UGA

By Barry

January 2, 2008 1:52 AM | Link to this

First!

I don’t mean the location of my comment. I mean what the Dawgs will be playing for next year.

By Stephen

January 2, 2008 2:02 AM | Link to this

Instead of posting on here how bad those announcers were…lets do it HERE!!!

http://msn.foxsports.com/feedback

By Gadawg59

January 2, 2008 2:07 AM | Link to this

What will all the haters have to say now? You have to give this team credit. The Dawgs deserved to play a better team and perhaps are National Championship material. We may not be the number one team in the nation but I think we have a argument to play for it. We just held the nations’s most prolific offense to 10 points and we were generous over the last quarter. The score could have been worse if we did not have a gentleman for a coach. The Dawgs manhandled the Warriors. We physically beat them up. We dominated both sides of the line of scrimmage in the last 7 games. We lose two on the o line and one on the d line. To all those haters that wrote us off early in the season…… Get used to seeing the Dawgs on the national stage. We are for real and we will get better. Best record in the SEC over the last ten years and 7 years in a row over the North Avenue trade school. Dawg fans we have a lot to be greatful for. We play in the best conference, have a team that competes every year for a conference championship and we are on the verge of greatness. 72 wins in 7 years. 4 straight senior classes with at least 40 wins and a coach that is one of the best in the nation. Its great to be a Georgia Bulldog. Go Dawgs.

By DawgfaninCa

January 2, 2008 2:43 AM | Link to this

What a great game UGA played. It was near perfect. Too bad if it’s a sad day for the rest of America because they wanted to see Hawaii’s great passing offense. Instead it was a happy day for the Dawg Nation who got to see Georgia’s great passing defense. Way to go Dawgs!

By Phillip Barton

January 2, 2008 2:53 AM | Link to this

Maybe Georgia did’nt belong in the national title game but they sure as hell did’nt deserve getting stuck with a team like Hawaii which had’nt played a reasonable schedule to be included in BCS talk in the first place. Taking nothing away from the job June Jones and Colt and the boys did in completing the greatest season in their history, they simply weren’t in the same class of the Georgia Bulldogs. I have several co-workers who felt Hawaii would spank a little Bulldog booty. I told them that if the University of Washington can run and score on them like that at home they really would’nt like what will happen to them when they play teams like Georgia in the Sugar bowl. 41 - 10. It wasn’t even that close. About half of their passing yardage came in the 4th quarter. They were who I thought they were. And Georgia stuck em on a hook! See you next year LSU. Oh yeah! Michigan 41 Florida 35 Priceless!!

By PoliticalMan

January 2, 2008 4:18 AM | Link to this

One has to wonder about so-called football experts. The Hawaii team was incredibly overwhelmed and mismatched. How could it have been otherwise. They do not play a SEC schedule. I’m sure they were shocked at the level of play. Basically GA beating Hawaii says very little other than the incompetence of those that construct bowl games.

By Dawgs

January 2, 2008 4:53 AM | Link to this

Even more the incompetence of the football experts that pick these games. Even Daffy Duck err Holtz had enough sense to pick UGA. I could have done without the overrated chant. That is something you do to someone ranked higher than you but at least it didn’t continue.

What was that crap the announcer was spewing about running up the score when Cox was put in there? I wish they would have let Lumpkin run more than once but then again it would have just made it worse for Hawaii. Did anyone else notice that UGA hit someone in the mouth on every play. Even Mims and Kelso got involved in the hitting. Simply perfect.

SEC 5-2 in bowl games now… Man did FU eer UF’s defense really suck that bad? Good O but their D is seriously lacking. Is that just losing so many players or the way Urban recruits? Ark was just outclassed… what else can you expect from Petrino’s new employer.

