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
Mark in Woodstock
November 1st, 2009
10:36 am
There’s a new sheriff in town….does anyone really see CPJ hanging onto a failing coach because he’s buddies with them…or resorting to uniform gimmicks to fire up a team….there’s a new sheriff in town…catchy….just sing along…
1-0 against Georgieee….broke the streak at FSU….broke the streak at UVA….headed to the title game and another win over a hapless Georgiee team
The Thin Guy
November 1st, 2009
10:36 am
Forget about football. Coach Richie Rich needs to hire a driving coach. Right turn, left turn, parallel parking are graduate courses at UGay. Each football player should be started on a tricycle. Everyone is hurting in this economy and UGay needless spends money on black helmets. Haberdashery is not the answer Richie. Read the riot act to them. Every UGay player who had a personal foul called against him should have been required to hitchhike back to Athens. Next up Tennis Shoe Tech. Try punting on first down.
dAWG81
November 1st, 2009
10:37 am
UNLESS YOU WANT TO CONTINUE A GROWNING SEA OF ORANGE AND BLUE, TEAR UP THE CONTRACT WITH JACKSONVILLE—17 LOSSES IS ENOUGH !!!! WE NEED TO COMMIT TO WINNING FIRST AND MONEY SECOND
UGA
November 1st, 2009
10:37 am
“not perfect?” nobody is looking for or expecting perfection. What the bulldog nation does expect is an effort and not being out coached, out classed and embarrassed week after week.
If 4 and 4 is acceptable for a program that is always rated among the best in recruiting, than so be it, but true fans take the blinders off and see reality for what it is and it ain’t pretty.
Golden Eagle
November 1st, 2009
10:37 am
I’m worried about the Tennessee Tech game, they beat Pikesville College 51-10 in their season opener.
Dead Mike
November 1st, 2009
10:37 am
Bring back Donnan
DawgNJ
November 1st, 2009
10:38 am
Can I be the first to start the campaign for Chris Petersen for UGA Coach?
kirk
November 1st, 2009
10:39 am
This team is awful, fans obnoxious, coaches embarrassing. Puppies 4-4, LOL
Tell it like it is
November 1st, 2009
10:39 am
JB-the dawgs want win 7 games.
blue
November 1st, 2009
10:39 am
The reason Georgia has 2nd teir Offensive and Defensive Coor. is because CMR does not pay them CWM and BOBO make about 220,000 a year Kirby Smart at ALB makes 900,000 Charley Strong at FLA 1million its just money
bugman
November 1st, 2009
10:39 am
Coaching failures continue to haunt this team.
GA has shot themselves in the foot so many times this year they need a Hoveround.
Although I dislike the idea of rooting against my Dawgs, if it will facilitate the departure of MR and his staff…
Mark, I saw the Spikes eye gouge immediately on the replay but it wasn’t mentioned by the broadcast crew at all. Really blatant and should result in a suspension. Will the Conference review it?
drsoul
November 1st, 2009
10:40 am
Dan..’most corrupt’ program in NCAA history???? get your facts straight, cupcake..!!! we acknowledged and got past that…and, well, look at our record now.. so, you are moaning and whining that it is because we are corrupt???? you need a coaching change like we did to get our program back on par…
Gary Danielson said it best
November 1st, 2009
10:40 am
After one of the early penalties, Danielson called CMR out on his comment about FSU leading the ACC in penalties while dominating the conference. I have to agree. What in the world is Richt thinking? I for one don’t like that we’re compared to the thuggery of FSU or Miami. Anytime I hear those names, I still think criminals.
We’re Georgia. We’re supposed to be better than that. Come on Coach Richt. Get your head straight about this or the Georgia faithful will abandon your ship, and you might find Athens to be a not-so-wonderful place to live.
biker dog
November 1st, 2009
10:40 am
Gimmicks don’t win big games, neither do thugs and that’s what was on display in J’Ville.
Nice job Dawgs showing your true colors.
