Live from Columbia, Mo.: Here come the Bulldogs (pics)
COLUMBIA, MO. – Greetings from the press box at Missouri’s Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium.
Apparently it’s notable that I’m here five hours before the game. When I showed up, the security guard at the gate said media wouldn’t be allowed in until three hours before kickoff. I laughed and told him, “that’s not going to hack it in the SEC.” He ended up calling Mizzou’s director of media relations, Chad Moller, who graciously let me in and several others a short time later.
Us grizzled SEC veterans are used to getting to stadiums early. I normally don’t get in this far in advance (had to check out of hotel at noon) but traditionally most scribes come early to beat the notoriously rotten traffic at SEC venues. We set up in the press box, watch some of the early games and usually venture back out around the stadium and eventually on the field.
To get you up to date, Georgia is indeed going to be without four defensive starters due to disciplinary suspensions: CB Sanders Commings (arrest), ILB Alec Ogletree (team rules violations), FS Bacarri Rambo (team rules violation) and OLB Chase Vasser (arrest).
Georgia’s injury situation has improved but still may be an issue. Sophomore Malcolm Mitchell, who missed the opener with an ankle injury, is expected to start at boundary cornerback.
Freshman right tackle John Theus is still limping from his fourth-quarter ankle injury versus Buffalo but is expected to start. However, his backup Watts Dantzler (high-ankle sprain) did not make the trip. So redshirt freshman Xzavier Ward and junior Austin Long will be counted on as backups.
Below are some pics I’ve taken since I’ve been here. Also you’ll find links to all our pregame coverage.
MORE ON GEORGIA FOOTBALL
- Rambo, Ogletree don’t make trip to Missouri
- Missouri, Georgia both amped to play historic SEC opener
- Schultz: Dogs need to avoid playing SEC catch-up again
- Former Dogs Aron White, Logan Gray back home in Columbia
- Georgia looks to restore its glowing road reputation
- Bulldogs fanned out all over Missouri
Missouri's "Tiger Walk" across the bridge from their impressive football complex across the street.
Mizzou's famous rock "M" on grassy hill in North end zone.
Missouri installed a brand new Field Turf playing surface this year.
This is a statue right outside stadium of former Missouri coach Don Faurot, for whom the field here is named. He didn't win as big as Vince Dooley.l
Lot next to stadium six hours before kickoff. Mizzou has some work to do as far as SEC-level tailgating.
Placing SEC sign on Jesse Hall, the main administration building in the center of Missouri campus.
These are the famous Columns left on Missouri campus from a building that burned down many years ago. GameDay set up here in 2007.
The most famous haunt in Columbia, Shakespeare's Pizza. Ate there Friday.
Georgia fans eating at Shakespeare's. The Bulldog Nation is in Missouri en force.
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71 comments Add your comment
bardawg
September 8th, 2012
10:12 pm
Same crap that I’ve bought into for several years now ! I love the Dawgs , but is that my short-coming ,or is Mark Richt just not able to instill a killer instinct into these boys. I’mwatching what should have realistically been the 6th best team in the country just melt away in this game .To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. Pulpwood Smith is probably going to give us a real accurate synopsis of this game with only the candor that he is capable of.(a little screet credit to the homey).
show up?
September 8th, 2012
10:14 pm
we seem to be our own worst enemy…..but i think if we score here we will wake up!
Sunbury Dawg
September 8th, 2012
10:15 pm
can Grantham coach up the offensive coordinator too?
rogeriter
September 8th, 2012
10:17 pm
Fire Mike Bobo!!!!!! Now!
seg dawg
September 8th, 2012
10:32 pm
no d tonight
Hairy Dawg
September 8th, 2012
11:14 pm
Now that we leading we can turn loose the players to get after them. That will blow scoreboard open. I was worried for a whiles first half but Dawgs proves to much for fraidy cats. I knew we beat down Big 12 Mizzu.
dawg fan sitting on rockytop
September 8th, 2012
11:17 pm
GATA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To all the haters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dawg fan sitting on rockytop
September 8th, 2012
11:27 pm
The ZOO just ran out of gas! GATA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunbury Dawg
September 8th, 2012
11:42 pm
Well, i’ll take a ugly win over a pretty loss any day!
snoop dogg
September 8th, 2012
11:43 pm
Wow, that old man football…………
did Tech win against that bible college?
Triple floption
September 8th, 2012
11:45 pm
Big shout out to those dawgs, you held together and played a whole game. Not pretty, but we got the W
Dawg Haus
September 8th, 2012
11:54 pm
Great performance by the old man Dawgs! So proud of our team for picking up the win. Missouri has a good team and will likely upset somebody before it’s all said in done.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
September 9th, 2012
12:10 am
can someone please send Sheldon Richardson a nice royalty check from the AARP lol
That a way to GATA Dawgs!
Go Dawgs!
Lets whoop up on FAU and then deal with Vandy
Thank God for Reggie Ball
September 9th, 2012
12:13 am
Totally agree with CMR’s comments that people were making out too much like Mizzou didn’t belong on the field with the Dawgs. Mizzou is a legit football team, and they played very well, particuarly defensively for about 3 quarters. The Dawgs just exploded and Aaron Murray finally showed me that I can trust him to sling it in the 2nd half of big games when we absolutely NEED it.
Go Dawgs! I’m goin to bed.
bardawg
September 9th, 2012
12:18 am
Do any of yoy truly loyal Dawg Fans out there have an especially large plate of crow that I can gorge myself with? Maybe when I’ve a cocktail too many, I just need to stay off the blogasphere, but damn, I can hardly believe that the Dawgs finally decided to show up like they did in the 4th quarter & whip Mizzery like they did. GO YOU HAIRY FREAKING DAWGS! GATA!
umyboyBlue17
September 9th, 2012
12:18 am
Aaron Itake it all back.
umyboyBlue17
September 9th, 2012
12:22 am
Richard Samual made a big time play on that fake punt, the man beat a double team and saved the day
umyboyBlue17
September 9th, 2012
12:27 am
without Jarvis jones dawgs lose that game he will beat single season sack record for dawgs if he stays healthy
chazzo
September 9th, 2012
1:32 am
Murray is fine. He got in rhythm and started trusting his line which needs work but will be okay. No one should whine about that pick; it was a most excellent defensive play rather than an errant pass.
Mitchell is a bit of a nut job. I am sure they will explain the punt mistake. But, someone should also tell him that pushing someone out of bounds really hard after they get a first down does not warrant the pelvic thrust and hop I’m a bad mf dance. It warrants the realization that you got there 2 seconds late.
Beyond that: I think the big commentator guy is right. this is a team that will continue to grow and gel and get better.
WCM87
September 9th, 2012
2:39 am
How bout them dawgs!!
Jarvis Jones and Todd “the gurley-Man” Gurley: damn good dawgs!!
WCM87
September 9th, 2012
2:45 am
Yellow Fuzz, that is pretty dang funny dude! But, you obviously got some deep rooted issues