SEC drops Bama, adds Missouri for UGA’s new 2012 schedule
TAMPA — If Georgia does not repeat as Southeastern Conference Eastern Division champions in 2012, it will not have the schedule to blame.
The SEC on Wednesday finally released its new football schedules for next season and the Bulldogs made out well. They dropped the Oct. 6 game at Alabama and picked up a road game against new conference member Missouri in Columbia, Mo., on Sept. 8. Meanwhile, UGA’s traditional SEC opener against South Carolina was moved back to Oct. 6. That game will also be on the road, as originally scheduled.
The only other change for the Bulldogs was their game at Kentucky, originally scheduled for Oct. 13, moves back one week. That will eliminate what was originally an off week before the Florida game. However, the Gators also lose their off week before playing the Bulldogs, so neither team has an advantage.
Georgia’s non-conference opponents of Buffalo (Sept. 1), Florida Atlanta (Sept. 15), Georgia Southern (Nov. 17) and Georgia Tech (Nov. 24) remain the same.
“I don’t think anybody in this conference has an easy schedule,” Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity said Wednesday. “We have nothing to base a road game to Missouri on. There’s no question going to Columbia, Mo., is going to be a tremendous challenge. just like Florida going to Texas A&M is going to be. I know within our building nobody is thinking there’s anything easy about our schedule.”
Bulldogs coach Mark Richt declined comment on the new slate. “I think the focus should be this game and that’s what we’re going to be focued on,” he said. “I don’t want to get too far down the road. Let’s finish up this season and we’ll talk about those things in the future.”
McGarity said it’s important to note that Georgia is not replacing Alabama with Missouri. The Bulldogs simply are keeping Auburn as their traditional rival from the West and had to honor their return game with Ole Miss after playing the Rebels in Oxford last season.
It should also be noted that the new schedule, revamped to accommodate new conference members Missouri and Texas A&M, is intended for just one year. The SEC will reconvene in the spring to look at schedules for 2013 and beyond.
“The SEC transition team and our athletic directors did a great job with significant logistical challenges in a short time frame in developing the 2012 football conference schedule,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said. “The ability to come together for the conference is what makes the SEC so strong and that was evident yet again in this process.”
Said McGarity: “The entire scheduling process was difficult and the transition team led by the SEC office had to deal with some very difficult scheduling challenges and formats. That’s why it took a long time to make it through.”
McGarity remains skeptical that the league would go to nine conference games.
“It really restricts scheduling flexibility to do that, especially when it comes to traditional rivals and having a seven-game home schedule,” McGarity said. “That’s going to be very difficult to do.”
Georgia’s players were essentially oblivious to the changes.
“I really don’t pay attention to any of it,” sophomore linebacker Jarvis Jones said. “We just watch film, look at the personnel and line up and play. We can’t help who we play. We don’t make the schedule. So we just go out there any chance we get and try to make the best of it.”
Said fellow linebacker Alec Ogletree: “I didn’t know anything about it. I’m still trying to focus on this year and getting this last game over with. I’ll worry about next year when it’s time to.”
Here’s how the new slate looks:
2012 GEORGIA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
- Sept. 1 Buffalo
- Sept. 8 at Missouri
- Sept. 15 Florida Atlantic
- Sept. 22 Vanderbilt
- Sept. 29 Tennessee
- Oct. 6 at S. Carolina
- Oct. 13 OPEN
- Oct. 20 at Kentucky
- Oct. 27 vs. Florida in Jacksonville
- Nov. 3 Ole Miss
- Nov. 10 at Auburn
- Nov. 17 Georgia Southern
- Nov. 24 Georgia Tech
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1,129 comments Add your comment
Beast from the East Eaten by Dawg
December 28th, 2011
7:15 pm
Bama and LSU have both beefed up their OOC schedule the past few years. UGA has adopted an easier approach since McGarity became the AD. Seems to have worked, since they only lost to BSU this year. Just a different philosophy.
sports
December 28th, 2011
7:16 pm
Georgia needs to drop that worthless last game and schedule one of character.
Dawg48
December 28th, 2011
7:16 pm
Dude Michigan only got to the Sugar bowl cause of there name!
Michigan st beat Michigan By two TD’s this year and went to there con championship game!
VT they got spanked by Clemson in the ACC game and does not deserve the SUGAR!
So yes I guess I do!
A person SMART enough to know......
December 28th, 2011
7:17 pm
OK MACO that will happen. A lil thin skinned and can’t take a joke. Well, only when it is the DAWGS football schedule. Now go change the pad with wings in the REAL UGA Champions gymnastic leotards.
