AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 22 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USWill Georgia focus on the task at hand?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I would tell you what I’m thankful for but Bisher covered that for all of us this morning.
So just let me say that I am thankful for Furman Bisher.
I’m also thankful for you ladies and gentlemen, even when you tell me I’m not very smart. Of course Mrs. Barnhart set me straight on that matter some time ago.
Here are five burning questions as we head into the weekend.
1. Will Georgia focus on the task at hand? When Georgia kicks off against Georgia Tech on Saturday, the Tennessee-Kentucky game will probably be somewhere in the third quarter. Coach Mark Richt will have the unenviable task of keeping his team focused on the Yellow Jackets and not what is going on up in Lexington, Ky. Once that game is over and Georgia knows its fate, the Bulldogs will settle down. But can they take care of business before hearing the final score from Kentucky?
2. Will Alabama show up at Auburn? Alabama will be there in body, but will they be there in spirit? Or have the veteran players packed it in? Knowing what I know about this game, the answer is no. It just means too much, particularly to the kids who grow up in Alabama. Bill Curry once told me that motivation was never a problem when he was the head coach at Alabama because wearing that Crimson jersey meant so much to his players. Nick Saban had better hope Curry is right.
3. Is Arizona State for real? Say what you want about Dennis Erickson but the man can coach football. He inherited a group of players who had been 7-6 and 7-5 the past two seasons and is now two victories away from the Rose Bowl. We’ll find out tonight how good the Sun Devils (9-1) are when they host Southern Cal (8-2). The Trojans have figured some things out and are playing well now. They can also get to the Rose Bowl.
4. Is this it for Coach Fran? Texas A&M (6-5) hosts Texas on Friday and a loss would give Dennis Franchione a five-year record of 1-9 against Oklahoma and Texas. The Aggies would be 18-22 in the Big 12 under Coach Fran. Combine that with the indiscretion of selling inside information to big-money boosters, and you must believe AD Bill Byrne will make a change.
5. What will Tim Tebow do? A long time ago Jim Croce told us you don’t tug on Superman’s cape. The Florida quarterback is not Superman but he’s pretty good. And when he’s challenged, Tebow is even better. Florida State linebacker Geno Hayes decided to call Tebow out this week, fully knowing that he was going to The Swamp. Good luck, Mr. Hayes, but know this: If Florida gets the chance to hang a big number on you and the Seminoles this Saturday, they will. Urban Meyer will not take his foot off the gas.
Comments
By gadawg59
November 22, 2007 8:52 AM | Link to this
Tony, The Dawgs will come out focused on Tech. Whatever happens with Tenn is out of their control and I think they realize that. The Coaches have been after them all week on this. Bama will be ready for some redemption. I do not know if they will achieve it or not. ASU is for real. Just wonder how long it will take the program to get in some trouble with the NCAA with Erickson there. Hayes was stupid to call out Tebow. Tebow is the real deal and I believe the Gators will take the Noles apart. I heard Max Howell on the radio yesterday saying there were sources at LSU interested in Spurrier? Happy Thanksgiving and Go Dawgs.
By Coach Fran
November 22, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
Videos of my firing will be available for $19.95 later on Friday. Just visit coachfran.com…
By GeorgianInTn
November 22, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this
And I’m thankful for you Tony! I enjoy reading your thoughts, even when I disagree. Go Dawgs!
By gtne80
November 22, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this
Tech’s best hope is that UGA will be distracted or will lack focus coming into the game. With few exceptions, the Dawgs haven’t dominated games in the early quarters this year (witness the games against Troy and UK). Their strength has come in their relentlessness and ability to wear down the opposition in the second half. Unfortunately for Tech, it’s much the same story on our side of the ball (if not worse). I can’t recall a game that we’ve dominated from the start (except Samford). If UT gets off to a fast start against UK, or possibly if it’s a very close game, it could prove distracting or disillusioning to the UGA players lusting after a trip to the SECCG. Tech’s hope is to catch them in a sleepwalk early post a lead and hope our defense can hold on and that Tashard can put up enough yards to eat a lot of clock. My bet is that once the hitting starts, the distractions go away and UGA takes care of business no matter what is happening in Lexington.
Alabama will show up at Auburn. I look for the same team that spanked UT. The loss last week was embarrassing. They will be focused.
Aside from Oregon, I have no respect for any team from the Pac-10. Oregon went to Ann Arbor and took care of business in an impressive manner. The rest of them stay in the Pacific time zone and piddle with each other. A couple of years back USC made some trips east and raised my opinion of them. ASU would fold like a cheap lawn chair against a decent team from the SEC or the Big East.
Fran is history. A&M is fed up with him and their coffers are always full. They will be in the market flashing some impressive cash.
UF will wax FSU. Period.
