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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > August > 29 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia’s instructions for a 12-0 season
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Despite a schedule that suggests otherwise, let’s ask the question: What must Georgia do to go undefeated this football season, starting Saturday in Athens against Georgia Southern through that little event in Jacksonville in November to the national championship game in Miami?
Here we go.
• Georgia Southern: Don’t get cocky. Never mind that Georgia Southern isn’t Appalachian State this season, especially since 17 of the 22 players on the Eagles’ two-deep depth chart will take the field for the first time Saturday. Tiny teams can shock gigantic ones, but only if those gigantic ones forget they’re supposed to crush those tiny ones.
• Central Michigan: Ignore the “Central” in front of Michigan. This team from Mount Pleasant has been more impressive in its conference in recent years than that other team from Ann Arbor. The Chippewas have taken the past two Mid-American Conference titles, and they are MAC favorites again this year.
Ever hear of Dan LeFevour? He’s Central Michigan’s starting quarterback, and he rushed and passed for more yards last season than some Heisman Trophy guy named Tim Tebow.
• At South Carolina: Hold your ears during the week. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier enjoys whipping the Bulldogs with his players and his tongue. He did so often at Florida, and he did so last season between the hedges with an inferior South Carolina team. Georgia can’t fall for Spurrier’s mind game, and they’re coming.
• At Arizona State: Remember the USC of the Pac-10 is way more potent than the USC of the SEC. The point is, Arizona State is among the top challengers to that other USC (otherwise known as Southern Cal) in the Pac-10, which means Georgia must treat this as a BCS-caliber game.
This also will be one of the few trips ever for the Bulldogs out of the Southeast, so they must keep from getting spooked by a flight longer than a couple of barks from their Uga mascot.
• Alabama: Imagine that Bryant-Denny Stadium is between the hedges. Otherwise, the Bulldogs could get lulled into complacency with Alabama at home this season. As for last season, Georgia won for just the second time ever in Tuscaloosa.
So, to keep the edge, the Bulldogs need to play mind games with themselves against a rising but flawed team that nevertheless could shock them.
• Tennessee: Think revenge. It’s ridiculous that the Volunteers have taken three of their past four games from Georgia. Just like Alabama, Tennessee lacks Georgia’s quality and depth. As a result, no way the Bulldogs should lose this time to Tennessee, not unless they cringe with fear instead of with anger at the sight of orange.
• Vanderbilt: Send chocolates and flowers to the Commodores, either literally or figuratively. Remember? After the Bulldogs’ last-second victory in Nashville last season, they stomped on Vanderbilt’s logo at midfield. An angry group of Commodores could interrupt their rebuilding year to upset the Bulldogs.
• At LSU: Listen to anything and everything that coach Mark Richt has to say about Death Valley. Obviously, he knows what he’s doing, especially when it comes to scary places. Under Richt, Georgia is 25-4 in an opponent’s stadium, and that includes 9-2 against ranked opponents.
• Florida (Jacksonville): Don’t fret over the fuming Gators. And, yes, they will do something crazy to counter Georgia’s excessive celebration in the end zone last year after scoring the game’s first touchdown. It’s just that Georgia can’t be preoccupied with whatever the Gators might do at the expense of blocking and tackling.
• At Kentucky: Forget something and remember something else. First, Georgia has to forget about whatever happened the week before in Jacksonville. In contrast, Georgia has to remember that they lost the last time they traveled to Lexington in 2006.
• At Auburn: Send whatever chocolates and flowers are left over from the Vanderbilt game to Auburn. Just a guess, but coach Tommy Tuberville and his War Eagles probably weren’t pleased last season when Richt turned Georgia’s home game against Auburn last season into a “blackout” game, where players and fans wore all black.
This already is an intense rivalry game, but Georgia should be prepared for more sizzle to the fire in this one.
• Georgia Tech: Practice against the triple option every day. One reason this offense works well is the element of surprise. This is the Yellow Jackets’ first year under Paul Johnson, the architect of that offense, and they’ll be better with it by the time they roll into Athens after Thanksgiving.
