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
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377 comments Add your comment
True Dawg Fan
November 4th, 2011
4:36 pm
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 4th, 2011
4:34 pm
A Bummer fan making fun of a legitimate idea that could actually “help” our economy. Keep it up I have broad shoulders big guy. I schooled Fart Tar and can take you on aswell.
He has already been defeated he continues to say the same things over adn over, but inreality all he is doing is describing bama and calling it UGA
19
November 4th, 2011
4:37 pm
SCAR GO! LMAO! Good humor!
SCAR GO!
November 4th, 2011
4:38 pm
Whatever… Every fan-base has it’s podunk, redneck losers – even South Carolina’s.
ugab
November 4th, 2011
4:39 pm
I hope we are not over looking this weekend.
SCAR GO!
November 4th, 2011
4:39 pm
Thing is, in Alabama, most of them are Auburn fans.
SCAR GO!
November 4th, 2011
4:41 pm
@ugab
Good point. These little games don’t mean anything – until you lose one!
This could be a trap for Georgia, but it ain’t no bear trap – more like a mouse trap.
Bama Rolling to Another Title Again
November 4th, 2011
4:50 pm
True Dawg Fan and Low Life Country Boy
You guys are stooges at best
#1 True Dawg idiot again
Mediocrity lets see now shall we
UGA last time they were even in contention for an SEC championship was 82 before Richt
Alabama played for or won an SEC championship during that time in
89, 92, 93, 94, 96, 99
They won a national championship in 92
Where was UGA between1982-2002
Oh and saying you schooled Flat Head LOL
Just read your responses to his posts
If thats what you 2 morons calling schooling you need help
15 billion in revenue;
like Flat head said thats like throwing a glass of water into a forest fire hoping that will fix the problem
Keep on frying your braincells boys and enjoy your 10 win season Championships
blahahahahaha
SCAR GO!
November 4th, 2011
4:55 pm
Yellow Fuzz on a Vienna Sausage.
JAWJeRDAWG
November 4th, 2011
4:56 pm
True Dawg Fan and Lowcountry Bulldawg
I invite you to read a novel I published in 2003 entitled, ‘Directional Warning’ – Llumina Press.
If you do, it might persuade you to change your opinion of legalizing marijuana and give you some insight on the subsequent consequenses and dangers of how cannabis’ addictive use often leads to other illegal drug use and abuse. It’s not a pretty picture.
Have a good weekend all, and Go Dawgs!
by the way,
November 4th, 2011
4:57 pm
making pot legal would hurt unemployment…look at all those jails/prisons that we would no longer keep full and guards would be on layoff!?!?
SCAR GO!
November 4th, 2011
4:58 pm
Every drug addict I ever met started out on milk.
by the way,
November 4th, 2011
5:02 pm
Them “milk monsters” are the worst…they just like airplanes. Planes go from city to city…
Cup cakes
November 4th, 2011
5:05 pm
Cup cakes are all over NCAA ball. Schools from all over USA do play many, many cupcakes but many of them do not win. A school WINNING within the SEC, based on tradition alone is worth far more merit and poll consideration, than just about any other league …………………ESPECIALLY the ACC or that funky Mountain West thang.
Take Arkansas ……………. they will not win the SEC West but likely they will end up in the Cotton Bowl. ACC’s third or 4th place team? Could end up without ANY BOWL.
Imagine the tradition flowng at say …………….Wake Vs NC State. Wow!!! How about NC vs Marlyand my Maryland. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAhAHA
SEC owns the NCAA with 4 teams now in the Top 10.
Bama Rolling to Another Title Again
November 4th, 2011
5:07 pm
JAWJeRDAWG
Your not going to change 2 potheads minds about something they enjoy doing
Bama Rolling to Another Title Again
November 4th, 2011
5:09 pm
Those 2 morons think they schooled someone
LOL
I guess you must think your really smart when your high all the time
JAWJeRDAWG
November 4th, 2011
5:13 pm
Bama Rolling to Another Title Again
Probably not, and probably not the politically correct forum to even mention my novel, but in my profession, I’ve seem the horrors occurring from illicit drug use and abuse.
Dawg48
November 4th, 2011
5:17 pm
@bama rolling
I guess some folks don’t know their history, just like when the gov ended prohibition all the folks with illegal stills just packed up their business and found a new carrier. Any way if you legalized pot what would the state of Kentucky do? That’s their number one cash crop!
