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
Hi NFL, I can run for 7 yards a game
November 29th, 2009
12:01 am
Nice game Dwyer–
Haaa haaaaa haaaa
Red Clay Hound
November 29th, 2009
12:01 am
One comment – and I will speak no more of this game – where are you Saint Simons ? One game sir, does not make a rivalry, nor does it change history – you have a wonderful coach and you will win more games against UGA as long as CPJ is the coach – you may have single handedly brought this upset upon your beloved jackets – (karma I believe it’s called) – we still have to make changes – whether they be in personnel or scheme – I will let CMR handle that – although I ( as a dawg fan ) have been most disappointed with our season and we must not fall into the abyss of (7-5) seasons – this team has not folded – has not taken to finger pointing or back biting and how ever little that may mean to you (what have you done for me lately’s) there is some measure of respect to be gained from that – Go Dawgs
GoGaBulldawgs
November 29th, 2009
12:01 am
Where are you St. SImon????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your bragging rights are over. 30-24 HA!-HA!-HA! HA!
wmd
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
This just in…..Some idiot that calls himself SAINT SIMONS just drowned trying to swim off the island. Word has it he was last seen with the score 30-24 carved into his forehead and 45 boot prints on his butt and 42 cigar burns on his chest. I don’t normally like to rub it in but…… this feels extra good!
Saint Simons
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
I did not see the game, what happend, I was outside seeing if Global Warming is real or fake, did Tech win?
If Tech won, then Global Warming for real folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!AJC sucks, if it wasn;t online they would have ten readers!!!!!!! There is a HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH for ya!!!!!
Support our Dawgs in their Bowl
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
Bulldawg Nation: I just witnessed something that I thought would be impossible. Our beloved Dawgs regained their edge and they finally got fired up and got mean. You have got to play wide open and you must play mean to stop that GT offensive machine. I give Willie credit, his D held GT to well over 100 yards below their season rushing average and they held GT to well over 100 yards below their total yards season average. Granted all was not pretty, especially some of our tackling, but marquee players are going to make you look bad from time to time. I want to give Rennie Curran a huge shout out, as he was in on just about every play. Also, Rashad made up for last year’s missed tackle. Guys, stay in school for another year and get us another SEC title next year. Anyway, enough game analysis. I am going to buy tickets to whatever bowl we end up in. I am going to take my 15 year old son, and we are going to scream our heads off for our beloved Dawgs. They showed me heart tonight. They proved to me that they can get it done, and we all need to stick by them whether in Shreveport or Nashville or Atlanta. Recruits, come to Athens for consistent and sustained success. CMR, I am still with you brother. Stay strong!!!!!! Stay focused and make the right moves during the off season. I will pray for you.
Floze
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
I can’t wait to see the rematch for the ACC title: South Carolina vs. Georgia. We are going to need a good gasme from Rennie again.
SEC fan
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
Next game for GT is the Loser Bowl with Clemson. Clemson lost to SCe and UGA beat SCe. Does that make UGA the ACC Champ? No but it makes the ACC a very weak conference.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
CHUCKIE D:
IT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH TECH’S DEFENSIVE LINE, BUT YOU WOULD PROBABLY NEVER FIGURE THAT OUT…EVERYBODY ELSE DON’T PLAY THE RUN LIKE TECH DOES….TRIED TO RUN IT VS. TENN. AND OTHERS, BUT THEIR DLINE WAS BETTER THAN GT…BOBO CALLED A GREAT GAME…WHEN YOU CAN RUN THE BALL EFFECTIVELY, IT IS EASY TO CALL THE PLAYS…
Buzzkill
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
waaaaaaa waaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaa !!!! 30-24, i for see rings from last year at your local pawn shop. that would make a great christmas gift GO DAWGS , SEC RULES THE DAY
BA BA Butterfingers
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
Can’t wait to see those 20,000 screaming ACC fans packing in at Raymond James Stadium to see 2 losers fight it out to see who the champs of that powerhouse conference.
30-24 ha ha ha ha
AIN'T Simon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
Dawg Fan, you forgot Florida 37 FSU 10 !!!!!!!!!!!!!HAHAHAHAHA SEC 3 ACC 0!!!!!!!!!!!
dawgfan
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
The worst Georgia team in 10 years just beat the best Tech team in 10 years.
Bradley, can your ignorant azz please explain?
Georgia Tech football is a total joke. That’s okay Techies. AJC sports columunists are an ewven bigger friggen joke.
