Taking note of Georgia-Texas A&M
If you missed it, here’s my story on Georgia and Texas A&M accepting Independence Bowl invitations.
Now, a few more things:
– If Georgia had not blown a 20-6 halftime lead with four second-half turnovers against Kentucky, the Bulldogs would have finished the regular season on a four-game winning streak -– and probably would be headed to Tampa for the Outback Bowl.
– Let’s hope the weather in Shreveport on Dec. 28 doesn’t resemble that for Texas A&M’s last appearance in the Independence Bowl – the 2000 game known as the “Snow Bowl.” A driving snowstorm began during pregame warmups and continued throughout the game, a 43-41 Mississippi State overtime victory. .
– Georgia and Texas A&M had two mutual opponents this season –- Oklahoma State and Arkansas. Both lost to Oklahoma State -– Georgia 24-10 and Texas A&M 36-31. Georgia beat Arkansas 52-41, while Texas A&M lost to the Razorbacks 47-19.
– No. 5 in the nation in total offense and No. 107 in total defense. That’s Texas A&M.
– Pretty interesting that a team without a defensive coordinator (Georgia) will go up against the fifth most prolific offense in the country. Even if Georgia hires a new DC before Dec. 28, he wouldn’t work this game.
– The Aggies’ defensive coordinator is Joe Kines, who was on Georgia’s staff as DC from 1995-98 and as assistant head coach in 1999. These Aggies aren’t typical of Kines’ defenses through the years; they’ve allowed 47-plus points four times, including 60-plus twice.
– Last year’s Independence Bowl matchup? Louisiana Tech (coached by Derek Dooley, son of Vince) vs. Northern Illinois. That was because neither the SEC nor the Big 12 had enough bowl-eligible teams to fill their slots in the game.
– Georgia and Texas A&M might be the last SEC and Big 12 teams to play in the Independence Bowl. The bowl’s tie-ins with those conferences end after this game. Starting next year, the bowl will match an ACC team vs. a Mountain West team. The Gator Bowl replaces the Independence on the SEC bowl roster.
– The last time Georgia played Texas A&M, Herschel Walker was a freshman and the Bulldogs were in the second week of what turned out to be an undefeated, national-championship season (1980).
– And the last –- and only previous -– time Georgia played in the Independence Bowl, Damon Evans was a wide receiver for the Dogs. Georgia beat Arkansas 24-15 in that game Dec. 29, 1991.
– For the second time, Georgia has pushed back the start of bowl practices – this time until Saturday. There’s a lot of juggling going on, what with the staff three coaches short, recruiting demands and Mark Richt in hiring mode. Plus, past practice patterns don’t exactly work for this bowl, which is earlier than the Dogs are accustomed to playing. The tentative plan now is to practice Saturday morning, then resume with daily sessions after final exams end Dec. 16. Richt said the team might be in Shreveport on Christmas, although he wasn’t sure of that yet.
– Richt said, by the way, that he doubts any position switches, such as the rumored-to-be-under-consideration moves of Logan Gray to wide receiver and/or Richard Samuel to linebacker, would occur during bowl practices. “We’re going to have our hands full just preparing for this game,” Richt said. “I’ve always had the opinion that it’s very crucial to try to win the game. . . . Not to say we won’t have some opportunities for some young guys to scrimmage a little bit, but our main focus is preparing to play this ballgame.”
– In just 22 career starts, Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson has broken the school record for touchdown passes with 51. He has accounted for 306 yards per game total offense this season, sixth best in the nation.
– Another Aggie name to note: Defensive end Von Miller leads the nation in sacks (17).
– Georgia rarely has any trouble selling football tickets. But lotsa luck selling out its 12,000-ticket allotment this time.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
129 comments Add your comment
Oklahoma Shreport 1999, Natl Champs 2000
December 7th, 2009
8:13 am
Oklahoma loved Shreveport in 1999, it was the road to the Natl Champs the next year in 2000.
