Disappointed Dogs insist there will be no letdown against Nebraska
ATHENS -- There are few things more unpredictable than the emotional state of a football team heading into a bowl game. But there are reasons for Georgia to be on guard against a letdown in the Capital One Bowl.
The No. 7-ranked Bulldogs (11-2) are coming off a game in which they literally finished five yards shy from playing for a national championship. The SEC Championship ended with Chris Conley sitting with the ball on the 5-yard line in the Georgia Dome and Georgia unable to stop the clock. Time ticked away in a 32-28 loss to No. 2 Alabama.
Not only did the Bulldogs come up short in their bid for the national championship. They lost consideration for a BCS bowl. So now they head to a non-BCS bowl to face a 10-3 Nebraska team coming off a 70-31 loss as a double-digit favorite.
Add to that a looming threat of distraction. Twelve UGA defensive starters are expected to be moving on, nine due to exhausted eligibility and three others due to soaring NFL stock. Even junior quarterback Aaron Murray admits that he’s “definitely going to think about” the NFL draft. Perhaps having an eye on the future is understandable.
Final exams over, the Bulldogs reassembled Wednesday for their first of 15 bowl practices. Coach Mark Richt, speaking at the team’s Capital One Bowl Media Day, said he isn’t entirely sure yet where his team’s collective head is. But he believes they’ll be engaged and motivated in time for the Jan. 1 game in Orlando.
- “There are still things that are worth playing for,” Richt said, before enumerating them.
- “ Number one we get to play another football game. I think our guys enjoy playing football, so I think that in itself is going to be enough motivation.
- “I think landing where we landed as far as the Capital One Bowl, being in Orlando in a warm weather climate, knowing we were going to play on Jan. 1 against an outstanding football team – I think all those things have been positive.
- “I will be challenging our leadership to finish better than we did a year ago and to solidify the job that they’ve done, because I think they’ve done an outstanding job to this point. I think they need to put an exclamation point on it or at least finish strong in a manner worthy of the way they led the entire offseason from January until now. That will be a big part of it.”
- “I’ll be talking a lot to the younger guys – the guys who know they are going to be coming back – to honor (the seniors) with the way they play.”
There is evidence of Georgia’s not being terribly motivated for bowl games in the recent past. It could be argued the Bulldogs were not intensely interested — or at least lost interest about halfway through — in last year’s triple-overtime loss to Michigan State in the Outback Bowl. And Georgia definitely wanted to be elsewhere in the 2010 Liberty Bowl, when the Bulldogs lost 10-6 to a extremely motivated Central Florida team. The Bulldogs were similarly disinterested in the 2001 Music City Bowl, which ended in a 20-16 loss to Boston College.
But Georgia players insist there will be no hangover of disappointment.
“Me, personally, I just want to win a bowl game,” Murray said with a laugh. “I haven’t won one as a starter, so I know I’m going to be working extremely hard to win this game. And this senior class has just meant so much for this program, for bringing us back to where Georgia needs to be. I know myself and all the other underclassmen want to send them off on the right note.”
Said senior linebacker Christian Robinson: “Yeah, we were five yards away from being somewhere else. But let’s not show that we’re not worthy of it by not finishing.”
The 2012 Bulldogs have a chance to become just the third team in school history to win 12 or more games. The 1980 national championship team went 12-0 and the 2002 team finished 13-1 after a Sugar Bowl win over Florida State.
“Jarvis (Jones) and John (Jenkins) said after the (SEC Championship) game, ‘This feeling we have now, we need to take that out on Nebraska,’” freshman linebacker Jordan Jenkins said. “I know the young guys and all the other guys on the team don’t want the seniors going out with a loss in a bowl game after going 11-2. We want to finish the season strong and finish the drill.”
