Miss. State coach recruited Murray for Gators (and lots more notes)

Cleaning out the notebook before heading to Starkville:

  • If Dan Mullen, the Mississippi State coach and former Florida offensive coordinator, had gotten  his way, Aaron Murray would be a Gator. Mullen said this week that he has known Murray since the UGA QB was a freshman at Plant High School in Tampa. That’s when Murray came on the Gators’ recruiting radar.

“Watching him develop now,” Mullen said, “you see a guy who has a lot of talent,  has a very, very strong arm and has the athletic ability to improvise and get himself out of trouble and make plays with his legs.”

  • One day this week, Kris Durham was wearing the gear of two of pro sports’ losingest franchises — a Detroit Lions T-shirt and a Kansas City Royals cap. There’s an explanation. Durham’s former roommate is Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, and his brother-in-law is Royals relief pitcher Blake Wood.
  • On the practice field early this week, defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos was heard reminding his players, loudly: “380! You gave up 380 [passing] yards last game!”
  • Georgia and Mississippi State are the only teams that are 0-2 in the SEC. The other teams that have played two conference games are LSU (2-0) and Vanderbilt (1-1).
  • It has been 20 years since Georgia lost three games in a row.
  • Georgia was on a two-game losing streak the last time it played Mississippi State, too. Georgia won 27-24 on Oct. 21, 2006, in Athens as freshman Stafford threw two TD passes and defensive end Charles Johnson stripped the ball from MSU QB Michael Henig at the UGA 23 in the final seconds.
  • Georgia opponents have committed only one turnover the past two weeks. Mississippi State committed five against LSU last week.
  • Akeem Dent said  he doesn’t get over a loss “till I get the next win. . . . You have a nasty taste in your mouth until you get the next victory.”
  • Georgia players will get to do something Saturday they haven’t been able to do before any game this season: sleep in a bit.  It’s the Bulldogs’ first night game of the season.
  • Surprised that, after three games, Rantavious Wooten has only two catches for 14 yards.
  • Saturday night’s game will be played in the nation’s second oldest Division I-A on-campus football stadium. Mississippi State’s Davis Wade Stadium was built in 1914, making it one year younger than Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium. “We are going,” Mark Richt said, “to the home of the cowbells.”

246 comments Add your comment

Deez Nutz

September 24th, 2010
12:38 pm

The Dawgz aren’t going to start winning until they take the reigns off of Murray. He has all the talent in the world but is playing not to lose instead of playing to win. That kid is a winner, but he is going to make some mistakes so they need to open up the playbook and turn him loose for real. The quicker he gets those mistakes out of the way the quicker he can start willing this team to win.

Saban

September 24th, 2010
12:41 pm

Jaglaw…….You are dead on…….Big big names in Georgia high schools are leaving the state. Bama, Florida and the like want to come in here and pluck the best 6-8-10 guys, the difference makers, and leave us the rest. I can not get comfortable watching this current group of players and help wonder if we have missed on them………..or just not coaching them up. Other than # 42, Anderson, we have No one on D who strikes fear in anyone. I ‘m just appalled. Unless there is a higher authority trying to get Mark outta here.

jawga boy

September 24th, 2010
12:44 pm

Its the land of cowbells….. I hope the jawga dawgs don’t lay a cowpattie. That would not be good.

UGAVIII

September 24th, 2010
12:45 pm

Maniacal…., since they won the championship, it is not mythical. It is legendary.

Gerald, please log into the tech blog where you belong.

Richt is a good coach and people are stupid for talking about firing him. He needs to unload Bobo. Maybe a midseason takeover of play calling will help Richt’s cause.

James T. Kirk

September 24th, 2010
12:50 pm

Got ear bling? AJ Do!= Troll.

Lefty LaRue

September 24th, 2010
12:52 pm

It may come down to who is allowed to travel out of the state – across the state line. Will Richt be able to take all his players? Having rough and tumble student-athletes like this could create some problems for the people in charge of making travel arrangements. Somebody should talk with the team about Mississippi laws so nobody gets jailed before kickoff. UGA Student-athletes. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

gdawginkalamazoo

September 24th, 2010
12:59 pm

JagLaw, I agree with a lot of what you are saying. I might demoted Bobo instead of firing because he is a good QB coach. I think Grantham gets some great players in there. If you are looking to make it to the NFL his defensive scheme will get you there. Even Willie sent a few players to he big time. See my long post for my take on CRM and his UGA career. I think we will be fine on the O side as soon as the playcalling is straightened out. We do have a ton of talent in the ranks. I think the other thing is the redshirting issue. I think CMR goes away from that and plays the talent from here on out.

gdawginkalamazoo

September 24th, 2010
1:02 pm

And the other thing is the discipline issures. We didn’t know how slack Evans was in his own life so he was probably no support to Richt there. With McGarity I think he helps Richt straighten out those problems which will translate to better on field performance since they won’t be a distraction anymore.

