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
daddo
September 23rd, 2012
5:15 am
When VANDY is your best game in years, it tells u what a mediocre program u really are. A soft schedule creates the illusion of progress. Won’t be long until that offensive line and weak defense is exploited by a ranked team, u know, something your q b has never beat. WE BEAT VANDY, WE BEAT VANDY. Just sad. LOL.
preferredduck
September 23rd, 2012
5:31 am
@ moobs– Ha, I love how you ask about the 4th quarter, well if you watched the game or read one, maybe two articles you would know that Parker Welch came in at QB before Christian LeMay came it to just hand the ball off the Brandon Harton to run the clock down to get out of there. I will point out the fact the Harton is like the #5 or #6 RB on the depth chart. Also our coach song completely embarass a team by winning 84-0, or as I have seem CPJ and Ga Tech win 64+ to whatever. Just think GTBob and other tech fans, including a couple of my Tech fan friends got all excited about thinking they would have a big year because they scored so many points so easily in an offense that usually takes 12+ plays a drive to score on, go figure.
@GTbob
Tech fans can be so bad sadly. A good friend of mine is one. In 2006 I had to sit in the Tech section with them. It was a quiet ride home for sure. It’s also sad I couldn’t get a picture of me with the field in the background because of this child like behavior. It makes me laugh how sore they get. Heck he won’t even answer the phone after a Tech loss, and it takes a few days to get the call back. You would think they would only want us to lose to them because of the rankings and such, but no that’s not the case. I want them to win all year except game 12, oh well. And GTbob Vandy could best all the teams in the ACC, well except FSU and clemson this year. They were 3 points from beating SC and really got hosed on a clear pass interference call. They held northwestern to low yards and barely lost on the road there too. Keep track of the test of their games this year, you will see.
r
September 23rd, 2012
7:36 am
76th!!
Congratulations Dawgs
September 23rd, 2012
8:13 am
Georgia continues to win. Since 2010, they are now 20-2 against teams that finished the season unranked. And while the season is not over, they currently are 4-0 against unranked teams in 2012.
And 0-9 against teams that were not overrated and finished the season in the top 25 including 0-3 in bowl and SEC championship losses to UCF, Michigan St and LSU.
Call me when they win something of value.
A simple undeniable fact
September 23rd, 2012
8:15 am
And still, 84% of Richt’s goons can’t read. You’re looking at a team of future garbagemen, janitors, and fry cooks.
Something to be proud of, for sure.
Paddy
September 23rd, 2012
8:18 am
Mark…….I thought ‘Harvard of the South’ was Emory U.? Maybe we have 2 down here? I never heard Vandy called that, but I may be all wrong about that.
WWDD
September 23rd, 2012
8:18 am
A few comments about UGA:
1. Four different SEC teams have won the last six BCS championships.
2. UGA was NOT one of those teams.
3. During that period, UGA did not even win an SEC championship.
4. Red panties and Damon Evans.
In other words, UGA has sunk into total irrelevancy both regionally and nationally.
So why is UGA still paying Muck Richt millions of dollars a year?
Congratulations Dawgs
September 23rd, 2012
8:19 am
Oh and in 2012, the 4-0 record is against 4 teams who have a combined record of 5-9 including two SEC teams who are 0-4 in SEC play.
And currently only two teams left on the 2012 schedule are ranked.
Now who did you pay off to get a schedule so conducive to make the 3rd best team in the SEC East look like a national contender… on paper?
Joey
September 23rd, 2012
8:24 am
Richt: “Not that we haven’t got talent.”
******************************
I’m gonna low-key this like Richt did, and I’m not jumping on the 12-0 bandwagon just yet, but what’s becoming apparent is this team’s starting 22 is as good as anybody’s.
Yeah, anybody’s. There may be 2 or 3 teams (or just 1) deeper, with 2nd string teams as good as their 1st string.
But if this team stays healthy, and Richt/Bobo keep on attacking on offense, they will be hard to handle.
Tampa Gator
September 23rd, 2012
8:36 am
Georgia’s domination of Vandy was impressive…even if it was a Vandy team that looked like the Vandy teams from the past. Georgia looked very good on both sides of the ball and executed very well. #1 team in the East right now…..but both South Carolina and Florida will be much more of a challenge for the Dawgs in the future.
