Preview: New Mexico State perfect opponent at perfect time for Georgia
Three storylines . . .
Missing persons. Georgia enters the game without its top four tailbacks. Freshman star Isaiah Crowell, Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome are suspended after flunking a UGA-administered drug test and backup Richard Samuel underwent season-ending surgery on Tuesday for an ankle injury suffered in the Florida game. The Bulldogs will go with Brandon Harton, a 5-6, 174-pound sophomore from Reidsville who was awarded a scholarship in preseason camp, and Kyle Karempelis (5-9-180), a freshman walkon from Norcross.
Not-so-special teams. Expected to be a team strength this season, Georgia’s special teams plays is instead among the worst in the SEC, where it ranks in the bottom half if not dead last in almost every category. The Bulldogs will look to shore up kickoff coverage in particular. They gave up 200 yards and a touchdown on five returns against Florida last week and New Mexico State features the nation’s 12th-best return team.
Calling the Hogs. While most eyes in college football will be focused on Saturday’s night’s “Game of the Century” between No. 1-ranked LSU and No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa (8 p.m., CBS), the Bulldogs and their fans will be more interested in what’s happening in Fayetteville, Ark., at about the same time (7:15 p.m., ESPN). There No. 8 Arkansas (7-1, 3-1 SEC) will be playing host to No. 10 South Carolina (7-1, 5-1). A Gamecocks’ loss will give Georgia sole possession of first place in the SEC’s Eastern Division.
A Georgia win would . . .
Be its 7th straight for the first time in a season since 2007
Be its 71st in 90 homecoming games (currently 70-17-2)
A New Mexico State win would . . .
Be its first against an SEC opponent in 14 tries.
Keep an eye on …
For Georgia: Brandon Harton. The redshirt sophomore from Reidsville is expected to get the start at tailback in the wake of the Bulldogs losing four others to suspension or injury this week. Harton (5-6, 174), a lightning quick and shifty runner, earned a scholarship in preseason camp and had actually worked his way up to No. 3 on the depth chart. But a severe ankle injury late in camp sidelined him for the first two games of the season.
For New Mexico State: Taveon Rogers. The Aggies’ senior wide receiver (6-0, 188) from Lancaster, Calif., is a threat in both the passing and return game. Last week he had 7 catches for 203 yards and 2 touchdowns against Nevada. It was his third multi-TD game of the season. He leads New Mexico State’s wideouts with 32 catches for 669 yards and is also averaging 27.5 yards on kickoff returns with a nation-leading two touchdowns.
The numbers game
6
Offensive touchdowns surrendered by Georgia defense in last 6 games
118-23
Aggregate score of Bulldogs three wins over New Mexico State
24
Tackles by Aggies safety Donyae Coleman vs. Nevada last week
The history book
Series record: Georgia leads 3-0
The last time: On Sept. 28, 2002, the Bulldogs fell behind 7-0 before scoring 41 unanswered points. Damien Gary notched Georgia’s first two scores on a 71-yard punt return and a 20-yard pass from David Greene.
The bottom line
This non-conference game comes conveniently sandwiched between rival contests against Florida and Auburn. Meanwhile, New Mexico State is exactly the type of opponent the Bulldogs need at this juncture of the season. The Aggies feature a high-octane offense (419 yards, 30 points per game) and one of the best return games in the country. Meanwhile, they’re giving up 442 yards a game and their rush defense ranks 111th nationally. So Georgia should be able to absorb its personnel losses while having to stay sharp and focused.
– Chip Towers
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
377 comments Add your comment
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
1:30 pm
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 4th, 2011
1:29 pm
Fart Tar
Is all over the place, grasping at straws. Yesterday it was China, then it was USSR, now it is Willie Martinez. All I wanna know is who really was on that grassy knoll in ‘63? I mean at the rate you are bouncing and with your superb knoweldge and wisdom you can surely enlighten us all. O yeah…I am still your Daddy.
No disrespect but a small child could school him in most things football.
McDawg
November 4th, 2011
1:31 pm
T. Brown your insight is riveting
football players get hurt oh my
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
1:31 pm
Keith Olbermann parody
November 4th, 2011
1:24 pm
@True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
12:43 pm
youre an idiot
Thanks for the constructive criticism, it seemed funny at the time.
Now go screw yourself.
Learn how to read before you post and you wont get called names.
Keith Olbermann parody
November 4th, 2011
1:34 pm
“Learn how to read before you post and you wont get called names.”
