AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > September > 02 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia quells upset jitters
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Athens — News of two major football crafts capsizing in the Midwest blew from South Bend and Ann Arbor, and coming just before you kick off on your home field, a fellow wonders how that might weigh on the minds of the lads in your own precinct. Everything is new. It’s the first game of the season, and not even a coach can read the mood of a bunch of college kids.
Not even Charlie Weis or Lloyd Carr. They must have thought they knew. Could Georgia coach Mark Richt be any different? First games can be treacherous. At least Georgia players knew about Oklahoma State. It’s in Oklahoma. Michigan players had no idea that Appalachian State sprouted from a teachers college, and is in Boone, North Carolina. No more than those Harvard players knew what Centre College was back in 1921, the first and greatest upset in college football before this one. Don’t laugh, Harvard was a power back then.
Well, it didn’t take Georgia long to exorcise the jitters. First offensive play, Matthew Stafford stuffed the football into Thomas Brown’s stomach and the Bulldogs running back cruised into the end zone. Less than one minute of play and the Bulldogs had the lead. The Cowboys had made it simple. The snapper had fired the ball over the punter’s head and Mohamed Massaquoi tackled the desperate would-be kicker on A&M’s — oops, sorry — State’s 14-yard line.
Oklahoma State would tie the score later, but truth to tell, the outcome would never be in doubt again. That’s the way a coach likes a first game to go. Establish your ground, give the other team no reason to think they have a chance. Understand, that’s easier to say now that you know the score was Georgia 35, Oklahoma State 14.
Those faceless mystics who decide what the “line” should be had looked at this game with some caution. Six and a half points was as far they would go with the Bulldogs. The Cowboys hadn’t made this trip to sightsee Athens. They had a quarterback Georgia had tried to recruit out of Houston — Bobby Reid. They had a big, rangy end on the order of Calvin Johnson — 6-foot-6 Brandon Pettigrew. They had the leading rushing offense in the Big 12 last season, second in scoring to Texas. They had such expectant backing that their colors filled the third-level aerie like a cloud of orange across the way, and even T. Boone Pickens, their generous benefactor, and his court, made the trip. Left early, though, I heard later.
And not without good reason. What Georgia put on the field was a show of talent that surprised many a Bulldog, some so young it seemed they were barely out of the cradle. Fourteen real, live, actual freshmen got into the fray. One, Bruce Figgins from Columbus, built for heavy duty, caught a touchdown pass. Probably the most productive first-timer was one we’d been reading much of lately, Knowshon Moreno, a redshirt freshman from New Jersey. He has moves that discourage tacklers, and in the process, led his mates carrying the ball, 73 yards in 20 carries.
You’d read much about Mike Bobo as the new play-caller. One-time Bulldog quarterback, surely knows the requirements for the work, but when you take over from the head coach, you’re under a microscope. Based on what you saw Saturday in Sanford Stadium, you had to like his results. For one game, at least.
Young Stafford collected a few merit badges for his work. He’s not one of your pull-it-down-and-run quarterbacks, but that’s not what he’s there for. Passed for two touchdowns, got off on a couple of lumbering scrambles, mainly to save his life. When it came to excitement, you had to leave it to Mikey Henderson, who’s barely larger than a horse jockey. He got away on the most exhilarating dash of the evening, ran about a mile and a half to pick up 63 yards, returning a punt that set up Georgia’s last touchdown. He darted, he dodged, he picked up a block here, another there and wove his way through traffic like a sports car on the freeway.
That was it. Pretty nice evening for a Bulldog’s night out, and all those among the 92,746 on scene. Next week: “Gamecock Time,” starring Steve Spurrier.
Permalink | Comments (25) | Post your comment | Categories: Furman Bisher
Comments
By Mike
September 2, 2007 6:59 PM | Link to this
Now the real season begins!
We really controlled the line of scrimmage. Hope to see it again next Saturday afternoon when SOS visits our little heaven in the hills.
Let’s go Dawgs!
