D.J. Shockley: ‘It sounds weird to hear Georgia called underdog’ vs. Boise State
Former Georgia quarterback D.J. Shockley said the Bulldogs were motivated by being called the 'upset special' against Boise State in 2005. (UGA photo)
D.J. Shockley couldn’t help but chuckle at the question.
“Yeah, I think I may remember that Boise game just a little bit,” he said sarcastically. “I think I might be able to recall a few things that happened that day. I don’t know. Let me think about it.”
Shockley was being asked about the last time Georgia and Boise State played. It was Sept. 3, 2005, and Shockley was a fifth-year senior making his debut as the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs. And there’s good reason he might be able remember a thing or two about that game.
Shockley accounted for six touchdowns that steamy afternoon in Athens. He ran for a 14-yard touchdown on Georgia’s first possession of the game, then passed for five more TDs as the Bulldogs rolled to a 48-13 victory.
Shockley finished as Georgia’s leading passer (16-24, 289 yards) and rusher (5-85) and the Bulldogs went on to win the SEC Championship that season. But he said his most profound memory came from the days leading up to the game.
The Bulldogs, ranked 13th and coming off a 10-win season, were the vogue pick to go down to 18th-ranked Boise in an upset that day.
“That was a big part of that game,” Shockley said. “Out of every college game that weekend, we were the only ones everyone was picking to be upset that day. They were calling it the ‘upset special.’ We were like, ‘why us? We’re a good team. We’re playing at home.’ We didn’t get it. That fired us up.”
Georgia certainly played as if it was motivated. Tony Taylor intercepted Jared Zabransky’s first pass of the game – the Boise quarterback would throw three more picks and fumbled twice before being benched at halftime – as the Bulldogs bolted out to a 24-0 first-half lead.
“You couldn’t have drawn it up any better,” said Shockley, who is currently playing quarterback for the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL. “That got the jitters out for everybody. I know it did for me.”
It was a nightmarish day for the Broncos, then led by head coach Dan Hawkins. They had just begun to forge their reputation as the little BCS Buster from out west. They had come to Georgia determined and confident they could record their first victory over an SEC opponent.
“I knew how that position needed to play that day and it just didn’t happen,” Zabransky told the Idaho Statesman this week. “I felt like I needed to almost have an out-of-body experience and be some unbelievable quarterback and make every play. . . . You’re tryng to make birdie when you should be thinking about hitting the next shot.”
Exactly exactly six years later, Georgia and Boise are set to do battle again and the the roles are practically inversed this time. The Broncos – who are 61-5 in the six seasons since – are coming in ranked No. 5 to Georgia’s 19 and a lot of national analysts are saying the Bulldogs have a decent shot at pulling off an upset.
“It sounds weird to hear Georgia called the underdog in this game,” Shockley said. “Georgia is one of the most prestigious programs in the country. I mean, I know they’re 5 and we’re 19. But Georgia is still Georgia.”
While that may be true, Boise is a vastly different team. The Broncos have won their last four against BCS opponents, knocking off Oklahoma, Oregon twice and Virginia Tech last year.
They also have one of the best quarterbacks in college football history. Fifth-year senior Kellen Moore, who has a career completion percentage of 68, needs eight victories to become the winningest college quarterback of all time.
“Nothing happens fast,” said Boise State head coach Chris Petersen, who was offensive coordinator when the broncos came to Athens. “I think slowly but surely we have just continued to build. And we’ve had good continuity on our staff, and maybe the recruiting has upgraded a little bit. Nothing seems dramatic. It just seems like it’s been going on for a while, and each year we’ve maybe made a little bit of progress.”
“Don’t expect the 2005 Boise State team to show up,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said during a Bulldog Club Tour stop this year. “They did not have the physical ability to hang with us on that day. They’re different. They’re bigger, they’re stronger, they’re faster, they’re more physical, they’re more confident, they’re tougher. What they do, they do extremely well on both sides of the ball.”
That will have to prove sufficient motivation for Georgia.
