Fighting to the finish, Georgia overrides Florida – and history
A sight seldom seen in Jacksonville: Mark Richt victorious. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
Jacksonville — At halftime Mark Richt invoked the fresh memory of the St. Louis Cardinals. “Guys that don’t quit have a chance,” he told his Georgia Bulldogs.
Much later, Richt would tell the assembled media: “We didn’t quit.”
Folks can and will argue over the worth of one victory over a Florida team that hasn’t won since September, but no one can question the weight that had fallen on the Bulldogs regarding their strange inability to win this one game. “There was some history and some demons,” Richt said, and the way this game began it was as if those demons would beat Georgia by themselves.
Florida’s first play from scrimmage netted 72 yards. Its first touchdown came on a fourth-and-19 pass 7 1/2 minutes into the game. (Who goes for it on fourth-and-19 so early in any game?) Its second touchdown came on a 99-yard kickoff return by its second-best returner. Everything that had gone wrong for Georgia in this series the past two decades was going wrong all at once, but that, in a weird way, might have been for the best.
Said cornerback Brandon Boykin: “You could say a lot of bad things happened. We had to calm down. But this team is special. After we lost to Boise, I told people, ‘Don’t worry about this team.’ We’ve bounced back.”
Said offensive coordinator Mike Bobo of his team’s 17-3 deficit: “Nobody said, ‘Hey, here we go again.’ ”
Surely a few Bulldogs thought it, but they put aside any nattering negativity to focus on the task at hand. Said Todd Grantham, the defensive coordinator: “That game was a test of our mental toughness. We kept going. We kept playing the next play.”
One play changed this game and maybe the course of Georgia’s season. The same Richt who’d ordered a field goal on fourth-and-goal against Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl last December rediscovered the nerve that had marked him as a young head coach. Ninety seconds before halftime, his team down 14 points, Richt had Aaron Murray throw into the end zone on fourth-and-five. Michael Bennett hauled it down, and from there Georgia believed.
Said Alec Ogletree, the superb linebacker: “Once the offense scored right before halftime, we fed off that.”
The Gators’ offense, overseen by the famous Charlie Weis, would manage 32 yards and one first down in the second half against Grantham’s defenders. With quarterback John Brantley unable to work under center due to an ankle injury, Florida went almost exclusively to the empty backfield, and Grantham, cogitating on the fly, trumped Weis at every turn.
Grantham: “It’s a credit to our players … From halftime on, we were playing a new game plan.”
Midway through the third quarter, Richt did it again. His team down seven points, Richt chose to have Murray throw again — to different receiver down a different sideline — on fourth-and-six, and Tarvarres King outfought Jaylen Watkins for the ball. At last, the game was tied. It would come untied due to a field goal generated by another long kickoff return, but by then Georgia had made its point: This day would not be like other days against the hated Gators.
Richt: “I just thought the best thing to do was to go for it on fourth down. I just felt like we needed a touchdown. I didn’t think threes were going to get it.”
The fourth quarter was all Bulldogs, and they celebrated in a way that far outstripped a four-point victory over a 4-4 opponent. What did this game mean? Said King: “Everything. We’re back.”
Again, that might be overstating. But when a team has failed so often in this venue, any break in the pattern is major news. “Now that it’s over,” Richt said, “I can say, ‘Yeah, it was a big deal.’ It was a big deal for me personally.”
For two years we’ve parsed Georgia results and asked, “What does this mean for Richt’s job status?” After Saturday, we can say this much for sure: Richt’s Bulldogs started 0-2 but have won six in a row; they’ve beaten Florida, which hadn’t happened since 2007, and they’ve kept themselves in position to take the SEC East if South Carolina slips. At this moment, it’s almost impossible to imagine Georgia parting ways with this coach anytime soon.
No, this isn’t the most polished bunch you’ll see. (Richt described his special team as “mostly average to scary.”) But Georgia spotted Florida 14 points and held its nerve in a way the Gators — 14 penalties for 106 yards — could not. In a game where the Bulldogs invariably invent ways to lose, they found a way to win. They might not be the smoothest-running bunch, but these ‘Dogs will hunt — and fight.
