Florida Gators 34, Georgia Bulldogs 31
by T Kyle King on Oct 30, 2010 9:17 PM EDT
in Football
Email
PrintI’m going to offer a handful of observations, after which I personally would prefer never to speak of this again:
- As I alluded to in the early comment thread, I felt worse and worse about this game the closer we got to kickoff. The more I thought about the bye week, and the Florida Gators’ desperation, and the return to health of a few Floridians who were at less than 100 per cent during the Sunshine State Saurians’ losing streak, the more worried I became.
- Related to that point, how lucky can one team in a given rivalry get? We never catch these guys when they have key guys out, the way Mississippi State caught them; they invariably catch us at the most inopportune times (i.e., during the one game D.J. Shockley was injured in 2005). For crying out loud, Florida benefited from its own false start penalties, which erased positive Georgia plays on more than one occasion in a game in which the Orange and Blue were penalized nine times to the Bulldogs’ two. The ludicrous extent to which random chance favors the Gators would be comical, if it weren’t so gut-wrenching.
- The Georgia Bulldogs wore their silver britches, but they also brought their silver platters, on which they offered up this game to the Orange and Blue. Three first-half turnovers became 14 Florida points, and a Trey Burton fumble that should’ve been fallen on inside the Gators’ 15 yard line instead was returned to the Floridians possession when a Bulldog defender foolishly attempted a scoop and score; thus, a play that ought to have produced a Georgia drive beginning in the opponent’s red zone instead extended an Orange and Blue touchdown march. At worst, the Red and Black should have held a 10-0 halftime lead. The Bulldogs gave the Gators everything they got in the first half.
- We’ve all been waiting for Aaron Murray to have a game in which he looked like a redshirt freshman, and now the other shoe has dropped. Despite an atrocious start, though, the Georgia quarterback came back to post a respectable stat line (18 of 37 for 313 yards). He threw three touchdown passes and turned the ball over four times (three interceptions and a fumble); had his touchdowns and his turnovers been even, we’d have won the game.
- It really was as close as the final score indicated. Florida led by one in first downs (23-22) and by eleven yards in total offense (450-439). Had Georgia held the ball for 38 more seconds, the two teams’ time of possession would have been identical.
- While this loss feels a lot like the Arkansas game, there is one critical difference: questionable coaching doomed the ‘Dawgs against the Razorbacks, but the Georgia staff generally coached a good game this time. The game plan and the in-game adjustments generally were good, aside from our continued inability to defend the wheel route. By the way, for everyone who was worried about "third and Grantham" after last week, the Bulldogs converted eight of 15 third downs while limiting Florida to four of 14 on third down and stopping the Gators short on their one fourth-down try. After allowing 21 first-half points in spite of a key defensive stop to start the game, Georgia held Florida to ten points in the final 30 minutes of regulation play.
- How much does that bye week matter? Healthy returning players and a retooled offense made a world of difference for the Gators. The folks who say we should move the Georgia-Florida game are right, but the change should be a chronological one, not a geographic one. The Bulldogs are 8-14 all-time against the Gators in October and 39-26-2 against them in November. We don’t need the game to be nearer; we need it to be later.
- We still can’t get over the hump, but, even in defeat, the ‘Dawgs at least reversed the trend of the last two games, which were disasters. As lopsided as the series recently has been in the record book, the fact remains that, between 1990 and 1998, seven of nine meetings were decided by margins of at least 20 points, but six of the last nine have been settled by a touchdown or less.
- I am proud of this team for fighting through the adversity. Down 21-7 at the half and knowing Florida would get the ball to start the third quarter, this Georgia team fought where the two previous Bulldog squads folded. The defense came up with a big stop to start the second half, after which the offense drove 65 yards and kicked a field goal. The defense forced a three-and-out, then the offense answered with a touchdown. The heart shown by the Bulldogs makes the loss hurt worse, but, when the sun rises tomorrow (and it will), it will make the future appear more bright. I’m disappointed to a degree I lack the vocabulary adequately to describe, but I’m not sorry for believing in this team.
- Chris Rainey caught two passes for nine yards, returned six kickoffs for 148 yards, and ran the ball 16 times for 84 yards and a touchdown. Prior to today’s game, Rainey also was arrested after texting "time to die" to a woman, was dismissed from the team, agreed to a deferral to a misdemeanor charge, and was reinstated to the team following the Gators’ three-game losing streak. Given the fates met by Michael Lemon, Montez Robinson, Zach Mettenberger, and Demetre Baker in Athens, I don’t think there’s any doubt that, had Rainey been a Bulldog, Mark Richt would have dismissed him from the team, and he would have stayed dismissed from the team. I watched today’s game with my seven-year-old son, and I was able to look him in the eye afterward and feel comfortable with having taught him to cheer for Mark Richt’s team. While I would have been happier with the result, I wouldn’t have been able to have looked him in the eye and felt comfortable with having taught him to cheer for Urban Meyer’s team.
Go ‘Dawgs!
162 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Well said.
While we can’t overlook Idaho State, we effectively have a bye week before Auburn. Maybe its delusional optimism, but I still think we have a shot at beating Auburn.
I, sir, would like to have some of what you're having.
To me, the main question is whether we can now beat Georgia Tech to end the season at 6-6. I don’t think we have a prayer against the Tiglesmen.
by vineyarddawg on Oct 30, 2010 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions
When both teams are bad, it just reverts to "natural order of things" momentum.
We barely won, but we’ll take it. Meyer was right, Georgia played their hearts out. Glad to notch this one on the W pole, bu we still have a lot of work to do.
Orange and Blue Hue: The World through GATOR-colored Glasses -- http://www.orangeandbluehue.com
"Natural order of things"?
By that, you mean “recent order of things.” The two terms are not synonymous.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Oct 30, 2010 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Actually, I meant "natural" as stated.
However, I did not come to poke a stick in anyone’s eye. Neither team is very good, honestly.
Orange and Blue Hue: The World through GATOR-colored Glasses -- http://www.orangeandbluehue.com
Interesting.
I take the view that 20 years out of a 105-year period is an exception rather than the rule, but to each his own mathematics, I suppose.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Oct 30, 2010 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, I wasn't going to get into it, but OK.
Kyle, when you have to go back 20+ years, it no longer classifies as a ‘recency’ issue. We are in the modern era of college football; coaches are given three years to turn programs around, not five or seven. For crying out loud, the players on the field weren’t even born the last time Georgia held the upper hand in this rivalry. Might it someday turn back to the ‘Dawgs? Maybe, yes, but once again, it’s not this year. My point was merely that when both teams are struggling, the Gators seem to win by default. By the same token, when both teams are at the top of their game, the Gators win by default. I think, frankly, that Georgia players (and maybe many of their fans) expected to lose this game by the same measure. Call it mental, call it momentum, call it whatever you want, but Florida owns Georgia.
Orange and Blue Hue: The World through GATOR-colored Glasses -- http://www.orangeandbluehue.com
That's like saying the US should dominate the world is the "natural order of things"
simply because we have for the past 90 years. Never mind the entire scope of history, let’s just look at the period that’s makes you feel more superior. I mean you guys have won 18 of 21 and STILL trail the series margin by 7 games. Shouldn’t that tell you a little how this series should go?
No, it doesn't.
College football has changed in a dramatic way over the last 2-3 decades. No longer can there be any reliance on the future based on the past. And my belief that Florida’s dominance will continue has little to do with history — it’s due to the fact that Florida is simply a better program in every sense of the word, but perhaps most importantly, the business sense. I have confidence that Florida football will consistently spend time hunting for national championships in the future. Will we have down years? Yes. Will we have down cycles that last 5-10 years? I think it’s very unlikely. Evidence in point: Ron Zook was fired after 2.5 years. All the pundits cried foul, but two years after his departure, Florida won their next national championship. It was once unthinkable to pull the rug out from under a coach so early in his tenure, but now it is more commonplace.
