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
chase
October 7th, 2012
11:51 am
If we are playing the “if” game
IF LSU only kicks a field goal, Florida does not have the momentum from the turnover, LSU runs more time off the clock, and with a lead of eve 2 points and several more minutes off the clock and no momentum from a turnover, it is a DIFFERENT game
ApopkaDawg
October 7th, 2012
11:52 am
Take a look for yourselfs Dawgs fans. Here is a list of the players from last nights game with the number of stars in parenthesis based on their high school recruiting. If ever there was a doubt that we had the talent on the field, the stats don’t lie.
Just keep in mind:
1. Their O-Line was made up of mostly SOPHOMORES!
2. SC was losing at halftime to Kentucky.
South Carolina Georgia
Skill Positions
QB 14 Connor Shaw | 6-1, 207, JR(3) 11 Aaron Murray | 6-1, 211, JR(4)
RB 21 Marcus Lattimore | 6-0, 218, JR(5) 3 Todd Gurley | 6-1, 218, FR(4)
WR 1 Ace Sanders | 5-8, 175, JR(4) 12 Tavarres King | 6-1, 192, SR(4)
WR 82 D.L. Moore | 6-5, 198, SR(3) 15 Marlon Brown | 6-5, 222, SR(4)
WR 23 Bruce Ellington | 5-9, 197, SO(4) 26 Malcolm Mitchell | 6-1, 184, SO(4)
TE 87 J. Cunningham | 6-4, 264, SR(2) 88 Arthur Lynch | 6-5, 272, JR(4)
O-Line
T 53 Corey Robinson | 6-8, 337, SO(3) 72 Kenarious Gates | 6-5, 328, JR(3)
T 76 Mike Matulis | 6-5, 274, SO (3) 71 John Theus | 6-6, 309, FR(5)
G 50 A.J. Cann | 6-4, 309, SO(4) 64 Dallas Lee | 6-4, 300, JR(4)
G 67 Ronald Patrick | 6-2, 305, JR(3) 68 Chris Burnette | 6-2, 322, JR(4)
C 55 T.J. Johnson | 6-6, 319, 3V(3) 61 David Andrews | 6-2, 293, SO(3)
Defense
DE 98 Devin Taylor | 6-8, 267, SR(3) 93 Abry Jones | 6-3, 309, SR(4)
DE 7 Jadeveon Clowney | 6-6, 256, SO(5) 83 C. Washington | 6-4, 280, SR(4)
DT 70 Byron Jerideau | 6-1, 316, SR(2) 6 John Jenkins | 6-3, 351, SR(4)
DT 99 Kelcy Quarles | 6-4, 286, SO(4) 99 Kwame Geathers | 6-6, 350, JR(3)
LB 54 Shaq Wilson | 5-11, 224, SR(3) 33 Chase Vasser | 6-3, 227, JR(3)
LB 47 Reginald Bowens | 6-3, 254, SR(3) 29 Jarvis Jones | 6-3, 241, JR(4)
LB 21 DeVonte Holloman | 6-2, 241, SR(4) 9 Alec Ogletree | 6-3, 236, JR(4)
CB 27 Victor Hampton | 5-10, 197, SO(4) 19 Sanders Commings | 6-2, 217, SR(3)
CB 15 Jimmy Legree | 6-0, 189, JR(3) 1 Branden Smith | 5-11, 176, SR(5)
S 2 Brison Williams | 5-11, 205, SO(3) 36 Shawn Williams | 6-1, 220, SR(3)
S 36 D.J. Swearinger | 6-0, 210, SR(3) 18 Bacarri Rambo | 6-0, 218, SR(3)
Stars 74 Stars 83
Yellow Fuzz
October 7th, 2012
11:52 am
hahaha. Even my inlaws (big dog nation AH’s) are putting their season tickets up for sale. There are 6 of them. Email me if you are interested http://www.kolkokedincolumbia.com
2smartjones
October 7th, 2012
11:54 am
Mark Richt joins RisingTide80, 88mph and Marbut, four Updykes cowering in a field, their Clownsuits billowing in the wind, shrouding their fat, unfit disgusting bodies as they vomit uneducated ignorance through wretched rotten teeth and mouths ready-fit for HELL!
