AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIt’s put up or shut up time for Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Five things we learned over the weekend:
1. It’s put up or shut up time for Georgia: I mean that in a nice way but here is the reality. Georgia is a good team that has battled through some significant injuries on the offensive line and is 6-1. But the media and those who vote in the polls still have some doubts about the Bulldogs. They see Georgia’s obvious talent at the skill positions. They see a speedy defense that doesn’t give up a lot of big plays. But they wonder why Georgia can dominate games statistically but can’t put teams like Tennessee and Vanderbilt away. Part of that can be chalked up to life in the SEC. Alabama couldn’t put away Ole Miss despite a 24-3 lead. We who live in SEC territory understand that. The folks on the other side of the Mississippi River don’t. Bottom line: Georgia’s staff and its players have managed the season well to be 6-1 at this point. But the preliminaries are over. The next two weeks against LSU and Florida are Showtime. As a player all you want is this kind of opportunity. Now it’s time for Georgia to perform. If Georgia believes that it is one of the elite teams in the country, the time has come for the Bulldogs to state their case.
2. Texas-Bama on collision course for championship but…..: This much we do know about the first BCS rankings. If No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Alabama win out, they will play for the national championship on Jan. 8. Voters don’t like to admit this, but there are brand names in college football and as long as a brand name keeps winning, you don’t drop them in the polls. Besides, Texas and Alabama play much tougher schedules than No. 3 Penn State. So if the Nittany Lions are the odd man out in this deal, tell them to call Auburn and Tommy Tuberville. They know what it feels like to go 13-0 and get shut out. But understand this: Only once in the 10-year history of the BCS have the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the first standings gone on to play for the championship. That was Southern Cal and Texas in 2005.
3. Georgia Tech can win a whacky ACC: With only a three-point loss on the road at Virginia Tech blemishing their record, the Yellow Jackets of Paul Johnson look like the most stable team in the ACC. How do you explain Maryland, which lost to Middle Tennessee State, beating Clemson (20-17) on the road, losing to Virginia 31-0 and then beating Wake Forest 26-0? Virginia appeared to be done when it lost to Duke 31-3 on Sept. 27. But now the Cavaliers have won three straight and are tied for the lead in the ACC Coastal. Georgia Tech (6-1, 3-1) needs to take a care of its business but it also needs for Virginia Tech (5-2, 2-1) to lose again. That could happen on Saturday when the Hokies go to Florida State.
4. Tennessee needs to unleash the “Wild Berry” on Bama: Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer has very logical reasons why the Vols can’t use sophomore defensive back Eric Berry very much on offense. It’s a matter of limited practice time and getting Berry enough reps on the plays so that they are effective. I get it. But I also know that Berry, the sophomore from Fairburn, is one of those special talents that comes along once in a generation. He does extraordinary things when he gets his hands on the ball. He is halfway through his second year and he is already the SEC’s all-time leader in interception return yards. All I know is that I once saw Georgia’s Champ Bailey on the field for 100 snaps in one game. It can be done and with the way Tennessee’s offense is struggling, Fulmer and his staff need to find a way to make sure Berry touches the ball several times against Alabama.
5. You can’t criticize Pete Carroll: I want all of you Southern Cal fans to read this very closely. Understand exactly what I am about to say. Saturday night a bunch of you went nuts on my man Tim Brando after our College Football Today show on CBS. That’s because you didn’t listen to what he said. This is what he said and what I am about to say: I am not saying that Pete Carroll ran up the score in Saturday’s 69-0 win over Washington State. Washington State just might be the worst team in Division I-A. What I am saying is for those who would want to criticize Carroll because you THINK he ran up the score.
You can’t. Oh you can criticize all you want about coaches rolling up big numbers but understand this is simply the new world of the BCS. In the old days coaches could limit the score to take care of their coaching buddies. But as long as the national championship game is basically decided by humans voting in polls then style points matter. Coaches can be criticized if they don’t have their backups in the game at that point. Carroll did.
The BCS has changed the college football world. Coaches have recognized it. The fans need to recognize it too.
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Comments
By baloney
October 20, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
Heck yea M’fer.
By Mikey in the SAV
October 20, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
1- UGA is a very good team with too many injuries and issues to beat an elite team. They can just go ahead and prove me wrong if they want to…starting Saturday…
2-too early to even comment
3- it could happen but I hope it doesnt.
4-whatever…they have no QB
5-There are no Washington States in the SEC.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
October 20, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Tony, No more Tennessee, THEY STINK !!! they deserve no press.
By Dutch
October 20, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
How bad does it sting Georgia fans that Bama destroyed them and forever buried the “Blackout jerseys” and instead of rallying around themselves, the Bulldogs are going out in downtown Athens and getting themselves arrested.
Richt is SUCH a disciplinarian isn’t he? One game suspension. Wow. Not that’s stiff. Why doesn’t he just say he’s suspended for LSU, Auburn and maybe Ga. Tech (depending on how good Ga. Tech turns out to be), but NOT florida.
The GAYtors are gonna chomp the dogs to pieces. Game won’t even be close.
By The man that made ROSWELL ED famous
October 20, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
One- Shouldn’t the coaches take the keys away from ALL the players? Besides there is no way that UGA wins both of these games.
Two- It’s still early. One or both of these teams will lose.
Three- Tony its not called whacky its called sucky. I can’t wait for m and Ramble on to defend the crap I read about this weekend because I certainly can’t watch that hooey they call the ACC. Maybe you two can remind us about Tech-Miss St.
Four- UT could unload Wild Bill Hickock on them and not have a chance.
Five- yes you can criticize him. 69-0 what a douche bag.
By jack
October 20, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
If dogs lose again, what will be the cry coming out of Athens?
Looks like next year dogs…31-0 did it.
By Mike
October 20, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this
Ramble On, Sad thing is TN could finish the same record as GT and go to a better bowl game. Have at least one good season before you start with your sense of accomplishment as a football team.
