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
Reality Check(To Richt)
October 6th, 2012
11:31 pm
Dear CMR,
Never thought I’d say this to you, been a avid supporter of Georgia football and you since you arrived, but now it’s time to face a reality that many bloggers seem to have seen. You and your staff just can’t get it done against the Big time games in the SEC. I mean I was willing to forgive you last year after you should’ve beaten Michigan State in the bowl, even forgave you after your squad brought shame to Georgia against of all teams UCF(Central Florida), but tonight was the crown jewel of embarassement. First you have let a smug coach who can’t stand Georgia out do you for three years running, secondly you continue to have a program that is lacking total discipline and now this, a total humiliation of a proud program that used to beat USC with ease.Talent not the problem, but discipline from players, and you and your OC, who can’t call a game under pressure, need to really access your selves. Three Tailbacks kicked outta school, a QB kicked off the team, and just this year alone, you’ve had four starters suspened, and collapses in your team. A team with a # 1 NG, # 1 OLB, #3 ILB, AND #5 SS in most scouts ratings should never be this defeated. Are you so loyal to Murray that you can’t see he’s a 3rd QB on any NFL team? You’ve got two, yes two TE’S whom you never utilize in your schemes, yet came in here in here in there respective years ranked #1 in the country. Coach I could go on forever, but I’ll close with this, I’m seeing to many Dawgs play on Sundays, like Stafford, Green, Massaqoui, Moreno, Boling, and Roland, whom may I add were at Georgia at the same time with Asher Allen, Danelle Ellerbe, and one or two I missed, for You guys to continue to play like a third tier team. Resign with dignity like Urban Myer did, take your family and go on a mission, and then come back and coach again. Maybe in the ACC like Frank Beamer, who can do it in the ACC for 25 years and no titles, but this coach is the SEC, and Georgia and we deserve better. You can’t give it to Georgia fans, and after tonight we can’t give 100% to you. Take care and thank you, but it’s time to go. Please leave.
Sincerly,
HardTruth Georgia Fan
Big Crimson 75
October 6th, 2012
11:32 pm
Richt doesn’t have that fire in his belly anymore.
It was almost as if he expected this to happen.
Richt needs UGA a whole lot more than UGA needs Richt.
I’d love to see the Falcons get their hands on Lattimore.
COFFEE TROJAN 93
October 6th, 2012
11:32 pm
Not so surprised! We lay eggs against equal or a hair less talent. Really, who the hell have we beat this year??? When has anyone seen us make any wrinkles on Offense or Defense? That’s coaching and has to be scrutinized, we run our same base stuff all the time! Hello, if you run EXACTLY WHAT THEY PREPARE FOR it’s likely to get stopped or exploited!!
Old Branch Cock
October 6th, 2012
11:32 pm
I’m sure that by Monday we’ll be hearing about how Georgia really as the better team and just gave the game away (just like Obama did on Wednesday night).
Big Wally
October 6th, 2012
11:32 pm
McGarrity should bring every coach into his office monday morning, and look them in the eye and ask them if they really think they deserve a paycheck this month. If they say yes, then give them their walking papers.
The Bear
October 6th, 2012
11:33 pm
Coaching….Coaching…..Coaching
72 Dawg
October 6th, 2012
11:33 pm
Mark, Great article! I forgot to say. I wish Mark Richt could analyze the game, and his COACHES as well!!!
Mike P
October 6th, 2012
11:34 pm
Worse loss I have EVER witnessed in my 27 years as a Dawg Fan.. Embarrasssing.,,,, a crying shame. It is time to leave Richt….before the Dawg NATION FORCEFULLY REMOVES YOU BOUND AND GAGGED, DRAGGED DOWN THE STREET!!!!
Virginia dog
October 6th, 2012
11:35 pm
Bulldog Nation … this is a bad loss. It is a statement game. We are now behind South Carolina. Richt was called out on National TV as a fraud. If Richt does not get this team back on track by Jacksonville you will be able to trace his end to tonight’s game. The AD is no fool. He knows last years run of wins was smoke and mirrors, The University of Georgia’s staff was called out …. and the AD and Richt know that someones head has to roll or there heads will role soon. Because Adams will not stand to have his school mocked on national TV.