By ............................................BuLLdawg

January 2, 2008 6:07 AM | Link to this

Everyone in America loves the Samoans and Polynesians. I’m really sorry for what happened. I never thought we would have the biggest bowl win of all the Bowl Games played of 31 points. I knew we were going to sack Colt Brennan. I knew we would control the football. I knew the best part of our defense is a pass defense. I like June Jones. I think Georgia would have won the game against LSU that the vols managed to give away. I know Georgia would have thumped Ohio State again. Florida is going to drop in the Final Rankings a long way. Michigan, with its loss to Appalachian State – who lost to Georgia Southern and lost to Furman right after beating Michigan – probably will get some sympathy votes in the Final Top 25 Polls. I know Georgia’s Strength of Schedule in the NCAA Rankings is Top 10 but, I never figured Georgia would shut down Hawaii totally. Such a total annihilation. And, I have no idea why in the 3rd quarter with 38-point comebacks by Hawaii this season that Coach Richt is not supposed to challenge a catch where the football is clearly on the ground and his arms not underneath the football, nor why we should give up with our 3rd-string on the field and kick a field goal inside the 10-yard line with our 2nd string quarterback (who yielded to our 3rd string quarterback), already ahead by 31 points. I do believe Georgia will end the season No. 2 in the Final AP Poll. I can tell you that. What Oklahoma did with Boise State last bowl season, had no bearing on The Bulldogs because DJ Shockley scored 6 touchdowns himself against Boise State. Our seniors deserved to be playing for The National Championship this season with the BS BCS having UGA No. 4 the week before the end of the regular season when both No. 1 and No. 2 lost. They got their 40th win against an undefeated consensus Top 10 team. It was a showing for the preseason polls next year which will owe Georgia a Top 2 Ranking Preseason. Holding Hawaii to minus 5 yards rushing was nothing when we had held Heisman Trophy-winning Tim Tebow to minus yards rushing. Tebow is really a fullback. And, Florida played 5 Top 25 teams and lost to every single one of them, except the vols at home. Florida really didn’t beat anyone, although the vols end the season with 4 losses too. The vols clearly will be ranked ahead of Florida, who beat them by 40 points.

By bamadon

January 2, 2008 6:45 AM | Link to this

GEORGIA LOOKED GREAT LAST NIGHT AND SHOULD BE IN THE TOP 3 WHEN THE POLLS COME OUT AFTER THE BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!! GEORGIA IS LOCKED AND LOADED FOR THE 2008 SEASON!!

By Paul in J-Ville

January 2, 2008 7:06 AM | Link to this

Thanks for the link Stephen http://msn.foxsports.com/feedback. I did exactly as you suggested and sent my comments directly to Fox for the bush league announcing team we all had to endure last night. What a joke it was! Here are my comments:

Oooops, Fox did it again with selecting the most embarrassing duo (trio if you must include Hayden) of announcers for the Sugar Bowl. It was such a display of transparent BIAS towards Hawaii that it left viewers such as myself scratching our heads with not only anger but dissappointment. One comment after another was hurled with insults towards Mark Richt and UGA for as I paraphrase, “This is an Injustice and a Tragedy the World is suffering through tonight by the results of this game”. T-R-A-G-E-D-Y like on the scale of Hurricane Katrina?? I-N-J-U-S-T-I-C-E as in the not guilty verdict of OJ Simpson possibly?? Please, give us all a “comical sports break” for at least one millasecond. I have always enjoyed most of Fox’s broad selection of announcing teams, however someone upstairs must conclude that this team of Davis, Brendan (think that was his name), and Hayden were downright pathetic at best. The decision makers should evaluate this poor choice and act accordingly, FIRE them!

By AltamahaDawg

January 2, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this

I’m sure at least a dozen of you will be sure to appologize for all the crap you hurled at Coach Martinez this year as soon as you get a chance to post.

