AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2008 > November > 01 > Entry
Georgia overrated from beginning
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Jacksonville — There must be something about annihilation that shocks the system. There must be something about getting hammered in a team’s two biggest games of the season that causes amnesia and makes everybody forget what this year was supposed to be all about.
An SEC title. A national championship. Maybe a little more ammunition for getting cut out of the title game a year ago. What happened to all of that?
Getting drilled at home by Alabama. Getting humiliated by Spurrier-esque proportions by Florida. Does it do things to the mind, other than severely dent the ego?
“I think with the expectations the media put on us this season, anything short of a national championship was going to be disappointing,” Georgia tight end Tripp Chandler said.
So now it was somebody else’s expectations. Perfect.
If Alabama and Florida are seeking a bonding moment SEC title week, they can share memories from what each did to Georgia this season. One handed the Dogs their first loss. The other affirmed that game wasn’t an aberration and exposed them for what they really are: a talented but deeply flawed team and prone to self-immolation.
Overrated or underachieving — it doesn’t really matter. The Dogs never belonged. Faster than you can say Outback Bowl, Georgia watched Florida score five consecutive touchdowns in the second half, lose 49-10, end up six feet under in the BCS and certainly restored any sense of superiority in Gainesville that might’ve eroded a year ago.
What were we thinking? Georgia allowed 90 points in its two biggest games of the year. It never competed. There can be no louder or clearer defining statement about this team.
There were no exaggerated end zone celebrations this time, just more end zone meltdowns.
Florida coach Urban Meyer managed to restrain his players but not himself. He called two timeouts in the final minute to prolong Georgia’s agony.
If he hoped to rub it into the faces of Dogs’ fans, the joke was on him. They had already left.
Meyer wouldn’t concede the timeouts were payback for the Dogs’ bench-emptying hug-a-thon last season. He didn’t have to.
Asked if the opposing coach was sending a message, Georgia linebacker Rennie Curran said: “No question. They played hard. They capitalized on their opportunities. They earned the opportunity to send that message. Anybody in their right mind would know they were trying to prove a point.”
They proved several. They proved it so many times that the scoreboard operator lost control of his faculties. Florida led, 49-3, when the Dogs scored a meaningless touchdown with three minutes left. The scoreboard official, presumably out of habit, pushed the same button he had been most of the day and initially changed the score to 56-3.
The correction was minor window dressing. Georgia fans hoped last year’s win had altered the landscape of this series. Instead, it made everybody recall the worst. The 39-point deficit was second only to a 47-7 loss in 1996.
There wasn’t anything the Dogs didn’t do wrong. They had three red zone possessions in the first half — when it was still a game. But the result was three field goal attempts — two bad, one good. Matthew Stafford missed a wide open Tripp Chandler in the end zone. Then he had a would-be touchdown pass bounce off Knowshon Moreno’s face mask.
At times, it wasn’t the limbs that failed to function, just the brain. Prince Miller had an interception nullified by teammate Jarius Wynn’s personal foul, leading to the Gators’ first touchdown. A nonsensical onsides kick early in the second quarter backfired, giving Florida a short field and leading to another TD.
The second-half? The World’s Largest Outdoor Grease Fire. The first five Georgia possessions went interception-punt-fumble-interception-interception. Three of those turnovers led to touchdowns.
The strangest thing about all of this? Georgia players would have you believe it wasn’t that bad.
“The game was closer than what the scoreboard said,” Moreno said.
“The score didn’t at all reflect how the game was played,” Mohamed Massaquoi said.
“I thought we were better team this game — just a few turnovers held us back,” Curran said.
The better team?
“Definitely.”
Some would say they’re in shock. Or deluded. Or in denial.
Regardless, this much is clear: They never belonged.
Permalink | Comments (24) | Post your comment | Categories: UGA / SEC
Comments
By Steve
November 1, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this
Curran and Morenao and Massaquoi must have been on something if they thought they were the better team. Ole Saint Richt and his Thugs got paid back big time for their classless acts from last year. Moreno showed the typical Georgia “Thuga” class when he blocked the Gator lineman in the back on that play well after the play was over. Can “Thuga” and its fans say OVER RATED!!!!!!!!!!?
