Live from the Outback: UGA should win this bloomin’ bowl
The press box food preparation table, shown after hungry scribes descended. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Tampa – The nice thing about covering the Outback Bowl is the sponsor. It’s the only bowl that serves steak and a bloomin’ onion as a pregame meal. I mention this so you’ll know not to expect much in the way of back-and-forth from this correspondent over the next half-hour.
As for the game … well, here’s what you need to know about Michigan State. The Spartans are 7-14 in bowls. They haven’t won won since Dec. 31, 2001. They’re 0-4 under Mark Dantonio. Even Nick Saban was 0-3 in bowls as MSU’s coach.
The Spartans are 0-3 in bowls against teams from Georgia. (Lost to the Bulldogs in Vince Dooley’s final game and in the Capital One in 2008, lost to Georgia Tech in the old Hall of Fame Bowl in Birmingham in 1985. Georgia fans will remember that as the game in which John Dewberry, who transferred from UGA and became Tech’s quarterback, did not partake — he’d been suspended for missing curfew in Birmingham, which isn’t easy to do.)
It’s possible Michigan State could win today, but recent history shows it’s not smart to bet against the SEC in a bowl against the Big Ten. (Example: The Spartans lost to Alabama 49-7 in the Capital One last January. Though Michigan State did beat Florida in the Citrus on the first day of this century.)
Enough. Georgia should win. I make it 27-17, but I’m often wrong. Sometimes even bloomin’ wrong, which reminds me …
Discuss among yourselves. I’ll be back in a few. And happy bloomin’ New Year.
By Mark Bradley
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3,667 comments Add your comment
dawgs01
January 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
only team to lose to a big ten team today. we clearly had the better athletes they like most teams clearly had the better coaching and when teams are close in talent with us we never win. someone needs to tell grantham the game is four quarters long. Is grantham a good coach or are we just loaded with talent bc all the starters on our defense will get drafted when their time comes. he cant make adjustments when the opposing coach figures us out. We are loaded on defense so you got to wonder. Watch in five years this whole defense will be in the nfl the only that might not be is branden smith cause he is extremely small and hates contact but he could be a specialist. grantham has to learn how to make in game adjustments and bobo has to learn alot he has no balls what so ever. Murray gets extremely nervous in crunch time. Has he ever beaten a ranked team cause i dont think he has but i am not sure.
UGA fan...not fanatic
January 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
AM should of been pulled after the first pick.
GhostOfDodd
January 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
HIRE RAY GOFF
Mark
January 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
Time to change the QB. LeMay!!
Frank Sinkwhich
January 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
The dawgs are embarassing, 50 All american HS players on the team, a half billion dollar budget, a soft schedule every year –for what? To be among the leaders in the nation in penalties? To lead the nation if off season arrests? To be among the worst in graduating players? Y’all make me ill.
JB
January 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
Richt’s wife ought to make him drop’em when he gets home to see IF he has a pair. I don’t think anyone in the Bulldawg world thinks so.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
3 yrs now and UGA still hasnt beat a top 25 team
university of football
January 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
even though they can recruit any thug with a pulse, ga can’t even beat a mediocre mich state team?? are you serious? utah is better than mich state! Embarrassing!! give richt a raise, a bonus and long-term contract!!!!!!
Newnandawg
January 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
Nice loss to a Big Ten team….Thanks, Richt.
Whiznot
January 2nd, 2012
5:51 pm
Bobo is a complete moron.
Sparty 79
January 2nd, 2012
5:52 pm
Georgia has a weak schedule next year, so they will get on a roll against teams that are not very good and the leg humping fans will get all excited only to be let down in the end……it is so predictable
Old Branch Cock
January 2nd, 2012
5:52 pm
Im sure we’ll still be hearing about a national championship run by May…
01HAWK
January 2nd, 2012
5:52 pm
DARQUEZE DENNARD…………………………….DRY BRANCH GA………………….TWIGGS COUNTY
Both teams traded punts after the Spartans scored to cut the lead 16-8, then Murray was picked off by MSU’s Darqueze Dennard for a 38-yard touchdown return, the second interception of Murray by Dennard on the day, and in the third quarter.
I guess you PUPPIES should have not let him get away…………………………He probably was not ebven recruited by you PUPPIES.