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
11:54 am
@predictor……
If Georgia does fire Richt (which they will not unless he loses 3 to 4 more games this year…..which they will not)…..Kirby Smart is the coach they should hire…period. He is another clone of Saban….just like Muschamp is….and the Saban formula works to develop character on and off the field…..and that has what Muschamp has already done and accomplished at Florida. He has instilled the same environment at Florida that people see and experience at Bama….and LSU.
chase
October 7th, 2012
11:54 am
Tamp Gator
you are arguing with the wrong Dawg fan
I have agreed with 95% of everything you have said this morning…..
Only a little exception with a few things that may be from a victory “high”
I think that UGA vs FLA is going to be the game of the century and decide the EAST
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
11:54 am
To all the kool-aid drinkers
Please explain why the mediocrity continues when……
UGA since 2001 has put more players in the NFL than any other school in the SEC
Can I just get an explaination better than UGA has 100 wins over teams like Buffalo, Vandy, and Western Carolina
dog gone
October 7th, 2012
11:54 am
ahhhhh…
we have seen this before…time and time again….
before the year’s is over…we will offer richt a new contract….
with MORE $$$ and more deluded dreams…never to be filled…
and all because he is such a nice man
Mike Bozo
October 7th, 2012
11:55 am
I think the game last night was a complete joke. Those of you who doesnt expect or demand better needs to pull for their local little league team; where they might not keep score these days and everyone gets a trophy too.
Gapeachinfla
October 7th, 2012
11:56 am
Enter your comments here
Predictor
October 7th, 2012
11:58 am
@Tampa Gator
Muschamp looks pretty good, so far, but I wouldn’t write the book on him yet. It’s a long season.
alphamale
October 7th, 2012
12:01 pm
UGA fans as a whole are not very football knowledgeable. They honestly felt that they were significantly more talented than this gamecock team. I even saw one dawg say tennessee was more talented than Carolina.
Yes Carolina is better coached than is UGA. But the hard cold facts are despite all the rivals recruiting rankings in the world, south Carolina is SIGNIFICANTLY more talented across the board than is Georgia.
South Carolina is not just a better team this year than is UGA, but the gamecocks are a much better PROGRAM than are the dawgs. And I don’t see that changing any time soon.
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:02 pm
Chase….
and….IF….Hammond does not fumble……Florida most likely leads 7-6 at half and comes out and wins 21-9 in the second half. But the fact is…..Elam….who is probably the best strong safety in the SEC…..and maybe the country……grabbed the receiver who tried to stiff arm him…..forced him to the ground with enormous force….while sticking his arm in to knock the ball out…..on pure instinct……because he is a great player……and their are a lot of great players on Florida’s defense this year. As one of the ESPN talking heads said this morning…..”Florida will become a national title contender if they develop more of a passing game.” That is a big if because Florida does not have big time receivers this year…..but anything is possible.
And as far as the Florida vs. Georgia game being a huge game this year….nationally…..that type of game went away last night when Georiga lost….which I did not want to see happen for that very reason. I desperately wanted SC to go down…..so maybe they would also lose to LSU next week. That did not happen….and I seriously doubt LSU can beat SC next week. Florida will have to do that in THE SWAMP in two weeks….a big challenge for sure……and hopefully no stub their big toe next week vs. Vandy…..Florida always plays poorly up there for some reason.
Gapeachinfla
October 7th, 2012
12:02 pm
Spurrier will never let up on Georgia, the team that messed up him Heisman
He is the reason I am a gator-hater.
Why want ex Ga players like Kirby Smart come back and coach when offered?
FrmtheBlechrs
October 7th, 2012
12:02 pm
UUGGHHH LY
browndog
October 7th, 2012
12:03 pm
Honestly believe SC can go undefeated in regular season as long as they have no major injuries. Spurrier will have his team ready to play each week.
fbFan
October 7th, 2012
12:03 pm
For all of you talking smack before the game.