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144 comments Add your comment
valdosta native
September 2nd, 2011
9:10 pm
My worry lies if we do beat Boise State, the number 5 ranked team in the country, and think that is an accomplishment beyond what it really is….a win. I also think that if we lose, it speaks volumes of our program now. Do you think that Auburn or Alabama would have lost to Boise State last year? Georgia needs to be in that same breath. This Boise State game should be a laughing matter, but it’s not. I think for our program to come out on top is for us to win BIG against Boise, and then pull a good win out against South Carolina. Those are some good building blocks for Richt and this team to walk on towards a great season….even if it doesn’t mean an SEC championship. These first two games are pivital, and I can’t even imagine the pressure our boys are feeling now. I think they can pull it off!!
Surf's up!
September 2nd, 2011
9:16 pm
Broncos 45, Athens Clownsuits 17
A triumph of righteousness and intelligence over… well, dummies.
CHDawg
September 2nd, 2011
9:39 pm
I’m ready for The Dog and Pony Show to begin! Surfer Boy; you are lost. Fear the Kwame Sunami, son. Surfers flee at his presence. Centers don’t like him either.
AltamahaDawg
September 2nd, 2011
9:54 pm
Gentlemen, be careful going to the game or the friend’s house. Hoping the read some really proud post Monday morning.
Scrimp Daddy-O
September 2nd, 2011
10:28 pm
I hope the Dawgs will win. Lou Holtz & Mark May picked Dawgs tonight on ESPN. Go Dawgs !
Keep the remote control in hand for Saturday’s best college games – Los Angeles Times | Don Vuitton
September 2nd, 2011
11:26 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Rabid Dawg'84
September 3rd, 2011
12:16 am
It was a revelation at 4 today: Georgia will kill Boise St. Why? Would you trade our starting defense right now for Boise’s? I know you wouldn’t trade special teams with anyone, we have the best in the nation. Would you swap our starting offense with Boise. They lost their 2 best receivers to the NFL, so dd we. I bet our cupboard is fuller than theirs. QB swap? We have only seen Murray as a frosh, he could be as good as Moore now or close. He is a better runner for sure. That one is questionable. Moore has not seen a nasty defense like he will in a few hours. My confidence grew from 6 to 9 out of 10.
Rabid Dawg'84
September 3rd, 2011
12:18 am
Oh, we had a Vick sighting in Augusta in his black Mercedes with a Gwinnnett tag.
Columbus
September 3rd, 2011
3:03 am
UGA 41 BSU 27
Still no victory over the SEC for Boise St.
Columbus
September 3rd, 2011
3:04 am
Goooooooooooo Dawgs!
Nub
September 3rd, 2011
5:53 am
ShockiT….. DJ was a DFD!!!!!!
Just one more thing ….. The Ghost Horses (white uni’s) better buckle their chin straps cause I got a feeling Coach G’s D is in slobber knocking mode…… Ouch
Football Guy
September 3rd, 2011
6:01 am
D.J. Who? So now your interviewing radio employees for your columns.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahaha………..
No more talk, time to see what 2011 Georgia Bulldogs are made of | UGA sports blog
September 3rd, 2011
6:06 am
[...] ‘05 star D.J. Shockley thinks it ’sounds weird’ for UGA to be underdog to Boise St… [...]
Homepage | MrSEC.com
September 3rd, 2011
6:55 am
[...] D.J. Shockley recalls the last time these two teams met back in 2005. The roles have [...]
RGR
September 3rd, 2011
7:29 am
Dawgs lose as always. UGA will never win another championship at any level. Bull Dawgs are losers.
RedandBlackDAWG
September 3rd, 2011
8:04 am
Now I am a little worried. If Lou Holt and Mark May, those bastions of the sports broadcasting world picked UGA, we could be in trouble. That is like “RGR”, having an intelligent comment to post on a blog. It just doesn’t happen that often. Lou and Mike are actually going to get one right with this pick anyway. RGR gaining some intelligence is a million to one shot against that happening.
GO DAWGS and GATA
Who let the tards out?
September 3rd, 2011
8:57 am
If shockley hadn’t had a bum knee vs. Florida in 2005, we might have won the beauty pageant known as the BCS Championship.
Thomas Brown
September 3rd, 2011
9:08 am
Kellen Moore Interview :
http://www.broncosports.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&db_oem_id=9900&id=795620&DB_MENU_ID=&SPSID=&SPID=&DB_OEM_ID=9900
Is playing vs The SEC any different ? “I don’t know, not too much.”
