A powerful performance by a suddenly powerful UGA team
Did this guy outcoach Paul Johnson? Yes he did. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
There have been times lately when we’ve wondered, “Who are these guys?” Because they weren’t the Bulldogs we’d come to know and admire. They were undisciplined and undercoached. They were always reacting to an opponent, never forcing the issue. They were a finesse team, and a team devoid of force doesn’t win big in the broad-shouldered SEC.
But on the final night of an underwhelming regular season, Georgia played as if it remembered its breeding. It acted like an SEC team. It ran the ball with fury and blocked like the crack of dawn and played big-boy football. And at halftime we were saying, “Who are these guys?”
Because these weren’t the Bulldogs of recent vintage. These were tougher, stronger, meaner. They had come into the stadium of a team looking to solidify its hold on a rivalry and a state, and they’d been the aggressor from the first. Indeed, they were the aggressor from the coin toss. Georgia won it and, rather than do as every coach does in modern football, Mark Richt didn’t defer his choice. He wanted the ball and he wanted it now.
And when his men got it, they pounded Tech in a way Georgia never pounds anybody anymore. Ten plays, all runs, Caleb King and Washaun Ealey taking turns, the unassuming offensive line blowing massive holes in the Tech line. Ten plays, all runs, and just like that Georgia was ahead in a game it was supposed to lose.
Give Richt credit: All week he had to answer questions — one from me on the Wednesday SEC teleconference — about the need for change in his program, and in this game he did change. He and Mike Bobo eschewed the fancy stuff and just Lombardi’ed the game plan, and it was beautiful in its brutality. Three Tech defenders had to be helped off the field in the first half, and after 30 minutes Georgia had outgained the nation’s No. 7 team by 141 yards and had outscored it by 14 points.
But it was only a year ago in Athens that Georgia had led by 16 points at the half, and within seven minutes that lead was gone. Everyone knew Tech would again come out flying, and sure enough the Jackets scored on their first possession. But Georgia needed only one play to answer, Caleb King taking a handoff and fleeing 75 yards. And from then on Tech was chasing, and in the end the fleet Jackets couldn’t run fast enough.
It came down to one possession. Georgia up six, Tech with a chance to win. The Jackets moved across midfield but unaccountably stopped running the ball. Four consecutive passes, the first three nicely defensed, the fourth simply dropped. (The second and third passes were defended by Reshad Jones, the Georgia safety who’d spent the last year answering questions about his missed tackle of Tech’s Roddy Jones.) And suddenly Georgia was the second-best team in Georgia no longer.
Richt and Bobo and Willie Martinez had outflanked the new genius Paul Johnson and had done it without A.J. Green, their best player. And the guys who did play outfought a Tech team known for its pugnacity.
And now we have issues galore. Does one blissful night off North Avenue override the worst season under Richt? Probably not. But for the Bulldogs and their coach and all his coaches, it had to feel good to reclaim state supremacy and to mar what has been a glorious Tech season. (To say nothing of wrecking the ACC title game.) What happens with Martinez and the other assistants can wait until another day. What happened Saturday night was a slice of deliverance 365 days in the making.
Back to our question: Who were these guys? They were the Georgia Bulldogs, only they weren’t the Georgia Bulldogs that contrived to lose five games this season. These were Bulldogs from a different time, a time when Georgia football was power football. (The Bulldogs rushed for 339 yards, the highest total under Richt.)
And if this is the way Georgia football it to look in 2010 and beyond … well, maybe the future isn’t so grim after all. Maybe the future is big and brawny thing.
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1,342 comments Add your comment
Topp Dogg
November 29th, 2009
8:45 am
Techies are usually great ball handlers, what happened to Bebe?
WHY DO MUTTS BARK?CAUSE BUMBLE BEES STING
November 29th, 2009
8:45 am
LETS SEE YOU MUTT FANS CHEER FOR THE RETURN OF BOBO AND WILLIE? AT LEAST WERE GOING TO THE ACC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME,WHERE ARE THE MUTTS GOING? THE PIZZA HUT BOWL!
DAWGS RULE
November 29th, 2009
8:46 am
That shows u how bad the acc sucks
WHY DO MUTTS BARK?CAUSE BUMBLE BEES STING
November 29th, 2009
8:47 am
WE AT TECH STILL HAVE MORE FOOTBALL NATIONAL TITLES THAN UGAY 1917,1948,1952 AND 1990! AND WERE GOING TO THE ACC CHAMP GAME,WHAT ABOUT THE REDNECK MUTT PROGRAM? I AINT CHICKEN LIKE THE MOST OF YOU REDNECKS!