Denver Dog
November 1st, 2009
10:41 am
Looks like m and others are using my Denver Dog again. Thanks for the compliment that you have to steal my moniker. Keep it up bumbling bees.
drsoul
November 1st, 2009
10:42 am
Penalties are ‘coaching and discipline’ failures… what can you teach a thug??? and how many times does it take????
maninthemirror
November 1st, 2009
10:42 am
THEN & NOW…..best post EVER!
3-legged mutt
November 1st, 2009
10:42 am
Florida won that game with a half-arsed effort. By 3rd quarter half the stadium was empty and the fans on both sides were bored to death. It was like a JV vs Varsity scrimmage. I don’t see the donors sending money to Athens for such mediocrity, the penalties that were supposed to stop this season, and now this silly ongoing uniform fashion show. It seems like the Dawgs are turning into the Braves.
Restore discipline, recruiting, and refresh coaching staff, or there will be no more CMR after 2010.
Poor Puppies
November 1st, 2009
10:42 am
another disappointing showing in Jacksonville, Tebow smashes the record, thugs guilty of stupid penalties, again ..what a joke this team is, coaching staff a bigger joke.
Tate
November 1st, 2009
10:43 am
who cares? georgia isn’t relevant to anything…..wasted article space.
Lakewood Dawg
November 1st, 2009
10:44 am
Enjoyed watching the snow melt more than the game, embarrassing to say the least.
Ole Kincade
November 1st, 2009
10:45 am
Hey Buck, Tebow just scored again! sic em dawgs, woof woof
wardalucci
November 1st, 2009
10:45 am
They must have spent the week off preparing for Tenn. Tech. Ha Ha!
drsoul
November 1st, 2009
10:46 am
“NOW AND THEN”….to the point….great post..!!!
Saint Simons
November 1st, 2009
10:47 am
Here comes the Carpets of Dalton bowl for UGA !!!!!! hahahahahahahaha
Denver Dog
November 1st, 2009
10:47 am
Mark in Woodstock, I don’t see him hanging on to coaches like that, but he has already done the uniform gimmick. Get real, he is not the second coming of anyone yet, but he is a darn good coach. I hope they go to the Rose Bowl for the national BCS game. You don’t have to run down another place to make your accomplishments look good. They stand on thier own! Get some class bud, and enjoy your season, don’t worry about ours, we will fix it.
It's already started!
November 1st, 2009
10:47 am
woof woof, go dawgs in 2010, what a joke!!!!!!!!!!! how many years in a row are we subjected to the loud obnoxious fans with their high expectations talking smack about how great the dawgs will be, uh ah.
Go Dawgs, LOL
Chris
November 1st, 2009
10:48 am
Mark,
When did you write that article about this program looking like it had peaked and was going in decline? Was it before the season? I seem to remember the article comparing FSU’s dominance to a subtle decline to a middle of the road program. The thing is, I don’t see the potential for a turnaround next year like I did in ‘06. Can you define the word ‘prescient’?
GATORBOY
November 1st, 2009
10:48 am
The winner of this game was never in question – no way the dogs had enough to beat the Gators. The bigger question was if Tim Tebow was going to break the SEC TD record against herschel’s dogs. Now I don’t know if TEBOW > herschel, I happen to think so because a QB has way more influence/responsibility than a RB (TT has also thrown for close to 80 TDs). But dog fans please quit using that lame excuse that herschel played only 3 years while Touchdown Timmy for all 4. It doesn’t matter how many years you play, instead the number of rushing attempts would be a more accurate measure. In herschel’s 3 years he ran the ball 994 times for 49 TDs (54 if you count his bowl TDs – that will fall too). In TEBOW’s 4th year after 8 games he has 614 rushes. That is 380 fewer rushing attempts than 3 year herschel!!!! TEBOW averages an incredible1 TD per every 12 rushes while herschel had a respectable TD per 20 rushes. If Timmy were to carry the ball 380 more times he would have 31 more rushing touchdowns for a total of 82. So if you want to say it is difficult to say who was the best – that is fine, just don’t try to put an asterisk on the SEC RUSHING TD record because that belongs to the one and only TIMMY TEBOW. ——— GO GATORS
Saint Simons
November 1st, 2009
10:48 am
just a reminder 45 – 42 !!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
ckgator
November 1st, 2009
10:49 am
Good analysis Mark. The only place you are off is the “nothing extraordinary” comment about Florida. Fans, writers, etc. like the big play. What Florida did yesterday is beat Georgia the way #1 teams win games: as a team, not as individuals.
