An inspired UGA goes to 2-4 and ponders ‘running the table’
The Alpha Dawg: Mark Richt leads Georgia onto the field. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS — The best 1-4 team in the land was so excited to be 1-4 no more that it did a victory dance in the locker room. Chief among the celebrants was the head Bulldog.
“Coach [Mark] Richt was the main one,” said Demarcus Dobbs, the defensive end. “He loves to get crazy after games.”
The past four Saturdays had yielded only a crazy sorrow. Indeed, as tailback Caleb King noted, the Bulldogs reacted with such fervor to Saturday’s thrashing of woebegone Tennessee team because their dancing had been so long deferred.
“It’s a silly dance,” King said. “But we hadn’t been able to do it for a while.”
Dobbs again: “It’s a lot different when you win. When you lose, everybody’s hanging his head and people are asking what went wrong. Today everybody’s vibrant.”
Not since Sept. 4 had the Georgia Bulldogs won a game. Not since Nov. 21 had they taken a lead against an SEC opponent. And the worst part of being 1-4 (and 0-3 against conference brethren) was that these Bulldogs knew, just knew, they were way better than that.
Here’s the redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray, who was as good Saturday as most redshirt seniors ever get: “We feel like we can definitely run the table these last six games.”
Got that? From 1-4 to 2-4 … clear to 8-4? (Which would mean beating Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech.) As presumptuous as it might sound, there’s nonetheless something tangible backstopping that belief. That something is talent.
It took a lot of (mis)doing for a team this gifted to get to 1-4, and it took some effort for Richt to keep it from going totally south after the egregious losses in Starkville and Boulder. To his credit, the coach of 10 years’ standing changed some things.
The Bulldogs practiced in full pads Monday. (Richt admitted Saturday his light-contact approach to summer camp “backfired.”) The team dressed at the Butts-Mehre complex, doing the pregame Dawg Walk in full gear. Prompted by a caller to his radio show, Richt even led his Bulldogs onto the field.
And the result? Said Richt, speaking of his men: “They played beautifully.”
He also recalled what he had told his team after the full-contact Monday session: “If you guys will play like you just did, we’re going to be all right.”
Whatever has ailed Georgia — and when you’re 1-4, you’ve ailed — can be fixed. We saw Saturday the difference between a team with a bad record and good players and one with a bad record and bad players. This game was over after a quarter. Tennessee kept handing the Bulldogs the ball, and the Bulldogs kept taking it and scoring. And the best player on the field was the player Georgia hadn’t had for four games.
“We’re not going to give up,” said A.J. Green, the great receiver. “We’re all we’ve got.”
At peak capacity, Georgia has a lot. That was the message Richt sought to send with his Monday-in-pads decree, a message seconded on Friday by the former UGA linebacker Boss Bailey, who served as honorary captain for this game. Said Richt: “He felt like he needed to tell them that they weren’t playing ball the way ball should be played here at Georgia.”
On Saturday they did. They beat Tennessee by 27 points and spent the fourth quarter coasting. It would have been unseemly to embarrass Derek Dooley, the Vols’ coach and the son of Georgia’s greatest coach. (For the record, Vince Dooley watched the game from his home on Milledge Circle. His wife, Barbara, was in attendance wearing red slacks and an orange sweater, a look even the stylish Mrs. D. couldn’t quite pull off.)
By then, Richt’s team had long since proved its point: Georgia may have a bad record, but it isn’t a bad team. And now six games remain, time enough to do some damage.
Said Richt: “I never lost hope. I never lost faith. I never thought we had a significant amount of problems.”
Except for the losing. The losing was an issue. On this Saturday, as opposed to the past four, Georgia did not lose. It won and did its silly dance. It will dance some more before this season is done.
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797 comments Add your comment
Roll Tide
October 9th, 2010
8:52 pm
It’s time to fire Saban. Enough is enough . Is this nightmare go ever end?
Earl
October 9th, 2010
8:53 pm
test
RAID
October 9th, 2010
8:54 pm
I would’nt think Michigan, or anyone else for that matter would want Miles…But I have heard the Saban thing more than once…..and after all, he loves to travel and the challenge……Also, I agree, why has’nt Richt been “coaching his a$$ off” before now?…..I also think he had a little to do with the play calling today…..which was a good thing…..I noticed him up Bobo’s arse more than once!…
MC
October 9th, 2010
8:54 pm
The only reason we lost any games was the NCAA was too hard on Green. Now we have Green back. Look out out SEC.
