Boise State deserves all its accolades, but UGA’s going to win
Mark Richt and Chris Petersen consider the old-school aesthetics of a helmet not designed by Nike. (AP photo).
Let’s be clear about this. I have the utmost respect for Boise State. This is a team, as Georgia coach Mark Richt said Friday, “that plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played, that plays as hard as any team I’ve every seen.”
Boise’s Chris Petersen might well be the best coach on any campus. (Take that, Nick Saban!) Kellen Moore deserves inclusion on all the Heisman shortlists. Pound for pound, this is the nation’s finest program. That said …
I still can’t get over Boise State being favored against Georgia — in the Georgia Dome.
Go ahead. Call me an SEC homer. I ‘d counter by saying I was rooting hard for Boise to play in the BCS title game last season simply because I enjoy seeing the BCS turn a Boise-esque blue in the face. But I’d also note that facts are facts: The SEC has the best players and plays the best football, and even coming off two down seasons Georgia has better players than the Broncos.
Doesn’t mean Georgia will win. (Although I believe it will.) The Bulldogs spent last season losing every lose-able game save one. The edge Boise has, even under the off-white roof of the Georgia Dome, is its reservoir of contemporary success. Richt again: “When you play a team that’s used to winning and that knows how to win, it’s hard.”
But here’s the thing: Winning Saturday night would mean more to Georgia than to Boise. The Broncos can lose and still point with pride to their cumulative record — they’re 61-5 under Petersen — and last season’s rousing victory over Virginia Tech in Washington, D.C. Boise can lose this game and still be Boise.
If Georgia loses, however, the questions will begin again: About Richt and his job and his program and its future, or the lack thereof. And that has made for a weird dynamic in this made-for-TV opener. The heavyweight has more to prove than does the welterweight.
At Friday’s news conference, Petersen was asked if he was surprised to be favored by a field goal. “Favored by who?” he said. “I don’t see it like that … I don’t know what they’re looking at.”
Yeah, this is Coachspeak 101. But Petersen also noted that he’d included Georgia in his preseason Top 25. “I don’t think I had the Broncos, though,” he said, perhaps even telling the truth.
The media session at the Omni hotel was so sugary-sweet as to induce cavities. Richt gushed about Petersen and his program. (”Coach Pete,” he called him.) Coach Pete alllowed that playing such an opponent in such a game was “always very scary.”
Just to clear the air, Richt mentioned Brandon Boykin’s Tweet. (The Georgia returner dared Petersen to kick to him.) “How ’bout that?” said Richt, glancing at Petersen and ducking his head.
Said Petersen, grinning: “I don’t know anything about it. We don’t have Twitter.”
Petersen even offered an opinion on Georgia’s infamous Pro Combat uniforms. “My boys think they’re awesome,” he said. “They say ours [Boise will also wear a Nike-designed kit] are all right but, ‘Did you see Georgia’s?’ ”
Richt on the uniforms: “The players like ‘em and we’re wearing ‘em.”
Loading ...But enough about clothing. Back to the game. Richt said of Boise: “They could play in our league and do well.”
And maybe the Broncos could. But Georgia has the chance to do very well in its league this season, and the proving begins Saturday night. It’s a game these Bulldogs have long awaited — Richt recalled announcing the Boise opener after a practice last fall and seeing the heads of all those who figured to be returning perk up — and it’s a game that could go a long way toward making Georgia matter again.
Let’s say it again: Boise State — great coach, great program. But there’s still a difference between the Mountain West and the SEC. In such a bout, a skilled and disciplined welterweight always has a chance. But most of the time a good big man beats a good little man. Georgia 34, Boise 24.
By Mark Bradley
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243 comments Add your comment
RedandBlackDAWG
September 3rd, 2011
10:20 am
Don’t see Buckeye on here this morning bad mouthing UGA and praising that mighty team from Ohio. Must be the fact, that they have had to suspend three more players recently for accepting benefits from a charitable event, even though each of the three was suppose to have accepted less than 300.00. Can you spell, “Lack of Institutional Control”? If after all that school has been through, their athletic Dept. can’t even get through to what appears to be some pretty dense headed players, that you can’t accept money or gifts, you have to wonder who is running that place. The players or the administrators. Right now, it would appear the players and they are not doing too good of a job as it is. No problems though, the NCAA enforcement dept. will just say, that OSU has handled it well internally, and further penalties will not be forth coming.
Jordan
September 3rd, 2011
10:39 am
http://isportsweb.com/2011/09/03/chick-fil-a-kickoff-game-preview/
George P. Burdell
September 3rd, 2011
10:48 am
Go Dawgs. It would be embarrassing to play a team at the end of the season that lost to a team from the Mountain West Conference.
I want to see one key difference
September 3rd, 2011
11:04 am
Bobo and CMR will not run it but I want to see the Dogs grind it out and grind it out with Malcom and Crowell and Samuel just wearing them down running behind behemoth Bruce Figgins and Zander Olgetree busting them but good on lead FB blocks with 5 yd and 7 yd and 8 yds carries all night long. THEN and only then, should we try to hit Orson or Rantvaious or T King on a route. Flares should work so well with our scat men.
