Live from the Dome: UGA, Boise meet to decide fate of world
Georgia plans to wear new uniforms! Why did no one tell me? (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
The Georgia team is headed back to Athens tonight. The Georgia athletic director will wait until the morning. Said Greg McGarity, speaking Friday afternoon: “When we lose, I like to get out of town. When we win, I like to hang around and soak it in.”
Can we therefore assume McGarity believes his Bulldogs will win? “Yeah, I do,” he said.
As noted, I do, too. But now you’re asking: Doesn’t Utah State’s near-miss at Auburn today bode ill for Georgia’s chances tonight? (Utah State being a member of the WAC, which Boise State was until just the other day.)
Not really. Auburn isn’t nearly the same Auburn that won the BCS title. You might have heard this already, but Cam Newton and Nick Fairley are ensconced in the NFL. And Auburn did beat USU, albeit only just.
Georgia won’t suffer a national championship hangover, having not won of those since Jan. 1, 1981. Georgia doesn’t have a new quarterback. Georgia won’t be overlooking Boise State. (Kind of hard to overlook a team that’s favored to beat you.) The belief here is that the Bulldogs will play as hard and well tonight as they have at any time since the blackout night against Auburn in 2007. The belief here …
Well, you know what the belief here is. I like Georgia’s chances not just in this game but in this season. And it doesn’t hurt that Boise will withhold three players, two of them starters, from tonight’s tilt due to some sort of eligibility kerfuffle.
In a way, that shows how far Boise has come. The cuddly little Broncos just canned their AD because they’ve been charged with NCAA violations in five different sports, football included. And here we thought only BCS-level programs ran afoul of the governing body.
OK, enough fol-de-rol. I like Georgia tonight because I think Isaiah Crowell will go for 100 yards. (Which, to be technical, even Herschel Walker didn’t do in his debut against Tennessee. Herschel, who didn’t start, had 84 yards. And he did trample Bill Bates. And Herschel is here tonight to deliver the game ball.) I think the defense will pressure Kellen Moore enough to make him less precise than usual. I think Aaron Murry will win his first really big game.
Then again, I’m often wrong.
And with that, the floor is open for predictions, observations and jokes about blue turf. My only responsibility tonight is to interact with you fine folks — I don’t have print duty, in other words — and I’ll be here until this one ends and Georgia has won 34-24. (Actually, I’ll be here all night even if Boise State wins 41-0. But I’m not expecting that.) Join me, won’t you? And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
By Mark Bradley
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2,916 comments Add your comment
dawg4u
September 3rd, 2011
6:29 pm
I predict that UGA will win 31-20 and that the Dawg’s O line and D line will eventually wear down BSU. I look for Aaron Murray to have a big night and for the Dawg’s D to really step up. It won’t be easy and wouldn’t be surprised if BSU is leading a good part of the game. It should be a really good game though!
todd grantham
September 3rd, 2011
6:30 pm
the unfortunate fact is for a sizeable payment the UGA Athletic Dept will dress the team in clown outfits for this nationally televised, most important opening game we’ve had in 40 years.
wonder how many of these ugly uni’s will be on ebay in the morning.
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
6:31 pm
I hear the NCAA looks favorably on players selling jerseys, todd g.
todd grantham
September 3rd, 2011
6:32 pm
Just in a down cynical mood right now. These players get no recompense (save the opportunity for an education, which is no small thing) while CMR is paid a king’s ransom for 4 years of worsening mediocrity.
scdawg
September 3rd, 2011
6:33 pm
just ask aj green about selling jerseys
todd grantham
September 3rd, 2011
6:34 pm
I understand that A J Green has agreed to act as the ebay broker for the players.
todd grantham
September 3rd, 2011
6:35 pm
search ebay for the seller “A J I’m A Pro Now Ha Ha Green” for memorabilia from tonight’s contest.
scdawg
September 3rd, 2011
6:35 pm
haha he sets up the accouns and advertises!
richmondDawg
September 3rd, 2011
6:36 pm
Got the chili pot rolling, fridge stocked, my crazy brother coming over to watch the game…I hope this game is EPIC! GO DAWGS!!!
todd grantham
September 3rd, 2011
6:36 pm
wonder where clusters is? caught in line at the DQ?
scdawg
September 3rd, 2011
6:36 pm
acounts*
Steve
September 3rd, 2011
6:36 pm
Mark, your prediction on LSU/OU?
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
6:36 pm
Baccari Rambo and Carlton Thomas are dressed and warming up. Doesn’t mean they’re going to play.
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
6:37 pm
I’ll go with LSU, Steve. I kind of have to, seeing as how I ranked them first in my Top 25.
Droc
September 3rd, 2011
6:37 pm
Mark, you can not expect dawg fans to understand what fol-de-rol means. To personify it, however…
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
6:38 pm
Eagle-eyed and esteemed colleague Chip Towers reports that the Power Ranger uniforms have “Georgia” on the backs, as opposed to players’ names.
