honor for them to be able to wear our traditional colors.
nochancedogs
November 1st, 2009
10:40 pm
Wonder if Tech will need their starters in the second half against the dogs? That game is going to get ugly quick, let’s hope the dogs don’t resort to thuggery like they did against Florida
Stunned Dawg
November 1st, 2009
10:40 pm
No worries, I hear we are a lock for the Red Man Chewing Tobacco Bowl, December 12th in Walmartville, Arkansas…
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:41 pm
richt and company must be doing something right with coaching the players keep going pro..more than any team in the last five years other than mia..tenn
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:42 pm
the tech option will be gone with gailys players…
GTBuzz81
November 1st, 2009
10:43 pm
They could pull for the gym dawgs,they look pretty good in their uniforms,of course they are too ugay to notice.
tech fan
November 1st, 2009
10:43 pm
all thats left of the Dawg Nation is the lunatic fringe…..
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:43 pm
tech is tech and always will be tech..they will never be UGA…tech will have a few good years just like uga will have a few down years…
booger
November 1st, 2009
10:44 pm
poor pups – bring the black hats to bobby dodd.
nochancedogs
November 1st, 2009
10:45 pm
It is in the pros that the players get properly coached. Richt and co just hold them back, they never realize their potential. This is why all the good recruits are going to Fl, Alabama, Lsu, And Tenn. now. They know Ga is a dead end, they will have no chance of winning anything there
tech fan
November 1st, 2009
10:46 pm
blah blah blah….and wait till next year and what did your team do 6 years ago and what about in 97 and on and on. ….Ga was……..WAS……was…..WAS
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:49 pm
top 10 recruiting classes since richt and company ahve been there..doesnt seem like we are missing out on the good players..winning..that all richt does is win…so check there as well..he avg close to 11 wins a year deosnt seem liek a dead end to me…yea..i would like to see richt and company stay for another 20 or so years…
LLDawg in NC
November 1st, 2009
10:50 pm
As sad as it is to admit it, we should have seen this coming. I mean, we haven’t had a white player on defense since David Pollack left 7 years ago. Honestly. Name another one, and Brandon Wheeling doesn’t count b/c he is a 4th teamer who doesn’t play much.
All of the penalties, arrests, lack of discipline on and off the field, are all directly related to the type of athlete that we recruit. We get some kids who are recruited as 4 and 5 stars, but they are really kids with poor character. That comes to light in their lack of effort on the field, especially when times get tough.
It’s time to recruit some kids who are better people, then develop them in to better players. After all, Pollack wasn’t a 4 or 5 star out of high school, but he was a 3 time All American. Get rid of the thugs and play some kids who care about the school and play with pride
nochancedogs
November 1st, 2009
10:50 pm
Dog fans are suffering from delusions of granduer. They are a second rate program at best with a trailer park fan base. Who else would be dumb enough to think beating Vandy means you are ready for the Gators. Even their messiah, Dooley, was over rated. He made his rep by beating the Vandy’s and Kentucky’s of the world. They were never that good against real competition and what you see now is really normal for them
nochancedogs
November 1st, 2009
10:51 pm
Tenn Tech 28 Dogs 24
atl xmen
November 1st, 2009
10:51 pm
tech fan,,my team wins and and finishes with top 10 rankings most year while tech barley break the top 25