30-24….BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA…..
MyView
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
Thats like Virginia and Wake Forsest beating Florida and Alabama in the same day. hahahahahahahhahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where's Saint Simons?
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
#7 GT loses to unranked UGA. ((((((( 30 to 24 )))))))))) ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gary
November 29th, 2009
12:02 am
Bradley: Even if your next column is great, it won’t be enough.
Tech is unstoppable
November 29th, 2009
12:03 am
Ealey and King “A perfect option!!!!!”
Ga boy
November 29th, 2009
12:03 am
Why would anyone go to Tampa to watch that game between those 2 teams??? Pathetic.
Billy
November 29th, 2009
12:03 am
Saint Simons HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Enjoy that score for 1 year.. 30-24
You donkey!!!!
david
November 29th, 2009
12:03 am
st. jacksass—-WWWWWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Jimmy
November 29th, 2009
12:03 am
COWARDS
Ramble On
Yellow Fuzz
Saint Simons
JERKS ALL
graceman
November 29th, 2009
12:03 am
I was glad to see that we ran the ball with authority, but we also never left the game plan even when Tech seemed to derail it. It helped the defense to stay off the field which played one of their best games of the year. I am happy for the Seniors, the team, the coaches, and our fans.
Jekyll Island
November 29th, 2009
12:03 am
((((((30-24))))))! St Simons you can kiss our #$%@! ROFLMAO!
dbc
November 29th, 2009
12:03 am
I have mixed emotions. Overlooked is the fact that Tech dropped a pass at a crucial moment. UGA didn’t defend it. That could have been the game if it went to Tech’s advantage. If somehow Willie stays, this is the play that saved him. We’ll see…But I love the win just the same. Have a nice ACC Championship Game losers!!!!! What a joke conference…
Curious and confused
November 29th, 2009
12:03 am
Man, we couldn’t even run like that against Tennessee Tech! Next year’s offense will be scary, and if Jones and Curran stay, we should have a defense to match!
yo mama
November 29th, 2009
12:03 am
Tech was looking ahead for Clemson, whining about the BCS, and whopps, their season is over. Never under estimate the Bulldogs. we bite back, and hard.
yep
November 29th, 2009
12:03 am
great game sec 5th or 6th teams beat the crappy 1 & 2 teams lose!!!!!!!!!!! tech
Jonathan Dwyer
November 29th, 2009
12:03 am
Damn Caleb King is way better than me.
New Dawg
November 29th, 2009
12:04 am
We beat Tech. hohum……no big deal. It’s just Tech….
TulsaDawg
November 29th, 2009
12:04 am
Dag, we need to keep that dawg Russ, that sumbitch knows how to win a game. Rus = UGA VIII!!!!!!!
All year long
November 29th, 2009
12:04 am
To St. Simons and RAMBLE ON!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
Order instantly restored.
How Sweet It Is
November 29th, 2009
12:04 am
Tonight is the reason the ACC will never be in the BCS conversation. Both ACC division winners lost to SEC teams!!!!!!!! I guess a Georgia Southern offense will work at Tech…….hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gooooooo dawgs!
Lumpkin Street Larry
November 29th, 2009
12:04 am
SEC trumps ACC, simple as that. Go Dogs!
bc
November 29th, 2009
12:04 am
Leave WM alone for a few days and let him enjoy this one. Regardless of what you think he is human and he is loyal. If need be let him go with some pride left.
playmeortrademe
November 29th, 2009
12:04 am
Georgia obviously had the superior talent on the field tonight. Georgia has much more size and speed than Tech, yet lucked out a win in a game they dominated. Why?
1) No killer instinct…call timeout at the end of the 1st half. Get more points. Step on em
2) Can’t score when it matters. Easily left 8-14 points on the field.
3) Questionable play calling in key situations. Why not run on 3rd down before the FG? Chances are you get the 1st (if you don’t run a dive play like on 2nd), but at least you are that closer for a FG.
It’s obvious SEC > ACC because of the depth of sheer talent. Between Tech and Clemson, maybe Spiller, Ford, Dwyer, Jones, and Morgan, and that stud frosh receiver at Tech could start for an elite SEC team. FSU might not have anybody that could play in the SEC, Miami might could compete for a 2nd place finish with their players.
