It’s official: UGA vs. Central Florida in Liberty Bowl
It’s official. Georgia will play in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31.
What became apparent eight days ago became official late this afternoon, when the Liberty Bowl formally announced that Georgia will play in the New Year’s Eve game in Memphis. The opponent will be Central Florida, coached by former Georgia Tech coach George O’Leary.
The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. and be televised by ESPN.
Georgia’s invitation to the Liberty had been expected since the Bulldogs clinched bowl eligibility by beating Georgia Tech on Nov. 27. In an interview about an hour after that game, Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart made it pretty clear his bowl intended to invite the Bulldogs (6-6).
The only thing that could have derailed the Dogs’ invitation might have been if the SEC had not put two teams in BCS bowls.
Central Florida clinched its berth in the Liberty Bowl on Saturday by beating SMU 17-7 in the Conference USA championship game. The Knights are 10-3 and ranked No. 24 in this week’s coaches poll.
The Liberty Bowl will feature two dynamic young quarterbacks: Central Florida freshman Jeff Godfrey and Georgia redshirt freshman Aaron Murray. They rank Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the nation in passing efficiency among freshmen this season — Godfrey at 165.28 and Murray at 162.72. Murray has passed for 2,851 yards and 24 touchdowns, Godfrey for 2,042 and 13 touchdowns. Godfrey also has 546 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.
Georgia is in a bowl game for the 14th consecutive season.
This will be the Bulldogs’ third trip to the Liberty Bowl and their first in 23 years. The Dogs lost to N.C. State 14-7 in the 1967 game and defeated Arkansas 20-17 in the 1987 game on John Kasay’s 39-yard final-play-of-the-game field goal.
While head coach at Georgia Tech from 1995-2001, O’Leary faced Georgia seven times, posting a 3-4 record vs. the Bulldogs. His Tech teams won three in a row against Georgia from 1998-2000. In the only meeting of an O’Leary-coached Tech team vs. a Mark Richt-coached Georgia team, the Bulldogs won 31-17 in 2001.
Check back to AJC.com for a full report on the local and national bowl picture later tonight.
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401 comments Add your comment
Eric C.
December 6th, 2010
12:51 am
“UGA the Dog,” it’s one thing to make an ### of yourself on this blog, but show a little class by not making a mockery of one this nation’s shining moments.
Thizzle
December 6th, 2010
12:57 am
14 Straight bowl games is quite impressive, even if is the Toilet Bowl….Some fans are way too critical though, when you have two offensive players go in the first round of the NFL draft you should expect a drop off. Aaron Murray looks like a Gem. We have a very nice recruiting class coming in, with some key transfers becoming eligible next year. For the people screaming defense: You have to expect a drop off when you switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4, give grantham a year or two, so he can get real 3-4 style linebackers and d-ends and it will be nasty! Hes an NFL guy so no one can question if he “knows” what he is doing. After UGA murders the #24 team well have to be ranked and end up salvaging a winning season so its not that bad. UGA by 20 points…easily.
So lets pray for an NFL lockout so AJ comes back, get Isiah Crowell, Ray Drew, Xzavier Dickson and Stephone Anthony into UGA uniforms and get ready for the 2011 SEC Champs….Lets Go DAWGS
godoggo
December 6th, 2010
1:29 am
I wish UGA luck….but what i have been telling friends for yearrrrs….The kids that don’t make it into UF, FSU, or the thugs of Miami, GO to USF, or UCF. They will probably have some of the same skills as the other guys, just not the grades….or the negotiating skills of the “Preacher Man Daddy” of Scam Newton.
Those guys at UCF are gonna wanna make a name for themselves….you’ll need to use SmashMouth SEC Football from play one to Win. And a final word….we have not heard the last from that Auburn investigation….MARK my word Bradley….you’ll be blogging soon on how they’ll be handcuffed in the future….. : )
Holler if ya hear me ?
dawgsfalconsbravos
December 6th, 2010
1:38 am
as bad as this year was look at the brightside 2 more weeks of practic at least were not the texas nohorns. give it 2 yrs and a nt uga will be back in its rightful place. please stop sayin fire richt we are not free shoe u in the almost competitive conference.
Michael
December 6th, 2010
1:48 am
I tire of the denigration of other town’s bowl games. What’s so great about the Peach / Chik Fil A Bowl? Should we be booing the teams that show up for the third place bowl in Atlanta? ” Boooooo. You suck for accepting an invite to the Peach Bowl!”
dawgsfalconsbravos
December 6th, 2010
1:52 am
hey michael if you tire of it go spoon joey harrington he is a former oregan suck maybe you might get some
BoWeevil
December 6th, 2010
2:58 am
Georgia tek is going to SHREVEPORT
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
MONDAY night 5 p.m. 6-6 Georgia tek
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Georgia tek is going to SHREVEPORT
SHREVEPORT
SHREVEPORT
SHREVEPORT
low rent
December 6th, 2010
3:32 am
uga playing some minor league, commuter school like ucf in a crummy bowl game? what a joke! Mcgarity should have turned down this bowl to avoid this embarrassment.
