A sobering night: Georgia is outclassed and overwhelmed
This forlorn shot is somewhat indicative of the night itself, wouldn't you say? (AP photo by Brett Flashnick)
Columbia, S.C. – Billed as a prove-it game, Georgia can only hope this was instead a case of false advertising. If the nation’s No. 5 team proved anything Saturday night, it’s that it shouldn’t be ranked that high, or perhaps at all.
South Carolina was primed to make a point. It took Georgia, which had averaged 48 points in its first five games, 58 minutes just to score a point here. To say the Bulldogs looked a step slow from the get-go is to suggest that “Ishtar” slightly underperformed at the box office. In the first 10 minutes, Georgia managed to get outclassed across the board — on offense, on defense, even on special teams. Not coincidentally, South Carolina had mustered three touchdowns before the visitors managed their second first down.
In a way, this recalled the infamous first half against Alabama in September 2008, the night the Bulldogs wore their black jerseys and trailed 31-0 at the half. But Alabama hit Georgia with a series of body blows. South Carolina was firing haymakers to the jaw: A 42-yard completion that should have been a Bacarri Rambo interception on the game’s second snap; an interception off a tipped Aaron Murray pass on Georgia’s third snap; two Connor Shaw touchdown passes to unencumbered receivers, and finally an outrageous punt return by Ace Sanders.
All the improvements Georgia has made over the past 13 months — or seemed to have made — were called into question in this wretched first quarter. South Carolina was bigger, faster, stronger, tougher and yes, better-coached. The Gamecocks knew what they wanted to do and did it with gusto. Georgia had no good ideas. South Carolina showed it could run the ball, pass the ball, stop the run and rush the passer. (And, lest we forget, return punts.) The Bulldogs could do none of the above.
Example: On Georgia’s only real threat of the first three quarters, Mark Richt chose to go for the touchdown on fourth-and-goal at the 2. Murray somehow completed a pass for one yard to Rantavious Wooten. “The ball probably should have gone to the [other] side,” said Mike Bobo, the offensive coordinator.
The talent Georgia had displayed against Missouri and Vanderbilt and Tennessee looked rather less impressive this night. Surely some of that had to do with playing on the road, but venue is no excuse for losing 35-7. South Carolina was ready, and that’s a function of coaching. Georgia wasn’t, and that’s a malfunction of same.
Even more distressing was that the big-name Bulldogs — Murray and Jarvis Jones and Rambo and the freshman backs — were rendered pedestrian by comparison. South Carolina’s offensive and defensive fronts exerted their will. The great Marcus Lattimore got all the tough yards. Shaw, who’s from Flowery Branch, made all the tough plays. The Bulldogs acted content to stand back and admire such excellence, and by appearing so passive in such a setting they left themselves open to all the old doubts.
Even in their division-winning season of 2011, the Bulldogs lost to the four best teams they played. This year they’d won five games without meeting anyone of real consequence, and this effort, if that’s the word for it, was so desultory as to make you wonder when, or if, Georgia will ever again beat anybody any good.
Surely they will. They’re too gifted not to break through against somebody. But a game like this made everyone who has attempted to paint these Bulldogs as smarter, tougher, better — and that’s my hand you see raised — feel a fool. When you’re beaten like this, there can be no disclaimers, no qualifiers: This was simply a horrid showing.
Said Richt: “I told the guys, ‘The bad news is that we took a whipping. The good news is that we all took it together … They whipped us pretty good.”
This was worse than the 42-10 loss to LSU in the SEC title game. Georgia wasn’t quite ready for such a game, and the Tigers were too good. But these Bulldogs were older and presumably wiser, and none of that wisdom was brought to bear here. And if Georgia, after all its staff changes and glitzy recruiting, remains incapable of competing on the big stage, whose fault is that?
Todd Grantham’s defense was superb much of last season but seems misdirected now. Bobo’s offense had run up boxcar numbers against lesser lights, but against South Carolina it had but 149 yards through three quarters. And Richt, who’s in charge of this whole operation, used to be able to take teams anywhere and beat anybody. Where did that mojo go?
