It has been almost a year since the maybe the most known touchdown celebration in football history was seen. This celebration showed that maybe are ways to express a certain team chemistry and intensity without crossing the line using props such replica Hall of Fame jackets and turning the end zone into a putting green. Message to Chad Johnson: Take note, Ocho Cinco. Even though the fans and media sources laugh at Johnson for his comical, but somewhat selfish apporach during games, let's take a more analytical look at this celebration.
While the unity and motivational aspect of each member of the Georgia team celebrating in the end zone was made invisible by the plethora of penalty flags thrown, a deeper meaning was palpable. Georgia, coming off of a 35-14 loss to Tennessee earlier in the season, needed something. Anything.
This group of Bulldogs, who at the time were severely underachieving, necessitated a good kick in the pants to jumpstart what turned out to be one of the hottest finishes in college football history. Coming into the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, the Bulldogs were 5-2, suffering a home loss to South Carolina in addition to the loss at Tennessee.
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Georgia found that season-changing spark when then-freshman running back Knowshon Moreno dived into the end zone in the first possession of the Florida game and proceeded to find his teammates surrounding him. Not just the other ten offensive players, but all of them. Flags dropped like parachuters at the Naval Air Show, and Georgia then kicked their extra point from what seemed to be outside of Alltell Stadium.
So, why after almost twelve months are the press and even Florida coach Urban Meyer still ranting about Georgia's act? With respect to the press, it is nothing more than a headline, as nothing like it was never seen. From Meyer's standpoint, it is evident that game is still in his, and the Gator team's mind.
Georgia head coach Mark Richt has repeatedly denied that he directly told the whole team to step onto the field, saying that he "wanted everyone to do something after a score. I meant everyone on the field at that time.” Richt went on to say, "When I looked up, I saw everyone going into the end zone and I kind of went along with it."
The one dark spot for Georgia stemming from this situation is this year's Florida/Georgia game in Jacksonville. There is no doubt that Florida still has not only the team celebration, but also the outcome, in their mind.
In a statement released Thursday, Meyer said that he believed the celebration "was not right," and that "you just don't do that kind of thing. I haven't forgotten it.” Watch out, Georgia. There is no doubt that game and that end zone party played a huge roll in finishing the season 5-0 en route to dismantling Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl, but now you are the Gator bait.
If the celebration was in fact all about being haughty and arrogant, wouldn't Richt have a reputation for doing things like that? He knew that this team was capable of much more, and that they needed to prove it to themselves in a way college athletes would be accustomed to.
Nothing was done in the face of an official, or any Florida player or coach. As the nation saw, a new Georgia team took the field from then on, and made a respectable argument that they should also claim the title of national champions. So, what will be the on-field aftermath of the Bulldogs' huddle?
Don't be surprised if it is, another Georgia win in the cocktail game, or maybe even a Florida team celebration.
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about 1 month ago
Good article. You would have to be a GA fan to truly understand the reason for the celebration. The Fla streak and the way it happened had gotten in the mind of the GA team, even FLA fans were amazed at how the gators always got the perfect break almost every time they needed it for so many years.
What mark Richt did was almost equivalent to exercising those perceived demon's, he killed the snake that kept biting year after year, and it worked to perfection. If GA wins this year, it will look even better.
Now GA and CMR are in the gators head for a change. What will he come up with next?
about 1 month ago
While I understand the reason for celebration, things could have gotten out of hand. Luckily, the Gators on the field were a little unsure what to do. You could have a repeat of Miami and FIU. Hopefully, this year will be about football. I'd hate to see two of the best teams in the nation this year lower themselves to the point where the game doesn't matter.
about 1 month ago
I don't think the celebration was a wise choice. UGA was lucky that the Florida players did not react violently. If a fight had broken out, things could have gotten ugly and likely many more UGA players would have been kicked out. As it happened, I am not sure why certain UGA players were not kicked out. Maybe because the entire team cleared the bench.
In other sports like baseball, hockey, and basketball, players are frequently suspended for leaving the bench and going onto the playing surface.
UGA caught a lucky break because I think the officials and the Gators were confused.
Also, I don't think the celebration had that much influence on the game. Two factors really influenced that game: (1) the emergence of Knowshon Moreno (who I don't think the Gators were prepared for and (2) the injury to Tim Tebow. If Tebow is healthy or Moreno doesn't run wild, the Bulldogs would have lost that game. Tebow was hesistant in that game due to the shoulder injury. He hardly ran at all and finished the game with negative rushing yardage (which was a first for him).
If the Gators are healthy this year, I think they will route Georgia. 42-17.
about 1 month ago
the officials handled the situation properly. Two fifteen yard penalties at one time.
Fla gators should realize that they were penalized more than most last year, 113 out of 119 Division 1-A programs. I bet the ref's gave them the proper punishment.
about 1 month ago
Good stuff, Frank.
Well written article.
I think the claims of some that the celebration could've resulted in something else are just sour grapes. The only people saying this are Steve Spurrier and Florida. Spurrier obviously still has a vested interest in the Cocktail Party.
Georgia's players ran on the field and celebrated with their own. There was only one case of a player even turning to look at Florida's players. Had Florida's players attacked, it would've been unprovoked
The bottom line is that Richt apologized and did not expect the whole team to run out on the field. If Urban Meyer and Florida can't get over it, then they will lose this year's game as well. Time to move on, Gators.
That Celebration seems to have sparked this rivalry to new heights. It had gotten stale in the antiseptic confines of an NFL stadium and also with Florida's recent dominance. This rivalry will be very interesting in the coming years and it will be interesting to see what happens.
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