University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Meet Tigers For SEC Championship
November 28, 2005 | Football
Nov. 28, 2005
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Georgia-LSU For The SEC Title
On Saturday night, #13 Georgia (9-2) and #3 LSU (10-1) meet for the 26th time since 1928. The Tigers lead the series 14-10-1.
The teams last squared off in 2004 when the third-ranked Bulldogs routed #13 LSU 45-16 in Athens. However, the last time they met for the SEC Title was in 2003. Third-ranked LSU claimed a 34-13 victory over the fifth-ranked Bulldogs in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
A total of 39 Bulldogs have SEC Championship game experience including nine who have started. In 2002, Max Jean-Gilles (OL) and Will Thompson (DE) started while in 2003, the starters included Jean-Gilles (TT), Dennis Roland (ST), Josh Brock (SG), Nick Jones (C), Russ Tanner (TG), Gerald Anderson (DT), Tony Taylor (MLB), Tim Jennings (WCB). Of the 39 players, five are out due to season or career-ending injuries: Des Williams (FB), Tyson Browning (TB), Marcus Jackson (DE), Bartley Miller (OG) and Brock (OG).
This season, Georgia captured the SEC Eastern Division title by going 6-2. The Bulldogs clinched the division on Nov. 19th in Athens with a 45-13 trouncing of Kentucky. LSU won the SEC Western Division crown with a 7-1 mark and clinched Nov. 25 with a 19-17 home win over Arkansas.
LSU and Georgia's scoring defenses rank fourth and fifth nationally. The Tigers allow only 13.5 points a game while the Bulldogs surrender just 14.6. In Scoring Offense, LSU is 38th (29.9) while Georgia is 47th (28.6). LSU will be the home team in the game.
Bulldogs Aim For 12th SEC Crown
Georgia's last SEC title came in 2002 under Mark Richt (30-3 win over Arkansas), and it was the Bulldogs 11th in school history. That tally ranks third in the SEC behind Alabama (21) and Tennessee (13). Meanwhile, LSU ranks fourth with nine titles.
Georgia is making its third appearance in the past four years in the SEC Championship game. This run of success is matched only by Florida and Alabama. The Gators played in five straight SEC Championship games (1992-96) while the Crimson Tide played in four of the first five. The Tigers are making their third appearance in the past five years.
This year's SEC Champion receives a BCS bid and will play in the Nokia Sugar Bowl, which will be played in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome. The change from New Orleans and the Louisiana Superdome is due to damage sustained from Hurricane Katrina. The Bulldogs are 3-4 in seven trips to the Sugar Bowl with their last appearance coming in the 2002 season when they defeated Fla. State 26-13.
Back To The ATL
The Bulldogs have a chance to finish the season with three straight games in Atlanta. Last week, Georgia defeated #20 Ga. Tech 14-7 at Grant Field. This week, Georgia faces #3 LSU in the Ga. Dome, also site of this year's Nokia Sugar Bowl.
Four times Georgia has played three games in Atlanta in the same season, but never three straight. The last time Georgia played three games in Atlanta in the same season was 1913. In 1895, the Bulldogs actually played four games in Atlanta with just one in Athens that year. Georgia's all-time record in Atlanta is 47-48-7.
Silver Anniversary of Championship
The 2005 season marks the 25th anniversary of Georgia's national championship team that posted a perfect 12-0 mark. The 1980 team culminated the season with a 17-10 win over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. A reunion will be held at the final home game (Nov. 19) versus Kentucky.
Head Coach Mark Richt
In 2005, he has led Bulldogs to a 9-2 mark...Current streak of three straight years with a top 10 finish in the national rankings, a first for the Bulldogs since the 1980-83 seasons...Final ranking of 6th (Coaches), 7th (AP) after going 10-2 in 2004...Final ranking of 6th (Coaches), 7th (AP) after going 11-3 in 2003 including a share of the 2003 SEC Eastern Division title...Named the 2002 SEC Coach of the Year after directing the Bulldogs to the SEC title, the first for Georgia since 1982...Set a school record with a 13-win season in 2002, capped by a Nokia Sugar Bowl victory over Fla. State...In 2001, posted best record by a first-year coach at Georgia since 1920 when Herman Stegeman went 8-0-1, Richt's Bulldogs posted an 8-4 mark...Came to UGA from Fla. State (1990-2000), serving as the offensive coordinator from 1994-2000.