Put it this way: there is zero chance that if Mark Richt was the head coach at Florida, that the leadership would tolerate what he’s dragged Georgia through the last five years. He’d be gone, end of story.
Orange and Blue Hue: The World through GATOR-colored Glasses -- http://www.orangeandbluehue.com
As a life long Georgia fan (44 of my 62 years) I can't argue your points.
If frogs had wings comes to mind but the reality of what has happened since 1991 leaves me numb. The CMR era leaves me depressed.
If CMR can pull a rabbit out of his hat for the next 6 years and win them all he would climb up to .500 versus the Gators – not likely.
The Gators have won 80% of the games versus CMR. If CMR is to reverse that number he only needs to win what – 36 straight.
Fuzzy Math
but the point is we have a rather big hill to climb.
You are incredibly arrogant...
…but then that’s redundant when speaking of a gator fan of the new millenium. Beyond the sheer incoherence of your response, you are clearly naive, ill-informed and poorly educated…but there goes my redundancy again if your diploma is from the U of F.
You speak as if you are the voice of the UF administration. Thankfully, you are not. I’m sure you are pleased with yourself for posting this gibberish on an UGA site…thanks for that showing of sportsmanship. Exactly where were you in the previous cycle? Probably not even a glimmer in your Mama’s eye. To you, the world of college football begins in 1990.
Sonny, football has evolved since 1905, not just since you decided to be a gator. It has been a historic run for your program…shortcuts and all (oh wait, you don’t remember the probations?) It will evolve again, just as this series will.
Crawl back under your mocha frappacinio laden laptop desk and go back to being a smug intertuber…and take your ridiculous version of how football works today with you.
What a tool….FYG
Run Lindsay Run!
I know that's just the frustration talking.
I don’t take it personally. Good luck the rest of the way.
Orange and Blue Hue: The World through GATOR-colored Glasses -- http://www.orangeandbluehue.com
That's really big of you, Gatorpilot.
After your website knowingly quoted me out of context on your sidebar last year, you come around here, say you aren’t trying to poke anyone with a stick, and you proceed to lecture me on how we ought to fire our head coach?
I take that very personally, Gatorpilot, and, frankly, you would, too, if you were in my position.
Thanks for the well wishes. I hope your team loses every game in every sport from now until the end of time.
Go 'Dawgs!
I'm all for Richt.
You shouldn’t fire him. Never said you should. I merely pointed out that, were he coaching Florida, he would have been fired. There’s a big difference. It’s a salient point.
On the last sentiment, I suppose we kind of agree, but isn’t that what rivals are supposed to do?
See you next year in Jax.
Orange and Blue Hue: The World through GATOR-colored Glasses -- http://www.orangeandbluehue.com
Those who do not learn from history...
… are doomed to get their ass kicked one year in Jacksonville.
(I don’t know when… but one of these years.)
by vineyarddawg on Oct 31, 2010 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions
You can't be serious, can you?
You didn’t “come to poke a stick in anyone’s eye”?? I seem to remember you as the same person that came on this site two years ago after the beatdown at the hands of your Gators with comments such as “think the Dawgs will dance after this one?”. You sir, know exactly what you’re doing and just come across as a poor winner. Although I suppose that at this point and time I should know better than to expect decency from the majority of your fanbase.
http://hobnailboot.wordpress.com/
Jacksonville
This game was lost before the Dawgs got off the bus. Sound familiar?
We’re going to lose 80% of the games to the UF until we move the game.
UF may have said that 20 years ago.
"One thing I will never do as long as I’m at Georgia is lose to Florida." - Herschel Walker
I HATE that mentality!
And it’s mentality that’s losing this game for us.
If you're gonna do it, go ugly early.
also, remember the home and homes we have played with UF lately?
"One thing I will never do as long as I’m at Georgia is lose to Florida." - Herschel Walker
When Ray Goof was the coach?
Yeah… Georgia wasn’t seriously outcoached/outtalented in either of those games.
The dude abides.
The point is that the 1994, 1995, and 1996 Florida squads were comparably good . . .
. . . and the 1994, 1995, and 1996 Georgia squads were comparably bad. The fact that the current iterations of both squads are very different is irrelevant; the point is that those were three comparably good Gator teams and three comparably bad Bulldog teams. Consequently, if Jacksonville is the problem, it should have shown up in the results, particularly in the game in Athens.
Georgia lost the 1994 game in Gainesville 52-14. Georgia lost the 1995 game in Athens 52-17. Georgia lost the 1996 game in Jacksonville 47-7. There is no evidence to suggest that Jacksonville is the problem. For me, Senator Blutarsky had the last word on this one: how many times have you left the stadium in Jacksonville and thought, “We’d have won that game in Athens”?
Go 'Dawgs!
Besides this past Saturday?
Don’t get me wrong… I’m firmly in favor of keeping the game in the crappiest village on the St. Johns River, but I do think that, if last Saturday’s game were played Between the Hedges, we would have come out victorious.
Just like we did against Arky? UK last year?
We wouldn’t have won that game anywhere. UGA is clearly the better team yes, but UF played better and that translates no matter where the game is played. Anyone wanting to argue whether GA didn’t have the better team needs only look at the mountain of good fortune/turnovers UF got to win by 3…in OT. Series doesn’t look good going forward with 2/3+ of the gator roster being fresman/sophomores.
I could not more completely agree with tankertoad's and Inteljumper's replies, Hobnail_Boot.
We are 40-38-1 all-time against the Gators in Jacksonville. The last time we played Florida in Athens, we lost 52-17. That was a year after losing 52-14 to them in Gainesville and a year before losing 47-7 to them in Jacksonville. We get half the tickets to Jacksonville and they get half the tickets to Jacksonville. As part of the most recent contract renegotiation, we arranged for Jacksonville to pay to charter a plane for our team to fly directly there, so our travel time is not significantly longer than theirs.
The argument that the venue is what is making the difference is the laziest and worst kind of excuse-making. It embarrasses me to have Georgia fans say such things.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Oct 30, 2010 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Kyle, for someone of your intelligence to not even listen to an opposing opinion is really disappointing. You might not want the game moved from Jax; that’s fine. But to not even acknowledge that MAYBE people that do want to go home and home have some valid points is lazy and close-minded on your side.
There are valid reasons for going home and home other than the “OMG WE CAN”T BEAT THEM THERE!" rationale you’re attaching to everyone with an opinion different from yours.
It’s the equivalent of making your closing argument counselor, and then standing up with your fingers in your ears saying “NANANANAN CAN’T HEAR YOU!!!!” when the opposing side is making theres.
And for the the love of God, can we please stop using the 95 game as evidence? That was arguably one of Spurriers 2 best teams, we were starting Hines freaking Ward at QB(after losing our 1st and 2nd string QBs) and were on our 5th string RB at that point with a lame duck coach. Not exactly the same situation we have right now.
UgaMatt, if one comment by me in response to one flippant comment about . . .
. . . the game being lost before the Bulldogs got off the bus causes you to believe I would “not even listen to an opposing opinion” after I have built up the track record I have at this site over the last almost five years, I have nothing for you.
I’m not sticking my fingers in my ears and refusing to listen to an opposing argument; Hobnail_Boot wasn’t making an argument, he was stating an unsupported conclusion. If you would like to engage in an actual discussion, I will be happy to have it.
