Wooten’s debut . . . dancing Dogs . . . and stray facts
One ball was thrown to him in the Arkansas game. Overthrown, actually. Then Rantavious Wooten made his first reception for UGA in the second quarter of the Arizona State game, a spectacular catch for a 27-yard gain on 3rd-and-12.
“When I caught it,” Wooten said a couple of days ago, “it felt like having a burden lifted off my shoulders. I felt relieved, and I felt excited. I just wanted to keep playing.”
He made the second catch of his collegiate career late in the fourth quarter, a crucial 11-yard gainer on 3rd-and-4 early in the drive that led to the game-winning, game-ending field goal.
Obviously, Wooten had gained the coaches’ confidence with his work on the practice field — a prerequisite for a freshman to be called upon in a tight game, let alone in a game-deciding drive.
“I knew what I had to do, and I focused and worked real hard and did my best every day to prove to the coaches that I can make the plays and am ready to play,” Wooten said. “That is what I’ve had my mindset on every week.”
He said he had “a great week of practice” before the Arkansas game. “Everything seemed to be falling into place for me, and then I felt like I’d get my chance.”
And how is the other receiver in the 2009 signing class, Marlon Brown, doing? “He’s actually stepping up,” Wooten said. “He’s catching the ball. . . . I expect him to play soon.”
—————————————
As you know, nothing goes unnoticed or unanalyzed in Bulldog Nation. Example: some players dancing to the music that blared through Sanford Stadium during timeouts late in last Saturday’s game. Mark Richt was asked his feelings about it this week, both on his radio call-in show and in a meeting with reporters.
“Well, that’s a good question,” Richt said to a caller. “If you go by how it affected our defensive players, Scott [Howard] just mentioned that in the last four drives of the game we held [Arizona State] to minus-13 yards. So if that is going to be the result, I don’t mind them doing that.
“I don’t think it’s something that is a lack of discipline or a lack of respect. I think there are a lot of guys that have got the spirit inside of them, and if that gets rid of a little bit of nervous energy before the next play or whatever, that’s fine with me. If you noticed, the other team was doing the same doggone thing.
“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal,” Richt said, “but I’m sure there are about 50 percent of the folks out there who think it is.”
He added: “If the fans don’t like it, they need to start booing when [players are] dancing instead of cheering.”
—————————————
Stray facts:
– Georgia and LSU have met in football just 27 times despite both being charter members of the SEC.
– LSU leads the series 14-12-1, including a 6-6 record in Athens, where the Tigers have not won since 1987. Georgia has won the past three meetings and six of the past eight. None of which will mean a thing on Saturday, of course.
– LSU says only seven of its current players were born when the Tigers last won in Athens.
– Georgia’s Drew Butler leads the nation in punting with a 50.1-yard average.
– LSU’s starting center is T-Bob Hebert, the son of former Falcons and Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert. He was born in Louisiana and grew up an LSU fan, but played his high school ball at Greater Atlanta Christian.
– Georgia is 0-3 in its last three games against top-10 teams (Alabama and Florida last year, Oklahoma State this year).
– A.J. Green isn’t the only receiver entering Saturday’s game on a hot streak. LSU’s Brandon LaFell has caught five touchdown passes in four games.
– I think I mentioned this in a story earlier in the week: LSU safety Chad Jones and defensive end Rahim Alem (formerly Al Jones) are brothers.
– LSU sophomore Jordan Jefferson is the youngest starting quarterback in the SEC, 19 years and one month.
– Both LSU and Georgia have struggled to get their running games going, so consider this: The Tigers are 28-0 under Les Miles when rushing for 100-plus yards and holding their opponent to less than 100.
– Points off turnovers: Opponents 54, Georgia 6. That’s crazy.
——————————————-
And finally, here’s the lineup for book signings in the UGA Bookstore before Saturday’s game:
10 a.m. until noon: Larry Munson (”From Herschel to a Hobnail Boot”) and Herschel Walker (”Breaking Free”).
12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.: Vince Dooley (”Dooley’s Play Book”) and Fran Tarkenton (”Every Day is Game Day”).
Also, Kevin Butler and David Greene will be available for autographs from 1:30 to 2:30.
