The Bulldogs didn’t just outplay Tech – they outcoached it, too
Give that Bulldog a hand, if not a great big kiss. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
This time a year ago, it was possible to wonder if the Georgia Bulldogs would ever again outsmart an opponent. On Saturday they outsmarted Georgia Tech. And there, if anyone still wondered how 0-2 became 10-2, was the answer.
It wasn’t just that these Bulldogs have good players — Georgia always has good players — or that the schedule eased after those first two games. It was that Georgia, which hadn’t played to its gifts since 2007, coalesced around a coach and his staff.
Back to 0-2. “That was when we closed the door,” said tight end Orson Charles, “and we said, ‘We’ve got to stop playing for ourselves.’ We need to play for this guy.”
By “this guy,” Charles meant Mark Richt, who has done in his 11th Georgia season something that’s difficult to do in contemporary college football. Richt has fought off the doubt accrued over three underachieving seasons and hoisted his Bulldogs back to eminence. They have two championships in the bank — the SEC East was clinched last week against Kentucky; the state title was secured Saturday against Tech — and will play for a third next weekend against LSU, the finest team in the land.
“We’ve got the best coaches in the SEC,” said center Ben Jones, and on this day his boast carried some weight. Georgia beat Tech as handily as Tech under Paul Johnson is ever beaten, and the difference wasn’t so much manpower as brainpower. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo had one of his finest days, and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham capped a stellar second season by keeping Johnson’s prized option-based spread from doing nearly enough.
And let’s be honest: There were those among us, this correspondent among them, who weren’t sure we’d see such a day. Johnson’s first bunch of Jackets went to Athens and beat a Georgia team that had entered the season ranked No. 1 in the nation, and last year Tech amassed 512 yards behind its backup quarterback against a Grantham-coached D. (To be fair, Richt got the better of Johnson in 2009, when Georgia used power football to upset the team that would win the ACC.) But it must be said: When last the Bulldogs beat Tech this bad, Chan Gailey got fired two days later.
The key was that Georgia got ahead early, and it did because Bobo cogitated like a young Steve Spurrier on a caffeine jag. Isaiah Crowell, Georgia’s best tailback, didn’t play, and Richard Samuel, his injured backup, hasn’t worked since the Florida game. Carlton Thomas, the No. 3 man, was coming off his third suspension of the season and didn’t start. And still Bobo conjured up 17 first-half points.
Of Georgia’s first six running plays, only one involved a player listed as a running back. Branden Smith, normally a cornerback, carried twice. Quarterback Aaron Murray carried twice, and the niftiest moment was a double-reverse to receiver Malcolm Mitchell. Said Bobo: “We were trying to mix them up, give them something different … Our base plan for the game was to be balanced, but as the game went on I thought the best way to win was by throwing.”
Murray complied, completing 19 of 29 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns. Nine different receivers caught those 19 passes. Said Richt: “Mike did a great job … Mike dialed up some beauties.”
As for Grantham: His defense yielded a touchdown at the end of the first half and another near the end of the second, but never did the Tech ground game appear as dangerous as in Georgia games past. Even in the first half, Johnson was forced to call inside handoffs to his A-backs — a play the Jackets seldom use — to approximate an up-the-gut push. “And once we took that away from them,” Grantham said, “we were back to controlling the game.”
Down two touchdowns in the third quarter, Johnson got antsy. His Jackets didn’t look capable of sustaining a series of long drives — they’d managed one seven-minute surge in the first half — and he called for Tevin Washington to throw, which isn’t a Tech strength. The resulting two interceptions killed all hope.
And that, in surprisingly simple fashion, was that. Georgia beat Tech and its coaches trumped Tech’s coaches and, after 10 consecutive victories, the matter of Richt’s job security has been tabled. He has his Bulldogs back where they’re supposed to be: Atop the SEC East, playing for the conference championship, shrugging off Georgia Tech.
“I didn’t celebrate as much after this one as I did last week,” Richt said, and there was no real need. In this state, order has been restored to nature. Why celebrate a given?
