3 points about Georgia’s 28-point loss at South Carolina

Connor Shaw ran. He also passed. His team won. (AP photo by Brett Flashnick)

Connor Shaw ran. He also passed. Not coincidentally, his team won. (AP photo by Brett Flashnick)

1. Aaron Murray didn’t exactly grab his star-making moment by the throat. Delivering a tipped interception on Georgia’s third snap was the worst possible start for the quarterback who still hasn’t presided over a victory against a team of substance. (Florida 2011 doesn’t count.) Murray had maybe his worst night as a Bulldog, completing 11 of 31 passes for 109 yards. In his defense, his line couldn’t block South Carolina’s defensive front. As offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said: “When a guy’s getting hit, he has a tendency not to trust his protection.”

2. The “Gurshall” groundswell got, er, grounded. Freshmen tailbacks Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall combined for 76 yards on 15 carries — this after each had 100-yard games against Tennessee. Again, the Gamecocks’ defensive line overpowered Georgia up front, often pushing blockers backwards into the guys for whom they were supposed to be blocking. “We couldn’t handle their ends,” Bobo said, and then this: “I thought we would be able to run the ball a little bit better.”

3. The Georgia defense didn’t trip the light fantastic, either. South Carolina gained 392 yards while throwing only 10 passes. (Six were completed, for a staggering 162 yards.) That’s what happens, said Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, when the running game works and you can throw off play-action at your leisure. The Gamecocks rushed for 230 yards — 109 by Marcus Lattimore, who had his third consecutive big game against Georgia, and 78 more by Shaw. “For us to get where we want to go, we’ve got to improve,” said Grantham, telling no lies.

By Mark Bradley

549 comments Add your comment

Mr. Hankey

October 7th, 2012
6:30 pm

Was that the Braves I saw (Friefly — had to change the channel and start playin quarters half-way through the 1st) last night or did the coaching staff just copy their playbook. Lousy stinker. Yaddy, yaddy, yaddy. At least I’m not renewing season tx next year. Not because of this, though it doesn’t help, but because of their limp d…k home schedule adn late game starts. Bute please, folks, stop this irrational squaking about firing CMR. 48 hrs ago we all thought he was a DGD and he still is despite the fact that I tossed my cookies after the game. And I’m gone and not going back to Athens this year. Tossing my tickets in protest.

007

October 7th, 2012
6:31 pm

Bozo needs to call 1 more quick pass to the sidelines.

Under The Bleachers

October 7th, 2012
6:31 pm

Watching the Replay on ESPN U

Beast from the East

October 7th, 2012
6:32 pm

voodoo
October 7th, 2012
6:25 pm

South Carolina will lose to LSU and Florida.

Ah, hoping to back into the SECCG again? Good luck with that!

Under The Bleachers

October 7th, 2012
6:32 pm

voodoo

October 7th, 2012
6:25 pm
South Carolina will lose to LSU and Florida.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@222

Wishful Thinking or Prediction

USCalumnusnGA

October 7th, 2012
6:33 pm

Although UGA loss it was still a good game, b/c #’s 5 & 6 played, bring national coverage to both GA and SC and their respective “flagship” institutions. Despite the loss UGA remains a pretty good team, but we’re seeing the emergence of a tough USC team. If anything both fans of USC and UGA should be happy, b/c it indicates that the SEC-east is not the “whipping board” for the SEC-west. With balance within our conference on both sides, a stronger argument can be made that the SEC is the most dominant conference in FBS.

There can only be one divisional leader at a time, and for years UGA and Florida have dominated the SEC-east … with the expansion of our conference and the emergence of USC as a prominant football program we/alumni of SEC-east schools can hold our heads high as we challenge our compadres in the SEC-west and every Monday when a new AP polls comes out showing 7 SEC schools on it … 3 of which are in the Top-5 and two out of the SEC-east.

Go Gamecocks!!

Under The Bleachers

October 7th, 2012
6:34 pm

#29 got pushed around and #21 ran through him on the first 2 drives.

Under The Bleachers

October 7th, 2012
6:36 pm

Please give a one word adjective to describe the beating UGA took last night.

JB

October 7th, 2012
6:52 pm

Interesting a little street cred Dawgs still had pre game from all the homers ( Schultz, Bradley, Neil, Buck Blue etc…..after all , it was Carolina…..News flash……..Thaey have moved ahead of us. I watched a well coach physical team make us look like Duke last night……… Mark ought to resign at some point this year.