By TW

January 2, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this

Stephen - thanks for the link. I’ll be muting the NC game for sure, and completely tuning out all of the adds. At the very least, FOX should consider swapping that announcing crew with Paula Abdul. They’d be more suited giggling with Secrest, and there’s no way she doesn’t know more about football. P** poor, FOX - p** poor. That said, was their ever any doubt? Having checked out the last five years of recruiting classes on rivals.com, this one was about the men versus the boys from the beginning. No Hawaiian dance or amount of dreadlocks was gonna hide the speed/size differential. The only group that got their backside handed to themselves worse than the Rainbows last night was the BCS. Congrats to Willie Martinez.

Also, shame on the zebras for not tossing out the convict who ended Mikey Henderson’s career last night with the illegal hit on the punt. Fifteen yards hardly did that justice…

By Andy in Ohio

January 2, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

Well, I gotta give Hawaii credit for trying and for their team and fans being a class act. They were simply outmatched though, there’s not much to say about the game except that there was just a huge level of disparity between the two teams. No crying about not being in the national championship game, but oh how I wish we had a playoff system! You’d see UGA and USC going to the big dance, most likely.

By Irrate

January 2, 2008 8:13 AM | Link to this

Those Fox announcers were so bush-league, screw them…wasn’t one of them from knutsville? Can they not just stick to analyzing the play and leave the color, e.g., their personal fricken opinions, to themselves? If Fox can’t do better, they don’t deserve to handle a BSC bowl game…to hell with that guy!

By Leslie22h

January 2, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this

Altamaha:

I couldn’t agree more. The cries of “fire Willie” on this blog now seem like a distant memory.

By Deja Voodoo

January 2, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

I admit it I was on the sack Martinez bandwagon last year. He has done a very good job over the last half of the season and the defense he ran last night was insane. Shades of things to come? Well done!

By FLA DAWG

January 2, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

The Bowl Selection Committee should be tarred and feathered. Both UGA and USC blewout their opponents. Hawaii could have played Illinois.

UGA vs USC would have been a GREAT ROSE BOWL Game to watch.

The announcers during the game were absolutely the most biased I have ever heard. Coach Richt calls for a play review and he is criticized LOUDLY by these idiots. The result - Richt was right. Instead of The Warriors having the ball First & 10, The Dawgs got it on play turnover First & 10!

If ANYONE wants to criticize The Slaughter that took place last night in New Orleans then criticize the BCS. Dawg Fans tried to tell them - but as usual, they think they know it all.

Warriors - Despite being physically dominated you never quit, you never gave up - even through the 4th Qtr. Congratulations on showing guts.

Dawgs - A great win. Congratulations. This begins the next season. Thanks for the great year.

By DawgFan

January 2, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

Good morning Dawg Fans!!! I am so confused. Where are all the nay-sayer’s now????? Way to play a great game dawgs!! Congrats!!!

By Paul Hamilton

January 2, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

I almost feel sorry for Hawaii. They had that feel good story and all the support they had was incredible. The only thing you take away from this game, is that the BCS is an absolute joke. I pretty much figured that we would get jumped for the national championship, but it would seem common sense to match Georgia up against USC for the best game possible. If the Rose Bowl is going to stick with its traditional match ups, x them from the BCS completely and how about a 4 team playoff.

By DawgNYC

January 2, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Did you guys hear the announcers call Georgia the “Gaytors”? I almost fell out of my chair! That is the mindset of the country- no respect for the Dawgs. Gators, Tebow, Gators- As long as they have two players (Tebow/ Harvin) we will continue to beat them down. Note to all announcers- The Dawgs are balanced and will be a force over the next few years- we wear red and black, with a big G on the helmet that stands for GEORGIA! Learn it, love it!

By DawgNYC

January 2, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Did you guys hear the announcers call Georgia the “Gaytors”? I almost fell out of my chair! That is the mindset of the country- no respect for the Dawgs. Gators, Tebow, Gators- As long as they have two players (Tebow/ Harvin) we will continue to beat them down. Note to all announcers- The Dawgs are balanced and will be a force over the next few years- we wear red and black, with a big G on the helmet that stands for GEORGIA! Learn it, love it!