SEC fan
November 29th, 2009
8:49 am
New name for the ACC Championship Game. The LOSER BOWL! Good news for GT, all the little GT stickers and signs are marked 75% off today if you have the nerve to post them.
WOW
November 29th, 2009
8:49 am
I almost forgot about m…..all year I read” It’s only the beginning”….. For you it probably was, for most gt fas they realize that UGA has won 8 of the last 9….not sure but I think Ga has won 16 of last 20… somebody will correct me, but you get the idea….
guy
November 29th, 2009
8:50 am
Now that we have defeated the tech nerds it would be even sweeter if we could defeat obama,reid,pelosi,dodd,franks,kerry and the rest of the other nerds. Then everything would begin to be normal again. The great news is that it’s back to normal in Georgia as far as college football is concerned.
DAWGS RULE
November 29th, 2009
8:50 am
AND WE STILL OWN YOUR ASS
SEC fan
November 29th, 2009
8:50 am
GT gonna go back to living in the past for another 7 years now?
mackdawg
November 29th, 2009
8:53 am
where is the Tech vermin on this page? (I’m talkin’ to you, St. Simon!)I’ve had to read your crap here for the last year,just scurry back to the dark corner where you belong and don’t come out again for another 8 years!
poopdawg
November 29th, 2009
8:53 am
Reality , saying uga fans have no class while calling uga “ugay” ? PRICELESS , Clemson is going to MAN UP next week also!
MJ ALL DAY
November 29th, 2009
8:55 am
The Universe just lined back up…. And to the Tech fans—I think this one will hurt for a while…Oh and just to spell it out for you: you were ranked #7, playing a Georgia Team that just lost to Kentucky, you had 2 weeks to prepare for Georgia, Just signed your coach until 2016,Finally sold out a game or two this season, and BAM! 30-24! Yep this one will last for a long while……The dreaded “What if”!!!!
FLA DAWG
November 29th, 2009
8:55 am
I am grateful and proud of The Dawgs for a beautiful upset win against GT.
Do Martinez & Bobo still need to go?
Absolutely.
Bobo, after multiple seasons as OC needed his mentor in the biggest way possible to call plays. The D played well except for two missed tackles that resulted in 14 points for GT. No one in position to slide over from man on man or zone coverage to come up for pass D assist is a child’s error.
I submit to you that what we saw last night was more evidence that Martinez & Bobo have to go.
But just look at the vast talent we have and then look at our season stats – that tells the story and makes the decision an easy one on paper.
I’m afraid Richt’s intent is to keep everything in place and that bodes poorly for next season.
WOW
November 29th, 2009
8:57 am
@ dogs bark 8:47…. National rankings didn’t start till later this century.. As late as the fiftys, you would have multiple teams claiming National titles every year. I will gladly meet you at GT, so you can show me the Crystal trophy for the national championship 1990. I KNOW there is one in Colorado….Atlanata not so much….
MJ
November 29th, 2009
8:57 am
Tech was exposed last night. It shows us all that the ACC is still a second tier conference. This is not a good UGA team and they smashed tech. All that said, I want a complete overhaul with our Dawg program. Keep Richt but remove the key coaches and light up the program with some very dynamic hires.
ldh
November 29th, 2009
8:58 am
HEY MARK AN ANSWER TO YOUR TECH FANS GIGGLE…COLUMN.YOU SHUT UP AND DEAL.I BET THIS REALLY PISSES YOU OFF.YOU WROTE SMACK ALL YEAR ABOUT HOW MUCH BETTER TECH WAS.UGA EXPOSED TECH FOR WHAT THEY REALLY ARE A HIGH SCHOOL OFFENSE.THEY ARE IMPROVED OVER WHAT THEY USED TO BE,BUT A BETTER PROGRAM THAN UGA GIVE ME A FRIGGIN BREAK. YOU SHUT UP AND DEAL.
MJ ALL DAY
November 29th, 2009
8:58 am
Back on top!
Go DOGS
November 29th, 2009
8:58 am
Rise and shine….THAT beat down last night was not a nightmare. That truck that just ran over GT was named UGA, and it is reality! Coming at you woof, woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!
EZ Dog
November 29th, 2009
9:00 am
“WHY DO MUTTS BARK? CAUSE BUMBLE BEES STING” What the heck does that mean anyway. Matters not if dogs bark or bees sting. dogs score 30 . . . Bees score 24….you play Clemson for a championship that has been dominated by SEC, both of you beat down badly by SEC teams. 8 – 1…consider yourself “owned”. You have more? We have less? get serious…its all about the next 365 pal….enjoy 2010.