Alabama Loved the Independence Bowl in 2006 & 2007
December 7th, 2009
8:13 am
Alabama played in the Independence Bowl in 2007, Natl Championship in 2009.
aggie
December 7th, 2009
8:21 am
A&M 48- GA 31 seen you play 3 times and GA has 0 defense. also understand no D coaches. this could be a laughter
How did you miss Alabama?
December 7th, 2009
8:24 am
Hi Tim-
I noticed you looked to see who had played in the Independence Bowl in 2008.
You didn’t notice who played there in 2007? Ther current team headed to the Natl’ Championship.
Seems that’s a MINOR detail you might have noted.
Independence Bowl Prez
December 7th, 2009
8:26 am
Yes this is Georgias road to the National Championship. Does anyone want some good bottom land in Shreveport?
Bulldog Mike
December 7th, 2009
8:27 am
Texas A & M has one of the worst defenses in the country, so this could be a shootout like Georgia’s Arkansas game. Joe threw for 5 TD’s in that game. Or might be one like Ealey and King did against Tech running for almost 400 yards. Let’s just outscore them, because their defense is so bad. I’d be careful of underestimating Richt or Rodney–both can coach.
m
December 7th, 2009
8:28 am
Christmas in Shreveport!!!!! Congrats dawgs.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.
Confused
December 7th, 2009
8:30 am
I agree with Big Dawg. Bo Bo will confuse them!
Confused
December 7th, 2009
8:33 am
Bulldog Mike. Are you sayin its going to be a shootout because Georgia has one of the worst defenses in the country too? Im confused?
aggie
December 7th, 2009
8:36 am
A&M will score at will. This could be what the bookies call a Steam Special
Tim Tucker
December 7th, 2009
8:39 am
As “How did you miss Alabama” noted, the Crimson Tide was in the Independence Bowl in 2007. And also in 2006. Lost to Oklahoma State in ‘06 and beat Colorado in ‘07.
The Cows
December 7th, 2009
8:43 am
Tennessee eats more chikin. Could Bull Dawg nation be so kind as to post the words to Rocky Top since you heard it plenty.
The REF
December 7th, 2009
8:51 am
1.4 million..We don’t play in the ALL COAST CLEAR Confrence. We play in the SEC were the top two teams in the Nation played for our Confrence championship. Thier is a BIG diffrence. The two top ACC teams were Beat down by unranked SEC teams. The ACC doesn’t compare to the all mighty SEC!
60- 39
WE RUN THIS STATE!
aggie
December 7th, 2009
8:53 am
just learned your D staff consists of the recruiting cordinator and 2 grad assistants. this doesnt look good at all. is that really true?
eponymous
December 7th, 2009
9:16 am
I pulled for Bama this weekend to beat the hated team from the Unversity of the Flaccid Weiner of America. Please, Bama fans, don’t make me regret NOT hating you guys. No need to gloat. You have a great team. Here’s hoping you win the BCSNC so we get a cut of that money as well.
We got jobbed in the LSU game, then went to sleep in the UK game. We deserve this game. I hate to say it, but I am a bit worried about A&M’s offense.
Go Dawgs, and 30-24.
OldDawg
December 7th, 2009
9:22 am
Hey fellow Dawgs….long time supporter and season tix holder….WE have no right to complain about which bowl we are in….period!
We got exactly what we deserved, and IF anyone of you were on the selection committee’s of any of the bowls that passed on us…you would have a hard time making a good case for the Dawgs! Hopefully our players will learn from this year and GATA starting with mat drills and off season S&C program!
In my opinion there were several factors in play that led to our bad season. First and formost…CMR waited 1 year too long to make defensive staff changes…some say 2 years and I could not adamantly disagree, but loyalty can and will be rewarded more times than not!
Our defense was simply awful, as was special teams play specifically kick coverage! CMR is replacing the 3 coaches that needed to go…he is hitting the proverbial nail on the head! Now lets hope for 2 or 3 great hires!
My personal opinion…like some feedback….I would HAVE to find a place for Pollock on my staff!
Great attitude, contagious enthusiasm, knows defense line/end position, and I think would be a GREAT recruiter!