No, the season isn’t over, and yes, it’s still possible for this team to win the SEC East and play for the conference title. But the season changed Saturday night. Georgia was exposed on national TV as undeserving of its hype, and it can take a program a long time to recover from such an indignity. The Bulldogs’ ceiling got lowered here. When they arrived, we wondered how good they really were. We have a clearer idea now.
By Mark Bradley
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1,090 comments Add your comment
Dog Reform
October 7th, 2012
9:01 am
I will never drink and bark at people in public again
Buckeye
October 7th, 2012
9:01 am
To sum up St. Simons point, Ha!
Jake
October 7th, 2012
9:01 am
Gruden. Gruden Gruden
Pete
October 7th, 2012
9:01 am
Its time for McGarity to clean house. And I say that as a strong supporter of Coach Richt. He and his staff obviously can’t get the job done. We just cannot win the big, important games.
Comeonman
October 7th, 2012
9:01 am
If coach Richt worked at my company he would be fired, and that is the god honest truth.
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
9:01 am
Mr.Coffee
August 19th, 2012
10:15 am
The Dawgs should win the east easily. SC is overrated and fla will be way down again with a bad offense. This time, Ga can win the SEC and will beat alabama in the title game. The Dogs are back!
Yeah boy……Mr. Coffee
SEC: South Carolina, Florida get a leg up in division race | John Clay's Sidelines
October 7th, 2012
9:02 am
[...] are outclassed and overwhelmed, says Mark Bradley of [...]
BigDave
October 7th, 2012
9:02 am
Mark Richt is 0-9 vs ranked teams, since 2008!!! FIRE HIS SORRY A$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wastedyears
October 7th, 2012
9:03 am
hey ga kenyucky is waiting…..im just saying gonna be a tight game
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
9:03 am
Mr. Hankey (Pankey)
August 15th, 2012
2:45 pm
Sounds like a good riddance for the hated Gators, but Muschamp is a Muschump and will be gone within 3 yrs, no bout adoubt it.
Yeah boy…..Mr. Hankey
petega
October 7th, 2012
9:03 am
Is there anything more aggravating in the state of Georgia than a Dawg fan ? They all truly believe their team is great year after year. Get real ! Every year is the same. Beat up on the cup cakes and get your ass whipped by ranked teams. Pretty simple to understand.
slydog
October 7th, 2012
9:04 am
The buy guy is less than a million bucks. If the rich alumni won’t move him out then I guess the middle class alumni will have to raise the funds themselves….lol. Again, the buy out is less than a million dollars. McGarity did ’something’ right.
it is what it is
October 7th, 2012
9:04 am
Saint Simons, you still got it….you make me laugh this morning, what a bunch of dopes
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
9:04 am
Cody
September 22nd, 2012
3:00 pm
The Truth, Florida has proven they are better than last year and have a better quarterback… however, Tennessee was vastly overrated and LSU will crush Florida. The Gator D isn’t ready for our core of running backs
Yeah boy…..Cody
slydog
October 7th, 2012
9:04 am
If only Damon Evans wasn’t so stupid, this problem would have been solved 2 years ago.
Joe Tech
October 7th, 2012
9:05 am
I believe this was the worst beat down that the dog nation has encountered since our 45-42 game in Athens when we sent you and your preseason number one ranked azz packing. Hahahahaha. You idioits couldn’t even beat Middle Tennessee State. Hope you play them in the Music City Bowl
wastedyears
October 7th, 2012
9:05 am
hey ga …ga southen is waiting …im just saying gonna be a tight game
BigDave
October 7th, 2012
9:05 am
And fire McGarity while you’re at it!! They’re both sorry clowns!!!!!! I am dam tired of losing, year after sorry year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dddf's
October 7th, 2012
9:06 am
I really wish I could believe that reform. I really do.
SV STEVE
October 7th, 2012
9:06 am
The tipoff was the TN game. The Dawgs were not worthy of a #5 ranking.
