Inside LB remake; Crowell’s honor; Ole Miss game time; TV ratings; more
(Updated 9 p.m.)
ATHENS –- Georgia’s remaining healthy inside linebackers — yes, there are a few — marvel at how the position has been decimated by injury.
“It’s just crazy, how one week Alec [Ogletree] goes down and the next week Christian [Robinson] goes down,” Mike Gilliard said.
“It’s unbelievable, the way our linebackers are getting hurt,” Amarlo Herrera said.
Ogletree suffered a broken foot in the season’s first game and will be sidelined for up to six weeks. Robinson suffered a less severe foot injury in the second game and will be out for two or three weeks. So with both of their starting inside linebackers sidelined, the Bulldogs got to work Monday on Plan C.
The latest depth chart lists Gilliard, a junior, and Herrera, a freshman, as the starters. Also working at inside linebacker in practice Monday were freshman Ramik Wilson, who shifted from outside linebacker, and Jeremy Sulek, a senior walk-on.
“The coaches said whoever practices the hardest at linebacker will start,” Wilson said. “It’s an equal game for all of us.”
Gilliard, in his third year in the program, sees this as an opportunity he needs to seize, albeit under undesired circumstances.
“I feel like it’s just one of those times I’ve got to step up and play ball,” Gilliard said. “It’s my opportunity, and I’ve got to go out there and take full advantage of it.”
Crowell shares honor
Isaiah Crowell’s introduction to Sanford Stadium drew notice from the SEC office on Monday.
The Georgia tailback shared the league’s freshman-of-the-week honors for his productive home debut against South Carolina. Crowell had 148 yards offense Saturday, including 118 rushing yards on 16 carries (7.4 yards per carry), and scored his first two collegiate touchdowns.
“You see he’s pretty special when he has the ball in his hands,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said afterward. “He’s got to continue to get himself in shape where he can carry it more and be in the game more.”
Crowell shared the SEC’s weekly top-freshman honor with Kentucky running back Josh Clemons, who is from Whitewater High in Fayetteville.
In Kentucky’s 27-13 victory over Central Michigan, Clemons rushed for 126 yards on 14 carries. He did most of his damage on a single play, an 87-yard touchdown run that was the longest rush by a Kentucky player since 1970 and the longest ever by a Kentucky freshman.
Not surprisingly, South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram was named the SEC’s special-teams player-of-the-week for his performance against Georgia. Ingram rambled 68 yards for a touchdown after taking a direct snap on a fake punt, and he fielded an onside kick near the end of the game to clinch the Gamecocks’ victory. What’s more, on defense, he scored a touchdown on a five-yard run with a late-game fumble recovery.
TV ratings up
The Georgia-South Carolina game posted a 17.3 rating in the Atlanta television market Saturday, up from a 16.7 for the Bulldogs’ season opener a week earlier.
The rating is the percentage of TV households in the market tuning in on average. Saturday’s rating translated to an audience of about 416,000 local homes.
Ole Miss time set
Georgia’s Sept. 24 game at Ole Miss will start at 12:21 p.m. and be televised on the SEC Network, it was announced Monday.
Georgia’s first two games were televised nationally on ESPN, and Saturday’s 1 p.m. home game against Coastal Carolina will be shown on pay-per-view.
A deep hole
History isn’t very comforting for Georgia fans trying to deal with the back-to-back losses to Boise State and South Carolina.
This is just the 11th time in UGA football history, which dates to 1892, that the Bulldogs started a season 0-2. And on the 10 previous occasions, the Dogs finished the season with a winning record only once: 6-5 in 1979.
Checking the stats
Two weeks into the season, Brandon Boykin ranks No. 1 in the SEC and No. 6 nationally in all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, punt returns and kickoff returns) with an average of 194 per game.
He had an 80-yard rushing touchdown against Boise State and seven kickoff returns for 184 yards against South Carolina.
“This is my last year, so I’m going to do whatever it takes,” Boykin said. “Maybe next week, or whenever, we’ll try to put some more stuff in.”
– Tim Tucker
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233 comments Add your comment
Agridawg
September 12th, 2011
9:53 pm
Thats my point Mobile.People call you a hater if you want to get rid of him, wanting a different coach doesnt make you a hater, just a long suffering fan ready for a change.