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
6:39 pm
That was kind of a shout-out to my dad, Droc. He used fol-de-rol in daily conversation. And … Sept. 3 was his birthday.
todd grantham
September 3rd, 2011
6:40 pm
that will make it even easier to sell the jersey’s on ebay. My wife doesnt know that Aaron Murray doesn’t wear #34!
scdawg
September 3rd, 2011
6:40 pm
what are your predictions for the first and second string freshman? havent heard too much about ray drew amoung others. only crowell
Gator Hal
September 3rd, 2011
6:41 pm
Boise is too fast and will wear down UGA’s defense.
Grantham won’t have an answer.
Boise 34-21.
todd grantham
September 3rd, 2011
6:42 pm
wait, retired that number. Hey honey, Aaron Murray is sporting number 62 tonight. Well, that’s Mr. Trippi I believe. I got it, number 99.
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
6:42 pm
Richt said Friday he thought 10 or 12 freshmen would see action — but that’s counting special-team duty.
todd grantham
September 3rd, 2011
6:43 pm
Gator Hal, have you seen my choking act?
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
6:43 pm
Grantham always has an answer, Gator Hal. Just ask him. He’s here posting away.
GSUAlumBaseball81
September 3rd, 2011
6:44 pm
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gator Hal
September 3rd, 2011
6:44 pm
Two bad games for the SEC tonight -
Boise over UGA
&
Oregon over LSU
oh well.
Steve
September 3rd, 2011
6:46 pm
Good point, Mark! Go Dawgs!
Gator Hal
September 3rd, 2011
6:46 pm
Two bad games for the SEC tonight via western opponents.
Boise over UGA 34-21
Oregon over LSU 30-16
Bat Masterson
September 3rd, 2011
6:48 pm
Hi Mark,
Read any good mysteries lately?
Twippy
September 3rd, 2011
6:48 pm
I also believe Boise is going to run over UGA, UGA will be 0-2 after South Carolina..Mark Richt on the hot seat big time.
Jackets 2011
September 3rd, 2011
6:50 pm
If Michigan and Notre Dame fans were as smart as Jacket fans, they would have stayed home and not gotten drenched.
todd grantham
September 3rd, 2011
6:51 pm
I may have to move away from the blog occasionally during the game while my men are on the field, so please bear with me.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
September 3rd, 2011
6:51 pm
Being a little dog mascot and not having a permanent gig, I feel a lot like Coach Richt but I have more in common with Greg McGarity. On game day people like to pull our ears. That’s why he’s really staying overnight. That, and we don’t like our athletic directors driving in downtown Atlanta.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
September 3rd, 2011
6:53 pm
Filtered! At least you don’t try to paint my a$$.
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
6:53 pm
Crowd just booed Boise players taking the field. (Though I’m guessing the Boise folks here didn’t boo.)
todd grantham
September 3rd, 2011
6:55 pm
are they stealing the !@#@# field?
RCB Fan
September 3rd, 2011
6:57 pm
While you’re giving birthday shout outs, how about one for Coach Vince Dooley, who turns 79 at midnight. Let’s hope he has a happy start to his birthday.
todd grantham
September 3rd, 2011
6:59 pm
I love Loran Smith but he asks the dumbest, most mundane questions i’ve ever heard.
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
6:59 pm
Georgia’s kickers are out. Wearing the Pro Combat kit, helmets and all. They do look … weird.
CONYERSDOG
September 3rd, 2011
6:59 pm
mark ur right i think uga wins 28-17 oh ya hate the uniforms
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
6:59 pm
But wait’ll you see these Boise shoes.
dawg4u
September 3rd, 2011
7:00 pm
My prediction is that UGA wins 31-20 and that Aaron Murray and the O line and D line have great games for the Dawgs. I also think Kellen Moore will be good early but not late. Watch the freshman Malcolm Mitchell who I think can make a big impact this season.
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
7:00 pm
I seem to remember Jim Donnan being a fan of Loran’s interrogations.
Loran Smith
September 3rd, 2011
7:01 pm
Coach, how excited is this Bulldog team to be taking the field tonight?
“Well, Loran, all things being equal I really think the guys would rather be back in Athens riding scooters to The Varsity.”
to
September 3rd, 2011
7:01 pm
Enter your comments here
YellowJacket
September 3rd, 2011
7:01 pm
Bradley, why weren’t the three Netherland players eligibility last season. Seems kind of fishy to me.
todd grantham
September 3rd, 2011
7:02 pm
Yes, that Donnan-Loran moment was priceless.
RCB Fan
September 3rd, 2011
7:02 pm
I think the band could be the deciding factor in tonight’s outcome.
Mark Bradley
September 3rd, 2011
7:03 pm
“We just beat a great team and you’re asking me about CRAMPS?”
Jim Donnan
September 3rd, 2011
7:03 pm
However, Mark, after the past 100 or so interragations I’ve undergone I look back wistfully at bantering with Loran.