By XXXX

January 2, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

Where can anyone go to get somewhat objective sports reporting over the next few months while the local media goofballs are giving UGA the ‘08 national champ.that they haven’t even won ? If the dawgs want to irritate more sports fans than they already have they need to stop calling themselves the new national champs until they actually get one. My daddy always said” Do it before you talk about it”.

By Pathetic Announcing

January 2, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

It may not make a difference, but I sent the post below to Fox via the link given above. I encourage everyone to do the same, and to point this out to anyone and everyone in the media that will listen. That bordered on unbelievable.

Re: The Sugar Bowl Announcers

I have never heard such unprofessional announcing of a major college football game in my life. It was one-sided, biased and egregiously opinionated all night long. I will say one thing; it was consistent. Please listen to the tape. I hope these things are reviewed and graded. The lead announcer was pathetic, but the other two guys were not far behind. Wow, that was bad! If I were not so p** I’d be embarrased for Fox.

By GA Dawg

January 2, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

Hey XXXX, Your daddy is a p***.

By DawgNYC

January 2, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

My letter to FOX- (http://msn.foxsports.com/feedback) Wow… I can hardly believe how poor the announcing was for the Georgia- Hawaii game last night. Please take a listen and find the courage to apologize to the UGA faithful. Mark Richt is one of the classiest coaches in college football and your announcing crew gave him no respect (especially during the challenge play in which he was right!!!). I would have been spared this torture if our beloved Larry Munson was calling the game, but he wasn’t so I chose to listen to the TV crew.

I almost lost it when they called Georgia “Gators” as the lined up for a play! THE GATORS! are you freaking kidding me! The G stands for GEORGIA. The Gators are the team that lost to Georgia and earlier in the day to Michigan!

I think an apology is warranted and would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to jump on the UGA bandwagon for next year.

Regards and Go Dawgs!

By Dr Morpheus

January 2, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

I watched the Sugar Bowl from section 610 in the Dome and the view was fine. I appreciate the high quality and astute observations of the comments posted on this blog about the game. The Dawgs D dominated. Now, being there was a bit surreal due to the amazingly poor production by the Sugar Bowl and Fox. The game dragged interminably with one long break after another during which the scoreboard frequently displayed spinning Sugar Bowl logos instead of replays. Example- Georgia’s challenge of the incomplete pass in the 4Q. Incredibly long delay, spinning logo, no replay. I got to the point that I avoided looking at the scoreboard because it was making me dizzy. Other annoyances- commercials played over the PA at extremely high volume. I tried sticking fingers in ears and could still hear them just fine. The PA announcer was poor. And it’s not just “the way it is” with contemporary sporting event production- I attended the SEC championship this year and it was a very pleasant experience. I’d enjoy hearing from other persons who attended the game at the Done. Only other thought- here we come in 2008, SEC and BCS consider yourselves forewarned.

By ashdawg

January 2, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

I heard alot about how the UH people were so loving and were proud to play against UGA but yet i saw a UH fan on TV wearing a shirt that said “BUCK THE FULLDOGS!”…c’mon now…thats just way to extreme and very disrespectful. Congrats Dawgs! Great job representing the SEC!

By famous_bt8

January 2, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

madeinhawaii - as i stated in an earlier blog, UGA’s defensive line is bigger, faster, and meaner than you can ever imagine. I also stated that whatever you do, don’t turn the ball over. You didn’t want to listen. We have now beaten 7 teams in a row by 10 or more points that qualified for bowl games. Who’s next? Hat’s off to the fans who made the trip. The entire defense needs a game ball. One of the most dominant defensive efforts in a bowl game I have ever seen. Great day to be a Georgia Bulldog! Happy New Year everyone.

By FLA DAWG

January 2, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

Chip,

Thanks for the great blog topics during the year, the opportunity to comment and your responses. By the way, your game blog was great!

Blog you next season!