By Crass guy
September 2, 2007 7:01 PM | Link to this
Furm, great column. Aren’t you as old as Munson and Dooley combined?
By hop
September 2, 2007 7:11 PM | Link to this
dawgs displayed great talent on both sides of the ball,but this team may have the most team speed of any previous uga team.
By FSSikes
September 2, 2007 7:33 PM | Link to this
Great Win! GO DAWGS!!
By Longtime Dawg
September 2, 2007 7:57 PM | Link to this
I thought the dawgs played well. Hope they keep it up all season. Stacy Searles seems to have worked miracles with our inexperienced linemen.
The only think I didn’t like was seeing the personal foul call on Jones for what sure looked like throwing a punch. The other article I just read on the AJC said that it “came close to being a punch”. Came close??? Well….it looked to me like Jones flat out decked the guy with a right punch to the face mask with such power that it looked like it was delivered from Mike Tyler. I know Richt blessed him out about it, but how could this not be considered a PUNCH and Jones not be punished for it?????
By BeachGaBulldog
September 2, 2007 8:22 PM | Link to this
What a game! 2007 YoungDawgs!
By jrmdvm1
September 2, 2007 8:44 PM | Link to this
While I am not defending Jones, viewing the video ( and stopping it at the “moment” of impact ), the “punch” impacted the OSU player’s right shoulder, not his helmet or face mask. Perhaps this is why it was not treated as a punch by the officials.
By UGASUX
September 2, 2007 9:17 PM | Link to this
Didn’t care for another biased UGA column from the AJC. UGA looked good and very aggressive off the ball. They look different from last year’s hesitent team. Well see what happens in the SEC East. It should be fun to watch.
By baddawg
September 2, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this
Best opening day since a blowout of miss st under donan
By uga95
September 2, 2007 9:47 PM | Link to this
mike tyler????????
By centre
September 2, 2007 10:08 PM | Link to this
That’s right, go Colonels! Oh for the Gold and White! C6H0
By 1eyedJack
September 2, 2007 10:34 PM | Link to this
Was it just me or did CMR seem to have a bemused smile on his face the whole game. Seemed to me he enjoyed himself quite a bit. Kind of like the cat that ate the canary what with all the naysayers and doomsday prophets out there. Kind of gives one an air of confidence when you know you have recruited big, strong, and fast football players for the last 5 years. You don’t win championships with just your starters and I beleive our first 50 will be able to compete with anybody elses first 50. Hope CMR can keep from bursting out laughing when Darth Visor pitches a fit and throws his little hat. Hopefully we can get him to stomp on it. I sensed a new attitude, enthusiasm, and a different air about the team. Maybe, just maybe, youth will be served. We are young and inexperienced but, the boys are gonna be allright! Dang, just wait.
By Cedric
September 2, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
The D-line showed it has a number of talented players that it can play and has more than enough speed to overcome mistakes. If Lump is out for any amount of substantial time I think we can get by with having T. Brown and K. Moreno share the rock without having a drop off. Our fullbacks can carry the load at the same time. Hopefully our d-backs are ready for the S. Spurrier attack that he is going to bring to Athens because trust me he is going to throw the ball deeper than Oklahoma State did. They don’t have the receivers that the Cowboys have but they might have the talent that we can trot out there.
By Gdog
September 2, 2007 11:40 PM | Link to this
I thought GA’s defense played great. However, I am somewhat concerned about the inconsistency in the running game. Our receivers are very explosive, but we still need to work on maintaining blocks in the interior line for rushing consistency. Moreno and Brown looked great.
By Gdog
September 2, 2007 11:47 PM | Link to this
T. Wilson will be a super star. He had the one drop, but he is the real deal. Stafford should carefully review the film, and see that he cannot make accurate throws from his back foot. Several times failed to plant and throw. I believe the dawgs are going to absolutely destroy the Gamecocks. Look for Stafford to throw for 300+.