Michigan State found something in today’s 33-30 win against Georgia. It found a player, a cover cornerback for several years to come, a kid from a tiny town called Dry Branch, in swampy Twiggs County, one of the least-populous areas of Georgia, unless you count the mosquitoes.
2 STAR by RIVALS
2 STAR by SCOUT
Only 3 offers out of high school………………………MICH ST, UTAH ST, and MIDDLE TENN STATE
chazzo
January 2nd, 2012
5:52 pm
Richt lost this one, not Murray.
1) with 3:00 or so left, if you are going to run the ball, hand it to “Boo” the only TB who got any yards all day. Bettter yet, roll Murray out away from Ghoulston (sp?)and pass to Mitchell, a play that was almost 100% effective. Whatever it is, get a first down and win the game. Whatever you do don’t punt it back to them!
2) With 19 seconds left, having completed two 80+ yard passes, have the guts to let Murray wing a couple.
3) In overtime, GO FOR VICTORY! GO FOR SEVEN! AT LEAST GET IT CLOSER FOR YOUR KICKER WHO HAS HAD THE YIPS ALL YEAR! WTF!!!
4) When you have hope left go with what worked instead of thinking what didn’t work might work somehow.
Other than that, did anyone see a fullback on the field all game. What happened to the power sweep? Running off tackle certainly didn’t seem to do the trick.
chazzo
January 2nd, 2012
5:52 pm
Richt lost this one, not Murray.
1) with 3:00 or so left, if you are going to run the ball, hand it to “Boo” the only TB who got any yards all day. Bettter yet, roll Murray out away from Ghoulston (sp?)and pass to Mitchell, a play that was almost 100% effective. Whatever it is, get a first down and win the game. Whatever you do don’t punt it back to them!
2) With 19 seconds left, having completed two 80+ yard passes, have the guts to let Murray wing a couple.
3) In overtime, GO FOR VICTORY! GO FOR SEVEN! AT LEAST GET IT CLOSER FOR YOUR KICKER WHO HAS HAD THE YIPS ALL YEAR! WTF!!!
4) When you have hope left go with what worked instead of thinking what didn’t work might work somehow.
Other than that, did anyone see a fullback on the field all game. What happened to the power sweep? Running off tackle certainly didn’t seem to do the trick.
punk
January 2nd, 2012
5:52 pm
Somebody didn’t tell Michigan State how they should lose. Sorry Dawgs as you will now cry all the way back from Tampa.
stendek
January 2nd, 2012
5:52 pm
NOT ME SNOOP DAWG!!!!!!!
BingoBanjo
January 2nd, 2012
5:53 pm
when your qb
commits 3 turnovers
you have to get conservative
special teams advantage went to mich st in ot because of uga poor special teams all season
Newnandawg
January 2nd, 2012
5:53 pm
Nice rushing attack, as always, from a Richt team. He’s still trying to make us into a 1998 FSU team.
PHUCK YOU MARK RICHT
January 2nd, 2012
5:53 pm
KEEP PUNK ASS MIKE BOZO
TC
January 2nd, 2012
5:53 pm
We have peaked with Bobo as O-Coordinator. If it weren’t for Grantham, we maybe win 7 games. I don’t understand why we can’t run the ball effectively enough to run out the clock….Bobo had nothing to keep the MSU defense off balance. He has got to go!!!!!
TnDawg
January 2nd, 2012
5:53 pm
Murray is really not a big time QB. He’s solid, but not a money QB. Bad reads and bad throws when it really counts. No leadership to put another team away, when the opportunity is there to knock them out. I like the kid, admire everything he has accomplished, but he just flat out is not a good game manager and does not handle pressure well at all.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 2nd, 2012
5:53 pm
Erk Russell’s Dog
Mark Richt and Mike Bonehead couldnt coach last years Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers to beat a top 25 team
dave
January 2nd, 2012
5:53 pm
Not a UGA fan, but Mark Richt should be fired after this debacle. Way too conservative, like most people down here, especially in his play calling. He stole the game from the UGA players. All they need is a field goal to win in OT, and he plays scared, not even bothering to run a play, except a 2 yarder up the middle, then setting up a 42 yarder to win it?? Hardly a chip shot. Mark Richt took the game away from the UGA players in OT by playing scared. Was he that worried about a fumble? Then why did he throw it to the end zone on the 1st play of the 2nd OT?? Richt is an absolute joke and that was the worst play calling I’ve ever seen. I mean, not even trying to score when all they need is field goal to win? If you’re playing for the field goal, at least get it to the 10 yard line. But to kill the game at the 25 yard line? What a joke.
