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AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 18 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USUga VII knows what a poll is for
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For whatever reason, this week in the beauty pageant that currently passes for national college football rankings the Dawgs have been relegated to Miss Congeniality status, found not to be quite as appealing as some other contestants who have bigger … numbers.
Whatever.
No. 2 or No. 3 doesn’t matter that much right now except in terms of pride. Once teams are well into conference play (and the BCS rankings begin, along with their computer component), strength of schedule tends to mean a bit more than flashy scoreboard totals, even to the seemingly easily dazzled coaches and media types voting in the polls.
Now, if Georgia wins its way through the treacherous Arizona State-Alabama-Tennessee-Vandy-LSU portion of the schedule and approaches the Florida game unbeaten and still No. 3 in the polls, then might be the time for the Bulldog Nation to start fretting a bit about those softer schedules that Southern Cal and Oklahoma play. (Ohio State, with a loss and cushy Big 10 opposition, shouldn’t even merit inclusion in the conversation any more.)
It’s also been kind of a weird week in that the Dawgs are traveling farther than they have in years to play on the road against a nonconference foe we don’t have any history with. We’re used to hosting these folks in Athens rather than hitting the road for a game like this, but we better get used to it. That’s what it takes to schedule a school that doesn’t have a directional name to play these days. I’m glad to hear Uga VII and the pep band are making the trip, and let’s hope the 10,000 or so Georgia fans expected to be at the game in Arizona make their presence known loudly.
As for the game against the Sun Devils, most Georgia fans I’ve talked to this week are cautiously confident the Dawgs can keep still another flashy quarterback with big passing stats under control with primarily the nickel defense. Of course, it was a not so flashy quarterback with not so flashy numbers who shredded the Georgia defense for most of the fourth quarter last week on South Carolina drives that thankfully were snuffed out eventually. So Georgia’s defense needs to play at a higher level in Tempe or we could end up in a shootout.
As for the offense, if the reconstituted line can play more cohesively, open a few more holes and protect a bit better, and the suddenly reappearing trend of dropped passes can be eliminated, Stafford, Moreno & Co. should be able to put the needed number of points on the board.
Whether it will be enough to impress the beauty pageant judges is another matter.
Comments
By ramblinrob
September 18, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this
Can’t see UGA staying at 3 if uf and lsu win. One or both will move up. We will have to win out to move back up. Oh well, I say WIN EM ALL ! GATA !
By get over yourselves
September 19, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this
you guys are the biggest bunch of whiners. do you honestly think that after all your injuries, and the way youve played compared to USC and OK that you deserve to be #1? you rag on the ‘idiots’ at ESPN etc. if they dont cream their pants over uga, but as soon as one of them says anything good about you, you plaster it all over your pathetic site. its mid sept. worry about winning games.
By DawgsDawgsDawgs
September 19, 2008 1:13 AM | Link to this
Geeeeezus! How many fugtup articles do I have to read about our ranking! Shouldn’t we be more concerned about our young o-line and our lack of pass rush to date. Let’s just hope CMR can get us through the next few games while our team improves. If we drop any, all this talk will look dumber than it already does. Enough about polls. Just win baby! GOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS!!!!! Sic ‘em! Woof! Woof! Woof!
By Villa Rica DAWG
September 19, 2008 1:34 AM | Link to this
Looking for UGA to come out of the gate swinging for the fences from this point forward. No more playing down to our competition’s level.
SC was embarassing.
“get over yourselves”:
If our site is so pitiful, why are you up reading it in the middle of the night? Get back in the bed and choke off another one to the ugliest cheerleaders in college football nerd. In other words, “Go Jacket…s”
By hop
September 19, 2008 6:43 AM | Link to this
it is high time that our celebrated top five recruiting classes start playing like one.
offensive line should not be a problem since most of these guys played last year when we went on that great second half binge.
most of defensive returned as well,but you would never know it by such pitiful play recently.
it is high time we proved that we are the real thing or we could be the biggest disappointment in recent memory!
