Georgia’s Mark Richt gets 100th career win in dramatic fashion over UT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Mark Richt won his 100th career game as Georgia’s head coach at the same place he recorded his first signature victory.
The Bulldogs pulled out a 20-12 victory over Tennessee Saturday night before a sell-out crowd of 102,455 at Neyland Stadium, where Larry Munson introduced the world to the hobnail boot. And Georgia nearly made it as dramatic.
The outcome was uncertain until Tennessee quarterback Matt Sims was sacked on the game’s final play. But that did nothing to quell the postgame celebration, which was said to rival the one Georgia had here 10 years ago almost to the day.
“We’re happy,” Richt said well after the locker room had cleared. “We had a great celebration after the game and it was a lot of fun. I’m very humbled at the way the players and coaches responded to me. One hundred victories is kind of hard to believe. But they belong to everyone that has played here and coached. To win here is very difficult to do.”
Made even more difficult when you lose 46 yards on two downs.
That’s what happened to the Bulldogs when they were flagged for three holding penalties and a facemask early in the fourth quarter. At the time they were eyeing first-and-10 at the Tennessee 23 and contemplating going up by at least three more points, which would have put them ahead three scores. Instead, Georgia ended up facing second-and-56 at its own 33. Two plays later they punted back to the Vols on fourth-and-58.
“I hate that there was that much drama at the end,” Richt said, now able to laugh about it, “but that’s what happens when you get fourth-and-58.”
Nevertheless, the victory was the fourth in a row for the Bulldogs (4-2, 3-1 SEC), who suddenly find themselves tied with South Carolina for the SEC Eastern Division lead. It was Georgia’s first win at Neyland Stadium since 2005.
The Gamecocks face road tests at Mississippi state, Tennessee and Arkansas in their next three games. The Bulldogs will be back in Tennessee next week to face Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-2), then get an off week before traveling to Jacksonville to face Florida.
Tennessee falls to 3-2 and 0-2 in the SEC.
Georgia broke open the game with a pair of touchdown runs by Isaiah Crowell in the third quarter. The Bulldogs’ defense, which has played so well in recent weeks, made it stand up. Crowell finished with 58 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Aaron Murray was 15-of-25 passing for 227 yards.
“I expected it to be a war and it was,” Crowell said. “It was very physical, but we came out with the W and that’s all that matters.”
Crowell came out of the game with wrist and ankle injuries.”It’s all right,” the freshman from Columbus said. “It feels a lot better after a win. I’ll be ready to go next week.”
Georgia also lost dynamic freshman wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell in the game. Mitchell pulled a hamstring a 73-yard reception that turned out to be the most critical play in the game. He finished with three catches for 128 yards but could not play the game’s final 20 minutes.
“We don’t think he just blew it up,” Richt said of Mitchell. “He wanted to go back in. We’re hopeful he’ll be back by the Florida game. That’s what we hope.”
Tennessee lost starting quarterback Tyler Bray to a broken thumb in the fourth quarter.
Georgia’s defense was the main reason the Bulldogs were able to escape with victory. They held Tennessee to minus-20 yards rushing, recorded two sacks and kept the Vols’ quarterbacks under pressure throughout.
“I think the guys have gotten more confidence as we’ve gone along,” defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. “We’ve played a lot of players. We’ve had safeties playing linebacker, we’ve had linebackers playing outside and inside. We actually had Abry Jones playing outside [linebacker] some today, just because of where we are with our depth because of injuries. I’m real proud of the way they’re playing and their efforts.”
Georgia was able to overcome some sloppy play in the fourth quarter in which it was penalized five times for 48 yards after reaching the Tennessee 23-yard line. Instead of at least getting a field goal that would have forged a three-score lead, the Bulldogs had to punt the ball from their own 31 on fourth-and-58.
Tennessee scored on a one-yard sneak by Matt Sims with 2:45 to play. It was just the second touchdown Georgia’s defense had allowed in the last 16 quarters. But Shawn Williams blocked the ensuing point-after attempts and the Bulldogs took over at the Tennessee 35 after the Vols onside kick went out of bounds.
With Tennessee out of timeouts, Georgia was able to run out clock before punting with 18 seconds remaining. The Vols took over at their own 20 and the game ended with Jarvis Jones sacking quarterback Matt Sims. Sims was in the game because starting quarterback Tyler Bray had been sidelined with a hand injury on the previous possession.