The 1995 game is evidence because it’s the last time Georgia played Florida between the hedges. The 1994 and 1996 teams also were two of Steve Spurrier’s best Gator squads, and the 1994, 1995, and 1996 Bulldog teams were comparable to one another, as well, so we’re comparing apples to apples in all three instances. Obviously, I don’t think Florida would win another 52-17 contest in Athens if the two teams played in Sanford Stadium now, but my point was that, when we compare the 1994, 1995, and 1996 games, we’re comparing like to like over those three years, and the venue didn’t make a bit of difference.
My ears are open and I am prepared to listen to actual arguments offered by a reasonable person with a different point of view. I’d like to think I’ve earned the right to have you believe that.
Go 'Dawgs!
You're right
You’re right Kyle, I apologize. I just reread my post and it was a bit unfair, and you do have a very open-minded site. Chalk it up to heartbreak and frustration. My point is simply that there are valid reasons to consider going home and home, and when it comes to this argument (yourself excluded), proponents of staying in Jax. are extremely close-minded. For too many of our fans, it’s become much more about the beach and the party than about the game.
Our athletic department doesn’t know what to do about Florida. Damon Evans’ model(ouch, too soon?…..should I have gone with “position”?….oh wait, damn it!) was that Florida is the measuring stick. McGarity is on record as saying that we have an unhealthy fixation with Florida. I tend to side with McGarity on this issue and believe that one way of getting over that is to stop putting Florida on a freakin’ pedestal. Our fans plan their fall around this game. Our student body has a fall break for this game. The athletic department can’t say “Florida is another SEC game” and then treat it like its an October bowl game.
LSU, Tennessee, Auburn, and Alabama all manage to play Florida home and home and live to tell about it. And all of them have won both at home and on the road this decade. Despite what the media would have us to believe, Gainesville isn’t a guaranteed loss for the road team. All road games in the SEC are tough, everyone has loud stadiums, etc.
The years that we are the “home” team dicks up our schedule. The SEC has an unwritten rule about not scheduling more than 2 consecutive road games. Think to 04 and 08. In 04 we played at Arkansas, at Jax., at Lexington, and at Auburn. Now by the SEC’s logic, that is no more than 2 consecutive road games. By my logic, that’s a month away from Athens in PRIME football season, weather, etc. That’s 3000 miles of traveling in the 3 weeks leading up to Auburn (You hate Auburn). In 08 it was at LSU, at Jax, at Kentucky, at Auburn. Not having a home game for a month is absurd and I would love to know if any other school has this happen to them.
There is something to be gained from making Florida travel. I know we’re not world beaters at home, yada, yada, yada. But Florida under Meyer plays much differently on the road as well. It’s all about comfort. The more comfortable you feel, the looser and faster you play. I have to believe that anywhere on the face of the planet would be more uncomfortable for Florida right now than Jax. It’s a second homecoming for them…they have NO doubt they’re going to win…just don’t make a mistake, and UGA will nut up. See Red Sox-Yankees 1918-2003. Plus, I’m sure the local Athens’ businesses wouldn’t mind actually having a chance to make some money from our biggest game every other year.
BTW, there is a CLEAR generational divide on this issue…I graduated in 04 and after going to 7in a row in Jax and 12 of the previous 14 (first was in 92 at age 11), I can honestly say I’ll never go back and there are A LOT of people roughly my age that feel the same way. The people of Jax are world class assholes. 3 night minimums, $50 parking, and then the morning after the game, you get to watch everyone in that “neutral” city rock their orange and blue and laugh at you knowing you just pumped $1,000 into their local economy and were happy to do so in the name of “tradition”. My generation, that knows nothing but heartbreak and disappointment in Jax, realize that maybe this isn’t the smartest thing to do.
At any rate, sorry if I offended you, didn’t mean to. Like I said, frustrated and heartbroken.
I am still waking up, so -
some good, valid points. Especially that being the home team uh, messes up our schedule. But the ultimate point IMO is that going home and home does absolutely nothing to improve our chances of winning. If we are nervous about UF now, going to the swap would be right close to peeing our pants. Don’t like JAX? Imagine having stuff thrown at you in Gainesville. Imagine not being able to put anything UGA on your body or car out of fear of attack. Imagine spending more time worrying about your lady than the score. Because it will go down like that. Don’t tell me that they suck in JAX and then tell me it would be better in Gainesville, because Gainesville would be a nightmare x100 for everything you hate in JAX.
If we played UF in Altanta, the same nervous fear of UF would still be there, they would still be in our heads, and we would still figure out how to come out scared. But at least fans wouldnt be scared of their property and health. But don’t tell me that playing in Athens affects a win – because their is no prove of that – especially since the team can’t win in JAX. Maybe JAX sucks to go lose if you are a fan, but here is the deal, all that UF orange and blue will magicaly turn Red and Black if we win the next 9 of 10 – it’s been that way before, would be that way again. If my local high school team won in JAX – they would wear black and gold and talk smack. It’s not a UF town – its a fair weather town. The way to change it to make it fun for you – is to win there.
"One thing I will never do as long as I’m at Georgia is lose to Florida." - Herschel Walker
Sure, let's just win there.....
I’m sure we haven’t thought of that strategy for the past 20 years.
And Jax is 75 miles from Gainesville and the largest city in Florida….it is CLEARLY a gator town.
Gator perspective
Quite frankly, most of my Gator cohorts would love the game to go home and home….the hope is that with an extra home game we can play a more favorable non-conference opponent and still get the 7 home games that Foley requires.
No one's really gonna to be free until nerd persecution ends - Gilbert Lowe
And a city that also has a massive UGA alumni association...
…get over Jax. Paid $20 to park (lot X, next to fairgrounds) and despite sitting in the upper level, leaving after OT, I was back in St. Augustine (a hotbed of GA fans it seems) within an hour. I don’t know if you just don’t know how to get around the stadium that well, where to stay, etc…but the experience (despite the losses) has been an all around great time for me (2003 grad) and I actually don’t know a single alumnus from my time who WANTS to move the game. Entitled to your opinion, but it seems to be disconnected from my own experience both with the game, and fellow recent alumni.
We're good, UgaMatt.
I understand we’re all frustrated, so it’s cool.
You make some very valid points, and I respect your position, particularly since you’ve made the trip. (Most Georgia fans I know who favor moving the game have never been there.) Since I’ve voiced my views on this repeatedly, there’s no reason for me to rehash my position; I’ll let my previous remarks, and yours, stand as they are, and let reasonable folks consider the pros and cons of both sides.
Thanks for your comment, UgaMatt. I really appreciate it.
Go 'Dawgs!
Snakebit.
I know it doesn’t make sense, but I know that if this team had the exact same coaches, the exact same players, the exact same record, but wasn’t wearing Georgia uniforms, it would have won this game.
I agree with this completely.
"One thing I will never do as long as I’m at Georgia is lose to Florida." - Herschel Walker
I agree, but it's the other way around:
If we won the toss in Jacksonville and, instead of choosing to kick off or receive, opted instead to have Florida return to the locker room and put on Tennessee’s, Auburn’s, or Georgia Tech’s uniforms, we’d be no worse than 50/50 against them this decade.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Oct 30, 2010 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
if the coin toss let you select the other team’s uniforms, we’d never have to see UK in all-blue, and anyone playing Oregon would have to play shirts vs. skins.
"It'll only be reviewed because the guys up in the booth want to watch it a few times too." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf16_mw0nxs
by AdamLilly on Oct 30, 2010 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
You're right.
The problem is between the ears.
by vineyarddawg on Oct 31, 2010 6:32 AM EDT up reply actions
And at the bottom . . .
. . . and everywhere in between.
We all agree that 2-8 is unacceptable, but it was 1-10 for the eleven years before that. This problem antedates almost everyone who now has an Athens mailing address.
Go 'Dawgs!
Anyone see the headline in
the right hand side of the blog? “Florida Crushes Georgia in 1st Cocktail Party OT Game” I think “crushes” is a bit excessive no?