>> Coach Richt's Complete Bio and Stats
Georgia in the Top 25 Polls in 2004/2005
At 7-2, Georgia is #14 in the polls this week. The Bulldogs were ranked in the top 10 in at least one of the national polls every week during the 2004 season. In fact, Georgia's #3 preseason ranking in 2004 was the best since the 2002 SEC Champion squad was a consensus #3 in the final polls after going 13-1 and winning the Nokia Sugar Bowl. DID YOU KNOW? After going 10-2 in 2004, Georgia secured its third straight top 10 finish, something they hadn't done since 1980-83.
| 2005 | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | |||||||||||||||
| pre. | 6 | 11 | 18 | 25 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 27 | 4 | Final | |||||
| AP | 13 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 13 | ||||||
| Coaches | 13 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 13 | 13 | ||||||
| Harris | NP | NP | NP | NP | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 12 | ||||||
| FWAA | 14 | NP | NP | NP | NP | NP | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 12 | |||||||
Offense
Steady Shockley Directs Title Chase
Senior D.J. Shockley, the SEC's top-rated passer, has made a solid return from his knee injury. He got injured in the first half against Arkansas and then missed the Florida game. Since returning to the lineup, Shockley is 52-of-101 for 661 yards, 7 TDs and 1 INT.
* Named to 11-man AFCA National Good Works Team
* Leads SEC, 17th nationally in Pass Efficiency (145.1)
* Finalist for Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award; Semifinalist for Maxwell Award
* Owns a 9-1 career record as a starter
* Tossed game-winning 19-yard TD strike to Bryan McClendon with 3:18 left to play in 14-7 road win over #20 Ga. Tech
* 20-for-36, 304 yds, 2TDs, 40 yds rushing vs. #15 Auburn
* Led Georgia to its first road win over a top 10 team since 2001 as Bulldogs beat #8 Tennessee in front of 108,470; Went 16-for-27 for 207 yards; Had 51 yards rushing; Forced UT to jump offsides four times
* Against MSU, set career highs, going 21-for-36 for 312 yards
* Established records in his collegiate debut as a starter; Accounted for a school record six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing) and tied the school mark for TD passes in the 48-13 thrashing of #18 Boise State
As a three-year backup to the nation's all-time winningest quarterback in David Greene, Shockley entered the 2005 season with 26 games and no starts. Here's a look at his career numbers.
2002-04: 67-133 for 967 yards, 10 TDs, 4 INTs; 329 yards rushing, 76 atts., 3 TDs.
2005: 115-200 for 1,842 yards, 14 TDs, 4 INTs; 255 yards rushing, 53 atts., 3 TDs
Total: 182-333 for 2,809 yards, 24 TDs, 8 INTs; 584 yards rushing, 129 atts., 6 TDs
BULLDOG RECORD BOOK WATCH
TD Passes In A Season
24 Eric Zeier, 1994
24 Eric Zeier, 1993
22 David Greene, 2002
20 David Greene, 2004
19 D.J. Shockley, 2005
19 Mike Bobo, 1997
Behind Shockley, there is junior Joe Tereshinski III. He helped preserve a 23-20 win over Arkansas (5-for-9, 91 yards). The following week, he made his first career start, 14-10 loss to #16 Florida in Jacksonville. He scored Georgia's lone TD (the first of his career) against the Gators on a 9-yard reception from sophomore RB Thomas Brown! For the season as well as his career, he is 25-for-49 for 371 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs. While his time at QB has been limited, the third generation Bulldog (all have won SEC titles) has seen plenty of action on special teams as the personal protector on punts and even long snapped during his career (Clemson in 2003 and 2005 Outback Bowl vs. Wisconsin).
Tight End Targets
Junior tight ends Leonard Pope and Martrez Milner have combined for 46 catches for 765 yards and 5 TDs. They have accounted for 26% of Georgia's receptions. The next highest percentage by an SEC TE duo is Kentucky at 17%.
* The 6-8, 250-pound Pope, ranks T1st on the team with 32 rec. (474 yards; 3 TDs); *He could become the first Bulldog TE to lead the team in receiving since 1989 when Kirk Warner had 30 catches for 404 yards and 1 TD.
* The 6-4, 250-pound Milner, ranks 4th with 14 rec. and 291 yards; 2 TDs.
The Bulldogs have utilized a talented tight end duo just about every year since 1997. Several of these former Bulldogs now star in the NFL including three who have been on Super Bowl teams. In fact, Jermaine Wiggins and Ben Watson have won championships with the New England Patriots.
1997 Wiggins, Larry Brown: 31 of 209 rec. (15%), 4 TDs
1998 Wiggins & Brown: 56 of 190 rec. (29%), 3 TDs
1999 Randy McMichael, Jevaris Johnson: 65 of 221 rec. (29%), 5 TDs
2000 McMichael & Johnson: 43 of 181 rec. (24%), 1 TD
2001 McMichael & Watson: 35 of 204 rec. (17%), 2 TDs
2002 Ben Watson: 31 of 257 (12%), 3 TDs
2003 Watson, Robert Brannon, Pope & Milner: 29 of 274 (11%), 2 TDs
2004 Pope & Milner: 29 of 201 (14%), 6 TDs
2005 Pope & Milner: 46 of 175 (26%), 5 TDs
The Sum Of All Rushers
Georgia's rushing offense ranks 3rd in the SEC (158.7 yds./g) and the Bulldogs leading the pack include sophomores Thomas Brown, Danny Ware and Kregg Lumpkin plus senior QB D.J. Shockley. The 2005 ground attack is on pace to be the best in the Mark Richt era.