“We’re able to laugh about it now,” said quarterback Aaron Murray, who had 227 yards on 15-of-25 passing. “I wasn’t sure what we’d call on third-and-57, a take-off or what. We don’t want to do that. Our defense was playing great and we could have put it out of reach right there. We just have to learn from our mistakes.”
Georgia’s fortunes turned midway through the third quarter. Marlin Lane was awarded a touchdown on a 66-yard catch-and-run on third-and-long. But a protracted video review by officials determined that Lane’s knee was down on a tackle by linebacker Michael Gilliard at the Tennessee 47, three yards shy of a first down.
So instead of a touchdown, the Vols punted and Georgia took over at its own 7-yard line. Three plays later, the Bulldogs went ahead 20-6 on a 17-yard run by Crowell. The score was set up by Murray’s 73-yard strike to Mitchell on first down at Georgia’s 7.
“There was a discussion on what to do there,” Richt said. “There was that play or try to knock it out of there running the football. Mike [Bobo] wanted to throw that because he felt their coverage was going to give us the post. I said, ‘do it; throw Birmingham.’”
“I’ll be making sure Malcolm’s in the rehab room,” Murray joked. “That was the biggest play of the day. To get us down there to the 20 or so and then bunch it in right there changed the whole game right there.”
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156 comments Add your comment
keniboy
October 9th, 2011
10:30 am
blah, blah, richt is a good person, fine coach, i feel like bobo could call better plays, that’s armchair but he’s just too predictable, go ahead and keep going up , though, you’re looking good. please beat florida!
St. Simons Daddy
October 9th, 2011
10:34 am
Where are all the Vol fans that were talking trash all week? I thought the Dawgs might not even survive the first quarter according to them. The fact is Glory Glory was playing instead of Rocky Top.
Why is it that Dawg haters come on here and bash us? I know most are Tech fans who have the biggest inferioity comlex in the universe that pretend to be who ever we are playing fans. Vol fans talk trash and think their stadium is the holy catherdal of football. You bunch of toothless hillbillies are facing a hard row tho hoe the next few weeks.
Go Dawgs
Marky Garten, Wall Street Protester.
October 9th, 2011
10:36 am
Mark Richt = Gordon Gekko. Vince Dooley = Illuminati
Marky Garten, Wall Street Protester.
October 9th, 2011
10:39 am
Jim Donnan = Pyramid Scheme Engineer.
Marky Garten, Wall Street Protester.
October 9th, 2011
10:41 am
I think these players would be better off staying in their rural Georgia communities where unemployement is 30% and never being offered an opportunity to get a degree.
Dr. Morpheus
October 9th, 2011
10:41 am
If “Thomas Brown” had been the angel in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” he would have told Jimmy Stewart to go ahead and jump off the bridge. Imagine the time he spends researching creative ways to put a negative spin on the Dawgs (instead of having a life, wonderful or otherwise). If it gets you through the night, “Thomas,” have at it…
Hey, how ’bout that D?
Marky Garten, Wall Street Protester.
October 9th, 2011
10:42 am
Give me your money. I can spend it better than you can.
Cold Hard Truth in the Mirror
October 9th, 2011
10:46 am
RE: 10 Win Season
Ten wins in a single season became a standard of excellence back when the regular season schedule consisted of 10 games plus 1 bowl game if the team was successful. Back then, a 10 win season amounted to a .91 win percentage.
In the modern era (in which CMR has coached), a successful season includes 14 games. 12 regular season + conference championship + bowl game. In this environment, a 10 win season amounts to a .71 win percentage. That number sounds eerily familiar. It’s not a terrible record, but it’s also not a championship caliber record. Mark Richt’s 10 win seasons do not = Bear Bryant’s or Vince Dooley’s 10 win seasons.
