A mark of LSU greatness: Stink for a half, win by 32 points
Ladies and gents, that's a darn strong football team. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
After the Arkansas game, Lenn Robbins of the New York Post asked LSU coach Les Miles if he believed his team might be the greatest in collegiate football history. Eight days later, the Tigers laid sole claim to another superlative:
Worst first half ever authored by the offense of a team this great.
How bad was it? Well, LSU tied a record that can never be broken — fewest first downs in the first two quarters. And this goose egg wasn’t laid by Podunk State against Almighty A&M. This was the championship game of the nation’s best conference, and this monstrosity had been concocted by a team considered the nation’s finest by such a distance it was believed LSU could lose to Georgia and still play for the BCS title. But would an aggregation that couldn’t manage one crummy first down on such a stage deserve a mulligan?
First-half numbers: LSU had 12 total yards, 123 fewer than Georgia, and had completed two passes, one of them underhanded. It trailed 10-0 after one quarter and was still 10 points down six minutes before half. And was the man beneath the white hat concerned?
“That defense,” said Miles, speaking of his own,” and the way it was defending — when they got 10, I thought that would be it [for Georgia]. Quite frankly, we just needed to get it started offensively.”
To Miles’ other attributes — darn good coach, intriguing wordsmith, eater of grass — we can now add “ace prognosticator.” Georgia didn’t score again. LSU started scoring on Tyrann Mathieu’s punt return and never stopped. And we on the periphery can only stand back and wonder: If the Tigers can go an entire first half without benefit of an offense against a opponent of quality, might this be one of the finest teams ever assembled?
What transpired Saturday night beneath the Georgia Dome was truly breathtaking, and I mean that literally: You could see the air — and the life — sucked from the buoyant Bulldogs. Georgia started bold and fast and smart and, if not for two dropped touchdown passes and a missed field goal, would have had a lead so big even Miles would have blanched. But then the Honey Badger started running back kicks and John Chavis’ defense threw a hammerlock on the Bulldog offense, and midway through the third quarter a game that was nearly a runaway one way had gone the other.
Of Mathieu, the eloquent Miles said: “He really is the ‘Honey Badger.’ He takes what he wants. He takes what he gets his hands on.”
Which pretty much describes the Tigers in toto. Down 14-0 against Arkansas, they won 41-17. Down 10-0 against Georgia, they won 42-10. Nobody doubted that this was the nation’s best team before the past two weekends, but now there’s no doubt.
Miles: “Never are they out of it. Never was there any question that they would get their feet, get their bearings and compete.”
This doesn’t mean that this demonstrably superb team will win the national championship. The Tigers will almost surely have to play Alabama again, and how would you like to have your road to the BCS title blocked by a bunch coached by Nick Saban that you had to move heaven and Earth to beat the first time? We can argue forever the fairness of that, but Les Miles wasn’t really in the mood Saturday.
“It’s a tremendous conference top to bottom,” he said. “[Alabama has] a great team. We’ll look forward to competing against them. But I’m going to enjoy this night first.”
And why not? After a unbeaten regular season that closed with come-from-behind comprehensive routs against Top 15 opposition, why should Miles or the Honey Badger or any Tiger fear man or Saban? Tell the truth: When last did you see a team this powerful, this fast, this unyielding?
“That second half, we basically got it going,” Mile said. Then this: “This is a quality group. It’s a great team.”
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
506 comments Add your comment
Landscapdawg
December 4th, 2011
7:00 am
To Eddie in Acworth, your are one off the biggest bandwagon fans for dawns and falcons ever! You call the Zone last week and brag about what a great game Bobo called against Tech and now you want to fire him again. You call every week and spew your crap about how we GATA again against a weak schedule, just stop wasting the airwaves, STF!
Landscapdawg
December 4th, 2011
7:00 am
Eddie meant STFU!
David Duke
December 4th, 2011
7:02 am
Only UGA fans would think beating up on crappy teams proved their team was a good program. Here’s UGA record against quality opponents this year: 0-3. Give Richt that extension and it will be more of the same. This is the same team that lost to Central Florida, Boisie St. and South Carolina in consecutive games. UGA is a real football power-NOT. This is what the stupid racist fans get. Stop calling your players “ghetto” and “thug” all the tme and and maybe some good karma will come back to you. Rednecks.
Mike Jones
December 4th, 2011
7:04 am
I’m Mike Jones!
Buddy Landell
December 4th, 2011
7:07 am
We should be back next season
December 4th, 2011
6:17 am
Looking at the proposed 2012 Schedule, UGA should have another easy year.