Mobile Dawg
September 12th, 2011
9:53 pm
JB @ 9:48. Would love to have a Saban type at UGA. Has Kirby studied enough to copy the plan? Saban has a bunch of desciples out there. Derek Dooley has spent time on his staff.
WOW
September 12th, 2011
9:55 pm
Gets better as time passes by lol…
Mobile Dawg
September 12th, 2011
9:57 pm
Agridawg, I had you down as a Richt supporter, did I miss on that?
Dawg Fan
September 12th, 2011
9:57 pm
I think we should fire some fans too! All those years we got outplayed and still won the game are just balancing out right now. This is a very young team that will take some time to mature. We have one of the best coaching staffs we have ever had at Georgia but also the highest paid which is the problem I think with some fans. Coach Richt, donate that raise you got a few years ago to the University or some charity. You don’t need the money and it will shut up all these cry babies calling for your job. Let these whiners know that it is not about the money…never has been. Honestly I will always be a Bulldog fan, have been since a small boy. I played for the Dawgs for several years which give me letterman status but I am not sure I can afford all the money to enjoy season tickets anymore. Just too expensive..Have had season tickets for almost 30 years and my seats for the Bosie game were 3 rows from the top of dome. Could have done better with a scalper and it is really the same situation for every game we play. Gooo Dawgs! Nothing if finer than to see the Dawgs play and I will always support you and the great group of coaches that we now have.
Agridawg
September 12th, 2011
9:58 pm
We need a proven head coach, why would Kirby, who coached under Saban be any better than Richt who coached under Bowden?
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
September 12th, 2011
9:59 pm
Frank Lane: You said it brother. All these snotty nose whiners couldn’t find their a$$ with both hands in their hip pockets. After a slow start UGA kicked some SC butt. The turnovers certainly didn’t help but I am pretty well pleased with the team effort.
Agridawg
September 12th, 2011
10:01 pm
Moblie, I want another coach, I just dont like when some posters make it personal, and attack the man. I like the man, not liking the coach.
CHDawg
September 12th, 2011
10:01 pm
Folks, looking back over the body of Richt’s work at FSU and UGA, do you think it is possible he knows a little bit more about football than you are crediting him? He is a great recruiter, mentor, and coach. I doubt he has forgotten how to win. Trumpeting last year’s winners is kind of like teaching a class on which stocks to pick in hindsight. Picking them ahead of time is a good bit harder. Saban and Meyer were picked to win last year. Neither made it, btw. Saban lost a bunch and so did Meyer, and he resigned at the end of the year. I would advise supporting Richt, at a minimum, through the end of the year. Anything less than that is counterproductive, and I would think any true Dawg fan would see this plainly.
JB
September 12th, 2011
10:02 pm
Mobile….If leave is asked to leave us this year, I do think Kirby will be on the list, but not first. He will damage control if the first two guys don’t accept. I do think McGarity will gauge Peterson’s interest, but that will be short, polite no. Patterson at TCU comes to mind. Wins big games with little talent. pretty tough guy and good game day coach and X &O guy. Kirby will be the back door save face hire……………The only way this doesn’t happen like this is if McGarity decides after the AU game and has time….but all the good ones will be working until Jan. Who knows. Maybe we run the table. I wouldn’t mind that either, I just don’t see it
Mobile Dawg
September 12th, 2011
10:04 pm
For the record I’m not a Kirby supporter should we be looking for a Head Coach. When you say proven, I agree with you, I just don’t think he necessarily has to be proven at a “big time” program. You severely limit your choices by only focusing on high profile candidates. It worked for Bama, it might not work for us. Keep your eye on University of South Alabama the next couple of weeks. There’s a guy coaching down there that I think has some potential. He’s started two programs from scratch, and is a heads up guy. He’s got a stud running back named Baker, that name may ring a bell to some Dawg fans.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
September 12th, 2011
10:06 pm
A special thanks to all of you who are speaking out in support of CMR and our DAWGS, Those negative nutcases/inbreds, who met their wives at their family reunion, unfortunately will likely reproduce and have to buy larger mobile homes.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 12th, 2011
10:08 pm
Anyone no what the excuse will be when we lose to FL again
Will it be because they have a new coach
Or the wrong motivational uniform
Mobile Dawg
September 12th, 2011
10:08 pm
You’re welcome Brainiac.
