Georgia, Florida fall from ranks of the unbeaten
SEC Notebook
Jimmy Carter
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: Sports
Like Ohio State-USC before it, No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama failed to live up to the hype surrounding it.
Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC) scored early and often and survived a mini-rally in the second half to win 41-30 and knock the Bulldogs (4-1, 1-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten.
Few would have believed that the underdog Crimson Tide would be able to silence the blacked-out Sanford Stadium, but the team did just that, jumping out to a 31-0 lead by halftime.
Alabama dominated in all three phases of the game in a first half that saw the Tide score on all five possessions while the Georgia offense struggled to find its groove, turning the ball over twice.
Not even the most diehard Alabama fan could have foreseen such an onslaught. Coach Nick Saban definitely didn't.
"In the first half we probably played the best football we've played this season," Saban said. "Not taking anything away from Georgia, once you lose your intensity it is very hard to get it back."
The loss stunned the Bulldogs who entered the season as the nation's top-ranked squad.
"They took it to us and we didn't answer until the second half," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "We just got whipped. There's no excuses, and don't expect any from me."
The Tide dominated on both sides of the line early, going 80 yards in 11 plays capped by 7-yard run by true freshman back Mark Ingram.
Leigh Tiffin's 23-yard field goal gave Alabama a 10-0 lead after the first quarter, giving them a dominating 74-0 edge on their opponents in the first quarter this year.
A shanked punt gave the Tide great field position starting on the Georgia 48 yard-line. After two runs by Glen Coffee netted 12 yards, John Parker Wilson hit freshman Julio Jones for a gain of 31 yards setting up Coffee's 3-yard touchdown run.
On Georgia's ensuing possession, freshman wide receiver A.J. Green fumbled after catching a pass in Alabama territory, and the Tide recovered.
Roy Upchurch's scored from four yards out to make it 17-0, and the rout was on.
Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC) scored early and often and survived a mini-rally in the second half to win 41-30 and knock the Bulldogs (4-1, 1-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten.
Few would have believed that the underdog Crimson Tide would be able to silence the blacked-out Sanford Stadium, but the team did just that, jumping out to a 31-0 lead by halftime.
Alabama dominated in all three phases of the game in a first half that saw the Tide score on all five possessions while the Georgia offense struggled to find its groove, turning the ball over twice.
Not even the most diehard Alabama fan could have foreseen such an onslaught. Coach Nick Saban definitely didn't.
"In the first half we probably played the best football we've played this season," Saban said. "Not taking anything away from Georgia, once you lose your intensity it is very hard to get it back."
The loss stunned the Bulldogs who entered the season as the nation's top-ranked squad.
"They took it to us and we didn't answer until the second half," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "We just got whipped. There's no excuses, and don't expect any from me."
The Tide dominated on both sides of the line early, going 80 yards in 11 plays capped by 7-yard run by true freshman back Mark Ingram.
Leigh Tiffin's 23-yard field goal gave Alabama a 10-0 lead after the first quarter, giving them a dominating 74-0 edge on their opponents in the first quarter this year.
A shanked punt gave the Tide great field position starting on the Georgia 48 yard-line. After two runs by Glen Coffee netted 12 yards, John Parker Wilson hit freshman Julio Jones for a gain of 31 yards setting up Coffee's 3-yard touchdown run.
On Georgia's ensuing possession, freshman wide receiver A.J. Green fumbled after catching a pass in Alabama territory, and the Tide recovered.
Roy Upchurch's scored from four yards out to make it 17-0, and the rout was on.
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