AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 31 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSave us from orange and blue!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My neighbor the Gator is actually a nice guy.
I always enjoy chatting with him and his wife (who’s not a Gator) and my daughter feeds their dogs (dawgs?) when they’re out of town. From time to time, of course, we also engage in some good-natured Bulldogs-Gators rivalry. When they first moved in, his wife, noticing I was wearing a UGA shirt, gave me a heads-up and said he was an ardent Florida backer and asked if I thought anyone on the cul-de-sac would mind that he had a little Gators yard banner he wanted to put next to their driveway. I told her it was a very broadminded neighborhood. So we’ve gotten along well despite his unfortunate choice of colleges.
But apparently he still hasn’t gotten over last year. We have a neon Georgia “G” in one of our kitchen windows that we light up after a major Dawgs road win. Sometimes when it’s lit and I’m sitting out on the front porch, Georgia fans driving past will honk and give a thumbs-up. Last year, after the Gator Stomp, it naturally blazed bright red throughout the night.
And right into the Gator’s brain. He’s mentioned it several times over the ensuing year and shortly before the season started he began teasing my daughter that he had some “secret weapon” planned to retaliate this year. When he put a big Gator flag up on his front porch, I thought that might be it, but at a neighborhood get-together the other night, he and my daughter were talking a little smack and he said again that he was going to “build” his secret weapon. His wife let slip that he planned to go get “some lights.”
I’m thinking something garish in bright, blazing orange and blue is in the offing, though whether this will be pre-game or only if they win, I have no idea.
This does personalize the game in Jacksonville for me just a bit. I hate orange and blue. I think it’s one of those cosmic tests for UGA folks that all three of our major rivals wear orange, two of them in combination with blue. (Yes, I know the school in Atlanta wears some version of yellow, but I’m talking MAJOR rivals.)
As for what I expect to happen Saturday, I’d say a good nickname for this year’s game is likely to be the St. Johns Shootout, considering the recent trend for both teams’ offenses. Georgia hasn’t faced an offense anywhere near as potent as Florida’s, which is much more diversified than last year. An improved game for the Georgia D from last week is a necessity, especially shutting down those additional yards after the catch or after the first hit. Georgia’s always done a pretty good job containing Tim Tebow, but this year we have to contend with Florida’s backs, who are small but fast. Our team speed will come in handy.
And while Florida’s defense is much improved over a year ago, it hasn’t yet faced an offense like Georgia’s and is considered to be a bit vulnerable to the run. If Knowshon Moreno has a big day, Georgia wins. If Florida loads up the box to stop Moreno, it’s up to Matt Stafford, A.J. Green, MoMass (one of last year’s big heroes), etc. I think they’ll rise to the occasion, as Erk would say.
I can easily see an outcome where the two offenses essentially tie and the game comes down to which defense manages to score (like last week). I do agree with my son (who’s making the trip to Jax) that it’s important that Georgia get off to a fast start and not fall a couple of TDs behind. If the Dawgs score first, that says to the Gators, “This is just a continuation of last year.” If the Gators score first, it’s imperative that Georgia answer right away.
The winner of this game likely goes to Atlanta and, frankly, I like the odds of either one of them against Bama. I hope it’s the Dawgs that get the chance to atone for that awful first half a few weeks back.
And I REALLY hope the other neighbors and I don’t have to put up with some orange and blue monstrosity blazing away in the Gator’s front yard Saturday night!
Comments
By DirtyDawg
October 31, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Good luck with the Orange and Blue crap, but on another note let’s all hope that we don’t show up wearing all red Saturday. That way, when the Gators wear their all blue it’ll look like a high-school game or something. And please, whatever we do we don’t pull the red-tops/black pants thing. The last time we did that in J’ville, Florida thumped us like a drum - which is appropriate since we looked like the Red-Coat Band and played like ‘em.
By NikkiFree
October 31, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Yuck!! UGA will always be silver britches. I could have sworn Richt had once said that he would never alter those silver britches. Anything other than that color is just plain wrong. I can’t imagine the deep pocket UGA donors said it would be a good idea. Damon Evans always listens to those deep pocket donors.