What the rest of the world saw:
1. UF with 210 yards on the ground with the load carried by several backs. Also, Tebow ran for 85… threw for 2 and ran for 2 TD’s, and broke Walker’s record in the process (not extraordinary?)
2. A smothering Gator defense that created 4 turnovers (not extraordinary?)
3. Lights out special teams (Sturgis with 56 and 41 yard field goals / Henry with NFL caliber punts that kept the Dogs pinned)
4. Domination in every facet of the game.
But if you like big pretty plays, you got two of them with Tebow’s first two TD passes.
So, the tone of this being another loss for Georgia where they “beat themselves?” Not accurate. The #1 team in the country beat an un-ranked opponent in the way it should have – domination in offense / defense / and special teams.
All is as it should be.
UGA apologist
November 1st, 2009
10:49 am
2009 cocktail party’s Top 15 post mortem comments:
15. at least CMR looks cool in those shades
14. the black helmets were distracting to Cox
13. pressure to be #2 in SEC east is just too tough
12. thank heaven we beat ARK and SC
11. at least our D did better than Tech’s did vs Vandy
10. at least we can always count on beating Tech (?)
9. just as Obama “saves” jobs, the great disciplinarian CMR really “saves” us from committing even more penalties
8. Jax is really a UF home game
7. last year lost by 39; this year 24 – see, huge improvement
6. at least our recruting classes are in the top 5 every year
5. Tebow can’t play for UF against us ever again
4. Hershel still has 1 year of eligibility
3. the referees always want Florida to win
2. 1980 wasn’t that long ago; we are still a perennial power
1. wait till next year (or the one after that or the one after that)
10dawg34
November 1st, 2009
10:49 am
First of all, CPJ will not be coaching at Tech in 2 years,he will leave for a bigger program that can put 20,000 people in the stadium on Saturdays. As far as CMR, its like any other business, dont hire them, if you cant fire them. Everyone needs to go!
Tell it like it is
November 1st, 2009
10:49 am
After winning a NS last year on paper, what happen? Who let the dogs in woof woof Who let the dogs in woof woof
Neck Dawg
November 1st, 2009
10:50 am
“we will fix it” R O F L at that, Dawgs will turn it around this weekend against the mighty Tenn Tech, can hardly wait for them to roll up the score and start talking smack all over again, what a joke puppies.
browndog
November 1st, 2009
10:50 am
Agree there are some coaching issues, but what about talent issues? Other than A.J. is there a Georgia player that could start on either side of the ball for UF or Alabama? Things will probably get worse before they improve. At least GT is entertaining when they play.
Larry
November 1st, 2009
10:52 am
This is going to get worse before it gets better. You people are nuts if you think we are making a bowl game with this team. 6-6 teams dont get bowl games.
Hog Heaven
November 1st, 2009
10:52 am
Great to be a Dawg hey, sic em, woof woof, we’re in the top 50 right? what else do we Dawg fans want or expect from this program.
Saint Simons
November 1st, 2009
10:53 am
Wal-Mart has a blue light special on black helments!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha
Ed
November 1st, 2009
10:53 am
This team is just plain BAD, embarrasingly so. The players are bad and the coaches are even worse. Mark Richt still thinks that uniform changes are the way to fire up an undisciplined team, all evidence to the contrary. Coaches are unaccountable, the same terrible players make the same disastrous mistakes, with no consequences. We have a defensive back that hasn’t covered anyone in 4 years who can’t screw up enough to get benched. We have a team that folds like a cheap suit anytime it plays a conference opponent of like talent. We have a head coach who seems to be in a daze on the sideline most of the time. Worst of all, we have a coaching staff that cannot make its team play disciplined football. When players can incur 15-yard penalties game after game without apparent consequence, then the coaches have lost the program.