Reality
October 6th, 2012
11:35 pm
STUNNING! How could we be so ill prepared?
How could we be so poorly coached?
How could we have such inferior talent?
How could we be so unmotivated?
How can we think we are getting the top kids from Georgia?
How can we keep thinking things will change?
The Ole Ball Coach asked a questions years ago….”what happens to all those All American’s when they go to Georgia?
Answer…they under- achieve and receive poor coaching. Watch the fallout in recruiting…not that it really matters since we can’t coach them up anyway!
Sooner or later this will all change when alums stop contributing and buying the box seats. I hope its sooner so we can move our school and team forward.
Earl
October 6th, 2012
11:35 pm
It’s over . We’ll never get there. I don’t even know why we try. We’ve only been great one time in 70 years.
Mike P
October 6th, 2012
11:35 pm
UGA had more talent…..yet loses 35-7…. WOW!!! How do the coaches even have a job on Monday morning? That says it all/…
Festus
October 6th, 2012
11:35 pm
As long as Georgia beats Tech every year CMR has a job for life. Wonder how much that truck company pays CMR to endorse their product? The play by play guys for ESPN said Georgia was the most penalized team in the SEC. Is that aggressiveness or poor coaching? Also the Carolina cheerleaders are better looking. And UGA kept going back into his cage whereas the Big Chicken was strutting his stuff.
chazzo
October 6th, 2012
11:36 pm
After 40 plus years of pulling for the Dawgs, I’m hanging up the G. I’d rather spend my time on more productive things. It was fun bickering with all of you.
BTW, if you want to see what it’s all about, watch Penn State. Now that’s a team with heart.
As for me, my wife and I are going to blow up the tv, throw away the paper, move to the country and build ourselves a home. Peace Love and John Prine. color me done.
Virginia dog
October 6th, 2012
11:37 pm
Enter your comments here
Big Wally
October 6th, 2012
11:37 pm
All the Disney Dawgs made fun of Florida for hiring Muschamp…Well they are looking good now, and we are stuck with “Mediocre” Mark Richt.
murray for heisman
October 6th, 2012
11:37 pm
t-shirt 50% off
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Who Me?
October 6th, 2012
11:37 pm
this game was a non-starter. Clearly the lack of team prep falls on Richt but the staff overall just underperforms. Time to clean house Greg McGarrity.
moreau
October 6th, 2012
11:38 pm
well you guys can always root for the Braves !!!!
azdawg
October 6th, 2012
11:38 pm
TN Dawg
October 6th, 2012
10:38 pm
Answer to your question is the ones that do well in the pros get coached up once they leave GA.
Thank you, Mr. Bradley, for calling out the coaches and the players for a pathetic showing that revealed the dawgs for what they are, imposters. please mark, begin calling for cmr’s departure. he’s outlived his greatness.
Gamecock1982
October 6th, 2012
11:38 pm
The Real Hairy Dawg you’re a loser like your sorry football. USC beat UGA in every phase of the game (defense, offense, special team, coaching).
pat way
October 6th, 2012
11:38 pm
As a lifetime as in 45 years as a Bulldog fan I have never seen a Ga team just lay down and have a can of whoop put on them Mike Boboi is the worst OC in football. predictable and vanilla
SSIgator
October 6th, 2012
11:38 pm
Tide Rising
October 6th, 2012
11:11 pm
Ssi gator,
Congrats. Gators r looking really good and the qb looks like an entirely different guy and is getting better and better. Unlike tonights game i expect uf vs usc to be a great game.
______________
Have mixed emotions about that game since Steve went to SC, If UF can’t win all the way to ATL then I pull for Steve and the SC guys. Hope to see the elephant in ATL soon.
oh you gurshal walker
October 6th, 2012
11:39 pm
mmmm…..dogs taste like chicken!
Ken in Alpharetta
October 6th, 2012
11:39 pm
The obvious problem is big men, the really good SEC teams have good big men, UGA big men are just big and fat. Too much reefer on campus and within the team is a huge issue. This goes way beyond playing football games, the entire culture of UGA football is a mess and must be cleansed before the team is going to challenge the elite of the SEC.
