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
10:55 pm
Hooty Goot , That was UGAstarters against USC scrubs on defense. No Clowney and company.
Ga football
October 6th, 2012
10:56 pm
You Georgia fans crack me up. Yesterday your qb was the next heisman, and both of your freshmen rb were the next Herschel. Now you want them all benched.
Don’t worry, sc has the best d line you’ll see all year. That’s where you lost this one.
AP
October 6th, 2012
10:56 pm
Our underwhelming recruiting of quality OL came to haunt us tonight. Horrible in every respect, but it all lies at Richt’s feet. I’ve lost my mojo for the man. Getting out coached has become his calling!
KenDawg
October 6th, 2012
10:56 pm
Mark, I think that the Ishtar reference is too kind – I think that we’re looking at a Heaven’s Gate situation here!
Whopper Dawg
October 6th, 2012
10:56 pm
richie will win 7 to 10 games year in and year out. But will never win the SEC much less the NC. If that is what you are happy with, then he is your guy and he is a great guy.
If you want more than that, then there has to be a change. How many times does it have to be proven? The price of SEC poker has gone up since the early 90s.
Dawg '94
October 6th, 2012
10:56 pm
We will only be a good team under Richt. I am sick of just being good! As an alum, I want UGA to be great! Hobo would not be a OC at any other SEC school. Our team looked like it did not watch film or practice this week. We say theTech offense is a high school offense,but UGA runs a true high school offense. Time for a change.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 6th, 2012
10:56 pm
Anyone know when the coaching staff will be getting a drug screen?
Bozo the clown (ie Mark Richt)
October 6th, 2012
10:56 pm
This stat says it all about the football program at Georgia under Richt and his crownies…
2-14 against end-of-season ranked opponents since 2008.
I’d call that well BELOW average. BTW, Vandy just beat mighty Missouri 19-15.
NCDawg
October 6th, 2012
10:58 pm
Well, if any of you have ever seen my posts on other blogs, you know I am a big Dawg fan and have been a staunch supporter of Coach Richt. I think Coach Richt is a good man, a great representative of the Unversity, and a good football coach BUT… there comes a time when a pattern becomes to strongly entrenched and a culture change is needed. Mr.McGarity needs to clean house. No hold overs.
A culture change MUST be instituted. An embarrassment like tonight should never be visited upon a fan base as avid and loyal as true Dawg fans. The trend is there. The problem isn’t talent. Our defense looks misaligned and our offense looked shell shocked. Aaron Murray, bless the poor kid, got a case of the antsies right from the start and never had a chance to get a rhythm. South Carolina does not have more talent. That leaves one thing… coaching. The time has come. Please Mr.McGarity spare us further misery. We just need to clean house and get a new coaching staff. UGA has the resources to get anyone. Now is the time to ditch the old portfolio and make a new investment. I hate asking for someone to lose their job in this economy but the time has come.
Look what Florida is doing and they don’t have the talent the Dawgs have. The time for patience is done. The pattern is too clear. The whole staff needs to go.. not just Coach Richt.
JRW7
October 6th, 2012
10:58 pm
Tonight, me and my DAWGS were embarrassed on national television!
England Dawg
October 6th, 2012
10:58 pm
Tired of seeing the dawgs under preform. This is all on the shoulders of the coaches. I love Richt but something has to happen. USC has the best eastern coach and Florida will bring talent. We NEED a great coach who know’s how to win even if it takes thinking outside of the box…
BjohnDawg
October 6th, 2012
10:58 pm
I am 52 years old. I would love to see us win another national championship before I die.
I know this head coach will not accomplish that.
The university of Georgia deserves better than this.
SoCal Dawg
October 6th, 2012
10:58 pm
Embarrassing! I’m sad to admit it but CMR MUST go before UGA will ever be great .
dan
October 6th, 2012
10:58 pm
Well congratulations to South Carolina. That was an impressive and dominant performance. And it was yet another disgraceful and cowardly showing by my Bulldogs; a slap in the face to anyone who’s ever worn the G on their helmet and played with pride. You know folks, bad news doesn’t get better with time. This coaching staff has done nothing but steal money from my university the last 5 years. We have the resources, money and talent to be a contender every year. But the scales have been removed from my eyes. Mark Richt is a wonderful man, and he’s had a great run. But we will NOT win a National Title as long as he’s our coach, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN! I for one am tired of being a punchline. We deserve better, and its time we start demanding it.