Soccer Fan

September 24th, 2010
1:09 pm

Maybe the dawgs should try to neutralize the cowbells with vuvuzelas. Have AJ Green blowing one on the sidelines. At least then he wouldn’t be completely useless.

It makes more sense that him sending his stupid tweets.

Without the vuvuzelas, cowbells win by ten.

Rambo Ealey

September 24th, 2010
1:12 pm

The vuvuzelas are a good idea. Could we add Rambo and Ealey to make a trio. At least on the sidelines, they can’t screw up the game or run into parked cars.

Delbert D.

September 24th, 2010
1:12 pm

Slow start, tough finish for UGA – Yes, and I follow Georgia and the rest of the SEC. I attended Georgia games back in ‘59-’60 when I was a Boy Scout usher, and other times got in for $1 high school admission. I don’t care much for the ACC except for a couple of teams.

The comment on Mark Richt was his press conference where he said, “I know the guys are desperate for a victory, so that probably takes care of itself. I don’t think that I have to remind them that we are 0-2 right now. I don’t know if that will make a difference right now. Who knows what I might say the day before of the day of?”

Who knows? Huh?

46-39

September 24th, 2010
1:14 pm

WonderDawg “Way too much talent on this offense for 6 and 24 points . . .”
I agree. It’s also sick to see all of the 4.2 & 4.3 guys littering the sidelines every game while we have fullbacks & Ex-QB’s returning kicks & punts.
As for a new OC, I’m still not sure how that will work. RIcht IS a OC, so for him to bring in someone else would be admitting that his plays don’t work, and while we know they don’t (most of the time), I’m not sold on the fact that he’ll actually make that change.

46-39

September 24th, 2010
1:15 pm

Anyway, GO DAWGS!!!

Which One?

September 24th, 2010
1:18 pm

Regardless, the Bulldogs win Saturday!!

5150 P.O.A.D

September 24th, 2010
1:19 pm

Let the GATORS have him. It wouldn’t help the Gators or the Dawgs.

MST8DAWGNGA

September 24th, 2010
1:20 pm

Ha Ha Ha, love this UGA fearing the Real Dawgs in the SEC,, Yep Cowbells will be lout, crowd will be loud, Jumbotron will scare yall and MSU will beat you .. Just count on it, How can anyone on here call MSU the celler dweller, that is TSUN and if you look in the east WOW there is UGA at the bottom,

5150 P.O.A.D

September 24th, 2010
1:20 pm

I hear RUSS says he will refuse to have his Butt painted and have to face a REAL BULLDOG.

Gary

September 24th, 2010
1:21 pm

Reality??? What, I never questioned our academics or ethics (think you have me confused with that Dill Hole Gerald who cuts and paste the same lines about Georgia’s Kemp issues as though we are somehow different from any other school in the 70’s and 80’s.

I suggesting we give some of the underperformers with medical issues the boot to free up space for another athlete. They can stay and earn their degree. The Wall Street Journal had an article about Bama’s use of that practice today. If the NCAA is OK with it, I say do it. Maybe it will strike some fear into players to know their saturday jersey is not given just because the have a scholarship. Seems to work for Bama. It is not like you are cutting a kid with NFL potential. You are telling him enjoy athens. Now you get to study and not worry about practice. How may times are we gonna let guys play 4 games a year because they are always injured. Weak knee, anchle, turf toe, concussions. If they are a star work with them. if they are a second or third stringer open up the spot for someone else.

Thomas in Acworth

September 24th, 2010
1:22 pm

MSU 30, UGA 20.

Jacksonville, I can’t wait!!! :-) :-) :-)

Browndog

September 24th, 2010
1:22 pm

UGA could easily lose this game, but just as easily win by big numbers. Go dawns and I shall be hoping for a win Saturday night. Still a long season and a lot will happen in the SEC. Don’t think Alabama or UF get through undefeated.

MOUNTAIN

September 24th, 2010
1:23 pm

But DADDY they wouldn’t stop ringing the COW BELLS. Don’t fret mutt girl you will hear that every hour to tell you it is time to change Suitore at the massage shack.

TheTaxJacket

September 24th, 2010
1:24 pm

*** Nesbitt for Heismen ***

(((( 45 – 42 ))))

5150 P.O.A.D

September 24th, 2010
1:26 pm

How much white paint will RUSS need to cover-up his red butt after the BULLDOGS(spelled correct) spank him?

5150 P.O.A.D

September 24th, 2010
1:28 pm

“HEISMAN” not “men”. I am a Tech fan & I know how to spell the coaches name.