By polyman

January 2, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

As a dawg fan who woatched the game on FOX, I was also upset about the coverage and announcers that FOX supplied for the game. I was MOST upset, though, by the ‘over-rated’ chants from class-less Georgia fans. It was apparent almost from the start that the Warriors had no business in this game. Drunk dawg fans didn’t need to kick them when they were down.

By quaildawg

January 2, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

Thanks Altamaha for having Coach M’s back!!! Last night (plus this AM) was a pure GATA with emphasis!!! Congrats to the Dawgs on one terrific season and for their commitment, dedication and perserverance to provide a season for the ages!!! Thank you for some great memories and a wonderful springboard into the 08’ season.

By GA Dawg

January 2, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

polyman, If we didnt kick them when they were down, then we wouldnt hold to title for most class-less fans. At least we don’t go helmet-to-helmet on a return man who made a fair catch. Don’t be a hypocrite when your players are a bunch of thugs and felons. I took great pleasure in watching colt brennan get smashed like a little rag doll. That hit on Mikey Henderson was the only truely class-less thing in that game. Welcome to division I-A football.

By reservoirDAWG

January 2, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

hey Dawgswilllose, come on and take your medicine beeatch. UGA looked great and I sure wish we had the oppurtunity to play the real USC.

By 08 Sugarbowl Beatdown

January 2, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

Dawgswilllose/george/white and gold/baloney/mike bobo 17 ints: Where are you guys with your ridiculousness now???? Let me guess Ga didn’t win with any class because they hit the other team too hard, right? I can’t wait to read the crap you loseres will undoubtedly post soon. Best wishes to you losers from a happy Dawg Fan.

By DawgNYC

January 2, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

Chip Shouldn’t we hear on some recruiting commits today? Zebrie Sanders? Any other news that you are aware of on the recruiting front to put the finishing touches on a great class?

By Jeff

January 2, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

Let’s be honest about something. If Matthew Stafford was throwing off his back foot against HAWAII, does anyone really think he could have STEPPED UP and performed well against the defense of Southern Cal? Potential and Performance are two different animals.

By chazz

January 2, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

observations: 1) If Richt wanted to run up the score, UGA could have easily put up 70 points.

2) All of us who were down in the mouth after South Carolina should kiss Richt’s left buttocks.

3) It’s all one game at a time, stop the national title b****** and get behind the players.

4) Hawaii has great fans!

By Ole Dawg

January 2, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

Inspired football is what we’ve seen from the Red and Black. The turnaround and change in the Dawgs is the story of the year in college football. I’m just feeling the satisfaction and enjoy seeing the Dawgs back among the elite where they belong.

Now Altamaha, we Dawgs stick together through thick and thin. We put our thoughts and opinions on the blog for everyone to read and comment on. I give Coach Richt, Bobo, Martinez, and the rest of the staff credit for doing a wonderful job after the spanking we got at Knoxville. They were on the hot seat after that game. I admit I didn’t think Martinez had what it took and thought it might be time for a replacement, since UT I’ve changed my opinion, but it wasn’t wrong at the time. Given the talent at UGA, what were we supposed to think and say about the results we were seeing the last couple of years. The Dawgs simply weren’t consistently ready to play and were not playing up to their potential. I stand behind everything I said concerning the coaching staff, they needed the wake up call at that time. They responded with flying colors. The Defense was awesome last night. Next year will be tough, all we can ask is that our guys show up every week ready to play. The energy and confidence level of this team is as high or higher than I’ve ever seen it. I give Coach Richt and his staff all the credit for that. They found a way to create an environment the players could be themselves, have fun, and play some serious football.

I don’t apologize for anything I’ve said, but I’m really happy for Coach Martinez!

By quaildawg

January 2, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

Jeff, Let’s be honest about something. If you weren’t so anti UGA biased you might objectively admit that potential and performance are exhibited by Stafford when he can and does throw off his back foot and CAN complete it. (I have often pondered why and how he does this and have come to the conclusion that it is called…BIGTIME ARM!!!) Does it get him in trouble? yes at times but with maturation of not only he but his teamates as well he has shown his grasp of the game and good judgement when needed.