I have no idea what you’re talking about, but call me all the names you want if it makes you happy.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 4th, 2011
1:35 pm
True Dawg,
He though is the King of his Doublewide trailer, I will give him that.
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
1:36 pm
Keith Olbermann parody
November 4th, 2011
1:34 pm
“Learn how to read before you post and you wont get called names.”
I have no idea what you’re talking about, but call me all the names you want if it makes you happy.
You called for Richt to resign bc you say he knew about the tests before the FLorida game and that he cheated. AKA youre an idiot.
Had you read the other articles that clearly state the test results got back to UGA on Tuesday and the players were immediately suspended then you wouldnt make dumb comments.
Anything else that should be spelled out for you?
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
1:36 pm
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 4th, 2011
1:35 pm
True Dawg,
He though is the King of his Doublewide trailer, I will give him that.
ahahhahaha. At least he is the best armchair QB in his eyes.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 4th, 2011
1:39 pm
Dude you need a horse so you can go beat that thing.
ATrueDAWG26
November 4th, 2011
1:39 pm
Malcolm Mitchell was NOT brought back too soon..hence he hasn’t played since the Tennessee game. If you’re going to comment know what you are talking about and then again he has no reason to be on this list of people in the first place!
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
1:43 pm
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
1:36 pm
Monkey like intelligence
Yea you really have a lot of intellegence when you think legalizing pot will do this government wonders
Funny how gambling is becoming legal in a lot of states ie the lottery and yet the economy for some reason isnt getting better
Compromises you say; thats the problem with our country now; no one to think logicaly just idiots spouting of garbage like legalizing pot will make this economy better because they are to stupid to fix the problems
Like I said before and I’ll say it again our great American economy was not built on the legalization of dope and it didnt help then and it wont help now
how blind are you??? It is people like you that give us republicans bad names. You are so against any kind of change that you just wnat to say NO to everything. Its pathetic.
Legalizing pot will: reduce crime (no more arrest for a harmless crime), reduce the number of inmates in prisons (Those arrested for pot would be released and less of our tax dollars would be spent), create jobs in every state in the country (someone will have to run the shops, and they will need a staff to run the place), increase tax revenue (ppl who buy it will have to pay a special excise tax), Less trees cut down to make paper (hemp is a renewable source for making paper).
But who would want all of those good things to happen to the US.
O and that $10-15B number I gave you was for the additional tax revenue only. Add in all these other factors and its a splash in bucket.
But you are too dumb to understand this so you will go off about something else retarded.
Keith Olbermann parody
November 4th, 2011
1:45 pm
“You called for Richt to resign bc you say he knew about the tests before the FLorida game and that he cheated. AKA youre an idiot.
“Had you read the other articles that clearly state the test results got back to UGA on Tuesday and the players were immediately suspended then you wouldnt make dumb comments.
“Anything else that should be spelled out for you?”
Are you serious? You think that’s what I was doing – calling for Richt to resign?
Here’s a suggestion. Crack open a dictionary and look up these definitions: parody, irony.
It should have been clear to anyone with an IQ over 90 that I was invoking a loudmouthed buffoon, Keith Olbermann, in order to make fun of those people who think that Richt cheated on the timing of the release of the results of the drug test to maintain an advantage in the Florida game.
For persons of your apparent IQ or age group, I’ll make my point in simple, easy to grasp language:
Richt didn’t know about the drug tests before last Saturday’s game. Anyone who thinks so, without proof, is a conspiracy nut like that liberal loudmouth who got fired from MSNBC, Keith Olbermann. Richt is a good man who should get the benefit of the doubt.
Better? See, we’re on the same side of this issue!
Fleming Island Dawg
November 4th, 2011
1:45 pm
Young team yes. The starters and playmakers are young, period
even if we have some juniors and seniors they aren’t the ones playin. Sophmore QB best receivers freshman, TB freshman OL is young LBs are young secondary young. It’s Richt’s fault the schedul are cupcakes but remember we helped them get that way.
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
1:45 pm
“The better question is what are we going to do about the decommits that are coming in? It’s already up to 2 thanks to the drug problem within our football program.”
If you really think its bc of a “drug problem” then you are a sad lost soul. Decommits are bc of the uncertainty that surrounded Richt this year.