.91 is an A
.71 is a C
100 wins = 10 years of mediocrity.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 9th, 2011
10:48 am
Bobo showed that he deserves a 5 yr contract
Two games where the offense didnt do anything for 2 qtrs
Last night we went from 2 qtrs of the offense doing nothing to 3 qtrs of not doing anything
Im trying to figure out what was the highlight of the night:
3rd and 57 or holding on to a lead by running the clock out
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 9th, 2011
10:50 am
Paul Has A Small Johnson
3rd and 57 was my favorite from that list of yours on Bill Kings Blog
Stupid filter on here acting up again hopefully this posts in its entirety
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 9th, 2011
10:52 am
I guess Ive been barred from Bill Kings blog today
Jborodawg
October 9th, 2011
10:53 am
I’m liking the Dawgs overall play. I’m now wishing for a “play-maker” on D…ala a Pollock or a Tardits or…?…
For those of you still raggin’ on CMB and CMR for playing Carlton Thomas…he averaged 5.3 ypc last night, vs 3.1 for Crowell. Move Samuel back to LB? That’s absurd. We have no depth at TB as it is. Actually, Richard has few good runs; I don’t think the O line has been consistent enough when he’s in there.
I just got back from http://www.govolsextra and you’d be surprised how many Vowels fans would take CMB right now.
DawgNation
October 9th, 2011
10:54 am
I could have sworn Georgia won this ball game. Never know it by the people with no life at all except to find different ways to put the program down posting here. Go back to where ever there is a GT blog and beat your chests at just how great you are.
yarddawg69
October 9th, 2011
10:55 am
Best post on here after the game is from “Tell me again”. Very good and very intelligent. I know we all know everything about football and second guessing someones decision after the fact, is well, so very easy to do. Opinions are like buttholes everybody has one, but, anyone who is dogging bobo in this one needs to a get a grip, Honestly I would have done the same thing. Anyone who thinks otherwise has either never played the game before or is just an idiot. But I think that Coach Todd Grantham needs to be congratulated along with the defense on this one. Congrats on your win players and coaches in a very hostile place to win, especially at night! GO DAWGS! LOVE UP HERE AT COLLEGE MOMA SEND US SOME MONEY!
Cold Hard Truth in the Mirror
October 9th, 2011
11:04 am
@DawgNation
There’s nothing to brag about on the Tech blogs either. I mean, it’s nice to be undefeated, but they almost lost to an absolutely terrible Turtle team yesterday. Tech bragging means zilch – until they play Clemson.
DawgNation
October 9th, 2011
11:06 am
Cold Hard Truth,
My Point exactly. Those who are posting just how awful the team is, even after winning, are the same ones who thinks GT is world beaters.
LHarding Dawg
October 9th, 2011
11:06 am
Great 100th. win for Coach Richt. Great defense by Grantham. Great play calling by Bobo. Terribly called game by the SEC officials. This oficiating crew needs to be reviewed by the league.
All the haters can go to H__l!
DawgNation
October 9th, 2011
11:07 am
Amen LHarding Dawg
CMR in Chains
October 9th, 2011
11:11 am
Those Zebra striped SOB’s are holding me back! They’re all just jealous of my superior suntan and hair pomade.
Dawg Days
October 9th, 2011
11:17 am
It was a good road win. I thought Tyler Bray was going to dice us up with the underneath routes for a while. I was a little disappointed in the running game and the two series in the 4th with all the penalties. That is when the dominate teams run for a few first downs and kill the clock. I thought there were two many runs conservative runs up the middle for no yards. Seemed to lack concentration. That is when you need the big push that breaks the other teams will. There has been a lack of holes for Crowell to run through since the second half against Miss. State.
The defense continues to play well and I thought the offensive play calling for Tenn was very good in the first half. Not sure why Orson Charles is not targeted more. He should be leading the team in receptions. It baffles me that Malcom Mitchell is the teams leading receiver. I guess these kids coming out of highschool really are better than the talent already in school. I thind T King was targeted 10 times yesterday. The ball seems to bounce off his hands a lot. Would like to see some play action to Figgins out of the backfield. If it were not for the freshman, I am not sure the offense has a big play potential.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 9th, 2011
11:18 am
Jborodawg and DawgNation
So both of you think after watching the last 3 wins that this staff will beat FL 2 yrs in a row and win the East both yrs
Because Im not seeing it on offense
The defense looks much improved but I realize much improved against 5 inept offenses but at least it has shown improvement
The offense is still the same sputtering along like usual with the “Lets hope we can run the clock out Mentatilty”
That wont cut it against good teams and we saw how well our offense performed against a decent team in Boise
DawginTX
October 9th, 2011
11:26 am
GT Joe, you are a moron. We didn’t exactly need to convert at that point.
