The Hero Deserved Better

This isn’t how the story is supposed to go.

As little boys we grow up in a culture that teaches us that the hero always prevails, gets the girl, and saves the kitty cat from the burning building while overcoming impossible odds. I have never felt so lied to as I do this morning.

Aaron Murray was the hero before he even showed up in Athens. The first time I heard about Aaron Murray was in 2008. He was an early commit to Georgia (already a good guy), but he had broken his leg during his senior season at Plant High School in Tampa, Florida. Cue hero music. Murray rehabbed and made it back from his broken leg in about 8 weeks, just in time for the state playoffs. He started for his team and lead them to a state title. This was going to be Georgia’s next quarterback.

After graduating high school early, he enrolled at Georgia in January of 2009. He took a red shirt in the 2009 season, preparing to be the starting quarterback in 2010. During spring practice in 2010 there were rumors that Murray might get beat out for the starting job by Mark Richt’s secretary’s son, but after a fateful trip to South Georgia, Zach Mettenberger was off the team, and Aaron Murray was going to get his chance.

Murray spent his freshman year running for his life on a mediocre team. AJ Greene missed the first four games of the season because of a NCAA suspension, and the young quarterback wasn’t ready to do it all by himself. Georgia suffered its first losing season since the mid 90’s in 2010, and of course there were people that wanted to blame the quarterback. All Murray had done was set every freshman passing record.

As a sophomore, Murray played spectacularly at home against South Carolina, only to see Georgia lose 45-42 because of terrible special teams. Murray then led Georgia to 10 straight victories. This is where the Murray detractors start with their lunacy. They will tell you that Georgia didn’t play anyone in 2011. The schedule was so easy anyone could have won 10 straight. In this season alone we have seen Tennessee beat South Carolina, Ole Miss beat LSU, Utah beat Stanford, West Virginia beat Oklahoma State, and Georgia Southern beat Florida (J). Winning college football games isn’t easy when you are playing on the road even against average teams. I wonder how Murray’s legacy would have been different if Georgia’s receivers would have caught some passes early in the SEC title game against LSU? With a bigger lead at half time, would Georgia been able to hold on to win? The comment you hear about 2011 is that Georgia played four good teams and lost to all of them. That might be true, but Murray played well in the South Carolina game and the bowl game against Michigan State. Georgia lost the bowl game because our kicker missed a field goal that would have won the game in overtime.

As a mature junior, Murray got off to a hot start and so did the Dawgs. Nothing went right last year in Columbia, but there was nothing right about what happened to Aaron after the game. Murray returned home to see his house vandalized by angry Georgia fans. Those fans must have missed the game while they were out buying eggs and toilet paper, because there is no way you can place that loss on Aaron. Aaron played poorly, just like everyone else. Georgia missed chances on defense to change the game, and the offensive line played as bad as possible against a very good South Carolina defense. Murray found out soon after the Carolina game that his father had throat cancer. The cherry on top. Murray responded by leading Georgia through the rest of their schedule, including a second straight victory over Florida, and back to the SEC title game. Everyone knows what happens next, so let’s just skip it.

Murray returned for his senior season to win a title. He had already set most of the Georgia passing records, but he hadn’t brought a title to Athens. This is where the hero is supposed to be rewarded for his efforts. Murray has done everything you could ask a player to do. He graduated in the middle of his junior year and started working on a graduate degree. He has never gotten in trouble off the field. He regularly gives his time to local charities, including Extra Special People, where he spends time special needs children. I’m not nominating the man for sainthood; I’m just saying that in 2013 he has been an amazing player that we can be proud of both on and off the field.

The hero needs adversity so the loss to Clemson to begin the season was ok. Murray was spectacular against South Carolina and he willed Georgia to a win against LSU. When the injuries began to pile up against Tennessee, Murray managed to pull his team over the finish line and secure a victory in overtime. You could see Murray’s disappointment at the end of the Vanderbilt game, the story hadn’t gone the way it was supposed to go.

