Read all about it: the aftermath of Georgia’s loss to Arkansas (updated)
(Updated 10 p.m. Sunday)
A roundup of the AJC’s coverage of Georgia’s loss to Arkansas:
My game story, which notes the calendar seemed turned back:
ATHENS — It felt a lot like 1993 in Sanford Stadium on Saturday.
For the first time in 17 years, Georgia lost to Arkansas. For the first time in 17 years, the Bulldogs dropped to 0-2 in the SEC.
Georgia tried to avoid this daunting hole by rallying from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie the game 24-24 with about four minutes to play, but the Dogs’ defense, which twice earlier had allowed easy touchdowns on blown coverages, committed another gaffe at the end as Arkansas clinched a 31-24 victory.
Jeff Schultz’s column, which notes Georgia’s 2-6 record in its past eight SEC games:
ATHENS – It’s not about one player not being here. It’s not about playing a freshman quarterback or having a certain soft spot on the depth chart or the big, bad NCAA being out to get Georgia.
When a program sinks to lows not seen since the Ray Goff administration, it’s not an aberration.
Andy Johnston’s sidebar on what the heck happened on those three Arkansas TD passes:
ATHENS — Ryan Mallett’s three touchdown passes were remarkably similar in Arkansas’ 31-24 victory over Georgia on Saturday. On all three, his receivers were wide open, leaving Bulldogs defenders and coaches searching for answers to the breakdowns.
Andy Johnston’s sidebar on what the heck happened on those six sacks of Aaron Murray:
ATHENS — Mike Bobo didn’t place all the blame for Georgia’s offensive problems on the offensive line.
He said the six sacks in Arkansas’ 31-24 victory Saturday were a combination of poor play from an offensive line that missed injured starting guard Chris Davis and of redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray taking too much time in the pocket.
My notebook from the game, including Michael Adams’ comments on the A.J. Green case and football arrests, plus other items:
ATHENS — University of Georgia president Michael Adams said Saturday the school did everything it could to get star wide receiver A.J. Green’s suspension reduced, but Adams did not quarrel with the NCAA’s rejection of the appeal.
. . . On another topic, Adams said he spoke to “every employee” of the Athletic Association in a recent staff meeting, delivering the message that he wants a stop put to the off-field problems on the football team. Nine players have been arrested this year.
Andy Johnston’s report on Mark Richt’s Sunday conference call:
. . . Arkansas’ six sacks were a combination of the offensive line breaking down, poor protection from the running backs and Aaron Murray hanging onto the ball too long.
“I don’t want to throw out anything that would sound like dirty laundry or anything on these kids,” Richt said. “[The blame] was spread out across the board. It wasn’t just one culprit.”
The AJC’s weekly feature looking back at the past game and peeking ahead to the next, which is Saturday at Mississippi State:
Mississippi State, like Georgia, is on a two-game SEC losing streak after opening the season with an easy victory. Coach Dan Mullen’s quarterbacks –- starter Chris Relf and backup Tyler Russell -– combined to throw five interceptions in Saturday’s 29-7 loss to LSU. Mississippi State trailed just 12-7 in the third quarter, but the Tigers scored the final 17 points. Mullen said LSU’s average starting field position was Mississippi State’s 48, thanks to the five interceptions. He added that Relf will start against Georgia.
And here’s Brant Sanderlin’s 23-photo gallery from the Georgia-Arkansas game.
This is how the game ended, Arkansas' Tramain Thomas breaking up a last-gasp 70-yard Aaron Murray heave in the end zone in front of Aron White.
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372 comments Add your comment
5150 P.O.A.D
September 19th, 2010
1:14 pm
ROMEdawg it is just so much fun messing with you dawg fans. Every Feb signing day UGA is going to win the MNC and then the season starts and the Dawgs start calling for the coaches heads. DAWGS fans are fun to joke with.
AJ
September 19th, 2010
1:16 pm
I have tried the whole wait and see thing with this team, but i think the answer is clear. It is time for something or someone new. it has been five years since we won the SEC and that was when florida was down and we got in by the skin of our teeth. There has not been any improvement on this team in the offense or on the defense. I tried to stay hopeful but i just don’t see it getting much better.