BIGDAWGFAN
January 2nd, 2012
5:53 pm
where is the online petition we want change
AND WE WANT IT NOW
JB
January 2nd, 2012
5:53 pm
IC today…..2 carries, no yards and 24 yards of ankle tape….A record I believe.
TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
5:53 pm
Florida lost offensive tackles Matt Patchan (before the game), Chaz Green in the 3rd quarter, Xavier Nixon (in the 2nd quarter)…..the only OTs on the roster…….and still beat Ohio State. I guess Muschamp can coach after all…..and Richt still can’t.
P.S…….I wonder if Meyer is having sudden chest pains and indigestion again?
Objective fan
January 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
WHAT A JOKE. OR SHOULD I SAY… WHAT A CHOKE!
01HAWK
January 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
Way to go CMR………………………………..SEC can always count on UGA to show how SUPERIOR the SEC is.
Saban
January 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
Let the good times roll………………………………………..
BingoBanjo
January 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
we have lost every game against top 20 teams when murray throws 22 or more passes
clutch
murray ain’t
bad gameplan
Hoss Cartwright
January 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
Boo Boo lost confidence in Murray in the 3rd Qt and Murray lost confidence in himself. Walsh lost confidence a long time ago. So now this is where the dogs are, will CMR give the up and coming qb’s the snaps they need to be competitive. If you only got one horse to ride you ride the one horse all the time. Get some more horses under center CMR, and a placekicker.
dream team II
January 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
with a new dream team, ga may win the east again!!!! SEC east title–book it!!! Ga–east champions!! make a video, print t-shirts!!! SEC easT!!!! build richt a statue!!!!
pete
January 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
Sadly the most talented team lost today. Who can remember a game where coaching won the game for Georgia. Constantly giving away downs, running in the middle when it is obvious you can’t is a recipe for defeat.
Rilo
January 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
My High School could have beaten the teams Georgia beat this year. Wake up folks, mediocrity is all this team is good for. It will never change as long as Richt is the coach.
bitter QB
January 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
——-If we lose HUDSON MASON——and president adams gives richt a contract extention
—–fire dr. adams—-he hates football, except for the money us blind lotalist give by being suckers and buying tickets and hats, stickers ect.
you cant have fat people running the show—–fire DR. ADAMS—AND HIS chruch going coach
——–the entire country laughs at this coach——teams are lineing up for mason to transfer
JB
January 2nd, 2012
5:54 pm
I would really like to have a QB in Athens like the MSU one today. Just very very steady.
Snoop Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
5:55 pm
The culture at UGA football is not good. The head coach is the leader; he is responsible for establishing and maintaining culture.
The UGA Football Team is a loser. at best… Whose fault is that with so many highly rated recruits? How much would it cost to get Nick Saban?
football fan
January 2nd, 2012
5:55 pm
Tampa Gator,
Ha! Nice logic moron. Take it to the bank. Florida will lose again to UGA next year. I am not a UGA apologist. that’s just how bad Florida is and will continue to be. But you’ve certainly consumed the Florida kool aid. The Gators free-fall from the upper echelon began in Myers last year. He really did not do a good job recruiting. Your boat is taking on water. Enjoy the middle of the pack.
Ghost
January 2nd, 2012
5:55 pm
Chris, Kicking the field goal on third down is sound strategy most every coach makes that decision, shows how little you know , if you have a miscue you still have 4th down to kick . Walsh choked again for the 13 th or 14th time this season.
TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
5:55 pm
I am sorry….but I am leaving with this:
haaaaahhhaaaahhaaaaheeeehheeeehheeeehaaaaaahheeeeeeehhaasssshhhheeeeehhaaas…….
Sorry….I just can continue with that moronic crap. Have a wonderful summer dream…..Dawg fans.
party on!
January 2nd, 2012
5:55 pm
ga players can party hard postgame in ybor city and channelside in tampa!!! Drink it up—smoke it up!!! Time to party!!!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 2nd, 2012
5:55 pm
Dream Team II for next year
and still cant beat a top 25 team
Dostoveyskiy
January 2nd, 2012
5:56 pm
UGa needs to recruit better. I think next year we are going to have the top 5 players at each position.