Their size, speed ? “It’s tough to evaluate Georgia. You look at the film, and you cannot tell too much there. We’ll see.
Can you hear Boise State crowd when on road big game ? “You hear it when the other team goes quiet and you are winning,” he says smiling enjoying his own answer.
6′ 6″ 350 lbs NG, will that be tough for you ? “I don’t think too much, we’ll see.”
Aaron Murray, have you met him in the QB Camps ? “No.”
Why are games like this important for the Boise State program ? “It is a great opportunity, certainly Georgia had a lot of success in the past, and it gives a lot of people an opportunity to see us play in a big time game big environment,” smiling again loving it.
On the Free Safety back there this year who has not played in the past years buried on the depth chart, is he going to do well for Boise State ? “He has long arms, can bat balls down with the long arms, never really played, just shows that it pays off to have patience.”
Do you have some personal goals for this season ? “Statistics goals, when you get the opportunity, you have to take advantage of the opportunity to get the touchdown.”
Your efficiency ? Any personal goals there ? You had top efficiency last season. Smiling again, loving the question, “I’d like to get to that level again and then surpass that.”
Do you want to limit sacks, interceptions ? “I don’t know, you try to take advantage of what you see, put the ball in there. If you throw it to the right spot and it gets picked off, it’s ok. Sacks, try to limit them.”
NFL Draft ? Do the coaches prepare you – talk to you about the up-coming NFL Draft ? Smiling yet again, wavering in the wind as he answers, “Not much discussion, no, when the year’s over and you turn the page from your Senior Year, you just want to have fun, be relaxed your senior year and enjoy it. Then, when it’s over, yeah.”
Do you in your senior year keep your emotions in check ? Or, do you still have them big game ? “Still have jitters pre-game, try to relax, try to tell all the new guys on the team I don’t know as well, look at me, stay relaxed, joke, laugh around, stay relaxed.”
3-4 Defense ? “Don’t know, don’t play against it. See parts of it from time to time in a season maybe.”
You’re replacing your wide receivers. Have you zeroed in on a go-to guy yet ? Do you plan on having a go-to guy, or spread the ball around, that sort of thing ? “That will develop. If we have a guy get some success, then yes, I will go back to him, throw to him more, get open make plays, go back to him. If 1 does step up and sets himself apart, he’ll get more opportunities. We’ll see how that goes as the season progresses, who we go to, just stay relaxed, that will develop.”
Thomas Brown
September 3rd, 2011
9:26 am
BroncoBlue September 2nd, 2011 9:38 pm
“We regularly beat Pac-10 schools….and the Pac-10 has owned the SEC over the past decade..so playing an SEC school is no big deal to us. We are going to just be too athletic and fast for the Dawgs tomorrow night…no disrespect…just fact.”
FLA DAWG
September 3rd, 2011
9:46 am
I’d love to see The Dawgs dominate every phase of the game or at least a convincing win. I’d eat every negative word I’ve written about Richt’s ability as an SEC HC.
But the current odds have Boise State as a 3.5 winner. Frankly, I think they win by 9 or more. The Dawgs have not been ready for an opening game in over 3 years and I see no reason to believe anything has changed.
I love my Dawgs and hope for the best. But if this is a fiasco then Richt should apologize to the players, students, administration, alumni and all Dawg Fans and begin his packing plans for the end of the season.
FLA DAWG
September 3rd, 2011
9:48 am
Don’t buck the odds boys.
Our Dawgs will be lucky to pull out a win today.
Athens Dawg
September 3rd, 2011
9:57 am
Georgia wins because of one person Joe T. Georgia is now strong faster and they have chip on their shoulder. Go Dawgs
Georgia 34 BSU 17
RedandBlackDAWG
September 3rd, 2011
9:59 am
Let me see if I have this straight. The sec is no big deal becausae the Pac 10 has owned them and we regularly beat the PAC 10. Since 2000, in head to head match ups, the PAC 10 has won 12 times and the SEC has won nine times. Not a lot of ownership there. Now, in the last five NC’s, the SEC has been a national champion. You are right, the SEC is no big deal, not at all. The SEC is superior is the big deal. When outside teams beat an SEC team, it is almost a season maker for them, where as, SEC teams have to compete in the SEC each year, and they have to put the OCC game in perspective. With the loss by TCU last night, this is the biggtest game Boise will play now. For UGA, it is an OCC game, and although it is important to guage where UGA is as a team at present, this game doesn’t make or break UGA’s whole season. UGA still has to face the rest of their SEC opponents in games that mean more down the road. Having stated that, I still don’t think that Boise has what it takes to hang on to a win for 4 quarters against UGA. If UGA turns this into a physical type game, Boise is out manned. If UGA let’s Boise control the game and the clock, UGA loses. I think strength, size and speed win the game, and UGA comes out on top.