9-1: Buffallo
9-8: South Carolina
9-15: Florida Atlantic
9-22: Vanderbilt
9-29: Tennessee
10-6: Alabama (Possibly replaced by Missouri)
10-13: Kentucky
10-27: Florida
11-3: Ole Miss
11-10: Auburn
11-17: Georgia Southern
11-24: GA Tech
Looks like a Big East Schedule again.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Looking at this schedule, can we assume that drug tests will be given about Oct 3, or Oct 24 since it takes a few days for the results to come in? This is assuming Bama remains on the schedule.
Poor delusional UGA fans - you actually thought you had a real chance
December 4th, 2011
7:18 am
Like every other LSU fan, we knew there was ZERO chance of the Puppies beating LSU…you got caught up in the 10 pt 1Q lead and thought the game was over….you have to play LSU for 4 quarters….duh…but, then again, your fan base is not the sharpest pencil in the box…Geaux Tigers! 14-0….
dirty dawg
December 4th, 2011
7:22 am
You Dawg fans kill me. It is not Bobo’s fault, not Coach Ritch’s. Ga just got beat by a superior team, maybe the best college team in the last ten years. As far as any consolation about a 10 win season, you have to be kidding. Every team they beat was a high school level team including my terrified pansies from North Avenue. There are at least 20 teams in the country that are better than Ga. This much ballayhooed weight of the sumo wrestlers on the o and d liness can’t get out of their own way. I never have seen so much gut hanging over on any team. You are pathetic. Just look again at the pansie schedule Ga had versus any of the West SEC teams.
Jim in Augusta
December 4th, 2011
7:33 am
UGA can’t make adjustments once a game gets going…how can a program that consistently ranks in the top ten nationally consistently be mediocre? With the money poured into that program and the talent that appears annually, there is no excuse for this second tier level of play year after year. They just don’t beat the real good teams. Everyone is entitled to his own opinions but not his own facts, and it is a fact that UGA’s record under Richt against top opponents is dismal.
dirty dawg
December 4th, 2011
7:35 am
One other thing, if you are waiting for Dreadlocks ahanging in his eyes Crowell as the next great Ga tailback, you have a serious think acoming. This guy hasn’t the heart nor the ability to take you to the promised land. Neither do any of the other pint sized backs. Murray is an outstanding QB, but prone to try to do too much. Next year Ga will be another 10 game winner going no where due to the pansie schedule.
Buckeye
December 4th, 2011
7:40 am
10 game streak against 12-54.
Delusional.
And you give us crapola for playing the Little Sisters.
Just the facts
December 4th, 2011
7:43 am
UGA is at the high point of where they are going under Richt. Lack of depth in back field, O-line, D- line and all of the freshman receivers are a result of the head man. He has been there for 10 years. Crowell was billed as the all savior, another recruiting mistake. UGA has a choice in front of it….Keep Richt and stay in the middle of the pack in the SEC or make a change and see progression.
6 Straight National Championships yet UGA has not even sniffed one. Look at who has, each with coaches / programs with less time than Richt and his staff. UGA’s record this year is a result of beating a terrible bottom half of the league as well as the usual cup cakes New Mexico and Coastal Carolina. As a fan base, we got all excited about beating UF this year. How bad are they? And we almost lost that one? Do we even have a signature win this year?
I thought it was interesting to see Murray tweeting about the defense and it’s comparisons to LSU’s. Difference was obvious that LSU’s numbers were against some of the best teams in the country. Grantham’s were against teams that won 25% of their games.
Tough descions are to be made, but that is why the Athletic Director makes the big bucks. UGA, with a state full of talent, needs to make a change.
JB
December 4th, 2011
7:50 am
I’m up, having coffee and thinking about last night. Kudos to LSU. We have work to do. We really need help with offensive coaching. We had no backs, buy why in the world did Bobo come out in the second half and think he could run against those guys. We need depth also.
JB
December 4th, 2011
7:52 am
We really need offensive new ideas, some SEC caliber RB’s and some depth.
JB
December 4th, 2011
7:54 am
And yes, Richt needs to sign these two North Carolina RB’s, look to the JC ranks for the best RB out there and thank Mr Crowell for his services and release him to the ACC school of his choice.
paint
December 4th, 2011
8:08 am
1st drive, 2nd half fumble resulting -7 sure looked a lot like sack > fumble > -7 vs SC. take that and the pick 6 away and we are still in it…sort of
history repeats and it is frustrating to not see a strong 60 minutes in this game.
…very frustrating
warjacket
December 4th, 2011
8:10 am
UGA plays three good teams, gets crushed twice and self distructs in the other. What a great season!!
