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
The Real Hairy Dawg
October 7th, 2012
12:32 pm
I wouldn’t let Georgia’s monumentally bad performance fool you into thinking the Gamecocks are a great team. They were behind KY and almost lost to Vandy. This game is to be credited to the UGA staff. We weren’t ready, had no plan, and looked like we hadn’t practiced. We just gave up when we had all of the opportunity in the world to come back. The quitting mentality is the worst of all. We have more talent than SC, but they had more heart and better leadership last night.
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:33 pm
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.
Where is that meltdown happening now?????
JB
October 7th, 2012
12:34 pm
Soft. poorly coached. SC LOOKED like Bama in their uniforms. We looked like Ole Miss
chase
October 7th, 2012
12:34 pm
Tampa Gator
COME on! you r Florida roots are showing by putting Miss St ahead of UGA – THAT is RIDICULOUS
Lord Saban
October 7th, 2012
12:35 pm
Oh man. I would hate to be one of them koolaid drinking dawg fans getting called out by tampagator today.
Speaking of koolaid drinking dawg fans where’s DawginLex today? Or Rxdawg? Or Brainiac, Patrick, or any of the other koolaide drinkers?
Buehler???
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:35 pm
Supes….
Those posts are for certain individuals…..who are not posting today and who have obviously long jumped off the Georgia bandwagon….other than Blackout….of course. I posted earlier that Georgia is still in the race and Florida is currently not on the same level as Bama and SC.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 7th, 2012
12:35 pm
Think about something
When our program is constantly in the news for player arrests and discipline issues along with being in the running for the Fulmer Cup every year…..
Does anyone truly think we are going to field a team that shows discipline on the field that constantly lacks discipline off the field
I really dont think so
chase
October 7th, 2012
12:36 pm
Tampa Gator
NO Serious person could rank Miss St ahead of Georgia
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:37 pm
Dawg-Gawn
August 19th, 2012
7:01 pm
The pendulum has swung at the University of Florida… Gators were on top for a long while, but I’m afraid it will be sometime before you experience that high feeling again.
Unfortunately, Will Muschamp’s personality is showing a huge insecurity complex in his own team and school. He must not believe in himself as a coach or the UF as a top University…. one can be committed, while enjoying the fruits of others, let them enjoy their senior year!
Outlaw made the right move! If UGA grades Outlaw higher than Seymour, he could be a Dawg.
UF should of hired Chris Petersen, a proven head coach…. looks like UF may have been duped!
Say what?????
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:40 pm
Chase…..
They are undefeated and have a very good defense.
JImmy
October 7th, 2012
12:42 pm
as I said after the TN game (and none believed me) Dawgs to the Citrus Bowl. Not enough gravitas to compete with the big boys….
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:42 pm
LakeDawg
August 20th, 2012
4:57 pm
Muschamp has too much Ray Gump in him. I’m glad he’s at UF
No he is not……and me too.
Lord Saban
October 7th, 2012
12:44 pm
“NO Serious person could rank Miss St ahead of Georgia”
Give MSU a little more credit. From time to time they have fielded some pretty decent teams. They just haven’t done it on a consistent basis. Keep in mind that only 2 years ago that they were thrashing Michigan 52-14 in a bowl game while uga was losing to Central Florida. And while MSU probably wouldn’t beat S. Carolina nor would they get a 4 td whupping by the gamecocks either. And the reality is that had Spurrier not put in all backups on that last drive you would have gone scoreless against the gamecocks. Coulda easily been a 35-0 shutout had Spurrier not called off the dawgs(no pun intended).
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:44 pm
gator hater
August 20th, 2012
3:31 pm
Funny…..sounds like Florida’s doing what they accuse UGA of….. living in the past. It’s over for the Lizards and they know it.
If the past is 1996, 2006, and 2008……..and not 1980.
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:46 pm
I guess that will do it for today……and remember…..none of those post are for sensible thinking Georgia fans…..but for those not capable of that. Just saying.
Florida is currently #4…….but I personally think that is too high…..right now. Certainly have the D to be ranked that high…….but the offense is still a work in process.
Lord Saban
October 7th, 2012
12:46 pm
“NO Serious person could rank Miss St ahead of Georgia”
Why not? Only 2 years ago I watched MSU thrash Michigan 52-14 while UGA lost their bowl game to UCF. MSU maybe wouldn’t beat S. Carolina but nor would they get blown out by 4 tds either.