The Auburn game was a microcosm of Murray’s career. Georgia was down early when the offensive line wasn’t playing well and the defense was having trouble stopping Auburn. Down big in the fourth quarter, Murray leads an improbable comeback, capping it off by diving into the end zone head first, determined to get the lead. Then, with Murray watching on the sidelines, the Hail Mary gives Auburn the lead again. Murray is distraught at first. Then he leads Georgia right back down the field and gives the Dawgs a chance to win the game.

Last night started out perfectly. The Georgia fans finally showed their appreciation for the best statistical quarterback in SEC history. Murray, with tears in his eyes, probably feeling justified, Murray lifted his helmet up to acknowledge the crowd’s applause. Then the show started. Murray threw four touchdown passes in the first half, and then, just before half time, he stayed down after a hit. Well, he stayed down for a second. Murray got up and winced as two guys helped him limp off the field for the final time.

There will be time later to talk about how this impacts the final two games of this season, and how it might impact next season, but for now, let’s just hope we haven’t seen the last of Aaron Murray in a Georgia uniform.

Murray didn’t get the hero ending, but he should always have our respect and appreciation. I hope he can rehab from his injury and show the NFL scouts that he is a leader that deserves a chance. I also hope that Georgia fans finally give him the credit he deserves. Aaron Murray isn’t a hero, he’s just our quarterback.

In the end though, he was the quarterback that the Bulldog Nation needed, but maybe not the quarterback we deserved.

Thanks Aaron.

GO DAWGS! 

Trying to find words....

This was my range of emotions this afternoon.

Anticipation: I was really looking forward to this game.

Hope: After stopping Auburn on their first drive and holding them to a field goal, I felt like Georgia might be able to get it done.

Frustration: The Georgia offense did nothing on the first two possessions, and that put the defense in a terrible position.

Exasperation: It was disgusting watching Georgia in the first half. Penalties, bad tackling, no blocking on the offensive line, and it looked like we might get beat by 30 or more.

Apathy: Even when Georgia pulled it to a 27-17 I really didn’t care. I didn’t think there was any way that Georgia’s defense would stop Auburn once, let alone twice to get us back in the game. Seriously thought about turning the game off. Volunteered to put the baby down for the night in the middle of the third quarter.

Intrigued: When Georgia scored, and got the ball right back, it made me think that Georgia was going to get just close enough to break my heart.

Excited: Georgia scores again and makes it a one possession game. Made me think of how the Auburn fans were feeling. Probably just like I felt watching the Vanderbilt game this season. You think everything is in hand, then you start to get worried, then it feels like a giant snowball is rolling down a hill straight toward a nursing home. You have to remember how bad Auburn was last year and that they really haven’t been tested. You could just see them getting tight. All their dreams were slipping away.

Surprised: Would have never believed that Georgia would stop Auburn and force three straight punts. 

Never. Wouldn’t have bet your money.

Hopeful: Georgia had their offense working and it looked like we were heading for the end zone.

Aggrivated: Really upset that Georgia didn’t run it on second down and goal from the five. Put the ball in the hands of your best player and, at worst, run the clock down some more if he doesn’t get in.

Nervous: Really didn’t want to get that close and come up short of the end zone.

Proud: I have a lot to say about Aaron Murray in the next few days, but for him to put his head down on that fourth down play and just barely get in to the end zone, just makes me want to shake the guys hand and tell him thank you for being a Dawg.

Pumped: Georgia almost picked off Marshall’s first pass, brings down the receiver on a cut back play that went nowhere and took forever, then we sack Marshall to bring up fourth and eighteen.

Side Note: On November 12, 2005 I was sitting in the end zone of Sanford Stadium as Georgia was leading Auburn 30-28 with  just a few minutes left in the game. Georgia’s defense had forced a fourth down and long situation. Auburn called timeout. As the players began to get back on the field for the fourth down play, I just looked around the Stadium. Everyone was up on their feet going crazy. We were about to clinch the SEC East, and I was going to get to see it happen live.