Jalex49
December 4th, 2011
8:13 am
Good job for having a good season. LSU won and I a Georgia fan believe they are a great team.
Having said that, the 2 dropped passes in the end zone and the pass to a wide open receiver down the field in the first quarter put Georgia in a hell of a situation.
Great job defense, if only Georgia had a running game it might have helped. But the defense gave a great effort against the number 1 team in the nation, and I they just had to be on the field to much.
Aaaron wasn’t having a good game, I don’t understand why Bobo would not put Mason in for a few series? It would have given Aaron the opportunity to settle down and get his feet back under him.
I believe Georgia might have won that game, if those passes wern’t dropped. The Georgia defense was playing extremely well and maybe Bobo might have stayed with the creative play calling-rather than his favorite, “run up the middle for a yard with injured or small running backs”. That affected the team tremendously and caused Georgia to lose the confidence and momentum they had!
I truley hope that recruits see that Georgia has an opportunities in the running game! I hope the juniors all come back next year!
Congradulations to LSU from this Georgia fan. Congradulations to coaches at Georgia for a ten win season. I had rather be 10-3, than 6-7 or whatever it was last year!
?
December 4th, 2011
8:17 am
AS LONG AS LOVER BOY RICHT IS AROUND THERE WILL BE A BONZO BOBO. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS GAME WAS THROWN. AND ISIAH CROWELL IS A JOKE. JUST GIVE HIM TIME HIS THUG ASS WILL BE GONE.
Another "Hobnailed Boot" in Yo Face
December 4th, 2011
8:24 am
Didn’t notice any of those hillbilly car flags on the road this morning.
Chastened
December 4th, 2011
8:27 am
Props to all the LSU fans out there. You have a great team.
In 40 plus years of following college football, I have never seen a team be so thoroughly dominated on defense and come back to put a beatdown on like they did to us last night. If they (LSU) play OK State, LSU will crush them.
To the LSU folks in Sec 211, row 5, sorry for talking smack during the game. I understand now why you were as polite as your were. Your team talks for you. Unfortunately, mine did too. I just don’t like what they said.
Good luck and please spend money in Atlanta today. The local economy can use the lift.
DBs are scared
December 4th, 2011
8:28 am
Are the UGA DBs still running and hiding from LSU’s RBS?
Homepage | MrSEC.com
December 4th, 2011
8:29 am
[...] Mark Bradley: “What transpired Saturday night beneath the Georgia Dome was truly breathtaking, and I mean that literally: You could see the air — and the life — sucked from the buoyant [...]
bitter dawgs fan
December 4th, 2011
8:30 am
was i the only person that seen that hudson mason is the real deal with his perfect passes
that were ether droped or nock out by honey bager———mason is head over heals better than murry
——————-richt is a blind loyalist————–he will not admit when he is wrong.
—————what coach woulld ever put that pu$$y crow-face—–at running back
———-malcom final looked like a bruzzer running back
———————-send CROW–FACE HOME——-what a joke
———-best georgia “D” in 20 years————they just got fed up with murry’s turnover at our own 20 yd line
——————i would like to see richt go off and build homes for the poor just like jimmy carter
———–carter got good at it—so can richt————–football has passed him by
———grantham trueth be known is the reason we got to the dome
——————richt and murry are the reason we lost both dome games——-
—————————say good bye—-too RICHT—CROW-FACE—MURRY
DBs are scared
December 4th, 2011
8:30 am
Can anyone say 7 and 5 next year?
DBs are scared
December 4th, 2011
8:32 am
Wow, I have never seen a bigger bunch of gutless wonders.
bitter dawgs fan
December 4th, 2011
8:32 am
MURRY AND RICHT AND CROW-FACE—-single handed georgia both dome losses
He Hate Gator
December 4th, 2011
8:36 am
Mark Richt $2.8 million, Mike Bobo $325,000 ,Todd Grantham $760,000
Les Miles $3.75 million, Steve Kragthorpe $700,000, John Chavis $700,000
Which program competes yearly for the BCS Championship and which doesn’t? Which one is spending more wisely?