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
961 comments Add your comment
tech1628
November 26th, 2011
6:16 pm
GT needs a complete makeover. They need to fire Coach Johnson and the whole staff and just start anew much like Georgia State the last couple of years under Bill Curry. We need to get back to GT basic football emphasizing good defense, ball control offense and good special teams which the present Tech team has none of. You can blame no defense on the head coach because that’s where the buck stops. It’s definitely broken beyond repair so let’s not just clean house but burn it down and start with an entirely new philosophy that puts DEFENSE as a # 1 priority!
Tech Sucks
November 26th, 2011
6:16 pm
Lol Auburn would have been undefeated in the ACC
Shine my shoes, dawg
November 26th, 2011
6:16 pm
Pretty sure black friday weekend is still going on – I’ll give any dawg a tip if they load my car – Thx
old time dog
November 26th, 2011
6:16 pm
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom in Atl
November 26th, 2011
6:17 pm
Here’s the bright side nerds. We only beat you to a pulp with no healthy running backs, true freshman receivers, a sophmore QB, and a defense that loses 2 starters. Good luck next year in Athens.
JAWJeRDAWG
November 26th, 2011
6:17 pm
Georgia Tech got out-manned on the gridiron and out-coached on the sidelines.
UGA simply wanted this game more; manned up and won it! It’s great to be a Georgia Bulldawg!
I think many of our fan base gave up on CMR and CMB and quite frankly, on this team after we started off with two loses; maybe rightly so.
But the most important thing is that our coaches and players never gave up on each other or as a team; they have prevailed.
Since the SC game, they game-planned and practiced with focus and intensity, fought hard, and brought Georgia back from an 0 – 2 start to end up as SEC East Champions.
Few would have thought that possible.
We may not win next weekend, but if we get our running game together and play for four quarters on offense, defense, and special teams with as much focus and intensity as we did today, LSU will know they’ve earned a chance to play for the MNC if they do win.
These Dawgs are good; just ask CPJ and Georgia Tech!
Win or lose, I’ll be proud to say I’m a Georgia Bulldog! .. Go Dawgs!
Shine my shoes, dawg
November 26th, 2011
6:18 pm
Auburn lost to clemson idiot, shows how smart dawgs are -
The Lapinsky Files
November 26th, 2011
6:18 pm
GT Bob and GTJoe: PLEASE come home. I think it’s time to do an Amber Alert for these two.
Rumor has it they were headed South on 75 in a late 80’s model Volkswagen, but it broke down, much like their triple option.
RambleOn84
November 26th, 2011
6:18 pm
Gotta give credit…georgie was just the much better team. 31-17 doesn’t speak to how much of a mismatch this was.
I’ll be pulling for georgie against those dirty louisiana hooligans.
We just need to go back to the drawing board and use this season as a learning opportunity.
GO JACKETS!
RambleOn84
November 26th, 2011
6:20 pm
As typical, dorks from both sides would rather talk smack than show any class or appreciate good football. You can always which guys never touched a football in their lives.
Tech Man
November 26th, 2011
6:20 pm
Thank goodness we don’t play Georgia Southern. TW is not a Div1 quarterback.
Ryno
November 26th, 2011
6:20 pm
National Signing day is coming up soon. Georgia Tech is sure to pull in a Top 80 class.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Shamir
November 26th, 2011
6:21 pm
Wait till Cricket season!!
Dawgs97
November 26th, 2011
6:22 pm
LSU fans, the cheap hooker fan base of the SEC. Biggest bunch of trash in our league. Dawgs, please take out the trash next week!
Shine my shoes, dawg
November 26th, 2011
6:22 pm
Also taking bids on having my septic tank pumped – any dawgs will get an extra $100 if they bark for me during the job -
I own you
November 26th, 2011
6:22 pm
5150. Where are you a-wipe. Say something now.
After UGA beast LSU...everyone will still say
November 26th, 2011
6:22 pm
…we haven’t played anybody. LOL.