Glory Between the Hedges

October 7th, 2012
6:55 pm

2-15 in big games since 2012 cmr is a great person but i am not sold on his coaching anymore even chizik got a championship we get the talent but still get beat a change may be needed

Glory Between the Hedges

October 7th, 2012
6:56 pm

I HOPE LSU BEATS ARROGANT SPURRIER LIKE A DRUM THE LSU FANS WILL BE OUT IN FORCE

Travis McGee

October 7th, 2012
6:56 pm

You can make 3 or 30 points about the game; but it all comes down to one thing: the Dawgs weren’t properly prepared to play a tean of the quality and preparedness of Spurrier’s Gamecocks! And, they got their arses handed to them.

Dawgify

October 7th, 2012
6:58 pm

I’m done. I’ve seen more than one blogger analyzing the ways we can “still get back to Atlanta.” Why even hope for that? So we can be disgraced on a national stage once again? We are never ready for these games. If we find ourselves playing against Alabama in the SEC Championship this year: a) we won’t deserve to be there and b) we will be humiliated even worse than last night. Richt must go.

tmc

October 7th, 2012
6:58 pm

4. The coaching and adjustments were horrendous.
5. The discipline of the players was only slightly better than the coaching.

This is the type of game that leads yo a coach getting fired.
When you haven’t beaten a ranked team in 3 years and this is how you show up for one of your 2 big games of the year? NOT GOOD.

Coffee Bluff DAWG

October 7th, 2012
6:58 pm

SC struggled mightily on road against Vandy/UK. Likely they lose to LSU / FL. Still a lot of FB to be played.

dave

October 7th, 2012
7:00 pm

Bring back Willie Martinez!

Pitbull

October 7th, 2012
7:00 pm

I really think this nation has become a nation of spoiled crybabies.

No one’s ego can take a loss. Every team loses eventually and if you play enough games someone is going to have a much better team that beats you badly.

South Carolina has a much better team than us this year. We got beat bad. Get over it and move on. Grow up. It is not the end of the world or of our program.

When I was in college at UGA we got beat 40 something to 7 by Nebraska in some God forsaken bowl and they had a running back named Johnny Rogers that most of you have probably never heard of.

He was so good he had the nerve to hire a law student friend as an agent and the audacity to actually negotiate his salary and signing bonus with the NFL team that drafted him. First college player to do that. It sort of became a trend after that.

I digress.

In the course of college football life Georgia (and every other college team on God’s green earth) is going to run into a team that is just better that year. It happens.

Learn to live with it. Reality is you beat the teams that you are better at and lose to the teams that are better than you.

If you want to get upset, then get upset if your team loses to an inferior team talentwise because of fumbles, interceptions, and lack of effort.

That did not happen last night. We played a better team and got whipped.

Now lets get ready for the second half of the season.

catlady

October 7th, 2012
7:08 pm

In summary, the Dogs were beat like a drum, and by the Evil Genius, no less!

Mike From Birmingham

October 7th, 2012
7:13 pm

Current Georgia coaches just can not uplift the athletic abilities of the players to wins in big games. I just do not understand how it is that we honor mediocre performances.

Don't the Kool-Aid until....................

October 7th, 2012
7:13 pm

Don’t drink the Georgia Kool-Aid until they can beat a top 25 team. It will be long wait .

jimboga

October 7th, 2012
7:16 pm

Football has changed in the SEC. The top teams are in better condition than in the past. They are doing a better job of recruiting. Georgia is doing neither. So much as I hate to say it, UGA is going to be good but an also-ran so long as Richt is there. His teams are not tough enough or talented enough to win the big games. When did they last win a big one. I can’t remember. I doubt if they will ever compete with South Carolina again as long as Spurrier is there. He has put together a national championship calibre team and is now kicking butt. His program has improved every year. That will continue.

Game Time

October 7th, 2012
7:17 pm

Was amazing to me that the school provided Richt with such a lucrative contract extension after two lousy years, and a 10 win year last year against one of the school’s weakest schedules ever. And UGA has an even weaker schedule this year and we still can’t beat the good teams even with the 4 and 5 star talent that is on the team. Richt recruits a lot of troublemakers who are often ineligible and don’t represent the school well. Why is a coach “rewarded” for this kind of performance??!!??

sheepdawg

October 7th, 2012
7:20 pm

who cares? this is a bunch of kids playing a game. most of them wouldn’t even be in college if not for stupid football. thugs and street crooks. and we pay a football coach millions while our state is at the bottom of the nation in education – a nation that is not even in the top top in the world. our priorities are all screwed up. folks should get so excited about the effort to set up a state charter school system to over rule local school boards. that’s an issue that really does matter. and i bet most of the radical posters on here never attended uga anyway. i hope they never win another athletic contest in the remaining history of the school. but it is entertaining to read these comments over a corrupt football team losing to the neighboring state corrupt football team – both states lead the nation in basic ignorance

Special K

October 7th, 2012
7:28 pm

You folks do realize how young the BAMA team is? Hate to tell you that the current #1 is replacing most of the defensive starters and a few offensive as well. Afraid it won’t be the pups year next year either.

