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
Roll Tide with Pride
October 6th, 2012
10:47 pm
Richt has gotten stale. GRANTHAM is a pretender.
Hope they stay in Athens…………. roll tide!
playmeortrademe
October 6th, 2012
10:47 pm
What sucks is they might luck up and beat Florida before the next home game, and suddenly all will be forgiven. But at this point, I hope Florida hangs a double-digit loss on UGA and about 50,000 show up for Ole Miss. I know the students will not show. That’s the only way this thing gets changed
tooltime234
October 6th, 2012
10:48 pm
While this was a tough game, UGA is definitely not as bad as they played. Most of the reason Murray looked so bad is beacuse carolina’s front 7 played lights out. Cloweny came to play
Highly Respected Southern Troll
October 6th, 2012
10:48 pm
H.L. Mencken said that a man may be a fool and not know it, but not if he is married! VERY TRUE. The same could be said of Georgia and Georgia Tech fans. 0-2 versus South Carolina teams today…0-3 for the year counting Georgia Southern’s embarrassing loss to The Citadel.
Drew
October 6th, 2012
10:48 pm
Football 101: To negate an aggressive D, throw screen passes and quick slants. Bobo called neither the entire game. What in the world is he doing running an offense? Seriously? As for as the players, they are nothing more than stat stuffers. They are not winners. Winners show up even when they get beat. What happened to the David Greene’s and Pollack’s? Our “Leaders” have never beaten a ranked team!
The Real Hairy Dawg
October 6th, 2012
10:48 pm
The one objection is to Mark’s title…outclassed. Did anybody notice the SC coach angrily screaming the worst obscenities imaginable on camera after the last TD when SC was running up the score? Zero class.
..
October 6th, 2012
10:48 pm
Enter your comments here
Scoop
October 6th, 2012
10:48 pm
b rogers “Georgia looked Saturday like Obama did Wednesday…”
Really? One’s a game, loser.
Buford T. Pusser
October 6th, 2012
10:48 pm
WOW! What a change of heart in 24 hours. UGA was primed to win the MNC, now you toothless rednecks want to fire your coach. UGA winning the MNC in 1980 was an anomaly, thanks to Herschel Walker. Since then, and before, you were, and are still, notyhing more than a bit player. Get over yourselves and conduct a reality check. UGA ha not beaten a ranked team in over three years! Bottom Line, UGA sucks.
..UGA and Obama
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
Both losers
Frank Lane
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
Most embarrassed I can ever remember.
Atl Gamecock
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
Spurrier still owns Georgia. 3 in a row you puppies. Go COCKS!!!
Dum-Bass
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
Two nights in a row GA gets embarrassed on national TV, BADLY! You guys stop going to church or something? Remember what your mama told you. You don’t go to church bad things can happen.
Scoop
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
b rogers “Georgia looked Saturday like Obama did Wednesday…”
Really? One’s a game, tea boy
BjohnDawg
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
Been a supporter of giving Richt time.
No more….nice man, as a coach he and his staff need to go.
Period.
There is no way to spin this disaster.
Embarassing.major disappointment.
And not a clue how to change what has been the normal for since 2008….
not showing up in big games.
Roll Tide with Pride
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
John L. Smith will be available next season!
Archibald Hole Broke
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
VISOR rules. You mutts are a bunch of wanna bes.
78dawg
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
THE very worst loss that I remember…hands down…somebody needs to tell CMR how to get pissed about this game…tired of the happy go lucky attitude….enough already !!!!
K-Baby
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
I have supported Richt even through some tough times. But there is NO EXCUSE for this pathetic showing by our bulldawgs. McGarity should be drawing up a list of head coaching candidates as I am writing this.
What excuses are going to be given for this one?
jr1967
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
First the Braves, then Tech loses, now UGA gets thumped by Mr. Spurrier and the Gamecocks. Tomorrow the weekend sweep will be complete when RG3 and the ’skins hand the buzzards their first loss.
Cal
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
Braves Whooped, UGA Whooped, lets hope the Falcons show up tomorrow and give the state something to be proud of.
Sammy
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
Not one single halftime adjustment. They smoked us in the first half, but we came out running the same crap that didn’t work in the first half. That rediculous off tackle pitch right into the teeth of the D, why? Came out flat & got out coached. Ran not one play to the outside with the exception being that awful reverse to Mitchell.
Dog out
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
Great article. The Dogs are imposters. POP Warner players wearing college uniforms.
Freddo
October 6th, 2012
10:49 pm
******* SPECIAL BULLETIN *******
Ringling Brothers has just announced that the circus has hired the entire UGA coaching staff. The assistant coaches will trade in their playbooks and whistles for clown costumes and painted faces. Mark Richt has been appointed as Head Clownmaster and will supervise all Ringling Brothers clowns.
Fred Ringling, owner of Ringling Brothers, gleefully announced that Richt was the most qualified clownmaster, having coached clowns at UGA for more than ten years. He then presented Richt and the assistants with their shiny new clown noses.
Richt acknowledged that the circus has been having difficulty hiring enough clowns in recent years, but his first act was to drop the requirement that clowns be able to read and write, and that it was okay if they had a rap sheet. “After all,” he said, “this policy worked well for me in Athens, where I was used to dealing with bozos.”
Please join with us in wishing Mark Richt well in his new position.
tooltime234
October 6th, 2012
10:50 pm
Drew there were a few he threw that got batted down and almost picked and taken to the house. The athleticism of uscs d line was really impressive
ObjectiveObserver
October 6th, 2012
10:50 pm
Outclassed meant the talent was in a class above Georgia’s. Not that SC is somehow more “classy” than Georgia.
