Dawgs' Ten Defining Moments of 2009

In an attempt to put the 2009 football campaign to rest, I have compiled a list of ten moments that I beleive will forever define this season for the Georgia Bulldogs. The order is debatable and there are probably some that I missed. I welcome your comments.

10. Cox sees Kentucky blue
After building a 14 point halftime lead, the Dawgs could not finish the drill against the Wildcats. Not content to run the ball and bleed the clock, the Dawgs were pass happy and Cox threw two of those passes to the other side. Many will point to the fumble by Ealey, but the game should have been decided by then.

9. Georgia goes Grambling
Perhaps it was designed to confuse historians generations from now, I have no idea, but Georgia came out a little yellow shy of being Grambling. They then proceeded to play exactly like Grambling. The uniforms were ridiculous looking, but not as ridiculous has the motivation behind wearing them, whatever that motivation could have possibly been. This was the lowest point of the season for me.

8. Caleb King takes it to the house against Tech
Perhaps the high point of the season, Caleb showed he has the speed to take it to the house. The run was the defining moment of a night where Georgia was committed to running the ball. It was beautiful and made me wonder why it took so long. Sure, the line gelled that night, but we lacked a commitment to the running game all year.

7. Boykin Kick return for touchdown against Gamecocks.
In a game that produced many highlight clips, Boykin’s 100 yard kick-off return really took a lot of wind out of the Gamecock’s sails. Branden Smith’s reverse was great, but Boykin’s came at a time when it looked as though the Gamecocks were going to run us out of our own stadium.

6. Rennie saves day against Gamecocks.
This game was not over until the Gamecock’s final play. Ironically, it was the Dawg linebacker’s inability to cover the South Carolina tight end that kept the Gamecocks in the ball game. Fortunately, when it counted most, Rennie stepped up and made the play.

5. AJ Green jumps to the 300 level to block field goal.
In horrible conditions, the Dawgs let an inferior team stay in the game. If not for AJ Green’s Superman assault on the Sun Devils’ field goal attempt to take the lead late in the fourth who knows what would have become of this season.

4. Opening kickoff in Knoxville
Perhaps it was just the hangover of the LSU game, perhaps it was a case of not taking an opponent seriously. Whatever the case, the Dawgs just did not have it in Knoxville. The defense and special teams put more points on the board than the offense. It was truly “beyond Crompton.”

3. The excessive celebration penalty against LSU
A story book ending had been pinned. All Joe Cox ever wanted to do was be the quarterback at Georgia. A late drive, a miracle catch. The Dawgs had just taken the lead late. Dawgs are congratulating one another, the crowd goes crazy and so does Marc Curles when he reaches in his pocket and throws a flag for reasons no one has yet to define. LSU gets field position, is not forced to be pass only, and Rennie misses a tackle. A confluence of events sure to break the Dawgs’ collective hearts every time.

2. The second offensive drive of the Oklahoma State game
After running the ball down the Cowboys’ throats and mixing in a little play-action on the opening touchdown drive, the Dawgs come out in the spread formation on their second series. I still maintain our coaching staff fell in love with Mike “I’m a man” Gundy’s offense after watching it on tape all summer. We would not get back to Georgia football until the Tech game.

1. Richt dismisses three defensive coaches
I admit, I did not think Richt would do it, especially after Richt’s decision to have Walsh attempt an uber long field goal with the game in the balance against Tech. That decision spoke as much about Richt’s confidence in Willie’s boys as it did his confidence in Blair Walsh’s ability. Ultimately, the decision was probably made in Knoxville and confirmed in Jacksonville. Of course, Arkansas, South Carolina and Kentucky were all decent enough reasons to make a change. One thing I am sure of, there is no more defining moment than this.

So what do you think? Did I leave anything out? Is the order wrong?

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