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The Bulldogs pulled through with a 31-17 victory against GA Tech on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007 despite the cold weather. Can anyone say bowl game? I can.
Photo by Sara Guevara
Flanker Michael Moore and quarterback Matthew Stafford celebrate Stafford’s touchdown in the second quarter in a game against Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Ga., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007. Georgia won 31-17.
Photo by Sara Guevara
Fullback Brannan Southerland is tackled by cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels after catching a pass in the first quarter Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007.
Photo by Sara Guevara
Fullback Shaun Chapas carries up the middle during the fourth quarter Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007.
SARA GUEVARA
Placekicker Brandon Coutu and holder Brian Mimbs pet Uga VI before kickoff in a game against Kentucky Saturday.
SARA GUEVARA
Tailback Knowshon Moreno rushes for 8 yards to the 36-yard line before being tackled by defensive end Dominic Lewis for a first down during the second quarter.
SARA GUEVARA
Wide receiver Keenan Burton is tackled by University players at the 31-yard line during the second quarter Saturday.
So if anyone stayed up and watched the Oregon-Arizona game last night you would see that the Ducks are a completely different team without Dennis Dixon in the lineup. It’s sad that he got injured because he is by far the best collegiate player in the nation and if he can’t go in the Ducks’ next game he may kiss his Heisman goodbye. Oregon’s loss, believes it or not, makes things very interesting for Georgia, who I think is the hottest team in the nation. I was talking to a friend last night and we discussed what needs to happen for Georgia to sneak into the national championship. Here is the ridiculous scenario:
Texas Tech beats Oklahoma this weekend
Michigan beats Ohio State this weekend
Missouri beats Kansas next weekend
Oklahoma beats Missouri in the Big 12 Championship
Cincinnati or Connecticut beats West Virginia this or next week
Vanderbilt or Kentucky beats Tennessee
Georgia beats LSU in the SEC Championship or LSU somehow plays its way out of the SEC Championship, but Georgia still wins it.
Georgia is sitting at No. 9 in the BCS. Arizona State losing would help but not necessarily. If those things play out in that fashion, Georgia would most likely play Arizona State or Kansas in the title game. Arizona State is more likely if they don’t lose because if Kansas loses the human voters will likely punish them for its easy schedule.
The probability for that to play out has to be 100,000,000 to 1 but with the way this season has played out I wouldn’t be shocked.
Here is how I see the BCS bowls projecting as of now:
BCS National Championship: LSU (No. 1) vs. Oregon (No. 2)
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech (ACC Champ) vs. Missouri (At-large)
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma (Big 12 Champ) vs. Boise State (At-large)
Sugar Bowl: Georgia (At-large, but SEC) vs. West Virginia (Big East Champ)
Rose Bowl: Ohio State (Big 10 Champ) vs. Arizona State (At-large, but Pac 10)
Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to slowly move the percentages up, like my plan initially. I was going to go from 65 to 75 and so forth to build up suspension but I worked Friday night and then began the pre-game festivities that many Georgia students take a part of.
However, about the blackout, I will say this:
I was told about a month ago that it would be for the Kentucky game and that only the seniors knew. Obviously, after Richt’s comments after the game, it was clear the seniors did in fact plan it for Auburn. It makes more sense since Auburn is a bigger game, a rivalry game and one that isn’t traditionally won at home for either team. Having the fans black it out waiting to see if the players blacked it out was truly a special moment inside the stadium. Richt is a pure genius by not divulging the secret and not saying no at the same time.
The column I wrote Friday about the jerseys received some interesting responses, so I would like to respond. If the fans blacked out Auburn and the team came out in red, the fans would not have generated the response they did. I guarantee it. I wrote the column knowing they were going to wear black but without the official word from Richt or Claude Felton. Simply, the opinion I was trying to get across was that if Georgia wanted to do it, they could, so don’t buy into Richt’s comment from earlier in the week, and that it would inspire the crowd to be as loud and as crazy as they have ever been by witnessing a historic event - yes, it is that big of a deal in my eyes. My intent was not to be a UGA public relations representative, but to paint the image of what it would be if the Dogs came out in black.
