DEL.ICIO.USCOLLEGE FOOTBALL: CAPITAL ONE BOWL
Georgia looks to squeeze one more win in Florida bowl
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Steve Spurrier used to say, “you can’t spell Citrus without UT,” to goad Tennessee fans for playing in the SEC’s “consolation bowl” so often. Perhaps they will rename the bowl a seventh time to add a G and an A.
Georgia will be playing in what is currently called the Capital One Bowl for the fifth time. The game also has been called the Tangerine Bowl, the Florida Citrus Bowl, the CompUSA Florida Citrus Bowl, the Ourhouse.com Florida Citrus Bowl and the Capital One Florida Citrus Bowl.
Pouya Dianat/pdianat@ajc.com
Quarterback Matthew Stafford stands fourth in Georgia history with 3,209 passing yards in a season. The Georgia junior remains uncertain if he will turn pro — he has until Jan. 15 to decide.
The Bulldogs’ five appearances tie Auburn (3-2) and Tennessee (4-1) for most in the annual bowl game. They are 2-1-1.
Tennessee, however, played here four times from 1994-2002. Spurrier, now at South Carolina, should be so fortunate.
Here’s a recap of Georgia’s games in Florida Citrus Stadium:
• Dec. 21, 1974: The Bulldogs’ loss came in their first appearance in 1974 when it was named the Tangerine Bowl. Behind the nation’s No. 1 defense, 15th-ranked Miami of Ohio jumped ahead 21-3 in the first half and cruised to a 21-10 victory. The win extended the Redskins’ unbeaten streak to 23 games. Quarterback Ray Goff scored Georgia’s TD late in the third quarter.
• Dec. 22, 1984: Kevin Butler’s 70-yard field goal attempt fell short as time expired, leaving Florida State and Georgia tied at 17 in what is considered one of the most thrilling games in Citrus Bowl history. Lars Tate had 75 yards rushing and two touchdowns for the Dogs. Joe Wessel returned a blocked punt 14 yards for a touchdown with 3:58 to play for the Seminoles.
• Jan. 1, 1993: In a matchup that has many similarities to this one, No. 8 Georgia recovered a late fumble by Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit — heard of him? — and went on an 11-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in Frank Harvey’s 1-yard TD with four minutes to play and a 21-14 victory. Herbstreit, harassed all day by Georgia outside linebacker Mitch Davis, had a horrific day (8-for-24 with an interception). Like this year, the game featured two of college football’s best running backs — Georgia’s Garrison Hearst and the Buckeyes’ Robert Smith. They didn’t disappoint, scoring two TDs apiece as Hearst outgained Smith 163 to 113.
• Jan. 1, 2004: Georgia’s Kregg Lumpkin scored on a 1-yard run on fourth down in overtime for a 34-27 victory over Purdue. The Boilermakers had tied the game on a 44-yard field goal with 49 seconds remaining after Lumpkin fumbled near the end of regulation. Lumpkin, a true freshman, finished with 90 yards rushing but David Greene (327 yards passing, 3 TDs) and David Pollack were offensive and defensive MVPs, respectively.
Two grand
Georgia has had one 1,000-yard receiver in its 116-year history (Terrence Edwards had 1,004 in 2002). But it could triple that number by the end of Thursday’s game.
Flanker A.J. Green (55 catches, 951 yards, 8 TDs) and split end Mohamed Massaquoi (57, 910, 8) are each within a deep post from Matthew Stafford of reaching that milestone. They are 1-2 in the SEC in receiving yards and tied for first in TDs by a receiver. One of them should become the first wideout since the late Brice Hunter in 1994 (59-799-7 TDs) to lead the SEC in receiving.
Already, with 1,861 yards and 16 TDs, Green and Massaquoi are the most prolific receiving pair in school history. Edwards and Fred Gibson combined for 1,762 yards and 15 TDs in 2002.
Not so fast, my friend
Big Ten brawn can’t hang with SEC speed.
That’s the myth that is perpetuated year in and year out whenever these two proud conferences collide.
The fact is, since Florida Citrus Sports set up this game as an SEC-Big Ten matchup 16 years ago, the conferences have eight wins apiece — including the last four in a row by the visitors from up North.
“I like to hear people say how the SEC is so much faster than the Big Ten, and then you come down here,” MSU senior defensive end Brandon Long told reporters this week in Orlando. “It just goes to show whoever comes out that day to play wins. I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to play a big-time team and show what we can do.”
The perception has been somewhat skewed by Ohio State’s lopsided losses in the last two BCS title games against SEC opponents Florida and LSU.
Georgia coach Mark Richt has watched a lot of Big Ten video this month and he doesn’t see a difference.