2001 1,878 yards: Leader: Verron Haynes (126 for 691 yds, 7 TDs); 8-4 final rec.
2002 1,954 yards: Leader: Musa Smith (260 for 1,324 yds, 8 TDs); 13-1
2003 1,889 yards: Leader: Michael Cooper (156 for 673 yards, 6 TDs); 11-3
2004 1,882 yards: Leader: Thomas Brown (172 for 875 yards, 8 TDs); 10-2
2005 1,764 yards: Leader: Thomas Brown (124 for 596 yards, 3 TDs); 9-2
* Five current Bulldog tailbacks have started a game (Brown, Ware, Lumpkin, seniors Tyson Browning and Tony Milton).
* Lumpkin posted his best game of the year with 74 yards on 11 carries in the 14-7 road win over #20 Ga. Tech
* Ware broke loose for a 52-yard TD run against Kentucky which marked the longest rush and rushing TD by a Bulldog since 1999 (Patrick Pass 58 yards vs. LSU)
* Brown gained 73 of his yards at #8 UT by carrying the ball all nine times on a nine-play drive capped by an 18-yard scamper to make it 27-7.
* Ware notched his first 100-yard game of the year and fifth of his career when he gained 109 yards on 13 attempts vs. La.-Monroe.
* Brown ran for a career-high 144 yards on 20 carries with 1 TD vs. USC. It was his fifth career 100-yard game.
* In the win over BSU, the trio of Brown, Ware and Lumpkin combined for 82 yards on 19 carries, however the leading rusher was Shockley (5 rushes for 85 yards, 1 TD).
* The most impressive team effort of the year came in the road win over then #8 Tennessee when the Bulldogs gained 198 yards against the nation's fourth-ranked rushing defense.
Redshirt freshman fullback Brannan Southerland has garnered praise for his play as a first-year starter. He has proven to be a solid blocker, short-yardage runner and capable option out of the backfield. Junior starting fullback Des Williams was lost for the year with a torn pectoral muscle in summer workouts.
DID YOU KNOW? For the last eight years, Georgia has had a different rushing leader. Thomas Brown could become the first Bulldog to end this stretch since Robert Edwards led the Bulldogs in 1996-97.
Starting Up Front
The starting lineup of tackles Daniel Inman and Dennis Roland, guards Max Jean-Gilles and Nick Jones and the center rotation of Ryan Schnetzer and Russ Tanner have a combined 163 career starts.
* Anchor the Bulldogs who rank 3rd in the SEC in Total Offense (394.0 ypg), 2nd in Passing (235.3) and 3rd in Rushing (158.7 ypg).
* Allowed only 19 sacks in 318 pass attempts; Ranks T2nd with LSU/UT.
* Four Bulldogs have earned SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week Honors a total of six times: (Roland vs. USC; Inman vs. La.-Monroe & Vandy; Jean-Gilles vs. #8 UT & Arkansas; Jones vs. Kentucky)
Massaquoi & McClendon Leading The Way
Freshman Mohamed Massaquoi (32 rec., 447 yds, 2 TDs) has come on strong in the second half of the season and ranks tied for 1st on the team in receptions with junior TE Leonard Pope. He posted a breakout performance against #15 Auburn in game nine with a career-high six catches for 108 yards and 1 TD. It was the best game by a Bulldog receiver this season. Also, he had six receptions for 71 yards in the 14-7 road win at #20 Ga. Tech. The last freshman to lead the Bulldogs in receiving was Terrence Edwards in 1999 (Georgia freshman record 53 rec., 772 yds, 9 TDs).
Senior Bryan McClendon is 3rd on the team with a career-high 31 rec., 451 yards and team-high 5 TDs. He has made two of the biggest catches of the season. Against USC, he caught a 27-yard strike from D.J. Shockley on 3rd-and-22 from the Georgia 8 yard line late in the game that helped clinch the win. Against #20 Ga. Tech, he hauled in a 19-yard game-winning TD pass from Shockley to put Georgia up 14-7 with 3:18 left to play.
McClendon's first career TD reception came in the road win over Vanderbilt this year. It was his 38th career catch. The 37 catches without a TD was the most by a Bulldog in records dating back to 1974! It took McClendon just two more catches to get his 2nd career TD, this one an 11-yarder from Shockley against Arkansas. He added a pair of TDs against Kentucky.