Dr. Morpheus
November 4th, 2011
1:45 pm
To my great surprise, the silly troll who styles himself as “Thomas Brown” actually had an interesting and informative post… until he started playing Spin Doctor and I had to stop reading….
RRXsing
November 4th, 2011
1:47 pm
Funny, everyteam since SC has been a breeze,all 7 games.
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
1:48 pm
So will drilling for oil
So will cutting the welfare dead beats off
So will cutting taxes
Just one of those things will bring 10 times more stimulus to the government than making it legal for dope heads like you to run around getting high
ahhahahahaha you think the government would actually cut off wellfare?? Thats the dumbest suggestion I have ever seen. Poor people would riot in the streets. Not saying im not for reducing their dependance on wellfare, but you cant just cut it off. I am a big fan of drug testing them though. If you cant afford to buy food you dont need to be buying a vice period.
Dr. Morpheus
November 4th, 2011
1:49 pm
@John Galt- Looking forward to your report, bro!
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
1:50 pm
Keith Olbermann parody
November 4th, 2011
1:45 pm
“You called for Richt to resign bc you say he knew about the tests before the FLorida game and that he cheated. AKA youre an idiot.
“Had you read the other articles that clearly state the test results got back to UGA on Tuesday and the players were immediately suspended then you wouldnt make dumb comments.
“Anything else that should be spelled out for you?”
Are you serious? You think that’s what I was doing – calling for Richt to resign?
Here’s a suggestion. Crack open a dictionary and look up these definitions: parody, irony.
It should have been clear to anyone with an IQ over 90 that I was invoking a loudmouthed buffoon, Keith Olbermann, in order to make fun of those people who think that Richt cheated on the timing of the release of the results of the drug test to maintain an advantage in the Florida game.
For persons of your apparent IQ or age group, I’ll make my point in simple, easy to grasp language:
Richt didn’t know about the drug tests before last Saturday’s game. Anyone who thinks so, without proof, is a conspiracy nut like that liberal loudmouth who got fired from MSNBC, Keith Olbermann. Richt is a good man who should get the benefit of the doubt.
Better? See, we’re on the same side of this issue!
so really anyone could have seen that? Its not as if you spoke the words, kinda hard to tell sarcasim on a blog there big guy.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 4th, 2011
1:54 pm
True Dawg-
Ya cannot make this stuff up that he spouts out. He is wrong, deep down he knows it but he has pigeon-holed himself on th eissue that he has to do whatever it takes to try and vindicate himself rather than simply saying, dang you guys have a good point. Like I said earlier sometimes common sense isnt so common. Fart Tar is the living breathing example of just that.
Keith Olbermann parody
November 4th, 2011
1:56 pm
“so really anyone could have seen that?”
Apparently not
“Its not as if you spoke the words, kinda hard to tell sarcasim on a blog there big guy.”
True. I surrender.
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
1:56 pm
Mark Richt
November 4th, 2011
1:48 pm
true dawg fan: no they dont want to go to a program and university surrounded by scandal. As an alum I am extremely disappointed and disturbed about the things happening in and outside the classroom. Over 1600 IDs being sold is just the tip of the iceberg. Then it looks like we have a major drug problem with the football and athletic programs at uga. If all of the running backs were smoking pot together, are the wide receivers huffing paint during the bye week?
Just calm down, its college these kids are bound to have a little fun. Granted they shouldnt have done it during the season, but they are just kids. They have a ton of responsibilty on their shoulders at such a young age who are we to judge them for taking the edge off a little bit and relaxing with their friends??
As for 1600 IDs its college, and in Athens you have to be 21 to get in the bars even if you arent drinking. There are 35000 students at UGA, plus another 10K or so that go to gainesville down the road.
Like I said its college, kids will be kids.
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:00 pm
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 4th, 2011
1:54 pm
True Dawg-
Ya cannot make this stuff up that he spouts out. He is wrong, deep down he knows it but he has pigeon-holed himself on th eissue that he has to do whatever it takes to try and vindicate himself rather than simply saying, dang you guys have a good point. Like I said earlier sometimes common sense isnt so common. Fart Tar is the living breathing example of just that.
Very true. Besides you and Dawgin Lex and a few others its all fringe fans and nerds on here
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 4th, 2011
2:00 pm
So when do you start your Anti-Alcohol campaign Tar? What you described is the epidemic that Alcoholism and its effects have bestowed upon this country not persay Marijuana.