Big Houndog
October 7th, 2012
12:47 pm
Welcome to the new SEC. SC is here to stay . . .at UGA’s expense.
Warhorse
October 7th, 2012
12:48 pm
One thing is for certain, the Poodle fans are the worst losers in America, at least those who know how to use a computer. . . . .
Lord Saban
October 7th, 2012
12:48 pm
BCS title club
Bama, LSU, and FLorida with 2 each- Bama and FLorida with 3 national titles since we went to the 2 division format.
UT and AU with one bcs title each.
Georgia???
Tampa Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:50 pm
That will do it for today………and none of those posts were intended for sensible thinking, reasonable Georgia fans. And Florida is now ranked #4……but I feel that is too high right now. D is great. O is still a work in progress. Special teams are very special. Muschamp is an excellent game day coach. But #4 is stretching it…..for now. But thanks…..AP writers. You just put the Gators into the national title picture. Hope they can stay there. Now…..GO FALCONS
Lord Saban
October 7th, 2012
12:54 pm
“Funny…..sounds like Florida’s doing what they accuse UGA of….. living in the past”
2008 is living in the past? Who knew? Seems in the early 2000s when we were going through our troubles that that’s all we heard from the dawg fans on here. Newsflash. We’re living in the present. And I suspect the gators are also considering their 2012 start, win over LSU and a good Texas A & M team on the road, and lofty ranking.
Birdhair
October 7th, 2012
12:55 pm
Ramsey Pool high dives
Ford Truck Commercials
Buildings huts in central america
Adjusting the headset and mic
Tanning Bed
Worrying about summer haircuts
ESPN commercials
1 Hour conversations with Montravious’ mom before the game
Too much focus on extracurricular activities has to be apart of the problem. We’ve changed defensive coaches more than once. Richt has called the plays, Bobo has called the plays. But the results have been the same under the same head coach. There’s something really missing in this program. Obviously wins against ranked team has been missing for years. If we don’t win the East this season then it may be time for change. But who are we going to get that assures us that we aren’t set back for years and we have to suffer a rebuild? Look at Tenn as an example of what can happen.
Lord Saban
October 7th, 2012
12:56 pm
I’ll check back in later to see if dawginlex, brainiac, and patrick decide to show up today.
JTK
October 7th, 2012
1:35 pm
Once again, the Puppies have been shown up as “pretenders”. This was the team, according to “Bull Dog Nation” that was going undefeated. It is a riot watching this every year. And, they play a patsy schedule.
Robcoop76
October 7th, 2012
1:39 pm
Well Well Well, where are all the big talking UGA fans. Let the excuses began
PeggySue
October 7th, 2012
1:41 pm
It’s not that UGA loses that is so frustrating, it’s how they lose: outclassed, outcoached, outdisciplined and flat out lacking “fire in the belly”. What has happened to our junkyard dogs defense of last year? Has Mark Richt tamped down Todd Grantham’s emotions so much that he and his defense now lacks “fire in the belly”? Look at the coaches that have fired up football teams: Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Steve Spurrier, Will Muschamp, the Todd Grantham of 2010 and 2011, and others. All of these coaches have a couple of things in common: “fire in the belly” to fire up their teams, constructive criticisms that DEMAND perfection (Not, “…the good thing is we all lost as a team.”), excellent game plans, players who execute their game plans to the best of their abilities, and all (except Grantham 2012) are able to adapt and change to plan B during a game if plan A is not working.
nut
October 7th, 2012
2:05 pm
Kyle shanahan head coach raheem morris d coordinator
Kevin McKinney
October 7th, 2012
2:07 pm
Good summary, Mark. It was a really, really painful to watch.
nut
October 7th, 2012
2:10 pm
Both young, energetic with good pedigree
nigel weddington
October 7th, 2012
2:17 pm
Georgia has to get rid off its coaching staff? be like alabama go out and get a big name coach
Go Tech
October 7th, 2012
2:30 pm
Still laughing. That was so funny.
Jesuslizrd
October 7th, 2012
2:33 pm
I wuv Weece Davis updates on ESPN! When Wece says “WOOK at This!” you better Wook!
He always keeps us up to date on whos pwaying who!
GreatDawg36
October 7th, 2012
2:46 pm
I wish we could get Chris Peterson from Boise State. But I know one thing: Richt has to go!!!! His best days have long gone.