Bama Rolling to Another Title Again
November 4th, 2011
5:19 pm
JAWJeRDAWG
Yes I have as well
those two idiots not only make your program look stupid in the eyes of other fanbases but to think people being stoned will lead to a productive society much less a productive work environment is about the stupidest thing I have ever heard
tell me again
November 4th, 2011
5:22 pm
We may be inconsistent, We may recruit a few knuckleheads, our QB may be a little shaky as a sophomore, our special teams may have gone south for the winter, our coaching staff may be out to drive us all crazy BUT – we are 6-2 and tied for first in the east and that’s more than a bunch of other teams can say INCLUDING FLORIDA! GO DAWGS Win the East!
Dawg48
November 4th, 2011
5:23 pm
@bama rolling
Don’t judge us by the few moron fans we have! Every fan base has them they just happen to be ours!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 4th, 2011
5:25 pm
Bama,
If you have followed any of this discussion you would understand by now that I do not partake in the usuage of Pot. I think that we can reform our government in the areas Flat Tire mentioned in his posts aswell as legalizing Marijuana. By legalizing this you will take away the stigma of it. If we are so concerned about gateway drugs you might want to ban Alcohol also as it is a precursor also. Reform our entitlements and legalize Marijuana. It does not have to be one or the other.
Bama Rolling to Another Title Again
November 4th, 2011
5:26 pm
Dawg48
Well its good to know some UGA fans have some sense
I was getting worried about coming to Athens in a few years
JAWJeRDAWG
November 4th, 2011
5:27 pm
Chip’s blog readers
Had the topic of legalizing MJ not been discussed in this thread today, I would never had mentioned my novel.
I am not a self-promoting author; just thought it was relevant to some of the comments I’ve read here today.
Bama Rolling to Another Title Again
November 4th, 2011
5:34 pm
Lowcountry Bulldawg
That wont take away the stigma of it
You want to know what will take away the stigma of it
Stop glorifying on TV and movies as fun and funny
Take the campaign against smoking, if you are old enough to remember Smoking was advertised as hip and cool on tv and movies all the time and almost half the people I knew smoked
Now take the last 20 years with campaigns against smoking and you hardly ever see it on TV or movies because your considered stupid now
Now you hardly see people doing and now you cant even smoke in a restaurant anymore
Thats how you take the stigma away
Dawg48
November 4th, 2011
5:35 pm
@ bama rolling
My sister went to school at Alabama so thanksgivings are real fun around our house now!
But that’s what it’s all about!
Good luck against LSU hope to see you in the dome, when your in Athens look for us over at the catholic church by the butts meher building.
tell me again
November 4th, 2011
5:36 pm
WHY are we talking about legalziing pot? Wasn’t Tech the school that had a drug ring working out of their lockerroom a few years ago? You’ve got the wrong blog!
Dawg48
November 4th, 2011
5:43 pm
@JAWJeRDAWG
Do you think we will be running any wildcat formations this Saturday?
JAWJeRDAWG
November 4th, 2011
5:50 pm
Dawg48
I would certainly expect to see at least one ‘wild dawg’; maybe more if we need them.
CMB might be saving those against Auburn and GT though when they may be need the most.
I do expect to see Kyle Karempelis and Brandon Harton both get a lot of carries and both do well and gain a lot of yards.
Wish I could go to the game tomorrow,to see them, but I’m still recouping from surgery. I they do play well, I expect I’ll get to see them play next weekend!
Have good ‘un, and Go Dawgs!
JAWJeRDAWG
November 4th, 2011
5:52 pm
Dawg48
You going to the game tomorrow?
Bama Rolling to Another Title Again
November 4th, 2011
5:58 pm
Dawg48
Im sure Truth Dawg or Low Country wrote the 5:35 post
I guess they ran out of ideas to school someone
Old Yellow
November 4th, 2011
5:59 pm
TOO Much “D” For the boys from out West. I look for more “O” out of UGA than most think.
JAWJeRDAWG
November 4th, 2011
6:04 pm
Old Yellow
I can’t imagine how excited Brandon Harton and Kyle Karempelis must be!
I bet neither ever expected to be able to showcase their RB skills like this.
Go Dawgs!
Dawg48
November 4th, 2011
6:07 pm
@JAWJeRDAWG
Yes sir!