MORE ON GEORGIA FOOTBALL
- Junior QB Aaron Murray ‘definitely going to think about’ NFL draft
- Notebook: Bulldogs hoping DE Abry Jones gets back for bowl
- Bradley: Georgia deserved better than Capital One Bowl
- Georgia prepares for total rebuild job on defense
- Junior OLB Jarvis Jones named permanent captain of 2012 team
- Mark Richt, Bo Pelini discuss Georgia-Nebraska matchup in Capital One Bowl
- Mike Bobo getting ‘long overdue consideration’ for coaching jobs
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197 comments Add your comment
WDE
December 13th, 2012
6:21 pm
GB’s Hamburgers why the hell don’t you worry about whatever team you root for Bull Dog Nation doesn’t need your advice or lip…
01HAWK
December 13th, 2012
6:33 pm
He is talented and he will make lots of money. I hope he does well in the NFL.
After transferring to Tennessee Tech and getting his on-field house in order, Rogers caught 61 passes for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2012 for the FCS program. Not so unexpectedly, that will be Rogers’ final season at Tech as the school announced Wednesday that the receiver has decided to bypass his senior season and enter the 2013 NFL draft.
UGA man class of 71& 73
December 13th, 2012
6:36 pm
GRANT FIELD for many, many years, dating back to the mid 1950s is UGA’s Atlanta home field.
takedowndawg
December 13th, 2012
6:51 pm
My UGA friends and I were discussing the pre-/SEC playoff game and several asked me what would be my greatest concern. I told them all that there would 5 min. left in the game, we might even be in a tight lead, but we have the ball on our end of the field, it is 4th and short and WE PUNT THE BALL (EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT STOP A SUSTAINED RUNNING ATTACK BY THEM ON THEIR PREVIOUS DRIVE). Consider, had we tried to get a 1st down and failed. They drove the remaining 35 yds and scored the go ahead td. and it took them three minutes to do. We would have had two minutes to generate the last winning drive rather than the one minute we ultimately had. Would it have made a difference? We will never know because CMR did the same thing last year against Michigan State against their accomplished, now PRO, quarterback(Cousins). Playing not to lose rather than playing to win.
Both, still sting……………
kral
December 13th, 2012
7:09 pm
never will know..but many seem to…earlier ole bob said good qb’s will their team to wins..in college P. Manning, brother Eli..the above mentioned Brees..the not mentioned Brady or ole A. Rogers willed their teams to how many championships in college..not saying AM has their kind of talent…just pointing out that even their talent did not will them any NC in college and very few conferences championships if any
Deacon Blues
December 13th, 2012
7:13 pm
MB, 5 yards? 5 miles? or 5 lifetimes? What’s the difference? Once a mutt, always a mutt!!
Maggs in Morrow
December 13th, 2012
7:18 pm
A few universal truths for leghumpers to chew on:
The team with intelligence, class, and heart won, which is as it should be.
Kool-Aid doesn’t win the big games, no matter how much of it you swill.
Drunks, potheads, and woman-beaters are not winners in anything.
And, just a reminder that real coaches like Saban win the big games, while overpaid pretenders like Richt do not.
kral
December 13th, 2012
7:21 pm
The difference my be the 3 years of 3,000 yards passing back to back..never accomplished in SEC..dang that mutt did some paw slinging with the ole pigskin
kral
December 13th, 2012
7:24 pm
might instead my
Lonnie
December 13th, 2012
7:25 pm
By the way GTbob and others Murray has 90 TD’s and 30 int. a 27-13 record 61.7% completion Brees had 90 TD’s and 45 int’s 62% and a 24-12 record. Including an outback loss to the dawgs!!! Yes Murray has a chance!!!!! John Elway never played in a bowl game and lost 6 games his senior year. NFL is looking for transferable ability. The reason why Richt has more pros is that he encourages skillsets that transfer such as cross training linemen and big physical receivers that block downfield!!!, I want him to stay but he can easily leave!!!
kral
December 13th, 2012
7:30 pm
maggs delivers us universal truths..well I guess there is no way to dispute a universal truth..maggs you are not trying to start a cult with those kind of powers are you
Whiznot
December 13th, 2012
7:52 pm
ESPN reported that Aaron Murray says that he is so disturbed by the ending of the Alabama game that he is no longer able to sleep. Well that is what happens when you are on the cusp of a national championship and your idiot coachs don’t allow you to give it your best shot. Richt and Bobo are fools!