Gamecockrock
September 23rd, 2012
8:37 am
Connor Shaw was hurt against Vandy. Threw 20 straight completions yesterday. SC has beaten UGA two straight with GARCIA. GARCIA!!!! See you in two weeks, mutts.
Dawgbreath
September 23rd, 2012
8:42 am
We lost 2 in a row with Garcia at QB. GARCIA!!! Connor Shaw completed 20 in a row yesterday. Gulp.
Texas DAWG
September 23rd, 2012
8:45 am
I enjoyed the game last night! Even though it’s Vandy and it was at home….UGA looked a heck of alot better against them then SC did………..
Still long way to go……..MUST Dominate TENN in the same way we did Vandy…………then destroy SC in their house……..then I think we are top five…………we really haven’t beat anyone to this point…….
Lee C
September 23rd, 2012
8:55 am
Any Bobo Complaints?
dawgfacedboy
September 23rd, 2012
8:58 am
GT Bob- We didn’t tell you anything. Every sporstcaster on tv and radio did. They know alot more than you do. Just because UGAwhipped somebody doesn’t mean they are a pushover (regardless of your opinion). By the way, Miami is the Vandy of the ACC. Go sulk somewhere else punk.
Evansdawg
September 23rd, 2012
9:04 am
“Vandy shut down UGA in the 4th quarter.” Bwhahahahaha! Yeah, a UGA that went the entire last quarter with hardly recognizable names on their jerseys…two deep quarterbacks….and nothing but running up the gut. All this does is raise confidence and finesse as bigger games approach. This spells danger for all future foes on the schedule.
graphite
September 23rd, 2012
9:06 am
From the pristine waters of the Gulf of Mexico,I offer congratulations to the puppy Dawg Nation.Will see you in the Dome……The dog is still ugly and lazy looking…..RollOn..
Big Dawg
September 23rd, 2012
9:13 am
After we pound the Vols next week everyone will say Dawgs still haven’t played anybody any good, but I can live with that, being 5-0 & whupping some Orange azz is something I’m fine with!!! Hahaha woof woof woof
kmarshall4
September 23rd, 2012
9:17 am
Enter your comments here
Kramer
September 23rd, 2012
9:19 am
It all comes down to our visit to Columbia in 2 weeks against the old hag, I mean ball coach. This team looks very impressive and I could careless it was Vandy. The fact of the matter is over the past 10 years no matter how good we were suppose to be Vandy played us tough. My only question is why are morons like GTBob and other tech morons on here posting on a winners site? Brave win, Dawgs dominate and the little stingers get humiliated. The Falcons could top off this weekend with a win. My Sunday is good.
kmarshall4
September 23rd, 2012
9:19 am
give will friend a raise o line was supposed to be the weakness there is no weaknesses on this team see ya in the dome bammer go dawgs gata!!!
Kramer
September 23rd, 2012
9:20 am
Good comment Tampa Gator and you are correct. SC looks a little stronger then the Gators right now and I still say the game in 2 weeks decides the East.
Son of Sammy Davis Jr, Jr
September 23rd, 2012
9:23 am
Spurrier is coming………………..
Joey
September 23rd, 2012
9:29 am
We did have a much easier time with Vandy than I predicted, Tampa Gator. I still have to see how Murray does against UF and SC, but is there a better QB in the country, so far, this season?
I think UF’s next game is their coming-out-party. The LSU I watched yesterday cannot beat UF in the Swamp. Mett and Co are not ready for UF’s defensive speed.
Bama is the class of the SEC right now, for sure, but I think the East has 3 teams as good as LSU.
dawgfacedboy, trying to get GTBob to leave the UGA Blogs is not worth the effort of your keystrokes – he is an addict of everthing UGA.
GA Citizen
September 23rd, 2012
9:31 am
Unless that was some kind of pun, Mark, it’s “Dores”, not “Doors”.
Nativebird
September 23rd, 2012
9:42 am
What Mark? Nothing about that travesty of a coaching job down on the flats yesterday? How your bromantic CPJ got his heart handed to him by a mediocre Miami team after being up big? At home? How the boys of CPJ simply ran out of gas with 15 minutes left to play? Got out fitnessed? Got out-willed….at home! C’mon Marky mark. Step up and call it. The truth this time.
