Murray matches a Shockley record; Richt vs. O’Leary in Liberty Bowl?
Cleaning out the notebook before departing the blog for a brief vacation:
- I mentioned a couple of days ago that Aaron Murray needs just one touchdown pass in Georgia’s bowl game to match Matthew Stafford’s single-season school record of 25. What’s more, as Will Brown of Athens pointed out to me and UGA confirmed, Murray already has matched D.J. Shockley’s UGA single-season record of 28 touchdowns accounted for. Murray, like Shockley in 2005, has thrown for 24 and run for four. Pretty impressive rookie season, to say the least. (Click here for more on Murray’s season for the record books.)
- Mark Richt, speaking on his radio show Monday night about Marlon Brown’s recovery of a Brandon Boykin fumble on the kickoff return following the Georgia Tech touchdown/missed PAT that cut Georgia’s lead to 35-34: “That might have been the biggest play of the game for Marlon Brown to recover that fumble.”
- As I mentioned Sunday, Georgia’s expected Liberty Bowl appearance would bring an interesting storyline — the opposing coach. Either Central Florida’s George O’Leary, the former Georgia Tech coach, or SMU’s June Jones, the former Atlanta Falcons coach. O’Leary was 3-4 vs. Georgia as Tech’s head coach from 1995 through 2001. Jones’ Hawaii team lost to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl following the 2007 season. Central Florida and SMU meet Saturday for the Conference USA championship and Liberty Bowl berth.
- Georgia ended the regular season ranked No. 18 in the nation in turnover margin – a 100-spot improvement from last year’s No. 118. The Bulldogs are plus 10 in turnovers this season, compared to minus 16 last season.
- Todd Grantham on Justin Houston’s stay-or-go choice: “He can be one of the most dominant players in college football next year if he chooses to do that. If he doesn’t, then he’s obviously going to be a guy who’s going to play at the next level and he’ll just continue to get better.” Grantham said he doesn’t know if Houston will return for his senior season or enter the 2011 NFL draft. “We’ll just see as we move forward what’s best for him,” Grantham said, “and we’ll kind of go from there.”
- Players will lift weights and run this week, but Richt said bowl practices won’t begin before next week. The bulk of Georgia’s bowl practices will come after fall-semester final exams are completed on Dec. 15.
Today’s other posts:
UGA adds Florida Atlantic to 2012 football schedule — at cost of $1 million.
Richt tells callers he’s staying and wants ‘Dream Team’ recruits to join him.
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291 comments Add your comment
Marcus
December 1st, 2010
11:54 am
Would Hutson Mason have beat:
La Lafayette, when defense held to 7 points? Yes.
Vanderbilt when defense shutout? Yes.
Idaho State when defense held to 7? Yes.
Tenn when defense got 4 to’s? Yes.
Kentucky when defense got 4 to’s? Yes.
Ga Tech when defense got 4 to’s? Yes.
Mason would have likely beat Colorado too, they’re horrible.
Murray didn’t do ANYTHING Hutson Mason couldn’t have done better.
With the defense playing that well in those 6 games, any Georgia QB could have won those 6 games.
I credit the defense for the wins.
Marcus
December 1st, 2010
11:57 am
Mike Hartline of Kentucky has similar td’s as Murray, and similar records, both are 6-6, both don’t play well in clutch situations.
Marcus
December 1st, 2010
12:00 pm
Personal? Nah, I’ve said many times, Murray seems like a nice good kid with a REALLY (perhaps too much) optimistic attitude.
No doubt he’s 6-6, never beat a winning team, and one of the worst in the NCAA in passing accuracy on 3rd downs, in the 4th quarter, in the red zone, and on 3rd and 10.
And yes, when you’re that bad under pressure, you lose a lot of close games (Ark, Colorado, Florida, Miss St. and South Carolina come to mind).
Alabama | MrSEC.com
December 1st, 2010
12:06 pm
[...] that game could pit Mark Richt against his old coach, Howard Schnellenberger.)22. Aaron Murray is on the verge of breaking some Georgia records.23. Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart says he’s not going to Kansas.24. The Wildcats crushed [...]
Marcus
December 1st, 2010
12:22 pm
With Hutson Mason, UGA wins against La Laf, Vanderbilt, and Idaho State because defense holds to 7 or less. Wins against Kent, Tenn and Ga Tech ebcause defense forces 3-4 to’s in each game.
Mason wouldn’t have played as poorly as Murray did, he would have completed some passes in the first quarter, not thrown 3 interceptions, and not fumbled. Georgia beats Florida in 2010 with Mason at QB.