Gen Neyland
September 12th, 2011
10:09 pm
There is nothing wrong with CMR being a man of faith. I hear more backlash from the ‘fans’ on this one than I hear from MR touting his beliefs. If there is a finger to point then the finger pointer goes to the press (sorry Chip, et al) for feeding the masses this storyline in the first place. Besides that, congrats to Cromwell on his award and congrats to Tennesse QB Bray for taking the SEC offensive player of the week award. I hope Bray can win this award back-to-back…
kybodawg
September 12th, 2011
10:09 pm
chalhoun all i can say about obama is if you find youreself in a hole stop digging. somebody get the fresking shovel from him.
Fourth and long
September 12th, 2011
10:10 pm
Lexdawg, Bulldog Boy, Hershels Heros, Dawg from who the hell knows where. Times is jus tough!! Mens TENNIS is the REAL power in the Classic City
Agridawg
September 12th, 2011
10:12 pm
Kirby might make a great coach, just would be a little afraid of another high profile unproven assistant. Theres a tremendous amount of pressure that comes with a UGA job, big contract and bigger expectations.
Mobile Dawg
September 12th, 2011
10:14 pm
Flat Tire, I thought I told you to go drink a little kool aid and chill. We should have won that game Saturday. We eliminate two of those mistakes and we will be wearing new Gator belts and boots for the November run. If not we get to wonder who our new whipping boy (head coach) will be.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 12th, 2011
10:17 pm
Mobile Dawg
Im full of kool-aid
How about a refund on donations if we lose to FL and have less than 9 wins
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
September 12th, 2011
10:19 pm
Flat tire on I-95: Tell us a little more about the “lously” playcalling against Boise State. How about working on that “lously” spelling and daft comments. For all you anti-Richt people there actually is something a little more important than winning in football or any other sport but I wouldn;t expect you knuckle draggers to understand that. Richt brings that “something” to UGA.
tiger5
September 12th, 2011
10:21 pm
Amen Calhoun. Every single word of it.
Gen Neyland
September 12th, 2011
10:21 pm
Agridawg : Same can be said about Nebraska, Notre Dame, Michigan, Alabama, Florida, USCw, FSU, (we’ll pass on Miami here) and etc and etc…Only two make it to the BCSNCG and a whole bunch of If’s make BCS bowls. The pressure is spread around nicely but I know where you’re coming from. It has something to do with tenure at the HC’ing slot and what have you done for us lately…Good luck to all this weekend (except Florida).
Mobile Dawg
September 12th, 2011
10:24 pm
Good luck Flat Tire, Mark Richt has broken out the plugs, and has a couple of new air compressors. Let’s give him the ten games, maybe, just maybe, he buys you a new set of tires. If not, looks like he stole your da@& wheels. Reckon Calhoun was sipping some of that strong kool aid and fell asleep, or just got tired of getting hit over the head? Maybe him and 400 are holding a seance.
Flaubert
September 12th, 2011
10:24 pm
It appears to me that that UGa players are allowed to jive much more than, say, Alabama players. I believe Saban has more control over his team, and as a result Al is more focused and disciplined.
dolla dolla bill
September 12th, 2011
10:25 pm
For all of you dawg fans comfortable with losing, there is room on the University of Memphis bandwagon. Probably the worst team in America right now. Guaranteed to meet all of your loser needs all season long. Enjoy!!
HeelsRock&Roll
September 12th, 2011
10:28 pm
Tend to agree w/you Flaubert. Al players seem to focus on results, not flash.
Mobile Dawg
September 12th, 2011
10:32 pm
Brainiac, your admiration for Richt is noted. Your intelligence concerning football and making comments is questionable, for us ignorant ones, explain what the “knuckle draggers” statement means. Is that something that Coach Richt stands for, or a slang term that might indicate what kind of person you might really be, a hypocrit at best?
