The Georgia Problem

[The Six]

I am copying some of this from another article on the AL.Commies webzone. It was a breakdown of the cross-divisional rivalries for the last 10 seasons. http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/05/sec_permanent_cross-divisional.html

Highlight on Auburn-Georgia
Overall records since 2003
- Georgia: 97-35 (55-22)
- Auburn: 88-40 (48-32) NOTE: That includes TWO undefeated seasons and a National Title.
NOTE: Of the 10 more SEC losses Auburn has in this time frame, 7 are to Georgia.

Average betting line since 2003:
Georgia by 2.65 (Bulldogs favored in seven of past 10)

Year-by-Year since 2003 (Georgia leads, 7-3)
- 2012: Georgia (-15.5) 38, Auburn 0
- 2011: Georgia (-12) 45, Auburn 7
- 2010: Auburn (-7.5) 49, Georgia 31
- 2009: Georgia (-4) 31, Auburn 24
- 2008: Georgia (-9) 17, Auburn 13
- 2007: Georgia (-1.5) 45, Auburn 20
- 2006: Georgia 37, Auburn (-11.5) 15
- 2005: Auburn 31, Georgia (-3) 30
- 2004: Auburn (-4) 24, Georgia 6
- 2003: Georgia (-4.5) 26, Auburn 7

Our biggest win in this span was 18 points, twice ('04, 09 - the undefeated years) and the other was a one point win in a shootout back in '05 (didn't we fumble into the endzone and get set up at the 1?).

Their closest margins of victory were 3 in '08 and 7 in '09. The other five wins they've won by double-digits. (19, 18, 18, 38, 38).

Alright, this must be stopped. Besides the obvious of outscore them, what does Auburn need to do to get back in the fight with the 'Dawgs?

[dallaswareagle]

Alright, this must be stopped. Besides the obvious of outscore them, what does Auburn need to do to get back in the fight with the 'Dawgs?

I think we have it in new coaching. Hopefully this crew doesn't believe in slowing down.

[Snaggletiger]

Not really all that surprising to me.  Georgia has just consistently been better than us during that period.  In only one year where we were favored did we lose.  And only one year for UGA, a 31-30 loss.  To his credit, Richt has recruited his arse off and always has a ton of talent.  The obvious knock on him is he can never seem to get them over the hump and win a championship.  But, they're always very talented.  Auburn, on the other hand, has been on a rollercoaster.  It's like every few years, the program goes in the dumper and someone new comes in and takes the program back to the top.  Then unfortunately, the cycle starts over again.     

[The Six]

Meanwhile, another 'Dawg suspended for smoking actual weed. But, no, Auburn has a drug problem. 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/georgia-safety-josh-harvey-clemons-suspended-season-opener-165954541.html

Georgia starting safety Josh Harvey-Clemons has been suspended for the season opener against Clemson after he was implicated in an incident involving marijuana possession and use in a Georgia dorm room on May 15.

Coach Mark Richt announced the suspension during SEC spring meetings on Monday.

Harvey-Clemons, who played in 14 games last season and won the starting role this spring, was in a dorm room with teammate Ty Flournoy-Smith, a sophomore tight end, when a resident hall assistant walked by and smelled marijuana coming out of the room. He called police, who found both players inside, but little evidence of marijuana after a search of the area.

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who obtained the police report, Harvey-Clemons and Flournoy-Smith “exhibited signs of marijuana ingestion” and had bloodshot eyes. Officers found a plastic bag with remnants of what looked like marijuana and a digital scale. Players did admit they had “smoked a blunt.” But other than they’re admission, not hard evidence was found to detain them.

However, the incident was reported to the UGA’s Office of Student Conduct and police informed coach Mark Richt, who has yet to make a decision on punishment.

This isn’t the first time Flournoy-Smith has been in trouble. He was also arrested in an unrelated misdemeanor charge and Richt advised him to transfer to a junior college. Flournoy-Smith played in eight games last season, but did not have a catch.

Harvey-Clemons, a five-star recruit, played primarily on special teams last season.

- - -

[WiregrassTiger]

This will take care of itself, IF CGM turns out to be the right choice. We know what the prob was at the end of CTT's reign--too much duck hunting and Sabear. We know what the prob has been minus 2010 under Chiz--spice and Sabear.

CGM simply needs to not duck hunt, not smoke spice and put a hit out on Sabear. Pretty simple.

[The Six]

CGM simply needs to not duck hunt, not smoke spice and put a hit out on Sabear. Pretty simple.

BUT

[Snaggletiger]

Richt likes those statistics.  He thinks the AU/UGA rivalry is a good thing.  pasta de la coppage al.kum

DESTIN, Florida -- Mark Richt has no easy answers for fixing the SEC's schedule, whether or not the SEC should play eight or nine conference games, how to preserve in-state and out-of-state rivalries that have lasted for decades while accomodating a 14-team format. 

But Georgia's head coach had one clear goal heading into the SEC's annual spring meetings this week.

