In a somewhat sloppy evening outing that largely mirrored the LSU Tigers’ similar early struggles with the Idaho Vandals, the Georgia Bulldogs rolled to a school-record 713 yards of total offense in their 56-20 triumph over the Florida Atlantic Owls earlier this evening, delivering Mark Richt his 109th career coaching victory and the Red and Black program its 750th football win.
A slew of true freshmen saw the field, and several started, in a game in which Jarvis Jones suited up only for the opening coin toss yet Aaron Murray accounted for four touchdowns and passed for a personal-best 342 yards. The two TD tosses tallied by Murray against the nocturnal Owls were the 66th and 67th of his career, tying the present Georgia signal caller with Eric Zeier in a second-place snarl behind David Greene in the Red and Black record book.
The win advanced the Mark Richt Victory Watch, as well, putting Coach Richt 92 favorable outcomes shy of matching Vince Dooley’s 201 career triumphs. Mark Richt has more wins (109) and fewer losses (38) after 147 games than any of his predecessors on the Sanford Stadium sideline. At the same juncture, Wally Butts stood at 98-42-7 following a 1952 win over Louisiana State (I miscounted when asked a question after the fact a week ago, which I regret), whereas Vince Dooley owned a 99-43-5 mark after besting Rich Brooks’s Oregon Ducks to open the 1977 season.
A full report will follow tomorrow---I mean, later today---but, for now, let’s enjoy the victory, no matter how hard-won it may have been. The ‘Dawgs are 3-0, they had a record-setting evening, and we have a new Uga! I’m going to call that a good night, even if it was an imperfect one.
Go ‘Dawgs!