Then Auburn passed the ball over the middle, got 64 yards on the play, fumbled forward out of bounds, and the ball was placed at the two. Auburn ran the clock down under a minute and kicked a field goal to win 31-30.

Laughing: My hand to God I started laughing as soon as the Auburn receiver caught the ball. You can’t make that stuff up. Some idiot Georgia fan will complain that the players should have batted the ball down. Those same guys that complained that Connelly should have let the ball drop in the Dome last December. Of course they should have batted the ball down, but they were trying to catch the ball. Even still, what are the odds that the Auburn player keeps running as the ball floats right to him? What are the odds that he actually locates the ball in time to catch it? Please, be frustrated with the outcome, but let’s not try to blame Harvey-Clemons or Matthews for a once in a generation play.

Intrigued: There were 25 seconds left and we had two timeouts. You never know. Right Auburn fans?

Hopeful: Murray managed to get us in position to throw it in the end zone and try to salvage a win for the ages.

(There is no word for it): Just blank. I wasn’t mad. I wasn’t sad. I wasn’t disappointed. There was some pride there. One of those moments you just stare into space for a few minutes.

Acceptance: The worst part of it will be reliving it time and time again on highlight shows tonight and tomorrow, and still having to hear about it for the next two weeks until Alabama and Auburn play.

Finally I have come to a place of peace. I will be writing again tomorrow where Auburn’s win will be the best win of the day no matter what happens in the games tonight. I think we can take make some sober conclusions based on the facts of this season, not on the emotion of tonight’s heartbreaking loss.

The reality of the situation is that Georgia came into this season with national title aspirations and expectations. We are 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the SEC. You can’t escape those facts, but tonight, much like we did after the SEC title game last season, let’s just be proud of the effort our team put forth in that fourth quarter.

Glory, Glory.

Georgia tries to pull the upset on the Plains

One of the beautiful things about SEC football is that there are real rivalries on the schedule each and every year that you have to look forward to. For Georgia, more than half of their games in a given season could be considered rivalry games. At the end of the day, there are some rivalries that are more important than others.

Georgia’s top rival is obviously Florida, but I would submit to you that next in line for Georgia’s most hated rival would be the Auburn Tigers. Some people might argue Tech, but in reality, Tech isn’t a rivalry, it’s just a trap game for the Dawgs year in and year out.

The Georgia/Auburn game is the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, and for the second consecutive year, Georgia travels to the Plains.

What a difference a year makes.

Last year, Georgia went to Auburn looking to clinch the SEC East. The Dawgs throttled the Tigers, 38-0 en route to the SEC title game and ultimately a New Year’s Day bowl. The Tigers didn’t win a game in the SEC last year, fired their coach, and hired former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn as their new head coach.

This year, the Tigers are 9-1 and control their own destiny in the SEC West, with their yearly showdown against Alabama still looming in two weeks. The Tigers are one of the best stories in college football no matter what happens tomorrow afternoon.

Two weeks ago I told anyone who would listen that Georgia had zero chance of beating Auburn. Georgia has since beaten Florida and Appalachian State, and for some reason I’m starting to think that Georgia could pull off the upset. Don’t get me wrong, I can always figure out a reason for Georgia to win, but I really feel like the Dawgs are going to get it done.

Here’s why.

First, Georgia is getting some of its weapons back. Lynch is back. Connelly is back. That helps of course. Perhaps, after another week of practice, Todd Gurley will be close to 100%. Auburn hasn’t done a great job stopping the run this season, so a steady diet of Todd Gurley would put Georgia in a much better position to pull off the upset.

Auburn is fantastic at rushing the passer, but their pass rush will suffer if Gurley is a factor. I think Gurley is going to have one of his best games as a Dawg tomorrow. I think he’s going for 150 yards and two touchdowns. He might not win the Doak Walker award for the nation’s best running back, but that is what he is, and tomorrow he is going to prove it.