Pago Pago Dawg
September 19th, 2010
1:18 pm
So CMR had a sideline team meeting to get them “jacked up”?!?! Why weren’t they “jacked up” to start the game!!!!!!!! It’s over.
dawgster
September 19th, 2010
1:21 pm
SSlgator…ok your classless remarks and that is what they are so i guess that tells a little about you.. we get the point many of the dawg fans were wrong in thinking we would beat the Hogs…why don’t you worry about your own team..or go to a gator blog…i’m sure most gators have the same feeling as the dawg fans and feel they can win all the games in front of them…I don’t think that is unreasonable to have that kind of support from the fan base…I’m not why you are so quick to bash the dawgs on these blogs…you have nothing to prove the gators have had our number, we all get that…you must be a tiny, tiny little man without any class…i kind of actually feel bad for you…
RomeDawg
September 19th, 2010
1:21 pm
5150 P.O.A.D,
I get that and I think it’s funny to when we lose and every “fan” call for CHANGES NOW!!! However, the loser who took the time to paste the comments and come up with “clever” answers is disturbing. Surely everyone can see that he is a loser with WAY too much time on his hands. Right???
TheTaxJacket
September 19th, 2010
1:22 pm
*** Nesbitt for Heismen ***
((((( 3-4 passing, 76 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT )))))
(((((((((24 rushes, 104 yds))))))))
(((( 45 – 42 ))))
Bulldogs are Tards
September 19th, 2010
1:23 pm
Please keep CMR. Football is just a game. Coach Richt is a good Christian man.
5150 P.O.A.D. the Richard Head
September 19th, 2010
1:23 pm
I’m no loser. I was only on the UGA blogs for 6 hours yesterday. Give me some love man?
Larry
September 19th, 2010
1:24 pm
If Richt has played Murray last year then we wouldn’t have to hear the “he’s a freshman” excuse. No freshman OB should ever have to start at UGA.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 19th, 2010
1:28 pm
BREAKING NEWS: The Atlanta Colts Football Team has asked to talk to Bobo about a job opening they have. It seems the Atlanta Colts at Murphey Chandler Park need a new equipment manager. It pays $15/hr and all the leftover Hot Dogs and Hamburgers from the concession stand. He will have to buy his cokes though.
NCDawgFan
September 19th, 2010
1:36 pm
Bobo: “sacks not all on the O-line. Murray has to get rid of the ball.” May be, but….how about, “I looked in the mirror and realized the buck stops with me and I have to do a better job coaching the offense.” Don’t pass the buck – man-up Bobo!!
toga
September 19th, 2010
1:38 pm
Richt is no better than Bobo. Bobo learned everything he knows from Richt. Wake up people. GA will fire Bobo at end of year, then struggle again in 2011 and finally fire Richt. Save some excuses for next week, and the next and the next…
toga
September 19th, 2010
1:38 pm
oh yea – told you so.
Pitbull
September 19th, 2010
1:46 pm
Instead of “finishing the drill” our team gets “drilled to the finish.”
Do we actually practice during the week? Most of those kids don’t look like they know what to do when the ball is snapped.
Why can’t Jones lift the ball up when the other teams’ players jump offsides?
Either we have really sorry players on the team or we have really sorry coaches getting them ready.
I try to tell myself that SC may be the best team in the East this year and Arkansas may be the best team in the West this year too – and we may be OK against the rest of the conference schedule now that we have the 2 hardest conference games behind us, but only time will prove that out.
If it is true and we lost to each by 1 touchdown then maybe we are better than we have looked.
I guess we will find out when Arkansas plays Alabama this coming weekend. But I can’t help but notice that Furman scored 3 times the number of points on SC than we did.
We certainly do not play with the fight that Auburn and Clemson played with last night. Man, they were carrying bodies off the field. Either one of those teams would have cleaned our clock.
Doesn’t look like the players or the coaches have any fire in their belly anymore and don’t have what it takes to “man up.”
Did I miss something or did we rehire Jim Donnan? The Dawgs look like the soft teams he put on the field for 5 years. Remember that if those teams couldn’t beat you with finasse they would get their butts kicked. Same thing now.
wildbill
September 19th, 2010
1:48 pm
When CMR addressed the team on the sidelines:
1. Did everybody on the team know THAT was the head coach?
2. I bet this was the first time he got out of his ivory tower and talked to the team.
3. Actions speak louder than words.
4. It looked like panic time to me.
On BoBo, I remember when he played QB at UGA. He ran the triple option, a common play I called and ran in high school. I don’t think he knows what he is doing, do you?
