Observations from the 5 yard line, Texas Chainsaw Massacre edition.

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Yes, I finally made a game in person yesterday, and the town of Athens and the crowd delivered on many fronts. I brought a small herd of Horns fans with me and meshed them with my Dawg buddies for an amazing long weekend. The weather was perfect, food was delicious, bourbon flowed like wine, and the rental house was spacious (thank you Stephanie and Frank!) for our large group. As I sit here at the airport writing this, lots of great memories are filling my mind. JB singing the anthem was the chef’s kiss.

While the game script (numerous Texas drops, turnovers and the onside kick) gave us a lopsided victory, this one just never seemed to me as concerning as the Alabama game. If you watched Texas all year, you knew their OL was average, Manning was inconsistent and they didn’t have more than one good DB. That is a matchup that favors the Dawgs all day, and it showed. They shut down the running game, pressured Arch, and Kirby stole the show with the onside kick. What a win. On to the bullets.

  • While I love John Bell and Widespread Panic, and him repping the G was so cool, the anthem might not be the right song for him. YMMV.
  • I decided before kickoff if Georgia deferred I wouldn’t watch the first defensive drive. But I did, and the experience is of course equally painful in person. Thankfully the defense bowed up to force a FG, and the rest of the day was much more enjoyable. If the defense gives up only 10 points per game, I think we can survive bad first drives.
  • Other than on that first drive, the defense was focused and fierce. Think Kirby wants to prevent Texas from challenging Georgia’s spot at the top?
  • Noah Thomas was open all day. I know Bobo likes to spread it around, but had he just fed Thomas for a couple of drives I think he could have had 3-4 TDs himself.
  • At the same time, Delp did really well finding green grass himself against zone coverage, and he beat Texas’ safeties all night.
  • It sure is nice when the other team drops 4 passes in the game. Hearing the Horns guys last night criticizing Sark for the drops reminded me of last year and made me thankful we haven’t had to deal with it at all this year.
  • The OL was dominating early, getting a good push, but Texas really bowed up themselves and bottled up the running game in the second and third quarters. I thought Micah Morris had some rough reps during those quarters and let some dudes through, but ultimately they recovered quite nicely in the 4th.
  • Bobo called a great game, again mixing up the run scheme and using the whole field with Gunner to keep UT guessing.
  • Started getting texts about CJ Allen going to the locker room, but I must have missed that play while in the bathroom. Haven’t heard any reliable chatter but Kirby did mention he seemed fine in the locker room, so fingers crossed there. That would be a big loss of leadership at a terrible time. Hopefully just a sprain and he’s back for the playoffs.
  • Speaking of injuries, it sounds like Bowens is fine, and Talyn Taylor might be back soon….
  • Gunner’s pass to Delp on the second to last drive of the half was a beautiful display of touch that he didn’t seem to capable of, even earlier in the year. The Stetson trend is real, people.
  • Ballsy call by Kirby and Bobo on 4th and 1, and a great design by Bobo.
  • But even more badass was Kirby calling for the onside kick. The timing was excellent, the execution and concealment perfect, and the biggest roar of the night from the crowd resulted. To me, Texas began to wilt after that play.
  • Demello Jones, welcome back. We need you like that the rest of the way.
  • In fact, other than Joenel, the DBs all played pretty aggressively and with discipline. Yes, the drops made the stats better than they could have been, but Texas has some really fast WRs so losing them in coverage from time to time is expected. Just have to tackle well, and they did.
  • Middle 8 was 0-0, but the turnovers and onside kick helped offset the lost yardage from Thorson’s worst game of his career. And they owned the 4th quarter (21-0) again.
  • The second and long run from Gunner down the right sideline was huge and maybe the final nail in the coffin. Thought Texas quit after that.

Kirby mentioned multiple times in the press conference about how so many teams in college football don’t want to put in the work anymore. They just want “a check.” He said he wasn’t referring to Texas, but I wonder who? Either way, Georgia works harder that any other program, and maybe Kirby has them working smarter with the longer season in mind. The Dawgs showed the rest of college football that they in fact did level up again, and they haven’t even peaked. I have to imagine Brent Key, Ryan Day, etc. aren’t thrilled. On a personal level, the game capped off a great weekend for our crew and allowed us to tease our Horns friends a little last night. For all that, I’m thankful. Until next time, Athens. Go Dawgs!

26 thoughts on “Observations from the 5 yard line, Texas Chainsaw Massacre edition.”

  2. Want a check = justice

    When Gunner starts looking downfield no one will stop this offense.

    D Jones played his ass off. He needs to start.

    • He needed some accompaniment – trying to do it acapella was not the best….
      Kirby saying other teams aren’t putting in the work is just talking his book….

  5. Got to watch a Skycast of the game and what I like about it – even more than not listening to Herbie, et al. – is the perspective of looking at the from behind the QB. I can see our OL opening gaps almost all the time. Sometimes a UT line backer or safety plugs the hole. Our rushing game was about four times as fruitful as Texas’.

      • Not as far as l know. I was told that there was a Skycast but when I looked on my line up the only UGA game was on ABC – not any listed ESPN option. But my daughter has Hulu and when she checked they had the Skycast on what I think was called ‘ESPN Universe’. Great way to watch a game. It’s like being at the game except your view changes so that you have the best view for the whole game and not for just part of the game. You get crowd noise and even some of the half time show. You do have to watch commercials, but you can mute the sound. I guess because Hulu and ESPN are part of the Disney Death Star it was probably part of the ESPN App.

