Spurrier on Georgia: ‘I keep seeing all those long runs by those freshman Bulldogs’
Informed Sunday that ESPN’s College Gameday crew is coming to Columbia on Saturday for No. 5 Georgia’s game against No. 6 South Carolina, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said that’s just the way he likes it.
The last time that group set up outside Williams-Brice Stadium was on Oct. 9th, 2010, and South Carolina knocked off No. 1-ranked Alabama 35-21.
“We certainly do [like games such as this],” Spurrier said on his weekly teleconference call Sunday. “The last time they were here, obviously that was one of the best days in Carolina football history. It was the first time we had ever beat a No. 1 team. It adds to the importance of the game. It sort of lets the world know and the country know South Carolina football’s pretty good. We’re not quite where we want to be yet, but we’re up there amongst them and hopefully we can keep pushing on.”
The matchup everybody anticipated for Week 6 of the season has materialized. Both the Gamecocks (5-0, 3-0 SEC) and Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0) were consensus preseason picks as the top two teams from the East and they arrive undefeated and ranked among the nation’s best. Both teams negotiated potential trap games this past weekend. South Carolina trailed Kentucky 17-7 in the first half but surged ahead in the second to win 38-17. Georgia wasted several three-score leads to outlast Tennessee 51-44 at Sanford Stadium.
Spurrier said he hasn’t had a chance yet to sit down and study the Bulldogs on video, but he has been impressed by what he has seen on highlight shows.
“I keep seeing a bunch of long runs by those Bulldog freshmen,” said Spurrier, speaking of tailbacks Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. “That’s probably a good message when you think you lose a top running that has some issues like the kid they had there last year [Isaiah Crowell], maybe the next guys can come in and play as well or better. So the long runs is what I noticed mostly yesterday. And, of course [Aaron] Murray hit a bunch of big passes, too. They were a scoring machine.”
Georgia comes into the game leading the SEC in scoring (48.2 ppg) and total offense (536 ypg). But the Gamecocks, behind quarterback Connor Shaw and running back Marcus Lattimore, have been lighting it up, too. South Carolina averages 36.6 points and 409 yards per game.
The difference might be the Gamecocks’ defense, which is giving up an average of just 11.2 points and 288 yards. That’s second and third in the SEC, respectively.
Conversely, Georgia’s defense has been a bit of a disappointment. The Bulldogs are in the bottom half of the league against the score (22.0 ppg) and in yards allowed (370 pg).
“Well, they’re scoring so fast,” Spurrier said. “You score fast and your defense has to play a lot more. It usually takes us a while to get it down the field and score. Our defense is hopefully only out there 58 to 63 plays, something like that. Georgia’s been scoring so fast and there’s been so many turnovers in their games, the defense is just playing more plays. No, they can make plays all over the place. And even last year we didn’t move the ball that well at all.”
Spurrier is referring to last season’s 45-42 win at Georgia in which the Bulldogs gave up 14 points on a pick-six and a fake punt and another 14 indirectly on offensive turnovers deep in their own territory.
You’d think that all would be warm and fuzzy with the Gamecocks, what with them being in some unchartered waters in program history from a winning standpoint. But Spurrier refused to take questions after the UAB game and a couple of other news conferences due to his differences over what he deemed was negative reporting by the local newspaper, The Columbia State. In particular he seems to be having issues with columnist Ron Morris, who has been known to take him to task from time-to-time.
“Well, it’s only one guy,” Spurrier said Sunday. “I just said I had enough of it. Hopefully we got the problem under control. I guess time will tell.”
Morris wrote a column about their strained relationship this past week.
Stay tuned for much more coverage of the Gamecocks and the Bulldogs this week as we get set for what will certainly be the most anticipated Georgia-South Carolina game in the long and storied history of that series.
COMPLETE COVERAGE OF GEORGIA-TENNESSEE GAME:
- ‘Gurshall’ leads Bulldogs to victory in 51-44 shootout over Vols
- Video: Georgia survives offensive thriller at Sanford Stadium
- Jeff Schultz column: Win has mixture of highlights, slapstick
- Notebook: Ogletree, Rambo make a difference in return to D
- Dogs overcome special-teams woes
- What they said: Players, coaches discuss the game
- Photo gallery: Scenes from Sanford Stadium
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222 comments Add your comment
kerryb
September 30th, 2012
8:46 pm
Bobo has called some good games so far this year but I was a little puzzled why he changed from running to the left behind Gates and Lee who were opening big holes. He suddenly changed to running to Theus’ side and that’s when our run game slowed down and Marshall got hit and fumbled.