kral
December 13th, 2012
7:57 pm
also maggs let’s pretend..you were not worried at haftime..you are up 10-7..oops second half..your down 14-10..oops 21-10..took control…up25-21..oops down28-25…up again 32-28…oops one play and we are beat..we won..but maggs wasn’t worried the drunk,,wife-beating potheads with the pretending coach never had a chance to win
dawgnation
December 13th, 2012
8:24 pm
It is funny people making fun of Ga schedule this year, yet look at next years schedule with almost the whole defense gone and maybe Murray, I see a 7 and 4 or 6 and 5 record next year
Dawglasville
December 13th, 2012
8:35 pm
Lake Dawg – the Brees thing is correct and Quincy won that game. I believe he also lead the Dawgs to a huge comback win vs Matt Schaub in the Peach Bowl.
2013 Capital One Bowl: Bulldogs vow no letdown against Nebraska | Georgia Bulldogs Football
December 13th, 2012
8:45 pm
[...] Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl, considering how close the team was to the BCS title game. But, as Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes, no one should expect the last time the Bulldogs played toArticle source: [...]
hahaha
December 13th, 2012
8:58 pm
When is Rambo going to run his mouth and tell Nebraska that UGA has better athletes?
OldTimer
December 13th, 2012
9:03 pm
5 yards short my arse. UGA had no chance to beat Bama. None. They didn’t because they couldn’t. Simply not man enough.
wooooo
December 13th, 2012
9:05 pm
If you think Aaron Murray is a better college qb than Drew Brees then you either have a bad memory or are completely delusional.
DawgNole
December 13th, 2012
9:08 pm
Vampire Bill
December 13th, 2012
9:22 am
Bothers me a little that there is even a question of a letdown?
_________________
Why would it? They were heavy favorites in their last two bowls–and lost the both.
DawgNole
December 13th, 2012
9:13 pm
Steve
December 13th, 2012
9:47 am
GTBob where are ya??? It’s a new UGA blog! The highlight of your day!
____________________
Aren’t you the one who’s always on here ordering everybody to ignore him?
DawgNole
December 13th, 2012
9:19 pm
“and lost THEM both.”
DawgNole
December 13th, 2012
9:20 pm
Steve
December 13th, 2012
10:42 am
There you are GTBob! I knew you would come through! I know you can’t resist a new UGA blog. Gosh what a loser.
__________________
You actually seem delighted that he’s joined us.
DawgNole
December 13th, 2012
9:25 pm
hfc95
December 13th, 2012
10:18 am
My biggest concern with UGA football is our strength of schedule. Until we play actual play top 40 teams for our 4 non conference games we will continue to be 9-3 range because we play a lollipop that takes away our mindset then we go play a SEC school at their place and its a 180 degree turn in competition. We need to play the best teams every week so we are consistent with our focus and energy. You can’t give yourself an easy schedule like we did this year and think it will be EASY to run the table and walk into a national championship. We need to schedule these non-conf games all around the country in different climates to have our team experience all elements of football across the USA. This does two things, gives UGA more national exposure and will be a great learning experience in how to deal with different climates.
__________________
Co-sign!
JDawg
December 13th, 2012
9:29 pm
This actually reminds me of the Hawaii Sugar Bowl. This is the fate of a Dawgs fan. We always end up playing some BS opponent, in some BS bowl, and when we do go to a real bowl, we still have a BS opponent. Half the time we lose because of a lack of motivation, this time we won’t. It will be a blowout, and we’ll then have to watch teams we are better than play other decent teams. Heck, GA Tech plays USC. I would 10 times rather play them than Nebraska.
DawgNole
December 13th, 2012
9:34 pm
DIT
December 13th, 2012
11:28 am
Hey, Spurrier has not even sniffed a BCS Bowl game or SEC CG(at SC) and you don’t hear SC fans trying to run him off.
____________________
They don’t have very high standards over there, which isn’t surprising given their football history.
