Yeah, it was only Vandy. It was also utter domination by UGA
Just for fun, note the number of Commodores on the ground. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Athens – This was billed as the year of the New Vanderbilt. What happened here Saturday night indicated it might be the year of the Old Georgia.
Old as in the days of Sinkwich and Trippi, of Dooley and Erk, of the Davids Greene and Pollack. Heck, maybe even old as in the days of Herschel Walker, the Goal-Line Stalker.
I know, I know. The opposition was only Vanderbilt, the Harvard of the South and the straggler of the Southeastern Conference. But these Commodores arrived with a new attitude and a serrated edge, or so we were told. They’d come close to beating Georgia a year ago, and coach James Franklin had gotten big mileage from his postgame spat with Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham.
Franklin’s message to the world: “We’re nobody’s punching bag anymore.”
New message: “Would somebody please ask that team in red to stop hitting us so hard?”
Of Vandy’s five most recent SEC losses, the most lopsided had come by six points, and that was to Tennessee in overtime. The Commodores had opened this season by playing South Carolina within four points, and that was with no help from the officials, who failed to detect a clear interference penalty on Vandy’s final fling. Gone, apparently, were the days when you could schedule the Harvard of the South for homecoming and feel confident of placating all your alums.
But that was before Franklin brought his team to Sanford Stadium. On this night the concept of the New Vandy seemed as cutting-edge as the marketing campaign behind New Coke. Georgia scored touchdowns on its first four possessions, and not one of those drives was triggered by a turnover. The Bulldogs simply lined up and went to work.
Who looked good? Well, Aaron Murray completed his first 12 passes and Keith Marshall popped a 52-yard touchdown and Todd Gurley ran hard and Tavarres King caught a 22-yard TD and Jarvis Jones wrought his usual havoc and … how about we save space and time and do this instead? How about we list the Bulldogs who didn’t look good?
And we will. Just as soon as I think of one.
In the proud history of Georgia football, there have been better halves. But not many, and not lately, and not any I can recall against SEC opposition. This was power and precision and skill and speed and everything you’d want from a team. This was utter domination. The only way Vandy would have stood a chance was if penalties — the Commodious Doors had nine in the first quarter — were points.
Said King: “That’s the first time I’ve seen us come out that way in my five years here.”
Said Jones: “We came here and executed and had fun doing it. Look at the scoreboard — that speaks for itself.”
Then this: “All our teams — offense, defense, special teams — came to play, and you see how good we can be. If we keep preparing, we can be a dangerous team.”
Georgia gained 303 first-half yards to Vandy’s 136. It wasn’t that the visitors weren’t trying — on the contrary, they demonstrated some of the Franklin attitudinal “edge” — but that trying availed them not one whit. By the end of the second quarter the we’re-not-gonna-take-it Franklin had been reduced to settling for a field goal with his team down 27-nil.
Then again, going for it wasn’t the answer, either. Trailing 34-3 midway through the third quarter, Vanderbilt tried to convert on fourth down. Jordan Rodgers, the younger and lesser brother of Aaron, was sacked by the aforementioned Jones. Might want to block that guy, Mr. Franklin.
It got so bad that even when Vandy appeared to score, it really didn’t. Early in the fourth quarter, Rodgers ran right and sought to stretch the ball over the pylon. The refs on the field gave him six points, which would have brought the Commodores within 48-9. Replay review gave him a lost fumble and a Georgia touchback. Holy mackerel.
The first three Bulldog games, all victories, had offered hints of their potential. This night provided the first sustained look, and it was quite the sight. There are so many gifted players on this roster that the thought occurred: If you were holding a draft of the personnel on these two teams, how many picks would pass before you took a Commodore? Ten? Twenty? Forty?
“Talent-wise, we’ve really had some good teams here,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “The 2002 team was very talented. But when you execute well and you have good chemistry, you look like you have more talent than you do.”
Then this: “Not that we haven’t got talent.”
Yes, stronger tests await. (Although it’s unclear how good Tennessee, next week’s guest, is.) South Carolina in Columbia will be a rough go, and Florida looks solid, too. But who on this schedule looks any better than Georgia? And if the Bulldogs can harness the attention to detail they brought to this game, what’s the chance of them showing up in the Dome unbeaten come December?
I know, I know. This was only Vandy. But this was the Vandy that had been playing every SEC opponent tough, and the Bulldogs went ballistic on it. I’ve seen a few Georgia games in my day; I don’t know that I’ve seen a more impressive one.
By Mark Bradley
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295 comments Add your comment
Not So Fast
September 23rd, 2012
12:40 am
If that’s the case GTBob isn’t it pointless for you to say one thing good or bad about UGA at the moment? I mean by your logic you have no idea how good UGA or anyone else in the country is at the moment.