Greg
September 30th, 2012
8:46 pm
Spurrier would still be telling everyone Vandy is a really good team if the Dawgs hadn’t beaten them 48-3.
kerryb
September 30th, 2012
8:49 pm
I haven’t seen anything from SC that has really impressed me a lot. Especially from their offense. They also haven’t played a really good passing team like they will Saturday. KY’s running back was gashing them at times. If they couldn’t stop him what are they going to do with Gurley and Marshall.
ARdawg
September 30th, 2012
8:55 pm
TG apparently didn’t do much in the way of game planning for TN either. Knocking Bray on his butt would have been a pretty good plan. Anyway we won. I’m looking forward to the chickens.
Old Bawl Sack is planting his traditional seeds in the mind of Richt. I’ll lay bets he has much more to say before gametime
Cmdawg99
September 30th, 2012
9:00 pm
How about “Mar” plus “ley” for “Marley”
DAWG34
September 30th, 2012
9:01 pm
the dawgs take it 31-20 over the cocks! SIC EM WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF just Steve being Steve it aint nuthin new.
Cmdawg99
September 30th, 2012
9:01 pm
Instead of Gurshal
Cmdawg99
September 30th, 2012
9:09 pm
Dawg Fans :When spurrier was at Florida, did we see him score slowly? Rather quickly and often. Let’s not get tied up with spurriers revers psychology jargon. Let’s keep the foot on the gas Dawgs!!!!
jocrazy
September 30th, 2012
9:21 pm
lets not score so fast please we score in 4 let defense stop them in 4 whats the differance.
ARdawg
September 30th, 2012
9:22 pm
There’s not a coach in college or any where that wouldn’t recommend to the opposition to score much more slowly
BigDawg
September 30th, 2012
9:27 pm
Can Techies even beat Ga. Southern???…………..NOT hahahahaha. Go Dawgs
BigDawg
September 30th, 2012
9:30 pm
D better get some pressure on Shaw or Dawgs will be in trouble, c’mon man!!! Let’s go Dawgs man up
Tailback U
September 30th, 2012
9:33 pm
The prediction here is that the dawgs hammer on Shaw’s shoulder and he gets knocked out of this game.
Rick James
September 30th, 2012
9:37 pm
@kerryb
Bobo has called some good games so far this year but I was a little puzzled why he changed from running to the left behind Gates and Lee who were opening big holes. He suddenly changed to running to Theus’ side and that’s when our run game slowed down and Marshall got hit and fumbled.
———————————————————————————————————————————
Because the plays were ajusted to UT’s defensive formations not Georgia’s line strength.
Dawg-Gawn
September 30th, 2012
9:43 pm
@Cmdawg99:
“Buffalo Soldiers” Nah… grounds for suspensions mon… just ask Rambo & Tree.
“BELIEVE” in the “G”
Rick James
September 30th, 2012
9:45 pm
@Herschel Walker’s Jock Strap
6.). Malcolm Mitchell needs to play strictly defense (he needs to replace Branden Smith) and we don’t need him on offense unless Bennett, King or Brown get injured
Now, with all that being said, we will handle SC because they really don’t have the recievers to give us fits like UT. We will win this game but we have to do a good job of protecting Murray and blocking SC’s front 4. Go Dawgs!
————————————————————————————————————————————
Two good points..I think we may have seen the best offense yesterday that we will see all year.Hats off to Derrek Dooley.
chatdawg
September 30th, 2012
9:48 pm
Dawgs blow the chickens away 45 to 20. They have something to prove and spurrier is scared of the freshmen too they can’t stop gurley and marshall. Gurley will show up and show off and prove to everybody he is the best back in the sec. Watch and see.