bitter dawgs fan
December 4th, 2011
8:39 am
two thumbs up to GRANTHAM AND A SPIRTED first half by a great “D” lead by “OAK”
—–i did not agree with them rolling over in the 2nd half evan though murry single handed LSU
—–the game with his now famous big game turn-overs——–i read once were he pads his stats againist weak teams——————all thruth
—————————hudson mason looked like a true SEC QB——he will beat out murry next year
———————————–please murry transfer soon or get benched in the spring
——–my sources tell me BOBO wants him at QB—but coach richt is in love with murry
dawgfan4life
December 4th, 2011
8:40 am
Buddy Landell you are right if thats georgia schedule for next year then we should be fine. consider the whole defense is coming back except Boykins and Tyson we shold be ranked pretty high on defense. the whole entire LB unit will be back that will be a big plus. Jenkins will be back in the middle we shold have one of the best defense in the nation. only road block from the look of that schedule will be S. Carolina going there will be a test. with Lattermore and Jefferies back they are going to be a challenge. once again who ever win that game will be in the drivers seat for the east. georgia must get some more RB’s to substain in this league. if that schedule what you talking about there Buddy Landell then i see us if we can get by s. Carolina undefeated but i am not holding my breath over that.
Another "Hobnailed Boot" in Yo Face
December 4th, 2011
8:43 am
Ten months ago the Crowell signing was the vehicle that drove the mindless trash talk of a “Dream Team” and a Herschel Walker-like national championship. Do any of you trash talkers realize just how absolutely foolish you look now?
Southern Man
December 4th, 2011
8:47 am
A courageous effort by the Bulldogs. With that said, Crowell seemed afraid of the LSU defense and it showed in his play. Murray is gutsy but with every missed pass or interception, he threw up his arms like it was someone else’s fault or there should have been a defensive penalty. He needs to grow up….
GT
December 4th, 2011
8:48 am
Miles is another coach that defies the laws of a media logic on how a football coach is suppose to look or act. What keeps guys like Richt alive is this myth that coaches come in this or that package and are press friendly. I find Miles hugely refreshing, just like I do Spurrier. He knew that he was going to win, he was not impressed with Georgia, he, like so many good coaches sees through the myth and realizes what Georgia has really done is buy off the local press who help them crusade to keep status quo. They don’t want to fire Richt, they have been looking for reasons to keep him, well now you are back to square one.
dawgfan
December 4th, 2011
8:51 am
“LSU stepped on our face with a hobnail boot and broke our nose. They just crushed our face.”
LSU showed why they are the best team in the country. Great first half by dawgs, second half not so much. Still proud of the season overall, especially after the early adversity. Richt is a good man and a good coach. We have a good program, a young team, and we will continue to get better. Proud to be a dawg!
And, Larry Munson — we will miss you dearly. All those calls, all those years……. All those memories……..
Go dawgs!!
Dream Team II
December 4th, 2011
8:52 am
With all the new superstar recruits that Richt is signing for this next class, Ga will rule the SEC east for years. IC and Lemay will light it up big next year and the Dawgs will win the SEC east with ease! Ga beats alabama next year for the SEC–book it!
George Gillen
December 4th, 2011
8:54 am
That is a great story Mark and here’s the kicker…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_JKwgwFY3g
Contract
December 4th, 2011
8:55 am
Please sign Mark Richt and Mike Bobo to long-term contract extensions…
Signed,
Florida Gators and the SEC
Another "Hobnailed Boot" in Yo Face
December 4th, 2011
8:57 am
Apparently not.
rip
December 4th, 2011
9:02 am
Kill Bobo, Fire Richt, Send Grantham back to the NFL, throw the receivers in the Oconee River(for those dolts on here and that covers 99 percent-it flows through Athens).
Most of you fools would be wanting to fire Miles as they only won by 32 and did not do well in the first half.
Lord LSU did this to everybody except Bama and they will this time around.
If you want to kill something kill the BCS.
Time for the Annual UGA Excuses:
December 4th, 2011
9:03 am
To help you all out, just copy and paste
1) At least we beat the North Ave Trade School
2) We are one or two years away
3) We’ll have it next season
4) FIRE BOBO!!!
5) They had ineligible players playing
6) At least we won the SEC East
————-
7) We have Aaron Murray coming back. You know, the “best” QB in the SEC. LOL.
—————
The Dream Team will be back and have experience under their belt
(Thanks for reposting and the addition)
Here’s a few more
9) It was the officiating
10) The Draw Play will work on the next possession
11) CMR should lead them out on the field instead of following them out of the locker room
12) If we hadn’t worn those Power Ranger outfits against Boise, it completely crushed the team spirit when the Dawgs entered the Dome and had their flashbacks.
