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
jojo
January 2nd, 2012
6:54 pm
OFFENSE has got to have an overhaul.
Phil
January 2nd, 2012
6:55 pm
Hoss Cartwright
I completely agree. Never should have taken the knee on 2nd down(and lost a yard or 2 doing it). Should have used 2nd and 3rd down to get closer for Walsh. Would have turned to Walsh ONLY as a last resort. Should have tried to drive it in. Walsh has proven all year to be unreliable. Why in the world you would put the game in his hands.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 2nd, 2012
6:55 pm
T Gator
Still will be well short of all the blog whining on the Gator blogs when Meyer agreed to coach Ohio State. But I guess some things are worth whining about. Lucky tomorrow is a work day or this blog would reach 200 or 300 pages easy. Hell Flat Tire is good for 25 pages by himself.
Richt's Butt Cut
January 2nd, 2012
6:55 pm
Murray is NOT a big time winner… above average qb most of the time but terrible when the pressure is on..
Tech Equipment Manager
January 2nd, 2012
6:56 pm
UGA should hire Paul Johnson as OC.
UGA would win the Nat. title next year with the Wing-T.
Hoss Cartwright
January 2nd, 2012
6:57 pm
Birdhair, it’s inexcuesable not to get the ball to Orson Charles in his hometown or a senior in his last game, simply inexcuesable.
t2go
January 2nd, 2012
6:57 pm
I cant say it any better than some folks have already…..the conservative play calling at the end was just infuriating! How many times do we have to see this….My biggest fear is watching Georgia go up by a few scores…then they just try and sit on it! Guess what the other team comes back AND has momentum! Guys played hard today…but wtf was Murry thinking on that fumble rum…it was 3 and 17!!!! Take a Knee!! Two interceptions one for a TD! Murry is a decent QB but he really hands the game away at times. The running up the middle when it worked once maybe twice today!!! What is Bobo thinking!????? And not going for the first down!!!! But the worst was the 2nd overtime where after a short run we just get it to the middle of the field and try a FG on 3rd down!!!!????? How about two tosses in the back of the endzone????? Then MISS the FG! Damn this is just a terrible way to end the season……I don’t know what to think. I have followed the Dawgs for a long time…through some lean years, but this is disheartening! I really dont hold out much hope…Really Crowell looks to be the bust of the decade! NO BIG WINS IN HOW MANY YEARS???? They did turn it around w the off the field issues and such and SEEMED to be headed in the right direction…but they still have a long way to go. I see the players playing their hearts out..which is a huge improvement from last year but Richt needs to grow a pair and Bobo is just plain awful…make it stop!!!!
SAL
January 2nd, 2012
6:58 pm
#3425
2 more years of Aaron Murray
January 2nd, 2012
6:59 pm
Murray is a joke. Bobo didn’t throw 2 picks that lead to TD’s. Richt is too loyal to open up competition at QB. Lemay should transfer (and probably will).
William
January 2nd, 2012
6:59 pm
The only SEC to lose to a Big 10 … enough said…
Enjoy your next 5 years of mediocrity.
F’n Puppies…
Bgness
January 2nd, 2012
6:59 pm
Hindsight is 20/20 folks. coach wanted his struggling kicker to end the season with a w it backfired obviously. Cant blame it on coach.blame it on AA kicker
DP
January 2nd, 2012
7:00 pm
Georgia vs. Michigan State 2012: 39 carries, 51 yards
Alabama vs. Michigan State 2011: 44 carries, 275 yards and 6 TDs, including 10 carries by the 4th team running back after the game was out of hand. 19-23 passing for 271, 1 TD and no INTs.
no news here...
January 2nd, 2012
7:01 pm
ga sux.
jojo
January 2nd, 2012
7:01 pm
Offensive line is not playing their hearts out, or that running back #1.
Somebody passes gas, I am hurt, take me out.
The Bear
January 2nd, 2012
7:02 pm
Georgia did not make adjustments after the start of the 3rd qtr. Play calling killing Georgia. Why go into a prevent defense seemingly the whole second half. Got to put your foot on their throat when you have the chance to. Crowell is a bust thought he was going to be a stud.