By AltamahaDawg

January 2, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

Jeff, let’s be really honest, you HAVE seen Stafford play great against FAR better defenses this year. Are you really saying his very few pass attempts in this particular game would predict his ability to “step-Up” in another one? Never seen the boy step up before? Pretty silly to make that kind of connect-the-dot hypothetical comparison. Maybe the game plan would be different against a differnt team? Maybe his concentration would be different if the game wasn’t over in the first 5 minutes?

By AltamahaDawg

January 2, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

Ole Dawg, since I obviously wasnt refering to your honest constructive opinions, not sure why you felt guilted into responding. The folks saying the stuff I was talking about know who they are. Actually I was joking more than anything. Its always the coaches fault in a lose, and never thier accomplishment in a win. Just the nature of the game.

As far as TN game, I have maintained that the total AWOL of the offense that day was twice the blame as the defense. I don’t recall anyone saying Coach Bobo needed to be replaced at that point. Why not?

And the TN game is hardly the sole banner for the “fire Martinez” gang. If it were just, hey disapointed in the game results, fine. Who wasnt? “out of his league” “never get it done” countless comments about his lack of football knowledge (relative to the expertise of fans), Brian Van Gorder would never run a cover-2,(which he did) yada yada

Clearly was a dismal team, coaches, entire program effort. He got ALL the blame. I still dont think that or any other single game, in light of Coach M having a top 20 defense for 3 straight years is a fair “acid test” for if he should have been on the hotseat.

Odd how he just leared how to coach in the past few weeks. Nothing to do with the players.

By Jeff

January 2, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

First of all, I am a Georgis fan. So, the game plan for Hawaii included throwing off the back foot. I guess that was also in the game plan for Tennessee and South Carolina. I would love for Georgia to go undefeated next year. However, considering the schedule next year Georgia cannot afford these “little” inconsistencies. He should have shredded Hawaii. These “little” inconsistencies will bite them in the rear. Plenty of quarterbacks have had great arms. The intangibles are just as important.

By Ol Ball Coach

January 2, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

Good thing Bulldogs and thier fans have such short memories. So let me remind you…you cannot play for a National Championship if you lose to a non-post season South Carolina and get trounced by Tennessee. As bad as this game was it wasn’t nearly the beat-down applied by Tennessee (rememeber it was 28-0 at halftime and UGA had ONE first down). So go ahead and beat your chests for this mighty win, Dawg Nation, because next year will be no different that the past 25 or so: NFL-level talent and an underachieving team.

By Jon

January 2, 2008 1:18 PM | Link to this

Did anyone catch the challenge call by Mark Richt on the 4th and 11 throw by HI. The announcers (if that’s what you want to call them) couldn’t believe that Richt would challenge a call up 38-3 in the 4th quarter. They said he can’t be challenging the catch as it was clearly made, so he must be challenging the spot. After waiting 10 minutes through commercial breaks and other useless screen flashes of overdone advertising (which has ruined the game for the real football watchers), it comes back that the completion was reversed as it clearly hit the ground. The announcers were in disbelief. I guess they had a different screen in their room, but it was not surprising. At times, I thought I was watching a different game than them. Go DAWGS! What happened to the great Tebow?

By AltamahaDawg

January 2, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

Jon, we had all taken them at thier word that it was a catch and the issue was the spot. Then when it was ruled incomplete, Fox NEVER showed the replay. How odd, particularly when they had run the wrong play replay just before that.

One a related note….you fellows know I can appreciate the obligatory shots of the co-eds the sidelines as much as anyone, but how many times did they switch to that exact same angle of the UGA majorettes? Must have been 20 times. Same shot. Did FOX just bring a couple of cameras? One on them, one on June Jones. Poor girls had to do that fake smile and wave over and over and over.

Total amatuer production. Comical at times.

