The Junkyard Blawg has moved!
Along with the other ajc.com blogs, the Junkyard Blawg has moved over to WordPress, where the blogging and commenting experience promises to be better. Join us over at the new WordPress version of the Junkyard Blawg by clicking on the link below.
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2006 > December > 31
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Strong finish lifts Bulldog Nation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Considering how bleak things looked at midseason when the Dawgs had lost four of five, UGA fans have a right to be pretty happy about the way the season ended — three consecutive wins over ranked opponents, including Saturday night’s gutsy come-from-behind victory over one of the ACC’s better teams in the Bowl Formerly Known as the Peach.
If, a year from now, we’re again seeing the Dawgs missing out on a BCS bowl and playing their post-season game in Atlanta, UGA fans won’t be so happy. A 9-4 record and Peach-fil-A win in a rebuilding year is acceptable, despite the bittersweet thoughts of what might (and probably would) have been had our placekicker not gotten hurt (two fewer losses, that’s for sure; probably a BCS bowl, too).
But there’s no point dwelling on what if’s. Major programs aren’t immune from down years (right, FSU and Miami fans?). And despite our joy at the way the Dawgs wound up the year, let’s be frank: Even at 9-4, this was a down year for UGA.
Can the Bulldogs win the SEC and make a run at the national title as early as next year? That’s probably too much to ask, what with the defensive starters we’re losing (even if a couple don’t go pro) and the inexperienced OL we’ll have. But once our talent-loaded offense gets a bit more consistent and our redshirts gain some playing time, the Dawgs should at the very least be in the mix for the SEC East.
MORE CHICK-FIL-A NUGGETS: At halftime, I was thinking it was impossible to judge what kind of a job Mike Bobo was doing in his first game since being named offensive coordinator because the Dawgs had forgotten to bring an offense for him to coordinate. Then in the second half we took a page out of the Beamer Ball book with that onside kick and everyone in the place seemed to know that it was a turning point. It was like you could literally feel the momentum shift. That’s one of the things I love about the college game. … Memo to Danny Ware: If you’re gonna talk about skipping your senior year for the NFL, you need to catch sure touchdown passes when the QB lays ‘em right in your hands. … If Arthur Blank does renovate the Georgia Dome, let’s hope he does something about the absolutely awful acoustics in the upper level. … While the Dawgs’ offense basically put together only one semi-successful drive in the first half, the defense really only had one bad quarter, having dominated VT for most of the first. The second quarter saw the poor tackling and sloppy secondary play of earlier in the season return, but fortunately the D got back on track in the second half. I’m still not convinced Willie Martinez is the man to run our defense, but the last three games of the season showed marked improvement on that side of the ball, and since he got the blame for the midseason collapse, he gets the credit for the rebound. … It was great to see Brandon Coutu back out there doing what he does best. Now, if we can just convince Kevin Butler’s son that a preferred walk-on spot (and likely eventual scholarship) at UGA beats an immediate scholarship at a lesser program. Even if Coutu stays healthy, we’ve only got him one more year. … I realize bowl games are all about sponsors pushing their products, but the constant barrage of commercials on the video screens got awfully tiresome, and the halting of the game at the end of the third quarter for a car give-away (forcing the bands to delay their here-comes-the-fourth routines) really took an edge off the excitement in the stands. … Once the game was over, the “neutrality” of the bowl officials seemed to fall by the wayside, with President Gary Stokan not only letting out a “How ’bout them Dawgs!” but also summing up the late season Bulldogs pretty well: “If that’s not a Top 20 team to end the year and a Top 10 team to begin next season, then I don’t know football.”
Doin’ the Pokie Hokie
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wow, what is it with the Dawgs and these Peach-fil-A second-half comebacks?
Congrats to bowl offensive MVP Matthew Stafford and defensive MVP (you knew it would be him) … old reliable Tony Taylor.
And aren’t you damn glad our list of school traditions doesn’t include a silly dance like the VT band did at halftime?
They said during the awards presentation that it was the first time a Georgia team had beaten ranked opponents back to back to back.
If that doesn’t get the Dawgs back in the Top 20, somebody’s not paying attention!
More tomorrow.
IT’S GREAT TO BE A GEORGIA BULLDOG ON SATURDAY NIGHT!
Services »