Biggun
October 6th, 2012
10:50 pm
Congrats to Coach Spurrier and the Gamecocks! They out played, out coached and flat out made us look like a highschool team. I have never seen a Georgia team look so flat and play which such a poor sense of urgency. I believe that is a direct reflection on tha coach. I admire Coach Richt as a person, but as a Coach, I dont see him as the answer for getting us to the next level. The talent is their, however the execution and focus are way off. I dont see the fire is his eyes anymore, I just see a tired man.
UGA4Ever
October 6th, 2012
10:50 pm
Richt will not be coaching in Athens in 2014. There was a reason why McGarity waited so long to agree to a contract extension. Keep an eye on Dan Mullen in Starkville. He has close ties to McGarity from his Florida days. Mullen can recruit and he’s winning consistently at a place that isn’t used to seeing wins.
The Real Hairy Dawg
October 6th, 2012
10:51 pm
Roll Tide. I think Kirby Smart’s job might be in danger.
daddo
October 6th, 2012
10:51 pm
I told u all season that an easy schedule created an illusion that things had changed. They have not. Same head coach. Same offensive coordinator. Stat boy for a qb who can’t play with the big boys. A weak offensive and defensive line. But YOU said it was the best offense in the nation, you had a heisman candidate qb and your running backs could not be stopped. Oh, and the defense would be the best in the nation.
Now maybe YOU know.
Roll Tide with Pride
October 6th, 2012
10:51 pm
Scoop, the difference is OBAMA will win his big game. UGA will lose theirs.
Frank Lane
October 6th, 2012
10:51 pm
Secretly we all knew that this was not a great team but we hoped. ALL HOPE ABANDON YE WHO ENTER HERE.
Bozo the clown (ie Mark Richt)
October 6th, 2012
10:51 pm
PATHETIC!!!
eirked
October 6th, 2012
10:51 pm
profoundly stupid direction if this continues, really same as the other cmr years
jr1967
October 6th, 2012
10:51 pm
Looks like the sales of UGA products at the local Walmarts will be down this week.
Hooty Goot
October 6th, 2012
10:52 pm
Ken Malcome is just as good a running back as Gurley and Marshal and should get just as much game time as they do. Richt doesn’t use all of his talent. If one player isn’t getting the job done then go to the next player. The same goes for the QB position. When it became obvious that Murray couldn’t get it done Hutson Mason should been given a chance if he’s not redshirted. As far as I know they’ve never said. If you could have taken away the noise at Williams Brice Stadium we would have had a lot better chance. Murray really has trouble with noise.
knottpinetall
October 6th, 2012
10:52 pm
Bobo is out of his class, but the only way to replace BoBo is to replace Richt. Richt and his class C staff cannot compete in the class A football league. Hopefully, the new Athletic Director will have courage enough to start looking for a new football coaching staff. Now, Georgia will be dominated by South Carolina and the way Florida handled LSU, Georgia will continue to be dominated by Florida and any other class A team we have the misfortune to play.
David
October 6th, 2012
10:53 pm
“They’re too gifted not to break through against somebody.” — hasn’t that been the line since 2008? Either the talent is overrated or the coaching is underperforming. How much longer to wait for them to turn the corner?
Vidalia Dog
October 6th, 2012
10:53 pm
Totally unprepared—-What an embarrassment!!!!!
gb
October 6th, 2012
10:53 pm
the dogs played pretty good against usce second string. they might beat them.
Top Dawg
October 6th, 2012
10:54 pm
How about Ken Malcome!!!
Dallas Falcon
October 6th, 2012
10:54 pm
An abysmal performance! Georgia has a lot of great athletes but not a lot of great football players. The great athletes got exposed tonight against USC. Georgia has got to get some tough minded football players and leaders. We saw this coming, Buffaloe, Florida Atlantic, UT all exposed that defense for what it is.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
October 6th, 2012
10:54 pm
It reminded me of the AL game in 2008. Except in that game we showed some heart and gave a decent 2nd half effort.
Good call by ESPN – FLAT. Good game by SC – we’ll see how they do vs LSU on the road.
Say WHAT!
October 6th, 2012
10:54 pm
WEST VIRGINIA 28, UGA 0 before UGA scores. It took WVU 15 mins and 50 seconds to score 28.
That was Jan 2, 2006…almost 7 years ago.
Mike
October 6th, 2012
10:54 pm
Embarrassing, a new coaching staff from top to bottom is the only thing that will change the productivity in Athens.
Keith Strawn
October 6th, 2012
10:54 pm
Mark, You get major kudos for working in an Ishtar reference!! Georgia committed a gridiron “Ishtar” tonight, while USC rolled out “The Godfather.” What can you say? Carolina looks like the real deal.
Blue Dawg
October 6th, 2012
10:55 pm
6 completed passes. By SC. The entire game. 10 pass
attempts in total, versus 52 running plays.
Sheeesh.
Disappointed dawg
October 6th, 2012
10:55 pm
No coaching, no heart. Period.
Scoop
October 6th, 2012
10:55 pm
The real disappointment is that the undercoached team lost its heart during the game.
Snoozer
October 6th, 2012
10:55 pm
Lesson I’ve learned over my 35 years in the ATL, don’t bet on any team from the state of GA in a big game. Every one of our teams from college to professional ranks are and always have been classic underachievers. National media doesn’t understand the sports letdowns we experience every year and in most cases it’s with more than one of our teams. One day the curse will lift but I fear I’ll be long gone when that happens.