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123 comments Add your comment
Go Dawgs
October 3rd, 2009
11:30 am
I love men. 45-42 we got beat;we got beat;we got beat. Ha,ha,ha,ha.
Go Dawgs
October 3rd, 2009
11:31 am
WE SUCK or at least I do.
Stinger
October 3rd, 2009
11:32 am
Are you really GAY Go Dawgs? I always wondered about you. You seemed to have homo tendancies.
dawgfan1911
October 3rd, 2009
11:38 am
I am the biggest complainer of Georgia Football but I love the team and always will. I must say that our program has a history and nastalga that most dont. If we fire Marc Rict, then who will we bring in? I personally think he is the perfect guy for the job! He needs to evaluate his assistants better though. Willie and Fabris needs to go. We are a study program with a bright future filled with talented young players. Our time will come. Be patient!
Jeb
October 3rd, 2009
12:13 pm
1. Offensive football has indeed changed and is now more of a challenge to the Defense.
2. That is still not an excuse for being one of the bottom third ranked defenses in College Football especially when you look at the recruits we get year in and year out.
3. I still believe that BVG would have the defense ranked in the top 20 nationally.
Eric C.
October 3rd, 2009
12:36 pm
Wow…UGA hasn’t lost at home to LSU since 1987, and they haven’t won at home against a top 5 team in 25 years? Which streak will end?
Pi$$onaDawg
October 3rd, 2009
1:03 pm
Eric the streak of LSU losing to the dawgs in Athens will end. LSU is still not a top 5 team even after they beat the dawgs
Pi$$onaDawg
October 3rd, 2009
1:07 pm
David Greene refused to sign my Clipboard. He did grab it so I did get his finger prints on it. Kevin Butler said he gave up the COKE a long time ago, but if I had some Viagra he would take some.
we're over rated !!!
October 3rd, 2009
2:02 pm
UGAy has not beat a top five team at home in 25 yrs…..and hasn’t played a top five team at home since the mid 90’s…..this is what it takes to look good….play no one at home, and bark about how tough their schedule is..and how tough the SEC is….BLOW HARDS…. DELUSIONAL…both the team and mostly the fans. …but they might beat I-DA-HO st next year….that one will be tough.
Ted Striker
October 3rd, 2009
2:37 pm
The dancing is great. It shows the players are amped up and it amps up a large majority of the crowd, me included. I think it is tres cool. And UGA crowds — except for the students — are notorious for sitting on their hands much of the time.
You’re going to please some of the people some of the time and some of the fogeys won’t ever be pleased. UGA could go undefeated and win the NC and there would still be critics of players and coaches by some “fans.”
BuLLdawg
October 3rd, 2009
7:13 pm
Poorly coached football team.
Dap01
October 3rd, 2009
8:05 pm
UGA is a poorly prepared team.
The special teams are terrible.
Cox is not quite up to SEC standards.
Washan is the back that we need.
Go Jackets !!!!!
October 3rd, 2009
8:14 pm
There’s nothing better than to hear the crying of whipped bulldogs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BuLLdawg
October 4th, 2009
4:17 am
How has Coach Mark Richt’s “Coaching Staff” actually performed against the Final AP Poll Top 25 teams ?
Do you know ?
He has LOST 19 times.
He has won 17 times.
17-19 vs. Final AP Poll Top 25 teams.
What should our record be against Top 25 teams, in fact ? Should we be several games UNDER .500 against in fact Top 25 teams the years we faced them ?
2009 :
LOST to Number 4 LSU 20-13.
LOST to Number 14 Oklahoma State 24-10.
Will play Number 1 Florida, Number 24 Georgia Tech, Number 25 Auburn.
2008 :
LOST to Number 6 Alabama 41-30.
LOST to Number 1 Florida 49-10.
LOST to Number 22 Georgia Tech 45-42.
Won over Number 24 Michigan State 24-12.
Played no other Top 25 teams in 2008.
2007 :
LOST to Number 12 Tennessee 35-14.
Won over Number 15 Auburn 45-20.
Won over Number 12 Florida 42-30.
Played no other Top 25 teams in 2007.
2006 :
Won over Number 19 Hawaii 41-10.