With that aside, it might be a while before we see something like that again, so those that were at the game, be thankful.
On to other items:
Kansas - are they legit? Yes, and no. If somehow Kansas runs the table against a somewhat surging Iowa State team, Missouri and Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship then they should jump one of LSU and Oregon and go to the national championship as long as they are undefeated, and assuming LSU and Oregon win out. Will Kansas? Probably not, but it would sure stir up some more BCS mess in an already disfunctional college football season.
Georgia - Right now, Georgia might be playing the best of any team in the nation. They have put up 42, 44 and 45 in three straight weeks, respectively, and have been playing with a passion I have never seen. You have to wonder where this team was in Knoxville when Tennessee shellacked and manhandled the Bulldogs. But as of now, you have to think that they could give LSU a great game and beat all three of the Big 12 teams in the BCS top 5. Oregon, well, it might be the best team in the nation - even with its fluke of a loss against Cal.
South Carolina - What a collapse for the ol’ ball coach, huh? At one point South Carolina looked to be in the driver’s seat for the SEC East and then they have all but choked it away. Losses to Vandy and giving up five rushing touchdowns to a quarterback is not going to sit pretty with the alumni - no matter who you are.
Heisman Trophy: 1. Dennis Dixon (QB, Oregon), 2. Darren McFadden (RB, Arkansas), 3. Glenn Dorsey (DT, LSU), 4. Chase Daniel (QB, Missouri), 5a. Michael Crabtree (WR, Texas Tech), 5b. Graham Harrell (QB, Texas Tech)
Georgia fans have come to know the annual Georgia-Auburn game as the game with the home team disadvantage, however Georgia bucked the trend this year and outscored Auburn 45-20.
This game also marked the first time Georgia has worn a black jersey since 1942. The occasion? The “black out” called for by Georgia seniors. Coach Mark Richt dodged the question all week, but the giveaway was when everyone’s favorite bulldog, Uga, came out on the field wearing a black Georgia sweater.
Photos by Josh D. Weiss
Thomas Brown makes his way down field during a 53 yard run in the third quarter.
Thomas Flowers picks off a pass by Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox. Cox threw four interceptions against Georgia’s one.
Photos taken by Lindy E. Dugger
Hairy Dawg crowd surfs through the student section after Knowshon Moreno’s third-quarter touchdown that put Georgia ahead 24-20.
Tailback Jason Johnson dances with teammates at the end of pre-game warmups on Saturday afternoon.
Georgia’s Sean Bailey leaps over Auburn’s Jonathan Wilhite to catch a 13-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Stafford early in the second quarter, putting Georgia ahead 16-3. Georgia went on to win the game 45-20.
While my editorial advisor for the Red & Black has had enough with the whole black jerseys thing (I love you Ed but agree to disagree, huh?), I have reason to believe the Bulldogs will be wearing black tomorrow.
While Richt would only say to refer to previous comments yesterday, what I am hearing is that you will see Georgia in black uniforms. The rumor - and I call it a rumor because I cannot get offical verification for this within the athletic department - is that Georgia will warm up in red and then come out in black. It should be interesting and it will be a cool sight if the fans and the team together are blacked out since Georgia has never worn an alternate top (they have done the pants thing - see my column in today’s paper).
However, I am pretty confident and will put a percentage on this. I am 65% sure the Bulldogs will wear black tomorrow.
I will say this and update more later: I was under the impression the Bulldogs were going to do this for the Kentucky game, but the seniors moved it up. That’s all for now, check back later.
On Saturday Georgia played Troy in their homecoming game. Alumni cheerleaders and band members came out to support the Bulldogs. After a tenuous start, the Dogs secured a victory against the Trojans. Last year Georgia lost its homecoming to SEC rival Vanderbilt.
Troy had the potential to upset Georgia coming into the game with a 6-2 record (both losses came at the hands of SEC schools). The Troy defense created turnovers on the first two Georgia offensive plays, although Georgia broke the streak with a touchdown run on its third. Georgia regained control of the game and pulled away just before the half.