Mason wouldn’t have handed off to King with a LB on a full blitz. Mason would have read and anticipated the blitz there. Georgia kicks field goal and beats Colorado.
Mason wouldn’t have got sacked at the end of so many games, like Arkansas, he would have moved the ball 20-30 yards at the end of the Ark game to win that one.
Mason would have thrown more than 1 long ball against SC & MSU, stretching the field, to force 8 out of the box. And own those games.
So 11-1 with Mason, 6-6 with Murray.
mark PRICHT
December 1st, 2010
12:26 pm
I still do not understand all the talk of me wanting to quit and go into missionary work. I am enjoying my service to God in the prision ministry here in Athens
mark PRICHT
December 1st, 2010
12:30 pm
Marcus
and if a frog had wings…yeah we know
Dawg lover
December 1st, 2010
12:35 pm
i knew Marcus would be back…but he is still WRONG
red and black
December 1st, 2010
12:38 pm
marcus…what is your overhwelming beef with Aaron Murray? it’s like he took something from you and you want revenge…what has the kid done to you to deserve such scrutiny. You are able to compare, quote, record any and every thing about him…SCARY…..it’s like an unhealthy obsession
flag boy
December 1st, 2010
12:43 pm
I want marcus to talk bad about me.
Marcus
December 1st, 2010
12:59 pm
Revenge? What? You sound like a crazy person. Revenge for ehat–don’t even know Murray. Just giving a different take on the Murray puff articles. I don’t see it the way Buck Belue does, let’s just say that. You want ever hear Belue talking about Murray’s passing accuracy in the red zone, on 3rd downs, in the 4th qaurter,or against winning teams.
I’m the only person to point out why UGA went 6-6. And back it up with proof.
If you’re not a rational person, you won’t like my posts.
Marcus
December 1st, 2010
1:00 pm
If you’re QB, you have to be able to take the blame for 6-6. Comes with the territory. You’re the leader.
red and black
December 1st, 2010
1:56 pm
no matter what you say…it’s down right weird the way you talk about him every day. you made your point move on and become an authority about someone else.
Alabama Dog
December 1st, 2010
2:25 pm
Marcus: you are at best dillusional. 11-1 with Mason? C’mon! Mason would have been sacked, just like Murray was in the games you mentioned. The fact is, the O line, even with all their experience, couldn’t pass protect, or open holes for the running backs, either. The bottom line here is Murray is the face, and the future of Georgia football. Matthew Stafford wasn’t all that when he was a freshman starter, but his sophomore year was when he started coming into his own as a QB. Time will tell if Murray is the guy, or not.
Marcus
December 1st, 2010
3:31 pm
Btw you guys know I am just messing around right? Anybody can pick a couple stats about any QB in college or the Pros and say that QB sucks! Peyton Manning threw 3 ints against the Chargers last week. I could find a couple bad stats of Peyton’s and try to convince people that he sucks(knowing that he doesn’t) just like I did for Murray. Like I really think a true freshmen who didn’t even play football his senior year in High School like Christian Lemay is going to come in and be better than Murray! I mean come on guys! I am not that big of an idiot! But it is funny messing with you guys. Gotta go! LMAO!!!!!!
Marcus
December 1st, 2010
4:04 pm
I see I have another fan (imposter). See the 3;31 post above. So much envy, trying to fly in my greatness.
Note:
No, I’m not messing around with my posts. And I’m not picking a couple of 1 game stats. These are season long atrocities such as:
89th in red zone passing accuracy over the season
84th on third downs
99th on 3rd and 10+
last in NCAA in 1st quarter accuracy
#84 in 4th quarter passing accuracy
#71 in passing accuracy against teams with winning records
Your boy Murray needs to beat a winning team before we start comparing him to the Shockley’s of the world, Shockley went 9-3 in 2005, Murray went 6-6.
No, it wasn’t the O-Line’s fault. They pass protected great for Cox, and got Ealey & King plenty of yards (top 5) last 3 games of 09.
Just Murray. He can’t audible as well as Cox did, and teams stack 8 in the box against him. Those are why Georgia’s rush game dropped in 2010,.
Alabama Dog
December 1st, 2010
4:18 pm
Marcus: as I recall, Cox quarterbacked a 7-6 team as a SENIOR!!!! So, in your esteemed opinion, what’s the difference? Doesn’t seem THAT drastic to me! In fact, Cox lost to Kentucky as a starter, if memory serves me correctly. Not to mention Georgia got WIPED OUT by Florida & Tennessee. That said, what makes Cox better in your mind? It certainly can’t be all those audibles he was calling! The one thing Cox and Murray had in common is: both played on teams with ANEMIC defenses! There the similarities end.