I can bake like a demon.
Not really.
I’m pretty goddamn crushed. 2008 and 2009 we were clearly outclassed and outcoached, but this is one we absolutely could have won and should have won.
Eh, I'm using a different definition of class.
In terms of being able to win football games, Florida in 2008 and 2009 was clearly in a class far exceeding ours. I don’t even see how you could argue against that.
Exactly.
We were not crushed in the point total… but I certainly feel crushed.
by vineyarddawg on Oct 30, 2010 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I think “crushing” a team and “in overtime” are kind of at odds as a general rule.
"It'll only be reviewed because the guys up in the booth want to watch it a few times too." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf16_mw0nxs
by AdamLilly on Oct 30, 2010 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rainy...
In the grand scheme of things we all know Meyer is a dirtbag for letting Rainy play. That’s the state of things. CMR is a great guy that loses to Kentucky about as often as he beats Florida. Florida has a classless coach with two MNCs.
Florida has a classless coach with two MNCs.
Honestly, I’ll take what we’ve got over that every day.
"It'll only be reviewed because the guys up in the booth want to watch it a few times too." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf16_mw0nxs
Exactly.
As the father of a seven-year-old and a two-year-old, I know which one is more important to me, and it isn’t close.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Oct 30, 2010 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions
If you are....
pointing to college football players as the models for right and wrong, I fear for your progeny…….and…exactly how many arrests did UGA have this year? The UGA reaction on this front is akin to the Survivor contestant who cries “I was honest, gave my word” as they are being voted off the island….
No one's really gonna to be free until nerd persecution ends - Gilbert Lowe
That's only true if all arrests are equal, but, quite obviously, they are not.
The vast majority of Georgia arrests are for underage possession-type offenses and minor moving violations (usually involving suspended licenses). Every wrongdoer with the slightest degree of moral culpability in his infraction (Montez Robinson, Zach Mettenberger, Dontavius Jackson, Demetre Baker) is no longer with the team.
No one’s pointing to college football players as role models, but it’s naive to assume athletes and coaches aren’t adopted for such purposes by youngsters. Even if they weren’t, though, it’s still important to hand down appropriate consequences for inappropriate actions.
Go 'Dawgs!
Kyle, last bullet point is dead on
Infuriating, in that Meyer’s guys get away with that garbage and it helps them on the field, and annoying, in that Richt still gets crap for his players’ arrests on minor infractions as opposed to felonies… But this is one rivalry where one side actually has moral superiority. I hope that superiority will carry over to the field soon.
Mark Richt has felt a lot more humility this year than ever
and I can see how many people are still in favor of him even with a bad record. If Meyer was coaching UGA and had the same situation with a 4-5 record, would he be facing that kind of humility? Probably not.
by thefirstgenesis on Oct 30, 2010 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Enormous thread
And I don’t even know where to begin to reply. Lots of good points, lots of fair points, lots of things I personally believe may be stretched a bit too far. I don’t think I could say anything that wouldn’t be looked upon with disdain, as I know how the fanbase feels right now. I’m not particularly proud of this win, so I’m certainly not here to gloat (I have way more respect than that).
But the only point I’m going to try and refute is the last one. And all I’m going to say about it is:
Cameron Newton.
You sold me...queer giraffes.
by Bourbon_Meyer on Nov 1, 2010 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Fair point, Bourbon_Meyer. (Great screen name, by the way.)
Did Urban Meyer kick Cameron Newton off the team, though? I was under the impression that Newton was the one who made the decision to leave Florida, although I confess I did not follow the story that closely at the time, so I could be wrong and I would ask to be corrected if I am mistaken. Either way, though, thanks for the comment, and for the tone in which it was offered.
Congratulations on the win, by the way. I may not have said that before, but the Gators played a solid game and earned the victory. I hate to say it, but y’all are going to breeze through November, skunk South Carolina by 17 points, expose Florida State as an ACC fraud, and head into Atlanta playing very solid football. (Dang it.)
Go 'Dawgs!
I guess
I never really got the full story – one of those things you hear from the boosters about what “really” happened. I always assumed he was booted. I try to comfort myself now and say that he was.
I think y’all played a hell of a game too. From my seats (Row M) my buddies and I were giddy pointing out the matchups between AJ & JJ, watching the way the players & coaches were battling that out. Until that drive near the end where AJ was in at flanker and JJ stayed out wide…we were jumping up and down pointing at the terrible matchup of the best WR in the league on a LB. 6 points that was well deserved.
The mood after the game was bizarre and quiet. I dont think I saw a single word spoken from a gator to a dawg the entire walk down the stands out into the parking lot. Two equally drained fanbases, one only marginally more satisfied with the outcome than the other.
The part you didn’t mention is what happens after (IF) we make it to Atlanta…and we get dumptruck’d by whichever West team decides to pull their hot mess together and slay us. At least I won’t have to watch my qb cry.
You sold me...queer giraffes.
by Bourbon_Meyer on Nov 2, 2010 1:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I think the West is so much stronger than the East this year . . .
. . . that whichever team came out of the East was (is) bound to lose, but I think y’all are about to start playing like the Gators of old. It’ll be a better game in Atlanta than a lot of folks suppose.
Thanks for your take on the mood of the fans after the game. Personally, at this point, I’d take an unsatisfying victory for a change! :)
Thanks again for taking part, and for representing your fan base well. Given the crap being dished out from some quarters, I appreciate it more than you realize.
Go 'Dawgs!
Respect
Is just as important a southern tradition as football.
Glad to be here. Long time listener, first time caller.
You sold me...queer giraffes.
by Bourbon_Meyer on Nov 3, 2010 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Your last point is on the money
Tennessee long ago sold their souls to the devil. Urban Meyer is doing the same thing with Florida, and it’s clear the AD has no intention of stepping in. I hope it eventually blows up in their face and turns Florida into a punchline like the bums up in Knoxville.
"They've just discovered a new use for sheep over there at Clemson... wool." - Lewis Grizzard
by GwinnettGamecock on Oct 30, 2010 10:09 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
No they didn't.
He left for a better job.
Are you sure you follow SEC football?
i keep forgetting that part
in favor of remembering the rioting & mattress burning…..
I can bake like a demon.
that was awesome. i still laugh about it.
"One thing I will never do as long as I’m at Georgia is lose to Florida." - Herschel Walker
yeah me too....
i think it’s understandable that I forget the reason for his departure…..
I can bake like a demon.
I was rooting heavily for UGA
But to say that UGA never catches UF when UF has stars hurt… what about the 2007 game against the hurt Tebow who couldn’t run? I would say having the Heisman-Trophy winner hurt counts there.
This team will improve in '10... on its 16-16 conference record over the last 4 years.... after losing 20 games in the last 4 years... after having the 7th worst major-conference defense... after not even winning its own division in the ACC in the last 4.
Tomahawk Nation: Nole-Holds-Barred Analysis of FSU Sports!
Follow Tomahawk Nation's Twitter feed!
Bud, you need to quit listening to Gary Danielson's shilling.
Tim Tebow had a sore shoulder. That’s very, very different from being out of the game entirely (as D.J. Shockley was). Tebow was primarily a running quarterback, and, as Herschel Walker said, the ball ain’t heavy. Also, Tebow was well enough to lead his team to 30 points. Georgia scored 42, and I don’t recall Tebow lining up on defense for any of those.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Oct 30, 2010 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't have the tape of the game but I seem to remember him being very reluctant to run it up the middle
and it seemed Mullen (the true brain of that offense) was reluctant to run him much.
Great quote from Herschel. Go Dawgs.