Dawg48
November 4th, 2011
6:08 pm
@bama rolling
I figured that
JAWJeRDAWG
November 4th, 2011
6:10 pm
Dawg48
Have a safe trip and give shout a big ‘Go Dawgs!’ for me, will you?
Catch you next week.
Old Yellow
November 4th, 2011
6:13 pm
The Tide may “ROLL”, The Tigers May “Growl”. The Dawgs Win the EAST.
Dawg48
November 4th, 2011
6:13 pm
Sure thing!
Hope you recover for the auburn “revenge” game! Go dawgs!
JAWJeRDAWG
November 4th, 2011
6:15 pm
Bama Rolling…
Don’t see what kind of pleasure others get from posting that kind of garbage on another’s posting handle. .. and
With any luck from AR tomorrow, and from UGA winning out, we just might get to meet you in the dome. Good luck against LSU.
whatacrew
November 4th, 2011
6:25 pm
Oh yea – your 7 game “winning” streak. Let’s see – that happened to be Coastal Carolina, Missery State (1-4), Ole Missy (0-5), TittyC (0-5), Dandi-Vandi (1-4), FL-Gaytors (2-4), and this week’s whimpy opponent – New Massacre St. And you are PROUD of that?? That is what SEVEN in row looks like?? Sounds to me like UGA has the cup-cake schedule this year.
Old Yellow
November 4th, 2011
6:25 pm
I hope the UGA DAWGS get a little love after they win the “WEST” The Dawgs does have the 6th best “D” nation wide. got to count for something.
Old Yellow
November 4th, 2011
6:27 pm
Don’t panic I know UGA is in the East, but If they win the “WEST” you know what that means.
jp
November 4th, 2011
6:32 pm
BAMA ROLLING ROLLONE UP IT AINT SO BAD IT WILL CHILL YOUR DUMB ASS OUT RICHT IS 3- 1 VS BAMA .YOU THINK ANYONE ON BAMA SMOKES DOPE OR LISTENS TO RAP MUSIC .IM SURE YOU SAY NO .OUR LAST 3 PRESIDENTS ADMITTED SMOKIN WEED. GO WINDEX YOUR BEAR BRYANT PICTURE OF YOUR MANTLE,AND CLEAN YOUR NICK SABAN FINE CHINA FROM WALMART FOR THE GAME. REMEMBER WE ARE 3 WINS ONE LOSS VS THE TIDE. WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE. I KNOW IF IF IF . IF MY AUNT HAD BALLS SHE WOULD BE MY UNCLE YOU IGNORANT RED NECK.GO FIX YOUR SMOKIE AND THE BANDIT 75 TRANS AM
Hank Jr.
November 4th, 2011
6:49 pm
Hell, I thought I was a redneck.
Utah
November 4th, 2011
6:50 pm
Saban is 2-6 vs teams that finish in the top ten while at Alabama. Only year he beat a team that finished in top 10 was 2009.
Hank Jr.
November 4th, 2011
6:52 pm
I just know that Nick Saban is losing sleep worrying about what Dawg fans think about him.
georgia has another cream puff
November 4th, 2011
6:56 pm
Hey Georgia, how many games has New Mexico won ? 2, this schedule is like high school games the last four games the competition has been bad, please win the east so LSU or Ala can show you what real SEC football look like again.
Who did Richt pay to get this easy schedule?
Old Yellow
November 4th, 2011
6:58 pm
@Hank Jr.
Are you just careing on an old family tradition. If so I’ll worry about you and not Saban.
Gator man
November 4th, 2011
7:00 pm
Wow, New Mexico state, I wish the gators had a schedule like this for our first year coach, wow, how did a coach that been in Ga for 10 years manage to get a community college schedule like this.
Wow, no LSU, Ala, Ark no wonder you are 6-2 and ranked no. 20, wow
Angel Moroni
November 4th, 2011
7:06 pm
@Utah
In the 2009 season alone, Alabama defeated 3 teams that were in the final BCS Top 10.
Virginia Tech
Florida
Texas
Alabama finished in the BCS Top 10 last year – their “down” year. It’s difficult for teams to remain in the Top 10 after they play Alabama. Not Nick Saban’s fault. Well… Partially his fault, I guess – if you give him any credit for having two undefeated regular seasons in a row since he’s been at Bama.
Saban
November 4th, 2011
7:06 pm
Wonder if I could put a 100 on the Dawgs?