Second reason I like Georgia. Auburn is probably the most one dimensional team I can remember. The Tigers are amazing at running the ball. They hardly ever throw it. They don’t have to throw it because they get their big plays on the ground, but you would think that they will have to be a little more balanced against a solid Georgia team. Auburn’s only loss came against LSU. The Tigers got out to a lead by running the ball and forcing Nick Marshall to throw the ball. What happened? Marshall threw 2 of his 5 interceptions of the season against the Tigers. Auburn loves to run the ball. They would run the ball on every play if they could. 

In the past two weeks, Marshall has only attempted 15 passes. That is insane. What’s more impressive is that in those two games they have scored a combined 90 points on the road in the SEC.

Georgia’s defense has been pretty bad this year to say the least, but the one thing they have done well is stop the run. If Georgia can slow the Auburn running attack enough to force the Tigers to throw the ball, then there is a good chance that Georgia will win the game.

Another reason I like Georgia is history. It’s well known that this rivalry has been dominated by road teams. Lately however, the rivalry has been dominated by Georgia. Georgia has won 6 of 7 against the Tigers, with the only loss coming in Auburn’s national title season of 2010. The defining moment of the Mark Richt era also came on the road at Auburn. In 2002, Richt’s second year in Athens, Georgia threw a late touchdown pass from David Greene to Michael Johnson to secure a comeback victory, clinch the SEC East, and eliminate the Tigers from the SEC West race. Without that moment, Georgia wouldn’t have won the SEC in 2002, and who knows how the last 10 seasons would have played out.

A lot will be made on the broadcast tomorrow about Auburn’s quarterback Nick Marshall. Marshall was kicked off of Georgia’s football team as a sophomore because he was stealing from teammates in the locker room. The truth is that Marshall would be playing safety for the Dawgs had he not been kicked off the team, and that he never really had the impact that Georgia thought he would have when he was here. He was a highly recruited player that was a part of the so called Dream Team recruiting class of 2011.

Marshall isn’t the story tomorrow, but I’m sure Gary and Vern will spend plenty of time talking about him.

There is one glaring reason to believe Auburn will win the game, special teams. Auburn is fantastic on special teams. They scored on special teams last week against Tennessee. Georgia is as bad on special teams as you can possibly be. Georgia’s problems have been cleaned up the last two weeks, but I’m not as worried about Georgia fumbling a snap on a punt as I am worried that Auburn is going to run back a punt, or two, for a touchdown. Georgia has to be sound on special teams if they are going to win.

I’ve already told you I think Georgia wins this game, but here comes my surprise: it’s not going to be close. 

The Tigers have been a great story, but the reality of the situation is that they are a pretty good team that has played a weak schedule who only has one win of any kind of significance. Auburn outscored A&M in College Station a few weeks ago, but they are going to have to stop Georgia if they expect to win, because Georgia’s defense might not be great, but it is better than A&M’s defense.

Georgia is battle tested. They are back on track after their mid-season struggles.

Gurley is going to play great, Murray is going to be Murray, the defense is going to play well enough, and Nick Marshall is going to turn the ball over.

I wouldn’t have guessed it two weeks ago.

Georgia 41  Auburn 24

Go Dawgs! 

Weekend Recap: November 9

Biggest Story of the Week: Clarity in the BCS title race

There are always weeks like this in college football. November often offers clarity in the title race, and this was no exception.

The debate between FSU and Oregon looked like it was going to dominate the final month of the season. As good as Oregon had looked, I think most people were so impressed with FSU that you felt like they should be in the title game over the Ducks. Well, thanks to Stanford, the path to the BCS title game is clear for the ‘Noles. Stanford eliminated Oregon for the second straight year by dominating them physically on both lines of scrimmage.

Moving forward, I think there are serious questions to be asked about Oregon’s ability to beat elite teams in college football. Losing to Stanford the last two years, LSU to start the 2011 season, and Auburn in the 2010 BCS title game have all been examples of how Oregon just can’t play with elite teams.

