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
disgusted bulldog
October 7th, 2012
12:30 am
How do you have NFL level talent as much as any college team this year and not destroy teams. Sorry , sorry coaching . we can’t coach our players up . Saban does it year after year . If you get he best players you should win juat about all the time. no excuses period for sorry coaching and motivation of players. very disappointed in coaching staff at UGA
Emorydawg
October 7th, 2012
12:32 am
I love coach Richt for who he is as a person. I have given him my undying support since he got to Athens 11 years ago. I stayed with him even when the naysayers were calling for his head. That being said, I can no longer support what has to be the biggest dissappointment of a program that I have witnessed in 50 years of being a UGA fan and supporter. I loved my time in Athens and all of the saturdays in the fall. But we are on a slippery slope of becomming an afterthought. Coach I do respect you for who you are, but I can no longer support you as our coach. That kills me to say. Our school has to much history and pride to accept what you have brought us to. We have many resources at our disposal. We can, and will use them to get the best leaders money can buy. The time has come that we get a return on our investments. So sorry to say this but your time has come and gone. Far to many lesser programs are passing us by and that coach is unacceptable. Thank you for what you have done here but your time is over.
moo-face
October 7th, 2012
12:32 am
@ Raiderbeater. And that, my friend, is something we can be grateful for!!!!
moo-face
October 7th, 2012
12:34 am
@ Raiderbeater. Meaning that even the kool-aid drinkers have to be having their eyes opened to the nature of this Matrix
b
October 7th, 2012
12:34 am
I told the Ga. fans last year Shaw was as good as Murray and they scoffed at the notion.
I really believe Ga. should change their offense to look like Clemson’s.
Murray dropping back won’t get it done. And the o won’t with Mason or Ramsey, either.
NewnanDawg
October 7th, 2012
12:35 am
C’mon Dawg Nation. If the boys (and the coaches) can pull themselves together, then, with a little luck, Georgia can make something out of this season. We the fans just need to show that we still have hope.
WV 'eer Fan
October 7th, 2012
12:36 am
Heh, heh.
SenoiaDawgs
October 7th, 2012
12:37 am
Why should fans have hope when one whole side of the team quits in the 4th Quarter after the coach clearly called them over to say to play for pride or whatever?
If the players aren’t listening why should we
Pal Joey
October 7th, 2012
12:37 am
Tennessee, a mediocre team at best, was the only team before Saturday to even test UGA. The less than sterling schedule for the Dawgs to date did not prepare them for an encounter with a Gamecocks team that was poised to ambush them. It’s one thing to build up an impressive record against inferior competition, but it can come back to bite you in the posterior in a game against a team that is fundamentally sound and well coached. Spurrier has been a thorn in Georgia’s side ever since he took over the helm at UF and it has continued at South Carolina. It is pretty evident that UGA was a paper tiger. South Carolina turned its roar into a whimper.
UGAHZ
October 7th, 2012
12:38 am
Some players..may have had their noses in The NFL Draft Rankings too much….or their families..
Half the defense suspended for nearly have the year too….Not good.
Early interceptions in big games…
E-From Riverdale
October 7th, 2012
12:38 am
As stated earlier Grantham’s defense is a joke. Bobo’s offense is a joke, CMR is a nice guy but his best days of coaching this team are behind him. The team is to undisciplined. Rambo should have been pulled from the game for a few plays after that late hit and instead he lined up for the next play like nothing had happened. Granthams defensive unit are still blowing coverages and Grantham is in year three now, maybe year four.
mike
October 7th, 2012
12:38 am
SoGaDawg forget Grunden he has a good job plus
his wive went to UT, he coach there and they have a house in Sevierville
I don’t think Athens is his future.
HockeyDawg
October 7th, 2012
12:39 am
What an absolute EMBARRASSMENT!!! I agree with so many of the previous posters on here – it absolutely sucks being a fan of these local sports teams. They tease us that this is FINALLY the year, and then pull the rug right out from under us with pathetic performances like this one and the Braves’ sorry showing on Friday.
I’ve been one of Mark Richt’s biggest supporters for years. But the Dogs’ consistent failure against good teams, inability to adjust to in-game problems, and constant underperformance for our level of talent have finally worn me down. I agree that maybe it’s time we bring in a whole new staff. It is utterly incomprehensible that the Georgia offensive staff did not do ANYTHING to try to counteract the rush from the USC DE’s. Not one draw play. Not one screen pass. Not one shuttle pass. NOTHING! I guess they don’t realize that the definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
One of the most embarrassing nights in University of Georgia history!
moo-face
October 7th, 2012
12:39 am
@ b. NO, NO, NO!! No more gimmicks. It’s time to get someone in Athens that will emphasize toughness, fundamentals, technique. Someone who looks at the game from a trench warfare state of mind. KS would be a good bet to me on that front.