Wear em down is what needs to happen ………………….other wise, we will be in a track meet.
Go Dogs
Dawg Tired
September 3rd, 2011
11:25 am
At Vegasinsider.com the line has flipped. UGA now a 3 point favorite. I assume this is the result of the 3 BSU players being held out.
Dawg Tired
September 3rd, 2011
11:30 am
I will point out that “Chain” is not one of the folks setting the betting line in Vegas. How much money is “Chain” willing to put on us giving 34 points to BSU? I’m a Dawg fan all the way, but I’ll put all I can on BSU at +34. It’’s folks like “Chain” that make you wonder just what are people using for a brain.
Dawg Tired
September 3rd, 2011
11:32 am
Plus, calling a program like BSU “garbage” is uncalled for. It actually says more about “Chain” than it does anybody else.
Bob
September 3rd, 2011
11:47 am
Boise is favored at the Mirage, Hilton, Wynn and Cesear’s. Dogs underdogs on every line by 3.
http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/las-vegas/
Fair and Balanced
September 3rd, 2011
11:49 am
Ga has to play well, get all the breaks, BS has to play bad, and Bobo has to guess right every play for us to win. Possible – not probable.
Numberwang
September 3rd, 2011
12:09 pm
I feel confident about the game against Boise St., but I’m starting to lose that confidence with South Carolina. I can see us putting on a stupendous performance tonight and then not being able to muster that same type of energy against the visor boys. This program has really struggled playing back-to-back Top 20 teams. I can easily see us starting the season 1-1. I hope I’m wrong and we start the 2011 campaign 2-0!!!
riche
September 3rd, 2011
12:52 pm
we have the best punter;place kicker combo in the nation. They will prove to be the difference in this game. Special Teams and a Special young man named Aaron Murray will bring home a W for the dawgs. No nxt week against Carolina, a different plate of food for a different meal. We have to concentrate and play fundamental football tonight and i think we will. Unsung hero for the game will be the work of Todd Grantham and a defense that i believe will turn some heads tonight. GO DAWGS
GOBRONCOS
September 3rd, 2011
1:13 pm
BSU dominates tonight. THWG!
1eyedJack
September 3rd, 2011
2:47 pm
Auburn is not good.
LLUGA
September 3rd, 2011
3:09 pm
Where is Trisha Disha War Eagle…say something…please.
whatsgoingon
September 3rd, 2011
3:55 pm
Dear MB – Your comment “The SEC has the best players and plays the best football” – try saying that after the Auburn and Utah State (yea, Utah State – that other WAC school). Utah State, for all practical purposes BEAT Auburn – in Auburn – with a True Freshman QB and 6 Freshman starters. Unfortunately – because US could not field an on-side kick – Auburn scores at the end to PULL one out. But yet the mighty SEC is supposed to be the best and have the best. Just imagine what would happen if a Utah State or Boise State could recruit like an SEC team could – but then again (and I am NOT trying to make a racial thing out of this – but the facts are the facts) – there is not a lot to recruit from west of the Rockies – outside of California.
okfornow
September 3rd, 2011
4:00 pm
As the previous person posted – with the recruiting bases that is the South (thus the SEC) – conferences like the WAC don’t stand a chance. In fact – the 2nd string of any major SEC would be about the match of any starting team in the smaller more Western conferences. Those starters for schools like BSU and Utah have to play their hearts out in order to compete. They don’t have the base enough to rely on substituting like many other schools have. In that regard – I have more respect for those teams.
ATX Dawg
September 3rd, 2011
4:19 pm
I just hope we don’t see Murray come out of the tunnel wearing gloves again. I never did figure that one out, but he certainly didn’t play well against UCF wearing gloves.
jerry
September 3rd, 2011
4:27 pm
If there is a way to lose this game, don’t count Richt out.
katherine
September 3rd, 2011
4:38 pm
why all the debbie downers….geez just have fun watching the game
pffft
September 3rd, 2011
4:53 pm
seriously folks how many teams of so called power conferences do teams like boise, tcu and utah have to beat before “the prove the belong? recalling when uga beat boise almost 7 yrs ago, talk about living in the past. uga hasn’t been relevant in many many years. ND used to be big and bad too, maybe we should rank them #1 off what they dod 31 years ago. big ol auburn was man handled all day by litle ol’ utah state. keep living in the good ol’ days . boise by 20.
katherine
September 3rd, 2011
5:00 pm
yes the dawgs have had a few down seasons…but I wouldnt get so full of yourself pfffft….we’ll see if you stand by your guarantee that boise will win by 20 when the game is over. mark richt may be down but he still has a 73-18 record, two conference championships and 5 bowl wins to his credit.
pffft
September 3rd, 2011
5:16 pm
1 question katherine, what has he done for you lately. doesn’t matter that Hershel won a Heisman or that uga has lots of conf titles in the past. that will not matter one bit when they hit the field tonight. they days of uga walking in and beating people because they are ugs are over, have been for some time. maybe not +20, but wont be close.
pffft
September 3rd, 2011
5:27 pm
uga hasnt beaten anyone in how long? 6-7 lost to ucf. and they will win just cause they are from the mighty sec? the argument that the big bad sec, especially uga will man handle these poor little teams is stale. as i said past wins will not help uga tonight. i don’t think it will be close. only a few hours til the talkin is over and the hittn begins.