Its Just Horseplay
November 26th, 2011
6:24 pm
Who TF cares what people “say”. Either we beat LSU, or we don’t.
GA YECK
November 26th, 2011
6:24 pm
Johnson ain’t the guy. 4th year and treading water at best.
I own you
November 26th, 2011
6:25 pm
AS far as I’m concerned this is more payback for stolen 1999 (worst call ever non fumble screw job) game. Karma is a btich.
dap01
November 26th, 2011
6:25 pm
I am proud to have CMR (class and integrity) instead of CPJ cussing at his own players and being the most arrogant coach in the NCAA. Order is restored. UGA is the class of the state. Tech is a good school that plays in front of small crowds each week.
Turkeyneck
November 26th, 2011
6:25 pm
Dont have time to clean a septic tank. Ive got to do a performance review for about 4 tech grads. There will be lots of negative comments about star wars figures on the desk and the need for better social skills.
InsectInside
November 26th, 2011
6:26 pm
JAWJeRDAWG:” Except for your affiliation, it’s hard to disagree with you. One reasonable post out of all of these…..good work….Congratulations, but as always….THWG.
Jumbo
November 26th, 2011
6:26 pm
Shine my shoes, dawg…funny..hey it’s still 31-17
Gator Man
November 26th, 2011
6:27 pm
Georgia Tech would not beat Old Miss in the SEC, Puppies beat another team not even in the top 20.
UGA get ready to play some real football next week, those 500 below teams are over, everybody in the Sec knows SC really won the east.
LSU by 30, and then another route in the Sugar Bowl.
UGA vs. LSU
November 26th, 2011
6:27 pm
LSU hasn’t played the best QB in the SEC.
LSU will play the #2 defense in the SEC.
LSU offense is one dimensional.
LSU scores many points w/ defense/special teams (don’t punt to Honey Biscuit).
LSU hasn’t had a bad game this year…it will Saturday.
LSU (Les Miles) is 1-2 vs UGA (only SEC team with winning record against the mad hatter).
LSU doesn’t have a tight end.
LSU will self-destruct Saturday night.
UGA plays best when nobody give it a chance. Junkyard comes out GATA.
UGA will win (Richt 3rd SEC title in 11 years).
Fact is, this is the National Championship game for UGA. It will treat it as such. It wouldn’t surprise me if UGA whips the voodoo out of LSU (38 to 21).
Oh…BTW…after the game…everyone will still say….UGA hasn’t played anybody.
GTBob
November 26th, 2011
6:28 pm
Lol Auburn would have been undefeated in the ACC
You do realize that they needed an onside kick to beat Utah St? They are lucky to make a bowl game this year.
bucket
November 26th, 2011
6:29 pm
@ Tampa Gator – I’m with you on the BCS. I am hoping for chaos which may finally push us closer to sanity and a playoff system. Coulda, shoulda, woulda, but with a playoff system UGA would have a chance to play for one of those trophies that you guys have enjoyed.
Go Georgia!
November 26th, 2011
6:29 pm
As everyone knows, now Tech fans will commence with their “mutt” and “butt licker” comments to make themselves feel a bit better about the loss. Don’t forget the “classless” and “delusional” fan base we have. Haha. That’s fine. Whatever you have to do to sleep at night.
Tech, you talk yourselves up quite well. Good job at trying to fool everyone in the nation that you were hot after beating six PATHETIC teams. Overrated jokes. Enjoy eating that CROW. They may be adding that to the menu at the Varsity since you’ve been needing it so much.
To Hell With Georgia Tech! GO GEORGIA!
Big time???? NOT!
November 26th, 2011
6:30 pm
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes. Another WIN. Nerds.
bucket
November 26th, 2011
6:32 pm
@ Gator Man – you do realize that USC had 2 SEC losses and UGA only had 1 loss, right? Congratulations to the Dawgs for beating all 4 of their traditional rivals in the same year for the first time in awhile! LSU will definitely be the stiffest test yet, but the Dawgs promise to show up and we will see what happens.