Central Georgia Dawg
November 29th, 2009
9:00 am
First of all, we have had to deal with the most obnoxious fanbase for a year. You won by three last year, and I believe one of the GT posters said I can’t believe it was a life defining moment. You are reaping what your fanbase sowed. CPJ was annointed the second coming of John Heisman. You saw what your future is. That offense with mediocre athletes= 3 to 4 losses a year. CPJ’s playcalling at the end was a puzzle. I think Georgia should get rings this year 2009 ACC CHAMPS! You were exposed, and now you have to stop Spiller. GOOD LUCK!!! You are the BCS’s worst nightmare. A fanbase that doesn’t travel. I guarantee that Clemson fans will outnumber you 10-1 in Tampa.To all the Georgia seniors, congratulations on a great last regular season win. And to answer another poster’s comments. It doesn’t matter where we go to a bowl game, WE WILL BE THERE IN FORCE!!!!
HH
November 29th, 2009
9:02 am
One win, albeit even against GA Tech, does not a season make. I hope this unexpected win does not give Richt an excuse to do nothing about Willie and the others of his staff that need to be held accountable for their overall poor coaching this season, as well as the many other problems that need to be addressed. The Kentucky game has not lost its’ signifance in that respect. The Tech win serves as a balm to an otherwise underachieving season, but does nothing to cure the glaring deficiencies indemic to the program.
FLA DAWG
November 29th, 2009
9:02 am
A great, upset win for The Dawgs and a Devastating Loss for GT this season.
Bobo – needed major assist from Richt to call the plays. After all this time he must go.
Martinez – got the D up and they stayed up. But two missed tackles and no backup gave GT 14 points. Inexcusable. He must go.
Fabris – Ongoing problems on Special Teams. He must go.
We won but almost gave the game back to GT. If anything, this game was more evidence that coaching changes are needed.
Richt will likely use this win to keep everyone in place though.
gainesvilledawg
November 29th, 2009
9:03 am
1-2-3-4, THROW THE BALL, PAUL!
SouthCarolinaJacket
November 29th, 2009
9:05 am
Damn.
Super gutsy effort by Nesbitt. Dwyer – ho hum. Horrible Johnson play calling at the end. Reminiscent of Chan’s. Running defense had gaping holes after Ben Anderson went out.
Next year.
Gatormeat
November 29th, 2009
9:05 am
The officials pretty much handed the dogs the game, they interfered with both passes at the endzone. It is alright though, watch next week dogs and see the Gators win a real football game, and remember next year is coming fast, the Gators will punish the dogs. Again
WoodstockDawg02
November 29th, 2009
9:06 am
mutt h8r…haha, let the excuses begin. “you guys tackled nesbitt too hard and then he couldn’t play anymore”. SOMEBODY CALL A WHAMBULANCE!!!!!
SuperB
November 29th, 2009
9:07 am
To SAINT SIMONS: 30-24…. hahahahahahaha!
gt rolls over ga.hahahaha
November 29th, 2009
9:08 am
acc looked like some real power houses as usual and paul johnson looks like an old woman.
EZ Dog
November 29th, 2009
9:08 am
Gatormeat, don’t you have a TEBOW worship to attend this morning? This aint about you…
redneck by choice
November 29th, 2009
9:09 am
s e c sweep a c c sux
Dawgtime
November 29th, 2009
9:09 am
I have told this group the truth throughout the year. I didn’t back down when all the GT fans spewed their trash. I find it hilarious that they cannot be found this morning. If you give it, be ready to take it. I have said throughout the year that an average SEC team would dominate the ACC. I compared the ACC to a high school conference. I even compared the top teams. I got all this trash from GT fans. I was right. Your team looked awesome against a very weak ACC conference with the exception of Miami. Welcome to a real conference. UGA has a down year and whips GT during one of their best seasons ever. Before the excuses start, A.J. Green, our best player, didn’t play. Mark Richt and Willie Martinez were grilled by GT fans, yet Mark Richt led the Dawgs to a win over Paul Johnson. Willie Martinez out coached the great Johnson. You couldn’t run it so you had to resort to throwing bombs. That is what you call terrible coaching. Your defense is a joke. Say bye to the top 10. Your conference championship will be a game that has two teams that are coming off loses via two average SEC teams. Yes, the SEC will have the national title team again this year. Oh GT fans, you can’t even claim the state title. To make it better, all of your elite talent is upperclassmen. All of UGA’s elite talent is underclassmen. Do I smell another decade of domination? I wonder if I will be seeing GT fans posting on UGA recruiting blogs now or becoming UGA fan imposters. You can change the screen name but you can’t change the score. Go Dawgs.
nwdnanny
November 29th, 2009
9:11 am
WHO NEEDS KNOSHOWN WHEN WE GOT WASHAUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!. I couldn’t have been prouder of a group of guys and their fight. ACC you will NEVER and I repeat NEVER hang for long with the big boys of the SEC. Hope you enjoyed last year’s win because you have a LONG time to wait for another one.