I mean Really?
December 1st, 2010
4:26 pm
Marcus – Hey moron the kid is a RS Freshmen! Do you think that he is going to get worse the longer he is in school? Will you agree most QB’s in college get better every year they are in school? Can you please post what Staffords stats were his Freshmen year? Would you say that he got better or worse after his Freshmen year? I know you won’t answer my questions but I would love to hear your insane reasoning!
Marcus
December 1st, 2010
4:29 pm
Peyton Manning is also a terrible QB. When it is below 40 degrees in Novemember away from home he averages less than 200 yards a game passing! He is awful
Alabama Dog
December 1st, 2010
4:33 pm
Marcus: what in the world does Peyton Manning have to do with any of this???? Dude, seek professional help-it’s OBVIOUS you need some!
Marcus
December 1st, 2010
4:34 pm
Cox went 8-5, Murray’s 6-6.
Cox was top 20 in pass accuracy on 3rd and 10, Murray is last in the NCAA.
Cox was #53 in pass accuracy against teams with winning record. Murray is #71.
Cox also called bette run audibles, and was more of a deep ball threat. So teams rarely stacked 8 in the box.
Cox had rush offense in top 35, Murray dropped same O-Line and RB’s to #71.
Marcus
December 1st, 2010
4:35 pm
4:29 was yet another fan (imatator) As previously mentioned, I like seaosn long stats, not isolated one.
Marcus
December 1st, 2010
4:36 pm
Cox beat teams like SC, Ark, Auburn, Murray lost to them all.
Marcus is a Tech fan
December 1st, 2010
5:45 pm
Marcus – This is a different Oline from last year. 2 different starters so your point is not valid. Do some research before posting on here. Now beat it
I mean Really?
December 1st, 2010
6:00 pm
Really?
I mean Really?
December 1st, 2010
6:02 pm
Marcus – still waiting!
I mean Really?
December 1st, 2010
6:03 pm
Marcus – Why can’t you answer my questions?
I mean Really?
December 1st, 2010
6:04 pm
Marcus – Did you really think that a RS Freshmen QB was going to come into the SEC and be perfect every game? It has never happened in the history of SEC Football! I know you won’t actually respond to my post directly all you will do is just keep posting those few stats where Murray didn’t perform well.
I mean Really?
December 1st, 2010
6:05 pm
History has shown us that Freshmen QB’s get better with time
OldDawg
December 1st, 2010
6:08 pm
Marcus, I am sorry to tell you that after all my years of watching football I can tell you that the kid is good and will get better. How old are you 16? You been watching football for like 4 years now?
That Guy
December 1st, 2010
6:25 pm
Marcus, I don’t believe any of the stats that you post for Murray. Please provide a link were we can verify what you say is true. I know you made the numbers up. I know you won’t post a link because the numbers are false!
Valdosta Native
December 1st, 2010
6:34 pm
I don’t care what you think, I’m just trying to share what I’ve heard whether you like it or not, whether it’s true or not. I’m a die-hard UGA fan. I live with them through the tough times and the greatest times. I’d love to see Richt stay on with UGA…and he might do that. But when a long time friend of mine is in the boosters @UGA, and tells me what i’ve posted, I don’t take it lightly. It is he said she said, but I do believe there is some smoke there. Whatever Richt decides to do, I’m sure he’ll put the program’s best interests in mind.
Delbert D.
December 1st, 2010
6:42 pm
We obviously have the head of the Hutson Mason Promotion Society (Humps) posting all day and all night on this blog.
The rest of the posters seem to belong to the Aaron Murray is Good Society (Amigos).
Time to choose.
DawgFaninFL
December 1st, 2010
7:02 pm
Marcus, the funiest thing you’ve said (and you’ve said some funny crap!), is that you think you have proof and that you’re rational! Any RATIONAL person watching this season would know that, while his inexperience hurt him at times, Murray played exceptionally well this season, and was one of the few bright spots. I love the way you pick and choose ways to tear him down. You talk about Ealey, King, and the offensive line…the offensive line was clearly not playing at the same level as last year (not they they were all that great last year), and I would hate to see what you’d be saying about all of the fumbles by King and Ealey if you were scrutinizing them the way you do Murray. As far as Shockley goes, he had one of the best stable of running backs UGAs had at one time. The 3rd string running back could’ve been a starter on most other teams, and those teams didn’t need to rely on the pass the way they do now. I realize that my post won’t suddenly cause you to see that you’re the one being irrational and stop ripping on a great player and a great kid, (btw, questioning his leadership shows that you don’t know the 1st thing about leadership), but I figured I’d point out your hypocrisy on being rational.