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
September 12th, 2011
10:34 pm
JB: The Ogletree twin, who is the second string fullback, has a nickname “Zander” for Alexander.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 12th, 2011
10:36 pm
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
Whats that “something”
losing to FL every year
3-10 against top 10 teams
Having to hope FL loses out so we can have an opportunity to play for the SEC championship
13-13 in SEC east since 2006
23-18 against SEC teams since 2006
30+ arrests since 2006
Ranking #2 in recruiting the past decade and #4 in putting players in the NFL with the current results
What is this “something” Im missing
Troup Co. Dawg
September 12th, 2011
10:36 pm
Our Back-up Defensive players were better than SC’s regular defense…that gives me hope, we need to get more innovative. While TG was on the sidelines yelling at Offensive players…Spurrier was dialing up a fake punt…I wonder if these coaches will ever lead by example ___on the field. The fake was called by SC because our defense wasn’t lined up correctly. Yeah…I watched the Spurrier show today, It just shows you how Unfocused our coaches are at times. Turn your head for a second and Bloop! They score on us. Georgia coaches better get their crap together…and it’s gonna be a long season anyway…they may not have the weight of the world on their shoulders, but they do have the fate of their future in the hands of the Bulldog Nation!
dolla dolla bill
September 12th, 2011
10:43 pm
tell ‘em flat tire…i’m tired of tellin’ ‘em…
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
September 12th, 2011
10:49 pm
Mobile Dawg; If you don’t understand what a “knuckle dragger” is and you don’t understand what Richt is doing for those he recruits for UGA then you may be worse off than I feared.
I admit I shouldn’t try to make anything on here personal but between the “knuckle draggers” working for the AJC and people wanting Richt fired it really bothers me. Do y’all want a situation at UGA like they have at Ohio State, Miami and North Carolina? Check out Gene Chiznik’s record prior to his being his as Auburn’s coach. CMR has a much better record than a heck of a lot of other Division I coaches. I may owe y’all an apology but I really hope y’all at least understand that doing things within the rules is a big part of helping these young men learn there is no shortcuts and free meals if you really want to excel in life the right way..
hot dawg
September 12th, 2011
10:50 pm
Enter your comments here
Coaching staff
September 12th, 2011
10:51 pm
Calhoun dog, that fact u mention Obama and the economy I know you are joking about the coaches not being at fault.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
September 12th, 2011
10:54 pm
Flat tire: See my 10:49 PM post.
Dr. Phil
September 12th, 2011
10:58 pm
Reference the article link posted by Big Papi: I think the turning point with Richt and his program was when he sent the team on the field to dance in the end zone against UF. That was one of the most unsportsmanlike acts I have ever witnessed–certainly by a coach. It undercut any moral authority that Richt might have had and made him one of the boys. It would have gotten most coaches fired. Tweeting, taunting, pool parties, energy vampires, dream teams, and other forms of individual entitlement and stupidity are all part of a disintegrating program.
hot dawg
September 12th, 2011
11:02 pm
Ok yall im sorry…..richard samuel clock is ticking to prove himself…..and time sure is low yes he has managed to hold the ball this year and yes has blocked ok… but to say he is runs better than malcome and harton is yet to b proven and probobly not true so the question is can a constant running threat open our offense more than a extra linemen?……..also brown and bennett are our best recievers HANDS DOWN…..i did notice samuel chopping his legs for the first time but time but time is running out….crowell rambo…….growing up right before our eyes GO DAWGS..
Mobile Dawg
September 12th, 2011
11:04 pm
Brainiac, you’re treading on some mighty thin ice. If you were a politician you would be stewed and fried at this point. However, you have taught me something, I goggled that “knuckle dragger” slang and to my surprise it was used in several contexts with different meanings. I have heard it used as a racial slang on a few occasions, so I would be careful how I used it. But thanks for the “synonym” (I know that’s a stretch) lesson. Everyone have a good night. You too Thomas Brown, if you’re going to be up tonight.
Amazing
September 12th, 2011
11:06 pm
It is crazy to see how UGA fans are become comfortable with “effort,” and opposed to results. It’s sad really.
I remember a time when UGA fans had enough pride to consider a loss a loss…instead of talking about how “we outplayed SC” or “we beat ourselves” or “if we get a break or two we win.” Do you really find solice in moral victories? Do you need to “believe” that you outplayed SC that much to make yourselves feel better?
One more thing…please stop talking about how you can still win the SEC East, and start trying to figure out how you can win your FIRST football game. Trying to make your team out to be a Champion when you are 0-2 makes you sound stupid.