By Top Dawg
September 3, 2007 12:21 AM | Link to this
Note to author: This was actually not Mike Bobo’s first game as offensive coordinator.
By ThaDawgDude
September 3, 2007 12:58 AM | Link to this
Jones definitely decked that guy, but it actually wasn’t a punch. I watched it in slo mo a few times and he just through a really fast, hard, stiff arm into the guys chest. He palm smashed the crap outa that guy. I cant wait to see him size up someone on a crossing route. Although, he obviously is gonna make a few mistakes before he really starts to dominate.
By Kendall
September 3, 2007 2:01 AM | Link to this
Now comes the FUNNIEST week of the season and its already started. On the FGF, the cocks are saying they have a huge advantage this year over the Dawgs when it comes to talent. I am laughing and its just Sunday. SCu is the biggest failure of a football program in the SEC. All the facilities, great coaches, now and in the past, decent enough talent base in the state, (even though the best ones come to UGA, like AJ Green), loyal fans, for some reason, and STILL, they cant win. Ever. My face is going to hurt by game time from laughing at these jaded fools all week.
By Brian
September 3, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this
Its a good thing that we pause live tv now, because if all you who think we controlled the line on both sides you better go watch th re-play. We did not control the line. We threw short passes to avoid the rush, and the d-line employed a lateral movement to conmtain what supposed to be a running qb. It was still a reat game but the real test starts next week. Bailey is the star of the game!. ESPN laid an egg not getting the game on in time after they said the would! I hope the dogs win them all. Those a55 wholes who come on our bolg cite need show some respect.
By david
September 3, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this
i watch the game and these bulldogs came out of BAD NEWS KENNELS.those are not the bulldogs i am use to seeing but boy ILOVE IT.just dont get BIG headed like your mascot uhga
By stevo
September 3, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
Good win but we still can not get cocky if we do Spurrier will get us.
By Techster@heart
September 3, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
i watched the game saturday night after my Yellow Jackets sent the irish back to Ireland crying home to mommy, and i was thoroughly impressed. i thought stafford played his best game as a starter, he looked amazing and that defense looked very impressive against a highly overhyped OK State offense. as much as i hate the dawgs i respect the SEC, and i just didnt see a Big 12 team who has no idea what it is like to play a very good SEC team in an SEC enviroment have too much success. even i was getting tired of the media calling the OK State offense one of the best in the country and saying they had a chance against you guys. to me that was adding fuel to the fire. good job guys the boys from both Georgia schools played big on saturday. i think you guys can do big things this year, i dnt see why you cant win the SEC title with lingering national title implications toward the end of the year especially with schools like Michigan losing to Parkview oops i mean APP State LOL. i wish you guys luck until our annual showdown come November..
Go Dawgs
and of course
GO JACKETS!!!
By Chan Gailey
September 3, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this
I cant wait til Nov.24 LETS GET IT ON. Why wait lets do this now
By Know It All
September 4, 2007 10:00 AM | Link to this
The game was encouraging but lets keep this in perspective. Despite all the “200 yards passing, 200 yards rushing” hype, Okie State will end up the 5th or 6th best team we play this year at best. Even the lab geeks would have shut that overhyped gimmicky circus sideshow offense down.
It will be interesting to see if our undersized d-line can stand up to the power offenses it will face in the SEC. Likewise, it will be interesting to see if our O-line can stand up to an SEC d-line with size and depth. There are questions that remain unanswered. I am optimistic, but cautiously so.
By James Holland
September 4, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this
Furman: I was reading your Column when I was in Albany High School back in the 1950’s (Class of 57) - you have always been my favorite writer - even when Bernie Reaid my ole Foot ball coach made a stab at Sports Writing until he became a College Coach at Maryland and then pro Scout for 29 years for the Denver Broncos. He is an Ole Bull dog and Captain of the 1948 Bull Dog Team - he is still running the ponies when ever he can up in Maryland… wish you could do a Story on him for all for us AHS ’50s Alumna. He is A character and served in WW-II and we love him.