LOST to Number 25 Tennessee 51-33.
LOST to Number 1 Florida 21-14.
Won over Number 9 Auburn 37-15.
Won over Number 19 Virginia Tech 31-24.
Played no other Top 25 teams in 2006.
2005:
LOST to Number 12 Florida 14-10.
LOST to Number 14 Auburn 31-30.
Won over Number 6 LSU 34-14.
LOST to Number 5 West Virginia 38-35.
Played no other Top 25 teams in 2005.
2004 :
Won over Number 16 LSU 45-16.
LOST to Number 13 Tennessee 19-14.
LOST to Number 2 Auburn 24-6.
Won over Number 17 Wisconsin 24-21.
Played no other Top 25 teams in 2004.
2003 :
Won over Number 22 Clemson 30-0.
LOST to Number 2 LSU 17-10.
Won over Number 15 Tennessee 41-14.
LOST to Number 24 Florida 16-13.
LOST to Number 2 LSU 13-34.
Won over Number 18 Purdue 34-27.
Played no other Top 25 teams in 2003.
2002 :
Won over Number 11 Alabama 27-25.
Won over Number 14 Auburn 24-21.
Won over Number 21 Florida State 26-13.
Played no other Top 25 teams in 2002.
2001 :
LOST to Number 13 South Carolina 14-9.
Won over Number 4 Tennessee 26-24.
LOST to Number 3 Florida 24-10.
Won over Number 24 Georgia Tech 31-17.
LOST to Number 21 Boston College 20-16.
Played no other Top 25 teams in 2001.
17-19 vs. AP Final Top 25 teams for Coach Richt’s “Coaching Staff.”
Don’t tell me that his “Coaching Staff” is the Best Possible for UGA.
We are a very poorly coached football program.
fancy
October 4th, 2009
7:27 am
LSU # 1 hurlers in the nation. That was disgusting. Seems the camera man was liking that shot. Green the ref did not like your dancing. Defense much improved.
P
October 4th, 2009
8:39 am
It is fitting that UGA continue to get “eccessive celebration” penalties. Isn’t that what UGA and Athens are known for?
Dawgtime
October 4th, 2009
11:40 am
As a true UGA fan, a blogger than doesn’t use sports blogs to express their delusional insanity, and someone that actually knows something about football, let me preface by stating that Go Dawgs, aka GT man, needs to return to the GT site. Why are these pathetic comments allowed on a sports blog? If you make any reference to religion, it’s blocked or deleted, but morons can say all the homo stuff and insane crap they want. This is a sports blog. In terms of the game, yes a bias exist against the Dawgs. The two celebration calls were horrible and cost UGA the game. When players get up and signal a first down, why are they not penalized? Tebow celebrates every big play and I have no problem with that. Why are kickers not penalized when they make a kick and raise their arms and the other players celebrate with them? Why are DB’s not penalized for talk trash and gesturing? Check out number 7 against A.J. Green. This is a load of crap that is taking away from the game. I understand that we don’t want what UM used to do with all that thug crap, but encouraging the fans like Orson Charles did and A.J. jogging to his own teammates and looking at the fans is flat stupid calls. Those bias refs made a call that changed a game with less than two minutes to go in a game. We all know this crap started after the Bulldog Boogie against Florida a couple of years ago. On that day, we received two 15 yard penalities for the same action. OK, the game is over. Why are refs holding this beef against UGA? If you don’t believe it, check out the penalities against UGA since that date and before. Check out which refs call the most penalities against UGA. The NCAA ruins the lives of young men trying to get in college and punishes schools for some silly rules, but allows refs to express their biases via penalities with no consequences. Now in terms of the reality of the game, we played horrible. The running game doesn’t exist. Suggestion: Move Richard Samuels to FB or WLB. He is a great kid, but lacks the wiggle to be a great running back. He will make a great LB because of his physical style. I would start Washun Ealey because he seems to want it more. I’m sick of seeing 3 and outs. Joe Cox is a great kid but panics under pressure. Suggestion: Play Logan Gray more. He provides options that Cox doesn’t. He can run the ball. He was the better QB at the spring game. Loyalty is great but it can be costly. Let’s face the truth, UGA is in for a below average year this year. We are very young and should be building for next season which looks like something special for us. All of our difference makers are underclassmen. I still believe our DC, Martinez needs to be replaced. He is a good man, but lacks the understanding of how to attack offenses. LSU has an average offense and we couldn’t stop them. His rush 4 and drop 7 in zones is out of date. He runs 3 basic blitzes which are very predictable. The only coach that seems to get it is Rodney Garner. He would be my new DC. He realizes that the hyped seniors are not playing up to their ability so he is playing younger DT’s. If he elects not to make the move, spend the money and bring in a great one that will change the culure of the defense. They lack emotions. How many times would David Pollack be penalized under today’s biases? The special teams coach needs to be replaced too. We give up big plays and make just a few. Go DAWGS.