Under The Bleachers
October 7th, 2012
12:40 am
I have a hard time with some dawg fans. Some of you talk trash and brag after signing day on just how good UGA is going to be, then you brag on how good UGA will be after spring practice, then you brag how good UGA is going to be during the summer, then you brag on how good UGA is going to be during summer camp, then you brag on good UGA is going to be after playing weak outer conference teams.
Here lies the problem; No one is doubting that CMR is a good man, a good recruiter, and was a heck of an offensive coordinator. But He is not a good Head Coach…I know I know, he won 100 games, blah blah blah, but not winning or even getting into the BCSCG with ALL of these First round NFL draft picks while recruiting Top 10 classes each year should tell everyone he is a good assistant coach not a good Head Coach. Spin it, sit on, dance on it, but you cannot change the fact that he is going to get UGA to the next level. This was your shot, losing a ton of players on Defense that was supposed to be good and is not, will put UGA back into filling holes and any ood player who is thinking about going to UGA for the next 3 or 4 years should run away from Athens as fast as they can if they want to get a ring that says SEC Champions or National Champions because he will not get one in Athens playing Football.
The final thing is when the ESPN/ABC announcers who are usually reserved call your coaches out on National Television then you know your coaches are not getting it done.
david pollock
October 7th, 2012
12:42 am
how bout them dogs? p*ss on ‘em!
7576DAWG
October 7th, 2012
12:43 am
Murray said he has averaged only 1 or 2 hours sleep the last two days. How can he play his best when he is that tired. Murray missed a lot of wide open receivers tonight that could have made a difference. I was wondering if his emotions were going to get the best of him , and tonight it did. I hope that Murray leaves after this year but there is no way he will even get drafted this year if he can’t prove he can be a leader when he has to play quality opponents.
Ramsey will be coming in early and I would rather see him or Mason Quarterback next year but with Murray having one more year I don’t see him getting benched if he comes back.
Tonight you had to establish the pass game in order to open up the run game. Spurrier had already said his main focus was to stop the two running back’s which he did. Whooten is probably our worst receiver and tonight was Murray’s favorite target. Makes you scratch your head and Murray proved tonight he still can not complete a screen pass.
Shawn Williams had a lot of missed assignments tonight that gave South Carolina at least two of their scores. Grantham’s defense did not show very much discipline tonight and was out of place a lot and slow.
7576DAWG
October 7th, 2012
12:44 am
Enter your comments here
Vol-un-tear
October 7th, 2012
12:49 am
Shocked at the pounding UGA took Saturday night, but be careful what you wish for, Dawg fans. I’m reading some of the same things I heard about Phil Fulmer in 2008; he got fired, we got Lane Kiffin for 15 minutes, along with some questionable recruiting practices, and now Derek Dooley has to struggle with the leftovers. Who’s out there that would (1) be acceptable to the fans, and (2) want to come to Athens in this atmosphere? UT is facing a 5-year climb back to respectability; do Georgia fans want the same?
Allan in Texas
October 7th, 2012
12:49 am
I am a Georgia fan who feels real bad about my team losing tonight.But guess what: LSU and FSU also lost! With the possible exceptions of Alabama and Oregon, every team will lose at least once this year including the team that just beat Georgia! Keep your head up Dawg fans!
Emorydawg
October 7th, 2012
12:50 am
Why?
Time for a change...
October 7th, 2012
12:54 am
Time to offer Kirby Smart the HC job at UGA.
Ckgator
October 7th, 2012
12:58 am
We are going to plough you mutts all over the field.
I just can’t wait.
>”–,,—,,—-/
He Hate Gator
October 7th, 2012
12:59 am
Richt, as he always does, blames the team (he’s never been outcoached of course)….” It was a team loss,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said.
Fair n Balanced
October 7th, 2012
1:02 am
Ga got confused on which week was the off week!
Now that we know it is this coming week I suggest:
1. Run their pants off.
2. Lift weights until it hurts
3. Start this on Tuesday
4. Coaches start the same on Sunday after confession at church!
Congratulations Dawgs
October 7th, 2012
1:03 am
Let’s review some of the Georgia fans predictions about this game:
Dawg Nation!