GO DAWGS and GATA
DawgLover
September 3rd, 2011
10:01 am
Love UGA. But not at all confident against Boise St….why should we be. What has CMR and the Dawgs done since the Sugar Bowl Hawaii beatdown to make me feel ANY sense of confidence? Hopeful? yes, Confident? absolutely not…
Beat Boise and SC….then I’ll start feeling confident
Thomas Brown
September 3rd, 2011
10:11 am
FLA DAWG September 3rd, 2011 9:46 am
“current odds have Boise State as a 3.5 winner. Frankly, I think they win by 9 or more. The Dawgs have not been ready for an opening game in over 3 years and I see no reason to believe anything has changed….if this is a fiasco then Richt should apologize to the players, students, administration, alumni and all Dawg Fans and begin his packing plans for the end of the season.Don’t buck the odds boys.”
DJ Shockley said and I agree FLA DAWG, that I don’t know where you come off saying this just now, nor do I follow Bill King on his blog that our beloved Bulldogs don’t even have to win the game today, that we can just LOSE, pass on the game and move on without a worry in the world. “But, unlike with Boise, it won’t be a crushing blow for the Dogs if doesn’t happen.” That is as untrue a statement as I have ever heard. Everything is riding on this game, and like Red&Black just said too with TCU losing – not losing Red&Black but losing to BAYLOR bears Red&Black jeez son LOSING TO BAYLOR BEARS, this is then the only game this season for Boise State, either. Both go down week 1. Where is your precious BCS-buster now ?
RedandBlackDAWG
September 3rd, 2011
10:32 am
You lost me there Thomas,
I am trying to get across the point that with a loss by TCU, UGA is now the only big game that Boise will play this year and therefore, after they lose tonight, their chances for a NC are just about gone. Even if they were to win, their chances are just not that great. You don’t improve your standing, playing the likes of Akron for a chance at the crystal ball. I haven’t considered Boise a BCS buster, and will not continue to, until they play a tough schedule in a strong conference.
GO DAWGS and GATA
BsuBRONCOS
September 3rd, 2011
10:38 am
DAWGS, PREPARE FOR A MODERN BEATING BY BSU’S 2011 SHOCKLEY
Jordan
September 3rd, 2011
10:42 am
http://isportsweb.com/2011/09/03/chick-fil-a-kickoff-game-preview/
Dawg Tired
September 3rd, 2011
11:10 am
Try to remember how good that uniform Shockley has on in the picture looks. Tonight we will look ugly. Maybe we will play well. We will sure need to. BSU is for real. You don;t beat Oregon by just being lucky. These guys are good. Our D better be ready. If they are, we can pull this thing off.
Dawg Tired
September 3rd, 2011
11:19 am
See Vegasinsider,com. The latest line has flopped and now UGA is a three point favorite. Interesting. I assume this is the result of the 3 BSU guys, including 2 starters, being held out.
Xenophon
September 3rd, 2011
12:06 pm
Chew on this, morons…
http://www.castefootball.us/archives/the-racial-state-of-college-football-in-2011/
Dawg
September 3rd, 2011
12:55 pm
The cheap as falcons cut DJ for JPW. Those cheap as falcons brought a 4th QB in every year to try and unseat DJ yet they didn’t bring a QB in to compete for the job against JPW. The falcons were so afraid of Dj looking good with all his fans.
Melissa
September 3rd, 2011
1:18 pm
For all you thinking that BSU’s freshman is gonna fail, I want you to go back a few years when he himself was a freshman…”As a redshirt freshman in 2008, Moore led the Broncos to an undefeated regular season and the WAC championship while throwing 25 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 12 games”
Ted M
September 3rd, 2011
3:09 pm
Is Shockley gonna get another shot at the NFL?