By TWHG
October 20, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
Miss St. is the Washington State of the SEC. Pete Carrroll did not run up the score…he was limited by a travel roster of 64…he had no one on the bench to bring in
The Big XII is far and away the best conference.
By reality check
October 20, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
Georgia will have to play better than they have to beat LSU and Florida. This time last year there were more doubts about Georgia than there are now, but the offensive line is the weak link after all the injuries.
By Geaux Tigers
October 20, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this
Looking at LSU per Tony “the axxclown” Barnhart:
“Ladies and gentlemen, here is this week’s Upset Special: South Carolina 13, LSU 10”
“LSU 24, Florida 20”
“In our Blue Plate Platinum Upset Special of the week, we’re going with Auburn. Auburn 10, LSU 7.
LSU vs. Appalachian State: “The Mountaineers keep it uncomfortably close for three quarters.” (Hey axxclown, it was 31 zip at the half).
Yes Anthony, you would be homeless if you had to make a living off what you say about LSU.
Axxclown is one who despite not knowing what he is talking about, talks anyway.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
October 20, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
The man that made ROSWELL ED famous, I certainly can’t watch the hooey”. How do I address someone who uses the word “hooey”?
If you can’t watch it, then “certainly” you don’t know anything about it. It’s what we educated people call research, studying, or an informed decisions.
Ignorance is bliss. I hope you’re enjoying it, ed. Ahhh Hooey!!!
By KR
October 20, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
As bad as 69-0 is, I think it would have been worse for all of the players if Carroll had his team run 39 seconds off the play clock, snap the ball, take a knee 3x then punt for the entire second half of the game.
Short of that, I don’t know what else he could have done in the situation he was in.
THWG: Mississippi is far better than Washington State.
By m
October 20, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Tony you went 5-5 this week with your picks…showing once again that you don’t know diddly about college football. The so-called sec champion/national champion wannabee allabammer barely squeaks by a team (ole miss)that was beaten by wake forest (of the acc). The sec is ALL hype by you know-nothing homers (gomers). The Acc is a real conference with real competition. There is an acc/sec game this week between vandy (who coulda/shoulda/wouilda beat the ugag hushpuppies) and lil ole dook. I am going to literally laugh my arse off when dook goes into Nashville and beats the crap out of the sec power commode-doors. The sec is probably the weakest I have ever seen it this year. The hype machine is still strong though. The acc still has 6 games left with the sec and will dominate…mark it down.
By yellowblood
October 20, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
We will win the ACC and hold the biggest Tickle Pile in the history of Georgia Tech and we’ve had some “big ones”.
By GeoffDawg
October 20, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this
An Axxclown is someone who calls others an Axxclown for being incorrect on a football prediction. Unless Tony has a crystal ball he’s not telling us about, you’re the only Axxclown is see on this blog.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
October 20, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this
Sorry Mike. I shouldn’t be so hard on Rocky Flop.
Missy St. is now a formidable force that Tenn. beat almost as bad as GT did. Ah HOOEY!!!
By JB
October 20, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
We got a shot at LSU……I don’t think our Defense can stop Gators…..Our Offense SHOULD score on them, but we can’t score in the red zone AGAINST GOOD TEAMS. I know that Dawg fans be unreasonable if we lose to LSU and Fla, but we are young and thin on the line. My hope is #7 & #24 come back along with 17 other starters plus Washington, Sturavent and Owens. I know we all cry next year, but it will be next year. Chemistry weird this year.
go dawgs.
By Oh god not again
October 20, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…
Another week and another “Is Georgia man enough?” piece from Tony Barnhart. My god Tony this is like Groundhog Day with you. “..then put your little hand in mine…there ain’t no hill or mountain we can’t climb…” Great movie Tony but I’d rather talk about football. Please I am begging you come up with a different approach to your coverage of Georgia football. It is the same dang thing every week and mind numbing.
By The man that made ROSWELL ED famous
October 20, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Ramble On:
The AJC or should I say the people who read this that don’t like my blogs have me on a short leash.
If I type anything even remotely controversial the AJC will pull it.
I’ve had blogs pulled for stuff not too much more harsh than hooey.
Ramble On tell me which game this weekend provided the most research and studying for you to come up with an informed decision?
Was it
Maryland whacking Wake Forest?
3-3 Virginia beating #18 UNC?
BC beating #17 VT?
or
maybe the Duke-Miami game?
By Mike
October 20, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
Ramble On, I am sure you know strong football coming from a perennial 7-5 team year in and year out. And your ranked for the first time in how many years? Talk junk when your team has done something for more than half a season. Tennessee’s down year is a good year for GT.
By What we REALLY learned
October 20, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
After watching Georgia vs Vandy, it’s a pretty good bet Georgia will lose its next two games.
Texas looks like it has the best chance of playing in the BCS championship game. Alabama is playing with fire and will lose if it can’t learn to play 4 quarters of football. Penn State albeit after a slow start, continues to dominate the teams they are supposed to dominate (unlike Alabama minus the Georgia game).
Georgia Tech will probably win the ACC, but no one will care.
Tennessee put up a lot more points on Miss St than Auburn did….look out Bama (just kidding…Bama’s first of two losses will take place against LSU.).
You’re right, you can’t criticize Pete Carroll. But no poll voter should give them any credit for beating up on the worst team in Div-1. They’re still clinging to their Ohio State victory which won’t mean much if Penn State continues to roll.
By RAMBLE ON!!!
October 20, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
The man that made ROSWELL ED famous, Mike…to use an Ole saying you folks from the greatest conference in the history of athletics use every year. “We just beat up on each other”.
What else can I say…, but to give you credit the SEC is 3-2 against the ACC. Now that’s domination!!!!!