Moist Dawg
December 13th, 2012
9:35 pm
Dawgnole, your biggest concern should be that you split your allegiance between two teams and one of them ISNT UGA. It’s sickening and disgusting hearing from part time fans.
My son tried that once and I had to set him straight, he’s 7, what’s your excuse?
DawgNole
December 13th, 2012
9:50 pm
Glenn Ridings
December 13th, 2012
12:00 pm
Alabama is over, move on . . . But, seriously….we just played for a National Championship and came up a fingernail short.
_______________
So if we’d beaten Bama we’d be National Champions? Hadn’t heard that one yet.
DawgNole
December 13th, 2012
10:03 pm
SecFan
December 13th, 2012
1:29 pm
Murray’s height issues are overrated. They said the same thing about Eric Zeir and look how that turned out.
______________________
The discussion about Murray’s height is in the context of how it will factor in to his success as a pro. Zeir did next to nothing in the pros.
DawgNole
December 13th, 2012
10:11 pm
Bluto
December 13th, 2012
4:15 pm
SEC fans are the biggest excuse makers in the sports world. At least teams from teh Big 10, ACC and Big East can admit when their team loses its because they were out played…
_______________
Easier to admit it when it happens all the time. Those guys have had a lot of practice.
kral
December 13th, 2012
10:19 pm
do not where AM career will go…but if you are the last pick in any pro football draft,,,i think that in itself is an accomplishment to be proud of….most bloggers would not because they have endured long pro careers in sports..so I can understand their distain
2013 Capital One Bowl: Bulldogs vow no letdown against Nebraska | U of N Cornhuskers Football
December 14th, 2012
5:23 am
[...] Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl, considering how close the team was to the BCS title game. But, as Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes, no one should expect the last time the Bulldogs played toArticle source: [...]
Glenn Ridings
December 14th, 2012
7:07 am
If UGA would have beaten Alabama they would have also beaten Notre Dame. Just like Alabama will. Not that complicated, but glad to break it down for you.
trueblueeagle
December 14th, 2012
7:26 am
UGA should beat neb. by 50 plus or more …it could be like last Orange Bowl 70 plus points…UGA finaly beats someone in a bowl game!
John
December 14th, 2012
8:28 am
Jim, Don’t blame Murray for the SEC champ loss. That is all Richt. Murray was ready to spike the ball and have 3 plays to score. CMR overruled him. As to the team being ready, we’ll see. Richt has long record of NOT getting the team ready. May be defensive player will do the trick again.
FLA DAWG
December 14th, 2012
8:59 am
John,
You are spot on the mark in my opinion.
Murray is a solid QB who will play in the NFL if he remains uninjured.
The guy has taken shot after shot for three years and still drills a tire at 20 yards.
True too is your view of the end of The SECC Game. Richt blew it and this was not the first time he’s done that. It was the type of error that first time coaches make as well as bad tenured coaches.
Richt’s inability to prep a team in postseason bowl games in legendary.
The UCF loss was an absolute embarrassment.
I hope this time the players take things into their own hands and play for respect because they sure don’t get juiced from Richt.
DawgNole
December 14th, 2012
11:45 am
Moist Dawg
December 13th, 2012
9:35 pm
Dawgnole, your biggest concern should be that you split your allegiance between two teams and one of them ISNT UGA. It’s sickening and disgusting hearing from part time fans.
My son tried that once and I had to set him straight, he’s 7, what’s your excuse?
____________________
One of them IS UGA, lamebrain, as the handle clearly implies. I have solid ties to both schools–and strongly support both schools. And I am grateful that they seldom play each other.
Get over your “sickening and disgusting” self.
Tide/Dawg
December 14th, 2012
12:50 pm
Yeah! Yeah! I know! There are a lot of disappointed Dawg fans out there. I’ve read it all..Richt/Murray can’t win the big games. Only two teams made it to the “Big Game”, Georgia was one of them. Since they changed the rule eliminating ties…somebody loses.