Cox was and is a DGD but simply didnt pan out….I think we will see great QB play from Murray by the middle/end of next season! But what I am most enthused abourt in regards to Murray is the fact that he is a LEADER…a real gamer with really good mobility!
Go DAWGS…beat A&M!
wolfdawg
December 7th, 2009
9:42 am
Where have you been hiding “m”. LMAO
Nick
December 7th, 2009
9:43 am
I still say the most devastating loss to Georgia this year was the LSU game. Totally took the wind out of their sails. And yes, despite a last minute defensive fart, I still say the refs blew that one for us. I’ll never waver on that. Any confidence or hope they would have gained from it, was quickly shot and I think turned the tables for the season.
Red-n-Black
December 7th, 2009
9:57 am
Aggie, you should check your record before you comment on somone else’s defense and your lack there of.
Red-n-Black
December 7th, 2009
9:58 am
We will not need a game plan to beat A&M, we will just run the ball on them. Ask tech about that Aggie.
dawggirl
December 7th, 2009
9:59 am
“Please, Bama fans, don’t make me regret NOT hating you guys. No need to gloat. You have a great team.”
Amen. I loved every single minute of that game, and I pulled for Bama all the way.
As for the bowl game, it is what it is. Maybe if we had been more disciplined throughout the year, we would have some room to complain. It’s not the location that I would have preferred, but it could be worse. I would actually go to the game since my office is closed, but I just don’t have the extra funds right now for a decent hotel room. I say decent, because my standards are on the higher side.
sogadog
December 7th, 2009
10:03 am
Tenn. deserves the better bowl, they beat Georgia like a four year old in kmart.
Yank
December 7th, 2009
10:04 am
Haha yes Aggie, two grad assistants against the #5 offense in the country
Sounds promising for Georgia….
robodawg
December 7th, 2009
10:06 am
Sounds like it’ll be a shootout. And far from dreading a repeat of the “Snow Bowl,” I think that would be fantastic! It would create some interest for anyone who happens to come across this game with its terrible TV time slot — 5:00 on a Monday?!
We got what we deserve, but I have to say, Music City really whiffed picking up Clemson but not matching them with Georgia. Dawgs and Tigers fans would’ve definitely traveled and been excited for that one, plus it would create a lot more attention for the bowl. Kentucky may travel well, but good luck getting the Clemson faithful excited for that one, after coming so close to the Orange.
Georgia Headlines – 12/7/09 | MrSEC.com
December 7th, 2009
10:21 am
[...] This writer believes UGA got the bowl game it deserved.5. This writer points out that if Georgia hadn’t blown a 20-6 lead (thanks to turnovers) against Kentucky, the Dawgs would have finished the season with four straight [...]
Mobile Dawg
December 7th, 2009
10:25 am
Couldn’t agree more Old Dawg. I’ve been on the hire Pollack issue for two years now. If Richt could have gotten him into the program as a position coach two years ago, he could now have been groomed for the DC position. Some things I still just don’t understand about CMR. I hope for the best but he has demonstrated the cloth he’s cut from already, I can only hope for improvement and better decisions on his part as far as football goes. Alabama is the model, as I said before I hope CMR was taking notes on how that team is put together and the game plan.
Well I’ve never been to Shreveport….Could be a good game….
j
December 7th, 2009
10:33 am
The REF,
Lane Kiffin runs this state. Did you miss the season? Have fun in Shreveport you F’n losers!!!!!!!!!!
This dawg won't hunt
December 7th, 2009
10:49 am
I was at the A&M -UGA game in Athens when H Walker sprinted on a toss sweep toward the RR tracks. My season seat was on the 10 and he ran past me in red blur. Loved it. That was a pistol whipping and in those days A&M was BIGTIME with great, great players. Bubba Bean came from there. HAHAHA Remember him? Falcon he was. They get great players and we had better know that.
Now, this Weedeater game is a nusance BUT we must WIN it to restablish the current UGA player’s identity of just laying low. That lousy, lousy attitide must go with the three now deaprted coaches. A&M will bring big time players and their QB is only the beginning. They have a frosh and soph O line that is big and was highly, highly recruited by all Big 12 programs. THEY HAVE SPEED at skill positions.