Richt wants to preserve the Auburn-Georgia rivalry.  "The one thing I will say that I would vote on is to continue to have our rival game with Auburn," Richt said. "I don't know how it's going to go, but I vote for us to continue to play Auburn."

For years, the SEC has kept Auburn and Georgia together as permanent opponents, a practice that has come under fire as LSU's Les Miles lobbies for the SEC to eliminate permanent opponents by pointing out that it can create an unfair scheduling advantage. 

Auburn's Gus Malzahn, who will speak to the media in Destin on Wednesday, hasn't commented on the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry yet, but in the past, Auburn has always wanted to preserve the game.

The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry is historically one of the nation's most competitive, a battle across state lines that has no clear leader. Auburn has won 54 games in the series, Georgia has won 54 and the two teams have tied eight times, although Georgia has won six of the last seven.

Other than breaks during World War I and War II, Auburn and Georgia have played every year since 1892.  To Richt, the rivalry is too good to ignore by eliminating the permanent opponent for both schools.  "It truly is a rival game for us," Richt said. "For over 100 years we've been playing them, so I'd like that to continue."


A reporter asked Richt if playing the game once a decade made the game more special, citing the rivalry between Florida and Miami, a rivalry game that stopped being played annually in the late 80's

Richt, a former backup quarterback at Miami, disagreed.

"I was there when we played every year," Richt said. "I think it was much more meaningful when we played every year as opposed to when it got taken from the schedule."

[noxin]

Besides the obvious of outscore them, what does Auburn need to do to get back in the fight with the 'Dawgs?

If we need to do something besides outscore them, then I've got no fucking clue

[War Eagle!!!]

If we need to do something besides outscore them, then I've got no fucking clue

+7

[bottomfeeder]

If we need to do something besides outscore them, then I've got no fucking clue

+7

I'll see your +7 and raise you +7.

[Townhallsavoy]

We should never have been blown out in 2006.  We had home field advantage and a legit shot at the national championship at that point.  For them to come in with a true freshman quarterback and do what they did in the 1st half was squarely on Tuberville's inability to get his players ready to play that game.  We had the talent and the team to put Georgia away. 

Again in 2008, I put that loss squarely on Tuberville.  Sure the season was done and we were a catastrophe of a football team, but we were destroying them on the ground with Mario Fannin.  We were keeping them in check defensively.  We were driving down field late in the 4th with a chance to win and Tuberville allowed our offense to run some of the most idiotic plays with the most illogical personel.  Should have been a victory. 

In 2009, while a bigger stretch of "we should have won," we should have won.  We jumped on them early and then hit a 99 yard kickoff return to tie it.  Instead of capitalizing, we allowed Georgia to take over the game and hit a long touchdown run for the win.

So while Georgia has had a huge upper hand against us, it's been more of an Auburn problem than a Georgia problem.  The series could be almost even. 

[jmar]

They beat us physically up front on both sides of the ball 6 of the last 7. We are outrecruited and outplayed-
UP FRONT!

[RWS]

Richt likes those statistics.  He thinks the AU/UGA rivalry is a good thing.  pasta de la coppage al.kum

The whole scheduling thing is being overblown, IMO.  Nobody gave a shit about it when Alabama was the SEC's doormat.  Nobody gave a shit when Alabama was an easy win, UT was a perennial contender, and Miles wasn't hated by half of his own fan base.  Everything was cool then.  But now that Alabama is actually winning, well fuck, this isn't right!  Alabama's schedule, in general, hasn't really changed since before Saban was there.  It was really just a matter of where MSU was scheduled in relation to the LSU game.  Sometimes before, sometimes after, etc.  The biggest thing that has changed now, is that Alabama opens in a big game against a top 10 opponent 3 of the past 5 years. 

You can't help what your opponent does.  You can't help if they are terrible.  The entire East in general is just terrible.  You have UGA and UF, and USCe.  How do you propose to keep it fair in the eyes of Miles and Spurrier?  If Alabama has above X amount of wins one season, they can only choose this, this, or that opponent next season, but you can't play this, this, or that opponent?  But if you have under X amount of wins, you can pick from any number of these other bad teams?  Unless those bad teams get good one season, then Alabama has to play that team that got good.  Oh, but shit, that team that got good last season isn't good this season for whatever reason.  Well, that team has to go back to playing other bad teams.     

[War Eagle!!!]

The whole scheduling thing is being overblown, IMO.  Nobody gave a shit about it when Alabama was the SEC's doormat.  Nobody gave a shit when Alabama was an easy win, UT was a perennial contender, and Miles wasn't hated by half of his own fan base.  Everything was cool then.  But now that Alabama is actually winning, well fuck, this isn't right!  Alabama's schedule, in general, hasn't really changed since before Saban was there.  It was really just a matter of where MSU was scheduled in relation to the LSU game.  Sometimes before, sometimes after, etc.  The biggest thing that has changed now, is that Alabama opens in a big game against a top 10 opponent 3 of the past 5 years. 