Richt cannot beat a team Spurrier coaches.
I am now on the FIRE RICHT AND HIS STAFF bandwagon. He is not worthy of coaching in the SEC.
Play a ranked team spells defeat for the dogs.
’nuff said, we will have another bad day in Jax
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
9:06 am
NGD
August 15th, 2012
4:17 pm
jdog247: Who’s UF’s starting QB again?:
Jeff Driskell…..NGD
…….and the running back is…..Mike GIllisslee
BigDave
October 7th, 2012
9:08 am
We simply cannot beat ranked teams! That says it all!!! RICHT IS 0-9 VS RANKED TEAMS, SINCE 2008. ESPN put that stat on TV last night! Pretty embarrassing! I believe Richt is 2-14 vs ranked teams in his career at Georgia! And with that sorry A$$ record, he got an extension! UNREAL!!!!!!!!!!!
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
9:08 am
Blackoutanyone?
August 15th, 2012
5:29 pm
UF’s starting QB broke a bone in his shoulder when Muschamp had the QB’s running live during a scrimage. Folks this is what you get when you hire a DC to be your HC.
No…..he didn’t. And this is what you get when you hire a great DC to be your next great HC.
wastedyears
October 7th, 2012
9:09 am
hey ga…ole piss is waiting …im just saying gonna be a tight game????
Chokedog
October 7th, 2012
9:09 am
It’s not just coaching. The players failed to play or show pride. Pathetic. Go play elsewhere heartless dbag losers. We hate u.
slydog
October 7th, 2012
9:09 am
@Tampa Gator
Question: Did you poopoo your own head coach before the season started? Yep, you sure did and called for his firing on several occassions. So don’t wait until week 7 to claim you were some kind of genius. Most of the Georgia fans on here told you that Florida was in good hands. Digging up old archived comments is a just plain being dishonest and a little childish. Unless, of course, you find the ones where you dissed your football program.
Mister.Earl
October 7th, 2012
9:09 am
Meanwhile, back in Athens
October 7, 2012. ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia (R) Rep. Paul Broun said in videotaped remarks that evolution, embryology and the Big Bang theory are “lies straight from the pit of hell” meant to convince people that they do not need a savior. Broun also said that he believes the Earth is about 9,000 years old and that it was made in six days. Broun sits on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
BigDave
October 7th, 2012
9:10 am
MARK RICHT: 0-9 VS RANKED TEAMS, SINCE 2008!!!
wastedyears
October 7th, 2012
9:10 am
hey we beat vanderbilt……..right????
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
9:10 am
Destin Dawg
August 16th, 2012
6:51 am
Muschamp had never been a head coach.. and Texas did not do well when he was a coordinator.. he lacks experience and needs anger management.. gone in 3 years !!
Yeah boy…..Destin Dawg
alpha
October 7th, 2012
9:11 am
Don’t miss the bigger picture story confirmed by last nights demolition…..and that is that without question, the South Carolina PROGRAM has passed the Georgia program. How long will it last?…likely 10-12 years. And here’s a sobering thought for you….the Gamecocks will bring a better, more experienced team to Athens next year than they put on the field Saturday. Check the roster and the players being redshirted.
browndog
October 7th, 2012
9:11 am
Don’t care for Spurrier but the man can coach and recruit. He is keeping the top SC players in state and getting more and more players from GA. SC has a tough mental attitude and expect to win against top competition. UGA hopes they can win, but when playing top teams that formula does not work. UGA was exposed in four of the first five games. Never stopped anyone other than Vandy so was this beat down in SC really that much of a surprise? Six more games to go to try to get into a decent bowl! SC or UF deserve to be in Atlanta.
BigDave
October 7th, 2012
9:11 am
GEORGIA: 0-9 VS RANKED TEAMS, SINCE 2008!!!!!
wastedyears
October 7th, 2012
9:11 am
i cant wait till we beat tech that should right the ship
dddf's
October 7th, 2012
9:12 am
in leading up to the UT game last week, one of the dddf’s posted that tech needed to learn how to run the 3-4 d like uga and bama. he seriously compared uga d to bama d. this was of course before uga gave up 44 to UT and well before they flopped against sc. I repeat, the only similarities between these d’s is they are both the3-4 and they are both in the sec. DDDF’s, always good for a laugh!!!