Alabama finally played a team with a pulse on Saturday, and in the end, they showed the quality of their team by blowing out LSU in the second half. Although they haven’t played the most difficult schedule this year, I still think they are the best team until someone beats them.

Now, the title picture is clear. Alabama has the Iron Bowl and the SEC title game to navigate to claim their perfect season. Florida State has already booked their hotel rooms in Pasadena because there is nothing left on their schedule that should give them any kind of problems. Baylor has to go on the road to play Oklahoma State in two weeks, and then they finish with Texas, which could be for the Big 12 title. Ohio State is looking more and more like they will run the table, but beating Michigan State in the Big 10 title game would be their best win, which still puts them fourth in the pecking order.

I don’t think there is any chance of a one-loss team getting into the title game, but just for fun let’s look at the possibilities. The highest rated one-loss team is Stanford, but their loss was against Utah. Then you have Missouri. To be a one loss team at the end of the season they would have to win out, which would mean beating Ole Miss, A&M, and Alabama in the SEC title game. They would have wins over Georgia, A&M, and Alabama, which would be a pretty good resume’. Clemson is out because of their beating at the hands of FSU.

The most intriguing possibility remains Auburn. The Tigers lost early in the season to LSU in Baton Rouge but have a chance to run the table and win the SEC after not winning a game in conference last year. A win over Georgia next week would set up one of the most anticipated Iron Bowls in recent history, and that is saying something. 11-0 Alabama against 10-1 Auburn, with the SEC West on the line. An Auburn win would give them the division title, a place in the SEC title game, and maybe more importantly, eliminate Alabama from BCS title contention.

If Baylor is undefeated, I don’t think Alabama or FSU deserve to go ahead of the Bears if either of the top two teams stumble. Baylor has played a respectable schedule in the Big 12. I do, however, believe that both FSU and Alabama deserve to go to the title game with one loss ahead of Ohio State. I just don’t think the Buckeyes are on the level of the other teams. It’s not their fault that the Big 10 is terrible, but in reality, Ohio State doesn’t have the talent to play with FSU or Alabama.

Biggest Win of the Week: Tie: Stanford over Oregon, Alabama over LSU

Both wins were impressive even though they were both at home. More importantly, both wins establish each team as the dominant team in their division going forward. For Stanford, they now have a chance to play for a BCS title, while the Ducks are heading to the Fiesta Bowl.

For LSU, they might be a very good team with a lot of talent, but this season can be considered nothing more than a huge disappointment. Losing their two biggest games of the season, to Georgia and Alabama would have been bad enough. Add in the loss to Ole Miss and Tiger fans will be very disappointed. The Tigers still have to play A&M in two weeks, so there is a real possibility they could lose four games this season with their most impressive win being early in the season over Auburn.

Biggest Loss of the Week: Florida losses to Vanderbilt at home

The wheels have completely come off in Gainesville. Just one year after playing in the Sugar Bowl and finishing the regular season number three in the country, Florida has already lost five games. Losing to Miami early in the season was bad. Losing to Missouri was a disappointment. Losing to LSU was expected. Losing to Georgia for a third straight year was concerning. Losing at home to Vanderbilt by 17 points is simply inexcusable.

I don’t understand why there seems to be so many people convinced that Will Muschamp will be back next season. If I were a Florida fan, with so many memories of the Spurrier and Meyer eras, I would be demanding a change. It makes no sense that a school like Florida should settle for mediocrity. I know he won 11 games last year, but I really didn’t think last year’s team was that good.

I do understand that Muschamp is a defensive coach, but with all the talent in the state of Florida, there is no reason Florida’s offense should be this bad. The line is bad, there is no depth at the quarterback position, and worst of all, the skill guys on the outside, which were the trademark of so many Florida teams in the past, are nowhere to be found.

There has been nothing to make me think that Muschamp will turn Florida around next year. Are they better than Georgia? No. Are they better than Missouri? No. Are they better than Florida State? No.