This team will improve in '10... on its 16-16 conference record over the last 4 years.... after losing 20 games in the last 4 years... after having the 7th worst major-conference defense... after not even winning its own division in the ACC in the last 4.
Tomahawk Nation: Nole-Holds-Barred Analysis of FSU Sports!
Follow Tomahawk Nation's Twitter feed!
by Bud Elliott on Oct 30, 2010 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Ditto
At least the way I remember it, Tebow’s running seemed more timid to me in that game than at any other point in his career. When you’re a fullback playing quarterback, and you want to lower your shoulder on someone, having an injury to that same shoulder might make you reconsider.
For the record, what I actually wrote was:
“We never catch these guys when they have key guys out, the way Mississippi State caught them.”
Tim Tebow wasn’t out for that game. He played. If he was that hurt, he shouldn’t have been on the field. He was on the field, he led his team to 30 points, he had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that his team gave up 42 points, and, since he played, he is completely irrelevant to my point that they never seem to “have key guys out” when we play them.
Go 'Dawgs!
I still burn with a firey hate
Towards that Arkansas team that robbed us of the win in 2005. Tereshinski tried, but there was little he could do that quickly to become DJ Shockley-Lite when he was more like Joe Cox-Extreme.
Oh, the places you’ll go…to hunt down a linebacker who goes low on your QB.
Kyle I agree with most of your bullets
and I will never look up to Meyer but I would bet the farm he will beat us 80% of the time (same goes for Saban). Neither seem to have a moral compass but they can recruit like hell and he get their team ready to play more often than not.
Sadly college football has evolved into a win at any / all cost business (at least in the SEC) and one needs to look no further than Bama or the Gators.
Richt's career record vs. Saban
too lazy to look it up during the Oregon game commercial break, but it’s like .500…
I lied, I'm not that lazy... Richt 2, Saban 3
And here’s a fuller comparison, albeit a bit outdated—they’re much farther apart now than they were then, but even so, this cuts against there being any inherent problem with running a program like Richt does:
http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/467/nick-saban-vs-mark-richt
My reference was more to Saban and Bama
Give it time and Saban will have the same results that Meyer has.
I need to point out I am a Richt fan and wish him many years at UGA but the reality of what he is up against dampens my enthusiasm.
Time?
Are you familiar with Saban’s career history? If he’s at Bama in five years, I’ll be stunned.
And even if he is, we still only play them two out of every five years, or whatever it is.
Things change in college football, even in the SEC. No one would have predicted what Tennessee’s become in the past few years.
Time?
Yes give it time – WE WILL NOT BEAT SABAN OR MEYERS ON A CONSISTANT BASIS.
And for the record I am very familiar with Saban’s career – what was your point – he has won more than we have and it makes no sense to argue we only play them 2 out of 5.
As much as it pains me reality is Florida and Alabama will win more games against us than we will against them as long as Saban and Meyer are coaching.
Get your head out of the sand – WE CAN’T BEAT MEYER. We just lost a heart breaker to the worst Florida team Meyer has put on the field – does that not tell you something?
Well said JRL...
I agree with you 100%. We have a 10 year sample to evaluate with Richt and the data says it all.
by UGARegimechange on Oct 31, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
dude, at what point to you want to help your case ?
It’s “well said” only because you agree with it. I have actually read JRL’s better post and this one is an emotional knee jerk.
10 year samle – again, if I was in court or in a debate I would use this to make my own case – you selectively pull your data rather than use all of it. The only data ( will try and help you) you have is CMR’s record against UF. Furthemore, I believe by your own admission, pretty much everyone else has a bad record against UF in a similar timeframe – your only argument is that UGA should have won in a few years we were better than them. Thats it. The real argument you are making, and making it poorly, is UGA has lost a handful of games it had a very good chance of winning. That’s it.
You have admitted UF has done well against all this decade. You are arguing sample size only in parts and pieces. You post “Well said” even if it isnt well said merely because it agrees with your point. You make grand statements “the data says it all” when said statements are generally unfounded and don’t actually make your point.
I would have some undertanding – even if it was emotional, if you just said, “DAMNIT! I AM SICK OF LOSING TO FLORIDA ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I GET MADE FUN OF AT WORK / SCHOOl / AN BY FRIENDS”, because that is a whole lot closer to the truth. You are not convincing me that you care about UGA Athletics, UGA Academics, UGA, Athens, UGA Alumni in any way. You just want an NC and don’t want to lose to UF. You blindly get on a “Fire CMR” wagon with no understanding or concern of the difficulties of hiring a coach that can post a .750 record over 10 years, no concern of the impact to the school or these players, no worry that hiring another coach will very likely result in another loss to UF and even more problems. You are self centered, self interested and would be best served by realizing it’s just a game,a game UGA is doing very well at by every standard except the recent record agaist UF and go out and enjoy being alive ,enjoy Athens, and try and enjoy a basically silly game wear men wear tights and hit each other over an over inflated pumpkin.
"One thing I will never do as long as I’m at Georgia is lose to Florida." - Herschel Walker
"Well Said TT"
I love CMR but the reality is he (like many) can’t consistently beat Meyer. That’s not to fault CMR but rather to point out Meyer is good at winning games same for Saban. I hate how they win but it is what it is.
LOL at JRL’s better post and LOL at knee jerk reaction – I needed that today. The worm will turn but CMR will never match (80%) what the Gators have done to him – simple math.
Truth hurts...
,heck I even hate saying or admitting the faults of this program, but someone has to bring them to light. The one thing I am not is one that will conitune to pat someone of the back when they really need a slap across the face, and in my opinion, that’s exactly what the moment calls for. I love the dawgs and have family foot prints in the UGA football program as far back as Butts, however, just because I am critical or point out something my child does wrong, doe not mean I don’t love them.
I could really care less if I meet your standards on what a dawg fan should or should not say about the current program. I will keep being objective and you can keep blasting people for not agreeing with you…
by UGARegimechange on Oct 31, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Would this post make you feel better?
I love Richt, I love the direction we are headed in and I love Papa John’s pizza. I know we have only won 2 out of the last 10 against FL, but hey, it could be worse. Go dawgs!…does that make you feel better Toad?
by UGARegimechange on Oct 31, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm sure it doesn't, but it's an understatement to say "it could be worse."
As I noted in another comment thread earlier this evening, Mark Richt is the third-longest tenured head football coach in Georgia history in terms of games coached. He has more wins, fewer losses, a better winning percentage, and the same number of SEC championships as the two guys ahead of him (Wally Butts and Vince Dooley) had at the same point in their careers. He has a winning record against every significant Georgia rival except Florida.
As you put it, “We have a 10 year sample to evaluate with Richt and the data says it all.” Yes, they do, both good and bad, and much more good than bad.
Go 'Dawgs!
I posted this elsewhere, but....
UGA has on its roster the best player in CFB.
If my OC is worth half-a-damn, he instructs his freshman QB to throw the ball to said all-universe receiver on many more downs than I noticed tonight. No questions allowed – give it up to AJ.
You wanna run the ball late in the fourth and in overtime with a nuclear weapon available out wide late in the game?
I call bullshit.
Where do you coach?
Sorry…don’t mean to be glib, but the game is more involved than that. Even when HW played, the gameplan wasn’t just hand the ball to him.
If you're gonna do it, go ugly early.
by Inteljumper on Oct 30, 2010 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions
And on his sole touchdown, he was triple covered.
You’re saying you want Aaron Murray throwing into triple coverage more frequently?
I am proud to be a Kennesaw State Fighting Owl. -- Vince Dooley
This happened on the first play of the game, NRBQ.
We threw it to a well-covered A.J. Green on the first touch of the game.
The result? Interception.