Defense
Junkyard Dawgs
Secondary coach Willie Martinez was promoted to defensive coordinator for 2005 and the defense is as good as ever. Since 2001, a total of 17 former Bulldog defenders have moved on to the NFL (6 off the 2001 team, 4 from 2002, 3 from 2003 and 4 from the 2004 squads).
| Year | Scoring Def. | NCAA Rank | Total Def. | NCAA Rank | TO Margin | NCAA Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 18.9 pts/game | 17th | 361.5 yards | 49th | +1 | 53rd |
| 2002 | 15.1 pts/game | 4th | 303.5 yards | 15th | +8 | 32nd |
| 2003 | 14.5 pts/game | T2nd | 276.9 yards | 4th | +11 | 14th |
| 2004 | 16.5 pts/game | 9th | 288.9 yards | 8th | -2 | t73rd |
| 2005 | 14.6 pts/game | 5th | 303.0 yards | 15th | +12 | 9th |
Look Who's Tackling
The pundits felt the 2005 Bulldog defense would slip with the loss of first-rounders David Pollack and Thomas Davis and second-rounder Odell Thurman and coordinator Brian VanGorder to the NFL. However, this year's unit, led by junior DE Quentin Moses and senior safety Greg Blue are having All-Star seasons. Blue is a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award while Moses has been the SEC Lineman of the Week twice this year (MSU & Vandy). Blue is closing on a career-best tackles. He's got a team-leading 71 stops after getting 80 last year, 2nd only to Davis' 81.
2004
David Pollack: 12.5 sacks, 17.5 TFL
Thomas Davis: 81 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT
Odell Thurman: 65 tackles, 3 sacks, 11 TFL
2005
Quentin Moses: team-high 10 sacks, 17.5 TFLs
Greg Blue: team-high 82 tackles, 2 INTs
*Tony Taylor, Jarvis Jackson: Combined 74 tackles, 2 sacks, 9.5 TFL
Inside The Scoring Defense
Georgia's Scoring Defense now ranks 5th nationally at 14.6. Auburn (31 in 2005) and LSU (34 in 2003 SEC Championship game) are the only two teams to score 30+ against Georgia in the Mark Richt era. In both instances, the ranked team's registered a defensive TD in collecting a win over the Bulldogs.
Here's a few notes on how the 2005 opponents have scored.
#18 Boise St. (13): UGA led 38-0 before BSU scored
South Carolina (15): An INT Return for a TD
La.-Monroe (7): Recovered onside kick to start 2nd half and compiled a 53-yard TD drive
Miss. State. (10): A field goal on its opening drive; A late fourth-quarter TD with Georgia up 23-3
#8 Tennessee (14): INT Ret. set up 1-yard TD drive; A 24-yard TD pass on final play of the game
Vanderbilt (17): 3 scoring drives of at least 50 yards including a 12-play, 80-yard drive that took 5:54.
Arkansas (20): 3 scoring drives of at least 45 yards and had one 4-play drive of zero yards that resulted in a FG
#16 Florida (14): Two scoring drives on its first two possession (14 points on 121 yards) then shutout the final three quarters and gained just 141 more yards.
#15 Auburn (31): 506 yards of total offense; A 92-yard drive to start the game and a 77-yarder to win the game
Kentucky (13): Held to 199 yards of total offense (64 plays); A 4th-quarter TD with 1:07 left with Georgia up 45-6
#20 Ga. Tech (7): A 10-play, 78-yard TD drive to open the game and then blanked the rest of the way
Jackson and Verdun Wheeler Tallying Tackles For Taylor
The Georgia linebacking corps, now under the direction of John Jancek, started six different trios during the 2004 season and no player started every game. This season, it has been more of the same. Junior Tony Taylor, who missed all of 2004 with a knee injury, is the nucleus in the middle, but injuries have forced him to miss four games.
The Bulldogs have used the same starting lineup at linebacker in only three games this season (sophomore Brandon Miller-SLB, Taylor-MLB and junior Jarvis Jackson-WLB). Miller, Taylor, Jackson and Danny Verdun Wheeler have all missed games this year due to various ailments. Still, Jackson (65 stops) ranks 2nd on the team in tackles while Verdun Wheeler (58 stops) is 4th and Taylor (42 stops) is 7th on the squad in tackles. In fact, Jackson and Verdun Wheeler led the Bulldogs with nine stops apiece in the thrilling 14-7 road win at #20 Ga. Tech last week.
Taylor was out for the UK & Ga. Tech games after undergoing knee arthroscopy for a torn meniscus on Nov. 18. Taylor led the Bulldogs with 13 stops against #15 Auburn. It was his third career double-digit tackle peformance including the first this season. He was leading the linebackers in tackles until he injured his elbow in the first half against then #8 Tennessee and missed the next two games. He returned for the Florida contest and made six stops and recovered a fumble at the Georgia 6 yard line.
Georgia's reserve linebackers who have seen some action include redshirt freshman Dannell Ellerbe, true freshman Marcus Washington, junior Olaolu Sanni-Osomo and senior Jamario Smith. Ellerbe (5 tackles) and Washington (4 tackles) posted career highs in extended playing time against Kentucky.