We’ve got this great big stadium. Our fans are rabid. Tech sucks; Bama sucks; Fl sucks; Auburn sucks!. Tn sucks; UGa is the greatest!!!!! We will win the NC for sure.
tell me again
January 2nd, 2012
5:56 pm
The offense – once again stepped up to lose this game. Murray running and fumbling – it’s become a staple of this offense.The game plan for this game was HORRIBLE. WHY are we even trying to run the ball up the middle when the clock was ticking down in regulation and all we needed was a couple of first downs to seal the deal? Once again it was the Bobo, play NOT TO LOSE as opposed to PLAY TO WIN philosophy that cost us a good win. And as for Blair Walsh – thanks for the memories – except for this year. Good grief – what kind of a slump can last a whole year? A BLOCKED KICK? REALLY? Geez……………forget about the hype for next year – until we get an OC that can play ball for 4 full quarters, all of the talent in the worlkd will not save this team from losing 3 or 4 next year, regardless of schedule. We played like we had something to lose today – I love Murray – he’s got a ton of talent but he’s missing something – I don’t know what it is. When he brought us back to score late I thought this is the game he will get a come from behind win againsat a quality opponent – nope. Hasn’t done it yet. I am hoping the QB position will be WIDE OPEN in the spring. Stats are nice – but Alabama and LSU have shown you don’t need a passing leader to win NC’S…you need a WINNER. Murray has not proven he can win big in the SEC – yet. Very disappointed in this performance today – mainly with the offensive coaching……….enough aggravation to last an entire off season. I think all of us Dawg fans need to take a step back and just look at this with a cool head – right now, I am not overly excited about next year – we should have won at least two of the games we lost this year. What’s going to chage next year? Is Bobo leaving?
hambone
January 2nd, 2012
5:56 pm
wow the second half on this game looked just like the sec championship……I’m not sold on Murry!
sorry guys! at times he seems lost! turnover prone type QB
Defense is solid, our offensive playcalling and qb play has killed us again……..when will this end?
bill
January 2nd, 2012
5:56 pm
Not a UGA fan, but Mark Richt should be fired after this debacle. Way too conservative, like most people down here, especially in his play calling. He stole the game from the UGA players. All they need is a field goal to win in OT, and he plays scared, not even bothering to run a play, except a 2 yarder up the middle, then to set up a 42 yarder to win it?? Hardly a chip shot. Mark Richt took the game away from the UGA players in OT by playing scared. Was he that worried about a fumble? Then why did he throw it to the end zone on the 1st play of the 2nd OT?? Richt is an absolute joke and that was the worst play calling I’ve ever seen. I mean, not even trying to score when all they need is field goal to win? If you’re playing for the field goal, at least get it to the 10 yard line. But to kill the game at the 25 yard line? What a joke.
Jacket99
January 2nd, 2012
5:56 pm
GT fan
December 31st, 2011
7:08 pm
It’s New Years Eve. Just a few short hours before we ring in a new year, hopefully a good year for everyone. And yet so many UGA fans are on this blog “kickin-a-man-when-he-is-down”.
If that’s what makes your New Year’s Eve special, then knock yourselves out, I sincerely hope you find MUCH happiness in this characteristic.
Don’t jinx your Dawgs into losing b/c you’re enjoying so much New Year’s Eve ribbing. Karma has a weird way of working out.
GT fan…do you know Dudley Dawg? This is a tough loss and it is going to hurt for awhile. The Dawgs have another great recruiting class developing. They should be in the thick of things in the SEC next season.
LanceWeakLlegs
January 2nd, 2012
5:56 pm
we was Boboed. get ahead by a score or two, then just run three and outs up the middle and let the other team catch up. and when we really, really need to make a first down or two, say when we have the lead with 4 minutes left, lets just run three times up the middle for three yards then give it away. why not throw deep three times, at least you’d have a chance to score or make a first down. funny, we get Boboed every time we play a ranked team. also, CMR, I know Walsh is a senior but holy cow, seems like you’d remember the Joe Tereshinski debacle. bet he’s thank you to not have to go out there in overtime, when you have another guy who can kick.
asheville dawg
January 2nd, 2012
5:56 pm
I am a supporter of richts. However, that was the “Worst” coached game I have ever seen!!! Why not try to get a first down before regulation??? Three waisted plays and Michigan State runs right down the field to score as they have done the last possessions. Stupid!! These coaches make too much money to make ignorant calls.