Intensity of rivalry, upsets of last weekend help keep Tech foremost on Georgia’s mind
ATHENS – Kansas State coach Bill Snyder emerged from the Wildcats’ locker room after his No. 1-ranked team had just been dismantled by unranked Baylor 52-24 this past Saturday night and he fell on the proverbial sword.
In his postgame remarks, Snyder talked about not handling well his team’s situation. And by “situation” he wasn’t talking about blocking and tackling the Bears that night in Waco. He was talking about the Wildcats’ place among the BCS contenders and all that comes with it.
“I don’t think we handled the situation as well as we should have been able to,” Snyder told reporters after the game. “It had nothing to do with young guys wanting to be successful. They wanted to play well; they wanted to play hard; they wanted to win. We just couldn’t handle the environment as well as we could.”
Suffice it to say, Georgia coach Mark Richt doesn’t want to find himself in a similar situation following the Bulldogs’ game against Georgia Tech Saturday at Sanford Stadium. His No. 3-ranked Bulldogs (10-1) moved into the “environment” to which Snyder referred thanks to Kansas State’s loss and to the one also suffered by No. 2 Oregon at the hands of Stanford a short time later.
If Georgia can get by Tech this Saturday, it’s SEC Championship game matchup against No. 2 Alabama (10-1) on Dec. 1 will be a national championship semifinal. But the reality of this week is, the Yellow Jackets (6-5) — as champions of the ACC’s Coastal Division and Georgia’s most bitter rival — pose a much more formidable threat than the 4-5 Bears did to Kansas State.
So what is Richt doing to avoid a similar fate? Nothing, really.
Richt’s approach has been to not make SEC championships or BCS scenarios any part of the discussions he has with the team. He’s not forbidding players from talking about it or having ESPN’s SportsCenter blocked from the locker room television sets. But the Bulldogs are sticking hard and fast to their weekly routine.
“We meet every day and, kind of like we do every week, we talk about who we’re playing next, what kind of challenges they bring and what we need to do on a daily basis to get ready for it,” Richt said Tuesday. “That’s really all we do.”
How the players are handling the situation depends on the individual. For the most part, they seem to be embracing the moment and enjoying being part of the discussion.
“Every time you flip a channel, that’s all they’ve been talking about the last couple of days,” freshman tailback Todd Gurley said. “It’s kind of hard just to put it out of your mind when you’ve got fans tweeting you about that. But we’ve still got to finish off Tech. On Sunday, we can talk about (BCS implications).”
Said junior offensive lineman Kenarious Gates: “I love SportsCenter; it’s probably the only show I watch. I like to see what’s going on around the world and in different sports and how other teams are doing out there. When they’re talking about us and the BCS, I like to hear it. you just can’t let it get all into your head and stuff like that.”
That’s the key, the Bulldogs said, not getting caught up in the hype.
“There’s only so much you can do to avoid it because it’s everywhere,” sophomore linebacker Amarlo Herrera said. “You just can’t put all your feelings into it. And whatever they say shouldn’t ever be motivation. We should be motivated all year by the goals we set for ourselves.”
Amazingly, despite a 35-7 loss to South Carolina in Week 6, they are all still there for the taking. The biggest thing working in the Bulldogs’ favor is the fact that Saturday’s opponent is Georgia Tech. Georgia’s upperclassmen are making sure the underclassmen understand all the ramifications of that.
“If they were to beat us, it’d ruin everything we’re doing and they’d love that; that’d be perfect for them,” senior linebacker Christian Robinson said. “We want to beat Tech, that’s obvious. And we’re trying to help those younger guys who have never been in this atmosphere to realize the significance of it.”
Said senior flanker Tavarres King: “I told Todd Gurley (Monday), I said, ‘man, if you remember how bad we felt after losing to South Carolina this year, you’ll feel 10 times worse losing to these guys.’”
Richt likes the sound of that. In the meantime, he’s working pretty hard himself to avoid any BCS questions. And that goes beyond the half-dozen he tip-toed around during his weekly news conference on Tuesday.
“I had to hang up on my mom,” he quipped. “But, I mean, the staff’s not asking me. I get here about 8 in the morning and leave at about midnight,so there’s not many people I talk to outside people in the building. So we really don’t talk about.”