The Bulldogs don’t want to resemble turkeys either before or after that game, and they won’t. Not if they follow what we just suggested — and get lucky.
Really lucky.
Permalink | Comments (18) | Categories: UGA/SEC
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By Mike
August 29, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
Terence, keep telling yourself and the GA faithful that TN does not have the depth GA does. Take off the red colored glasses (pacifying the common Bulldog fan) and look at facts. TN is deeper at WR, OL,TE, DE, DB, and the Safety positions than GA. And their 4 RBs can match GAs since 3 of TN’s 4 RB actually have experience. So keep telling Dawg fans how mighty they are if it helps them sleep at night.
By oldbird
August 29, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this
Great article Terrence, and very good advice. I usually don’t like for players to read the newspaper, but in this case, they might want to print or clip the article.
By Jeffrey
August 29, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this
Nice write up.
Although, what you said about Dan LeFevour…yes he did have more passing and rushing yards than Tim Tebow, but he also did it in the MAC and Tebow had to do it in the SEC…a “tad” bit of difference in the competition.
Here’s to an undefeated season, that’d be a nice way for UGA VII to start out his career.
GO DAWGS!!
By The Fight Realtor
August 29, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
It’s going to be tough.
By Ted Striker
August 29, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
T — All successful athletes and coaches share one ability. They focus on the upcoming game, they selectively remember the past, and they don’t worry about the future.
You absolutely nailed it.
I’ll hang up now and let the experts put some pixels in cyberspace.
By THE Ohio State Buckeyes
August 29, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaLOL
By LEE
August 29, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this
oh, Mike …..your obviously blinded by love! best of luck to you and your vols.
By Ted Striker
August 29, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
T — Successful athletes & coaches share a common ability. They focus on the upcoming game, selectively remember the past, and zone out the future.
You nailed it — a game by game emphasis.
By Mike the Tiger
August 29, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
Georgia will lose to several good teams and to at least one lousy team because of their overconfident, entitled attitude. Expect some more lockups before the season ends in spite of Richt’s Christian Bowling League.
By Terence Moore
August 29, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
One good thing about a tough schedule: It makes you focus.
Theoritically.
That should give the Bulldog Nation a little comfort.
By Hillbilly Deluxe
August 29, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this
12-0 ain’t gonna happen.
By Old Dawg
August 29, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this
Excellent article and, as always, impeccably written. I don’t know if the Bulldog Nation, or at least those who perpetually criticize you, will be able to say it, but “well done.” I think you are spot on. Thanks.
By Buzz
August 29, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this
Georgia will lose 2 games this season! You read it here first. Enough said!
By Skipper
August 29, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
T - One of your better articles, not one racial refrence. That’s the kinds of sports articles you guys should write. Every week after that Tenn lost the players mentioned that game. They are still talking about it. From years of SEC observations the team with the new QB is always a big risk - and GA will be ready for revenge this year. GO DAWGS
By D-Cider
August 29, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this
Terrie, put down the kool-aid. yes, it is possible for GA to go 12-0. anything is possible. it is more realistic to expect them to drop one game or two (Fla., Az.St.,Tenn, LSU, Auburn). in fact, if they drop the game at Az.St or Tenn, there is no reason not to expect, they could still be in the championship game. providing of course, they win the SEC championship.
By R LM
August 29, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this
Sometimes it is just better to not read anything just have fun and play the game. I hope the Bulldogs do just that and win it all.
By Oldmanriver
August 29, 2008 10:39 PM | Link to this
Tiger,
Regarding Tn having more depth than UGA, that is impossible. They are quality 3 and 4 deep except at safty where you might have a point. otherwise, shut your pie hole until we play you guys. And Tiger Mike, if you say we will lose 3 games, fine. Whether you are a Clemson, auburn, or LSU, i think each will lose at least 3 games also with an easier schedule. And with respect to LSu and Auburn, one of those losses will be to UGA.
By TheItalianDawg
August 29, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
Hey Mike, your Tennessee will be crushed by Georgia count on it!