Son of Sammy Davis Jr, Jr
September 30th, 2012
9:53 pm
Spurrier is coming……………
Rick James
September 30th, 2012
9:59 pm
@Son of Sammy Davis Jr, Jr
Spurrier is coming……………
———————————————————————
The game is in Columbia not Athens..Gurley,Marshall,Jones and Murry are coming.
ga gator
September 30th, 2012
10:01 pm
I predict UGA will win a close one this week against SC, but I was at the game yesterday and I do not think many of the people walking out of the stadium are as confident as some of you about stopping Carolina’s offense. Sure UGA beat the crap out of Vandy, but SC beat Missouri more handily than UGA did and were never threatened while UGA had to come back. Each game stands on its own merit and if you think you are going to go into Columbia and blow them out, you are delusional. UGA 45 SC 41.
Rick James
September 30th, 2012
10:12 pm
@ga gator
You make some very valid points but having seen SC three times I will say that I think Georgia is the more talented team this year.Which means nothing if they dont show up or are out coached.
ga gator
September 30th, 2012
10:18 pm
Rick you are correct; UGA has more talent but the UGA defense will have to play their best game to beat Spurrier’s team. UGA had more talent last year but found a way to lose because of the way Murray played. I stand by my predictioun UGA 45 Carolina 41.
Really?
September 30th, 2012
10:23 pm
Wait who did they interview because that was not steve spurrier. There were no smarmy comments or insults and he didn’t run out of the room crying. He didn’t blame everyone else for the chickens not being an undisputed #1 in the polls or start whining that the zaxby’s meal of the day should be awarded extra credit or he would hold his breath until he turned blue. Nope that was not spurrier.
Also why does that moronic fake Really? keep postin using my name? He was here at 5:10 and over on the Falcons blog as well. He shows none of my class or wit and has none of my ability to make brilliant observations and hilarious comments.
Come on fake Really? is it that hard to create your own name?
C from Marietta
September 30th, 2012
10:25 pm
@ JacketFanMarcus
Now that’s funny. A Tech coming on here talking crap about UGA after losing to Middle TN St. LOL
chatdawg
September 30th, 2012
10:25 pm
hey ga gator when georgia has something to prove it willl be a blowout the gamecocks can’t stop the run and pass when they don’t know what’s coming
GA Sandlapper
September 30th, 2012
10:28 pm
Hopefully it will be a good game with the Gamecocks winning!
C from Marietta
September 30th, 2012
10:29 pm
TN is 18th in the nation in Total Offense. Maybe, we have to give them some credit. I saw several plays were UGA had stuff defended well and Bray made the play anyway.
GA Sandlapper
September 30th, 2012
10:31 pm
I think you can throw what has happened in the previous 5 games out of the window. Both teams are evenly matched, except for the offense. I think UGA has the advantage there.
Looks like...
October 1st, 2012
12:21 am
South Carolina 35… UGA….21.
book it.
Looks like...
October 1st, 2012
12:24 am
oh wait, it’s in columbia, espn is there and its a night game…
South Carolina 45 UGA 21.
And I predict UGA up 21-0 before they’re blown out.
Spurrier on Georgia: ‘I keep seeing all those long runs by those freshman Bulldogs’ – Georgia – Dawg News
October 1st, 2012
12:40 am
[...] more from the original source: Spurrier on Georgia: ‘I keep seeing all those long runs by those freshman Bulldogs’ ← Back to Home Tags: focal, game, gamecocks, mark richt, sanford stadium, south carolina [...]
Strange Murphy
October 1st, 2012
1:53 am
Hey “JacketFanMarcus”! What was the score of the MTSU game?
Sunbury Dawg
October 1st, 2012
3:03 am
No true Dawg will ever doubt their team……
Dawgs are going to Miami, that road leads right through Columbia SC! we will roll, this game has been circled for a year and come Saturday night, Sc is getting knocked the Fu$% out! Just like MTSU knocked out TEch and caused that young man to jump from the top rail….
tony belt
October 1st, 2012
4:22 am
Enter your comments here
The biggest problem Ga. offense will have is stopping the Gamecocks front 7. This will be a hard fought game. The Gamecocks will have to play much better in the special teams. But SORRY Dawgs the Gamecocks will win ITS OUR TIME
7576DAWG
October 1st, 2012
4:29 am
Make sure that Murray doesn’t get blind sided. Murray needs to not take very long to make a decision. Georgia only has 4 players to make sure they stop or slow down. Lattimore who is a step slower right now hitting holes, Shaw , who is not very accurate if we can pressure him , Clowney and Taylor. South Carolina doesn’t have great defensive backs and Murray should be able to throw complete passes all day.