The solution? Wholesale staff changes this offseason. If that doesn’t work, head coach change after 2010. This performance is disgraceful and should be unacceptable.
Dawg Bone
November 1st, 2009
10:53 am
Puppies choked again to no one’s surprise except the delusional dawg fans who post here about how great this team is and how its getting better and “will turn it around” …black helmets, and thuggery will get you no where except a forgettable season.
Denver Dog
November 1st, 2009
10:54 am
Thanks Neck Dawg. We will fix it, we just really hadn’t had to fix it yet doofus, now we do. Still don’t know why you Techies are on this blog. You are so yellow backed that you can’t even make a Tech Moniker. KMA CS
Geico Dawg
November 1st, 2009
10:55 am
“think of all the money you’d save if you just would have stayed home”
Go (insert redneck accent here) DaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaWwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwGGGGGGGs!
Roger Dawg
November 1st, 2009
10:55 am
Don’t worry. We will beat the trade school and their high school offense. They gave up 31 to Vandy!
Alabama Jack
November 1st, 2009
10:56 am
dawg fans – with you win or tie. Wait, there are no ties in football anymore.
BTW, did you read when CPJ noticed the Vandy safety cheating on a certain play. He told Nesbitt to run that play, Peebles run like hell, and Nesbitt fling it. 87 yards later another Tech TD – one of eight we scored – four in the first half and four in the second half. Now, that’s coaching.
BTW, take TN Tech and the points. Its a safe bet.
GaGator
November 1st, 2009
10:56 am
ANOTHER TIDBIT FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
You know the rivalry is dead when Georgia has to resort to changing its color scheme in a futile attempt to change its mojo. The Gators, of course, paid as much attention to Georgia’s headgear as they would to Charleston Southern’s footwear.
Florida’s disregard for everything that Georgia once stood for was summed up in a hotel lobby in Jacksonville Friday night. That’s when Robin Fisher, a former UF defensive tackle who played in the famous Lindsay Scott loss to Georgia in 1980, shook his head and said, “You know, I don’t even hate Georgia anymore.”
How can you hate a program you’ve beaten 17 of the last 20 times? How can you hate a team you’ve beaten 90-27 the last two seasons?
On his eye black Saturday, Tebow wore Philippians 4:6-7, a Bible verse that begins, “Do not be anxious about anything.”
Modern translation: “Nothing to worry about, fellas, it’s only Georgia.”
Larry
November 1st, 2009
10:57 am
I am really impressed with Tech this year, and i would cheer for them instead of following this miserable Dawg team, but assholes like St Simons make that impossible. Why cant you take pride in your team without being a dick?
Ed
November 1st, 2009
10:57 am
“Other than A.J. is there a Georgia player that could start on either side of the ball for UF or Alabama?”
YES. Alabama would have gladly taken almost every starter on Georgia’s defense. All were blue chip recruits. The problem is that something happens to these guys in Georgia’s system. Remember how dominant Rennie Curran was in the ‘07 Florida game as a true freshman? He has regressed big-time since.
dogcrap
November 1st, 2009
10:57 am
Ah c’mon mutt fans, don’t you care enough about “your team” to at least stay at the game with 10 minutes left???? What happened to the retarded mutt inbred nation??? Oh, I forgot. Excuse me. 90% of mutt fans never went to school there. Hell, even half of the idiots that go to their home games don’t even have tickets. They are just lookin for a place to party down dude!! You know, y’all are starting to actually starting to embarrass our great state of Georgia. It’s sad that y’all even bear the state’s name.
RIDDELL
November 1st, 2009
10:57 am
For Joe Cox not to have to to distinguish red from orange, the black helmets were ordered.