By Mark Bradley
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932 comments Add your comment
Chain
October 30th, 2011
9:18 pm
Trolls, keep trying to marginalize UGA’s win…we’re used to it…Tech does it every year…we don’t care…you make us laugh…a condescending, pitying laugh…hahahahahaha
Chain
October 30th, 2011
9:19 pm
Come on trolls…I command you….speak…make me laugh…say something stupid…
45ACP
October 30th, 2011
9:28 pm
Great win for the Dawgs. All Dawg fans love a win over Florida, no matter what. The folks that say but this and but that are NOT Dawg fans.
gmandog
October 30th, 2011
9:36 pm
Gators you never fail to frustrate and antagonize me. For the past 20 odd years, I have prayed and hoped against hope that UGA would beat you. I have gone to the Ga/Fla game a least a dozen times to root against you and to pull for my alma mater – never been when UGA won. Without fail you have made my trip back miserable and I ran out of booze to drown my sorrow. My frustration was palatable to my friends and family. And then yesterday when you could have redeemed yourself in my eyes by winning and giving us a chance to get an SEC caliber coach, you frustrated and antagonized me once more. Now Richt will be redeemed in the eyes of the undiscerning, superficial Bulldog nation and continue his medicore coaching career. When are you going to see that he cannot inspire the team to greatness. He cannot instill discipline. He cannot teach them to dominate an opponant. Those coaching traits are not in Richt’s character. As of today, I am becoming an Alabama fan. I’m to old to be this frustrated all the time. Life is too short for me now.
gmandog
October 30th, 2011
9:43 pm
Enter your comments here
Doc Dawg
October 30th, 2011
10:02 pm
Been Said Before , But Needs Repeating : MUSCHAMP.. AUSTRAILIAN for …TRAITOR ! OLD DAWGS do not work for FLORIDA! How about 0 wins for your career against UGA …FOREVER !
NEGATIVE RUSHING YARDS
October 30th, 2011
10:03 pm
ARM CHAIR ANAYLIST PLEASE TAKE THE HOT DOGS OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!
THE JUNKYARDS IS BACK
Richt Keeps his Job!!!
October 30th, 2011
10:11 pm
After that huge win over florida, richt has sealed his job for years! McGarity will have to give him a new, long term contract for big money!!
phil
October 30th, 2011
10:11 pm
Fire FG!
Pierce Co Dawg
October 30th, 2011
10:22 pm
You so called BAMA fan which is really a tech fan in disguise. Bama will never make to THE DOME and georgia will whip tech like always. We own you techies. Go get on your own blog you are pathetic,and you have no guts. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!
Pierce Co Dawg
October 30th, 2011
10:30 pm
You tech fans kill me.You have no guts and never will. The DAWGS OWN YOU AND THE STATE OF GEORGIA. I hope you win out until you play the DAWGS. Then we will lay another loss on you. You techies pretend to be bama fans and what ever. You have no back bone and never will. Looking forward to the whipping we will lay on tech in november. You can bank on that. GO DAWGS
ole dawg
October 30th, 2011
10:41 pm
Crenshaw, you are obviously a Tech fan so considering CMR’s record against Tech you are making yourself look like a complete fool by critisizing him.
Koolaid, you are so disgruntled with the Dawgs you have my permission to go and find another team to pull for. Your earlier confession that you would have fired Dooley before he won his NC pretty much says all I need to know about your knowledge of the game.
Both of you guys are hilarious!
GO DAWGS!!!
oakwood dawg
October 30th, 2011
10:55 pm
dawgster, you and i both love the dawgs and want whats best for them. however, you and i disagree on the special teams philosophy. special teams play is hurting us–and seems like you agree to that. st can cost us i.e. touchdowns, field position and sometimes a victory. it should be an important part of our game plan. i don’t know how much cmr is involved in play calling and maybe he shouldn’t be involved in st but someone needs to take charge and 4 don’t get it. Makes me think of our gov’t but thats another subject. all i know is if our special teams don’t play one hell of game against alburn we won’t win and that whats important to me and it should be to you.
hotdawg
October 30th, 2011
10:56 pm
@MSD Our special teams practically gave the gators the win but they couldn’t grab it. Gators really do suck this year!!
Richt is a D A__
October 30th, 2011
11:14 pm
so had Richt apologized to the Williams family for calling Shawn a Dumb Ass in the Vandy game?
Franklin: “36 comes up, after a tough game, talking **** to me!
Richt: “Okay.”
Franklin: “Rubbing our face in it right after the game!”
Richt: “He’s a dumb***.”
y transcipts?
SEC Observer
October 31st, 2011
12:04 am
Richt is a D A__
October 30th, 2011
11:14 pm
“Richt: “He’s a dumb*** ”
Somehow, UGA is always in the news!
Never a dull moment in Athens!!
Warm Fuzzies and Gators | The Ivey League
October 31st, 2011
12:08 am
[...] information!) We got home just in time to see the Georgia game and visit with friends. And WE WON against Florida!!!! Sunday was just perfectly lazy-daisy. Sunday School and church. Lunch with [...]