“I don’t think it’s that big of a discrepancy really, not as I’m watching tape of these guys,” he said.
It should be noted that Georgia has never lost a bowl game to a Big Ten team. Penn State had not joined the league when it defeated the Bulldogs in the 1983 Sugar Bowl. Georgia is 1-1 against Michigan but played the Wolverines both times in Ann Arbor.
Swan song?
There has been a lot of speculation that this might be tailback Knowshon Moreno’s and quarterback Matthew Stafford’s last game at Georgia. Moreno, a third-year sophomore, and Stafford, a junior, are apparently highly coveted by NFL scouts.
They have until Jan. 15 to declare for the NFL draft. When asked, their answers indicate they are focused on Thursday’s game.
“Who’s Goodell?” Moreno famously said when asked about NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
“I’m just focused on this game, enjoying the moment, and then I’ll
deal with that,” Moreno said.
Said Stafford: “I’ve got to figure out what I want to do, and I haven’t had a whole lot of time to do it.”
Asked what would drive his decision, Stafford said, “Tell you the truth, I’m not 100 percent sure. Obviously the college experience, how much fun that is, getting a degree on time — things like that will factor in.”
In the meantime, they are within reach of breaking a few school records.
Stafford, with 3,209 passing yards, needs 317 to surpass Eric Zeier for most in a single season. Stafford currently has the fourth-best passing season in school history. Zeier and David Greene are the only others to throw for more than 3,000 yards.
Meanwhile, a 100-yard rushing day from Moreno will move him from fifth to fourth past Rodney Hampton (2,768) on the all-time chart. Moreno’s 1,338 yards are four more than he had last season. Those are the fifth and sixth best seasons ever by a Georgia back. Moreno would need a huge day (256 yards) to catch Garrison Hearst for fourth in a single season.
MOST PASSING YARDS (SEASON)
1. Eric Zeier (1993) 3,525
2. Zeier (1994) 3,396
3. David Greene (2003) 3,307
4. Matthew Stafford (2008) 3,209
GEORGIA’S TOP RUSHERS (CAREER)
1. Herschel Walker (1980-82) 5,259
2. Garrison Hearst (1990-92) 3,232
3. Lars Tate (1984-87) 3,017
4. Rodney Hampton (1987-89) 2,768
5. Knowshon Moreno (2007-) 2,672
The last time
Georgia and Michigan State have played one other time — the 1989 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville.
The Bulldogs won 34-27 as Wayne Johnson threw three TD passes and Rodney Hampton scored three times in Vince Dooley’s final game as head coach. The teams combined for 855 yards as the Spartans’ Andre Rison caught nine passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns and Blake Ezor led all rushers with 146 yards on 33 carries.
Moreno vs. Ringer
Knowshon Moreno and Javon Ringer will settle it on the field.
Neither has a beef with the other. But there is a pretty good debate: Which is the better running back? Which will make the better pro? Which means more to their team?
Georgia’s Moreno and Michigan State’s Ringer represent two-thirds of the Doak Walker Award finalists for best running back in the country. They’re both All-Americans. They have 37 touchdowns and nearly 3,000 yards rushing between them. At 5-11, 207 pounds and 5-9, 202 they are nearly identical physically.
It’s no wonder the Capital One Bowl is being billed as the “battle of the backs.”
“People are going to talk about it, but we’re not playing against each other,” Moreno said flatly.
There are not-so-subtle differences. Ringer is much more of the workhorse. He leads the country with 370 carries and has accounted for 96 percent of his team’s rushing yards. Moreno is a relative quarterhorse with 227 attempts but probably leads in SportsCenter highlight moments.
The Spartans feel like people didn’t see the best of Ringer toward the end of the season as the workload caught up to him. But an extended rest since the last game on Nov. 22 has helped.
“He’s got his burst back,” coach Mark Dantonio said.
Said Ringer: “I’m very excited. This month has been a long time before playing those guys. I’m just letting the body heal up and that’s going to be good.”
Etc …
The Bulldogs are shooting for a double-digit win total for the sixth time in eight seasons under Mark Richt. Georgia’s senior class will be going for its 40th win in four seasons. It is 39-12 with one SEC championship and two Eastern Division titles. … Michigan State will be trying to win at least 10 games for the third time in its 112-year history. The Spartans won 10 games in 1965 and 1999.
By the numbers
• 18: Different Georgia players have scored TDs this season. That’s tied with Florida and Miami for most nationally.
• 25.6: Points per game the Bulldogs have allowed this season
• 50: Games missed by projected starters for Georgia due to injuries this season, including 23 by preseason All-SEC designees LT Trinton Sturdivant and DT Jeff Owens.
• 1-7: Spartans’ record in games played in Florida.
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