Jessie
September 3rd, 2011
5:31 pm
Sure hope Murray wears gloves, he can’t throw 3 interceptions like the Florida game.
Live from the Dome: UGA, Boise meet to decide fate of the world | Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
5:36 pm
[...] noted, I do, too. But now you’re asking: Doesn’t Utah State’s near-miss at Auburn today bode ill for [...]
pffft
September 3rd, 2011
11:28 pm
bradley your an idoit
hahahahahahahaaaaaa
uga gonna man handle bsu? uh huh
murry gonna light up bsu? uhhuh
moore has never seen as nasty dfence as uga? uh huh
bsu cant beat sec team? uh huh
i dont think the was would accept uga
pffft
September 3rd, 2011
11:42 pm
can you feel me now katherine?
Gary
September 4th, 2011
12:06 am
A, ahaha, AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Better players nothing. SEC membership is not an instant qualifier for capable football program. Maybe Boise State can’t beat the Tide or the Tigers but the ‘dawgs being in their CONFERENCE doesn’t mean they’re any good.
35 – 21 Boise State.
Jman
September 4th, 2011
12:08 am
Mark Bradley, you were wrong bro!
BSU Bitches!
RedandBlackDAWG
September 4th, 2011
12:09 am
I don’t see where the play calling has improved one bit from last year. I have great admirattion for CMR but I am afraid his loyalty to his assistants is going to cost him his job. When Crowell was sent to the outside, he could utilize his speed, but I would bet there were at least 10 times when he tried to send the kid off tackle, knowing that the offensive line was thin, and he could not control the clock or give his O line any help, by doing that. I had thought CMR would be more active in the play calling but I never saw that. We are woefully out manned at OC. For whatever reason, we played like we were trying not to lose tonight, not win, as was the case most of last year. The only bright spots I saw tonight were the youngsters looked pretty good, especially Mitchell and Crowell. Samuels will never be the answer at RB as he hasn’t shown a lot of improvement from his previous stint back there.
Go DAWGS and as a UGA fan, I hope I will see some improvement next week, but I am not too hopeful, with our offensive game calling. The defense will once again, have to spend way too much time on the field.
Go Broncos!!
September 4th, 2011
12:50 am
Now that the game is over, where are all the Georgia fan posts now?
Go Broncos!!
September 4th, 2011
1:15 am
Now that he game is over, where have all the posts from the doggies gone?
Live from the Dome: UGA, Boise meet to decide fate of world « AndFed.com – Breaking News | Latest News | Current News
September 4th, 2011
1:20 am
[...] noted, I do, too. But now you’re asking: Doesn’t Utah State’s near-miss at Auburn today bode ill for Georgia’s [...]
Live from the Dome: UGA, Boise meet to decide fate of world | World News Access
September 4th, 2011
2:35 am
[...] noted, I do, too. But now you’re asking: Doesn’t Utah State’s near-miss at Auburn today bode ill for Georgia’s [...]
BambiB
September 4th, 2011
5:21 am
>>Boise State (meaning: less talented than Georgia) and the game is in the Georgia Dome.
Well, I have to admit, Boise State didn’t win by the 42-21 margin I predicted, but I think they did alright. On the other hand, they could have fulfilled my prediction if they’d just punched in that 4th quarter gimme on the 2 yard line with 8 seconds to play.
Nah! Peterson’s a gentleman. No used whipping a beat down dawg.
Live from the Dome: UGA, Boise meet to decide fate of world « Heptanews * Entertainment * Politics * Opinions * U.S. * Technology * Health * Leisure * World * Sports
September 4th, 2011
6:17 am
[...] noted, I do, too. But now you’re asking: Doesn’t Utah State’s near-miss at Auburn today bode ill for Georgia’s [...]
lawzoo
September 4th, 2011
1:56 pm
SEC homer? No. Ga. homer? Hell yes you are.
vuduchld
September 4th, 2011
10:05 pm
Final score BSU 35 UGA 21 and it wasn’t even that close. You sure do know your football don’t you!!
Boise Bill
September 4th, 2011
11:26 pm
sec — overrated. 1-2 good teams. boise will beat alabama in the BCS title game—mark it down! Ga—not as good as half the teams in boise’s conference.
Footnmouth
September 5th, 2011
12:16 am
UH-OH! What happened?
JC
September 5th, 2011
1:59 am
PLZ TOYZ
Jim Hardenbrook
September 6th, 2011
5:02 pm
Boise State simply proved they are a better team than Georgia. It was a workmanlike destruction of Georgia. So sorry you were so wrong about this game.
UGA fans are DELUSIONAL
September 7th, 2011
10:49 pm
Reading all the idiot uga fans predictions just made me laugh. It is evident you MORONS know NOTHING about football. Boise stepped on uga’s face with a hob-nailed boot and crushed their faces in! Your daddy Spurrier is looking forward to put a beatdown on you inbreds Saturday afternoon at Sanford & Son Stadium!