And please don’t talk adult football until you play a ranked opponent or your strength of schedule climbs into the top 80.
Covers Dixie like the Dew
October 9th, 2011
11:34 am
Unranked UGA moves to 4-2.
Number 13 Georgia Tech moves to 6-0.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
October 9th, 2011
11:41 am
Red Dawg 77: Great submission but you should know by now that negative nut jobs will, for the most part, never admit any wrong contributions or perceptions on their part. Just the abscence of most of their BS contributions is great. We have a long way to go but if we get ALL our players back from punishment/injuries in good condition this could turn out to be a really impressive year
TampaGator
October 9th, 2011
11:47 am
Mr. Crowell……..
You don’t know physical until you line up against LSU and Bama…….based on what I saw of you last night…..you would not last one quarter in a game against the Tide or the Tigers. Tennessee is NOT a physical football team……..Florida’s offensive and defensive lines pushed them all over the field. COME ON MAN!!!
TampaGator
October 9th, 2011
11:48 am
Covers Dixie…..
How do you think Ga. Tech would fair against LSU and Bama…..running that offense against that speed, quickness, and strength…….well……lest just say…..you would suddenly become 6-2 with a lot of players injured.
Cdpridg
October 9th, 2011
11:49 am
I am still in knoxville and was in neyland last night…..crowd noise was unbelievable and they have a great supportive fanbase that loves the game. The head coach does not have to coach the fans on how to make noise…sanford is a funeral compared to that. Great win in a very hostile enviroment…..for the complainers I am sick of it……go find a new team…sick of the loser so called Ga fans!!
TampaGator
October 9th, 2011
11:50 am
Covers Dixie…..
You will have a chance to make a true point when your team lines up against a very good and talented Clemson team……but Clemson would lose by 10 to 20 points to either LSU or Bama.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 9th, 2011
11:51 am
I wont be sold until this coaching staff beats FL 2 yrs in a row,
turns the 2-10 against ranked teams around,
wins the east outright and that means not sitting here hoping an east team that beat us loses out to get into the SEC championship
And starts beating top 10 teams instead of having an 80% losing record to top 10 teams
Until then please pass your glass of kool-aid down to the next UGA moron. Im not thirsty
Big Wally Butts
October 9th, 2011
11:53 am
Cold Hard Flat Tire,
Too bad that Bill King was the ony one who blocked you today. You dudes are wearing me out.
TampaGator
October 9th, 2011
11:54 am
Cdpridg…..
Tennessee has great fans……but they are not consistently as loud as Bama, LSU, and Florida fans in their stadiums…..when the final score of games are still undetermined.
TampaGator
October 9th, 2011
11:56 am
Anyway…..time to go watch Muschamp explain why his team played so lousy yesterday……even with a 3rd string freshman QB playing with 5 known plays to select from. Still….no excuse for the poor blocking and tackling for the second week in a row.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
October 9th, 2011
12:00 pm
Strange = Queer Murphy/same ol dawg(poop)”dumbest fans in all of college football”. So how many of ALL college fans did you actually speak with? You and your ilk couldn’t find your/their A$$ with both hands in your hip pockets. Poop, if you love to watch Saban just have at it. Go visit his statue every weekend. I’m hoping this “love to watch Saban” isn’t emotional because Nicky Boy is happily married.
Thomas Brown
October 9th, 2011
12:05 pm
“The best part is, that as the Dawgs continue to win, Richt stays, Murray plays”
And, just whom is it that we have beat ? Oh, you left that part out, very neatly.
CUPCAKE # 5 IN A ROW NEXT, VANDIE
DawginTX
October 9th, 2011
12:06 pm
Covers Dixie, we’ll see 2 days after Thanksgiving just like we do every year. It’s not smart to compare records unless you have played a comparable schedule. Georgia’s strength of schedule is in the top 10 and yours isn’t in the top 90. In case you don’t recall how things ususally go, Georgia has beaten Tech 9 out of 10, 16 out of 20, and 35 out of 47 (since Vince Dooley’s arrival).
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
October 9th, 2011
12:09 pm
Flat Tire on I-95: Next time you have a thought………….just let it go.
Big Enos Burdette
October 9th, 2011
12:16 pm
Don’t have a dog in the fight, but don’t confuse screamin and hollerin for coachin. Any idiot can act like an idiot.