Nice stop. Some good coverage down field.
Big Old Dawg
December 28th, 2011
7:17 pm
Dawgs Whimp Out….must have reminded you of your school didn’t it and that real tough schedule they played……right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A person SMART enough to know......
December 28th, 2011
7:18 pm
What a PUNT! Damn nice coffin corner kick.
Dawg48
December 28th, 2011
7:18 pm
Blackout
Basically you are arguing Michigan vs GT….
For next years OCC shedule and there is not much of a difference right now!
Erk Russell's Dog
December 28th, 2011
7:18 pm
I wish the SEC would have added a 9th Conference game .Three cupcakes and Georgia Southern on the 2012 schedule is pretty weak. I know Mc Garrity is thinking everyone is playing easy schedules , but how about reducing ticket prices for the non-conference games.I guess Georgia will only play BAMA or LSU every 7th or 8th year depending if you play home and home.
Blackoutanyone?
December 28th, 2011
7:19 pm
Dawg48… my argument is with you and your AD. You got an easy schedule. It is what it is and good for you guys. Should make for another easy run to Atlanta. But don’t try to beat your chest like your schedule compares with Bama’s or anyone else from the west. Even UF (LSU) and USCe (Arky) have to play a tougher schedule.
Mako
December 28th, 2011
7:20 pm
Smart any time you want some butt kicking this Vet is available
Bama's Schedule
December 28th, 2011
7:20 pm
09/01/12 — Michigan Wolverines
09/08/12 — Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
09/15/12 — at Arkansas Razorbacks
09/22/12 — Florida Atlantic Owls
09/29/12 — Ole Miss Rebels
10/06/12 — Open Date
10/13/12 — at Missouri Tigers
10/20/12 — at Tennessee Volunteers
10/27/12 — Mississippi State Bulldogs
11/03/12 — at LSU Tigers
11/10/12 — Texas A&M Aggies
11/17/12 — Western Carolina Catamounts
11/24/12 — Auburn Tigers
12/01/12 — SEC Championship Game
A person SMART enough to know......
December 28th, 2011
7:21 pm
48 you are killing me. We could have beat Virginia. Should have beat VT and played Clemson again for the ACC CG.
Blackoutanyone?
December 28th, 2011
7:22 pm
bro… Michigan is what top 15 right now and BCS bowl bound. lol GT is neither. GT begged to get off Bama’s ooc schedule a few years ago. Look good for you guys. I like UGA and look forward to renewing a great rivalry but I’m just saying your AD looks like a tool trying to sell this schedule as tough.
Dawg48
December 28th, 2011
7:23 pm
Blackout
I know it’s weak……
All I’m saying is bama’s OOC is not much different.
In a year or so UGA will have bama and LSU on the rotation in the same year.
It’s also not UGA’s fault TENN is down also.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 28th, 2011
7:24 pm
MACO………a VET? Well I guess you have you arm up a cows butt helping her give birth about now. You really need to do better VET work on keeping Ugas living longer than a year or two.
Bill
December 28th, 2011
7:24 pm
Once again Georgia has a cup cake schedule not playing any top team from the West. Someone in the SEC is certainly looking out for Richt. I guess they will get killed again in the SEC championship game.
LOL
December 28th, 2011
7:25 pm
What a joke. UGA plays 1 team that will be ranked in the pre-season polls. You should be embarassed.
Dawg48
December 28th, 2011
7:26 pm
Blackout
Be honest now…..
Do you really think Michigan deserves A BCS bowl?
You know they are there to sell tickets and for TV ratings…
And everyone knows VT does not deserve to be in that game!
Erk Russell's Dog
December 28th, 2011
7:26 pm
Dawg 48
Unless the SEC adds a 9th Conference game UGA will never play Bama and LSU in the same year.Adding Missouri to the eastern division eliminates the extra cross division game.
Charles Martel
December 28th, 2011
7:26 pm
This is the most cupcake-y schedule in the history of the SEC, and that’s saying something.
Blackoutanyone?
December 28th, 2011
7:26 pm
again never said it was UGA’s fault. But you are high off your arse if you think GT is comparable to a rising Michigan program coming off a BCS bowl at a neutral site. But at least you have admitted your schedule is weak… my work is done here. lol jk gotta go… Hawks game coming on.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 28th, 2011
7:26 pm
Blackoutanyone?
December 28th, 2011
7:22 pm
bro… Michigan is what top 15 right now and BCS bowl bound. lol GT is neither. GT begged to get off Bama’s ooc schedule a few years ago.