You can't help what your opponent does.  You can't help if they are terrible.  The entire East in general is just terrible.  You have UGA and UF, and USCe.  How do you propose to keep it fair in the eyes of Miles and Spurrier?  If Alabama has above X amount of wins one season, they can only choose this, this, or that opponent next season, but you can't play this, this, or that opponent?  But if you have under X amount of wins, you can pick from any number of these other bad teams?  Unless those bad teams get good one season, then Alabama has to play that team that got good.  Oh, but shit, that team that got good last season isn't good this season for whatever reason.  Well, that team has to go back to playing other bad teams.   

You're a dumb ass...

[Snaggletiger]

Old dude rant.  I grew up on rivalries and I would hate giving up the UGA game on a yearly basis.  I hate the fact that the Oklahoma/Nebraska game is no more. For those that recall, that was one of the games you had marked on the calendar as a must see.  I despise the fact that conferences have expanded the way they have and most notably, the SEC in adding Texas A&M and Mizzou.  I get that bean-counters with far bigger brains than me studied those moves and thought those were the two best choices...financially.  But those moves were made to the detriment of college football as a whole in my opinion. 
  And now another game that we've all watched for years, Texas/Texas A&M, is no more.     

College football was born and bred on rivalries and pageantry and traditions. All of that is going out the window in the name of $$$$.  Know why 9 conference games are being proposed?  Because the new SEC network is going to want more big games to carry. $$$$$$  We really need to play 9 conference games and then SECCG?  Sure we do.  $$$$$  Why is the BCS championship game played 8 months after the season ends?  $$$$$$  It goes on and on and now, the discussion is on the table about doing away with the rivalry games that made college football what it is. They keep chipping away at the game until we're not going to recognize it anymore.  Now......


      

[GH2001]

Old dude rant.  I grew up on rivalries and I would hate giving up the UGA game on a yearly basis.  I hate the fact that the Oklahoma/Nebraska game is no more. For those that recall, that was one of the games you had marked on the calendar as a must see.  I despise the fact that conferences have expanded the way they have and most notably, the SEC in adding Texas A&M and Mizzou.  I get that bean-counters with far bigger brains than me studied those moves and thought those were the two best choices...financially.  But those moves were made to the detriment of college football as a whole in my opinion. 
  And now another game that we've all watched for years, Texas/Texas A&M, is no more.     

College football was born and bred on rivalries and pageantry and traditions. All of that is going out the window in the name of $$$$.  Know why 9 conference games are being proposed?  Because the new SEC network is going to want more big games to carry. $$$$$$  We really need to play 9 conference games and then SECCG?  Sure we do.  $$$$$  Why is the BCS championship game played 8 months after the season ends?  $$$$$$  It goes on and on and now, the discussion is on the table about doing away with the rivalry games that made college football what it is. They keep chipping away at the game until we're not going to recognize it anymore.  Now......


      

Atta boy. You tell em snags. Now hurry and go take your morning dose of Metamucil before the Golden Girls and the Price is Right starts. You can take your nap shortly after.

[djsimp]

Atta boy. You tell em snags. Now hurry and go take your morning dose of Metamucil before the Golden Girls and the Price is Right starts. You can take your nap shortly after.

Don't listen to this guy Snags. If you hurry you might break a hip.

[Snaggletiger]

Lick me.  Snags is gonna' have to choke a bitch....right after I get back from Walgreen's.  They're having a 2 for 1 sale on Depends and I've got a coupon.

[AUTiger1]

We should never have been blown out in 2006.  We had home field advantage and a legit shot at the national championship at that point.  For them to come in with a true freshman quarterback and do what they did in the 1st half was squarely on Tuberville's inability to get his players ready to play that game.  We had the talent and the team to put Georgia away. 

Again in 2008, I put that loss squarely on Tuberville.  Sure the season was done and we were a catastrophe of a football team, but we were destroying them on the ground with Mario Fannin.  We were keeping them in check defensively.  We were driving down field late in the 4th with a chance to win and Tuberville allowed our offense to run some of the most idiotic plays with the most illogical personel.  Should have been a victory. 

In 2009, while a bigger stretch of "we should have won," we should have won.  We jumped on them early and then hit a 99 yard kickoff return to tie it.  Instead of capitalizing, we allowed Georgia to take over the game and hit a long touchdown run for the win.

So while Georgia has had a huge upper hand against us, it's been more of an Auburn problem than a Georgia problem.  The series could be almost even.

Is that the game where we threw a pass on our last play and Fumblin" Fannin dropped the pass before anyone got near him?  Or was that a different team?  All I remember was how pissed I was at Fannin for having hands of stone when the game was on the line.

[Townhallsavoy]

Is that the game where we threw a pass on our last play and Fumblin" Fannin dropped the pass before anyone got near him?  Or was that a different team?  All I remember was how pissed I was at Fannin for having hands of stone when the game was on the line.

I want to say that was the game where we took Fannin out of the game that entire last drive and then threw it deep to Ben Tate.