UGA vs. LSU
November 26th, 2011
6:32 pm
UGA will beat LSU. Period. Richt and UGA have winning record vs LSU (2 of past 3). We got jobbed in Athens the last time we played LSU (had game won w/ 1 minute left / AJ Green phantom penalty / worst call I’ve ever seen). Jordan Jefferson scored yesterday and ran through endzone and pulled the Superman move with his jersey on TV (no penalty). It’s rigged.
So, enough rambling. UGA 38 LSU 27.
Jack G.
November 26th, 2011
6:33 pm
Come on Mississippi, make CPJ an offer he can NOT refuse.
Shine my shoes, dawg
November 26th, 2011
6:33 pm
House painting? Know you guys are great at that as well – again $100 extra for barking while on the ladder
Chris
November 26th, 2011
6:34 pm
GTBob auburn has like 7 wins and it would be 11 if they were in the acc
todd grantham
November 26th, 2011
6:36 pm
Mark, do you think Georgia helped itself any in the BCS standings today?
GTBob
November 26th, 2011
6:36 pm
It sucks to lose to uga again. Maybe next year!!! Time to play with my action figures
Its Just Horseplay
November 26th, 2011
6:36 pm
YECK, nobody is going to win at Tech. Place is a toilet bowl, you cannot recruit top talent. Just enjoy 8-4s and your team piling up 600 yards against 3rd tier opponents. This is as good as it gets.
Chris
November 26th, 2011
6:37 pm
uga should be in the top 10 in the bcs! i dont know why we wont go up in the standings
Freshman Superstar
November 26th, 2011
6:37 pm
Does someone have a kotex? I got a boo boo sitting on the bench while my teammates won the state.
Sam
November 26th, 2011
6:37 pm
Amazing video of a high school senior from Columbia TN who kicks the ball dead straight 75-80 yards in the air. He was successful on 54 of 54 attempts this season….100%. Now he needs a college team. Wants to go to Georgia Tech!
Watch for yourself…it is unreal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_JKwgwFY3g
Its Just Horseplay
November 26th, 2011
6:37 pm
I do think we can all agree, the ACC is in inferior league.
Silly Bloggers
November 26th, 2011
6:37 pm
I just want to thank GT Bob for making this win so enjoyable…until now beating Tech was hohum, but after listening to his bitterness, distortion of facts, and selective examples of why teams are bad, this victory is sooooooooo very sweet. Thank you GT Bob for being bitter, jealous, and an overall sad sad person…to the rest of you GT fans, I think most of you are class acts and good luck in the coming years (except against UGA).
War Jacket
November 26th, 2011
6:38 pm
Auburn would be undefeated in the ACC except for the fact that they lost to Clemson!! MORONS!! ALL OF YOU!!
BirdDawg
November 26th, 2011
6:38 pm
I salute you Dogs. No better way to honor Larry Munson than by beating the hell out of GT today!
Its Just Horseplay
November 26th, 2011
6:39 pm
sam, if he were worth a crap, he would have offers. Heck, if he were willing to go to school in the ghetto, I am sure Tech would take him.
todd grantham
November 26th, 2011
6:39 pm
Come on down to the Varsity Dog fans; the chili dogs are on me!
P. Bull Terrier
November 26th, 2011
6:39 pm
GTBob says, “Richt is the worst coach in the SEC. Congrats to him for beating a string of bad teams with some of the best talent in the country.”
Wouldn’t that logic make Les Miles the worst coach in the SEC? After all, his team has a ton of talent and LSU hasn’t played anyone who is as good as they are all year.
Chris
November 26th, 2011
6:39 pm
freshman superstar- Isaiah crowell has had bad injuries the whole year. A sprained ankle is hard to play with, bruised ribs it hurts just to breathe, i imagine that wrist injuries hurt like crap when being a running back. Isaiah has done great things for us so stop bashing him. He is not a wimp
todd grantham
November 26th, 2011
6:40 pm
I wanted to invite everyone to Ruth’s Chris, but McGarity hasn’t promised that raise yet.