MountainDawg
November 4th, 2011
2:02 pm
I hope Karempelis gets a bunch of carries…he’s a fast kid with alotta potential.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 4th, 2011
2:03 pm
True Dawg-
Thanks, I have said since the 0-2 that the season must play out for McGarity to determine CMR future. I have stayed the course and will continue till the end of the season. For this logical approach you are labeled a Kool Aid Drinker or Thomas Browns favorite, DisneyDawg.com.
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:04 pm
You are part of the problem. These kids have a free ride to a great institution and play in the best football conference in the country. That’s not enough so they have to go smoke a J. What idiots. We deserve to lose all of our commits and any games we have left. It’s not hard to maintain a little control over athletes. And as for the fake ID thing…it’s ILLEGAL. Not only is it illegal, but it’s a felony. Great way to represent the university yall. UGA gets $0 from me this year.
hahahahahhaha, actually you have it backwards. Its people like you that are the problem. You put so much pressure on these kids and then get angry at them for enjoying life and being a kid. I understand the scholarship and free ride arguement and it is extremely valid. Thats why I said it was dumb for them to do it during the season. You are kidding yourself if you dont think that during the offseason that most of these kids in all football programs dont do this.
For fake IDs once again its COLLEGE. They are called the black years for a reason. You might should try hitting some pot maybe it will calm you down and teach you how to relax a little
Jimmy Crack
November 4th, 2011
2:05 pm
“…it could generate $10-15 billion dollars a year for the government”.
Yea, and they will just pass it on to pay off our debt…RIGHT.
Also, once the “Government” gets involved in that trade, they will somehow want to make sure that no citizens are “freelancing” in their back yards or basement. KNOCK KNOCK
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:07 pm
Mark Richt
November 4th, 2011
2:01 pm
“Kids will be kids”
What a moron and idiotic logic you’re using there. While they’re at it, let’s play drinking games & do drugs until someone ODs. Oh well it’s just kids being kids.
Our AD and President need to step in now to save our school & athletic program from further embarrassment.
ahahahahahahahahah YOU CANT OD ON POT. Its impossible and thats a fact.
Did you not act up and enjoy yourself as a kid? You didnt sneak a drink from your parents liquor cabinent? You never thought about taking a pull on a J when it passed by you??
Get off your high horse. This is college and kids will be kids. They want to enjoy themselves and have a good time. If thats what they choose to do so be it. As long as they arent doing blow, herroinne, LSD, Mushrooms, crack I really dont care.
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:10 pm
Jimmy Crack
November 4th, 2011
2:05 pm
“…it could generate $10-15 billion dollars a year for the government”.
Yea, and they will just pass it on to pay off our debt…RIGHT.
Also, once the “Government” gets involved in that trade, they will somehow want to make sure that no citizens are “freelancing” in their back yards or basement. KNOCK KNOCK
Legalizing pot would also give you the ability to grow your own. Not everyone would do that so there would still be a need for a store front. It would also allow the current store owners in states where it is legal, to breathe easy that the Feds arent going to break down their door and attempt to over rule state government authorities.
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:12 pm
Mark Richt
November 4th, 2011
2:08 pm
I’m part of the problem? These kids get a FREE education and can’t refrain from smoking drugs for 4 months during the football season? They shouldn’t be in school if that’s the case. Smoke, do x, lsd, whatever every day if you want, but when playing football is what you’re at school to do….then do it for the 4 months of the season.
I hope you don’t ever / have yet procreated…injecting your genes further into the gene pool would be a shame.
Until we can get a handle on what’s going on at the university and our football program, they will receive $0 from me. I’ve donated a fair amount of money to them since I graduated in ‘97.
Clearly you arent reading my posts where I agree with you on the scholarship arguement and then go on to say that they shouldnt be dumb enough to do it during the season. Please read before you post.
As for the procreate line, dont steal my line. I have already used that one today!
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:16 pm
@ MR
There is no way any of our players are doing heroine. Good as did I and neither did I. I graduated UGA Magna Cum Laude and with a degree in Financial Planning in 07.
No one has decommited due to a so called “Drug Problem”. They decommited to the uncertainty surrounding Mark Richts Job.
Just bc I know facts about pot makes me a redneck?? wow thats news to me.
question
November 4th, 2011
2:17 pm
Why do you call Thomas Brown…Thomas Brown? Is he not BuLLdawg?