Photos and a few word by Josh D. Weiss:
Homecoming for Georgia is usually one of the least attended games of the season. However, I was surprised and pleased to see an almost full crowd this go round.
Photos by Kelly Wegel
I love these guys, and they stayed til the very end. Most fans filed out once Georgia had a strong enough hold. Bummer.
Bill Dunaway, a UGA cheerleader from 1958-1961, leads fans in a cheer remembering a fellow cheerleader.
Knowshon Moreno ran an insane amount. I have been partial to no. 4 Sean Bailey, but Knowshon has become one of my favorites. Every time I couldn’t quite see the ball, I just looked for the 24, and sure enough, he had it.
No. 20 Georgia beat no. 9 Florida in Jacksonville, Florida Saturday night, the first Georgia win in Gator country since 2004. Stafford threw three touchdown passes and the Bulldogs sacked Florida quarterback Tim Tebow six times. After the game, fans hoisted players into the stands with them, celebrating a long-awaited win.
PHOTO BY KELLY WEGEL
Junior flanker Mohamed Massaquoi makes the second Georgia touchdown in Saturday’s game after an 84-yard pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford in the first quarter. After a good kick attempt from Brandon Coutu, the score was Georgia 14, Florida 7. Georgia won 42-30.
PHOTO BY KELLY WEGEL
Georgia’s Reshad Jones brings down Florida’s Percy Harvin after Harvin ran 12 yards in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game in Jacksonville.
PHOTO BY KELLY WEGEL
Georgia fans celebrate with junior flanker Kenneth Harris (left) and senior place kicker Brandon Coutu after Saturday’s win against Florida in Jacksonville.
Photos by Josh D. Weiss
Junior linebacker Dannell Ellerbe tackles Florida wide receiver Louis Murphy during the first quarter of Georgia’s win Saturday.
Junior defensive tackle Jarius Wynn performs the Gator Chomp after Georgia scored it’s first touchdown during Saturday’s game. The team rushed the field and was charged for excessive celebration and unsportsmanlike conduct.
Redshirt Freshman Knowshon Moreno gets pulled down by the Florida defense after a short run during the third quarter.
Freshman defensive back Vance Cuff celebrates with fans in the Georgia section of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium after the team’s win against Florida. Georgia’s last win against Florida was in 2004 and before that 1997.
Here is more that I have added in addition to today’s column. Here are the rest of my thoughts:
Sure, Vanderbilt didn’t show any class last season after beating Georgia. That doesn’t excuse Georgia’s players of going out there and stooping to their level. Georgia is of a higher breed with a coach that is trying to instill values that go far beyond football, and as emotional of a win it was, the players went too far in getting revenge.
I’ve never been a fan of stomping on someone’s logo at midfield or doing anything to the field that is disrespectful. One of the most disrespectful acts I’ve seen all year is when an Oregon player took an Oregon hammer and smashed the “M” logo at midfield against Michigan. It’s not what amateur sports is about. There’s a certain level of class that amateur sports should still have as it isn’t tainted with what surrounds the professional game.
The fact that Richt ran onto the field and pushed the players off was amazing to me. How many coaches would have done that? Not many. That’s why I don’t want any blame to go onto him for this as he was trying to win respectfully. A few of his players, yes, caught up in the moment, made Georgia look as bad as Vandy did last year and as bad any other team that plants their flag at midfield or stomp on a logo in taunting fashion.
You can celebrate emotionally after a win without taunting an opponent. You don’t have to stoop to the other team’s level from a year ago. And that is what was Richt’s point and why he pushed them away.
But do I think Georgia has no class? Of course not. Georgia football has some of the most outstanding individuals and I am privileged to have the opportunity to cover them. It just catches me off guard that they would show this level of low sportsmanship because I am not used to it. Some people I have talked to about it say that it isn’t that big of a deal but to me it is, because how you are perceived after the game is how the losing team thinks about you for a year.
You can count on Vandy being extra ready for a game in Athens next year.
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