So if you bring him back one more year, you are accepting at best third in the division and second fiddle in your own state.

As a Georgia fan, I hope Muschamp stays in Gainesville forever. But my guess is that he will be gone after this season, and two years from now, Florida will be right back where they have been for most of the past 25 years, the top of the SEC.

Heisman Winner if the Season Ended Today: Famous Jameis Winston

He will have one more chance to impress voters by really laying a whopping on Florida in a few weeks. Winston is the best player on an undefeated team that will play for the BCS title. ESPN will want to make it a close race so everyone tunes in, but the reality of the situation is that Winston is going to run away with the award.

Top 5:

Alabama

FSU

Baylor

Ohio State

Stanford

Three Things to Watch for Next Week:

Can the Undefeateds avoid upsets?

Bama travels to Starkville to play a Mississippi State team that will be firing their coach in a few weeks, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Florida State hosts Syracuse for the first time, so another 50 point win will be in order. Ohio State travels to Champaign to take on Illinois. I have no idea if Illinois is good or not, but they play in the Big 10, so I’ll guess that they stink.

The biggest chance for an undefeated team to fall will be Baylor taking on Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have lost three straight, but they might be able to give Baylor a game.

Georgia travels to the Plains to wreck the Iron Bowl:

The Iron Bowl is always a must see game on the day after Thanksgiving, but can you imagine how big the game will be this year if the two teams are playing for the SEC West title? The only thing standing in the way of that huge match up is Georgia. Last year, Georgia traveled to Auburn and clinched the SEC East with a 38-0 demolishing of the Tigers. Auburn has turned their program around in just one season, and they are the team with title aspirations. Georgia still has an outside chance of winning the East, but they need a lot of help. However, the Dawgs can clinch the West for Alabama if they can knock off the Tigers. On paper it would seem that Georgia is outmatched, but if the Dawgs have Todd Gurley at full strength, then they can win the game.

Can Texas really win the Big 12?

We will never know just how close Mack Brown was to being fired mid-season, but his Longhorns have turned their season around. I think it would have been announced that Brown was out after the season if Texas had lost the Red River Rivalry at the beginning of October, but not only did the Longhorns win that game, but they are undefeated in conference play. They still have two big tests ahead of them as they play Oklahoma State and Baylor over the next three weeks, but there is a legitimate chance that Texas could be playing in a BCS game as the Big 12 Champions.

I think Texas will lose to Baylor and Oklahoma State, but you have to give that team credit for playing so well over the last few weeks.

BCS Bowl Predictions:

BCS Title Game: Alabama v. Florida State

Sugar Bowl: Auburn v. Wisconsin

Rose Bowl: Stanford v. Ohio State

Fiesta Bowl: Oregon v. Baylor

Orange Bowl: Clemson v. UCF

Cocktail Aftermath

For a while it looked like it was going to be one of the best days Georgia has ever had in Jacksonville, but things are never that easy with the 2013 Dawgs. After leading 17-0 in the first quarter, and holding a 23-3 lead at half time, Georgia had to hang on for a 23-20 nail bitter.

I know they were talking on the broadcast about this being an eastern division elimination game, but none of that really matters. The standings will take care of themselves if Georgia takes care of business. Today’s game was all about getting that third straight victory over the Gators.

Once is an occasion, twice is a trend, and three times is a streak.

In the 90’s Georgia lost to Florida annually with less talent on the field and on the sideline. In the 2000’s the trend became that Georgia was losing with similar and sometimes better talent on the field and on the sideline. Florida has been down since losing the ’09 SEC title game to Alabama. Of course, losing Time Tebow and Percy Harvin also has something to do with that. Georgia has taken advantage of Florida being down, just like they should. Now, momentum is driving down from Athens each year with the Dawgs. Next year, you will have a group of seniors that will be trying to finish their careers having never lost to the Gators.

The game itself seemed like two different games. Georgia was as dominant as they have been all season in the first half. Offense was clicking, defense was getting stops, and the special teams were actually doing their job. There was some jawing back and forth, but really no more than any other game.