By Dawgfood
November 22, 2007 9:34 AM | Link to this
Point number 1 is the million dollar question for me. And it scares me to death. If we don’t beat Tech, in my opinion, the SECC does not even matter.
By 2N4YEARS
November 22, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
1) I’m not sure if they’ll play 4 quarters or not, but they should play we’ll enough to win the game. 2) Uh, Bill Curry may have been right. The problem is ALA is playing at Auburn, which means they’ll be wearing their ‘white’ away jersey’s. 3) ARZ ST for real?? I’m not sure if they’re ‘for real’ or not, but they’re a decent team. 4) Yes, Fran will be gone after this year….for good. 5) Tebow will do as he always does. And I don’t think anything that a player from FLA ST says is going to make Meyer decide to run-up the score if he can—-he does that anyway. And one player won’t be able to make every tackle, so Tebow will get his yards. However, Meyer & Tebow better get what they can this year, because I look for Tebow’s numbers to slip, on average, every year from here on. AU stopped him last year, and once they figured out what worked they did it again. UGA stopped him last year & again this year. (UGA didn’t win the game last year, but they did stop Tebow).LSU didn’t stop him but had enough tallent on offence to make up the differnece.
By FLA DAWG
November 22, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
The Dawgs are focused and win against GT regardless of the UT / KY game.
If the well-executing Bama team shows up for the game today it will be a good one to watch.
Who cares.
See 3 above.
Tebow is a great talent but you don’t take a guy a give him Drive 0 plays 20 times a game and expect him to stay healthy. I still think the gators take this one in any case.
By SAKA
November 22, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this
Admit it, “gadawg59”, the closest you ever came to a collegiate-level academic discussion was that fist fight over the relative merits of the F-150 vs the Silverado (happened in the 7-11 parking lot, where you were hanging out with the rest of the day laborers)
By 3 Rivers jacket
November 22, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this
Georgia has everything to play for. The team that has to worry about focus is my Jackets with the unrelenting AJC saying how bad they are and with their coach being as good as gOne. If the Jackets are focused they can win with a break or two. The dogs are good but they are not the NE Patriots that the AJC thinks they are., Alabama will show up but they may not be god enough. Remember as important as emotion is you have to have talent too and Ala is still a little short. That will change. Of course Arizona St. is for real. I think that USC will beat them becuase I think that USC can still beat most everybody but that does nothing to take away from how good the Arizona St. Team is. You Toby or Tony or whatever should know that you do not win 10 games anywhere and leave any doubt as to whether or not you are “for real”. What does that mean anyway. Are you and the other predictors “for real” Of course Fran is gone. He is not “for real” Calling out someone should not have anything to do with anything. If you get your panties is a wad about that then you lose the “focus” or whatever cliche the newspaper types like to use. I look for FSU to do a good job on Tebow but he is still far and away the best player in the country.
Arkansas over LSU in an upset. If that happens then Les Miles had better book it to Ann Arbor by midnight because the LSU idiots and believe me these people are idiots will blame him for the distraction of the Michigan job. Go to Michigan Les and get out of the classless SEc.
By DirtyDawg
November 22, 2007 9:57 AM | Link to this
Seems to me that before anybody starts to speculate about Spurrier to LSU, they need to see if Michigan actually offers Miles the job. Personally I think they’re too smart for that. I don’t know who else might be in the running for their consideration, but anybody that’s been paying attention would see that LSU, and particularly their head coach, has been pretty damn lucky. Stupid decision after stupid decision has gone their way - primarily because they’ve got the talent to pull it off. I think they’ll - UM - look for a bright, energetic, defense-oriented, young black coach to break the mold. Help me here, has the Big 10 or 12, or whatever it is now, ever had a black coach - Notre Dame doesn’t count?
As for Spurrier, we all know he’s a w******* and doesn’t worry much about finishing one job before he heads toward another that he thinks will add to his high opinion of himself. Plus, he knows that he stands a better chance of winning the SEC if he’s in the West than in the East.
And finally, could anything have been worse for us than the odds-makers putting KY in as the favorite over TN? Hell, that’s all that bunch in the faded orange jerseys will need now. Of course, Mr. Choice could make our afternoon pretty miserable, but depth in the D-Line and Linebackers ought to make the difference in the end - ours of course.
By Chris
November 22, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
Tony man, It’s easy for the masses to say a pundit is an ‘idiot’. For myself, I have to say that you’re quite gifted at what you do.
By GW
November 22, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
You know Tech is pulling big for Tennessee. A Kentucky win and a Georgia lead in the 4th quarter will = one huge red and black pep rally at Grant Field.
By King Donko of Punchstania
November 22, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
3 Rivers Jacket: You’re a c**ksucker just like the rest of your nerd brethren. Tech fans are some of the most classless fans on the planet (i.e. the “massacre” sign directed at VT fans-great job tekkies). GO DAWGS! GATA!!!!