Tuscaloosa Tina
October 9th, 2010
8:54 pm
Fire Saban. Enough is enough. When is this nightmare going to end?
kgtech
October 9th, 2010
8:57 pm
OK you beat a well below average TN team,and????
South Georgia
October 9th, 2010
8:58 pm
The buzzards circling Mark Richt’s career were premature. A young team grew up some today and Mark Richt still is one of the best coaches in the country. He was before today and deserves credit for pulling the team out of its slump. Still much room for improvement.
BullDawgWillie
October 9th, 2010
8:58 pm
Has anyone noticed that our defense gave up 123 points in 2009 to TN, AK and SC. In 2010 the same teams have only scored 62 points…..almost a 3 touchdown/game improvement. Maybe the coaching change is helping despite our record. Go Dawgs!!!
Party school
October 9th, 2010
9:04 pm
Is there anyone here who doesn’t believe that Tennessee is the worst team in the SEC East and possibly in the whole conference? If so, who is worse????
RAID
October 9th, 2010
9:05 pm
Youre right bulldawgwillie!….defence is not our problem thus far outside a few big plays……The offence has been…but not due to AM…..we got us one fine QB…and its still amazing that AJ makes such a huge difference…….anyone hear the stat during the Col game that when AJ was on the field we had over 400 yds….without we had -18………thats kind of sad though…..what’ll we do next yr?
Pigeon
October 9th, 2010
9:09 pm
Glad we won today. But why did our defensive line not try to rush Tenn when they were kicking extra points? I’ve never seen this before and am trying to figure it out. Seriously. Did anyone else notice? Our line stood up from their stance when the ball was snapped but then just stood still and made no attempt to rush the Tenn line. I thought it was strange……..but maybe it’s just me!!
Paul's Johnson
October 9th, 2010
9:09 pm
OK…..so now Georgia’s the best 2-4 team in the country!
Since Vince
October 9th, 2010
9:14 pm
SC has now beaten the #1 team in basketball, baseball and now football. UGA has definitely slipped big time in its athletic program.
RAID
October 9th, 2010
9:15 pm
PIGEON!….I noticed the exact same thing!…..at one time they were already walking off before the snap!….waddup wid dat!
Inspired UGA goes to 2-4 and ponders 'running the table' | Mark … economic university
October 9th, 2010
9:34 pm
[...] is the original post: Inspired UGA goes to 2-4 and ponders 'running the table' | Mark … By admin | category: University of GEORGIA | tags: bulldogs, tennessee | Breakdown: [...]
Jimmy John
October 9th, 2010
9:40 pm
Richt still needs to go. Today’s game illustrates that fact more than anything. Why haven’t we been playing this way all season? Poor coaching, that’s why.
North Ave Swat Team
October 9th, 2010
9:47 pm
Boy I just love to see Tech fans on here talking crap
Big time wins against power house teams for the middle school option veer,
you know Virginia, UNC, Savannah St, and that close call against Power house Wake High
Headley Lamar
October 9th, 2010
9:53 pm
Anybody think Murray playing so well might cost us LeMay as a recruit?
GAMECOCKS 35 BAMA 21
October 9th, 2010
9:53 pm
this will help the UGA bcs sos rating…
how about my chickens!?!
Hummon
October 9th, 2010
9:54 pm
A fun win, but for anybody on this team to speak of winning the table . . . wow, they haven’t earned that kind of talk. One game at a time. Take care of Vandy.
Party school
October 9th, 2010
9:55 pm
Missouri 26 Colorado 0, 4th quarter
North Ave Swat Team
October 9th, 2010
9:56 pm
If Murray plays like he has for 4 yrs who cares about LeMay, give me a break
Dawg Whisperer
October 9th, 2010
9:56 pm
I’m totally unimpressed by the gators. The refs are helping Florida but LSU is clearly better. I loved seeing bama get whipped. Boy, the gators sure could use Aaron Murray! I think Aaron is on to something. UGA is capable of running the table if they continue to improve.
Hummon
October 9th, 2010
9:58 pm
’scuse me, I meant “RUNNING the table.” I suppose it would be acceptable for them to speak of winning the table, but not of running it.