MoonDog
December 6th, 2010
4:19 am
I reside in Memphis and can’t tell you how excited we are to see Georgia playing in the Liberty Bowl. My nephew played high school ball with Marlon Brown and I’m happy he’ll get a chance to play in his home town. Visit LibertyBowl.org for a list of all the events and ticket info.
dawgs will be back
December 6th, 2010
6:22 am
Everyone stop being so damn negative, we didn’t have the year we’ve come to expect but there are teams wishing for a 6-6 yr. Win, lose, or draw we true dawg fans will support the players an most of the coaches hhhmmm. O’Leary would love nothing more than to whip us and the team needs all our support. So let’s give it to em and end the ear on a good note. The recruits are listening to what the dawgnation is saying, and personally I wouldn’t wanna go where constant bitching is the norm.
Crowell we need you and several more bluechippers, don’t let the whiners keep you away. Thr true DAWGNATION will be behiind you and the dawgs
dawgs will be back
December 6th, 2010
6:27 am
IT’S NOT WHAT WE WOULDA LIKED BUT HEY ALOT OF TEAMS WILL BE SITTING HOME WATCHING. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS, SICEM!!!!!
Buckeye
December 6th, 2010
6:27 am
Update: It’s 24 degrees in Memphis
dd
December 6th, 2010
6:56 am
Auburn; best team money can buy
dawgma
December 6th, 2010
6:57 am
Mmphis will be rocking and the O’Leary angle will make the game a little more interesting. Otherwise – we better not see the L-Bowl for at least another 23 years.
Goin bowling – at least we don’t have to drive too far to watch our DAWGS!
MikeDawg13
December 6th, 2010
7:05 am
You know we had another sub par year. But if you truly want to help jump in. That’s called Freedom of Speach, but what confuses me is what is called Freedom of Stupidity? Stop whining and start REALLY supporting the program…
Vols4sure
December 6th, 2010
7:12 am
Article on Georgia’s bowl invite and still AU haters out in full force. I love it. Enjoy your toilet bowl pups and bow down to your SEC and future National Champions with Heisman trophy winner. Go UCF…hahahaha
WinderDawg
December 6th, 2010
7:13 am
Enjoy this year Track’em! You will be on probation and the cause Camgate will be gone, he can make more money in the NFL than at Auburn. UGA will improve and compete for the SEC East next year. Doesn’t Auburn have a blog site? Amazing how many Aurburnites and Techies visit this site! I looked on the Tech site the other day and there was 7 post! Seven!!!!
Toilet Bowl
December 6th, 2010
7:22 am
What a joke! Both UGA and Tech with lowsy records in lowsy bowls.
BobbyDawg
December 6th, 2010
7:22 am
Florida Central will be READY TO PLAY. You never know about our Dawgs! If we go there looking like we did against Colorado St. things could be bad. Get em ready MR it’s
your job! GO DAWGS
Tech Alum
December 6th, 2010
7:26 am
My bet is that those who spend so much time tearing down the Dawgs and CMR on this blog won’t attend the Liberty Bowl because it is not a high profile BCS game. Real fans rally behind their teams in good times and bad!! Congratulations UGa
Lowcountry Dawg
December 6th, 2010
7:27 am
Anyone think the irony of Carolina going to a bowl sponsored by a chicken restaurant is funny?
Christian LeMay=Cam Newton Rev Cecil Newton=Rev Stacy LeMay
December 6th, 2010
7:38 am
Just sayin, but of course the Humpers will be ok when he smiles like a monkey on the sidelines.
Scooter
December 6th, 2010
7:39 am
Wouldn’t it be great to live in a world where a coach and AD had the guts to say, “We only won 6 games. We don’t deserve to go to a bowl. Thanks for the invitation but we respectfully decline”.
Christian LeMay=Cam Newton Rev Cecil Newton=Rev Stacy LeMay
December 6th, 2010
7:43 am
Enter your comments here
Christian LeMay=Cam Newton Rev Cecil Newton=Rev Stacy LeMay
December 6th, 2010
7:45 am
Liberty Bowl? Are you getting your moneys worth from the suntanned preacher coach?
JD
December 6th, 2010
7:46 am
I am a positive Dawg Fan. Realistically there is no possible way we are ranked with a 7-6 record when we beat the 24th ranked UCF….I am positive!!! oops at least not in the top 25…Maybe the top 40… I am positive of that.
JD
December 6th, 2010
7:51 am
Scooter
December 6th, 2010
7:39 am
Wouldn’t it be great to live in a world where a coach and AD had the guts to say, “We only won 6 games. We don’t deserve to go to a bowl. Thanks for the invitation but we respectfully decline”.