Best:
O-line SC
D-line. SC
Running back. SC
QB. Sc
Receivers. SC
Tight ends. SC
Linebackers. SC
D backc. SC
Special teams. SC
Did I miss anything? Hahahaha!
Ooooops…… Coaching. SC
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:04 pm
Predictor…..
I have watched Muschamp organize, develop, lead, recruit, manage, coach, make ajustments at halftime…..and hire……..and you can BOOK IT with him at Florida. He is the real deal. End of that story.
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:09 pm
Did not see the SC game last night………but from the score and the stats…..I would say that South Carolina and Bama are clearly the two best teams in the SEC right now…….with Florida, Mississippi State, Georgia, and LSU…..in that order right now…..several steps behind them. But as I said….Florida is quickly making up those steps. Georgia took steps back last night….but has the talent to step right back up. Those other Bulldogs with an ex-Gator coach on the helm…are coming on strong as well and could give Bama a tough game. LSU has issues on offense….and Mettenberger is only a little bit better than John Brantley.
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:11 pm
Best teams in the SEC right now…..
1. Bama
2. South Carolina
3. Floirda
4. Mississippi State
5. Georgia
6. LSU
7. Texas A&M (may upset LSU when they play)
Yarddawg
October 7th, 2012
12:13 pm
Well I got the solution, nobody go to the next home game, i mean nobody, if there is nobody there but students, that ought to wake whoever the fck is in charge and send em packing, And then Mark can do more ford commericals and practice his diving skills with lee corso. REALLY??????????????? TOTAL JOKE OF COACHING STAFF!
Sick And Tired
October 7th, 2012
12:13 pm
Voice your frustration to McGarity.
ad@sports.uga.edu
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:14 pm
I just looked out the door……and the Georgia bandwagon train just went over the bridge…..and there were no Georgia “fans” on it……jumped off on the previous bridges, I guess. But I am sure they will jump back on again when the Dawgs crush Kentucky 61-0 next week…..
Sick And Tired
October 7th, 2012
12:14 pm
We need a coach like Petrino to compete
dddf's
October 7th, 2012
12:15 pm
always have been, always will be
Go Jackets
October 7th, 2012
12:16 pm
Damn sorry state of affairs in Ga today……I’m tired of ppl comin in here and takin a dump on our teams (Dwags included). IDNK how Spurrier/Saban/Fisher keep comin in here and takin all the best talent away from our two top schools. O’Leary and Donnan didnt let this happen…….Maybe the Falcons can RISE UP today?
Yarddawg
October 7th, 2012
12:17 pm
I dont care if they beat them 161 to 0 those clowns gotta go, i dont care if we win the rest of our games by 61 points, those clowns, gotta go
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:17 pm
AP poll just out…….
Florida jumps all the way up to #4
Georgia falls to #14
South Carolina is #3
Big, big game….again…in THE SWAMP….in two weeks……
dddf's
October 7th, 2012
12:19 pm
wow! go from 5-0 to fire the coaching staff in less than 24 hours. Gotta be a new world record even for the dddf’s.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
12:19 pm
To all the kool-aid drinkers
Please explain why the mediocrity continues when……
UGA since 2001 has put more players in the NFL than any other school in the SEC
Can I just get an explaination better than UGA has 100 wins over teams like Buffalo, Vandy, and Western Carolina
!!
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:20 pm
By the way….
Where is DawgNole……
What happened to your Dawgs and your Noles last night???????? I can understand Georgia losing to a very good SC team…….but the MIGHTY NOLES…..losing to North Carolina State????? Really????? NC State????? REALLY???? NORTH CAROLINA STATE???????
Come on DawgNole…..come back on a do your thing……
dddf's
October 7th, 2012
12:21 pm
I’m outta here, but just know this leghumpers, your pain will sustain me and keep me warm on this first chilly day of the fall. And as always, the rally cry remains “wait till next year”!!!!!!