If UGA tries to lay low …………..it will be yet one more ugly and RECENT UGA memory that MUST BE reversed and soon. 20110 …………. IS the year that Richt gets a hard look. It begins with this itty, bitty game.
Turn it around bulldogs. Turn it around with this game …w. or w.o a D coach.
go Dogs.
Wiseman
December 7th, 2009
10:54 am
No need to teach Old Dawg new trick. The man makes sense.
nemov
December 7th, 2009
10:56 am
$1.4 million weedwacker bowl vs. our $14 Million BCS Bowl = St. Simons
Ga. Tech has now caught up with Wake Forest in ACC Championship Game Victories.
FLETCH
December 7th, 2009
11:15 am
When you go 7-5 you can’t be choosy. First, UGA screwed themselves by going 7-5. Had they not shot themselves in the feet during the second half of the Kentucky game we wouldn’t be having this discussion. Yes, the Outback Bowl is what screwed things up in the Bowl picture. The Outback usually chooses from the SEC East, which should have taken TENN, then Chick-Fil-A would have been open to take UGA. One thing that surprises me is Kentucky & Auburn both lost their last game of the year, which means that their fans would seem less likely to travel (and Auburn even lost to the DAWGS, so what gives??). But, bottom line is we beat TECH and FLORIDA LOST, so all is good. Maybe the players will remember this next year during the Kentucky game.
1eyedJack
December 7th, 2009
11:22 am
Hot-a-mighty, where did all these yellow maggotts come from? The corpse in the sewer?
BAMA STAN
December 7th, 2009
11:26 am
12 NATIONAL TITLES – 22 SEC TITLES!!!
UGA is going to the bowl they deserved to go to.
Bowl games are a business – and UGA has had a tough year by UGA standards – considered to be down – which hurts ticket sales!!!!
What I love about bigtime SEC schools – 7-5 does not get it done. For South Carolina, Kentucky, Vandy and Mississippi State – 7-5 would mean contract extension!!!
BOWL PREDICTION:
UGA will lose ……. and lose BIG. This will be a horrible and embarrassing day for UGA – and a fitting end to a crappy season.
Why?
- Underdogs won more bowl games last year than favorites!
- Texas A&M will play the underdog role to the hilt
- Texas A&M sees this as a huge opportunity – UGA see’s this game as a slight.
- Texas A&M seniors want to leave with a win. UGA seniors and junior thinking to leave early have all ready mentally checked out – will be going through the motions – are thinking about NFL combines and agents.
- Texas A&M = UTAH 2008 – UGA = Bama 2008.
-Texas A&M has a REAL offense – and finished the year on a roll. UGA has Joe Cox – good game against Auburn – horrible game against KY – hand off game against GT – no improvement
- UGA has no defensive coaching staff – and Richt is taking over???? ha! ha ha!! ha ha ha!!! ha ha ha ha!!!!ha ha ha ha ha ha ha LMAO!!!
This program is in trouble. I applaud Richt for making the tough choices – however, UGA should have NEVER been in this position. Any building up Richt has done for UGA is history – UGA = Kentucky football. This team has been sliding since 2006.
GUYS – I am not picking on UGA – but stating reality. I predicted a bad year for UGA last sprng/summer – and had many UGA fans get upset! You could see this diplorable season coming from a mile away.
2010 -the team may be better – but record could still be similar. 2011 – make or break for Richt – may need new blood at that point if the program is still midlevel SEC.
I do wish UGA and all SEC teams – except for TENNESSEE – wins in their bowl season.
Scoob
December 7th, 2009
11:29 am
You are what you are: You idiot, the Redskins didn’t win…
Shards1967
December 7th, 2009
11:31 am
I for one am very excited about UGA’s future. We will get fine and hopefully, with YOUNG D coaches and position coaches, like a D Pollack. He breeds enthusiasm. As ALL SEC Frosh, he was a IMPACT player on special teams, as one example. He could block, tackle, steal the ball from the QB, sack the QB and he led with his toughness and quickness on display on every darned play. He was a better 4 year player, even better than HW, a three year player. His stats show it. All American for 4 years.