Think Muschamp and Dabo and a few others start the screamin when they can’t really think of anything else to do. More of an attempt to look productive than to actually be productive.
Big Enos Burdette
October 9th, 2011
12:17 pm
Some folks have to take a Dulcolax to get their thoughts out
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 9th, 2011
12:17 pm
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
Here’s a thought, The kool-aid bar in downtown Athens needs another bartender to serve up some kool-aid
There is an influx of new costumers after last nights win against a lousy Tenn team who people act like that was such a big time win
angry mangy mutt
October 9th, 2011
12:21 pm
Again, so many people happy with the win and so many disappointed. The correct reaction should be in the middle. It is great that the Dawgs won but it should have been more impressive. The Vols are not a very good team and regardless of where the game is played a great team will make that field their backyard. The Oline protected Murray, but did not consistently tear the Vol D front like they should of. Murray missed on some passes that would have been huge. It was not one but a few. On the other hand he made the passes he should have made and showed that if the Oline did their job he is a solid qb. The D was almost great. However unrealistic, anything less than perfect should not be acceptable. That is the approach of winning programs, be it the player, the coach, or the fan.
Big Enos Burdette
October 9th, 2011
12:22 pm
Tennessee isn’t much this year. But, at least the dawgs are winning the games they’re supposed to again. For a while it didn’t look like they could do that much.
Thomas Brown
October 9th, 2011
12:24 pm
Cold Hard Truth in the Mirror
October 9th, 2011
10:46 am
EXACTLY. I HAVE SAID THAT again and again and again and again for 6 years I have said that.
Paul's Johnson
October 9th, 2011
12:37 pm
UGA fans are a funny bunch; their team is never as good as they think it is or as bad as they think it is. After the first two games, a solid majority of mutt-landers were ready to toss their program and coach overboard. Now after winning 4 straight in a soft part of a fairly soft schedule, the mutt-landers are now saying “the sky’s the limit!”. Hilarious.
Niceville Dawg
October 9th, 2011
12:56 pm
I’m convinced.”Pollyanna”,”Flat Tire”,”Thomas Brown”,etc,all the same miserable person with no purpose in life but to make feeble attempts to make everyone else as miserable as them.Ain’t gonna happen….not today…not ever.Real fans and supporters pay it no mind.GO DAWGS.BEAT VANDY.
azdawg
October 9th, 2011
1:01 pm
The dawgs may not look good all the time but the times they do look good usually is enough to add W’s in the won lost column.
Vandy usually plays GA tough and cannt be overlooked. Dawgs have to play them and take them seriously. This kid Conley (WR) looks good when his number is called. GA will most likely be w/o its best receiver, Mitchell, out w/a hammie. We’ll need everyone back and healthy for FL game. Don’t take them lightly either. They ran through and around TN like you know what thru you know what. LSU and Bama’s D were able to negate FL’s 3 speed deemons most of the time and it’ll be a big challenge for the dawgs D to do the same. If they can then then GA has a good chance to win out in the SEC provided the O doesn’t give games away.
Dawgfan in FL
October 9th, 2011
1:07 pm
@Thomas Brown,
Thanks for proving my point!
“And, just whom is it that we have beat ? Oh, you left that part out, very neatly.
CUPCAKE # 5 IN A ROW NEXT, VANDIE”
Thinking this way, you make it where CMR/Murray can’t win, even when they’re winning. Like I said…best part is that knowing that with each win (cupcakes or not), Richt and Murray stay where they are, and you get to sit there frustrated cause you aren’t getting your way. Not sure if you’re a true fan (doubt it), but has it dawned on you that the Dawgs have to fail for your desires to succeed? Please pick someone else to ‘root’ for!
joe taxpayer
October 9th, 2011
1:38 pm
That game proves that CMR has to go. That game did not prove that UGA is better but Tenn. is worse.
just a fan
October 9th, 2011
1:43 pm
If Tech beats us the kool aid drinkers will be saying how good that Tech team was and its not CMR fault.
dawg85
October 9th, 2011
1:51 pm
If Tech beats us??? Dream on fanboy. Good win by the Dawgs. The nerds and jock sniffers are out in force.
Krazydawg
October 9th, 2011
2:20 pm
Congrats CMR.For thefirst time it looked like the kids was having fun,and the coach.Go Dawgs!!!!!