Oskie! Bulldogs Garnering Picks
Georgia had just five interceptions in 2004, the fewest in records going back to 1948. The Bulldogs have 14 INTs this year including a game-saving pick by senior CB Tim Jennings against #20 Ga. Tech. He has nine career INTs and the latest one against Tech came at the goaline with 1:11 left to play and Georgia holding a 14-7 lead.
The newest member of the starting secondary, junior Tra Battle, a one-time walk-on and high school QB, is having his finest season. Battle ranks third on the team in tackles with 63. He missed the UK contest due to a concussion that occurred during the Auburn game but returned against Ga. Tech and registered five solo stops.
"GTBB" = Get The Ball Back: Tim Jennings and Paul Oliver: 3 INTs each; *Tra Battle, *Greg Blue: 2 each; *DeMario Minter, Tony Taylor, *Dannell Ellerbe, *Thomas Flowers; *Career first INT
Senior Stoppers Back Up Front
Senior tackles Gerald Anderson and Kedric Golston, the anchors of Georgia's defensive front, have 55 career starts. The UK contest on Nov. 19 marked the first time they started as a duo since the Miss. State game on Sept. 24. With the duo back, Georgia surrendered just 99 rushing yards to UK which featured the nation's leading all-purpose runner in Rafael Little. He had just 29 yards on 13 attempts.
Anderson (concussion) got injured in the Miss. State game, played briefly against UT and then missed the next two games before returning against #16 Florida. He had a solid game versus #15 Auburn with 7 tackles. Golston injured his elbow in the second quarter of the Vandy game. He missed the next two games and returned briefly against #15 Auburn.
The Bulldogs turned to junior Ray Gant, senior Darrius Swain, junior Dale Dixson and true freshman Jeffrey Owens to fill in.
Double Digit Sacks For Moses
The Bulldogs have registered 27 sacks and junior ends Quentin Moses (10 sacks) and sophomore Charles Johnson (4 sacks) have combined for 14 of them. Moses is the 8th Bulldog in school history to record at least 10 sacks in a season.
At then #8 Tennessee on one play, Johnson registered a sack on Rick Clausen, forced a fumble and recovered the fumble.
Against La.-Monroe, Moses sacked Steven Jyles near the goal line, causing a fumble which rolled into the end zone and was recovered by Johnson for a touchdown.
Moses, a two-time SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week recipient this season, has 19 career sacks. The 19 career sacks ranks 2nd among active SEC players (UT's Parys Haralson has 20).
GEORGIA SACKS IN 2005
#18 Boise State none
South Carolina 4 for - 32 yards
La.-Monroe 3 for - 23 yards
@ Miss. State 4 for - 27 yards
@ #8 Tennessee 2 for -16 yards
@ Vanderbilt 4 for -33 yards
Arkansas 4 for -29 yards
vs. #16 Florida 1 for - 9 yards
#15 Auburn 2 for -20 yards
Kentucky 2 for -31 yards
@ #20 Ga. Tech 1 for -10 yards
Total 27 for -220 yards
Defensive Touchdowns
Georgia has scored nine defensive TDs in the Mark Richt era including one this season. Overall, the Bulldogs have scored 4 defensive TDs at home and 5 on the road under Richt.
The Last Time
Home: 2005: Charles Johnson Fumble Rec. in endzone vs. #18 Boise State
Away: 2003: Sean Jones 92-yard Fumble Ret. @ #13 Tennessee
Special Teams
Coutu Earns Scholarship; Semifinalist for Groza
Sophomore walk-on Brandon Coutu leads the SEC in Scoring and ranks 12th nationally with 88 points. During the Nov. 5 off week, Georgia coach Mark Richt informed him he would be placed on scholarship starting in January. His lastest bit of good news came on Nov. 8 when he was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award (nation's top place kicker).
- SEC-best 7-for-9 from 40-49 yards this season and 2-4 from 50+yards this season.
- Made 21-of-27 FG (78%) this year and 23-30 FG Atts. (77%) in his career
- Also 36-for-36 in PAT attempts this year and 39-for-39 in his career
- Career-high 14 points in the win over La.-Monroe (3 FGs, 5 PATs), and he nailed a career-best 58-yard field goal. The 58-yarder is the longest in school history without a tee (The NCAA did not allow a kicking tee after the 1988 season) and the third longest overall. It was the longest since Kevin Butler's SEC record-tying and Bulldog record 60-yarder to beat Clemson in 1984. Coutu's field goal was the longest made by an SEC kicker since Butler's against the Tigers.
- Tallied 12 points in the season-opening win over Boise State, 2 FGs, 6 PATs.
Until the final FG in the Georgia-Georgia Tech matchup last season, sophomore Andy Bailey had taken every attempt for the Bulldogs. However, Coutu got a chance against the Jackets in the fourth quarter and booted a 44-yarder to help Georgia to a 19-13 win. Coutu had handled kickoff duties all year. He was 1-for-2 in field goals at the Outback Bowl.