That’s all right. Everybody else is.
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185 comments Add your comment
NYDog
November 21st, 2012
1:58 pm
Unfortunately we play well when backed in a corner or have low expectations. Once we get into rarified air we’re too hyped up or overconfident and take one on the chin….a la So. Carolina. I see us losing to Tech by 14 and bubble bursts. Wish it wasn’t so.
Jackets Fan
November 21st, 2012
2:03 pm
Please ignore Yellow Fever. I want Tech to win as bad as any other GT fan, but saying Tech is going to stomp UGA is delusional at best.
ARdawg
November 21st, 2012
2:08 pm
NC Dawg
Good against the run with no air game. A balanced offense keeps them on their heels. The secondary is atrocious while the D front isn’t bad. MTSU embarrassed them with balance. They embarrassed UNC because they has no passing attack. I hope I am right in stating Gurshall will run at will and Murray will pass at will
DAwg in Sewer
November 21st, 2012
2:11 pm
Is weses losess. Chaoakdwag makess ueses eatss Russses.
Bamers beatsss uses by 60.
Mobile Dawg
November 21st, 2012
2:19 pm
Joey, I’m not ready for anything Obama, but will definitely keep the payroll under 50, I’m more worried about the general tax increases, payroll taxes, capital gain taxes, and the death tax. Just can’t see the government taking 55% of anybody’s estate and distributing to people who have done nothing to earn anything. We have no idea of what the complete tax package will look like. Sounds like taxes on our guns, when we sell our property/homes, taxes on employer paid health care, they’ve already added it to our W-2’s. I think most people have no idea what/who they voted for.
Ace
November 21st, 2012
2:20 pm
Took his knee out.
PLAINTRUTH
November 21st, 2012
2:20 pm
How about those players Tech signed from Bibb co in Georgia, that attended school in the worst system in the State. Must have special classes at Tech for those players!!!
Ace
November 21st, 2012
2:21 pm
Mobile, we didn’t come here to here your politics, go away.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
November 21st, 2012
2:31 pm
@ Mobile Dawg:
If you can find nothing positive to contribute with all the accomplishments UGA has provided for it’s fans this year then maybe you could just switch your so-called Dawg Fan support I highly recommend you find ANOTHER team to associate your support for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are at least two BIGTIME SEC schools in YOUR State of residence that may even WANT your half-a$$ support. Dawg Nation neither wants or needs your attitude towards CMR because he is in charge of what is happening with the UGA Football team. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You appear to be a BIG Saban fan and probably was an AUBARN fan until a few weeks ago but I doubt Bammy wants your sniveling comments that you have DUMPED ON THE DAWGS but AUBARN will accept ANYBODY so pack up all your Bullsh _ _ and get off of CMR’s a$$. It is not helping our guys to stay focussed on their EXTREMELY important mission. If they fail part of the blame can be directed at you and your ilk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mobile Dawg
November 21st, 2012
2:31 pm
Kiss my Ace sportsmodel. Somebody asked me a question and I answered it. My chain, unlike yours was pulled.
Mobile Dawg
November 21st, 2012
2:36 pm
Brainiac, see my 2:31. If I wanted you lip I would ask for it, if you can’t handle the fact that I don’t have the same “crush/love” you have for CMR that’s your problem not mine. I never see you comment on anything football, just hurl your childish, immature, names and insults at people who don’t see eye to eye with you. Let’s be mature and agree to disagree and all will be well. Go Dawgs.
Fair n Balanced
November 21st, 2012
2:36 pm
GATA! Gotta Acquire Touchdowns Aplenty. And we gotta GATA to do it! Go Dawgs!
NCDawg
November 21st, 2012
2:43 pm
Joey, Mobile Dawg – one word… secession.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
November 21st, 2012
2:53 pm
@ Put in timeout, bla, bla, bla, bla, etc:
The best thing for UGA is for Murray to come back next year and make life miserable for ALL teams on UGA’s schedule!!!!!!!!!
Write it down. IF MURRAY COMES BACK NEXT YEAR UGA WILL DO EVEN BETTER THAN THEY HAVE THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mobile Dawg
November 21st, 2012
2:54 pm
At the risk of messing in someone elses Wheaties NCDawg, that’s how this country got started. A bunch of disenfranchised, overtaxed, people with a dream. Anyone who thinks that the same thing could never happen again is just naive.
