Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Logo

Georgia ready for bye week | Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Buy Photos and Pages
    • Special Sections
    • Contact Us
    • Plus
    • Newsletters
    • Newspaper in Education
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services

    • News
    • Local News
    • Photos
    • Crime
    • Databases
    • Education
    • Job Spotlight
    • Georgia
    • Business
    • Nation/World
    • Lottery
    • Sports
    • Alabama
    • Auburn
    • Braves
    • Columbus State University
    • Cottonmouths
    • Falcons
    • Hawks
    • High Schools
    • UGA
    • Blogs & Columns
    • War Eagle Extra
    • Bulldogs Blog
    • Valley Preps
    • Guerry Clegg
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • ToDo
    • Living
    • Dining
    • Celebrations
    • Outdoors
    • Faith
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Horoscopes
    • Blogs & Columns
    • War Eagle Extra
    • Bulldogs Blog
    • Guerry Clegg
    • Tim Chitwood
    • Richard Hyatt
    • Ledger Inquirer
    • Valley Preps
    • Chuck Williams
    • Dimon Kendrick-Holmes
    • Alva James-Johnson
    • Natalia Naman Temesgen
    • Chris Johnson
    • Opinion
    • Forum
    • Letters
    • Dusty Nix
    • Sound Off
  • Obituaries
  • Readers' Choice

  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad

  • About Us
  • Mobile & Apps

Bulldogs Blog

Bulldogs Blog

Georgia ready for bye week

By David Hale - dhale@ledger-enquirer.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

October 19, 2009 12:00 AM

If he never has to face seven straight BCS-conference opponents to open a season again, Mark Richt will be a happy man. That was the task this year for Georgia, and as the Bulldogs reach their bye week with a 4-3 record, the gauntlet proved to be even more difficult than the coach and his players might have imagined.

But while the road was a long and arduous one, it ended with a glimmer of hope. Following one of the most tumultuous weeks of Richt’s coaching career, the Bulldogs put an exclamation point on the first half of their season with a 34-10 thumping of Vanderbilt in a game that meant far more in terms of emotion than it did in the standings.

“I wouldn’t say we’re all the way there, but we made some strides,” wide receiver A.J. Green said. “Next week is a bye, and coming in from that seven-game stretch, grinding since camp, it feels good.”

Georgia will take the next week to work on feeling even better.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Ledger-Enquirer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

The team met for a film session Sunday and will practice Tuesday and Thursday, but the rest of the week is about getting stronger, getting healthier and getting rested.

“This season has just been an emotional roller coaster,” linebacker Rennie Curran said. “It’s been up and down and a grind, but we’ve been playing tough. Now we get this week to kind of sit back and evaluate and kind of start a new season.”

Two years ago, Georgia was in a similar position.

The Bulldogs went to Vanderbilt following a 4-2 opening stretch and a blowout loss to Tennessee the week before. A bye week loomed, and Georgia played like it simply wanted the game to end and the break to begin. Only a late fumble forced by Darryl Gamble and a game-winning field goal by Brandon Coutu spared the team from defeat.

Two weeks later, however, a re-energized team took the field against arch-rival Florida, famously celebrated its first touchdown, then ran over the Gators en route to a commanding victory. The Bulldogs didn’t lose again that season and finished the year ranked No. 2 in the country.

That may not happen this season, Richt admits, but Georgia already has a leg up on that team from 2007.

“There was more emotion at this year’s Vanderbilt game,” Richt said. “Two years ago, we were trying to squeeze some emotion out of the guys. This game in particular, they were much more emotional. They did a good job of encouraging me, actually.”

The results showed on the field as Georgia turned in its best performance of the season running the football, had a strong defensive effort for the third time in the past four games and even got a few big plays from Prince Miller on special teams.

“This is our most complete game, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do,” Miller said.

And after watching Florida nearly lost Saturday to Arkansas — a team Georgia has already beaten this season — spirits are high among the Bulldogs.

“The pressure is on them,” cornerback Brandon Boykin said.

Related stories from Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

HOMEPAGE

Keep up with Georgia athletics: Read Seth Emerson's blog

April 23, 2009 09:16 AM

  Comments  

Videos

5 things to know about the Georgia-Alabama SEC Championship game

Georgia’s treating Florida rivalry matchup ‘just like another game’

View More Video

Trending Stories

Columbus jury reaches verdict in birthday party shootout trial involving half-brothers

February 18, 2019 04:22 PM

1 state champion. 2 third-place finishers. These Columbus area wrestlers made history.

February 18, 2019 08:00 PM

Letters to the Editor for Sunday, February 17, 2019

February 17, 2019 09:00 AM

Spotted Saturday at the Junior League of Columbus’ Character Breakfast

February 18, 2019 08:09 AM

9 Columbus area teams left in Georgia, Alabama high school basketball state playoffs

February 18, 2019 03:46 PM

Read Next

How Lady Bulldogs discovered the importance of limiting turnovers in rout of Ole Miss

Bulldogs Blog

How Lady Bulldogs discovered the importance of limiting turnovers in rout of Ole Miss

By Brandon Sudge

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 18, 2019 11:54 PM

The Lady Bulldogs won over Ole Miss Monday night 78-56. Georgia played clean, producing only nine turnovers and two miscues in the first half. There are 4 regular-season games remaining until the SEC tournament.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Ledger-Enquirer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE BULLDOGS BLOG

Georgia men’s basketball falls to LSU in close game, but there’s a silver lining

Bulldogs Blog

Georgia men’s basketball falls to LSU in close game, but there’s a silver lining

February 16, 2019 10:22 PM
Back to normal: GymDog Marissa Oakley shines, finds redemption in anchor position on bars

Bulldogs Blog

Back to normal: GymDog Marissa Oakley shines, finds redemption in anchor position on bars

February 16, 2019 10:51 AM
Where the Lady Bulldogs’ NCAA tournament chances stand after sixth SEC loss

Bulldogs Blog

Where the Lady Bulldogs’ NCAA tournament chances stand after sixth SEC loss

February 15, 2019 05:49 PM
Take a bow: Rachel Dickson ecstatic to nearly master vault routine made iconic by UGA coach

Bulldogs Blog

Take a bow: Rachel Dickson ecstatic to nearly master vault routine made iconic by UGA coach

February 14, 2019 11:55 AM
What Anthony Edwards’ commitment means for Georgia

Bulldogs Blog

What Anthony Edwards’ commitment means for Georgia

February 11, 2019 09:09 AM
Lady Bulldogs’ Caldwell looks to her feet for strength after months of doubt, struggle

Bulldogs Blog

Lady Bulldogs’ Caldwell looks to her feet for strength after months of doubt, struggle

February 10, 2019 07:57 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Digital Solutions
  • Niche Solutions
  • Print Solutions
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story