By Wrecker1
October 20, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Someone, anyone, just give me one good solid reason why the SEC gets a pass when their “bottom feeders” give their “elite?” a fit but when that happens in the ACC it’s b/c that’s a wacky conference or the old standard of “we told you those teams weren’t that good in the first place”. The SEC has maybe 4 good ball teams - Bama (which looks more average every week, oh I’m sorry that’s SEC schools they’re squeking by), LSwho (which has looked very average until the 2nd half Sat. night), Fla (which got beat by Old Miss which that ACC patsy WF beat) and Ugag (which played it’s first ranked opponent this week - if Vandy were from any other conference they wouldn’t have been ranked). The good news for Ugag is they can lose this week (I think they will beat an above average LSwho), beat Fla and still win the east. The pups won’t be challenged by the neither one of the p***-cat teams left b/c those 2 won’t generate enough offense to win. The key of course is beating the hated lizards which I’m not sure they are capable of. Maybe if Coach Richt can get the boys in by 2 a.m. he’ll have some to play against the lizards. Even if he does have some key players arrested before then, he’ll “study” the situation long enough to sit the transgressors against mighty UK and/or Aubarn.
By BuzzFactor
October 20, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
The man that…. - Talk your weak ACC crap, as usual. Maybe the ACC doesn’t have to NC elite team at the top, but it’s stupid to think that they haven’t finally made some progress this year, and given the youth in the league, things are on the right track finally. So keep your distorted SEC glasses on for now, because the one thing you have correct is that we need to wait til the season’s end to make a fair comparison and judgement.
my informed decision from your choices above - UVA(3-3) is a great at home team, but can’t get the same performance on the road. Better than the bottom 4 of the SEC - TN, Ark, Missy St, Auburn
By Joel in ATL
October 20, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
For all the people that are holding on to Bama leading UGA 31-0 at the half and only winning 41-30, that tells me you KNOW UGA is a pretty good football team. The Big 12 still isn’t better than the SEC but I’ll tell you this, the TEXAS defense is pretty darn good, and I wonder where their def cordintor hails from…Yes I know but do you…THE SEC. Mississippi State the Wash State of the SEC…please, you local HS team is better that Wash State. To the guy banging on Tony’s LSU picks, who cares.
Florid killing UGA on paper that looks like that’s what may happen. Did you get those key words there.
Rocky Top is waiting for the spring.
Mr M? ACC is playing pretty good football, but please don’t compare teams week to week. SEC all hype, ok like you said 6 games left and we will see, come guy have you been under a rock your entire life. It’s called EMOTION, don’t forget about that. Barely sqeaking by equals= WIN, call this 28yr old old school but I would rather “barely win”(find a way to win) than well look good losing. If you want to play that card then WAKE BARELY beat OLE MISS, come on guys, it’s college football deal with it.
By Terry
October 20, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this
Georgia is a good football team. Injuries have hurt the dawgs a lot. I’m a Bama fan and the dawgs whipped our behind the second half, just to give you an idea of how good the dawgs can be. The gators will be tough to beat by anybody the rest of the season. Being realistic, I don’t think Bama will win out, too young and can’t finish the game. There are no easy games in the SEC and I wish we would schedule more games against the Little 11 during the regular season so we could shut them up early and not have to listen to their dribble all season. Roll Tide Roll.
By YUP
October 20, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
I do not believe that “a win is a win”. I do believe that the Dawgs play down to the level of their competition. But it doesn’t seem to bother the players, and it certainly doesn’t the coaches, so I’ve decided to quit worrying about it.
By PTC DAWG
October 20, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
The ACC/SEC talk is HIGHlarious. Unless the head to head games are fairly equal matchups, how can you get a decent read out of that? Sort of like the last 20 years of UGA/GT? UGA/Clemson comes to mind too. Do you really think you can draw a conclusion of that? Sort of like the way Clemson dominates SC every year. It means squat.
I think a better barometer may be the BCS games. How has each conference done in those games? I’m quite confident the ACC folks won’t have much to say, but I still say it’s a better judge of the conferences.
By BASEBALL KEN
October 20, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
Hey Tony, you’re a correct about the Dawgs. We can’t complain about not getting a fair shake if we go out and lose these next two games. I want to to see Stafford take control of a game and cement his legacy, ala Greene and Shock. I hope Coach Martinez, doesn’t lay a egg with the gameplan to stop LSU,(Gotta make their QB”S) beat us passing. B. Walsh has to bounce back this week, as I believe this will be close (24-21 GA.). Bulldawg Nation this twi week strecth will let us know if the Stafford, Moreno era will produce a championship.
By BASEBALL KEN
October 20, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
Hey Tony, you’re a correct about the Dawgs. We can’t complain about not getting a fair shake if we go out and lose these next two games. I want to to see Stafford take control of a game and cement his legacy, ala Greene and Shock. I hope Coach Martinez, doesn’t lay a egg with the gameplan to stop LSU,(Gotta make their QB”S) beat us passing. B. Walsh has to bounce back this week, as I believe this will be close (24-21 GA.). Bulldawg Nation this two week strecth will let us know if the Stafford, Moreno era will produce a championship.
By st simons
October 20, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
GA players to busy drinking to be good!!!!!
By FLA DAWG
October 20, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
Yep, it’s “Nut Crunch Time”!
By BamaAndy
October 20, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
Terry UGA did not whip our behind in the second half. The score was 41-17 with 4 min left in the game. They got 2 garbage TD’s to end the game. How quickly people forget. Go back and look at the personal in the last 2 UGA scores mostly 2nd and 3rd team players.
By Another Ed
October 20, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
I wonder what happened to “m” when he was younger to make him such a bitter person.
This is supposed to be all for fun. Relax.
By Heyberto
October 20, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Gotta agree about my Dogs. Vandy was the game UGA turned it all around last year.. we’ll see if that holds true this year.. I don’t feel optimistic about our chances from here. Not saying it can’t be done, but we cannot play like we have against UT and Vandy against LSU and Florida… we’ll get creamed.