Hairy Dawg
October 31st, 2011
12:42 am
Enter your comments here
Herschel Talker
October 31st, 2011
1:23 am
Since 1980:
Alabama: 2 MNC’s
LSU: 2 MNC’s
Florida: 3 MNC’s
Tennessee: 1 MNC
Auburn: 1 MNC
UGA: 0 MNC’s
Anyone on here who is happy with the way the football program is headed is happy with mediocrity.
FIRE MARK RICHT!
Tech Sucks
October 31st, 2011
1:29 am
32 yards in the 2nd half. DEFENSE.
Crowell Played The 4th Qtr Hurt - That is Heart.
October 31st, 2011
1:35 am
First – GREAT , FABULOUS GAME – DAWGS!
Next – You Guys are WORST than the AJC Writers. It is a wonder any top recruit would subject themselves to this. The man (the leading rusher) answer the coach’s call and came back in and ran with an injury that might cause him to miss the next game. And yall ridicule him. After we FINALLY get a win against Florida, yall spend half the blog lowrating your top recruit. This year’s senior are reading these blogs as well.
Then yall blame Coach Richt when some of Georgia top recruits decide to go elsewhere.
Just Be Happy -For Once.
Richt is a D A__
October 31st, 2011
1:37 am
this just in from the Shawn Williams Family transcripts, got a word for you, “Mark Richt you’re the Dumb Ass’
Florida vs Auburn
October 31st, 2011
3:32 am
For those mentioning the low scoring Florida offense vs Auburn and comparing that to this game, please remember some facts before comparing the 2:
1) Auburn home game, if you don’t understand the importance of playing in front of your home crowd, you’re hopeless
2) 99-63-16-8 (1 TD) / 32-36 (0 TD) = Florida kick return yards vs GA special teams, FL kick return yds vs Auburn ST. Special Teams can be game changing, period.
3) John Brantley vs Jeff Driskel/Jacoby Brissett, teams operate differently when they’re being led by the QB they’re use to practicing with. In the Alabama game where Brantley got hurt, he still ended up having: more yds passing, better completion %, and better rating than Bama starter McCarron. Their QB sub next week vs LSU? Horrible. Their 2 subs the week after vs Auburn? Even worse.
Brantley starting combined with bad special teams coverage = more pts scored vs UGA than Auburn so stop comparing the two games when they were very different situations.
dawgdip
October 31st, 2011
5:54 am
Some of you people would complain if they hung you with a new rope.
Jax Dawg
October 31st, 2011
6:19 am
If you would have said the most important big play of the day was a 70 yard Jeff Demps run…you would of thought it was a TD. The fastest man in college football was Brandon Boykin running him down from behind and stopping a TD which resulted in their kicker missing a field goal. They really needed Jeff Demps in the end zone. Go Dawgs!!!
kreedham
October 31st, 2011
6:41 am
Florida needs to get rid of Muschamp. He can’t beat Georgia.
SXS
October 31st, 2011
7:37 am
Alot of people weren’t even satisfied when GA won for various reasons. If GA lost what would they say?
Whiskey Breath
October 31st, 2011
7:49 am
Good job Ga. Now let’s pat CMR on the back and extend his contract.
d-dog
October 31st, 2011
8:29 am
I hope I don’t have to hear all the BULL—- from all you gators who can’t except reality. You just got your butt kicked… like it or not. The score shows close but that is where it ends. “UF” could only muster some “O” against a scary specials team of “UGA” MINUS rushing yardages. Did you see “UGA” safety “BB” run down “UF” Demps from behined. Where was that world class speed.
I tried to tell you gators too much rust on the “UF” “O” GOOO DAWGSSSS
B'dawg
October 31st, 2011
9:06 am
Crenshaw is Thomas Browns spawn.
Special Teams on the Short Bus
October 31st, 2011
9:43 am
It was a sloppy win against a less than stellar Florida team, but a win is a win and I’ll take it. Now, can we PLEASE get a special teams coach??? This game would have been a lot more lopsided if we had kickoff coverage, a place kicker, and a punter. (Yes, I know the kicking game was beyond reproach last year, but then what the hell happened this season?)
LawDawg
October 31st, 2011
10:55 am
I seriously doubt “Rocker” has been a fan for 30 years (I seriously doubt you are over 25) or else you would realize that , in UGA history, 6-2 is far from “pathetic.” Only people who were in diapers or not born yet in the late 80s and 90s would be up in arms about this season. UGA went through a 25 year drought of irrelevance pre-Richt. I fail to understand why everyone thinks there is some golden ticket coach who is going to win multiple championships.