Yes about a million dollars less to the SEC teams to divide up and an expense to UGA to play. Therefore no exposure on TV nor other media for recruitment. One more step down the road to destruction for not participating in any bowl game. Plus the extra three weeks of practice….Well maybe not the last one. For 14 years the extra practice has not seemed to have helped much.
Tommy
December 6th, 2010
7:56 am
UCF will win this one–easy.
Murray can’t beat a winning team.
Tommy
December 6th, 2010
7:58 am
Only 27 more days until Christian Lemay arrives on campus.
Seen the video documentary on youtube?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G_W0aP0NI0
lawdawg
December 6th, 2010
7:59 am
I am so glad the Gator Bowl decided not to take UT “Old RottinCrotch”,that would of been a disgrace.
Christian LeMay=Cam Newton Rev Cecil Newton=Rev Stacy LeMay
December 6th, 2010
8:02 am
Tommy I suppose as a Humper fan you will be OK when Christian “Me” LeMay showboats his antics on the THUGA sideline?
Columbus Dawg
December 6th, 2010
8:09 am
Well it looks like the “limited access to the football program” did not apply to the dome. Rumor has it that Cecil Newton spotted in section 212 saturday selling Cam’s old socks three pairs for ten dollars!
The Real Question is how much did Christian LeMay cost UGA?
December 6th, 2010
8:12 am
Of course the rules dont apply to Humpville.
In_the_cellar
December 6th, 2010
8:12 am
I have some liberty bowl jerseys for sale! Anyone interested?
Tommy
December 6th, 2010
8:15 am
6-6, the Murray experiment is FINALLY over. That was painful. Murray had the #1 worst record, hands down, in Richt’s 24 year coaching career.
6-6 with AJ Green & Washaun Ealey & the #1 most experienced O-Line in the NCAA. Hard to believe Murray pulled off 6-6.
Auburn=UGA
December 6th, 2010
8:16 am
Auburn will risk their time in the sun by paying Cammy Cam just like UGA did when they paid Uncle Hershel. Now Auburn can show highlights for the next 30 years in their pregame show just like THUGA does.
Dan
December 6th, 2010
8:21 am
42-34
This is for all the Nerds posting here.
Reality
December 6th, 2010
8:22 am
My money is on UCF….
Auburn=UGA
December 6th, 2010
8:23 am
UCF will win because O’Leary will cheat on the chain gang.
Andy in Blairsville
December 6th, 2010
8:27 am
I guess the Tampax Bowl wouldn’t have UGA this year? When it rains it pours!
Tommy
December 6th, 2010
8:28 am
I’ve noticed folks on this blog are already comparing Lemay to Newton. Wow. All Newton has done is lead his team to two consecutive Championships over hte last 12 months. Mark Bradley said Newton might be the #2 greatest player ever in colege football. Lemay on the same level? Wow, quite a compliment.
Dog fan since 1976
December 6th, 2010
8:29 am
I’m tired of the SEC and the nation laughing at us!
NashDawg
December 6th, 2010
8:30 am
What an awesome year!
Tommy
December 6th, 2010
8:32 am
Murray couldn’t beat:
South Carolina (o td’s)
Arkansas (sacked twice on last drive)
Miss State (1 td with a minute left)
Colorado (errant handout on LB blitz resulting in fumble)
Florida (3 interceptions & a fumble)
Auburn (choked in the 4th qaurter–again)
Albert Means
December 6th, 2010
8:33 am
If you Uga fans see Mr. Bill Harper in Memphis tell him Albert $ay$ hi.
Tommy
December 6th, 2010
8:35 am
Is Lemay better than Newton? Some say so. We shall see.
Mr. Red
December 6th, 2010
8:41 am
What a joke… UGA football is the biggest joke in the country. Thanks MR!!!!! Looking forward to another great 10 years of UGA football under the CEO.
Florida Dawg
December 6th, 2010
8:41 am
If he remains healthy, Arron Murray will be the starting quarterback at UGA until he graduates.
He’s that good.
Apparently Marcus has a son that Murray beat out at some time in his life…or Marcus is just an old girlfriend on the revenge circuit. That’s my take.
Mr. Red
December 6th, 2010
8:44 am
Great, LeMay is the answer? A kid suspended for his entire senior H.S. season for some type of sexual offense that no one can report, because he’s a minor. So he’s a little pervert and possibly a rapist. Thats UGA football and the fans for ya. Pin your hopes on a pervert and thug. UGA football has hit an all time low!
Tommy
December 6th, 2010
8:47 am
Murray will never start another regular seaosn game for georgia. Richt can’t risk his future on a guy who couldn’t go better than 6-6, a guy who couldn’t beat Colorado. No way,
Time for change. Lemay will be on campus in 24 days. 568 hours, but who’s counting?