Nebraska gave up 70 points to Wisconsin..Georgia gave up 35 to SC. Don’t overlook Nebraska. They have motivation to beat an SEC team and redemption for giving up 70 pts. to Wis. They hate the SEC going back to the days of Devaney. Beating GA. would make their season. When Nebraska was on top they belittled the SEC and proved it by humiliating Ala. in the championship game. I’m as much a Bama fan as I am a GA. fan and I remember the things they said about the SEC. Surely there are some of you bloggers that remember those days. Instead of berating Ga. start pumping them up to kick Nebraska’s butt. The Ala. game is over. The new season starts in the Capitol One bowl.
DawgNole
December 14th, 2012
1:16 pm
Tide/Dawg
December 14th, 2012
12:50 pm
I’m as much a Bama fan as I am a GA. fan . . . .
_____________________
Glad to see there is someone else on here who realizes that you can have loyalty to more than one team. Don’t let “Moist Dog” (above) know about it though; he’ll find you “sickening and disgusting”–like he does me.
Tide/Dawg
December 14th, 2012
1:24 pm
I don’t hate Ga. Tech….I don’t like their brand of football. They have an egomaniac for a coach(would the Ga. fans like to have him replace Richt?), Johnson’s brand of footbal is …dive left…dive right…sweep option right… sweep opition left…on third and long throw end over end pass…punt. Really exciting! The point is, would you like to get a new coach like PJ? Not really! It could happen! Ga. lost to Ala. because of experience, not lack of talent. GT is so mired down in Johnson’s offense and players recruited for his offense, it would take a new coach 4 years to purge that talent and start a new offense better suited to big time football. Ga. plays “Big Time” football. They got to the big game. Alabama’s attitude is “Losing is not an option….that comes from experience. Ga. is getting there.
Tide/Dawg
December 14th, 2012
1:57 pm
Dawgnole..Getting into a word fight with Moist Dawg(what does that mean, anyway?) serves no purpose. Not arguing with him would be like Ga. humanely not scoring 60 pts on GT, or Ala. letting Auburn off the hook for further embarassment by taking a knee inside their ten yd line. No disrespect intended, but I hope his 7 year old son doesn’t grow up with his attitude. As far as allegiance to more than one team…I pull for any SEC team playing a team out of conference.
aladawg
December 14th, 2012
4:29 pm
Joe Dawg, you write like you are from Alabama. You talk about Spanky being behind a keyboard at the same time you are jerking your shit filled jaws behind one yourself. People like you are not relevant in this world you are meaningless you sorry asses are worth nothing. So keep running your shit filled mouth you and others like you just don’t matter in this world
DawgNole
December 14th, 2012
7:38 pm
It appears that the AJC filters have shut down, based on the appearance of aladawg’s “colorful” but spot-on post. Keep ‘em coming, aladawg.
DawgNole
December 14th, 2012
7:43 pm
Tide/Dawg
December 14th, 2012
1:57 pm
Dawgnole..Getting into a word fight with Moist Dawg(what does that mean, anyway?) serves no purpose. Not arguing with him would be like Ga. humanely not scoring 60 pts on GT, or Ala. letting Auburn off the hook for further embarassment by taking a knee inside their ten yd line. No disrespect intended, but I hope his 7 year old son doesn’t grow up with his attitude. As far as allegiance to more than one team…I pull for any SEC team playing a team out of conference.
________________________
I guess I should’ve considered the source when I saw his handle (Moist Dawg???). Of course, I’ve been asked many times what a “DawgNole” is. As a “Tide/Dawg,” I guess you would understand.
I, too, pull for the SEC against all others–unless they’re playing FSU. I also pull for the ACC against all others–unless they’re playing UGA.
modog
December 15th, 2012
1:33 am
georgia will beat that slow nebraska team like a rented mule—book it. These dogs will reload for a title run in 2013—best offense in the SEC coming back!!!
William G. Little
December 16th, 2012
10:17 am
Georgia has the talent advantage, but Nebraska definitely has the motivational advantage in this game.
It should be a close one.
Jsonic
December 17th, 2012
6:10 pm
Notre Dame 24
Alabama 21