Dawgman566
September 19th, 2010
1:49 pm
I’m like Steve Superior. What happens to all that top 10 talent after it gets to Athens?
Coffee Bluff Dawg
September 19th, 2010
1:52 pm
Just returned from Athens. We were running against ARK on our final drive – sequence was 10 yd gain, QB sack, 10 yd gain QB sack, and then punt.
Should have kept it on ground – only 10 yards away from Walsh range.
UGA '06
September 19th, 2010
2:04 pm
Coach Bobo – You are a pathetic excuse of a man to call out a teenager as being responsible for your inadequacies. How about just saying “We have some improvement to make and it’s my job to make sure that happens.”
Michael
September 19th, 2010
2:08 pm
Arkansas fan here: just wanted to weigh in a say that we were basically lucky to win this game. The bulldogs did a great job of coming back. If it wasen’t for a lucky sack it would have been another loss to Georgia for us. You all have a great young quarterback and a good running game developing – keep your heads up.
D King
September 19th, 2010
2:10 pm
Looks like the junk yard dogs are headed for the junk heap. Richt has seen his best days and it’ll be a few mediocre years before he gets canned. He doesn’t have the spirit to inspire the team to play their best and he lets incompetent Bobo run the show.
Reality Dawg
September 19th, 2010
2:14 pm
The sad truth is that Bobo is about as competant as an Offensive coordinator as Richt is as a Head Coach. As the talent pool dries up, the hidden becomes exposed. UGA has talent, but not elite talent of years past that was to such a staggering degree as to cover up Donnan’s and Richt’s shortcomings. Tragedy if you are a dawg fan for sure. But what to do? I mean what’s the best case scenario? Neither Richt nor Bobo want to lose, yet they have each reached their respective zeniths as coaches. Well let’s dance with what got us here. Imagine if the Egos involved could stand this scenario:
Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Mark Richt
Quarerbacks Coach Mike Bobo
Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham
Recruiting Coordinator Jim Donnan
Yep that’s right…why not Donnan? We’re still paying him for crying out loud. I know, not likely…so we are just going to have to wait out Richt’s contract or his resignation.
GreekDawg
September 19th, 2010
2:14 pm
It is never acceptable for an adult coach to throw a 19 year old player under the bus. Especially when the coach is responsible for putting the player in the best to position to succeed. The 3rd and 4 (”The Play”) was the worst call of all the lousy ones Bobo called. Sure he had to hold onto the ball coach. You sent all the receivers to Milledge Avenue and left not one outlet receiver for him Shut the hell up Bobo. Oh, and quit too while you’re at it,
Coffee Bluff Dawg
September 19th, 2010
2:14 pm
Michael,
ARK had a lot of fan support at the game. Impressed w/all ARK receivers. On the final ARK drive everyone knew the only way for ARK to win was through the air and we still couldn’t stop Mallet.
Good luck against ALA.
Delbert D.
September 19th, 2010
2:16 pm
For three years I’ve been watching this situation develop without saying anything about the overall impression of Coach Mark Richt that I get as an outside observer. I think “passivity” would be the descriptive word in the context of how most other head coaches relate to their responsibilities and their environment. It would seem that others in the environment, including assistant coaches and players may have difficulty in relating to this passivity.
For the assistant coaches, it would seem to contribute to uncertainty about how to do their jobs. For the players, it may be a contributing factor in lack of discipline and behavioral problems. Coach Todd Grantham has commented recently that he has had to adjust to coaching at the college level. I believe that most of his adjustment issues are to to the local environment rather than the college level in general.
Andy
September 19th, 2010
2:16 pm
Does Richt hate to lose as much he likes winning?
No, why should he? Either way, he collects his $4 million check.
And everyone gets to see his great tan and those cool shades.
Cheer up, basketball will be here before you know it!
76-DAWG
September 19th, 2010
2:21 pm
Enter your comments here
Karyn
September 19th, 2010
2:26 pm
“Looks like the junk yard dogs are headed for the junk heap. Richt has seen his best days and it’ll be a few mediocre years before he gets canned.”
Unfortunately, this is correct. Adams will put up with Richt for a few more years, desperately hoping that the dawgs will find the magic again. It won’t happen. The Dawgs will simply sink further into mediocrity, and eventually a 7-5 season will be the norm.