In 2004, Bailey ended up as the fourth-highest scorer in the SEC with a 7.1 average (78 points). He was 14-of-20 FGs including making a career-long 46-yarder versus Kentucky. Senior snapper Brian Jordan is in his third year as a starter while senior Lee Jackson is again the holder and backup punter. Jordan recovered a fumble after a Bulldog punt in the La.-Monroe game.
Longest Field Goals in Georgia Bulldog History
60 Kevin Butler vs. Clemson in 1984*
59 Kevin Butler vs. Ole Miss in 1982
58 Brandon Coutu vs. La.-Monroe in 2005
58 Allan Leavitt vs. Vanderbilt in 1976
*Shares SEC Record: Fuad Reveiz (Tenn. vs. Ga. Tech in 1982); Chris Perkins (Fla. vs. Tulane in 1984)
Flowers Leads Georgia Return Men
Sophomore Thomas Flowers, who is on pace to be Georgia's all-time punt return leader and seniors Tyson Browning and Bryan McClendon have been the primary returners. However, Browning saw his season end against Kentucky on Nov. 19 when he broke his left leg on a return in the first quarter.
Thomas Flowers Punt Return Avg. 14.0 (29 for 405 yards, 1 TD)
- Ranks 2nd in the SEC, 14th nationally with a 14.0 average
- 4 PR for 79 yards including a pivotal 33-yarder in the 4th quarter to setup game-winning TD at #20 Ga. Tech
- 54-yard Punt Ret. for TD at #8 Tennessee; 1st one allowed by UT in 4 years
- SEC Special Teams Player of Week for effort at Tennesse (2 punt ret. for 66 yards), The TD gave UGA 20-7 lead in 4th quarter
- Led the SEC in 2004 and 12th nationally with a 15.1 average.
- 15.1 avg. in 2004 ranked 2nd best in school history behind Scott Woerner (15.7 in 1980).
Georgia ranks 3rd in the SEC in punt returns (13.0) and 7th in kickoff returns at 19.8 yards/return.
On kickoffs, Browning posted a fine performance versus Arkansas (3 ret., 90 yards including a career-best 52 yarder). For the year, Browning averaged 23.5 yards (12 for 282). McClendon is averaging 17.8 yards on eight returns.
Bulldog Blocks and Special Teams TDs
Georgia has blocked 11 Punts, 8 Field Goals and 2 PATs in the Richt era and converted them in to 74 points.
2005 Blocked 1 Punt and turned it in to 7 points.
2004 Blocked 2 Punts and turned them in to 7 Points.
2003 Blocked 4 FGs, 2 Punts,1 PAT and turned them in to 17 points.
2002 Set School record: Blocked 5 Punts, 4 FGs, turned them in to 40 points.
2001 Blocked 1 Punt, 1 PAT and turned them in to 3 points.
Current Bulldogs who have blocked a punt or field goal include:
Tyson Browning: Blocked a punt vs. Vanderbilt in 2005
Kedric Golston: Blocked a PAT vs. LSU in 2003 SEC Championship Game
Bryan McClendon: Blocked a punt vs. Georgia Tech in 2003
The Bulldogs have 8 Special Teams TDs in the Richt era plus a safety.
Current Bulldogs who have a Special Teams TD include:
Thomas Flowers: 54-yard punt return at #8 Tennessee in 2005
Tyson Browning: 72-yard punt return vs. Georgia Southern in 2004
Ely-Kelso Pins Them Deep; Semifinalist for Ray Guy Award
Junior punter Gordon Ely-Kelso, a native of Athens, Ga., continues to be a strength in Georgia's special teams. He is one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award which goes to the nation's top punter. He has a 42.5 overall avg (50 for 2,133 yards).
- The Bulldogs rank 3rd in the SEC and 8th nationally in Punting with a Net Average of 38.1
- Ranks 2nd in the SEC with 46% of his punts landing inside the 20 (21-of-50).
- In the 17-15 win over South Carolina, he had 5 punts for a 44.8 avg. with a 60-yarder and 4 inside the 20.
- In the 27-14 road win over then #8 Tennessee, he had 6 punts for a 42.5 avg., with three inside the 20 including one at the 1 and one at the 2.
- In the 23-20 win over Arkansas, he had 6 punts for a 48.2 avg., with 4 inside the 20.
- Against then #16 Florida, he had 3 punts for a 49.3 avg.
- Against #15 Auburn, he had 5 punts for a 40.8 avg. with 1 inside the 20.
- Executed a successful fake punt against Kentucky with a 34-yard scamper which led to Bulldogs first score.
- In the 14-7 road win over #20 Ga. Tech, he had 10 punts for a 40.8 avg. with 4 inside the 20.