In the second half, Florida got some momentum and the game started slipping away from the Dawgs. Emotions were running very high, and the referees did a good job of trying to throw flags without having too much of an impact on the game. There were a couple of instances where players could have been ejected, but the officials handled it as well as they could.

It was obvious that the high emotions had more of a negative impact on Georgia than Florida. The Gators used the emotions to cause havoc with their defense, while Georgia never really seemed comfortable offensively in the second half.

Obviously the turning point in the game was the fumble that was called on Murray’s lateral to Lynch. It was called a lateral on the field, so I understand why the officials couldn’t overturn the call. However, it looked to me like it was an even pass, which would have just resulted in an incomplete pass and would have left Georgia with a third down. Florida did a good job of capitalizing on the Georgia mistake and scoring a touchdown with their good field position.

I thought it was a bad play call to run play action out of your own endzone when Florida had been blitzing for most of the day. At least keep Gurley in to block on the play rather than sending him out on a route, and leaving the offensive line exposed. Georgia was lucky to get away with only a safety.

Even though Georgia survived the mistake, it was inexcusable that Georgia had 12 men on the field following a time out on the fourth and short play in the second half. These types of mistakes just keep happening. It might have cost Georgia the Missouri game. I don’t know what we have to do to fix the issues, but it seems to me that we shouldn’t have such a hard time getting the right personnel in the game.

After Florida scored a fourth quarter touchdown to cut the lead to three, Georgia’s defense held despite the fact that the offense failed to give them any wiggle room. After looking so impressive in the first half, Georgia’s offense was terrible in the second half, and Todd Gurley didn’t look like himself at all. Even on the last series of the game, where Georgia was able to have a long, sustained drive to close out the Gators, Gurley just didn’t seem like he was 100%. I hope it was just conditioning and not something more serious.

Obviously, winning is the most important thing. I feel better about Georgia’s offense watching it with Gurley and Bennett back in the game. That should get even better once Chris Connelly gets back from his injury.

Defensively, Georgia actually played pretty well. The Dawgs gave up just over 300 yards of total offense to the Gators, but ¼ of that came on the one long pass play on Florida’s first drive of the game. Maybe we will be able to look back on this performance as the beginning of the turnaround for the Georgia defense.

Now Georgia will prepare for Appalachian State on Homecoming next Saturday, with a pending trip to Auburn close to the front of their minds. The best thing the Dawgs have going for them is the fact that two of their last four games come against two of Georgia’s biggest rivals. There should be plenty of motivation for the Dawgs against Auburn and Tech, even if the SEC is out of reach.

I would like to close this post by thanking one of the men that I have come to both admire and respect: Will Muschamp. Muschamp made it clear when he got the Florida job that he was a Gator and he had to affinity for his alma mater. Well even if Will doesn’t love us, we love him. I hope, with all of my heart, that Florida AD Jeremy Foley stands by Muschamp at the end of the season. I think it’s unlikely though because there is no way Florida will be able to beat FSU at the end of the season, and if the game is ugly, like it probably will be, then it will be hard for Foley to keep Muschamp around another year.

Maybe after he gets fired, Georgia could hire Muschamp as their defensive coordinator? 

Cocktail Party Time!

No matter what happens over the next month, the 2013 season will be considered a disappointment. You can’t lose three or more games in a season where you had national title hopes and have the season be anything but a disappointment. There is nothing Georgia can do now to change what has happened over the past few weeks.

However, when the two teams step on the field this afternoon in Jacksonville, it is still Georgia/Florida and that always matters. Are the two teams playing for the SEC East title? No, not this year. This year, this game is about the most pure part of sports, simple pride. The pride of knowing that you stepped on the field with your biggest rival and walked off victorious.

There will be time in the coming weeks to analyze Georgia’s chances to get back to Atlanta for the SEC title game. About 10 things have to happen in order for the Dawgs to get back to that point, but the first thing that has to happen is that Georgia has to win out, so all that matters is that Georgia wins today’s game.