Big Wally
October 6th, 2012
11:39 pm
They should make all of the players wear dresses for the next two weeks. If they are going to play like girls, they should have to dress like girls.
Virginia dog
October 6th, 2012
11:40 pm
Bad loss Richt was called out on national TV. The powers that be at UGA and the bulldog-nation will not stand for this. It is one thing to lose another to be publicly humiliated.
joker
October 6th, 2012
11:41 pm
Hire john gruden at least he will have some fire in him. Mark richt needs to go coach prince avenue.
Dawgfan01
October 6th, 2012
11:42 pm
Mark….You just posted earlier today…”I think the home side can lose. I picked South Carolina to win this game several months ago. (I also picked Georgia to finish 11-1 and still win the SEC East and the SEC title.) But Georgia has been the better team to date”. Maybe that’s what I was referring to. Thanks for your response.
Bw
October 6th, 2012
11:42 pm
We do not deserve a top 25 ranking and certainly not a chance in the SEC championship. Because that road will lead through alabama and another embarrassing dome performance!!!
Ken in Alpharetta
October 6th, 2012
11:42 pm
Jon Gruden would be a great hire.
Athenzdawg
October 6th, 2012
11:43 pm
I swear I just want him to show some emotion some fire, show that he cares about us getting stomped!! You know the first words out of his mouth this week will be that we can still attain our goals of winning the SEC East with just two losses by South Carolina and us winning out. Im tired of our coach saying that his goals are just winning the division. Does Saban think like this? No….he goes for the National Championship every year and isnt satisfied with anything less…. But not us all we want to be is a top 25 team….well tonight we arn’t event that……Disgusted
Under The Bleachers
October 6th, 2012
11:43 pm
FSU goes down
Lingerie
October 6th, 2012
11:45 pm
UGA just announced they are leaving the SEC to join the new Lingerie Women’s Football League.
D man
October 6th, 2012
11:45 pm
Georgia will NEVER win with this coaching staff. Too much talent on the field for these results…
GB's Hamburgers
October 6th, 2012
11:45 pm
Spurrier at Florida or at SC can outcoach our folks with half his brain tied behind his back. OK when the defense is beating the offensive line what do you do? SCREEN PASSES to slow that down. Like the pitch out that disappeared for 10 years, the screen pass is also awol. Once again the offense worked against the defense. Too many long passes put the offense in bad situations and reduced the possibility of gaining some rhythm and took little time off the clock.
DawginNY
October 6th, 2012
11:45 pm
Richt is a decent coach, but that’s not good enough anymore. He is light years behind the top 3 coaches in the league. Our state produces too much football talent for us not to demand more.
SSIgator
October 6th, 2012
11:46 pm
Big Wally -
October 6th, 2012 – 11:39 pm
They should make all of the players wear dresses for the next two weeks. If they are going to play like girls, they should have to dress like girls.
_________
Agreed. Gurley really is a girl and Marshall is actually Maria.
honeybooboo
October 6th, 2012
11:46 pm
You guys better redneckonize that UGA was embarrassed on tv. Same old
stuff. Change might be good. There were no players tonight worthy of the NFL draft. I have never thought Murray was a quarterback. All the preparation he does every week and it never shows. REALLY
Lingerie
October 6th, 2012
11:48 pm
As Bear Bryant used to say ” I can take yours (players) and beat mine or mine and beat yours.
Same for Spurrier vs Ga
DawginNY
October 6th, 2012
11:50 pm
After every first down incompletion, Bobo runs a draw. EVERY TIME. We prove we can’t run block, but it must be important to Bobo to prove we are balanced. Let’s run it on both 1st and 2nd down with our only first half scoring opportunity.
bubba4dawgs
October 6th, 2012
11:50 pm
The Curse of the Cock is here! Three in a row and counting! The DAWGS haven’t been chicken clawed this bad in a long long time! Darth Visor was really enjoying himself on the sideline.