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:21 pm
Destin Dawg
August 18th, 2012
11:35 am
Muschamp is over his head in his 1st H.C. job.. Texas did not do well when he was Coordinator.. #23 rank is about right.. they could easily lose 4 or 5 and FSU is way UP this year
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:22 pm
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
Yarddawg
October 7th, 2012
12:23 pm
Look man, youve got plenty of money! Hell youve robbed us for the last 12 years, take your millions and go on a prayer mission or hand out a bunch of bibles or whatever, just do us all a favor and hit the road, wish ya well, just not as the head coach at Georgia
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:24 pm
NGD
August 15th, 2012
4:17 pm
jdog247: Who’s UF’s starting QB again?
Uh…….Jeff Driskel……and the UF RB…..Mike GIllislee.
knottpinetall
October 7th, 2012
12:24 pm
Basic facts: Football is a game of winners and losers. Every Saturday there is a winner and a loser. Losing is part of the risk of playing football. That is an accepted fact. However, being trampled, being completely manhandled, not even having a hope of winning, being embarrassed on national television, and having the TV commentators disparage your program, is not an acceptable loss. Those in the Ga. athletic department have a responsibility to the future of Ga. football to make an honest and realist assessment of the present football coaching staff. If they have the courage and integrity to do that, there is no other conclusion but the present coaching staff is not up to the challenge of competing in SEC football. If they reach any other conclusion, they have a duty to explain to the fans, who support the program with their money and presence, the basis of their decision. Otherwise, the only way a change will come will be for those who give large sums of money; stop giving money. Money talks.
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:25 pm
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 yes you do.
73Dawg
October 7th, 2012
12:25 pm
Worst head coach and coaching staff in the SEC. We will not beat SC or FL again until we have a new head coach. We could have gotten Will two years ago, Damn!
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:26 pm
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 !!
Make that 30 years!
JB
October 7th, 2012
12:28 pm
remember, they rolled a #1 Bama team in the same ESPN game day setting. I watched a team last night I wish we had. Our team got a lot of love this year, but we are apparently way over rated. We’ll go 9-3, foam at the mouth for beating lessors, but the days of beating a good team appear to be over. It’s been almost 4 years. This is as good as it’s going to get with this staff…..And please, nobody brag about us being back with a 35-7 win over Kentucky…………..We are not a great football team. Good, yes. We can’t beat a great team
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:28 pm
The Grinch
August 16th, 2012
8:40 am
Will Muschamp…..tick, tick, tick, tick….
No………..WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN, WIN
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:29 pm
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.
What was that you posted?
Lord Saban
October 7th, 2012
12:29 pm
Looks like Georgia got exposed yet again as pretenders. And the already legendary Gurshall overhyped duo got shut down completely. This is what happens when you think you’re all that because you look good against a series of really bad teams- UT included.
In other news S. Carolina and UF both looked very impressive. Early prediction- Florida takes a 31-0 beatdown win over uga in Jax. No doubt about it- we’ve got 3 excellent sec teams that are all legit top 5 teams. Uga is just not one of them.
Go Jackets
October 7th, 2012
12:29 pm
FYI….I think Saban AND O’Leary are both former DC’s…….just sayin.
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:30 pm
LoL
August 16th, 2012
2:50 pm
Florida is a sinking ship.
very funny…..indeed.
Patrick
October 7th, 2012
12:30 pm
@knotpinetall — the gospel truth !! The only way change will occur is via the pocket book.
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:31 pm
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 can set you up with an appointment with Pearl Vision next week.
Supes
October 7th, 2012
12:32 pm
Tampa Gator,
good God man who are gloating like you’ve just won the SEC…beating a less than great LSU team at home…good, good…your overconfidence will be your weakness in Jacksonville, I’m counting on it from fans like you and that entire FLA teams that thinks they are “back”…when in all honesty they’ve gotten quite lucky to be undefeated this far into the season. Keep on dreaming man…nobody can stop you but I guess we’ll see where it all shakes out soon enough…
Du
October 7th, 2012
12:32 pm
What a bunch of babies. You Dawgs should be use to getting your butts beat by the Gamecocks by now. No coaching change is going to remedy the complete domination that is being put on you by the Cocks.