By Elvis
October 20, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
I have said it since August: Georgia is a “good” 9-3 or 8-4 team. I will be shocked if they don’t get run by fla. If your lines of scrimmage are suspect it is very hard to be productive against top tier talent. Also, I am just not seing all this WORLD CLASS talent other than AJ and, at times, Moreno. Stafford is way erratic. Looks like a Red and Black Capital One Bowl.
Texas looks unbeatable. So did USC… So did Oklahoma…
tech will probobly win their division. So what. I think the ACC has fine football. I hear the ACC defend it but I don’t SEE them show up for the ACCCG…what gives.
These stupid names for these stupid plays are annoying. I hope they run Berry and someone earholes him with the crown of their helmet, a little of his own medicine.
USC had their 3rd string in. Geive me a break, he was not trying to run it up.
Speaking of third string…when was the last time we got to see UGA’s without an injury? Heck, it would be nice to see a little 2nd string mop up.
By Eric C.
October 20, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
As much as I want the Dawgs to win out this season…it is difficult to imagine winning 2 straight weeks against LSU and UF. With that said, the SEC east is very attainable, and as nice as it would be to beat LSU, I’m hoping we save our best game for Jacksonville.
Even with a loss at LSU the Dawgs would still be in control of the division assuming they can save their best game for UF and gain the head to head tiebreaker.
Bottom line is that the UF game is a hell of a lot more important than the LSU game. Winning the division and the SEC conference opens many more doors as we saw last year…even with 2 losses.
By jabster
October 20, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
What’s funny is all of the Auburn fans making fun of Tech. Tech is 2-0 against Auburn during the lifetimes of most of the players currently on both teams. And that was with Chan Gailey and Reggie Ball.
I’m sure we don’t need to discuss Auburn’s performance vs. Tech’s performance against Missy State, or how Auburn is doing in their other games for that matter, either.
Tell you what—a 7-5 Chan Gailey record will look good for Auburn this year. If Tuberville is gone, we can send you Chan to make up for taking Heisman a while back.
UGA-LSU should be a good game. UGA is a 3 point ‘dawg, which is basically LSU’s home field advantage. It’ll be a good opportunity for everyone to size up UGA…and a good opportunity for UGA to address Tony’s issue number 1. Go Dawgs!
PTC Dawg (et al.)—anyone who says that the ACC is better than the SEC this year needs to check in at Peachford. That said, the ACC is neck-and-neck with the Big 10 for the #3 conference. Sagarin backs it up. Yes, I wish we (Tech) didn’t get stuck with G-W this year when Army bought us out, but historically the ACC in general and Tech specifically play a stout OOC sked rich in BCS teams.
By shane#1
October 20, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
1- Big stretch for the Dawgs and many questions. Will Ellerbe and Durham be ready to play? What about Chandler? If that isn’t enough to worry about, just how banged up is Gambel? I have an idea that Knowshon is hurting too, I don’t recall him taking himself out of the game as much as he did Saturday since the Tech game last season. And that was at the END of the season! This team is being held together with duct tape and superglue, can they survive the last leg of the race? 2- Texas and Bama are in the drivers seat now, Texas more so than Bama, who has three “rivalry” games left, LSU, UT, and AU. Rivalry games are notoriously hard to pick. If Penn St beats OSU they have a wide open highway to the BCSNCG. Talk about strength of conference all You want, the Big Ten still has a lot of votes. 3- Tech has a very good chance to win it all in the ACC. However, I have Papa Bowden sneaking up in My rankings, so watch out Tech fans. 4- I am not sure how much difference even a freak of nature like Berry can make to the UT WR corps if they don’t have a QB to get him the freakin ball! Fulmer might think Berry has a better chance of scoring a TD by running back one of JPW’s passes. 5- I would never criticize the great humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner Pete Carroll. He did not mean to run up the score. In fact, he was busy brokering the peace between the Crips and the Bloods and didn’t know things had gotten so out of hand. Once he realized what was happening he sent in two trainers and the Song Girls! It wasn’t his fault they scored three TDs! BTW, He will be flying to Syria in the post season to take care of that little Palestinian thing.
By Eric C.
October 20, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
Bama fans…with all due respect, you need to quit scrutinizing the UGA game. It’s like you are basing your whole season on that one game…better hope your team doesn’t keep falling back on that or they will get toasted themselves.
By Run it up!
October 20, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Tony,
For god’s sake, I’ve been saying the same thing about tacking on points! However Niceguy Richt continues to operate with his antiquated “sportsmanship above all”, “everyone should get a trophy” type attitude. Coach Richt, please ease our minds and beat the hell out of someone this season!
By CarolinaJacket
October 20, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
LSU was not all that impressive Saturday. UGA should handle them, and then see how they do the next week.
UVA, on the other hand, will either bring game A (trouble for Tech) or game B (a real fun homecoming). So, Tech in a squaker, or a blow out. This is what makes college football the greatest sport of all.
And Another Ed, you don’t understand. M, obviously, is still a young child. His lack of knowledge of football history is matched only by his lack of maturity when spitting out his absurd comments.
By TheItalianDawg
October 20, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
the team with no turnovers and penalties will win! its that simple. Georgia should be aware of LSU trick plays which they like to have a couple in every game: fake punt, fake kick off, fake field goal, a running back throw. by watching LSU and south carolina, LSU likes to throw deep.
Bryan Evans got beat for 4 TDs in the last 2 games, I dont know if it was a lack of discipline on his part or the opponent just had perfect throws, it is hard to argue the first reason since he was beat 4 times in 4 trials.
By Everyting will change
October 20, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
Eric C., Bama fans cling on to that Georgia win because that’s the only game keeping them at #2. Once Georgia loses back to back weeks agains LSU and Florida, that Georgia game won’t mean squat.
By Bojangles
October 20, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
To:The man that made ROSWELL ED famous
Your blogs were pulled because of your 3rd grade grammar skills.
Did you get you high school diploma at UGA, or “Clem’s-son”?