        • Dang, I missed it. Just checked Hulu and ESPN apps for a replay, nothing listed. The MS ST skycast is still available but, not TX. Would have loved to capture the Skycast of this game.

      • I have discovered a good second option to Skycast. If you can’t find Skycast, do what I did and put the TV on mute, go to YouTube and pull up the Watch Along Show with Jim Donnan, Radi Nabulsi, and Dane Young. Really, really enjoyable. I have that as my audio. Donnan is hilarious. I love his dry wit and he is freaking amazing at calling what play is coming before the snap. No screaming announcers who seem to be rooting against us. Coach Donnan and Radi and Dane rooting us on in an entertaining but mostly subdued way. I highly recommend it and wish I had done it before now.

  6. JB did just fine…and I’m a hard critic on national anthems. Good pace, and he sang within himself on a really difficult piece to sing in the shower, even more so in front of a hyped up 93,000+. The man’s a pro, and showed it on a big night. What an honor for him to be asked to sing it, and a real treat for us to see one of our favorite sons honor our nation.

    • I’m not musical, but the anthem is hard to sing by yourself. I’ve tried to get my daughter (vocal major) to audition at Truist to sing it for a Braves game. She won’t do it and has the chops to do it.

      Many of the best versions of the anthem are choral like when the Voices of Liberty from Epcot do it at a bowl game in Orlando.

      It always sounds great when 93,000 do it together.

  7. Been absent from Athens for about 6 years so this was an unexpected treat to see my brother and offer a few more Observations from the 40. Started by meeting some of the Senator’s law school friends at their tailgate. Fun group who like their bourbon. The new lighting and fireworks is really cool. Crowd was loud and screaming while we were on defense the whole time. Dear Longhorn Nation…shame. This is NOT how you travel in the SEC. Other than a pep band and a few hundred horns in the visitors corner, Texas fans were very few and far between. This is Sanford Stadium, at night, in Athens and you can’t get your sorry asses on a plane to cheer your team?! Pathetic. Our FCS opponents bring more. Sat only a few rows behind Gunner’s Mom. One proud lady! Alcohol sales don’t seem to be a problem…didn’t see the drunk obnoxious types like in Jax. JB struggled a tad and the crowd sensed it by starting to sing along more loudly at the end of the anthem which actually made it better. Hope he does it again. Game was on edge for nearly 3 quarters. We needed some points before the half and you had a feeling Manning could hit Wingo for a quick score or two at any moment. And then Cash & Kirby…could be a sitcom. First we all groaned when Cash came in as the clear 3rd down outlet. Wouldn’t Bell or someone else be better? He then failed to duck his head and get the first. Ballsy of Kirby to go for it on 4th but like the crowd, was tired of Thorsen blooping punts. He gave the Aussie an earful after the 3rd bad one. The second 4th down attempt felt like we just wanted to draw the offsides penalty. Not clear why we didn’t get the PI instead as they did not call the play dead…? The onside kick fooled everyone and was executed perfectly by Woodring and that DGD Cash Jones! Doghouse to penthouse! You could see Gunners’ TD tosses coming open in advance…the game is really slowing down for that kid. Texas quit and Frazier buried them in the 4th. Thing of beauty. I will swear Thorsen’s last punt…also not a good one…was aimed to hit Kirby on purpose. Would fit an Aussie’s personality after being chewed out.

    My brother remarked that this was one of the most fun times he’s had at a home game. I’ve been to many better, especially in the early 80’s, but this was certainly satisfying having suffered in Austin and missing my Dawgs in person for so many years. My longhorn friends were not confident going in and conceded the ass whipping they got afterwards. Really wish I could have given Mr. Alright a horns down goodbye. Did ring the Chapel bell this morning.

    Thank you DiA for a spot on write up and to all of Georgia Nation for helping me enjoy the glory in person one more time. Lord how I miss it…but not the traffic! GO DAWGS!

  8. People keep carping about Thorson but I have to believe it had something to do with Niblett being such a dangerous returner.

    • Mike, that was my thoughts as well. It was clear we were trying to kick away from him. Thorson still seemed to miss a couple.

      One mere mortal game in a 3 year period is pretty darn good.

    • Had to be part of the reason. Kirby went nuts on him after the second or third shank. Guessing they were trying to do directional kicking and he just missed them.

      • Or just wanted hang time but being afraid of a returner doesn’t seem to be the Kirby way. In the 2nd half warmups he was booming them so who knows. Still want to believe he was trying to hit Kirby on the last one!

    • Yeah, it was apparent that they weren’t going to give Niblett anything returnable. He’s maybe the most dangerous return man in the country.

  9. Watching some of the recap shows/videos yesterday and the “physicality” comments were brought up as a message directed at Sark and UT similar to how the recruiting comments were directed at Mullen.

    However, I think it was directed at multiple audiences. The primary audience may be Sark, UT (and some of the recruits who they landed from GA), but I believe this was directed at the plethora of big-time recruits we had visiting this weekend as well.

    Plus I think he is reinforcing our philosophy to the guys on our team too. Saturday night was confirmation that the CKS brand of football is tough, physical, relentless, exciting and fulfilling. For every person who is part of that organization and who works as hard as they do on their craft, you should be proud to be a University of Georgia Bulldog. CKS knows his way works and there are many more nights like that to come.

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