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:20 pm
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
2:15 pm
True Dawg Fan
Jimmy Crack said it best and thats was one of my points earlier
The government will get involved and take that revenue and spend it what little revenue it will make
Legalizing pot is like throwing a glass of water on a forest fire
you STUPID MORONIC IDIOT
ahhahahahahahahahahahahahhahaha go work on your grassy knoll theory moron, or your alin landing in Roswell. You know nothing about football and clearly even less about politics and how the government works.
The government wouldnt be able to hide how they spend that money, it would be such a huge deal that it require a lot of transparency on thier part. And if it is such a bad idea why are so many other countries looking to the US to legalize it so that they can follow suit.
I bet you are one of the people that think the war on drugs is actually working too dont you? Thats the biggest waste of money right there.
reebok
November 4th, 2011
2:20 pm
you can only play whoever is on the schedule. no sense in picking on the bulldogs (or the yellow jackets, for that matter) because they are playing very week scehdules. get to the conference championship game and you’ll have a plenty tough enough opponent!
gomdawg
November 4th, 2011
2:21 pm
Ya’ll get over it damn LSU had this problem they moved on so EAT OVER IT , YOU CAN’T HANDLE TRUE.
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:21 pm
Mark Richt
November 4th, 2011
2:16 pm
All you had to say is that you’re for legalizing pot and that tells me everything I need to know about you. Still the school gets $0 from me until it fixes the problems. Get athletes that can stay “clean” for the 4 months of the football season. They can go ape $$$$ the rest of the time for all I care as long as UGA isn’t in the headlines about drugs, assaults, fake ID rings, etc etc etc
So now bc I can make an intelligent arguement for why it should be legalized Im a bad person??
Dude get off your high horse and then let that horse kick you in the face you retard.
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:22 pm
gomdawg
November 4th, 2011
2:21 pm
Ya’ll get over it damn LSU had this problem they moved on so EAT OVER IT , YOU CAN’T HANDLE TRUE.
Thank you. And that was their second violation.
gomdawg
November 4th, 2011
2:24 pm
TALKING ABOUT SCEHULES ALABAMA Kent State,Penn St, N.Texas, Ark, Vandy,Ole Miss and Tenn ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm don’t look much diff. from Georgia
gomdawg
November 4th, 2011
2:25 pm
and yes Florida
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:26 pm
gomdawg
November 4th, 2011
2:24 pm
TALKING ABOUT SCEHULES ALABAMA Kent State,Penn St, N.Texas, Ark, Vandy,Ole Miss and Tenn ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm don’t look much diff. from Georgia
You sir just got added to the actually knows football lists. Thank you for making intelligent statements
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:30 pm
And that was sincere, so odd to see another intelligent football fan on here
jp
November 4th, 2011
2:30 pm
thomas brown go pull for tech or pull on yourself CMR is # 4 on active winning coaches in football today out of 120 or so his teams have 6 top 10 finishes in 10 seasons he has 2 top 5 finishes .he has been to 3 bcs games and won 2 he is 3-1 vs bama and 2-2 vs lsu .I GOT A LOLLYPOP FOR YOU .SO YOU CAN SEE HOW MANY LICKS IT TAKES TO GET TO THE CENTER. I BET ONLY 1 LICK FOR YOU JERKOFF
Difference
November 4th, 2011
2:31 pm
in ALA and GA however is THEY beat the ranked teams on their schedule.
gomdawg
November 4th, 2011
2:32 pm
South Carolina, played East Carolina, Georgia,navy, vandy,Aunurn, Kentucky, Tenn
Difference
November 4th, 2011
2:35 pm
and SC beat GA
Difference
November 4th, 2011
2:37 pm
Which leaves GA hoping for someone else to do for them that which they could not do for themselves……. beat SC to win the SEC east.
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:37 pm
Difference
November 4th, 2011
2:35 pm
and SC beat GA
thats not the point idiot.
The point is that we arent the only ones who have an easy schedule
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
2:38 pm
Difference
November 4th, 2011
2:37 pm
Which leaves GA hoping for someone else to do for them that which they could not do for themselves……. beat SC to win the SEC east.
WHO CARES. Lots of teams have to hope for others to lose, thats the beauty of college football
Difference
November 4th, 2011
2:40 pm
All major teams have weaker teams on their schedules, but to be a top tier team you better be able to beat the top tier teams when you play them, and for the last few years GA has be unable to do that.
Difference
November 4th, 2011
2:41 pm
2-10 against ranked teams….so who is the idiot? Idiot!