90ChampsColoradoBuffs
September 23rd, 2012
12:40 am
GTBlob is Googling “dolt” right now.
Game Changer
September 23rd, 2012
12:41 am
The best game and performance by a UGA footbal team and coaches in severa years.
Great discipline by players, cohesiveness and let their playing speak without all the personalized drama. Was a great game by all players and hope this leadership and discipline by all continues !!!
Coaches should be applauded for a desire to continue pushing the scoreboard. The coaches should continue demanding self control and disciplined leadership of each and every player as we saw tonight, great job coaches.
This night could be the night everyone looks back on and says, everyone from the coaches to players got it perfectly right and created the opportunity for a very special season.
ncdawg90
September 23rd, 2012
12:42 am
I remember Paul Johnson claiming it really wasn’t any big deal to beat a program like Georgia. So now that you rarely ever do it, and won’t be doing it again this year, what does that say about your gimmick program now, you little unhappy turd?
The Factor
September 23rd, 2012
12:43 am
Plenty of articles on your Jackets GTBob. Why aren”t you there? By the way, listening to Colin Cowherd of ESPN radio this week and he said, “Besides LSU, Alabama doesn’t have to play anyone this year. They avoid having to play Georgia and South Carolina.” Funny, everyone with football knowledge has a ton of respect for UGA and SC (I can”t imagaine why that GTBob just can”t get his arms around that fact- pitiful pride and envy, I guess)…
The Factor
September 23rd, 2012
12:46 am
I do agree, however, teams should not be ranked until the completion of week 5.
GTBob
September 23rd, 2012
12:48 am
If that’s the case GTBob isn’t it pointless for you to say one thing good or bad about UGA at the moment?
I haven’t said that UGA is horrible. They just haven’t done anything at all to prove they are worthy of the ranking they have. The teams they have played are a combined 5-10 this year.
Not So Fast
September 23rd, 2012
12:50 am
GTBob is not very good at displaying any sort of football knowledge. It’s to early to say who is top five according to him but he can say UGA isn’t a good team which makes no sense. He doesn’t go on the Tech blogs because they dislike him more than Dawg fans. As a UGA fan I root for GT when they don’t play UGA. How awesome would it beet to have an undefeated GT vs an undefeated UGA. Especially considering its at the end off the year.
GTBob
September 23rd, 2012
12:50 am
Funny, everyone with football knowledge has a ton of respect for UGA and SC
Oh yeah, when ESPN is talking about national championship contenders they gush over UGA and SC. They aren’t even mentioned in that conversation.
Bigjoe
September 23rd, 2012
12:50 am
Georgia will meet its match when they travel to Columbia South Carolina on October 6th to meet the Gamecocks coached by Spurrier. This is going to be one hell of a game. It will be like to championship boxers slugging it out in the ring. I think South Carolina will have a little more punch with that defense of theirs. They are playing lights out with Clowney, Taylor and company. Missouri ran up tons of yardage against the Dawgs and lost by 21 points but were even with the Dawgs through 3 quarters. Missouri got blitzed by South Carolina and was held to only 3 points until 17 seconds to go when they finally scored a TD against that Gamecock defense. USC QB was 20-21 passing and 2 TD. Lattimore added to his TD totals with 2 of his own. Georgia vs South Carolina on Oct 6th time to be determined is going to be one knock down drag out fight.
A True Dawg
September 23rd, 2012
12:51 am
So GTBob, “It would be embarrassing if UGA didn’t win the rest of their games this season. The season for them is pretty much the SEC championship game against Bama. None of the other games have much relevance.”
Can you argue that the SEC is not the most dominate conference in the nation for the past six years?
If UGA’s only competition in the nation is BAMA (according to you) then can we both agree that UGA is at least the second best team in the country? Well I disagree and say that UGA is the best, but if you think they’re #2, then that’s your onion. Great game against Miami tonight! Way to show that Ga. Tech fighting spirit that we’ve all come to know here in the state of Georgia! You must be proud!
1969 Graduate
September 23rd, 2012
12:51 am
Right on, Mark Bradley.
Go, Georgia.
Dawg 1
September 23rd, 2012
12:51 am
GT Bob – I’ve concluded that you knock down a few before getting on this blog. It’s that or your one taco short of a combination platter….
Get some rest bud…
You’ve had a bad day.
Not So Fast
September 23rd, 2012
12:52 am
No GTBob is just a troll.
The Factor
September 23rd, 2012
12:59 am
@GTBob,
I don’t put words in your month. I never said they gush over UGA & SC. I only quoted what their main daily radio guy said. However, it was said today on Gameday that the SEC East now seems to be deeper than the west. As far as schedules, every year there are only about 15 teams that per your formula are worthy opponents to anyone. At least when you play in the SEC, you run the chance of hitting up against 2 or 3.