Shawn
October 9th, 2010
10:00 pm
I thinks that the Dawgs can possibly run the table if they play with heart, and limit the mistakes and penalties. UF is clearly not as dominant as in previous years, and Auburn is a good team but looks fragile at times. If we can get by these 2 teams, then that should allow us to win out. Murray is a good QB who is only getting better with every game. I am really impressed with that kid. Since the Dawgs’ backs are against the wall, then hopefully we will see more of today’s fire down the stretch. And congrats to SC for handling Bama today. Although the Dawgs could have used a SC defeat in the East, I am happy to see David beat Goliath. GO DAWGS!!!
Idiot dog writers and fans
October 9th, 2010
10:01 pm
Hey idiots
Missouri 29 Colorado 0
Morons
Aiken29801
October 9th, 2010
10:01 pm
Well, well, well. Those Gamecocks were beautiful today. So don’t feel so bad about losing to “those sorry Gamecocks”. I just hope it holds out. We are not a great team but we were great today and for that, I am very greatful.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
10:03 pm
UF looks like garbage…I can’t wait for UGA to play them.
Auburn scares me.
Hummon
October 9th, 2010
10:04 pm
Apparently a score in a football game makes me an idiot. Wow! Who knew?
Please post under your real name and the call others idiots. Go ahead.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
10:04 pm
What’s a ‘dog writer”?
SOUTHGADAWG88
October 9th, 2010
10:09 pm
I guess Meyer isn’t all that superior to Miles.
Sara
October 9th, 2010
10:10 pm
The Dawgs have a great chance of winning out if they play as they did today. TN is not very good, but I saw a different UGA out there today. They were fired up and ready to play. Where has that intensity been all season? Auburn and Florida are going to be the toughest games on the schedule, and both teams look beatable at this point. Auburn has been squeaking by lately and are likely to lose the next 2 games. Florida has not looked like the powerhouse of old this season, and will likely lose tonight. As a Dawg fan, I hope that the worst is behind us and we can end the season with a decent record. GO DAWGS!
Headley Lamar
October 9th, 2010
10:10 pm
Meyer is finding out its tough to win without Tebow
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
10:11 pm
Marist 51
Valparaiso
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
10:11 pm
Marist 51
Valparaiso 7
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
10:12 pm
Sam Houston State 26
Nicholls State 7
NOBODYYOUKNOW
October 9th, 2010
10:12 pm
UGA beat the lowest ranked tean in the SEC, so I guess that means they’re going undefeated from here on.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
10:13 pm
Langston 0
Lamar 14
Party school
October 9th, 2010
10:14 pm
Just a hunch here but I bet you guys buy lottery tickets too.
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
10:15 pm
“UGA beat the lowest ranked tean in the SEC, so I guess that means they’re going undefeated from here on.”
Correct.
WTF??
October 9th, 2010
10:17 pm
Party school How many times have you been arrested loser
WTF??
October 9th, 2010
10:18 pm
NOBODYYOUKNOW what world are you living in? Georgia will not go undefeated for the rest of the season
uga is a joke
October 9th, 2010
10:19 pm
yay you beat a bad tenn team. congrats. you are 2-4. 2 more wins to get to 500 losers.
Party school
October 9th, 2010
10:20 pm
None, you?
Delbert D.
October 9th, 2010
10:22 pm
Pete Thamel of the New York Times quote:
“The biggest loser Saturday, other than Alabama, could be the SEC. The league has won the past four B.C.S. title games, but Commissioner Mike Slive will no doubt spend the rest of the fall nervous about whether the SEC can squeeze a team into the title game this year. His hair may even turn a more stunning shade of white.
The reality is that the SEC lacks the depth that was its hallmark the past five seasons. Georgia (2-4) has been awful, and the Bulldogs blew out Tennessee, 41-14, on Saturday to show that the Volunteers (2-3) have managed to be even worse.”
I’d say he must not have watched the Georgia Game today. Looks like all of the ills have been cured.
WTF??
October 9th, 2010
10:23 pm
Party School is another mutt loser
Just sayin
October 9th, 2010
10:24 pm
“yay you beat a bad tenn team. congrats. you are 2-4. 2 more wins to get to 500 losers.”
Thank you. It was a pretty big win today. Also, good counting skills, but I’m pretty sure we need more than 2 wins to get to 500 wins. That would take like fifty 10-win season….that’s gonna be tough….
Delbert D.
October 9th, 2010
10:26 pm
Kentucky just tied the game.
UGA 2010
October 9th, 2010
10:26 pm
might have a bit of trouble next week with the way UK is playing Auburn tonight
Party school
October 9th, 2010
10:26 pm
WTF, I must have hit a nerve with that lottery ticket crack, lol. So how many tickets do you buy?