EZ Dog
November 29th, 2009
9:11 am
I hear Nesbitt took a needle to the ankle to play. Pretty tough kid for sure, but hurt him on purpose? Please? grow a set mutt h8r
Reality Bites
November 29th, 2009
9:11 am
“Bigger fish”…”this game doesn’t mean as much to us as next week”…”we’re going to a BCS bowl game and you’re not”…whatever, man. You could go out and win the ACCCG (officially owned by the SEC) and the Orange and you know what…this game will not sit well with any of you for a year, if not longer.
Trying to brush this off like it’s nothing is such a joke. Based on the Tech Team Goals, we came in and crushed one of the most important ones – win all home games. Yeah, it meant alot, and don’t try to convince anyone on this board otherwise.
Classy Tech fans is an oxymoron, btw.
CovDawg
November 29th, 2009
9:13 am
30-24 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Where is that pimple poppin, yellow bug. Stick your head up.
WTDI Dawg
November 29th, 2009
9:13 am
HEY Saint Simons…….((((30-24)))) Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!! The ACC is awful and will never change. See you in seven years, or better yet, never again. Nerds probably won’t qualify for a ring this year, but a pocket protector or new slide rule may not be out of the question. IT’S GREAT TO BE A DAWG!!!!!
gwadgib
November 29th, 2009
9:14 am
ORDER HAS BEEN RESTORED in the great state of Georgia….
Mark Bradley lives in Paul Johnsons choad...
November 29th, 2009
9:14 am
Bradley – To call you a hack would be exceedingly kind. You’re about as good as all the other losers skulking along North Ave this morning. Hope you enjoy the smell of Tech stinking again, tool…
blazerdawg
November 29th, 2009
9:14 am
Way to go Dogs!! I still trust CMR to do what he believes is best for the program. Better schedule next year…if we can find a QB, then the Dawgs will be back in the BCS.
Jack
November 29th, 2009
9:15 am
A few things,,, all you guys giving Mark a hard time about trashing UGA all year,, I’d bet that 90% of you guys digging on Mark today have been the same ones that have been calling UGA bums all year. Just cause they finally won ONE game, don’t make it sound like they are great all of a sudden. I’m glad my doggies won, but come on,,,,,, one of the worst years in UGA history cannot, should not be covered up by a win over Tech.
Another thing,,, I am so glad that Richt and all his “excellent” coaches finally figured out a sure fire way to win a ball game… have Joe Cox have as little to do with the offense as possible. I really think the Water Girl could have done what Joe did tonight. I can see it now “okay Joe,,, we have a new game plan,,,, you hand it off to Ealey and King,, and please,,,, please,, please,, don’t throw the ball !”"”
I just really hope that we don’t start hearing about what a great job that Willie did,,,, My biggest fear about this victory is that CMR is going to use it as a campaign to keep his buddy around for another year,, what a nightmare that would be..
Go DAWGS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AIN'T Simon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 29th, 2009
9:15 am
30-24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Meatlake
November 29th, 2009
9:15 am
BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH
Mutt H8r
November 29th, 2009
9:15 am
WD02 – Did I not say congrats???
The mutts are a well stocked talented team of 5 star recruits and bouncing up and down on a single mutt player with a pinned leg would not have the much impact. You would just send out another one to take his place.
However, since you took it to the next level, it should be pointed out that mutts are scum.
Mutts are
gary summers
November 29th, 2009
9:17 am
keep RUSS
Big L
November 29th, 2009
9:18 am
It all boils down to this. Bobo finally figured out that football starts with the running game. Make Joe Cox do less and the passes he can make will mean more. His TD pass looked real good and two passes were dropped.
EZ Dog
November 29th, 2009
9:18 am
Allright!!! way to get down Mutt H8r…you are just the bomb!
Saint Simons
November 29th, 2009
9:18 am
I realized something. This whole year I have been wrong. I really, deep down, love the University of Georgia. They are always what I aspired to be. It all started when I was young, and my family could not afford the E.D. surgery I so desperately needed…..
To Hell With Tech
November 29th, 2009
9:18 am
Glad we will not have to hear from the GT pu$$y’s all year! Hopefully they will stay on their pages to post!
epnoymous
November 29th, 2009
9:22 am
go ahead and tell Barnhart that he was way off in his prediction, too. Geez, if I were as bad at my job as some of you guys are at predicting games….
Big L
November 29th, 2009
9:22 am
Hey mutt h8ter, calm down bubba. I am sure you were’nt this down trodden while you were talkin trash the last 365 days. Welcome back to a 2nd rate exeistence of hating what you ain’t. Besides, Tech never really left.