Russ, the Temporary Mascot

September 24th, 2010
1:33 pm

There will be more than one bulldog mascot on the field Saturday. I am going in at a disadvantage because I am merely a TEMPORARY mascot and the other guy is permanent. I will not allow my a$$ to be painted for the game. No Bulldog mascot worth his salt is going to face another bulldog with his a$$ painted white. I am up to the job but they just keep messing with me. In other news, there is a rumor my handler was arrrested this morning. He doesn’t answer his phone so I haven’t been able to confirm anything. If he is in jail with some of the players I hope I will get a coed handler for the game. If she wants to do some painting after the game it’s something we can talk about.

5150 P.O.A.D

September 24th, 2010
1:33 pm

It is bad when Joe Thiesman changes the pronuanceation of his name to try to get a TROPHY it must be pronounced correctly.

5150 P.O.A.D

September 24th, 2010
1:34 pm

RUSS TM don’t let the Miss St BULLDOG pee on you to help wash away that painted butt.

Gary

September 24th, 2010
1:34 pm

I am ammused by all the comments about Murray being allowed to play. If I recall last years misery, they allowed Joe Box to “open up” the offense and it looked great until you realize how many times they game the ball to the other team and put the D back on the field. I am content with conservative calling when them team is not clicking. We are getting beat by better teams. Better prepared more mature. We loose to MSU and you have to realize we were worse than we thought last year (lots of very close wins) and we are rebuilding this year. I am willing to give CMR a few years to get the program back. Not sure if that includes Bobo.

TampaGator

September 24th, 2010
1:35 pm

I sure would have been nice to have Murray as Brantley’s backup this year and Driskell’s backup next year and the following years he would have been eligible in Gainesville. Oh….he didn’t want to be a backup and went to Georgia where he can be a starter as a freshman. Good decision, kid.

59bulldawg

September 24th, 2010
1:39 pm

You go Russ! LOL!

Russ, the Temporary Mascot

September 24th, 2010
1:39 pm

Coach Bobo has always been nice to me and he only calls the plays in Coach Richt’s playbook. What’s the big deal? Next thing you know they’ll want to paint his a$$ like they did with me. I am going to face down that other bulldog and we’ll probably bark some at each other. I don’t know him and he doesn’t know me but one thing you can count on . . . he won’t be dealing with a painted a$$ed bulldog. I don’t feel real confident about the game right now because I am pretty sure when those bells start to ring some of our players are going to be looking for an ice cream truck to hold up.

Lowcountry Bulldawg

September 24th, 2010
1:39 pm

Ugh, if Murray was at UF, Brantley by the looks of it would be backing him up. Don’t kid yourself big guy. If UF didn’t have the playemakers on D and Jeff Demps you boys would be in a little trouble.

You shoulda sent Simms a little gift for the pick in the endzone, or else you had your hands full last Saturday against a UT team that had no business hanging with you for as long as they did.

South GA Dawg

September 24th, 2010
1:50 pm

I may be wrong but UGA line looks weak. I see them getting pushed all over the place. They are big but not strong. Could this be due to lack of weight room training? UGA use to have big studs and would run it down your throat. We still need big strong guys up front. Maybe they need a new strength coach.

5150 P.O.A.D

September 24th, 2010
1:50 pm

The VOLS are the up-amd-comer while UGA is the elevator to the basement!!!!

Tom

September 24th, 2010
2:02 pm

I hate to say it, but Murray would probably be a better fit for the UF spread offense because of his mobility. So far, he hasn’t really looked like a pocket QB to me.

Sautee Dawg

September 24th, 2010
2:18 pm

Bobby Dodd Stadium, built in 1913. Renovated recently and in doing so the stadium now holds around 2500 fewer people than it did. How’s that for an engineering feat?

TC

September 24th, 2010
2:18 pm

I’m still pulling for Georgia and Coach Richt. (Maybe even Coach Bobo). After all the talk about the 3rd and 4 play last week where everyone “supposedly “ran 20 yards deep…that’s bull! If you freeze the video just before Murray gets hit, 3 receivers are jammed at the first down marker with Charles covered tigt up the middle.
Yes, we could have run…yes, Ealey should have blocked better, but the fact is, the defense called the right play….that’s football!
Just wanted to state the facts…Now let’s go beat Miss State…new day, new game, hopefully, new season begins tomorrow.

Will

September 24th, 2010
2:20 pm

If Sweet Willie were still coaching at UGA he would be reminding his players ” hell ya guys, we only gave up 380″!! Keep it up.