Bojangles
By BuzzFactor
October 20, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Yes agreed shane#1, FSU has just as quietly as Tech developed into a fairly solid team. And not to mention Tech also still has to play UVA, UNC, and Miami. None of those will be a cake walk.
Tech can’t lose another ACC game and VaTech still must lose one more - VaTech still has the head to head tiebreaker.
And yes the ACC has to do something in the bowls this year. And looking at the top of the conferences and possible match ups, the Orange Bowl will be tough for the ACC Champ. The only scenario I see to get an ACC at large birth is for VaTech to win out in the ACC, and the Jackets win out (11-1 maybe 10-2), and still get help from others
By OG
October 20, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
When the SEC beats up on each other, it sounds something like this: Oh.. it’s just how good the league is.. * When the ACC beats up on each other it sounds like this: *Oh.. it’s just how terrible the league is. Wake beats Ole Miss and GT destroys Miss State people talk about how it’s the bottom of the SEC. But the week before Miss State’s defense was praised, and when Ole Miss beat Florida it’s the same old.. that’s just the SEC for you. The media is just as lost on sports as it is on politics.
By murfdawg
October 20, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
Eric Berry was absolutely awesome in high school. He is one of those gifted athletes who come by onec in a blue moon. I don’t think he has forgotten how to run with the ball after two years of Fulmer’s coaching. Berry would be a better qb than Stephens, a great receiver, or line him up in the Wild Vol Package. He could be UTs Champ Bailey.
Pete Carroll is the poster boy for football in the 21st century. This is the game every fan under 30 years old lust for. Every week generation Y fans complain about their team not scoring enough and their defense giving up too many points. THIS WAS THE PERFECT GAME FOR ALL OF YOU.
UGA will open up the offense and bring the attacking defense out of storage for the next two weeks. Now is the time to start playing with the fire and passion everyone has been waiting for. Will this be enough to win the next two games? I don’t know. But I do know the Dawgs will give it all they have physically and emotionally for the next two weeks. Jump onboard fans. It is going to be a wild ride.
By SSI dawg
October 20, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
After UGA finishes 9-3 and plays again in some lower tier bowl, the battle cry will again be “wait until next year”. At least they are developing into quite a good bowling team.
By mcdawg
October 20, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
i think the dawgs shut after the Alabama now its time to do what they do best and that is play football
this next game is going to be a bruiser
By Whopper Dawg
October 20, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
In regard to running the score up, Tony you are talking out of both sides of your mouth. In most columns you say teams, coaches and fans of schools in the running for BCS positions shouldn’t worry about the polls, just focus on the job at hand and everything will work out IF you take care of business. Now you want style points. Class is class. Take care of business and don’t run up the score.
The BCS sucks.
By 82DAWG
October 20, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
I think that it is time to shut up and put up. So tired of hearing about how UGA is entitled to this and entitled to that and getting no respect from the rest of the nation and whine, whine, whine! For crying out loud, this team has not show on the field it belongs with Texas or Penn State or Alabama. We are really no better than FSU or even Tech right now. It’s a gift to be ranked 7th in the BCS. Now, show me and the rest of the nation Saturday night that we belong. No more talk. And for Pete’s sake Martinez, no more soft defense! Make plays and give the offense the ball on their side of the 50 once in a while!!
By BCS BS
October 20, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
Of course you cannot criticize Coach Carroll. He started subbing his players early in the third quarter. Even if he had not, if he would have played his first string (which he did not) who could blame him?
While everyone criticizes the human element of the BCs, look at what the BS the computer has “burped out”. USC destroyed Ohio State, and now both teams have 1 loss, but the Computer has the suckeyes #5, USC #10.
I say the human polls got it right, the computers are full of SH!T.
By Hey murfdawg?
October 20, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
I don’t understand your post regarding Coach Carroll. Are you criticizing him? I watched the game; he started subbing players a few minutes into the third quarter.
I’m not sure what he could have done.USC has the best defense in college football (lead most catigories, they may be 2nd overall). WSU just didn’t have a chance of scoring. I don’t think it would be fair to tell 2nd and 3rd string players they had to fall on the ball on offence; they practice all week like everybody else.
By jabster
October 20, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
It’s not running up the score if everybody plays. Period.
By AltamahaDawg
October 20, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this
Isn’t this put up or shut up time for every team this week? Every week? We need to win, what’s new or different about that?
By cookieman
October 20, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
An added USC thought. In the pac-10 the travel allotment is 64 players..Pete carroll played everyone, and a lot. AT home the score may not be that high because carroll clears the bench and 90 guys play. USC is that deep and Wash state is that bad.
By psu#1
October 20, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
hey Tony,
PSU went 12-0 in 94’ and was kept out of the national championship. In fact, that season was part of the reason the BCS was created. So don’t playing the Auburn Tigers pitty me card. PSU experienced the pain before them.
By KneeJerk
October 20, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
The ItalianDawg…One of LSU’s trick plays is a fake kickoff?
By WildBill
October 20, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
Will somebody pleeeeeeeze show CMR how to shift a straight shift transmission, and get the dawgs outta 2nd gear! They got out of low, into second, but have gotten stuck, they need to get into 3rd, and overdrive before they get it shoved back into reverse. I’m just a fan, not a coach, but its clear to NEARLY everyone the dawgs have to step it up.
By How quickly we forget
October 20, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
I guess some people haven’t really paid any attention to how LSU and UF have played this year. If they had, they would know that UGA can beat both teams. Sure…UGA hasn’t looked great to this point, but isn’t that the idea? Peak when you need to?
By Getsome
October 20, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this
M = moron
Dude, stick to something you understand like calculus or the pelagorium theorem.
ACC = Basketball Conference (0 current Top 15 BCS teams, no BCS Champs in last 5 years, 1 since BCS inception - 1999 FSU, Miami won in 2001 as a Big East school)
SEC = Football Conference (3 current Top 10 BCS teams, 3 BCS Champs in last 5 years, 4 since BCS inception - 1998 UT, 2003 LSU, 2006 UF, 2007 LSU)
By Really?