He would be an easy DE coach and special teams coach choice. Head D Coach?? There are several men out there, we need to get them here and let em recruit what is left of the current HS players.
UGA in 2010 OUGHT TO HAVE one powerhouse offense. They will be in the top 2 or 3 SEC in O stats with Arkansa and maybe Ole Miss. With A. Murray and the rest of the O team cast, we should be fine. He is far more athletic that Jumpin Joe Cox. Besides, Charlotte NC football is inferior to Georgia or Florida HS ball where A. Murray played.
I would try to find a way to utilize Calrton Thomas about 5 times per game. If we continue to try and use board hands Brandon Smith on O, then we are wasting our time. he fumbles too much. Coach up Thomas on special plays that allow him to be in space. Speeeeeeeeeeeeed he has and he IS a running back by trade. Smith? Punt returner maybe or mediocre SEC Corner back he will be. Too small. Over rated Smith is.
We should see a 9-3 or 10-2 or possibly 8-4 next year, then in 2011 and 2012, it ought to be fabulous with a solid D team by them.
Do not underestimate the Aggies. They always have talent and speed.
go Dogs.
UGA 4ever
December 7th, 2009
11:34 am
BAMASTAN – agree with your post. UGA deserves this post – Richt should not have had UGA in this position – and I am also rooting against LAME KITTEN and TENNESSEE!!!
Also – I think UGA will be in trouble in this game – TEXAS A&M has a lot to prove. I sense UGA is just trying to end this sorry season. This is a recipe for a frigging disaster. I hope we take this game and this opponent very serious.
Conrats on a great victory over Florida – and best of luck against TEXAS.
Steve
December 7th, 2009
11:35 am
I am just ready for this year to be over. Go play the game and come home. But still, ACC Champions is sweet
How did you miss Oklahoma?
December 7th, 2009
11:37 am
Tim-
Oklahoma was also in Shreveport in the Independence Bowl in 1999, and won the Natl’ Championship in 2000, the next year, did you miss noting Oklahoma also in your article, did you only go back to the 2008 teams? Why?
Nick Satan
December 7th, 2009
11:46 am
Georgia has good talent………….It is your head coach that sucks. As long as I am at BAMA. I will raid yout state of some of your best talent. You will always be behind Bama as long as I am coach. No……..I am not available to come and coach Georgia, even though 99.9 % of you DAWGS would send one of your pay checks to help pay my salary. You can have Kirby Smart………….I will just take my pick from the best Defensive Coordinators in the country once the opening comes available.
What you fail to realize is that all of your coaches would love to come and work for me. As James Willis (Former Aubarn Coach) stated when he left AUBARN………………When Nick Satan ask you to work for him, you do not walk, you run to wherever he is.Its good to have my name on your resume. Also, thanks for snubbing Blake Sims. CMR is not the answer for you. Well, I have better things to do. I have a National Championship Game to work on.
I hear Shreveport is nice this time of year. I went their once with my first Bama team and I told them you will never see another BAMA team coached by me in DIRTPORT, oh excuse me, that would be Shreveport.
Lets see………………..My starting DB Kareem Jackson, WR Darius Hanks, OL James Carpenter, DL Lorenzo Washington all hail from your state of Georgia and I have 9 Georgians on my roster. You have 2 Alabamians on your roster. Ben Jones was even 30 miles from Tuscaloosa but I did not recruit him……………..Not good enough for my team. Nor did I recruit Jonathan Owens who is also on your roster. I hear the seafood is good there. I believe we will take the team to visit the stars while we are in LA, go to the beach, go to a Laker game, or hang out with Jack Nicholson a little.
I hear Texas A&M would like for you to do another BLACK OUT. They seem to have heard that your players need gimmicks to get themselves sort of pumped up. You guys are the next Vnderbilt of the SEC.
San Francisco Dawg
December 7th, 2009
11:48 am
No I am reading on this blog that Georgia is not the best team in the State? Wow, how have Tech fans forgotten the game! Iowa will kill Tech just as LSU did last year…with three weeks to prepare? 41-21….