By Carlton Powell
September 19, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this
Agree with “hop” above. Time to quit clowing around and play ball. It also time to get this chronic OL situation straightened out. It’s been a problem since the 2002 season. How long will it take?? Can’t win without a competent OL which includes adequate substitutes. After watching Chris Smelly and that TE, Cook, resemble John Unitas and John Mackey, I fear Rudy Carpenter will really light up the ‘Dog defense. Hope I am wrong. It’s probably gonna take 28-35 points to win this game. I still fear it will take another “melt down” game like Tennessee last year to get the team’s attention. Again, hope I’m wrong. Top to bottom I DO think the ‘Dogs are a better team, but they’ve got to act like it. And that includes game planning by the coaches as well. I’m hoping for the best. It’s time to “get it on!!”
By Bill King
September 19, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Dear Diary, The media doesn’t like us… whaaaa!
-Bill King
p.s. I went to Walmart today to get another UGA sweatshirt because I got too fat for my old one.
By Samie
September 19, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
Way too much obsession with where the Dawgs fallout in the national ranking polls. Why don’t fans take the approach the coaches and the players take? ONE GAME AT A TIME. Polls are nothing more than the residual/outcome of the game. worry about the game, the polls will take care of themselves.
By GATOR CHOMP
September 19, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
I suck HOG legs! BOOK IT, I LUV GIVING UP BROWN EYE!
By AC in Boulder
September 19, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
This one should be an easy win in the desert. Hearing reports that we may have over 20,000 Dawgs in Tempe from friends that got down there early. 48-17
By bill king
September 19, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
hahaha, holy crap, that was hilarious. I truly am a fat, whiney, pathetic wuss.
By Mike Bobo 17 INT
September 19, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this
I just hope UGA keeps winning so they can continue to drop in the polls. It is now proven that the polls nor the media give USA much chance of making it to the title game, nor can UGA live up to the expectation.
If UGA drops to ASU this weekend, they are done, because their is no way they can get through the AU, LSU, UF and UA gauntlet without a loss.
USC had you on the ropes last week and they let you off the hook, because Spurrier felt sorry for you.
However, Dennis Erickson has 2 national titles to his name and knows how to win the big games.
By watcher16
September 19, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this
You goin to the game Bill?
By Georgia
September 20, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
Here’s my take on this. I think Georgia, based on what they have done, should be ranked 6th or 7th. That is for now. Here are the reasons: No pass rush, except on blitz situations. Too many points allowed. Martinez does not do it for me. He seems too adjust(or not adjust)too slowly. Some injuries have affected things more than most people think. We have played 3 lousy teams in a row. Yes, SC is lousy. No pass rush & dropped passes killed us there. If they catch the passes, Bobo’s play calling is not too bad.If Tripp Chandler drops on more 1st down catch, we need to see what his replacement can do. Chris Durham has dropped some big passes for 2 years. His 2 touchdown drops against SC the last 2 years really hurt. Stafford still overthrows a bit too much also. There are some throws that just have to be made. This team has yet to really jell. We are ahead of last year, as we did beat SC. I think we are really trying to play too many players. I know, we need to play a lot of players, but we need to get the real play makers in a groove. Tonights game against AZ St. helps nothing. If it is close, the press blasts us. If it is a blow out, we get no credit, as they will say we should have won. It is just not a good game for us. If we lose, all hell breaks loose. If we keep winning, what is happening in the polls now will make no difference. But, we have to get better, real quick. Don’t laugh at AL. Yes, Clemson was bad, but AL should be tough & it gets touigher after that. But, keep winning & nothing makes any difference.
By teddienglish
September 20, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
Hi, Just want you all to know, Arizona Bulldog fans are proud of our Dawgs and are ready for the game today! Gooooooooo Dogs! Siccum!
By Watch out
September 20, 2008 6:48 PM | Link to this
If we beat Arizona State 100-0, we will get jumped in the polls by Florida. So, why worry.
By beeser
September 21, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this
Ticked off about the polls? You guys are lucky to even be in the top six!
While Oklahoma and Missouri are admittedly relative unknowns…
As of right now, you’re a slight edge over Auburn because of Stafford, Moreno and Green, and you lag LSU because their skill guys are just as good as yours but their D is bigger, faster and meaner and they have a more aggressive coach.
You don’t belong on the same field as USC (California) and UF; both have way too much talent depth and are on a completely different level. Ohio state was just not very good, and UF was just being methodical against UT and not interested in running up the score (they could have easily scored another seven at the end of the game and opted not to).