James T. Kirk

September 24th, 2010
2:27 pm

5150 P.O.A.D I forget which team recently lost to Kansas?

smyrnadog

September 24th, 2010
2:49 pm

TC that is a valid point about the infamous 3rd and 4 play. The only thing I would say to that is many thought BoBo and Richt would roll Murray out to play to his creativity and playmaking ability, and where he had the dual option to run or pass for the 1st down… as opposed to dropping him in the pocket where he had shown some hesitancy to release the ball some during the game. Aftall, it was thrid and 4 and, four down territory. As much as anything the hesitancy has been coached into him by Richt and BoBo in making sure not to turn it over. (not suggesting that’s a bad thing). But afterall, just his 3rd game, and you gotta love how he can make plays on his feet as well as his arm.

gdawginkalamazoo

September 24th, 2010
2:49 pm

Sautee Dawg, yes 2500 fewer because the price of hotdogs and cokes went up! 2500 fewer to give away.

Jan Kemp: the rest of the story

September 24th, 2010
2:50 pm

Delusional anti-Dog posters living in the past keep bringing up Jan Kemp. Georgia took their medicine, raised their academic standards, even though it cost them some athletes to other ACC/SEC schools.

Obviously, UGA fans are not used to losing two this early, but we can expect improvement weekly from Murray and the defense, as they are both getting OTJ training. Look for a winning streak starting Saturday.

Real ACC Champions

September 24th, 2010
3:00 pm

Remember 2007! It is still early in the season.

MS Bully

September 24th, 2010
3:10 pm

Marooooooooooooooon, Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite, Marooooooooooooooooon!!
More Cowbell!!

how2fish

September 24th, 2010
3:18 pm

MS Bully friendly word of advice..even at 0-2 in the SEC when you play UGA your brand of Bull Dogs had best bring more than just cowbells Saturday night,

Russ, the Temporary Mascot

September 24th, 2010
3:26 pm

Not many little dogs could come on here and hold his own with all these bloggers from Tech. I can’t recall a single inbred Uga that could even hold a conversation much less come on here and blog. Those inbred Ugas are built for a heart attack. They end up on their white a$$es during a game and if they don’t take ‘em off the field quick enough on a hot day they just lay there with their feet stuck up in the air with rigor mortis. It ain’t pretty. Why do you think we sit our a$$es on a bag of ice? I hope they have plenty of ice for Coach Richt this weekend. I can see him sitting on his own little bag of ice if things aren’t going his way.

Joe

September 24th, 2010
3:39 pm

All you people ever do is complain. Remember when CMR was calling plays and winning championships??? All I ever heard was people complaining that we needed an offensive coordinator. Remember when we fired Willie, and everyone was stoked about Tod Grantham. Everyone in the world who has any common sense whatsoever said “give him some time, he’s going to need to recruit, has to get the right bodies in there for that 3-4″. Now all you people are ready to send him packing. I hear people complaining about how we can’t protect our own borders….If I was a high school kid in Georgia I’m not sure I’d want to play for a fan base like ours. Murray is a Freshman, 62% passing, 4 TDs 2 INTs, both of which were the result of receivers not doing their jobs. Despite the glaring fact that this kid is going to be a superstar in years to come, I’m already hearing people on here talk about how he’s a choker and we need to be playing Hutson Mason.

If anyone needs to go it’s Searels, and I agree about Bobo. He’s not creative enough and not good enough to beat the best as an OC. But I guarantee that if CMR demoted him and took the play calling over once again, half the people on this board would be b1tching about it. Quite frankly I’ve come to the conclusion that the vast majority of the people on this board are the kind of UGA Fans that give the rest of us a bad name. A bunch of Jack@sses.

Joe

September 24th, 2010
3:55 pm

The only thing that makes sense is this.
(1) Give CTG a little time, this defense is already showing signs of being much improved over soft willie’s d. By the end of the year it will be nasty, by next year it will be dominant.
(2) Demote Mike Bobo and DO NOT hire another OC. Hiring another OC is just another set back, another new system, another rebuilding year….all for the hope and chance that it MIGHT be better.
(3) CMR takes over play calling again. All yo people who complained about this remember 3 things. Under CMRs play calling we won 2 SEC Championships. Under CMRs play calling FSU was one of the most dominant teams in the country. The main reason people wanted CMR to give up play calling was so he could get more involved and show some fire. We guess what, he still doesn’t, it’s just not his style.
(4) Our fans stop booing players and bashing players when they make mistakes and go through some growing pains. Maybe then the real top talent in the state will want to come play for UGA

Football Bat

September 24th, 2010
4:04 pm

CMR won’t yank play calling from Bobo till year end. What we need is a GIMMICK.

How about BLACK HELMETS??? Wait a minute…

Snoop Dawg

September 24th, 2010
4:05 pm