GreatDawg36
October 7th, 2012
2:48 pm
I wish we could get Chris Peterson from Boise State. But I know one thing: Richt has to go!!!! His best days have long gone!!
short memories
October 7th, 2012
2:52 pm
Is there anyone who believes that if Steve Spurrier was coaching Georgia and Mark Richt USC that we would have lost last night? So why is Richt still coaching?
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 7th, 2012
2:59 pm
DawginLex? Break it down for us….please!!!!
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 7th, 2012
3:00 pm
Can’t say I told you so back in August, but I did. UGA opened with weak teams, and continues to spiral downward. Keep up the great work….
gomdawg
October 7th, 2012
3:20 pm
OK That game is History, what we can do is get back on tract and take the SEC East like we did last year we can do it. Sc goes to LSU COULD LOSE AND THEN TO SWAMP COULD LOSE WE BET FLA. WE WIN EAST. GO DAWGS A LOT OF FOOTBALL LEFT. WE LOST GET OVER IT.
trimsley06
October 7th, 2012
3:47 pm
I’ll always love the dawgs but they sure can break your heart…..
Hanky Panky
October 7th, 2012
3:53 pm
DRAFT JON GRUDEN.
JON GRUDEN FOR UGA HEAD COACH.
chilidawg
October 7th, 2012
3:58 pm
Anyone else tired of hearing that the goal is just to get to Atlanta? And always looking for help from the rest of the SEC to get there?
chilidawg
October 7th, 2012
3:58 pm
Anyone else tired of hearing that the goal is just to get to Atlanta? And always looking for help from the rest of the SEC to get there?
Pathetic_Simply_Pathetic
October 7th, 2012
4:58 pm
That did it. It’s become so painfully obvious that even CRM’s pastor see’s it.
CRM is a wonderful person, steadfast Christian and great role model, however it’s impossible to coach football at the college level with those attributes. You must be STRONG, you must demand the best and never, never tolerate ANYTHING less. You must be a disciplinarian and rule with an iron fist. Finally you must never accept mediocrity from your coaches. If they don’t cut it they are gone. PERIOD!
There are too many facts that support all that I’ve said.
If he is not replaced by the end of the season the message is loud and clear and we must simply accept the same pattern…if we’re lucky.
Defend him if you must but tell me with a straight face that you are ok with the results I I will know you are a bee lover.
CMR isn't the Problem
October 7th, 2012
5:27 pm
Beat at every posiion on the field and on the sideline.
CMR isn't the Problem
October 7th, 2012
5:32 pm
The problem is that the only reason we were considered contenders was our relatively soft schedule; and, we regularly have a handful of players breaking the law and showing their backsides; and, the university has chosen a righteous man instead of a win-at-all-costs man. CMR has gotten quite wealthy over the years, people, so he must be doing something right.
chase
October 7th, 2012
5:32 pm
so DAWGS fall to #12
could have been worse……..win out and the DAWGS will play for the NC
and YES they are #12 – the AP Rankings do not count for anything – they do not factor into the BCS
angela
October 7th, 2012
6:00 pm
mark richt is the best georgia will ever have as a coach because the real truth is the university will never hire a saban and do not kid anyone spurrier is not a saban
richt is a 1st class man and after what happened in penn state maybe the best is keep the coach and never expect an NC and maybe get a quarterback over 6ft 3 inches that is the real story here
murray is nice fellow but not ready for the big time and they need a real offensive line and a new defensive coach
dooley was much better coach than richt but who knew that when they hired him
Jimmy
October 7th, 2012
6:37 pm
It’s been nearly 24 hours since the beatdown began.
I’m still disappointed.
Still numb.
Richt is a good man.
Frankly, though, the “good man” is not doing these kids any favors building them up to let them down.
These kids are never prepared for big games.
They get their hopes up only to have them dashed against the rocks.
There comes a point when such failures of coaching become detrimental to the kids and the program.
That time has come.
Jimmy
October 7th, 2012
6:43 pm
Yes…there is a lot of football left.
I have supported Richt, as I did last year, when things looked bleak.
Yes, there is a lot of football left.
But I’m now done with Richt.
Win or lose this season, I can no longer support him as coach.
This is too hard.
It’s too disappointing.
If I feel this bad…how does it feel to those young men?
But I’m done with Richt either way.
uga? R U Kidding
October 7th, 2012
6:45 pm
32 years and counting for your top tier program!