October 4th, 2012
4:13 pm
From what I’ve seen in the first 5 games this year, Lattimore is NOT the same back he was last year, not even close. He’s still favoring that knee. He used to run fearless and now he runs fearful, if you watch him with an open mind, you will see what I’m talking about. Just an average back right now. Maybe he improves as the season goes on, but he is nowhere close to what he was last year. It’s in his head… it was reported that his rehab was so painful that he almost quit football altogether. Most all backs that come back from ACL surgery, rarely ever get back to where they were before it happened. Not saying he’s not a good back, he is… just not the Lattimore of years past, which was dominance.
Dogs keep him under 80 yards this year and maybe a short yardage goal line plunge. Dawgs offense is too potent for SC and our D will play well enough to keep SC from matching scores. With Tree back in the middle, Shaw won’t be as successful as he has been with those designed QB runs and draws. Ga.’s main focus this week should be on protecting the football and not giving free points away. If SC is forced to beat us with their O, Dawgs will win convincingly.
UGA 41-24.
Texas Dawg
October 7th, 2012
1:04 am
Sober? Are you kidding?
Congratulations Dawgs
October 7th, 2012
1:05 am
So, Georgia should keep it’s head up? For what? You don’t lose 35-0 and be in contention for any national conversation about anything no matter what happens to the other teams.
Festus
October 7th, 2012
1:09 am
It was 35-0 with a couple of minutes to go when UGA scored making it 35-7. This sets up the standard headline: Georgia Comeback Falls Short. When was the last time CMR won a game he wasn’t supposed to? The year after Peyton Manning left Tennesse, Phil Fulmer won the National Championship and he was canned a few years back. Problem is Lane Kippin and Baby Dooley haven’t done as well as Fulmer. Before you fire a coach you’d better have someone in mind as a replacement who can get the job done.
Coaching Matters
October 7th, 2012
1:09 am
Regardless of the talent Georgia has on any given Saturday, coaching still matters.
Richt tries to get as many talented players from Florida based on the ranking of the scouting agencies. Then Spurrier comes to Georgia and gets the talent here, some that were never recruited my Richt and embarrass Richt and the whole Bulldog Nation.
Richt could not beat Spurrier while he was at Florida, and it seems the streak for SC will continue under Spurrier.
Toe Meets Leather
October 7th, 2012
1:09 am
Cancel the National Champs shirts………..Again
LA Gamecock
October 7th, 2012
1:11 am
Fun…Fun…More Fun. Beating UGA is getting old…yawn…..
Congratulations Dawgs
October 7th, 2012
1:12 am
Since my posts aren’t being posted where I cut and pasted predictions from UGA fans, let me write them out.
DAWG NATION!: 41-24 UGA
Flat Tire On I-95 to Jacksonville: 2 TD win for UGA
gomdawg: Go DAWGS , This team is playing together it no one person.
Gary: Had a dream last night that we lost to SC, scratch that, a nightmare… It ws so nice to wake up and realize it was Friday. Please don’t put me through that again dawgs. No turn overs, no easy points, try and let the defense rest by keeping them off the field so they don’t colapse in the fourth quarter, and for sakes it you can’t run the ball against SC. throw it! Three and outs will kill the defense.
^^^^ spelling from the OP.
moo-face
October 7th, 2012
1:14 am
GO get Kirby Smart now!! If we don’t and we end up 4 or 5 years from now having 2 former players as good head coaches’ out there, and it looks like we already got one at FLA, then I don’t know if I could continue to support this. As a fan, if you want your team to be competitive, you can not reward mediocrity with your attention and money. Winning is not necessarily going to be the most important thing to the people at the decision-making level of these universities. If they get the same or even similar results whether they win or not it’s not going to be a #1 priority to them. We as fans have to hold them to a winning commitment with our money and attention.
SSIgator
October 7th, 2012
1:16 am
Is it too early to start printing the 2013 Pre-Season National Champs shirts?
Mike From Birmingham
October 7th, 2012
1:16 am
I am amazed that Georgia is so ill prepared in these important games. Tonight I was actually embarrassed to be a Georgia Bulldog. I am beginning to think that Mark Richt will really never motivate and lift the Dogs to be a true top five team. Our defense is so porous and the offense looks like a deer in headlights. Tonight I really got the feeling that the atmosphere was as intimating to the Dogs as the opponent. Last item, Mike Bobo is a nice guy but his schemes and play calling will never get the Dogs to the next level. I am so tired of this mediocre crap with the players that we have.