Not So Fast
September 23rd, 2012
1:12 am
I was really impressed by the offensive line tonight. I think a lot of people don’t realize that they are young and are going to only get better this week. As will are super freshman running backs.
Wild Dog
September 23rd, 2012
1:16 am
GT BOB you talk of something that you know nothing about. You talk just to smell your ________breath. I wish you well in a foreign land.
Wild Dog
September 23rd, 2012
1:30 am
Maxwell,the freak hunter :You can be for sure we will not have to wake you when we play GT.Now be a good little boy and get your nap and don’t forgey your bottle.
GTBob
September 23rd, 2012
1:46 am
If you guys want to see real domination then you should be watching Oregon. They are up 49-0 against a ranked team.
vandy got robbed
September 23rd, 2012
1:49 am
GTBarb: Look at ur 11:49 post. Are you insinuating that Tech’s offense is up to par w/ the SEC’s? lmao..coughcough
LakeDawg
September 23rd, 2012
1:50 am
That is the most complete game UGA has played in a long while. What impressed me the most is that UGA didn’t appear to be focusing on Vandy so much as they were trying to improve every facet of the team. They were playing against the expectations they have for themselves. That is a great sign. This Dawg team has a mental edge that has been missing since 2005. Bobo even established the run game to my shock and great pleasure. The way the O-line was popping pads, you know they’ve been having run scrimmages. Way to go Bobo and Richt. With the talent on this team, if they stay focused the sky is the limit.
LakeDawg
September 23rd, 2012
1:54 am
After watching all of the top ranked teams play at some point during the season, I can safely say that there isn’t a challenger to the SEC champion. The only way the SEC doesn’t win their 7th BCS title in a row is if the SEC champion has a loss (very feasible) and two paper tigers like FSU and Oregon go undefeated and the pollsters use that as an excuse to shut out the SEC.
Chinadawg
September 23rd, 2012
1:55 am
If you were OSUBob, you’d be saying the same stuff about arizona to Oregon like you do to UGA fans. Over rated, never should have been there. still havent played anyone, no way to judge in wk 4. etc etc. YES! Arizona is the team you need to beat to earn Bob’s respect….
Not So Fast
September 23rd, 2012
1:59 am
GTBob it doesn’t matter what Oregon is doing according to your earlier logic. I mean rankings mean nothing at this point in the season right? You my sir are a contradiction.
LakeDawg
September 23rd, 2012
2:00 am
I see ESPN is desparately trying to hype FSU. Holtz says Clemson’s point total was luck. Reece Davis says FSU is definately a national title contender. Supposedly, FSU won a huge game with talent and true grit. IMO they beat a very mediocre Clemson team.
Charles Ward
September 23rd, 2012
2:00 am
There is a challenger you may have looked over or afraid to admit: FSU. SEC is done this year with the likes of FSU, Clemson, and GaTech!
GTBob, Jr.
September 23rd, 2012
2:02 am
Dad for Heavens sake why infer the name of the Quakers when Miami is sorry and we had a great game against them! Please, Tevin will take us to the ACC Champ game, pops!
GTBob
September 23rd, 2012
2:02 am
After watching all of the top ranked teams play at some point during the season, I can safely say that there isn’t a challenger to the SEC champion.
Nah, you don’t sound like an insane homer at all.
GTBob
September 23rd, 2012
2:05 am
GTBob it doesn’t matter what Oregon is doing according to your earlier logic. I mean rankings mean nothing at this point in the season right? You my sir are a contradiction.
Yeah, I did somewhat contradict myself but Arizona completely destroyed Oklahoma St so I accept them as at least a decent team. I am a little more impressed by Oregon manhandling them then UGA manhandling a Vandy team that has little chance of winning 5 games this year.
LAND Jacket
September 23rd, 2012
2:06 am
Lakedawg you wont see team speed like a qb like Taj and rb Ellington. Perhaps if the Dogs can muster a win against the UT your team will be ESPN discussion and not spittal after Tide and LSU and War Eagle bits.
What they said after Georgia’s rout of Vanderbilt | UGA sports blog
September 23rd, 2012
2:11 am
[...] Mark Bradley column: Yeah, it was only Vandy. It also was utter domination by UGA [...]
Not So Fast
September 23rd, 2012
2:11 am
Lets see what Arizona is ranked at the end of the year. If UGA goes undefeated in the regular season they are going to have to probably beat two top tens to do it. But doesn’t mean the teams are going to be top ten at the end of the year. By the way I think USC east is going to beat LSU.