Anthropologist
January 2nd, 2012
7:02 pm
The SEC is a disgrace to healthy genetics.
realitycheck
January 2nd, 2012
7:02 pm
Let me get this straight……..Get a turnover in OT that creates monmentum……….run one play to the left for a yard……….then kneel on the ball to bring out a kicker on 3rd down who has missed 12 kicks this year to attempt a 42 yard FG…….No other Div 1 coach would’ve done that. UGA should send this clown on to the circus where he belongs. ZERO chance that UGA will ever sniff a NC with the leader(s) currently in charge! Richt is a good man and probably an excellent bible study teacher, but an absolute joke as a SEC football coach.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 2nd, 2012
7:03 pm
If Bobo were to be let go as OC who would take his place? Would CMR go back to calling the plays from the sideline.
01HAWK
January 2nd, 2012
7:03 pm
DAWGINLEX………………………..HERE BOY, HERE BOY…………………WHERE ARE YOU ?
JB
January 2nd, 2012
7:03 pm
The MSU coach KNEW that with 3:46 left in regulation that Richt wouldn’t have the nads to throw the ball.
autotrader
January 2nd, 2012
7:03 pm
I wonder what Ol’ Munson would say about this game, maybe it would go like this, “Michigan State STOMPED UGA WITH A HOBNAIL BOOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wtf?
January 2nd, 2012
7:03 pm
January 2nd, 2012
7:00 pm
Georgia vs. Michigan State 2012: 39 carries, 51 yards
Alabama vs. Michigan State 2011: 44 carries, 275 yards and 6 TDs, including 10 carries by the 4th team running back after the game was out of hand. 19-23 passing for 271, 1 TD and no INTs
ARE YOU KIDDING???? Comparing ga with Saban and BAMA? Hilarious!!!
Boom Boom
January 2nd, 2012
7:03 pm
4 years in row, when the heat is turned up on CMR he fires an assistant coach.
01HAWK
January 2nd, 2012
7:03 pm
69 PAGES AND COUNTING………………………………..WOW !!!!!!!!!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 2nd, 2012
7:03 pm
Bgness
3 years now and we havent beat a top 25 team
Havent beat a good team since 2005
Should the kicker be blamed for that too?
Just wondering
garydawg
January 2nd, 2012
7:04 pm
We know Bobo and Richt have no stones. Now we will find out if McGarity doesn’t either.
Phil
January 2nd, 2012
7:04 pm
Why wasn’t Maclome in the game at the end? Was he hurt? When we needed a first down the most, he wasn’t there. He ran harder than anyone. Crowell is the biggest bust in UGA history. Looking forward to Marshall and the other RB recruits coming in.
And thank God Walsh is a senior.
BoBo Has Gotta Go
January 2nd, 2012
7:04 pm
Seriously? Boykin saved the opportunity, but Bobo spoiled it. Sparty had about 700 lbs. of mass between the tackles and Bobo charged his light brigade to their doom. How long do we have to put up with this? He couldn’t win with Stafford/Green/et. al and someone thinks he can with the current squad? He’s a liability. Can him Richt!
Weak Schedule
January 2nd, 2012
7:04 pm
Our record looks good but in reality, we didn’t beat any one good. Next year’s schedule sets us up for more of the same…
JB
January 2nd, 2012
7:04 pm
If Bobo were let go, who would we hire….How about ANY OC from ANY State Championship team.
oldbird
January 2nd, 2012
7:04 pm
why, with 3 minutes left do you run the ball up the middle 3 times in a row, when you dont have 50 yards rushing all day. 8 in the box on 1st down, play action pass and the game is over. Silver lining is that McGarity will make him fire Bobo now. Maybe we can salvage something with this great group of athletes.
Footballrules
January 2nd, 2012
7:04 pm
We all know UGA fans can’t spell the word D-O-G, but did anyone else see that clown in red holding up a sign that said “GO DWAGS”? Hahahahahaha.
SEC Bama Fan
January 2nd, 2012
7:05 pm
Maybe UGA should drop down to Division 2
murray in the nfl!
January 2nd, 2012
7:05 pm
murray’s deciding about the nfl!! he may go!!!!