DAWGS-77 NERDS-0
…at halftime
By david
November 22, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this
Bold: www.coachoftheyear.com
Mark Richt needs more votes! And wouldn’t it feel good for Richt to win and Gailey to get fired in the same year?!
Go Link: now
By shane
November 22, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this
1-uga should be focused,richt has handeled the emotional part of coaching pretty well in the second half of the season.i think tech will play well above their heads with chan’s neck on the chopping block,it should be a close one.uga usually wins the close ones. 2-bama will show up,i would not have liked to be on their practice field this week.cox got knocked around pretty well in athens last saturday too,but au is at home,and has more talent,so they should win this one. 3-yes,but not good enough to beat usc. 4-why is he still there? 5-smart?maybe,uf is ready to pound fsu anyway,so it can’t hurt.who knows,it may fire up fsu’s defense.
By uga student
November 22, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this
FSU matches up very well athletically against UF. i think geno hayes was trying to fire up his team and fans. i like FSU in the upset…remember no one gave Georgia much of a chance going into the cocktail party but all it took was an early TD and a celebration to get that team fired up
By dogs lose three more
November 22, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
if Tn does their thing.
Two then goes to five.
By GT76
November 22, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
King Donko of Punchstania….. classless but typical of UGA.
By GaDawgsrule
November 22, 2007 6:37 PM | Link to this
Tony, I think that Richt will have done a good job of selling the Dawgs on the fact that they can make a BCS game regardless of what happens at UK as long as they take care of business with the jackets. My guess is that it will be another close game with alot of running on both sides. As a Dawg fan, I am excited about how well these young Dawgs have bounced back after the UT game. I am excited about our future. As for your other comments, look for Auburn to continue their dominance over Bama and to be the favorite to win the West next year. Erickson is a good coach and so is Carroll. I am excited to see this game as the Dawgs travel to State next year. Coach Fran has worn out his welcome and I expect the Longhorns to get a little payback from last year. I do not see Tuberville going to A&M. As for Tebow, no one player does more for his team. Florida will deliever a beatdown on FSU. On another note, I expect Georgia, Florida and Auburn to be strong next year as all 3 of these programs were in the top 5 in the nation in terms of freshman played.
By the ritz blitz
November 22, 2007 7:17 PM | Link to this
Tony thanks for the Thanksgiving blog. Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow bloggers.Go Dawg…
By GM
November 22, 2007 8:29 PM | Link to this
Tech will go up 3-0 in the first quarter, then Gailey ball will take over, and Tech will start punting on first down to play defense and preserve the lead. UGA wins 27-6. Chan will get fired on Monday morning, but will coach in the Nut Bowl anyway, and win that game. UK beats Tennessee, then UGA gets waxed by LSU, but wins the bowl game. Some crazy Dawg fans will bash Richt, but he keeps his job, and should.
By GM
November 22, 2007 8:31 PM | Link to this
Oh…and Josh Nesbitt will get 5 snaps at QB for Tech, and somehow manage to fumble six times and throw two INT’s.
By Eric C.
November 23, 2007 7:07 AM | Link to this
GM, it has been a long time since LSU has “waxed” an SEC opponent (see MSU game). I cannot see LSU “waxing” UGA should they meet in the SECCG. Unfortunately, I think UT is going to beat UK and we will not be able to see that great LSU-UGA match-up.
By reality check
November 23, 2007 7:12 AM | Link to this
Usually the team with the beter defense wins. Richt is right that Tech has a good defense, but it is hard to judge because their competition has been so weak overall. Georgia has played a tough schedule this year and gotten better doing it.
Georgia at this point probably has the better defense. Some fans bash Willie Martinez, but for the second year in a row the defense has gotten better as the year goes on and right now we are playing as well as anybody. Part of that is getting the linebacker situation squared away with the emergence of Rennie Curran. Brandon Miller has never looked comfortable at linebacker. He played well at Defensive end last week and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him do something special the remaining games.
By Ty
November 23, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
Richt is an honorable guy and loyal to his older players. That said, he is FAR from coach of the year. Perhaps from a recruiting standpoint he is, but when it comes to game management he has been extremely lucky. Had not Lumpkin and Brown been injured, the Dawg offense would be languishing as it did early in the year. No spark, little enthusiasm. Stafford would be over-extending himself in an effort to make something happen and pay for it with interceptions.
But that didn’t happen as Knowshon Moreno came in and awakened a sleeping giant. Now the sky is the limit for the team and Richt is a genius.
By John
November 23, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this
if les miles ever tires of having a club footed fullback be the feature of his offense, i am sure Stoops can find him a spot as the RB coach at OU
By John
November 24, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
how can you respect a conference that only has 2 quality QB’s in tebow and woodson
By John
November 24, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this
how can you respect a conference that only has 2 quality QB’s in tebow and woodson