There just isn’t any answer for Javedon Clowney! He has his way with the D-line. Fans might blame Murray but they have no reason. Murray was a sitting duck fighting for his life! So much for the O-line (we all knew was weak anyway). The big surprise was the D-line who got pushed around by the Cock’s O-line!
Well, this was one game and there are 6 more to play. A very good season can still be achieved; however, a NC is gone as well as a Conference championship. It seems rather ludicrous to claim an Easter Championship as the expense of someone beating the Cocks, but that’s what happened last year.
The DAWGS must move out of the doldrums of mediocrity if they are ever to achieve national prominence like the good ole days. How sad it is to have such talent on this team and shock the DAWG Nation with the kind of performance they displayed. I’m wondering if the real DAWG team never left Athens and the ones that played had to walk over from Athens. They sure did look like it!
I must say though that I feed bad for the team! Their performance the rest of the season will show their true character and I’lll be pulling for them thru the final whistle and believe the true DAWG fans will do the same! Our hats are off to Darth Visor and the Cocks! They simply outmanned and outplayed us tonight but it’s not the end of the season! So, DAWGS, dress up your wounds, pull up your silver britches and re-attach your balls, there are more games to be played! GATA! GO DAWGS!!
DawginNY
October 6th, 2012
11:50 pm
After every first down incompletion, Bobo runs a draw. EVERY TIME. We prove we can’t run block, but it must be important to Bobo to prove we are balanced. Let’s run it on both 1st and 2nd down with our only first half scoring opportunity.
Tide Rising
October 6th, 2012
11:50 pm
Seems the dawgs constantly overrate themselves after beating up on some really really bad teams. Hasnt it been 4 yrs since the dawgs beat someone that finished top 25 at the end of the season.
Hilltopper
October 6th, 2012
11:52 pm
If Aaron Murry thought he might go after this year, this game should prove him false. He was a deer in the lights. Poor decisions, execution, and results. And where are OLmen? Another pathetic performance against a ranked team. When was the last time they beat a good team?
They came out flat and looked unprepared. Whose fault is that? Will this be the last time they look so bad? Still got to play FL and as bad as they looked today, can you see UGA beating them?
Who Me?
October 6th, 2012
11:52 pm
You Dawg-haters get it out tonight, then go on back home and put your Garanimals back on that your mommy left out. Dawg fans will be the first to tell you we blew it, and that’s because we don’t settle for mediocre. SCAR still has LSU and Bama to play so the season isn’t a total loss yet.
UGA AD does need to make some moves quickly. Before the fan base is in full revolt.
Tide Rising
October 6th, 2012
11:52 pm
Gurshall is a joke against real defenses. They got shut down tonight. This wasnt a buffalo defense.
david pollack
October 6th, 2012
11:52 pm
The more talented team lost tonight.
DawginNY
October 6th, 2012
11:53 pm
Our coaches proved again last week that they lack a killer instinct. And our players proved that their mentality reflects the coaching personality when we face tough teams. I am sure we could do worse than Richt, but I am sick of seeing the top coaches in our leage outclass him. I’m ready to role the dice with someone else.
preferredduck
October 6th, 2012
11:55 pm
This happens in college football. #3 FSU just lost to an unranked team. After the INT and the quick score then they return a punt for a TD deflated these guys and it was psychological from there too. It happens to a lot of teams not just UGA. And yes clowney did make a difference. Is was jumping over the RB who was chippimg him low and coming straight for Murray untouched or would be there in less than 3 seconds. We have 3 really young guys on the OL and a TRUE FRESHMAN starting. How many of times do you see that happening and them being awesome every week. People need to be realistic about certain things and get a clue. And on defense some of the wide open plays they had were designed to do that. The 2nd TD they explained exactly why that play worked and it did. Of course bobo calling the same play twice on 1st and goal was dumb and he should have atleast tried the RB toss so he would have momentum. Also the announcers even noticed that the run was shit down because bobo ran it out of the same formation everytime and they were correct, everytime we ran the ball they knew it and blitzed it. So bono does need to change things up a bit. Also having the OL keep trying to pull around for the run when they get best 3 times already them try a different run. I mean gurley got a good gain the first run or two then we started that shotgun sweep crap.