By Bud L. Ellis
When Georgia and Texas A&M take the field for the Independence Bowl on Monday in Shreveport, La., the outcome very well could hinge on which team has the ball last.
Neither defense is first rate, and both offenses feature playmakers that can go up and down the field all night long.
Hopefully, the scoreboard operator gets a good night sleep Sunday night, because the points very well may be flying Monday afternoon.
Georgia ranks 70th in the nation in scoring defense and has given up 34 or more points five times during a shaky 6-6 campaign that led the Dogs to dump three defensive coaches before the game.
Texas A&M is 104th in the nation in scoring defense. Four times in 12 games, the Aggies gave up 47 or more points.
You get the idea. Both teams are coming off inspired performances, albeit exactly one month will have passed by the time kickoff arrives Monday from their last games. The Dogs upset Georgia Tech, rushing for 339 yards in a shocking 30-24 victory in Atlanta. The Aggies pushed unbeaten Texas to the limit before falling in a shootout.
The Dogs hope to end their rocky road on a good note and build momentum for next season. A victory also would make Georgia 7-2 in bowl games under Mark Richt. Meanwhile, the Aggies seek their first bowl win since 2001.
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Sunday, December 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm by bud
Tags: Georgia, Georgia Tech, Independence Bowl, Texas, Texas A&M
By Bud L. Ellis
He stands 6-foot-5, but from the perspective of the Georgia defense, Jerrord Johnson must look larger than life.
The challenge for the Bulldogs entering the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., on Dec. 28, is to slow the second-team All-Big 12 selection.
The Texas A&M quarterback grabbed the nation’s attention with his performance against Texas on Thanksgiving weekend, going 26-for-33 for 342 yards and four touchdowns against the Longhorns. Johnson also rushed for 97 yards on 14 carries against Texas.
It was, in every sense of the word, a breakthrough performance, especially for a guy who opened last season catching passes, not throwing them.
Johnson started 2008 as a wide receiver, but took over at quarterback early in the season and started the final 10 games of the season under center, setting a school record with 21 touchdown passes.
In 2009, Johnson has become one of the more prolific quarterbacks in the nation. He ranks sixth in the nation in total offense, 14th in total passing yards and 15th in passing yards per game. He’s topped 300 yards passing seven times, and his 51 career passing touchdowns is a school record.
All of this is far from comforting for a Georgia defense that allowed 30-plus points six times this season, a defense that comes into the Independence Bowl having fired its defensive coordinator and two assistants.
The Aggies can take control of this one if Johnson can unleash the offensive arsenal he’s displayed all season. It could be a very long day for the Georgia defense.
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Friday, December 18, 2009 at 11:40 pm by bud
Tags: Big 12, Georgia, Independence Bowl, Jerrord Johnson, Texas, Texas A&M
By Bud L. Ellis
The last time the Georgia Bulldogs faced the Texas A&M Aggies, the year was 1980 and the Dogs were en route to capping an undefeated season by winning the national championship inside the Louisiana Superdome.
Fast forward 29 years to the present, where the Dogs will end their 2009 season in the northwestern part of Louisiana, facing the high-octane Aggies’ offense in this year’s AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl, set for Dec. 28 at Shreveport.
The matchup features two teams that have stood toe-to-toe with the nation’s best, and two teams that have met their share of struggle this season.
Just two weeks ago, Georgia upended then-No. 7 Georgia Tech, while the Aggies were throwing quite a scare into national-championship game bound Texas. So both of these teams can be really, really good.
They also can struggle. Georgia gave up 30 or more points five times this season, a point that has Texas A&M’s strong offense salivating. On the other hand, the Aggies allowed 30-plus points five times, a fact that makes Georgia’s stable of offensive playmakers smile.
There doesn’t figure to be a lack of offense in this one, and both teams are looking for a strong boost into 2010. Something will have to give for that to happen, as neither team has ever lost in the Independence Bowl.
The Aggies have been to the Independence Bowl twice, the last coming in 2000 when Texas A&M beat Mississippi State 43-41 in overtime, in the snow. In 1981, Texas A&M knocked off Oklahoma State 33-16.
Georgia’s only Independence Bowl appearance came in 1991, when the Dogs downed Arkansas 24-15.
Georgia fans probably recall the last time the Dogs and Aggies met, in 1980, when Georgia won 42-0 in Athens behind the running of a freshman named Herschel Walker. The Dogs would go on to win the national championship that season.
It’s the only time Georgia has beaten Texas A&M. The two teams met three times in the 1950s, with the Aggies coming out on top each time.
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Monday, December 7, 2009 at 9:12 pm by bud
Tags: Arkansas, Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech, Independence Bowl, Louisiana Superdome, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M Aggies