AFDawg
December 4th, 2011
9:03 am
Maybe next year UGA will hire a special teams coach (I’m saying for the 100th time). A special teams coach would have focused on the other teams special team strengths (although #7 for LSU shouldhave been a no brainer) and comes up with a scheme to avoid those strengths. UGA should have leaned from the last time we played LSU that you don’t kick to one of the best return men in the nation — idiotic. Also, the officiating sucked — the lineman looked at #7 funny because he knew he released the ball before crossing the end zone line but didn’t do anything about it and there were two separate clips on that return. Anyway, the first half showed the Dogs can play with anyone and should create good momentum goinginto next year. I hope we don’t lose a bunch of juniors to the draft — this group can definitely win a SEC Championship. Go Dawgs!
Time for the Annual UGA Excuses:
December 4th, 2011
9:06 am
To help you all out, just copy and paste
1) At least we beat the North Ave Trade School
2) We are one or two years away
3) We’ll have it next season
4) FIRE BOBO!!!
5) They had ineligible players playing
6) At least we won the SEC East
————-
7) We have Aaron Murray coming back. You know, the “best” QB in the SEC. LOL.
—————
(Thanks for reposting and the addition)
Here’s a few more
The Dream Team will be back and have experience under their belt
9) It was the officiating
10) The Draw Play will work on the next possession
11) CMR should lead them out on the field instead of following them out of the locker room
12) If we hadn’t worn those Power Ranger outfits against Boise, it completely crushed the team spirit when the Dawgs entered the Dome and had their flashbacks.
————————————————-
13) Our upcoming recruiting class is better than the last “DREAM TEAM!!!”
Raiderbeater
December 4th, 2011
9:07 am
The East isn’t a joke…..they can compete with Ark/Miss/Miss St just fine LSU and Ala are no jokes. It just so happens they are the two best teams. Arkansas could be beat by several teams in the east.
gertgedawg
December 4th, 2011
9:08 am
I’m glad Mcgarity has more inyelligence than some of you second guessers. I’m proud of the effort from our team and look forward to building our team for next year. That looked like cliping on the fiirst half td punt return. LSU just deeper and more experienced – good luck against Alabama.
BIKERHAL
December 4th, 2011
9:12 am
LSU fan speaking here. I have read yall’s posts and have to tell ‘ya, that was one whale of a first half by UGA. You guys have to be proud of how your coaches and players performed. UGA had LSU stymied on offense and you had some dropped passes. Your fans were awesome (the BCS chanting was effective – your boys were pumped) and the on-side kick was brilliant. All that being said, you couldn’t overcome LSU’s depth. IMO that is what separates them from the pack.
LSU has an opportunity to do something and become something no other Tiger team has. But I think Richt is a good coach and you all have nothing to hang your head about from this game!
Dawgs '89
December 4th, 2011
9:14 am
I’m Proud of the Dawgs…they weren’t even predicted to win the East let alone get to the championship. LSU destroyed everyone they played this year and are the best team in College Football. No one really expected us to win and for a half the Dawgs shut them down. We are young and improving. We can still finish strong and we learned a lot about how Championship football needs to be played. This game will help the Dawgs to improve for next year. Go Dawgs!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
December 4th, 2011
9:17 am
Lets see 6 years and counting and UGA still hasnt beaten a great team
How many more years is it going to take to learn how to win big
we have had more talent under Richts tenure than any other school in the SEC
Dr. Phil
December 4th, 2011
9:20 am
Will Richt repeat the “Missing Man” recruiting drama, and if Crowell flunks out or otherwise leaves, will that negate the scholarship for his “goodest best friend?”
I APOLOGIZE COACH RICHT!
December 4th, 2011
9:20 am
THANK GOD MARK RICHT WILL NOT FIRE MIKE BOBO,THANK YOU MARK RICHT FOR BEING A GOOD CHRISTIAN MAN AND KEEPING WEAK LINK MIKE BOBO ON THE STAFF!
PLEASE KEEP BOBO SO THAT UGA WILL NEVER WIN A NATIONAL TITLE!
Empty Dome Seat
December 4th, 2011
9:20 am
Dear Proud UGA Fan:
I have read all your postings about how proud you are of your team. You kept me warm throughout the night, even though you spilt beer on me, and got a little ketchup and mustard on me as well. We became so close as the game went on.
I must say though, I got lonely when there was only 5 minutes left in the game. Where did you go? I thought you were proud of your team. If you were proud, you would have stayed and applauded them for their season. You must be one of those lowly fairwether fans. You know, the same ones who left me all alone when Boise State was in town.
Sincerly,
The Empty Dome Seat
SEC & BCS Championship Game Headlines 12/4/2011 | My Blog
December 4th, 2011
9:21 am
[...] Mark Bradley: “What transpired Saturday night underneath a Georgia Dome was truly breathtaking, and we meant that literally: You could see a atmosphere — and a life — sucked from a expansive [...]