GURSHALL needed HERSCHEL
October 7th, 2012
1:17 am
looks like GEORGIA is the 3rd best team in the east div.
moo-face
October 7th, 2012
1:18 am
Go get Kirby
moo-face
October 7th, 2012
1:21 am
Go get Kirby Smart before we end up 4 or 5 years from now looking at 2 former GA players being good football coaches’. Already got 1 out there I think. I won’t continue to support this kind of football much longer with my money and attention. It is our responsibility as fans to hold the people at the decision-making level to a commitment to win.
Spurrier: ‘They can’t say they own us anymore, that’s for sure’ | UGA sports blog
October 7th, 2012
1:22 am
[...] Bradley: A sobering night for overwhelmed Bulldogs [...]
Gamecocks’ QB Connor Shaw shows off against state school | UGA sports blog
October 7th, 2012
1:23 am
[...] Bradley: A sobering night for overwhelmed Bulldogs [...]
Whiskey breath
October 7th, 2012
1:24 am
ok mutts, start listing your names who want to pat me on the back with my prediction.
I am not always right about the flea bags, just most of the time.
Georgia’s defense no match for Gamecocks | UGA sports blog
October 7th, 2012
1:24 am
[...] Bradley: A sobering night for overwhelmed Bulldogs [...]
moo-face
October 7th, 2012
1:26 am
I don’t think Murray is the problem folks. He’s not the best ever, but he’s pretty good. Look at who he’s got teaching him. This bunch of coaches’ give him no support when it comes to game-planning and you get to the big game and he is behind a line that is getting their tails handed to them every time because of the sorry atmosphere up there when it comes to toughness and a commitment to winning the war in the trenches!! Murray is no Stafford for sure, but you give him an O-line that will open up holes for RBs and give him protection and he will win some games for you
Erk Russell's Dog
October 7th, 2012
1:28 am
All the talk about NFL rankings and success former dogs have at the next level proves most of these stars play for the name on the back of their jerseys and not for name on the front. They don’t play as a team and are never held accountable unless their dumb enough to fail a drug test or break the law.Same thing applies to the coaching staff ,by scheduling weak sister opponents and adding teams to the conference CMR is guaranteed 9 or 10 wins a year,they still haven’t defeated a team that has been rated higher in the polls ,but come December we will all be fooled again with the 6-2 SEC record and the 10 -2 over all record , then lose the bowl game to another also ran from the Big 10 and CMR will say the Dogs had a great year and will challenge for the SEC east title in 2013 ,
aarh
October 7th, 2012
1:31 am
I wouldn’t say that they’ve never won a big game. However, I know that’s been the case over hte past number of yrs. though. When Richt first came in he used to always win those games. I’m not sure what’s happened, but I know they need to recruit some O-Linemen if they want to truely comperte w/ the elite teams though. It doesn’t seem like they’ve been able to get those players over the last few yrs. though. Oh, & Spurrier hasn;’t always owned UGA either. When he first came to SC, then UGA usually always won that game. However, I know he has better players now, & it does concern me that that may be the case again now though. Hope not, but we’ll see anyway.
Coaching Matters
October 7th, 2012
1:32 am
In 2004 my family stood up against me when I stated that the hiring of Richt was a mistake by Georgia despite his early success. His record against the top SEC Scools has been dismal regardless of who has been the coach. Last year I stated that UGA has moved from Number 2 in the SEC East to Number 3 and now it is clear for all to see.
moo-face
October 7th, 2012
1:33 am
@ Erk Russell’s Dog. I don’t think that’s gonna pan out for this staff this time around. I feel the winds of change stirring. NOBODY could deny the cold, hard stare of CRAP that was looking at them right in the eye in Columbia tonight. I think he’s kinda in the – gotta run the table and win the SEC realm – to survive this. This garbage is rotten and it needs to be taken out
Hairy Dawg
October 7th, 2012
1:36 am
The funny thing is that we might be able to weasel our way into another SEC title game with one big win this year. We probably need to get our ***** handed to us by the Tide anyway, right? Let’s get it done, baby!
moo-face
October 7th, 2012
1:39 am
@ Coaching Matters. And if something don’t change quick we’ll be headed for #4. Don’t count on UT to sit there in limbo for much longer. They gonna either start winning with Dooley soon or they gonna go find somebody that can win. And then that giant sucking sound we used to hear coming from knoxville taking our in-state talent will be turned back on.