October 20, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
Hey SSI Dawg! Lower Tier bowl…again? If, by playing in 3 BCS Bowl’s in 6 years, means lower tier, then you are correct. LOL!
By Stillman C./Fla. Dawg
October 20, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
Bryan Evans SUCK.. He couldn’t cover a old lady in a wheel chair inside Jiffy Lube with the bays/doors locked.
JUST PLAIN GARBAGE.
He makes me want to hide my Georgia Paro.
By Don't Forget
October 20, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
Don’t forget psu#1, the Lions got the shaft in 1968, 1969 and 1973 as well. And in 1973 not only did they have the Heisman Trophy winner, but they were the only team with a 12-0 record. Auburn can bite it.
By Dr Morpheus
October 20, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
Tony’s logical is impeccable, of course. Anything could happen from here on out but anyone who says “no way the Dawgs beat both Florida and LSU” is either mouthing off (fans of team other than UGA) or suffering from high anxiety (UGA fans). We have the coaches and players to do it. Poll of Dawg fans: If the Dawgs go 4-1 the rest of the way, which game would be least costly to lose? Yep, Tech. We’d still be in the SEC title game.
By Dr Morpheus
October 20, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Take 2: Tony’s logic, that is, is impeccable. Anything could happen from here on out but anyone who says “no way the Dawgs beat both Florida and LSU” is either mouthing off (fans of team other than UGA) or suffering from high anxiety (UGA fans). We have the coaches and players to do it. Poll of Dawg fans: If the Dawgs go 4-1 the rest of the way, which game would be least costly to lose? Yep, Tech. We’d still be in the SEC title game.
By newrandyt
October 20, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
I am a Vol, but here is some honesty (something sadly lacking in these blogs most of the time). My Vols have become irrelevant, and truthfully that hurts worse than being bad. Most of us from “Big Orange” country had hoped that we could at least be the spoiler, like we have been for GA for several years. Alas horrendously bad coaching (or no offensive coaching at all perhaps), has dropped us this year to swim with, if not under the normal “bottom feeders”.
I will say this though, don’t count us out in the future. There are more than enough wealthy alumni in K-town to pass the hat and raise the millions to buy the current coaching staff out, just like Alabama did with Shula. I just hope it happens soon before the heart and soul of TN football dies.
By War Eagle
October 20, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this
KR, FlaDawg and shane#1 are only familar post I recognize, after 5 years on UGA Blog, where is everybody? No disrespect for posters not familar, just wandering if surnames change or gone to other slots…I have been slacker too, Auburn will rebound for the best to win west 2009…
By saint nick
October 20, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Tommy “the snake-oil salesman” Tuberville will sneak off to “Auburn with a lake”. His “style” is much more suited to the ACC. LOL!
By Navigator
October 20, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this
Wow, do I wish for a time before ESPN. They get on their righteous stump every Saturday complaining for a playoff in Division I football. Does anyone understand it’s about money, and what the series could bring ABC/ESPN. There was a time when teams played each other for the pride of being best for that year, where winning 8-9 games a year was a big success. There were fewer bowls so the big bowls were here huge, and the Gator had their pick of conference second best teams. The Tangerine, Bluebonnet, and Sun Bowls had big names and teams were glad to go. Well things aren’t that way now, and journalist are telling Georgia to put up or shut up, because they can’t lose two games. How long are we going to put up with this lunacy.
By Born2Buzz
October 20, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
Navigator, you said it man. It’s all lunacy/
But it’s fun to pull for your team and go see good college football on Saturday. I’d say the quality of football in all conferences (well, except the PAC 10) is at an all time high.
By Archbishop of Canterbury
October 20, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
Dear Tony, The team has won NOTHING of national consequence since before Iran-Contra. Roger Clemens had not thrown his first pitch in the Major Leagues since their last title. They are unimportant. Nationally they have no relevance. In a bunch of Red States ranking high in spousal abuse, drunk driving deaths and teen pregancies The Georgia Bulldogs are of much importance. However, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky,South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee——Check the U.S. News and World Report rankings of colleges and universities in America——are of very little intellectual import or financial stature—check the per capita state income.
Therefore I would quit caring so much about the athletic pursuits of the Georgia Bulldogs—Georgia is actually a VERY fine school—and work to get them out of a conference that barely requires recruits to spell “sat” let alone do well on the SAT. Check the rankings, average SAT scores, Percentage of attendees who were in Top 10 Percent of high school class. They are there for all to see.
By the way, check out West Virginia. They are not even ranked!!!!! At least LSU is 125.
By Mikey in the SAV
October 20, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Tennessee can upset Alabama’s apple cart if the Tide take them for granted. They are not as bad as the record indicates…
By voice of reason
October 20, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
(1)You’re exactly right it’s put up or shut up time for Georgia, Tony. I’m pretty darned proud of their record so far with all the injuries but they had better be ready to play penalty free football (especially against UF, LOL) from here on out. (2) Last year was a prime example of how silly it is to predict the final BCS 1 and 2 this early. I do understand though, that some teams have a much easier path to the MNC game. (3)I agree completely. CPJ has done an incredible job in his first year with tech. I’m still a sceptic of the triple option though. We’ll have to see how they end the season at UGA when they play a defense with great speed. (4)Don’t know enough about Berry to comment. In fact, I didn’t know he was from Fairburn until I read your story. How did UGA let this one get away? (5)Pete Carroll is doing what he needs to do. I think it stinks that the system is set up like this but it is what it is and he’s gonna kill everyone that he can after laying an egg against Oregon State. Some coaches understand what needs to be done and, right or wrong, they do it.