Sunbury Ga dawg

October 7th, 2012
7:35 pm

Wow, that was a beat down………but we r still better that tech…. to bad that means nothing at all

Kentucky

October 7th, 2012
7:35 pm

Three Bulldogs were baptized in Richt’s church this morning. The games are just games, but this is about eternity.

harold

October 7th, 2012
7:39 pm

The UGA players quit. The freshmen running backs hadn’t played anyone either.

UGA has such an easy schedule. However the D is a joke since the LSU game. Everyone moving the ball on Grantham. And Bobo? I rest my case.

Bottom line: It is time for Richt to go!

uncledaddy

October 7th, 2012
7:43 pm

Hey, at least it wasn’t a shutout.

Reality

October 7th, 2012
7:44 pm

Some knucklehead stole my name. The REALITY is I did not post those comments. Whoever you are shop for another name you theif.

mcdaviddawg

October 7th, 2012
7:48 pm

A classic Richt game. We’ve seen it againsit LSU and Alabame. Georgia hasn’t beaten a good team in memory. I guess the coaching staff has a good golfing week. Spurrieer obviusly watched the game film on the Georgia defense against Vandy and Tenn. Three straight bad efforts by the defense. Offense and defensive line worthless. It’s definitely time to reconsider

Reality

October 7th, 2012
7:56 pm

When I was a kid, my mom made me wear a girls Georgia shirt every Saturday. That’s why I root for the Gamecocks.

Buzz2011

October 7th, 2012
8:03 pm

Garnet gone wild!! Clowney runs for congress in Carolina..

ms.shirley

October 7th, 2012
8:04 pm

CMR thinks the players weren’t flat? I guess he’s right…they were deceased during yesterday’s game. We’re almost GT…overrated (especially since PJohnson was hired). It was a pathetic loss and there is no excuse to justify losing by 3 touchdowns to SC. I really thought I was going to smash the screen when the dawgs jumped off sides on a hard count and then Spurrier had the smirk on his face. He is such an a$$. When will he die, so the spanking of UGA will stop. Fire CMR and be done with it. As an adult you have to learn to let things go and move on. It just time.

Buzz2011

October 7th, 2012
8:07 pm

@Sunbury Ga dog…You are better than FAU maybe. Tech will trim your defenseless leghumpers 35 points.. Spurrier will coach the game in lieu of Paul Johnson
UGA guns this state!!!!!!!

UGA better than Bama

October 7th, 2012
8:13 pm

Glory Between the Hedges, I completely agree, because arrogant a hole coaches, arrogant teams, and arrogant fans always get pummeled.

LakeDawg

October 7th, 2012
8:15 pm

Pitbull

I’m old enough to remember Johnny Rodgers and that powerful Nebraska team on the verge of two straight NC’s. However, comparing that UGA loss to this one is erroneous. You are old enough to know better. You have seen enough football to know that this isn’t just one bad loss. Demanding that UGA fulfill their potential does not make one a “spoiled crybaby.” Its called holding your coaches and administrators accountable and demanding excellence. Excellence doesn’t always mean championships, but at UGA it does. The Dawg nation has a history of giving their head coach the benefit of the doubt more than any other big time program in the SEC. Do you think CMR would be on the hotseat if had won just ONE SEC title in the past 7 years, while others programs around them with equal or lesser resources have won a NC? The answer is NO. CMR has earned the heat. Not everybody deserves to be the head coach at UGA, no matter how upstanding they are. The Dawg nation demands at least above average performance relative to its resources. Mediocrity should not be tolerated. Apologists such as yourself only make things worse.

Wet Willie...keep on smiling

October 7th, 2012
8:16 pm

Where are Columbus,Kingdaddy,DawginLex,DestinDawg and his parade magazine BS! I see Flo-ri-da came with his words of wisdom(denial) and the GeorgieeInsider again knows nothing.

Cpbridge is missing as well and no surprise for him. You folks got your azz handed to you on PrimeTime no doubt. I assume Richt will gather everyone and they will hold hands and jump into the pool on Monday.

What was priceless is to see your big bad dawg’s QUIT on National TV!!!!! Old Jarvis the Vandy beater needed his ankle wrapped…LOL

The good news is were much closer to March and you Georgieeee fans AGAIN can be the best college football team from March until August….again

1980 and that trophy is so dusty folks. You wouldn’t have that one had you played Alabama in 80!

