Troubled Dogs return home

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATHENS -- When last seen in Sanford Stadium, Georgia's football team and fans were dazed by a last-minute loss to LSU.

Thirty-five days later, they return -- still dazed.

Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs play Tennessee Tech -- a Division I-AA team that has never beaten a major-college opponent -- in UGA's first home game since Oct. 3. Much has happened, most of it bad, in the interim.

A 26-point loss at Tennessee and a 24-point loss to Florida in Jacksonville, sandwiched around a victory at Vanderbilt, have dropped Georgia to a .500 record (4-4) and roiled the fan base.

And while Saturday's opponent should provide a respite from the turmoil -- Tennessee Tech is 0-23 against Division I-A opponents -- the fallout from the past 35 days doubtlessly will be a raging topic of conversation at Georgia's homecoming:

• The Bulldogs are officially out of the SEC East race, which again has been won by Florida.

• The Dogs have their worst record at this point in a season in 13 years.

• Calls for a shakeup on the coaching staff grow louder by the day.

• The Dogs' best player, A.J. Green, is sidelined with a bruised lung, although probably for only one week.

• And all of the familiar questions about turnovers, penalties and defense continue to hang over the team.

"We definitely have a lot to prove," tight end Aron White said. "We are not going to let this season go to waste."

Said linebacker Rennie Curran: "We are looking to ... show that we have learned from our mistakes."

The Tennessee Tech game starts a stretch of three consecutive home games that continues with Auburn coming to Athens on Nov. 14 and Kentucky on Nov. 21.  Then the Bulldogs finish the regular season at Georgia Tech on Nov. 28.

The Dogs must win two of the four remaining games to become bowl-eligible and all four to clinch their 13th consecutive season of eight-plus victories.

"I feel like we will take it upon ourselves ... to prove to people that we are still Georgia," White said.

Tennessee Tech has never come within single digits of beating a Division I-A opponent, losing by more than 20 points in 20 of  23 games. Since 2005, the Golden Eagles have lost six games to I-A opponents by an average of 38.7 points, including a 49-7 loss to Kansas State in September.

But Georgia, of course, has its own problems.

"We're looking at this as any other opponent," offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. "And we got to go out and execute, and we got to stop turning the ball over and [committing] penalties. And hopefully play a complete game."

Georgia's first home game in 35 days might draw a crowd well short of Sanford Stadium's typical 92,000, whether because of the opponent or the Dogs' recent play or both.

"My hope is that our fans continue to provide the support they always have," Georgia athletics director Damon Evans said. "When things aren't going your way, you need fans to stay on board."

Out of their league

Division I-AA Tennessee Tech has never beaten a Division I-A opponent, going 0-23 against major-college teams since the divisional split in 1978. Here are the Golden Eagles' results against I-A opponents (all games on the road):

• 2009: Kansas State L 49-7

• 2008: Louisville L 51-10

• 2008: Western Michigan L 41-7

• 2007: Auburn L 35-3

• 2006: Middle Tennessee L 44-0

• 2005: Northern Illinois L 42-3

• 2004: South Florida L 21-7

• 2003: Memphis L 40-10

• 2003: Northern Illinois L 42-17

• 2002: Bowling Green L 41-7

• 2002: Iowa State L 58-6

• 2001: Air Force L 42-0

• 2000: Ohio L 52-14

• 1999: Bowling Green L 40-15

• 1998: UAB L 38-6

• 1997: UAB L 38-14

• 1991: Ohio L 35-14

• 1990: Ohio L 42-32

• 1988: East Carolina L 52-13

• 1987: Cincinnati L 38-17

• 1986: Tulsa L 51-0

• 1985: UNLV L 35-7

• 1984: Kansas State L 28-12

Source: Tennessee Tech