By voice of reason
October 20, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this
After watching PTI tonight, I’ve decided that the SEC should declare their champion the national champion and go out on their own to invite whomever the BCS declares champion to a game even if the NCAA doesn’t sanction it. Nobody even mentioned Alabama or any of the one loss teams of the SEC as contenders on the program. But low and behold, they bring up USC and even o s who. How either are even considered is a joke. They even went as far as to say that the big 12 was so great that Texas probably won’t go undefeated and get in. WHAT! They only play a couple of tough teams a year! This system gets worse every year and it’s time for a playoff. I think that the people that vote on this are tired of watching the SEC dominate whenever given the opportunity and they intentionally screw us whenever they can. Screw Kornheiser and Wilbon and everybody else on TV. Settle it on the damn field or to hell with it!
By GT
October 20, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this
I use to wonder about coaches like Bobby Ross jumping from team to team when they were such a good coach. Now I watch Georgia and wonder if Richt doesn’t have a little jail break in him. This is the best it is going to get at Georgia and I think Florida will be at least one more loss and I am not sure there aren’t two in the pile somewhere. Where do you go when they turn the light on and you ain’t as pretty as they thought you were? It has got to be the live and die with the pass that ultimately gets Georgia every year. Maybe Richt understands the pass a little more than the run but if he is going to beat Florida and maybe LSU but definitely Fla. he better get the running game going.
By Fvck the BCS
October 20, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this
H3ll yeah, m0therfvcker, run up that score!! I love this sh1t. Unsportsmanlike conduct is the result of the sorry a$s BCS. Don’t blame the Pete. Blame the syste. Yeeeeee Fvcking haaaaaaaa! If only CMR could figure that out.
By Dennis G. Berdanis
October 20, 2008 6:40 PM | Link to this
I have no problem with the put up or shut up idea. But if we do put up, I don’t want to see comments like I saw after beating a Top 25 Vandy team. “UGA would have lost if playing a better team like LSU or Florida”. That’s the kind of comments that riles UGA fans. I don’t see anyone write that about USC, Oklahoma or Texas after a win that wasn’t a blowout. IN fact they called Texas Tech’s 18 pt victory over an unranked Texas A&M a blowout, while critizing the 10 point UGA win over ranked Vandy.
By bamafan
October 20, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this
Bama will not win against the vols if they don’t play better in the 2nd half of games. If Bama were a contender for the sec title and natonal title they would not play this bad in the second halves of games. I still think that LSU will beat us next month and all i want is to beat Auburn and beat the crap out of Miss. State. It is hard to believe but Miss St. has beat the crimson tide 2 years in a row!! DAWGS DO BAMA A FAVOR AND BEAT THE BENGAL TIGERS!! GO DAWGS!!
By SC Rules!!!
October 20, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
Coach Carroll was doing right by his players and team in getting the 2nd & 3rd stringers as much playing time as possible in that slaughter in the Paloose. He can’t (nor can ANY coach) know when a key player(s) will go down (Mt Cody) and be lost for a few games or the season, by getting those players reps in a game he is building the team for the remainder of the ‘08 SEASON AND the start of the ‘09 seson when on the D side of the ball we will have lost quite a few starters. Any coach no matter the conference who DOESN’T take advantage of such situations would have you very same “fans” screaming from the roof tops about why he didn’t get the subs in! Coach Carroll is a CLASS act and one smart cookie! He knows how to win the right way with class!!! Fight On Coach!!!!
By BCS Champs Again
October 20, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this
Geaux Tigers!! Get ready….pups
By tom
October 20, 2008 7:44 PM | Link to this
Why can’t we move Washington State to the SEC so that at least Tennessee could have one big win?
By bama 12 titles
October 20, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this
What’s with the piling on USC bandwagon for running up the score? Everyone has been beating the hell out of Wazzu and if I’m not mistaken I think several teams besides USC have put 50 or 60 points on Wazzu. They are undoubtedly the worse team in any of the BCS conferences and the fact is USC could have scored in the 80s if they really wanted to.
BTW, I do wish good luck to the dawgs this weekend. It would give us a 2 game lead on LSU if UGA wins and could also help UGA in getting a rematch with us although I think beating Florida and LSU back to back is one hell of a tall order.
By Drew
October 20, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this
Mark Richt needs to realize style points matter if he ever wants our program to win a national championship.
Bobo needs a wake up call and Martinez can take his zone-D to FAU.
By JP
October 20, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
Who cares what UGAY does…they will lose as many as 3 more. Ranked #1…what a joke. Funny how all these UGAY in-breds talk all this smack…but never back it up!!
By Yankee Dawg Fan
October 20, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this
Not sure I follow the article:
Fan of Texas - I think I would prefer Texas lose to Okla State and have Okla State loss to Missouri in the Big 12 Championship. Perhaps then no Big 12 team gets in. Georgia could avenge it’s only loss in this scenario and Texas can’t and would have to hope for Okla State to lose twice to even play in the Big 12 championship. Precedent has been set last year; OU and Texas can’t be in the BCS if they don’t play in the Big 12 championship and there is a one loss SEC Champion available. In any event, only one Big 12 team can be in the BCS game, so why should I want Texas to win.
USC - Ahead of Georgia today, but if both teams end up with one loss, Georgia will have lost to a tougher team, avenged that loss by beating that team, assuming Alabama wins the West, and have an overall much tougher schedule. Can’t see how they don’t pass USC after beating Alabama. For this point to the end, Georgia would have beaten LSU, Florida, Ga Tech and Alabama (or LSU a second time) and USC’s biggest win will be Cal. Even the SEC issue with Auburn a few years ago will hurt USC.
If winner of the Big 12 South doesn’t loss to the Big 12 North team in the Big 12 Championship, then Penn State must lose - OSU or MSU, but that’s it.
Of course, the biggest long shot is UGA winning out with their O-line and pass rush.
By Top Dawg
October 20, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this
Geaux Dawgs! Get ready kitties….
By Lou Holtzie
October 20, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
UGA fans just don’t get it, you will lose 3 more games, and play in the blue bowl in idaho.Stop whinning its better than nothing,and its not as hot there that time of the year.