By King Nick Saban
November 1, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this
my god, was that REALLY the UGA football team out there? or was that their mothers and girlfriends? what a but whippin’. maybe you guys should join the big 10… only they usually absorb beatings like that by SEC teams…
By Craig
November 1, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this
RIP Leghumpers! lol
By michael
November 1, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this
Dawgs convinced they can still win national title, if hell freezes over.
By John
November 1, 2008 11:06 PM | Link to this
Those mutts must be totally stupid. Grow up and admit when you get your arse handed to you. You were beaten in every facet of the game yet you still think your better? Thats funny stuff right there, I dont care who you are.
By Steve
November 1, 2008 11:06 PM | Link to this
No-Show Moreno for Heisman? Yeah, right? “Thuga” got mugged!
By Dennis
November 1, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
Know show and company are the most undisciplined team UGA has had in 30 years. Dancing in Baton Rouge just promises another humiliation next year. When UGA wins the glory is heaped on Richt. When they lose you idiots put it on the position coaches or coodinators. Dancing, celebrations, blackouts, and Knowshows antics have to stop.
By Steve
November 1, 2008 11:10 PM | Link to this
So No Show and Massadrop and Curran say “Thuga” was the better team, except for a few turnovers? What have they been smoking? Stafford better lay off the Kryspy Kremes. He’s the best pro style QB in College? The CBS Georgia Network was really spinning it. Larry Munson knew when to retire because he didn’t want to witness the beatdown!
By Joseph Allen McWhorter
November 1, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this
Jeff, I watched pretty much the whole game and I certainly agree-Georgia is not in the same league with a Florida or an Alabama. However, I also must question Mark Richt’s ability to get his team mentally ready to play against a big time opponent. I mean, Georgia has only played two top notch football teams this year in Florida and Alabama and have looked clueless in both games. Georgia will still go to a bowl game but we can forget completely about them playing for a national title. They won’t even win the SEC championship now. They are just not that good. I also think that Florida was simply out for blood in this game today which probably had a lot to do with the lopsided score. Oh well, maybe next year.
By drewbear
November 1, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this
The only thing the DOGS were better at was bad decisions. From poor choices by Stafford and Richt to stupid penalties from all phases of the game. They don’t belong in anything but a second or third tier bowl.
By Alpha Dawg
November 1, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this
For those UGA fans that love Mark Richt you should be happy tonight. Richt is going to give you 9 or 10 wins a year which in the SEC is good. For those real football fans Richt is a joke!!! His record is a good resume filler but it is full of Vandy,Kentucky and Georgia Southern. Richt needs to go as well as Martinez. It’s time for some new blood at UGA. Get rid of the Bible Beater and get someone in here to help control the thugs. Can’t wait to see the police blotter on Monday.:)
By steve
November 1, 2008 11:16 PM | Link to this
So does Georgia go straight to the B.C.S. National Title game? The S.E.C. Championship game doesn’t matter does it? Last year the Dawg fans thought “Thuga” should have been in the B.C.S. Title game and they didn’t win their division in the S.E.C.. How is this year any different? Isn’t that the Georgia mentality? Saint Richt says they are wonderful. He’s right isn’t he?
By uga1989
November 1, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this
Shame on you, Schultz. AJC is the biggest perpretratror of UGA hype.
By Gene
November 1, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this
It is not surprising that Georgia’s thugs would maintain that they were the better team against UF. Richt and his entitled hoodlums embarrassed themselves and the state last year. This year, they proved themselves a national joke. The black out, the constant arrests, whining, bragging, then rolling over when things get tough. Perhaps the State Legislature can spend a few days commending them in January, then get back to the serious work of stealing the Tennessee River.
By Halsey
November 1, 2008 11:24 PM | Link to this
I’m a UGA fan and to me it’s not that UGA is overrated. Uf is really, really good. They have dominated everyone on thier schedule except Ole MIss. Losing that 1 game was the fluke of the year. Florida is the best team in the country, hands down.