It ain’t as easy as you think it is to call plays.
by vineyarddawg on Oct 31, 2010 6:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Georgia = Navy
Georgia has beaten Florida the same amount of times as Navy has beaten Notre Dame in the last 21 years. Even a squirrel finds a nut occasional. This is ridiculous.
I admire Richt, a lot, but morality died in college football years ago. Get over Meyer and his team of felons. It doesn’t matter. As long as he wins nothing will change. I love the sport more than anything, but it disgusts me at times. All that matters is winning. Sadly, things like character and good values don’t exist in college football anymore.
There was a firefight!!!!
This is an incredibly cynical viewpoint, and one that I'm glad I don't share.
I understand that you’re frustrated and upset right now, and I am, too. The fact that the two most successful coaches in the SEC over the last 3 years are also the coaches that seem to have the thinnest sense of coaching ethics does not mean that morality is dead in college football, though.
I think the long-term consequences of their actions will play themselves out over time, and we will be that much the better for it. I mean, shit, if we couldn’t beat Ron Zook’s Florida teams with our David Greene and David Pollack-led teams, we shouldn’t be surprised that we’re losing to Urban Meyer’s worst UF team.
It ain’t coaching and it ain’t morality… it’s the logo on the helmet… and more importantly, what’s inside our helmets.
by vineyarddawg on Oct 31, 2010 6:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Checking in...
After re-reading the game thread, Kyle’s post above, and some of the other posts -
1. I thought our Dawgs played hard and with heart, and was awfully proud of them, but they made a lot of mistakes that proved too much to overcome. It’s really just about that simple.
2. I think the moral superiority argument is mostly sour grapes, and the finger wagging and hall monitoring gets a little tedious. This offered with much respect from a moralizing finger wagger.
Yes, I think Rainey is probably a thug, but I have no idea what kind of conversation he had with Meyer, what his story is, if he’s contrite, etc. And yes, I’m VERY proud of the way our awesome CMR conducts himself, and of the standard he sets for his kids.
I’m not saying Meyer did the right thing, I’m not saying Rainey’s not a dirtbag – I’m saying that we rarely know the whole story about somebody else’s life. What we do know is that the NCAA says this kid is clear to play football for UF, so we have to KTMFD – doesn’t matter who he is. If UF fields Joe Stalin, all the more incentive for our GA Bulldogs to beat them down.
Also, while Rainey’s texting points to creepshow mindset, and although the texts are chilling, he did not actually physically assault anybody, that I have heard, anyway, and it was apparently in the heat of one night, not a calculated master plan of terror. We’re amazingly self-righteous about this. I have been forgiven numerous times, perhaps some of the rest of you have, too. I hope the kid graduates and becomes a model citizen.
By the way, I don’t remember seeing ANYBODY post about Georgia center Ben Jones’ cheap shot a few weeks ago, for which he was suspended for ONLY half a game.
3. I think it’s weird and defeatist to say that we’re getting beat because the other team is lucky, or healthy, or get to play in their home state, or wear uniforms with their team name on them (the nerve!), etc. These are all excuses.
If we have to play an injured version of our biggest rival to win, or if the psychological terror is just too great to bear, etc, then we need to stop thinking of Florida as a rival but as a bully who’s going to take our lunch money every year, and just stick to GA Tech for our big rivalry.
Again, I didn’t think these Bulldogs looked intimidated – with perhaps the exception of AM’s jitters. But I believe AM has the kind of heart to feel that he’s responsible for more than he possibly can be, to put the hopes of the Bulldogs everywhere on his young shoulders, and THAT is a LOT of weight to bear – just read the comments around here. I thought our Bulldogs just got beat, plain and simple, not frightened to death, and I was proud of them for that.
4. I am not certain we can hang this loss on our perennial scapegoat for everything from the assassination of Franz Ferdinand to fluoride in the water, Mike Bobo. Some seem to think Bobo is so stupid that he didn’t call any plays involving AJ Green in them, like he somehow didn’t consider that was an option.
Also, we all like CTG because he’s a fiery guy, a fighter, but take the personalities out of it and coldly evaluate the performances on both sides of the ball. Do we just excuse CTG because he’s a tough guy, or because we think nine games into the season it’s okay if our guys are still getting it figured out? I thought the GA offense generally looked better than the GA defense, particularly considering AM’s jitters. If Bobo was a new coach, ten feet tall and raising hell on the sidelines, would we be cutting him more slack?
HOWEVER – the most frustrating part of our play calling to me was when we were on the FL 12 yard line or so, believe it was the 2nd quarter, 3rd and 4, and we treat it like a one-down situation. I think we were down two TD’s at that point and were playing field goal “prevent offense” football. In CMB’s defense, Murray missed a TD pass to Green, but it felt like an all or nothing “oh, well, if we miss it we can kick a field goal” kind of play call – one down to make the end zone, instead of making a TD the only acceptable goal of the drive at that point.
I hate field goals like Vineyard Dawg hates Florida.
Best to you all, a great effort by our Dawgs, I think.
by Actual Box of Cornflakes on Oct 31, 2010 12:41 AM EDT reply actions
That's a measured, reasonable response, Actual Box of Cornflakes.
I think you posted this about 2 days too early. Everybody’s still too riled up. :-)
by vineyarddawg on Oct 31, 2010 6:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, very good post. I absolutely agree these Dawgs weren't intimidated...just unfortunate.
If you're gonna do it, go ugly early.
Little Things, Big Things
I agree with the general sentiment that it’s better to be angonized about a close, hard-fought loss than a second-half collapse, but this was a game largely decided by little things that became big. I’m glad Kyle mentioned the early botched fumble recovery, which Verne and Gary didn’t make much of; it was huge. And it happened again later when Florida fumbled a punt inside the ten (not as egregiously, but our player—not sure who it was—failed to just fall on the ball). I’d say a few more fumble drills are in order.
As for the rest of the season, if we can revert to low turnover mode, we have as good a chance as anyone against Auburn, since their D will generally enable a shootout. And perhaps the Dawgs can take out the accumulated frustrations of this season on the Dirt Daubers, before heading to Shreveport or Nashville.
BTW, I couldn’t agree more with Cornflakes about Grantham and Bobo; maybe I’ve just been watching Richt for too long, or have noticed that Muschamp’s sideline antics aren’t doing Texas much good thing year, but can take or leave the “fiery” histrionics. If that’s Grantham’s personality or motivational technique, then fine, but I’d prefer he teach the players how to fall on fumbles.
On a brighter note, how do you think the Florida staff felt watching Orson Charles today? And how’s about Kris Durham spitting blood on the sideline and then going right back in?
As far as Grantham goes
I think he gets some leeway because our players are in position to make plays more often than not, but sometimes they just don’t execute properly. And yes, I realize that execution is a result of coaching to a degree.
Please!!!!!!
I know there are all kinds of things that could have and would have gone differently after that particular play. At the same time, if we take away 7 from the Gators and add at least 3 for the Dawgs, the game is totally different. We don’t attempt the 2 point conversion early in the 4th (the one we didn’t convert) and quite honestly it would appear the Dawgs get the win. Again, I know that we can argue how things would have been called (by coaches) differently, and a multitude of other things that would have been different, including the fact that there would have been more time on the clock because of the time that UF used to go down the field and score.
Many things could have been different after that play, not the least of which would have been the score. Would we have won, I can’t say obviously, but it is an interesting topic to ponder.