By SOUTHGADAWG88
October 20, 2008 10:45 PM | Link to this
I think we look about the same the rest of the year..winning ugly but still getting it done.LSU has more issues than we do.I stand by my comment that we were built IE recruiting.offense and defensive schemes to beat FLA..personally I think CMR has done a good job bringing this rivalry to an even keel.Not overlooking LSU at all(but I think we have more talent at key positions)we have held that Urban Myer spread under control since he’s been there… our shortcoming has been on offense against FLA,last year saw our offense turn the corner and get the upper hand.I will say this too.FLA hasn’t got any better on defense… I see a repeat ..X’s and O’s aside..I don’t think our kids are intimidated by the gators.On another note it’s kind of strange that nobody seems to be talking about how Mark Richt’s amazing run of road wins have made his name in the SEC and here we are with a shot at a NC down the stretch and the next 4 games are on the road!This is CMR’s time..the stage is set..THIS GUY IS THE REAL DEAL FOLKS!FLA-AUB-GT those are the huge games traditionally… this year 3-0 and we win SEC championship game…we will be in Miami regardless of what happens sat
By 6-1 with a Brutal Schedule
October 20, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this
GEORGIA will win 7 in a row like they did last year,starting with the VANDY game.Everybody wrote GEORGIA off last year after the loss to TENNESSEE.—The combined record of their remaining opponents is 25-8…DAWGS will PREVAIL.
By --Southeastern Conference Rules
October 20, 2008 11:35 PM | Link to this
Bama is just squeaking by teams like Kentucky and Ole Miss,-yet I hope they keep winning so Georgia can shut them down in the SEC Championship.
By __I can critize Pete Carroll
October 20, 2008 11:58 PM | Link to this
Trojans lose to the unranked Oregon State Beavers, who Penn State stomped, so Carroll trys to get some style points to make up for it.-Who does that impress except jerks like Urban Meyer and Bob Stoops? — No team that loses to one not in the top 25 should be ranked higher than teams that do. Like USC, —and Florida (losing to 3-4 Ole Miss,who lost to Wake Forest,Vandy,South Carolina, and Bama.
By O.J.
October 21, 2008 12:17 AM | Link to this
Trojans have no class , never did.
By Blitzkrieg calls out the bull
October 21, 2008 12:35 AM | Link to this
Tony, bless your heart, I really enjoy your insights. But your point about Pete Southern Redneck Cal is off the mark. He is a big classless redneck for running up that score. Like Urban Yankee Myer whom we all detest deep down in the South. Your argument about the “human poll” is problematic precisely to the extent that you, the one with the power of the pen on the ajc, spin it. Spin otherwise if you’re a gentleman. This is why I love the Bulldawg Nation and Richt Eastwood: a gentleman of faith. Go DAWGS sic Barnhart and Willie and Bobo and blitzkrieg the two-headed befuddled LSU dragon!
By Hunk Erdown
October 21, 2008 1:11 AM | Link to this
Style: a particular, distinctive, or characteristic mode of action or manner of acting.
How that definition, when added to the word “points”, could be taken to mean you should score as many points as possible in 60 minutes, no matter if it is your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team, is beyond me.
It should be enough, that to any onlooker, you dominated your opponant and could have easily scored more points if you wanted to publicly embarrass or demoralize them. You don’t have to “actually” embarrass or demoralize them.
To me, 40-0 is just as good as 60-0 and allows you to show some sportsmanship. It should be enough that everyone knew you could have scored the extra 3 TDs without actually scoring them. Just as sure as the world turns, so does the worm and paybacks are a MF.
By Dan
October 21, 2008 7:34 AM | Link to this
CAN THE SPORTS WRITERS OF THE WORLD NOT SEE THAT THE BIG 12 PLAYS ABSOLUTELY NO DEFENSE? LOOK AT THE POINTS-ALLOWED STATS PLEASE? HALF OF THEIR WINS ARE OVER WEAK SISTER TEAMS FROM OBSCURE CONFERENCES MOST OF US HAVE NEVER HEARD OF! GET OEVR THE BIG 12! LET’S HAVE A SEASON WHERE ALL 12 SEC TEAMS PLAY ALL THE BIG 12 TEAMS AND THEN WE CAN ALL SEE WHICH CONFERENCE IS BEST. UNTIL THAT HAPPENS - IT’S ANYBODY’S GUESS???
By Yankee Dawg U forgot OSU
October 21, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
By Yankee Dawg Fan
October 20, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this
…. USC’s biggest win will be Cal….
Except they beat #5 Ohio State and #20 Oregon By HUGE margins. If Ohio State keeps winning that make the USC thumping a big win.
By What F-ing Game Did U Watch?
October 21, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
It seem obvious that none of the azzholes talking sh!t on Coach Carroll watched the game. He pulled his first string and started subbing early in the 3rd quarter. No Coach in the country would have made 2nd and 3rd string players take a knee in the third quarter. He played every player on the roster. What a bunch of BS.
And to those who say the wish they had WSU in the SEC, you do, only they are Tennessee, you remember them don’t you, the team UCLA beat.
Because USC lost an ugly game to OSU you ignore the fact they are the #1 passing, rushing and scoring defense in the NCAA, #2 overall. They held #5 Ohio State to 3 points and it looks like Ohio State will finish a top 5 to 10 team. They are beating all their opponents by 30+ point margins, including the aforementioned suckeyes and then #20 Oregon.
By TexDawg
October 21, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
The SEC is the most undisciplined conference in football. We may have the best athletes, but the execution is horrendous. Flip the channels between an SEC game and a Big 12 game (or even Big 10 game) some Saturday, and the sloppiness really stands out. This is true particularly on offense where precision is paramount. We can play D because so much depends on athleticism, but even then, I cringe to think of Texas or Oklahoma lighting up the best defense the SEC has to offer…would be ugly.