I see UGA winning by ball control. Green and MoMass will have to step up to keep UF from stacking the line. I think the Dawgs will play loose. There’s no intimidation factor anymore.
Note to Richt: start fast. Never let up on the score. It’s never out of reach for a high-powered offense like the gators. don’t start playing not to lose like in the last part of the fourth quarter against LSU.
By dawgforlife
October 31, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this
I agree about the rumored all-red look, but you know what? If Georgia wears all red and wins big, a lot of folks will view it differently. I wasn’t a great fan of the red pants in the late ’70s … until Hershel wore them as he ran over Bill Bates.
By Red Elephant
October 31, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this
As an Alabama fan I have always pulled for Georgia as my second team. But we need BCS style points, so I’ll hold my nose and hope the Gators win. If UGA’s O & D lines hold up I think UGA wins by 7. But I’m afraid that soft zone underbelly will put your LB’s and DB’s in tough matchups. God knows UGA is the classier act, but I just want NC #13 for Bama. Good luck!
By AltamahaDawg
October 31, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this
Yea I was thinking tha same thing, whatever our boys come out in, you gonna love it. I just like the traditional uni’s but that has zero bearing on the game.
Does anyone else wonder as I do, if the whole revenge factor and being hammered by thier coaches for the past year about this game, the media basically putting the storyline on Florida to prove something, might have the Gators feeling added pressure? I’m not sure that really an advantage. You know damn well that our “first score” is going to be in thier head just a bit. Hell the whole stadium is going to be focused on that. Not that anything is going to happen, but it’s a distraction.
By Carlton Powell
October 31, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
For God’s sake no red pants and tops. That looks rediculous. UGA has been wearing silver pants and red tops at least since the 1950’s. Further, the fact that we are EVEN having such a conversation is not good. ALL thoughts should be on providing a good game plan, and executing it. And for God’s sake don’t get down by 2 scores and FG like was typically the case during the Goff-Donnan years and as late as 2005. And, if CWM and his defense is really any good, now’s the time to prove it.
By bamafan
October 31, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Good luck dawgs!! The gators are a scoring machine and hope your defense can stop them!! ROLL TIDE BABY!!
By Dogbyte
October 31, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this
Matt Ryan and Mathew Stafford. Note to selves: The next time I/we miss on a “fade route” it will be ‘cause I/we threw the friggin ball in the stands. Post on fridge.
By Ima gator Hater(formerly 74Dawg)
October 31, 2008 5:05 PM | Link to this
I have said since last years game that the momentum in this series is shifting back to the Dawgs. The noise about the celebration has to put extra pressure on Florida. Also, I don’t see how anyone playing for a jerk who refers to himself in the third person could not be a little nervous about screwing up. Lord knows it could never be the genius coaches fault , could it? Yeah, painting the empty seats white(on the other blog) was hillarious. Maybe local games not on TV due to not selling out could be called “white outs” .
By SOUTHGADAWG88
October 31, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this
I could care less if we wore purple pants as long as we win.I know one thing..This game is THE GAME that defines WM defensive schemes as a success or failure.Frankly against Florida WM has been pretty good whether people want to admit it or not.The only area I have a real concern is the kicking game.We have a freshman kicker from Florida..I know this is a big deal for the kid and his kick offs and possible fg attempts are going to be a HUGE factor in this game.A lot of fans gripe about how we play against teams we SHOULD blow out…Me?…I’m more concerned with how we play against the heavy weights on the schedule..sooo!!..I’m looking forward to this one.Hell everybody in the DAWG nation knows we have to have this game period to win the SEC GO DAWGS!!!!
By Hunk Erdown
October 31, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this
Our defense needs to play outside containment, turning everything back to the middle where Curran, Ellerbe, and Gamble should have a field day. Those boys were hitting Scott with some great shots last Saturday and just bouncing off. Not so with Fla, I don’t think their backs will combine for more than 100 yds rushing. We need to get out front and make Tebow throw down the field.