I work for lumber yards in Jasper and Hahira
December 7th, 2009
11:50 am
Most of the folks that get foamy at the mouth and rant about UGA this and UGA that and claim allegiance to another SEC school are morons. I supect that they are all pulp wooders. I supect that they never or rarely attend their chosen school’s games.
Most of our friends are Bama or Auburn or techies ( yikes) and even some Gators in my family. Cousins went to UT and Ole Miss and Miss State, Vandy. We love to beat that person if/when it comes up but it in the fall BUT it is not as nasty as some of these so called fans suggest with their rants. Perimeter JC college for most of them, I suspect. MARTA drivers or Postal workers.
Weedeater? SO be it ………..we are still UGA grads, born and bred. Love my dogs. !!!
go Dogs.
murfdawg
December 7th, 2009
11:53 am
Bama Stan,
Can you tell me some good places to eat in Shreveport? you have had a lot more experience in Shreveport than any Dawg fan? I was almost tempted to pull fo the gators Saturday just to see what you would have to say today. But my dislike for the gators runs deeper than one loudmouth Bama fan who has been hiding under a rock for 10, YES TEN, years. I hope you are better prepared for the bowl game this year than you were last year.
Awesome
December 7th, 2009
11:54 am
http://www.shreveportla.gov/pdf/odorcomplaintform.pdf
Shreveport is getting ready. UGA will stink up the joint.
Peggy Ledbetter
December 7th, 2009
12:30 pm
I’m perplexed at people saying UGA got what it deserved. Kentucky, South Carolina, Auburn, and Arkansas had 3-5 SEC conference records. UGA had a 4-4 SEC conference record. It looks like the pecking order of the bowl selections for the above schools relative to SEC conference standings is upside down. This does not make sense. Does this mean the SEC commissioner failed to represent the SEC conference properly? Or do the SEC conference standings have no importance? Is the SEC commissioner making the case that overall records should replace SEC standings? ( I’m surprised a reporter hasn’t already picked up on this.)
GTnNC
December 7th, 2009
12:38 pm
Any possibility that UGA would go after Jon Tenuta for DC?
Pitbull
December 7th, 2009
12:45 pm
To my Tech friends (and they are few) at least Shreveport is not the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise or the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco or the Silicon Bowl in where ever.
And need I remind the Tech faithful (both of them) that Tech lost all three of those games. Not much room to crow, Jackets.
I remember us beating Arkansas in the 1991 Independence Bowl with quite a few fans while Tech went to the Hula Bowl – another high moment (forgive the pun all of you Tech tokers) in the history of Jacket football.
So Techies, enjoy your 11 win season, especially Jacksonville State, Vandy, Duke, impotent FSU and whatever other Division II team you beat. You must be proud. I know that you have no shame you are proud. Let us remember that Georgia had the 3rd hardest schedule in college football and was 1 bad call away (LSU) from 8-4 and 3 bad calls away (OK State) from 9-3.
We got beat ny two better teams (UT & UF) and were poorly coached against UK and deserved to lose.
But do not forget. Gerogia stuck it to Tech on national TV. Get used to it as it will be your annualy azz whippin.
So Go Dawgs. Beat those Texas Abbies and lets take that 8-5 record and build on it into the SEC CG in 2010.
What a J.O.K.E.!
December 7th, 2009
12:53 pm
Butt sniffers without TECH you’d be sitting at home fer New Years. Shreveport? still an option BWAHAHAHAHA
What a J.O.K.E.!
December 7th, 2009
1:04 pm
Pinto’s gased an “SHREVEPORT OR BUST” on the back glass ready to go!! Sherevport?? BWAHAHAHA
What a J.O.K.E.!
December 7th, 2009
1:07 pm
Say ugay how’d you like being last pick of the sec teams?? Your in state rivial’s heading to Miami!!!! Shreveport? BWAHAHAHA
Ron B.
December 7th, 2009
1:14 pm
I remember a lot of UGA fans saying last year “You know your a top tier program when 10 wins is a disappointing season”…..so what is this year?