The really sad part is that this doesn’t have to happen.
JELLO JOCKITCH
September 19th, 2010
2:28 pm
BOBO should resign, RESIGN AGAIN AND AGAIN. He should be fired otherwise.
Wash-Out Eeley
September 19th, 2010
2:29 pm
I’m out of here. Dawgs are too painful to watch anymore.
Wilddog
September 19th, 2010
2:30 pm
I see Bobo is not accepting any blame for his inept play calling. Regardless of whose fault it was for the sack on 3rd and 4, that play should have never been called. Arkansas had been putting too much pressure on Murray the whole game to expect anything less on that play. Where were the draw plays and screens and rollouts to take some of the pressure off the quarterback? No excuses.
Michael
September 19th, 2010
2:32 pm
Good luck with Alabama? lol. I don’t know if that was serious or sarcastic, but thanks. heh.
Ted Dibiasi
September 19th, 2010
2:39 pm
Mark Richt makes $8,400 every day of the year. That’s my kind of syle and profile! Think he cares what you have to say on some blog?
destin dawg
September 19th, 2010
2:39 pm
Greek dawg…… YES !! We need a TE or FB outlet for a 1st down… on those plays with WR’s 30 yds down field and coach them to come back or get separation !!… and CENTER snap the Dam ball when they jump off… try Ogletree SS and Malcomb ( or some body ) at RB… Ealey doesn’t BLOCK ??!!
76-DAWG
September 19th, 2010
2:44 pm
I always wondered why Stafford checked off so much at the line , in the last 2 years that question has been answered.
My advice to Murray is to decide what plays you need and call the play that makes the most since. You don’t have an offensive coordinator that is capable of calling plays and Bobo’s results seems to indicate that the more pressure UGA has on them the worst the
play calling.
There was a lot of times when the play calling could have been better but as a lot of fans have said ,I can’t believe that on 3rd and 4 yards to go that a play wasn’t called to only get 4 yards. All you are trying to do is get the ball 5 or 10 yards closer and let Walsh give it a try. But the biggest head shaker was counting on Ealey yo be able to block a defensive end.I don’t blame Ealey any, I blame the coach who allowed that to happen.If you aren’t going to to use Ealey on that play with a hand off or screen why is he even in the game. Bring another lineman in to block .
87RxDawg
September 19th, 2010
2:45 pm
Did anyone notice, it hasn’t bee mentioned here, that Grantham threw his defense under the bus as well. He took no blame for the defense and blamed it on his players execution. Where did we get this blowhard clown?
Bobo blaming Murray for what has been a long term incompetence on his part is classless.
Richt, as usual was a zombie with absolutely no affect or emotion
AJ Green, the selfish jerk should be kicked off the team.
Washaun Ealey should be reminded he is no Hershel Walker.
No fire in the belly of the coaches means no fire in the belly of the players.
With all the money this program has why in the hell do we keep hiring and keeping no talent assistants and coordinators?
And oh yeah, FIRE MICHAEL ADAMS NOW for ALL he’s done in the past
destin dawg
September 19th, 2010
2:48 pm
I must admit .. i’ve been too optimistic.. .. about the coaching changes… Richt’s new killer mentality…. but we don’t play Alabama… soooo… we could go the rest of the way ???????
No Class or Character
September 19th, 2010
2:59 pm
Did any of you watching the game on TV yesterday notice the UGA linebacker (didn’t catch his number) who after running Arkansas QB out of bounce (harshly at that) – bent over him and yelled “GET OFF MY FIELD YOU MOTHER FU**ER”. (it was audible on TV) Yes – this is the type of players CMR recruits – total lack of character -ironic for a man who professes to be a man of character. Totally Classless
tt
September 19th, 2010
3:03 pm
Richt and Bobo suck.
Fire them…
Richt cant control players….they have no fear of him.
Players are unmotivated…under coached.
Bobo sucks donkey coc$s! He is terrible and EVERYONE KNOWS IT! FIRE HIM TODAY!!!!
Seriously he has the worst attitude and no skill…..
I love UGA, and I love Bulldogs football……but this team stinks. I feel bad for Murry…he is playing his heart out but surrounded by idiots.