2 for 11...
is what the Mark Richt regime is now against the Gators. Totally unaccepteable, totally. It is easy to fall back on ‘we came back’ ‘we fought hard’ ‘they had a bye week’ they had healthier players’ ’it’s in jacksonville’ and blah blah blah…BUT the fact is we play this game and all others for W’s, and it is quite apparent that Richt does not know how to get his team prepared to win against this team, PERIOD. I look at the common donominator over the past 11 seasons which is Richt and how we lose these games (turnovers, small mishaps, slow starts, not captializing on FL’s mistakes, etc) I just wonder how long the GA nation will continue to make excuses and ignore the bottom line, which is the current Richt regime has peeked (several years ago) and we will continue to lose on an annual basis to one of our BIGGEST RIVALS. Just his record alone against FL is deserving of a dismissal. I love the dawgs and hate to see this program in it’s current condition, but there has to be a total cultural and attitude change within the dawg nation, and that starts with the top. Go Dawgs!!
by UGARegimechange on Oct 31, 2010 9:22 AM EDT reply actions
Who do you propose we hire?
Because if you look at the rest of the SEC there isn’t exactly anyone out there who is tearing it up against UF. Do I like losing to these bozos every year…no (I am old enough to remember the 80’s when the shoe was on the other foot), but to say we need to fire Coach Richt over his record against one team (when the rest of the conference is sporting a similar record) is just plain stupid.
I do not know who they should hire...
and you are right, the rest of the SEC has had trouble with FL. Tere have been ‘some’ years when FL was just a better team, however, lf of those years GA should have won and just flat out whiffed or choked…this year would be another example where we should have won the game. I don’t know the answers, but I don’t believe I’m grasping at straws by saying the current staff doesn’t have the answer.
by UGARegimechange on Oct 31, 2010 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm willing to buy the idea that reasonable fans could call for firing Willie Martinez . . .
. . . without knowing whom we should hire as the new defensive coordinator; after all, how many of us had ever heard of Brian VanGorder prior to 2000?
I’m not wiling to accept that answer when it comes to a decision as important as changing head coaches, though. Even relatively odd or obscure head coaching hires (e.g., Les Miles at LSU, Derek Dooley at Tennessee, or Gene Chizik at Auburn) didn’t involve complete “no names,” and most SEC head coaching hires (i.e., Nick Saban at Alabama, Urban Meyer at Florida, or Steve Spurrier at South Carolina) involved guys who were well known and highly respected.
Before anyone seriously suggests firing a head coach with Mark Richt’s track record (which, to repeat, is the best in University of Georgia history for a coach with 126 games under his belt), that person should, at a minimum, be able to offer a name of a head coach we could hire for whom a straight-faced argument can be made that he would be an improvement.
Go 'Dawgs!
I thought about this from the other side today though...
…who would take an unemployed (hypothetically of course!) Mark Richt right now among major FBC programs? I really don’t see him being in much demand. And that says something, I just don’t know what.
I remember being concerned Vince Dooley going “home” to Auburn at one time.
Run Lindsay Run!
I don't think he'd have much trouble finding another job.
At worst, he’d be in a Tommy Tuberville-type situation; frankly, if Miami had enough of a fan base to come up with the cash to fund their program, they’d ditch Randy Shannon to hire Mark Richt in a heartbeat.
Go 'Dawgs!
As I've said previously...
… I imagine that UNC has Mark Richt’s number on speed dial just in case Georgia takes leave of its senses and fires him at the end of this year. ’Cause we know Butch Davis is gone.
by vineyarddawg on Oct 31, 2010 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
The only reason Mark Richt wouldn’t be in demand would be if he insisted on making an SEC salary at an ACC school (and with their new TV deal, maybe not even then).
But he’s put down roots in Athens and might be content to hang around for a few years burning through the pile of cash we’d owe him. He’s not that old, and he certainly seems like the kind of guy who can find other things to occupy his time if he weren’t coaching. The fact that he would be an upgrade at (at least) 100-110 FBS schools doesn’t necessarily mean he wants to move to Minneapolis or South Beach.
If losing to your chief rival wasn't grounds for dismissal...
…then this guy would still be employed. Just saying…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cooper_(American_football)
Call it stupid if you like but...
I would say that not beating your rival(s) in the SEC (or in college football in general) comes into play when an institution decides to give a coach the boot. Part of the evaluation.
by UGARegimechange on Oct 31, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I completely agree.
For the record, Mark Richt has winning records against Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech, LSU, and Tennessee. Beating your rivals in the SEC and in college football in general is part of the evaluation when deciding whether to give a coach the boot, too.
Go 'Dawgs!
For the record...
Why not just throw down S.Car to make it look better? Bama, and LSU aren’t rivals (they just play in the SEC) and we haven’t played Clemson since 2003, so we don’t really know where we stand with them. I would say, based on the last few years (this one excluded), our results against UT have been lacking, against UF pathetic. Great against Auburn and Tech.
Alabama and LSU are upper-echelon SEC teams. That makes them relevant.
South Carolina is not. I was trying to portray pertinent facts accurately, not cobble together any scrap that might support my position. I didn’t cite Kentucky or Vanderbilt, either.
(I would note, by the way, that many of Mark Richt’s critics cite the recent success of Alabama and LSU as evidence of his deficiencies. It would seem, therefore, that his winning records against both programs at least have some bearing on the conversation.)
Go 'Dawgs!
2 for 10
If you can’t count the number of times Coach Mark Richt has played in Jacksonville, you shouldn’t be allowed to post.
by UGAchris on Oct 31, 2010 11:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Excuse me, 2 and 10...
that makes it much better
by UGARegimechange on Oct 31, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
biggest rival is relative to the fan
"One thing I will never do as long as I’m at Georgia is lose to Florida." - Herschel Walker
And I agree with an earlier comment that...
these were two teams that are not very good. Neither knew how to apply boot to neck. GA dominated the first qtr and we ended the qtr with a 0 to 0 score…that was a HUGE early victory for FL.
by UGARegimechange on Oct 31, 2010 10:21 AM EDT reply actions
Tend to agree....
…. with most of your pounts (murray looking like a freshman, etc.), but not about the coaching.
On the 3rd and 1 (when we lost yardage), everyone in the stadium foresaw Ealey up the middle. If Bobo, would have cocahed in 1980, there would have never been a Buck-to-LIndsay, but Carnie Norris up the middle.
At the end of regulation, you know Meyer would have taken a shot downfield, but not us. Playing “not to lose” instead of playing to win.
Why have we completely abandoned a hurry-up, no-huddle offense (except @ 2minute time)?
List of things Florida is scared of:
1. Vince Dooley
2. Alabama
3. Hurricanes (real ones, not Miami)
4. A Florida born lifelong Gator fan (rumored to exist but never actually seen)
.
.
.
.
99. Tasteful dress and conduct at a football game
100. Georgia
It's a gas, gas, gas.
by Keith Richards on Oct 31, 2010 11:15 AM EDT reply actions
Must be an old timer like me!
It's a gas, gas, gas.
by Keith Richards on Nov 1, 2010 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Watched the game at some Gator buddies' place
One of them actually tried to say that Ealey’s hit and run was worse than what Rainey did. I’m not going to defend Ealey, but that just shows the mentality of the fanbase.
Why DO they play it in J'ville every year?
Auburn and Bammer used to play in that dump of a stadium in a scruffy little’hood in B’ham every year. Pat Dye proposed playing in Auburn and Bammer refused. Dye told them that if Auburn’s stadium is good enough for Georgia, Florida, Tennessee ad nauseam, it’s DAMN sure good enough for Bammer; and if they don’t want to come, we’ll just cancel them. They came. Dumb Bammers. Pat Dye was pretty funny. He also refused to do the Halloween thing at his house for all the kids of Auburn like Tuberville later agreed to do and Chizick or whatever his name is does now. Dye was quite fond of the drink and once cursed out a bunch of kids who asked for his autograph after leaving the bar of a restaurant downtown.