By Florida Gator
November 1, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
C-H-O-M-P! We own the dogs…funny, everybody thinks this is some kind of “rivalry.” Not even close. The dogs win like 10%…Florida dominates the rest of the time. That’s not a rivalry…that’s an “occasional fluke win for the dogs.” Dogs have a terrible football program that is CONSISTENTLY OVERRATED. Georgia is the Ohio State of the South! Great game! Now we’re gonna wreck this town like we wrecked the pathetic douche dogs! ahahahahah! CHOMP! That dog don’t even taste good…all skin and bones…no meat! On to the SEC Title game and BCS. Dogs, have fun playing in the Mayfield Ice Cream Bowl in Fargo, or somewhere! Don’t forget to wear you black lingerie! woo-hoo!
By drewbear
November 1, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this
As Shaq rapped to Kobe, TELL ME HOW MY A$$ TASTES
By RichtRecruitsThugz
November 1, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this
ThUGA…haha…now That’s Funny! (and accurate). If they have a Natl. Championship of Drinking, Drugs, Rape and Assault the Dawgs will win hands down.
By Vin Stooly
November 1, 2008 11:34 PM | Link to this
Halsey,do you realize that you just said that the best team in the country lost to Ole Miss? I am concerned.
By robert wolfe
November 1, 2008 11:35 PM | Link to this
I beleive Mark Richt, or whomever called for the on-side kick early in the first half, owes the Georgia fans an apology. It was actually a fairly good game up till that point, and to call for such a high-risk/low-reward gimmick play is inexcuseable. The outcome of the game was NEVER in doubt from that moment on.
By adam
November 1, 2008 11:41 PM | Link to this
Jeff - best column of yours I’ve ever read. “The World’s Largest Outdoor Grease Fire” was classic.
I’m sure Richt tried to salvage the team’s crushed spirits by convincing them it was closer than the score. You heard him at halftime when they were down 11 or so- “Statistically its pretty close” Huh? While that may satisfy some people - usually the scoreboard is what matters (i.e. 49-10).
Oh, it feels so good!!!
By Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 1, 2008 11:57 PM | Link to this
Well, I said it before and I will say it again, what happened to UGA is what I predicted and no one is surprised. From ESPN to the AJC, every media outlet is blasting the Dogs and how they cannot live up to the expectation.
UF just totally shredded that so called UGA defense, and Martinez must have been asleep at the wheel. Yes, nice win against LSU last week, but the Tigers hung too many points on your defense and this Sat was a self-fulfilling prophecy of the how weak the defense really is.
Offensivley, Bobo had no idea what to do and was way over his head. Attempting to penetrate a top-rated D1 defense like the Gators was impossible.
Penalties and the overall lack of discipline of the the Dogs came home to roost. The early 15 yard personal foul was just a reminder of the Alabama nightmare that happened early in the game, that potentially changed the momentum.
I will never understand how UGA fans can continue to defend a program that is in the tank. Not to worry though, because I am sure CMR will get you back to the Chicken bowl and lay a lickin on Duke or Wake Forest, then get another raise. While at the same time, Meyer will be playing and most likely winning another national title.
Take a page from Meyer, tell your players to keep their mouth’s shut, stick with the same uniforms, strap it on and take it to them. CMR needs to learn to teach his players to execute with discipline and keep their mouth’s shut, then maybe, just maybe UGA could have a shot at a national title, but then again, maybe not.
UF has now won 16 of the last 19, so hang in there, because there is always next year.
This sums it up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSAMCVG61kA&feature=related
By Freshmaker
November 2, 2008 1:18 AM | Link to this
This just in: UGA sucks.
By PI$$onaDAWG
November 2, 2008 2:44 AM | Link to this
UGA VII had an easy FRESHMAN YEAR with 4 real games: TENN, LSU, Florida, & Auburn. Tenn sux, LSU is not Great, Auburn can’t score in a W******* house with a HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL around THEIR GAMECOCKS, but THE GATORS Kicked your BUTTS and who knew BAMA was for REAL. You are a JOKE with all the YELLOW RAGS on the playing field and all the Athens-Clarke County MUG/THUG shots on your ????? CMR what CHURCH will you and all your players be attending this SUNDAY?