Bud
December 1st, 2010
7:10 pm
Marcus–
Right on. I check out your stats, and they are amazing. I knew something was off, at 6-6, but culdn’t quite pinpoint it to Murray, because he did play well against weak teams, so his stats were skewed. Then when you borke it all down so clearly, the answer was so obvious. Clearly, all of the experts who said Georgia would struggle this year because of Murray were right. He really has been down right shockingly bad in many areas.
Steve
December 1st, 2010
7:11 pm
Hi there Marcus,
Thanks for your analysis, irrrefutable points.
Alan
December 1st, 2010
7:12 pm
I am leaning with Marcus too, he makes a lot fo good points, seems to be some kind of genius. You never hear this stuff from anyone but his original mind.
Brandon
December 1st, 2010
7:17 pm
Got to admit, just about any Dog QB could have beat down Idaho State, come on Murray homers. Vanderbilt? Not much competition for a Dog QB. Lousisiana Lafayette? Any Dog QB wins that game. And when you look at how many turnovers the defense hung on Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and Kentucky, (was it a baker’s dozen?) any Dog QB could have won those 3 too. I havn’t seen Murray be the reason the Dogs have won a game yet, not even close.
Brandon
December 1st, 2010
7:23 pm
Hutson Mason would have won against South Carolina, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Colorado, and Florida. Auburn, no, they’re offense is too good, but everybody else, all those close losses, a QB who could be better in the clutch, makes the difference.
superDawg
December 2nd, 2010
3:36 am
marcus is hudson mason and he knows Murry is the man.
superDawg
December 2nd, 2010
7:11 am
could be masons daddy.
Buckeye
December 2nd, 2010
7:39 am
“Walking in Memphis……” and it’s currently 31 degrees.
Happy Bowl Season!
Darren
December 2nd, 2010
8:18 am
Hutson Mason is an excellent QB. 72% accuracy, and is poised under pressure.
Only 8 QB’s in college football history have stepped up, in the red zone, on their first play as a college QB, and thrown a TD. Mason did.
That’s poise under pressure.
Mason is 4 for 4 in the red zone this season, 100% accuracy.
DawgFaninFL
December 2nd, 2010
8:26 am
Marcus=Brandon=Darren=Hutson Mason’s mamma
takedowndawg
December 2nd, 2010
8:51 am
Brandon, a DAWG fan, I think not! Murray was better than you are any other fl gator or gt fan thought that he might be. Not the reason Georgia won the six games they won? I guess 28 TDS responsible for means nothing(24 passing 4 running). Means nothing that he is rating 9# FBS(162) in passing effeciencey. Compare him with FLA Brantley, if you would lack. Compare him with any freshman QB in the country! brandy, you sicken us DAWGSSS! REVEAL YOURSELF, coward!
jasont13
December 2nd, 2010
8:58 am
Marcus, you must be related to Hutson Mason. Go back and look at the 3rd and 2 and 4th down call down close to the endzone. The refs gave Murray a really bad spot. On third down it looks as if Ealey picked up the first down but the line judge from the far side put down his left foot to spot the ball and when he was given the ball to spot it moved and put it on his right foot. Look for it and check out the film.
jasont13
December 2nd, 2010
9:07 am
Just curious Marcus. Since you seem to know your stuff about quarterbacks what high school do you coach for? Oh wait with all this knowledge you would have to be a college or NFL coach. I’m waiting!
Bud, Stece, Alan, Brandon, Darren = Marcus
December 2nd, 2010
9:30 am
So Bud and the rest of your friends, to quote you “all of the experts who said Georgia would struggle this year because of Murray were right” How do you explain the fact that all of those same experts are now saying that Murray was not the reason for UGA’s struggles?
Dirk
December 2nd, 2010
9:32 am
Obviously, all these PRO-MURRAY posts, could very be Murray’s Mom or Dad or Brother. The kid’s 6 wins, 6 losses as a starter, never beat a winning team, 80% of his td’s came against teams without a winning record, OBVIOUSLY, he stunk in 2010. To say otherwise, is absurd.
Bud, Stece, Alan, Brandon, Darren = Marcus
December 2nd, 2010
9:33 am
Marcus, why can’t you answer direct questions that you are asked? You have no creditbility on this blog because you can’t even prove where you got your stats from.