Steve
September 23rd, 2012
2:12 am
I refuse to get too confident. I still remember thinking we might have the team to win it all in 2007 and Tennessee stomped on us. We had only lost one game and the team that beat us lost two weeks later (SC). So we had a chance and we were looking good coming off beatdowns of ‘Bama (when Bill curry called us out as soft( and Ole Miss.
Tennessee had beaten us the year before and everyone was expecting UGA to deliver payback. Nope, we let Tennessee stomp on us that year also.
We are looking good, but the reality is that we have yet to play a team with even an AVERAGE defense. Next week will be a much bigger test, but even if we win that one I won’t start getting excited unless we make it past SC and Florida unscathed.
GT Bob, Jr.
September 23rd, 2012
2:13 am
Dad, you lose now and we lost earlier. Go downstairs and night night and awake when our Falcons are ready to ball and the defeat of our Jackets has subsided and the win by the Dawgs vs that sorry sec chump will mean nothing after Tennessee goes to Athens!
LakeDawg
September 23rd, 2012
2:17 am
Let’s face it. FSU plays two games this year. Clemson ( about a 15-20 quality team) and Florida.
Not So Fast
September 23rd, 2012
2:19 am
Yeah and Richts teams no matter how good they are always have that one dud. The one that hurts the most is 2002 against the Gators. Terrance Edwards and that stupid drop!
Class of '98
September 23rd, 2012
2:19 am
Great column, Bradley. The old message/new message had me laughing out loud.
While ESPN continues to slobber over Jadaveon (I really don’t care if that is spelled correctly) Clowney, Jarvis Jones continues to be the most ferocious, disruptive player in the nation.
Not so slow
September 23rd, 2012
2:20 am
2:11- What a brave prediction(based on squat) that you write USC(Trojans) or S Carolina vs. LSU. Hmmm. Did Conner Shaw just dazzle you today ?
#6
September 23rd, 2012
2:23 am
Agree Class! Jarvis behind me is best LB in USA!
Not So Fast
September 23rd, 2012
2:24 am
No I just think LSU is a little overrated and South Carolina has a better defense than Auburn by far. And it definitely has more playmakers. If Auburn had a serviceable QB at the least LSU would have went down.
UPDATED: No drama this time as Georgia Bulldogs roll Vandy 48-3 | UGA sports blog
September 23rd, 2012
2:26 am
[...] Mark Bradley column: Yeah, it was only Vandy. It also was utter domination by UGA [...]
Extremely satisfying day for Todd Grantham and Georgia’s defense | UGA sports blog
September 23rd, 2012
2:27 am
[...] Mark Bradley column: Yeah, it was only Vandy. It also was utter domination by UGA [...]
Latty
September 23rd, 2012
2:41 am
Not so fast-Why overrated? Sure our D with Clowney is THE BEST IN SEC!!!!
Casey
September 23rd, 2012
2:44 am
Go Dawgs! Secondary suspect but when we get Rambo back, it’ll get better.
boykin
September 23rd, 2012
2:49 am
Go Dawgs! Great game D and O came to play!
boykin
September 23rd, 2012
2:50 am
Steve- relax and enjoy our W!
Not So Fast
September 23rd, 2012
3:21 am
Latty I was saying LSU is a little overrated. I was saying I think USC can beat them. The only team in the west who I would put above UGA, USC, and even the Gators at the moment is Alabama.
bwell
September 23rd, 2012
3:56 am
Hey about them DAWGS!!!!!!!! They look great last night. I’m in afghanistan and had my wife to turn the computer to the tv Ga looks great, and will get better and be more healthier as the season progress…… with all the suspension being over (hopefully) we should roll into the ga dome undefeated if we dont get the BIGHEAD!!!! GO Dawgs from the Stan
John Futch
September 23rd, 2012
4:55 am
Great column, Mark. The Bulldogs are always, as the King of Siam said, a puzzlement.
You have always done a great job of defining them for better or worse and hopefully the are headed in the direction of better. (And I say this with great appreciation — I was AJC Exec in the early ’80s; shoot, I was the bad guy who snuck in and stole Furman’s typewriter and replaced it with an IBM of the time).
Anyhow, keep it up, and as Furman did almost all of the time, keep telling the truth.
JCF
Dawg from Griffin
September 23rd, 2012
5:06 am
Bama beat FAU by 33. UGA beat FAU by 36. Both pulled their starters after 3 quarters. What makes Bama fans think they are so much better than UGA this year? Surely it’s not because they stomped Arkansas…they’ve been exposed as horrible. Same goes for Michigan. Maybe both the Tide and the Dawgs will meet in Atlanta where it can be decided the way it’s supposed to be – on the field.