Thomas Brown
October 6th, 2012
10:58 pm
____________________________________________________________________
LakeDawg June 17th, 2012 12:25 am
“I do not have faith in Richt as a coach. I don’t think were destined to underachieve”
_____________________________________________________________________
kingdaddy July 2nd, 2012 9:56 am
“ If UGA loses to S.C. this year but wins the rest of the scheduled games, then makes it to the SEC-CG and is not competitive, then I see a major shake-up in our staff by McGarrity. UGA has to beat someone ranked this year in my belief. I don’t think CMR & CMB get a free pass this year just for beating unranked teams. This team has the talent to win, but do they have the coaching? Its too late to do anything this year, but ride it out…”
_____________________________________________________________________
JB July 2nd, 2012 10:02 am
“I agree Kingdaddy. Beating up on weak foe and losing to good teams ( not even great teams) is a pattern for the Dawgs the Last three years, And it’s not a lack of talent. You can read a lot of thing into Richt’s new contract, and I’m reading McGarity is not sold. Here’s more rope, and we;ll see.”
______________________________________________________________________
Congratulations to South Carolina
Aaron Murray as Starting UGA QB 21-12
Connor Shaw as Starting USCe QB 13-1
Aaron Murray vs SEC teams who made winning SEC record 0-7
Aaron Murray vs teams who made any Top 25 poll 0-10
Say WHAT!
October 6th, 2012
10:58 pm
We need to TELL THE PLAYERS TO QUIT ON RICHT for the good of the University.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 6th, 2012
10:59 pm
Anyone know when the coaching staff is getting a drug screen?
Seriously; Herbstreet was stunned at what a joke we looked like tonight
The Real Hairy Dawg
October 6th, 2012
10:59 pm
Yeah, this awesome SC team crushed Vandy by a hair and was trailing a KY team into the 2nd half…a team that lost to W. KY. The Dawgs couldn’t have beat a tough HS tonight. They weren’t prepared to play. Either that or the Lord was on Spurrier’s side. What do you think?
Skokie Dog
October 6th, 2012
10:59 pm
Haven’t you fans heard Coach Richt explain himself before? Remember “I know what the hell I’m doing.” And how about, “we’ll fix special teams in the offseason.” Oh, and don’t forget, “Excuse me, I’m on my way to the bank to deposit my huge paycheck, and I want to get there before they close for the weekend.”
I’ve said it before, and here it is again. U.Ga. can find many other coaches who will lose the important games, while taking a much smaller salary. Or, if you want a coach who can actually win some big-time games from time to time, McGarity should by able to find someone else who can do that for $3 million per year.
Jake
October 6th, 2012
10:59 pm
did we really need musberger and herbie to tell us how bad our staff is?
chase
October 6th, 2012
11:00 pm
I am serious! I am not just talking! I am going to give up filmmaking and writing after this movie and get a job as a 15k a year defensive assistant coach at UGA and put a stop to this…well maybe – lets see if they hire me! I never lost as a high school coach at Brookwood and I competed on a SEC title team! It is my second career choice and I will consider it if I think I can guide young men and help UGA excel!
Maxwell the free-range chihuahua
October 6th, 2012
11:00 pm
Mason should re-evaluate his redshirt status…play now or leave…
SmyrnaGuy
October 6th, 2012
11:00 pm
INSANITY….. doing the same thing and expecting different results. Sums up being a DAWG fan
Deep South
October 6th, 2012
11:00 pm
UGa would love to have Larry Fedora.
Buford T. Pusser
October 6th, 2012
11:00 pm
I hate it when UGA loses. Wife beatings and public drunk offense’s rise in trailer parks all over the state.
The Sheriff has spoken.
Roll Tide with Pride
October 6th, 2012
11:00 pm
UGA should not even be ranked after that showing. UGA needs to be severely spanked.
ELEPHANT SQUASHES (your team's mascot here) EVERYTIME
October 6th, 2012
11:00 pm
Was so looking forward to this game and it went the way I was hoping but not the way I imagined. Georgia got E3d (EXPOSED, EXPLOITED, and EXCUSED from any further mention of SECCG or National Championship contention. Let’s see two No, 2 pencils………check – one 200 page spiral bound notebook………check. Alright all those Dawg boasters you are go for excuse making. Nope not a GT troll or whatever yall call guys on here. Just a casual viewer who didn’t appreciate the snide remarks and the unwarranted negative comments about Alabama and specifically how the tornado that hit and killed a couple of years ago in Tuscaloosa should have done even more damage. Karma has a way of turning on you.
Scoop
October 6th, 2012
11:00 pm
Screens? Slants? Oh, I’ m tired. Good night.
chase
October 6th, 2012
11:00 pm
Soooooo many weird things happen when we play SCAR
Bruce
October 6th, 2012
11:00 pm
Nothing wrong with our players – just got a coach who can’t strategize, motivate, or play chess with better than average programs. I can’t stand the “I don’t care look” on the side lines. I’m mad – why aren’t you mad CMR? Why do you go for a run on 3rd and 17 when you are down by 20 plus points ? I know you are a nice guy and I like you, but I’m a nice guy too and I wouldn’t expect to keep a job of the UGA stature if I put forth such inconsistant and uninspired efforts. You’ve made plenty of money – so no need to feel sorry for you. Greg McGarrity will deal with this I hope. UGA has a ton of talented players and an average high school coach could produce a mediocre record with this roster. This was our shot – weak schedule – star cast seniors and a totally sad effort – not because of our players, but because of the people who didn’t prepare them.