Anyway, nice win, and hopefully awgs are seeing the emergence of two stud RBs for next year…but this program still has glaring weaknesses that need to be resolved to compete for the SEC title next year. Count on it, without changes Dawgs will lose at least two next year that they shouldn’t, including one at home, which should NEVER happen.
OMG
November 29th, 2009
12:04 am
Two of the SEC’s worst teams beat the ACC’s two best teams today!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA to you loud mouth Tech Fans!!
BulldawgBred
November 29th, 2009
12:05 am
Saint Simons with a rose…LAWL…What a joke the ACC is. Both teams in conference championship spanked by 5 loss SEC teams. Oh yeah…
((((( 30 24 ))))) hahahahahahaha..8-1 in the last nine!
Nick
November 29th, 2009
12:05 am
FLUKERS!!!!
YOU SUCK!
YOU’LL ALWAYS BE SECOND PLACE IN THIS STATE AND ALWAYS THE RED-HEADED STEPCHILDREN.
YOU BROUGHT THIS UPON YOURSELVES BY SHOWING HOW OBVIOUSLY YOU AREN’T USED TO BEATING ANYBODY!
YOU SUCK YOU SUCK YOU SUCK
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
30-24
WHAT WAS THE FLUKE SCORE LAST YEAR? WHO CARES!!
YOU SUCK
GO DAWGS!!
WestOfAthens
November 29th, 2009
12:05 am
Albeit a tough season, We Are Georgia
It’s Great To Be A Georgia Bulldog
Paul Johnson
November 29th, 2009
12:05 am
We have bigger fish to fry. We can overlook this team. Oh wait. They own us.
Mike J
November 29th, 2009
12:05 am
Washaun Ealey rushed for 183 yards, while Caleb King rambled for 166 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs (7-5) reclaimed state bragging rights in a disappointing year and handed the Yellow Jackets (10-2) a huge setback in what has been their best season in nearly two decades.
Suck on that jackets
mike bobo
November 29th, 2009
12:05 am
lol…welcome back to reality. Good luck against South Carolina’s batch.
John
November 29th, 2009
12:06 am
If Clemson beats Tech in the ACC championship game, there might be a unranked team going to the BCSCS…………..WE NEED A PLAYOFFS!!!!
Bulldog Richie
November 29th, 2009
12:06 am
The SEC rules in rivalry games. Florida, S. Carolina and UGA flatten ACC opponents.
Another stat for St Simons to reflect on for 12 months.
My new years prediction : It’s going to be a real bad year for S Simons.
nerdhater
November 29th, 2009
12:06 am
THE ACC IS A JOKE,GT AND CLEMSON LOSE TO TWO STRUGGLING SEC TEAMS AGAIN I SAY THE ACC IS A JOKE.
Diggity Dawg
November 29th, 2009
12:06 am
So do you Tech fans really still think that the Georgia game doesn’t define you?
Tech fans?????
Where are you?????
Paul Williams
November 29th, 2009
12:06 am
First of all, SHUT UP GA TECH. I love the ACC Championship now-are they playing for 7th best team in the SEC? Tech wouldn’t be .500 in the SEC.
Hopefully, the coaching improvements start tomorrow; this doesn’t change the fact that we still need two coordinators. Our DBs were way too soft, and the playcalling was still brutal in a few situations.
Why put Branden Smith at TB when things were going so well? Why throw a screen behind the line on that crucial 3rd and 3 in the 4th quarter? When you are running as well as we were you don’t need to get so darn cute. Bobo may have a place on the staff but we MUST have a mature OC as well as an entire new defensive scheme.
With the right coaches, and a decent QB, this team can be awesome next season.
And did I mention that the North Avenue Nerds can just SHUT UP!! I thought the messiah, Paul Johnson, panicked in the last two minutes. He had plenty of time to go down the field 10 or 15 yards at a time, and he threw 3 straight bombs! Stupid, stupid, stupid.
“Shift of power” my butt. Shut up nerds and GO DAWGS! 8 out of 9!
87dawg
November 29th, 2009
12:06 am
St. Simon’s, you freakin’ idiot!!!!
((((( 30 24 ))))) hahahahahahaha
Maybe we’ll hear from you in 7 more years. Moron.
john(Jax)
November 29th, 2009
12:07 am
It’s great to be a Georgia Bulldawg!!!!!!!
Hairy Dawg's Nuts
November 29th, 2009
12:07 am
Suddenly Powerful Georgia Team…Mark, C’mon, More like a HIGHLY OVERRATED Tech Team!!!