Dawgs 32
September 23rd, 2012
9:49 am
GTBoobies, We donor want to talk football with your kind….NERD!
Mr. Hankey
September 23rd, 2012
9:50 am
GT Bob: I got you something to Bob on pal. I guess you guys come on our blogs just to feel like a winner. Miami? Reall, Bob? OT? At home? Oh my frigging gawd, Bob, look forward to seeing you in A-town on thanksgiving. Luuuuzer.
Oh, yeah, in all my vitrial I almost forgot. One hellova game, boys.
Dawgs 32
September 23rd, 2012
9:51 am
GTBoobies, We do not want to talk football with your kind….NERD!
DawgNole
September 23rd, 2012
9:51 am
Joe
September 22nd, 2012
11:54 pm
Time to focus on the TN state title next week. Vandy sucks. They are Gtu with a little bit better talent and a slightly less obnoxious coach. Ufk has a dangerous team. Dawgs need to be focused this week.
______________________
“Ufk has a dangerous team.”
Ufk??? Are we missing something here?
harold
September 23rd, 2012
9:53 am
UGA WILL DESTROY A HORRBLE TENNESSEE TEAM AND COST DOOLEY HIS JOB. HE IS A HORRIBLE COACH AND HAS YET TO BEAT A TEAM WITH A WINNING RECORD.
UGA 55 TENNESSEE 3
DawgNole
September 23rd, 2012
9:57 am
Grantham
September 23rd, 2012
12:03 am
Big win for Noles! After game day story about Fisher’s son’s struggles, I’m a dawg rooting for their coach!
__________________
Dawgs vs Noles for all the marbles. Hey, I can dream, can’t I?
MontanaDawg
September 23rd, 2012
10:00 am
Excellent win for the Dawgs! That’s the kind of game I’ve been waiting to see from this team. Focus, focus, focus, on each game and execute. Remember to Finish the drill!
DawgNole
September 23rd, 2012
10:04 am
GTBob
September 23rd, 2012
12:25 am
Teams can’t be exposed unless they play a semi-quality team which UGA doesn’t have to worry about.
_________________________
Didn’t think you’d slip that one by us, did you, GTB? UGA’s schedule this year includes plenty of cupcakes, but the Dawgs definitely “have to worry about” SC and fla on the road. Those are quality teams.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
September 23rd, 2012
10:04 am
Good win by UGA over a decent Vandy team. Auburn exposed the Mettenboober as an average QB AT BEST!!!! Bama will be LSU by 17 at least. UGA,UF,and USCe all look strong to me. FSU is getting better and has a clear road ahead due to the little sisters of the poor ACC teams. The Ducks will not lose a game so there is only one spot open and with FSU not having to play anybody the NC game will be hard for the SEC to get a team and no way can the SEC champ lose a game this year…no way. The Notre Dame push is just getting started.
For the guy that mentioned UGA beat FAU by more points than Bama….buddy FAU didn’t score until the last two minutes with their 1st team vs our 2nd. FAU had less than a 100 yards at the half of offense. It will take a great team to beat this Alabama team and these little sisters of the poor that we’re playing has allowed Nick and staff to get these youngs guys many many minutes of playing time and that is just huge going forward for 2012 and 2013. The Bama staff is coaching these backups like the game is on the line down to the last play each week. Kenyan Drake=Star and thanks for sending him our way. I hope Bama can hangon to Tyrene Jones but we have so many kids inline at RB somebody will go elsewhere. Rumor is the QB on Jones team that is committed to Bama is being told to look at other options other than Bama so that will give you some rocks to throw at Saban and that fits well with some of you.
Roll Tide
Attn: GT Bob
September 23rd, 2012
10:08 am
In the Miami Herald Sports section blog today, the fans are happy about the CANES and they too are saying ” it was only a win over hapless GT” knowing well that GT under CPJ has no titles, no bowl wins and their tripe O offense has been figured out by most athletic D teams.
David Granger
September 23rd, 2012
10:09 am
It was nice to see Georgia playing well from the opening kickoff, without taking most of the first half to get going.