Ely-Kelso's Career: 169 punts, *6,813 yards, 40.3 avg., 54 Punts Inside 20
*The 6,813 yards ranks 5th best in school history. The record holder is Spike Jones who had 8,043 yards from 1967-69
Other Items of Note
Bulldogs In A Dome
In school history, Georgia is 4-7 in games in domed stadiums. The Bulldogs have played in domes in Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta.
Nov. 4, 1967: Houston d. #5 Georgia 15-14 (Astrodome)
Jan. 1, 1977: Sugar Bowl: #1 Pittsburgh d. #5 Georgia 27-23 (Superdome)
Dec. 31, 1978: Bluebonnet Bowl: Stanford d. #11 Georgia 25-22 (Astrodome)
*Jan. 1, 1981: Sugar Bowl: #1 Georgia d. #7 Notre Dame 17-10 (Superdome)
*Bulldogs cap perfect 12-0 season and win the national championship
Jan. 1, 1982: Sugar Bowl: #10 Pittsburgh d. #2 Georgia 24-20 (Superdome)
Jan. 1, 1983: Sugar Bowl: #2 Penn State d. #1 Georgia 27-23 (Superdome)
Dec. 30, 1985: Peach Bowl: #18 Virginia d. Georgia 34-27 (Ga. Dome)
Dec. 31, 1998: Peach Bowl: #19 Georgia d. #12 Virginia 35-33 (Ga. Dome)
Dec. 7, 2002: SEC Championship: #4 Georgia d. #22 Arkansas 30-3 (Ga. Dome)
Jan. 1, 2003: Sugar Bowl: #4 Georgia d. #16 Florida State 26-13 (Superdome)
Dec. 6, 2003: SEC Championship: #3 LSU d. #5 Georgia 34-13 (Ga. Dome)
A Winning Legacy
The 2005 Georgia senior class owns a 43-8 career record, including 3-0 in bowl games. The best four-year record was by the Class of 1983 that went 43-4-1 including a national championship (1980) and three straight SEC titles (1980-82). The Class of 1983 went 2-2 in bowl games.
Georgia's only senior class to go 4-0 in bowl games was the Class of 2000 under former head coach Jim Donnan. That group included current Pro Bowl stars Marcus Stroud (Jaguars) and Richard Seymour (Patriots) and won two Outback Bowls, one Peach Bowl and the O'ahu Bowl.
This year's group of seniors could become just the second class to finish ranked in the Associated Press Top 10 four consecutive years along with the group from 1983. The Class of 2004 went 42-10 and went 3-1 in bowl games. They finished in the top 25 all four years and top 10 their final three years.
Also, 13 of this year's seniors are on track to graduate in December: Gerald Anderson, Greg Blue, John DeGenova, Mike Gilliam, Lee Jackson, Brian Jordan, Bryan McClendon, Dennis Roland, Ryan Schnetzer, D.J. Shockley, Jamario Smith, Russ Tanner and Will Thompson.
Overtime Facts
Since overtime was first used in 1996, the Bulldogs have been involved in five of these games including twice in bowl games.
Current Bulldog head coach Mark Richt is 1-0 in overtime, winning the 2004 Capital One Bowl 34-27 over then 12th-ranked Purdue.
1996 (Nov. 16): Georgia d. #20 Auburn 56-49 in 4OT in Auburn, Ala.
1999 (Nov. 27): #20 Ga. Tech d. #16 Georgia 51-48 in Atlanta
2000 (Jan. 1): #21 Georgia d. #19 Purdue 28-25 to win Outback Bowl (Tampa)
2000 (Nov. 11): #22 Auburn d. #14 Georgia 29-26 in Auburn, Ala.
2004 (Jan. 1): #11 Georgia d. #12 Purdue 34-27 to win Capital One Bowl (Orlando)
Overtime Game Tidbits
- The 1996 UGA-Auburn game in Auburn was the first in SEC history to go to overtime.
- The 1999 UGA-Ga. Tech game in Atlanta, Kendrell Bell blocked Luke Magnet's first 38-yard field goal in overtime but since it was third down and the Yellow Jackets recovered, they got to kick it again and this time he made a 38-yarder. Overall, the teams combined for a Georgia record 1,097 yards of total offense. Georgia had the first possession in OT and a Quincy Carter pass was intercepted in the endzone.
- Against Purdue at the 2000 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Georgia set a record for the largest comeback in bowl history along with in school history as it once trailed 25-0 in the second quarter. Purdue missed a 43-yarder in OT and then Hap Hines made a 21-yarder for the win.
- In the 2000 UGA-Auburn game in Auburn, it marked the 1st time in 9 years that the home team won. Georgia got a 25-yard FG from Billy Bennett in OT but the Tigers answered with a TD for the win.