Congrats to all you USCe Fans and the UF Gators. I don’t know if Alabama could beat either team to tell you the truth. Both looked really good…real good. Will is going to be just fine in Gville no doubt. We know the deal on Steve even though so many of you fine fans chose the beatwriter from Columbia over a proven football coach but that really about Steve kicking your azz for year…Come On Man

Ga8tr

October 7th, 2012
8:18 pm

Whipped Puppies: How’s that Todd Grantham thing working out for you all?

LakeDawg

October 7th, 2012
8:23 pm

Are CMR and Tommy Bowden brothers?

Clean House Now

October 7th, 2012
8:25 pm

Last week we looked past Tennessee to South Carolina, this week we looked past South Carolina for the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl! Clean house now. We have the players, we don’t have the coaching. Let Richt take his millions and go and bring in a winner who can teach these guys some discipline.

Candybut

October 7th, 2012
8:27 pm

Georgia fans are not only delusional, but above all they are classless.

Two weeks ago you are singing praises of players and coaches, today you curse their names in front of their mothers. Absolute trailer trash.

UGA has some of the best talent in the country, but can’t win unless they are playing an inferior team. Get over it.

Worst of all- Brent and Herbstreit pointed out the thuggery at UGA with stats on our weapons charges, battery, dui and suspensions for positive drug tests. The Dawgs are the bad guys boys… a bunch of thugs.

Candybutz

October 7th, 2012
8:29 pm

Georgia fans are not only delusional, but above all they are classless.

Two weeks ago you are singing praises of players and coaches, today you curse their names in front of their families. Absolute trailor trashi.

UGA has some of the best talent in the country, but can’t win unless they are playing an inferior team. Get over it.

Worst of all- Brent and Herbstreit pointed out the thuggery at UGA with stats on our weapons charges, battery, dui and suspensions for positive drug tests. The Dawgs are the bad guys boys… a bunch of thugs.

chalkdawg4

October 7th, 2012
8:38 pm

Richt and Murray in a package deal to GSU. Give us Bill Curry. I graduated UGA a long time ago but I have adopted the cocks as my team. They may just beat Bama. The Richt act has worn thin. I think he needs about a 3 year mission trip. Hell of a win by the Falcons though and I am glad Chipper is gone. Just sayin.

waytogoricht

October 7th, 2012
8:43 pm

Richt’s a loser. All he really likes about UGA is the $3.2 mil salary. What if anything does he do to begin to justify a salary like that which some decent coaches make? Answer-what he does is make target practice for the likes of Spurrier, Saban and Miles. Now it looks like Muschamp will get in line to redundantly kick his sorry ass. I am tired of hearing about Richt’s .740 winning percentage-check it out, should he be allowed to include all the Georgia Southern type teams he feasts on? which are the ONLY reason the percentage is .740? Richt sucks! Fire Mark Richt! And, hello, no more sorry-ass search committees that produce the likes of Richt, Goof and Donnan! Search committee competency is the key or don’t bother.

JRW7

October 7th, 2012
8:44 pm

DAWGS got the talent, but got out coached, again! If you DAWG fans are ok with 9 or maybe 10 wins every year, CMR’s your coach, but if you want to ever compete for a NC again, CMR has to go! I want my DAWGS to compete for a NC!

UGA cracks me up

October 7th, 2012
8:51 pm

Oh it’s so much fun to watch you pups whine about how arrogant SOS is simply because he owns you. It is good to have a UGA in the SEC. It’s kinda like FSU and the ACC…awesome in August when the preseason rankings come out so it looks a little better when you face real competition and get it handed to you. Stay mediocre my friends!

rp

October 7th, 2012
8:55 pm

UGA goes 13-0 and loses the national championship game by 1. Everyone gets on the blog board and says fire everybody. UGA goes 14-0 wins the national championship everyone jumps on the board and says they were not dominant enough. Blah, blah, blah, why don’t you folks just so run everybody in A”thens into the river and drown them. Sometimes you just get your butt whopped. Seriously most of you need to get a life or move to Alabama-you will fit in well there.

Jeff in Calhoun

October 7th, 2012
8:58 pm

This is all boils down to the Head Coach Mark Richt and his staff. This Georgia Team is mentally soft. A loss of this magnitude 35-7 needs to be pinned on the head honcho and his staff.

FLA DAWG

October 7th, 2012
9:03 pm

Alabama, Auburn, LSU, UT, UF would never stand for the years of dismal performance against ranked teams. They would (and have) fired their coaches and started fresh. As a matter of fact, when Bama, Auburn, LSU and UF did it they all won BCS Titles.

But in Athens we give contract extensions and raises to coaches who consistently lose to ranked teams.

Smart like a fox

October 7th, 2012
9:06 pm

not in the same class as SC…..and in the new polls….uga is still over rated…..lol…got hammered by the cocks