By Ole Dawg

January 2, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

I agree AltamahaDawg with your comments, I wasn’t challenging you and I’m not feeling guilty or I wouldn’t have said anything at all. The “constructive” things as you mentioned by knowledgeable people needed to be said. I won’t ever bust someone out of anger or ignorance, just looking back over the last three years “Willie’s” D wasn’t ready to play in a lot of the biggest games with our rivals.

Coach Bobo probably got a bye, he’s new to the position and still in the learning stage.

As for your last comment, same Coach, same Players. What’s the difference? I have my opinions of why things turned around so dramatically, I would like to hear the comments of some others….

Wonder what the future of the Black Jerseys will be?

By quaildawg

January 2, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

Jeff, If you speak of little inconsistencies do you also mean the check Stafford made at the line that recognized the man coverage on Bailey and resulted in a TD or the other inconsistency that what appeared to be an errant throw by Stafford but was instead an overthrow by design when he realized that Hawaii had rotated the safety over to create double coverage on the intended receiver? If you are expecting perfection out of your QB then you why have him throw at all? I think we all have seen a rapid rise in Stafford’s ability to manage a game and least we forget he has just completed his Sophmore season with a rather green O line. You have to have a QB with that ‘I can complete every throw” mentality or you wouldn’t have a QB that can make the Bama agem ending pass or the throw off the back foot about to get your clock cleaned toss to MoMas in the FL game. Stafford had one pick last night and that was off a deflection. He didn’t have to do much last night to be effective seeing as how Hawaii placed 7-10 in the box and all Stafford needed to do was get the ball into the playmakers hands and let them do the rest. At this point I think (and based on what Coach Richt has said)that Matt has the “intangibles” and just as important he fully understands the word TEAM.

By AltamahaDawg

January 2, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Jeff, I just thought with all the games this year, much closer to the comparitive level of USC, the Hawaii game is an odd one to use as a predictor.

BTW, mechanics are hardly an intagible. You obviously think he has a flaw in his fundamental athletic move. Thats a very fair point. Certainly would be nice to see him perfect his footing.

By quaildawg

January 2, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

Ole Dawg my opinion FWIW….Difference plain and simple. Richt got through to Stafford the importance of protecting the ball, that you don’t have to complete every pass to be effective as a QB. Look at the losses and believe most were set in motion by turnovers and putting your D in position with their backs against the wall. Last year UT,Vandy and KY were all due to critical TO’s in our end of field or resulted in our not converting field position into points for us. UF game was decided by the fumble to start the second half inside our 20. I still state that our greatest game last year was the win over Miss State with 5 TO’s!!! Odds say that will get you beat 90+% of the time in this league, I don’t care who the opponent is. Plain and simple…protection of the ball and not having to play on a short field on D!!!(make em earn every yard don’t just hand it to em)

By AltamahaDawg

January 2, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

Ole Dawg, I believe 19 yr old football players are prone to be a tad bit more fluid than career professional coaches from week to week.

My personal opinion of the mid season turnaround is that we had a very well established program and defensive philosophy, that everybody on the staff believed in. And even when you have extremely young and inexperienced players, we were better off to stick to the plan and WAIT for the player to grow into thier roles, which happened, which I believe was the prediction (and warning) of the coaches early on.

I also think the Offense finally doing anything good had way more to do with how smart Coach Martinez looked than most factor in.

AS for the past 3 years, I beleive a very strong argument can be made in almost every single game that our defense has played well enough to have won.

By party dog

January 2, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this

wow, what a game. and you should have been at the players party afterwards! there was chubby mat stratford spooning with whoever wanted to get behind him. he had a ball! ugay beats a weak team and expects to be in the top 3? YOU LOST TO SOUTH CAROLINA! get a grip on reality,curs.

By Tim

January 2, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

Chip, Nice job on ESPN this morning. I have not heard an update on Trinton’s and Dobb’s injuries. Are they serious?