Mobile Dawg
November 21st, 2012
2:56 pm
I agree with the poster at 2:53, Murray coming back would be a tremendous asset to the program next year. The offense should only get better, the defense will reload and be good to excellent again.
NCDawg
November 21st, 2012
2:57 pm
Yeah I know… it’s a real option.
NCDawg
November 21st, 2012
2:59 pm
I just hate it when people say “write it down” or “mark it down”… it’s like using the word never. It always comes back to bite you.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
November 21st, 2012
3:02 pm
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
November 21st, 2012
2:53 pm
@ Put in timeout, bla, bla, bla, bla, etc:
Write it down. IF MURRAY COMES BACK NEXT YEAR UGA WILL DO EVEN BETTER THAN THEY HAVE THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
=================================================
have you seen the list of Seniors leaving the team? How many juniors will jump to the NFL? Have you seen you schedule for next year? This years Dwags playing next years schedule wouldn’t be 10-1 right now but you think Murray coming back is going to make UGa better? Stop Smoking the Crowell good stuff or was it some Brownies?
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
November 21st, 2012
3:04 pm
@ Mobile Dog:
Nobody will ever see “Mature” and “Mobile Dog” in the same paragraph let alone the same sentence. I was just trying to let you know that your BULLSH _ _ is harming Dawg Nation because the players read these posts and they adore their coach as does the HUGE majority of Dawg Nation, many of whom are posters on this blog. !!!!!!!!!!
Check it out!!!!!!!!!!!!! How many have agreed with your DUMBA$$ 10:05 pm post and how many disagreed???? Apparently you are one of the Single Digit IQ posters and couldn’t find your a$$ with both hands in your hip pockets!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe I am too but you are dead wrong about CMR and I love your mentally challenged a$$ anyway!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
November 21st, 2012
3:06 pm
@ Mobile Dog:
Please notice that I refer to you as Mobile Dog because you ain’t UGA enough to be a DAWG!!!!!!!!
Mobile Dawg
November 21st, 2012
3:08 pm
These young kids should be hungry next year on defense, there is no shortage of good atheletes. Success breeds success, and the incoming freshmen class will have some contribution. When the Dawgs realize what it takes to play championship football, they will. That’s why I’ve been so critical of the Leadership the last few years. Winning is as much an atmosphere, an environment, as it is personnel.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
November 21st, 2012
3:10 pm
@ NC DAWG:
I apologize for saying “write it down”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It will NOT happen again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mobile Dawg
November 21st, 2012
3:19 pm
Let’s see if I can ascend to your level of intelligence for one second Brainiac, “if your brain were in a matchbox, it would roll around like a BB in a boxcar”. Let’s try another one, “you can’t remove with logic, what wasn’t put there with logic in the first place”. If all you’re going to do is insult me, our dialogue is over. Want to talk football, I can do that, believe it or not, I just won’t buy into the Mark Richt is the greatest, he allowed our program to sink because he wasn’t doing his job. He seems to be doing a better job, let’s “both” hope he continues it.
If you would like for me to school “you” on what “motivation” is, how it’s achieved, and how the environment we work in, play in, live in, influences our actions, i’m available for private tutoring.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
November 21st, 2012
3:21 pm
@ Mobile Dog:
After reading all your today’s posts I have to admit we have a hell of a lot in common(especially the “OBAMA” political post)!!!!!!!
I will retract most of the negatives directed at you but I can’t handle CMR being ridiculed when he is the 4th winningest active coach in the nation(ahead of all SEC coaches), has won two SEC Titles and six SEC East Titles in 12 years. He is of the highest character of mankind and if that is not enough I can come up with many more pages!!!!!!!!
I officially accept your suggestion to agree to disgree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GT Lover
November 21st, 2012
3:27 pm
I’ve never been on the UGA blog before; it’s true, you guys are imbeciles! I was just curious. Go back to your lawn care classes! You might beat Tech with your ignorant athletes, but you’ll never beat Alabama. Their ignorant athletes are better than yours! Now I see why we make three times as much as you! You guys are truly ill-witted! Be at my house Monday morning to cut my grass!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
November 21st, 2012
3:28 pm
@ Mobile Dog:
Maybe I should have not been so generous towards you in my 3:21 pm post but I hadn’t yet read your
3:19 pm post!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you like we can declare war on each other or any other method of “Sharing” our opinions that you might prefer!!!!!!!!!!!