Now you are being stupid. Bama’s AD came to TECH’s AD to drop the game so Bama could do the Chick-fil-A Kick Off game.
Blackoutanyone?
December 28th, 2011
7:28 pm
Dawg48…now your making sense. Agree… but they are both there and both are better than anything on UGA’s ooc schedule for the next two years.
Blackoutanyone?
December 28th, 2011
7:28 pm
I’m out ROLL TIDE!!!!!
Dawg48
December 28th, 2011
7:29 pm
Blackout
If UGA and bama both take care of business next year they will meet in ATL….
So it is what it is….
A person SMART enough to know......
December 28th, 2011
7:29 pm
Blackoutanyone………….Watches the NBA and the Hawks on top of that? Wow he just lost many many Man Points for that.
Bill
December 28th, 2011
7:30 pm
McGarity says no one has an easy schedule. I guess he can’t read his Obama type statement. He has an easy schedule!!
AU in ATL
December 28th, 2011
7:32 pm
Don’t apologize UGA, just win every game next year…it is what it is..you caught a break with the schedule GODS…Go for it…..It’s not common for UT, UF, AU all to be in rebuilding mode in the same two year period, they are your biggest historical SEC rivals…Win it all next year and keep the SEC streak in tact’
Dawg48
December 28th, 2011
7:32 pm
I just missed a lot of football debating……..
Dang it!
A person SMART enough to know......
December 28th, 2011
7:32 pm
48……I just think the ACC and SEC with 14 teams have to go to 9 conference games. 1 hard FBS OOC game, 1 easy FBS OOC game, and 1 FCS OOC game.
Bad call on the Punt.
NorthGaDawg
December 28th, 2011
7:32 pm
Funny how nobody ever talks about the soft schedules the Gators had during their recent NC years……
fla dawg
December 28th, 2011
7:32 pm
True Dawg Fan… I am on your side but give it a rest. I have read all of your posts and you got progressively stupider as you went along. you don’t have to single handedly try to debate every anti-uga post!
Reality
December 28th, 2011
7:33 pm
Bunch of P***ys. That’s why they will never win an SEC Championship!!
Dawg48
December 28th, 2011
7:34 pm
Smart
I agree 9 games is the best plan….
Reality
December 28th, 2011
7:34 pm
Be content with being 2d or 3rd in the East.
Rich
December 28th, 2011
7:35 pm
Will be in Missouri for the game.
Reality
December 28th, 2011
7:35 pm
Enter your comments here
Dawg48
December 28th, 2011
7:36 pm
Do we want to see this game go into OT?
Dawg48
December 28th, 2011
7:36 pm
Holy Toledo!!
Reality
December 28th, 2011
7:37 pm
I don’t blame you. Can’t hang with Bama, LSU or USC!!
Reality
December 28th, 2011
7:37 pm
UGA…just join the Big East.
Devil's Advocate
December 28th, 2011
7:38 pm
You people do know that if SC hadn’t lost to Auburn then UGA wouldn’t be 2011 SEC East Champions right?
A person SMART enough to know......
December 28th, 2011
7:39 pm
With a 9 game conference schedule teams would play everybody in your division.
6 division games
3 cross division games
3 OOC games
Damn Air Force stop these guys. Need the military guy to win their bowl games.
Reality
December 28th, 2011
7:40 pm
“I don’t think anybody in this conference has an easy schedule,” Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity said Wednesday. “We have nothing to base a road game to Missouri on. There’s no question going to Columbia, Mo., is going to be a tremendous challenge. just like Florida going to Texas A&M is going to be. I know within our building nobody is thinking there’s anything easy about our schedule.”
Pu**ys!!!!!
UGA 7
December 28th, 2011
7:40 pm
Dear AJC Sports Department,
UGA did NOT drop Bama from the schedule – the SEC office DID this!!
Your headlines are ATROCIOUS!!
A person SMART enough to know......
December 28th, 2011
7:42 pm
DEVIL’S………USC won the EAST because they BEAT every team in the EAST.
Pass Interference the refs are blind
Reality
December 28th, 2011
7:42 pm
I have one thing to say….pu**ys!!!
A person SMART enough to know......
December 28th, 2011
7:43 pm
Air Force has to go for it
Devil's Advocate
December 28th, 2011
7:43 pm
Funny, I didn’t see SC in the SECCG…
A person SMART enough to know......
December 28th, 2011
7:44 pm
HUGe pass and catch.
We might get some FREE football unless if AF scores they go for 2