Bogey
September 23rd, 2012
10:15 am
Everybody keep in mind what happened to Tech yesterday. Looked like world beaters against a lesser foe last week and got a dose of reality against Miami. If Dawgs are listening–stay focused or it will happen to you. Great win–most dominating in a while.
Ricardo Cabeza
September 23rd, 2012
10:17 am
Dawgs vs. LSU in the dome for Christmas!! Prediction – UGA 17 – LSU 14
DawgNole
September 23rd, 2012
10:20 am
Not So Fast
September 23rd, 2012
12:50 am
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.
____________________
I’m with you 100 percent on that one. Means little to beat a weak-azz team that you’re supposed to beat. I wish all my opponents were highly rated when we meet. Beating those teams–not losers–is how you earn respect and improve.
Ted M
September 23rd, 2012
10:24 am
Yep – the Dawgs looked great in every way…those young tailbacks wow! But I was most impressed by Murray, by far the best game of his career, this what we thought he was gonna be all along.
Ted M
September 23rd, 2012
10:25 am
I’m itching to blast Paul Johnson, when are you gonna do that blog?
DawgNole
September 23rd, 2012
10:27 am
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.
____________________
It’s a soft schedule for sure, although I’d say Va Tech figures to be a decent opponent–IF they keep winning.
here we go again...
September 23rd, 2012
10:34 am
Good win. UGA keeps winning the game they are supposed to. Sometimes looking good, some times not. The problem is UGA has not beat a ranked in years 2009? I’m sure someone will correct me if tha’s not the case. Actually I’m not sure that UGA’s has beat a team that ended with a winning record other than AU (last year). I’m not going to knock on the schedule. Its is very favorable, but thats beyond contol. Other “top rated” teams are perpetuated by 1 or 2 tough games and a soft schedule. At this point, I say UGA is a decent team. Unproven until they play USC. Even if UGA looses, they will still wind up in ATL (again, that schedule thing). Likley will play Bama. Likely will loose. Of course, we are still only 4th game into the season. We know a little more than we did during the preaseason, but we have a long way to go. Heck, both Ms State and Ole Miss are still undeadeated and their schedules to date are arguably better than UGA’s at this point. Again, not saying UGA is bad. Just that the jury is still out.
1lovefalcons20
September 23rd, 2012
10:35 am
thats what happens when an overated school and team plays a lot weak teams..in the end it will be a bitter one for uga….and will end thier season with same results as always..
air of mendacity
September 23rd, 2012
11:19 am
guess you’re right – end the season with a thumping of GT – we will know for sure about dogs when we play TN and Cocks next two weeks. I feel good about it
DawgNole
September 23rd, 2012
11:25 am
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.
_________________
Agree with you on Tenn. Can’t afford to overlook the Vols. They’ve hurt us badly in Athens more than a few times.
That was Pat Dye (not Bill Curry) who called us out as soft (”not man enough”) before that Bama game. Turned out to be great motivation for the Dawgs.
TruthDawg
September 23rd, 2012
11:28 am
Breaking News…… Ground shaking CMR & CMB discovery announced
TD’s > FG’s
DawgNole
September 23rd, 2012
11:31 am
preferredduck
September 23rd, 2012
5:31 am
And GTbob Vandy could best all the teams in the ACC, well except FSU and clemson this year. They were 3 points from beating SC and really got hosed on a clear pass interference call. They held northwestern to low yards and barely lost on the road there too. Keep track of the test of their games this year, you will see.
____________________
Total BS. Vandy’s crap on the gridiron. Always has been. Quit trying to glorify UGA’s marshmallow opponents. Tenn in Athens and SC, fla, and Auburn on the road will tell us all we need to know about the Dawgs. Hopefully the results will be positive.
DawgNole
September 23rd, 2012
11:38 am
Congratulations Dawgs
September 23rd, 2012
8:13 am
Georgia continues to win. Since 2010, they are now 20-2 against teams that finished the season unranked. And while the season is not over, they currently are 4-0 against unranked teams in 2012.
And 0-9 against teams that were not overrated and finished the season in the top 25 including 0-3 in bowl and SEC championship losses to UCF, Michigan St and LSU.
___________________
“… and SEC championship losses to UCF, Michigan St and LSU.”
Huh?
When did UCF and Michigan St join the SEC?