Urban’s big revenge is to try to embarrass UGA by scoring 50+ points. Pressure? You’re damn right. It could play right into our hands though. What Fl needs to do is what we also need to do and that is ball control, but I beleive they will pull out all the stops; trick plays, bombs, and trying to block every punt/kick. Having three fullbacks, especially Southerland back will hopefully provide the blocking we need to stop the blitzes and punt/kick blocks.
If we win the toss we should get the ball, because the best way for us to win is to do like we did last week… get out in front and make them stretch the field. This game could become such a shootout that both teams abandon punting at all by the third quarter. I swear this may be the wildest and best football game any of us have ever witnessed.
By A Little Perspective
November 1, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
I’m convinced that the team that wins this game will be the one that somehow manages to score more points than the other. People talk about rushing, passing, run defense, pass defense, special teams, coaching, etc. - but let’s face it, it’s all about points.
The team that gets the best combination of touchdowns, extra points, two-point conversations, field goals and safeties will win the game. It was the same in my grandpappy’s day. I would say that it’s even more true today, but that would be wrong. But it’s certainly no less true.
By FLA DAWG
November 1, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
In the first half we have moved the ball beautifully and more than enough to have 21 points.
The onside kick and Bobo’s inability to call productive plays in the red zone have killed us.
The Dawg Players are executing very well overall. The Dawg Coaching is letting us down.
Let’s hope the coaching improves in the second half.
By SOUTHGADAWG88
November 1, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
FRESHMAN KICKER!!!!!!!
By FLA DAWG
November 1, 2008 6:52 PM | Link to this
Normally I come on to congratulate the team that wins. I congratulated Bama when they pounded us this year.
But when Meyer calls for a TD PASS in the 4th quarter with the score already 35 to 3 and the ANOTHER TD PASS when the score is 42 to 3 then we see the absolute lack of class of this dick and that does not deserve congratulations from anyone.
By lukega
November 1, 2008 9:15 PM | Link to this
Does anyone track stats on yards per down? If they did I bet they would notice that Georgia hardly ever gains any yards on second down. It’s always third and long. Bobo should be fired. You have to be perfect to beat Florida and Georgia was far from it. The onsides kick was gutsy but ill timed and ill executed.
By Fla Mutt
November 2, 2008 1:17 AM | Link to this
Boohoo he needs some cheese with that whine. Classless your mutts danced like a bunch 10 year olds in the endzone last year. Gators hung 49 points on your over rated mutts then UF used the time out to rub it in deeper. u ran your mouth about how good your mutts were, how they going win it all. How that crow taste? So keep crying loser!
By Waitin Gator
November 2, 2008 7:20 AM | Link to this
FLA DAWG, We don’t need or want your congratulations. A Georgia fan lecturing Gators on what is or isn’t classless after last year is amazing.
At least no head coach will pull a stupid stunt like that endzone celebration ever again. And speaking of stupid stunts, how about that onside kick?
And incidentally, (1) no BCS top 10 team can be blamed for running up the score in November, and (2) that last touchdown was scored by our second string.
By GetRidOfRicht
November 2, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
“It (the celebration) … took away that kind of intimidation factor that Florida had on us..”
“We definitely respect them as a team, as a program. They’re really good on both sides of the ball. Hopefully, they respect us. But they probably don’t.”
By Inevitable
November 2, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this
If you want to dance, you must pay the fiddler.
By perplexed
November 2, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
to”a little perspective”……So you’ve come to the conclusion that the team that scores more points than the other will win????………….what insight!!……..you’ve been sniffing glue again haven’t you!!
By GetRidOfRicht
November 2, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
“It was a calculated risk that was not executed well,” Richt said. “If we made it, everyone would have thought it was smart.”
No, sorry. Actually, the kick WAS well executed. The Gator kid just made a great play. And even if it had worked, at 7-3 in the first quarter, it was still stupid.
By clemsonfan
November 2, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
UGA has become the “Clemson” of the SEC while Mark Richt is the new Tommy Bowden - always losing outlandishly to good teams while barely beating or losing to mediocre teams.