Anyway, back to Georgia and playing in J’ville every year. Do you really think that is a disadvantage? J’ville is much closer to Gainesville than Athens, but also much closer to Atlanta than Miami. So I’m not sure if it is all that much of a “home game” for Florida. You could see if Valdosta will loan you their little field and play there. That is my advice. I do what I can to help.
I believe the answer to your question is
because there is a LARGE block of UGA fans who live in the Jax area and the south Georgia fans like the game there as it is closer to them as well. Like the answer or not, I believe that is the reason I have been given. Maybe someone even told me that the largest Bulldog club outside of Athens is in Jax.
I don't know if I was the one who told you that, EricBDawg, . . .
. . . but the largest Bulldog Club outside of the metro Atlanta area is the one in Jacksonville.
Go 'Dawgs!
For one thing, Jacksonville is a large city.
(Technically, at least at one point, it was the largest city in the world, due to city-county consolidation.)
It’s also just over the state line, and it’s near the Georgia coast (Jekyll, St. Simon’s, Savannah), where there is quite a bit of “old money.”
Finally, where Georgia fans have a strong financial stake in being involved, they get involved, and Georgia fans in Jacksonville have a strong interest in organizing, for the same reason Oklahoma fans in Dallas have a similar interest.
Go 'Dawgs!
I'm pretty sure it's due to so many Dawg fans staying behind...
…to party during the glory years of the 80’s.
(Mike Adams and anyone under the age of 30 won’t think that’s funny!)
Run Lindsay Run!
I just would've expected
Savannah or Macon to have a larger club. But good points.
I can bake like a demon.
I mean no disrespect when I say this, but my father has always said . . .
. . . that Macon is a big small town. It also is home to Mercer, a fine university with a fine law school, so it is not necessarily as Bulldog-dominated as some other areas in the state with no educational basis for divided loyalties.
Go 'Dawgs!
Fair points
Mercer is a lovely university that I once attended for 1/2 a quarter before the partying put a stop to actually attending class. oops.
I can bake like a demon.
Thanks!
I’m a Mercer alum.
It's a gas, gas, gas.
by Keith Richards on Nov 1, 2010 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry Kyle,
but you’re not the one who gave me that info. It seems like I heard that around 10-12 years ago while in the employ of a man whose family name is attached to a school at UGA. I’m not entirely positive that’s when I heard the info, or if it was from that person, but I’m pretty sure I heard it at least 10 years ago.
By the numbers, it ain't Jax
I’ve seen these numbers elsewhere before, but they bear repeating. Starting in 1990, when Steve Spurrier invented the forward pass, founded the Gator Nation, and started this miserable 3-18 streak, Florida’s other annual SEC rivals haven’t done much better playing the Gators home-and-home than we have playing them at a neutral site. Much of the difference is attributable to taking better advantage of the Zook Era and Meyer’s first year.
Georgia vs. Florida: 3-18
Tennessee: 5-16
LSU: 6-15
Plus, Richt historically has been a better road coach than home coach. So “going on the road” every year should really be no excuse for him.
Was it Jax at one time?
It’s been quite a number of years since I heard that one, but it may not have been correct at that point either.
Good point, NMdawg.
Actually, though, we’re 3-16 in Jacksonville for that period. Due to the construction of the Jaguars’ stadium (I forget what they call it these days), Georgia and Florida played in Gainesville in 1994 and in Athens in 1995.
Go 'Dawgs!
Was the ball marked?
On the two field goals that the UF kicker was successful on, what was that blue thing on football? It looked like a piece of tape. It couldn’t be a piece of tape cuz that’s clearly against the NCAA rules, as would any other mark, just curious as to what that was.
by Flexxdd on Oct 31, 2010 6:10 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Each team brings their own balls branded with their own mark
You can see it here. http://www.authenticsportscollectibles.com/store/images/UMFBGame.JPG
I think we use the G.
Hmmm. It looked solid blue to me. Just like a solid blob of blue. It slightly resembled the shape of a gator head. It was on the back quarter of the ball, do u know if there is something on the other side?
by Flexxdd on Oct 31, 2010 6:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It was definitely the blue script "Gators," like they have on their regular helmets.
I noticed it, too.
Go 'Dawgs!
Yep, I noticed it as well.
As a little bunny once told me…
I threw up in my mouth a little.
Bitter, sore loser who will not get over it and won't for about a week
I know it’s Monday…But the amount of energy I put into watching that game live was unrivaled, and to have no pay off is crushing. I would like to see the whole gator nation contract AIDS, get piled into a giant ship and sent out to sea in the western pacific ocean, proceed to get hit with a cruise missle and sunk into the Marianas Trench.
"Let the liquor do the thinking." -Jim Lahey
by SECWasteManagement on Nov 1, 2010 9:44 AM EDT reply actions
GATOR RAID!! - We got hosed... thought we had em with this...
http://behindenemylines.yahoo.com/video-gator-raid-22661588
Check out this show that Yahoo sports had posted on their site right before the cocktail party.
Pretty funny stuff, and you gotta give those Dawg fans their props for the live aligator wrestling.
Yup
You guys are a classy group huh. All I read on here this past week was how classy your program is. Yet Gator fans should attract aids.
Florida isn’t perfect, but Georgia isn’t either. Last year Georgia players took two swings and pulled off 3 helmets (one of the latter resulted in a penalty)…yet all people remember is the Spikes eye gouging. I dont condone the latter at all, but are you guys classy? Pfft. But noone remembers those moments because Florida is an elite program, and Georgia is blah to above average.
It was a great game. I know losing sucks, but I didnt expect to visit here and roll my eyes so much. I had second thoughts about saying this after reading some content, but nonetheless…it was a good game and both teams were fighting for it. AJ Green made some amazing catches in good coverage at the end. I love that will he plays with.
Please note that that was one comment by one commenter.
Don’t assume that represents the opinion of the entire group. I thought about deleting that comment, in fact, but I try to be a little more lenient and understanding of everyone’s frustration in the wake of a loss. I regret if it offended you.
Regarding the remainder of your characterizations, we will have to agree to disagree.
Go 'Dawgs!
Throw Stones...
I don’t think there’s any doubt that an Urban Meyer coach would never make a choking gesture or any heinous action toward a player half his age. I watched today’s game with my seven-year-old son, and I was able to look him in the eye afterward and feel comfortable with having taught him to cheer for Urban Meyer’s team. While I was happy with the result, I wouldn’t have been able to have looked him in the eye and felt comfortable with having taught him to cheer for Mark Richt’s team.
That might have been an effective retort . . .
. . . if Urban Meyer, a guy with a long history of smarmy gestures and off-putting remarks, hadn’t turned around after the game was over and directed the Gator chomp at the Georgia fans.
What Todd Grantham did was wrong, and I said so in no uncertain terms. However, at least what Todd Grantham did was done in the heat of the moment with a strategic purpose and was directed at a player on the field. (It was rude, but it wasn’t “heinous”; that word is reserved for people who use dead girls’ credit cards, shoot off AK-47s, and send death threats to women by text message.)
What Urban Meyer did was neither in the heat of the moment nor strategically relevant nor directed at anyone who was a participant in the game. You’ve engaged in some clever wordplay by twisting what I wrote, but (even leaving aside the fact that a head coach and a defensive coordinator are two different people) it’s too bad for you that Coach Meyer’s postgame behavior was at least as obnoxious and was far less excusable, and that is without even taking into account the apples-to-oranges comparison between calling out, “You’re going to choke!” in an effort to ice the kicker and letting a guy who texted, “Time to die” to a woman back onto the team in time to halt a three-game losing streak. To put it delicately, a display of poor sportsmanship from one legal adult to another and a threat to commit an act of physical violence which would result in the death of a human being directed by a man at a woman are not morally equivalent.
Go 'Dawgs!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Dawg Sports
Related FanShots on Dawg Sports
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