How does a Dawg choose to live in Mobile??????????
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
November 21st, 2012
3:31 pm
@ GT Lover:
Get off your High Horse!!!!!!!!!
It is doubtful that you own any grass unless it is the “Isaiah Crowell” type grass, not the type GT cheerleaders graze on at halftime!!!!!!!!!!
Mobile Dawg
November 21st, 2012
3:32 pm
There is hope Brainiac, if you correct the Dog thing. I’m not trying to ridicule the man, I admire what he stands for, but like you and I, he is human, and prone to error. If you can force yourself to type it out, just agree with me on one point, he got complacent and fell asleep at the wheel for two to three years, that’s all it takes for things to spin out of control, which I think they did. We really don’t disagree as much as you think.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
November 21st, 2012
3:36 pm
@ Mobile Dog:
Your trying to tutor me would be about equal to Obama’s “I killed Osama bin Laden”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
November 21st, 2012
3:41 pm
@ Mobile:
You could have a point on his becoming “complacent” but in my opinion, his loyalty to his coaching friends(primarily Willie Martinez) almost put his butt in a sling moreso than complacency!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mobile Dawg
November 21st, 2012
3:42 pm
Get ready for this Brainiac, it’s kind of a long story. I was living in hostile territory, Florida Gator Country, Tarpon Springs to be specific, we were surrounded by the reptiles, there was one other UGA guy close and we always had each others back.
One evening while having dinner I overheard an attractive woman dressing down a Florida Gator, with a distinctly “southern accent”. After she finished with him I walked over and offered to buy her a beer, which she accepted. Turns out she was an Auburn Grad, got her masters at Georgia State and we immediately became the best of friends with a common enemey.
Soon after we met my corporate career was ending, the company I worked for closed up shop in Tampa, offered me a job back in Atlanta, I turned it down, retired, and rode off in the sunset with the Auburn girl. We started our business here in Mobile and am loving life on the coast still.
Mobile Dawg
November 21st, 2012
3:48 pm
Brainiac, I think some complacency, some loyalty, some questionable recruits, soft discipline, next thing you know the house came tumbling down. I think he’s rebuilding and sincerely hope he continues to work hard and keeps himself surrounded by quality people. The kids we have now are already making Bobo look better, I still think he needs to be a little more creative with his weapons.
WDE
November 21st, 2012
4:02 pm
Christ leave Mobile Dawg alone we don’t always agree but he is a DGD….if you need to bash there are Bugs to smash…ya’ll have a great Thanksgiving !
blob Horner
November 23rd, 2012
6:44 pm
IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE RIVALRY, THIS MATCH HAD REGIONAL AND SOCIO RAMIFICATIONS, GEORGIA CARRYING A LOT OF THE SOUTHERN COUNTRY BOYS, TECH WITH MORE BOYS FROM SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN URBAN AREAS, CLASSIC COUNTRY BOYS VS CITY BOYS. MOST OF THE ORIGINAL RIVALRIES REMAIN, BUT LARGELY SUPERIMPOSED ON TOP OF THAT IS THE UNSPOKEN EVOLUTION WHERE THE SOUTH GEOGIA BOY HAS BEEN LARGELY REPLACED BY THE SOUTHERN (SUBSAHARAN) AFRICAN PLAYER. TECH’S CITY BOYS HAVE BEEN AUGMENTED BY THE EASTERN AND NORTH AFRICAN BLACK PLAYERS. I’M NOT DENEGRATING ANY OF THESE PLAYERS , THEY ARE TALENTED AND FEARLESS AND GREAT FUN TO WATCH MOST OF THE TIME. BUT AS IN THE PAST, THE TRUE CONTEST REMAINS THE SAME AS ALWAYS, ONE BETWEEN BRAINS(TECH) AND BRAWN(UGA). THE PROBLEM FOR TECH IS, THE TEAM THAT’S 20% STRONGER THAN THE OTHER TEAM USUALLY OVERCOMES THE TEAM THAT’S 30% SMARTER. STING’EM IN THE RIGHT PLACE JACKETS.