Georgia Football Season Recap

The football season for the Georgia Bulldogs is over after a 10-6 loss to UCF at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN. The loss gives Georgia their first losing season (6-7) in 14 years.

It was a season that started ugly at 1-4 with the lone win coming against Louisiana-Lafayette. Star receiver A.J. Green being suspended for the first 4 games of the season definitely contributed to the slow start of the Georgia offense and team morale. After 3 great looking wins against average competition (Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky) it was time to go to Jacksonville to face the Gators.

The 34-31 loss to Florida in overtime was devastating and a hard fought game, but too many mistakes were made on both sides of the ball that ultimately lead to a loss in a game that should have been won. After a slaughter of Idaho State, Georgia went into Auburn at 5-5 with nothing to lose and a chance to knock off the top-ranked Tigers.

After a terrific start up 14-0, the momentum began to shift as the defense was unable to stop the rushing attack of Cam Newton and Auburn. The Georgia offense played well, yet the defense could not get a stop when one was needed and the Tigers blew it open in the second half for the win.

Then, Georgia Tech rolled into Athens after a bye week in which the Georgia coaching staff should have been ready for the triple option offense of the Yellow Jackets. However, this was not the case. Georgia Tech compiled 512 total yards of offense, with 411 of those yards on the ground and just about pulled off the upset with a back-up quarterback that is not even suited for the option had Tech not missed a late extra point. The most stunning play of the game came in the closing minute, when Georgia rushed for a touchdown while Georgia Tech stood aside and allowed it in hopes to get the ball back down only one possession. It showed a complete lack of strategy on behalf of the coaching staff, and this single call could have let Tech force overtime after the fat lady had sung.

After a 6-6 regular season, the Bulldogs ended up in the Liberty Bowl facing the C-USA Champ Central Florida. The most memorable play of the game to me was the 20 yard field goal by Blair Walsh in the 1st quarter after a 95 yard drive. Faced with 4th and inches from the UCF 3 yard line, Richt decided to take the field goal. This decision showed the tentativeness of the Georgia coaching staff displayed the whole game, and the game ended without a Georgia touchdown losing 10-6.

The biggest win this season is most likely an away game at Kentucky. The bottom line is something needs to be changed. Since the Sugar Bowl win against Hawaii, it seems that this program is fading away. It is going to be a long off-season, one that I hope includes some changes at the top.