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
9:12 am
The Grinch
August 16th, 2012
8:40 am
Will Muschamp…..tick, tick, tick, tick….
Will Muschamp……win, win, win…….yeah boy…..The Grinch
Rockosteel
October 7th, 2012
9:13 am
Fear the Spur
here we go again...
October 7th, 2012
9:13 am
Bottom line, with the benefit of a very favorable schedule as of recent, both UF and UT down the last 2 or 3 years, all UGA has to show for is nothing but a “nice” season beating and fluffing stats with teams with loosing records.Can’t beat a team of consquence. Thats pretty much it.
wastedyears
October 7th, 2012
9:13 am
mark richt is very very very very underpaid
Way, Way, Way Over-Hyped
October 7th, 2012
9:13 am
So…..how is that “Dream Team” thingy working out for you?
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
9:13 am
Flo – Ri – Duh
August 16th, 2012
9:58 am
Muschamp – two more years and thrown on the Zooker trash heap…….. next!Good recruiter BUT crappy head coach. 4 to 5 losses this year and on the HOT seat.
Yeah boy…..Flo—wrong—-Duh
hit a single
October 7th, 2012
9:13 am
Old school vs. New school – Guess what old school wins and gets the job done. New school is fine until adversity hits. UGA can’t play with teams that are as good as or better than they are. We need a get in your face coach that is in control (Spurrier and Saban ring a bell). I like Richt but he needs to start chewing some butt! Richt coaches like today’s society. You better not get on anyone!
GEAUX may-retta
October 7th, 2012
9:14 am
its the same old, same old. On the bright side Shapiro and cellini, the puppy schills on 790, will get to talk about how they’d rather have 100 CMRs than anyone else. Losers. Lol. Mark richt is a “brand”? Funny.
Bruce
October 7th, 2012
9:14 am
UGA was out coached in this game. It’s hard for players to show motivation when they are exploited. Face it, the Boosters made demands on the Defensive Co-ordinator, but Offensive Co-ordinator Mike Bobo is off limits, there’s a love affair with Mark Richt, but are not good enough to win a real championship. To think UGA has a real chance to win a championship after being out recruited by Alabama, S Carolina, LSU, and consistently being out coached by those teams, you are suffering from dissilusion. My advice during big games, watch the “O” Channel, and avoid the stress.
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
9:16 am
Wow
August 16th, 2012
9:03 pm
@Tampa Gator
So everything you here from the ESPN talking heads you believe. Some doofus on ESPNU picks UF to win the East and you get excited? Hmmmm!!
And I will not even get into recruiting rankings. You believe UF is going places with Muschamp then more power to ya………. I don’t see it!!!”
Wow……..I know a “Pearl Vision” location for you.
BigDave
October 7th, 2012
9:16 am
MARK RICHT IS 0-9 VS RANKED TEAMS, SINCE 2008! WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID?
wastedyears
October 7th, 2012
9:16 am
i have seasons tickets for sale at full price….i mean halve price…..oh please someone take them for free …it isnt worth wasting the gas
Kyle
October 7th, 2012
9:18 am
If the Braves and Bulldogs played each other it would end in a murder / suicide. Hopefully the Falcons can save the weekend.
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
9:18 am
Bully John
August 19th, 2012
5:05 pm
The lug nuts are loose and the wheels are about to fall off the mighty Gayturd’s with Muschamp at the wheel. Face it UF doesn’t scare anyone with Muschamp coaching the Turds. He is just another average coach. I would laugh my butt off if UF resorted back to the days of Charlie Pell. They ran the best coach they EVER had off in Spurrier. The meltdown couldn’t happen to a better school.
Welcome back to reality……Billy John
hit a single
October 7th, 2012
9:18 am
Spurrier knows talent and how to use it.