Oh and thanks a lot AJ…..start packing now, and on your way out take Bobo and Richt with you…..what a pathetic bunch of zeros!
Rogue U
September 19th, 2010
3:03 pm
Yep thats the Thugs for ya that CMR has recruited.
MICHAEL UGAHEDHGES
September 19th, 2010
3:04 pm
HEY BOBO THE CLOWN,A POP WARNER YOUTH COACH COULD CALL BETTER THAN YOU.
A TWENTY YARD PASS ON 3RD AND FOUR,GET IN FIELD GOAL RANGE WE HAVE A KICKER WHO CAN KICK A FIELD GOAL FROM 65 TO 70 YARDS,,PLEASE RESIGN AND GO TO OKLAHOMA OR HOW ABOUT FLORIDA AND RUIN THERE OFFENSE!
a fan
September 19th, 2010
3:04 pm
What was wrong with Bobo’s nose. Did anyone see it ?
76-DAWG
September 19th, 2010
3:06 pm
I think all can take some of the blame.
1-CMR for not getting rid of his good friend , Martinez 2 or 3 years ago. A new defensive scheme would be in place by now which would be getting better results.Also for not seeing how inept Bobo is as an offensive coordinator and making that change this year.
2-Not practicing hard enough to get the payers in game shape.
3- Very little senior leadership
4- I think the coaches should expect more from the players . Most of these guys have been playing football since Pee Wee. Some on here are chastising Bobo and Grantham for calling out the players but they need to be criticized. A lot of these players payed both ways in high school . They should not be making as many mistakes as they are.
dawgfan
September 19th, 2010
3:06 pm
No Class or Character, every single player on every single team does stuff like that you goob. The problem is that our players can no longer back it up. All their chest thumping and celebrating just makes them look like idiots.
Where'sMyCrackPipe
September 19th, 2010
3:09 pm
Face the facts…every team in the SEC has upgraded their caoching staff (HC & Assistants) over the last 10 years except GA. I venture to say that the GA staff (Richt included) would not be rated by most people that know anything about football in the upper half of the SEC. Face it…our coaches are not that great.
a fan
September 19th, 2010
3:12 pm
what happened to bo bo’s nose?
destin dawg
September 19th, 2010
3:14 pm
OLINE for the last 3 years…. no blocking…. out of shape fat a$$es…. Coach Searles… experienced Oline… does that include center ???? snap the ball when they jump off !!! why are they waiting till Mon. to watch game films ??? Work ethic is gone !!!
porkedagain
September 19th, 2010
3:19 pm
Well I for one thought the Dogs showed outstanding resolve in coming back and nearly winning the game…it’s unfortunate how just a couple plays out of many during the game can determine not only the winner of the game but can also define a fanbase’s outlook on their teams prospects for the remainder of the season….If your line holds the block on Jake Bequette a hair longer then maybe Murray makes a completion for a first down to get the Dogs in field position to make the game winning field goal. Then all of you are talking about the 4th quarter pep talk Richt gave that turned the tide(sorry to mention Tide) of your teams misfortune, that ultimately may propel your young team to Atlanta. I for one was impressed with the way your team came back, the toughness of your young QB Murray, and I was fully ready to go on a message board and congratulate Georgia fans for their team’s outstanding come from behind victory….All is not lost yet Georgia fans, just as I would not think all was lost for my Razorbacks had the Dogs won…Great game..too bad one team had to lose…Good luck the rest of the season..I personally think you guys will continue to improve and be a good SEC team in a good bowl game at season’s end…VERY glad we don’t play next year…..
Raiderbeater
September 19th, 2010
3:20 pm
Bobo……blame the 19 year old Freshman that has done better than expected, thrown more TD’s than INTs, and actually helped ry to correct your horrible play calling this last game with his gutsy comeback….I will never listen to your lame duck excuses. Man up…the sooner you realize you’re the problem…the better we’ll be. Richt just feels sorry for you with all those kids….
gomdawg
September 19th, 2010
3:30 pm
OK CMR, OLD JOKE man on roof ,water up to roof line,2 boats and helicopter and he dont leave , he says God please help me, God says Coach ,i send 2 boats and helicopter what more. So it’s time you get off your azz and coach get the boys fired up and play FOOTBALL
Dan
September 19th, 2010
3:41 pm
Looks like the junk yard dogs are headed for the junk heap.
Wrong. They’re already there.