Has he considered trying as an athlete instead of a QB?
whatacrew
September 3rd, 2011
4:05 pm
You mean DJ is out of jail??
whatsgoingon
September 3rd, 2011
4:09 pm
As Dear MB stated – “The SEC has the best players and plays the best football” – try saying that after the Auburn and Utah State (yea, Utah State – that other WAC school). Utah State, for all practical purposes BEAT Auburn – in Auburn – with a True Freshman QB and 6 Freshman starters. Unfortunately – because US could not field an on-side kick – Auburn scores at the end to PULL one out. But yet the mighty SEC is supposed to be the best and have the best. Just imagine what would happen if a Utah State or Boise State could recruit like an SEC team could – but then again (and I am NOT trying to make a racial thing out of this – but the facts are the facts) – there is not a lot to recruit from west of the Rockies – outside of California. Just stating the facts.
pffft
September 3rd, 2011
5:10 pm
moore hasn’t seen a defense as nasty as 6 and what uga? are you on crack???????????????
ca dawg
September 3rd, 2011
5:33 pm
@melissa: wow, since moore was so good as a freshman maybe you guys should play an ALL freshman lineup? how can you lose? i mean, moore was good as a freshman… why wouldn’t everyone else be as good as he was?
Middle East Dawg
September 3rd, 2011
6:17 pm
Two hours until “toe meets leather” (lol). SO AMPED UP!!!!!!! GOOOOOOOOOOO DAAAAAAAAAAWGS……..SICK’EM!!!!!!!!!! UGA 31 – BSU 17. The DEFENSE will open a LOT of eyes Nation Wide!!!!
pffft
September 3rd, 2011
11:29 pm
katherine im back
hahahahahahahaaaaaa
uga gonna man handle bsu? uh huh
murry gonna light up bsu? uhhuh
moore has never seen as nasty dfence as uga? uh huh
bsu cant beat sec team? uh huh
i dont think the was would accept uga
The Truth
September 3rd, 2011
11:31 pm
Ga you suck. You lost to a mountain west team on the first game of the season. Your a joke with your coach. You will never be Shiiiiiiit, only a bunch of wanna bees. Thats right i spelled it that way for a reason. If Murray is the best QB in the Sec than I can promise you no SEC national champions this year. Your game just made me throw up in my mouth. You and your lame asssssssss combat series Jerseys. You cant compete with Boise st. Your coach is a JOKE when it comes to college football.
pffft
September 3rd, 2011
11:44 pm
shocking huh shockley?
RedandBlackDAWG
September 4th, 2011
12:48 am
I think UGA was missing two things tonight. A decent OC and D.J. Not sure D.J. would have made a difference though, because the offensive play calling is terrible. CMR has to realize that his loyalty to Bobo is going to cost him his job. I have a lot of respect for CMR as a man, but if he doesn’t somehow become involved in the game plan, and it continues as it was tonight, I am afraid the AD, will be justified in releasing him after this season. The one bright spot I did see was the play of some of the youngsters, but if he keeps running Crowell off tackle 10 times a game, we will see the young man end up getting hurt and sitting on the bench. From what I saw of samuels ability tonight for the most part, that would spell the end to the running game for sure. UGA has to start playing to win, not keep from losing nd also utilize the strengths, not hilite the weaknesses. I remain a loyal DAWG fan, but this is not the way I expected to see them play tonight. For the most part, UGA still remains a one dimensional team in big games, and that one dimension gets tired, when it is out there for most of the game.
LaughingAtYaDawgs
September 5th, 2011
6:35 am
“It’s an insult for Georgia to ever be an underdog!”…Talk about living in the past. That was funny going into the game and even funnier now, Homer.
After Ga’s beatdown by BSU, BYU’s victory, and Utah States strong showing against a very fortunate Auburn team, the rest of the country outside the SEC simply laughs at all you arrogant SEC fans and your perceived view that your league is high and mighty…What a joke!
If the stars line up properly, BSU will get there chance to beat down your leagues best in the National Championship Game for all to see. The time is long overdue!