The fact that these two teams have been decimated by injuries offers more questions than answers as we get ready for the 2013 edition of the Cocktail Party. Georgia’s losses are well known, but don’t forget that Florida has lost their quarterback, the top running back, and their best defensive linemen.

Florida’s offense is the worst in the SEC. Georgia’s defense is the worst I can remember. Florida’s defense is pretty strong despite injuries. Georgia’s offense is getting the best running back in the country back for today’s game. Florida can punt and kick field goals, where Georgia cannot. I hope that is not the difference in the game.

First we will start with Gurley. The man-child returns today after missing more than a month with an ankle sprain suffered against LSU. While Gurley has been gone, Georgia has seen every offensive skill player of consequence go down with injury, Georgia’s defense has not improved, and Georgia’s special teams have become an embarrassment. Despite all of the problems that Georgia has had for the past month, do you really think Georgia losses to Vanderbilt if Gurley plays? For that matter, do you think Georgia losses to Missouri if Gurley plays?

We will never know the answer to those questions, but the point is, Georgia’s offense will be a different animal today with number three in the backfield. The question will be, is Gurley rusty or fresh?

Another key piece to the offense is back today as it looks like Michael Bennett will play for the first time since being hurt, like everyone else, in Knoxville in early October.

Georgia’s defensive and special teams’ problems have had an off week to try and be corrected. I’m not sure how much better we can expect the defense to play at this point. It does seem like all the starters will play, including Trey Matthews and Josh Harvey-Clemons who would not have played a week ago if Georgia had a game. It’s hard to tell if the problem is scheme or execution, but either way, against a terrible offense, 

Georgia needs to keep Florida under 20 points today.

One thing to keep an eye on today will be penalties. Last year, the two teams combined for 24 penalties with multiple calls for unsportsmanlike conduct. Of course, emotions were high last year because the two teams were vying for an SEC and national title, but I would bet emotions will be high again today despite the lowered stakes in the game.

This is the first time that both Georgia and Florida come into the game unranked since 2010, which ended up being a great game. Florida was victorious in overtime in 2010, the only time that the Cocktail Party has gone to overtime. For everyone’s sake, let’s hope Georgia can take care of business today in regulation and not need a heart-pounding overtime to get the job done.

I really believe that Georgia is the better team today, but nothing has been easy in 2013 and I don’t expect anything to come easy to the Dawgs today.

Georgia will play well offensively; both Gurley and Murray will play well. I think you can expect to see JJ Greene step up with a good effort as the number two tailback. It will be interesting to see if Jonathan Rumph, who hasn’t played all year, finally gets on the field today. Bennett will provide Murray with some comfort and familiarity, two things that he has obviously missed in the past few weeks.

However, Georgia’s defense will continue their putrid ways and along with another special team disaster will allow Florida to stay in a game they should be blown out of. The difference will be predictable: Gurley.

In the fourth quarter, with a lead, Georgia will rely on Gurley to run the ball and the clock securing their third consecutive win in Jacksonville, 34-26.

Since 1990, Jacksonville has been a house of horrors for Georgia. Georgia fans remember fondly years like 1997, 2004, and 2007 only because those are the only times Georgia beat Florida from 1990-2010. Even though this is a lost season, it is vital that Georgia regain some momentum in Jacksonville. Two in a row was a nice start, but know Georgia can really turn the tables on the Gators with a win today.

If Georgia can win today, then there will be seniors on Florida’s team next year that have never beaten Georgia. Think about that. David Pollack only beat Florida once. Knowshon Moreno and Matt Stafford only beat Florida once. Champ Bailey only beat Florida once. Eric Zeier never beat Florida in his career. 

Today, Aaron Murray is going for his third victory over the rival Gators, and Georgia could make it 4-3 in their last 7 against the Gators.

No, Georgia isn’t going to win the national title, but beating the Gators will never taken for granted.

Let’s Go Dawgs!