- Georgia built a 24-0 lead only to see Purdue cut it to 14 by halftime and then tie it at 24-all with nine seconds left. In overtime, Kregg Lumpkin plunged in from one yard out for the go-ahead TD and then the Bulldog defense held as Tony Taylor intercepted a pass on fourth and goal at the four.
Bulldog Game Captains
BSU: Dennis Roland, OT and D.J. Shockley, QB (offense), Gerald Anderson, NT (defense), DeMario Minter, SCB (special teams); Honorary Captain: Charlie Dean, Safety (1981-83)
USC: Max Jean-Gilles, OG (O), Quentin Moses, DE and Greg Blue, FS (D) and Tony Taylor, MLB (ST); Honorary Captain: Jimmy Harper, QB (1952-55)
ULM: Russ Tanner, C and Bryan McClendon, SE (O), Tim Jennings, CB (D) and Mike Gilliam, CB (ST); Honorary Captain: Ronnie Harris, CB (1981-82)
MSU: Ryan Schnetzer, C (O), Greg Blue, FS (D), Kedric Golston, DT (D) and Brian Jordan, SN (ST)
UT: D.J. Shockley, QB (O), Greg Blue, FS & Kedric Golston, DT (D) and Bryan McClendon, SE (ST)
VU: Max Jean-Gilles, OG (O), Kedric Golston, DT and DeMario Minter, SCB (D), and Gordon Ely-Kelso, P (ST)
UA: TBA, Honorary Captain: Tommy Lawhorne, LB (1965-67)
UF: Max Jean Gilles, OG & Dennis Roland, TT (O), Will Thompson, DE (D) and Tyson Browning, RB/KOR(ST).
AU: D.J. Shockley, QB (O), Kedric Golston, DT & Tim Jennings, WCB (D) and Greg Blue, FS (ST); Honorary Captain: Scott Williams, TE (1981-84)
UK: TBA; Honoray Captain: Dicky Clark, DE (1974-76), 1976 Def. Captain
GT: Dennis Roland, TT (O), Will Thompson, DL and Kedric Golston DT (D) and Bryan McClendon, SE/KOR (ST).
SEC Championship (LSU): TBA
Points Off Turnovers
Georgia has scored 70 points off 27 turnovers in 2005 while its opponents have 30 points off 15 Bulldog miscues. Georgia is 2nd in the SEC and ranks 9th nationally with a +12 Turnover Margin. Last year, the Bulldogs ranked 6th in the SEC with a -2 Turnover Margin. In 2004, Georgia scored 58 points off 17 turnovers while opponents managed 46 points off 19 Bulldog turnovers.
#18 Boise St.: UGA converts 4 INTs, 2 Fumbles in to 24 points; BSU got no points off 1 Bulldog Fumble.
S. Carolina: UGA converts 2 INTs in to 3 points; USC got 6 points off 2 Bulldog INTs.
La.-Monroe: UGA converts 1 INT, 3 Fumbles in to 20 points; ULM got no points off 2 Bulldog Fumbles.
Miss St.: UGA converts 1 INT, 1 Fumble in to 3 points; MSU got no points off 1 Bulldog Fumble.
#8 Tenn.: UGA converts 1 INT, 2 Fumbles in to 3 points; UT got 7 points off 1 Bulldog INT and 1 Fumble.
Vandy: UGA converts 1 INT in to 0 points (end of game, downs) VU got no points off 1 Bulldog INT.
Arkansas: UGA converts 1 INT, 1 Fumble in to 10 points; ARK got 3 points off 1 Bulldog Fumble and 1 INT
#16 Florida: UGA converts 1 Fum. in to 0 points (Ran Clock 1st Half); #16UF got no points off 1 Bulldog INT
#15 Auburn: UGA converts 1 Fum. and 1 INT into 7 points; #15AU got 14 points off 2 Bulldog Fumbles
Kentucky: UGA converts 1 Fum. in to 0 points (MFG-Lee Jackson); UK: No UGA Turnovers
#20 Ga. Tech: UGA converts 2 INTs, 1 Fum. in to 0 points; #20 GT got no points off 1 Bulldog INT
Bulldogs on Watch Lists For National Awards
Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Award: Quentin Moses, DE
Bednarik Award: Greg Blue, FS
Butkus Award: Tony Taylor, LB
Doak Walker Award: Thomas Brown, Danny Ware, RB
Draddy Trophy: D.J. Shockley, QB (semifinalist)
Lou Groza Award: Brandon Coutu (semifinalist)
Maxwell Award: D.J. Shockley, QB (semifinalist); Thomas Brown, RB; Leonard Pope, TE;
George Munger Award: Mark Richt (semifinalist)
Outland Trophy: Max Jean-Gilles, OG
Jim Thorpe Award: Greg Blue, FS (semifinalist)
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award: D.J. Shockley, QB (Finalist)
John Mackey Award: Leonard Pope, TE
Ray Guy Award: Gordon Ely-Kelso, P (semifinalist)
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