Marcus Welby, MD
September 12th, 2011
11:07 pm
The dynamic at play here is facinating. What to do with the future of Georgia football? Most everyone is in agreement that Coach Richt is a fine man and a great representative of the University of Georgia. A couple of decades ago, the mention of removing him from this job with his past record of winning would be considered fools talk. Maybe Georgia draws a line in the sand and says he stays. The administration and fan base need to get on the same page. I don’t like what college football has become. The entire system is corrupt. Maybe the NFL needs to start a minor league system as coach Jerry DiNardo is pushing for. Valuable scholarships are being wasted on kids who have no interest in education, while deserving kids who cannot afford the cost of admission never get the opportunity to attend college. It’s sad really.
hot dawg
September 12th, 2011
11:09 pm
AS LONG AS WE FIGHT FOUR QTRS COACH IS DOING HIS JOB WE DID THAT AND WE WILL WIN MORE OFTEN THAN NOT WITH THAT FORMULA…GO DAWGS
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 12th, 2011
11:10 pm
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
See my 10:36 pm post
Oh and have another round of kool-aid its on the house
Mobile Dawg
September 12th, 2011
11:11 pm
We’re really sorry Mr. Amazing, can you ever forgive us? Most of us do consider a loss a loss, and overall I haven’t read to many people posting they are comfortable with our situation. There are a few fringe folks that might qualify for mental disabilty, but we all know they have just overdosed on kool aid. Personally I wouldn’t want you to be sad for us, so just hit the off button and save yourself.
TampaDawg
September 12th, 2011
11:16 pm
Some of the fans here can’t remember past 2009 apparently.
So here is how it is. If you are a coach at UGA, your best bet is to suck early and hope they give you enough years to get it right. God forbid you should win a lot of games early and some conference titles because when you have a couple of down years, you certainly won’t get an entire third year to turn things around before the fan base starts wanting a change. They don’t seem to remember the days when 8-4 was a good year .. every year. They don’t remember the years when the only moral victory we had was the typical win over GT (and under Donnan and Goof, even that game wasn’t a given). But then again, they also don’t remember the current coach just 3 years removed from back to back 10 win seasons.
lotsadeacs
September 12th, 2011
11:17 pm
Dawgs, I’m a Gator who’s seen, and remembers vividly, the other side of our series. Thank God it was before the era of instantaneous communications. Do you folks realize what you’re doing to each other, and probably to your football program and to current recruiting? Love him or hate him, Richt is your Coach until he’s not. Maybe you should be chatting up the Trustees instead of the whole world.
I can’t believe there is actually a Jawja Booldawg fan who thinks Obama is not a complete idiot, just as an aside.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 12th, 2011
11:18 pm
Marcus Welby, MD
To those kids who dont want to play by the rules and go to school and qualify oh well sorry go back home and push buggies for Walmart
Thats the problem we feel sorry for these kids. These kids have more than half the world does
Go look at the kids Mark Richt see’s on his mission trip. Their lucky to eat one meal a day and have a pair of clothes
Yet we want to feel sorry for kids who get to play a game that allows most of them a free education with meals and an opportunity to play for big money or an opportunity at a good job just because they played at a school like UGA
No one is going to hand it to them in the real world. Thats life
Amazing
September 12th, 2011
11:19 pm
Mobile,
Go back and read the many posts (just on this particular article) and you will see many UGA fans spouting about how you really outplayed SC. Certainly you see that. If not, then you are as delusiional as the rest.
My point is that UGA has a proud tradition of football, and it is a shame to see UGA fans happy with the “effort.” That used to not be the case. At the same time, it makes UGA fans sound like poor losers when they talk about how UGA “outplayed” SC. If you are not one of those fans, this my post wasn’t meant for you. Thanks for responding anyway however.
TampaDawg
September 12th, 2011
11:20 pm
as for the Kool-aid comments, if it helps build a memory, some of you need to be drinking it yourself. The program is clean (no major infractions), discipline is swift (removal of players who are getting arrested or causing continuous issues), and recruiting, despite it all, is still at an incredibly high level. But have a downward swing and college football alzheimers kicks in apparently.
Mobile Dawg
September 12th, 2011
11:25 pm
We did “outplay” USC. It wasn’t a moral victory, it was an abysmal thing, we shot ourselves in the foot, found a way to lose, which has become the norm, which is why a large percentage (albiet debatable) of fans want to see a change. I’m not happy, even the delusional ones aren’t happy, they just “love” Mark Richt. But you’re welcome for the response.