Mike
October 6th, 2012
11:00 pm
Embarrassing, there needs to be a coaching change from top to bottom. That’s the only thing that will change the productivity in Athens. It’s not gonna be anything but weakness in Athens until that happens.
Prometheus
October 6th, 2012
11:01 pm
Or the WVa coach
Billy (not Martin)
October 6th, 2012
11:01 pm
Been trying to tell everybody, Bobo can’t make adjustements. Seen it too many times. If a team is shutting us down, he has no clue in how to adjust. And Murray…he’s a bed wetter. Can’t play under pressure. Never has and never will. What a joke for a coaching staff. All the talent on this team and this is what we get? Everyone that bought into Mr Grantham last year, shame on you. Tell me an offense he shut down to make you believe this guy is a winner. He;s just an over-hyped nut.
playmeortrademe
October 6th, 2012
11:01 pm
@Snoozer
No kidding. I think that’s 99% of the reason the beer went flying at the Ted last night. It’s unbelievable when you think about it. Even the “big” wins are tarnished if you really start to reflect on those.
Xenophon
October 6th, 2012
11:01 pm
It isn’t the fact that we occasionally lose, it’s the fact that we lose so spectacularly to teams that matter. This has been going on for five years. Please, Mark…resign and let’s move on.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
October 6th, 2012
11:01 pm
WVU showed Texas how to play in a hostile environment and come out with a win tonight. UGA didn’t have a plan to block #7.
NORRIS CHUCK
October 6th, 2012
11:02 pm
Dawg ‘94
I second that. Bobo runs the same plays on offense every year. Im sitting at home looking at the formation and i know where the play is going!
And how does a team get 4th and goal and passes the ball to the one yard line?
Every time they face big time teams, they choke big time!
Sorry folks, but its time to move in another direction cause Richt and Bobo is NOT the answer.
The Real Hairy Dawg
October 6th, 2012
11:02 pm
SC was trailing a KY team that lost to W KY! They barely beat Vandy. They aren’t that good. UGA was not prepared to beat a strong HS team tonight.
usaf_dawg
October 6th, 2012
11:03 pm
Outclassed and outcoached again in the big one.. CMR’s record speakes for itself, inability to win the ones that count. I’ve defended him in the past, but 11 years into this and he still cannot get a team ready for a big game. No wins against top 10 teams since 2008, unacceptable !!!! As far as this vaunted defense goes, they”ve been smoked all year. Just took an barely above average offense to expose them as frauds finally. Not even gonna start on Bozo’s highschool play book. Never seen a more predictable play caller in my life. Bottom line, as long as CMR is here expect mediocrity….
JRW7
October 6th, 2012
11:03 pm
We weren’t just beaten by SC, we were embarrassed on national television!
SSIgator
October 6th, 2012
11:04 pm
The Real Hairy Dawg -
October 6th, 2012 – 10:37 pm
SC has a good D, and a very good line people; however, they barely beat Vandy and were behind KY up till the 3rd qtr. They ain’t Alabama. UGA was not ready to play.
________
OMG !!!!
An Obummer-like supporter trying to defend why UGA was so bad??? Don’t even try the altitude excuse – it won’t work.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 6th, 2012
11:05 pm
Anyone know when the coaching staff is getting a drug screen?
Seriously; Herbstreet was stunned at what a joke we looked like tonight!!!
st simons
October 6th, 2012
11:05 pm
((((((((((((hahahahahahahahah)))))))))))))
Deep South
October 6th, 2012
11:05 pm
He’ll, it’s only football. But, then again, that’s all we mow.
Cal
October 6th, 2012
11:05 pm
MARK please shed some light on the truth, no joking around. Why has Richt been able to hold his job when he has never beat a top tier team in the SEC or any other conference? Is there something behind this that has never been put out to the masses? I don’t think he should be fired for losing this game. He should be fired for loosing multiple games just like this one for years. UGA now adds another chapter of being one of the most overrated each year.
permanent 2nd tier
October 6th, 2012
11:05 pm
at least I still have Notre Dame to root for…..to helll with CMR!
Snoozer
October 6th, 2012
11:05 pm
Mark Richt and Paul Hewitt got rich off GA schools through subpar performances.
Scoop
October 6th, 2012
11:05 pm
Prediction spurrier wins it all at USC – goes to Vandy and after some build up beats us 3 years in a row- goes to Georgia southern and does the same – threatens to go to Tech and the AD and Richt are let go.
Big Dave
October 6th, 2012
11:05 pm
“Gurshall.” Well, that was cute for a few weeks.
Hairy Dawg
October 6th, 2012
11:06 pm
Mark Richt is Phillip Fulmer without the national title.