The key is no turnovers, and we will win this game by 14 at least and not lose like we did last year. South Carolina did not win the game last year , we lost it.
kingdaddy
October 1st, 2012
5:42 am
I like UGA being the underDawg…ok by me…
Mr. Clowney meets Mr. Theus
October 1st, 2012
5:49 am
Clowney against Theus, poor Murray.
Destin Dawg
October 1st, 2012
6:43 am
we need quick short 10 yard passes to TE’s and RB’s for 1st downs….. to slow down pass rush and control the clock.. score quick as we can if Gurley or Marshall or Malcome gets free !!! Grantham’s Defense now has subs with Tree and Rambo back !!
Destin Dawg
October 1st, 2012
6:47 am
remember Gameclucks were lucky to beat Vandy on a Bad Call.. and didn’t look to sharp vs.a weak Kentucky team.. if we don’t turn the ball over.. UGA 42 S.C. 30
BIG MIKE
October 1st, 2012
6:54 am
Don’t forget the UGA-USC game in ‘80 or ‘81 which had national title implications and pitted Hershel Walker against George Rogers. This one is right up there with that one.
Son of Sammy Davis Jr, Jr
October 1st, 2012
7:31 am
Spurrier is coming………..
Monday Morning Update - Inside Ole Miss Sports with Parrish Alford
October 1st, 2012
7:34 am
[...] of the Georgia offense, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is impressed by the Bulldogs’ freshman running backs. [...]
Frankly
October 1st, 2012
7:42 am
JacketFanMarcus
September 30th, 2012
5:05 pm
To all you Dawg fans still basking off the glory year of 1980…
Fact #1: Colorado won a national championship in 1990. UGA hasn’t won one since 1980!
_________________________________________________
What does Colorado have to do with this?
Crunch
October 1st, 2012
8:02 am
Get ready to see the stupid looks on Spurrier’s face this Saturday night!!! GO DAWGS!!!!!1
L E G H U M P E R S crack me up
October 1st, 2012
8:50 am
It must be nice to be a L E G H U M P E R and have a short memory among other things. UGA will blow the cocks out? More talent just like last year? Just like last year, every time your midget QB plays against a top Defense he throws picks. He almost threw one saturday on the first drive when it was tipped at the line of scrimmage but Lynch made a great catch. REMEMBER MY JAWJA BUDDIES AFTER SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER YOU ARE COMPLAINING AGAIN THAT THE BEST TEAM DID NOT WIN. JUST LIKE SUNDAY AT THE RYDER CUP, IT IS NOT IMPORTANT WHO THE BEST TEAM IS, JUST WHO WON THE GAME. SATURDAY THE BEST COACH WINS GAMECOCKS 41 L E G H U M P E R S 27.
Innocent bystander
October 1st, 2012
9:07 am
UGA has the better offense, Carolina has the better defense. The team with the best coach wins.
Dawg Fud
October 1st, 2012
9:09 am
The way we have played defensively to date, it is hard for me to understand how we can neutralize Lattimore. He runs like a man possessed.
We are not man enough to beat South Carolina.
Dawg Fud
October 1st, 2012
9:12 am
……and by the way, Florida is better than us and South Carolina.
If you have watched the Gators at all this season you will know that they are not laying down for anyone.
shankit
October 1st, 2012
9:44 am
Wonder how many more points BoBo could have put on the board
if the defense had a few 3 and outs, and gotten the ball back to
our offense?
Dog in Nam
October 1st, 2012
9:52 am
most of you should know by now that we don’t play the same D for all teams. Example is we played very soft in secondary against the very explosive UT crowd….when you do that, sometimes short runs become longer runs, and always many more shorter passes are completed and some of those break for more yardage. That type of D is designed to win the game by holding the homeruns to a lower amount. UTs homeruns were there but not so many and not nearly as many as ours. SC will be schemed totally differently and our run stoppers have gotten some rust off. Our coaches know the game