Irishmafia
October 4th, 2009
11:41 am
There’s a reason Georgia football leads the SEC in penalties the last few years. Correlate that with the football teams low grade point avg. and graduation rate also near the bottom of the SEC. Look at the makeup of the team, people who would otherwise have no shot at all at attending UGA That says it all.
Dawgtime
October 4th, 2009
11:51 am
I still get a laugh seeing pathetic GT fans reading UGA blogs. These pathetic people keeping praying for the demise of UGA so that their inferior program will look better. They celebrate one win like a national championship. How pathetic. We dominated a decade and it was just a predicted reality to us. UGA is down a bit this year and GT has reached a climax and we are still the vastly superior program. No P, UM is know for the excessive celebration. That team is the reason the rule was implemented. These people have no idea or clue what they are saying. For next season, we lose one OL who is average at best. He didn’t even start until the Sturdivant injury. We lose no TE’s and that looks like a great unit. Figgins will be coming back too. We lose Cox at QB, but I believe we have better talent in waiting. A.J. Green is one of the best players in the nation. The WR’s unit is loaded. The running game must improve that is the only problem area. The kicking game is the best we have had in years. The best DB’s are all young. The best LB’s are all back. Our young defensive linemen are playing better than the seniors. You better get us this year because we are about to make some major runs at national titles. Go DAWGS.
Dawgtime
October 4th, 2009
11:56 am
Irishmafia, again just another clueless person. Our team G.P.A. has risen over the last 4 years. The graduation rate has improved when you remove underclassmen leaving early for the NFL draft. Every recruit qualified last season. That has not always been the case in the past. Oh, the Irish mafia was replaced by the Russian mafia in mid-western states and Atlantic seaboard (their strongholds) in the 1980’s. You really need to get a clue. Ok, change your screen name and blog something else stupid.
Dawgtime
October 4th, 2009
11:58 am
Before you waste your time, I don’t care what you think nor will I read any more responses today. Sorry. Get a life.
BuLLdawg
October 5th, 2009
2:16 am
UGA’s Academic Progress Rate of our Football Team is at the top in the nation.
It is Georgia Tech’s APR that sucks.
Know what you talk about before you open your mouth and switch feet.
Our APR is at the top in the SEC.
Here I will give you the URL Link, since you speak without knowledge.
Maybe you will learn something ?
APR Academic Progress Rate according to latest NCAA report :
http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?key=/ncaa/ncaa/academics+and+athletes/education+and+research/academic+reform/apr/2009/2007-08_school_apr_data.html
FOOTBALL :
UGA Football APR : 976
Tech Football APR : 957
MEN’S BASKETBALL :
UGA Men’s Basketball APR : 945
Tech Men’s Basketball APR : 914
By the way, it was the same on the previous report last year too.
Our problem is our “coaching staff” not the kids. Our recruiting proves it is NOT the kids. In fact, these pinpoint that the problem is the coaching that leaves UGA UNRANKED in the Top 25 of either Poll this week.
Take no glee Tech, you will be there the next 2 weeks AGAIN, and UGA will be back in – obviously.
By the way, Notre Dame is NOT ranked in ANY POLL (not even Number 26 like UGA is) in Football AND Notre Dame’s APR in Football is WORSE THAN UGA.
Latest dancing news – 5 minutes of Nick Jonas random dancing – Jonas Brothers Video Blog
December 25th, 2009
3:21 am
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