Yougottahaveakillerinstinct
January 2nd, 2012
7:05 pm
Bonehead plays by Murray, playing it safe but sorry offensive play calling, and Blair Walsh has been horiffic all season. The Defense saved the day and it get washed a way by Murray, Walsh, and Bobo. You can’t feel good about losing like that!
ole dawg
January 2nd, 2012
7:05 pm
what a joke BOBO needs to go NOW,defense coach should go to a real team that offers offensive support.you will never win against an upper tier team. CMR BOBO must go and that 10 wins is not acceptable in UGA. a really bad coaching job again=resign NOW
Jim T
January 2nd, 2012
7:05 pm
Time to get rid of Richt and the rest of the arse clowns. We’ve had great recruiting classes yet can never win. That is a coaching issue. Richt is a blowhard that does Ford commercials. Need I say more?
JB
January 2nd, 2012
7:05 pm
3-4 more years of this……..Sad.
MyPatootie
January 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
GA TECH Yellow Jackets and GA Bulldogs let the state down big time with losses. Are the Falcons next? YUP! One and done! Blame it all on the Braves, they started this crap!
fluke
January 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
richt–two fluke sec titles when fla and alabama sucked! since then, chokes!
Magnolia, Tx Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
SS different year. Keep Richt and BooBoo and lose to the good teams. Rinse, repeat. Will be the same in 2012. Oh and by the way. We’ll win the championship in 2012, won’t we?
Stinger2
January 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
UGA fans have expectations that are too high. Remember, most teams never achieve what UGA has done under CMR.
Your team won 10 games and the SEC East. Regardless of the schedule and that you did not beat the best teams you played, be thankful for what you have. You fans are pathetic and pitiful losers. Your team played well against a good Michigan State team and lost in three overtimes. So stop crying and badmouthing your coaches.
Collins Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
Bgness, I have to disagree with you to a point. The loss clearly rests on the shoulders of the HC and OC !! The 3rd down kick is acceptableonly if we try to get yds on 2nd down, not run over 2 steps and take a knee. Then you put all pressure on a kicker that has clearly struggled all year, even though it was a makeable kick, it should not have come to that. I say the HC and OC for this very reason, you have the game won, all you have to do is get (1) first down and you can’t do it. The play calling was run middle, run middle, run middle then punt !!!! REALLY !!!!! Clearly we need a change. I will continue to say it. If MR can’t pull the trigger with Bozo then its time for him to go. Our D is extremely good , and played a great game. I feel like they got a lil tired at the end, but being that the O couldn’t do anything but 3 and out, anyone would have gotten tired !! We need change NOW, and let’s don’t 4get we need to open the QB competition. Murray can’t beat the big boys !!!!
01HAWK
January 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
DARQUEZE DENNARD,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,TWIGGS COUNTY,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,TAKE THAT CMR
Jadeveon Clowney
January 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
How is that “Dream Team” working for you guys? All you leg humpers can now go back to your dream worlds and your belief that UGA is contender. 4 SEC teams took the field today and only the leg humpers lost…pathetic. I thought your defense was top 5???!!! Please give CMR and CTG and CMB extensions and raises so the gamecocks can continue their dominance for the foreseable future. See ya’ll in October. Bwaaahhhaahhaahha!!
Thuga
January 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
What do you expect from a middle of the pack SEC team????
jojo
January 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
Those trucks get good mileage and have the power.
0-2
January 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
8 more and another 10 game streak!
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
It was interesting listening to Kevin Butler on the radio just now. He was pretty much throwing Bobo under the bus with the play calling. He said when they are loading 8 men in the box to stop the run you need to adjust and throw the ball to the TE down the seam or in the flat. To force them to adjust. He saw no adjustment to that they just kept running the ball up the middle. It’s funny that a former kicker could see that but not a former QB that’s suppose to be an SEC OC. He also said he didn’t know why they called for Murray to run the ball to the middle before the FG attempt. A coach that works special teams would have known that most of Walsh’s misses this year was kicks that faded to the right which this one did. If they left it on the left hash he might have made it. Interesting.
Brewski
January 2nd, 2012
7:06 pm
I SAID, IT’S GREAT TO BE A JAW-JA BULLDAWG!